[00:00:01]
IT'S 5:00. I'M CALLING TONIGHT'S MEETING TO ORDER. PLEASE TAKE A ROLL. COUNCIL MEMBER SHIN.
[CALL TO ORDER]
PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER BURKHOLDER. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER ACOSTA.HERE. MAYOR PRO TEM BHAT-PATEL. HERE. MAYOR BLACKBURN.
PRESENT. ALL 5 COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE PRESENT. MISS ACOSTA, WILL YOU PLEASE LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE? PLEASE RISE WITH ME. FACE THE FLAG AND HAND OVER YOUR HEART AND REPEAT WITH ME.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
CITY CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE PROVIDE THE VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION INSTRUCTIONS? AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THOSE PARTICIPATING VIRTUALLY WHO WISH TO SPEAK ON NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT TO PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND VIRTUALLY IF YOU ARE USING THE MEETING LINK OR TO LOG IN IF YOU ARE JOINING US BY PHONE, PLEASE PRESS STAR 9 NOW TO RAISE YOUR HAND.
NEXT IS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING HELD SEPTEMBER 10TH OF 26.
[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
MOTION, PLEASE. SO MOVED. SECOND. PLEASE VOTE.[PRESENTATIONS]
MONTH. GLADLY. COULD I PLEASE HAVE OUR ARTISTIC DIRECTOR FOR CARLSBAD PLAY READERS, MELISSA FERNANDEZ, TO APPROACH THE PODIUM? AND READ THE PROCLAMATION, AND THE FLOOR WILL BE ALL YOURS. OKAY. THANK YOU.SO THIS IS NATIONAL ARTS AND HUMANITIES MONTH HERE IN OCTOBER 2026.
AND THERE'S NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT.
SO HERE'S OUR PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES EMBODIES THE WISDOM, INTELLECT, AND IMAGINATION OF HUMANKIND PLAYING A UNIQUE ROLE IN THE LIVES OF OUR FAMILIES, OUR COMMUNITIES, AND OUR COUNTRY. AND WHEREAS THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES HELP STUDENTS BUILD CRITICAL THINKING, CREATIVITY, AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SKILLS THAT SUPPORT OVERALL ACADEMIC AND PERSONAL GROWTH.
AND WHEREAS THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES ARE A VITAL PART OF THE CREATIVE ECONOMY, WHICH DRIVES TOURISM, COMMERCE AND SUPPORTS MILLIONS OF JOBS. AND WHEREAS, THE CITY OF CARLSBAD HAS DEMONSTRATED ITS LONG STANDING COMMITMENT TO THE ARTS IN THE GENERAL PLAN ART AND PUBLIC PLACES PROGRAM AND THE ARTS AND CULTURE MASTER PLAN.
AND WHEREAS, THE LIBRARY AND CULTURAL ARTS DEPARTMENT FOSTERS THE COMMUNITY'S CONNECTION TO LITERATURE, VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS HISTORY, AND ULTIMATELY WITH EACH OF WITH EACH OTHER AS AN AFFIRMATION OF OUR SHARED HUMANITY.
NOW THEREFORE, I COUNCIL MEMBER KEVIN SHIN, ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER AS NATIONAL ARTS AND HUMANITIES MONTH HERE IN THE CITY OF CARLSBAD. FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, FOR THIS RECOGNITION AND HONORING THE ARTS HERE IN CARLSBAD.
CARLSBAD PLAY READERS BEGAN WITH PAT AND JIM HANSEN IN 1995.
THEY WERE PASSIONATE, DEDICATED ADVOCATES OF THE ARTS, AND THEY ESTABLISHED PLAY READERS TO CELEBRATE THE TRANSFORMATIVE, TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF STORYTELLING WITH A SIMPLE IDEA THAT A PLAY DOESN'T NEED SCENERY OR COSTUMES TO MOVE AN AUDIENCE.
IT JUST NEEDS VOICES AND PEOPLE WILLING TO LISTEN.
SEASON AFTER SEASON FOR OVER 30 YEARS. OUR MISSION IS SIMPLE TO MAKE GREAT THEATER ACCESSIBLE, AND THAT'S WHAT SITS AT THE CENTER OF WHAT WE DO.
THAT'S NOT A SIDE BENEFIT OF OUR WORK. IT'S THE MISSION ITSELF.
WE BELIEVE IN THE IMPACT THAT THE ARTS HAVE IN SOCIETY.
IT BUILDS EMPATHY AND HUMAN CONNECTION, REMINDING OURSELVES THAT WE ARE NOT ALONE.
THE ARTS GIVE PEOPLE A SHARED LANGUAGE FOR THINGS THAT ARE HARD TO TALK ABOUT.
IN A TIME WHEN IT'S EASY TO FEEL ISOLATED FROM OUR NEIGHBORS.
A ROOM FULL OF STRANGERS LAUGHING OR FALLING SILENT, OR EVEN JUST BEING STILL AT THE SAME MOMENT IS ITS OWN KIND OF CIVIC, GOOD BUILDING UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE CROSS PATHS.
THAT'S PART OF WHAT KEEPS A COMMUNITY CONNECTED.
SO THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING OCTOBER AS ARTS AND HUMANITIES MONTH, AND FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THAT COMPANIES LIKE OURS PLAY A REAL ROLE IN THE LIFE OF THE COMMUNITY. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. MELISSA, WILL YOU PLEASE HANG OUT? BECAUSE AFTER THE NEXT PROCLAMATION, WE'D LIKE TO DO A GROUP PICTURE.
[00:05:04]
NO. JUST ANYWHERE. JUST. WE'LL CALL YOU UP FRONT HERE IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.AND NEXT NATIONAL ARTS AND HUMANITIES MONTH. PROCLAMATION.
OH. I'M SORRY. THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU READ FROM A SCRIPT.
YES. THANK YOU. AND I'D LIKE TO INVITE LORI GONZALEZ TO GO AHEAD AND JOIN US HERE AT THE PODIUM.
I'LL JUST SAY A FEW WORDS AND THE PROCLAMATION, AND THEN I'LL PASS IT OFF TO YOU, MISS GONZALEZ. SO TONIGHT, WE HONOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY AND RECOGNIZE THAT CARLSBAD SITS ON THE ANCESTRAL LANDS OF THE LUISENO AND KUMEYAAY, PEOPLE WHOSE CULTURE, KNOWLEDGE AND STEWARDSHIP CONTINUE TO SHAPE OUR COMMUNITY TODAY.
IT'S IT'S AN HONOR THAT YOU'RE HERE, MISS GONZALEZ.
I'M SO GLAD THAT YOU'RE HERE. AND SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ THE PROCLAMATION.
SO WHEREAS ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY, THE CITY OF CARLSBAD CELEBRATES THE INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS AND RESILIENCE OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND RECOGNIZES THEIR INHERENT SOVEREIGNTY. AND WHEREAS, AMERICAN INDIANS OF THE CARLSBAD REGION, PARTICULARLY THE LUISENO AND KUMEYAAY TIPAI COMMUNITIES, HAVE BUILT VIBRANT AND DIVERSE CULTURES, SAFEGUARDING LAND, LANGUAGE, SPIRIT, KNOWLEDGE AND TRADITION ACROSS THE GENERATIONS.
AND WHEREAS THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT NATIVE PEOPLES HAVE MADE THROUGHOUT HISTORY AND PUBLIC SERVICE, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, SCHOLARSHIP, THE ARTS AND COUNTLESS OTHER FIELDS ARE INTEGRAL TO OUR NATION, OUR CULTURE, AND OUR SOCIETY. AND WHEREAS ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY, WE HONOR THE CITY OF CARLSBAD'S FIRST INHABITANTS AND THE TRIBAL NATIONS THAT CONTINUE TO THRIVE TODAY. THEREFORE, I, MAYOR PRO TEM PRIYA BHAT-PATEL, ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 12TH, 2026 AS INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY IN THE CITY OF CARLSBAD.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL PASS IT OFF TO YOU, MISS GONZALEZ. OKAY.
