CITY OF DEL MAR
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
OCTOBER 20, 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 Terry Gaasterland called the Regular Meeting to order at 4:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Terry Gaasterland; Deputy Mayor Tracy Martinez; Councilmembers Dan Quirk and John Spelich
CITY ATTORNEY CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney Leslie Devaney reported on the October 20, 2025 Closed Session. There were no reportable actions. 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 the following people spoke:
1) Terri-Ann Skelly, representing the San Diego Alliance for Drug Free Youth (SDA) 2) Diana Kutlow representing Senator Catherine Blakespear’s Office Mayor Gaasterland closed public oral communications.
CITY COUNCIL COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Gaasterland reported on her in-laws visit and use of mobility scooters. Deputy Mayor Martinez expressed her appreciation for Carol Kerridge who was honored by Assemblywoman Tasha Boerner as being an Environmental Hero for her work related to environmental conservation and the Kumeyaay tribe.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Ashley Jones reported that on October 7, the City experienced inclement weather and high winds which resulted in the loss of a three-year-old Monterey Cypress tree at Seagrove Park which the Public Works Department promptly removed, and a replacement tree will be planted in close proximity to the original location within the next few months. She also reported on the San Diego Challenged Athletes Foundation hosting a Triathlon on Sunday, October 26, 2025, portions of which will occur in the City of Del Mar.
City Council Regular Minutes
October 20, 2025
PRESENTATIONS
ITEM 1: PROCLAMATION HONORING PETER GLASER ON THE OCCASION OF HIS 100TH
BIRTHDAY AND HIS NOTABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DEL MAR COMMUNITY (CLERK’S FILE NO. 1201-5)
Mayor Gaasterland presented the proclamation and expressed her personal gratitude for Mr. Glaser’s service to the community and congratulated him on his 100th birthday. Peter Glaser provided comments.
Deputy Mayor Martinez and Councilmembers Spelich and Quirk congratulated Mr. Glaser on his 100th birthday.
ITEM 2: FAIRGROUNDS MASTER PLAN PRESENTATION (CLERK’S FILE NO. 307-6) A presentation was provided by Del Mar Fairgrounds Chief Executive Officer Carlene Moore.
City Council questions focused the “vision wall” at the 2024 fair; California Coastal Commission (CCC) approval of the Master Plan; and whether access to the fairgrounds and traffic flows will be assessed as part of the Fairgrounds Master Plan process.
There were no public speakers.
ITEM 3: WILDLIFE SAFETY & PUBLIC SAFETY POWER SHUTOFF (PSPS) PREPAREDNESS UPDATE (CLERK’S FILE NO. 1002-3)
A presentation was provided by Thom Porter, Director of Emergency Services, from San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E).
City Council questions focused on the SDG&E Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and notification system used by SDG&E and appreciation to SDG&E for their presentation.
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 TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 4 THROUGH 6, 8, AND 10. (VOTE 4-0) Ayes: Mayor Gaasterland; Deputy Mayor Martinez; Councilmembers Quirk and Spelich; Noes: 0; Recuse: 0; Absent: 0; Abstain: 0.
ITEM 4: APPROVAL OF MINUTES: SEPTEMBER 22, 2025, REGULAR AND SPECIAL MEETING (CLERK’S MINUTES BOOK)
Council approved the minutes, on consent.
ITEM 5: RATIFICATION OF LIST OF DEMANDS, DATED OCTOBER 6, 2025, AND OCTOBER 20, 2025 (CLERK’S FILE NO. 201-3)
City Council Regular Minutes
October 20, 2025
Council approved the list of demands, on consent.
ITEM 6: WAIVER OF READING OF ORDINANCES ON AGENDA (CLERK’S FILE NO. 401-4) Council waived the reading of ordinances, on consent.
ITEM 7: AGREEMENT FOR SHORT-TERM RENTAL MONITORING SERVICES (CLERK’S FILE NO. 301-19, 406-1)
Prior to the start of this agenda item, Mayor Gaasterland recused herself from participating due to a pending matter with the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC).
A presentation was provided by Administrative Services Manager/City Clerk Krietor. City Manager Jones was also available to answer Council questions. Council questions and discussion focused on whether other cities use these technologies and appreciation that the City identified a vendor that can provide the necessary full scope of services.
IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER SPELICH AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER QUIRK TO APPROVE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
AGREEMENT WITH DECKARD TECHNOLOGIES, INC. TO PROVIDE SHORT-TERM RENTAL (STR) MONITORING SERVICES TO THE CITY FOR AN INITIAL THREEYEAR PERIOD EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 20, 2025, THROUGH OCTOBER 19, 2028; AND
AUTHORIZED THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT AND ANY
SUBSEQUENT TERM EXTENSION AMENDMENTS PROVIDED FOR IN THE
AGREEMENT CONTINGENT UPON SATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE BY THE CONSULTANT. (VOTE 3-0-1)
Ayes: Deputy Mayor Martinez; Councilmembers Quirk and Spelich; Noes: 0; Recuse:
Mayor Gaasterland; Absent: 0; Abstain: 0.
ITEM 8: FIRST AMENDMENT TO BUSINESS LICENSE TAX AND FEE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AGREEMENT (CLERK’S FILE NO. 406-1)
Council approved the First Amendment to Agreement with Hinderliter De Llamas & Associates (HDL) for business license tax and fee administrative services extending the term for an additional two-year period ending October 17, 2027; and authorized the City Manager to execute the First Amendment, on consent.
ITEM 9: APPROVAL OF A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH ASCENT ENVIRONMENTAL INC., TO CREATE VISUAL CONCEPT ILLUSTRATIONS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING SITES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CITY’S CERTIFIED 6TH CYCLE HOUSING ELEMENT PROGRAM 1D (CLERK’S FILE NO. 304-7, 406-1) The item was pulled from the consent calendar.
IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER SPELICH AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER QUIRK TO APPROVE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
AGREEMENT WITH ASCENT ENVIRONMENTAL INC. TO CREATE VISUAL CONCEPT ILLUSTRATIONS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING SITES; AND
AUTHORIZED THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT AND ANY
SUBSEQUENT TERM EXTENSION AMENDMENTS PROVIDED FOR IN THE City Council Regular Minutes
October 20, 2025
AGREEMENT CONTINGENT UPON SATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE BY THE CONSULTANT. (VOTE 4-0)
Ayes: Mayor Gaasterland; Deputy Mayor Martinez; Councilmembers Quirk and Spelich; Noes: 0; Recuse: 0; Absent: 0; Abstain: 0.
ITEM 10: AMENDMENTS TO AS-NEEDED ECONOMIC IMPACT AND FISCAL ANALYSIS SERVICES AGREEMENTS (CLERK’S FILE NO. 406-1)
Council approved First Amendments to Agreements with Keyser Marston Associates, Inc. (KMA), and David Taussig and Associates, Inc., (DTA Public Finance, Inc.) (DTA), for AsNeeded Economic Impact and Fiscal Analysis Services (Amendments) extending the terms for an additional two-year period ending October 16, 2027, and adjusting fees for KMA due to inflation; and authorized the City Manager to execute the Amendments, on consent.
ITEM 11: AGREEMENT WITH SCHMIDT DESIGN GROUP FOR SHORES PARK MASTER PLAN (CLERK’S FILE NO. 307-8, 406-1)
The item was pulled from the consent calendar. An introduction was provided by City Manager Jones. A presentation was provided by Management Analyst Ashlea Houston with City Manager Jones available to answer questions.
Council questions focused on sequence of approving the contract prior to Shores Park Ad-Hoc Committee appointments; confirmation that relocation of the Alvarado house, a shared use dog park, and shared use community building are included in the scope of work for the Master Planning process; timing for selection of the Committee members; whether the scope of the agreement can be amended by the City Council following feedback from the Shores Park Master Plan Committee and the community; timing for scheduling the first Shores Park Master Plan committee meeting; options should the City determine more up to date data or community feedback is needed; and first steps for Schmidt design group under the agreement.
Mayor Gaasterland opened public comment and the following people spoke:
1) Carol Kerridge
2) Kevin Popovic
3) Tami Dukken
4) Joe Sullivan
Mayor Gaasterland closed public comment.
Council discussion focused on the process the City went through to collect community feedback at recent Council meetings which resulted in amendments to the scope of work and Council direction; architectural design of the community building being included as part of the scope of work within the fee identified in the contract; appreciation and acknowledgement for the community engagement on the project including desire to maintain a dog area, improve the community building, consider relocating the existing ingress/egress; and whether Schmidt Design Group will be looking at parking as part of the agreement.
