CITY OF DEL MAR
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
JUNE 16, 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 4:33 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Tracy Martinez; Deputy Mayor John Spelich; Councilmembers Terry Gaasterland and Dan Quirk (arrived at approximately 5:16 pm).
CITY ATTORNEY CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney Christina Cameron reported that were no reportable actions for the June 16, 2026, Closed Session.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Martinez led the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Martinez opened public oral communications and Shirli Weiss spoke with donations of time from Amy Cheshire and Camilla Rang. Mayor Martinez closed public oral communications.
CITY COUNCIL COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Mayor thanked Senator Blakespear for hosting a webinar on E-Bike safety on June 10, 2026, and urged members of the public to watch the webinar recording available on Senator Blakespear’s website.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Ashley Jones reported on traffic delays due to County Fair activities through July 5, 2026, except Mondays and Tuesdays, and provided a reminder that illegal planting of trees or vegetation in the City’s right of way is prohibited.
PRESENTATIONS
ITEM 1: PROCLAMATION FOR SHAWNA ANDERSON (SAN DIEGUITO RIVER PARK JOINT POWERS AUTHORITY CEO) (CLERK’S FILE NO. 1201-5)
A proclamation was presented to San Dieguito Park JPA CEO Shawna Anderson by Mayor Martinez.
Shawna Anderson received the proclamation and provided comments. The Council congratulated Shawna Anderson on her retirement and expressed appreciation for her contributions to the Del Mar community and the San Dieguito River Park.
City Council Regular Minutes
June 16, 2026
Mayor Martinez opened the item to public comment and the following people spoke:
1) Diana Kutlow, representing Senator Blakespear’s office 2) Dwight Worden
3) Betty Wheeler
Mayor Martinez closed the item to public comment.
ITEM 2: PROCLAMATION FOR PATRICK GIANNETTO (RETIRED DEL MAR FIRE CAPTAIN) (CLERK’S FILE NO. 1201-5)
A proclamation honoring former Del Mar Fire Captain Patrick Giannetto was presented to Patrick Giannetto’s sister Kathleen Perrotta by Mayor Martinez. Kathleen Perrotta received the proclamation and provided comments.
There were no public speakers for this item.
City Manager Jones provided comments and expressed her condolences to Patrick Giannetto’s family.
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.
IT WAS MOVED BY DEPUTY MAYOR SPELICH, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER GAASTERLAND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 3 THROUGH 12, 14, 15, and
16. (VOTE 4-0, WITH COUNCILMEMBER QUIRK OPPOSED ON ITEM 12 (3-1-0)) Ayes: Mayor Martinez; Deputy Mayor Spelich; Councilmembers Gaasterland and Quirk; Noes:
Councilmember Quirk (Item 12 only); Recuse: 0; Absent: 0; Abstain: 0.
ITEM 3: APPROVAL OF MINUTES: JUNE 2, 2026 REGULAR AND SPECIAL MEETING (CLERK’S MINUTES BOOK)
Council approved the minutes, on consent.
ITEM 4: RATIFICATION OF LIST OF DEMANDS, DATED JUNE 16, 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.
ITEM 6: NINTH AMENDMENT TO THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH KLEINFELDER, INC. FOR THE CAMINO DEL MAR BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT (CLERK’S FILE NO. 406-1)
Council approved the Ninth Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Kleinfelder, Inc. for engineering design services for the Camino Del Mar Bridge Replacement Project; and authorized the City Manager to execute the Ninth Amendment, on consent.
City Council Regular Minutes
June 16, 2026
ITEM 7: SEWER PIPELINE ROOT CONTROL SERVICES CONTRACT AWARD (CLERK’S FILE NO. 406-1)
Council approved an agreement with Duke’s Root Control, Inc. to provide sewer line root control services; and authorized the City Manager to execute the agreement, on consent.
ITEM 8: FIRST AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT WITH MIKHAIL OGAWA ENGINEERING, INC.
