CITY OF DEL MAR
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
MAY 19, 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 4:43 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 19, 2026, Closed Session.
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) Purita Javier
2) Cesar Javier
3) Carol Kerridge
4) Diana Kutlow representing Senator Blakespear
Mayor Martinez closed public oral communications.
CITY COUNCIL COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Martinez reported on the ribbon cutting ceremonies for new Del Mar businesses Shine Natural Market and Haagen-Dazs Ice Cream.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Ashley Jones reported that the City will be celebrating Public Works Week with a lunch and open house event on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at the Public Works Yard located at 2240 Jimmy Durante Boulevard starting at 11:30 a.m. and expressed appreciation to Public Works Department staff for their work maintaining the City’s essential infrastructure; announced a ceremony to dedicate and “push-in” 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 introduced the new Fire Chief Bret Davidson who began serving the cities of Del Mar and Solana Beach on May 18, 2026. Chief Davidson provided comments and City Council expressed their appreciation to him for his service to the community. The City Manager also thanked City Council Regular Minutes
May 19, 2026
Interim Fire Chief Colin Stowell for his service to the City during the transition of fire management services and hiring of Chief Davidson.
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 1 THROUGH 7. (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: MAY 5, 2026, REGULAR AND SPECIAL MEETING (CLERK’S MINUTES BOOK)
Council approved the minutes, on consent.
ITEM 2: RATIFICATION OF LIST OF DEMANDS, DATED MAY 19, 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: FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027 SENATE BILL 1 FUNDING FOR THE CITY’S PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (CLERK’S FILE NO. 901-5)
Mayor Martinez opened public comment and Cesar Javier spoke. Mayor Martinez closed public comment.
Council adopted Resolution 2026-31, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING A LIST OF PROJECTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026-27 FUNDED BY SB1: THE ROAD REPAIR AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2017,” on consent.
ITEM 5: CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT WITH SOUTHLAND PAVING, INC. FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026 ASPHALT ROADWAY PATCH REPAIRS (CLERK’S FILE NO. 406-1) Mayor Martinez opened public comment and Cesar Javier spoke. Mayor Martinez closed public comment.
Council awarded a $75,000 construction contract to Southland Paving, Inc. for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-2026 asphalt roadway patch repairs; and authorized the City Manager to execute the contract, on consent.
ITEM 6: RESOLUTIONS CALLING FOR A 2026 GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION (CLERK’S FILE NO. 402-1, 402-3)
City Council Regular Minutes
May 19, 2026
Mayor Martinez opened public comment and Cesar Javier spoke. Mayor Martinez closed public comment.
Council adopted Resolution 2026-32, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA, CALLING FOR A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2026, FOR THE ELECTION OF CERTAIN
OFFICERS AS REQUIRED BY THE PROVISIONS OF THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RELATING TO GENERAL LAW CITIES;” Resolution 2026-33, “ A
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA,
REQUESTING THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO TO
PERMIT THE REGISTRAR OF VOTERS TO CONSOLIDATE A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2026, WITH THE STATEWIDE GENERAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON THE DATE PURSUANT TO SECTION 10403 OF THE ELECTIONS CODE;” and Resolution 2026-34, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING REGULATIONS FOR CANDIDATES FOR ELECTIVE OFFICE PERTAINING TO CANDIDATES’
STATEMENTS SUBMITTED TO THE VOTERS AT AN ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2026,” on consent.
ITEM 7: FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT WITH THE DEL MAR TELEVISION
FOUNDATION FOR TELEVISION STUDIO OPERATIONS, BROADCAST, AND PRODUCTION SERVICES (CLERK’S FILE NO. 406-1)
Mayor Martinez opened public comment and Cesar Javier spoke. Mayor Martinez closed public comment.
Council approved the First Amendment to the Agreement with Del Mar Television Foundation (DMTF) for Television Studio Operations, Broadcast, and Production Services, extending the term of the Agreement and adjusting the fee schedule with a twopercent annual escalator for an additional two-year period ending June 30, 2028; and authorized the City Manager to execute the Amendment, on consent.
