CITY OF DEL MAR
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
JULY 24, 2023
City of Del Mar Town Hall
1050 Camino del Mar, Del Mar California 92014
And via teleconference
128 Ritchie Ave.
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
The minutes set forth the actions taken by the City Council on the matters stated. Audio/video recordings of the City Council proceedings are retained for a period of ten years, in accordance with the City's Records Retention Schedule. Audio/video recordings, as well as written materials presented to the City Council, including Red Dots (materials provided to the City Council after the agenda has published), are available on the City’s website at www.delmar.ca.us/AgendaCenter or by contacting the Administrative Services Department at (858) 755-9313.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Martinez called the Regular Meeting to order at 4:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Tracy Martinez; Deputy Mayor Dan Quirk; Councilmembers Dave Druker and Terry Gaasterland. Councilmember Dwight Worden participated in the meeting remotely.
CITY ATTORNEY CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney Leslie Devaney reported that there were no recusals or reportable actions for the July 24, 2023 City Council Closed Session meeting.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Martinez led the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS & COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Martinez reported that Assistant City Manager Clem Brown will be participating in the meeting on behalf of City Manager Ashley Jones. Councilmember Druker reported that he and Mayor Martinez have been working with staff to schedule and plan the City Council retreat, which is tentatively scheduled for Friday, September 29, 2023.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
Assistant City Manager Clem Brown reported on the San Dieguito Drive resident meeting held on July 13, 2023; Summer Race Meet Opening Day at the Del Mar racetrack; and City Council meeting recess in August 2023. Planning & Community Development Director Karen Brindley reported on the Planning Commission Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Workshop held on July 10, 2023.
City Council Regular Minutes
July 24, 2023
PRESENTATIONS
ITEM 1: UPDATE FROM CITY REPRESENTATIVE TO SAN DIEGO COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY (CLERK’S FILE NO. 1506-3)
Mayor Martinez introduced the item. A presentation was provided by San Diego County Water Authority (SDWA) Del Mar Representative and Board Chair Mel Katz and Assistant General Manager Kelly Gage.
City Council questions focused on cost increases for water and water treatment over the last few decades; Carlsbad Desalination Plant; projected shortfall and overhead costs; potential consequences of agreeing to sell water; and water conservation.
There were no public speakers for the item.
ITEM 2: SANDAG DEL MAR TUNNEL ALIGNMENT & PUBLIC OUTREACH PLAN (CLERK’S FILE NO. 1506-1)
Mayor Martinez introduced the item. A presentation was provided by the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) Rail Planning Manager Danny Veeh and Manager of Outreach and Engagement Brandy Sweitzer.
Mayor Martinez opened the item to public comment and the following people spoke:
1) Alan Wittgrove
2) Karen Lare
3) Monica Meredith (donation of time from Tate Scott)
4) Dean Meredith
5) Carol Kerridge
6) Timonthy Mills
7) Joanne Pietrilla
8) Timothy Davis
9) Camilla Rang
10) Henrik Jensen
11) Jim Benedict
12) Jonathan Polikoff
13) Deanna Rich
14) Ian Galton
15) Greg Rothnem
16) Cade Sears
17) Rose Meredith
18) Paige Blair-Hubert
19) Ricardo del Rio (remote)
Mayor Martinez closed the item to public comment.
Council questions focused on the weighted ranking used to evaluate alignment options; project timeline; environmental studies associated with the project; cost benefit analysis; and the information SANDAG considered related to alignment options.
Council discussion focused on appreciation to the public for their participation in the meeting; importance of the public outreach process; and preference by some for the I-5 alignment.
City Council Regular Minutes
July 24, 2023
CONSENT CALENDAR
Administrative Services Manager/City Clerk Sarah Krietor read the titles of the items included on the Consent Calendar. There were no public speakers for the consent calendar items.
IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER DRUKER, SECONDED BY MAYOR MARTINEZ TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 3 THROUGH 5, ITEMS 7, AND 8. (VOTE 5-0) Ayes: Mayor Martinez, Deputy Mayor Quirk, and Councilmembers Druker, Gaasterland and Worden; Noes: 0; Absent: 0; Abstain: 0.
ITEM 3: APPROVAL OF MINUTES: MAY 30, 2023 AND MAY 31, 2023 SPECIAL MEETING, JUNE 19, 2023 REGULAR MEETING, JULY 10, 2023 REGULAR AND SPECIAL MEETING (CLERK’S MINUTES BOOK)
Council approved the minutes, on consent.
ITEM 4: RATIFICATION OF LIST OF DEMANDS, DATED JULY 24, 2023 (CLERK’S FILE NO. 201-3)
Council approved the list of demands, on consent.
ITEM 5: WAIVER OF READING OF ORDINANCES ON AGENDA (CLERK’S FILE NO. 401-4) Council waived the reading of ordinances, on consent.
ITEM 6: APPROVAL OF A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH ASCENT ENVIRONMENTAL INC. TO PREPARE RESIDENTIAL OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS IN ACCORDANCE WITH PROGRAM 6G OF THE CITY’S ADOPTED 6TH CYCLE HOUSING ELEMENT (CLERK’S FILE NO. 304-7, 406-1)
This item was pulled from the consent calendar for City Council questions and discussion.
