CITY OF DEL MAR
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
JANUARY 21, 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 4:31 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 the City Council will adjourn into closed session following open session. She will provide a report out on the January 21, 2025, City Council Closed Session Meeting on February 3, 2025.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Gaasterland led the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Gaasterland opened public oral communication and the following people spoke:
1) Camilla Rang
2) John Stahl
3) Kevin Kidd
4) Polly Cipparrone representing the Del Mar Library
5) Diana Kutlow representing State Senator Catherine Blakespear Mayor Gaasterland closed public oral communication.
CITY COUNCIL COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
None.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Ashley Jones answered City Council questions related to the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) Del Mar Rail Realignment Project Value Analysis Report which will be presented to the Del Mar City Council on February 18, 2025. There will also be additional informational public presentations held in the Del Mar Town Hall on February 19, 2025, from 6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m. and a presentation to the Torrey Pines Community Planning Group on February 20, 2025.
City Council Regular Minutes
January 21, 2025
City Manager Ashley Jones provided a comprehensive report out regarding the City’s fire preparedness and response efforts. Councilmember questions focused on evacuations, including vulnerable older adults; desire for the City to evaluate parking on narrow streets in the City to potentially mitigate fire risks; Crest Canyon Evacuation Plan; City’s water supply; and City of San Diego brush removal in Crest Canyon.
Assistant City Manager Clem Brown provided an update on SANDAG’s Bluff 5 Project absolute work window beginning Friday, January 24, 2025, at 5:30 a.m. through Monday morning on January 27, 2025.
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 TRACY MARTINEZ, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER QUIRK TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 1 THROUGH 5. (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 1: APPROVAL OF MINUTES: JANUARY 6, 2025 REGULAR AND SPECIAL MEETING (CLERK’S MINUTES BOOK)
Council approved the minutes, on consent.
ITEM 2: RATIFICATION OF LIST OF DEMANDS, DATED JANUARY 21, 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: FINANCE COMMITTEE APPOINTMENT (CLERK’S FILE NO. 401-5) Council appointed John Fry as a voting member to the Finance Committee to serve a full three-year term effective January 21, 2025, and ending on January 31, 2028, on consent.
ITEM 5: ACCEPTANCE OF A DONATION FROM FRIENDS OF THE POWERHOUSE FOR THE POWERHOUSE DECK TRELLIS REPLACEMENT PROJECT (CLERK’S FILE NO. 201-16)
Council accepted a donation up to $66,000 from the Friends of the Powerhouse for the Powerhouse Deck Trellis Replacement Project (Project); and amended the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Operating and Capital Budget as described in the Fiscal Impact section of the agenda report, on consent.
City Council Regular Minutes
January 21, 2025
CITY COUNCIL OTHER BUSINESS
ITEM 6: CONTINUED FROM JANUARY 6, 2025: SUBMITTED CITIZENS’ INITIATIVE PETITION TO AMEND THE CITY’S ORDINANCE REGULATING RETAIL ANIMAL SALES IN DEL MAR (CLERK’S FILE NO. 401-4, 402-8)
A presentation was provided by Administrative Services Manager/City Clerk Krietor.
Mayor Gaasterland opened the item to public comment and the proponent Amit Dhuleshia spoke. Mayor Gaasterland closed the item to public comment.
Council questions and discussion focused on how residents can get in touch with Mr. Dhuleshia regarding his animal advocacy efforts and whether San Diego Humane Society was supportive of the proposed regulations.
REGIONAL ORGANIZATION AND COUNCIL COMMITTEES/SUBCOMMITTEES/COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATION REPORTS
City Council representatives reported on the San Dieguito River Valley JPA; Sustainability Advisory Committee (SAC); North County Transit District (NCTD); SANDAG Board of Directors; Regional Solid Waste Association (RSWA); Finance Committee; and Undergrounding Program Advisory Committee (UPAC).
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Gaasterland adjourned the meeting at 5:50 p.m.
Sarah Krietor, Administrative Services Manager/
City Clerk