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Home My WebLink About2026-06-18; Drainage Master Plan Update - Status Update (Districts - All); Gomez, PazTo the members of the: CITY COUNCIL Date ~I I il~locA _L_ CC'L. CM L ACti ✓ocM {3)~ Council Memorandum June 18, 2026 To: From: Honorable Mayor Blackburn and Members of the City Council Paz Gomez, Deputy City Manager, Public Works Via: Sheila Cobian, Assistant City Manager ~ Re: Drainage Master Plan Update -Status Update (Districts -All). {city of Carlsbad Memo ID# 2026028 This memorandum provides an update to the Council Memorandum dated June 26, 2025 (Attachment A}, which outlined the steps required to finalize the Drainage Master Plan (DMP} Update. Background The DMP was initially adopted in 1980 to assess the performance of the existing storm drain infrastructure, identify future needs and establish a funding mechanism for implementing planned improvements. Periodic updates reflect changes in city growth, general planning, construction costs, drainage standards and environmental regulations. The DMP was last updated in 2008. Updating the DMP is essential to ensure the city's stormwater infrastructure planning reflects current conditions, development patterns, and climate trends. The updated DMP provides a comprehensive assessment of existing drainage capacity, identifies system deficiencies, and prioritizes improvements based on risk and need. This proactive approach supports the city's long-term resilience, helps reduce flood risks, and aligns capital investment with current and future community needs. On September 17, 2019, the City Council authorized an agreement with Glenn A. Rick Engineering and Development Company (Rick Engineering) to complete a comprehensive update of the DMP as part of Capital Improvement Program (CIP} Project No. 6623 (Resolution No. 2019-177). The process was delayed due to the pandemic and resumed in 2022. On September 10, 2024, the City Council authorized an amendment to the agreement to extend the term and allocate additional funding to complete the DMP Update. The current agreement with Rick Engineering is set to expire on September 16, 2026. As communicated in the June 26, 2025, Council Memorandum, the City Council was advised that staff anticipated bringing the DMP for formal adoption consideration at the City Council Public Hearing scheduled for April/May 2026, subject to the completion of the discretionary review Public Works Branch Transportation Department 1635 Faraday Avenue I Carlsbad, CA 92008 I 442-339-2730 t Council Memo -Drainage Master Plan Update -Status Update (Districts -All) June 18, 2026 Page 2 process, including Planning Commission and City Council Public Hearings. The memorandum also noted the requirement for California Coastal Commission review following the City Council Public Hearing. Discussion Planning Commission Hearing-March 18, 2026 The DMP Update was presented to the Planning Commission on March 18, 2026. The Commission reviewed the draft DMP document, the addendum to the 2008 Environmental Impact Report and the associated Local Coastal Program and Municipal Code amendments. At the public meeting, the Planning Commission unanimously approved a recommendation to the City Council to approve the draft DMP and adopted Resolution Nos. 7570 and 7571. Nexus Study and Fee Program Staff previously anticipated that the fiscal and fee technical memorandum prepared by the consultant would be sufficient to support adoption of the DMP Update and associated drainage fees. However, following recent meetings with the City Attorney's office and outside Counsel, it has been determined that a formal Nexus Study must be completed prior to presenting the DMP to the City Council for adoption. The Nexus Study will analyze the relationship between new development and the need for drainage infrastructure improvements, as required to establish or update development impact fees in accordance with California law. The Nexus Study is required to establish the legal basis for updating Planned Local Drainage Area (PLDA) fees that will fund drainage projects included in the DMP. To prepare a Nexus Study, staff will need to obtain additional consulting support before the DMP can proceed to the City Council. Staff plan to return to the City Council in September 2026 to request appropriation of additional funds to complete the Nexus Study and to authorize an amendment to the Rick Engineering agreement for supplemental engineering support related to the Nexus Study effort. Rick Engineering submitted a fee proposal to staff on June 4, 2026, to conduct a Nexus Study and extend the current agreement for a fee of $75,670. City Council approval of additional appropriation and an amendment to the agreement with Rick Engineering, which is set to expire on September 16, 2026, is required. Dates associated with the California Coastal Commission