PUBLIC HEARING
ITEM 8: CITY COUNCIL REVIEW AND ACTION ON THE INCOMPLETE ENTITLEMENT APPLICATION SUBMITTALS FOR THE PROPOSED SEASIDE RIDGE 259-UNIT RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT LOCATED AT 929 BORDER AVENUE (CLERK’S FILE NO. 303-1)
Mayor Martinez provided an overview of the public hearing procedure. A presentation was provided by Principal Planner Matt Bator. Planning and Community Development Director Karen Brindley and Assistant City Attorney Ralph Hicks were available to answer questions.
Council disclosures were as follows: Councilmember Quirk had no disclosures; Councilmember Gaasterland attended Del Mar Fairgrounds Board meetings where the applicant and their representatives provided comments about their project, visited the site, and received a text from the applicant’s representative Brian Guiltinan and email from Joseph Smith requesting a meeting which she did not respond to; Deputy Mayor Spelich read the materials and attended Fairgrounds Board meetings where the applicant and their representatives spoke about their project; and Mayor Martinez also attended the Del Mar Fairgrounds Board meetings where the applicant and their representatives spoke about their City Council Regular Minutes
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project, visited the site, and received an email from Joseph Smith requesting a meeting but did not respond.
The applicant’s representative Joseph Smith provided a presentation.
Mayor Martinez opened the item to public comment and Cesar Javier spoke.
The applicant’s representative Joseph Smith declined to provide a rebuttal.
IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER QUIRK AND SECONDED BY DEPUTY MAYOR SPELICH TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2026-035, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA, DENYING THE SEASIDE RIDGE DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION AS
INCOMPLETE AND ADOPTING A CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) EXEMPTION FOR THE PROJECT PROPOSED AT 929 BORDER AVENUE (APNS: 298-241-06, 298- 241-07, AND 299-030-14) IN DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA” (VOTE 4-0).
COUNCIL MEETING RECESS:
The City Council took a meeting recess from approximately 5:56 p.m. to 6:18 p.m.
CITY COUNCIL OTHER BUSINESS
ITEM 9: UPDATE ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING EFFORTS AND RELATED ACTIONS
INCLUDING CITY COUNCIL DIRECTION ON INITIATION OF PLANNING AND ZONING AMENDMENTS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN PREPARATION FOR THE 7TH CYCLE HOUSING ELEMENT (CLERK’S FILE NO. 303-1, 304-7)
A presentation was provided by Principal Planner Amanda Lee. Planning and Community Development Director Brindley and Assistant City Attorney Hicks were available to answer questions.
Council questions focused on the difference between Exclusive Negotiating Agreement (ENA) and Exclusive Negotiating Rights Agreement (ENRA) and Rancho Santa Fe Irrigation District’s jurisdiction.
Mayor Martinez opened the item to public comment and the following people spoke:
1) Carol Lazier
2) Cesar Javier
Mayor Martinez closed the item to public comment.
Council discussion focused on the approach for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) analysis which would include using the existing Environmental Impact Report (EIR) as a starting point and then conducting additional analysis; approach related to the objective design and development standards in the Local Coastal Program (LCP) which would be tailored for the North Bluff; rezone to apply new zoning regulations and standards to real property; and considering targeting capacity for action to be a minimum of 54 lower income units; whether to hire a consultant to assist with the process and analysis; North Bluff history as a beautiful and fragile coastal asset; State law requirement that half of the City’s low income affordable housing units must go on vacant land; and challenges of the City having limited vacant land to include in the 7th Cycle Housing Element; maximum average unit size as part of the objective design standards; desire for staff to continue to check in with the Council throughout the process; and proactive approach being taken by the City.
Council consensus was to support zoning amendments to facilitate affordable housing development on the North Bluff (Whalen and Lazier) properties; working with a consultant on proposed development City Council Regular Minutes
May 19, 2026
standards for the North Bluff and to consider using RM South Zoning standards as a starting point; and proceed with staff’s recommend approach for the CEQA analysis and objective design standards.
REGIONAL ORGANIZATION AND COUNCIL COMMITTEES/SUBCOMMITTEES/COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATION REPORTS
City Council representatives reported on the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG); Parks and Recreation Committee; Sustainability Advisory Committee; and North County Transit District.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Martinez adjourned the meeting at 7:15 p.m.
Sarah Krietor, Administrative Services Manager/
City Clerk