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MINUTES OF THE ENCINITAS CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
SEPTEMBER 10, 2025, 6:00 P.M., 505 SOUTH VULCAN AVENUE, ENCINITAS, CA 92024
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Ehlers called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Bruce Ehlers, Council Members Jim O’Hara, Marco San Antonio, and Luke Shaffer
Absent: Deputy Mayor Joy Lyndes
Also present: City Manager Campbell, Development Services Director Drapkin, City Clerk Hollywood, and Deputy City Clerk Weichers
There being a quorum present, the meeting was in order.
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
4. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS
There were no Special Presentations or Proclamations.
5. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS / POSSIBLE DIRECTION TO STAFF
Mayor Ehlers read the procedures for Oral Communications and stated that due to the number of speakers, time for each speaker would be reduced to two minutes.
Council Member San Antonio spoke regarding Charlie Kirk’s death and civility in politics.
Council Member Shaffer provided a statement regarding allegations against him.
Natalie Gyor spoke regarding traffic safety in Encinitas.
Julie Thunder spoke regarding local control.
Ron Medak spoke regarding cycling safety on Santa Fe Drive.
Delilah Gunther, Lena Troyan, and Rebecca Troyan spoke regarding street safety in Encinitas and presented a video.
Rachel Graves spoke regarding various topics.
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09/10/2025 Regular Meeting Page 2 Mtg. #2025-____, Bk#41, Page __ Jeannie Lowe, Daniel Murray, and Larry Smith spoke regarding tenant improvements at 145 Leucadia Boulevard.
Molly Hintlian spoke regarding driver behavior.
Cindy Millican spoke regarding Council Member Shaffer.
Bernard Surovsky spoke regarding the building permit process.
Scott Campbell spoke regarding various topics.
Sarah B. spoke regarding homelessness.
Dennis Kaden and Karen Kaden spoke regarding a Dark Skies Ordinance.
Beth Whitteker spoke regarding due process.
Marco Gonzalez spoke regarding Council Member Shaffer.
6. REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION
No Closed Session meeting was held.
7. CHANGES TO THE AGENDA
There were no changes to the posted agenda.
8. CONSENT CALENDAR
City Clerk Hollywood announced that no items were removed from the Consent Calendar.
COUNCIL ACTION:
Shaffer moved, San Antonio seconded to close and adopt the Consent Calendar. Motion Carried. Ayes: Ehlers, O’Hara, San Antonio, and Shaffer.
Nays: None. Absent: Lyndes. Abstain: None.
8A. Approval to waive the full reading of the text of all ordinances and resolutions introduced/adopted at this meeting. Ordinances and resolutions shall be introduced/adopted by title only. Contact Person: City Clerk Hollywood
Recommended Action: Approve.
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09/10/2025 Regular Meeting Page 3 Mtg. #2025-____, Bk#41, Page __ 8B. Approval of the Minutes of the August 13, 2025, Special-Closed Session Meeting; August 13, 2025, Regular Meeting; August 20, 2025, Special- Closed Session Meeting; and August 20, 2025, Regular Meeting. Contact Person: City Clerk Hollywood
Recommended Action: Approve the Minutes.
8C. Approval of the Warrants List (Register of Demands). Contact Person:
Finance Manager Dinh
Recommended Action: Staff recommends that the City Council review and approve the warrants.
8D. Emergency Declaration: Moonlight Beach Sewer Force Main Emergency Repairs at 576 North Coast Highway 101. Contact Person: Principal Engineer Alex
Environmental Considerations: The action being considered by the City Council is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it is an Emergency Project as defined under Section 15269(b) of CEQA Guidelines. The action involves emergency repairs to publicly owned facilities necessary to maintain service essential to public health and safety.
Recommended Action: Authorize emergency repairs to the Moonlight Beach Sewer Force Main at 576 North Coast Highway 101 under the Emergency Declaration.
8E. Adoption of Ordinance 2025-05 Amending Chapter 2.16, Campaign Regulations and Political or Other Noncommercial Signs-Quantity, Timing and Display Area, of the Encinitas Municipal Code. Contact Person: City Clerk Hollywood
Environmental Considerations: The action being considered by the City Council is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it is not a “project” under Section 15378(b)(5) of CEQA Guidelines.