Council discussion focused on desire to form a citizens’ advisory committee to work with staff and the consultant to develop objective design standards. There were no public speakers for the item.
IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILMEMER GAASTERLAND, SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER WORDEN TO: 1) APPROVE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH ASCENT ENVIRONMENTAL INC. FOR THE PREPARATION OF
OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS FOR BY-RIGHT/MINISTERIAL RESIDENTIAL HOUSING PROJECTS; 2) AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT; AND 3) DEFINE A CITIZENS GROUP IN BOTH APPROACH AND
CONTENT, TO ADVISE THE CITY COUNCIL ON THE PROCESS, AND DEVELOPMENT OF OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS. (VOTE 5-0)
Ayes: Mayor Martinez, Deputy Mayor Quirk, and Councilmembers Druker, Gaasterland and Worden; Noes: 0; Absent: 0; Abstain: 0.
ITEM 7: RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE APPLICATIONS TO SANDAG TO REQUEST CYCLE 2 HOUSING ACCELERATION PROGRAM (HAP) GRANT FUNDS (CLERK’S FILE NO. 201-13, 304-7, 1506-1)
City Council Regular Minutes
July 24, 2023
Council adopted Resolution 2023-31, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF TWO GRANT
APPLICATIONS TO THE SAN DIEGO ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS (SANDAG) IN THE AMOUNT OF $181,000 FOR PLANNING GRANT FUNDS AND $1.5 MILLION IN CAPITAL GRANT FUNDS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THREE HOUSING ELEMENTRELATED SPECIAL PROJECTS; AND COMMITTING THE CITY TO PROVIDE PARTIAL MATCH FUNDS AND IN-KIND STAFF TIME; AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER
TO ACCEPT GRANT FUNDING AND EXECUTE GRANT AGREEMENTS IF AN AWARD IS MADE BY SANDAG” and execute any grant related documents, on consent.
ITEM 8: TRAFFIC AND PARKING ADVISORY COMMITTEE APPOINTMENT (CLERK’S FILE NO. 401-5 )
Council appointed Ajit Venkatraman as a voting member of the Traffic and Parking Advisory Committee to serve the balance of a vacant term starting July 24, 2023, and ending on May 31, 2025, on consent.
ITEM 9: REQUEST FROM KITCHELL DEVELOPMENT COMPANY TO CONTRIBUTE AN INLIEU FEE FOR FUTURE UNDERGROUNDING OF UTILITIES IN THE 300 BLOCK OF 10TH STREET (CLERK’S FILE NO. 801-3, 1001-2)
The item was pulled from the Consent Calendar for City Council questions and discussion.
Council questions focused on cost estimates; location and source of power for the 941 Camino del Mar project; and whether the Council would consider adding these poles in the Undergrounding Area 1B at a future meeting.
There were no public speakers for the item.
IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER GAASTERLAND, SECONDED BY MAYOR
MARTINEZ TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO ACCEPT AN IN-LIEU UTILITY
UNDERGROUNDING FEE TO SATISFY THE KITCHELL DEVELOPMENT
COMPANY’S (APPLICANT) OBLIGATION UNDER THE 941 CAMINO DEL MAR SPECIFIC PLAN AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT DA22-001 TO UNDERGROUND TWO UTILITY POLES WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF 307 10TH STREET AND 941 CAMINO DEL MAR. (VOTE 5-0)
Ayes: Mayor Martinez, Deputy Mayor Quirk, and Councilmembers Druker, Gaasterland and Worden; Noes: 0; Absent: 0; Abstain: 0.
COUNCIL MEETING RECESS:
The City Council took a meeting recess from approximately 7:00 to 7:15 p.m.
CITY COUNCIL OTHER BUSINESS
ITEM 10: DISCUSSION OF COUNCIL GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND OBJECTIVES FOR DEVELOPMENT OF SHORT-TERM RENTAL REGULATIONS (CLERK’S FILE NO. 301-19)
City Council Regular Minutes
July 24, 2023
An introduction to the item was provided by Planning and Community Development Director Karen Brindley. A presentation was provided by Principal Planner Amanda Lee and Associate Planner Adriana Jaramishian.
Council questions focused on status of the current Short-Term Rental (STR) regulations in the City; regulatory option for defining owner occupied, investment property, and other types of property; expected timing for the California Coastal Commission (CCC) certification; desire to include state and local cases in the legal landscape update coming to City Council on September 5, 2023; clarification on the guiding principles; STR good neighbor policies; opportunity to collect Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) and fees; and desire to avoid expensive lawsuits related to STRS.
Mayor Martinez opened the item to public comment and the following people spoke:
1) Steven McDowell
2) Gina Mattern
3) Kimberly Jackson
Mayor Martinez closed the item to public comment.
IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER GAASTERLAND, SECONDED BY MAYOR MARTINEZ TO APPROVE GUIDING PRINCIPLES 1-11. (VOTE 5-0)
Ayes: Mayor Martinez, Deputy Mayor Quirk, and Councilmembers Druker, Gaasterland and Worden; Noes: 0; Absent: 0; Abstain: 0.
REGIONAL ORGANIZATION AND COUNCIL COMMITTEES/SUBCOMMITTEES/COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATION REPORTS
None.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Martinez adjourned the meeting at 9:35 p.m.
Sarah Krietor, Administrative Services Manager/
City Clerk