CITY OF DEL MAR
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
JULY 7, 2025
City of Del Mar Town Hall
1050 Camino del Mar, Del Mar California 92014
And via Teleconference
2659 NW 57th Street, Seattle, WA 98107
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 Terry Gaasterland called the Regular Meeting to order at 4:34 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Terry Gaasterland; Deputy Mayor Tracy Martinez; Councilmembers Dan Quirk (joined the meeting at 5:00 p.m. and left the meeting remotely at approximately 7:00 p.m.) and John Spelich
CITY ATTORNEY CLOSED SESSION REPORT
Assistant City Attorney Wendy House reported that there were no reportable actions for July 7, 2025, Closed Session meeting and that Councilmember Quirk was absent from Closed Session.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Gaasterland led the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Gaasterland opened public oral communications and Diana Kutlow representing Senator Blakespear spoke. Mayor Gaasterland closed public oral communications.
CITY COUNCIL COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
None.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Ashley Jones recognized City and Sheriff staff for their work in support of the community over the busy 4th of July holiday weekend including illegal firework enforcement led by the Sheriff and a significant number of water recuses, medical aids, and enforcement contacts by Del Mar Community Services enforcement and Lifeguard staff; provided information about planned restriping on 27th Street and Camino del Mar from July 7 through July 11, 2025; and reminded the public that the City Council will begin its annual summer recess following the July 7, 2025, City Council meeting with the next regular City Council meeting scheduled for August 18, 2025.
City Council Regular Minutes
July 7, 2025
PRESENTATIONS
ITEM 1: PROCLAMATION HONORING JAN MCMILLAN FOR HER SERVICE TO THE DEL MAR COMMUNITY (CLERK’S FILE NO. 1201-5)
Mayor Gaasterland presented a proclamation to Jan McMillan honoring her for her many years of service to the Del Mar Community. Jan McMillan provided comments.
Mayor Gaasterland opened the item to public comment and the following people spoke:
1) Betty Wheeler with a donation of time from Julie Maxey Allison 2) Judy Shuckit
3) Dwight Worden
4) Deborah Groban
5) Claire McGreal
6) Penny Abell
Mayor Gaasterland closed the item to public comment.
The City Council members individually expressed appreciation to Jan McMillan for all she has done for the City and community.
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 MAYOR GAASTERLAND, SECONDED BY DEPUTY MAYOR MARTINEZ TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 2 THROUGH 14 WITH MAYOR GAASTERLAND NOTING SHE WAS RECUSED FROM THE DISCUSSION OF ITEM 10 ON THE JUNE 16, 2025, RELATED TO THE APPROVAL OF THE JUNE 16, 2025, MINUTES (ITEM 2). (VOTE 4-0) Ayes: Mayor Gaasterland; Deputy Mayor Martinez; Councilmembers Quirk and Spelich; Noes: 0; Recuse: 0; Absent: 0; Abstain: 0.
ITEM 2: APPROVAL OF MINUTES: JUNE 16, 2025 REGULAR MEETING (CLERK’S MINUTES BOOK)
Council approved the minutes with administrative amendments, on consent.
ITEM 3: RATIFICATION OF LIST OF DEMANDS, DATED JULY 7, 2025 (CLERK’S FILE NO. 201-3)
Council approved the list of demands, on consent.
ITEM 4: WAIVER OF READING OF ORDINANCES ON AGENDA (CLERK’S FILE NO. 401-4) Council waived the reading of ordinances, on consent.
ITEM 5: APPROVAL OF A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH WEST COAST
ARBORISTS FOR AS-NEEDED CITYWIDE TREE MANAGEMENT AND
MAINTENANCE SERVICES (CLERK’S FILE NO. 406-1)
City Council Regular Minutes
July 7, 2025
Council approved an Agreement between the City of Del Mar and West Coast Arborists, Inc. for as-needed citywide tree management and maintenance services for a three-year term beginning on September 9, 2025, and ending on September 9, 2028, with an option to extend the agreement for an additional two-year period; and authorized the City Manager to execute the Agreement and any subsequent term extension amendments provided for under the Agreement contingent upon satisfactory performance by the vendor, on consent.
ITEM 6: ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE TO REGULATE BICYCLES, INCLUDING ELECTRIC BICYCLES, IN THE CITY OF DEL MAR (CLERK’S FILE NO. 401-4, 401-9, 1405-1) Council adopted Ordinance 1020, “AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING THE DEL MAR MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 8.12 SAN DIEGUITO LAGOON AND RIVER, AND ADDING CHAPTER 14.54
BICYCLES, REGULATING BICYCLES, INCLUDING ELECTRIC BICYCLES, IN THE CITY OF DEL MAR”, on consent.
