City Council - Regular Meeting

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I don't know. answer. Please I thought you did very well. I was trying to get Mrs. Peak, could you please call us out of close session?

Yes. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Uh the council has reconvened from close session during which it discussed um uh pending and potential litigation under government code section 54956.9 subd sub1 and subd sub4 uh with respect to Adam engineering construction and at shity Ohio casualty company uh insurance company and uh the council discussed the matter and no reportable action was taken. That concludes the close session report.

Thank you so much Mrs. Peak. Uh, with that this the special meeting is adjourned and we will go right into our regularly scheduled meeting for December 9th, 2025. I'd like to call the meeting to order and if you could please rise for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. and have an invocation. Lord God, thank you for this beautiful holiday season. I pray that uh our community members would spend wonderful time with one another, with their families, with uh the people that they care about, and that everyone would be safe, and that you would put your hand on everything uh that is in within our city limits, Lord God. And I thank you for my colleagues. I thank you for our public. I thank you for our beautiful city and all the um the trails, the parks, all of the things that we get to share together and our businesses as well. I pray this in your name. Amen.

Okay. Uh let's move on to roll call. Mr. Scolic. Council member Leblang present. Council member Musgrove. Yes. Council member Nunes present. Deputy Mayor Sella here. And Mayor Jones here. Okay. Uh moving on to the consent calendar. Do we have any items that any council members wish to pull? I'd like to pull item 11. Okay. Uh do I have a motion for the uh the remainder? Approve the balance. Second. Okay. We have a motion and a second. All in favor? I I. Any nos? Uh seeing none. Item number 11. Yes. Council member Nunees.

Thank you, Mayor. I just wanted to highlight item number 11, um, which is for us to accept $5 million in grant funding from the California Department of State Parks. Um, I want to give thanks to our assembly woman, Dr. Patel, for advocating for this funding, much neededed funding that uh will make such a significant impact in our city. And so I look forward to hearing from city staff how we are going to improve our our city and our parks. So with that, I move to approve the item. Okay, I'll second. Oh, we have a second motion and a second. All in favor? I

thank you uh very much uh council council member Nunes. They don't call us. So sand park was for nothing. So thank you very much for bringing that up. Okay, oral communications. We have a couple of speakers. a few speakers. Uh first is Liz Santor followed by Marlene Walder. Welcome. Good evening, Honorable Mayor Jones and council members. My name is Liz Santos and I'm here to speak on behalf of the property owners impacted by the recent development activities within North City specific plan. Growth and development are important, but it cannot come at the expense of safety and property rights that are not under an applicant's control. Today we have an unfortunate Today we have an unfortunate challenge with city staff who are not willing to come to a solution nor provide written documentation of our property rights being written or given to Gary Levit or his subsidiaries. We have not sued the city of San Marcos. However, the city of San Marcos has set up and allowed Gary Levit to sue us by approving grading plans. He did not own fe simple rights. Two, the city overlooked our access circulation and continues to not protect our property rights. The city's oversight and allowance for Gary Levit to sue us does not constitute a time extension for a tenative parcel map. Si uh San Marcos Municipal Code and California Code subdivision ordinance chapter 19.04 04 development agreement chapter 20.540

and California civil code section 841 require the respect of development conitions protect all property p all private interest and share responsibilities for property boundaries. These are not suggestions. They are obligations. Mayor Jones, this is your legacy. Please encourage action upon your departure from the city and city council members recognize that this will set president upon your children and children's children. We look forward to you elected officials having discussions with the city staff and making recommendations immediately. Thank you.

Thank you. Uh next up Marlene Walder. Good morning, evening, uh, mayor and deputy mayor and, um, council members, staff. Uh my I've been out of state for three weeks and I come back and the new project on Barham next to Grace Church was supposed to have a sign that says no left turn between hours whatever it should read no left turn period but um you agreed upon with that development there would be a sign and people are ignoring it but I'm not sure which is the exit. and which is a entrance. The one that's by Meyers, people are coming out, but it's when they're going in. And this all happened today because I haven't been home for a month almost. Uh when I was last here, what I left the following weekend and the um one on by Meyers but on Barham their exit. They're still making U-turns to go into that uh no turn area to go um as if they were coming from Nordall and they forgot to turn at Meyers and they're making a Uturn to go in the back way on Barham. There's no entrance on Barham unless you're going towards Nordall. And today while um I was coming home, the cars were blocking our entrance. When it says uh the sign says please do not uh block

entrance, they're supposed to stop further back. And um they're all rushing to make that signal and not allowing people to turn left when it's safe. But the worst part is when um you forget and you think you're going to turn into our park and you can't see in the other direction because the cars are blocking your view totally. And if there would be like a crosswalk or a white line a little further back, people could see and maybe avoid an accident. But at Lamore, at Barham, the street right next to our mobile home park, it says no right turn between 3 and 6. I was there at 4:00 and I watched four cars turn right uh during that time slot while I was waiting for the signal to change. True, there were no cars, but that sign nobody pays attention to. So, there's three um accidents waiting to happen right at uh on Barham from the new buildings and also from the street on Lamore, but it's really getting tough to get out of our own park. Thank you.

Thank you, Marlene. Um could we have staff look at the the um signs, please? Thank you. Uh okay, moving on to ordinances. Ordinance 20251575 amending San Marcus Municipal Code Title 17 buildings construction and related activities and adopting local amendments to the California Building Code. Do we have a staff presentation on this? Oh, I didn't go out of I didn't go out of order, did I? You did not. It's uh we're just humming along so quickly everybody. I'm having a long day, so I'm just wondering if it was me somehow.

