SAN MARCOS: The city may use eminent domain to acquire a half-acre strip of land along Barham Drive for a road-improvement project.

On Tuesday, the City Council authorized the legal means to do so after negotiations with the property owners stalled. The city has offered $175,000 for the land, which is part of a 10-acre vacant parcel, for right of way. The project will expand a stretch of Barham from two lanes to four from Woodland Parkway east into Escondido. The land is the last piece needed to start the first phase of the project, city officials said.

City Council fills seats on 2 panels

SAN MARCOS: The City Council has filled vacant seats on the Planning and Community Services commissions.

On Tuesday, it moved up alternate Planning Commissioner Kevin Norris to a regular seat. The council selected Bruce Minnery, who owns a recruiting company, and Bill Jacoby, a banking executive, as alternates.

The council also made alternate Community Services Commissioner Marie Purdy a regular member and appointed Jay Franklin, a coordinator of multicultural programs at California State University San Marcos, as an alternate.

---

Staff writer Linda Lou compiled this report.