Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Meeting Summary - September 18, 2025
Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Meeting Summary - September 18, 2025
The Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, chaired by Councilmember Whitburn, met on September 18, 2025, to discuss and vote on several items including valet zone fee increases, streetery permit fees, development impact fees, and an assessment of the city's construction bid environment. The committee approved the consent agenda and two action items, and received an informational presentation.
Consent Calendar
- The consent agenda included four items: approval of committee minutes from July 17, 2025; contract extension with KTA Construction for sewer and water Group 1032; extension with Burtec Pipeline for Mission Beach Water and Sewer Replacement; and extension with Burtec Pipeline for sewer and water Group 807. All were approved unanimously (4-0).
- Public comment was heard from Cesar Javier, who expressed concerns about contract processes and quality, and Joy Signata, who noted workforce underrepresentation in the contracts.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Non-agenda public comment: Speakers included Rita Javier (home invasion, traffic, erosion, radiation concerns), Cesar Javier (criticism of city response to homelessness and safety), Becky Rapp (marijuana impaired driving, citing 4,829 impaired driving arrests in 2025 countywide and 55 serious traffic injuries in San Diego), Terry Ann Skelly (drug impaired driving among teens, cited over 9% of drivers ages 16-20 admit to driving under marijuana influence), Joy Signata (support for rules of order, missing councilmember), Leonard (allegations about Antifa, councilmember, illegal immigration), and Michael (request for road repair on Noble Drive).
- Item 5 public comment: Cesar and Perita Javier (requested refund of citation and towing fees related to parking), Fred Taiko (San Diego County Lodging Association) – requested additional time to negotiate, noting a proposed $95,000 annual fee increase for a large hotel, calling it a 14,000% increase, Michael Trimble (Gaslamp Quarter Association) – opposed the fee structure, arguing it violates Proposition 218 and Council Policy 100-05, stating a small restaurant with one valet space would pay over $20,000/year. Joy Signata and Blair Beekman expressed support for the amendments.
- Item 6 public comment: Cesar Javier (criticized planning and budget processes, called for unity), Jeff Johnson (requested efficiency in city spending, gave example of comfort station costs – $650,000 for pre-fab plus $800,000 in bureaucracy). Joy Signata thanked staff and asked about affordable housing expenditures from the In-Lieu Fee.
- Item 7 public comment: Cesar Javier (suggested storm drain screens to reduce debris, criticized city leadership).
Discussion Items
-
Item 5: Proposed amendments to Council Policy 200-15 (valet zone fees, streetery permit fees, parking reform update)
- Presenters: Ahmad Erichat (Transportation Dept.) and Samir Rao (Planning Dept.) detailed the proposed fee increases: $10,000 per additional 22-foot space beyond standard two spaces in regular meter zones, $15,000 in special event zones; a new $2,500 fee for part-day valet use (5pm-midnight). Streetery permit fees proposed at $50/sq ft annually, $75/sq ft in special event zones, with a 15% discount for low-resource areas. The city attorney noted legal review is ongoing.
- Committee discussion: Chair Whitburn explained the rationale for fees based on actual lost revenue ($25/day per meter, $30/day after extended hours, 350 days). Councilmember von Wilpert questioned the 14,000% increase reported by stakeholders; staff clarified that the $95,000 figure applies to eight spaces (six additional beyond standard). Councilmember Foster raised concerns about underrepresentation in contracts and asked about steps to improve inclusion. The committee voted 4-0 to approve the staff recommendation, with a request to continue working with stakeholders before full council.
-
Item 6: FY2024 Annual Report on Development Impact Fees (DIF) and other City Planning managed funds
- Presenter: Samira Rao (Planning Dept.) reported that total DIF collected in FY2024 was $69.2 million, and $94.6 million was expended on infrastructure. Community-specific DIF cash balance was $425 million, with $172 million unallocated. The report includes requests to appropriate community-specific funds for six projects in Carmel Valley and Del Mar Mesa, and to create a trails project in Del Mar Mesa.
- Committee discussion: Councilmember von Wilpert questioned the slow transition from community DIF to citywide DIF, noting state law (SB330) requires charging the lower fee until 2029. Councilmember Foster clarified that the timeline is driven by state law, not city policy. Vice Chair Lee highlighted positive examples of citywide DIF funding projects like Marcy Neighborhood Park in University City. Councilmember Foster expressed frustration with the slow transition and questioned the low fire DIF collection ($900,000 vs $14 million for parks). The committee voted 4-0 to approve the staff recommendation.
