[00:00:01] >> IT'S FIVE O'CLOCK. I'M CALLING TONIGHT'S MEETING TO ORDER. PLEASE TAKE A ROLL. [CALL TO ORDER] >> COUNCIL MEMBER SHIN? >> PRESENT. >> COUNCIL MEMBER BURKHOLDER? >> PRESENT. >> COUNCIL MEMBER ACOSTA? >> I'M PRESENT. >> MAYOR PRO TEM BHAT PATEL? >> HERE. >> MAYOR BLACKBURN? >> PRESENT. ALL FIVE COUNCILMEMBERS ARE PRESENT. I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT I HAVE TO MAKE. THE CITY COUNCIL IS SERVING AS THE CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT, BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM NUMBER 10. AS THE CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS, THE PUBLIC FINANCING AUTHORITY, THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION AND THE CITY COUNCIL AS THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ON PUBLIC HEARING ITEM NUMBER 14. CITY ATTORNEY, WILL YOU PLEASE LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE. >> PLEASE PUT YOUR RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR HEART. READY TO BEGIN. >> >> NEXT IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE REGULAR MEETING HELD APRIL 29TH, [APPROVAL OF MINUTES] OF '25, AND THE SPECIAL MEETING HELD JUNE 10TH, OF '25. MOTION, PLEASE. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> PLEASE VOTE. THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT IS PRESENTATIONS. [PRESENTATIONS] I INVITE COUNCIL MEMBER ACOSTA TO PRESENT TO DEBBIE MATTHEWS THE RECOGNITION OF JUNETEENTH DAY. BUT FIRST, I BELIEVE WE HAVE A SPEAKER ON THIS. >> ALICIA RANKIN. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS ALICIA RANKIN, AND I'M HONORED TO STAND HERE TODAY AS A PRESIDENT OF THE NSDC NAACP COUNCIL. FIRST, I WANT TO THANK THE CITY OF CARLSBAD FOR PRESENTING THIS PROCLAMATION AND ACKNOWLEDGING JUNETEENTH AS A NATIONAL HOLIDAY. IT MEANS MORE THAN WORDS CAN EXPRESS. THIS RECOGNITION IS NOT JUST FOR US. IT IS FOR EVERY YOUNG PERSON WHO DARES TO BELIEVE IN CHANGE, IN JUSTICE, AND IN THE BETTER TOMORROW. THE NAACP HAS ALWAYS STOOD ON THE FRONT LINE OF PROGRESS, AND WE, THE NEXT GENERATION ARE PROUD TO CARRY THAT LEGACY FORWARD WITH COURAGE AND CONVICTION. WE'RE COMMITTED TO FIGHTING FOR EQUITY IN OUR SCHOOLS, SAFETY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL, NO MATTER YOUR BACKGROUND, YOUR SKIN COLOR OR YOUR STORY. THIS PROCLAMATION REMINDS US THAT OUR VOICES ARE BEING HEARD AND OUR EFFORTS MATTER. THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING IN US. WE PROMISE TO KEEP SHOWING UP, SPEAKING OUT AND STANDING STRONG. THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THIS MEMORABLE HOLIDAY, JUNETEENTH. THANK YOU. >> MA'AM, ARE YOU THE PROUD BIG SISTER? [LAUGHTER] >> YES. I'M A BIG SISTER. >> OH, YOU'RE THE ONE RECEIVING IT. OH, I'M SORRY. >> TO YOU COUNCIL, I'M THEIR ADVISOR. >> I WILL HAVE BOTH OF YOU IN A PICTURE AFTER THE PROCLAMATION. I'M SO SORRY I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE YOU AS THE RECIPIENT. THANK YOU. >> GREAT. THANK YOU, MISS MATTHEWS. IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, I'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU AT THE PODIUM, AND YOU'RE WELCOME TO INVITE THE STUDENTS TO STAND WITH YOU. WHILE I READ THE PROCLAMATION FOR JUNETEENTH DAY, JUNE 19, 2025, GIVE THEM A MINUTE. THANK YOU. THIS IS THE PROCLAMATION FOR JUNETEENTH DAY, JUNE 19, 2025. WHEREAS, JUNETEENTH DAY COMMEMORATES JUNE 19, 1865, IN WHICH UNION GENERAL GORDON GRANGER ANNOUNCED THE END OF THE CIVIL WAR IN GALVESTON, TEXAS, FOLLOWING OVER TWO CENTURIES OF SLAVERY SINCE COLONIAL AMERICA, AND WHEREAS THOUSANDS OF ENSLAVED PEOPLE IN TEXAS WERE THE LAST TO LEARN OF THEIR LIBERATION, ENGAGED IN THE JUBILEE THAT BEGAN IN TEXAS AND SPREAD TO OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE NATION, AND WHEREAS JUNE 19, 1865 CALLED FOR THE END OF INSTITUTIONALIZED HUMAN CHATTEL SLAVERY, AND LATER ON DECEMBER 6, 1865, RATIFICATION OF THE 13TH AMENDMENT OFFICIALLY ABOLISHED SLAVERY IN THE UNITED STATES. WHEREAS, THE CITY OF CARLSBAD PROMOTES THE SIGNIFICANCE OF JUNETEENTH DAY TO HONOR AND REFLECT ON THE ESSENTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS, SYSTEMIC HARDSHIPS, AND ONGOING ACHIEVEMENTS THAT BLACK AND AFRICAN AMERICANS EXPERIENCE IN THE JOURNEY FOR TRUE, LIBERTY, JUSTICE, AND FREEDOM FOR ALL PEOPLE. NOW, THEREFORE, I, COUNCILMEMBER TERESA ACOSTA, ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 19, 2025 AS JUNETEENTH DAY. THEN WE'LL ASK YOU MISS MATTHEWS TO SAY A FEW WORDS AT THE PODIUM, WHERE YOUR PROCLAMATION CERTIFICATE IS. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS. THIS IS A GREAT ACKNOWLEDGMENT FOR US AS THE YOUTH AND THE COMMUNITY LEADERS IN ADVANCEMENT FOR [00:05:02] OUR COMMUNITY FOR VOICES TO BE HEARD AND FOR TO BE RECOGNIZED. I WORK WITH THE YOUTH, I WORK WITH THE STUDENT DEMAND ACTION YOUTH, MOMS DEMAND ACTION, AND I'M VERY PRO TO ALSO WORK WITH THE NAACP. THESE YOUTH IN COMMUNITY COME FROM ALL SCHOOLS. WE HAVE 11 SCHOOLS THAT WE'RE IN. WE HAVE BLACK STUDENT UNIONS IN THERE AND WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE OTHER CLUBS IN THE SCHOOL. WE'RE PROUD TO SAY THAT WE ARE AT SAGE CREEK, AND WE'RE ALSO PROUD TO SAY THAT WE WERE AT MIDDLE SCHOOL. I WANT TO SAY PACIFIC. IT'S NOT PACIFIC. VALLEY MIDDLE, I'M SORRY. I'M NOT THE LITTLE SISTER THAT I MAY APPEAR TO BE. [LAUGHTER] MY AGE IS DEFINITELY TELLING THE STORY. BUT WE ENJOY WORKING WITH THE YOUTH BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT JUST OUR FUTURE ANYMORE. THEY ARE OUR PRESENT LEADERS. THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THESE YOUTH FOR THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK AND CALL UPON US FOR ANYTHING AND WE'LL BE THERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE] >> I'M GOING TO ASK YOU GUYS TO ALL COME UP HERE FOR A GROUP PICTURE WITH US, PLEASE. [PUBLIC COMMENT] NEXT IS PUBLIC COMMENT. I HAVE TO READ THE FOLLOWING. THE BROWN ACT AND THE CITY'S MEETING RULES ALLOW MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA, AS LONG AS THE COMMENTS ARE REGARDING MATTERS WITHIN THE CITY COUNCIL SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY ALSO COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS, AS LONG AS THE COMMENTS RELATE TO THE QUESTION OR MATTER UNDER CONSIDERATION. INFORMATION ON HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETING IS ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THIS AGENDA. CITY COUNCIL RECEIVE NON AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR A TOTAL OF 15 MINUTES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING. CITY COUNCIL RECEIVE ANY ADDITIONAL NON AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THE END OF THE MEETING. IN CONFORMANCE WITH THE BROWN ACT, NO ACTION MAY OCCUR ON ANY NON AGENDA ITEMS. WHEN MAKING YOUR COMMENTS, PLEASE TREAT OTHERS WITH COURTESY, CIVILITY, AND RESPECT. 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 MAKE 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 CLERK WILL CALL YOUR NAME. PLEASE COME UP TO THE PODIUM. YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES. AT THE END OF TWO-AND-A-HALF MINUTES, THE LIGHT WILL TURN YELLOW GIVING YOU A NOTICE THAT YOU'RE DOWN TO 30 SECONDS. I'VE ASKED THE CLERK TO TURN OFF THE MICROPHONE AT THE CONCLUSION OF THREE MINUTES. THAT WAY EVERYBODY GETS EXACTLY THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME TO SPEAK. PLEASE CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER. >> GLENN BERNARD, FOLLOWED BY DON CHRISTIANSEN. >> IN MY NOTES FOR JUNETEENTH, I HAVE A BIG SMILEY FACE NEXT TO THAT WORD. I LIKE JUNETEENTH, AND I'M WILLING TO SAY TO ANYBODY AT ANY TIME THAT THE HISTORY OF BLACK AMERICA IS THE HISTORY OF AMERICA. NEXT ITEM HAS AN UNHAPPY FACE NEXT TO THE PHRASE PRIDE FLAG. I WANT TO COMPLIMENT THE OCEANSIDE CITY COUNCIL BECAUSE A FEW WEEKS AGO THEY [00:10:01] VOTED NOT TO PUT THAT FOREIGN FLAG ON DISPLAY AT THEIR CITY HALL. I ALSO WANT TO THANK UCSD FOR A DECISION RECENTLY TO BOYCOTT AND SECEDE FROM THE PRIDE CELEBRATION COMING UP TOO SOON OR EVER BECAUSE SOME OF THEIR LEADERS MADE HATEFUL REMARKS ABOUT JEWS, TOO MUCH OF THAT GOING ON ALL OVER THE WORLD, AND INCLUDING AMERICA. I REMEMBER ONCE UPON A TIME WHEN THERE WAS SOMETHING WONDERFUL TO THE NORTH AND SOMETHING WONDERFUL TO THE SOUTH, NEIGHBORING CITIES, THEY HAD MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSES. WE HAD TO COPY THEM, EVEN THOUGH WE HAD THREE OR FOUR PRIVATELY OWNED. WE HAD TO COPY THEM. I WOULD ASK, LET'S COPY CITY OF OCEANSIDE, UCSD AND GET AWAY FROM THAT FLAG. BY THE WAY, THE LS, THE GS, THE PS, THE TS, THE ONE THING THAT THEY ALL HAVE IN COMMON IS THEY THINK THAT THEIR LIVES CENTER AROUND THEIR CROTCH. I'M GOING TO CALL THAT FLAG BECAUSE I'M FREE TO THINK IT AND SAY IT, I'M GOING TO CALL IT THE CROTCH FLAG. I ENCOURAGE ANYBODY WHO LIKES IT, DO THE SAME. NOW, SHOULD THE MARINE CORPS FLAG BE UP ONE DAY A YEAR FOR ITS BIRTHDAY? MARINE CORPS FLAG? NO. THAT'S NOT THE FLAG WE FOUGHT FOR. SPEAKING ON MY BEHALF, THERE MIGHT BE PLENTY OF MARINES THAT DISAGREE WITH ME, BUT WE FOUGHT FOR THE AMERICAN FLAG. WE DON'T NEED OUR FLAG ANYWHERE ELSE.WE HAVE BEACH OUT HERE. THE POLLUTION FROM WAY DOWN SOUTH HASN'T MADE ITS WAY UP HERE YET. THAT A CONGRESSMAN RECENTLY SAY THAT IT'S AN ACT OF WAR FOR ONE COUNTRY TO POLLUTE THE NEIGHBORING COUNTRY. I PRESUME HE'S READING FROM FEDERAL LEGISLATION OR MAYBE A UN CHARTER. EVERYBODY SHOULD DECIDE, COULD THERE BE SUCH WORDS ON THE PLANET THAT SAY THAT THING IS AN ACT OF WAR? I THINK IT'S POSSIBLE. I DIDN'T DO ANY RESEARCH AFTER I HEARD THAT CONGRESSMAN SAY IT. WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT IT? WELL, I SAY, WHY NOT ANNEX BAJA? WHAT HAVE WE GOT TO LOSE? WE HAVE TO GAIN SOME CLEAN WATERS IN THE OCEAN, BETTER PLACE FOR THE MAMMALS IN THE OCEAN AND THE FISH TO LIVE. >> DON CHRISTIANSEN, FOLLOWED BY CHRISTIAN PEACOCK. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCIL, STAFF AND FELLOW CITIZENS. MY NAME IS DON CHRISTIANSEN. I LIVE AT 3715 LONGVIEW DRIVE IN CARLSBAD, AND I CONTINUE TO BE A DECENTRALIZED RENEWABLE ENERGY ADVOCATE. I'VE ATTENDED SEVERAL MEETINGS IN THE PAST WHERE A BALANCED BUDGET IN THE FUTURE IS A CONCERN, AND RIGHTFULLY SO. BUT THERE HAS BEEN, AMONG OTHER THINGS, A SOLUTION RAISING TAXES. I'M HERE TONIGHT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK AT OPTIONS INCLUDING SOLAR PROJECTS. MY PUBLIC COMMENT CARD TONIGHT, I FILLED OUT MOVING SOLAR FORWARD WAS MY TOPIC. OVER THE YEARS, WE'VE DISCUSSED THREE SEPARATE SOLAR POSSIBILITIES THAT COULD TURN NON PERFORMING ASSETS INTO A PERFORMING ASSET. ONE WITH SOLAR CANOPIES OVER CITY OWNED PARKING LOTS WITH BATTERY STORAGE AND EV CHARGING. ANOTHER IS MAERKLE RESERVOIR SOLAR FARM, 50 ACRES, MORE OR LESS, COSTING MONEY TO GROW THE WEEDS AND MAINTAIN THE PROPERTY, IT'S IDEALLY SUITED FOR SOLAR FARM. AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING OTHER THAN RAISE TAXES BY GENERATING REVENUE ON PROPERTY THE CITY ALREADY OWNS. NOW, THIRD, WHICH I THINK WOULD WARRANT A LOOK. MAYOR BLACKBURN WAS THE ONLY MEMBER ON CONSULATE AT THAT TIME SEVEN YEARS AGO. THERE WAS A AGENDA ITEM THAT DISCUSSED A MICRO GRID AT THE ORION SAFETY CENTER. NOW THINK ABOUT IT. THE CITY IS GETTING READY TO DROP $50 MILLION ON A NEW BUILDING AT THE ORION SAFETY CENTER. THEN WE HAVE A FEASIBILITY STUDY GOING ON WITH THE MAERKLE RESERVOIR. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY NEXUS THAT'S EVEN BEEN CONSIDERED. I HOPE THERE HAS BEEN, IF NOT, I WOULD ENCOURAGE THAT THERE WOULD BE BECAUSE THOSE ARE TWO MAJOR PROJECTS THAT HAVE A LOT OF POTENTIAL AND HAVE, SPEAKING OF POTENTIAL CAN'T HELP BUT THINK OF OUR COMMUNITY VISION, WHERE IT CLEARLY STATES UNDER THE SUSTAINABILITY PROVISION, THAT CARLSBAD'S GOAL, AMONG OTHER THINGS, IS TO EMERGE AS A LEADER IN ENERGY. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'RE SITTING ON $150 MILLION MORE OR LESS, THAT'S GENERATING A RETURN ON INVESTMENT OF 3.2%. [00:15:03] I WOULD SPECULATE EVEN WAGER THAT INVESTING IN THESE SOLAR PROJECTS WOULD INCREASE THAT RETURN ON INVESTMENT. I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE MUCH OF A STRETCH TO GET BETTER THAN A 3.2% RETURN ON INVESTMENT. PLUS HELP WITH THE CLIMATE AND RESILIENCY BACK TO THE ORION SAFETY CENTER, POLICE HEADQUARTERS, FIRE HEADQUARTERS. PERFECT LOCATION TO GO IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. RESILIENCY. KEY WORD. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. >> CHRISTIAN PEACOCK, FOLLOWED BY ROSANNE BENTLEY. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. MY NAME IS CHRISTIAN PEACOCK, SOME OF THE CITY TREASURER. I WANTED TO BRING EVERYONE'S ATTENTION TO THE VACANCY NOTICE THAT WAS JUST POSTED ON FRIDAY, JUNE 13TH. I'M PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE CITY OF CARLSBAD IS NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR FOUR OPEN POSITIONS ON OUR NEWLY ESTABLISHED INVESTMENT REVIEW BOARD. THIS ADVISORY BOARD PLAYS AN OVERSIGHT ROLE, HELPING ENSURE THAT THE CITY'S INVESTMENTS ARE TRANSPARENT, COMPLIANT WITH ALL APPLICABLE LAWS, AND MANAGED WITH PRUDENCE WHILE PROVIDING SUFFICIENT LIQUIDITY AND A RATE OF RETURN COMMENSURATE WITH THE AFOREMENTIONED OBJECTIVES. WHILE THE BOARD WILL NOT MAKE INVESTMENT DECISIONS DIRECTLY, IT WILL PROVIDE AN INDEPENDENT LAYER OF REVIEW AND ACCOUNTABILITY CONSISTENT WITH MY COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENCY AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. WE'RE SEEKING APPLICANTS WHO ARE RESIDENTS, REGISTERED VOTERS OF CARLSBAD, AND WHO BRING A STRONG BACKGROUND IN FINANCE, ACCOUNTING, ECONOMICS, OR PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION SO THAT CAN INCLUDE A RELEVANT DEGREE, PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE, OR FINANCIAL CERTIFICATIONS LIKE A CPA OR A CFA, OR A CMT, WHICH IS CERTIFIED MUNICIPAL TREASURER. THE INITIAL TERMS WILL BE EITHER THROUGH AUGUST OF '27 OR AUGUST OF 2029, AND THE BOARD MEETS QUARTERLY OR AS NEEDED HERE AT CITY HALL. MEMBERS MUST COMPLETE BASIC ETHICS TRAINING AND SUBMIT AN ANNUAL STATEMENT OF ECONOMIC INTEREST. APPLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE NOW ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE OR IN THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE. IF YOU GO ON THE CITY WEBSITE, THERE'S A SECTION UNDER BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, YOU EXPAND VACANCIES, AND THERE'S A LINK DIRECTLY TO THE INVESTMENT REVIEW BOARD NOTICE. THEN RIGHT UNDERNEATH THAT, THERE'S AN APPLICATION PORTAL, AND YOU CAN GO RIGHT THERE AND PUT IN YOUR CREDENTIALS AND THE INVESTMENT REVIEW BOARD THAT YOU WANT TO APPLY TO, AND IT'S VERY EASY. THE DEADLINE FOR THAT IS JULY 14TH, AND THEN I'LL BE NOMINATING SELECTED APPLICANTS AT A FUTURE CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR THE CITY COUNCIL'S APPROVAL. IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW HAS THE RIGHT BACKGROUND AND A PASSION TO SERVE, I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO APPLY. THAT WAS IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> ROSANNE BENTLEY, FOLLOWED BY LINDA DANIELS. >> FIRST, I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY, INCLUDING THE CARLSBAD POLICE DEPARTMENT, FOR THE GIGANTIC AND PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION ON SATURDAY. THE POSITIVE ENERGY, A THOUSANDS OF US, WERE SO POWERFUL, AND IT WAS PEACEFUL EXACTLY HOW IT SHOULD BE. SECONDLY, I'D LIKE TO THANK MAYOR BLACKBURN FOR QUICKLY RESPONDING TO MY NEIGHBORS REGARDING AN UNEXPECTED WATER SHUT-OFF LAST WEEK. HE GOT RIGHT ON IT, AND IT WAS APPRECIATED BY MY ENTIRE STREET. THIRDLY, I WASN'T SURE WHERE TO PUT THIS COMMENT, BUT ARE WE GOING TO SEE A CREDIT ON OUR WATER BILL FOR THE ENTIRE DAY AND OR MULTIPLE DAYS THAT THE CITY TURNS OFF OUR WATER? HOW ARE WE GOING TO BE MADE WHOLE FOR THIS INCONVENIENCE? I FEEL IT'S INCUMBENT UPON THE CITY TO PROVIDE US WITH POTABLE WATER DURING THESE OUTAGES AND NOT JUST A NOTICE ON THE DOOR THAT TELLS US THAT WE NEED TO GATHER OUR WATER TOGETHER FOR THE DAY. WITH THE EGREGIOUS WATER RATE INCREASES THAT ARE COMING UP STARTING IN JULY, I REALLY THINK THAT WE SHOULD SEE SOMETHING ON OUR WATER BILL THAT REFLECTS THE FACT THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY WATER BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 8:00 AM AND 5:00 PM. THAT IS IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> MISS BENTLEY. AMANDA IS GOING TO STAND RIGHT THERE. [00:20:01] WOULD YOU PLEASE TALK TO HER ABOUT THAT? SHE'S IN CHARGE OF OUR WATER. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> OUR FIFTH SPEAKER IS LINDA DANIELS. >> HI, IT'S ME AGAIN. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR BLACKBURN, AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'VE LIVED IN CARLSBAD FOR 12 YEARS AND I AM ADVOCATE FOR A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT FOR THE RESIDENTS AND FOR THE CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY HERE IN CARLSBAD. I REPRESENT CARLSBAD ON THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR THE CEA AND ON THE COMMITTEE FOR SCHOOLS ON THE SAN DIEGO BUILDING ELECTRIFICATION COALITION. THE CARLSBAD CITY COUNCIL, YOU GUYS, DID NOT WANT TO PASS AN ORDINANCE TO REQUIRE NO IDLING OF SCHOOL DROP-OFFS AND PICKUPS, AS THE POLICE DIDN'T WANT TO HURT THEIR COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS. I'M ASKING THE BOARD ON BEHALF OF THE CHILDREN IN CARLSBAD THAT WE PUT UP SIGNS ASKING PARENTS TO STOP IDLING WHILE WAITING FOR THEIR CHILDREN TO COME OUT OF SCHOOL, AND WHEN THEY GET IN LINE TO DROP THEM OFF. THE CITY HAS GREAT SIGNS. I LEFT ONE ON BACK HERE. YOU DO WONDERFUL SIGNS. YOU DO SLOW DOWN CARLSBAD. YOU DO CARLSBAD CONSERVES. WE COULD PUT A SIGN LIKE THAT UP AT ALL THE SCHOOLS, ASKING PEOPLE TO BE CONSIDERATE. THERE ARE LOTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS YOU COULD SAY ON THE SIGN. PLEASE CONSIDER TURNING YOUR ENGINE OFF WHILE WAITING BECAUSE IT TAKES LESS GAS TO TURN IT ON AND OFF AN IDLING, AND WILL MAKE THE AIR CLEANER AND HEALTHIER FOR OUR STUDENTS, OR HELP MAKE CARLSBAD AIR HEALTHY, OR SOMEBODY SAYS, THINK ABOUT IT. NO IDLING WHILE WAITING. HELP KEEP OUR AIR AND CARLSBAD HEALTHIER. TURN OFF ENGINES WHILE WAITING. THOSE ARE SIGNS THAT WE WERE THINKING ABOUT, WE THROW AROUND, AND I'M TALKING TO THE CUSD ABOUT THIS AS WELL, CARLSBAD UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND I LET THEM KNOW. I'M GOING TO LET YOU KNOW THAT IDLING PRODUCES EMISSIONS THAT CONTAIN CARBON DIOXIDE, NITROGEN OXIDES, PARTICULATE MATTERS, AND VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS, EXPOSURE TO WHICH CAN CAUSE RESPIRATORY DISTRESS, AND ASTHMA, AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE, AND INCREASE THE RISK OF CANCER. ONE GALLON OF FUEL BURNED IS EQUAL TO 20 POUNDS OF TAILPIPE CARBON. LET'S KEEP OUR CHILDREN HEALTHY. STOP IDLING IN SCHOOL DROP-OFF AND PICK-UPS. HELP ME DO THIS. THANK YOU. >> THAT'S FIVE SPEAKERS, MAYOR. >> THANK YOU. WE DO HAVE MORE SPEAKERS, IS THAT CORRECT? >> WE HAVE TWO. >> THE REST WILL BE HEARD AT THE END OF THE COUNCIL MEETING. NEXT IS THE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH 11. [CONSENT CALENDAR] I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE A SPEAKER ON ONE OF THEM. >> WE DO NUMBER 7, SCOTT GUNDERT. >> ITEM 7. >> WHICH ITEM ARE YOU SPEAKING ON? >> NUMBER 7. >> WILL I SPEAK NOW? >> NUMBER 7. >> SPEAKING ON ITEM NUMBER 7. THAT'S THE STREET SWEEPER ONE? >> CORRECT. >> OKAY. PLEASE. >> THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TONIGHT. I'M OPPOSING THE STREET SWEEPING CONTRACT, NOT THE CONTRACT ITSELF, BUT THE START DATE. THE STAFF REPORT SAYS THAT THEY'RE RECOMMENDING THE START DATE OF JULY 1ST, 2025, TO ALIGN WITH THE ELKA HONE CONTRACT THAT THEY'RE PIGGYBACKING OFF OF, INSTEAD OF LETTING OUR EXISTING CONTRACT GO TO THE END OF THE TERM, WHICH IS OCTOBER 13, 2025. IT SEEMS TO INDICATE TO ME THAT THE STAFF FEELS THAT YOU NEED TO HAVE THE SAME TIME FRAME OF SERVICE TO PIGGYBACK OFF A CONTRACT. THERE'S NO OTHER REASON LISTED IN THE STAFF REPORT FOR THIS. THE STAFF REPORT ALSO DOES NOT SHOW A COST ASSOCIATED WITH CANCELING THE EXISTING CONTRACT 3.5 MONTHS AHEAD OF TIME FOR WHAT IS A SUBSTANTIALLY MORE EXPENSIVE NEW CONTRACT. I THINK THAT INFORMATION WOULD BE VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER. I DID A GOOGLE AI SEARCH. IN CALIFORNIA, PIGGYBACKING CONTRACT SHOULD HAVE SUBSTANTIAL SIMILARITY IN TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT. NO EXACT. IN 2019, REDLANDS CONTRACTED WITH CANNON PACIFIC STREET SWEEPING, WHICH IS NOW SCA, THE SAME CONTRACTOR THAT CARLSBAD USES. THAT CONTRACT TOOK EFFECT OCTOBER 15, 2019. LESS THAN A YEAR LATER, SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO PIGGYBACKED OFF THAT EXACT SAME CONTRACT. BUT WHEN THEY PIGGYBACKED OFF IT, THEIR CONTRACT STARTED JULY 1ST, 2020. NINE MONTHS LATER, 3.5 MONTHS DIFFERENT THAN THE START DATE FOR THE NEXT YEAR. YOU CAN PIGGYBACK FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, AND THAT DEMONSTRATES YOU CAN PIGGYBACK OFF A CONTRACT AND NOT HAVE TO HAVE THE EXACT SAME SERVICE DATE. ALSO, THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT FOR THE REDLANDS IS A THREE-YEAR CONTRACT. THE SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO WAS A SIX YEARS CONTRACT. NOT THAT IT MATTERS, BUT OUR CURRENT CONTRACT IS [00:25:02] ALSO PIGGYBACKED OFF THAT REDLANDS CONTRACT FOR 2019. MY POINT IS, AND ONE OTHER THING IS, WHEN THE CONTRACT WAS SIGNED FOR ELKA HONE, WHO WE'RE TRYING TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF. THE START DATE WAS JULY 1ST, 2024, BUT THE ACTUAL CONTRACT WASN'T EVEN SIGNED TO TWO MONTHS LATER IN SEPTEMBER. I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WORKS SO THAT YOU CAN RETROACTIVELY HAVE THEM SERVICING YOU WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE A CONTRACT WITH YOU. BUT SUPPOSEDLY, THERE'S SOME TYPE OF 12-MONTH LIMITATION TO PIGGYBACK. IT'S NOT A STRICT LIMITATION. BUT EVEN IF IT WAS STRICT, THE CONTRACT WAS SIGNED IN SEPTEMBER 6, 2024, SO CARLSBAD WOULD HAVE ANOTHER FEW MONTHS TO SIGN THEIR CONTRACT. THE CURRENT RATE FOR CARLSBAD STREET SWEEPING IS $25.39 PER RESIDENTIAL CURB MILE. IT'S GOING TO MORE THAN DOUBLE THE $52 PER CURB MILE, WHICH WILL MAKE IT $163,000 MORE IN STREET SWEEPING FOR [INAUDIBLE]. >> IS HE THE ONLY SPEAKER ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR? >> YES. >> THANK YOU. I UNDERSTAND. MISS BURKHOLDER, YOU WANTED TO SPEAK ON ONE OF THE ITEMS? >> YES. I DON'T NEED TO PULL THE ITEM, BUT ALSO ON ITEM 7, I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT OVER THE COURSE OF MY LAST THREE YEARS, SEVERAL RESIDENTS HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME PERIODICALLY, INDICATING THAT THEIR STREETS HAVEN'T BEEN SWEPT ON A REGULAR SCHEDULE AND THAT SOME OF THEM REALLY DESPERATELY NEED IT. WHETHER THAT IS AN ENFORCEMENT ISSUE OF CARS ARE WHERE THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE OR IF THEY'RE JUST THINKING THEY'LL COME BACK AND DO IT, AND THEY DON'T. I HOPE THAT STAFF WILL PAY A LITTLE CLOSER ATTENTION. I NOTICE ALSO THE OTHER CITIES IN CONTRACT WITH THE SAME COMPANY HAVE A PUBLIC-FACING ABILITY TO CONTACT THEM DIRECTLY. APPARENTLY, WE DO NOT HAVE THAT ABILITY, SO EVERYBODY CALLS ME, WHICH IS FINE. WE WANT TO GET THE STREET SWEPT, AND SO HOPEFULLY, STAFF WILL PAY A LITTLE BIT OF ATTENTION TO THAT, SO WE CAN CLEAN UP DOWNTOWN. THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WANT TO PULL OR COMMENT ON ANY OF THE ITEMS? MS. BHAT PATEL. >> YES. MOVE CONSENT ITEMS. >> SECOND. >> PLEASE VOTE. CONSENT CALENDAR PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. [12. AMENDING CHAPTER 2.15 AND REPLACING CHAPTER 2.34 ESTABLISHING THE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION] ITEM NUMBER 12 OF CITY MANAGER. >> THANK YOU. ITEM 12 IS AN ORDINANCE FOR INTRODUCTION. IT'S AMENDING CHAPTER 2.15 AND REPLACING CHAPTER 2.34, ESTABLISHING THE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION, AND TO GIVE US A BRIEF PRESENTATION IS OUR ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY DIRECTOR, JAMIE WOOD. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. LET ME GET THE SCREEN OUT. SCREEN NO. THERE IT IS. I DO HAVE A SHORT PRESENTATION THAT I CAN GO THROUGH RELATED TO THIS, IF YOU WOULD LIKE. IT IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE ONE THAT WE DID ON APRIL 22ND. THIS IS JUST CODIFYING THE MUNICIPAL CODE CHANGES TO UPDATE THIS FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION IF YOU WOULD LIKE, WE CAN GO THROUGH IT OR YOU CAN JUST DO [INAUDIBLE]. >> ANY OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS CHOOSE TO HAVE A PRESENTATION. >> OKAY. >> GOT OFF EASY TONIGHT. HOW ABOUT A MOTION? WE HAVE SPEAKERS. THANK YOU. >> [INAUDIBLE] GOOD EVENING, MAYOR BLACKBURN, MAYOR PRO TEM. BHAT PATEL. I'M SORRY TO MESS UP YOUR NAME AND EVERYONE ELSE ON THE CITY COUNCIL AND STAFF. I AM WITH THE CARLSBAD SIERRA CLUB FOR MORE THAN FIVE YEARS. WE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION. WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR STAFF, AND THAT THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN, THAT WE WILL HAVE AN ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT WILL BE A ROLLOVER OF THE BEACH PRESERVATION COMMISSION, AND IT WILL ALSO INCLUDE BEACH PRESERVATION ISSUES, WHICH ARE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES. ALSO, PRESERVATION OF OPEN SPACE. SO IT IS A LOT OF AREA TO COVER AND I JUST THINK THAT THIS MISSION FOR THE BEACH PRESERVATION WELL ALIGNS WITH WHAT ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY IS, AND THAT THE CARLSBAD SIERRA CLUB WHO ALSO WORKED ON THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN IN TERMS OF GIVING RECOMMENDATIONS AND SUPPORTING [00:30:04] SPECIFIC ITEMS IN THERE IS LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING PART OF THE COMMUNITY EFFORTS TO BRING IT FORWARD AND CONTINUE THOSE. THANK YOU. >> KATHLEEN STENDAL BERGER FOLLOWED BY PAIGE DASINO. >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS KATHLEEN STENDAL BERGER, AND I AM A FORMER MEMBER OF THE BEACH PRESERVATION COMMISSION I WAS ON FOR SIX YEARS. I BELIEVE. I AM VERY HAPPY THAT YOU ARE DOING THE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION. I THINK THAT'S GREAT. I'M REALLY GLAD THAT WE'LL HAVE EYES ON ALL THESE AREAS. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE INCLUDING OPEN SPACE, THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN, ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY, AND BEACH PRESERVATION. YOU'RE INCREASING THE SCOPE OF WHAT THE PURVIEW OF THE COMMISSION BY ABOUT, I DON'T KNOW, 75%, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. MY CONCERN IS THAT WE'RE STILL HAVING THEM MEET ONLY EVERY OTHER MONTH. THAT WAS A DIFFICULT THING THAT WE HAD ON OUR BEACH PRESERVATION COMMISSION BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES, MAYBE THERE WASN'T A QUORUM, AND SO WE WOULDN'T MEET FOR FOUR MONTHS. THIS IS ACTUALLY IT'S A HUGE SCOPE. IT'S A BIG PURVIEW, AND I WOULD HATE TO SEE FOUR MONTHS GOING BY WITHOUT ANY OF THE COMMISSION MEETING. THAT'S MY COMMENT ON THAT. I REALLY THINK ONCE A MONTH WOULD BE GREAT. I THINK A LOT OF THE OTHER COMMISSIONS MEET ONCE A MONTH AND THEY PROBABLY HAVE LESS OF A SCOPE THAN THIS COMMISSION WILL HAVE. THERE'S ALSO SOME THINGS LIKE THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN, THERE'S THE HABITAT MANAGEMENT PLAN, THERE'S MANY OTHER AREAS INCLUDING WASTE MANAGEMENT AND OTHER THINGS THAT I REALLY THINK ARE GREAT, AND I'M SO HAPPY THAT'S GOING TO BE HAPPENING. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE, I KNOW SOME OTHER CITIES DO, WHERE THEY HAVE A COUPLE OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE A BACKGROUND IN SOME OF THESE AREAS, BECAUSE IT REQUIRES A LOT OF STUDY, A LOT OF READING TO READ THE COASTAL ACT. THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS TO READ AND GET INFORMED OF. IT'S ON THE COMMISSION MEMBERS TO INFORM THEMSELVES. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE INFORM OR EDUCATION FOR ALL. I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GREAT THING I'D LIKE TO SEE TOO. AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR MOVING THIS FORWARD. I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR COMING. >> PAIGE DASINO. >> HELLO, MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M PAIGE DASINO. I JUST WANT TO REITERATE WHAT THE LAST SPEAKER SAID. WE ARE THRILLED THAT WE'RE ROLLING THIS OVER IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION, BUT KEEP IN MIND THAT IT IS GOING TO ENTAIL A LOT OF WORK. THANK YOU FOR APPROVING THIS. I WANT TO THANK IN ABSTENTIA, COUNCILMEMBER LUNA, WHO ACTUALLY PROPOSES THE END OF HER TERM, AND WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN. THANKS. >> ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS. >> IS THAT THE CONCLUSION OF THE SPEAKERS? THANK YOU. ANY COMMENTS? MISS BURKHOLDER. DO YOU HAVE COMMENTS? OR DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? OH, A QUESTION FIRST. I'M SORRY. >> THANK YOU. JUST ONE QUESTION BASED ON WHAT THE SPEAKER WAS SAYING WITH REGARDS TO THE FREQUENCY OF THE MEETINGS. I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF WE COULD RESPOND TO THAT IN TERMS OF WOULD WE HAVE ENOUGH STAFFING, I'M GUESSING IT'S A STAFFING PIECE TOO AND THEN OBVIOUSLY ASSOCIATED BUDGET RELATED COSTS AROUND THAT. I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF YOU COULD ANSWER SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS. >> SURE. THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. OUR INTENT WOULD BE WE WERE GOING TO STICK WITH THE SCHEDULE THAT THE BEACH PRESERVATION HAD ADOPTED FOR THE YEAR. ONCE WE START THE FIRST MEETING WOULD BE THE AUGUST 7TH MEETING IF ADOPTED TONIGHT AND NEXT WEEK. THEN WE WOULD BEGIN WORKING ON THE WORK PLAN FOR THE COMMISSION AND THEN BASED ON THAT WORK PLAN, WE WOULD THEN LOOK AT, IF ANY CHANGES NEEDED TO BE MADE, AND WORK WITH THE CITY MANAGER FOR RELATED TO THAT. I THINK THE FIRST THING WOULD BE TO JUST STICK WITH THE THREE ADDITIONAL MEETINGS THIS YEAR THAT ARE ALREADY ON THE SCHEDULE, AND THAT IS WHAT THE COMMISSIONERS HAD ALREADY PLANNED FOR FOR THIS YEAR, AND THEN IF CHANGES NEED TO BE MADE, WE'D BE WORKING WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND THOSE COMMISSIONERS TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES IF NECESSARY. >> MAY I ASK A FOLLOW UP TO THAT. IF FOR INSTANCE, DURING THAT WORK PLAN, AS THE COMMISSIONERS ARE HASHING IT OUT, AND THEY FELT IN CONJUNCTION WITH STAFF, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THERE WILL BE A NECESSITY TO MOVE TO MONTHLY MEETINGS. THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO POTENTIALLY DO THAT. I GUESS I DON'T KNOW IF I SHOULD ASK YOU THAT OR ASK THE CITY MANAGER, BUT I'M HAPPY TO ASK OF EITHER OF YOU. >> JAMIE ANSWERED EXACTLY HOW I WOULD ANSWER THE QUESTION SO NICE JOB, JAMIE. [00:35:03] IN ADDITION, WE ALSO HAVE THE ABILITY TO HOLD SPECIAL MEETINGS FROM TIME TO TIME IF THERE'S A NUMBER OF ITEMS ON THE AGENDA THAT ONCE THEY PUT THEIR WORK PLAN TOGETHER, IF WE HAVE TO HOLD FROM TIME TO TIME OUTSIDE OF OUR REGULAR SCHEDULE TOO, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO REALLY KNOW WHAT THE WORKLOAD IS FOR THE COMMISSION UNTIL THEY PUT A WORK PLAN TOGETHER. WE MAY HAVE TO REVISIT THIS ONCE WE HAVE A BETTER IDEA, AND COUNCIL, OF COURSE, WILL APPROVE THE WORK PLAN, AND WE COULD ASK THAT QUESTION AT THAT TIME TOO. >> JUST TO CLARIFY, THAT WOULD MEAN THE FREQUENCY OF THE MEETINGS OUTSIDE OF JUST SPECIAL MEETINGS THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY LOOK AT. GREAT. THANK YOU. THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS. >> MISS BURKHOLDER COMMENTS. >> THANK YOU. YES. I REMEMBER THE NIGHT, FORMER COUNCILWOMAN LUNA PROPOSED THIS BECAUSE I WAS SITTING HERE SAYING, WE NEED TO HAVE SOME A THING AND THEN SHE HAD IT PREPARED. I WAS SUPER EXCITED ABOUT IT BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE TAKEN ANOTHER WEEK OR TWO TO THINK ON IT. GOOD WORK, JAMIE, FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE WORK PLANNING AND HOW IT WILL COME TO FRUITION. >> MRS. ACOSTA. >> THANK YOU. I'M SO HAPPY THAT THIS IS MOVING FORWARD. IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN A LOT LONGER THAN THAT THAT THE COUNCIL HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT AN ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION. IN FACT, THERE WAS A TIME WHEN I WAS FIRST ELECTED THAT I HAD TALKED WITH PEOPLE ABOUT IT. I MADE THE MOTION AND IT FAILED. I WAS GLAD THAT THIS TIME IT PASSED, AND WE ARE NOW SEEING THIS COMMISSION BEING STOOD UP. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO WORKED ON PUTTING THIS TOGETHER AND CREATING AN EASY TRANSITION. THIS IS VERY EXCITING, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING WITH THE COMMISSION. I KNOW THE LEGISLATIVE SUBCOMMITTEE IS GOING TO GO OUT AND MEET WITH ALL THE COMMISSIONS, AND I'VE GOT THIS ONE ON THE CALENDAR, SO THANK YOU. >> MISS BHAT PATEL. >> YES. THANK YOU. IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE EVEN PRIOR TO THAT, A FORMER COUNCILMEMBER AND MYSELF HAD ALSO DONE THE SAME THING AND IT HAD FAILED AT THAT TIME, TOO. I KNOW YOU HAD BROUGHT IT FORWARD AND FAILED AT THAT TIME, BUT I'M SO GLAD THAT WE'RE HERE BECAUSE I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE BEEN PERSISTENT AND WE'RE SO THANKFUL FOR THAT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY EXCITING TO SEE IT COME TO FRUITION AND JUST BE ABLE TO WORK ON SOME GREAT THINGS TOGETHER SO LOOKING FORWARD TO IT AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE ON THIS. >> ANY OTHER COMMENTS? MOTION, PLEASE? >> YEAH. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE ORDINANCE. >> SECOND. >> PLEASE VOTE. PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. [13. ORDINANCE NO. CS-495 – FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES] ITEM NUMBER 13. ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS VOTE ON THAT, IS THAT CORRECT? >> CORRECT. >> MOTION, PLEASE. >> MOVE ADOPTION OF THE ORDINANCE. >> SECOND. >> PLEASE VOTE. >> MAYOR, FOR THE RECORD, THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS FOR THIS ITEM. >> THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ITEM 15 OUT OF ORDER. [15. OPTIONS FOR THE KELLY DRIVE AND PARK DRIVE COMPLETE STREET IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT] WE'RE GOING TO DO NUMBER 15 NEXT. ITEM NUMBER 15, CITY MANAGER. >> THANK YOU. ITEM 15 IS OPTIONS FOR THE KELLY DRIVE AND PARK DRIVE COMPLETE STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECT AND TO GIVE THE PRESENTATION, IS TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR TOM FRANK. >> THANK YOU, SIR. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS TOM FRANK, THE TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR AND CITY ENGINEER. TONIGHT, I'LL BE COVERING THE STREET IMPROVEMENT OPTIONS FOR KELLY DRIVE AND PARK DRIVE STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. THERE ARE THREE OPTIONS FOR CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER. ONE, CONFIRM THE EXISTING PROJECT SCOPE WITH ROUNDABOUTS AT KELLY AND HILLSIDE AND KELLY AND PARK. TWO, DIRECT STAFF TO DEVELOP ALTERNATE OPTIONS THAT DO NOT INCLUDE ROUNDABOUTS AND PRESENT THOSE TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR CITY COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION AT A FUTURE MEETING. IN ADDITION TO THOSE OPTIONS, WE ARE ALSO ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER A NEAR TERM IMPROVEMENTS, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE REMOVING THE INTERIM TRAFFIC CIRCLES, UPDATING THE STRIPING AND ADDING ALWAYS STOPS AT KELLY DRIVE AT THE INTERSECTIONS OF HILLSIDE AND PARK. UNDER CARLSBADS MOBILITY ELEMENT OF THE GENERAL PLAN, THE CITY IS WORKING TO DESIGN ROADS THAT PRIORITIZE SAFETY FOR EVERYBODY WHO USES THEM, WHETHER THEY'RE DRIVING, WALKING OR BIKING. AS A PART OF THIS EFFORT, IMPROVEMENTS ARE PLANNED AROUND KELLY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, ALONG KELLY DRIVE, FROM EL CAMINO REAL TO PARK DRIVE, AND ALONG PARK DRIVE FROM KELLY DRIVE TO NEBLINA DRIVE. I'LL BRIEFLY REVIEW SOME OF THE PROJECT HISTORY FOR CONTEXT BEFORE I GET INTO MORE DETAIL ABOUT THE OPTIONS PRESENTED TO YOU TONIGHT. IN 2017, THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR THE DESIGN AND THE PERMITTING PHASE OF THIS PROJECT. [00:40:02] SINCE THEN, THE CITY'S GATHERED FEEDBACK FROM NEIGHBORS AND THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY. WE'VE RECEIVED INPUT FROM THE TRAFFIC MOBILITY COMMISSION IN 2021, AND THEN IN 2022, WE ASKED THE COMMUNITY TO SHARE ADDITIONAL INPUT ON THE DESIGN OPTIONS, GATHERING MORE THAN 200 SURVEY RESPONSES, AND HOLDING A PUBLIC MEETING WITH THE NEIGHBORS AND THE MEETINGS WITH SCHOOL. WE RETURNED TO THE TRAFFIC MOBILITY COMMISSION TO PRESENT OUR RECOMMENDED PROJECT DESIGN IN DECEMBER OF 2022. IN AUGUST OF 2023, THE CITY COUNCIL ASKED STAFF TO RETURN FOR A FULL DISCUSSION ON THE PROJECT'S DESIGN AT A FUTURE MEETING. MOST RECENTLY, ON MAY 20 OF THIS YEAR, THE CITY COUNCIL ASKED STAFF TO RETURN WITH OPTIONS FOR THE PROJECT'S FUTURE. TO NOTIFY THE COMMUNITY ABOUT TONIGHT'S MEETING, WE MAILED LETTERS TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AROUND THE PROJECT AREA AND SENT MULTIPLE EMAILS TO THE PROJECTS INTEREST LIST. TO HIGHLIGHT THE WORK COMPLETED TO DATE, THERE HAS BEEN EXTENSIVE PUBLIC OUTREACH EFFORTS, INCLUDING MULTIPLE MEETINGS WITH THE SCHOOLS, PTA, AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE PROJECT ALSO INCLUDED PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TO DELIVER PRELIMINARY DESIGNS, SUPPORTING STUDIES AND CONSTRUCTION PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE DESIGN THAT WERE DEVELOPED OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS. THE PUBLIC INPUT PROCESS IS IMPERATIVE IN DELIVERING A DESIGN THAT THE COMMUNITY WILL EMBRACE, AND IT ALSO HELPS IDENTIFY POTENTIAL DESIGN ISSUES. AS AN EXAMPLE IN THE 2019 2020 TIME FRAME, THE PROJECT CONCEPTS INCLUDE PROTECTED BIKE LANES. DURING STAFF'S EVALUATION, WE IDENTIFIED CHALLENGES WITH THE PROTECTED BIKE LANES AND RECOMMENDED SWITCHING TO THE BUFFERED BIKE LANE, WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH OUR CURRENT STRIPING GUIDELINES. AS A RESULT, THE DESIGN IS AVOIDING THE POTENTIAL CHALLENGES OTHER NEARBY CITIES ARE EXPERIENCING WITH THEIR RECENTLY CONSTRUCTED PROTECTED BIKE LANES. NOW, I'LL GIVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE OPTIONS BEFORE YOU TONIGHT. THE FIRST OPTION IS TO CONFIRM THE PROJECT AS DESIGN, AND IT INCLUDES TWO ROUNDABOUTS AT KELLY AND HILLSIDE DRIVE AND KELLY AND PARK DRIVES, IT ALSO INCLUDES NEW BUFFERED BIKE LANES ALONG WITH OTHER PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS. OPTION 2 IS TO ASK STAFF TO DEVELOP ALTERNATE CONCEPTS THAT DO NOT INCLUDE ROUNDABOUTS, BUT STILL ADDRESS THE RESIDENT CONCERNS WITH SAFETY AND CONNECTIVITY. IN ADDITION TO SELECTING ONE OF THOSE TWO OPTIONS, AS I JUST REVIEWED, WE ARE ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER THE NEAR TERM IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDED IN OPTION 3. YOU SEE HERE A GRAPHIC DEPICTING THE EXISTING CONDITIONS ON KELLY DRIVE BETWEEN HILLSIDE AND PARK. YOU SEE THE CURRENT INTERIM TRAFFIC CIRCLES AT THE INTERSECTIONS AND THE ASSOCIATED STRIPING. WE ARE PROPOSING TO REMOVE THE EXISTING YELLOW CERAMIC DOMES AT THE INTERSECTIONS. ADD ALWAYS STOPS ON KELLY DRIVE AT THE INTERSECTIONS WITH PARK AND HILLSIDE. WE ADD ENHANCED PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS AND REPAVE AND RES STRIPE THE INTERSECTIONS OF THE STREET TO THE CURRENT CITY STANDARDS. IF YOU DECIDE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS NEAR TERM SOLUTION, WE WILL ISSUE A CHANGE ORDER AND TRANSFER FUNDS TO COMPLETE THE WORK THIS SUMMER WHILE SCHOOL IS OUT OF SESSION. REGARDING THE LONGER TERM OPTIONS, IF OPTION 1 IS SELECTED, WE WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT AS DESIGNED AND RETURN TO A FUTURE CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO SEEK APPROVAL ON A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR FINAL DESIGN. IF OPTION 2 IS SELECTED, WE WILL DEVELOP ALTERNATE CONCEPTS FOR THE PROJECT THAT DO NOT INCLUDE ROUNDABOUTS AND PRESENT THOSE CONCEPTS TO YOU FOR CONSIDERATION AT A FUTURE MEETING. WITH THAT, HERE ARE THE RECOMMENDED ACTIONS AGAIN FOR REFERENCE, AND I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. >> YOU HAVE SPEAKERS? PLEASE CALL SPEAKERS. >> ROSANNE BENTLEY, FOLLOWED BY KEVIN FISHER. >> ROSANNE BENTLEY, SORRY. FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT IS CATEGORICALLY UNTRUE. NOT ONE SINGLE TIME, DID ANYBODY CONTACT ME IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM TO GIVE MY INPUT ON MY ROUNDABOUT, MY BUMPS. I'M ON HILLSIDE. NOBODY HAS EVER CONTACTED ME IN THE 40 YEARS THAT I'VE LIVED THERE. [00:45:04] YOU DID NOT DO PUBLIC OUTREACH. AT LEAST NOT TO MY HOUSE. DO NOT SAY THAT YOU DID. I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY, OUR MONEY, CARLSBAD IS WASTED ON THE POORLY DESIGNED ROUNDABOUT AT KELLY AND HILLSIDE, WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN ENTIRELY UNSAFE AND NOT FUNCTIONAL FOR THE LOCATION. CD CREW IS PRESENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF REMOVING THOSE HIDEOUS YELLOW CAPS. CAN YOU TELL ME HOW MUCH OF OUR TAXES FUNDED THAT? IF I RECALL CORRECTLY FROM THOSE 40 YEARS THAT I'VE LIVED HERE, AT ONE TIME, THERE WAS A FOUR WAY STOP THERE, OR THERE WERE SOME STOP SIGNS, WHICH THE CITY REMOVED TO INSTALL THAT INCREDIBLY AWKWARD AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ROUNDABOUT. THAT WAS A CLEAR WASTE OF OUR MONEY. DON'T YOU AGREE? I DO. IF I WAS UNFORTUNATE ENOUGH TO LIVE AT THE HOUSE CLOSEST TO THE NOISY YELLOW CIRCLE ON KELLY, I'D HAVE TAKEN LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THE CITY ALREADY. WHO IN THE RIGHT MIND WOULD HAVE KNOWINGLY CREATED SUCH A DANGEROUS SITUATION. EVERY TIME I DRIVE BY HIS HOUSE, I FEEL SO BADLY FOR THE RESIDENTS. REGARDING THE OTHER HUMPS, BUMPS ROUNDABOUT ON HILLSIDE, I'LL SHARE MY OBSERVATIONS BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT NONE OF YOU ACTUALLY LIVE THERE. HERE'S WHAT HAPPENS AND WHAT WE ENDURE ON A DAILY BASIS. EITHER THE HUMPS BUMPS DON'T SLOW THE VEHICLES DOWN AT ALL, OR IF IT DOES, IT SLOWS THEM DOWN, AND THEN THEY MAKE UP FOR THE INCONVENIENCE BY AGGRESSIVELY SPEEDING UP TO THE NEXT ONE. SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE YEARS THAT I HAVEN'T BEEN OUTREACHED, I SUGGESTED LOOKING AT THE ROUNDABOUTS IN BALLARD, WASHINGTON, WHICH IS A SUBURB OF SEATTLE. SIMILAR SIZE, SIMILAR DEMOGRAPHICS. THEIR ROUNDABOUTS ARE EFFECTIVE, FUNCTIONAL AND NOT AN EYESORE. THEY'RE AN ASSET TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND YES, EMERGENCY VEHICLES HAVE NO PROBLEM NAVIGATING AROUND THEM. REGARDING THE ONGOING SPEEDING AND VANDALISM IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, IT'S REALLY GETTING OUT OF CONTROL. TIRES ARE SLASHED, NIGHT AND DAY E BIKE AND VEHICLES SPEEDING UP AND DOWN HILLSIDE, AND KELLY, AND THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANY ACCOUNTABILITY. THESE SPEED HUMPS BUMPS ARE MERELY ANNOYING AND NOT A SOLUTION. AGAIN, I IMPLORE YOU TO INCLUDE THE COMMUNITY WITH THESE KIND OF DECISIONS. I'M PRETTY EASY TO FIND, SO YOU CAN CONTACT ME. THANK YOU. >> KEVIN FISHER, FOLLOWED BY HEATHER M'CIRE. >> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS KEVIN FISHER. THIS IS MY FIRST TIME PARTICIPATING IN A CITY COUNCIL MEETING, WHICH REFLECTS HOW MUCH I CARE ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I'M HONORED TO SPEAK BEFORE YOU AND HAVE TREMENDOUS RESPECT FOR ALL OF YOU GUYS THAT SERVE OUR CARLSBAD COMMUNITY. I LIVE DIRECTLY AT THE INTERSECTION. AT 4875 KELLY DRIVE RIGHT AT HILLSIDE AND KELLY. I WORK FROM HOME IN MY OFFICE FACES THE INTERSECTION. I HAVE THE DISTINCT PLEASURE OF WATCHING THE INTERSECTION FOR 8 HOURS A DAY. MY WIFE AND I ABSOLUTELY LOVE CARLSBAD. WE HAVE TWO YOUNG CHILDREN. WE MOVED HERE BECAUSE IT HAS A FAMILY FRIENDLY REPUTATION, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, IT'S LIVED UP TO THAT REPUTATION. I APPRECIATE EVERYONE THAT HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THAT. THERE IS ONE EXCEPTION AND IT'S THAT INTERSECTION. IT'S REALLY DANGEROUS. IT IS DANGEROUS FOR REASONS TWO FOLD. FIRST, THE SPEEDING IT'S REAL. THE FOLKS THAT COME OFF OF EL CAMINO AND TURN ON TO KELLY, THEY DON'T ADJUST FROM 55 MILES PER HOUR DOWN TO 25 MILES AN HOUR AND IT'S PRETTY AGGRESSIVE. WHEN I'M COMING HOME, I'M OFTEN TAILGATED BY THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME AND HONKED AT JUST TRYING TO PULL INTO MY DRIVEWAY. THEN OBVIOUSLY, THE ROUNDABOUT, YOU CAN ACTUALLY JUST GO STRAIGHT THROUGH IT PRETTY FAST AND SO THE SPEED ON KELLY, NO ONE SCHOOL BUT WHEN NON SCHOOL IS AROUND IS PRETTY ATROCIOUS. SECOND, THE ROUND BUMPS. THE DRIVERS TREAT THEM VERY INCONSISTENTLY. I'VE SEEN THE RIGHT AWAY ISN'T TO WHO ENTERS THE ROUNDABOUT FOR WHATEVER REASON, IT'S WHOEVER'S GOING FASTER. IT'S PRETTY DANGEROUS. I THINK THE SOLUTION IS FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD. IT'S AN ALL WAY STOP, WHICH WOULD REDUCE THE SPEED AND GIVE CLEAR RIGHT AWAY TO DRIVERS. [00:50:03] I WOULD MAKE IT SO THAT I CAN PULL OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY SAFELY WITH MY KIDS AND NOT FEAR IF THEY STEP INTO THE STREET THAT THEY COULD LOSE THEIR LIVES. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO CITY MANAGER JEFF FOR STOPPING BY OUR HOUSE. HONESTLY, YOU'VE RESPONDED TO MY E MAILS AS WELL AS I'VE DONE OUTREACH. I SENT IT TO THE MAYOR. I THINK HE FORWARDED IT TO YOU AND YOU RESPONDED WITH THE PLAN, SO. APPRECIATIVE THAT YOU GUYS ARE HEARING FROM THE PUBLIC, AND I APPRECIATE THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY, RESPONSIBLE PLANNING, AND I HOPE YOU TAKE THE VOICE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD INTO CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU. >> HEATHER M'CIRE, FOLLOWED BY GREG RODES. >> HI. MY NAME IS HEATHER M'CIRE, AND WE'VE ACTUALLY SPOKEN BEFORE BECAUSE I'VE BEEN ON SOME OF THE MEETINGS FOR THIS HORRIBLE INTERSECTION. I HAVE THREE CHILDREN. MY SON JUST ACTUALLY PROMOTED FROM KELLY, SO I PASSED YOUR HOUSE ALL THE TIME. UNFORTUNATELY, I COMPLETELY DO AGREE THAT THE CURRENT MODE DOES NOT WORK. I'M AN ADVOCATE ACTUALLY FOR ROUNDABOUTS. I'M GETTING MY MASTER'S ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY, AND I THINK THE PSYCHOLOGY OF ACTUALLY HAVING TREES IN THE ROUNDABOUT THAT I'D SEEN WOULD ACTUALLY HELP WITH POTENTIALLY THE SLOWDOWN TO ACTUALLY TRIGGER IT BETTER THAN A WAY STOP SIGN. I DON'T LIKE THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT FROM A FULL STOP, SO I ACTUALLY DO LIKE THAT IDEA. BUT PART OF THE PROBLEM IS KELLY ELEMENTARY AND HOW SCHOOL IS ALLOWING PARENTS TO LINE UP. THE WOMAN WHO ACTUALLY SPOKE ABOUT THE IDLING IN FRONT OF SCHOOLS, THERE ARE PARENTS WHO WILL COME 20, 30 MINUTES EARLY AND IDLE AND BACK UP KELLY RIGHT IN FRONT OF THIS GENTLEMAN'S HOME AND THAT'S PART OF THE PROBLEM. WE ACTUALLY NEED TO HAVE IT BE THAT THEY GO UP HILLSIDE WHERE THERE ARE NOT HOMES AND BLOCKING PEOPLE'S DRIVEWAYS. I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE A MUCH BETTER WAY TO ACTUALLY PROTECT NOT ONLY CHILDREN COMING OUT FROM THEIR HOMES AND HOMEOWNERS FROM KELLY DRIVE. I DO THINK THAT MORE WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE WITH THE SCHOOL TO PREVENT PARENTS FROM COMING SO EARLY AND ALSO BLOCKING KELLY. BUT I AM A HUGE ADVOCATE FOR THE MAIN 0.1 AND DOING THE ROUNDABOUTS. THANKS SO MUCH. >> GREG RODES, FOLLOWED BY CLAIRE LA BAFF. >> HELLO. WE ALSO ARE IN THIS AFFECTED AREA. IT'S KELLY ELEMENTARY, THE PARK. WE ARE IMMEDIATELY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PARK. THE TWO BIG PROBLEMS THAT WE SEE IN THE AREA ARE SPEEDING, WHICH I'VE PERSONALLY HAD CARLSBAD PD OUT THERE MULTIPLE TIMES AND PERSONALLY HAD TO DEAL WITH SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE DOWN THERE SPEEDING TO GET HIM SLOWED DOWN ON PARK. EVERYTHING WE SEE, AND I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN SOME OF THE PREVIOUS MEETINGS THAT YOU'VE HAD, I'M NOT SEEING A WHOLE LOT THAT'S GOING TO ACTIVELY ADDRESS ANY OF THAT. I HEAR THESE FANTASIES ABOUT WE'RE GOING TO NARROW THE LANES AND EVERYBODY'S GOING TO SLOW DOWN. UNFORTUNATELY, MOST OF THE VEHICLES THAT ARE RACING THERE ARE THINGS LIKE HONDA CIVICS, TO WHICH THEY'RE SKINNY LITTLE CARS. THAT'S NOT GOING TO SLOW THEM DOWN AT ALL. IF ANYTHING, YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE IT MORE FUN FOR THEM. IT'LL BE MARIO CARD ALL OVER AGAIN. I DON'T SEE ANY OF THAT IN THE DEVELOPMENTS. I DON'T SEE ANY TYPE OF ACCOMMODATIONS FOR PARKING. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE PEOPLE PARKING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET. THERE AT PARK. EVERYTHING I SEE AS FAR AS PLANS, YOU'RE REMOVING THAT DOWN TO ONE SIDE OR EVEN LESS AND REMOVING PARKING. THERE'S NO PLACE FOR THESE PEOPLE TO GO. THEN AS FAR AS THE ROUNDABOUTS, I FEEL THAT THE ROUNDABOUT AT HILLSIDE AND KELLY, THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH PHYSICAL ROOM THERE. I UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE WOULD WANT TO TAKE IT OUT BECAUSE WHEN YOU ARE HEADING ON KELLY, HEADING OUT TO EL CAMINO, YOU PRACTICALLY ARE DRIVING THROUGH SOMEBODY'S DRIVEWAY BECAUSE THERE'S JUST NO ROOM LEFT THERE BETWEEN THE ROUNDABOUT AND THE CURB. THAT'S A BIG PROBLEM. ONE THING I WOULD ALSO LOVE TO SEE IS A LITTLE MORE CONSISTENCY IN WHAT'S GOING ON. WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING DOWN TAMARAC, YOU GO THROUGH THREE DIFFERENT TYPES OF BIKE LANES ON THE SIDE, BIKE LANES STOP AND START. WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS PLAN DEVELOPMENT ON PARK, WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE ALL THESE WONDERFUL PROTECTIVE BIKE LANES AND EVERYTHING ELSE. IT CAN'T GO ANYWHERE. AS YOU CONTINUE FURTHER DOWN PARK, THERE'S NO ROOM IN FRONT OF THE CONDOMINIUMS TO CONTINUE THIS. [00:55:04] SO WHAT? WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TWO BLOCKS OF GREAT BIKE LANES AND THEN IT'S GOING TO END. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE THINKING. I WOULD JUST LOVE A TRANSPARENCY, A LITTLE MORE CONSISTENCY. LET'S PUT SOME IN. LET'S TAKE IT OUT. IT'S LIKE WE'RE THROWING THINGS AGAINST A WALL AND TRYING TO SEE WHAT STICKS. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. >> SIR, AT THE CONCLUSION OF THIS ITEM, YOU CAN TALK WITH TOM FRANK ABOUT SOME OF THE BIKE LANE ISSUES AND HE CAN EXPLAIN THEM TO YOU. BUT AT THE END. >> CLAIRE LA BAFF FOLLOWED BY STEVE LINKY. >> THANK YOU. CLAIRE LA BAFF. I LIVE AT THE CORNER OF ALANDRA WAY AND PARK RIGHT BEHIND LACUNA RIVIERA, ALWAYS FORGET THE NAME THERE. COMPLETELY AGREE THAT THE CIRCLE AT HILLSIDE AND KELLY IS A MESS AND A DISASTER AND SHOULD BE CHANGED. I'M NOT SURE IF A STOP SIGN IS THE RIGHT SOLUTION, BUT CERTAINLY NOT THE CIRCLE. I DON'T THINK BOTH CIRCLES SHOULD BE TREATED THE SAME. I THINK THE ONE AT PARK AND KELLY IS WORKING FINE AND ALLOWS THESE PARENTS TO CIRCLE AROUND AS MUCH AS THEY DO BEHAVE. I'M NOT SURE WHY THEY'RE BOTH PUT TOGETHER AT THE SAME TIME. I THINK THAT ONES WORKING FINE. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS KNOW THAT PEOPLE DRAG RACE ON THAT ROAD ON PARK. THAT'S WHAT GREG WAS REFERRING TO. BECAUSE IT'S UNOBSTRUCTED, THEY DRAG RACE AT NIGHT, THE POLICE PROBABLY KNOW ABOUT IT. I DON'T THINK ANY OF THE THINGS THAT ARE SUGGESTED WOULD STOP THAT, BUT I THINK THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION THAT THERE'S PEOPLE ACTUALLY RACING AT NIGHT. IT VARIES BASED ON THE TEENAGERS OF THE MOMENT. I'VE BEEN THERE 20 YEARS. SOME YEARS IT'S REALLY BAD. THIS YEAR IT'S ONLY HAPPENED TWICE SO FAR, SO IT'S LESS BAD. BUT THAT'S VERY DANGEROUS, AND WE GO OUT AND STOP THEM WHEN WE CAN OR CALL THE POLICE BECAUSE WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT IF THEY DO IT TOO EARLY IN THE DAY, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WALKING. I ALSO REALLY DON'T THINK IT'S WORTH THE MONEY TO PUT BIKE LANES AND A WALKWAY ON THAT STREET. I DON'T LIKE THE ENCROACHMENT ONTO LAGOON. I THINK THE LAGOON SHOULD BE LEFT ALONE, NO ONE'S TALKED ABOUT THAT. TAKING THAT LAGOON SPACE AWAY DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A GOOD USE OF MONEY. ALSO, AS GREG MENTIONED, WHERE IS IT GOING TO GO? IT'S GOING TO GO RIGHT INTO WHERE THOSE CONDOS ARE. I DON'T THINK THAT'S A GOOD USE OF MONEY. BUT SLOWING DOWN THE TRAFFIC ON THAT AND ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO HELP WITH THAT. I'M NOT OPPOSED TO SPEED BUMPS. I UNDERSTAND OTHER PEOPLE ARE IRRITATED WITH THEM. I THINK IT'S PRETTY EFFECTIVE, PEOPLE SLOW DOWN. I TOO, I'M USED TO DRIVING, LIKE YOU MENTIONED, WITH PEOPLE TAILGATING ME. PEOPLE ARE LIKE, WHY ARE YOU GOING 25? I'M LIKE, IT'S 25 HERE. YOU SEE ALL THE KIDS. ANYWAY, I DON'T THINK THE PROPOSAL SHOULD BE ALL OR NOTHING. I THINK WE NEED TO BREAK IT APART AND DO IT SOME DIFFERENT WAYS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> MA'AM, IF YOU WERE CONCERNED THAT THE POLICE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE SPEEDING, OUR POLICE CHIEF IS HERE LISTENING, SO THEY'RE NOW AWARE OF. >> YES, THANK YOU. WELL, THEY RESPOND. I'M SURE THEY KNOW. >> THANK YOU. >> STEVE LINKY FOLLOWED BY CARRIE SHELTON. >> I HAD A FEW SLIDES. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. STEVE LINKY, CARLSBAD. >> EXCUSE ME, STEVE, ARE YOU SPEAKING FOR A GROUP OR YOU SPEAKING FOR YOURSELF? >> JUST ME. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> FIRST, IN THE SHORT TERM, YOU SHOULD ADOPT OPTION THREE TO REMOVE THE QUICK BUILD CERAMIC DOME TRAFFIC CIRCLES AT BOTH INTERSECTIONS. MANY DRIVERS DO NOT NAVIGATE THEM PROPERLY, AND SHOWN IN THIS EXAMPLE ON SOUTHBOUND KELLY HILLSIDE, DRIVERS WHO DO NAVIGATE IT CORRECTLY ARE DIVERTED MUCH CLOSER TO PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS, AND ALSO THIS GENTLEMAN'S DRIVEWAY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF WHERE THOSE YELLOW ARROWS ARE. THIS WAS A WELL INTENTIONED EXPERIMENT, BUT IT'S TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE, IT'S FAILURE AND ABANDON THESE OVERLY COMPLEX QUICK BUILD TRAFFIC CALMING PROJECTS THAT CAUSE MORE PROBLEMS THAN THEY SOLVE. FOR THE LONGER TERM CHOICE BETWEEN ROUNDABOUTS, OPTION ONE, AND CONVENTIONAL INTERSECTIONS, OPTION TWO, YOU SHOULD GO WITH OPTION TWO ON THE TRAFFIC COMMISSION. I ACTUALLY SUPPORTED THE ROUNDABOUTS INITIALLY, BUT I'VE CHANGED MY MIND. THIS IS A RENDERING FROM THAT SAME LOCATION AS THE LAST SLIDE LOOKING SOUTHBOUND ON KELLY TOWARD THE SCHOOL. I PUT A RED DOT BY A PEDESTRIAN THERE. WHILE THE CROSSING DISTANCES ARE SHORTER AT ROUNDABOUTS, THERE'S NO TRAFFIC CONTROL LIKE A STOP SIGN. PEDESTRIANS HAVE TO WAIT FOR A BREAK IN TRAFFIC OR JUST TAKE THEIR CHANCES AND START WALKING. WITH REGARD TO BIKES, BIKE LANES END WELL IN ADVANCE OF ROUNDABOUTS. THE GREEN DOT ON THE RIGHT IS NEAR ONE OF THOSE TERMINATION POINTS WHERE CYCLISTS HAVE TWO CHOICES. THE PREFERRED ROUTE IS MERGING LEFT INTO THE VEHICLE LANE AND GOING THROUGH THE ROUNDABOUT AMONG THE VEHICLES. THE ALTERNATE ROUTE IS TO GO UP ON THE SIDEWALK, LIKE THE BICYCLIST SHOWN HERE, DISMOUNT, WALK THE BIKE ACROSS THE FAR CROSSWALK, [01:00:01] THEN RE ENTER THE STREET ON THE OTHER SIDE. AT SCHOOL DROP OFF AND PICK UP TIMES, CARS ARE BACKED UP THROUGH THIS INTERSECTION BLOCKING NON SCHOOL TRAFFIC, AND I COULD PRETTY MUCH GUARANTEE THAT KIDS ON BIKES WILL BE WEAVING AMONG THE CARS AND PEDESTRIANS, WHICH IS NOT SAFE. ALSO, THE EXTREME NARROWING OF THE LANES SHOWN HERE IS SUPPOSED TO MAKE THINGS SAFER. HOWEVER, THIS MAY ALSO SLOW EMERGENCY VEHICLE RESPONSES AND HINDER EVACUATIONS, AS WELL AS CLOG TRAFFIC, PARTICULARLY AT SCHOOL DROP OFF AND PICK UP TIMES. EVERYBODY SHOULD THINK ABOUT THE SITUATION YOU FACED AT EL FUERTE WITH THE ROAD DIET AT PACIFIC RIDGE SCHOOL. I'M GOING TO SKIP MOST OF THESE SLIDES, WHICH ARE JUST SHOWING THE COMPLICATED LOGISTICS OF MIXING ZONES OF VEHICLES AND BICYCLISTS. EVEN WITH THE ROUNDABOUTS, THERE WAS ALREADY A SERIES OF SPEED CUSHIONS OR SPEED BUMPS WITH THE EMERGENCY VEHICLE WHEEL CUTOUTS PLAN FOR THIS PROJECT. I TRUST STAFF'S JUDGMENT ON THIS. I THINK THE CONCERNS ABOUT THE SPEED CUSHIONS AREN'T SO WARRANTED WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE SPACING. ASK STAFF ABOUT THE SPACING. WHEN WE ADD MORE REMOVING THE ROUNDABOUT AND ADDING MORE SPEED CUSHIONS AT THE CORRECT DISTANCES, THINGS WILL BE GOOD. ALSO, THE CROSSING GUARD THAT SENT IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT LETTER, YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO THAT. WHEN I WAS ON THE TRAFFIC COMMISSION CROSSING GUARDS ARE ALWAYS A WEALTH OF INFORMATION AND SHE I THINK ON BOARD WITH THIS TOO. THANK YOU. >> CARRIE SHELTON, FOLLOWED BY A GROUP THAT'S CHRIS WRIGHT, TRACY TRUSSET, RICH CRAVENS, AND CAROLYN KING. >> I GIVE YOU AWAY. DON'T MIND LOOKING. I'M SORRY, EVERYONE ELSE ISN'T ABLE TO SEE. I ALSO HAVE NEVER BEEN TO A MEETING, BUT I WAS REALLY DRAWN TO COME HERE WHEN I SAW MY STREET WAS ON THE AGENDA AND WITH THIS GOAL TO IMPROVE PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLIST SAFETY AND IMPROVE ACCESS AND CONNECTIVITY TO TRAILS, BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING I'M REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT. I LIVE AT THE END OF PARK DRIVE, AND I'VE BEEN JOGGING THE WHOLE LENGTH DOWN TO THE BEACH A COUPLE OF TIMES EVERY WEEK AND I WANTED TO SHARE WHAT THAT EXPERIENCE IS LIKE. AFTER LISTENING TO THE PROPOSALS, I THINK ONE ISSUE IS THAT WE'RE STILL JUST THINKING ABOUT IT FROM THE ASPECT OF A DRIVER WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT THE USABILITY FOR OTHER PEOPLE. LIKE THE GENTLEMAN BEFORE ME SAID, ADDING A COUPLE BLOCKS OF A BIKE LANE IS NOT USABLE AS A CYCLIST. WHAT I'D LIKE TO PROPOSE IS THERE'S ALREADY THREE SHORT SECTIONS OF TRAILS ALONG PARK DRIVE. IF WE JUST CONNECT THOSE, WE WOULD HAVE PROTECTED ACCESS FROM CARS ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE BEACH. IF YOU CAN LOOK AT YOUR HANDOUT, I INCLUDED A MAP OF THE PROPOSAL, AND I JUST PUT NUMBERS OF SOME PICTURES OF WHAT THAT ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE. I ACTUALLY THINK A BETTER MAP TO LOOK AT IS WHEN I PULLED FROM THE CITY WEBSITE OF THE TRAIL SYSTEM, THAT'S ON THE SECOND PAGE OF YOUR HANDOUT. YOU CAN SEE THAT IT STARTS ON KELLY TRAIL, AND I JUST PUT THAT IN QUOTES BECAUSE IT'S ACTUALLY A SERVICE ROAD, AND THEN IT COMES OUT AT THE ROUNDABOUT THAT'S ALREADY BEING DISCUSSED TODAY. FROM THERE, YOU'RE GETTING IT. THERE'S THIS NICE WIDE SHOULDER ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF PARK DRIVE. IT REALLY JUST NEEDS SOME MAINTENANCE. WHEN A CAR IS COMING IN THE OTHER DIRECTION, I HAVE TO JUST DIVE INTO THE BUSHES BECAUSE THERE'S NO PROTECTED SPACE. BUT THE THING THAT MAKES IT SO GREAT ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OR THE SOUTH SIDE OF PARK DRIVE, IS THAT THERE'S NO STREET CROSSING. IT'S ALREADY TOTALLY PROTECTED FROM CARS AND THERE'S ALREADY SAFE PASSAGE ALL THE WAY TO THE BEACH. WE'RE JUST MISSING TWO HALF MILE TRAILS TO LINK THAT ALL UP. >> LET'S SEE. I ALSO WANTED TO MENTION, THERE'S THE TWO HALF MILES THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. I'M OLD AND SLOW JUST TO PUT THAT IN REFERENCE. I CAN DO THOSE IN FIVE MINUTES. ANYONE WHO EXERCISES KNOWS FIVE MINUTES ISN'T MUCH OF A WORKOUT, BUT IF WE COULD JUST LINK THOSE TOGETHER, WE COULD ACTUALLY GET SOMEWHERE. I THINK THIS WOULD HAVE A BIG IMPACT. THIS IS LIKE THE LOW HANGING FRUIT OF A REALLY EASY PROJECT PLAN ON A STREET THAT YOU'RE ALREADY REDESIGNING. BECAUSE, ESPECIALLY PUTTING IN THAT MARJA ACRES UNIT, THERE'S SOME HIGH DENSITY AND THEY HAVE NO ACCESS TO TRAILS. MYSELF INCLUDED AS A RESIDENT THERE OF 12 YEARS. YOU CAN ALSO SEE THAT THE KELLY TRAIL IS A HALF MILE FROM WHAT THEY CALL THE AGUA HEDIONDA TRAIL, FROM THE PICTURES, YOU CAN SEE THAT ONE'S ACTUALLY FALLEN INTO THE LAGOON. THERE'S TWO SECTIONS THERE THAT ARE NO LONGER USABLE, AND THERE'S A SIGN THAT SAYS TEMPORARY, BUT IT FELL INTO THE LAGOON ABOUT A YEAR-AND-A-HALF AGO. THEN FROM THERE, THE SIDEWALK JUST SUDDENLY ENDS AND YOU'RE MISSING ABOUT 0.3 TO GET UP TO THE HUB TRAIL. >> NOW WE HAVE A GROUP. CHRIS WRIGHT, TRACY TRUSSET, RICH CRAVENS, AND CAROLYN KING. >> THANK YOU. THIS IS WHAT I CAN USE, RIGHT? CAN I HAVE 10 MINUTES, PLEASE TO GET STARTED BACK TO 10. [01:05:06] I'M WAITING. THANK YOU. I ASSUME THIS IS HOW THIS WORKS, JUST FORWARD IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'M GOING TO FIRST THANK MAYOR BLACKBURN AND CITY MANAGER PATNOE FOR REVISITING THIS ISSUE THAT IS SO IMPORTANT TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD. I WANT TO THANK MY NEIGHBORS WHO CAME TONIGHT AND ARE PART OF MY GROUP, BUT ALSO A LOT OF FIRST TIME NEIGHBORS ARE COMING HERE THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN HERE BEFORE. I THINK IT'S REALLY WONDERFUL THAT YOU'RE DOING THIS. THE KELLY AND PARK DRIVE COMPLETE STREETS PROJECT WAS BROUGHT BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL IN SEPTEMBER 2017, WHERE THEY APPROVED THE 563,000 FOR CONCEPTUAL DESIGN PERMITS TO CREATE SCENARIOS FOR TRAFFIC CALMING. THE PURPOSE OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT WAS TO SAFELY TRAVEL VIA A VARIETY OF MODES FROM KELLY AT EL CAMINO REAL, CONTINUING ON TO PARK DRIVE AND CONTINUING DOWN TO NEBLINA. AT THAT TIME, TWO ROUNDABOUTS ON KELLY, ONE ON HILLSIDE AND THE OTHER ON PARK DRIVE WERE PROPOSED AS IN THE DESIGN. NOTE THAT KELLY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND THE TWO PROPOSED ROUNDABOUTS ON THE SIDE. THIS IS MY COMMUNITY, LOMA LAGUNA, WHICH CONTAINS 130 SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES WITH ONE INGRESS AND ONE INGRESS, THE SAME THING. IT IS LOCATED DIRECTLY EAST OF KELLY DRIVE. NOTE THE PROXIMITY OF THE AGUA HEDIONDA LAGOON CREEK AND RESERVE DIRECTLY TO THE SOUTH, WHICH SOME CASES COMES WITHIN 50 FEET OF SOME HOMES. THE KELLY TRAIL IS SHOWN HERE AND CANNON ROAD TO THE SOUTH OF THE PRESERVE. THE RED ARROWS SHOW THE TWO PROPOSED ROUNDABOUTS. TONIGHT, I WILL BE SPEAKING ABOUT THE PROPOSED ROUNDABOUT AT KELLY AS A STAKEHOLDER. THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN IN MAY 2025, IN APPROXIMATELY LATE DECEMBER 2017, JANUARY 2018, TEMPORARY INTERSECTION CONTROL CERAMIC DOME MARKERS WERE INSTALLED. THESE DOME MARKERS HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY DETERIORATED AND BECOME BROKEN, WHICH HAS CAUSED SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS FOR OUR COMMUNITY AS BROKEN CERAMIC SLASH TIRES IF DRIVERS DRIVE TOO NEAR THEM. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL EXAMPLES OF THIS HAPPENING. NOTE THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO LIGHTING THERE AND BEHIND THE METAL GUARD RAIL ON THE RIGHT CONTAINS A STANDING WATER FROM RUNOFFS FROM THE CULVERT THAT RUNS ALONG KELLY DRIVE. AT NIGHT, IT CERTAINLY TAKES SKILL TO NAVIGATE BETWEEN THE BROKEN CERAMIC DISCS AND THE GUARD RAIL. THE CENTER OF THE PHOTO MARKS THE BEGINNING OF THE KELLY TRAIL. THE AGUA HEDIONDA LAGOON IS A PROTECTED AREA AND SERVES AS A WILDLIFE CORRIDOR. IT IS AN ECOLOGICAL RESERVE CONSISTING OF 186 ACRES THAT IS OWNED AND MANAGED BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE. ACCORDING TO OFFICIALS, ALL CITY STAFF AND STATE RESIDENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO ENTER PROTECTED WETLANDS. NOTE THE PROXIMITY TO THE RESERVE TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS IS A CLOSE UP OF THE RESERVE LOCATED NEXT TO MY COMMUNITY AND NEAR THE PROPOSED ROUNDABOUT. IN MARCH 2025, THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RELEASED THE MAP FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CONTAINING THE NEW FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES. OUR CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE MAP LAST WEEK. THESE MAPS AROSE TO THE MAJOR RECENT DESTRUCTIVE FIRES IN CALIFORNIA AND INCLUDES THE ENTIRE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. IT IS DESIGNED TO RECOGNIZE AND REDUCE WILDFIRE RISKS. I MET WITH BOTH CURRENT AND FORMER CARLSBAD FIRE MARSHALS TO DISCUSS THE POTENTIAL FOR FIRE IN THIS AREA. I WANTED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PREVENTATIVE MEASURES AND EVACUATIONS. WE SPOKE ABOUT THE POINSETTIA FIRE IN 2014 AND OTHER RECENT CALIFORNIA FIRES. I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT EVACUATIONS IN MY COMMUNITY IN CASE OF FIRE DUE TO ONE EGRESS. THIS PARTICULAR IS A CLOSE UP OF THE FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONE MAP THAT IS IN OUR COMMUNITY LOMA LAGUNA, WHICH RANGES FROM VERY HIGH TO MODERATE. NOTE THE HOMES THAT ARE RATED AS VERY HIGH ARE SOME OF THE FURTHEST FROM THE ENTRANCE TO OUR COMMUNITY. THIS MAP CLEARLY INDICATES THAT THE AGUA HEDIONDA RESERVE HAS THE HIGHEST FIRE HAZARD AND MOST LIKELY DUE TO DRY BRUSH IN THAT AREA. BOTH FIRE MARSHALS EXPLAINED ABOUT SITUATIONS THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO RESIDENTS IN CASE OF A FIRE. ONE WOULD BE TO REMAIN IN PLACE. AN ALTERNATIVE DEPENDING ON CONDITIONS WOULD BE AN ORDERLY EVACUATION. THE THIRD AND LEAST DESIRABLE WOULD BE [01:10:01] AN IMMEDIATE EVACUATION EITHER FROM WIND CONDITIONS AND OR RAPID FIRE SPREAD. THE IMMEDIATE EVACUATION SITUATION COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE A PANIC THAT HAS HAPPENED WITH OTHER FIRES SUCH AS THE CAMPFIRE IN PARADISE, CALIFORNIA, AND MORE RECENTLY IN THE PALISADES AND EATON FIRES THIS PAST JANUARY. UNDER AN IMMEDIATE EVACUATION, CARS CAN TAKE ALL LANES TO EXIT BUT A ROUNDABOUT WITH ONLY ONE LANE AS PROPOSED BY THE CITY'S CONSULTANT COULD CAUSE A BOTTLENECK SITUATION. THIS COULD, IN ESSENCE, PREVENT FIRE SAFETY VEHICLES FROM ENTERING OUR COMMUNITY AND IMPEDE EVACUATION. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY PROOF THAT ROUNDABOUTS WERE HELPFUL TO EVACUATIONS. INSTEAD, I FOUND QUITE A BIT ABOUT HOW "ONE LANE ROUNDABOUTS CAN HINDER EVACUATIONS SINCE THEY CAN BECOME CHOKE POINTS." ANOTHER QUOTE. "IN COMMUNITIES WITH A SINGLE EGRESS, ROUNDABOUTS CAN POSE CHALLENGES DURING EVACUATIONS DUE TO THEIR POTENTIAL TO CREATE BOTTLENECKS, AND LIMIT TRAFFIC FLOW." THERE WERE MANY OTHERS THAT I CAN PROVIDE REFERENCES. WITH THE RECENT CLARO FIRE LAST WEEK IN CARLSBAD, WE KNOW FIRES CAN OCCUR SPONTANEOUSLY. THE INCIDENCES OF FIRES IS MUCH HIGHER NOW THAN IN PAST YEARS. ALTHOUGH TRAFFIC ENGINEERS STATE THAT A FIRE SAFETY VEHICLE CAN MANEUVER A ROUNDABOUT, RESPONSE TIMES, ESPECIALLY WHEN TWO ROUNDABOUTS ARE IN THE PATH ARE DEFINITELY SHORTENED. COMMUNITY WANTS A SAFE WAY TO EVACUATE AND ROUNDABOUTS WILL NOT PROVIDE THAT. WE KNOW THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO MAKE OUR ROADWAYS SAFE AND CONTROL SPEEDS WITHOUT ROUNDABOUTS. PLEASE VOTE FOR OPTION 2 NO ROUNDABOUT, AND OPTION 3, THE REMOVAL OF CERAMIC CONES. THANK YOU. >> THERE WAS ONE FINAL CARD THAT WAS SUBMITTED AFTER THE ITEM STARTED, SHEILA O'NEIL. >> SINCE WE TOOK THIS ITEM EARLY, PLEASE CALL THAT SPEAKER. >> HELLO. MY NAME IS SHEILA O'NEIL. I AM THE AFOREMENTIONED CROSSING GUARD. [LAUGHTER] FOR THE PAST ALMOST THE ENTIRE SCHOOL YEAR, I STOOD AT HILLSIDE AND KELLY EVERY SCHOOL DAY FOR HALF AN HOUR RIGHT AT THE INTERSECTION, AND IT IS A MESS. IT IS TRULY A MESS AND SOME OF THE PROBLEMS ARE JUST UNAVOIDABLE FOR 10 MINUTES, TRAFFIC BACKS UP BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE WAITING, BUT SOME OF IT IS SO ROUNDABOUT-SPECIFIC. SPECIFICALLY, IF A CAR IS COMING FROM KELLY TO TURN LEFT ONTO HILLSIDE, THEY WILL ENTER THE ROUNDABOUT AS LONG AS THERE AREN'T CARS IN THE WAY. BUT THEN IF SOMEONE'S CROSSING THE STREET, THEY GET STUCK, BLOCKING OFF TRAFFIC COMING DOWN KELLY TRYING TO GET FURTHER TOWARD THE SCHOOL. NOW I'M IN THE POSITION OF HAVING TO RUSH THE KIDS ACROSS. SOMETIMES IT'S A PARADE SITUATION WITH THE PEDESTRIANS KNOWING THAT IT'S JUST EXTRA FRUSTRATION. IN ADDITION TO THAT, YES, THE ROUNDABOUT NUDGES THE CARS CLOSER TO THE CROSSWALK AND CLOSER TO THE KIDS WHO ARE CROSSING THE STREET. IT ALSO ELIMINATES THOSE BIKE LANES ON BOTH SIDES. I SEE SO MANY KIDS ON THE E-BIKES AND SCOOTERS TO HAVE THE BIKE LANE BRAKE WHERE YOU'RE EITHER IN A SITUATION OF PUTTING THOSE E-BIKES SCREENING DOWN THE SIDEWALKS OR PUTTING CHILDREN ON BICYCLES IN WITH A ROUNDABOUT TRAFFIC SITUATION. THAT'S TWO BAD OPTIONS. FURTHERMORE, THE IDEA WITH THE TREE IN THE MIDDLE WOULD JUST HINDER SIGHTLINES EVEN MORE. I UNDERSTAND THAT WOULD SLOW DOWN TRAFFIC, BUT DURING THE CONGESTED SITUATION, NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE WHAT IS GOING ON WITH PEDESTRIANS WITH OTHER VEHICLES, I THINK IT WOULD CREATE MORE PROBLEMS THAN IT WOULD SOLVE. I THINK THAT THE IDEA OF AN ALWAYS STOP AT BOTH LOCATIONS IS GREAT. I HAVE NOT WORKED DOWN AT THE PARK ONE, BUT I HEAR HORROR STORIES FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE. I KNOW AS SOMEONE WHO LIVES ON KELLY AND WALKS MY DOGS ON THE TRAIL AT THE END OF THE STREET, THAT CROSSING TO GET TO THE TRAIL IS HAZARDOUS BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A CROSSWALK ON THE SIDE CLOSER TO THE PARK AND ON THE SIDE WHERE THERE IS A CROSSWALK, THERE'S THAT CURVE IN THE ROAD, AND YOU FEEL LIKE ARE THE CARS GOING TO SEE YOU? ARE THEY GOING TO BE COMING TOO FAST? I THINK ALWAYS STOPS AT BOTH WOULD JUST BE SO GREAT. PLEASE, I SAW THAT THIS MIGHT HAPPEN THIS SUMMER AND I WAS JUST THEY WOULD MAKE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR SO MUCH BETTER. IT WOULD JUST BE AMAZING TO GET THOSE ROUNDABOUTS OUT OF THERE. I THINK THAT THE FIRE SAFETY QUESTION IS ALSO VERY REAL AND A LOT OF GREAT POINTS THAT COME UP TONIGHT. PLEASE TAKE THESE TERRIBLE ROUNDABOUTS AWAY. THANK YOU. [LAUGHTER] >> QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? MR. SHIN. >> THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION, TOM. [01:15:03] FIRST AND FOREMOST, THIS IS A LITTLE BIT MORE OFF TOPIC AND KNOW THE LADY PRESENTED THIS PACKET IN REGARDS TO THE ROAD ITSELF. CAN WE LOOK AT THAT IN THE FUTURE DATE OR IS THIS ALREADY PLAN AN IMPROVEMENT? IN THE TRAIL SECTION, BUT ON THE ROAD ITSELF, HOW THERE'S A LOCK OF SIDEWALKS AND WHATNOT? >> WE CAN LOOK AT THE CONNECTIVITY ISSUE BEYOND THIS PROJECT LIMITS TO GET PEOPLE TO THE COAST. AS MENTIONED BY A SPEAKER, WE DO HAVE A TRAIL MASTER PLAN THAT DOES ADDRESS THAT. BUT YEAH. WE'LL LOOK AT THE CONNECTIVITY ISSUE. >> GREAT. THEN CAN WE POP UP SLIDE 8 AGAIN, PLEASE? I'M LEANING TOWARDS OPTION 3, AND I JUST HAVE A DISCUSSION OR A QUESTION ABOUT IT. WELL, I SEE ON BOTH ON PARK DRIVE AND HILLSIDE DRIVE, WE WENT WITH OPTION 3. ARE WE GOING TO HAVE CROSSWALKS OR WE CAN CROSS KELLY ON HILLSIDE DRIVE, AND THEN ALSO CAN WE CROSS PARK DRIVE TO THE, I DON'T HAVE MY BEARINGS HERE, BUT UP TOP WHERE I DON'T SEE A CROSSWALK? >> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AT HILLSIDE DRIVE SPECIFICALLY? BECAUSE WE DO HAVE ONE CROSSING KELLY. >> I SEE JUST TWO. BUT SOMETIMES, JUST ME PERSONALLY, I GET ANNOYED THAT I CAN'T CROSS OVER THERE AT THE HIGH POINT AT PARK DRIVE AND KELLY. TO YOUR LEFT, HOW THERE'S NO OPPORTUNITY TO WALK ACROSS. THEN ON HILLSIDE DRIVE, HOW I DON'T SEE CROSSWALKS. I DON'T SEE THE LITTLE LINES. WILL THEY BE THERE? >> WE'LL LOOK AT THOSE CROSSWALKS AS A PART OF FUTURE OPTIONS. WE DO HAVE CROSSWALKS IN OPTION 1 AT THE INTERSECTIONS WITH THE ROUNDABOUT OPTIONS. WITH OPTION 2, WITH THE OPTIONS WE'D BE BRINGING BACK TO YOU AT A FUTURE DATE, WE WILL LOOK AT THE CROSSWALKS, YES. >> GOT IT. I'M KIDDING AND I'M NOT KIDDING ON MY NEXT QUESTION, BUT ARE COUNCIL MEMBERS ALLOWED TO USE JACK HAMMERS AND TAKE THOSE LITTLE CERAMIC DISKS OUT? [LAUGHTER] >> YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER. >> I REALLY WANT TO. I LIKE JACK HAMMERS. THAT'S IT WITH MY QUESTION. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL. START WITH YOU, MR. SHIN. >> I WOULD MAKE A MOTION FOR OPTION NUMBER 3. I SAY IN A COUPLE OF REASONS. I THINK IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A STEP BACK, CATCH YOUR BREATHS, REALLY LISTEN TO WHAT OTHER RESIDENTS WHO ARE AROUND US ARE SAYING. MY REASONS THOUGH FOR BEYOND THAT. ONE, I DRIVE IN THAT AREA A LOT. I USED TO RACE MY STAND UP PADDLE BOARD. I'M THAT GUY THAT WOULD LEAVE HIS BIG 10-FOOT BOARD ON HIS ROOFTOP AND BLOCK PARKING. BUT SOME OF THE REASONS, ONE, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE COSTS THAT 195K. ON ANOTHER SIDE, I FEEL I CAN ALWAYS STOP WOULD CREATE A LOT OF SAFETY FOR THE STUDENTS MORE THAN ANYTHING. I SEE IT WHERE MY KIDS WHO GO TO HOPE ELEMENTARY, YOU'RE GOING DOWNHILL, YOU'RE HITTING TURNS AND THERE'S JUST NO OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE KIDS, ONE. THEN TWO, WE HAVE AN E-BIKE ISSUE GOING ON RIGHT NOW. WITH THE E-BIKE ISSUES WITH A ROAD LIKE THAT OR EVEN ROUNDABOUTS, I CAN'T TRACK THEM. THERE'S AN ACCELERATION RATE ISSUE WITH THESE E-BIKES. I JUST FEAR THAT IF WE DON'T CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THESE E-BIKES TO HAVE TO DO A FULL STOP AS WELL, THAT THEIR ACCELERATION RATE COULD CAUSE ISSUES ON BOTH OF THOSE INTERSECTIONS. I WOULD MAKE A MOTION FOR NUMBER 3. >> MR. SHIN, COULD YOU HOLD OFF ON THE MOTION FOR JUST A MOMENT? THE REASON IS BECAUSE WE NEED TO VOTE ON OPTION 1, IF YOU WANT OPTION 2, AND 2. TWO WOULD BE COME BACK LATER WITH THE IDEAS, BUT THREE WOULD BE TO IMMEDIATELY REMOVE THE DOTS AND TO RE-SLURRY. >> STRIPE. >> I WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO OFFER A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT. BUT IF YOU WANT TO WAIT, WE CAN WAIT. >> LET'S ALL SPEAK AND THEN I'LL GET THIS BACK TO MR. SHIN. >> THIS IS IN MY DISTRICT, IN DISTRICT 1, AND VERY EARLY ON AFTER MY ELECTION, I WAS DOWN THERE DURING SCHOOL HOURS LOOKING AT THE TRAFFIC AND THE IMPACTS THAT THESE ROUNDABOUTS HAVE. I SAW PARENTS LITERALLY GO OVER THE ROUNDABOUTS AND JUST SIT THERE AND WAIT FOR THEIR KIDS WHILE THERE ARE OUR KIDS ALL OVER AND AROUND AND IT SCARED ME HALF TO DEATH. I'M SO PLEASED THIS ITEM HAS BEEN BROUGHT BACK FOR US TO CONSIDER. I VARY A LITTLE BIT FROM MY COLLEAGUE, [01:20:01] AND THAT TONIGHT, I WILL BE SUPPORTING OPTION 2 AND 3. HOPEFULLY, WE CAN GET THIS STRAIGHTENED OUT, AND THE QUESTIONS REGARDING THE TRAIL CONNECTIVITY WILL BE ADDRESSED, BUT NOT WITHIN THIS ITEM TONIGHT. THANK YOU. >> 1 , 2 , AND 3 CAN BE DONE AT THE SAME TIME. >> MRS. ACOSTA. >> THANK YOU. I'M NOT SURE THAT IT IS DIFFERENT. I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER SHIN MAY HAVE BEEN SAYING SOMETHING SIMILAR. I'M ALSO INCLINED TO SUPPORT TWO AND THREE. IT IS CLEAR THAT THE COMMUNITY WHEN GIVING THEIR FEEDBACK DID NOT LIKE THE DOMES THAT WE'RE CALLING THEM, THE ROUNDABOUTS WITH THE DOMES FOR VARIOUS REASONS, BUT ALSO FEEL THAT TO HAVE THE ACTUAL STOP SIGNS AND CROSSWALKS WOULD BE BETTER. I ALSO I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE BIKES AND THE CONNECTIVITY ISSUES. I UNDERSTAND THAT I HEARD DURING THE PRESENTATION ABOUT THE TRAIL CONNECTIVITY. WE ALSO HAVE THOSE ISSUES IN MY DISTRICT. WE HAVE A LOT OF THESE SAME ISSUES IN DISTRICTS ALL OVER THE CITY JUST SO YOU KNOW THE THINGS LIKE THE SPEEDING, THE PARENTS CAR POOLING AND IDLING. IT'S HAPPENING ALL OVER THE CITY. FOR THE FOLKS THAT CAME TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE IN FRONT OF THEIR HOMES, JUST KNOW THAT WE GET IT. WE SEE IT ALL OVER THE CITY NEAR SCHOOLS AND AT SPECIFIC INTERSECTIONS. WE ALSO HAVE 55 MILE PER HOUR STREETS IN MY DISTRICT, DISTRICT 4, LA COSTA, RANCHO SANTA FE ROAD. SAME THING, PEOPLE PULL AROUND THE CORNER AND DON'T ALWAYS SLOW DOWN AND WE HAVE TO THINK OF WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO SLOW DOWN TRAFFIC AND MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE KEPT SAFE. THANK YOU TO MR. FRANK AND YOUR TEAM FOR TRYING TO FIND THE BEST THING, FOR TRYING TO DO ALL THE OUTREACH. IT LOOKS LIKE THE ORIGINAL PLAN IS NOT GOING TO WORK OUT. I DO THINK THAT REMOVING WHAT IS THERE NOW, GOING BACK TO THE ALWAYS STOPS AND PUTTING IN THE STRIPING FOR THE PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALKS. THEN LOOKING AT WHAT WE SHOULD DO FOR THE FUTURE IS THE BEST OPTION. I'M GOING TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF TWO AND THREE ALSO. THANKS. >> MRS. BHAT PATEL. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE SPEAKERS WHO ARE HERE TONIGHT TAKING TIME OUT OF YOUR DAY TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY. I JUST WANT TO FIRST OFF, GO BACK ON, FOR INSTANCE, THE HISTORY OF THIS BECAUSE IT STARTED BACK IN 2013 WITH THE ROUNDABOUT. THAT'S 12 YEARS AGO, WHICH IS A LONG TIME AGO AND THEN OBVIOUSLY 2017 IN TERMS OF JUST LOOKING AT AND STARTING TO INITIATE THE PROJECT. THINGS CHANGE OBVIOUSLY IN TIME, AND THE NEED CHANGES. I KNOW AT THE TIME, MAYBE IT MADE SENSE TO DO THAT NOW AS WE FAST FORWARD AND THE POPULATION HAS CHANGED AND WE HAVE DIFFERENCES IN HOW THINGS ARE WORKING. WE'RE LOOKING AT IT MORE HOLISTICALLY, OBVIOUSLY, AND JUST LISTENING TO THE FEEDBACK, AND TO ME, OBVIOUSLY HEARING FROM THE COMMUNITY AND OBVIOUSLY HEARING FROM FOLKS THAT ARE ON THE GROUND. IT MAKES SENSE TO SUPPORT OPTIONS 2 AND 3 AS WELL. ONE THING I JUST WANTED TO ALSO MENTION IS JUST SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN TALKING JUST LIKE WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER ACOSTA IS SAYING IS THAT I HEAR A LOT ABOUT IN AND AROUND SCHOOLS, THE SPEEDING AROUND SCHOOLS, OBVIOUSLY THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO ESPECIALLY AROUND SCHOOLS. I'VE BEEN ON A LOT OF PHONE CALLS IN THE RECENT LAST FEW WEEKS, ESPECIALLY, GIVEN THAT SCHOOL WAS ENDING, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, SCHOOL WILL BE STARTING IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS AND SOMETHING THAT I'M SURE ALL FOLKS REGARDLESS OF IF YOUR PARENTS ARE NOT ARE WORRIED ABOUT ARE THE SAFETY OF KIDS IN AND AROUND THOSE AREAS. SOMETHING I KNOW WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT IN THE NEAR FUTURE IS JUST ABOUT SPEEDING AROUND SCHOOLS AND JUST SOMETHING THAT WE CAN LOOK AT. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR LOOKING AT THIS MATTER. WHOEVER ENDS UP MAKING THE MOTION BECAUSE I KNOW FOLKS WANTED TO MAKE IT DOWN THERE, I'M HAPPY TO HELP SUPPORT IT. BUT DEFINITELY IN SUPPORT OF OPTION 2 AND 3. >> WELL, I NEVER WANT TO CRITICIZE ANYBODY FOR COMING UP WITH AN IDEA, TRYING IT, AND THEN IF IT WORKS GREAT, IF IT DOESN'T WORK, WE FIX IT. IN THIS CASE, IT DIDN'T SEEM TO WORK AND WE'RE GOING TO FIX IT. ACCORDING TO MY CONVERSATIONS WITH ALL THE RESIDENTS IN THOSE AREAS, OVER SEVERAL YEARS, I TOLD EVERYBODY, I AGREE WITH YOU, AND I ALSO TOLD YOU NOTHING HAPPENS FAST IN GOVERNMENT. I WAS RIGHT, BUT IT IS GETTING FIXED. I'M GOING TO SUPPORT ITEM NUMBER 2 AND NUMBER 3. UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT THAT MEANS IS RIGHT AWAY, WE'RE GOING TO REMOVE THE DOTS, WE'RE GOING TO RE-SLURRY AND RE-STRIPE. IT'LL BE BACK ESSENTIALLY TO THE WAY IT WAS BEFORE THE DOTS, [01:25:01] AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK AT A LATER DATE. NOW THAT'S IF THIS PASSES. BUT LISTENING TO WHAT EVERYBODY SAID, I GOT A FEELING IT'S GOING TO PASS. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. WITH THAT. I WILL MOVE ADOPTION OF OPTIONS 2 AND 3. >> MR. SHIN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SECOND THAT? >> YOU CAN LET ME SECOND ALSO. >> HAVE THE MOTION. GO AHEAD. [LAUGHTER] >> I'LL SECOND THAT ONE. THANKS. >> PLEASE VOTE. I WAS RIGHT. IT PASSED. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I'M SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG. DO ANY OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS NEED A BREAK? WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A 10-MINUTE BREAK. WE'RE GOING TO RECONVENE AT 25 MINUTES TO 7:00. I'M CALLING THE MEETING BACK IN SESSION. ITEM NUMBER, WHAT ARE WE ON, 15? >> FOURTEEN. [PUBLIC HEARINGS] >> FOURTEEN. WE TOOK THEM OUT OF ORDER. ITEM NUMBER 14. THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER 14 IS THE ADOPTION OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2025-'26 OPERATING BUDGET, STRATEGIC DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION INVESTMENT PROGRAM, AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. THE FISCAL YEAR 2025-'26 APPROPRIATION LIMIT AND REVISION OF FEES AND CHARGES FOR SERVICES. TO WALK US THROUGH THIS ITEM, I'D LIKE TO ASK OUR DEPUTY CITY MANAGER LAURA ROCHA AND FINANCE DIRECTOR ZACH KORACH TO GIVE THE PRESENTATION. >> THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS LAURA ROCHA, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, AND WITH ME TONIGHT, I HAVE ZACH KORACH, OUR CITY FINANCE DIRECTOR. TONIGHT, WE ARE HERE TO PRESENT THE FINAL PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR '25-'26. I'D LIKE TO START OUT TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION WITH THE OVERALL APPROACH AND PRIORITIES WITH THE PROPOSED BUDGET, AND MR. KORACH WILL THEN WALK YOU THROUGH THE UPDATE ON GENERAL FUND PROJECTED RESERVES, AS WELL AS A CALPERS DATE, CITYWIDE REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES, AND FINALLY DIGITAL AND PHYSICAL CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE. THE RECOMMENDED ACTION FOR THIS EVENING IS TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING AND ADOPT RESOLUTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FISCAL YEAR '25-'26 BUDGET. LOOKING AT SOME KEY DATES. THE PRELIMINARY BUDGET WAS PRESENTED TO CITY COUNCIL ON MAY 20TH. STAFF HELD A COMMUNITY BUDGET WORKSHOP ON MAY 22ND. THIS WAS AN INFORMAL OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR RESIDENTS TO LEARN ABOUT THE BUDGET, ASK QUESTIONS OF STAFF AND PROVIDE INPUT. WE HAD APPROXIMATELY 16 COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT WERE IN ATTENDANCE. A COMPLETE SUMMARY OF THE COMMUNITY BUDGET WORKSHOP IS PROVIDED AS EXHIBIT 17 AS PART OF THIS AGENDA ITEM. WE ARE HERE TONIGHT TO HOLD THE PUBLIC HEARING AND TO ADOPT THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND MASTER FEE SCHEDULE FOR FISCAL YEAR 25 26, AND OUR NEW FISCAL YEAR WILL BEGIN ON JULY 1. THIS YEAR'S BUDGET REFLECTS THE CUMULATIVE IMPACTS OF NEW BUDGET POLICIES AND PRACTICES OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS. THE GENERAL FUNDS FIVE-YEAR FORECAST IS BALANCED, AND WE DON'T EXPECT EXPENSES TO EXCEED REVENUES UNTIL AT LEAST FISCAL YEAR 2031, WHICH IS NO SOONER THAN WE PROJECTED LAST YEAR. OUR GENERAL FUND RESERVES CONTINUE TO GROW, AND THIS PROPOSED BUDGET INCREASES THE RESERVE FROM 55% TO 61%, WHICH IS WELL ABOVE THE CITY COUNCIL'S TARGET OF 40%. CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN OUR AAA CREDIT RATING, SOMETHING ONLY A HANDFUL OF JURISDICTIONS IN THE COUNTY CAN SAY, AND WE HAVE THE HIGHEST FUNDED PENSION POSITION IN THE REGION AMONG CITIES THAT HAVE NOT BORROWED MONEY TO PAY FOR THE PENSIONS. AT THE SAME TIME, THE PROPOSED BUDGET ALSO CONTINUES TO SET ASIDE MONEY FOR FUTURE NEEDS WE KNOW ARE COMING, ENSURES FUNDING IS AVAILABLE FOR LONG TERM, LARGE VALUE CAPITAL PURCHASES SUCH AS ROADS, PARKS, AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE. WE ARE ALSO PROPOSING A GENERAL FUND BUDGET INCREASE OF 1.8% OVER THE PRIOR YEAR AT A TIME WHEN INFLATION HAS BEEN 3.8 ACROSS THE REGION. MOST IMPORTANTLY, THIS BUDGET MAINTAINS A VERY HIGH LEVEL OF SERVICE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. BEFORE WE GET INTO THE DETAILS OF THE OPERATING BUDGET, WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE NEW PROPOSED PROJECTS AND SERVICES THAT CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE GOALS OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN. 2.6 MILLION FOR THE ONE TIME PURCHASE OF A SECOND FRONT LINE AERIAL LADDER TRUCK WITHIN OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT. 403,000 TO RECLASSIFY SIX EMTS TO PARAMEDIC FIREFIGHTERS AS PART OF A MULTI-YEAR EFFORT TO INCREASE SERVICE CAPACITY WITHOUT INCREASING EMPLOYEE COUNT IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. APPROXIMATELY 439,000 IN MEASURES SET FORTH IN THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN, 90,000 FOR SUNDAY LIBRARY HOURS, 113,000 TO SUPPORT THE NEWLY UPGRADED [01:30:02] SCHULMAN AUDITORIUM AT DOVE LIBRARY. THIS BUDGET ALSO PROPOSES THE ADDITION OF THREE FULL TIME SUPPORT POSITIONS IN FINANCE, HR, AND THE FLEET DEPARTMENT. IN ADDITION, CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZED AT THE MAY 20TH PRELIMINARY BUDGET PRESENTATION, 75,000 FOR TRAILS, MAINTENANCE, WHICH IS INCLUDED IN THIS FINAL PROPOSED BUDGET. FOR THIS TIME, I'LL TURN THE PRESENTATION OVER TO FINANCE DIRECTOR, ZACH KORACH. >> GREAT. THANK YOU, MRS. ROCHA. IN LOOKING AT THE GENERAL FUND RESERVES, WHEN WE PRESENTED THE BUDGET TO THE CITY COUNCIL LAST YEAR, WE WERE PROJECTING TO END THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR AT 55%. THE BUDGET BEFORE YOU PROJECTS THE RESERVE TO INCREASE TO 61%, WHICH EQUATES TO $147,000,000 WELL ABOVE THE 40% POLICY REQUIREMENT. AS PART OF THE PRELIMINARY BUDGET ON MAY 20, WE DISCUSSED THE CALPERS PREPAYMENT OPTION AND A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON THIS MATTER. EVERY YEAR, THE CITY IS REQUIRED, AS WELL AS ALL PARTICIPATING MEMBER AGENCIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE TO PAY DOWN A PORTION OF ITS PENSION LIABILITY. THIS NUMBER CHANGES DEPENDING ON CALPERS INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE. IN FISCAL YEAR '26, THE REQUIRED CONTRIBUTION IS $18.7 MILLION. EVERY YEAR, CALPERS OFFERS A PREPAYMENT DISCOUNT ON THE UNFUNDED LIABILITY CONTRIBUTION. IF THE FULL PAYMENT IS MADE IN JULY, A 3% SAVINGS CAN BE ACHIEVED. CURRENTLY, APPROXIMATELY 75% OF MEMBER AGENCIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE ELECT TO PREPAY. HOWEVER, THIS HAS HISTORICALLY CHANGED DEPENDING ON WHERE INTEREST RATES ARE SET AND THE LEVEL OF INVESTMENT INCOME EARNING ABILITY FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. IN OTHER WORDS, THE HIGHER A CITY IS ABLE TO EARN ON ITS OWN INVESTMENTS, THE MORE INCLINED THEY MAY BE TO ELECT MONTHLY PAYMENTS. THE CITY HAS HISTORICALLY OPTED INTO THE PREPAYMENT OPTION GIVEN THE LOW LEVEL OF INTEREST RATE ENVIRONMENT THAT'S BEEN EXPERIENCED FOR MUCH OF THE LAST 10 YEARS. HOWEVER, WITH RISING INTEREST RATES, THE CITY'S EARNING POTENTIAL IN EXCESS OF 3%, THE COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS HAS BECOME MORE COMPETITIVE. IF THE CITY ELECTS TO PREPAY, IT WILL SAVE APPROXIMATELY $600,000 AND FOREGO APPROXIMATELY $300,000 IN THE CITY'S INTERNAL INVESTMENT INCOME. IF THE CITY ELECTS TO MAKE MONTHLY PAYMENTS, IT WILL FOREGO THE $600,000 SAVINGS THROUGH THE DISCOUNT AND INSTEAD EARN $300,000 ON THE INTERNAL INVESTMENT INCOME. ON PAPER, THE PREPAYMENT OPTION IS STILL MORE FINANCIALLY BENEFICIAL FOR THE CITY. HOWEVER, AT CALPERS' APRIL 15 BOARD MEETING, CEO MARCY FROST DISCUSSED THE $26 BILLION LOSS FOLLOWING THE PRESIDENTIAL ANNOUNCEMENT OF TARIFFS AND WARNED OF TURBULENT TIMES AHEAD. THE QUESTION WE ASK OURSELVES IS, WHY IS THIS SIGNIFICANT? IF THE CITY ELECTS TO PREPAY AND CALPERS EXPERIENCES A DOWNTURN OVER THE SUMMER, THE CITY STANDS TO LOSE MORE ON ITS PREPAID INVESTMENT. THE LOSS WOULD BE SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER, HOWEVER, IF THE CITY ELECTED TO MAKE MONTHLY PAYMENTS. SIMPLY PUT, THE UPSIDE TO PREPAYING IS 3% SAVINGS OR APPROXIMATELY 1.5% NET OF CITY INVESTMENT INCOME, THE RISK TO PREPAYING IS CALPERS EXPERIENCING NEGATIVE INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE. THE FISCAL YEAR '26 BUDGET, AS IT STANDS BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING, ASSUMES THAT THE CITY WILL BE MAKING THE SWITCH TO MONTHLY PAYMENTS. IN OTHER WORDS, NOT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE 3% UPFRONT SAVINGS. HOWEVER, SHOULD THE CITY COUNCIL PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE DIRECTION, STAFF WOULD REQUEST THAT THE CITY COUNCIL MAKE A MOTION TO DIRECT STAFF TO MAKE THE PREPAYMENT, AS WELL AS REDUCE THE BUDGET AUTHORITY ACROSS THE RESPECTIVE ENTITIES. THE UNFUNDED ACTUARIAL LIABILITY IS SPREAD ACROSS ALL FUNDING SOURCES. AS A RESULT IN ACCORDANCE WITH A POTENTIAL MOTION THAT THE CITY COUNCIL MAY OFFER, THE TOTAL SAVINGS THAT WOULD BE ACHIEVED IS $605,366. THE CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION WOULD BE REDUCING BUDGET AUTHORITY BY $579,685. THE CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT RESOLUTION WOULD BE REDUCING BUDGET AUTHORITY BY $23,664. THE CARLSBAD HOUSING AUTHORITY RESOLUTION WOULD BE REDUCING BUDGET AUTHORITY BY $2,017. >> ALTHOUGH TODAY, THE CITY REMAINS FINANCIALLY HEALTHY, CARLSBAD IS FACING AND PLANNING AHEAD FOR NEW FISCAL CHALLENGES. INFLATION HAS DECLINED AND COOLED SINCE THE 8.3% HIGH BACK IN MAY OF 2022. HOWEVER, IT HAS CLIMBED FROM 2.5% IN SEPTEMBER OF 2024 TO 3.8% AS OF BOTH MARCH 2025 AND MAY OF 2025. WITH THE UNCERTAINTY SURROUNDING TRADE POLICY, THERE IS RISK OF INFLATION CONTINUING TO RISE FURTHER INTO THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR. DIMINISHED CONSUMER DEMAND DRIVEN PRIMARILY [01:35:03] BY THE RISK IN UNKNOWNS ASSOCIATED WITH TRADE POLICY. AS WELL AS CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REACHING ITS LOWEST POINT SINCE THE MIDST OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC CONTINUE TO PRESENT FISCAL CHALLENGES FOR THE CITY. PENSION FUNDING CONTINUES TO BE A CHALLENGE AND WILL BE IN YEARS TO COME. INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE COSTS, NOT ONLY THE VOLUME OR THE NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT ARE IDENTIFIED AND RECOMMENDED FOR CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER, BUT THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THEM. MUCH OF THOSE COST INCREASES ARE DRIVEN BY THE SUSTAINED LEVELS OF INFLATION THAT HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCED OVER THE LAST THREE, FOUR YEARS, AS WELL AS UNCERTAINTY SURROUNDING TRADE POLICY. STORMWATER FUNDING GAP IS A RELATIVELY NEW CHALLENGE THAT WE DISCUSSED DURING THE PRELIMINARY BUDGET MEETING. IN PAST YEARS, THE STORMWATER ENTERPRISE PROGRAM HAS RELIED ON EXISTING RESERVES TO FUND OPERATIONS. HOWEVER, IN THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR, A $2 MILLION INVESTMENT FROM THE GENERAL FUND WILL BE NEEDED TO ENSURE CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS. ABSENT ANY ADDITIONAL REVENUE SOURCES OR FUNDING SOURCES WITHIN THE STORMWATER PROGRAM, ADDITIONAL GENERAL FUND SUBSIDIES OR TRANSFERS MAY NEED TO BE CONSIDERED IN FUTURE YEARS. NEXT, WE'LL BE LOOKING AT PROJECTED REVENUES AND THE PROPOSED EXPENDITURES. WE'RE GOING TO BE PROVIDING A HIGH-LEVEL LOOK BY FUND TYPE. AGAIN, WE'RE LOOKING AT CITYWIDE REVENUES BY FUND TYPE, STARTING WITH THE GENERAL FUND. COMPARED TO CURRENT YEAR ESTIMATES, THE GENERAL FUND IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE BY 1.1% OR $22.7 MILLION. THE MAJORITY OF THIS INCREASE IS DRIVEN BY CONTINUED POSITIVE GROWTH WITHIN THE CITY'S PROPERTY TAX REVENUE SOURCE. AT THIS POINT, THE CITY HAS RECEIVED NO INDICATION FROM THE COUNTY ASSESSOR'S OFFICE REGARDING ANY ADVERSE IMPACTS THAT MAY BE EXPERIENCED IN THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR REGARDING PROPERTY VALUES, AND ULTIMATELY, PROPERTY TAX REVENUES FOR THE CITY. SHOULD THERE BE A DOWNTURN OR A DECLINE IN PROPERTY VALUES, THE CITY AND THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE SOURCE WOULD LIKELY NOT BE IMPACTED UNTIL FISCAL YEAR '26, '27. I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT, HOWEVER, WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND REVENUES, AND AS PRESENTED ON MAY 20TH AS WELL, WE ARE APPLYING A MORE CONSERVATIVE APPROACH WITH OUR SALES TAX REVENUES. WE'RE PROJECTING A DECLINE OVER CURRENT YEAR ESTIMATES OF APPROXIMATELY 2.6% OR $1.5 MILLION. MUCH OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE SUSTAINED LEVELS OF INFLATION THAT HAVE DRIVEN DIMINISHED CONSUMER DEMAND, AS WELL AS TRYING TO ACCOUNT FOR THE UNCERTAINTY SURROUNDING EXISTING TRADE POLICY. SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS ARE ESTIMATED TO DECREASE BY 28%. THIS IS DRIVEN BY A ONE-TIME ENCAMPMENT RESOLUTION FUNDING GRANT THAT WAS RECEIVED IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR THAT WON'T BE RECEIVED IN THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR. ENTERPRISE FUNDS ARE INCREASING BY 17% DUE TO WATER RECYCLED WATER, AS WELL AS WASTEWATER RATE INCREASES THAT ARE SCHEDULED TO GO INTO EFFECT ON JULY 1ST, 2025. INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS ARE DECREASING NEARLY 11% DUE TO A ONE-TIME TRANSFER IN TO THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION FUND IN FISCAL YEAR 25, THAT IS NOT SCHEDULED OR PROGRAMMED FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR. LOOKING AT CITY-WIDE EXPENSES. THE GENERAL FUND PROPOSES A $4.4 MILLION INCREASE OR 1.8%. AGAIN, AT A TIME, I JUST RECEIVED THE INFLATIONARY DATA FOR THE MONTH OF MAY OF 3.8%. MUCH OF THE INCREASE YEAR OVER YEAR IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO NEGOTIATED COMPENSATION AGREEMENTS THAT WERE AUTHORIZED BY THE CITY COUNCIL. ADDITIONALLY, THE AUTHORIZATION OF SIX POLICE DEPARTMENT STAFF THAT WERE AUTHORIZED BY COUNSEL BACK IN MARCH OF 2025, AS WELL AS VARIOUS SUPPLEMENTAL REQUESTS, MS. ROCHA REFERENCED THE $2.6 MILLION AERIAL LADDER TRUCK, THAT IS ALSO CONTRIBUTING TO THE YEAR-OVER-YEAR INCREASE. SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS ARE INCREASING BY 16% OR $3.5 MILLION, DRIVEN BY A $1.5 MILLION INCREASE IN CONTINUUM OF CARE GRANT FUNDING, FEDERAL RENTAL ASSISTANCE FUNDING, AS WELL AS PERMANENT LOCAL HOUSING GRANT FUNDING. ENTERPRISE FUNDS ARE INCREASING BY $28 MILLION OR 24%. APPROXIMATELY $16 MILLION OF THIS INCREASE IS SIMPLY THE MOVEMENT OF FUNDS FROM RECYCLED WATER OPERATING TO RECYCLED WATER CAPITAL, RESULTING IN A NET ZERO BOTTOM LINE. THE REMAINING INCREASE OF $12 MILLION IS MOSTLY DRIVEN BY INCREASES IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY RATES, YSIDRO WASTEWATER AUTHORITY RATES, AS WELL AS YSIDRO WATER DISTRICT RATE INCREASES. THEN LASTLY, INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS ARE INCREASING BY 3.8 MILLION OR 9.3%. THIS INCREASE IS COMPRISED OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, AND FLEET REPLACEMENT CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS THAT ARE [01:40:01] OFFSET BY A REDUCTION IN YEAR-OVER-YEAR RISK MANAGEMENT COSTS. HERE'S A LOOK AT THE FISCAL YEAR '25, '26 FIVE-YEAR GENERAL FUND FORECAST. AS MS. ROCHA HAD NOTED, ONE OF THE IMPORTANT TAKEAWAYS IN LOOKING AT THIS IS THAT FOR THE NEXT FIVE FISCAL YEARS, THE CITY IS NOT PROJECTING TO EXPERIENCE AN ANNUAL DEFICIT, NOT UNTIL FISCAL YEAR '30, '31. THAT IS THE SAME TIME FRAME AS WHEN WE PRESENTED THE FORECAST AT THE SAME TIME LAST YEAR. MUCH OF THE CHANGES YEAR OVER YEAR THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING ARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO SOME OF OUR MORE ECONOMICALLY SENSITIVE REVENUE SOURCES LIKE SALES TAX, WE TALKED ABOUT, DIMINISHED CONSUMER DEMAND, LOW CONSUMER CONFIDENCE, AS WELL AS TRYING TO ACCOUNT FOR ANY POTENTIAL ADVERSE IMPACTS FROM TRADE POLICIES THAT COULD GO INTO EFFECT IN THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR. MUCH OF THAT IS IMPACTING OUR REVENUE SOURCES. ON THE FLIP SIDE, AND ONE OF THE GOOD STORIES HERE, WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE GENERAL FUND FORECAST AND COMPARING IT OVER PREVIOUS YEARS, IS THE POSTPONEMENT OF THAT PROJECTED ANNUAL DEFICIT UNTIL FISCAL YEAR '30, '31. IN ADDITION TO POSITIVE REVENUE PERFORMANCE, MUCH OF THAT SUCCESS WAS TIED TO THREE YEARS OF ANNUAL BUDGET REDUCTIONS THAT WERE SET FORTH IN THE LAST THREE ADOPTED BUDGETS, ACCUMULATING APPROXIMATELY $5 MILLION IN ONGOING SAVINGS. NEXT, WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS BRIEFLY THE STRATEGIC DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION INVESTMENT PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM IS A FIVE-YEAR PLAN COMPRISED OF 40 PROJECTS TOTALING $37.9 MILLION. BEFORE YOU, WE HAVE A LIST OF THE NEW PROJECTS THAT ARE PROPOSED, A TOTAL FUNDING REQUEST OF $320,000. SOME OF THE NOTABLE PROJECTS INCLUDE RECORDS MANAGEMENT, MODULE AND SOLUTION, WEBSITE REDESIGN, AS WELL AS EARLY LITERACY INTERACTIVE TECHNOLOGY. THE NEXT WE'LL BE LOOKING AT THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, STARTING WITH SOME OF THE PRIORITY PROJECTS AND THE ANTICIPATED CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULES, MOST NOTABLY FOR VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK, SCHEDULED TO COMMENCE IN FALL OF 2025, AS WELL AS THE ORION CENTER, SCHEDULED TO COMMENCE CONSTRUCTION DURING THE SUMMER OF 2026. THE TOTAL APPROPRIATION REQUEST THAT THE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE CONSIDERING IS APPROXIMATELY $47 MILLION, THE MAJORITY OF WHICH ARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO MAINTENANCE PROJECTS. I JUST WANT TO REMIND THE CITY COUNCIL THAT FOR ANY CRITICAL NEED OR STRATEGIC PLAN PROJECTS, THE PRACTICE, AS PUT IN PLACE AS PART OF LAST YEAR'S BUDGET IS TO NOT REQUEST CONSTRUCTION APPROPRIATIONS AS PART OF THE ANNUAL CIP PROCESS, BUT RATHER ONLY WHEN FINAL DESIGN IS COMPLETE AND STAFF RETURN TO CITY COUNCIL REQUESTING AUTHORIZATION TO BID. AT THAT TIME, WILL STAFF REQUEST THE NECESSARY CONSTRUCTION APPROPRIATIONS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL? AGAIN, THE RECOMMENDED ACTIONS ARE TO HOLD THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ADOPT THE RESOLUTIONS, AND WE ARE AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. >> THANK YOU, ZACH AND LAURA. THERE IS REALLY SOMETHING TO LOVE FOR EVERYONE IN THIS BUDGET BECAUSE IT'S FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE WHILE MAKING INVESTMENTS IN SEVERAL AREAS OF CRITICAL IMPORTANCE THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED BY THE COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY. SEVERAL EVENTS OF THIS PAST WEEK, AS WELL AS THE START OF SUMMER, HAVE REINFORCED THE IMPORTANCE AND NEED FOR THESE PROPOSED INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC SAFETY, BOTH IN FIRE AND POLICE, AS WELL AS LIBRARY, PARK SERVICES, PUBLIC WORKS, AND CITY OPERATIONS AS WELL. THE BUDGET TEAM HAS DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB PREPARING THIS BUDGET, AND IT'S MY PLEASURE TO PRESENT THIS TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR YOUR APPROVAL. NOW, BEFORE WE MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENT AND COUNCIL DELIBERATIONS, I WANTED TO PROVIDE A BIT OF INFORMATION ON ONE SUBJECT THAT WE'VE RECEIVED SOME COMMUNICATION ON, AND LIKELY SOMETHING WE'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT THIS EVENING. THERE ARE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS IDENTIFIED IN TODAY'S BUDGET ACTION RELATED TO SYNTHETIC TURF REPLACEMENT. IT IS SETTING ASIDE FUNDING TO BEGIN A MULTI-YEAR AND MULTI-PARK ACTIVITY THAT WOULD ULTIMATELY RESULT IN THE REPLACEMENT OF CARLSBAD'S EXISTING SYNTHETIC TURF ATHLETIC FIELDS. WHEN THE TIME COMES TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THESE PROJECTS, CITY STAFF WILL RETURN TO CITY COUNCIL AT FUTURE DATES TO SEEK DIRECTION WHETHER TO PROCEED WITH A CONTRACT OR NOT. COUNCIL WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS SYNTHETIC TURF OR GRASS FIELDS AT THAT TIME AND PROVIDE DIRECTION AT A HEARING WHERE WE WILL BE ABLE TO RECEIVE INPUT FROM NOT JUST THOSE CONCERNED ABOUT SYNTHETIC TURF, BUT ALSO BY THE USER GROUPS OF OUR FIELDS AS WELL. TONIGHT'S ACTIVITY IS SETTING ASIDE MONEY, [01:45:02] BUT THE CITY COUNCIL WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE DIRECTION WHEN WE BRING SPECIFIC PARK PROJECTS FORWARD FOR CONTRACT APPROVAL. THANK YOU. >> PLEASE CALL SPEAKERS. >> CHRISTIAN PEACOCK, FOLLOWED BY LINDA DANIELS. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS CHRISTIAN PEACOCK, AND I SERVE AS CITY TREASURER. I'M SPEAKING TONIGHT REGARDING THE 2025, '26 OPERATING BUDGET, AND SPECIFICALLY, THE PROPOSED PLAN TO SPREAD THE CALPERS' UNFUNDED LIABILITY PAYMENTS OVER 12 MONTHS, RATHER THAN CONTINUING OUR LONGSTANDING PRACTICE OF PREPAYING THE FULL AMOUNT AT THE START OF THE FISCAL YEAR. THE ONLY REASON WHY WE WOULDN'T PREPAY IS IF WE EXPECTED A DOWNTURN IN PERFORMANCE AND CALPERS, OR IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY, THE LIQUIDITY TO MAKE THE PREPAYMENT. THERE ARE THREE KEY REASONS, I BELIEVE, THAT THE CITY SHOULD CONTINUE TO PREPAY THE OBLIGATION. FIRST, THE FINANCIAL SAVINGS ARE SIGNIFICANT AND GUARANTEED. PREPAYING THE 18 MILLION UNFUNDED LIABILITY THIS YEAR WILL SAVE THE CITY OVER $600,000, AND THAT'S A CERTAIN BENEFIT, A CLEAR OPPORTUNITY TO LOCK IN SAVINGS WHILE REDUCING RISK. SECOND, EARLY PAYMENT REDUCES OUR LONG-TERM LIABILITY. PREPAYING LOWERS OUR UNFUNDED ACCRUED LIABILITY IMMEDIATELY, WHICH MEANS WE PAY LESS INTEREST OVER TIME. IT'S JUST A SMART COMPOUNDING BENEFIT THAT IMPROVES OUR FINANCIAL POSITION IN THE YEARS AHEAD. THIRD, TRYING TO TIME THE MARKET, ANTICIPATING A NEGATIVE PERFORMANCE FROM CALPERS, IS JUST NOT A SOUND STRATEGY. IT ASSUMES THAT WE CAN PREDICT SHORT-TERM INVESTMENT RESULTS, BUT WE CAN'T. JUST BY EXAMPLE, THE SMP DROPPED BELOW 5,000 IN APRIL AND ROSE OVER 20% BY EARLY JUNE. I DON'T THINK ANYONE COULD HAVE FORECAST THAT SWING WITH CERTAINTY. OUR JOB ISN'T TO REALLY SPECULATE. IT'S TO MAKE PRUDENT, EVIDENCE-BASED DECISIONS. PREPAYING ALSO ALIGNS WITH CARLSBAD'S CONSISTENT FINANCIAL DISCIPLINE. WE'VE DONE THIS IN PRIOR YEARS, GOING BACK TO 2019, AND BREAKING FROM THAT PRECEDENT NOW INTRODUCES UNNECESSARY GUESSWORK AND TO WHAT HAS BEEN A STABLE, RESPONSIBLE APPROACH. WE SHOULD AVOID HAVING TO ASK OURSELVES EACH YEAR, WHAT DO WE THINK CALPERS IS GOING TO DO IN THE FIRST COUPLE OF MONTHS. THAT'S NOT THE CERTAINTY WE WANT IN OUR FINANCIAL PLANNING. LASTLY, ABOUT THE LIQUIDITY, I WANT TO ASSURE EVERYONE THAT THE CITY'S LIQUIDITY POSITION REMAINS STRONG. EVEN WITH THE PREPAYMENT, WE CONTINUE TO MEET OUR POLICY THAT TWO-THIRDS OF THE BUDGET MATURES WITHIN ONE YEAR. IN SUMMARY, PREPAYING SAVES THE CITY MONEY, LOWERS OUR LONG-TERM DEBT REFLECTS THE SOUND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT THAT CARLSBAD IS KNOWN FOR. I URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO TAKE ACTION TO CONTINUE PREPAYING OUR CALPERS UNFUNDED LIABILITY. THANK YOU. >> LINDA DANIELS, FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL MCMAHON. >> ME AGAIN. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT ARTIFICIAL TURF. I'M A 12-YEAR RESIDENT OF CARLSBAD AND JUST A PERSON WHO WANTS TO TRY TO SAVE THE PLANET, STARTING WITH THE CITY OF CARLSBAD. I WANT CARLSBAD TO CONSIDER DROUGHT, TOLERANT, COST-EFFICIENT ALTERNATIVES TO SYNTHETIC TURF THAT PROVIDES GREEN FIELDS AND DURABILITY FOR SPORTS, BETTER SAFETY FOR OUR CHILD ATHLETES, AND FOR EXAMPLE, HYBRID BERMUDA GRASS WITH FULL OVERSEEDING OF PERENNIAL RYE GRASS. THE ARTIFICIAL TURF YOU PROPOSE IN YOUR BUDGET IS TOXIC. EMITTING FUMES WHEN IT'S HOT. THIS IS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, IT GETS HOT HERE, AND MUST BE CONSTANTLY REPLACED AT COST OF BETWEEN 3 MILLION AND 5 MILLION PER YEAR. IN 2025-2026, YOU'RE GOING TO DO FOUR PARKS AT COST OF 5 MILLION, AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO DO MORE IN '26, '27 AT ANOTHER COST OF ANOTHER 3 MILLION. PLEASE CONSIDER AN ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY AND LESS EXPENSIVE WAY TO COVER OUR PARKS. THANK YOU. >> MICHAEL MCMAHON, FOLLOWED BY VANESSA FORSYTH. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS MIKE MCMAHON. I AM A 12-YEAR RESIDENT OF CARLSBAD, [01:50:01] AND I WANT TO THANK THE CITY MANAGER FOR HIS TALKING ABOUT REVIEWING THE MATTER OF CITY TURF THAT'S WITHIN THIS BUDGET. AND I THINK THE SYNTHETIC TURF COSTS ARE OVER $7 MILLION FOR YEARS 1 AND 2, WHICH DIDN'T INCLUDE THE PREVIOUS FOUR MILLION FOR STAGECOACH AND POINT SET OF PARKS. ALONG WITH A HUGE DOLLAR AMOUNT, I THINK OUR CITY NEEDS TO BE LOOKING AT THE BIG PICTURE. THE TOTAL LIFE CYCLE CARBON FOOTPRINT, COST OF ARTIFICIAL TURF, WHICH INCLUDES MANUFACTURING, TRANSPORTATION, INSTALLATION, TO EVENTUAL DISPOSAL EVERY 10 YEARS, WHICH IS HUNDREDS OF YARDS OF SYNTHETIC TURF DUMPED INTO LANDFILLS, WHERE IT CONTINUES TO EMIT GREENHOUSE GASES FOR DECADES INTO THE FUTURE. IN CONTRAST, GRASS, LIKE ALL LIVING PLANTS, TAKES UP CARBON DIOXIDE, RELEASES OXYGEN, PROMOTES ECOSYSTEMS, IS MUCH COOLER, AND EVEN PLAYS A ROLE IN OUR CITY'S CARBON SEQUESTRATION EFFORTS IN OUR CLIMATE ACTION PLAN. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR RECONSIDERING AND REVIEWING OUR SYSTEMATIC USE OF ARTIFICIAL TURF, AND PLEASE IMPLEMENT A CITYWIDE REPLACEMENT POLICY INSTEAD, DO A SAFER, SUSTAINABLE GRASS FOR PLAYING FIELDS IN THIS BUDGET. THANK YOU. >> VANESSA FORSYTH FOLLOWED BY PATTY LANGAN. >> I THINK OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN TO THIS, BUT AGAIN, MY NAME IS VANESSA FORSYTH. I'VE LIVED IN CARLSBAD FOR 25 YEARS. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IT IS COSTING IN TERMS OF THE ENVIRONMENT, IMPACT ON THE HEALTH OF OUR CHILDREN, TO REPLACE SYNTHETIC TURF EVERY 8-10 YEARS. WHEN WE CONSIDER HOW MUCH IT COSTS FISCALLY, I THINK IT'S PROHIBITIVE THERE. I'M ASKING THAT THERE BE A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS DONE BY STAFF TO SAY, WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO RETURN TO GREEN GRASS AT OUR FIELDS IN OUR PARKS? >> BASICALLY, SYNTHETIC TURF IS MADE OF DIFFERENT LAYERS, AND THERE ARE SOME LAYERS THAT ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS, AND SOME IMPROVEMENTS OVER TIME, BUT WE'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT PLASTIC. PLASTIC IS PETROLEUM PRODUCT THAT DOES NOT JUST BENEFIT THE SOIL OR THE ENVIRONMENT. ACTUALLY, IT ENDS UP NEEDING TO BE EITHER INCINERATED OR JUST IN OUR LANDFILLS. MY FRIEND NOTICED THIS THAT BACK WHEN WE FIRST CAME ACROSS SYNTHETIC TURF, IT SEEMED LIKE A GREAT THING, LOT OF BENEFITS INITIALLY, BUT NOW WE KNOW MORE. IT IS CONTAINING CARCINOGEN. IT CAN CAUSE MORE LOWER LIMB INJURIES, AND I KNOW THAT THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY SIERRA CLUB HAS DONE A WHITE PAPER ON THIS, AND I ENCOURAGE THAT TO BE LOOKED AT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE THE CONCERNS IN TERMS OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS. YEAH. MY FRIEND SAID THAT LIKE BACK WHEN WE WERE FIRST RAISING OUR KIDS, SYNTHETIC TURF FOR OUR FIELD SEEMED GREAT. AS DID ELVITA CHEESE, AND ALSO WHAT WAS HE A WELL, I KNOW FLUFF, MY KID LOVE FLUFF. THESE THINGS ARE NOT GOOD AND HEALTHY FOR OUR KIDS. AGAIN, REALLY URGING ACTION ON THIS. I AM GLAD TO HEAR WHAT THE CITY MANAGER ADDRESSED. IN TERMS OF THAT, WE WILL BE LOOKING AT EACH INDIVIDUAL PROJECT. TO SPEND ANOTHER $10 MILLION ON THIS IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS DOES NOT MAKE SENSE IN TERMS OF SYNTHETIC TURF. WE NEED GREEN GRASS. WE NEED OUR KIDS TO FEEL THAT GRASS AND PLAY IN THAT GRASS. THANK YOU. >> PATTY LANGAN FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL KING. >> I'M PATTY LANGAN WITH BUENA VISTA AUDUBON SOCIETY. GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. FIRST, A QUICK THANK YOU FOR ESTABLISHING THE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION. WE REALLY THANK YOU FOR THAT. I'M HERE TONIGHT ON BEHALF OF BUENA VISTA AUDUBON TO REQUEST THAT THE CITY ADD AT LEAST TWO MORE RANGERS TO ITS STAFF. RIGHT NOW, ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES ARE CAUSING SERIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE ACROSS OUR PRESERVES AND OPEN SPACES. THE DAMAGE ISN'T JUST COSTLY TO REPAIR. IT ALSO DEGRADES SENSITIVE HABITATS THAT TAKE A LONG TIME AND A LOT OF EFFORT TO RESTORE SUSTAINABLE WILDLIFE HABITAT. WE TRULY APPRECIATE THE CITY COUNCIL'S RECENT COMMITMENT OF $75,000 FOR ADDITIONAL TRAIL MAINTENANCE, [01:55:05] BUT WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN REPAIR. ADDITIONAL RANGERS CAN HELP STOP THE DAMAGE BEFORE IT HAPPENS. TODAY, ONLY TWO RANGERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MONITORING OVER 70 MILES OF TRAILS, ALONG WITH ALL OF THE CITY'S PARKS AND BEACHES, THAT'S SIMPLY NOT SUSTAINABLE. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO ASK YOUR PARKS AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES STAFF JUST HOW DIFFICULT THIS JOB HAS BECOME. WHEN THE HABITAT MANAGEMENT PLAN WAS ADOPTED 20 YEARS AGO. IT CAME WITH AN OPEN SPACE MANAGEMENT PLAN THAT RECOMMENDED FOUR FULL TIME RANGERS AND ONE FULL TIME SUPERVISOR. THAT STAFFING LEVEL HAS NEVER BEEN MET, EVEN AS THE SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITY HAS INCREASED, AND MORE PEOPLE THAN EVER ARE USING OUR NATURAL LANDS. WE ASK THAT THE CITY HONOR THE INTENT OF THAT ORIGINAL PLAN AND PROVIDE THE STAFF NEEDED TO PROTECT OUR OPEN SPACE. PLEASE FUND AT LEAST TWO MORE RANGERS. THANK YOU. >> MICHAEL KING, FOLLOWED BY DIANE WEIMER. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR BLACKBURN, MAYOR PRO TEM BOT PATEL AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS MICHAEL KING, AND I AM A CONSERVATION ORGANIZER WITH THE SIERRA CLUB OF SAN DIEGO, AND I AM HERE REPRESENTING OUR OVER 1,000 MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS HERE IN CARLSBAD. FIRST OFF, I WANT TO COMMEND THE COUNCIL FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE AND FOR THE FUNDING DESIGNATED FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF YOUR CAP. THIS IS AN ENCOURAGING STEP TOWARDS FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE. HOWEVER, I WANT TO COMMUNICATE OUR CONCERNS REGARDING THE CONTINUED USE OF SYNTHETIC TURF HERE IN CARLSBAD AS PART OF THE CURRENT BUDGET. THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH IMPACTS OF SYNTHETIC TURF ARE MANY. AS A SYNTHETIC FIELD IS USED AND EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS, THE PLASTIC BLADES BREAK UP INTO MICROPLASTICS. ALL OF WHICH MAY TRAVEL INTO THE SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT OR BE TAKEN UP BY FIELDS USED VIA INGESTION, INHALATION, SKIN ABSORPTION, AND OPEN WOUNDS OR BROKEN SKIN. THIS LEADS TO TOXIC EXPOSURE AND INGESTION OF PATHLATES, WHICH CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE ENDOCRINE AND REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEMS, AS WELL AS DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES IN CHILDREN, AS WELL AS HEAVY METALS, LEAD, AND CADMIUM, AND PFA CHEMICALS. RESEARCH HAS IDENTIFIED A TOTAL OF 306 CHEMICALS IN ARTIFICIAL TURF WITH 52 CLASSIFIED AS CARCINOGENS, AND ANOTHER SIX SUSPECTED OR PRESUMED TO BE CARCINOGENIC. CHILDREN ARE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO THE EFFECTS OF TOXIC CHEMICALS DUE TO THEIR RAPIDLY DEVELOPING ORGAN SYSTEMS AND IMMATURE DETOXIFICATION MECHANISMS. CHILDREN BREATHE MORE AIR PER UNIT OF BODY WEIGHT THAN ADULTS AND HAVE GREATER POTENTIAL FOR HAND TO MOUTH EXPOSURE TO CONTAMINANTS THAN ADULTS DO. IN LIGHT OF THESE REALITIES, WE WOULD STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO DIRECT STAFF TO DO A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS THAT CONSIDERS THE COMPARATIVE COSTS, ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH IMPACTS OF RETURNING OUR FIELDS BACK TO NATURAL GRASS, RATHER THAN CONTINUING OUTLAY FOR SYNTHETIC TURF AND THAT THERE BE A MORATORIUM ON ANY FURTHER OUTLAY OF FUNDS FOR USE AND REPLACEMENTS OF SYNTHETIC TURF UNTIL THIS STUDY BY A CITY STAFF IS COMPLETED AND PRESENTED TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO THE COUNCIL. IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION AND DATA ON SYNTHETIC TURF, I WOULD BE VERY HAPPY TO PROVIDE ANY RESOURCES THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO THE COUNCIL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. >> DIANE WEIMER FOLLOWED BY DIANE NYGARD. >> GOOD EVENING. CITIZENS FOR NORTH COUNTY ASK YOU TO SUPPORT THE BUDGET ITEMS, SUPPORTING TWO RANGERS TO THE CITY'S TRAIL MONITORING PROGRAM, AS WELL AS JOINS IN REMOVAL OF ARTIFICIAL TURF FIELDS OF PLAY FOR MONITORING PROGRAMS FOR HEALTH REASONS. WE ALSO, OF COURSE, ARE HERE TO ASK FOR AN ALLOCATION OF FUNDS FOR WORK ON THE AGUA HEDONDA SOUTH SHORE TRAILS OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS. WE WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND TO SOME OF THE CONCERNS RAISED BY STAFF ON MAY 20TH ON THIS TOPIC. OBJECTIONS INCLUDED THROWING AWAY GOOD MONEY WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW IF THE TRAILS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN. SUGGESTING IT WILL TAKE MILLIONS PLURAL TO COMPLETE THE TRAILS WHEN THE EXPENSE IS CLOSER TO 1 MILLION IN ALL PREVIOUS ESTIMATES. THERE ALSO WAS THE IMPLICATION PART OF THE DEAL MIGHT BE REJECTED BY THE PUC BECAUSE THIS HAS NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE. THE LAST ONE IS JUST ODD. THE STATUTE UPON WHICH THE SETTLEMENT IS PREDICATED WAS DRAFTED BY LEGISLATORS TO PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK FOR RESOLVING JUST THESE TYPES OF PROBLEMS. CNC HAS SOUGHT LEGAL REVIEW AND FOUND NO INDICATION THERE WOULD BE GROUNDS FOR STRIKING THE TRAIL SECTION FROM THE AGREEMENT. THE PUC'S OBLIGATION IS TO MAKE SURE THAT A UTILITY DOES NOT CONVEY AWAY OR TRANSFER ASSETS OUT OF ITS CONTROL, AND THEN SUDDENLY CLAIM IT DOES NOT HAVE THE WHEREWITHAL TO MEET ITS UTILITY OBLIGATIONS TO THE COMMUNITY. THESE PARCELS INVOLVED IN DEVELOPING THE TRAIL HAVE NOT BEEN PRESENTED AS AN ASSET [02:00:03] CRITICAL TO SDG&E'S ABILITY TO MEET ITS POWER GENERATION AND DELIVERY OBLIGATIONS, WHICH IS THE SPECIFIC CRITERIA ON WHICH THE PUC MAKES ITS DECISION IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE STATUTES, SECTION 851 AND AS ARTICULATED IN THE HIP VERSUS PUC COMMISSION DECISION. ADDITIONALLY, IN OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH PUC LOBBYISTS AND CONSULTANTS, THE TRAILS PORTION IS VIEWED AS A POSITIVE OUTCOME. IT BURNISHES A PROJECT THAT UP TO THIS POINT IS NOT A POSTER CHILD FOR HOW THINGS SHOULD BE DONE. THE CITY HAS PRESENTED THIS SDG AGREEMENT IN TOTAL WITH CONFIDENCE. THERE IS NO REASON TO REIN DOUBT ON THIS SEGMENT AND TO USE THAT AS AN EXCUSE TO NOT PROCEED WITH LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR TIMELY ACTION ON TRAIL COMPLETION. THERE ARE MANY PROJECTS AWAITING CONDITIONAL APPROVALS, WHICH PERK ALONG BECAUSE FUNDS ARE SET ASIDE AS PART OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BUDGET OR EVEN THE OPERATING BUDGET. IN THIS CASE, WE'RE TALKING SOIL ANALYSIS, DRAINAGE, AND DESIGN. A MORE PROACTIVE STANCE WOULD BE TO CRAFT AN INSURANCE POLICY TO COVER TRAIL DEVELOPMENT UNTIL FINAL APPROVAL IS OBTAINED, THAT WOULD BE LIABILITY WARRANTY INSURANCE. THIS COMMUNITY HAS BEEN WAITING FOR THESE TRAILS FOR OVER 40 YEARS. RESPECT FOR THE COMMUNITY, DEMONSTRATION OF A COMMITMENT TO COMPETENT MANAGEMENT, WHATEVER THE REASON THAT APPEALS TO YOU MOST. PLEASE TAKE ACTION NOW. WE PROPOSED 100,000 EACH YEAR FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS FROM THE 790,000 ALREADY ALLOCATED, OF WHICH A BALANCE OF 560,000 REMAINS. LET'S BE REASONABLE AND FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THIS. THE CITY DOESN'T NEED TO FIND ITSELF TAKING EXPENSIVE SHORTCUTS BECAUSE IT IS IN DELAY MODE INSTEAD OF DELIVERY MODE. THANK YOU. >> DIANE NYGARD FOLLOWED BY PAIGE DASINO. >> GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNSEL, DIANE NYGARD, REPRESENTING PRESERVE [INAUDIBLE] AND I'M GOING TO TRY TO KEEP MY COLD TO MYSELF TONIGHT. LAST MONTH WHEN WE WERE HERE, WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT ADDITIONAL RANGERS HAD ACTUALLY BEEN REQUESTED IN THE BUDGET. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY WERE A LITTLE DELAYED IN GETTING THAT REQUEST IN, SO IT DIDN'T GET INCORPORATED IN THE CHIEF STAFFING PLAN. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT ADDING RANGERS, WE ASK YOU TO THINK ABOUT IT AS AN INVESTMENT IN PROTECTING OPEN SPACE AND TRAILS. IT'S A VERY COST EFFECTIVE INVESTMENT. ASK THE PARK STAFF, HOW MUCH MONEY THEY SPEND REPAIRING TRAILS THAT HAVE BEEN DAMAGED BY ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES. ASK YOUR SUSTAINABILITY STAFF ABOUT HOW MUCH DAMAGE TO HABITAT. ASK THE DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE ABOUT THE $8,000,000 THEY HAVE SAID IT WILL COST TO RESTORE THE HABITAT ON THE [INAUDIBLE] HIGHLANDS PRESERVED FROM ILLEGAL MOUNTAIN BIKING ACTIVITIES. WE'RE ASKING FOR AN INVESTMENT TO PREVENT THESE ACTIVITIES. THE MAYOR WAS RIGHT LAST MONTH WHEN HE SAID THAT EACH OF THOSE RANGERS DOES THE WORK OF TWO PEOPLE. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY'RE ASKED TO DO THE WORK OF FOUR, AND THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO INCREASE THE NUMBERS. WE ALSO KNOW THAT AS DIANE SAID, THE RESIDENTS OF CARLSBAD HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR TRAILS ON THE SOUTH SHORE OF AGUA HEDON FOR 40 YEARS. YOU HAVE A CIP PROJECT, YOU HAVE FUNDS SITTING IN THAT ACCOUNT. PLEASE JUST DIRECT YOUR STAFF TO TAKE ACTION AS THIS PROCESS MOVES FORWARD WITH IMPLEMENTING THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT. THERE IS NO ADDITIONAL DELAY WAITING FOR THE TRAILS WORK TO BE DONE SEQUENTIALLY. START THE WORK NOW. THANK YOU. >> PAIGE DASINO, FOLLOWED BY DIANE WILKIE. >> HELLO. PAIGE DASINO. I HAVE A QUESTION FOR STAFF FIRST, AND I'M HOPING THAT THEY CAN GIVE US A BREAKDOWN ON THE CAP EXPENDITURES IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET. IT'S ALL LUMPED TOGETHER, BUT THAT ASIDE. I'M A LONG TIME TRAIL CAPTAIN AT LAKE CALERA PRESERVE, SO I CAN ATTEST TO THE NEED FOR MORE SUPERVISION AT THIS LARGEST OF THE CITY'S NATURAL OPEN SPACE AREAS. PRESERVE IS VERY POPULAR WITH HIKERS AND BIKERS, WHICH IS GREAT, BUT THAT MEANS WE HAVE MORE TRAFFIC AND INCREASED USE, WHICH COMES WITH MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROPER BEHAVIOR AND LAND DEGRADATION. ILLEGAL TRAILS ARE A PARTICULAR CONCERN, WHICH AREN'T NORMALLY ADDRESSED IN A TIMELY MANNER AND JUST GET WORSE OVER TIME. I'VE SEEN THAT HAPPEN A LOT. YES, THERE ARE LAND MANAGERS FREQUENTLY ON THE SITE, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE ANY ENFORCEMENT CAPABILITY. THIS IS WHY WE NEED MORE RANGERS FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE EXISTING TWO RANGERS WHO ARE GREAT ARE JUST SPREAD TOO THIN WITH OVER 7,000 ACRES OF NATURAL OPEN SPACE TO PATROL. THEY CANNOT EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS INFRACTIONS AT ALL OUR OPEN SPACES. AS POINTED OUT EARLIER, A REQUEST FOR THESE TWO ADDITIONAL RANGERS CAME IN AFTER THE DEADLINE. IT'S CLEAR THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT RECOGNIZES THE NEEDS AND WOULD, [02:05:04] I'M SURE, WELCOME FUNDING FOR THOSE. I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST LONG RECOMMENDED ADDITIONAL TWO PARK RANGERS BE ADDED TO THE BUDGET. THANK YOU. >> DIANE WILKIE. >> GOOD EVENING, DIANE WILKIE, BOARD MEMBER OF SAFE HEALTHY PLAYING FIELDS. WE WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT THE WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WE WOULD LIKE TO STATE THAT THE RENDERED MEANINGLESS IN THE CURRENT GLOBAL GEOPOLITICAL ATMOSPHERE. A REQUEST FOR NEARLY $7.5 MILLION FOR PLASTIC PLAYING FIELDS IS UNCONSCIONABLE. IT'S JUST UNCONSCIONABLE. TO REPEAT THIS EVERY 8-10 YEARS ON AVERAGE IS UNFATHOMABLE. CARLSBAD COMMUNITY CURRENTLY HAS OVER 01,212,000 SQUARE FEET OF PLASTIC GRASS CARPET IN ITS SCHOOLS AND PARKS. THE CURRENT FIELDS CONTAIN OVER 208,000 GALLONS OF PETROCHEMICAL OIL. THE EQUIVALENT OF NEARLY 50 MILLION PLASTIC BAGS OR 700 MILLION PLASTIC STRAWS. SQA PROHIBITS USING SYNTHETIC TURF WHEN THERE ARE VIABLE ALTERNATIVES THAT DO NOT HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT. IN THIS CASE, THAT WOULD BE NATURAL GRASS. IF YOU USE FIELDS THAT ARE REGENERATIVELY AND ORGANICALLY MANAGED, THAT BECOMES MUCH MORE COST EFFECTIVE OVER TIME, AND YOU CAN INSTALL APPROXIMATELY 3-4 NATURAL GRASS FIELDS FOR THE COST OF ONE PLASTIC FIELD. TWO OF THE FOUR PARKS IN THE BUDGET PROPOSAL FALL WITHIN THE COASTAL COMMISSION PERMIT ZONE. THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION HAS NOT ALLOWED SYNTHETIC TURF IN ITS OWN SINCE DECEMBER OF 2023. WITH 30 INCHES OF RAINFALL SINCE JANUARY OF 2023, CARLSBAD HAS CONTRIBUTED OVER 13,860,000 GALLONS OF TOXIC RUNOFF, JUST FROM RAIN EVENTS ALONE. THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE POTABLE WATER THAT IS NEEDED TO CLEAN THE FIELDS OR TO COOL THE FIELDS TO PLAYABLE SURFACE TEMPERATURES. OVER 600,000 POUNDS OF MICROPLASTIC BLADES FROM CARLSBAD'S FIVE PLASTIC FIELDS ARE LOST TO THE ENVIRONMENT ANNUALLY. TWELVE TO 15% OF MICROPLASTICS IN OUR WATERWAYS AND OCEANS ARE FROM SYNTHETIC TURF BLADES AND OVER 25% IN NEAR SURFACE WATERS. MICROPLASTICS LEACH CHEMICALS, THE ABSORB OTHERS, AS WELL AS BACTERIA, THREATENING OUR FOOD CHAIN, OUR GROUNDWATER, AND OUR DRINKING WATER. THE SCIENCE SHOWS THAT THESE CHEMICALS THAT [INAUDIBLE] FROM THESE PLASTIC FIELDS ARE TOXIC TO WILD LIFE, AVIAN AND AQUATIC LIFE AND CAUSE MYRIAD DISEASES, NEUROTOXICITY AND CANCERS IN HUMANS. WE URGE YOU NOT TO APPROVE TAXPAYER FUNDING FOR REPLACEMENT OF SYNTHETIC TURF, SAVE THE TIME, AGGRAVATION, AND EXPENSE OF A MORATORIUM IN A STUDY. THE SCIENCE IS ALREADY THERE, AND YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO BRING A BAN ON SYNTHETIC TURF, EVER SINCE 2023, WHEN SB 673, SENATOR BEN ALLEN, WAS SIGNED INTO LAW. WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE NOT [OVERLAPPING]. >> [INAUDIBLE] THANK YOU. >> AS THE FINAL SPEAKER FOR THIS ITEM. >> THANK YOU. QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL. >> MAYOR, WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? >> I'M SORRY. >> WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC. >> YES. THANK YOU FOR THE REMINDER. I'M CLOSING THE PUBLIC COMMENT. QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL MS. BURKLE. >> THANK YOU. JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS. YOU HAD AND THANK YOU FOR THIS BUDGET. I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU THE THANKS AHEAD OF THE THING WITH A 1.8% INCREASE WITH A 3.8% INFLATIONARY RATE. I THINK THAT'S AMAZING, SO I APPRECIATE THAT WORK. WITH REGARD TO THE PRE PAYING FOR THE COWPER PENSION FUNDING, WILL ANY OF THE DEPARTMENTS HAD MENTIONED WHAT AMOUNTS YOU WOULD BE PULLING FROM EACH DEPARTMENT? WILL ANY OF THEM HAVE TO CUT SERVICES AS A RESULT OF THAT? >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER FOR THE QUESTION. THE FUNDING THAT HAS BEEN BUILT INTO THE BUDGET HAS ALREADY BEEN IDENTIFIED OR PLANNED TO BE USED FOR THE UNFUNDED ACTUARIAL LIABILITY PAYMENT. SHOULD THE CITY COUNCIL MAKE THE MOTION TO REDUCE THE BUDGET AUTHORITY, DEPARTMENTS WILL NOT BE IMPACTED OPERATIONALLY. >> I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION AND THEN I WOULD BE HAPPY TO MAKE THAT MOTION, HAVE OUR COLLEAGUES TRY ON THAT, BUT I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION WITH REGARD TO THE PARK RANGERS. I'M THANKFUL FOR THE SPEAKER THAT CAME TONIGHT BECAUSE THAT WAS SOMETHING I WANTED TO ASK. WOULD THAT BE SOMETHING I ASK THE BUDGET OR THE POLICE CHIEF PERHAPS? >> CERTAINLY, WE INVITE THE POLICE CHIEF CHRISTIE CALDERWOOD TO JOIN US TO RESPOND TO QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PARK RANGERS. >> THANK YOU. THE SPEAKER WAS HERE IN MAY, [02:10:06] I BELIEVE TO TELL US ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE PARK RANGERS AND THE PLAN WAS TO HAVE FIVE, AND WE'VE ONLY HAD FOUR, AND WE HAVE TWO. WE'VE NEVER HAD FIVE. THEIR ASK IS FOR FOUR. MY ASK IS HOW MUCH DOES THAT COST? >> I KNOW THE OVERALL COST WAS GIVEN TO FINANCE. I BELIEVE THE ONGOING ANNUAL COST IS AROUND $172,000. THE INITIAL START UP FOR A RANGERS TO APPROXIMATELY 275,000. THAT INCLUDES ALL OF THEIR EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING, AS WELL AS A VEHICLE THAT THEY WOULD NEED. >> THE ALL IN. IS A RANGER OR TWO SOMETHING THAT YOU THINK THE DEPARTMENT NEEDS? >> I WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR. THE TWO RANGERS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE ARE ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. THEIR SCOPE OF SERVICES SINCE WE IMPLEMENTED THE RANGER PROGRAM HAS GROWN EXPONENTIALLY, JUST LIKE OUR OFFICERS ARE SWORN POSITIONS. THEY DO THINGS THAT ARE NOT IN THEIR JOB DESCRIPTION FROM 2017. YOU CAN SEE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE RECENT FIRES WHERE BOTH OF THEM USE THE DRONES FOR THE TRAILS. IF WE HAVE A PRIORITY ONE CALL WHERE LIFE IS BEING THREATENED OR PROPERTY, THEY WILL DEPLOY THE DRONES TO THAT. THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WAS INITIALLY IN THEIR JOB DESCRIPTION. I UNDERSTAND THE PUBLIC COMMENT WHERE ARE THEY BEING SPREAD THEN? YES, BUT ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES ARE. IN TERMS OF TO ADD SOME CONTEXT TO THE COMMENT THAT WAS MADE, I THINK BY MISS NEGARD IN TERMS OF THE RANGERS BEING ADDED LATE TO THE BUDGET. WE HAD A CONVERSATION AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING WHEN THIS WAS DISCUSSED. MY COMMENT WAS THAT WHEN I PRESENTED IN MARCH, WHICH WAS OUTSIDE OF THIS BUDGET PRESENTATION AND WAS APPROVED SIX PERSONNEL, WHICH IS A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT BY COUNCIL. THE RANGER POSITION WAS NOT PRIORITIZED IN THERE. I DID LET HER KNOW THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE ASSESSING EVERY SINGLE ANNUAL BUDGET FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS AND BRINGING FORWARD ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL AND THAT A RANGER MAY BE OR TWO BE BROUGHT FORWARD IN THAT. TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, DO WE HAVE WORK FOR RANGERS? ABSOLUTELY. >> THANK YOU. ABSOLUTE THAT'S ALL I NEEDED TO KNOW. I DON'T WANT TO KEEP YOU. I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA HOW MY COLLEAGUES FEEL ABOUT THIS, BUT I WOULD MOVE TO APPROVE AT LEAST ONE RANGER IN THIS FISCAL YEAR, AND WHAT? >> [INAUDIBLE]. >> YEAH, WE CAN HOLD, BUT THAT'S MY INTENT, AS WELL AS THE ITEM THAT WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT WITH THE ONE TIME PRE-PAY. THAT'S ALL I HAD. THANK YOU. >> ACOSTA. >> THANK YOU. I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT PRESENTATION. I WANTED TO GO I THINK I HAVE SOME SIMILAR ONES. I WANT TO TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT THE PREPAYMENT FOR OUR CALPERS, BECAUSE I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THIS. AS A COUNCIL, I MADE A DECISION SEPARATELY. I WANT TO GO OVER WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT AND WHY WE MADE THE DECISION TO NOT PREPAY BECAUSE IN MY PERSONAL LIFE, I WOULD PREPAY TO AVOID HAVING TO MAKE ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS WHEN YOU SPREAD IT OUT. I UNDERSTAND THAT IT COSTS MORE USUALLY TO SPREAD IT OUT, BUT WE DID TALK ABOUT FLUCTUATION AND SOME EXTREME UNCERTAINTY IF WE WERE TO PREPAY AND POSSIBLY LOSE MONEY. WE HAD THIS CONVERSATION. I WANT TO GO OVER IT AGAIN AND MAKE SURE IF ANYTHING HAS CHANGED, THEN MAYBE WE SHOULD LOOK INTO VOTING DIFFERENTLY AGAIN, BUT I'D LIKE TO HEAR THAT. THANK YOU. >> SURE. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. I'LL START BY JUST NOTING THAT IN PAST FISCAL YEARS, AND AS THE CITY TREASURER HAD MENTIONED DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THIS ITEM, THE CITY HAS BEEN PREPAYING THE UAL, THE UNFUNDED ACTUARIAL LIABILITY PAYMENT SINCE 2019. THE REASON WHY THIS PARTICULAR ITEM AND DECISION POINT WAS BROUGHT FORWARD TO THE CITY COUNCIL IS PRIMARILY THE RECENT INCREASE IN INTEREST RATES AND THE CITY'S EARNING ABILITY OR EARNING POTENTIAL ON ITS OWN INVESTMENTS. WHEREBY, WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO COMPARE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE GENERAL INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO, WHICH RIGHT NOW IS YIELDING APPROXIMATELY 3.27% IN COMPARISON WITH THE DISCOUNT THAT'S OFFERED BY CALPERS, WHICH BASED ON THEIR MOST RECENT ACTUARIAL VALUATION REPORTS IS APPROXIMATELY 3.24%. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE NUMBERS. THE PREPAYMENT OPTION WOULD ACHIEVE $605,000 IN UPFRONT SAVINGS IMMEDIATELY. THE RISK IN DOING SO IS SIMPLY MARKET VOLATILITY AND UNCERTAINTY. [02:15:03] I SPOKE IT AT LENGTH DURING THE PRELIMINARY BUDGET PRESENTATION AND ALSO DURING THE QUESTION AND COMMENT SECTION, YES, THERE IS A BENEFIT TO REALIZE THE $600,000 IN UPFRONT SAVINGS. FOR ALL OF THE REASONS THAT THE CITY TREASURER HAD SPOKEN ABOUT, THE ONLY RISK ASSOCIATED WITH MAKING THE PREPAYMENT WOULD BE IF WE ARE EXPECTING CALPERS TO EXPERIENCE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE DECLINE. ALTERNATIVELY, ON THE OTHER HAND, CALPERS COULD PERFORM WELL OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS OR OVER THE ENTIRE FISCAL YEAR 26 AT WHICH POINT MAINTAINING CONSISTENCY AND REALLY APPLYING MORE OF A LONG TERM STRATEGY AND APPROACH WITH PRE-FUNDING WOULD BE EVEN MORE SO IN THE FINANCIAL BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY. >> THANK YOU. THIS IS THE CONVERSATION THAT I RECALL HAVING AND MY IDEAS THAT WE'RE RELYING ON OUR STAFF TO GIVE US THE BEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION FOR WHAT WE OUGHT TO DO BECAUSE THESE THINGS IT'S A CHOICE. IT'S A CHOICE ABOUT HAVING LESS RISK. WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE YEARS, I KNOW EVEN JUST IN MY TIME ON COUNCIL THAT WE HAVE CONTINUED TO PREPAY, WE CONTINUED TO PUT MONEY INTO CALPERS AND YET BECAUSE OF MARKET PERFORMANCE, WE WEREN'T ABLE TO HIT OUR 80% FUNDED, AND WE HAD TO FIND SOME CREATIVE WAYS INCLUDING SETTING UP OUR SEPARATE PENSION TRUST FUND AND ADJUSTING HOW WE WORK TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO STAY 80% FUNDED. I KNOW THE TARGET KEEPS MOVING FOR US, AND THAT'S FRUSTRATING BECAUSE WE ARE A WELL MANAGED CITY THAT WANTS TO PREPAY AND WANTS TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE PAYING IN ADVANCE. ENSURING AND REDUCING RISK IS A REALLY HARD THING, AND WE RELY ON OUR STAFF, BUT WE ALSO RELY ON OUR CITY TREASURER FOR HIS ADVICE. I FIND IT HARD AND A BIT OF A CONFLICT TO HEAR TWO DIFFERENT RECOMMENDATIONS ON THAT. I'M NOT SURE WHERE I'M GOING TO LAND ON THAT. I FELT PRETTY GOOD ABOUT GOING WITH THE MONTHLY PAYMENTS IN THAT THERE'S SO MUCH VOLATILITY RIGHT NOW IN CALPERS. >> JUST TO CLARIFY, COUNCIL MEMBER, IF I COULD. WELL, I'LL START BY SAYING THAT WITH THE PRELIMINARY DRAFT BUDGET, STAFF WERE NOT FORMALLY RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY SWITCH TO MAKING THE MONTHLY PAYMENTS. THE INTENT OF BUILDING IN THE ADDITIONAL BUDGET AUTHORITY BASED ON THE POTENTIAL DECISION TO MAKE MONTHLY PAYMENTS WAS DONE TO MAKE IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE ON THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD THEY FIND THEMSELVES IN A POSITION TO RECOMMEND CONTINUING WITH THE PREPAYMENT OPTION. IN OTHER WORDS, REDUCING THE BUDGET AUTHORITY AS OPPOSED TO INCREASING IT TO FUND THE DIFFERENCE IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE THE MONTHLY PAYMENTS. AT THIS POINT IN TIME, STAFF ARE NOT RECOMMENDING ONE OPTION VERSUS THE OTHER. BUT STAFF WILL SAY THAT BASED ON EVERYTHING THE CITY TREASURER HAD PUT FORTH, WE CERTAINLY CAN AGREE WITH ALL OF THE POINTS. >> IT HAS BEEN OUR TRADITION TO PREPAY, IS THAT RIGHT? >> SINCE 2019. >> THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO MOVE ALONG. I HAVE A COUPLE OTHER QUESTIONS. BACK TO THE ARTIFICIAL TURF ISSUE. I KNOW AS WE INTRODUCED THIS ITEM, THE CITY MANAGER MADE SOME COMMENTS ABOUT ARTIFICIAL TURF NOT BEING SOMETHING THAT WE ARE SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT TODAY, AND YET THERE WAS SO MUCH PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT IT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF THERE IS A WAY THAT WE CAN PAUSE OR PULL OUT THAT PIECE OF THE BUDGET BECAUSE I SEE THE NUMBERS IN THERE AND I HEARD WHAT THE PUBLIC WAS REFERRING TO. BUT I'M WONDERING WHAT OUR OPTIONS ARE. I UNDERSTAND NO FINAL DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE NOW, BUT I THINK THE REQUEST WAS TO DO A COST ANALYSIS, AND ALSO WHAT I'M HEARING FROM THE PUBLIC IS TO DO SOME COST ANALYSIS OF ARTIFICIAL TURF AND ITS BENEFITS OR NOT BENEFITS, AND ALSO TO SEE WHEN THAT DECISION WILL ACTUALLY BE MADE, SOME MORE TIME CERTAINTY. >> I'LL INVITE OUR PARK'S DIRECTOR KYLE LANCASTER TO COME TO THE PODIUM, BUT BEFORE HE SPEAKS, AND HE CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT WE HAVE EIGHT TURF FIELDS THAT THEY'RE NEARING END OF LIFE THAT WE NEED TO MAKE A DECISION ON OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS. IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, WE HAVE A PHASED IN APPROACH AND WHEN WE'RE GOING TO TACKLE SEVERAL OF THESE FIELDS AT DIFFERENT TIMES. [02:20:01] SOME ARE DIFFERENT SCHEDULES. WE ARE STILL IN THE DESIGN PHASE FOR A FEW OF THEM AND WOULD PLAN TO BRING THAT BACK BEFORE WE EXECUTE ANY CONTRACTS. I THINK OPTIONS THAT THE COUNCIL CAN CONSIDER ABSENT PULLING ANYTHING OUT IS RATHER PROVIDING ADDITIONAL DIRECTION, PERHAPS FOR US TO COME FORWARD WITH A COST ANALYSIS FOR GRASS. AT THE SAME TIME, WE DO BRING THESE THINGS FORWARD AND SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT IT. BUT KYLE, I'M GOING TO TURN TO ANYTHING ELSE THAT I SAID OR IF I BLEW IT, JUST CORRECT ME. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. KYLE LANCASTER, PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR. I WILL PROVIDE SOME ADDED CLARIFICATION AND PERHAPS BACKGROUND ON THIS SUBJECT. WE LAST REPLACED SYNTHETIC TURF FIELDS AT STAGECOACH COMMUNITY PARK IN 2019. THE MAYOR AND MAYOR PRO TEM WERE ON THE COUNCIL AT THAT TIME IN DIFFERENT CAPACITIES. WE DID PROVIDE ANALYSIS OF VARIOUS TYPES OF INFILL PRODUCTS. ALSO COVERED THE VARIOUS STUDIES ON SYNTHETIC TURF, AND WE ALSO PROVIDED A COST ANALYSIS ON SYNTHETIC TURF VERSUS INSTEAD, GOING BACK TO NATURAL TURF. ALL OF THIS WAS DONE AGAIN AT THE COUNCIL'S REQUEST BASED ON COMMUNITY CONCERN IN 2019. IT WAS JULY 23RD, IN PARTICULAR, WE BROUGHT BACK A RECOMMENDATION FOR CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS AND AUTHORIZE THE BIDDING FOR SYNTHETIC TURF REPLACEMENT. STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION WAS, AGAIN, TO REPLACE SYNTHETIC FOR SYNTHETIC, BUT WE WENT WITH A PREMIUM INFILL THAT WAS POLYMER COATED, DIDN'T HAVE DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE SKIN IN TERMS OF THE RUM RUBBER AND ALSO REDUCED COOLING, OR REDUCED TEMPERATURE, SO IT HAD COOLING EFFECT. THAT IS WHAT THE COUNCIL APPROVED AT THAT TIME, AND WE MOVE FORWARD, ULTIMATELY CAME BACK OCTOBER 22ND OF 2019, AND COUNCIL APPROVED THAT CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT. WORK HAS LONG SINCE BEEN COMPLETE. STAFF IS INTENDING CURRENTLY TO COME BACK TO CITY COUNCIL FOR POINSETTIA COMMUNITY PARKS SYNTHETIC TURF REPLACEMENT. THAT IS THE NEXT IN THE SERIES THAT THE CITY MANAGER REFERENCED THAT IS DUE FOR REPLACEMENT. THERE AGAIN, BASED ON THE 2019 DETERMINATION, STAFF WAS INTENDING TO DEVELOP PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR SYNTHETIC TURF REPLACEMENT. SYNTHETIC TURF AGAIN, BEING A BROAD TERM. WE WOULD CONDUCT OUR OWN RESEARCH IN TERMS OF THE LATEST PRODUCTS AVAILABLE. THERE ARE SOME THAT NO LONGER REQUIRE INFILL. THERE ARE OTHERS THAT HAVE ORGANIC INFILL OPTIONS, AND WE WOULD AGAIN UPDATE OUR COST COMPARISON TO GO BACK TO A NATURAL TURF AS WELL. OUR INTENT WAS TO BRING ON A DESIGN FIRM WITH AGAIN, THE APPROVAL AND THE BUDGET AND BE IN FRONT OF COUNCIL IN MID FALL FOR THOSE APPROVAL OF PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS. THAT WOULD BE THE COUNCIL'S FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO REDIRECT, AS A CITY MANAGER SAID. THERE IS ALSO ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY THAT I REFERENCED WHEN WE COME BACK FOR AWARD OF CONTRACT. THE COUNCIL COULD, AGAIN, REDIRECT STAFF AT THAT TIME. THERE WILL BE TWO MORE CHECK INS BEFORE ANY WORK WAS ACTUALLY PERFORMED ON POINSETTIA COMMUNITY PARK'S FIELD. THE FOLLOWING FIELD IS PINE AVENUE, COMMUNITY PARK, AND THE LIKE PROCESS WOULD OCCUR IN THE SPRINGTIME. THAT'S OUR CURRENT PROJECTION. I BELIEVE THAT BACKGROUND MAY BE HELPFUL. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE LAST ARTIFICIAL TERM I HEARD YOU SAY WAS IN 2019. DEFINITELY BEFORE I WAS HERE AND BEFORE THREE OF THE FIVE OF US WERE HERE ON THE COUNCIL. IT IS HELPFUL TO HAVE THE HISTORY AND TO HEAR A BIT ABOUT THE PAST. BUT I ALSO REMEMBER SEVERAL YEARS AGO THAT THERE WAS A HUGE PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN AROUND CONSERVATION AND THE SOLUTION AT THAT TIME WAS TO REMOVE GRASS AND TO PUT IN ARTIFICIAL TURF, AND THERE ARE REBATES AND FREE GIVEAWAYS BY ALL THE WATER DISTRICTS TO DO THAT AND TIMES HAVE CHANGED. THAT IS NO LONGER THE SOLUTION TO CONSERVATION THAT THE WATER DISTRICTS ARE PUSHING BECAUSE OF SO MANY CONCERNS ABOUT ARTIFICIAL TURF, AND THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS LIKE NATIVE LANDSCAPING, DROUGHT RESISTANT NATIVE LANDSCAPING. I UNDERSTAND. I HEARD YOU SAY THAT FALL 2025 IS THE NEXT TIME THAT THIS COUNCIL WILL BE TALKING ABOUT ARTIFICIAL TURF REPLACEMENT AT POINSETTIA PARK. THOSE WILL BE THE TWO OPTIONS COMING FORWARD [02:25:03] AND THEN PINE IN EARLY 2026. IS THAT WHAT I HEARD? >> YES, MA'AM. THAT'S CORRECT. >> GREAT. THANK YOU. YET, THERE ARE EIGHT TURF FIELDS. I THINK THE INTEREST FROM THE PUBLIC AND WHAT I HEARD TONIGHT AND HAVE SEEN MANY EMAILS ABOUT AND PEOPLE HAVE APPROACHED ME ABOUT IT TOO IS THAT ALL EIGHT TURF FIELDS, PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT COST ANALYSIS, NOT JUST THE ONE BY ONE OF WHEN IT BECOMES TIME TO REPLACE THEM. THAT WOULD BE THE PROCESS LIKE ONE BY ONE WHEN IT BECOMES TIME TO TRANSITION TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO KEEP THAT. BUT I THINK THERE'S AN INTEREST IN OVERALL LOOKING AT NO LONGER REPLACING ARTIFICIAL TURF WITH MORE ARTIFICIAL TURF, BUT LOOKING ELSEWHERE TO SEE WHAT THE COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS IS AND SPECIFICALLY HEALTH, WHICH IS A REALLY HARD THING TO CAPTURE AND CLIMATE IMPACTS. I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY HOW TO PULL THIS OUT TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS, BUT I CERTAINLY HEAR THE COMMUNITY AND THE PUBLIC, AND I HAVE A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT THIS AS WELL. I'M GOING TO LEAVE THAT THERE FOR MY COLLEAGUES ALSO TO CHIME IN ON AND WE CAN COME BACK TO THAT. THANK YOU, MR. LANCASTER, FOR THE ANSWERS AND THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. I'D LIKE TO MOVE ALONG TO THE RANGERS. AGAIN, I KNOW WE JUST SPOKE ABOUT THAT. AS I WAS HEARING, THE POLICE CHIEF GIVE COMMENTARY ABOUT THE REQUEST AND WHY THE RANGERS WEREN'T PART OF THE LAST CONVERSATION THAT WE HAD ABOUT ADDING PERSONNEL. IT SEEMED THAT THERE WAS SOME INTEREST IN PHASING OUT THE REQUESTS. WE JUST ADDED A NUMBER OF PERSONNEL. CAN WE ASK AKIN TO REFRESH EVERYONE'S MEMORY? WHO WE JUST ADDED TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT? HOW MANY PERSONNEL DID WE JUST ADD, AND AT WHAT COST? THANK YOU, CHIEF. >> YES. THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. IN MARCH, CITY COUNCIL APPROVED SIX ADDITIONAL POSITIONS FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, FIVE SWORN OFFICER POSITIONS, WHICH INCLUDES A TRAFFIC SPECIAL EVENTS SERGEANT, THREE ADDITIONAL PATROL OFFICERS, ONE INTERNET CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN'S DETECTIVE, AS WELL AS ONE PROFESSIONAL STAFF MEMBER THAT IS GOING TO BE A DIGITAL FORENSIC SPECIALIST TO HELP US DIG INTO DIGITAL EVIDENCE. >> THANK YOU. AS I RECALL, THE CONVERSATION REALLY FOCUSED ON THE URGENCY. THE REAL NEED AND THE BACKLOG. COULD YOU SHARE A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THAT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. WHEN WE PRESENTED TO COUNSEL IN MARCH, WE HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE REPORT THAT WENT OVER A LOT OF DATA, SPECIFIC TO RESPONSE TIMES AND HOW OUR PRIORITY ONE EMERGENCY CALL RESPONSE TIMES HAVE INCREASED OVER THE YEARS, AS WELL AS JUST THE CHANGING LANDSCAPE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, HOW THAT HAS IMPACTED OUR WORKLOAD TO INCLUDE UNFUNDED MANDATES, AND A PLETHORA OF OTHER DATA. I CAN GIVE AN EXAMPLE FOR THE INTERNET CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN DETECTIVE. WE WENT INTO THE CASELOADS AND HOW THE CURRENT CHILD ABUSE DETECTIVE ALSO HANDLES ALL THE INTERNET CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN CASES THAT COME INTO US FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, REALLY, AND HOW THAT CASELOAD IS UNMANAGEABLE AT THIS POINT. WHEN WE LOOKED AT PRIORITIZING OUR REQUEST, THOSE WERE EMERGENT NEEDS, AND WHILE THE RANGER POSITION IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING BY THE COMMUNITY THAT WE'RE HEARING NOW AT THE TIME THOSE EMERGENT NEEDS IS WHAT WE PRIORITIZED AND PRESENTED. >> GREAT. THANK YOU. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT, AND I APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION AT THE TIME AS WELL. WE SUPPORT PUBLIC SAFETY AND WE SUPPORT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT SO MUCH. WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING THOSE ISSUES THIS COUNCIL WAS UNANIMOUS IN ITS SUPPORT. AT THE SAME TIME, LOOKING TO ADD ADDITIONAL POSITIONS IS ALWAYS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO BALANCE WHEN IT COMES TIME TO FIND THE FUNDING. I'M NOT OPPOSED TO FINDING THE THE MONEY FOR ADDITIONAL RANGERS. WE HAVE TO BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THE THE FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY OF ADDING THE NEW POSITIONS, CONSIDERING THAT WE JUST ADDED SIX TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BEING THOUGHTFUL AND CONSIDERING THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING COMMITMENT, AND IT WILL INCREASE, NOT DECREASE IN THE FUTURE. I JUST WANT TO BE VERY COMPREHENSIVE IN OUR PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING. THANK YOU FOR HAVING THAT ADDITIONAL SLIDE WHEN COUNCIL MEMBER BURKHOLDER TALKED ABOUT IT. THANK YOU, CHIEF. >> THANK YOU. >> ANOTHER QUESTION RELATED TO OUR AGENDA TRAILS, AND THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT CAME UP IN PUBLIC COMMENT AS WELL, [02:30:03] AND THERE WAS SOME QUESTION ABOUT HAVING THE ALLOCATING THE MONEY NOW FOR THE TRAILS WHILE WE ARE WORKING THROUGH WHILE THE PUC IS GOING TO BE CONSIDERING THE APPLICATION FROM SDG&E. I WANTED TO JUST CONFIRM WHAT THE TIMELINE IS ON THAT BECAUSE WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE. I KNOW A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE IN PUBLIC COMMENT WEREN'T HERE WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THAT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE ABOUT WHAT THE TIMELINE IS AND WHAT THE MOVING PIECES ARE, AND IF THERE'S ANY WAY THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THEIR CONCERN THAT THEY DON'T WANT THINGS TO STALL, AND YET AT THE SAME TIME, SOMETIMES WE DO HAVE TO WAIT ON OTHER AGENCIES. >> DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, GARY BARBERIO TO RETURN AND SHARE THAT WITH US, GARY. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. THE TIMELINE THAT WE SPOKE ABOUT FOR THE PUC AND THE COASTAL COMMISSION AS IT RELATES TO THE HUB PARK AREA AND THE REST OF THE DEAL. WE WE'RE LOOKING AT A THREE TO FIVE YEAR PERIOD BEFORE THAT IS FULLY APPROVED. IN TERMS OF THE MONEY, KYLE CAN SPEAK TO THIS IN DETAIL, BUT WE DO HAVE MONEY ALREADY ALLOCATED TO THE HUB PARK. THE QUESTION IS NOT ABOUT MONEY, IT'S REALLY ABOUT WHEN DO WE SPEND THAT MONEY? DO WE SPEND IT TODAY OR TOMORROW BEFORE WE HAVE APPROVAL THROUGH THE PUC AND COASTAL COMMISSION? BECAUSE THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THAT APPROVAL MAY NOT COME. IT'S A PACKAGE. IT'S NOT HUB PARK TRAILS, AND THIS OR THAT. IT'S POTENTIALLY AN ALL OR NOTHING PROPOSITION WITH THE PUC, SO WE WON'T KNOW THAT ANSWER FOR THREE TO FIVE YEARS. >> JUST TO CLARIFY, I HEARD THE PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT THIS AND IT SOUNDED LIKE THEY WERE SAYING, CAN WE SPEND THE MONEY NOW WHILE WE'RE WAITING FOR PERMISSION? BUT IF WE DO THAT, COULDN'T WE HAVE TO SPEND MORE MONEY BECAUSE WE HAVE TO REDO ANY STUDIES. I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY WE HAVE TO BE SEQUENTIAL RATHER THAN CONCURRENT? >> I THINK THE RISK IS MORE SO RELATED TO THE DEAL THAT'S GOING TO THE PUC NOT GETTING APPROVED, AND SO THEN WE WOULD NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY. WE'D SPEND THE MONEY. DEAL WOULDN'T GET APPROVED AND THAT MONEY WOULD BE WASTED. I DON'T THINK THE RISK IS VERY HIGH THAT THINGS WILL CHANGE. BUT AGAIN, IT'S AN ALL OR NOTHING PROPOSITION, AND IF THEY DON'T APPROVE IT, THEN WE'VE SPENT MONEY FOR SOMETHING THAT WON'T BE MOVING FORWARD. >> THANK YOU. IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT WAS ANSWERED AND THAT SEQUENTIAL IS REALLY THE WAY TO GO. THANK YOU. I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THE COMMENTS FROM THE REST OF THE COUNCIL. THANKS. >> MS. PRIYA BHAT PATEL. >> THANK YOU. DO YOU WANT ME TO DO BOTH QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS OR WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO STICK TO QUESTIONS? >> GO FOR BOTH. >> THANK YOU. JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. A LOT OF THEM WERE ALREADY ASKED. BUT WITH REGARDS TO THE SYNTHETIC TURF CONVERSATION THAT WE WERE JUST HAVING, JUST WANTED TO ASK FOR CLARITY WITH REGARDS TO THAT. THE FUNDING ASK HERE IS FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE FIELDS IN GENERAL. THE DECISION AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH REGARDS TO WHAT TYPE OF MATERIAL WE WOULD UTILIZE WOULD COME BEFORE US WHEN WE ARE DISCUSSING THOSE PARTICULAR PARTS SEQUENTIALLY. >> I BELIEVE THAT'S CORRECT. I THINK STAFF WOULD BE BRINGING FORWARD A SYNTHETIC TURF REPLACEMENT WITH A SYNTHETIC TURF REPLACEMENT PROPOSAL. HOWEVER, THAT DISCUSSION WILL BE MADE IN A SEPARATE ITEM THAT WOULD BE JUST ABOUT THE SPECIFIC PROJECT. WILL COUNSEL THEN GIVE US DIRECTION AS TO WHICH WHERE WE SHOULD HEAD. THE QUESTION IS WHETHER COUNSEL WOULD LIKE STAFF TO ALSO BRING FORWARD A COMPARISON OF WHAT THE COSTS AND TIMING MIGHT BE TO NOT GO WITH SYNTHETIC TURF, RATHER, GO WITH REGULAR GRASS. DO I HAVE THAT APPROXIMATELY CORRECT? >> WELL, THE COMPARISON TO NATURAL GRASS WAS INCLUDED IN THE PREVIOUS STAFF REPORT THAT I REFERENCED FROM JULY 23 OF 2019, SO OUR INTENT WAS TO BRING THAT BACK AT THE SAME TIME. YES, WE CAN INCORPORATE ALL THAT. OUR INTENT IS, AGAIN, MID FALL IN ORDER TO HIT A WINTER TO [02:35:04] EARLY SPRING PROJECT BECAUSE THAT IS THE CLOSEST THING THAT WE HAVE TO DOWNTIME, IF YOU WILL, ON OUR FIELDS OR A LESS INTENSIVE USE. THIS IS STRATEGICALLY SCHEDULED IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE IMPACT TO OUR MANY USER GROUPS. >> THEN IN TERMS OF ANY BUDGET IMPLICATIONS THAT WOULD BE INDICATED AT THAT TIME AS WELL, SINCE WE HAVEN'T NECESSARILY DONE A COST ANALYSIS, WHICH I KNOW FOLKS ARE TALKING ABOUT. WE HAVE IN THE PAST, I KNOW IN 2019, AND I'M GUESSING THOSE ARE DIFFERENT NOW GIVEN THAT IT'S SIX YEARS LATER AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED SINCE THEN. >> YES, MA'AM, WE HAVE NOT UPDATED THE COST COMPARISON AS OF YET. >> OKAY. >> WE INTEND TO DO SO AND BRING IT BACK IN MID FALL. >> LOOKING BACK AT YOU, CITY MANAGER, JUST TO CLARIFY THAT PARTICULAR PIECE, BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S INTEREST IN THAT. IF WE DID WANT TO INCORPORATE, THAT COST ANALYSIS, WE COULD STILL MAINTAIN THOSE CIPS WITHIN THE BUDGET, BUT SAY THAT WE REALLY DO WANT TO FOCUS ON MAKING SURE THAT WE LOOK AT THAT COST ANALYSIS BEFORE MAKING DECISIONS ON THE MATERIAL. >> THAT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION THAT WE MAINTAIN THE INFORMATION AND THE PROPOSAL THAT'S IN THE BUDGET. HOWEVER, THE MESSAGE FROM COUNSEL, IF THAT'S YOUR WISH TO INCLUDE WHEN IT'S POINT SET IS THE FIRST ONE THAT COMES BACK, BRING A UPDATED DISCUSSION ON WHAT GRASS WOULD ENTAIL FOR REPLACEMENT AS WELL. WE ALSO WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A SEPARATE ITEM SO THAT USER GROUPS AND OTHERS WHO HAVE AN INTEREST IN THIS AS WELL CAN BE MADE AWARE OF THIS ACTIVITY IN THIS PROJECT AS WELL. I WOULD BE RELUCTANT TO MAKING ANY REALLY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TODAY UNTIL WE COULD HAVE AN ACTUAL PUBLIC PROCESS WHERE WE CAN REACH OUT TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE AN INTEREST IN THIS. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. THEN WITH REGARDS TO THE RANGERS, CAN YOU PLEASE BRING THAT SLIDE BACK UP? I JUST WANTED TO SEE THE START UP COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. THE FIRST FISCAL YEAR, IT WOULD BE CLOSE TO $276,000, AND THEN ONGOING COSTS WOULD BE 172. >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> ONE HUNDRED AND NIGHTY FIVE. YOU SAID I CAN MIX IN MY COMMENTS, MAYOR? >> OKAY. >> I'LL TOUCH ON THIS ONE FIRST. I TRUST OUR POLICE CHIEF IN THIS DECISION MAKING PROCESS. OBVIOUSLY, WE HAD A CONVERSATION BACK IN MARCH WITH REGARDS TO THE SIX PERSONNEL THAT WE ADDED ON, AND OF COURSE, I ALSO UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR THE RANGERS, AND I BELIEVE SHE DOES TOO, AND SHE HAS MENTIONED THAT JUST OBVIOUSLY CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THE LEVEL OF SERVICE, BUT ALSO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN INCORPORATE MORE RANGERS IN THE NEAR FUTURE. I'M COMFORTABLE WITH THE RECOMMENDATION AS IS FOR THE PERSONNEL THAT WE HAVE ALREADY ALLOCATED, AND FOR NOW, I THINK I'D WANT TO HOLD OFF ON ADDING. THE RANGERS BASED ON THE COST THAT WOULD BE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT, IT WOULD BE PRETTY HIGH. WITH REGARDS TO THE SYNTHETIC TURF CONVERSATION, I THINK YOU ALREADY HEARD MY QUESTIONING, SO I WOULD BE COMFORTABLE WITH MOVING FORWARD THE CIPS, BUT I'D WANT TO MAKE SURE JUST BASED ON THE FEEDBACK WE'VE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY AND ALSO FROM MY COLLEAGUE THAT I'D WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS SOME COST ANALYSIS THAT WE DO ON THE DIFFERENT MATERIALS AND THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC BEFORE MAKING DECISIONS ON WHAT MATERIAL WE'RE GOING TO UTILIZE AT THE PARKS. FOR THE CALPERS CONVERSATION, I AM COMFORTABLE WITH THE PREPAYMENT OPTION. FOR THAT PARTICULAR RECOMMENDATION, THANK YOU, CITY TREASURER FOR BEING HERE AND TAKING TIME OUT OF YOUR SCHEDULE TO BE HERE AND PROVIDE YOUR FEEDBACK AND RECOMMENDATION ON THAT. BASED ON PAST PRECEDENT AND JUST HEARING OBVIOUSLY THE COST SAVINGS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. YES, THERE IS OBVIOUSLY UNCERTAINTY, AND AS MUCH AS WE CAN, WE DO WHAT WE CAN AS AN AGENCY TO KEEP UP WITH PAYING THAT OFF. OBVIOUSLY, AS MUCH OF A STELLAR JOB AS WE CAN AND THEN CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE HAVE TO AS IT FLUCTUATES. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR DOING WHAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE. I KNOW WE'RE ONE OF THE AGENCIES IN THE COUNTY THAT DOES A GREAT JOB AT MAINTAINING OUR PAYMENT SCHEDULES AND EVERYTHING. [02:40:01] I'M TRYING TO LOOK TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE I NEEDED TO SAY SPECIFICALLY. I DON'T THINK SO. I THINK THOSE ARE ALL MY COMMENTS FOR NOW. THANK YOU. THAT'S IT. >> I DIDN'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, BUT I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS. I'M GOING TO START WITH THE RANGERS. OH, I'M SORRY. >> [INAUDIBLE]. >> GO AHEAD WITH YOUR QUESTION. >> THE QUESTIONS MADE ME THINK OF ANOTHER QUESTION. IF WE WERE TO PAY, IT SOUNDS LIKE WE MIGHT GET THE SUPPORT TO PREPAY THAT OPTION, THEN WOULD THAT FREE UP FUNDS FOR OTHER THINGS. FOR EXAMPLE, A PARK RANGER. >> YES, COUNCIL MEMBER, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. IT WOULD FREE UP FUNDS IN FISCAL YEAR 26. I WILL SAY WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE FIVE YEAR FORECAST AS IT WAS PRESENTED THIS EVENING, THAT DID NOT ASSUME THAT THE CITY WERE GOING TO BE MAKING MONTHLY PAYMENTS ON AN ONGOING BASIS, SO WE ONLY BUDGETED THAT ADDITIONAL $600,000 FOR FISCAL YEAR 26. WHAT THAT REALLY MEANS IS WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT FISCAL YEAR 26, AS PART OF THE PRELIMINARY BUDGET, THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY A $500,000 SURPLUS. SHOULD THE CITY COUNCIL MAKE AND APPROVE A MOTION TO OPT INTO OR MAINTAIN THE PREPAYMENT OPTION AND REDUCE THE BUDGET AUTHORITY, WHICH IN THE GENERAL FUND WOULD REDUCE THE BUDGET BY $580,000, WE'D BE LOOKING AT A BUDGET SURPLUS OF JUST OVER A MILLION ONE TIME. >> I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE LENGTH OF TIME IT TAKES TO HIRE A PARK RANGER, BUT I I'VE HEARD THE CHIEF TALK ABOUT THE LENGTH OF TIME IT TAKES TO GET SOMEONE ON BOARD. WE WOULDN'T EVEN POTENTIALLY BE LOOKING AT $275,000 HIT IN THE YEAR 2026. MAYBE THAT NEEDS TO BE CLARIFIED. >. THE FULL FISCAL IMPACT OF THAT. WE WOULD NOT IT WOULD BE UNLIKELY TO EXPEND THAT FULL AMOUNT. >> WELL, I WOULD RESPECTFULLY ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO RECONSIDER ON THE PARK RANGER ISSUE IF WE DO VOTE TO DO THE ONE TIME PAYMENT. THANK YOU. >> ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, MR. [INAUDIBLE]. >> SOME FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS. COULD I GET THE POLICE CHIEF BACK UP HERE REAL QUICK, AND THEN ONE FOR YOU KYLE. YOU SHOULD JUST STAYED UP THERE. >> YOU'RE THE POLICE CHIEF. OUR GOAL IS TO TRUST YOU IN REGARDS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT SINCE OUTSIDE OF ALL OF US WITH THE EXCEPTION OF OUR MAYOR HAS EXPERIENCE IN REGARDS TO THIS. I KNOW YOU ARE LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY. BUT IF WE WERE TO GIVE YOU $275,000 FOR AN INCREASE OF EMPLOYEES, I JUST WANT TO KNOW, ESPECIALLY BASED OFF OF WHAT I SEE AS A PARENT AND KNOWING THAT OUR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS ARE EXTREMELY DEPLETED, AND THERE'S A TRIG SENSE OF HOW WE WANT TO HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT IN OUR CITY. ARE PARK RANGERS A PRIORITY. WE GAVE YOU SIX, AND THEN AFTER THAT, THE NEXT TIER, WE DID PARK RANGERS FALL OR MAYBE A BETTER ANSWER IS, WHAT WAS NEXT ON THAT LIST THAT WE WANTED? >> NEXT ON THE LIST WOULD MOST LIKELY BE A COMMUNITY-ORIENTED POLICING TEAM, WHICH IS SWORN OFFICERS THAT WOULD REQUIRE A SUPERVISOR AS WELL. THE RANGERS, TO BE HONEST, WOULD BE TOWARD THE BOTTOM. WE'RE PROPOSING OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, IN ADDITION TO THE SIX THAT WE WOULD BE PROPOSING AROUND ANOTHER 13 PERSONNEL. NOT ALL OF THOSE ARE SWORN POSITIONS, BUT THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE. >> WHEN I LOOK AT THIS, I LOOK AT THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE NEEDS OF WHY WE WANT PARK RANGERS AND ALL ASPECTS OF EMPLOYEES AND STAFF. AS A PARENT, I SEE HOW MANY SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS DO WE HAVE? >> WE HAVE FIVE. >> HOW MANY SCHOOLS DO WE HAVE? >> WE HAVE 26, I BELIEVE. >> FAR BEFORE I EVEN THINK ABOUT A PARK RANGER, I AM SO CONCERNED THAT WE HAVE FIVE POLICE OFFICERS FOR FIVE SCHOOLS, AND THEN MY CHILD MAY NOT HAVE ONE. AN ACT OF VIOLENCE TAKES PLACE IN A SCHOOL. I SAY, "GREAT," BUT AT LEAST MY APOLOGIES TO THOSE THAT WANT PARK RANGERS, BUT SORRY, I DO SUPERSEDE THE FACT THAT THERE ARE OFFICERS THAT ARE NEEDED IN OTHER PLACES. IF WE HAD AN OFFICER IN EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL AND I KNEW THAT EVERY CHILD WAS GOING TO BE SAFE, KNOWING THAT AN ACT OF VIOLENCE WERE TO TAKE PLACE IN A SCHOOL, THAT WE HAD SOMEONE RIGHT THERE ABLE TO RESPOND, I TAKE THAT WAY UP TO THE CEILING COMPARED TO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED IN REGARDS TO A PARK RANGER. WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WON'T MAKE A MOTION FOR A PARK RANGER RIGHT NOW. I HAVE OTHER IDEAS FOR A SOLUTION DOWN THE ROAD. BUT I'M GOING TO TRUST YOU AS OUR POLICE CHIEF TO MAKE THE DETERMINATION OF WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT AND WHEN WE FINALLY ARE ABLE TO GIVE YOU FINANCIAL RESOURCES WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO PUT THEM. [02:45:03] THAT'S WITH THAT ONE. WITH YOU, KYLE, CRAZILY AND SADLY AND TRAGICALLY, LIKE AN HOUR PRIOR TO OUR MEETING, I GOT A TEXT SAYING THAT MY UNCLE IN LAW PASSED AWAY OF CANCER. I'M I'M TAKING THIS QUITE SERIOUSLY AND HOPEFULLY I DON'T GET TOO CHOKED UP IN REGARDS TO THIS. BUT OUTSIDE OF JUST THE COST ANALYSIS, I THINK WE NEED A HEALTH ANALYSIS IN REGARDS TO WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE USING. WE HEARD THE CASE IN REGARDS TO SYNTHETICS, BUT WHAT I ALSO KNOW ABOUT NATURAL TURF AND THIS IS PLAYING FIELDS IS THAT WE HAVE TO FERTILIZE IT IN ORDER TO KEEP THE GRASS TO A CERTAIN LEVEL. THERE MAY BE SOME TOXINS AND CARCINOGENS IN REGARDS TO JUST HOW DO WE MAINTAIN A PROPER FIELD THAT'S GOING TO BE PLAYABLE AND SAFE FOR STUDENTS TO RUN AROUND? IF THEY KEEP HAVING TO RUN INTO IT, WHAT IS THAT GOING TO MEAN? I SAY THAT BECAUSE I GOLF AND I DON'T WANT TO EVEN TOUCH THE GRASS SOMETIMES, JUST KNOWING HOW IMMACULATE IT IS AND WHAT IT TAKES TO BE ABLE TO RUN IT AND THE RANDOM BLUE STUFF I SEE ON FIELDS THERE. IT WOULD BE NICE, NOT JUST THE FACT THAT WE ARE GOING TO DO A COST ANALYSIS AND THAT LABOR MAY BE AN ISSUE AND THAT'S WHY WE DECIDED TO GO WITH SYNTHETICS, BUT A HEALTH ANALYSIS ON BOTH TURFS, IF THAT'S POSSIBLE. >> YES, SIR. FIRST OF ALL, MY CONDOLENCES FOR YOUR LOSS. 2019, WE DID COVER A VARIETY OF STUDIES, INCLUDING HEALTH RELATED STUDIES IN SUMMARY FORM. WE ALSO INCLUDED STUDIES ON PLAYABILITY IN TERMS OF GRASS, FRANKLY, NEEDING MORE DOWNTIME AND RENOVATION AS SUCH, IN ADDITION TO WHAT YOU DESCRIBED ABOUT WATER AND FERTILIZER AND THE LIKE. IT'S OUR FULL INTENT TO BRING BACK THOSE ITEMS IN MID FALL AS WELL. >> THE QUESTION. THANKS. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MY COMMENTS. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE RANGERS. WHEN PEOPLE ASK ME, WHAT IS IT AS A MAYOR, YOU LOSE SLEEP OVER, AND MY PRIORITY IS ALWAYS MONEY. I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE, EVERYTHING ANYBODY ASKS FOR, ANY QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES, WHETHER IT'D BE BETTER PARKS, MORE COPS, ANYTHING, BETTER STREETS, IT ALL HAS TO DO WITH MONEY. I WISH WE HAD UNLIMITED FUNDS AND WE CAN GIVE EVERYTHING TO EVERYBODY THAT WANTS THESE THINGS. BUT I'VE BEEN CALLED BY A FEW PEOPLE ABOUT THE RANGERS AND SOME OF THE GOOD ARGUMENTS HAVE BEEN, WE JUST PUT MORE MONEY INTO OUR BUDGET TO FIX OUR TRAILS, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE RANGER MANPOWER TO MAKE SURE IT'S MAINTAINED. ALSO, I'VE HAD THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO WATCH OUR RANGERS, AND I'LL ADDRESS THIS TO OUR CHIEF. I'M NOT TELLING HER ANYTHING SHE DOESN'T ALREADY KNOW, BUT WE HAVE TWO RANGERS WHO HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THE AMOUNT OF WORK OF FOUR RANGERS, AND THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO FILL IN EVERYWHERE. WATCHING THEM WITH THOSE DRONES, YES, THEY'RE A RANGER, YES, THEY DON'T CARRY GUNS, THEY CAN'T DO THINGS, BUT OH MY GOSH, THEY ARE ENHANCING WHAT THE OFFICERS ARE ABLE TO GET ACCOMPLISHED. THOSE DRONES ARE MAGIC. WHEN THE HELICOPTER SAYS, "I'M SORRY WE'RE BUSY SOMEWHERE ELSE, I'M SORRY, IT'S TOO FOGGY. WE CAN'T COME UP THERE." THE DRONES CAN FLY, AND THEY'RE SO HELPFUL. THE RANGERS SEEM TO BE THOSE EXPERTS WHEN IT COMES TO THE DRONES. I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT TO MYSELF THAT I WOULD LIKE TO ADD A RANGER NEXT YEAR IN THE NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. IF THE COUNCIL CHOOSES TO PUT A RANGER IN THIS YEAR, I WOULD SUPPORT IT. BUT HERE'S MY NEXT CONCERN. WE TELL THE CITY MANAGER, I WANT TO A BALANCED BUDGET. DON'T BRING ME A NON BALANCED BUDGET. WHAT DO WE DO? WHEN IT BRINGS US A BALANCED BUDGET, WE ADD A RANGER. WE ADD SIX OFFICERS EARLY, WE ADD A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY TO HELP THE TRAILS, AND IT JUST SEEMS LIKE A BALANCING ACT. MY POSITION ON THE RANGERS, I'VE MADE A LITTLE NOTE, WE SHOULD ALSO CALL THEM MACGYVERS, BECAUSE THEY DO A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING. THAT I WOULD SUPPORT IT IF THE MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL SUPPORTS IT, IF NOT, THEN I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT IN A VERY NEAR FUTURE BUDGET. THEN I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PENSION ISSUES. I DON'T HAVE A GREAT TRACK RECORD IN PREDICTING THE FUTURE OF THE STOCK MARKET. IF ANYBODY TELLS ME THEY CAN, I HOPE THEY SHARE IT WITH ME. I OFTEN TELL PEOPLE IF I CAN PREDICT THE STOCK MARKET, I'D BE TOO RICH TO BE SITTING HERE TALKING TO YOU GUYS. MY CONCERN IS AS I'VE GOTTEN OLDER AND REALIZE I CAN'T PREDICT THE STOCK MARKET, I'VE BECOME A LOT MORE CONSERVATIVE I'M OKAY WITH THE PREPAYMENT, BUT I FALL INTO THE CONSERVATIVE SIDE, [02:50:02] MAYBE JUST BECAUSE OF MY AGE AND MY LACK OF ABILITY TO PREDICT STOCK MARKETS. BY THE WAY, I CAN'T PREDICT SUPER BOWL OUTCOMES EITHER. I WOULD LIKE TO GO WITH THE MORE CONSERVATIVE WAY, AND THAT WOULD BE THE PAYMENTS. BUT I'M NOT ATTACHED TO THAT. I'LL GO ALONG WITH WHATEVER THE MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL WOULD CHOOSE TO DO. MR. SHIN, COMMENTS. >> I HIT HIM ALL THE WAY FROM MOTIONS. >> MISS BURKHOLDER. >> THANK YOU AGAIN FOR A VERY THOROUGH PRESENTATION BUDGET CYCLE, AND I WOULD MAKE THE MOTION THAT WE ADD ONE RANGER ON THE BASIS OF MY ARGUMENT THAT IF WE ALSO GO WITH THE ONE TIME PAYMENT, WE WILL HAVE SOME FUNS. MY MOTION IS TO ADD A RANGER. >> DO YOU MIND IF WE CONTINUE THE COMMENTS AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK TO YOUR MOTION. MR. COSTA. >> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK FOR MANY MONTHS THAT OUR TEAM HAS PUT INTO THIS, EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT, EVERY SINGLE EMPLOYEE, AND THE FOLKS WHO ARE SITTING HERE EXPLAINING TO US VERY PATIENTLY AND OVER AGAIN, DIFFERENT PIECES OF THE BUDGET. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND THE ABILITY TO ARTICULATE SOMETIMES COMPLICATED AND REPETITIVE TOPICS. I FEEL VERY SIMILAR TO THE MAYOR ABOUT BEING VERY FISCALLY DISCIPLINED OR FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE THINKING CAREFULLY ABOUT OUR PROCESS WHEN WE PUT TOGETHER A BUDGET, NOT ADDING ON A LOT OF THINGS. I KNOW THAT WE HAD A REQUEST THAT HAD A LOT OF URGENCY FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE ALSO GAVE SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR HAZARD MITIGATION AND ADDITIONAL URGENT THINGS THAT WE SAW WE NEEDED IN THE COMMUNITY, AND WE ALL AGREED THAT THOSE NEEDED TO BE MADE, AND I'M PROUD OF THOSE INVESTMENTS THAT WE MADE IN PUBLIC SAFETY, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR TOP PRIORITIES AS CITY LEADERS. FOR SOME OF THE OTHER ADDITIONS, I AM VERY HESITANT TO AGREE TO THEM BECAUSE I THINK WE MADE THE URGENT REQUEST FOR A REASON, AND THEN WE JUST ARE TRYING TO ADD ONTO THEM RIGHT NOW, I THINK WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD BUDGET HERE THAT IS SO ADMIRABLE. I THINK MELANIE BURKHOLDER WAS THE ONE WHO REPEATED IT ONCE AGAIN. THANK YOU SO MUCH, 1.8% INCREASE IN A TIME WHEN WE'VE GOT 3.8% INFLATIONARY INCREASE. IT'S JUST REALLY IMPRESSIVE WHAT WE HAVE DONE. AS I TALKED TO OTHER CITIES THROUGH SOME OF MY BOARD ROLES IN THE REGION AND IN THE STATE, I AM ALMOST EMBARRASSED ABOUT HOW WELL WE'RE DOING. WE HAVE SUCH STRONG RESERVES. OUR RESERVE POLICY ITSELF IS VERY STRONG, BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN SO CAREFUL, WE HAVE UNDERESTIMATED REVENUE AND BEEN VERY CONSERVATIVE IN OUR ESTIMATES FOR YEARS. THE THANKS AND GRATITUDE GO TO PREVIOUS COUNCILS FOR YEARS AND YEARS. WE'VE HAD STRONG PRACTICES OF FISCAL DISCIPLINE AND ECONOMY HERE, AND I AM SO SUPPORTIVE OF THE BUDGET AS IT'S BEEN RECOMMENDED. AS FOR THE PREPAYMENT FOR CARLSBADS, I APPRECIATE MR. PEACOCK. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO OUR CITY TREASURER. I WAS CONFLICTED AND ON THE FENCE AND I THINK IT'S THE TREASURER'S COMMENTS HAVE PUSHED ME TOWARDS PREPAYMENT, SO I SUPPORT THAT WHEN THE TIME COMES FOR THAT MOTION. THEN FOR THE RANGERS, AGAIN, CONFLICTED AND ON THE FENCE, I KNOW WE NEED THEM, BUT I HEAR THE OTHER COMMENTS. ONE BEING THAT WE HAVE A PROCESS AND WE DON'T WANT TO KEEP ADDING ON ANOTHER BEING COUNCIL MEMBER SHIN'S COMMENTS ABOUT, WHERE DOES THIS FALL IN THE URGENCY LIST OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT? THESE ARE POSITIONS WE'RE ADDING TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. IF WE ADD THIS NOW, DOES THAT MEAN WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO ADD THE MORE URGENT POSITIONS THAT ARE HIGHER UP IN PRIORITY? I AM NOT READY YET, BUT DEFINITELY I THINK THAT'S COMING SOON, AND AS SOON AS NEXT YEAR, I WOULD BE WILLING TO SUPPORT HAVING A COUPLE OF RANGERS. I THINK FOR ARTIFICIAL TURF, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT TONIGHT. I HAVE A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT ARTIFICIAL TURF, HEALTH, ENVIRONMENT, COST, OTHER THINGS. I SEE THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE A MOTION RELATED TO THAT TONIGHT. WE'RE SAVING THE BUDGET PLACE HOLDER FOR THAT, AND WE WILL TAKE THOSE ISSUES AS THEY COME STARTING AS SOON AS JUST A FEW MONTHS FROM NOW WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PANG SIDA PARK. THANK YOU TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED IN THAT CONVERSATION. I LOOK FORWARD TO FURTHER CONVERSATIONS ON THIS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN MOVE TOGETHER [02:55:01] AS A COMMUNITY AND HOPEFULLY PICK THE HEALTHIEST AND MOST COST EFFECTIVE OPTION. I THINK THOSE ARE THE BIG THINGS, BUT I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THE BUDGET AS RECOMMENDED BY STAFF TONIGHT AND ESPECIALLY OF THE PREPAYMENT TO CARLSBADS. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HARD WORK. >> WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO FIRST IS, MELANIE, YOU HAVE A MOTION TO ADD A RANGER TO THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, IS THAT CORRECT? I'D LIKE TO GIVE MELANIE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A VOTE, SO I'LL SECOND IT. PLEASE VOTE. THAT DOES NOT PASS THREE TO TWO. THE NEXT ONE WAS FOR THE PREPAYMENT OR THE MONTHLY PAYMENTS. WOULD IT BE APPROPRIATE TO TAKE THAT SEPARATELY SO WE HAVE THAT ANSWER? A MOTION FOR ONE OF THE OTHER, PLEASE. >> MOVED FOR THE PREPAYMENT. >> SECOND. >> PLEASE VOTE. PREPAYMENT IS THE ONE THAT PASSES WITH NOTING MY CONSERVATIVE CONCERNS. >> MAYOR I JUST WANTED TO MAKE CLEAR THAT WITH THAT MOTION FOR THE PREPAYMENT, THAT WILL RESULT IN A CHANGE IN THE BUDGET, THE REDUCTION OF THE 6,005 ACROSS THE I THINK THE FINANCE DIRECTOR MENTIONED THE VARIOUS BUDGETS, THAT WOULD BE AFFECTED FOR THAT. >> CINDY, THAT'S INCLUDED IN THE NOTES, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT THE PROTE AND I BOTH RECEIVED? >> YES. >> THANK YOU. MOTION. >> YES. MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTIONS AND AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 14, AND OPTION 2 FOR THE KELLY DRIVE AND PARK DRIVE COMPLETE STREET IMPROVEMENTS PROJECTS, WHICH BY THE WAY, THIS WAS WHAT WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY, SO THIS IS NOT SOMETHING RANDOM THAT I'M ADDING IN. >> SECOND. >> PLEASE VOTE. THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. EVER REQUEST FOR A BATHROOM BREAK. DO YOU HAVE A MOTION. >> NOT ANOTHER MOTION. I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY WITH THE CITY MANAGER BASED ON OUR COMMENTS THAT YOU WILL BE BRINGING FORWARD TO US THE COST IMPACT AND HEALTH ANALYSIS WITH REGARDS TO THE CONVERSATION WE HAD JUST NOW FOR THE SYNTHETIC TURF? >> THAT'S CORRECT. AS THE PARK DIRECTOR INDICATED, WE WILL BE BRINGING UPDATED INFORMATION PER YOUR REQUEST WHEN WE DO BRING PENETI FORWARD. >> GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> WE'RE ON A BREAK. WE'RE GOING TO RECONVENE AT 8:20. >> I WAS KIDDING, BUT IF YOU WANT TO, IS OKAY. >> I WAS THINKING ABOUT IT. >> IT'S TIME TO RECONVENE. [16. COUNCIL MEMBER REQUEST: CONSIDER RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD VOICES BALLOT INITIATIVE] ITEM NUMBER 16. CITY MANAGER. >> THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER 16 IS A COUNCIL MEMBER REQUEST. CONSIDER RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD VOICES BALLOT INITIATIVE. WITH THAT, I'LL TURN THIS OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER BURKHOLDER. >> THANK YOU. DO WE WANT TO HEAR SPEAKERS NOW? IS THAT OKAY? IF WE COULD CALL FOR THE SPEAKERS. >> UNLESS YOU'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE WHAT IT IS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO. >> OUR NEIGHBORHOOD VOICES IS INITIALLY A BALLOT INITIATIVE THAT IS BASICALLY SUPPORTING LOCAL CONTROL FOR MUNICIPALITIES WHO ACTUALLY HAVE MORE CONTROL OVER THEIR ZONING AND WHERE HOUSING IS DEVELOPED. I BROUGHT THIS FORWARD AFTER WE HEARD AT THE LEGISLATIVE STEP COMMITTEE SO SPEAKERS WHO WERE IN FAVOR OF ONV IS THE SHORTENED VERSION OF THAT. BASICALLY, IT GOES ALONG WITH OUR LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM LANGUAGE THAT SAYS THAT WE PRESERVE LOCAL CONTROL. WE SUPPORT THE BROADEST AUTHORITY FOR OUR CITIZENS AND THE CITY COUNCIL TO MAKE DECISIONS AND PROVIDE PUBLIC SERVICES LOCALLY. AS CITIES ARE VOLUNTARILY CREATED BY THE RESIDENTS OF A COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT, AND TO MAKE DECISIONS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL TO BEST MEET THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, THE CITY OPPOSES PREEMPTION OF LOCAL CONTROL. WE HAVE SEVERAL PIECES OF LEGISLATION WORKING THROUGH RIGHT NOW THAT ACTUALLY STRIP US OF OUR LOCAL CONTROL AND HAVE PROJECTS APPROVED BASICALLY MINISTERIALLY, IF AT THAT. SOME OF THESE REQUIRE DEVELOPMENT SUCH AS SB 79, WITHIN A HALF MILE OF TRANSIT, MID TO HIGH RISE LEVEL DEVELOPMENTS. WE HAVE IN OUR GOVERNANCE AND ETHICS A STATEMENT THAT SAYS, "WE OPPOSE LEGISLATION OR CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS THAT WEAKEN OR INTERFERE WITH THE POWERS OF CHARTER CITIES AND DIMINISH LOCAL AUTONOMY OR HOME RULE AUTHORITY." THEN UNDER PLANNING AND ZONING, "WE SUPPORT MEASURES IN LOCAL LAND USE THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE DOCTRINE OF HOME RULE AND THE LOCAL EXERCISE OF POLICE POWERS IN PLANNING AND ZONING PROCESSES." THEN WE ACTUALLY PASSED A RESOLUTION IN JULY OF 2023, FURTHER STRENGTHENING OUR LOCAL CONTROL. THAT WAS A RESOLUTION THAT I BROUGHT FORWARD AS WELL AS THE CITY OF DEL MAR, [03:00:04] SAN MARCOS, OCEANSIDE, CORONADO, SANTEE, AND EL CAJON, ALL HAVE THOSE RESOLUTIONS AS WELL. WE ALSO HAVE LOCAL SUPPORT FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD VOICES. EVEN ENCINITAS IS LISTED AS AN ENDORSER ON THE WEBSITE, RATHER THEY HAVE A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD VOICES. THEN OTHERS ARE SUPPORTERS, THE CITY OF SAN MARCOS, VISTA, OCEANSIDE, AND ENCINITAS, I BELIEVE, AND THERE MAY BE OTHERS. I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM SPEAKERS WHO ARE HERE TONIGHT ON POSSIBLY BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE AND JUST HAVE A DISCUSSION AMONGST COUNCIL TO DETERMINE IF WE WANT TO, AS A CITY, JOIN IN AND SUPPORT THIS INITIATIVE. >> CAN I CLARIFY, MAYOR? >> YES. >> THE REQUEST TONIGHT IS TO AGENDIZE THIS TO HAVE THE DISCUSSION, WHETHER TO SUPPORT, IS THAT CORRECT? >> I THINK TONIGHT IS THE DISCUSSION, AND THIS WOULD BE TO AGENDIZE A RESOLUTION THAT WE SUPPORT IT. >> CAN I GET CLARIFICATION? BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT TONIGHT'S CONVERSATION WAS WHETHER TO PLACE THIS ON THE AGENDA WITH THE STAFF REPORT, WHICH WE DON'T HAVE TONIGHT TO TAKE A POSITION. >> TONIGHT'S AGENDA IS TO DISCUSS WHAT THE NEXT ITEMS ARE THAT WE WANT TO DO, WHICH I WOULD SAY WOULD BE AGENDIZE IT AS A RESOLUTION FOR THE CITY TO SUPPORT OR IF THAT DOESN'T PASS, THEN THAT'S WHAT TONIGHT IS ABOUT. >> LET'S ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY TO CONFIRM THAT. >> WE DON'T HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU A RESOLUTION THAT YOU CAN JUST ADOPT TONIGHT. WE WOULD DEFINITELY HAVE TO BRING BACK A RESOLUTION WITH TAILORING, AND WITH THAT, STAFF CAN DIRECT US TO BRING BACK WHATEVER OTHER INFORMATION YOU WOULD LIKE. TONIGHT, WE WOULD BE RECEIVING DIRECTION TO BRING BACK A RESOLUTION YOU CAN ADOPT, PLUS WHATEVER OTHER DIRECTION YOU WANT TO GIVE US ON THAT. AS TYPICAL WITH THESE TYPES OF MATTERS THAT ARE PUT ON THE AGENDA BY THE COUNCIL, THERE HASN'T BEEN STAFF WORK ON IT. YOU'D HAVE TO LET US KNOW WHAT YOU WANT US TO DO. >> TO CONFIRM THIS IS AGENDIZE AND WE CAN SPEAK FREELY ON THIS TOPIC. >> YOU CAN, BUT YOU WON'T HAVE A RESOLUTION THAT YOU CAN ADOPT TONIGHT. WE'D HAVE TO BRING THAT BACK FOR YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> JUST FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBERS QUESTION, IN THAT RESOLUTION, THERE WOULD BE SOME STAFF REPORT ALONGSIDE THAT, IS THAT CORRECT? >> WE'D BE TAKING YOUR FEEDBACK. THEN WHATEVER OTHER DIRECTION YOU WANT TO GIVE US WITH REGARD TO WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE NEXT. >> THANK YOU. >> CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER, PLEASE. MS. FORTH SYTH TOLD ME SHE HAD TO LEAVE. >> MARTIN DANNER, FOLLOWED BY A GROUP THAT'S NILS NEHRENHEIM, GINA WALTERS DANNER, ABBY TOGA AND BARBARA CAMPBELL. >> GOOD EVENING, FOLKS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE LEGISLATIVE SUBCOMMITTEE FOR DISCUSSING THIS TOPIC, AND SPECIAL THANK YOU TO YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER BURKHOLDER, FOR BRINGING IT TO THE TONIGHT'S MEETING. MY NAME IS MARTIN DANNER. I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE EQUITABLE LAND USE ALLIANCE. IT'S CARLSBAD BASED NON-PROFIT NON-PARTISAN ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PRESERVING A LOCAL CONTROL OF HOUSING POLICY. I'M ALSO A LONG-TERM RESIDENT OF CARLSBAD, DISTRICT 1. I ACTUALLY GREW UP IN THIS CITY AND GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT I'VE BEEN HERE QUITE A WHILE, IT WAS A LONG TIME AGO. I'VE SEEN A LOT OF CHANGES TO THE COMMUNITY OVER THE YEARS. BUT THE STATE GOVERNMENT'S ASSAULT ON OUR COMMUNITY'S RIGHT TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT LOCAL HOUSING SOLUTIONS IS UNPRECEDENTED. IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS AS FAR BACK AS 2017, AND IT ONLY SEEMS TO BE INTENSIFYING. THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO EVIDENCE THAT THESE HEAVY HANDED MANDATES HAVE ANY SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE PROBLEMS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS. ON THE CONTRARY, IT CAN BE ARGUED THAT THE MARKET RATE HOUSING BINGE UNDERWAY RIGHT NOW IS HAVING A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT. LEFT UNCHECKED, THE BALLOONING STATE MANDATES WILL TRANSFORM OUR COMMUNITY INTO A DENSE COLLECTION OF MOSTLY EMPTY VACATION HOMES, SHORT-TERM VACATION RENTALS, AND CORPORATE-OWNED APARTMENTS, DISPLACING LONG-TIME RESIDENTS, INCLUDING SENIORS AGING IN PLACE, WHILE ELIMINATING HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR WORKFORCE AND OUR CHILDREN. WE ARE UP AGAINST WELL ORGANIZED, WELL FINANCED, AND HIGHLY ENTRENCHED SPECIAL INTERESTS WHO ARE COMPELLING LAWMAKERS IN SACRAMENTO TO DOUBLE DOWN ON THEIR FAILED HOUSING POLICY. [03:05:03] THESE FOLKS CLOSE THEMSELVES AS A BUNCH OF YOUNG IDEALISTIC YIMBYS, BUT THEY ARE ACTUALLY AN ARMY OF LOBBYISTS AND SPIN DOCTORS. WHY ARE THEY DOING THIS? WELL, THE SIMPLE ANSWER IS, FOLLOW THE MONEY. WHO STANDS TO GAIN FROM THIS ONSLAUGHT OF MARKET RATE HOUSING? I THINK THAT QUESTION STANDS FOR ITSELF. Y'ALL KNOW THAT WE NEED TO BRING THIS MADNESS TO AN END, BUT IT WILL BE AN UPHILL BATTLE. WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER ON MULTIPLE FRONTS TO WIN BACK THE RIGHT TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT HOUSING SOLUTIONS RIGHT HERE AT HOME. THE CITY ALREADY HAS A WONDERFUL HOUSING DEPARTMENT AND HOUSING COMMISSION THAT HAS HELPED PRODUCE AROUND 2,300 AFFORDABLE HOMES IN CARLSBAD OVER THE YEARS. WE DON'T NEED POLITICIANS IN SACRAMENTO TELLING US WHAT TO DO. YOUR DECISIONS HERE NOW WILL HAVE A PROFOUND AND LASTING IMPACT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. PLEASE, I HOPE THAT WHEN IT DOES COME UP TO THE COUNCIL, THAT YOU DO VOTE TO ADOPT THE ONV RESOLUTION. DO IT FOR US, DO IT FOR OUR CHILDREN. