[3:15] and
[3:16] Councilmember Lee is
[3:16] council PRESIDENT Personally my
[3:20] apologies because we check your
[3:21] mic.
[3:21] I just have to thank you so
[3:22] much.
[3:28] We can hear you loud and clear
[3:29] .
[3:29] Mm.
[4:19] Yeah
[4:19] .
[4:19] Good morning.
[4:23] I will now call the City
[4:24] council meeting on Monday MARCH
[4:25] 9th 2026 to order Clerk Please
[4:28] call the roll.
[4:29] Thank you.
[4:29] Council PRESIDENT Council
[4:30] Member Campbell Council Member
[4:33] Whitburn here.
[4:33] Councilmember Foster
[4:36] Councilmember Von Wilpert
[4:42] Council PRESIDENT Pro Tem Lee
[4:43] here.
[4:43] Thank you.
[4:44] Council Member Campo you here?
[4:47] Councilmember Moreno present
[4:48] Councilmember Ella Rivera and
[4:51] Council PRESIDENT LaCava
[4:52] present Also attending
[4:53] the meeting our city attorney
[4:53] Heather Ferber, independent
[4:57] budget analyst Charles Mollica
[4:58] and myself your city clerk Dana
[4:58] Fuentes.
[4:59] Thank you Council PRESIDENT
[5:01] Thank you and Council PRESIDENT
[5:02] Pro Tem Lee, Would you like to
[5:03] make your statement?
[5:03] >> Sure.
[5:07] I'm notifying the council that
[5:07] I'll be attending today's
[5:08] meeting remotely due to just
[5:09] cause relating to family health
[5:11] care needs pursuant to
[5:12] the Brown Act I am disclosing
[5:15] that there are no individuals
[5:15] 18 years of age or older
[5:16] present in the room with me and
[5:20] I will update that disclosure
[5:20] if anything changes during
[5:21] the course of the meeting.
[5:21] >> All right.
[5:22] Thank you, sir.
[5:25] And I see that council member
[5:26] Von Wolpert is entering
[5:27] chambers and I want to give a
[5:30] hearty welcome back to Council
[5:31] member Campo.
[5:31] I know you've bounced in a
[5:35] couple of times but it's good
[5:36] to see you back on the dais.
[5:36] Thank you.
[5:37] It's good to be back.
[5:40] A quorum is now present.
[5:41] We will begin this morning with
[5:41] an invocation by Clark Fuentes
[5:42] followed with the land
[5:44] acknowledgment and the Pledge
[5:44] of Allegiance led by council
[5:49] member You grant those who hold
[5:50] office in this spirit and this
[5:53] city the spirit of wisdom,
[5:54] charity and justice that was
[5:54] steadfast purpose.
[5:58] They MAY faithfully serve in
[5:58] their offices to promote
[5:59] the well-being of our people.
[6:03] >> We respectfully acknowledge
[6:04] that the culmination are
[6:04] the original inhabitants of
[6:08] the Unceded land now known as
[6:08] San Diego.
[6:09] Despite enduring the horrors of
[6:13] genocide and colonization,
[6:14] the Kumai spirit remains
[6:14] unbroken.
[6:15] We honor the resilience of
[6:18] their ancestors who fought to
[6:18] protect their culture and land.
[6:19] Today they carry their legacy
[6:23] forward ensuring that their
[6:23] traditions continue to thrive
[6:24] and gratitude and strength We
[6:28] stand with the committed nation
[6:28] connected to our past and
[6:29] committed to a thriving future.
[6:32] Please face the flag and over
[6:38] your heart Ready Begin with my
[6:39] duties to the flag of
[6:40] the United States of America
[6:42] and to the Republic for which
[6:43] it stands One nation under GOD
[6:45] indivisible with liberty and
[6:50] justice for all.
[6:55] All right, MADAM City Clerk,
[6:56] would you please go over how
[6:56] the public can offer their
[6:57] testimony?
[6:57] >> Thank you.
[6:59] I'd like to highlight the slide
[7:00] on the screen that reviews how
[7:01] the public can offer their
[7:01] public testimony during today's
[7:02] meeting.
[7:05] If you are in person please
[7:05] complete the speaker slip
[7:06] located at the entrance of
[7:07] chambers and bring it to
[7:10] the front of the room.
[7:10] No further in-person testimony
[7:11] will be taken once the council
[7:12] begins virtual testimony.
[7:14] For better meeting management
[7:15] purposes each speaker will have
[7:19] one minute per item per person
[7:19] .
[7:20] Maximum of three minutes of
[7:20] three or more items.
[7:21] Thank you.
[7:25] Council PRESIDENT All right.
[7:25] Thank you.
[7:26] With that please read
[7:26] the closed session items into
[7:27] the record.
[7:29] Conference with Legal Counsel
[7:29] Assists in Litigation pursuant
[7:30] to California Government Code
[7:33] Section 5495 6.91 Is this one
[7:33] Edward Fields versus City of
[7:38] San Diego.
[7:39] See us to Susan Enriquez versus
[7:39] City of San Diego c.
[7:41] S three Mary Brown at all
[7:41] versus Joe LaCava at all.
[7:45] Conference with Legal Counsel
[7:46] Significant exposure to
[7:46] litigation pursuant to
[7:49] California Government Code
[7:50] Section 54956.9 c as far as pre
[7:51] lit claim San Diego's County
[7:55] Regional Airport Authority and
[7:56] c.
[7:56] S five pre lit claim fireman's
[8:00] fund as secretary of Park place
[8:00] on Harbor hoa thank you council
[8:04] PRESIDENT All right and with
[8:05] that please proceed with public
[8:05] comment.
[8:06] I do not see any public comment
[8:08] speakers here in council
[8:09] chambers so I will start
[8:10] the five minute timer and go to
[8:14] those participating remotely.
[8:15] We currently have five speakers
[8:15] in the queue.
[8:16] Blair Beckman If you can please
[8:19] unmute and let me know which
[8:20] item or items you wish to speak
[8:28] to after that is 8700 Blair Hi
[8:29] Blair Beekman.
[8:32] I wanted to speak to item c us
[8:33] for okay, you'll have a minute.
[8:37] Please proceed.
[8:37] All right.
[8:37] Thank you.
[8:38] Blair Beekman.
[8:38] I hope my zoom is working okay.
[8:41] Sorry, but we'll cut out I very
[8:42] much But thank you that for on
[8:46] this item it appears the words
[8:51] this claim will involve damages
[8:51] to the San Diego County
[8:52] Regional Airport Authority
[8:55] property caused by
[8:56] the accidental release
[8:57] approximately 9.9 million
[9:00] gallons of wastewater from city
[9:01] Center's sanitary sewer system
[9:08] on JULY and JANUARY 16th, 2023
[9:08] .
[9:09] This item is called Significant
[9:10] exposure to litigation pursuant
[9:14] to California Government Code
[9:15] section such and such When you
[9:18] have significant exposure to
[9:19] litigation items on your closed
[9:20] session agendas you usually
[9:23] don't go into explanations and
[9:24] you do For this one I just
[9:24] wanted to thank you immensely
[9:29] that for as great as you guys
[9:29] can be and explanations at
[9:33] closed session time you took
[9:34] the extra time on this sort of
[9:34] item to give explanations
[9:38] That's just a lot of good work
[9:39] from yourselves.
[9:39] >> Thank you.
[9:39] Thank you.
[9:42] After that is 8700 if you can
[9:44] please unmute sorry.
[9:48] There you go.
[9:54] Yeah let me know which I'm
[9:55] sorry I got ahead of you.
[9:55] >> Go ahead If you can just let
[9:56] me know which item or items you
[9:59] wish to speak to please.
[10:02] >> Yes one, two, three and
[10:02] four.
[10:03] >> You'll have three minutes.
[10:04] Please proceed.
[10:08] Good morning.
[10:09] The first thing I wanted to say
[10:09] is thank you for showing up.
[10:13] All of you.
[10:14] It just it makes such a
[10:14] difference.
[10:17] I really, really appreciate
[10:18] that all of you show up and and
[10:19] just appreciate the entire city
[10:23] council and everyone So thank
[10:23] you.
[10:28] Okay On one long list of risks
[10:28] for riding a bike, this
[10:33] litigation is hard to avoid And
[10:38] my best direction on this is to
[10:39] the bicycle.
[10:40] To be your own safety advocate
[10:42] please.
[10:43] It really, really helps.
[10:43] Okay.
[10:47] And number two, it's really
[10:48] the thing that's number one
[10:49] except people are walking and
[10:49] walking is risky.
[10:53] I'm I'm a full time walker.
[10:54] Litigation can be expected on
[10:59] these trips and falls And again
[10:59] I'll say to the walkers now
[11:03] prevention it works I do it
[11:04] absolutely every single day and
[11:09] then I'm number three My
[11:13] direction on this is a prop to
[11:13] 18.
[11:14] It's such a strong support for
[11:19] the public and for everyone
[11:20] that wants their voices to be
[11:20] heard which the way they want
[11:24] to sleep on it For me though I
[11:25] 100 years without a fee is a
[11:29] lot of money in the pocket.
[11:30] So for me the big picture as a
[11:34] big family as one family is
[11:35] it's time to share the money.
[11:39] Our budget needs it now.
[11:40] Please help.
[11:40] Thank you.
[11:43] And number four I'd be
[11:44] interested in when you know
[11:48] Excuse me.
[11:49] I'd be interested in who and
[11:52] what caused the accident.
[11:53] 9.9 million gallons of waste
[11:58] water could it have been
[11:58] prevented?
[12:04] I I really appreciate the extra
[12:04] information on that as Blair
[12:05] said.
[12:09] So you have a beautiful day.
[12:09] A beautiful we thanks for
[12:10] listening up to all Thank you.
[12:14] Next is the original If you can
[12:15] please unmute and let me know
[12:16] which item or items you wish to
[12:20] speak to after you as Laurie's
[12:20] alternate I just for
[12:24] housekeeping purposes why did
[12:24] you collect them into consent
[12:25] and discussion before you've
[12:27] taken those separately account
[12:33] them all into one like this I
[12:33] can definitely email you but
[12:38] this is all on discussion or
[12:39] it's not It says consent and
[12:40] then on my three on discussion
[12:44] So all I'm saying is when
[12:44] you're presenting it that way
[12:45] you guys need to mitigate that
[12:48] so that you can make sure that
[12:49] you're doing it correctly
[12:49] because you should be hearing
[12:50] each discussion item on your
[12:54] own not acting like it's all on
[12:54] consent.
[12:55] So you've done proceed with
[13:00] which items you wish to speak
[13:00] to.
[13:01] Nothing's changing your time
[13:02] Them all of them.
[13:02] You'll have three minutes.
[13:03] Please proceed.
[13:05] So for the first two with
[13:06] the accidents and the roadways
[13:10] not being capped, it's you're
[13:11] still have many roadways that
[13:15] are not being taken care of and
[13:16] you seem to be putting in Sure
[13:17] bike lanes But why don't you
[13:20] fix the roads first before you
[13:20] go and add anything Because we
[13:21] don't need to be continuing to
[13:25] pay litigation settlements
[13:25] because you guys are failing to
[13:29] do so and see us three with
[13:30] this Proposition 218 This is a
[13:35] totally unconstitutional act
[13:36] that takes place because it is
[13:36] setting the bar so high that
[13:41] it's never going to be met So
[13:42] you circumvent the will of
[13:43] the people all the time
[13:43] especially when you're doing
[13:46] things like this And raising
[13:47] fees.
[13:47] You're never going to have
[13:48] enough protest That should be
[13:49] the reverse that you have
[13:52] enough people in approval of it
[13:53] that then you pass it.
[13:57] But it's you know, it's already
[13:58] been deemed unconstitutional So
[13:58] it shouldn't be something that
[14:02] you guys are even using And
[14:03] this is going to make us pay
[14:03] more money because you guys are
[14:04] doing that.
[14:08] But what you do is
[14:08] unconstitutional on a daily
[14:09] basis and you do circumvent
[14:13] the will and the voice of
[14:14] the people by the things you're
[14:15] doing like this when you're
[14:16] saying it like everything's on
[14:19] a Saturday if it whatever when
[14:20] things are on consent you group
[14:20] them all together and you
[14:21] expect everyone to, you know,
[14:24] talk about a bunch of items at
[14:25] one time and it's like you're
[14:30] never going to get what
[14:30] the people's opinion is because
[14:31] there's too much to talk about
[14:32] And then you guys just act like
[14:32] it's routine, go about your
[14:36] business And it's just really
[14:37] sad because on the same hand
[14:37] you sit there and act like you
[14:41] care about what the people say
[14:42] and you don't And it's very
[14:46] obvious especially the way that
[14:46] you treat the people.
[14:47] But this litigation as far as
[14:52] this waste water sewer spill,
[14:53] it's like I don't know if you
[14:53] guys are trying to be like
[14:57] Mexico or what but it's like
[14:58] you know, you can't even get
[14:59] Mexico to do that.
[15:00] What they need to do you'd
[15:04] rather engage with business
[15:05] with them and work with
[15:05] the county and let's test
[15:09] the people And you know like
[15:10] it's just crazy the things that
[15:14] happen and you know, now we're
[15:15] going to have to pay a lot more
[15:16] money just to fix what damage
[15:20] this did And it's like and we
[15:21] also have to pay to fix damage
[15:26] that's done from Mexico And
[15:26] it's like I mean I just at what
[15:27] point are things going to start
[15:31] to change where you guys
[15:32] actually we don't have all this
[15:33] kind of litigation all the time
[15:33] because of the failures of
[15:37] the city And then you guys you
[15:38] know all you do is you want
[15:39] more and more money from
[15:43] the people.
[15:44] What Why is that what you have
[15:44] enough Because it's going into
[15:48] pockets of people that it
[15:49] shouldn't be and contracts with
[15:50] people that you should it
[15:54] instead of doing what you
[15:55] should and people suffer
[15:55] because of it and it's
[16:00] ridiculous.
[16:00] People shouldn't have to suffer
[16:01] because of your mistakes on a
[16:02] regular daily basis and then
[16:07] pay for it on the back end your
[16:08] double dip in it.
[16:08] Thank you for concluding
[16:09] comment.
[16:12] There are two speakers on
[16:12] the queue No additional
[16:13] speakers will be taken.
[16:13] The five minute timer had
[16:14] concluded Very slow down if you
[16:17] can please unmute and let me
[16:17] know which item or items you
[16:18] wish to speak to.
[16:18] Good morning.
[16:23] Yes I'd like to speak to item c
[16:24] as three c as four and see us
[16:24] five.
[16:28] Please proceed And c has three
[16:29] of the ongoing issues to
[16:29] effectively implement
[16:34] the program are what really is
[16:35] upsetting so many San Diegans
[16:39] and I've mentioned this before
[16:40] I believe one of the council
[16:40] members responded to my
[16:41] question Where are these people
[16:45] who are delivering and
[16:46] switching out the old bins for
[16:46] the new bins Are they locals
[16:51] are the employees or
[16:51] the contractors?
[16:52] I like many in San Diego have
[16:57] had to place numerous calls and
[16:58] filed numerous requests to have
[17:02] the bins managed as I had
[17:03] directed months ago.
[17:04] The most recent delivery came a
[17:08] few days ago and when I went
[17:08] outside to thank them for
[17:09] bringing me the bin I requested
[17:14] in DECEMBER the truck was from
[17:15] out of state.
[17:16] The truck they were driving had
[17:16] plates from.
[17:17] I've forgotten if it was Texas
[17:21] or Oklahoma but this has been a
[17:21] consistent issue and
[17:22] the employees there were three
[17:23] of them sitting in the front
[17:27] seat I, I didn't ask them but
[17:27] they appear to be contractors,
[17:28] not employees.
[17:33] So the rollout has really been
[17:34] problematic and I think that's
[17:34] fueling this outrage over
[17:35] the cost.
[17:39] Let me to as far as the as far
[17:40] as both of these have to do
[17:41] with the severe flooding that
[17:44] took place around the midway in
[17:44] downtown area JANUARY 16th.
[17:45] This was one year before
[17:49] the Choice Creek flooding and
[17:50] this was an early warning to
[17:51] the city of the scale of
[17:51] flooding possible with our
[17:56] changes in climate and storm
[17:56] intensity.
[17:57] And looking back I was in
[18:01] the midway area when the sewage
[18:02] spill was occurring and you
[18:03] could smell the raw sewage in
[18:08] the drains as far as the Midway
[18:09] rosecrans area this was not
[18:09] isolated to the downtown area
[18:13] or the airport.
[18:14] This was a regional area in
[18:19] the very low sea level area
[18:20] around Midway where you want to
[18:20] build thousands of new homes
[18:26] and so I really encourage you
[18:26] to look at both of these
[18:31] lawsuits as an early warning of
[18:32] what is to come in the future
[18:33] and take a lead or take a cue
[18:37] from the Bay Area and start to
[18:38] examine shifts and breaks in
[18:38] infrastructure that's
[18:42] underground.
[18:43] What they're finding up in
[18:44] the San Francisco Bay area is
[18:44] that there are places that
[18:48] the sea level rise is pushing
[18:49] against the groundwater and
[18:50] shifting underground
[18:50] infrastructure and that's
[18:55] pretty much what happened with
[18:55] this case.
[18:56] The sewer lines were probably
[18:56] out of alignment.
[19:01] The emergency system shut down
[19:01] and the overflow went into
[19:02] the bay but also backed up into
[19:07] other communities.
[19:08] So as someone who has studied
[19:08] this who is working on
[19:09] legislation regarding climate
[19:13] change, who has worked with
[19:14] Scripps researchers on
[19:14] the intensity of these storms
[19:15] and the changes that's going to
[19:19] occur in our coastal areas.
[19:20] I want to encourage the Council
[19:20] to not just look at this from a
[19:24] litigation standpoint but from
[19:25] an infrastructure standpoint
[19:26] And if you are preparing then
[19:31] the next storm will be even
[19:31] worse.
[19:32] >> Thank you.
[19:37] Next speaker is John Stump.
[19:38] This is our final speaker.
[19:39] If you raise your hand after
[19:39] the five minute time for you to
[19:40] definitely submit your
[19:40] comments.
[19:42] The city clerk at San Diego dot
[19:43] gov MR. Somebody can please a
[19:48] new s There we are.
[19:49] Good morning everyone And it's
[19:53] going to be a long day.
[19:54] No, no, I understand this is
[19:55] solely on the individual items
[20:00] or is this public comment also
[20:01] this is on just the closed
[20:01] session agenda If you can let
[20:02] me know which item or items you
[20:06] wish to speak to on closed
[20:06] session items.
[20:06] Okay.
[20:10] So I get three minutes per
[20:10] person.
[20:11] Thank you very much.
[20:16] All of the items deal with
[20:17] users on city property or city
[20:22] easements and in preparation
[20:22] for an item later in the day
[20:28] I've been reviewing council
[20:29] policies concerning such uses
[20:40] and my concern is that staff
[20:41] other than the city attorney is
[20:46] interpreting council policies
[20:47] or legal requirements and that
[20:52] council policies are not being
[20:58] completely enforced for
[20:59] the requirement When any one
[21:04] uses any property in the city
[21:05] on several council policies is
[21:06] that they have sufficient
[21:10] liability insurance.
[21:11] And then the second thing is
[21:17] that whenever council people
[21:23] are using city property whether
[21:23] it's a profit or non profit and
[21:29] they have a commercial use,
[21:33] they need to pay the city up to
[21:34] 50% of all of the profit made
[21:35] off that property.
[21:38] And third, whenever there's a
[21:45] proposed capital improvement on
[21:45] city property these are all
[21:46] under Council policy existing
[21:50] council policies They have to
[21:56] submit the plans in advance and
[21:56] have them pre-approved.
[22:02] So perhaps some of these
[22:03] difficulties in see us one,
[22:07] two, three and four
[22:11] particularly four and five
[22:12] could have been involved could
[22:12] have been avoided just by
[22:17] following council policy
[22:17] Strictly it seems like there's
[22:18] a management problem at
[22:24] the city So I urge the council
[22:24] particularly this committee and
[22:29] make this committee make a
[22:30] recommendation to rules that
[22:35] there be a review of Council
[22:36] policies concerning lease and
[22:37] use by either for profit or
[22:41] nonprofit organizations of city
[22:42] owned property including
[22:48] capital improvements on those
[22:48] properties.
[22:53] The city seems to not managing
[22:54] what they need to manage and
[23:00] council staff who are not
[23:01] the city attorney are making
[23:05] legal interpretation outside
[23:06] being an attorney thank you
[23:07] very much.
[23:07] >> Thank you.
[23:12] That does conclude public
[23:13] comment on the concession
[23:14] agenda today I will refrain
[23:18] from commenting on the comments
[23:19] of the public but we will now
[23:20] recess in the closed session
[23:21] and reconvene Council today at
[23:29] Good afternoon.
[23:30] I will now reconvene the city
[23:31] council meeting of Monday,
[23:31] MARCH 9th, 2026.
[23:35] Clerk Please call the roll.
[23:36] >> Thank you.
[23:36] Council PRESIDENT Council
[23:37] Member Campbell You're Council
[23:41] member Whitburn Council Member
[23:42] Foster Council Member Von
[23:47] Wilbur Council PRESIDENT Pro
[23:48] Tem Lee Council Member Campbell
[23:53] here Council Member Moreno
[23:53] Present Council member Eli
[23:54] Rivera and Council PRESIDENT
[23:59] LaCava also attend the meeting
[24:00] Our Assistant City Attorney
[24:01] Michelle Garland Independent
[24:01] Budget Analyst Charles Mollica
[24:05] Council Affairs Advisor in
[24:06] the Mayor's office Code advisor
[24:07] and myself or City Clerk Diana
[24:07] Fuentes Thank you.
[24:10] Council PRESIDENT All right,
[24:10] Thank you.
[24:11] So the quorum is now present.
[24:12] We'll get started.
[24:13] First off, do we have any
[24:18] comments from the mayor's
[24:18] office and council members at
[24:19] the turning independent budget
[24:22] analyst the city clerk Not seen
[24:22] it.
[24:23] I'll just put out a brief
[24:28] reminder that tomorrow City
[24:28] council will have a evening
[24:29] session starting at 6 P.M. For
[24:30] the public to talk about
[24:33] the budget that will be
[24:34] the only topic for the 6 P.M.
[24:35] Session you can do to that of
[24:40] course in person or participate
[24:40] remotely.
[24:41] So with that work out my
[24:42] apologies for the late and I
[24:46] did just want to mention that
[24:47] we did place a public notice on
[24:52] our website that if anybody
[24:52] would like to submit a
[24:53] arguments in opposition it for
[24:57] any other ballot measure
[24:58] the ballot measure please be
[24:59] sure to submit them to my
[25:02] office by Wednesday, MARCH 11th
[25:03] The close of Business 5 P.M.
[25:04] Second Floor of City
[25:08] Administration Building 202c
[25:08] Street My apologies.
[25:09] You should go to the lobby and
[25:10] we will come down from
[25:14] the second floor to assist you
[25:14] .
[25:15] Thank you Council PRESIDENT All
[25:15] right.
[25:16] Thank you, MADAM City Clerk.
[25:16] And with that please go over
[25:19] how the public can offer their
[25:20] testimony.
[25:20] Thank you.
[25:21] I'd like to highlight the slide
[25:21] on the screen that reviews how
[25:22] the public can offer their
[25:26] public testimony during this
[25:26] afternoon's meeting.
[25:27] The order can be found on
[25:28] the agenda Summary found online
[25:28] or at the table in the back of
[25:32] the room.
[25:33] If you are in person please
[25:33] complete The speakers live
[25:34] located at the entrance of
[25:35] chambers and bring it to
[25:35] the front of the room into
[25:38] the clear box.
[25:39] Council ambassadors are
[25:39] available near the entrance and
[25:40] can assist with questions and
[25:41] speakers Lips no further in
[25:45] person Testimony will be taken
[25:45] once the council begins Virtual
[25:46] testimony Thank you Council
[25:47] PRESIDENT All right.
[25:47] Thank you.
[25:51] And with that clerk please
[25:55] introduce item 201 minute
[26:14] please.
[26:15] Just somebody with them.
[26:16] Why not Just popped up.
[26:17] Informational item item 200 is
[26:18] the 2025 that is update for
[26:18] the Climate Action
[26:19] implementation plan.
[26:24] If you'd like to submit a
[26:25] speaker's up on this item
[26:25] please be sure to submit a
[26:26] speaker to the front of
[26:27] the room with the clear boxer
[26:28] If you're participating in
[26:29] remotely please press nine or
[26:30] the raise your hand icon in
[26:30] order to speak on this item.
[26:31] Thank you.
[26:36] Council PRESIDENT All right.
[26:36] Thank you With that staff as
[26:40] you sell yourselves in
[26:41] introduce yourselves for
[26:42] the record and let us know how
[26:42] much time you need for your
[27:05] presentation.
[27:05] Thank you.
[27:06] Good afternoon.
[27:06] Council PRESIDENT Members of
[27:07] the City council.
[27:08] My name is Kelly Stock going to
[27:08] be director of the Climate
[27:11] Preservation Public Spaces
[27:12] Division in the City Planning
[27:12] Department.
[27:13] I'm joined here today by our
[27:14] Chief sustainability officer
[27:16] Andrew Martin and we will need
[27:17] about 15 minutes for our
[27:18] presentation today when you're
[27:18] ready.
[27:19] Thank you.
[27:19] All right.
[27:26] Thank you very much, Kelly.
[27:27] This status update we have for
[27:28] you today, it's part of a
[27:32] larger package of efforts We
[27:33] take your staff to provide
[27:33] regular transparent reporting
[27:34] of the city's progress towards
[27:38] its climate goals.
[27:38] Transparency and accountability
[27:39] are important parts of
[27:40] the city's climate action plan
[27:43] and the plan lays out several
[27:44] transparency and accountability
[27:44] mechanisms.
[27:45] These include annual progress
[27:46] reports which have been
[27:51] prepared by the city going back
[27:51] to 2016 emissions inventory
[27:52] updates which the city also
[27:56] prepares every year.
[27:57] We also have built in
[27:57] implementation flexibility so
[27:58] the city can adapt as real
[27:58] world conditions and
[28:03] circumstances change based on
[28:03] our evaluation and reporting.
[28:04] And then the plan also includes
[28:09] and foresees a need for an
[28:10] update to the plan after five
[28:10] years to ensure that it remains
[28:14] effective and relevant.
[28:15] The city also reports on
[28:16] climate action progress through
[28:16] our Public Facing Climate
[28:21] Action Plan Dashboard which
[28:21] includes a lot of
[28:22] the information from our annual
[28:22] reporting and our emissions
[28:23] inventories including
[28:27] performance indicators and it
[28:27] also provides department level
[28:32] updates on implementation
[28:32] status for all 190 actions
[28:38] within the Climate Action Plan
[28:38] .
[28:39] So it's in this context of
[28:39] regular transparent reporting
[28:43] staff has prepared another
[28:44] document.
[28:44] It was completed at the end of
[28:45] last year that also addresses
[28:46] progress towards Climate Action
[28:49] Plan goals.
[28:50] This document is the 2025
[28:51] status update for the Climate
[28:56] Action Implementation Plan.
[28:56] The original implementation
[29:00] plan prepared in 2023 is a tool
[29:01] to help clearly define each
[29:02] City Department's role in
[29:06] carrying out the climate action
[29:07] Plan and identify as
[29:07] responsible city departments.
[29:08] It has high level estimates of
[29:12] city implementation costs and
[29:13] also includes the council
[29:14] prioritization scores for each
[29:18] action in the plan.
[29:19] The purpose of the original
[29:19] plan or excuse me the original
[29:25] implementation plan was to help
[29:25] align the Climate Action Plan
[29:26] with the city's annual
[29:26] budgeting process and with
[29:30] departmental operations.
[29:31] Now the specific focus of this
[29:31] status update is to utilize
[29:36] the best available data We have
[29:36] to evaluate how the city is
[29:37] doing on progress towards
[29:40] the Climate Action Plans 2030
[29:41] goal and then using that
[29:41] information to make updated
[29:46] information in the original
[29:47] implementation plan.
[29:48] So when it comes to the best
[29:52] available data status update
[29:53] uses the following one We
[29:54] looked at the most recent data
[29:54] and trends on the city's annual
[29:59] emissions and how that compares
[30:00] to the 2030 goal two We look at
[30:00] different climate action
[30:04] performance indicators to help
[30:05] us understand trends in our
[30:06] emissions levels and helps give
[30:10] us a window into the real world
[30:11] Excuse me the real world
[30:11] impacts of governmental climate
[30:16] actions including those of
[30:17] the city and our local partners
[30:17] but also takes into account
[30:18] other factors too such as
[30:22] changes that result from
[30:23] federal and state government
[30:24] actions and also just from
[30:24] general socio economic
[30:28] conditions.
[30:29] And then third, we also provide
[30:29] an up to date status on each
[30:33] action in the climate action
[30:34] Plan and that's to evaluate
[30:35] the progress on how is the city
[30:35] doing on carrying out
[30:40] the actions laid out for itself
[30:41] when the plan was last updated
[30:41] in 2022.
[30:42] So the remainder of this
[30:46] presentation will review in
[30:46] brief these elements of
[30:47] the status update.
[30:48] I also want to talk about some
[30:52] challenges we've encountered
[30:53] during implementation these
[30:53] last few years and then finally
[30:58] also address how staff intends
[30:58] to use what we've learned from
[30:59] the status update and from our
[31:00] regular monitoring and
[31:04] reporting to help inform our
[31:05] ongoing implementation.
[31:06] And then also the next update
[31:10] over the Climate Action Plan.
[31:11] But first I want to give some
[31:12] additional context for
[31:15] the status update in 2020 for
[31:15] the city entered into a legal
[31:16] settlement agreement pending
[31:20] related to pending litigation
[31:21] on the 2022 Climate Action
[31:21] Plan.
