Special Act of Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Meeting: October 20, 2023
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Special Act of Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Meeting: October 20, 2023
The San Diego City Council's Transportation and Infrastructure Committee convened on October 20, 2023, at 9:30 AM (the meeting was called to order in the afternoon, but the agenda date is 2023-10-20). The committee approved consent items, discussed several major agenda items, and heard public testimony. All votes were unanimous (4-0) for action items. Key actions included approving a $24 million federal grant for bridge rehabilitation, launching a sidewalk repair fee holiday, and adopting a response to a grand jury report on development impact fees. Information items covered the Capital Improvements Program (CIP) and the Dam Safety Program.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Committee Actions (September 13, 2023) – Passed unanimously 4-0.
- Consent Agenda Items 1–9 – Approved unanimously. Items included: construction change for sewer/water service (item 3), Scripps Miramar Ranch Library parking lot expansion (item 4), time extension for water/waste/stormwater pipeline projects (item 6), land surveying and digitization services (item 7), downtown complete streets award (item 8), and creation of parking districts in San Ysidro and Kearny Mesa (item 9).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Blair Beekman – Spoke on item 4 (library parking lot expansion), urging transparency about surveillance technology. Also thanked Councilmember Lee for technology accountability efforts.
- Dan Schmikowski – Opposed scooter proliferation, calling for removal of all scooters. Also commented on parking lot expansion, stating older residents should walk.
- "The original" (anonymous speaker) – Spoke on multiple consent items: opposed sewer/water changes, criticized parking lot expansion timeline, questioned PVC pipe safety, objected to complete streets and 15-minute city concepts, and viewed parking districts as restricting mobility.
- John Stump – Asked about landscape median preservation on Palm Avenue bridge project.
- Additional speakers on item 11 (sidewalks) – Dan Schmikowski praised the presentation but noted e-bike/scooter dangers on sidewalks. John Stump suggested renaming Transportation Department to Mobility Department and using colored concrete for curb markings. "The original" criticized equity aspects, questioned homeowner responsibility for sidewalk repairs, and raised concerns about contractor quality. Blair Beekman urged trust-building and warned about privacy on public streets.
- Item 12 (DIF grand jury response) – "The original" struggled to understand the presenter and argued DIF funds should stay in communities where collected. Blair Beekman emphasized consistency. Dan Schmikowski defended the presenter's accent.
- Item 13 (CIP report) – "The original" questioned spending on Pure Water and called water scarcity a man-made drought. Blair Beekman referenced water table issues and supported the Tijuana River funding approach. Dan Schmikowski criticized bike lane uniformity.
- Item 14 (Dam safety) – John Stump raised concerns about Chollas Dam (not in the report) and its high inundation risk. "The original" questioned cost overruns and recreation safety with reclaimed water. Blair Beekman suggested exploring marshland water sources.
- Non-Agenda Public Comment – Blair Beekman requested more time for public review of the smart streetlight contract. Dan Schmikowski criticized an ethics commission appointment. John Stump reiterated concerns about Chollas Dam and landfill water leakage. "The original" promoted a vaccine injury support group.
Discussion Items
- Item 10: Bridge Rehabilitation Safety and Mobility Project (Palm Avenue & I-805) – The committee accepted a $24 million federal grant (Bridge Investment Program) for the interim phase, requiring a $6 million local match (from RTCIP). Total project cost is $47 million; additional $5.1 million still needed. The project includes seismic retrofit, widening, sidewalk, bikeways, HOV lane, and ramp metering. Public comment: John Stump asked about median landscaping; "the original" questioned cost estimates and pedestrian safety. The item passed 4-0 (motion by Vice Chair LaCava, second by Chair Lee).
- Item 11: Safe Sidewalks Program and Sidewalk Repair Permit Fee Holiday – Staff presented a new program waiving the $2,100 permit fee for property owners, expediting permits through Transportation Department, and shifting the 50-50 cost-share program to 100% funding in communities of concern. Notices of responsibility will be sent starting in winter 2023, prioritizing high-pedestrian areas. The IBA noted the need for enforcement and staffing challenges. Committee discussion: Chair Lee moved the item, seconded by Councilmember von Wilpert. Vice Chair LaCava expressed concern about eliminating the 50-50 program but supported the overall effort. Council President Pro Tem Montgomery Steppe highlighted communication needs. The item passed 4-0.
