CITY OF DEL MAR
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
JANUARY 20, 2026
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 Tracy Martinez called the Regular Meeting to order at 4:40 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Tracy Martinez; Deputy Mayor John Spelich; Councilmembers Terry Gaasterland and Dan Quirk
CITY ATTORNEY CLOSED SESSION REPORT
Assistant City Attorney Ralph Hicks reported that there were no recusals and no reportable actions for the January 20, 2026, Closed Session.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Martinez led the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
CITY COUNCIL COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Martinez reported on the successful Fire Ops 101 led by the Fire Departments of the cities of Del Mar and Solana Beach and the Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District and expressed appreciation to the departments for the experience and their excellent service to the community.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Ashley Jones reported on the absolute work window for the San Diego Association of Government (SANDAG) Del Mar Bluff 5 Stabilization Project from January 23, 2026, through January 26, 2026. She also announced that SANDAG staff are scheduled to provide a presentation on the project and related bluff access improvements at the March 3, 2026, City Council meeting.
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 COUNCILMEMBER GAASTERLAND, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER QUIRK TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 1 THROUGH 9. (VOTE 4-0) City Council Regular Minutes
January 20, 2026
Ayes: Mayor Martinez; Deputy Mayor Spelich; Councilmembers Gaasterland and Quirk; Noes: 0; Recuse: 0; Absent: 0; Abstain: 0.
ITEM 1: APPROVAL OF MINUTES: JANUARY 6, 2026 REGULAR AND SPECIAL MEETING, JANUARY 12, 2026 SPECIAL MEETING (CLERK’S MINUTES BOOK) Council approved the minutes, on consent.
ITEM 2: RATIFICATION OF LIST OF DEMANDS, DATED JANUARY 20, 2026 (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: RESOLUTIONS TO APPROVE THE SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
REGIONAL WASTEWATER DISPOSAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF SAN
DIEGO AND THE PARTICIPATING AGENCIES IN THE METROPOLITAN SEWERAGE SYSTEM (CLERK’S FILE NO. 406-1)
Council questions focused on the terms of the second amendment; rational for remaining in the Metro JPA; and gallons of wastewater sent to San Elijo JPA per day.
Council adopted Resolution 2026-02 “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO APPROVE
THE SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED REGIONAL WASTEWATER DISPOSAL
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO AND THE PARTICIPATING AGENCIES IN THE METROPOLITAN SEWERAGE SYSTEM” and Resolution 2026-03 “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO APPROVE THE METROPOLITAN SEWERAGE SYSTEM ADMINISTRATIVE AGREEMENT NO. 1 FOR UNIFIED
MANAGEMENT OF INDUSTRIAL WASTE DISCHARGE PRETREATMENT AND
ENHANCED SOURCE CONTROL PROGRAMS BETWEEN THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO
AND THE PARTICIPATING AGENCIES IN THE METROPOLITAN SEWERAGE SYSTEM”, on consent.
ITEM 5: AUTHORIZATION TO PURCHASE VACTOR RAMJET AND TRUVAC HYDRO EXCAVATION TRUCKS FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT (CLERK’S FILE NO. 601-5)
Council approved the purchase of a Vactor Ramjet truck in Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-2026 and a Truvac Hydro Excavation Truck in FY 2026-2027; authorized the City Manager to execute the necessary paperwork to facilitate the purchases; and amended the FY 2025- 2026 Operating and Capital Budget for the purchase of the Vactor Ramjet truck and directed staff to include funds for the purchase of the Truvac Hyro Excavation Truck in the FY 2026-2027 Operating and Capital Budget as described in the Fiscal Impact, on consent.
City Council Regular Minutes
January 20, 2026
ITEM 6: AGREEMENT WITH CLEARSOURCE FINANCIAL CONSULTING FOR A COST ALLOCATION PLAN AND COMPREHENSIVE USER FEE STUDY (CLERK’S FILE NO. 406-1)
Council approved the Agreement for a Cost Allocation Plan and Comprehensive User Fee Study with ClearSource Financial Consulting; and authorized the City Manager to execute the Agreement and any subsequent amendments provided for under the Agreement contingent upon satisfactory performance by the consultant, on consent.
ITEM 7: APPOINTMENT TO THE MEASURE Q CITIZEN OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE (CLERK’S FILE NO. 401-5)
Council appointed Caitlin Laipenieks to the Measure Q Citizen Oversight Committee as an at-large voting member for a full three-year term from January 20, 2026, through January 31, 2029, on consent.
PUBLIC HEARING
ITEM 8: INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE TO PROCESS ADMINISTRATIVE CORRECTIONS TO DEL MAR MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 23.12, DIVISION 7 TO REFLECT ADOPTION OF THE 2025 CALIFORNIA GREEN BUILDING CODE WITH LOCAL AMENDMENTS (CLERK’S FILE NO. 401-4, 401-9)
Mayor Martinez opened the public hearing. There were no public speakers. Mayor Martinez closed the public hearing. The ordinance was introduced, on consent.
CITY COUNCIL OTHER BUSINESS
ITEM 9: CONSIDERATION OF A COST SHARING AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF SOLANA BEACH FOR FIRE MANAGEMENT TRANSITION SERVICES (CLERK’S FILE NO. 406- 1, 1101-8)
A presentation was provided by City Manager Jones.
Council questions focused on the timing for returning to the City Council to consider options and next steps for fire management services.
City Council approved the cost sharing agreement with the City of Solana Beach for Fire Management Transition Services and authorized the City Manager to execute the Agreement and any subsequent amendments provided for under the Agreement contingent upon satisfactory performance, on consent.
ITEM 10: OFFICIAL COUNCIL VOTE ON DEL MAR 2026 SANDAG BOARD APPOINTMENTS (CLERK’S FILE NO. 1506-1)
An introduction to the item was provided by Mayor Martinez.
Council questions focused on rationale for the agenda item.
There were no public speakers for the item.
City Council Regular Minutes
January 20, 2026
IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER GAASTERLAND AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER
QUIRK TO CONTINUE GAASTERLAND AS PRIMARY, MARTINEZ AS FIRST ALTERNATE, AND SPELICH AS SECOND ALTERNATE. (VOTE 2-2, WITH MAYOR MARTINEZ AND DEPUTY MAYOR OPPOSED). MOTION FAILED.
Ayes: Councilmembers Gaasterland and Quirk; Noes: Mayor Martinez; Deputy Mayor Spelich; Recuse:
0; Absent: 0; Abstain: 0.
In accordance with the formal notice from SANDAG Board Counsel provided to the City Attorney on January 8, 2026, per CPUC Article 2, 132351.1, the City’s 2025 appointed representatives to the SANDAG Board, which includes Councilmember Gaasterland (Primary); Mayor Martinez (1st Alternate); and Deputy Mayor Spelich (2nd Alternate), will continue to serve until such time the City Council votes to recall or replace them.
REGIONAL ORGANIZATION AND COUNCIL COMMITTEES/SUBCOMMITTEES/COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATION REPORTS
Mayor Martinez reported on the North County Transit District.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Martinez adjourned the meeting at 5:35 p.m.
Sarah Krietor, Administrative Services Manager/
City Clerk