San Diego Budget and Government Efficiency Committee Meeting - July 13, 2022
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San Diego Budget and Government Efficiency Committee Meeting - July 13, 2022
The Budget and Government Efficiency Committee met on July 13, 2022, at 10:00 AM Pacific (17:00 UTC) to consider consent agenda contracts, a consulting services amendment, and the proposed fiscal year 2023 statement of budgetary principles. All items were approved unanimously, with discussions on workforce diversity and equity budgeting.
Consent Calendar
- Item 1: Extension of LexisNexis contract and approval of amendment number three. Council President Pro Tem Montgomery Step noted administrative workforce underrepresentations for African American, female, Asian, and other categories but did not pull the item.
- Item 2: Authorization to execute a one-year agreement with Asset Works Inc. for a fleet management information system. Montgomery Step noted underrepresentations in female, Filipino, Asian, Latino, and African American categories.
- Item 3: Third amendment to vendor agreement with Venive Technology Inc. Montgomery Step noted underrepresentations in African American, female, Latino, and other categories.
- The consent agenda was approved unanimously with Montgomery Step reserving the right to vote no at full council.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Non-agenda public comment: No speakers.
- Item 4: Michael Dwyer (public) asked for clarification on the timeline for the water/sewer cost of service report.
- Item 5: Catherine Lippitt (public) opposed efforts to reduce marijuana taxes, stating they harm the city’s budget, and urged the city to address unanswered suicide hotline calls.
Discussion Items
- Item 4 – First amendment to as‑needed agreement with Raftelis Financial Consultants: Adam Jones (Deputy Director of Finance, Public Utilities Department) presented a request for a one‑year extension (to July 24, 2023) and a $150,000 increase (total not‑to‑exceed $1,131,382) for financial modeling and rate design services. The contract supports water and wastewater cost‑of‑service studies, including updates to industrial wastewater fees, WIFIA loan modeling, and the recent wastewater cost of service. The amendment will support the upcoming water cost of service study. The Independent Budget Analyst (IBA) had no comments. The committee approved the amendment unanimously.
- Item 5 – Proposed FY2023 Statement of Budgetary Principles: Gillian Cassie (IBA) presented report 22‑18, noting no substantive changes from FY2022 except updated dates and replacement of a retired data dashboard reference with the strategic plan dashboard. The principles cover communication on budgetary matters (e.g., quarterly reports, prior notice for program/service changes), preservation of the Appropriation Ordinance as a spending document, and budget implementation (including structural deficit principles from 2010). Council President Ila Rivera questioned the balance between revenue generation and spending cuts since 2010 (IBA Director Charles Monica noted revenue growth from existing sources and reliance on federal relief dollars). Rivera suggested incorporating equity impact reporting into the principles, especially for program changes and the Appropriation Ordinance. Council President Pro Tem Montgomery Step seconded and supported including equity analysis. Chair Kate noted plans to bring performance analytics for the strategic plan dashboard later in 2022. The motion passed unanimously with direction to the IBA to work with the administration to include equity language.
Key Outcomes
- All items passed unanimously (4 votes in favor; Councilmember Moreno, Council President Ila Rivera, Council President Pro Tem Montgomery Step, Chair Kate).
- For the consent agenda, Montgomery Step’s comments on workforce underrepresentations were noted but did not delay approval.
- The Raftelis contract amendment was approved; the water cost of service study is expected in fiscal year 2023.
- The FY2023 statement of budgetary principles was approved with a directive to incorporate equity impact considerations in reports on program/service changes and the Appropriation Ordinance. The IBA will coordinate with the administration to finalize language.
- The meeting adjourned to a special meeting on September 14, 2022, at 9:00 AM.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning. Until further notice, the budget and government efficiency committee meetings will be conducted pursuant to the provisions of California Government Code Section 54953E, added by Assembly Bill 361, which allows the city to use teleconferencing and to provide the public an opportunity to address the city council committee via a call-in option or an internet-based service option during a proclaimed state of emergency. While the public is allowed to attend the meetings in person, we encourage you to maintain six feet of social distance as well as California mask guidelines where masks are strongly recommended. In addition to being able to attend in-person, this meeting is being televised and live streamed on the city's website, and the clerk and council committee liaison will continue to make arrangements for the public to comment using the Zoom webinar platform. Additionally, members of the public who wish to provide virtual testimony must enter the virtual queue by raising their hand before the queue closes. The queue will close when the last virtual speaker finishes speaking or five minutes after in-person testimony ends, whichever happens first. This will allow for better meeting management between the two platforms and ensure the council is able to manage and conduct city business. We appreciate the public's cooperation. Our committee consultant Anthony George will go over the specifics of how the public can participate and give their public testimony. Anthony, please call the roll. All right. Uh Vice Chair Hilar Rivera. Councilmember Montgomery Step. Here. Councilmember Vivian Moreno. Present. And I am also here. Also join us is Charles Monica, our independent budget analyst, Rolando Charvel from our Department of Finance, Javier Gomez from the mayor's office, and Brett Bartlato from the City Attorney's Office. Mr. George, please proceed with instructions. If you are in person, please complete a speaker slip located at the entrance of the chamber chambers and please place it on top of the box indicated at the speaker's lectern at the front of the room. Please do not please do so in a timely manner to ensure proper meeting management. If you need to participate by telephone, you may dial 1669-254-5252. Webinar ID 161-486-3189 pound. This information is also available on the agenda and will appear on the screen during public public comment period for each agenda item. As noted by the committee chair, members of the public who wish to provide virtual testimony must enter the virtual queue by raising their hand before the queue closes. The queue will close when the virtual last virtual speaker finishes speaking or five minutes after in-person testimony ends, whichever happens first. Please note that if you are watching via City TV 24 or online, there will be a delay. Please participate via audio on your phone and mute your TV or computer when it is your turn to speak. If you wish to speak on a particular item, wait for that item to be called and then raise your hand to speak by tapping the raise your hand icon or if you are in a call and participant, star nine on your cell phone or landline. If you raise your hand during a non uh non-comment period, your hand will be lowered. Thank you, Mr. George. A quorum is now present. We'll now dispense with the approval of the committee actions of June 22nd, 2022. The public comment period for this item is now open. If you've already joined the Zoom webinar online or by phone, please raise your hand if you wish to speak. If you're watching on City TV or the live stream online and would like to call into the meeting to speak, please call 1669-254-5252. When prompted input webinar ID 161-771-9874 pound. To raise your hand to speak, select the raise your hand button or press star 9. And our committee consultant will uh when it's when it's your turn to speak, you will please unmute yourself by either selecting the unmute button or by pressing star six. Mr. George, please receive with public comment. All right. We currently have zero speakers in the queue, both in person and virtually. So that will conclude public testimony on committee actions. Do I have a motion to approve motion by Council President Pro Tem Montgomery 2nd, second by Council President Ila Rovera? We'll start with our virtual participant, Councilmember Moreno. Um I'm happy to make a motion or vote yes. Perfect.
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