[This transcript was generated automatically from audio using AI and hasn't been reviewed by a person -- it can contain mistakes, including plausible-sounding sentences that were never actually said. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record.]

[0:00] Council members of the kit, council member Atkins, council member Lewis, council member mainstream, council member
[0:09] Frey, council member Daffer, deputy mayor and junta, mayor of here.
[0:15] We'll begin today with the invocation delivered by Pastor Homer Allen of the community full gospel church,
[0:22] followed by asking council member Lewis to lead us in the pledge of allegiance.
[0:27] Let
[0:30] us pray.
[0:33] Almighty God asswaves the sorrow of our nation, and of the families of the brave astronauts.
[0:39] Be of comfort to those who have suffered so great loss.
[0:44] May your blessings disdain be with our President and the Armed Services, who peril their
[0:49] lives to preserve freedom, for us, and for all that love freedom.
[0:54] As free people who govern ourselves, we thank you for all of our representatives.
[1:01] Bless this counsel as they perform their duties to govern and guide our city.
[1:06] May your name be exalted as they succeed in providing for the general welfare of all who
[1:12] are within their care.
[1:14] Give them wisdom and all they do in this session that your approval and grace will abide
[1:20] in our community.
[1:21] The name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, we pray, amen.
[2:01] The first item on our agenda today was to be item 30, a resolution proclaiming February 3rd
[2:08] to be Alice Burke, Hayes, Days, a customer and a fire understandard going to want to postpone
[2:13] that.
[2:14] Yes, Mr. Mayor.
[2:15] I would like to refer that back to the City Manager and I will have a date for you
[2:19] to reschedule.
[2:20] Okay.
[2:20] we don't actually need the vote on points up enough calendars so thank you we'll go next
[2:26] to the consent agenda and I want to pull item 102 the proposed 2003 state legislative program
[2:37] that has been through the rules committee and I'm not sure it's all that kind of versatile
[2:41] but I think we do need to address that plus I see there's a speaker and opposition so
[2:54] All right.
[2:59] We have a speaker who wishes to pull item 100.
[3:15] Guess we have a speaker wishing to pull item 104.
[3:26] There are any other requests from the council to pull any items or be heard.
[3:30] Ms. Ackens.
[3:31] Your Honor, thank you. I don't want to pull an item since you've particularly pulled one of two.
[3:36] But can I make a brief comment on one of five?
[3:39] Yes.
[3:39] Thank you, Your Honor. This was a resolution for Christine Marie Hadad Day.
[3:44] And Mr. Dad is a teacher at our Lady of Sacred Heart in City Heights.
[3:49] And last week I had the honor of presenting her.
[3:51] It was a total surprise to her.
[3:53] A resolution from the Mayor and Council declaring it to be her special day in the City of San Diego.
[3:59] She's been a teacher for 30 years at our Lady of Sacred Heart.
[4:03] And, you know, to see the hundreds of children I have never seen such well-behaved young people in my life.
[4:10] and the school, it's a Catholic school in City Heights, and I just, you know,
[4:15] to commend her for her work because the students that go to that school
[4:18] really reflect the district and the community, the diversity,
[4:24] scholarships, the church, the parish, which is in City Heights,
[4:27] which, as you know, has been one of our more disadvantaged communities.
[4:31] They make a commitment to help these students go to this private school,
[4:36] and I just wanted to commend her in public, even though I was out there
[4:39] last week because 30 years of of that kind of commitment to the kids in the inner city is
[4:45] something to really to thank someone for teaching is probably one of the hardest jobs and
[4:51] I just wanted to let her have two minutes on TV to say thank you for the work you do for our
[4:57] students in City Heights and to our native city.
[5:00] Secret heart and sister Linda who runs that school. She's incredible. So thank you for letting me take a minute to congratulate Christina Marie Hadad.
[5:12] All right. Is there a motion to approve the balance of the consent agenda, sir? Second?
[5:20] Was there a second?
[5:21] Alright, the balance consists of item 101-103-105 and 106. Please vote.
[5:34] Call the roll. Passes 8-0 with district 1, excuse. We'll go then to item 104, which are the
[5:44] appointments to the tree advisory board and there was a request to pull that from consent
[5:53] and speak on it, Mr. Dan Gaman.
[6:04] Okay, guy, I'll move 104
[6:10] please vote on 104,
[6:15] call the roll, pass is 80, let me just quickly
[6:20] introduce the folks who have just been appointed a reappointed to the tree advisory board
[6:28] It's not on your three advisory board, but it's not not on your three advisory board, it's a community forest advisory board, it's just on the dock it incorrectly, it takes a long time for these things to get updated.
[6:41] The community forest advisory board duties include advocated and formulating urban forest view policies, ordinance and guidelines and have been very active this last year since this council adopted a community forest initiative.
[6:56] a year ago to pursue planning 100,000 trees in the city of San Diego in the next 20 years.
[7:04] And so this has become an organization that is very important to the city and let me just introduce the folks that are being
[7:24] board, and is an award-winning independent writer, editor, and illustrator by clapping and
[7:31] whistling was from the District 8 Council Member for the record.
[7:37] The next person's Mr. Jesse Durphy, a university-hide's resident, retired educator in the
[7:45] field of horticulture, certainly well-qualified to be on the board.
[7:49] Thank you.
[7:50] Miss Mary Johnson, a resident of Sarah Mesa, is a teacher, a research specialist and
[7:55] counselor for several schools as well as San Diego City College.
[8:00] Mr. Mike Singleton, who's a representative from Council District 2, and has been
[8:05] so since 1998, Mr. Singleton is a licensed landscape architect and a certified planner
[8:12] under the American Institute of Certified Platters, has been an active member in the community
[8:18] course advisory board for some time. And finally, Miss Victoria touched on, who is the
[8:25] Council District 5 representative. I remember the Rancho Bernardo planning group. She is currently
[8:31] a project planner for the South San Diego Bay Unit of the San Diego National Wildlife Refused
[8:38] Comprehensive Conservation Plan, which is going to acronym or something. It would enable
[8:43] and as an environmental planning consultant for the San Deguito River Valley Regional Open
[8:49] Space Joint Powers Authority, that is certainly an interesting career to be pursuing.
[8:56] And again, we'll qualify to serve on our community force, the advisory board, I'm going
[9:00] to thank Mr. Drew Pataki, who is our community force or city in there in the front row.
[9:13] And anyway, thank you all for your willingness to serve on the board and your free to go.
[9:33] Okay, we have item 100 on the consent agenda.
[9:37] We're two actions related to the second amendment to the consultant agreement for the north choice community park phase one improvements.
[9:43] This was pulled from consent by Mr. Dan Beeman.
[9:53] I guess I'd say anybody need a second.
[9:56] Do we need a report on this? I assume not.
[10:00] I just
[10:05] would like to thank, oh, my name is Daniel Beman, I reside at 43 76 Illinois Street in the district of San Diego in the solar-lighted community of North Park.
[10:18] Any time something comes like this where we are parks and we get a chance to expand our parks, especially community parks.
