[00:00:01]
[CALL TO ORDER]
>> MAYOR PRO TEM PRIYA BHAT-PATEL.
ALL FIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE PRESENT.
[ANNOUNCEMENT OF CONCURRENT MEETINGS]
ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR TONIGHT'S MEETING.CITY COUNCIL IS SERVING AS THE CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON CONSENT CALENDAR, ITEM NUMBER 10.
NEXT IS THE PLEDGE, I INVITE DR. BHAT-PATEL DIRECT US IN INTO IT.
NEXT IS APPROVAL OF MINUTES, MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING HELD ON MAY 9TH, 2023, AND THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING HELD MAY 16TH, 2023.
[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
>> MOVE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES AS RECITED BY THE MAYOR.
[PRESENTATIONS]
I INVITES SUZANNE SMITHSON TO MAKE THE PRESENTATION PLEASE.THANK YOU, MAYOR BLACKBURN AND THE REST OF CITY COUNCIL FOR THIS TIME, THIS EVENING, WE WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE A DONATION TO THE LIBRARY AND CULTURAL ARTS DEPARTMENT FROM THE CARLSBAD LIBRARY AND ARTS FOUNDATION.
I AM SUZANNE SMITHSON, THE LIBRARY AND CULTURE ARTS DIRECTOR AND WITH ME THIS EVENING GITA NASSIRI SHE'S THE PRESIDENT OF THE CARLSBAD LIBRARY AND ARTS FOUNDATION, WHICH WE CALLED CLAF, THE DONATION THIS YEAR, THEY DONATE EVERY YEAR IS FOR 105,000 DOLLARS WHICH IS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR FOR YOUR ACCEPTANCE IN A FEW MINUTES.
IT HELPS TO PROVIDE THE WONDERFUL LIBRARY ARTS, MUSIC PROGRAMS AND THE LIBRARY SERVICES AND EVENTS AND COLLECTIONS AND SUPPLEMENTS THE PRIMARY BUDGET, WHICH IS FUNDED FROM THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND.
I'M SURE I SPEAK FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND THE LIBRARY IN OUR STAFF.
AS I EXPRESS OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND FAMILIES WHO HAVE LEFT BEQUEST AND ENDOWMENTS THAT ALLOW FOR THIS FUNDING YEAR OVER YEAR TO BENEFIT AND LEAVE A LEGACY TO THE COMMUNITY.
NOW I WILL TURN THE TIME OVER TO GITA TO MAKE A FEW COMMENTS.
>> I NEED MY GLASSES, EXCUSE ME.
[LAUGHTER] GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR BLACKBURN AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M GITA NASSIRI, I SERVE ON THE CARLSBAD LIBRARY AND ARTS FOUNDATION AS IT'S CURRENT PRESIDENT.
HERE WITH ME TODAY IS A BOARD MEMBER, JOHN LUCAS.
WE ARE ALL VOLUNTEERS SERVING ON THIS BOARD OF TRUSTEES, AND WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR NEW DEDICATED BOARD MEMBERS WHO APPRECIATE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE LIBRARIES AND ARTS IN THE FUTURE GROWTH OF CARLSBAD AND IN ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF CARLSBAD RESIDENTS.
THE CARLSBAD LIBRARY AND ARTS FOUNDATION IS A 501(C)(3) NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION.
IT'S A C-CORP, AND IT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1998.
ITS MISSION IS TO FINANCIALLY SUPPORT AND ENHANCE THE CITY OF CARLSBAD LIBRARY AND CULTURAL ARTS FACILITIES, PROGRAMS, AND SERVICES.
COMMUNITY GIFTS AND DONATIONS HAVE ENABLED THE FOUNDATION OVER THE YEARS TO SUPPORT MANY LIBRARY, ARTS, LITERARY, CULTURAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, AND TO DATE, THE FOUNDATION HAS DONATED AN EXCESS OF TWO MILLION DOLLARS.
NONE OF THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE GENEROUS INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS FROM OUR COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS ENDOWMENTS, ESTABLISHED TO SPONSOR SPECIFIC PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.
PRESENTLY, THE FOUNDATION MANAGES OVER FOUR MILLION DOLLARS IN ENDOWMENT FUNDS
[00:05:05]
IN ADDITION TO THE INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS.FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2023, 2024.
THE FOUNDATION IS HAPPY TO PROVIDE THE CITY OF CARLSBAD WITH A CHECK IN THE AMOUNT OF $105,000 TO BENEFIT THE LIBRARY AND ARTS DEPARTMENT.
THIS YEAR, THE FUNDS DISBURSED ARE FROM TWO OF THE ENDOWMENTS TO BE USED IN ACCORDANCE TO THE DONOR'S WISHES AND INSTRUCTIONS, $55,000 IS FROM THE ROBERT H.
GARDNER ENDOWMENT FUND FOR PROGRAMMING AND EVENTS IN THE SCHULMAN AUDITORIUM, AND $50,000 IS FROM THE BENSON FAMILY FOUNDATION ENDOWMENT FUND, WITH HALF OF THE FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE LIBRARY FOUNDATION, THE LIBRARY COLLECTION AND BOOKS, AND THE OTHER HALF TO SUPPORT THE LEARNING CENTER, SO THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] PRIOR TO TONIGHT'S COUNCIL MEETING, WE MET IN CLOSED SESSION.
CITY ATTORNEY, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO REPORT OUT?
NO, THERE WAS NO REPORTABLE ACTION.
[PUBLIC COMMENT]
I'M SUPPOSED TO READ THE FOLLOWING.THE BROWN ACT ALLOWS ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC TO COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA.
PLEASE TREAT OTHERS WITH COURTESY, CIVILITY, AND RESPECT.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETING BY PROVIDING COMMENTS AS PROVIDED ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THIS AGENDA.
THE CITY COUNCIL RECEIVED COMMENTS AS REQUESTED UP TO A TOTAL OF 15 MINUTES IN THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING.
ALL OTHER NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE HEARD AT THE END OF THE MEETING.
IN CONFORMANCE WITH THE BROWN ACT, NO ACTION CAN OCCUR ON ANY OF THESE ITEMS. WE WELCOME CLAPPING DURING THE CEREMONIAL PRESENTATIONS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
HOWEVER, WE ASK THAT YOU REFRAIN FROM CLAPPING DURING THE BUSINESS SECTION OF THE MEETING, STARTING WITH THE NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT.
THIS WILL HELP BE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE'S BUSINESS CAN BE CONDUCTED EFFICIENTLY, AND THAT THIS CHAMBER IS A PLACE WHERE ALL POINTS OF VIEW ARE WELCOMED AND RESPECTED.
THE NAME WILL BE CALLED BY THE CLERK.
PLEASE SET UP TO THE PODIUM, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES AT THE TWO AND A HALF MINUTES, MARK THE LIGHT IN FRONT OF VIEW WILL TURN YELLOW.
I'VE ASKED THE CLERK TO TURN OFF THE MICROPHONE AT THE CONCLUSION OF THREE MINUTES SO EVERYBODY GETS THE EXACT SAME AMOUNT OF TIME TO SPEAK.
PLEASE CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER.
>> GLENN BERNARD, FOLLOWED BY PIERRE CASHEVINO.
>> YESTERDAY WAS JUNE 10TH, A HOLIDAY.
I THINK IT'S A FABULOUS, WELL DESERVED, LOGICAL HOLIDAY.
AMERICA IS A BETTER PLACE WITH BLACK AMERICANS AND BLACK CULTURE, AND THIS HOLIDAY CAUSES US TO THINK OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
WHEN I WAS A KID IN CALIFORNIA, LINCOLN'S BIRTHDAY WAS A STATE HOLIDAY AS WAS A SEPARATE DAY FOR WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY.
ANOTHER THING DIFFERENT, WHEN I WAS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THERE WAS A DAY WHEN THE PRINCIPAL SCURRIED AROUND FROM CLASSROOM TO CLASSROOM TO TELL EVERYBODY, STARTING NOW YOU'VE GOT IT, WE'RE SAYING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WITH TWO WORDS ADDED UNDER GOD.
THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IS AN EYE STATEMENT.
TONIGHT I WENT ALONG WITH WHAT IT IS, HOW IT IS, HOW IT'S BEEN FOR A LONG TIME BUT I'M GOING TO CHANGE IT EVERY TIME.
I SAY, IT'S GOING TO GO LIKE THIS.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, NOT THE PRIDE FLAG AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION AND UNDER GOD, NOT PRIDE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL INCLUDING ASIAN AMERICANS.
IF YOU'RE OPEN MINDED PERSON PLEASE JOIN ME IN THAT.
POSSIBLY AS NEXT TUESDAY IN THIS VERY ROOM.
SPEAKING ABOUT PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, AFTER I RETIRED FROM MARINE CORPS I TAUGHT SCHOOL FOR FIVE YEARS AND IN CLASSROOMS, WHEN PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WAS CONDUCTED, THERE WERE KIDS IN RELIGIOUS FAMILIES WHO DON'T CELEBRATE BIRTHDAY AND ITS IN THEIR RELIGION NOT TO HAVE A PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, SO THESE KIDS THEY RELUCTANTLY STOOD UP.
THEY WERE BOTHERED ABOUT HAVING TO STAND UP FOR NO REASONS AND BACK DOWN.
OF COURSE, IT'S VERY OBVIOUS SOME MARINE IS GOING TO NOTICE THIS.
I COULDN'T SAY A WORD THOUGH, I JUST WENT ON, DID THE BEST YOU COULD AND ACCEPTED THAT IT WAS THE LAW.
I DON'T HAVE TO ACCEPT SLOPPINESS FROM ANYBODY ON THAT CITY COUNCIL WHEN IT
[00:10:09]
COMES TO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.THEY HAD THIS PROBLEM IN THE NFL WITH THE PLAYERS NOT WANTING TO DO THE NATIONAL ANTHEM, SO THEY STAY AWAY UNTIL IT'S DONE, IT'S FINE WITH ME.
I LIKE THAT CHARLES BARKLEY TENURE 20 YEARS AGO SAID DON'T LET THE PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES TO BE ROLE MODELS.
LAST WEEK, IF YOU FACILITATE THE MEETING BY TELLING EVERYBODY THEY ONLY HAD ONE MINUTE INSTEAD OF THREE ON THE FLAG THING.
ANYWAY, PRIOR I NO LONGER WANT TO SALUTE YOUR FLAG THEN YOU WANT TO SALUTE THE AMERICAN FLAG AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE THIS PLACE NOT TO DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ANYMORE BECAUSE OF THE SLOPPINESS UP THERE.
AT THE LAST MEETING, SOMEONE CAME TO BRAG ABOUT HIS CONCEALED WEAPON PERMIT.
THERE IS A LINGERING FEAR OF WEAPONS IN THIS COUNTRY EVEN IN CITY HALLS.
FEAR THAT IS OFTEN NOT SAID OUT LOUD, BUT REAL.
THEIR ARE MORE OR LESS SUBTLE WAYS OF THREATS AND INTIMIDATION WITH THIS FEAR OF WEAPONS.
THE FIRST CAUSE OF DEATH FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS IN THE USA IS DEATHS BY FIREARMS. WE SACRIFICE OUR CHEERING ON THE ALTAR OF THE EXTREME NRA IDEOLOGY.
IF WE TRULY ARE PRO-LIFE, IF WE TRULY CARE ABOUT SECURITY AND ABOUT OUR CHILDREN, THIS IS WHAT OUR WORRY SHOULD BE.
THE SECOND AMENDMENT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS.
THE SUPREME COURT IN 2008 REVERSED IN ITS EXTREME AND BIASED INTERPRETATION TWO CENTURIES OF PRECEDENT WHEN IT WAS NEVER UNDERSTOOD AND NEVER CONCEIVED AS A SWEEPING RIGHT ABOVE THE RIGHT TO LIVE.
A VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICANS WANT REASONABLE GUN SAFETY LAWS, AS IN ALL OTHER DEVELOPED COUNTRIES WHERE PEOPLE DO OWN GUNS BUT WE'RE HOMICIDE RATES ARE MUCH LOWER.
YET AMERICANS ARE NOT MORE EVIL OR MENTALLY ILL THAN IN THESE COUNTRIES.
BUT WE DON'T HAVE A MAJORITY REPRESENTATION OF A DEMOCRACY IN THIS COUNTRY.
NOT IN ANY BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT.
NOT IN THE SENATE, OBVIOUSLY, NOT IN THE HOUSE WITH MASSIVE GERRYMANDERING AND VOTING SUPPRESSION BY REPUBLICANS.
NOT IN THE PRESIDENCY WITH THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE, AND NOT IN THE SUPREME COURT EITHER.
THIS IS WHY THEIR IS SUCH A DISCREPANCY BETWEEN OUR LAWS AND THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS MATTER AND IN MANY OTHERS.
>> MARK DICE, FOLLOWED BY TERRY BURNS.
>> IT'S LGBTQ PRIDE MONTH, AS I'M SURE EVERYBODY IS AWARE, BECAUSE THE QUEERS HAVE CONQUERED THE COUNTRY, THEIR FLAGS ARE FLYING EVERYWHERE FROM GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS TO SPORTS STADIUMS AND THE SCHOOLS.
BUT DID YOU KNOW THAT IT USED TO BE CALLED GAY PRIDE MONTH, BUT THAT WASN'T INCLUSIVE ENOUGH.
SO THEY CHANGED IT TO LGBTQ PRIDE MONTH, BUT THEY STILL HAVE TO CHANGE IT AGAIN BECAUSE THEY KEEP ADDING ALL THESE DIFFERENT LETTERS.
SO TECHNICALLY IT IS THE LGBTQIA PLUS COMMUNITY.
NOW EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT LGBT STANDS FOR.
THE LESBIANS, GAYS, BISEXUALS, AND THE TRANSGENDERS.
THE Q STANDS FOR QUEERS, WHICH USED TO BE A SLOWER, BUT THEY'VE INCORPORATED THAT AS THEIR OWN, LIKE BLACK PEOPLE DID WITH THE INWARD.
THOSE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN BORN WITH BOTH MALE AND FEMALE SEX ORGANS, USED TO BE CALLED HERMAPHRODITES, BUT THEY DO HAPPEN.
THEY'RE LIKE THE UNICORNS OF THE COMMUNITY.
BUT DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE A STANDS FOR IN LGBTQAI? NO, NOT ANAL, BUT I UNDERSTAND WHY YOU WOULD ASSUME THAT IT ACTUALLY STANDS FOR ASEXUAL.
THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT INTERESTED IN HAVING SEX AT ALL.
NOW WITH THE OPPOSITE SEX, NOT WHAT THE SAME-SEX, NO SEX, WHICH BEGS THE QUESTION, WHY WOULD THEY BE INCLUDED WITH A COMMUNITY THAT WON'T STOP TALKING ABOUT IT? ALL OF THEIR KINKS AND FETISHES AND THE 57 DIFFERENT GENDERS THAT THEY'VE INVENTED.
IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.
[00:15:01]
BUT NOW THE DRAG QUEENS WANT TO READ BOOKS ABOUT IT TO THE CHILDREN IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND SO A STRAIGHT PEOPLE ARE LIKE, THIS HAS GONE FAR ENOUGH.MAYBE THEY SHOULD GO BACK INTO THE CLOSET.
BUT I REALLY FEEL SORRY FOR THE ASEXUAL PEOPLE BECAUSE I'M SURE THAT THEY WOULD RATHER BE DOING ANYTHING OTHER THAN BEING LUMPED IN WITH THESE PEOPLE PLAYING VIDEO GAMES, WHATEVER BUT SOMEHOW THEY'VE BEEN LUMPED IN WITH THIS MESS AS WELL.
BUT THE LESBIANS REALLY CONFUSE ME BECAUSE IF THEY'RE ATTRACTED TO OTHER WOMEN, WHY ARE SO MANY OF THEM DATING WOMEN WHO LOOK LIKE MEN? NOW, I'M NOT CLAIMING COPYRIGHT ON THAT JOKE.
I'M SURE A LOT OF COMEDIANS HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS.
THIS IS A TOUGH CROWD HERE TONIGHT, BUT I UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW WHAT THE CANCEL CULTURE, PEOPLE COULD GET FIRED FROM THEIR JOBS FOR LAUGHING AT CUTTING-EDGE JOKES OR OBVIOUS FACTS.
SO I'M JUST HERE TODAY TO SAY THAT IT'S OKAY TO NOT BE GAY.
WE USED TO CALL THAT, THEY CALL THAT HOMOPHOBIA NOW, BUT WE USED TO JUST CALL IT BEING NORMAL.
SO SUBSCRIBE TO MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL BY THE WAY, FOR NEW HERE, CLICK THE LINK IN THE DESCRIPTION BELOW.
CHECK OUT MY EXCLUSIVE LOCALS COMMUNITY WHERE I POST ALL MY HEARTACHES THAT AREN'T ALLOWED ON ANY OF THE BIG TECH PLATFORMS AND STAY TUNED AND I WILL SEE YOU SOON.
YOU KNOW IT'S TRUE [INAUDIBLE].
>> LAST WEEK DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE EXTRA FLAG REQUEST, THERE WERE 12 SPEAKERS AGAINST THE FLAG AND 10 FOR IT.
FOUR OF THE 10 AGAINST IT, OR FOR IT, WE'RE NOT CARLSBAD RESIDENTS.
SO THAT REALLY MAKES THE COUNT 12-6 COUNTING RESIDENTS ONLY.
I TOOK A LOOK AT THE 162 EMAILS THE COUNCIL RECEIVED ON THIS FLAG SUBJECT, IT WAS A LANDSLIDE, 103 AGAINST THE EXTRA FLAG AND ONLY 59 FOR IT.
THAT'S 64% AGAINST 36% FOR IT.
THE VOTE DID NOT REFLECT THE WISHES OF THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF CARLSBAD RESIDENTS.
HERE'S A QUOTE FROM COUNCILWOMAN BHAT-PATEL FROM 2021.
I AM A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE RESIDENTS OF CARLSBAD, NOT HAVE ASPIRATIONS TO POWER.
WELL, YOU DIDN'T REPRESENT THE CARLSBAD RESIDENTS ON THIS BOAT.
YOU IN COUNCILWOMAN TO COST US SEEM MORE FOCUSED ON THIS FLAG THAN THE BUSINESS OF CARLSBAD.
ON MAY 23RD, AT THE COUNCIL MEETING, THERE WAS AN AGENDA ITEM FOR SPENDING $300,000 ON OFFICE FURNITURE.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE INVOICES, INSTEAD OF WORRYING ABOUT FLAGS AND CANCELING AN INVOCATION, WHICH HASN'T HAPPENED HERE IN FIVE YEARS YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN A CHARGE FOR AID OFFICE CHAIRS FOR $14,000.
TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY THE VENDOR ADDED A CHARGE OF $700 FOR ASSEMBLING THOSE CHAIRS.
YOU SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON INVOICES, NOT FLAGS.
WE ASK THAT YOU GET BACK TO THE BUSINESS OF CARLSBAD AND STOP PANDERING TO GROUPS FOR THE FUTURE VOTES.
LASTLY, A YOUNG WOMAN LAST WEEK BROUGHT UP THE RACIST POST FROM COUNCILWOMAN BHAT-PATEL.
CALLING PEOPLE THAT YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHITE SUPREMACISTS IS A RACIAL SLUR.
IT'S BEEN FOUR MONTHS AND EVEN NOT APOLOGIZE FOR YOUR RACIST COMMENT.
THERE'S NO PLACE FOR RACISM ON THIS COUNCIL OR ANYWHERE, YOU NEED TO RESIGN OR FACE RECALL.
HOWEVER, IN APRIL, THERE WAS A TRAGIC DEATH AT WINDSOR POINT.
I ASKED COUNSEL AT THAT TIME TO REQUEST AN AUDIT TO SEE IF PATIENTS, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE, A DIAGNOSIS OF SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS IS A PREREQUISITE FOR FREE RESIDENTS THERE.
WE'RE GETTING APPROPRIATE SERVICES TO KEEP THEM OFF STREET DRUGS AND ON INAPPROPRIATE MEDS FOR THEIR DIAGNOSES.
I PARTICULARLY BEGGED REPRESENTATIVES BHAT-PATEL AND BURKHOLDER AS THEIR STATED AREAS OF EXPERTISE ARE PUBLIC HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH, RESPECTIVELY.
THE ACTION I REQUESTED WAS NOT TAKEN.
THIS MORNING, A WINDSOR POINT PATIENT BROKE INTO A PRIVATE HOME ON A PEACEFUL CULDESAC, STRIPPED NAKED, BUSTED THROUGH THE FLOOR FROM UPSTAIRS TO DOWNSTAIRS.
WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? IN MS. BURKHOLDER'S DEFENSE, AT LEAST SHE DID NOT VOTE THIS IN.
BUT THOSE OF YOU WHO DID VOTE THIS IN, PLEASE TALK TO PEOPLE YOU KNOW AT THE COUNTY.
PLEASE MAKE SURE THESE PEOPLE ARE GETTING THE SERVICES.
THIS IS A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT'S CLOSE TO AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WHAT DO WE HAVE TO SEE HAPPEN NEXT?
[00:20:05]
I'M TIRED OF COMING HERE AND SAYING THESE THINGS.EVERYBODY DESERVE BETTER, AND IT'S WRONG.
THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS.
[CONSENT CALENDAR]
I'VE BEEN REQUESTED TO PULL NUMBER 4 AND NUMBER 5, AND ON NUMBER 7, COUNCIL MEMBER ACOSTA, YOU'RE GOING TO RECUSE YOURSELF? YES.I WILL BE RECUSING MYSELF ON NUMBER 7 BECAUSE IT CONCERNS BUSINESS WITH T-MOBILE, WHO WAS A CLIENT OF MY BUSINESS LAST YEAR.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS CALL FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR WITH FOUR AND FIVE BOTH BEING PULLED SO THAT'D BE ONE THROUGH 12, MS. BHAT-PATEL.
I'M NOTING COUNCIL MEMBER ACOSTA HAS ABSTENTION ON ITEM NUMBER 7.
ITEM NUMBER 4, SOMEBODY REQUESTING PULLING THAT ONE?
[4. AGREEMENT WITH INTERFAITH COMMUNITY SERVICES TO PROVIDE OUTREACH AND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS AND HOUSEHOLDS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS]
THANK YOU, SIR.WHAT WE'LL DO IS, I BELIEVE THERE ARE SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM.
WOULD COUNCIL APPRECIATE A PRESENTATION ON THESE ITEMS OR RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS? DOES ANYBODY WANT A PRESENTATION? YES, PLEASE.
I WOULD LIKE A PRESENTATION ON THIS ITEM AND THERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS THAT I THOUGHT WERE RELEVANT THAT THE PUBLIC ISN'T A AWARE OF.
THEN ITEM NUMBER 4 IS AN AGREEMENT WITH INTERFAITH COMMUNITY SERVICES TO PROVIDE OUTREACH AND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS AND HOUSEHOLDS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
MAKING OUR PRESENTATION TODAY IS OUR HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS SERVICES DIRECTOR, MANDY MILLS, ALONG WITH OUR HOMELESS SERVICE MANAGER, CHRIS SHILLING.
I'M MANDY MILLS, THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSING AND HOMELESS SERVICES.
WITH ME TONIGHT IS CHRIS SHILLING, THE HOMELESS SERVICES MANAGER.
I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO CHRIS TO GO OVER A FEW SLIDES REGARDING OUR AGREEMENT WITH INTERFAITH COMMUNITY SERVICES TO PROVIDE CASE MANAGEMENT INDIVIDUALS AND HOUSEHOLDS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
FOR BACKGROUND, THE CITY HAS CONTRACTED WITH INTERFAITH COMMUNITY SERVICES FOR THESE SERVICES SINCE MAY 2018 WHEN THE ORIGINAL HOMELESS RESPONSE PLAN WAS APPROVED.
THEY'RE CURRENTLY UNDER CONTRACT AND THE CONTRACT EXPIRES ON JUNE 30TH OF THIS YEAR.
ON FEBRUARY 7TH, 2023, THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE UPDATED HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN, WHICH IDENTIFIES OUTREACH AND ACCESS TO SERVICES AS ONE OF THE THREE FOCUS AREAS.
THE HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN ALSO IDENTIFIES AN INITIATIVE TO MAINTAIN ROBUST AND IMPACTFUL OUTREACH TO PERSISTENTLY IDENTIFY, ENGAGE, AND ASSESS BOTH THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS AND LONG TERM HOUSING NEEDS OF UNSHELTERED PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, IT'S A LITTLE SMALL, BUT THIS CHART OUTLINES THE LAST TWO YEARS OF CONTRACT PERFORMANCE IN FY21, 22, THE MOST RECENT COMPLETED YEAR, INTERFAITH COMMUNITY SERVICES INTERACTED WITH 690 UNDUPLICATED INDIVIDUALS 3,741 TIMES.
THEY WERE ABLE TO HELP 214 PEOPLE MOVE INTO HOUSING, SHELTER, OR OTHER TYPES OF SHELTERED OPTIONS.
BECAUSE THE CURRENT CONTRACT IS ENDING AND WE ARE OUT OF EXTENSION YEARS, WE HAD TO PUT THIS CONTRACT OUT TO BID.
ON JANUARY 17, 2023, THE CITY ISSUED A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR THESE SERVICES, AND BY THE DEADLINE, WE HAD RECEIVED TWO PROPOSALS.
HOUSING AND HOMELESS SERVICES STAFF AS WELL AS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HOMELESS OUTREACH TEAM MEMBERS EVALUATED THE PROPOSALS AND RANKED INTERFAITH COMMUNITY SERVICES AS THE HIGHEST SCORING PROPOSAL.
THE ANNUAL AGREEMENT AMOUNT FOR THE CONTRACT PROPOSED IS $315,000.
THIS IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH PREVIOUS YEARS.
IT€™S ALSO THE AMOUNT THAT€™S IDENTIFIED IN THE HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN FUNDING PLAN AND THE APPROVED CITIES OPERATING BUDGET WHICH WAS APPROVED ON JUNE 30TH 2023.
THE SLIDE HERE SHOWS THE PROPOSED BUDGET WHICH IS ALIGNED WITH WHAT HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN APPROVED.
THE AGREEMENT INCLUDES TWO FULL TIME SOCIAL WORKERS AND PART OF THEIR LICENSE SUPERVISOR.
IT ALSO INCLUDES ALL NECESSARY OFFICE AND PROGRAM SUPPLIES AS WELL AS SOME FLEXIBLE FUNDS WHICH ARE USED TO HELP PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS REDUCE THE BARRIERS THAT THEY HAVE TO ACCESS HOUSING.
[00:25:02]
THE RECOMMENDED ACTION THAT WE HAVE TODAY IS TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH INTERFAITH COMMUNITY SERVICES IN AN ANNUAL AMOUNT OF $315,000 TO PROVIDE OUTREACH AND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS AND HOUSEHOLDS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN THE CITY OF CARLSBAD.WE'RE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
I WANTED THIS PARTICULAR ITEM PULLED, I HAD QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS AROUND THE CONTRACT.
INTERFAITH COMMUNITY SERVICE IS THE PROVIDER CONTRACTED $350,000.
I WANTED TO KNOW HOW MANY SPECIFIC SOCIAL WORKERS ARE EMPLOYED BY INTERFAITH AND HOW MANY OF THOSE ACTUAL SOCIAL WORKERS ARE ASSIGNED SPECIFICALLY FULL TIME, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK TO CARLSBAD.
I THINK THE ANSWER WAS, TWO FULL-TIME SOCIAL WORKERS.
IF THE CONTRACT IS AN EMPLOYMENT FOR SERVICES, WHY IS THE CITY REQUIRING PROVIDING OFFICE SUPPLIES FACTUAL FLEX FUNDS AND DOCUMENTATION OF TIME CARDS? THIS IS SEEN ON PAGE 15 AND 16 OF THE CONTRACT.
ARE THE SOCIAL WORKERS ACTUALLY CITY EMPLOYEES OR ARE THEY EMPLOYEES OF INTERFAITH? THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
PLEASE STEPH, WRITE DOWN THOSE THREE QUESTIONS.
THE CONTRACT REQUIRES ACTUALLY 2.
5, SO IT'S THE TWO FULL-TIME SOCIAL WORKERS WHO ARE HERE IN CARLSBAD SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
SOME OF THE DAYS THEY'RE GOING OUT WITH THE POLICE HOMELESS OUTREACH TEAM TO DO INITIAL ENGAGEMENTS.
OTHER TIMES, THE CHANGE THAT WE'VE MADE IS THERE DOING FOLLOW-UP AND INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT WITH PEOPLE.
YOU'LL SEE IN THE CONTRACT THAT WE REQUIRE THEM NOW TO HAVE A CASELOAD BETWEEN 10-25 PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE WORKING WITH INTENSIVELY ON AN ONGOING BASIS TO WORK TOWARDS HOUSING.
PART OF THE TIME THEY'RE DOING ENGAGEMENT AND THEN PART OF THE TIME THEY'RE DOING OUTREACH AND INITIAL CONTACTS.
5 IS FOR THEIR LICENSE SUPERVISOR, AND THAT LICENSE SUPERVISOR, I WOULD ADD, COVERS CARLSBAD AND OCEANSIDE.
OCEANSIDE ALSO HAS A CONTRACT WITH INTERFAITH FOR THE SAME SERVICES.
HAVING THAT SUPERVISOR PROVIDES A BRIDGE BETWEEN US AND THEM AND OPENS UP COMMUNICATION AND COORDINATION, WHICH IS ALSO HELPFUL.
