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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-01-04; 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 4:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Present: Vice Chair Steindlberger, Commissioners Colby, Woolsey, Ingersoll, and Stark Absent: Chair Briggs and Commissioner Prietto PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE APPROVAL OF MINUTES The approval of the minutes for the meeting of Nov. 9, 2021 were postponed due to a lack of a quorum of commissioners who were present at that meeting. PRESENTATIONS None. CONSENT CALENDAR None. PUBLIC COMMENT None. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS 1. SR # 0104-1 TRI-ANNUAL REPORT OUT ON WORK PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020-21 Parks Planner Michael Tully and Vice Chair Steindlberger facilitated the discussion by presenting the work plan for fiscal year 2020-21 for Commissioners review and comment. The recommended action was for the Commission to participate in the third and final report out of the progress on the goals and tasks accomplished. G1. Gain a better understanding of local shoreline preservation and beach nourishment projects. a. Study and investigate coastal erosion impacts to Carlsbad beaches through understanding of coastal processes and terminology, including: - Disruption of natural sand supply and sediment flow - High intensity storms and potential flooding - Hard stabilization structures or “coastal armoring” - Sand replenishment/beach nourishment - Living shorelines, shoreline buffers - Sea Level Rise impacts - littoral cell/Oceanside cell Vice-Chair Steindlberger pointed out that city staff prepared and provided a glossary of frequently used terms which was sent to all commissioners to help them better understand coastal processes and terminology. Special Meeting Jan. 4, 2022, 4 p.m. b. Review informational documents for current and future Commission Members, with items to include: Map of the City of Carlsbad beaches and jurisdictions (i.e. State California beaches and City of Carlsbad beaches) - Beach Preservation Resolutions outlining duties of Beach Preservation Commission - Minutes and information from regional planning partners such as SANDAG’s Shoreline Preservation Working Group - City of Carlsbad Draft Local Coastal Plan - Definitions of terms and items, including but not limited to, listed in the Task above Vice Chair Steindlberger stated that city staff prepared a coastal map showing different jurisdictions and ownership of the Carlsbad shoreline. Parks Planner Michael Tully also made note that city staff presented on the Local Coastal Plan and provided meeting information and minutes from SANDAG’s Shoreline Preservation Working Group. G2. Encourage private and public representatives to be engaged and work together on protection and enhancement of local beaches. a. Upon notice from the City of Carlsbad that it is safe to do so, schedule and carry-out plans drawn up by the Beach Preservation Commission Ad Hoc Committee for a beach clean-up event in the northern beaches of the City of Carlsbad. b. Receive updates from representatives from the three lagoon foundations in Carlsbad (Agua Hedionda, Batiquitos, and Buena Vista Lagoons). c. Receive updates from the California State Parks and Recreation Department on local erosion issues, prevention efforts, and any beach access improvements to our local beaches. d. Upon receipt of updates from local jurisdictions (i.e. lagoon foundation, SANDAG, State Parks, California Fish and Wildlife, etc.), prepare comments as a Commission to submit to the City Council regarding any comments or concerns determined to be of interest to the Council. Vice Chair Steindlberger informed the Commission of a successful beach clean-up event on Oct. 2, 2021 and praised the ad-hoc committee and city staff for organizing it during the difficult time of the pandemic. She also stated we received valuable information from the Agua Hedionda and Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation and how their programs are protecting the lagoons. City staff has reached to Buena Vista Lagoon Foundation but they were unable to attend due to COVID-19 and other unspecified reasons but will have them as future agenda item. In addition, city staff has been reaching out to state staff and providing update reports on behalf of the California State Parks and Recreation Department. Parks Planner Michael Tully stated that he has provided updates from the various agencies such as SANDAG, State Parks etc., on necessary information that is pertinent to the commission. G3. Participate in outreach opportunities related to protection and enhancement of local beaches. a. Look for opportunities to engage the citizens and school children of the City of Carlsbad in stewardship of our coastline through events such as annual beach cleanups to encourage efforts to keep our beaches clean throughout the year. b. Work with other city departments to encourage outreach for the citizens of Carlsbad to educate them on potential impacts to the City of Carlsbad on erosion impacts and sea level rise as shown in the City of Carlsbad Local Coastal Plan. c. Observe and monitor local beaches