Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Meeting - May 20, 2021
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Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Meeting - May 20, 2021
The Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee met virtually on May 20, 2021, via Zoom due to the public health emergency. The meeting covered a range of items including shared mobility device regulations, street resurfacing funding, capital improvement program updates, a franchise extension, and dam safety. Key discussions focused on enforcement of scooter regulations, funding for a street condition assessment, and prioritization of infrastructure investments. Several public comments highlighted concerns about safety, equity, and climate action.
Consent Calendar
- The committee unanimously approved the minutes from the April 7, 2021 meeting.
- Consent agenda items (1-3) were approved unanimously: first amendment to agreement with GHD Inc. for pipeline design, ratification of contract with Dick Miller Incorporated, and contract extension for PB Pipeline South with TC Construction Inc.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Non-agenda public comment: Noah Harris from Climate Action Campaign urged the committee to secure funding to complete the Mobility Action Plan Phase 2 within 1-2 years and commit to 20 miles of protected bike lanes in the next year, emphasizing the climate emergency.
- Item 4 (Shared mobility devices): Multiple speakers addressed the proposed code amendments:
- Kathy Eyes (Mission Beach resident) expressed dissatisfaction with scooter company enforcement and stated geofencing does not work.
- Morgan Roth (Bird Government Partnerships Manager) supported the amendments and noted Bird's community pricing plan and fleet distribution beyond downtown.
- Jonathan (Safe Walkways) criticized the proposals for not improving public safety and asked that scooters be parked in the street, not sidewalks.
- Alex April (Spin) supported the move to an RFP process and the clarity on removal of devices.
- Janet Rogers (Safe Walkways) stated the city is not enforcing state scooter laws and noted scooters illegally operating on high-speed roads.
- Pat Pressell (resident) said scooters block his disabled husband's mobility scooter and raised concerns about new removal rules.
- Jesse O'Sullivan (Circulate San Diego) supported the RFP process and stressed the need for ADA compliance.
- Nicole Burgess (Bike SD) asked for a diversified fleet including e-bikes and equitable distribution across communities.
- James Bushiers (Lyft) supported the amendments and noted challenges with unsanctioned removal of devices.
- Item 5 (Street resurfacing): Noah Harris (Climate Action Campaign) urged using RMRA funds for complete streets improvements rather than auto-centric resurfacing, prioritizing frontline communities. Nicole, Thomas DeFranco, and Matt Stucky echoed calls to invest in alternatives to cars.
- Item 7 (Franchise extension): Rebecca Ribzik (Downtown San Diego Partnership) spoke in support, noting the vital cooling service provided to downtown properties.
Discussion Items
- Item 4: Shared Mobility Device Regulations - Alyssa Mudo (Mobility Director) presented proposed amendments to the municipal code covering three areas: cleanup, scooter removal requirements, and a sunset clause for transitioning to an RFP process. The presentation included background on scooter operations and data management. Committee members Vice Chair LaCava, Montgomery Steppe, and Elo Rivera raised concerns about enforcement, parking on sidewalks citywide, accountability measures for operators, and legal review by the City Attorney. The committee initially moved to forward without recommendation, but after discussion, the item was returned to staff for further work.
- Item 5: FY22 RMRA Project List - Christy Reeser (Street Division) presented the proposed list of five slurry seal projects covering 210 miles, funded with $27.8 million from the state. Chair von Wilpert proposed an amendment to include funding for a street condition assessment (estimated $700,000-$800,000) as an option for council consideration, to better prioritize maintenance. The motion passed unanimously, directing staff to present two options to the full council.
- Item 6: FY21 CIP Year-End Monitoring - Karen McGriff (Finance) presented a consolidated report requesting $13.2 million in fund transfers and allocations. The IBA noted $1.7 billion in carryover funds and highlighted $1 million transferred from sidewalk repairs to new sidewalk projects in District 4. The committee approved the item unanimously.
- Item 7: Franchise Extension for Energy Center San Diego - Heather Werner (Sustainability) requested a two-year extension of the 50-year franchise (expiring August 2021) to allow a competitive process. The franchise provides cooling to downtown buildings, including two city buildings. The committee approved unanimously.