review process of the Local Coastal Program (LCP) amendment are dependent on direction from the City Council and are not included at this time. Those dates will be better estimated and incorporated into the schedule once they can be established in September 2026. After the completion ,of the Nexus Study, Public Works staff will continue to coordinate with the Community Development Department on the Council Memo -Drainage Master Plan Update -Status Update (Districts -All) June 18, 2026 Page 3 review process and schedule, including additional plan review, required hearings, and submittal to the California Coastal Commission. Next Steps Staff plan to: • Negotiate scope, cost and a timeline for consulting services to complete the required Nexus Study: Summer 2026 • Return to the City Council to request additional funding for the Nexus Study and amend the Rick Engineering agreement: September 2026 • Present an update to the City Council at that time regarding overall project status, schedule and budget. This will include an updated timeline to return to the City Council for adoption of the DMP and fee updates and to submit the LCP amendment to the California Coastal Commission: September 2026. Attachment: A. Council Memorandum dated June 26, 2025 cc: Geoff Patnoe, City Manager Cindie McMahon, City Attorney Jeff Murphy, Deputy City Manager, Community Services Laura Rocha, Deputy City Manager, Administrative Services Tim Lyons, Assistant City Attorney Tom Frank, Transportation Director/City Engineer Jason Haber, Intergovernmental Affairs Director Zach Korach, Finance Director Mike Strong, Community Development Director Amy Ventetuolo, Communication & Engagement Director Eric Lardy, Assistant Director of Community Development Mariel Cairns, Principal Engineer Lindsey Hansen, Community Relations Manager To the members of the: CITYCOU✓ Date~~A CC ✓ CM _J,(cr-;,i _0cM (3) _u June 26, 2025 Council Memorandum ATTACHMENT A {city of Carlsbad Memo ID# 2025039 To: From: Honorable Mayor Blackburn and Members of the City Council Paz Gomez, Deputy City Manager, Public Ylf9ij(s Sheila Cobian, Assistant City Manager ~'{LV Via: Re: Drainage Master Plan Update (Districts -All) This memorandum provides an update to the staff report presented to the City Council on September 10, 2024, and outlines the next steps in finalizing the Drainage Master Plan (DMP) update. Background The DMP was initially adopted in 1980 to assess the performance of the existing storm drain infrastructure, identify future needs and establish a funding mechanism for implementing planned improvements. Periodic updates reflect changes in city growth, general planning, construction costs, drainage standards and environmental regulations. The DMP was last updated in 2008. Updating the DMP is essential to ensure the city's stormwater infrastructure planning reflects current conditions, development patterns, and climate trends. The updated DMP provides a comprehensive assessment of existing drainage capacity, identifies system deficiencies, and prioritizes improvements based on risk and need. This proactive approach supports the city's long-term resilience, helps reduce flood risks, and aligns capital investment with current and . future community needs. Adoption of the 2008 DMP document required preparation of a certified Environmental Impact Repo'rt (EIR), as approval of the DMP by the City Council constituted a discretionary action under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Adoption of the 2008 DMP also required a Zone Code Amendment, Municipal Code Amendment (to sections of the Code other than the Zoning Ordinance) and Local Coastal Program (LCP) amendment since the DMP is one of the documents that implements the LCP. On September 17, 2019, the City Council authorized an agreement with Glenn A. Rick Engineering and Development Company to complete a comprehensive update of the DMP as part of Capital Improvement Program {CIP) Project No. 6623 (Resolution No. 2019-177). While the DMP is typically updated on an as-needed basis, a new update was originally initiated in 2019. However, the process was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resumed in 2022. Public Works Branch Transportation Department 1635 Faraday Avenue I Carlsbad, CA 92008 I 442-339-2730 t ATTACHMENT A Council Memo -Drainage Master Plan Update (Districts -All) June 26, 2025 Page 2 On September 10, 2024, the City Council authorized an amendment to an agreement with Glenn A. Rick Engineering and Development Company to extend the agreement term and allocated additional funding to update the DMP. At that time, completion of the DMP update was anticipated in fall 2025. However, per further findings by the city's Planning Division, the DMP is part of the city's LCP; therefore, the city must amend the LCP, which may include amendments to the Zoning Ordinance, and refer the amendments to