San Diego Community and Neighborhood Services Committee Meeting - April 11, 2024
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San Diego Community and Neighborhood Services Committee Meeting - April 11, 2024
The Community and Neighborhood Services Committee met on April 11, 2024, to consider routine consent items and a major agenda item on the Fiscal Year 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan and FY 2025 Annual Action Plan for HUD entitlement programs. The meeting included extensive public comment on cannabis social equity and the HUD plan, and the committee unanimously approved both the consent agenda and the HUD plan recommendations.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the committee minutes from March 21, 2024 (vote 4-0).
- Approved landscape contracts with Aztec Landscaping Inc. for the Miramar Ranch North Maintenance Assessment District and the Torrey Hills Maintenance Assessment District. These are one-year contracts with four one-year options, not to exceed $6 million total (unanimous). Councilmember Foster requested a comprehensive analysis of Aztec's citywide contracts and opportunities for underrepresented demographics, as well as beautification improvements in the San Diego Black Arts and Culture District.
Public Comments & Testimony
Non-Agenda Public Comment (cannabis social equity focus):
- Joyce Yata (District 3): Stated that "equity costs money" and urged the city to be transparent about trade-offs in the FY25 budget.
- Terry Best (District 3 voter): Criticized the police department's past presentation on cannabis crime, citing a Voice of San Diego article that found their stats were "sloppy, unprofessional, and based on ideology."
- Brian Gooden: Expressed concern that the cannabis equity program excludes those from the Southeast community who were unjustly arrested for cannabis offenses, stating that "everyone outside of our community is being able to benefit from it, and none of us inside the community."
- Terry Ann Skelly (parent and community volunteer): Voiced concern about marijuana storefronts and billboards, citing the County Office of Education's drug prevention videos and a pediatrician's quote that "cannabis use really dramatically adversely affects the teenage brain."
- Kathleen Lippitt (public policy researcher): Supported tightening cannabis laws, citing research on harm to youth and comparing the industry to big alcohol and tobacco.
- Megan Stewart (public health educator): Expressed concern about the risks of marijuana businesses, including public safety and youth access.
- Peggy Walker: Urged the city to increase enforcement against illegal e-cigarette and vape products, particularly from Chinese firms.
- Johan Balbuena (Roll Up for Equity campaign co-spokesperson): Stated that "social equity in cannabis is not an option, it's a must" and argued the city's legal cannabis industry is not targeting minors.
- Armand King: Supported the original proposal for 36 additional cannabis retail permits, noting the revenue and jobs could benefit communities, and mentioned the loss of a $1 million youth drop-in center in his community.
- Michelle McCall (Roll Up for Equity): Argued that tax revenue from social equity licenses could fund neighborhood programs and that opponents are not from affected communities.
- Malik King: Referenced his experience with the preschool-to-prison pipeline, saying "We're not asking to be fair, that would be social equality. We're asking to be just, which would be social equity."
- Shelby Huffaker (public health researcher): Expressed support for the original 36 additional retail permits, citing a state poll showing 62% of Californians favor legalization and data indicating only 20% of cannabis sales in San Diego were legal in 2022.
Public Comment on Item 3 (HUD Plan):
- Joyce Yata (District 3): Criticized the plan document for lacking a table of contents, making it difficult to navigate, and asked about the 65% budget flexibility.
- Blair Beekman: Encouraged the city to integrate mixed-income housing into HUD plans and start now rather than delaying until 2029.
Discussion Items
Item 3: FY25-29 Consolidated Plan, FY25 Annual Action Plan, and HUD Entitlement Allocations
- Staff presented a comprehensive plan based on extensive community engagement: 8 public forums, 700 survey responses in 13 languages, and consultation with Root Policy Research.
- Key needs identified: cost burden for low-income households, rising homelessness (66% unsheltered), and a gap in affordable rental units for residents earning $50,000 or less.
- Recommended allocations include $27 million in CDBG, $28.3 million in HOME, and $1 million in ESG. Notably, 27 organizations are recommended for CDBG funding, including $1 million for the Family Shelter Program and $9.8 million for the Kettner and Vine shelter project (contingent on separate approval).
- Independent Budget Analyst (IBA) raised concerns: the five-year resource estimate is $52 million lower than the previous period; the FY25 homeless set-aside is reduced from $1.3 million to $1 million; and the proposed amendments to Council Policy 700-02 are no longer under consideration.
- Staff clarified that the $1 million homeless set-aside was agreed upon with HSSD and the Housing Commission, and the $300,000 reduction would be offset with other funds.
- Councilmember Von Wilpert requested a table of contents be added to the plan document and raised the need to review Council Policy 700-02, which hasn't been updated since December 2016.
- Councilmember Foster questioned outreach methods and impact tracking, emphasizing the need to ensure the program benefits those most impacted.
Key Outcomes
- Unanimously approved consent agenda (minutes, landscaping contracts).
- Unanimously approved the FY25-29 Consolidated Plan, FY25 Annual Action Plan, and HUD entitlement allocations (Item 3). Recommendations will go to City Council on April 22, 2024.
- Staff will add a table of contents to the plan document before full council.
- Council will discuss whether to update Council Policy 700-02 prior to implementation.
- Next committee meeting scheduled for May 9, 2024, at 1 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning. Welcome to the community and neighborhood services committee meeting of April 11th, 2024. Committee liaison Natalie Kessler will 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. Councilmember Foster. And Councilmember Campio. And I'm also present. Also attending the meeting is Code Deser from the Mayor's Office. Karen Lee with City Attorney's Office. So Natalie, please continue with public comment instructions. If you're attending in person and wish to speak on any items, please complete a speaker slip located at the entrance of chambers and place it in the box indicated at the speaker's lectron 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 the order called. 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 style 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 20 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 indicate the item you would like to comment on, please raise your hand at that time by tapping the raise your hand button on your computer, tablet, or smartphone, or by pressing the star nine on your phone. You'll be taken in the order in which you raise your hand. 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 six 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. Quorum is now present, and we will proceed with approval of the committee minutes, uh, which are from March 21st, 2024. Natalie, please proceed. Thank you, Chair. The public comment period for the past committee action. Excuse me, the past committee minutes of March 21st, 2024 is now opened. Um Chair, we have not received any speaker slips on the past committee minutes, nor do we have any hands raised in the virtual queue. So that will conclude public comment on the past committee minutes. Thank you. That can that uh means that we will now vote on approval of the committee minutes. I have a motion from Councilmember Von Wilpert and a second from Councilmember Ra Campillo. Uh and we will now vote on the voting equipment. And that passes 4-0. Wonderful. Okay, we will now go forward with non-agenda public comment. Council members respect and appreciate public's input and are fully committed to protecting every participant's free speech rights of council and committee meetings. Natalie, please proceed with non-agenda public comment. Thank you, Chair. Per rule 2.7, non-agenda public comment is an opportunity for members of the public to comment on items that are not on the agenda but within the subject matter jurisdiction of the committee. Each speaker will have two minutes.
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