San Diego Economic Development & Intergovernmental Relations Committee Meeting - January 12, 2022
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Economic Development and Intergovernmental Relations Committee Meeting - January 12, 2022
The Economic Development and Intergovernmental Relations (ED&IR) Committee of the San Diego City Council met virtually on January 12, 2022, pursuant to AB 361, with no members of the public physically present. Chair Campillo presided, joined by Vice Chair Chris Kate, Councilmember Jen Campbell, and Councilmember Monica Montgomery Steppe. The committee unanimously approved the November 17, 2021 meeting minutes, heard public testimony on several topics, and addressed four agenda items: a city child care facilities assessment, a federal lobbying contract, 2022 committee priorities, and the Fiscal Year 2021 grants report.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the meeting actions of November 17, 2021 via unanimous vote (motion by Councilmember Campbell, second by Vice Chair Kate).
Public Comments & Testimony
Non-Agenda Public Comment
- Lori Saldania raised concerns about a downtown public restroom (replaced with a Portland Loo) that has frequently been non-operational; she requested the master association's maintenance agreement and cited the importance of sanitation to prevent disease.
- Daniel Smychowski described witnessing homeless encampments along the trolley line and a man who had fallen from a wheelchair and was barely breathing; he criticized the paramedic response and called it "the new normal."
- Kathleen Lippitt said council priorities sometimes undermine or conflict with other policy priorities, including support for biotech and life sciences.
- Carol Green opposed changes to the municipal code for marijuana businesses, citing statistics that employees testing positive for marijuana had 55% more industrial accidents, 85% more injuries, and 75% higher absenteeism; she urged considering negative impacts on the workforce.
- Michael Trimble, executive director of the Gaslamp Quarter Association representing over 400 businesses, urged the committee to move forward on the sidewalk vending ordinance, asking that it be scheduled for the February meeting.
- William Dorsett, a busker and artist, urged the vending ordinance to include strong exemptions for buskers and artists to protect First Amendment rights and avoid future lawsuits.
Item 1 – Child Care Facilities Assessment
- Daniel Smychowski suggested using Mission Bay Golf Course for child care with prefab buildings, citing the value of location.
- Martin Huisi (affiliation unclear) supported the report's recommendations and encouraged accepting them.
- Erin Hogaboom (San Diego for Every Child / Children First Collective) commended the committee and staff, and urged action including a charter amendment and ensuring equitable access for small providers.
- Courtney Baltiski (YMCA Childcare Resource Service, co-facilitator of Children First Collective) supported the staff recommendations, encouraged making child care a 2022 committee priority, and highlighted funding mechanisms and technical assistance.
- Lori Saldania suggested focusing on human capital and co-location of child care with senior centers, referencing a vacant senior center in Claremont.
- Stephanie Benvenuto (San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce) supported the recommendations, noted the high cost of child care (about $1,000 per child per month), and urged pursuit of state/federal funding and on-site child care pilots.
- Kathleen Lippitt recalled that marijuana businesses displaced churches that provided affordable child care and asked the committee to protect such resources.
- Susan Villarriel (University Heights resident) expressed strong support for the city's efforts.
Item 3 – 2022 Committee Priorities
- Barbara Gordon urged the committee not to prioritize the marijuana industry, citing surveys showing lifetime prevalence of marijuana use among 12th graders at 15.6% and 28.3%.
- Kelly McCormick, a public health educator, opposed making cannabis a priority, noting that an average of 29 people per day are sent to hospital emergency departments due to marijuana.
- Joy Singata (District 3) suggested priorities including port updates, biotech/life sciences, homelessness funding, cross-border cooperation, opportunity zones, and waterway pollution.
- Judy Strang, a mother and grandmother, urged focus on youth aged 15–25 and using parks, community centers, and libraries for workforce development; she opposed moving forward with marijuana businesses.
- Becky Rapp, a mother of three, supported youth employment and workforce development, and questioned how cannabis equity aligns with youth priorities; she cited that marijuana is present in 20% of completed suicides.
- John (LivedAdvisors.com) asked that homelessness and housing be given greater priority, along with mental health services.
Item 4 – FY21 Grants Report
- John (LivedAdvisors.com) thanked the grants team and offered to provide lived-experience advocates to support homelessness and housing grant applications.
Discussion Items
Item 1: Assessment of Child Care Facilities Staff from the Department of Real Estate and Airport Management (DREAM) presented findings. They noted that families in San Diego County with two children spend up to 40% of monthly income on child care; 535 child care providers have closed since the pandemic; and 40% of San Diego families with children have both parents working. The city has 11,000 employees. Staff identified 121 city-owned properties after excluding fire stations, police stations, and other unsuitable uses; after applying criteria of at least 5,000 square feet of ground floor space with adjacent outdoor space or parking, they narrowed the list to 72 viable properties: 42 park and recreation centers, 18 libraries, and 12 office buildings. Zoning may require conditional use permits or overlay compliance, though the city may have exemptions. Staff recommended issuing a Request for Information (RFI) in late spring or early summer 2022 to identify potential child care operators.
Committee members discussed the findings. Chair Campillo made a motion to support staff recommendations. Vice Chair Kate seconded and noted that a charter amendment would be required to use parklands for child care; he also corrected the record that the Claremont Senior Center is not neglected but is now a monoclonal antibody treatment center. Councilmember Montgomery Steppe asked about building condition and equity concerns, and Councilmember Campbell clarified that the child care would be open to all San Diego families, not just city employees. The motion passed unanimously.
