CITY OF DEL MAR
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
MARCH 17, 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 4:45 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Tracy Martinez; Deputy Mayor John Spelich; and Councilmember Terry Gaasterland
Absent: Councilmember Dan Quirk
CITY ATTORNEY CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney Christina Cameron reported that were no reportable actions for the March 17, 2026, Closed Session.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Martinez led the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Martinez opened public oral communications and Diana Kutlow representing Senator Catherine Blakespear’s office spoke. Mayor Martinez closed public oral communications.
CITY COUNCIL COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Martinez reported that the tickets are currently on sale for the Del Mar Village Association (DMVA) Summer Solstice event on June 18, 2026, and registration is open online at delmarclimate.org for the Del Mar Climate event on April 23, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the Del Mar Town Hall.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Ashley Jones reported on the Short-Term Rental (STR) Permit Application period now open through May 1, 2026, and staff permit application assistance available via an in-person Workshop on March 18, 2026, from 1:00-2:00 p.m. in the Town Hall, a Zoom Workshop on March 25, 2026, from 3:00- 4:00 p.m. which will recorded and posted to the City’s website, and drop-in counter hours at City Hall on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:00-4:00 p.m. City Manager Jones also reported on the Del Mar Recycles event hosted by EDCO on Saturday, March 21, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the lower parking lot of Shores Park where residents can drop off electronic waste, fluorescent bulbs, household batteries, and sharps; papers for shredding; and donate reusable items to Goodwill.
City Council Regular Minutes
March 17, 2026
PRESENTATIONS
ITEM 1: MEASURE Q CITIZEN OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORT FOR FY 2024- 2025 (CLERK’S FILE NO. 401-5)
Mayor Martinez introduced the item. A presentation was provided by Measure Q Citizen Oversight Committee Chair Alan Lonbom.
City Council discussion focused on appreciation to Chair Lonbom and the Measure Q Citizen Oversight Committee Members for their work on the committee and their presentation.
There were no public speakers for the item.
ITEM 2: DEL MAR BLUFFS STABILIZATION PHASE 5 AND DEL MAR BLUFFS ACCESS IMPROVEMENTS PROJECTS UPDATE (CLERK’S FILE NO. 1506-1)
Mayor Martinez introduced the item. A presentation was provided by Clint Peace, Senior Director of Capital Delivery and David Cortez Director of Construction and Engineering with the San Diego Association of Government (SANDAG). SANDAG Chief Executive Officer Mario Orso and Senior Capital Project Manager Dinara Ussenova were available to answer questions.
City Council questions on the LOSSAN Rail Realignment Project focused on the status of the geotechnical reports and whether the results of those reports will inform the selected rail alignment.
Council questions on the Del Mar Bluff 5 project focused on the purpose of the access roads included in the Del Mar Bluff 5 Project and the type of material that will be used for the road; access road material specified in the California Coastal Commission (CCC) approval of the Del Mar Bluff 5 Project; whether the concrete used for project drainage ditches can be tinted to match the color of the bluff; color of City drainage ditches and clarification that the City does not have drainage ditches on the bluff; whether plants will be included in locations where burlap has been placed on the bluff at a later stage in the project; cause of the erosion found at Seacliff Way; and Americans with Disability Act (ADA) access requirements for the DMB5 related mitigation projects and whether SANDAG may pursue an exemption.
Mayor Martinez opened the item to public comment and the following people spoke:
1) Ista Cardelae
2) Camilla Rang
3) Shirli Weiss with two donations of time from Lawrence Lare and Lori Ritman 4) Greg Rothnem
5) Mark Handzel with a donation of time from Janet Handzel 6) Dr. Cooper Baker
7) Erick Peterson
8) Myles Anderson representing the 11th Street Surf Club Mayor Martinez closed the item to public comment.
Additional Council questions focused on the North and South access trail being considered as part of the Del Mar Bluff 5 Project; and clarification on the SANDAG Del Mar Bluff 4 Project mitigation work referenced by a public speaker.
Council discussion focused on desire for SANDAG staff to reaffirm their commitment to Del Mar Bluff 5 Project mitigation related to bluff access.
City Council Regular Minutes
March 17, 2026
SANDAG CEO Mario Orso provided comments and reaffirmed SANDAG’s commitment to working collaboratively to implement the required DMB5 mitigation projects.
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 MAYOR MARTINEZ TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 3 THROUGH 6. (VOTE 3-0-1) Ayes: Mayor Martinez; Deputy Mayor Spelich; and Councilmembers Gaasterland; Noes: 0; Recuse: 0;
Absent: Councilmember Quirk; Abstain: 0.
ITEM 3: APPROVAL OF MINUTES: MARCH 3, 2026 REGULAR AND SPECIAL MEETING (CLERK’S MINUTES BOOK)
Council approved the minutes, on consent.
ITEM 4: RATIFICATION OF LIST OF DEMANDS, DATED MARCH 17, 2026 (CLERK’S FILE NO. 201-3)
Council approved the list of demands, on consent.
ITEM 5: WAIVER OF READING OF ORDINANCES ON AGENDA (CLERK’S FILE NO. 401-4) Council waived the reading of ordinances, on consent.
ITEM 6: APPROVAL OF A DONATION AND GRANT ACCEPTANCE POLICY (CLERK’S FILE NO. 201-16, 201-13)
Councilmember questions focused on whether members of the public can make donations to cover the cost of city operations or initiate a public works or infrastructure project.
Council adopted Resolution 2026-17 “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA APPROVING A DONATION AND GRANT ACCEPTANCE POLICY”, and authorized the City Manager to make administrative updates to the Policy as may be occasionally needed, on consent.
CITY COUNCIL OTHER BUSINESS
ITEM 7: INFORMATIONAL SUMMARY OF DRAFT INITIAL STUDY/MITIGATED NEGATIVE
DECLARATION FOR THE SAN DIEGUITO LAGOON LEVEE, HABITAT
ENHANCEMENT, AND TRAIL PROJECT (CLERK’S FILE NO. 1403-5) An introduction to the item was provided by City Manager Jones. A presentation was provided by Principal Planner Amanda Lee. Planning and Community Development Director Karen Brindley and Principal Engineer Karen Falk were available to answer questions.
Council questions focused on whether this project could be undertaken solely by the City or whether coordination with the San Dieguito River Park Joint Powers Authority (JPA) is needed; clarification City Council Regular Minutes
March 17, 2026
on the public access easement and related California Coastal Commission (CCC) code enforcement issues; flooding risks related to the river; project history; location of the Alvarado House on the Fairgrounds property; and whether the San Dieguito River Park Joint Powers Authority JPA Board has recently received an update on this project.
There were no public speakers for the item.
ITEM 8: INITIAL CONSIDERATION OF AN APPEAL OF ENCROACHMENT PERMIT (EP) 25- 049 EP APPELLANT AND APPLICANT: PAUL RAEL, APPELLANT’S ADDRESS: 1612 STRATFORD WAY (APN: 299-280-47-00) (CLERK’S FILE NO. 802-1) The appellant’s representative Bob Scott of RSG Consulting formally requested a continuance of the initial consideration due to only three Councilmembers being present for the meeting. Council consensus was to grant the continuance.
REGIONAL ORGANIZATION AND COUNCIL COMMITTEES/SUBCOMMITTEES/COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATION REPORTS
City Council representatives reported on the SANDAG Board of Directors, SANDAG Regional Planning Committee, and Legislative Subcommittee.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Martinez adjourned the meeting at 6:45 p.m.
_________________________________________
Sarah Krietor, Administrative Services Manager/
City Clerk