[10:23] I like to stand for it. I think this is a great chance for us to do something better for the community
[10:30] One thing that I wanted to suggest is that we if we could look into
[10:36] having a chance where
[10:39] Community organizations could take ownership of parks especially small city parcels
[10:46] Where they would do the maintenance and they would have the control of it a community organization rather than a city
[10:53] So what I'm thinking of in my district is on Boundary Street, we have little triangles because
[10:58] of how the angle of Boundary Street goes that could become pocket parks, senior parks,
[11:05] small children parks that could be used in the city owns part of that land, the state owns
[11:12] part of that land, and some of the land is owned by private ownership, but I wouldn't doubt
[11:18] that maybe even those private owners would be willing to give it to the community, but it
[11:21] have to have somebody's backing. And I think the city could look into doing some of this.
[11:25] I know we have a few pocket parks in North Park and we definitely need more pocket parks
[11:30] because of the infrastructure situations we have there. But I'm sure in other communities we could
[11:34] do this and one thing that I would suggest is that maybe we could to afford to maintain these
[11:40] through the community organizations we could sell off naming rights. I know one of them is off of
[11:51] their name on a sign and give some maintenance funds and then we as the parks would not
[11:56] have to worry about your budgeting problems. I mean we in the community would not have
[12:00] to worry about your budgeting problems because we would maintain our parks. So thank you very
[12:06] much for your time.
[12:08] Let's move on 100.
[12:14] There are no further comments up please vote on 100. Call the roll. Passes unanimously with
[12:20] district one it's used
[12:28] a wiggle next to item two oh one an action regarding the amendment to the
[12:33] Pacific Highlands Ranch sub area three community park site purchase agreement in district one
[12:40] I don't remember that I was a motion in a second there's only one speaker and that speakers in favor
[12:47] Mr. Kevin rush this raise your hand here to answer any questions
[12:52] There appear to be no speakers in opposition. Does anybody want a report?
[12:58] Did you want to be heard any further?
[13:01] Okay, please vote on 201. Call the roll.
[13:09] It passes 71 with district 5 voting no and district 1 is used.
[13:20] All right,
[13:23] we'll go next to item 200, which are the actions regarding the main library proposition 14 grand application
[13:31] around two, these last two items we're going to need a staff report.
[13:37] So Mr. City Manager, I'd ask you to proceed with item 200.
[13:41] Yes, we'll turn it over to our deputy city manager, Bruce Arian, Bruce.
[13:46] Thank you, Your Honor, and City Council.
[13:48] We are prepared to do a presentation for you on this today.
[13:52] I think we have the time to do that.
[13:53] That's okay.
[13:54] I'll take a few minutes.
[13:55] I want you to do the presentation.
[14:02] Okay.
[14:03] I honor this is regarding the seeking approval today
[14:08] for the next submission for Proposition 14 grant applications at the state level.
[14:13] And we're recommending at the Main Library,
[14:15] be the submission by the City of San Diego for that process for the grant funding cycle that is
[14:20] due on March 28th of this year.
[14:26] In January this year, you directors come back before we submitted
[14:30] anything for rounds two and three over here today for you to do that with our recommendation.
[14:35] As you know and around one, we were successful. The City received a 5.3 million dollar grant for the
[14:40] Logan Heights Branch Library. That was one of 18 branches funded by the State. We're quite pleased with
[14:46] results.
[14:49] Prop 14 has a lot of rules related to it that the state has put out, but basically the
[14:53] funds can be used for acquisition and construction, the facilities, or adding to existing
[14:58] ones can be used to acquire.
[15:00] And can use for remodeling or rehabbing existing or other buildings for libraries, can use for the furnishings, and of course, it can pay for architectains and there's another design professional fees.
[15:11] There are seven factors they take into account in the review process. The needs of urban and rural areas are balanced, population growth, and that particular area.
[15:19] The aging condition of the existing facility, the inadequacy of the existing facility, a plan of service that integrates appropriate electronics and technology, the appropriateness of the site and the financial capacity of the local agency to open and then maintain that facility once it is operating.
[15:38] In addition, they take a very close look at the environmental documentation, which in most cases takes about six to 12 months to complete.
[15:45] Most of ours will be mitigated negative declarations, and in addition, the state is in post-require
[15:50] but to think through the state clearinghouse process for a letter of affirmation, which we will be doing on the main library.
[15:56] So I actually up there right now under review.
[15:59] For side acquisition, the property, you know, sometimes take the year, depending on the status of the project,
[16:04] could take six months of its vacant, there's no legal action.
[16:08] On the design side, you need to be pretty far along the design, about 30% of the design,
[16:13] should be completed to be a competitive application that usually takes about six months to produce
[16:18] and includes various elevations and the geotechnical reports.
[16:22] In this case, the main library really is the only project out of our list that we took the look at
[16:27] that is at that stage of architectural design. To put it in context and around one,
[16:34] there was about 150 million, I believe, by the total bond that was allocated,
[16:39] that's almost 350 that was going to allocate over three different funding cycles.
[16:44] The value of the project submitted just around one was over $500 million so it was a very
[16:48] competitive process. Around two, there's a $110 million that is up for allocation and
[16:55] whatever's left will be awarded around three.
[17:00] After around one, we worked with the state to try and figure out what the strengths and weaknesses
[17:04] were of our applications and if those were selected from around the state, they evaluated
[17:09] in 61 applications, we had a conference call with them a few weeks ago, and we will be
[17:15] incorporating their suggestions regarding the main library and our application for the
[17:18] March 28 deadline.
[17:21] The reason we're recommending the main library is really the status of the projects, and we
[17:25] think it also was well received in the first round, and was centeen creating with the application.
[17:29] We think it could be very competitive.
[17:31] The design is more than 30% complete, the environment of documentation is complete, the site
[17:36] has been acquired.
[17:37] The State Library gave us some feedback, a very specific feedback in our application, which we will incorporate it.
[17:46] The environmental documentation today is no different than the documentation that you had reviewed and approved before,
[17:52] that as part of the process we're asking that a new notice of determination be filed, as I said that the same documentation is already up at the state for the courier house review.
[18:03] And we're here today to get your approval of this.
[18:07] There have been a tentative list of branches that were for your consideration to be submitted for rounds two and three.
[18:14] I'm not going to go over these in detail because you asked us to come back today before a final decision was made,
[18:19] but there had been consideration given to the Bell Bowl branch library, the Ocean Beach Branch Library and the North Park Branch Library for rounds two.
[18:28] And then for around three, it was the Mission Hills Branch Library, St. Carlos Branch Library, and Scallowing Hills Branch Library.
[18:37] The subsequent to that decision, obviously the City Council has approved a financing plan, which has financing in place for all of those branches.
[18:46] And with the June 4th, 04 scheduled bond issuance.
[18:52] So in conclusion, it is our strong recommendation that you authorizes to submit an application just for the main library for this round.
[18:59] We think we have the best chance from a competitive point of view for that to be funded.
[19:03] We'd be applying for a $20 million grant from the state out of the $335 components that
[19:09] must be completed.
[19:10] We're much better shape on the main library than on the branches because of the status of the
[19:14] project.
[19:16] So taking all that into account and the potential for the $20 million award is our recommendation
[19:21] and the authorized just to submit the main library for the March 20th proposition-14 application
[19:26] deadline.
[19:27] We will be back to you in a couple of weeks with an updated and revised schools agreement, which is an important part of the process.
[19:34] And something we are, we are improving it on over the last round and working with the city school district.
[19:39] And that will be back before you in two weeks with an ordinance that involves the first and the second reading.
[19:44] And it will also be coming back with a final financial package, which is the same as what you've already approved, but might be a little bit different than what we submitted before.
