Do you know what plan guides the "business" within the city?  Do you know where to find the City's "General Plan"?  Do you know what a general plan is?  Do you know what a "Circulation Element" map is?  Do you know where to find parcels and/or zoning information?  Do you know what "Proposition S" is and where to find it? 

Would you like to know what residential developments are currently on file with the City?  Do you know what a Master Development Plan is?  Do you know what a "Mitigated Negative Declaration" is?  Find answers to these questions and more in the "Frequently Asked Questions" section (below) and our "Citizen's Toolbox" (below).

If you feel like your viewpoint as a resident of Escondido is not getting the respect it deserves and you would you like to equip yourself with some "tools" to help your position, then this section is designed for you!  It is set-up to help residents find information relevant to their residency in Escondido.

FAQS
"Frequently Asked Questions" 

This document will be
Available Soon

About Escondido:
 
~"A Brief History of Escondido"
~Historical Points of Interest

City of Escondido
~Website
~Important City Phone
Numbers

Schools
~Map of Schools, Escondido 
~Escondido Union School District
~Escondido Union High
School District
~Public Schools, Escondido
~Private Schools, Escondido

Libraries
~Escondido Public Library
Main Branch
239 S. Kahlmia Street
760-839-4683
East Valley Branch
2245 E. Valley Parkway
760-839-4394

Parks, Lakes, Trails
& Open Space

Local Newspapers
~North County Times
~San Diego Union Tribune
~Today's Local News
~Hispanos Unidos

Local Weather
~CNN Weather
~The Weather Channel

Resources & Links:
~Important Contacts

More Documents will be
Available Soon
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Fact or Myth? 
"Urban Growth Means
Lower Taxes
...and Other Myths"
by Donella Meadows   

Click on the title to
read the full article.
__________________
 

"It is the spirit and not the form of the law that keeps justice alive."
~Earl Warren

Citizen's Toolbox:

Citizens may at some time find themselves at a disadvantage.  Many can testify to being on the "receiving end" of development within the City (and/or its "Sphere of Influence").  One of the best things that a citizen can do in this sort of circumstance is to educate themselves.  When we equip ourselves with the tools (the same tools the City uses), we are better prepared to realize a better outcome. 

Listed below are different scenarios/actual events and the tools/resources one can use and refer to: 

Scenario 1:  Resident "John Doe" has lived on a relatively quiet street in the City.  Suddenly!  A HUGE road expansion is planned and immediately underway.  The expansion eats up some of John's front yard.  What is Up?  Well...unbeknownst to many...the designation of the street of your residence dictates the future of such.  In this circumstance, "John" can refer to the city's Circulation Element and the City's Design Standards to help address the circumstance.
  
Scenario 2:  Resident "Jane Doe" (John's sister) lives next to a "vacant" parcel.  One day, she notices that a building is under construction.  She inquires as to the reasons for the activity and finds that a new convenience store is being built.  Is Jane happy about this "development"?  Did Jane know that this was forthcoming?  Well...the City's Parcel/Zoning code doc identifies the zoning category of each parcel and the planned use for the parcel.  The document is a great resource for residents and anyone looking to purchase a home or conduct business in the City.

Scenario 3:  County resident "Henry Doe" (no relation) has received notice that a residential development is proposed for the adjacent parcel, next to his home.  The notice discusses the possibility of "annexing" parcels adjoining the proposed project site.  What is Annexation?  Henry questions.  Well..."annexation is the process of changing a property's governmental boundaries.  In the case of the City of Escondido, it involves unincorporated County of San Diego territory...".  Find out more:  "Users Guide to Annexation".

Scenario 4:  Resident "Mary Margaret" lives adjacent to a 100-year county "flood-plain".  One day she receives notice that a developer plans to build several dozen homes on the property.  "Mary Margaret" is perplexed, because she was told (by the owner, when she bought the home) that the adjacent property would never be developed because it was/is a flood-plain.  Unfortunately, Mary Margaret was misinformed.  While the adjacent land is indeed a flood-plain, developing the land is permitted.  She has since learned that the Escondido Municipal Code, Chapter 33 Zoning, Article 4Flood Plain (FP) Overlay Zone  provides land use regulations, identifies permitted uses, and development standards for areas with properties situated within the designated flood plains of rivers, creeks, streams and water courses. 

Check out our "Citizen's Toolbox" (Coming Soon) , for more information and useful "tools".  Equip yourself with Knowledge!
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Test your E.I.Q. (Escondido Intelligence Quotient): 

Q:  When was Escondido incorporated? 
Answer:  In the Year... (2nd paragraph 1st sentence.)

Q:  How many "Downtown Escondido Projects" are currently on file with the City?  Five?  Ten?  Thirteen?  
Answer (click the following link):  Downtown Escondido Projects Map

Q:  What is the City's Mission Statement?  
Answer (click the following link):  Mission Statement

Q:  What are the goals of the City Council's "Action Plan 07-08"?  
Answer (click the following link):  Action Plan

Q:  What is the population of Escondido?  
Answer (click the following link):  Population yr2008

Q:  True or False?  There are eleven policies that govern "Clustering".  
Answer (click the following link):  Escondido General Plan Implementation, Policies Regarding Clustering (Refer to Section VII-10/webpage 9.)

Q:  True or False?  The City of Escondido has a Rent-Control Ordinance. 
Find the answer HERE

Q:  What are the names of Escondido's (five) City Council Members? 
Answer:  There are...

Q:  Fill in the blank:  A Mayor and four (4) members of the City Council are directly elected at large to serve a _____-year term. 
Find the answer HERE

Q:  According to the City of Escondido's "Organizational Chart", who occupies the highest level in the "chain of command"? 
Answer:  The name that appears at the top is...

Q:  Who is the largest employer in Escondido? 
Answer:  The largest employer in Escondido is...

Q:  True or False?  There are 135 Police Officers in the Escondido Police Department.  
The answer is...(Refer to "City of Escondido Budget FY2007-08", page 161/webpage 158)

Q:  Name the man that "first identified and discovered", in 1776, the area known as Escondido. 
Answer:  The name of the man is...(Refer to paragraph 1, first sentence)

Please Note:  The answers given are those provided by sources which we cite with direct links to the source sites.  The site is identified when accessed, through the "answer" prompt.  Sources cited include:  The City of Escondido and MONEY Magazine.