IN TERMS OF THE OPERATING COSTS, IT'S STANDARD IN SOCIAL SERVICES CONTRACTS, WHEN YOU'RE ASKING A PROVIDER TO PROVIDE SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE DOING IT ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS AND PROVIDING THAT.
IN THIS CONTRACT, WE'RE NOT ROLLING EVERYTHING UP INTO ONE HOURLY RATE THAT COVERS EVERYTHING WHICH WOULD BE HOW IT MIGHT BE DONE IF YOU WERE, LET'S SAY HIRING A PLUMBER, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT COME WITH THAT, AND SO IT'S ALL INCLUDED IN THE HOURLY RATE.
IN THIS CASE, WE'RE NOT PROVIDING AN HOURLY RATE, WE'RE PROVIDING A REIMBURSEMENT.
IF THEY NEED TO PURCHASE SUPPLIES OR IF THEY'RE HELPING WITH SOMEONE WITH A RENTAL APPLICATION, ASSISTANCE PAYMENT, FOR EXAMPLE, INTERFAITH WILL EXPAND THOSE FUNDS IN THE MONTH AND THEN IN THE NEXT MONTH THEY WOULD INVOICE FOR THAT.
WE LOOK OVER THOSE RECORDS BEFORE WE APPROVE ANY OF THE EXPENSES, AND THAT'S AN ADDITION TO TIMECARD.
REALLY THE EMPLOYEES ARE EMPLOYEES OF INTERFAITH, BUT WHAT WE'RE DOING IS VERIFYING THE INVOICE THAT THEY'RE PROVIDING TO US.
THEY'RE SAYING WE'RE INVOICING YOU A $1,000 FOR PERSONNEL.
WELL WE WANT TO SEE THE TIMECARD TO VERIFY THAT THEY ACTUALLY SPENT $1,000 ON PERSONNEL.
AGAIN, THAT'S COMMON IN SOCIAL SERVICE CONTRACTS THAT GOVERNMENTS HAVE WITH NON-PROFIT AGENCIES.
FOR CLARIFICATION, YOU SAID WE GET TWO-AND-A-HALF SOCIAL WORKERS TOO, A FULL-TIME CARLSBAD AND A SUPERVISOR, WE GET A HALF AND OCEANSIDE PAYS FOR HALF, IS THAT RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT.
MS. BHAT-PATEL, YOU HAD A QUESTION? YES.
JUST TO CLARIFY, MR. SHILLING, WHEN YOU USE THE DOLLAR AMOUNT, THAT WAS JUST AN EXAMPLE, RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT.
I WAS JUST TRYING TO PROVIDE AN EXAMPLE, SO IT'S EASILY UNDERSTANDABLE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? YES.
IF YOU GO TO PAGE 4 OF YOUR SLIDE DECK THERE, I BELIEVE THAT'S THE NUMBER IT WAS.
[00:30:08]
ON THAT CONTRACT SCOPE OF SERVICES THEY TALK ABOUT MAINTAINING A MINIMUM CASELOAD WITH PARTICIPANTS AND A MAXIMUM CASELOAD OF 25 PARTICIPANTS AND AT ANY GIVEN TIME, ENSURE THAT AT LEAST 60% OF THEM IN THE CASELOAD ARE ACTIVELY WORKING ON ACTIVITIES OR GOALS THAT DIRECTLY ASSIST THE PARTICIPANT IN PROGRESSING TOWARD HOUSING.
AND THEN THERE'S NO REAL ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE REST OF IT AS FAR AS WHAT THIS 31% REPRESENTS FOR PERCENT OF DIRECT OUTCOMES TO INDIVIDUALS.
IT SEEMS THAT THAT'S A VERY LOW NUMBER CONSIDERING YOU'RE ASKING FOR 50-75% WEEKLY TIME RE-ENGAGING AND PROVIDING CASE MANAGEMENT TO THESE FOLKS.
THESE SOCIAL WORKERS ARE SUPPOSED TO ATTEND 75% OF ORGANIZED CONFERENCING AND COLLABORATION.
BUT THEN, WHERE'S THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT? WHAT DOES THAT 31% REPRESENT THAT IS WITHIN THE CONTRACT OF THE SERVICES THAT WE'RE PROVIDING? THEN YOU SAID SOMETHING ELSE, MR. SHILLING, ABOUT THE INVOICE MAYBE FOR $1,000 AND YOU WANT TO ENSURE THAT THEIR PERSONNEL RECORDS REFLECT THAT, BUT HOW IS IT BROKEN DOWN? AND I DID ASK FOR AN EXAMPLE OF THAT AND I DIDN'T RECEIVE ONE SO THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING YOU NOW.
I'LL ADDRESS OBVIOUSLY THE FIRST QUESTION.
THE DATA THAT WE HAVE BEFORE IS FOR THE PREVIOUS TWO FISCAL YEARS.
WE'RE CURRENTLY NOT PROVIDING DATA FOR THE FISCAL YEAR THAT WE'RE IN BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T COMPLETED THE YEAR AND THE CONTRACT SCOPE OF WORK THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT WILL BE FOR NEXT YEAR.
THE CONTRACT SCOPE OF WORK REPRESENTS THE CHANGE IN THE WAY THAT WE'RE IMPLEMENTING THE CONTRACT SO THAT IT DOES FOCUS MORE ON THE INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT WHERE WE'RE SEEING MORE SUCCESS.
THOSE METRICS THAT WE HAVE IN THERE ALIGN WITH THE REGIONAL TASK FORCE ON HOMELESSNESS OUTREACH POLICIES.
THEY STATE REGIONALLY THAT THEY BELIEVE BASED ON THEIR EXPERTISE THAT OUTREACH WORKER SHOULD HAVE CASELOADS OF 10-25 IF THEY'RE DOING INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT.
SO THE NUMBERS HERE ON THIS SLIDE, THE 39% AND THE 31%, WHAT THAT'S SAYING IS OF THE PEOPLE THEY WORKED WITH OR ENGAGED WITH, THOSE ARE THE SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES THAT THEY HAD AND WE WOULD EXPECT THOSE NUMBERS TO BE AROUND WHERE THEY'RE AT OR LOWER BECAUSE IT'S COUNTING EVERYONE THAT THEY'RE GOING OUT AND ENGAGING WITH AND NOT JUST THE PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE PROVIDING INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT WITH.
IF THEY WERE DOING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE POLICE HOMELESS OUTREACH TEAM AND THEY GO OUT WITH THEM AND THEY MEET WITH SOMEONE ONE TIME AND THEY TALKED TO THEM, THEN THEY'RE GOING TO BE REFLECTED IN THE 690 UNDUPLICATED NUMBER.
BUT IF THEY DON'T DO FOLLOW UP, THEY'RE STILL INCLUDED IN THE 30%.
WE DON'T HAVE A BREAKDOWN OF THE OUTCOMES FOR PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE PROVIDING INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT WITH YET BECAUSE WE'VE JUST SHIFTED THE MODEL THIS YEAR AND ARE NOW PUTTING IT INTO THE CONTRACT.
WE WOULD EXPECT IN FUTURE YEARS THAT WE CAN PROVIDE OUTCOMES FOR THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF PEOPLE THAT THEY ENGAGE WITH, AS WELL AS OUTCOMES FOR PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE INTENTLY WORKING WITH FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND ALSO HOW LONG IT TAKES.
BECAUSE A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE INTERACTING WITH, CHRONICALLY HOMELESS LIVING ON THE STREETS AND NEED A LOT OF SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE, SO HOW LONG DOES THAT TAKE IN CARLSBAD TO BE ABLE TO MOVE PEOPLE TOWARDS HOUSING? IN TERMS OF THE SECOND PART OF THE QUESTION, THE DOCUMENTATION THAT WE RECEIVE ARE THEIR PAYROLL RECORDS.
SO THAT CAN LOOK DIFFERENT DEPENDING ON THE PAYROLL SYSTEMS THAT THE DIFFERENT PROVIDERS ARE USING.
THE INTERFAITH COMMUNITY SERVICES USES A SYSTEM CALLED ADP AND SO THEY'RE PROVIDING THE TIME KEEPING RECORDS FROM THAT SYSTEM TO US.
WHEREAS ANOTHER PROVIDER THAT WE HAVE MIGHT USE ANOTHER PAYROLL SYSTEM AND THEY ACTUALLY PROVIDE PASTE UP SO THAT WE CAN VERIFY THE HOURS THAT THE PAYMENTS WERE MADE.
WHAT I'M GETTING AT IS AN UPDATED MEMO THAT WE RECEIVE THE CONTRACT BUDGET ALLOWS FOR $85,000 FOR SOCIAL WORKERS SALARIES PLUS BENEFITS AND I'M LOOKING AT A NUMBER OF 690 PEOPLE FROM 2021 AND 2022.
IN MY EXPERIENCE AND IN MY ESTIMATION, THAT IS A LOT OF MONEY.
SO I FEEL LIKE THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE DETAILED REPORT SO THAT THE TAXPAYER UNDERSTANDS WHAT THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT IS AND WHAT WE'RE GETTING FOR ALL THIS SERVICE THAT FRANKLY ARE DUPLICATED FROM THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO, FOR EXAMPLE, DOES ALL OF THE STUFF AND WE'RE YET SETTING OUT A SEPARATE THING TO DO IT OURSELVES AT TAXPAYER'S EXPENSE.
[00:35:02]
SO I'M NOT GOING TO BE SUPPORTING THIS TONIGHT, BUT I APPRECIATE THE FEEDBACK THAT YOU GAVE ME.>> ANY OTHER QUESTION ON ITEM NUMBER 4? MOTION FOR ITEM 4 PLEASE.
>> MOVE APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 4.
ITEM NUMBER 5, I HAVE A REQUEST FOR POLLING THAT ITEM AS WELL.
[5. AMENDING A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER TO PROVIDE RAPID RE-HOUSING SERVICES AND APPROVING A RELATED GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT]
>> AND SIMILAR IT WOULD CANCEL AS PRESENTATION OR QUESTIONS.
>> ANYBODY WANT A PRESENTATION?
>> THE ITEM 5 IS AMENDED IN A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER TO PROVIDE RAPID REHOUSING SERVICES AND APPROVING A RELATED GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT.
MAKING OUR PRESENTATION TODAY IS OUR HOUSING AND HOMELESS SERVICES DIRECTOR, MANDY MILLS, ALONG WITH OUR HOMELESS SERVICE MANAGER, CHRIS SHILLING.
>> THANK YOU, AND GOOD EVENING AGAIN.
MANDY MILLS, DIRECTOR OF HOUSING AND HOMELESS SERVICES, AND PRESENTING WITH ME IS CHRIS SHILLING, THE HOMELESS SERVICES MANAGER.
AND WE'RE EXCITED TO DISCUSS THE ITEM FOR RAPID REHOUSING SERVICE FOR AN AMENDED AGREEMENT WITH COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER.
WE ARE ALREADY UNDER CONTRACT FOR THIS SERVICE AS IS A PART OF OUR HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN.
WHAT'S EXCITING ABOUT THIS IS WE DID RECENTLY RECEIVE A HARD GRANT, SO WE ARE ABLE TO ADD FUNDING TO THE EXISTING CONTRACT AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO CHRIS TO DISCUSS THE DETAILS.
SO AS DIRECTOR MILLS SAID, LAST YEAR WE APPLIED THROUGH THE LOCAL CONTINUUM OF CARE FOR HARD FUNDING TO EXPAND OUR RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAM AND WE RECEIVED WORD EARLIER THIS YEAR THAT WE WERE BEING AWARDED ABOUT $468,000 TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND THAT PROGRAM.
THIS COMES WITH 10% ADMIN FEES THAT WE WERE ABLE TO CHARGE.
FEDERAL REGULATIONS REQUIRES THAT IF WE'RE SUBCONTRACTING THAT WE SPLIT THOSE FEES WITH THE SUBCONTRACTORS.
SO THE CITY WILL TAKE 5% OF THE FEES AND THE COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER WOULD TAKE THE OTHER 5%.
SO THE ADDITION OF THESE FUNDS EVEN THOUGH IT'S A TWO-YEAR CONTRACT WE'RE CURRENTLY IN BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT NEEDS TO GO TO THE CITY COUNCIL TO AMEND THE CONTRACT.
SO THE CITY'S CONTRACTIVE WITH COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER FOR THESE RAPID REHOUSING SERVICES SINCE 2020.
IT INITIALLY STARTED WITH THE STATE GRANT AND THEN TRANSITIONED TO GENERAL FUNDS.
THEY'RE CURRENTLY IN A TWO-YEAR CONTRACT AND THEIR CONTRACT ENDS JUNE 30TH, 2024.
THE CURRENT CONTRACT IS FOR $350,000 PER YEAR.
AND AGAIN, ALL OF THE FUNDING COMES FROM THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND.
THE AMENDED CONTRACT WE'RE PROPOSING WILL USE $175,000 FROM THE PERMANENT LOCAL HOUSING ALLOCATION FUND AND ABOUT $445,000 FROM THE NEW HUD GRANT FOR A TOTAL OF $794,839.
THIS INCREASES THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING FOR THESE SERVICES BUT REDUCES THE GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES BY $175,000 PER YEAR.
THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH THE HOMELESSNESS ACTION FUNDING PLAN AND THE CITY'S APPROVED OPERATING BUDGET.
THE REASON I WOULD ADD THAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO KEEP THE $175,000 OF GENERAL FUND, IF YOU SEE THE BUDGET, ALL OF THAT MONEY IS GOING TOWARDS RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
AND THAT PROVIDES US WITH SOME FLEXIBILITY THAT SOME OF THE FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDS DON'T PROVIDE US.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, WITH THE FEDERAL FUNDING, WE HAVE TO HAVE A 12-MONTH LEASE AS AN EXAMPLE THAT IS REQUIRED.
SO SOMETIMES IF SOMEONE'S JUST RENTING A ROOM OR THEY WANT TO DO SOMETHING SIX MONTHS BECAUSE THEY WANT TO SEE HOW IT WORKS OUT OR IF WE WERE JUST DOING DEPOSIT ASSISTANCE FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS A SECTION A VENTURE, THAT WOULDN'T BE ALLOWED WITH THE FEDERAL FUNDING.
I THINK AS THE COUNCIL KNOWS, AS WE'VE COME FORWARD WITH SOME OF THE SUCCESS STORIES, A LOT OF TIMES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW WE USE THIS RAPID REHOUSING FUNDING IN A VERY CREATIVE WAY TO BE ABLE TO SECURE HOUSING.
SO I REMEMBER AN EXAMPLE OF A TIME WHERE SOMEONE HAD A SECTION 8 VOUCHER BUT BECAUSE OF THE PROCESSING TIME, THEY WOULDN'T BE READY TO PAY THE FIRST MONTH'S RENT, SO THEY WOULD HAVE LOST THE UNIT.
BUT BY USING GENERAL FUNDS BECAUSE WE HAD THAT FLEXIBILITY, WE WERE ABLE TO JUST PAY FOR THAT JUST ONE MONTH TO SECURE THAT UNIT, TRANSITION IT INTO SECTION 8 AND THAT WAS ABLE TO HELP SOMEONE EXIT HOMELESSNESS.
IF WE WERE ONLY USING THIS FEDERAL FUNDING, WE WOULDN'T HAVE THAT FLEXIBLE OPTION.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT THAT PORTION BE USED FOR THAT FLEXIBILITY FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
SO WHAT WE'RE ASKING YOU TO APPROVE IS THE AMENDED CONTRACT, WHICH ALSO PROVIDES FOR TWO TWO-YEAR EXTENSIONS.
THE REASON THAT WE WANT TO AMEND THE EXTENSIONS IS BECAUSE THAT WILL ALLOW THIS
[00:40:02]
CONTRACT TO RUN FOR FIVE YEARS, WHICH ALIGNS WITH THE ANTICIPATED DATES OF THE HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN.SO IT'LL RUN THROUGH THE HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN.
AND THEN AS WE REVISE THAT IN FIVE YEARS, WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT IS THE BEST USE OF FUNDING AND IF THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM SHOULD CONTINUE.
IT ALSO UPDATES THE SCOPE OF WORK TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MEETING ALL OF THE STATE AND FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS THAT WE NOW HAVE TO FOLLOW.
BOTH THE PLAJ AND THE HUD FUNDING ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS AS WELL.
SO THAT'S THE OVERVIEW OF THIS ITEM AND WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR OF COUNCIL.
AGAIN, I ASKED FOR THIS ITEM TO BE PULLED TONIGHT.
HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS ON FULL DISCLOSURE.
I HAVE NOT TALKED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER BURKHOLDER AT ALL ABOUT ANY OF THIS.
HOW MANY CASE MANAGERS ARE EMPLOYED BY CRC? OF COURSE WE HAVE FOUR CASE MANAGERS FROM CRC WITH BOOTS ON THE GROUND.
THAT'S REALLY THEN A TOTAL OF SIX.
BUT YOU'VE ONLY PERMANENTLY HOUSED 13 PEOPLE.
I WOULD HAVE TO ASK ALSO, ARE THESE PEOPLE FROM CARLSBAD OR ARE THEY JUST HAPPENED TO DRIVING BY AND THEY BREAK DOWN OR THEY FEEL LIKE, OH, THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO BE? ONE OF THE BIGGEST QUESTIONS I HAD WHEN I WAS LOOKING THROUGH THESE CONTRACTS IS THE ADHERENCE TO THE REGIONAL TASK FORCE ON HOMELESSNESS.
IS REALLY THE PLAN, CAN WE NOT REALLY COME UP WITH A PLAN OF OUR OWN WE HAVE TO LOOK TO NON-PROFITS TO DO OUR WORK? CAN WE THE PEOPLE OF CARLSBAD AND YOU AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, NOT COME UP WITH A PLAN? WE'VE HIRED SOME REALLY SMART PEOPLE HERE WHO MAKE A LOT OF MONEY EVERY YEAR.
CAN WE NOT TAP THEIR KNOWLEDGE WITHOUT HAVING AN OUTSIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP RUNNING THE CITY OF CARLSBAD? I ASK YOU, DR. BHAT-PATEL, YOU ARE A PUBLIC HEALTH PERSON, RIGHT? DO YOU THINK THAT THIS IS THE BEST USE OF OUR FUNDS? WHY IS THE CITY OF CARLSBAD RUNNING INTERFERENCE FOR THE COUNTY WHEN THE COUNTY'S JOB IS TO DO PUBLIC HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES? AGAIN, ARE WE DUPLICATING SERVICES FOR PEOPLE THAT DON'T REALLY LIVE IN CARLSBAD OR DO THEY LIVE IN CARLSBAD AND THEY'RE JUST DOWN ON THEIR LUCK AND THIS IS A GOOD SPOT TO LAND? ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS IN MY LAST CLOSING MINUTES I'M, GOING TO TALK ABOUT IS THE CASELOAD.
IF THE MINIMUM CASELOAD IS ONLY 10 AND THE MAXIMUM IS 25 POST CASE MANAGER, HOW ARE WE EVER GOING TO END HOMELESSNESS WITH THE NUMBERS THAT YOU HAD ON YOUR POINT IN TIME COUNT THAT IS RUN BY THE SAN DIEGO REGIONAL TASK FORCE? I ASK YOU THOSE QUESTIONS AND I HOPE THAT YOU'LL LOOK AT THOSE.
>> STAFF, CAN YOU ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS AND IF YOU NEED HELP WITH THEM, I WROTE DOWN THE QUESTIONS AS WELL.
I'LL TRY TO GET THROUGH THEM ALL.
ALSO, I WOULD ADD THAT REPRESENTATIVES FROM COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER ARE HERE AS WELL IF YOU'D LIKE TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS OF THEM.
THE CONTRACT INITIALLY, BEFORE ADDING THESE ADDITIONAL FUNDS HAD TO CASE MANAGERS, A SUPERVISOR WHICH IS CALLED A COORDINATOR FOR AN UNDER COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER AND THEN PART OF THE MANAGER THAT'S ABOVE THEM.
THE EXPANDED CONTRACT WILL HAVE FOUR CASE MANAGERS BECAUSE WE'RE EXPANDING THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WE CAN ASSIST, AS WELL AS CONTINUING TO HAVE THAT SUPERVISOR AND MANAGER.
REALLY WHAT WE'RE ADDING IS THE TWO CASE MANAGERS.
AGAIN, TOTAL OF FOUR CASE MANAGERS, ONE SUPERVISOR AND PART OF A MANAGER.
WE HAVE SOME INFORMATION AND DATA FOR THE LAST CONTRACT YEAR.
IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT BECAUSE OF THE STATE FUNDING THAT WAS RECEIVED.
THE CONTRACT YEAR DID NOT FALL ON THE FISCAL YEAR.
IT WAS FROM FEBRUARY 1ST, 2022 TO JANUARY 31ST, 2023, WHICH MIGHT CAUSE A LITTLE CONFUSION.
ONE OF THE REASONS WE ALSO WANT TO AMEND THIS CONTRACT IS BECAUSE WE WANT TO GET IT ONTO A FISCAL YEAR.
THE AMENDED CONTRACT WOULD START JULY 1ST AND END IN JUNE 30TH.
ALL OF OUR CONTRACTS WOULD BE ALIGNED ON THAT FISCAL YEAR.
BUT IN THE LAST CONTRACT YEAR, THEY ACTUALLY MOVE 37 PEOPLE INTO PERMANENT HOUSING.
IN TERMS OF WHETHER OR NOT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING HELPED ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN CARLSBAD.
THE WAY THAT WE TYPICALLY ADDRESS THIS IS THROUGH WHAT WE CALL A BY NAMELESS.
[00:45:09]
WE KNOW ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WITHIN CARLSBAD.WE HAVE ACCESS TO THE HOMELESS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM, WHICH IS A REGIONAL DATABASE THAT IF WE DON'T KNOW SOMEONE WE CAN LOOK THEM UP AND SEE WHERE THEY'VE RECEIVED SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE REGION BECAUSE IT'S A SHARED DATABASE.
TYPICALLY, WHEN SOMEBODY GETS TO THE POINT WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO HELP THEM WITH RAPIDLY HOUSING ASSISTANCE OR WITH ANY TYPE OF ASSISTANCE.
THEY'VE BEEN IN CARLSBAD FOR A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM FOR A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME.
UNLESS IT'S A VERY, VERY VULNERABLE SITUATION, FOR EXAMPLE, AN 80-YEAR-OLD WOMAN OR A FAMILY WITH A BABY OR THINGS LIKE THAT, THERE'S TYPICALLY NOT A LOT OF IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE.
IF SOMEBODY IS COMING TO CARLSBAD HOPING THAT IN A DAY OR TWO THAT THEY CAN RECEIVE SOME TYPE OF SERVICES.
SERVICE THAT'S GOING TO SHELTER THEM OR IN THEM HOMELESSNESS, THAT'S TYPICALLY NOT THE CASE.
THIS CONTRACT REQUIRES REFERRALS FROM ONE OF OUR PARTNERS OR FROM CRC THEMSELVES TO INTERACT WITH SOMEONE.
IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, ONCE WE ADD THE FEDERAL FUNDS WILL HAVE TO ALSO FOR THAT PORTION USE THE COORDINATED ENTRY SYSTEM, WHICH IS A SYSTEM THAT'S RUN BY THE REGIONAL TASK FORCE ON HOMELESSNESS AND THEY SEND REFERRALS OUT.
WE'VE WORKED WITH THEM TO ENSURE THAT THOSE ARE GOING TO BE CARLSBAD RESIDENTS AS WELL OR PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING IN CARLSBAD.
WE DO ALL WE CAN TO ENSURE THAT THE PEOPLE WE'RE HELPING ARE CARLSBAD RESIDENTS LIVING IN CARLSBAD.
I THINK THE FINAL QUESTION THAT I HEARD WAS AROUND THE REGIONAL TASK FORCE ON HOMELESSNESS AND IT BEING A NON-PROFIT AND US ADOPTING A LOT OF THE POLICIES THAT HAVE BEEN PUT OUT ARE CERTIFIED BY THEM.
THE REGIONAL TASK FORCE ON HOMELESSNESS IS A NON-PROFIT AND IT'S STRUCTURE.
IT'S ALSO THE CONTINUUM OF CARE FOR THE SAN DIEGO REGION.
EVERY REGION THAT RECEIVES CONTINUUM OF CARE FUNDING FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT IS REQUIRED TO HAVE A CONTINUUM OF CARE.
THAT'S A BODY OF STAKEHOLDERS THAT DOES A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
IT HOSTS THE HOMELESS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM.
IT CONDUCTS THE POINT IN TIME COUNT.
IT OVERSEES THE COORDINATED ENTRY SYSTEM.
IT ALSO SET STANDARDS OF PRACTICE FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF INTERVENTIONS.
THE REGIONAL TASK FORCE ON HOMELESSNESS LOCALLY WAS PREVIOUSLY THE CONTINUUM OF CARE ADVISORY BOARD.
BEST PRACTICE AROUND THE COUNTRY HAD BEEN TO GIVE THOSE TYPES OF BOARDS SOME TYPE OF STRUCTURE INSTEAD OF JUST HAVING THEM BE BOARDS THAT MEET IN THE COMMUNITY.
THAT'S BEEN DONE IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
SOME IT EXISTS AS A BRANCH OF THE COUNTY.
SOME ARE NON-PROFITS, AND THERE'S DIFFERENT TYPES OF STRUCTURES.
MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, THE RTFH HAD A CONSULTANT COME IN AND ADVISE THEM ON THE DIFFERENT TYPE OF STRUCTURES THAT THEY COULD TAKE.
THEY CHOSE TO BE A NON-PROFIT AND SO THEY INCORPORATED AS A NON-PROFIT.
THEN THE COC ADVISORY BOARD GAVE THEM ALL OF THE DUTIES THAT I TALKED ABOUT ON BELOW.
IN THE NON-PROFIT, THERE'S ACTUALLY TWO BOARDS.
THERE'S A SMALLER BOARD OF MAYBE 10 PEOPLE THAT OVERSEES THE FUNCTIONS OF A NON-PROFIT THAT YOU HAVE TO DO TO OPERATE.
THERE'S A LARGER BOARD THAT'S ABOUT 31 PEOPLE THAT DOES THE THINGS THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF SETTING STANDARDS OF PRACTICE IN ADOPTING THOSE.
THERE'S ALWAYS COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS AND INPUT WHEN THESE TYPES OF POLICIES ARE PUT TOGETHER.
CARLSBAD IS DEFINITELY ALWAYS AT THE TABLE CONTRIBUTING TO THEM.
AS PART OF THAT, WE CONTRIBUTE TO THE POLICIES AND THEN WE PASS THEM ON IN OUR CONTRACTS WHEN WE AGREE WITH THEM TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S ALIGNMENT THROUGHOUT THE REGION.
IF THE RTFH WAS TO PUT OUT A POLICY THAT WE DID NOT AGREE WITH AND WE WEREN'T USING FUNDING THAT REQUIRES US TO FOLLOW THEIR POLICIES, THEN WE WOULD NOT HAVE TO FOLLOW THOSE POLICIES.
I THINK THAT ADDRESSES ALL THE QUESTIONS.
>> ONE OF THE OTHER QUESTION THE SPEAKER ASKED WAS, ARE WE PROVIDING SERVICES THAT SHOULD BE PROVIDED BY THE COUNTY OR ARE WE DUPLICATING SERVICES THAT SHOULD BE PROVIDED BY THE COUNTY?
I THINK WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS QUITE A FEW TIMES.
THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO IS THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE ARM OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
THEY DO RECEIVE FUNDING THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE STATE GOVERNMENT FOR A VARIETY OF PUBLIC HEALTH PURPOSES.
OF COURSE, THEY HAVE A VERY LARGE, ROBUST DEPARTMENT THAT ADDRESSES HOMELESSNESS.
WITH THAT SAID, THERE IS STILL NOT ENOUGH RESOURCES TO, I WOULD SAY, MAINTAIN
[00:50:03]
THE STANDARD THAT CARLSBAD IS EXPECTING.IN 2021, CITY COUNCIL ADOPTED A GOAL TO REDUCE HOMELESSNESS BECAUSE THE RESIDENTS AND THE COUNCIL FEEL THAT THAT IS A PRIORITY AND THAT THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE ADDRESSING IT.
ALL FIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE PRESENT.
WE'LL START WITH CLOSED SESSION ITEM.
DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS ON THERE?
WILL YOU PLEASE TAKE US IN THE CLOSED SESSION?
WE WILL ADJOURN TO CLOSE SESSION TO HAVE A CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL REGARDING EXISTING LITIGATION.
WE HAVE TWO MATTERS BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING, VOLANTE VERSUS CITY OF CARLSBAD AND HILLSIDE PATIO HOMES ASSOCIATION VERSUS CITY OF CARLSBAD, AND THE AUTHORITY FOR THE CLOSED SESSION IS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 549, 56.
>> USING IT AND DO WHAT THEY CAN.
THIS BODY, THIS CITY COUNCIL, MADE A CONSCIOUS DECISION TO ADD LOCAL RESOURCES TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE THINGS ARE HAPPENING FASTER AND MORE DIRECTLY AND FILLING IN GAPS WHERE PERHAPS THE COUNTY IS NOT PROVIDING THAT.
WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO AND WE DO A LOT OF HAND-OFFS WHERE IT'S APPROPRIATE.
THERE WAS A STORY WE WERE ACTUALLY JUST TALKING ABOUT WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT WAS ELDERLY WOMAN AND SHE WAS HOMELESS, LIVING IN HER VEHICLE IN CARLSBAD.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO GET HER INTO A MOTEL WITH OUR LOCAL MOTEL VOUCHER PROGRAM AND THAT WOMAN WORKED WITH OUR SOCIAL WORKERS AND THEN CONNECTED THROUGH THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND THEN WAS ABLE TO BRIDGE TO COUNTY SERVICES THAT WAY.