I think we're all thrown off with no presentations and proclamations. We're just zipping right along. We are. Um, yes. With us this evening, we have our building program manager, David Yber, who will make the presentation. Okay. Is this your first presentation to us? Uh, second. Second. Okay. All right. Is your microphone on? It's There we go. There you go. Okay, great. Awesome. Well, thank you.

Well, good evening. Um, before you nine, we have the ordinance to formally adopt the state mandated 2025 California Building Codes. In addition, we're proposing updates to the chapter 17 of our municipal code to align with the code changes adopted at the state level by the California Building Standards Commission. To provide you with a little bit of background, the California Building Standards Commission reviews and updates the applicable codes to construction and property maintenance every three years. Prior to adoption, our billing division staff reviews the existing local amendments and updates chapter 17 to ensure consistency with the newly adopted state regulations. At this time, we're not proposing any new amendments to the 2025 California billing codes that will take effect uh this coming January 1st, 2026. And with that, that concludes my presentation, and I'm happy to answer any questions you may have.

All right. Do any council members have any questions on this item? It's basically adopting uh the California Building Code. That is correct. Uh okay. Uh so this is an ordinance uh the introduction of the ordinance that I already read the entire uh title. Do um I'll make a motion to approve. Do I have a second? A second. Oh, does someone say something? Sorry. No, I was going to second. Oh, okay. We have a motion and a second. All in favor? I I.

Any? Uh seeing none. Okay. Uh moving on to item number 21, ordinance 20251576, amending title 14, chapter 1404, highways and traffic applications permits and general provisions and title 17 chapter 17.32 grading and related activities of the San Marcos Municipal Code. Do we have oh presentation on that? Um yes, Madame Mayor. We have our principal from land development, Kyne, who'll be here this evening to make the presentation. Okay.

Good evening. Tonight, development services is introducing ordinance 2025-1576 amending San Marcos Municipal Code Chapter 14.04 and chapter 17.32. Title 14, chapter.04 establishes requirements for private contract work within public rightway for the development of private property. This chapter was last updated in 2024. The updates to chapter 14.04 include renaming the chapter to public places, applications, permits, and general provisions. The update also adds specific application requirements consistent with the city's current business process for plan submitts and clarifies permit requirements consistent with chapter 14.16 on obtaining permit for the work within the right of way. New section 14.04.112 adds application and permit expiration timelines and appeal procedures. The expiration timeline parallels the city's current process for the grading applications in chapter 17.32. Title 17, Chapter 17.32 regulates the development of property by grading and was last updated in 2022. Chapter 17.32 updates include clarification on grading permit application requirements and allowing the director to have discretion to extend the time limit of a grading permit application. The updates also allow the appeal of a denial of an extension request. Each extension request would be evaluated based on the applicant's diligence in pursuing completion of the permit application. In

evaluating an extension request, the director would consider whether the applicant has been prevented from completing the application for reasons beyond their control, such as encountering unanticipated site and/or environmental constraints, permitting requirements of other regulatory agencies, and/or obtaining the necessary easements to permit the work. The proposed actions do not constitute as a project per section 15378 of SQUA and therefore is exempt from an environmental review in accordance with section 15.61B3 and that concludes staff's presentation. Thank you so much. Um okay, this is also an ordinance um an introduction. Do we have any questions or further discussion? Seeing none. Do we have a motion?

I'll move to introduce the first reading. Mayor second. Okay, we have a motion in a second. All in favor? I. Any knows? Seeing none, uh motion also passes unanimously. Uh next item is our first public hearing uh resolution 2025 9531 adopting the fiscal year 2425 public facilities fees annual report findings. Do we have

Yes. Thank you, Madam Mayor. I have a very very brief few sentences. Um, the annual public facilities fee report is being presented for council review in compliance with government code section 660006. The report provides required information regarding the city's development impact fees transaction activities for the preceding fiscal year. As also required, notice of the report and its availability was advertised to the public prior to tonight's meeting. Staff recommends that the city council receive and file the report as presented. Okay. Uh do we have any further discussion? And we have no public speakers, by the way. Um on the last couple of items, uh any further discussion? Seeing none, do we have a motion to close the public hearing?

Close. Second. Okay, we have a motion and a second to close the public hearing. All in favor? I. Any nos? Uh seeing none, uh do we have a motion to approve? Move to adopt. Second. Okay, we have a motion and a second. All in favor?

I. Any? Uh, seeing none? Okay. Uh, moving on to item number 23, the resolutions. I'm going to read them in full so we don't have to do it a second time. Resolutions number 2025, 9514, and 9515. And ordinance numbers 2025, 1572, 1573, and 1574. the university district specific plan UDSP self- storage and district expansion adoption of an environmental impact report addendum and regulatory amendments and entitlements to allow the construction of a self- storage facility and expand the university district specific plan area. Okay, we've got the A team here. Uh who's starting off? Uh Mr. Frachie. Yeah, good evening, Mayor Jones, council members. Uh, Chris Garcia and Kyne Chu will be making tonight's presentation on this item.

All right, thank you.