[31:22] And along with those annual
[31:26] progress reports and emissions
[31:27] inventory updates we already
[31:28] prepared The settlement
[31:31] agreement also called for a
[31:32] 2025 implementation plan update
[31:32] and then have a stakeholder
[31:33] workshop and a city council
[31:38] hearing related to that update.
[31:39] We first completed the draft of
[31:43] this update in DECEMBER 2025 so
[31:43] just last year also held a
[31:49] stakeholder workshop and then
[31:49] in FEBRUARY we released a
[31:54] revised 2025 status update.
[31:55] Wanted to note too that a full
[31:56] copy of the settlement
[31:56] agreement is included as an
[32:00] attachment to the staff report
[32:00] for this item.
[32:01] So now let's review
[32:02] the findings of the updated
[32:06] implementation plan starting
[32:07] with data on how we're doing on
[32:08] progress towards the Climate
[32:11] Action Plans 2030 goal.
[32:16] So one way we measure progress
[32:16] is tracking how emissions
[32:17] change over time and then
[32:18] comparing those changes to
[32:21] climate action Plan goals which
[32:22] is what we're showing on this
[32:22] chart.
[32:23] So just to orient you to
[32:28] the chart it starts in 2019 and
[32:28] it starts there because that's
[32:29] the reference point or
[32:33] the starting point for
[32:34] measuring future change in
[32:34] emissions in the Climate Action
[32:35] Plan.
[32:35] And then the green line going
[32:40] across the top that's showing
[32:40] that if no action were taken
[32:41] emissions would actually be a
[32:45] bit higher in the future and by
[32:45] 2035.
[32:46] Now if we look down to
[32:50] the lower right those two
[32:50] circle excuse me those two
[32:54] circles are showing 2030 target
[32:55] 2035 target.
[32:55] Those are the goals of
[32:56] the Climate Action plan.
[33:01] And then that to align moving
[33:01] down into the left from
[33:05] the order circle of 2019 that's
[33:06] showing a steady annual pace of
[33:06] emissions reductions needed
[33:11] each year to meet the 2030
[33:12] target which ends up being
[33:13] about half a million metric
[33:18] tons of emissions each year.
[33:18] Just a quick note on that.
[33:19] This is a straight line
[33:22] reduction from 2019 to 2030.
[33:23] That's not something that comes
[33:24] from the Climate Action Plan.
[33:25] The Climate Action Plan doesn't
[33:28] require annual reductions in
[33:28] emissions.
[33:29] We provide this information
[33:30] purely for reference purposes
[33:34] just trying to provide some
[33:35] context for how the city's
[33:36] emissions are doing and how
[33:36] they're trending.
[33:41] And then finally in the upper
[33:42] left, if you look at those blue
[33:42] circles, those are showing
[33:43] actual emissions updates We've
[33:47] prepared each year since 2019.
[33:50] The most recent year we have is
[33:51] for 2023 and that's because
[33:52] that's the most recent year for
[33:53] which we have complete data.
[33:57] We will have updated data for
[33:58] 2024 soon and that will be
[33:59] included in our next annual
[34:03] progress report which we'll
[34:04] have released here in the next
[34:04] few months.
[34:05] So if you take away from this
[34:09] slide the first is that
[34:09] compared to 2019 emissions
[34:14] levels are down 19%.
[34:15] So we are seeing a trend in
[34:15] the right direction.
[34:19] However second, when we look at
[34:19] year over year change from 22
[34:24] to 23, we do see a slight
[34:24] uptick with emissions being
[34:25] slightly higher than they were
[34:26] the year before.
[34:29] And then third, if you take a
[34:30] look at the darker blue circle
[34:30] for 2023 and that's showing
[34:35] that emissions in 2023 were
[34:36] about 3.5% higher than what
[34:41] would be expected if we were on
[34:41] that straight line, that linear
[34:42] path straight down from 2019 to
[34:42] 2030.
[34:48] I also want to point out over
[34:49] on this slide that it's
[34:50] important to keep in mind that
[34:52] for 2023 I was the first full
[34:53] calendar year after the Climate
[34:53] Action Plan was last updated.
[34:58] So the results we're looking at
[34:58] here show pretty early stages
[35:03] of plan implementation.
[35:05] >> Also we can kind of break
[35:09] down the emissions a little bit
[35:10] further to understand why we're
[35:11] seeing those trends that we're
[35:11] seeing.
[35:15] There are a lot of different
[35:16] activities and sources that
[35:17] contribute to the city's
[35:17] emissions.
[35:18] But when we categorize them we
[35:22] can see that most emissions
[35:22] come from just a few sources.
[35:23] So first of all, more than half
[35:24] of the city's emissions come
[35:28] from driving vehicles around
[35:28] the city.
[35:29] Those people moving around
[35:30] doing their day to day errands,
[35:30] the movement of products,
[35:34] the movement of goods.
[35:35] So that's more than half.
[35:35] And then the other the other
[35:36] big category comes with how we
[35:37] use energy in our buildings and
[35:39] homes.
[35:40] And so that's an additional
[35:41] about 41% of emissions It's
[35:46] roughly split between using
[35:47] natural gas and using
[35:47] electricity.
[35:50] So if we add up to those three
[35:51] sources, that's about 96% of
[35:52] all emissions.
[35:57] Now if we take a look at some
[35:58] of the performance indicators
[35:58] that can help us understand
[36:02] some of the trends we just saw
[36:02] in the previous chart.
[36:03] So both with respect to seeing
[36:08] the downward trend from 2019 to
[36:09] 2023 and then a slight uptick
[36:13] from 22 to 23, the changes have
[36:14] to do with changes in vehicle
[36:14] use, driving patterns and
[36:19] electricity sources and also
[36:20] how energy is used at home and
[36:21] in buildings.
[36:25] So to start off we look at 23
[36:25] compared to 2019.
[36:26] We see more use of electric out
[36:26] of clean vehicles.
[36:31] We see less driving.
[36:32] We have cleaner electricity
[36:32] also more If you use more
[36:36] efficient use of natural gas
[36:37] and electricity in homes and
[36:37] buildings.
[36:41] Then if we look at 2022 for
[36:42] some of those indicators, we do
[36:42] still see trends in
[36:43] the positive direction.
[36:47] But for those shown in red we
[36:48] do see a little bit of an
[36:49] uptick in the opposite
[36:49] direction.
[36:50] So we do see a little bit more
[36:54] driving.
[36:54] Electricity remains clean.
[36:55] It remains more than half
[36:56] renewable, just a little bit
[37:00] less so than it was the prior
[37:00] year.
[37:01] And then we do see a minor
[37:06] incremental increase in gas use
[37:06] as well.
[37:07] So apart from the data, another
[37:07] way that we evaluate and
[37:12] progress towards goals is
[37:13] looking at how city departments
[37:13] are doing in carrying out
[37:14] the work of the Climate Action
[37:14] Plan.
[37:19] So overall about 3 in 4 about
[37:19] 75% of the 190 actions in
[37:23] the plan are either underway or
[37:24] already complete.
[37:25] And a quick note about the ones
[37:30] that are in progress.
[37:31] For many of those about two
[37:32] thirds of those, those are
[37:32] continuous actions.
[37:36] So that represents just kind of
[37:37] the regular everyday ongoing
[37:37] work of city departments.
[37:38] And then the remainder that's
[37:42] in progress.
[37:43] That's sort of an action with
[37:44] you start it's worked on and
[37:44] then it's complete.
[37:47] It's more of a finite action.
[37:48] So taking a look at this
[37:53] information on this slide and
[37:53] the previous ones we have seen
[37:54] some progress towards our
[37:59] climate action Plan goals.
[38:00] We have seen a lot of work
[38:01] happening the last few years at
[38:01] the city to implement
[38:02] the Climate Action Plan.
[38:05] A lot of work across city
[38:06] departments and this is
[38:06] the result of a lot of
[38:07] coordination and hard work
[38:11] across city government.
[38:12] And I think it's worth taking a
[38:12] moment to acknowledge that.
[38:17] But at the same time we want to
[38:18] be clear to meet the Climate
[38:23] Action Plans goals.
[38:24] Additional sweeping changes are
[38:28] needed and not just by the city
[38:29] .
[38:29] The scale of climate change is
[38:30] huge and so is the scale of
[38:31] changes needed to address this
[38:34] problem.
[38:35] And yes, the city needs to do
[38:36] its part and we have more work
[38:39] to do.
[38:40] But to meet our goals our part
[38:41] needs to happen in coordination
[38:45] with actions across really
[38:46] every level of government,
[38:47] across the economy, across
[38:47] society.
[38:51] If we think back to 2022 when
[38:52] the Climate Action Plan was
[38:53] last updated, we had some
[38:58] examples of this type of large
[38:58] scale action and governmental
[38:59] coordination starting to take
[38:59] place.
[39:03] For example, if we look at
[39:04] the federal level we had bills
[39:04] like the bipartisan
[39:05] Infrastructure Law Inflation
[39:09] Reduction Act We were seeing
[39:10] several billions of dollars for
[39:10] climate action.
[39:14] And that included grant funding
[39:15] for cities including ours.
[39:20] Unfortunately we're in a very
[39:21] different environment now in
[39:22] 2026 and there are very serious
[39:22] challenges to overcome to meet
[39:26] the climate Action Plan goals.
[39:27] For one, there's been a
[39:27] significant change in federal
[39:32] funding priorities.
[39:33] It's been a strong shift away
[39:34] from climate action and in many
[39:38] cases toward activities that
[39:38] make climate change worse.
[39:43] At the same time there's been a
[39:44] major rollback of the Federal
[39:45] government's legal regulatory
[39:49] support for climate action.
[39:50] We've seen the current
[39:50] administration take steps to
[39:54] end federal authority to even
[39:55] address climate emissions at
[39:55] all.
[39:56] They moved to weaken standards
[40:00] for clean cars, reduce support
[40:00] for clean energy.
[40:01] And we've had federal court
[40:02] decisions that favor natural
[40:05] gas use over efficient clean
[40:06] electric buildings.
[40:11] And then apart from what's
[40:12] happening federally, there are
[40:12] a couple other factors worth
[40:13] mentioning.
[40:17] And both have to do with
[40:18] the cost of climate action and
[40:18] who pays for it.
[40:21] For one, San Diego was already
[40:22] one of the most expensive
[40:22] cities in the country.
[40:27] That includes housing costs,
[40:27] electricity bills, other costs
[40:28] of living.
[40:32] Because many climate actions
[40:32] have potential to increase
[40:33] costs for residents, residents
[40:34] and businesses, we have
[40:37] the challenge of making
[40:37] progress towards climate goals
[40:38] without making San Diego more
[40:43] unaffordable.
[40:44] And one way to offset those
[40:45] costs and pay for climate work
[40:45] is with public investment.
[40:48] That can include a lot of
[40:49] things could be rebates for
[40:49] the higher costs of purchasing
[40:53] and using new equipment, new
[40:54] technologies that could pay for
[40:55] the new and upgraded
[40:55] infrastructure.
[40:59] We need to meet our goals.
[40:59] However, we're currently in a
[41:00] period of tight budgets of
[41:05] limited government funding so
[41:06] many programs that could pay
[41:06] for climate action.
[41:07] Right now they're underfunded,
[41:09] they're delayed.
[41:10] They're just not funded at all.
[41:11] As a result, at least for
[41:15] the time being, we must look
[41:16] for other ways to move our
[41:21] climate work forward so that we
[41:22] as staff have already doing
[41:22] that.
[41:23] And we're starting to look to
[41:26] potential alternative funding
[41:26] sources for the Climate Action
[41:27] Plan.
[41:27] And we intend to make that a
[41:28] priority of our work going
[41:31] forward.
[41:32] >> And also despite all despite
[41:33] these challenges doesn't mean
[41:33] the city isn't doing anything
[41:36] that the city does continue to
[41:37] make progress and work on
[41:38] making progress toward our
[41:42] climate Action plan.
[41:43] This is not a complete list
[41:44] here but a representative
[41:47] example of some of the good
[41:48] work that's going on right now.
[41:49] So we are providing rebates for
[41:52] low income households to
[41:53] receive efficient electric
[41:54] appliances in their homes.
[41:58] We continue to update our plans
[41:58] to allow more homes including
[41:59] affordable ones near public
[42:03] transit and improve options for
[42:04] people to walk bike road use
[42:05] transit so they can get around
[42:08] with less reliance on a
[42:09] personal car or in the process
[42:13] of some updates to city codes
[42:14] to improve energy efficiency.
[42:15] But making sure we do so in
[42:18] ways that are cost effective
[42:19] and also for the city itself
[42:20] when it comes to our buildings,
[42:24] our operations.
[42:25] >> Okay.
[42:26] I'll wrap it up in just a
[42:26] moment here.
[42:30] I also have examples of city
[42:31] using innovative financing
[42:32] tools related to managing our
[42:32] energy use in our city
[42:36] properties.
[42:36] And then on the final slide
[42:37] here as we look forward,
[42:41] the city will continue to
[42:41] implement the Climate Action
[42:42] plan.
[42:42] And as I mentioned this spring
[42:43] we'll have our next annual
[42:46] progress report released on
[42:46] the Climate Action Plan.
[42:47] In addition, with the support
[42:51] of grant funding we've received
[42:52] from the San Diego Association
[42:52] of Governments will be getting
[42:53] started on the next update of
[42:56] the climate Action Plan this
[42:57] spring.
[42:59] We anticipate completing that
[43:00] effort in 2027 which is aligned
[43:01] with the five year mark
[43:05] envisioned in the current plan
[43:05] .
[43:06] And as a final note, we're
[43:07] we're viewing this update as an
[43:10] opportunity to revisit
[43:10] the city's approach and
[43:11] the Climate Action Plan.
[43:12] In light of this progress to
[43:15] date in light of our current
[43:16] challenges and especially those
[43:20] related to cost and funding,
[43:21] this kind of strategic approach
[43:22] to the update can help the city
[43:22] continue to make progress
[43:26] during these challenging times
[43:26] we're currently in.
[43:27] And that concludes the staff
[43:27] presentation.
[43:30] Thank you.
[43:31] All right.
[43:31] Thank you very much for
[43:32] the work in the presentation.
[43:33] I'll turn it over to the office
[43:36] of the Independent journalist
[43:36] Jordan.
[43:37] Thank you, council PRESIDENT
[43:37] And good afternoon.
[43:40] My name is Gordon Moore with
[43:41] the Office of the aba.
[43:42] As you just heard staff from
[43:45] city planning as well as almost
[43:46] all other city departments have
[43:47] been making important strides
[43:50] in implementing the city's
[43:51] Climate action Plan over
[43:51] the last several years.
[43:52] As noted in the staff
[43:56] presentation, the majority of
[43:57] actions are either complete or
[43:58] underway and there have been
[44:01] notable strides taken in just
[44:02] the last couple of years such
[44:03] as improvements to the building
[44:06] code, the installation of
[44:07] publicly available ev chargers
[44:08] and various projects that
[44:11] decarbonize city facilities
[44:12] with no upfront cost.
[44:12] Additionally, staff have also
[44:17] implemented the cap dashboard
[44:17] which offers real time
[44:18] monitoring capabilities for cap
[44:19] actions and implementation
[44:22] beyond annual updates.
[44:23] The fact that these actions
[44:23] have been done in the city's
[44:33] current budget environment is a
[44:34] testament to the hard work city
[44:34] staff has undertaken to
[44:34] implement the cap this far.
[44:34] However, as noted in the last
[44:35] cap annual update emissions did
[44:37] increase in 2023 which is
[44:38] the last year for which
[44:39] the city has fully available
[44:42] information.
[44:43] Some context surrounding this
[44:44] increase should be recognized
[44:48] starting with that the most
[44:49] consequential act actions
[44:49] mentioned by staff took effect
[44:53] after 2023 and as such the city
[44:54] should see emissions decline in
[44:58] subsequent years particularly
[44:59] starting when we get annual
[44:59] updates covering 2026 and
[45:00] beyond.
[45:03] >> However, there is this gap
[45:04] between what indicators are
[45:05] reported and when we are at
[45:08] the present day and it does
[45:09] highlight an issue with
[45:09] monitoring capital limitation
[45:13] since only being able to judge
[45:13] cap effectiveness at almost two
[45:14] full years in arrears does not
[45:18] allow for timely oversight over
[45:18] the cap.
[45:19] In the next update our office
[45:23] recommends that staff work on
[45:24] shortening the reporting window
[45:24] to provide data in a more
[45:27] timely fashion or develop
[45:28] additional indicators that can
[45:29] more effectively demonstrate in
[45:30] real time whether the city's
[45:33] actions are having
[45:33] the greenhouse gas impact
[45:34] emission emission impacts that
[45:38] are desired more timely
[45:39] indicators than the ability to
[45:39] see them more quickly.
[45:42] It could also allow better
[45:43] decisions on how to prioritize
[45:44] future cap actions and further
[45:47] allow the city to see where
[45:47] emissions are coming from and
[45:48] if they are truly are
[45:52] the city's responsibility.
[45:53] For example, when looking at
[45:53] the latest update the main
[45:58] sources of increased emissions
[45:58] were less renewable energy,
[45:59] more natural gas usage and more
[45:59] driving.
[46:03] However these increased sources
[46:03] were not equal in their impact
[46:04] on emissions as increased
[46:08] emissions from electricity due
[46:09] to lower renewable content made
[46:09] up more than half of the total
[46:13] emissions increase between 2022
[46:13] and 2023.
[46:14] The amount of renewable energy
[46:18] in the electricity supply is a
[46:18] decision made by either San
[46:19] Diego Gas and Electric or
[46:22] increasingly by San Diego
[46:23] community power.
[46:24] And it's important to note that
[46:24] while the city has influence
[46:28] over the actions of cp it does
[46:28] not control as dcp.
[46:33] This is an example where even
[46:34] if the city takes all emissions
[46:34] reductions actions within its
[46:37] direct control, if dcp does not
[46:38] increase its renewable power
[46:42] base emissions could go up
[46:42] despite the city's best efforts
[46:43] to implement the cap.
[46:47] Our office therefore also
[46:47] recommends that in the next cap
[46:51] update city staff work on more
[46:52] accurately attributing which
[46:52] actions are leading to which
[46:53] emissions reductions by
[46:56] providing more context on what
[46:57] the city can and cannot control
[47:01] in the next cap Update.
[47:01] That concludes my comments.
[47:02] Thank you very much.
[47:02] All right.
[47:03] Thank you, Jordan With that
[47:06] clerk please proceed with
[47:07] public comment.
[47:07] Thank you.
[47:08] Council PRESIDENT We have no
[47:08] speakers here in council
[47:11] chambers for item 200 going to
[47:12] those participating online.
[47:16] We currently have six speakers
[47:17] in the queue.
[47:20] I've started the five minute
[47:21] timer starting with Laurie
[47:22] Saldana if you can please
[47:22] unmute After that will be
[47:25] Kathleen Lippert.
[47:25] >> Thank you.
[47:25] Good afternoon.
[47:26] My name is Laurie Saldana.
[47:30] I was coauthor of ab 32 over 20
[47:31] years ago.
[47:34] Actually it was 20 years ago
[47:34] when we created the Greenhouse
[47:35] Gas Reduction Act that led to
[47:38] this and other climate plans
[47:39] climate action plans.
[47:39] I currently serve on the board
[47:42] of a local nonprofit
[47:43] organization.
[47:44] And I just want to remind
[47:44] the Council that San Diego
[47:47] ratepayers are charged
[47:48] the highest electrical utility
[47:49] rates in the country.
[47:52] And we created over $600
[47:52] million in profits for stg, an
[47:56] investor owned utility and
[47:57] subsidiary of Sempra that also
[47:58] profits from natural gas.
[48:02] Why does this matter to our
[48:02] climate action plan?
[48:03] Because last year our
[48:07] foundation won a unanimous
[48:07] decision at the California
[48:08] Supreme Court.
[48:08] They determined the latest net
[48:12] energy metering regulations are
[48:12] unfair to ratepayers not just
[48:16] in San Diego but statewide who
[48:17] installed solar on their homes
[48:17] and businesses.
[48:18] And when I look at what you are
[48:22] proposing in this plan I see no
[48:22] reported increase in local
[48:26] electricity production via
[48:27] solar panels on city buildings
[48:27] that could offset some of
[48:32] the costs that residents pay
[48:32] multiple times in the lobby.
[48:33] They took those profits from
[48:36] ratepayers to lobby against our
[48:37] interests.
[48:37] And now we not only pay
[48:38] the highest electrical rates at
[48:41] our homes, we pay the parking
[48:42] fees and other fees to help
[48:43] the city of San Diego balance
[48:46] their budget which includes
[48:47] paying more and more for
[48:47] utility costs in the city.
[48:51] We pay retailers, grocers and
[48:51] others who increase their
[48:52] prices to pay for their
[48:56] business utility bills that are
[48:56] increasing because of unfair
[48:57] policies.
[49:00] So I'm asking you as part of
[49:01] this plan where is the increase
[49:05] in solar power on government
[49:06] city rooftops in our parks?
[49:10] You're charging more cars and
[49:11] yet you're not doing more local
[49:11] energy generation.
[49:15] Where is the goal for that?
[49:16] I read through the report I
[49:17] glanced over quickly this
[49:20] morning I see a lot of
[49:20] admirable goals but I don't see
[49:21] you actually installing solar
[49:25] panels on existing buildings
[49:25] retrofitting standing
[49:26] buildings.
[49:30] Please do that.
[49:31] Thank you for that concluding
[49:31] comment.
[49:32] Kathleen Lippert if you can
[49:32] please unmute.
[49:33] After that will be John Stump.
[49:38] >> Kathleen?
[49:38] Kathleen, I can't I mean for
[49:39] you you should have a pop up
[49:41] come up.
[49:42] >> There you go.
[49:47] The prize winning effort and
[49:47] the author.
[49:48] Good.
[49:48] Sorry.
[49:50] Could you come back to me in
[49:51] just a moment, please?
[49:52] >> I'm sorry I'm not able to
[49:57] return to the speakers if
[49:57] you're unable to speak now.
[50:00] Not with the format.
[50:01] Skip your turn.
[50:05] We cannot return anywhere.
[50:05] Okay.
[50:06] Can you hear me?
[50:07] Yes, we can hear the crowd
[50:10] noise.
[50:11] >> There is a lot of background
[50:16] noise in the lot.
[50:17] It seems to the.
[50:17] Okay.
[50:19] Can you still hear me?
[50:20] Yes.
[50:20] Please continue.
[50:24] No, Take.
[50:25] We can hear you.
[50:25] Please proceed.
[50:34] It.
[50:34] All right.
[50:35] Moving on to the next speaker,
[50:35] John Stump.
[50:38] If you can please unmute.
[50:43] >> Hi, Good afternoon.
[50:43] Climate action.
[50:44] Do we really believe that there
[50:48] is a threat and change in
[50:49] climate action?
[50:53] The report says yes.
[50:57] The presentation by staff's I b
[50:58] a and the climate staff were
[51:02] nice.
[51:03] I ask first of all that
[51:07] the climate staff stop using
[51:07] visuals which portray
[51:11] the largest creation of climate
[51:16] action co2.
[51:17] Downtown Is that where we're
[51:17] trying to influence?
[51:21] That's a that's a loser.
[51:22] We want to and we want to show
[51:25] city employees and what they're
[51:26] doing to reduce climate impacts
[51:31] and homes not the port
[51:35] The downtown commuter area.
[51:36] Now talking about city
[51:40] departments, we need
[51:45] specifically to reduce climate
[51:46] impacts at the city's airports.
[51:50] And the big item today at
[51:51] maintenance of zoological
[51:55] exhibits where the zoological
[52:04] exhibits department is probably
[52:04] the third largest producer of
[52:09] climate change impacts that in
[52:09] the city.
[52:13] The 5 million people a year who
[52:17] fly in or drive in by tourism
[52:18] is a huge impact and should be
[52:22] included.
[52:24] >> So and then finally I agree
[52:27] with MS..
[52:28] Saldana Council You're
[52:33] responsible for the fact that
[52:33] sd g and e is creating so much
[52:37] climate impacts.
[52:38] >> You've got to change that
[52:38] franchise.
[52:39] Thank you very much.
[52:39] Thank you.
[52:42] The five minute timer has
[52:42] concluded there are six
[52:43] speakers in the queue.
[52:44] No additional speakers will be
[52:45] taken live here if you can
[52:49] please on mute.
[52:54] Good afternoon PRESIDENT LaCava
[52:54] and council members.
[52:55] My name is Livia Bowden.
[52:59] I'm an attorney at Comstock
[53:00] Group and I represent Coastal
[53:00] Environmental Rights Foundation
[53:03] or serve one of the litigants
[53:04] involved in the cap lawsuit and
[53:04] settlement.
[53:05] First I'd like to echo
[53:08] the eib's comments regarding
[53:09] transparency and granularity in
[53:09] future reports.
[53:13] It's disheartening to see
[53:14] the city failing to take this
[53:14] as an opportunity to candidly
[53:17] discuss the status of its
[53:18] climate actions and challenges.
[53:19] The trajectory to 2030 goal is
[53:23] steep but the 2035 goal is even
[53:24] more ambitious and is only nine
[53:24] years away.
[53:28] The fact that the 2025 annual
[53:28] report came out late last year
[53:33] and only included 2023 data is
[53:33] also disappointing.
[53:37] It doesn't meet the letter or
[53:38] spirit of the settlement
[53:38] agreement.
[53:39] And I would argue there's more
[53:42] recent available emissions data
[53:43] especially since the county
[53:44] released its 2025 report in
[53:47] JULY and included 2024 data.
[53:48] By conveying that the vast
[53:52] majority of strategies are in
[53:52] progress, the city fails to
[53:53] detail exactly what that means
[53:56] in terms of realistically
[53:57] achieving its goals.
[53:57] For example achieving de carve
[54:01] of existing buildings and
[54:02] mobility goals by 2030 seems
[54:02] virtually impossible at this
[54:03] point.
[54:07] The reliance on the cap is not
[54:08] that is not likely to be
[54:08] achieved.
[54:11] To push through sequel projects
[54:11] means the city misses out on
[54:12] project level greenhouse gas
[54:13] mitigation measures and
[54:16] approves projects and plans
[54:16] like the community plan updates
[54:20] without including additional
[54:21] greenhouse gas reduction
[54:21] measures.
[54:22] Failing to acknowledge our
[54:26] shortcomings will be mean will
[54:26] be that much farther behind
[54:27] when we attempt to correct
[54:28] course and the Trump
[54:31] administration wasn't in office
[54:31] in 2023 or 2024.
[54:32] We cannot just blame
[54:36] the federal government.
[54:36] I urge the city to be more
[54:37] transparent about what's been
[54:38] accomplished to use all
[54:41] available greenhouse gas
[54:41] emissions data and to stick to
[54:42] the settlement agreement
[54:42] deadlines.
[54:46] Thank you.
[54:46] Thank you.
[54:47] Next is Blair Beekman.
[54:55] If you can please unmute.
[54:56] >> Thank you.
[54:56] Beekman Thanks a lot for this
[54:57] item.
[55:00] It's important.
[55:01] Laurie Sodano has offered some
[55:04] really nice words this
[55:05] afternoon and this morning you
[55:09] had a very nice not a nice but
[55:10] you had a relevant closed
[55:14] session item on what's going on
[55:15] at the airport issues right
[55:15] now.
[55:19] Is that not sea level rise
[55:20] issues taking place?
[55:24] Laurie Saldanha very nicely
[55:24] talked about.
[55:25] We need to refer to the San
[55:25] Francisco Bay area and how
[55:28] they're working on their
[55:29] serious issues.
[55:34] I see in this report not a lot
[55:35] of mention of sea level rise
[55:37] things sea level rise things
[55:38] And I'm wondering what part
[55:42] does that place in these
[55:43] climate issues and our coastal
[55:46] concerns that I think there's a
[55:47] there's a very strong hefty
[55:48] group of people who have a
[55:52] certain way to view coastal
[55:52] planning and construction and
[55:56] you know, maintenance that it's
[55:57] not fully jiving with city
[55:58] government at this time.
[56:02] I hope you guys can learn to
[56:02] get together And I think we
[56:06] have to really honestly, truly
[56:06] acknowledge there are sea level
[56:07] rise issues to be concerned
[56:11] about.
[56:12] It's then how to proceed with
[56:13] that concept and how to provide
[56:17] maintenance and fixes And
[56:18] that's the question That should
[56:22] be the argument and not a sea
[56:22] level rise.
[56:23] I think there's been so many
[56:24] glaciers that have been melting
[56:27] all around the world It's it
[56:28] seems undeniable to not say
[56:31] there's sea level rise
[56:31] concerns.
[56:32] It's what to do out of that
[56:36] process working together out of
[56:37] that process.
[56:38] Good luck how we do that.
[56:41] Lori Saldana again, she offered
[56:42] very interesting comments about
[56:42] the Midway Housing Project area
[56:46] that has sea level rise
[56:47] concerns about it and you're
[56:51] not at all talking about that
[56:51] your future, your current court
[56:55] things are about subject matter
[56:56] that MAY pertain to sea level
[56:57] rise that you please talk about
[56:57] those If your time has
[57:00] concluded.
[57:01] Next is 8700 and then Jay
[57:04] Powell and then 749 is our last
[57:05] speaker.
[57:13] It 700 please unmute star six.
[57:18] >> Thank you so much Joyce that
[57:18] 53.
[57:22] First of all Lori Saldana,
[57:23] thank you for all your work
[57:24] especially for your work on
[57:27] this item.
[57:27] Okay.
[57:28] Climate Action plan.
[57:32] I'm not too up on all of this
[57:33] but I'm going to jump in from
[57:37] the staff report.
[57:37] Thank you.
[57:38] Thank you.
