DEL MAR CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
OPEN SESSION
JULY 16, 2024
City of Del Mar Town Hall
1050 Camino del Mar, Del Mar, California
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Dave Druker called the meeting to order at 2:00 P.M.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Dave Druker; Deputy Mayor Terry Gaasterland; Councilmembers Tracy Martinez, Dan Quirk, and Dwight Worden
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Assistant City Manager Clem Brown led the Pledge of Allegiance.
CITY ATTORNEY CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney Leslie Devaney reported on the July 16, 2024, City Council Closed Session meeting. All members of the Council were present and there were no recusals or reportable actions.
CITY COUNCIL OTHER BUSINESS
ITEM 1: CITY OF DEL MAR COMMENTS ON THE NOTICE OF PREPARATION OF
A DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR THE LOSSAN RAIL REALIGNMENT PROJECT (CLERK’S FILE NO. 1005-2, 1506-1)
An introduction to the item was provided by Mayor Druker and City Manager Ashley Jones.
A presentation was provided by Assistant City Manager Clem Brown. City Attorney Leslie Devaney provided guidance related to the scope of the agenda item being limited to the City’s Notice of Preparation (NOP) response and provided Council conflict analysis information. Assistant City Attorney Ralph Hicks and Special Counsel Doug Carstens were present to answer questions related to this item.
Council questions focused on whether the City of San Diego Association of Government (SANDAG) staff will respond to the City’s NOP comment letter.
Mayor Druker opened the item to public comment and the following people spoke:
1) John Stahl
2) Jim Benedict
3) Angelia Neglia
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
July 16, 2024
4) Mark Rittenbaum with a donation of time from Jennifer Anderson 5) Greg Jabin, Vice Chair Torrey Pines Community Planning Board 6) Deanna Rich, Torrey Pines Community Planning Board
7) Barry Rothenberg
8) Shirli Weiss with a donation of time from Mike Boyle 9) Carlene Moore, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) 22nd District Agricultural Association/Fairgrounds
Mayor Druker closed the item to public comment.
Council discussion focused on the City’s draft NOP comment letter; public safety concerns including potential tunnel fires; noise impacts of tunnel ventilation systems; pollutants; importance of the project description in an environmental impact report; clarification on the NOP and draft environmental impact report documents content and purpose; clarification on the public input process for the NOP and draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR); when the City should expect SANDAG to select the project and alternatives for the EIR; whether the public comments received by SANDAG from the public on the NOP will be publicly available; timing for a cost benefit analysis required for the project to receive federal funding; eminent domain and related regulations, what is included in the environmental review process; suggestion that the Council review and consider any potential revisions to the Guiding Principles at a later date; consideration to expand the description of stakeholders in the draft NOP comment letter; potential project construction impacts; the project as it relates to the SANDAG Regional Transportation Plan (RTP); interest in Councilmembers being able to access the public comments received for the NOP process and direction to staff to inquire with SANDAG.
IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER WORDEN, SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MARTINEZ FOR MAYOR DRUKER AND DEPUTY MAYOR
GAASTERLAND TO FINALIZE COMMENTS ON THE NOP IN COMPLIANCE WITH COMMENTS DISCUSSED AT THE MEETING. (VOTE 5-0)
Ayes: Mayor Druker, Deputy Mayor Gaasterland, and Councilmembers Martinez, Quirk and Worden; Noes: 0; Recuse: 0; Absent: 0; Abstain: 0.
Council consensus was for staff to request the NOP public comments from SANDAG and provide the comments to the full City Council.
Council discussed the Guiding Principles which focused on clarification on the value analysis referenced by SANDAG Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mario Orso; clarification on the “independent cost benefit analysis” included in the Guiding Principles and whether the analysis will be conducted and/or funded by SANDAG and whether the City has control of the timing or scope of the analysis; and military use of the rail line and desire to receive a statement from the U.S. Military regarding their use of the train. One Councilmember
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
July 16, 2024
additionally suggested that the Guiding Principles are overly supportive of SANDAG and the rail in general.
IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER QUIRK, SECONDED BY DEPUTY MAYOR
GAASTERLAND TO INVITE AN AUTHORIZED SPOKESPERSON FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE REGARDING RAILROADS FOR NATIONAL DEFENSE (RND) PROGRAM.
A SUBSTITUTE MOTION WAS MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER WORDEN, SECONDED
BY MAYOR DRUKER FOR CITY MANAGER JONES TO IDENTIFY THE CORRECT CONTACT FROM THE U.S. MILITARY/DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OF MILITARY USAGE OF THE RAIL LINE. (VOTE 5-0)
Ayes: Mayor Druker, Deputy Mayor Gaasterland, and Councilmembers Martinez, Quirk and Worden; Noes: 0; Recuse: 0; Absent: 0; Abstain: 0.
City Manager Jones and City representative to the North County Transit District (NCTD) Board, Councilmember Tracy Martinez, were tasked with identifying who manages the contract for military use of the rail line, and to obtain and share information related to the military’s use of the LOSSAN Corridor.
REGIONAL ORGANIZATION AND COUNCIL COMMITTEES/ SUBCOMMITTEES/
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION REPORTS
City Council representatives reported on the Sustainability Advisory Committee (SAC); SANDAG Board of Directors; SANDAG Borders Committee; Finance Committee; and Clean Energy Alliance.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Druker adjourned the meeting at 4:15 P.M.
_______________________________________
Sarah Krietor, Administrative Services Manager/
City Clerk