CITY OF DEL MAR
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
JANUARY 6, 2025
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 Gaasterland called the Regular Meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Gaasterland; Deputy Mayor Tracy Martinez; Councilmembers Dan Quirk and John Spelich
CITY ATTORNEY CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney Leslie Devaney reported that there were no reportable actions for the January 6, 2025, City Council Closed Session meeting. She reported that Councilmember Quirk and City Manager Jones were not present for a portion of the discussion for Item A2.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Spelich led the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS & COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
None.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Ashley Jones reported on a successful annual Penguin Plunge on New Year’s Day and thanked all those that attended, then she introduced Administrative Services Manager/City Clerk Sarah Krietor who announced that the Town Hall cameras were not functioning properly causing the T.V. broadcast and web livestream of the meeting to look different than usual.
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 DEPUTY MAYOR MARTINEZ, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER SPELICH TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 1 THROUGH 5. (VOTE 4-0) City Council Regular Minutes
January 6, 2025
Ayes: Mayor Gaasterland; Deputy Mayor Tracy Martinez; Councilmembers Dan Quirk and John W.
Spelich; Noes: 0; Recuse: 0; Absent: 0; Abstain: 0.
ITEM 1: APPROVAL OF MINUTES: DECEMBER 9, 2024 SPECIAL MEETING (CLERK’S
MINUTES BOOK)
Council approved the minutes, on consent.
ITEM 2: RATIFICATION OF LIST OF DEMANDS, DATED JANUARY 6, 2025 (CLERK’S FILE NO. 201-3)
Council approved the list of demands, on consent.
ITEM 3: WAIVER OF READING OF ORDINANCES ON AGENDA (CLERK’S FILE NO. 401-4) Council waived the reading of ordinances, on consent.
ITEM 4: LAGOON COMMITTEE APPOINTMENT (CLERK’S FILE NO. 401-5) Council appointed Frederique Duranton to the Lagoon Committee as a voting member to serve a full three-year term starting January 6, 2025, and ending on January 31, 2028, on consent.
ITEM 5: APPROVAL OF TASK ORDERS WITH DUDEK FOR ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND
ENGINEERING STUDIES AND DESIGN ON THE SAN DIEGUITO LAGOON SHORELINE PROTECTION PLANNING PROJECT (CLERK’S FILE NO. 406-1) Council approved a $275,000 Task Order with Dudek to complete environmental review studies including resource agency permitting; approved a $225,000 Task Order with Dudek to perform engineering technical studies and design; authorized the City Manager to execute the Task Orders; and amended the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-2025 Operating and Capital Budget as described in the Fiscal Impact section of this report, on consent.
COMMISSION AND COMMITTEE INTERVIEWS
ITEM 6: PLANNING COMMISSION INTERVIEWS AND APPOINTMENT (CLERK’S FILE NO. 401-5)
A presentation was provided by Administrative Services Manager/City Clerk Krietor.
Councilmembers made the following disclosures: Councilmember Spelich met with candidate Meghan Spieker; Councilmember Quirk reviewed the agenda report and did not meet with any candidates; Deputy Mayor Martinez met with candidate Meghan Spieker at her request; and Mayor Gaasterland met with candidates Meghan Spieker and Adam Wallace. The City Council then interviewed the candidates.
There were no public speakers for the item.
Mayor Gaasterland, Deputy Mayor Martinez, and Councilmember Spelich, voted to appoint Meghan Spieker to the Planning Commission to serve a 4-year term beginning January 6, 2025, and expiring January 31, 2029. Councilmember Dan Quirk voted to appoint David Foggiano.
City Council Regular Minutes
January 6, 2025
CITY COUNCIL OTHER BUSINESS
ITEM 7: UNDERGROUNDING PROGRAM SAN DIEGO GAS & ELECTRIC ROADMAP (CLERK’S FILE NO. 1001-2)
An introduction to the item was provided by City Manager Jones who explained that the agenda report is focused on SDG&E’s processes/procedures, roles and responsibilities, and time required for each stage of the Undergrounding process. A presentation was provided by Principal Engineer Martin Boyd.
Council questions and discussion focused on whether SDG&E outsources designers and project managers for Del Mar projects or uses in-house SDG&E staff; whether the roadmap also increased efficiencies and potential for cost savings; whether there is opportunity to decrease the time of the planning phase; desire to continue to look for efficiencies in the undergrounding process; factors prolonging the design phase; clarification on the time estimate of the design phase; and role of the trench inspector.