THE LOCAL SOCIAL WORK ENGAGEMENT AND THE MOTEL VOUCHER WAS THE IMMEDIATE CONNECTION TO GET HER THEN CONNECTED TO FURTHER SERVICES AT THE COUNTY.
IT'S NOT THAT WE'RE REPLACING IT.
I WOULD SAY THAT IT'S AN ESSENTIAL BRIDGE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CLIENT IS CONNECTED TO THE SERVICES THAT CAN HELP THEM THE BEST.
>> QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? MS. LUNA?
>> I JUST I'M TRYING TO SUMMARIZE THIS IN MY HEAD BECAUSE THE LAST FEW WEEKS I'VE BEEN HEARING ON THESE PROGRAMS AS TO WHY ARE WE TAKING OVER THE ROLE OF THE COUNTY.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND IT.
I'M ASSUMING THAT THESE PROGRAMS ARE IN THE HOMELESS ACTION PLAN THAT WAS APPROVED FEBRUARY 7TH OF THIS YEAR BY THIS COUNCIL AND THAT THE COUNCIL, UPON THEIR APPROVAL, FELT IT WAS IN THE CITY'S BEST INTERESTS TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES.
I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT THE CITY FELT THAT THE ROLE OF THE COUNTY WAS UNSATISFACTORY IN THAT, AS YOU MORE ELOQUENTLY SAID THAT THAT WAS OUR EXPECTATION WITH RESPECT TO HOMELESS.
AM I CAPTURING THAT CORRECTLY?
>> I THINK THAT'S A GOOD SUMMARY.
THE CITY COUNCIL, AS EARLY AS 2020, ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTED RAPID RE-HOUSING THROUGH A STATE GRANT IN A CONTRACT WITH COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER.
WHEN THOSE FUNDS WERE EXPIRING, THE CITY COUNCIL AT THE TIME DECIDED TO ALLOCATE ADDITIONAL LOCAL FUNDS TO CONTINUE THOSE SERVICES BECAUSE THEY IDENTIFY THEM TO BE VERY ESSENTIAL TO HELP TO MEET THE GOAL.
IN 2020 WAS THE FIRST CONTRACT, IN 2021 WHEN THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPTED A WORK PROGRAM WITH ITS FIRST CITY COUNCIL GOAL, RAPID RE-HOUSING WHEN IT WAS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THAT WORK PROGRAM.
THEN THE MOST RECENT HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN ALSO MAINTAIN TO CONTINUE THAT.
WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE AND VERY PROUD TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SECURE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR ADDITIONAL RAPID RE-HOUSING.
LUCKILY, WE'RE ADDING RAPID RE-HOUSING SERVICES AND BE ABLE TO EXPAND THAT SERVICE.
>> MOVING FORWARD AS FAR AS WE'VE HIRED REALLY GOOD STAFF AND SO WITH OUR LAST SPEAKER, I WOULD SAY, WELL, YOU GUYS ARE REALLY SMART, CAN'T YOU RUN THESE PROGRAMS? BUT MY UNDERSTANDING NOW LISTENING TO YOU IS THAT TO RECEIVE CERTAIN DOLLARS, WE NEED TO RELY ON THESE NONPROFITS THAT ARE ALREADY IN PLACE.
IS THAT INCORRECT OR A STRUCTURE THAT'S ALREADY IN PLACE? I'M SURE WITHIN YOUR SCOPE OF WORK TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE A PROGRAM LIKE THIS, WE'D PROBABLY HAVE TO HIRE A LOT MORE STAFF.
>> I THINK IN 2021 WHEN THE CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERED THAT WORK PROGRAM, THAT WAS A DEBATE.
I WASN'T HERE AT THE TIME, BUT I THINK THE CONVERSATION VERSUS HIRING VERSUS CONTRACTING OUT WAS HAD BACK IN 2021.
LIKE YOU'RE SAYING, THE SERVICES ARE ALREADY IN PRACTICE AND IN PLAY BY THESE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE STAFF ON BOARD AND INFRASTRUCTURE TO MAKE THOSE THINGS HAPPEN.
I WILL ADD ALSO SOMETIMES BEING ABLE TO HAVE A NONPROFIT AGENCY CONDUCTS SOME OF THOSE SERVICES WHEN SAY YOU NEED TO GET SOMEBODY MOVED INTO A UNIT.
YOU NEED TO PAY MAYBE A QUICK APPLICATION FEE OR A DEPOSIT, THEY'RE ABLE TO MOVE QUITE QUICKLY ON THAT.
BEING A GOVERNMENT AGENCY OUR FINANCE PRACTICES ARE MUCH STRICTER THAN A
[00:55:05]
NONPROFIT AND SO I WOULD SAY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO GET FUNDS, CUT CHECK FOR THAT TYPE OF PURPOSE WOULD TAKE A LITTLE BIT LONGER.>> BUT WOULD WE LOSE SOME OF OUR FUNDING SOURCES IF WE WERE TO DO SOMETHING IN HOUSE? FOR EXAMPLE, THE HUD THAT'S SUPPOSEDLY HAD FUNDS THAT ARE SUPPOSEDLY COMING TO US ANNUALLY.
IS THERE SOME TYPE OF LINK TO FUNDING AND THE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S OUT THERE THROUGH THE REGIONAL TASK FORCE AND OTHERS?
>> NOT SPECIFICALLY, BUT WHEN WE SUBMITTED OUR PROPOSAL TO HUD, WE IDENTIFIED THAT WE WOULD BE USING A SUBCONTRACTOR AND SO THE AGREEMENT THAT WE SIGNED WOULD MAKE OUR PROPOSAL PART OF THE SCOPE OF WORK.
SO THEN WE WOULD BE REQUIRED TO SUBCONTRACT THE FUNDING OUT.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF STAFF?
>> BECAUSE I HAD REQUESTED SOME INFORMATION THAT I DIDN'T RECEIVE, LET'S JUST ASK YOU THAT NOW IF THAT'S OKAY.
SINCE YOU DIDN'T PROVIDE A SLIDE, I DON'T HAVE A REFERENCE FOR YOU, BUT IN THE STAFF REPORT, IF YOU HAVE THAT ON PAGE 12.
I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, AGAIN, MAY SOUND LIKE A BROKEN RECORD, BUT THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT HERE FOR SOME OF THE EXPECTATIONS THAT ARE WITHIN THE SCOPE OF SERVICES.
FOR EXAMPLE, THERE'S EIGHT QUESTIONS ON HERE.
IF WE KNOW THE NUMBER OF REFERRALS RECEIVED AND THE SOURCE OF THE REFERRING PARTY.
THIS IS A REPORT THAT I'M UNDERSTANDING YOU GET EVERY MONTH BUT TRY TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT THIS WITHOUT HAVING DATA IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT.
IT ALSO I THINK, SETS THE STANDARD FOR WHETHER WE'RE MEETING THE EXPECTATION OF WHAT THE PROGRAM IS ALL ABOUT.
THOSE EIGHT QUESTIONS, THE NUMBER OF REFERRALS RECEIVE PARTICIPANTS WHO HAVE BEEN SCREENED AND SCREENED AND DENIED, NUMBER OF PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL PARTICIPANTS PLACED IN A PERMANENT HOUSING.
ALL OF THOSE QUESTIONS THAT I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE HAD ANSWERED WOULD HELP ME SUPPORT THIS.
BUT NOW WE'RE HERE AND I'M ASKING YOU, DO YOU HAVE ANY OF THAT INFORMATION?
>> THIS IS AGAIN FROM THE AMENDED CONTRACT, SO THIS WOULD BE MOVING FORWARD, SO WE DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION CURRENTLY.
AS WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, WE NEED TO UPDATE THE SCOPE OF WORK ALSO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MEET THE STATE AND FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS.
NOW THAT WE'RE TAKING FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING AND USING IT FOR THIS PURPOSE, WE'RE ALSO GOING TO HAVE TO REPORT BACK TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND TO THE STATE.
BEING ABLE TO HAVE THIS INFORMATION IS GOING TO ALLOW US TO REPORT BACK.
IN THE FUTURE AFTER THIS CONTRACT HOPEFULLY IS APPROVED, WE'LL BE ABLE TO REPORT BACK ON THESE DIFFERENT METRICS.
THEN WE CAN USE THOSE TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROGRAM.
IN THE PAST 2, 3 YEARS, WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROGRAM?
>> CRC HAS BEEN PROVIDING DATA ON A MONTHLY BASIS.
IT JUST NOT IS THIS SPECIFIC DATA.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE WERE TRYING TO GET THROUGH A LOT OF THINGS TO GET THE INFORMATION OUT AND WE WEREN'T ABLE TO GET THAT ALL PUT TOGETHER AND SENT OUT.
>> THEN UNDER THE BUDGET EXHIBIT C4, THE GENERAL PHONES IS $175,000.
WAS THAT $175,000 LAST YEAR AS WELL?
>> THE CONTRACT WAS 350 OF GENERAL FUNDS.
[OVERLAPPING] >> THAT'S RIGHT.
BECAUSE YOU'RE BEING RETURNING BACK 175.
THEN MR. SHILLING, YOU GAVE THE EXAMPLE OF THE LADY THAT YOU ALL PAID RENT FOR ONE MONTH AND THEN SHE WAS SECTION H FOR THE NEXT 12 MONTHS.
WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THAT GAP HADN'T BEEN FILLED IN THAT IS COMING FROM THE GENERAL FUND, CORRECT?
IN THAT CASE, IT WAS A TIMING ISSUE WHERE THE SECTION 8 VOUCHER COULDN'T BE ISSUED TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT PAYMENT.
AS WE KNOW, WE'RE IN A VERY TIGHT RENTAL MARKET AND WHEN YOU PASS ON A UNIT LIKE THAT, YOU TYPICALLY LOSE THE UNIT.
THAT WOULD HAVE DELAYED THAT PERSON BEING ABLE TO EXIT HOMELESSNESS BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE LOST THAT UNIT AND WE JUST START FROM SCRATCH IN TERMS OF TRYING TO FIND A UNIT WHICH IS PART OF WHAT THE COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER CASE MANAGERS DO IS HELP PROVIDE HOUSING SEARCH ASSISTANCE BECAUSE IT CAN BE VERY DAUNTING FOR SOME OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE WORK WITH TO FIND HOUSING, ESPECIALLY IN A TIGHT RENTAL MARKET WHEN THEY'RE COMPETING WITH PEOPLE WHO AREN'T EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE HAD A BANKRUPTCY, WHO PROBABLY HAVE MORE INCOME.
WHEN WE HAVE UNITS THAT ARE WILLING TO RENT TO THE PEOPLE THAT WE WORK WITH OR THAT COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER WORKS WITH, WE HAVE TO MOVE VERY QUICKLY.
THAT GOES TO MRS. MILLS POINT EARLIER AS WELL AS ABOUT BEING ABLE TO CUT THAT CHECK, BEING ABLE TO SAY, YOU'RE WILLING TO RUN THIS UNIT.
WELL, HERE'S THE DEPOSIT, HERE'S THE FIRST MONTH'S RENT, AND WE'RE READY TO
[01:00:02]
MOVE IN.>> DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY STUDENTS IN CUSD ARE HOMELESS?
>> HOW MANY STUDENTS IN [OVERLAPPING] I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION IN FRONT OF ME.
IT'S A LOT OF STUDENTS IN CARLSBAD UNIFIED.
I THINK I DON'T HAVE ANY MORE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, BUT I DO HAVE SOME COMMENTS.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? MS. BHAT-PATEL?
>> THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION, AND FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK.
I KNOW THAT THIS TAKES A LOT OF WORK AND EFFORT AND I DO APPRECIATE IT.
I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
ONE THING, I KNOW THAT THE HOMELESS RESPONSE PLAN THAT WE HAVE, THAT WE ADOPTED IN 2017 PREDATES THE MAJORITY OF US ON COUNCIL.
IN TERMS OF THE INVESTMENT, IT SOUNDS LIKE BASED ON WHAT WAS PASSED PREVIOUSLY AND NOW, WHEN YOU'RE COMING BACK, THIS IS GOING TO OVERALL REDUCE THE IMPACT ON THE GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES.
WE TALK ABOUT WAYS THAT THE CITY HAS INVESTED AND HOW WE'VE HAD THE ABILITY TO SEE REDUCTION IN THE NUMBERS OF FOLKS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST FEW YEARS BASED ON THE INVESTMENT THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HAS MADE BASED ON THE 2020 ACTION THAT WE TOOK.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS I'D BE CURIOUS ABOUT IS IF WE HADN'T DONE THAT, I DON'T THINK WE WOULD HAVE SEEN THE SAME EFFECT.
THAT WAS A CALL FROM THE COMMUNITY FOR US TO ACTUALLY INVEST IN THAT.
I WAS JUST CURIOUS IN TERMS OF NUMBERS.
I KNOW I THINK IT WAS LAST YEAR, IT WAS REPORTED THAT 14%.
WAS THAT THE RIGHT NUMBER OR IS IT?
>> IT HAD 20% EACH YEAR OF THE UNSHELTERED POPULATIONS CRASH 20 AND THEN 20.
>> I KNOW WE GOT CALLED OUT BY QUITE A FEW FOLKS IN A POSITIVE WAY SAYING THAT WE WERE ONE OF THE FEW AND THE REGION THAT HAD REDUCED OUR NUMBERS.
THEN ONE OF THE THINGS I ALSO HEARD WAS AROUND ENSURING THAT WE HELP FOLKS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES SPECIFICALLY.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I HEARD FROM MR. SHILLING.
YOU CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THAT WE DO TRY TO PRIORITIZE OBVIOUSLY DOING THAT.
THIS MIGHT BE A CITY ATTORNEY QUESTION, BUT THERE'S A DISCRIMINATION CLAUSE ALSO.
WE AREN'T ABLE TO DISCRIMINATE WHO WERE RENDERING SERVICES TO.
HOW LONG DOES THE WHOLE PROCESS TAKE TO REHOUSE SOMEONE? I'M ASSUMING IT VARIES, BUT I'D LOVE TO HEAR THE SHORTEST DURATION OF TIME AND THEN THE LONGEST DURATION OF TIME THAT IT COULD TAKE.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT, THAT'S OKAY, BUT AN AVERAGE WOULD BE GREAT.
>> TRYING TO LOOK THROUGH MY DATA, WE DO HAVE A LOT OF DATA ON THAT, I BELIEVE, OF THE PEOPLE THAT COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER HAS MOVED INTO HOUSING, 72% HAVE BEEN WITHIN 60 DAYS.
THAT'S A VERY HIGH SUCCESS RATE FOR THAT.
THE AVERAGE TIME, I BELIEVE, LIKE REGION-WIDE, WHEN YOU LOOK AT ALL THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF HOUSING INTERVENTIONS HAS BEEN UPWARD TO SIX MONTHS.
BUT THAT'S WHEN SOMEBODY HAS A RESOURCE IN HAND THAT'S NOT FROM THE TIME THAT THEY ARE INTERACTIVE WITH.
AGAIN, IT'S CALLED RAPIDLY HOUSING BECAUSE IT'S REALLY TRYING TO PUT ALL THE RESOURCES UPFRONT TO BE ABLE TO HOUSE SOMEBODY AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE BY PROVIDING THEM THAT HOUSING SEARCH ASSISTANCE.
COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER ALSO HAS HOUSING LOCATOR THAT THEY HAVE FOR A DIFFERENT PROGRAM THAT WE LEVERAGE AS WELL, BECAUSE AS THAT PERSON'S MAKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH LANDLORDS, IT DOESN'T JUST BENEFIT ONE PROGRAM, IT'S ABLE TO BENEFIT THEIR ENTIRE ORGANIZATION.
HAVING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH LA NDLORDS, UNDERSTANDING WHERE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS, AND THEN HAVING THE FLEXIBILITY TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FUNDING AND WORK WITH THE CLIENTS TO GET THEM IN IS REALLY ABLE TO REDUCE AMOUNT OF TIME IT TAKES TO GET SOMEBODY INTO HOUSING.
>> MS. BHAT-PATEL, YOU START WITH THE COMMENTS.
[01:05:01]
I THINK FROM NOT ONLY A PUBLIC HEALTH PERSPECTIVE, BUT ALSO PUBLIC SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, WE'VE CLEARLY DONE A GREAT JOB OF MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING THIS.I THINK OUR OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE AND THE NUMBER OF EMAILS THAT WE RECEIVE HAVE DRAMATICALLY REDUCED FROM THE TIME THAT I CAME ON COUNCIL.
WHETHER IT WAS FOLKS THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS THAT RODE IN, OR EVEN INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE WALKING AROUND TOWN AND JUST SEE A CASE OF IT.
I JUST HAVE TO SAY, IT DOES TAKE A VILLAGE IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING THIS, IT'S NOT JUST GOING TO BE THE COUNTY THAT WILL BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THIS.
THEY ARE OBVIOUSLY SUPPOSED TO BE PROVIDING RESOURCES, THEY PROVIDE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, THEY ARE OBVIOUSLY OUR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY.
HOWEVER, IF WE SOLELY RELIED ON THE COUNTY, WE WOULDN'T HAVE SEEN THE RESULTS THAT WE SAW.
THAT WAS BECAUSE WE INVESTED THE MONEY AND THE TIME AND THE RESOURCES, AND THAT WAS OBVIOUSLY OUR HOUSING AND HOMELESS SERVICES FOLKS, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THANK YOU TO BOTH OF YOU ALL FOR DOING THE JOB THAT YOU DO.
IT'S CLEAR WHY WE'VE SEEN THAT ACTUAL IMPACT.
I JUST WANTED TO UNDERSCORE THAT.
I THINK THAT IT'S BEING DISCOUNTED UNFORTUNATELY.
I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO TAKE A HOLISTIC APPROACH.
BECAUSE IF WE DON'T, THEN WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE WHAT OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES IN TERMS OF THE RESPONSE THAT WE HAVE.
THE DUPLICATING SERVICES PART, THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THAT QUESTION I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
THAT WE'RE NOT COMPLETELY DUPLICATING SERVICES.
SOMETIMES IT TAKES MULTIPLE TOUCH POINTS.
IF YOU'VE BEEN TRAINED IN THIS WORK, YOU UNDERSTAND THAT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, BENEFITS SPECIALISTS, ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH IT WERE NOT NECESSARILY AN IN-HOUSE SPECIALISTS FOR ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT THINGS.
WE HAVE TO WORK WITH DIFFERENT AGENCIES, INCLUDING THE COUNTY AND OURSELVES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY PROVIDING THOSE HOLISTIC SERVICES TO EACH INDIVIDUAL.
EACH INDIVIDUAL IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT, IT'S NOT A COOKIE CUTTER APPROACH.
EACH PERSON IS GOING TO NEED A DIFFERENT SOLUTION PROVIDED TO THEM.
I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT AS WELL.
I KNOW THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT OUR CITY HAS DONE A GREAT JOB FROM EVEN AGAIN BEFORE MY TIME TO REALLY LAY US UP TO BE HERE.
2017 WAS ONE WE ADOPTED OUR HOMELESS RESPONSE PLAN.
THEN OF COURSE, IN 2020 WE ACTUALLY INVESTED FUNDS TO MAKE SURE.
BUT WE'VE HAD COMMUNITY PARTNERS LIKE COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER, INTERFAITH COMMUNITY SERVICES FOR A REALLY LONG TIME.
IT ISN'T SOMETHING THAT'S NEW.
THESE ARE TRIED AND TRUED PARTNERS.
THEY'VE DEFINITELY HELPED US MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THE JOB OF SERVING NOT ONLY ARE ON HOUSE RESIDENTS, BUT ALSO MAKING SURE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF OUR FOLKS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY IS UP TO PAR OF WHAT THEY DESERVE.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.
I JUST WANTED TO UNDERSCORE HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
I ALSO WANT TO ADD MY THANKS TO OUR STAFF AND TO OUR HOT TEAM FOR THE HARD WORK THAT THEY HAVE PUT INTO ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES.
WE KNOW THAT ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS AND WORKING ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING ISSUES ARE NOT JUST CARLSBAD ISSUES, WE HEAR THEM, WE ALL WORK IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTY AND OF THE STATE AND WE KNOW THAT OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE ALSO EXPERIENCING CHALLENGES WITH ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES.
IN OUR CITY, I REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST JOINED IN 2020, WE REALLY HAVE MADE AN EFFORT TO TAILOR OUR RESPONSE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND TO OUR COMMUNITY SPECIFIC ISSUES.
THERE ARE OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT TAKE A DIFFERENT APPROACH WHETHER IT'S OCEANSIDE CONVERTING A BUILDING TO A SHELTER FACILITY OR IT'S ENCINITAS CONVERTING A PIECE OF LAND TO A SAFE PARKING LOT.
WE HAVEN'T TAKEN THOSE APPROACHES.
WE'VE DONE A DIFFERENT APPROACH AND I REALLY APPRECIATED THE RESPONSE MS. MILLS, ABOUT THE GAPS FILLING IN THE GAPS BETWEEN WHAT THE COUNTY IS DONE AND THE STANDARD AND THE HIGH STANDARDS THAT WE HAVE HERE IN CARLSBAD BECAUSE WE DO WANT TO BE EXTREMELY RESPONSIVE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO HELP PEOPLE FIND THAT SHELTER AND BECOME PERMANENTLY TRANSITIONED TO HOUSING.
I WANTED TO THANK THE STAFF AND MY COLLEAGUES FOR TALKING ABOUT THE TIMELINE BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN A LONG PERIOD OF EVOLVING OUR RESPONSE AND TALKING WITH THE COMMUNITY AND OUR PARTNERS.
IT'S BEEN A LOT OF COLLABORATION WITH OUR COUNTY, WITH NON-PROFITS AND WITH THE STATE.
OBVIOUSLY, IT'S BECAUSE THE STAFF WAS LOOKING AT WHAT POTS OF MONEY WERE OUT THERE AT THE STATE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO EVEN CONSIDER THIS AGENDA ITEM TODAY, WHICH SAVES $175,000 FROM OUR GENERAL FUND.
I'M JUST SO HAPPY AND SO PLEASED THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT.
[01:10:01]
BUT THE PLAN IS EVOLVING AND FLEXIBLE.IT WAS THE HOMELESS RESPONSE PLAN AND NOW IT'S THE HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN.
I'M JUST SO GLAD THAT WE HAVE THIS FLEXIBLE LIVING BREATHING APPROACH TO WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY.
OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL AND WE'LL SEE THAT IN THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM THAT'S COMING UP.
I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF MY COMMENTS RELATE TO THE POINT IN TIME COUNT AND LOOKING AT OUR SUCCESS AND LOOKING AT WHAT WE CAN DO NEXT.
THAT IS COMING UP ON THIS AGENDA.
I GOT A LITTLE AHEAD OF MYSELF, BUT IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE ALREADY DELVING INTO THESE ISSUES.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK.
I THINK I SHARED WITH YOU ALL THAT I HOW MUCH I APPRECIATED THE PERSONAL STORIES THAT YOU WROTE IN THE STAFF REPORT, THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE HELP HOUSED IN IT.
I WANT ALL OF THOSE STORIES BIGGER AS I THINK IT HUMANIZES WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN YOUR DEPARTMENT.
HOWEVER, I'M NOT INTERESTED IN INVESTING IN HOMELESSNESS, I'M INTERESTED IN INVESTING IN ENDING IT, AND GETTING TO THAT NUMBER WHERE WE'RE NOT SEEING PEOPLE IN PINE PARK EVERY DAY HANGING OUT DRINKING BEER WITH THEIR FRIENDS AND LOITERING AND VANDALIZING, AND STEALING.
THIS MORNING, A LADY WAS ARRESTED OUTSIDE OF WINDSOR POINT.
THESE ARE NOT THE PEOPLE AGAIN, THAT I FEEL LIKE YOU ARE HELPING BECAUSE YOU'RE HELPING THE PERSON THAT REALLY WANTS THE HELP.
IT DOES TAKE A MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO HELP THOSE FOLKS.
MY POINT IS, LET'S INVEST IN THE CITIZENS THAT LIVE HERE THAT PAY THE TAXES TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAMS AND KEEP THEM SAFE.
THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING.
I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM, BUT I DO THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A SERIOUS LOOK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING AND MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS.
PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN OTHER DISTRICTS MAY NOT SEE AND EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS THAT I SEE AND EXPERIENCE EVERY DAY IN THIS DISTRICT AND DISTRICT 1.
>> I WASN'T HERE BUT KUDOS TO THE COUNCIL ON THE HOMELESS ACTION PLAN.
I DON'T WANT TO BE REDUNDANT AND I DON'T WANT TO TAKE YOUR TIME.
I WANT YOU TO GO OUT, SPEND THIS MONEY AND GET PEOPLE HOMED.
>> I'VE BEEN VERY CRITICAL OF OUR RESPONSE.
IF IT WORKS, GREAT, IF IT DOESN'T, WE PIVOT, WE TRY SOMETHING NEW.
WE SPEND A LOT OF MONEY TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF OUR HOMELESSNESS, BUT THEN I DRIVE THROUGH NEIGHBORING CITIES, I DROVE THROUGH SAN DIEGO WHEN I WAS ON MARKET STREET RECENTLY.
THEN I COME BACK AND THEN I JUST WANT TO COME OUT AND HUG YOU GUYS FOR THE WORK YOU'VE DONE.
YES, WE HAVE HOMELESS PEOPLE AND YES THEY HAVE THEIR ISSUES AND THEY CREATE ISSUES FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
BUT BOY, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER WE'RE JUST LUCKY ARE YOU GUYS ARE GENIUSES, BUT OUR PROBLEMS ARE SO MUCH LESS THAN NEIGHBORING CITIES, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU WORK YOUR WAY DOWN INTO SAN DIEGO.
I'LL CONTINUE TO BE CRITICAL, BUT I'LL ALSO APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU'VE DONE AND THE RESULTS YOU'VE SHOWN.
WITH THAT, I NEED A MOTION ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 5, PLEASE.
>> MOVE APPROVAL OF AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 5.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A 10-MINUTE BREAK.
ITEM NUMBER 13, PUBLIC HEARING, PLEASE.
[13. VARIANCE AND COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT FOR UNPERMITTED RETAINING WALLS AND DECK LOCATED AT 2170 TWAIN AVENUE (V2022-0002. CDP2022-0019)]
ITEM NUMBER 13 IS A VARIANCE AND COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT FOR UNPERMITTED RETAINING WALLS AND DECK LOCATED AT 2170 TWAIN AVENUE.
AGAIN, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.
WE WILL BE ASKING IF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS COULD PLEASE MAKE DISCLOSURES PERTAINED TO THIS ITEM.
WITH THAT SAID, THE PRESENTATION WILL BE MADE BY OUR CITY PLANNER, ERIC LARDY ALONG WITH OUR ASSISTANT PLANNER, KYLE VAN LEWIN.
DON'T FORGET, LET'S DO OUR DISCLOSURES NOW.
MS. LUNA? MS. BURKHOLDER? MS. ACOSTA?
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE ARE DISCUSSING VARIANCE AND COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT FOR UNPERMITTED RETAINING WALLS LOCATED AT 2170 TWAIN AVENUE VENUE.
THE PROJECT SITE IS JUST OVER A THIRD OF AN ACRE, IS BORDERED TO THE NORTH AND
[01:15:03]
EAST BY PUBLIC STREET, TO THE WEST, BY UNDEVELOPED LAND DESIGNATED FOR OPEN SPACE AND ANOTHER SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTS DEVELOPED TO THE SOUTH.JUST FOR SOME BACKGROUND ON THE PROJECT.
IN 2020, THE PROPERTY OWNERS STARTED A BACKYARD REMODEL WHICH INCLUDED GRADING, RETAINING WALLS, AS WELL AS A POOL INSTALLATION.
IN 2021 DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION FOR THE POOL, THE CITY INSPECTOR NOTICED THE RETAINING WALLS WHICH WERE NOT SHOWN ON HIS PERMIT, NOR DID ANY OTHER PERMITS SHOW THAT APPROVEMENT.
THE OWNERS WERE INFORMED THAT THE CONTRACTOR HAD ONLY POOL PERMIT FOR THE POOL AND A COURT CASE WAS INITIATED FOR THE UNPERMITTED WORK.
IN 2022 THE PROPERTY OWNER DID APPLY FOR THIS VARIANCE AND COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT, WHICH WOULD BE NEEDED TO KEEP THE RETAINING WALLS THAT WERE PARTIALLY CONSTRUCTED.
I WILL NOTE THAT ONCE THE COURT CASE WAS OPENED TO OUR PROPERTY AND STOPPED WORK ON PROPERTY.
SPECIFICALLY, THEY'RE REQUESTING A VARIANCE FROM TWO AREAS OF THE HILLSIDE DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE.
THE VARIANCE IS A REQUEST TO ALLOW RETAINING WALLS BEYOND THE LIMIT OF SIX FEET FROM TOE OF SLOPE OR SIX FEET IS THE STANDARD VERTICAL LIMIT AND ALSO THE VARIANCE REQUEST TO ALLOW A DECK WITHIN THE REAR YARD SETBACK, WHERE DECKS ARE SUBJECT TO REAR YARD SETBACK STANDARDS OF STRUCTURES TYPICALLY ON A HILLSIDE.
