San Diego Economic Development Committee Meeting - February 7, 2024
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San Diego Economic Development and Intergovernmental Relations Committee Meeting - February 7, 2024
The Economic Development and Intergovernmental Relations Committee met on February 7, 2024, at 10:00 AM, chaired by Councilmember Campillo, with Vice Chair Lee and Councilmember Campbell present. The meeting covered approval of minutes, a consent agenda item, the 2024 committee work plan, and informational reports on the Tourism Marketing District, Promise Zone investments, arts and culture mapping, and the Creative City cultural planning process.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of January 10, 2024 Committee Minutes: Passed unanimously. One public speaker commented on past items (bridge to home, creative economy).
- Item 1: Extension of Operating Agreement with Civic San Diego: Approved unanimously. Public comment included support (speaker thanked Civic San Diego for work on housing) and skepticism (speaker questioned past RDA funding and project delays).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Non-Agenda Public Comment:
- Terry Ann Skelly: Urged support for congressional resolution HR 87 on high-potency THC risks to youth; called for education and research programs.
- Francine Maxwell: Highlighted San Diego Foundation report showing Black students twice as likely to be unhoused and 2.5 times more likely to live in poverty; requested dedicated reports on Black community equity.
- Phone number ending in 7968: Raised concerns from a small business owner on the Fifth Avenue Promenade about security and homelessness; also urged better customer service and employee support.
- Peggy Walker: Expressed concern over CCP-linked marijuana cultivation in California; asked if San Diego faces similar illicit operations.
- The original DRA: Criticized city’s storm response, budget failures, and use of Homekey funds; alleged weather manipulation and called for acknowledgment.
- Becky Rapp: Public health educator; highlighted new Colorado study on marijuana impairment testing (96% accuracy); urged cities to cooperate on DUI enforcement.
- Consent Agenda Public Comment:
- Phone number ending in 7968: Supported extending the Civic San Diego agreement, calling it a role model for affordable housing.
- The original DRA: Questioned whether the city is double-paying for unfinished RDA projects and cited policy changes causing delays.
- Item 2 (2024 Work Plan) Public Comment:
- Phone number ending in 7968: Praised Chair Campillo’s work, urged continued focus on behavioral health, and emphasized grants as revenue.
- The original DRA: Criticized harm reduction approaches (needle distribution), forced treatment proposals (SB 43, Prop 1), and policies that hurt small businesses.
- Francine Maxwell: Thanked for the work plan; requested economic investment in the Black Arts and Cultural District in Southeastern San Diego.
- Item 3 (Tourism Marketing District) Public Comment:
- Phone number ending in 7968: Initially opposed TMD but now supports it; praised marketing and convention attendees.
- The original DRA: Argued that storm mitigation failures will harm tourism; questioned funding for World Design Capital while leaving city infrastructure in disrepair.
- Item 4 (Promise Zone) Public Comment:
- Phone number ending in 7968: Called the presentation fabulous; asked about preparation for the 2026 end of designation and data tracking.
- Sally (Emerald Hills): Expressed frustration that the Promise Zone has not brought visible benefits to Troyes Valley; cited poor conditions, failing schools, safety, and stormwater issues.
- The original DRA: Accused the city of painting a positive picture while residents see different reality; questioned where the money went.
- Item 5 (Arts & Culture Map) Public Comment:
- Phone number ending in 7968: Praised the map as data storytelling; asked about addressing the digital divide and making art accessible via computers.
- The original DRA: Supported arts for kids and seniors but questioned linking to tourism; asked if tourists are informed about these programs.
- Item 6 (Creative City Plan) Public Comment:
- Phone number ending in 7968: Emphasized including the digital divide in the ecosystem; noted that computer-based art requires no physical space.
- The original DRA: Concerned about projected decrease in child population; argued that infrastructure needs (storm damage) should take priority over cultural planning.
- Francine Maxwell: Clarified that the Barrio reference should be "Southeastern San Diego" for the Black Arts and Cultural District; called for live-work space in that district.
Discussion Items
- Item 2: 2024 Economic Development and Intergovernmental Relations Committee Work Plan – Chair Campillo presented the work plan, which includes supporting arts and culture funding, small business assistance, behavioral health, substance use disorders, and intergovernmental relations. Councilmembers Campbell and Lee expressed support, with Lee highlighting the AAPI economic impact study and child care. The work plan was approved unanimously.
- Item 3: Fiscal Year 2023 San Diego Tourism Marketing District Annual Performance Report – Presented by Colleen Anderson (Executive Director) and Elizabeth Studebaker. Key stats: 33.5:1 ROI, 214,000 tourism-related jobs, visitor spending $14.2B in 2023 (up 4%), hotel revenues $3.6B (20% above 2019), TOT collections up 15% from FY22. TMD board restored catastrophe fund to $14M. Sports San Diego launched in FY22 with 21:1 ROI. Future expansion into international markets (Australia, Asia). Informational only; no vote.