[19:51] and we will have heard by the St. W. clearing house by February 20, as well, anything
[19:56] needs to be done to react to a comet. St. W.
[20:00] We have back to you as well, but basically today we're asking for your permission to apply for the main library for this next round.
[20:06] I have here, Esther Simon and my hermen from the environmental and library departments to help me answer any questions you might have.
[20:13] Thank you.
[20:18] Okay. Mr. Daffer.
[20:21] Thank you, Your Honor. I want to thank the staff, Mr. Herring, and Esther, especially we attended along with Dan Copper from my staff when the...
[20:34] Office of Library Construction for the California State Library met and
[20:39] It was interesting to hear their discussion and what they liked and what they didn't like and I think we were all little surprised that
[20:49] We didn't do as well as we thought we should have but yet at the end of the day
[20:54] two weeks after that meeting we were
[20:56] Elated when we found out that Logan Heights was in fact awarded and
[21:00] And it was appropriate that it would be awarded because clearly to me Logan Heights was definitely a poster
[21:08] Child for libraries that should qualify for state-pro-14 manning after I was built right on the school and
[21:14] Evolved things that they made very strongly. It was that it'd be joint use oriented
[21:19] But we did learn a lot in this first round. I suspect that with a hundred and ten million sitting on the table
[21:26] For round two, there will be some cities that come forward that weren't their last time that got smart off of this application around.
[21:34] So it will be interesting to see how it goes.
[21:36] But when you see some of these other rounds, San Mateo, San Mateo main library was awarded the maximum amount to the last go around a $20 million.
[21:45] San Maria Public Library was awarded $16 million.
[21:49] The camera real library was awarded 15 million, and of course we all heard of the library
[21:54] here in San Diego County, National City.
[21:56] Their main library was awarded $11 million.
[21:59] I think that the main library is a smart move.
[22:03] $20 million out of a $312 million system.
[22:07] Just means if we get that money, that's more money for branches in our districts, in our neighborhoods.
[22:13] And there is good precedent that San Diego, we get another award in round two.
[22:18] I think the fact that we would only be putting forward the main library shows our commitment to the main library and shows our commitment to the state that we in fact are serious.
[22:28] I feel confident that as the application gets finalized, it will have those bells and whistles that will take it over the top to get outstanding in all of the categories.
[22:37] the process was extensive the amount of requirements I think totals
[22:43] about 335 different little checkboxes which equates to a piece of paper or more for each
[22:49] one of those it is not an easy application to apply for and I think we learned a lot
[22:54] out of that I think Mr. and Zins is going to comment on round three so I'll just
[22:59] conclude by my comments by moving the manager's recommendation all right there's
[23:05] I can tell you, I had a very interesting couple of days when the Prop 14 first phase was done and that is because I had
[23:22] For those of you who don't know there was actually phase one was there was a part A and there was a part B
[23:30] And I think part eight was the bulk of the money and then part B was sort of the remaining 20 million or something like that
[23:37] So we were sort of anticipating to see what was going to happen if we were going to get the library funding so for them
[23:42] So my office was sort of called the state library and every
[23:46] state librarians office every I don't know two or three hours for a whole day
[23:51] There and I'm sure there was quite a few of us who are trying to figure out what was going on so
[23:55] When my staff members calls the state library and says, you know, I we want to know what the status is.
[24:00] I'm calling from council member in zoons office and they got really happy.
[24:05] And they said, Oh, you did great. You got 11 million dollars.
[24:10] And I thought 11 million. We only applied for five and a half million. I didn't know we would we would get doubled.
[24:17] I mean, I I wasn't sure that, you know, great Davis wasn't wasn't that kind of a mood that day.
[24:22] And I thought, how did we get 11 million dollars?
[24:24] So my staff comes back and you know we're sort of uncorking the champagne and we're celebrating
[24:30] we're about ready to make calls and and I think you know maybe should try that again and
[24:36] before I could finish that my dad had called me on my cell to tell me how happy he was from
[24:42] a younger brother. Now Mayor Nick and Zoonza whose city had gone 11 million dollars and Logan
[24:54] You know, my weekends were like at, at my dad's house with my brother there, and it was up.
[25:00] It was a little bit tougher for about a week or so. He was very, very happy, and I was a little bit disappointed.
[25:07] But we were fortunate enough that we had a staff that kept on going, and the whole library team with Bill and Anna and Bruce just kept at it.
[25:17] And they kept the faith and the part B of phase one, Logan Heights did get funded and that's
[25:24] a real testament to their leadership to Mayor Murphy and Councilmember Medaffer, who
[25:28] had really loved the charge here.
[25:30] We had a great press conference as soon as we found out about 45 minutes later there was
[25:34] a press conference at the Logan Heights Library and you had about 100 residents who showed
[25:39] up all word of mouth.
[25:41] That's the type of excitement and generated.
[25:43] And so it was a real win-win and I'm really excited about what brought 14 funds can do and I wholeheartedly support the idea of
[25:52] Applying in round two for the
[25:55] Central Library. I have to tell you I think in round three
[25:59] We should also focus on a few libraries that are out there and I don't know if it's
[26:04] Appropriate to give direction now. Maybe we'll do it a later time, but I
[26:09] I think the North Park and Skyline and Ocean Beach Libraries are three libraries that I'd really like to see be looked at in terms of their application availability for round three.
[26:21] I think the other three libraries are probably already in the funding mix in terms of mission hails, bubble and sand Carlos, but those would be my thoughts.
[26:29] I recall some of the briefings that we received, the reports that we received that in
[26:35] R&C for the last two years on all of those libraries, and I would be very open to looking
[26:40] at North Park again, skyline, and the ocean beach libraries for around three.
[26:45] Again, thank you very much, and I really look forward to working with our State Senator
[26:49] D.D. Alpert, who was our champion for Logan Heights, to see if we can get a few million
[26:53] more for the Central Library.
[26:55] Thank you.
[26:58] I think it was our intention that after we submitted this application that we would go back to the committee and try to, I'm going to show it with the magic number is three probably is the magic number and to go back to the committee have staff give us a recommendation as to which ones they would suggest for round three and so that we will have time to get those ready to go.
[27:24] I don't have any particular position on which should be included but I do have a position
[27:31] that we need to get back to the committee after the March 31st deadline and get going
[27:36] on those since it's only the nine months later than the nine or ten months later we have
[27:41] to submit the round three.
[27:43] So I think that's the intention, there was certainly no intention to try to decide today
[27:48] because we need to look at need and the ability
[27:52] to have the project ready for funding.
[27:55] I think those are the two criteria.
[27:59] And since we don't have adequate information,
[28:02] I think that decide that today,
[28:04] but it'll be decided to come back to the full council.
[28:06] Yeah, I'm just asking Mr. Herring perhaps.
[28:08] Who know, what is the deadline for round three?
[28:11] It's January 16th, 2004.
[28:14] So it would be prudent as you stated,
[28:15] on her that perhaps some time April may at the latest we dock at the subcommittee more
[28:21] likely April right after this application gets put away that would be our preference
[28:25] around as well I think late April because I think they need to work diligently
[28:31] ester Simon is sitting there put together the the Logan Heights application it was
[28:37] like 300 pages I mean it was she was lugging around to show everybody at the press
[28:45] These are complex and burdensome applications, but because you have to get an environmental documentation done, you've got to get some design done, we need to decide this in April so that we can get projects on land.
