CITY OF DEL MAR
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
MARCH 4, 2024
City of Del Mar Town Hall
1050 Camino del Mar, Del Mar California 92014
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 Druker called the Regular Meeting to order at 4:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Dave Druker; Deputy Mayor Terry Gaasterland; Councilmembers Tracy Martinez, Dan Quirk, and Dwight Worden
CITY ATTORNEY CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney reported that Deputy Mayor Gaasterland participated remotely in the February 20, 2024, Council Closed Session and Councilmember Quirk was recused from Item A. City Attorney Devaney reported that there were no legally reportable actions for the items on the February 20, 2024, closed session agenda. She reported that for Item A the Council discussed the process for negotiations with property owners after a final engineering report is complete. City Attorney Leslie Devaney reported that there were no reportable actions for the March 4, 2024 City Council Closed Session meeting.
Councilmember Quirk was recused from Item C1.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Quirk led the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS & COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Councilmember Worden reported on Ocean Protection Council updates related to sea-level rise; passing of prior Del Mar mayors Harvey Shapiro, Henry Abarbanel, and Tom Pearson and their important service to the Del Mar community and in their respective fields; and upcoming City Council presentation from Greg Hearon of Coastal Frontiers. Deputy Mayor Gaasterland reported on her recent experience volunteering with Meals on Wheels in Del Mar.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Ashley Jones reported on the objective design standards public workshop with the Design Review Board on March 19, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.; EDCO Del Mar Recycles event on Saturday, March 16 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. in the lower parking lot at Shores Park; and rescheduled City Council Goals and Priorities Workshop that will be held on Monday, March 11, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. Administrative Services City Council Regular Minutes
March 4, 2024
Manager Krietor reported on the issues with the Town Hall audio visual equipment and reported that public meetings will be held in-person only until the equipment is replaced.
PRESENTATIONS
ITEM 1: FIRE DEPARTMENT 2023 SERVICE DELIVERY OVERVIEW (CLERK’S FILE NO. 1101-8)
Mayor Druker introduced the item. A presentation was provided by Fire Chief Joshua Gordon.
City Council questions focused whether the Fire department tracks calls for service at the Del Mar Fairground; fire risk, safety considerations, and regulations related to electric vehicle charging and lithium batteries; whether north county cities have considered consolidating fire service amongst all agencies; pet rescues; fire station lease; and how life assist calls are received by dispatch and the fire department.
There were no public speakers for the item.
ITEM 2: SANDAG DEL MAR BLUFFS PHASE 5 PROJECT PRESENTATION (CLERK’S FILE NO. 1005-2, 1506-1)
City Manager Jones introduced the item. A presentation was provided by San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) Senior Engineer Allie DeVaux.
City Council questions focused on potential impacts to the grunion run; construction noise; hotline phone number and hours; SANDAG Board vote to allocate requested funds for Del Mar Bluff Phase 5 Project (Project) mitigation work related to pedestrian access to other SANAD projects; anticipated timing for construction including installation of sea walls; construction staging locations and construction staging impacts on beach access; whether SANDAG is required to study and monitor the impacts of the sand retention on the beach; and expected useful life of the railroad tracks following completion of the Del Mar Bluff 5 projects. Community Services Director Jon Edelbrock responded to City Council questions related to potential impacts to lifeguard emergency response on the beach during Project construction.
Mayor Druker opened the item to public comment and Udo Wahn and Karl Willert spoke. Mayor Druker closed the item to public comment.
Council discussion focused on Lifeguard staff’s ability to respond to incidents at the beach and how that may be impacted by sea wall construction; lifeguard emergency response times; request for Council liaisons Druker and Gaasterland and staff to review the sea wall constructions plans for the Project; and desire to defer construction of the seawalls until later in the construction timeline or after the beach access improvements work has begun.
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 MARTINEZ, SECONDED BY DEPUTY MAYOR GAASTERLAND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 3 THROUGH 6. (VOTE 5-0) Ayes: Mayor Druker, Deputy Mayor Gaasterland, and Councilmembers Martinez, Quirk and Worden; Noes: 0; Recuse: 0; Absent: 0; Abstain: 0.
City Council Regular Minutes
March 4, 2024
ITEM 3: APPROVAL OF MINUTES: FEBRUARY 20, 2024 REGULAR AND SPECIAL MEETING (CLERK’S MINUTES BOOK)
Council approved the minutes, on consent.
ITEM 4: RATIFICATION OF LIST OF DEMANDS, DATED MARCH 4, 2024 (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: AGREEMENT FOR AS-NEEDED PRINTING SERVICES (CLERK’S FILE NO. 406-1) Council approved a professional services agreement with Del Mar Blue Print Company for as-needed printing, publishing, and scanning services for an initial three-year period effective March 4, 2024, through March 4, 2027; and authorized the City Manager to execute the agreement and any subsequent term extension amendments provided for under the Agreement contingent upon satisfactory performance, on consent.
CITY COUNCIL OTHER BUSINESS
ITEM 7: REVIEW RESULTS OF THE 2023 PAVEMENT CONDITION ASSESSMENT AND FIVEYEAR PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (CLERK’S FILE NO. 901-2) An introduction to the item was provided by City Manager Jones. A presentation was provided by City consultant Peter Bucknam of Bucknam Infrastructure Group, Inc., Principal Engineer Karen Falk and Public Works Director Joe Bride were available to answer questions.