the California Coastal Commission for review and approval. Discussion The following processes are required to complete the DMP update: Drainage Master Plan Document The DMP, which includes financial and environmental components, is at the final draft stage and will be submitted to the Community Development Department, along with the items listed below, as part of the discretionary review process in September 2025. Public Works staff submitted and received feedback on earlier draft versions of the DMP update from Community Development Department in October 2022 and in May 2025. Addendum to the 2008 EIR The 2008 update to the DMP included an EIR with associated mitigation measures. As such, along with the current DMP update, Public Works staff have prepared a draft addendum to the 2008 EIR. Unlike an EIR, an addendum does not require public review (Section 15164(c) of CEQA Guidelines) but does require City Council adoption. The EIR addendum will be submitted to the Community Development Department as part of the discretionary review in September 2025. LCP and Municipal Code Updates Since the DMP is part of the city's LCP, proposed changes to the DMP will require an LCP amendment. The LCP regulates development and land use in the city's Coastal Zone through LCP policies, portions of Carlsbad Municipal Code Title 15 (Grading and Drainage), all of Title 21 (the Zoning Ordinance) and an LCP Land Use Plan. LCP amendments go through the Community Development Department discretionary review and require public notice and hearings at the Planning Commission and the City Council, with action by the City Council required before submitting to the California Coastal Commission. Any updates to the Carlsbad Municipal Code that are necessary because of the DMP update, whether as part of the LCP amendment or related to changes outside of Titles 15 or 21, will also be assessed and included as part of the action requested of the City Council. Planning and Public Works staff will work together through the discretionary review process to identify all necessary Carlsbad Municipal Code and Land Use Plan revisions. The city's discretionary review process, including Planning Commission and City Council hearings, usually takes nine to 12 months. Based on the amount of collaboration that has Council Memo -Drainage Master Plan Update (Districts -All) June 26, 2025 Page 3 ATTACHMENT A already occurred and the advanced preparation of the DMP update and addendum, staff anticipate that the project could be brought to City Council in approximately seven months from submittal. This schedule is subject to change if project submittal is delayed or additional review is necessary. Presently, city staff are working with California Coastal Commission staff to determine if the amendment could be processed as "de minimis," meaning an amendment that does not impact coastal resources or change allowable uses. If so, staff estimate a "de minim is" determination could be heard by the California Coastal Commission within about six months from the date an application is filed with the commission, with an anticipated decision by March/April 2027. If a "de minim is" determination cannot be made, staff estimate a full LCP amendment process would take about 18 months, extending the DMP update completion date to March/April 2028. Public Review and Hearings City staff will develop a strategy to notify the public before the item is presented to the Planning Commission in early 2026. Next Steps Staff plan to: • Submit for discretionary review -September 2025 • First round of Planning review -October 2025 • Public Works revisions and resubmittal -November 2025 • Second round of Planning review/determination of completion -December 2025 • Preparation of Planning Commission staff report and Local Coastal Program notice - January/February 2026 • Planning Commission hearing -February/March 2026 • City Council hearing -April/May 2026 • Submittal to California Coastal Commission -July/August 2026 • California Coastal Commission deems application "filed" -September/October 2026 • If "de minimis" -March/April 2027 • lffull LCPA-March/April 2028 cc: Geoff Patnoe, City Manager Cindie McMahon, City Attorney Gary Barberio, Deputy City Manager, Community Services Laura Rocha, Deputy City Manager, Administrative Services Tim Lyons, Assistant City Attorney Dalton Sorich, Assistant City Attorney Tom Frank, Transportation Director/City Engineer Jason Haber, Intergovernmental Affairs Director Zack Korach, Finance Director Jeff Murphy, Community Development Director Council Memo -Drainage Master Plan Update (Districts -All) June 26, 2025 Page 4 Amy Ventetuolo, Community & Engagement Director Mike Strong, Assistant Director of Community Development Hossein Ajideh, Engineering Manager Eric Lardy, City Planner David Edwards, Senior Engineer Lindsey Hansen, Community Relations Manager ATTACHMENT A