The action involves an organizational or administrative activity of government that will not result in the direct or indirect physical change in the environment.
Recommended Action: Adopt Ordinance No. 2025-05, titled “An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Encinitas, California Amending Chapter 2.16, Campaign Regulations and Political or Other Noncommercial Signs-Quantity, Timing and Display Area, of the Encinitas Municipal Code.” 8F. San Diego Music Society MOU. Contact Person: Arts Division Manager Murphy
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09/10/2025 Regular Meeting Page 4 Mtg. #2025-____, Bk#41, Page __ Environmental Considerations: The action being considered by the City Council is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it is not a “project” under Section 15378(b)(5) of CEQA Guidelines.
The action involves an organizational or administrative activity of government that will not result in the direct or indirect physical change in the environment.
Recommended Action: Approve and authorize the City Manager in coordination with the City Attorney, to execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in substantial form, between the City of Encinitas and the San Diego Music Society (SDMS) to provide a music concert series (Music By The Sea) for the community.
8G. Amendment # 2 to Contract for As-Needed Engineering Services between the City of Encinitas and Michael Baker International to add $150,000 for additional support with as-needed land surveying services for private land development projects. Contact Person: Assistant Director of Development Services Openshaw
Environmental Considerations: The actions being considered by the City Council are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because they are not a “project” under Section 15378(b)(5) of CEQA Guidelines. The actions involve organizational or administrative activities of government that will not result in the direct or indirect physical change in the environment.
Recommended Action: Authorize the City Manager or her designee, in coordination with the City Attorney, to execute Amendment # 2 to the Contract with Michael Baker International in substantial form, to add $150,000 of capacity to the design professional consultant contract, for a new not-to-exceed amount of $500,000.
8H. Designation of a voting delegate for the League of California Cities (LCC) Annual Conference, October 8-10, 2025. Contact Person: Executive Assistant to Mayor and City Council Blease
Environmental Considerations: The action being considered by the City Council is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it is not a “project” under Section 15378(b)(5) of CEQA Guidelines.
The action involves an organizational or administrative activity of government that will not result in the direct or indirect physical change in the environment.
Recommended Action: City Council adopts Resolution 2025-96, titled “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Encinitas, California, designating Mayor Ehlers as the City’s voting delegate at the League of California Cities annual conference to be held October 8-10, 2025.” Docusign Envelope ID: F0CB67E6-EC3C-42FE-B8F3-519EFD7F2A01
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9. ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR
No items were removed from the Consent Calendar.
10. ACTION ITEMS To speak on action items, please submit a “PINK” speaker slip to the City Clerk. Each speaker is allowed three (3) minutes to address the City Council. A maximum of two time donations per speaker is allowed (no more than 9 minutes total); the person donating time must be present.
10A. Public Hearing to review and consider the introduction of City Council Ordinance Nos. 2025-10, and 2025-11 proposing Municipal Code amendments which adopt and modify the 2025 California Building Standards Code. Contact Persons: Planning Manager Maynard, Sustainability Manager Najera and Interim Fire Marshall Villagomez Environmental Considerations: The minor 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 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.
Recommended Action: 1) Introduce City Council Ordinance No. 2025-10, titled “An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Encinitas, California Adopting Amendments to Chapter 23.12 (Building Codes for Construction) of Title 23 (Building and Construction) and to Chapter 10.04 (2021 International Fire Code and 2022 California Fire Code) of Title 10 (Fire Prevention) of the Encinitas Municipal Code to Adopt the 2025 California Building Standards Code and the 2021 International Fire Code and 2022 California Fire Code with Certain Amendments, Additions, and Deletions.
Case Number: PLCY-008321-2025; Citywide;” and 2) Introduce City Council Ordinance No. 2025-11, titled “An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Encinitas, California, Amending Encinitas Municipal Code Chapter 23.12 (Building Codes for Construction) to Make Certain Docusign Envelope ID: F0CB67E6-EC3C-42FE-B8F3-519EFD7F2A01
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Management Analyst Lamkin presented the staff report.
COUNCIL DISCLOSURES OF ANY INFORMATION RECEIVED THAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE AGENDA PACKET:
Council Member San Antonio stated he had nothing to disclose.
Council Member Shaffer stated he had nothing to disclose.
Council Member O’Hara stated he had nothing to disclose.
Mayor Ehlers stated he had nothing to disclose.
