HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-10-28; City Council; Minutes; Regular Session 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: None.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Council Member Burkholder led the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Minutes of the Regular Meeting held Sept. 9, 2025
Minutes of the Regular Meeting held Sept. 23, 2025
Minutes of the Regular Meeting held Sept. 30, 2025
Minutes of the Regular Meeting held Oct. 7, 2025
Motion by Council Member Bhat-Patel, seconded by Council Member Acosta, to approve the
minutes as presented. Motion carried unanimously, 5/0.
PRESENTATIONS:
Proclamation in Recognition of Red Ribbon Week
Council Member Acosta read the proclamation and Carlsbad Unified School District
Superintendent Ben Churchill and Director of Elementary Education Kimberly Fuentes accepted
the proclamations and said a few words.
PUBLIC REPORT OF ANY ACTION TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION: None.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Cathy Gillinspoke spoke in opposition to the expansion of McClellan-Palomar Airport.
Don Betro spoke in opposition to the expansion of McClellan-Palomar Airport.
Cynthia Trevino spoke in opposition to the expansion of McClellan-Palomar Airport.
Russell Owens spoke regarding declassification of the 2010 and 2011 raid.
Anita Arnold spoke in opposition to the expansion of McClellan-Palomar Airport.
San Dieguito Alliance for Drug Free Youth Representative Barbara Gordon spoke in support of Red
Ribbon Week.
Hope Nelson spoke in opposition to the expansion of McClellan-Palomar Airport.
Oct. 28, 2025, 5 p.m.
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CONSENT CALENDAR:
Motion by Council Member Bhat-Patel, seconded by Council Member Acosta, to approve
Consent Calendar Item Nos. 1 and 2. Motion carried unanimously, 5/0.
1. REVISING THE SEWER BENEFIT AREA H BOUNDARY – Adoption of Resolution No. 2025-235
revising the Sewer Benefit Area H boundary in accordance with the 2025 Engineer’s Report
for Sewer Benefit Area H. (Staff contact: Daniel Zimny and Keri Martinez, Public Works)
2. FISCAL YEAR 2025-26 CALIFORNIA OFFICE OF TRAFFIC SAFETY GRANT – Adoption of
Resolution No. 2025-236 accepting $185,000 in grant funds from the California Office of
Traffic Safety’s Selective Traffic Enforcement program for fiscal year 2025-26, authorizing the
City Manager to execute the grant agreement, and authorizing the City Manager or designee
to appropriate the funds to the Public Safety Grants Special Revenue Fund. (Staff contact:
Jason Arnotti and Amanda Simpson, Police)
BOARD AND COMMISSION MEMBER APPOINTMENTS:
3. MAYORAL APPOINTMENT OF ONE MEMBER TO THE BUENA VISTA LAGOON JOINT POWERS
COMMITTEE – Adoption of Resolution No. 2025-237 appointing one member to the Buena
Vista Lagoon Joint Powers Committee. (Staff contact: Melissa Rhodes, City Clerk)
City Manager’s Recommendation: Adopt the resolution.
Connor Sakati spoke regarding his qualifications to serve on the Buena Vista Lagoon Joint
Powers Committee.
Nomination by Mayor Blackburn to adopt Resolution No. 2025-237 appointing Connor Sakati
to the Buena Vista Lagoon Joint Powers Committee. Motion carried unanimously, 5/0.
ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION: None.
ORDINANCES FOR ADOPTION: None.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
4. REQUEST TO CONVERT FORMER INNS OF AMERICA BUILDING TO APARTMENT COMPLEX:
COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT AMENDMENT, CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, AND PLANNED
DEVELOPMENT PERMIT (AMEND 2024-0008/CUP 2024-0009/PUD 2024-0009/DEV99017) –
1) Hold a public hearing; and
2) Adoption of Resolution No. 2025-238 approving a California Environmental Quality Act
exemption determination and approving a coastal development permit amendment,
conditional use permit, and planned development permit to allow for the conversion of an
existing three-story, 98-guest room hotel into a 98-unit multi-family rental project on a 3.12-
acre site located at 5010 Avenida Encinas, within the Mello II Segment of the Local Coastal
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Program and within Local Facilities Management Zone 3 (Case Name: Inns of America; Case
No.: AMEND 2024-0008/CUP 2024-0009/PUD 2024-0009). (Staff contact: Lauren Yzaguirre,
Community Services)
City Manager’s Recommendation: Take public input, close the public hearing and adopt
the resolution.
Council Member Shin disclosed he had met with the applicant on Oct. 14, 2025.
Council Member Burkholder disclosed she had met with the applicant on Oct. 14, 2025.
Council Member Acosta disclosed she had met with the applicant on Oct. 14, 2025.
Council Member Bhat-Patel disclosed she met with the applicant on Oct. 14, 2025.
Mayor Blackburn disclosed he met with the applicant and received a briefing on the proposed
project.