[INAUDIBLE] HELLO, EVERYBODY. I'M LAURIE GONZALEZ.
I'M A COUNCILWOMAN FOR THE RINCON BAND OF LUISENO INDIANS.
OR THE PAYÓMKAWICHUM. WE ACTUALLY CALL OURSELVES THE QUECHNAJUICHOM.
ALSO, THE IPAI, THE THE CUPENO, THE CAHUILLA, ALONG WITH KUMEYAAY.
AND IT IS SO NICE TO HAVE YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS OUR, THIS IS OUR HISTORICAL TERRITORY. WE HAVE, ACCORDING TO MY BELIEFS, BECAUSE WE HAVE CREATION HISTORY, NOT CREATION STORY.
WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN HERE AND WE FEEL DEEPLY ROOTED.
AND TO HAVE YOU ALL ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WARMS MY HEART.
AND RIGHT NOW I'M FEELING BOTH THOSE THINGS. SO THANK YOU.[APPLAUSE] LAURIE, WILL YOU PLEASE COME UP FRONT? WE'RE GOING TO START WITH YOU SINCE YOU'RE ALREADY STANDING. DO YOU HAVE ANYONE WITH YOU, LAURIE? DO YOU HAVE ANYBODY YOU WANT TO INVITE UP FOR THE PICTURE? THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[PUBLIC COMMENT]
[00:10:51]
NEXT IS PUBLIC COMMENT. I HAVE TO READ THE FOLLOWING.THE BROWN ACT IN 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'S SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION.
INFORMATION ON HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETING IS ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THIS AGENDA.
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 COUNCIL MEETING.
HOWEVER, WE ASK FOR YOU TO REFRAIN FROM CLAPPING DURING THE BUSINESS SECTION OF THE MEETING.
STARTING WITH THE NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT. THIS WILL HELP 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 3 MINUTES AT THE 2.5 MINUTE MARK.
THE LIGHT WILL TURN YELLOW, GIVING YOU NOTICE THAT YOU'RE DOWN TO 30S.
I'VE ASKED THE CLERK TO TURN OFF THE MICROPHONE AT THE COMPLETION OF THE THREE MINUTES.
THAT WAY EVERYBODY GETS EXACTLY THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME TO SPEAK.
WE'LL CALL IN PERSON SPEAKERS FIRST, FOLLOWED BY VIRTUAL SPEAKERS.
DIANE RICKER. I WAS GANG RAPED SUNDAY NIGHT. I WAS VIOLENTLY, OVERLY SEDATED TO ENSURE I REMAIN UNCONSCIOUS THROUGHOUT MULTIPLE ASSAULTS.
WHEN I REGAINED CONSCIOUSNESS, I NOTED LOUD MUSIC WITH HEAVY BASS COMING FROM MY NEIGHBOR'S HOME.
I ALSO NOTED, AMONGST OTHER OBVIOUS SYMPTOMS, SEVERE BLURRED VISION WITH BLACK DOTS RANGING IN DIFFERENT SIZES THAT I AM STILL EXPERIENCING. I REPORTED THE ASSAULT TO CARLSBAD POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WAS ASKED, HOW DID THEY GET IN? I SAID THAT WOULD BE A GOOD QUESTION FOR AN INVESTIGATOR TO INVESTIGATE SINCE MY DOOR WAS LOCKED.
ABOUT AN HOUR OR 2 AFTER THE ASSAULT, I PICKED UP MY THERMAL IMAGING CAMERA AND SCANNED MY HOME.
AS I HAD THIS EERIE AND OVERWHELMING FEELING, I WAS BEING WATCHED.
I NOTED MY BATH. MY BEDROOM CEILING FAN HAD THIS WHITE GLOW COMING FROM THE STEM OF THE NECK.
HOWEVER, THIS THING STILL APPEARED WITH POWER EVEN AN HOUR LATER.
I RECORDED THIS ACTIVITY AND TRIED SENDING IT TO CARLSBAD POLICE DEPARTMENT'S AXON PORTAL.
HOWEVER, OFFICER STEVEN GOMEZ. TO THIS DAY HASN'T SENT ME THE LINK.
HOWEVER, THIS HASN'T BEEN THE CASE WITH CARLSBAD POLICE.
INCAPACITATING GAS HAS ABSOLUTELY NO SYMPTOMS WHATSOEVER.
TO THE HOUSEHOLD THE INCAPACITATING DRUGS USED ON THE TARGET, HOWEVER, DO.
BUT SINCE IT'S ONLY TO ONE HOUSEHOLD MEMBER, IT IS COMMONLY OVERLOOKED AS STRESS, EXHAUSTION, FLU HORMONES, TIREDNESS OR NATURAL AGING. TO OUR CITY'S POLICE DEPARTMENT, THIS IS OVERLOOKED AS AN ATTENTION SEEKER DELUSIONAL.
WHERE CPD SENDS TO THEIR PERT PROGRAM WHERE THEIR PARTNERS CAN PROFIT FROM.
THIS CARLSBAD PRACTICE HAS STRENGTHENED THE CRIMINALS GROUPS WITH MANPOWER, ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY AND TIME TIME TO OBSERVE, LEARN AND MASTER THEIR SKILLS IN BREACHING ENTRY INTO INNOCENT, UNSUSPECTING HOMES WITHOUT ANY CONSEQUENCES.
YO SOY CIUDADANA Y RESIDENTE DE CARLSBAD. DESDE HACE MUCHOS ANOS, ESTOY SIENDO VICTIMA DE ABUSOS DE MANERA REGULAR AQUI IN CARLSBAD. POR PARTE DE DELINCUENTES ORGANIZADOS A PRESENTADO GRAN CANTIDAD DE PRUEBAS A LA POLICIA Y A INTENTANDO ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, OBTENER AYUDA DE LA POLICIA DE CARLSBAD Y TAMBIÉN DEL CONSEJO MUNICIPAL
[00:15:10]
DE CARLSBAD. HASTA LA FECHA NINGUNO DE ELLOS ME A AYUDADO A MANTENER SALVA.MIS RICKER, THE POLICE CHIEF CALDERWOOD IS RIGHT OVER HERE.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK WITH HER. I WOULD THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. PAGE DISENO. HELLO.
COUNCIL AND MAYOR. I'M PAGE DISENO. YESTERDAY THE CITY OF CARLSBAD WAS RECOGNIZED BY THE SIERRA CLUB AND THE CLIMATE ACTION CAMPAIGN THROUGH AN ANNUAL REPORT CARD SHOWN HERE OF HAVING ONE OF THE BEST CLIMATE ACTION PLANS IN THE COUNTY, PARTICULARLY IN THE PLAN ITSELF, BUT ALSO IN ITS IMPLEMENTATION, WHICH MANY OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE EXCELLENT PLANS ON PAPER LACKED.
I THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ACOSTA FOR REPRESENTING THE CITY AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE YESTERDAY, SWITCHING MUNICIPAL COUNTS TO 100% RENEWABLE ENERGY, PLANTING 3000 TREES, ADOPTING SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOLS FOR 2 OF OUR SCHOOLS AND SETTING GOALS FOR 0 CARBON EMISSIONS WERE POSITIVE MEASURES.
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE CITY DO EVEN MORE. THE REPORT SUGGESTED MAKING 100% CLEAN ENERGY THE DEFAULT FOR OUR RESIDENTS, BRINGING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, NEAR SMART GROWTH HUBS, TRACKING CLIMATE EQUITY GOALS FOR COMMUNITIES OF CONCERN, AND MOVING UP THE CITY'S GOAL OF 90% WASTE DIVERSION FROM 2045 TO 30.
