Table of Contents
4-21-2026 Regular Meeting Agenda
Item 1 - Minutes
Item 2 - 4.21.26 List of Demands Packet
Item 4 - Lagoon Committee Reappointment
Item 5 - Committee Attendance
Item 6 - EJ Element
Item 7 - Safety Element
Item 8 - EP25-136 (207 15th St)
Item 9 - EP26-016 (157 Ocean View Ave)
Item 10 - Public Participation Policy
Item 11 - Fire Department Staffing and Structure
Item 12 - PMP Funding Scenarios for FY27
Item XIL - Council Liaison Report - Worden
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Del Mar City Council Meeting Agenda
City of Del Mar, Town Hall
1050 Camino del Mar, Del Mar, California 92014
And via teleconference
10 Water Witch Crossing, Savannah, GA 31411
1050 Camino del Mar, Del Mar, CA 92014 www.delmar.ca.us Civility Works: The Del Mar Code of Civil Discourse: Together we will promote inclusion; listen to understand; show respect; be clear and fair; and focus on the issue.
Regular Meeting
Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at 4:30 PM
Public Participation/Comment: Members of the public can participate in City Council meetings in-person or via written comment (Red Dot). Anyone may address the City Council for up to three minutes, at the Mayor’s discretion, on items on the agenda.
Members of the public wishing to speak on items not on the agenda may do so under Public Oral Communications. Agenda items may be addressed in any order at the discretion of the Mayor. When addressing the Council, please state your name for the record. Any electronic presentations must be received before 9 a.m. on the date of the Council meeting. No PowerPoint presentations can be loaded during the meeting.
In-Person Participation: Please submit a completed “Speaker Slip”, including the item number you wish to speak on, to the City Clerk prior to the Mayor announcing the agenda item. The forms are located near the door at the rear of the Meeting Room. When called to speak, please approach the podium and state your name for the record.
Written Comments: Members of the public can participate in the meeting by submitting a written red dot comment via email to [email protected]. The deadline to submit written comments is 12 p.m. on the day of the meeting and the subject line of your email should clearly state the agenda item you are commenting on.
Viewing the Meeting and Access to Agenda Materials: Members of the public can watch the meeting live on the City’s website at: http://delmar.12milesout.com/Video/Live and on Cable TV Spectrum Ch. 24, AT&T Ch. 99 starting at 4:30 PM. Agenda materials and communications from the public on agenda items, “Red Dots”, are available on the City’s website:
http://www.delmar.ca.us/AgendaCenter and a hard copy of the agenda materials are available at Del Mar City Hall and the Del Mar Library during their business hours.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the Administrative Services Department at 1050 Camino del Mar or by calling (858) 755-9313.
Notification of at least 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting.
Tracy Martinez
Mayor
John W. Spelich
Deputy Mayor
Terry Gaasterland
Council Member
Dan Quirk
Council Member
Ashley Jones
City Manager
Christina Cameron
City Attorney
Sarah Krietor
Administrative Services
Manager/City Clerk
Del Mar City Council Regular Meeting April 21, 2026
Agenda Page 2
1050 Camino del Mar, Del Mar, CA 92014 www.delmar.ca.us I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
II. CITY ATTORNEY CLOSED SESSION REPORT
III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
IV. PUBLIC ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Each person wishing to speak before the City Council on any matter not on the agenda shall submit a “Speaker Slip” to the City Clerk when Public Oral Communication is announced. Each speaker will have up to three (3) minutes to speak at the discretion of the Mayor and may be asked clarifying questions. Information received during Public Oral Communication may be received, placed on a future agenda, or referred to the City Manager by the City Council. State law generally precludes the City Council from discussing or acting upon any topic presented during oral communications that is not described on the posted agenda.
Note: there is a time limit of 30 minutes for this section of public communications and each speaker will be heard in the order of the submission of their speaker slip. Speakers who have turned in a speaker slip prior to the time oral communications was called on the agenda, but were not heard during the initial time period shall be called to speak at the end of the agenda.
V. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
VI. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
VII. CONSENT CALENDAR
All items listed on the Consent Calendar are considered to be routine and will be acted upon with one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a member of the City Council or the public so requests, in which event, the item will be pulled from the Consent Calendar and considered separately after the motion to approve the Consent Calendar. If you wish to remove an item from the Consent Calendar, please submit a “Speaker Slip” to the City Clerk.
1. Approval of Minutes: April 7, 2026 Regular Meeting
Recommended Action: Approve Minutes.
Reference: Clerk’s Minutes Book
2. Ratification of List of Demands dated April 21, 2026 Recommended Action: Ratify the List of Demands.
Reference: Clerk’s File No. 201-3
Del Mar City Council Regular Meeting April 21, 2026
Agenda Page 3
1050 Camino del Mar, Del Mar, CA 92014 www.delmar.ca.us
3. Waiver of Reading of Ordinances on Agenda
Recommended Action: Waive Reading of Ordinances.
Reference: Clerk’s File No. 401-4
4. Reappointment to the Lagoon Committee
Recommended Action: The City Council Liaisons to the Lagoon Committee recommend that the City Council reappoint Donna Shaw as a voting member to serve a full three-year term beginning May 1, 2026, and ending on May 31, 2029.
Reference: Clerk’s File No. 401-5
5. Amendment to City Council Policy 200 and Introduction of an Ordinance Pertaining to Meeting Attendance of Members of City Committees, Boards, and Commissions
Recommended Action: It is recommended that the City Council: 1) Adopt a Resolution (Attachment A) amending City Council Policy 200-City Council Advisory Committees, Boards, and Commissions (Exhibit A to Attachment A) related to meeting attendance provisions; and 2) Introduce an Ordinance (Attachment C) amending Del Mar Municipal Code (DMMC) Chapter 2.30.020- Absences from Meeting to remove attendance requirements from the code and instead provide that they will be established by Council resolution.
Reference: Clerk’s File No. 401-5
VIII. PUBLIC HEARING
6. General Plan Amendment (GPA24-002) – City of Del Mar Environmental Justice Element
Recommended Action: Staff recommends the City Council adopt the Resolution (Attachment A) to adopt the General Plan (Community Plan) Amendment GPA24- 002 to incorporate a new Environmental Justice Element (Exhibit A to Attachment A).
Reference: Clerk’s File No. 304-4
7. General Plan Amendment (GPA24-003) – City of Del Mar Safety Element Recommended Action: Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the Resolution (Attachment A) to adopt the General Plan (Community Plan) Amendment GPA24-003 to amend the Safety Element and adopt the CEQA determination in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15162.
Del Mar City Council Regular Meeting April 21, 2026
Agenda Page 4
1050 Camino del Mar, Del Mar, CA 92014 www.delmar.ca.us Reference: Clerk’s File No. 304-4
8. Encroachment Permit 25-136 to Allow Removable Street Furniture within the Public Right-of-Way Adjacent to 207 15th Street
APN: 300-012-29-00
Applicant: Ed Aghai and Nooshin Parvizi
Recommended Action: Staff recommends the City Council adopt the attached Resolution (Attachment A) conditionally approving Long-term Major Encroachment Permit (EP) 25-136 to allow two sets of tables and chairs to be located along the storefront frontage of Saffron & Rose located at 207 15th Street.
Reference: Clerk’s File No. 802-1
9. Encroachment Permit 26-016 to Allow Existing Walls and Other Improvements within the Public Right-of-Way at 157 Ocean View Avenue Applicant: Nicole Forrest M and Kevin M Living Trust 09-11-17 Recommended Action: Staff recommends the City Council adopt the attached Resolution (Attachment A) conditionally approving Long-term Major Encroachment Permit (EP) 26-016 to permit two existing retaining walls, a portion of stairs and paver walkway, vegetation, and irrigation on the north side of the property at 157 Ocean View Avenue.
Reference: Clerk’s File No. 802-1
IX. COUNCIL MEETING RECESS
X. CITY COUNCIL OTHER BUSINESS
10. City Council Meeting Public Participation and Disruption Policy Recommended Action: Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a Resolution (Attachment A) repealing Council Policy 313 - Oral Communications from the Public During City Council Meetings and Adopting Council Policy 313 - City Council Meeting Public Participation (Exhibit A to Attachment A) to incorporate new Brown Act requirements pursuant to Senate Bill 707 and to consolidate related City public participation procedures into one policy.
Reference: Clerk’s File No. 401-1
11. Del Mar and Solana Beach Joint Fire Management Structure, Staffing and Cost Sharing
Del Mar City Council Regular Meeting April 21, 2026
Agenda Page 5
1050 Camino del Mar, Del Mar, CA 92014 www.delmar.ca.us Recommended Action: Staff recommends that the City Council:
1) Approve a preliminary joint Fire Management organizational structure (Attachment A) for Del Mar and Solana Beach;
2) Adopt a Resolution (Attachment B) amending the Fire Employee Compensation Plan to add a Fire Prevention Specialist position, adjust Battalion Chief and Administrative Battalion Chief compensation to align with the City of Solana Beach, and authorize a Fire Marshal, a Fire Prevention Specialist, and up to one Battalion Chief, contingent on the outcome of an upcoming promotional recruitment;
3) Approve the Second Amendment to the Interim Cost Sharing Agreement with the City of Solana Beach (Attachment C) to add cost sharing for fire positions identified in this report and authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute the final amendment; and
4) Approve a related Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-2026 budget adjustment as described in the Fiscal Impact Section of this report.
Reference: Clerk’s File No. 1101-8
12. Expanded Scope of Work Scenarios for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Pavement Management Program
Recommended Action: Staff recommends that the City Council provide initial feedback on three potential scenarios for expanded paving work to be included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-2027 Pavement Management Program.
Reference: Clerk’s File No. 901-5
XI. REGIONAL ORGANIZATION REPORTS
A Councilmember assigned as a liaison to a regional organization may make a written or oral report. State law precludes the Council from commenting on, discussing, or acting on a report unless the item of business within the report is described in the agenda.
A. Clean Energy Alliance JPA (CEA) Board of Directors (Spelich/Gaasterland) B. CSA-17 Ambulance District Advisory Board (Martinez)
C. Fire Governance Board, Solana Beach/Del Mar/Encinitas (Martinez/Spelich) D. League of California Cities – San Diego Chapter (Martinez/Spelich) E. North County Transit District (NCTD) (Martinez/Spelich) F. Regional Solid Waste Association (Spelich/Quirk)
G. San Diego Association of Governments Board (SANDAG)
(Gaasterland/Martinez/Spelich)
H. SANDAG Borders Committee (Gaasterland)
I. SANDAG Regional Planning Committee (Martinez)
J. SANDAG Shoreline Preservation Working Group
(Gaasterland/Spelich/Martinez)
K. SANDAG LOSSAN Executive Task Force (Gaasterland/Martinez) L. San Diego Metropolitan Wastewater Commission/JPA (Worden) Recommended Action: Receive Report
Del Mar City Council Regular Meeting April 21, 2026
Agenda Page 6
1050 Camino del Mar, Del Mar, CA 92014 www.delmar.ca.us M. San Dieguito River Valley Regional Open Space Park JPA –Executive Committee (Gaasterland/Martinez)
N. Other Regional Organization Reports
XII. COUNCIL COMMITTEES/SUBCOMMITTEES/COMMUNITY ORG REPORTS A Councilmember assigned as a liaison to a City Committee, Council Subcommittee OR Community Organization may make a written or oral report. State law precludes the Council from commenting on, discussing, or acting on a report, unless the item of business within the report is described in this agenda.
A. Civic Center Operations Guide Subcommittee (Spelich/Gaasterland) B. Del Mar Community Connections (Martinez/Spelich)
C. Del Mar Village Association (Gaasterland/Martinez)
D. Finance Committee (Spelich)
E. Housing Subcommittee (Gaasterland/Martinez)
F. Human Resources Subcommittee (Gaasterland/Martinez)
G. Legislative Subcommittee (Martinez/Spelich)
H. Measure Q Citizen Oversight Committee (Quirk/Gaasterland) I. Parks and Recreation Committee (Martinez/Quirk)
J. Del Mar Railroad Subcommittee (Gaasterland/Martinez) K. Lagoon Committee (Spelich)
L. Planning Process Subcommittee (Includes Sea-Level Rise Adaptation Plan Implementation (Gaasterland/Spelich)
M. Shores Park Master Plan Ad-Hoc Advisory Committee (Gaasterland/Spelich) N. Sustainability Advisory Committee (Martinez/Gaasterland) O. Traffic and Parking Advisory Committee (Quirk/Spelich) P. Undergrounding Program Advisory Committee (Spelich/Martinez) Q. Other Committee-Subcommittee Reports
XIII. UPCOMING AGENDA ITEMS
The following topics/items are tentatively planned for upcoming agendas. The title, wording, and planned date for these items are subject to change. Final agendas are posted at City Hall 72 hours in advance of the meetings and are also posted on our web site with the accompanying staff report. Please watch our web site:
www.delmar.ca.us for City Council Agendas.
May 5, 2026
Del Mar Garden Club Community Garden Day Proclamation
Public Works Department Reorganization
Award of Contract for Climate Action Plan Update and GHG Inventory Project De Novo Hearing EP25-049 (1612 Stratford Way)
Goals and Priorities Workshop - Final FY27/FY28 Workplan and Follow-up Items Del Mar City Council Regular Meeting April 21, 2026
Agenda Page 7
1050 Camino del Mar, Del Mar, CA 92014 www.delmar.ca.us XIV. CERTIFICATION
I, Sarah Krietor, Administrative Services Manager/City Clerk for the City of Del Mar, hereby certify that a copy of this agenda was posted at City Hall on the 16th day of April, 2026 at approximately 4:35 p.m.
___________________________________________ 4/16/2026
Sarah Krietor, Administrative Services Manager/ Date
City Clerk
CITY OF DEL MAR
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
APRIL 7, 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 4:34 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Tracy Martinez; Deputy Mayor John Spelich; Councilmembers Terry Gaasterland (arrived at approximately 4:45 p.m.) and Dan Quirk
CITY ATTORNEY CLOSED SESSION REPORT
None.
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) Diana Kutlow representing Senator Blakespear’s office 2) Barbara Gordon representing San Dieguito Alliance
3) Stephanie Covington with two donations of time from Jeanne Waite and Susan Maronde 4) Jonathan Polikoff
Mayor Martinez closed public oral communications.
CITY COUNCIL COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Councilmember Gaasterland thanked parties involved in the completion of Undergrounding District 1A Stratford Court. Mayor Martinez reported on the Del Mar Climate Change Non-Profit Symposium to be held on April 23, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the Del Mar Town Hall related to plastics and its health risks. Mayor Martinez also reported that Del Mar Community Connections will hold its first ever Senior Fair on April 18, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. in the Del Mar Town Hall, with the goal to help older adults and their caregivers and provide resources to support them.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Ashley Jones announced that the final remaining poles in the Undergrounding District 1A - Stratford Court South would be taken down in the upcoming week. Manager Jones also reported that on March 14, 2026, the City’s waste hauler EDCO hosted its biannual “Del Mar Recycles” event with106 residents diverting 19.14 tons from the landfill; distributing 9 tons of compost; donating 900 pounds of household items; and recycling 630 pounds of electronic waste. 1 April 21, 2026 Item 1
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CONSENT CALENDAR
Senior Management Analyst Kseniia Izgarskaia read the titles of the items included on the Consent Calendar.
IT WAS MOVED BY DEPUTY MAYOR SPELICH, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER QUIRK TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 1 THROUGH 4, 6, 7, and 10 THROUGH 12.
AN AMENDED MOTION WAS ENTERTAINED BY DEPUTY MAYOR SPELICH, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER QUIRK TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 1 THROUGH 7, AND 10 THROUGH 12 (VOTE 4-0 WITH MAYOR MARTINEZ RECUSED ON ITEM 5 (3-0-1) AND COUNCILMEMBER GAASTERLAND RECUSED ON ITEM 12 (3-0-1))
Ayes: Mayor Martinez; Deputy Mayor Spelich; Councilmembers Gaasterland and Quirk; Noes: 0; Recuse: Mayor Martinez (Item 5) and Councilmember Gaasterland (Item 12); Absent: 0; Abstain: 0.
ITEM 1: APPROVAL OF MINUTES: MARCH 11, 2026, SPECIAL MEETING AND MARCH 17, 2026, REGULAR AND SPECIAL MEETING (CLERK’S MINUTES BOOK) Council approved the minutes, on consent.
ITEM 2: RATIFICATION OF LIST OF DEMANDS, DATED APRIL 7, 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: CITYWIDE LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE SERVICES CONTRACT AWARD (CLERK’S FILE NO. 406-1)
Council approved an agreement with BrightView Landscape Services, Inc. to provide citywide landscape maintenance services for an initial three-year period effective May 1, 2026, through May 1, 2029; and authorized the City Manager to execute the agreement, and any subsequent term extension amendments provided for under the Agreement contingent upon satisfactory performance by the vendor, on consent.
ITEM 5: TASK ORDER WITH NV5 FOR INITIAL DESIGN OF UTILITY UNDERGROUNDING DISTRICTS 2 (BEACH COLONY) AND 25TH STREET (CLERK’S FILE NO. 406-1,1001- 2)
Mayor Martinez provided a statement regarding her recusal from participating in this agenda item due to living within the 500 feet of the Beach Colony Utility Undergrounding District (UUD 2). Council questions focused on the selection of the recommended consultant.
Council approved a $141,140 Task Order (TO) with NV5 for Initial Design of the Beach Colony and 25th Street Utility Undergrounding Districts; approved a $30,000 contingency; 2 April 21, 2026 Item 1
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and authorized the City Manager to execute the Task Order and any subsequent amendments within the contingency, on consent.
ITEM 6: AUTHORIZATION TO PURCHASE TWO NEW FIRE VEHICLES AND APPLY FOR DEL MAR FOUNDATION GRANT FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE PURCHASE (CLERK’S FILE NO. 201-13, 601-5)
Council questions focused on vehicle costs and on whether the Del Mar Foundation expressed interest in contributing funds to partially cover the costs.
Council authorized the City Manager to execute purchasing documents with National Auto Fleet Group, utilizing Sourcewell Contract No. 081325-NAF, for the purchase of one (1) model year 2026 Ford F-250 crew cab pickup truck for a Fire Battalion Chief and one (1) model year 2026 Ford F-150 crew cab pickup truck for the Fire Marshal, including outfitting for both vehicles, in the total amount not to exceed $268,000; authorized the City Manager to apply for grant funding from the Del Mar Foundation to be applied toward the Fire Marshal vehicle cost and to execute all related documents; and authorized an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Operating and Capital Budget as described in the Fiscal Impact section of this report, on consent.
ITEM 7: APPROVAL OF SAN DIEGO GAS & ELECTRIC CUSTOMER PAYMENT REMITTANCE
FOR THE JIMMY DURANTE BOULEVARD BLUFF STABILIZATION PROJECT (CLERK’S FILE NO. 1404-2)
Council questions focused on the retaining wall length and whether there is a nexus to SDG&E lines relocation during construction.
Council approved the San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) Customer Payment Remittance for the Jimmy Durante Boulevard Bluff Stabilization Project in an amount up to $148,550 and authorized the City Manager to execute any necessary documents and make the payment, on consent.
ITEM 8: CONSIDERATION OF A SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE EXCLUSIVE NEGOTIATING RIGHTS AGREEMENT WITH THE 22ND DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION
RELATING TO FAIRGROUNDS AFFORDABLE HOUSING (HOUSING ELEMENT PROGRAM 3A) (CLERK’S FILE NO. 406-1)
The item was pulled from the Consent Calendar due to a public comment. Mayor Martinez opened the item to public comment and Shirli Weiss spoke. Mayor Martinez closed the item to public comment.
IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER GAASTERLAND, SECONDED BY DEPUTY
MAYOR SPELICH TO APPROVE THE SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE EXCLUSIVE NEGOTIATING RIGHTS AGREEMENT WITH THE 22ND DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL
ASSOCIATION INCLUDING RENAMING THE AGREEMENT FROM ENRA TO THE “AGREEMENT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING SITE DUE DILIGENCE AND DEVELOPMENT FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS” AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT. (VOTE 4-0)
Ayes: Mayor Martinez; Deputy Mayor Spelich; Councilmembers Gaasterland and Quirk; Noes: 0; Recuse: 0; Absent: 0; Abstain: 0.
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PUBLIC HEARING
ITEM 9: ENCROACHMENT PERMIT (EP) 26-017 TO PERMIT AN EXISTING WALL AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS WITHIN THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY AT 1215 CUCHARA DRIVE
APPLICANT: ANNE MARIE SCHUR AND EDUARDO SCHUR (CLERK’S FILE NO. 802- 1)
An introduction to the item was provided by Mayor Martinez. City Attorney Christina Cameron explained the protocol of the hearing. A presentation was provided by Associate Management Analyst Nestor Machado. Planning and Community Development Director Karen Brindley was available to answer questions.
All Councilmembers disclosed that they read the materials but did not speak to the applicants. Council questions focused on which undergrounding district this project and property is located within; and whether approved encroachment permits can be revoked by the City in the future, if necessary.
Applicants Anne Marie Schur and Eduardo Schur provided a presentation.
Mayor Martinez opened the item to public comment and Janet Wilson spoke. Mayor Martinez closed the item to public comment.
Council discussion focused on slope and distance from the road to allow for foot and vehicular traffic; maintenance responsibility; vegetation height and trimming requirements; decreasing fire hazard risks due to vegetation; and potential impacts of state legislation related to fire hazard mitigation.
IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER GAASTERLAND AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER QUIRK TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2026-21 “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING ENCROACHMENT PERMIT 26-017 TO ALLOW AN
EXISTING RETAINING WALL, WOODEN FENCE, LOW ROCK WALL, AND VEGETATION, WITHIN THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE PROPERTY AT 1215 CUCHARA DRIVE (APN: 300-390-11-00) IN DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA” (VOTE 4-0).
Ayes: Mayor Martinez; Deputy Mayor Spelich; Councilmembers Gaasterland and Quirk; Noes: 0; Recuse:
0; Absent: 0; Abstain: 0.
ITEM 10: ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION TO DECLARE THE CITY-OWNED 28TH STREET VACANT LOT EXEMPT SURPLUS LAND PER SURPLUS LANDS ACT (APN 299-030- 12) (CLERK’S FILE NO. 303-1, 1306-23)
Mayor Martinez opened the item to public comment. There were no public speakers. Mayor Martinez closed the item to public comment.
Council approved resolution 2026-18 “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DEL
MAR, CALIFORNIA, DECLARING THE VACANT CITY-OWNED REAL PROPERTY LOCATED ON 28TH STREET (APN 299-030-12), AND IDENTIFIED IN THE CITY’S STATE-CERTIFIED 6TH CYCLE
HOUSING ELEMENT AS A SITE FOR LOWER INCOME HOUSING DEVELOPMENT TO MEET A PORTION OF THE CITY’S REGIONAL HOUSING NEEDS ALLOCATION (RHNA), IS EXEMPT SURPLUS LAND,” on consent.
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ITEM 11: RESOLUTION APPROVING THE DEL MAR PROJECTS FOR INCLUSION IN THE
TRANSNET LOCAL STREET IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM OF PROJECTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027 THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2030-2031 AND AMENDING FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025 PROGRAMMING TO INCLUDE CARRY-OVER FUNDING (CLERK’S FILE NO. 901-5)
Mayor Martinez opened the item to public comment. There were no public speakers. Mayor Martinez closed the item to public comment.
Council approved Resolution 2026-19 “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA,
ADOPTING THE LIST OF DEL MAR PROJECTS FOR INCLUSION IN THE TRANSNET LOCAL STREET IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM OF PROJECTS FOR FISCAL YEARS 2026-2027 THROUGH 2030-2031 AND ADOPTING AN AMENDMENT TO THE TRANSNET LOCAL STREET IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM OF PROJECTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025,” on consent.
ITEM 12: RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE DATE BY WHICH OVERHEAD ELECTRIC AND
COMMUNICATION FACILITIES SHALL BE REMOVED IN THE UNDERGROUND UTILITY DISTRICT 1A (STRATFORD COURT SOUTH) (CLERK’S FILE NO. 1001-2) Councilmember Gaasterland provided a statement regarding her recusal from participating in this agenda item due living within the district.
Mayor Martinez opened the item to public comment and there were no public speakers for this item.
Mayor Martinez closed the item to public comment.
Council questions focused on the final date by which the overhead poles will be removed.
Council approved Resolution 2026-20 “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DEL
MAR, CALIFORNIA, ESTABLISHING THE DATE BY WHICH OVERHEAD ELECTRIC AND
COMMUNICATION FACILITIES SHALL BE REMOVED IN THE UNDERGROUND UTILITY DISTRICT 1A (STRATFORD COURT SOUTH),” on consent.
COUNCIL MEETING RECESS:
The City Council took a meeting recess from approximately 6:00 to 6:09 p.m.
CITY COUNCIL OTHER BUSINESS
ITEM 13: 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)
An introduction to the item was provided by Mayor Martinez. City Attorney Cameron explained the protocol of the initial consideration.
Council disclosures were as follows: Councilmember Quirk reviewed the materials and spoke with the applicant; Councilmember Gaasterland read the materials, visited the site, and met with the applicant several months prior; Mayor Martinez reviewed the materials and red dots and drove by the property twice; and Deputy Mayor Spelich read the materials and red dots. 5 April 21, 2026 Item 1
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A presentation was provided by Associate Management Analyst Machado. Planning and Community Development Director Brindley was available to answer questions.
On behalf of their client, applicant/appellant Paul Rael, Dean Meredith and Bob Scott presented on why the City Council should set the appeal for de novo hearing. There were no Council questions.
Mayor Martinez opened the item to public comment and Janet Wilson spoke. Mayor Martinez closed the item to public comment.
Councilmembers Gaasterland and Quirk indicated they would like to set the item for a de novo hearing.
Council directed staff to set the item for de novo hearing at the next available meeting and to notify the appellant.
ITEM 14: APPROVAL OF MAJOR ARTERIAL MEDIAN DESIGN AND TASK ORDER WITH MW PELTZ & ASSOCIATES FOR FINAL DESIGN (CLERK’S FILE NO. 406-1, 901-9) A presentation was provided by Principal Engineer Martin Boyd and Senior Landscape Architect Howard Pierce from MW Peltz & Associates. Planning and Community Development Director Brindley was available for questions.
Council questions focused on the next steps of the process to get to the final design and potential involvement of advisory committees; whether any new trees are proposed as part of the project; timing for the project re-design; how cost estimates will evolve as the project design is refined; irrigation system of the proposed landscape; whether grant opportunities could be available to fund the project; whether the task order can be amended to include a cost breakdown and design steps driving the costs; and feedback and prior project experience that was used as a foundation and incorporated in the proposed design up to this point.
There were no public speakers for this item.
Council discussion focused on whether to defer this work and prioritize other City projects such as paving; potential to take advantage of favorable construction market by investing on other construction projects instead of landscaping; upcoming staff presentation on road paving at a future Council meeting; ability to have the Design Review Board weigh in on the proposed design; whether the budget for the task order is included in the approved Fiscal Year 2025-2026 budget or whether a new budget allocation is needed; and potential to defer the project to a future year.
IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER GAASTERLAND AND SECONDED BY DEPUTY MAYOR SPELICH TO: APPROVE THE CONCEPTUAL DESIGN FOR THE MAJOR ARTERIAL MEDIANS IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT; APPROVE A $120,585 TASK ORDER FOR FINAL DESIGN SERVICES WITH MW PELTZ & ASSOCIATES (ATTACHMENT A); APPROVE A $10,000 CONTINGENCY; 4AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE TASK ORDER AND ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS WITHIN THE CONTINGENCY; AND AUTHORIZE AN AMENDMENT TO THE FY 2025-26 OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET ALLOCATING AN ADDITIONAL $30,000 FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO THE PROJECT. (VOTE 3-1-0 WITH COUNCILMEMBER QUIRK OPPOSED) Ayes: Mayor Martinez; Deputy Mayor Spelich; Councilmember Gaasterland; Noes: Councilmember Quirk; Recuse: 0; Absent: 0; Abstain: 0.
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April 7, 2026
Council consensus was to direct staff to present the design to the Design Review Board at a future meeting.
ITEM 15: RECONSIDERATION OF ADDITIONAL PENSION FUND TRANSFER FOR FY 2025-26 (CLERK’S FILE NO. 502-5)
An introduction to the item was provided by Mayor Martinez. A presentation was provided by Deputy Mayor Spelich.
Council questions focused on the expected pension reserve return rate and a potential to maximize the return; advantages of having a Section 115 trust; the difference between the general pension reserve and Section 115 trust; the trust’s current return on investment rate; expectations for long-term returns; potential for prioritizing other projects such as paving and getting a higher return on investment; whether the funds are currently in the general fund contingency; the logistics and steps taken to complete the transfer; and how much of the current annual payment to CalPERS is interest vs principal.
Mayor Martinez opened the item to public comment and the following people spoke:
1) Tate Scott
2) Tom McGreal
Mayor Martinez closed the item to public comment.
Council discussion focused on the unfunded pension liability; financial health of the City’s pension trust and the City’s existing unfunded liability; the prioritization of other City projects over pension funding; opportunity to revisit the City’s pension reserve policy in the future; time-value of paving investment; impacts of the employee headcount and compensation on pension liability; and the potential to bring a separate informational agenda item related to pension liability at a future Council meeting date.
Council consensus was that staff work with the Finance Committee pension subcommittee and the Finance Committee to review the City’s pension policy in May 2026 and come back with any recommended changes to the policy for the City Council’s consideration as part of the budget presentation in June 2026.
IT WAS MOVED BY DEPUTY MAYOR SPELICH AND SECONDED BY MAYOR MARTINEZ TO APPROVE AN ADDITIONAL TRANSFER OF $425,000 TO THE PENSION RESERVE FUND, AS
PREVIOUSLY RECOMMENDED BY CITY STAFF AND THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, IN FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2025-26. (VOTE 4-0)
Ayes: Mayor Martinez; Deputy Mayor Spelich; Councilmembers Gaasterland and Quirk; Noes: 0; Recuse:
0; Absent: 0; Abstain: 0.
REGIONAL ORGANIZATION AND COUNCIL COMMITTEES/SUBCOMMITTEES/COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATION REPORTS
None.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Martinez adjourned the meeting at 8:05 p.m.
