Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Meeting - July 17, 2024
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Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Meeting - July 17, 2024
The Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee met on July 17, 2024, at 2:00 PM (UTC 17:00) to discuss several items, including consent calendar approvals, amendments to pedicab regulations, a major dam replacement contract, and an update on the Street Design Manual. The meeting included public testimony on all items, and all votes were unanimous.
Consent Calendar
- Item 1: Ratification of change orders 5 and 7 to the construction contract with 3D Enterprises for the Mission Bay Golf Course clubhouse demolition and portable building installation project. The original cost of $5 million increased to $10 million due to rising construction costs. Councilmember Von Wilpert noted the importance of the kitchen for revenue generation.
- Item 2: Award of a contract to Doken Engineering for professional design services for the Golden Hill Improvement One project, which involves replacing aging sewer lines and water mains in challenging canyon terrain.
- Both items were approved unanimously without opposition.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Consent Agenda: No public comments.
- Non-Agenda Public Comment:
- Blair Beekman spoke about recent political events and the need for dialogue over violence.
- Terry Ann Skelly and Judy Strang expressed concerns about drug-impaired driving, particularly cannabis, and urged the city to reissue public safety messages, especially regarding the social host ordinance.
- Item 4 (Pedicabs):
- Joyce Añada (District 3) supported the ordinance, emphasizing consistency with Harbor Police enforcement and asking about enforcement challenges and the relationship between pedicab owners and drivers.
- Fred Taiko (San Diego County Lodging Association) strongly supported the amendments, citing issues with noise, safety, and price gouging affecting hotels.
- Clayton Fowler (Downtown San Diego Partnership) supported the proposal, noting its committee had voted to support after a presentation.
- Cheryl (virtual) shared a personal experience of being charged $209.23 for a 0.7-mile pedicab ride, calling the pricing fraudulent and urging regulation.
- Blair Beekman (virtual) expressed support for the music but acknowledged the need for action against overcharging; suggested a probationary period for music.
- Item 3 (Lake Hodges Dam):
- Joyce Añada questioned the oversight of the dam’s deterioration and the cost sharing for the $1 billion dam safety program.
- Blair Beekman (virtual) drew parallels to the 2017 Oroville Dam failure and asked about flood control priorities.
- Item 5 (Street Design Manual):
- Joyce Añada praised the update and cited the walk on Fifth Avenue as a model for complete streets.
- David Motty urged inclusion of utility fixture placement in the manual.
- Sally Small (virtual) emphasized traffic calming in low-income neighborhoods and equity in street landscaping.
- Chloe Lauer (San Diego County Bicycle Coalition) recommended adherence to NACTO standards and referenced the Oslo Street Design Manual.
- Andrew Bowen (virtual) asked about parkway widening direction (inward vs. outward) and lane width standards, citing a Johns Hopkins study on nine-foot lanes.
- Blair Beekman (virtual) stressed vision zero, transparency, and avoiding euphemisms in technology discussions.
- Jason (virtual) advocated for reducing car dependency, improving flood management with bioswales, and narrowing roads.
Discussion Items
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Item 4: Amendments to Pedicab Regulations
- Presented by Terrence Sullivan (Policy Advisor to Councilmember Whitburn) and Deputy City Attorney Dara Fairchild.
- Proposed ordinance bans sound amplification equipment in pedicabs (to enforce noise rules more easily) and requires written pre-trip invoices with fare details to prevent bait-and-switch pricing and fraudulent tipping.
- The code of conduct would be updated to hold pedicab owners accountable for operator violations, allowing suspension or revocation of decals.
- Staff noted that the Port of San Diego has a similar ban, creating consistency.
- Councilmember Von Wilpert asked about owner liability and public reporting; staff explained that operators have operating permits and owners have decals, and both can be sanctioned. The city will work with SDPD to update the code of conduct administratively.
- The motion was made by Chair Whitburn, seconded by Vice Chair LaCava, and passed unanimously.
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Item 3: Lake Hodges Dam Replacement Project – Design Consultant Agreement
- Presented by Elif Chitten (Assistant Director, Engineering Capital Projects), James Spotica (Senior Civil Engineer), and Tiffany Kirk (Assistant Deputy Director, Public Utilities).