ITEM 7: COMMUNITY SUPPORT PROGRAM FUNDING REQUESTS AND AGREEMENTS FOR FISCAL YEARS 2025-2026 AND 2026-2027 (CLERK’S FILE NO. 406-1, 1202-3, 1202- 9)
Council approved the recommended Community Support Program Funding Agreements for Fiscal Years (FY) 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 and authorized the City Manager to execute the Agreements and related documents, on consent.
ITEM 8: TRAFFIC AND PARKING ADVISORY COMMITTEE REAPPOINTMENT (CLERK’S FILE NO. 401-5)
Council reappointed Ajit Venkatraman as a voting member to the Traffic and Parking Advisory Committee to serve a second full three-year term effective July 7, 2025, and ending July 31, 2028, on consent.
ITEM 9: FINANCE COMMITTEE REAPPOINTMENT (CLERK’S FILE NO. 401-5) Council reappointed Laura DeMarco as a voting member to the Finance Committee to serve a second full three-year term effective July 7, 2025, and ending on July 31, 2028, on consent.
ITEM 10: AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT WITH SOUTHWEST TRAFFIC SIGNAL SERVICE, INC. FOR TRAFFIC SIGNAL MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR SERVICES (CLERK’S FILE NO. 406-1)
Council approved the First Amendment to the Agreement with Southwest Traffic Signal Service, Inc for traffic signal maintenance and repair services extending the Agreement term for an additional two-year period ending June 30, 2027, and amending the service fee schedule and authorized the City Manager to execute the First Amendment, on consent.
ITEM 11: APPOINTMENTS TO THE SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE (SAC) (CLERK’S FILE NO. 401-5)
City Council Regular Minutes
July 7, 2025
Council appointed Ann Feeney as a voting member of SAC to serve a full three-year term beginning August 1, 2025, and ending on August 31, 2028; reappointed Jennifer Anderson as a voting member to serve a full three-year term beginning August 1, 2025, and ending on August 31, 2028; and reappointed Nilmini Silva-Send as an ex-officio non-voting member to serve a full three-year term beginning August 1, 2025, and ending on August 31, 2028, on consent.
ITEM 12: SECOND READING AND ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE TO ELIMINATE THE DESIGN REVIEW BOARD EX-OFFICIO MEMBERSHIP (CLERK’S FILE NO. 401-4, 401-5, 401-9)
Council adopted Ordinance 1021, “AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING SECTION 2.38.020 OF THE CITY OF DEL MAR MUNICIPAL CODE – DESIGN REVIEW BOARD MEMBERSHIP”, eliminating the two Design Review Board ex-officio membership seats, on consent.
ITEM 13: CONSIDERATION OF THE 2025-2028 MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN
THE CITY OF DEL MAR AND THE DEL MAR CITY EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION (CLERK’S FILE NO. 406-1,502-3)
Council adopted Resolution 2025-24, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING THE MEMORANDUM OF
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF DEL MAR AND THE DEL MAR CITY EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION FOR THE PERIOD JULY 1, 2025, THROUGH JUNE 30, 2028”; authorized the City Manager to execute the Memorandum of Agreement; adopted Resolution 2025-25, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING THE FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026 COMPENSATION PLAN FOR GENERAL EMPLOYEES”; and adopted Resolution 2025-26. “A
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING THE CITY’S PERSONNEL RULES AND REGULATIONS MANUAL”, on consent.
ITEM 14: PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE CSA-17 ADVISORY BOARD ALTERNATE APPOINTMENT (CLERK’S FILE NO. 401-5)
Council amended the 2025 Local and Regional Appointments to remove the City’s CSA17 Advisory Board alternate representative appointment, on consent.
COMMISSION AND COMMITTEE INTERVIEWS
ITEM 15: DESIGN REVIEW BOARD INTERVIEWS AND APPOINTMENT (CLERK’S FILE NO. 401-5)
A presentation was provided by Administrative Services Manager Krietor. City Council interviewed the candidates.
There were no public speakers for the item.
City Council voted unanimously to appoint Adam Wallace as a voting member to the City’s Design Review Board (DRB) serving a full four-year term beginning August 1, 2025, and ending August 28, 2029.