[29:00] You're on her with that just I didn't have comments until we started talking about the process and the environmental documents
[29:07] You know if North Park Ocean Beach in Scotland, you know if if this becomes the next
[29:12] Whatever the next round is staff needs to be working with
[29:17] You know if those are the potential communities that a committee will be looking at and bring it forward to this council for consideration in round three
[29:26] We need to be working on a timeline that includes what information needs to be ready
[29:31] So that our applications are strong and, you know, North Park, we're just having a town called
[29:35] meeting the Saturday at 9 to start that process and I need to make sure staff's aware
[29:42] and is working with us to keep us on task and on time-line otherwise there's no point
[29:47] in putting a project forward if it's not going to meet the criteria so I need staff to kind
[29:53] of help and I'm sure other council members do too if their projects end up on that third
[29:58] to keep us on task.
[30:00] And that needs to be a real priority that they have to keep us on task in the midst of all of our discussion and planning and vision for whatever the project is, because I don't know if we're just starting and they may relocate the library.
[30:15] So with that in mind, you know, environmental is not a short term thing.
[30:19] So, I just want to make sure that whatever projects they are, that no determination is made today.
[30:29] I don't think we have the information I would agree with the mayor, and also to make a point of the original information that was provided to the communities and some of those libraries, including the Balboa library.
[30:46] to also look at that because I noticed it was on your presentation and we can discuss that
[30:52] at a committee meeting, but I want to make sure that stays on the table until I'm given
[31:00] an explanation as to why it would not be the best one to send through round three.
[31:04] And I'm certainly open to looking at that.
[31:07] If I could comment for just a second, I think it might make it better.
[31:10] better. We had the financing plan which was approved not that long ago and had a schedule
[31:15] associated with it. We also had $16 million in interim funding approved. All these branches
[31:20] that we're talking about now is candidates. Have the interim funding that allows to continue
[31:24] work. Forget about Prop 14 to continue work on progress with the design and the environmental
[31:29] site acquisition site determination. So we'll be doing that on these branches in accordance
[31:34] with the plan you approved in the schedule that you approved.
[31:36] All
[31:40] right, I guess I would just add two other quick comments, or maybe three one, is these are complicated, and so we probably don't want to do more than three just because of the time the money and effort it takes to prepare the application.
[31:58] Secondly, I would remind us all that when we approved the $300 million financing plan for a 21st-century library system that it kind of played it approximately $50 million in either grants or donations.
[32:13] And so we've, we're off to a good start, Loganites and some of the donations we've gotten
[32:20] La Jolla and Playa and Playa, but we still have a ways to go, so this is a, Prop 14 is a
[32:27] important way to achieve that part of the financing plan. And finally, I want to remind everybody
[32:32] of the critical role that Senator DD Albert played on all this. She's one of the five members of the
[32:43] It's really a tribute to her that the Logan Heights got funded at all, a library that's not even in her district.
[32:51] And we talk about a state's person who championed the library that she thought best meant the qualifications, even if it wasn't in her district.
[33:01] And I want to keep on reminding people over the great job that Senator D.D. Albert did on this, and that we should be sure to thank her every time we see her.
[33:09] Plus she'll be on the next committee, so we want to continue to be nice to her.
[33:13] So, on the motion, please vote, call the roll, passes 80 with district 1, excuse me,
[33:27] the last item on our agenda is item 1,02, the proposed 2003 state legislative program, I believe this was put on consent originally because it had passed the rules committee, but I just thought this was probably important enough that we might want to, there might be some questions.
[33:48] So, this is the city manager back on for number 102.
[33:53] Yes, honor of the mayor, members of the city council.
[33:55] I'll have a presentation from Andrew Pope, our director of the intergovernmental relations.
[34:01] I'll give you a minute to set up their ender, or you've got ready.
[34:27] If you need assistance from Mr. Medaffer, we could probably...
[34:33] Good.
[34:39] Okay.
[35:02] Thank you, Mr. Redaver.
[35:15] Thank you, Mayor and member.
[35:18] The rules committee has, I've seen this presentation in its entirety, as have Mr. Tsuket and Lewis. So I will go through this relatively quickly.
[35:27] I don't mean to be too rushed, but I don't want to also spend too much time since many of you have already seen many parts of this.
[35:35] But what we're here basically to talk about today is the state legislative program.
[35:40] Just to give you a sense of where we're going this year.
[35:43] You'll see right now displayed the kind of the main elements of our legislative program,
[35:49] both state and federal, for the year ahead.
[35:52] Today we're here on the state legislative program, which is to talk about our priorities in Sacramento.
[35:57] We're going to be back with you later in the months to discuss our federal and state consultants recommendations.
[36:02] We'll also be back later to talk about our federal legislative program, a federal appropriations
[36:09] set of projects to discuss later this month, and then also with some reports on where the
[36:14] departments intend to go for purposes of achieving funding under other state bond programs
[36:21] similar to the library program you heard about today.
[36:25] I'm going to talk about our priorities
[36:27] in terms of eight separate areas, the first of which is economic and community development,
[36:30] The principal concept here is to expand the application of redevelopment powers and financing tools so that we can attempt to bring additional money to redevelopment efforts throughout the city of San Diego.
[36:44] And the two principal means that we are attempting to implement our one, the creation of what's called a jobs housing balance project area.
[36:53] And basically with this would enable the city to do is to begin retaining a greater share of tax increment in a region in which we have an imbalance between jobs and housing.
[37:04] So it expands the ability of the city to start funding projects that would establish a better balance.
[37:10] The second application of this concept would be to what we call infrastructure deficient redevelopment project areas.
[37:17] same concept, trying to identify a way for the state to permit us to retain more of the increased
[37:24] value that come from property taxes when we lead a redevelopment effort or begin to invest
[37:29] in the community. These issues are obviously in a great danger this year because of the state budget
[37:36] deficit and so we are working right now with our consultants and Sacramento and with our legislators
[37:41] to determine what the best approach she is, whether we should proceed with these bills this year
[37:46] that we can get the idea out there and build some momentum or do we need to put a trigger
[37:51] in that says that they won't take a fact until the state budget is recovered to some
[37:55] threshold or another or should be pulled back.
[37:58] But we feel these are important funding opportunities that can help accomplish the number
[38:03] of the city of village's concepts to which the city is committed.
[38:09] I should just note that the rules committee action there was authorization to seek legislation.
[38:14] In the area of energy, water, wastewater, and solid water, that's solid waste, I'm sorry.
[38:20] Hopefully we have no solid water in San Diego.
[38:23] In the area of energy, we are, we've got two areas that we're agreed to.
[38:27] One is to seek legislation that we authorize the city or one of its entities to begin to receive what are called public benefit funds.
[38:36] everyone who pays for utilities pays into a small fund which in those revenues are to accomplish
[38:46] some sort of quote-unquote public benefit and what we would like the city to do is to
[38:51] qualify as being an entity that could start using those funds so that we could do anything
[38:58] from conservation planning to assistance programs for low-income recipients or a variety of
[39:07] different public benefit concepts.
[39:10] This role, when we lived under the regulated and utility world, was played by a variety
[39:16] of organizations including some nonprofit and some community outreach efforts of the investor
[39:23] on utilities. In a deregulated environment, they're completely out of that world. So we're
[39:29] having to find new organizations that can start applying that role. We would like the city
[39:34] to be able to qualify for those types of funds. The second issue is called self aggregation.