Good evening. The University District self- storage and district expansion project is made up of several developer requested entitlements, including specific plan amendments to the university district and heart of the city specific plans, a general plan amendment, municipal code text amendment, and a conditional use permit for the development of a self- storage facility. The University District specific plan was originally adopted in 2009. The plan is currently 203 acres and generally located south of State Route 78 and east and west of Twin Oaks Valley Road. One intent of the specific plan is to create an urban pedestrian friendly environment. The University District specific plan has been amended several times since the since its adoption with the last formal amendment occurring in 2022. A formal amendment has been requested to expand the specific plan boundary, update the transportation demand management plan, create a self- storage overlay zone, revite the revise the public art process, update graphics, and other minor updates and cleanup items. The applicant is requesting to expand the university district boundary by including two acres on East Carmel Street, currently developed with the Hampton Inn. The site would be designated mixeduse building A or commercial building, which allows for hotels. No changes to the existing hotel are proposed as part of this project but expect but is expected in the near future. In 2024, the city's current transportation demand management ordinance became effective. The TDM ordinance satisfies the city's climate action plan requirements to assist with reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The University District TDM plan is being updated to be consistent with the latest TDM ordinance while also recognizing the specific plan area's design, location, development pattern, and vision, which emphasizes a reduction in vehicle miles traveled. A new self- storage overlay zone is proposed within the university district that includes a single 2.71 acre property at the east end of the plan area. This overlay would allow the

construction of a self-s storage facility with an approved conditional use permit or continue to allow mixed use or commercial development with an approved site development plan. A conditional use permit for a self- storage facility in the new overlay zone has been included with this project application. The self- storage facility would replace the existing cube smart storage facility located to the west. The proposed self-s storage site is located east of the North County Transit Sprinter tracks, west of existing industrial uses, and north of a housing development currently under construction. The project site has been rough graded, consistent with a previously approved development on this site. The conditional use permit has been conditioned so that the existing Cubes smart facility to the west shall cease operations within one year after the new facility receives temporary occupancy. Once operations are discontinued at the existing facility, the site will become available for redevelopment consistent with the university district specific plan. No redevelopment proposal for the existing HUMAR site is included with this project. The 2.71 acre self- storage site will have 88,350 ft of rentable storage space divided between two buildings. This is approximately 10,000 ft more than the existing cubesmart storage facility. The project will take access from East Carmemell Street and have steel fencing around the site for security. Building A is a three-story, 38 foot tall building and contains storage units and a leasing office. This building is set back approximately 90 ft from East Carmemell Street. Building B is a 12T one-story building that contains drive up storage units and will be mostly screened from view by building A. Landscape area, including trees, will be provided along the project frontage. Loading areas and 12 parking space are located on site. These are the elevations of building A. The north elevation at the bottom of the slide is the elevation facing East Carmel Street and State Route 78. Building materials consist of colored metal panels and painted concrete block. The metal panels will have a non-reflective matte finish and the windows will also have a non-reflective exterior to minimize glare. The building

design includes elements of an office building. There's a large white area in the middle of the north elevation that has been reserved for public art as projects in the university district specific plan require a public art component and the design will be approved by city staff. These are the elevations of the smaller building B located to the rear of the property and sits at a lower elevation below the housing project to the south. The majority of this building will be screened from public view by building A. This is a rendering of the proposed self- storage facility as seen from State Route 78. You will notice the proposed landscaping and trees between the street and the building. The housing development under construction to the south has been added to this rendering. A conceptual mural has been shown in the area reserved for public art in the center portion of the three-story building. The relocation of the existing storage facility on Carmemell Street includes an increase in square footage from 78,000 square ft to 88,350 ft, resulting in 20 new average daily trips to the site and two new peak hour trips. This increase in trips was accounted for and is within the thresholds provided by the latest local transportation analysis for the UN University District specific plan prepared in 2022. Therefore, there are no substantial improvements required of the project. The project also demonstrated to have a less than significant transportation impact per the 2022 specific plan amendment and accompanying VMT analysis with which is included uh the project site. The removal of the Hampton Insight from the heart of the city specific plan and its proposed inclusion into the university district specific plan would not have any effect on traffic or trip generation in the area as the site is existing with no redevelopment proposed at this time. Any future redevelopment of the site would require appropriate traffic analysis and therefore no

traffic impacts identified with this proposed amendment. In in addition to the entitlements already discussed, the project application includes additional minor amendments. An amendment to the heart of the city specific plan is required to remove the Hampton in property from the plan since it's being added into the university district. A general plan amendment is also required to update maps by showing the revised boundaries of the specific plans and to update specific plan details. Finally, a municipal code text amendment is proposed to exclude the university district self- storage overlay zone from the self-s storage requirements listed in section 20.400.1. 400.180. Development of a self-s storage facility in this overlay zone shall comply with the requirements and development standards of the specific plan. A discussion of all requested amendments is included in the project staff report and the associated attachments. In compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act and Environmental Impact Report was certified in 2009 for the university district specific plan. Agenda to this previously certified EIR were prepared concurrently with other specific plan amendments. In addition, an additional addendum was prepared for the project and analyzed all potential environmental impacts associated with the project. It was determined that none of the conditions described in SQA have occurred that would require a subsequent EIR. Therefore, the final ER adequately addresses the impacts of the proposed project. In additions to the public notices that were mailed, a public workshop was held in April. One nearby property owner attended the meeting but did not provide specific comments or concerns with the proposed project. Additional public comments were received from Calrans and Valisto's Water District, and those comments have been addressed in the project's design and conditions of approval. The planning commission heard the project on October 20th, and no members of the public spoke. The planning commission had questions and comments regarding closing the existing self- storage facility, security, timing of the public art component, and the timing of the future Hampton and hotel improvements. The applicant responded to the questions and the planning

commission recommended approval of the project by a 7 to zero vote. In summary, the project is consistent with general plan land use goals, including providing a balanced and compatible mix of land uses and maintaining a supportive business climate and sustainable economy. The approval of a new self-s storage overlay zone and facility will facilitate the relocation of an older facility and provide future redevelopment opportunities. The expansion of the university district will allow for an existing hotel to continue operations and the updated transportation demand management plan will comply with the current city ordinance. Finally, the EIR addendum for this project demonstrates that the project will not have any new significant environmental impacts. Staff recommends that city council approve the requested entitlements as outlined on this slide. And that concludes staff's presentation and I am available to answer questions. The project applicant also has a presentation.