THERE IS ALSO REQUIREMENT FOR COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT AS IT IS IN THE COASTAL ZONE, AND THAT ALLOWS FOR THE GRADING OF THE SLOPE.
TWO OF THE VERY SPECIFIC FINDINGS THAT NEED TO BE MADE TO SUPPORT A VARIANCE INCLUDE THAT BECAUSE OF A SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCE APPLICABLE TO THE SUBJECT PROPERTY INCLUDING SIZE, SHAPE, TOPOGRAPHY, LOCATION, OR SURROUNDINGS.
THE STRICT APPLICATION OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE DEPRIVE SUCH PROPERTIES OF PRIVILEGES, OTHER PROPERTIES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OR ZONE ENJOY, AND THAT A VARIANCE SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE A GRANT OF SPECIAL PRIVILEGE INCONSISTENT WITH THE LIMITATIONS UPON OTHER PROPERTIES IN THE VICINITY OR SO.
THE APPLICANT DID PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT A UNIQUE TOPOGRAPHICAL SCENARIO ON THE PROPERTY.
IT IS WHAT WE'RE CALLING A CUTBACK SLOPE, ESSENTIALLY WHERE THERE'S A MANUFACTURED SLOPE IN A REAR YARD, THE PURPOSE OF THAT SLOPE IS TO MAINTAIN A NATURAL RIDGE AND THEN A NATURAL SLOPE ON THE OTHER SIDE.
USUALLY, A MANUFACTURED SLOPE WOULD GO UP TO ANOTHER HOUSE PAD OR ANOTHER STREET WHERE IN THIS CASE, BASICALLY IT GOES UP TO GO DOWN.
ADDITIONALLY, THE PROVIDED INFORMATION ABOUT WHY THAT CUT BACK SLOPE AREA IS ESPECIALLY IMPACTFUL ON THEIR PROPERTY, WHICH IS THE CAPEX SLOPE DOES OCCUPY OVER 40% OF THE LOT AREA AND OCCUPIES OVER 80% OF THE REAR YARD AREA AND THIS LEAVES THE BACKYARD WITH A 15 FOOT DISTANCE BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND THE PREVIOUSLY INSTALLED RETAINING WALL AND WHICH WOULD BE THE LAYOUT YOU'RE SEEING HERE WITH THE PREVIOUS INSTALLED RETAINING WALL.
ADDITIONALLY, THE APPLICANT PROVIDED INFORMATION THAT STRICT ADHERENCE TO THE RETAINING WALL LIMIT WOULD DISALLOW THE ABILITY TO BUILD A TYPICAL PATIO, PATIO COVER SWIMMING POOL, OR STANDARD PATIO IMPROVEMENTS THAT MOST PROPERTIES OF THE SIZE ON IN THIS AREA WOULD ENJOY AND THAT THE IMPACT OF THE CUTBACK SLOPE ON THIS PROJECT SITE IS TO A LARGER DEGREE THAN ANY OTHER WITH A SIMILAR SCENARIO.
THIS WOULDN'T BE A GRANT OF SPECIAL PRIVILEGE COMPAIRED TO THE OTHER PROPERTIES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
ADDITIONALLY, THE STAFF HAS FOUND THAT THE PROJECT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE LOCAL COASTAL PROGRAM AND THAT IS INCLUDING THAT THE LAND USE DESIGNATION IS FOR RESIDENTIAL USE, INCLUDING LANDSCAPING THAT DOES NOT OBSTRUCT VIEWS TO OR FROM THE COAST.
THERE ARE NO AGRICULTURAL OR SENSITIVE RESOURCES AMONGST SOME OF THE FINDINGS.
STAFF ALSO FOUND THAT THE PROJECT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE COASTAL RESOURCE PROTECTION OVERLAY ZONE.
WE'VE DETERMINED THAT THE SLOPE AREA TO BE STABLE AND IT WILL NOT DAMAGE OR ALTER ANY MAJOR WILDLIFE HABITAT OR NATURAL VEGETATION AREAS AND THERE ARE NO WILDLIFE CORRIDORS ON-SITE.
I DO WANT TO STATE THAT DETERMINING THAT THE SLOPE IS STABLE WAS QUITE A PROCESS.
THE APPLICANT AND PROPERTY OWNER HAD TO HIRE ADDITIONAL ENGINEERS, INCLUDING THE SOILS ENGINEER AND A GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEER TO PROVIDE THE CITY WITH INFORMATION ABOUT HOW THE RETAINING WALLS THAT WERE NOT INSPECTED WHILE BEING BUILT WERE ACTUALLY STABLE, WHICH WOULD NORMALLY BE DETERMINED WHEN THEY'RE BEING BUILT.
THE CITY ALSO HIRED A THIRD PARTY CONSULTANT ENGINEER SO THAT WE WOULD HAVE ANOTHER BACKING THAT YES, IT IS STABLE.
I DID WANT TO MAKE A POINT OF BRINGING THAT UP.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION DID HAVE A HEARING ON THIS ITEM ON MAY 3RD, 2023 AND BY UNANIMOUS VOTES SEVEN TO ZERO, THEY RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF THE VARIANCE AND THE COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL.
FINALLY, THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION, APPROVING THE VARIANCE AND THE COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT AND STEPS HERE, IF YOU'VE ANY QUESTIONS.
>> OPENING A PUBLIC HEARING, DO I HAVE ANY SPEAKERS?
[01:20:05]
FIRST, WE'D LIKE TO INVITE THE APPLICANT AND APPLICANT'S REPRESENTATIVE UP.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS I'M PAUL KLUKAS, I'M A PLANNER WITH PLANNING SYSTEMS, OUR ADDRESS IS 1530, FARADAY, SWEET 100 IN CARLSBAD.
HERE THIS EVENING REPRESENTING BOB AND BETTY HAM, THEY ARE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY AT 2170 TWAIN AVENUE.
THERE HERE THIS EVENING REQUESTING A COASTAL PERMIT AND THE VARIANCE FOR A SERIES OF STEPS, RETAINING WALLS THAT ARE PRETTY MUCH FULLY INSTALLED ON A SLOPE IN THE BACKYARD OF THEIR HOUSE.
AS MR. VAN LEWIN STATED, THESE WALLS WERE INSTALLED, ALTHOUGH THEY'RE NOT FULLY COMPLETED AT THIS POINT, WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF A GRADIENT PERMIT FROM THE CITY, THE HAM'S THEN HIRED A REGISTERED CONTRACTOR TO PROCESS THE PERMITS AND CONSTRUCT BOTH THE SWIMMING POOL AND THE WALLS IN THEIR BACKYARD.
THEY HAD A VERY SMALL BACKYARD, AS WAS MENTIONED, NOT SUFFICIENT FLAT AREA FOR A POOL, SO THEY NEEDED THE RETAINING WALLS IN ORDER TO GET THE POOL IN THERE.
BUT THE CONTRACTOR ULTIMATELY MISLED THE HAM'S SAYING THAT HE'D BEEN ISSUED THE NECESSARY PERMITS, SO THEY REALLY ONLY HAD THE POOL PERMIT, DIDN'T HAVE THE WALL PERMIT, AND THEN HE ACTUALLY WENT AHEAD AND BUILT THE WALLS WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF THE PERMIT, SO THE CONSTRUCTION WAS STOPPED AND THE HAM'S NEEDED A VERY ONSET OF COASTAL PERMIT TO COMPLETE THE WALLS IN THEIR BACKYARD AND THE WORK HAS BEEN STOPPED FOR, I THINK OVER TWO YEARS NOW.
WE'RE HERE THIS EVENING TO ASK YOU TO AGREE WITH YOUR STAFF AND WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION WITH THEIR UNANIMOUS RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL, IT'S THEIR POSITION THAT THE REQUIRED FIVE FINDINGS CAN BE MADE FOR APPROVAL OF THE VARIANCE AND THE SUBSEQUENT COASTAL PERMIT.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOUND THAT THE HARMS PROPERTY DOES POSSESS UNUSUAL TOPOGRAPHIC, ENVIRONMENTAL AND COASTAL CONSTRAINTS THAT RESTRICTS THE USABILITY OF THEIR REAR YARD.
AS MR. VAN LEWIN STATED, THE UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES THAT TALL CUT BACK SLOPE AT THE REAR OF THEIR PROPERTY, WHICH PRESERVES THE OPEN SPACE HABITAT ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE CUT.
THIS EXCAVATED CUT BY THE ORIGINAL DEVELOPER ON THE HAM LOT IS CONSIDERED A SEVERE CONSTRAINT ON THE HAM'S YARD.
I HAD MY OFFICE RESEARCH AND WE COULDN'T FIND ANY OTHER LOT IN THE CITY OF CARLSBAD, EXCEPT FOR PERHAPS THE HAM'S IMMEDIATE NEIGHBOR.
WE COULDN'T FIND ANY OTHER LOT THAT POSSESSES THIS EXTREME TALL CUT BACK SLOPE SITUATION WHICH SQUEEZES THE DEPTH OF THE HAM'S LOT AND CERTAINLY OBSTRUCTS THEIR VIEW.
I WON'T TAKE YOUR TIME TO RUN THROUGH ALL OF THE FINDINGS ADOPTED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION TONIGHT.
BUT SUFFICE IT TO SAY THAT THE SUBSTANCE OF THEIR FINDINGS IS THAT WITHOUT THE STEPS RETAINING WALLS, THE HAM'S BEING DENIED PRIVILEGES ENJOYED BY OTHER PROPERTIES IN THE VICINITY AND ZONE.
UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES THE HAM'S STEPPED WALLS ARE PRACTICAL, AESTHETICALLY PLEASING SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM.
THEIR REQUESTS AS THE ENDORSEMENT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AS DEMONSTRATED WITH THE LIST OF NEIGHBORS SUPPORTERS SIGNED BY OVER 50 OF THEIR CLOSEST NEIGHBORS.
FURTHER, THE HAM RETAINING WALLS WON'T IMPACT NEIGHBORS OR THE PUBLIC.
THERE ARE SITUATED ON A CORNER LOT.
THE LOT HAS ONLY A SINGLE DIRECT NEIGHBOR.
THEY DON'T HAVE NEIGHBORS ON THE WEST, NORTH, OR EAST SIDES AND THE HAM'S REAR YARD IS HIDDEN BEHIND SLOPES ON TWO SIDES, WHICH RENDERS THE REAR YARD ALMOST TOTALLY NOT VISIBLE TO OTHER RESIDENCES.
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, WE AGREE WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND AGREE TO THEIR RECOMMENDED CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL AND REQUEST YOUR APPROVAL TONIGHT.
I KNOW THE HAM'S WOULD LIKE TO SINCERELY THANK THE CITY STAFF AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR THEIR VERY REASONABLE APPROACH TO THE SITUATION AND THEIR EXTENSIVE REVIEW OF THE TECHNICAL INFORMATION, AND THEY'D LIKE TO THANK THEY'RE VERY INTERESTED AND LOYAL SUPPORTERS WHO HAVE BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE DURING THIS DIFFICULT PROCESS.
MANY OF WHICH I BELIEVE ARE HERE.
I DO HAVE BOB AND BETTY HAM HERE WITH ME THIS EVENING.
THIS HAS BEEN QUITE A PROCESS FOR THEM.
I KNOW THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT THEY WERE EMBARKING ON WHEN THEY FIRST REQUESTED QUOTES FROM CONTRACTORS.
BUT I KNOW THAT MR. HAM HAS PUT IT ON SPEAKER SLIP AND HAS A FEW WORDS TO SAY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
I'M SPEAKING FOR MYSELF AND MY WIFE BETTY.
JUST BRIEFLY, I JUST WANT TO GIVE A QUICK BACKGROUND ON HOW WE GOT HERE.
WE HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS LIVE IN ORANGE COUNTY ALL OF OUR LIVES AND I THOUGHT WE CAN
[01:25:03]
LIVE AND DIE THERE, BUT THEY END UP MOVING DOWN TO SAN DIEGO.THEY TOOK ONE OF OUR GRANDCHILD WITH THEM AND WE WANT TO BE CLOSE TO THEM.
THAT'S WHAT WE MOVED DOWN TO BE CLOSE TO THEM.
WE FOUND A VERY BEAUTIFUL HOUSE.
SINCE THEN, NOW WE HAVE CHILDREN AND WE LOVE THEM DEARLY.
THE REASON WHY YOU WANT THIS HOUSE WHAT WE WANT IS VARIANCE DONE IS TO HAVE A BACKYARD.
WE JUST WANT TO BE ABLE FOR THE KIDS TO PLAY IN THE BACKYARD RIGHT THERE, TRY CIRCLES AROUND IN A CLOSED AREA.
THEY CAN WRITE IT ON THE STREETS, BUT WE TRIED THAT BEFORE.
BUT ANYWAY, WE ARE FAMILY-ORIENTED.
WE'D LIKE TO BE AROUND WITH THE FAMILY, WITH THE KIDS AND GRANDKIDS, MAYBE A BARBECUE ON WEEKEND ONCE A MONTH OR A COUPLE TIMES A MONTH, AND THAT'S ALL WE HAD MINE.
NOW, KNOWING ALL THAT, WE WENT AND SEEK OUT A GENERAL CONTRACTOR.
THEY ARE LICENSED THROUGH REMINDED, WE CHECKED OUT THE REFERENCES.
WE WENT OUT TO TAKE A LOOK AT 2-3 DIFFERENT SITES WHERE THEY DID THE WORK.
AFTER ALL THAT'S BEING SAID AND DONE.
THEY TOOK HER MONEY AND RAN, LEFT TOWN.
NOT ONLY LEFT TOWN, BUT THEY LEFT THE STATE TOO.
THEY'VE PROCEEDED ON BECAUSE I QUESTIONED SEVERAL TIMES WHETHER THEY HAD THE PERMIT OR NOT.
THIS IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO AVOID.
WE DON'T CIRCUMVENT THE SYSTEM.
MY WIFE AND I ARE NOT LIKE THAT.
WE DON'T LIKE TO DO THAT KIND OF STUFF.
ANYWAY, LIKEWISE, I WANT TO ASSURE YOU TOO, THAT WE'RE NOT THE TYPE OF PEOPLE THAT MOVE IN AND MOVE OUT.
WE'RE NOT FLIPPERS, WE'RE NOT SHORT-TERM RENTERS.
WE'RE GOING TO RENT THE PLAYS OUT.
WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE FOR A LONG TIME.
THE GRANDKIDS, NUMBER 1, WE'VE GOT GREAT NEIGHBORS.
THE THIRD REASON IS THAT IT'LL KILL ME BECAUSE I'LL FORGET ONE MOVE.
THAT'S THE ONLY ONE THAN WE EVER DID.
I THINK THE NEXT ONE DEFINITELY WOULD KILL ME.
BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I HOPE YOU PROVE OUR VARIANCE.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IT'S BEEN VERY INTERESTING TO WATCH.
I ENJOY WATCHING COUNCIL MEETINGS SOMETIMES NOW.
NOT ALWAYS, BUT IN ANY EVENT, I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL OF THE HARMS COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT AND THE VARIANCE.
THE STORY THAT MR. HOLMES TOLD YOU IS IN FACT THE CASE.
WE'VE BEEN WATCHING THIS PROJECT FROM ACROSS THE STREET WE LIVED.
WE CAN SEE INTO THEIR BACKYARD AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
IT SEEMS LIKE FOR TWO OR THREE YEARS.
I DON'T KNOW THE TIME FRAME, BUT THE PLANNING COMMISSION CONSIDERED IT CAREFULLY.
THEY VOTED 7-0 TO APPROVE THE VARIANCE AND THE COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT.
FOR CONTEXTS, IT IS A WONDERFUL COMMUNITY.
IT HAS BEEN MY WIFE, DENISE, AND I'VE BEEN UP THERE SINCE 2004.
SOME PEOPLE HAVE GONE AND SOME PEOPLE HAVE LEFT.
WE HAVE A LOT OF FUN UP THERE.
WE ALL TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER AND WE HAVE GREAT NEIGHBORS AND WE WANT TO KEEP IT THAT WAY IN THE HOMES HAVE BEEN A VERY NICE ADDITION TO THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
NOW, WHEN WE COME OUT OUR FRONT DOOR, WE CAN LOOK RIGHT INTO THEIR BACKYARD.
FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER BEFORE THE HOLMES ARRIVED AND STARTED THIS PROJECT, WHAT WE WOULD SEE YOU AS A HILLSIDE OR A BACKYARD SLOPE OF WEEDS JUST DRIED OUT WEED USUALLY.
NOT HABITAT THE HABITATS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SLOPE.
BUT WE'D SEE A HILLSIDE OF WEEDS WHICH FRANKLY DIDN'T LOOK THAT GOOD.
WE THINK THAT WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS GOING TO TURN OUT GREAT.
WHAT THEY'VE DONE SO FAR IS VERY GOOD.
I THINK IF THEY'RE ALLOWED TO FINISH IT, IT WILL BE A REAL NICE ADDITION TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
TO SUMMARIZE, HERE, I'M HERE, MY WIFE SARAH, TO SUPPORT THE HARMS AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE.
>> DANCEL TORO >> GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND FELLOW RESIDENTS.
I'M THE SON-IN-LAW THAT DRAG THEM DOWN HERE.
I FEEL LIKE I GOT TO GET UP AND SAY SOMETHING.
[01:30:01]
[LAUGHTER] I'M ALSO A PROUD RESIDENT OF THIS COMMUNITY.I'VE BEEN HERE FOR A LITTLE OVER THREE YEARS.
I'M ALSO THE ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT OF CAMPUS MASTER PLANNING AND STRATEGIC OPERATIONS AT POINT LOMA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY.
AS A CONTRIBUTING MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY WHO IS IN GOOD STANDING.
I'D LIKE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE STAFF RESOLUTION.
I HOPE THIS CARRIES SOME WEIGHT AS THE SON-IN-LAW, [LAUGHTER] BUT I CAN SPEAK FIRSTHAND TO THE INTEGRITY OF MY IN-LAWS.
THEY HAVEN'T TAKEN THIS LIGHTLY.
IT'S BEEN A WOUNDED PROCESS, THEY'RE HURTING.
IT'S BEEN A LONG DRAWN-OUT JOURNEY.
WE'RE HOPING THAT TONIGHT THAT YOU ALL CAN STANDBY AS MEMBERS OF THIS COMMUNITY AND HEAR US WHEN WE SAY, WE NEED YOUR HELP.
WE'RE LOOKING TO CLOSE THE DOOR.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR SOME RESOLVE.
ITS UNFORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT LED US HERE.
I THINK THAT SPEAKING FROM THE HEART, WE'VE BEEN LONGING FOR JUSTICE FOR THREE YEARS.
IT'S NOT JUSTICE THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET.
BUT WHAT WE'RE HOPING TO DO IS GET RESOLVED THAT WE CAN MOVE ON FROM THE HURT THAT THESE UNFORTUNATE INDIVIDUALS CHOSE TO DO TO OUR FAMILY, LEFT THE STATE.
NOW WE'RE IN A HOLDING PATTERN.
WHAT WE'RE ASKING TONIGHT IS FOR SOME ALIGNMENT ON THE MISSION STATEMENT ON THE WEBSITE.
PART OF THE REASON WHY WE LOVE THIS COMMUNITY IS THE STATEMENT TO PROTECT AND SERVE THE COMMUNITY WITH INTEGRITY, PROFESSIONALISM, AND VALOR.
WE NEED SOME VALOR HERE TONIGHT.
WE NEED YOU GUYS TO STAND BY US AS THE RESIDENTS.
IT ALSO SAYS THAT YOU LEAD WITH COMMITMENT, WITH HONESTY, WITH RESPECT, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND COMPASSION.
WE NEED SOME COMPASSION HERE TONIGHT TOO.
WE'RE ASKING YOU ON BEHALF OF OUR FAMILY, RESPECTFULLY, REQUESTING THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS LEAD US AS MEMBERS OF THIS COMMUNITY, THAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES RELATED TO THE HOLMES RESIDENTS BE RESOLVED TONIGHT.
WE'RE ASKING FOR A LITTLE BIT OF HOPE.
WE'RE ASKING THAT THE CITY COMMITS TO CO MP ASSION, DEMONSTRATED TONIGHT TO ADOPT THE STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS RELATED TO THE HOLMES RESIDENTS.
>> THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS.
MS. LUNA >> GENERALLY, I'M NOT A FAN OF VARIANCES FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS NEVER HAPPENED.
HOWEVER, IN THIS CASE, YOUR IN-LAWS DON'T NEED COMPASSION.
THEY DID NOT DO WHAT A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE DO WHO ARE SEEKING VARIANCES.
THAT IS, THEY GO FORWARD WITH SOMETHING AND THEN THEY GO, OOPS, SEE.
THEN THE CITY HAS TO COME BACK IN AND WORK WITH THEM.
READING THE STAFF REPORT, TALKING TO THE STAFF, THIS GENTLEMAN AND HIS WIFE AND FAMILY.
THEY DON'T NEED COMPASSION FROM US.
THEY ARE FOLLOWING THE LAW TO THE LATTER.
THEY'VE GONE OVER AND BEYOND SLIPPERY SLOPES.
I GENERALLY DON'T FIRMLY SUPPORT VARIANCES, BUT IN THIS CASE, THEY HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THAT THEY CAN DO TO ASSURE THAT THEIR NEIGHBORS ARE PROTECTED, THAT THEIR HOME IS PROTECTED, THAT THEIR FAMILY IS PROTECTED, AND THEY ARE HONORABLE, AND PEOPLE THAT HAVE INTEGRITY AND I WILL WHOLLY SUPPORT THIS VARIANCE.
>> I'M GLAD THERE'S NO MORE SPEAKERS.
I MIGHT BE CRYING UP HERE AT THE END OF IT.
BUT THE OVERWHELMING SUPPORT THAT YOU'VE BROUGHT MR. HOLMES AND MRS. HOLMES IS REALLY TENDER.
IT'S REALLY HEARTWARMING TO SEE.
ALSO WANT TO COMMEND THE CITY AND THE PLANNERS, MR. LUDDY AND WORKING WITH THE RESIDENTS.
WE HEAR EXAMPLES OF THIS ALL THE TIME.
IT OFTEN DOESN'T GET CONVEYED TO THE PUBLIC.
I SHARE MY SENTIMENTS THAT I'M NOT ALWAYS A BIG FAN OF VARIANCES, BUT I DO BELIEVE THIS IS AN EXCEPTIONAL CASE AND I'LL BE SUPPORTING IT.
VARIANCES ARE USUALLY FOR SPECIAL AND UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES, AND IT LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE ONE HERE.
I'M JUST REALLY SORRY FOR WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE CONTRACTOR WHO LEFT THE STATE AND LEFT YOU HIGH AND DRY.
[01:35:01]
THANKS TO ALL OF THOSE THAT CAME TO SUPPORT CLEARLY HAVE A LOT OF LOVE AND SUPPORT IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND OF COURSE, SHARE THE SENTIMENTS OF MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THIS IS AN UNFORTUNATE SITUATION THAT YOU ALL HAVE HAD TO LIVE THROUGH AND OF COURSE WE'D WANT TO MAKE IT RIGHT.
YOU'VE BEEN DOING YOUR DUE DILIGENCE.
WE WANT TO OBVIOUSLY MAKE SURE THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY CONTINUE TO ENJOY YOUR GRANDCHILDREN IN YOUR BACKYARD.
WITH THAT, I'LL BE SUPPORTING IT AS WELL.
>> I ECHO THE SENTIMENTS OF THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WITH ONE EXCEPTION, I WASN'T GOING TO CRY.
[LAUGHTER] I NEED A MOTION FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION AND CONTAINED AN ITEM NUMBER 13.
>> PASSES UNANIMOUSLY [APPLAUSE].
[14. SEMI-ANNUAL HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN UPDATE AND 2023 POINT-IN-TIME COUNT DATA]
ITEM NUMBER 14 IS THE SEMIANNUAL HOMELESS ACTION PLAN UPDATE AND THE 2023 POINT IN TIME COUNT AND DATA.
I'LL JUST WAIT FOR THE CROWD TO LEAVE.
MAKING OUR PRESENTATION TODAY IS OUR HOUSING AND HOMELESS SERVICES DIRECTOR MANDY MILLS, ALONG WITH HER HOMELESS SERVICE MANAGER CHRIS SHILLING ALONG WITH HER POLICE CAPTAIN CHIEF SMITH.
>> COUNCIL MEETING IS CONTINUING PLEASE EXERCISE QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE WHICH WITH TIME TO CHANGE YOUR MIND [LAUGHTER].
GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS MANDY NELSON THE HOUSING AND HOMELESS SERVICES DIRECTOR AND AS CITY MANAGER MENTIONED, JOINING ME THIS EVENING IS CHRIS SHILLING THE HOMELESS SERVICES MANAGER AS WELL AS CAPTAIN CHEF SMITH FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
TONIGHT WE'LL BE PROVIDING UPDATE ON THE CITY'S ONGOING EFFORT TO REDUCE HOMELESS AND ITS EFFECTS ON THE COMMUNITY.
AS YOU KNOW THE CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIZED HOMELESS AS ONE OF ITS TOP CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND MARCH OF 2021, THE CITY COUNCIL ESTABLISHED A PRIORITY GOAL FOR FISCAL YEAR 21/22 AND THE UPDATED RECENTLY IN THE CITY'S FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN.
TO ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL, THE CITY RECENTLY APPROVED A WORK PLAN IN 2021 TO ADDRESS THE HOMELESSNESS CONCERNS IN CARLSBAD.
THEN IN FEBRUARY 2023, THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED AN UPDATED HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN THAT INCLUDES A COMPREHENSIVE PACKAGE OF STRATEGIES AND INITIATIVES THAT THE CITY PLANS TO CARRY OUT OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS TO REDUCE HOMELESSNESS AND ITS IMPACT ON THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
THE CITY CONTINUES TO MAKE STEADY PROGRESS TOWARDS THE CITY COUNCIL GOAL.
THIS REPORT THIS EVENING PRESENTS THE SUMMARY ANNUAL DATA COVERING THE PERIOD OF JULY 1 TO DECEMBER 31 OF 2022 ALONG WITH RESULTS OF FROM THE 2023 POINT IN TIME COUNT OF LOCAL HOMELESS POPULATION.
FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR 22/23, THE CITY APPROVED A LITTLE OVER $4 MILLION OF GENERAL FUND BUDGET TOWARDS THE WORK PLAN TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL'S GOAL TO REDUCE HOMELESSNESS.
FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THE FISCAL YEAR, EXPENDITURES ARE A LITTLE LESS THAN HALF OF THE BUDGET FOR THE YEAR.
THIS NEXT SLIDE SHOWS THE ALLOCATION OF WHERE THOSE EXPENDITURES WERE FOR, WHAT THE TYPE OF ACTIVITY, APPROXIMATELY HALF OF THE FUNDING HAS GONE TO FUND A ROBUST POLICE DEPARTMENT HOMELESS OUTREACH TEAM.
THE CITY HAS ALSO CONTINUED TO INVEST IN STAFFING THE HOMELESS DIVISION OF THE HOUSING AND HOMELESS SERVICES DEPARTMENT, FUNDING SOCIAL WORKER OUTREACH THROUGH INTERFACE COMMUNITY SERVICES, RAPIDLY HOUSING EFFORTS THROUGH COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER.
IN MAY, WE PRESENTED A FUNDING PLAN FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR THAT INCLUDES THE CITY'S HOUSING TRUST FUND AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDING DEDICATED TOWARDS HOMELESSNESS PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS TWO NEW GRANT SOURCES THAT WILL BE USED FOR PROGRAMS IDENTIFIED IN THE HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN.
BASED ON THAT CONCEPT OF TAKING A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT ALL EXPENDITURES, WE'VE INCLUDED ON THIS SLIDE, OUR CDBG AND HOUSING TRUST FUND EXPENDITURES IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE FISCAL YEAR THAT SUPPORT SHELTER OPERATIONS AS WELL AS PREVENTION ACTIVITIES FOR THOSE AT RISK OF BECOMING HOMELESS.
ON THIS SLIDE, THEY HAVE THE HASH LINES ON THOSE.
IN THE FUTURE THIS CHART WILL LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENT BECAUSE WE WILL START TO
[01:40:04]
REPORT OUT ON ALL THE ACTIVITIES ACROSS ALL FUNDING SOURCES AS SINCE WE'RE ADDING SO MANY NEW FUNDING SOURCES THAT THE SLIDE AND THE CHART WILL LOOK A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT IN THE FUTURE.NOW I WILL TURN THE PRESENTATION OVER TO MR. SHILLING TO REVIEW SOME OF THE RESULTS WE'VE ACHIEVED THIS FISCAL YEAR.
NOW WE'D LIKE TO SHARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, UNDUPLICATED CONTACTS HAD A 12% DECREASE COMPARING YEAR-TO-YEAR.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR, WE HAD 433 UNDUPLICATED CONTACTS BY ALL OF OUR CITY FUNDED PROVIDERS AND IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, THAT NUMBER HAS DECREASED TO 381 UNDUPLICATED CONTACTS.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAD AN INCREASE OF HOUSING PLACEMENTS BY 71% WHEN LOOKING AT THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR TO THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
IN FACT, IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF LAST FISCAL YEAR, WE HAD 38 HOUSING PLACEMENTS, AND IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, WE HAD 65 HOUSING PLACEMENTS.
THE 65 HOUSING PLACEMENTS IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS EXCEEDS THE ENTIRE YEAR OF THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR.
WE WOULD ADD THAT THAT DATA NOW DOES INCLUDE DATA FROM THE LAW POSADA SHELTER BECAUSE WE NOW PROVIDE DIRECT FUNDING TO THEM SO WE HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR STATISTICS AND DATA AS WELL.