[39:41] This can get tremendously arcane. Let me try to simplify it by saying that basically what we
[39:47] want to do is improve the ratio by which the city benefits when it generates energy itself
[39:57] sells it to the local.
[40:00] Utility for distribution and then buys it back. Right now the rate that we receive when we sell was called co-generated in co-generation energy is not what we would like to see.
[40:13] So we would like to get a better price basically. We would like to get out of the system what we're putting into the system. That's probably the easiest way to express that concept.
[40:24] So, again, from the Rules Committee, we're given authorization to begin negotiating some legislation on that topic.
[40:33] And you issue that is a risen sense.
[40:35] These were agreed to by the Rules Committee as the Regional Energy Authority,
[40:38] which the mayor has included in his state of the city address.
[40:42] And so we would have to soon gain some sort of authorization on that point.
[40:47] We're working with his staff as well as city departments right now to kind of congeal that proposal for presentation soon.
[40:56] In the area of water, our principal initiatives will be on Proposition 50 bond funding.
[41:01] The governor's budget proposal for 2004, included about $1.1 billion that he intends to distribute next year, next fiscal year.
[41:12] We will have a bond strategy document for review by Council within a February March standpoint.
[41:18] I can tell you that we had a very productive meeting this morning with Larry Gardner, the Water Department Director,
[41:24] and we're working very closely with him.
[41:25] We will have a joint recommendation from his department, my department, and some other folks that benefit,
[41:30] who could be potentially benefit from these sorts of bonds with actual project list projects listed in the memo for your approval that will come later this month.
[41:40] In the area of solid waste, we were at the rules committee authorized in natural resources
[41:47] and culture committee to take up the issue of this called universal waste regulation.
[41:53] This goes to the question of what the state can do to begin through a variety of incentives
[41:58] to control the low-level toxic waste that's associated largely with high technology items like computers.
[42:06] When these are disposed of those, it's TVs, computers,
[42:11] PDF, personal devices are beginning to reach the end of their life.
[42:15] They're now being disposed of in municipal solid waste facilities.
[42:20] The cost of controlling that low-level waste is a significant line.
[42:25] And so the question is, how can we create through some sort of payments or incentives
[42:30] or some sort of financial incentive, a way to do several things.
[42:37] Number one, to encourage the makers of these devices to do the right thing at the front end
[42:41] by creating the least environmentally toxic product that they possibly can.
[42:47] Number two, how can you when sent customers or consumers to do the right thing
[42:51] when they end the usable life of their particular product?
[42:56] It's a very controversial subject, we have not actually been able to come to an agreement statewide on how to approach this, but we were simply authorized to participate in those negotiations in Sacramento and we'll be back with specific proposals as that statewide conversation continues.
[43:18] In the air of environmental stewardship, we're not asking for any action at this point, but we will be back with you
[43:24] with, again, similar bond proposal memos on finding, resulting from propositions 1340 and 50, which are water and part bonds.
[43:36] Housing has, of course, been one of the key concerns of this council, and you'll see a variety of initiatives to, hopefully, improve savings housing market.
[43:45] The first we're looking at the existing housing bond and we're trying to look at creating some formula grant programs for multiple family housing programs and the housing commission and our department are working together on that.
[43:58] This is simply to assure that the city of San Diego gets greater share of the funds and they get to decide what the best projects are to spend those money.
[44:07] In the area of infant development, I can tell you that we are no longer pursuing the point
[44:14] too.
[44:15] We had been talking to the city of Oakland about a possibility of extending the life of
[44:19] general planning IARs for infilled development.
[44:23] So this refers only to projects that are going in communities that have already been developed.
[44:30] But working with the city of Oakland, we've been unable to get that moving for this year,
[44:36] So we're going to have to back off that proposal for this year.
[44:40] We are also introducing what's called a spot bill.
[44:42] So we have an opportunity for us to consider any recommendations
[44:46] to come from the Housing and Smart Growth Task Forces
[44:49] that this council has also authorized from this working on.
[44:52] And we have a final initiative from our building standards,
[44:55] a group here in San Diego, trying to clarify some
[44:57] of the multifamily dwelling standards.
[45:00] With the notion that if we can change some of those standards, we might be able to decrease the costs of materials that go into the construction of housing and particular multi-family housing units.
[45:12] Again, the rules committee action there was to authorize us to seek legislation in all those areas, and now 0.2 is no longer in quite.
[45:22] In the area of government operations in reform, we have two proposals to put to us from
[45:27] the personnel department which relate to CalPERS regulations, these relate to our ability
[45:33] for the city to go out and try and recruit people that are currently in state service
[45:38] to the city of San Diego.
[45:39] In order to better do that, we have to align the retirement systems between the state and
[45:43] the city.
[45:44] So we're seeking a couple of relatively minor amendments that accomplish that objective.
[45:50] On a much broader note, the Rules Committee last week agreed to a recommendation from us
[45:57] to put together a fiscal reform proposal for the city of San Diego and we'll be back
[46:02] to the Rules Committee probably in a March April timeframe.
[46:05] In the meeting which the mayor had with the governor last week it was very clear that
[46:09] the legislature is intent upon trying to put forward some sort of fiscal reform measure
[46:14] at the state so that we don't find ourselves again a year from now on the same situation
[46:18] we are today with humongous budget deficits, resulting from the volatility of a variety of state
[46:24] revenue sources.
[46:25] So we'll be back to you with those recommendations in the next month.
[46:30] In the Arab neighborhood services, three directions.
[46:34] Number one, we are trying to look at the parks matching requirement right now to get grants
[46:41] from the state.
[46:42] You pretty much have to have at least a 30% match that harms cities that are fairly responsible
[46:49] in their tax, or responsible don't have high tax rates like the city of San Diego.
[46:55] And so we're looking to see whether there are other ways which we can help qualify more
[46:58] parks for state park matching funds.
[47:03] Tweet Street is we believe fairly technical, we're just expanding the permissible purposes
[47:08] for this park. It was previously agreed to and donated to the State under certain conditions
[47:14] and we just have to amend those conditions. You already acted today on the next stage of
[47:19] Proposition 14 and we will be back with you shortly on more Prop 40 bond funding recommendations.
[47:30] Public safety, the police department has given us a number of legislative proposals that they believe
[47:36] the better, they would enhance their abilities to fight crime and to protect their officers.
[47:42] The first is to increase the penalties for the evasion of a police officer.
[47:49] And this would relate to people driving the wrong way on a one-way road.
[47:54] And of course, tragically we see the results of these people who are trying to evade police officers
[47:58] on almost a weekly or monthly basis resulting in accidents that harm people that are completely innocent.
[48:05] The second area is to raise the conviction for speed contests, resulting in injury from a
[48:10] misdemeanor to a felony.
[48:12] Again, the council has already taken strong actions in this area, and these back-up
[48:16] those initiatives.
[48:19] We've also asked for authority to require forfeiture rather than just impoundment of vehicles
[48:25] upon conviction for participating in a speed contest, so they'll actually take the vehicle
[48:29] away if you're convicted rather than, right now, it's impounded, but then even if you're
[48:34] the ownership is restored. And finally, the last initiative is an initiative that would permit the police department to accomplish law enforcement at a slightly less high cost by letting other people perform blood draws for alcohol determinations.
