Community Neighborhood Services Committee Meeting - September 17, 2025
Community Neighborhood Services Committee Meeting - September 17, 2025
The Community Neighborhood Services Committee met on September 17, 2025, to consider a consent agenda, an updated animal services fee schedule, and an update to the Child and Youth Strategic Plan. The meeting included non-agenda public comment, public testimony on each item, and unanimous votes on all three actions.
Consent Calendar
- Unanimously approved the committee minutes from July 16, 2025.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Non-Agenda Public Comment: Multiple speakers addressed a range of issues. Purita Javier expressed concerns about environmental contamination, home invasions, traffic safety, and the Tijuana River pollution, proposing solutions involving sandbags and clean water. Joyce Yatta (District 3) asked about age-friendly city policies and noted that older adults are the fastest-growing homeless population. Another speaker criticized the city for increasing costs of living and fees while blaming corporations. Peggy Walker and Terry Ann Skelly advocated for a smoke-free public places ordinance, citing health risks from secondhand smoke and marijuana vapor, especially in multi-unit housing. Becky Rapp, Madison, and Francine Maxwell spoke about the dangers of unregulated hemp-derived THC products (Delta 8) sold to minors, urging stronger local regulations. Blair Beekman acknowledged recent city council work on budget equity and ADU issues but raised concerns about parking and trash can RFID policies. Francine Maxwell also requested city staff attend a community meeting to explain park processes.
- Item 1 (Consent Agenda): Cesar Javier commented on the minutes, linking them to broader city crises and accountability.
- Item 2 (Animal Services Fee Schedule): Cesar Javier criticized the city for prioritizing animal fees over human crises. One speaker accused the San Diego Humane Society of exploiting animals and euthanizing them. A speaker from District 3 expressed support for the fee increases and waivers, citing philanthropic efforts.
- Item 3 (Child and Youth Plan Update): Cesar Javier criticized the plan as too strategic and not addressing victims of crime, fire, and flood. A speaker from District 3 praised the presentation and urged youth commission engagement. Another speaker strongly opposed the partnership with Promises2Kids, alleging child trafficking links. Francine Maxwell supported the plan, highlighting youth engagement in southeastern San Diego. Blair Beekman thanked staff and called for open discussions on trafficking. Becky Rapp urged integrating smoke-free multi-unit housing into the plan for children's health equity.
Discussion Items
- Item 2: Adoption of Updated Animal Services User Fee Schedule – Deputy COO Christina Peralta and Assistant Deputy Director Nicole McNeil presented the proposal. The fee schedule includes 49 fees, with 16 proposed increases (ranging from $10 to $50, or 7.1% to 75%). The current cost to provide animal services is $28 million annually; the city allocates $16.7 million, leaving an $11.3 million gap. Fee revenue is expected to increase by $275,000 to $2.975 million. The San Diego Humane Society (SDHS) serves 14 cities; all others have approved the fees. SDHS will continue fee waivers for financial hardship or to reduce shelter stays. The IBA clarified that the primary purpose is fee alignment across jurisdictions, not budget recovery. Councilmember Foster asked about other jurisdictions' contributions; SDHS CFO Michael Lowry noted that city contracts cover 42% of operating costs, philanthropy covers 45%, and fees cover the rest. The committee voted unanimously to adopt the resolution.
- Item 3: Child and Youth Plan Update – Tara Ryan, program coordinator for the Office of Child and Youth Success (OCYS), presented the updated plan. The plan remains a citywide framework with five focus areas (youth empowerment, workforce development, education, engaging activities, child care) and a new overarching goal. Changes include explicit framing as a citywide plan, a theory of change, detailed strategies, and funding strategies. OCYS has reduced staff after consolidation into the library department. Highlights include a youth-led newsletter, 17 youth interns, a child care benefit pilot program, and partnerships with Promises2Kids and the Policy Innovation Center. Chair Campbell asked about the child care pilot data and Measure H (child care in rec centers). Councilmember Foster questioned OCYS's role in policy decisions and interdepartmental collaboration, noting that OCYS was not involved in budget cuts or the Balboa Park parking discussion. Ryan explained that OCYS is working on a shared vision and data metrics with PANA. The committee voted unanimously to recommend the plan to the full City Council.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously.
- Item 2 (Animal Services Fee Schedule): Approved unanimously. Resolution to adopt the updated fee schedule effective October 1, 2025, and authorize SDHS to continue fee waivers.
- Item 3 (Child and Youth Plan Update): Approved unanimously. Recommendation to City Council to adopt the updated Child and Youth Strategic Plan.
- The next regularly scheduled meeting is Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at 2:00 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
Jordan will provide information and instruction for the public to participate in today's meeting. Sarah. Thank you, Chair Campbell. While members of the public are able to attend the meeting 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. This 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 Campbell. Thank you, Sarah. I'll now call the community neighborhood services committee meeting for today, September 17, 2025, to order, and I'll call the roll. And I am also here, Chair of this committee. Also present today with us is Sergio Alcalde with the Office of Independent Budget Analyst, Jane Boardman with the Office of the City Attorney, and Emily Pietanesi of the Office of Mayor Todd Gloria. Liesel Gloria, our committee consultant, is here along with Sarah Jordan, our committee a liaison. Please, Sarah, continue with public comment instructions. Thank you, Chair. I will now go over the how the public can offer their public testimony during today's meeting. If you are in person, please complete a speaker slip located at the entrance of chambers and place it on the tray indicated in 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 telephone. Please dial 1669-2545252. And when prompted, input webinar ID 161-686-5119 pound. Please note that if you're watching via City TV 24 or online, there may be delay. Please participate via the audio on your phone and mute your TV or computer when it is your turn to speak. If you wish to speak to a particular item, please 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 calling participant, by pressing star nine on your cell phone or landline. If you raise your hand during a non-comment period, your hand will be lowered. Thank you, Sarah. A quorum is now present, 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. Per rule two point seven, non-agenda public comment is an opportunity for members of the public to comment on items that are not on the agenda but are within the subject matter jurisdiction of this committee. Each speaker will have two minutes to provide non-agenda public comment. We have two slips here in chambers, so we'll begin with in-person testimony. Parita Javier and Cesar Javier, if you can please approach the lectern. Yes, sir, please. Read it, please. Good afternoon. I am Purita Javier, senior victim of ceramic stoxicity in the residential zone communities since 1984. This is our periodical threat to our health and safety. Second, highly possible home invasion from the last 14th occurrence. Three fast moving traffic, our request for basic bomb for two sites since 2022 was never addressed despite D9 stuff premises. Four open city street connecting Boys Street to Altadino for responders at shortcut for people going to schools. From Choyas Creek. Seven allow farmers in proximate neighborhood to farm out new roots, CDC. Eight, we need protective walls from radiation of SDGE substation. Line residents. Anyhow, we are concerned, citizen, and we will help you solve the Tijuana River issue, ma'am. You see that uh black liquid there, that's the contaminant coming from the outlet from the upstream site. And the solution is let's put it down, sandbags. Let's pour clean water.
openpublica.com