Okay. Um, does anyone have any questions of staff uh before we go into the presentation by the U property owner? No applicant? No. Okay. All right. We will then uh hear from North City if anyone's wondering in the audience. Uh University District is what we approved it back in 2009. Um but it's also known as North City. So people are confused.

Good on Good evening, council members, Mayor Jones, city staff. Um my name is Darren Levit with the North City Development. I will try and keep this brief. I know we just went through a very lengthy explanation of everything that we're asking for and um if you have any questions of course I'm here to respond to those. Um in summary uh from what uh Chris mentioned we're really asking for three things. One is the inclusion of the Hampton in into the university district. The second is the cube smart self-s storage land swap proposal. Um and then updates to the TDM. Um, you heard the litany of things that we're asking for today. It's somewhat unwinding some of the original municipal code and the specific plan and the heart of the city specific plan. So, thanks for bearing with us as we went through a very lengthy um process with city staff to figure out how to how to make this all come to uh conclusion. So, I think the Hampton in is is very straightforward today. It's outside of this specific plan. Um the yellow shows the area that we would like to incorporate into the specific plan. Um because today it's technically outside of the university district. Um here's some uh graphics that just give you some really uh clear lines of sight as to how it makes a lot of sense to bring it in into the specific plan area. And obviously once we do that, we need to bring it up to code with all of the zoning uh regulations and and charts that the specific plan uh has. So in terms of its height, in terms of its use type, um nothing is really uh out of the ordinary from what I think everybody here would expect of this property and we do intend to keep it as a Hampton in uh going forward. Um the self- storage project uh is a little bit more complex in that um it was really from a financial aspect too costly to purchase this pro property and its business. Um and so working with Cubsmart who is a

very large REIT um we came up with a solution whereby building them a new facility it made a lot more sense uh from a financial aspect to deliver them a brand new facility which I think everybody here could agree um beautifies what has been a vacant site for uh as long as far back as we can all remember um but also get rid of what is today a one-story um metalclad building that sits right in the middle of the University District. Um, and in ensuring this this land swap, we can continue on with what everybody has seen to date that we have developed in the North City project and and keep building um some some fantastic mixeduse properties. Um, and so this is really uh the the replacement. We would be moving the existing self storage business into uh a brand new facility um that's freeway adjacent. It also is a really nice buffer to the the apartment building that we are under construction with today just to the south of this property. Um some renders of the existing facility uh there in the top left and the future facility bottom right. This is the other perspective from what u staff just presented. Um and there's the same rendering um that you just saw. And um we need to create some some zoning laws that only permit this type of use in this specific area. Hence the overlay. Um and you've seen all of the the setbacks. um and the municipal code uh updates to allow for self storage in this specific overlay zone. Um here's the site plan and the conceptual landscape plan to make sure that we are screening what is you know a very long building with quite a hefty amount of landscape. So it's a a more beautiful frontage to what is a very public uh view of of North City. um very small increase in trips just given that we are increasing the square footage uh ever so slightly to make sure that it works from a financial aspect for for Cubes smart themselves. Um and then the last item on our agenda tonight is is really just bringing our transportation

demand management plan which we have had since 2009 and the city um adopted their new TDM. We just needed to tweak our existing transportation demand management plan to to sing with um the updated municipal one. Um, and that is really it. So, I'm here to answer any questions there are. Thank you, Mr. Levit. Um, first, um, on the Cub Smart, there's not going to be any outdoor storage, correct? No outdoor storage. Correct.

So, you're not adding that. Um, and then also, um, well, I think the improvements, the frontage improvements from the 78 are quite significant because currently it is singlestory. However, there's no landscaping, barely a setback. It's only a little parking area right there. So, it'll be improved, I think, um, visually a lot. And then also, um, uh, the Hampton Inn,

uh, what are the plans for that? Because there's not a plan to re like tear it down and rebuild it, but is there there are some significant improvements, I understand, uh, to spruce it up. Um, what's that? Yeah, we we certainly have plans and and we're working with staff on an application to um improve the the quality of that Hampton in and bring it up to actually Hilton's brand standards and um consistent with the specific plan, we do have entitlements for more hotel rooms. So, we are considering expanding that Hampton in by two rooms. The current parking area um right there on the corner. Correct.

Okay. All right. Okay. Um any other questions from any council members? No. Council member Leblang, sorry you were drinking. I didn't I didn't know if you heard me. Okay, great. Thank you.

