Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Meeting - June 22, 2022
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Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Meeting - June 22, 2022
The Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee met on June 22, 2022, at 2 p.m. to discuss and vote on several items including consent calendar approvals, community parking district budgets, the Build Better SD initiative, a construction contract for La Media Road improvements, a sewer trunk contract, and an update on RIC Engineering's equal employment opportunity compliance. The meeting was held in a hybrid format with in-person and virtual participation.
Consent Calendar
- Items 1–4 were approved unanimously: (1) authorization of city forces for three stormwater pipe repair projects ($3.73 million), (2) change order for slurry seal group 2122 contract for bike lanes on Linda Vista Road, Nimitz Boulevard, Park Boulevard and Lincoln Avenue, (3) change order with Urban Corps for the Chollas Creek Oak Park Branch Trail Project, and (4) first amendment to consulting agreement for Pacific Highlands Ranch branch library design. Councilmember Campbell requested a briefing on the Nimitz bike lanes; Council President Pro Tem Montgomery Steppe noted EEO concerns for item 2.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Non-agenda public comment: Lori Saldaña questioned the mayor's proposal to confiscate bicycles from unsheltered individuals, calling it a violation of private property rights and asking for a committee inquiry. Nicole Burgess thanked the committee for Safe Streets advocacy and urged better treatment of corridors during slurry seal projects, citing Midway Drive as a dangerous corridor.
- Item 6 (Community Parking Districts): Public speakers included Jerry Trussell and Maya Earn (in favor), Rebecca Ribzik (Downtown San Diego Partnership) in support, Lori Saldaña asking about free rides programs and bike lockers in Pacific Beach, and Ernie from University Heights requesting support for lost parking and meter replacement on Park Boulevard.
- Item 5 (Build Better SD): Thomas Mullaney opposed the plan, arguing it severs the connection between community plans and financing, creates a political slush fund, and may be illegal. Multiple speakers supported the plan: Will Radigan (San Diego County Bicycle Coalition), Marty (EMB Democrats), Charlie Goldbring (Library Foundation SD), Jim Waring (San Diego Regional EDC), Patrice Baker (Encanto resident), Matthew Adams (San Diego Building Industry Association, with concerns about pipeline protection), Rachel Graham (Carmel Mountain Ranch), Sharon Gale (Rise Uptown), Shauna Lindsay (Scripps Ranch), Anar Salaev (Bike San Diego), Enrique de la Cruz (District 8), former Councilmember Marty Emerald (supportive, but noted fire station funding needs), and Vicky Granowitz (San Diego Parks Foundation).
- Item 7 (La Media Road): Lori Saldaña asked about EEO compliance for the $44 million construction contract.
- Item 9 (RIC Engineering): Lori Saldaña requested salary breakdowns to assess wage equity.
Discussion Items
- Item 6: Community Parking Districts FY23 Annual Plans and Budgets – Approved unanimously. The budgets total: Uptown $1.65M, Downtown $5.33M, Mid-City $614,000, Pacific Beach (meter installation and shuttle partnership with SANDAG). Revenue is still 30% below pre-COVID levels.
- Item 5: Build Better SD – A major policy shift to consolidate 42 developer impact fee funds into four citywide fees (mobility, fire, libraries, parks). The proposal aims to unlock $220 million in unspent funds, scale fees by home size, and prioritize infrastructure in areas of greatest need and growth. The committee voted 4-0 to forward the item to full council without recommendation, with direction for the mayor's office to work with each council district to review projects removed from eligibility before docketing.
- Item 7: La Media Road Improvements Project – Approved unanimously. Includes a reimbursement agreement with Otay Water District ($2.5M) and authorization to award a construction contract up to $44 million over eight years (including mitigation and monitoring). The project addresses flooding and completes a freight corridor. Councilmember von Wilpert requested notification of the awarded contractor.
- Item 8: Harbor Drive Trunk Sewer Construction Contract – Approved unanimously. Item presented without presentation; project conveys sewage to Point Loma treatment plant.
