Economic Development and Intergovernmental Relations Committee Meeting - April 13, 2022
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Economic Development and Intergovernmental Relations Committee Meeting - April 13, 2022
The Economic Development and Intergovernmental Relations Committee met on April 13, 2022, at 10:00 AM (UTC) in a hybrid format. The committee approved minutes from March 9, 2022, heard non-agenda public comments, and unanimously advanced three agenda items: a resolution to designate the San Diego Black Arts and Culture District in Encanto, a second amendment to the compensation agreement with Civic San Diego for the East Village Green Project, and the Fiscal Year 2023 Business Improvement District (BID) budgets.
Consent Calendar
- The committee unanimously approved the committee actions from the meeting of March 9, 2022, with no public comments.
Public Comments & Testimony
Non-Agenda Public Comment: Three speakers addressed the committee:
- A speaker (parent) expressed concern about reduced marijuana tax rates (from 8% to 2%) and urged restoration to fund youth recreation programs, referencing the upcoming City Council item 201 on equity in recreation.
- Joyce Sanyata (District 3) highlighted the new IIJA federal infrastructure law guide and urged the city's government affairs team to stay informed on program rollouts.
- Becky Rath, a parent and public health advocate, supported new street vendor restrictions but raised concerns about enforcement and a planned "Cannabis Row" at Earth Fair in Balboa Park, questioning compliance with the city's marijuana ordinance near parks.
Item 1 – San Diego Black Arts and Culture District: Six speakers supported the resolution:
- Christine Martinez (Arts & Culture San Diego) expressed full support.
- Joyce Sanyata voiced support and noted the decades-long effort.
- Peter Kaminski (Balboa Park Cultural Partnership) strongly encouraged moving forward.
- Daniel Schmiehowski praised the district and mentioned historical figures.
- Francine Maxwell (Southeastern San Diego resident) applauded the work and thanked the council.
Item 2 – East Village Green Funding: Five speakers spoke:
- Betsy Brennan (Downtown San Diego Partnership) strongly supported the funding allocation.
- Daniel Schmiehowski questioned park design elements and suggested French-style sculptures.
- Diane Peabody Straw (East Village Association) thanked staff and expressed excitement.
- Joyce Sanyata (District 3) supported the project but asked for clarity on DIF funding and emphasized security needs.
Item 3 – FY2023 BID Budgets: Seven speakers, all BID managers or representatives, expressed support and gratitude:
- Betsy Brennan (City Center BID) thanked staff for professionalizing KPIs.
- Benjamin Nichols (Hillcrest Business Association) highlighted the BID program's return on investment.
- Michael Trimble (Gaslamp Quarter Association) thanked staff.
- Jody Rudick (La Jolla Village BID) noted membership growth to 1,276 (near pre-pandemic levels).
- Diane Peabody Straw (East Village Association) thanked staff for partnership.
- Chris Gomez (Little Italy Association) requested moving budgets forward.
- Daniel Schmiehowski praised former Mayor Susan Golding's work on BIDs.
- Joyce Sanyata (District 3) asked about outdoor cafe roof removal timelines.
- Marco Ortiz (Diamond Business Association, president) emphasized the BID's critical role during COVID-19.
Discussion Items
Item 1 – Resolution to Designate the San Diego Black Arts and Culture District
- Council President Pro Tem Montgomery Step introduced the item. Tiffany Harrison (PSL Link Community Consultant) presented the background, history, and community support for designating Imperial Avenue from 61st to 69th Street in Encanto as a cultural district. Dehan Blevins (District 4 Arts and Culture Commissioner) and Gayeti Fini (San Diego African American Museum of Fine Arts) provided remarks. The resolution acknowledges the area's historical significance, uplifts community organizations, and highlights the need for Caltrans signage. The City Attorney noted that final resolution language would be drafted by her office. Council members expressed strong support, with Vice Chair Kate noting parallels to the Convoy Pan-Asian Cultural District. Chair Campillo committed to advocating for state and federal funding for the district. The item passed unanimously.
Item 2 – Second Amendment to Compensation Agreement with Civic San Diego for East Village Green Project
- Christina Bibler (Director of Economic Development) and Brian Schoenfish (Deputy Director) presented the project. The East Village Green is a two-acre park with a recreation center, central lawn, playground, splash pad, restrooms, public art, and an underground parking garage (182 spaces). The original project budget of $52 million (2019) was exceeded by the lowest qualifying bid, raising total costs to approximately $79 million. No general fund dollars are requested; the gap is funded by downtown-specific sources: additional development impact fees, parking garage/meter revenues, and FAR bonus fund revenues. Four deduct alternates (decorative overhead structure, decorative fence, two vendor buildings) were eliminated to reduce costs. The project timeline: City Council approval in May 2022, construction start in August 2022, completion by February 2025. Council members asked about restroom provisions (11 stalls, including flush toilets) and maintenance. Parks Director Andy Field confirmed improved restroom access. The item passed unanimously.