SORRY, 2035. AS SOMEONE WHO HAS FOLLOWED THE CAP THROUGH ALL OF ITS UPDATES, I WOULD ALSO SUGGEST THAT THE CITY START IMPLEMENTING MEASURES THAT WOULD HELP ELECTRIFY OUR BUILT ENVIRONMENT. WHILE CARLSBAD CAN'T PARTICIPATE IN THE STATE'S EQUITABLE BUILDING DECARBONIZATION PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES FREE ELECTRIC APPLIANCES FOR LOW INCOME RESIDENTS. WE CAN CERTAINLY TAKE STEPS TO DO, AT THE VERY LEAST, ENCOURAGE REMODELS TO ELECTRIFY AND NEW CONSTRUCTION TO GO ALL ELECTRIC. MANY OF THE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE CITY HAVE ALREADY DONE SO.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE HARD WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE TO MAKE THE CITY SUCH A STANDOUT, AND IN PARTICULAR, THE CAP ADMINISTRATOR KATIE HENDRICKS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK BY.
PATTY LANGEN. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS PATTY LANGEN. I'M WITH BUENA VISTA AUDUBON SOCIETY, AND I'M HERE REGARDING DRONES, SPECIFICALLY WALMART'S PROPOSED DRONE DELIVERY SITE ON MARION ROAD IN OCEANSIDE, THE QUARRY CREEK AREA.
WALMART IS PLANNING 12 TAKEOFF AND LANDING PADS WITH WITH CHARGING AND STORAGE.
IT WOULD SUPPORT A 6 MILE DELIVERY RADIUS, INCLUDING CARLSBAD, USING 10 TO 11 POUND DRONES WITH 2 AND A HALF TO 5 POUND LOADS FLYING UP TO 65 MILES AN HOUR OVER OUR STREETS AND HOMES.
WALMART CLAIMS THAT THIS WILL SUPPORT LOCAL JOBS AND REDUCE TRAFFIC AND EMISSIONS, BUT DRONE DELIVERY IS A ACCOUNTS FOR WELL UNDER 1% OF ALL DELIVERIES. SO THAT'S HARDLY A TRAFFIC SOLUTION.
GIVING LOOKING AT RICHARDSON, TEXAS AS AN EXAMPLE.
RESIDENTS REPORT DRONES, SOMETIMES OVER 100 A DAY FLYING IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THESE ARE FROM AMAZON. BUT AMAZON IS GOING TO BE EXPANDING AS WELL.
DESPITE THE MANUFACTURER'S CLAIMS ABOUT NOISE, DRONES PRODUCE A HIGH PITCHED WHINE LIKE MOSQUITO IN YOUR BEDROOM AT NIGHT OR WEED WHACKERS IN THE SKY. RICHARDSON RESIDENTS CALL IT A DRONE HIGHWAY.
ONCE PEACEFUL BACKYARDS ARE NO LONGER PLACES TO RELAX, RELAX.
THEIR COMPLAINTS HAVE GONE UNANSWERED AND THEIR CITY COUNCIL PUTS NO RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE ONCE A DRONE PORT IS ESTABLISHED COMPLAINTS FOLLOW QUICKLY AND BY THEN IT'S TOO LATE. THERE ARE 2 WILDLIFE PRESERVES NEAR WALMART, QUARRY CREEK AND CALAVERAS LAKE.
DOCUMENTED CASES SHOW THAT BIRDS TREAT DRONES AS PREDATORS.
AN ILLEGAL DRONE CAUSED MASSIVE NEST ABANDONMENT OF ELEGANT TERNS AT BOLSA CHICA IN ORANGE COUNTY.
[00:20:07]
A DRONE HUB AT THE EDGE OF A RIPARIAN HABITAT PUTS WILDLIFE DIRECTLY IN THE FLIGHT PATH EVERY SINGLE DAY.AMAZON PLANS TO EXPAND TO 500 TOWNS AND CITIES BY THE END OF 2026.
WE KNOW THIS ISSUE IS HEADED OUR WAY. SO I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT COUNCIL BE PROACTIVE, NOT REACTIVE.
REQUIRE A PUBLIC HEARING IN THE AFFECTED NEIGHBOR AFFECTED NEIGHBORHOODS AND ADOPT ENFORCEABLE LIMITS ON FLIGHT PATHS THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS. DEPUTY CLERK, PLEASE CALL FOR VIRTUAL SPEAKERS.
THERE ARE NO. THERE ARE NO VIRTUAL SPEAKERS FOR NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THOSE PARTICIPATING VIRTUALLY WHO WISH TO SPEAK ON ANY CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM TO.
PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND VIRTUALLY IF YOU ARE USING THE MEETING LINK TO LOG IN OR IF YOU'RE JOINING US BY PHONE, PLEASE PRESS STAR 9 NOW TO RAISE YOUR HAND. NEXT IS CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS NUMBER 1 THROUGH 6.
[CONSENT CALENDAR]
DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS? WE DO. BUT THE PUBLIC COMMENT SUBMISSION PERIOD FOR THE CONSENT CALENDAR IS NOW CLOSED.SPEAKING ON ITEM NUMBER 4. PAGE DESINO.
MICROPHONE, PLEASE. OKAY, SO ITEM ON ITEM NUMBER 4, YOU'RE GOING TO VOTE ON A CONTRACT FOR ARTIFICIAL TURF.
SO I RUN THE PRESERVE CALAVERA WATER QUALITY MONITORING PROGRAM.
AND THEY'RE IN ALL OF OUR CREEKS THAT FEED OUR 3 LAGOONS.
1ST, THEY'RE BAD FOR GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.
THEY'RE PLAYING TURF ITSELF. WHEN IT'S SUNNY OUT, LIKE WE'VE HAD FOR THE PAST MONTH AND A HALF OR SO, CREATES HIGH TEMPERATURE HEAT ISLANDS THAT CAN BE 50 TO 70 DEGREES HIGHER THAN NATURAL GRASS GRASS, AND THEY STILL NEED TO BE WATERED FOR CLEANING AND COOLING.
SO SOMETIMES YOU THINK THEY DON'T NEED ANY WATER.
AND DESPITE WHAT THE MANUFACTURER SAYS, THAT YOU'RE THE MANUFACTURER YOU'RE USING, YOU'VE GOT THEIR WORD ONLY THAT THEY'RE THEY CAN, THAT TURF CAN BE RECYCLED AND THAT THEY ARE NOT RELEASING ANY [INAUDIBLE] SO I CAUTION YOU TO USE THIS ON PLAYING FIELDS THAT OUR KIDS ARE GOING TO BE USING.
THEY'RE HOT. THEY RELEASE PETROCHEMICALS, AND I DON'T THINK THEY'RE SAFE FOR OUR CHILDREN.
THANK YOU. SPEAKING ON ITEM NUMBER 2, KIMBERLY JACKSON.
HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANKS FOR HAVING US TONIGHT AND THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE.
MY NAME IS KIMBERLY JACKSON AND I RUN A SMALL BUSINESS IN TOWN CALLED VACATION RENTALS BY KIMBERLY.
AND I'M HERE TO TALK ON ITEM NUMBER 2. WHILE I DO SUPPORT THE EFFORTS OF THAT BOARD AND IN BRINGING TOURISM TO TO CARLSBAD, I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE DISPROPORTIONATE ALLOCATION TO THE SHORT TERM RENTAL INDUSTRY AND THE VALUE THAT WE DO BRING TO THE CITY.
