CITY OF DEL MAR
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
FEBRUARY 3, 2026
City of Del Mar Town Hall
1050 Camino del Mar, Del Mar California 92014
And via teleconference
15600 Sand Canyon Ave., Irvine, CA 92618
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 4:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Tracy Martinez; Deputy Mayor John Spelich; Councilmembers Terry Gaasterland and Dan Quirk (participated remotely and joined the meeting from approximately 4:50 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.)
CITY ATTORNEY CLOSED SESSION REPORT
Assistant City Attorney Christina Cameron reported that Councilmember Quirk was absent from the February 3, 2026, Closed Session, and there were no reportable actions or recusals.
At the direction of the City Council, City Manager Ashley Jones provided the following statement on Closed Session Item C- City Attorney Public Employment: In November 2025, the City Council directed staff to initiate a legal services solicitation process, with the full Council interviewing four potential firms on January 12, 2026. Following interviews, there has been no Council consensus as to next steps in the process. Therefore, the process will be discontinued and the existing legal services contract with attorney firm Devaney Pate Morris & Cameron will continue.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Martinez led the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Martinez opened public oral communications and the following people spoke:
1) Stuart Anstis
2) Suren Dutia with two donations of time from Suresh Mahayan and Jas Grewal Mayor Martinez closed public oral communications.
Councilmember Gaasterland rebutted comments by Suren Dutia about her service and compensation as the City’s primary representative on the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) Board of Directors.
City Council Regular Minutes
February 3, 2026
CITY COUNCIL COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
As the Council Liaison to the Undergrounding Program Advisory Committee (UPAC), Deputy Mayor Spelich provided a response to Councilmember Quirk’s comments at the January 20, 2026, City Council meeting regarding timing for the next Undergrounding Program update. After reviewing the September 2025 meeting recordings cited by Councilmember Quirk, Deputy Mayor Spelich confirmed that the Council did not direct staff to provide a January 2026 update as indicated by Councilmember Quirk.
Instead, Council requested updates following completion of each Crest Canyon project work zone. He reported that Crest Canyon Zone 1 construction is currently underway with an anticipated completion date in mid-March 2026. Deputy Mayor Spelich also noted that staff plans to provide an Undergrounding Program update on February 17, 2026, in advance of the Crest Canyon Work Zone 1 completion.
Councilmember Gaasterland concurred with Deputy Mayor Spelich’s understanding of the Council’s direction in September 2025, and reported that poles in Undergrounding District 1A (Stratford Court South) are starting to come down. Mayor Martinez emphasized the importance of clarifying Council misstatements for the public and staff.
Mayor Martinez reported about her positive experience at the Art of Banksy Without Limits Exhibition at the Del Mar Fairgrounds running through April 19, 2026.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Ashley Jones reported on the Del Mar Village Association (DMVA) quarterly power washing of the downtown sidewalks and expressed her appreciation to DMVA for their partnership and to the private donor who generously provided funding; thanked the Del Mar Foundation for their generous donation of a new sound mixing board to replace outdated equipment in the Town Hall; and introduced Interim Fire Chief Colin Stowell. Chief Stowell provided comments regarding his appointment.
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 SPELICH, SECONDED BY MAYOR MARTINEZ TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 1 THROUGH 9 AND 11. (VOTE 3-0-1, WITH
COUNCILMEMBER QUIRK ABSENT)
Ayes: Mayor Martinez; Deputy Mayor Spelich; Councilmembers Gaasterland; Noes: 0; Recused: 0;
Absent: Councilmember Quirk; Abstain: 0.
ITEM 1: APPROVAL OF MINUTES: JANUARY 20, 2026 REGULAR AND SPECIAL MEETING (CLERK’S MINUTES BOOK)
Council approved the minutes, on consent.
ITEM 2: RATIFICATION OF LIST OF DEMANDS, DATED FEBRUARY 3, 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.
City Council Regular Minutes
February 3, 2026
ITEM 4: SECOND READING AND ADOPTION 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) Council adopted Ordinance 1026 “AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING DEL MAR MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER
23.12 (CALIFORNIA CODES FOR CONSTRUCTION) BY AMENDING SECTION
23.12.070, AND BY ADDING SECTION 23.12.071 TO MAKE ADMINISTRATIVE
CORRECTIONS REQUESTED BY THE CALIFORNIA BUILDING STANDARDS COMMMISSION, ALL RELATING TO THE APPLICABILITY OF THE 2025 CALIFORNIA
BUILDING STANDARDS CODE AND ASSOCIATED NATIONAL AND STATE BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION CODES WITHIN THE CITY OF DEL MAR”, on consent.