Item 3 – Fiscal Year 2023 Business Improvement District Budgets
- Sean Carafin (Program Manager) presented the FY2023 BID budget package for 18 districts managed by 17 nonprofits. Total assessments of approximately $1.7 million will be collected from about 12,000 businesses. The process requires two Council meetings per state law. Staff also reported performance metrics and accountability provisions from a 2016 audit, including annual bylaw reviews for disparate impact, anti-harassment policies, and public input opportunities. Council President Pro Tem Montgomery Step noted the removal of the holiday bridge lights program from the Diamond BID budget and requested further discussion. The item passed unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Item 1: Motion by Council President Pro Tem Montgomery Step, seconded by Vice Chair Kate, to adopt the staff recommendation and forward the resolution to the full City Council. Passed unanimously (4-0).
- Item 2: Motion by Vice Chair Kate, seconded by Chair Campillo, to approve the second amendment and additional funding. Passed unanimously (4-0).
- Item 3: Motion by Council President Pro Tem Montgomery Step, seconded by Chair Campillo, to approve the FY2023 BID budget package. Passed unanimously (4-0).
- The committee adjourned to the next meeting scheduled for Wednesday, May 18, 2022, at 2:00 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon. And welcome to the Economic Development and Intergovernmental Relations Committee meeting of April 13th, 2022. Good afternoon to everyone. And until further notice, committee meetings will be conducted pursuant to the provisions of California Government Code, Section 5495E, added by Assembly Bill 361, which allows the city to use teleconferencing and to provide the public an opportunity to address the city council via a call-in option and an internet-based service option during a proclaimed state of emergency. While the public is allowed to attend the meetings in person, we encourage you to maintain the six feet of social distance as well as following mask guidelines where masks are strongly recommended. In addition to being able to attend in person, this meeting is being televised and live streamed on the city's website, and the committee liaison will continue to make arrangements for the public to comment using the Zoom webinar platform. Additionally, members of the public who wish to provide testimony via a call-in or internet-based service option must enter the virtual speaking queue within five minutes after the conclusion of in-person public testimony or before the virtual speaking queue is exhausted, whichever occurs first. This will allow for better meeting management between the two platforms and ensure the council is better able to manage and conduct city business. We appreciate the public's cooperation. I will now call the meeting of the Economic Development and Intergovernmental Relations Committee of Wednesday, April 13th, 2022 to order. Calling now the role. Vice Chair Kate. Councilmember Campbell. Councilmember Montgomery Step. Here. And I am also present. We are attending either in chambers and Councilmember Campbell is attending virtually. Also with us today is Baku Patel, Fiscal and Policy Analyst in the Office of the Independent Budget Analysts in Chambers. Steve Hill, Senior Advisor from the Office of Mayor Todd Gloria. Deputy City Attorney Daphne Scogan from the Office of City Attorney Mara Elliott, who are attending virtually. If you're in person, please complete a speaker slip located at the entrance of chambers and place it in the box indicated on the speaker's lectern at the front of the room. Please do so in a timely manner to ensure proper meeting management. Members of the public can join the webinar by computer, tablet, or smartphone by accessing the link, which is listed online in the preamble language on the agenda on the city's webpage. The link to join the committee meeting webinar by computer tablet or smartphone is listed in the agenda and to join the webinar by telephone. The number is 1669-254-5252, and our webinar ID is 161-735-934-0 Pound. This information is available on the agenda and will appear on the screen when it's public comment period opens for each item. Members of the public who wish to provide testimony via the call-in option or internet-based service option must enter the virtual speaking queue within five minutes after the conclusion of in-person public testimony or before the queue is exhausted, whichever comes first. Please note that if you're watching via City TV 24 or online, there may be a delay. Please participate via the audio on your phone and mute your TV or computer when it is your turn to speak. When I introduce an item you would like to comment on, please 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 will be taken in the order in which you raise your hand, and you may only speak once per particular item. As our committee consultant today, Justine Murray indicates it is your turn to speak. She will ask you to call you by your name as it appears on the Zoom webinar attendee list, or we'll read out the four digits of your phone number if you've called into the meeting, and this is how you will know it is your turn to speak. If you're in person, please come up to the reserve seats at the front of the room when your name is called and be prepared to come to the lectern in the order called. If you've 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 cell phone or landline, you will press star six on your phone to unmute yourself. And we will review these instructions briefly again when the public comment period for items is open. Please wait until the item you wish to speak to has been called before raising your hand to speak. And 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 your comments, and please 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 before us, which is the approval of the meeting of night March 9th, 2022. The public comment period for this item is now open. If you're in person, please bring up your speaker splip. Uh and the members of the public who wish to provide testimony via call-in option or internet-based service option must enter the virtual speaking queue. If you've already joined the Zoom webinar online or by phone, please raise your hand if you wish to speak. If you're watching, please call 1669-254-5252. Uh webinar ID is 161-735-9340 Pound. We currently do not have any speakers who have submitted speaker slips in chambers, and it looks like we have uh zero speakers in the virtual queue. Very good. One moment.
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