You'd think with the ongoing economic meltdown that the good folks on the city councils of the burgs of Oceanside, Vista and San Marcos would have some pretty substantive issues to tackle. Things like figuring out how to keep the state's grubby hands off their respective city coffers. Of how to balance their books without sending the quality of life in their cities into the sewer.

But all three cities are expending energy on issues that might charitably be described as peripheral.

Oceanside recently put in place a moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries -- and never you mind that there aren't any in the city, nor have any been publicly proposed. (The city attorney says the city was informally approached by someone wanting to open one -- a rather nebulous crisis on which to hang an emergency ordinance.)

Vista has voted to ban smoking lounges -- not that there are any in town. Councilman Bob Campbell said Vista should be a "health-oriented community" -- which leaves you to wonder whether onion rings might not be next in the City Council's sights.

And while the targeting of perfectly legal businesses in Oceanside and Vista is enough to raise the blood pressure of anyone who believes in the rule of law, San Marcos might take the cake for municipal arrogance. That city is considering whether to turn the entire city into a homeowners association.

OK, that's an exaggeration -- but only slightly. Among the suggestions the Student and Neighborhood Relations Commission will discuss at a meeting June 8 are regulations on how tall your grass can be, and how long your Christmas decorations can stay up.

Setting aside the issue of how wise such an ordinance would be, has the city staff considered how much the city will spend in court defending itself from lawsuits filed by outraged citizens? It's none of the city's business how long someone keeps up their Christmas, Halloween or Festivus decorations. And maybe I like long grass in my yard. Education and peer pressure are the appropriate avenues for beautifying a city -- not the threat of fines or jail.

Of course, in defying the voters' will on medical marijuana, Oceanside would seem to be unnecessarily exposing itself to litigation as well -- as is Vista, with its blanket ban of a perfectly legal product.

Instead of trying to babysit everyone within city limits, perhaps the elected officials of Oceanside, San Marcos and Vista could expend a bit more of their efforts on trying to deal with the financial crises their towns are grappling with.

An apology: Last week, in taking Escondido Police Chief Jim Maher to task for his support of driver's licenses for illegal immigrants, I charged with him "backtracking." In fact, his message has been consistent -- I misread our news coverage. My apologies to the chief.

Contact staff writer JIM TRAGESER at jtrageser@nctimes.com or 760-740-5408.

CORRECTION: Column had incorrect meeting info

Jim Trageser's column in Sunday's North County Times incorrectly stated which San Marcos panel would hold a public hearing on a proposed property maintenance ordinance. The June 8 hearing is being held by the Student and Neighborhood Relations Commission in the City Council chambers at 6:30 p.m.

We apologize.