Regular City Council Meeting 9/16/2026

The City of Encinitas held a regular City Council meeting on September 16, 2026, with extensive discussions on coastal zone management, including budget allocations and project updates such as the Army Corps of Engineers shoreline nourishment project and the Cardiff Living Shoreline Project. The council reviewed funding sources including transient occupancy tax and grants, and discussed ongoing and future sediment nourishment efforts. A significant portion of the meeting focused on the introduction and public hearing for amendments to the city's sanitary sewer municipal code, covering updates to sewer service charges, capacity fees, construction requirements, and enforcement policies. The council unanimously approved the introduction of Ordinance 2026-9 to update the sewer code. Another major agenda item was the consideration of a policy for implementing red light cameras under Senate Bill 720. After public comment and council deliberation, a motion passed unanimously to direct staff to further investigate the pilot program, including cost, suitable locations, data management, and legal distinctions between citations and violations, with a report to return at a future special meeting. The council also discussed extending the memorandum of understanding with the City of Vista for the operation of the Buena Creek Navigation Center shelter program and considered shelter options including a lower-cost alternative with the San Diego Rescue Mission. The council showed support for the Rescue Mission option as a temporary solution while continuing to seek local shelter capacity. Lastly, the council approved a one-year pilot native plant incentive program to distribute native plants at city events, aiming to promote environmental sustainability. The meeting included multiple public comments on safety, privacy, and homelessness issues, reflecting community engagement on these topics.