- The existing dam is over 100 years old, rated unsatisfactory by the Division of Safety of Dams, with water level restrictions at 280 feet. Construction must begin by December 2029.
- The city selected Black & Veatch for design services at a cost not to exceed $45.1 million ($33.7 million base scope, $11.4 million additional services). The project uses a Construction Manager at Risk (CMR) delivery method to save about 12 months.
- The estimated total project cost was set in 2019 at $275 million, with updates expected after 10% and 30% design.
- Cost sharing: 50% from County Water Authority, 25% from two districts, and 25% from the city. The city is front-loading funding but working on financing agreements.
- Councilmember Von Wilpert asked about community outreach and the need for the dam; staff confirmed it is critical to North County water supply. The motion was made by Councilmember Von Wilpert, seconded by Vice Chair LaCava, and passed unanimously.
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Item 5: Update on Street Design Manual
- Presented by Leo Alo (Senior Engineer, Sustainability and Mobility Department) and Heather Werner (Interim Director).
- The manual is being updated to align with the Climate Action Plan, Blueprint San Diego, Mobility Master Plan, and Complete Streets Policy. The last major update was in 2002; the current edition is 2017.
- The manual reorganizes public right-of-way into zones (vehicular, parkway, flex, median) and provides technical guidance for complete streets features.
- Next steps: internal and executive review, then public draft release for feedback from developers, agencies, and stakeholders, followed by adoption by committee and council.
- Councilmembers discussed safety (Vision Zero), utility placement, parkway widening direction, lane width standards, and the need for equity in implementation. Chair Whitburn noted the goal of zero traffic fatalities remains unmet.
- This was an information item; no vote was taken.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously (items 1 and 2).
- Pedicab Ordinance (Item 4): Approved unanimously. The ordinance will be drafted and presented to full council, with amendments to the municipal code and code of conduct.
- Lake Hodges Dam Design Contract (Item 3): Approved unanimously. The contract with Black & Veatch will proceed to full council for final approval in September 2024.
- Street Design Manual (Item 5): Received as information; staff will continue development and return for adoption at a future meeting.
- Next Meeting: The committee will next meet on September 11, 2024, at 2:00 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning, and welcome to the Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee meeting of July seventeenth, twenty twenty-four. Our committee liaison, Sarah Jordan, will provide information and instruction for the public to participate in today's meeting. Sarah, please proceed. While members of the public are able to attend the meeting 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 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 that the committee is able to manage and conduct city business. Council Member Foster. Councilmember Von Wilbert. If you are in person, please complete a speaker slip located at the entrance of the committee room and place it at the speaker slip box at the table at the front of the room. Please do so in a timely manner to ensure proper meeting management. If you raise your hand during non comment period, your hand will be lowered. Chair. Thank you, Sarah. A quorum is now present. Uh we will take up the approval of the committee meeting minutes of June 26, 2024. Sarah, please proceed with public comment. Thank you, Chair. We have not received any speaker slips here in the committee room, and I do not see any hands raised in the virtual queue. So that will conclude public. Oh, we've got one hand raised in the virtual queue for uh a comment on the past committee minutes. So I'll begin the five minute timer for all those to indicate if they wish to speak to the past committee minutes. And we will move to Cheryl. Please unmute yourself and provide your testimony on the past committee minutes. You will have one minute. My mistake, I will be speaking in reference to the pedicap, so not for this in this comment. Okay, great. Thank you so much. And chair with no other hands in the virtual queue. That concludes public testimony. All right. We will now take up consideration of the committee minutes of June 26, 2024. I'll turn it over to any committee members for a motion or further discussion. We have a motion from Councilmember Von Wilpert, and we have a second from Chair Lakava. Any further discussion? Seeing none, we'll do a voice vote here. All those in favor of approving the committee meeting minutes, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? That motion carries unanimously. Thank you. We will now take up non-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. Per rule 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 you'd like to call in in the meeting to speak, please dial 1669-2545252. Inputting webinar ID 160-976-1371 pound. If you have already joined the Zoom webinar online or by phone, please raise your hand if you wish to speak. 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.
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