Kseniia Izgarskaia, Senior Management Analyst
7 April 21, 2026 Item 1
Vendor Payment Checks $ 755,765.29
Voids -
Electronic Fund Transfers (EFT) 572,890.04
Electronic Wires 185,038.46
Total $ 1,513,693.79
Approved by: Approved by:
Marco Camacho Tracy Martinez
Finance Manager/Treasurer Mayor
Date: Date:
Attachments: Check Registers
LIST OF DEMANDS
CITY OF DEL MAR
for
City Council Meeting
April 21, 2026
4/13/26
1 April 21, 2026 Item 2
04/01/2026
Check List
City of Del Mar
1 2:54:36PM
apChkLst Trial Page:
Bank : eusbnk EFT GENERAL ACCOUNT US BANK
Check # Date Vendor Invoice Inv Date Description Amount Paid Check Total 7662 4/3/2026 cha71 CHARTER COMM HOLDINGS LLC, CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS 189125601 3/14/2026 INTERNET CH MAR 1,394.57 189123701 3/14/2026 FIBER CONNECTION PW MAR 572.67
189123101 3/14/2026 LIFEGUARD FIBER MAR 494.57
189125301 3/14/2026 CH FIBER TO LFGRDS MAR 494.57
189123801 3/14/2026 LFGRD FIBER MAR 416.48
189125701 3/14/2026 CH FIBER TO FIRE MAR 416.48
189112801 3/14/2026 VIDEO TRANSPORT/PEG CH MAR 338.39
189125801 3/14/2026 VIDEO TRANSPORT/PEG MAR 338.39
189123401 2/14/2026 CABLE/INTERNET PW FEB 240.33
189123401 3/14/2026 CABLE/INTERNET PW MAR 240.33
8448 41 006 01714633/13/2026 PUBLIC WIFI MAR 156.69
189125401 3/14/2026 DMTV INTERNET MAR 119.99
189125501 3/14/2026 PUBLIC WIFI CH MAR 119.99
189123001 3/14/2026 LFGRD CABLE/INTERNET MAR 100.00
189125201 3/14/2026 INTERNET TV STUDIO 97.21 5,540.66
7663 4/3/2026 del14 DEL MAR VILLAGE ASSOCIATION 10 4/1/2026 DMVA AGRMNT FEB 24,859.90 24,859.90 7664 4/3/2026 dix01 DIXIELINE LUMBER CO 06-0636436 3/23/2026 OPERATING SUPP PW 1,362.07 06-0636369 3/23/2026 OPERATING SUPP CS 589.27
06-0634556 3/6/2026 OPERATING SUPP CS 429.43
06-0635261 3/12/2026 PAINT SUPPLIES CS 292.10
06-0635952 3/19/2026 OPERATING SUPP CS 268.60
06-0636584 3/24/2026 OPERATING SUPP PW 98.76
06-0636074 3/19/2026 WATER METER PARTS 89.15
06-0636651 3/24/2026 OPERATING SUPP PW 41.77
06-0636059 3/19/2026 OPERATING SUPP PW 31.31
06-0635938 3/19/2026 OPERATING SUPP PW 27.36 3,229.82
7665 4/3/2026 duk01 DUDEK 202601968 2/27/2026 WATER/SEWER SRVCS 4,840.00 4,840.00 7666 4/3/2026 fer07 FERGUSON ENTERPRISES LLC, DBA FERGUSON WATERWORKS 0902827 3/23/2026 WATER METER PARTS 1,580.09 1,580.09 7667 4/3/2026 kle01 KLEINFELDER 1582718 3/23/2026 CDM BRIDGE FEB 23,674.04 23,674.04 7668 4/3/2026 pru01 PRUDENTIAL OVERALL SUPPLY132377293 3/20/2026 UNIFORMS PW - 3/20 79.82 132377291 3/20/2026 MATS PW - 3/20 20.84
132377292 3/20/2026 SHOP TOWELS PW - 3/20 4.41 105.07
7669 4/3/2026 san107 SAN DIEGO DIVERS 8091 3/28/2026 DIVE EQUIP CS 52.22 52.22 7670 4/3/2026 wex01 WEX BANK 0496-00-496745-1 3/23/2026 GAS & OIL CS MAR 881.11 881.11 Page: 1
2 April 21, 2026 Item 2
04/01/2026
Check List
City of Del Mar
2 2:54:36PM
apChkLst Trial Page:
Sub total for EFT GENERAL ACCOUNT US BANK: 64,762.91
Page: 2
3 April 21, 2026 Item 2
04/01/2026
Check List
City of Del Mar
3 2:54:36PM
apChkLst Trial Page:
Bank : gusbnk GENERAL ACCOUNT US BANK
Check # Date Vendor Invoice Inv Date Description Amount Paid Check Total 140941 4/3/2026 bng01 05 BNG LLC, DBA QUIKSILVER75227012 3/26/2026 UNIFORMS CS 3,959.24 3,959.24 140942 4/3/2026 adt02 ADT SECURITY SERVICES 1204313934 3/13/2026 ALARM PW APR 140.98 202501406 3/19/2026 ALARM CS 13.84 154.82
140943 4/3/2026 art03 ART'S TRENCH PLATE & KRAIL SVC 70055 3/12/2026 STREET MAINT/SUPP PW 1,724.00 1,724.00 140944 4/3/2026 sbc03 AT&T 9391054486 3/20/2026 TELEPHONE MAR 187.37 9391026230 3/20/2026 TELEPHONE MAR 63.44
9391026231 3/20/2026 TELEPHONE MAR 62.26
9391031506 3/20/2026 TELEPHONE MAR 62.26
9391026228 3/20/2026 TELEPHONE MAR 31.91 407.24
140945 4/3/2026 bab03 BABCOCK LABORATORIES, INCCC61403-10666 3/23/2026 WATER TESTING 575.00 575.00 140946 4/3/2026 bar29 BARNETT QUALITY CONTROL SRVCS, DBA NOVA SRVCS INC 26690 3/7/2026 UTILITY UG DIST X1A 7,757.20 26633 3/7/2026 JDB BLUFF PROJECT 560.00 8,317.20
140947 4/3/2026 emb02 CHRISTOPHER J GIAQUINTA, DBA EMBROIDERY EXPRESS 972641 3/23/2026 EMBROIDERY SRVCS PW 604.61 604.61 140948 4/3/2026 dun02 DUNN-EDWARDS PAINTS 2082A40747 3/19/2026 PAINT SUPPLIES 20TH TOWER 35.39 35.39 140949 4/3/2026 gal02 GALLS LLC 034405329 3/14/2026 UNIFORMS CS 546.61 546.61 140950 4/3/2026 kas01 KASSBOHRER ALL TERRAIN, VEHICLES INC 90636477-2 1/16/2026 MACHINE REPAIR PW 4,622.85 90636477-1 1/16/2026 MACHINE REPAIR PW 1,588.95 6,211.80 140951 4/3/2026 mun10 MUNSCH HOMES CORPORATION 20260331 3/31/2026 WATER METER UPGRADE 1,828.08 1,828.08 140952 4/3/2026 new13 NEW CENTURY CONSTRUCTION INC 03242026 3/24/2026 JDB BLUFF PROJ #2 148,000.50 148,000.50 140953 4/3/2026 pas06 PASCUAL Y PASCUAL BALTAZAR 92026 3/25/2026 FENCE RPLCMNT PW 4,600.00 4,600.00 140954 4/3/2026 sdg02 SAN DIEGO GAS & ELECTRIC0092 4576 5583 8 3/16/2026 UTILITIES FEB 194.01 194.01 140955 4/3/2026 sou02 SOUTHCOAST HEATING & AIR COND. 1476067 3/24/2026 HVAC MAINT PW 691.61 1475648 3/20/2026 HVAC MAINT LIBRARY 425.00
1475662 3/20/2026 HVAC MAINT PW 359.00 1,475.61
140956 4/3/2026 ste08 STEPHEN DALTON ARCHITECTS INC. 2520-01-01 3/17/2026 DM HOUSING STUDIES 6,666.75 6,666.75 140957 4/3/2026 ter11 TERMINIX COMMERCIAL 470045267 3/17/2026 PEST CONTROL CS - MAR 138.00 138.00 140958 4/3/2026 ter01 TERMINIX INT CO LTD, PARTNERSHIP 470051389 3/17/2026 PEST CONTROL PW - MAR 152.00 152.00 140959 4/3/2026 uli02 ULINE 205711609 3/20/2026 UNIFORMS PW 291.11 291.11 140960 4/3/2026 ver03 VERIZON WIRELESS 570653198-00008 3/18/2026 TELEPHONE MAR 355.90 872374736-00004 3/18/2026 TELEPHONE MAR 226.05
570653198-00006 3/18/2026 TELEPHONE MAR 186.16
542070053-00002 3/20/2026 TELEPHONE MAR 169.24
570653198-00009 3/18/2026 TELEPHONE MAR 60.64
570653198-00007 3/18/2026 TELEPHONE MAR 38.01 1,036.00
140961 4/3/2026 wrm01 WADE RODRICK MITZHELL JR, DBA WRM FREIGHT 0044 3/6/2026 TRAINING GARCIA PW 4,650.00 4,650.00 Page: 3
4 April 21, 2026 Item 2
04/01/2026
Check List
City of Del Mar
4 2:54:36PM
apChkLst Trial Page:
Bank : gusbnk GENERAL ACCOUNT US BANK (Continued)
Check # Date Vendor Invoice Inv Date Description Amount Paid Check Total 140962 4/3/2026 wax02 WAXIE'S ENTERPRISES, LLC. DBA, WAXIE SANITARY SUPPLY 83837562 3/19/2026 JANITORIAL SUPPLIES 1,355.29 83825755 3/12/2026 JANITORIAL SUPPLIES 1,325.59
83830715 3/16/2026 JANITORIAL SUPPLIES 613.46
83852134 3/27/2026 JANITORIAL SUPPLIES 494.53
83825757 3/12/2026 JANITORIAL SUPPLIES 360.07
83830715 3/19/2026 JANITORIAL SUPP RFND -264.76 3,884.18 Sub total for GENERAL ACCOUNT US BANK: 195,452.15
Page: 4
5 April 21, 2026 Item 2
04/01/2026
Check List
City of Del Mar
5 2:54:36PM
apChkLst Trial Page:
31 checks in this report. Grand Total All Checks: 260,215.06 Page: 5
6 April 21, 2026 Item 2
04/01/2026
Check List
City of Del Mar
1 3:35:32PM
apChkLst Final Page:
Bank : eusbnk EFT GENERAL ACCOUNT US BANK
Check # Date Vendor Invoice Inv Date Description Amount Paid Check Total 7671 4/1/2026 lif06 GEN DIGITAL INC. 10010669204 3/15/2026 VOL LIFELOCK BENEFITS 135.92 135.92 Voucher: 7671
7672 4/1/2026 leg04 LEGALACCESSPLANS USA, CREDIT TO 1000178 64772 3/1/2026 VOL LEGAL EASE INSURANCE: PAYMENT 143.60 143.60 Voucher: 7672
Sub total for EFT GENERAL ACCOUNT US BANK: 279.52
Page: 1
7 April 21, 2026 Item 2
04/01/2026
Check List
City of Del Mar
2 3:35:32PM
apChkLst Final Page:
Bank : gusbnk GENERAL ACCOUNT US BANK
Check # Date Vendor Invoice Inv Date Description Amount Paid Check Total 8155 4/1/2026 hea02 HEALTH NET BFC29AAPR26 3/15/2026 HEALTH INS APR 43,115.96 43,115.96 Voucher: 8155
8156 4/1/2026 kai01 KAISER PERMANENTE 475311866616 3/10/2026 HEALTH INS APR 15,094.47 15,094.47 Voucher: 8156
8157 4/1/2026 mut01 MUTUAL OF OMAHA 002066501489 3/17/2026 AD&D LIFE B&D APR 4,647.00 4,647.00 Voucher: 8157
8158 4/1/2026 pri11 PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP, PLIC-SBD GRAND ISLAND 1003938-10001APR26 3/17/2026 DENTAL INS APR 4,818.16 4,818.16 Voucher: 8158
8159 4/1/2026 sun11 SUN LIFE ASSURANCE CO, OF CANADA 915639-0001APR263/18/2026 FF LIFE INS APR 54.00 54.00 Voucher: 8159
140963 4/1/2026 cap01 CAPF CA PUBLIC SAFETY ADMIN Ben184098 3/20/2026 CAPF: PAYMENT 234.00 234.00 Voucher: 140963
Sub total for GENERAL ACCOUNT US BANK: 67,963.59
Page: 2
8 April 21, 2026 Item 2
04/01/2026
Check List
City of Del Mar
3 3:35:32PM
apChkLst Final Page:
8 checks in this report. Grand Total All Checks: 68,243.11 Page: 3
9 April 21, 2026 Item 2
04/02/2026
Check List
City of Del Mar
1 4:37:40PM
apChkLst Final Page:
Bank : gusbnk GENERAL ACCOUNT US BANK
Check # Date Vendor Invoice Inv Date Description Amount Paid Check Total 4218 4/3/2026 irs01 IRS, UNITED STATES TREASURY Ben184291 4/3/2026 FEDERAL TAX: PAYMENT 44,078.05 44,078.05 Voucher: 4218
4219 4/3/2026 per01 PERS Ben184293 4/3/2026 PERS CONTRIBUTIONS: PAYMENT 57,151.47 57,151.47 Voucher: 4219
4220 4/3/2026 per02 PERS 457 Ben184295 4/3/2026 CALPERS 457 DEFERRED COMP: PAYMENT 3,238.26 3,238.26 Voucher: 4220
4221 4/3/2026 edd01 EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT DEPT Ben184297 4/3/2026 STATE TAX: PAYMENT 12,841.09 12,841.09 Voucher: 4221
Sub total for GENERAL ACCOUNT US BANK: 117,308.87
Page: 1
10 April 21, 2026 Item 2
04/02/2026
Check List
City of Del Mar
2 4:37:40PM
apChkLst Final Page:
Bank : eusbnk EFT GENERAL ACCOUNT US BANK
Check # Date Vendor Invoice Inv Date Description Amount Paid Check Total 7673 4/3/2026 mis07 107413 STATE ST BANK & TRUST, MS 107413 PLAN 401A Ben184287 4/3/2026 401A PLAN: PAYMENT 555.16 555.16 Voucher: 7673
7674 4/3/2026 mis08 303845 STATE ST BANK & TRUST, MS 457 PLAN OBI 303845 Ben184279 4/3/2026 MISSION SQUARE 457B: PAYMENT 9,903.43 9,903.43 Voucher: 7674
7675 4/3/2026 mis09 803808 STATE ST BANK & TRUST, MS RHS PLAN OBI 803808 Ben184289 4/3/2026 RETIREMENT HEALTH SAVINGS 3%: PAYMENT 748.81 748.81 Voucher: 7675
7676 4/3/2026 uni21 DEL MAR CITY EMPLOYEES ASSOC. Ben184281 4/3/2026 DMCEA DUES: PAYMENT 286.00 286.00 Voucher: 7676
7677 4/3/2026 nat15 NATIONAL BENEFIT SERVICES, LLC, FLEXIBLE BENEFITS DEPT Ben184285 4/3/2026 SEC. 125 FLEXIBLE SAVINGS ACCT: PAYMENT 1,856.19 1,856.19 Voucher: 7677
7678 4/3/2026 par21 U.S. BANK PARS FFC 6746022400, CITYDELMAR ATTN B BERGMAN Ben184283 4/3/2026 PUBLIC AGENCY RETIREMENT SRVCS: PAYMENT 2,352.48 2,352.48 Voucher: 7678
Sub total for EFT GENERAL ACCOUNT US BANK: 15,702.07
Page: 2
11 April 21, 2026 Item 2
04/02/2026
Check List
City of Del Mar
3 4:37:40PM
apChkLst Final Page:
10 checks in this report. Grand Total All Checks: 133,010.94 Page: 3
12 April 21, 2026 Item 2
04/09/2026
Check List
City of Del Mar
1 1:03:21PM
apChkLst Final Page:
Bank : eusbnk EFT GENERAL ACCOUNT US BANK
Check # Date Vendor Invoice Inv Date Description Amount Paid Check Total 7679 4/10/2026 kay01 ADAM KAYE MAR-26 3/31/2026 COMM SRVCS MAR 4,575.00 4,575.00 Voucher: 7679
7680 4/10/2026 cit11 CITY OF ENCINITAS 3696 1/1/2026 FIRE MGMT - Q1 & Q2 170,954.00 Voucher: 7680 3698 1/1/2026 FIRE SHARED RESOURCE - AUG/SEP 6,237.06 3697 1/1/2026 KNOX CONNECT - 2026 139.82 177,330.88
7681 4/10/2026 civ01 CIVICPLUS LLC 365753 3/27/2026 DESIGN SRVCS 320.00 320.00 Voucher: 7681
7682 4/10/2026 cor07 CORODATA RECORDS MGT INCRS7161143 3/31/2026 STORAGE SRVCS MAR 166.98 166.98 Voucher: 7682
7683 4/10/2026 cor15 CORONADO MOBILE STORAGE INC APR-26 4/1/2026 STORAGE CONTRS APR 255.00 255.00 Voucher: 7683
7684 4/10/2026 cor22 CORVEL CORPORATION 2004928 3/19/2026 MED MAINT - MAR 256.00 256.00 Voucher: 7684
7685 4/10/2026 del02 DEL MAR BLUE PRINT CO, INC640906 3/31/2026 RUN SHEETS - FIRE 119.63 Voucher: 7685 641126 4/3/2026 EMERGENCY OPS MANUALS FIRE 59.60 179.23 7686 4/10/2026 dev02 DEVANEY PATE MORRIS & CAMERON 11556 3/17/2026 LEGAL FEES FEB 24,841.00 Voucher: 7686 11557 3/17/2026 LEGAL FEES FEB 4,597.50
11503 3/10/2026 LEGAL FEES FEB 780.80
11555 3/17/2026 LEGAL FEES FEB 620.00
11502 3/10/2026 LEGAL FEES FEB 130.00
11554 3/17/2026 LEGAL FEES FEB 72.75 31,042.05
7687 4/10/2026 dix01 DIXIELINE LUMBER CO 06-0633477 2/26/2026 OPERATING SUPP PW 26.42 Voucher: 7687 06-0636422 3/23/2026 OPERATING SUPP PW 25.08 06-0636162 3/20/2026 OPERATING SUPP PW 24.43
06-0637068 3/27/2026 OPERATING SUPP FIRE 22.45 98.38
7688 4/10/2026 ips02 IPS GROUP INC INV123652 3/31/2026 PRKG MTR TRANS FEE MAR 4,435.21 4,435.21 Voucher: 7688
7689 4/10/2026 nce01 NORTH COUNTY EVS INC 9184 1/30/2026 FIRE ENGINE MAINT #E238 770.00 770.00 Voucher: 7689
7690 4/10/2026 pho01 PHOENIX GROUP INFO SYSTEMS 0220261036 3/19/2026 ADMIN CITE SRVCS - FEB 266.00 Voucher: 7690 022026036 3/19/2026 CITE SRVCS - FEB 13,459.46 13,725.46 7691 4/10/2026 pit01 PITNEY BOWES GLOBAL FIN SRVCS 3107732551 3/13/2026 COPIER LEASE PROP TAX 103.99 103.99 Voucher: 7691
Page: 1
13 April 21, 2026 Item 2
04/09/2026
Check List
City of Del Mar
2 1:03:21PM
apChkLst Final Page:
Bank : eusbnk EFT GENERAL ACCOUNT US BANK (Continued)
Check # Date Vendor Invoice Inv Date Description Amount Paid Check Total 7692 4/10/2026 red04 REDFLEX TRAFFIC SYSTEMS INC INV0119772 3/31/2026 RED LIGHT CAMERA MAR 5,441.49 5,441.49 Voucher: 7692
7693 4/10/2026 san12 SAN DIEGO COUNTY SHERIFF03252026 3/25/2026 LAW ENF FEB 235,348.89 235,348.89 Voucher: 7693
7694 4/10/2026 tow05 TOWNSEND PUBLIC AFFAIRS INC 25084 4/1/2026 LEGISLATIVE SRVCS APR 4,500.00 4,500.00 Voucher: 7694
7695 4/10/2026 wex01 WEX BANK 0496-00-495760-1 4/6/2026 GAS & OIL FIRE MAR 1,961.14 1,961.14 Voucher: 7695
Sub total for EFT GENERAL ACCOUNT US BANK: 480,509.70
Page: 2
14 April 21, 2026 Item 2
04/09/2026
Check List
City of Del Mar
3 1:03:21PM
apChkLst Final Page:
Bank : gusbnk GENERAL ACCOUNT US BANK
Check # Date Vendor Invoice Inv Date Description Amount Paid Check Total 140964 4/10/2026 bng01 05 BNG LLC, DBA QUIKSILVER75231112 3/31/2026 UNIFORMS CS 1,530.56 Voucher: 140964 75232364 4/2/2026 UNIFORMS CS 69.86 1,600.42 140965 4/10/2026 agu05 AGUIRRE, RUBEN 03262026 3/26/2026 CITATION REFUND 109.00 109.00 Voucher: 140965
140966 4/10/2026 sbc03 AT&T 9391065056 3/27/2026 TELEPHONE MAR 30.45 Voucher: 140966 9391065055 3/27/2026 TELEPHONE MAR 30.34 60.79 140967 4/10/2026 bro20 BROCKINGTON, BILLY JO 03262026 3/26/2026 CITATION REFUND 110.00 110.00 Voucher: 140967
140968 4/10/2026 cer06 CERECER, KAREN 04032026 4/3/2026 CITATION REFUND 109.00 109.00 Voucher: 140968
140969 4/10/2026 cla15 CLAIMS MANAGEMENT ASSOC INC 522216 2/11/2026 CLAIMS ADMIN JUL/DEC 750.00 Voucher: 140969 522218 3/18/2026 CLAIMS ADMIN FEB/MAR 453.15 522217 3/18/2026 CLAIMS ADMIN NOV/FEB 437.25 1,640.40
140970 4/10/2026 coa10 COASTAL LIVESCAN SERVICES43668 3/31/2026 LIVESCAN SRVCS MAR 65.00 65.00 Voucher: 140970
140971 4/10/2026 cou01 COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO 03122026 3/12/2026 PARKING BAIL FEB 23,489.50 23,489.50 Voucher: 140971
140972 4/10/2026 for14 DAVID FORNARI 04022026 4/2/2026 PHCC EVENT REFUND 2026-014 800.00 800.00 Voucher: 140972
140973 4/10/2026 day03 DAY WIRELESS SYSTEMS INV913314 3/17/2026 PAGERS FIRE 725.38 725.38 Voucher: 140973
140974 4/10/2026 ent02 ENTENMANN-ROVIN CO. 0193941-IN 3/23/2026 UNIFORMS FIRE 294.07 294.07 Voucher: 140974
140975 4/10/2026 eri04 ERICKSON, ANDREW 03262026 3/26/2026 CITATION REFUND 54.00 54.00 Voucher: 140975
140976 4/10/2026 foz01 FOZZARD, ALEXANDER 03262026 3/26/2026 CITATION REFUND 147.00 147.00 Voucher: 140976
140977 4/10/2026 gal02 GALLS LLC 034435416 3/17/2026 UNIFORMS CS 103.93 103.93 Voucher: 140977
140978 4/10/2026 kel12 KELLY SPICERS STORES 12194541 4/6/2026 COPY PAPER CH FY26 990.17 990.17 Voucher: 140978
140979 4/10/2026 kin02 KING GRAPHICS 51800 3/9/2026 UNIFORMS CS 405.00 405.00 Voucher: 140979
140980 4/10/2026 lae01 LAERDAL MEDICAL CORPORATION 2025/000062408 12/13/2025 RQI COURSES - FIRE 1,735.56 1,735.56 Voucher: 140980
Page: 3
15 April 21, 2026 Item 2
04/09/2026
Check List
City of Del Mar
4 1:03:21PM
apChkLst Final Page:
Bank : gusbnk GENERAL ACCOUNT US BANK (Continued)
Check # Date Vendor Invoice Inv Date Description Amount Paid Check Total 140981 4/10/2026 lea04 LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES 1759 3/10/2026 MBRSHPS 2026 1,050.00 1,050.00 Voucher: 140981
140982 4/10/2026 lop05 LOPEZ, CHRIS 04032026 4/3/2026 CITATION REFUND 105.00 105.00 Voucher: 140982
140983 4/10/2026 mad05 MADSEN, ANN 04032026 4/3/2026 CITATION REFUND 54.00 54.00 Voucher: 140983
140984 4/10/2026 con17 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH CTRS, OF CALIFORNIA, A MEDICAL 90281479 3/11/2026 EMPLOYEE TESTING MAR 214.00 214.00 Voucher: 140984
140985 4/10/2026 pac29 PACE SUPPLY CORP 0611249203 3/13/2026 WATER METER PARTS 1,590.88 1,590.88 Voucher: 140985
140986 4/10/2026 sta40 PSTRAX 97970 4/5/2026 CONTROLLED SUB MOD FIRE 1,116.00 1,116.00 Voucher: 140986
140987 4/10/2026 sdg01 SAN DIEGO GAS & ELECTRIC300000827001 3/27/2026 JDB BLUFF PROJ 148,550.00 148,550.00 Voucher: 140987
140988 4/10/2026 sdg02 SAN DIEGO GAS & ELECTRIC0012 6209 1548 9 4/1/2026 UTILITIES MAR 111.09 Voucher: 140988 0099 5222 5392 9 4/3/2026 UTILITIES MAR 19.51 0066 5491 5032 1 4/3/2026 UTILITIES MAR 11.59 142.19
140989 4/10/2026 san112 SAN DIEGO HUMANE SOCIETY, & SPCA APR-26 4/1/2026 ANIMAL SRVCS APR 4,388.00 4,388.00 Voucher: 140989
140990 4/10/2026 sde01 SD ELECTRIC BIKE LLC, DBA SD ELECTRIC BIKE 16165 4/2/2026 ELEC BIKE EQUIP CS 179.85 179.85 Voucher: 140990
140991 4/10/2026 ser13 SERRANO, JUSTIN HOFFMAN03262026 3/26/2026 CITATION REFUND 75.00 75.00 Voucher: 140991
140992 4/10/2026 gas01 SHEEHAN PATRICIA 04032026 4/3/2026 CITATION REFUND 73.00 73.00 Voucher: 140992
140993 4/10/2026 sot01 SOTO, CAROL ANN 04032026 4/3/2026 CITATION REFUND 10.00 10.00 Voucher: 140993
140994 4/10/2026 uni25 STAXUP - UNITS LLC 19325 4/6/2026 STORAGE CS APR 289.85 289.85 Voucher: 140994
140995 4/10/2026 str29 STREAMLINE AUTOMATION SYSTEMS 2026-32 4/2/2026 STREAMLINE SFTWR RWL FIRE 2,032.00 2,032.00 Voucher: 140995
140996 4/10/2026 nik02 SUSAN MONTADERT, DBA NIKKI'S FLAG SHOP 8204 3/27/2026 FLAGS LFGRDS 1,294.37 1,294.37 Voucher: 140996
140997 4/10/2026 ter01 TERMINIX INT CO LTD, PARTNERSHIP 470051410 3/17/2026 PEST CONTROL FIRE 85.86 85.86 Voucher: 140997
Page: 4
16 April 21, 2026 Item 2
04/09/2026
Check List
City of Del Mar
5 1:03:21PM
apChkLst Final Page:
Bank : gusbnk GENERAL ACCOUNT US BANK (Continued)
Check # Date Vendor Invoice Inv Date Description Amount Paid Check Total 140998 4/10/2026 usb03 US BANK CORP PYMT SYSTEMS 4246 0445 5565 02032/23/2026 US BANK CHARGES FEB 18,458.76 18,458.76 Voucher: 140998
140999 4/10/2026 ver12 VERIZON 73638868 3/20/2026 TELEPHONE FEB 128.54 128.54 Voucher: 140999
141000 4/10/2026 ver03 VERIZON WIRELESS 872374736-00003 3/18/2026 TELEPHONE MAR 230.39 230.39 Voucher: 141000
141001 4/10/2026 wax02 WAXIE'S ENTERPRISES, LLC. DBA, WAXIE SANITARY SUPPLY 83830716 3/16/2026 JANITORIAL SUPPLIES 104.98 104.98 Voucher: 141001
141002 4/10/2026 whi29 WHITE, MARY 03262026 3/26/2026 CITATION REFUND 109.00 109.00 Voucher: 141002
141003 4/10/2026 whi30 WHITE, TAYLOR 04032026 4/3/2026 CITATION REFUND 147.00 147.00 Voucher: 141003
Sub total for GENERAL ACCOUNT US BANK: 212,867.89
Page: 5
17 April 21, 2026 Item 2
04/09/2026
Check List
City of Del Mar
6 1:03:21PM
apChkLst Final Page:
57 checks in this report. Grand Total All Checks: 693,377.59 Page: 6
18 April 21, 2026 Item 2
04/09/2026
Check List
City of Del Mar
1 1:04:01PM
apChkLst Final Page:
Bank : eusbnk EFT GENERAL ACCOUNT US BANK
Check # Date Vendor Invoice Inv Date Description Amount Paid Check Total 7696 4/10/2026 dix01 DIXIELINE LUMBER CO 06-0636953 3/30/2026 SEAGROVE PARK SIGN 72.07 Voucher: 7696 06-0636854 3/26/2026 WATER METER PARTS 56.80 06-0637390 3/30/2026 OPERATING SUPP PW 48.77
06-0632441 2/18/2026 OPERATING SUPP PW 22.50
06-0636895 3/26/2026 ELECTRICAL TESTER PW 21.52 221.66
7697 4/10/2026 fer07 FERGUSON ENTERPRISES LLC, DBA FERGUSON WATERWORKS 0902856 3/26/2026 WATER METER PARTS 4,155.60 Voucher: 7697 0903152 3/24/2026 WATER METER PARTS 3,015.64 0903783 3/24/2026 WATER METER PARTS 459.80 7,631.04
7698 4/10/2026 pru01 PRUDENTIAL OVERALL SUPPLY132379362 3/27/2026 UNIFORMS PW 3/27 73.17 Voucher: 7698 131018971 3/26/2026 UNIFORMS REF PW 3/26 -3.85 69.32 7699 4/10/2026 sca12 SCA OF CA LLC CA25007515 3/31/2026 SWEEPING SRVCS MAR 3,713.82 3,713.82 Voucher: 7699
Sub total for EFT GENERAL ACCOUNT US BANK: 11,635.84
Page: 1
19 April 21, 2026 Item 2
04/09/2026
Check List
City of Del Mar
2 1:04:01PM
apChkLst Final Page:
Bank : gusbnk GENERAL ACCOUNT US BANK
Check # Date Vendor Invoice Inv Date Description Amount Paid Check Total 141004 4/10/2026 azt02 AZTEC LANDSCAPING INC, DBA AZTEC JANITORIAL J2297 3/31/2026 JANITORIAL SRVCS CH MAR 2,564.00 Voucher: 141004 J2298 3/31/2026 JANITORIAL SRVCS PW MAR 501.00 3,065.00 141005 4/10/2026 cal91 CALIFORNIA BANK & TRUST 04012026 4/1/2026 TC CONST RETENTION #5 16,154.83 16,154.83 Voucher: 141005
141006 4/10/2026 bee04 DENNIS L JOBE, DBA BEE CHASER 187026 8/7/2025 BEE REMOVAL AUG 240.00 240.00 Voucher: 141006
141007 4/10/2026 gra02 GRAINGER 9856523015 3/26/2026 VEHICLE MAINT SUPP 1,048.30 Voucher: 141007 9849494126 3/20/2026 WATER METER PARTS 473.85 9857333109 3/26/2026 MAINT/REP SUPP PW 282.36 1,804.51
141008 4/10/2026 mad01 MADRIGAL, SAMUEL 2026-002 3/24/2026 SEWER PUMP MAINT PW 1,200.00 1,200.00 Voucher: 141008
141009 4/10/2026 mun07 MUNICIPAL MAINTENANCE EQUIP 047796 3/25/2026 VEHICLE MAINT PW 2,732.93 2,732.93 Voucher: 141009
141010 4/10/2026 san138 SAN DIEGO ELEVATOR & LIFTS11769 11/19/2025 ELEVATOR MAINT CH NOV 200.00 200.00 Voucher: 141010
141011 4/10/2026 sou08 SOUTHWEST SIGNAL SERVICE84928 3/31/2026 SIGNAL POLE REP MAR 7,429.59 Voucher: 141011 84926 3/31/2026 SIGNAL MAINT MAR 490.42 84927 3/31/2026 SIGNAL MAINT MAR 55.79 7,975.80
141012 4/10/2026 tcc01 TC CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC 04012026 4/1/2026 UUD-X1A CREST CNYN 306,941.67 306,941.67 Voucher: 141012
141013 4/10/2026 ter11 TERMINIX COMMERCIAL 470045242 3/17/2026 PEST CONTROL PHCC MAR 121.00 121.00 Voucher: 141013
141014 4/10/2026 t-mo01 T-MOBILE USA INC 980755647 3/22/2026 TELEPHONE MAR 12.10 12.10 Voucher: 141014
141015 4/10/2026 und01 UNDERGROUND SERVICE ALERT, OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 320260245 4/1/2026 CONT SRVCS APRIL 261.55 Voucher: 141015 25-263179 4/1/2026 CA STATE FEES 67.58 329.13 141016 4/10/2026 wax02 WAXIE'S ENTERPRISES, LLC. DBA, WAXIE SANITARY SUPPLY 83849888 3/26/2026 JANITORIAL SUPPLIES 1,700.74 Voucher: 141016 83852133 3/27/2026 JANITORIAL SUPPLIES 1,408.54 3,109.28 141017 4/10/2026 wes29 WEST COAST ARBORISTS INC241901 2/28/2026 TREE MAINT 2/18-2/28 2,375.00 Voucher: 141017 240989-A 2/17/2026 TREE MAINT 2/16-2/17 950.00 3,325.00 Sub total for GENERAL ACCOUNT US BANK: 347,211.25
Page: 2
20 April 21, 2026 Item 2
04/09/2026
Check List
City of Del Mar
3 1:04:01PM
apChkLst Final Page:
18 checks in this report. Grand Total All Checks: 358,847.09 Page: 3
21 April 21, 2026 Item 2
City of Del Mar
Agenda Report
________________________________________________________________________________________________________ City Council Action:
TO: Honorable City Councilmembers
FROM: Mayor Tracy Martinez and Deputy Mayor/Lagoon Committee Liaison John Spelich
Prepared by Denise Galvan, Management Analyst
DATE: April 21, 2026
SUBJECT: Reappointment to the Lagoon Committee
REQUESTED ACTION/RECOMMENDATION:
The City Council Liaisons to the Lagoon Committee recommend that the City Council reappoint Donna Shaw as a voting member to serve a full three-year term beginning May 1, 2026, and ending on May 31, 2029.
BACKGROUND:
The Lagoon Committee (Committee) is charged with monitoring the preservation and enhancement of the portions of the San Dieguito and Los Penasquitos Lagoons located in the City of Del Mar, as well as actions outside the City of Del Mar that impact the lagoons. The Committee participates at both the local and regional level. Regionally, the Committee coordinates with the activities of the San Dieguito River Valley Joint Powers Authority (JPA) and monitors the lagoon’s restoration plan. Locally, the Committee monitors reports on the health of the lagoons, investigates additional public access opportunities, and encourages lagoon related educational and informational programs.
The Committee also monitors and comments on all developments that may impact the two lagoons. The Committee consists of five (5) voting members, all of whom must be Del Mar residents.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS:
There is one upcoming vacancy on the Lagoon Committee due to the term expiration of Donna Shaw on April 30, 2026. City staff advertised the vacancy, and one Citizen Interest Form was received during the recruitment period from Donna Shaw (Attachment A).
Pursuant to Council Policy 200 “Committees – City Council Advisory Committees, Boards and Commissions” (Attachment B), Section B.6, when there is only one Council liaison to an advisory committee, the Mayor acts as the second Council liaison for the purposes of reviewing Citizen Interest Forms to recommend to the City Council for appointment. The Committee Council Liaison and Mayor reviewed the application and recommend 1 April 21, 2026 Item 4
City Council Agenda Report
Lagoon Committee Reappointment
April 21, 2026
reappointing Donna Shaw for a third full three-year term beginning May 1, 2026, and ending on May 31, 2029.
Pursuant to Council Policy 200 Section E.2, the number of consecutive terms an individual may serve on a committee is two. However, the City Council can make an exception if they feel it is to the benefit of the City to re-appoint an individual for a third term.
If the recommended appointment is approved by the City Council, the Lagoon Committee will have a full member roster. A copy of the current roster is included as Attachment C for the Council’s reference.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A – Citizen Interest Form
Attachment B – Council Policy 200
Attachment C – Current Lagoon Committee Roster
2 April 21, 2026 Item 4
CITIZEN INTEREST FORM
1050 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar California 92014 | (858) 755-9313 | https://www.delmar.ca.us/ Form Approved 12/7/21; Revised 9/10/2025
Thank you for your interest in serving the Del Mar Community. Please use this Citizen Interest Form to apply to serve on a City of Del Mar advisory committee, Planning Commission, or Design Review Board. The City of Del Mar greatly values the many talented citizens who volunteer to serve in city government. We encourage you to get involved. Please indicate whether you are seeking to serve on the Del Mar Planning Commission, Design Review Board, or one or more of the City’s many advisory committees, and please note your order of preference indicating 1st, 2nd choice, etc.
Before making your selection, we encourage you to spend some time learning about what each entity does, what its mission is, and what your role would be if you were appointed. Please note that in addition to the general questions below to be answered by all applicants, there are also specific questions tailored to service on the Planning Commission, Design Review Board, or an advisory committee to be answered as well.
Before applying, you are encouraged to attend or watch a committee meeting and review recent committee agendas and meeting minutes. If appointed, you will be expected to attend the meetings, which typically last about 2 hours in length, or more depending on the agenda, and require about 1 hour of preparation time for each meeting. Please note that in accordance with City Council Policy 200, committee members must not miss more than three meetings in a given calendar year. Committee meeting times vary, so please review the website calendar to make sure the meeting times for the committee you are applying for work for your schedule: Public Meeting Calendar.
You can also view current committee webpages, charters, and member rosters to get more information about each committee. In accordance will Council Policy 200- City Council Advisory Committees, Boards and Commissions members of the public may serve on two boards, committees or commissions concurrently except in special circumstances as determined by the Council. Additionally, the number of consecutive terms that an individual may serve on a committee is two unless the City Council makes an exception if they feel it is to the benefit of the committee to re-appoint an individual to a third term. Please note that ex-officio members are non-voting and may be non-residents.
Form Submittal: Citizen Interest Forms must be submitted by the published deadline. Forms can be submitted in-person or by mail at: Del Mar City Hall, 1050 Camino del Mar, Del Mar 92014; or via email: [email protected]. Please note: City Hall is closed to the public for in-person services on Fridays, and Citizen Interest Forms should be submitted via email only on Fridays. Citizen Interest Forms can be submitted in-person or via email Monday through Thursday.
IMPORTANT: Save the form on your computer prior to filling it out. Do not fill out the form in the Internet browser.
3 April 21, 2026 Item 4
THIS IS A PUBLIC RECORD SUBJECT TO DISCLOSURE.
Note: Personal information may be withheld from public view as allowed by law
DEL MAR CITIZEN INTEREST FORM
I. APPLICANT INFORMATION
Shaw Donna M
Last Name First Name Middle Initial
Del Mar CA
Home Street Address* City, State
Business Street Address (if applicable) City, State
Home Phone Number Business Phone Number E-mail Address
II. APPLICATION DETAILS
I am interested in serving on the following Committees, Board(s) or Commission(s) in order of preference (indicate 1st, 2nd choice, etc.):
___Design Review Board
___Finance Committee
__X_Lagoon Committee
___Measure Q Citizen Oversight Committee
___Parks and Recreation Committee
___Planning Commission
___Shores Park Master Plan Ad-Hoc Advisory Committee
___Sustainability Advisory Committee
___Traffic and Parking Advisory Committee
___Undergrounding Program Advisory Committee
___Other(s) (please indicate):______________________________________ Qualifications for appointment and/or reasons for application (attach additional pages as needed):
I have been honored to serve two terms on the Lagoon Committee and would like to extend to a third term. I am passionate about the health of the lagoon for not only myself but also for the communities of flora, fauna and Del Mar. I want to give back to my community by serving on this very important committee.
Education:
*Applicants are required to provide a physical residency address. Mailing addresses or Post Office boxes will not be accepted. The City will maintain all residency addresses strictly confidential. 4 April 21, 2026 Item 4
THIS IS A PUBLIC RECORD SUBJECT TO DISCLOSURE.
Note: Personal information may be withheld from public view as allowed by law BS in Biology, MS and PhD in Microbiology and Immunology, Paralegal degree, Certified Licensing Professional
Relevant Experience (job or volunteer etc.):
As a scientist, I have an understanding about the inter-relatedness of living and non-living things, and how actions (or non-actions) can often do harm – but sometimes can make a positive impact. Being aware of that is what I bring to the committee.
Name all of the Del Mar Committees/Boards/Commissions that you now serve on:
I am on the Board of the Friends of the Del Mar Library; Member of the Cultural Arts Committee of the Del Mar Foundation (and previous Board member of the DMF); Volunteer at the Tuesday Lunch Connection as well as the Social and Good Times Committee with Del Mar Community Connections.
Please name all the Boards/Commissions/Committee/Task Forces that you have served on in the past, and if you can, the dates of your service:
Optional: Please list three Del Mar residents who can provide a reference**:
NAME STREET NAME (no house
number)
Phone Number
Betty Wheeler/ Dwight Worden Seaview
**Due to Brown Act limitations that restrict communications between Councilmembers regarding upcoming actions of the City Council, please do not include a current sitting Councilmember as a reference for your appointment.
Residency
Month Year
I have been a resident of California since: August 1997 I have been a resident of San Diego County since: August 1997 I have been a resident of Del Mar since: August 1997
What part of town do you live in? Geographic diversity is desirable and will be taken into account.
Check the neighborhood map to verify your neighborhood. ☒ North Bluff
☐ North Beach
☐ South Beach
☐ South Bluff
☐ South Hills
☐ North Hills
San Diego Innovation Council; Advisory Committee for BIO content for their annual meetings in San Diego; Judge for Jacobs School of Engineering Research Expo; Breeders Cup Ambassador; CERT Member; California Disaster Corps Member; Advisor/Jamboree Planning Committee to Explorer Scouts; President Sigma Xi (Abbott Laboratories Chapter)
5 April 21, 2026 Item 4
THIS IS A PUBLIC RECORD SUBJECT TO DISCLOSURE.
Note: Personal information may be withheld from public view as allowed by law ☐ Village Center ☐ Valley
Are you a full-time or part-time resident of Del Mar? ☒ Full-time ☐ Part-time Is Del Mar your primary place of residence? ☒ Yes ☐ No
Are you a registered voter in Del Mar? ☒ Yes ☐ No
6 April 21, 2026 Item 4
THIS IS A PUBLIC RECORD SUBJECT TO DISCLOSURE.
Note: Personal information may be withheld from public view as allowed by law III. COMMITTEE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS
The following are additional questions related to specific committees. Please answer the questions only for the committee(s) you are applying for.
1. Finance Committee
The Finance Committee is looking for applicants with financial expertise and background.
Please describe your experience reviewing financial reports, conducting financial studies or any related experience. Please include any experience specific to public entities.
What aspects of the City’s finances most interest you and why?
2. Measure Q Citizen Oversight Committee
Membership on the Measure Q Citizen Oversight Committee is set by category. Which membership category do you best fit in? (Select all that apply)
☐ Current (or within past 5 years) Finance Committee Member ☐ Business Community Member
☐ At-large Resident Member
☐ Other (please explain): ____________________________________________________
3. Traffic and Parking Advisory Committee
Which membership category do you best fit in? (Select all that apply) ☐ Business representative (can be a non-resident)
☐ Resident
☐ Other (please explain): ____________________________________________________ Do you have any special expertise or experience related to traffic and parking? If yes, please explain:
4. Parks and Recreation Committee
The Parks and Recreation Committee is looking for applicants with an interest in the City’s parks and open spaces.
7 April 21, 2026 Item 4
THIS IS A PUBLIC RECORD SUBJECT TO DISCLOSURE.
Note: Personal information may be withheld from public view as allowed by law Please describe your personal or professional experience related to parks, open spaces, trails, public recreation or any similar experience.
What aspects of the City’s parks and recreation most interest you and why?
5. Lagoon Committee
The Lagoon Committee is looking for applicants interested in the preservation of the lagoon and surrounding area.
What aspect(s) of being on the Lagoon Committee most interest you and why?
6. Shores Park Master Plan Ad-Hoc Advisory Committee
The Shores Park Master Plan Ad-Hoc Advisory Committee is looking for applicants interested in the Shores Park property and planning process.
What aspects of being on the Shores Park Master Plan Ad-Hoc Advisory Committee most interest you and why?
Please describe your approach for participating in the development of a preferred concept for the Master Plan for the Shores Park property.
7. Sustainability Advisory Committee
The Sustainability Advisory Committee members are community leaders on environmental issues.
In what ways would you like to contribute to a more sustainable world either in your personal life or on a broader community level?
8 April 21, 2026 Item 4
THIS IS A PUBLIC RECORD SUBJECT TO DISCLOSURE.
Note: Personal information may be withheld from public view as allowed by law Please describe any outreach or public education efforts you have participated in related to environmental issues or in other areas. Do you have skills or experience in outreach that you could bring to the Sustainability Advisory Committee?
8. Undergrounding Program Advisory Committee
The Undergrounding Program Advisory Committee is seeking applicants with an interest in the citywide undergrounding project.
Is your utility service undergrounded? What involvement did you have, if any? What aspects of being on the Utility Undergrounding Advisory Committee most interest you?
9. Design Review Board and/or Planning Commission
Briefly describe your qualifications and experience as it relates to serving on the Design Review Board or Planning Commission. The required qualifications for each can be found in the Del Mar Municipal Code (DMMC) Chapters 2.34 and 2.38. You will be able to provide more information at a City Council public meeting during an open interview process.
10. For All Committees: Thank you for completing the Citizen Interest Form. Is there anything else you would like to add to your application for the City Council to consider? 9 April 21, 2026 Item 4
10 April 21, 2026 Item 4
CITY OF DEL MAR
CITY COUNCIL POLICY BOOK
200
CITY COUNCIL ADVISORY
COMMITTEES, BOARDS AND
COMMISSIONS
DATE REVISED: 5/19/2025
BY RESOLUTION: 2025-10
PAGES: PAGE 1 OF 6
POLICY:
A. Vacancies
It is the City Council policy to advertise vacancies of the City Council advisory committees, Design Review Board, and Planning Commission on the City website for a minimum of 10 calendar days, and at least once in the Del Mar Weekly and/or through CivicSend eblast.
Upcoming vacancies may also be announced by the City Manager or Council Members at City Council meetings. The deadline for interested citizens to file a Citizen Interest Form (application) is by the close of business (4:30 p.m.) on a Friday.
B. Council Appointments to City Council Advisory Committees
1. It shall be the policy of the City Council to direct its liaisons to each Council advisory committee to make recommendations to the full Council regarding appointments to City Council advisory committees.
2. If by the application deadline, the number of applications received by the City for such committees is equal to the number of vacancies, or less than the number of vacancies when recruiting for multiple vacancies, the Council liaisons to the specific committee shall determine whether to extend the deadline or review the Citizen Interest Form(s) and/or interview the applicant(s), and make a recommendation to Council that the applicant(s) be appointed to serve on the committee.
3. If by the application deadline, the number of applications received by the City for such committees is more than the number of vacancies, then the Council liaisons to the specific committee shall review the Citizen Interest Forms and/or interview the applicant(s). Council liaisons shall then make a recommendation to Council as to which applicant(s) should be appointed to serve on the committee. If the Council liaisons determine the applicants are not qualified or do not meet the needs of the committee, the application period may be reopened by the Council liaisons in order to solicit additional interest.
