Del Mar City Council Meeting Agenda
Del Mar Town Hall
1050 Camino del Mar, Del Mar, California
June 16, 2026 City Council Meeting
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1 Leslie Carrillo
From: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2026 12:32 PM
To: City Clerk Mail Box
Cc: Clement Brown; Ashley Jones
Subject: FW: 6.16.26 COMMENTS TO DEL MAR CITY COUNCIL ON PROPOSED CHANGES TO CEQA.pptx
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Dear City Clerk,
I would like to make comments this evening at the City Council meeting (general comment segment) on one of the recommendations of the working group created by SB 1098 which affects Del Mar.
Could you kindly have the attached visual available for presentation at the meeting.
Thank you.
Shirli Weiss
From: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2026 12:25 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: 6.16.26 COMMENTS TO DEL MAR CITY COUNCIL ON PROPOSED CHANGES TO CEQA.pptx June 16, 2026 Public Oral Communication
COMMENTS ON CHANGES
TO CEQA PROPOSED TO THE
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE
BY THE “WORKING GROUP”
CREATED UNDER SB 1098
CONSEQUENCES TO DEL
MAR AND OTHER COASTAL
CITIES
June 16, 2026
Shirli Weiss, Esq
1 June 16, 2026 Public Oral Communication
California’s SB
1098: Southern
California Rail
Revitalization
Act
• SPONSORED BY SENATOR CATHRINE BLAKESPEAR
• CREATED A “WORKING GROUP” TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS IN 4 POLICY AREAS IMPACTING THE LOSSAN CORRIDOR’S COORDINATION, OPERATION,
FUNDING AND PERFORMANCE, INCLUDING POSSIBLE CHANGES TO
CALIFORNIA STATUTES
• THE “WORKING GROUP” WAS TO INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVES OF “BUSINESS, COMMUNITY, ENVIRONMENTAL, LABOR,
TRANSPORTATION AND CIVIC “ INTERESTS;
• ITS RECOMMENDATIONS COULD PROFOUNDLY AFFECT THE
ENVIRONMENT; SO, CITIZENS SUCCESSFULLY LOBBIED TO INCLUDE
THE COASTAL COMMISSION, BUT RAIL AND TRANSPORTATION
INTERESTS ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY REPRESENTED IN THE
WORKING GROUP (E.G., NCTD, OCTA, METROLINK, RCTC, LOSSAN AGENCY, SANDAG, SCAG, ETC.).
• MANY RECOMMENDATIONS ARE TECHNICAL OPERATIONAL
RECOMMENDATIONS WITHOUT ANY APPARENT POLITICAL AGENDA AND APPEAR TO BE GOOD SUGGESTIONS; OTHERS HAVE A POLITICAL AGENDA
TO WEAKEN ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS
2 June 16, 2026 Public Oral Communication
The Act’s
Deadlines;
Public Input
• Working Group Was Authorized by SB 1098, passed on Sept. 27, 2024, 2024. Deadline for report to Legislature was due February 1, 2026
• The date slipped, the Working Group first met in late February 2026; Most of the meetings were held in secret, closed to the public
• At its May 11, 2026 public meeting, the Working Group published draft recommendations; there was no recommendation to
change CEQA on that draft
• The Recommendation to change CEQA was added at the last minute before publication
• The Public Comment Draft was published on June 10, 2026, with a 30-day window for public and city comment.
3 June 16, 2026 Public Oral Communication
THE WORKING GROUP’S
RECOMMENDATION 3,
SECTION 4.1 PROPOSES
A SIGNIFICANT
CHANGE TO CURRENT
LAW
TEXT OF RECOMMENDATION:
3. CLARIFY CEQA AND ADD THE FOLLOWING TO THE
EXISTING STATUTORY EXEMPTION:
‘ACTIVITIES BY AN [SIC] RAIL CARRIER OR ON BEHALF OF
A RAIL CARRIER UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE
SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD FOR THE
‘CONSTRUCTION, ACQUISITION, OPERATION,
ABANDONMENT, OR DISCONTINUANCE OF SPUR,
INDUSTRIAL, TEAM SWITCHING, OR SIDE TRACKS, OR
FACILITIES, EVEN IF THE TRACKS ARE LOCATED, OR
INTENDED TO BE LOCATED, ENTIRELY IN ONE STATE.’”