City Council Regular Minutes
July 7, 2025
PUBLIC HEARING
ITEM 16: A DE NOVO PUBLIC HEARING OF AN APPEAL OF THE DESIGN REVIEW BOARD’S DECISION TO APPROVE A DESIGN REVIEW PERMIT DRB24-006, A MAJOR REMODEL OF AN EXISTING 1,578 SQUARE-FOOT, ONE-STORY RESIDENCE THAT WOULD INCLUDE CONSTRUCTION OF A 689 SQUARE-FOOT ADDITION AND
VARIOUS IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PROJECT SITE
PROJECT APPLICANT: LISA PARNELL, FOOTER RESIDENCE TRUST APPELLANTS: JULIE AND DAVID FOUQUET
PROJECT LOCATION: 483 AVENIDA PRIMAVERA; (APN# 299-290-04- 00)
ZONING: R1-10 (LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL)
(CLERK’S FILE NO. 301-5)
An introduction to the item was provided by City Manager Jones. A presentation was provided by Associate Planner Jean Crutchfield. Planning and Community Development Director Karen Brindley and Principal Planner Matt Bator were available to answer questions. Assistant City Attorney House provided an overview of the de novo hearing procedure.
The City Council provided the following disclosures: Councilmember Quirk disclosed that he met with neighbor T. Pat Stubbs; Councilmember Spelich disclosed that he read the agenda materials and red dots and had communications with T. Pat Stubbs; Deputy Mayor Martinez disclosed that she visited the site twice, but did not enter the home, walked the neighborhood, and met with T. Pat Stubbs; and Mayor Gaasterland disclosed that she walked the neighborhood to view the story poles from various locations, visited the site but did not enter the home, and reached out to T. Pat Stubbs to view the site from the southwest corner of the Stubbs parcel.
Mayor Gaasterland opened the public hearing. The applicant Lisa Parnell and her representatives Robert Scott and architect Jim Sneed were available to answer questions. Council questions for the applicant’s representative focused on the proposed chimney and trees proposed to replace the existing olive trees.
Mayor Gaasterland opened the item to public comment and the following people spoke:
1) The appellant Julie Fouquet provided comments.
2) George Zdasiuk
3) Eric Keeling
4) Jennifer McDowell
5) T. Pat Stubbs submitted a speaker slip in support of the DRB’s unanimous approval of the project Mayor Gaasterland closed the item to public comment.
The applicant’s representative Robert Scott provided a rebuttal. Council questions focused on the removal of a hedge referenced by the public speakers.
Mayor Gaasterland closed the public hearing.
Council questions focused on the primary living area of the appellant’s home; whether the trees on 471 Avenida Primavera property have ever been the subject of a Trees, Scenic Views and Sunlight (TSVS) application(s); and whether the appellant met with Planning and Community Development staff to review the plans.
City Council Regular Minutes
July 7, 2025
Council discussion focused on the rationale of the Councilmembers who set this item for a de novo hearing.
IT WAS MOVED BY MAYOR GAASTERLAND AND SECONDED BY DEPUTY MAYOR MARTINEZ TO UPHOLD TO DRB’S DECISION WITH THE CONDITIONS OUTLINED IN THE RESOLUTION PREPARED BY STAFF AND ADOPTED RESOLUTION 2025-27, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DEL MAR, APPROVING DESIGN REVIEW PERMIT DRB24-006, A MAJOR REMODEL OF AN EXISTING 1,578 SQUARE-FOOT, ONE-STORY RESIDENCE THAT WOULD INCLUDE CONSTRUCTION A 689 SQUARE-FOOT ADDITION AND VARIOUS IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PROJECT SITE LOCATED WITHIN THE R1-10 ZONE AT 483 AVENIDA PRIMAVERA, DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA ASSESSOR PARCEL NUMBER (APN): 299-290-04-00.” (VOTE 4-0) Ayes: Mayor Gaasterland; Deputy Mayor Martinez; Councilmembers Quirk and Spelich; Noes: 0; Recuse: 0; Absent: 0; Abstain: 0.
ITEM 17: INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTERS
23.50 AND 23.51 RELATED TO TREES, SCENIC VIEWS, AND SUNLIGHT REGULATIONS (A25-001) AND AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTERS 30.04 AND 30.86 ESTABLISHING A MAXIMUM ALLOWED HEIGHT FOR HEDGES (ZA25-001) (CLERK’S FILE NO. 401-4, 401-9)
An introduction to the item was provided by Mayor Gaasterland. A presentation was provided by Principal Planner Matt Bator. Planning and Community Development Director Brindley was available to answer questions.
Councilmember Quirk left the meeting during staff’s presentation at approximately 7:01 p.m.