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL, HONORABLE MAYOR, STAFF. THANK YOU. I'M NILS NEHRENHEIM, OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVE, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD VOICES, FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER FOR EIGHT YEARS, RECENTLY TERMED OUT, REDONDO BEACH AND FORMER PRESIDENT OF INDEPENDENT CITIES ASSOCIATION. THE FIRST THING I'M GOING TO START OFF HERE IS WITH A SIMPLE QUESTION BECAUSE YOU GUYS HAVE A LOT OF BACKYARD SPACE, OPEN SPACE. BUT SACRAMENTO IS BEING RUN BY THE YIMBYS, WALL STREET IN MY BACKYARD, AND PAYING OFF THE YIMBYS WHO ARE DOING THE CAMPAIGN DONATIONS. THIS IS WHAT THE CONVERSATION IS REALLY ABOUT TAKING AWAY LOCAL CONTROL. CAN BE EITHER WITH THEM OR WITH THE LOCAL CONTROL OR LOCAL CITIES. OUR STATE PROPOSITION IS REALLY MODELED OFF TWO PROPOSITIONS BACK IN THE 1970S, PROP 13, WHICH WE ALL KNEW. STATE OVERREACH INTO OUR PERSONAL PROPERTY, REAL ESTATE, AND CONTINUED OVERREACH IN THE TAXES. OF COURSE, PROPOSITION 20 CREATED THE COASTAL ZONE, AND DEVELOPMENT GONE CRAZY. THAT IS WHAT IT WAS ABOUT. THAT WAS WHAT STARTED THAT INITIATIVE. BOTH OF THEM TOOK OVER 10 YEARS INDIVIDUALLY TO GET PASSED. BOTH PASSED BY THE RESIDENTS, BOTH COMPLETELY OPPOSED BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE, BOTH OPPOSED BY GOVERNOR JERRY BROWN, YES, THAT JERRY BROWN, BOTH OPPOSED UNANIMOUSLY BY ALL OPINION PIECES IN THE NEWSPAPERS, AND OF COURSE, THEY BOTH PASSED OVERWHELMINGLY BECAUSE THEY WERE FOR THE LOCAL CITY'S LOCAL CONTROL. OUR STATE PROPOSITION SIMPLY DOES A COUPLE OF THINGS, PROTECTS YOUR COMMUNITY, WORKS BACKWARDS, WORKS FORWARDS WITH THE STATE LEGISLATURES, PROMOTES AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE HAVE SPECIFIC INFORMATION THERE JUST FOR THAT. OF COURSE, SAFEGUARDS IMPACTS, SOMETHING RIGHT NOW THAT YOUR LOCAL CITIES CANNOT DO FOR IMPACTS FROM DEVELOPMENTS THAT COME TO, AS WAS SAID EARLIER, MINISTERIALLY APPROVED. THESE ARE ALL THE STATE LAWS, 293 SINCE 2023. OF COURSE, THIS YEAR OF SB 79, 2243, AND THESE, OF COURSE, RESULT IN THE RHNA NUMBERS THAT WE ALL KNOW SO WELL. THESE FORCED RHNA NUMBERS, FORCED MANDATES, UNFUNDED MANDATES, AND THEY ALL LEANED TO THIS. NO MORE SINGLE-FAMILY HOME ZONING IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, MASSIVE UP ZONING, LOSS OF CONTROL TO MITIGATE IMPACTS FROM DEVELOPMENTS, LOSS OF NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER. THIS IS ALL STATE MANDATES BEING DRIVEN BY STATE LEGISLATURES WHO DON'T LIVE AROUND HERE. YOU GUYS HERE AND KYLE HAVE DONE A FANTASTIC JOB OVER THE YEARS IN GROWING. THESE ARE ALL THE STATE LAWS TARGETING LOCAL CONTROL AND HOUSING IN 2024. MAKE SURE EVERYONE SEES THAT. TAKES A NOTE OF THAT, HOW MANY THEY ARE. ARE THEY SOLVING PROBLEMS? NO, THEY'RE CREATING MORE PROBLEMS. IT'S AN ENDLESS GAME OF GOOD OLD WHACK LAW. WE WERE SUCCESSFUL WITH BATTLING DOWN SB 9 A FEW YEARS AGO WITH CITY OF REDONDO BEACH THROUGH A LAWSUIT THAT'S STILL PENDING IN COURTS. SB 50, WE STOPPED, BUT IT THEN MORPHED TO SB 35. THEN SB 9 WAS CREATED. SB 79 IS THE NEWEST FLASHY CARD, BUT THERE'S DOZENS OF OTHER STATE LAWS THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW. THE ONLY WAY TO END UP REALLY CONTROLLING IT, [03:10:01] WE'RE DEALING WITH IT IS SHOWING THE EXAMPLES. SB 9, THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE. TAKING A SINGLE FAMILY HOME, PUTTING IT INTO TWO TOWN HOMES AND 28US. FIRST ONE IS SOLD FOR $1.8 MILLION. NEXT ONE IS SOLD FOR TWO MILLION DOLLARS FOR $3.8 MILLION. WHERE'S THE AFFORDABILITY IN THAT? THAT'S MARKET RATE HOUSING. THAT IS NOT AFFORDABILITY, THAT'S MARKET RATE HOUSING, HIGHER DENSITY, TWO PARKING SPOTS FOR THAT INSTEAD OF FOUR. WHERE'S THE INCREASE FUNDING FOR THE SEWERS AND THE PARKS DOESN'T EXIST. BUILDERS REMEDY PROJECTS. THEIR PROFITS IN THEIR POCKETS AND YOUR PROBLEMS. THIS IS SANTA MONICA REAL QUICK, 14 PROJECTS, 04,000 UNITS ALL FILED WITHIN ONE WEEK OF TIME TO THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA. THIS IS OUR LATE MAYOR, PASSED AWAY. THIS IS THE POWER PLANT SITE, 52 ACRES OF LAND. THAT'S CURRENTLY BOUGHT AND SOME GUY WANTS TO PUT IN THIS 2,700 UNITS. DEVELOP BUILDERS REMEDY PROJECT, GOING TO THE COURT SYSTEM SUED THE CITY OF REDONDO BEACH SEVEN TIMES ON THIS PROJECT ALONE. RHNA COMPARISON. REDONDO BEACH, WE GOT ROUGHLY 2,300 NET NEW UNITS. WE ACTUALLY HAD TO HAVE TO END UP ZONING FOR 3,300 TO GET THE DENSITY REQUIREMENTS. YOU GUYS, YOU KNOW WHAT YOURS IS UP HERE. IT MAKES NO SENSE. LONG STORY SHORT, YOUR 37 SQUARE MILES, 03,800 UNITS FOR RHNA. WE ARE 6.4 SQUARE MILES, BUT YET WE HAVE ALMOST SIMILAR NUMBERS. IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. GROWTH. FOR YOU GUYS, WHEN IS ENOUGH ENOUGH? WHEN IS YOUR LOT BEING TAKEN AWAY? WHEN IS WE ARE GOING TO FINALLY TO PUT DOWN THE FOOT AND SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE'VE DONE TOO MUCH. IN 1990, YOUR POPULATION WAS 63,000. YOU'VE HAD AN 82% INCREASE SINCE 2020 TO 114,000. 1.8 TIMES, YOU'RE DOING THE JOB OF GROWTH. YOU'RE DOING THE JOB. YOU'RE MANAGING IT YOURSELF. YOU'RE DOING WHAT YOU NEED TO DO. WHY DO YOU NEED THE STATE TO COME IN HERE AND TELL YOU WHAT TO DO? YOU DON'T. WHAT ARE THE WOLFS DOING? IF YOU WERE TO GET TO THE DENSITY OF 14,000 PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE, I CHOSE HERMOSA BEACH BECAUSE THEY ARE BEACH TOWN. THEY'RE THE DENSEST BEACH TOWN IN ALL STATE OF CALIFORNIA. THEY'RE 1.4 SQUARE MILES. THE STATE HAS GIVEN THEM A REAL ALLOCATION OF 560. IT'S NOT ENOUGH DENSITY FOR THEM. THEY DON'T HAVE HARDLY ANY OPEN SPACE ANYWHERE. THEY REALLY DON'T. THEY HAVE SMALL PARKS BUILT WITH MASSIVE HIGH RISES NEXT TO THEM. IF YOU WERE TO GET TO THAT DENSITY THAT THEY HAVE, WHICH IS WHAT THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA WANTS, THE SENATORS, ASSEMBLY MEMBERS, THE YIMBYS, YOUR POPULATION OF 14,000 WOULD BE 527,000 PEOPLE. THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A MOMENT. THINK HOW DENSE THAT WOULD BE. THIS IS THE MANDATES THAT THE STATE IS COMING DOWN WITH. THEY'RE GOING TOWARDS THAT DENSITY. THERE IS NO ITS AND/OR BUTS ABOUT IT. WITH THIS PROPOSITION, YOUR COMMUNITY ONLY SIMPLY WINS. IMMEDIATELY AFTER ADOPTION AFTER IT PASSES AT THE VOTER LEVEL AMENDED THE STATE CONSTITUTION, ALLOWS YOUR COMMUNITY TO CHOOSE WHETHER OR NOT YOU AGREE WITH SB 9, YOU CAN CHOOSE TO ACCEPT IT. WE WORK WITH THE STATE LEGISLATURES. THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. WE WORK WITH STATE LEGISLATURES. YOU CAN ADOPT IT. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT SAY NO. YOU CAN SAY, YES. WE WANT TO ACTUALLY ADOPT THE STATE LAWS ARE COMING OUT WITH. A LOT OF DISCUSSION MADE, YOU GUYS SAID NO TO A COUPLE OF STATE LAWS. STATE LAWS THAT ARE BEING CURRENTLY MADE, IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT PROCESS THAN A STATE BALLOT MEASURE. STATE LAWS ARE BEING MADE, THEY CAN DO ALL THESE LITTLE TRICKS, DECEIVING TRICKS LIKE GUT AND MEND. CHANGE A FEW WORDS, CHANGES THE ENTIRE VERBIAGE OF THE STATE LAW AROUND. STATE BALLOT MEASURES CANNOT DO THAT. SINGLE SUBJECT RULE. IF YOU CHANGE ONE WORD, THEN MAKES A MASSIVE CHANGE. IT CHANGES THE WHOLE PROPOSITION, YOU HAVE TO START OFF FROM THE BEGINNING AGAIN. THAT DOESN'T AFFECT HERE. WE'RE BASICALLY SAYING IS THIS, MINOR CHANGES IN OUR BALLOT MEASURE WILL NOT LEAD TO MAJOR CHANGES OVERALL. WE WORK WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING. YOU COME TO US WITH 100% AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT, 80 AMI OR LESS. YOU GET AUTOMATIC APPROVAL FOR THAT. WE'RE ALL ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING. ALL THAT'S BEING BUILT RIGHT NOW BY THE WIMBYS AND THE YIMBYS IS MARKET HOUSING, LUXURY HOUSING. THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE CONCENTRATING ON. THAT'S WHERE THE MONEY IS. THAT'S WHAT WALL STREET WANTS. >> HOWEVER INITIATIVE POLL. THIS IS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. WE JUST ACTUALLY REDID THIS POLL, AND IT ACTUALLY POLLS EVEN HIGHER, EVEN MORE SUPPORT THAN WHAT WE HAVE NOW. THE SUPPORT IS THERE BY THE RESIDENTS, THE SUPPORT IS THERE OVERALL IN THE STATE. ALL WE'RE ASKING YOU TO DO IS VERY SIMPLY HELP US SUPPORT A RESOLUTION. [03:15:05] WE HAVE SAMPLE RESOLUTIONS ON THE WEBSITE YOU GUYS CAN USE. AGAIN, I WANT TO REITERATE WHAT'S SO IMPORTANT HERE IS THERE'S TWO THINGS HERE. THIS PROPOSITION, WHEN PASSED, GETS TO THAT POINT, ALLOWS YOU AS A COUNCIL TO WORK WITH STATE LEGISLATORS. RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE TELLING YOU WHAT TO DO. THAT'S NUMBER 1. NUMBER 2 IS WHEN THE STATE LAWS ARE BEING CRAFTED AND CREATED THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM, THEY CAN DECEIVINGLY DO GUT AND AMENDS, DECEIVINGLY CHANGE SMALL PIECES OF THE STATE LAW BEFORE IT'S FINALLY VOTED ON, CHANGES THE ENTIRE OUTCOME EFFECT, THAT CAN'T HAPPEN WITH OUR BALLOT MEASURE. YOUR CITY'S PLAN HERE, YOU GUYS, YOU DETERMINE YOUR FUTURE. THAT'S THE WAY IT SHOULD BE. YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN DOING YOUR JOB WITH HOUSING, WITH GROWING. YOU'VE BEEN PLANNING, YOU'VE BEEN MANAGING, YOU'VE BEEN EXECUTING. THE LAST THING I'LL SAY IS THIS: CITIES DON'T BUILD HOUSING, CITIES PLAN AND ZONE. THAT'S YOUR JOB. IF THAT RIGHT IS TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU, WHY EVEN HAVE THE CITY? THE STATE OF SACRAMENTO COMES IN HERE AND RUNS YOUR TOWN FOR YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I REALLY WOULD LOVE YOUR SUPPORT. REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL BE HERE. >> STEVE LINKY FOLLOWED BY CHRIS WRIGHT. >> GOOD EVENING AGAIN, COUNCIL, STEVE LINKY, CARLSBAD. I WENT THROUGH ALL THE DEVELOPMENTS OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS THAT HAVE EXPLOITED THE STATE LAWS, AND I'VE GOT A LIST HERE. STATE LAW IS CURRENTLY FORCING VIRTUALLY UNLIMITED CONCESSIONS AND WAIVERS OF OUR CITY'S DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS. THESE ARE REAL-WORLD EXAMPLES. DENSITIES UP TO DOUBLE THE CITY'S LAND USE DESIGNATIONS, BUILDING HEIGHTS OF 5 STORIES AND 68 FEET IN THE VILLAGE, VERSUS THE 4-STORY 45-FOOT HEIGHT LIMIT. I THINK SB79, THE ONE THAT'S CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW AT THE STATE, WOULD FORCE US TO GO TO 7 STORIES. LARGER BOXIER BUILDINGS WITH LESS WINDOWS THAN WOULD BE ALLOWED. BUILDING FOOTPRINTS WITHIN FEET OF PROPERTY LINES IN THE STREET, DEEPER EXCAVATION INTO HILLSIDES WITH HIGHER RETAINING WALLS. EXEMPTIONS FROM CEQA TRAFFIC STUDIES TO AVOID THE NEED FOR MITIGATION, NARROWER SIDEWALKS, TOO FEW OR ZERO PARKING SPACES, AND SMALLER SPACES, WHICH WILL LEAD TO MORE ON STREET PARKING, REDUCED OR NO OPEN SPACE OR COMMUNITY RECREATION SPACE, AS WE'VE REQUIRED IN THE PAST, AND INABILITY TO ENFORCE CERTAIN CITY ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS. IN OTHER WORDS, WE'RE GETTING BIGGER, UGLIER, HIGHER-DENSITY UNITS WITH FEWER AMENITIES, WHICH WILL AFFECT THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR BOTH EXISTING NEIGHBORS OF THESE LOTS AND THE FUTURE RESIDENTS. IN ADDITION, A REDUCED ABILITY TO REQUIRE RIGHT-OF-WAY DEDICATIONS AND UTILITY IMPROVEMENTS CREATES UNFUNDED INFRASTRUCTURE MANDATES THAT THE REST OF CARLSBAD TAXPAYERS HAVE TO PAY. FOR EXAMPLE, SEWER AND WATER LINES. THERE ARE CURRENT BILLS THAT WOULD REQUIRE APPROVAL OF 7-STORY BUILDINGS AND CREATE MORE UNFUNDED MANDATES BY REDUCING THE ABILITY OF THE CITY TO COLLECT IMPACT AND MITIGATION FEES. AS COUNCIL MEMBER BURKHOLDER MENTIONED EARLIER, THE CITY HAS A LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM THAT SUPPORTS RESTORATION OF LOCAL CONTROL, AND THE LEGISLATIVE SUBCOMMITTEE, WHICH IS COUNCIL MEMBER BURKHOLDER AND COUNCIL MEMBER ACOSTA. THAT COMMITTEE AND STAFF HAVE PUT A HUGE AMOUNT OF EFFORT INTO TAKING OFFICIAL STANCES FOR OR AGAINST PENDING LEGISLATION. THAT'S INCLUDED CONTRACTING WITH LEGISLATIVE EXPERTS AND LOBBYISTS, AS WELL AS WORKING WITH THE CALIFORNIA LEAGUE OF CITIES. THESE EFFORTS HAVE SLOWED THE ACCELERATION OF EROSION OF LOCAL CONTROL, BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO RESTORATION, AND THE EROSION IS CONTINUING TO ACCELERATE. I THANK BOTH OF YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE IN THAT COMMITTEE WITH THE LEAGUE OF CITIES AND THE LOBBYISTS. MY ASK IS TO CONTINUE THOSE IMPORTANT ADVOCACY ROLE THAT YOU'RE PLAYING ON THAT LEGISLATIVE SUBCOMMITTEE, BUT ALSO PLEASE ENDORSE THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, WHICH IS THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY RESTORE LOCAL CONTROL. THANKS. >> CHRIS WRIGHT, FOLLOWED BY SUSAN TURNEY. >> PLEASE SET UP TO 3 MINUTES. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. I'M SPEAKING AS A BOARD MEMBER OF THE NONPROFIT EQUITABLE LAND USE ALLIANCE. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE CITY COUNCIL TO ESTABLISH A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD VOICES' PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT, IF PASSED BY THE VOTERS, WOULD RESTORE LAND USE DECISIONS TO LOCAL JURISDICTIONS. OUR NEIGHBORHOOD VOICES IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION [03:20:02] CONSISTING OF VOLUNTEERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. THIS ORGANIZATION IS GETTING STRONGER AND CONTINUES TO ADD CONCERNED RESIDENTS, ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND CITIES FROM ALL OVER THE STATE TO THE LIST OF SUPPORTERS. OVER 400 STATE MANDATES HAVE FORCED CITIES TO MAKE HOUSING DECISIONS BASED ON THE FEAR OF HOUSING ELEMENTS BEING REVOKED, WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF FINES AND BUILDERS' REMEDY. THE STATE CONTINUES TO APPROVE LAWS THAT NOT ONLY FURTHER RESTRICT OUR LOCAL CONTROL, BUT NOW THE STATE, THROUGH THESE LAWS, IS FORCING CITIES TO PAY FOR THESE UNFUNDED MANDATES, WHICH, ACCORDING TO THE LEAGUE OF CITIES' LEGISLATIVE ANALYST OFFICE, AMOUNT TO OVER ONE BILLION ILLEGALLY. I THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT THIS OVERREACH WILL DRAIN CITY COFFERS AND, ACCORDING TO OUR CITY MANAGER, WILL IMPACT INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS UTILITY SYSTEMS THAT MAY NOT ORIGINALLY HAVE BEEN DESIGNED FOR THE HIGH-DENSITY PLAN BY STATE LAWS. OUR CITY HAS A LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM, AS MENTIONED, THAT SUPPORTS LOCAL CONTROL, BELONGS TO THE LEAGUE OF CITIES, THE MISSION IS TO RESTORE AND PROTECT LOCAL CONTROL. THANKS TO THE WORK OF COUNCIL MEMBER BURKHOLDER, COUNCIL ESTABLISHED A RESOLUTION 2023-207, WHICH STATES THAT OUR CITY SUPPORTS LOCAL CONTROL. I ATTENDED THE LEGISLATIVE SUBCOMMITTEE ON MAY 13TH AND NOTED THE DISCUSSION BY OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS CONCERNING THE LANGUAGE OF THE ONV AMENDMENT, THAT ANY MINOR ADJUSTMENTS THAT MAY OCCUR AFTER TODAY, SHOULD OUR CITY APPROVE THE ONV AMENDMENT NOW, MAY CHANGE THE ENTIRE MEANING OF THAT DOCUMENT, AND POSSIBLY PUT OUR CITY IN LEGAL JEOPARDY. I HAVE A SOLUTION TO THIS QUANDARY THAT I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE CITY TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE ONV CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WITH A TIMESTAMP DATED TODAY. THEN BRING IT BACK TO COUNCIL AFTER OUR NEIGHBORHOOD VOICES SUBMITS THEIR DOCUMENT TO THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL, WHEN THE FINAL LANGUAGE WILL BE ADOPTED. THEN WE ARE ON THE RECORD OF SUPPORTING ONV, ALONG WITH 41 OTHER CITIES IN THE STATE, INCLUDING THE CITY OF OCEANSIDE, AND SAN MARCOS, AND CITY OF ENCINITAS, AS MENTIONED. THE SUPPORT BY OUR CITY FOR ONV NEEDS TO OCCUR NOW. FINALLY, I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT. EACH CITY WILL BE ABLE TO PASS THEIR OWN HOUSING LAWS. CITIES CAN CHOOSE WHICH STATE LAW TO ADOPT BASED ON THEIR OWN NEEDS. IT DOES NOT MEAN ALL BUILDING WILL STOP; HOUSING IS DESPERATELY NEEDED. WHAT IT MEANS IS THAT MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING- >> THANK YOU, CHRIS. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. >> SUSAN TURNEY FOLLOWED BY A GROUP, JIM O'HARA, DIANE BEDROSIAN, JENEF SINCLAIR, AND DAN WEIMER. >> SUSAN TURNEY, ENCINITAS. I'M AN ENCINITAS RESIDENT AND BOARD MEMBER OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD VOICES. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION, AS THE CITY OF ENCINITAS DID RECENTLY. AS AN ASIDE, OUR STAFF DID NOT PREPARE A REPORT TO ADVISE THE COUNCIL ON A YES OR NO VOTE. THEY DIDN'T PREPARE AN OPINION. THEY JUST TOOK AS THE CITY ATTORNEY SAID DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL ON HOW IT SHOULD BE WORDED. UNDER LOCAL CONTROL, WE CAN DO BETTER THAN THE DEVELOPER-BACKED STATE LAWS THAT WE'RE UNDER CURRENTLY. THESE LAWS USUALLY INCLUDE NO AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENT ZERO. IF YOU READ THESE BILLS, I HOPE NONE OF YOU IS OKAY WITH THAT. FROM RECENT HCD DATA, THE AGENCY THAT TRACKS AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRODUCTION PROGRESS FOR THE FIFTH CYCLE STATEWIDE SHOWED THAT CITIES MET ON AVERAGE 5% OF LOW AND VERY LOW VERSUS STATE-MANDATED GOALS. STATE LAW IS NOT WORKING. AS NIALS MENTIONED, IT'S JUST PROFITS IN THE POCKETS OF DEVELOPERS. IT IS NOT HELPING THE FOLKS WE THINK WE'RE INTENDING TO HELP. A SAN DIEGO GRAND JURY FINDING REVEALED THE SAME 5% VERSUS GOAL FOR OUR SAN DIEGO CITIES. AGAIN, ACCORDING TO HCD, FOR THE CURRENT SIX-CYCLE TO DATE, 34%, JUST OVER A THIRD OF CALIFORNIA CITIES, HAVE MET 0% OF VERY LOW AND LOW-INCOME GOALS. THEY'VE NOT PRODUCED ONE UNIT. THE STATE LAWS ARE NOT WORKING. FOUR PERCENT OF ALL CITIES STATEWIDE MET 1% OF THESE LOWER-INCOME MANDATES. AGAIN, STATE LAW FAILS US MISERABLY. IT'S A MEAN TRICK ON THOSE OF US WHO THINK THAT WE ARE HELPING PEOPLE OF LOWER EARNING MEANS WHO ARE HOPING TO LIVE IN OUR CITIES, AND UNDER LOCAL CONTROL, [03:25:01] WE CAN DO A LOT BETTER THAN THIS TRICKERY IN SACRAMENTO. I THINK WE CAN DO SO MUCH BETTER. I KNOW THAT WE WANT TO. THAT'S IT FOR ME. THANK YOU. >> GROUP, REPRESENTED BY JIM O'HARA, WITH DIANE BEDROSIAN, JENEF SINCLAIR, AND DAN WEIMER. >> MAYOR PRO TEM, COUNCIL. AS A COLLEAGUE, I KNOW A LOT OF YOU. I'M ENCINITAS CITY COUNCIL MEMBER JIM O'HARA. I'M NOT HERE, HOWEVER, AS A COUNCIL MEMBER TODAY. I'M HERE AS THE SAME PERSON WHO SIT AT THE PODIUM IN ENCINITAS, TALKING TO OUR CITY COUNCIL. A PERSON WHO BELIEVES THE CITY'S RESIDENTS AND COUNCILS SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO RESPONSIBLY DETERMINE THE FUTURE OF THEIR CITY THROUGH LOCAL CONTROL. I'M HERE ASKING COUNCIL TO ENDORSE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD VOICES. TO START OFF WITH A LITTLE STORY. RECENTLY, AT ENCINITAS, WE HAD OUR LARGEST DEVELOPMENT EVER COME THROUGH. ALONG WITH THE RESIDENTS, WE GOT TOGETHER, SPENT HUNDREDS OF HOURS IN THIS, WE PROVED THAT IT WAS ENVIRONMENTALLY HARMFUL. WE PROVED THAT IT WAS A FRAUDULENT TRAFFIC STUDY. WE PROVED THAT IT HAD A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. IT DIDN'T INCLUDE CUMULATIVE IMPACTS. IT NEGATIVELY IMPACTED THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS FROM THE EAST SIDE OF OUR CITY ALL THE WAY TO THE OCEAN, SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY VALUES IN THE QUALITY OF LIFE. WE PROVED IT OBJECTIVELY, WHICH YOU ALL KNOW OBJECTIVELY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO PROVE IT. WE DID THAT OBJECTIVELY. THE DAY THAT WE WERE TO VOTE ON THIS PROJECT, WE GOT A LETTER FROM THE HCD THAT SAID, WE KNOW IT'S HARMFUL TO ENVIRONMENT. WE KNOW THE TRAFFIC STUDY IS FRAUDULENT. WE KNOW THAT IT WILL HURT YOUR INFRASTRUCTURE. WE KNOW THAT ITS CUMULATIVE IMPACT IS OVERRATED, AND YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. BUILD IT ANYWAY, OR WE WILL TAKE AWAY YOUR ZONING ELEMENT, AND WE WILL ZONE IT FROM R30 TO R80, AND WE'LL DO THAT TO EVERY PROPERTY IN YOUR CITY. IN WRITING. YOU CAN GO LOOK IT UP. A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD VOICES. THIS BALLOT MEASURE PRIORITIZES LOCAL NEEDS AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE. OUR NEIGHBORHOOD VOICES SUPPORTS TAILORED DECISION MAKING, PRESERVING THE ABILITY TO MAKE DECISIONS TAILORED TO THE SPECIFIC NEEDS AND DESIRES OF THE RESIDENTS OF YOUR COMMUNITY. OUR NEIGHBORHOOD VOICES WOULD SUPPORT MUNICIPALITIES AND THE ABILITY TO ADDRESS LOCAL IMPACTS. THE RESULT OF STATE MANDATE CURRENTLY IS INCREASED DENSITY WITHOUT ADEQUATE CONSIDERATION FOR THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS ON INFRASTRUCTURE, SCHOOLS, TRAFFIC, CONGESTION, AND OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE. OUR NEIGHBORHOOD VOICES ADDITIONALLY SUPPORTS MAINTAINING WHAT YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB OF HEARING CARLSBAD, LOCAL, AND RESPONSIBLE CONTROL OVER IRRESPONSIBLE GROWTH. YOU HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN HERE IN CARLSBAD, DETAILING YOUR VISION FOR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. OUR NEIGHBORHOOD VOICES EFFORTS TO RESTORE LOCAL CONTROL OVER LAND USE COULD HELP CARLSBAD MAINTAIN CONSISTENCY WITH YOUR GENERAL PLANS AND ENSURE THAT NEW DEVELOPMENTS ALIGN WITH YOUR RESIDENTS' OVERALL GOALS AND QUALITY OF LIFE PRIORITIES. A PRIMARY FUNCTION OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD VOICES IS RESTORING LOCAL DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES. SOMETHING THAT'S FUNDAMENTAL TO WHAT WE DO, SITTING UP HERE IN OUR CHAIRS ON THE DIAS. ONV IS EMPOWERING LOCAL VOTERS AND REPRESENTATIVES. OUR NEIGHBORHOOD VOICES INITIATIVE EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF LOCAL DEMOCRACY AND THE IDEA THAT LAND USE POLICY SHOULD ULTIMATELY REFLECT THE WILL OF YOUR LOCAL VOTERS AND YOU, THEIR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES, NOT SOMEONE WHO LIVES UP IN SACRAMENTO, WHO COULDN'T FIND CARLSBAD ON A MAP. OUR NEIGHBORHOOD VOICES FUNCTIONS COMBATING STATE OVERREACH, STATE-LEVEL LEGISLATION THAT RESTRICTS YOUR CONTROL OVER LAND USE AS A FORM OF OVERREACH THAT UNDERMINES LOCAL AUTONOMY. WHERE DOES IT STOP? THIS BALLOT MEASURE IS CENTERED AROUND ENSURING RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT, AS YOU'VE HEARD TONIGHT. OUR NEIGHBORHOOD VOICES IS A TOOL PREVENTING UNDESIRABLE OUTCOMES IN YOUR COMMUNITY. THE STATE-MANDATED DEVELOPMENTS THAT LEAD TO UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, SUCH AS EXACERBATING HOUSING AFFORDABILITY ISSUES, PARTICULARLY IN HIGH-DEMAND AREAS LIKE CARLSBAD. AS SOON AS YOU UP-ZONE FROM R1 - R30, YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO HAVE AFFORDABLE LAND BECAUSE YOU'VE JUST INCREASED THE VALUE OF THAT LAND, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BUILD AND SELL. OUR NEIGHBORHOOD VOICES IS A TOOL IN FACILITATING MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT TO THE PEOPLE, YOUR RESIDENTS, WHOEVER VOTES FOR US. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT TRAITS OF A GOOD COUNCILOR IS TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF ENGAGING WITH THEIR RESIDENTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, NOT TO OVERREACH, BUT TO BRING THEM INTO THE PROCESS. [03:30:01] SOME OF THE POINTS I'VE HEARD AND READ IN THE MESSAGING HERE IN CARLSBAD, AND AT OUR OWN CITY COUNCIL, AND ACROSS THE STATE IS THAT THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES WILL TAKE CARE OF THIS AND HELP US OUT. I'M HERE TO TELL YOU, CALIFORNIA CITIES HAS A MIXED POSITION ON OUR NEIGHBORHOOD VOICES INITIATIVE. WHILE THE INITIATIVE SEEKS TO ALLOW LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO OVERRIDE STATE MANDATES, CAL CITIES INITIALLY REFERRED THE RESOLUTION TO ITS POLICY COMMITTEES FOR FURTHER REVIEW. THIS INDICATES THAT CAL CITIES IS NOT TAKING A FIRM STANCE IN SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION UNTIL FURTHER ANALYSIS IS STANDING ON THE SIDELINE. I WANT TO CLARIFY A POINT THAT WAS BROUGHT UP BY COUNCIL AND SEVERAL OF YOUR CITIZENS IN THE PAST, ABOUT THE VERBIAGE IN THE BALLOT, AS ALLUDED TO TONIGHT. THE CURRENT DRAFT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ON THE WEBSITE WILL NOT CHANGE OTHER THAN A FEW WORDS REQUIRED BY THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL, A FEW SENTENCES THAT WOULD NOT CHANGE THE PURPOSE OF THE DRAFT. THESE ARE WORDS OF CLARIFICATION, AND I JUST WANT TO BE 100% CLEAR. THAT REWORDING WILL NOT CHANGE THE PURPOSE OF THE BILL, THE PURPOSE OF THE BALLOT MEASURE. IN OUR OWN COUNCIL MEETING, ONE OF THE THINGS I HEARD WAS, THIS IS A FEEL-GOOD THING. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS BALLOT MEASURE WILL PASS. IT MAY OR MAY NOT. I KNOW IF WE DON'T SUPPORT IT, WE DON'T SUPPORT OUR RESIDENTS AND THEIR RIGHTS, IT'LL NEVER PASS. IT'S UP TO US TO GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO DECIDE. AFTER ALL, OUR RESIDENTS ARE EVERYTHING THAT WE DO. AS A COUNCIL, WE SHARE RESPONSIBILITY AND A DUTY. I HONESTLY LOOK AT THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU. IN 2023, YOU APPROVED MEASURES TO STRENGTHEN LOCAL CONTROL HERE IN THE CITY OF CARLSBAD. THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE AN ACTION. IT'S A SMALL ACTION. IT DOESN'T COST YOUR CITY ANYTHING. BARELY COST ANY STAFF TIME. IT'S JUST A LETTER. I THINK ONV ACTUALLY WILL WRITE THE LETTER FOR YOU THAT SAYS THAT YOU SUPPORT LOCAL CONTROL AND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD VOICES. THERE'S NOTHING TO LOSE. IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR CARLSBAD TO COME IN AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. >> COMING DOWN THE LINE, IF YOU DON'T, SB 79, EVERYTHING WITHIN A HALF MILE OF TRANSIT CAN GO UP, GET REZONED, AND YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. YOU MAY WANT TO CHANGE ALL OF DOWNTOWN CARLSBAD, BUT IT SHOULD BE YOUR CHOICE IN THE RESIDENTS' CHOICE, NOT SACRAMENTO. IN ESSENCE, WHAT IT MEANS TO ENDORSE THE NEIGHBORHOOD VOICES DRAFT AMENDMENT IS THAT IF PASSED BY THE VOTERS, EACH CITY WILL BE ABLE TO TAILOR WHICH STATE MANDATE TO KEEP OR CHANGE. DOESN'T MEAN YOU GET RID OF ALL OF THEM. FOR EXAMPLE, IT MEANS IF YOUR CITY LIKES SB 9, THEN THERE'S NO CHANGES. YOU VOTE TO APPROVE IT. BUT IF YOU DON'T WANT SB 35, THEN YOU CAN VOTE OUT THAT STATE LAW LOCALLY. EACH CITY HAS LOCAL CONTROL, AND THAT'S WHAT THIS MEANS. I COULDN'T BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT, AND HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS. THAT IS THE RIGHTS OF YOUR RESIDENTS AND YOUR CITIZENS, AND YOU, SITTING UP HERE. CIRCLE BACK TO WHERE I STARTED. THIS PODIUM. THIS PODIUM, AND I BELIEVE THIS WITH ALL OF MY HEART, AND I HOPE ALL OF YOU DO, I KNOW YOU DO BECAUSE THAT'S WHY YOU'RE SITTING IN THESE SEATS. THIS PODIUM IS THE MOST POWERFUL VOICE IN ANY CITY COUNCIL. IT'S THE VOICE THAT REPRESENTS THE RIGHTS OF OUR RESIDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN WHAT WE DO. IT GUIDES YOUR INPUT, IT GUIDES MY INPUT IN MY JOB, AND IT'S PRECIOUS, AND IT SHOULD BE PRESERVED. THAT'S WHAT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD VOICES DOES. I DON'T EVER WANT TO GIVE THIS PODIUM AWAY TO SACRAMENTO. I DON'T WANT TO GIVE THE POWER OF THE DICE IN THE PODIUM AWAY TO SACRAMENTO ON THINGS THAT REALLY MATTER LOCALLY. I KNOW THAT YOU DON'T EITHER. I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE SUPPORT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD VOICES. I KNOW THAT YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT. I KNOW THAT YOUR RESIDENTS AND YOUR VOTERS WILL BE VERY APPRECIATIVE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TONIGHT. THANK YOU ALL THE RESIDENTS WHO CAME OUT. >> NO ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM. >> MISS BURKHOLDER. >> I LIKE TO HEAR IF I HAVE ONE QUESTION, AND THEN I'D LIKE TO HEAR IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES, AND THEN I HAVE JUST A COMMENT. THERE WAS A MENTION OF, I THINK IT WAS LIKE A DATE TIME STAMP ON A RESOLUTION, BECAUSE I GUESS THERE WAS CONCERN ABOUT LANGUAGE CHANGING IN THE BALLOT INITIATIVE. [03:35:03] IS THAT EVEN SOMETHING WE COULD DO? I GUESS THAT'S MAYBE FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY? >> ALL OF YOUR RESOLUTIONS HAVE A DATE ON THEM? >> I KNOW. I'M THINKING THAT IT WAS REALLY MORE TOWARD AN ADDITIONAL PROTECTIVE MEASURE, OR MAYBE I MISUNDERSTOOD THE SPEAKER. >> I THOUGHT I HEARD THE SPEAKER SAY, YOU CAN ADOPT OR THE SUGGESTION WAS, ADOPT A RESOLUTION NOW, AND THEN WHEN THE INITIATIVE MAKES ITS WAY TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND BACK, THEN BRING BACK THE ITEM TO CONSIDER IT AGAIN. I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE SUGGESTION I HEARD. >> WELL, THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE, TOO. RESOLUTION IS LITERALLY JUST US AGREEING THAT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT THING FOR THE RESIDENTS AND THAT WE WANT TO SHOW SUPPORT OF THEM. CAN WE HEAR OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, AND THEN I'LL JUST MAKE A COUPLE OF CLOSING REMARKS. >> I'M NOT SURE WHO YOU'RE GOING TO ASK THE QUESTIONS OF, BUT LET'S DO EITHER ONE. IT DOESN'T MATTER. YOU DO QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS TOGETHER IF YOU LIKE. MS. BOB PATEL. >> YES. THANK YOU. >> I'LL LOOK THIS WAY AND ASK IF IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR ME TO ASK MR. HABER A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, AND THEN MS. MCMAHON. >> THAT'S FINE. AFFAIRS DIRECTOR, JASON HABER. >> GREAT. THANK YOU. HI, MR. HABER. >> GOOD EVENING. >> FIRST OFF, THANK YOU TO THE RESIDENTS THAT HAVE STUCK AROUND. IT'S 9:00 P.M., ALMOST, AND I KNOW WE'RE ALL HERE. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR FEEDBACK AND FOR WRITING IN. MR. HABER, A FEW QUESTIONS, AND THEN I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS FOR OUR CITY ATTORNEY. IS THERE A TIMELINE FOR WHEN THIS BALLOT INITIATIVE IS SUPPOSED TO COME BEFORE US? IS IT IN 2026, 2028? DO YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW IF THERE'S ANY CLARITY AROUND THAT? >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. IT'S PROBABLY A BETTER QUESTION FOR THE PROPONENTS OF THE BALLOT MEASURE AS TO THE SPECIFICS. THIS IS A PROPOSAL THAT HAS BEEN KNOCKING AROUND FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW. MY UNDERSTANDING AT THIS POINT IS THAT THEY ARE TRACKING TOWARDS AN EFFORT TO GET ON THE 2026 BALLOT, BUT ARE UNCERTAIN WHETHER THEY'LL MEET THAT AND MAYBE PUSHED OFF TO THE 2028 BALLOT. >> I KNOW THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL CITIES THAT ARE MENTIONED IN TERMS OF TAKING SUPPORT POSITIONS ON THIS. DO YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW, AND IF YOU DON'T, THAT'S OKAY, WHAT YEAR THOSE POSITIONS WERE TAKEN? BECAUSE I KNOW ANSONITA JUST RECENTLY TOOK IT, BUT I'M JUST CURIOUS, FOR INSTANCE, OCEANSIDE, SAN MARCOS, AND OTHERS THAT WERE MENTIONED. >> YES. THANK YOU. THAT'S CORRECT. ANSONITA THEIR ACTION VERY RECENTLY IN THE PAST MONTH OR SO. ALL OF THE OTHER CITIES THAT WERE REFERENCED TOOK THEIR ACTIONS IN THE 2021 2022 TIME FRAME, LEADING UP TO CARLSBAD, WHICH ADOPTED OUR RESOLUTION RELATED TO LOCAL CONTROL IN 2023. >> GOT IT. THANK YOU. THEN IT SOUNDS LIKE THE FINAL LANGUAGE IS STILL TO BE DETERMINED ON THIS INITIATIVE. >> THAT IS MY UNDERSTANDING. AT THIS POINT, IT'S A CONCEPTUAL LANGUAGE THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE SUBMITTED AND APPROVED AND QUALIFY FOR THE BALLOT AT THAT POINT, BUT THAT'S RIGHT AT THIS POINT. THIS IS CONCEPTUAL LANGUAGE AS I UNDERSTAND IT. >> I ALREADY ASKED THE TIMELINE, SO I WON'T ASK THAT. NOW I JUST HAVE QUESTIONS FOR MS. MCMAHON. I HEARD THE STATEMENT THAT WE CAN ADOPT STATE LAWS OR NOT, AND I WANTED TO CHECK IN WITH YOU WITH REGARDS TO THAT. CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT PROCESS IN TERMS OF I KNOW THERE'S THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, BUT THEN ALSO IF THE STATE CONSIDERS SOMETHING A STATE-WIDE CONCERN, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AS WELL. >> I'M GOING TO OPEN WITH THE CAVEAT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO COUNCIL DIRECTION ON THIS, THAT OUR OFFICE HAS NOT ANALYZED THIS INITIATIVE. WHEN I HAVE READ THROUGH IT, THERE ARE SOME STATUTES THAT IT RECOGNIZES, I THINK IT REFERS TO THEM AS COVERED STATE STATUTES, AND THERE ARE SOME OF THE LARGER STATE STATUTES, LIKE SQUA COASTAL ACT, THOSE THINGS. THEN FURTHER ON IN IT, IT DOES RECOGNIZE IF THE STATE PASSES LAWS RELATED TO THOSE THAT DECLARES THEM A MATTER OF STATEWIDE CONCERN, THAT THOSE THINGS COULD OVERCOME ANY LOCAL LAND USE. BUT AGAIN, I WANT TO I WOULD HAVE TO STUDY THAT MORE CAREFULLY. IF I WAS UNDERSTANDING THE SPEAKER, I THINK WHAT HE WAS TRYING TO SAY IN A PLAIN SPEAK WAS THAT INSTEAD OF STATE PREEMPTING LOCAL, [03:40:01] THAT LOCAL WOULD HAVE MORE ABILITY TO ADOPT WHAT THEY WANTED FOR THEIR LOCAL PLANNING. IF THE STATE SUGGESTED SOMETHING LIKE SB 9 AND WE LIKED IT, WE COULD ADOPT OUR VERSION OF IT. I THINK THAT'S WHAT HE WAS TRYING TO SAY AS OPPOSED TO SAYING STAT ANY HIERARCHY. IN TERMS OF HIERARCHY, USUALLY, A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WILL TRUMP A STATUTE. UNLESS THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT HAS SOME PROVISIONS FOR STATUTORY IMPLEMENTATION. AGAIN, I HAVEN'T STUDIED THIS ONE TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU A SUMMARY, BUT JUST IN THE ORDINARY HIERARCHY, A CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION WOULD TRUMP A STATE STATUTE. >> THEN FOR TONIGHT'S ACTION, IF TONIGHT'S ACTION WOULD BE AROUND ACTUALLY SUPPORTING WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A RESOLUTION OR NOT, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY TO RE AGENDIZE, TO DISCUSS, IT'S ACTUALLY MAKING A DECISION TODAY, WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH SUPPORTING A RESOLUTION. >> I WOULD SAY THE COUNCIL CAN DIRECT US TO BRING BACK A RESOLUTION, AND THE COUNCIL CAN DIRECT US WHAT THEY WANT THAT RESOLUTION TO LOOK LIKE, WHETHER IT'S TO SUPPORT THIS SPECIFIC INITIATIVE, WHETHER IT'S TO SUPPORT THE POLICIES UNDERLYING THIS INITIATIVE, OR THE GOALS UNDERLYING IT. YOU CAN TELL US WHAT YOU WANT. I WOULD SAY THE ACTUAL DECISION POINT IS WHEN THE RESOLUTION IS IN FRONT OF YOU AND WHETHER YOU WANT TO ADOPT IT OR NOT. BUT YOU CAN GIVE US DIRECTION ON WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE US BRING BACK IN THE FORM OF A RESOLUTION. >> YOU WANTED QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS, OR JUST QUESTIONS. >> BOTH. I MIGHT WANT TO WAIT UNTIL I HEAR THE OTHER QUESTIONS IF YOU DON'T MIND. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE ARE OTHER QUESTIONS. >> MR. COASTAL. >> A QUESTION FROM MR. COASTAL. >> I WAS GOING TO SAY I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR SOME OTHER QUESTIONS FIRST. THANK YOU. >> GREAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO ALL THE SPEAKERS WHO HAVE COME HERE. I'VE MET AND SEEN MOST OF YOU AT THE LEGISLATIVE SUBCOMMITTEE. THANK YOU FOR WEIGHING IN THERE AND ON EMAIL, AND REACHING OUT AND BEING HERE TONIGHT. FOR THOSE WHO WEREN'T HERE TONIGHT, I ALSO HAVE HEARD AND READ THEIR COMMENTS. AT THE LEGISLATIVE SUBCOMMITTEE, WE HAD A LONG DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS ITEM. I KNOW IT WAS INCLUDED AS A LINK IN THE AGENDA PACKET, BUT SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO SORT THROUGH ALL OF THAT. BUT A LOT OF THE COMMENTS THAT I PREVIOUSLY MADE AND WHY I WASN'T READY TO TAKE A SUPPORT POSITION THEN AND I'M HAPPY TO GO OVER THEM AGAIN, BUT I SPECIFICALLY HAD QUESTIONS THAT I HAVEN'T HAD ANSWERED YET SATISFACTORILY, AND I THINK A LOT OF THEM WERE THE ONES THAT COUNCIL MEMBER PATEL JUST SAID, WHEN WILL THIS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT BE ON THE STATE BALLOT? WHEN WILL THE LANGUAGE FOR THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT BE FINALIZED? ANOTHER ONE THAT WASN'T ASKED, BUT I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT AND I'D LIKE EVERYONE TO KNOW THE ANSWER, WHAT HAPPENED TO THE LAST ATTEMPT TO PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A BIG PUSH SEVERAL YEARS AGO FOR THIS, AND I KNOW THAT OUR CITY WAS PRETTY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS IN THE PAST. BUT I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROCESS IS TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE BALLOT, TO GET IT APPROVED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND THEN ULTIMATELY TO GET IT ON A BALLOT AND TO WIN. I HAVE WORKED ON THESE PROCESSES BEFORE, AND I KNOW THEY'RE COMPLICATED. THOSE WERE SOME OF MY QUESTIONS. I'M GRATEFUL TO THE SPEAKERS FOR BRINGING UP THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A LEGISLATIVE SUBCOMMITTEE AT THIS CITY, WHICH IS VERY UNUSUAL, AND THAT IT'S SO IMPRESSIVE. WE GO BILLS WITH THE LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVES' OFFICES, OUR MEMBER OF CONGRESS, AND OUR TWO STATE LEGISLATORS SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO PRETTY MUCH EVERY SINGLE MEETING. WE HEAR FROM THEM. WE ALSO HAVE STATE AND FEDERAL LOBBYISTS THAT WE WORK WITH, WE TAKE POSITIONS ON ALL OF THINGS, AND WE WORK WITH THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES AND THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES. AS SOMEBODY MENTIONED AND NOTED, THE MISSION OF THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES IS TO EXPAND AND PROTECT LOCAL CONTROL. IT IS ABOUT CITIES BECAUSE WE DO BELIEVE THAT CITIES ARE THE LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT CLOSEST TO THE PEOPLE. WE UNDERSTAND THAT OUR ROLE HERE IS SO IMPORTANT. WE TALK TO PEOPLE EVERY DAY IN A WAY THAT HIGHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT DON'T; THEY JUST ARE NOT AS FREQUENTLY INTERACTING WITH THEIR VOTERS, THEIR PUBLIC, AND DON'T HAVE SUCH A CLOSE CONNECTION TO THEIR COMMUNITIES. WE CERTAINLY SEE THE ISSUES, AND WE HAVE PASSED THESE RESOLUTIONS FOR LOCAL CONTROL IN THE PAST. I THINK A LOT OF MY QUESTIONS ARE SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. [03:45:03] ONV AND WHERE IT IS. I DON'T WANT TO HAVE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES FOR OUR CITY OF SUPPORTING ONV WHEN WE ARE VERY ALIGNED IN WHAT WE WANT. OUR LOCAL CONTROL IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US AS A CITY AS WELL. AS YOU LOOK AT OUR LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM, IT'S NOT JUST THE RESOLUTIONS THAT WE'VE PASSED AS A COUNCIL IN THE PAST, BUT WE ALSO HAVE DEFINITE MOVES THAT WE HAVE MADE AS A CITY TO ENSURE THAT LOCAL CONTROL IS ALWAYS A PRIORITY FOR US. THOSE ARE QUESTIONS I WOULD LIKE TO ANSWER, BUT I WASN'T READY TO SUPPORT IT. I'M STILL NOT READY TO SUPPORT IT. I THINK THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES IS THE ORGANIZATION THAT IS MOST SUCCESSFULLY AND PRODUCTIVELY ADVOCATING. IT IS A HARD THING. THERE IS NO SILVER BULLET. THERE IS NO SINGLE WAY TO FIX THE ISSUE, WHICH IS A DISCONNECT BETWEEN WHAT OUR STATE LEGISLATORS ARE DOING AND WHAT WE FEEL IS THE RIGHT THING FOR OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY. WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON IT IN OTHER WAYS, BUT I'D LIKE TO HEAR THE COMMENTS FROM THE REST OF THE COUNCIL. THANKS. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MR. SHIN. ARE WE DOWN TO COMMENTS? >> COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS. >> GO AHEAD. >> I THINK QUESTIONS WILL BE DIRECTED AT STAFF. COMMENTS ARE MADE IN GENERAL, JUST SO THAT'S UNDERSTOOD, WHERE MY THOUGHT PROCESS IS GOING WITH THE QUESTIONS. I SHARE THE SAME PASSIONS THAT THE AUDIENCE IS SHARING IN REGARDS TO US HAVING LOCAL CONTROL, AND I KNOW THIS IS TAKEN IN THE PAST. WHAT I DO HAVE CONCERNS WITH, AND SO JUST KNOW THE CONTEXT IS THAT I'M SUPPORTING YOUR BELIEFS. WHAT I HAVE SOME SERIOUS CONCERNS WITH IS THAT THE ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPARENCY RIGHT NOW IS THROUGH THE WEBSITE. AS I LOOK AT THE WEBSITE, AND AS A PERSON THAT SHARES A NONPROFIT AND IS HERE ON THIS PLATFORM. I'M SEEING THINGS THAT ARE NOT TOTALLY MAKING SENSE, AND I NEED CLARIFICATION ON THAT FOR US AS A CITY TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT. I'M GOING TO ENCOURAGE SOME CHANGES TO TAKE PLACE WHERE I CAN FEEL SAFE THAT I'M PARTNERING WITH A GROUP THAT IS ADVOCATING THIS CAUSE. A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT CONCERN ME RIGHT OFF THE BAT IS, IT'S NOT EVEN SHOWING WHO'S RUNNING THE SITE, WHO ARE THE OFFICERS. I HAVE TO DIVE INTO A 990 FORM. I SEE THAT THERE'S A 501(C)(4) AND A (C)(3). I'M DIVING INTO THINGS THAT CAN ONLY SHOW ME TWO YEARS IN THE PAST. IT'S REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE ENDORSEMENTS OF A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE ELECTED AND PREVIOUSLY ELECTED, BUT I STILL DON'T KNOW WHO'S RUNNING THE SITE. I NEED TO KNOW WHO'S RUNNING THE SITE, AND I NEED TO KNOW TRANSPARENCY OF THIS ORGANIZATION BEFORE I CAN SAY, I'M ALL ABOUT THESE GUYS. THAT'S WHERE I WANT TO ENCOURAGE STAFF TO EITHER HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH THIS ORGANIZATION, WHY ARE WE SEPARATED FROM A 501(C)(3) FROM A 501(C)(4)? THAT'S ONE PORTION OF IT. I LIKE TO KNOW WHERE THE FUNDING GOES. I SAW THE 990 FORMS OF 2023. I'M NOT SEEING 24, I'M NOT SEEING THIS YEAR, HOW YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO BE SPENDING THE MONEY. YOU'RE ASKING FOR $50,000,000, WHICH BY THE WAY, IF WE'RE SAYING WE'RE ADVOCATING THIS CAUSE OR IF I PERSONALLY ENDORSE THIS, IT'S ALSO SAYING TO PEOPLE THAT KEVIN IS SAYING, YOU GUYS SHOULD CONSIDER MAYBE DONATING TO THIS CAUSE. I WANT TO KNOW WHERE THIS MONEY IS GOING AND WHAT IT IS THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING TO CREATE THIS. THERE'S A DRAFT FORM OF THIS THAT I'M SEEING. I'M NOT AN ATTORNEY. I'M REALLY LEANING ON THE ATTORNEY TO LOOK AT THIS FORM TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT'S BEING SAID CO-ALIGNS WITH OUR CITY'S MISSION STATEMENTS. THEN THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE BEING SAID IN THIS WEBSITE THAT CONCERN ME JUST AS AN INDIVIDUAL. WHEN YOU CLICK ON THINGS THAT ARE SAYING LIKE LIES AND NOT LIES, OR STATISTICS THAT ARE BEING VETTED OR NOT. I DO SEE THE AUDITOR OF THE STATE SAYING THAT THERE'S SOME DISCREPANCIES. I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT, THERE'S ALSO OPINION PIECES THAT YOU'RE PUTTING ON. THERE'S THINGS THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT'S A LITTLE TOO SUBJECTIVE AND NOT OBJECTIVE. I'M SEEING SOMETHING THAT'S BEING STATED THAT OUR STATE IS STATING THAT THE SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES ARE CONSIDERED RACIST. WHEN YOU PUT THAT WORD OUT AND YOU'RE SAYING THAT PUBLICLY, JUST KNOW THAT I'M TAKING THAT EXTREMELY SERIOUSLY FROM A PERSON FROM MY PERSPECTIVE. IF YOU'RE SAYING IT, YOU BETTER MEAN IT, YOU BETTER PROVE IT EXTREMELY HARD. DO NOT MESS AROUND WITH THAT WORD, IS WHAT I'M BASICALLY SAYING. BEFORE I CAN SAY, HEY, I'M ALL ABOUT THIS, I WANT TO SEE SOME THINGS GET A LOT MORE CLEARED UP. THAT I'M LEANING TOWARDS THE STAFF, THAT AS YOU GUYS ARE CREATING THE RESOLUTION, I ALSO WANT TO SEE WHO IS THIS ORGANIZATION THAT'S REPRESENTING. I KNOW THE SPIRIT OF IT IS WHY I WANT TO CHAMPION IT, IS WHY I WANT TO JUMP IN WITH THEM, [03:50:01] BUT I'M ALSO BEING VERY CAUTIOUS BECAUSE WHEN WE START GETTING EMOTIONAL WITH THESE DECISION-MAKING, IT'S LIKE, WHO ARE THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE CAUSING THIS? I'M JUST GOING TO LEAVE AT THAT. >> MS. BOB PATEL. >> I THINK WE ALREADY JUMPED A COMMENTS, SO I'LL SHARE MINE NOW. FIRST OFF, AGAIN, THANKS TO THE SPEAKERS AND COUNCIL MEMBER OHERA, THANKS FOR BEING HERE AS WELL. I'M SURE YOU WAITED QUITE A FEW HOURS TO SPEAK. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. SO I DO WANT TO SAY THAT OBVIOUSLY I THINK ALL OF US SHARE CONCERNS REGARDING THE WAY SACRAMENTO TELLS US WHAT TO DO. I THINK ALL OF US REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROTECTING OUR LOCAL CONTROL. I WANT TO SAY THAT THERE'S, AND I'VE SAID THIS TIME AND TIME AGAIN, THERE'S NO COOKIE CUTTER APPROACH TO ADDRESSING THE HOUSING CRISIS AND I WHOLEHEARTEDLY BELIEVE THAT. I THINK THAT OBVIOUSLY WE SEE LAWS THAT COME DOWN FROM SACRAMENTO AND IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. I THINK 100%, I WANT TO SUPPORT OUR RESIDENTS AND THEIR RIGHTS. I THINK I HAVE CERTAIN CONCERNS, AND I'LL SHARE WITH YOU OBVIOUSLY AS SOMEONE WHO HAS SPENT YEARS WORKING ALONGSIDE OUR RESIDENTS TO SHAPE THOUGHTFUL COMMUNITY CENTERED POLICIES. I HAVE ALWAYS TRIED REALLY HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING THE IDEA THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS SHOULD HAVE A STRONG VOICE IN DECISION MAKING THAT OBVIOUSLY AFFECTS OUR COMMUNITIES. LOCAL CONTROL IS OBVIOUSLY A PRINCIPLE THAT, AGAIN, LIKE I'VE SAID, WE DEEPLY BELIEVE IN AND SOMETHING THAT NOT ONLY AM I FIGHTING FOR HERE, BUT ON DIFFERENT COMMITTEES, WHETHER IT'S CAL CITIES OR OTHERS. I'VE BEEN IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS IN THAT, AND I'VE ALSO MADE SURE THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO ADVOCATE WITH OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING WHAT WE CAN TO PROTECT OUR LOCAL CONTROL. I THINK YOU'VE HEARD SOME CONCERNS THAT MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE SHARED WITH REGARDS TO NOT HAVING FULL UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE LANGUAGE IS FOR THIS PARTICULAR BALLOT INITIATIVE. I'M NOT SAYING NO AT ALL. I'M SAYING THAT I'D LIKE TO SEE THE FULL LANGUAGE FIRST IN ORDER TO SAY THAT I'D LIKE TO SUPPORT IT. IT'S OBVIOUSLY PEELING ON THE SURFACE RIGHT NOW. BUT IT DOES BECAUSE, OF COURSE, IT SUGGESTS THAT WE HAVE GREATER EMPOWERMENT FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, MORE LOCAL INPUT, STRONGER CHECKS ON DEVELOPMENT DECISIONS. BUT THE REALITY IS THAT RIGHT NOW, AS IT STANDS, THERE'S NO CLARITY AND SPECIFICITY THAT WE HAVE. I REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ACTUALLY HAVE CLARITY AND SPECIFICITY AROUND WHAT WE WOULD BE SUPPORTING, ESPECIALLY IF MY NAME IS GOING TO BE ON THERE. MY NAME THEN MEANS THAT I HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT I TRULY WHOLEHEARTEDLY KNOW WHAT THE LANGUAGE IS. I DON'T KNOW THAT, SO I CAN'T COMFORTABLY JUST PUT MY NAME BEHIND SOMETHING WHEN I DON'T KNOW THE ACTUAL LANGUAGE ON THAT. I THINK THE OTHER PIECE THAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE CLARITY ON IS COMPONENTS SUCH AS HOW LOCAL CONTROL WOULD BE OPERATIONALIZED, WHAT THE IMPACT WOULD BE ON EXISTING HOUSING LAWS, AND WHETHER IT WOULD OVERRIDE CURRENT STATE LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE'VE ALREADY BUILT. IT'S VERY VAGUE AND ENTIRELY UNDEFINED IN THAT PARTICULAR SENSE, AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND THAT. OBVIOUSLY, WE ALL KNOW WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF A STATE WIDE HOUSING CRISIS, AND IT REQUIRES URGENT, OF COURSE, YET THOUGHTFUL SOLUTIONS. AS CITIES, AS WE ALL KNOW, WE'RE CONSTANTLY NAVIGATING THE TENSION BETWEEN MEETING STATE GOALS, AND OF COURSE, WANTING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR CITY. I THINK AND OF COURSE, THE BIGGEST PIECE IS MAKING SURE I MEAN, I LOVE CARS BUT I GREW UP HERE, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE PROTECTING THE UNIQUE CHARACTER AND NEEDS OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. I THINK IT'S NOT GOING TO BE EASY, AND I KNOW THAT. AT LEAST WE'VE ALL BEEN SITTING UP HERE AND WE KNOW THAT IT'S SO HARD TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT MAKING AMBIGUOUS DECISIONS BECAUSE THEN WE'RE PUTTING NOT ONLY OUR ORGANIZATION, BUT OUR RESIDENTS AT RISK IF WE JUST DECIDE TO MAKE DECISIONS WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT'S GOING ON. THE OTHER LAST PIECE, AND I KNOW I HAD ONE LAST THING, BUT I DO HAVE A COUPLE OTHER THINGS I'D LIKE TO MAKE SURE IS THAT WE NEED TO BE ASKING, WHAT ARE THE UNINTENDED, IF THERE ARE ANY, WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES? WILL THIS HELP US BUILD EQUITABLE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES OR SET US BACK? I KNOW THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS AROUND THAT WITH REGARDS TO THE INITIATIVE. I APPRECIATE YOU ALL BRINGING THAT UP BECAUSE, YES, I SEE IT TOO. SOMETIMES YOU SEE INCREASED DENSITY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN FOLKS ARE BUILDING LUXURY CONDOMINIUMS. I 100% UNDERSTAND AND AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT PARTICULAR POINT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL KNOW THAT I WANT TO CONTINUE HAVING CONVERSATIONS AROUND THIS WITH NOT ONLY OUR RESIDENTS, [03:55:04] BUT LOCAL LEADERS WHO HAVE ALREADY SIGNED ONTO THIS, OBVIOUSLY, CONTINUING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND WHERE THIS INITIATIVE IS GOING, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE BETTER TRANSPARENCY ON HOW IT WOULD TRULY EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITIES AND SUPPORT THE STATE WIDE HOUSING GOALS IN A WAY THAT WE WOULD ACTUALLY STILL MAINTAIN OUR LOCAL CONTROL. I WOULD WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVISIT IT ONCE WE HAVE MORE CLARITY AROUND. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT RUSHING TO A DECISION WHEN WE'RE NOT. I DON'T THINK, AT LEAST FROM MY MY VIEWPOINT, I DON'T THINK I'M SAYING NO. I'M JUST SAYING I'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO SEE MORE INFORMATION ON IT BEFORE I MAKE ANY DECISION AS TO SUPPORTING IT OR NOT. >> DO WE HAVE MORE THINGS TO ADD? MISS ACOSTA, DO YOU HAVE MORE? >> YES. THANK YOU. THANKS TO ALL FOR THE CONVERSATION AND THE COMMENTS. IN LOOKING AT THE 2023 RESOLUTION THAT WE ALL PASSED UNANIMOUSLY WHEN COUNCILMEMBER LUNA WAS HERE INSTEAD OF COUNCIL MEMBER SHIN. BUT OTHERWISE, THE REST OF US WERE HERE. WE AGREED WITH ALMOST ALL THE SAME PRINCIPLES ABOUT LOCAL CONTROL, LOCAL LAND USE, WHAT ZONING WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR DIFFERENT RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES, WHAT PARKING REQUIREMENTS WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS, WHICH PROJECTS REQUIRE REVIEW BEYOND MINISTERIAL APPROVAL. I THINK WE ARE VERY ALIGNED. I REALLY THINK THAT WE ARE NOT THAT FAR APART. I THINK THAT THERE IS JUST QUESTIONS ABOUT A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND IF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD IS GOING TO PUT ITS NAME AS AN ENDORSER WHEN WE HAVE ALL THESE UNANSWERED QUESTIONS. I THINK WE HAVE A LOT IN COMMON, AND IF YOU WERE TO REVIEW THAT RESOLUTION FROM 2023, MAYBE THE THING IS THAT WE NEED TO UPDATE THAT RESOLUTION AND PROMOTE IT AND LET PEOPLE KNOW WHERE WE STAND. MAYBE THAT'S THE IN BETWEEN BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE FINAL LANGUAGE FOR A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT SUPPORTED BY ONV, AND WE WON'T HAVE IT BECAUSE ACCORDING TO THE LEGISLATIVE SUBCOMMITTEE CONVERSATION THAT WE HAD, WE WON'T HAVE IT UNTIL IT'S SUBMITTED TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THAT'S WHEN IT WILL BE FINALIZED. WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT'S GOING TO BE. I THINK THERE IS SOME COMPROMISE TO BE HAD AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN SATISFY FOLKS WHO ARE WONDERING WHETHER WE'RE SUPPORTIVE OF LOCAL CONTROL AND LOCAL LAND USE. YES, IT'S ALREADY IN OUR LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM. IT'S ALL OVER OUR WEBSITE. IT'S PART OF OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING DOCUMENTS, AND WE ALREADY HAVE EXISTING RESOLUTIONS. IF WE NEED TO STRENGTHEN AND PROMOTE THEM, THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE CAN DO WITHOUT SUPPORTING AN UNKNOWN CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT'S NOT BEEN FINALIZED. THANK YOU. >> ARE WE FINISHED WITH COMMENTS? GO FOR IT. >> THANK YOU. WE HAVE A CHICKEN AND EGG QUANDARY GOING ON HERE RELATIVE TO THE BALLOT DATE AND IF WE SUPPORT IT AFTER THE FINAL LANGUAGE IS PRESENTED OR IF WE DON'T. I GUESS MY ARGUMENT FOR THAT WOULD BE THAT IF WE DO SUPPORT IT, THEN OTHER CITIES WILL SEE THAT THE CITY OF CARLSBAD ACTUALLY NOT ONLY HAS A RESOLUTION OF THEIR OWN FOR LOCAL CONTROL, BUT THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING FURTHER TO SUPPORT THAT LOCAL CONTROL. BASICALLY, I AM ASKING FOR A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR LOCAL CONTROL RELATIVE TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD VOICES INITIATIVE, NOT ANYTHING ELSE. I DON'T THINK THE DATES ENTIRELY MATTER TO ME BECAUSE, AGAIN, CHICKEN AND EGG. IF WE GET BEHIND IT AND SUPPORT IT, MAYBE MORE PEOPLE WILL SEE THAT. IT'S NOT TO SAY THE CITY OF CARLSBAD IS GOING TO BE GOING OUT AND CAMPAIGNING FOR THIS THING. WE DON'T DO THAT. BUT JUST THAT THEY CAN LIST US AS AN ENDORSER, EITHER WE SUPPORT LOCAL CONTROL OR WE DON'T, I GUESS. THIS IS REALLY FOR THE CITY RESIDENTS, NOT FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBER OR ANY OTHER MEMBER. IT'S A VOICE FOR THOSE RESIDENTS. I GET CONCERNED WHEN I SEE THE LAWS BEING PASSED IN SACRAMENTO THAT A SPEAKERS MENTIONED COME WITH A LOT OF UNFUNDED MANDATES. THE VILLAGE IS OLD. IT'S THE VILLAGE. IT'S OLD, AND THE THINGS THAT WORRY ME ARE NOT ONLY THE POPULATION SCARE THAT ONE OF THE SPEAKERS PRESENTED, BUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE. HOW ARE WE GOING TO FUND THE SEWAGE AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE FUNDED IF WE HAVE TO NOW BUILD AND BUILD AND BUILD? BUT IT IS BILLS LIKE SB 79 THAT ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE DISTRICT BOUNDARIES. WELL, MOST OF THAT IS REDEVELOPMENT IN INFILL IN DISTRICT ONE, I WOULD SAY THAT YOU MIGHT SEE THINGS LIKE THAT IN PONTO AND IN OTHER PLACES. OUR NEIGHBORHOOD VOICES PROVIDES US A WAY TO PUSH BACK. THAT'S MUCH LESS EXPENSIVE THAN LITIGATION THAT WE'VE SEEN SOME OTHER BEACH CITY'S EXPERIENCE, [04:00:03] AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY PART OF THE CITY THAT WON'T BE TOUCHED BY IT. I DO THINK IT'S EASY SOMETIMES FOR MY COLLEAGUES IN THE SOUTH THAT DON'T HAVE THE ARENA NUMBERS LIKE I DO TO NOT VISUALIZE AND SEE WHAT MAY BECOME BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT AS IMPACTED AS IT IS IN THE VILLAGE, WHERE OUR COMMUNITY CHARACTER IS REALLY DISSOLVING, I GUESS IS A WORD THERE. I THINK THIS IS A SYMBOLIC WAY, AND THAT'S NOT TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT, IT'S JUST THE NATURE OF THE ARENA NUMBERS AND HOW THEY GOT ALLOCATED. BUT THIS IS A SYMBOLIC WAY TO SAY, OUR RESIDENTS, WE HEAR YOU, WE'RE LISTENING TO YOU, AND WE'RE DOING SOMETHING TO PUSH BACK ON THE OVERREACH FROM SACRAMENTO. WITH THAT, I WILL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ASKED STAFF TO BRING BACK A RESOLUTION TO INDICATE WE SUPPORT THE GOALS AND POLICIES IN THIS INITIATIVE WITH CLEAR LANGUAGE OF EXACTLY WHAT ALIGNS WITH OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AND LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM. I'M OPEN TO CHANGES IN THAT LANGUAGE IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT YOU EXPRESSED YOUR CONCERNS, IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT TO EXPLICITLY PUT IN OR ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES FOR THAT MATTER, BUT THAT'S MY MOTION. >> EARLIER, I MADE A COMMENT THAT ONE OF THE THINGS I WORRY A LOT ABOUT IS MONEY. SECOND THING I WORRY ABOUT IS LOCAL CONTROL. I PUT THAT RIGHT UP WITH HOMELESS AND TRAFFIC ISSUES AND THE LOCAL CONTROL AND TRAFFIC ISSUES AND THE HOMELESS GO TOGETHER. I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH AS MANY MAYORS AS I CAN. I'VE EVEN BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE POSTER CHILD OF LOCAL CONTROL, THE MAYOR OF HUNTINGTON BEACH. IT SEEMS LIKE A DISPROPORTION OF MY COMMENT OR MY CONVERSATIONS AND QUESTIONS OF BOTH OUR ADJACENT HABER, OUR LEGISLATIVE EXPERT, AND OUR ATTORNEY IS HAVING TO DO WITH LOCAL CONTROL. WHAT NOW? WHAT CAN I DO NOW? EVEN IF THE COUNCIL DOESN'T VOTE TODAY TO SUPPORT IT, THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE NOT GOING TO SUPPORT IT LATER. BUT YOU WILL HAVE MY SUPPORT. I'VE TALKED TO MR. DANNER AND I SAID, YOU CAN USE MY NAME AS AN INDIVIDUAL AND AS A SUPPORTER. I FEEL LIKE I'D BE A LITTLE BIT HYPOCRITICAL IF I WAS TRYING THIS HARD AND THEN THERE'S THIS GROUP, WHETHER YOU'VE GOT YOUR BOTH FEET ON THE GROUND OR NOT. I FEEL LIKE I'D BE A HYPOCRITE IF I DIDN'T SAY I'M BEHIND YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH THE SAME THING I'M TRYING TO GET ACCOMPLISHED. WITH THAT SAID, I'M GOING TO SECOND THE MOTION. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? MR. SHIN. >> YEAH. PRIOR TO SUPPORTING AND SAYING OR NOT. I WANT TO WHAT THE ORGANIZATION IS JUST LIKE WHY ARE WE GOING TO SUPPORT AN ORGANIZATION THAT'S NOT FILING APPROPRIATELY AND SHOWING WHO WE ARE? SO IT'S PLENTY FINE, BUT I WANT TO KNOW WHERE THEIR MONEY'S BEING TRACKED. I WANT TO ALL THESE THINGS BECAUSE. >> THAT'S REASONABLE AND THAT'S WHY I MADE THE COMMENT. EVEN IF WE DON'T, AS A COUNSEL, SUPPORT IT TONIGHT, THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE WON'T IN THE FUTURE. >> THE SECOND, THEY'RE UPDATED. EVERYTHING'S TRANSPARENT. I CAN SEE EXACTLY HOW THIS ORGANIZATION IS RUN. I BOARD PLENTY OF NON PROFITS AND I DON'T SEE WHAT I'M SEEING IN A TYPICAL NONPROFIT ON THEIR WEBSITE. I'M SEEING THEM USING TERMS THAT ARE SAYING THAT THERE'S OTHERS THAT ARE BEING DEROGATORY. THOSE ARE BIG HIGHLIGHTS THAT I WANT TO SEE CLARIFIED BEFORE I CAN JUMP IN. NEVER SHAKEN ANYONE OF THEIR HANDS. DON'T KNOW THING, AND THEN ALSO I'M SUPPOSED TO SAY I'M REPRESENTING AS THE CITY THAT WE'VE GOT THERE BACK. I'M JUST MAKING THAT AS A COMMENT BEFORE I MAKE MY VOTE. >> IT'S VERY REASONABLE. >> AND I CAN TOTALLY CHANGE. I'M WILLING TO CHANGE AS SOON AS I SEE THINGS GET VERY MORE CRYSTAL CLEAR. >> WE'RE READY TO VOTE. WE'VE GOT A MOTION IN A SECOND, PLEASE VOTE. IT DOES NOT PASS, BUT PLEASE DON'T GIVE UP. AS SOON AS YOU'VE HEARD ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS SAY, IN THEORY, THEY SUPPORT IT, BUT THEY NEED MORE INFORMATION. THAT BRINGS US TO THE CONCLUSION OF OUR AGENDA. BRIEF CLOSING COMMENTS. >> JUST ONE THING. TODAY IS ALSO MY SISTER'S BIRTHDAY. >> EXCUSE ME. SORRY. WE DO HAVE TWO SPEAKERS LEFT FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING. >> THAT'S RIGHT. I'M SO SORRY. IS MISS FORSYTH ONE OF THEM? >> YES. MISS FORSYTH AND HOLLY CHAMBERLAIN. >> MISS FORSYTH TOLD ME THAT SHE WAS LEAVING EARLY, AND THE OTHER? BRIEF CLOSING COMMENTS. [COUNCIL COMMENTARY AND REQUESTS FOR CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS] >> HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SISTER TODAY. >> MISS BERKEL. >> FRIDAY, ATTENDED ALONG WITH AT LEAST ONE OTHER MEMBER OF THE VIP OPENING OF THE CHOCOLATE BAR, WHICH OPENED TODAY. TODAY, THIS MORNING, I ATTENDED THE LEGISLATIVE SUBCOMMITTEE I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT OUR STATE SENATOR VOTED AGAINST SB 79, WHICH IS THE BILL THAT WE MENTIONED EARLIER. I'M NOT GOING TO GO OVER IT AGAIN. ALSO, I ASKED FOR OUR ASSEMBLY MEMBERS STANCE ON AB 79, AND THE REPRESENTATIVE THERE DIDN'T KNOW, [04:05:01] SO WE WILL FOLLOW UP WITH THAT. ALSO HAPPY TO REPORT, CONGRESSWOMAN MIKE LEVIN HAS SECURED AN ADDITIONAL 1.3 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR RAIL TRENCHING, AND IT WILL BE ADDED TO THE HOUSING APPROPRIATIONS BILL. THEN THIS AFTERNOON BEFORE THE COUNCIL MEETING AS A SURVIVOR OF SUICIDE LOSS, I WAS PLEASED TO ATTEND A SUICIDE PREVENTION EDUCATION PRESENTATION TODAY AT WORTHY WELLNESS HERE IN THE VILLAGE. IT'S WHERE I GOT THIS GREAT BRACELET THAT I'M WEARING THAT HAS THE NUMBER 988, WHICH IS THE HOT LINE THAT YOU CAN CALL. IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS EXPERIENCING THE DESIRE TO COMMIT SUICIDE, BUT ALSO YOU CAN CALL FOR THAT PERSON. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE THE PERSON THAT'S HAVING THE EPISODE. SO 988, REMEMBER THAT, PUT IT IN YOUR PHONE, AND YOU CAN PROBABLY PICK UP A BRACELET AT WORTHY WELLNESS. THANKS. >> MISS COSTA. >> THANK YOU. I'LL BE SUPER BRIEF. MOST OF MY COMMENTS ON THE LEGISLATIVE SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING THIS MORNING WERE ALREADY SHARED. THERE'S ONLY ONE OTHER BILL THAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT, WHICH WAS A BILL AUTHORED BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER BERNER TO PREVENT DEVELOPMENTS THAT USE DENSITY BONUS FROM USING THOSE EXTRA UNITS FOR VISITOR SERVING COMMERCIAL PURPOSES. FOR EXAMPLE, IF THEY'RE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF STATE LAW TO BUILD MORE UNITS, MORE DENSITY, HIGHER BUILDINGS. THEY CAN'T USE THAT FOR SHORT TERM VACATION RENTALS. THAT WAS AN INTEREST OF OURS THAT THE CITY OF CARLSBAD, AND WE WEIGHED IN ON THAT BILL AND WE WERE HAPPY THAT SHE AUTHORED IT. THAT WAS ONE AND THEN ANOTHER IS THAT TOMORROW, I'M GOING TO THE SAN DIEGO REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CONGRESSIONAL LUNCHEON. LOOKING FORWARD TO HEAR FROM ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE DELEGATION FROM SAN DIEGO REGION, AND THAT'S WITH THE WATER AUTHORITY AS PART OF MY ROLE ON THEIR LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC OUTREACH COMMITTEE. THANKS. >> MISS PATEL. >> YES. THANK YOU. WE HAD OUR POLICY COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES LAST WEEK, WHICH I KNOW COUNCILMAN BERCOSTA ALSO HAD, AND I HAD THAT FOR TRANSPORTATION COMMUNICATION AND PUBLIC WORKS, AND THEN I HAVE A SANDAG TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETING, WHICH I SIT ON BEHALF OF NORTH COUNTY TRANSIT DISTRICT. >> CITY MANAGER. >> NO COMMENT. >> CITY ATTORNEY. >> NOTHING. THANK YOU. >> CITY CLERK. >> NOTHING. THANK YOU. >> WE'RE ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.