Item 2: Federal Lobbying Contract (Holland & Knight LLP) Staff presented the recommendation to award a five-year federal legislative consulting contract to Holland & Knight LLP. The city issued an RFP on August 20, 2021, and received five responsive bids; Holland & Knight scored about 20 points above the next bidder. The contract would be at a monthly retainer not to exceed $14,000, for a total not to exceed $840,000 over five years. The firm would represent the city before Congress, the White House, and federal agencies, and assist with grant funding. Reporting measures include two annual reports to the committee and availability to council offices.
Councilmember Montgomery Steppe expressed concerns about workforce underrepresentation in the proposed team, noting that none of the five bidders met the city's EOC (Equal Opportunity Contracting) points. Staff acknowledged the disappointment and stated the firm has committed to working on diversity; the team lead, Eve Maldonado Tool, is a woman of color. Chair Campillo and Councilmember Campbell expressed support; Campbell seconded the motion. The deputy city attorney clarified that the recommendation includes a conflict of interest waiver. The motion passed unanimously, and the item will go to the full City Council.
Item 3: Discussion of 2022 Committee Priorities No formal presentation was given. Committee members had submitted priority memos. Vice Chair Kate made a motion to direct the chair to develop a work plan for 2022; Montgomery Steppe seconded. Members highlighted overlapping priorities including an update to the city's economic development strategy, child care access, youth employment and workforce development, veteran entrepreneurship, the sidewalk vending ordinance, arts and culture, World Design Capital 2024, the Blue Economy, microloans, and the Black Arts and Culture District. The motion passed unanimously, with the work plan to be presented at the next meeting.
Item 4: Department of Government Affairs Fiscal Year 2021 Grants Report The grants division reported that in FY21 the city submitted 79 grant applications with a combined value of over $195 million and received 55 awards totaling nearly $142 million. Awards increased by 22% in number and by 39% ($56 million) in funding compared with FY20. The top five grant-active departments accounted for approximately 93% of applications. Staff highlighted improved grant coordination, a new grants working group, and state/federal funding opportunities including the infrastructure bill and climate resilience grants.
The item was informational only. Councilmember Campbell asked about grant writer staffing needs; staff said they are conducting a top-down assessment and will share results for budget consideration. Montgomery Steppe asked for a breakdown of competitive versus formula grants; staff said that will be included in next year's report. Chair Campillo asked about the SB 1383 grant application due February 1; staff said the city is applying for approximately $1.8 million.
Key Outcomes
- Unanimously approved the November 17, 2021 minutes.
- Unanimously approved the child care facilities assessment recommendation, directing staff to issue an RFI in late spring/early summer 2022.
- Unanimously approved the federal lobbying contract with Holland & Knight LLP, including the conflict of interest waiver; the contract will be forwarded to the full City Council.
- Unanimously approved development of the 2022 committee work plan, to be presented at the February 9, 2022 meeting.
- Received the FY21 grants report as information; staff will follow up on grant writer staffing assessments and improved competitive grant data.
Next meeting: Wednesday, February 9, 2022, at 2 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
Collapse. I have to believe anything happened. We heard you, Sophie. Okay, great. My hand now works. All right, I mean Chair. We are going to be good to start here. I will make the webinar live. Okay. Very good. Okay, Chair can feel. Please proceed. Good afternoon. For California government code section 5495 3G added by Assembly Bill 361, which allows the city to use teleconferencing and to provide the public an opportunity to address the city council committee via a call-in option or internet-based service option. The committee 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, and the committee liaison has made arrangements for the public to comment using the Zoom webinar platform, and we appreciate the public's cooperation. I will go over the specifics of how to join the webinar and give details on how the public can offer their public testimony. Yes, it's 2022 to order. I'll now call the roll. Vice Chair Chris Kate. Here. Councilmember Jen Campbell. Here. And Councilmember Monica Montgomery Step. And I am also present. Very happy this year to have Councilmember Campbell and Council Member Montgomery Step join us. Each committee member is attending virtually. Also on the virtual meeting is Jordan Moore, the fiscal and policy analyst in the office of the independent budget analyst. Steve Hill, Senior Advisor from the Office of Mayor Todd Gloria, and Deputy City Attorney Daphne Scogan from the Office of City Attorney Mara Elliott. The public may view the meeting on public television on City TV, Channel 24 for Cox Communications and Spectrum, or Channel 99 for ATTUverse, or view the meeting online by going to the City Council Committee homepage at San Diego.gov and selecting the City TV live webcast button on the right-hand side of the page. The committee meetings will be held virtually using the Zoom webinar platform, and members of the public can offer their testimony by accessing the webinar online using their desktop computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone, or by calling into a meeting using a smartphone, cellular phone, or landline. A link to join the committee webinar by computer tablet smartphone is listed on the agenda on the how to join by iPhone one tap to join the Zoom webinar by telephone. And when prompted, the webinar ID is one six one seven three five nine three four zero pound. This information is also available on the agenda and appears on the screen during the public comment period for each item. When I introduce the item you would like to comment on, please raise your hand by tapping the raise your hand button on your computer, tablet or smartphone, or by pressing star nine on your phone. You'll be taking the order in which you raise your hand, and you may speak only once per particular item. When our committee consultant, Miss Sophie Barnhorst indicates it is your turn to speak. She will call on you by your name as it appears on the Zoom webinar attendee list, and she will read out the last four digits of your phone number if you've called into the meeting. That's how you'll know it's your turn to speak. If you have joined us by computer, tablet, or smartphone, you'll receive a pop-up notice to select to unmute your device. And if you've called the meeting by cell phone or landline, you'll 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. You will, if you raise your hand during the non-comment periods, it will be lowered. One year announced the speaker. Please unmute yourself and offer comments. Also, please un and please mute the volume of your television or computer before you begin to speak. A quorum is now present, and so we will dispense with the approval of committee actions and the actions before you for approval is the meeting of November 17, 2021. Do I have a motion to approve these actions? So moved. Moved.
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