San Diego Economic Development Committee Meeting: Child Care, Tourism, State Affairs - May 26, 2021
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San Diego Economic Development and Intergovernmental Relations Committee Meeting – May 26, 2021
The Economic Development and Intergovernmental Relations Committee, chaired by Councilmember Raul Campillo, met virtually on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, at 10:00 AM. The meeting focused on the child care crisis during COVID-19, a facilities assessment for child care, the FY2022 Tourism Marketing District plan, and a state affairs update. All committee members (Campillo, Vice Chair Kate, Moreno, Ilo Rivera) attended virtually.
Consent Calendar
- Unanimously approved the actions from the April 14, 2021 meeting.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Non-agenda public comment: Two speakers addressed the committee. Becky Rapp (mother and youth mentor) expressed concern about a presentation to the Land Use and Housing Committee on April 22 regarding cannabis businesses near care facilities and churches. She urged upholding distancing requirements from marijuana outlets. A second speaker (phone ending in 7234) advocated for affordable housing with on-site child care and opposed a marijuana storefront across from Hollywood Pines affordable housing complex, citing inequity for children.
- Item 3 (State of Child Care): Three public speakers shared their positions during the public comment period for item 3, but were redirected because they were commenting on the next item (facilities assessment). A fourth speaker, Samantha Rodriguez (YMCA intern), expressed support for child care services.
- Item 1 (Facilities Assessment for Child Care): Eight speakers offered support for the facilities assessment.
- Rebecca Ribsick (Downtown Partnership) urged support to explore city properties for child care.
- Shelby Gomez (YMCA Child Care Resource Service, mother in District 3) shared personal difficulty finding child care and called for the Office of Child and Youth Success.
- Kira Pina (Center on Policy Initiatives/Community Budget Alliance) supported the assessment and the office.
- Martin Luisi (Casa San Diego) supported the assessment and noted the city’s role as a large employer.
- Dr. Janet Hootin (Navy Region Southwest) described partnerships for military child care, citing 4,000 military families on waiting lists.
- Laura Cohn (Mission Driven Finance, ECE Advocacy Coalition) co‐authored the Workforce Plus Child Care report and emphasized drawing down state child care facilities funding of $455 million.
- Brenda Aguirre (Chicago Federation family resource navigator) supported the assessment and the Office of Child and Youth Success.
- Aaron Hogeboom (Church San Diego for Every Child) expressed full support for the assessment and the office.
- Alessandra Lazama (CEO of Tuthras Childcare on Demand) urged public‐private partnerships and technology platforms for child care.
- Blake Hopsted (Educational Enrichment Systems) cited 20 years operating centers on city property and the need for facilities.
Discussion Items
Item 3 – State of Child Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic (Information Item)
Courtney Baltiski, Director of Advocacy and Strategic Partnerships for YMCA Community Support Services, presented:
- Pre‑pandemic, only 30% of children ages 0–4 in San Diego had access to licensed child care.
- Approximately 2,076 child care providers operated on razor‑thin margins.
- Families with two children could spend up to 40% of their household budget on child care.
- As of May 2021, San Diego County had 480 child care centers closed (15%) and still 10% of family child care homes closed.
- Of providers surveyed in March 2021, 61% of centers and 40% of family child care homes were not at full enrollment.
- 47% of centers lost $90,000 or more; 28% of family child care homes lost $5,000–$15,000.
- 17% of early educators live in poverty.
- Top requested supports: cash stipends, vouchers, facility expansion funding, and workforce development.
- Committee members asked about licensing wait times, employer engagement, and the need for a comprehensive cradle‑to‑career plan. Councilmember Moreno noted that increasing pay, expanding facilities, and state subsidies are key solutions. Councilmember Ilo Rivera emphasized systems‑level planning and the proposed Office of Child and Youth Success.
Item 1 – Facilities Assessment for Child Care (Action Item)
Sophie Barnhorst, Committee Consultant, presented the proposal:
- Pre‑pandemic gap of 190,000 licensed child care slots in San Diego.
- 522 child care businesses closed county‑wide as of April 2021.
- Requested staff to: (1) identify city properties adaptable for child care, (2) report findings within six months.
- Chair Campillo made a motion to approve the two actions. Councilmember Moreno offered an amendment to add: (3) study feasibility of a master lease of real estate for child care, and (4) explore permit reforms to convert commercial/office space to child care. The amendment was accepted, and the motion passed unanimously.
