San Diego Budget Review Committee Hearing on FY2018 Budget - May 9, 2017
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San Diego Budget Review Committee Hearing on FY2018 Budget - May 9, 2017
The Budget Review Committee of the San Diego City Council met on May 9, 2017, to review the FY2018 proposed budgets for Development Services, Planning, Economic Development, Civic San Diego/Successor Agency, and Real Estate Assets. The meeting included public testimony, departmental presentations, and comments from the Independent Budget Analyst (IBA). Key concerns were raised about proposed cuts to code enforcement positions, the need for affordable housing, and community plan updates.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Non-agenda public comment: Martha Welch raised concerns about the SMART program, fire station conditions, and transparency.
- Development Services: Ann Fage (Community Forest Advisory Board) opposed cuts to code enforcement for trees. Jean Hogar, Andre Beauparlant, and Armin Kuhlman (College Area Code Enforcement Volunteers) opposed cuts to code enforcement, arguing it undermines voluntary compliance and neighborhood quality. They noted that 1,200 letters were sent to nearly 700 properties, with 76% voluntary compliance, but 140 properties remain out of compliance due to lack of enforcement.
- Planning: Muriel King (Forestry Board) emphasized trees for walkability and urged more trees along sidewalks. Mark Steele (Barrio Logan Planning Group) requested certainty and a timeline for the community plan update. Isabel Kaye (Community Forestry Advisory Board) supported the parks master plan and tree planning for climate resiliency.
- Civic San Diego: Daniel Reeves (Downtown San Diego Partnership) supported the Fred program and called it a worthwhile public investment.
- Real Estate Assets: Martha Welch spoke against using TOT funds for the stadium special election.
Discussion Items
- Development Services (DSD): Director Bob Vacky presented performance metrics: 54% more solar permits issued in 2016 (top in U.S.), 150,000 inspections/year, 106,000 reviews/year. Proposed budget includes $250,000 for nuisance abatement fund, reduction of two code compliance officer positions (leaving two), and an alternative compliance program for low-priority violations (e.g., barking dogs, parking on lawns). IBA noted the reduction would impact non-health/safety violations. A $1.5 million penalty from the Regional Water Quality Control Board was included. Council members (Ward, Gomez, Cole, Alvarez, Sherman) expressed strong concern, with several noting the cuts contradicted their budget priority memos. The department aims to implement new ASELA tracking system in June 2017.
- Planning Department: Director Jeff Murphy presented budget with two new staff for regulatory reform and housing initiatives. Key initiatives: seven simultaneous community plan updates, transit priority area parking standards (18-month timeline), workforce housing density bonus, accessory dwelling unit ordinance (summer 2017), and Barrio Logan plan update. IBA noted transfer of urban forestry to Transportation/Stormwater. Council members questioned timelines for legacy plans (Midway, Old Town) and Barrio Logan (2 months for stakeholder meetings). Councilmember Gomez urged faster completion of community plans and criticized starting new ones before finishing old ones.
- Economic Development: Director Eric Caldwell presented budget with reductions: $250,000 cut to Civic San Diego support, $179,000 in program support reductions (including $25,000 to workforce partnership, offset by CDBG). Six new FTEs for reinvestment initiative (CDBG repayments of $215 million over 10-15 years). IBA noted discrepancy in successor agency transfer ($3.3M vs $2.7M) to be corrected in May revise. Council members asked about homeless services funding ($2.3M maintained), small business enhancement program (SBEP) funding below policy goal, and the relationship with Civic San Diego.
- Civic San Diego and Successor Agency: President Reese Jarrett presented Civic San Diego's budget of $8 million, with 2 FTE reductions. Highlighted projects: New Markets Tax Credits ($83M allocated), affordable housing (OC Courtyard, Atmosphere), Fred program (86,000 rides since August 2016). Successor agency budget of $3.7 million, funded by ROPS, with $2.4 million administrative and $541,000 project management costs approved by DOF. IBA noted significant decrease in successor agency funding. Council members asked about wind-down of 22 redevelopment sites (5 under contract), central library RFP (withdrawn, awaiting city direction), and parking district revenue.
- Real Estate Assets: Director Sibelle Thompson presented budget with $1.5 million increase in non-general fund expenditures. Key items: $3.5 million transfer to general fund for a proposed special election on TOT increase (from Chargers lease termination fee), $600,000 for DeAnza Mobile Home Park management (vacant), $5 million reduction in Qualcomm Stadium expenses after Chargers departure. Sold 11 surplus properties for $24 million (3.3M above appraisal). Council members discussed stadium future, suite/signage sales, and Petco Park police services cap. Councilmember Ward suggested not using the $3.5 million for the special election.
Key Outcomes
- Code Enforcement: Council members unanimously opposed the reduction of two code compliance officers. The committee will monitor the alternative compliance program and may seek to restore positions in the final budget.
- Planning Timelines: The committee requested faster timelines for community plan updates, especially Barrio Logan. The department will provide updates on the central library RFP and Barrio Logan plan within two months.
- Successor Agency: The $3.3 million transfer to Civic San Diego corrected to $2.7 million in May revise. Council requested a full list of remaining redevelopment sites.
- Qualcomm Stadium: The committee acknowledged the $3.5 million transfer for a potential special election. Councilmember Ward suggested not using the funds for the election. The department will continue discussions on naming rights and contingency planning.
- General: Council members emphasized the need for performance metrics, especially for customer experience in development services and code enforcement response times.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning, everybody. Um, welcome back to the budget review committee hearings at the San Diego City Council. A quorum is now present, consisting of Councilmember Ward, Council President Cole, Councilmember Sherman, Councilmember Gomez, Councilmember Kate, and myself, uh Barbara Bree, the Chair. Uh, we'll now proceed with non-agenda public comment. Clerk, please proceed. Yes, we have one speaker, Martha Welch, please come forward per the San Diego Municipal Code. Ms. Welch will have two minutes for non-agenda public comment. Good morning. Yesterday I was asked about the county steps for the SMART program. It was in the cities. SMART is commitment with the office of the city, police sheriff's and the public consent, and county behavioral partmen. So the county is part of that. The Kearney applies jointly with the county. Six million grant fund for the California California of 69 grant program. So you're the county all the time. You didn't know about that. I also I know about path. Well, it was PATH when they opened up. And I went in there and I had pictures, some of my friend went there and took pictures of it all the time. And the CAPER in 2005 2000 and 2015, you had connections, but that's not true. Path was before that. It's the same building. So where do you do this? Uh where do you do uh this um smart program? I don't know. Where is it at? Because uh it can't be um courtesy house, that's the why, so you can't do that, so I don't know where it's at. Also, we learned yesterday I talked about the fires. I'm gonna go up to Skyline pretty soon. Look at that fire station, see what it looks. Because I think it's very mean when you the the way fire pay all. If you want to do that to mean to people, that's fine with me. Not fine with me. I'm gonna tell everybody about what you do with the fires. Because if if you want temporary fire stations everywhere, that's wrong. There's no place to sleep or eat together or watch TV or take a shower, go to the bathroom, or anything like that. That's wrong if you're doing this. I'm gonna find out because that's wrong when you're doing here. I think you're pretty mean. If you sit there of comfortable, and you think the fire people have the same prelude as everybody else, that's wrong. That concludes the non-agenda budget review committee comment. Great. Is there any committee comment? No. Any comments from the city attorney? IBA, mayor roll staff. Okay. Uh clerk, please introduce the next item. Yes, our first item this morning is a review of development services.
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