Economic Development & Intergovernmental Relations Committee Meeting – October 30, 2024
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Economic Development & Intergovernmental Relations Committee Meeting – October 30, 2024
The Economic Development & Intergovernmental Relations Committee met on October 30, 2024, to approve a consent agenda, endorse the 2025–2026 City of San Diego Legislative Platform, and receive informational updates on state legislation, an economic impact study of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) businesses, and a presentation from Sports San Diego. All votes were unanimous among the three members present.
Consent Calendar
- The committee approved items 1–5 without discussion or objection: (1) minutes from October 2, 2024; (2) disposition and development agreement for 40th and Alpha Street with Community Housing Works; (3) compensation agreement for Linda Vista Road properties; (4) compensation agreement for Balboa Theater; and (5) a five‑year corporate partnership agreement with National University, San Diego College of Continuing Education, UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies, and UC San Diego Rady School of Management to be the city’s official employee education program partners.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Non‑Agenda Public Comment: Several speakers addressed a range of topics:
- A speaker expressed interest in downtown economic development and suggested requiring financial literacy training for families receiving utility assistance.
- Michelle Hoyt (District 1 resident, Space for Art) urged support for AB 812 (artist‑focused affordable housing) and creation of a local tenant preference ordinance for artists, noting the city’s cultural plan prioritizes affordable artist spaces.
- Blair Beekman discussed international conflicts and urged local practices of openness and dialogue.
- Madison cited a podcast series on cannabis economics, noting the illegal market’s dominance and urging regulation to protect youth.
- Terry Ann Skelly (parent and planning group member) raised concerns about illegal cannabis/hemp products marketed to children, referencing a California Department of Public Health report on high‑potency cannabis risks.
- Becky Rapp (public health educator) reported on Sacramento County’s ordinance banning intoxicating hemp‑derived cannabinoids and asked San Diego to adopt similar penalties.
- Peggy Walker highlighted a Wall Street Journal report on contaminated marijuana products cleared for sale due to flawed testing.
- Judy Strang urged enforcement against shops selling unregulated THC products, especially in communities of color.
- Consent Agenda Public Comment: Blair Beekman asked about Councilmember Campbell’s absence and requested periodic public updates on her condition.
- Item 6 (Legislative Platform) Public Comment: Representatives of labor unions (Carol Kim, Business Manager of San Diego County Building and Construction Trades Council; Samuel Jaco Estrada, Political Director; Chris Ford Gomez, organizer with San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council; Fernanda Flores, Political Director of IATSE Local 122) proposed additions and revisions to the legislative platform including support for workers’ rights, film production incentives, and stronger enforcement of labor laws. They urged the committee to adopt these worker‑centric updates.
- Item 7 (State Legislative Update) Public Comment: One speaker criticized the city’s spending on climate initiatives at the expense of housing and homelessness.
- Item 8 (AAPI Community Report) Public Comment: A speaker questioned the study’s focus on anti‑Asian hate and the impacts of COVID‑19 policies on all businesses.
- Item 9 (Sports San Diego) Public Comment: A speaker argued that the city’s infrastructure and homelessness problems should take priority over attracting sports events.
Discussion Items
- Item 6: Approval of the 2025–2026 City of San Diego Legislative Platform Walt Bishop (Director of Government Affairs) and Dion Akers presented the platform’s updates, including priorities on mental health, housing, homelessness, Vision Zero, ocean piers, pre‑disaster mitigation, Tijuana River Valley emergency designation, clean energy, cultural districts, human trafficking, veteran hiring, and child care. The chair thanked staff and, after hearing labor’s recommendations, made a motion to approve the staff recommendation and direct the Department of Government Affairs to integrate the labor‑centric proposals. Vice Chair Lee seconded and expressed support for provisions on quick‑build transportation and single‑stair multifamily housing. Councilmember Foster asked for periodic updates on reparations language. The motion passed unanimously (3‑0).
- Item 7: Fall 2024 State Legislative Update (Information Only) Moira Top (city’s state lobbyist) reviewed the 2024 session: the state budget closed a $46.8 billion deficit while preserving core programs; the city secured continued HAP funding (Round 6) and increased youth job core funding; key sponsored bills included SB 1361 (homeless services contract streamlining), SB 1395 (shelter crisis act extension), AB 1635 (Hillcrest DMV housing), SB 689 (coastal zone housing), AB 2501 (expedited water board permits), AB 3227 (stormwater clearance), and AB 3024 (Stop Hate Littering Act, which included an urgency clause). Looking ahead to 2025, she noted a quarter of the legislature will be new and that policy focus will depend on election outcomes, including Proposition 4 (climate bond) and Proposition 36 (public safety). No action required.
