[Special City Council on July 28, 2026.]
[00:00:05]
IT'S 3:00. I'M CALLING TONIGHT'S MEETING TO ORDER.
PLEASE TAKE ROLL. COUNCIL MEMBER SHIN. PRESENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER BURKHOLDER. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER ACOSTA.
MAYOR PRO TEM BHAT-PATEL. HERE. MAYOR BLACKBURN.
PRESENT. ALL FIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE PRESENT.
ARE YOU OKAY WITH LEADING US IN THE PLEDGE? A GRADUATE OF A GRADUATE OF CITY STUFF, WILL YOU PLEASE LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE? GOT TO BE LOUD SO EVERYBODY CAN HEAR YOU. YOU JUST SAY, JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE.
READY TO BEGIN. IS THIS NOW? IT'S ON. JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR.
ALL. THIS NEXT PORTION IS KIND OF NEW AND FORCED ON US BY THE STATE CLERK.
PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND VIRTUALLY IF YOU ARE USING THE MEETING LINK TO LOG IN OR IF YOU ARE JOINING US BY PHONE, PLEASE PRESS STAR NINE NOW TO RAISE YOUR HAND.
AND THIS CLOSES THE PUBLIC COMMENT SUBMISSION PERIOD.
WE HAVE NO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS. DEPUTY CLERK. DO WE HAVE ANY VIRTUAL SPEAKERS? THERE ARE NO VIRTUAL SPEAKERS. THANK YOU. WHAT A WONDERFUL TURNOUT.
EVERY TIME WE HAVE A CITIZENS OF THE YEAR, WE GET A BETTER TURNOUT THAN WHEN WE'RE GOING TO DEVELOP A PROPERTY THAT EVERYBODY WANTS TO, TO SAVE. SO THAT SAYS SOMETHING FOR THIS GROUP.
IT'S ALWAYS A GREAT DAY IN CARLSBAD WHEN WE GET TO CELEBRATE THE HEART OF OUR COMMUNITY, THE SPIRIT OF GIVING BACK, COMING TOGETHER AND CARING FOR ONE ANOTHER. THAT'S WHAT TRULY MAKES CARLSBAD SUCH A SPECIAL PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK.
TODAY, WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF RECOGNIZING TWO PEOPLE WITH THAT EXEMPLARY SPIRIT.
FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO MADE THIS SELECTION, AND I WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR EVERYBODY TO KNOW.
THIS COMMITTEE IS MADE UP OF TWO DEMOCRATS, TWO REPUBLICANS AND ONE INDEPENDENT.
AND THE REASON I SAY THAT'S IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC KNOWS THESE PEOPLE HAVE TRULY EARNED THIS, THIS TITLE, AND IT ISN'T POLITICAL IN THE SLIGHTEST BIT.
SO FOR MY COMMITTEE, PLEASE STAND. LAURETTE PERKINS, LUANN ENGSTROM, JOHN DAVIS AND SAMANTHA FLETCHER COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY, BUT SHE WAS ONE OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THEIR TIME FOR HELPING WITH THIS [APPLAUSE]. THE CITIZENS OF THE YEAR PROGRAM IS A TRADITION THAT GOES BACK MORE THAN 50 YEARS. IT HONORS COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR TIME AND ENERGY TOWARD THE CIVIC IMPROVEMENT, BEAUTIFICATION, AND BETTERMENT OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD.
THIS YEAR, I'M THRILLED TO RECOGNIZE TWO OUTSTANDING CITIZENS WHO TRULY FIT THAT DESCRIPTION.
FIRST, I'M GOING TO ASK FOR ROSEMARY ESHELMAN TO JOIN ME AT THE PODIUM.
SINCE SOME OF THE CAMERAS ARE OVER THERE, JUST STAND HERE AND WE'LL WE'LL ADDRESS EVERYONE.
TONIGHT THE THE IS THIS ON? YEAH. [INAUDIBLE] I'M NOT SOUND LIKE ME.