Um All right. Uh no questions. Thank you. Okay. Um we have a couple of um or we have one speaker and that's Liz Santos. Um and my apologies for uh I I read your name. It didn't look like an S on the first time. So my apologies. I don't want to call you the wrong name. Thanks. Good evening, Mayor Jones and council members. My name is Liz Santos. We are not against development, but we do have to appeal this project since the approval of this project hinders our ability to rebuild at 134 and 140 East Barham Drive. We have been here for the better part of 50 years. The applicant presenting tonight has controlling interest on the university district plan. He is co-owner co-creator and with the city of San Barkles and has sued us in attempts to steal our property estate. This is not that he does not own. And while we are dealing with the legal challenge, he has submitted plans for redevelopment limiting our ability to future rebuild our homes. As we understand and continue to tell Gary Elev and Darren Lean that they cannot take our real estate rehabilit rehabilit our properties at 134 and 140 is hindered with every permit issue under the university district specific plan. Though our properties do not share a common property line, the city of San Marcos has not reserved residential homes or units on parcels within the specific plan overlay zone and rather first come first serve basis. We seek remedy under state housing laws that we will be able to rebuild homes at 134 and 140 East Barham Drive. Again, we are not against development and understand this

is a huge effort for everyone to be here tonight. However, this approval would negatively impact us reduced number of homes available under the specific plan infrastructure reserved for the overlay. And as other private property owners within the university district plan, the city would be displaying an unbalanced decision tonight by approving this project. It is unfortunate, but this impass will our neighbors continue to be about a person trying to steal our real estate rights. Please take this into consideration and provide a condition or nexus as related to the solution on the matter since it is within a specific plan. Thank you.

Okay. Thank you. Um any discussion from the council? I'll just reiterate what you said, mayor, that um one, I'm I'm I've been hearing about this land swap for quite a few years now and I'm glad that it finally came to fruition and it seems like we don't have anybody here from Cubesmart, at least nobody that's going to speak. So, I'm assuming that they're happy with the the results of the the finished product and uh I'm just glad that we we were able to find a a win-win for everybody involved. I think it makes a lot of sense. And then the Hampton Inn, um I think bringing that into the specific plan is kind of a no-brainer. Um I think that's going to be an enhancement for that area as well and provide an upgraded hotel experience for our residents and the folks that come and visit our residents. And I also like the landscaping plan too because it's not so uh beautiful right at the moment, but these these uh drawings here look really good.

It's been there quite a long time. So, I think um it was just memorialized in under a different uh a different time frame of what we wanted the city to look like. That's great. Okay. Um any other further discussion? Seeing none, I will uh this is a public hearing. I would move to close the public hearing. Do I have a second? We have a motion and a second. All in favor? I.

Any nos? Seeing none. Um, okay. Then I would make a motion to adopt the EIR addendum. EIR uh 25-005, introduce ordinance number 2025-1572, specific plan amendment SP24-00003, introduce ordinance number 2025-1573, specific plan amendment SP25-00001. Uh uh also adopt resolution 20259514 and general plan amendment GPA25-00002. Introduce ordinance number 20251574 and text amendment TA24-00004 as well as adopt resolution number 2025 954 I'm sorry 9515 conditional use permit CU 24-00005 and um exempt the SQA exemption of EX25-036 I don't think I missed anything.

I almost I almost missed the SQA exemption, but um I think I I grabbed that. So, I'll second your proposal, Mayor. Okay, we have a motion in a second. All in favor? I I uh any nos? Uh seeing none. Okay. All right. Uh moving on to oral communications. Do we have any? Yes, we do. Okay. Uh we have two speakers. We have Flower Alvarez Lopez and then also Alandre Alvarez. Flower Flower Alvarez is first. Oh, she's gonna go second. I'm sorry. She's gonna go second right after me. She's

Oh, okay. All right. Uh, Alandre Alvarez, welcome. Hello, everyone. Good evening, mayor and city council members. For the record, my name is Alandra Alvarez, and I'm a community educator at Univers. And I want to take this time to share how generous and giving the San Marcos community has been this holiday season. We continue to run our univers community pantry and want to recognize the San Marcos residents that continue to support the impacted families in our community. Alli Stanton delivered 10 turkeys before Thanksgiving that were distributed to families in need. Kathy wrote organized a toy drive amongst 70 different households and across two neighborhoods. And all these toys are going to be distributed at our Pada celebration spreading holiday cheer to the children of our community. Sharon Jenkins continues to donate food and other necessary items to our community pantry. And Gasa de Aaro has donated boxes of clothes and shoes. And with this cold weather, the winter coats are really keeping folks warm. So these collaborations and donations keep the community clothed and fed. And we want to thank these folks and are happy to share the generosity of our San Marcos residents. And finally, our co-director, Dr. Arela Nunes, attended the Kuanis parade and raved about how beautiful the festivities were. These events are so important to bring the community together and celebrate our wonderful city. And on the topic of holiday celebrations, we want to officially invite you all to our comm community pada celebration. A pada is a traditional Mexican Christmas celebration that is centered around a pilgrimage in which the entire community will participate in a procession full of singing and holiday cheer. So as we bid farewell to the new year or to the year, we want to celebrate with tamales, piñatas, music, and activities for the whole family. and the invitation has been emailed to all of you and we really hope to see you all there. Thank you.

Thank you. Uh next up is going to be Flower Alvarez Lopez.

Hello mayor and city council members. Uh for the record, my name is Flower Alvarez Lopez and I'm here on behalf of Univers to provide um on the record updates and a formal request for a fee waiver on one of the city facilities. Universes in North County San Diego based organization where our primary offices are located here in San Marcos on Autumn Drive in District 1. We respectfully request a fee waiver for a two-day partner convening focused on community investment programs in collaboration with statewide partners. The convening is scheduled for Thursday, March 12th and Friday, March 13th. And we're trying to use the Williams Red Barn as a host location. This convening will bring partners from across California to San Marcos for discussions on strengthening community rooted programs and advancing healthy supported communities throughout the state. Univers was identified as the statewide partner to organization partner organization to be recognized at this face-to-face convening. I have contacted Miss Crystal Main Price and confirmed that the Williams Red Barn is available for both days. Thank you for your consideration and continued support in community-based organizations serving San Marcos in the greater region. Any recommendations on how to move that request forward would be greatly appreciated. And I also just want to thank Alandre for her on the record updates. Um we hope to see you all at our community postada. I believe this will be the fifth year that we do it in partnership with Restoration Abbey. It's a great familyfriendly event that um really recommend folks show up to. Thank you.