I WOULD ASK, IF YOU DO ASK US TO RE CONTRIBUTE THE 2% FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS, THAT WE MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO WHERE THAT MONEY GOES TO HELP SUPPORT OUR INDUSTRY. IT'S USED A LOT TO SUPPORT MAJOR HOTEL BRANDS AND OUTFITS LIKE THAT IN TOWN, BUT THERE'S NO DIRECT BENEFIT FOR SMALL OPERATORS MOM AND POPS, WHO WHERE IT BRINGS VALUE TO THEIR LISTINGS AS WELL AND PROMOTES THE STAY IN THEIR HOME AND THE VALUE THAT THAT BRINGS TO CARLSBAD RESIDENTS.
[00:25:06]
AND THAT'S IT. I'M BORN AND RAISED HERE IN LA COSTA, AND I HOPE YOU TAKE THAT TO HEART WHEN YOU MAKE THIS DECISION IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER.THANK YOU SO MUCH, MA'AM. WILL YOU WAIT JUST A MOMENT? YES. OH TESS, WILL YOU RAISE YOUR HAND? WILL YOU PLEASE TALK TO TESS ABOUT YOUR CONCERNS? YES. THANK YOU. ARE YOU VISIT CARLSBAD? OKAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT CONCLUDES OUR IN PERSON SPEAKERS.
DEPUTY CLERK, PLEASE CALL FOR VIRTUAL SPEAKERS.
WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME. OUR LAST FOUR DIGITS OF YOUR PHONE NUMBER, PLEASE PRESS STAR 6 TO UNMUTE.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO MAKE YOUR COMMENTS.
YOU'LL BE MUTED ONCE YOUR THREE MINUTES HAVE CONCLUDED.
THE 1ST SPEAKER IS CHARLES RILEY. PLEASE UNMUTE.
HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, SIR. WE CAN HEAR YOU.
ON BEHALF OF OUR 26,000 MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS, WE URGE YOU TO OPPOSE ITEM NUMBER 4, THE PROPOSED $5.68 MILLION CONTRACT FOR SYNTHETIC TURF. SIERRA CLUB SAN DIEGO HAS BEEN WORKING ACROSS THE COUNTY TO ENSURE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO SAFE, HEALTHY PLAYING FIELDS FOR ALL. EVERY COMMUNITY DESERVES RECREATIONAL SPACES THAT PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT.
ITS PRODUCTION RELIES ON FOSSIL FUELS AND CHEMICALS, PLACING POLLUTION BURDENS ON COMMUNITIES NEAR THE EXTRACTION SITES, REFINERIES AND FACTORIES. THOSE COMMUNITIES BEAR THE COSTS THAT ARE OFTEN OVERLOOKED WHEN CITIES PURCHASE PLASTIC PRODUCTS.
HERE IN CARLSBAD, SYNTHETIC TURF CAN BECOME SUBSTANTIALLY HOTTER THAN NATURAL GRASS IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT, CREATING SURFACES THAT CAN CAUSE CONTACT BURNS AND CONTRIBUTE TO HEAT RELATED ILLNESS.
ANIMALS CAN ALSO SUFFER BURNS TO THEIR PAWS AS EXTREME HEAT INTENSIFIES.
WE SHOULD INVEST IN LANDSCAPES THAT COOL OUR COMMUNITIES. CHEMICAL EXPOSURE IS ANOTHER CONCERN.
SYNTHETIC TURF SYSTEMS CONTAIN PFAS, HEAVY METALS AND OTHER HARMFUL SUBSTANCES.
CHILDREN DESERVE PARTICULAR PROTECTION BECAUSE THEY FREQUENTLY COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT WITH PLAYING SURFACES, AND MAY TRANSFER CONTAMINANTS FROM THEIR HANDS TO THEIR MOUTHS. LIVING GRASS SUPPORTS SOIL ORGANISMS, STORES CARBON, AND PROVIDES NATURAL COOLING. A PLASTIC SURFACE CANNOT PROVIDE THESE SAME ECOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS.
SYNTHETIC TURF ALSO REQUIRES MAINTENANCE, CLEANING, REPAIRS AND EVENTUAL REPLACEMENT.
PLEASE DECLINE THIS CONTRACT AND INVEST IN PLAYING FIELDS THAT PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH, SUPPORT ECOSYSTEMS AND ENSURE SAFE, HEALTHY RECREATION FOR ALL. THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES OUR SPEAKERS FOR THE CONSENT CALENDAR. AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO ASK THOSE PARTICIPATING VIRTUALLY WHO WISH TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 7 ORDINANCES FOR ADOPTION TO PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND VIRTUALLY IF YOU'RE USING THE MEETING LINK TO LOG IN OR IF YOU'RE JOINING US BY PHONE, PLEASE PRESS STAR 9 NOW TO RAISE YOUR HAND.
ANYONE ON COUNCIL WISH TO PULL ANY OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS? I'D LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ON ONE ITEM. YEAH PLEASE DO.
OKAY. ITEM NUMBER 4. I WILL BE VOTING NO ON THIS ITEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH MY CONTINUED OPPOSITION TO INSTALLING MORE PLASTIC IN OUR CITY PLASTIC TURF. WE ALL KNOW IT'S UNHEALTHY.
AND I LISTENED CLOSELY TO THE THE THE PUBLIC COMMENT, SPEAKER, SO I'LL BE VOTING NO ON THAT ONE.
ANYONE WISH TO PULL ANY OF THE ITEMS COMMENTS ON ANY OF THE ITEMS? MOTION PLEASE MOVE CONSENT ITEMS 1 THROUGH 6 NOTING THE COMMENTS.
SECOND. PLEASE VOTE. THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
NOTING THE NO VOTE FROM MISS ACOSTA ON ITEM NUMBER 4.
[7. ORDINANCE NO. CS-520 ESTABLISHING ALL-WAY STOP CONTROL AT THE INTERSECTIONS OF ANILLO WAY AND PALENQUE STREET AND AT LA GRAN VIA AND MADRILENA WAY – Adoption of Ordinance No. CS-520 amending Section 10.28.983 and adding sections 10.28.366, 10.28.367 and 10.28.368 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code to establish all-way stop control at the intersections of Anillo Way and Palenque Street, and at La Gran Via and Madrilena Way. (Staff contact: Morgen Fry, City Clerk) ]
MOTION, PLEASE. OH. I'M SORRY. DO WE HAVE SPEAKERS? THE PUBLIC COMMENT SUBMISSION PERIOD FOR ITEM NUMBER 7 IS CLOSED.THERE ARE NO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS. DEPUTY CLERK, PLEASE CALL FOR VIRTUAL SPEAKERS.
THERE ARE NO VIRTUAL SPEAKERS FOR ITEM NUMBER 7 ORDINANCES FOR ADOPTION.
AT THIS TIME. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THOSE PARTICIPATING VIRTUALLY WHO WISH TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 8, DEPARTMENTAL AND CITY MANAGER REPORTS TO PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND VIRTUALLY IF YOU'RE USING THE MEETING LINK TO LOG IN OR IF YOU'RE JOINING US BY PHONE, PLEASE PRESS STAR 9 NOW TO RAISE YOUR HAND. ANYBODY ON COUNCIL HAVE ANY COMMENTS? MOTION PLEASE MOVE. ADOPTION OF THE ORDINANCE SECOND.
[00:30:01]
PLEASE VOTE. PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. ITEM NUMBER 8.[8. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CITY OF CARLSBAD, THE SAN DIEGO ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS AND THE NORTH COUNTY TRANSIT DISTRICT FOR THE CARLSBAD VILLAGE RAILROAD TRENCH PROJECT – Adoption of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and execute a memorandum of understanding between the San Diego Association of Governments, the City of Carlsbad and the North County Transit District regarding the Carlsbad Village Railroad Trench Project in an amount not to exceed $5,220,000. (Staff contact: Jason Haber, City Manager) ]
CITY MANAGER, PLEASE. THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER 8 IS A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CITY OF CARLSBAD, THE SAN DIEGO ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS, AND THE NORTH COUNTY TRANSIT DISTRICT FOR THE CARLSBAD VILLAGE RAILROAD TRENCH PROJECT.AND FOR THE PRESENTATION, WE HAVE OUR INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS DIRECTOR, JASON HABER.
THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M JASON HABER, I'M THE CITY'S INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS DIRECTOR. THIS ITEM IS TO CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION THAT WOULD AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN SANDAG, THE CITY OF CARLSBAD AND THE NORTH COUNTY TRANSIT DISTRICT REGARDING THE CARLSBAD VILLAGE RAILROAD TRENCH PROJECT IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $5.22 MILLION IN CITY FUNDS TO GO BACK. THIS PROJECT GOES BACK TO 2007, WHEN CALTRANS AND THE LOSSAN RAIL CORRIDOR AGENCY SUBMITTED A SERIES OF PROJECT IMPROVEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE LOW SAN CORRIDOR.
THEIR GOALS FOR THE PROJECT IMPROVEMENTS THAT WERE PROPOSED WERE TO INCREASE RIDERSHIP REVENUE, SAFETY, CAPACITY, RELIABILITY AND COORDINATION.
ACROSS THE CORRIDOR ON THE LEFT HERE, YOU SEE THE RAILROAD SEGMENT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY.
THAT'S THE CARLSBAD OCEANSIDE SEGMENT THAT RUNS FROM JUST SOUTH OF CASSIDY STREET, ACROSS THE BUENA VISTA LAGOON, THROUGH CARLSBAD VILLAGE AND THE BARRIO NEIGHBORHOODS ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE AGUA HEDIONDA LAGOON.
AND FOR THIS SEGMENT IDENTIFIED 2 POTENTIAL PROJECTS FOR DOUBLE TRACKING, 1 AT GRADE AND A SECOND IN AN ALIGNMENT IN A TRENCH OR BELOW STREET LEVEL ALIGNMENT IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL APPROVAL AT THE PROGRAMMATIC LEVEL.
IT ALSO CALLED FOR ADDITIONAL ANALYSIS AT THE PROJECT LEVEL.
AND SO AT THE TIME, SANDAG ADVANCED FEASIBILITY STUDIES, ECONOMIC ANALYSIS AND ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AT A PROGRAM PROJECT LEVEL FOR THE STREET LEVEL OPTION AND FOR THE BELOW STREET LEVEL OPTION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF CARLSBAD.
AS I SAID, THEY'VE ALSO CONCLUDED PROGRAMMATIC ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.
IN 2020, THE CITY AND SANDAG ALSO PARTNERED ON AN ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS EVALUATING BETWEEN A SHORT TRENCH CONFIGURATION AND A LONG TRENCH CONFIGURATION, AND DEVELOPED CRITERIA FOR EVALUATING THOSE AND LANDED ON THE LONG TRENCH AS THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE.
IN TERMS OF THAT CONFIGURATION. THE CITY'S LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM PROVIDES A POSITION STATEMENT THAT ENCOURAGES AND SUPPORTS DOUBLE TRACKING OF THE RAIL CORRIDOR WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS, SUBJECT TO A NUMBER OF CRITERIA, IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY ACCESS AND RESPONSE TIMES, ELIMINATING OR REDUCING AT GRADE RAIL CROSSINGS, IMPROVING COASTAL ACCESS FOR ALL TRAVEL MODES, AND IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY RESPONSE, MINIMIZING IMPACTS TO NEIGHBORHOODS, AMONG OTHERS.
THIS ITEM ALSO DELIVERS ON A ONE OBJECTIVE WITHIN THE CITY'S 5 YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN.
THAT'S TO WORK WITH SANDAG AND NCTD TO PRIORITIZE, DETERMINE COSTS, AND WORK WITH STATE AND FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES TO SEEK FUNDING FOR COMPLETING PRELIMINARY DESIGN AND THE TECHNICAL STUDIES FOR LOWERING THE TRACKS IN THE VILLAGE.
THIS IS AN IMAGE THAT SHOWS THE CURRENT SINGLE TRACK CONFIGURATION AND CROSSING AT CARLSBAD VILLAGE DRIVE, AND THE NEXT 2 SLIDES SHOW RENDERINGS THAT DEPICT WHAT A DOUBLE TRACK THROUGH THAT CROSSING WOULD LOOK LIKE.
YOU SEE A QUAD GATES ON EITHER SIDE OF THE ROAD, AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL PEDESTRIAN HARDENING AND CORRALS THAT WOULD DIRECT PEDESTRIANS AT THAT LOCATION IN AN AT GRADE DOUBLE TRACK CONFIGURATION.
AND THEN THIS SHOWS A CONCEPTUAL IMAGE SHOWING THE TRENCH CONFIGURATION SEPARATING THE TRAIN TRAFFIC FROM STREET TRAFFIC AND PEDESTRIANS. TO TALK ABOUT PROJECT FUNDING IN 2023.
[00:35:07]
THE CITY COUNCIL APPROPRIATED $5.22 MILLION FROM THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND RESERVE TO BE USED AS A LOCAL MATCH FOR PURSUING GRANT FUNDS, EITHER STATE OR FEDERAL GRANT FUNDS, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SANDAG AND NCTD IN 2024, THE CITY ENTERED INTO AN MOU WITH THOSE AGENCIES TO PURSUE GRANTS. AT THE TIME, WE DID APPLY FOR A RAIL CROSSING ELIMINATION GRANT AND WERE UNSUCCESSFUL IN THAT PURSUIT.WITH THE SUPPORT OF CONGRESSMAN LEVIN AND SANDAG HAS APPROPRIATED IN THEIR 26-27 PROGRAM BUDGET $20.8 MILLION TOWARDS THE PROJECT IN STATE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FUNDING.
THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO COMPLETE 30% DESIGN ON THE RAILROAD TRENCHING ALIGNMENT ALONG WITH ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE PROJECT LEVEL REVIEW FOR THAT PROPOSAL. AGAIN, THE PROPOSED MOU WOULD DEPLOY SANDAG 20.8 MILLION.
THE CITY OF CARLSBAD WOULD BE CONTRIBUTING OUR $5.22 MILLION AS REIMBURSEMENTS TO SANDAG OVER THE COURSE OF THE WORK, AS WE'RE ANTICIPATING A THREE YEAR SCOPE OF WORK AND SCHEDULE.
WE'RE PROPOSING TO LIMIT OUR ANNUAL DISBURSEMENTS TO 1.74, SPREADING THAT OVER THE 3 YEARS AND ALSO COMMITTING TO STAFF SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE THE PROGRAM OF DESIGN AND ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW. NORTH COUNTY TRANSIT IS ALSO COMMITTING TO PROVIDING STAFF SUPPORT AND ENGAGEMENT THROUGHOUT THAT DESIGN AND ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PHASE. IN TERMS OF NEXT STEPS, THIS RESOLUTION WOULD AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO FINALIZE MOU NEGOTIATIONS. WE'RE ANTICIPATING SANDAG BOARD CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.
AT THAT POINT, WE WOULD BE EXECUTING THE MOU.
AND AT THAT TIME, THERE WOULD BE SOME CONSIDERATION AND DETERMINATION AMONG DECISION MAKERS WHETHER TO APPROVE AND FUND MOVING FORWARD WITH CONSTRUCTION OF THE BELOW STREET LEVEL ALIGNMENT. AGAIN, THE PROPOSED ACTION IS BEFORE YOU HERE.
THAT CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION. I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
DO WE HAVE SPEAKERS? WE DO NOT. AT THIS TIME.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT SUBMISSION PERIOD FOR ITEM NUMBER 8 IS CLOSED.