SHE NEVER LOOKS [INAUDIBLE] AND IN FACT SHE'S, SHE KIND OF GLIDES [INAUDIBLE].
SO WE HAVE TWO EXCELLENT, BUT VERY DIFFERENT RECIPIENTS.
[00:05:08]
SHE HELPED COORDINATE THE CITY'S FIRST EASTER EGG HUNT, THE OPENING OF THE CARLSBAD SENIOR CENTER AND THE MONROE STREET POOL.ARE YOU GOING TO BE THERE WHEN WE REOPEN IT? DEFINITELY.
AND MANY POPULAR SUMMER CAMPS. AS A MOM OF TWO SONS AND DURING HER WORK WITH I'M SORRY, AS A MOM OF HER TWO SONS AND DURING HER WORK WITH THE CITY, ROSEMARY SAW HOW ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS CAN CHANGE LIVES AND CREATE OPPORTUNITIES, ESPECIALLY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
THAT BELIEF HELPED INSPIRE LIFELONG COMMITMENT TO HELP CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THRIVE.
FOR 25 YEARS, ROSEMARY SERVED AS THE COORDINATOR OF THE YOUTH ENRICHMENT SERVICES CALLED [INAUDIBLE] A VOLUNTEER COLLABORATIVE THAT BRINGS TOGETHER SCHOOLS, NONPROFITS, PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT GENERATIONS OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN CARLSBAD. SHE LATER BECAME THE DISTRICT WIDE HEALTH AND WELLNESS COORDINATOR FOR THE CITY OF CARLSBAD SCHOOL DISTRICT, LEADING PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON STUDENT WELLNESS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION, AND PARENT EDUCATION.
MAYOR BLACKBURN. HERE YOU GO. OH, I GET THE HINT AT THE END.
SHOULD I START OVER? NO. IT'S OKAY. ROSEMARY ALSO HELPED ESTABLISH THE DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENTS ADVISORY COUNCIL AND SUPPORTED THE CREATION OF CARLSBAD CHAMPIONS, A PEER MENTORSHIP PROGRAM THAT ENCOURAGES YOUTH LEADERSHIP AND GIVES STUDENTS A VOICE IN THEIR SCHOOLS, IN THE COMMUNITY. NOW RETIRED, ROSEMARY CONTINUES TO VOLUNTEER HER TIME THROUGH SCHOLARSHIP AND GRANT REVIEW EFFORTS, COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT LOCAL YOUTH AND FAMILIES.
HER OLDEST SON, SAM, IS NOW AN ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AT CARLSBAD HIGH SCHOOL, AND YOUNGER SON THOMAS IS A PITCHING COACH AT TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY. YOU'RE A PROUD MOM. VERY MUCH SO.
I CAN BE YOU. WOULD YOU WOULD YOU HOLD THAT, LIKE, RIGHT HERE? OR LIKE THE BOXERS? YOU JUST PUT YOUR ARM UNDER MY ARM. STRENGTHENING PROGRAMS AND CREATING OPPORTUNITIES, ESPECIALLY FOR YOUTH.
ROSEMARY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR DECADES OF SERVICE AND FOR HELPING GENERATIONS OF YOUNG PEOPLE FIND OPPORTUNITIES, RESOURCES, AND A SENSE OF BELONGING IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I JUST HAVE TO SAY, WHEN IT COMES TO CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY, IF YOU SEE ONE WHO'S A SUCCESS, ROSEMARY PROBABLY HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT.
YOU MAKE ME CRY. OKAY. PLEASE. DO YOU WANT TO TALK IN THERE OR DO YOU WANT TO TALK? I'LL PROBABLY TALK IN THIS. I JUST HAVE A FEW THINGS. HEY, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE 3 TO 4 MINUTES.
OKAY. FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE ACADEMY.
WELL, THE ACADEMY OF CARLSBAD. JUST KIDDING. THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS RECOGNITION.
I FEEL SO BLESSED AND HONORED. THANK YOU TO MY FAMILY, MY FRIENDS, ALL OF YOU.
