Encinitas Chamber of Commerce Virtual Candidate’s Forum
Recorded Thursday, October 8th
Click here to watch a recording of the Virtual Forum
Encinitas Historical Society chosen as a 2020 Nonprofit of the Year
Encinitas, CA, September 18, 2020 – The Encinitas Historical Society is proud to announce it has been selected as a 2020 California Nonprofit of the Year by California State Senator Patricia Bates, 36th Senate District.
The Encinitas Historical Society is one of over a hundred other nonprofits that will be honored by their state senators and assembly members for their tremendous contributions to the communities they serve.
The Encinitas Historical Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and interpreting the City’s rich past through its research, library, programs, exhibits, and publications.
“Today the Society is overseen by a dedicated Board and staff of volunteers, including the great granddaughter of the 1883 Encinitas Schoolhouse’s original builder, whose aim is to serve the community in honoring and preserving our Encinitas heritage,” states Carolyn Cope.
“The pandemic and shelter-in-place orders of the last few months have put nonprofits – usually hidden in plain sight – in the spotlight,” explains Jan Masaoka, CEO of the California Association of Nonprofits (CalNonprofits). “California Nonprofit of the Year is an opportunity for our elected officials to celebrate the good work they see nonprofits doing in their districts, and for everyone to appreciate the collective impact of nonprofits in our communities.”
Additional Background
For the last five years, legislators from across California have chosen a Nonprofit of the Year in their district. Traditionally, Chair of the Assembly Select Committee on the Nonprofit Sector Assemblywoman Monique Limón (Santa Barbara) and CalNonprofits invited legislators and honorees to a celebratory luncheon on California Nonprofits Day. This year, the June luncheon was canceled in response to the Shelter-in-Place orders, but legislators have moved forward with honoring nonprofits doing great work in their districts.
Special Thanks To Encinitas Self Storage
Sherry Yardley, Interim CEO of the Encinitas Chamber of Commerce, accepts a $500 donation from Ruben Elenes, Facility Manager of Encinitas Self Storage.
Temporary Commercial Use Permits
On July 12, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Department of Public Health expanded statewide indoor closures for gyms, fitness centers and places of worship. In response to these closures, City staff developed a Temporary Commercial Use Permit process. This process grants permits on a first come, first served basis for religious services, and fitness classes or other similar types of activities in outdoor recreational areas.
Times and space are limited to balance public, athletic and other commercial use. All normal Commercial Use Permit regulations apply, however the $250 permit fee is being waived. Permits are valid until the State Health Order is lifted or December 31, 2020, whichever occurs first. To be considered, please complete the Temporary Commercial Use Permit Application.
No COVID-19 Testing Required Before Employees Can Go Back to Work
Based on new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is no longer recommended that employers require employees who tested positive for COVID-19 to be tested again before they can return to work.
People with COVID-19 who have mild to moderate symptoms and were directed to care for themselves at home may discontinue isolation under the following conditions:
- At least 10 days have passed since symptoms began, have not had a fever for 24 hours without taking fever reducing medications and other symptoms have resolved.
- A limited number of people who have severe or critical illness or are severely immunocompromised are recommended to wait 20 days after symptoms developed and one day after fever resolution and improving symptoms.
- People who are severely immunocompromised but have no symptoms can leave isolation after 20 days after testing positive.
- People who tested positive for the novel coronavirus but never developed symptoms can stop isolation and other precautions 10 days after the date of their first diagnostic positive test virus.
“Employers do not need to follow the test-based strategy for their employees to go back to work,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County public health officer. “Employers must ensure that employees have met the new criteria to be released from isolation.”
The County has updated the County’s Health Officer Order to reflect these changes.
Deaths, Cases in Congregate and Community Settings
To date, 133 COVID-19 deaths and 1,054 cases (675 residents and 379 staff) have been reported in skilled-nursing facilities.
Eighty-nine deaths and 1,074 cases (649 residents and 425 staff) have been reported in other congregate settings.
In comparison, nine COVID-19 deaths and a total 981 cases have been reported in outbreaks in community settings.
Community Outbreaks Increasing
The number of COVID-19 outbreaks in community settings continue to be reported throughout the region. It has increased dramatically in July.