4. If the Council liaisons to a committee cannot agree on a recommendation for appointment(s), they shall direct staff to prepare an agenda report for the next available City Council meeting where the City Council will vote on the appointment without discussion. Three affirmative votes are needed in order for the City Council to make an appointment. If an applicant does not receive the necessary votes, the Council may re-vote or may direct staff to reopen the vacancy to solicit additional interest. 11 April 21, 2026 Item 4
CITY OF DEL MAR
CITY COUNCIL POLICY BOOK
200
CITY COUNCIL ADVISORY
COMMITTEES, BOARDS AND
COMMISSIONS
DATE REVISED: 5/19/2025
BY RESOLUTION: 2025-10
PAGES: PAGE 2 OF 6
5. Applicants nominated to serve on a Council advisory committee are encouraged, but not required, to attend the City Council meeting when the City Council is scheduled to consider their appointment to serve on the Committee.
6. In the event that there is only one Council liaison to an advisory committee, the Mayor will act as the second Council liaison for the purposes of reviewing Citizen Interest Forms to recommend to the City Council for appointment.
7. Prior to the City Council meeting where the Council will vote on an appointment, any Council member can request an un-redacted copy of all qualified Citizen Interest Forms in order to review applicant information and contact interested applicant(s) prior to the meeting if so desired.
8. In accordance with Del Mar Municipal Code Chapter 2.30 “Commissions, Boards and Committees: General Provisions”, it shall be the City Council’s policy to select for appointment the candidates who received three affirmative votes by the City Council. In the case where a candidate does not receive three affirmative votes, the Council may revote or direct the City Clerk to re-advertise the vacancy.
9. When there are open vacancies for City Council advisory committees, other than Planning Commission or Design Review Board, the City Clerk will bring forward to the City Council the names of the candidates, the number of vacancies, and the liaison recommendation(s).
The City Council will then vote on the recommendation to fill the vacancies. When the Council liaisons to a committee agree on a recommendation for appointment, the item will be included on the consent calendar. When the Council liaisons to a committee do not agree on the recommendation for appointment, the item will be brought forward as a Council Business item as described in Section B(4) of this policy.
10. If the spouse or significant other of a City Council member is an applicant to fill a vacancy on an advisory committee, the City Council member must recuse themselves from voting on that appointment.
C. Council Appointments to the Design Review Board and Planning Commission
1. The City Council shall make appointments to the Planning Commission and Design Review Board in accordance with the membership requirements of Chapter 2.34 “Planning Commission” and 2.38 “Design Review Board” of the Del Mar Municipal Code, respectively.
12 April 21, 2026 Item 4
CITY OF DEL MAR
CITY COUNCIL POLICY BOOK
200
CITY COUNCIL ADVISORY
COMMITTEES, BOARDS AND
COMMISSIONS
DATE REVISED: 5/19/2025
BY RESOLUTION: 2025-10
PAGES: PAGE 3 OF 6
2. It shall be the policy of the City Council to hold interviews for appointments to the Planning Commission and Design Review Board only when applications received for such commission or board exceed the number of vacancies.
3. Interviews shall be public and televised as part of the City Council meeting.
4. If, by the application deadline, the number of applications received by the City for such board or commission equals or is less than the number of vacancies, then there shall be an automatic extension of time to accept applications.
5. Prior to the City Council meeting where the Council will vote on an appointment, an un-redacted copy of all qualified Citizen Interest Forms will be provided to the full City Council in order to allow the full Council to review applicant information and contact interested applicant(s) prior to the meeting if so desired.
6. In accordance with Del Mar Municipal Code Chapter 2.30 “Commissions, Boards and Committees: General Provisions”, it shall be the City Council’s policy to select for appointment the candidates who received three affirmative votes by the City Council. In the case where a candidate does not receive three affirmative votes, the Council may re-vote or direct the City Clerk to re-advertise the vacancy.
7. When there are advertised vacancies for Planning Commission or Design Review Board, the City Clerk will bring forward to the City Council the names of the candidates and the number of vacancies. After interviewing candidates in a public forum, the City Council will vote on the candidates to fill the vacancies. The City Clerk will read aloud the vote of each Council member.
8. Because of conflicts of interest which might exist, or which might give the appearance to the public of existing, and in order to preserve public confidence in the City’s vital planning processes and avoid questions of fairness and bias, prejudice or influence, the immediate family member of a City Council member, Design Review Board Member or Planning Commissioner may not serve or be appointed to serve simultaneously on the Design Review Board or Planning Commission. For purposes of this policy, immediate family member is defined as an individual’s parent, child, spouse, significant other, or sibling.
9. In accordance with Section C(8) of this policy, should an immediate family member of a Design Review Board Member or Planning Commissioner be elected to serve on the City Council, said Board Member or Commissioner shall be required to resign from their position no later than the day prior to the day the City Council member’s term of office commences.
13 April 21, 2026 Item 4
CITY OF DEL MAR
CITY COUNCIL POLICY BOOK
200
CITY COUNCIL ADVISORY
COMMITTEES, BOARDS AND
COMMISSIONS
DATE REVISED: 5/19/2025
BY RESOLUTION: 2025-10
PAGES: PAGE 4 OF 6
D. City Advisory Committee Membership Categories
1. Subject to the membership limits set forth in Section E(6) of this policy, the City Council liaisons to the Sustainability Advisory Committee (SAC) may designate one (1) additional seat for an ex-officio member in the committee’s charter and direct staff to fill the vacancy in accordance with this policy, when desired by the SAC Council liaisons. Ex-officio members are non-voting subject matter experts who may be residents or non-residents.
2. Subject to the membership limits set forth in Section E(6) of this policy, the City Council may designate membership categories for business representatives in a committee’s charter. Business representation is preferred but shall not be a requirement for any member. Business representatives are business owners or operators whose business has a physical entity within the City of Del Mar and who have a current City of Del Mar business license.
E. Concurrent Committee Assignments, Term Limits and Length, Membership Size and Rotation of Chair and Vice Chair
1. It shall be the policy of the City Council to limit the number of concurrent appointments that any one individual has to City Council advisory committees, Design Review Board, and Planning Commission. The limit of concurrent appointments shall be two. If an individual has two concurrent appointments, they will not be eligible to serve on ad hoc committees, except in special circumstances as determined by the Council or Council liaisons.
2. The number of consecutive terms an individual may serve on a committee is two, as further described in Section E(5) below. However, the City Council has the flexibility to make an exception if they feel it is to the benefit of the committee to re-appoint an individual for a third term. Committee members who would like to continue to serve another term once their appointed term has expired must re-apply by filing a Citizen Interest Form prior to the advertised deadline for applications. Former committee members must wait one year from the expiration of their second consecutive term before being appointed to the same committee.
3. The term length for all City Council advisory committees shall be three years. Terms will expire on the last day of the month.
4. The term length for voting members of the Planning Commission and Design Review Board shall be four years, in accordance with Del Mar Municipal Code Sections
2.34.020 and 2.38.020, respectively. The term length for ex-officio members on the 14 April 21, 2026 Item 4
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CITY COUNCIL POLICY BOOK
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CITY COUNCIL ADVISORY
COMMITTEES, BOARDS AND
COMMISSIONS
DATE REVISED: 5/19/2025
BY RESOLUTION: 2025-10
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Design Review Board shall be two years, in accordance with Del Mar Municipal Code Section 2.38.020.
5. In order to ensure that terms remain appropriately staggered, individuals appointed to fill an unexpired vacancy shall finish the remainder of the term of the vacating committee member. If the balance of the vacant term is less than six (6) months, it shall not count as a term towards the two-consecutive-term limit.
6. With the exception of the Undergrounding Program Advisory Committee, all other City advisory committees have a maximum committee membership of five (5) total voting members at the recommendation of the committee’s Council liaisons and approval of the full City Council. If a committee membership size is to be reduced via attrition, attrition shall not affect members who complete their first term and are eligible and wiling to serve a second term. However, such members must be recommended for reappointment by the committee’s Council liaisons, and their reappointment shall be confirmed by the full Council at a Council meeting.
7. It shall be the policy of the City Council that the members of each advisory committee appoint a chair, vice chair and secretary at the last meeting of the calendar year, with the new chair serving at the first meeting of the new year, and that these positions rotate annually among all the committee members. It is recommended that the vice chair assist with committee responsibilities and provide for a succession plan for chairing the committee. In the event a committee does not have volunteers to serve as chair and vice chair, then the committee has the flexibility to allow consecutive appointments to the chair/vice chair or secretary positions, i.e. rotation of such positions among the members is not required if there are no volunteers to serve in those positions. At the discretion of the committee, the vice chair and secretary positions may be filled by the same committee member.
8. It shall be the policy of the City Council that the members of the Design Review Board and Planning Commission appoint a chair and vice chair at the last meeting of the calendar year, with the new chair serving at the first meeting of the new year, and that the these positions should rotate annually among all the members. The functions of a secretary for the Design Review Board and Planning Commission, such as preparing minutes, will be managed by City staff.
F. Incumbents to Serve Until New Appointments Confirmed It shall be the policy of the City Council to allow an incumbent on a City Council advisory committee, Design Review Board, or Planning Commission, whose term has expired to 15 April 21, 2026 Item 4
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continue to officially serve until the vacancy is filled or three months has passed, whichever occurs sooner.
G. Attendance Policy for Boards, Commissions, and Committees In accordance with Del Mar Municipal Code Chapter 2.30, if a member of a City advisory committee, Design Review Board, or Planning Commission is absent from three regular, adjourned, or special meetings within a 12-month period without cause, the term of said member is automatically vacated. Council liaisons to the commission, board, or committee shall determine whether the absence was for cause. If an advisory committee, which does not include the Design Review Board or Planning Commission, does not have two Council liaisons, then the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor shall act as liaisons to that commission, board, or committee for this purpose. If the liaisons do not agree about whether the absences were without cause so as to warrant removal, the item will be presented to the full City Council to make the determination.
H. Formation and Dissolution of Boards, Commissions, and Committees
1. New committees must be formed by Resolution of the City Council and must include a committee charter detailing, the committee mission/purpose, type of committee (standing or ad-hoc), membership requirements, conflict of interest requirements, and open meeting requirements.
2. If the newly formed committee is an ad-hoc committee, the Resolution and charter should include a sunset date. The sunset date can be extended by Council action, if necessary.
3. Committees may be dissolved by Resolution of the City Council at any time or during the annual review of the City Council Local Appointments. Ad hoc committees shall automatically be dissolved on their sunset date unless extended in advance by the City Council.
I. City Council Review of City Board, Commission, and Committee System At least every four (4) years the City Council shall establish a subcommittee or alternative process to review the City’s boards, commission and committee system to provide recommendations to improve committee efficiencies to the City Council. However, the City Council may, in its discretion, elect to review the City’s boards, commission and committee system outside of the four (4) year review as it deems necessary. 16 April 21, 2026 Item 4
City of Del Mar
Lagoon Committee
Appointing Authority City Council
Category Voting Member
Donna Shaw
2nd Term Apr 01, 2023 - Apr 30, 2026
Appointing Authority City Council
Position Secretary
Category Voting Member
Jeffrey Barnouw
1st Term Jul 01, 2023 - Jul 31, 2026
Appointing Authority City Council
Position Chair
Category Voting Member
Udo Wahn
2nd Term Nov 01, 2023 - Nov 30, 2026
Appointing Authority City Council
Position Vice Chair
Category Voting Member
Frederique Duranton
1st Term Jan 06, 2025 - Jan 31, 2028
Appointing Authority City Council
Category Voting Member
Nitza Leichtling
1st Term Mar 01, 2025 - Mar 31, 2028
Board Roster
Lagoon Committee Page 1 of 1
17 April 21, 2026 Item 4
City of Del Mar
Agenda Report
________________________________________________________________________________________________________ City Council Action:
TO: Honorable City Council Members
FROM: Mayor Tracy Martinez and Councilmember Terry Gaasterland, Committees Efficiencies Taskforce
Sarah Krietor, Administrative Services Manager/City Clerk Via Ashley Jones, City Manager
DATE: April 21, 2026
SUBJECT: Amendment to City Council Policy 200 and Introduction of an Ordinance Pertaining to Meeting Attendance of Members of City Committees, Boards, and Commissions
REQUESTED ACTION/RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council: 1) Adopt a Resolution (Attachment A) amending City Council Policy 200-City Council Advisory Committees, Boards, and Commissions (Exhibit A to Attachment A) related to meeting attendance provisions; and 2) Introduce an Ordinance (Attachment C) amending Del Mar Municipal Code (DMMC) Chapter 2.30.020-Absences from Meeting to remove attendance requirements from the code and instead provide that they will be established by Council resolution.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Del Mar benefits greatly from a robust advisory committee system made up of talented volunteers who generously donate their time to help the City achieve its goals and navigate complex challenges. In addition to the decision-making and quasi-judicial Design Review Board (DRB) and Planning Commission (PC), the City currently has eight active advisory committees, including Finance, Measure Q Citizen Oversight, Parks & Recreation, Lagoon, Traffic & Parking, Shores Park Master Plan Ad-Hoc, Sustainability, and Undergrounding Program.
Attendance requirements for members of City advisory committees, boards, and commissions (committees) are addressed in City Council Policy 200, Section G-Attendance and in DMMC Chapter 2.30.020-Absences from Meetings. The current attendance regulations are provided in full in Attachment B and summarized below.
In accordance with Del Mar Municipal Code Chapter 2.30, if a member of a City advisory committee, Design Review Board, or Planning Commission is absent from three regular, adjourned, or special meetings within a 12-month period without cause, the term of said member is automatically vacated. Council liaisons to the commission, board, or committee shall determine whether the 1 April 21, 2026 Item 5
City Council Agenda Report
Amendment to City Council Policy 200
April 21, 2026
absence was for cause. If an advisory committee, which does not include the Design Review Board or Planning Commission, does not have two Council liaisons, then the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor shall act as liaisons to that commission, board, or committee for this purpose. If the liaisons do not agree about whether the absences were without cause so as to warrant removal, the item will be presented to the full City Council to make the determination.
The purpose of establishing committee attendance requirements is to ensure committees function effectively with consistent member attendance and to have a fair and consistent method for handling absences, while recognizing that members may occasionally be absent due to illness or other circumstances beyond their control.
Recent meeting attendance issues prompted staff and the Council appointed Committee Efficiencies Taskforce (Martinez/Gaasterland), to evaluate the City’s attendance provisions that are somewhat ambiguous and subjective making them difficult to implement consistently.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS:
The goal of the proposed policy updates is to adjust permitted absences to align with the needs of the City, recognizing the difference between advisory committees and quasi-judicial bodies; provide a clear and consistent definition of “just cause” absences; and streamline the removal process when appropriate, as specified in the policy. To develop the proposed revisions, staff reviewed committee attendance policies from other cities in the County and City committee attendance records.
If the Council is supportive of the proposed policy changes, staff recommends adoption of a Resolution (Attachment A) amending City Council Policy 200 (Exhibit A to Attachment A) to reflect the proposed changes and introduction of an Ordinance (Attachment C) removing attendance requirements from the DMMC and instead referencing that attendance provisions will be adopted by Council resolution. This procedural change will help eliminate redundancy and give the Council more flexibility to amend attendance requirements in response to the City’s changing needs. If the Ordinance is introduced, it would be adopted on May 5, 2026, and effective on June 4, 2026, giving staff time to communicate the pending changes to committee members with full implementation beginning when the Ordinance becomes effective.
Number of Permitted Absences
A regional comparison found that the City’s current attendance policy of three absences in a 12- month period is consistent or more generous than other agencies. While attendance policies and meeting frequency vary from city to city most cities allow members to miss three meetings and/or up to 25% of meetings in a year.
In the case of the City’s advisory committees, which generally meet anywhere from 2-5 times per year, the City’s attendance provisions allowing for up to three for cause absences in a 12- month period are generous compared to other agencies. As such, it is proposed that a clear definition of “for cause” absences be established as described in the following section.
Due to the quasi-judicial, decision-making nature of the DRB and PC, it is proposed that members be subject to a stricter attendance standard. This will help prevent quorum issues 2 April 21, 2026 Item 5
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April 21, 2026
caused by a combination of member absences and frequent proximity conflict recusals due to the small size of the City; ensure the City is meeting its obligations under the Permit Streamlining Act; and takes into consideration that these bodies have more frequent meetings compared to advisory committees. As such, it is proposed that for the DRB and PC, a member’s seat is automatically vacated after three without cause absences or after six total absences within a 12- month period, regardless of the cause.
Definition of For Cause Absence
The current attendance regulations cite that only absences “without cause” will count towards the attendance provision; however, “for cause” and “without cause” absences are not defined.
Consistent with the definitions used by other agencies, it is proposed that the following criteria be established as “just cause” reasons for an absence with all other reasons considered “without cause”: a) Illness or medical issue of the Member or their immediate family member; b) Business commitment of the Member that interferes with the attendance at a meeting; c) Attendance of the Member at a funeral, religious service or ceremony, wedding, or other similarly-significant life event for which the Member has given notice to the Committee’s Staff Liaison of their unavailability at least fifteen (15) days in advance, when applicable. Inclusion of a definition for “just cause” absences in the policy will help staff implement attendance requirements consistently and will provide more clarity to committee members.
Removal Process
Lastly, the current procedures in the DMMC and Council Policy 200 require that Council Liaisons to the committee, or the Mayor and Deputy Mayor in the case of the DRB and PC, determine what is “for cause” and state that if there is a disagreement, the Council liaisons shall bring the decision to the full Council.
To streamline implementation, ensure consistent and equitable application, and address attendance issues in a timely manner, staff proposes that attendance procedures be administered by staff rather than the Council Liaisons. Under the proposed policy, terms would be automatically vacated, as applicable, in accordance with attendance provisions.
If the recommended actions are approved, staff would ensure a smooth rollout of the policy changes by proactively notifying all committee members; continuing to provide notice of attendance requirements at the time of appointment; providing pro-active courtesy notifications to members at risk of being removed from their seat due to attendance considerations; and continuing to track meeting attendance including the cause of the absence.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no immediate fiscal impact or action to be taken by the City Council related to this agenda item.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A- Resolution Amending City Council Policy 200 Exhibit A to Attachment A- Amended City Council Policy 200 (Clean) Attachment B-Current Attendance Provisions in Policy 200 Section G and DMMC Chapter
2.30.020
Attachment C- Ordinance Amending DMMC Chapter 2.30.020
3 April 21, 2026 Item 5
ATTACHMENT A
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-XX
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DEL
MAR, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING COUNCIL POLICY 200
COMMITTEES - CITY COUNCIL ADVISORY COMMITTEES,
BOARDS, AND COMMISSIONS TO IMPLEMENT CHANGES TO
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES FOR
MEMBERS OF CITY COMMITTEES, BOARDS AND
COMMISSIONS
WHEREAS, the establishment and updating of City Council policies provides a mechanism for articulating methods and procedures for the conduct of City Council business; and
WHEREAS, the City of Del Mar has maintained a City Council Policy Book, adopted and utilized by the City Council for many years; and
WHEREAS, it is beneficial to periodically review and revise policies that govern the operational processes, procedures, and regulations that apply to the City’s advisory committees, boards and commissions; and
WHEREAS, on September 15, 2014, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2014-70 establishing Council Policy 200: City Council Advisory Committees, Boards, and Commissions (Council Policy 200); and
WHEREAS, on June 1, 2019, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2019-33 amending Council Policy 200 to include language prohibiting City Council members from voting on appointments to any of the City’s boards, commissions, or committees in which their significant other is an applicant; and
WHEREAS on January 10, 2022, the City Council adopted Resolution No 2022-07 amending various sections of Council Policy 200; and
WHEREAS, on April 4, 2022, the City Council adopted Resolution 2022-23 amending Council Policy 200 to prohibit immediate family members, including significant others or spouses, of City Council Members from serving or being appointed to serve simultaneously on the Design Review Board or Planning Commission; and WHEREAS, on May 19, 2025, the City Council adopted Resolution 2025-10 amending various sections of Council Policy 200 related to membership categories and size; and
WHEREAS, the City Council now desires to amend Council Policy 200 to revise attendance requirements and procedures for members of advisory committees, boards and commissions.
4 April 21, 2026 Item 5
Resolution No. 2026-XX
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Del Mar, California, hereby amends Council Policy 200: City Council Advisory Committees, Boards, and Commissions as shown in Exhibit A to this resolution.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the amendments to Council Policy 200 shall be incorporated into the City Council Policy Book.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Del Mar, California, at a Regular Meeting held this 21th day of April 2026. ___________________________
Tracy Martinez, Mayor
City of Del Mar
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
__________________________
Christina Cameron, City Attorney
City of Del Mar
ATTEST AND CERTIFICATION:
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO
CITY OF DEL MAR
I, SARAH KRIETOR, Administrative Services Manager/City Clerk of the City of Del Mar, California, DO HEREBY CERTIFY, that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of Resolution No. 2026-XX, adopted by the City Council of the City of Del Mar, California, at a Regular Meeting held the 21th day of April 2026, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
RECUSE:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
________________________________
Sarah Krietor, Administrative Services
Manager/City Clerk
City of Del Mar
5 April 21, 2026 Item 5
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CITY COUNCIL POLICY BOOK
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CITY COUNCIL ADVISORY
COMMITTEES, BOARDS AND
COMMISSIONS
DATE REVISED: 5/19/2025
BY RESOLUTION: 2025-10
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POLICY:
A. Vacancies
It is the City Council policy to advertise vacancies of the City Council advisory committees, Design Review Board, and Planning Commission on the City website for a minimum of 10 calendar days, and at least once in the Del Mar Weekly and/or through CivicSend eblast.
Upcoming vacancies may also be announced by the City Manager or Council Members at City Council meetings. The deadline for interested citizens to file a Citizen Interest Form (application) is by the close of business (4:30 p.m.) on a Friday.
B. Council Appointments to City Council Advisory Committees
1. It shall be the policy of the City Council to direct its liaisons to each Council advisory committee to make recommendations to the full Council regarding appointments to City Council advisory committees.
2. If by the application deadline, the number of applications received by the City for such committees is equal to the number of vacancies, or less than the number of vacancies when recruiting for multiple vacancies, the Council liaisons to the specific committee shall determine whether to extend the deadline or review the Citizen Interest Form(s) and/or interview the applicant(s), and make a recommendation to Council that the applicant(s) be appointed to serve on the committee.
3. If by the application deadline, the number of applications received by the City for such committees is more than the number of vacancies, then the Council liaisons to the specific committee shall review the Citizen Interest Forms and/or interview the applicant(s). Council liaisons shall then make a recommendation to Council as to which applicant(s) should be appointed to serve on the committee. If the Council liaisons determine the applicants are not qualified or do not meet the needs of the committee, the application period may be reopened by the Council liaisons in order to solicit additional interest.
4. If the Council liaisons to a committee cannot agree on a recommendation for appointment(s), they shall direct staff to prepare an agenda report for the next available City Council meeting where the City Council will vote on the appointment without discussion. Three affirmative votes are needed in order for the City Council to make an appointment. If an applicant does not receive the necessary votes, the Council may re-vote or may direct staff to reopen the vacancy to solicit additional interest. 6 April 21, 2026 Item 5
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5. Applicants nominated to serve on a Council advisory committee are encouraged, but not required, to attend the City Council meeting when the City Council is scheduled to consider their appointment to serve on the Committee.
6. In the event that there is only one Council liaison to an advisory committee, the Mayor will act as the second Council liaison for the purposes of reviewing Citizen Interest Forms to recommend to the City Council for appointment.
7. Prior to the City Council meeting where the Council will vote on an appointment, any Council member can request an un-redacted copy of all qualified Citizen Interest Forms in order to review applicant information and contact interested applicant(s) prior to the meeting if so desired.
8. In accordance with Del Mar Municipal Code Chapter 2.30 “Commissions, Boards and Committees: General Provisions”, it shall be the City Council’s policy to select for appointment the candidates who received three affirmative votes by the City Council. In the case where a candidate does not receive three affirmative votes, the Council may revote or direct the City Clerk to re-advertise the vacancy.
9. When there are open vacancies for City Council advisory committees, other than Planning Commission or Design Review Board, the City Clerk will bring forward to the City Council the names of the candidates, the number of vacancies, and the liaison recommendation(s).
The City Council will then vote on the recommendation to fill the vacancies. When the Council liaisons to a committee agree on a recommendation for appointment, the item will be included on the consent calendar. When the Council liaisons to a committee do not agree on the recommendation for appointment, the item will be brought forward as a Council Business item as described in Section B(4) of this policy.
10. If the spouse or significant other of a City Council member is an applicant to fill a vacancy on an advisory committee, the City Council member must recuse themselves from voting on that appointment.
C. Council Appointments to the Design Review Board and Planning Commission
1. The City Council shall make appointments to the Planning Commission and Design Review Board in accordance with the membership requirements of Chapter 2.34 “Planning Commission” and 2.38 “Design Review Board” of the Del Mar Municipal Code, respectively.
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BY RESOLUTION: 2025-10
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2. It shall be the policy of the City Council to hold interviews for appointments to the Planning Commission and Design Review Board only when applications received for such commission or board exceed the number of vacancies.
3. Interviews shall be public and televised as part of the City Council meeting.
4. If, by the application deadline, the number of applications received by the City for such board or commission equals or is less than the number of vacancies, then there shall be an automatic extension of time to accept applications.
5. Prior to the City Council meeting where the Council will vote on an appointment, an un-redacted copy of all qualified Citizen Interest Forms will be provided to the full City Council in order to allow the full Council to review applicant information and contact interested applicant(s) prior to the meeting if so desired.
6. In accordance with Del Mar Municipal Code Chapter 2.30 “Commissions, Boards and Committees: General Provisions”, it shall be the City Council’s policy to select for appointment the candidates who received three affirmative votes by the City Council. In the case where a candidate does not receive three affirmative votes, the Council may re-vote or direct the City Clerk to re-advertise the vacancy.
7. When there are advertised vacancies for Planning Commission or Design Review Board, the City Clerk will bring forward to the City Council the names of the candidates and the number of vacancies. After interviewing candidates in a public forum, the City Council will vote on the candidates to fill the vacancies. The City Clerk will read aloud the vote of each Council member.
8. Because of conflicts of interest which might exist, or which might give the appearance to the public of existing, and in order to preserve public confidence in the City’s vital planning processes and avoid questions of fairness and bias, prejudice or influence, the immediate family member of a City Council member, Design Review Board Member or Planning Commissioner may not serve or be appointed to serve simultaneously on the Design Review Board or Planning Commission. For purposes of this policy, immediate family member is defined as an individual’s parent, child, spouse, significant other, or sibling.
9. In accordance with Section C(8) of this policy, should an immediate family member of a Design Review Board Member or Planning Commissioner be elected to serve on the City Council, said Board Member or Commissioner shall be required to resign from their position no later than the day prior to the day the City Council member’s term of office commences.
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D. City Advisory Committee Membership Categories
1. Subject to the membership limits set forth in Section E(6) of this policy, the City Council liaisons to the Sustainability Advisory Committee (SAC) may designate one (1) additional seat for an ex-officio member in the committee’s charter and direct staff to fill the vacancy in accordance with this policy, when desired by the SAC Council liaisons. Ex-officio members are non-voting subject matter experts who may be residents or non-residents.
2. Subject to the membership limits set forth in Section E(6) of this policy, the City Council may designate membership categories for business representatives in a committee’s charter. Business representation is preferred but shall not be a requirement for any member. Business representatives are business owners or operators whose business has a physical entity within the City of Del Mar and who have a current City of Del Mar business license.
E. Concurrent Committee Assignments, Term Limits and Length, Membership Size and Rotation of Chair and Vice Chair
1. It shall be the policy of the City Council to limit the number of concurrent appointments that any one individual has to City Council advisory committees, Design Review Board, and Planning Commission. The limit of concurrent appointments shall be two. If an individual has two concurrent appointments, they will not be eligible to serve on ad hoc committees, except in special circumstances as determined by the Council or Council liaisons.
2. The number of consecutive terms an individual may serve on a committee is two, as further described in Section E(5) below. However, the City Council has the flexibility to make an exception if they feel it is to the benefit of the committee to re-appoint an individual for a third term. Committee members who would like to continue to serve another term once their appointed term has expired must re-apply by filing a Citizen Interest Form prior to the advertised deadline for applications. Former committee members must wait one year from the expiration of their second consecutive term before being appointed to the same committee.
3. The term length for all City Council advisory committees shall be three years. Terms will expire on the last day of the month.
4. The term length for voting members of the Planning Commission and Design Review Board shall be four years, in accordance with Del Mar Municipal Code Sections
2.34.020 and 2.38.020, respectively. The term length for ex-officio members on the 9 April 21, 2026 Item 5
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Design Review Board shall be two years, in accordance with Del Mar Municipal Code Section 2.38.020.
5. In order to ensure that terms remain appropriately staggered, individuals appointed to fill an unexpired vacancy shall finish the remainder of the term of the vacating committee member. If the balance of the vacant term is less than six (6) months, it shall not count as a term towards the two-consecutive-term limit.
6. With the exception of the Undergrounding Program Advisory Committee, all other City advisory committees have a maximum committee membership of five (5) total voting members at the recommendation of the committee’s Council liaisons and approval of the full City Council. If a committee membership size is to be reduced via attrition, attrition shall not affect members who complete their first term and are eligible and wiling to serve a second term. However, such members must be recommended for reappointment by the committee’s Council liaisons, and their reappointment shall be confirmed by the full Council at a Council meeting.
7. It shall be the policy of the City Council that the members of each advisory committee appoint a chair, vice chair and secretary at the last meeting of the calendar year, with the new chair serving at the first meeting of the new year, and that these positions rotate annually among all the committee members. It is recommended that the vice chair assist with committee responsibilities and provide for a succession plan for chairing the committee. In the event a committee does not have volunteers to serve as chair and vice chair, then the committee has the flexibility to allow consecutive appointments to the chair/vice chair or secretary positions, i.e. rotation of such positions among the members is not required if there are no volunteers to serve in those positions. At the discretion of the committee, the vice chair and secretary positions may be filled by the same committee member.
8. It shall be the policy of the City Council that the members of the Design Review Board and Planning Commission appoint a chair and vice chair at the last meeting of the calendar year, with the new chair serving at the first meeting of the new year, and that the these positions should rotate annually among all the members. The functions of a secretary for the Design Review Board and Planning Commission, such as preparing minutes, will be managed by City staff.
F. Incumbents to Serve Until New Appointments Confirmed It shall be the policy of the City Council to allow an incumbent on a City Council advisory committee, Design Review Board, or Planning Commission, whose term has expired to 10 April 21, 2026 Item 5
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continue to officially serve until the vacancy is filled or three months has passed, whichever occurs sooner.
G. Attendance Policy for Boards, Commissions, and Committees In accordance with Del Mar Municipal Code Chapter 2.30, if a member of a City advisory committee, Design Review Board, or Planning Commission is absent from three regular, adjourned, or special meetings within a 12-month period without cause, the term of said member is automatically vacated. Council liaisons to the commission, board, or committee shall determine whether the absence was for cause. If an advisory committee, which does not include the Design Review Board or Planning Commission, does not have two Council liaisons, then the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor shall act as liaisons to that commission, board, or committee for this purpose. If the liaisons do not agree about whether the absences were without cause so as to warrant removal, the item will be presented to the full City Council to make the determination.
1. Advisory Committee Member Attendance. If a member of a City advisory committee, (“Member’) is absent from three (3) regular, adjourned, or special meetings within a 12- month period without just cause, as defined below in subsection 3 below, the term of said member is automatically vacated. Absence(s) for “just cause” will not count toward this total.
2. Design Review Board and Planning Commissioner Attendance. If a member of the Design Review Board or Planning Commission is absent from three (3) regular, adjourned, or special meetings within a 12-month period without just cause, as defined below in subsection 3, the term of said member is automatically vacated. In addition, if a member is absent from six (6) meetings within a 12-month period, the Member’s seat is automatically vacated, regardless of whether the absences are for just cause.
3. Definition of Just Cause. For purposes of this section, the following circumstances will be considered “just cause” for absence from Board, Commission, and Committee meetings.
All other absences will be considered “without cause.”
a) Illness or medical issue of the Member or their immediate family member; b) Business commitment of the Member that interferes with the attendance at a meeting; or
c) Attendance of the Member at a funeral, religious service or ceremony, wedding, or other similarly-significant life event where the Member has given notice to the Committee’s Staff Liaison of their unavailability at least fifteen (15) days in advance, when applicable.
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H. Formation and Dissolution of Boards, Commissions, and Committees
1. New committees must be formed by Resolution of the City Council and must include a committee charter detailing, the committee mission/purpose, type of committee (standing or ad-hoc), membership requirements, conflict of interest requirements, and open meeting requirements.
2. If the newly formed committee is an ad-hoc committee, the Resolution and charter should include a sunset date. The sunset date can be extended by Council action, if necessary.
3. Committees may be dissolved by Resolution of the City Council at any time or during the annual review of the City Council Local Appointments. Ad hoc committees shall automatically be dissolved on their sunset date unless extended in advance by the City Council.
I. City Council Review of City Board, Commission, and Committee System At least every four (4) years the City Council shall establish a subcommittee or alternative process to review the City’s boards, commission and committee system to provide recommendations to improve committee efficiencies to the City Council. However, the City Council may, in its discretion, elect to review the City’s boards, commission and committee system outside of the four (4) year review as it deems necessary. 12 April 21, 2026 Item 5
City of Del Mar Current Attendance Requirements
For Advisory Committee, Board and Commissions
Del Mar Municipal Code 2.30.020 Absence from Meeting.
If a member of a commission, board or committee is absent from three regular, adjourned or special meetings within a 12-month period without cause, the term of such member is automatically vacated. The Council liaisons to the commission, board or committee shall determine whether the absence was for cause. If the commission, board or committee does not have two Council liaisons, then the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor shall act as liaisons to that commission, board or committee for this purpose. (Ord. No. 792)
City Council Policy 200 City Council Advisory Committees, Boards and Commissions – Section G Attendance
In accordance with Del Mar Municipal Code Chapter 2.30, if a member of a City advisory committee, Design Review Board, or Planning Commission is absent from three regular, adjourned, or special meetings within a 12-month period without cause, the term of said member is automatically vacated. Council liaisons to the commission, board, or committee shall determine whether the absence was for cause. If an advisory committee, which does not include the Design Review Board or Planning Commission, does not have two Council liaisons, then the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor shall act as liaisons to that commission, board, or committee for this purpose. If the liaisons do not agree about whether the absences were without cause so as to warrant removal, the item will be presented to the full City Council to make the determination. 13 April 21, 2026 Item 5
ORDINANCE NO. XXXX
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DEL
MAR, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING DEL MAR MUNICIPAL CODE
CHAPTER 2.30.020 REGARDING THE ATTENDANCE POLICY FOR
COUNCIL APPOINTED BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND
COMMITTEES
WHEREAS, the City of Del Mar promotes community volunteerism and depends on its many talented residents who volunteer for City boards, commissions and committees; and WHEREAS, in order for these City boards, commissions and committees to function effectively, it is important that members attend all meetings and participate fully; and WHEREAS, it is understood that committee members may periodically be absent from meetings due to illness, work obligations, and other circumstances beyond their control; and WHEREAS, the City of Del Mar has created regulations regarding absenteeism in order to have a method to deal with absences without cause; and WHEREAS, the City Council most recently adopted Ordinance 792 on December 18, 2006, revising the committee attendance provisions in Del Mar Municipal Code Chapter
2.30.020- Attendance; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has reviewed the attendance provisions and desires to include revisions to meet the current needs of the City.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Del Mar, California, does hereby ordain as follows:
SECTION ONE:
The above recitals are true and correct and are incorporated by reference into this action.
SECTION TWO:
That DMMC Chapter 2.30.020 is hereby repealed and replaced to read as follows:
2.30.020 Absence from Meeting.
Attendance requirements for members of City boards, commissions, and committees shall be established by resolution of the City Council, as may be amended from time to time as may be necessary.
SECTION THREE:
The City Council finds that approval of this Ordinance is exempt from the preparation of an environmental document pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378. This action does not constitute a “project” under the definition set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15378 because it will not have a potential to result in a direct or indirect physical change in the environment and is, therefore, not subject to CEQA.
No further action under CEQA is required.
14 April 21, 2026 Item 5
Ordinance No. XXXX
SECTION FOUR:
This Ordinance was introduced by the City Council on April 21, 2026.
SECTION FIVE:
The City Clerk is directed to prepare and have published a summary of this Ordinance no less than five days prior to the consideration of its adoption and again within 15 days following adoption indicating votes cast.
SECTION SIX:
If any section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this Ordinance is, for any reason, held invalid or unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity or effectiveness of the remaining portions of this Ordinance.
SECTION SEVEN:
Upon adoption, the Ordinance will take effect and be in force 30 days from the date that the City Council takes action to adopt the Ordinance.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Del Mar, California, at a regular meeting held on the 5
th day of May 2026.
____________________________
Tracy Martinez, Mayor
City of Del Mar
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
____________________________
Christina Cameron, City Attorney
City of Del Mar
15 April 21, 2026 Item 5
Ordinance No. XXXX
ATTEST AND CERTIFICATION:
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO
CITY OF DEL MAR
I, SARAH KRIETOR, Administrative Services Manager/City Clerk of the City of Del Mar, California, DO HEREBY CERTIFY, that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of Ordinance No. XXXX, which has been published pursuant to law, and adopted by the City Council of the City of Del Mar, California, at a Regular Meeting held the 5 th day of May 2026, by the
following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
RECUSE:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
______________________________
Sarah Krietor, Administrative Services
Manager/City Clerk
City of Del Mar
16 April 21, 2026 Item 5
City of Del Mar
Agenda Report
________________________________________________________________________________________________________ City Council Action:
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM: Nicole Morrow, AICP, Associate Planner
Amanda Lee, Principal Planner
Karen Brindley, Planning & Community Development Director Via Ashley Jones, City Manager
DATE: April 21, 2026
SUBJECT: General Plan Amendment (GPA24-002) – City of Del Mar Environmental Justice Element
REQUESTED ACTION/RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the City Council adopt the Resolution (Attachment A) to adopt the General Plan (Community Plan) Amendment GPA24-002 to incorporate a new Environmental Justice Element (Exhibit A to Attachment A).
BACKGROUND
The State requires local jurisdictions to maintain a General Plan that is comprised of various elements that address components of the City and the planning process.
California Senate Bill 1000 (2018) requires jurisdictions with disadvantaged communities (also referred to as “environmental justice communities”) to adopt an Environmental Justice Element to facilitate transparency and public engagement in local government planning and decision-making processes, establish a policy framework to reduce harmful pollutants and associated health risks, and promote equitable access to health-inducing benefits such as healthy food, housing, public facilities, and recreation.
The City of Del Mar ranks in the 95th percentile statewide for overall community health and access and does not contain any designated disadvantaged communities. “Disadvantaged communities” are defined by the State as areas experiencing disproportionate environmental and socioeconomic burdens, such as poverty, high unemployment, air and water pollution, hazardous waste exposure, and elevated rates of asthma and heart disease.
While Del Mar does not meet this designation, the City committed in its certified 6th Cycle Housing Element (Program 6E) to prepare and adopt an Environmental Justice Element to further fair housing objectives. The proposed Element addresses local efforts to 1 April 21, 2026 Item 6
City Council Agenda Report
General Plan Amendment - Environmental Justice Element (GPA24-002) April 21, 2026
affirmatively further fair housing and includes additional components consistent with State guidance related to environmental hazards and public health.
The Del Mar Community Plan serves as the General Plan for the City of Del Mar. The proposed Environmental Justice Element outlines goals, policies, and implementation actions that reflect the City’s commitment to maintaining a healthy, inclusive, and accessible community for all residents and visitors. It identifies initiatives that support civic engagement, equity, and fair treatment; minimize pollution exposure; promote safe and healthy homes; and ensure access to public facilities, resources, and amenities.
