Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Special Meeting – June 24, 2021
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Special Meeting – June 24, 2021
The Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee held a special virtual meeting on June 24, 2021 at 2 p.m. to consider a proposal to increase the Fiscal Year 2022 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget by $145 million using 2021 lease revenue bonds and commercial paper proceeds. The funds would address critical infrastructure needs across stormwater, mobility and transportation, parks and recreation, citywide facilities, and information technology. The committee voted unanimously to forward the item to the full City Council.
Consent Calendar
- The committee unanimously approved the committee actions from June 16, 2021 (Vice Chair Lacava, Committee Member Montgomery Steppe, Committee Member Elo-Rivera, and Chair all voting yes).
Public Comments & Testimony
Non-Agenda Public Comment:
- Mike Olock from Oceanside spoke about transportation policy, citing the California Democratic Party platform. He advocated for climate literacy, a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars, and a transportation system with shared, value-priced parking that protects low-income users and ADA drivers. He also noted that the City of San Diego’s two-minute public comment period is shorter than SANDAG’s three-minute period.
Public Comment on Item 1:
- Russ (Mira Mesa resident) expressed support for the Gold Coast Drive and Parkdale Avenue project, which he said was ready to go to bid and badly needs repaving or reconstruction.
- Isabel Kay (University of California’s Natural Reserve System) expressed support for the stormwater funding, particularly the Pacific Beach Stormwater and Wetlands Restoration Project. She said the city’s investment is needed to address impacts on the Kendall-Frost Reserve and that she is preparing a $1.3 million grant proposal to augment the city’s funds.
- Mike (Oceanside) noted that transportation receives about 40% of the total allocation and urged the city to push the state for a means-based road use charge, arguing the gasoline tax is insufficient and inequitable.
- Kristen Victor (Pacific Beach community/business member) thanked the committee and supported the watershed CIP. She advocated for $500,000 committed to the advanced study of the Kendall-Frost wetlands and asked the city to partner on a grant for co-creation of Northeast Mission Bay.
- Dobrin (Mira Mesa resident, 20+ years) requested new asphalt for Gold Coast Drive from Camino Ruiz to Black Mountain Road, noting the section has not been repaved in decades despite patches.
- Stan (resident) requested funding for Gold Coast Drive and Parkdale Avenue, emphasizing the need for a full street reconstruction rather than patch repairs.
Discussion Items
Item 1 – Authorization to Increase FY2022 CIP Budget with 2021 Lease Revenue Bonds and Commercial Paper Proceeds
James Nagelhort, Director of Infrastructure and Capital Projects and City Engineer, presented the proposal. He explained that $88.5 million in commercial paper and $56.5 million in lease revenue bonds total $145 million. The funds would be allocated across five categories:
- Stormwater: $49.6 million ($30.35M for drainage projects, $500K for Maple Canyon storm drain, $100K for San Diego River dredging, $18.65M for water quality projects)
- Mobility/Transportation: $59.379 million ($280K for guardrails, $1M for citywide streetlights, $4.79M for sidewalk repairs, $4M for Alvarado Realignment, $999,765 for SR 163/Claremont Mesa Blvd, $39.5M for street resurfacing, $9.3M for streetlight circuit upgrades, $400K for traffic signal modifications)
- Parks & Recreation: $20.7 million ($2.1M for coastal erosion/access, $2.7M for regional parks, $12.57M for Balboa Park Botanical Building, $1.7M for Chollas Triangle Park, $1.59M for Hickman Field, $40K for Whiteman Street neighborhood park)
- Citywide Facilities: $14.7 million ($13.53M for general fund facilities, $250K for Fire Station 51, $470K for Ocean Beach Library, $470K for San Carlos Library)
- Governmental IT: $550,000 for Impact HD Collections Platform
Nagelhort noted the city’s five-year infrastructure need is over $2 billion and that this $145 million, while a record CIP budget, only addresses a fraction. He also highlighted that past stormwater emergencies had pulled funds from other projects, leaving some still unfunded (e.g., Balboa Park comfort stations, fire air operations, Ocean Beach Pier, Olive Grove Park ADA). The mayor requested council input on street resurfacing priorities for communities of concern, with a memo to follow. The funding would bring the total FY2022 CIP budget to $892 million.
