Community and Neighborhood Services Committee Meeting – May 21, 2025
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Community and Neighborhood Services Committee Meeting – May 21, 2025
The Community and Neighborhood Services Committee met on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at 2:00 PM. Chair Jennifer Campbell presided, with Councilmembers Campillo and Foster present. The committee considered the consent calendar, a presentation on senior fraud by AARP, annual reports for Maintenance Assessment Districts (MADs), a landscape maintenance contract, recreation center fund budgets, a community recreation needs assessment, and an update on the Come Play Outside program. The meeting included extensive public testimony on a variety of topics.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the minutes from April 24, 2025, and landscape maintenance contracts for the Tierra Santa, Scripps Miramar Ranch, and Carmel Valley Maintenance Assessment Districts (items 1–4). The motion passed unanimously (3-0).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Non-agenda public comment: Multiple speakers addressed the committee. Cesar and Purita Javier raised concerns about a home business and city operations. Shirak Sarat Nijat alleged construction defects and a fake address by a builder. Joyce Nyatta praised the proposed renaming of North Claremont Park to honor Officer Austin Machatar. Madison advocated for a smoke-free multi-unit housing policy, citing health risks of secondhand smoke. Blair Beekman spoke about park funding and technology concerns. Marco Espinoza expressed support for the cannabis industry and asked for mental health check-ins on passionate speakers. Becky Rapp urged preserving lake access and requested transparency on marijuana tax revenues. Sally Small emphasized the importance of parks, libraries, and child/youth programs. Kathleen Lippitt urged fiscal responsibility and criticized city spending on bike lanes and green energy.
- Consent agenda: Cesar Javier criticized the contracting process. Joyce Nyatta questioned underrepresentation in the workforce among African American, Asian, and female laborers under the Project Labor Agreement. Kathleen Lippitt suggested banning broad-spectrum herbicides like Roundup.
- Item 11 (AARP fraud presentation): Joyce Nyatta shared her personal experience with financial fraud. Barry Berman, an AARP volunteer, stressed the need for education. Cesar Javier questioned the city's role in combating fraud. Blair Beekman described difficulties with MasterCard fraud reporting. Marco Espinoza thanked AARP and suggested language options for seniors.
- Items 5 & 6 (MAD annual reports): Joyce Nyatta asked about general benefit funding sources. Cesar Javier expressed concerns about park maintenance in underserved areas. Ben Nichols (Hillcrest Business Association) reported increased support for the Greater Hillcrest MAD. Manny Rodriguez (City Heights), Brian Early (Enhance La Jolla), Scott Kessler (Adams Avenue), Christopher Gomez (Little Italy) all urged support for the programs.
- Item 7 (landscape maintenance contract): Sally Small asked for clarification on a median location (Euclid/Imperial vs. Market Street).
- Item 8 (recreation center funds): Blair Beekman addressed mental health and park funding. Kathleen Lippitt asked to protect parks and youth programs.
- Item 9 (recreation needs assessment): Joyce Nyatta supported the assessment, linking it to budget priorities. Blair Beekman raised questions about technology in parks. David Modi asked about existing facility assessment. Sally Small appreciated that Districts 4, 8, 9 are first but noted inequities.
- Item 10 (Come Play Outside): Joyce Nyatta praised the program and its upward trends. Marco Espinoza and Sally Small thanked staff. Blair Beekman emphasized community harmony.
Discussion Items
- Item 11 – Presentation on combating senior fraud and scams by AARP: Israel Hernandez and Tiffany Zhang presented data showing San Diego County seniors lost $103 million to scams in 2024, a doubling from 2022. They highlighted AI, data breaches, and crypto scams as growing threats. AARP offers free resources, a Scam Jam tour, and a model ordinance for crypto ATM warning signs. The item was informational only; no motion was required. Chair Campbell and Councilmember Campillo praised the work and discussed potential local ordinances.
- Items 5 & 6 – Fiscal Year 2026 MAD annual reports: Michael Jones (Parks & Recreation) and Rhea Aguinaldo (Economic Development) explained the MAD program: 64 districts providing enhanced services above city standards. Item 5 covered 54 parks-related MADs; Item 6 covered 10 economic development MADs. The committee voted on each separately after public comment.
