HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-05-03; City Council; MinutesCITY COUNCIL
Special Meeting
Minutes
May 3, 2022, 1 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER: 1 p.m.
ROLL CALL: Hall, Blackburn, Bhat-Patel, Norby.
Acosta (via teleconference).
Council Chamber
1200 Carlsbad Village Dr.
Carlsbad, CA 92008
Council Member Acosta will be participating in
the meeting via teleconference due to a
diagnosis of Covid-19.
TELECONFERENCE LOCATION
7601 Castilla Way
Carlsbad, CA 92009
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Pro Tern Blackburn led the Pledge of Allegiance.
DEPARTMENTAL AND CITY MANAGER REPORTS:
This item was continued from the April 26, 2022 Special City Council Meeting.
1. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT PRIORITIES -Review the schedule and funding status of Capital
Improvement Projects planned for the next five years and provide direction to staff on changes, if
desired. (Staff contact: Paz Gomez, Public Works)
City Manager's Recommendation: Review the schedule and provide direction to staff.
City Manager Chadwick introduced the continued item and Center of Organization Effectiveness
Chief Executive Officer Sommer Kehrli.
Facilitator Kehrli gave a brief synopsis of the previous meeting and explained the goals for the
continued meeting as well as a brief overview of the Code of Ethics & Public Service Values.
Jane Naskiewicz expressed her concern with the linear park and its lack of safety.
Lance Schulte expressed his desire to have a park at Ponto and added that 14.3 acres of Ponto land
are now available for sale.
Don Christiansen spoke in support of the Maerkle solar project.
North County Advocates President Patricia Bleha expressed her desire for more open space and
parks.
Michael Sebahar spoke in support of a park at Ponto and of the overwhelming resident support.
Representing Preserve Calavera, Diane Nygaard expressed her desire for a coastal access park at
Ponto.
Facilitator Kehrli gave an overview of which projects had been discussed at the prior meeting and
the motions that had been voted on at the April 26, 2022 meeting.
Council Member Norby discussed the lowering of the railroad tracks and explained that the project
is not a City of Carlsbad project but rather belongs to the Federal Rail Administration, State
Department Transportation and SANDAG. He also added that the project should not be listed
under the Capital Improvement Program.
May 3, 2022 Carlsbad City Council Special Meeting Page 2
Mayor Hall left the dais at 1:30 p.m. due to a potential conflict of interest.
Council Member Norby expressed his desire to place the lowering of the tracks in the 5-Year
Strategic Plan.
In response to Mayor Pro Tern Blackburn's inquiry, City Manager Chadwick explained that staff
understands the direction of the motion from April 26 and that they will continue to work with the
Legislative Subcommittee to continue the placement of the trench project on the Strategic Plan list
of projects and not the Capital Improvement Program.
Mayor Hall returned to the dais at 1:34 p.m.
In response to Council Member Norby's inquiry, City Manager Chadwick explained that staff will
be returning with an item in June regarding adding the Monroe Street Pool to the November Ballot.
Council Member Acosta explained for her constituents that the list of projects that were brought
up first were brought up because Council Members had a conflict of interest.
In response to Council Member Norby's questions regarding the Maerkle Solar project, Deputy City
Manager Public Works Gomez explained that funding for the project has already been appropriated
and since the city now has Community Choice Energy and new advances in technology, those will
assist keeping the costs of the project down.
In response to Council Member Norby's inquiry regarding the Carlsbad Road Alignment project,
Transportation Director Tom Frank explained that this is a current Capital Improvement Program
project and that it is difficult to make a cost estimate at this stage of the project. He added that
there is a public interest in improved active transportation uses along the segment, and that the
public has requested that less is more in order to maintain the beauty of the coastline.
Minute motion by Council Member Acosta, seconded by Council Member Bhat-Patel for discussion,
directing staff to return mid-June to City Council with an informational presentation item on what
steps would be necessary to move forward with the purchase of the Ponto property that is for sa le,
including any challenges that would exist.
In response to Council Bhat-Patel's inquiry, City Manager Chadwick explained that since the nature
of the item is informational, management staff would be tasked with bringing this item forward in
mid-June at a cost of around $10,000 to place the item on the docket for a future meeting.
City Attorney Celia Brewer explained that since this item is not on the agenda, only a motion to
place it on future agenda can be heard at this time.
Minute motion by Council Member Acosta, seconded by Council Member Bhat-Patel, directing staff
to return mid-June to City Council with an informational presentation item on what steps would be
necessary to move forward with the purchase of the Ponto property that is for sale, including any
challenges that would exist. Motion failed, 2/3 {Hall, Blackburn, Norby-No).
Deputy City Manager Public Works Gomez announced for the record that an error was made on
the previous presentation for the Stagecoach Park Community Garden project stating that the
funding source was listed as the Park-in-Lieu Southwest Quadrant and it should have been to the
Southeast Quadrant.
May 3, 2022 Carlsbad City Council Special Meeting Page 3
Motion by Council Member Norby, seconded by Council Member Acosta, requested that all eight
projects be accelerated at the same time.
Substitute Motion by Mayor Pro Tern Blackburn, seconded by Council Member Bhat-Patel, to keep
the following projects on their existing timelines: South Shore Agua Hedionda Lagoon Trail,
Sustainable Mobility Plan Implementation, Stagecoach Park Community Garden, Maerkle Solar
Project, New Fire Station 7, New City Hall and Civic Center, College Boulevard Extension, South
Carlsbad Coastline: Road Realignment and Public Spaces. Motion carried, 3/2 (Hall, Norby-No).
Facilitator Kehrli explained that next steps include receiving the staff presentation of the
Preliminary Budget in May, and the Capital Improvement Program Budget in early June taking into
account all of the motions made at the three special meetings and any accelerating of the projects
that will happen. Facilitator Kehrli explained that in late June a draft of the Five-Year Strategic Plan
will be brought back to the City Council and there will be an opportunity for the City Council to
provide feedback before the Strategic Plan is finalized.
Facilitator Kehrli thanked everyone for their input and cooperation to make the process successful.
City Manager Chadwick thanked Facilitator Kehrli for her assistance in the process as well as many
other staff involved.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: None.
CITY MANAGER COMMENTS: None.
CITY ATTORNEY COMMENTS: None.
ADJOURNMENT:
By proper motion, the Special Meeting of May 3, 2022, was adjourned at 2:14 p.m.
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Tamara R. McMinn, CPMC, CMC
Senior Deputy City Clerk