- Item 9: Update on RIC Engineering Company EEO Compliance – Information item. RIC Engineering presented its outreach efforts, including participation in MESA programs, HBCU recruitment, National Society of Black Engineers conferences, and Shadow Day events. The company has a 40% female workforce and 50% underrepresented ethnic groups in upper management. Two-thirds of recent hires were from underrepresented groups. Councilmembers praised the efforts and encouraged continued mentorship and paid internships.
Key Outcomes
- Consent calendar items 1–4: Approved unanimously.
- Item 6 (Community Parking Districts): Approved unanimously.
- Item 5 (Build Better SD): Motion to forward to full council without recommendation, with direction to work with council offices on project list, passed 4-0. Commitment from mayor's office not to route the item until all council offices have been briefed.
- Item 7 (La Media Road): Approved unanimously. Councilmember von Wilpert requested notification of contractor award.
- Item 8 (Harbor Drive Trunk Sewer): Approved unanimously.
- Item 9 (RIC Engineering): No action required; information received.
- Next meeting: Scheduled for July 20, 2022, at 2 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
All right. We are ready to begin. Welcome everyone to the Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee meeting of June 22nd, 2022 at 2 p.m. I have a lot to read to you. Until further notice, committee meetings will be conducted pursuant to the provisions of California Government Code Section 54953E, added by Assembly Bill 361, which allows the city to use teleconferencing and to provide the public an opportunity to address the city council via a call-in option or an internet-based service option during a proclaimed state of emergency. While the public is allowed to attend the meetings in person, we encourage you to maintain six feet of social distance as well as follow California mask guidelines where masks are strongly recommended. In addition to being able to attend in person, this meeting is being televised and live streamed on the city's website, and the committee liaison will continue to make arrangements for the public to comment using the Zoom webinar platform. Additionally, members of the public who wish to provide testimony via a call-in or an internet-based service option must enter the virtual speaking queue within five minutes after the conclusion of in-person public testimony, or before the virtual speaking queue is exhausted. Whichever occurs first. And if you are in person, uh please come up and complete a speaker slip located at the entrance of chambers and place it in the box indicated at the speaker's lectern at the front of the room. Members of the public can also join the webinar by computer, tablet, or smartphone by accessing the link which is listed online in the preamble language of the agenda on the city's webpage. To join our Zoom webinar by telephone, please dial 1669 254 5252 when prompted input webinar ID 1605618 pound sign. This information is also available on the agenda and will appear on the screen during the public comment period for each item. We will go over these instructions again briefly each time we are going to open an item for public comment. So a quorum is now present. We will now take up the approval of the committee actions of May 25th, 2022. Justin, please proceed with any public comment on the meeting minutes of May 25th. Thank you. The public comment period for the meeting minutes is now open. If you're in person, please be sure to have submitted your speaker slip. Check through make sure we don't have any currently. We do not have any requests to speak in chamber. So if you have already joined the Zoom webinar online or by phone, please raise your hand if you wish to speak to the meeting minutes. You can do so by selecting the raise your hand button or input star nine. We check our and no individuals have raised their hands. That will conclude public testimony on the minutes. Thank you, Justin. Is there um any committee member comments or questions or a motion to for the approval of the minutes? So moved. At all second. By council member Campbell, a second by Vice Chair Lakava. And we will now take any committee member questions and comments and have each committee member register their vote, beginning with Vice Chair Lakaba. I vote yes. Council President Pro Tem Montgomery Step. Yes. And uh councilmember Campbell. Yes. All right. I will also register a guest vote so that passes unanimously. All right, now we're gonna move on to our non-agenda public comment. Per temporary rule 2.6, non-agenda public comment in an opportunity for members of the public to comment on items that are not on the agenda but within the subject matter jurisdiction of the committee. Each speaker will have two minutes. Uh Justin, please proceed. Thank you. If you're in person, please sure you have submitted your speaker slip in chambers and come to the front of the room. None have been received, so I'll move to the online testimony. If you are would like to provide on a call in or internet based service option, please enter the queue now. You can call 1669-254-5252. The webinar ID is 16056-7518 pound. Please select the raise your hand button or press star nine if by phone.
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