CITY OF DEL MAR
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
APRIL 21, 2026
City of Del Mar Town Hall
1050 Camino del Mar, Del Mar California 92014
And via teleconference
10 Water Witch Crossing, Savannah, GA 31411
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 4:31 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Tracy Martinez; Deputy Mayor John Spelich; Councilmembers Terry Gaasterland and Dan Quirk (participated remotely).
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 Jennifer Anderson spoke. Mayor Martinez closed public oral communications.
CITY COUNCIL COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Martinez thanked Del Mar Community Connections (DMCC) staff and volunteers for holding a successful Senior Fair on April 18, 2026, at the Del Mar Town Hall. Councilmember Gaasterland also thanked the DMMC and the Del Mar Farmer’s Market for assisting with the Senior Fair.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Ashley Jones reported on the status of the Jimmy Durante Boulevard Paving Project which is currently in the asphalt curing phase followed by the striping phase with Project completion expected by May 1, 2026.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Senior Management Analyst Kseniia Izgarskaia read the titles of the items included on the Consent Calendar. There were no public speakers for the consent calendar items.
City Council Regular Minutes
April 21, 2026
IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER GAASTERLAND, SECONDED BY DEPUTY MAYOR SPELICH TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 1 THROUGH 6 AND 8. (VOTE 4-0) Ayes: Mayor Martinez; Deputy Mayor Spelich; Councilmembers Gaasterland and Quirk; Noes: 0; Recuse: 0; Absent: 0; Abstain: 0.
ITEM 1: APPROVAL OF MINUTES: APRIL 7, 2026 REGULAR MEETING (CLERK’S MINUTES BOOK)
Council approved the minutes, on consent.
ITEM 2: RATIFICATION OF LIST OF DEMANDS, DATED APRIL 21, 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: REAPPOINTMENT TO THE LAGOON COMMITTEE (CLERK’S FILE NO. 401-5) Council reappointed Donna Shaw as a voting member to serve a full three-year term beginning May 1, 2026, and ending on May 31, 2029, on consent.
ITEM 5: AMENDMENT TO CITY COUNCIL POLICY 200 AND INTRODUCTION OF AN
ORDINANCE PERTAINING TO MEETING ATTENDANCE OF MEMBERS OF CITY COMMITTEES, BOARDS, AND COMMISSIONS (CLERK’S FILE NO. 401-5) Council adopted Resolution 2026-22 “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;” and Introduced an Ordinance, “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,” and instead provide that they will be established by Council resolution, on consent.
PUBLIC HEARING
ITEM 6: GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT (GPA24-002) – CITY OF DEL MAR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ELEMENT (CLERK’S FILE NO. 304-4)
Mayor Martinez opened the item to public comment and there were no public speakers. Mayor Martinez closed the item to public comment.
Council adopted Resolution 2026-23 “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DEL City Council Regular Minutes
April 21, 2026
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,” on consent.
ITEM 7: GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT (GPA24-003) – CITY OF DEL MAR SAFETY ELEMENT (CLERK’S FILE NO. 304-4)
A presentation was provided by Associate Planner Nicole Morrow. Principal Planner Amanda Lee and Planning and Community Development Director Karen Brindley were available to answer questions.
Council questions focused on whether the proposed Safety Element changes bluff setbacks or the standard of review for coastal development; the timeline for revisions to the Crest Canyon Evacuation Plan; the cited 2016 Vulnerability Assessment and 2018 Addendum technical reports and relationship to the Safety Element, Adaptation Plan, and evolving best available science.
Mayor Martinez opened the item to public comment and the following people spoke:
1) Kelly Black
2) Manuel Nieto
3) Benjamin Benumoff with one donation of time from Brian Guiltinan 4) Erin McKinley
Mayor Martinez closed the item to public comment.
Council discussion focused on the City’s compliance with statutory requirements related to the City’s certified Housing Element; relationship between the Safety Element and review of site-specific projects; and how the Safety Element identification of hazards will be used in the future as policy guidance.