Of the 120 COVID-19 outbreaks confirmed in community settings since the pandemic began, 59 have been reported in July. The total has surpassed the 34 that were reported in June and the 27 that were confirmed during the first three months of the pandemic.
Restaurants with bars account for the great majority of community outbreaks confirmed this month. The County Department of Environmental Health continues to work with restaurants to make sure they are following the public health guidelines.
Community Setting Outbreaks:
- Two new outbreaks were identified on July 26, one in a business and another in a restaurant/bar.
- In the past seven days, 13 community outbreaks were identified.
- The number of community outbreaks remains above the trigger of seven or more in seven days.
- A community setting outbreak is defined as three or more COVID-19 cases in a setting and in people of different households.
Testing:
- 6,456 tests were reported to the County on July 26 and 8% were laboratory-confirmed positive new cases.
- The 14-day rolling average percentage of positive cases is 5.7%. Target is less than 8.0%.
- The 7-day, daily average of tests is 8,997.
Cases:
- 523 new cases were reported in San Diego County for a total of 27,507.
- 2,405 or 8.7% of cases have required hospitalization.
- 618 or 2.3% of all cases and 25.7% of hospitalized cases had to be admitted to an intensive care unit.
Deaths:
- No COVID-19 deaths were reported in San Diego County on July 26. The region’s total remains at 533.
More Information:
More information on COVID-19 and detailed data summaries can be found at the County’s coronavirus-sd.com website.
Assessor Dronenburg Certifies 2020 Assessment Roll With a 5.18%
Increase Record Savings for Taxpayers & Disabled Veterans
- San Diego County set a record high of over $600 billion in assessed value.
- City of San Diego had the largest value increase, adding $14.2 billion.
- National City realized the highest assessed value growth rate at 7.10 percent.
- Poway saw the lowest growth rate at 4.33 percent. (Second year in a row.)
- Assessor qualified a record high 10,108 San Diego County disabled veterans for the Disabled Veterans’ Exemption saving them over $14 million in property taxes.
- Eighty-five percent of property owners receive the benefit of the Proposition 13 protective cap.
- Proposition 13’s 2% inflationary increase produced an additional $10 billion in assessed value to help fund schools, libraries, parks and other public services.
- There are over 1,000 fewer businesses paying business property taxes in 2020.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ENCINITAS AUTHORIZING ALCOHOL SERVICES IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY FOR ABC LICENSED PREMISES IN THE CITY OF ENCINITAS
IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, ORDERED AND FOUND by the City Council of the City of Encinitas, State of California, as follows:
- That the City Council finds and determines the foregoing recitals to be true and correct.
- That the City Council hereby suspends the provisions of Encinitas Municipal Code Section 9.28.010 and local permit restrictions on ABC licensed establishments which limit the service areas to those approved under the conditional use permits and/or ABC Issued License, and subject to the following application requirements and conditions:
- A Temporary Encroachment Permit shall be required for an expansion of alcohol service in the public right-of-way and/or modifications to operation characteristics and conditions of approval of an approved conditional use permit.
- All conditions of approval of the approved conditional use permit shall remain in full force and effect unless specifically modified herein.
- Alcoholic beverages shall only be served in conjunction with meals as defined by ABC.
- ABC approval shall be required.
- Sheriff’s Department review and approval shall be required.
- Evidence of insurance shall be required.
- The Temporary Encroachment Permit approval shall expire when the COVID19 Local Emergency is terminated or when the State Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Notices of Relief are withdrawn, whichever occurs first.
- The Temporary Encroachment Permit approval authorizing temporary expansion of alcohol service areas in the public right-of-way is temporary and may be terminated by the City at any time. The City intends to provide a 10-day notice of the termination; however, such approval may be withdrawn immediately should the needs of public safety dictate.
- All conditions of approval of the approved conditional use permit shall remain in full force and effect unless specifically modified herein.
- All outdoor dining and alcohol services shall be closed and end at 10 p.m.
3. That this suspension shall last until the local emergency is terminated or the withdrawal of ABC Notice of Regulatory Relief, whichever occurs sooner.