and tidepools for issues contributing to degradation of beaches including feeding squirrels and other wildlife, pet waste issues, and trash. d. Make periodic tours of all Carlsbad beaches to assess physical conditions, usage factors and safety considerations for the beaches and potentially impacted surrounding areas. - Resulting issues requiring action shall be reported to city staff. Vice Chair Steindlberger stated that efforts have been made to reach out to teachers at Carlsbad High School for potential educational and outreach opportunities, however due to COVID restrictions it has been challenging to accomplish this goal but possibly in 2022. The City of Carlsbad Planning Department reported out on the City of Carlsbad Local Coastal Plan to the Commission and would like to review and comment on staff report before it gets sent to the California Coastal Commission. The Commissioners have been reporting periodically to city staff on beach conditions and city staff has been getting back to the individual or the entire commission depending on the circumstance. G4. Tri-annually report out the progress on completing the Goals & Tasks of the Beach Preservation Commission’s Work Plan. a. Participate in the review of these goals and tasks during an agenda item scheduled every other meeting of the Beach Preservation Commission. Parks Planner Michael Tully stated this goal has been met this was the third and final report for FY 20-21. 2. SR # 0104-2 APPROVAL OF WORK PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021-22 City staff prepared a draft Beach Preservation Commission Work Plan for fiscal year 2021-22 for the commission review, edit, and approval. Vice Chair Steindlberger requested that a representative be included formally for the public outreach to be kept up to date regarding the Carlsbad Boulevard Linear Park Project to fulfill the idea that is in the General Plan. Parks & Recreation Director, Kyle Lancaster stated we will be including a Beach Preservation Commissioner in the on-going stakeholder meetings and believes we have enough language in existing task to cover projects in general not necessary to specify this task, Vice Chair Steindlberger agreed. Vice Chair Steindlberger recommended action to approve the Beach Preservation Work Plan for fiscal year 2021-22 as written. Parks & Recreation Director Kyle Lancaster stated the approved work plan is anticipated to be presented to City Council on Feb. 15. ACTION: On a motion by Commissioner Ingersoll and a second by Commissioner Stark, the commissioners approved the Beach Preservation Work Plan for fiscal year 2021-22. AYES: Vice Chair Steindlberger, Commissioners Colby, Woolsey, Ingersoll and Stark NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: Chair Briggs and Commissioner Prietto 3. SR # 0104-3 OPTIONS TO PRESERVE OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION ALONG THE CARLSBAD COAST Parks & Recreation Director Kyle Lancaster referenced the video recording of the City Council meeting on July 13, 2021, Item 14, discussing the viable strategies regarding Planning Area F and other coastal properties to preserve open space and recreation, including a potential linear park along the coastal bluffs at Carlsbad Boulevard. Chair Briggs had requested information on the July 13, 2021, Item 14, during the Aug. 3, 2021 Beach Preservation Commission meeting. During the Nov. 9, 2021 Beach Preservation Commission meeting, the Commissioners had voted to review this item on their own time. Parks & Recreation Director Kyle Lancaster clarified that any comments on this item should be specific to the mission statement of the Beach Preservation Commission which is: …to advise the City Council and the City Manager on matters related to erosion prevention and protection/enhancement of the Carlsbad shoreline (e.g., littoral cells, sea level rise et.al.), and to study the best means to maintain beaches for the safety and optimum enjoyment of the public. Parks & Recreation Director Kyle Lancaster anticipates singular outreach meetings to Commissions later, but outreach will start with the inclusion of this project in a strategic planning public meeting to be held in late January or early February. 4. SR # 0104-4 CITY COUNCIL POSITION STATEMENT REGARDING THE CITY OF OCEANSIDE’S PLANNED BEACH SAND REPLENISHMENT AND RETENTION DEVICE PROJECT Parks & Recreation Director Kyle Lancaster presented on the City of Oceanside’s planned Beach Sand Replenishment and Retention Device Project. On Aug. 26, 2021, the City Council received a Council Memorandum on the ‘Status of City of Oceanside’s Beach Sand Replenishment and Retention Device Project’. At the conclusion of that memo, staff indicated it would provide periodic updates on the project to the Beach Preservation Commission and the City Council. On Oct. 9, 2019, the Oceanside City Council directed staff to initiate a process to identify feasible solutions to protect the Oceanside coastline from erosion by either utilizing re-nourishment projects of beach suitable sands, construction of retention devices to reduce the loss of sand, or a combination of both. The goal was to identify strategies that were environmentally sensitive, financially feasible, and that had a