PROMISES MADE. PROMISES KEPT.

The State Housing laws threatened our Community Plan and character. To comply with State Housing mandates, the city council was forced to upzone Central Commercial, North Commercial and Professional Commercial zones for our 6th Cycle State Housing Element. This action was due to the inflated RHNA numbers assigned to Del Mar and accepted by a previous City Council.  To preserve any local control of future developments and prevent “By Right” development like the Watermark, we had no other option.  The planned Watermark development will exceed density, FAR and cuts down mature pine trees and excavates the iconic beautiful bluff. We need to do all we can to prevent this from happening again.

The city council will be approving Objective Design Standards for multi-family development to help preserve our community character. We must remain vigilant! 

At my recommendation, our city joined in a lawsuit to defeat the imposition of SB9 on Charter Cities like Del Mar.  SB9 would have required the city to allow single family lots to be split for construction of four residences per lot.  As a result of trying to adapt state mandates in a way that works for us in Del Mar, we have been successful in keeping local control.  But this is an ongoing battle that we continue to wage.  The state may appeal the court ruling that said Del Mar, as a charter city, is not subject to that law.  So, we must remain vigilant. 

 I’ve been on record supporting adaptation without managed retreat and will remain vigilant for any attempt to change our approach to the issue of sea-level rise.  Your Council, with funding provided by US Rep. Mike Levin, just started preliminary design work on a living levee system of earthen berms that will help protect our north beach area from flooding from the river.  We are doing what we can to protect our residents’ homes and businesses. 

As the Council’s Housing Liaison, I am proud to have played a major role in obtaining the recent exclusive negotiating agreement with the 22nd District Agricultural Association for construction of 61 affordable housing units on the fairgrounds. The agreement authorizes Del Mar City Manager Ashley Jones to negotiate with the 22nd DAA fair board for the lease of 1 to 2 acres on the state-owned fairgrounds and within the city for the construction of at least 61 units of affordable housing.  I also spoke at the Board of Supervisors meeting along with Terry Gaasterland, as housing liaisons, requesting their support for this project. The Board unanimously supported affordable housing on the fairgrounds. We must get this deal across the finish line as we need sensible affordable housing opportunities in the city. 

 In May your City Council reached unanimous consensus on a regulatory framework for short term rentals that strikes a balance between those who support vacation rentals and those who do not.  This compromise will be reviewed by the Planning Commission before coming to Council later this year and once we’ve signed off it needs approval of the Coastal Commission.  Also in May, council members agreed to place a measure on the November 2024 ballot to ask voters whether Del Mar should collect transient occupancy taxes from short term rental operators. The existing transient occupancy tax rate of 13%, which is charged to hotels and other visitor lodging uses, would not change.

 This current Council had the wisdom to appoint Ashley Jones as interim City Manager in February 2021 and officially voted her City Manager in December of that year.  She and her team, with the guidance from the Finance Committee and City Council, have rebuilt healthy financial reserves and we were able to get through the dark days of Covid-19 without tapping into Measure Q funds and without laying off valuable full-time employees.

 We have completed the annual repaving work for 2024 and the City Council approved $750,000 annually to be spent over the next 5-years for road repaving and repair starting with roads in the worst condition as determined by our consultant who evaluated every road in the City.  Work will begin in Spring 2025.  Factors considered when scoping each year's projects include upcoming water/sewer infrastructure repairs, undergrounding, and road conditions identified in the streets assessment.

 Secured funding from Congressman Levin to complete preliminary conceptual plans for a living levee to aide against Seal level Rise along the north and south banks on the San Dieguito River. 

 Secured 1 million Federal dollars from Congressman Levin for stormwater infrastructure.

Construction contract awarded for undergrounding of 1A – Stradford Court south project, and plans underway for X1A Crest Canyon project. 

 I am happy to report that Del Mar has welcomed 26 new businesses that have opened since the pandemic. This does not include those that have yet to open but are currently in construction including Valley Farms, Hillstone, Better Buzz, Safron & Rose.

• Completed Crest Canyon wildfire evacuation plan.
• Stopped the NCTD proposed fencing along the south upper bluff trail.
• Minimized SANDAG’s proposed bluff top decapitation. 
• Secured funding for SANDAG to build safe railroad crossings to the south beach.
• Banned lighter than air balloons (helium balloons) that are harmful to the environment and marine animals. 
• Completed acceptance of Oribia Road as a city owned road, which is good for resident access and emergency vehicle access. (construction costs shared)