San Diego Budget Review Committee Meeting Summary - May 5, 2023
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San Diego Budget Review Committee Meeting Summary - May 5, 2023
On May 5, 2023, the San Diego Budget Review Committee convened to review the proposed fiscal year 2024 budgets for the Police Department, Fire-Rescue Department, Citywide Program Expenditures, Office of the City Auditor, Compliance Department, Office of the City Treasurer, Department of Information Technology, Performance and Analytics Department, and Risk Management Department. The committee heard presentations from department heads, received testimony from the public, and discussed key issues including staffing shortages, overtime costs, surveillance technology, recruitment challenges, and equity concerns.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Police Department: Multiple speakers commented on the proposed budget. Nancy Rullaford (Surge), Seth Hall, Jacob Vande Hey, Kira O'Laughlin (Center on Policy Initiatives), and others urged the committee to strike the $4 million for smart streetlights, citing insufficient detail, privacy concerns, and the need to wait for the Privacy Advisory Board's review. Kathleen Lippitt and Catherine Douglas expressed support for increased police funding, citing safety needs. Jared Wilson (Police Officers Association) requested increased recruitment funding and facility improvements. Sally Small and Lori Saldania raised concerns about police-community relations and the backlog of sexual assault kits.
- Fire-Rescue Department: Lori Saldania questioned whether increases in EMT and paramedic positions could be offset by achieving Vision Zero goals, and raised concerns about utility costs. Other callers expressed mixed views on personnel and equipment funding.
- Office of the City Auditor: Blair Beekman and Joy Sanyaka spoke in support of the auditor's office and its budget requests, with Sanyaka suggesting the auditor could help address the city's structural budget imbalance.
- Compliance Department: Kira O'Laughlin (CPI) noted an estimated 40,000 minimum wage violations annually in San Diego, emphasizing the need for proactive investigations and additional staffing.
- Department of Information Technology: Carmina Fas (Urban Collaborative Project) expressed support for the SD Access for All program and requested expansion of free Wi-Fi to more public locations.
- Performance and Analytics Department: Joy Sanyaka praised the department's work and requested continued support.
Discussion Items
- Police Department: Chief David Nisleit presented the department's accomplishments, including hiring 102 new officers, seizing 329 ghost guns and 338 pounds of fentanyl in 2022. The proposed FY24 budget includes a $32 million increase to a total of $686 million, with 23 new FTEs. Key additions include overtime funding ($9 million), smart streetlights ($4 million), and recruitment incentives. Council members expressed support for increased recruitment funding (currently $50,000, with a request for $225,000), facilities improvements, and the need to address staffing vacancies. The IBA noted a potential net loss of 60 officers per year given current attrition rates.
- Fire-Rescue Department: Chief Colin Stowell outlined the department's proposed budget increase of $38 million, including $15.6 million for overtime, 22 new positions (including 10 fire prevention inspectors), and funding for advanced lifeguard academy, wellness center, and equipment. Council members discussed the need for brush management, relief pool positions, and the firefighter engineer shortage. The IBA highlighted unfunded requests including a relief factor study and facility upgrades.
- Citywide Program Expenditures: The budget decreased by $62 million to $197 million. Adjustments included $8.9 million for insurance premiums, $21.5 million for infrastructure transfer, and $6.8 million reserve contribution. The IBA noted ongoing labor negotiation costs and potential savings from bond issuance.
- Office of the City Auditor: City Auditor Andy Hanau requested $245,000 for three additional positions and a 14% salary increase for staff. The mayor's budget funded the salary increase but not the positions. Council members supported funding the positions, citing the office's return on investment.
- Compliance Department: Director Christina Gauger presented a budget increase of $330,000 for two new FTEs. Unfunded requests included additional staff for prevailing wage monitoring and safety. Council members discussed wage theft enforcement and the potential for recovering costs through fines.
- Office of the City Treasurer: City Treasurer Liz Correa presented a budget with increases in parking meter operations and revenue from STRO licenses, but a decrease in cannabis business tax revenue ($4.4 million).
- Department of Information Technology: CIO Jonathan Behnke presented a budget with net decrease, including funding for SD Access for All ($1.2 million for 4 FTEs) and cybersecurity enhancements. Council members discussed cybersecurity threats, vacancies, and digital equity.
- Performance and Analytics Department: The department's budget decreased slightly, with one new FTE for PUD customer service support and funding for the Medallia platform. Council members discussed the need for more staff to support PUD and measure B implementation.
- Risk Management Department: Director Angela Colton presented a budget adding 7 positions and $1 million. The IBA noted unfunded requests for a workers' comp coordinator and a claims representative.
Key Outcomes
- No formal votes were taken during this informational meeting. Items discussed will be considered for the final budget.
- Council members expressed strong support for increasing the police recruitment budget beyond the proposed $50,000, and for including the requested $245,000 for additional City Auditor positions.
- Many members expressed support for the Fire-Rescue Department's requests, including the relief factor study and the addition of clerical support and automatic door openers for Fire Station 47.
- Council members indicated they would submit budget memos to address unfunded items, including recruitment funds, auditor positions, and compliance staffing.
- The committee will reconvene on Monday, May 8, 2023, to continue budget hearings.
Meeting Transcript
Let's go. Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the budget review committee of May 5th, 2023. Our committee's manager, Ty Birch will go over instructions for today's meeting. Thank you very much, Council President Pro Tem Montgomery Step. While the public is allowed to attend the meeting in person, the meeting is being televised and live streamed on the city's website. And Council Administration 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 speaking 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 concludes, whichever occurs first. This will allow for bare meeting management between the two platforms and ensure that the committee is able to manage and conduct city business. We appreciate the public's cooperation. Chair. Thank you. I will now call the budget review committee meeting of Friday, May 5th, 2023 to order. Tyler, please call the roll. Committee member Locava. Present. Committee Member Campbell. Committee member Whitburn. Here. Committee member Von Wilpert. President. Committee member Lee. Here. Here. Committee member Moreno. Present. And committee member Reno, would you like to make your declaration at this time? Yes. I'm attending today's budget review committee meeting virtually due to just cause related to my child care needs. And pursuant to the Brown Act, I'm disclosing there are no individuals, 18 years of age or older, present in the room with me. I will update this disclosure if it changes during the course of this meeting. Thank you. Thank you very much. Council member. Our Vice Chair, Council President Ilo Rivera. And our chair, Council President Pro Tem Montgomery Step. Here. Also attending the meeting today, Charles Monica and Baku Patel from the Independent Budget Analyst Office. Laura Easton from the City Attorney's Office, Chief Financial Officer, Matt Besby, Department of Finance Director Rolando Charvel, and Senior Policy Advisor for Mayor Todd Gloria, Chloe Madison. Tyler, please proceed with public comment instructions. Thank you very much, Chair. If you are in person, please complete a speaker slip located at the entrance of chambers and place it on top of the box indicated. If you need to participate by phone, you may do so by dialing 1669-254-5252 and input webinar ID 160-564-5569 pound. This information is also available on the agenda and will appear on the screen during the public comment period for each agenda item. As noted previously, members of the public who wish to provide virtual testimony must enter the virtual speaking 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 concludes, whichever occurs first. Please note that if you're watching on C T V uh 24 or the live stream online, there may be a delay, so please participate via the audio on your phone and mute your TV or a computer when it's 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 if you wish to speak by selecting the raise your hand icon, or if you're a call-in participant, pressing star nine on your cell phone or landline. If you raise your hand during a non-comment period, your hand will be lowered. Chair.
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