ADDITIONALLY, AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS FISCAL YEAR STAFF STARTED COORDINATED EFFORTS TO FOCUS ON VETERAN HOMELESSNESS.
AS YOU MAY KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF RESOURCES PROVIDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR VETERANS, BUT THERE'S A GAP IN BEING ABLE TO ACCESS THOSE RESOURCES AND SERVICES SO THE CITY HAS BEEN COORDINATING EFFORTS AMONGST OUR PROVIDERS THROUGH CASE CONFERENCING TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY VETERANS AND CONNECT THEM TO THOSE SERVICES.
AS A RESULT, FROM WHEN WE STARTED THE EFFORT JULY 1ST, 2022 THROUGH THE SIX MONTHS TO DECEMBER 31ST, 2022, WE SAW A 53% DECREASE IN VETERAN HOMELESSNESS.
WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IN NUMBERS WE STARTED WITH 15 VETERAN HOUSEHOLDS, AND 21 PEOPLE AND THROUGH THE SIX MONTHS THAT WAS DECREASED TO SEVEN HOUSEHOLDS AND 13 PEOPLE AND THAT TREND, AS WE ALREADY KNOW, HAS CONTINUED.
WE'LL HAVE SOME EXCITING AND POSITIVE DATA TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL AT THE ANNUAL UPDATE.
ADDITIONALLY, WE ALSO SAW 11% DECREASE IN DISPATCH CALLS FOR SERVICE.
IN THE PREVIOUS FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THE LAST FISCAL YEAR, THERE WAS 2,563 DISPATCH CALLS FOR SERVICE.
THAT'S WHEN THE COMMUNITY IS CALLING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR SOMETHING RELATED TO HOMELESSNESS AND THAT NUMBER WAS DECREASED TO 2,276 CALLS IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THIS YEAR.
WE ALSO KNOW NOW THAT THAT TREND HAS CONTINUED, SO WE WILL HAVE SOME POSITIVE DATA AT THE ANNUAL UPDATE.
THE SLIDE HERE IDENTIFIES THE DATA THAT WE'VE BEEN HISTORICALLY TRACKING AND REPORTING PREVIOUSLY THROUGH QUARTERLY UPDATES AND NOW THROUGH SEMI-ANNUAL UPDATES.
AGAIN, THROUGH THE FIRST SIX MONTHS, WE HELPED 65 PEOPLE TRANSITION INTO PERMANENT HOUSING, ALSO HELPED 38 PEOPLE ACCESS SHELTER, AND 23 PEOPLE ACCESS EMERGENCY MOTEL ASSISTANCE.
THE TOTAL POLICE CALLS FOR SERVICE WERE 4,405.
THAT INCLUDES PROACTIVE CALLS FOR SERVICE AS WELL AS THOSE DISPATCH CALLS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER.
CAPTAIN SMITH WILL PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT LATER IN THE PRESENTATION.
WE DID 61 ENCAMPMENT CLEANUPS.
THAT'S OUR COORDINATION WITH URBAN CORE WHEN ANY OF OUR PROVIDERS OR THE POLICE IDENTIFY IN CABINETS THAT NEEDS TO BE CLEANED UP.
WE COORDINATE WITH THEM TO GO OUT AND CLEAN UP.
BUT THEY'RE ALSO OUT IN THE COMMUNITY THREE DAYS PER WEEK ON A REGULAR ROUTE AND JUST CLEANING UP TRASH CONSISTENTLY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
THEN FINALLY, AS WE TALKED ABOUT THE 381 UNDUPLICATED CONTACTS.
WE ALSO WANTED TO POINT OUT SOME OF THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE RELATED TO HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION, WHICH WE KNOW HAS BEEN A PRIORITY OF THE COUNCIL.
THIS HAS BEEN PRIMARILY FUNDED OUT OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDS, WHICH WILL CONTINUE BASED ON THE APPROVED BUDGET AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDING PLAN.
IT PROVIDES RENTAL ASSISTANCE FOR PAST DUE RENT PAYMENTS, AS WELL AS SOME LIGHT TOUCH CASE MANAGEMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN BE SUCCESSFUL AFTER THEY HAVE THAT IMMEDIATE NEED MET.
DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD OF THE FIRST SIX MONTHS, 40 CARLSBAD HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVE THESE TYPES OF PREVENTION SERVICES.
NOW I WILL TURN THE PRESENTATION OVER TO CAPTAIN SMITH.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT OUR EMERGENCY MOTEL VOUCHER PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE LIKE MR. SHILLING SAID, IT SERVICED 23 HOUSEHOLDS.
[01:45:03]
THERE WERE 141 HOTEL VOUCHER NIGHTS THAT WERE USED.SEVEN OF THOSE ENTERED SHELTER, TREATMENT, OR LONG-TERM CARE, AND FOUR ENTERED PERMANENT HOUSING OR WERE REUNITED WITH FAMILY.
FOR CONTEXTS AT 17 OF THOSE OUT OF THE 23 WERE POLICE DEPARTMENT ISSUED WERE A WATCH COMMANDER AT NIGHTTIME.
GENERALLY, WHEN SERVICES AREN'T AVAILABLE, ARE ABLE TO GET THE PERSON TO HOUSING.
FOR THE NEXT DAY THEY'RE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH SERVICES AND MOVE FORWARD THROUGH THE PROGRAM.
SIX OF THOSE WERE THROUGH HOUSING, THE HOMELESS SERVICES.
AGAIN LIKE MR. SHILLING SAID, 4,405 CALLS TOTAL FOR THIS TIME PERIOD WERE HOMELESS-RELATED.
5% OF OUR TOTAL CALLS DURING THIS TIME, AND 2,129 WERE OFFICER-INITIATED.
SO WITH OFFICER- INITIATED CALLS, WE STRIVE AND ADVOCATE FOR OUR OFFICERS TO BE PROACTIVE TO GO OUT IF THEY SEE A PROBLEM, IF THEY SEE AN ISSUE, ADDRESS IT BEFORE SOMEONE CALLS US, AND THAT'S OUR GOAL.
AND AGAIN, YOU SAW THE 2,276 DISPATCH CALLS AND ABOUT 11% INCREASE FROM THE YEAR BEFORE.
FOR OUR POLICE CALLS FOR SERVICE AS PERCENTAGES.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE HOMELESS-RELATED CALLS FOR SERVICE, IN THE FIRST-QUARTER WE WERE AT 10%, AND IN THE SECOND QUARTER WE'RE AT 7%, SO JUST ABOUT A 3% DECREASE, AND THEN FOR THE HOMELESS-RELATED ARRESTS, THE HOMELESS-RELATED CITATIONS, AND THEN THE HOMELESS-RELATED MENTAL HEALTH HOLDS WE STAYED THE SAME THROUGH BOTH QUARTERS AT 16%, 5%, AND 3%, RESPECTIVELY.
WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW IS KNOWING THAT SUMMER IS COMING, WHETHER IT'S GETTING WARMER, OUR PARKS ARE GOING TO BE OCCUPIED MORE OFTEN.
WE WANT TO DO PROACTIVE PATROLS WHEN WE ARE DOING THAT.
WE ARE ALSO RESPONDING TO COMPLAINTS THAT WE HEAR FROM OUR COMMUNITY AND WE WANT TO ADDRESS THOSE COMPLAINTS.
WE ALSO ARE LOOKING AT THE INCREASE IN SECURITY CAMERAS IN THE PARKS AND THEN UTILIZING MOBILE DEVICES THAT WE HAVE AND WE CAN DEPLOY WHEN NEEDED TO HELP WITH CRIMES THAT ARE OCCURRING.
I'D LIKE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT A SUCCESS STORY.
THIS IS ABOUT THE RICHARDSON FAMILY.
THE RICHARDSON FAMILY SUFFERED FROM SOME COGNITIVE DISABILITIES AND THEN THE FAMILY HAD MINIMAL INCOME.
THE THREE SIBLINGS WERE LIVING IN THEIR VEHICLE AFTER THEIR MOTHER PASSED AWAY AND THEIR FATHER WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR A LONG-TERM PERIOD.
OUR HOMELESS OUTREACH TEAM CONTACTED THEM ON A REGULAR BASIS.
WE ALWAYS LOOKED FOR EXPLORING OPTIONS WITH THEM AND WE ENCOURAGED THEM TO FIND SOLUTIONS, THAT WAS OUR GOAL.
ONE SIBLING DID FIND A JOB, BUT UNFORTUNATELY WAS STRUCK BY A VEHICLE WHILE THEY WERE ON THEIR WAY TO WORK.
DURING ALL OF THESE CONTACTS, THE SIBLINGS WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY AN AUNT THAT LIVED OUT OF STATE WHO THEY COULD LIVE WITH.
THEY WERE PLACED IN TEMPORARY MOTEL HOUSING AND THEY WERE HELPED TO BE REUNIFIED WITH THAT AUNT.
AND THEN WE ALSO WENT A STEP FURTHER AND MADE SURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THEY MADE IT THERE SAFELY AND THAT THINGS WERE WELL.
SO WHAT WORKED WITH THAT WAS OUR HOMELESS OUTREACH TEAM CONTINUED TO INTERACT WITH THE FAMILY AND OFFER SUPPORT.
WE APPRECIATE OUR OFFICERS, IT MAY TAKE 10 TIMES TO GET THE PERSON TO ACCEPT SERVICES AND MAY TAKE 20, 30, 40, BUT CONTINUED THAT.
WE ALSO STRESSED THE FACT THAT IF CRIME IS OCCURRING, WE WILL ENFORCE CRIME OR WE WILL ENFORCED THE LAW.
WITH THAT WHEN WE SAW A REUNIFICATION OPPORTUNITY, IT WAS IDENTIFIED THROUGH THE INTERFAITH COMMUNITY SERVICES SOCIAL WORKERS, AND WE WERE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH THEM AND HELP REUNITE THESE FOLKS WITH THEIR AUNT.
WE BELIEVE THAT PERSISTENCE SERVICE OFFERING RESULTED IN THE SOLUTION THAT FIT THE NEEDS OF BOTH THIS FAMILY AND WE ARE HAPPY TO SAY THAT SUCCESSFULLY THEY ARE NOW LIVING WITH THEIR AUNT OUT-OF-STATE.
I'M GOING TO TURN IT BACK OVER TO MR. SHILLING FOR ANOTHER STORY.
NOW WE'D LIKE TO SHARE THE STORY OF JIM.
JIM WAS STAYING AT THE LA POSADA SHELTER AND WITH THAT STABILITY HE HAD BEING IN THE SHELTER, HE WAS ABLE TO CONNECT WITH THE STAFFING AGENCY AND GET SOME EMPLOYMENT.
HAVING THAT INCOME LA POSADA CONNECTED HIM TO COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER AND OUR RAPIDLY HOUSING PROGRAM, AND THROUGH THAT PROGRAM AND THEIR HOUSING SEARCH
[01:50:01]
ASSISTANCE AND THE INCOME THAT HE HAVE, THEY WERE ABLE TO PLACE THEM INTO HOUSING.UNFORTUNATELY, ONCE HE WAS IN THAT HOUSING, HE LOST HIS JOB WITH THE STAFFING AGENCY AND HIS HOUSING WAS IN JEOPARDY BECAUSE HE DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO CONTINUE WITH THE RENTAL PAYMENTS.
FORTUNATELY, HE WAS STILL CONNECTED TO COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER THROUGH THEIR CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES AND THEY REFERRED HIM AND CONNECTED INTO THE CARLSBAD FUNDED EMPLOYMENT AND BENEFITS SPECIALIST.
SO THE EMPLOYMENT AND BENEFITS SPECIALIST WORKED WITH HIM ON UPDATING HIS RESUME, FINDING JOBS HE COULD APPLY FOR, APPLYING FOR THOSE JOBS, COACHING HIM FOR INTERVIEWS, HELPING HIM WITH CLOTHING TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND THOSE INTERVIEWS, AND AS A RESULT OF THAT HE WAS ABLE TO OBTAIN A NEW JOB THAT ACTUALLY PAID A HIGHER WAGE.
SO HE'S NOW DOING REALLY WELL.
HE CONTINUES TO HAVE SOME SUPPORT THROUGH COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER TO MAINTAIN HIS HOUSING, BUT HE'S ABLE TO MAKE THE RENTAL PAYMENTS ON HIS OWN THROUGH HIS NEW EMPLOYMENT.
SO WHAT WORKED FOR JIM? WELL, FIRST HE WAS ABLE TO ACCESS THE LA POSADA SHELTER WHICH GAVE THEM A SAFE PLACE TO STAY OFF OF THE STREETS AND HE WAS ABLE TO SECURE EMPLOYMENT WITH THAT STABILITY.
THEN COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER WAS THERE TO HELP HIM SECURE PERMANENT HOUSING THROUGH THE RAPID RE-HOUSING PROGRAM.
AND BECAUSE OF THEIR CONTINUED INTERACTIONS IN CASE MANAGEMENT, WHEN HE LOST HIS JOB, THEY WERE ABLE TO CONNECT HIM TO THE EMPLOYMENT AND BENEFITS PROGRAM AND LUCKILY THAT WAS THERE FOR HIM.
SO AFTER THAT JOB LOSS HE CAN ATTAIN OTHER EMPLOYMENT AND PAY HIS RENT.
SO NOW JIM IS STILL LIVING SUCCESSFULLY IN HIS HOME AND PAYING THE RENT ON HIS OWN.
SO NOW, WE'D LIKE TO TRANSITION TO THE OVERVIEW OF THE ANNUAL POINT IN TIME COUNT, BUT FIRST WE'D LIKE TO START SHARING A VIDEO OF THIS YEAR'S COUNT.
>> THIS MORNING WE'RE DOING THE ANNUAL POINT IN TIME COUNT; 1,500 VOLUNTEERS GO OUT AND TRY TO COUNT THE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
>> IT'S AN ANNUAL EVENTS ACROSS THE NATION TO SEE IF WE CAN GET AN IDEA OF APPROXIMATELY HOW MANY PEOPLE ON ANY GIVEN NIGHT ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
>> THE POPULATION MOVES AROUND, SO IF WE WERE TO SPREAD IT OUT OVER A TIMEFRAME AND NOT DO IT ALL AT ONCE, WE MIGHT BE RECOUNTING PEOPLE OR MISSING PEOPLE THAT ARE IN OUR AREA.
>> WE ARE COUNTING PEOPLE WHO EITHER SLEPT OUTSIDE OR SLEPT IN THEIR CARS OR PLACE NOT MEANT FOR SLEEPING.
>> EVERY PERSON THAT WE ENCOUNTER RECEIVES A SURVEY AND THEY PROVIDE US WITH INFORMATION THAT WILL HELP US SHAPE OUR SERVICES SO THAT WE CAN GET MORE PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS.
>> PEOPLE ARE MORE ACCEPTING OF THE HELP THAN I THOUGHT THEY WOULD BE, ESPECIALLY BEING WOKEN UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.
EVERYONE WE ENCOUNTERED WAS PRETTY WELCOMING AND OPEN ARM WANTING TO HELP.
>> I THINK THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF MISCONCEPTIONS OF WHAT HOMELESSNESS LOOKS LIKE AND HAVING DATA WILL ALWAYS BE BENEFICIAL, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S ACCURATE.
>> THIS IS THE THIRD YEAR THAT I'VE DONE THE COUNT AND I'M AMAZED AT THE INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES THAT CAUSED HOMELESSNESS.
AND I ALSO LEARNED A LOT MORE ABOUT HOW MANY OF OUR SENIORS ARE HOMELESS, SENIORS AND VETERANS.
>> IT'S A GOOD CHECK-IN EVERY YEAR TO SEE WHERE WE'RE AT, HOW WE'RE DOING, AND THEY HELP US MEASURE TRENDS, THEY HELP US SEE WHAT'S GOING ON NATIONALLY AND ALSO LOCALLY.
>> THE COUNT IS IMPORTANT TO TELL US WHAT THOSE CHANGES ARE AND IF WE MIGHT NEED TO REDIRECT RESOURCES OR IF WE ARE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT THAT WE ARE GETTING SUCCESS IN, MAYBE WE CAN KEEP DOING THAT OR IF THERE'S A GAP IN SERVICE, THAT WE CAN START TO DIRECT SOME SERVICE TO THAT NEED.
>> WE KNOW THAT VULNERABILITIES ARE MUCH HIGHER WHEN PEOPLE ARE LIVING OUTSIDE AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO CREATE PROGRAMS THAT WILL HELP PEOPLE FIND A HOME.
>> I WAS ACTUALLY BEING COUNTED LAST YEAR, SO THIS IS MY WAY OF GIVING BACK AND HELPING PEOPLE GET THE HELP THAT I GOT.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO SAY ABOUT CARLSBAD IS WHAT A PHENOMENAL DEPARTMENT WE HAVE DEALING WITH HOMELESSNESS IN OUR CITY AND ALSO TO THE HOT TEAM.
I THINK IF CITIZENS DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT A HOT TEAM DOES, THEY SHOULD CALL OR GO VISIT.
>> IT'S NOT ONLY LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE HOMELESS OUTREACH TEAM, IT'S VOLUNTEERS, THERE'S A LOT OF STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED, AND IT'S GOOD TO SEE SO MUCH ENGAGEMENT.
>> IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, PEOPLE ARE WAKING UP AT 2:00 AND 3:00 IN THE MORNING TO BE HERE AND THEY'RE SHOWING THAT THEY CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY IN THAT THEY WANT TO HELP.
>> SOME OF THIS WAS COVERED IN THE VIDEO PRESENTATION, BUT THE POINT-IN-TIME COUNT IS COMPLETED ANNUALLY AND IS A FEDERAL REQUIREMENT FOR ALL CONTINUUMS OF CARE THAT RECEIVED DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT FUNDING.
IT PROVIDES AN UNDUPLICATED COUNT OF SHELTERED AND UNSHELTERED INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AT ONE POINT IN TIME.
THERE WAS NO COUNT IN 2021 BECAUSE OF COVID-19.
THIS YEAR'S COUNT WAS HELD ON JANUARY 26TH, AND WAS DIFFERENT FROM PREVIOUS YEARS BECAUSE IT INCLUDED COORDINATION WITH CALTRANS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE
[01:55:02]
COUNT BY COUNTING PEOPLE LOCATED IN THE WORK THEIR RIGHT-OF-WAYS.SOME OF THE NUMBERS DID INCREASE BECAUSE CALTRANS WAS DOING COUNTS THAT WEREN'T DONE BEFORE, BUT THE REGIONAL TASK FORCE ON HOMELESSNESS DID IDENTIFY HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE COUNTED BY CALTRANS SO THAT THAT COULD BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.
AS YOU CAN SEE IN THIS TABLE, CARLSBAD SAW A 12.
7% DECREASE DECREASE IN OVERALL HOMELESSNESS FROM 2022-2023 AND A 20% DECREASE IN UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS.
FROM 2020-2023, THE CITY HAS HAD A 30% DECREASE IN OVERALL HOMELESSNESS AND A 36% DECREASE IN UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS BASED ON THE POINT IN TIME COUNT.
WE ALSO HAVE DATA FOR THE NORTH COUNTY COASTAL AREA.
FOR THE NORTH COUNTY COASTAL AREA, IT HAD AN OVERALL INCREASE IN HOMELESSNESS OF 5% FROM 2022-2023.
ALTHOUGH THE UNSHELTERED NUMBER DID DECREASE BY 10%, WITH CARLSBAD CONTRIBUTING TO THIS DECREASE BY A FACTOR OF 33%.
SHELTERED HOMELESSNESS IN THE NORTH COUNTY COASTAL AREA INCREASED BY 30% DURING THAT TIME.
OVERALL, SINCE 2020, SHELTERED HOMELESSNESS IN NORTH COUNTY COASTAL HAS INCREASED 51% AND UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS HAS INCREASED 10%.
THIS GRAPH SHOWS THE YEAR OVER YEAR UNSHELTERED COUNT DATA FOR CARLSBAD.
WE CAN SEE CARLSBAD APPEARS TO BE TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION WITH LESS PEOPLE COUNTED EACH YEAR, ALTHOUGH THIS IS ONLY ONE PIECE OF INFORMATION.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO REPORT OUT ON A VARIETY OF DATA POINTS IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN TO INFORM THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE CITY'S PROGRESS IN REDUCING HOMELESSNESS.
NOW, I WILL TURN THE PRESENTATION BACK OVER TO MS. MILLS, FOR UPCOMING ITEMS.
THAT SUMMARIZES THE DATA AND ACTIONS DURING THE FIRST TWO QUARTERS OF THIS FISCAL YEAR.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON AND BE ABLE TO REPORT OUT IN FUTURE REPORTS, WE ANTICIPATE COMING AGAIN IN THE FALL WITH THE COMPLETE FISCAL YEAR REPORT TO GET THE ENTIRE YEAR'S DATA.
BUT HERE'S SOME OF OUR UPCOMING THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.
JUST LAST WEEK, THE CALIFORNIA INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS ANNOUNCED GRANT AWARDS FOR THE ENCAMPMENT RESOLUTION FUND.
CARLSBAD WAS ONE OF 23 CITIES AND COUNTIES IN THE STATE TO RECEIVE A GRANT.
THE CITY WILL RECEIVE OVER $2.
3 MILLION OVER THREE YEARS TO HELP PEOPLE MOVE WHO ARE LIVING IN ENCAMPMENTS INTO STABLE HOUSING.
IT'S GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON THE VILLAGE AREA WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE CITY HALL, HOLIDAY PARK, AND PINE PARK AREA.
CITY STAFF WILL BRING AN ITEM TO COUNCIL IN JULY TO AUTHORIZE THE GRANT AND RELATED EXPENDITURES.
WE'RE ALSO WORKING ACROSS DEPARTMENTS, PARTICULARLY THE INNOVATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, TO IMPLEMENT A DATA DASHBOARD FOR HOMELESS SERVICES WITHIN THE CITY.
CITY STAFF ARE CONTINUING TO WORK WITH CATHOLIC CHARITIES TO HELP IDENTIFY AND SECURE FUNDING TO ALLOW THE LA POSADA SHELTER TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND TO SERVE WOMEN AND FAMILIES.
STAFF ARE COLLABORATING ACROSS DEPARTMENTS TO IDENTIFY RECOMMENDED PROGRAM OPTIONS RELATED TO OPIOIDS SETTLEMENT FUNDING FOR CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION, AND WE'LL BE COMING BACK WITH RECOMMENDATIONS ON THAT.
THAT CONCLUDES THE STAFF PRESENTATION, AND WE ARE AVAILABLE IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS.
GLENN BERNARD, REBECCA NUSSBAUM, FOLLOWED BY TRACY CARMICHAEL.
>> GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS REBECCA NUSSBAUM AND I SERVE AS THE CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER AT COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER.
I'M HERE TONIGHT IN RESPONSE TO THE STAFF REPORT AND THE POINT IN TIME COUNT NUMBERS THAT THE CITY STAFF HAS PRESENTED.
FOR ALL THE REASONS THAT WE SHOULD BE SEEING AN INCREASE IN HOMELESSNESS IN CARLSBAD, INFLATION, INCREASING HOME PRICES, LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE SEE IT IN THE COUNTY WITH THE OVERALL INCREASE OF 20%.
THAT IS NOT WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN CARLSBAD.
I AM HERE TO COMMEND YOU AND THE CITY OF CARLSBAD FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN INVESTING AND COMBATING THE CHALLENGES OF HOMELESSNESS IN THIS COMMUNITY.
CRC HAS LONG BEEN A PARTNER WITH THE CITY, AND WITNESSED THE BIRTH OF THE HOUSING AND HOMELESS SERVICES DEPARTMENT, AND ALL OF THE PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED OVER THE YEARS.
IN THAT TIME, THE CITY HAS DEMONSTRATED REGIONAL LEADERSHIP IN ADDRESSING THE COMPLEX NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING OR AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS, AND HAS
[02:00:02]
IMPLEMENTED STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS THOSE NEEDS INTO THE FUTURE.FROM THE HOT TEAM TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, RENTAL ASSISTANCE, OUTREACH, HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION, THE CITY BRINGS EVERYONE TO THE TABLE AND ENCOURAGES COLLABORATION AND COORDINATION OF SERVICES, PROVIDING TRUE REGIONAL LEADERSHIP FOR OUR NORTH COASTAL CITIES.
FINALLY, I ALSO WANT TO LIFT UP THE WORK OF YOUR CITY STAFF, WHICH WAS ALREADY ON DISPLAY EARLIER TODAY AS THE ITEMS WERE POLLED.
BUT THE HOUSING AND HOMELESS SERVICES DEPARTMENT, IN PARTICULAR, THE WORK OF CHRIS SHILLING, MANDY MILLS, AND JESSICA KLEIN, THEIR WORK BEHIND THE SCENES HAS REALLY LAID A SOLID FOUNDATION FROM WHICH TO BUILD UPON.
THEIR PROGRAMS, WHICH THEY HAVE DEVELOPED, HAVE BEEN EVIDENCE-BASED AND EVIDENCE-INFORMED WHICH HAVE ALLOWED THEM TO BRING NEWER RESOURCES TO THIS COMMUNITY.
WITH A FEDERAL FUNDS AND OTHERWISE AND EVEN HERE HEARING ABOUT THE ENCAMPMENT RESOLUTION GRANT, THAT'S NEW MONEY TO THE CITY OF CARLSBAD TO ADDRESS THESE MUCH NEEDED ISSUES.
THEY ARE CREATIVELY LEVERAGING EACH AND EVERY DOLLAR TO BRING NEW RESOURCES TO CARLSBAD.
THOUGH IT IS NOT YET TIME FOR VICTORY LAP AND THERE'S MUCH MORE WORK TO BE DONE, I WANT TO COMMAND YOU AS CITY LEADERS FOR YOUR PART IN ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS AND IN THE REDUCTION THAT WE DO SEE IN THE CITY AND COMMUNITY.
IT'S A TRUE PLEASURE TO PARTNER WITH YOU AND THE CITY STAFF IN THIS WORK TO CREATE A BETTER LIFE FOR CARLSBAD RESIDENTS.
THIS IS NOT A PERSONAL, BUT I WANT THIS TO BE BETTER.
IN THE REPORT, IT REFLECTED THE WHAT WORKED, BUT ALSO IT WAS ALSO ABOUT THE EFFECTS ON THE COMMUNITY.
NEVER DO I TALK OR IN THE REPORT ABOUT DOES IT INDICATE WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS ON THE COMMUNITY? WHAT IS THE COMMUNITY EXPERIENCING? IS THE COMMUNITY AT THE STAKE HOLDER TABLE? I'M GOING TO TELL YOU NO, IT'S NOT.
HERE'S WHY, THE REDUCTION IN POLICE CALLS.
IT'S BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE STOPPED CALLING.
THEY KNOW THAT THE POLICIES THAT ARE AT YOUR HOME AND AT THE STATE TIE THE POLICE OFFICERS, HENCE, WHY CALL? YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A REDUCTION IN CALLS.
NEVER DO WE TALK ABOUT SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND JOB PLACEMENT.
ONCE THEY GET BACK ON THEIR FEET, HOW ARE THEY GOING TO SUSTAIN THEMSELVES? HOW WILL YOU KNOW WHEN THESE GOALS ARE GOING TO BE MET? WHAT IS THE INDICATOR FOR SUCCESS? DECISION-MAKING HAS SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM IMPLICATIONS.
BUT WHAT YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF, WHAT IS THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT? WE HAVE FIRES.
WE'VE HAD MURDERS, WE HAVE CRIME.
DR. BHAT-PATEL, HAVE ANY OF THESE AFFECTED YOU AND YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD? THEY HAVE MINE.
BURGLARIES, ALCOHOL USE, DRUG USE, ACCESS TO THE BEACH, ACCESS TO PARKS, TO TRAILS, PUBLIC HEALTH, AND THE ENVIRONMENT.
NOT TO MENTION HOUSING SEX OFFENDERS, CLOSE BY RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS WITH KIDS IN PARKS, IN SCHOOLS AND DAYCARES.
THESE ARE CRITICAL LIFE, QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES THAT'S AT STAKE.
BEFORE YOU PAT YOURSELVES ON THE BACK AND SAY, GREAT JOB IN REDUCING HOMELESSNESS IN CARLSBAD, I WANT YOU TO TAKE A HARD LOOK AT THOSE THINGS THAT I'VE JUST NOW MENTIONED.
I IMPLORE YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
WHAT IS THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT? WE TALK ABOUT DECREASING HOMELESS POPULATION.
I CAN TELL YOU OF TWO DEATHS OF HOMELESS PEOPLE.
ONE HAPPENED AT WINDSOR POINT AND ONE WAS AT THE RAILROAD TRACKS.
YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, ARE THESE NO CANS? WHAT WAS THE REDUCTION IN HOMELESSNESS AND WHAT DID THAT LOOK LIKE? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? DON'T SEE ANY QUESTIONS.
>> I JUST HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION.
THE ENCAMPMENT GRANT THAT YOU MENTIONED, THAT'S NEWS.
HOW MUCH IS THAT GOING TO BE, DO WE KNOW?
[02:05:03]
>> [OVERLAPPING] COMING IN JULY FOR AUTHORIZATION TO EXECUTE THE STANDARD AGREEMENT FOR THAT.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I'LL START WITH YOU, MS. LUNA FOR CLOSING STATEMENTS [BACKGROUND].
>> SIMPLE KUDOS TO ALL OF YOU.