[57:41] While important find funding
[57:42] foundational actions have been
[57:45] completed refer to strategies
[57:46] 123.
[57:47] Thank you and significant work
[57:50] continues.
[57:51] Sweeping changes not just by
[57:55] the city but at all levels of
[57:56] government and throughout
[58:01] the economy and society.
[58:02] To me that word society is
[58:05] important are still needed to
[58:06] meet the ambitious goals of
[58:09] the Climate Action Plan Now
[58:10] this is for me the key word
[58:15] here is society.
[58:16] Here are eight I thought
[58:20] systemic economic and
[58:24] psychological barriers.
[58:25] Here's my white elephant in
[58:25] the room.
[58:29] Is this an evolutionary change
[58:34] fueled by human society?
[58:34] This is very important.
[58:39] I'm appreciating everybody who
[58:40] is so intensely passionate
[58:44] about this and really knows
[58:44] what's happening on it.
[58:45] Just keep at it.
[58:49] We don't know where we're
[58:50] headed on the big picture.
[58:50] You know, practically
[58:54] the universe.
[58:55] But we have to keep trying.
[58:55] So thank you.
[58:56] This is tough work.
[58:59] Thank you to plenty of others
[58:59] involved.
[59:00] Thank you for listening.
[59:04] We are doing our best Love to
[59:04] all.
[59:05] Thank you.
[59:07] 7499 if you can please unmute
[59:12] and then Powell.
[59:16] >> Bob Kozinski here We need to
[59:17] be careful about the visibility
[59:21] that we give to the so called
[59:21] climate change issues.
[59:22] It's important to remember that
[59:27] all of our youth and all of
[59:27] the new age models are watching
[59:31] and learning from everything we
[59:32] say or write about nearly
[59:36] everything.
[59:37] The ongoing panic that we
[59:41] continually exhibit about
[59:41] climate change will soon be
[59:45] training our ai models and our
[59:46] youth that the human race needs
[59:46] to be exterminated.
[59:50] Please think about
[59:51] the consequences of your
[59:51] ongoing panic.
[59:55] Thank you.
[59:56] >> And our final speaker is Jay
[59:56] Powell.
[59:59] If you can please unmute.
[1:00:04] Good afternoon.
[1:00:05] Jay Powell Normal Heights,
[1:00:09] California and I want to just
[1:00:10] add my appreciation to
[1:00:15] the presentation, the idea and
[1:00:15] comments.
[1:00:20] Laura Saldana and also note
[1:00:20] that one of the comments
[1:00:21] regarding San Diego community
[1:00:25] power the city doesn't control
[1:00:25] it but has a powerful
[1:00:29] representative there and that
[1:00:30] can do a lot more in terms of
[1:00:34] creating local renewable power.
[1:00:35] Community based microgrids is
[1:00:39] one of the things that we can
[1:00:39] put on city buildings, city
[1:00:43] facilities and city leases such
[1:00:44] as the zoo.
[1:00:44] So I would encourage that.
[1:00:49] And my other question is was
[1:00:50] this issue or a report rather
[1:00:54] reviewed by the Climate
[1:00:54] Advisory Board and
[1:00:55] the Resiliency Advisory boards
[1:00:58] And did they submit any
[1:00:59] particular recommendations?
[1:01:03] I think that's important to
[1:01:03] take into account.
[1:01:04] Thank you very much.
[1:01:08] Thank you.
[1:01:09] >> That does conclude
[1:01:09] the public comment on this
[1:01:10] item.
[1:01:10] We did receive one comment in
[1:01:13] favor via our e comment form
[1:01:14] which has been distributed to
[1:01:14] the Council.
[1:01:15] Thank you.
[1:01:15] Council PRESIDENT.
[1:01:16] All right.
[1:01:18] Thank you, City Clerk We'll
[1:01:19] turn it over to the council
[1:01:19] members.
[1:01:22] This is an information item.
[1:01:23] No motion is required and we'll
[1:01:24] start with the chair of
[1:01:28] the Environment Committee,
[1:01:28] council member Ella Rivera.
[1:01:29] All right.
[1:01:29] Thank you.
[1:01:29] Council PRESIDENT.
[1:01:32] I thank you for
[1:01:32] the presentation here And
[1:01:33] the briefing ahead of time is
[1:01:36] these reports are super
[1:01:37] important because they help
[1:01:38] give us a clear picture of
[1:01:41] progress and where we have work
[1:01:41] to do.
[1:01:42] I appreciate your joining your
[1:01:45] work in pointing out how much
[1:01:46] effort it takes to do what has
[1:01:47] been done given the context of
[1:01:50] that work has been done in It
[1:01:51] also is really helpful to see
[1:01:55] the breakdown of where
[1:01:56] emissions are coming from.
[1:01:56] As has been the case,
[1:02:00] transportation continues to be
[1:02:00] the largest source followed by
[1:02:01] natural gas use in buildings
[1:02:05] and electricity and this just
[1:02:05] reinforces how important it is
[1:02:06] that our climate work is
[1:02:07] connected to how we're planning
[1:02:10] housing, mobility and energy
[1:02:10] across the city.
[1:02:14] A couple of questions.
[1:02:15] One, the report highlights
[1:02:15] actions related to reducing
[1:02:19] natural gas use in buildings
[1:02:20] and electrifying city
[1:02:20] facilities.
[1:02:24] Can you talk to us about what
[1:02:24] barriers financial, regulatory,
[1:02:25] technical or otherwise we're
[1:02:28] encountering in scaling our
[1:02:29] building electrification
[1:02:33] citywide?
[1:02:34] >> Sure.
[1:02:39] Happy to do that.
[1:02:40] Just to be clear, I'll speak to
[1:02:40] citywide community wide facing
[1:02:43] actions Is that what you're
[1:02:44] asking about as opposed to like
[1:02:44] city operations?
[1:02:48] Well, both.
[1:02:48] Okay.
[1:02:48] Yeah.
[1:02:52] Okay.
[1:02:52] From the perspective of
[1:02:53] community wide and citywide
[1:02:57] efforts in the Climate Action
[1:03:01] Plan itself, it envisioned to
[1:03:02] move towards all electric
[1:03:03] buildings making code apps in
[1:03:03] that direct code updates in
[1:03:06] that direction shortly
[1:03:07] following the Climate Action
[1:03:11] Plan update.
[1:03:11] There were court rulings
[1:03:16] involving the it's known as
[1:03:17] the Berkeley case involving
[1:03:18] efforts in the city of Berkeley
[1:03:21] to make similar efforts there.
[1:03:22] And I guess to make a long
[1:03:23] story short that that has
[1:03:27] really, really complicated
[1:03:27] local effort, local efforts to
[1:03:31] move towards all electric
[1:03:32] buildings And the city has
[1:03:35] tried to pivot its approach
[1:03:36] since that time.
[1:03:36] So that's been a big that's
[1:03:40] been a big roadblock not just
[1:03:41] in San Diego but in other
[1:03:41] places and trying to move
[1:03:42] towards all electric new
[1:03:45] construction.
[1:03:46] And then I would say and we
[1:03:47] tried to speak to this a little
[1:03:50] bit in the presentation and but
[1:03:51] when it comes to existing
[1:03:55] buildings, we're we have we did
[1:03:59] include we have included in
[1:03:59] some ongoing code updates, some
[1:04:00] items related to improving
[1:04:04] energy efficiency of existing
[1:04:05] buildings there.
[1:04:05] We're trying to be really
[1:04:09] focused and sensitive to
[1:04:09] the cost, especially
[1:04:10] the upfront costs that come
[1:04:14] along with using new energy
[1:04:15] efficient and renewable
[1:04:16] technologies much of the time.
[1:04:19] And so and that that's where
[1:04:20] our thoughts about really
[1:04:20] looking at ways to seek
[1:04:24] alternative sources of funding
[1:04:25] and really making sure that as
[1:04:25] we move in that direction we do
[1:04:29] so in a way that is really is
[1:04:34] not exacerbating cost of living
[1:04:34] and other concerns for our
[1:04:35] communities.
[1:04:35] And then as far as city
[1:04:39] facilities I know we have
[1:04:40] Heather with the Department of
[1:04:40] General Services on the line
[1:04:41] who can speak more to some of
[1:04:44] the strategies that we've
[1:04:45] implemented for the city
[1:04:45] operations and buildings things
[1:04:48] really I think more than
[1:04:49] strategies deployed I think
[1:04:53] barriers to deploying those
[1:04:53] strategies would be helpful.
[1:04:54] Yeah.
[1:04:58] i can add on a little bit that
[1:04:59] I mean there is a couple of
[1:04:59] barriers.
[1:04:59] It doesn't mean it's
[1:05:00] impossible, it just means that
[1:05:02] there's some additional
[1:05:03] challenges.
[1:05:03] The number one challenge being
[1:05:07] related to cost efficiency and
[1:05:07] financial feasibility.
[1:05:12] So while we do have the ability
[1:05:12] to seek some funding and
[1:05:13] the city has made some good
[1:05:16] progress with respect to its
[1:05:17] existing city buildings, we are
[1:05:21] constrained by court cases as
[1:05:22] well as new bills that have
[1:05:22] come down from the state of
[1:05:26] California limiting our ability
[1:05:27] to address building codes.
[1:05:28] But we also do want to be
[1:05:31] sensitive as Andrew said in his
[1:05:32] presentation to the cost of
[1:05:33] living in San Diego as well.
[1:05:36] But I would say the biggest
[1:05:37] challenge overall is the lack
[1:05:37] of funding that's available at
[1:05:40] the Federal level to implement
[1:05:41] some of the bigger ticket items
[1:05:42] that we have in our Climate
[1:05:45] Action Plan.
[1:05:46] So that is what we do want to
[1:05:49] and plan to focus on more
[1:05:50] significantly this year is
[1:05:50] identifying alternative funding
[1:05:54] strategies.
[1:05:55] Thank you.
[1:05:55] Appreciate that.
[1:05:58] Included in those are
[1:06:03] alternative funding strategies
[1:06:04] .
[1:06:04] You know we have some models
[1:06:08] within the city already power
[1:06:08] purchase agreements that help
[1:06:13] offset or eliminate cost for
[1:06:13] the city.
[1:06:14] So is there a thought to pivot
[1:06:17] toward revenue generating
[1:06:22] revenue neutral investments?
[1:06:27] Um, while we kind of wait for a
[1:06:32] federal environment that's more
[1:06:33] helpful on that front?
[1:06:33] Yes, absolutely Councilmember.
[1:06:37] So we have pivoted to some of
[1:06:41] those cost neutral and in some
[1:06:42] cases even some some upside
[1:06:43] with the energy savings
[1:06:47] performance contract that
[1:06:47] the council saw recently.
[1:06:48] That was the first portfolio in
[1:06:51] a much broader strategy that
[1:06:52] has been years in the making.
[1:06:53] We had to make some adjustments
[1:06:56] to our code, hire some experts
[1:06:57] to help us move through this
[1:06:57] process because it is a model
[1:06:58] that is new to the city.
[1:07:01] But now we have the first one
[1:07:02] inked and underway who are very
[1:07:05] excited to see that hopefully
[1:07:06] be successful and a model that
[1:07:07] we can continue to expand upon.
[1:07:11] We did something sort of
[1:07:11] similar in terms of a public
[1:07:15] private partnership with a
[1:07:15] concessions agreement to
[1:07:16] basically make use of our city
[1:07:19] facilities for that ev Charging
[1:07:20] for for the public to utilize.
[1:07:21] So definitely see us doubling
[1:07:24] down more and more on those
[1:07:25] types of models where we can
[1:07:29] bring in private financing or
[1:07:30] innovative funding models that
[1:07:30] don't require a big capital
[1:07:34] outlay from the city upfront.
[1:07:34] Thank you.
[1:07:39] So as we're beginning to
[1:07:40] prepare for the next cap
[1:07:44] update, what are some key
[1:07:44] lessons from this
[1:07:45] implementation period that
[1:07:48] we're already thinking Will
[1:07:49] inform that update especially
[1:07:54] those that will have
[1:07:54] the biggest impacts on emission
[1:07:58] reductions?
[1:07:58] >> I think one example was
[1:08:03] something that was mentioned by
[1:08:03] the aba earlier.
[1:08:04] Something we're also looking at
[1:08:08] too is we do have a lot of
[1:08:08] actions in the plan Right now
[1:08:09] we do have 190 and really
[1:08:12] focusing in more on and
[1:08:13] prioritizing those that are
[1:08:17] within more strongly within
[1:08:17] the city's jurisdiction, within
[1:08:18] its legal authority, within its
[1:08:22] influence area.
[1:08:23] And then I think also
[1:08:23] overlapping that with what our
[1:08:27] largest emission sources And
[1:08:27] then another element of that
[1:08:28] that we do and I think we do a
[1:08:29] pretty good job of in
[1:08:31] the current plan and perhaps we
[1:08:32] can always do better But then
[1:08:33] also overlaying that with what
[1:08:36] are the other co-benefits as we
[1:08:37] get this maybe to the city, to
[1:08:41] communities, to communities of
[1:08:42] concern etc. That come from
[1:08:42] these climate actions and
[1:08:45] really having that information
[1:08:46] front and center to help inform
[1:08:47] good decision making going
[1:08:50] forward.
[1:08:51] >> Thanks.
[1:08:51] Just two more questions.
[1:08:55] I think that that very lengthy
[1:08:56] list of actions.
[1:09:01] Um some of the actions that
[1:09:02] haven't started or are in
[1:09:05] the planning stage.
[1:09:06] Can you give us some examples
[1:09:10] of actions that are kind of
[1:09:11] within the city's direct
[1:09:15] control and not dependent on
[1:09:15] federal or state funding but
[1:09:19] then can help us understand
[1:09:20] what's blocking those actions
[1:09:24] from moving forward?
[1:09:25] >> I'd be happy to do that.
[1:09:28] I think one one really good
[1:09:29] example of that is what's
[1:09:29] referred to in the existing
[1:09:33] Climate Action Plan as an
[1:09:33] existing building
[1:09:34] decarbonization roadmap which
[1:09:38] is another way of saying it's a
[1:09:38] plan for how can we reduce
[1:09:39] emissions from our existing
[1:09:42] buildings, save energy in our
[1:09:43] existing buildings.
[1:09:47] That effort has not really
[1:09:48] moved forward in full since
[1:09:49] the Climate Action Plan was
[1:09:49] updated.
[1:09:52] However, we have been able to
[1:09:53] the funding source I mentioned
[1:09:54] for the Climate Action Plan
[1:09:57] update from sandag we are able
[1:09:57] to utilize that to move that
[1:10:01] roadmap forward and we're
[1:10:02] really excited about that.
[1:10:02] We think that's really
[1:10:06] important because there we can
[1:10:07] really as we I think it was
[1:10:11] part of your question existing
[1:10:11] buildings and energy use there
[1:10:12] that's one of the biggest
[1:10:13] sources in the city If we fast
[1:10:16] forward to the future.
[1:10:16] Most of the buildings that
[1:10:17] we'll have in the future are
[1:10:18] already here now.
[1:10:20] So that's that's a big part.
[1:10:21] So being able to move that
[1:10:25] effort forward to identify what
[1:10:25] are the policy strategies
[1:10:29] within the city's control what
[1:10:30] how do they break down across
[1:10:31] different kinds of buildings,
[1:10:35] different age of buildings?
[1:10:36] What are the cost implications
[1:10:36] of that?
[1:10:37] We have a cost effectiveness
[1:10:40] study along with that.
[1:10:41] So sorry to interrupt.
[1:10:41] No problem.
[1:10:45] Um I understand like that's an
[1:10:46] important one That's not move
[1:10:46] moving What I'm trying to get
[1:10:49] at have some help with us
[1:10:50] understanding why is it staff
[1:10:55] capacity was was it an internal
[1:10:56] if I can answer your question
[1:10:59] it's staff capacity and
[1:10:59] internal funding.
[1:11:00] So how much more staff would be
[1:11:04] needed to make the progress we
[1:11:05] want to make on that?
[1:11:06] The progress that was called
[1:11:09] for in the plan.
[1:11:09] Right.
[1:11:13] So um, you know I come before
[1:11:14] this council a lot and I tell
[1:11:15] you that we'll do the best that
[1:11:16] we can with the resources that
[1:11:19] are available which is what
[1:11:20] I'll tell you now you know,
[1:11:20] ideal worlds Would we have
[1:11:23] unlimited staffing resources?
[1:11:24] Yes, we would.
[1:11:24] But given given the budgetary
[1:11:29] constraints I don't have an
[1:11:29] answer for you today on your
[1:11:30] particular question.
[1:11:33] But what I will say is that
[1:11:33] when we are able to at least
[1:11:34] have the capacity to strategize
[1:11:37] on how to go get the funding,
[1:11:38] that's very helpful.
[1:11:39] So in the example that Andrew
[1:11:42] gave we were able to repurpose
[1:11:43] money that we have to achieve
[1:11:43] two outcomes.
[1:11:47] >> Got it.
[1:11:48] Again in terms of like lessons
[1:11:48] learned I think making sure
[1:11:51] that what we have is a plan
[1:11:52] moving forward is a plan that
[1:11:53] we either can implement or at
[1:11:57] least have a clear
[1:11:57] understanding of what is needed
[1:11:58] in order to implement is going
[1:12:02] to be super, super important.
[1:12:02] And the last thing kind of
[1:12:06] somewhat along those lines as
[1:12:07] we as was mentioned
[1:12:11] affordability is incredibly
[1:12:12] important.
[1:12:13] We want to be very mindful of
[1:12:13] anything that increases cost
[1:12:15] but there are undoubtedly
[1:12:16] actions that would meaningfully
[1:12:21] reduce emissions and could
[1:12:21] reduce cost of living
[1:12:22] especially when as relates to
[1:12:25] transportation the less
[1:12:30] dependent people are on on gas
[1:12:31] powered vehicles to get to and
[1:12:32] from where they need to go.
[1:12:35] The less they are subject to
[1:12:36] the whims of an insane
[1:12:36] PRESIDENT Who just spiked
[1:12:44] everyone's gas prices the less
[1:12:45] and the more that they can they
[1:12:46] can save.
[1:12:49] And so we've done a lot in that
[1:12:50] vein in terms of making
[1:12:54] mobility options more
[1:12:54] accessible.
[1:12:55] We've done a lot to increase
[1:12:56] housing density near those
[1:12:59] mobility options And I think we
[1:13:00] can lean more into like
[1:13:04] literally putting people into
[1:13:05] those modes of transportation
[1:13:09] and mobility And so that's
[1:13:10] something that I'm going to be
[1:13:10] looking for in the next in
[1:13:14] the next cat because again it's
[1:13:15] a way of directly reducing
[1:13:18] people's cost of living and
[1:13:19] meaningfully moving the needle
[1:13:20] in terms of emissions
[1:13:20] reductions And I don't think it
[1:13:24] needs to be done necessarily at
[1:13:25] a huge cost to city or even any
[1:13:26] cost the city if we're being
[1:13:26] creative about opening up
[1:13:29] opportunities and looking for
[1:13:29] partnerships.
[1:13:30] So thank you again for
[1:13:30] the update.
[1:13:34] Thank you Council PRESIDENT.
[1:13:35] >> Appreciate all the time.
[1:13:35] All right.
[1:13:36] Thank you.
[1:13:37] Council Yellow Rivera I will go
[1:13:39] next to Council member Whitburn
[1:13:39] Thank you Council PRESIDENT
[1:13:40] Thank you very much for
[1:13:41] the presentation on this
[1:13:41] update.
[1:13:44] I will sort of pick off pick up
[1:13:45] exactly where Councilmember
[1:13:48] Elio Rivera left off which is
[1:13:49] elaborating a little bit on
[1:13:49] the third strategy of
[1:13:53] the climate action into
[1:13:53] the implementation plan which
[1:13:57] is mobility and land use.
[1:13:58] There are a number of
[1:13:59] references in the status update
[1:14:03] related to the importance of
[1:14:03] pairing housing with access to
[1:14:07] transit as a means of reducing
[1:14:08] emissions from vehicular travel
[1:14:12] and reducing cost of living.
[1:14:13] So in addition to what has been
[1:14:13] already discussed this
[1:14:14] afternoon I want to call
[1:14:17] attention to the city's support
[1:14:18] for transit oriented housing
[1:14:22] development councilmembers
[1:14:22] Moreno and Isla Rivera and
[1:14:26] Foster and I serve on the mta
[1:14:27] board of directors and just
[1:14:27] last week we celebrated
[1:14:31] the grand opening of an
[1:14:32] affordable housing project on
[1:14:36] its property in Councilmember
[1:14:36] Van Gilbert's district up in
[1:14:37] Rancho Bernardo.
[1:14:37] It's a development called
[1:14:40] Skyline.
[1:14:41] It's providing 99 units of
[1:14:41] affordable housing to
[1:14:45] individuals and families
[1:14:46] earning between 30% and 50% of
[1:14:46] the area.
[1:14:51] Median income And it is located
[1:14:51] right next to the Rancho
[1:14:55] Bernardo Transit Station which
[1:14:56] makes it easy for residents to
[1:14:57] use transit to get to work or
[1:15:00] to school Medical appointments
[1:15:01] to commercial centers.
[1:15:02] And the city of San Diego has
[1:15:05] supported this project rather
[1:15:05] significantly.
[1:15:06] It has supported the project
[1:15:09] through a $5 million loan
[1:15:10] through the Bridge to Home
[1:15:10] program.
[1:15:11] The San Diego Housing
[1:15:14] Commission awarded tax exempt
[1:15:15] bond revenue to the project as
[1:15:15] well as housing vouchers.
[1:15:19] So this is just the latest in a
[1:15:19] series of transit oriented
[1:15:24] development projects that are
[1:15:24] not only climate friendly but
[1:15:25] they are providing truly
[1:15:29] affordable housing that our
[1:15:29] region needs.
[1:15:30] So I want to thank everybody at
[1:15:34] the city and the Housing
[1:15:35] Commission and mts who made
[1:15:36] those projects possible because
[1:15:39] those are exactly the types of
[1:15:40] projects that we should be
[1:15:40] pursuing that help in so many
[1:15:44] different ways from reducing
[1:15:44] emissions to reducing the cost
[1:15:45] of living.
[1:15:45] Thank you.
[1:15:46] Council PRESIDENT Thank you,
[1:15:49] Councilmember Whitburn We'll go
[1:15:49] next to Council member Von
[1:15:50] Wolpert.
[1:15:53] >> I'm thank you very much for
[1:15:54] the work on this and
[1:15:57] the presentation I have quite a
[1:15:58] few questions because I feel
[1:16:02] that the presentation didn't do
[1:16:03] justice to all the work
[1:16:04] the city has been doing to
[1:16:08] actually meet our climate
[1:16:08] action goals.
[1:16:09] I mean if you read the report
[1:16:09] there's a lot more actions
[1:16:11] we've done than we saw in
[1:16:12] the presentation And you know
[1:16:13] we just voted a week and a half
[1:16:16] ago two weeks ago to spend
[1:16:20] the most money we've ever spent
[1:16:20] $125 million to retrofit our
[1:16:21] buildings, to have solar on top
[1:16:24] of them And that wasn't even
[1:16:24] mentioned today.
[1:16:25] And so I'm just a little
[1:16:30] confused about why we're not
[1:16:30] highlighting some of this.
[1:16:33] And so my first question is you
[1:16:37] know, it's MARCH of 2026 and so
[1:16:41] why couldn't we have the 2024
[1:16:41] data done and ready to present
[1:16:42] by now, especially since
[1:16:43] the counties already had theirs
[1:16:50] done so primary reasons have to
[1:16:51] do with some of the inputs we
[1:16:52] get from other agencies and
[1:16:55] other places to prepare a
[1:16:55] complete emissions inventory.
[1:16:56] It's not that we don't have all
[1:16:57] the data or parts of
[1:16:59] the information we do have a
[1:17:00] lot of it and we will we are on
[1:17:01] track to have it published this
[1:17:04] spring but there are some
[1:17:05] inputs from places like
[1:17:06] the Energy Commission and
[1:17:06] the State Energy Commission
[1:17:10] from Caltrans with at least
[1:17:10] with the way the city does our
[1:17:14] inventory that we simply don't
[1:17:15] have that data in a timely
[1:17:16] manner And we do need some time
[1:17:16] from receipt of the information
[1:17:19] to process it and organize it
[1:17:20] and review it and prepare, you
[1:17:21] know, an inventory update that
[1:17:24] we feel good about.
[1:17:25] >> So that's that's the case
[1:17:29] for our situation.
[1:17:29] Okay.
[1:17:33] I guess I just have I'm
[1:17:34] confused about how the county
[1:17:35] would be able to do it but we
[1:17:39] wouldn't like we'd be happy to
[1:17:39] take a look at the specific
[1:17:43] methodologies and data sources
[1:17:43] the county is using in their
[1:17:44] inventory and do a comparison
[1:17:45] and see if there's something
[1:17:47] we're missing that we could be
[1:17:48] doing better and doing faster.
[1:17:52] >> Okay that would be great
[1:17:52] because I feel that we're
[1:17:53] really missing the ability to
[1:17:57] show the public what we're
[1:17:58] doing to try and meet our
[1:17:58] climate action goals And we're
[1:17:59] missing the ability for
[1:18:00] the council to see where we are
[1:18:05] on each goal.
[1:18:05] One question I have is how is
[1:18:06] it that emissions from
[1:18:10] electricity use rose in 2022
[1:18:14] which was four years ago When
[1:18:15] we're expanding our community,
[1:18:19] aggregate our community energy
[1:18:19] aggregate choice providers
[1:18:20] through North County through
[1:18:24] each county.
[1:18:24] So the more and more customers
[1:18:26] community power gets to go to
[1:18:27] power 100 how is it that we're
[1:18:28] not able to reduce the amount
[1:18:29] of emissions from our
[1:18:34] electricity use?
[1:18:39] >> The what I can't say with
[1:18:39] the data that we use in our
[1:18:44] latest emissions inventory is a
[1:18:45] blend of emissions sources.
[1:18:46] So for electricity the city
[1:18:49] serve primarily by senior
[1:18:49] community power but not
[1:18:50] exclusively.
[1:18:50] There's also electricity from
[1:18:53] sending gas and electric There
[1:18:54] also is from what are called
[1:18:58] direct access providers.
[1:18:58] We essentially prepare a blend
[1:19:02] of emissions from those sources
[1:19:03] to calculate the emissions
[1:19:03] serving the entire city as a
[1:19:08] whole and I guess what I would
[1:19:09] say is it's still very profile
[1:19:12] is still very clean overall.
[1:19:13] It's still a lot cleaner than
[1:19:13] it was when the plan was last
[1:19:14] updated or at least from
[1:19:17] the starting point of the plan
[1:19:17] in 2019.
[1:19:21] But the amount of renewables
[1:19:22] the around of clean energy and
[1:19:23] the mix according to those data
[1:19:25] it was a little bit less
[1:19:26] renewable in 23 than it was in
[1:19:30] 2022.
[1:19:31] Okay.
[1:19:32] I guess we would just have to
[1:19:39] go and ask the other entity why
[1:19:39] I would need to I don't have
[1:19:40] that information for you but
[1:19:41] we'd be happy to get that.
[1:19:43] Okay.
[1:19:44] >> Can you bring up slide
[1:20:20] number eight please
[1:20:21] ?
[1:20:26] I'm sorry that's on the go.
[1:20:26] >> It's the one with the giant
[1:20:30] that won this one.
[1:20:31] >> I thought it would be much
[1:20:35] more helpful for for me on
[1:20:36] the council.
[1:20:36] I think for the public to have
[1:20:40] a much more detailed
[1:20:41] explanation of what the 78% of
[1:20:41] actions are either in progress
[1:20:45] or complete and 66% are
[1:20:46] continuous.
[1:20:50] I mean for example we approved
[1:20:51] a $60 million contract to make
[1:20:54] sure we're installing electric
[1:20:55] vehicle chargers in our public
[1:20:55] facilities.
[1:20:59] How many have been rolled out
[1:21:00] and what are we waiting on?
[1:21:00] Where are we on this metric I'd
[1:21:05] like to be able to monitor that
[1:21:05] .
[1:21:06] That's money that we spend on
[1:21:06] taxpayer funding and we should
[1:21:07] be able to see where we are on
[1:21:10] this.
[1:21:11] I read it in the report.
[1:21:11] It just says in progress or
[1:21:12] completed in progress it'll be
[1:21:14] much more helpful to see a data
[1:21:14] set that shows us where we are.
[1:21:15] Do we know how many have been
[1:21:16] installed and how many are left
[1:21:21] to be installed for
[1:21:22] the reporting on ev charging
[1:21:26] installations I can hand it
[1:21:27] over to Heather Werner and
[1:21:28] the Department of General
[1:21:31] Services team online.
[1:21:32] I will just note I think there
[1:21:32] is a lot more detailed
[1:21:33] information on the climate
[1:21:35] dashboard than what is
[1:21:36] presented and just kind of
[1:21:40] the single status in terms of
[1:21:41] the status of each action.
[1:21:41] There's more indicators and
[1:21:42] more detail on the dashboard
[1:21:46] but as far as the ev charging,
[1:21:46] let the Department of General
[1:21:49] Services chime Minister online
[1:21:50] .
[1:21:50] I'm here.
[1:21:50] Thanks Randy.
[1:21:51] Hi Councilmember Thank you for
[1:21:52] your question.
[1:21:52] So we are doing those
[1:21:55] installations in bulk.
[1:21:55] We have 53 live reports.
[1:21:59] There are about 50 sites which
[1:21:59] equal about 300 ports both a
[1:22:03] mix of level two and dc fast
[1:22:04] charging I'm sorry 600 ports.
[1:22:08] There's about 300 of each at 45
[1:22:08] sites.
