We can do it better!

By Rachelle Collier

Encinitas is a great place to live but we can make it better

There are ways we can make Encinitas a better place to live, play and work.

One is to have more community involvement. The City should be willing to listen to citizens who volunteer their expertise and rely less on outside consultants. Everything good that's been done in Encinitas has been community driven.

Also, we can work to keep Encinitas livable by adopting green building standards, acquiring and preserving open space and protecting our beaches. We can start work on the Hall Property soon so that it can be completed in phases.

We have great opportunities to protect and enhance our quality of life while preserving the historic, artistic small town feel that protects our property values. We must ensure that development fit the community, not change the community to fit the development.

Because of Federal, State and regional mandates and diminishing water, we must update our General Plan to protect Encinitas. If there is going to be smart-growth, it must be smart-growth Encinitas Style. We can grow gracefully.

To restore trust in our City government and guarantee transparency, I support a forensic audit and a sunshine ordinance.

We can make thoughtful and sound decisions that reflect our community values. We can do it better!