Following is the Environmental Justice Element process timeline completed to date:
• December 11, 2025 – The draft Environmental Justice Element was posted for public review at: https://www.delmar.ca.us/929/Safety-and-Environmental-JusticeElement • December 11, 2025 – Tribal Consultation noticing was mailed in accordance with State Senate Bill 18 and Assembly Bill 52.
• December 12, 2025 – An article was posted in the Del Mar Weekly informing the public of the availability of the draft Environmental Justice Element on the City’s website.
• January 26, 2026 – City staff presented the draft Environmental Justice Element to the Sustainability Advisory Committee.
• February 13, 2026 – The Planning Commission recommended City Council approval of the draft Environmental Justice Element.
• April 1, 2026 – A Notice of City Council Public Hearing was mailed to the required list of recipients for General Plan Amendments and interested parties in accordance with the California Government Code.
• April 10, 2026 – A Notice of City Council Public Hearing was published in the Coast News and posted at City Hall.
In compliance with State law, the Environmental Justice Element was duly noticed for a public hearing before the Del Mar Planning Commission on February 13, 2026. Prior to the Planning Commission hearing, public comments were received at the January 26, 2026, meeting of the Sustainability Advisory Committee and in writing. Public comments 2 April 21, 2026 Item 6
City Council Agenda Report
General Plan Amendment - Environmental Justice Element (GPA24-002) April 21, 2026
on the draft Environmental Justice Element, where applicable, were considered and incorporated into a revised draft (Attachment B) as described below and in Attachment C:
• Clarification on the applicability of Assembly Bill (AB) 52 procedures for private and city-initiated projects (Section 4.2 “Public Participation in Planning Processes,” page 17)
• Removal of an unrelated policy direction related to ghost guns (Section 4.4 “Policy Statements Supporting Equity and Fair Treatment,” page 18) • Additional information and updated links to the City’s webpage about the Food Waste Diversion Program (Section 5.4 “Waste Diversion,” page 24) • Additional description of regional participation in climate action planning (Section
5.5 “Climate Action Plan,” page 24)
• Added information related to the City’s bicycle ordinance and the regulations that apply to each e-bike classification based on information provided by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department (Section 7.3 “Complete Streets Initiative,” page 38) • Minor, non-substantive revisions
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS:
At present, the Del Mar Community Plan does not include an Environmental Justice Element; therefore, the proposed General Plan Amendment will not remove or alter any existing text in the Community Plan and will be a standalone document component of the Community Plan, similar to the Housing Element.
The proposed Environmental Justice Element is consistent with the Del Mar Community Plan, Local Coastal Program, Municipal Code, and State law. The Environmental Justice Element addresses the topics of equity, community health, and public access to resources while providing a holistic overview of the community and identifying policies such as fair housing and inclusive zoning strategies from the City’s Housing Element that will be used to maintain a high quality of life for all residents and visitors of Del Mar. The Environmental Justice Element chapters are summarized below:
Chapter 1 –
Executive
Summary
• Overview of the main components and takeaways of the
Environmental Justice Element
Chapter 2 –
Introduction
• Affirms intent to promote fair treatment, meaningful public involvement, and protection of public health for all residents.
Chapter 3 –
Context of
Environmental
Justice in
Del Mar
• Provides an overview of the City’s demographic,
environmental, and overall public health conditions
• Confirms Del Mar is a high-opportunity community and does not meet the definition of a disadvantaged community
3 April 21, 2026 Item 6
City Council Agenda Report
General Plan Amendment - Environmental Justice Element (GPA24-002) April 21, 2026
• Identifies local efforts to address environmental conditions through legislative positions and declaration of a local emergency related to climate change
Chapter 4 –
Local Initiatives
Supporting Civic
Engagement,
Equity and
Fairness
• Summarizes the City’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) strategies • Describes policies and regulations that support climate resilience, such as those that support greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction
• Identifies projected climate impacts and plans to monitor climate trends, coordinate with regional partners, and engage the community to address evolving climate risks
Chapter 5 –
Minimize
Pollution
Exposure
• Identifies vehicle transportation, energy use, and waste systems as primary sources of pollution within the City • Identifies strategies to reduce exposure to environmental pollutants that can adversely affect health
• Identifies programs to protect air quality, including smoking restrictions and support for alternative transportation; protect water quality through stormwater management and regional coordination; and implement the City’s Climate Action Plan energy conservation, greenhouse gas reduction, and waste diversion strategies
Chapter 6 –
Promote Safe
and Healthy
Homes
• Identifies housing-related environmental justice
considerations, including affordability, housing cost burden, and access to jobs, schools, groceries, services, and transit • Describes the City’s Housing Element programs that promote inclusive zoning and access to safe, sanitary, and affordable housing across a range of income levels
• Emphasizes the City’s commitment to preserve existing housing, facilitate new housing opportunities, and provide resources to members of the public who may be experiencing housing instability, and further fair housing
Chapter 7 –
Improve Access
to Public
Facilities,
Resources, and
Amenities
• Identifies how residents can safely and conveniently access public resources, regardless of age, ability, or income • Identifies access to public facilities, healthy food options, and parks and trails that support health and quality of life • Highlights City investments in pedestrian, bicycle, and transit infrastructure; protection and enhancement of parks,
beaches, and scenic trails; and partnerships that improve access to food and other basic needs
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact or action to be taken by the City Council related to this agenda item.
4 April 21, 2026 Item 6
City Council Agenda Report
General Plan Amendment - Environmental Justice Element (GPA24-002) April 21, 2026
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:
The proposed General Plan Amendment to create an Environmental Justice Element has been considered in the City’s Housing Element Final Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) and associated Mitigation, Monitoring, and Reporting Program (MMRP) certified by the City Council on October 5, 2020 (State Clearinghouse (SCH) No. 2020029064) and is consistent with the PEIR. Moreover, the proposed amendment to the City’s General Plan will not result in any significant impacts to the environment or an increase in the severity of impacts on the environment as previously analyzed and identified in the Final PEIR. Therefore, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15162, no further environmental documentation is necessary. The Final PEIR is available online at:
www.delmar.ca.us/DocumentCenter/View/7171/Final-PEIR-91020.
HOUSING IMPACT:
The Environmental Justice Element will not result in any loss of housing production in comparison with the level of housing production currently allowed under the City’s Statecertified 6th Cycle Housing Element and State-certified Local Coastal Program. The goals and policies of the Environmental Justice Element address the City’s commitment to affirmatively further fair housing.
NEXUS TO CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND PRIORITIES:
The preparation of an Environmental Justice Element satisfies Housing Element Program 6E which is a Tier 1 priority for Fiscal Year 2025-26.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A – City Council Resolution
Exhibit A to Attachment A – Proposed Environmental Justice Element Attachment B – Revised Environmental Justice Element Strikeout Underline Copy Attachment C – Summary of Public Comments
5 April 21, 2026 Item 6
ATTACHMENT A
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-XX
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DEL
MAR, CALIFORNIA TO ADOPT THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
ELEMENT WHICH CONSTITUTES AN AMENDMENT TO THE
CITY OF DEL MAR COMMUNITY PLAN (GENERAL PLAN)
(GPA24-002), APPLICABLE CITYWIDE WITHIN THE CITY OF
DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA
WHEREAS, State law requires every City to adopt and maintain a General Plan comprised of various required ‘elements’ in order to provide a comprehensive, long-range plan for the development and use of property within the City’s jurisdiction; and WHEREAS, the City of Del Mar Community Plan is the General Plan for the City of Del Mar; and
WHERAS, the Environmental Justice Element is intended to establish goals and policies which reinforce that the City is committed to maintaining a healthy, inclusive, and accessible community for all residents and visitors; and WHEREAS, pursuant to Government Code Section 65350 and the State Public Resources Code, the adoption of the Environmental Justice Element update constitutes a General Plan Amendment that is subject to a review by the Planning Commission prior to adoption by the City Council; and
WHEREAS, the City’s 6th Cycle Housing Element was adopted by the City Council on April 3, 2023, and certified by the California Housing and Community Development Department on May 31, 2023; and
WHEREAS, the City committed to the preparation of an Environmental Justice Element under Housing Element Program 6E in order to affirm the City’s commitment to create opportunities for diverse, integrated housing at all affordability levels and maintain a healthy, equitable, and accessible community for all residents and visitors; and
WHEREAS, the draft Environmental Justice Element is consistent with Government Code Section 65302(h); and
WHEREAS, on December 11, 2025, pursuant to Government Code Sections 65352 – 65352.5 the City mailed notices to all California Native American tribes provided by the Native American Heritage Commission and other entities listed to offer consultation prior to final action; and
WHEREAS, the City did not receive any requests for consultation prior to final action by any California Native American tribe during or after the 90-day notice period required by Government Code Section 65352.3. The period to request consultation ended on March 11, 2026; and
WHEREAS, the draft Environmental Justice Element was posted on the City’s website for public review beginning on December 10, 2025; and 6 April 21, 2026 Item 6
Resolution No. 2026-XX
WHEREAS, the public was notified of the availability of the draft Environmental Justice Element for public review and comment beginning on December 11, 2025; and WHEREAS, on February 10, 2026, the Planning Commission of the City of Del Mar held a duly noticed public hearing to review the Environmental Justice Element and the associated environmental determination in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); and
WHEREAS, on February 10, 2026, the Planning Commission voted unanimously to adopt Planning Commission Resolution No. 2026-003 to confirm the environmental determination and recommend that the City Council adopt the Environmental Justice Element Community Plan amendment; and
WHEREAS, the City Council Notice of Public Hearing was mailed to the required notification list for General Plan Amendments per State law on April 1, 2026; and WHEREAS, a public notice of the City Council hearing was published in Coast News on April 10, 2026 and posted at City Hall; and
WHEREAS, the proposed Community Plan Amendment to create an Environmental Justice Element has been considered and found to be consistent with the City’s Housing Element Final Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) and associated Mitigation, Monitoring, and Reporting Program (MMRP) certified by the City Council on October 5, 2020 (State Clearinghouse (SCH) No. 2020029064) and the proposed amendment to the City’s General Plan will not result in significant effects to the environment or an increase in the severity of effects on the environment as previously analyzed and identified in the Final PEIR, therefore, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15162 no further environmental documentation is necessary; and WHEREAS, the proposed Environmental Justice Element is consistent with the other elements of the Del Mar Community Plan including the State-certified 6th Cycle Housing Element and consistent with the Del Mar Municipal Code and State-certified Local Coastal Program; and
WHEREAS, oral and written testimony was submitted and considered to include without limitation:
a. Written correspondence submitted prior to the hearing; b. City Council Staff Report, dated April 21, 2026; and d. Additional information submitted during the hearing.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Del Mar, California, that THE City Council hereby adopts the General Plan Amendment (GPA24- 002) adopting the Environmental Justice Element on file with the City Clerk and posted on the City’s website: https://www.delmar.ca.us/929/Safety-and-Environmental-JusticeElement 7 April 21, 2026 Item 6
Resolution No. 2026-XX
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Del Mar, California, at the Regular Meeting held this 21st day of April, 2026. _____________________________________
Tracy Martinez, Mayor
City of Del Mar
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
________________________________
Christina Cameron, City Attorney
City of Del Mar
ATTEST AND CERTIFICATION:
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO
CITY OF DEL MAR
I, SARAH KRIETOR, Administrative Services Manager/City Clerk of the City of Del Mar, California, DO HEREBY CERTIFY, that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of Resolution No. 2026-XX, adopted by the City Council of the City of Del Mar, California, at a Regular Meeting held the 21st day of April, 2026, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
RECUSE:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Sarah Krietor, Administrative Services
Manager/City Clerk
City of Del Mar
8 April 21, 2026 Item 6
Environmental Justice
Element
Del Mar Community Plan
April 2026
9 April 21, 2026 Item 6
City of Del Mar
Environmental Justice Element
April 2026
10 April 21, 2026 Item 6
City of Del Mar Environmental Justice Element
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section Page
1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................................................1 2 INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................................................................3
2.1 Purpose and Scope .............................................................................................................................................................................. 3
2.2 Regulatory Context and Statutory Requirements ...................................................................................................................... 4
2.3 Relationship to Other Adopted Elements..................................................................................................................................... 4 3 CONTEXT OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IN DEL MAR.....................................................................................................6
3.1 Community Overview.......................................................................................................................................................................... 6
3.2 City Council Legislative Policy Guidelines....................................................................................................................................12
3.3 Climate Emergency and the Need for Accelerated Action to Address the Climate Crisis .........................................13 4 LOCAL INITIATIVES SUPPORTING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, EQUITY, AND FAIR TREATMENT................................... 15
4.1 Local Initiatives Supporting Civic Engagement .........................................................................................................................15
4.2 Public Participation in Planning Processes ..................................................................................................................................16
4.3 Sustainability Advisory Committee ................................................................................................................................................18
4.4 Policy Statements Supporting Equity and Fair Treatment.....................................................................................................18
4.5 Community Resources .......................................................................................................................................................................18
4.6 Goals and Policies – Civic engagement, equity, and Fair treatment.................................................................................20 5 MINIMIZE POLLUTION EXPOSURE........................................................................................................................................ 21
5.1 Air-Quality ..............................................................................................................................................................................................21
5.2 Water Quality........................................................................................................................................................................................22
5.3 Energy Conservation..........................................................................................................................................................................23
5.4 Waste Diversion...................................................................................................................................................................................24
5.5 Climate Action Plan............................................................................................................................................................................24
5.6 Goals and Policies – Minimize Pollution Exposure ..................................................................................................................26 6 PROMOTE SAFE AND HEALTHY HOMES.............................................................................................................................27
6.1 Housing Location................................................................................................................................................................................27
6.2 Housing Quality...................................................................................................................................................................................29
6.3 Housing Affordability.........................................................................................................................................................................29
6.4 Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing..........................................................................................................................................30
6.5 Housing Element..................................................................................................................................................................................31
6.6 Goals and Policies – Promote safe and healthy homes.........................................................................................................33 7 IMPROVE ACCESS TO PUBLIC FACILITIES, RESOURCES, AND AMENITIES.................................................................34
7.1 Community Facilities And Services ...............................................................................................................................................34
7.2 Public Transportation.........................................................................................................................................................................36
7.3 Complete Streets Initative................................................................................................................................................................38
7.4 Public Parks and Scenic Trails .........................................................................................................................................................40
7.5 Healthy Food Access..........................................................................................................................................................................43
7.6 Goals and Policies – Public resources, facilities and amenities ...........................................................................................45 Figures & Tables
Figure 1: City of Del Mar, Plan Area
11 April 21, 2026 Item 6
City of Del Mar Environmental Justice Element
Figure 2: City of Del Mar – CalEnviroScreen 4.0
Figure 3: City of Del Mar – CalEnviroScreen Results, Impaired Water Figure 4: City of Del Mar – CalEnviroScreen Results, Diesel Particulate Matter Figure 5: City of Del Mar, California Healthy Places Index Figure 6: 2016 Greenhouse Gas Inventory Distribution
Figure 7: City of Del Mar Access to Schools
Figure 8: City of Del Mar Community Facilities and Services Figure 9: City of Del Mar Transit Stops
Figure 10: City of Del Mar Bike Routes and Rack Facilities Figure 11: City of Del Mar Public Paths and Trails
Figure 12: City of Del Mar Healthy Food Access
Table 1: San Diego County Sheriff’s E-Bike Classifications 12 April 21, 2026 Item 6
April 2026 1
1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Environmental justice is defined in State law as the “fair treatment and meaningful involvement of people of all races, cultures, incomes, and national origins, with respect to the development, adoption, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.”1 Although the City of Del Mar does not have any designated disadvantaged communities, and therefore is not mandated to adopt an Environmental Justice Element, the City recognizes the importance of environmental justice within the Del Mar community and across the region and is committed to doing its part to advance equity and protect human health.
The Environmental Justice Element was prepared to demonstrate the City of Del Mar’s commitment to maintain a healthy, sustainable environment and quality of life for its residents, including a commitment to affirmatively further fair housing and provide new opportunities for affordable housing in environmentally healthy areas. It identifies goals, policies, and actions such as:
• Continue to support civic engagement, equity, and fair treatment through local policies and initiatives. • Facilitate public participation in the City’s planning processes through a diverse variety of community-based outreach strategies.
• Remove barriers to public participation and increase the accessibility of the materials on the City’s website by adhering to ADA Laws and by offering materials in multiple languages. • Maintain a healthy environment that protects the public health and safety and minimizes pollution exposure. • Partner with local, State, and Federal agencies to continue monitoring for pollutants and implementing mitigation measures as necessary.
• Update and align City planning documents and processes to incorporate research and practices that increase community resilience against natural disasters and the effects of climate change. • Provide information that informs residents on how they can take proactive steps to protect their homes and themselves against wildfires, floods, and other natural disasters. • Promote safe and healthy homes through preservation of existing housing and creation of new housing opportunities at a range of income levels.
• Provide information to the public on the availability of housing and legal assistance for people of all incomes. • Identify opportunities for adequate sites, partnerships, and funding that will facilitate the development of affordable housing.
• Protect and maintain the quality of community resources in a manner that respects the history of Del Mar through protection of historic resources and cultural resources and inclusion of Native American tribes in the land use and development process.
• Support and promote local organizations that provide access to healthy food, hygiene products, and programs for people and families in need.
• Promote alternative forms of transportation such as walking and biking as strategies to improve public health and reduce vehicle pollution.
• Improve public access to Del Mar’s public facilities, resources, and amenities including the Del Mar beaches, parks, preserves, and blufftops along the ocean, San Dieguito Lagoon, Fairgrounds, and connecting public trails.
1 The full definition of “environmental justice” in California State Law is found in California Government Code Section 65040.12(e). The Federal EPA defines environmental justice similarly, the full definition can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/ 13 April 21, 2026 Item 6
April 2026 2
Figure 1: City of Del Mar, Plan Area
Source: Ascent, adapted by City of Del Mar 2025
14 April 21, 2026 Item 6
April 2026 3
2 INTRODUCTION
The City of Del Mar is a small, but vibrant coastal community consistent of approximately 4,000 residents that serves over a million visitors annually. The City uses data from multiple sources to gain insight into the demographics, baseline conditions, trends, and needs of the community. These sources include CalEnviroScreen, California Healthy Places Index, the City’s Housing Element, and the Climate Action Plan (CAP). The data demonstrates that the City is a high opportunity area in the San Diego region that does not meet the definition of “disadvantaged community,” and therefore is not mandated by the State to adopt an Environmental Justice Element into the General (Community) Plan. However, the City’s 6th Cycle Housing Element identifies a commitment to adopt an Environmental Justice Element that demonstrates the City’s commitment to continue to implement and enforce environmental justice policies. This occurs through a variety of local plans, policies, regulations, and programs, including those to create and maintain affordable housing options for individuals and households at all income levels. This Element also supports continued environmental protection, provision of resources to address persons experiencing housing instability, and maintaining the Del Mar community as a scenic, safe, healthy and high-quality place to live and work.
2.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
Environmental justice policies aim to avoid inequity in communities and ensure development does not create disparate impacts that place burdens on residents disproportionately. Environmental justice is defined by the State of California as "the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of people of all races, cultures, incomes, and national origins with respect to the development, adoption, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies" (Government Code Section 65040.12(e)). The intent is to ensure that all people are equally and equitably valued, protected, and served.
As of January 1, 2020, State law requires that jurisdictions with disadvantaged communities adopt an Environmental Justice Element into their General Plan (California Senate Bill 1000, 2016 Planning for Healthy Communities Act). The California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) defines a disadvantaged community as "a low-income area that is disproportionately affected by environmental pollution and other hazards that can lead to negative health effects, exposure, or environmental degradation" (Government Code Section 65302 (h)(4)(A)).
The City conducted a screening analysis in accordance with the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) guidance, formerly the State Governors Office of Planning and Research (OPR), and the results identified that the City of Del Mar is a “Healthy Place” with a high quality of life and does not have any disadvantaged communities. While Del Mar is exempt from SB 1000, the City voluntarily committed to adopt an Environmental Justice Element, as part of the Del Mar Community Plan (General Plan) to demonstrate its commitment to affirmatively furthering housing and upholding the principles of environmental justice to reduce inequities and provide new opportunities for economically and socially diversified housing choices. This commitment was done through the 6th Cycle Housing Element, Program 6E. Furthermore, the City’s environmental justice policies are intended to set forth policies to support the community’s vision for a more diverse, sustainable, and balanced community.
The Environmental Justice Element is organized into the following sections, which identify the local context and the City’s policies and objectives for promoting environmental justice:
▪ Local Initiatives to Support Civic Engagement, Equity, and Fair Treatment ▪ Facilitating Civic Engagement
▪ Incorporating Public Participation into Planning Processes ▪ Local Advisory Committees
▪ City Policies Promoting Equity and Fair Treatment
15 April 21, 2026 Item 6
April 2026 4
▪ Community Resources
▪ Minimize Pollution Exposure
▪ Air Quality
▪ Water Quality
▪ Energy Conservation
▪ Waste Diversion
▪ Climate Action Plan
▪ Promote Safe and Healthy Homes
▪ Housing Affordability
▪ Implementing Fair Housing Practices
▪ Housing Element Goals and Programs
▪ Improve Access to Public Resources and Amenities
▪ Access to Community Facilities
▪ Access to Public Transportation
▪ Access to Public Parks and Trails
▪ Access to Healthy Food
2.2 REGULATORY CONTEXT AND STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS
In 2016 Senate Bill 1000 (SB 1000) amended California Government Code Section 65302(h) to require General Plans to incorporate environmental justice into local land use planning processes under specified circumstances. This Environmental Justice Element was added to the Del Mar Community Plan (General Plan) in accordance with criteria to address social equity, the potential types of pollution and other hazards that may impact households in Del Mar, and proactively plan for fair housing and access to public resources and amenities.
Consistent with the objectives in State law, this Environmental Justice Element includes goals and policies to reduce unique or compounded health risks and pollution exposure, improve air quality and water quality, and promote public facilities, food access, safe and healthy (sanitary) homes, physical activity, and civic engagement in public decision making. The goals, policies, and implementation programs include actions to monitor progress, establish priorities for funding, establish partnerships, and other actions as appropriate to address environmental justice issues.
2.3 RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER ADOPTED ELEMENTS
The Del Mar Community Plan is the City’s General Plan, which is a long-range plan that is required by State law for each local jurisdiction. It includes policies that specify the City’s goals and objectives for growth and development to maintain the quality of life in Del Mar and for protection of the public health, safety, and welfare.
The City’s General Plan collectively includes the Del Mar Community Plan adopted by the Del Mar voters in 1976, which is organized into three main sections (Environmental Management, Community Development, and Transportation Sections) as further described below as well as the Housing Element, Safety Element, Recreation Element, and if adopted, Environmental Justice Element, which are standalone documents that are published separately.
The Environmental Management section of the Del Mar Community Plan includes both the Conservation Element and Open Space Element policies for the preservation of natural resources, protection of areas and people susceptible to 16 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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seismic and flooding hazards, and preservation and enhancement of open space. The Environmental Management section identifies hazards and includes policies for protection from natural and manmade hazards.
The Community Development section of the Del Mar Community Plan includes the Land Use Element, which establishes the location, type, intensity, and distribution of land uses throughout the City, and defines the land use build-out potential. It identifies land use designations that apply to real property and specifies where residential is an allowed primary use, including the associated density range that applies, lands that are designated for a range of commercial and office uses, lands that are designated open space or building-restricted, lands in areas prone to natural hazards, and specific plan areas.
The Transportation section of the Del Mar Community Plan includes the City’s Circulation Element and Noise Element.
The circulation element policies within this section promote a balanced circulation system that accommodates pedestrians, bicycles, automobiles, and public transit. This section of the plan is related to the Environmental Justice Element goals, policies, and objectives that ensure safe access to public transportation and pedestrian and bicycle safety throughout the community.
Housing Element: The Housing Element is a mandatory element of the General Plan that sets forth the City’s housing goals, policies, objectives, and action programs for each eight-year housing cycle. Building practices and codes addressed in the Housing Element were developed to ensure there is sufficient residential capacity available to meet the minimum needs established by the state at various income levels. The 6th Cycle Housing Element applies to the planning period for the years 2021-2029.
A Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) was prepared for the 6th Cycle Housing Element with analysis of the environmentally significant factors and potential hazards in the City. The 6th Cycle Housing Element PEIR and associated Mitigation, Monitoring, and Reporting Program was certified by the City Council on October 5, 2020 (State Clearinghouse (SCH) No. 2020029064). The Final PEIR is available at:
www.delmar.ca.us/DocumentCenter/View/7171/Final-PEIR-91020 Safety Element. The Safety Element is a mandatory element of the General Plan that sets forth the City’s goals, policies, and objectives to protect the public from risks associated with various hazards including but not limited to seismic, geologic, flooding, and fire hazards. The Safety Element supports environmental justice by identifying hazards to people and infrastructure and includes safety considerations in the planning and decision-making process by establishing policies related to future development that will minimize the risk of personal injury, loss of life, property damage, and environmental damage associated with natural and human-caused hazards.
Recreation Element: The Recreation Element of the Community Plan is intended to be used as a guide for the acquisition and development of a city-wide system of parks and recreation areas, and for the coordination of the recreation programs of government, private organizations, and individuals. This is not a mandatory element per General Plan law.
The Recreation Element supports environmental justice through ensuring sufficient park and recreation areas and access throughout all areas of the City.
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3 CONTEXT OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IN DEL MAR
3.1 COMMUNITY OVERVIEW
Del Mar is a community where individuals of any income level can thrive with access to a healthy environment and quality of life. The City used data from multiple sources to gain insight into the demographics, baseline conditions, trends, and needs of the community. These sources include CalEnviroScreen, California Healthy Places Index, the City’s Housing Element, and the Climate Action Plan (CAP). The data demonstrates that the City is a high opportunity area in the San Diego region and that the City does not meet the definition of “disadvantaged community”.
As previously noted, the City of Del Mar is not mandated by the State to adopt an Environmental Justice Element into the General (Community) Plan, however, the City’s certified 6 th Cycle Housing Element committed to adopt an
Environmental Justice Element to demonstrate the City’s commitment to continue to implement and enforce environmental justice policies. Del Mar has historically been a community with housing choices that are unaffordable to individuals of lower incomes. Since 2021 the City has maintained a variety of local plans, policies, regulations, and programs to create and maintain affordable housing options for individuals and households at all income levels, including lower income households.
The determination of whether or not a community is “disadvantaged” considers the presence or absence of the following types of pollutants: ozone, particulate matter, diesel particulate matter, pesticides, toxic releases, traffic, drinking water contaminants, lead in housing, cleanups, groundwater threats, hazardous waste, impaired water, and solid waste, consistent with the definition established by Senate Bill 100.
CalEnviroScreen Results. In the 2021 CalEnviroScreen study, the top three pollutants identified in Del Mar were impaired water, diesel particulate matter, and solid waste as further described below:
▪ Impaired Water - The finding related to impaired water is based on stormwater runoff data as it relates to water quality testing results in the local watershed including the San Dieguito River and Lagoon, which connects to the Pacific Ocean at the northern end of the City. The CalEnviroScreen study identifies that these water bodies in Del Mar had nine impairments during the 2010-2022 timeframe evaluated. In an effort to minimize stormwater impacts, the City’s Clean Water Program enforces stormwater control regulations, which require that all storm water discharge sources be managed and controlled through implementation of best management practices (i.e., directing stormwater into natural filtration systems, gutters, and storm drains).
Figure 3 illustrates the data generated by CalEnviroScreen related to impaired water. ▪ Diesel Particulate Matter – The finding related to diesel particulate matter accounts for diesel pollution from vehicles and equipment (i.e., exhaust from vehicles and trains traveling through Del Mar or diesel-powered leaf blowers). The City utilizes multiple strategies to reduce diesel pollution including increased public access to electric vehicle charging stations, bicycle racks and lockers, and other incentives to facilitate use of greener, alternative fuels; adoption of measures to protect existing open space, mature trees, and vegetation; investment in the planting and maintenance of trees and landscape on public property, including the public right-of-way along Camino del Mar which is the main vehicular access road connection in Del Mar. Figure 4 illustrates the data generated by CalEnviroScreen related to diesel particulate matter. ▪ Solid Waste - Solid waste facilities are places where household garbage and other types of waste are collected, processed, or stored. Landfills, transfer stations, and composting facilities are considered solid waste sites.
These facilities can release air pollutants and impact water quality if compounds present in refuse leach into soils. The finding related to solid waste is misleading because the CalEnviroScreen study incorrectly assumed there are two solid waste facilities within the City’s jurisdiction; however, there are no solid waste facilities in Del Mar. The majority of the City’s solid waste is transported and sent to the Miramar Landfill located within the City of San Diego, however, a portion of the City’s organic waste, in accordance with Senate Bill 1383, is being diverted from the landfill and is instead sent to an organics processing facility. 18 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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The determination of whether or not a community is “disadvantaged” also considers population-based factors that are associated with increased vulnerability to pollution, including the following: Asthma, Low Birth Weight, Cardiovascular Disease, Education, Linguistic Isolation, Poverty, Unemployment, and Housing Burden. Of the vulnerable population characteristics listed, “housing burden” is the most significant vulnerability factor applicable to the City of Del Mar.
Housing burden typically refers to households that experience rent burden. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defines "rent burdened" as households spending more than 30 percent of the household income on housing and "severely rent burdened" as households spending more than 50 percent of the household income on housing. CalEnviroScreen reports that 16 percent of people in the same census tract as the City of Del Mar are low-income households that are rent-burdened. To further reduce and minimize this vulnerability, the City is implementing a variety of actions in accordance with the adopted Housing Element to create new housing options for lower income households and connect individuals with housing assistance services, as further described in the Fair Housing and Safe and Healthy Homes section of this Element.
California Healthy Places Index. Developed by the Public Health Alliance of Southern California, the California Healthy Places Index (HPI) addresses inequities that affect community life expectancy. Del Mar is considered a healthy place with a high quality of life (95th percentile), meaning it has healthier community conditions than 95 percent of other California census tracts. This score combines economic, education, social, transportation, neighborhood, housing, clean environment, and health care access conditions. Del Mar is considered a high opportunity area with access to needs and resources for households of all income levels. Figure 5 illustrates the data generated by the California Healthy Places Index.
According to the California Healthy Places Index, the City of Del Mar has a population of roughly 4,331 people and is a predominantly white community. Acknowledging the City’s race and ethnicity breakdown is critical to assessing environmental justice since, historically, low-income residents, communities of color, tribal nations, and immigrant communities experience inequal burdens and disadvantages. 19 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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Figure 2: City of Del Mar – CalEnviroScreen 4.0
Source: CalEnviroScreen 4.0, adapted by City of Del Mar 2025 20 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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Figure 3: City of Del Mar – CalEnviroScreen Results, Impaired Water Source: CalEnviroScreen 4.0, adapted by City of Del Mar 2025 21 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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Figure 4: City of Del Mar – CalEnviroScreen Results, Diesel Particulate Matter Source: CalEnviroScreen 4.0, adapted by City of Del Mar 2025 22 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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Figure 5: City of Del Mar, California Healthy Places Index Source: California Healthy Places Index, adapted by City of Del Mar 2025 23 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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3.2 CITY COUNCIL LEGISLATIVE POLICY GUIDELINES
The City of Del Mar City Council adopts and maintains Legislative Policy Guidelines intended to expressly state City policy positions on key topics relating to land use and development and other topics. The 2025 Legislative Policy Guidelines, emphasize protection of the environment and quality and character of the community. Legislative Policies that address resources and the environment include:
California Environmental Quality Act. Oppose legislation that would weaken or substitute the CEQA requirements in favor of a lesser process, such as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Offshore Drilling. 1) Oppose legislation that includes any San Diego coastal areas in the lease sale program. 2) Support legislation that provides for oil spill prevention and response. 3) Support legislation that creates a Coastal Sanctuary that prohibits a state agency from entering into a new lease for the extraction of oil in state waters. 4) Oppose any legislation that increases gas or oil drilling off the coast of California.
Waterfront. 1) Support legislation that provides funding for waterfront coastal restoration, protection, and enhancement. 2) Support efforts to protect the San Dieguito Lagoon and the Los Peñasquitos Lagoon. 3) Support legislation, administrative action, and provisions of funding to assist in implementation of the City’s Sea Level Rise Adaption Plan.
Water. 1) Support legislative efforts to improve the potable water quality in San Diego County. 2) Support legislation to provide Southern California with a stable source of water. 3) Support legislation that would provide incentives and funding for alternative water sources and for water conservation measures sponsored by local agencies. 4) Support legislation that would advance the opportunity to secure and utilize reclaimed/recycled water. 5) Support legislation that will require a showing of the availability of potable water in connection with any new development in San Diego County. 6) Support legislation, policies or practices that would decrease pollution to the ocean or waterways.
Storm Drain and Sewer. 1) Support legislation to provide funding for mitigation measures and projects to reuse, recharge, divert, or treat urban runoff. 2) Oppose legislation that imposes more stringent requirements on storm drain runoff without providing funding and/or consideration of the feasibility of monitoring and mitigation of such requirements. 3) Monitor any new or reviewed requirements by State or Federal agencies for testing water quality and water body closures. 4) Support state and federal legislation and administrative action to encourage reclamation and recycling of wastewater from the Metro Waste Water System and the San Elijo Joint Powers Authority for potable and purple pipe reuse.
Regional Growth Management. 1) Support legislation that would produce additional resources, including adequate funding, to local agencies to address regional growth and transportation issues. 2) Support legislation and administrative action that would encourage managing growth in a manner that is consistent with State and local climate action goals of reducing vehicle miles travelled and greenhouse gas emissions.
Air Quality. 1) Support legislation to improve the air quality in San Diego County. 2) Support legislation that allocates State and/or Federal funds for compliance with Federal and State air quality standards. 3) Support legislation that would provide funding for zero emission vehicles and their support infrastructure.
Wetlands. 1) Oppose legislation that adversely impacts the wetlands. 2) Support legislation that provides funding for the acquisition, enhancement, and protection of wetlands and wildlife habitat. 3) Support legislative and administrative action to allow wetlands to adapt to climate change and rising sea levels without loss of habitat value.
Energy. 1) Support legislation that effectively stabilizes energy availability and reduces energy costs. 2) Support legislation that would provide funding for alternative energy sources, energy efficiency, energy storage, and conservation measures. 3) Support legislation that provides for the safe decommissioning/removal of nuclear material at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS). 4) Support legislation at the federal and state levels to allow for removal of nuclear waste from SONGS to a safe inland temporary storage location pending federal identification of a permanent storage option. Oppose ongoing storing this waste on the beach at SONGS. 5) Support Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) [also known as Community Choice Energy (CCE)] and the Clean Energy Alliance to allow residents and businesses the option to purchase clean energy from renewable sources and oppose any efforts to 24 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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impede CCA's/CCE’s, including but not limited to, increased departure charges. 6) Support CCA programs including the Clean Energy Alliance that pursue distributed energy, community solar, micro grid projects, and similar local programs of benefit to the city.
Land Use. 1) Oppose legislation that takes a punitive approach to City General Plan Housing Element and the imposition of any extraordinary powers in State agencies with regard to City Housing Elements. 2) Support legislation to allow local governments flexibility in how they meet their state mandated housing goals. 3) Support legislation that allows jurisdictions to review, validate, and raise concerns regarding Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) data and methodologies prior to approval and takes into consideration unique situations (e.g., Fairgrounds). 4) Oppose legislation, or other agency actions, that would usurp local control of land use decision-making. 5) Oppose legislation that would impose State-mandated development standards or procedures that are contrary to the Del Mar Community Plan or local land use policy. 6) Oppose legislation that is inflexible and cannot be modified through local review. 7) Monitor proposals that would alter air traffic systems that would impact Del Mar. 8) Support legislation to reaffirm that regulation of short-term rentals is a local matter. 9) Oppose legislation to reduce or encroach upon the autonomy of Charter Cities as to home rule powers, including as to land use, housing, and zoning.
Sea-Level Rise and Climate Change. 1) Support legislation that continues to monitor sea-level rise and climate change and the effect on local jurisdictions. 2) Support legislation that would provide local jurisdictions funding for resilience and response to sea-level rise and climate change. 3) Support legislation that allows local governments flexibility in how they implement sea level rise and climate change adaptation goals and meet federal and state flood management standards. 4) Support legislation and administrative action at the federal and state level to provide funding and assistance to coastal cities addressing adaptation to sea level rise and increased flooding risks. 5) Support legislation and administrative action at the federal and state level to increase funding for local governments implementing sand replenishment and other adopted strategies for addressing sea level rise. and 6) Support legislation, funding, and administrative action to remove sediment accumulation in the region’s coastal lagoons and upstream behind dams and use it for beach sand replenishment.
3.3 CLIMATE EMERGENCY AND THE NEED FOR ACCELERATED ACTION
TO ADDRESS THE CLIMATE CRISIS
This City Council first adopted Resolution No. 2020-33 in 2020, declaring a climate emergency for the City of Del Mar and the need for accelerated action to address the climate crisis. In November 2023, the Del Mar City Council adopted Resolution No. 2023-43 Reaffirming a Declaration of a Climate Emergency and the Need for Accelerated Action to Address the Climate Crisis. The resolution acknowledges that climate change is an urgent unfolding crisis that presents a serious long-term threat to human existence, and that the City of Del Mar, like the rest of California, already suffers from the impacts of climate change such as drought, extreme heat, risk of wildfires, species stress, dying Torrey Pines, shrinking kelp forest, coastal erosion, sea level rise, and flooding, and these impacts will become more severe as global GHG emissions continue to increase. More must be done to combat the effect of climate change, but the City has made significant strides in adopting the CAP and resolutions that help to address climate change, such as:
Resolution Supporting Senate Bill (SB) 1137 In May 2024, the City of Del Mar City Council adopted a resolution (Resolution No. 2024-21) in support of SB 1137 which includes retaining health and safety setbacks of 3,200 feet from homes, schools, daycare centers, parks, healthcare facilities, and businesses and endorsing the Campaign for a Healthy and Safe California. The Campaign for a Safe and Healthy California is a coalition of public health professions, environmental justice groups, community and faith leaders, and youth joining together to make sure that no Californians have to endure health hazards from living near dangerous oil wells, and they strongly support retention of SB 1137.
San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) The City of Del Mar City Council adopted Resolution No. 2012-57 regarding the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS), which is located south of San Clemente, California. SONGS is a nuclear power plant that was shut down in 2013, due to defects found in replacement steam generators. The plant is currently being decommissioned. At the time of the resolution, the City of Del Mar took a stance on the need to create and implement strong contingency plans for alternative power sources like San 25 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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Onofre, especially those deriving from conservation, energy efficiency and renewable resources, per the State of California’s Loading Order, state mandated targets, and Governor Brown’s Clean Energy Plan. Resolution No. 2012- 57 established the City of Del Mar’s strong support for the California Public Utilities Commission in: 1) expeditiously initiating and completing an Order Instituting Investigation regarding the costs and reliability of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, and 2) comparing the reliability and costs of the San Onofre facility to a future based on alternatives, including efficiency, load management, demand response, renewable energy, and energy storage.