reasonable chance of being approved through the regulatory permitting process. In April 2020, the Oceanside City Council approved a professional services agreement with engineering consultant GHD, which then worked on a study evaluating alternatives to stabilize and enhance the beach widths within the City of Oceanside. On Aug. 11, 2021, the resulting Beach Sand Replenishment and Retention Device Project Feasibility Analysis and an accompanying staff report were presented to the Oceanside City Council at a workshop. The study area spanned the coastline from Camp Pendleton to the Agua Hedionda Lagoon. Section 2., Coastal Setting, of the analysis document, states in part: The wave climate within the City is characterized by seasonal long-period swells generated by distant storms in the North Pacific and Southern Oceans. Southern swell arrives at Oceanside from the southwest through the spring and summer months and transports sand to the north (Figure 2- 1). Larger North Pacific swell[s] approaching from the northwest and west during the fall and winter months transports sand to the south (Figure 2-2). Locally generated short-period wind waves can occur any time during the year and typically come from the west. Waves are the dominant driver of sediment transport along Oceanside beaches. The net longshore sediment transport patterns for Oceanside are accepted to be southern, although seasonal variations are common and depend on the swell direction. There are numerous estimates of the longshore sediment transport for Oceanside and within the Oceanside Littoral Cell, as shown in Table 2.1. These estimates are based on historic studies and have not been updated or field verified recently. However, amongst these studies there is general agreement that Oceanside experiences a net sediment transport to the south of 100,000 to 200,000 cubic yards (cy) per year. GHD estimated the cost and the approach of future phases of the project and engaged the Center for Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation at the Scripps Institute of Oceanography to develop a scientific coastal baseline and monitoring plan. GHD also performed numerical modeling to predict how the alternatives would impact local and regional sand movement. Additionally, several resource agency, stakeholder, and other meetings were conducted to understand any concerns and receive feedback on the alternatives being considered. However, the City of Carlsbad was not directly consulted by the City of Oceanside staff, nor by GHD, as a stakeholder during the referenced period of input. City of Carlsbad staff were also not informed of any public meetings held to review and comment on the analysis. Four alternatives for sand retention were outlined at the Aug. 11, 2021 Oceanside City Council workshop. Additionally, three sand distribution or bypass options were reviewed for their applicability and utility in resolving the erosion issues within the city. Of the four retention alternatives studied, groins were ranked the highest - based on the multi-criterion analysis of technical performance, financial analysis, and environmental consideration. The analysis document recommended a pilot project consisting of groins and a sand bypass system. The project area spanned the coastline from the Oceanside Pier to the Buena Vista Lagoon. The Oceanside City Council voted to initiate the pilot project and directed staff to begin the associated design, permitting and environmental work. Mayor Sanchez, casting the lone dissenting vote, expressed doubt that the California Coastal Commission (Coastal Commission) would approve the permits that would be necessary for the pilot project to move forward. The Mayor, who previously served as a Coastal Commissioner, did not support the expenditure of funds on pursuing the design, permitting and environmental review of this alternative, considering it was unlikely to receive Coastal Commission approval because it interferes with the natural flow of sand down the coast. Mayor Sanchez instead favored the beach nourishment alternative. The City of Oceanside’s intended approach of the groin alternative was that it would be “adaptable and reversable,” based on the results of scientific monitoring programs. The pilot project would consist of four groins. Presuming sand retention success is achieved with those groins, more groins may be added to other sections of the Oceanside coastline in future phases. On Oct. 20, 2021, the City of Oceanside publicly advertised a “Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Design, CEQA/NEPA Documentation & Permitting Phase for the Oceanside Sand Retention Project.” The RFP description reads in part: The City of Oceanside’s Public Works Department is seeking Proposals from qualified firms specializing in coastal engineering ("Consultant") with experience in the design and permit processing of coastal engineering projects in the Southern California’s coastal zone, including extensive experience with community/stakeholder engagement efforts for large-scale, complex projects, preparation of CEQA/NEPA documents, and securing appropriate permits from all responsible agencies. The advertised due date for firms to submit proposals was Dec. 7, 2021. The Oceanside