IT WAS MOVED BY DEPUTY MAYOR SPELICH AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER GAASTERLAND TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2026-25 “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA TO ADOPT THE SAFETY ELEMENT (GPA24-003)
UPDATE, WHICH CONSTITUTES AN AMENDMENT TO THE CITY OF DEL MAR COMMUNITY PLAN (GENERAL PLAN), APPLICABLE CITYWIDE WITHIN THE CITY OF 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 8: ENCROACHMENT PERMIT 25-136 TO ALLOW REMOVABLE STREET FURNITURE WITHIN THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY ADJACENT TO 207 15TH STREET (CLERK’S FILE NO. 802-1)
APN: 300-012-29-00
APPLICANT: ED AGHAI AND NOOSHIN PARVIZI
Mayor Martinez opened the item to public comment and there were no public speakers. Mayor Martinez closed the item to public comment.
Council adopted Resolution 2026-24 “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING ENCROACHMENT PERMIT 25-136 FOR STREET FURNITURE ADJACENT TO 207 15TH STREET (APN: 300-012-29-00) IN DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA,” on consent.
City Council Regular Minutes
April 21, 2026
ITEM 9: ENCROACHMENT PERMIT 26-016 TO ALLOW EXISTING WALLS AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS WITHIN THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY AT 157 OCEAN VIEW AVENUE (CLERK’S FILE NO. 802-1)
APPLICANT: NICOLE FORREST M AND KEVIN M LIVING TRUST 09-11-17 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 did not visit the project site or speak to the applicants. Mayor Martinez opened the item to public comment and there were no pubic speakers. Mayor Martinez closed the item to public comment.
Council discussed that approved encroachment permits can be revoked by the City in the future, if necessary.
IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER GAASTERLAND AND SECONDED BY DEPUTY MAYOR SPELICH TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2026-26 “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING ENCROACHMENT PERMIT 26-016 TO
ALLOW EXISTING RETAINING WALLS, WALKWAY, STAIRS, VEGETATION AND IRRIGATION, WITHIN THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY ADJACENT TO 157 OCEAN VIEW AVENUE (APN: 301-023-08-00) 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.
COUNCIL MEETING RECESS:
The City Council took a meeting recess from approximately 7:00 to 7:15 p.m.
CITY COUNCIL OTHER BUSINESS
ITEM 10: CITY COUNCIL MEETING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND DISRUPTION POLICY (CLERK’S FILE NO. 401-1)
There was a question about whether the City could require speakers to use their real name, as opposed to a pseudonym, when providing public comment. There were no public speakers for this item.
IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER GAASTERLAND AND SECONDED BY DEPUTY MAYOR SPELICH TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2026-27 “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA, REPEALING COUNCIL POLICY 313 - ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC DURING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS, AND ADOPTING COUNCIL POLICY 313 - CITY COUNCIL MEETING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION” (VOTE 4-0).
Ayes: Mayor Martinez; Deputy Mayor Spelich; Councilmembers Gaasterland and Quirk; Noes: 0; Recuse:
0; Absent: 0; Abstain: 0.
ITEM 11: DEL MAR AND SOLANA BEACH JOINT FIRE MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE, STAFFING AND COST SHARING (CLERK’S FILE NO. 1101-8)
City Council Regular Minutes
April 21, 2026
A presentation was provided by City Manager Jones. Interim Fire Chief Colin Stowell and Interim Fire Marshal Hans Schmidt were available to answer questions.
Council questions focused on the proposed management structure and whether it would be sufficient to oversee staff and ensure operational and prevention needs of the Del Mar and Solana Beach communities are met; estimated cost of the proposed structure in comparison to prior costs under the prior arrangement with Encinitas; duties of the proposed positions; how the positions will be shared between the cities of Solana Beach and Del Mar; current interim and future long-term cost sharing arrangement with the City of Solana Beach; Battalion Chief position schedule; potential impact of Zone 0 Regulations on future fire management structure; whether there will be any changes to the current dispatch; shifting of fire plan review and inspection from the City’s building consultant to the new fire prevention positions and whether that would result in any cost savings/efficiencies; which positions carry responsibility for weed abatement; and whether this item could be deferred to better understand costs.
