CITY OF DEL MAR
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
NOVEMBER 17, 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
None.
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) Diana Kutlow
2) Lyla Afshar
3) Riyan Badani
4) Peter Bennett
5) Jacob Cheny
6) Airi Davis
7) Aidan Manchester
8) Harper Martin
9) Melody Sharafi
10) Sydney Shore
11) Siena Sweeney
12) Janis Jones, Surfrider Foundation San Diego Chapter 13) Kimberly York, The Sand Toy Recycle Project
Mayor Gaasterland closed public oral communications.
Following public oral, there was consensus among the City Council for the City Manager to work with staff to research toy borrow boxes that have been implemented in other communities and determine whether such a program would be a good fit for Del Mar.
City Council Regular Minutes
November 17, 2025
CITY COUNCIL COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Deputy Mayor Martinez reported on the Del Mar Village Association (DMVA) work beautifying the City for the holidays; Winter Sip and Taste Event hosted by the DMVA to be held on December 7, 2025, between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.; Toys for Tots Donation drop off at the Jim Colman State Farm Office with donations accepted November 10 through December 17, 2025; photos with Santa event at the Del Mar Plaza from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on December 7, 2025; and the Christmas Tree lighting at 5 p.m. in the amphitheater adjacent to L’Auberge. Councilmember Spelich reminded everyone not to forget about the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday as we are looking forward to Christmas festivities. Mayor Gaasterland reported that the City of Del Mar and Del Mar Community Connections (DMCC) recently received the San Diego County Taxpayers Association’s Golden Award highlighting the private/public partnership for DMCC’s Essential Transportation Program.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Ashley Jones reported on the City’s activities to prepare for rain events during the winter season, and providing up to 10 sandbags per Del Mar resident; City partnership with the Jacob and Cushman Food Bank on a canned food drive, with collection containers located at the Beach Safety Center and City Hall through December 17, 2025; and provided an update on the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) Del Mar Bluff Stabilization Project 5, which will require temporary closure of the bluff top trail between 4th Street and Sea Cliff Way from November 24 through December 17, 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 MAYOR GAASTERLAND, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER SPELICH TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 1 THROUGH 8. (VOTE 4-0) Ayes: Mayor Gaasterland; Deputy Mayor Martinez; Councilmembers Quirk and Spelich; Noes: 0; Recuse: 0; Absent: 0; Abstain: 0.
ITEM 1: APPROVAL OF MINUTES: NOVEMBER 3, 2025, REGULAR AND SPECIAL MEETING (CLERK’S MINUTES BOOK)
Council approved the minutes, on consent.
ITEM 2: RATIFICATION OF LIST OF DEMANDS, DATED NOVEMBER 17, 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: AWARD OF CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT AND RELATED TASK ORDERS FOR THE JIMMY DURANTE BOULEVARD BLUFF STABILIZATION PROJECT (CLERK’S FILE NO. 406-1)
Council questions focused on a recent inquiry by an adjacent neighbor related to the project and whether the City will receive any insurance reimbursement for costs incurred City Council Regular Minutes
November 17, 2025
for the project. Council awarded a $772,192 construction contract to New Century Construction Inc. for the Jimmy Durante Boulevard Bluff Stabilization Project; awarded a $81,960 Task Order to Ardurra for Construction Management and Inspection Services; awarded a $30,700 Task Order Amendment to Michael Baker International for Construction Support Services; awarded a $32,964 Task Order to NOVA Services, Inc. for Geotechnical Services and Laboratory Testing; and authorized the City Manager to execute the required documents and any contract Change Orders or Task Order amendments, within the project contingency, necessary to complete the work, on consent.
ITEM 5: APPROVAL OF AGREEMENTS FOR AS-NEEDED CIVIL ENGINEERING, TRAFFIC
ENGINEERING, DRY UTILITY ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES, SEAWALL ENGINEERING, AND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW SERVICES (CLERK’S FILE NO. 406-1)
Council questions focused on the City’s contractual relationship with KCM Group and Utility Specialists; clarification on the vendor selection and Council approval process for the City to select a vendor for the electrical engineering/design for Utility Undergrounding Districts 25th Street and 2 (UUD 2); Council approved the following as-needed agreements and authorized the City Manager to execute the agreements and any necessary time extensions provided for under the terms of the agreements: Civil Engineering, Traffic Engineering, and Development Review Services with Michael Baker International, Inc.; Civil Engineering, Dry Utility Engineering, Seawall Engineering, and Development Review Services with NV5, Inc.; Civil Engineering Services with Dudek; Traffic Engineering Services with ZONE Traffic Engineering Consulting, LLP; Dry Utility Engineering Services with KCM Group; Architectural Services with Stephen Dalton Architects, Inc.; and Seawall Engineering Services with ENGEO, on consent.
ITEM 6: FIRST AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT WITH NOVA SERVICES, INC. FOR ASNEEDED GEOTECHNICAL SERVICES (CLERK’S FILE NO. 406-1) Council approved the First Amendment to the Agreement between the City of Del Mar and Barnett Quality Control Services, Inc. dba NOVA Services, Inc. (NOVA) for As-Needed Geotechnical Services to extend the term for an additional two-year period and amend the fee schedule; and authorized the City Manager to execute the First Amendment, on consent.
