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Growth Management Citizens Committee
A resident-led committee created by the City Council has completed its work to recommend key elements that should be addressed in a new plan to manage growth in a way that maintains an excellent quality of life and ensures compliance with state law. The committee met 15 times between March 2022 and April 2023.
The citizens committee was the first step of a multi-year process to create a new approach to managing growth in Carlsbad. The City Council accepted the committee's report on July 18, 2023.
Learn more about growth management.
Carlsbad Tomorrow Growth Management Citizens Committee Report
Carlsbad Tomorrow Growth Management Citizens Committee report (April 2023)
Report appendices
Appendix 1 - Committee reference materials
Appendix 2 - Committee meeting materials
Appendix 3 - Public comments
Appendix 4 - City plans and policy documents
Appendix 5 - Resource websites
Quality of Life Concerns & Recommendations
Committee Quality of Life Concerns & Recommendations (April 2023)
The City Council accepted the committee’s report on July 18, 2023, and asked staff to return with more information about two committee suggestions.
- One is to return to the City Council with options for how a Carlsbad-specific law, called Proposition H, could be updated to better account for inflation and increasing project costs. This law requires voter approval for certain construction projects that cost more than $1 million in general city funds. Carlsbad voters passed this requirement in 1982 to have more direct oversight of city spending.
- The other suggestion was to explore whether the city should create an additional standard that all homes should be within a certain distance from a park. This was discussed when the city’s new Parks & Recreation Master Plan Update was presented and adopted by the City Council in September 2023. The committee recommended keeping the current 3 acres of park space for every 1,000 people standard.
Staff will now develop a timeline and cost estimate for the next steps in updating development standards, including technical and fee studies. This will be presented to the City Council in spring 2024.
The overall process to update Carlsbad's growth management program is expected to take about three to four years and will have additional opportunities for public input.
The committee met 15 times between March 2022 and April 2023. Meetings were typically held the fourth Thursday of the month at 5 p.m. at the Faraday Center (1635 Faraday Ave.).
Watch past meetings
2022-23 meeting schedule
Committee process
Growth Management Citizens Committee | March 23, 2023
Growth Management Citizens Committee | Feb. 23, 2023
Growth Management Citizens Committee | Jan. 26, 2023
Growth Management Citizens Committee | Jan. 11, 2023
Growth Management Citizens Committee | Dec. 15, 2022
Growth Management Citizens Committee | Nov. 30, 2022
Growth Management Citizens Committee | Oct. 19, 2022
Growth Management Citizens Committee | Sept. 22, 2022
Growth Management Citizens Committee | Aug. 25, 2022
Growth Management Citizens Committee | July 28, 2022
Growth Management Citizens Committee | June 23, 2022
Growth Management Citizens Committee | May 26, 2022
Growth Management Citizens Committee | April 28, 2022
Growth Management Citizens Committee | March 30, 2022
Members were chosen to get a cross section of community perspectives, including residents from each of the Carlsbad’s four City Council districts, as well as members of appointed commissions. Each City Council member and the mayor appointed two members of the public and two alternates, and so did each of the city’s advisory commissions:
The committee members are:
Member | Alternate |
Jeff Segall, At Large | Ron Withall, At Large |
Scott White, At Large | Patrick Goyarts, At Large |
Eric Larson, District 1 | Jan Neff-Sinclair, District 1 |
Stephen “Hap” L’Heureux, District 1 | Casey Carstairs, District 1 |
Mike Howes, District 2 | Don Christiansen, District 2 |
Mary Ryan, District 2 | Terence Green, District 2 |
Frank Caraglio, District 3 | Thierry Ibri, District 3 |
Frances Schnall, District 3 | Matthew Reese, District 3 |
Harry Peacock, District 4 | Erin Nell, District 4 |
Annika Jimenez, District 4 | Angela O’Hara, District 4 |
Gita Nassiri, Arts Commission | Nora Jimenez George, Arts Commission |
Fred Briggs, Beach Preservation Commission | Lisa Stark, Beach Preservation Commission |
Chad Majer, Historic Preservation Commission | Jamie Jacobs, Historic Preservation Commission |
John Nguyen-Cleary, Housing Commission | Allen Manzano, Housing Commission |
William Sheffler, Library Board of Trustees | Art Larson, Library Board of Trustees |
Amy Allemann, Parks & Recreation Commission | Marissa Steketee, Parks & Recreation Commission |
Joseph Stine, Planning Commission | Kevin Sabellico, Planning Commission |
Senior Commission representative - vacant | Senior Commission representative - vacant |
Steve Linke, Traffic & Mobility Commission | William Fowler, Traffic & Mobility Commission |
Eligibility
All committee members were required to be a City of Carlsbad resident and registered voter. They were also required to be available to attend approximately 10 committee meetings between March 2022 and April 2023. Additional guidelines for committee members are included in the committee charter.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Growth Management Plan Update Advisory Committee is to promote balanced consideration of a range of perspectives on issues affecting the future growth and quality of life in Carlsbad and to identify the key elements of a new plan to manage growth in Carlsbad in a way that maintains an excellent quality of life while also complying with state law.