I RECOGNIZE SO MANY FACES IN THIS ROOM AND YOU'VE WORKED ALONGSIDE OF ME.
YOU'VE LISTENED TO ME. YOU'VE PARTICIPATED, YOU'VE CONTRIBUTED, AND I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH.
THANK YOU FOR MY SISTER PAM AND HER HUSBAND FLYING OUT FROM BOSTON.
I'M GOING TO START CRYING. MY BROTHER TRIED TO FLY IN YESTERDAY.
THEY HAD A STORM IN CHICAGO. HE COULDN'T MAKE IT.
AND A SHOUT OUT TO MARGARET TODAY, WHO IS FIVE YEARS OLD.
THERE'S THE PHOTOGRAPHER. SO LET'S LET'S DO THE PICTURE.
MY SECRETARY MAKES THESE NOTES IN LARGE FONT SO I CAN READ THEM, BUT I LOOKED OVER ROSEMARY'S SHOULDER WHILE SHE WAS READING THAT, AND THE FONT SHE WAS READING WAS LIKE A FIVE FONT.
I WANT YOUR EYESIGHT. OH, YOU HAVE CONTACTS? GOT IT.
NEXT. KAREN, PLEASE JOIN ME. OUR NEXT HONOREE IS KAREN PEARSON, A NATURAL CONNECTOR AND COMMUNITY BUILDER WHO HAS A GIFT FOR STRENGTHENING NONPROFITS AND A HEART FOR SUPPORTING GOOD
[00:10:09]
CAUSES AND INSPIRING OTHERS TO GIVE BACK. KAREN MOVED TO CARLSBAD IN 2008 WITH HER HUSBAND, RAY, AND THEIR SON, DANE, AND QUICKLY LOOKED FOR WAYS TO BECOME INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY AND MEET NEW PEOPLE.BEFORE LONG, IT SEEMED LIKE KAREN KNEW EVERYONE AND WAS ENCOURAGING THEM TO GET INVOLVED.
SHE BEGAN VOLUNTEERING WITH THE MITCHELL THORPE FOUNDATION, LATER SERVED AS THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS, BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AND HELPING SUPPORT FAMILIES FACING SERIOUS ILLNESSES.
NEXT TIME A LITTLE TAB ON THESE. SHE EVENTUALLY BECAME DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS RELATIONS FOR THE SAN DIEGO NORTH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, CREATING PARTNERSHIPS AMONG BUSINESSES, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND PUBLIC AGENCIES TO HELP GROW THE REGION'S ECONOMY.
THROUGH IT ALL, SHE WAS VOLUNTEERING WITH NONPROFIT GROUPS SUCH AS TRUE CARE THAT WAS FORMERLY THE NORTH COUNTY HEALTH SERVICES, THE CARLSBAD CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, SOLUTIONS FOR CHANGE, AND THE AGUA HEDIONDA LAGOON FOUNDATION.
BEFORE RETIRING FROM THE SAN DIEGO NORTH EDC IN 2018, KAREN BEGAN COLLABORATING WITH THE ADMINISTRATORS AT THE AND STAFF AT KARL'S AT THE MIRACOSTA COLLEGE TO EXPAND CAREER PATHWAYS FOR STUDENTS ENTERING THE LOCAL WORKFORCE.
SHE IS NOW THE INCOMING PRESIDENT OF THE MIRACOSTA COLLEGE FOUNDATION BOARD, USING HER RELATIONSHIP IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO CREATE, EXCUSE ME, OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS. SHE ALSO SERVES ON THE BOARD OF TRUE CARE AND THE CARLSBAD CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, AND VOLUNTEERS WITH LOVE ON A LEASH WHERE SHE AND OTHER.
AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY DO, IT'S AMAZING.
THEY THEY EVEN TAKE THESE DOGS TO THE HIGH SCHOOL DURING FINALS.
AND I NEVER, I, THAT STRIKES ME AS ODD. AND I THOUGHT WHAT A GREAT IDEA.