[48:58] And then finally in the area public safety is homeland security.
[49:03] We've been working very closely with other people throughout the departments and actually throughout the region on the issue of getting the money we need back to the city.
[49:13] The federal government has is right now authorizing some of the money that we would be applying for.
[49:19] that will come through the state and we anticipate that that money probably is still six to seven months away.
[49:26] But we're working with our advocates in Washington to try and get that as soon as possible.
[49:32] The last measure I have for you is in transportation.
[49:34] The city council and the city has been on record for some time in terms of supporting a reduction of the two-thirds
[49:41] The future comorjority required to pass local transportation funding measures, as most of
[49:46] you know, transnet expires near 2007.
[49:51] Probably the first effort to reauthorize will appear in 2004.
[49:55] and whether you need 66% or 50% too.
[50:00] We'll pass that reauthorization. We'll make a very big difference in our ability to keep that vital funding source for sending a transportation for regional transportation.
[50:10] I think that money is now accounting for about 20 to 25 percent of our total transportation funding for the region.
[50:17] So our ability to lower that threshold to a lower level so that a majority could actually decide this decision. Make this decision is very important to our transportation future.
[50:28] With that Mr. Mayor, I would conclude my remarks and be happy to answer any questions.
[50:40] Yes, I would just mention two things first of all.
[50:48] You probably all read in the paper.
[50:50] I've talked to some of you about the media ahead with the governor last week.
[50:55] He invited the mayor to the big ten cities.
[50:57] He took him up and beat with him last Wednesday.
[51:01] He spent an hour and a half with us.
[51:03] basically agreed to back up taking the vehicle license fees from the cities this fiscal year that
[51:07] ends June 30th.
[51:09] I know promises for next year and it got just pushing for some sort of comprehensive fiscal
[51:16] reform that shifts property taxes, vehicle license fees, other things around in a way that
[51:26] the up and down nature of revenue to the state. We were given no specifics. So I'm not clear
[51:36] what that's going to be. But at any rate, I was comforting that here is that the 20 million
[51:46] dollars we were concerned of actually the whole 23 million dollars we were concerned of. Well,
[51:50] it appears to be more made in our budget this fiscal year. We also met with the state
[51:56] legislators last Friday. We had all three state senators there. I've been a
[52:00] moral to the Albert and Denise Cheney for rest state members of the state
[52:05] assembly. One Vargas Shirley Horton, Christine Keo, George Plesha,
[52:13] council
[52:13] and President of the House of Iraq. It's joining me at that meeting. And I certainly
[52:18] think that our state legislators are in their fighting for the city. Particularly
[52:23] trying to protect the vehicle license fees that come to the city, although nobody could promise
[52:28] anything for next fiscal year. I want to just report on that. It's much council comment as
[52:38] part of this item, but it certainly bears on our ability to deal with this issue of
[52:44] municipal revenues for operations. The other thing I want to point out is that as part of this
[52:51] Council members should cut and I have been looking at a regional energy authority proposal quite frankly between the Super Bowl and running off the Sacramento last week.
[53:01] We haven't gotten done much on it, but I want to be sure that we indeed have that spot built in place.
[53:09] I think that we're still exploring what that'll look like.
[53:13] And I think I'd like to see in this memo a support for some regional energy, I mean, in this
[53:25] motions, a support for some regional energy authority, although I don't think even Mr.
[53:30] Siggit and I are clear what the parameters of that should be because we're trying to, we met with, you know,
[53:37] several interested parties and we're trying to figure out how best to put this together in a way that can
[53:41] has to say let us later it's still due to the cheapest purposes in the San Diego County.
[53:47] So, I just like to suggest that we include that in a very generic sense, so it doesn't
[53:55] get lost in the shuffle and that our spite bill doesn't get used for something else.
[54:01] All right, I'm just right.
[54:05] One of the things that is somewhat problematic with this.
[54:10] I'm sorry, I realized the Court just point out that we have a speaker, Mr. Dan Beeman.
[54:24] Sorry, Councilmember Fry, I didn't want to steal you in.
[54:29] I had...
[54:30] She'll still still have the last say, don't worry.
[54:32] I had an opposition slip that had three comments or three areas that I have of concern,
[54:37] and then I also have an infamous slip, which they wouldn't let me turn in with the other one,
[54:41] that has five areas of approval that I, you know, I think are really good with this.
[54:46] Let me look,
[54:52] the one that I have a little bit of concern with is the change from super
[54:55] I'm going to draw a simple majority in the transit.
[55:00] Read the results of the Rancho Bernard O'Ballet.
[55:04] Yes, honorable Mayor and City Council, the election has been conducted according to assessment proceedings.
[55:09] The ballots in favor exceed the ballots in opposition with a majority vote in favor and the proposed increase to the annual assessment and to incorporate new areas for maintenance has passed.
[55:21] We have certified the results which are now submitted to the City Council.
[55:24] All right, Mr. Maintain, I believe the motion is to approve the fiscal year 2006 budget
[55:32] for the Rancho Guerrero Maintenance District to confirm the assessments, approve the assessment
[55:37] and engineers report and district map, and order the proposed maintenance and or services
[55:42] for the Rancho Guerrero Maintenance Assistance District in accordance with the assessment
[55:45] engineers report. That's what you're going to say.
[55:47] That is correct.
[55:50] We are reading from the same page. So yes, that would be my motion and honor.
[55:54] Thank you for prompting me with that all right that would be my motion
[55:57] There's motion a second please vote an item S501
[56:03] Call the roll pass the 7-0 with districts to an eight excuse
[57:05] Well, let's go first to item 333. It's the action regarding the special hearing of the fiscal year 2006 social services program funding.
[57:13] Is that ready to go?
[57:15] Yes, it is.
[57:16] It is ready to go.
[57:19] Anybody want to report on that?
[57:23] If not, is there a motion?
[57:27] Please vote on item 333.
[57:31] We're Friday. Do you want to ask questions on this?
[57:33] Nope.
[57:39] Please vote.
[57:39] Call the roll, pass the 7-0 with district 2 and 8 excuse at
[58:04] this point take a break.
[58:10] I need to consult with staff on the other CDBG items to see if we're ready to go or not.
[58:16] When we come back, my intention would be to go to the Fire Department budget.
[58:22] If you could get everybody over here after the short break,
[58:27] we'll do the CDBT items if we can.
[58:29] We'll have to trail them to the afternoon.
[58:31] And then we'll go to the Fire Department budget.
[58:37] And we'll take a five minute break.
[1:07:35] In the back of order, it has to be called roll.
[1:07:37] Council member Peters.
[1:07:40] Deputy Mayor of the Council member Atkins. Council member Young. Council member Mainchine. Council member
[1:07:47] Fry. Council member Medaffer. Council member Inzuna. Mayor Murphy.
[1:07:52] Here. The plan at this point is to trail until this afternoon, S500, S502, S503 and S504.
[1:08:07] as well as redevelopment, agency item three, in a minute we're going to go to the fire department budget,
[1:08:14] but I understand Mr. Manchine, since you can fairly quickly deal with the,
[1:08:20] the wrench-wake in time and manner.
[1:08:23] Thank you, Your Honor.
[1:08:24] My understanding is that the proposed assessments have been reduced because the developer has agreed
[1:08:30] to make the improvements themselves. Is that correct? Mr. Manager?
[1:08:37] I just correct, sir.