Committee Questions and Comments
- Vice Chair Lacava asked how projects were prioritized. Nagelhort said many went through the 800-14 process and are existing projects awaiting construction funding. Lacava urged better backup for future decisions and asked about green infrastructure; Chris McFadden explained it involves water quality treatment. Lacava clarified that allocations often only cover part of project phases and asked about an additional $150 million in high-priority projects; Rolando (Finance) said those include police/fire radios, organics mandate assets, and fire truck purchases, and will go to the Budget Committee.
- Committee Member Montgomery Steppe asked about notification when project funds are moved. Nagelhort acknowledged the need for transparency and suggested exploring automatic notifications. She asked how much of the $49.6M for stormwater goes to emergencies (about $5M). She noted $59.4M for mobility, with $39.5M for roads, about $11M for Gold Coast/Parkdale, plus $10M already in the CIP budget for communities of concern, totaling ~$30M from this allocation. She inquired about Fire Station 51 design ($250K, enough for 30% design) and Chollas Triangle Park ($1.7M for design completion). She supported the motion and would submit further questions via email.
- Committee Member Elo-Rivera asked how to explain the separate budget process to constituents. Rolando explained the commercial paper program has a different timeline than the annual budget. Elo-Rivera questioned why $12.57M for Balboa Park Botanical Building was prioritized (Nagelhort noted an $8M grant at risk and deferred maintenance/structural upgrades). Elo-Rivera highlighted the $3 billion infrastructure funding gap and called for new revenue generation. He noted that increasing revenue improves borrowing capacity. He supported the motion.
- Chair (also a committee member) thanked staff and noted District 5 projects (libraries, storm drains). She asked about spending down the $56M in bonds first to avoid interest costs; Rolando confirmed priority is to use the bond proceeds first. She asked about staffing capacity; Nagelhort said 150 vacancies exist but salary adjustments help, though new hires need training. She asked about the previously pulled Rancho Bernardo street repairs; staff agreed to follow up. She also asked about the fire air operations project; Deputy Fire Chief James Gabri said the hangars are needed to protect helicopter assets, but operations continue with a temporary landing pad.
Key Outcomes
- The committee voted 4-0 unanimously (Vice Chair Lacava, Committee Member Montgomery Steppe, Committee Member Elo-Rivera, Chair all voting yes) to move the item to the full City Council. The motion was made by Vice Chair Lacava and seconded by Committee Member Montgomery Steppe.
- The recommendation seeks Council authorization to:
- Increase the FY2022 CIP budget by $145 million from lease revenue bonds and commercial paper proceeds.
- Appropriate and expend the funds according to the proposed allocations.
- The mayor’s office will provide a memo to council members for input on street resurfacing priorities in communities of concern.
- Staff committed to providing additional details on project prioritization and notification of fund transfers before the item goes to full Council.
- A funding strategy for stormwater to reduce reliance on emergency reappropriations will be presented to the Environment Committee in July 2021.
Meeting Transcript
Thank you very much. And welcome everyone to the Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee special meeting of June 24th, 2021 at 2 p.m. Per California Executive Order Nero 8-2-1, 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 comment using the Zoom webinar platform. We appreciate the public's cooperation. I will go over the specifics of how to join the webinar and will give details on how the public can offer their public testimony. I will now call the special after presentation and infrastructure committee meeting of June 24th, 2021 to order, beginning with the role. Vice Chair Lacaba. Present. Committee member Montgomery Step. Here. Committee member Elo Rivera. Present. And I am also here. Each committee member is attending virtually. Also with us on the virtual meeting is IBA representative Jordan Moore, City Attorney Representative Tina Ray, Mayoral Representative Brittany Bailey, and Committee Consultant Justin Garber. Or channel 99 for ATT. Or you can view the meeting online by going to the City Council Committee's homepage at Sandiego.gov and selecting the City TV Live Webcast blue button on the right hand side of the page. Members of the public can offer 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 160561 pound sign. This information is also available on the committee 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 nine 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 but 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'll receive a pop-up notice to select to unmute your device. If you have called into the meeting by cell phone or landline, 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 on 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 again to speak. A quorum is now present. We will first vote on the approval of the committee actions of June 16th, 2021. Can I please have a motion to approve the committee actions? I'll move chair. Wonderful. We have a motion by council member Montgomery Step with a second by Vice Chair Lacava. We will now take council member questions and comments and have each council member register their vote. As a reminder, please mute yourself once you have completed your comments. Vice Chair Lacaba. Yes. Committee member Montgomery Step. Yes. Committee member Ilo Rivera. Yes.
openpublica.com