- Penny Moss (Real Estate Assets Department) noted the timing aligns with the city’s “Office of the Future” planning to optimize space.
Item 2 – FY2022 San Diego Tourism Marketing District Report of Activities (Action Item)
Presented by Colleen Anderson (TMD Corporation) and Carrie Kapuch (San Diego Tourism Authority):
- Tourism lost 20 years of economic gains in 2020; visitor spending down 56% ($6.4 billion loss).
- FY2022 assessments estimated at $39.3 million, with $26.7 million to the Tourism Authority.
- Recovery projected to reach 2019 levels by 2024 for spending, 2025 for average daily room rates.
- Marketing priorities: domestic leisure travel (“Happiness is Calling You Back”), meetings and conventions campaigns, and limited international outreach (UK, Canada, Mexico).
- The motion to approve the report and expenditures passed unanimously.
Item 4 – 2021 State Affairs Update (Information Item)
Presented by Walt Bishop and Moira Top:
- California’s May Revision budget proposes a $75.7 billion surplus, plus $25 billion federal funds, creating the California Comeback plan.
- Key proposals: $9.3 billion for affordable housing, $3.5 billion for homelessness (Homekey extension), $1 billion for small business relief, $250 million for child care facilities, 100,000 new child care slots.
- City priorities: advocating for direct city allocations (no specific city dollars in May Revise), supporting bills such as AB 816 (Homelessness Inspector General), AB 482 (mixed‑income housing), SB 7 and SB 9 (housing streamlining), AB 899 (988 mental health hotline), and SB 264 (ban on gun shows on state/county property).
- City staff are preparing an application for the federal Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership program (deadline June 18, 2021).
- Councilmember Moreno requested advanced materials and urged hosting state officials for tours. Councilmember Ilo Rivera stressed the importance of immigrant inclusion and child care funding.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar: Approved unanimously.
- Item 1: Motion passed unanimously, with amendments to include master lease feasibility and permit reform studies. Staff to report findings within six months.
- Item 2: FY2022 Tourism Marketing District report and expenditures approved unanimously.
- Item 3: Received as information; no vote needed.
- Item 4: Received as information; no vote needed. Committee members will follow up on specific grants and advocacy priorities.
- Next committee meeting scheduled for Friday, June 11, 2021, at 9:00 AM.
Meeting Transcript
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 health and safety. In addition, this meeting is being televised and live streamed on the city's website. The committee liaison has made arrangements for the public to comment using the Zoom webinar platform. We appreciate the public's cooperation. I'll go over the specifics of how to join the webinar and we'll 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, May 26th, 2021 to order. We'll now call the rule. Here. Councilmember Vivian Moreno. Present. Councilmember Sean Ilo Rivera. Present. And I am also present. Each committee member is attending virtually. Also on the virtual meeting is Jordan Moore, Fiscal and Policy Analyst in the Office of the Independent Budget Analyst. Brittany Bailey, Senior Policy Advisor from the Office of the Mayor, and Deputy City Attorney Kate Malcolm from the Office of the City Attorney. The public may view the meeting on the public television on City TV, Channel 24 for Cox Communication and Time Warner Cable, or Channel 99 for ATT, or view the meeting online by going on to the City Council Committee 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 the how to join by iPhone one tab. To join the Zoom webinar by telephone, you may dial 1669-254-5252. And when prompted, input the webinar ID of 161 735 9340 Pound. This information is also available on the agenda and will appear on the screen during 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 nine on your phone. You'll be taken in the order in which you raise your hand. You may only speak once per particular item. When our committee consultant Sophie Barnhorst indicates it is time for you 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 on your phone number if you have called into the meeting. This is how you will know 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. And if you have called into the meeting by cell phone or landline, press star six on your phone to unmute yourself. 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. A quorum now being present, we will now dispense with the committee uh approval of committee actions. The actions before you for approval are from the meeting of April 14th, 2021. Do I have a motion to approve the action? So moved. I have a motion from Vice Chair Kate and a second by Councilmember Elo Rivera. We will now take council member questions and comments and have each council member register vote, starting with Vice Chair Kate. Yes. Councilmember Morano. Yes. Councilmember Elo Rivera. Yes. And I am also a yes. That passes unanimously. Thank you.
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