San Diego Budget Review Committee Meeting - May 4, 2023

The Budget Review Committee of the San Diego City Council met on Thursday, May 4, 2023, to review the proposed Fiscal Year 2024 budgets for multiple city departments. The meeting included presentations from Development Services, Planning, Sustainability and Mobility, Real Estate and Airport Management, Economic Development, Cultural Affairs, Library, Parks and Recreation, Special Events and Filming, Communications, and the Office of Emergency Services. Public comment was heard on several items, and committee members discussed funding priorities, staffing, equity, and climate action.

Consent Calendar

• No consent calendar was presented; all items were informational.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Item 1 (Development Services): Multiple speakers urged funding for the Cannabis Social Equity Program. Armand King (District 2 resident) described the program as an opportunity for communities harmed by the war on drugs, requesting $2 million. Paul White and Mike expressed support, emphasizing restorative justice and economic opportunity. Joanne Valbuena (co-spokesperson for Roll Up for Equity) announced a postcard campaign to gauge community support for cannabis access. Kathleen Lippett opposed, arguing that communities of color do not want more pot shops and that funds should go to parks and youth programs. Stacey Dent (educator) supported the program for its potential to address historical injustices. Another speaker (public health advocate) expressed concern about conflating equity with opening dispensaries in disadvantaged communities.
• Item 2 (Planning): Sally Small (incoming chair of Troyes Valley Community Planning Group) called for better training and equitable engagement in planning reform. Blair Beekman suggested mixed-income housing strategies. Lori Saldania requested clearer communication from the city on development projects. Nicole Burgess advocated for the Chollas Creek Regional Park.
• Item 3 (Sustainability and Mobility): Anne Feige (Community Forest Advisory Board) requested increased tree planting and maintenance funding. Janet Rogers (Safe Walkways) criticized the shared mobility device program for lack of enforcement. Laura Keenan (Families for Safe Streets) urged funding for Vision Zero. Brenda Garcia (Climate Action Campaign) called for staffing for building decarbonization. Bhavesh Kemka emphasized tree equity. Naval Magneszi noted lack of communication between mobility and transportation departments. Jason requested safe bike paths.
• Item 4 (Real Estate and Airport Management): Joyce Signata praised Director Moss's customer service. Lori Saldania called for transparency in airport operations. Blair Beekman supported mixed-income development at the Midway project.
• Item 5 (Economic Development): Joel Hermesiel (City Center BID) supported the Civic Center revitalization but opposed eliminating the Small Business Enhancement Program (SBEP). Benjamin Nichols (Hillcrest Business Association) urged full SBEP funding. Alex Ward (Old Town Chamber), Michael Trimble (Gaslamp Quarter Association), and others echoed this.
• Item 6 (Cultural Affairs): Christine Martinez, Peter Kaminski (Balboa Park Cultural Partnership), and Randy Ward (Spreckels Organ Society) requested 7% of Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) for arts, moving toward "Penny for the Arts." Jason Richie, Catrice Lee, Leslie Cohen, Vanessa Duran, Fernando Ramirez, and Jessica Barron also advocated for increased arts funding.
• Item 7 (Library): Jan Hinsman (Friends of College Rolando Library) warned of a parking access issue jeopardizing the library. Patrick Stewart (Library Foundation SD) requested youth service librarians, maintenance funding, and increased materials budget. Ann McDonald (Friends of the San Diego Public Library) noted $50 million in deferred maintenance. Multiple speakers (Wendy Urashima Khan, Pat Wilson, Joan Reese, Tracy Dahl Camp, Sonia Diaz, and others) urged funding for full-time youth librarians, maintenance, and new libraries (e.g., San Carlos, Oak Park).
• Item 8 (Parks and Recreation): Michelle Anderson (San Diego Parks Foundation) highlighted the Come Play Outside and Parks After Dark programs. Martha Phillips noted improvements at Linda Vista Community Park. Peter Kaminski supported park ranger and maintenance staffing. Sonia Diaz (Outdoor Outreach) urged implementing recreation equity audit recommendations. Alida Chavez (Oak Park) requested storm drain maintenance. Belen Hernandez (Mid City Care) requested improvements to Jeremy Henwood Park. Angela Henry requested playground upgrades at Allied Gardens.
• Item 9 (Special Events and Filming): No public comment.
• Item 10 (Communications): Laurie Saldania praised PRA improvements but raised equity concerns about digital divide. Andrea Hetheru requested more innovative outreach in Southeast San Diego. Joyce Signata celebrated City TV and asked for closing the digital divide.
• Item 11 (Office of Emergency Services): Laurie Saldania questioned why trailers from FEMA for emergency housing remained unused. Blair Beekman emphasized preparedness for natural disasters with a focus on equity.
• Non-Agenda Public Comment: Laurie Saldania asked about the sexual assault evidence kit backlog. Blair Beekman urged limiting new smart streetlight surveillance technology. Catherine Douglas requested a robust police budget. A speaker (Joyce) praised the prior evening's community comments.

