Special Active Transportation Infrastructure Committee Meeting Summary - June 8, 2023

The Special Active Transportation Infrastructure Committee met on June 8, 2023, at 17:00 UTC (10:00 a.m. local) to review a consent item, receive updates on the Mobility Master Plan and sidewalk maintenance, and hear public testimony. Chair Lee presided, with Vice Chair Lakava and Councilmember Von Wilpert present; Councilmember Montgomery Steep was absent. The meeting was televised and livestreamed, with public comment via Zoom and in person. Items 3 and 5 were trailed to a future meeting.

Consent Calendar

• Item 1: Construction change order number two for the OTI WTP Basin Number One Concrete Restoration Project with AB and Savoba Construction Incorporated. Approved unanimously (3-0) with no discussion.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Blair Beekman (non-agenda and item 2): Commented on FY24 budgeting for ALPRs and street kiosks, criticizing the city's language and approach to surveillance technology. He advocated for fewer ALPRs (10-15 preferred, suggested 50 as a reasonable compromise) and emphasized openness and accountability in tech practices. He also commented on sidewalk payments, suggesting bond measures and disability considerations.
• Karina Contreras (Transportation Policy Advocate for Climate Action Campaign, item 4): Expressed that all San Diego residents deserve equitable, reliable, frequent, sustainable, and safe mobility options. She stated that a good mobility plan must have an equity-focused approach, reduce social determinants of health, include mode share targets, total cost to meet targets, implementation timeline, short/mid/long-term funding strategies, annual benchmarks, and transparent annual progress reporting.
• Anar (Executive Director of Bike San Diego, item 4): Expressed excitement for the Mobility Master Plan update, urging focus on active transportation, mass transit, climate equity, and transportation justice. He requested bike share, complete street ordinances, and greater bus frequency be included in the final plan.

Discussion Items

• Item 4: City of San Diego Mobility Master Plan Status Update – Presented by Alyssa Mudo (Director, Sustainability and Mobility Department) and Phil Trom. The plan consolidates past mobility planning into a comprehensive document, identifying prioritized projects, programs, and policies. Key elements include: outreach with over 500 survey responses, interdepartmental coordination, high-need area analysis using climate equity index, Vision Zero mapping, and Blueprint San Diego data, modal propensity maps, evaluation criteria aligned with Policy 814, and an implementation plan with funding sources and performance indicators. The draft plan is slated for release in July 2023, with public review in summer 2023, council approval in FY24, and a four-year update process. Councilmember Von Wilpert expressed concerns about District 5 being underrepresented in the heat maps and focus areas, citing high VMT, upcoming housing growth, and lack of transit until 2050. Vice Chair Lakava asked about commuter vs. neighborhood focus, received clarification that projects connect focus areas to job centers, and also asked about bike lane striping opportunities and the July deliverables. Chair Lee asked about community outreach strategies and the relationship between the Bike Master Plan and Mobility Master Plan. All members noted the importance of funding for implementation.
• Item 2: Sidewalk Maintenance and Replacement Update – Presented by Chris Gascon (Assistant Director, Transportation Department) and Craig Honus (Senior Civil Engineer). The city maintains approximately 4,500 miles of sidewalks. A 2016 assessment identified over 86,000 repair locations; since FY2016, about 55,000 repairs have been completed, with an estimated 10,000 more by end of FY23. The annual need is $18.5 million over 10 years to address the current backlog of ~37,000 concrete repair locations. Current funding includes $1.25 million for slicing and $4 million for concrete replacement in FY23, with a potential $2 million in FY24 from the May revise. The city follows state law and council policy 200-12 to determine liability. The 50-50 cost share program has $300,000 annually and completes about 20 locations per year. Proposed streamlining includes eliminating the $2,200 right-of-way permit fee, using selected contractors, and self-certification with spot checks. Councilmember Von Wilpert asked about ramping staff, in-house slicing, and budget implications. Vice Chair Lakava asked about thresholds for sending notices, the value of updating the sidewalk assessment, and the 50-50 cost share usage. Chair Lee asked about data collection from road assessments and accommodations for low-income residents. The presentation concluded with plans to implement the new process by late fall.

Key Outcomes

• Approved consent agenda (Item 1) unanimously (3-0).
• Item 4 was an information item; no motion required. The committee provided input and feedback for the Mobility Master Plan, which will be released as a draft in July 2023.
• Item 2 was an information item; no motion required. The committee discussed sidewalk funding and streamlining, with support for reducing permit fees and exploring program changes.
• Items 3 and 5 were trailed to a future committee meeting due to time constraints.
• The next regularly scheduled meeting is Wednesday, June 21, 2023, at 2:00 p.m.