Community and Neighborhood Services Committee Meeting - February 8, 2024
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Community and Neighborhood Services Committee Meeting - February 8, 2024
The Community and Neighborhood Services Committee met on Thursday, February 8, 2024, at 9:00 AM. The meeting was chaired by Councilmember Campbell, with Vice Chair Von Wilpert and Councilmember Campillo present. The committee addressed several items including park fee updates, a library matching fund report, the San Diego High School-Balboa Park connections project, Measure H child care implementation, and committee priorities for 2024.
Consent Calendar
- The committee approved the minutes from the November 2, 2023, meeting by a unanimous vote after receiving public comment on tree maintenance and storm impacts.
Public Comments & Testimony
- On Past Committee Minutes: A speaker expressed concern about tree maintenance and storm cleanup, questioning the city's capacity to keep up with tree care and suggesting that special events and filming take priority over local needs. Another speaker, identifying as "Million Mile Man," criticized the mayor and referenced poor road conditions.
- Non-Agenda Public Comment:
- Cesar Javier requested amendments to city code to address health hazards from a ceramics manufacturing business in his neighborhood, citing respiratory issues and doctor diagnoses.
- Shelby Huffaker (District 4 resident, public health researcher) expressed support for the cannabis social equity program (SEED) as originally proposed by Development Services, noting that San Diego is the only large city in California without such a program and that only 20% of cannabis sales were legal in 2022.
- Armand King (community activist) opposed the reduced SEED program (from 36 to 18 licenses) and a lottery system, arguing it treats prior nonviolent offenses unequally and that the mayor's office has agreed to revisit the proposal.
- Becky Rapp (parent, planning group attendee) supported the Sunshine Baradini Field Project but urged the city to enforce smoke-free rules in parks, citing Gallup polling on marijuana use among young people.
- Joyce (District 3) advocated for lowering the proposed arts funding from $6 million to $3 million to prioritize flood disaster recovery and basic needs.
- Peggy Walker (research analyst) opposed the SEED program, criticizing the marijuana industry for political payoffs, black market ties, and health harms, and argued the city should not expand the program.
- Kathleen Lippett (activist) warned about marijuana harms to youth and noted a trend toward non-alcoholic beverages, urging the city to reconsider its marijuana policy.
- Terry Best (District 3 voter) pleaded for a SEED program that works for everyone, not just current license holders, citing state law and urging support for the program as written by city land use experts.
- On Item 1 (Park Fees): Two speakers commented: one criticized lack of park maintenance and the burden of permits, another supported the plan but urged transparency and data improvements.
- On Item 2 (Balboa Park Connections): Joyce (District 3) praised the plan and requested that volunteers speak at the future council meeting. Another speaker expressed skepticism about maintenance and implied human trafficking at schools. Million Mile Man called for repairs to Balboa Park bathrooms and planting flowers.
- On Item 3 (Library Matching Fund): Joyce supported the program and equity focus. Another speaker questioned whether funds were used for "sexualizing children" and alleged pornographic materials, calling for action.
- On Item 4 (Measure H Child Care): Joyce celebrated the measure and offered condolences for flood-damaged centers. Another speaker shared personal experience of sexual assault at a licensed daycare, urging child protection, and asked whether damaged centers were included in plans.
- On Item 5 (Committee Priorities): Joyce requested that updates on flood disaster response be included in the work plan, and that town hall feedback from communities be incorporated.
Discussion Items
- Item 1: Parks and Recreation Department Fee and Deposit Schedule – Staff presented a proposal to update fees to recoup staff time for developer-delivered parks and reinstate certain permits (preferential non-exclusive use permits, special use permits, short-term leases). The department expects about $400,000 in annual revenue. Councilmember Campillo moved to approve staff's recommendation, seconded by Councilmember Von Wilpert. The motion passed unanimously (3-0).
- Item 2: San Diego High School Balboa Park Connections Working Group Status Report – A volunteer working group presented an update on efforts to improve connections between Balboa Park, San Diego High School, and downtown. The report includes recommendations for pedestrian improvements, park naming (John Nolan Parkway), transportation changes, and social infrastructure like educational programs. The working group plans to return to City Council in spring 2024. This was an informational item; no vote was taken.