Discussion Items

• Item 1: Development Services Department – Director Elise Lowe reported filling over 100 vacancies, a 16% increase in permit applications, and a plan to digitize 8 million records. The proposed budget includes $2 million for digitization. Unfunded requests include 76 FTEs ($10.8 million) for housing permit processing, $3 million for contract services, 3 code enforcement inspectors for substandard housing, and $1 million for office relocation. IBA noted these requests may affect permit timelines and housing targets. Committee members (Lacava, Lee, Campbell, Moreno, Von Wilpert, Elo Rivera) commended vacancy reduction and supported additional resources, especially for affordable housing and substandard housing complaints. Members also discussed the Cannabis Equity Program, noting state grant matching requirements.
• Item 2: Planning Department – Director Heidi Vonblum highlighted accomplishments: Mira Mesa Community Plan, Build Better SD, over 2,500 project reviews. Proposed budget includes transfer of historic resources from DSD and permanent funding for two program coordinator positions. Unfunded requests include transferring 19 FTE from facilities financing to general fund, a position for equitable CIP engagement, and $200,000 for nonprofit support for community planning groups. Members (Lacava, Elo Rivera, Moreno) emphasized equitable engagement, training for planning groups, and support for community plan updates (e.g., OTI Mesa).
• Item 3: Sustainability and Mobility Department – Director Alyssa Mudo reported $1.2 million SANDAG grant for ADA transition plan, $1 million for public power study Phase 2, and staff for ZEV and building decarbonization (unfunded). IBA noted $94.1 million in unfunded CAP requests. Committee members (Lee, Lacava, Von Wilpert, Whitburn) discussed shared mobility device challenges (binational theft, sidewalk detection), EV adoption, and tree canopy. Members supported funding for CAP implementation positions.
• Item 4: Department of Real Estate and Airport Management – Director Penny Moss reported revenues exceeded budget, progress on Midway redevelopment, and increased airport operations. Proposed budget includes $250,000 for downtown office space analysis, partial funding for lease management software, and 3 airport operations assistants. Unfunded requests include 2 program coordinators for in-house leasing. Members (Von Wilpert, Elo Rivera, Lee, Campbell, Lacava) supported in-sourcing and discussed SeaWorld debt ($10 million owed to city). Von Wilpert advocated for agricultural lease reform in San Pasqual Valley.
• Item 5: Economic Development Department – Director Christina Bibler reported creation of new programs for small businesses, sidewalk vending outreach, and corporate partnerships. Proposed budget includes $250,000 for implementation of economic development strategy and 1 program coordinator for Civic Center. The Effective SBEP was reduced from $1.926 million to $760,000 due to one-time funds removal. Committee members (Lee, Campbell, Elo Rivera, Lacava, Whitburn) urged full funding of SBEP per council policy, citing its importance for small businesses.
• Item 6: Cultural Affairs Department – Director Jonathan Glus highlighted creative economy study, World Design Capital 2024, and Cultural Plan. Proposed budget includes $500,000 for Impact funding category focused on Promise Zone communities. TOT allocation to arts is 4.7%, down from prior year. Members (Lee, Elo Rivera, Von Wilpert) supported increasing arts funding to 7% of TOT.
• Item 7: Library Department – Director Misty Jones reported restored Sunday hours, career fair hiring (44 positions), and Excel Library Card initiative. Proposed budget includes staffing for Pacific Highlands Ranch Library, $864,000 for security services, and a special events coordinator. Unfunded requests: 8 full-time youth service librarians ($793,000), $500,000 for maintenance, $250,000 for materials. Members (Campbell, Lacava, Lee, Von Wilpert, Campillo, Moreno, Elo Rivera) supported these requests, emphasizing equity and deferred maintenance.
• Item 8: Parks and Recreation Department – Director Andy Field reported creation of opportunity fund policy, several park openings, and expansion of parks after dark. Proposed budget includes 4 supervising park rangers, 2 Get It Done positions, and 14 new facilities. Unfunded: 5 FTEs for recreation equity audit recommendations ($555,000), $1 million to expand programs, $2.3 million for security, $1 million for cameras. Members (Campillo, Lacava, Lee, Von Wilpert, Campbell, Moreno, Elo Rivera) discussed vacancy rates, brush management, cricket fields, and support for implementing equity audit recommendations and security needs.
• Item 9: Special Events and Filming – Director Natasha Kalera reported automation of permitting and film partnerships. Proposed budget includes program coordinator, film MOU funding, and $150,000 for Major Events Fund. Committee members (Von Wilpert, Lacava) raised no major issues; Lacava requested continued sensitivity for filming impacts on coastal parks.
• Item 10: Communications Department – Director Nicole Darling reported broadcasting 187 meetings, translation services expansion, and transfer of publishing services. Proposed budget includes $130,000 for PRA portal, $20,000 for State of the City, and $10,000 for cell phones. Unfunded: $200,000 for citywide marketing. Members (Von Wilpert, Moreno, Montgomery Stepp) discussed multilingual outreach, digital divide, and senior citizen engagement.
• Item 11: Office of Emergency Services – Director Chris Heiser reported hazard mitigation plan update, new hazard dashboard, and power outage exercise. Proposed budget includes employee training and CPI increase. No unfunded requests noted. Members (Von Wilpert) discussed wildfire preparedness; Heiser confirmed coordination exercises and the new High Low notification system.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes were taken as agenda items were informational. Committee members expressed support for several unfunded requests, which will be considered in the May Revise or through member budget memos:
  • Development Services: Members supported funding for 76 FTEs for housing permits, code enforcement inspectors, and relocation. Cannabis Equity Program funding was advocated by several members.
  • Planning: Support for equitable engagement position and nonprofit support for planning groups.
  • Sustainability and Mobility: Support for CAP staffing positions (building decarbonization, ZEV) and technical assistance.
  • Real Estate and Airport Management: Support for in-sourcing real estate positions and agricultural lease reform in San Pasqual Valley.
  • Economic Development: Strong support for fully funding the Small Business Enhancement Program at $1.926 million per council policy.
  • Cultural Affairs: Support for increasing TOT allocation to 7% for arts funding.
  • Library: Support for youth service librarians, maintenance budget, and materials increase.
  • Parks and Recreation: Support for equity audit positions, security funding, and new park rangers. Support for tree canopy and brush management.
• The committee will reconvene on Friday, May 5, 2023, at 9 AM for further budget discussions.

Note: The meeting occurred on May 4, 2023, as confirmed by the transcript. All times and dates referenced are based on the transcript.