DEPUTY CLERK, PLEASE CALL FOR VIRTUAL SPEAKERS.
THERE ARE NO VIRTUAL SPEAKERS FOR ITEM NUMBER 8 DEPARTMENTAL AND CITY MANAGER REPORTS.
QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL. MR. SHIN. THANKS, JASON, FOR THE REPORT.
JUST REALLY QUICKLY, YOU WERE MENTIONING JUST A SECOND AGO ABOUT THE 3 YEAR PLAN.
AND THEN IN ONE OF YOUR SLIDES, IT SHOWED OUT TO 2031.
I JUST WANT CLARIFICATION OF THAT, PLEASE. YEAH. WE PUT BUFFER FOR THE SCHEDULE INTO THE MOU TO ALLOW THAT TO, TO RUN THROUGH 2031. AT SOME POINT THERE WAS THE POSSIBILITY THAT SANDAG WOULD BE ENGAGING CONSULTANTS THIS YEAR IN 2026 WITH CONSIDERATION OF THEIR BOARD OUT TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR.
WE'LL GO THROUGH A FEW MONTHS OF SOLICITATION AND SECURING THOSE, THOSE CONSULTANTS.
SO WE WANTED TO ADD A LITTLE BUFFER ON THE BACK END AS WELL FOR COMPLETION OF SCOPE.
THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MISS BHAT-PATEL? YES. THANK YOU. THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION AND FOR THE UPDATE.
I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
SO I'M JUST GOING TO GO THROUGH SOME QUESTIONS THAT I KNOW I'VE RECEIVED FROM THE COMMUNITY AS WELL, AND JUST WANTED TO ASK THOSE OF YOU. I WAS JUST CURIOUS, DO WE HAPPEN TO HAVE AN ESTIMATE OF THE COST OF THE LONG TRENCH AS OF 2026? BECAUSE WHEN I FIRST STARTED, IT WAS DIFFERENT.
YES, WE, WE DID DO SOME COST ANALYSIS WHEN THE PROJECT STUDY REPORT WAS DONE IN 2017, AND WHEN THE ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS WAS DEVELOPED IN 2020. I THINK AT THAT TIME IT WAS IN THE $400 MILLION PLUS RANGE.
EXTRAPOLATING THAT OUT FOR INFLATION AND TIMELINE, WE'RE ANTICIPATING THAT THAT EXCEEDS 500 MILLION.
[00:40:05]
AT THIS TIME, BUT THIS NEXT SCOPE OF WORK WILL GIVE US A MUCH BETTER PICTURE OF THAT AND GIVE US A BETTER SENSE OF WHAT THE CONSTRUCTION COST MIGHT BE.THANK YOU. AND THEN IN TERMS OF THE PRIORITY WITH REGARDS TO SANDAG, DO WE HAPPEN TO KNOW ON THEIR LIST OF ITEMS THAT THEY HAVE TO GET DONE THROUGH THE REGION WHERE THIS IS AT WITH REGARDS TO PRIORITY FOR SANDAG? THANKS FOR THE QUESTION. I DON'T HAVE A GOOD SENSE IN TERMS OF HOW IT PRIORITIZES, BUT WHAT WE'RE OUR UNDERSTANDING IS FROM STAFF IS THAT ONCE THE MOU IS, IS APPROVED, GIVEN THAT THE FUNDING WAS ALREADY APPROPRIATED AND APPROVED THROUGH THEIR PROGRAM BUDGET, THAT THEY ANTICIPATE PROCEEDING AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR WITH THE SOLICITATION FOR ENGAGING CONSULTANTS.
OKAY. AND THIS IS JUST ME ASKING THE QUESTION THAT OTHERS HAVE BROUGHT UP.
IS THIS I GET ASKED WHEN I'VE BEEN TALKING TO FOLKS, THE LIKELIHOOD OF THIS ACTUALLY GETTING DONE, I THINK BECAUSE IT'S BEEN SUCH A LONG TIME. AND THEN OF COURSE THE COST IS OVER HALF $1 BILLION, POTENTIALLY. I'M JUST CURIOUS WHAT THAT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF TIMELINE, AND THEN THE LIKELIHOOD OF IT GETTING DONE.
WHAT WE'VE HEARD IN TERMS OF SANDAG FEDERAL GRANTS, ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS, THE VARIABLES THAT WOULD TAKE PLACE WITH THIS TO ACTUALLY GO FORWARD. IT'S A GOOD QUESTION. IT'S A FAIR QUESTION.
SO THAT PUTS US OUT INTO THE 2030 TIME FRAME.
THE QUESTION OF WHETHER FUNDING WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THAT TIME.
ONE THING THAT THIS DOES DO FOR US IS PUTS US CLOSER TO A SHOVEL READY STATUS.
IN TERMS OF THE, THE OVERALL SCALE OF THE PROJECT, IT IS A SIGNIFICANT INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT.
I THINK FOR COMPARISON, WE SAW $34 MILLION OR SO INVESTED AT THE POINSETTIA STATION IMPROVEMENTS.
THE MID-COAST TROLLEY IS A $2 BILLION TRANSIT INVESTMENT.
SO IT'S NOT TOTALLY OUT OF SCALE WITH THOSE TYPES OF INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS.
BUT WHETHER OR NOT IT'S REALISTIC AND WHAT THE TIMING IS LIKE IS UNKNOWABLE AT THIS POINT.
OKAY. AND THEN I KNOW JUST FOR CLARITY'S SAKE, THE 5.22 MILLION THAT WE HAD ALLOCATED JUST FOR THE RECORD, THAT MONEY HAS NOT BEEN TOUCHED. I KNOW FOLKS ARE CURIOUS WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT MONEY.
NO. THAT'S CORRECT. THAT THAT AMOUNT IS FULLY INTACT AT THIS POINT.
AND IT'S BEEN SET ASIDE FOR THIS PURPOSE, REALLY TO SERVE AS A LOCAL MATCH, TO LEVERAGE ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT FROM STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES THAT CAN HELP MAKE THIS NEXT PHASE OF THE WORK COMPLETE. GREAT. THANK YOU.
THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS. THE LONG TRENCH COVERS GRAND AND CARLSBAD VILLAGE DRIVE.
DOES IT ALSO EXTEND TO TAMARACK? YES, MAYOR. THAT'S CORRECT.
IT WOULD GO BELOW GRADE THROUGH TAMARACK AND DAYLIGHT BEFORE REACHING THE LAGOON.
THANK YOU. MISS ACOSTA. THANK YOU. I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION, JUST COMMENTS.
I WANT TO THANK YOU. I REMEMBER EVEN BEFORE I RAN FOR CITY COUNCIL, I HEARD A PRESENTATION THAT YOU MADE, MR. HABER, TO THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ABOUT THIS CONCEPT, AND THERE WERE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT SAFETY AND WHY WE WERE DOING THIS.
AND THE NUMBER ONE REASON FOR THE THE TRENCHING WAS SAFETY, BECAUSE THE AT GRADE CROSSING IS CLEARLY EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO GET HURT OR RUN OVER OR GET STUCK ON THE TRACKS, YOU KNOW, BUT TO HAVE THE TRENCHING WE KNOW IS, IS SAFER. AND THEN THE DOUBLE, THE DOUBLE TRACKING IS SOMETHING THAT IS YOU KNOW, REALLY SOMETHING THAT OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT ARE LOOKING AT AND REALLY WANT, BECAUSE IT'S BETTER FOR TRANSPORT OF PEOPLE AND OF GOODS.
SO WORKING TOGETHER. I AM GLAD THAT WE DID THIS MATCH SYSTEM.
WE PUT IN SOME HOPING THAT IT WOULD ATTRACT MORE FUNDING.