There were no public speakers for the item.
ITEM 8: CITIZENS’ INITIATIVE MEASURE TO AMEND THE CITY’S ORDINANCE REGULATING RETAIL ANIMAL SALES IN DEL MAR (CLERK’S FILE NO. 401-4, 402- 8)
Administrative Services Manager/City Clerk Krietor provided the following statement, “Prior to this evening’s meeting, staff received a question regarding whether the proponent of a Citizens’ Initiative Measure must be a resident of Del Mar since the sole proponent of the retail pet sales initiative is not a resident or elector of Del Mar. While it does not appear that the Elections Code requires a proponent of a local initiative to be a resident or elector of the City, there is case law authority that appears to support this. In order for staff and the City Attorney’s office to have sufficient time to research this question, provide a response on this inquiry to the Council, and determine whether the petition is sufficient (as presented by the proponent), staff recommends that the City Council continue this item to a date certain of January 21, 2025.”
Council questions focused on the requested continuance and whether Council could consider an ordinance outside of the initiative process, if the petition is found insufficient.
There were no public speakers for the item.
Council consensus was to continue the item to the January 21, 2025, City Council meeting.
IT WAS MOVED BY MAYOR GAASTERLAND, SECONDED BY DEPUTY MAYOR MARTINEZ TO CONTINUE ITEM TO THE JANUARY 21, 2025 COUNCIL MEETING. (VOTE 4-0) Ayes: Mayor Gaasterland; Deputy Mayor Tracy Martinez; Councilmembers Dan Quirk and John W.
Spelich; Noes: 0; Recuse: 0; Absent: 0; Abstain: 0.
ITEM 9: SAN DIEGO LOSSAN RAIL REALIGNMENT VALUE ANALYSIS PROCESS UPDATE (CLERK’S FILE NO. 1506-1)
A presentation was provided by Assistant City Manager Clem Brown.
City Council Regular Minutes
January 6, 2025
Mayor Gaasterland opened the item to public comment and the following people spoke:
1) Angie Neglia
2) Diana Kutlow representing State Senator Catherine Blakespear 3) Shirli Weiss
Mayor Gaasterland closed the item to public comment.
Council questions and discussion focused on the Council’s eagerness to see the Value Analysis Report; local and federal political climate related to the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) LOSSAN Rail Realignment Project funding and overall feasibility of the project; Councilmember and staff’s efforts to represent the City’s position during the Value Analysis process; concerns regarding eminent domain; when SANDAG will release the Value Analysis Report; potentially feasible alternative alignments; clarification on the action the SANDAG Board of Directors will be asked to take following the release of the Value Analysis Report; desire for SANDAG Board members to visit Del Mar and see the proposed impact of various alignments on the community, similar to SANDAG’s walk about conducted for Value Analysis participants; next steps in the Value Analysis process including SANDAG staff representing the report to the Del Mar City Council and other stakeholder groups; future opportunities for City Council and the public to weigh in on the Value Analysis Report; whether a freight train tunnel under residential properties exist in the U.S. or globally; anticipated deadline for the City to review and respond to the Value Analysis Report; and whether the City will have the opportunity to confer with representatives from the cities of San Diego and Solana Beach as well as the Fairgrounds Board in response to the Value Analysis Report; and relationship between the SANDAG San Dieguito Double Track Project, which includes the San Dieguito Trestle Bridge replacement, and LOSSAN Rail Realignment Project.
It was the consensus of the Council consensus to: 1) Request that all SANDAG Board Members participate in a walk about, similar to the walk about conducted by SANDAG for Value Analysis participants; and 2) To designate Mayor Gaasterland and Deputy Mayor Martinez to work with staff on a letter to SANDAG requesting to put construction of the Trestle Bridge replacement on hold pending selection of a route for rail realignment.
ITEM 10: 2025 CITY COUNCIL LOCAL AND REGIONAL APPOINTMENTS AND
UNDERGROUNDING PROJECT ADVISORY COMMITTEE CHARTER UPDATE (CLERK’S FILE NO. 401-1, 401-5)
A presentation was provided by Administrative Services Manager/City Clerk Krietor.
There were no public speakers for the item.