IT WAS MOVED DEPUTY MAYOR MARTINEZ AND SECONDED BY MAYOR
GAASTERLAND TO APPROVED A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH City Council Regular Minutes
October 20, 2025
SCHMIDT DESIGN GROUP FOR A ONE-YEAR TERM ENDING OCTOBER 19, 2026, WITH THE OPTION TO EXTEND THE AGREEMENT FOR AN ADDITIONAL ONEYEAR PERIOD, TO COMPLETE THE SHORES PARK MASTER PLAN IN AN AMOUNT UP TO $171,405; AND AUTHORIZED THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT. (VOTE 4-0)
Ayes: Mayor Gaasterland; Deputy Mayor Martinez; Councilmembers Quirk and Spelich; Noes: 0; Recuse: 0; Absent: 0; Abstain: 0.
ITEM 12: APPROVAL OF AT&T AERIAL TO UNDERGROUND CONVERSION AGREEMENT FOR THE STRATFORD COURT NORTH (1B) UTILITY UNDERGROUNDING DISTRICT (CLERK’S FILE NO. 406-1, 1001-2)
The item was pulled from the consent calendar for a brief presentation which was provided by Principal Engineer Martin Boyd. Council questions focused on whether this is the final design contract needed for Utility Undergrounding District 1B; clarification on the boundaries of the district; whether there are changes to the design process based on what the City has learned from prior districts; the design process for AT&T and other telecoms; timing for completion of design; clarification on the project size related to the construction timeline and whether there is potential for the time frame will be reduced; overall timeline for completion of pre-construction design for future projects; and whether the design on future districts has begun.
IT WAS MOVED MAYOR GASTERLAND, SECONDED BY COUNCIL SPELICH TO
APPROVE THE AT&T AERIAL TO UNDERGROUND CONVERSION AGREEMENT FOR THE STRATFORD COURT NORTH (1B) UTILITY UNDERGROUNDING DISTRICT WITH A COST OF $78,100.50 AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT (VOTE 4-0)
Ayes: Mayor Gaasterland; Deputy Mayor Martinez; Councilmembers Quirk and Spelich; Noes: 0; Recuse: 0; Absent: 0; Abstain: 0.
PUBLIC HEARING
ITEM 13: RE-INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER
23.50 AND REPEAL AND REPLACE CHAPTER 23.51 RELATED TO TREES, SCENIC VIEWS, AND SUNLIGHT REGULATIONS (A25-001) (CLERK’S FILE NO. 401-4, 401-9) A presentation was provided by Principal Planner Matt Bator. Community and Development Director Karen Brindley and Assistant City Attorney Ralph Hicks were available to answer questions.
Council questions focused on the fee for the TSVS application and related hearings; whether the proposed ordinance builds in incentives for neighbors to work together through mediation to avoid TSVS applications; privacy protections included in the proposed ordinance; whether the Council can amend the appeal zone distance related to sunlight as part of introducing the item this evening; why staff is proposing to repeal and replace the TSVS municipal code section versus redlining the code; whether the code can be adjusted in the future should the City Council determine amendments are needed; considerations related to whether the TSVS can “run with the land”; concern from residents about loss of trees; whether City owned trees have a maintenance plan for pruning; clarification on City owned trees being included in the definition of protected trees in the proposed regulations; whether adoption of the proposed City Council Regular Minutes
October 20, 2025
regulations would create double jeopardy; and whether the Council could consider reducing the fees should the cost for service come down under the proposed regulations.
Mayor Gaasterland opened the item to public comment, and the following people spoke:
1) Jim Kennedy
2) Alice McNally with one donation of time from Julie Maxey-Allison 3) Shirli Weiss
4) Janet Wilson with one donation of time from Holly Hermanson 5) Catherine Cramton
6) Nigel Hook
7) Camilla Rang
8) Lori Ritman
9) Catherine Cramton
10) Shawn Schrager submitted a speaker slip in support for the item but was not present to speak Mayor Gaasterland closed the item to public comment.
