San Diego Infrastructure Committee Meeting - December 4, 2018
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San Diego Infrastructure Committee Meeting - December 4, 2018
The Infrastructure Committee met on December 4, 2018, to discuss several items including an update on the Balboa Park Plaza de Panama project, a cooperative agreement for bicycle improvements, an amendment for engineering services on the Palm Avenue/I-805 interchange project, and ratification of emergency sole source contracts. Public comments were heard on the Plaza de Panama project and non-agenda items. All action items were approved unanimously.
Consent Calendar
- The committee unanimously approved consent agenda items one, two, and three (specific items not detailed in the transcript).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Non-agenda public comment: Robert Buck, a retired plumber and pipe fitter, expressed opposition to replacing functioning sewer pipes with liners, citing concerns about durability and liability. Martha Welch complained about potholes, lack of maintenance, and general dissatisfaction with city actions.
- Plaza de Panama project opposition: David London, president of the Balboa Park Heritage Association, opposed the project on financial grounds, arguing that parking revenue estimates are unrealistic due to ride-sharing and scooters, and that the city would face bond default and general fund obligations. He requested no substantive votes until after the November election.
- Plaza de Panama project support: Peter Komiskey (Balboa Park Cultural Partnership), Tomas Herrera Mischler (Balboa Park Conservancy), Stephen Schindler (Connectivity LLC), Jennifer Davies (San Diego Tourism Authority), and Catherine Johnston (Balboa Park Committee) expressed strong support, citing improved pedestrian safety, accessibility, new parkland, and enhanced visitor experience.
Discussion Items
- Balboa Park Plaza de Panama Project Update: Public Works Director James Negelborn and staff presented a status update. The $79 million project includes a bypass bridge, underground parking, and pedestrianized plazas. The city's share is $49 million ($39 million bonds, $10 million cash). Two lawsuits (CEQA by Save Our Heritage Organization and bonds by San Diegans for Open Government) have been resolved in the city's favor; a final appeal decision was issued that day. Construction bids open December 2018, award expected March 2019, completion June 2021. Committee members questioned cost overruns (covered by Plaza de Panama Committee), revenue projections, and bond counsel opinions. No vote was taken as it was an informational item.
- Cooperative Agreement with Caltrans for Bicycle Improvements at I-5 and SR 56: Gene Matter and Gary Chewy from Transportation and Stormwater Department presented. The agreement funds a 1,100-foot bike connector to link existing paths. City contribution is $2.25 million ($1.63M from Carmel Valley Consolidated FBA fund, $620K from Carmel Valley Diff Fund). Construction planned for fall 2020, taking about a year. The committee approved the staff recommendation unanimously.
- Third Amendment to Engineering Services Contract for Palm Avenue/I-805 Interchange Improvements: Abby Palisade and Dan Nutter from Public Works presented. The amendment ($78,646) updates the environmental document to meet Caltrans template changes and extends the contract duration. The project will widen the bridge, add a cycle track, and realign ramps. Two alternatives include a loop ramp (alternative one) or diamond interchange (alternative two). Public review of the draft environmental document is ongoing. The committee approved the recommendation unanimously.
- Ratification of 11 Public Works Emergency Sole Source Contracts: Julie Baezteros and Zhang Choi presented. The contracts, totaling $7.4 million, cover storm drain, water/wastewater, and building repairs from fiscal year 2018. These were awarded without advertisement due to emergencies. The committee approved ratification unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously.
- Cooperative Agreement with Caltrans: Approved to forward to full City Council.
- Third Amendment for Palm Avenue/I-805: Approved to forward to full City Council.
- Ratification of Emergency Contracts: Approved to forward to full City Council.
- Meeting Minutes from September 26, 2018: Approved unanimously after being tabled earlier.
- No action taken on Plaza de Panama project as it was an informational item; committee members expressed intent to monitor costs and revenue projections.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon, everybody. We're gonna go get ahead and get started. Uh today is Wednesday, October 24, 2018. Welcome to the October meeting of the infrastructure committee. Well, the record reflect that we are joined by Vice Chair Ward, Councilmember Zeff. I think, or no, you're not vice chair anywhere. Alvarez is vice chair, my bad. Uh it's been you know 11 months. Um Victor Alvarez will be joining us later, I believe. Uh we also have our City Attorney Representative Tina Ray. We have our IBA representative Jillian Cassie and our mayor representative Lee Friedman, as well as our committee consultant Justin Garber. I'd like to thank the members of the public who are with us today. Uh I'm a little bit under the weather, so we're gonna get through this as expeditiously as possible because I think we may be losing uh a committee member at some point anyway. So we'll start with non-agenda public comment. Each member of the public has two minutes to speak, starting with Robert Buck. And then going to Martha Welch. Hello, my name is Robert Buck, retiree plumbers and pipe fitters local 230. I am here today to inform you of your liability and culpability by replacing and religion perfectly functioning sewer pipes that have a 2,000-year service life with an inferior product and for no reason at all. You have now created a scenario that will go something like this. There will be a hard obstruction in a sewer line that no amount of flushing and water will wash out. And because of the fragile nature of this liner, where you will you will stick a still auger into the sewer and try to retrieve the obstruction, you would damage the lining, thereby voiding the 25-year warranty and possibly damaging the liner. So your other option is to dig it up. The sewer laterals are the sewer laterals were the responsibility of the individual property owner to maintain as needed. Now, if they run an auger down it, they can severely affect the functioning of that lateral, and the city is going to have to repair that lateral. This product that you are putting in is not meant to be a replacement for a perfectly functioning pipe. It is meant to extend the service life of a malfunctioning deteriorating system a little bit longer. That's it. Thank you, sir. Martha Welch. Mark Bros. I've been in the meeting for three years. I never saw you vote for two minutes and and the committee. You didn't do that. There's a lawsuit about this also, I think, because um you didn't vote for that. Now, where we have all these pumps, um, where that where they go? Because um we don't have a sewer plant at all. Online, no, we don't have one. Point lonely is water. So where does it go? Where do you pump to? I don't know. You know what you do? Dry sewer. That's what you do. Now, where are these pumps go? I don't know. Now, potholes and cracks. Now, on um uh downtown where I live. Now, on 11th and 10th and market and Broadway all cracked up. They're all cracked up, big cracks all over there.
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