HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-04-22; City Council; 07; Transition of the Beach Preservation Commission to the Environmental Sustainability CommissionDocusign Envelope ID: 6FCAAD7B-FDCC-48DC-91 ED-48B0909C8175
Meeting Date:
To:
From:
Staff Contact:
April 22, 2025
Mayor and City Council
Geoff Patnoe, City Manager
James Wood, Environmental Sustainability Director
james.wood@carlsbadca.gov, 442-339-2584
CA Review CKM
Subject: Transition of the Beach Preservation Commission to the Environmental
Sustainability Commission
Districts: All
Recommended Action
Adopt a resolution approving the transition of the Beach Preservation Commission to the
Environmental Sustainability Commission.
Executive Summary
The City Council approved a minute motion on Nov. 12, 2024, directing staff to return at a
future date with a recommendation to consolidate the Beach Preservation Commission into a
Sustainability Commission. The motion also directed staff to bring back a mission statement for
the commission, as well as a list of duties on which this commission would provide
recommendations to the City Council.
Additionally, on Nov. 19, 2024, also by minute motion, the City Council directed staff to add the
topic of open space to the conversation of developing the new commission and to include
adopting a policy that discourages exceptions to the city development standards that would
decrease open space.
This report provides staff's recommendations, as the City Council requested.
Explanation & Analysis
Following the direction provided by the City Council, staff reviewed commissions with similar
purposes in San Diego County and in the Southern California region to determine how they
were composed, their scope and the topics included in their purview. As a result of this
research and with the intent of integrating into the City of Carlsbad's existing commission
formats, staff provide the following recommendations for a transition plan that will allow for
continuity in both the commission's membership as well as its meeting schedule.
April 22, 2025 Item #7 Page 1 of 9
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Purpose/Mission
The purpose of the new Environmental Sustainability Commission will be to support:
Carlsbad Community Core Values
• Open space and the natural environment
o Prioritize protection and enhancement of open space and the natural
environment
o Support and protect Carlsbad's unique open space and agricultural heritage
• Sustainability
o Build on the city's sustainability initiatives to emerge as a leader in green
development and sustainability. Pursue public/private partnerships, particularly
on sustainable water, energy, recycling and foods.
Carlsbad Strategic Plan goal
• Sustainability & the natural environment
o Protect the environment and natural resources
This purpose will be fulfilled through education, policy, community engagement and where
appropriate, by providing recommendations to the City Council.
Areas of responsibility
The Environmental Sustainability Commission will investigate, research and make
recommendations to the City Council on topics, studies and programs, related to:
• Natural resources, and open space
• Beach nourishment and shoreline preservation
• Climate adaptation and environmental sustainability
Commission appointments
The current makeup of the Beach Preservation Commission is seven commissioners appointed
by the Mayor.
Staff recommend keeping seven commissioners but adjusting the composition of the
commission to mirror the Community-Police Engagement, Parks & Recreation, Planning, and
Traffic Safety & Mobility commissions, as described in Carlsbad Municipal Code
Section 2.15.050:
• Three Mayoral appointments
• One appointment per district by each Council Member
Staff also recommend retaining the current Beach Preservation commissioners, if they desire to
remain, until their terms expire. Once a commissioner's term expires, the vacancy for an
Environmental Sustainability commissioner would be noticed and advertised in keeping with the
requirements above.
Under its current composition, the commission has at least one member from each City Council
district. As the terms expire for members of the Environmental Sustainability Commission, the
most recently elected district Council Member or Mayor will nominate a new member. The
term of the newly nominated member will be set to begin in December and expire at the time
April 22, 2025 Item #7 Page 2 of 9
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the nominating Council Member's term expires. Each subsequent term for the commission
member will be set to coincide with the nominating Council Member's term.
The current terms of all commissioners will be lengthened by six or 18 months to coincide with
the nominating Council Member or Mayor's term. The first terms to be appointed by district
will be for a length of 4 years except for one position which will be a 2-year term to coincide
with the Mayor.