- Item 4: Promise Zone Investment Snapshot and Summary – Presented by Michelle Morano and Amber Weber. Since 2016 federal designation, the city has invested $2.5B. Highlights: 1,500+ infrastructure projects, 2,140 new small businesses (387% growth rate vs. 228% citywide), 44,000 LMI residents assisted, 3,700 new affordable housing units planned, 100+ miles of street repairs. Designation ends July 2026. Informational; no vote.
- Item 5: Arts and Culture Citywide 2022 and 2023 – Measuring Impact and Mapping Reach – Presented by Jonathan Glus, Christine Jones, and Gabrielle Romberger. The interactive GIS map shows 652 activity locations citywide in 2023, with 815,000 participants in outreach. 94% of 2023 programming was in-person. The map helps identify service gaps and supports equity. Informational; no vote.
- Item 6: Creative City Cultural Planning Process Update – Presented by Jonathan Glus and David Plantner Saunders (Cultural Planning Group). Over 1,800 people engaged through 70 events. Five emerging themes: global artistic innovation, building markets for artists, creative entrepreneurship, arts in community (addressing inequities), and resources (funding, affordable space). Preliminary implications include increased investment, equitable grantmaking, and expanded city capacity. Informational; no vote.
Key Outcomes
- Approval of January 10, 2024 Minutes: Unanimous.
- Approval of Consent Agenda Item 1 (Civic San Diego Operating Agreement Extension): Unanimous.
- Approval of 2024 Committee Work Plan (Item 2): Unanimous, with a suggestion from Councilmember Campbell to request a report on World Design Capital’s use of $3M city funding.
- Next Meeting: Wednesday, March 13, 2024, at 2:00 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon, and welcome everyone to the economic development and intergovernmental relations committee meeting of February 7th, 2024, and our committee liaison Sarah Jordan will provide information and instruction for the public to participate in today's meeting. Chair Campio. And calling the role. Members of the public who wish to provide virtual testimony must enter the virtual speaking queue by raising their hand before the queue closes. The queue will close when the last virtual speaker finishes speaking or five minutes after the conclusion of the in-person public testimony ends, whichever occurs first. Please note that if you're watching on City TV Channel 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. If you wish to speak on a particular item, please wait for that item to be called and then raise your hand to speak by tapping the raise your hand icon, or if you are a call-in participant, by pressing star nine on your landline or cell phone. If you raise your hand during a non-comment period, your hand will be lowered, Chair. Thank you, Sarah, for reviewing those instructions for the benefit of the public. A quorum is now present and let's just dispense with the approval of the committee minutes of January 10th, 2024. Sarah, do we have any public comment on our past committee minutes? Thank you, Chair. We do not have any speakers here in chambers, but we do have one hand raised in the virtual queue. So I will begin the five minute timer for all those to indicate if they wish to speak. Each speaker will get one minute. This is on the past committee minutes. Our first speaker is the original. Please unmute yourself and provide your testimony. And we'll have one minute to speak to the past committee minutes. Yes, uh, one of the items that was addressed was the bridge to home, and there were still many items that needed funding. So as the storm has come, it's a little bit terrifying to think about what we have to face in getting things created for the people for them to have homes. Um and then the creative economy, um, you know, that's something where we are, you know, kind of only being selective with who we want to be the creatives in the um uh community by way of you know keeping out buskers and different people who aren't engaging in getting the permits to you know play the game uh that you want them to play to be able to provide um their alt arts and culture to um the community, and they should be able to have a space to do that without you coming in and um, you know, just trying to have your hands in their pocket of the money that they're making. They should be able to do it um freely without being encumbered by all of your restrictions. Thank you for your testimony and chair with another hands in the virtual queue. That concludes public comment on the past committee minutes. Thank you very much, Sarah. We'll now move to committee comments, questions, and a motion on the vote for the approval of the committee minutes of January 10th, 2024. Do I have a motion? I see a motion from Vice Chair Lee, and I see a second from Councilmember Campbell. We have a motion and a second, and we'll now take the vote. Vice Chair Lee? Yes. Councilmember Campbell. And I am also a yes. That passes unanimously with all members present. We'll now take up non-agenda public comment. The council members respect and appreciate the public's input and are fully committed to protecting every participant's free speech rights at council and committee meetings. Sarah, please proceed with our non-agenda public comment. Thank you, Chair. Per rule 2.7, non-agenda public comment is an opportunity for members of the public to comment on items that are not on the agenda but are within the subject matter jurisdiction of this committee. Each speaker will have two minutes. If you are in person, please come up to the reserve seats at the front of the room and when your name is called, be prepared to come up to the lectern in the order called. Members of the public who wish to provide virtual testimony must enter the virtual speaking queue by raising their hand before the queue closes. The queue will close when the last virtual speaker finishes speaking or when the five minutes after in-person public testimony ends, whichever occurs first. We do not have any speakers here in chambers, but we have a few hands raised in the virtual queue, so I will begin the five-minute timer for all those to indicate if they wish to speak. We will begin testimony with Terry Ann Skelly. Ms. Skelly, please unmute yourself and provide your comments. You will have two minutes.
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