>> SORRY, I DO HAVE ONE MORE TINY QUESTION.
I THANK MR. SHILLING AND I THINK YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN 65 PEOPLE PLACED IN THIS JULY TO DECEMBER.
IS THAT WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT? DID YOU INCLUDE THE LA POSADA PLACEMENTS AND THAT NUMBER?
>> THERE'S 50 BEDS AT LA POSADA, 50 FOR FARM WORKERS AND 50 FOR SHELTER BEDS, RIGHT?
BUT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE STAYING AT LA POSADA AREN'T COUNTED IN THE 65 ONLY IF THEY EXIT LA POSADA INTO WRONG HOUSING.
>> THAT'S WHY I NEED YOU TO CLARIFY THAT.
CAN I JUST GO AHEAD AND GET MY COMMENTS?
WE AS YOU KNOW MY FEELINGS ON THIS.
WE NEED MORE WORK TO BE DONE ON THIS.
WE NEED MORE CLARITY, WE NEED MORE FOCUS AND MORE DATA-DRIVEN, NOT POLICY, BUT ACTIVITY, [LAUGHTER] I GUESS IS THE WORD.
I THINK WHEN I LISTENED TO RESIDENTS, WE SEE EVERY DAY HOMELESS PEOPLE IN DISTRICT 1 EVERY DAY.
SOMETHING NEEDS TO CHANGE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PIVOTING AND CHANGING IF SOMETHING'S NOT WORKING, NOT DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
KUDOS FOR GETTING ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM.
LET'S HOPE THAT WE CAN USE SOME OF THAT TO THE GREATER GOOD AND TO GET PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS THAT WE'RE SEEING THAT DESPERATELY NEED THE HELP.
MAYBE SOME OF THIS WILL HELP TO THAT END.
ON AN EARLIER AGENDA ITEM, I THANK STAFF FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND I JUST WANTED TO ADD TO THAT A DIFFERENT DIMENSION THAT I AND OTHERS HERE ON THE COUNCIL PARTICIPATED IN THE POINT TIME COUNT IN JANUARY.
IT'S ALWAYS AN EYE-OPENING EXPERIENCE TO GO OUT IN THE MORNING VERY EARLY AND INTERACT AND ASK QUESTIONS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE STREETS, WHO ARE STAYING ON THE STREETS.
ASKING IF THERE'S A SET SURVEY THAT'S ON AN APP AND YOU ASK QUESTIONS OR ONE GETS ASKED THE SAME QUESTIONS TO COLLECT DATA.
I DO FIND IT A REALLY ENLIGHTENING EXPERIENCE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH AND WHY THEY'RE ON THE STREETS.
I WANTED TO ENCOURAGE VOLUNTEERS CAN PARTICIPATE IN THAT.
YOU HAVE TO BE THERE LIKE FOUR IN THE MORNING, [LAUGHTER] BUT IT'S WORTH IT.
THEN I ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO A HOT TEAM RIGHT ALONG EARLIER THIS YEAR.
IT ADDS A LOT OF CONTEXT TO THE DATA THAT WE'RE RECEIVING FROM STAFF SO THAT YOU REALLY SEE THE HARD WORK AND THE INTERACTION AND COLLABORATION WITH THE SOCIAL WORKERS FROM INTERFAITH AND WATCHING THE URBAN CORE AND CAN MAKE CLEAN UP.
JUST REALLY BEING THERE AND PHYSICALLY SEEING IT.
I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FROM THAT EXPERIENCE OF HAVING SEEN IT FIRSTHAND AND KNOWING THAT LIVES ARE BEING CHANGED AND IMPROVED BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING AND THE FUNDS THAT WE'RE INVESTING IN YOUR WORK.
>> YES, I WOULD LIKE TO ECHO THE SENTIMENTS OF COUNCIL MEMBER ACOSTA, AND THEN OF COURSE, I HAD THE ABILITY TO THANK YOU ALL IN THE PREVIOUS ITEM AND OF COURSE, THANK ALL OF YOU FOR THE HARD WORK THAT'S BEING DONE.
I DO THINK THAT WE SEE AN IMPACT AND CLEARLY WE'VE HAD THE ABILITY TO SEE THAT.
OF COURSE, THERE'S ALWAYS MORE WORK TO BE DONE.
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU ALL CLEARLY KNOW AND ARE DOING EVERY DAY.
REALLY APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS.
I KNOW IT'S GOING TO TAKE A COLLECTIVE EFFORT FROM ALL OF US, INCLUDING THE POLICYMAKERS.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE CAN.
>> THIS IS A STAFF REPORT, SO THERE'S NO VOTE TO BE TAKEN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR EFFORTS.
[15. APPROVING THE PREFERRED DESIGN OPTION FOR THE SOUTH CARLSBAD BOULEVARD CLIMATE ADAPTATION STUDY]
ITEM 15 IS APPROVING THE PREFERRED DESIGN OPTION FOR THE SOUTH CARLSBAD BOULEVARD CLIMATE ADAPTATION STUDY.
MAKING OUR PRESENTATION IS OUR TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR, TOM FRANK, ALONG WITH OUR SENIOR PROGRAM MANAGER, KATIE HENTRICH.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR PRO TEM, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS KATIE HENTRICH.
I AM A SENIOR PROGRAM MANAGER AND THE CITIES CLIMATE ACTION PLAN ADMINISTRATOR IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY DEPARTMENT.
[02:10:02]
WITH ME IS TOM FRANK, TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR AND CITY ENGINEER AND IN THE AUDIENCE, WE ALSO HAVE BRIAN LESLY FROM GHD, OUR CONSULTANT FOR THIS PROJECT.WE ARE BRINGING BACK THE SOUTH CARLSBAD BOULEVARD CLIMATE ADAPTATION PROJECT.
THE RECOMMENDED ACTION FOR THIS ITEM IS TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE TRAFFIC AND MOBILITY COMMISSION AND THE BEACH PRESERVATION COMMISSION BY APPROVING THE ROUNDABOUT OPTION, OR OPTION 2 AS THE PREFERRED DESIGN TO COMPLETE THE GRANT REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SOUTH CARLSBAD BOULEVARD CLIMATE ADAPTATION STUDY.
IN THE PRESENTATION WILL BE PROVIDING A PROJECT OVERVIEW.
DISCUSS BENEFITS OF THE ROUNDABOUT OPTION, HIGHLIGHT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND DISCUSS NEXT STEPS.
THE PROJECT AREA FOCUSES ON A ONE MILE STRETCH OF SOUTH CARLSBAD BOULEVARD FROM MONSANTO DRIVE TO ISLAND WAY, SEEN IN THE IMAGE IN THE ORANGE AND BLUE STRIPE SECTION.
THIS PROJECT DOES NOT INCLUDE DESIGN OR CLIMATE ADAPTATION ANALYSIS FOR THE FULL STRETCH OF SOUTH CARLSBAD BOULEVARD, WHICH IS SEEN IN THE IMAGE IN ORANGE.
THE SOUTH CARLSBAD BOULEVARD CLIMATE ADAPTATION PROJECT IS FUNDED BY A STATE COASTAL CONSERVANCY GRANT TO MAXIMIZE THE ROADWAYS RESILIENCY TO COASTAL FLOODING AND SEA LEVEL RISE.
THE PROJECT SUPPORTS FINDINGS IN THE CITIES SEA LEVEL RISE VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT FROM 2017, AS WELL AS THE CLIMATE EMERGENCY RESOLUTION ADOPTED IN 2021.
WITHIN THE PROJECT AREA ALONG SOUTHBOUND CARLSBAD BOULEVARD AT LAWSON SEEN AS CREEK, THE ROADWAY IS CURRENTLY EXPOSED TO BLUFF EROSION HAZARDS, RESULTING IN BEACH COBBLE ON THE ROADWAY AND LANE CLOSURES, WHICH YOU CAN SEE IN THE PHOTO ON THE LEFT.
THIS IS A VIDEO FROM THE MOST RECENTLY ENCLOSURE THIS PAST WINTER.
SEVERAL TIMES THIS YEAR, THE WINTER STORMS AND KING TIDE EVENTS HAVE WASHED UP BEACH COBBLE ON THE ROADWAY.
THE GRAND SCOPE OF WORK FOCUSES ON MAKING THE ROADWAY MORE RESILIENT TO COASTAL FLOODING, CLIFF EROSION AND OTHER SEA LEVEL RISE IMPACTS.
OUTSIDE OF THE PROJECT OPTIONS THAT WE'LL GO OVER SHORTLY, THE GRANT INCLUDES A CLIFF EROSION ASSESSMENT AND HABITAT RESTORATION ANALYSIS OF THE LOSS AND SEEN AS CREEK AREA.
WE LAST PROVIDED AN UPDATE TO YOU IN SEPTEMBER 2022, IN ORDER TO HAVE MORE TIME TO ANALYZE THE OPTIONS AND WORK WITH AFFECTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
THE STATE COASTAL CONSERVANCY GRANTED US A ONE YEAR TIME EXTENSION FOR THIS PROJECT.
FUNDING FOR THIS GRANT NOW EXPIRES IN FEBRUARY 2024, WHEN EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED BY INCLUDING THE 30% CONCEPTUAL DESIGN OF THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE.
IN ADDITION TO PROTECTING THE ROADWAY FROM SEA LEVEL RISE, DESIGNING THIS PROJECT IS ALSO IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE CITY'S ADOPTED POLICIES AND PLANS COVERING MOBILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY.
THE DESIGN INCORPORATES COMPLETE STREETS CONCEPTS, WHICH ARE SAFE AND INVITING FOR ALL THE WAYS PEOPLE WANT TO GET AROUND.
OUR GENERAL PLAN MOBILITY ELEMENT AND ENGINEERING STANDARDS TO NAME A FEW.
NOT ALL STREETS HAVE THE SAME PURPOSE, WHICH IN TURN DICTATES HOW THEY ARE DESIGNED.
IN THE MOBILITY ELEMENTS, SOUTH CARLSBAD BOULEVARD FALLS UNDER THE CATEGORY OF A COASTAL STREET.
THIS MEANS ITS PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO MOVE PEOPLE, NOT JUST CARS, ALONG THE CITY'S OCEAN WATERFRONT.
SOUTH CARLSBAD BOULEVARD NO LONGER NEEDS TO BE THE HIGH SPEED FREEWAY THAT IT ONCE WAS.
WE NOW HAVE INTERSTATE FIVE FOR THAT.
THROUGH THIS COASTAL STREET DESIGNATION, COASTAL STREETS ARE DESIGNED TO SAFELY MOVE ALL MODES OF TRAVEL BY MANAGING SPEEDS AND ENHANCING SAFETY FOR PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS.
ALL OF THESE ELEMENTS WORK TOGETHER TO HELP REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS BY CREATING SAFE ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE AND DESIGNING THE ROADWAY TO HAVE A BETTER FLOW OF TRAFFIC.
TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY GO HAND IN HAND FOR THIS PROJECT.
THIS VIDEO IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT YOU'LL TYPICALLY SEE ALONG OUR COAST.
YOU CAN SEE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT BIKING, WALKING, DRIVING, MOTORCYCLES, ETC.
TO DATE, THE PROJECT TEAM USED THE GENERAL PLANS POLICIES, AS WELL AS THE PHYSICAL, REGULATORY, AND CAPACITY CONSTRAINTS WITHIN THE PROJECT AREA TO PREPARE THE PROJECT OPTIONS.
THE TEAM ALSO COMPLETED THE LESSON SEEN AS CREEK RESTORATION ANALYSIS AND CLIFF EROSION ASSESSMENT REPORT, CONDUCTED COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND COMPLETED A TRAFFIC STUDY.
WE KNOW THAT SUSTAINABILITY AND SAFETY ARE TOP PRIORITIES IN THE FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN.
ASPECTS OF THE CARLSBAD COMMUNITY VISION ARE REFLECTED IN THE DESIGN OF THIS STUDY, INCLUDING BEACH TOWN COMMUNITY FEEL, ACCESS TO ACTIVE, HEALTHY LIFESTYLES WITH ACCESS TO BEACHES, WALKING, BIKING AND CONNECTIVITY AND
[02:15:09]
SUSTAINABILITY.WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO MR. FRANK.
>> THANK YOU, MS. HENTRICH, THREE OPTIONS WERE DEVELOPED TO PROTECT AND MOVE THE ROADWAY AWAY FROM THE CLIFF HAZARDS AND SEA LEVEL RISE WHILE INCORPORATING OUR MOBILITY GUIDELINES AND COMMUNITY INPUT.
[NOISE] THE THREE OPTIONS ARE FOUR LANES WITH TRAFFIC SIGNALS, TWO LANES WITH ROUNDABOUTS, AND TWO LANES WITH ROUNDABOUTS AND A PEDESTRIAN CROSSING OR A TRAFFIC SIGNAL AT SOLO MORE DRIVE.
THIS IS GRANT STEADIES, SO WE DON'T HAVE RENDERINGS LIKE YOU'VE SEEN ON OTHER PROJECTS, JUST CONCEPTUAL DESIGNS LIKE WHAT'S SHOWN ON THE SCREEN.
THE ORANGE AREA IS A COASTAL HAZARD ZONE UP TO THE YEAR 2,100.
MEANING WE WANT TO MOVE THE VITAL INFRASTRUCTURE AWAY FROM THAT AREA.
SOUTHBOUND TRAFFIC WOULD MOVE UP ALONG THE EXISTING NORTHBOUND TRAFFIC AND WE'D ADD BIKE LANES AND SIDEWALKS.
WITHIN ALL THREE OPTIONS, WE HAVE DIFFERENT WAYS OF CREATING SPACE FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO WALK AND BIKE ALONG THE COAST, AS YOU SAW IN THE VIDEO, IS A VERY POPULAR, WE CALL THEM ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION USERS.
ONE ALIGNMENT OF THE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PATHWAY IS SHOWN DIRECTLY WEST OF THE PROPOSED ROADWAY AS A DASHED LINE.
THE SECOND ALIGNMENT SHOWN PROVIDES MORE DETAIL ON THE PATHWAY DESIGN AND THE SIDEWALK DESIGN, AND IS ALONG THE WESTERN BLUFF TOP, AND THE EXISTING SOUTHBOUND ROAD ALIGNMENT.
THE DECISION ON WHEN TO RETREAT IS NOT A PART OF THIS GRANT OR STEADY.
WHATEVER OPTION IS SELECTED TONIGHT, WILL INCLUDE OPPORTUNITY FOR ANY ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PATHWAY ALIGNMENT BETWEEN THE EXISTING BLUFF TOP AND OPPOSED ROADWAY.
THE ISSUE OF RETREAT NOW OR LATER WILL HAVE AMPLE OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT IN THE FUTURE.
EXISTING COASTAL ACCESS WILL ALSO REMAIN THOSE AREAS AND FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES ARE ALSO NOT A PART OF THIS GRANT STEADY.
AGAIN, THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC INPUT FOR THOSE DESIGNS.
OPTION 2 IS TWO LANES WITH ROUNDABOUTS, NEW SIDEWALKS AND BIKE LANES WOULD BE ADDED ALONG THE NORTHBOUND AND SOUTHBOUND LANES AND SIMILAR TO OPTION 1 THE OPTIONS SHOWN INCLUDE THE OPTION WITH THE DASHED LINE, AND THEN THERE'S ALSO THE OTHER OPTIONS ALONG THE BLUFF TOP WHICH PROVIDES SPACE AND FOR WALKERS, AND BIKERS IN A CLASS 1 SHARED [NOISE] PATHWAY AS WELL AS THE SEPARATE WALKWAY.
THE CLIFF EROSION STUDY IDENTIFIED A BLUFF AREA AT SOLMAR DRIVE TO BE THE MOST PRONE TO EROSION.
THAT PARTICULAR INTERSECTION COULD BE SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN A ROUNDABOUT WHEN EROSION CAUSED THAT NEEDED CHANGE.
MORE ABOUT THIS OPTION AND WHAT HAS CHANGED LATER IN THE PRESENTATION.
ROUNDABOUTS HAVE BEEN PROVEN TO ENHANCE SAFETY ON THE ROADS.
STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT ROUNDABOUT SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF FATALITIES AND SEVERE ACCIDENTS SUCH AS HEAD ON'S AND HIGH-SPEED COLLISIONS.
THIS ONE MILE STEADY AREA IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN 34 INJURY COLLISIONS.
ADDITIONALLY, THERE HAVE BEEN THREE FATALITIES.
TWO OF THOSE HAPPENS SINCE 2022, AND UNFORTUNATELY THE MOST RECENT BEING LAST AUGUST THAT WE ALL READ ABOUT AND HEARD ABOUT.
THE REDUCED NUMBER OF CONFLICT POINTS AND LOWER SPEEDS WITHIN ROUNDABOUTS CONTRIBUTE TO A SAFER DRIVING ENVIRONMENT AND THE EVENT OF A COLLISION IN A ROUNDABOUT, THE SEVERITY OF THE IMPACT GENERALLY IS LOWER COMPARED TO CRASHES AT TRADITIONAL TRAFFIC SIGNALIZED INTERSECTIONS.
THE ANGLES AT WHICH VEHICLES APPROACH EACH OTHER IN A ROUND ABOUT TEND TO BE LESS SEVERE, RESULTING IN FEWER INJURIES AND LESS PROPERTY DAMAGE.
TO SPEAK TO THE SAFETY FOR PEDESTRIANS CURRENTLY, PEOPLE NEED TO CROSS 130 FEET TO GET FROM ONE SIDE OF THE STREET TO THE OTHER.
WITH OUR RECOMMENDATION WITH TWO LANES AND ROUNDABOUTS, CROSSINGS ARE TYPICALLY 16 FEET ACROSS EACH VEHICLE LANE.
THAT'S A QUARTER OF THE CURRENT CROSSING DISTANCE, MAKING IT A MUCH SAFER CROSSING FOR PEDESTRIANS.
STUDIES WERE DONE TO COMPARE HOW LONG IT TAKES TO GET THROUGH THE INTERSECTION WITH EITHER A TRAFFIC SIGNAL OR A ROUNDABOUT DURING PEAK HOURS OF THE SUMMER AND FALL COUNTS, WHICH WE TOOK, THE ROUNDABOUT OPTION, RESULTED IN THE LEAST AMOUNT OF DELAY
[02:20:04]
FOR DRIVERS.THIS MEANS TRAFFIC WILL MOVE MORE EFFICIENTLY THROUGH THE ROUNDABOUT OPTION COMPARED TO THE INTERSECTION WITH THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL.
THESE NUMBERS ARE SPECIFIC TO THE INTERSECTION AT CARLSBAD BOULEVARD AND PALOMAR AIRPORT ROAD.
EVEN DURING THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF TRAFFIC ROUNDABOUTS SHOW UP TO AN 88% REDUCTION IN WEIGHT TIME THROUGH THE INTERSECTION, AND THIS IS THE BUSIEST INTERSECTION.
TO SHOW AN EXAMPLE OF THE DIFFERENCE OF TRAFFIC FLOW OF A TRAFFIC SIGNAL VERSUS ROUNDABOUT.
HERE'S A DRONE FOOTAGE OF CARLSBAD BOULEVARD AND TAMARAC AVENUE ON THE TOP AND THEN STATE STREET ON THE BOTTOM.
A ROUNDABOUTS HELP FACILITATE A SMOOTHER FLOW OF TRAFFIC COMPARED TO THE TRADITIONAL INTERSECTIONS.
THIS CIRCULAR DESIGN ALLOWS VEHICLES TO SLOWLY ENTER AND EXIT WITHOUT STOPPING.
REDUCING DELAYS AND ELIMINATING THE NEED FOR TRAFFIC SIGNAL CHANGES.
THIS RESULTS IN IMPROVED TRAFFIC EFFICIENCY AND REDUCE CONGESTION.
OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, OUR TEAM HAS HAD THE PLEASURE TO GET TO KNOW AND WORK WITH SOLMAR COMMUNITY, THE ADJACENT COMMUNITY AND THE LEADERSHIP OF THE HILTON GARDEN INN WHO ARE CENTRALLY LOCATED IN THIS ONE MILLS STEADY AREA.
BASED ON OUR MEETINGS, WE HEARD FOUR IMPORTANT ASPECTS TO ADDRESS AND DESIGN OF THEIR INTERSECTION.
WHILE THE OFFICIAL NAME OF THE ROAD IS ACTUALLY SOLMAR DRIVE IT'S REALLY A DRIVEWAY TO THEIR COMMUNITY.
THAT'S SPECIFIC TO THE ENTRANCE TO THE HOTEL AND THE COMMUNITY.
TO ADDRESS SPEEDING, ROUNDABOUTS TYPICALLY HAVE LOWER TRAVEL SPEEDS COMPARED TO SIGNALIZED INTERSECTIONS, THE CURVE DESIGN AND REDUCE LANE WIDTH AND ROUNDABOUTS ENCOURAGES DRIVERS TO SLOW DOWN, [NOISE] WHICH ENHANCES SAFETY FOR ALL ROAD USERS, INCLUDING PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS.
TO ADDRESS NOISE ISSUES, THE NEW PAVEMENT WOULD FACILITATE A SMOOTHER DRIVE AND LESS TIRE NOISE SINCE THE ROADWAY, IN PART IS PART OF THE ORIGINAL HIGHWAY 101.
THE CONCRETE CAUSES ALLOWED REPETITIOUS CLUNKING NOISE, WHICH WOULD BE ELIMINATED WITH THE DESIGN.
[NOISE] ROUNDABOUTS ARE ALSO LESS NOISY WHEN THEN TRAFFIC SIGNALS THEY PROMOTE MORE GRADUAL DECELERATION AND ACCELERATION, WHICH SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES ENGINE NOISE AND RACING OFF THE LINE, WHICH OCCURS AT INTERSECTIONS WITH TRAFFIC SIGNALS.
ADDITIONALLY, THE SLOWER SPEEDS EXPERIENCED AT ROUNDABOUTS WERE GREATLY REDUCED THE TIRE NOISE.
TO ADDRESS THE LAST FEW POINTS, THERE WERE TWO ASPECTS WE MODIFIED BASED ON THE FEEDBACK RECEIVED FROM THE COMMUNITY.
TO FACILITATE EVEN SAFER PASSAGE OF THE HOTEL GUESTS AND THE RESIDENTS WE'RE ADDING RECTANGULAR RAPID FLASH BEACONS AT CARLSBAD BOULEVARD AND SOLMAR DRIVE ROUNDABOUT TO SUPPORT PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS AND IMPROVE VISIBILITY FOR DRIVERS.
THESE RAPID FLASHING BEACONS ARE SIMILAR TO THE ONES ALREADY IN PLACE ON COLLEGE BOULEVARD AND SOME OF OUR CROSSWALKS NEAR THE VILLAGE.
TO BALANCE THE NEEDS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND TRAFFIC SAFETY WE WILL ADD A DESCRIPTION TO OPTION 2 THAT WHEN COSTLY EROSION PROHIBITS THE OPERATION OF THE ROUNDABOUT, THE CITY WOULD THEN PURSUE CONVERTING THE INTERSECTION TO A CONVENTIONAL TRAFFIC SIGNAL WITH ONE VEHICULAR TRAVEL LANE IN EACH DIRECTION WITH TURN LANES.
THIS OPTION WOULD MODIFY THE ORIGINAL OPTION 3 AND FACILITATE SAFE PASSAGE OF RESIDENTS IN HOTEL GUESTS ENTERING AND EXITING, ALONG WITH PEDESTRIANS CROSSING SOLMAR DRIVE.
THE TRANSPORTATION STUDY RESULTS ALSO SUPPORT THE ROUNDABOUTS AND EVENTUAL SINGLE LANE TRAFFIC SIGNAL INTERSECTION CONTROL FOR SOLMAR DRIVE, WHICH HAS LESS TRAFFIC VOLUME THAN THE OTHER INTERSECTIONS IN THE STUDY AREA.
BASED ON THE TRAFFIC STUDY, WE'VE ALSO MODIFIED THE DESIGN OF PALOMAR AIRPORT ROAD ROUNDABOUT TO IMPROVE THE FOOTPRINT OF THE PROPOSED ROADWAY, REDUCE THE CONFLICT POINTS FOR THE USERS, AND LOWER THE PROJECT COSTS.
THE DESIGN TEAM REVISE THE DRIVEWAY TO STATE PARKING AREA ALONG CARLSBAD BOULEVARD WEST OF PALOMAR AIRPORT ROAD.
THE AREA IS COMMONLY KNOWN AS TURNAROUNDS.
INSTEAD OF THE NEED TO BUILD A SEPARATE INTERSECTION FOR THIS PARKING AREA ENTRANCE, THE DESIGN TEAM DESIGNED A FOURTH LEG OF THE PALOMAR AIRPORT ROAD TO SERVE THAT PARKING AREA? TO ADDRESS ANY POTENTIAL QUEUING ISSUES IN THE FUTURE AT PALOMAR AIRPORT ROAD, THE CITY'S DESIGN TEAM WILL BE MOVING AROUND ABOUT A PALOMAR AIRPORT ROAD TO THE NORTH, APPROXIMATELY 60 FEET AND WE PLAN TO RESERVE THE NEEDED RIGHT AWAY FOR NORTHBOUND RIGHT TURN BYPASS IF EVER NEEDED IN THE FUTURE, IF WE SEE QUEUING THAT, THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE.
[02:25:01]
ANOTHER CONCERN WE COMMONLY HEAR IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I5 IS CONGESTED OR GRIDLOCKED WHERE THERE'S A SEVERE ACCIDENT.THE PROPOSED ROUNDABOUT OPTION WILL NOT MAKE THE CONDITIONS WORSE THAN THE EXISTING CONDITIONS.
IN FACT, IT WILL IMPROVE CONDITIONS FOR ALL MODES DURING CONGESTION PERIODS LIKE THAT DURING A ARMAGEDDON AND AS IMPORTANT, IT'S GOING TO IMPROVE CONDITIONS FOR ALL MODES DURING NORMAL OPERATIONS.
ADDITIONALLY, EL CAMINO REAL IS CAPABLE OF HANDLING UPWARDS OF 60,000 AVERAGE DAILY TRIPS PER DAY AND IS PROGRAMMED WITH COORDINATED TRAFFIC SIGNALS TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY AND MINIMIZE DELAYS FOR PEOPLE TRAVELING NORTH AND SOUTH.
WE'VE HEARD QUESTIONS LIKE, HOW DO BIKES MERGE WITH TRAFFIC TO TAKE THE LANE.
HERE'S AN EXAMPLE FROM STATE STREET.
THE SPEEDS ARE MANAGED SO BIKES AND GROUPS OF BICYCLISTS CAN MERGE WITH CARS, TAKE THE LANE THROUGH THE ROUNDABOUT, AND THEN ENTER BACK INTO THE BIKE LANES ONCE THEY GET PAST THE INTERSECTION.
THERE'S A GROUP OF BIKES THAT ARE JUST ENTERING THE ROUNDABOUT NOW AND YOU'LL SEE THEM TAKE THE LANE.
THEN ONCE THEY GET THROUGH THE INTERSECTION, NO MOSEY BACK INTO THE BIKE LANE.
ROUNDABOUTS ARE BECOMING MORE COMMON ALONG THE COAST.
THE CITY OF OCEANSIDE APPROVED PLANS TO RE-IMAGINE IT'S COAST HIGHWAY USING ROUNDABOUTS AND ENCINITAS HAS PROJECTS IN THE WORKS.
CITIES THROUGHOUT COASTAL CALIFORNIA HAVE SIMILAR PLANS.
WE REVIEWED ALL OF THE OPTIONS AND THIS CHART IS AN AT A GLANCE COMPARISON WITH THE ROUNDABOUTS BEST MEETING ALL THE CRITERIA OF THE STUDY.
FOLLOWING YOUR ACTIONS TONIGHT, NEXT STEPS INCLUDE FINISHING THE GRANT TASKS, INCLUDING A 30% CONCEPTUAL DESIGN OF ONE PROJECT OPTION WITH CLIMATE ADAPTATION INCORPORATED BY THE FEBRUARY 2024 DEADLINE.
THE GRANT DOES NOT FUND ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS OR CONSTRUCTION AT THIS TIME.
NO ADDITIONAL WORK IS INCLUDED IN THE CITY'S CURRENT FY 22/23 BUDGET WHERE STAFF IS LOOKING FOR FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE AND LASTLY, WE'RE COORDINATING WITH CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION STAFF ON ADAPTATION AND RETREAT OPTIONS.
WITH THAT, YOUR RECOMMENDED ACTION TONIGHT IS TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE TRAFFIC AND MOBILITY COMMISSION AND THE BEACH PRESERVATION COMMISSION BY PROVING THE ROUNDABOUT OPTION 2 AS THE PREFERRED DESIGNED TO COMPLETE THE GRANT REQUIREMENTS OF THE SOUTH CARLSBAD BOULEVARD CLIMATE ADAPTATIONS STUDY.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATIONS AND WE'RE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.
>> LET ME JUST MAKE A COMMENT TO THE SPEAKERS.
THIS IS NOT ADDRESSING THE ROUNDABOUTS AT CANNON AND THE BOULEVARD, NOR THE ROUNDABOUTS AT TAMARAC AND THE BOULEVARD.
IF YOU'RE HERE TO SPEAK ON THOSE, IT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE BECAUSE THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING TONIGHT.
GO AHEAD AND CALL THE SPEAKERS.
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR.
I LIVE AT 6500 EASY STREET, SOLAMAR ESTATES, AND I'M JUST ADVOCATING FOR OPTION 2.
