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Home My WebLink About2021-02-02; Beach Preservation Commission; MinutesM I N U T E S Minutes of: BEACH PRESERVATION COMMISSION Time of Meeting: 4:00 P.M. Date of Meeting: Feb. 2, 2021 Place of Meeting: Zoom Meeting CALL TO ORDER Chair Briggs called the meeting to order at 4:04 p.m. ROLL CALL Present: Chair Briggs, Vice Chair Steindlberger, Commissioners Prietto, O’Malley, Colby, Bradley, and Woolsey Absent: None PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE APPROVAL OF MINUTES ACTION: On motion by Chair Briggs and a second by Commissioner Prietto, the minutes of the Dec. 1, 2020 Beach Preservation Commission meeting were approved. AYES: Chair Briggs, Vice Chair Steindlberger, Commissioners Prietto, O’Malley, Colby and Bradley. NOES: None ABSTAIN: Commissioner Woolsey ABSENT: None PRESENTATIONS None CONSENT CALENDAR: None PUBLIC COMMENT None 1. SR # 0202-1 LOCAL COASTAL PROGRAM LAND USE PLAN UPDATE Senior Planner Jennifer Jesser gave an update on the Local Coastal Program (LCP) land use plan. On Dec. 2, 2019, city staff presented to the Beach Preservation Commission an overview of the city’s draft LCP, which was released for public review in Oct. 2019. The LCP is required by the California Coastal Act to manage development within the city’s coastal zone and to protect and enhance coastal resources. The plan provides policies to implement the Coastal Act and those policies are all applicable within the Coastal Zone. The City of Carlsbad coastal zone is about 37% of the city’s boundary. The Coastal Act requires that LCPs address specific topics within their program, to include; public access to coast, opportunities for recreation, protection of marine environment and land resources (e.g., sensitive habitat, agriculture and cultural resources), and policies that ensure that develop- ment will not negatively impact the coastal resource. The LCP update is focused on ensuring that the program is consistent with the Coastal Act as well as recent California Coastal Commission guid- ance and the city’s General Plan adopted in 2015. The LCP draft plan follows the topics of the Coastal Act, which include 8 chapters; 1.) Introduction, 2.) Land Use, 3.) Recreation/Visitor Serving Uses, 4.) Coastal Access, 5.) Agricultural, Cultural, Scenic Resources, 6.) Environmental Sensitive Habitat & Water Quality, 7.) Coastal Hazards, and 8.) Glos- sary. The proposed plan is a comprehensive update of the LCP, the format of the plan is being changed to address current conditions, which includes addressing new policy topics. The city’s existing LCP con- sists of six land use plans that apply to six specific geographic segments of the city’s Coastal zone; Agua Hedionda Lagoon segment, Mello I segment, Mello II segment, East Batiquitos Lagoon/Hunt Properties segment, West Batiquitos Lagoon/Sammis Properties segment, and Village Area segment. The draft Local Coastal Program Land Use Plan proposes to merge all six segments and create one unified plan for all of Carlsbad’s Coastal Zone to address protection of coastal resources and to up- date policies consistent with current conditions and requirements. Two new policy topics added to the draft LCP will include sea level rise hazards and protection of scenic and visual resources. Over the course of year 2020, the planning staff received and responded to public comments. The public hearing for the project was held on Dec. 2, 2020 during Planning Commission meeting. On Jan. 13, 2021, the Planning Commission recommended approval of the draft Local Coastal Program Land Use Plan. City staff will be presenting the plan to City Council for approval in spring/summer 2021. Following City Council approval, the plan will be submitted to the California Coastal Commis- sion for certification. Chairperson Briggs inquired about the deadline for submitting public comments. Ms. Jesser re- sponded that public comments can be submitted up until the scheduled City Council meeting. Vice Chair Steindlberger had a few inquiries on the LCP. She requested information on when the LCP process began, and how many public workshops have been held since implementation. Ms. Jesser responded that the LCP process began in 2017 and there have been three public workshops since then, with the last one held in Oct. 2019, which is when the plan was introduced for public re- view. Vice Chair Steindlberger asked about a Sea Level Rise Hazard Plan and Adaptation Analysis. She was concerned that certain items and issues have taken too long to develop and would like to see more public workshops offered, to allow for greater public involvement. Ms. Jesser replied that one of the goals of the LCP is to implement a more specific adaptation plan, but a timeline has not been developed yet. A link to the draft LCP update and previous public comments can be viewed at www.carlsbadca.gov/coastalupdate. 