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MINUTES OF THE ENCINITAS CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
AUGUST 27, 2025, 4:00 P.M., 505 SOUTH VULCAN AVENUE
ENCINITAS, CA 92024
CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
Mayor Ehlers called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.
Present: Mayor Bruce Ehlers, Deputy Mayor Joy Lyndes, Council Members Jim O’Hara, Marco San Antonio, and Luke Shaffer
Absent: None
Also present: Assistant City Manager Schwarm, City Attorney Preziosi, Fire Chief Gordon, Assistant Director of Development Services Openshaw, Sustainability Manager Najera, Sustainability Analyst Lamkin, Acting Fire Marshal Villagomez, Principal Planner Maynard, Deputy City Clerk Weichers, and Management Analyst Rapp
There being a quorum present, the meeting was in order.
AGENDA ITEMS
1. Consider local Municipal Code amendments which modify the 2025 California Building Standards Code related to building safety, fire prevention, energy efficiency, and green building. Contact Persons: Principal Planner Maynard, Sustainability Manager Najera, and Interim Fire Marshal Villagomez Environmental Considerations: The amendments proposed will not have a significant effect on the environment because the strengthened requirements reduce hazards and accommodate features to reduce environmental effects.
Adoption of the amendments is exempt from environmental review as per Section 15308 of the CEQA Guidelines, which allows a categorical exemption for “actions taken by regulatory agencies, as authorized by state or local ordinance, to assure the maintenance, restoration, enhancement, or protection of the environment where the regulatory process involves procedures for protection of the environment.” Furthermore, the amendments related to energy efficiency and green building were previously evaluated in the Final Negative Declaration (ND) for the Climate Action Plan (Case No. 17-224), dated December 5, 2017, and Addendum to the ND (Case No. ENV-004106-2020), dated Oct 20, 2020. The ND and the Addendum evaluated the potential environmental effects of the implementation of the Climate Action Plan, including the adoption and enforcement of energy efficiency and renewable energy ordinances. This project is within the scope of the Final Negative Declaration and the Addendum, and no further California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance is required.
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8/27/25 Special Meeting
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Recommended Action: Direct staff on how to proceed with adopting the 2025 California Building Standards Code, and existing local codes related to enhanced building safety, fire prevention, energy efficiency and green building regulation following the passage of Assembly Bill 130. The City Council could consider one of the following options, or a version thereof:
Option 1: Readopt all relevant existing local code amendments before Oct 1, 2025.
Option 2: Readopt certain select local code amendments before Oct 1, 2025.
Option 3: If the City Council does not adopt local code amendments before Oct 1, 2025, future residential local code adoptions would be subject to AB 130 moratorium conditions, which include uncertainty as described in this report.
City Staff responded to preliminary questions from the Council.
SPEAKERS:
Ann Feeney, Jim Wong, Harold Standerfer, Susan Sherod, Niels Lund, Bob Ayers, Michael King, Paige Decino, Lynda Daniels, Anthony Dang, Gary Jahns, and Kristine Schindler
City Staff responded to additional questions from the Council and discussed options available.
COUNCIL ACTIONS:
Shaffer moved, O’Hara seconded to direct staff to readopt all relevant existing local code amendments before Oct 1, 2025 with the addition to evaluate the regulatory conditions concerning gas usage in three-story versus four-story buildings. Motion Carried. Ayes: Ehlers, Lyndes, O’Hara, San Antonio, and Shaffer. Nays: None. Absent: None. Abstain: None.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Ehlers adjourned the meeting at 5:05 p.m.
______________________________ ___________________________ Pete Weichers, Deputy City Clerk Bruce Ehlers, Mayor By: Jackie Rapp, Management Analyst
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