FOR CLEAN WATER PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SERVICES (CLERK’S FILE NO. 406-1)
Council approved the First Amendment to the Agreement with Mikhail Ogawa Engineering, Inc. for Clean Water Program Management services, extending the term for an additional two-year period ending June 30, 2028, and adjusting fees for inflation; and authorized the City Manager to execute the Amendment, on consent.
ITEM 9: PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENTS WITH THE DEL MAR VILLAGE
ASSOCIATION FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND BUSINESS SUPPORT AND DESTINATION MARKETING (CLERK’S FILE NO. 406-1, 1202-16) Council approved Agreements with the Del Mar Village Association for Economic Development, Business Support Services, and Destination Marketing Services; and authorized the City Manager to execute the Agreements, on consent.
ITEM 10: FIRST AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT WITH DEL MAR COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS FOR SENIOR SUPPORT SERVICES (CLERK’S FILE NO. 406-1, 1202-15) Council approved the First Amendment to the Agreement between the City of Del Mar and Del Mar Community Connections (DMCC) for senior support services to extend the term for an additional two-year period ending June 30, 2028, and adjusted the scope of services and compensation; and authorized the City Manager to execute the First Amendment, on consent.
ITEM 11: FIRST AMENDMENT TO COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT SERVICES AGREEMENT (CLERK’S FILE NO. 406-1)
Council approved the First Amendment to the Agreement with Adam Kaye Communications for as-needed public information, communications, and outreach services, extending the term for an additional two-year period ending June 30, 2028; and authorized the City Manager to execute the First Amendment, on consent.
COUNCIL MEETING RECESS:
The City Council took a meeting recess from approximately 5:55 p.m. to 6:20 p.m.
CITY COUNCIL OTHER BUSINESS
ITEM 12: ADOPTION OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2026-27 BUDGET UPDATE (CLERK’S FILE NO. 202-1)
There were no public speakers for this item. Council questions focused on the budget changes from the last time the item was presented to the Council on June 2, 2026.
Pursuant to Senate Bill (SB) 707 requirements, Senior Management Analyst Izgarskaia provided an oral report summarizing a recommendation for a final action on the salaries, City Council Regular Minutes
June 16, 2026
salary schedules, or compensation paid in the form of fringe benefits to the executive and department head positions.
Council approved Resolution 2026-41 “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING THE FISCAL YEARS 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET;” Resolution 2026-42 “A
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA,
ADOPTING THE COMPENSATION PLANS FOR MANAGEMENT AND
PROFESSIONAL, FIRE, GENERAL, AND MISCELLANEOUS, PART-TIME,
TEMPORARY AND HOURLY EMPLOYEES, AND AUTHORIZING THE
RECLASSIFICATION OF THE FINANCE MANAGER POSITION TO FINANCE DIRECTOR;” Resolution 2026-43 “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA, ESTABLISHING THE FIXED CHARGE ASSESSMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027;” Resolution 2026-44 “A RESOLUTION
OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA, ESTABLISHING THE APPROPRIATIONS LIMIT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027;” Resolution 2026-45 “A
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA, SETTING THE FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027 CITY OF DEL MAR FEE SCHEDULE FOR
PLANNING, PUBLIC WORKS, COMMUNITY SERVICES, AND ADMINISTRATION SERVICES;” and Resolution 2026-46 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA, SETTING THE FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027 PARKING VIOLATION FINES SCHEDULE,” on consent.
ITEM 13: REVIEW OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONCEPTS AND CITY COUNCIL DIRECTION ON INITIATION OF AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING OVERLAY ZONE (6TH CYCLE HOUSING ELEMENT PROGRAMS 1D AND 1I (CLERK’S FILE NO. 303-1, 304-7) A presentation was provided by City Principal Planner Amanda Lee and consultant Senior Planner Matt Gelbman from Ascent Environmental, Inc. Planning and Community Development Director Karen Brindley, Associate Planner Nicole Morrow, and City consultants Christine Babla, Principal Planner, and Veronica Alatorre, Associate Planner, with Ascent Environmental were available to answer questions.