AND I'M SO GLAD THAT WE'VE GOT IT. GOT IT. THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? MR. SHIN, THANK YOU. YEAH, I I'M IN SUPPORT OF THIS.
IN REGARDS TO PUBLIC SAFETY, YOU DO SEE THE MAJOR BENEFITS OF HAVING THIS.
THIS IS 130 YEAR RAIL SYSTEM. AND NOW WE'RE OCCUPYING A LOT MORE DENSITY THROUGH IT.
AND TO HAVE A HIGH SPEED RAIL THAT NOT HIGH, HIGH SPEED, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.
[00:45:04]
A VERY FAST MOVING TRAIN GOING THROUGH. AND ALL IT TAKES IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO JUST TRIP ON ACCIDENT, AND THEN YOU'RE IN A VERY PRECARIOUS SITUATION FOR NOT JUST OUR RESIDENTS, BUT THE TOURISM THAT ARRIVES HERE.SO THAT'S ALL MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU. MISS BURKHOLDER.
DID COUNCIL MEMBER BHAT-PATEL HAVE COMMENTS OKAY. SO WHEN CALTRANS BEGAN DISCUSSING THE PLAN TO ADD THE SECOND SET OF TRACKS THROUGH CARLSBAD VILLAGE, PART OF THEIR BROADER PLAN WAS TO INCREASE RAILROAD CAPACITY THROUGHOUT THE CORRIDOR.
CARLSBAD RESIDENTS AND CITY COUNCILS HAVE FOR MANY YEARS, MANY YEARS THAT I CAN RECALL, EVEN ADVOCATED FOR AN AT GRADE SEPARATED ALIGNMENT THAT WOULD RESULT IN LOWERING THE TRACKS IN THE VILLAGE IN 2023.
DURING MY FIRST FEW MONTHS ON THE COUNCIL, I DID REQUEST DURING THAT YEAR'S BUDGET PROCESS THAT THE CITY SET ASIDE SEED MONEY TO USE AS A LOCAL MATCH FOR GRANTS THAT COULD FUND THE DESIGN AND ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS NEEDED TO FURTHER EVALUATE THE FEASIBILITY OF LOWERING THE TRACKS IN THE VILLAGE.
AND I'M PLEASED THAT THIS COUNCIL SUPPORTED THAT UNANIMOUSLY.
AND IN THE MEANTIME, SANDAG HAS PROGRAMED AVAILABLE STATE TRANSPORTATION FUNDS TO COMPLETE A JOINT STUDY FOR THIS PROJECT, AND THE CITY WAS SUCCESSFUL IN SECURING A FEDERAL GRANT AS WELL.
SANDAG HAS BEEN MENTIONED, WILL BE THE LEAD AGENCY ON THIS NEXT PHASE OF THIS $26 MILLION STUDY, WHICH WILL INCLUDE THE 5.22 MILLION THAT HAS BEEN MENTIONED HERE BEFORE THAT WE SET ASIDE IN 2023 FOR THIS EXACT PURPOSE.
SO I'M VERY PLEASED WE'RE TAKING A STEP FORWARD TO DETERMINE WHAT THIS PROJECT MIGHT LOOK LIKE AND WHAT IT WOULD COST, WHICH IS A BIG NUMBER. SHOULD IT ULTIMATELY BE SOMETHING THAT THE CITY SANDAG AND NCTD WANT TO COLLECTIVELY PURSUE.
NONE OF THESE AGENCIES, INCLUDING THE CITY COUNCIL, CAN MAKE A FINAL DECISION UNTIL WE KNOW THE VERY SPECIFIC PIECES OF INFORMATION THAT SANDAG STUDY WILL PROVIDE, AND I CERTAINLY LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE FINDINGS.
REALLY APPRECIATE IT. AND TO THOSE THAT HAVE, YOU KNOW, TALKED ABOUT THIS OVER THE YEARS, AND YOU HEARD MY COLLEAGUE ALSO MENTIONED THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN ON THE MINDS OF FOLKS FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. AND I DO AGREE AND OF COURSE, HAVE SUPPORTED IN THE PAST WANTING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS AND STILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THAT.
I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AS FOLKS HEAR ABOUT THIS, THAT THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING, WHERE WE'RE AT, AND IS TRANSPARENTLY COMMUNICATED TO FOLKS IN TERMS OF HOW SANDAG AND CTD AND THE CITY OF CARLSBAD ARE WORKING AT THIS.
I COMPLETELY GET IT. FROM A PUBLIC SAFETY STANDPOINT, IT MAKES SENSE.
I JUST WISH WE WOULD HAVE DONE THIS EVEN PRIOR TO WHEN I WAS BORN, BECAUSE I THINK THAT WOULD HAVE HELPED IN TERMS OF, YES, THIS IS A CORRIDOR THAT IS HEAVILY YOU KNOW, UTILIZED.
WE ARE NUMBER 2 IN THE NATION FOR GOODS GOING ACROSS THIS PARTICULAR CORRIDOR.
SO YES, LOSSAN IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO INVEST IN AND CONTINUE TO THINK ABOUT.
IT'S NOT ONLY A WAY THAT OUR RESIDENTS GET AROUND, BUT IT'S A HUGE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DRIVER.
I THINK THE PART THAT I'M GOING TO BE CURIOUS ABOUT IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE IS SANDAG AT IN TERMS OF PRIORITIZING THIS? WHERE IS ALL THAT FUNDING GOING TO COME FROM? OF COURSE, I'M HAPPY TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR IT BECAUSE IT WILL BE BENEFICIAL FOR OUR CITY.
AND THEN ALSO UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACTS OF IF WE GET TO THAT POINT OF SHOVEL READY AND MOVING FORWARD, WHAT THAT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE FOR THE NEIGHBORING FOLKS. HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT THE IMPACTS OF WHAT THAT'S GOING TO BE FOR EVERYONE MOVING FORWARD IS GOING TO BE MINIMAL, BUT ULTIMATELY, OBVIOUSLY A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT.
SO OTHER THAN THAT, I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SUPPORT IT, BUT WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CONCERNS THAT COME UP TIME AND TIME AGAIN WHEN THIS TOPIC IS CONSIDERED WAS BROUGHT UP TODAY. BUT I KNOW THAT THE MAYOR HAS SOMETHING TO, BUT I'M HAPPY TO MAKE THE MOTION AFTER WE HAVE A CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE AUDIENCE. SO I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU A QUICK EXPLANATION. SINCE THIS IS A BIG EXPENSE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A HALF $1 BILLION. BUT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS PUT THE TRAIN TRACKS BELOW THE LEVEL OF THE STREET SO PEOPLE WON'T HAVE TO STOP FOR THE
[00:50:01]
TRAINS. THERE'S A LOT OF BENEFITS OVER TIME THAT WOULD COMPENSATE FOR THAT.HALF $1 BILLION. ONE, THERE'S A HUGE ECONOMIC BENEFIT TO OUR DOWNTOWN VILLAGE SHOPPING AREA AND A HUGE SAFETY CONSIDERATION. IF YOU TALK TO ANY 1ST RESPONDERS, POLICE OR FIRE, THEY'LL TELL YOU THAT THERE'S AN UNREASONABLE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE GETTING HIT BY TRAINS EVERY YEAR. AND THESE GUYS HAVE TO GO TO THOSE CALLS.
BUT IT ALSO, WHEN THERE'S A TRAIN GOING BY, MOST OF THE TRAINS GO BY WITHIN 30S.
20S. BUT AT NIGHT THE FREIGHT TRAINS. AND THERE'S GOING TO BE MANY MORE.
THAT'S WHY THEY'RE DOING THE DOUBLE TRACKING. THEY TAKE SEVERAL MINUTES TO PASS.