Current Nominating Current terms' First term Subsequent Commissioner term District council appointed by
expires member new expiration district terms
December 2026 December Coincide Michael June 2026 1 District 1 (extended by 6 2026-with District Corrigan December months) 2030 1
December 2026 December Coincide
Bryn Evans* June 2026 3 District 3 (extended by 6 2026-with District December months) 2030 3
December 2028 December Coincide
Liam Ferguson* June 2028 4 District 4 (extended by 6 2028-with District December months) 2032 4
December 2026 December
Cynthia Norall* June 2025 1 Mayor (extended by 18 2026-Coincide
December with Mayor months) 2030
December 2028 December
Lawrence June 2028 3 Mayor (extended by 6 2028-Coincide
Rothman* December with Mayor months) 2030
December 2026 December
Lisa Stark* June 2025 3 Mayor (extended by 18 2026-Coincide
December with Mayor months) 2030
December 2028 December Coincide
Chris Woolsey* June 2028 2 District 2 (extended by 6 2028-with District December months) 2032 2
*indicates commissioner is eligible for reappointment
April 22, 2025 Item #7 Page 3 of 9
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Schedule of transition
The following schedule is recommended to transition the Beach Preservation Commission to
the Environmental Sustainability Commission:
June 5, 2025:
June 17, 2025:
June 24, 2025:
July 24, 2025:
Aug. 7, 2025:
Meeting schedule
Beach Preservation Commission's final meeting
City Council meeting -Introduce ordinance making changes to
Municipal Code Chapters 2.15 and 2.34
City Council meeting -Adoption of ordinance
Municipal Code changes become effective
Environmental Sustainability Commission's first meeting
The approved 2025 regular meeting calendar adopted by the Beach Preservation Commission
is to remain the same for the Environmental Sustainability Commission, with meetings held on
the first Thursday of even numbered months, at 3 p.m. in the City Council Chamber.
Fiscal Analysis
Should the City Council choose to move forward with this transition, the City Manager will
evaluate future staffing needs for the Environmental Sustainability Department associated
with commission-related tasks.
Next Steps
If the transition is approved by the City Council, staff will return with a proposed update to the
Carlsbad Municipal Code to apply to the new commission. Any other required changes directed
by the City Council will be incorporated into the transition process. The conversion from the
Beach Preservation Commission to the Environmental Sustainability Commission is to become
effective July 24, 2025.
Once the Environmental Sustainability Commission is established and starts meeting, staff will
work with the commissioners to develop their work plan for the remainder of 2025 and, once
that is completed, bring the work plan forward to the City Council for its approval.
In keeping with the City Council's Nov. 19, 2024, minute motion, staff will recommend the
commission include in its work plan a policy that discourages exceptions to city development
standards that would decrease open space.
April 22, 2025 Item #7 Page 4 of 9
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Environmental Evaluation
The proposed action to transition the Beach Preservation Commission to the Environmental
Sustainability Commission is exempt from environmental review under the California
Environmental Quality Action, or CEQA, Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) and 15378(b)(S) as it
can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility the proposed action may have a
significant effect on the environment. The activities or projects undertaken by or that may be
considered by the commission may require preparation of an environmental document in
accordance with CEQA and the CEQA Guidelines.
