San Diego Economic Development & Intergovernmental Relations Committee Meeting - June 16, 2016
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San Diego Economic Development & Intergovernmental Relations Committee Meeting - June 16, 2016
The Economic Development and Intergovernmental Relations Committee met on June 16, 2016, to discuss state legislative updates, the city's new Promise Zone designation, a youth employment initiative, and a proposed modification to the Tourism Marketing District. All committee members were present: Chair Cole, Vice Chair Kercy, Councilmember Kate, and Councilmember Alvarez. The committee also heard public comments and approved minutes from the previous meeting.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes Approval: The minutes from the April 28, 2016 meeting were approved unanimously without discussion.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Martha Welsh: Spoke about perceived unfairness in county elections, including polling place disparities and ballot handling. She also promoted a first-time home buyer and homeowner fair scheduled for June 25, 2016, at the Jacobs Center, sponsored by multiple financial institutions and city/county agencies.
- Public Comment on State Legislative Update: Martha Welsh commented on water issues, criticizing a state bill (SB 163) proposing mandatory wastewater treatment percentages and alleging violations of the Brown Act regarding meeting transparency.
Discussion Items
- State Legislative Update: Nick Garcia and Moira (from the Mayor's Office of State Government Affairs) presented an overview of the 2016 California legislative session. Key topics included: the state budget (passed hours before the meeting), the transportation funding stalemate, cap-and-trade auction revenue shortfall (only $10 million in the spring auction versus an expected $500 million), and the governor's proposed $400 million affordable housing buy-right program. They also reviewed the city's legislative priorities across innovation economy, economic development, infrastructure, water reliability, homelessness, and public safety. Several specific bills were discussed, including SB 163 (mandating wastewater recycling), AB 2170 (trade corridor infrastructure), and AB 2817 (low-income housing tax credit expansion).
- Promise Zone Designation: Kristen Tilquist reported that San Diego had been designated a Promise Zone in the third and final round of the federal program, one of five urban applicants selected out of 64. The zone covers 77,000 residents in southeastern San Diego and City Heights, with a 39% poverty rate and 15.6% unemployment. Benefits include five AmeriCorps Vista staff, federal staff support, priority for competitive federal grants, and potential tax incentives (subject to congressional approval). Implementation is expected to begin in October 2016. Councilmembers expressed support and suggested forming a committee to oversee coordination.
- Connect to Careers 3,000: Andy Hall and Cameron Bacon from the San Diego Workforce Partnership presented on the program serving opportunity youth (16–24 not in school or employed). Countywide, there are 53,000 such youth; in the city, 19,000. Within the Promise Zone, youth unemployment reaches 40%. The program has enrolled nearly 2,000 youth so far in 2016, with a goal of 1,000 job placements. The partnership proposed a working group to explore expanding city internships, aiming for 1,000 city-paid internships per summer. Cameron Bacon shared his personal story of moving from homelessness to full-time employment through the program.
- Tourism Marketing District Modification: Meredith Dibden Brown presented a proposal to modify the San Diego Tourism Marketing District by eliminating lodging businesses with fewer than 70 rooms from the assessment. This would reduce annual revenue from $38.4 million to approximately $33.8 million (a $4.6 million decrease). The assessment rate for remaining hotels (about 180 properties with 70+ rooms) would remain at 2%. The proposed timeline includes City Council consideration on June 27–28, 2016, and a public hearing on August 2, 2016. Legal concerns regarding Prop 26 were addressed, with a deputy city attorney stating the modification is as defensible as the current structure.
Key Outcomes
- Connect to Careers Working Group: The committee voted unanimously to support the creation of a working group (including the Mayor's Office, Human Resources, the Workforce Partnership, and other departments) to explore expanding city internship opportunities for opportunity youth. The motion was made by Chair Cole and seconded by Councilmember Alvarez.
- Tourism Marketing District Modification: The committee voted unanimously to recommend staff's proposed modification to the full City Council. The motion was made by Councilmember Alvarez and seconded by Councilmember Kate. An updated budget for the district is expected to be presented prior to the effective date of August 1, 2016.
- Next Steps: The next Economic Development and Intergovernmental Relations Committee meeting is scheduled for July 14, 2016.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon. And welcome to the June 16th, 2016 meeting of the Economic Development and Intergovernmental Relations Committee. The longest committee name I keep saying that. On record, let the record reflect that all members are present, including my Vice Chair Kercy, Councilmember Kate and Councilmember Alvarez. Also in attendance today, our Chief Deputy City Attorney Kevin Reich, Kristen Tilquist representing the mayor's office, Jeff Quarr from the Office of the Independent Budget Analyst, and our fabulous committee consultant, Pam Ison. We will begin today with the approval of the minutes. The committee of record of actions from April 28th, 2016 will be approved by unanimous consent unless polled for discussion. Okay, we will now hear from the public with non-agenda public comment. And our first speaker is Martha Welsh. And you will have two minutes, Miss Walsh. Good afternoon. Martha Welch. I'm talking about unfair elections in this county. On election day, I walked to my um polling bag. What happened? One here. And then next one. That's fair. That's not fair. I have um chairman Sherman there. I noticed that the county and counting didn't money to them also. Every year they didn't do that. Now, that's not right. You have to another one, but it's pretty it's printed, and that's right. Because I go over here, there's one here across the street, and another one here, and another one. That's not fair. Now on the sixth, I want to register to vote voter place. What did they do? Voting. What happened to Princeton? How do you sign? Two times, maybe three times. Now I went upstairs. What did they do? A big room with tables, opening the ballots. Democrats, Republican, and no problem. No. Why were they doing that? Now I know what's going on now. Now I know when the uh the budget. You paid the voters. The county has no uh no uh budget for uh voters. You paid it. That now that's not right, you know. You you they pay not you. You're the only county in this state. 50 percent. No one has it in the state. You're the you're the only one that has that. So I'm fighting about that.
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