Carlsbad City Council: votes at a glance from May 13 meeting

The Carlsbad City Council took votes on multiple items during its May 13, 2025 meeting, approving emergency repairs, confirming appointments, adopting code amendments and resolving a planning appeal.

Why it matters: The actions set procurement and governance processes (including a new Investment Review Board), advance infrastructure and land-use decisions, and determine how the city will handle future applications for certain kinds of development.

Key votes and outcomes

- Item 1 — Consent (miscellaneous consent calendar item): motion adopted unanimously. (Motion: not specified; outcome: approved.)

- Item 2 — Emergency declaration and procurement to repair Kelly Drive channel: council approved a declaration of emergency and authorized immediate procurement to complete repairs to an eroded channel at Kelly Drive, ending the need for a 4–6 month formal bidding process. Motion and second recorded in the record; vote: unanimous (5–0). Staff said the informal procurement limit under the city manager is $220,000, but the estimated emergency work is approximately $350,000 and exceeds that threshold, prompting council approval for emergency action.

- Item 3 — Mayoral appointment, Historic Preservation Commission: council confirmed a mayoral appointment (result: confirmed unanimously, 5–0). Two finalists — Kylie Fitzgerald and Catherine Peterson — spoke during the hearing; the council ultimately appointed Katherine (Catherine) Peterson (appointment text in the record: not specified beyond confirmation).

- Item 4 — Establishment of the Investment Review Board and related code changes: council introduced an ordinance to amend Carlsbad Municipal Code to replace the Investment Review Committee with an Investment Review Board, remove staff and non‑voting resident advisors from the board, and require the city treasurer to nominate four resident board members subject to council approval. Council voted to introduce the ordinance and adopt accompanying resolutions (motion carried unanimously, 5–0).

- Item 5 — Introduction of ordinance amending sewer benefit area fee authority (CMC §13.10.080): staff presented an ordinance to remove fixed fee amounts from the municipal code and to set sewer benefit area fees by resolution going forward; council moved to introduce the ordinance and the item was introduced (motion carried unanimously, 5–0). Adoption to follow at a later meeting.

- Item 6 — Final FY25–30 Consolidated Plan and FY25–26 Annual Action Plan (CDBG): council adopted the resolution approving the consolidated plan and annual action plan and authorized submission to HUD (vote: unanimous, 5–0).

- Item 7 — Appeal of Planning Commission approval for a medical office building at Palomar Airport Road and Aviara Parkway: the council heard a de novo appeal, received staff, appellant and applicant presentations and public testimony, and voted to deny the appeal (i.e., uphold the Planning Commission approval). Motion to deny the appeal carried unanimously (5–0).

- Item 8 — Fiscal year 2025–26 internal audit plan: council adopted a resolution approving the internal audit work plan for FY25–26 (motion carried unanimously, 5–0).

- Item 9 — Intersection improvements at Carlsbad Boulevard & Tamarack Avenue (SANDAG grant): council considered three options (roundabout, traffic signal, or smaller-scale pedestrian/ADA improvements). After public testimony and staff briefing, the council approved the smaller-scale pedestrian-focused project (Option 3) designed to preserve remaining SANDAG grant funds and deliver ADA-compliant crosswalks and ramps. Motion carried (vote recorded as 3–2 on the record; majority approved Option 3).

- Item 10 — Regulation of new drive‑through restaurants: council considered five regulatory options ranging from keeping the citywide prohibition to allowing drive‑throughs in all commercial zones. After public testimony and debate, council chose Option 2: keep the current prohibition in place but allow the city council to consider privately initiated, site‑specific zoning amendments (i.e., applicants would request code amendments/rezones and the council would decide). Vote: 3–2 in favor of Option 2.

- Final item — Boards and commissions code of ethics: council adopted the resolution (motion carried unanimously, 5–0).

Not specified: Individual roll‑call names on each recorded vote were not listed in the meeting minutes for many items; motions were made and seconded and the clerk recorded outcomes as unanimous or by reported tally where indicated.