(EMPHASIS ADDED)
4 June 16, 2026 Public Oral Communication
Consequences
of the Proposed
Sweeping New
CEQA
Exemption:
• THE PROPOSED NEW CEQA EXEMPTION WOULD :
• REWRITE CURRENT CALIFORNIA LAW
• EXPAND CATEGORIES OF RAIL PROJECTS IN CALIFORNIA THAT
ESCAPE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY AND MITIGATION
• UNDERMINE STATE CONTRACTS WITH PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
AND RAIL AGENCIES CALLING FOR CEQA COMPLIANCE
• TRANSFER OVERSIGHT OF PROJECTS OVER DEL MAR’S BLUFFS FROM
THE COASTAL COMMISSION AND DEL MAR (THROUGH ITS LCP) TO A REMOTE WASHINGTON D.C. AGENCY(THE SURFACE
TRANSPORTATION BOARD) FOCUSED ON ECONOMIC PROSPERITY
OF FOR-PROFIT FREIGHT CARRIERS
5 June 16, 2026 Public Oral Communication
Consequences of
the Proposed
Sweeping New
CEQA Exemption:
It Would Greatly
Expand Projects
Escaping
Environmental
Review and
Mitigation
• THE PROPOSED NEW CEQA EXEMPTION WOULD :
• SIGNIFICANTLY EXPAND CATEGORIES OF RAIL PROJECTS IN
CALIFORNIA THAT ESCAPE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY AND MITIGATION UNDER CALIFORNIA LAW TO INCLUDE:
“CONSTRUCTION, ACQUISITION, OPERATION,
ABANDONMENT, OR DISCONTINUANCE OF… SIDE
TRACKS, OR FACILITIES…..
• “FACILITIES" REFERS BROADLY UNDER REGULATIONS TO ANY
PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT, OR PHYSICAL STRUCTURE RELATED TO
THE INTERSTATE MOVEMENT OF PASSENGERS OR FREIGHT.
• SIDE-TRACKS ARE AUXILIARY RAILWAY TRACKS ALONGSIDE
MAIN LINES USED FOR SWITCHING, PASSING, OR STORING RAIL CARS.
6 June 16, 2026 Public Oral Communication
Consequences
of the Proposed
New CEQA
Exemption:
It Would Rewrite
California Law
THE PROPOSED EXEMPTION WOULD, IN EFFECT, REVERSE CURRENT LAW.
• THE PROPOSED NEW CEQA EXEMPTION LANGUAGE WAS CUT AND
PASTED FROM A FEDERAL STATUTE, THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE
COMMISSION TERMINATION ACT (“ICCTA”)
• THE NEW CEQA EXEMPTION WOULD MAKE CEQA’S STUDY AND
MITIGATION REQUIREMENTS INAPPLICABLE TO ALL RAIL
AGENCIES’ PROJECTS IN DEL MAR FOR ‘CONSTRUCTION,
ACQUISITION, OPERATION, ABANDONMENT, OR DISCONTINUANCE
OF …. SIDE TRACKS OR [RAIL] FACILITIES.
• THE PROPOSED NEW CEQA EXEMPTION WOULD BE A SWEEPING
CHANGE IN CURRENT LAW.
• UNDER CURRENT CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT AUTHORITY
(FRIENDS OF EEL RIVER V. NORTH COAST RAILROAD AUTHORITY)
CEQA IS NOT PREEMPTED BY THE ICCTA, BUT RATHER APPLIES TO
RAIL PROJECTS OF ALL CALIFORNIA-CREATED AGENCIES (SUCH
AS NCTD, OCTA, SANDAG, RCTC, ETC.)
7 June 16, 2026 Public Oral Communication
Consequences of
the WG’s
Proposed
Sweeping New
CEQA Exemption:
State Funding
Contracts
Environmental
Provisions Would
be Undermined
• THE PROPOSED NEW CEQA EXEMPTION WOULD UNDERMINE
STATE FUNDING COMPLIANCE WITH CEQA
• STATE FUNDING CONTRACTS WITH CALIFORNIA TRANSPORTATION
AGENCIES AND RAIL CARRIERS (SUCH AS NCTD AND SANDAG)
ROUTINELY REQUIRE RAIL CARRIER PROJECTS TO COMPLY WITH
CEQA OR SHOW AND EXEMPTION
• E.G., HUNDREDS OF $MILLIONS OF TRANSIT AND INTERCITY RAIL
CAPITAL PROGRAM (TIRCP) PROJECT FUNDS GRANTED TO NCTD
AND SANDAG REQUIRE COMPLIANCE WITH CEQA AND ARE NOT
EXEMPTED.
• HUNDREDS OF $MILLIONS IN STATE FUNDING ON FUTURE RAIL
PROJECTS COULD BE SWEPT UNDER THE NEW EXEMPTION AND
WOULD ESCAPE ENVIRONMENTAL SCRUTINY AND MITIGATION
• .
8 June 16, 2026 Public Oral Communication
Consequences of
the Proposed New
CEQA Exemption:
It Would Expand
the Authority of a
Remote
Washington
Agency over the
Del Mar Bluffs
• THE PROPOSED ADDITION TO CEQA EXEMPTIONS WOULD
INCORPORATE FEDERAL LANGUAGE INTO A PRINCIPAL
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL STATUTE. THIS WOULD HAVE
THE EFFECT OF TRANSFERRING AUTHORITY OVER THE
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES OF CONSTRUCTION OF
RAIL FACILITIES TO THE SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD AS
A MATTER OF STATE LAW.
• THE STB IS A REMOTE WASHINGTON D.C.-BASED
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY, OF UNELECTED APPOINTEES
FOCUSED ON ADVANCING THE ECONOMIC INTERESTS OF
FREIGHT CARRIERS.
9 June 16, 2026 Public Oral Communication