[1:08:39] Okay, and I want to make sure from both the City Manager and the City Attorney that those agreements
[1:08:47] have been properly entered into and it's binding. I want to make sure those improvements occur.
[1:08:53] So I just want confirmation from both of you that.
[1:08:56] You have my confirmation from a non-legal administrative point of view.
[1:09:00] we believe we've met our fiduciary spot to build okay. And then to the city attorney.
[1:09:05] Thank you Mr. Meachon. I don't know the status of the agreements at present but I can assure you we
[1:09:09] won't sign off on the unless we're satisfied that they're correct.
[1:09:14] Okay. That was my that was my concern. I want to make sure these you know this this project is
[1:09:19] going to have a significant although the project itself is not in my district it's going to have a
[1:09:23] significant impact on my on my district and so and and as you know I had opposed the project.
[1:09:29] So I just want to make sure that these improvements occur, and that was, so I appreciate Mayor,
[1:09:36] you allowing me to have that discussion.
[1:09:39] Okay.
[1:09:40] Mr. Daffer, do you have a motion?
[1:09:41] Yeah.
[1:09:41] With that, Mr. Manchains, questions being satisfied, I'll sum of the item.
[1:09:45] Sir, second.
[1:09:47] Please vote then on item 331 actions regarding the rancho and cantada public facilities.
[1:09:54] financing plan and facilities benefit assessment for fiscal year 2006.
[1:10:00] Call the roll, pass the 7-0 with districts 2 and 8 excused.
[1:10:06] All right, well we'll try to get done this morning as we had two matters trailing from yesterday.
[1:10:14] They were the fire department budget and the environmental services department budget. I'm not sure we can get both of them done this morning, but we can at least try to get through the fire department budget.
[1:10:25] And so I'd call on the City Manager.
[1:10:28] Thank you, Your Honor.
[1:10:29] As you stated, we have the Fire Department, San Diego Fire Rescue to present and
[1:10:33] System Chief Tracy Jarmor, who's going to leave the presentation.
[1:10:39] Thank you.
[1:10:40] On the System Chief Tracy Jarmor, I'm presenting on behalf of Fire Chief Jack Bowman and
[1:10:45] Fire Rescue Department supporting me today in the presentation as a
[1:10:49] of Fire Chief John John Dole and Chet Chu.
[1:10:53] Chief Bowman is currently attending a conference where he was recognized last year as Fire
[1:10:57] Chief for the Year for the Nation.
[1:10:59] This commitment was made six months ago, and he's presenting on the status of the National
[1:11:04] Urban Search and Rescue Team.
[1:11:07] First I'd like to thank the Mayor, City Council, City Manager, and the other city departments
[1:11:12] for their support of public safety as the highest priority during these difficult budget
[1:11:17] times.
[1:11:18] It's probably just as well Chief Bowman is not here today to make this presentation.
[1:11:23] He came to San Diego with the intent to improve our overall service delivery, and so far
[1:11:28] we have only been able to address our basic replacement needs.
[1:11:31] Both Chief Bowman and Lamont Yulavassavadi, Facts on Honest in this presentation, and although
[1:11:36] we appreciate the additional funding the city manager has been able to provide for our department,
[1:11:41] we do not fill, we are fully funded under this proposed budget to maintain the current level
[1:11:46] service and address all of our MOU requirements. We feel we're short about $3.2 million.
[1:11:52] Do the limited time allotment? I will skip through some of the presentations spend time highlighting
[1:11:56] specific areas.
[1:12:00] Our budget has been increased by $8 million from $149.5 million to $158 million.
[1:12:06] Primarily in personnel expenses. There's also been a reduction in non-personnel expenses
[1:12:11] primarily due to a 3.8 million reduction in equipment outlay funding.
[1:12:17] The change in positions is to formalize the helicopter program, open, station 47 of
[1:12:22] in Pacific Highlands Ranch for the final four months of the year, and there's a reduction
[1:12:28] in 4.4 positions.
[1:12:33] Exponatures by Category would like you to note the 144 million personnel expenses.
[1:12:38] 91% of our total budget is in person now, typically other fire departments spend about 80%
[1:12:45] of their budget on person now.
[1:12:47] This situation currently leaves us very little to address supply services in our equipment
[1:12:52] needs.
[1:12:54] The equipment outlay number of 3.8 million, 2.8 million of that is existing lease purchase
[1:13:00] payments and sales tax.
[1:13:01] We actually only have $645,000 in discretionary funds for emergency medical equipment, rescue
[1:13:10] lifeguard and fire equipment.
[1:13:13] It also covers station furnishings, appliances, support vehicles, and equipment for the
[1:13:18] mechanics that's less than half of it percent.
[1:13:21] In fiscal years 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2005, our discretionary outlet was over $1 million.
[1:13:29] But despite of all of this, we've actually managed to accomplish quite a bit, and it's
[1:13:34] thanks to the continued support of Mayor Murphy in this council.
[1:13:37] We acquired our own helicopter program.
[1:13:40] After one's out there saving lies every day, and even as we were here, the seeds of the
[1:13:44] Police Department budget, it was out saving lives last night.
[1:13:47] We recognize the contribution of our corporate sponsors, the Center City Development
[1:13:51] Corporation, the Community Development Block Grants, and helping us to replace 7 brush
[1:13:57] for just three-quint apparatus, replace two additional ladder trucks,
[1:14:03] a quick part of Department Operations Center,
[1:14:05] and establish community emergency response teams in our community.
[1:14:10] We've completed the accreditation application process,
[1:14:13] and a peer review team will be out here in July and San Diego
[1:14:16] to finalize the assessment.
[1:14:18] The initial review indicates our department,
[1:14:21] as far from being accredited, and potentially 22 additional stations
[1:14:24] would be required to provide the appropriate level of coverage.
[1:14:28] We've completed the zero based management review of the department, and highlighted a number
[1:14:32] of areas leading significant improvements, facilities, apparatus replacement, and deferred
[1:14:37] maintenance to name a few.
[1:14:40] We're in the process of finalizing construction on several replacement facilities, Lincoln
[1:14:44] Parks, Sandy Cidro, Del Cero, and the South Pacific Beach Lifeguard Tower.
[1:14:49] And during the winter storms the department is a number of successful emergency rescues.
[1:14:56] The significant changes in our FY2006 proposed.
[1:15:00] The things that we have on our list that we want to support if it's possible, and then direct the intergovernmental relations department to come back with a priority list of the top three, the top five, something in that range that are our most important priorities, which fiscal reform would clearly be one.
[1:15:19] Thank you, Your Honor. That's exactly what I was going to say is that we moved to adopt the state legislative program for 2003, and in support for a spot bill and regional energy.
[1:15:28] the residential care issues in this from this brought up and there's a second I guess just
[1:15:34] two comments Mr. Yubarabe made the point that I was going to make the reality is city primary
[1:15:39] focus to me. I think legislatively ought to be first and foremost on the fiscal side. We've
[1:15:45] always done in my mind as a city a allows me job at bringing home the money that we ought to bring
[1:15:49] home compared on a per capita basis to other parts of the state. I think that we all know that
[1:15:55] And I think that we're moving in the right direction.
[1:15:59] And I totally agree with the city manager
[1:16:01] that the fiscal issues on bringing back money,
[1:16:05] that taxpayers here in San Diego pay,
[1:16:08] whether it goes to Washington, DC,
[1:16:09] or the Sacramento, needs to come back to San Diego.