I WAS NOT NECESSARILY A FAN OR NOT A FAN OF ROUNDABOUTS, BUT BECAUSE OF THE CITY COMING AND VISITING US AND EXPLAINING THEM AND SHOWING US THE DATA, ANSWERING MANY QUESTIONS FROM A 55 PLUS GROUP, I REALLY CAN SAY SAFELY THAT I LOOK FORWARD.
I KNOW THERE'S NO FUNDING FOR IT YET.
BUT FOR TODAY, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING LESS TRAFFIC AND MORE SAFETY.
I THINK THAT OPTION 2 AND ALL OF THE WORK OF THE CITY PEOPLE AND THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TEAM GO TOWARD THAT, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I'VE BEEN SITTING A LITTLE BIT TOO LONG.
[LAUGHTER] HELLO, MAYOR, COUNCIL PEOPLE.
I TOO SUPPORT OPTION 2 AND WANT TO THANK TOM AND NICKI FOR SPENDING SO MUCH TIME WITH OUR COMMUNITY TRYING TO EDUCATE US ON HOW THIS WORKS.
I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE SLOW THE TRAFFIC DOWN IN FRONT OF SOLAMAR.
I'D LIKE TO ASK FOR ONE OTHER THING.
NOW THAT YOU'VE RESTRICTED THE LANES TO ONE LANE ON THE SOUTHBOUND SIDE OF THIS SECTION OF HIGHWAY AND IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE IT'S VERY SUCCESSFUL.
IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S WORKING WELL.
[02:30:02]
I WOULD ASK THAT YOU TAKE A LOOK AT DOING THAT SAME MEASURE ON THE NORTHBOUND SIDE TO SLOW DOWN THE TRAFFIC.IN THE PAST THREE YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN THERE, I'VE BEEN THERE DURING THREE FATALITIES.
I THINK THAT TWO-LANE HIGHWAY STRETCH HEADING NORTH IS AN ATTRACTIVE NUISANCE.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE A DRAG STRIP.
ON ANY GIVEN SATURDAY AFTERNOON, YOU CAN HEAR MOTORCYCLES GOING BY AND I'M NOT EXAGGERATING, IT PROBABLY 90 MILES AN HOUR.
I THINK IF THE CITY COULD, IT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU REFLECT WHAT YOU DID ON THE SOUTHBOUND LANES AND NARROW THE TRAFFIC DOWN TO ONE LANE GOING NORTHBOUND AS WELL.
I DON'T THINK IT WOULD SLOW ANY TRAFFIC DOWN OR ANYTHING ELSE.
IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S WORKING VERY WELL WITH ONE LANE.
>> BILL CANEPA FOLLOWED BY KATHLEEN STEINERBERGER.
>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
T I'M REPRESENTING THE HILTON GARDEN INN AT 6450 CARLSBAD BOULEVARD.
I JUST WANT TO SECOND WHAT THE SOLAMAR NEIGHBORS HAD TO SAY.
STAFF HAS DONE AN EXTRAORDINARY JOB REACHING OUT TO US.
TOM FRANKS EVEN TOOK ME DOWN TO LA JOLLA TO THE BIRD ROCK AREA AND I HAD HIM DRIVING AROUND IN CIRCLES IN THE ROUNDABOUTS [LAUGHTER] AND HE CONVINCED ME THAT THEY WORK PRETTY DAMN WELL.
THEN THEY TOOK INTO ACCOUNT SOME SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES WE HAD AND THEY MADE SOME MODIFICATIONS TO THEIR ORIGINAL OPTION 2 WHICH WERE APPRECIATIVE.
I JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT WE'RE SUPPORTIVE OF THEIR REQUEST.
WHAT BILL FENNER HAD TO SAY ABOUT REDUCING THE TRAFFIC ON THE NORTH SIDE, WE WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF THAT AS WELL.
REDUCING THAT TO ONE LANE IF THE ENGINEERS THINK THAT IT MAKES SENSE.
>> HELLO, MR. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS KATHLEEN STEINERBERGER, A 23-YEAR RESIDENT OF CARLSBAD.
I AM THE CHAIR OF THE CARLSBAD BEACH PRESERVATION COMMISSION.
TONIGHT I'M SPEAKING THOUGH FOR MYSELF, I'M NOT REPRESENTING THE VIEWS OF THE BEACH PRESERVATION COMMISSION.
I THINK I BETTER PUT MY GLASSES ON.
IN 2019, THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL CONSERVANCY AWARDED A CLIMATE READY GRANT TO THE CITY OF CARLSBAD TO FUND THE SOUTH CARLSBAD CLIMATE ADAPTATION PLAN.
THE GOAL OF THE GRANT IS TO MOVE THREATENED INFRASTRUCTURE OUT OF HARM'S WAY, USING MANAGED RETREAT AND NATURAL SHORELINES TO INCREASE RESILIENCY TO SEA LEVEL RISE AND COASTAL FLOODING.
ACCORDING TO SCRIPPS INSTITUTE OF OCEANOGRAPHY, SAN DIEGO, COASTAL ROADWAYS LIKE SOUTHBOUND CARLSBAD BOULEVARD WILL BE INUNDATED BY FLOODING 49 TIMES A YEAR BEGINNING IN 2033.
AS PART OF THE GRANT AWARDED TO CARLSBAD, A STUDY WAS DONE THAT PRESENTED TWO OPTIONS FOR THE SOUTHBOUND CARLSBAD BOULEVARD, PHASED ADAPTATION, WHICH WOULD LEAVE THE OLD ROADWAY IN PLACE, INCLUDING THE ROCK REVETMENTS AT DIP IN THE ROAD.
THIS EXISTING ROAD WOULD BE REPURPOSED FOR HIKING, BIKING TRAIL, UNTIL REMOVED WHEN OVERCOME BY SEA LEVEL RISE.
THE GHD LICENSING CREEK STUDY CONCLUDED THAT THE EXISTING BEACH IT DIP IN THE ROAD WILL BE LOST WITH 1.
7 FEET OF SEA LEVEL RISE UNDER THE PHASED ADAPTATION ALTERNATIVE.
THE SECOND OPTION STUDIED BY THE GRANT WAS THE RETREAT NOW OPTION WHICH REMOVES THE EXISTING ROADWAY AND ROCK REVETMENT AND CONSTRUCTS A NATURAL SHORELINE WITH SAND DUNES DESIGNED TO INCREASE THE SANDY BEACH NOW AND SUSTAIN THE BEACH THROUGH SIX-AND-A-HALF FEET OF SEA LEVEL RISE.
CARLSBAD COULD STILL HAVE A HIKING AND BIKING TRAIL WITH COASTAL ACCESS BY CONSTRUCTING AN ELEVATED BOARDWALK ON PILLARS SPANNING LOSS AND SEEN AS CREEK.
THIS RETREAT NOW OPTION WOULD FURTHER ALL THE GOALS OF THE CITY AND THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL CONSERVANCY GRANT, AS WELL AS LIKELY GAIN THE SUPPORT OF THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION'S APPROVAL OF A LONG-TERM PLAN FOR THIS AREA I'M RUNNING OUT OF TIME, SO I'M GOING TO SKIP TO MY LAST PARAGRAPH.
I SERVE ON THE CARLSBAD BEACH PRESERVATION COMMISSION.
I SUPPORT PROJECTS THAT PRESERVE THE BEACH.
PLEASE DIRECT STAFF TO INCLUDE THE RETREAT NOW OPTION ON THE PREFERRED ROADWAY OPTION EXHIBIT.
THE PEOPLE OF CARLSBAD HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE FULLY INFORMED OF ALL THE
[02:35:03]
POTENTIAL FUTURE DECISIONS BEING MADE ON THIS PROJECT, PLEASE VOTE TO ALLOW US THE OPTION TO SAVE OUR BEACH AT DIP IN THE ROAD.>> MITCH SILVERSTEIN FOLLOWED BY JOSH COELHO.
>> HONORABLE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, GOOD EVENING.
MITCH SILVERSTEIN, SAN DIEGO COUNTY POLICY COORDINATOR FOR THE SURFRIDER FOUNDATION.
FIRST OFF, I'D LIKE TO COMMEND CITY STAFF AND YOU OUR LEADERS FOR SHOWING LEADERSHIP IN THE FACE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT CLIMATE ADAPTATION PRESENTS.
THIS PROJECT, IF CARRIED OUT TO COMPLETION, IS A SHINING EXAMPLE OF PROACTIVE SEA LEVEL RISE PLANNING.
REGARDING THE ROADWAY OPTION, I SUPPORT THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION OF OPTION 2 ALSO SUPPORTED BY TRAFFIC AND MOBILITY AND BEACH PRESERVATION COMMISSION.
THAT SAID, SURFRIDER IS NOT A TRAFFIC AND MOBILITY ORGANIZATION, WE'RE ABOUT SAVING BEACHES AND PRESERVING BEACHES.
PUN INTENDED, I'LL STAY MORE IN MY LANE.
FROM A BEACH PRESERVATION PERSPECTIVE, THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM FOR THIS PROJECT IS WHAT HAPPENS TO THE EXISTING SOUTHBOUND LANE ONCE THE NEW ONE IS BUILT? WE'RE LOOKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE LONG-TERM BEST OUTCOME FOR THE PROJECT, WHICH INVOLVES DEMOLISHING THE OLD ROADWAY ONCE THE NEW ONE IS CONSTRUCTED IN ORDER TO CREATE A RESTORED BEACH FOR THE FUTURE.
AS KATHLEEN JUST MENTIONED, GHD COMPLETED THEIR LOSS AND SEEN AS CREEK RESTORATION ANALYSIS AS PART OF THE GRANT FUNDED DELIVERABLES FOR THIS GRANT AND THEIR FINDINGS BOLSTER WHAT WE ALL KNOW TO BE TRUE.
THE LONGER WE LEAVE THE ROAD, THE FASTER WE LOSE THE BEACH.
AS KATHLEEN ALSO SAID, IF WE LEAVE THE ROAD THERE, WE LOSE THE BEACH WITH 1.
WE'RE EXPECTING A FOOT IN THE NEXT 27 YEARS.
THIS ALSO ISN'T SURPRISING SINCE THE BEACH IN THIS AREA IS ALREADY UNWALKABLE AT HIGH TIDES AND AS THE PRESENTATION SHOWS, FLOODS WHENEVER BIG SWELL COMBINES WITH HIGH TIDES.
ON THE OTHER HAND, IF WE REMOVE THE ROAD AND REPLACE WITH NATURE-BASED BEACH PRESERVATION MEASURES, I.
E RETREAT NOW IN THE STUDY, WE CAN CREATE A BEACH WITH EXTREME SEA LEVEL RISE RESILIENCE OF UP TO 6.
THIS IS A HUGE WIN ESPECIALLY FOR AN AREA THAT'S REALLY CHARACTERIZED BY HIGH BLUFF BACK BEACHES.
THOSE BEACHES ARE NOT GOING TO FARE WELL IN THE NEXT 50-75 YEARS WITH SEA-LEVEL RISE.
A LOT OF THEM WILL BE DROWNED, SO CREATING THIS BEACH IS A HUGE INVESTMENT FOR THE FUTURE, FOR OUR CHILDREN WHO WANT TO ENJOY BEACHES TOO.
I KNOW I'M WAY OUT AHEAD OF THE DECISION TONIGHT, WHICH IS JUST TO DECIDE ON THE ROADWAY OPTION, BUT I JUST IMPLORE YOU TO THINK BIG AND KEEP THE LARGER VISION IN MIND THAT WE CAN REALLY MOVE A THREATENED ROADWAY OUT OF HARM'S WAY WHILE ALSO CREATING A CLIMATE RESILIENT BEACH AT THE SAME TIME.
SINCE TONIGHT'S DECISION REQUIRES NO FURTHER ACTION FROM CITY COUNCIL, I'D LIKE TO THEREFORE ASKED THE FOLLOWING.
FIRST MAKE A MOTION SIMILAR TO ONE OF THE CITY'S BEACH PRESS COMMITTEE MADE TO HAVE THIS ITEM RETURNED TO COUNSEL TO DISCUSS NEXT STEPS SINCE THE GRANT THAT FUNDED IT IS DUE MID FEBRUARY OR LATE FEBRUARY AND THE COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT FOR MOST OF THE ROCK REVETMENT ENDS IN MARCH WE THINK STAFF SHOULD RETURN FOR FOLLOW UP NO LATER THAN APRIL 2024.
THEN ALSO THIS MOTION CAN BE MADE RIGHT NOW, I THINK, IS DIRECT STAFF TO REPAIR IT FOR THE WHOLE PROJECT.
THANKS FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, I'M ABOUT THIS [LAUGHTER] >>THANK YOU.
GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
THANK YOU TO STAFF FOR PUTTING TOGETHER SUCH A GREAT PRESENTATION, NOT JUST TONIGHT, BUT FOR THE TRAFFIC AND MOBILITY COMMISSION AND THE BEACH PRESERVATION COMMISSION.
I'M THE CHAIR OF THE TRAFFIC AND MOBILITY COMMISSION, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MYSELF HERE TONIGHT IN SUPPORT OF STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION FOR OPTION NUMBER 2.
THE OPTION ENDORSED BY THE TRAFFIC AND MOBILITY COMMISSION AND THE BEACH PRESERVATION COMMISSION IS IDEAL BECAUSE IT KEEPS CARLSBAD BOULEVARD VIABLE AS A PHYSICAL ROADWAY, MUCH HAS BEEN OUTLINED EARLIER, AND ALSO IT KEEPS TRAFFIC MOVING.
JUST WANTED TO BRIEFLY TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE HISTORY OF TRAFFIC LIGHTS.
AS WE'VE HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT THE FIRST TRAFFIC LIGHTS WERE USED IN1868, THERE WAS A POLICE OFFICER WHO SAT THERE AND OPENED AND CLOSED AN APERTURE FOR RED AND GREEN LIGHT.
THOSE WERE ELECTRIFIED IN THE 1920S, AND SINCE THEN, THE ONLY THING THAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE AUTOMATED WITH COMPUTERS AND DONE A BUNCH OF DATA ANALYSIS TO SEQUENCE LIGHTS.
BUT WE HAVEN'T REALLY ENGINEERED ROUNDABOUTS LIKE WE HAVE NOW UNDER CONSIDERATION, AND THE RESULT HAS BEEN THAT 7,000 PLUS PEOPLE ARE KILLED AND OVER A MILLION PEOPLE ARE INJURED IN INTERSECTION RELATED DEATHS IN THE UNITED STATES, ACCORDING TO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
AS MENTIONED BEFORE, SEVERAL OF THOSE INCIDENTS HAVE HAPPENED HERE IN CARLSBAD.
THE INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY, A NON-PROFIT SCIENTIFIC AND EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO REDUCING DEATHS AND INJURIES AND PROPERTY DAMAGE FOR MOTOR VEHICLE CRASHES THROUGH RESEARCH AND EVALUATION, HAS DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON THE SUBJECT OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES AND THEY HAVE CONCLUDED THAT ROUNDABOUTS INCREASE TRAFFIC SAFETY.
THEY REDUCE INJURY CRASHES BY 72-80%, AND THEY REDUCE ALL CRASHES BY 35-47%.
[02:40:04]
ADDITIONALLY, ROUNDABOUTS REDUCE CONGESTION.THEY KEEP VEHICLES MOVING, THEY REDUCE IDLING AND WEIGHT TIMES.
THE STUDY OF THREE KEY INTERSECTIONS IN KANSAS, MARYLAND, AND NEVADA OF HIGH TRAFFIC FLOW HAVE A 13-23% REDUCTION IN VEHICLE DELAYS AND A 14-37% REDUCTION IN NUMBER OF VEHICLES STOPPED.
AN ADDITIONAL STUDY OF THREE INTERSECTIONS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, AND WASHINGTON STATE HAD AN 89% REDUCTION IN VEHICLE DELAYS AND 56% REDUCTION IN NUMBER OF VEHICLES STOPPED.
THE STUDY OF 11 INTERSECTIONS IN KANSAS HAD A 65% AVERAGE REDUCTION IN DELAYS AND 52% AVERAGE REDUCTION IN VEHICLE STOPS, AND THESE SOURCES ARE INCLUDED IN MY EMAIL THAT WAS SENT TO COUNCIL EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON.
I THINK THAT ALL OF US HAVE PROBABLY SAT AT THE INTERSECTIONS IN QUESTION AT A RED LIGHT WITH NOBODY AT THE OTHER INTERSECTIONS JUST WAITING TO GO.
WE NEED TO COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS THAT KEEP US MOVING THAT REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.
AND ROUNDABOUTS ARE THE FUTURE.
WITH THE INVENTION OF AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES, THIS IS GOING TO KEEP US MOVING, IT'S GOING TO KEEP US SAFER, AND IT'S BETTER FOR THE COMMUNITY.
>> PENSEYRES, FOLLOWED BY JUDY FRANKEL.
>> [NOISE] I'M PETE PENSEYRES [NOISE] ONE OF THE TRAFFIC AND MOBILITY COMMISSIONERS.
BUT SPEAKING TONIGHT AS THE CARLSBAD RESIDENT, AND THE LEAGUE OF AMERICAN BICYCLISTS CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR, WHO'S BEEN TEACHING SMART CYCLING CLASSES FOR MORE THAN A DECADE.
ALMOST 1,500 SPEEDING CITATIONS, OVER 100 FOR DRIVING OVER 65 MILES AN HOUR.
OVER MORE THAN 300 COLLISIONS, MORE THAN 200 DUI ARRESTS, SIX FATALITIES, THREE AT SOLEMN DRIVE, ALL OF THESE ON CARLSBAD BOULEVARD SINCE 2018.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR SUPPORTING THE EMERGENCY DECLARATION AND ACTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN OR PLANNED UNDER SAFER STREETS TOGETHER.
THANK YOU, ESPECIALLY FOR APPROVING VISION ZERO, WHOSE LONG-TERM GOAL IS TO REDUCE FATALITIES AND SERIOUS INJURIES TO ZERO.
THE EMERGENCY DECLARATION WAS CREATED AFTER TWO FATALITIES OF BICYCLISTS THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED AS PRIMARILY THE FAULT OF THE MOTORIST.
ONE OF THESE WAS THE FATALITY OF A BICYCLIST WHO WAS STRUCK BY A SPEEDING DUI MOTORCYCLIST WHO WAS FLEEING A STATE PARK OFFICER ON CARLSBAD BOULEVARD WHERE THIS PROJECT IS PROPOSED.
HOW CAN THE CITY PREVENT PEOPLE FROM DRIVING DUI OR SOBER AND SPEEDING ON CARLSBAD BOULEVARD? YOUR STAFF HAS CREATED A UNIQUE PLAN, USING THREE LEGS OF A STOOL AS AN ANALOGY FOR USING ENGINEERING, EDUCATION, AND ENFORCEMENT WORKING TOGETHER.
IF ONE OF THE LEGS FAILS, THE STOOL WILL NOT SUPPORT THE GOAL.
ENFORCEMENT CAN HELP, BUT THIS STATISTIC STATED EARLIER SHOW THAT IT CAN NEVER WORK ALONE.
BUT WARNING OF THE DANGERS OF DRIVING DUI AND, OR SPEEDING ON A FOUR-LANE DIVIDED ROAD WITH NOTHING BUT TRAFFIC LIGHTS SINCE SPEED LIMIT SIGNS WON'T WORK EITHER.
THAT LEAVES ENGINEERING WHICH CAN WORK WITHOUT KARMA GOTTEN IF TWO-LANE SEGMENTS ARE USED TO ALLOW THE MOST PRUDENT DRIVER TO SET THE PACE, AND IF SINGLE-LANE ROUNDABOUTS ARE INSTALLED AT THE INTERSECTIONS.
PLEASE SUPPORT OPTION 2 USING THE CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION GRANT FUNDING TO GET THIS PROJECT SHOVEL READY FOR SOME OF THE FEDERAL FUNDING PROMISED TO CALIFORNIA AND IT WAS MENTIONED TODAY IN THE UT NEWSPAPER.
I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF BIKE WALK CARLSBAD.
WE ALSO AGREE IN ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE TRAFFIC AND MOBILITY COMMISSION AND THE BEACH PRESERVATION COMMISSION BY APPROVING THE ROUNDABOUT OPTION 2.
ROUNDABOUTS, THIS IS SAFEST OPTION AND ALLOWS THE BEST EXPERIENCE OF TRAVEL FOR ALL MODALITIES.
INSTEAD OF MOTORIST SPEEDING BETWEEN STOPLIGHTS, ONLY JUST STOP AND WAIT AND SPEED AGAIN.
FLOW REMAINS CONSTANT, AND THROUGHPUT FROM ONE END TO THE OTHER REMAINS RELATIVELY THE SAME.
TRAFFIC CALMING OF THE ROUNDABOUT SAVES LIVES.
ENGINEERING FOR TRAFFIC CALMING IS THE BEST PROTECTION AGAINST DUI DRIVERS.
IN TERMS OF SPEAKING FOR BIKE WALK CARLSBAD, SPEAKING FOR CYCLISTS, RUNNERS, WALKERS, PEDESTRIANS, I THINK JUST LIKE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY IN PRESERVING THE BEACH, I THINK AT LEAST FOR A TIME WE HAVE THE BEST COASTLINE IN ALL OF NORTH COUNTY.
WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF CREATING A GREEN BELT BY MOVING THE ROADWAY AND HOPEFULLY IT CAN LAST, AND THAT A GREEN BELT CREATES A DESTINATION FOR ACTIVE
[02:45:04]
RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ALIKE TO RUN, WALK, AND BIKE OFF THE ROADWAY ALONG OUR BEAUTIFUL COASTLINE.CITIES WITH GREEN BELTS OR DESTINATIONS ARE THE MOST VISITED AND ENJOYED AND IMPROVES THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR EVERYONE.
SO IN CONSIDERING THE BEACH AND THE ROADWAY, AND WE SHOULD ALSO CONSIDER HAVING THAT GREEN BELT FOR ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION ALONG THE COAST.
>> OUR FINAL SPEAKER, SCOTT ANGLE.
>> I'M SCOTT ANGLE, OLD CARLSBAD.
I WORK AT IDEX HEALTH & SCIENCE ON PALOMAR AIRPORT ROAD.
I GUESS THERE'S ALWAYS ONE IN EVERY CROWD, BUT I'M ASKING YOU TO PUMP THE BREAKS AND THINK ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE ALL THE SPEAKERS HERE HAVE ALL BEEN TELLING YOU THE POSITIVES OF ROUNDABOUTS, AND IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO UNDERSTAND BOTH SIDES OF THE EQUATION.
THE CITY ENGINEER'S CITES STUDIES ABOUT ROUNDABOUTS, AND YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER WHERE THE STUDIES ARE DONE.
THE COMMISSIONER CHAIRMAN CITES KANSAS, AND YOU'RE COMPARING KANSAS TO 101 IN CALIFORNIA AND CARLSBAD, IT'S NOT A VALID COMPARISON.
AND THE PRESENTATION HE SHOWED STATE STREET NETS GOT THE WORST COLLISION DATA IN THE CITY, AND THAT'S YOUR SHINING EXAMPLE OF A ROUNDABOUT.
THEY'RE NOT A ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL SOLUTION.
THEY WERE INVENTED IN THE UK AND THE MAJORITY OF ROUNDABOUTS IN THE WORLD ARE IN THE UK AND FRANCE, AND THEY WERE DESIGNED FOR MODERATE TRAFFIC VOLUMES, AND THEN AS THE TRAFFIC INCREASED, THEY'VE HAD TO REMOVE SEVERAL OTHER ROUNDABOUTS AND SIGNALING INTERSECTIONS.
AS FAR AS I5, IF SOMETHING HAPPENS ON THERE LIKE THAT HAPPENED ON 78 WHERE THEY HAD THE SINKHOLE SAYING THAT IT'S GOING TO KEEP TRAFFIC MOVING FASTER, IS YET TO BE SEEN.
THERE'S NO WAY THAT YOU CAN SIT HERE AND SAY THAT YOU'RE JUST NOT GOING TO KNOW IT UNTIL YOU KNEW IT, AND THEN CITE IN GREENHOUSE GASES, THE REDUCTION IN GREENHOUSE GASES.
TRYING TO BUILD A COAL PLANT A WEEK AND THEY CREATE 52% OF THE GREENHOUSE GASES ON THE PLANET, AND A COUPLE OF ROUNDABOUTS IN CARLSBAD DIDN'T GET IT.
SO I'M JUST ASKING YOU TO DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH ABOUT ROUNDABOUTS BECAUSE IT'S NOT A ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL SOLUTION.
JUST HAVE TO UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BETTER.
>> QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? MS. ACOSTA.
MY QUESTIONS RELATE TO SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE AND NOT SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE ROUNDABOUT BUT ABOUT THE FUTURE, SO I WANTED TO ASK I WROTE DOWN THE QUESTION, WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO ADD THE RETREAT NOW OPTION TO THIS PLAN THAT WE'RE WORKING ON HERE.
>> ONE OF THE PENDING GRANT DELIVERABLES THAT WE HAVE FOR THIS PROJECT IS A LONG-TERM MASTER PLAN SUMMARY DOCUMENT AND IT'S A VERY LONG NAME, BUT THAT IS WHAT IS CALLED AT THE MOMENT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'LL BE INCLUDED IN THAT DOCUMENT IS GOING TO EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENT ADAPTATION PATHWAYS FOR WHICHEVER PREFERRED OPTION IS SELECTED IN MORE DETAILS.
LET'S SAY OPTION 2 IS SELECTED LIKE MR. FRANK HIGHLIGHTED IN THE PRESENTATION.
EVEN IF RETREAT NOW IS SELECTED, IS STILL IN THE COASTAL HAZARD ZONE, SO THERE WOULD NEED TO BE A PLAN IN PLACE.
WHEN DOES THAT TURN INTO THE INTERSECTION SEEN IN OPTION 3, WHAT ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS DO WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT? WHAT IS THE LEAD TIME TO MAKE THESE CHANGES.
THEN FOR A POTENTIAL PHASE RETREAT, SIMILAR CONSIDERATIONS WOULD BE TAKEN INTO PLACE, BUT IT WOULD BE FOCUSING MORE ON THAT INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE EXISTING ROAD BEDS.
AGAIN, WHAT ARE THE TRIGGERS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT ENVIRONMENTALLY? FOR EXAMPLE, HOW OFTEN IS THE ROAD FLOODING? HOW MUCH DISTANCE IS THE EROSION HAPPENING FROM THE INFRASTRUCTURE? AGAIN, GOING BACK TO THAT LEAD TIME, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY AS THESE THINGS MAY BE HAPPENING, WE STILL NEED ENOUGH TIME TO ADAPT TO THE CHANGES THAT WERE BEING
[02:50:03]
SEEN.THAT DELIVERABLE IS STILL PENDING.
IT'LL BE COMPLETED AS PART OF THIS GRANT.
>> SO JUST TO CUT TO THE CHASE AND ASK IT A DIFFERENT WAY, WHAT IS THE TIMELINE FOR THAT? WHAT IS THE DATE? WHEN IS THIS GOING TO BE DONE THAT WE'RE GOING TO DECLARE ONE OR THE OTHER RETREAT NOW ARE FACED.
>> THE GRANT CONCLUDES FEBRUARY 2024, AND THAT LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT SUMMARY IN PLANNING IS ALSO REQUIRED FOR OUR COASTAL COMMISSION EMERGENCY PERMIT THAT THE CITY RECEIVED FOR THE REVETMENT OUT THAT AREA.
I BELIEVE ONE OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS STATED THAT, THAT PERMIT IS UP IN MARCH 2024.
>> IF THIS GRANT IS DUE FEBRUARY 2024 AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE COLLECTED ALL THE DATA.
THAT'S WHEN WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A DECISION ON RETREAT NOW, OR FACE RETREAT.
>> GREAT, SO I'M ASKING WHEN IS THAT?
>> WITH THE OPTIONS WHICH ARE SHOWN TODAY, WE HAVE DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVE PATHWAYS FOR THE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION USERS, BUT AT THE COMPLETION OF THIS STUDY, THERE'LL BE RECOMMENDATIONS AND WE'RE GOING TO BE COORDINATING WITH COAST COMMISSION STAFF TO THEN FURTHER OUR DISCUSSIONS ON WHAT ARE VIABLE OPTIONS AND WHAT ARE CONDITIONS FOR THE DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVES LIKE THE RETREAT NOW AND THE RETREAT LATER.
THERE WILL BE PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT COMMENTS AND AGAIN HERE, WHAT THE PUBLIC FEELS ABOUT BOTH OPTIONS.
IN COORDINATION WITH THE COAST COMMISSION, IF YOU COULD PUT UP THE SLIDE THAT SHOWS ACTUALLY THE OUTLINE OF THE ROAD DESIGN.
>> AS YOU'RE BRINGING THAT UP, TOM, IS THIS SOMETHING IN WHICH WE'D BE BACK BEFORE CITY COUNCIL FOR COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION IN JANUARY OR IS IT A FEBRUARY TIMEFRAME OF '24 OR FURTHER?
>> WE WON'T LIKELY COME BACK TO CITY COUNCIL UNLESS REQUESTED TONIGHT BEFORE THE STUDY IS COMPLETE.
BUT WE WOULD COME BACK TO CITY COUNCIL BEFORE DETERMINATION WOULD BE MADE REGARDING A RETREAT NOW OR RETREAT LATER OPTION AND IN ADDITION, WE WOULD BE SOLICITING PUBLIC COMMENT ON THAT.
WE HEARD SOME STRONG PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY.
WE'VE RECEIVED COMMENTS VIA EMAIL AND CORRESPONDENCE, SO WE KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT.
