Encinitas council approves MOUs to fund bicycle-safety lessons for local schools after debate over provider transparency

The Encinitas City Council on June 24 approved memoranda of understanding (MOUs) to reimburse the Encinitas Union School District and the San Dieguito Union High School District for bicycle-safety education, while directing staff to confirm how the districts select and contract providers before the city executes the agreements.

Council members and staff said the two MOUs formalize a program that partners the city with each district to provide assemblies, webinars and on-bike instruction intended to improve student safety on routes to and from school. Mobility staff told council the program served more than 4,000 elementary students with assemblies and about 200 students with on-bike activities last year in the Encinitas Union School District; the San Dieguito program served roughly 300 students in its initial school year. Instructors are certified through the League of American Bicyclists, staff said.

The council’s vote followed extended public comment and council discussion about the contractor named in the staff report, the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition, and its relationship with the local advocacy group Bike Walk Encinitas. Several public speakers and Councilmember Ty O’Hara said they wanted more detail on vendor selection and whether alternatives were solicited. Resident Rachel Graves and others raised concerns that some instruction and youth-commission presentations had included political commentary; Bike-walk supporters and certified instructors including Christine Schindler responded that the county coalition is the contract partner and that League-certified instructors deliver the curriculum.

Councilmember John M. O’Hara proposed a substitute motion to return the item to staff for a fuller packet; that motion failed. The primary motion to approve the MOUs—moved by Deputy Mayor Tony Lyons and seconded by Mayor Bruce Ehlers—passed with O’Hara abstaining and Councilmember Marco San Antonio voting no. The council also added direction that staff obtain clarity on the districts’ selection and bidding processes before final execution of the MOUs. In discussion, councilmembers referenced the program budgets: roughly $30,000 for Encinitas Union School District and $16,000 for San Dieguito Union High School District, the same amounts allocated last year, according to comments on the dais.

Mobility manager Nick Buck told council the districts choose and contract providers and then submit receipts to the city for reimbursement; the MOUs formalize that arrangement. Staff said the city pays up to the agreed reimbursement amounts and the districts are responsible for contracting the instructor organizations.

Council members and commenters emphasized support for bike education while pressing for clearer documentation of procurement and for assurances that school presentations remain focused on safety and not political advocacy. Council’s direction asks staff to return with documentation of how each district procures instruction and any available comparative bids or cost estimates prior to executing the MOUs.

The council’s action preserves the program schedule for the coming school year but adds an information requirement intended to increase transparency about how vendors are selected.

Votes at a glance: the motion to approve the MOUs passed with Councilmember O’Hara recorded as abstaining and Councilmember San Antonio recorded as voting no; other council members voted yes.