[1:22:09] Most of those all of those have
[1:22:12] been submitted and are in
[1:22:13] process with dsd and all of
[1:22:14] them are also in process with
[1:22:16] sd Jenny Certain sites will be
[1:22:17] able to be installed probably
[1:22:18] in the summer and fall because
[1:22:18] they don't require utility
[1:22:22] upgrades and additional power.
[1:22:23] Others will take longer as
[1:22:26] Jenny goes through the process
[1:22:27] of working with us to get more
[1:22:28] power to those sites for those
[1:22:32] installations.
[1:22:32] I would also remind you that
[1:22:33] yes, the 60 million is
[1:22:34] the entity for that contract
[1:22:36] but for right now we are
[1:22:37] actually receiving revenue and
[1:22:39] do so throughout the ten years
[1:22:40] of that contract and still have
[1:22:41] until we purchase the actuals
[1:22:44] on the buyout and we do
[1:22:45] anticipate an update as part of
[1:22:48] the budget process on where we
[1:22:49] are with those anticipated
[1:22:53] costs and revenues.
[1:22:54] Okay.
[1:22:55] So when are we going to get a
[1:22:55] report This is how many are
[1:22:58] installed and how many are left
[1:22:59] to install.
[1:23:02] >> So we have category one is
[1:23:03] all the way through.
[1:23:04] That's all the public facing
[1:23:04] sites.
[1:23:04] We are starting to work to
[1:23:08] identify category twos.
[1:23:08] Those are our workplace
[1:23:09] chargers.
[1:23:09] We also have chargers going in
[1:23:12] as part of a number of our
[1:23:13] cities.
[1:23:13] That includes the update to
[1:23:17] Brownfield.
[1:23:17] There are charging ports that
[1:23:18] we're going to be installing
[1:23:19] when the East Village Green
[1:23:22] Project comes in and a number
[1:23:27] of our other kind of required
[1:23:28] charge like is now required in
[1:23:31] new construction.
[1:23:31] And so we're working with those
[1:23:32] and those will be obviously
[1:23:36] online as we as the projects
[1:23:36] come online.
[1:23:39] But right now we've got about
[1:23:43] 600 ish reports in the queue
[1:23:43] across 47 excuse me 47
[1:23:44] different sites that are all
[1:23:48] going through the permitting
[1:23:49] and the electrification of
[1:23:53] the genie side of the process.
[1:23:54] Once we have those through that
[1:23:54] everything's been approved and
[1:23:57] the work is completed will then
[1:23:58] start notifying different sites
[1:24:01] on their construction timeline
[1:24:02] .
[1:24:03] But right now everything that
[1:24:04] is we are on track in timeline
[1:24:07] for things getting through
[1:24:07] permitting and into
[1:24:11] construction because we are
[1:24:12] just going to offer if it's of
[1:24:13] interest we'd be happy to
[1:24:16] prepare a written report or
[1:24:16] provide a update to council
[1:24:17] committee.
[1:24:21] I think it would be helpful to
[1:24:21] be in the Climate Action annual
[1:24:22] report as well because our
[1:24:26] Climate Action advocates are
[1:24:27] really asking us to forget to
[1:24:27] do that.
[1:24:31] So I'm happy to receive a
[1:24:32] report but it'd be nice for
[1:24:33] the public to see it too.
[1:24:33] What about our up goals?
[1:24:34] I don't see anywhere in this
[1:24:36] report how many installations
[1:24:37] we've done that have actually
[1:24:37] met our zero emissions goals.
[1:24:40] I mean we have a library in
[1:24:41] Carmel Valley that's fully
[1:24:41] electric Now we're building or
[1:24:45] maybe we've built the fire
[1:24:46] station that's fully electric
[1:24:47] And so it's just none of this
[1:24:47] is in this report so I can't
[1:24:50] track it or see it.
[1:24:50] Didn't the city plan over a
[1:24:54] thousand trees last year?
[1:24:55] This was also not in
[1:24:55] the PowerPoint.
[1:24:56] Where does that bring us to our
[1:24:56] canopy goals?
[1:24:59] I just I'm having a hard time
[1:25:00] tracking data with what we're
[1:25:04] we're seeing here And the city
[1:25:04] is doing more and we should be
[1:25:08] showing what we're doing.
[1:25:09] Councilmember, I would just
[1:25:13] note this is not kind of
[1:25:14] the regular annual reporting
[1:25:14] that we have typically done.
[1:25:15] We did provide that to
[1:25:18] the Environment Committee I
[1:25:19] think in NOVEMBER And as staff
[1:25:20] mentioned, we'll have another
[1:25:23] more detailed annual report
[1:25:24] ready this spring.
[1:25:25] So I think we're just maybe not
[1:25:28] providing the same level of
[1:25:29] detail about each action as as
[1:25:33] we would in the annual report.
[1:25:34] A lot of that information is
[1:25:34] available or can be made
[1:25:35] available But I understand that
[1:25:38] you're looking for more detail
[1:25:38] in terms of the status and
[1:25:39] indicators within each
[1:25:41] individual action.
[1:25:47] So I appreciate that feedback.
[1:25:47] Okay.
[1:25:48] I think would be much more
[1:25:48] helpful going forward.
[1:25:54] Thank you for the presentation
[1:25:55] .
[1:25:55] >> All right.
[1:25:56] Thank you.
[1:25:56] Councilmember Van Wilpert, not
[1:25:57] seeing anybody else on
[1:25:59] the lights.
[1:25:59] I'll offer a couple of comments
[1:26:04] My colleagues asked a number of
[1:26:05] the questions that I was going
[1:26:08] to touch on but thank you for
[1:26:08] the presentation and
[1:26:09] the broader presentation.
[1:26:10] They actually did an
[1:26:13] environment committee and being
[1:26:14] sensitive to how busy city
[1:26:14] council is that Maybe this
[1:26:18] presentation got a little
[1:26:18] abbreviated.
[1:26:19] I appreciate Councilmember Von
[1:26:22] Wolpert actually highlighting
[1:26:23] the number of things that we
[1:26:24] are doing as a city that we
[1:26:27] didn't actually detail out in
[1:26:28] today's presentation.
[1:26:32] I also once again want to thank
[1:26:32] City planning and general
[1:26:33] services that absorbed the old
[1:26:37] sustainability mobility
[1:26:37] department and kept everybody
[1:26:42] on the ground running.
[1:26:42] So I certainly want to
[1:26:43] recognize the work that's been
[1:26:47] done on climate across multiple
[1:26:48] departments and the integration
[1:26:48] of climate action throughout
[1:26:49] our city and our budget
[1:26:52] processes And these efforts
[1:26:53] should be recognized despite
[1:26:53] limited city funding and
[1:26:56] adverse of federal
[1:26:57] administration and court
[1:26:58] rulings that are holding us
[1:26:58] back, the goals remain
[1:27:02] imperative to the welfare of
[1:27:03] the city, our quality of life,
[1:27:03] the stability of our economy
[1:27:04] and of course future
[1:27:06] generations.
[1:27:11] I do want to just reemphasize
[1:27:12] what has been mentioned that
[1:27:13] the city has actually been very
[1:27:17] aggressive.
[1:27:17] I know government never moves
[1:27:21] as fast but people actually
[1:27:22] want us to go down a little bit
[1:27:23] slower so they understand what
[1:27:23] we're doing and when we're
[1:27:24] doing it.
[1:27:26] But the recent asco contract
[1:27:27] that we approved I don't even
[1:27:28] know what it was that last week
[1:27:31] or last month was a huge step
[1:27:32] for the city and and hopefully
[1:27:35] will be the pioneer that shows
[1:27:36] the way for us to do more of
[1:27:39] those.
[1:27:40] I want to emphasize then that
[1:27:44] not only affects city buildings
[1:27:45] but it affects buildings that
[1:27:50] are on city property which I
[1:27:51] had to fight very hard to get
[1:27:52] those on for those And just a
[1:27:54] while you did a big effort to
[1:27:55] try to get those on our city
[1:27:59] owned properties And for
[1:28:00] the lessees the public spoke a
[1:28:01] little bit about the impact of
[1:28:04] city Genie but missed something
[1:28:05] that I think we've all kind of
[1:28:08] seen now.
[1:28:09] I mean not only can you talk
[1:28:13] about the cost of electricity
[1:28:13] but the investor owned
[1:28:18] utilities lobby the cpc not
[1:28:19] only on net metering but they
[1:28:19] also imposed a lot of other
[1:28:23] requirements on the case that
[1:28:23] increased the cost of doing
[1:28:27] business And as the former
[1:28:28] chair of Community Power I
[1:28:29] thought directly the impact on
[1:28:32] what that did in terms of
[1:28:33] expanding the renewable
[1:28:37] portfolio going forward.
[1:28:38] And what we also saw is
[1:28:42] the resistance of trying to
[1:28:43] build renewable energy within
[1:28:46] our own backyard and trying to
[1:28:47] figure out how we actually meet
[1:28:48] those very, very ambitious
[1:28:51] goals.
[1:28:52] So there's a lot of things that
[1:28:53] come after us that interfere
[1:28:56] with our ability But
[1:28:57] nevertheless city staff do a
[1:28:57] remarkable job.
[1:29:01] The folks at Community Power do
[1:29:01] a remarkable job.
[1:29:02] And for those of you that were
[1:29:06] talking about sea level rise
[1:29:07] that in resilient city it is
[1:29:07] not in the climate action plan
[1:29:10] which is why we didn't talk
[1:29:11] about it today And I'll close
[1:29:15] with joining my colleagues as
[1:29:16] well as the aba be very
[1:29:20] interested in how we can have a
[1:29:20] shorter turnaround in terms of
[1:29:24] modern measuring goals and then
[1:29:25] reporting on them.
[1:29:26] I know we throw a lot at you
[1:29:29] and we don't give you
[1:29:29] the resources to do that work
[1:29:30] but to agree that we can better
[1:29:34] understand what's working and
[1:29:34] what's not.
[1:29:35] I think it would be helpful for
[1:29:40] all of us going forward So I'll
[1:29:40] close there Again, thank you
[1:29:41] for the good work Not seeing
[1:29:44] anybody else in lights this was
[1:29:44] an information item.
[1:29:45] No motion was required so we
[1:29:48] will close There And again
[1:29:49] thank you to city staff in
[1:29:50] the mayor's office for your
[1:29:53] good work on this effort.
[1:29:54] And so with that Clark please
[1:29:58] introduce item s 400 Thank you
[1:30:01] Council PRESIDENT Items 400 is
[1:30:02] to authorize a Second Amendment
[1:30:02] to lease agreement between
[1:30:03] the City of San Diego and
[1:30:06] the zoological Society of San
[1:30:07] Diego for the San Diego Zoo
[1:30:07] property located in Balboa
[1:30:08] Park.
[1:30:12] If you are here and like to
[1:30:13] speak on this item please
[1:30:13] submit a speaker up to
[1:30:16] the front clear box at
[1:30:16] the front of the room or if
[1:30:17] you're participating virtually
[1:30:18] now's the time to raise your
[1:30:20] hand by pressing Star nine or
[1:30:20] the raise your hand icon.
[1:30:21] Thank you Council PRESIDENT All
[1:30:29] right Thank you And city staff
[1:30:30] I understand you're going to be
[1:30:30] doing a combined presentation
[1:30:35] so please in addition for
[1:30:35] record and how much time do you
[1:30:38] need for the total presentation
[1:30:39] ?
[1:30:39] Thank you.
[1:30:40] Council PRESIDENT Good
[1:30:44] afternoon, Council members I'm
[1:30:44] Casey Smith, chief of Housing
[1:30:45] and Community Development and I
[1:30:46] will need about 13 minutes for
[1:30:51] a joint presentation today.
[1:30:51] >> All right.
[1:30:52] I'm here to present the Second
[1:30:53] Amendment of the lease
[1:30:56] agreement with the zoo for
[1:30:57] the property located within
[1:30:57] Balboa Park.
[1:30:58] With me today from the city is
[1:31:01] Christina Biller, director
[1:31:02] Economic Development Department
[1:31:06] policy advisor Emily Tennessee
[1:31:06] and Deputy city Attorney Julie
[1:31:07] Inman.
[1:31:10] We also have Adam de treasurer
[1:31:11] of the Board of Trustees of
[1:31:11] the San Diego Zoo Wildlife
[1:31:12] Alliance and other
[1:31:15] representatives from the San
[1:31:16] Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
[1:31:20] With us today the Zoological
[1:31:21] Society of San Diego Society is
[1:31:22] operated the Zoo and Balboa
[1:31:23] Park since 1916.
[1:31:24] For today's purposes I'll be
[1:31:25] referring to the Zoological
[1:31:28] Society as the zoo.
[1:31:29] The current lease agreement was
[1:31:32] originally executed in JULY of
[1:31:33] 1979 and has a term of 55 years
[1:31:36] expiring in JULY of 2034.
[1:31:37] The zoo property is an
[1:31:38] important asset of the city and
[1:31:41] region and the zoo is a major
[1:31:42] contributor to local tourism
[1:31:45] generating 3.9 million visits
[1:31:45] in 2024 with guests spending
[1:31:49] over 571 million in the region
[1:31:51] with a total economic impact of
[1:31:52] 925 million and San Diego
[1:31:52] Further, the zoo supports
[1:31:56] nearly 6500 jobs in addition to
[1:31:57] the zoo within Balboa Park.
[1:31:58] They also lease and operate
[1:32:01] the San Diego Zoo Safari Park
[1:32:02] and City of San Diego Public
[1:32:03] Utility Department property in
[1:32:06] the San Pasquale Valley Due to
[1:32:07] the implementation of paid
[1:32:07] parking above all of Park
[1:32:11] the Zoo approached the city
[1:32:11] last summer and requested a
[1:32:12] minor amendment allowing for
[1:32:13] the zoo to charge different
[1:32:15] rates for users of the zoo
[1:32:16] parking lot.
[1:32:17] This change was approved by
[1:32:20] city council on SEPTEMBER 18th
[1:32:20] of last year.
[1:32:21] During those initial lease
[1:32:25] negotiations for the First
[1:32:25] Amendment, the zoo expressed
[1:32:26] interest in extending their
[1:32:27] current lease and those
[1:32:29] negotiations have concluded
[1:32:30] The Second Amendment extends
[1:32:30] the current lease and allows
[1:32:33] for an annual payment to
[1:32:34] the city and revenue split of
[1:32:35] parking For those listening in
[1:32:39] who MAY not be familiar with
[1:32:40] the site for today's
[1:32:40] conversation on your screen you
[1:32:41] will see online and read Is
[1:32:44] the zoo lease within Balboa
[1:32:45] Park But the parking lot on
[1:32:47] the right to highlight
[1:32:48] the Second Amendment and
[1:32:49] the amendment extends the lease
[1:32:49] by 52 years from the current
[1:32:52] date to JULY 23rd 2078 making
[1:32:53] the entire lease period 99
[1:32:57] years or as the eBay pointed
[1:32:58] out in their report extends
[1:32:58] the lease by 44 years from
[1:33:01] the current lease expiration
[1:33:02] date of 2034.
[1:33:03] There is a $3 million annual
[1:33:06] payment as part of this
[1:33:06] amendment with a 3% annual
[1:33:09] escalator there is a 5050
[1:33:10] revenue split minus reasonable
[1:33:13] expenses that is capped at
[1:33:14] 700,000 per year.
[1:33:14] It's important to note that
[1:33:17] there is no escalator on
[1:33:18] the 700,000 that amount of
[1:33:18] space for the duration of
[1:33:19] the lease.
[1:33:22] There are no changes to
[1:33:22] the zoo's obligation to
[1:33:23] maintain the zoo parking lot
[1:33:24] including capital and day to
[1:33:26] day maintenance.
[1:33:27] The zoo will be required to
[1:33:28] provide a new survey and map of
[1:33:29] the leasehold based on approval
[1:33:32] from City Parks and Rec and 80
[1:33:33] d staff which will be completed
[1:33:34] within six months of lease
[1:33:36] execution.
[1:33:37] This amendment adds prevailing
[1:33:37] wage and the city's zero
[1:33:41] emissions building policy or
[1:33:42] Zimbabwe into the lease.
[1:33:42] This amendment requires the zoo
[1:33:45] to provide at a minimum
[1:33:46] $250,000 in complimentary daily
[1:33:47] admission tickets annually to
[1:33:50] San Diego nonprofits, school
[1:33:51] groups and children.
[1:33:55] Some important items to note
[1:33:55] about this amendment The 3
[1:33:56] million annual payment can be
[1:33:57] reduced or eliminated if there
[1:34:00] are further changes or removal
[1:34:01] of paid parking in Balboa Park.
[1:34:02] I will have an example in a few
[1:34:04] slides to walk you through this
[1:34:05] If the zoo charges for parking
[1:34:06] at any time the city is
[1:34:09] entitled to 50% of the revenue.
[1:34:09] The third the 3% annual
[1:34:13] escalator will commence in
[1:34:14] 2030.
[1:34:14] The annual payment is due to
[1:34:17] the city by APRIL 1st of each
[1:34:18] year For this year the current
[1:34:19] payment will be due in 30 days
[1:34:22] from execution of the lease
[1:34:22] the total amount of revenue
[1:34:23] the city will receive from
[1:34:27] the annual minimum payment is
[1:34:28] approximately 330 plus million
[1:34:28] assuming there are no changes
[1:34:32] to paid parking in Balboa Park,
[1:34:33] the 5050 revenue payment is due
[1:34:36] to the city by MAY 15th of each
[1:34:36] year and is collected based on
[1:34:37] the calendar year.
[1:34:40] The revenue stays in Balboa
[1:34:40] Park and will be deposited into
[1:34:41] the Balboa Park paid parking
[1:34:45] program Fund which can be used
[1:34:46] by Parks and Rec for day to day
[1:34:49] operations Capital etc. In
[1:34:49] Balboa Park.
[1:34:50] This amendment also ensures
[1:34:54] that city residents are charged
[1:34:54] commensurate rates for parking
[1:34:59] in the zoo parking lot in
[1:35:00] the event the city does not
[1:35:02] charge for parking with in
[1:35:03] Balboa Park on five or more
[1:35:04] days in any calendar year
[1:35:05] including both consecutive and
[1:35:08] non consecutive free parking
[1:35:09] days but excluding any city
[1:35:10] holidays the city's minimum
[1:35:13] payment shall be reduced by a
[1:35:14] percentage equivalent to
[1:35:15] the total number of days in
[1:35:15] which no parking fees are
[1:35:18] charged.
[1:35:19] As an example, if the city does
[1:35:19] not charge for parking on 15
[1:35:22] days exclusive of city holidays
[1:35:23] ,the city's minimum payment in
[1:35:26] that calendar year would be
[1:35:27] reduced by 4.11% such that a
[1:35:30] minimum payment otherwise due 3
[1:35:31] million would be reduced by
[1:35:34] approximately 123,000 for a
[1:35:37] total city minimum payment of
[1:35:38] roughly 2.8 million before use
[1:35:39] an example of parking revenue
[1:35:43] breakdown assuming the zoo
[1:35:43] parking lot takes in 6 million
[1:35:46] in revenue in calendar year
[1:35:46] 2027 and assuming that there
[1:35:47] are no additional changes to
[1:35:51] the parking in Balboa Park that
[1:35:51] impact the number of days
[1:35:52] the city charges for parking if
[1:35:56] the day to day operating
[1:35:56] expenses are 1.4 million you
[1:35:59] would take the 6 million
[1:36:00] subtract the 700 k for the cap
[1:36:03] on annual operating expenses
[1:36:04] which would leave 5.3 million.
[1:36:07] You would then split the 5.3
[1:36:08] million 5050 leaving 2.65
[1:36:08] million because the city
[1:36:12] already received the 3 million
[1:36:12] annual minimum payment the city
[1:36:13] would not receive any
[1:36:13] additional revenue from paid
[1:36:17] parking in calendar year 2027
[1:36:17] Using this example however, as
[1:36:21] revenue from paid parking in
[1:36:22] the zoo lot increases
[1:36:22] the chances of the city
[1:36:23] receiving more revenue
[1:36:26] increases.
[1:36:26] For instance if this amount
[1:36:30] were 10 million and the city
[1:36:30] would receive 4.65 million or
[1:36:33] 1.65 million more above the 3
[1:36:38] million annual payment amount.
[1:36:39] >> The proposed actions before
[1:36:40] you today are make a finding
[1:36:42] under Council Policy 700 Dash
[1:36:43] ten that the Second Amendment
[1:36:43] will serve a valid public
[1:36:47] purpose and provide public
[1:36:48] benefit Adopt a resolution
[1:36:51] The way of Part five Section c
[1:36:51] six of Council Policy 710
[1:36:55] authorizes the cfo to accept
[1:36:56] and deposit revenue into
[1:36:57] the Balboa Park Paid Parking
[1:37:00] Program fund determine that
[1:37:01] approval of a Second Amendment
[1:37:01] is categorically categorically
[1:37:05] exempt from sequel and finally
[1:37:06] authorize the execution of
[1:37:07] the Second Amendment to
[1:37:07] the lease agreement between
[1:37:10] the city and zoological Society
[1:37:11] of San Diego For the San Diego
[1:37:12] Zoo property located in Balboa
[1:37:15] Park.
[1:37:15] That concludes my portion of
[1:37:16] the presentation And at this
[1:37:17] time I would like to invite
[1:37:20] Adam de Treasurer of the Board
[1:37:20] of Trustees of the San Diego
[1:37:21] Zoo Wildlife Alliance up to
[1:37:24] the dais to say a few words.
[1:37:25] Good afternoon Council
[1:37:25] PRESIDENT And members of
[1:37:29] the City Council.
[1:37:30] It's my pleasure to be here On
[1:37:31] behalf of my colleagues in
[1:37:32] the Board of Trustees I'd like
[1:37:32] to recognize my colleague
[1:37:35] Trustee Emeritus Wrigley who's
[1:37:35] here along with our senior
[1:37:36] staff and along with as you see
[1:37:40] many of our dedicated and very
[1:37:40] special volunteers who join us
[1:37:41] as well.
[1:37:44] Next slide please.
[1:37:45] For over 100 years the San
[1:37:46] Diego Zoo and the city of San
[1:37:49] Diego have enjoyed a
[1:37:50] tremendously positive
[1:37:51] relationship I think one that
[1:37:51] flows equally in both
[1:37:54] directions the zoo and its
[1:37:55] property, its world class
[1:37:56] collection of plants and
[1:37:59] animals all belong to you and
[1:38:00] are owned by the city.
[1:38:00] It's our honor and privilege to
[1:38:04] serve as your stewards for such
[1:38:05] a well-respected institution
[1:38:06] built by previous generations
[1:38:09] of visionary city leadership
[1:38:09] and passionate and dedicated
[1:38:10] team members and volunteers.
[1:38:14] For the past eight months it
[1:38:15] has been my honor and privilege
[1:38:15] to represent the zoo in
[1:38:18] negotiating this lease
[1:38:19] amendment with Casey Smith on
[1:38:19] behalf of the city and
[1:38:20] the mayor and the city
[1:38:20] attorney.
[1:38:24] I can tell you those
[1:38:25] negotiations were certainly
[1:38:25] rigorous.
[1:38:26] It took us eight months just a
[1:38:26] bit of time.
[1:38:28] But I do think they were very
[1:38:29] thorough.
[1:38:29] And it's also been my pleasure
[1:38:30] to interact with each of you
[1:38:33] and your staffs and I
[1:38:33] appreciate your attention to
[1:38:34] this important matter.
[1:38:38] We MAY be a bit biased but we
[1:38:38] start with the proposition that
[1:38:39] the San Diego Zoo is the crown
[1:38:42] jewel in the entire city and in
[1:38:42] fact the entire county.
[1:38:43] The proposal before you today
[1:38:46] aims to keep itself Your vote
[1:38:47] today will allow our successful
[1:38:48] relationship to thrive for
[1:38:48] generations to come.
[1:38:52] And adapt as we prepare for
[1:38:53] what the zoo will look like in
[1:38:53] the next 50 years.
[1:38:57] The action before you honors
[1:38:58] the commitment I made to you in
[1:38:58] SEPTEMBER and goes even further
[1:39:02] both financially as well as
[1:39:03] with updated lease provisions
[1:39:03] that MR. Smith has identified.
[1:39:07] And it allows us an extension
[1:39:07] of the lease term so that we
[1:39:08] can properly plan and execute
[1:39:12] on future projects to ensure we
[1:39:12] maintain our legacy of
[1:39:13] excellence.
[1:39:14] We plan in terms of decades not
[1:39:16] years.
[1:39:17] And this extension gives us
[1:39:18] the ability to work with our
[1:39:18] financial institutions to
[1:39:21] further invest in deferred
[1:39:22] maintenance and new capital
[1:39:22] projects.
[1:39:23] I believe this represents a
[1:39:26] true partnership and successful
[1:39:27] negotiation for both parties
[1:39:31] while ensuring our legal and
[1:39:32] fiduciary obligations.
[1:39:32] I thank you for your time.
[1:39:33] I hope we've addressed any
[1:39:37] concerns and I am hopeful to
[1:39:38] earn your positive vote on this
[1:39:38] critically important matter.
[1:39:40] I would now like to introduce
[1:39:45] our present ceo MR. Shawn Dixon
[1:39:45] .
[1:39:50] Thank you.
[1:39:50] >> Good afternoon, Council
[1:39:51] PRESIDENT Council members I'm
[1:39:52] standing here in a historic
[1:39:54] moment for this community.
[1:39:55] If you could go to the next
[1:39:59] slide for me.
[1:40:00] We are the crown jewel of San
[1:40:00] Diego.
[1:40:04] We produce $2.1 billion in
[1:40:05] economic activity in the San
[1:40:09] Diego region.
[1:40:10] We welcome over 3.9 visitors
[1:40:11] and a lot of those visitors
[1:40:14] come here just to visit the San
[1:40:15] Diego Zoo.
[1:40:20] It's incredible.
[1:40:20] It's an incredible asset for
[1:40:21] this city.
[1:40:21] We're a major employer.
[1:40:25] I think you heard from Casey We
[1:40:26] employ an impact of 6500
[1:40:29] employees That's just in San
[1:40:30] Diego.
[1:40:31] It's much higher if you think
[1:40:31] about the region of this
[1:40:31] economy.
[1:40:34] We're an employer that partners
[1:40:35] with labor.
[1:40:35] We have an incredibly strong
[1:40:39] labor force.
[1:40:40] We have jobs for first time
[1:40:41] jobs for first time people
[1:40:44] coming into the workforce And
[1:40:45] we have jobs that are lifelong
[1:40:49] career jobs for the city.
[1:40:50] The tenure of our organization
[1:40:51] runs from you started yesterday
[1:40:54] to 4550 year tenure age going
[1:40:59] through this organization and
[1:40:59] being employed by this
[1:41:00] organization.
[1:41:00] So we're very proud of
[1:41:01] the tenure of this
[1:41:01] organization.
[1:41:05] You'll hear from Erica on on
[1:41:06] community engagement and how we
[1:41:08] partner with the community to
[1:41:09] provide better access for
[1:41:10] school districts and visitors
[1:41:13] coming to the San Diego Zoo.
[1:41:14] We hope that you consider this
[1:41:15] lease extension for the benefit
[1:41:19] of this organization for
[1:41:20] the benefit of this community.
[1:41:20] Every dollar that we make we
[1:41:24] put back into the city assets.
[1:41:25] On the screen here it says $289
[1:41:29] million invested in the city
[1:41:30] asset over the last decade.
[1:41:30] Investments like Africa rocks a
[1:41:34] region within the zoo,
[1:41:35] investments like giant pandas,
[1:41:36] another region within the zoo
[1:41:40] and an investment of the All
[1:41:41] Children zoo called Wildlife
[1:41:41] Explorers Base Camp.
[1:41:45] All investments into this city
[1:41:45] .
[1:41:46] That's on top of the deferred
[1:41:47] maintenance of 110 year old I
[1:41:49] call it house 110 year old
[1:41:50] house that as you know as
[1:41:53] the city has all the deferred
[1:41:54] maintenance that goes along
[1:41:54] with it.
[1:41:55] And so we invest all those
[1:41:55] dollars back into the city's
[1:41:58] assets.
[1:41:59] This does not include the work
[1:42:00] that we do at the Safari Park
[1:42:04] in the conservation both
[1:42:05] locally and our Southwest and
[1:42:05] globally around the world that
[1:42:09] we do for conservation.
[1:42:10] The bottom line is we're asking
[1:42:10] you to extend this partnership
[1:42:11] and it truly is a partnership
[1:42:15] of ourselves and the city and
[1:42:15] we provide an economic and
[1:42:20] community benefit to this
[1:42:21] organization and this city.
[1:42:21] Additionally, we provide that
[1:42:26] economic benefit that goes
[1:42:26] beyond just the doors of
[1:42:27] the San Diego Zoo but to
[1:42:30] the community that lives here.
[1:42:31] Next I'd like to invite up
[1:42:32] Erica Koehler, our director,
[1:42:34] executive director of the San
[1:42:34] Diego Zoo.
[1:42:35] Thank you for your time and
[1:42:39] attention to this matter.
[1:42:40] Good afternoon.
[1:42:41] Council PRESIDENT And council
[1:42:41] members.
[1:42:45] Next slide please.
[1:42:49] This is a snapshot of the value
[1:42:50] that we provided to
[1:42:51] the community in 2025 and I'm
[1:42:51] really proud to share this with
[1:42:52] all of you.
[1:42:55] We provide engaging recreation
[1:42:56] for San Diego families a
[1:42:56] resource for residents not just
[1:43:00] tourists.
[1:43:01] And while we're recognized
[1:43:02] globally, we are the hometown
[1:43:05] zoo for San Diego Zoo which
[1:43:06] the residents can be proud of.
[1:43:07] More than 140,000 students
[1:43:11] visit us annually and we offer
[1:43:12] free and low cost programs for
[1:43:16] school schools, military and
[1:43:17] others which we commit to doing
[1:43:18] so because that's the core
[1:43:18] That's who we are.