2. SR # 0202-2 REVIEW OF CARLSBAD SHORELINE OWNERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT At the Dec. 1, 2020 Beach Preservation Commission meeting the commissioners requested clarifi- cation on the ownership of various segments of the Carlsbad coastline and common terms related to beach preservation. Parks Planner Michael Tully presented an exhibit illustrating public and pri- vate ownership of the coastline in Carlsbad. He also provided an update on management entities and maintenance activities. In addition, city staff compiled a glossary of shoreline preservation terms for the commission’s ref- erence and information. Commissioner Prietto asked about ownership of the west side of highway 101, between Carlsbad Boulevard and the campgrounds. This location is an abandoned street right of way, controlled by the city. There are ongoing preliminary discussions for a potential linear park at this location. Chairperson Briggs asked about ownership of the highway 101 right of way, within the City of Carls- bad. Parks & Recreation Director Kyle Lancaster replied that the City of Carlsbad does control most of the right of way on Highway 101. Chairperson Briggs followed with an inquiry about the owner- ship of the Rue des Chateaux area on the referenced map. The area is privately owned but there is a lateral beach access easement that provides for public use. Mr. Tully and Mr. Lancaster provided clarification to the Commission on the term Tidelands; lands which are located between the lines of mean high tides and mean low tide. Mr. Lancaster clarified mean high tide as the average distances that are surveyed annually from extreme high tide to ex- treme low tide. Commissioner Prietto asked if the western boundaries of all private properties along the coast stretch to the mean high tide. Mr. Lancaster clarified that the edge of those properties lines up with tow of slope or block wall in some cases. 3. SR # 0202-3 STATE OF CA DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION ACTIVITIES Parks Planner Michael Tully reported on the activities of the State of CA. Department of Parks & Recreation along the Carlsbad coastline, on behalf of Lieutenant Sean Homer, acting California State Parks San Diego Coast District Superintendent. a. Volleyball courts on State beaches are still closed to the public, however organized youth groups and school programs are permitted to use courts under public health guidance. b. Volleyball courts at the warm water jetty have been temporarily removed due to dredging oper- ation. c. Temporary courts south of Pine Ave. and tower 37 have been set up to accommodate the orga- nized groups. They are open daily from 3pm to 6pm. d. Volleyball courts at the Frazee State Beach remain open through the dredging project. e. The accessible path leading from the Coast Hwy. to the beach parking lot at the Encinitas Beach resort construction has been completed. The accessible path was required as part of the Califor- nia Coastal Commission permit. f. South Carlsbad State Beach Campground reopened for public use on Jan. 28, 2021. The Campground was shut down on Dec. 6, 2020 due to the enacted California Regional Stay at Home Order. COMMITTEE/CITY COUNCIL REPORTS Chair Briggs proposed that commissioners conduct monthly walks along a stretch of Carlsbad beach and report back on the beach condition at the regular meetings. Secondly, Chair Briggs suggested that each commission member attend meetings of a selected local or regional organization such as SANDAG, Surf- rider, lagoon foundations, I Love a Clean San Diego, etc. to stay current on the issues related to the San Diego shoreline protection. Mr. Lancaster recommended these items be discussed at the next meeting, as part of the agenda item for the Tri-annual Update on the Beach Preservation Commission’s Work Plan. ANNOUNCEMENTS A link to the SANDAG Shoreline Preservation Working Group 2021 calendar and meeting agendas are provided to the commissioners. Agua Hedionda Lagoon Dredging began and on Feb. 8th and will continue through the month of March. AGENDA ITEMS FOR FUTURE COMMISSION MEETING Tri-annual Update on the Beach Preservation Commission Work Plan ADJOURNMENT ACTION: On motion by Commissioner Briggs and a second by Vice Chair Steindlberger, the meeting was adjourned at 5:08 p.m. The next meeting of the Beach Preservation Commission will be Apr. 6, 2021 at 10.a.m. AYES: Chair Briggs, Vice Chair Steindlberger, Commissioners Prietto, O’Malley, Colby, Bradley, and Woolsey NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: None Respectfully submitted, Adriana Alvarez Minutes clerk