BUT THEY DO A LOT IN OUR COMMUNITY. ONE OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO NOMINATED KAREN FOR CITIZEN OF THE YEAR, DESCRIBED HER SERVICE AS AUTHENTIC, PERSONAL AND COLLABORATIVE.
THANK YOU. THE NOMINEE. THE NOMINATION SAID, IN PART, WHEN KAREN SEES A NEED, SHE TAKES ACTION HERSELF AND THEN LOOKS AROUND TO SEE WHO WILL JOIN THE CAUSE. SHE IS A FORCE MULTIPLIER.
KAREN, THANK YOU FOR USING YOUR GIFTS TO CONNECT PEOPLE, LIFT UP OTHERS, AND INSPIRE SO MANY PEOPLE IN CARLSBAD TO GET INVOLVED AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH [APPLAUSE].
IF YOU WANT TO TALK TO ME. CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME? OKAY. IS IT ON? I DON'T KNOW. IS IT OKAY? I DON'T LIKE MIC'S.
IS THAT ONE BETTER? YOU KNOW WHAT? I WILL USE THAT ONE.
I HAD TO WRITE THIS DOWN. WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I'M GOING TO CRY.
I'M GOING TO TRY NOT TO CRY. THIS IS OVERWHELMING.
IT JUST GREETING EVERYBODY. THAT TOOK TIME. YOU KNOW AND I KNOW ROSEMARY.
CONGRATULATIONS. WHEN I SAW THAT FIRST OF ALL, WHEN THE MAYOR CALLED ME, I WENT, ARE YOU SURE YOU DIDN'T MAKE A MISTAKE? YOU KNOW, IT WASN'T THAT. IT WAS JUST OVERWHELMING.
IT WAS LIKE, ROSEMARY, WE DON'T DO THIS FOR ANYTHING BUT SERVICE.
AND SO, ANYWAY, CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME? OKAY. SO IT IS.
GOOD AFTERNOON. I WROTE THIS DOWN AND I PROMISED CARLTON BECAUSE HE SAID, KEEP IT SHORT.
I SAID, WHAT DID YOU DO WHEN YOU. WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE HERE THAT ARE CITIZENS OF THE YEAR AS WELL.
SO I WANT TO EXPRESS HOW HONORED AND HUMBLED I AM BEYOND WORDS, TO BEING NAMED ONE OF THE 2025 CITIZENS OF THE YEAR BY THE CITY OF CARLSBAD IN RECOGNITION OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY WHERE I LIVE AND LOVE SO MUCH.
THIS MEANS THE WORLD TO ME BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN AND IT IS TODAY, SUCH A JOY TO SERVE OTHERS.
AND IF YOU KNOW ME, YOU KNOW THAT'S TRUE. I JUST LOVE BEING PART OF THE CITY.
I TRULY LOVE MY FAMILY, AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY HUSBAND RAY, AND MY SON DANE, WHO ARE HERE TODAY, FOR ALWAYS BEING SUCH SOURCES OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT.
UNFORTUNATELY, MY STEPDAUGHTER AND DANIELLE AND MY STEPSON MATTHEW BOTH WORK IN LA AND THEY COULDN'T MAKE IT TODAY, BUT THEY'RE HERE IN SPIRIT. I WOULD ESPECIALLY LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE SHANNON STUBBLEFIELD AND KRISTIN GONZALEZ FROM MIRACOSTA COLLEGE FOR NOMINATING ME FOR THIS
[00:15:08]
BEAUTIFUL. I NEED A TAB TOO. BEAUTIFUL RECOGNITION.MEANS A LOT. AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE CARLSBAD CITIZEN OF THE YEAR COMMITTEE.
I DIDN'T KNOW ANY OF YOU, AND IT MEANS A LOT TO ME TO BE HONORED.
AS I LOOK OUT AMONG YOU, I MEAN, THERE'S SO MANY OF YOU FOR THIS.
