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Home My WebLink About2022-04-14; Beach Preservation Commission; MinutesVirtual Meeting Council Chamber 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive Carlsbad, CA 92008 CALL TO ORDER Vice Chair Steindlberger called the meeting to order at 4:01 p.m. ROLL CALL Present: Vice Chair Steindlberger, Commissioners Ingersoll, Stark, and Corrigan. Absent: Chair Briggs, Commissioners Colby and Woolsey. Chair Briggs arrived at approximately 4:15 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE APPROVAL OF MINUTES The approval of the minutes for the meetings of Nov. 9, 2021, and Jan. 4, 2022, were postponed due to a lack of a quorum of commissioners who were present at those meetings. PRESENTATIONS None. CONSENT CALENDAR None. PUBLIC COMMENT None. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS 1. SR # 0414-1 TRI-ANNUAL REPORT OUT ON WORK PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021-22 Parks Planner Michael Tully reported out on the Beach Preservation Commission’s work plan for fiscal year 2021-22 for Commissioners review and comment. The recommended action was for the commission to participate in the first tri-annual report out of the progress on the goals and tasks accomplished. G1. Gain a better understanding of local shoreline preservation and beach nourishment projects. Vice Chair Steindlberger requested a copy of the minutes and information from the SANDAG’s Shoreline Preservation Working Group. City Staff replied that they did send over a copy of the minutes and information from the SANDAG Shoreline Preservation Working Group meeting to the commission. G2. Encourage private and public representatives to be engaged and work together on protection and enhancement of local beaches. Staff reached out to the Buena Vista Lagoon Foundation and found out that they are currently defunct as an organization but may formulate back up soon. Staff also reached out to the California State Parks and Recreation Department, however there are no updates to report at this time. Special Meeting April 14, 2022, 4 p.m. G3. Participate in outreach opportunities related to protection and enhancement of local beaches. Staff stated that some emails came in from commissioners about safety considerations, trash and pet waste issues and staff replied regarding those matters. G4. Tri-annually report out the progress on completing the Goals & Tasks of the Beach Preservation Commission’s Work Plan. Per staff, this was the first tri-annual report out of the progress on the goals and tasks accomplished for fiscal year 2021-22. 2. SR # 0414-2 PARK OPPORTUNITIES ALONG SOUTH CARLSBAD’S COASTLINE Community Relations Manager Nikki Matosian gave an update on a project along Carlsbad’s southern coastline. By moving vehicle traffic to the easternmost lanes of Carlsbad Boulevard., about 60 acres of city- owned land, spanning 3 miles of coastline could be freed up for parks, walking paths, bike lanes, parking, picnic areas, artwork, and other uses for the community. As part of the planning process city staff is seeking input from the Beach Preservation Commission on ideas and priorities for repurposing this space for the community and address sea level rise. Staff prepared coastal maps showing different jurisdictions and ownership of the Carlsbad shoreline, including the specific project area, which is a span of 3 miles of coastline on Carlsbad Boulevard from Manzano Drive to La Costa Avenue. The city’s General Plan was planned in 2015, which included guidance for the southern coastline. With the general plan in place, the city has made improvements mostly to the northern coastline and will now be focusing on improvements to the southern coastline. The city’s General Plan also includes policies for how different types of streets are designed. Carlsbad Boulevard falls under the category of coastal streets. The definition of a Coastal Street reads as follows: “Primary purpose is to move people along the city’s ocean waterfront and connect people to the beach, recreation, businesses and residences in close proximity to the waterfront. The street serves as a destination for people who seek to drive, walk and bicycle along the ocean waterfront.” Mobility Element: Coastal Street reads as follows: • Enhance mobility for pedestrians and bicyclists. • Vehicle speeds shall be managed to support uses along the coast. • Wide sidewalks, short crossing distances and mid-block crossings. • Trials encouraged. • On street parking Pedestrian crossing distances should be minimized. • Trail facilities should be encouraged. • Opportunities for mid-block pedestrian crossings should be investigated. • On-street parking should be provided. • Transit should be encouraged. The City of Carlsbad has a $500,000 grant from the California Coastal Conservancy to