[1:43:21] Next slide please.
[1:43:22] We offer free free field trips
[1:43:27] for all San Diego, San Diego
[1:43:27] second graders, free programs
[1:43:31] and field trips for kinder
[1:43:32] through fifth graders from
[1:43:32] Title one schools.
[1:43:33] We have educational internships
[1:43:37] and a youth career program for
[1:43:38] underserved youth.
[1:43:38] We serve 1000 wounded service
[1:43:42] members and their families and
[1:43:43] we have unique and educational
[1:43:44] offerings for 400,000 members.
[1:43:48] We are a living classroom that
[1:43:49] connects San Diego of all ages
[1:43:52] to the natural world.
[1:43:53] We have programs with hands on
[1:43:54] opportunities for students and
[1:43:58] the community at large.
[1:43:59] In addition, we have active
[1:43:59] conservation programs
[1:44:00] protecting endangered species
[1:44:03] at home.
[1:44:04] These programs are in our own
[1:44:04] backyard.
[1:44:05] A few examples include
[1:44:08] California condors, desert
[1:44:09] tortoise, mountain legged
[1:44:10] yellow frog and burrowing owls.
[1:44:14] And through our partnership
[1:44:14] with the city we help support
[1:44:19] San Diego becoming a bee city
[1:44:19] to support pollinator work
[1:44:20] which is important being an
[1:44:20] agricultural state.
[1:44:24] Our impact really extends
[1:44:25] across the entire community.
[1:44:26] And finally I'd like to close
[1:44:29] and invite Adam Beck up to
[1:44:34] the podium.
[1:44:35] Thank you, council members.
[1:44:36] In conclusion, we are proud to
[1:44:40] be your trusted partner for
[1:44:40] the last nine years.
[1:44:41] We'd love to continue that
[1:44:41] partnership.
[1:44:42] We're proud of the work that
[1:44:43] we've done and it's been done
[1:44:46] by our volunteers and our
[1:44:46] dedicated team members.
[1:44:47] And working very closely with
[1:44:48] the city of San Diego at all
[1:44:51] levels.
[1:44:52] We want to continue to reinvest
[1:44:52] back into the infrastructure,
[1:44:53] both the deferred maintenance
[1:44:54] as well as new projects that
[1:44:56] you've heard about.
[1:44:57] And we want to continue to make
[1:44:57] resources available to
[1:45:01] the broader community on a free
[1:45:01] or discounted basis.
[1:45:02] With that we are available to
[1:45:03] answer any questions and again
[1:45:07] I hope to earn your positive
[1:45:08] vote on this action.
[1:45:08] It's critically important to
[1:45:09] the future of the zoo.
[1:45:09] Thank you.
[1:45:12] All right.
[1:45:12] Thank you for the combined
[1:45:13] presentation.
[1:45:13] We'll turn it over to
[1:45:14] the Office of the Independent
[1:45:15] Budget Analyst.
[1:45:15] Thank you.
[1:45:17] Council PRESIDENT.
[1:45:18] On Friday our office released a
[1:45:19] report 20 6-07 which contains
[1:45:24] an analysis of the proposed
[1:45:25] amended lease agreement between
[1:45:25] the city and the zoo.
[1:45:26] For anyone who wisely decided
[1:45:28] not to spend the weekend
[1:45:29] reading that report, I'll
[1:45:29] provide a brief summary.
[1:45:30] Conservatively, we estimate
[1:45:31] the lease extension could
[1:45:34] generate 347.6 million in
[1:45:38] nominal or face value but using
[1:45:39] a 4.5% discount rate the net
[1:45:42] present value would be closer
[1:45:43] to 98.5 million for the entire
[1:45:43] 52 year length of the lease.
[1:45:44] This equates to an average
[1:45:49] annual revenue of 1.9 million
[1:45:50] in net present value.
[1:45:50] These amounts could decrease of
[1:45:54] the city pares back its part in
[1:45:54] the program in the ballpark but
[1:45:55] these amounts could also
[1:45:56] increase if the zoo generates
[1:45:56] gross revenue higher than
[1:45:59] the minimum payment amount.
[1:46:00] Council ultimately has three
[1:46:00] choices.
[1:46:05] One approve the proposed lease
[1:46:06] as negotiated at this time to
[1:46:06] request the item be returned to
[1:46:07] staff to further negotiate
[1:46:10] terms and conditions that could
[1:46:11] be represented to council at a
[1:46:12] future date.
[1:46:12] Or three reject the proposed
[1:46:13] lease extension and request
[1:46:16] staff Negotiate a new lease
[1:46:17] amendment closer to the current
[1:46:18] lease expiration date in 2034.
[1:46:22] As Council considers this lease
[1:46:23] proposal you MAY wish to waive
[1:46:23] short term and long term costs
[1:46:24] in benefits related to
[1:46:26] the terms of the lease.
[1:46:27] For example, one team
[1:46:28] structured only on paid parking
[1:46:32] related activity over 52 year
[1:46:33] period will be subject to
[1:46:34] fluctuations in parking
[1:46:34] policies And although the park
[1:46:38] evolve over time.
[1:46:39] Council MAY wish to consider
[1:46:40] alternative or additional
[1:46:40] payment economic options such
[1:46:44] as the percentage or dollar
[1:46:45] amount of tickets, membership
[1:46:45] concessions and sales and or
[1:46:49] gross rent from Subleases While
[1:46:50] the lease provides for review
[1:46:51] of payment terms every ten
[1:46:51] years to account for current
[1:46:55] economic conditions as required
[1:46:55] by state law.
[1:46:56] The lease assignment on what
[1:46:57] terms will be reviewed and
[1:46:57] adjusted or how disputes over
[1:47:00] adjustments will be mediated
[1:47:01] and resolved.
[1:47:02] The zoo like planned location
[1:47:02] for future zoo exhibit
[1:47:07] expansion which also entails
[1:47:08] the undergrounding of existing
[1:47:09] off the leases silent on how
[1:47:12] temporary or ongoing changes to
[1:47:12] the amount of onsite or offsite
[1:47:13] parking will be resolved.
[1:47:14] While the proposed lease
[1:47:18] amendment only applies to
[1:47:18] the zoo property that is
[1:47:19] current lease of the zoo
[1:47:19] property in Balboa Park and
[1:47:23] the Safari Park property in
[1:47:24] the same passable valley have a
[1:47:25] concurrent lease term and
[1:47:25] expiration date.
[1:47:29] Council MAY wish to consider
[1:47:29] the benefits and risks of
[1:47:30] negotiating these leases
[1:47:31] separately instead of
[1:47:31] concurrently as a package.
[1:47:35] And finally the fy 26 budget
[1:47:36] and fy 27 to 31 five year
[1:47:39] outlook assume $3 million in
[1:47:40] revenue from zoo parking.
[1:47:40] Returning this proposal to
[1:47:41] staff or requesting staff
[1:47:44] negotiate a new lease amendment
[1:47:45] closer to the current lease
[1:47:46] expiration date in 2034 would
[1:47:46] add to the current fiscal year
[1:47:50] projected shortfall potentially
[1:47:50] requiring use of the general
[1:47:51] Fund reserve and add to
[1:47:52] the projected budget deficit in
[1:47:57] the next future fiscal year.
[1:47:57] Thank you very much for
[1:47:58] attention and I'll be available
[1:47:59] to answer questions you MAY
[1:47:59] have for our office.
[1:48:01] All right.
[1:48:02] Thank you for your and your
[1:48:02] officers analysis of
[1:48:03] the proposal.
[1:48:08] So with that Claude, please
[1:48:09] proceed with public comment.
[1:48:09] >> Thank you.
[1:48:10] Council PRESIDENT We do have
[1:48:10] quite a number of speakers so
[1:48:13] we will be going to one minute
[1:48:14] each If I can have
[1:48:14] the following individuals
[1:48:15] please come out to the front
[1:48:20] row Sousa type You can come up
[1:48:21] to the podium to the high mike
[1:48:24] and then Jennifer Roy Craig
[1:48:25] Sanders Kelly Maiden Madden
[1:48:31] Marcia Didinger, Phillip
[1:48:32] McMullin, Beverly McKinney All
[1:48:36] Please come up to the front
[1:48:36] row.
[1:48:37] And if you could actually use
[1:48:38] the other mic because that way
[1:48:42] you can actually see the clock
[1:48:43] take away that 60s I appreciate
[1:48:48] you Please say hello.
[1:48:49] I am Susie Tight and I am a
[1:48:54] volunteer with San Diego Zoo
[1:48:54] Wildlife Alliance.
[1:48:55] I'm a San Diego native.
[1:49:00] I went to Torrey Pines High
[1:49:00] School.
[1:49:01] After that I went to the U.S.
[1:49:01] Naval Academy.
[1:49:02] I did four tours here in San
[1:49:06] Diego and after that I bought a
[1:49:07] house And I'm very happy to say
[1:49:08] I have now paid off
[1:49:12] the mortgage.
[1:49:12] I choose to spend my time with
[1:49:13] the zoo.
[1:49:13] I do that.
[1:49:18] I spend almost 1500 hours with
[1:49:18] them Last year both at the zoo,
[1:49:19] at the Safari Park and in our
[1:49:23] conservation science building
[1:49:24] where we're pulling dna out of
[1:49:24] Torrey Pines samples and doing
[1:49:30] endocrine studies on endangered
[1:49:31] species which we call during
[1:49:35] Down pooped for fun and I can
[1:49:36] share with you when I go and
[1:49:37] travel and I tell people I'm a
[1:49:42] zoo volunteer it is universally
[1:49:42] greeted with admiration and
[1:49:47] respect not just here in San
[1:49:48] Diego, not just in the United
[1:49:48] States but literally around
[1:49:49] the world.
[1:49:52] Thank you so much for listening
[1:49:53] to us.
[1:49:53] >> Thank you.
[1:49:59] Jennifer.
[1:49:59] Hi there.
[1:50:00] My name is Jennifer Roy and I'm
[1:50:05] a resident of District two.
[1:50:06] >> I am a longtime member of
[1:50:07] and more recently a volunteer
[1:50:12] for the San Diego Zoo and
[1:50:12] the Safari Park where I get to
[1:50:13] experience firsthand
[1:50:13] the positive impact of this
[1:50:17] special place.
[1:50:18] It inspires people of all ages
[1:50:19] to see and think about a world
[1:50:24] bigger than themselves.
[1:50:25] People come here because our
[1:50:25] zoo is awesome.
[1:50:29] I hear it over and over both in
[1:50:30] the park and while I'm
[1:50:30] traveling.
[1:50:31] Our entire city benefits from
[1:50:31] the vision, foresight and
[1:50:36] proper planning of this
[1:50:36] organization.
[1:50:37] But we don't get to rest on our
[1:50:41] laurels as 400 will allow us
[1:50:41] the ability to continue setting
[1:50:42] the bar.
[1:50:42] Thank you.
[1:50:46] Thank you.
[1:50:46] Next is Craig.
[1:50:47] Good afternoon council members
[1:50:52] and thank you for
[1:50:53] the opportunity to speak and
[1:50:54] share my support for this 400.
[1:50:58] As a volunteer at the zoo for
[1:50:58] four years I'm grateful that I
[1:50:59] have the opportunity to witness
[1:51:04] firsthand how dedicated
[1:51:04] the staff is out to
[1:51:09] the Wildlife Care and Safety
[1:51:10] and education afforded benefits
[1:51:16] conservation and the San Diego
[1:51:16] community.
[1:51:17] Our conservation programs exist
[1:51:17] for decades.
[1:51:21] Our zoo is helping save species
[1:51:22] here and around the world.
[1:51:28] Community impact Kids Every
[1:51:28] October.
[1:51:29] Active duty Military programs
[1:51:33] Free admission every day of
[1:51:34] the year field trips and
[1:51:40] education programs.
[1:51:40] The importance of successful
[1:51:41] passing of s-400 ensures I can
[1:51:46] continue our conservation and
[1:51:47] allowing for much needed
[1:51:47] planning required by welfare
[1:51:48] plants in our area.
[1:51:48] >> Thank you.
[1:51:50] Thank you, Kelly.
[1:51:57] Kelly It.
[1:51:58] >> Hello City Council members.
[1:52:02] My name is Kelly Madden and I'm
[1:52:03] here representing the zoo as a
[1:52:03] volunteer.
[1:52:08] Our world famous San Diego Zoo
[1:52:09] is not just an attraction.
[1:52:09] It's the heartbeat of our city
[1:52:15] and our economy and our pride.
[1:52:16] Currently San Diego Zoo is
[1:52:21] saving endangered species from
[1:52:22] all over the world and
[1:52:22] educating generations.
[1:52:23] As witnessed by myself when I
[1:52:27] was a little child and I'm
[1:52:27] still volunteering there.
[1:52:28] This work inspires hope and
[1:52:29] puts San Diego on the world
[1:52:33] stage ensuring long term
[1:52:33] stability and world class
[1:52:39] wildlife conservation.
[1:52:39] I strongly support you and
[1:52:45] support the zoo in our city and
[1:52:46] have you and ask your support
[1:52:49] in supporting f 400.
[1:52:50] Thank you for your time.
[1:52:50] Thank you Marcia.
[1:52:56] After that will be Phillip
[1:52:56] McMullen.
[1:53:01] Beverly McKinney.
[1:53:02] Read the full story at Fuller
[1:53:07] if you can all please come up
[1:53:07] to the front row.
[1:53:08] Those that are already spoken
[1:53:09] can definitely go back to their
[1:53:09] other seats.
[1:53:10] Please proceed.
[1:53:10] Thank you.
[1:53:13] Good afternoon council members
[1:53:14] and thank you for
[1:53:15] the opportunity to speak.
[1:53:19] My name is Marcia Day and I'm
[1:53:19] here to express my support for
[1:53:20] item f 400 and the volunteer
[1:53:24] for the last five years.
[1:53:31] This role has greatly enriched
[1:53:31] my life and I've seen firsthand
[1:53:32] how this youth commitment to
[1:53:33] our community enriches
[1:53:36] the lives of both children and
[1:53:37] adults.
[1:53:37] Programs such as Kids Free
[1:53:42] OCTOBER Free Daily Admission
[1:53:43] for active duty military field
[1:53:44] trips and educational programs
[1:53:48] make a meaningful difference
[1:53:49] for families across our region.
[1:53:49] I've been bringing my children,
[1:53:55] my grandchildren and now my
[1:53:56] great grandchildren here for
[1:53:56] more than five decades.
[1:54:00] I truly can't imagine San Diego
[1:54:01] without our world class famous
[1:54:01] San Diego Zoo.
[1:54:07] Thank you for your time and for
[1:54:07] listening.
[1:54:13] Gil Phillip.
[1:54:14] >> Good afternoon.
[1:54:14] Council members when he was
[1:54:15] still at the mall I live in
[1:54:20] Hillcrest and I did a volunteer
[1:54:21] at the zoo for four years.
[1:54:21] So I spent the last three years
[1:54:22] of my career in education So
[1:54:25] I'm very passionate about how
[1:54:26] important education is to us
[1:54:26] having a viable future as we
[1:54:31] say where all lives thrive.
[1:54:32] So in addition to all
[1:54:33] the benefit the zoo brings to
[1:54:36] the economy, I believe one of
[1:54:37] its most important missions is
[1:54:38] educating generations and
[1:54:38] generations from all over
[1:54:43] the world about well, animal
[1:54:44] welfare and in particular
[1:54:44] the very thin fragile line
[1:54:49] between extinction and
[1:54:49] endangered.
[1:54:50] So I really hope that you will
[1:54:51] support s 400 today and keep
[1:54:54] this important mission going.
[1:54:54] Thank you.
[1:54:55] Thank you, Beverly.
[1:55:00] Good afternoon council members
[1:55:07] and I live in Rolando so my
[1:55:07] council member is right here.
[1:55:08] I hope you will seriously
[1:55:13] consider s-400 today and agree
[1:55:13] to it.
[1:55:14] Long term planning is so
[1:55:19] important for an organization
[1:55:19] like this.
[1:55:20] Our work with endangered
[1:55:25] species like the Kino Check a
[1:55:25] moth butterfly that we put back
[1:55:26] into the environment here in
[1:55:31] the county.
[1:55:32] Those kinds of scientific works
[1:55:32] take enormous planning and
[1:55:38] there has to be time for that
[1:55:38] planning.
[1:55:39] So an extended lease is
[1:55:39] critically important.
[1:55:43] We can all talk about what
[1:55:44] the zoo does for kids.
[1:55:44] It's amazing and you all know
[1:55:45] that.
[1:55:47] Thank you for your time.
[1:55:53] >> Rodolfo.
[1:55:54] Hi, COUNCILMAN.
[1:55:55] Thank you for having me Here.
[1:55:55] Let me speak.
[1:55:59] I want to say that I hope you
[1:56:00] will support s 400 because it's
[1:56:00] really important.
[1:56:01] One of the things that
[1:56:05] experience that really is
[1:56:06] heartwarming to me is seeing
[1:56:07] kids come to the school and
[1:56:12] talk about the experience of
[1:56:12] being all excited.
[1:56:13] There's these kids that get
[1:56:14] support by the programs that we
[1:56:17] offered them and some of them
[1:56:18] come from Calexico in that area
[1:56:19] and on the Free Kids in October
[1:56:24] and they get up at 4:00 to go
[1:56:25] to the meeting place and then
[1:56:29] they leave at 430 and they
[1:56:30] arrive at the zoo and oh my
[1:56:30] GOD, they're so excited about
[1:56:31] being able to see the animals
[1:56:34] there and to see their their
[1:56:35] energy and their happiness.
[1:56:36] These are the young minds that
[1:56:40] we are forming to help preserve
[1:56:41] and the conservation of all
[1:56:42] the animals in the future.
[1:56:43] So you're supporting this
[1:56:43] program.
[1:56:47] Your support in the 400 is
[1:56:47] really meaningful and
[1:56:48] important.
[1:56:48] Thank you.
[1:56:53] Next is it for your final
[1:56:54] speaker here in council
[1:56:58] chambers?
[1:56:58] Please proceed.
[1:56:59] Thank you so much for your
[1:56:59] time.
[1:57:00] My wife and I both have been
[1:57:04] coming to the zoo for over 60
[1:57:05] years and we've seen so many
[1:57:06] changes It's really gone
[1:57:10] forward in and conservation and
[1:57:11] building for this community And
[1:57:16] I just can't imagine this
[1:57:17] community without the zoo.
[1:57:18] So I strongly support this
[1:57:18] resolution.
[1:57:23] Thank you.
[1:57:24] >> Thank you very much.
[1:57:24] I'm sorry The five minute time
[1:57:25] we're going to those
[1:57:25] participating remotely.
[1:57:27] We currently have eight people
[1:57:28] with our hands raised.
[1:57:28] If we can start with
[1:57:29] The Gambler if you can please
[1:57:32] unmute.
[1:57:33] You'll have one minute.
[1:57:33] Please proceed.
[1:57:34] I can't hear you.
[1:57:39] So let me go ahead and get this
[1:57:39] straight.
[1:57:44] >> The contract is good until
[1:57:44] the 32.
[1:57:45] So what are you threatening
[1:57:50] them of Removing it If you
[1:57:51] don't don't force them to make
[1:57:52] it pay parking.
[1:57:52] That part I don't really
[1:57:57] understand.
[1:57:58] There is no risk of the San
[1:57:58] Diego Zoo getting moved out and
[1:57:59] let's leave.
[1:58:03] City council members are that
[1:58:04] much of a joke which I believe
[1:58:04] that they truly are.
[1:58:08] Now I understand it because you
[1:58:09] guys don't really belong there.
[1:58:14] The elections we have 40
[1:58:15] leaders.
[1:58:15] I'm suspecting that this is
[1:58:20] going to be changing soon.
[1:58:21] I'm going I'm trying to work
[1:58:22] with Orange County to go in and
[1:58:26] fix elections if I can convince
[1:58:27] them to go ahead and rebuild
[1:58:27] the data.
[1:58:28] Then we don't have to really
[1:58:32] worry about bad leaders like we
[1:58:33] have in the city of San Diego.
[1:58:37] And I just hope that we don't
[1:58:37] postpone this until after this
[1:58:38] year.
[1:58:44] See what happens By the time
[1:58:45] you heard John Stump, if you
[1:58:48] can please unmute.
[1:58:49] >> Thank you very much.
[1:58:50] I'm urging you to take
[1:58:55] recommendation number two from
[1:58:56] the debate which is to send
[1:58:57] this back to committee.
[1:59:01] It's interesting what
[1:59:02] the leadership doesn't talk
[1:59:02] about.
[1:59:03] They don't talk about whether
[1:59:08] these are Sandy city of San
[1:59:09] Diego employees or are they
[1:59:14] regional San Diego employees.
[1:59:15] They don't talk about the long
[1:59:16] form infection that's
[1:59:16] threatening all the agriculture
[1:59:21] and health in San Diego in
[1:59:21] the region now.
[1:59:22] They don't talk about the fact
[1:59:26] that this deals with $2 billion
[1:59:27] to them.
[1:59:32] And I urge you to read by two
[1:59:32] memos Don't pass this now Send
[1:59:33] it back to committee.
[1:59:38] We have eight years before it's
[1:59:38] necessary.
[1:59:39] Thank you both.
[1:59:52] And in the future what where is
[1:59:53] the utilization data on
[1:59:53] the employees the zoo?
[1:59:53] Are they San Diego City of San
[1:59:54] Diego And what you're trying to
[1:59:54] do?
[1:59:57] Next to shame.
[1:59:57] Harris, if you can please
[1:59:58] unmute.
[1:59:58] After that it was all done.
[2:00:02] Shame on you.
[2:00:02] >> Yes.
[2:00:03] Can you hear me?
[2:00:03] Yes.
[2:00:03] Please proceed.
[2:00:08] Good afternoon Council.
[2:00:09] My name is Shane Harris and I'm
[2:00:09] today here today as a public as
[2:00:10] a public advocate for
[2:00:14] the residents of San Diego.
[2:00:15] I want to be clear at
[2:00:16] the outset I'm not here to
[2:00:16] argue for or against The city
[2:00:20] will do this amendment.
[2:00:20] The zoo is a treasured
[2:00:21] institution in our city and
[2:00:22] something many of us take pride
[2:00:22] in.
[2:00:26] My purpose today is to simply
[2:00:26] raise a few concerns that I
[2:00:27] believe deserve careful
[2:00:31] consideration.
[2:00:32] First, this proposal represents
[2:00:32] a very long term extension of a
[2:00:37] public asset located on one of
[2:00:38] the most important public parks
[2:00:39] in our city.
[2:00:39] When we enter into agreements,
[2:00:40] the length and scale of
[2:00:42] the public deserves confidence
[2:00:43] that the terms fully reflect
[2:00:44] the value of that asset and
[2:00:44] the long term interests of San
[2:00:49] Diego taxpayers.
[2:00:49] Second, there are legitimate
[2:00:50] questions about the financial
[2:00:51] structure of the agreement.
[2:00:51] The zoo is a globally
[2:00:55] recognized organization with
[2:00:56] significant revenue and
[2:00:56] resources.
[2:00:57] At the same time, the city of
[2:01:00] San Diego is facing serious
[2:01:01] budget challenges.
[2:01:01] It's reasonable for the public
[2:01:02] to ask whether the city is
[2:01:08] receiving a fair value and
[2:01:09] whether the additional
[2:01:09] opportunities exist for
[2:01:10] the zoo.
[2:01:10] >> Time has concluded.
[2:01:10] Thank you.
[2:01:13] Mary Saldana if you can please
[2:01:14] .
[2:01:14] I mean after that 8700.
[2:01:15] Yes.
[2:01:20] Thank you for in San Diego I
[2:01:21] visited the zoo also with my
[2:01:21] family and as an assembly
[2:01:22] member I visited behind
[2:01:25] the scenes and learn more about
[2:01:25] their operations.
[2:01:26] I admire how they support
[2:01:26] animals in their care,
[2:01:27] especially endangered and
[2:01:31] threatened species.
[2:01:32] But this important discussion
[2:01:32] needs to be more thoroughly
[2:01:33] reviewed by the Economic
[2:01:34] Development Committee.
[2:01:37] This is an economic discussion.
[2:01:38] Thanks to all the volunteers
[2:01:39] who showed up and testified.
[2:01:43] But the economic value of this
[2:01:44] is what's at stake and I am
[2:01:45] concerned that they have not
[2:01:45] installed solar panels over
[2:01:49] every square inch of their
[2:01:49] massive parking lot in my
[2:01:50] lifetime Even as the university
[2:01:54] schools and community colleges
[2:01:55] in San Diego have done over
[2:01:55] the last 20 years.
[2:01:56] I encourage the Climate Action
[2:01:57] Plan to estimate how much
[2:02:01] electricity would be generated
[2:02:01] by putting panels on
[2:02:02] the parking lot.
[2:02:02] And I'd like to know what is
[2:02:08] their annual energy bill.
[2:02:08] And were their operations
[2:02:09] included into the city's
[2:02:09] climate action plan?
[2:02:10] The original lease takes
[2:02:13] the book to the society shall
[2:02:14] be open to the city by APRIL
[2:02:14] 1st of each year.
[2:02:15] I look forward to seeing your
[2:02:18] utility bills on APRIL first.
[2:02:19] >> Thank you for that
[2:02:20] concluding comment 8700 If you
[2:02:24] can please unmute Star six.
[2:02:25] >> That also includes a five
[2:02:25] minute timer.
[2:02:26] There are six people with their
[2:02:27] hands raised no additional
[2:02:30] speakers will be taken.
[2:02:31] Please proceed.
[2:02:36] Thank you Joyce.
[2:02:37] A big question for you.
[2:02:41] What about the assets of
[2:02:42] the employees?
[2:02:43] I Googled a lot of this and it
[2:02:48] didn't look good at time.
[2:02:48] So 6500 jobs.
[2:02:54] So I want before we sign this
[2:03:00] approve this I want you to do a
[2:03:01] report to workforce report and
[2:03:02] I think you need to return this
[2:03:06] your staff and staff.
[2:03:07] Actually I would sort of love
[2:03:07] having a new a brand new lease
[2:03:11] but I would go with the middle
[2:03:12] road to the 52 year extension
[2:03:18] to 2078 is a major long term
[2:03:18] commitment of public land
[2:03:22] making it critical to align to
[2:03:23] align the 1979 agreement with
[2:03:29] current labor and equity
[2:03:29] standards.
[2:03:30] This is not being looked at
[2:03:35] completely and it's very
[2:03:36] important $800 million total
[2:03:36] asset value.
[2:03:37] What about our employees?
[2:03:42] I don't get it yet.
[2:03:42] Please.
[2:03:43] But the time has concluded when
[2:03:46] I'm writing an 8813 please
[2:03:47] email after that is Andrea I
[2:03:52] mean one three.
[2:03:52] I can't hear you.
[2:03:57] Okay thank you.
[2:03:58] So first off, I just kind of
[2:04:03] wanted to point out how gosh, I
[2:04:04] grew up going to the zoo but I
[2:04:08] am entirely against any animals
[2:04:14] being in cages including humans
[2:04:15] .
[2:04:21] And also I wanted to comment
[2:04:22] referring to where I just sort
[2:04:26] of pull over and speak a little
[2:04:27] climate crisis emission
[2:04:32] reduction A.K.A. Controlling
[2:04:33] the people's movement and
[2:04:38] behavior to accommodate goals
[2:04:39] for the un's 2030 plan and to
[2:04:40] further enslave the people in
[2:04:45] the skies above progress.
[2:04:46] I mean people really have to
[2:04:47] wake up to this and just like
[2:04:51] it because name was Bob
[2:04:51] Kozinski.
[2:04:52] MR. Kozinski had the best
[2:04:52] comments of all comments of
[2:04:58] the day regarding the previous
[2:04:59] item pest control.
[2:05:02] And I think if you can please
[2:05:03] on mute after you at 749 please
[2:05:09] proceed.
[2:05:10] I don't I mean I can't I mean
[2:05:11] if you're willing to move on if
[2:05:12] you can unmute you should have
[2:05:19] had a pop up come up We're
[2:05:23] willing to move on 7499 if you
[2:05:24] can please unmute.
[2:05:30] >> Bob do this here.
[2:05:30] Let me describe a hypothetical
[2:05:31] situation worth considering
[2:05:32] with regard to such a long
[2:05:35] lease.
[2:05:35] Let's imagine that one of
[2:05:36] the zookeepers was negligent
[2:05:39] and as a result of that
[2:05:40] negligence one of the zoo's
[2:05:40] elephants got loose and
[2:05:41] trampled a young woman who
[2:05:42] suffered a broken pelvis.
[2:05:46] Let's further imagine that a
[2:05:46] regular zoo visitor witnessed
[2:05:47] that negligence situation and
[2:05:48] had reported similar negligence
[2:05:51] in the past.
[2:05:52] Imagine that The young woman
[2:05:53] sued the zoo and she called on
[2:05:53] the regular visitor as an
[2:05:58] expert witness And that witness
[2:05:58] testified to the negligence
[2:05:59] that he had witnessed for years
[2:05:59] at the zoo.
[2:06:04] His testimony was devastating
[2:06:05] and the zoo settled the lawsuit
[2:06:05] for a lot of money and then
[2:06:10] the zoo began retaliating
[2:06:10] against that witness and banned
[2:06:11] him from coming to the zoo.
[2:06:12] But that said scenario sounds
[2:06:17] far fetched.
[2:06:17] It shouldn't because that's
[2:06:18] what's happened to be in
[2:06:19] the long term lease at Torrey
[2:06:19] Pines Glider Park.
[2:06:22] Despite the claims, a shorter
[2:06:23] term lease would not stop
[2:06:28] the zoo from doing all of
[2:06:29] the great things that it has
[2:06:29] done.