I WANT TO JUST THANK YOU FOR COMING. MY FRIENDS, MY NEIGHBORS.
I HAVE A WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD HERE, MY COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE BEEN PART OF MY LIFE HERE IN CARLSBAD.
I KNOW MANY THAT ARE WORKING FOR THE CITY OF CARLSBAD.
TRULY. [APPLAUSE] STARTING WITH COUNCIL MEMBER. BHAT-PATEL. WOULD YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS? YES OF COURSE. SO FIRST OFF, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO'S HERE.
IT'S SO AMAZING AND HEARTWARMING TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE LOVE ROSEMARY AND KAREN.
AND IT WAS EXCITING FOR ME BECAUSE I GOT TO SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE I KNOW TOO, THROUGH YOU ALL.
AND ACTUALLY HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF KNOWING.
SO ROSEMARY, FIRST OFF, BEFORE I SAY ANYTHING ABOUT YOU.
I GOT A CHANCE TO SING WITH YOUR DAUGHTER IN LAW BACK IN THE DAY IN AT CARLSBAD HIGH.
SO THAT WAS A WILD CONNECTION. AND THEN KAREN, YOUR SON AND MY BROTHER WENT TO SCHOOL TOGETHER.
SO IT'S JUST A REALLY SMALL WORLD HERE IN CARLSBAD.
SO I WANT TO SAY YOU KNOW, FOR YOU, ROSEMARY, I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW YOU.
I THINK MY ENTIRE TIME THAT I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL, WE HAD A CHANCE TO CONNECT REALLY EARLY ON.
AND I KNOW THAT YOU SAW THAT I LOVED PUBLIC HEALTH.
AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT IT'S SO EXCITING THAT ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
AND I DO SEE THAT WITH OUR YOUTH ESPECIALLY, AND I KNOW THAT WE SHARE THAT AMONGST ONE ANOTHER, IS REALLY TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO BUILD FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.
AND I KNOW YOU DO A LOT OF THAT. SO I THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.
AND I KNOW THAT YOU DO IT WITHOUT EVEN THINKING ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET IN RETURN.
YOU'RE LITERALLY SENDING EMAILS AT ALL TIMES OF THE DAY AND TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS ARE AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON, AND THAT THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO REALLY COME OUT AND CONNECT.
SO I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN I FIRST STARTED, I DIDN'T KNOW ANYONE IN THE ROOM, BUT YOU WOULD ALWAYS TRY TO WELCOME WHOEVER IT WAS AND BRING THEM ALONG AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO KNOW PEOPLE. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I'M SURE YOU ALL KNOW THAT ABOUT HER, AND THAT'S WHY YOU'RE HERE. AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, YOUR HEART IN THE WORK THAT YOU DO TRULY SHOWS.
AND THEN WITH KAREN GOSH, YOU'RE EVERYWHERE. I FEEL LIKE ANYTIME I'M ANYWHERE, KAREN IS ALSO THERE, YOU KNOW, AND, AND COMPLETELY SHE DOES FLY UNDER THE RADAR.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS TRULY ADMIRABLE.
AND I REALLY HAVE TO SAY THAT OVER THE YEARS THAT I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO GET TO KNOW YOU.
FIRST OFF, YOU'RE A HUGGER, WHICH I LOVE. I'M WORKING ON MY HUG, SO I APPRECIATE THAT.
AND I KNOW THAT IN GENERAL THAT LIKE WHENEVER YOU'RE OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY, PEOPLE ARE LIKE, HEY, DO YOU KNOW KAREN? AND I'M LIKE, OF COURSE I KNOW KAREN, KAREN AND I GO BACK, BUT I THINK IT'S JUST AMAZING HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU'VE TALKED TO TOUCHED CLEARLY, THE, THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE IN THE REGION IN NORTH COUNTY IS ASTRONOMICAL,
[00:20:05]
WHETHER IT'S FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY OR JUST SERVING HERE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.SO MANY PEOPLE KNOW YOU ALL AND YOU AND THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE.
