Economic Development Committee Meeting - May 18, 2022
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Economic Development and Intergovernmental Relations Committee Meeting - May 18, 2022
The Economic Development and Intergovernmental Relations Committee met on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, at 10:00 AM. The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format due to the COVID-19 state of emergency, with Vice Chair Kate, Councilmember Campbell, and Chair Campillo present. The committee approved several consent items, received a state affairs update, and voted on recommendations related to the disparity study, a new maintenance assessment district, PBID appropriations, and the tourism marketing district budget.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the minutes from the April 13, 2022 meeting.
- Approved a consent agenda item authorizing a marketing partnership agreement with Compass Group USA to become the official snack and beverage vending partner for the city for up to five years. The motion passed 3-0.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Judy Strang (non‑agenda public comment) commended the committee for focusing youth economic programs and urged a similar upstream approach for health issues. She expressed opposition to marijuana, tobacco, and liquor businesses in neighborhoods of color, stating children should not see such establishments.
- Dennis Lasalle (on Item 2) spoke as a small business consultant and member of APWA, supporting the staff proposal to implement disparity study recommendations.
- Alonso Vivas (Downtown San Diego Partnership) spoke on Item 4, highlighting the Clean and Safe program’s 2020 accomplishments: 1.9 million pounds of trash collected, 51,000 welfare checks, and 300 people connected to permanent housing.
- Angela Landsberg (North Park Main Street) spoke on Item 4, noting the PBID’s impact: 3,444 blocks cleaned and 866 truckloads of trash removed in six months.
Discussion Items
State Affairs Update (Item 6) – Informational item presented by Moira Topp (legislative consultant) and Mr. Granda (Department of Government Affairs). Key points: California’s $97.5 billion surplus (May Revise budget), legislative calendar, housing and homelessness priorities (HAP, HomeKey, encampment grants), behavioural health (Care Court), infrastructure (dam safety, drought resilience, San Vicente hydropump), transportation, public safety (ghost guns, organised retail theft, AB 2239 sponsor), and small business/ workforce development. Councilmember Campbell raised concerns about expanding the definition of “gravely disabled” in homelessness legislation.
Disparity Study Implementation (Item 2) – Presented by Claudia Abarca (Purchasing & Contracting) and Christian Silva. BBC Research’s 2020 study found disparities for minority‑ and women‑owned businesses in construction, professional services, and goods/services. Staff recommended exhaustive race‑neutral measures (SLBE program refinements, bonding assistance, small business set‑asides, unbundling) before considering race‑conscious goals due to Prop 209 constraints. Chair Campillo motioned (A) to approve staff recommendations and (B) to direct staff and City Attorney to work with Council Districts 4 and 7 to develop a race‑ and gender‑conscious program meeting strict scrutiny. Motion passed 3‑0.
North Park Maintenance Assessment District (Item 3) – Presented by Sean Kerriffin (Economic Development) and Angela Landsberg (North Park Main Street). Proposed Special Enhancement District would cover the same area as the PBID, providing enhanced maintenance funded by property assessments. Outreach since April 2020 reached 700 property owners, petitions exceeded 30% threshold. Motion to approve staff recommendation passed 3‑0.
FY23 Property and Business Improvement Districts (Item 4) – Presented by Sean Kerriffin. Approvals for Downtown San Diego PBID (through 2025) and North Park PBID (final six months) FY23 annual reports and budgets. Downtown PBID covers 13,906 parcels; North Park PBID has 522 parcels. Both provide enhanced cleaning, safety, and beautification. Motion to accept staff recommendation passed 3‑0.
FY23 San Diego Tourism Marketing District Report (Item 5) – Presented by Colleen Anderson (TMD Corporation) and Carrie Kapich (SD Tourism Authority). Tourism recovery is uneven: leisure travel strong, meetings/conventions slower. FY23 budget ~$57 million (assessments $39.5M plus reserves). SDTA recommended $34.5M; other allocations for events and city cost recovery. Projects: media campaigns, sales force rebuild, new markets (Denver, Las Vegas, Seattle, Dallas), and Tourism Accelerator Program for diverse‑owned businesses. Motion to approve the report and expenditures passed 3‑0.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar (minutes + Compass Group vending agreement): Approved 3‑0.
- Disparity Study Implementation: Approved staff recommendations and directed development of a race‑conscious program subject to legal review. Vote: 3‑0.
- North Park MAD Formation: Approved to proceed to ballot mailing and public hearing. Vote: 3‑0.
- FY23 PBID Annual Reports: Approved downtown and North Park appropriations. Vote: 3‑0.
- FY23 TMD Annual Report: Approved report and expenditures, including FY22 out‑year reimbursements. Vote: 3‑0.
- Next Meeting: Scheduled for Wednesday, June 15, 2022, at 2:00 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon. Until further notice, committee meetings will be conducted pursuant to the provisions of California Government Code Section 54953e, 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 call-in options or an internet based service option during the proclaimed state of emergency. While the public is allowed to attend the meeting in person, we encourage you to maintain six feet of social distance as well as California 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 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 allows the better meeting management between the two platforms and to ensure the council is able to manage and conduct city business. We appreciate the public's cooperation. I'll now call the meeting of the Economic Development and Intergovernmental Relations Committee of Wednesday, May 18th, 2022 to order. Calling now the role, Vice Chair Kate. Here. Councilmember Campbell. Council President Pro Tem Montgomery Step is absent today, and I am present. Vice Chair Kate, uh committee member and I are here attending in council chambers. We also have Baku Patel, Fiscal and Policy Analyst in the Office of the Independent Budget Analyst, joining us virtually. Stephen Hills, Senior Advisor from the Office of Mayor Gloria, and Deputy City Attorney Kate Malcolm from the Office of City Attorney Mara Elliott attending in chambers. If you're in person, please complete a speaker slip located at the entrance of the chambers and place it in the box indicated at the speaker 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 that is listed online in the preamble language of the agenda on the city's webpage. And to join that committee, click the link there. To join the webinar by telephone, please dial 669-254-5252. And when prompted, the webinar ID is 161-735-9340 pound. The information will be available on the agenda and appear on screen during public comment periods for each item. Members of the public who wish to provide testimony via call-in or internet based option must enter the virtual speaking queue within five minutes from the conclusion of public testimony. Please note if you're watching on City TV Channel 24 or online, there may be a delay. Members of the public who wish to provide testimony via call-in or internet option can raise their hand now. And if there's anybody in person to speak, please proceed to the front of the room. If you're watching on City TV, the number again is 669-254-5252, and the webinar ID is 161-735-9340 Pound. Ms. Barnhorst will announce when it is your turn to speak. Unmute yourself by hitting the unmute button or star six. Ms. Barnhorst, do we have any in-person or virtual speakers? No, we have oh, I'm sorry. We have one person with their hand raised, Judy Strang. These are on the minutes from April 13th, 2022. Okay, I see you've lowered your hand, so that concludes public comment on this item. Thank you very much. Uh we'll now entertain a motion for approval of committee actions for Wednesday, April 13th, 2022. Do I have a motion? I have a motion from Victor Kate. Second. And a second from Councilmember Campbell having a motion and second. Uh we will now go to questions and comments, and each council member will register their vote. Vice Chair Kate. Councilmember Campbell. Yes. And I'm a yes as well. That passes unanimously with members present. Non-agenda public comment is now open. Each speaker will have two minutes.
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