San Diego City Council EDIR Committee Meeting - February 10, 2022
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San Diego City Council Economic Development and Intergovernmental Relations Committee Meeting - February 10, 2022
The EDIR Committee, chaired by Councilmember Campillo, met virtually on February 10, 2022, to consider the Fiscal Year 2021 San Diego Tourism Marketing District Performance Report, a sidewalk vending ordinance, and a work plan continuance. The committee unanimously approved the consent calendar, heard public testimony, and passed motions on both agenda items.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of committee actions passed unanimously (4-0).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Non-agenda public comment: No speakers.
- Item 3 – Tourism Marketing District Performance Report: Four speakers commented. Suzanne Barracini requested guidance on how tax dollars from campaigns are spent and by zip code. Renee Contreras expressed concern about increased tourism straining city resources (parks, lifeguards, police) amid COVID-19. Matthew Gardner, a Mission Beach business owner, urged reinvestment of TOT funds into neighborhoods for cleanup and beautification. Gloria Robles had technical difficulties and did not speak.
- Item 1 – Sidewalk Vending Ordinance: 56 speakers provided comments. Positions were divided: many residents and business owners from coastal and downtown areas (e.g., Mission Beach, Ocean Beach, Gaslamp Quarter, La Jolla) supported the ordinance with amendments, citing safety hazards, unfair competition, trash, and blocked access. They requested year-round moratoriums, coastal commission exemption, and inclusion of additional high-traffic streets. Many immigrant rights and community organizations (e.g., Alliance San Diego, Center on Policy Initiatives, San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium, Environmental Health Coalition) opposed the ordinance as too restrictive, punitive, and discriminatory, noting barriers such as government ID requirements, impoundment, and lack of translation. They called for a first-time warning system, annual review, and a vending permit option without a business tax certificate. Several vendors spoke in favor of regulation but requested designated spots and fair implementation.
Discussion Items
- Item 3 – Fiscal Year 2021 San Diego Tourism Marketing District Performance Report: Elizabeth Studebaker, Colleen Anderson, and Carrie Kapich presented the report. Key statistics: FY2021 saw 16.3 million visitors (37% below FY20), visitor spending of $5.2 billion (down 41%), and average hotel occupancy of 50.9% (down 21%). July 2021 was a strong month with 78.9% occupancy and $218 ADR. TOT collections in FY20 were 50% of FY19; FY22 YTD (through January) collected $105.9 million. The TMD achieved a 28:1 ROI due to SDTA's leisure marketing. Staffing challenges persist, with hospitality jobs down 27% as of August 2021. Committee members expressed appreciation for the work and noted the long recovery horizon (2024-2025 for conventions and international travel).
- Item 1 – Repeal of Push Carts and Sidewalk Vending Ordinance: Venus Molina (Councilmember Campbell's chief of staff) presented the proposed ordinance, which responds to SB 946. It requires permits, sets distance regulations, defines prohibited areas (e.g., high-traffic zones in Gaslamp, Little Italy, East Village, parks with summer moratorium), and creates entrepreneurship zones. Key provisions: no insurance required, permit valid one year, fines escalate from $100 (with permit) to $1,000 (without) and permit revocation for fourth violation. Public comment showed strong community divide. Committee members discussed amendments: Chair Campillo proposed four amendments: (1) extend change-of-information deadline from 5 business days to 15 calendar days; (2) reduce distance between vendors from 100 ft to 50 ft; (3) clarify that prohibited sales do not include apparel; (4) implement a first-time warning and referral system (no fine) for first violation. Councilmember Campbell accepted the first three and agreed to work on the fourth. Councilmember Montgomery Steppe proposed an amendment to change impounding authority from "city" to "environmental services department" for fourth or greater violations; accepted. The motion passed unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Item 3 – Tourism Marketing District Report: Accepted as information; no vote required.
- Item 1 – Sidewalk Vending Ordinance: Approved unanimously (4-0) with amendments as described. The ordinance will be forwarded to the full City Council with the final language on the first-time violation warning and referral to be drafted collaboratively. The committee also voted to continue the work plan item (Item 2) to the next meeting (March 9, 2022).
- Votes: All votes were unanimous (4-0).
Meeting Transcript
We have one minute for a quick break. Go ahead, Dr. Jen. Thanks. We'll wait for you. Again, just as a reminder, your audio will come through until we start the meeting. The audio will come through on City TV. So please keep yourself muted. I'll begin as as soon as Councilmember Campbell returns. She asks for that one minute. All right, I see Councilmember Campbell's back. Good afternoon, everyone. Per California government code Section 54953G, 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 an internet-based 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. We appreciate the public's cooperation. Here. Councilmember Dr. Jennifer Campbell. Here. And Councilmember Monica Montgomery Step. Here. And I am also present. Each committee member is attending virtually and also on the virtual meeting is Baku Patel, Fiscal and Policy Analyst in the Office of the Independent Budget Analyst. Stephen Hills, Senior Advisor to the Office of Mayor Todd Gloria, and Deputy City Attorney Kate Malcolm from the Office of the City Attorney. The public may view the meeting on public television City TV Channel 24 via Cox Communication and Spectrum or Channel 99 on the ATT Uverse. 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 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 comment by accessing the Zoom webinar online using their 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 in the agenda on how to join by iPhone one tap. To join this webinar by telephone, you may dial 1669-254-5252. And when prompted, 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 an item you would like to comment on, you can raise your hand by tapping either 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 and may only speak once per 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. This is how you'll know it's your turn to speak. If you have joined the webinar by computer, tablet, or smartphone, you'll receive a pop-up notice to select the unmute button on your device. If you have called into the meeting by cell phone or landline, you'll press star six on your phone to unmute yourself. We'll review these instructions again briefly when the public comment period for each item is open. Please wait until the item you wish to speak on has been called before raising your hand. And if you raise your hand during a non-comment period, your hand will be lowered. When you're announced as the next speaker, please unmute yourself and offer your comments. Please also mute the volume on your TV or computer before you begin to speak. A quorum now being present, we will dispense with the approval of the committee actions. The public comment period for this item is now open. And if you have already joined the Zoom webinar online or by phone, please raise your hand if you wish to speak. All right. So this is just for the approval of the committee actions. So if you've raised your hand for a different item, please lower it now. This is just for the approval of the committee actions.
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