AND I HAVE TO SAY, I LOVE THAT YOU'RE CONNECTED TO OUR OUR HIGHER ED FOLKS.
YOU'RE CONNECTED TO OUR HEALTHCARE FOLKS BECAUSE THAT'S MY HEART.
AND I HOPE THAT THIS IS AT LEAST A NICE CELEBRATION OF ALL THE WORK THAT BOTH OF YOU HAVE PUT IN.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH OF YOU, AND THANKS TO ALL THOSE FAMILY MEMBERS THAT LET THEM DO WHAT THEY DO, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT TAKES TIME AND A VILLAGE.
SO CONGRATS. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER ACOSTA.
THANK YOU. MAYOR. CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH OF YOU, ROSEMARY AND KAREN.
IT IS SUCH A PLEASURE TO KNOW YOU AND TO SEE THE WORK THAT YOU DO IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IT'S ALSO A TESTAMENT TO YOUR GREAT WORK THAT YOU HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE HERE, PAST WINNERS, FRIENDS, AS YOU SAID, NEIGHBORS, FAMILY THAT CAME OUT HERE TODAY AND MANY THAT COULDN'T BE HERE BUT ARE WITH US IN SPIRIT TODAY.
I, I DO SEE THAT THE WORK THAT YOU DO INFLUENCING THE NEXT GENERATION, YOU WORK WITH STUDENTS, BOTH OF YOU IN YOUR WORK, NOT JUST AT THE COLLEGE AGE, BUT I GET TO SEE ROSEMARY JUST ABOUT ONCE A MONTH AT THE RISING STARS AWARDS AT THE CARLSBAD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. SHE'S A SPONSOR THERE AND DOES GREAT WORK THERE, IN ADDITION TO THE WORK THAT SHE HAS DONE WITH.
YES, AND WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND AND WITH MANY BUSINESSES.
SO IT'S IT'S REALLY AMAZING TO SEE THAT WORK.
AND FOR KAREN AT MIRACOSTA. AND, AND IT'S TRUE.
I DO FEEL LIKE I'VE BEEN SEEING YOU EVERYWHERE AT VARIOUS EVENTS, WHETHER IT'S ROTARY OR I KNOW YOUR, YOUR FAMILY'S INVOLVED WITH MANA, THE NORTH COUNTY, SAN DIEGO LATINO ORGANIZATION.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK WITH MANY DIFFERENT GROUPS ALL OVER THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR NEXT GENERATION IS PREPARED FOR SERVICE AND THAT THEY CAN FOLLOW IN YOUR FOOTSTEPS TOO. SO I THINK WE WE ALL LOOK UP TO YOU AND CAN SEE THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE AND ARE SO PROUD TO HAVE YOU IN OUR COMMUNITY.
CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING CITIZEN OF THE YEAR.
THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]. COUNCIL MEMBER BURKHOLDER.
I THINK I'VE KNOWN YOU FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, BUT I REMEMBER ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT WAS COLLABORATING TO GET THERAPISTS IN THE SCHOOL. AND SO I KNOW YOU HAD A HEART FOR YOUTH AND I DEFINITELY HAVE SUPPORTED YOUTH ENRICHMENT SERVICES OVER THE YEARS AND JUST APPRECIATE ALL OF THOSE RESOURCES. EVERY TIME YOU GET AN EMAIL FROM ROSEMARY, YOU KNOW, THERE'S GOING TO BE ABOUT 50 LINKS CONNECTED TO IT WITH ALL OF THE RESOURCES THAT YOU COULD POSSIBLY NEED. AND IT'S JUST OVERWHELMING TO THINK OF ALL THE IMPACT THAT YOU'VE HAD, PARTICULARLY WITH THE YOUNG FOLKS HERE IN CARLSBAD.
AND KAREN, I, EVERY TIME I SEE YOU, I JUST THINK OF SOMEONE WHO IS DELIGHTFUL TO BE AROUND AND JUST BRINGING SUNSHINE INTO A ROOM AND EXUDES JUST HAPPINESS AND SOMEBODY YOU WANT TO BE AROUND.