- Item 8: Economic Impact Study of Asian American Pacific Islander Community Report (Information Only) Vince Vasquez presented findings: AAPI‑owned businesses constitute nearly a quarter of all California businesses, employ over 1 million workers, and generate $200 billion in statewide economic impact. In San Diego County, 56,000 AAPI businesses employ 70,000 workers. Key challenges include inflation, high operating costs, housing‑driven hiring barriers, and public safety concerns. Policy recommendations included enhancing marketing partnerships, creating a business resiliency fund, improving public transportation, and promoting intergenerational business transfers. Vice Chair Lee and Councilmembers discussed ways to implement recommendations, including leveraging existing city programs and the Strategic Alliance of Ethnic Chambers. The report is expected to be finalized by year‑end. No action required.
- Item 9: Presentation from Sports San Diego (Information Only) Mark Neville (CEO) and Nathan Cop (VP of Strategic Initiatives) reported that sports tourism nationally generated $128 billion in direct spending. Sports San Diego, which owns the Holiday Bowl, Rady Children’s Invitational, and California State Games, achieved over 130,000 hotel room nights in fiscal year ending June 30, 2024 (up from 35,000 in 2022). They proposed a Global Sports Event Fund requiring up to $2.2 million annually from Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) to provide incentives for event recruitment (50%) and support existing events (50%). They noted that competing destinations like Florida and Texas have such funds and that San Diego lost the Gay Games due to lack of incentives. Upcoming global events (FIFA World Cup 2026, Olympics 2028, Rugby World Cups) present opportunities. Committee members expressed support for further discussion, especially during the FY26 budget process. No action required.
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda approved unanimously (3‑0).
- Legislative platform approved unanimously (3‑0) with direction to integrate labor‑proposed revisions.
- Informational items (state update, AAPI report, Sports San Diego) were received; no votes required.
- The next regularly scheduled committee meeting will be Wednesday, December 11, 2024, at 2:00 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon. Welcome to the Economic Development Intergovernmental Relations Committee meeting of October 30, 2024. Our committee liaison Sarah Jordan will provide information and instruction for the public to participate in today's meeting. Thank you, Chair Campio. While members of the public are able to attend the meeting in person, this meeting is being televised and live streamed on the city's website, and the council administration will continue to make arrangements for the public to comment using the Zoom web platform. Members of the public who wish to provide virtual testimony must enter the virtual queue by raising their hand before the virtual queue closes. This queue will close when the last virtual speaker finishes speaking or five minutes after in-person testimony ends, whichever occurs first. This will allow for better meeting management between the two platforms and ensure the committee is able to manage and conduct city business. We appreciate the public's cooperation. Chair Campio. I'll call the meeting of the economic development and intergovernmental relations committee to order. Now call the role. And I'm also present, also present with us. It's Charles Monica from the office of the IBA, which is him. Julie Inman from the Office of the City Attorney, and Stephen Hill, Senior Policy Advisor from the Office of the Mayor. Thank you, Chair. If you are in person, please complete a speaker slip located to the entrance of chambers and place it on the tray indicated at the front of the room. Please do so in a timely manner to improve ensure proper meeting management. In-person testimony will conclude before virtual testimony begins. 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 of the agenda on the city's webpage to join the Zoom webinar by telephone. Please dial 1669-2545252, inputting webinar ID 161-965-4979 pound. This information is also available on the agenda and it will appear on the screen during the public comment period for each agenda item. As a reminder, members of the public who wish to provide virtual testimony must enter the virtual speaking queue by raising their hand before the queue closes. This queue will close when the last virtual speaker finishes speaking or five minutes after the conclusion of in-person public testimony ending, whichever occurs 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 meet your TV or computer when it is your turn to speak. If you wish to speak to a particular item, please wait for that item to be called and then raise your hand by tapping the raise your hand icon, or if you are a call-in participant by pressing star nine on your cell phone or landline. If you raise your hand during a non-comment period, your hand will be lowered. Chair. Seeing none, do we have any requests for continuances? Seeing none will 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. So always interested in economic development and housing, especially in the downtown area. But it sounds like they can up to 300 families, and then the landlord is paid or the utilities are paid directly. I would like to suggest that during that time, and I guess they have up to 24 months, that they also be required to take uh budgeting, uh financial literacy, things like that. Uh I think that would be beneficial for the long range. It's kind of like habitat for humanity. Yes, you get a house down the road, but you also have a lot of sweat equity into it. So it's the same same kind of idea. Um I have this might have more to do with economic development. I was just talking with someone, Kyle, and uh I've been arguing for years that the family system uh building that's up at 17th and Imperial be on taken over, whatever. And for years I've argued this, it just sits there, prize out for development. And he did say today that uh they had looked at it six months ago, it's in horrible shape. I said, Well, obviously give it to the developer and get it done. And he said that's almost exactly what will happen. So that would be fantastic. That's right across from the uh sprung tent uh for and Father Joe's villages, so it's an excellent place for uh low, very low income housing. So I was excited to hear that because I keep going after different places in downtown and get nowhere. Nobody ever gets back to me on different things that I put up. But I'm always interested in economic development in general for downtown.
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