- Item 7 – Authorization for landscape maintenance contract (Gas Tax Median Maintenance Program): Michael Jones and Ed Christensen presented a new five-year contract with Aztec Landscaping (1-year base + four 1-year options) totaling up to $10.4 million. The contract covers 300+ medians/rights-of-way and adds 30% more square footage and increased frequencies. Only two bidders (Aztec and West Turf) responded; Aztec was selected based on best value. Councilmember Campillo asked about disclosing losing bidders. Councilmember Foster requested follow-up on specific medians and workforce diversity compliance.
- Item 8 – Proposed FY2026 Recreation Center Fund and Opportunity Fund budgets: Sarah Urazzo and Salome Martinez presented budgets for 61 recreation center funds and the separate Age Well Services fund. Total projected revenues of $5.1 million, expenditures of $8.8 million, with a $5 million carryforward. The Opportunity Fund (projected $400,000) allocates $65,000 to each of 11 sites in communities of concern, up from $50,000 last year. The committee approved a motion to create a new Age Well Services fund and authorize the CFO actions.
- Item 9 – Community Recreation Needs Assessment: Salome Martinez outlined a 12-month assessment to be conducted by Keen Independent Research, covering all 52 communities and 9 council districts. Phased approach (Districts 4,8,9 first). Final report expected spring 2026. Informational item.
- Item 10 – Come Play Outside 2024 Updates: Salome Martinez reported on summer 2024 programs: 55,000 participants (15% increase), $2 million in funding (36% increase). Programs included 123 day camps, 111 Parks After Dark events, 240 free swim lessons, etc. Director Andy Field noted that proposed budget cuts (reducing recreation center hours to 2–8 PM weekdays) would impact future programming, though summer 2025 would proceed as scheduled. Councilmember Foster expressed disappointment over potential cuts.
Key Outcomes
- Consent calendar: Approved unanimously (3-0).
- Item 5: Approved unanimous (3-0).
- Item 6: Approved unanimous (3-0).
- Item 7: Approved unanimous (3-0).
- Item 8: Approved unanimous (3-0).
- Item 11: Informational only; no vote.
- Item 9: Informational only; no vote.
- Item 10: Informational only; no vote.
- The next regular meeting will be Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at 2:00 PM.
Meeting Transcript
We're going to go ahead and start the meeting. It is a couple of minutes after two. Good afternoon, and welcome to the community and neighborhood services committee meeting of May twenty-first, twenty twenty-five. Our committee liaison, Natalie Kessler will provide information and instruction for the public to participate in today's meeting. 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. Also present with us today, we have Sergio Alcalde with the Office of Independent Budget Analyst. And Natalie, please continue with public comment instructions. I will now go over how the public can offer their public testimony during today's meeting. If you are in person, please can complete a speaker slip located at the entrance of the committee room and place it in the tray indicated at the front of the room. Please submit your speaker slip in a timely manner to ensure proper meeting management. 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 phone, please style 16692545252. When prompted, the webinar ID is 161-686-5119 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're watching via City TV Channel 24 or online, there may be a delay. So please participate via the audio on your phone and meet your TV or computer when it is 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 to speak by tapping the raise your hand icon, or if you're a call participant, press star and I on your phone. If you raise your hand during a non-comment period, your hand will be lowered. Chair. Thank you, Natalie. A quorum is now present, and so we will now take up non-agenda public comment. Council respects and appreciates the public's input, is fully committed to protecting every participant's free speech rights at council and committee meetings. And so Natalie, let us proceed with non-agenda public comment. Each speaker will have two minutes. And Chair, we have received four speaker slips here in the committee room, and there are currently two hands raised in the virtual queue. We will begin with Perita Javier and Cesar Javier if you'd like to approach the lecture. Okay, you may start now. Good afternoon. Beyond reasonable doubt, and César, both seniors with existing medical conditions that hurt physically, emotionally, financially, and we seeking help from lawful authorities. That's us. Number two, in our attempt to stop the home business, non-metallic mineral product manufacturing, we made two bold steps, non-violent approaches, informing our neighbors about the hazards of ceramic keln. Located, constricted, operated, and even altered by the city. Letter A, country engagement, November 24th, 2022, Thanksgiving Day, verdict of Chad Smoris. And known this man, he is a good person. What about me? You and I know about this. He is a good person. What about me? Cesar continually volunteers, seven months, restraining order. Let there be enjoyment of life, playing my transistor radio. And Cesar and Purita. We'll die to protect our constitution. We will continue to fight the political virus destroying our constitution. We have been here since 2021. Mom, Queen of Portalets and toilets and restroom and urinals. Is this adequate, mom? Is your response attorney?
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