HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-03-10; City Council; 13; Formation of Ad-Hoc City Council Veterans Memorial Park Veterans Recognition SubcommitteeCA Review CKM
Meeting Date: March 10, 2026
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Geoff Patnoe, City Manager
Staff Contact: Faviola Medina, Director of Constituent & Clerk Services
Faviola.medina@carlsbadca.gov, 442-339-2809
Kyle Lancaster, Parks & Recreation Director
Kyle.lancaster@carlsbadca.gov, 442-339-2941
Subject: Formation of Ad-Hoc City Council Veterans Memorial Park Veterans
Recognition Subcommittee
Districts: All
Recommended Action
Adopt a resolution authorizing the formation of the Ad-Hoc City Council Veterans Memorial
Park Veterans Recognition Subcommittee and appointing two members of the City Council to
serve on the subcommittee.
Executive Summary
The City Council is being asked to create the Ad-Hoc City Council Veterans Memorial Park
Veterans Recognition Subcommittee comprised of two City Council members to solicit input
from veterans, non-profit veteran organizations and residents on concepts to honor and
recognize veterans at the future Veterans Memorial Park. The ad-hoc subcommittee will meet
no less than three times between June 2026 and December 2026 to obtain recommendations
on how best to honor and recognize veterans at the future park site.
Explanation & Analysis
The Veterans Memorial Park property is bordered to the southeast by Macario Canyon and the
Veterans Memorial Park Open Space Preserves. Of the 93.7-acre park property, 38.82 acres will
be developed, and 54.88 acres will remain designated as hardline habitat preserve areas.
On Oct. 21, 2025, City Council adopted the plans, specifications and contract documents and
authorized the advertisement for bids for the Veterans Memorial Park Project. On Feb. 24,
2026, City Council awarded a contract to Brightview Landscape Development, Inc., to construct
the park. Construction is set to begin in Spring 2026 with completion anticipated in 2028.
One of the key elements of the park project focuses on honoring veterans for their military
service. The park’s final master plan and its adopted plans and specifications include a Veterans
Memorial Plaza. The design of the plaza is intended to pay homage to the six United States
military branches, with features such as vertical acrylic panels describing the history of each
branch, wide horizontal concrete bands with bronze inlays of the motto of each branch, and an
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accessible elevated concrete platform with a large American Flag. This design was influenced
by input received through previous surveys, focus group meetings and other communications.
To address the interest in honoring and recognizing veterans, individual or otherwise, at the
park, staff are recommending that the City Council form an ad-hoc subcommittee to solicit
veteran and community input on how best to honor or recognize veterans at the park.
Ad-hoc subcommittees are not subject to the Brown Act notice and posting requirements so
long as the subcommittee:
1) Is comprised solely of members of the City Council (i.e., no staff and no members of the
public);
2) Consists of no more than two members of the City Council;
3) Has a defined purpose and a limited time frame to accomplish the purpose; and
4) Is advisory, (i.e., is not delegated any decision-making power and will be returning to the
full City Council with its recommendations)
In keeping with Carlsbad Municipal Code Section 2.04.100 and California Government Code
Section 40605, the Mayor, with approval of the City Council, shall make the appointments to
the subcommittee.
Fiscal Analysis
This action has no direct financial impact as support of the subcommittee will be absorbed
within the current workload of the City Clerk Services, Parks & Recreation and Communication
& Engagement Departments.
Next Steps
Following the formation of the ad-hoc subcommittee and selection of the subcommittee
members, staff will coordinate no less than three community meetings to solicit input on ways
to honor veterans within the future Veterans Memorial Park. Staff will return to the full City
Council for consideration of the subcommittee’s recommendations.
Environmental Evaluation
The proposed action is not a “project” as defined by California Environmental Quality Act, or
CEQA, Section 21065 and CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5) and does not require
environmental review under CEQA Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3) because appointing an
individual to act as a city representative on a board, commission or ad-hoc subcommittee is an
organizational or administrative government activity that will not result in direct or indirect
physical changes in the environment. The activities or projects undertaken by or that may be
considered by a board, commission or subcommittee may require preparation of an
environmental document in accordance with CEQA and the CEQA Guidelines.
Exhibit
1. City Council resolution
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Exhibit 1 RESOLUTION NO. 2026-059 .
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD,
CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING THE FORMATION OF THE AD-HOC CITY
COUNCIL VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK VETERANS RECOGNITION
SUBCOMMITTEE AND APPOINTING TWO MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
TO SERVE ON THE SUBCOMMITTEE
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, has determined that formation of
an ad-hoc City Council subcommittee is needed to solicit community input, including from veterans
and non-profit veterans organizations, on concepts to honor and recognize veterans for their service
at the future Veterans Memorial Park.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, as
follows:
1.That the above recitations are true and correct.
2. That the proposed action is not a “project” as defined by California Environmental
Quality Act, or CEQA, Section 21065 and CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5) and does
not require environmental review under CEQA Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3) because
appointing an individual to act as a city representative on a board, commission or ad-
hoc subcommittee is an organizational or administrative government activity that will
not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment. The activities or
projects undertaken by or that may be considered by a board, commission or
subcommittee may require preparation of an environmental document in accordance
with CEQA and the CEQA Guidelines.
3.That the Ad-Hoc City Council Veterans Memorial Park Veterans Recognition
Subcommittee is formed and is comprised of the following two City Council Members:
4.That the purpose of the ad-hoc subcommittee will be to solicit community input,
including from veterans and non-profit veterans organizations, on concepts to recognize
veterans for their service at the future Veterans Memorial Park.
5.That the ad-hoc subcommittee will meet no less than three times between June 2026
and December 2026 and will return to the full City Council with its recommendations.
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Council Member Kevin Shin
Council Member Melanie Burkholder
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6.That the ad-hoc subcommittee will be dissolved automatically upon presentation of its
final recommendations to the City Council.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City
of Carlsbad on the 10th day of March, 2026, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Blackburn, Bhat-Patel, Acosta, Burkholder, Shin.
NAYS: None.
ABSTAIN: None.
ABSENT: None.
______________________________________
KEITH BLACKBURN, Mayor
______________________________________
SHERRY FREISINGER, City Clerk
(SEAL)
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