This resolution was adopted prior to the closing of the plant, but the health of both the environment and the people are of concern through the decommissioning of the nuclear plant. 26 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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4 LOCAL INITIATIVES SUPPORTING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT,
EQUITY, AND FAIR TREATMENT
Inclusive civic engagement is a core value to the City of Del Mar. Communities that are underrepresented in the planning process often have relevant perspectives that deserve to be considered in local outreach strategies to ensure community success. It is common that these same communities have cultural or demographic differences that act as an impediment to participation. For example, these could include individuals for whom English is not a first language, audio and visual impediments, lack of internet access, or geographically isolated communities.
Government Code §65302 requires this Element to identify objectives and policies to promote civic engagement in the public decision-making process. Continually developing new opportunities for improved communication with residents and the public is a priority for the City, including additional efforts to better engage with minority communities, especially households that speak limited or no English. Transparent communication is particularly necessary to establish equitable access to City-provided opportunities, resources, and programs related to residents’ safety and capacity for influencing City decision-making.
4.1 LOCAL INITIATIVES SUPPORTING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Civic engagement within the City of Del Mar is welcomed and encouraged for all public meetings. Public meetings are conducted by a number of legislative bodies that include the City Council, Planning Commission, and Design Review Board, among other advisory committees.
The Brown Act. The Brown Act was adopted in 1953 and the public hearing provision within the Act is that, “All meetings of the legislative body of a local agency shall be open and public, and all persons shall be permitted to attend any meeting of the legislative body of a local agency, except as otherwise exempt by the Act.” Additionally, Proposition 59 was voted into law in the November 2004 election which amended the California Constitution to include a public right of access to government information.
The City of Del Mar City Council Policy Book provides a mechanism for articulation methods and procedures for the conduct of City business. The policy regarding Oral Communications from the public during City Council meetings is intended to provide a reasonable structure for the public to submit oral comments to the City Council in accordance with the laws of the State of California and the policies of the City of Del Mar. Meeting attendees are invited to sign up to provide oral comments at various points throughout meetings on both agendized and non-agenda items.
The Planning Commission and the Design Review Board have similar requirements for Oral Communication as outlined within the Procedure/Protocol document for each body. Trainings are provided to the Board and Commissions on the Brown Act to ensure compliance.
Additionally, the City Council Policy Book provides an opportunity for the public to submit written comments for an upcoming meeting after the agenda has been published and prior to the meeting taking place. These communications are delivered to City Councilmembers or Commissioners and staff and are posted on the City’s webpage for public review.
Civility Works. In 2016, the City of Del Mar City Council adopted “Civility Works: The Del Mar Code of Civil Discourse” to promote respectful and inclusive communication practices during City public meetings and workshops. In 2021, the Del Mar City Council adopted the Supplemental Policy to the Code of Civil Discourse establishing clear expectations for conduct of committee members and chairs during public meetings, establishing a process for the filing of public complaints, and the process for Council review and actions that may be taken (Resolution No. 2021-51). The Code of Civil Discourse, along with the Supplemental Policy to the Code, provide standards for conduct of elected officials and boards and committee members and states that “together we will: promote inclusion, listen to, understand, show respect, be clear and fair, and focus on the issue.” The “Civility Works” language is additionally listed on each City Council public meeting agenda and displayed at the Del Mar Town Hall as a reminder to the public and the officials to 27 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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adhere to the Del Mar principles and standards of conduct that promote inclusion, mutual respect, and productive civic engagement.
Translation Services. In November 2025, the City of Del Mar entered into an agreement with an on-call interpretation and translation service Propio. Propio provides access to real-time interpreters 24/7, available in 350+ languages, including American Sign Language (ASL). The service can be used to assist walk-in customers, as well as help with prescheduled meetings and teleconferences. The service is available over phone and on virtual calling platforms.
Volunteer Committees. The City of Del Mar benefits greatly from a robust advisory committee system made up of talented volunteers. The City has a number of volunteer committees that act as advisory to the City Council, as well as legislative committees such as the Planning Commission and a Design Review Board. These positions are appointed by the City Council, and participation from any and all members of the public is encouraged. Some committees have variable membership categories allowing both residents and non-residents to serve. The City invites volunteers to participate by advertising committee vacancies on the City website for a minimum of 10 calendar days, and at least once in the Del Mar Weekly and/or through CivicSend eblast. Upcoming vacancies may also be announced by the City Manager or Council Members at City Council meetings. Volunteering and serving on City committees is highly valued and appreciated by the City, and all qualified community members are encouraged to apply for available vacancies .
The committees/commissions include the Design Review Board, Finance Committee, the Lagoon Committee, Measure Q Citizen Oversight Committee, Parks and Recreation Committee, Planning Commission, San Diego Water Authority (SDCWA) Representative, Metro Wastewater Joint Powers Authority (JPA) Representative, Shores Park Master Plan AdHoc Advisory Committee, Sustainability Advisory Committee, Traffic and Parking Advisory Committee, and the Undergrounding Program Advisory Committee. A complete list of volunteer opportunities, additional information on the responsibilities of the Committee and Commissions, and instructions for applying can be found on the City of Del Mar website. https://www.delmar.ca.us/140/About-City-Advisory-Committees
4.2 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN PLANNING PROCESSES
The City of Del Mar engages the public through various sources during the planning process for a range of permits and processes. For example, public notices are sent to potentially affected properties for permits and land use processes. The City of Del Mar maintains a list of public notices on the City website, and an option to sign up for alerts when new notices are posted. Public notices are issued to make the public aware of current proposals, discretionary applications and upcoming hearings, and gives the citizens an opportunity to comment and ask questions about a particular project.
Citizens’ Participation Program. Chapter 23.08.065 of the DMMC outlines the process and the requirements for the Citizens’ Participation Program (CPP), which ensures that applicants for projects requiring the receipt of a Design Review Permit conduct efforts to notify potentially affected parties of proposed developments early in the design phase of a project. This is intended to facilitate dialogue among applicants and neighbors early in the development review process and give the applicants and their agents the opportunity to understand and respond to concerns raised about the project's potential impacts on the community.
Public Participation in Element Updates. The 6th Cycle Housing Element Update (planning period years 2021-2029) was adopted by the City Council in March of 2021. Through this process, the City engaged in significant public participation outreach efforts to ensure that every resident had the opportunity to participate in the process. An Ad-Hoc Citizens’ Task Force was appointed by the City Council with the mission of (1) Aid the City in the processing and development of the 6th Cycle Housing Element Update in preparation of the associated environmental document for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); (2) Help to educate and encourage Housing Element participation amongst fellow Del Mar citizens; and (3) Discuss and provide feedback on potential goals, policies, programs, and objectives to be included within the 6th Cycle Housing Element during preparation of the associated CEQA document.
Efforts also included:
▪ Dedicated web page on City’s website.
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▪ Update and presentations to the City Council and Planning Commission and informational discussion sessions with the City Council and Planning Commission ▪ Nine meetings with the 6th Cycle Housing Element Ad-Hoc Citizens’ Task Force (one of which was an in-person Community Workshop)
▪ One Saturday Community Workshop
▪ Small Group meetings (in-person and via phone or zoom) ▪ One community housing survey via Metroquest
▪ Email-blasts announcing draft document availability and public outreach information on upcoming public meetings and opportunities for public participation. ▪ Articles in the City Managers weekly updates (emailed and posted to web page) ▪ Numerous mailers and newspaper ads
▪ Noticed public hearings
Throughout the entire process, project materials, including summaries from community workshops and public meetings, notices, and documents for public review were made readily available on the City’s dedicated Housing Element webpage on the City’s website.
The City’s public outreach exceeded State law requirements in Section 65583 of the Government Code, which states that, "The local government shall make diligent efforts to achieve public participation of all economic segments of the community in the development of the housing element, and the program shall describe this effort." The City continues to provide robust public outreach and meaningful community participation opportunities for implementation of its Housing Element Programs, including those required in connection with the City's efforts to Affirmatively Further Fair Housing.
Local Tribes and Tribal Consultation Process. Del Mar and the San Diego region have a rich history that dates back to the first documented habitants of the San Dieguito tribe and the La Jollans who occupied the area in roughly 9000 B.C.
In 1929 a skull of a La Jollan, known today as the Del Mar man, was found in the North Bluff and radiocarbon dated the skull to be roughly 5,400 years old, (Ewing, 1988). The Yuman peoples located in the Del Mar area were known by the Spaniards that arrived to the area as Dieguitos, known today as the Ipai (occupied the areas north of the Los Peñasquitos Lagoon) and the Kumeyaay (occupied areas south of the Los Peñasquitos Lagoon). The Ipai, were located in present day Del Mar.
Communicating with tribal groups about public and private developments occurring on native land is crucial to upholding the principles of environmental justice. Indigenous tribes are historically underrepresented in the planning process; therefore, the City maintains close relations with affected tribal groups through its tribal consultation policy.
The City will request a consultation with any California Native American Tribe that is traditionally and culturally affiliated with the geographic area of the development (California Public Resources Code § 21080.3.1) when one of the following actions occurs:
(1) SB 18-The adoption or amendment of general plans or specific plans, or designation of open space. (Gov.
Code § 65352.3(a)(1)), or
(2) AB 52- All CEQA projects, private or city-initiated, for which a Notice of Preparation, Notice of Mitigated Negative Declaration, or Notice of Negative Declaration is filed or issued (Pub. Res. Code § 21080.3.1). The City will also contact the Native American Heritage Commission for assistance in identifying any California Native American Tribes. The City will then provide formal notice for each Tribe, including the location, description of the proposed development, and an invitation to engage in scoping consultation.
Adoption of General Plan Amendments, including this Element of the Del Mar Community Plan, requires Tribal Consultation in accordance with State requirements (SB 18). The following Tribes were offered consultation: Manzanita Band of Kumeyaay Nation, Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians, Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, Lipay Nation of 29 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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Santa Ysabel, La Posta Band of Mission Indians, Kwaaymii Laguna Band of Mission Indians, Jamul Indian Village, Ewiiaapaayp Band of Kumeyaay Indians, and Campo Kumeyaay Nation. Tribal consultation will only occur when a tribe responds to a SB 18 or AB 52 notice and requests consultation.
4.3 SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The Sustainability Advisory Committee (SAC) advises the Del Mar City Council on climate change, sustainability, and other environmental issues. The Committee informs the update process of the City’s CAP and assists in informing Del Mar residents and businesses regarding implementation of the City’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) and climate action issues. SAC monitors the activities of the Clean Energy Alliance (CEA) and provides recommendations to the City Council. Del Mar provides CAP-informed programming and resources to residents and businesses, such as biannual recycling events in partnership with the City’s contracted waste hauler, EDCO, and complimentary mulch and compost made from recycled organics. The CAP will be updated in the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 fiscal year workplan, and Greenhouse Gas inventories will be developed to help the City understand local contributions to climate change and the role of the CAP in mitigating those negative climate effects.
4.4 POLICY STATEMENTS SUPPORTING EQUITY AND FAIR TREATMENT The City of Del Mar is committed to support racial equity, fair treatment, and justice for all. The City Council has adopted numerous resolutions to further this commitment. Examples of such policy statements include:
Americans with Disabilities Act In accordance with the requirements of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (504), the City of Del Mar (“City”) will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities on the basis of disability in its services, programs, or activities. https://www.delmar.ca.us/862/Americans-with-Disabilities-Act-ADA Equal opportunity Employer The City of Del Mar is committed to hiring and developing talented, productive and motivated employees. The City welcomes diversity, encourages innovation, and rewards employee performance. The City is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy status), gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, genetic information, mental or physical disability (whether perceived or actual), ancestry, military or veteran status, citizenship status, medical condition, and/or national origin.
Title VI Compliance It is the policy of the City of Del Mar that no person shall on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination in any operation of the City of Del Mar as provided by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related statutes. https://www.delmar.ca.us/923/Title-VICompliance Black Lives Matter The City does not tolerate discrimination and stands in solidarity with its Black residents and communities of color. In adopting Resolution No. 2020-56, the City works proactively to create a community that acknowledges current and historical truths and works diligently to eradicate injustice. As well as review its policies and practices to ensure alignment with equitable justice, the City continuously works with the Sheriff to review policing policies to ensure safety and protection for all. During the six-year period from 2013 to 2018, zero incidents of hate crimes were reported in Del Mar (6th Cycle Housing Element 3-89).
4.5 COMMUNITY RESOURCES
Del Mar Community Connections Del Mar Community Connections (DMCC) is a local nonprofit organization which serves the senior population in Del Mar. The organization is primarily volunteer-driven, and services include offering transportation and housing solutions, as well as cultural and social activities. DMCC offers a few options of transportation services for seniors in the community who no longer drive, including those who use wheelchairs. DMCC has a team of volunteers that provide free rides to medical and essential appointments. They also offer a grocery shuttle 30 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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which provides free door-to-door transportation to local grocery and drug stores. DMCC also administers the Del Mar Rental Assistance Program on behalf of the City. The program is available to all low-income households in the city including low-income elderly and or disabled individuals. It covers a portion of the rent, paid on behalf of the families directly to their landlords. On occasion the City has enlisted volunteers from DMCC to create capacity for community outreach and to solicit public participation.
Del Mar Foundation The Del Mar Foundation is Del Mar’s community foundation and its oldest 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. It is an active, hands-on organization powered by inspired volunteers and generous donors from a broad cross-section of the community. The foundation sponsors a wide range of programs and events, raises and manages funds for the community, makes community grants, and manages over $8 million in endowment and reserve funds to benefit Del Mar and the San Dieguito Lagoon.
Del Mar Village Association Since 2005, the City has partnered with the Del Mar Village Association (DMVA) to provide economic development and business support services to the Del Mar business community. The City contracts with DMVA for specific services, including to support new business development in the Del Mar Village, maintain and implement new programs to drive commerce in Downtown Del Mar, partner with the City on Downtown improvements and programming, and implement sustainability initiatives, among others. The Mayor and Deputy Mayor represent the City at DMVA Board meetings, and the City Manager meets regularly with the DMVA CEO, ensuring a close and thriving partnership benefitting residents, businesses, and visitors alike.
Saint Peter’s Church St. Peter's is an Episcopal Church, a member of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego. St. Peter's Church plays a multifaceted role as both a religious facility and a provider of community services in the Del Mar area.
St. Peter's is also a member of the Interfaith Shelter Network providing shelter and other resources to homeless individuals and families in the San Diego region. St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Del Mar offers a Helping Hands program to provide services throughout the calendar year to individuals experiencing homelessness. These services include assistance with acute health problems, advocacy services, and connections to supportive housing/service settings. The City of Del Mar will continue to support and encourage St. Peter’s Church to continue its Helping Hands Program. To fulfill the requirements of the Housing Element, the City has committed to creating and maintaining a current list of resources for vulnerable populations.
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4.6 GOALS AND POLICIES – CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, EQUITY, AND FAIR
TREATMENT
The City of Del Mar is committed to local initiatives that promote inclusivity, fair treatment for all, and civic engagement.
Goals and policies that further current initiatives include:
Goal 4: Ensure all residents of Del Mar are adequately informed about City matters and facilitate opportunities for public participation.
Policy 4.6.1
Ensure the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of people of all races, cultures, incomes, and national origins with respect to civic engagement and public processes for development, adoption, implementation, and enforcement of new policies, regulations, and laws.
• Implementation Action 4.6.1: Continue to process advocacy letters in accordance with adopted City Council legislative policies and adopt formal resolutions of the City Council as applicable.
Policy 4.6.2
Facilitate public participation of residents, businesses, City employees and organizations in all aspects of the City’s governmental planning process using a variety of community-based strategies and diverse methods of outreach. • Implementation Action 4.6.2.A: Partner with local organizations that are connected to the community to support outreach efforts. • Implementation Action 4.6.2.B: Evaluate City ADA compliance and implement solutions to maintain compliance with applicable laws. • Implementation Action 4.6.2.C: Continue to facilitate the collaboration of citizen advisory committees such as the Sustainability Advisory Committee.
Policy 4.6.3
Prioritize transparency in all City processes to help ensure that community members may be well-informed.
• Implementation Action 4.6.3: Provide regular updates and robust public outreach to keep the community informed of local news, events, and meetings such as through the Del Mar Weekly Update distribution and postings at [email protected].
Policy 4.6.4
Bolster and support the prioritization of key issues including community driven initiatives and the inclusion of disadvantaged residents. • Implementation Action 4.6.4: Provide regular opportunities for nonagenda public comment, orally and in writing, at City of Del Mar public meetings as well as the formal public process held annually at the start of each calendar year for members of the public to identify priorities for City Council consideration.
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5 MINIMIZE POLLUTION EXPOSURE
Exposure to polluting substances in the air, water, and soil can have a significant impact on health. Certain diseases, including heart disease, cancer, birth defects, asthma, reproductive disorders, and neurological disorders have been directly associated with pollutant exposure. Pollution comes from both natural and anthropogenic sources. According to the 2019 CAP Monitoring Report, the leading sources of pollution in Del Mar are on-road transportation, electricity, natural gas, solid waste, water, and wastewater.
5.1 AIR-QUALITY
Air quality is an important factor that affects community health and the environment. Research has consistently linked toxic air contaminants to incidences of respiratory diseases, including asthma and lung cancer. According to CalEnviroScreen, an estimated 9 people per 10,000 in Del Mar visited an emergency department for asthma between 2015 and 2017. In that same period, 7.42 people per 10,000 visited an emergency department for heart attacks (cardiovascular disease). While these numbers are relatively low, the City is committed to protecting the health and wellbeing of the community and preventing these numbers from rising.
The city is located in the San Diego Air Basin which is managed by the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District.
The District regulates and enforces the emissions of air contaminants - including smoke, dust, and odors which have the potential to cause injury, nuisance or annoyance. According to the Climate Action Plan analysis, the greatest internal threat to air quality in Del Mar would appear to be vehicular emissions. In order to accurately determine changes in air quality, efforts would have to be made to establish a monitoring location within the community.
City Smoking Ban. Secondhand smoke exposure occurs when people breathe in smoke breathed out by people who smoke or from burning tobacco products like cigarettes, cigars, hookahs, vapes, and pipes. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Health problems caused by secondhand smoke in adults that do not smoke include coronary heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer, as well as adverse reproductive health effects in women. To further improve air quality and help to reduce the exposure to secondhand smoke, the City adopted Ordinance 835, which prohibits smoking in the following locations:
▪ Enclosed public places;
▪ Places of employment and within a reasonable distance of the outside entrances, operable windows, and ventilation systems of places of employment*. This prohibition shall apply to all portions of the places of employment, including but not limited to: common work areas, meeting rooms, offices, elevators, hallways, food service or storage areas, closets, employee lounges, stairwells, and restrooms; ▪ City carpool vehicles;
▪ Taxi cabs operating under a valid City of Del Mar Taxicab Operations Permit issued pursuant to Chapter 6.32 of the Del Mar Municipal Code;
▪ Child Day-Care Facilities
▪ Parks, Benches, and seawalls, and in or on the sidewalks, stairs, or bulbed street ends adjacent to parks, beaches, and seawalls;
▪ All sidewalks and those segments of any street lined with sidewalk. This provision applies to all streets and sidewalks to which the public is provided regular access, but does not apply to private residential property; ▪ All portions of outdoor seating areas of an eating establishment and within a reasonable distance of all outdoor seating areas of an eating establishment including adjacent sidewalks and/or streets and roads*. This prohibition bans smoking in any area approved for operation pursuant to a City of Del Mar Sidewalk Café Permit;
▪ All public plazas and public, semi-public spaces identified in a Specific Plan as approved by the City of Del Mar. 33 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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▪ All outdoor arenas, stadiums, and amphitheaters and in any bleachers and grandstands used by spectators of such arenas, stadiums, and amphitheaters;
▪ All public transportation station facilities such as, train platforms and bus shelters; and within a reasonable distance* of such facilities
▪ Any property designated in the City’s Zoning Map as being within the Public Facilities (PF) Zone and regulated by Chapter 30.31 of the Del Mar Municipal Code; and
▪ All portions of private residences licensed by the State of California as a child day-care facility. This prohibition applies to all portions of the child-day care facility, enclosed or unenclosed, where children may be exposed to smoke.
* Reasonable distance is defined under Section 11.08.020 of the Del Mar Municipal Code
5.2 WATER QUALITY
Water quality is a regional issue, and when contaminated it can affect communities in many ways. Lack of access to safe, clean, and affordable drinking water and polluted streams, rivers, and other bodies of water make outdoor recreation and water access hazardous to humans and wildlife. For Del Mar, clean water ties directly to quality of life and is key not only to the city’s health and recreation but also to property values, tourism and visitor spending.
Domestic Water Domestic water supply in the City of Del Mar is provided by the Santa Fe Irrigation District (SFID) and the City of San Diego via the San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA).
SFID is a Special District formed in 1923 that serves a population of 19,839 across the City of Solana Beach and communities of Rancho Santa Fe and Fairbanks Ranch. SFID delivers an average of 500-acre feet of recycled water per year, all of which is supplied by the San Elijo Joint Powers Authority (SEJPA). SFID operates 150 miles of pipelines and has a total storage capacity of six million gallons. It jointly owns (in conjunction with the San Dieguito Water District) the R.E. Badger Filtration Plant, which has a capacity of 40 million gallons per day (SFID 2018).
The SDCWA purchases water from a variety of sources as well as producing its own water. SDCWA is the largest member of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and it receives a large amount of its water from this agency. In partnership with the member agencies and stakeholders, the SDCWA meets the region’s water supply needs by providing a safe and reliable water supply; diversifying the region’s water supply sources, and building, maintaining, and operating critical water facilities in a cost-effective and environmentally sensitive manner (SDCWA 2015). The City of San Diego treats more than 360 million gallons of water per year for Del Mar and transports the water approximately 14 miles to Del Mar from the Lake Miramar Treatment Plant (Santa Fe Irrigation District, 2019). The San Diego County Water Authority is responsible for providing safe drinking water to its twentyfour (24) retail member agencies and their customers, including the City of Del Mar. The member agencies are represented on a 36-member Board of Directors. A member of the Board of Supervisors also serves as a nonvoting representative to the Water Authority Board.
City Infrastructure The Del Mar Public Works Department provides water service to nearly 1,900 metered accounts; this includes water services to single-family residential, multi-family residential, irrigation, commercial, public facilities, and the State Fairgrounds. The system includes: 27 miles of water mains, four storage reservoirs totaling 4 million gallons of capacity, 664 valves, and 275 fire hydrants. In maintaining the City’s water system, the important goals are public health and safety, and reliability as well as economic efficiency.
Clean Water Program The Del Mar Planning and Community Development Department is responsible for the City’s Clean Water Program, which protects the quality of lagoons, beaches and the ocean. The Clean Water program prohibits all non-storm water discharge such as irrigation run-off, vehicle washing, swimming pool discharges, and sewer overflows from entering the City’s collection system. To prevent pollutants from entering local watersheds and maintain good public health, the City has established an online Urban Runoff Report where residents can report any violations to ensure immediate clean up.
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5.3 ENERGY CONSERVATION
Energy use is the City’s biggest contributor to GHG emissions. Energy conservation is important in preserving nonrenewable fuels to ensure that these resources are available for use by future generations. Reducing energy consumption through increasing the efficiency of energy technologies, reducing energy use, and using alternative sustainable sources of energy are effective ways to conserve energy and reduce GHG emissions. Energy efficiency also provides opportunities for cost-savings and improved air quality. To implement the Climate Action Plan the City is expanding access to renewable energy, increasing energy efficiency and promoting resilient design in the built environment through the following actions and programs:
Clean Energy Alliance Many local governments across the state have opted to form Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) programs, also known as Community Choice Energy (CCE) programs. These programs provide alternative energy resources and offer an alternative to investor-owned utilities, such as San Diego Gas & Electric. Clean Energy Alliance (CEA) follows a community choice energy model that allows its member cities to purchase power to meet their community’s electricity needs. CEA members currently include Carlsbad, Del Mar, Escondido, Oceanside, San Marcos, Solana Beach and Vista. Because Clean Energy Alliance (CEA) is locally managed and not-for-profit, any excess revenue is reinvested into the member communities through on-bill savings and innovative energy projects and programs, including rebates and other incentives, low-cost energy programs, job training and more.
Home Energy Savings (HES) Program The Del Mar Home Energy Savings (HES) Program was a short-term program developed to connect residents that often experience difficulties with energy savings assistance and energy efficiency upgrades. It was designed to help implement the CAP. The program aimed to address common obstacles that might impose difficulty or challenges for this target group to make home upgrades that could lower the overall residential energy use and greenhouse gas emissions of Del Mar. These hurdles were identified as lower rates of computer literacy and social media use, as well as lower mobility. Additionally, it was assumed that some would be living in older homes in need of energy efficient upgrades, resulting in higher cost and variable energy bills for fixed-income households.
Through the program, the City worked with Del Mar Community Connections (DMCC) and Del Mar Rotary Club (DMRC) to conduct outreach, introduce subsidy programs, perform in-home energy audits, and assist clients in applying for rebates and subsidies related to energy efficiency. Door-to-door promotion of energy-efficiency upgrades and HES Program support was conducted, reaching 27 residents and attempting 140 residences. Through the HES Program, in-home energy audits were provided to seven senior Del Mar residents, including assessments on potential energy efficiency upgrades and information on subsidy programs, rebates and incentives. In total, 55 seniors were reached through the HES Program and the City developed a better understanding of effective means of outreach to all members of the community in support of Strategy 5: Ensure outreach about CAP implementation is designed to appeal to all residents.
Sustainable Facilities The Del Mar Civic Center opened in 2018 with numerous sustainability features to further demonstrate a commitment to sustainability within the City. Most of the Civic Center’s electricity comes from a 71-kW photovoltaic system. Additionally, natural lighting, insulation and smart thermostats add to the Civic Center’s energy efficiency. Electric vehicle parking is available at the Del Mar Civic Center and at the Beach Safety Center. Additional sustainable Public Works initiatives include:
▪ Installed “No idling” signs at the streets ends. Crew are reminded to minimize idling times in vehicles. ▪ Recycled aggregate base on paving projects.
▪ Favors drought-resistant plants for landscaping.
▪ Superintendent/Inspector drive electric vehicles during the work day. ▪ Replaced all diesel equipment with high-efficiency, Tier 4 approved engines. ▪ Purchasing lighter, more fuel-efficient four-seater trucks ▪ Encourages workers to carpool and utilize a 9/80 work shift to reduce the number of vehicles and employees commuting on a daily basis.
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▪ Encourages contractors to have onsite staging and storage areas to reduce road times to the job site. ▪ Developed a comprehensive routine for the beach team to collect trash and recycle simultaneously to reduce trips.
5.4 WASTE DIVERSION
The City of Del Mar generates about 9,800 tons of solid waste annually, which accounts for 5 (five) percent of total greenhouse gas emissions from residents and businesses. Approximately 3,200 tons of this waste is recycled. In Del Mar, residential and commercial waste and recycling collection is provided by EDCO.
In the Climate Action Plan, Del Mar aims to exceed state requirements for waste diversion, which CalRecycle defines as "any combination of waste prevention (source reduction), recycling, reuse and composting activities that reduces waste disposed at landfills and recycling facilities." The City has adopted the following local ordinances to divert waste from landfills:
▪ Del Mar Single Use Plastic Bag Ban - Chapter 11.36 of the Municipal Code ▪ Plastic Straws and Stirrers Ban - Chapter 11.44 of the Municipal Code ▪ Del Mar Balloon Ban - Chapter 11.48 of the Municipal Code ▪ Del Mar Construction and Demolition Waste Recycling Ordinance - Chapter 23.70 ▪ Del Mar Ban on Expanded Polystyrene and Single-Use, Non-Compostable Disposable Food Service Ware and Single-Use Plastic Beverage Bottles at City Facilities and City-Sponsored Events - Chapter 11.40 Food Waste Diversion is also a critical strategy to help meet the City’s solid waste diversion goals. The diversion of food waste is a proven strategy to reduce emissions with the additional benefit of being able to provide low or no-cost produce and food products to food-insecure populations. In 2022, Del Mar introduced food waste recycling programs for all residential and commercial customers. A list of edible food recovery organizations and services are available on the City’s website:
https://www.delmar.ca.us/DocumentCenter/View/11810/Del-Mar---FROs-and-Services-for-Businesses?bidId=
5.5 CLIMATE ACTION PLAN
The City’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) identifies the local strategy and efforts completed to reduce pollution emissions and exposure. The CAP’s goal for 2035 is to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) generation to at least 50 percent below Del Mar’s baseline 2012 values and to continue further reductions to meet the state goal of 80 percent reduction below statewide 1990 values by 2050. The City is steadily making progress toward this goal, already surpassing 15 percent below 2012 baseline levels (2020 CAP Annual Report). The CAP identifies 22 goals to help the City meet its greenhouse gas reduction targets. According to the 2020 CAP Monitoring Report, Del Mar has already met its 2020 target of 15 percent below 2012 baseline levels and is steadily moving toward its 2035 target of below 50 percent. While the City’s CAP activities and policy decisions have reduced emissions in Del Mar, a significant portion of the reductions can be attributed to climate action on the regional and state level. The City of Del Mar has coordinated with regional agencies such as SANDAG to work collaboratively on continued local and regional improvements to reduce emissions. With this in mind, prioritizing local climate action to garner community support, understanding, and collaboration while supporting regional and state efforts is key to success. This is particularly vital for sectors such as transportation, the City’s main GHG emissions contributor, as shown in Figure 6. 36 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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Figure 6: 2016 Greenhouse Gas Inventory Distribution
Source: City of Del Mar, 2016
Social Equity. The CAP also recognizes that certain constraints and barriers can prevent individuals from accessing the housing, employment, and resources the City has to offer. In particular, individuals “sensitive” to extreme temperatures and other environmental conditions and special needs populations such as children under the age of five, individuals over the age of 65, individuals with disabilities, and individuals living in low-income households. The Social Equity chapter of the CAP identifies eight strategies to address the needs of these populations. These strategies focus on establishing green jobs and identifying areas of CAP implementation that can advance social equity in Del Mar through prioritizing accessible, clean transportation, developing energy efficiency programming for low income and senior residents, and ensuring CAP outreach is available for all. Covering only 2.2 square miles and with a small population, there is a strong network in Del Mar between residents, businesses, and community groups and their support and collaboration is critical for understanding the needs of the community and advancing social equity. The City of Del Mar and local non-profits like Del Mar Community Connections (DMCC) and the Del Mar Foundation provide support services for seniors and low-income residents, including rental assistance and free transportation, that work in tandem with CAP implementation. Overall, the City has taken considerable strides to reduce local pollution by taking actions to:
▪ Reduce residential energy usage,
▪ Provide renewable energy options,
▪ Divert waste,
▪ Facilitate recycling and use of composting,
▪ Increase use of alternative transportation,
▪ Complete public improvements for pedestrian and bicycle mobility, ▪ Protect wetlands, and
▪ Protect Torrey Pines, Monterrey Cypress, and mature trees in the urban tree canopy. 37 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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5.6 GOALS AND POLICIES – MINIMIZE POLLUTION EXPOSURE
Goals and Policies to further the City’s commitment to reduce pollution exposure and improve environmental conditions include:
Goal 5: Continue to implement the Climate Action Plan (CAP) goals, objectives, and policies to reduce pollution emissions and exposure and minimize risk for vulnerable populations.
Policy 5.6.1
Monitor pollutants and implement measures to reduce pollutant emissions and exposure. • Implementation Action 5.6.1.A: Continue to implement annual water, sewer, stormwater, and road improvement Capital Improvement Program (CIP) projects to reduce potential for water quality impacts through improvements to City infrastructure.
• Implementation Action 5.6.1.B: Partner with Federal, State, and local agencies to regularly monitor air and water quality and implement mitigation measures to reduce potential impacts.
Policy 5.6.2
Continue to prioritize actions that address risks associated with climate change (i.e. increasing temperatures and heat related effects, wildfires, and sea level rise). • Implementation Action 5.6.2.A: Prioritize implementation of Del Mar’s Sea Level Rise Adaptation Plan, including the pursuit of nature-based shoreline management along the north and south banks of the San Dieguito River to provide flood resilience, habitat enhancement, and improved public trail access. • Implementation Action 5.6.2.B: Support multimodal transportation to limit vehicle emissions and encourage active transportation (i.e., access via walking, cycling, skateboarding, or wheelchair) for travel or leisure to reduce air quality impacts. • Implementation Action 5.6.2.C: Evaluate the possibility of increasing solar capacity on City-owned properties.
• Implementation Action 5.6.2.D: Partner with organizations like the Clean Energy Alliance or the Center for Sustainable Energy to install solar on multi-unit lowerincome housing to meet renewable energy goals in the CAP. • Implementation Action 5.6.2.E: Update the Local Coastal Program (LCP) by January 1, 2034, to incorporate the City’s plan for sea level rise in accordance with SB 272, which will involve preparation of an updated vulnerability assessment, analysis of vulnerable populations, and economic impact analysis.
Policy 5.6.3
Increase community awareness about the risks associated with climate change and steps residents can take to increase their property’s resilience and protect themselves. • Implementation Action 5.6.3: Encourage individuals to make voluntary changes that lead to environmental benefits and greater protection by sharing information at community events, the planning counter, and on the City’s website.
Policy 5.6.4
Encourage transportation demand management (TDM) measures (i.e., transit subsidies, bicycle facilities, ride sharing, alternative work schedules) to reduce vehicle miles traveled and further improve public health and safety.
• Implementation Action 5.6.4: Require new development to incorporate TDM strategies consistent with local California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines for Transportation Impact Analysis.
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6 PROMOTE SAFE AND HEALTHY HOMES
Del Mar is a community that is a desirable place to live for households of all income levels. The shortage of affordable housing opportunities in Del Mar and coastal communities across the state is felt disproportionately by households with lower incomes due to high land values, housing costs, and cost of living. Consistent with the demographics of other coastal jurisdictions, the Del Mar community is predominately white and has higher resident incomes compared to other jurisdictions in the San Diego region. The City of Del Mar is committed through its Housing Element to create new housing opportunities at a range of income levels, that are more inclusive of moderate income, lower income, and special needs households, and ensure that all housing is maintained in compliance with applicable codes to protect the public health, safety, welfare, and well-being of residents.
6.1 HOUSING LOCATION
Del Mar is a high opportunity community that offers residents access to high performing public and private schools, public beaches and parks, and a healthy and safe environment with coastal resources, amenities, and programs that enhance the quality of life and make Del Mar a desirable place to live for households of all income levels. Location of housing plays a central role in how individuals and families engage in their communities. Community amenities and access to opportunities are inherently spatial in nature and are not always accessible or attainable due to different types of social, cultural, and economic barriers in our society. The geographic relationship of affordable family-supporting housing in relation to community amenities as well as environmental health hazards is an important component of environmental justice, fair housing choice, and the overall commitment to affirmatively further fair housing throughout the region.
Access to Jobs. Employment has a demonstratable impact on local housing needs. Incomes associated with different types of employment and the number of workers in a household affect housing affordability and choice. High housing costs can make it hard for many people to afford basic housing, let alone homeownership. Many households make serious tradeoffs amid high housing costs to afford living in desirable communities. Workers in California’s coastal communities often commute 10 percent further each day than commuters elsewhere, largely because limited housing options exist near major job centers. The City of Del Mar is an affluent community, with higher resident incomes and costs of living compared to the San Diego Region. Housing in Del Mar is generally more expensive than the average cost of housing statewide. The main commercial services and retail businesses in the City are specifically related to tourism and the accommodation of visitors. According to census data, retail and tourism related occupations offer lower income salaries. While the City of Del Mar employs persons in the retail, service and tourism industries, there is a lack of affordable housing in the community to accommodate these potential needs. Therefore, persons working in these industries may not have the opportunity to live in the city where they work. Opportunities to help provide and encourage lower income housing opportunities are outlined with the Housing Element.
Access to High-Quality Public and Private Schools. Figure 7 demonstrates that there is a range of high-quality schools in the area that provide education and childcare for children from preschool through high school. 39 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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Figure 7: City of Del Mar Access to Schools
Source: City of Del Mar 2025
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6.2 HOUSING QUALITY
There are various factors that affect housing needs for different households. Housing units in Del Mar are well maintained, which has a positive impact to the quality of life of residents in the community. The City’s development standards and regulations ensure the quality and safety of new residential development, while enforcement measures work to ensure that the existing housing stock remains safe for all individuals.
Substandard Living Conditions. The analysis for the 6th Cycle Housing Element (planning years 2021-2029) identified that more than half of the housing stock in the City was built between 1950 and 1970. Generally, housing units built over 30 years ago may be assumed to benefit from renovations or upgrades. As of 2024, about 85 percent of housing in the City was built more than 30 years ago. However, this data does not reflect the renovations and upgrades that are consistently made to the existing stock via the City’s design review process that applies to housing development.
Due to the generally high income of households in the City, maintenance and upgrades are generally not an impediment to home improvements for many households within the City of Del Mar.
Overcrowding. The federal government defines an overcrowded household as one with more than one occupant per room, excluding bathrooms, kitchens, hallways, and porches. Severely overcrowded households are households with greater than 1.5 persons per room. An overcrowded household results from either a lack of affordable housing (which forces more than one household to live together) and/or a lack of available housing units of adequate size. The incidence of overcrowded and severely overcrowded households can lead to neighborhood deterioration due to the intensive use of individual housing units leading to excessive wear and tear, and the potential cumulative overburdening of community infrastructure and service capacity. Furthermore, overcrowding in neighborhoods can lead to an overall decline in social cohesion and environmental quality. Such decline can often spread geographically and impact the quality of life and the economic value of property and the vitality of commerce within a city. The combination of lower incomes and high housing costs result in many households living in overcrowded housing conditions. Because of Del Mar’s demographic profile (older population, smaller household size), overcrowding historically has not been an issue.
In 2025, less than two percent of Del Mar households live in overcrowded conditions. The incidence of overcrowding among renters and homeowners was approximately the same (one percent of renters versus less than one percent of owners).
Code Enforcement. The City of Del Mar Planning and Community Development Department administers the Code Enforcement program. Code Compliance staff responds to citizen complaints, City Council requests for service, referrals for investigation/compliance, and inter-governmental enforcement agency referrals. Staff conduct field inspections, prepares written notices/orders for code compliance, verifies compliance measures and requests for action by nuisance abatement, and educates the public on storm water compliance. Code Compliance staff issues warnings, Notices of Violations, and other enforcement measures as needed to obtain compliance. The enforcement program highlights voluntary non-judicial compliance with an emphasis upon public awareness of governmental regulatory provisions.
Department of Environmental Health. The County of San Diego, Department of Environmental Health (DEH) is the housing enforcement agency in Del Mar. The Food and Housing Division enforces state laws pertaining to sanitation, maintenance, ventilation, and occupancy. The County provides resources to the public related to housing disputes and environmental health concerns within rental housing (i.e., mold, vermin control, and lead poisoning). Tenants are advised to notify the landlord or property owner/management company if an environmental health concerns problem exists. If the problem is not resolved after owner/landlord notification, a complaint can be filed with the County of San Diego, Department of Environmental Health, Food and Housing Division for field investigation. Information related to these programs and resources is available on the City’s Fair Housing Resources web page:
https://www.delmar.ca.us/884/Fair-Housing-Resources
6.3 HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
In 2025, the median household income in the County of San Diego was $130,800 (HUD 2025). According to real estate data sets, the median sale price of a home in Del Mar was $3.0M in August 2025, in comparison to the county median sale price which was $920,000. Most homes in the City are owner-occupied single-family houses. In addition, the City 41 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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has 775 units within existing apartment and multi-unit condominium complexes, which makes up approximately 30 percent of the existing housing stock. High housing costs can make it hard for people to afford basic housing, let alone homeownership. Resources such as the San Diego Housing Commission Rental Assistance Wait List have been inundated with demand to the point that the commission has identified that they will not be able to assist new applicants for several years. Many households make tradeoffs amid high housing costs to afford living in desirable communities. Workers in California’s coastal communities often commute 10 percent further each day than commuters elsewhere, largely because limited housing options exist near major job centers.