City Attorney Cameron explained that Mayor Martinez, Deputy Mayor Spelich, and Councilmember Quirk are conflicted from participating in the discussion on Sites 3, 4, and 5, due to living within 500 feet of the subject sites and explained the procedure for a straw vote. A straw vote was conducted, and Deputy Mayor Spelich was selected to be recused from the item for Sites 3, 4, and 5.
Council questions and discussion focused on consultant findings identifying a need for increased floor area ratio (FAR) and lot coverage for affordable housing development, potential density bonus scenarios and possibility for applicants to request incentives/concessions and waivers for project feasibility, the relative height needed to develop downtown versus floodplain sites, objective design standards, and ability for future projects to be 100% residential or mixed-use development. Council emphasized the importance of view protection and prioritized limiting height. Staff clarified the overlay zone will provide a general framework for development and explained the importance of flexibility to ensure affordable housing development will be feasible on housing sites relied on in the Housing Element.
The Council separately considered Sites 3, 4, and 5 (Spelich recused) and Sites 1, 2, 6, and 7 (full Council). Mayor Martinez opened the item to public comment for each discussion with no public speakers.
Council provided direction for the new overlay zone to maintain existing discretionary permit processing until State law mandates ministerial processing (i.e., reliance on 6th Cycle housing sites again in 7th Cycle); identify site-specific development standards consistent with the Consultant report except for height on sites in floodplain (direction provided separately for Sites 3, 4, and 5); prioritize accommodation City Council Regular Minutes
June 16, 2026
of increases to FAR and lot coverage as an alternative to increased height; include objective design and development standards and a maximum average unit size; defer consideration of whether to exempt parking from the FAR calculation for consideration with the draft overlay zone; and defer Sites 8, 9, and 10 for consideration with the 7th Cycle housing element.
For Sites 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, Council direction was to limit height to 30 ft or the closest feasible minimum height above 30 ft to accommodate 3 stories, apply other site-specific development standards consistent with the Consultant report, and allow the higher site-specific FAR in concept 2 only for density bonus projects. For Sites 6 and 7, Council directed staff to apply site-specific development standards consistent with the Consultant report including the existing maximum 26-foot height limit of the base zone.
Council requested staff conduct additional analysis to ensure site-specific standards in the overlay zone are realistic, prepare additional visuals to show what project massing could look like, and bring this information forward with the public process and presentation of draft ordinance to create the new overlay zone.
ITEM 14: FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027 ADVISORY COMMITTEE WORK PLANS (CLERK’S FILE NO. 401-5)
There were no public speakers for this item. Council approved the proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-2027 work plans for the City’s advisory committees, on consent.
ITEM 15: AMENDMENT TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027 CITY COUNCIL WORK PLAN TO REVISIT BICYCLE AND ELECTRIC BICYCLE REGULATIONS (CLERK’S FILE NO. 401-1)
There were no public speakers for this item. Deputy Mayor Spelich provided a brief explanation of the item and an overview of the recommended action.
Council approved the amendment of the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 City Work Plan to add an item directing staff to research potential amendments to the Del Mar Municipal Code related to bicycle and electric bicycle regulations and return to the City Council with any proposed changes to the City’s existing regulations, on consent.
ITEM 16: TRAFFIC AND PARKING ADVISORY COMMITTEE APPOINTMENT (CLERK’S FILE NO. 401-5)
There were no public speakers for this item. Council approved the appointment of Janet Wilson to the Traffic and Parking Advisory Committee for a full three-year term beginning June 16, 2026, and expiring June 30, 2029, on consent.
REGIONAL ORGANIZATION AND COUNCIL COMMITTEES/SUBCOMMITTEES/COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATION REPORTS
None.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Martinez adjourned the meeting at 8:00 p.m.
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Kseniia Izgarskaia, Senior Management Analyst