San Diego Budget Review Committee Meeting - May 9, 2022

The San Diego Budget Review Committee met on May 9, 2022, to discuss the proposed Fiscal Year 2023 budgets for the Transportation, Sustainability and Mobility, Planning, and Development Services departments. The meeting included presentations from department directors, analysis from the Independent Budget Analyst (IBA), public testimony, and extensive discussion by committee members. The meeting adjourned just after noon, with afternoon session items (Environmental Services and Engineering Capital Projects) postponed to a 2:00 PM session.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Item 1 – Transportation Department: Anne Fege (Chair, Community Forest Advisory Board) urged doubling tree planting and an additional $600,000 emergency allocation for tree maintenance. William Radigan (San Diego County Bicycle Coalition) expressed concern that proposed Vision Zero funding was a 7% cut from FY2022 and advocated for increased funding for the STAT team, bike projects, traffic signals, and bike racks. Janet Rogers (Safe Walkways) requested funds for “no scooter” signs on streets over 25 mph to comply with state law. Laura Keenan (widow of cyclist Matt Keenan) urged increased funding for protected bike lanes and the STAT team, sharing her husband’s fatal crash in a painted bike lane.
• Item 2 – Sustainability and Mobility Department: Anne Fege stressed the need for tree planting to meet climate goals. William Radigan requested an immediate update to the Bicycle Master Plan and additional $150,000 for the Mobility Master Plan. Brenda Garcia Milan (Climate Action Campaign) urged a comprehensive CAP implementation and funding plan. Noah Harris (Climate Action Campaign) supported mobility staff investments but raised concerns about the timeline. Serena Pelka (Climate Action Campaign) advocated for a full-time employee dedicated to building electrification.
• Item 3 – Planning Department: Eric Filcmere (City Heights CDC) supported increased staffing for equitable public engagement. Sally Schmoll (Choice Valley Community Planning Group) thanked staff for listening to community input and supported adequate staffing.
• Item 4 – Development Services Department: Speakers representing biotech, building, and commercial real estate industries (Craig Benedetto, BOMA; Melanie Cohn, Biocom California; Mark Cafferty, EDC; Athena Harrington, Illumina; Matt Adams, BIA; Jason Moorehead – citizen) all strongly supported the proposed DSD budget, citing the need to keep pace with economic growth, life sciences expansion, and housing production.

Discussion Items

• Transportation Department (Jorge Riveras): Proposed a net increase of 28 positions across divisions, including new teams for traffic signal cabinet replacement (3 FTEs, $2M), traffic loop replacement (3 FTEs), traffic management center design ($300,000), sidewalk repair (6 positions, $1.2M), street condition assessment ($500,000), weed/graffiti abatement increases, code compliance (3 positions), tree maintenance (2 positions), public works dispatch (4 positions), and grant program support (3 positions). The IBA noted an $8.8M general fund expenditure increase, with $24.2M allocated for Vision Zero in FY2023, and highlighted that only 22 of 99 planned overlay miles are funded with new money. Councilmembers discussed Vision Zero, bike lane safety, ADA backlog, street repair, graffiti abatement equity, unimproved streets, and tree program funding. Councilmember Moreno raised concerns about graffiti response times in District 8 (21 days vs. 5 days elsewhere).
• Sustainability and Mobility Department (Alyssa Mudo): The department’s proposed general fund budget is $7.2M, with 6 new positions from the CAP staffing analysis (5 general fund, 1 energy fund). Key initiatives include the Climate Action Plan update (to council in June/July 2022), implementation matrix, public power feasibility study ($400,000 consultant), mobility master plan ($350,000), zero-emissions vehicle strategy ($150,000), and $7.4M in the Climate Equity Fund for projects like streetlights, parks, and corridors. The IBA noted an unfunded request of $500,000 for an ADA public right-of-way compliance assessment. Council discussed parking districts, mode shift, CAP implementation timing, and the need for the ADA study.
• Planning Department (Heidi Von Blum): Proposed FY2023 budget is $17.6M (6% increase) with 8 additional FTEs, including 2 for Coastal Commission coordination, 2 for Parks for All of Us implementation, 2 for equitable engagement, 1 Chief Resiliency Officer, and 1 for CEQA support. Key accomplishments included the Parks Master Plan, Barrio Logan Community Plan, Climate Resilient SD, and the Homes for All of Us housing package. The IBA noted unfunded positions for community planning group reform and fiscal administrative operations. Council discussed the equitable engagement program, coastal commission backlog, and district-specific concerns about density and transit priority areas.
• Development Services Department (Elise Lowe): Proposed budget of $117M with 107 new positions (17.5 general fund, 90 enterprise fund). Major additions include a 44-position housing section, 37 positions for right-of-way inspections (transferred from Engineering & Capital Projects), and increased code enforcement for short-term rentals (8 positions), sidewalk vending (5), and substandard housing (3). Two million dollars is allocated for as-needed contracts to supplement staffing amid high vacancy levels. The IBA noted unfunded requests for a training coordinator, small business assistance team, and a $500,000 operational effectiveness assessment. Council discussed hiring challenges, the impact of the Cobb building conditions, and support for code enforcement improvements.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes were taken; the committee reviewed the budgets and heard public and member comments. The budgets will be considered as part of the overall FY2023 budget adoption later in the year.
• Councilmembers raised several items for potential inclusion in the May Revise or future amendments, including increased Vision Zero funding, expanded tree planting, ADA compliance assessment funding, and graffiti abatement equity.
• The meeting adjourned at approximately 12:10 PM, with items 5 (Environmental Services) and 6 (Engineering Capital Projects) postponed to a 2:00 PM afternoon session.