HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-04-22; City Council; Minutes Council Chamber
1200 Carlsbad Village Drive
Carlsbad, CA 92008
CALL TO ORDER: 5 p.m.
ROLL CALL: Blackburn, Bhat-Patel, Acosta, Burkholder, Shin.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF CONCURRENT MEETINGS: The City Council will also be serving as the
Carlsbad Municipal Water District Board of Directors on Public Hearing Item No. 5.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Pro Tem Bhat-Patel led the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Minutes of the Regular Meeting held March 25, 2025
Minutes of the Special Meeting held April 15, 2025
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Bhat-Patel, seconded by Council Member Acosta, to approve the
minutes as presented. Motion carried unanimously, 5/0.
PRESENTATIONS:
Proclamation in Recognition of Arbor Week
Mayor Pro Tem Bhat-Patel presented the proclamation to Parks Superintendent Roger Havlak
and Cal Fire Regional Urban Forester Marco De Anda who said a few words.
PUBLIC REPORT OF ANY ACTION TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION: City Attorney Cindie McMahon
announced that there was no reportable action.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Bennett Bodensteiher spoke in support of allocating more time at City of Carlsbad pools for high
school swim and water polo teams.
Glenn Bernard spoke about socialist demonstrations.
Mike Borello reflected on the United States Constitution and the 9th Amendment.
Cindy Venolia expressed concerns with the airplanes that fly into and out of McClellan-Palomar
Airport.
Avery Cochran expressed concerns regarding bicycle and pedestrian safety, specifically related to
vehicle speed limits.
April 22, 2025, 5 p.m.
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April 22, 2025 Carlsbad City Council Regular Meeting Page 2
CONSENT CALENDAR:
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Bhat-Patel, seconded by Council Member Acosta, to approve Consent
Calendar Item Nos. 1 through 3. Motion carried unanimously, 5/0.
1. ADVERTISE FOR BIDS FOR THE PONTO SEWER MANHOLE REHABILITATION PROJECT, CIP
PROJECT NO. 5503-17 – Adoption of Resolution No. 2025-083 approving the plans,
specifications and contract documents and authorizing the City Clerk to advertise for bids for
the Ponto Sewer Manhole Rehabilitation Project. (Staff contact: Keri Martinez and Dave
Padilla, Public Works)
2. SCHEDULE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR MAY 20, 2025, TO CLOSE OUT THE FORMER CARLSBAD
TOURISM BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, WHICH WAS REPLACED BY A NEW DISTRICT IN
2023 – Adoption of Resolution No. 2025-084 declaring its intention to repeal Carlsbad
Municipal Code Chapter 3.37 and disestablish the Carlsbad Tourism Business Improvement
District established in 2005 and fixing the time and place of a public hearing. (Staff contact:
Matt Sanford, Administrative Services)
3. ACQUISITION AND RESALE OF 6217 SHAMROCK PLACE AS PART OF THE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING RESALE PROGRAM – Adoption of Resolution No. 2025-085 authorizing the City
Manager to execute all required documents to complete the purchase and resale of 6217
Shamrock Place as part of the Affordable Housing Resale Program and authorizing the City
Manager, or designee, to appropriate up to $320,000 from the Community Development
Block Grant Special Revenue Fund for related Costs. (Staff contact: Erin Peak, Community
Services)
Glenn Bernard spoke against the acquisition and resale of 6217 Shamrock Place.
BOARD AND COMMISSION MEMBER APPOINTMENTS: None.
ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION: None.
ORDINANCES FOR ADOPTION: None.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
4. FISCAL YEAR 2023-24 GROWTH MANAGEMENT PROGRAM MONITORING REPORT – 1) Hold a
public hearing; and
2) Adoption of Resolution No. 2025-086 accepting the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Growth
Management Program Monitoring Report and finding that it satisfies the city’s monitoring
requirements. (Staff contact: Jennifer Jesser, Community Services)
City Manager’s Recommendation: Take public input, close the public hearing and adopt
the resolution.
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City Planner Eric Lardy reviewed a PowerPoint presentation (on file in the Office of the Clerk).
Mayor Blackburn opened the duly noticed public hearing at 5:29 p.m.
Seeing no one wishing to speak, Mayor Blackburn closed the duly noticed public hearing at
5:29 p.m.
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Bhat-Patel, seconded by Council Member Acosta, to adopt
Resolution No. 2025-086. Motion carried unanimously, 5/0.
5. APPROVAL OF PROPOSED RATES FOR POTABLE WATER, RECYCLED WATER AND
WASTEWATER SERVICES – 1) Hold a public hearing; and
2) Adoption of Resolution No. 2025-087 approving three-year rates for wastewater services;
and
3) Adoption of Carlsbad Municipal Water District Board of Directors Resolution No. 1768
approving three-year rates for potable water and recycled water services. (Staff contact:
Shoshana Aguilar and Amanda Flesse, Public Works)
City Manager’s Recommendation: Take public input, close the public hearing and adopt
the resolutions.
