Environmental Action Plan Being Revamped

A newer, slimmer version of the Environmental Action Plan will reemerge to the City Council next month, officials say. The new EAP comes on the heels of the ’s passage, which was the first of its kind for Encinitas.

In late February, the Environmental Advisory Commission outlining seven goals it wanted to accomplish. Originally, the plan had more than 150 items, but in the coming weeks, the EAC will whittle down the draft even more, focusing on only the most critical goals. Each member of the commission's subcommittee has been asked which two or three items they think is most important—based on the results, a new plan will be drafted.

According to EAC Coordinator Jacy Bolden, the commission will return to the council with the new draft next month. While the list will be shortened, she said the EAC still wants the seven goals to remain an integral part of the plan.

“It's taking 170 items and keeping them as a reference point to what the community thinks is important,” Bolden said.

The subcommittee tasked with making the digestible plan has spoken weekly to discuss the priorities. “We're not sitting still,” Bolden said. “Our objective is that the City Council would hopefully approve it.”

Councilwoman Teresa Barth said she wants the updated plan to be both economical and environmental.  “It was very conceptual and now we need the details,” she said. 

Barth said she hopes the new draft will also align with the recently approved CAP, and will provide strong public education to communicate its goals.

Encinitas resident Kathleen Lees hopes the new plan is approved and is happy about the makeover. “The first plan was too big, there was too much,” she said.

Lees would like to see the EAC present the new items in terms of importance and feasibility because she believes Encinitas residents truly want to live in an environmentally-conscious community.

“People want the city to be a leader in San Diego,” she said. “They don't want to be part of the problem; they want to be part of the solution.”