CITY OF DEL MAR
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
MAY 5, 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 4:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Tracy Martinez; Deputy Mayor John Spelich; Councilmembers Terry Gaasterland and Dan Quirk
CITY ATTORNEY CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney Christina Cameron reported that there were no recusals or reportable actions for the May 5, 2026, Closed Session meeting.
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) Thiago Barranco
2) Alex Jimenez
Mayor Martinez closed public oral communications.
CITY COUNCIL COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Martinez reported that she toured Vista Detention Facility with the San Diego County Sheriff and other North County elected officials.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Ashley Jones announced that Bret Davson has been hired to service as the new Fire Chief for the cities of Del Mar and Solana Beach beginning on May 18, 2026; announced a ceremony to dedicate and “push” Del Mar’s new fire engine into service on Sunday, May 31, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Del Mar Fire Station; and thanked the Del Mar Foundation for their generous grant award of $98,500 to the City for the purchase and outfitting of the new Fire Marshal vehicle.
Council questions focused on the role and tenure of the Interim Fire Chief and a request for a status update on the schedule for the permanent repaving of Stratford Court scheduled for the coming months.
City Council Regular Minutes
May 5, 2026
PRESENTATIONS
ITEM 1: PROCLAMATION DECLARING MAY 9, 2026, AS DEL MAR GARDEN CLUB COMMUNITY GARDEN’S DAY (CLERK’S FILE NO. 1201-5, 1202-17) A proclamation was presented to the Del Mar Garden Club by Mayor Martinez. Del Mar Garden Club President Jill Gartman, along with members of the Garden Club Board, received the proclamation and provided comments. Council expressed appreciation to the Garden Club for their beautification work and partnership with the City on Garden Club maintained community gardens.
Mayor Martinez closed the item to public comment.
ITEM 2: DEL MAR COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS 2026 VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR PROCLAMATION (CLERK’S FILE NO. 1201-5, 1202-15)
A proclamation honoring Larry Brooks as the Del Mar Community Connections Volunteer of the Year for 2026 was presented by Mayor Martinez. Mr. Brooks provide comments. Council expressed appreciation to Larry Brookes for his volunteer service to DMMC and contributions to the Del Mar community.
Mayor Martinez opened the item to public comment and the following people spoke:
1) Ashley Simpkins, Del Mar Community Connections (DMCC) Executive Director 2) Katie Militello, DMCC President
Mayor Martinez closed the item to public comment.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Administrative Services Manager/City Clerk Sarah Krietor read the titles of the items included on the Consent Calendar. There were no public speakers for the consent calendar items.
IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER GAASTERLAND, SECONDED BY DEPUTY MAYOR SPELICH TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 3 THROUGH 11, AND ITEM 13. (VOTE 4-0)
Ayes: Mayor Martinez; Deputy Mayor Spelich; Councilmembers Gaasterland and Quirk; Noes: 0; Recuse: 0; Absent: 0; Abstain: 0.
ITEM 3: APPROVAL OF MINUTES: APRIL 21, 2026, REGULAR MEETING (CLERK’S MINUTES BOOK)
Council approved the minutes, on consent.
ITEM 4: RATIFICATION OF LIST OF DEMANDS, DATED MAY 5, 2026 (CLERK’S FILE NO. 201- 3)
Council approved the list of demands, on consent.
ITEM 5: WAIVER OF READING OF ORDINANCES ON AGENDA (CLERK’S FILE NO. 401-4) Council waived the reading of ordinances, on consent.
City Council Regular Minutes
May 5, 2026
ITEM 6: RECAP OF THE 2026 CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND PRIORITIES SETTING WORKSHOP AND COUNCIL-APPROVED FY 2026-27 CITY WORK PLAN (CLERK’S FILE NO. 401-1)
Council received report, which included the approved Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-27 City Work Plan reflecting Council feedback from the 2026 City Council Goals and Priorities Setting Workshop, on consent.
ITEM 7: PROPOSED PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT REORGANIZATION (CLERK’S FILE NO. 504-3)
Council adopted Resolution 2026-29 “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING THE RECLASSIFICATION OF THE
FACILITIES MANAGER I/II POSITION TO FACILITIES SPECIALIST I/II AND THE
RECLASSIFICATION OF PUBLIC WORKS OPERATIONS MANAGER I/II POSITION TO
PUBLIC WORKS OPERATIONS MANAGER, UPDATING THE LANDSCAPE
SPECIALIST I/II POSITION TITLE, AND AMENDING THE COMPENSATION PLANS
FOR GENERAL EMPLOYEES AND MANAGEMENT, PROFESSIONAL, AND CONFIDENTIAL EMPLOYEES,” on consent.