City Attorney Cindie McMahon explained the process that the City Council must follow for a
water rate increase, as well as the process residents must follow to express their support or
opposition for the water rate increase.
Utilities Director Amanda Flesse and Senior Management Analyst Shoshana Aguilar reviewed
a PowerPoint presentation (on file in the Office of the Clerk).
Mayor Blackburn opened the duly noticed public hearing at 6:16 p.m.
Rosanne Bentley spoke against the water rate increases.
Glenn Bernard inquired about the City providing insurance coverage for personal property
that is damaged by a water main break.
Mike Borrello spoke against the water rate increases and concerns regarding potable water.
Michael Drennan spoke in support of the water rate increases.
Thomas Rudden spoke against the water rate increases.
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Pamela Gentile spoke against the water rate increases and asked the Board to consider
adjustments to the usage rates of each tier.
Ted Carr spoke against the water rate increases.
Steven Koch spoke against the water rate increases.
Seeing no one else wishing to speak, Mayor Blackburn closed the duly noticed public hearing
at 6:40 p.m.
Mayor Blackburn called for a recess at 6:40 p.m.
Mayor Blackburn reconvened the meeting at 6:50 p.m.
In response to Mayor Blackburn’s inquiry related to setting rates to encourage water
conservation and reduce costs for customers who use less water and are on fixed incomes,
Best, Best and Kreiger Public Finance Counsel Lutfi Kharuf responded that state law,
Proposition 218, requires that costs of service in each tier must be proportional. Mr. Kharuf
added that rates in Tier 1 must reflect costs of service for that tier and increasing the width
of that tier will disproportionally increase the rates for Tier 2 and Tier 3.
City Clerk Sherry Freisinger reported out the following:
“There are 30,519 accounts including both potable and recycled water that will be submit to
the Carlsbad Municipal Water District’s proposed water rate increases. Only one protest may
be submitted per parcel. Majority protest would require protests to be received on behalf at
least 15,260 parcels. The CMWD received 102 written protests to the proposed water rate
increases. There is not a majority protest for the proposed water increased rates. There are
24,140 accounts that will be subject to the City of Carlsbad’s proposed wastewater rate
increases. Only one protest may be submitted per parcel. Majority protest would require
protests to be received on behalf at least 12,071 parcels. The City of Carlsbad received 61
written protests to the proposed wastewater rate increases. There is not a majority protest
for the proposed wastewater rate increases.”
Council Member Burkholder stated that she will not support the increases to water rates
because of the negative impacts to individuals on fixed incomes and business owners.
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Bhat-Patel, seconded by Council Member Acosta, to adopt
Resolution No. 2025-087 and Carlsbad Municipal Water District Board of Directors
Resolution No. 1768. Motion carried, 4/1 (Burkholder – No).
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DEPARTMENTAL AND CITY MANAGER REPORTS:
6. UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CORE SYSTEMS
MODERNIZATION Receive an informational report on the modernization of Information
Technology’s core systems. (Staff contact: Doug Kappel and Rachel Muller, Administrative
Services)
City Manager’s Recommendation: Receive the report.
Information Technology Manager Doug Kappel, Senior Information Technology Project
Manager Rachel Muller and Finance Director Zach Korach reviewed a PowerPoint
presentation (on file in the Office of the Clerk).
The City Council received the report.
7. TRANSITION OF THE BEACH PRESERVATION COMMISSION TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL
SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION – Adoption of Resolution No. 2025-088 approving the
transition of the Beach Preservation Commission to the Environmental Sustainability
Commission. (Staff contact: James Wood, Public Works)
City Manager’s Recommendation: Adopt the resolution.
Environmental Sustainability Directory James Wood reviewed a PowerPoint (on file in the
Office of the Clerk).
Lynda Daniels spoke in support of staff’s recommendation.
Paige DeCino spoke in support of staff’s recommendation.
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Bhat-Patel, seconded by Council Member Acosta, to adopt
Resolution No. 2025-088. Motion carried unanimously, 5/0.
COUNCIL REPORTS AND COMMENTS: Mayor Blackburn and the City Council Members reported
on activities and meetings of some committees and subcommittees of which they are members.
CONTINUATION OF NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT:
Caitlin Wernig spoke about the dangers of electric bikes for children under the age of 12.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: This section of the Agenda is designated for announcements to advise the
community regarding events that Members of the City Council have been invited to, and may
participate in.
CITY MANAGER COMMENTS: None.
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CITY ATTORNEY COMMENTS: None.
CITY CLERK COMMENTS: None.
ADJOURNMENT: Mayor Blackburn adjourned the duly noticed meeting at 8:01 p.m.
Morgen Fry
Assistant City Clerk
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