Cost Burden and Overpayment. State and federal standards indicate that a household paying more than 30 percent of its income for housing is overpaying. Severe overpayment is indicated when greater than 50 percent of income is allocated to housing costs. Determining overpayment (referred to as cost burden) provides an indicator of the ability to sustain a household budget in consideration of other factors beyond housing costs (utilities, food, maintenance, etc.). Whenever households pay an excessive amount of their income for housing, it decreases the amount of income available for other needs. This indicator is an important measurement of local housing market conditions as it reflects the affordability of housing in the community. Federal and state agencies utilize overpayment indicators to determine the amount of funding allocated to a community to assist with housing opportunities. Per the 6th Cycle Housing Element, approximately 92 percent of the lower income households (extremely low, very low, and lower income) in the City overpaid for housing versus just 25 percent of moderate and above moderate-income households. Overpayment among very low-income and low-income households was most severe, with both reporting 100% rates of a cost burden greater than 30%.
Addressing Homelessness. Approximately 120 people, or 1.5 percent of the population, are experiencing homelessness in the portion of the North County region that includes Del Mar, Encinitas, Solana Beach, and San Dieguito (6th Cycle Housing Element). Del Mar is a small, predominately residential community, and most resources and institutions to help individuals experiencing homelessness are located in commercial areas located outside Del Mar's jurisdiction that are generally connected to Del Mar via public transit (i.e., bus transit). The City continues to support non-profits and contribute its fair share for the annual point in time count, including participation in activities for the Regional Task Force on Homelessness. The City allocates approximately $110,000 annually to local non-profits (i.e., Del Mar Community Connections, Del Mar Foundation, and Community Resource Center) to support local seniors and households who qualify as lower income. These organizations help to provide resources and benefits to assist households with payment towards rent, utilities, transportation, medicine, and groceries to help keep them in their homes.
The City’s overall housing policy goal in the 6th Cycle Housing Element is to “Inspire a more diverse, sustainable, and balanced community through implementation of strategies and programs that will result in economically and socially diversified housing choices that preserve and enhance the special character of Del Mar.” The Housing Element recognizes the need to address homelessness, which has become an increasingly important issue as housing costs continue to rise. The Plan includes policies to preserve existing housing stock, create new housing opportunities within the community for lower income and special needs households, and provision of resources related to Emergency Shelter/Bridge housing, transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, and other resources to help individuals and families exit homelessness, return to housing, and maintain long term housing stability (referred to as rehousing).
6.4 AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHERING FAIR HOUSING
Under State law, affirmatively further fair housing means “taking meaningful actions, in addition to combatting discrimination, that overcome patterns of segregation and foster inclusive communities free from barriers that restrict access to opportunity based on protected characteristics.” These characteristics can include, but are not limited to race, religion, sex, marital status, ancestry, national origin, color, familiar status, or disability. Pursuant to Assembly Bill (AB) 686, the city committed to affirmatively further fair housing by taking meaningful actions, in addition to resisting discrimination, through actions that overcome patterns of segregation and foster inclusive communities free from barriers that restrict access to opportunity based on protected classes, as defined by State law. As part of the 6th Cycle Housing Element update, the City analyzed existing conditions and contributing factors associated with the 42 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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community’s historical demographics and housing patterns. While many factors are beyond the control of the City, it is acknowledged that actions can be taken to 1) create new housing opportunities at a range of income levels and remove barriers, 2) increase awareness and incorporate AFFH into decision-making and promote diversity and inclusiveness, and 3) create greater access to housing assistance resources. Housing Programs, as described below, are being implemented in the City to demonstrate the City’s commitment to furthering fair housing. One example of such programs is the commitment to adopt an Environmental Justice Element. The Housing Element identifies a range of housing resources and assistance programs that are currently available for low-income households and other special needs populations and additional actions to be taken to further support fair housing.
Reasonable Accommodations. Both the Federal Fair Housing Amendment Act (FHAA) and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act directly require governments to make reasonable accommodations (that is, modifications or exceptions) in their zoning laws and other land use regulations to afford disabled persons an equal opportunity to housing. State law also requires cities to analyze potential and actual constraints to the development, maintenance, and improvement of housing for persons with disabilities. The City’s Housing Element includes programs that remove constraints or provide reasonable accommodation for housing designed for persons with disabilities (6th Cycle Housing Element).
Fair Housing Resources. The City maintains a Fair Housing Resources web page to help connect the public with available resources relating to the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Community Assistance Programs and Housing Resources, San Diego Housing Federation, County Public Housing Resources, CARE Court Legislation and Update on Efforts Addressing Homelessness, Legal Aid Society of San Diego Fair Housing Center, Resources for Filing Housing Complaints and Resolution of Housing Disputes, Healthy and Safe Homes Housing Resources, National Conflict Resolution Center – Community Services, the County’s Security Deposit Assistance Program, and the HUD Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program:
https://www.delmar.ca.us/884/Fair-Housing-Resources
Fair Housing Trainings. The City conducts an annual fair housing training for its staff to provide education on the provisions and liabilities of fair housing laws as well as the process for recording and referring fair housing complaints.
Due to the small population size of Del Mar, fair housing issues and financial assistance are typically handled as part of a larger county consortium rather than at the local level. The Legal Aid Society of San Diego (LASSD) is a nonprofit law firm that provides free legal services to lower income San Diego residents. In addition, LASSD provides fair housing services to the City of Del Mar and the greater San Diego region. LASSD conducts outreach, provides education, and supports enforcement of both federal and State fair housing laws. LASSD conducts fair housing tests to determine if, and to what extent, discriminatory business practices exist in apartment rental housing and related markets. Some San Diego County jurisdictions with affordable housing agencies have begun to conduct fair housing testing routinely. This approach will similarly be implemented in the City of Del Mar in the future once deed restricted affordable housing units are constructed and become available for rent and occupancy.
6.5 HOUSING ELEMENT
To further fair housing, the City’s Housing Element is focused on creating new housing opportunities and a range of housing choices. This involves implementation of a variety of strategies, including incentive programs to create new smaller, accessory dwelling units (i.e., tiny homes). For example, this could provide new housing choices meet the needs of seniors and adult children who want to remain in the community or the needs of people seeking to move to Del Mar to access good schools, jobs, services, beaches, and parks.
The Housing Element identifies goals and actions for the City to increase its stock of quality housing for households of all income levels through a smart growth, infill approach that connects housing, transit, and land use to create healthy, vibrant neighborhoods. The Housing Element inventory of suitable sites to meet the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) for all income categories (extremely low income, very low income, low income, moderate income, and above moderate-income units) relies upon vacant or underutilized properties in developed areas and generally avoids development in environmentally sensitive resource locations. 43 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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To help address the need, the City is implementing more inclusive zoning policies to accommodate new housing choices and options at a greater range of affordability levels:
▪ The City implemented upzones (density increases) to allow multiple dwelling unit development at a density of 20 dwelling units per acre as a permitted use in the North Commercial (NC) Zone, Professional Commercial Zone (PC), Central Commercial (CC) Zone, and Public Facilities (PF) Zone. This resulted in creation over 100 additional housing opportunities for moderate income, lower income, and special needs households beyond the assigned RHNA. ▪ The City is developing affordable housing on two City-owned sites. ▪ The City continues to coordinate with the California 22nd Agricultural District to develop a lower income affordable housing development on State Fairgrounds property within the City of Del Mar. ▪ The City has approved permits for over 100 accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to facilitate independent living in a unit as an accessory use on the same site as an allowable primary use. This includes City Council adoption of two incentive programs including 1) an ADU amnesty program to encourage residents to bring existing, unpermitted accessory dwelling units into compliance, and 2) an ADU incentive program that offers incentives to help property owners offset the investment needed to create rent restricted units. ▪ The City created incentives to encourage existing multi-unit apartment and condominium complexes to deed restrict a certain number of existing units in exchange for the ability to build new market rate units on-site above the allowable density applicable to the site.
▪ The City Council adopted a local density bonus ordinance that clarifies the permit process and procedures for implementation of State housing law regulations that incentivize development of affordable housing units within multi-unit developments in a manner that harmonizes the State Density Bonus law and the California Coastal Act consistent with State law.
▪ The City Council also adopted an inclusionary housing ordinance that requires new development projects reserve a portion of the units within the project for lower income households. The inclusionary housing ordinance requires that projects creating at least two net-new dwelling units, SB 9 projects, and condominium conversion projects all provide at least one lower income unit per project.
▪ The City is also processing amendments to the City of Del Mar Municipal Code and Local Coastal Program related to residential care facilities, supportive housing, and transitional housing and will be preparing associated fair housing-related materials to help connect persons in need with available resources in the City and greater region to demonstrate the City’s commitment to providing housing resources for all individuals. 44 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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6.6 GOALS AND POLICIES – PROMOTE SAFE AND HEALTHY HOMES Del Mar is a healthy place to live for individuals of any income level. Through implementation of adopted plans and special projects, the City continues to demonstrate its commitment to fair housing. Goals and Policies within the Environmental Justice Element help to further the Housing Element goals, policies, and programs and other Elements of the adopted Community Plan include:
Goal 6: Foster healthy living conditions and housing opportunities for people of all backgrounds and incomes.
Policy 6.6.1
Ensure local policies and regulations are free from barriers that have historically minimized housing options for a greater diversity of residents, including lower income households. • Implementation Action 6.6.1.A: Partner with organizations such as the Legal Aid Society of San Diego Fair Housing Center to provide annual fair housing training to City staff and assist with review and referral of discrimination complaints. • Implementation Action 6.6.1.B: Amend the Del Mar Municipal Code to remove any impediments or barriers to fair housing in accordance with State law. • Implementation Action 6.6.1.C: Prepare materials identifying programs and resources related to housing assistance for people of all incomes, races, cultures, and national origins and make fair housing resource materials available in English and Spanish, as well as all other languages offered through the City website’s translation services extension.
• Implementation Action 6.6.1.D: Create a central location on the City’s website for the public to access available fair housing resources, resources for individuals experiencing homelessness, and information about service providers within the San Diego region.
Policy 6.6.2
Continue to promote creation of units for lower income households through a variety of strategies.
• Implementation Action 6.6.2.A: Identify housing sites consistent with the City’s Smart Growth Urban Infill Strategy to facilitate development of affordable housing. • Implementation Action 6.6.2.B: Regularly update the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Incentive Program, as needed.
Policy 6.6.3
Establish partnerships to develop lower income housing on publicly-owned sites. • Implementation Action 6.6.3.A: Continue to coordinate with the California 22nd District Agricultural Association to develop affordable housing on Fairgrounds property. • Implementation Action 6.6.3.B: Secure agreements with affordable housing developers or other partnerships to create affordable housing units on City-owned properties.
Policy 6.6.4
Apply for and secure housing funding from available regional, state, and federal programs. • Implementation Action 6.6.4: Continue to seek State Housing Acceleration Program (HAP) grant opportunities through SANDAG’s Regional Early Assistance Program (REAP) and other opportunities such as Encampment Resolution Funding (ERF) grants. 45 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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7 IMPROVE ACCESS TO PUBLIC FACILITIES, RESOURCES, AND
AMENITIES
The City of Del Mar is a small community but well equipped with public facilities, amenities, and opportunities for activity, which are described below. SB 1000 refers to public facilities as “public improvements, public services, and community amenities” pursuant to California Government Code Section 66000. This includes a variety of public buildings and infrastructure, such as community centers, schools, parks, and open space, and emergency services. The prevalence of these public facilities plays an important role in providing residents amenities and services that enhance community resilience, health, and wellbeing. With the recent addition of a small-scale market within the Plaza, the citizens of Del Mar have direct access to fresh and healthy food options,
7.1 COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND SERVICES
Located along Camino del Mar, the Del Mar Civic Center and Del Mar Public Library are two valuable assets to the community. The Civic Center outside of City Hall is a pleasant open space overlooking the ocean with seating, shade structures, bike racks, picnic tables, public restrooms, and free public parking.
The Del Mar Public Library is a branch of the San Diego County library system that provides computer and language learning services to the community and is a welcoming space to recreate and explore its catalog of books, magazines, and movies. During inclement weather, the Del Mar Public Library serves as a Cool Zone Site where the public can access a safe, air-conditioned space. Figure 7 illustrates where the Del Mar Civic Center and the Del Mar Public Library are located.
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Figure 7: City of Del Mar Community Facilities and Services Source: Ascent, adapted by City of Del Mar 2025
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7.2 PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Public transportation is readily accessible to the Del Mar population. The primary public transportation service within City limits is the North County Transit District (NTCD) 101 Breeze Bus. It has one bus route running north/south on Camino del Mar with 9 total stops. The 101 operates every day and travels from Oceanside to UTC Transit Center. NCTD Bus Route 308 also operates within Del Mar, however, there are no stops located within city boundaries. Riders can take Route 308 from the Solana Beach Transit Station to the designated stop at Valley Avenue and Waterford Drive for access to the Del Mar Fairgrounds.
AllTransit is an analytic tool which accounts for and evaluates transit frequency, routes, and access to produce an overall transit score at the city, county, and regional levels. Geographic regions (e.g., cities, counties, Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs)) are scored on a scale of 0 to 10, with 10 being complete transit connectivity. As shown in Table 1, Del Mar scored a 5.1 AllTransit performance score, illustrating a low to moderate combination of trips per week and number of jobs accessible that enable a low to moderate number of people to take transit to work. According to AllTransit, 96.7 percent of the population of Del Mar lives within 1/2 mile of transit. Figure 9 illustrates where the transit stops within Del Mar are located.
Table 1: AllTransit Performance Scores, Del Mar
All Transit Performance Score Households within 1/2
mile of transit
Jobs Accessible in 30-
min trip
Commuters who use
Transit
Transit Routes within 1./2
mile
4.9 96.7% 63,231 1.82% 1
Source: 2025 AllTransit Data.
Just one mile north of the City in Solana Beach, there is a transit station where transit riders can board the NTCD Coaster or Amtrak Pacific Surfliner. Both are passenger trains, with the latter offering travel options outside San Diego County.
In addition to the public transportation options offered by NCTD, local volunteer organization Del Mar Community Connections provides senior residents with transportation services. These services include the Sassy Chassis, which sponsors social and educational outings, and a Grocery Shuttle that runs twice weekly. 48 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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Figure 9: City of Del Mar Transit Stops
Source: Ascent 2025
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7.3 COMPLETE STREETS INITATIVE
Adopted in 2017, the City of Del Mar Complete Streets Policy sets a standard for development that prioritizes mobility and creates a safe, balanced multimodal street system. The recent Downtown Streetscape Project, which transformed seven blocks on Camino del Mar, provides better sidewalks, lighting, street furniture, landscaping, and drainage. As shown in Figure 3, an extensive bicycle network runs through the City, equipped with racks and repair stations. Roughly six miles, or 25 percent of Del Mar road miles, are bicycle lanes (2019 CAP Annual Progress Report). The Downtown Streetscape Project enhanced bicycle access through expanded bike lanes extending Northbound and Southbound at a minimum of five feet wide. More information on the City’s bicycle network can be found on the City website at:
https://www.delmar.ca.us/436/Bike-Routes-Racks. Figure 10 illustrates where bike routes and bike racks are located within the city.
Bicycles and E-Bikes -
The City adopted Ordinance No. 1020 in 2025 to codify safety regulations for bicycle and e-bike riders in the City of Del Mar. The City regulates the use of bikes and e-bikes to maintain public safety by designating the areas where riders are allowed to ride and the rules which are intended to apply to riders. Generally, bicycle and e-bike riders are expected to follow the same rules of the road as motorists, ride in the bicycle lane when available, and adhere to the regulations which restrict the use of bicycles in parks, preserves, on sidewalks in commercial areas, and on most trails around the San Dieguito Lagoon. The City’s website has additional information for bicycle and e-bike riders at:
https://www.delmar.ca.us/924/Bike-E-Bike-Safety
Additionally, e-bike riders are expected to adhere to the regulations which apply to the classification of e-bike they own. As identified in Table 1 below, regulations vary based on e-bike classification. For more information on e-bike classifications, visit the San Diego County Sheriff's Office website at: https://www.sdsheriff.gov/resources/bicycle-safety Table 1: San Diego County Sheriff’s E-Bike Classifications Source: San Diego County Sheriff’s Office
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Figure 10: City of Del Mar Bike Routes and Rack Facilities Source: City of Del Mar 2025
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7.4 PUBLIC PARKS AND SCENIC TRAILS
Public parks and scenic trails provide opportunities for exercise and recreation for residents and visitors. Convenient and safe access to these places has a direct correlation to exercise and physical activity in the community. The importance of providing high-quality recreation areas has been demonstrated through the City’s adoption of the Recreation Element in 1985. The adopted Recreation Element supports environmental justice through ensuring sufficient park and recreation areas and access throughout all areas of the City. Figure 11 illustrates where public parks and trails are located within the city.
Public Parks - Del Mar has three coastal parks, Seagrove Park, Sea Cliff Park, and Powerhouse Park. Overlooking over two miles of sandy beaches, these parks offer a great place to recreate with plenty of open space, Seagrove Park benches, bike racks, water fountains, and outdoor showers to accommodate its visitors. Powerhouse Park is part of a community center which hosts public and private events year-round. Both parks have direct access to the beach where people can enjoy over two miles of sandy shore. The beach presents opportunities for all kinds of activities including walking, running, swimming, surfing, kayaking, fishing, and more. There is also a barefoot, kid-friendly Tot Lot which provides children with a safe space to play. The Tot Lot is adjacent to Sea Cliff Park, a pocket park that offers benches and pathways for visitors to walk through native plantings overlooking the ocean. In addition, Del Mar is home to a Giant Sea Kelp Forest and Dog Beach that is available to explore.
Court Street Park is a neighborhood park located east of Camino del Mar and south of 21 st Street. Two tennis courts and a half-court basketball court are open to the public from sunrise to sunset daily. Public restrooms are also available on-site.
Shores Park is a roughly 5.3-acre park that is located west of Camino del Mar, south of 9th Street, and east of Stratford Court. This park was purchased by the City in 2008 and is currently used for informal recreation and an intermittent dog park. Additionally, a portion of the property is leased by the private Winston School, which has been on site since 1988. A master planning process to develop the long-term vision for the park’s development is currently underway. The master planning process involves significant public input and preliminary plans include the school site, a youth sports field, dog park, and multi-use sport court. The Master Plan will also include an updated Del Mar Community Building on the Shores Property. The Community Building houses non-profit groups including Del Mar Community Connections, the Del Mar Foundation, and the Del Mar Historical Society.
Scenic Trails - The City has several miles of trails and paths traveling through coastal, canyon, and lagoon terrains.
These trails vary in length and difficulty. Some of the most frequented trails in Del Mar include the Riverpath Trail and Coast to Crest Trail. The Riverpath Trail runs adjacent to San Dieguito River before connecting to Crest Canyon.
Although Crest Canyon is just outside city limits, it is still easily accessible and offers access to a diverse network of trails. The Coast to Crest Trail is a regional project spanning 70 miles that connects the Del Mar coast to the Volcan Mountain Summit. So far, 49 miles have been constructed with the Riverpath Trail making up part of that mileage.
Connection The Scripps Bluff Preserve, North Torrey Pines State Park, and San Dieguito Lagoon are all destination sites with access points throughout the City which connect to nature preserves within and adjacent to the city.
Residents and visitors of Del Mar can enjoy the native plants, scenic views, and wildlife they have to offer.
ADA Accessible Beach Access - The City of Del Mar provides rental of a beach wheelchair, as part of a commitment to helping all residents of the state experience the beach firsthand. The wheelchair is equipped with large, wide wheels which can roll across the sand without sinking.
Low Income Parking Pass - The City, in collaboration with the California Coastal Commission, offers an annual beach parking pass free of charge to qualified applicants. The intent of the program is to provide more inclusive public access to the City’s public beach and coastal parks by allowing parking in the City’s metered public parking areas. Under the program, individuals who qualify for other low-income programs such as Medicaid/Medi-Cal, CalFresh, Supplemental Security Income or San Diego County’s rental assistance programs will be able to obtain a pass to park for free in Del Mar. The pass may be used to park free of charge at City of Del Mar parking meters and Pay & Display Zones except on Maiden Lane, L’Auberge Del Mar Hotel meters, and the Seagrove Parking Lot. Applicants can apply for the parking 52 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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pass online on the City of Del Mar website or in person at the Beach Safety Center at 1700 Coast Blvd. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday.
One-Mile Art Walk - The one-mile art walk in Downtown Del Mar provides a unique opportunity for people to explore the city center and embrace the arts. The Temporary Outdoor Sculpture Program is supported by the City’s adopted Public Arts Policy.
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Figure 11: City of Del Mar Public Paths and Trails
Source: City of Del Mar, 2025
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7.5 HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS
Del Mar has traditional grocery stores (i.e., Vons, Whole Foods, and Gelsons) in locations outside of the City boundary within the neighboring cities of San Diego and Solana Beach, as shown in Figure 5. Due to the small size of the Del Mar community, it has historically not been economically feasible for a traditional grocery store to locate within Del Mar, however, the City is served by two main locations that provide access to healthy foods including the Del Mar Farmers Market and the Specialty Market (Valley Farms Market) at Del Mar Plaza. Figure 12 identifies retail locations within and adjacent to Del Mar which offer access to healthy foods and produce.
Valley Farms Market (Del Mar Plaza). The Del Mar Plaza is a community-oriented retail center that initially included a 9,000-square-foot food market, imposed as a 25-year obligation for the approval of the development of the property.
Several food markets have occupied the space over the years, but due to the exponentially higher cost of rent within Del Mar compared to food markets of comparable size in other jurisdictions it has been difficult to attract and maintain a local grocery tenant. Valley Farms Market is anticipating opening in the Del Mar Plaza in early 2026 and would provide a local grocery option within the City of Del Mar. Valley Farm Market, is a specialty gourmet market and butcher shop that sells groceries, has a butcher shop and fish market, as well as a full-service delicatessen with fresh-caught seafood items.
Del Mar Farmers Market. The Del Mar Farmers Market is held weekly in the Civic Center parking lot each Saturday from 1-4 pm, providing a local option for food and products grown and produced in the region. CalFresh (nationally known as SNAP) is a public benefits food assistance program that provides qualifying households with an EBT debit card to buy groceries. Farmers Markets are able to accept EBT to further provide access to local food options within the State of California, and the City of Del Mar. Additionally, Market Match (sometimes referred to as Bonus Bucks) is a California healthy food incentive program that matches federal nutrition assistance benefits, like CalFresh and WIC, at farmers markets.
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Figure 12: City of Del Mar Healthy Food Access
Source: City of Del Mar 2025
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7.6 GOALS AND POLICIES – PUBLIC RESOURCES, FACILITIES AND
AMENITIES
Goals and policies to promote physical activities, healthy food access, and access to public facilities, not only ensure that the City of Del Mar is an inclusive community but also further the goals of the Community Plan.
Goal 7: Ensure that all residents and visitors have safe and adequate access to public facilities, transportation, recreational spaces, healthy food, and community services.
Policy 7.6.1 Collaborate with local community groups to identify amenities the public would be interested in incorporating into local parks and trails, such as the redevelopment of Shores Park.
Policy 7.6.2
Ensure equitable access to public facilities and park and recreation opportunities for people of all races, cultures, incomes, and national origins, including residents as well as visitors. • Implementation Action 7.6.2: Develop policies and implement actions, as needed, to remove any impediments or barriers to ensure equitable access.
Policy 7.6.3
Promote physical activity and programs to reduce rates of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and other health-related illnesses for residents of all ages, cultural backgrounds, and abilities. • Implementation Action 7.6.3: Collaborate with local organizations, such as Del Mar Community Connections, to provide health and recreation programs that are inclusive and meet community needs.
Policy 7.6.4
Promote walking and biking as safe, healthy, and fun alternatives for individuals of all ambulatory abilities.
• Implementation Action 7.6.4: In collaboration with community-based organizations, identify public safety needs and interventions to improve public access. • Implementation Action 7.6.5: Continue to issue beach parking passes to eligible lowincome visitors through the City’s Low-Income Parking Pass program.
Policy 7.6.5
Continue to support and promote local options for access to healthy foods such as the Farmers Market at Del Mar’s Civic Center and Valley Farms Market at the Del Mar Plaza. • Implementation Action 7.6.5: Actively encourage local businesses to accept public assistance benefit payments using Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) debit cards.
Policy 7.6.6
Promote the collection and redistribution of surplus edible food to communities in need. • Implementation Action 7.6.6: Continue to support the Community Resource Center’s Food and Nutrition program that provides nutritious fresh meals, produce, meat, and dairy, non-perishable food, and hygiene items to assist lower income households.
Policy 7.6.7
Prevent food waste through programs that encourage or require recycling of food waste (i.e., Solana Center Food Cycle program).
• Implementation Action 7.6.7: Continue enforcement of the City’s Recycling Services and Edible Food Collection program.
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Environmental Justice Element
April 2026
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City of Del Mar Environmental Justice Element
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section Page
1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................................................1 2 INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................................................................3
2.1 Purpose and Scope .............................................................................................................................................................................. 3
2.2 Regulatory Context and Statutory Requirements ...................................................................................................................... 4
2.3 Relationship to Other Adopted Elements..................................................................................................................................... 4 3 CONTEXT OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IN DEL MAR.....................................................................................................6
3.1 Community Overview.......................................................................................................................................................................... 6
3.2 City Council Legislative Policy Guidelines....................................................................................................................................12
3.3 Climate Emergency and the Need for Accelerated Action to Address the Climate Crisis .........................................13 4 LOCAL INITIATIVES SUPPORTING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, EQUITY, AND FAIR TREATMENT................................... 15
4.1 Local Initiatives Supporting Civic Engagement .........................................................................................................................15
4.2 Public Participation in Planning Processes ..................................................................................................................................16
4.3 Sustainability Advisory Committee ................................................................................................................................................18
4.4 Policy Statements Supporting Equity and Fair Treatment.....................................................................................................18
4.5 Community Resources ...................................................................................................................................................................1919
4.6 Goals and Policies ...............................................................................................................................................................................20 5 MINIMIZE POLLUTION EXPOSURE........................................................................................................................................ 21
5.1 Air-Quality ..............................................................................................................................................................................................21
5.2 Water Quality........................................................................................................................................................................................22
5.3 Energy Conservation..........................................................................................................................................................................23
5.4 Waste Diversion...................................................................................................................................................................................24
5.5 Climate Action Plan............................................................................................................................................................................24
5.6 Goals and Policies ...............................................................................................................................................................................26 6 PROMOTE SAFE AND HEALTHY HOMES.............................................................................................................................27
6.1 Housing Location................................................................................................................................................................................27
6.2 Housing Quality...................................................................................................................................................................................29
6.3 Housing Affordability.........................................................................................................................................................................29
6.4 Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing..........................................................................................................................................30
6.5 Housing Element..................................................................................................................................................................................31
6.6 Goals and Policies ...............................................................................................................................................................................33 7 IMPROVE ACCESS TO PUBLIC FACILITIES, RESOURCES, AND AMENITIES.................................................................34
7.1 Community Facilities And Services ...............................................................................................................................................34
7.2 Public Transportation.........................................................................................................................................................................36
7.3 Complete Streets Initative................................................................................................................................................................38
7.4 Public Parks and Scenic Trails .........................................................................................................................................................40
7.5 Healthy Food Access..........................................................................................................................................................................43
7.6 Goals and Policies ...............................................................................................................................................................................45 Figures & Tables
Figure 1: City of Del Mar, Plan Area
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Figure 2: City of Del Mar – CalEnviroScreen 4.0
Figure 3: City of Del Mar – CalEnviroScreen Results, Impaired Water Figure 4: City of Del Mar – CalEnviroScreen Results, Diesel Particulate Matter Figure 5: City of Del Mar, California Healthy Places Index Figure 6: 2016 Greenhouse Gas Inventory Distribution
Figure 7: City of Del Mar Access to Schools
Figure 8: City of Del Mar Community Facilities and Services Figure 9: City of Del Mar Transit Stops
Figure 10: City of Del Mar Bike Routes and Rack Facilities Figure 11: City of Del Mar Public Paths and Trails
Figure 12: City of Del Mar Healthy Food Access
Table 1: San Diego County Sheriff’s E-Bike Classifications 60 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Environmental justice is defined in State law as the “fair treatment and meaningful involvement of people of all races, cultures, incomes, and national origins, with respect to the development, adoption, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.”1 Although the City of Del Mar does not have any designated disadvantaged communities, and therefore is not mandated to adopt an Environmental Justice Element, the City recognizes the importance of environmental justice within the Del Mar community and across the region and is committed to doing its part to advance equity and protect human health.
The Environmental Justice Element was prepared to demonstrate the City of Del Mar’s commitment to maintain a healthy, sustainable environment and quality of life for its residents, including a commitment to affirmatively further fair housing and provide new opportunities for affordable housing in environmentally healthy areas. It identifies goals, policies, and actions such as:
• Continue to support civic engagement, equity, and fair treatment through local policies and initiatives. • Facilitate public participation in the City’s planning processes through a diverse variety of community-based outreach strategies.
• Remove barriers to public participation and increase the accessibility of the materials on the City’s website by adhering to ADA Laws and by offering materials in multiple languages. • Maintain a healthy environment that protects the public health and safety and minimizes pollution exposure. • Partner with local, State, and Federal agencies to continue monitoring for pollutants and implementing mitigation measures as necessary.
• Update and align City planning documents and processes to incorporate research and practices that increase community resilience against natural disasters and the effects of climate change. • Provide information that informs residents on how they can take proactive steps to protect their homes and themselves against wildfires, floods, and other natural disasters. • Promote safe and healthy homes through preservation of existing housing and creation of new housing opportunities at a range of income levels.
• Provide information to the public on the availability of housing and legal assistance for people of all incomes. • Identify opportunities for adequate sites, partnerships, and funding that will facilitate the development of affordable housing.
• Protect and maintain the quality of community resources in a manner that respects the history of Del Mar through protection of historic resources and cultural resources and inclusion of Native American tribes in the land use and development process.
• Support and promote local organizations that provide access to healthy food, hygiene products, and programs for people and families in need.
• Promote alternative forms of transportation such as walking and biking as strategies to improve public health and reduce vehicle pollution.
• Improve public access to Del Mar’s public facilities, resources, and amenities including the Del Mar beaches, parks, preserves, and blufftops along the ocean, San Dieguito Lagoon, Fairgrounds, and connecting public trails.
1 The full definition of “environmental justice” in California State Law is found in California Government Code Section 65040.12(e). The Federal EPA defines environmental justice similarly, the full definition can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/ 61 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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Figure 1: City of Del Mar, Plan Area
Source: Ascent, adapted by City of Del Mar 2025
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2 INTRODUCTION
The City of Del Mar is a small, but vibrant coastal community consistent of approximately 4,000 residents that serves over a million visitors annually. The City uses data from multiple sources to gain insight into the demographics, baseline conditions, trends, and needs of the community. These sources include CalEnviroScreen, California Healthy Places Index, the City’s Housing Element, and the Climate Action Plan (CAP). The data demonstrates that the City is a high opportunity area in the San Diego region that does not meet the definition of “disadvantaged community,”, and therefore is not mandated by the State to adopt an Environmental Justice Element into the General (Community) Plan. However, the City’s 6th Cycle Housing Element identifies a commitment to adopt an Environmental Justice Element that demonstrates the City’s commitment to continue to implement and enforce environmental justice policies. This occurs through a variety of local plans, policies, regulations, and programs, including those to create and maintain affordable housing options for individuals and households at all income levels. This Element also supports continued environmental protection, provision of resources to address persons experiencing housing instability, and maintaining the Del Mar community as a scenic, safe, healthy and high-quality place to live and work.
2.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
Environmental justice policies aim to avoid inequity in communities and ensure development does not create disparate impacts that place burdens on residents disproportionately. Environmental justice is defined by the State of California as "the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of people of all races, cultures, incomes, and national origins with respect to the development, adoption, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies" (Government Code Section 65040.12(e)). The intent is to ensure that all people are equally and equitably valued, protected, and served.
As of January 1, 2020, State law requires that jurisdictions with disadvantaged communities adopt an Environmental Justice Element into their General Plan (California Senate Bill 1000, 2016 Planning for Healthy Communities Act). The California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) defines a disadvantaged community as "a low-income area that is disproportionately affected by environmental pollution and other hazards that can lead to negative health effects, exposure, or environmental degradation" (Government Code Section 65302 (h)(4)(A)).
The City conducted a screening analysis in accordance with the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) guidance, formerly the State Governors Office of Planning and Research (OPR), and the results identified that the City of Del Mar is a “Healthy Place” with a high quality of life and does not have any disadvantaged communities. While Del Mar is exempt from SB 1000, the City voluntarily committed to adopt an Environmental Justice Element, as part of the Del Mar Community Plan (General Plan) to demonstrate its commitment to affirmatively furthering housing and upholding the principles of environmental justice to reduce inequities and provide new opportunities for economically and socially diversified housing choices. This commitment was done through the 6th Cycle Housing Element, Program 6E. Furthermore, the City’s environmental justice policies are intended to set forth policies to support the community’s vision for a more diverse, sustainable, and balanced community.
The Environmental Justice Element is organized into the following sections, which identify the local context and the City’s policies and objectives for promoting environmental justice:
▪ Local Initiatives to Support Civic Engagement, Equity, and Fair Treatment ▪ Facilitating Civic Engagement
▪ Incorporating Public Participation into Planning Processes ▪ Local Advisory Committees
▪ City Policies Promoting Equity and Fair Treatment
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▪ Community Resources
▪ Minimize Pollution Exposure
▪ Air Quality
▪ Water Quality
▪ Energy Conservation
▪ Waste Diversion
▪ Climate Action Plan
▪ Promote Safe and Healthy Homes
▪ Housing Affordability
▪ Implementing Fair Housing Practices
▪ Housing Element Goals and Programs
▪ Improve Access to Public Resources and Amenities
▪ Access to Community Facilities
▪ Access to Public Transportation
▪ Access to Public Parks and Trails
▪ Access to Healthy Food
2.2 REGULATORY CONTEXT AND STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS
In 2016 Senate Bill 1000 (SB 1000) amended California Government Code Section 65302(h) to require General Plans to incorporate environmental justice into local land use planning processes under specified circumstances. This Environmental Justice Element was added to the Del Mar Community Plan (General Plan) in accordance with this criteria to address social equity, the potential types of pollution and other hazards that may impact households in Del Mar, and proactively plan for fair housing and access to public resources and amenities.
Consistent with the objectives in State law, this Environmental Justice Element includes goals and policies to reduce unique or compounded health risks and pollution exposure, improve air quality and water quality, and promote public facilities, food access, safe and healthy (sanitary) homes, physical activity, and civic engagement in public decision making. The goals, policies, and implementation programs include actions to monitor progress, establish priorities for funding, establish partnerships, and other actions as appropriate to address environmental justice issues.
2.3 RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER ADOPTED ELEMENTS
The Del Mar Community Plan is the City’s General Plan, which is a long-range plan that is required by State law for each local jurisdiction. It includes policies that specify the City’s goals and objectives for growth and development to maintain the quality of life in Del Mar and for protection of the public health, safety, and welfare.
The City’s General Plan collectively includes the Del Mar Community Plan adopted by the Del Mar voters in 1976, which is organized into three main sections (Environmental Management, Community Development, and Transportation Sections) as further described below as well as the Housing Element, Safety Element, Recreation Element, and if adopted, Environmental Justice Element, which are standalone documents that are published separately.
The Environmental Management section of the Del Mar Community Plan includes both the Conservation Element and Open Space Element policies for the preservation of natural resources, protection of areas and people susceptible to 64 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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seismic and flooding hazards, and preservation and enhancement of open space. The Environmental Management section identifies hazards and includes policies for protection from natural and manmade hazards.
The Community Development section of the Del Mar Community Plan includes the Land Use Element, which establishes the location, type, intensity, and distribution of land uses throughout the City, and defines the land use build-out potential. It identifies land use designations that apply to real property and specifies where residential is an allowed primary use, including the associated density range that applies, lands that are designated for a range of commercial and office uses, lands that are designated open space or building-restricted, lands in areas prone to natural hazards, and specific plan areas.
The Transportation section of the Del Mar Community Plan includes the City’s Circulation Element and Noise Element.
The circulation element policies within this section promote a balanced circulation system that accommodates pedestrians, bicycles, automobiles, and public transit. This section of the plan is related to the Environmental Justice Element goals, policies, and objectives that ensure safe access to public transportation and pedestrian and bicycle safety throughout the community.
Housing Element: The Housing Element is a mandatory element of the General Plan that sets forth the City’s housing goals, policies, objectives, and action programs for each eight-year housing cycle. Building practices and codes addressed in the Housing Element were developed to ensure there is sufficient residential capacity available to meet the minimum needs established by the state at various income levels. The 6th Cycle Housing Element applies to the planning period for the years 2021-2029.
A Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) was prepared for the 6th Cycle Housing Element with analysis of the environmentally significant factors and potential hazards in the City. The 6th Cycle Housing Element PEIR and associated Mitigation, Monitoring, and Reporting Program was certified by the City Council on October 5, 2020 (State Clearinghouse (SCH) No. 2020029064). The Final PEIR is available at:
www.delmar.ca.us/DocumentCenter/View/7171/Final-PEIR-91020 Safety Element. The Safety Element is a mandatory element of the General Plan that sets forth the City’s goals, policies, and objectives to protect the public from risks associated with various hazards including but not limited to seismic, geologic, flooding, and fire hazards. The Safety Element supports environmental justice by identifying hazards to people and infrastructure and includes safety considerations in the planning and decision-making process by establishing policies related to future development that will minimize the risk of personal injury, loss of life, property damage, and environmental damage associated with natural and human-caused hazards.
Recreation Element: The Recreation Element of the Community Plan is intended to be used as a guide for the acquisition and development of a city-wide system of parks and recreation areas, and for the coordination of the recreation programs of government, private organizations, and individuals. This is not a mandatory element per General Plan law.
The Recreation Element supports environmental justice through ensuring sufficient park and recreation areas and access throughout all areas of the City.
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3 CONTEXT OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IN DEL MAR
3.1 COMMUNITY OVERVIEW
Del Mar is a community where individuals of any income level can thrive with access to a healthy environment and quality of life. The City used data from multiple sources to gain insight into the demographics, baseline conditions, trends, and needs of the community. These sources include CalEnviroScreen, California Healthy Places Index, the City’s Housing Element, and the Climate Action Plan (CAP). The data demonstrates that the City is a high opportunity area in the San Diego region and that the City does not meet the definition of “disadvantaged community”.
As previously noted, the City of Del Mar is not mandated by the State to adopt an Environmental Justice Element into the General (Community) Plan, however, the City’s certified 6 th Cycle Housing Element committed to adopt an
Environmental Justice Element to demonstrate the City’s commitment to continue to implement and enforce environmental justice policies. Del Mar has historically been a community with housing choices that are unaffordable to individuals of lower incomes. Since 2021 the City has maintained a variety of local plans, policies, regulations, and programs to create and maintain affordable housing options for individuals and households at all income levels, including lower income households.