WE'VE HEARD THAT MESSAGE LOUD AND CLEAR, SO WE DEFINITELY WANT TO VET THAT ISSUE.
BUT IT IS IN COORDINATION WITH COASTAL COMMISSION STAFF.
>> SO WITH THAT, DID YOU YIELD?
WHAT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT HERE AS YOU SEE THE COASTAL HAZARD ZONE IN THE ORANGE AND WE HAVE THE TWO OPTIONS.
ONE IS REALLY HARD TO SEE, IT'S RIGHT UP AGAINST A ROADWAY ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF THE ROAD AND IT'S JUST A DASHED LINE AND SO THAT'S A SPACE WHERE THE HEAVY EROSION HAPPENS 150 YEARS FROM NOW AND THAT'S THE ONLY SPACE AVAILABLE.
THAT WOULD BE WHERE THE CLASS 1 AND THE WALKWAY EXISTS.
AS WE ALSO SHOW ON THIS, WE SHOW THE CLASS 1 AND THE PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY RIGHT ALONG SOUTH CARLSBAD BOULEVARD IN THE SOUTHBOUND DIRECTION, RIGHT UP AGAINST THE BLUFFTOP.
I'M GUESSING IN OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH COASTAL COMMISSION STAFF, THERE'LL BE SUGGESTING THAT POSSIBLY WE LOOK AT ALTERNATIVES SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THOSE TWO.
BECAUSE PEOPLE DO WANT TO WALK ALONG THE BLUFFTOPS AND SEE THE BEAUTIFUL OCEAN AND THE COASTLINE BELOW.
BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, WE DON'T WANT TO PUSH IT ALL THE WAY TO THE UP AGAINST THE ADJACENT TO THE ROADWAY BECAUSE IT'S HONESTLY NOT AS GOOD OF AN EXPERIENCE FROM AN ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION STANDPOINT.
THERE'S A LOT OF LEEWAY THERE.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO ACHIEVE FURTHER LOOK AT AS WE COMPLETE THE DESIGN.
SIR, TO YOUR POINT, AS WE'RE PLANNING TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE STUDY UNLESS OTHERWISE DIRECTED.
>> I THINK WHAT I WAS TRYING TO GET WITH MORE CERTAINTY AROUND THAT, SO THANK YOU FOR CHIMING IN AND I DO THINK THAT WE SHOULD HAVE AS PART OF THIS SOME TIMEFRAME OF WHEN YOU WOULD COME BACK BECAUSE JUST SAYING AFTER IT'S DONE COULD BE ANY TIME, SO LET'S NARROW DOWN THAT TIMEFRAME TO WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO COME BACK AND PRESENT TO US.
THEN THE SECOND QUESTION WAS ALSO INSPIRED BY SOMETHING PUBLIC COMMENT I HAD RECEIVED AN EMAIL AND ALSO HEARD AGAIN TONIGHT FROM SURF RIDER WHICH WAS ABOUT THE ROAD BEING DEMOLISHED TO RETAIN THE BEACH.
WHEN IS THAT? CAN YOU CLARIFY WHEN THE ROADWAY WILL BE MOVED OR CHANGED? WHAT IS THE TIMEFRAME ON THAT?
>> YES, SO WE DON'T HAVE A TIMEFRAME BECAUSE THE PROJECTS NOT FUNDED AND WE DON'T EVEN HAVE THE DESIGN COMPLETE YET, SO I DON'T HAVE THAT TIMEFRAME FOR YOU,
[02:55:06]
AND I DON'T MEAN TO SOUND SHORT, BUT IT WILL BE REMOVED WHEN THE PROJECT STARTS CONSTRUCTION.THAT'LL BE ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS AS WELL DEMOLISH WHATEVER OF THAT ROAD THAT WE'RE NOT USING.
LIKE IF THERE'S A PORTION OF THAT ROAD ALIGNMENT WHERE WE'RE USING THE ROAD BASE OR THE STRUCTURAL SECTION THEN WE WOULDN'T OBVIOUSLY REMOVE THAT SECTION, BUT WE WOULD LIKELY BE REMOVING OTHER AREAS THAT ARE NOT USED.
I KNOW WE'RE TRYING TO PIN YOU DOWN ON PARTS OF THE BIG PICTURE WHEN REALLY TONIGHT WE'RE JUST SUPPOSED TO FOCUS ON APPROVING THE OPTION FOR THE ROUNDABOUT.
BUT THIS IS PART OF THAT AND I THINK PEOPLE ARE JUST TRYING TO LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE AND SOME PEOPLE ARE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT SEA LEVEL RISE AND CLIMATE ADAPTATION PORTION AND SOME PEOPLE ARE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE THROUGHPUT OF TRAFFIC AND MAYBE WALKING OR BIKING BECAUSE THAT'S THEIR USUAL ACTIVITY THERE.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL ASPECTS ARE CONSIDERED AND I DEFINITELY WANT TO PIN DOWN A TIME THAT YOU'RE ALL GOING TO COME BACK AS WE APPROVE THIS.
>> MS. BHAT PATEL >> YES, THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION AND THANKS TO THE SPEAKER IS FOR STICKING IT OUT AND BEING HERE TONIGHT.
JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON COUNCILMAN ACOSTA'S QUESTIONS.
FROM WHAT IT SEEMS LIKE, I KNOW WE HAD RECEIVED SOME PUBLIC COMMENT.
IS THERE A WAY TO INCORPORATE WHENEVER THIS DOES COME BACK TO US TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION OF RETREAT NOW ON PHASE ADAPTATION TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN SEE RENDERINGS OF BOTH THE RETREAT NOW ON PHASED ADAPTATION.
BECAUSE I KNOW THAT OBVIOUSLY, I'M GUESSING THAT WOULD HELP IN TERMS OF JUST INTERPRETING WHAT WOULD MAKE THE MOST SENSE AND THE PUBLIC COULD BENEFIT FROM IT AS WELL?
WE'LL DO WHAT WE CAN WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE STUDY AND THEN WE'LL DISCUSS OUR APPROACH IF WE NEED TO COME BACK TO CITY COUNCIL TO DISCUSS THE APPROACH AND MAYBE ASK FOR AN APPROPRIATION FOR FUNDING IF WE DON'T HAVE IT, SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE WILL CONSIDER AND THANK YOU.
>> THEN ONE OTHER QUESTION THAT WAS BROUGHT UP FROM A COUPLE OF SPEAKERS WAS AROUND THE REDUCTION TO ONE LANE IN THE NORTHBOUND DIRECTION AND I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF YOU HAD HEARD THAT PREVIOUSLY AND WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE.
OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S NOT A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION FOR TONIGHT, BUT JUST CURIOUS.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS HAVE BEEN AS YOU'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT, OBVIOUSLY YOU ALL HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT OPTIONS FOR THIS AREA.
WE HAVE HEARD THAT ITEM AND IN FACT, THE GENTLEMAN WHO SPOKE FROM SOLAMAR HOA, HE ACTUALLY SUBMITTED A SIGNED PETITION WITH THAT RECOMMENDATION.
AS A PART OF OUR SAFER STREETS TOGETHER PLAN, CITY COUNCIL AS A PART OF OPTION A, LAST FALL APPROVED A PROJECT TO CONSIDER REDUCING THE VEHICLE LANDS ON CARLSBAD BOULEVARD FROM PINE AVENUE TO THE SOUTHERN BORDER AS A PART OF THE SAFER STREETS TOGETHER PLAN THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET OR THE BUDGET WHICH YOU APPROVED.
WE ARE PLANNING TO VET THAT PROJECT LATER THIS SUMMER, AND SO THAT WOULD INCLUDE THAT SEGMENT FROM ISLAND WAY UP THROUGH MONSANTO AND BEYOND, SO MORE TO COME ON THAT PROJECT.
>> JUST TO REITERATE, IT SOUNDS LIKE WE WILL BE HAVING A DISCUSSION AROUND THAT COMING SOON IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
>> THAT'S CORRECT COUNCIL MEMBER.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS ON THE RECORD, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE THAT ARE HERE FROM THAT COMMUNITY AND CLEARLY AFFECTED BY IT.
OTHER THAN THAT, JUST COMMENTS.
>> I'M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO WAS A LITTLE HESITANT AROUND TRAFFIC CIRCLES.
THIS WAS ENFORCED A LITTLE BIT, NOT TOO LONG AGO I WAS IN LEUCADIA AREA.
THE TRAFFIC CIRCLE WAS WORKING SO WELL THAT ALL THE TRAFFIC ON THE 101 CONTINUED THROUGH.
I WAS THE THIRD CAR BACK ON THE SIDE STREET HOPING TO GET INTO THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL.
BUT IT WAS WORKING SO WELL, THERE WAS NEVER AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENTER.
I WAS THE THIRD CAR BACKSIDE, I HAD TO WAIT UNTIL THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME WERE BRAVE ENOUGH TO ENTER.
IT TOOK PROBABLY FIVE FULL MINUTES FOR ME TO FINALLY ENTER IT.
THIS WASN'T DURING THE BUSY COASTAL SEASON, IT WASN'T DURING THE BEACH SEASON WHERE THERE'S GOING TO BE A NONSTOP FLOW OF CARS.
NOW ACKNOWLEDGED THAT FOR THE 101 GOING NORTH AND SOUTH, IT'S CRAZY BECAUSE THE TRAFFIC DIDN'T STOP.
[03:00:01]
ADDRESS THE CONCERNS I HAVE ABOUT THE SIDE STREETS TRYING TO ENTER THE CIRCLE DURING THE HEAVY TRAFFIC AND THAT'S SMOOTH FLOW.DURING REALLY CONGESTED PERIODS ON I5, WE DO SEE THE OVERFLOW ONTO THE COAST HIGHWAY OR CARLSBAD BOULEVARD.
I'M FAMILIAR WITH THAT RELATIVELY NEW ROUNDABOUT WHICH YOU ARE EXPERIENCED IN ACADIA.
WHAT WE ARE PLANNING AS A PART OF OUR PROJECT IS TO INSTALL CONDUITS AND DO A DESIGN FOR SIGNALIZED INTERSECTION AT OUR ROUNDABOUTS.
IF WE SEE THAT THAT'S A REOCCURRING PROBLEM AND SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO ADDRESS, WE CAN ACTUALLY CONSTRUCT TRAFFIC SIGNALS TO ADDRESS THE QUEUING ISSUE.
IN ADDITION, AS YOU PROBABLY SAW, MAYBE HOPEFULLY THERE ARE PEDESTRIANS CROSSING.
WHEN A PEDESTRIAN DOES CROSS AT A ROUNDABOUT, IT DOES OPEN UP A GAP TO ALLOW THE VEHICLES TO ENTER.
ALSO, DURING WHAT I'VE EXPERIENCED WITH ROUNDABOUTS AND IN NORTH COUNTY IS, AS PEOPLE GET MORE COMFORTABLE AND IN A GRID LOCK TYPE OF CONDITION LIKE THAT ARE REALLY SLOW MOVING, ROUNDABOUTS IS MORE OF A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, LIKE YOU HAVE EYE CONTACT WITH THE PEOPLE APPROACHING YOU AND YOU WILL GET PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE RIGHT-OF-WAY LIKE WHAT YOU SAW GOING SOUTHBOUND, I BELIEVE, WHICH WILL PAUSE TO LET PERIODIC SIDE TRAFFIC IN.
BUT TO DIRECTLY ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, WE DO RECOGNIZE THAT COULD BE A CONCERN AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE PLANNING TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO SIGNALIZE ROUNDABOUTS IF IT IS A PROBLEM, WE CAN ADDRESS IT WITH SIGNALS.
ANOTHER CONCERN I HAVE IS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT REDUCING THE TWO-LANE IN EACH DIRECTION TO ONE-LANE IN EACH DIRECTION.
SPECIALISTS, WE START TO GO FURTHER SOUTH TOWARD POINSETTIA.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED IS WE HAVE A CAMPGROUND WITH A LOT OF MOTOR HOMES AND THESE ARE USUALLY OUT OF TOWNERS AND THEY'RE LOST.
I FIND MYSELF BEHIND A VERY SLOW MOVING, LOST MOTORIST, WHETHER IT'D BE A MOTOR HOME OR A CAR AND WHEN THERE'S ONLY ONE LANE, YOU'RE JUST STUCK AND YOU'RE GOING 15 MILES AN HOUR OR WHATEVER THEY'RE GOING.
WITH TWO-LANES, YOU CAN GO ROUND THEM.
HOW DO YOU ADDRESS THAT? HOW WAS THAT BETTER? IT'S NOT JUST IT HAPPENED ONE TIME.
EVEN IF IT'S NOT A LOST MOTORIST, JUST SOMEBODY WHO WANTS TO DRIVE SLOWER THAN THE SPEED LIMIT.
>> YOU ARE BASICALLY REQUIRED TO DRIVE AT THE SPEED OF THE PERSON IN FRONT OF YOU WHEN IT'S ONE TRAVELING.
I HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED THAT OFTEN, BUT IT IS A REALITY.
YOU DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO PASS AND YOU ARE AT THE WHIM.
IF SOMEBODY IS TRAVELING SLOWER THAN THE SPEED LIMIT OF 35 OR 40, THEN THAT'S THE SPEED WHICH YOU WILL HAVE TO TRAVEL AT.
HOPEFULLY THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN TOO OFTEN.
WE MOST RECENTLY REDUCED THE VEHICLE TRAVEL LANES FROM TWO-TO-ONE SOUTHBOUND IN THIS SEGMENT FROM SOLAMAR DRIVE THROUGH ISLAND WAY.
I OBVIOUSLY KNOW THERE'S THE CAMP GROUND JUST TO THE SOUTH, BUT I HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED THAT MYSELF OR SEEING THAT AND I DO PURPOSELY TRAVEL THAT ROADWAY DAILY JUST TO GET EYES ON IT.
BUT I DO BELIEVE YOU AND I HOPE THAT YOU DON'T EXPERIENCE THAT TOO OFTEN.
>> I ACTUALLY DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
>> WITH RESPECT TO OPTION 1 VERSUS OPTION 2, AND WE DON'T KNOW THE SPECIFIC TIMING AND THIS IS A CONCEPTUAL DESIGN.
MY QUESTION IS DEPENDING ON IF WE DO GO WITH A PHASED ADAPTATION OR A RETREAT NOW OPTION, IF WE HAVE OPTION 1, AS FAR AS COST AND PULLING BACK VERSUS ONE OF THE OPTION 2'S THE COST OF PUTTING IN THE ROUNDABOUTS THAN HAVING TO TEAR THAT OUT AND MOVE IT.
WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO GIVE ME A ROUGH IDEA OF WHAT THE COST WOULD BE?
>> NOT AT THIS POINT, COUNCIL MEMBER.
I CAN TELL YOU IF YOU LOOK AT TYPICAL COST ANALYSIS FOR SIGNALS VERSUS ROUNDABOUTS, IT INCLUDES MANY FACTORS.
IT WOULD INCLUDE, OF COURSE, THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS, THE LONG-TERM OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE COSTS.
IT TYPICALLY WOULD LOOK AT THE COST OF SEVERE INJURY AND FATALITIES AND ALSO THE COST OF DELAY.
THAT'S THE BIG PICTURE COSTS, BUT MORE SPECIFICALLY IN REGARDS TO THE CHANGE IN CONSTRUCTION COST OR THE INFRASTRUCTURE COST FROM THE SIGNALIZED FOUR LANE OPTION THAN BEING KNOCKED DOWN POSSIBLY DUE TO THE EROSION.
[03:05:02]
I DON'T THINK THERE'D BE MUCH DIFFERENCE, HONESTLY BETWEEN THE ROUNDABOUT OPTION AND OPTION 1 BECAUSE IT'S BASICALLY THE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PATHWAY AS A SEPARATE ISSUE.I DON'T REALLY THINK THERE'S GONNA BE MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE.
IN REGARDS TO WHEN WE CHANGE, I THINK SPECIFICALLY LIKE IT'S SOLAMAR DRIVE.
IF THERE'D BE COST-SAVINGS WITH GOING WITH OPTION 1 OR OPTION 2, I THINK IT'S RELATIVELY MINOR.
>> BECAUSE IT DRIVES ME INSANE WHEN I SEE A ROAD TORN UP AND THEN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER, A COUPLE OF YEARS LATER THEN IT'S RIPPED APART AGAIN AND WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT ROAD AND WE CAN'T UTILIZE IT.
IF WE ONLY WOULD PRE-PLAN AND MAYBE NOT JUMP THE GUN.
I KNOW THIS IS A DESIGN CONCEPT THAT WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR SHORELINE.
I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR SHORELINE.
THE RETREAT NOW OPTION SEEMS LIKE A REALLY GOOD OPTION AND I JUST HATE TO INVEST ALL THIS MONEY AND TIME INTO THIS AND THEN SHORTLY THEREAFTER, WE HAVE TO MODIFY IT, PULL IT OVER OR REDUCE THE LANES.
THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD IS GOING FROM NORTH TO SOUTH FROM PINE ON DOWN.
AT OUR INTERSECTIONS, WE HAVE ROUNDABOUTS PLANNED OR NOT? REFRESH MY MEMORY.
>> YOU'RE REFERRING TO THE PROJECT WHICH WAS MENTIONED EARLIER WHEN WE'RE CONSIDERING.
IN THAT PROJECT, WE'RE NOT CONSIDERING CHANGING THE INTERSECTION CONFIGURATIONS.
YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY THIS NUMEROUS TIMES, SO I APOLOGIZE FOR REPEATING IT.
BUT THE CONGESTION ALONG ROADWAYS IS REALLY A FACTOR OF THE CAPACITY OF THE INTERSECTIONS.
WHAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE SAFER STREETS TOGETHER PLAN, IT'S WE'LL LEAVE THE INTERSECTION CONFIGURATION THE SAME, SO THE VEHICULAR THROUGHPUT SHOULD REMAIN THE SAME.
IT'S MERELY WHAT WE DO IN BETWEEN THOSE INTERSECTIONS IN THE ROAD SEGMENT.
>> YOU'RE LOOKING AT CURRENTLY SIGNALIZATION AT TAMARAC CANNON AND THEN ROUNDABOUTS GOING SOUTH FROM PALOMAR AND AS WE GO SOUTH?
THAT'S WHAT YOU'D BE LOOKING AT.
>> RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A ROUNDABOUT AT STATE STREET AND THE REST OF THE INTERSECTIONS ARE SIGNALS.
>> WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT FROM PALOMAR AIRPORT SOUTH ON THIS.
MAYBE WE SHOULD HOLD OFF ON THAT BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S NOT THE AGENDA TOPIC, BUT WE'RE BRINGING THIS FORWARD TO YOU.
>> BUT IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT TRAFFIC FLOW AND WHAT WE'RE ADDRESSING NOW IS AN OPTION TOO THAT HAS ROUNDABOUTS AND FEEDING INTO IT PRESENTLY TODAY I JUST HATE TO LOOK AT IT SEGMENTED THAT WAY.
>> IT'S NOT SEGMENTED IN THE FACT OF TRAFFIC PLANNING, AND I KNOW YOU'RE ALSO REFERRING TO THE OTHER PROJECT WHICH WE'RE GOING TO BE BRINGING TO YOU LATER ON.
AS WE'VE PRESENTED IN THIS STUDY AND WITH THE OPTIONS WE'VE STUDIED ALL OF THE OPTIONS, SO OPTIONS 1 AND 2, AND 3 ARE GOING TO BE IMPROVED CAPACITY FROM WHAT EXISTS TODAY, AND THAT'S DOCUMENTED WITH THIS NICE TRAFFIC STUDY WHICH WE COMPLETED.
YOU CAN SEE IN THE CHART HERE, THIS ADDRESSES WHAT THE DIFFERENT CRITERIA WAS FOR THE STUDY, AND SO I'M LOOKING FOR THE ONE WHERE IT JUST DOESN'T REALLY SPEAK TO THE ISSUE OF INCREASING CAPACITY, BUT WE DO HAVE ADDITIONAL SLIDES.
IF YOU GO DOWN, THERE'S ONE OF A TABLE OF THE TRAFFIC STUDY, WHICH IS A GOOD ENGINEERING CHART NO, THE ONE THAT SHOWS THE LOS.
I'LL EXPLAIN THE CHART A LITTLE BIT HERE.
WHAT YOU HAVE IN CHART AT THE TOP IS IN THE ROWS YOU HAVE THE ROADWAY ALIGNMENT, THE 101 CARLSBAD BOULEVARD AT PALOMAR AIRPORT ROAD AND THEN THE INTERSECTION TO THE SOUTH AT SOLMAR DRIVE AND THEN ISLAND WAY, AND SO YOU HAVE THE BASELINE CONDITIONS WHICH ARE WHAT WE HAVE TODAY, AND SO YOU'LL SEE ON THE TOP CHART, WHICH IS SUMMER MONTHS.
I'LL JUST FOCUS ON THE FALL WHICH HAS WORSE CONDITIONS.
YOU'LL SEE THE BASELINE AT ISLAND WAY, WHICH IS A REALLY LONG PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALKING AREA WHICH YOU PROBABLY ALL EXPERIENCE THAT, CURRENTLY IS EXPERIENCED F IN THE PM, THE AFTERNOON AND AT FAULT CONDITIONS FOR THE DATA
[03:10:03]
WHICH WE TOOK.YOU'LL SEE OPTION 1 WITH THE SIGNALS AND THE FOUR LANES THAT GOES DRAMATICALLY UP JUST LOOKING AT CARLSBAD BOULEVARD, AN ISLAND WAY TO AN ABA, AND THEN OPTION 2 FOR ROUNDABOUTS IS A'S ACROSS THE BOARD, AND THEN OPTION 3, WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT IS ALSO A'S.
THAT'S JUST AN EXAMPLE SHOWING YOU THAT WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING AS A PART OF THIS STUDY IS ACTUALLY IMPROVING THE EXISTING CONDITIONS, AND THEN YOUR OTHER COMMENT ABOUT LOOKING AT IT PIECEMEAL OR NOT UNIFORMLY WE HAVE A LOT OF OUR DESIGN CRITERIA ACTUALLY BUILT INTO OUR MOBILITY ELEMENT, AND WE WOULD NOT BE PRESENTING SOMETHING TO YOU THAT WOULD BE REDUCING TRAFFIC CAPACITY WITHOUT BRINGING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION.
>> NEXT WEEK, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE COMMENTS, BUT AS WE DO, WOULD YOU PUT UP THOSE THREE OPTIONS, PLEASE?
>> COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL, MS. LUNA.
>> IS THIS THE ONE THAT YOU WANTED?
>> WELL, THESE ARE THE THREE OPTIONS AND THEN OF COURSE WE HAVE YOUR RECOMMENDATION.
>> IT'S A CONCEPTUAL DESIGN WE'RE NOT BUILDING IT TOMORROW, SO THERE IS ROOM FOR MOVEMENT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, SO PARDON ME AS SAYING, WELL, IF WE GO TO OPTION 2 AND WE DECIDED THAT PROBABLY DOWN THE ROAD BECAUSE POSSIBLY THE RETREAT NOW OPTION IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THAT'S HANGING OUT THERE, THEN MAYBE WE SHOULD TAKE THIS APPROACH OR THAT, BUT THEN YOU COULD ALSO USE THAT SAME ARGUMENT ON OPTION 2 AND SAY, GO AHEAD AND LET'S PUT THE ROUNDABOUTS IN THERE AND THEN LET'S WAIT AND SEE HOW WE INTEGRATE THE RETREAT NOW OPTION.
I LIKE TO HEAR FROM MY OTHER COLLEAGUES HERE.
>> I CAN EASILY SUPPORT OPTION 2 WITH THIS PRESENTATION THAT YOU'VE GIVEN WITH A CAVEAT OF UNDERSTANDING THAT BASED ON OUR CONVERSATIONS, MR. FRANK, ROUNDABOUTS WORK BETTER TOGETHER, AND SO THAT'S WHY I WOULD THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO PUT THESE INTO PLACES THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING THEM.
AGAIN, THIS IS NOT TALKING ABOUT TAMARAC AND CARLSBAD BOULEVARD LET'S NOT BE MISTAKEN.
BUT I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT IF WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT, DO THE CONCEPTUAL STUDY, LET'S FIGURE IT OUT, LET'S SEE WHAT MAKES SENSE, AND THEN MOVE FORWARD SMARTLY, NOT JUST WILLY-NILLY.
I'M WITH SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE ABOUT THE RETREAT NOW ISSUE IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO BUILD SOMETHING AND TEARDOWN AND REDO IT.
I NEGLECTED TO MENTION EARLIER THAT I USE A ROUNDABOUT AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK IN CARLSBAD THAT WAS NOT MENTIONED.
IT'S THE ONE AT BRESSY BECAUSE I GO TO THE TRADER JOE'S THERE.
[LAUGHTER] I KNOW ROUNDABOUTS AND I USE THEM RIGHT HERE IN CARLSBAD.
IT'S NOT EVEN THE ONES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AT STAY OR OTHER AREAS.
I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR STAFF AND THE CONSULTANTS AND ALL THE HARD WORK THAT WAS DONE HERE.
I SUPPORT OPTION 2, AND I ALSO THINK THAT WE SHOULD PIN DOWN A DATE AND ADD THAT TO THE MOTION WHEN SOMEBODY IS READY TO MAKE A MOTION THAT STAFF WILL COME BACK, AND I THINK THAT STAFF SAID FEBRUARY 2024 WOULD BE THE TIME THAT YOU'D BE DONE WITH THIS PART OF THE STUDY SO YOU COULD GIVE AN UPDATE AND TALK ABOUT NEXT STEPS.
I WOULD ALSO ADD THAT WE SHOULD GO BACK TO THE BEACH PRESERVATION COMMISSION BEFORE GOING INTO COUNCIL AS WELL.
>> IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO HEAR THE ITEM AND I KNOW THEY MEET LESS FREQUENTLY, SO IF WE WENT TO THEM ONCE THE GRANT ENDED AND THEN BACK TO COUNCIL.
>> BY MARCH 2024, THEN IS THAT DOABLE? THEY CAN SCHEDULE A MEETING BECAUSE IT'S GOT TO COME TO COUNCIL, SO THEY'LL SCHEDULE THEIR MEETINGS SO THAT THEY CAN HEAR IT BEFORE IT COMES TO US.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.
I SUPPORT OPTION 2, AND WOULD RECOMMEND THAT STAFF COME BACK TO US BY MARCH 2024.
THANK YOU AND THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I AM TOO I'M SUPPORTIVE OF OPTION 2 AND IN CONCURRENCE WITH MY FELLOW COLLEAGUE WITH REGARDS TO BRINGING BACK A PRESENTATION I JUST CONFIRMED WITH A LITTLE NOTE TO THE CITY MANAGER THAT IT SEEMS LIKE THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT'S FEASIBLE, SO APPRECIATE THAT.
I JUST WANTED TO EMPHASIZE FROM OBVIOUSLY NOT SOMEBODY WHO LIVES NEAR RIGHT NEXT TO THIS BUT LIVES NEARBY AND SOMEBODY WHO HAS WALKED IT, BIKED THAT AREA, DRIVEN THAT
[03:15:04]
AREA, THAT I THINK THIS IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO HELP AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK AND EFFORT THAT'S GONE INTO IT AND I REALLY HOPE FOR THOSE THAT LIVE NEARBY, IT'LL BE A WELCOME CHANGE AND SOMETHING THAT HOPEFULLY OBVIOUSLY AGAIN, WILL BE SAFE FOR DRIVERS, CYCLISTS, AND PEDESTRIANS, SO THANK YOU.>> I'VE EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS.
I THINK THAT OFTENTIMES MY VOTES ARE PRETTY EASY.
I'M GOING TO SUPPORT IT, AND I HOPE IN A FEW YEARS, MR. FRANK, YOU COME MEET ME IN MY OFFICE AND SAY I TOLD YOU SO.
>> MOVE STAFF RECOMMENDATION FOR OPTION 2 WITH THE ADDITION OF WHAT WAS MENTIONED DURING COMMENTS AROUND STAFF COMING BACK WITH A PRESENTATION IN MARCH OF 2024 REGARDING THE OPTIONS.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT ME TO BE SPECIFIC AROUND RETREAT NOW AND HOLD ON LET ME PULL IT UP PHASED ADAPTATION.
WOULD YOU WANT ME TO GET THAT SPECIFIC CITY ATTORNEY OR?
>> IT'S WHAT THE COUNCIL WANTS TO BE REPORTED.
>> THEN I WILL, WE CAN INCLUDE THAT, AND THAT'S IT.
>> ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON CLARIFICATION OF THE MOTION? EVERYBODY COMFORTABLE WITH IT? PLEASE VOTE.
[COUNCIL COMMENTARY AND REQUESTS FOR CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS]
COUNCIL COMMENTS, MS. LUNA? MS. BURKHOLDER?>> JUST ONE REPORT THAT I'M GOING TO THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITY'S POLICY COMMITTEES THIS WEEK.
I SIT ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY POLICY COMMITTEE AND WE WILL BE REVIEWING ALL OF THE LEGISLATION AT THE STATE LEVEL THAT RELATES TO ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND TAKING POSITIONS ON THAT, AND I'LL BRING THAT BACK TO THE CITY AS WELL.
>> SIMILARLY, I WILL ALSO BE GOING TO ONE OF THE POLICY COMMITTEES TO THE TRANSPORTATION, COMMUNICATION, AND PUBLIC WORKS FOR THE LEAVE CALIFORNIA CITIES THAT I CHAIR AND WILL ALSO REPORT BACK FROM THAT AS WELL.
>> CITY MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY.
>> ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.