There were no public speakers for this item.
Council discussion focused on the importance of understanding the costs of the proposed fire management structure; critical need to fill the proposed positions; potential to align policies and procedures between two cities; City’s obligations under ever evolving state regulations; the importance of the City’s fire department for the community’s safety; opportunity to receive better service under the proposed structure; and the potential to have a Fire Department skills demonstration day for the community in the future.
IT WAS MOVED BY DEPUTY MAYOR SPELICH AND SECONDED BY MAYOR MARTINEZ TO
APPROVE A PRELIMINARY JOINT FIRE MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE FOR DEL MAR AND SOLANA BEACH; ADOPT RESOLUTION 2026-28 “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING THE ADDITION OF ONE FIRE
MARSHAL, ONE FIRE PREVENTION SPECIALIST I/II, AND UP TO ONE FIRE BATTALION CHIEF
POSITIONS TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND AMENDING THE COMPENSATION PLAN FOR FIRE EMPLOYEES”; APPROVE THE SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE INTERIM COST SHARING
AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF SOLANA BEACH TO ADD COST SHARING FOR FIRE
POSITIONS IDENTIFIED IN THIS REPORT AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE THE FINAL AMENDMENT; AND APPROVE A RELATED FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026 BUDGET ADJUSTMENT. (VOTE 3-1)
Ayes: Mayor Martinez; Deputy Mayor Spelich; Councilmember Gaasterland; Noes: Councilmember Quirk; Recuse: 0; Absent: 0; Abstain: 0.
ITEM 12: EXPANDED SCOPE OF WORK SCENARIOS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027 PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (CLERK’S FILE NO. 901-5)
A presentation was provided by Public Works Director Joe Bride and Principal Engineer Karen Falk.
Council questions focused on which streets are included in proposed scenarios; pavement longevity expectation on arterial roads, such as Jimmy Durante Blvd, versus residential streets; streets requiring full depth repairs as opposed to patch repairs; impact of tree roots on the pavement; explanation of slurry seal coating and patch repairs; whether additional costs are anticipated for future paving projects on smaller streets due to narrow drive and heavier traffic control; potential for future cost adjustments as the project is designed; and whether heavy traffic impacts paving degradation.
City Council Regular Minutes
April 21, 2026
Mayor Martinez opened the item to public comment and Stephanie Covington spoke. Mayor Martinez closed the item to public comment.
Council discussion focused on project funding; the proposed scenarios for expanded paving in Fiscal Year 2026-27; the importance of obtaining the City’s Finance Committee’s input and being fiscally responsible while prioritizing projects; methodology for Pavement Condition Index (PCI) ratings and street prioritization; aesthetics of patch repairs as opposed to complete grind and overlay and the balance between pavement aesthetics and performance; need for additional information on streets that are in upcoming Undergrounding District 2; importance of a fiscally prudent approach; whether additional borrowing from reserves would be available in the future; and whether the Council will be able to make a decision on the final pavement project scope after the bids are received and whether a re-design of the project specifications would be needed.
Council provided feedback to staff to consider when bringing this item, along with the fiscal impacts of each potential scenario, back to the Council for final direction in June.
REGIONAL ORGANIZATION AND COUNCIL COMMITTEES/SUBCOMMITTEES/COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATION REPORTS
City Council representatives reported on Civic Center Operations Guide Subcommittee; Traffic and Parking Advisory Committee; San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) Board of Directors; North County Transit District (NCTD); and LOSSAN Double-Tracking Task Force.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Martinez adjourned the meeting at 8:26 p.m.
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Kseniia Izgarskaia, Senior Management Analyst