Mayor Ehlers opened the public hearing at 6:54 p.m.
There were no public speakers.
Mayor Ehlers closed the public hearing at 6:54 p.m.
COUNCIL ACTION:
O’Hara moved, Shaffer seconded to: 1) introduce City Council Ordinance No. 2025-10, titled “An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Encinitas, California Adopting Amendments to Chapter 23.12 (Building Codes for Construction) of Title 23 (Building and Construction) and to Chapter 10.04 (2021 International Fire Code and 2022 California Fire Code) of Title 10 (Fire Prevention) of the Encinitas Municipal Code to Adopt the 2025 California Building Standards Code and the 2021 International Fire Code and 2022 California Fire Code with Certain Amendments, Additions, and Deletions. Case Number:
PLCY-008321-2025; Citywide;” and 2) introduce City Council Ordinance No. 2025-11, titled “An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Encinitas, California, Amending Encinitas Municipal Code Chapter 23.12 (Building Codes for Construction) to Make Certain Amendments, Additions, and Deletions Related to Electric Vehicles, Water Conservation and Energy Efficiency Case Number: PLCY- 008282-2025; Citywide.” Motion Carried. Ayes: Ehlers, O’Hara, San Antonio, and Shaffer. Nays: None. Absent: Lyndes. Abstain: None.
11. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
There were no Informational items.
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12. COUNCIL MEMBER INITIATED AGENDA ITEM
12A. Council initiated item from Councilmember Jim O’Hara regarding use of sedentary VMS Signs to promote traffic safety messages when not in use at city projects.
Environmental Considerations: The action being considered by the City Council is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it is not a “project” under Section 15378(b)(5) of CEQA Guidelines.
The action involves an organizational or administrative activity of government that will not result in the direct or indirect physical change in the environment.
Recommended Action: Direct Public Works to collaborate with Sheriff’s office on locations and communication to provide safety messages using a percentage of the department’s “sedentary” VMS boards.
Council Member O’Hara presented the Council initiated item.
SPEAKERS:
Molly Hintlian, Beth Whitteker, and Scott Campbell spoke regarding this item.
COUNCIL ACTION:
Ehlers moved, Shaffer seconded to direct Public Works to collaborate with Sheriff’s office on locations and communication to provide safety messages using a percentage of the department’s “sedentary” VMS boards. Motion Carried. Ayes: Ehlers, O’Hara, San Antonio, and Shaffer. Nays: None. Absent: Lyndes. Abstain: None.
Mayor Ehlers announced that he was agendizing a report for a future meeting regarding City Council Policy C003 Policies and Protocols for City Council Meetings to include: 1) Provide a background and history of the changes to the policy; 2) Discuss whether we should restore the ability of two Council members to request items be agendized? This capability existed until 2019 when the Council-initiated item process was implemented; 3) Update and possibly enhance its “Communication Guidelines” to promote more civil discussion and better meeting behavior.
Consider incorporating a “Code of Conduct” similar to Carlsbad’s Code.
Also review what other Cities do; 4) Consider whether Council-initiated items should be limited in their immediate action to being agendized for a future agenda, possibly date certain; and 5) Any other improvements suggested by staff, Council or the public that Council agrees to incorporate into C003.
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13. CITY COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS PURSUANT TO AB1234 (GC 53232.3(d)) / POSSIBLE DIRECTION TO STAFF
Council Member San Antonio reported on attending a San Diego Community Power meeting.
Council Member O’Hara spoke regarding possible direction to staff to determine whether it’s possible to have a public review of the permits issued at 145 Leucadia Boulevard.
Mayor Ehlers reported on attending an Encina Wastewater Authority Board Meeting, Fire Governance Subcommittee meeting, and the SANDAG Shoreline Preservation Working Group.
14. CITY MANAGER REPORTS
City Manager Campbell reported that the City of Encinitas received $1.2 million in grant funding for the La Costa Avenue pedestrian path and provided an update on the Citywide quiet zone.
15. CITY ATTORNEY REPORTS
No City Attorney report was given.
No City Clerk report was given.
16. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Ehlers adjourned the meeting at 7:18 p.m.
_________________________ ____________________________ Kathy Hollywood, City Clerk Bruce Ehlers, Mayor
By: Pete Weichers, Deputy
City Clerk
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