[1:16:12] That should be a priority number one.
[1:16:15] Priority number two gets to be the esoteric issues
[1:16:17] that we read so much about that are in these reports.
[1:16:20] And while they're all great, and they sound good,
[1:16:22] they're going to help us be more efficient,
[1:16:23] bloody blob, bloody blob, the reality is we need relief from a fiscal standpoint and we'd never
[1:16:29] get the money that we send up there. We've never gotten it because it's so true only we have
[1:16:34] six members of the assembly. Five. How many does Los Angeles have? 21? Is that like that?
[1:16:41] Well, go figure. The other issue that I just want to make is a just as a editorial comment
[1:16:47] is this year legislative land, and I know Andrew knows this, but I'll just say it for the benefit
[1:16:54] of being said, is that the primary focus this year is going to be on the state fiscal reform.
[1:16:58] There is not really any other topic that is going to get a lot of time or a lot of attention
[1:17:04] in the halls of Sacramento than state fiscal reform.
[1:17:08] And right now there's probably no less than 40, 50, 60 ideas being floated around out there
[1:17:14] the governor's planning on coming back with his list of March.
[1:17:17] There's any number of organizations from League of Cities, which I'm involved with to
[1:17:21] see sack the county group to many, many others that are all submitting their plans.
[1:17:25] Not to mention, members of the assembly in the Senate, I'm not to mention this, I said
[1:17:30] the governor eventually.
[1:17:32] So, you know, priority on money, priority on state fiscal reform, and these other issues
[1:17:39] like the Spot Bill on Regulatory, those are housekeeping things, but I would agree the
[1:17:42] I'm going to introduce some that I've perfectly put the money first, put the housekeeping
[1:17:46] thing second.
[1:17:48] So with that, I think that we need to just keep plugging along, and the more the
[1:17:52] manager has people from this city in San Diego, working on bringing back money.
[1:17:59] I think eventually we'll see it happen.
[1:18:02] Okay.
[1:18:03] We have a motion at a second, and that includes going back to the rules committee with that.
[1:18:08] And for the record, Mr. Daffer may be insecure, right?
[1:18:12] Those are our only priorities money.
[1:18:20] So, Mr. Daffer, there's any of these that you wish to register, and no one, that'd be over.
[1:18:24] Rather than go through them, what I'll do is I'll just, I'll be working one-on-one with Mr.
[1:18:32] Code. I think the best way to handle this rather than take up much more time going through these again, one-by-one.
[1:18:37] Um, register my opposition because I don't know what I don't know yet and then work as these things actually get flushed out
[1:18:44] Where we have specific issues that could come back and then I could actually take a position because I had the information required to do that and I think that'd be the best way to handle you know what my my problem is it's not
[1:18:56] It's very clear what my issues are. Okay. Please vote then on
[1:19:03] This item which is number one or two
[1:19:14] All right, we
[1:19:22] have two adjournments in memory, so let's let me begin with, Ms. Eckert.
[1:19:30] Thank you, Your Honor.
[1:19:32] I wanted to adjourn in memory today if we could for Morris Kite.
[1:19:36] He was one of our true pioneers in the modern gay rights movement.
[1:19:42] A long time Los Angeles resident Morris Kai began his prolific career
[1:19:46] of activism with the Dow Action Committee,
[1:19:49] protesting weapons manufacturing during the Vietnam War.
[1:19:53] In 1969, he helped launch the gay liberation front in two years later
[1:19:57] he co-founded the Los Angeles Gay Lesbian Community Service.
[1:20:00] The first and largest center in the world. He also co-created the Los Angeles Gate Pratt March, which has since been renamed Christopher Strict West, hooray, and was instrumental in founding the Morris Kite collection of civil rights archives in the Stonewall Democratic Club. In 2002, after serving for more than 20 years on the Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission, he retired from public service, but continued to speak on behalf of the people in need that was strongly identified with the hate lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community.
[1:20:30] work consistently, his name, time and effort through Lock Program.
[1:20:35] Sky to Hell was named the values and activism described himself as a labor right civil rights advocate
[1:20:42] in a civil libertarian and advocate for all-incretape people.
[1:20:47] You might wonder why we would, why I would adjourn, in memory of someone from Los Angeles,
[1:20:51] he was an nationally known civil rights leader in the gay community.
[1:20:54] And in the early years when our own community center was trying to get off the ground, he came down the San Diego numerous times to help our community get established with a number of organizations.
[1:21:07] A celebration of his life was held this past Saturday, February 1st at 1pm at the Metropolitan Community Church of West Hollywood, and Governor Davis was in attendance to pay tribute to him.
[1:21:19] And one particular thing I found of interest, and I think this council will, Morris Kidd had long been fascinated with planting trees.
[1:21:29] He began with planting cottonwoods in his youth, and he was quoted to see in planting trees is what I do.
[1:21:37] It's the metaphor for my life, and he told the gay times that last summer, trees are the future.
[1:21:43] I plan a thing that grows and gets shade and fruit and sucker to the downtrodden, the dusty
[1:21:48] and tired wayfarer.
[1:21:50] Hopefully by planning trees and institutions, I've made a few people less lonely in these
[1:21:56] 60 odd years.
[1:21:57] He actually was 83, he died in a sleep on Sunday, January 19th, and he'll certainly be missed
[1:22:03] by the gay lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities throughout the nation for the
[1:22:09] work that he did when it wasn't so easy to do that kind of work.
[1:22:12] So thank you for letting me join in his memory today.
[1:22:18] Well, I'll miss me.
[1:22:19] Thank you, Your Honor.
[1:22:20] And I would just request that we adjourn in memory of Jerry Dennis.
[1:22:25] I don't have his information in front of me because I'm just going to make a couple observations.
[1:22:29] He was a neighbor and I could friend of both my wife and me and it was really hard when
[1:22:38] he got cancer and I was hospitalized and died unfortunately over the holidays.
[1:22:44] and he survived by his wife and we would always see them when we were out walking my dog
[1:22:50] knew when we were getting near his home and would start running because he knew he would
[1:22:55] get a lot of attention and he threw the ball to him and and play with him and he served
[1:23:00] in our military was a great person, a great neighbor and a great friend and he will be
[1:23:11] of the crew of the space shuttle Columbia. I'm half of all Sandiagans. We should have
[1:23:20] journeyed memory of the seven heroic astronauts aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia, whose
[1:23:25] lives are suddenly and tragically taken from us. They included Commander Rick Husband, Commander
[1:23:31] William McCool, who was born in the San Diego region, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Anderson,
[1:23:37] Captain David Brown, aerospace engineer, Kalpana, Chowah, Chala, Commander, Laurel Clark,
[1:23:47] and Israeli Colonel Elon Ramon.
[1:23:50] These men and women were true heroes.
[1:23:53] They willingly faced danger to push back the frontiers of space.
[1:23:58] It's a unique individual to explore uncharted areas for the betterment of humankind.
[1:24:04] And they did not die in vain.
[1:24:06] These seven people were among America's best and brightest, we should hold on a high esteem
[1:24:12] and be thankful for the work they performed.
[1:24:15] The Columbia astronauts will be remembered as brave, dedicated, and patriotic.
[1:24:22] And our hearts and thoughts go out to the victims, family, and friends.
[1:24:26] And with that we're in recess until tomorrow morning.