Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Meeting - January 26, 2022
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Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Meeting - January 26, 2022
This meeting of the San Diego Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee was held virtually on January 26, 2022. The committee approved the use of city forces for 10 storm drain pipe repair projects and two creek restoration projects, authorized a $5 million contract for dam condition assessments, and set priorities for the 2022 calendar year. All votes were unanimous.
Consent Calendar
- The committee unanimously approved the minutes from the December 15, 2021 meeting after no public comment.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 1 (Pipe Repair Projects): Several speakers expressed support. Sally thanked the city for the projects and urged adding a third crew. Corrine Wilson (MEA) supported the item, noting city employees should do city work. Timothy Douglas (Local 127) supported keeping work in-house. Two speakers from the Construction Industry Force Account Council (CFAC) opposed: Michelle Pickens argued that the work should be competitively bid to be faster and more efficient, and Patty Rascone stated the work is an upgrade, not repair, and should be bid per municipal code.
- Item 3 (Committee Priorities): Will Radigan (San Diego County Bicycle Coalition) urged updates to the mobility master plan, a complete streets ordinance, quick-build program monitoring, and mode shift data tracking. Matthew Vaslakis (Climate Action Campaign) emphasized including climate-related items, a mobility master plan, and complete streets policy. Nicole supported green infrastructure, Vision Zero, quick-build, and a healthy commuter incentive program. Rachel shared personal stories of friends killed by cars and urged Vision Zero implementation.
Discussion Items
- Item 1: Storm Drain Pipe Repair and Creek Restoration – Staff from the Stormwater Department presented a plan to use city forces for 10 corrugated metal pipe (CMP) repair projects (costing up to $4.5 million from CIP) and to create two new standalone creek restoration CIP projects (Choyas Creek Restoration and Upper Auburn Creek Restoration, each with $250,000 initial funding). The work is part of a larger strategy to address 36 miles of aging CMPs. The IBA noted that city code requires council approval for city force work over $100,000. Council members discussed the proactive approach, filling of 25 new crew positions, project selection based on asset management, and the potential for a third crew. The motion passed unanimously.
- Item 2: Dam and Outlet Tower Condition Assessment Contract – Staff from the Public Utilities Department presented a $5 million, five-year as-needed contract with GEI Consultants for dam safety assessments, leveraging a $440,000 FEMA grant. The contract will support condition assessments, risk evaluations, and compliance with DSOD requirements. Council members discussed the backlog of dam repairs, the need for regular updates, and the importance of maintaining water storage capacity. The motion passed unanimously.
- Item 3: Committee Priorities for 2022 – Chair von Wilpert outlined priorities including Vision Zero, ADA compliance, complete streets, street repair, green infrastructure, mobility action plan, and EV charging. Council members added items: updated OCI study (Campbell), traffic calming, interagency coordination (Montgomery Steppe), quick-build program, lifeguard facilities, sidewalk repair, tree canopy, coastal bluff stabilization (LaCava). Public testimony supported these priorities. The committee voted unanimously to direct staff to create a work plan.
Key Outcomes
- Item 1: Approved use of city forces for 10 pipe repair projects and two creek restoration CIPs, with $4.5 million for labor and $500,000 for preliminary design. All council members voted yes.
- Item 2: Approved contract with GEI Consultants for up to $5 million over five years for dam and outlet tower condition assessments. Unanimous.
- Item 3: Approved directing staff to develop a 2022 committee work plan based on the priorities discussed. Unanimous.
- The committee also acknowledged the departure of IBA representative Jillian Cassie and welcomed Aaron Noel.
Meeting Transcript
We are still waiting on one more council member. Did you want to go ahead and start? Would you like to wait? Sorry, I think you're muted, Chair. One has to be on the couple more seconds. Okay. I'm gonna I do have a lot of reading I have to do at the beginning, so there's still time for people to get on. Um, Chair, it does look like we have all council members. Uh I can go ahead and make the webinar live if you would like, and we may begin. Please do. Very good. Whenever you're ready. All right, uh good afternoon, everybody. Uh welcome to the Act Transportation and Infrastructure Committee meeting of January 26, 2022. Um, for California government code section 5495G added by assembly bill 361, which allows the city to use teleconferencing and to provide the public an opportunity to address the city council committee via a call-in option or an internet-based option. 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 web 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. 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 spec the special the active transportation and infrastructure committee meeting of January 26, 2022 to order. I will now begin with the role. Uh Vice Chair Locava. Present. Uh Council to President Pro Tam Montgomery Step. Here. Uh Councilmember Campbell. Here. Right. Um each committee member is clearly attending virtually. I am also here virtually. Also on the virtual meeting is our IBA representatives, Gillian Cassie and Aaron Noel, our city attorney representative, Tina Ray, Mayoral Representative Brittany Bailey, and our awesome committee consultant Justin Garber. Uh the public may view the meeting on public television on City TV on channel 24 for Cox Communication and Spectrum, or Channel 99 for ATT Uverse. Or you can view the meeting online by going to the City Council Committee's homepage at San Diego.gov and selecting the City TV Live webcast button button on the right hand side of the page. The committee meetings will be held virtually using the Zoom webinar platform today. So members of the public can offer your public comment on either items we're going to discuss by accessing the Zoom webinar online using a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone, or by calling into the meeting using a smartphone, cell phone, or landline. The link to join our committee meeting by webinar, computer, tablet, or smartphone is listed on the agenda. To join our 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 pressing star nine on your phone. You will be taken in the order in which you raise your hand. 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 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 again when the public comment period on an item is open. All right, we have a quorum is now present. We will now move to the approval of the committee actions of December 15th, 2021. Uh Justin, please proceed with any public comment on the committee actions. Thank you. The public comment period for the committee actions of December 15th, 2021 is now open.
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