Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Meeting - April 6, 2022
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Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Meeting - April 6, 2022
The Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee of the San Diego City Council met virtually on April 6, 2022, at 2:00 PM. The meeting was chaired by Councilmember von Wilpert, with Vice Chair Lacaba, Council President Pro Tem Montgomery Steppe, and Councilmember Campbell absent. The committee approved consent items, heard public comments, and discussed two major items: a fee adjustment for the Regional Transportation Congestion Improvement Program (RTCIP) and a contract amendment for the West Mission Bay Drive Bridge project.
Consent Calendar
- Item 1: Authorized construction change order number six for contract Louis SEAL Group 1803 (slurry seal). Councilmember Montgomery Steppe asked questions about American Asphalt and legal matters. The work had already been completed; if not approved, the contractor could sue. The committee approved unanimously (3-0, with Campbell absent). Chair von Wilpert also noted a comment from Mobility Board member Nicole Burgess about linking slurry seal contracts to climate action goals.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Daniel Schmiansky (non-agenda public comment): Expressed frustration that trees promised five years ago on Morena Boulevard were never planted, feeling let down by the city. Also noted difficulty accessing the February agenda online.
- Matthew Vasilakis (Climate Action Campaign): Expressed support for a comprehensive CAP implementation funding plan with associated costs, citing the need to compete for federal infrastructure dollars.
- Joy Sonata (District 3): Praised the IBA's updated "Citizen's Guide to Infrastructure," especially the chart on CIP outlook and the sentence about competing for IIJA funds.
- Daniel (on item 3 – West Mission Bay Bridge): Voiced concern that the bridge project appeared abandoned and noted that building more bridges may conflict with climate action goals.
Discussion Items
- Item 2 – RTCIP FY2023 Fee Adjustment: Senior Planner Alphonse Gathell presented a request to recommend approval of a 2% increase to the RTCIP fee, as approved by SANDAG on February 25, 2022. The fee for single-family units would rise from $3,069 to $3,130, and for multifamily from $2,456 to $2,505. The increase maintains purchasing power and compliance with the Transit Extension Ordinance. Vice Chair Lacaba moved approval, noting the Build Better San Diego program would address broader fee reform in June. Councilmember Montgomery Steppe seconded and linked the item to Council Policy 800-14 updates. The committee approved unanimously (3-0).
- Item 3 – West Mission Bay Drive Bridge Project Amendment: Alex Garcia (ECP) and Isaac Vallejo presented a request for a 39-month extension and $2,064,597.56 in additional funding for construction management services with Kleinfelder Construction Services. The project, which includes replacing the West Mission Bay Bridge, faced delays due to cast-in-drilled-hole issues (8 months, partially mitigated) and new environmental permit requirements (e.g., certified biologist, predator control). The additional funds come from project contingency ($10M set aside, leaving ~$7M) and federal Highway Bridge Program funds. The bridge is expected to open in October 2022, with environmental monitoring through 2024 and project closeout in 2025. Councilmember Montgomery Steppe expressed concerns about foresight in design and the use of contingency; staff committed to providing further briefings. Vice Chair Lacaba seconded the motion, and the committee approved unanimously (3-0).
Key Outcomes
- Approved consent calendar (Item 1) unanimously.
- Recommended approval of the RTCIP fee adjustment (Item 2) to City Council unanimously.
- Authorized the first amendment to the West Mission Bay Bridge consultant contract (Item 3) unanimously.
- The committee will hold its next meeting on April 27, 2022, at 2:00 PM.
Meeting Transcript
All right. Welcome everyone. I'd like to call to uh I'm gonna call to order the Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee meeting of April 6, 2022 at 2 o'clock. Per California Government Code Section 54953G 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 service option. The committee members will be to 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. 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. Present. Council President Pro Tem Montgomery Step. And I believe Councilmember Campbell is absent, but just want to check. She is still absent. Each committee member um is either in chambers or attending virtually. Also with us on the virtual meeting is our IBA representative Aaron Noel, our City Attorney Representative Tina Ray, and our mayoral representative Randy Wilde and our committee consultant Justin Garber. The public may view our meeting on public television on City TV 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 Sandiego.gov and selecting the City TV Live Webcast button on the right hand side of the page. 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 1 669-254-5252. 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 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 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 when it is your turn to speak. If you've 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. A quorum is now present. We will now move to the approval of the committee actions of February 17th, 2022. Justin, please proceed with any public comment on the committee actions. Thank you. The public comment period for the committee actions of February 17th, 2022 is now open. If you have already joined the webinar online or by phone, please raise your hand if you wish to speak. If you are watching on City TV or live stream online, please call 1669-254-5252. And when prompted, input webinar ID 160-556-7518 pound. To raise your hand to speak, select the raise your hand button or press star 9. Take a look at. Yes, go ahead. Yeah, my name is Shmiovsky. Uh I wasn't you know, I mean, that's my name, but anyway, I tried bringing up the um agenda for last month or the month of February on your website. I tried numerous times, but I could not access the agenda. That's the only footnote I have to offer. I would suggest you correct that uh issue. Thank you. Thank you. And with that, there are no other speakers, and that concludes public comment on the actions from February 6th, 2022. Thank you very much. And thank you, Mr. Schmiansky, for letting us know.
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