[2:06:29] Thank you.
[2:06:30] Thank you, Jay Powell.
[2:06:38] If you can please unmute Drew
[2:06:39] Powell please on Mute Star six
[2:06:43] or the pop up should have come
[2:06:44] up.
[2:06:44] >> Well, the pop up didn't come
[2:06:45] up immediately.
[2:06:45] Yes.
[2:06:46] Please proceed.
[2:06:50] I'd like the slide that shows
[2:06:51] the overall picture of
[2:06:56] the general view being pulled
[2:06:57] up before my time starts.
[2:07:01] And this is not about loading
[2:07:02] as you well know my family love
[2:07:03] this year.
[2:07:07] This is about a huge extension
[2:07:08] of a very, very long term.
[2:07:12] I'd like you to refer this back
[2:07:13] and also to the Climate
[2:07:14] Advisory Board, the Resilience
[2:07:14] Advisory Board.
[2:07:15] We're talking about the Climate
[2:07:19] Action Plan earlier
[2:07:19] notwithstanding the reporting
[2:07:20] requirements and the confusion
[2:07:24] about that.
[2:07:25] If this is something that
[2:07:26] the vast parking lot in that
[2:07:32] picture that you can see
[2:07:32] the largest single ever massive
[2:07:33] black and heat generated that
[2:07:37] could become a major energy
[2:07:38] pollution and rainwater
[2:07:39] contribution if it was properly
[2:07:39] designed to accommodate parking
[2:07:43] solar panel electric storage
[2:07:43] equipment Such a development
[2:07:44] conjunction with other
[2:07:45] improvement in the zoo
[2:07:49] facilities could serve as a
[2:07:49] community based microgrid.
[2:07:50] >> Your time has concluded
[2:07:52] Blair Beekman if you can please
[2:07:53] unmute and then Hector is our
[2:07:59] final speaker.
[2:08:00] Where have you been?
[2:08:11] I can read it for you about it.
[2:08:12] I knew a pop up should come up
[2:08:21] or some sort of instructions.
[2:08:21] I will need to move on more
[2:08:22] speaker is Hector if you can
[2:08:27] please unmute of Thanks for
[2:08:28] taking my comments Hector I
[2:08:32] would think I can do things for
[2:08:32] the city.
[2:08:33] Let's have a three hour
[2:08:34] question and answer period like
[2:08:39] down at the gym down there
[2:08:39] double park or double room
[2:08:42] where we can just ask everybody
[2:08:43] questions for three hours and
[2:08:44] get answers like the mayor and
[2:08:49] you guys And because it is you
[2:08:50] know this is how the city does
[2:08:51] it but they kind of circus
[2:08:51] things that jam it down
[2:08:55] Everyone's throat at the last
[2:08:55] minute you know But next time
[2:09:00] every big thing that's coming
[2:09:01] up all grown up to do And when
[2:09:02] I when I grew up there in
[2:09:06] the 50s the bus driver would go
[2:09:07] at the end of the bus route.
[2:09:07] They would point out the most
[2:09:12] dangerous animal ever to walk
[2:09:13] the earth And where they were
[2:09:13] there at the limit over there
[2:09:18] at Roosevelt Junior High
[2:09:18] School.
[2:09:19] The bus driver you say this is
[2:09:24] the most dangerous animal And
[2:09:25] it's true that we should bring
[2:09:25] that back to the bus driver to
[2:09:26] say that to the kids.
[2:09:31] It's true More than ever.
[2:09:31] Day one That concludes with a
[2:09:32] comment on this item.
[2:09:36] Thank you Council for All
[2:09:36] right.
[2:09:36] Thank you.
[2:09:37] I remember the road is at 163
[2:09:41] with that thank you for
[2:09:42] everyone that spoke here in
[2:09:42] chambers and those who
[2:09:43] participated remotely And as
[2:09:47] always thank you City clerk for
[2:09:47] handling all that.
[2:09:48] We'll turn it over to my
[2:09:49] council colleagues for
[2:09:53] questions, Comments Entertain a
[2:09:54] motion and we'll start with
[2:09:55] Council member Campbell Thank
[2:10:00] you very much Council PRESIDENT
[2:10:00] And thank you to staff for
[2:10:01] today's presentation and to
[2:10:06] everyone who came and called in
[2:10:06] with public comment.
[2:10:10] I appreciate these two lions
[2:10:10] very much.
[2:10:11] Thanks for being here.
[2:10:11] I'm pleased to support this
[2:10:16] amendment to the lease with
[2:10:16] the Zoological Society of San
[2:10:17] Diego for the continued
[2:10:21] operation of the World famous
[2:10:22] San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park.
[2:10:23] For more than a century the zoo
[2:10:23] has been one of ten.
[2:10:27] Diego's most treasured
[2:10:28] institutions and a major driver
[2:10:33] of our regional economy in 2024
[2:10:38] alone and welcomed nearly 3.9
[2:10:38] million visitors generated
[2:10:39] significant economic activity
[2:10:44] and supported at least 6500
[2:10:44] jobs.
[2:10:45] This amendment strengthens
[2:10:46] the city's long standing
[2:10:50] partnership with the zoo,
[2:10:51] providing stability for
[2:10:51] continued investment in
[2:10:56] the property and creates
[2:10:56] meaningful revenue for
[2:10:57] the city.
[2:10:57] This agreement includes an
[2:10:58] annual payment to the city that
[2:11:02] will grow over time.
[2:11:03] It also ensures continued
[2:11:08] community benefits including
[2:11:09] complimentary admissions for
[2:11:09] local nonprofits, school groups
[2:11:10] and children as well as
[2:11:15] prevailing wage requirements
[2:11:15] for construction and
[2:11:16] maintenance work.
[2:11:16] Overall, this agreement
[2:11:21] protects a key city asset while
[2:11:22] supporting one of San Diego's
[2:11:27] most iconic institutions.
[2:11:27] I'm happy to make the motion to
[2:11:28] support staff's recommendation.
[2:11:32] Thank you, Council PRESIDENT
[2:11:33] All right.
[2:11:33] Thank you, Council member
[2:11:34] Campbell.
[2:11:34] We have a motion to move
[2:11:35] the staff recommendation.
[2:11:39] I'll take the Liberty of
[2:11:39] jumping in.
[2:11:40] I want to thank you can see and
[2:11:41] everybody on the team that
[2:11:45] worked on this and representing
[2:11:51] the city very well There is no
[2:11:52] doubt about the love of the zoo
[2:11:53] and I'm not going to tell you
[2:11:53] that they are jokes I used to
[2:11:57] play with my daughters on it
[2:11:58] but that's not what's in front
[2:11:59] of us but in front of us as a
[2:12:02] real estate transaction And I
[2:12:03] think that's what was presented
[2:12:04] to us was a real estate
[2:12:08] transaction and I think my
[2:12:09] council colleagues will agree
[2:12:09] this is a real estate
[2:12:10] transaction.
[2:12:10] The action in front of us
[2:12:15] includes some waivers of 700
[2:12:15] Dash ten But I also want to
[2:12:20] remind folks that we also have
[2:12:21] another council policy 700 oh
[2:12:21] four that talks about what we
[2:12:27] do for projects in Balboa Park
[2:12:27] and as noted for city
[2:12:33] subsidized nonprofit cultural
[2:12:33] recreational institutions.
[2:12:34] In certain instances it MAY be
[2:12:35] necessary to grant an extended
[2:12:39] and specific term of occupancy
[2:12:40] to assist a tenant in securing
[2:12:41] financing for improvements or
[2:12:45] modifications to the premises.
[2:12:46] In these cases an appropriate
[2:12:47] term should be approved that is
[2:12:51] commensurate with the those
[2:12:51] requirements And I appreciate
[2:12:52] the fact that I think we that I
[2:12:55] do the math correct 30 million
[2:12:56] a year and infrastructure over
[2:12:57] the past ten years and I
[2:12:58] suspect we'll see that level of
[2:13:02] investment and more
[2:13:03] particularly to the comments of
[2:13:03] the public.
[2:13:04] I don't think that parking lot
[2:13:08] if they are for the long term
[2:13:09] obviously for those with longer
[2:13:13] memories there was a very
[2:13:14] ambitious plan laid out a
[2:13:14] number of years ago about
[2:13:19] things life gets in the way but
[2:13:20] I think we will see something
[2:13:21] which a much better use for
[2:13:25] that sea of asphalt that's out
[2:13:25] there while preserving the some
[2:13:26] 3000 parking spaces.
[2:13:31] It is also important to me that
[2:13:32] I am focused on the $3 million
[2:13:37] minimum per year to agree that
[2:13:38] to keep it that you were able
[2:13:39] to work out accommodations if
[2:13:44] revenue should exceed that.
[2:13:45] I consider that to be frosting
[2:13:45] on the cake something that we
[2:13:46] should not plan around budget
[2:13:49] conversations on but the 3
[2:13:50] million and as a minimum
[2:13:50] statement is something that we
[2:13:55] can now plan on going forward
[2:13:56] And I do want to recognize that
[2:14:01] even though pay parking is just
[2:14:01] getting started that is who has
[2:14:05] agreed to issue with that 3
[2:14:06] million for this fiscal fiscal
[2:14:07] year That should not go
[2:14:12] unnoticed.
[2:14:12] I also want to mention for
[2:14:17] the adding them up to the lease
[2:14:18] agreement which as I mentioned
[2:14:18] in the earlier item is
[2:14:23] particularly important to me
[2:14:23] because I was the one that
[2:14:24] fought to get them Bob included
[2:14:29] on city land even if it was
[2:14:30] leased to private parties and
[2:14:31] certainly recognize that that
[2:14:35] Bob does have exclusions in it
[2:14:35] there has to actually be
[2:14:36] feasible methods and there has
[2:14:40] to be a financial component.
[2:14:41] Prevailing wage is always
[2:14:42] important on big capital
[2:14:47] projects and then to counteract
[2:14:47] a couple of things that I heard
[2:14:53] one that I hear over that
[2:14:53] somebody said and keeps getting
[2:14:54] repeated over and over again
[2:14:55] this 3 million will go into
[2:14:58] the Balboa Park paid parking
[2:14:59] program.
[2:14:59] Is that correct?
[2:15:00] Casey That is correct.
[2:15:04] And all the parking revenue
[2:15:05] throughout Balboa Park goes
[2:15:06] into this pocket parking
[2:15:06] program essentially a lockbox
[2:15:10] and can only be used within
[2:15:11] Balboa Park.
[2:15:11] I think some members of
[2:15:12] the public try to confuse
[2:15:12] people.
[2:15:17] The other thing is for whatever
[2:15:17] you think about paid parking
[2:15:18] available park I learned quite
[2:15:19] a bit about Balboa Park despite
[2:15:22] being a native and having
[2:15:23] enjoyed Double Park over
[2:15:23] the years And one of the things
[2:15:24] I learned is that
[2:15:27] the leaseholders in double Park
[2:15:28] don't pay for water.
[2:15:29] The exception is that a number
[2:15:34] of years ago and the basic
[2:15:35] reason that there's only one
[2:15:36] meter for all your all
[2:15:39] the water system that goes
[2:15:40] throughout Balboa Park again
[2:15:40] except for those who put in a
[2:15:41] sub meter and they actually pay
[2:15:46] for their own water They're one
[2:15:51] of many things to be recognized
[2:15:52] and I think I mentioned
[2:15:53] the parking lot so I think I
[2:15:57] covered all the ground that I
[2:15:57] wanted to.
[2:15:58] So with that I will second
[2:15:59] the motion to move a staff
[2:16:03] recommendation And with that we
[2:16:04] will now go to Councilmember
[2:16:04] Moreno.
[2:16:10] Thank you and also thank you
[2:16:10] for the presentation.
[2:16:11] >> I want to thank city staff
[2:16:15] and representatives from
[2:16:16] the San Diego Zoo for the work
[2:16:17] that went into negotiating this
[2:16:21] amendment.
[2:16:22] The San Diego Zoo is an
[2:16:23] important institution in our
[2:16:23] city and it has a very long
[2:16:28] history in Balboa Park.
[2:16:28] It brings visitors from around
[2:16:29] the world and it plays an
[2:16:33] important role in conservation.
[2:16:34] But I think the most important
[2:16:40] thing that it does is it keeps
[2:16:41] local San Diego and students at
[2:16:45] the forefront of their mission
[2:16:45] .
[2:16:46] The zoo has a commitment to
[2:16:47] every second grader in San
[2:16:52] Diego so that they have access
[2:16:52] to the zoo for free.
[2:16:53] 36 years ago I was one of those
[2:16:58] students.
[2:16:59] So to say that the San Diego
[2:16:59] Zoo is a good steward of park
[2:17:00] land I think is an
[2:17:03] understatement.
[2:17:04] Currently the zoo houses 12,000
[2:17:05] animals that live in a
[2:17:09] naturalistic habitat eight
[2:17:10] gardens dedicated to native
[2:17:11] plant species And as one stated
[2:17:15] it generates an economic impact
[2:17:16] of about $2 billion.
[2:17:17] All of this exists within
[2:17:22] the larger area that makes it
[2:17:22] possible.
[2:17:23] Albert Park is one of the most
[2:17:28] important public spaces we have
[2:17:28] in the city and it belongs to
[2:17:29] the people of San Diego.
[2:17:34] Families come here because it's
[2:17:34] a place where they get to spend
[2:17:35] time together, enjoy
[2:17:36] the museums, the gardens and
[2:17:40] the cultural institutions
[2:17:41] without having to worry so much
[2:17:41] about cost.
[2:17:46] I voted in the past against
[2:17:46] paid parking at Balboa Park to
[2:17:47] keep the park accessible to
[2:17:51] everyone in San Diego.
[2:17:52] My colleagues have voted for
[2:17:52] paid parking at Balboa Park and
[2:17:57] this is why we are here today.
[2:17:58] I wish this was not
[2:17:58] the situation.
[2:17:59] However, this agreement
[2:18:03] continues our commitment to
[2:18:04] putting San Diegans first,
[2:18:05] supporting the world renowned
[2:18:10] wildlife conservation the zoo
[2:18:11] has achieved and also in my
[2:18:16] opinion ensuring a fair
[2:18:16] outcome.
[2:18:17] >> So therefore I will be
[2:18:17] voting on the motion before us
[2:18:23] today and that concludes my
[2:18:23] comments.
[2:18:23] Thank you.
[2:18:24] Thank you Council Member And I
[2:18:28] forgot to repeat that we do
[2:18:29] have a motion by Council member
[2:18:30] Campbell and second by myself
[2:18:30] to move The staff
[2:18:31] recommendation will go next to
[2:18:34] Councilmember Van Wilbert.
[2:18:34] Thank you Thank you for
[2:18:35] the work in the presentation on
[2:18:36] this and thank you to all of
[2:18:40] our volunteers here for
[2:18:41] The View.
[2:18:41] Every time I visit the zoo I am
[2:18:42] always incredibly delighted by
[2:18:45] every single volunteer who
[2:18:46] knows so much about
[2:18:46] the exhibits that they are
[2:18:51] volunteering for And I have
[2:18:52] been blown away by your
[2:18:53] dedication and your knowledge
[2:18:53] and your stewardship to
[2:18:57] the city.
[2:18:58] I mean these are volunteer
[2:18:58] positions that you're doing and
[2:18:59] I can see how deeply you care
[2:19:00] about the animals that you see
[2:19:04] and how you care about
[2:19:04] the public engaging.
[2:19:05] So just thank you for your
[2:19:05] work.
[2:19:06] Thank you for being here.
[2:19:06] We need more people in
[2:19:09] the world who are like the zoo
[2:19:10] volunteers And I just want to
[2:19:11] say how much I appreciate you.
[2:19:11] Thank you.
[2:19:16] To the zoo leadership as well.
[2:19:16] It's a wonderful opening of
[2:19:17] Elephant Valley last week at
[2:19:18] the City of Safari Park.
[2:19:22] i mean it made worldwide news.
[2:19:23] I was absolutely incredible to
[2:19:24] see and I can't wait to go back
[2:19:27] just as a regular visitor as
[2:19:27] well.
[2:19:28] I saw the lion the crowd
[2:19:29] waiting to come in and it was
[2:19:33] incredible.
[2:19:34] So I just want to thank you for
[2:19:35] being a world class institution
[2:19:36] located right here in the city
[2:19:40] of San Diego And I agree with
[2:19:40] what councilor or council
[2:19:41] PRESIDENT Obama stated We all
[2:19:45] are very, very excited about
[2:19:46] the zoo growing and being a
[2:19:46] part of our community and we
[2:19:47] have to do our jobs as council
[2:19:48] members review a lease and real
[2:19:51] estate transaction that really
[2:19:52] is not just about the zoo.
[2:19:52] That's why we have a bunch of
[2:19:53] questions about our real estate
[2:19:57] transactions going forward.
[2:19:58] One I do understand and I would
[2:20:03] assert that the Safari Park and
[2:20:04] the zoo are completely
[2:20:04] different negotiations for
[2:20:05] their leases.
[2:20:08] One of if the operating
[2:20:09] agreement is completely
[2:20:10] different than the Balboa Park.
[2:20:10] So I do think they should be
[2:20:11] done separately and we will
[2:20:16] have the Safari Park coming up
[2:20:16] soon.
[2:20:16] It's also peu de limited
[2:20:20] regulated by Prop 218 so it's
[2:20:21] completely different than
[2:20:21] the Buffalo Park.
[2:20:22] We also need to do this now
[2:20:23] because it was the city that
[2:20:26] put the urgency on the zoo to
[2:20:26] do this when we were the ones
[2:20:27] who instituted parking above
[2:20:31] all Park So that's why these
[2:20:31] are separate and I think that
[2:20:32] they should be second plug.
[2:20:33] We need to make sure that
[2:20:37] the farmers in the fantastical
[2:20:38] valley have their leases done.
[2:20:43] I cannot support having a
[2:20:44] neighbor next door having their
[2:20:45] lease done when our farmers
[2:20:45] have in four years.
[2:20:49] Mark Hertz who spent his entire
[2:20:50] term trying to get our farmers
[2:20:51] early to dine in the farmers
[2:20:51] cold alley and they're all
[2:20:55] partners you wouldn't believe
[2:20:56] the amount of work these
[2:20:56] farmers do to clear trees,
[2:20:57] brush off the roadway, you
[2:20:57] know, fire safety.
[2:21:01] So please put the same effort
[2:21:02] into getting our farmers leases
[2:21:02] done as we do the Safari park
[2:21:07] because I know they're all
[2:21:07] partners up there and we need
[2:21:08] to get it done.
[2:21:09] So I know you're working on it
[2:21:12] but the farmers are going to
[2:21:13] come down to City Hall to talk
[2:21:13] with us about it because we
[2:21:18] need to get their leases done
[2:21:19] So I know so I do have a
[2:21:22] question here about why this is
[2:21:23] under 710 because I believe it
[2:21:24] really needs to be controlled
[2:21:27] under 700 dash zero four And
[2:21:28] with that we don't need to be
[2:21:33] waiving anything in the motion
[2:21:33] .
[2:21:34] For example, the nutrien
[2:21:34] reported there's no appraisal
[2:21:35] here and we as a city have had
[2:21:38] passed real estate transactions
[2:21:39] where we've gotten in trouble
[2:21:40] for not having an appraisal
[2:21:40] such as the one to Ash Village
[2:21:41] across the street.
[2:21:45] However we do not charge rent
[2:21:46] for Bethel Park tenants that
[2:21:46] are non profits.
[2:21:50] We have decided to say do not
[2:21:50] do that.
[2:21:51] So the only reason we would
[2:21:51] invest in paying for an
[2:21:52] appraisal is if we were to set
[2:21:56] a price for rent or sale And so
[2:21:57] i want to make sure that that
[2:21:58] is the understanding.
[2:22:01] That's why we do not need an
[2:22:02] appraisal here because we're
[2:22:03] not charging rent or selling
[2:22:03] the property.
[2:22:04] That is correct.
[2:22:08] Councilmember Okay.
[2:22:09] Just solely focused on parking
[2:22:09] and we do not charge rent
[2:22:10] because it's double park
[2:22:13] correct?
[2:22:14] 704 So then why news whatever
[2:22:20] the city attorney why aren't we
[2:22:20] just implementing this under
[2:22:21] 700 dash and four?
[2:22:21] I don't think we as a council
[2:22:24] have to waive important
[2:22:25] provisions of seven dash ten
[2:22:26] such as market rate rent
[2:22:29] improvements in the property
[2:22:30] when 710 doesn't apply to this
[2:22:35] situation.
[2:22:40] And if you look at Section five
[2:22:41] or let a Roman numeral be of
[2:22:45] the disposition of city
[2:22:46] property if I lease under 700
[2:22:46] dash ten it states that if
[2:22:47] Section five of this policy
[2:22:51] conflicts with the more
[2:22:52] specific applicable accountable
[2:22:52] policy, the more specific
[2:22:55] council policy will control And
[2:23:01] that's 700 dash four Deputy
[2:23:02] City Attorney Julie Inman So
[2:23:08] the specific portions of County
[2:23:09] policy 710 that our way of
[2:23:13] solely apply to time extensions
[2:23:18] of leases and amendments that
[2:23:19] extend time and so one is a
[2:23:24] waiver of the requirement that
[2:23:25] the lease be updated to fair
[2:23:25] market value.
[2:23:26] And then the other is
[2:23:29] the requirement that the tenant
[2:23:30] propose capital improvements
[2:23:35] that justify the extension and
[2:23:36] those aspects weren't addressed
[2:23:42] in 700 dashboard and the long
[2:23:42] term extension of the lease
[2:23:43] wasn't addressed in Council
[2:23:46] policy 700 dash for So that's
[2:23:47] the reason why the waiver was
[2:23:51] included here.
[2:23:52] Councilmember If I MAY also
[2:23:56] just add for additional context
[2:23:57] in terms of this Council's
[2:23:58] policy that was updated last
[2:24:02] FEBRUARY a long term lease and
[2:24:06] disposition really is covered
[2:24:06] by 700 Dash ten And then in
[2:24:11] addition because it fell apart
[2:24:12] because it's the zoo that's
[2:24:13] the 704 So ensuring that we're
[2:24:17] covering our bases based on
[2:24:18] this council's direction we
[2:24:19] wouldn't want to run afoul
[2:24:19] associated with which one is
[2:24:23] governing But that both
[2:24:24] technically do apply and that
[2:24:24] we're being transparent about
[2:24:28] what we're asking you to do.
[2:24:29] I appreciate that As as an
[2:24:34] attorney I would disagree And
[2:24:35] the reason is I don't want
[2:24:36] the public to think that we are
[2:24:37] skirting our responsibility to
[2:24:40] get market rate when as it was
[2:24:41] never paying rent in the first
[2:24:41] place and that we are not
[2:24:45] giving the zoo a special deal
[2:24:46] that other city lessees would
[2:24:46] take.
[2:24:50] They've always been under
[2:24:51] the Balboa Park rules which
[2:24:51] means that these things don't
[2:24:55] have to be waived And I want
[2:24:56] the public to know we are
[2:24:57] holding them to the same
[2:24:57] account that we are holding
[2:24:58] every single other person in
[2:25:02] the ballpark And that's why I'm
[2:25:02] saying you should you
[2:25:03] understand how to for I will
[2:25:05] die on the field.
[2:25:06] But I want folks to know that
[2:25:07] this has always been the case.
[2:25:10] Plus the zoo has put in some
[2:25:11] Stansell revenue into improving
[2:25:16] the park, improving our city
[2:25:17] assets.
[2:25:17] I mean they put in tens of
[2:25:18] millions of dollars into
[2:25:22] infrastructure upgrades that
[2:25:23] they're not going to get credit
[2:25:23] for in this lease because they
[2:25:24] didn't need to because it
[2:25:25] wasn't under 700 said okay, I'm
[2:25:26] done being with my legal hat
[2:25:27] on.
[2:25:32] So my last point is just that
[2:25:33] the Teamsters are the ones who
[2:25:33] represent the zoo workers here
[2:25:37] and their fantastic There was a
[2:25:38] question about who are
[2:25:38] the workers.
[2:25:39] They're wonderful.
[2:25:40] I met with the Teamsters
[2:25:42] recently and I'm glad to see
[2:25:43] they've approved the latest
[2:25:43] collective bargaining agreement
[2:25:44] which is great because we have
[2:25:47] to invest in our workforce as
[2:25:48] well and that I'm glad we we're
[2:25:49] increasing our then Bob goals
[2:25:53] Here are your emissions goals
[2:25:54] and that we are putting in
[2:25:54] prevailing wage because this is
[2:25:55] every property So we're doing
[2:25:57] everything that we should be
[2:25:58] for the workers in this do in
[2:26:03] the park And because of that I
[2:26:04] will let it go on which council
[2:26:05] policy we need to be in because
[2:26:08] we're going to get to the same
[2:26:09] result Anyway, I just want to
[2:26:09] thank you very much for
[2:26:10] the work on this.
[2:26:14] I'm very, very excited to see
[2:26:15] the growth of the zoo and very
[2:26:15] excited for a partnership and I
[2:26:20] will support the motion today.
[2:26:20] Thank you.
[2:26:21] All right.
[2:26:21] Thank you Councilmember Bond
[2:26:22] Wolpert.
[2:26:23] We'll go next to council member
[2:26:25] Campo Thank you Council
[2:26:26] PRESIDENT Thank you to our city
[2:26:27] staff for their good work today
[2:26:27] and the presentation Do you
[2:26:30] have a question very specific
[2:26:30] question wasn't addressed in
[2:26:31] any of the slides but it's
[2:26:35] something that I know the zoo
[2:26:35] provides as a service.
[2:26:36] If there's someone from the zoo
[2:26:41] that's able to answer it I know
[2:26:44] that the zoo for roughly eight,
[2:26:45] maybe nine years has been
[2:26:46] supporting the Wounded Warrior
[2:26:49] organization that allows early
[2:26:50] access to the zoo for their
[2:26:50] physical fitness needs
[2:26:51] rehabilitation into their
[2:26:54] physical trainers.
[2:26:55] My hope is that this program
[2:26:55] continues without any
[2:26:56] additional impact to those
[2:27:00] participating.
[2:27:00] I know that now that there's
[2:27:01] charging at the parking lot
[2:27:05] that might be getting in
[2:27:06] the way.
[2:27:07] I see MR. Days at the at
[2:27:11] the microphone.
[2:27:12] MR. De Can you speak to whether
[2:27:12] that program is going to
[2:27:13] continue on beyond going and
[2:27:15] how you plan to continue to
[2:27:16] support those folks who've been
[2:27:19] wounded serving in our military
[2:27:20] ?
[2:27:20] Thank you, COUNCILMAN And
[2:27:21] through the council PRESIDENT
[2:27:22] Yes, we're proud of our
[2:27:22] partnership with wounded
[2:27:25] warriors.
[2:27:26] We we have to as you heard
[2:27:26] earlier, we provide free
[2:27:29] admission to active duty
[2:27:30] military roughly 130,000
[2:27:30] members per year And such a
[2:27:35] substantial benefit that we
[2:27:35] want to recognize our military
[2:27:36] And we're honored to work with
[2:27:37] the wounded warriors and and
[2:27:39] the sacrifices that they made.
[2:27:40] And so we look forward after
[2:27:41] today's action hopefully knock
[2:27:45] on wood and we're going to work
[2:27:45] very diligently with our with
[2:27:46] our donors, with our team
[2:27:48] members and with one way or
[2:27:49] another veteran groups to make
[2:27:50] sure we minimize or eliminate
[2:27:53] the impact of this change as
[2:27:54] soon as possible.
[2:27:54] Understood.
[2:27:55] I heard minimize or eliminate
[2:27:55] the impact.
[2:27:59] So I appreciate that that work.
[2:27:59] Thank you.
[2:28:00] I appreciate that.
[2:28:06] This item is before us Just to
[2:28:07] touch on it very briefly, I
[2:28:07] know that some members of
[2:28:08] the public have mentioned today
[2:28:12] about the charge for parking.
[2:28:12] Obviously I've been in support
[2:28:13] of free parking for all people
[2:28:16] and all of our ballparks since
[2:28:17] day one And I still support
[2:28:17] free parking today though that
[2:28:20] we are talking about something
[2:28:21] very different.
[2:28:21] I'm securing a portion of
[2:28:22] the revenue that's already
[2:28:26] being collected from visitors
[2:28:27] by the zoo is a reasonable step
[2:28:27] for the city right now And
[2:28:31] the zoo has long been one of
[2:28:31] our strongest strategic
[2:28:32] partners for our region and
[2:28:35] it's long provided enormously
[2:28:36] positive economic impact in
[2:28:36] terms of tens of thousands of
[2:28:41] jobs billions of dollars in
[2:28:41] secondary and tertiary impacts.
[2:28:46] So I'm confident that we're
[2:28:47] going to continue to work well
[2:28:47] together with the zoo to
[2:28:50] continue to serve the public
[2:28:51] And I appreciate that their
[2:28:52] mission is something that
[2:28:52] should be the mission of all of
[2:28:57] San Diego.
[2:28:58] So I will be in support of
[2:28:58] that.
[2:28:59] Thank you, Council PRESIDENT.
[2:28:59] All right.
[2:29:00] Thank you.
[2:29:02] Council member Campo Not seeing
[2:29:03] anybody else in the lights.
[2:29:03] Thank you my colleagues for
[2:29:07] your questions and comments.
[2:29:08] Thank you.
[2:29:08] Council member Bong Wolpert a
[2:29:09] constant struggle to make sure
[2:29:11] all our council policies
[2:29:12] actually in a react and maybe
[2:29:13] we can do a little bit of
[2:29:16] cleanup at the next next
[2:29:21] opportunity but given the in
[2:29:21] the absence of caution or
[2:29:22] abundance of caution that's
[2:29:26] what I want to say.