THOSE FEW MINUTES IS HUGE. AND THAT COULD MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH.
AND THEN FINALLY, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SAYING THAT THEY'RE TIRED OF THE NOISE THAT ALL NIGHT LONG THERE, THEY GET WOKEN UP BY THE TRAIN WHISTLES. THIS WOULD ELIMINATE THAT.
AND BECAUSE OF ALL THOSE REASONS, I SUPPORT IT.
MOTION PLEASE MOVE. ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE SAN DIEGO ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS, THE CITY OF CARLSBAD AND THE NORTH COUNTY TRANSIT DISTRICT REGARDING THE CARLSBAD VILLAGE RAILROAD TRENCH PROJECT IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $5.22 MILLION.
SECOND. PLEASE VOTE. AND THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
THAT BRINGS US TO THE CONCLUSION OF OUR AGENDA.
[COUNCIL COMMENTARY AND REQUESTS FOR CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS]
CLOSING COMMENTS, MR. SHIN. YEAH. JUST REALLY QUICKLY TOMORROW AT UCSD SCRIPPS INSTITUTE OF OCEANOGRAPHY.I ENCOURAGE ANYONE HERE, ESPECIALLY ANYONE WHO IS A STUDENT AND IS UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS A TOP CONCERN OF US AS WE MOVE INTO THE WINTER SEASON, THAT THEY'LL TRY TO EXPLAIN AS MUCH OF WHAT THEY HAVE LEARNED THROUGH THEIR RESEARCH. SO IT'S ON THEIR WEBSITE.
MY APOLOGIES. I DIDN'T HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION, BUT THAT WILL BE TOMORROW.
MISS BURKHOLDER, JUST QUICKLY, I WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR WE'VE DONE A LITTLE SOFT LIGHT TESTING IN THE VILLAGE IN THE BARRIO WITH SOME NEW LIGHTING THAT HAS BEEN INSTALLED, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT BEING FULLY LIT VERY SOON.
AND I WANT TO THANK SUZANNE SMITHSON FROM BRINGING ALL OF US FOR BRINGING ALL OF US A COOKBOOK.
DIRECT LINK TO MY HEART IS COOKING, SO THIS IS GOING TO BE WELL LOVED IN MY HOUSEHOLD AND JUST CONTINUE TO DO THE GREAT WORK THAT STAFF IS DOING TO KEEP THIS CITY TOP NOTCH. AND STUDENTS, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
YOU PICKED A GREAT MEETING BECAUSE IT'S PRETTY SHORT. MISS ACOSTA, THANK YOU.
SO I'M GUESSING SOME OF YOU ARE FROM CARLSBAD UNIFIED.
THAT'S ONE OF THEM. ENCINITAS UNION, WHICH IS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN ENCINITAS THAT ALSO OVERLAPS WITH SOUTH CARLSBAD, SAN DIEGUITO UNION. THAT'S WHERE LA COSTA CANYON HIGH SCHOOL IS, AND SAN MARCOS, THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE SOME ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN CARLSBAD THAT ARE ACTUALLY PART OF SAN MARCOS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT. SO WE HAD THAT GREAT MEETING.
IT WAS REALLY GREAT TO BE AT THAT PRESS CONFERENCE YESTERDAY WITH SIERRA CLUB AND CLIMATE ACTION CAMPAIGN, TO HONOR OUR STAFF AND RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE ONE OF THE TOP 3 CLIMATE ACTION PLANS IN THE WHOLE REGION.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF US ON THAT, AND ESPECIALLY TO THE STAFF WHO DO THE HARD WORK.
IT'S BEING PUT ON BY SENATOR CATHERINE BLAKE SPEAR.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING THE PANEL OF EXPERTS TALK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING TO END HOMELESSNESS.
SO I KNOW SHE OFFERS A VERY COMPREHENSIVE INTERN PROGRAM FOR THOSE INTERESTED.
ON THURSDAY, I WILL BE SPEAKING TO HER GROUP OF INTERNS.
[00:55:03]
AND THAT IS NEXT WEEK. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANKS.YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR ABOUT THE BIKE SAFETY AND JUST UPDATES FROM THE SUPERINTENDENTS.
A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT THAT WE'D HOPE TO BRING BACK IS JUST USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOMS. THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE WILL BE DISCUSSING MOVING FORWARD.
AND ANOTHER PIECE THAT WAS BROUGHT UP TO ME THAT I DID EMPHASIZE, AND I CAN TELL YOU, I DEFINITELY GOT EMOTIONAL WHILE TALKING ABOUT IT WAS COMMUNICATIONS DURING EMERGENCIES. AND SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'LL BE DISCUSSING MOVING FORWARD AS WELL.
AND THEN WE HAD OUR PUBLIC SAFETY OPEN HOUSE.
I HAD MY YOUNG CHILDREN WITH ME, SO I WASN'T ABLE TO GO AND PLANT WITH THE FOLKS.
BUT IT WAS DEFINITELY REALLY GREAT TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE.
ALTHOUGH AGAIN, I HAD A LOT OF EMPATHY FOR THE AMOUNT OF HEAT THAT THEY WERE DOING THAT.
AND IT WAS OVER 100 DEGREES AT THAT TIME. AND THEN MOVING FORWARD, I KNOW THIS UPCOMING WEEK, WE HAVE A LOSSAN WORKING GROUP MEETING TOMORROW.
I HAVE A FEW OTHER NCTD RELATED CONVERSATIONS COMING UP THIS WEEK AND NEXT WEEK.
AND WE ARE GOING TO ALSO HAVE AN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING.
I'M ALSO A CO-SPONSOR AND CO-HOST FOR THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY TOBACCO PRODUCT WASTE WORKING GROUP.
AND THEY'LL BE HOSTING QUARTERLY WORKSHOPS THAT I WILL BE A PART OF.
AND I'M GOING TO BE HELPING WITH THAT NEXT WEEK.
AND THEN I KNOW THAT THEY'LL HAVE MORE COMING FORWARD.
SO OTHER THAN THAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH. CITY MANAGER.
[CITY MANAGER COMMENTS]
THANK YOU. I HAVE 2 QUICK ITEMS. 1ST TO THANK AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND OUR FOLKS IN PUBLIC WORKS FOR THE OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SAFETY OPEN HOUSE.THE TURNOUT WAS ACTUALLY REALLY IMPRESSIVE GIVEN HOW HOT IT WAS.
THE ACCREDITATION IS VALID FOR 5 YEARS AND RECOGNIZES THE HIGH STANDARDS OUR PARKS AND RECREATION TEAM BRINGS TO OUR PARKS FACILITIES, PROGRAMS, RESOURCES, SAFETY AND SERVICES. CREDIT GOES TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
TO PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR KYLE LANCASTER AND HIS OUTSTANDING TEAM.
WE'RE ALL PROUD OF OUR PARKS AND THIS RECOGNITION IS AN HONOR SHARED BY OUR RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES, VISITORS AND OUR STAFF. I JUST LOVE THE IDEA THAT OUR STAFF DOES WONDERFUL THINGS AND THEN YOU GIVE US CREDIT FOR IT.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. THAT'S THE JOB OF CITY ATTORNEY.
WOMAN WAS ON HER WALK CARRYING A BUCKET AND THOSE LITTLE PICKER UPPER THINGS PICKING UP TRASH WHILE SHE WAS WALKING, STOPPED AND TALKED TO HER, TOLD HER I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION HER NAME AT THE END OF THE COUNCIL MEETING. SHE SAID, NO, THAT'S NOT WHY SHE DOES IT. SHE DOES IT FOR EXERCISE AND WHILE SHE'S OUT THERE, SHE MIGHT AS WELL CLEAN UP THE STREETS.
SO THANK YOU TO HER AND WE'RE ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.