Thank you. Um and staff's going to be talking to the Yes, we will follow up. Perfect. Thank you. Um okay. Sure there's a form for that. Yes. Uh I I just wanted to make sure. Um okay. Uh moving on to reports. We have um a sand egg and I forgot my notes so I actually can't uh uh speak to that so I will do it at the next meeting. So I'll do November December um and we have a meeting coming up uh this Friday. Uh League of California Cities Council Member Moscow.

Thank you, Mayor. We had our Zoom meeting yesterday and the highlights of the meeting were that the league leaders had met in a retreat in Riverside County to discuss 2026 issues and areas of concern. one those being amongst others uh prioritizing the state's unfunded mandates and as we know the city pays a considerable price for that every year from Prop 1A in 2004 where the citizens of California said no more unfunded mandates and the state of California continues to pass them down. Another one is taking another look at the redevelopment agency and that that framework where Governor Brown sees those funds to help uh bridge a gap in the budget or a similar funding mechanism to help support lo local jurisdictions meet our goals not the least of which are the housing mandates properly funding Prop 36 and the definition of public safety which was expanded the proposals to expand it and I think it's just common sense to include include fire safety services as well as public works because there's an integration between those three entities that have to happen at any um issue of disaster emergency preparedness and broaden the state's support for housing and homeless services. And I am going to stop right there and turn it over to Council Member Nunees who is our not only our representative with me on the city but also the president of the local chapter.

Yeah, thank you for that. Council member, I don't really have a whole lot to add other than we have great representation here in um from San Diego County. In fact, council member uh Teresa Costa in Carl'sbed is currently serving as our first BP. So, I think we'll be able to bring forward any concerns that that we have. Then that would conclude my report. So, I'm glad you brought up my favorite thing, unfunded mandates. Do we do we have a number on that? Isn't it right around a million or something? It's slightly over a million and

a million dollars that we could actually be using on our residents that we pay for unfunded mandates where the state says we have to do this but you have to do it on your own dime which is so frustrating for me. Um you know I always rage about this. So we need some we need some uh relief. So anyway hopefully they start taking it seriously. They can't just keep taking our money. And by the way, RAF, that's money that comes from the city of San Marcos. That's right around 14% that goes up to the education uh augmentation fund. I forget what the R stands for. Um that goes to the state. What do they do with that money? Just wondering. We get 7.2%. They get 14 something. Just a question that I'll leave out there.

It goes into the abyss, mayor. Yeah. Well, anyway, um always um upset about that part. So, anyway, um okay, moving on to North County Transit District. Deputy Mayor Sella.

Yes, Mayor. We uh we met down in Oceanside last month and the u most of what what we um discussed and and approved was kind of housekeeping stuff that was on consent, but the we did have a public uh hearing. Um, as the district continues to analyze the ridership data and make adjustments to their breeze and their coaster and uh their other offerings to make sure that they're getting as much as they possibly can out of um the resources that they have to uh to operate the uh the transit district. Um we made it the board voted unanimously to standardize weekend breeze service levels and to consolidate um the coaster connection service from five routes to two. And so, uh, with regards to the, uh, what was approved by the board, uh, Sunday service to the breeze routes 304 and 318, um, were approved at to add those. And then we eliminated Saturday service on the breeze routes 325 and 347 to create one weekend schedule as opposed to two separate Saturday and Sunday schedules. And so again, it's all designed to kind of make things operate more efficiently and and uh, and be able to get the most out of our resources. And then of the the two coaster connection routes that we kept were that was a data driven decision. Um we kept the two most popular routes which was the flex 473 and 479.

Okay. Um and h how is the um the North County Transit NCTD plus going? It's it's going good. As you know, we we just had an update from um NCTD staff on that

and um we're continuing to evaluate the ongoing uh kind of beta roll out of it and hopefully I know speaking just for myself and I I know that you feel the same way, mayor, we are hoping to expand those services sooner than later in San Marcos. Um it's again it's it's trying to work with Sandag to get the resources, the financial resources. Um but I would love to see it um up in San Leo Hills. I've had uh communications with residents and um folks up in that area who are are actively involved in the neighborhood and they have expressed um a desire to have it there to especially to help the their kids get to and from the high schools and I think that'd be a great um use of of NCTD Plus and so we're optimistic but we still got to find the money.

Yeah, it's all about the money. Yep. Show us the money. Okay. Um, uh, North County Dispatch Joint Powers Authority, uh, Council Member Lebl,

we met last week and, uh, we had our annual financial report. We elected our chair and vice chair. We ended up keeping the same chair and vice chair. So, the chair is Rick Robinson from Oceanside and the vice chair is James Ashcraft from the Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District. And we had a facility update on the possibility of a future facility for Northcom in the Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District in Harmony Grove. And we're continuing to explore that. We actually hired a consultant and had an architectural architectural firm and consultant do a presentation giving us um a potential site design and layout. So, they have some really good ideas for that. So, we're continuing to move forward with that. And uh we had a close session with some labor negotiations and uh I know throughout the year we've discussed the whole updates to the membership agreement that's been being talked about for several years. I understand.

Yes. But we uh that was not agendaized this time. So, we expect that to come back at our next meeting. And and the move too has been or the expansion has been uh several years too in the in the making. This looks like it's actually really starting to progress though with that. So, that's exciting.