ITEM 8: AGREEMENT WITH ASCENT ENVIRONMENTAL, INC. FOR THE CLIMATE ACTION
PLAN UPDATE AND GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS INVENTORIES PROJECT (CLERK’S FILE NO. 406-1)
Council approved a Professional Services Agreement with Ascent Environmental, Inc. dba Ascent to develop an updated Climate Action Plan and two new greenhouse gas emissions inventories, on consent.
ITEM 9: TREASURER'S INVESTMENT REPORT FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2026 (CLERK’S FILE NO. 102-2, 209-2)
Council received and filed the informational Treasurer’s Investment Report for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, on consent.
ITEM 10: SECOND READING AND ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE PERTAINING TO MEETING ATTENDANCE OF MEMBERS OF CITY COMMITTEES, BOARDS, AND Commissions (CLERK’S FILE NO. 401-4, 401-5)
Council adopted Ordinance 1028 “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 provided that they will be established by Council resolution, on consent.
ITEM 11: APPROVAL OF TASK ORDER AMENDMENT WITH MICHAEL BAKER
INTERNATIONAL FOR THE CITYWIDE CURBSIDE MANAGEMENT INVENTORY (CLERK’S FILE NO. 406-1)
Council approved a $9,000 Task Order Amendment with Michael Baker International for additional parking supply and speed hump data validation and GIS integration for the City Council Regular Minutes
May 5, 2026
Citywide Curbside Management Inventory; and authorized the City Manager to execute the Task Order Amendment, on consent.
PUBLIC HEARING
ITEM 12: DE NOVO HEARING ON AN APPEAL OF ENCROACHMENT PERMIT (EP) 25-049 (CLERK’S FILE NO. 802-1)
EP Appellant/Applicant: Paul Rael
Appellant’s Address: 1612 Stratford Way (APN: 299-280-47-00) Mayor Martinez provided an overview of the hearing procedure. A presentation was provided by Associate Management Analyst Nestor Machado. Planning and Community Development Director Brindley was available to answer questions.
Council disclosures were as follows: Councilmember Quirk met with the applicant previously and reviewed the agenda materials and red dots; Councilmember Gaasterland spoke with the applicant and visited the site several months ago; Mayor Martinez visited the site twice and read the agenda materials and read dots; and Deputy Mayor Spelich reviewed the agenda materials and red dots.
Council questions focused on when City Council Policy 110 went into effect; public parking available on the subject portion of Stratford Way; signage for public parking; and emergency vehicle access.
The applicant’s representatives Dean Meredith and Bob Scott provided a presentation on behalf of the applicant.
Mayor Martinez opened the item to public comment, and Janet Wilson spoke. Mayor Martinez closed the item to public comment.
Council discussion focused on materials and appearance of the proposed improvements requiring an encroachment permit; parking signage and signage height; City Council Policy 110; and emergency vehicle access.
IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER GAASTERLAND AND SECONDED BY DEPUTY MAYOR
SPELICH TO DIRECT STAFF TO RETURN TO CITY COUNCIL WITH A RESOLUTION APPROVING EP25-049 MAKING THE FINDINGS FOR APPROVAL DUE TO THE PUBLIC BENEFITS
ASSOCIATED WITH THE AESTHETICS AND PERMEABILITY OF THE GRASSCRETE MATERIAL, CREATION OF PUBLIC PARKING, AND EMERGENCY VEHICLE ACCESS; CONDUCT CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) STUDIES AS NEEDED; AND INCLUDE A PARKING
SIGNAGE REQUIREMENT WITH THE SIGNAGE APPROVED BY STAFF AND PAID FOR AND INSTALLED BY THE CITY (VOTE 4-0)
Ayes: Mayor Martinez; Deputy Mayor Spelich; Councilmembers Gaasterland and Quirk; Noes: 0; Recuse: 0; Absent: 0; Abstain: 0.
CITY COUNCIL OTHER BUSINESS
ITEM 13: COUNCIL CONSIDERATION OF CITY FLAG DISPLAY POLICY (CLERK’S FILE NO. 401-14)
There were no public speakers for the item.
City Council Regular Minutes
May 5, 2026
Council adopted Resolution 2026-30 “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING CITY COUNCIL POLICY 121 PERTAINING TO FLAG DISPLAY AT CITY FACILITIES,” on consent.
REGIONAL ORGANIZATION AND COUNCIL COMMITTEES/SUBCOMMITTEES/COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATION REPORTS
City Council representatives reported on the Clean Energy Alliance and San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG).
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Martinez adjourned the meeting at 6:14 p.m.
Sarah Krietor, Administrative Services
Manager/City Clerk