San Diego Infrastructure Committee Meeting - November 13, 2017
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San Diego Infrastructure Committee Meeting - November 13, 2017
The Infrastructure Committee of the San Diego City Council met on November 13, 2017, at 9:00 AM (approximate start) to consider a consent agenda item regarding ratification of emergency sole source contracts and a major discussion item on the Mission Bay Park Improvement Fund ten-year financial plan. The meeting included public comments, committee deliberation, and two votes.
Consent Calendar
- Ratification of Emergency Sole Source Contracts: The committee unanimously approved the ratification of multiple emergency sole source contracts for public works projects (pipeline transmission, storm drain). The contracts had been executed earlier (some dating back to FY16) and the ratification was required by the municipal code. The committee questioned the 12-18 month delay in bringing these forward; staff explained they group them annually for efficiency and had previously communicated via memo and CIP report.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Lupe Rodriguez: Expressed concern about when approved street lights would be installed on her street. The committee noted her comment.
- Shirley Roussel: Requested speed humps on the block of 33rd and Island, citing safety concerns for children and describing vehicles as "street demons." The committee noted her comment.
Discussion Items
- Mission Bay Park Improvement Fund Ten-Year Financial Plan: Park and Recreation staff presented a detailed plan for allocating $21.5 million from the existing Mission Bay Park Improvement Fund in FY2018, with a total projected $65 million over 10 years. The plan included five priority categories: (1) dredging navigation channels ($5.1 million for immediate construction), (2) wetland creation and water quality projects (e.g., Tecalodi Creek, Cuttahay Creek), (3) shoreline restoration (study phase), (4) upland habitats and endangered species reserves (e.g., lease tern habitat on Fiesta Island), and (5) deferred capital improvements (trails, lighting, signage, parking lots, playgrounds, comfort stations, seawall repairs, adult fitness course). Staff also requested approval of a programmatic environmental impact report (EIR) costing approximately $7 million, and an ordinance to dedicate the North Ocean Beach Gateway parcel (less than one acre) into Mission Bay Park to complete a missing pathway connection.
- Committee Positions: Councilmember Zaff (who arrived late) expressed strong support, noting the funds would revitalize tourism and businesses, and made a motion to approve all three recommended actions. Vice Chair Ward raised detailed questions about fund balances (approximately $25 million accumulated from unspent annual allocations), the prioritization of spending (first three priorities already absorbing $7.85 million), and the boundary change. He expressed concern that action 3 (boundary amendment) had not received adequate public discussion and proposed splitting the motion. Councilmember Gomez echoed concerns about action 3 and supported splitting. Staff clarified that the parcel was postage-stamp size (eighth of an acre) and would not materially affect developable land, and that the Mission Bay Park Improvement Fund Oversight Committee had approved the plan.
Key Outcomes
- Vote on Actions 1 and 2 (approve ten-year allocation and findings): Moved by Councilmember Zaff, seconded by Councilmember Gomez. Approved unanimously (3-0, with Councilmember Zaff, Ward, Gomez voting aye).
- Vote on Action 3 (dedicate North Ocean Beach Gateway into Mission Bay Park): Moved by Councilmember Zaff, seconded by Councilmember Gomez. Vote was 2-2 (Zaff and Gomez aye; Ward and no recorded opposition from Gomez? Actually transcript shows Zaff moved, Gomez seconded, then vote: "Aye. Aye." from Zaff and Gomez? Then Chair says "two to two" meaning two ayes and two nays? Need to check: After second, Chair says "All in favor of staff recommendation number three, please say aye. Aye. Aye. And that uh is a two all and I'm sorry, all opposed." So two ayes (Zaff, Gomez) and two nays (Ward and presumably the Chair? Actually Chair is mentioned as "Chair" but not identified as voting. The committee composition: Chair (unknown), Vice Chair Ward, Councilmember Gomez, Councilmember Zaff. That's four members. The vote was 2-2, so item three will be forwarded to full council without recommendation.
- Next Meeting: Scheduled for December 4, 2017 (last meeting of 2017).
Meeting Transcript
I'm so kids. I have my brain. You're watching City TV twenty four. Your access to City Hall. Well, good morning, everybody. Thank you for joining us for today's morning meeting of the infrastructure committee. Today is November 13th, 2017. Let the record reflect that we are joined by Vice Chair Ward as well as Councilmember Gomez. Councilmember Zaff will be joining us momentarily. We also joined by our City Attorney Representative, our IBA representative, Jillian Cassie, our mayoral representative Alejandra Gavalden, and our infrastructure committee Lee Friedman, consultant, Lee Friedman. I'd like to thank the members of the public who are with us today or watching on City TV. We will start with non-agenda public comment. We do have two members of the public starting with Lupe Rodriguez and then Shirley Roussel. Come forward, you please come forward to the mic. There you go. You have two minutes. So I would like to know when the money is going to be, you know, founded to because they already approved the lights. So I would like to know when they're going to be ready to be on my street. Okay. I'm sorry, I I I cannot speak very well English. No, no, your English is fine. So the it's not really a question and answer. You get two minutes to say what you want, and then if if a member of the committee uh would like to address that, they can they can uh either say something now or they could talk to you about it later. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Shirley Roussel. Good morning, everyone. Uh my name is Shirley Roussel, and I'm concerned about the street. The I call them street demons because it's like they're on a freeway in the block of 33rd and island. And we have a lot of kids over there, and I was wondering in the future if we could have speed bones put in the and I'll just say the same thing that we we appreciate your comments and and the committee will take them in consideration and your council member can get back in touch with you. Thank you. Okay, that concludes an on agenda. Turning to committee comment. Any member of the committee like to make a comment? Seeing none. How about City Attorney IBA mayoral staff comment? Seeing none. We're moving right along. So we will go to the approval of our meeting minutes from our October 25th meeting. They will say and approve as distributed unless there are any objections. Hearing and seeing none, those are approved. We do have one item on our consent agenda today. Okay. Councilmember Vice Chair Ward would like to pull that, so we will uh go ahead and uh would you like a presentation on that item? Uh no, not needed, just a couple of questions with that. Okay. Would staff like to uh come forward, whoever the appropriate staff is on that item. Great, thank you. Um I guess just for the record for those watching.
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