After 10 years finally. So, um there have been over 12,000 calls for service. Uh we just had our employee awards and that was one of our facts. Our fun facts over 12,000 calls for service. Our fire department uh responds to every single year. So, it's pretty interesting and uh they're very busy. So, when you see um all of our uh fire personnel, thank them. They do a great job. Um, very proactive, but it's a lot of calls for service every year as well. You know, mayor, it's been how many years since we've heard Northcom say they're looking for a building, and then deals fall through and ideas go away.

Well, so this is my 19th year in office. Oh, actually, today is starting my eighth year as mayor, but um, yeah, I think it's my 19th year in office. And yes, we've been talking for it at le or talking about it at least I I would say 13 years. Hope hopefully with some success this time. Yeah, hopefully. Um, Clean Energy Alliance, uh, Council Member Nunees,

thank you, Mayor. Uh, we did meet, our last meeting was November the 20th, and it is our last meeting of this year. We're darkened uh, in December. And so the big issue that we're facing is the potential incry increase in energy rates that we're trying to balance along with maintaining um a good financial uh standing. And uh it's been very tough. Uh we had great participation from especially our senior citizens at at our meeting that showed up to give public comment about their um how tough the um really it's it's just really an uncertain time for them and how difficult it is for them to pay the utility rates and to pay other necessities. So it's something that we know it's it's happening to a lot of individuals. not only our senior senior citizens. So, we are facing a tough decision in terms of what we're going to do with um the rates. Uh we expect to continue to explore options. Uh but in January, uh the board will be making a decision. Um so, I'll be looking at Clean Energy Alliance staff to hopefully come and present to us with an update maybe in January. And I do encourage the residents to show up at our next meeting in January and obviously give us their public comment. Uh but it is um a tough decision that's in front of the board.

So council member um so when is your meeting going to be that you'll be making the decision? So, our next meeting is expected to happen in January and we normally meet the last Thursday at 2 o'clock in January. Um, so we will I will be announcing the set date and time at our first January meeting 2026. And I do encourage um if somebody cannot physically be there, we do have a Zoom option. Um so anybody can join the meeting via Zoom and um be able to make public comment via Zoom. Um so our meeting is scheduled um and it will be the 4th January so January 22nd and we start at 2:00 in Incinas at the Lucadia Water District. So, is that a move from Oceanside City Hall? Correct. Or is it rotational?

That No, we we're scheduled, as far as I know, to continue to meet in at the Lucadia Water District. Okay. Thank you.

And my suggestion would be um to our city clerk if we could please get them um scheduled for the first meeting so that we could hear a full presentation because it is such a tough time for people. I mean, with every when you're on a fixed income, any increase in anything, especially on your utility, your utilities, I mean, there's just no way to um uh plan for that if you have no idea. It's very, it's a lot of uncertainty. So, um it'd be good to hear from them as absolutely that would be. Then if they have um I know this is kind of hard but a prediction of what they think those rates might actually increase to. Um I think that would be a prudent thing for them to discuss at that time.

I think Michelle maybe we can work with staff to pull some of those preliminary numbers and maybe we can share in some of our social media. uh maybe we can coordinate some of that to give information to our residents of what really so they can start thinking through what that might look like. We don't have final numbers yet. Uh my understanding is that those projections are still being finalized. Um so we'll have a better idea in January what the increases will look like.

So if they have that by our first meeting um that we're going to schedule them to come here to the council, that would be super helpful. I I would be reticent for us to put things on social media when we don't have a number yet. Um but once they give us a number, I I would I would think that would be a prudent thing to do. Deputy Mayor, did you

Yeah, I'd caution us on putting stuff on our social media from CA because there's already a a tremendous amount of confusion in the public uh with the you know what what is SG&'s role, what is CA's role. I think if the city starts communicating out there um on behalf of CA or just sharing that information out, it's just going to add to that communication so or that confusion. But I would like to when we have that meeting with their staff to really um reinforce with them that they they communicate with um with you know their their customers essentially. And I'd also like to learn a lot more about what levers they um they have that they can perhaps pull to either spread that that cost out over time or do something a little bit more like just like I reported within CTD. Um we're going through um all year long we've been going through ways of of finding, you know, efficiencies to be able to operate in a leaner way u while still serving our customers. And I'd like to hear what CA's been doing to try to alleviate some of those uh that that cost burden on uh on our residents because there there are there are a lot of people out there that are really hurting.

And that's exactly the balancing act that that the staff is looking to see what they're going to come um what options they're going to come to the board with. And so that's why I think it'll be really important for our residents to really pay attention to what's being considered and what would make the most sense. there are certain options that for instance um one of the requests that we put forward is whether or not rebates would make sense and we're being told that it would be cost prohibitive to implement something like that. Um but certainly there are um it's a lot of concern that we're seeing across the board not just from residents here in the city of San Marcos but the other member cities. Yeah, I I could imagine. So,

thanks, uh, Deputy Mayor, uh, Council Member Busker. Yeah, thank you, Mayor. It it seems as though we're getting Well, I know we're for a fact we're getting ready to roll out at least a beta version of our new website, making it a lot easier for us and the residents to navigate. That would be a fantastic hyperlink. Anything of interest to the city so that there's a clean energy link, they can go right to there just by going to our city website. and then let clean energy, as the deputy mayor suggested, let them post it on their social media pages for our residents.

No, I think these are excellent ideas and I think we could probably coordinate some of that where we might be able to share some of the information that uh Clean Energy Alliance is is putting out to their customers, to our residents.