- Item 3: Report to Council on Disbursement and Use of Pool Allocation for Library Matching Fund – Library Director Misty Jones presented the annual report, highlighting a revised policy that ensures equitable distribution of matching funds (up to $1.2 million annually) across all 36 library branches. The model uses demographic data to allocate 50% of the match to the donating branch and 50% to a pool for lower-income branches. Example: City Heights went from $1,500 to $26,900. Councilmember Von Wilpert highlighted a community fundraising effort that raised $30,000 (with matching) to replace LGBTQ+ pride books after a protest. This was informational.
- Item 4: Update on Measure H Implementation and Expansion of Pre-Kinder Programs and Camps – Staff from the Office of Child and Youth Success presented three parallel models: licensed child care at recreation centers (via Measure H), unlicensed STEM-focused pre-K programs, and regulation of outdoor preschool nature camps. Phase one priority sites are Memorial, Canto, Mountain View, South Crest, and Linda Vista. The programs would be operated by community providers through leases/contracts. The pre-K program is in design phase with an RFP to be released in 2024. This was informational.
- Item 5: Community and Neighborhood Services Committee Priorities for 2024 – Chair Campbell outlined the process: committee members submitted priority memos, and a work plan will be crafted from those and public feedback. The committee's jurisdiction includes parks, recreation, libraries, code enforcement, child/youth services, and more. No action was taken; the item was informational.
Key Outcomes
- Minutes approved (unanimous) from November 2, 2023.
- Item 1 approved (3-0): Parks and Recreation Department fee and deposit schedule update, including new developer deposit accounts and reinstatement of certain permit fees.
- Items 2, 3, 4, and 5 were informational only; no votes were taken. The committee received updates and will incorporate public feedback into future actions.
- The next committee meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 21, 2024, at 9:00 AM.
Meeting Transcript
We'll provide information and instruction. Thank you, Chair. While members of the public are able to attend meetings in person, this 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 ends, whichever occurs first. This will allow for better meeting management between the two platforms and ensure the committee is able to manage and conduct city business. We appreciate the public's cooperation. Chair. Thank you, Natalie. I will now call the community neighborhood services committee meeting of Thursday, February 8, 2024 to order. And I will first call the role. First of all, Vice Chair Von Wilpert. Councilmember Campio. Here I'm here too. So also attending the meeting is Chris Ackerman Avila from the mayor's office. Karen Lee with the city attorney's office. Baku Patel from the Independent Budget Analysts Office. Natalie Kessler, our committee liaison. Yay. And Lazille Gloria, our committee consultant. Natalie, please continue with public comment instructions. If you are attending in person and wish to speak on any items, please complete a speaker's lip located at the entrance of chambers and place it in the box indicated at the speaker's lectern at the front of the room. Please do so in a timely manner to ensure proper meeting management. Come up to the reserve seats at the front of the room when your name is called and be prepared to come up to the lectern. In-person testimony will conclude before virtual testimony begins. Members of the public can join the webinar by computer, tablet, or smartphone by accessing the link, which is listed online in the preamble language of the agenda on the city's webpage. To join the Zoom webinar by telephone, please dial 1669 2545252. When prompted, input webinar ID 161-556-3735 pound. This information is also available on the agenda. Please note that if you are watching via City TV 24 or online, there may be a delay. Please participate via the audio on your phone and mute your TV or computer when it is your turn to speak. When I introduce the item you would like to comment on, please raise your hand by tapping the raise your hand button on your computer or by pressing star nine on your phone. You will be taken in the order in which you raise your hand. And it is when it is your turn to speak, you will receive a pop-up notice to select to unmute your device. If you've called in, please press star nine on your phone to unmute yourself. We will review these instructions briefly again when the public comment period on an item is open. Chair. Thank you. A quorum is now present, and we will proceed with the dispensing of the and approval of the committee minutes of November 2nd, 2023. Natalie, please proceed. Thank you, Chair. The public comment period for the past committee minutes is now open. And if you've already joined the Zoom webinar online and have comment, please raise your hand at this time. Chair, we currently do not have any speaker slips in chambers for the past committee minutes, but we do have one hand raised in the virtual queue. I will begin the five-minute timer and each speaker will have one minute. The original, please provide your comments. One moment, please, we're pausing your time. Apologies about that. Please begin your comments. You'll have one minute.
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