ITEM 5: COUNCIL CONSIDERATION OF THE 2026 LEGISLATIVE POLICY GUIDELINES (CLERK’S FILE NO. 401-7, 401-8)
Council approved the City’s 2026 Legislative Policy Guidelines, on consent.
ITEM 6: ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE STATE LANDS COMMISSION LEASE NO. 8181 FOR THE CAMINO DEL MAR BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT (CLERK’S FILE NO. 406-1)
Council adopted Resolution 2026-05 “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA APPROVING THE AMENDED GENERAL LEASE AGREEMENT NO. 8181 BETWEEN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA STATE LANDS COMMISSION AND THE CITY OF DEL MAR” and authorized the City Manager to execute the Amendment on behalf of the City, on consent.
ITEM 7: PROPOSED ADDITION OF MANAGEMENT ANALYST POSITION TO THE FINANCE DIVISION (CLERK’S FILE NO. 501-3)
Council adopted Resolution 2026-06 “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING THE ADDITION OF ONE MANAGEMENT ANALYST POSITION TO THE FINANCE DIVISION” and amended the FY 2025-2026 Operating and Capital Budget as described in the Fiscal Impact, on consent.
ITEM 8: TREASURER'S INVESTMENT REPORT FOR THE QUARTER ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2025 (CLERK’S FILE NO. 102-2, 209-2)
Council received and filed the informational Treasurer’s Investment Report for the quarter ended December 31, 2025, on consent.
ITEM 9: RECOMMENDED COMPENSATION ADJUSTMENT RELATED TO THE CITY MANAGER’S PERFORMANCE EVALUATION AND SECOND AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT (CLERK’S FILE NO. 102-8, 502-1)
Council adopted Resolution 2026-07 “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING COMPENSATION ADJUSTMENT
FOR ASHLEY JONES AS CITY MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF DEL MAR AND City Council Regular Minutes
February 3, 2026
ADOPTING THE AMENDED MANAGEMENT AND PROFESSIONAL COMPENSATION PLAN” and approved the Second Amendment to the City Manager’s Employment Agreement increasing City deferred compensation contributions and life insurance benefit, on consent.
ITEM 10: ESTABLISHMENT OF SHORT-TERM RENTAL (STR) PERMIT APPLICATION PERIOD (CLERK’S FILE NO. 301-19)
Councilmember Gaasterland provided a statement regarding her recusal from participating in this agenda item. Council discussion focused on insurance questions raised in a red dot submitted by a member of the public.
IT WAS MOVED MAYOR MARTINEZ AND SECONDED BY DEPUTY MAYOR SPELICH TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2026-04 “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SET
TIMING FOR SHORT-TERM RENTALS (STR) PERMIT PROCESS TO FOLLOW COASTAL COMMISSION CERTIFICATION OF THE CITY’S STR ORDINANCE/LOCAL COASTAL PROGRAM AMENDMENT” (VOTE 3-0-1 WITH COUNCILMEMBER
GAASTERLAND RECUSED)
Ayes: Mayor Martinez; Deputy Mayor Spelich; and Councilmember Quirk. Noes:0; Recused: Councilmembers Gaasterland; Absent:0; Abstain: 0.
PUBLIC HEARING
ITEM 11: INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING DEL MAR MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 8.04 TO REGULATE THE DIGGING OF HAZARDOUS HOLES ON THE PUBLIC BEACH (CLERK’S FILE NO. 401-4, 401-9)
Management Analyst Maggie Jones provided a brief summary and overview of the agenda item. Mayor Martinez opened the public hearing. There were no public speakers. Mayor Martinez closed the public hearing. Council introduced the Ordinance, on consent.
CITY COUNCIL OTHER BUSINESS
ITEM 12: PREPARATIONS FOR 2026 CITY COUNCIL GOALS & PRIORITIES SETTING WORKSHOP (CLERK’S FILE NO. 401-1)
A presentation was provided by City Manager Jones and Administrative Services Manager/City Clerk Krietor.
Council consensus was to proceed with the format for the 2026 City Council Goals & Priorities Workshop as outlined in the agenda report and use this as the standard Goals & Priorities Workshop format moving forward. Staff would only need to return to Council in the future should staff or Council propose to deviate from the standardized format.
REGIONAL ORGANIZATION AND COUNCIL COMMITTEES/SUBCOMMITTEES/COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATION REPORTS
City Council representatives reported on SANDAG Board of Directors, DMVA, SANDAG Regional Planning Committee; and SANDAG LOSSAN Executive Taskforce.
City Council Regular Minutes
February 3, 2026
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Martinez adjourned the meeting at 5:33 p.m.
Sarah Krietor, Administrative Services Manager/
City Clerk