Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Meeting – April 25, 2024
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Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Meeting – April 25, 2024
The Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee met on April 25, 2024, to discuss consent items, two discussion items, and an informational presentation on capital planning. The committee approved the consent agenda and both discussion items unanimously. Public comments covered a range of topics including cannabis social equity, alcohol outlet zoning, pedestrian safety, and capital project priorities.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of minutes from March 7, 2024 (passed 4-0).
- Item 1: Third amendment to cooperative procurement contract with DLT Solutions for Oracle Products and Services.
- Item 2: Award of phase-funded construction contract with OLA USA Incorporated for the Alvarado Second Extension Pipeline Project.
- Item 3 and 4: Award of three as-needed construction management service contracts (Kleinfelder, Harrison Associates, Ardura Group; and Richard Brady, Kleinfelder, Girodelli) – noted as normal five-year consultant agreements with execution limited to first two years.
- Item 5: Construction management agreement with Arcadis US for Tecalote Canyon Trunk Sewer Improvement and Golf Course Water Connection Project.
- Item 6: Roswell Street Overlay – priority budget legislation program cycle three grant funding of $710,000.
- All consent items passed unanimously 4-0.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Non-agenda public comment: Several speakers addressed topics including cannabis social equity program (Terry Best, Malik King), alcohol outlet concentration and zoning (Becky Rapp, Kathleen Lippitt), pedestrian safety and petty cabs (Joyce, district 3), marijuana-impaired driving (Peggy Walker), and general meeting process (Blair Beekman). One speaker expressed support for the cannabis social equity program noting 80% of sales are in the unpermitted market. Another speaker urged protection of zoning laws against mixed-use changes. A speaker expressed concern about petty cab speeds near the Rady Shell.
- Consent agenda public comment: Blair Beekman spoke in support of items 5 and 6, emphasizing accountability. An unnamed speaker criticized cloud-based software security, questioned water treatment vs. drilling, and raised concerns about wasteful contracts. Joyce (district 3) supported the Roswell Street grant. Sally (outgoing chair of Choice Valley Community Planning Group) thanked for the Roswell Street funding and noted alligator cracking on the road.
- Item 7 public comment: Blair Beekman thanked for the presentation and expressed concern about surveillance technology in parks. An unnamed speaker questioned fund reallocation as an illusion of progress.
- Item 8 public comment: Mark Steele spoke in favor in person. Blair Beekman praised the project as a vision zero example but cautioned about surveillance technology. An unnamed speaker criticized inequity in beautification projects vs. basic infrastructure in other areas.
- Item 9 public comment: Sally noted difficulty getting CIP priorities and long timelines for projects like Emerald Hills Park. Joyce (district 3) praised the IBA report. Blair Beekman suggested a tiered property tax increase. An unnamed speaker criticized inaccurate information and shifting funds away from infrastructure. Malik King supported tax increases for CIP but questioned spending priorities.
Discussion Items
- Item 7: Allocation of funds and creation of Mission Bay and Regional Parks projects – Parks and Recreation staff presented a request to reallocate funds among several projects (El Carmel Comfort Station, Mission Bay Athletic Area, Chollas Lake electrical, Quince Drive runoff erosion control, Balboa Park Botanical Building). Funds were taken from projects on hold (Benita Cove East Playground, Balboa Park Club renovations, Coles Mountain Comfort Station ADA, West Sycamore Comfort Station). The committee approved the reallocation unanimously.
- Item 8: La Jolla Streetscape Project – State of California FY24 budget allocation grant – Transportation staff presented a $1 million grant (AB 102) for improvements on Girard Avenue (Prospect to Silverado). The La Jolla Community Foundation will construct the project; city will maintain city-standard elements. The committee approved the grant acceptance and reimbursement agreement unanimously.
- Item 9: Effective capital planning, financing, and capital improvements program delivery – The Office of the Independent Budget Analyst (IBA) presented findings from a February training and report 24-08. Key points: need for accurate, long-term capital plans; financing strategies (general obligation bonds, enhanced infrastructure financing districts, sales tax measures); effective CIP delivery (early planning, appropriate procurement methods, project manager classification). The report highlighted San Diego's $4.8 billion funding gap and potential November 2024 ballot measures. Councilmember Von Wilpert requested a look-back on lease revenue bonds. Councilmember Foster cautioned about comparing California procurement regulations to other states. The item was informational; no vote required.
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda approved unanimously (4-0).
- Item 7 (Mission Bay/Regional Parks fund reallocation) approved unanimously (4-0).
- Item 8 (La Jolla Streetscape grant) approved unanimously (4-0).
- Item 9 was informational; no action taken. The committee noted the IBA report will inform future budget and infrastructure discussions.
- The next regular meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at 2:00 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon, and welcome to the Act of Transportation and Infrastructure Committee meeting of April 25th, 2024. Our committee liaison, Sarah Jordan, will provide information and instruction for the public to participate in today's meeting. Sarah, please proceed. Thank you, Chair Whitburn. While members of the public are able to attend the meetings in person, this meeting is being televised and live streamed on the city's website, and the council administration will continue to make arrangements for the public to comment using the Zoom webinar platform. 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. This will allow for better meeting management between the two platforms and ensure the committee is able to manage and conduct city business. Council Member Foster. Present. Councilmember Von Wilpert. Present. Also attending the meeting today is City Attorney Representative Dana Fairchild, Mayor Representative Randy Wilde, and the IBA representative Aaron Knoll. 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 at the front of the room. Please do so in a timely meeting 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. To join the webinar by telephone, please dial one six six nine two five four five two five two. And when prompted, and put webinar ID one six zero, nine seven six, one three seven one pound. This information is also available on the agenda and it will appear on the screen during the public comment period for each agenda item. Please unmute yourself and provide your comments. So I'm just wondering why and how that's equitable as far as that goes when we can have people that are, you know, um executive directors of you know, San Diego County coalitions. Um, and what it would be the reason to extensively write out what that person said, like as much as possible detail. And then when it's the public, it's very, very minimal. It just doesn't make sense to me as to why sometimes that'll happen and sometimes it won't. So I think it should be um equal all around. Thank you for your testimony and chair with no other hands in the virtual queue. That concludes public comment on the past committee minutes. Thank you. We will now vote on the approval of the committee minutes of March 7th, 2024. I will turn it over to the committee members to see if there's any discussion or a motion. Uh, and we'll uh turn it over to um council member von Wolpert. I will make the motion. All right, we have a motion to approve the minutes. We have a second from council member Foster. Seeing no further discussion, uh Sarah, please call the roll. And Chair, that does pass unanimously 4-0. Thank you, Sarah. We will now take up not agenda public comment. The council members respect and appreciate the public's input and are fully committed to protecting every participant's free speech rights at council and committee meetings. Sarah, please proceed with further instructions. Thank you, Chair. Pearl 2.7, non-agenda public comment is an opportunity for members of the public to comment on items that are not on the agenda but are within the subject matter jurisdiction of this committee. Each speaker will have two minutes. If you're watching on City TV or the live stream online and would like to dial in in the meeting to speak, please call 1669-2545252. And when prompted, input webinar ID 160-976-1371 pound. 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 conclusion of in-person public testimony or before virtual speaking queue is exhausted, whichever occurs first. I will announce when it is your turn to speak and unmute yourself by either selecting the unmute button or by inputting star six. Chair, we have not received any speaker slips here in chambers, so I will move to the virtual queue. And all those who indicate if they'd wish to speak, we will begin with Blair Beekman. Please unmute yourself and provide your comments. You will have two minutes.
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