Download full City Council Agenda Report here.
Helping Encinitas Businesses Survive by Moving Outdoors
As you can see from the above two photos, local restaurants are creatively figuring out ways to make this work.
My family and I ate at Best Pizza & Brew in Cardiff last week where the restaurant set up tables in the parking lot, as seen in the top photo. I was happy to observe 100% mask compliance when people walked inside to order, and good physical distancing outside. A couple who tried to enter without masks politely returned to their car to retrieve them when asked by staff to do so.
We each need to do our part to get the overall infection numbers down, so please wear a mask, respect employees asking you for this accommodation, and consciously keep your distance from others.
If you’re a restaurant or other business looking for help with moving outdoors, please contact the Encinitas Development Services Department at (760) 633-2706, or email permits@encinitasca.gov to explore options for continuing to serve your customers.
For more information from the city on what businesses are now closed, click here.
NCTD Implements BREEZE Schedule Change
- Route 305
- Route 313
- Route 350
- Route 302
- Route 303
- Route 304
- Route 306
- Route 308
- Route 309
- Route 318
- Route 350
Special Thanks To
The Encinitas Chamber of Commerce would like to thank The Coast News for providing the above information and images.
Commissioner Lara issues Order resulting in workers’ compensation premium savings for California businesses affected by COVID-19
Commissioner’s action mandates workers’ compensation carriers reflect reduced risk of loss in premiums due to “stay-at-home” orders
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara today issued an Order adopting emergency workers’ compensation regulations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These new regulations will mandate insurance companies to recompute premium charges for policyholders to reflect reduced risk of loss consistent with Commissioner Lara’s April 13 and May 15, 2020 Bulletins, and will result in savings for many policyholders as businesses continue to struggle financially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“California’s business owners have been hit hard by COVID-19,” said Commissioner Lara. “Workers’ compensation premiums should reflect that many employees are performing less risky duties, and my Order will provide some financial relief for employers when they need it most.”
Under these emergency regulations, employers are permitted to reclassify an employee if the employee’s duties have changed to a clerical classification that has reduced risk than the employee’s previous classification. This reclassification will reduce the employer’s premiums for employees who are a lower risk because they are now working from home even though they may not have previously done so. This change would be retroactive to March 19, 2020, the first day of the Governor’s statewide stay-at-home order, and conclude 60 days after the order is lifted.
“We applaud Commissioner Lara’s efforts to meet the needs of California’s small businesses as they continue to navigate the COVID-19 crisis,” said Mark Herbert, Vice President, California for Small Business Majority. “These new rules will allow small business owners to correctly reclassify their workforce if their duties have changed, helping businesses keep more money in their pockets as they respond to a decline in revenue and adapt their business models. These rules will also ensure small businesses are better positioned for the long-term by protecting them from future increases in workers’ compensation premiums due to COVID-19. This kind of smart action will ensure our state’s job creators and innovators have the tools they need to succeed after this crisis.”
These emergency regulations also exclude from premium calculations the payments made to an employee, including sick or family leave, while the employee is not performing duties of any kind for the employer. Typically, these payments would be used as a basis for the employer’s workers’ compensation premium. This change will lower the employer’s rate by reducing the amount of payroll assessed, and the employer will not pay premium for paid workers who are otherwise being furloughed.
“These changes provide clarity to employers while helping to share any financial costs of work-related COVID-19 cases among all employers—not just those who found themselves at the center of the epidemic,” said Mitch Steiger, Advocate for the California Labor Federation, who is also a member of the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB) Governing Board. “In doing so, both workers and employers most affected by this crisis can more quickly begin the process of recovery.”
This new regulation will also exclude claims related to a COVID-19 diagnosis from being included in future rate calculations so that employers are not penalized with higher rates due to COVID-19 claims.
Insurers will also be required to report injuries involving a diagnosis of COVID-19 which will allow the Commissioner’s statistical agent—the WCIRB—to keep track of COVID-19 injuries, and will aid in the WCIRB’s future analyses of the workplace and market impacts.
The new regulations will go into effect on July 1, 2020.
Email inquiries: cdipress@insurance.ca.gov