SANDAG legal opinion leaves Gaasterland as Del Mar’s primary rep on SANDAG Board

On January 7, the Sandpiper reported that the City Council was unable to agree on a Primary Representative to SANDAG at its meeting on January 6. After much discussion and an apparent 2-2 standoff, the City Attorney responded to a question from Mayor Martinez by stating that as a result of the 2-2 split, Del Mar would have no representation at SANDAG until a Council majority appointed a representative. Thus, the Sandpiper reported that Councilmember Gaasterland had lost her SANDAG seat.

That conclusion was reversed by the action of SANDAG attorneys the following day. Here is what City Manager Ashley Jones had to say about their actions:

“On Thursday, January 8, the City Attorney was formally notified by SANDAG (after they consulted with in-house and outside special legal counsel) that, per CPUC Article 2, 132351.1, the City’s current representatives to the SANDAG Board, which includes Councilmember Gaasterland (primary); Mayor Martinez (1st Alternate); and Deputy Mayor Spelich (2nd Alternate), will continue to serve until such time the City Council votes to recall or replace them.”

Councilmember Gaasterland attended the SANDAG Board Meeting on Friday, January 9, as the Del Mar representative.