Exhibit
1. City Council resolution
April 22, 2025 Item #7 Page 5 of 9
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RESOLUTION NO. 2025-088
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD,
CALIFORNIA, APPROVING THE TRANSITION OF THE BEACH PRESERVATION
COMMISSION TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION
Exhibit 1
WHEREAS, the Beach Preservation Commission, formerly the Beach Preservation Committee
and the Beach Erosion Committee, was formed via Resolution No. 2020-009 on Jan. 14, 2020; and
WHEREAS, on Nov. 12, 2024, the City Council directed staff to return with a recommendation
to transition the Beach Preservation Commission to an Environmental Sustainability Commission; and
WHEREAS, on Nov. 19, 2024, the City Council directed staff to add the topic of open space to
the conversation of developing a new Environmental Sustainability Commission; and
WHEREAS, staff reviewed commissions with similar purposes in the San Diego County and in
the Southern California region, to determine how they were composed, their scope and the topics in
their purview; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of the Environmental Sustainability Commission will be to support the
Carlsbad Community Core Values of open space and the natural environment, and sustainability, and
the Carlsbad Strategic Plan Goal of sustainability and the natural environment; and
WHEREAS, this purpose will be fulfilled through education, policy, listening to the community
engagement and where appropriate, providing recommendations to the City Council; and
WHEREAS, the Environmental Sustainability Commission will investigate, research and make
recommendations to the City Council on topics, studies and programs, including natural resources and
open space, beach nourishment and shoreline preservation, and climate adaptation and environmental
sustainability; and
WHEREAS, the organizational composition of this commission will be adjusted through attrition
to mirror that of the other seven-member commissions; specifically, three Mayoral appointments and
one each Council Member appointment; and
WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to establish a transition plan which will allow for continuity,
a smooth transition for new members to commissions and help to retain institutional knowledge on
the commissions; and
WHEREAS, the final meeting of the Beach Preservation Commission will be on June 5, 2025, and
the first meeting of the Environmental Sustainability Commission will be on Aug. 7, 2025; and
April 22, 2025 Item #7 Page 6 of 9
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WHEREAS, staff will return to the City Council to introduce an ordinance introducing the
Environmental Sustainability Commission and associated changes to the Carlsbad Municipal Code
Chapters 2.15 and 2.34; and
WHEREAS, the approved regular meeting calendar adopted by Beach Preservation Commission
will remain the same for the Environmental Sustainability Commission.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, as
follows:
1.
2.
That the above recitations are true and correct.
That the proposed action to transition the Beach Preservation Commission to the
Environmental Sustainability Commission is exempt from environmental review under
the California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA, Guidelines Section 15061{b)(3) and
15378(b)(5) as it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility the proposed
action may have a significant effect on the environment. The activities or projects
undertaken by or that may be considered by the commission may require preparation
of an environmental document in accordance with CEQA and the CEQA Guidelines.
3. That the City Council approves the transition of the Beach Preservation Commission to
the Environmental Sustainability Commission, effective July 24, 2025.
4. As the terms expire for members of the Environmental Sustainability Commission, the
most recently elected district Council Member or Mayor will nominate a new
commission member. The term of the newly nominated commission member will be set
to begin in December and expire at the time the nominating Council Member's term
expires. Each subsequent term for the commission member will be set to coincide with
the nominating Council Member's term.
5. The current terms of all commission members will be lengthened by 6 months or 18
months to coincide with the nominating Council Member or Mayor's term. The first
terms to be appointed by district will be for a length of 4 years except for one position
which will be a 2-year term to coincide with the Mayor.
April 22, 2025 Item #7 Page 7 of 9
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6. The following chart illustrates the transition process described above:
Current Nominating Current terms' First term Subsequent Commissioner term District council new expiration appointed by terms expires member district
December 2026 December Coincide Michael June 2026 1 District 1 (extended by 6 2026-with District Corrigan December months) 2030 1
December 2026 December Coincide
Bryn Evans* June 2026 3 District 3 (extended by 6 2026-with District December months) 2030 3
December 2028 December Coincide
Liam Ferguson* June 2028 4 District 4 (extended by 6 2028-with District December months) 2032 4
December 2026 December
Cynthia Norall* June 2025 1 Mayor (extended by 18 2026-Coincide
December with Mayor months) 2030
December 2028 December
Lawrence June 2028 3 Mayor (extended by 6 2028-Coincide
Rothman* December with Mayor months) 2030
December 2026 December
2026-Coincide Lisa Stark* June 2025 3 Mayor (extended by 18 December with Mayor months) 2030
December 2028 December Coincide
Chris Woolsey* June 2028 2 District 2 (extended by 6 2028-with District December months) 2032 2
*indicates commissioner is eligible for reappointment
April 22, 2025 Item #7 Page 8 of 9
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PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City
of Carlsbad on the 22nd day of April, 2025, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES:
NAYS:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
April 22, 2025
Blackburn, Bhat-Patel, Acosta, Burkholder, Shin.
