Encinitas public health and safety commission adopts 2025 work plan after edits and discussion

The Encinitas Public Health and Safety Commission voted to approve a proposed calendar-year 2025 work plan and forward it to City Council, with the motion passing unanimously and Commissioner Sales absent.

The plan lays out strategic goals and actions on community outreach, interagency coordination, fire- and large-incident preparedness, youth substance-use prevention, and follow-up on the commission's 2024 recommendations on homelessness. Chair James Morton said the commission must recognize its role as influence rather than authority: "This is not a position of authority. This is a position of influence," he said during discussion of how the group will engage with council and staff.

Commissioners spent the meeting refining language, combining duplicate items, and adding or clarifying partners and scopes. Revisions included adding the County Health and Human Services Agency and the county sheriff's department to coordination items; expanding a public-safety objective to explicitly include "large-scale incidents" such as wildland fires and floods; and moving identification of resource gaps into a strategic goal rather than a standalone item.

The commission also agreed to carry forward the recommendations adopted in its 2024 outcomes, including calls to update the Homeless Action Plan, to pursue Built for Zero (by-name list and case conferencing) approaches, and to explore shared-housing pilot options with the housing authority. Commissioners discussed a proposed community mental-health fair tied to Mental Health Awareness Month in May but noted the event would require significant staff and partner coordination; the commission recommended working with city staff and partner organizations to pursue the fair as a future (likely 2026) project depending on resources.

Multiple commissioners raised consistent barriers to implementation: infrequent meeting cadence and uneven attendance limited progress, and the commission lacks formal authority absent clear direction from City Council. Commissioners asked that a council liaison provide clearer priorities so the commission can target staff time and volunteer assignments.

Lois (city staff liaison) reviewed edits in real time during the meeting and confirmed the final draft would be transmitted to City Council on the consent calendar, where council may pull the item for discussion. A motion to accept the draft work plan was made and seconded; the clerk announced the motion passed unanimously with Commissioner Sales absent.

The commission scheduled its next regular meeting for March 17 and noted several near-term items: the fire department's March 3 wildfire-prevention workshop in Olivenhain, coordination with the sheriff on distributing crime-prevention media, and follow-up on implementing the 2024 homelessness recommendations.

Votes at a glance: Motion to accept the 2025 Public Health and Safety Commission work plan — approved (motion moved and seconded; motion passed unanimously with Commissioner Sales absent).