Role of Growth Management Plan Update Advisory Committee Members
To achieve the mission of the Growth Management Plan Update Advisory Committee, the City Council is asking members to:
- Become familiar with the issues that affect future growth and quality of life in Carlsbad
- Attend periodic meetings over a period of time (approximately 1 year)
- Listen to and respect diversity in perspectives, facts and opinions
- Provide constructive feed back to city staff and consultants on process and draft work products
- In decision-making, balance individual and group stakeholder goals with the larger public interest and legal requirements
- Work collaboratively with other committee members in reaching decisions and making recommendations to the City Council
- Encourage community participation at committee meetings
Representation
The committee will be comprised of a total of 19 primary members and 19 alternate members as follows:
Two members (one primary and one alternate) from each of the following city boards and commissions:
- Arts Commission
- Beach Preservation Commission
- Historic Preservation Commission
- Housing Commission
- Library Board
- Parks and Recreation Commission
- Planning Commission
- Senior Commission
- Traffic and Mobility Commission
Four residents (two primary and two alternate) from each City Council district:
- District 1
- District 2
- District 3
- District 4
Four at-large residents (two primary and two alternates)
Each respective commission/board will nominate two commissioners/members (one primary and one alternate) to serve as members of the committee. Once each commission/board nominates each member, staff will report to the City Council the nominations with a brief biography. Then, over a period of 30 days; the Mayor will consider and confirm the recommended nominations and will recommend four at-large residents (two primary and two alternates), and each council member will recommend four residents (two primary and two alternate) from the council member's district to serve on the committee.
The full City Council will make the final decision on all commission/board and district representative recommendations. From the appointed primary committee members, the Mayor will designate a Chair and Vice-chair.
Discussion Process
During committee meetings, committee members agree to abide by the following discussion process:
- The committee will establish ground rules about how members should conduct themselves during meetings
- The preferred decision-making process is collaborative problem-solving
- Consensus of the committee will take precedence over individual preferences
- In cases of non-consensus, the Chair may call for majority vote of the committee; however, alternative perspectives will be documented.
- City staff will be present at all meetings to assist the Chair and committee as-needed Role of Chair and Vice-chair
The Chair will ensure that committee meetings are conducted fairly and efficiently, that proper order and mutual respect among all participants is maintained, that there is full participation during meetings, that all relevant matters are discussed, that all committee members have an opportunity to participate in committee discussions, and that necessary decisions are made. To the extent reasonable, the Chair will seek consensus of the committee in decision-making. In instances where consensus cannot be reached, the Chair may call for majority vote of the committee following procedures set forth in Carlsbad Municipal Code Chapter 1.20. However, the Chair will ensure that minority viewpoints are heard and documented.
- The Chair will ensure that these Principles of Participation and agreed-upon "ground rules" are adhered to.
- The Chair is responsible for ensuring that members of the public desiring to address the committee have the opportunity to do so at the appropriate time.
- The Chair may speak to members of the media on behalf of the committee, and represent the committee at public workshops, hearings and other public events as appropriate.
- The role of the Vice-chair is to serve as the Chair in his or her absence.
Meeting Schedule
The committee will meet approximately once a month (about 10-12 times).