Council questions focused on budgeting for paving projects that will take place in conjunction with the City’s undergrounding project; specific streets that will be paved this fiscal year; process for benchmarking paving unit costs included in the report; whether the roadway condition of the private portion of San Dieguito Drive was evaluated; whether the Fairgrounds participates at all in covering the cost of the roadway repair; whether roads with bike lanes are evaluated using the same standards as other roadways; whether the application ‘My Roads’ is available to the public; and whether the City can do repairs for pot holes and tree roots outside of larger repaving projects.
There were no public speakers for the item.
Council discussion focused on the estimated paving schedule for the next five years and whether any streets that need repair were omitted from the list; feedback that the streets have been correctly identified; funding options; and appropriate time to discuss funding.
City Council consensus was to proceed with staff’s recommended action to budget $750,000 per year for citywide paving work, which could be reviewed and potentially increased on annual basis by Council as part of the City’s budget process.
City Council Regular Minutes
March 4, 2024
ITEM 8: SAN DIEGUITO DRIVE IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT UPDATE AND RESOLUTION
INITIATING PROCEEDINGS FOR THE FORMATION OF THE SAN DIEGUITO DRIVE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (CLERK’S FILE NO. 801-1, 803-3)
An introduction to the item was provided by City Manager Jones. A presentation was provided by Project Manager II Martin Boyd and Public Works Director Joe Bride.
Council questions focused on clarification of the basis for the information being provided to residents in advance of a recommendation to the City Council; contents of the Engineer’s Report; and potential cost savings associated with combining this project with X1A undergrounding project.
Mayor Druker opened the item to public comment and the following people spoke:
1) Amy Cheshire
2) Beth Westburg
Mayor Druker closed the item to public comment.
Council discussion focused on next steps and the timing for bring an item to City Council.
IT WAS MOVED BY DEPUTY MAYOR GAASTERLAND, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER WORDEN TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2024-05, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA INITIATING PROCEEDINGS FOR THE FORMATION OF THE “CITY OF DEL MAR – SAN DIEGUITO DRIVE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT” AS PROVIDED FOR UNDER THE LANDSCAPE AND LIGHTING ACT OF 1972”, TO FUND NECESSARY IMPROVEMENTS TO SAN DIEGUITO DRIVE. (VOTE 4-1 WITH
COUNCILMEMBER QUIRK OPPOSED)
Ayes: Mayor Druker, Deputy Mayor Gaasterland, and Councilmembers Martinez and Worden; Noes:
Councilmember Quirk; Recuse: 0; Absent: 0; Abstain: 0.
ITEM 9: CREATION OF A LOSSAN RAIL REALIGNMENT ADVISORY TASKFORCE AND
ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING CITY COUNCIL GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR THE LOSSAN RAIL REALIGNMENT PROJECT (CLERK’S FILE NO. 1005-2, 1506-1)
A presentation was provided by Mayor Druker and Deputy Mayor Gaasterland.
Council questions focused on the application process for residents to apply to serve on the proposed Taskforce.
Mayor Druker opened the item to public comment and the following people spoke:
1) John Stahl
2) Angie Neglia with donations of time from Ross Neglia and Michael Boyle Mayor Druker closed the item to public comment.
Council discussion focused on the proposed resolution; formation of the Taskforce; considerations related to housing on the Fairgrounds; consideration to form the Taskforce at a later date after the NOP process is complete; City’s LOSSAN Rail Realignment Guiding Principles; and desire to request at least a 15-day extension from SANDAG in order for the City to have the time needed to properly review and respond to the Notice of Preparation (NOP).
City Council Regular Minutes
March 4, 2024
Council consensus was for Mayor Druker and Deputy Mayor Gaasterland to work with staff to facilitate the City Council’s response to the NOP.
IT WAS MOVED BY MAYOR DRUKER, SECONDED BY DEPUTY MAYOR GAASTERLAND TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2024-06, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA, MEMORIALIZING AND REAFFIRMING THE CITY COUNCIL
ADOPTED GUIDING PRINCIPLES RELATED TO THE SAN DIEGO ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS LOSSAN RAIL REALIGNMENT PROJECT”, WITH AMENDMENTS DELETING NUMBERS TWO – FIVE AND DELETING “WHEREAS” NUMBER FOUR. (VOTE 4-1 WITH COUNCILMEMBER QUIRK OPPOSED)
Ayes: Mayor Druker, Deputy Mayor Gaasterland, and Councilmembers Martinez and Worden; Noes:
Councilmember Quirk; Recuse: 0; Absent: 0; Abstain: 0.
ITEM 10: CONSIDERATION OF AN EXCLUSIVE NEGOTIATING RIGHTS AGREEMENT WITH THE 22ND DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION (CLERK’S FILE NO. 406-1, 1502-10)
A presentation was provided by City Manager Jones.
Mayor Druker opened the item to public comment and the following people spoke:
1) Betty Wheeler
Mayor Druker closed the item to public comment.
Council questions and discussion focused on concerns raised related to use of affordable units as STRs; importance of the Exclusive Negotiating Rights Agreement (ENRA); and appreciation to City Manager Jones and City staff for their work on the ENRA.
IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER QUIRK, SECONDED BY DEPUTY MAYOR
GAASTERLAND TO APPROVE AN EXCLUSIVE NEGOTIATING RIGHTS AGREEMENT WITH THE 22ND DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION; AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT. (VOTE 5-0)
Ayes: Mayor Druker, Deputy Mayor Gaasterland, and Councilmembers Martinez, Quirk and Worden; Noes: 0; Recuse: 0; Absent: 0; Abstain: 0.
REGIONAL ORGANIZATION AND COUNCIL COMMITTEES/SUBCOMMITTEES/COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATION REPORTS
None.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Druker adjourned the meeting at 8:22 p.m.
Sarah Krietor, Administrative Services Manager/
City Clerk