SO KEEP DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING. YOU'RE A VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY AND WE LOVE YOU.
THANKS. [APPLAUSE] COUNCIL MEMBER SHIN. THIS ROOM MAKES ME WANT TO SAY SOMETHING.
I HOPE YOU GUYS CAN REPEAT AFTER ME. CAN YOU GUYS SAY ALOHA? YOU GUYS DRESSED TO IMPRESS FOR THAT ONE, SO THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR THAT.
WHEN I WAS FIRST RUNNING FOR OFFICE, I REMEMBER PEOPLE WERE TELLING ME THAT I HAD TO MEET TWO PEOPLE AND THEY, WELL, MORE THAN ONE. THERE WAS SOME, THE PREVIOUS CARLSBAD OF THE YEAR AWARD RECIPIENTS AS WELL.
RIGHT. SO I CAME HERE BECAUSE OF THE MARINE CORPS. AND WHEN I MET ROSEMARY, I JUST HAD THIS FEELING MAYBE SHE'D BEEN HERE FOREVER AND HER GRANDPARENTS AND AND THEN YOU LISTEN TO ROSEMARY SPEAK TO YOU AND YOU'RE LIKE, YOU'RE NOT FROM HERE EITHER. MADE ME FEEL GREAT.
AND WHAT MAKES ME FEEL GREAT IS IT'S NOT WHEN YOU GOT HERE, IT'S HOW YOU GET HERE.
AND THE THE MAYOR IS CORRECT. WHEN SHE SPEAKS, SHE LETS YOU KNOW EXACTLY HOW SHE FEELS.
[00:25:02]
AND SO I APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE LIKE FAMILY. THIS IS AN OHANA THAT WE GOT HERE RIGHT NOW.WITH KAREN, KAREN IS EXACTLY HOW THE MEMBERS TO MY RIGHT EXACTLY SAY HOW IT IS, WHICH IS I CAN GET CAVITIES JUST THINKING ABOUT KAREN AND THE SWEETNESS AND THE LEVEL OF EXCITEMENT SHE HAS.
I KNOW WHEN I GO TO AN EVENT IN CARLSBAD, KAREN IS GOING TO BE THERE.
IT'S ALREADY AN AUTOMATIC. I'M ALMOST CONCERNED IF SHE'S NOT THERE. LIKE SOMETHING HAPPENED AND.
AND YOUR SPIRIT JUST. IT TRANSCENDS TO THE POINT THAT I.
I'M ON BOARDS WITH YOU. CAN I SAY WHAT'S UP TO MY TRUE CARE BOARD FAMILY BACK THERE? WHAT'S UP? SO YOU HAVE YOU HAVE A GREAT FAMILY ALL AROUND YOU.
EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM, OF COURSE, IS LIKE, DUH, LIKE IT'S ABOUT TIME.
SO THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO TO THE COMMUNITY.
I'M SURPRISED THAT THE FIRE MARSHAL HASN'T VISITED US YET.
IF YOU ARE A PAST RECIPIENT OF VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR, IF YOU'RE STANDING, RAISE YOUR HAND.
IF YOU'RE SEATED, PLEASE STAND [APPLAUSE].
AND ROSEMARY AND KAREN, YOU HAVE TO STAND ALSO.
AND LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO THE TWO ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OF THIS CLUB OF REMARKABLE VOLUNTEER LEADERS.
AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. WE'RE GOING TO MEET OUTSIDE RECIPIENTS.
PLEASE MEET OUT THIS DOOR FOR PHOTOS. EVERYBODY ELSE, WE HAVE SOME AMAZING CAKE AND OUT THERE, PLEASE DON'T EAT A LOT OF THE CAKE BECAUSE THEY TOLD ME I COULD TAKE HOME WHATEVER'S LEFT OVER.
SO WE'RE ADJOURNED. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.