Encinitas council adds fire-station planning and state fire-code review to annual objectives

Council members asked staff to add public-safety objectives to the 2025 annual objectives, including steps on Fire Station 1 and potential new facilities.

Council asked that the temporary replacement for Fire Station 1 move toward completion where feasible and instructed staff to investigate land and locations for a possible Fire Station 6. Members emphasized that the work should include proposed timelines, funding strategies (including grants and public–private partnerships), and consideration of reusing temporary structures. Staff identified coordination efforts under way by the fire chief and other city staff and said they will assemble options for council review.

Separately, council discussed a review of state fire-code provisions and whether adopting objective state fire-code standards should be incorporated in the municipal code and the general plan to address recurring safety issues raised by recent cases such as Clark Street. Council asked staff to place a specific objective on reviewing fire-code adoption and related general-plan amendments.

Council also asked staff to explore ways to increase sheriff staffing and traffic-enforcement capacity for the city, noting traffic safety commission recommendations and cite budget impacts and possible revenue scenarios that could affect funding decisions. The council requested staff to include the public-safety objectives and associated budget implications when it returns the revised objectives in April.