San Diego Community and Neighborhood Services Committee Meeting - June 27, 2024
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San Diego Community and Neighborhood Services Committee Meeting - June 27, 2024
The Community and Neighborhood Services Committee met on June 27, 2024, at 9:00 AM to consider four agenda items, including a park curfew ordinance, a sidewalk vending permit fee, the Child and Youth Plan, and a contract amendment for swimming pool repairs. The meeting included public testimony on multiple topics and votes on all items.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Committee Minutes (May 9, 2024): Approved unanimously after one public commenter noted concerns about lighting and transparency in park projects.
- Item 1 – Nighttime Curfew at Pasatiempo Neighborhood Park and Pasatiempo Park West Open Space: The committee approved a motion to forward an ordinance to the City Council establishing a nighttime curfew at these undeveloped park spaces. Public comment included support from residents citing drug activity and safety concerns, and opposition from speakers who argued curfews are ineffective and increase policing. The motion passed unanimously (4-0).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Non-Agenda Public Comment: Multiple speakers addressed the committee on various topics, including:
- A resident complained about a ceramics manufacturing operation in a residential zone producing toxic fumes, and sought city intervention.
- A parent and youth advocate expressed support for the Office of Child and Youth Success and urged policy changes on synthetic nicotine products.
- A public policy advocate praised the Child and Youth Plan for addressing vulnerable age groups and systemic weaknesses.
- A parent discussed the impact of drug addiction on children and called for prevention campaigns.
- A speaker criticized the city for not allowing public comment during a police chief ceremony, citing Brown Act violations.
- A speaker raised concerns about short-term vacation rentals destroying neighborhoods and requested a hearing.
- A public health educator highlighted the dangers of flavored nicotine pouches (Zyn) and their marketing to youth.
- A resident proposed using empty commercial space in Children's Park for childcare.
- A speaker urged banning smoking in public places to reduce litter and improve air quality.
- Item 1 (Curfew) Public Comment: In-person and virtual speakers supported the curfew, citing drug trafficking and disturbances, while some opposed it as ineffective or costly.
- Item 2 (Sidewalk Vending Fee) Public Comment: One speaker raised concerns about regulatory standards and equity for small businesses vs. brick-and-mortar stores. Others questioned enforcement costs and the chair's limitation on comment scope.
- Item 3 (Child and Youth Plan) Public Comment: A father testified in support, emphasizing clean air, water, and education. Another speaker highlighted housing insecurity as a missing element in the plan. A third speaker requested key performance metrics and data on homeless youth.
- Item 4 (Pool Contract) Public Comment: One speaker supported the contract but urged the city to improve diversity in hiring and contracting.
Discussion Items
- Item 2 – Sidewalk Vending Permit Fee: The City Treasurer presented a report recommending the fee remain at $38 for one year. The program has issued 800 permits (415 active), collected $46,406 in fees, and incurred $2.2 million in costs (FY2024) primarily from Parks and Recreation enforcement. Police enforcement began in March 2024, resulting in 24 field interviews, 4 citations, and 18 impoundments. The committee approved the fee unanimously.
- Item 3 – Child and Youth Plan: The Executive Director of the Office of Child and Youth Success presented the draft plan, which was developed through 9 town halls, 33 youth focus groups, and 13 steering committee meetings. The plan outlines five focus areas: education and career pathways, equitable opportunities, youth engagement, engaging activities, and childcare. It aligns with the city's strategic plan and uses evidence-based frameworks. The committee approved the plan unanimously and forwarded it to the full City Council.
- Item 4 – First Amendment to Contract with California Commercial Pools Inc.: Parks and Recreation staff requested a $9 million increase (from $3 million to $12 million) and a two-year extension for swimming pool plastering and deck work. The increase is due to COVID-19 delays, aging pools (average 47 years), and more extensive repairs needed. State grants ($4 million) will fund work at Claremont and Martin Luther King Jr. pools. The committee voted 3-1 to approve the amendment, with Councilmember Von Wilpert dissenting due to delays in reopening the Carlsbad Mountain Pool (targeted for August 12, 2024, but originally promised for June).
Key Outcomes
- Item 1: Approved unanimously (4-0) to forward the curfew ordinance to City Council.
- Item 2: Approved unanimously (4-0) to keep the sidewalk vending permit fee at $38.
- Item 3: Approved unanimously (4-0) to adopt the Child and Youth Plan and forward to City Council.
- Item 4: Approved 3-1 (Councilmember Von Wilpert voting no) to authorize the $9 million contract amendment and appropriation from state grants and general fund.
- The next meeting is scheduled for July 25, 2024, at 1:00 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon, everybody. Welcome to the community and neighborhood services committee meeting of June 27, 2024. The committee layers on 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. Also attending the meeting is Code Zeiser with the mayor's office. Natalie Kessler, our committee liaison, and of course, Lizelle Gloria, our committee consultant. And Natalie, please continue with public instructions. When I introduce the item you would like to comment on, please raise your hand by either tapping the raise your hand button on your computer, tablet, or smartphone, or you can press star nine on your phone. You will be taken in the order in which you raise your hand. When it is your turn to speak, you will receive a pop-up notification to select to unmute your device. And 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 so we will dispense with the approval of the committee minutes from May 9th, 2024. Natalie, please proceed. Thank you, Chair. The public comment period for the past committee minutes of May 9th, 2024 is now open. And we have not received any speaker slips from individuals in chambers on the past committee minutes, but there is one hand raised in the virtual queue. So I'll begin the five-minute timer. Blair Beekman, please provide your comments. You'll have one minute. Hi, Blair Beekman. Thanks for the meeting today. Last meeting of June 2024. Um, I wanted to note that uh uh item two of your previous uh May May 9th agenda, I guess it was, um, that you had an item of for the annual yearly report on uh parks and recreation department maintenance and assessment district issues. Um, I wanted to note that as the uh as a part of this report that as you know you are building out uh and building future parks uh in San Diego at this time. It's a big deal to be working on that subject. Thank you. Uh the the question of lighting is being addressed as a part of that process. I've been noticing that for uh upcoming park projects, you're referring to lighting in terms of sports utility needs. I I think that's being a euphemism that you're trying to say that there's going to be technology involved, but you don't want to say that clearly to the public. We've had flood issues. I hope you can really want to address that we can be accountable and open. Thank you. Thank you. And Trey, this concludes public comment on the past committee minutes. Thank you. We will now vote on the approval of the committee minutes. Do I have a motion to approve the committee minutes? I'll make the motion, Chair. Thank you, Councilmember Campillo, and a second from Council Member Foster. And we will now take the vote using our voting screens. And that passes unanimously. And we will now take up non-agenda public comment. Council members respect and appreciate the public's input and are fully committed to protecting every participant's free speech rights at council and committee meetings.
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