[2:29:26] I think I appreciate why you
[2:29:27] did it but your points were
[2:29:28] well taken.
[2:29:30] You do have 700 hours before
[2:29:30] that also speaks to that
[2:29:31] ballpark in particular.
[2:29:34] So with that I don't see
[2:29:35] anybody else on the lights.
[2:29:36] We have a motion by council
[2:29:39] member Campbell and a second by
[2:29:39] myself.
[2:29:40] Clerk Please call the roll.
[2:29:40] Thank you.
[2:29:44] Started the voting system.
[2:29:45] I will also note that we did
[2:29:45] receive six speaker slips in
[2:29:48] favor here in council chambers
[2:29:49] with no need to speak and this
[2:29:50] item also received 20 comments
[2:29:51] in favor and two comments in
[2:29:53] Opposition via our e comment
[2:29:54] form which was distributed to
[2:29:58] the Council.
[2:30:01] This does pass unanimously 8 to
[2:30:02] 0 with Council member PRESIDENT
[2:30:06] Pro Tem Lee Absent Thank you
[2:30:07] Council PRESIDENT All right.
[2:30:08] Thank you again thank you to
[2:30:08] staff for the very good work in
[2:30:11] bringing this forward.
[2:30:12] So with that clerk please
[2:30:16] introduce item 4a1 animals for
[2:30:17] a one is the approval of an
[2:30:20] affordable housing cdbg loan
[2:30:20] agreement with Community
[2:30:21] Revitalization Development
[2:30:25] Corporation in an amount not to
[2:30:25] exceed $6,650,000 for
[2:30:26] the Promenade apartments
[2:30:30] Affordable Housing Project.
[2:30:31] If you'd like to speak on this
[2:30:32] item please be sure to submit a
[2:30:35] speaker slip to the front of
[2:30:35] the room and place it in
[2:30:36] the clear box If you are
[2:30:39] joining us virtually and would
[2:30:40] like to speak on this item
[2:30:41] please be sure to raise your
[2:30:43] hand by pressing Star nine or
[2:30:44] the raise your hand icon.
[2:30:44] Thank you Council PRESIDENT All
[2:30:45] right Thank you.
[2:30:48] I see staff is starting to
[2:30:49] settle in and when you are
[2:30:52] settled in introduce yourselves
[2:30:53] for the record and let us know
[2:30:53] how much time you need.
[2:30:57] Good afternoon Council
[2:30:58] PRESIDENT LaCava and honorable
[2:30:58] Council members.
[2:31:00] We will need approximately
[2:31:01] seven minutes for this
[2:31:01] presentation.
[2:31:02] All right, when you're ready.
[2:31:05] My name is Christine Marcella,
[2:31:06] deputy director with
[2:31:07] the Economic Development
[2:31:07] Department And with me is
[2:31:08] Monica Hartman, assistant
[2:31:10] director.
[2:31:11] And it's our pleasure to
[2:31:12] present the affordable housing
[2:31:12] cdbg loan agreement with
[2:31:15] Community Revitalization
[2:31:16] Development Corporation.
[2:31:20] Today we are requesting that
[2:31:21] the City Council approve
[2:31:21] the staff report actions
[2:31:22] summarized on this slide
[2:31:25] The actions include approval of
[2:31:26] the loan agreement with
[2:31:27] Community Revitalization
[2:31:30] Development Corporation or crtc
[2:31:31] authorizing the mayor to
[2:31:32] execute, administer and
[2:31:35] implement the loan agreement,
[2:31:36] authorize the transfer
[2:31:38] appropriation and expense of
[2:31:39] $6.65 million from
[2:31:43] the unobligated cdbg grant to
[2:31:44] the Promenade Apartments
[2:31:47] Project and authorizing
[2:31:48] the $25,000 developer deposit
[2:31:49] for city costs and loan
[2:31:49] repayments to be deposited to
[2:31:53] the low and moderate Income
[2:31:57] Housing Asset Fund or lmi f
[2:31:58] Before discussing the project
[2:31:59] I'll provide a brief summary of
[2:32:02] the Bridge to Home program.
[2:32:02] >> The Bridge to Home program
[2:32:03] has proven to be a valuable
[2:32:06] tool in allocating gap
[2:32:07] financing to assist in meeting
[2:32:08] critical affordable housing
[2:32:11] needs.
[2:32:12] Since 2021 the Economic
[2:32:12] Development Department has
[2:32:13] issued seven rounds of its
[2:32:17] bridge to Home Notice of
[2:32:17] funding availability with
[2:32:18] around seven applications due
[2:32:21] this APRIL sixth Rounds one
[2:32:22] through five have resulted in
[2:32:26] 22 approved loan agreements.
[2:32:26] One pending round for agreement
[2:32:27] will be brought for council
[2:32:30] consideration in MAY.
[2:32:31] There are three pending
[2:32:32] agreements from Round six with
[2:32:34] this agreement being the first
[2:32:35] to be brought before Council as
[2:32:36] this project is receiving cdbg
[2:32:39] funds that need to be expended
[2:32:43] for timeliness altogether these
[2:32:44] 26 funds will provide a total
[2:32:44] of nearly $123 million in
[2:32:48] affordable housing funding,
[2:32:52] creating 2528 total apartments
[2:32:52] including 2499 affordable
[2:32:56] rental homes of which 436 are
[2:32:56] permanent housing with
[2:33:00] supportive services.
[2:33:01] An informational presentation
[2:33:05] on the Bridge to Home Round six
[2:33:05] No.
[2:33:06] Four process was provided at
[2:33:06] the Economic Development and
[2:33:09] Intergovernmental Relations
[2:33:10] Committee meeting on DECEMBER
[2:33:14] 10th, 2025 and loans for four
[2:33:14] projects were recommended.
[2:33:15] One project has since been
[2:33:18] unable to move forward.
[2:33:19] The remaining three projects
[2:33:19] will create 391 affordable
[2:33:23] rental homes including 55
[2:33:24] permanent supporting housing
[2:33:24] supportive housing units.
[2:33:28] The Promenade Apartments is one
[2:33:29] of the three round six projects
[2:33:29] and the only project moving
[2:33:33] forward that was eligible to
[2:33:33] receive cdbg funds.
[2:33:37] Now we'll take a few moments to
[2:33:38] provide a brief description of
[2:33:38] the Promenade Apartments
[2:33:42] The project will be developed
[2:33:43] by the nonprofit Community
[2:33:44] Revitalization Development
[2:33:47] Corporation partnering with
[2:33:48] the Affordable Housing and
[2:33:48] Community Development.
[2:33:52] Crtc was established in 1991
[2:33:53] and has been involved in
[2:33:53] the development ownership and
[2:33:57] operation of over 10,000
[2:33:58] affordable housing units.
[2:34:02] >> cerp was established in 2019
[2:34:02] and its founders have owned,
[2:34:04] developed and managed over 2500
[2:34:09] affordable units.
[2:34:10] The project site is located at
[2:34:13] 3972 dash 86 and 3990 Cleveland
[2:34:14] Avenue in the uptown
[2:34:14] neighborhood within the state's
[2:34:18] highest resource area in
[2:34:19] Council District three.
[2:34:19] The site is located within a
[2:34:23] transit priority area and
[2:34:24] located in an area near
[2:34:24] grocery, retail, school,
[2:34:31] medical and park facilities.
[2:34:31] The proposed eight story new
[2:34:32] construction development will
[2:34:35] include 94 affordable one, two
[2:34:36] and three bedroom apartments
[2:34:38] for families earning between 30
[2:34:39] and 70% of the area median
[2:34:42] income and one manager's
[2:34:42] apartment.
[2:34:43] There will be 22 parking spaces
[2:34:46] despite the fact that no
[2:34:47] parking is required given its
[2:34:48] location in a transit priority
[2:34:48] area.
[2:34:51] The project will meet
[2:34:52] California energy standards and
[2:34:52] include solar panels and
[2:34:56] stormwater bio retention
[2:34:56] filtration.
[2:34:57] Amenities include a community
[2:35:01] space kitchen laundry, bike
[2:35:02] parking, a tot lot and play
[2:35:06] areas.
[2:35:07] >> The loan agreement will
[2:35:07] provide a $6.65 million cdbg
[2:35:11] loan for acquisition at a 3%
[2:35:14] simple interest rate with a 55
[2:35:15] year term to be repaid from
[2:35:15] residual receipts.
[2:35:18] The city will have 55 year
[2:35:19] affordability covenants on
[2:35:23] the 94 affordable apartments at
[2:35:23] 70%.
[2:35:24] Amy and the developer will be
[2:35:24] applying for other sources that
[2:35:28] will restrict lower units that
[2:35:29] will restrict unit that lower
[2:35:32] ami levels.
[2:35:33] >> These tables show
[2:35:36] the projected sources and uses
[2:35:37] the $6.65 million city loan
[2:35:40] provides approximately 70,000
[2:35:41] per unit and 36,000 per
[2:35:41] bedroom.
[2:35:45] When leveraged with multiple
[2:35:46] financing sources the total
[2:35:46] project cost is approximately
[2:35:47] 60.3 million.
[2:35:50] Please note that these sources
[2:35:51] and uses of funds are based on
[2:35:55] estimates and assumptions and
[2:35:55] will be finalized at closing
[2:35:56] once all financing sources are
[2:35:59] obtained.
[2:36:00] Now we will review
[2:36:01] the tentative schedule for
[2:36:04] the project.
[2:36:05] The developer has applied for
[2:36:05] tax credits with potential
[2:36:08] award in MAY 2026 and if
[2:36:12] successful construction could
[2:36:12] begin in the fourth quarter of
[2:36:13] 2026.
[2:36:13] The construction period is
[2:36:16] anticipated to be approximately
[2:36:16] 26 months.
[2:36:22] Staff recommends approval of
[2:36:22] the requested actions
[2:36:23] summarized here and
[2:36:23] representatives from
[2:36:24] the development team as well as
[2:36:26] city staff are available to
[2:36:27] respond to questions.
[2:36:27] This concludes our
[2:36:28] presentation.
[2:36:32] Thank you.
[2:36:32] All right.
[2:36:33] Thank you for your good work
[2:36:33] and the presentation this
[2:36:34] afternoon.
[2:36:36] Clerk please proceed with
[2:36:37] public comment.
[2:36:37] There are no speakers here in
[2:36:38] council chambers going to those
[2:36:41] participating remotely.
[2:36:42] There are four speakers who
[2:36:43] will have two minutes each
[2:36:45] starting with 8700 if you can
[2:36:48] please unmute after that is
[2:36:49] 88138 700.
[2:36:49] Thank you.
[2:36:55] Thank you Joyce and the other
[2:36:59] 394 affordable apartment.
[2:36:59] 30% to 70%.
[2:37:02] Am I123 bedroom apartments for
[2:37:03] families?
[2:37:08] That's great news.
[2:37:09] The 29 units are 3% pmi.
[2:37:12] 47 units are 50%.
[2:37:12] That's middle income.
[2:37:20] The total cost of the project
[2:37:21] is $60,311,000.
[2:37:25] Now I finally found this new
[2:37:30] per unit subsidy approach
[2:37:31] similarly 70,745 per unit.
[2:37:35] I'm not used to the word being
[2:37:36] put there with the per unit
[2:37:40] cost so I need to get clear on
[2:37:40] that.
[2:37:41] It's probably very clear that I
[2:37:42] just didn't get that word
[2:37:45] subsidy but that amount of per
[2:37:46] unit is pretty darn good.
[2:37:50] The developer is awaiting final
[2:37:51] decision for an award of tax
[2:37:55] credits on MAY in MAY of 2026.
[2:38:00] My fingers are crossed.
[2:38:01] Also we need to receive a hud
[2:38:05] hud's It's already to use
[2:38:06] the grant fund.
[2:38:07] I was a little afraid of that
[2:38:10] but I hope that's going to come
[2:38:11] easily in spite of what's
[2:38:14] happening with our housing
[2:38:14] situation.
[2:38:19] So this is a great item.
[2:38:19] Thank you.
[2:38:20] Thank you so much.
[2:38:21] Just love these projects for
[2:38:24] housing Coming through in our
[2:38:25] current environment So keep up
[2:38:26] the great work and love to all
[2:38:29] you.
[2:38:30] Yes to Round six allocation of
[2:38:34] cdbg funds.
[2:38:34] >> Thank you.
[2:38:35] 8813 If you can please unmute
[2:38:43] after that is blurred between
[2:38:43] the hi can you hear me?
[2:38:44] Yes please proceed.
[2:38:44] Okay got it.
[2:38:47] Okay console here.
[2:38:51] Yeah I just wanted to to
[2:38:52] confirm that this too is just
[2:38:57] another uh just another.
[2:39:01] Come on now.
[2:39:06] Another usually.
[2:39:06] Sorry, sorry.
[2:39:10] I'm grocery shopping.
[2:39:11] It's just another plan for
[2:39:16] the United Nations agenda for
[2:39:16] the 21st century.
[2:39:17] Just, you know, living in
[2:39:20] the stack packs.
[2:39:21] We got these things going up
[2:39:22] everywhere.
[2:39:26] That's all by design as well.
[2:39:26] They know people living in
[2:39:30] these little condensed cages.
[2:39:31] You don't, uh you don't have
[2:39:35] the uh the capacity capacity or
[2:39:36] the desire to want to question
[2:39:40] anything to want to go up
[2:39:41] against anything especially
[2:39:42] especially with the local
[2:39:45] government is doing and
[2:39:45] implementing and yeah all by
[2:39:46] design.
[2:39:50] So I didn't really get to
[2:39:50] listen to everything about this
[2:39:54] item but I just want to
[2:39:55] encourage the people listening
[2:39:56] in Please do your due diligence
[2:39:59] and look up the United Nations
[2:40:00] agenda for the 21st century
[2:40:01] because we are here and living
[2:40:05] in a fishbowl is a reality.
[2:40:06] You know we're not getting that
[2:40:10] to which are too much sugar and
[2:40:10] yet that's where we're at.
[2:40:13] So um yeah, that's pretty much
[2:40:19] all I have.
[2:40:19] Thank you.
[2:40:20] Next is Blair Beckmann.
[2:40:27] If you can please unmute.
[2:40:32] Blair Beckmann.
[2:40:42] Okay Please unmute Okay and
[2:40:42] cannot unmute for you.
[2:40:43] We will have to move on to
[2:40:47] the next caller as callers.
[2:40:52] Andrea mean if you can please
[2:40:55] unmute And for Andrea Ebbing I
[2:40:55] kind of neutral.
[2:40:56] I do believe we need housing.
[2:41:01] I wish I knew a bit more on
[2:41:01] like the back end and
[2:41:02] the developers and like who got
[2:41:05] the kickbacks and all that
[2:41:06] stuff but I wonder what how
[2:41:10] it's going to impact like trash
[2:41:10] fees for these multi family
[2:41:15] units and what that's going to
[2:41:15] look like.
[2:41:19] And I also found that on
[2:41:20] Transparent California somebody
[2:41:20] named Kenneth a Biggers
[2:41:24] District refuge collection
[2:41:24] supervisor had zero in regular
[2:41:28] pay but $146,000 and other pay
[2:41:29] and 18,000 in overtime And he
[2:41:33] made almost $300,000 with no
[2:41:33] salary.
[2:41:34] Kenneth, a Biggers district
[2:41:38] refused collection supervisor
[2:41:38] in 2024.
[2:41:38] Thank you.
[2:41:39] That's it.
[2:41:44] Thank you.
[2:41:45] And expose Lori Saldana If you
[2:41:46] can please unmute the five
[2:41:47] minute timer.
[2:41:47] Also concluded there were two
[2:41:48] speakers in the queue.
[2:41:49] No additional speakers will be
[2:41:52] taken.
[2:41:53] >> Laurie and John Stump as our
[2:41:53] final speaker.
[2:41:53] Please proceed.
[2:41:56] Yes thank you.
[2:41:56] MADAM City Clerk, could you
[2:41:57] please confirm what's showing
[2:42:01] on the screen for us to speak
[2:42:02] to which item it is that we are
[2:42:02] addressing?
[2:42:09] Sorry it is item as 401
[2:42:09] according to the screen that is
[2:42:14] the Zoological Society.
[2:42:15] My apologies it is items 401 we
[2:42:15] will bring it down but if you
[2:42:19] can please focus on the timer.
[2:42:20] My apologies Items for one is
[2:42:20] the approval of an affordable
[2:42:24] housing cdbg loan agreement
[2:42:25] with the Community Realization
[2:42:25] department.
[2:42:26] If you can make please make
[2:42:26] your comments to that.
[2:42:28] I apologize and we'll have that
[2:42:29] corrected.
[2:42:29] >> All right.
[2:42:29] Thank you.
[2:42:33] i appreciate any time
[2:42:34] Developers are willing to build
[2:42:37] affordable housing and take
[2:42:38] the step of doing so using tax
[2:42:39] credit programs.
[2:42:43] It is it is challenging as I
[2:42:43] learned when I chaired
[2:42:44] the Assembly Housing Committee,
[2:42:47] it is difficult to find
[2:42:48] developers who are in
[2:42:49] the position to do that type of
[2:42:52] a development and count on
[2:42:53] the credits coming forward and
[2:42:57] especially difficult given our
[2:42:58] current economic outlook both
[2:42:58] long term and short term.
[2:43:02] So we desperately need housing.
[2:43:06] I would prefer that we free up
[2:43:07] housing that is currently being
[2:43:08] used for short term rentals.
[2:43:11] I think that in addition to
[2:43:12] building housing and affordable
[2:43:12] housing we also need to make
[2:43:16] sure every house that was
[2:43:17] approved under my committee and
[2:43:18] subsequent committees as part
[2:43:21] of our regional housing needs
[2:43:22] assessment is being used for
[2:43:23] regional housing and not for
[2:43:27] temporary re hotel types of
[2:43:27] lodging.
[2:43:31] So I speak strongly in support.
[2:43:32] I appreciate the developer for
[2:43:32] taking this position.
[2:43:36] I hope that all federal funds
[2:43:36] and tax credits continue to
[2:43:40] support this type of
[2:43:41] development and I encourage
[2:43:42] the city to do its part and
[2:43:45] make sure that every housing
[2:43:46] unit that's been built with
[2:43:50] the understanding it would be
[2:43:50] affordable or that it would
[2:43:51] simply be available for
[2:43:54] permanent residential use is in
[2:43:55] fact being used for that
[2:43:55] purpose because as it stands
[2:43:56] now we know that is not
[2:44:00] the case and we will never
[2:44:00] catch up with our housing need
[2:44:03] Despite the good work of
[2:44:04] developers such as this one.
[2:44:04] If you don't also enforce
[2:44:09] permanent housing as you add
[2:44:13] more units whether it's a use
[2:44:14] or other housing that's being
[2:44:18] pushed forward if those are not
[2:44:19] inspected regularly to ensure
[2:44:19] that they are being used for
[2:44:23] full time housing projects like
[2:44:24] this are admirable but they
[2:44:28] will never close the gap that
[2:44:29] we need for addressing
[2:44:29] homelessness in San Diego.
[2:44:33] Thank you.
[2:44:34] >> Thank you.
[2:44:35] Our final speaker is John
[2:44:35] Stump.
[2:44:39] If you can please unmute again
[2:44:40] this is let him ask for a one
[2:44:40] approval the affordable
[2:44:41] housing.
[2:44:41] >> Please proceed.
[2:44:43] Like to follow Laurie so danger
[2:44:44] because she picks up stuff that
[2:44:48] I wanted to say and of course
[2:44:52] it's showing the Zoom lease
[2:44:53] still and we understand little
[2:44:57] mistakes happen So my questions
[2:45:01] on this are dealing with
[2:45:02] climate change and particularly
[2:45:07] symbolic Is this project going
[2:45:11] to be a zombie project?
[2:45:12] And secondly I hope there's no
[2:45:16] parking being provided If this
[2:45:21] is a project it should be
[2:45:22] transit oriented and the way to
[2:45:26] make sure people use transit is
[2:45:26] not to provide subsidized
[2:45:30] parking.
[2:45:31] So I hope this project does not
[2:45:35] include subsidized parking is
[2:45:40] totally Zumba and the workers
[2:45:44] at the housing project you know
[2:45:45] the janitors, the manager etc.
[2:45:50] All meet or exceed the city's
[2:45:50] wage standards.
[2:45:54] Thank you.
[2:45:55] Thank you.
[2:45:55] Thank you again for pointing
[2:45:56] that out.
[2:45:56] We will be sure to triple check
[2:45:59] our slides next time and that
[2:46:00] does conclude public comment on
[2:46:01] this item.
[2:46:01] All right.
[2:46:04] Thank you MADAM City Clerk.
[2:46:05] And with that we will go to
[2:46:06] the council member representing
[2:46:06] District three where
[2:46:09] the projects located Council
[2:46:10] member Whitburn Thank you
[2:46:10] Council PRESIDENT Big thank you
[2:46:14] to the team for all the work on
[2:46:15] this project.
[2:46:15] This housing is going to be
[2:46:19] close to grocery stores.
[2:46:20] It'll be close to schools right
[2:46:24] up the street from transit a
[2:46:25] block away from the incoming
[2:46:25] Pride promenade The project's
[2:46:29] going to add to 94 truly
[2:46:30] affordable homes and that
[2:46:33] includes a great mix of 33 one
[2:46:37] bedrooms, 33 two bedrooms, 23
[2:46:38] bedrooms that will allow for
[2:46:42] families of all sizes with all
[2:46:42] kinds of great amenities right
[2:46:43] in the area there.
[2:46:47] So again, thank you for this
[2:46:48] and I will make the motion to
[2:46:48] approve the staff
[2:46:49] recommendation.
[2:46:49] All right.
[2:46:53] Thank you, gentlemen.
[2:46:53] So we have that motion to move.
[2:46:54] The staff recommendation will
[2:46:55] go next to council member
[2:46:57] Campbell.
[2:46:58] Thank you and thank you for
[2:47:01] the presentation for all
[2:47:02] the hard work on this.
[2:47:03] I am really excited about this
[2:47:03] project.
[2:47:06] It adds a great beautiful
[2:47:07] building to an area that is
[2:47:11] just alive with promise and
[2:47:16] will provide a great deal of a
[2:47:16] great deal of cultural and
[2:47:20] cultural availability to those
[2:47:21] who move in to there And I'm
[2:47:22] sure they will add to
[2:47:26] the neighborhood as well.
[2:47:26] And so I'm quite excited and
[2:47:27] happy to second this motion.
[2:47:30] Thank you.
[2:47:31] >> All right.
[2:47:32] Thank you, Council member
[2:47:32] Campbell.
[2:47:33] So we have a motion by Council
[2:47:36] member Whitburn, a second by
[2:47:36] Council member Campbell to move
[2:47:37] the staff recommendation.
[2:47:40] We'll go next to Council member
[2:47:41] Eli Rivera.
[2:47:41] All right.
[2:47:42] Thank you so much Council
[2:47:42] PRESIDENT.
[2:47:45] Thanks for the presentation and
[2:47:46] all the work on this.
[2:47:46] I definitely appreciate
[2:47:50] the comments made by COUNCILMAN
[2:47:51] Whitburn.
[2:47:51] The mix of bedrooms I think is
[2:47:52] fantastic.
[2:47:55] That's a really, really good
[2:47:55] sign.
[2:47:56] The three bedrooms in
[2:48:00] particular we're seen I think a
[2:48:01] little bit more often now and I
[2:48:02] think that's a product of
[2:48:05] asking to see that a little bit
[2:48:05] more often.
[2:48:06] So thank you for doing the work
[2:48:10] to make sure that that happens.
[2:48:11] I did want to take a moment to
[2:48:15] acknowledge COUNCILMAN Weprin
[2:48:15] actually for you know obviously
[2:48:16] you've been supportive of
[2:48:19] housing since you got here.
[2:48:20] I ride through your district on
[2:48:23] the way to work on a regular
[2:48:28] basis and the amount of housing
[2:48:32] that District three is is is
[2:48:33] absorbing bringing online in
[2:48:37] Hillcrest in particular is
[2:48:38] pretty astounding And I know
[2:48:42] that doesn't come I know that
[2:48:42] the while many neighbors
[2:48:43] welcome it others don't and i
[2:48:47] appreciate you staying
[2:48:47] committed to that effort
[2:48:48] because I mean there are
[2:48:52] thousands more homes for folks
[2:48:53] in in the community as a result
[2:48:57] of that And as you said,
[2:48:57] transit oriented.
[2:49:01] We've invested a lot in making
[2:49:02] walking and biking more
[2:49:06] accessible in the community as
[2:49:12] well And parking fees are twice
[2:49:12] the 23 spots.
[2:49:16] So some 22 sorry.
[2:49:19] So there's some but not one per
[2:49:20] unit and folks will know that
[2:49:24] as they have the opportunity to
[2:49:24] to move in there.
[2:49:25] I did have one question and if
[2:49:29] I missed this I apologize.
[2:49:30] I see the subsidy per unit
[2:49:30] which I appreciate We're below
[2:49:31] that hundred thousand dollar
[2:49:34] guidance threshold Do the cost
[2:49:35] per bedroom I know you all
[2:49:35] started doing that.
[2:49:38] I might have just again missed
[2:49:38] it.
[2:49:41] The total cost per apartment is
[2:49:42] 635,000 and the total cost per
[2:49:46] bedroom is 326,000.
[2:49:46] Thank you.
[2:49:47] And again I think that's super
[2:49:50] important to to note because so
[2:49:51] often in critiquing the way
[2:49:56] the city is is subsidizing and
[2:49:56] investing in housing, all homes
[2:50:00] are treated the same and all
[2:50:01] homes are not the same.
[2:50:02] Those three bedroom homes are
[2:50:05] going to, you know, have 4 or 5
[2:50:05] folks living in them.
[2:50:06] So when you break that down on
[2:50:10] a per person basis, we're
[2:50:11] getting an even even more bang
[2:50:11] for our buck.
[2:50:15] So this is excellent use of
[2:50:16] the resources in my estimation.
[2:50:20] Again, thank you to staff for
[2:50:21] the work on this and thank you
[2:50:22] Council member Brant Thank you
[2:50:22] Got the resident All right
[2:50:25] Thank you Council member Rivera
[2:50:26] And we'll go next to Council
[2:50:26] member Hemphill Thank you
[2:50:27] Council PRESIDENT Thank you
[2:50:29] staff for your work on this.
[2:50:30] I want to call attention to
[2:50:31] the fact that these are these
[2:50:34] units will be built within a
[2:50:35] state of California designated
[2:50:36] highest resource area As folks
[2:50:38] have heard me speak on numerous
[2:50:39] occasions about affirmatively
[2:50:40] furthering fair housing,
[2:50:43] getting rent restricted units
[2:50:44] that will be guaranteed
[2:50:44] affordable with the depth of
[2:50:48] affordability that this shows
[2:50:49] in our highest resource area is
[2:50:49] particularly difficult.
[2:50:53] I know that the staff report
[2:50:54] doesn't necessarily have a
[2:50:58] subheading that says how does
[2:50:58] this affirmatively for for
[2:50:59] housing maybe in the future
[2:50:59] will go in that direction?
[2:51:02] I know I've asked for that and
[2:51:03] other types of things but I
[2:51:04] just wanted to point that out
[2:51:05] because that continues to be a
[2:51:08] very high priority for me
[2:51:09] something that we need to do
[2:51:09] and are legally obligated to do
[2:51:13] So thank you for putting this
[2:51:14] through At the second question
[2:51:14] actually the first question I
[2:51:18] have for you is is this a
[2:51:18] project that received quote
[2:51:23] unquote bonus points or extra
[2:51:24] consideration for the fact that
[2:51:24] it's in highest resource or are
[2:51:27] we not yet implementing that
[2:51:28] just quite yet?
[2:51:28] I know you've said you're going
[2:51:29] to but I'm wondering if this is
[2:51:32] one of those projects this is
[2:51:32] one of those projects Round six
[2:51:33] was the start of where we began
[2:51:34] to award bonus points for
[2:51:37] moderate, high and highest
[2:51:38] resourced area projects And
[2:51:39] this is one of those projects
[2:51:41] understood.
[2:51:42] Well thank you very much for
[2:51:42] that.
[2:51:46] As I look through the rest of
[2:51:47] this, I just I do appreciate
[2:51:47] that it has a depth of
[2:51:50] affordability of 30 to 70%.
[2:51:51] Am I that is that is hard to
[2:51:52] get in a highest resource area
[2:51:55] So thank you for your good work
[2:51:56] on this.
[2:51:56] I will be in support.
[2:51:57] All right.
[2:51:57] Thank you Councilmember Campo.
[2:52:01] Not see anybody else and lights
[2:52:01] off or a couple of comments.
[2:52:02] Councilmember Whitburn, you
[2:52:03] failed to mention that it is
[2:52:05] across the street from the dmv
[2:52:06] So that's just a bonus for
[2:52:09] those folks.
[2:52:10] On a more serious note, I know
[2:52:11] we have big plans to revitalize
[2:52:14] that property and it's big
[2:52:15] parking lots.
[2:52:15] Thank you for the presentation.
[2:52:19] The good work that you do
[2:52:20] consistently in managing this
[2:52:20] process, evaluating
[2:52:23] the proposals that come in and
[2:52:24] and the strict adherence to
[2:52:25] the guidelines in picking
[2:52:28] the project that come forward.
[2:52:28] There were a couple of things
[2:52:29] that were mentioned by
[2:52:33] the public that I want to touch
[2:52:33] on.
[2:52:34] One it was not included in
[2:52:39] the presentation but I do want
[2:52:39] to mention that it is
[2:52:40] incorporating sustainable
[2:52:43] development features including
[2:52:43] rooftop solar energy efficient
[2:52:44] lighting and all electric
[2:52:48] energy star rating appliances.
[2:52:49] Then Bob does not apply to
[2:52:49] private projects like this.