design a one-mile segment, within the 3-mile stretch project stretch. The one-mile project is located on the northern coastline of Carlsbad Boulevard from Manzano Drive to Island Way. The grant is exploring how to protect infrastructure from rising sea levels by relocating the roadway away from the coast. Community Relations Manager Nikki Matosian thoroughly explained the grant project timeline. City staff will apply input gathered in early 2022 and will be publishing their public input report soon, which will show themes and highlight community priorities and needs. Over 3000 community members participated and over 20,000 individual comments were made. Once the community input is gathered, city staff will be sharing feedback with the Coastal Conservancy team, so they can propose design alternatives for Manzano Drive to Island Way, based on input. In August 2022, the project team will be presenting the design alternatives to the City Council to get direction on one preferred design to bring to 30% engineering design to adhere to the Coastal Conservancy grant deadline of February 2023. Parks & Recreation Director Kyle Lancaster stated that he would like to remind the commission that any feedback in relation to this project should be done through the perspective of the Beach Preservation Commission’s Mission Statement. Commissioner Stark asked about consideration towards the homeless and their needs along the project. Community Relations Manager Nikki Matosian mentioned that from public input staff heard concerns about homelessness in the additional park spaces available, park benches and the impact they could have on homelessness. The public would also like to see additional bathroom facilities and showers along the coast. Commissioner Ingersoll asked if the available grant was only to be used along the project’s northern section of the coastline, and if any improvements will be done along the southern coastline. Staff stated that the City of Carlsbad currently has a Capital Improvement Project for the realignment of Carlsbad Boulevard., however the grant is specifically to address and further study sea level rise concerns along this project’s one-mile northern coastline, from Manzano Drive to Island Way. Parks & Recreation Director Kyle Lancaster clarified that the one-mile stretch is directly tied to climate adaptation where we have experienced partial washout of the revetment adjacent to the roadway on the southbound lanes. This section will be studied first, then other sections will be reviewed as part of the Carlsbad Boulevard Realignment Project. Chair Briggs requested clarification on the one-mile segment project timeline. Community Relations Manager Nikki Matosian stated that the sea level rise project grant was awarded to the City of Carlsbad in 2019, at which point the Coastal Conservancy Scripps Institute of Oceanography had already been studying the coastal bluffs and rising sea levels. The City of Carlsbad project team, which includes several city departments, had already analyzed the potential roadway relocation designs by capturing any physical and regulatory constraints before presenting to the public. In August 2022, the project team will be presenting the design alternatives to the City Council to get direction on one preferred design to bring to 30% engineering design to adhere to the Coastal Conservancy grant deadline of February 2023. Vice Chair Steindlberger asked to clarify if the city project team is waiting on the results of the Climate Adaptation Project prior to designing a preferred design alternative. Community Relations Manager Nikki Matosian indicated the project team has gathered most of the information needed from the public input and cliff hazard reports. Once those reports are finalized, they will be preparing the design alternatives for roadway alignment. Vice Chair Steindlberger inquired if there will be zoning changes to the proposed coastline improvements. Parks & Recreation Director Kyle Lancaster said that at his time he does not anticipate the roadway will need any zoning changes. However, the South Carlsbad Coastline Project is in its preliminary stages and zoning changes may occur as the project moves along. Vice Chair Steindlberger requested clarification on how public input is gathered and presented to City Council. Community Relations Manager Nikki Matosian indicated the report includes repetitive comments, which are grouped into themes to be presented to City Council as a final report. COMMISSIONER/COMMITTEE REPORTS None. ANNOUNCEMENTS Parks & Recreation Director Kyle Lancaster welcomed new Commissioner Michael Corrigan to the Commission and thanked former Commissioner John Prietto for his service. AGENDA ITEMS FOR FUTURE COMMISSION MEETING None ADJOURNMENT Meeting was adjourned at 4:39 p.m. Adriana Alvarez Minutes Clerk