None.
None.
None.
KEITH BLACKBURN, Mayor
SHERRY FREISINGER, City Clerk
(SEAL)
i)
Item #7 Page 9 of 9
Ana Alarcon
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Dear City Council,
Kristy R <oceanbreeze321@gmail.com>
Monday, April 21, 2025 8:15 PM
City Clerk
Comment on Item 7 of 4/22 Meeting
All Receive -Agend a Item# ..l
For the Information of the: qffizf g)UNCIL ✓
Oat7 ~ '!<y CA; _j{_ CC -J
CML ACM _.J_ DCM {3) _
My name is Kristy Randall and I am a Carlsbad resident living in District 2. I wanted to thank you for
approving the transition of our Beach Preservation Commission to the broader mission embodied in the
proposed Environmental Sustainability Commission. This is a great step in the direction of staying in
alignment with our Community Vision and our value of prioritizing sustainability in our discussions and
decisions as a City.
Great work and much appreciation to you,
Kristy
1
Ana Alarcon
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Chih-Wu Chang <chihwu.chang@gmail.com>
Tuesday, April 22, 2025 8:03 AM
City Clerk; Keith Blackburn; Teresa Acosta; Priya Bhat-Patel; Kevin Shin; Melanie
Burkholder
4/22/25 Meeting Agenda Item 7
Dear Mayor and City Council Members,
I want to express my support for Agenda item 7 -"TRANSITION OF THE
BEACH PRESERVATION COMMISSION TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL
SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION."
Preserving our beach is important, but ensuring environmental sustainability is
more critical to managing and protecting our environment for future
generations. We need to control pollution, reduce waste, and ensure that
natural resources are used efficiently. We also need to promote
economic growth and development that is environmentally responsible and
socially equitable.
Sincerely,
Chih-Wu Chang
A Carlsbad resident for over 20 Years, and a proud graduate of Citizens
Academy, and graduate of Citizens Police Academy.
CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i
safe.
1
Ana Alarcon
From: Council Internet Email
Sent:
To:
Tuesday, April 22, 2025 1 :02 PM
City Clerk
Subject: FW: Comments on #7 Sustainability Commission
Follow Up Flag:
Flag Status:
Follow up
Flagged
From: Diane Nygaard <dnygaard3@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2025 12:07 PM
To: Council Internet Email <CityCouncil@carlsbadca.gov>
Subject: Comments on #7 Sustainability Commission
Honorable Mayor and City Counci
Thank you for taking this important step to establish a Sustainability Commission.
It is importantthat this new commission is set up for success and to support the city's Sustainability
goals from the beginning.
Of course beach preservation will remain an important part of their work, but new responsibilities have
immediate, critical needs that will require their attention.
We believe their new mandate can best
be met if all are appointed at the same time, with a new application that provides opportunities to select
Commissioners with the breadth of experience that is needed. and that ensures that all are committed to
achieving the full work plan, not just one part of it
We agree there is a benefit to having some carry forward from the Beach Preservation Commission .. But
to limit this to all,or even most ,of the new commissioners ignores the reasons this new commission was
established in the first place.
Please open this process up and select the best Sustainability commissioners that you can.