The determination of whether or not a community is “disadvantaged” considers the presence or absence of the following types of pollutants: ozone, particulate matter, diesel particulate matter, pesticides, toxic releases, traffic, drinking water contaminants, lead in housing, cleanups, groundwater threats, hazardous waste, impaired water, and solid waste, consistent with the definition established by Senate Bill 100.
CalEnviroScreen Results. In the 2021 CalEnviroScreen study, the top three pollutants identified in Del Mar were impaired water, diesel particulate matter, and solid waste as further described below:
▪ Impaired Water - The finding related to impaired water is based on stormwater runoff data as it relates to water quality testing results in the local watershed including the San Dieguito River and Lagoon, which connects to the Pacific Ocean at the northern end of the City. The CalEnviroScreen study identifies that these water bodies in Del Mar had nine impairments during the 2010-2022 timeframe evaluated. In an effort to minimize stormwater impacts, the City’s Clean Water Program enforces stormwater control regulations, which require that all storm water discharge sources be managed and controlled through implementation of best management practices (i.e., directing stormwater into natural filtration systems, gutters, and storm drains).
Figure 3 illustrates the data generated by CalEnviroScreen related to impaired water. ▪ Diesel Particulate Matter – The finding related to diesel particulate matter accounts for diesel pollution from vehicles and equipment (i.e., exhaust from vehicles and trains traveling through Del Mar or diesel-powered leaf blowers). The City utilizes multiple strategies to reduce diesel pollution including increased public access to electric vehicle charging stations, bicycle racks and lockers, and other incentives to facilitate use of greener, alternative fuels; adoption of measures to protect existing open space, mature trees, and vegetation; investment in the planting and maintenance of trees and landscape on public property, including the public right-of-way along Camino del Mar which is the main vehicular access road connection in Del Mar. Figure 4 illustrates the data generated by CalEnviroScreen related to diesel particulate matter. ▪ Solid Waste - Solid waste facilities are places where household garbage and other types of waste are collected, processed, or stored. Landfills, transfer stations, and composting facilities are considered solid waste sites.
These facilities can release air pollutants and impact water quality if compounds present in refuse leach into soils. The finding related to solid waste is misleading because the CalEnviroScreen study incorrectly assumed there are two solid waste facilities within the City’s jurisdiction; however, there are no solid waste facilities in Del Mar. The majority of the City’s solid waste is transported and sent to the Miramar Landfill located within the City of San Diego, however, a portion of the City’s organic waste, in accordance with Senate Bill 1383, is being diverted from the landfill and is instead sent to an organics processing facility. 66 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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The determination of whether or not a community is “disadvantaged” also considers population-based factors that are associated with increased vulnerability to pollution, including the following: Asthma, Low Birth Weight, Cardiovascular Disease, Education, Linguistic Isolation, Poverty, Unemployment, and Housing Burden. Of the vulnerable population characteristics listed, “housing burden” is the most significant vulnerability factor applicable to the City of Del Mar.
Housing burden typically refers to households that experience rent burden. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defines "rent burdened" as households spending more than 30 percent of the household income on housing and "severely rent burdened" as households spending more than 50 percent of the household income on housing. CalEnviroScreen reports that 16 percent of people in the same census tract as the City of Del Mar are low-income households that are renthousing-burdened. To further reduce and minimize this vulnerability, the City is implementing a variety of actions in accordance with the adopted Housing Element to create new housing options for lower income households and connect individuals with housing assistance services, as further described in the Fair Housing and Safe and Healthy Homes section of this Element.
California Healthy Places Index. Developed by the Public Health Alliance of Southern California, the California Healthy Places Index (HPI) addresses inequities that affect community life expectancy. Del Mar is considered a healthy place with a high quality of life (95th percentile), meaning it has healthier community conditions than 95 percent of other California census tracts. This score combines economic, education, social, transportation, neighborhood, housing, clean environment, and health care access conditions. Del Mar is considered a high opportunity area with access to needs and resources for households of all income levels. Figure 5 illustrates the data generated by the California Healthy Places Index.
According to the California Healthy Places Index, the City of Del Mar has a population of roughly 4,331 people and is a predominantly white community. Acknowledging the City’s race and ethnicity breakdown is critical to assessing environmental justice since, historically, low-income residents, communities of color, tribal nations, and immigrant communities experience inequal burdens and disadvantages. 67 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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Figure 2: City of Del Mar – CalEnviroScreen 4.0
Source: CalEnviroScreen 4.0, adapted by City of Del Mar 2025 68 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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Figure 3: City of Del Mar – CalEnviroScreen Results, Impaired Water Source: CalEnviroScreen 4.0, adapted by City of Del Mar 2025 69 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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Figure 4: City of Del Mar – CalEnviroScreen Results, Diesel Particulate Matter Source: CalEnviroScreen 4.0, adapted by City of Del Mar 2025 70 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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Figure 5: City of Del Mar, California Healthy Places Index Source: California Healthy Places Index, adapted by City of Del Mar 2025 71 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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3.2 CITY COUNCIL LEGISLATIVE POLICY GUIDELINES
The City of Del Mar City Council adopts and maintains Legislative Policy Guidelines intended to expressly state City policy positions on key topics relating to land use and development and other topics. The 2025 Legislative Policy Guidelines, emphasize protection of the environment and quality and character of the community. Legislative Policies that address resources and the environment include:
California Environmental Quality Act. Oppose legislation that would weaken or substitute the CEQA requirements in favor of a lesser process, such as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Offshore Drilling. 1) Oppose legislation that includes any San Diego coastal areas in the lease sale program. 2) Support legislation that provides for oil spill prevention and response. 3) Support legislation that creates a Coastal Sanctuary that prohibits a state agency from entering into a new lease for the extraction of oil in state waters. 4) Oppose any legislation that increases gas or oil drilling off the coast of California.
Waterfront. 1) Support legislation that provides funding for waterfront coastal restoration, protection, and enhancement. 2) Support efforts to protect the San Dieguito Lagoon and the Los Penñasquitos Lagoon. 3) Support legislation, administrative action, and provisions of funding to assist in implementation of the City’s Sea Level Rise Adaption Plan.
Water. 1) Support legislative efforts to improve the potable water quality in San Diego County. 2) Support legislation to provide Southern California with a stable source of water. 3) Support legislation that would provide incentives and funding for alternative water sources and for water conservation measures sponsored by local agencies. 4) Support legislation that would advance the opportunity to secure and utilize reclaimed/recycled water. 5) Support legislation that will require a showing of the availability of potable water in connection with any new development in San Diego County. 6) Support legislation, policies or practices that would decrease pollution to the ocean or waterways.
Storm Drain and Sewer. 1) Support legislation to provide funding for mitigation measures and projects to reuse, recharge, divert, or treat urban runoff. 2) Oppose legislation that imposes more stringent requirements on storm drain runoff without providing funding and/or consideration of the feasibility of monitoring and mitigation of such requirements. 3) Monitor any new or reviewed requirements by State or Federal agencies for testing water quality and water body closures. 4) Support state and federal legislation and administrative action to encourage reclamation and recycling of wastewater from the Metro Waste Water System and the San Elijo Joint Powers Authority for potable and purple pipe reuse.
Regional Growth Management. 1) Support legislation that would produce additional resources, including adequate funding, to local agencies to address regional growth and transportation issues. 2) Support legislation and administrative action that would encourage managing growth in a manner that is consistent with State and local climate action goals of reducing vehicle miles travelled and greenhouse gas emissions.
Air Quality. 1) Support legislation to improve the air quality in San Diego County. 2) Support legislation that allocates State and/or Federal funds for compliance with Federal and State air quality standards. 3) Support legislation that would provide funding for zero emission vehicles and their support infrastructure.
Wetlands. 1) Oppose legislation that adversely impacts the wetlands. 2) Support legislation that provides funding for the acquisition, enhancement, and protection of wetlands and wildlife habitat. 3) Support legislative and administrative action to allow wetlands to adapt to climate change and rising sea levels without loss of habitat value.
Energy. 1) Support legislation that effectively stabilizes energy availability and reduces energy costs. 2) Support legislation that would provide funding for alternative energy sources, energy efficiency, energy storage, and conservation measures. 3) Support legislation that provides for the safe decommissioning/removal of nuclear material at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS). 4) Support legislation at the federal and state levels to allow for removal of nuclear waste from SONGS to a safe inland temporary storage location pending federal identification of a permanent storage option. Oppose ongoing storing this waste on the beach at SONGS. 5) Support Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) [also known as Community Choice Energy (CCE)] and the Clean Energy Alliance to allow residents and businesses the option to purchase clean energy from renewable sources and oppose any efforts to 72 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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impede CCA's/CCE’s, including but not limited to, increased departure charges. 6) Support CCA programs including the Clean Energy Alliance that pursue distributed energy, community solar, micro grid projects, and similar local programs of benefit to the city.
Land Use. 1) Oppose legislation that takes a punitive approach to City General Plan Housing Element and the imposition of any extraordinary powers in State agencies with regard to City Housing Elements. 2) Support legislation to allow local governments flexibility in how they meet their state mandated housing goals. 3) Support legislation that allows jurisdictions to review, validate, and raise concerns regarding Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) data and methodologies prior to approval and takes into consideration unique situations (e.g., Fairgrounds). 4) Oppose legislation, or other agency actions, that would usurp local control of land use decision-making. 5) Oppose legislation that would impose State-mandated development standards or procedures that are contrary to the Del Mar Community Plan or local land use policy. 6) Oppose legislation that is inflexible and cannot be modified through local review. 7) Monitor proposals that would alter air traffic systems that would impact Del Mar. 8) Support legislation to reaffirm that regulation of short-term rentals is a local matter. 9) Oppose legislation to reduce or encroach upon the autonomy of Charter Cities as to home rule powers, including as to land use, housing, and zoning.
Sea-Level Rise and Climate Change. 1) Support legislation that continues to monitor sea-level rise and climate change and the effect on local jurisdictions. 2) Support legislation that would provide local jurisdictions funding for resilience and response to sea-level rise and climate change. 3) Support legislation that allows local governments flexibility in how they implement sea level rise and climate change adaptation goals and meet federal and state flood management standards. 4) Support legislation and administrative action at the federal and state level to provide funding and assistance to coastal cities addressing adaptation to sea level rise and increased flooding risks. 5) Support legislation and administrative action at the federal and state level to increase funding for local governments implementing sand replenishment and other adopted strategies for addressing sea level rise. and 6) Support legislation, funding, and administrative action to remove sediment accumulation in the region’s coastal lagoons and upstream behind dams and use it for beach sand replenishment.
3.3 CLIMATE EMERGENCY AND THE NEED FOR ACCELERATED ACTION
TO ADDRESS THE CLIMATE CRISIS
This City Council first adopted Resolution No. 2020-33 in 2020, declaring a climate emergency for the City of Del Mar and the need for accelerated action to address the climate crisis. In November 2023, the Del Mar City Council adopted Resolution No. 2023-43 Reaffirming a Declaration of a Climate Emergency and the Need for Accelerated Action to Address the Climate Crisis. The resolution acknowledges that climate change is an urgent unfolding crisis that presents a serious long-term threat to human existence, and that the City of Del Mar, like the rest of California, already suffers from the impacts of climate change such as drought, extreme heat, risk of wildfires, species stress, dying Torrey Pines, shrinking kelp forest, coastal erosion, sea level rise, and flooding, and these impacts will become more severe as global GHG emissions continue to increase. More must be done to combat the effect of climate change, but the City has made significant strides in adopting the CAP and resolutions that help to address climate change, such as:
Resolution Supporting Senate Bill (SB) 1137. In May 2024, the City of Del Mar City Council adopted a resolution (Resolution No. 2024-21) in support of SB 1137 which includes retaining health and safety setbacks of 3,200 feet from homes, schools, daycare centers, parks, healthcare facilities, and businesses and endorsing the Campaign for a Healthy and Safe California. The Campaign for a Safe and Healthy California is a coalition of public health professions, environmental justice groups, community and faith leaders, and youth joining together to make sure that no Californians have to endure health hazards from living near dangerous oil wells, and they strongly support retention of SB 1137.
San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) The City of Del Mar City Council adopted Resolution No. 2012-57 regarding the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS), which is located south of San Clemente, California. SONGS is a nuclear power plant that was shut down in 2013, due to defects found in replacement steam generators. The plant is currently being decommissioned. At the time of the resolution, the City of Del Mar took a stance on the need to create and implement strong contingency plans for alternative power sources like San 73 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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Onofre, especially those deriving from conservation, energy efficiency and renewable resources, per the State of California’s Loading Order, state mandated targets, and Governor Brown’s Clean Energy Plan. Resolution No. 2012- 57 established the City of Del Mar’s strong support for the strongly supports the California Public Utilities Commission in: 1) expeditiously initiating and completing an Order Instituting Investigation regarding the costs and reliability of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, and 2) comparing the reliability and costs of the San Onofre facility to a future based on alternatives, including efficiency, load management, demand response, renewable energy, and energy storage. This resolution was adopted prior to the closing of the plant, but the health of both the environment and the people are of concern through the decommissioning of the nuclear plant. 74 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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4 LOCAL INITIATIVES SUPPORTING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT,
EQUITY, AND FAIR TREATMENT
Inclusive civic engagement is a core value to the City of Del Mar. Communities that are underrepresented in the planning process often have relevant perspectives that deserve to be considered in local outreach strategies to ensure community success. It is common that these same communities have cultural or demographic differences that act as an impediment to participation. For example, these could include individuals for whom English is not a first language, audio and visual impediments, lack of internet access, or geographically isolated communities.
Government Code §65302 requires this Element to identify objectives and policies to promote civic engagement in the public decision-making process. Continually developing new opportunities for improved communication with residents and the public is a priority for the City, including additional efforts to better engage with minority communities, especially households that speak limited or no English. Transparent communication is particularly necessary to establish equitable access to City-provided opportunities, resources, and programs related to residents’ safety and capacity for influencing City decision-making.
4.1 LOCAL INITIATIVES SUPPORTING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Civic engagement within the City of Del Mar is welcomed and encouraged for all public meetings. Public meetings are conducted by a number of legislative bodies that include the City Council, Planning Commission, and Design Review Board, among other advisory committees.
The Brown Act. The Brown Act was adopted in 1953 and the public hearing provision within the Act is that, “All meetings of the legislative body of a local agency shall be open and public, and all persons shall be permitted to attend any meeting of the legislative body of a local agency, except as otherwise exempt by the Act.” Additionally, Proposition 59 was voted into law in the November 2004 election which amended and amends the California Constitution to include a public right of access to government information.
The City of Del Mar City Council Policy Book provides a mechanism for articulation methods and procedures for the conduct of the City business. The policy regarding Oral Communications from the public during City Council meetings is intended to provide a reasonable structure for the public to submit oral comments to the City Council in accordance with the laws of the State of California and the policies of the City of Del Mar. Meeting attendees are invited to sign up to provide oral comments at various points throughout meetings on both agendized and non-agenda items.
The Planning Commission and the Design Review Board have similar requirements for Oral Communication as outlined within the Procedure/Protocol document for each body. Additionally, trainings Trainings are provided to the Board and Commissions on the Brown Act to ensure compliance.
Additionally, the City Council Policy Book provides an opportunity for the public to submit written comments for an upcoming meeting after the agenda has been published and prior to the meeting taking place. These communications are delivered to City Councilmembers or Commissioners and staff and are posted on the City’s webpage for public review.
Civility Works. In 2016, the City of Del Mar City Council adopted “Civility Works: The Del Mar Code of Civil Discourse” to promote respectful and inclusive communication practices during City public meetings and workshops. In 2021, the Del Mar City Council adopted the Supplemental Policy to the Code of Civil Discourse establishing clear expectations for conduct of committee members and chairs during public meetings, establishing a process for the filing of public complaints, and the process for Council review and actions that may be taken (Resolution No. 2021-51). The Code of Civil Discourse, along with the Supplemental Policy to the Code, provide standards for conduct of elected officials and boards and committee members and states that “together we will: promote inclusion, listen to, understand, show respect, be clear and fair, and focus on the issue.” The “Civility Works” language is additionally listed on each City Council public meeting agenda and displayed at the Del Mar Town Hall as a reminder to the public and the officials to 75 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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adhere to the Del Mar principles and standards of conduct that promote inclusion, mutual respect, and productive civic engagement.
Translation Services. In November 2025, the City of Del Mar entered into an agreement with an on-call interpretation and translation service Propio. Propio provides access to real-time interpreters 24/7, available in 350+ languages, including American Sign Language (ASL). The service can be used to assist walk-in customers, as well as help with prescheduled meetings and teleconferences. The service is available over phone and on virtual calling platforms.
Volunteer Committees. The City of Del Mar benefits greatly from a robust advisory committee system made up of talented volunteers. The City has a number of volunteer committees that act as advisory to the City Council, as well as legislative committees such as the Planning Commission and a Design Review Board. These positions are appointed by the City Council, and participation from any and all members of the public is encouraged. Some committees have variable membership categories allowing both residents and non-residents to serve. The City invites volunteers to participate by advertising committee vacancies on the City website for a minimum of 10 (ten) calendar days, and at least once in the Del Mar Weekly and/or through CivicSend eblast. Upcoming vacancies may also be announced by the City Manager or Council Members at City Council meetings. Volunteering and serving on City committees is highly valued and appreciated by the City, and all qualified community members are encouraged to apply for available vacancies. The committees/commissions include the Design Review Board, Finance Committee, the Lagoon Committee, Measure Q Citizen Oversight Committee, Parks and Recreation Committee, Planning Commission, San Diego Water Authority (SDCWA) Representative, Metro Wastewater Joint Powers Authority (JPA) Representative, Shores Park Master Plan Ad-Hoc Advisory Committee, Sustainability Advisory Committee, Traffic and Parking Advisory Committee, and the Undergrounding Program Advisory Committee. A complete list of volunteer opportunities, additional information on the responsibilities of the Committee and Commissions, and instructions for applying can be found on the City of Del Mar website. https://www.delmar.ca.us/140/About-City-Advisory-Committees
4.2 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN PLANNING PROCESSES
The City of Del Mar engages the public through various sources during the planning process for a range of permits and processes. For example, public notices are sent to potentially affected properties for permits and land use processes. The City of Del Mar maintains a list of public notices on the City website, and an option to sign up for alerts when new notices are posted. Public notices are issued to make the public aware of current proposals, discretionary applications and upcoming hearings, and gives the citizens an opportunity to comment and ask questions about a particular project.
Citizens’ Participation Program. Chapter 23.08.065 of the DMMC outlines the process and the requirements for the Citizens’ Participation Program (CPP), which ensures that applicants for projects requiring the receipt of a Design Review Permit conduct efforts to notify potentially affected parties of proposed developments early in the design phase of a project. This is intended to facilitate dialogue among applicants and neighbors early in the development review process and give the applicants and their agents the opportunity to understand and respond to concerns raised about the project's potential impacts on the community.
Public Participation in Element Updates. The 6th Cycle Housing Element Update (planning period years 2021-2029) was adopted by the City Council in March of 2021. Through this process, the City engaged in a significantsignificant public participation outreach efforts to ensure that every resident had the opportunity to participate in the process. An AdHoc Citizens’ Task Force was appointed by the City Council with the mission of (1) Aid the City in the processing and development of the 6th Cycle Housing Element Update in preparation of the associated environmental document for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); (2) Help to educate and encourage Housing Element participation amongst fellow Del Mar citizens; and (3) Discuss and provide feedback on potential goals, policies, programs, and objectives to be included within the 6th Cycle Housing Element during preparation of the associated CEQA document. Efforts also included:
▪ Dedicated web page on City’s website.
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▪ Update and presentations to the City Council and Planning Commission and informational discussion sessions with the City Council and Planning Commission ▪ Nine meetings with the 6th Cycle Housing Element Ad-Hoc Citizens’ Task Force (one of which was an in-person Community Workshop)
▪ One Saturday Community Workshop
▪ Small Group meetings (in-person and via phone or zoom) ▪ One community housing survey via Metroquest
▪ Email-blasts announcing draft document availability and public outreach information on upcoming public meetings and opportunities for public participation. ▪ Articles in the City Managers weekly updates (emailed and posted to web page) ▪ Numerous mailers and newspaper ads
▪ Noticed public hearings
Throughout the entire process, project materials, including summaries from community workshops and public meetings, notices, and documents for public review were made readily available on the City’s dedicated Housing Element webpage on the City’s website.
The City’s public outreach exceeded State law requirements in Section 65583 of the Government Code, which states that, "The local government shall make diligent efforts to achieve public participation of all economic segments of the community in the development of the housing element, and the program shall describe this effort." The City continues to provide robust public outreach and meaningful community participation opportunities for implementation of its Housing Element Programs, including those required in connection with the City's efforts to Affirmatively Further Fair Housing.
Local Tribes and Tribal Consultation Process. Del Mar and the San Diego region have a rich history that dates back to the first documented habitants of the San Dieguito tribe and the La Jollans who occupied the area in roughly 9000 B.C.b.c. In 1929 a skull of a La Jollan, known today as the Del Mar man, was found in the North Bluff and radiocarbon dated the skull to be roughly 5,400 years old, (Ewing, 1988). The Yuman peoples located in the Del Mar area were known by the Spaniards that arrived to the area as Dieguitos, known today as the Ipai (occupied the areas north of the Los Peñasquitos Lagoon) and the Kumeyaay (occupied areas south of the Los Peñasquitos Lagoon). The Ipai, were located in present day Del Mar.
Communicating with tribal groups about public and private developments occurring on native land is crucial to upholding the principles of environmental justice. Indigenous tribes are historically underrepresented in the planning process; therefore, the City maintains close relations with affected tribal groups through its tribal consultation policy.
The City will request a consultation with any California Native American Tribe that is traditionally and culturally affiliated with the geographic area of the development (California Public Resources Code § 21080.3.1) when one of the following actions occurs:
(1) SB 18-The adoption or amendment of general plans or specific plans, or designation of open space. (Gov.
Code § 65352.3(a)(1)), or
(2) AB 52- All CEQA projects, private or city-initiated, for which a Notice of Preparation, Notice of Mitigated Negative Declaration, or Notice of Negative Declaration is filed or issued (Pub. Res. Code § 21080.3.1). The City will also contact the Native American Heritage Commission for assistance in identifying any California Native American Tribes. The City will then provide formal notice for each Tribe, including the location, description of the proposed development, and an invitation to engage in scoping consultation.
Adoption of General Plan Amendments, including this Element of the Del Mar Community Plan, requires Tribal Consultation in accordance with State requirements (SB 18). The following Tribes were offered consultation: Manzanita Band of Kumeyaay Nation, Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians, Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, Lipay Nation of 77 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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Santa Ysabel, La Posta Band of Mission Indians, Kwaaymii Laguna Band of Mission Indians, Jamul Indian Village, Ewiiaapaayp Band of Kumeyaay Indians, and Campo Kumeyaay Nation. Tribal consultation will only occur when a tribe responds to a SB 18 or AB 52 notice and requests consultation.
4.3 SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The Sustainability Advisory Committee (SAC) advises the Del Mar City Council on climate change, sustainability, and other environmental issues. The Committee informs the update process of the City’s CAP and assists in informing Del Mar residents and businesses regarding implementation of the City’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) and climate action issues. SAC monitors the activities of the Clean Energy Alliance (CEA) and provides recommendations to the City Council. Del Mar provides CAP-informed programming and resources to residents and businesses, such as biannual recycling events in partnership with the City’s contracted waste hauler, EDCO, and complimentary mulch and compost made from recycled organics. The CAP will be updated in the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 fiscal year workplan, and Greenhouse Gas inventories will be developed to help the City understand local contributions to climate change and the role of the CAP in mitigating those negative climate effects.
4.4 POLICY STATEMENTS SUPPORTING EQUITY AND FAIR TREATMENT The City of Del Mar is committed to support racial equity, fair treatment, and justice for all. The City Council has adopted numerous resolutions to further this commitment. Examples of such policy statements include:
Americans with Disabilities Act. In accordance with the requirements of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (504), the City of Del Mar (“City”) will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities on the basis of disability in its services, programs, or activities. https://www.delmar.ca.us/862/Americans-with-Disabilities-Act-ADA Equal opportunity Employer. The City of Del Mar is committed to hiring and developing talented, productive and motivated employees. The City welcomes diversity, encourages innovation, and rewards employee performance. The City is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy status), gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, genetic information, mental or physical disability (whether perceived or actual), ancestry, military or veteran status, citizenship status, medical condition, and/or national origin.
Title VI Compliance. It is the policy of the City of Del Mar that no person shall on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination in any operation of the City of Del Mar as provided by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related statutes. https://www.delmar.ca.us/923/Title-VICompliance Black Lives Matter. The City does not tolerate discrimination and stands in solidarity with its Black residents and communities of color. In adopting Resolution No. 2020-56, the City works proactively to create a community that acknowledges current and historical truths and works diligently to eradicate injustice. As well as review its policies and practices to ensure alignment with equitable justice, the City continuously works with the Sheriff to review policing policies to ensure safety and protection for all. During the six-year period from 2013 to 2018, zero incidents of hate crimes were reported in Del Mar (6th Cycle Housing Element 3-89).
Prohibition of Ghost Guns. In response to the increasing gun problem in the nation and Southern California, the Del Mar City Council adopted a resolution supporting the prohibition of the sale of ghost guns at the State Fairgrounds (Del Mar Fairgrounds owned by the State 22nd District Agricultural Association). Ghost guns are an untraceable firearm that are assembled from unregulated firearm parts and components by the purchaser to avoid gun control regulations, including identification of the gun with the serial number, any kind of registration, a waiting period, background checks or other buyers’ qualifications, and age restrictions. The resolution was adopted on March 9, 2020 and requested that the 22nd District Agricultural Association (22nd DAA) prohibit the sale of unregulated firearm parts, components and/or gun build kits at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. California passed AB 879 in 2019, which required handgun frames and 78 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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unfinished receivers to be sold by licensed vendors upon a state background check being conducted. However, the State Legislation did not go into effect until July 1, 2024. The resolution passed by the Del Mar City Council helped to ensure a local prohibition took effect more immediately in 2020.
4.5 COMMUNITY RESOURCES
Del Mar Community Connections. Del Mar Community Connections (DMCC) is a local nonprofit organization which serves the senior population in Del Mar. The organization is primarily volunteer-driven, and services include offering transportation and housing solutions, as well as cultural and social activities. DMCC offers a few options of transportation services for seniors in the community who no longer drive, including those who use wheelchairs. DMCC has a team of volunteers that provide free rides to medical and essential appointments. They also offer a grocery shuttle which provides free door-to-door transportation to local grocery and drug stores. DMCC also administers the Del Mar Rental Assistance Program on behalf of the City. The program is available to all low-income households in the city including low-income elderly and or disabled individuals. It covers a portion of the rent, paid on behalf of the families directly to their landlords. On occasion the City has enlisted volunteers from DMCC to create capacity for community outreach and to solicit public participation.
Del Mar Foundation. The Del Mar Foundation is Del Mar’s community foundation and its oldest 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. It is an active, hands-on organization powered by inspired volunteers and generous donors from a broad cross-section of the community. The foundation sponsors a wide range of programs and events, raises and manages funds for the community, makes community grants, and manages over $8 million in endowment and reserve funds to benefit Del Mar and the San Dieguito Lagoon.
Del Mar Village Association. Since 2005, the City has partnered with the Del Mar Village Association (DMVA) to provide economic development and business support services to the Del Mar business community. The City contracts with DMVA for specific services, including to support new business development in the Del Mar Village, maintain and implement new programs to drive commerce in Downtown Del Mar, partner with the City on Downtown improvements and programming, and implement sustainability initiatives, among others. The Mayor and Deputy Mayor represent the City at DMVA Board meetings, and the City Manager meets regularly with the DMVA CEO, ensuring a close and thriving partnership benefitting residents, businesses, and visitors alike.
Saint Peter’s Church. St. Peter's is an Episcopal Church, a member of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego. St. Peter's Church plays a multifaceted role as both a religious facility and a provider of community services in the Del Mar area.
St. Peter's is also a member of the Interfaith Shelter Network providing shelter and other resources to homeless individuals and families in the San Diego region. St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Del Mar offers a Helping Hands program to provide services throughout the calendar year to individuals experiencing homelessness. These services include assistance with acute health problems, advocacy services, and connections to supportive housing/service settings. The City of Del Mar will continue to support and encourage St. Peter’s Church to continue its Helping Hands Program. To fulfill the requirements of the Housing Element, the City has committed to creating and maintaining a current list of resources for vulnerable populations.
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4.6 GOALS AND POLICIES – CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, EQUITY, AND FAIR
TREATMENT
The City of Del Mar is committed to local initiatives that promote inclusivity, fair treatment for all, and civic engagement.
Goals and policies that further current initiatives include:
Goal 4: Ensure all residents of Del Mar are adequately informed about City matters and facilitate opportunities for public participation.
Policy 4.6.1
Ensure the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of people of all races, cultures, incomes, and national origins with respect to civic engagement and public processes for development, adoption, implementation, and enforcement of new policies, regulations, and laws.
• Implementation Action 4.6.1: Continue to process advocacy letters in accordance with adopted City Council legislative policies and adopt formal resolutions of the City Council as applicable.
Policy 4.6.2
Facilitate public participation of residents, businesses, City employees and organizations in all aspects of the City’s governmental planning process using a variety of community- - based strategies and diverse methods of outreach. • Implementation Action 4.6.2.A: Partner with local organizations that are connected to the community to support outreach efforts. • Implementation Action 4.6.2.B: Evaluate City ADA compliance and implement solutions to maintain compliance with applicable laws. • Implementation Action 4.6.2.C: Continue to facilitate the collaboration of citizen advisory committees such as the Sustainability Advisory Committee.
Policy 4.6.3
Prioritize transparency in all City processes to help ensure that community members may be well-informed.
• Implementation Action 4.6.3: Provide regular updates and robust public outreach to keep the community informed of local news, events, and meetings such as through the Del Mar Weekly Update distribution and postings at [email protected].
Policy 4.6.4
Bolster and support the prioritization of key issues including community driven initiatives and the inclusion of disadvantaged residents. • Implementation Action 4.6.4: Provide regular opportunities for nonagenda public comment, orally and in writing, at City of Del Mar public meetings as well as the formal public process held annually at the start of each calendar year for members of the public to identify priorities for City Council consideration.
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5 MINIMIZE POLLUTION EXPOSURE
Exposure to polluting substances in the air, water, and soil can have a significant impact on health. Certain diseases, including heart disease, cancer, birth defects, asthma, reproductive disorders, and neurological disorders have been directly associated with pollutant exposure. Pollution comes from both natural and anthropogenic sources. According to the 2019 CAP Monitoring Report, the leading sources of pollution in Del Mar are on-road transportation, electricity, natural gas, solid waste, water, and wastewater.
5.1 AIR-QUALITY
Air quality is an important factor that affects community health and the environment. Research has consistently linked toxic air contaminants to incidences of respiratory diseases, including asthma and lung cancer. According to CalEnviroScreen, an estimated 9 people per 10,000 in Del Mar visited an emergency department for asthma between 2015 and 2017. In that same period, 7.42 people per 10,000 visited an emergency department for heart attacks (cardiovascular disease). While these numbers are relatively low, the City is committed to protecting the health and wellbeing of the community and preventing these numbers from rising.
The city is located in the San Diego Air Basin which is managed by the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District.
The District regulates and enforces the emissions of air contaminants - including smoke, dust, and odors which have the potential to cause injury, nuisance or annoyance. According to the Climate Action Plan analysis, the greatest internal threat to air quality in Del Mar would appear to be vehicular emissions. In order to accurately determine changes in air quality, efforts would have to be made to establish a monitoring location within the community.
City Smoking Ban. Secondhand smoke exposure occurs when people breathe in smoke breathed out by people who smoke or from burning tobacco products like cigarettes, cigars, hookahs, vapes, and pipes. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Health problems caused by secondhand smoke in adults that do not smoke include coronary heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer, as well as adverse reproductive health effects in women. To further improve air quality and help to reduce the exposure to secondhand smoke, the City adopted Ordinance 835, which prohibits smoking in the following locations:
▪ Enclosed public places;
▪ Places of employment and within a reasonable distance of the outside entrances, operable windows, and ventilation systems of places of employment*. This prohibition shall apply to all portions of the places of employment, including but not limited to: common work areas, meeting rooms, offices, elevators, hallways, food service or storage areas, closets, employee lounges, stairwells, and restrooms; ▪ City carpool vehicles;
▪ Taxi cabs operating under a valid City of Del Mar Taxicab Operations Permit issued pursuant to Chapter 6.32 of the Del Mar Municipal Code;
▪ Child Day-Care Facilities
▪ Parks, Benches, and seawalls, and in or on the sidewalks, stairs, or bulbed street ends adjacent to parks, beaches, and seawalls;
▪ All sidewalks and those segments of any street lined with sidewalk. This provision applies to all streets and sidewalks to which the public is provided regular access, but does not apply to private residential property; ▪ All portions of outdoor seating areas of an eating establishment and within a reasonable distance of all outdoor seating areas of an eating establishment including adjacent sidewalks and/ or streets and roads*. This prohibition bans smoking in any area approved for operation pursuant to a City of Del Mar Sidewalk Café Permit;
▪ All public plazas and public, semi-public spaces identified in a Specific Plan as approved by the City of Del Mar. 81 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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▪ All outdoor arenas, stadiums, and amphitheaters and in any bleachers and grandstands used by spectators of such arenas, stadiums, and amphitheaters;
▪ All public transportation station facilities such as, train platforms and bus shelters; and within a reasonable distance* of such facilities
▪ Any property designated in the City’s Zoning Map as being within the Public Facilities (PF) Zone and regulated by Chapter 30.31 of the Del Mar Municipal Code; and
▪ All portions of private residences licensed by the State of California as a child day-care facility. This prohibition applies to all portions of the child-day care facility, enclosed or unenclosed, where children may be exposed to smoke.
* Reasonable distance is defined under Section 11.08.020 of the Del Mar Municipal Code
5.2 WATER QUALITY
Water quality is a regional issue, and when contaminated it can affect communities in many ways. Lack of access to safe, clean, and affordable drinking water and polluted streams, rivers, and other bodies of water make outdoor recreation and water access hazardous to humans and wildlife. For Del Mar, clean water ties directly to quality of life and is key not only to the city’s health and recreation but also to property values, tourism and visitor spending.
Domestic Water. Domestic water supply in the City of Del Mar is provided by the Santa Fe Irrigation District (SFID) and the City of San Diego via the San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA).
SFID is a Special District formed in 1923 that serves a population of 19,839 across the City of Solana Beach and communities of Rancho Santa Fe and Fairbanks Ranch. SFID delivers an average of 500-acre feet of recycled water per year, all of which is supplied by the San Elijo Joint Powers Authority (SEJPA). SFID operates 150 miles of pipelines and has a total storage capacity of six million gallons. It jointly owns (in conjunction with the San Dieguito Water District) the R.E. Badger Filtration Plant, which has a capacity of 40 million gallons per day (SFID 2018).
The SDCWA purchases water from a variety of sources as well as producing its own water. SDCWA is the largest member of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and it receives a large amount of its water from this agency. In partnership with the member agencies and stakeholders, the SDCWA meets the region’s water supply needs by providing a safe and reliable water supply; diversifying the region’s water supply sources, and building, maintaining, and operating critical water facilities in a cost-effective and environmentally sensitive manner (SDCWA 2015). The City of San Diego treats more than 360 million gallons of water per year for Del Mar and transports the water approximately 14 miles to Del Mar from the Lake Miramar Treatment Plant (Santa Fe Irrigation District, 2019). The San Diego County Water Authority is responsible for providing safe drinking water to its twentyfour (24) retail member agencies and their customers, including the City of Del Mar. The member agencies are represented on a 36-member Board of Directors. A member of the Board of Supervisors also serves as a nonvoting representative to the Water Authority Board.
City Infrastructure. The Del Mar Public Works Department provides water service to nearly 1,900 metered accounts; this includes water services to single-family residential, multi-family residential, irrigation, commercial, public facilities, and the State Fairgrounds. The system includes: 27 miles of water mains, four storage reservoirs totaling 4 million gallons of capacity, 664 valves, and 275 fire hydrants. In maintaining the City’s water system, the important goals are public health and safety, and reliability as well as economic efficiency.
Clean Water Program. The Del Mar Planning and Community Development Department is responsible for the City’s Clean Water Program, which protects the quality of lagoons, beaches and the ocean. The Clean Water program prohibits all non-storm water discharge such as irrigation run-off, vehicle washing, swimming pool discharges, and sewer overflows from entering the City’s collection system. To prevent pollutants from entering local watersheds and maintain good public health, the City has established an online Urban Runoff Report where residents can report any violations to ensure immediate clean up.
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5.3 ENERGY CONSERVATION
Energy use is the City’s biggest contributor to GHG emissions. Energy conservation is important in preserving nonrenewable fuels to ensure that these resources are available for use by future generations. Reducing energy consumption through increasing the efficiency of energy technologies, reducing energy use, and using alternative sustainable sources of energy are effective ways to conserve energy and reduce GHG emissions. Energy efficiency also provides opportunities for cost-savings and improved air quality. To implement the Climate Action Plan the City is expanding access to renewable energy, increasing energy efficiency and promoting resilient design in the built environment through the following actions and programs:
Clean Energy Alliance. Many local governments across the state have opted to form Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) programs, also known as Community Choice Energy (CCE) programs. These programs provide alternative energy resources and offer an alternative to investor-owned utilities, such as San Diego Gas & Electric. Clean Energy Alliance (CEA) follows a community choice energy model that allows its member cities to purchase power to meet their community’s electricity needs. CEA members currently include Carlsbad, Del Mar, Escondido, Oceanside, San Marcos, Solana Beach and Vista. Because Clean Energy Alliance (CEA) is locally managed and not-for-profit, any excess revenue is reinvested into the member communities through on-bill savings and innovative energy projects and programs, including rebates and other incentives, low-cost energy programs, job training and more.
Home Energy Savings (HES) Program. The Del Mar Home Energy Savings (HES) Program was a short-term program developed to connect residents that often experience difficulties with energy savings assistance and energy efficiency upgrades. It was designed to help implement the CAP. The program aimed to address common obstacles that might impose difficulty or challenges for this target group to make home upgrades that could lower the overall residential energy use and greenhouse gas emissions of Del Mar. These hurdles were identified as lower rates of computer literacy and social media use, as well as lower mobility. Additionally, it was assumed that some would be living in older homes in need of energy efficient upgrades, resulting in higher cost and variable energy bills for fixed-income households.
Through the program, the City worked with Del Mar Community Connections (DMCC) and Del Mar Rotary Club (DMRC) to conduct outreach, introduce subsidy programs, perform in-home energy audits, and assist clients in applying for rebates and subsidies related to energy efficiency. Door-to-door promotion of energy-efficiency upgrades and HES Program support was conducted, reaching 27 residents and attempting 140 residences. Through the HES Program, in-home energy audits were provided to seven senior Del Mar residents, including assessments on potential energy efficiency upgrades and information on subsidy programs, rebates and incentives. In total, 55 seniors were reached through the HES Program and the City developed a better understanding of effective means of outreach to all members of the community in support of Strategy 5: Ensure outreach about CAP implementation is designed to appeal to all residents.
