For The Good of Carlsbad with Farrah Douglas Show Notes: July 20, 2010

 

 Surviving as a Small Business in Carlsbad [60:34m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

We constantly hear it on TV, radio and from the mouth of our politicians that small businesses are the back bone of our economy. They create jobs, make payroll, pay taxes, and they will take us out of this recession. But no one really knows how difficult it is to be a small business owner and to wrestle with this unprecedented down economy.

Well, from this week we will start a new feature in my internet-based radio show “For the Good of Carlsbad with Farrah Douglas,” focusing on our local small businesses and their stories. I will collect as much pertinent information as I can to share with you about our Carlsbad businesses and also some useful information such as who lends money to small businesses, what are the requirements for the approval of the loans, what can we, small business owners, do to survive this recession which goes on and on.

I’m very pleased to have a wonderful new guest on my show, Karen Kampf one of the two young courageous owners of KYSS Boutique at the Bressi Village Shopping Center. I actually just finished walking Bressi Ranch precinct, knocking on every registered voter’s door that lives in Bressi Ranch. To be honest with you I’ve fallen in love with this community…what a warm, friendly group of families. The yards were all beautifully landscaped and I loved their front porches because they reminded me of the time when people actually sat on their front porches in the evenings and on the weekends and talked with their neighbors.

The families of Bressi were surprised to see me and mostly greeted me by “You’re the first candidate who has ever come here to meet us face to face.” They treated me as if I were their long-time friend and offered me cold drinks and a shady spot to talk with me about the future of Carlsbad. Quite often they asked me to sit down with them on their lovely colorful porch furniture and talk with them while taking a rest. Now I know why it’s so important for the candidates to walk precincts. Do you know why? Because the candidate gets to know the people, the neighborhoods, the families, the kids who live there and so when she has to make a decision on their behalf that decision is made with their well being in mind, with understanding their particular issues and concerns.

These precinct walks eventually brought me to the Bressi Shopping Center and I ended up frequenting Pete’s Coffee and Tea, Trader Joe’s, Perfectly At Home, and of course KYSS Boutique.

Karen Kampf and her partner Carla Woolover opened their clothing store in May of this year. Their story is a fantastic one and I invite you all to listen to it.

My second guest is my friend and former neighbor Dale Condy from Gems of La Costa. If I had to pick one business owner who is constantly re-inventing himself and is using all available digital e-marketing tools I would choose Dale and his wife Linda. He’s taught himself all about e-world and is using every tool imaginable to promote his business. You will be pleasantly surprised to learn about his adventures, how he is fighting the recession and the events he has planned for Gems of La Costa.

So, put your seat belts on and get ready for an exciting hour with my guests from KYSS Boutique and Gems of La Costa.

Farrah with Uncle Sam

I was fortunate this year to be invited by the residents of Rancho Carlsbad to join them in their festivities for the Fourth of July weekend. About 400 of their residents had gathered on the grass near the lake at the middle of the community. Everywhere was decorated with flags, colorful umbrellas and even my good friend, late CarolynVaughan-Culbreth’s carved wooden cows were there all dressed up in American flag.

Dancing To Elvis

The food was fantastic and then Elvis showed up which made everyone, old and young dance. I walked around and as I talked with the families of Rancho Carlsbad I felt completely at home. They are warm, affectionate and supportive and everyone remembered me and we talked about how much we all miss Carolyn. William her husband was there with his son and his family. It was a great day.

In the evening we were invited to the Lakeshore Gardens for cheese and wine with Jim and Marcela Smith and a great number of the residents at the Club House. I can’t tell you how beautiful and peaceful this community is. Rick and I enjoyed our time with them and bought a few items at the event.

A great day at a great place, Rancho Carlsbad

Thank you Rancho Carlsbad and Lakeshore Gardens for having us with you on the Fourth of July… my favorite holiday.

Wednesday July 7th, 2010 was an important Planing Commission meeting for all of us. The Commissioners, the staff, the developer, and the representatives of Lowe’s worked diligently until 10 pm to discuss and review all the critical issues pertaining to this project and to make sure this new development would not make the already congested intersection of El Camino Real and Palomar Airport Road more difficult and frustrating. At the end the majority of the Commissioners agreed that the project was a good use for the site which has been sitting vacant for a couple of years and has become an eye sore.

I am proud to have presided over this session as the Chair of the Planning Commission and to have provided ample time and opportunity for all views to be heard, and all issues to be examined and considered to the Commissioners’ satisfaction. I voted positive on this project because after thorough examination I believe Lowe’s will be a great supplement to our city and will serve our families well.

Here is the editorial published by North County Times on the Planning Commission’s decision:

EDITORIAL: Carlsbad right on Lowe’s OK

OUR VIEW: Palomar-El Camino area needs retail area

By the North County Times Opinion staff — opinion@nctimes.com

We are heartened to see the Carlsbad Planning Commission give initial approval to a proposed development at the intersection of Palomar Airport Road and El Camino Real, and trust the City Council will extend its blessing, too.