Diane Nygaard
On behalf of Preserve Calavera
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1
Ana Alarcon
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Follow Up Flag:
Flag Status:
Carlsbad Council,
Barbara Diamond <diamondbarb@gmail.com>
Tuesday, April 22, 2025 1 :38 PM
City Clerk
#7 Sustainability
Follow up
Flagged
Thank you for seriously taking up the promotion of a sustainability
commission. It has the possibility of making a dramatic
improvement in our climate health.
Sincerely,
Barbara Diamond
Skyline Rd, CB 92008
~Barbara Diamond~
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1
Ana Alarcon
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Follow Up Flag:
Flag Status:
Mary Hassing < mehassing@gmail.com >
Tuesday, April 22, 2025 2:02 PM
City Clerk
Comment on Agenda 7
Follow up
Flagged
Dear Mayor Blackburn and Council Members,
Thank you for moving forward on naming a new Environmental Sustainability Commission and folding in
the work of the Beach Preservation Commission.
This is an exciting and important step forward for Carlsbad that will give residents another way of working
with the City Council and staff on new environmental opportunities. I will definitely be following the new
commissioners' ideas and projects.
Sincerely,
Mary Hassing
Carlsbad
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1
Environmental
Sustainability Commission
Jamie Wood, Environmental Sustainability Director
April 22, 2025
{ City of
Carlsbad
2
Recommended Action
Adopt a resolution approving the transition of
the Beach Preservation Commission to the
Environmental Sustainability Commission.
Environmental Sustainability Commission
3
Council Motions
•November 12, 2024
Direct staff to return at a future date with a recommendation to
consolidate the Beach Preservation Commission into a Sustainability
Commission. Staff should also bring back a mission statement, as well
as a list of specific duties on which this commission would provide
recommendations to the City Council.
•November 19, 2024
Direct staff to add the topic of open space to the conversation of
developing a new Environmental Sustainability Commission and to
include adopting a policy that discourages exceptions to the
development standards that would decrease open space.
Environmental Sustainability Commission
4
Beach Preservation Commission
Investigates, researches, and makes recommendations to the
City Council and the City Manager on general coastal topics,
studies and programs, including, but not limited to, the
following:
•Protecting and enhancing the shoreline
(e.g., littoral cells, and sea level rise)
•Preventing beach erosion
•Preserving and maintaining beaches for the safety and
optimum enjoyment of the public
Environmental Sustainability Commission
5
Beach Preservation Commission
Currently, made up of 7 Mayoral appointees
District 1: 2
District 2: 1
District 3: 3
District 4: 1
Environmental Sustainability Commission
6
Proposed Transition
to
Environmental Sustainability
Commission
Environmental Sustainability Commission
7
PURPOSE Environmental Sustainability Commission
•open space and the natural environment
•sustainability
Community
core values
•sustainability and the natural environmentStrategic Plan
Goal
Realized through education, policy discussion, listening
to the community and, as appropriate, providing
recommendations to City Council.
8
Areas of Responsibility
Environmental Sustainability Commission
Natural Resources,
Open Space and
Preserves
Beach nourishment
and Shoreline
Preservation
Climate Adaptation
and Environmental
Sustainability
9
Proposed Commission Appointments
Mayoral Appointments: 3 at large
District Appointments: 1 per Council District
Retain current commissioners, if they desire, until terms expire
Commissioners’ terms adjusted to align with elected officials’
terms
Environmental Sustainability Commission
10
Transition Schedule
April 3: Beach Preservation Commission meeting held
April 22: City Council Meeting – Recommendation for transition of
Beach Preservation Commission to Environmental
Sustainability Commission
June 5: Beach Preservation Commission (Final meeting)
June 17: City Council Meeting – Introduce Ordinance changes
June 24: City Council Meeting – Adoption of Ordinance changes
August 7: Environmental Sustainability Commission (First meeting)
Environmental Sustainability Commission
11
Recommended Action
Adopt a resolution approving the transition of
the Beach Preservation Commission to the
Environmental Sustainability Commission.
Environmental Sustainability Commission
12
Questions?
Environmental Sustainability Commission