San Diego Budget Review Committee Meeting - May 5, 2015
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San Diego Budget Review Committee Meeting - May 5, 2015
The Budget Review Committee, chaired by Councilmember Gloria, met on May 5, 2015, to review proposed fiscal year 2016 budgets for Public Works, Public Utilities, Transportation & Stormwater, and Environmental Services. Presentations included detailed staffing and expenditure changes, IBA analysis, and public testimony on a range of issues.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Public Works: Martha Welch expressed confusion about revenue presentation in budget documents.
- Public Utilities: Rachelle Mellius, member of the Community Forestry Advisory Board, urged the council to include trees in lawn rebate programs and support water conservation through public education.
- Transportation & Stormwater:
- Ann Feige (Community Forest Advisory Board) supported increased tree pruning funding and stressed integrating tree care with sidewalk repair.
- Monique Lopez (Environmental Health Coalition) advocated for prioritizing transportation funds in high-risk corridors and overburdened communities.
- Andy Hanshaw (San Diego County Bicycle Coalition) supported additional staff and emphasized resurfacing streets to repurpose for bike lanes.
- Kathleen Ferrier (Circulate San Diego) supported the budget and called for strategic repaving and pedestrian safety improvements.
- Brian Elliott (Climate Action Campaign) urged funding for bike safety and climate action plan goals.
- Environmental Services: Multiple speakers from Mission Beach businesses and residents (Sarah Matteson, Mary Saska, John Ballis, Klaus Mendenhall) requested additional trash collection services (14 extra pickups, alley vacuuming, code enforcement) to address a severe fly problem caused by overflowing containers and short-term rentals.
Discussion Items
- Public Works (General Services, ECP, Contracting):
- Staff presented a request for 18 new FTEs in facilities (plumbers, roofers) and 3 in admin/training, plus 112 FTEs in Engineering & Capital Projects (ECP) to expand CIP, and 1 FTE in contracting. Key highlights: $3.6M for general facility repairs, $1.1M for condition assessments, $50K for Harbor Drive Bridge repairs, and transitioning fleet services to internal operations. IBA noted hiring challenges and recommended performance measures for CIP project delivery.
- Public Utilities:
- Presented general fund (lakes) and enterprise funds (water, sewer). Changes: $43M increase in water operating fund (due to purchased water, rate increases, SW settlement), 99 new FTEs primarily for CIP expansion, and 10.44 FTE transfer to Pure Water program. IBA highlighted drought mandates may require budget adjustments, and that a cost-of-service study is ongoing. Councilmembers discussed turf rebate funds, rate impacts, and Pure Water progress.
- Transportation & Stormwater:
- Director Chris McFadden presented 104 new FTEs (majority in streets and stormwater), $33.1M increase. Efforts include repairing 300+ miles of streets, sidewalk replacement, street sweeping (currently only 3 of 17 sweepers operational), tree trimming ($1.6M added), and undergrounding program. IBA noted hiring challenges and need for additional funding to meet street OCI goals. Councilmembers questioned street sweeping performance, tree trimming schedules, and alignment with climate action plan.
- Environmental Services:
- Director Mario Sierra presented $95.4M budget (increase of $3.1M). Highlights: $900K for CNG fueling station, $807K for illegal dump abatement, 2 sanitation drivers added. Non-general fund changes include $250K for automated yard waste containers and $240K for CNG packers. IBA noted financial stability actions (sharing illegal dumping costs, Sycamore Canyon franchise fee transfer). Councilmembers discussed the Mission Beach fly problem, with city attorney clarifying that the People's Ordinance prohibits city collection from non-residential (short-term rental) refuse. The committee directed ESD to work with city attorney on a solution.
Key Outcomes
- No formal votes were taken; the committee reviewed budgets and will continue deliberations.
- Staff from Public Works, Public Utilities, Transportation & Stormwater, and Environmental Services will provide follow-up information and may bring revisions in the May Revise.