The project, requested by the Sudberry Development company, proposes a 153,974-square-foot Lowe’s home improvement store, a gas station, food court and small bank on the wedge-shaped corner property that was once home to the former Olympic Resort.

While we generally agree that attracting high-tech industrial, engineering and biotech companies ought to be the priority, we recognize the role that retail and like commercial services have for both nearby workers and residents.

We note that the San Diego Association of Governments projects 56 percent employment growth in the next 20 years in Carlsbad —- and we assume much of that will come about as the city’s business parks attract tenants. With a 15 percent overall vacancy rate for industrial property in the city and a 29 percent overall vacancy rate for office space, according to CB Richard Ellis property reports, there is plenty of available space to locate nonretail businesses.

What is constrained is the availability of good locations to site this kind of project.

Thus, we don’t see this project as provoking a “Katy bar the door” explosion of big-box projects that some people genuinely fear.

Posted in Editorial on Friday, July 9, 2010 12:01 am

Road improvements have provided better traffic flow, and the completion of Poinsettia’s last remaining section will help relieve pressure on Melrose Drive. I favor creating a Transportation Management Center as part of the proposed Public Works facility. That Center will use the latest technology to synchronize all traffic signals in the city, significantly improving flow.

I also believe that we need to address moving people to and from the two Coaster stations to facilitate greater use of mass transit. We can also look at reducing parking requirements for new developments in exchange for ensuring a ridesharing program for employees that could include carpools, vanpools and transit subsidies. Finally, let’s also survey other cities with successful traffic management programs and learn what has made them successful.

Public safety is a major issue for the whole community, including the business community. I believe a safety services master plan would define a roadmap that would further enhance professionalism and ability to serve.

My plan is to:

• Immediately seek an independent survey of both police and fire departments to ensure Carlsbad meets and exceeds public safety standards.
• Compare the industry’s response-time requirements with actual Carlsbad response times and provide support to increase that efficiency.
• Provide equipment and resources necessary to protect our city in emergencies, including state-of-the-art communication devices.
• Create a master plan based on the results of the survey, providing for the present and future needs of Carlsbad citizens.

These steps will ensure a factual analysis that firefighters, police, management and council can agree on. I believe that the City should hire the best leadership possible in public safety positions and then allow them to use their expertise in determining priority needs. Carlsbad employees, including firefighters and peace officers, are very ably represented by unions.

One of the duties of the unions is to work to obtain the best possible compensation for its members. Currently, a retiring public safety employee can earn as much as 90 percent of his or her top salary in retirement.

I support productive labor agreement negotiations and fair compensation that attracts quality employees and protects the City and its taxpayers against long-term financial challenges than can be caused by escalating pension agreements. We must avoid the financial pitfalls that have threatened the financial viability of other communities.

McClellan-Palomar Airport is one of two commercial airports in San Diego County. As a resident in one of the developments near the airport, I am very concerned about safety issues and how airport operations affect our residents.

As a new council member, I would meet with FAA officials regarding the two recent plane crashes to discuss the causes of these accidents and what can be done to enhance safety. The private sector has put in over $100 million into the airport, and the County is putting in another $25 million to build a state-of-the-art terminal. Currently, most regional commercial aircrafts cannot fly into the airport.

With or without the extension of the runway, Palomar Airport will never be able to accommodate 737 jets, because of the width of the runway. The Airport is landlocked. It does not meet FAA’s standard width and distance between runway and taxiway and taxiway and the existing buildings, the same buildings that private sector and Airport Authority have spent over $140 Million to remodel. It is physically impossible for the larger airplanes to land at Palomar Airport.

As your Council Member I will study the issue of the extension of the Airport’s runway completely before I vote on this issue if it comes before the Council, should I be lucky enough to be your Council Member. I will advocate for the Airport to honor “the good neighbor” policies, including operating hours, quiet hours and a flight path away from our homes.

I will support a possible runway extension within the airport’s existing footprint, if it would allow quiet, fuel efficient commercial aircraft to service Palomar airport safely and without adding to the noise and pollution, and if this extension does the following:

• Support my vision for economic diversity, making Carlsbad a friendly place to do business, and providing greater flexibility for our citizens to accommodate their travel needs without being forced to drive to San Diego’s airport.
• Attract regional corporations for the convenience of their product development and business travel needs–thereby increasing city revenues

Carlsbad citizens approved a Growth Management Plan in 1986. This plan has guided the City’s development ever since. We are now at 85% of build out and many residents may wonder if the Plan is still being enforced.

In 1986 the GMP called for an eventual population of 154,000. Today, revisions in the plan indicate a final population of 124,000. The plan in 1986 called for 54,599 dwelling units. Now, the expectation is for 44,017. Overall, the plan requires preservation of 40% of the City as open space, and that goal is close to achievement.

“Open Space,” defined differently by different people, is always a topic of discussion, as it reflects the desire of most people for a less crowded environment. The balance between open space and other uses crops up regularly when new developments are suggested.

I believe it is critically important for residents to stay up to date on issues and decisions that involve open space. I strongly support adherence to the Growth Management Plan, especially in the retention of 40 percent open space.