Yeah. And I think um I think nothing specific that we would be putting on as in our own information. And I think a link is a great idea. Um, also if we're going to do um a link I think to clean energy alliance, I think we should also have a link to Valisto's water district because there is a lot of confusion sometimes of who does what and when people say, "Oh, well my sewer or my water." I'm like, "Well, we're not in charge of that." And then we may add another one to also Edco. Uh maybe so we have like a um utilities kind of overall uh link and then you can click on the different utilities that are not run by the city not covered by the city. Yeah, I think a drop down would be a prudent idea on that.

Um okay, we might not be able to do it right away um because I know it's going to take a little planning on that. But I think just having um you know that that drop down so that we don't you know people understand okay the city's not in charge of this, the city's not in charge of that. Um because we you know we want we want the right entity to be able to help people because we definitely want to get them that help that they need. I love the idea of consolidating. Right now we do have a link to CA and EDCO but I think putting that on one page with some of the other community partners is a great idea and uh we can certainly do what we do with other partners which is we rely on them to put out their socials and then we share. So that's very consistent with how we operate with with the other partners. So we can absolutely do that.

Sounds good. Okay. All right. Uh, next up is a business visit. Um, so we had we went uh council member Nunes and I went uh yesterday to now I can't remember. Is it Parabolis or Yeah, Parabolis? Yes,

I didn't Parabilis. I didn't go to it last time. Um, it was a fascinating uh business visit because I had no idea they were here in San Marcos. So, uh, Parabololis, uh, Space Technologies began in Powe in 1998 and relocated to San Marcos in 2014, establishing a long-term presence here in North County. Uh, the company operates two facilities in San Marcos for engine assembly and manufacturing. Uh, they're actually right near one another, just across the parking lot actually. Um, along with a dedicated test site test site in Ramona. Well, it's actually in Lakeside, but they want to move it to Ramona. Um, uh, to support the propulsion system development, and it's, uh, they maintain a highly specialized team of 17 employees. We walked around and we saw a few, um, of them working. Um, but they're pretty busy. They've got a lot going on. Um, and they're uh, they are manufacturers worldwide of um, advanced propulsion technology. So basically satellites up there moving around by propulsion. Um clean uh they're they do it pretty clean. So um actually we don't have a co a picture of the cylinder but they have these cylinders. Did you want to jump in uh council member?

This is rocket fuel by the way. It looks like uh a coaster. It looks like it's uh plastic but it's rubber and it's um rocket fuel. Yeah. It's pretty neat. You want to touch it? Look at you. It's very interesting. Um, anyway, very interesting. Um, so do you wanna do you want to jump in there?

Yeah. The company currently partners with NASA and the US Space Force on specialized projects reinforcing its role in national defense and space exploration. And um they're currently collaborating with uh graduate students from California State University, San Marcos, and on cyber security security project, demonstrating its active engagement with local education and workforce development um through San Marcos and Ramona facilities. The company contributes to the regional advanced manufacturing and aerospace ecosystem. Um I do remember that we did get to meet one of their newer employees. They said it's their youngest employee and she came to them from um University of San Diego.

Correct. Yep. And uh right out of college, right? Right out of college. Uh got that job and I think it's a pretty good highpaying job, too. It sounds like it. And the other thing they did mention is that they're looking to add, I believe they said 17 new employees fairly soon.

And if you look at that picture, it doesn't actually go up in the air. We saw that and we were like, "Oh, wildfire." Um, but it doesn't do that. It's uh just simply to um uh test the uh propulsion system. And as soon as it no longer is um uh fueled with air, so you know, they have there's no more oxygen, it goes right out. So, it's it's it's it's kind of deceptive looking at it because it looks like, oh my gosh, there's a fire and there's going to be oh, you know, there's a flame and there's going to be a fire. But anyway, it was really interesting and how many I I didn't even know this. Um, so there's like a I want to say like a graveyard of right now of technology kind of floating out there in the atmosphere which is kind of a little bit scary. I and and then they were talking about I it was fascinating like trash trucks that uh can go around with it which they're kind of considering on doing next where they can pick up all the old technology because it's you know much like the trash in the middle of the um of the actual sea, you know, with the plastic and all that. It's like that up in in in space. It's

the space junk. Mayor, what the space junk? Yeah. Yeah. It's like space junk. Yes. I had no idea you you knew about this, of course. Uh somewhat. I I had no idea. I was I was shocked. And it's just floating around up there. You can actually find maps and it is littered. Well, some of them, you know, they they come back to Earth. That's what I thought all of them did. But some of them actually, you know, they run out of fuel and they just float around up there and it's kind of weird. Anyway, they're not going to be coming back. But is this company off of Linda Vista? It is. Okay. Have you ever been there?

I've Yeah, I have. I've seen this photo, too. I think my first business visit ever might have been there and I'm having some deja vu here. So, um I'm glad to hear that they're doing they're doing good and thriving. That's great. Yeah, they have a a new CEO. He just retired from another job back in January and then by April he started this job because he said it's just such a dream job of all of all that they're doing. It's really um very cutting edge. Um, I was a little surprised that they don't have any uh patents at this point in time, which I thought was interesting. I had no idea. Anything you wanted to add, council member? Another really fascinating and in our city.

Yes. And right here in in Little San Marcos. So anyway, um, anything else um, any council members would like to share? I guess I would just like to say merry Christmas to everyone. We are not going to have a second meeting this month. Um, and we just want to wish everyone a very healthy and uh, happy new year because we won't see you before New Year and we will see you back in 2026. Any other comments? All right, with that this meeting is adjourned. The last one for 2025.