Exhibit 18
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-129 .
A RESOL
UTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD,
CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING THE APPROPRIATION OF $294,926 FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ’S FISCAL YEAR 2026 -27
OPERATING BUDGET AND THE CONVERSATION OF ONE PART -TIME FIRE
PREVENTION SPECIALIST POSITION TO A FULL-TIME ASSISTANT FIRE MARSHAL POSITION TO SUPPORT PHASE 2 OF THE WILDFIRE MITIGATION PLAN
WHERE
AS, the City Council authorized funding on February 25, 2025, for the development of a comprehensive Wildfire Mitigation Plan to address increasing wildfire risk within the City of Carlsbad; and
WHEREAS, the Wildfire Mitigation Plan is a proactive, two-phase framework designed to guide city policy, investment and wildfire risk-reduction strategies; and WHEREAS, Phase 1 of the Wildfire Mitigation Plan, consisting of a Wildfire Hazard and Risk Assessment, has been completed and provides a comprehensive evaluation of wildfire hazards, fire behavior, structural vulnerability, defensible space conditions, operational constraints, and mitigation opportunities throughout the city; and
WHEREAS, Phase 2 of the Wildfire Mitigation Plan will include development of a Community Wildfire Protection Plan through collaboration with residents, community stakeholders, regulatory agencies, land managers, and city staff to identify and prioritize wi ldfire mitigation strategies and implementation actions; and
WHEREAS, the City Council authorized the City Manager to initiate Phase 2 of the Wildfire Mitigation Plan on June 9, 2026; and
WHEREAS, the Fire Department is requesting the conversion of one existing part -time Fire Prevention Specialist position to one full-time Assistant Fire Marshal position to oversee Phase 2 of the Wildfire Mitigation Plan, including development of a Community Wildfire Protection Plan and associated stakeholder engagement, planning, environmental review, and project development activities; and
WHEREAS, the costs associated with the conversion of this position include salary, benefits, training, and equipment; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to include funding for the position conversion and community outreach budget in the fiscal year 2026-27 operating budget; and June 16, 2026
Item #6 Page 497 of 618
Docusign Envelope ID: EC574C28-EE41-8112-82BD-B665E154CC26 WHEREAS, the appropriation required for these items in fiscal year 2026-27 i s $294,926.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, as follows:
1. That the above recitations are true and correct.
2. That this action is not a “project” as defined by California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA, Section 21065 and CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(4) and does not require environmental review under CEQA Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3) as it is a government fiscal activity and does not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment.
3. That the City Manager or designee is authorized to convert one existing part -time Fire Prevention Specialist position to one full-time Assistant Fire Marshal position in the Fire Department to oversee Phase 2 of the Wildfire Mitigation Plan.
4. That the City Manager or designee is authorized to appropriate a total of $294,926 from the General Fund to the Fire Department’s FY 2026-27 operating budget, including $75,000 for the purchase and outfitting of one vehicle.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Joint Special Meeting of the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, the Board of Directors of the Carlsbad Municipal Water District, the Board of Directors of the Carlsbad Public Financing Authority, the Community Development Commission, and the City Council as Successor Agency to the Carlsbad Redevelopment Agency held on the 16th day of June, 2026, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Blackburn, Bhat-Patel, Acosta, Burkholder, Shin.
NAYS: None.
ABSTAIN: None.
ABSENT: None.
__________________
____________________
KEITH BLACKBURN, Mayor
__________________
____________________
SHERRY FREISINGER, City Clerk
(SEAL)
June 16, 2026
Item #6 Page 498 of 618
Docusign Envelope ID: EC574C28-EE41-8112-82BD-B665E154CC26