[2:52:52] It applies to city buildings
[2:52:53] and city owned property But
[2:52:57] clearly they are actually even
[2:52:58] exceeding the standard that we
[2:53:02] would be able to impose on them
[2:53:03] .
[2:53:04] So I want to make note of that.
[2:53:04] There was also some sort of
[2:53:08] implication that on the arena
[2:53:08] numbers I think we're doing
[2:53:09] fine with above moderate
[2:53:13] housing in meeting our
[2:53:13] obligations.
[2:53:14] This of course is more of our
[2:53:18] below market housing.
[2:53:18] If anybody has any idea that
[2:53:23] any any property that is under
[2:53:23] contract for affordability is
[2:53:27] not using it for housing please
[2:53:27] like my office?
[2:53:28] No, I think all the council
[2:53:31] would want to know about that.
[2:53:32] So I don't want there to be any
[2:53:33] confusion out there above
[2:53:36] moderate That's a different
[2:53:37] conversation we don't seem to
[2:53:37] have again any challenge
[2:53:41] meeting arena numbers for above
[2:53:41] moderate But that's not what
[2:53:46] we're talking about here So I
[2:53:46] know it's a complicated
[2:53:47] process.
[2:53:47] The capital stack is for
[2:53:50] something that is so desperate
[2:53:51] it continues to be a challenge
[2:53:52] but we do our part moving it
[2:53:55] forward So I will be in support
[2:53:55] as well.
[2:53:56] And as a reminder we have a
[2:53:59] motion by Councilmember
[2:53:59] Whitburn, the second by
[2:54:00] Councilmember Campbell.
[2:54:04] Clerk Please call the roll I'm
[2:54:04] sorry the voting system Please
[2:54:08] cast your vote and that passes
[2:54:09] unanimously 8 to 0 with Council
[2:54:09] PRESIDENT Pro tem be absent.
[2:54:10] Thank you.
[2:54:13] Council PRESIDENT All right
[2:54:14] Thank you And again thank you
[2:54:15] Everybody ready That brings
[2:54:18] these items forward to us.
[2:54:18] With that we will now take up
[2:54:19] non agenda public comment
[2:54:23] Council members respect and
[2:54:23] appreciate the public input and
[2:54:24] are fully committed to
[2:54:25] protecting every participant's
[2:54:27] free speech rights at council
[2:54:28] and committee meetings.
[2:54:29] Clerk Please proceed with
[2:54:29] public comment.
[2:54:29] Thank you.
[2:54:32] Council PRESIDENT Pearl 2.7 On
[2:54:33] the agenda Public comment is an
[2:54:34] opportunity for members of
[2:54:36] the public to comment on items
[2:54:37] that are not on the agenda but
[2:54:38] within the subject matter
[2:54:41] jurisdiction of the City
[2:54:42] Council.
[2:54:42] Each speaker will have two
[2:54:43] minutes.
[2:54:43] Please note if there are more
[2:54:46] speakers on a single topic
[2:54:47] the maximum time for the topic
[2:54:47] will be 16 minutes.
[2:54:48] If you are in chambers please
[2:54:50] email your speakers up to
[2:54:51] the front of the room.
[2:54:52] If you are joining us virtually
[2:54:52] please raise your hand to speak
[2:54:55] by tapping the Raise your hand
[2:54:56] icon or if you're calling
[2:54:57] Participant Star nine If I can
[2:55:00] have Mary Soriano please come
[2:55:00] forward You will have two
[2:55:01] minutes for your non agenda
[2:55:10] public comment Mary Serrano,
[2:55:10] PRESIDENT Of La Hoya Town
[2:55:14] Council trying to get ahead of
[2:55:14] tomorrow night La Hoya Town
[2:55:19] Council sent out the mayor's
[2:55:19] resident budget survey
[2:55:23] the response and consistent
[2:55:24] response from the community is
[2:55:28] that the survey focused on
[2:55:29] the city eliminating services
[2:55:34] It isn't what people want to
[2:55:34] hear.
[2:55:38] Maintenance cuts, public
[2:55:39] restrooms reduced maintenance
[2:55:43] is susceptible to drugs and
[2:55:48] homeless youth health and
[2:55:48] safety risk disease
[2:55:53] transmission, fecal matter
[2:55:53] toilet people running out of
[2:55:58] essential hygiene supplies with
[2:55:58] washing hands, toilet paper
[2:56:02] etc..
[2:56:03] Next item Infrastructure cip
[2:56:07] funding gap of 12.8 billion in
[2:56:12] need If the percentage of funds
[2:56:17] needed for high priority is met
[2:56:17] Clarity is appreciated in some
[2:56:18] of these areas.
[2:56:22] Storm water Does this take care
[2:56:26] of every neighborhood street
[2:56:27] and roads Pavement Is this
[2:56:31] concrete or slurry feel?
[2:56:32] How are the streets selected
[2:56:36] bikes Facilities 88.6 million.
[2:56:41] I'm sure you all have heard
[2:56:42] questioning on the bike lanes
[2:56:45] that don't seem to justify
[2:56:46] the expense last year to
[2:56:51] the amount of users Bike lanes
[2:56:51] on Convoy Street has been a
[2:56:56] discussion among stranger is in
[2:56:56] line for their favorite eatery.
[2:57:00] Strangers in line can't
[2:57:01] understand why parking spaces
[2:57:06] were taken away for bike lanes
[2:57:10] in cop in convoy Thank you.
[2:57:10] Thank you.
[2:57:11] That does conclude our public
[2:57:12] knowledge and a public common
[2:57:15] hearing Council chambers so I
[2:57:15] will be going to those
[2:57:16] participating remotely.
[2:57:19] Five minute timer has been
[2:57:19] placed.
[2:57:20] We have 12 speakers in
[2:57:20] the queue.
[2:57:24] Blair Beckman if you can please
[2:57:24] unmute.
[2:57:24] >> All right.
[2:57:25] Fred Beckman can you hear me
[2:57:26] this time?
[2:57:28] Yes we can.
[2:57:29] Please proceed.
[2:57:29] Yeah I had a problem with my
[2:57:30] zoom all day today.
[2:57:33] I couldn't for public comment.
[2:57:33] I'm really sorry.
[2:57:34] Thank you for taking my public
[2:57:38] comment at this time.
[2:57:39] I wish you could have come back
[2:57:39] around for me previously but
[2:57:40] thank you for the meeting
[2:57:40] today.
[2:57:42] Informative.
[2:57:43] I think it's been a pretty
[2:57:44] tough weekend for all of us.
[2:57:47] We're learning the events of us
[2:57:48] continual war at this time and
[2:57:52] how we have to be thinking
[2:57:53] around subject matter.
[2:57:57] I think it's really important
[2:57:58] that the work we be doing at
[2:57:58] the local level we continue our
[2:58:02] good efforts.
[2:58:02] I think we really know how to
[2:58:03] talk about peace to create
[2:58:07] peace and sustainable liberty
[2:58:08] at the local level and those
[2:58:11] good examples that you know,
[2:58:12] our national and international
[2:58:13] level needs from us right now
[2:58:16] they need to see best
[2:58:17] practices.
[2:58:17] They need to see what we do
[2:58:21] well and what is our good
[2:58:22] thinking and not our fearful
[2:58:22] thinking because war is making
[2:58:26] it fearful and scared.
[2:58:27] We need to be strong and go go
[2:58:31] for our best practices and not
[2:58:32] cower to questionable war
[2:58:36] practices that the National
[2:58:37] international level I'm upset
[2:58:41] is the work at
[2:58:41] the international level is
[2:58:42] doing a lot.
[2:58:45] It's quite an upheaval but I
[2:58:46] just think the overall efforts
[2:58:46] of international war is very
[2:58:50] aggravating and frustrating and
[2:58:50] I like working towards
[2:58:54] negotiation to solve our issues
[2:58:55] and yet we've got negotiation
[2:58:55] and best practices we do here
[2:58:59] at the local level that means
[2:58:59] we have to coordinate well
[2:59:00] between us and that we're on
[2:59:01] the same page together.
[2:59:04] I think that was the important
[2:59:05] lesson with the Climate Report
[2:59:08] today We have to better learn
[2:59:09] how to be accessible and public
[2:59:10] and learning to work together
[2:59:13] like that.
[2:59:14] The zoological memo itself
[2:59:18] actually offers word about how
[2:59:19] parking revenue can be used
[2:59:19] initially towards general fund
[2:59:23] items.
[2:59:23] So council person LaCava really
[2:59:24] has to rethink his words and
[2:59:27] belittling the public.
[2:59:28] >> Also we have to work
[2:59:28] together not separately.
[2:59:29] Thank you.
[2:59:31] Your time has concluded.
[2:59:32] Barbara Gordon If you can
[2:59:37] please unmute after that will
[2:59:38] be Lori Saldana Please proceed.
[2:59:41] >> Barbara Thank you.
[2:59:41] Good afternoon.
[2:59:42] I'm a public health advocate
[2:59:46] and I urge you to recognize
[2:59:47] the commercialization of high
[2:59:51] potency thc has produced a rise
[2:59:52] in addiction poisoning
[2:59:56] cardiovascular disease,
[2:59:56] emergency rooms, traffic
[3:00:00] fatalities, serious side
[3:00:01] psychiatric harms especially
[3:00:01] among youth.
[3:00:08] In 2000 2426 of 12th graders
[3:00:09] and 16% of 10th graders
[3:00:13] reported past marijuana use.
[3:00:14] 5% of those high school seniors
[3:00:18] used their drug daily placing
[3:00:19] them at a higher risk for
[3:00:19] addiction claims that
[3:00:23] dispensaries keep marijuana
[3:00:24] away from teens rings hollow in
[3:00:28] light of the persistent high
[3:00:32] level of use If teens can't buy
[3:00:33] marijuana legally, how do they
[3:00:33] obtain it?
[3:00:37] About 65% of 12th graders
[3:00:37] reported that marijuana is easy
[3:00:42] or very easy to get.
[3:00:42] Cannabis use disorder is
[3:00:46] neither rare nor benign
[3:00:47] according to the National
[3:00:48] Survey on Drug Use and help
[3:00:52] prevalence of cannabis use
[3:00:52] disorder among adolescents and
[3:00:56] young adults is almost 60%.
[3:01:01] States with marijuana laws have
[3:01:02] historically shown higher teen
[3:01:02] use reflect reflecting
[3:01:06] the normalization and
[3:01:06] widespread available in social
[3:01:07] networks.
[3:01:11] I urge the city to take more
[3:01:11] aggressive action to limit
[3:01:15] the number of storefronts and
[3:01:16] exposure of advertising and
[3:01:16] marketing of marijuana by
[3:01:20] prohibiting billboards
[3:01:21] marijuana images on any signage
[3:01:25] and fortunately that numerous
[3:01:26] marijuana predators and policy
[3:01:30] makers that pursue profits at
[3:01:35] the expense of public health
[3:01:35] actively undermine any
[3:01:36] prevention efforts.
[3:01:40] Thank you for letting me speak
[3:01:40] .
[3:01:40] Thank you.
[3:01:44] Lori Saldana.
[3:01:45] >> Good afternoon again.
[3:01:49] So 40 years ago there was a
[3:01:50] public art project that
[3:01:54] plastered city busses and
[3:01:54] billboards with images and
[3:01:58] the text that San Diego is
[3:01:59] America's finest tourist
[3:01:59] plantation.
[3:02:03] And you can imagine city
[3:02:04] leaders were outraged that
[3:02:04] public money had gone to state
[3:02:08] what those of us who have lived
[3:02:08] here for decades grew up here,
[3:02:12] have known all our lives.
[3:02:13] San Diego relies heavily on
[3:02:17] hospitality and tourism dollars
[3:02:18] and unfortunately it is now to
[3:02:18] the detriment of people who
[3:02:21] want to buy homes or rent homes
[3:02:22] in San Diego.
[3:02:23] So when the regional housing
[3:02:26] needs assessment is brought up
[3:02:26] ,it is not looking
[3:02:27] prospectively or even currently
[3:02:31] it is looking backwards at what
[3:02:32] was promised for housing going
[3:02:35] back decades And what we have
[3:02:36] today.
[3:02:36] We have housing for visitors
[3:02:41] and we don't have enough
[3:02:41] housing for full time
[3:02:42] residents.
[3:02:42] And the people who are hardest
[3:02:45] hit are those who are working
[3:02:46] in hospitality service and
[3:02:50] other low wage seasonal jobs.
[3:02:50] So I wanted to bring that
[3:02:51] forward as a reminder that
[3:02:54] the committee that should be
[3:02:55] looking at this the community
[3:02:56] neighborhoods and community
[3:03:00] committee has failed completely
[3:03:00] in looking at how this
[3:03:05] ordinance that was passed a few
[3:03:05] years ago is operating.
[3:03:06] They've held informational
[3:03:07] hearings but have never done an
[3:03:10] investigation and it is harming
[3:03:10] people all over the city of San
[3:03:14] Diego.
[3:03:15] So I want to encourage in this
[3:03:16] as we approach our summer
[3:03:19] season that everyone on
[3:03:20] the council look at how many
[3:03:20] people come here.
[3:03:24] How many people take housing
[3:03:24] away from full time residents
[3:03:28] in order to enjoy our beautiful
[3:03:29] climate And how being America's
[3:03:33] finest tourist plantation is
[3:03:34] causing us to sink into
[3:03:38] financial ruin in cases such as
[3:03:38] the recent budget hole that
[3:03:39] we're in.
[3:03:42] Housing is fundamental.
[3:03:43] It's a human right.
[3:03:47] It's necessary for basic health
[3:03:48] .
[3:03:48] And if we don't provide it our
[3:03:49] city will be sicker for it.
[3:03:49] Thank you.
[3:03:51] Your time is concluded.
[3:03:52] Ernie Casco if you can please
[3:03:57] unmute.
[3:03:57] Yes.
[3:03:58] Ernie Casco here La Hoya
[3:04:02] resident.
[3:04:02] Time to stop the crime at
[3:04:03] Torrey Pines Glider Park.
[3:04:06] I should not be forced to buy
[3:04:07] insurance.
[3:04:08] Not required by law and sign an
[3:04:11] illegal access pass and waiver
[3:04:12] to use a free public park when
[3:04:12] city liabilities are already
[3:04:15] covered by California
[3:04:16] recreational laws.
[3:04:17] This is an insurance waiver
[3:04:20] fraud and misappropriation of
[3:04:21] public funding going into
[3:04:22] private account.
[3:04:25] It is well documented on your
[3:04:26] desk and demands a full
[3:04:29] transparent city artist that
[3:04:30] would end the corruption within
[3:04:31] your own administration.
[3:04:35] We have a petition Black speech
[3:04:35] recreational scandal to stop
[3:04:36] the illegal commercialization
[3:04:40] and privatization of San Diego
[3:04:41] parks with hundreds of
[3:04:41] signatures demanding
[3:04:42] authorities take action.
[3:04:45] We have unanimous letter of
[3:04:45] support from the town council
[3:04:49] La Hoya Shores Association to
[3:04:49] reconvene permanently
[3:04:50] the Torrey Pines Advisory Board
[3:04:54] as needed for public safety and
[3:04:55] oversight at Torrey Pines
[3:04:55] Glider Airport.
[3:04:58] Tomorrow, MARCH 10th
[3:04:58] the University Community
[3:05:02] Planning Group is taking an
[3:05:03] action item to write a letter
[3:05:04] to council members and
[3:05:07] the mayor's office and Park
[3:05:08] Recreation Department to end
[3:05:13] this dispute on the proposed
[3:05:13] San Diego recreational waiver
[3:05:17] Does that ends the dispute stop
[3:05:18] city legal city leasehold
[3:05:18] leaseholder illegal collection
[3:05:22] of public funding into private
[3:05:22] accounts and separating by
[3:05:23] separating the business from
[3:05:27] free public access to the San
[3:05:28] Diego recreational waiver
[3:05:29] isolates safety concerns Secure
[3:05:32] city liabilities restores
[3:05:33] recreational freedoms back to
[3:05:37] normal and addresses the victim
[3:05:38] and witnesses who have been
[3:05:39] damaged and assaulted within a
[3:05:39] timely fashion.
[3:05:42] It's a win for city council
[3:05:43] liabilities, restores
[3:05:43] recreational rights and
[3:05:47] freedoms for years to come.
[3:05:48] It's the best decision City
[3:05:48] Council and you could make Joe
[3:05:51] LaCava Thank you.
[3:05:56] >> Next speaker is 8700 if you
[3:05:56] can please unmute after that is
[3:05:57] Jonathan Yep.
[3:06:03] He's 8700.
[3:06:04] But thank you Joyce And now
[3:06:07] the cd three here is my short
[3:06:08] list of words that stood out to
[3:06:11] me recently eight items Council
[3:06:14] member Foster The third is
[3:06:15] words.
[3:06:20] I come from a place of love.
[3:06:24] Blair Bateman's words on peace
[3:06:24] .
[3:06:25] Chief Information Officer
[3:06:29] Banksy's words about a I spill
[3:06:29] erosion.
[3:06:34] He also said must have humans
[3:06:34] in the loop.
[3:06:38] Councilmember Campbell's words
[3:06:39] about how little we get from
[3:06:44] property taxes Director Elise
[3:06:48] Lowe's Keen words on system
[3:06:49] improvements Councilmember Ido
[3:06:53] Rivera's words What city are we
[3:06:54] trying to be?
[3:06:58] Director Tim Desmond's words
[3:06:59] All of her words on race and
[3:06:59] equity.
[3:07:04] More to come in the future and
[3:07:04] I'll try to fit this in.
[3:07:08] I MAY not.
[3:07:08] I googled Is Mexico involved
[3:07:13] with the Colorado River water
[3:07:14] deal or is it only New Mexico?
[3:07:14] And I was shocked.
[3:07:18] Google came back and I can't
[3:07:19] speak on it thoroughly because
[3:07:24] it's huge and it's complicated.
[3:07:28] So to be said later the water
[3:07:29] deal that was missed on
[3:07:31] Valentine's Day that was
[3:07:32] the second MISS OCTOBER 26th It
[3:07:33] is going to collapse if it's
[3:07:36] not signed and the federal
[3:07:37] government has a plan waiting
[3:07:41] in the wings to take over.
[3:07:42] So please keep an eye on this.
[3:07:46] But to all.
[3:07:46] Thank you.
[3:07:47] Next is Jonathan If you can
[3:07:47] please unmute.
[3:07:51] After that is Kathleen Lippert
[3:07:51] .
[3:07:52] Hello, my name is Jonathan and
[3:07:55] I'm here to talk about a lack
[3:07:56] of quality electronic waste
[3:07:57] resources for residents in San
[3:08:00] Diego.
[3:08:01] So due to the prevalence of
[3:08:01] planned obsolescence which has
[3:08:05] led to major increases in
[3:08:06] e-waste, the city I believe has
[3:08:07] to do a better job of informing
[3:08:10] residents e-waste is growing
[3:08:10] five times faster than
[3:08:14] documented e-waste recycling
[3:08:15] and it's reaching a projected
[3:08:18] 82 million tons about 2030.
[3:08:19] So it is a growing issue.
[3:08:20] Currently in San Diego there
[3:08:23] are multiple nonprofit and
[3:08:24] third party organizations that
[3:08:28] offer free e-waste drop off and
[3:08:29] pick up services like Urban
[3:08:30] Corpse and Waste And there's a
[3:08:32] few more.
[3:08:33] And then there's companies like
[3:08:33] tech companies like Best Buy
[3:08:34] that have comprehensive
[3:08:38] electronic record cycling
[3:08:39] programs and even ucsd and sdc.
[3:08:42] You have drop off locations
[3:08:43] available but the only facility
[3:08:43] that is run through the city of
[3:08:47] San Diego is the Miramar
[3:08:47] Household Hazardous Waste
[3:08:51] Transfer Facility which is by
[3:08:52] appointment only and it's only
[3:08:53] open on Saturdays with limited
[3:08:57] hours.
[3:08:58] And even worse it doesn't even
[3:08:58] accept waste.
[3:09:02] So I think that this is a major
[3:09:02] issue.
[3:09:06] This is an issue and then
[3:09:06] furthermore in the city of San
[3:09:07] Diego is what goes where GOD
[3:09:10] that is distributed.
[3:09:11] There is a lack of information
[3:09:15] on the actual harms of improper
[3:09:16] disposal of hazardous materials
[3:09:16] like e-waste.
[3:09:20] And then additionally the only
[3:09:21] way that the guide advertises
[3:09:22] is to dispose of waste in San
[3:09:25] Diego is to take it to that
[3:09:25] Miramar h.
[3:09:26] H w transfer facility which I
[3:09:27] mentioned before.
[3:09:30] It does not even accept e-waste
[3:09:30] and there's no alternative
[3:09:35] option that is offered So I do
[3:09:36] suggest that this be worked on.
[3:09:36] Thank you for your time.
[3:09:37] Thank you.
[3:09:39] Next is Kathleen Lippert.
[3:09:43] >> If you can please unmute.
[3:09:44] >> Thank you.
[3:09:44] Good afternoon Council.
[3:09:48] My name is Kathleen Lippert.
[3:09:49] Wall Street Journal had an
[3:09:49] article that highlighted
[3:09:53] the challenges high schools are
[3:09:54] facing today from the use of
[3:09:57] high potency thc vape pens.
[3:09:58] They're easy to hide and often
[3:09:59] used in bathrooms or during
[3:09:59] class.
[3:10:02] Legalize ation and surprising
[3:10:03] social acceptance has made
[3:10:07] marijuana more accessible to
[3:10:07] teens overwhelming schools
[3:10:08] ability to discipline and
[3:10:12] detect.
[3:10:13] The administrators say
[3:10:13] the problem is growing faster
[3:10:17] than they can respond.
[3:10:18] And legalization in states like
[3:10:22] California have made marijuana
[3:10:23] easier for teens to access more
[3:10:23] socially acceptable and harder
[3:10:27] for schools to police.
[3:10:27] >> Students are vaping in
[3:10:28] bathrooms, hallways and
[3:10:32] sometimes even during class.
[3:10:33] They've detectors are being
[3:10:37] installed but students often
[3:10:37] find ways around them.
[3:10:38] >> Administrators report
[3:10:42] constant alerts and frequent
[3:10:42] bathroom space sweeps.
[3:10:43] And students try to avoid
[3:10:47] school bathrooms often because
[3:10:48] they want they would rather
[3:10:51] wait till they leave school to
[3:10:52] be able to use a bathroom that
[3:10:52] is not filled with marijuana.
[3:10:56] Studies that create a
[3:10:56] commercial marijuana footprint
[3:10:57] resulted in increased
[3:11:01] availability and reduced stigma
[3:11:01] .
[3:11:02] And while schools are doing
[3:11:02] their best to protect students,
[3:11:06] cities like San Diego are
[3:11:07] making the jobs of schools and
[3:11:11] parents unnecessarily difficult
[3:11:11] .
[3:11:12] I like to know what the city of
[3:11:13] San Diego is doing to partner
[3:11:16] with these with parents and
[3:11:17] with schools because it appears
[3:11:21] that the city is policies are
[3:11:21] doing the opposite.
[3:11:26] They wilill continue schools will
[3:11:26] continue to lose ground despite
[3:11:30] technology and stricter
[3:11:30] monitoring and the combination
[3:11:35] of legal legalization, high
[3:11:35] potency products and discrete
[3:11:36] vaping devices.
[3:11:40] >> Challenge traditional
[3:11:44] schools The very same industry
[3:11:45] that claims they do not want to
[3:11:46] target students is the same
[3:11:49] industry that your concluding
[3:11:49] comment.
[3:11:52] Next is 8813 and then Madison
[3:11:58] plays a new okay console here
[3:12:03] and I'm definitely coming from
[3:12:03] a place of love.
[3:12:07] So let's say I wanted to focus
[3:12:08] on how things have been done
[3:12:12] incrementally step by step so
[3:12:13] people don't slowly so people
[3:12:17] slowly submit and consent to
[3:12:18] everything being built around
[3:12:22] them all presented as if it for
[3:12:23] our benefit while quietly
[3:12:23] leading to our own demise.
[3:12:27] The other agenda for the 21st
[3:12:28] century didn't disappear
[3:12:28] overnight.
[3:12:32] It has been layered and piece
[3:12:33] It has been layered and piece
[3:12:33] by piece.
[3:12:37] From cameras in our skies to
[3:12:37] homelessness to in our streets
[3:12:41] the decline of human health and
[3:12:42] the erosion of the human spirit
[3:12:42] from endless wars to inflation
[3:12:46] squeezing families every
[3:12:47] pressure point pushing people
[3:12:51] closer to exhaustion and defeat
[3:12:52] And now the climate crisis
[3:12:55] narrative They continue using
[3:12:56] to influence people for decades
[3:13:01] to see shoreline that the lines
[3:13:01] have not increased.
[3:13:02] Many coastal photos have half a
[3:13:06] century from half a century
[3:13:07] years ago have shown the exact
[3:13:07] same levels.
[3:13:11] Yet the fear messaging
[3:13:11] continues because when people
[3:13:15] are afraid they're easier to
[3:13:16] control.
[3:13:16] All of that contributes to
[3:13:17] the people feeling defeated And
[3:13:20] when people feel defeated they
[3:13:21] stop resisting.
[3:13:21] This is the oldest strategy
[3:13:25] there is divide and conquer,
[3:13:26] create the crisis, amplify
[3:13:30] the chaos and then present
[3:13:30] the solution.
[3:13:31] Order out of chaos.
[3:13:31] And while people are busy
[3:13:35] fighting each other, struggling
[3:13:36] to survive and just trying to
[3:13:39] keep their heads above water,
[3:13:40] the system of control quietly
[3:13:40] expands.
[3:13:44] None of this is random.
[3:13:45] The real question is not
[3:13:45] whether we can see it.
[3:13:49] The real question is what we
[3:13:49] choose to do.
[3:13:54] Once we know and yeah again
[3:13:59] there's a lot of people who are
[3:14:00] concerned not being paid.
[3:14:04] Call it voluntary call it We
[3:14:04] are the volunteers.
[3:14:05] >> We are the work of putting
[3:14:09] our Mark Madison if you can
[3:14:09] please on mute after Madison is
[3:14:10] John Stump.
[3:14:13] Please proceed.
[3:14:13] All right.
[3:14:14] Thank you.
[3:14:14] Good afternoon.
[3:14:18] Much of the public conversation
[3:14:18] about marijuana focuses on
[3:14:23] short term intoxication but
[3:14:23] emerging research shows that
[3:14:24] thc behaves very differently
[3:14:28] from substances like alcohol.
[3:14:28] Alcohol is processed and
[3:14:33] cleared from the body within
[3:14:33] hours.
[3:14:34] Thc the main psychoactive
[3:14:37] compound in cannabis
[3:14:38] accumulates in the body's fat
[3:14:42] and organs including the brain
[3:14:43] and liver and can be slowly
[3:14:43] released back into
[3:14:47] the bloodstream long after
[3:14:48] the immediate high has faded
[3:14:49] According to physicians and
[3:14:52] toxicology researchers.
[3:14:52] Thc spreads quickly into
[3:14:56] tissues throughout the body
[3:14:57] rather than remaining in
[3:14:58] the bloodstream where it can be
[3:14:58] easily measured.
[3:15:01] This means that even when a
[3:15:02] drug test appears negative thc
[3:15:06] and its biological effects MAY
[3:15:06] still be present in body
[3:15:07] tissues.
[3:15:08] This matters even more today
[3:15:11] because cannabis products
[3:15:12] available now are dramatically
[3:15:15] stronger than those used in
[3:15:16] the past.
[3:15:16] Modern oils, vape cartridges
[3:15:21] and edibles can contain 10 to
[3:15:24] 20 times more thc than products
[3:15:25] from the 70s and 80s.
[3:15:26] At the same time, daily use has
[3:15:30] become increasingly common.
[3:15:30] As a result, many people are
[3:15:34] repeatedly exposing their
[3:15:35] bodies to high levels of thc
[3:15:36] that do not leave the body
[3:15:39] quickly.
[3:15:39] Researchers are also learning
[3:15:40] that thc can affect the immune
[3:15:44] system and inflammation
[3:15:44] throughout the body when
[3:15:45] the immune system remains
[3:15:49] activated for long periods of
[3:15:49] time instead of returning to
[3:15:50] arresting state it can increase
[3:15:53] long term risks for conditions
[3:15:54] such as heart disease and
[3:15:58] metabolic problems.
[3:15:58] These findings remind us that
[3:15:59] cannabis is not a harmless
[3:16:02] lifestyle product.
[3:16:03] As thc potency rises and
[3:16:03] frequent use is more normalized
[3:16:07] we are only beginning to
[3:16:07] understand the long term health
[3:16:11] consequences of a substance
[3:16:12] that can persist in the body
[3:16:13] for weeks or even months.
[3:16:13] Thank you.
[3:16:16] Thank you, John.
[3:16:22] Oh, I don't mean to We're going
[3:16:23] to lose quorum here so we'll
[3:16:26] take that managing the public
[3:16:27] comment at the beginning of
[3:16:30] tomorrow morning's session
[3:16:31] along with the regular non
[3:16:32] agenda public comment at
[3:16:35] the end of the morning session
[3:16:36] .
[3:16:36] My apologies Please keep your
[3:16:37] hands raised.
[3:16:37] I will make sure to make note
[3:16:41] for tomorrow's meeting to give
[3:16:41] preference as well.
[3:16:42] So real quickly does the city
[3:16:43] attorney have anything to
[3:16:45] report out from close session?
[3:16:46] There is nothing to report.
[3:16:46] Thank you.
[3:16:46] Okay.
[3:16:47] We will now adjourn council to
[3:16:50] the regularly scheduled council
[3:16:50] meeting on Tuesday MARCH 10th,
[3:16:51] 2026 at 10 A.M..
[3:16:52] Again my apologize to those who