City Council had not yet entered into an agreement with a qualified firm. Once a firm is selected and an agreement is executed, the next phase of the project is expected to take approximately two years to complete. The City of Oceanside staff plans to work with GHD to conduct additional public outreach in this next phase of the project, before the final groin locations are determined. Key agency stakeholder coordination and engagement is also anticipated to occur with entities such as the California Coastal Commission, Camp Pendleton and Surfrider Foundation. During the project permitting and environmental review process, it is anticipated there will be opportunities for the City of Carlsbad, and other southerly municipalities, to provide comments on the potential impacts from this project. Should the Carlsbad City Council vote in favor of the recommended action, staff will send a letter to the Oceanside City Council, transmitting the Carlsbad City Council resolution approving a position statement in opposition to the City of Oceanside’s planned Beach Sand Replenishment and Retention Device Project. Staff will also continue to monitor the permitting and environmental review process and will provide comments on the project as opportunities become available. Commissioner Woolsey asked how long the groins will extend into the water, Parks & Recreation Director, Kyle Lancaster replied that they would extend 600 feet from the lateral revetment. Vice Chair Steindlberger then asked Mr. Lancaster if he knew if the California Coastal Commission has approved any newly constructed groins in the last 20 years or so. Mr. Lancaster replied that he does not know of any specific approvals but in the past, they have been generally against any obstructions to the natural flow of sand. He also stated, in the City of Carlsbad, there had been a small groin just beyond the warm water jetty at the power plant.. When the marine oil pipeline under the groin was decommissioned and removed, there was discussion on leaving the groin, but the California Coastal Commission required the groin be removed as a part the project. Consequently, there was a substantial amount of rip rap taken out of the shoreline and temporarily placed on the beach across from the power plant for several weeks. The rip rap was ultimately trucked elsewhere. Commissioner Stark asked Mr. Lancaster if the California Coastal Commission does not approve the project, can the City of Oceanside put the groins in anyway. Mr. Lancaster stated that the City of Oceanside could install them, but they would be in violation of a California Coastal Commission order. Commissioner Stark also made a comment that perhaps Mayor Sanchez was right that the California Coastal Commission wouldn’t approve the project. Mr. Lancaster replied that Mayor Sanchez is a former California Coastal Commissioner and he trusts her opinion that the Coastal Commission would most likely not be favorable to such a project. Commissioner Stark asked if we should make these comments at the next City of Oceanside City Council meeting in opposition to this proposed project. Mr. Lancaster stated that such comments would be included in the draft resolution that staff has prepared. If the Beach Preservation Commission concurs with the recommended action, staff will go to Carlsbad City Council and ask that it adopt a resolution with this position of opposition to devices that would prevent the natural flow of sand into Carlsbad. The presentation of that resolution could happen as early as next Carlsbad City Council meeting. Vice Chair Steindlberger asked Mr. Lancaster if when he says devices, he wanted to be general in the resolution, so it would include all devices. Mr. Lancaster responded that is correct, and also why we were not specific to just the City of Oceanside, but to any entity that would consider constructing any device that would interfere with flow of sand into Carlsbad. There could be another entity that comes up with a plan to construct devices that would interfere with the sand flow. By having the general opposition on record, staff won’t need to come back to the Beach Preservation Commission or the City Council for each individual project that may be proposed. ACTION: On a motion by Vice Chair Steindlberger and a second by Commissioner Woolsey, the Commission voted to recommend the City Council adopt a resolution approving a statement of opposition to constructing devices that could interfere with the natural flow of beach sand into Carlsbad. AYES: Vice Chair Steindlberger, Commissioners Colby, Woolsey, Ingersoll and Stark NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: Chair Briggs and Commissioner Prietto COMMISSIONER/COMMITTEE REPORTS None. ANNOUNCEMENTS Parks & Recreation Director Kyle Lancaster advised of the need to change dates of the April and June Beach Preservation Commission meetings, due to schedule conflicts with City Council meetings. Parks Planner Michael Tully will email each commissioner asking for their availability on April 14 and June 16 to attend special meetings of the Beach Preservation Commission. AGENDA ITEMS FOR FUTURE COMMISSION MEETING None. ADJOURNMENT Meeting was adjourned at 5:04 p.m. Adriana Alvarez Minutes Clerk