Additional Council questions and discussion focused on the definition of unreasonable obstruction in the proposed ordinance; white water views; how the proposed ordinance may interact with existing private arrangement between two property owners; whether the costs for an existing maintenance plan for a previously decided TSVS could be transferred from the TSVS applicant to the tree owners; potential downside of saying the maintenance plan runs with the property; whether a TSVS maintenance plan can legally run with the land; whether the proposed ordinance puts more weight on sunlight over views; whether there have been TSVS applications where sunlight to a bedroom or non-primary living space was the subject of the application; and consideration to amend the proposed regulations to include a primary living area for sunlight and a primary living area of view; appreciation to Principal Planner Bator for his extensive knowledge on this issue; and appreciation to Mayor Gaasterland and Councilmember Spelich for their work on the subcommittee.
IT WAS MOVED BY MAYOR GAASTERLAND AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER QUIRK TO
DIRECT STAFF TO REVISE THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE TO REPEAL AND REPLACE THE CITY’S TSVS REGULATIONS TO RETURN THE SUNLIGHT OBSTRUCTION ELIGIBILITY
LIMITATION TO BE THE PRIMARY LIVING AREA (PLA) AND FOR ALLEGED SUNLIGHT
OBSTRUCTION, REDUCE THE ELIGIBLE SITE OF THE SUBJECT TREE FROM BEING A PROPERTY WITHIN THREE HUNDRED (300) FEET OF THE APPLICANT’S PROPERTY TO THIRTY (30) FEET AND TO RETURN TO CITY COUNCIL WITH THE A REVISED ORDINANCE FOR REINTRODUCTION AND AMENDMENTS TO RELATED CODE SECTIONS OF THE CITY’S TREE REGULATIONS WITHIN DMMC CHAPTER 23.50 (A25-001). (VOTE 4-0) Ayes: Mayor Gaasterland; Deputy Mayor Martinez; Councilmembers Quirk and Spelich; Noes: 0; Recuse: 0; Absent: 0; Abstain: 0.
COUNCIL MEETING RECESS:
The City Council took a meeting recess from approximately 6:27 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.
CITY COUNCIL OTHER BUSINESS
ITEM 14: INITIAL CONSIDERATION OF AN APPEAL OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION’S APPROVAL OF SETBACK SEAWALL PERMIT (SSP25-002)
PROJECT APPLICANT/PROPERTY OWNER: OCEANS INVESTMENTS LLC
City Council Regular Minutes
October 20, 2025
PROJECT APPELLANT: STEVEN MACK
PROJECT LOCATION: 2936 CAMINO DEL MAR (APN: 299-020-12-00) (CLERK’S FILE NO. 301-12)
City Attorney Devaney explained the initial consideration procedure. There were no Council disclosures.
Associate Planner Jean Crutchfield provided a presentation. There were no Council questions.
On behalf of her client, appellant Steven Mack, Julie Hamilton presented on why the City Council should set the appeal for de novo hearing.
Representatives Lee Andelin and Walt Crampton presented on behalf of the applicant Oceans Investments, LLC.
There were no public speakers for the item.
There were not two or more Councilmembers who wished to set the item for a de novo hearing. As such, the determination of the Planning Commission was upheld.
ITEM 15: 2026 CITY COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULE AND PROPOSED 2025 AND 2026 CITY FACILITY HOLIDAY CLOSURES (CLERK’S FILE NO. 401-1)
An introduction to the item was provided by City Manager Ashley Jones. A presentation was provided by City Clerk/Administrative Services Manager Krietor.
Council questions and discussion focused on the desire to pursue the alternative Tuesday meeting schedule.
IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILMEBER SPELICH AND SECONDED BY MAYOR GAATERLAND TO DIRECT STAFF TO RETURN WITH A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE 2026 ALTERNATIVE “TUESDAY” MEETING SCHEDULE. (VOTE 4-0)
Ayes: Mayor Gaasterland; Deputy Mayor Martinez; Councilmembers Quirk and Spelich; Noes: 0; Recuse: 0; Absent: 0; Abstain: 0.
REGIONAL ORGANIZATION AND COUNCIL COMMITTEES/SUBCOMMITTEES/COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATION REPORTS
The Council acknowledged the written report for the METRO Commission submitted by Council appointed City representative Dwight Worden and expressed appreciation for his ongoing service on the Commission.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Gaasterland adjourned the meeting at 9:45 p.m.
___________________________________________
Sarah Krietor, Administrative Services Manager/
City Clerk