Grand Challenges for Del Mar

By Henry D. I. Abarbanel

Two looks to the future: trains off the bluff--to where? Shores Property at 9th and Stratford

During this election season, I plan to write to you with my ideas on important issues to everyone in Del Mar. My overall goal is to work with you to build the community we all chose to live in. I hope to communicate my thoughts on how we can do this together.

Today I would like to discuss two grand challenges for Del Mar. In earlier letters I addressed some current critical issues and have offered approaches for solving them. I want to look to the future now.

Trains and the Bluff

In the 1940's a train fell off the bluff at Del Mar. The Santa Fe railroad solved this problem by simply moving the tracks 30 feet East to their present location. If this happens again, clearly the solution must be different!

For some years the City of Del Mar has taken the position that the trains must come off the bluff--hopefully not in the same way as 60 years ago! The San Diego region and the State of California have adopted the same position because of our efforts. In August, I voted to make our position more specific: in leaving the bluff, the train should go to I-5 at Oceanside and run down I-5. This is now the official policy of the City of Del Mar. Our challenge is to convince the region and the State of the viability of this position.

Can tiny Del Mar really expect to succeed? In the 1950's CalTrans planned to build I-5 along Camino del Mar. The people of Del Mar, just formed as a City, fought this, and they won! If they had not, would you be living here?

With our decision made: "Move the train tracks way off the bluff", and our objective clear: "Move the train tracks to I5", we begin the journey to make it happen. It will not be easy, but it is the right thing to do.

Shores Property at 9th and Stratford

The 5.2 acres near 9th and Stratford is owned by the Del Mar Unified School District. It is zoned Public Facilities and is designated this way by the voter approved Community Plan. The school district, having more than tripled its size in recent years with students coming primarily from Carmel Valley, is in need of new administrative offices. In their search for solutions, they have held many sessions with the City of Del Mar discussing joint use of this property, including the sale of all or part to the City, lease of all or part, or other options.

What might we do with these five acres? Many options have been floated but only in public discussions can any be selected by the public. Until we complete the negotiations with the school district, all options remain virtual.

This is an opportunity similar to the Powerhouse Park purchase in the early 1980s. That was approved by a public vote after much discussion, and we paid about $1 million for the property. After the city paid off the mortgage, which took about a decade, the community began detailed discussions of what to do with the building. The Friends of the Powerhouse was formed, and, in a very successful private/public partnership, we created the lovely and useful community center we all admire. It has been so successful that the fees collected for its use now cover nearly 100% of the maintenance and capital costs for the renovation.

I have been involved in the negotiations with the Del Mar Unified School District from the outset. In fact, I initiated them in discussions with the school district superintendent. They are going well, and I am optimistic that we will find a good deal for the City and the schools. I am a strong supporter of these schools: both my daughters attended them and benefited enormously from their extraordinary quality. All of our kids rely on them for superior educations. I am a strong advocate that we should seize the opportunity to form a joint partnership with our schools to maintain the Shores property for public use.

We can easily guess that the cost will be expensive, so any agreement will require careful attention and extensive public discussion. I will make sure there are sufficient public workshops for this, scrutiny by our finance committee, and, if needed, an external evaluation of the terms to assure they benefit all residents and businesses. Before any agreement is finalized, I will make sure that it is brought to the voters for approval.

The lesson of the grand challenges is this: If you do not know where you are going, any road will do.

We have clear, big challenges that are important to our community. We know where we want to go, and we need to pull together as a community to move ahead. No one should pretend that succeeding at either of these grand challenges is going to be easy. Del Mar has succeeded in the past because of a coherent, strong community and a leadership that has worked very well in regional affairs.

I am pleased to have been part of that leadership for the past four years, and I seek your vote to re-elect me on November 2 so I can contribute to the solution of the many issues, big and small, which challenge our city.

I have a record of working well with all residents in Del Mar; I do this best when I have your input. Please bring me your questions, your problems, and your priorities. Call me at 481 2749 or e-mail me at hdiadelmar@yahoo.com . I appreciate your input. I ask for your vote on November 2 to re-elect me to the Del Mar City Council.

Paid for by Abarbanel for Council, 1110 Crest Road, Del Mar, CA 92014-2620 J. Rod Franklin, Treasurer