- The Mission Beach trash/fly issue will be addressed through further analysis by Environmental Services and the City Attorney's Office, with councilmembers pledging to seek funding for additional pickups and enforcement.
Meeting Transcript
I hear you call my name, but no one's there Except a fool You and I both know that the house is hard Yeah, you and I both know that the ghost isn't you to walk around screaming or slamming on them doors Well I'm all growing up God's getting up you and I both know you and I don't know Yeah you and I both know Love that good things come free Do what you can And be what you need We never have mess but we figured it out Cause when you've got nothing there's nothing to bitch your bath She would say oh Don't hit me with yourself Say you got money You got something up Just hit me with a love You think I love and you wink I don't think Oh don't hit me with yourself think you got money You got something up Just hear me with the love You wake I love and you wake up Mama know Yes I wanna hold Well no shit your life is high is an easy Sunday when you know you are Oh yeah Ain't no shortcut gonna bring you peace No Your love Just what you need She would say oh don't hit me with your stuff think you got money You got something up Just hit me with it love You wake up then you wake up Oh don't hit me with yourself think you got money But that's something up So just get me with it up You ain't got love then you win a something Mama knows your mind Yeah yes Oh it's so easy Yes it is Oh but you can don't go now You better go ask your mama Shame say yo don't hear me with yourself think you got money You got something up Just hear me with a love You ain't got love and you wake up here Oh don't hit me with the step Take out money You think that that's all just help me with a love you wake I love then you wake I love they are I wanna love somebody I hear you need somebody to love Well I wanna love somebody I hear you looking for someone to love Cause you need to be back in the I want to love somebody. I hear you need somebody to love. Somebody I hear you looking for someone to love. Cause you need to be back in the arms of a good friend. Back in the arms of the girlfriend. I didn't know nobody. Then I saw you coming my way. And then I saw you coming my way. Don't you need to back in the arms of the good friend? Oaks honey believes me. Sure love to call you my first friend. Don't you need to be back in the arms with the good friend? Oaks honey boo me. She'll love to call you my girlfriend. Cause you got a good thing going, baby. You only need somebody to love. You're only looking for someone to love. No, I'm never gonna set you free. When you fall when you have nowhere to go. What do you see when you have nothing to me? What do you need? Lost inside a flag. The gardens and groves of Balboa Park are a civic treasure worth celebrating. On May 9th, the City of San Diego is inviting everyone to do just that at the Garden Party of the Century. This day-long free event is part of the city's ongoing centennial celebration, marking the 100th anniversary of the Panama California Exposition. The day begins with a kids' flora wagon parade and continues with a centennial-inspired flower show, demonstrations by Master Gardeners, tours of Balboa Park's magnificent gardens, along with music, art, and activities for the whole family. So come join us on May 9th at the Garden Party of the Century. Wait for it. Fantastic. Sitting to my left is again Marnell Gibson. She's the assistant director for public works, and after her comments this morning about water and sewer out, she's not allowed to talk anymore. I'm kidding. As as mentioned, Public Works is broken into three uh three different organizations. Um budgetarily in that we will walk through all of them. We're gonna first cover uh Public Works General Services branch. That's first up. Covers um both facilities and also an admin section. Uh what you'll see on the chart on the in front of you, we're asking for an increase in some staffing and FTEs. We're looking for 18 FT increases in the facilities division. Primarily most of this is going to be plumbers and roofers and trades uh type positions. And also we're asking in their public works administrative section an increase of three positions. Two of them are trainers, and there's a reason for this, and that is uh they they will be organizing and helping provide training for a whole bunch of new staff throughout the entire department, not just in the general services side in the audience. Um included in this group is the publishing services fund. This is the year print shop. Uh there is no changes in the number of positions or ten FTEs currently right now in there. There are 10 FTEs currently right now in there. Also, there's a slight increase, and we'll walk through that increase in the budget side of four, $157,000. One thing noted this morning, and uh remind you of it. This year fleet division is in public works department in being proposed as FY16 budget that fleet services will be restructured under the internal operations branch going forward.
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