Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Meeting – April 24, 2025

The Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee met on April 24, 2025, to receive the annual Pavement Management Plan update and approve the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) road maintenance and rehabilitation account (RMRA) project list. The meeting also included non-agenda public comments, approval of a consent agenda, and discussion of paving program challenges and funding gaps.

Consent Calendar

• Item 1: Approved committee minutes of March 20, 2025.
• Item 2: Approved an extension of contract K-20-1824-DBB-3-A with SC Valley Engineering Incorporated for Sewer and AC Water – Crown Point West.
• Item 3: Approved First Amendment to the reimbursement agreement for a portion of project T-11.1, Caliente Avenue.
• Item 4: Approved extension of construction contract K-201837-DBBA with Palm Engineering Construction Company Incorporated for Market Street 47th to Euclid Complete Street, Market Street Water Pipe Replacement, and Market Street Sewer Pipe Replacement.
• All consent items were passed unanimously (4–0).

Public Comments & Testimony

Non-Agenda Public Comment

• Parita Javier (in‑person) spoke about health hazards from ceramic glazes containing lead and urged improved ventilation and use of lead‑free glazes.
• Caesar Javier (in‑person) criticized the city for allowing a ceramics facility in a residential zone, citing toxic emissions; also raised concerns about a closed road that should support emergency access for two schools and called for better transparency.
• Blair Beekman (in‑person) discussed the need for more careful oversight of city‑sponsored homeless encampments and expressed hope that the city council can address budget issues with community input.
• Madison Rapp (virtual) urged the committee to include cannabis impact assessments in transportation planning, citing impairment risks to cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers, and recommended limiting dispensary density near schools.
• Joyce (virtual, District 3) praised the police chief’s community partnership program and downtown patrol pilot, and thanked the department that repaired dangerous tree‑trunk cuts on sidewalk grates.
• Becky Rapp (virtual) presented data on increased marijuana‑impaired driving in San Diego County (27% increase in DUI arrests over three years) and emphasized the need for policy and education to ensure street safety.

Public Comment on Consent Agenda (Items 1–4)

• Caesar Javier (in‑person) called for transparency and fairness in contracting, referencing footnote seven and demanding the mayor issue a letter and make a ruling retroactive.
• Blair Beekman (in‑person) urged that earthquake retrofitting be a regular part of staff presentations for all pipe and construction projects.
• Joyce (virtual) expressed support for items 2, 3, and 4, noted workforce demographics, and requested inclusion of workforce reports for item 4.

Public Comment on Item 6 (Pavement Management Plan Update)

• Caesar Javier (in‑person) questioned why the city contracts work instead of training in‑house crews, and asked for lessons learned to prevent waste.
• Blair Beekman (in‑person) acknowledged the presentation and expressed concern about the 43% equity metric, suggesting other strategies (e.g., a bond issue like San Jose’s) might be needed given upcoming budget constraints.
• Joyce (virtual) congratulated the department on 2024 accomplishments but urged the city to be honest about anticipated funding challenges.

Public Comment on Item 5 (FY26 RMRA Project List)

• Caesar Javier (in‑person) accused the department of lying about equity, stating that disadvantaged communities (e.g., District 9) still have worse roads than wealthier areas, and demanded no cover‑ups.
• Blair Beekman (in‑person) supported moving toward a 59% equity goal, but cautioned that budget limits may require openness about trade‑offs.

Discussion Items

Item 6 – Pavement Management Plan Annual Update (Informational)

Bethany Bizak (Transportation Director) and Maggie McCormick (Deputy Director) presented the second annual pavement management plan update. Key points:

• The citywide Pavement Condition Index (PCI) improved from 63 (2023) to a projected 65 by end of FY25, due to record capital investments.
• In FY24, the city performed the most maintenance in a decade and the most rehabilitation in five fiscal years.
• FY25 goals: 300 lane‑miles of maintenance, 125 lane‑miles of contractor rehabilitation, and 20 lane‑miles of in‑house rehabilitation.
• A new equity metric requires that at least 43% of streets selected for paving be in communities with equity needs (representing 43% of the network).
• Three funding scenarios were presented:
  • Known funding ($700 M over 10 years) → PCI drops to 53 (poor) by FY35.
  • Maintain PCI of 65 → need $1.7 B over 10 years; funding gap $1.1 B.
  • Achieve PCI of 70 → need $1.9 B over 10 years; gap $1.2 B.
• Challenges: limited contractor competition, hiring freeze leaving in‑house team positions vacant, equipment procurement delays (up to 4 years), and space constraints at the Chollas Operations Yard.

Committee members (Chair Whitburn, Councilmember Von Wilpert, Vice Chair Lee, Councilmember Foster) thanked staff and raised concerns about funding sustainability, the need for more in‑house capacity, contractor quality assurance, and the impact of delayed equipment on productivity. Councilmember Foster requested the IBA conduct a deeper analysis of the plan.

Item 5 – FY26 RMRA Project List (Action)

Maggie McCormick presented the staff recommendation to approve seven slurry seal and cape seal projects funded by the Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA). Key details:

• FY26 RMRA funding is approximately $36 M; the total maintenance need for FY26 is $96 M (a $60 M shortfall).
• Projects will cover about 241 lane‑miles of pavement maintenance and include over 40 miles of new or improved bike lanes.
• Street selection was distributed across council districts within 1% of each district’s network percentage, and the equity metric was applied.
• The list must be approved by City Council via resolution and submitted by July 1 to receive state funds.

Committee members discussed the funding gap, the role of the gas tax (which is trending up but uncertain long‑term due to electric vehicle adoption), and the possibility of alternative financing mechanisms (e.g., bonds like San Jose’s). Councilmember Von Wilpert requested a graph showing escalating costs and more detail on equipment backlogs.

The committee approved the item unanimously (4–0).

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda (Items 1–4) approved 4–0.
• Item 6 (Pavement Management Plan update) was received as information; no action taken.
• Item 5 (FY26 RMRA project list and slurry seal contracts) was approved 4–0, and will be forwarded to full City Council.
• The meeting was adjourned to the next regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.