- Item 12: Proposed Response to Grand Jury Report on Development Impact Fees (DIF) – The IBA (Grace In Chen) presented a joint response agreeing with most findings/recommendations. Key points: city’s five-year CIP outlook does not detail DIF liquidation; Build Better SD allows citywide spending. The response implemented 10 recommendations (e.g., nexus reporting, audit request, community engagement). Two recommendations (posting rolling five-year DIF plan and liquidation plan) were not implemented as not warranted. Committee discussion: Vice Chair LaCava moved the recommendation, Chair Lee seconded. Councilmember von Wilpert supported. The item passed 4-0.
- Item 13: Fiscal Year 2023 Year in State of the Capital Improvements Program (CIP) – Information item. Staff reported 1,362 active projects valued at $5 billion, $750 million expended in FY23, 90 notices to proceed issued, 19 notices of completion. Key projects highlighted: Pure Water Phase 1, Lake Hodges Dam Replacement ($275 million), Mira Mesa Park, Los Peñasquitos Lagoon restoration. The IBA noted soft cost increases, needed performance measures, and capacity concerns. Committee members praised the report and asked about future KPIs, EAM system, and stormwater pipe replacement tracking.
- Item 14: Dam Safety Program Update – Information item. Public Utilities staff presented an overview of the nine-dam raw water system (average age 92 years). Four dams have level restrictions. The program is taking a risk-based approach, with 35 assessments completed and 80+ remaining. The Hodges Dam replacement schedule was expedited: construction to start by end of calendar year 2029 (previously 2031), with a $275 million preliminary estimate. Committee discussion: Councilmember von Wilpert confirmed the expedited schedule and asked about the boat ramp. Vice Chair LaCava noted the importance of the program and asked about other dams (Chollas, etc.). Staff noted 13 dams regulated by DSOD, nine in raw water system.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar – Unanimously approved (4-0).
- Item 10 – Approved (4-0). Authorized $24 million grant acceptance and $6 million local match.
- Item 11 – Approved (4-0). Established fee holiday, expedited permit process, and revised equity program.
- Item 12 – Approved (4-0). Adopted joint response to grand jury report; forward to full City Council.
- Items 13 and 14 – Information items; no votes required. Staff will continue to provide updates.
- Public Comment – Recorded for all agenda items; non-agenda comments were heard at the end of the meeting.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon. Welcome to the special act of transportation and infrastructure committee meeting of October twentieth, twenty twenty-three. Our committee lays on Sarah Jordan will provide information and instruction for the public to participate in today's meeting. Please proceed, Sarah. Thank you, Charlie. While members of the public are able to attend the meetings in person. Additionally, during the consent portion of the agenda, speakers will have one minute per item up to a maximum of three minutes if there are three or more items in that portion of the agenda. This will allow for better meeting management between the two platforms and ensure the committee is able to manage and conduct city business. Councilmember Montgomery Step. Here. Council Member Von Wilbert. Present. Chair Lee. Also attending the meeting is IBA Representative Aaron Knoll, City Attorney Representative Ryan Gardy, and Mayoral Representative Chris Ackerman Avila. If you are in person, please complete a speaker slip located at the entrance of chambers and place it in the box indicated at the speaker's lecture and in the front of the room. Please do so in a timely manner to ensure proper meeting management. Members of the public can 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. Please dial 1669-2545252 when prompted and put webinar ID 161-119-1457 pound. This will information is also available on the agenda and will appear on the screen during the public comment period for each agenda item. Chair. Thank you, Sarah. A quorum is now present. We will now take up the approval of the committee actions of September 13th, 2023. Let's proceed with public comment. Thank you, Chair. We have not received any speaker slips here in chambers, but we do have a hand raised in the virtual queue. So I will begin the five minute timer if there are any others who wish to speak to the past committee actions. We will begin with Blair Beekman. Mr. Beekman, please unmute yourself and provide your testimony. You will have one minute. Hi, uh Blair Beekman here. Thanks for the meeting today. It was very very nicely spoken to at the September 13th meeting by Councilperson Lee. He was asking questions about uh geofencing with scooters issues in the downtown area. Uh they were they may speed up sometimes, and he wanted to note it and asked about it. I've written yourself three letters on the subject now. I've sent to you. You've had interesting closed session agenda items recently that talked about government vehicle accidents and scooter accidents as well. I thought it was appropriate. There was a hit and run scooter death over on Fifth Avenue and Ash Street a few weeks ago. And that's what prompted me to write. I wondered if the geofencing had a part in that and to simply review that case and situation and to make adjustments. I don't think we need to uh do the geofencing. We are good luck on working on this issue. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Beekman. Our next speaker is Dan Schmikowski. Please unmute yourself and provide your comments.
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