Full participation of committee members is essential to the effectiveness of the committee, and members are expected to attend all committee meetings. If a committee member is unable to attend a meeting, he or she shall notify city staff as soon as possible, and the designated alternate may attend in his or her place. The alternate is encouraged to actively participate in the meeting provided that he or she is adequately briefed as to the status of prior discussions and decisions.
If a committee member who was appointed to represent one of the boards or commissions has a term that concludes prior to the committee completing its work, the member is allowed to remain on the committee until the work concludes, but must report back to the represented board or commission at the represented board or commission's request.
If a committee member resigns his or her appointment before the committee's work has concluded, he or she shall notify the Mayor and City Council in writing, with copies sent to the City Clerk, City Manager and the Community Development Director. The resigning committee members designated alternate shall automatically become a regular committee member for the remaining duration of the committee. If the alternate member chooses not to fill the vacancy, at their next scheduled meeting, the committee will consider whether to recommend that the Mayor and City Council fill the vacated position.
Meeting Quorum
For meeting purposes, a quorum of the committee is met with eight members in attendance.
Open Meeting Requirements
All committee meetings and committee members are subject to the open meeting requirements of the Ralph M. Brown Act (Brown Act). The Brown Act imposes public notice and access requirements on committee meetings, and places certain limitations on when and how committee members may communicate with one another. New committee members will be given a briefing by the City Attorney's office about the basic requirements of the Brown Act.
Meeting Agendas
Meeting agendas will be prepared by city staff in consultation with the Chairperson or a majority of the committee, following the procedures of the Brown Act. At the conclusion of each meeting, the Chair and city staff will summarize the results and identify items that may need further research or be carried over to the next meeting, preview new business for the upcoming meeting, and invite committee members to suggest new items for future meetings. Agendas for future meetings will be established by consensus of the committee with concurrence of the Chair and city staff.
Members of the public have a right to attend committee meetings and will have an opportunity to address the committee on any issue under its purview. Agendas will include time for public comment.
External Communications
The overriding consideration in all communications is to honor and sustain the constructive, collaborative process of the committee. Committee members are encouraged to communicate with their constituencies in order to keep them informed of the committee's mission and meeting agendas, and to encourage direct participation. Should committee members speak to the media, members are encouraged to provide accurate, factual information, but are asked to refrain from engaging in speculation, advocating a position on a specific issue, speaking on behalf of the committee (except for the Chair or unless authorized by the committee to do so), or otherwise making public statements that would tend to hamper constructive committee discussions. Committee members are asked to notify city staff of any media contact related to the committee and its work. City staff will be available to assist in any communications to the media, if desired.
Information Sharing
In order to ensure all committee members have the same information available to them, all documents will be distributed through city staff. If a member has information he or she would like to share with other committee members, the information should be given to staff for distribution to the entire committee. Maintaining this flow of information will facilitate a respectful, collaborative process, and help avoid unintended violations of open meeting laws (e.g., serial meetings).
Work Products
The committee will be responsible for reviewing work products and providing feedback to staff and consultants. The committee is expected to focus on input, review, and "buy-in" to carry out the committee's mission, rather than deliberating on precise details. The committee's work will conclude with a committee-supported report recommending to the City Council what should be included (key elements) in a new plan to manage growth and achieve an excellent quality of life while ensuring compliance with state law. The City Council will consider the committee's recommendations and direct the next steps to create a new growth management plan.
Agendas and meeting materials
- CDP2023-0037.mm
- Correspondence received on 4.25.23
- Additional correspondence received on 4.20.23 after 2pm
- Additional correspondence received on 4.20.23
- Additional correspondence received 4.19.23
- Correspondence received as of April 14, 2023
- April 20, 2023 Agenda Packet
- Correspondence received on 3.23.23 by 1 p.m.
- Correspondence received on 3.22.23
- Correspondence received by 3.21.23
- Correspondence received by 3.20.23
- Correspondence received on 03-16-23
- March 23, 2023 Agenda Packet
- Correspondence received on 03.06.23
- Correspondence received on 03-03-23
- Feb. 23 2023 PowerPoint Presentation
- Additional materials as of Feb. 22, 2023
- Additional materials as of Feb. 23, 2023
- Feb. 23, 2023 Agenda Packet
- Additional materials received as of Feb. 7, 2023