IT WAS MOVED BY MAYOR GAASTERLAND, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER QUIRK TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2025-01, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DEL
MAR, CALIFORNIA, TO RENAME THE UNDERGROUNDING PROJECT ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO UNDERGROUNDING PROGRAM ADVISORY COMMITTEE.” (VOTE 4-0)
Ayes: Mayor Gaasterland; Deputy Mayor Tracy Martinez; Councilmembers Dan Quirk and John Spelich; Noes: 0; Recuse: 0; Absent: 0; Abstain: 0.
Council questions and discussion focused on the role of Council Liaisons to City advisory committees; Mayor Gaasterland’s KUSI interviews as they relate to her role as Del Mar’s representative on the SANDAG Board of Directors; importance of relationships with SANDAG Board members; desire to have the City’s North County Transit District (NCTD) representative bring a City Council agenda item forward City Council Regular Minutes
January 6, 2025
related to NCTD’s financials, and desire to designate a primary and alternate Council liaison for each City Committee, with the exception of the Finance and Undergrounding Committees who will continue to have two primary Council liaisons.
Council consensus was to revisit the City Council 2025 Local and Regional Appointments in the future, as needed, and for Council Liaisons to notify the City Manager of any scheduling conflicts that may prevent them from attending local or regional meetings, so that an alternative Council representative can be identified if appropriate.
IT WAS MOVED BY MAYOR GAASTERLAND, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER SPELICH TO APPROVE ALL COUNCILMEMBER APPOINTMENTS THAT DON’T INCLUDE STIPENDS. (VOTE 4- 0)
Ayes: Mayor Gaasterland; Deputy Mayor Tracy Martinez; Councilmembers Dan Quirk and John W.
Spelich; Noes: 0; Recuse: 0; Absent: 0; Abstain: 0.
IT WAS MOVED BY MAYOR GAASTERLAND, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER QUIRK TO
APPOINT DEPUTY MAYOR MARTINEZ AS PRIMARY FOR NCTD, FIRST ALTERNATE FOR
SANDAG BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND IF IT HAPPENS, PRIMARY FOR THE SANDAG REGIONAL PLANNING COMMITTEE. (VOTE 3-0-1, WITH DEPUTY MAYOR MARTINEZ ABSTAINED) Ayes: Mayor Gaasterland; Councilmembers Dan Quirk and John Spelich; Noes: 0; Recuse: 0; Absent:
0; Abstain: Deputy Mayor Martinez.
IT WAS MOVED BY MAYOR GAASTERLAND, SECONDED BY DEPUTY MAYOR MARTINEZ TO
APPOINT COUNCILMEMBER SPELICH AS AN ALTERNATE FOR NCTD, PRIMARY FOR
REGIONAL SOLID WASTE ASSOCIATION (RSWA) AND SECOND ALTERNATE FOR SANDAG BOARD OF DIRECTORS. (VOTE 3-0-1, WITH COUNCILMEMBER SPELICH ABSTAINED) Ayes: Mayor Gaasterland, Deputy Mayor Martinez; and Councilmember Dan Quirk; Noes: 0; Recuse:0; Absent: 0; Abstain: Councilmember Spelich.
IT WAS MOVED BY MAYOR GAASTERLAND, SECONDED BY DEPUTY MAYOR MARTINEZ TO
APPOINT COUNCILMEMBER QUIRK AS AN ALTERNATE TO REGIONAL SOLID WASTE ASSOCIATION (RSWA). (VOTE 3-0-1, WITH COUNCILMEMBER QUIRK ABSTAINED) Ayes: Mayor Gaasterland, Deputy Mayor Martinez; and Councilmember John W. Spelich; Noes: 0; Recuse: 0; Absent: 0; Abstain: Councilmember Quirk.
IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER SPELICH, SECONDED BY DEPUTY MAYOR MARTINEZ TO APPOINT MAYOR GAASTERLAND AS PRIMARY TO SANDAG BOARD OF DIRECTORS. (VOTE 3- 0-1, WITH MAYOR GAASTERLAND ABSTAINED)
Ayes: Deputy Mayor Martinez; and Councilmembers Dan Quirk and John W. Spelich; Noes: 0; Recuse:0; Absent: 0; Abstain: Mayor Gaasterland.
REGIONAL ORGANIZATION AND COUNCIL COMMITTEES/SUBCOMMITTEES/COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATION REPORTS
None.
City Council Regular Minutes
January 6, 2025
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Gaasterland adjourned the meeting at 8:00 p.m.
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Sarah Krietor, Administrative Services Manager/
City Clerk