Sustainable Facilities. The Del Mar Civic Center opened in 2018 with numerous sustainability features to further demonstrate a commitment to sustainability within the City. Most of the Civic Center’s electricity comes from a 71-kW photovoltaic system. Additionally, natural lighting, insulation and smart thermostats add to the Civic Center’s energy efficiency. Electric vehicle parking is available at the Del Mar Civic Center and at the Beach Safety Center. Additional sustainable Public Works initiatives include:
▪ Installed “No idling” signs at the streets ends. Crew are reminded to minimize idling times in vehicles. ▪ Recycled aggregate base on paving projects.
▪ Favors drought-resistant plants for landscaping.
▪ Superintendent/Inspector drive electric vehicles during the work day. ▪ Replaced all diesel equipment with high-efficiency, Tier 4 approved engines. ▪ Purchasing lighter, more fuel-efficient four-seater trucks ▪ Encourages workers to carpool and utilize a 9/80 work shift to reduce the number of vehicles and employees commuting on a daily basis.
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▪ Encourages contractors to have onsite staging and storage areas to reduce road times to the job site. ▪ Developed a comprehensive routine for the beach team to collect trash and recycle simultaneously to reduce trips.
5.4 WASTE DIVERSION
The City of Del Mar generates about 9,800 tons of solid waste annually, which accounts for 5 (five) percent of total greenhouse gas emissions from residents and businesses. Approximately 3,200 tons of this waste is recycled. In Del Mar, residential and commercial waste and recycling collection is provided by EDCO.
In the Climate Action Plan, Del Mar aims to exceed state requirements for waste diversion, which CalRecycle defines as "any combination of waste prevention (source reduction), recycling, reuse and composting activities that reduces waste disposed at landfills and recycling facilities." The City has adopted the following local ordinances to divert waste from landfills:
▪ Del Mar Single Use Plastic Bag Ban -– Chapter 11.36 of the Municipal Code ▪ Plastic Straws and Stirrers Ban - Chapter 11.44 of the Municipal Code ▪ Del Mar Balloon Ban - Chapter 11.48 of the Municipal Code ▪ Del Mar Construction and Demolition Waste Recycling Ordinance - Chapter 23.70 ▪ Del Mar Ban on Expanded Polystyrene and Single-Use, Non-Compostable Disposable Food Service Ware and Single-Use Plastic Beverage Bottles at City Facilities and City-Sponsored Events -– Chapter 11.40 Food Waste Diversion is also a critical strategy to help meet to reaching the City’s solid waste diversion goalsthese goals. The diversion of food waste is a proven strategy to reduce emissions with the additional benefit of being able to provide low or no-cost produce and food products to food-insecure populations. In 2022, Del Mar introduced food waste recycling programs for all residential and commercial customers. A list of edible food recovery organizations and services are available on the City’s website: https://www.delmar.ca.us/DocumentCenter/View/8009/Del-Mar-EdibleFood-Recovery-Organizations-and-Services. https://www.delmar.ca.us/DocumentCenter/View/11810/Del-Mar---FROsand-Services-for-Businesses?bidId=
5.5 CLIMATE ACTION PLAN
The City’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) identifies the local strategy and efforts completed to reduce pollution emissions and exposure. The CAP’s goal for 2035 is to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) generation to at least 50 percent below Del Mar’s baseline 2012 values and to continue further reductions to meet the state goal of 80 percent reduction below statewide 1990 values by 2050. The City is steadily making progress toward this goal, already surpassing 15 percent below 2012 baseline levels (2020 CAP Annual Report). The CAP identifies 22 goals to help the City meet its greenhouse gas reduction targets. According to the 2020 CAP Monitoring Report, Del Mar has already met its 2020 target of 15 percent below 2012 baseline levels and is steadily moving toward its 2035 target of below 50 percent. While the City’s CAP activities and policy decisions have reduced emissions in Del Mar, a significant portion of the reductions can be attributed to climate action on the regional and state level. The City of Del Mar has coordinated with regional agencies such as SANDAG to work collaboratively on continued local and regional improvements to reduce emissions. With this in mind, prioritizing local climate action to garner community support, understanding, and collaboration while supporting regional and state efforts is key to success. This is particularly vital for sectors such as transportation, the City’s main GHG emissions contributor, as shown in Figure 6. 84 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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Figure 6: 2016 Greenhouse Gas Inventory Distribution
Source: City of Del Mar, 2016
Social Equity. The CAP also recognizes that certain constraints and barriers can prevent individuals from accessing the housing, employment, and resources the City has to offer. In particular, individuals “sensitive” to extreme temperatures and other environmental conditions and special needs populations such as children under the age of five, individuals over the age of 65, individuals with disabilities, and individuals living in low-income households. The Social Equity chapter of the CAP identifies eight strategies to address the needs of these populations. These strategies focus on establishing green jobs and identifying areas of CAP implementation that can advance social equity in Del Mar through prioritizing accessible, clean transportation, developing energy efficiency programming for low income and senior residents, and ensuring CAP outreach is available for all. Covering only 2.2 square miles and with a small population, there is a strong network in Del Mar between residents, businesses, and community groups and their support and collaboration is critical for understanding the needs of the community and advancing social equity. The City of Del Mar and local non-profits like Del Mar Community Connections (DMCC) and the Del Mar Foundation provide support services for seniors and low-income residents, including rental assistance and free transportation, that work in tandem with CAP implementation. Overall, the City has taken considerable strides to reduce local pollution by taking actions to:
▪ Reduce residential energy usage,
▪ Provide renewable energy options,
▪ Divert waste,
▪ Facilitate recycling and use of composting,
▪ Increase use of alternative transportation,
▪ Complete public improvements for pedestrian and bicycle mobility, ▪ Protect wetlands, and
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5.6 GOALS AND POLICIES – MINIMIZE POLLUTION EXPOSURE
Goals and Policies to further the City’s commitment to reduce pollution exposure and improve environmental conditions include:
Goal 5: Continue to implement the Climate Action Plan (CAP) goals, objectives, and policies to reduce pollution emissions and exposure and minimize risk for vulnerable populations.
Policy 5.6.1
Monitor pollutants and implement measures to reduce pollutant emissions and exposure. • Implementation Action 5.6.1.A: Continue to implement annual water, sewer, stormwater, and road improvement Capital Improvement Program (CIP) projects to reduce potential for water quality impacts through improvements to City infrastructure.
• Implementation Action 5.6.1.B: Partner with Federal, State, and local agencies to regularly monitor air and water quality and implement mitigation measures to reduce potential impacts.
Policy 5.6.2
Continue to prioritize actions that address risks associated with climate change (i.e. increasing temperatures and heat related effects, wildfires, and sea level rise). • Implementation Action 5.6.2.A: Prioritize implementation of Del Mar’s Sea Level Rise Adaptation Plan, including the pursuit of nature-based shoreline management along the north and south banks of the San Dieguito River to provide flood resilience, habitat enhancement, and improved public trail access. • Implementation Action 5.6.2.B: Support multimodal transportation to limit vehicle emissions and encourage active transportation (i.e., access via walking, cycling, skateboarding, or wheelchair) for travel or leisure to reduce air quality impacts. • Implementation Action 5.6.2.C: Evaluate the possibility of increasing solar capacity on City-owned properties.
• Implementation Action 5.6.2.D: Partner with organizations like the Clean Energy Alliance or the Center for Sustainable Energy to install solar on multi-unit lowerincome housing to meet renewable energy goals in the CAP. • Implementation Action 5.6.2.E: Update the Local Coastal Program (LCP) by January 1, 2034, to incorporate the City’s plan for sea level rise in accordance with SB 272, which will involve preparation of an updated vulnerability assessment, analysis of vulnerable populations, and economic impact analysis.
Policy 5.6.3
Increase community awareness about the risks associated with climate change and steps residents can take to increase their property’s resilience and protect themselves. • Implementation Action 5.6.3: Encourage individuals to make voluntary changes that lead to environmental benefits and greater protection by sharing information at community events, the planning counter, and on the City’s website.
Policy 5.6.4
Encourage transportation demand management (TDM) measures (i.e., transit subsidies, bicycle facilities, ride sharing, alternative work schedules) to reduce vehicle miles traveled and further improve public health and safety.
• Implementation Action 5.6.4: Require new development to incorporate TDM strategies consistent with local California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines for Transportation Impact Analysis.
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6 PROMOTE SAFE AND HEALTHY HOMES
Del Mar is a community that is a desirable place to live for households of all income levels. The shortage of affordable housing opportunities in Del Mar and coastal communities across the state is felt disproportionately by households with lower incomes due to high land values, housing costs, and cost of living. Consistent with the demographics of other coastal jurisdictions, the Del Mar community is predominately white and has higher resident incomes compared to other jurisdictions in the San Diego region. The City of Del Mar is committed through its Housing Element to create new housing opportunities at a range of income levels, that are more inclusive of moderate income, lower income, and special needs households, and ensure that all housing is maintained in compliance with applicable codes to protect the public health, safety, welfare, and well-being of residents.
6.1 HOUSING LOCATION
Del Mar is a high opportunity community that offers residents access to high performing public and private schools, public beaches and parks, and a healthy and safe environment with coastal resources, amenities, and programs that enhance the quality of life and make Del Mar a desirable place to live for households of all income levels. Location of housing plays a central role in how individuals and families engage in their communities. Community amenities and access to opportunities are inherently spatial in nature and are not always accessible or attainable due to different types of social, cultural, and economic barriers in our society. The geographic relationship of affordable family-supporting housing in relation to community amenities as well as environmental health hazards is an important component of environmental justice, fair housing choice, and the overall commitment to affirmatively further fair housing throughout the region.
Access to Jobs. Employment has a demonstratable impact on local housing needs. Incomes associated with different types of employment and the number of workers in a household affect housing affordability and choice. High housing costs can make it hard for many people to afford basic housing, let alone homeownership. Many households make serious tradeoffs amid high housing costs to afford living in desirable communities. Workers in California’s coastal communities often commute 10 percent further each day than commuters elsewhere, largely because limited housing options exist near major job centers. The City of Del Mar is an affluent community, with higher resident incomes and costs of living compared to the San Diego Region. Housing in Del Mar is generally more expensive than the average cost of housing statewide. The main commercial services and retail businesses in the City are specifically related to tourism and the accommodation of visitors. According to census data, retail and tourism related occupations offer lower income salaries. While the City of Del Mar employs persons in the retail, service and tourism industries, there is a lack of affordable housing in the community to accommodate these potential needs. Therefore, persons working in these industries may not have the opportunity to live in the city where they work. Opportunities to help provide and encourage lower income housing opportunities are outlined with the Housing Element.
Access to High-Quality Public and Private Schools. Figure 7 demonstrates that there is a range of high-quality schools in the area that provide education and childcare for children from preschool through high school. 87 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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Figure 7: City of Del Mar Access to Schools
Source: City of Del Mar 2025
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6.2 HOUSING QUALITY
There are various factors that affect housing needs for different households. Housing units in Del Mar are well maintained, which has a positive impact to the quality of life of residents in the community. The City’s development standards and regulations ensure the quality and safety of new residential development, while enforcement measures work to ensure that the existing housing stock remains safe for all individuals.
Substandard Living Conditions. The analysis for the 6th Cycle Housing Element (planning years 2021-2029) identified that more than half of the housing stock in the City was built between 1950 and 1970. Generally, housing units built over 30 years ago may be assumed to benefit from renovations or upgrades. As of 2024, about 85 percent of housing in the City was built more than 30 years ago. However, this data does not reflect the renovations and upgrades that are consistently made to the existing stock via the City’s design review process that applies to housing development.
Due to the generally high income of households in the City, maintenance and upgrades are generally not an impediment to home improvements for many households within the City of Del Mar.
Overcrowding. The federal government defines an overcrowded household as one with more than one occupant per room, excluding bathrooms, kitchens, hallways, and porches. Severely overcrowded households are households with greater than 1.5 persons per room. An overcrowded household results from either a lack of affordable housing (which forces more than one household to live together) and/or a lack of available housing units of adequate size. The incidence of overcrowded and severely overcrowded households can lead to neighborhood deterioration due to the intensive use of individual housing units leading to excessive wear and tear, and the potential cumulative overburdening of community infrastructure and service capacity. Furthermore, overcrowding in neighborhoods can lead to an overall decline in social cohesion and environmental quality. Such decline can often spread geographically and impact the quality of life and the economic value of property and the vitality of commerce within a city. The combination of lower incomes and high housing costs result in many households living in overcrowded housing conditions. Because of Del Mar’s demographic profile (older population, smaller household size), overcrowding historically has not been an issue.
In 2025, less than two percent of Del Mar households live in overcrowded conditions. The incidence of overcrowding among renters and homeowners was approximately the same (one percent of renters versus less than one percent of owners).
Code Enforcement. The City of Del Mar Planning and Community Development Department administers the Code Enforcement program. Code Compliance staff responds to citizen complaints, City Council requests for service, referrals for investigation/compliance, and inter-governmental enforcement agency referrals. Staff conduct field inspections, prepares written notices/orders for code compliance, verifies compliance measures and requests for action by nuisance abatement, and educates the public on storm water compliance. Code Compliance staff issues warnings, Notices of Violations, and other enforcement measures as needed to obtain compliance. The enforcement program highlights voluntary non-judicial compliance with an emphasis upon public awareness of governmental regulatory provisions.
Department of Environmental Health. The County of San Diego, Department of Environmental Health (DEH) is the housing enforcement agency in Del Mar. The Food and Housing Division enforces state laws pertaining to sanitation, maintenance, ventilation, and occupancy. The County provides resources to the public related to housing disputes and environmental health concerns within rental housing (i.e., mold, vermin control, and lead poisoning). Tenants are advised to notify the landlord or property owner/management company if an environmental health concerns problem exists. If the problem is not resolved after owner/landlord notification, a complaint can be filed with the County of San Diego, Department of Environmental Health, Food and Housing Division for field investigation. Information related to these programs and resources is available on the City’s Fair Housing Resources web page:
https://www.delmar.ca.us/884/Fair-Housing-Resources
6.3 HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
In 2025, the median household income in the County of San Diego was $130,800 (HUD 2025). According to real estate data sets, the median sale price of a home in Del Mar was $3.0M in August 2025, in comparison to the county median sale price which was $920,000. Most homes in the City are owner-occupied single-family houses. In addition, the City 89 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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has 775 units within existing apartment and multi-unit condominium complexes, which makes up approximately 30 percent of the existing housing stock. High housing costs can make it hard for people to afford basic housing, let alone homeownership. Resources such as the San Diego Housing Commission Rental Assistance Wait List have been inundated with demand to the point that the commission has identified that they will not be able to assist new applicants for several years. Many households make tradeoffs amid high housing costs to afford living in desirable communities. Workers in California’s coastal communities often commute 10 percent further each day than commuters elsewhere, largely because limited housing options exist near major job centers.
Cost Burden and Overpayment. State and federal standards indicate that a household paying more than 30 percent of its income for housing is overpaying. Severe overpayment is indicated when greater than 50 percent of income is allocated to housing costs. Determining overpayment (referred to as cost burden) provides an indicator of the ability to sustain a household budget in consideration of other factors beyond housing costs (utilities, food, maintenance, etc.). Whenever households pay an excessive amount of their income for housing, it decreases the amount of income available for other needs. This indicator is an important measurement of local housing market conditions as it reflects the affordability of housing in the community. Federal and state agencies utilize overpayment indicators to determine the amount of funding allocated to a community to assist with housing opportunities. Per the 6th Cycle Housing Element, approximately 92 percent of the lower income households (extremely low, very low, and lower income) in the City overpaid for housing versus just 25 percent of moderate and above moderate-income households. Overpayment among very low-income and low-income households was most severe, with both reporting 100% rates of a cost burden greater than 30%.
Addressing Homelessness. Approximately 120 people, or 1.5 percent of the population, are experiencing homelessness in the portion of the North County region that includes Del Mar, Encinitas, Solana Beach, and San Dieguito (6th Cycle Housing Element). Del Mar is a small, predominately residential community, and most resources and institutions to help individuals experiencing homelessness are located in commercial areas located outside Del Mar's jurisdiction that are generally connected to Del Mar via public transit (i.e., bus transit). The City continues to support non-profits and contribute its fair share for the annual point in time count, including participation in activities for the Regional Task Force on Homelessness. The City allocates approximately $110,000 annually to local non-profits (i.e., Del Mar Community Connections, Del Mar Foundation, and Community Resource Center) to support local seniors and households who qualify as lower income. These organizations help to provide resources and benefits to assist households with payment towards rent, utilities, transportation, medicine, and groceries to help keep them in their homes.
The City’s overall housing policy goal in the 6th Cycle Housing Element is to “Inspire a more diverse, sustainable, and balanced community through implementation of strategies and programs that will result in economically and socially diversified housing choices that preserve and enhance the special character of Del Mar.” The Housing Element recognizes the need to address homelessness, which has become an increasingly important issue as housing costs continue to rise. The Plan includes policies to preserve existing housing stock, create new housing opportunities within the community for lower income and special needs households, and provision of resources related to Emergency Shelter/Bridge housing, transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, and other resources to help individuals and families exit homelessness, return to housing, and maintain long term housing stability (referred to as rehousing).
6.4 AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHERING FAIR HOUSING
Under State law, affirmatively further fair housing means “taking meaningful actions, in addition to combatting discrimination, that overcome patterns of segregation and foster inclusive communities free from barriers that restrict access to opportunity based on protected characteristics.” These characteristics can include, but are not limited to race, religion, sex, marital status, ancestry, national origin, color, familiar status, or disability. Pursuant to Assembly Bill (AB) 686, the city committed to affirmatively further fair housing by taking meaningful actions, in addition to resisting discrimination, through actions that overcome patterns of segregation and foster inclusive communities free from barriers that restrict access to opportunity based on protected classes, as defined by State law. As part of the 6th Cycle Housing Element update, the City analyzed existing conditions and contributing factors associated with the 90 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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community’s historical demographics and housing patterns. While many factors are beyond the control of the City, it is acknowledged that actions can be taken to 1) create new housing opportunities at a range of income levels and remove barriers, 2) increase awareness and incorporate AFFH into decision-making and promote diversity and inclusiveness, and 3) create greater access to housing assistance resources. Housing Programs, as described below, are being implemented in the City to demonstrate the City’s commitment to furthering fair housing. One example of such programs is the commitment to adopt an Environmental Justice Element. The Housing Element identifies a range of housing resources and assistance programs that are currently available for low-income households and other special needs populations and additional actions to be taken to further support fair housing.
Reasonable Accommodations. Both the Federal Fair Housing Amendment Act (FHAA) and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act directly require governments to make reasonable accommodations (that is, modifications or exceptions) in their zoning laws and other land use regulations to afford disabled persons an equal opportunity to housing. State law also requires cities to analyze potential and actual constraints to the development, maintenance, and improvement of housing for persons with disabilities. The City’s Housing Element includes programs that remove constraints or provide reasonable accommodation for housing designed for persons with disabilities (6th Cycle Housing Element).
Fair Housing Resources. The City maintains a Fair Housing Resources web page to help connect the public with available resources relating to the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Community Assistance Programs and Housing Resources, San Diego Housing Federation, County Public Housing Resources, CARE Court Legislation and Update on Efforts Addressing Homelessness, Legal Aid Society of San Diego Fair Housing Center, Resources for Filing Housing Complaints and Resolution of Housing Disputes, Healthy and Safe Homes Housing Resources, National Conflict Resolution Center – Community Services, the County’s Security Deposit Assistance Program, and the HUD Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program:
https://www.delmar.ca.us/884/Fair-Housing-Resources
Fair Housing Trainings. The City conducts an annual fair housing training for its staff to provide education on the provisions and liabilities of fair housing laws as well as the process for recording and referring fair housing complaints.
Due to the small population size of Del Mar, fair housing issues and financial assistance are typically handled as part of a larger county consortium rather than at the local level. The Legal Aid Society of San Diego (LASSD) is a nonprofit law firm that provides free legal services to lower income San Diego residents. In addition, LASSD provides fair housing services to the City of Del Mar and the greater San Diego region. LASSD conducts outreach, provides education, and supports enforcement of both federal and State fair housing laws. LASSD conducts fair housing tests to determine if, and to what extent, discriminatory business practices exist in apartment rental housing and related markets. Some San Diego County jurisdictions with affordable housing agencies have begun to conduct fair housing testing routinely. This approach will similarly be implemented in the City of Del Mar in the future once deed restricted affordable housing units are constructed and become available for rent and occupancy.
6.5 HOUSING ELEMENT
To further fair housing, the City’s Housing Element is focused on creating new housing opportunities and a range of housing choices. This involves implementation of a variety of strategies, including incentive programs to create new smaller, accessory dwelling units (i.e., tiny homes). For example, this could provide new housing choices meet the needs of seniors and adult children who want to remain in the community or the needs of people seeking to move to Del Mar to access good schools, jobs, services, beaches, and parks.
The Housing Element identifies goals and actions for the City to increase its stock of quality housing for households of all income levels through a smart growth, infill approach that connects housing, transit, and land use to create healthy, vibrant neighborhoods.. The Housing Element inventory of suitable sites to meet the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) for all income categories (extremely low income, very low income, low income, moderate income, and above moderate-income units) relies upon vacant or underutilized properties in developed areas and generally avoids development in environmentally sensitive resource locations. 91 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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To help address the need, the City is implementing more inclusive zoning policies to accommodate new housing choices and options at a greater range of affordability levels:
▪ The City implemented upzones (density increases) to allow multiple dwelling unit development at a density of 20 dwelling units per acre as a permitted use in the North Commercial (NC) Zone, Professional Commercial Zone (PC), Central Commercial (CC) Zone, and Public Facilities (PF) Zone. This resulted in creation over 100 additional housing opportunities for moderate income, lower income, and special needs households beyond the assigned RHNA. ▪ The City is developing affordable housing on two City-owned sites. ▪ The City continues to coordinate with the California 22nd Agricultural District to develop a lower income affordable housing development on State Fairgrounds property within the City of Del Mar. ▪ The City has approved permits for over 100 accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to facilitate independent living in a unit as an accessory use on the same site as an allowable primary use. This includes City Council adoption of two incentive programs including 1) an ADU amnesty program to encourage residents to bring existing, unpermitted accessory dwelling units into compliance, and 2) an ADU incentive program that offers incentives to help property owners offset the investment needed to create rent restricted units. ▪ The City created incentives to encourage existing multi-unit apartment and condominium complexes to deed restrict a certain number of existing units in exchange for the ability to build new market rate units on-site above the allowable density applicable to the site.
▪ The City Council adopted a local density bonus ordinance that clarifies the permit process and procedures for implementation of State housing law regulations that incentivize development of affordable housing units within multi-unit developments in a manner that harmonizes the State Density Bonus law and the California Coastal Act consistent with State law.
▪ The City Council also adopted an inclusionary housing ordinance that requires new development projects reserve a portion of the units within the project for lower income households. The inclusionary housing ordinance requires that projects creating at least two net-new dwelling units, SB 9 projects, and condominium conversion projects all provide at least one lower income unit per project.
▪ The City is also processing amendments to the City of Del Mar Municipal Code and Local Coastal Program related to residential care facilities, supportive housing, and transitional housing and will be preparing associated fair housing-related materials to help connect persons in need with available resources in the City and greater region to demonstrate the City’s commitment to providing housing resources for all individuals. 92 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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6.6 GOALS AND POLICIES – PROMOTE SAFE AND HEALTHY HOMES Del Mar is a healthy place to live for individuals of any income level. Through implementation of adopted plans and special projects, the City continues to demonstrate its commitment to fair housing. Goals and Policies within the Environmental Justice Element help to further the Housing Element goals, policies, and programs and other Elements of the adopted Community Plan include:
Goal 6: Foster healthy living conditions and housing opportunities for people of all backgrounds and incomes.
Policy 6.6.1
Ensure local policies and regulations are free from barriers that have historically minimized housing options for a greater diversity of residents, including lower income households. • Implementation Action 6.6.1.A: Partner with organizations such as the Legal Aid Society of San Diego Fair Housing Center to provide annual fair housing training to City staff and assist with review and referral of discrimination complaints. • Implementation Action 6.6.1.B: Amend the Del Mar Municipal Code to remove any impediments or barriers to fair housing in accordance with State law. • Implementation Action 6.6.1.C: Prepare materials identifying programs and resources related to housing assistance for people of all incomes, races, cultures, and national origins and make fair housing resource materials available in English and Spanish, as well as all other languages offered through the City website’s translation services extension.
• Implementation Action 6.6.1.D: Create a central location on the City’s website for the public to access available fair housing resources, resources for individuals experiencing homelessness, and information about service providers within the San Diego region.
Policy 6.6.2
Continue to promote creation of units for lower income households through a variety of strategies.
• Implementation Action 6.6.2.A: Identify housing sites consistent with the City’s Smart Growth Urban Infill Strategy to facilitate development of affordable housing. • Implementation Action 6.6.2.B: Regularly update the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Incentive Program, as needed.
Policy 6.6.3
Establish partnerships to develop lower income housing on publicly-owned sites. • Implementation Action 6.6.3.A: Continue to coordinate with the California 22nd District Agricultural Association to develop affordable housing on Fairgrounds property. • Implementation Action 6.6.3.B: Secure agreements with affordable housing developers or other partnerships to create affordable housing units on City-owned properties.
Policy 6.6.4
Apply for and secure housing funding from available regional, state, and federal programs. • Implementation Action 6.6.4: Continue to seek State Housing Acceleration Program (HAP) grant opportunities through SANDAG’s Regional Early Assistance Program (REAP) and other opportunities such as Encampment Resolution Funding (ERF) grants. 93 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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7 IMPROVE ACCESS TO PUBLIC FACILITIES, RESOURCES, AND
AMENITIES
The City of Del Mar is a small community but well equipped with public facilities, amenities, and opportunities for activity, which are described below. SB 1000 refers to public facilities as “public improvements, public services, and community amenities” pursuant to California Government Code Section 66000. This includes a variety of public buildings and infrastructure, such as community centers, schools, parks, and open space, and emergency services. The prevalence of these public facilities plays an important role in providing residents amenities and services that enhance community resilience, health, and wellbeing. With the recent addition of a small-scale market within the Plaza, the citizens of Del Mar have direct access to fresh and healthy food options,
7.1 COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND SERVICES
Located along Camino del Mar, the Del Mar Civic Center and Del Mar Public Library are two valuable assets to the community. The Civic Center outside of City Hall is a pleasant open space overlooking the ocean with seating, shade structures, bike racks, picnic tables, public restrooms, and free public parking.
The Del Mar Public Library is a branch of the San Diego County library system that provides computer and language learning services to the community and is a welcoming space to recreate and explore its catalog of books, magazines, and movies. During inclement weather, the Del Mar Public Library serves as a Cool Zone Site where the public can access a safe, air-conditioned space. Figure 7 illustrates where the Del Mar Civic Center and the Del Mar Public Library are located.
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Figure 7: City of Del Mar Community Facilities and Services Source: Ascent, adapted by City of Del Mar 2025
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7.2 PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Public transportation is readily accessible to the Del Mar population. The primary public transportation service within City limits is the North County Transit District (NTCD) 101 Breeze Bus. It has one bus route running north/south on Camino del Mar with 9 total stops. The 101 operates every day and travels from Oceanside to UTC Transit Center. NCTD Bus Route 308 also operates within Del Mar, however, there are no stops located within city boundaries. Riders can take Route 308 from the Solana Beach Transit Station to the designated stop at Valley Avenue and Waterford Drive for access to the Del Mar Fairgrounds.
AllTransit is an analytic tool which accounts for and evaluates transit frequency, routes, and access to produce an overall transit score at the city, county, and regional levels. Geographic regions (e.g., cities, counties, Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs)) are scored on a scale of 0 to 10, with 10 being complete transit connectivity. As shown in Table 1, Del Mar scored a 5.1 AllTransit performance score, illustrating a low to moderate combination of trips per week and number of jobs accessible that enable a low to moderate number of people to take transit to work. According to AllTransit, 96.7 percent of the population of Del Mar lives within 1/2 mile of transit. Figure 9 illustrates where the transit stops within Del Mar are located.
Table 1: AllTransit Performance Scores, Del Mar
All Transit Performance Score Households within 1/2
mile of transit
Jobs Accessible in 30-
min trip
Commuters who use
Transit
Transit Routes within 1./2
mile
4.9 96.7% 63,231 1.82% 1
Source: 2025 AllTransit Data.
Just one mile north of the City in Solana Beach, there is a transit station where transit riders can board the NTCD Coaster or Amtrak Pacific Surfliner. Both are passenger trains, with the latter offering travel options outside San Diego County.
In addition to the public transportation options offered by NCTD, local volunteer organization Del Mar Community Connections provides senior residents with transportation services. These services include the Sassy Chassis, which sponsors social and educational outings, and a Grocery Shuttle that runs twice weekly. 96 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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Figure 9: City of Del Mar Transit Stops
Source: Ascent 2025
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7.3 COMPLETE STREETS INITATIVE
Adopted in 2017, the City of Del Mar Complete Streets Policy sets a standard for development that prioritizes mobility and creates a safe, balanced multimodal street system. The recent Downtown Streetscape Project, which transformed seven blocks on Camino del Mar, provides better sidewalks, lighting, street furniture, landscaping, and drainage. As shown in Figure 3, an extensive bicycle network runs through the City, equipped with racks and repair stations. Roughly six miles, or 25 percent of Del Mar road miles, are bicycle lanes (2019 CAP Annual Progress Report). The Downtown Streetscape Project enhanced bicycle access through expanded bike lanes extending Northbound and Southbound at a minimum of five feet wide. More information on the City’s bicycle network can be found on the City website at:
https://www.delmar.ca.us/436/Bike-Routes-Racks. Figure 10 illustrates where bike routes and bike racks are located within the city.
Bicycles and E-Bikes -
The City adopted Ordinance No. 1020 in 2025 to codify safety regulations for bicycle and e-bike riders in the City of Del Mar. The City regulates the use of bikes and e-bikes to maintain public safety by designating the areas where riders are allowed to ride and the rules which are intended to apply to riders. Generally, bicycle and e-bike riders are expected to follow the same rules of the road as motorists, ride in the bicycle lane when available, and adhere to the regulations which restrict the use of bicycles in parks, preserves, on sidewalks in commercial areas, and on most trails around the San Dieguito Lagoon. The City’s website has additional information for bicycle and e-bike riders at:
https://www.delmar.ca.us/924/Bike-E-Bike-Safety
Additionally, e-bike riders are expected to adhere to the regulations which apply to the classification of e-bike they own. As identified in Table 1 below, regulations vary based on e-bike classification. For more information on e-bike classifications, visit the San Diego County Sheriff's Office website at: https://www.sdsheriff.gov/resources/bicycle-safety Table 1: San Diego County Sheriff’s E-Bike Classifications Source: San Diego County Sheriff’s Office
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Figure 10: City of Del Mar Bike Routes and Rack Facilities Source: City of Del Mar 2025
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7.4 PUBLIC PARKS AND SCENIC TRAILS
Public parks and scenic trails provide opportunities for exercise and recreation for residents and visitors. Convenient and safe access to these places has a direct correlation to exercise and physical activity in the community. The importance of providing high-quality recreation areas has been demonstrated through the City’s adoption of the Recreation Element in 1985. The adopted Recreation Element supports environmental justice through ensuring sufficient park and recreation areas and access throughout all areas of the City. Figure 11 illustrates where public parks and trails are located within the city.
Public Parks - Del Mar has three coastal parks, Seagrove Park, Sea Cliff Park, and Powerhouse Park. Overlooking over two miles of sandy beaches, these parks offer a great place to recreate with plenty of open space, Seagrove Park benches, bike racks, water fountains, and outdoor showers to accommodate its visitors. Powerhouse Park is part of a community center which hosts public and private events year-round. Both parks have direct access to the beach where people can enjoy over two miles of sandy shore. The beach presents opportunities for all kinds of activities including walking, running, swimming, surfing, kayaking, fishing, and more. There is also a barefoot, kid-friendly Tot Lot which provides children with a safe space to play. The Tot Lot is adjacent to Sea Cliff Park, a pocket park that offers benches and pathways for visitors to walk through native plantings overlooking the ocean. In addition, Del Mar is home to a Giant Sea Kelp Forest and Dog Beach that is available to explore.
Court Street Park is a neighborhood park located east of Camino del Mar and south of 21 st Street. Two tennis courts and a half-court basketball court are open to the public from sunrise to sunset daily. Public restrooms are also available on-site.
Shores Park is a roughly 5.3-acre park that is located west of Camino del Mar, south of 9th Street, and east of Stratford Court. This park was purchased by the City in 2008 and is currently used for informal recreation and an intermittent dog park. Additionally, a portion of the property is leased by the private Winston School, which has been on site since 1988. A master planning process to develop the long-term vision for the park’s development is currently underway. The master planning process involves significant public input and preliminary plans include the school site, a youth sports field, dog park, and multi-use sport court. The Master Plan will also include an updated Del Mar Community Building on the Shores Property. The Community Building houses non-profit groups including Del Mar Community Connections, the Del Mar Foundation, and the Del Mar Historical Society.
Scenic Trails - The City has several miles of trails and paths traveling through coastal, canyon, and lagoon terrains.
These trails vary in length and difficulty. Some of the most frequented trails in Del Mar include the Riverpath Trail and Coast to Crest Trail. The Riverpath Trail runs adjacent to San Dieguito River before connecting to Crest Canyon.
Although Crest Canyon is just outside city limits, it is still easily accessible and offers access to a diverse network of trails. The Coast to Crest Trail is a regional project spanning 70 miles that connects the Del Mar coast to the Volcan Mountain Summit. So far, 49 miles have been constructed with the Riverpath Trail making up part of that mileage.
Connection The Scripps Bluff Preserve, North Torrey Pines State Park, and San Dieguito Lagoon are all destination sites with access points throughout the City which connect to nature preserves within and adjacent to the city.
Residents and visitors of Del Mar can enjoy the native plants, scenic views, and wildlife they have to offer.
ADA Accessible Beach Access - The City of Del Mar provides rental of a beach wheelchair, as part of a commitment to helping all residents of the state experience the beach firsthand. The wheelchair is equipped with large, wide wheels which can roll across the sand without sinking.
Low Income Parking Pass - The City, in collaboration with the California Coastal Commission, offers an annual beach parking pass free of charge to qualified applicants. The intent of the program is to provide more inclusive public access to the City’s public beach and coastal parks by allowing parking in the City’s metered public parking areas. Under the program, individuals who qualify for other low-income programs such as Medicaid/Medi-Cal, CalFresh, Supplemental Security Income or San Diego County’s rental assistance programs will be able to obtain a pass to park for free in Del Mar. The pass may be used to park free of charge at City of Del Mar parking meters and Pay & Display Zones except on Maiden Lane, L’Auberge Del Mar Hotel meters, and the Seagrove Parking Lot. Applicants can apply for the parking 100 April 21, 2026 Item 6
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pass online on the City of Del Mar website or in person at the Beach Safety Center at 1700 Coast Blvd. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday.
One-Mile Art Walk - The one-mile art walk in Downtown Del Mar provides a unique opportunity for people to explore the city center and embrace the arts. The Temporary Outdoor Sculpture Program is supported by the City’s adopted Public Arts Policy.
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Figure 11: City of Del Mar Public Paths and Trails
Source: City of Del Mar, 2025
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7.5 HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS
Del Mar has traditional grocery stores (i.e., Vons, Whole Foods, and Gelsons) in locations outside of the City boundary within the neighboring cities of San Diego and Solana Beach, as shown in Figure 5. Due to the small size of the Del Mar community, it has historically not been economically feasible for a traditional grocery store to locate within Del Mar, however, the City is served by two main locations that provide access to healthy foods including the Del Mar Farmers Market and the Specialty Market (Valley Farms Market) at Del Mar Plaza. Figure 12 identifies retail locations within and adjacent to Del Mar which offer access to healthy foods and produce.
Valley Farms Market (Del Mar Plaza). The Del Mar Plaza is a community-oriented retail center that initially included a 9,000-square-foot food market, imposed as a 25-year obligation for the approval of the development of the property.
Several food markets have occupied the space over the years, but due to the exponentially higher cost of rent within Del Mar compared to food markets of comparable size in other jurisdictions it has been difficult to attract and maintain a local grocery tenant. Valley Farms Market is anticipating opening in the Del Mar Plaza in early 2026 and would provide a local grocery option within the City of Del Mar. Valley Farm Market, is a specialty gourmet market and butcher shop that sells groceries, has a butcher shop and fish market, as well as a full-service delicatessen with fresh-caught seafood items.
Del Mar Farmers Market. The Del Mar Farmers Market is held weekly in the Civic Center parking lot each Saturday from 1-4 pm, providing a local option for food and products grown and produced in the region. CalFresh (nationally known as SNAP) is a public benefits food assistance program that provides qualifying households with an EBT debit card to buy groceries. Farmers Markets are able to accept EBT to further provide access to local food options within the State of California, and the City of Del Mar. Additionally, Market Match (sometimes referred to as Bonus Bucks) is a California healthy food incentive program that matches federal nutrition assistance benefits, like CalFresh and WIC, at farmers markets.
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Figure 12: City of Del Mar Healthy Food Access
Source: City of Del Mar 2025
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7.6 GOALS AND POLICIES – PUBLIC RESOURCES, FACILITIES AND
AMENITIES
Goals and policies to promote physical activities, healthy food access, and access to public facilities, not only ensure that the City of Del Mar is an inclusive community but also further the goals of the Community Plan.
Goal 7: Ensure that all residents and visitors have safe and adequate access to public facilities, transportation, recreational spaces, healthy food, and community services.
Policy 7.6.1 Collaborate with local community groups to identify amenities the public would be interested in incorporating into local parks and trails, such as the redevelopment of Shores Park.
Policy 7.6.2
Ensure equitable access to public facilities and park and recreation opportunities for people of all races, cultures, incomes, and national origins, including residents as well as visitors. • Implementation Action 7.6.2: Develop policies and implement actions, as needed, to remove any impediments or barriers to ensure equitable access.
Policy 7.6.3
Promote physical activity and programs to reduce rates of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and other health-related illnesses for residents of all ages, cultural backgrounds, and abilities. • Implementation Action 7.6.3: Collaborate with local organizations, such as Del Mar Community Connections, to provide health and recreation programs that are inclusive and meet community needs.
Policy 7.6.4
Promote walking and biking as safe, healthy, and fun alternatives for individuals of all ambulatory abilities.
• Implementation Action 7.6.4: In collaboration with community-based organizations, identify public safety needs and interventions to improve public access. • Implementation Action 7.6.5: Continue to issue beach parking passes to eligible lowincome visitors through the City’s Low-Income Parking Pass program.
Policy 7.6.5
Continue to support and promote local options for access to healthy foods such as the Farmers Market at Del Mar’s Civic Center and Valley Farms Market at the Del Mar Plaza. • Implementation Action 7.6.5: Actively encourage local businesses to accept public assistance benefit payments using Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) debit cards.
Policy 7.6.6
Promote the collection and redistribution of surplus edible food to communities in need. • Implementation Action 7.6.6: Continue to support the Community Resource Center’s Food and Nutrition program that provides nutritious fresh meals, produce, meat, and dairy, non-perishable food, and hygiene items to assist lower income households.
Policy 7.6.7
Prevent food waste through programs that encourage or require recycling of food waste (i.e., Solana Center Food Cycle program).
• Implementation Action 7.6.7: Continue enforcement of the City’s Recycling Services and Edible Food Collection program.
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Attachment C