ITEM 7: SECOND AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT WITH UTILITY SPECIALISTS SOUTHWEST, INC. FOR AS-NEEDED SPECIALIZED ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING SERVICES (CLERK’S FILE NO. 406-1, 1001-2)
Council approved the Second Amendment to the Agreement between the City of Del Mar and Utility Specialists Southwest, Inc. for As-Needed Specialized Electrical Engineering Services to extend the agreement term through December 16, 2027; and authorized the City Manager to execute the Second Amendment, on consent.
ITEM 8: ADOPTION 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) Principal Planner Matt Bator discussed the proposed changes to the ordinance included in staff’s red dot communication. Council adopted Ordinance 1024 “AN ORDINANCE OF City Council Regular Minutes
November 17, 2025
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA REPEALING AND REPLACING DEL MAR MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 23.51 REGULATING TREES, SCENIC VIEWS AND SUNLIGHT AND AMENDING CHAPTER 23.50 RELATED TO TREE REMOVAL”, with the amendments included in the staff red dot, on consent.
PUBLIC HEARING
ITEM 9: ENCROACHMENT PERMIT EP25-075 – A REQUEST TO RETAIN EXISTING
UNPERMITTED PLANTER WALLS, BRICK COLUMNS, AND ASSOCIATED IMPROVEMENTS WITHIN THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY AT 1639 LUNETA DRIVE; APPLICANT: 1639 LLC (CLERK’S FILE NO. 802-1)
Mayor Gaasterland introduced the procedure for the public hearing. Council disclosures were as follows:
Mayor Gaasterland visited the site, reviewed the agenda materials and read the emails submitted to her, which she confirmed with the City Clerk were the only red dots received for the item; Councilmember Quirk reviewed the emails submitted to him, red dots, and agenda report; Deputy Mayor Martinez read emails submitted to her, drove by the property twice, reviewed the agenda materials and read the red dots; and Councilmember Spelich disclosed that he drove by the property, read the red dots, and reviewed the agenda materials.
A presentation was provided by Management Analyst Nestor Machado and Planning and Community Development Director Karen Brindley and Principal Engineer Karen Falk were available to answer questions.
Council questions focused on encroachments on neighboring properties; standard conditions for encroachment permits; whether the City has the ability to require removal of the encroachment permit in the future; clarification on the pre-existing columns and encroachments; and rolled curb height.
Mayor Gaasterland opened the item to public comment, and the following people spoke:
1) Terry Pavelko
2) Walter Dembitsky
3) Roberta Cohen
Mayor Gaasterland closed the item to public comment.
Council discussion focused on the process the City is undertaking given that the encroachment exists; Council discretion to approve encroachment permit applications in accordance with the City Council Policy; how the City’s street survey will relate to encroachment; encroachment permits related to street width and parking regulations; consideration related to emergency response vehicle access; whether a Council policy on encroachment permits following the Council review of the street survey should be considered; consideration to remove no parking sign adjacent to the potential encroachment; and findings needed for the Council to approve the encroachment permit application.
IT WAS MOVED BY MAYOR GAASTERLAND AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER QUIRK TO
DIRECT STAFF TO RETURN WITH A RESOLUTION APPROVING ENCROACHMENT PERMIT APPLICATION EP25-075 INCLUDING PROVISIONS REQUIRING THE APPLICANT TO SUBMIT
DESIGN PLANS TO INCORPORATE ROLLED CURBED ALONG THE PROPERTY FRONTAGE SUBJECT TO REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE CITY ENGINEER; REQUIRING THE
RECORDATION OF A COVENANT COMMITTING THE PROPERTY OWNER TO MAINTAIN THE IMPROVEMENT; AND INCLUDING THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) DETERMINATION (VOTE 4-0)
City Council Regular Minutes
November 17, 2025
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 6:30 p.m. to 6:49 p.m.
CITY COUNCIL OTHER BUSINESS
ITEM 10: CAMINO DEL MAR BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT UPDATE AND EIGHTH
AMENDMENT TO THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH
KLEINFELDER, INC. (CLERK’S FILE NO. 406-1)
An introduction to the item was provided by City Manager Jones. A presentation was provided by Principal Engineer Karen Falk. Public Works Director Joe Bride was available to answer questions along with City consultants Don Bloodworth, Engineer of Record and Jim Frost, Western Division Transportation Market Lead with Kleinfelder, Inc.
Council questions and discussion focused on timeline for environmental approval for the project and time frame to begin construction; project funding sources; duration of the bridge closure; whether traffic lanes would be closed during construction; whether the Council can reconsider prior decisions related to the project; primary reasons for the additional 14 months added to the projected project timeline; whether cost related to the SDG&E project delays could be quantified; desire to have the City Manager follow up with SDG&E regarding their necessary design work on the project; size of the project related to other federally funded projects; and cost escalation for the project.
There were no public speakers for the item.
IT WAS MOVED BY MAYOR GAASTERLAND AND SECONDED BY DEPUTY MAYOR MARTINEZ
TO APPROVE THE EIGHTH AMENDMENT (ATTACHMENT A) TO THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH KLEINFELDER, INC. FOR ENGINEERING DESIGN SERVICES FOR THE CAMINO DEL MAR BRIDGE REPLACEMENT; AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE EIGHTH AMENDMENT. (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
None.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Gaasterland adjourned the meeting at 7:56 p.m.
Sarah Krietor, Administrative Services Manager/
City Clerk