- Items 8 & 9: Dam Safety - Juan Guerrero, Vian Hong, and Adam Jones (Public Utilities) presented a risk-based approach to dam safety, noting that the city's nine dams are aging (61-109 years old) and require approximately $1 billion in investments over several decades. Item 8 requested authorization to apply for a High Hazard Potential Dam Rehabilitation Grant for pre-construction activities at five dams. Item 9 provided an update on the dam safety program. The committee approved item 8 unanimously, with item 9 informational only.
Key Outcomes
- Item 4 was returned to staff for revisions; no vote taken.
- Item 5 passed unanimously with an amendment to present two options to council: the original project list and an alternative including a street condition assessment funded from RMRA.
- Items 1-3 (Consent) approved unanimously.
- Items 6, 7, and 8 approved unanimously.
- The next regularly scheduled meeting is June 16, 2021.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. Okay, thank you very much, Mary Ann. Um good afternoon, everyone. Uh welcome to the uh Active Transportation Infrastructure Committee meeting of May 19th, 2021. Per executive order 29-20, which suspends certain requirements of the Brown Act, the committee members will be participating via Zoom, and no members of the public will be in attendance at the meeting in the interest of public health and safety. In addition, this meeting is being televised and live streamed on the city's website, and the committee liaison has made arrangements for the public to comment using the Zoom webinar platform. We appreciate the public's cooperation. We'll go over the specifics of how to join the webinar and will give details on how the public can offer their public testimony. We will now call the Act Transertation and Infrastructure Committee meeting of May 19th, 2021 to order. I will now call the roll. Present. Committee member Elo Rivera. Present. And I am here too. Each committee member is attending virtually. Also on the virtual meeting is IBA Representative Jillian Cassie, City Attorney Representative, Tina Ray, Mayoral Representative, Brittany Bailey, and our committee consultant Justin Garber. The public may view the meetings on public television on City TV Channel 24 for Cox Communication and Time Warner Cable or Channel 999 for ATT. Or view the meeting online by going to the City Council Committee's homepage at Sandiego.gov and selecting the City Live Webcast blue button on the right hand side of the page. The committee meetings will be held virtually using the Zoom webinar platform. Members of the public can offer their public comment on items by accessing the Zoom webinar online using a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone, or by calling into the meeting using a smartphone, cellular phone, or landline. The link to join the committee meeting webinar by computer, tablet, or smartphone is listed on the agenda. To join the Zoom webinar by telephone, please dial 1669-254-5252. When prompted, input webinar ID 160-556-7518 pound sign. This information is also available on the agenda and will appear on the screen during the public comment period for each item. When I introduce the item you would like to comment on, please raise your hand by either tapping the raise your hand button on your computer, tablet, or smartphone, or by pressing star 9 on your phone. You will be taken in the order in which you raise your hand. You may only speak once on a particular item. When our committee consultant Justin indicates it is your turn to speak, he will call you by your name as it appears on the Zoom webinar attendee list, or he will read out the last four digits of your phone number if you have called into the meeting. That is how you will know it is your turn to speak. If you have joined the webinar by computer, tablet, or smartphone, you will receive a pop-up notice to select to unmute your device. If you have called into the meeting by cell phone or landline, please press star six on your phone to unmute yourself. We will review these instructions briefly again when the public comment period on an item is open. Please wait until the item you wish to speak to has been called before raising your hand to speak. If you raise your hand during a non-comment period, your hand will be lowered. When you are announced as the next speaker, please unmute yourself and offer your comments. Also, please mute the volume on your TV or computer before you begin to speak. A quorum is now present. We will now vote on the approval of the committee actions of April 7th, 2021. Can I please have a motion to approve the committee actions? Wonderful. We have a motion by Vaishulakava and a second by member Montgomery Step. We will now take council member questions and comments and have each council member please register their vote. As a reminder, please mute yourself once you have completed your comments. I vote yes. Committee member Montgomery Step. Yes. Committee member Elo Rivera. Yes. I will also register a yes vote and that passes unanimously. We will now take up non-agenda public comment.
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