City Planner Eric Lady and Senior Planner Lauren Yzaguirre reviewed a PowerPoint
presentation (on file in the Office of the Clerk).
Atlantis Group representative Marcela Escobar provided clarification on the project.
On behalf of the applicant, Jim McMenamin and Anna McPherson reviewed a PowerPoint
presentation (on file in the Office of the City Clerk).
Marcela Escobar provided additional clarification on the project.
Mayor Blackburn opened the duly noticed public hearing at 6:08 p.m.
Allen Matkins Attorney Heather Riley, representing the applicant, addressed legal topics
concerning the project.
Alliance Project representative Mac Stead spoke in support of the project.
Seeing no one else wishing to speak, Mayor Blackburn closed the duly notice public hearing at
6:10 p.m.
Motion by Council Member Bhat-Patel, seconded by Council Member Acosta, to adopt
Resolution No. 2025-238 to include the comments made with regards to adding netting to
the pickleball courts and with the proposed conditions as follows:
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Resolution No. 2025-238
Exhibit 1
4. That the following conditions are also adopted:
a. Prior to obtaining and securing building permits, the Developer shall submit a
written declaration from the seller/hotel operator to the Housing & Homeless
Services Director attesting that any person who has occupied a unit in the existing
hotel for more than 30 consecutive days and will be temporarily or permanently
displaced by the project received advanced notice to vacate the premises and
information regarding potential rights that may be required or afforded under
California Government Code Section 66300.6 or other state law intended to assure
replacement and/or ongoing affordability of existing residential units to the extent
such state law is applicable.
b. If a third party makes a binding determination any of the units in the existing hotel
are occupied by tenants, or were occupied by tenants in the five years preceding
the development application, the Developer must notify the Housing & Homeless
Services Director of the third party’s binding determination and must agree to
amend the Affordable Housing Agreement as the Housing & Homeless Services
Director determines is necessary to ensure the development replaces the subject
units and contains affordable units at the percentages required under state law,
including but not limited to California Government Code Sections 65590 and
65915(c)(3)(A).
Motion carried unanimously, 5/0.
Mayor Blackburn called for a recess at 6:20 p.m.
Mayor Blackburn reconvened the meeting at 6:30 p.m.
DEPARTMENTAL AND CITY MANAGER REPORTS:
5. OPTIONS FOR THE TERRAMAR AREA COASTAL IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT, CIP PROJECT NO.
6054 1) Adoption of a resolution confirming the City Council-adopted Resolution No. 2018-
201, approving a roundabout at Cannon Road, lane reductions on Cannon Road between
Carlsbad Boulevard and the railroad tracks and a traffic signal at Cerezo Drive as the preferred
project alternative and authorizing staff to proceed with environmental review, permitting
and final engineering for the Terramar Area Coastal Improvements Project; or
2) Adoption of Resolution No. 2025-239 approving a smaller-scale project with roadway and
sidewalk improvements with resurfacing, restriping and no roundabout and no lane
reductions, and authorizing staff to proceed with environmental review, permitting and final
engineering for the Terramar Area Coastal Improvements Project; or
3) Adoption of a resolution approving only the resurfacing and restriping on Carlsbad
Boulevard and Cannon Road within the project limits, authorizing staff to proceed with
environmental review, permitting and final engineering for the revised scope without a
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roundabout and no lane reductions for the Terramar Area Coastal Improvements Project and
pausing other roadway and sidewalk improvements for seven years or until the Seaside
Transaction Agreement with San Diego Gas & Electric Company and Cabrillo Power I, LLC is
finalized. (Staff contact: Tom Frank, Public Works)
City Manager’s Recommendation: Adopt a resolution.
Transportation Director Tom Frank reviewed a PowerPoint presentation (on file in the Office
of the City Clerk).
Steve Linke spoke on behalf of a group consisting of William Sides, Hope Smith, and Patty
Richards. Mr. Linke reviewed a PowerPoint presentation (on file in the Office of the City Clerk)
and spoke in support of Option 2.
Kris Wright spoke in support of Option 2.
Toni Mackenzie spoke in opposition to installing a roundabout or lane reductions.
Mayor Blackburn expressed his support for Option 3.
Motion by Council Member Bhat-Patel, seconded by Council Member Acosta, to adopt
Resolution No. 2025-239. Motion carried, 4/1 (Mayor Blackburn – No).
COUNCIL COMMENTARY AND REQUESTS FOR CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS: Mayor Blackburn
and the City Council Members reported on activities and meetings of some committees and
subcommittees of which they are members.
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.
Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, 5:30 p.m.
City of Carlsbad Boards & Commissions Appreciation Event
The Crossings at Carlsbad
5800 The Crossings Drive
Carlsbad, CA 92008
CITY MANAGER COMMENTS: None.
CITY ATTORNEY COMMENTS: None.
CITY CLERK COMMENTS: None.
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ADJOURNMENT: Mayor Blackburn adjourned the meeting at 7:30 p.m.
Melissa Rhodes
Deputy City Clerk
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