Economic Development and Intergovernmental Relations Committee Meeting - February 10, 2021
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Economic Development and Intergovernmental Relations Committee Meeting - February 10, 2021
The Economic Development and Intergovernmental Relations Committee of the San Diego City Council met on Wednesday, February 10, 2021, at 10:00 AM via Zoom due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The meeting was chaired by Councilmember Campillo, with Vice Chair Kate, Councilmember Moreno, and Councilmember Ilo Rivera present. Key actions included approval of the 2021 committee work plan, a corporate partnership with California Coast Credit Union, and a controversial relocation plan for the Via Victoria Apartments. The committee also received informational presentations on anchor institutions and federal stimulus updates.
Consent Calendar
- January 13, 2021 Meeting Actions: Unanimously approved.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Non-Agenda Public Comment: No speakers.
- Item 1 – 2021 Work Plan: Fifteen speakers offered comments. Representatives from the Port of San Diego, Cross Border Business Group, Downtown San Diego Partnership, Every Child San Diego, San Diego Coastkeeper, San Diego Performing Arts League, Balboa Park Cultural Partnership, Fern Street Circus, San Diego Regional Arts and Culture Coalition, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, YMCA Community Support Services, and others expressed support for the work plan, emphasizing child care, arts and culture, border economy, small business recovery, and equity. Some speakers urged the committee to address sidewalk vending regulation and child care access.
- Item 2 – Corporate Partnership: No public comments.
- Item 3 – Via Victoria Relocation Plan: No public comments.
- Item 4 – Anchor Institutions Report: No public comments.
- Item 5 – Federal Stimulus Update: No public comments.
Discussion Items
- 2021 Committee Work Plan: Chair Campillo presented the plan with quarterly themes: small business support and recovery, industry review, border economy, and trade expansion. Councilmembers praised the focus on equity, child care, arts, and border infrastructure. Motion to adopt passed unanimously.
- Corporate Partnership with California Coast Credit Union: Sarah Brennan, program manager, outlined a five-year partnership including $100,000 annual general fund payments, $75,000 for community programs, and $495,000 in-kind support. Benefits to city employees include loan programs, financial counseling, ATMs, and scholarship contributions. Councilmembers supported the partnership, with questions about equity in program targeting. Motion to forward to full council passed unanimously.
- Via Victoria Apartments Relocation Plan: Monica Hardman presented the plan to relocate 22-unit SRO building to make way for East Village Green Park. Only two of twelve tenants qualify for state relocation benefits; ten tenants receive SRO ordinance benefits (lump sum of two months' rent plus $210). Councilmember Moreno opposed, citing inadequate housing guarantees during a pandemic and insufficient replacement units. Councilmember Kate moved to amend the motion to require a plan for all twelve tenants before council action. The amendment passed 3-1 (Moreno opposed). The amended motion forwarded to full council.
- Anchor Institutions Leveraging Procurement for Small Business: Eduardo Velasquez from San Diego Regional EDC presented findings that 14 anchor institutions spend $10 billion annually, with only 14% going to small businesses and 11% to minority-owned businesses. Recommendations included consistent definitions, streamlined certification, and leveraging prime contractors. Councilmembers supported further analysis and city leadership in data collection.
- Federal Stimulus Update: Adrian Granda and team briefed on the American Rescue Plan, focusing on $350 billion in state and local aid. The city’s top priority is flexible funding for revenue replacement. The bill is moving through budget reconciliation; House committees are drafting. Councilmembers appreciated transparency and advocacy efforts.
Key Outcomes
- 2021 Work Plan: Unanimously adopted.
- California Coast Credit Union Partnership: Unanimously approved (3-0) to forward to full council.
- Via Victoria Relocation Plan: Approved as amended (3-1) to require a relocation plan covering all twelve tenants before council consideration. Councilmember Moreno voted no.
- Anchor Institutions Report: Received as information; no action needed.
- Federal Stimulus Update: Received as information; continued advocacy at city and federal levels.
The meeting adjourned at approximately 12:30 PM. The next meeting is scheduled for March 10, 2021.
Meeting Transcript
Ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMill. Oh, and the R line. Good afternoon. For executive order 2920, which suspends certain requirements of the Brown Act. Some of the council members will be participating via Zoom, and no members of the public will be in attendance at the meeting in the interest of public safe health and safety. In addition, this meeting is being televised and live streamed on the city's website, and the committee liaison has made arrangements for the public to comment using the Zoom webinar platform. We appreciate the public's cooperation. I will go over the specifics on how to join the webinar and will give details on how the public can offer their public testimony. I will now call the meeting of the Economic Development and Intergovernmental Relations Committee of Wednesday, February 10th, 2021 to order. I will now call the role. Vice Chair Kate. Here. Councilmember Moreno. Present. Councilmember Ilo Rivera. Present. And I am present as well. Each committee member is attending virtually. Also on the virtual meeting is Jordan Moore, Fiscal and Policy Analyst of the Office, Independent Budget Analyst. Britney Bailey, Senior Policy Advisor from the Office of the Mayor, and Deputy City Attorney Daphne Scogan from the Office of the City Attorney. The public may view the meeting on public television on City TV, Channel 24 for Cox Communications and Time War Cable, or Channel 99 for ATT, or view the meeting online by going to the City Council Committee's homepage at San Diego.gov and selecting the City TV Live Webcast Blue button on the right hand side of the page. The committee meetings will be held virtually using the Zoom webinar platform. Members of the public can offer public comment on items by accessing the Zoom webinar online using a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone, or by calling into the meeting using a smartphone, cellular phone, or landline. The link to join the committee meeting webinar by computer, tablet, or smartphone is listed on the agenda on how to join by iPhone one tab. To join the Zoom webinar by telephone, you may dial 1669-254-5252. When prompted, enter input webinar ID 161 735 9340 pound. This information is also available on the agenda and will appear on the screen during the public comment period for each item. When I introduce the item you would like to comment on, you will raise your hand by either tapping the raise your hand button on the computer, tablet, or smartphone, or by pressing star 9 on your phone. You'll be taken in the order in which you raise your hand. You may only speak once on a particular item. When our committee consultant, Sophie Barnhorst indicates it is your turn to speak. She will call you by your name as it appears on the Zoom webinar attendee list, or she will read out the last four digits of your phone number if you have called into the meeting. That is how you will know it is your turn to speak. If you have joined the webinar by computer, tablet, or smartphone, you will receive a pop-up notice to select to unmute your device. If you have called into the meeting by cellular or landline, please press star six on your phone to unmute yourself. I will review these instructions briefly again when the public comment period on an item is open. Please wait until the item you wish to speak to has been called before raising your hand to speak. If you raise your hand during a non-comment period, your hand will be lowered. When you are announced as the next speaker, please unmute yourself and offer comments. Also, please mute the volume on your TV or computer before you begin to speak. As a quorum is now present, we will now dispense with the approval of the committee actions, the actions for you for approval is for the meeting of January 13th, 2021. Do I have a motion to approve the actions? So moved, Mr. Chair. Thank you. We have a motion by Vice Chair Kate. I'm happy to second. It's Vivian. Thank you, Councilmember Moreno.
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