-
Item 7: Assessment of the City's Current Construction Bid Environment (Informational)
- Presenters: Donnie Wynne, Aaron Noel, and Sergio Alcalde (IBA) presented findings from IBA Report 25-27. Key data: average bids per contract fell from 4.5 in FY2017 to 3.1 in FY2025; emergency contracts increased 1,550% from $1.1 million to $84.5 million; 53% of contracts exceeded engineer's estimate by more than 10% in FY2025 vs 28% in FY2017; rebid rate averaged 16%, with top causes being no responsive bidders (29%) and flawed solicitations (20%). Factors include labor shortages, project complexity, administrative requirements, and market saturation. Recommendations include central bid calendar, updating estimates, post-bid debriefs, and improving data tracking.
- Committee discussion: Councilmember von Wilpert asked about steps to improve cost estimating; Luis (ECP) noted regional trends and ongoing training. Councilmember von Wilpert also asked about stormwater emergencies; staff attributed to aging infrastructure and January 2024 storms. Councilmember Foster criticized internal operational issues, lack of accountability for designers, and the need to unbundle projects and expand contractor pool. She requested the COO to address these issues. No action taken as informational.
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda: Approved unanimously (4-0).
- Item 5 (valet/streetery fees): Approved unanimously (4-0). Staff to continue stakeholder engagement before full council.
- Item 6 (DIF report): Approved unanimously (4-0). Includes appropriation of community-specific funds to six projects.
- Item 7 (construction bid environment): Informational item received; no vote. Councilmember Foster requested follow-up with the COO to address internal operational improvements.
Meeting Transcript
Well, good afternoon, everybody, and welcome to the Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee meeting of September 18th, 2025. 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 meeting in person, this meeting is being televised and live streamed on the city's website, and 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 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. Councilmember Von Wilper. Chair Whitburn. Also attending the meeting today is City Attorney Representative Dana Fairchild, Mayor Representative Randy Wilde, and IBA representative Donnie Wynn. If you are in person, please complete a speaker slip located at the entrance of chambers and place it in the speaker slip box on the table at the front of the room, and 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 to join the Zoom webinar by telephone. Please dial 1669-2545252. And when prompted, input webinar ID one six zero, six eight five, one one, six six pound. Before we start today's meeting, I want to remind everybody about the city's practices and procedures for public comment at City Council meetings. The city welcomes public participation at City Council meetings. Speakers may address the council during public comment and also in connection with the specific item of business on the agenda. However, the city must make sure that no person or group of people disrupt the meeting in a way that prohibits other speakers from expressing their ideas and opinions. So to make sure that everybody here has an opportunity to address the council, I will alert an individual or individuals if I think their conduct becomes disruptive. If the disruption continues, I will rule the individual out of order. If the disruption continues further, I will declare a recess so that we can restore order. At that point, I will direct the individual to leave the room. If the individual refuses to leave, police will escort the individual out of the building. Once again, we have these practices and procedures to protect the rights of other speakers who wish to address the council and allow the council conduct the city's business. All right, 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 Whitburn per Rule 2.7 on agenda public comment as an opportunity for members of the public to comment on items that are not on this agenda but are within the subject matter jurisdiction of this committee. Each speaker will have two minutes to share their non-agenda public comment. If you're watching on City TV at the live stream online and you'd like to dial into the meeting to speak, please call 1669-2545252. Inputting webinar ID 160-685-1166 pound. So we will begin with Perita Javier. If you'll please approach the lecture and you will have two minutes, and you will be followed by Cesar Javier. Good afternoon. I am Rita Javier. Since 1984. Second highly possible home invasion from the last 14th occurrence. And we need more petrols. Moving traffic, our request for basic bomb for two sides since 2022 was never addressed despite D9 staff promises. Um street connecting boys street for Alta Dina for service responder and shortcut for pupils going to school. Find protection from erosion at Mosquito Victor from Toyo's Creek. Six cracks and potholes are Toyah's parkway seven. Allow farmers in toxicity or proximity. Neighborhood to farm a new roots, CDC. A we need protective walls against radiation from SDGE substation transversion law. Thank you. Our next speaker is Caesar. Thank you. This is Cesar and Purita.
openpublica.com