Council questions focused on consideration to remove hedges from the TSVS ordinance updates and to address separately; length of the proposed look back period; whether prior TSVS without photos could be re-opened under the new regulations if adopted; proposed fees; rationale for inclusion of the indemnification language in the proposed ordinance; appeal procedure in the proposed ordinance; whether potted plants are covered by the proposed ordinance; protected trees definition related to tree removal permits; current tree removal permit procedure; 15 day period for payment prior to issuing penalties included in the proposed ordinance; City process for resolving hedges or other landscaping that creates safety issues in the public right-of-way; proposed grandfathering of hedges in the proposed ordinance; whether the fire marshal has reviewed the vegetation on the Staver property adjacent to Del Mar Woods; fire risk mitigation related to overgrown vegetation; sunlight provisions related to primary living area in the proposed ordinance; State of California Solar Rights Act; cost shifting in the proposed regulations; and how the proposed ordinance would affect or potentially change a cost sharing agreement for a prior TSVS with a restorative action plan.
Mayor Gaasterland opened the item to public comment and the following people spoke:
1) Catherine Cramton
2) Shirli Weiss with two donations of time from Shelly Duncan and Cindy Griffith 3) Janet Wilson with one donation of time from Nigel Hook 4) Lori Ritman
5) Judy Hunt
6) Karen Lare
7) John Stahl
8) Richard Jamison
City Council Regular Minutes
July 7, 2025
9) Robert Anderson submitted a speaker slip but did not wish to speak. He indicated he supports regulating hedges but does not support grandfathering in existing hedges. 10) Graham Bernstein
Mayor Gaasterland closed the item to public comment.
Council discussion focused on hedge regulations; importance of sunlight provision; indemnification language; TSVS documentation requirements related to use of historical photos and/or Google Street View images; length of the proposed look back period; desire to maintain arborist oversight of any trimming or maintenance scheduled imposed by a TSVS restorative action plan; desire to address fire mitigation risk; proposed fee structure; and desire to cover potted trees under updated TSVS regulations.
Council consensus was for staff to return with a revised ordinance based on Council feedback including:
protect sunlight access to all windows of a residence, not just the Primary Living Area; remove indemnification language; reassess the eligibility time period (look-back) and prevent “double jeopardy” situations; amend the proposed ordinance to consider potted trees as trees under the TSVS; the City Council directed staff to track fees recovered over a one-year period and report back to Council; and separate the proposed hedge height regulations from the TSVS ordinance update and to emphasize fire risk mitigation in any revisions to the hedge height standards.
VOTE TO CONTINUE MEETING
IT WAS MOVED BY MAYOR GAASTERLAND SECONDED BY DEPUTY MAYOR MARTINEZ TO CONTINUE THE MEETING TIME CERTAIN UNTIL 10:20 P.M. (VOTE 3-0-1 WITH COUNCILMEMBER
QUIRK ABSENT)
Ayes: Mayor Gaasterland; Deputy Mayor Martinez; and Councilmember Spelich; Noes: 0; Recuse: 0;
Absent: Councilmember Quirk; Abstain: 0.
COUNCIL MEETING RECESS:
The City Council took a meeting recess from approximately 6:33 p.m. to 6:49 p.m.
CITY COUNCIL OTHER BUSINESS
ITEM 18: RESOLUTION SUPPORTING A 2026 STATE BALLOT INITIATIVE SPONSORED BY
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD VOICES TO RESTORE LOCAL AUTHORITY OVER LAND USE PLANNING & ZONING LAW RELATED TO HOUSING (CLERK’S FILE NO. 303-1, 401-14)
A presentation was provided by Mayor Gaasterland and Deputy Mayor Martinez.
There were no public speakers for the item.
Council discussion focused on support for affordable housing; desire for local control over housing policies; and concerns about the methodology used by the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) for the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) allocation.
IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER SPELICH AND SECONDED BY MAYOR GAASTERLAND TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2025-28 “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA, IN SUPPORT OF THE “OUR NEIGHBORHOOD VOICES” BALLOT INITIATIVE
TO AMEND ARTICLE IX OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO MAKE ZONING, DEVELOPMENT, AND LAND USE MATTERS OF LOCAL AUTHORITY.” (VOTE 3-0-1 WITH
COUNCILMEMBER QUIRK ABSENT)
City Council Regular Minutes
July 7, 2025
Ayes: Mayor Gaasterland; Deputy Mayor Martinez; Councilmember Spelich; Noes: 0; Recuse: 0;
Absent: Councilmember Quirk; Abstain: 0.
REGIONAL ORGANIZATION AND COUNCIL COMMITTEES/SUBCOMMITTEES/COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATION REPORTS
None.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Gaasterland adjourned the meeting at 10:14 p.m.
_______________________________________
Sarah Krietor, Administrative Services Manager/
City Clerk