Community & Neighborhood Services Committee Meeting, March 19, 2025
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Community & Neighborhood Services Committee Meeting, March 19, 2025
The Community and Neighborhood Services Committee met on March 19, 2025, at 10:00 AM. The meeting included non-agenda public comments, approval of past committee minutes, a presentation on the Senior Innovation Hub from Meals on Wheels and ElderHelp, and a discussion item on a contract amendment for the library's integrated library system (ILS). Votes were taken on the consent agenda and the contract amendment.
Consent Calendar
- The committee approved the consent agenda, which included the approval of past committee minutes. The motion by Councilmember Campillo, seconded by Councilmember Foster, passed unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Non-Agenda Public Comments:
- Maximilian Michael Schmidt spoke about alleged teleportation and mind control, expressing frustration with his experiences.
- Madison (first name only) urged the city to adopt a smoke-free policy for multi-unit housing, citing health risks from secondhand cannabis and tobacco smoke.
- Carrie Ann Skelly, a parent and public health educator, requested adding flavored marijuana products to the existing ban on flavored tobacco, stating youth need clear messages that drugs are not the answer.
- Blair Beekman commented on the need for accountability in city processes, referencing the recent audit committee and Mayor Gloria's trip to the Philippines. He also advocated for a humane approach to homeless encampments on state land.
- A speaker (identified as "the original") alleged humanitarian rights violations within Child Protective Services, including forced separation of families and abuse in foster care.
- Peggy Walker, a public health educator, cited a Newsweek article on buyer's remorse over cannabis legalization, noting that two-thirds of cannabis sold in California is illegal and linked to cartels.
- Joyce (Joyce in Ada District 3) spoke about the challenges of homelessness, emphasizing the need for resources and respect for the homeless.
- Judy Strang requested further explanation of a recent federal drug ring takedown in Escondido, highlighting seizures of meth, fentanyl, and Adderall.
- Consent Agenda Public Comments:
- Blair Beekman spoke about lessons from the audit committee and the need for accountability in the parks system.
- A speaker ("the original") criticized the accuracy of documentation of public comments, specifically regarding a comment about an illegal alien raping a five-year-old girl.
- Item 3 (Senior Innovation Hub) Public Comments:
- Joyce (Ada District 3) praised the presenters and suggested adding a prevention component to services. She also urged collaboration with the County of San Diego.
- A speaker ("the original") questioned the cost per meal, waitlists, and food quality, expressing skepticism about nutritional value.
- Blair Beekman discussed the use of biometric technology in senior centers and Memorial Park, urging open conversation on the topic.
- Item 2 (Library Contract) Public Comments:
- Joyce (Ada District 3) supported the contract amendment and emphasized the importance of tracking.
- A speaker ("the original") criticized the contract's "not to exceed" language and questioned the library's content for children, alleging sexualized materials.
- Blair Beekman urged the library to incorporate peace concepts into cybersecurity practices.
Discussion Items
- Item 3: Presentation on Senior Innovation Hub by Meals on Wheels of San Diego County and ElderHelp
- Deborah Martin (CEO, ElderHelp) and Brent Wakefield (CEO, Meals on Wheels) presented on their organizations and the new shared hub. ElderHelp serves seniors with programs including daily check-in calls, nutrition services, caregiver support, transportation, care coordination, and housing services. Key statistics: 77% of clients are extremely low income (median income ~$19,000), clients are 12.5 times less likely to fall and 8 times less likely to be hospitalized compared to national averages, and clients stay in their homes 10 years longer. Meals on Wheels delivers about 650,000 home-delivered meals annually to 2,200 clients, with a budget of $11 million and 3,500 volunteers. The hub aims to share resources and cross-utilize volunteers. This was an information item only; no action taken.
- Item 2: Approval of Second Amendment to Contract with Innovative Interfaces Incorporated for Library Systems Maintenance and Support Services
- Raul Goudinho (Deputy Director, Library) and Curtis Williams (Technology Resources Program Manager) presented. The amendment adds $338,000 to the contract (total now $1.6 million) and extends the term from March 2024 through February 2026 to cover a 10-month implementation gap discovered in early 2024. The library has since implemented guardrails (weekly check-ins with Purchasing and Contracting, and a new contract tracking report). The library plans to issue a new RFP with a longer term (5-year initial + 5 optional renewals). Claudio Barca (Director of Purchasing and Contracting) confirmed new tracking tools flag contracts 120 days before expiration.
Key Outcomes
- The committee voted on Item 2: Motion by Chair Campbell, seconded by Councilmember Campillo. The vote was 2-1 in favor (Campbell and Campillo yes, Councilmember Foster no). The contract amendment was approved.
- No other votes were taken; Item 3 was informational.
- The meeting was adjourned to the next regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at 9:00 AM.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon and welcome to the committee for the community and neighborhood services and our committee meeting of March 19th, 2025. Our committee liaison, Natalie Kessler will provide information and instruction for the public to participate in today's meeting. Natalie. Thank you, Chair. While members of the public are able to attend the meetings in person, this meeting is being televised and live streamed on the city's website, and the council administration will continue to make arrangements for the public to comment using the Zoom webinar platform. Members of the public who wish to provide virtual testimony must enter the virtual queue by raising their hand before the virtual 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? Vice Chair Campillo. Councilmember Foster. And I am here, Councilmember Campbell, Chair of this committee. Also present with us today is senior fiscal and policy analyst Baku Patel with the Office of the Independent Budget Analyst. Chief Deputy City Attorney Kieran Lee with the Office of the City Attorney. Policy Advisor Emily Piatanesi from the Office of Mirror Talk Gloria, Lazelle Gloria, our committee consultant, and Natalie Kessler, committee liaison. And Natalie, please continue with public comment instructions. And 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 16692545252. When prompted, the webinar ID is 1616 5119 pound. This information is also available on the agenda and will appear on the screen during the public comment period for each agenda item. Please note that if you are watching via City TV channel 24 or online, there may be a delay. So 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, and we have one speaker slip submitted in the committee room. Maximilian, can you please approach the lecture and you'll have two minutes to provide non-agenda public comment? On the minute. Please approach the lectern right there. Right there. And this is public comment on the minutes. Oh, this is non-agenda public comment. Thank you. Hello, hi. Um, I just wanted to first thank all of you for being here today and um helping make America's finest city better. My name is Maximilian Michael Schmidt. I am a Catholic missionary as well as a human rights activist against the Chinese Communist Party and American three uh three masons. I'm also an alumni of St. Louis University, as well as I used to work as a salesman for worldwide technology. Um for the past uh also I've experienced the following things under um completely sober minded, and I'm under no duress. Um, for the past 10 years, I've been trying to expose the majority of Americans as well as the vast majority of San Diegans teleporting everywhere. Um, this is evidenced by the vast majority, if not every single vehicle in San Diego being driven, being a self-driving car, being driven by a mannequin or a car with tinted windows to hide it being driven by a mannequin to cover for the vast majority of people in San Diego teleporting everywhere. And um, I've been through hell and back trying to expose this, which includes um being mind controlled, which is a by a um voice in my head that live broadcast all my thoughts being threatened with murder, sex trafficking, kidnapping, as well as as I try and expose teleporting. I'm being harassed by teleporting. People um are peering into thin air in front of me as well as appearing into my peripherals, dead silent. Um, also there's noise synchronized noise synchronized harassment constantly, which pumps me full of adrenaline so that when I go running, I run for hours on end without getting tired. And it's absolutely ridiculous, and God wants people to never teleport again. People need to look closely at these vehicles. Thank you very much. Have a great day.
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