San Diego Environment Committee Meeting January 24, 2019: CCA, Pure Water, and 2019 Priorities
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San Diego Environment Committee Meeting – January 24, 2019
The San Diego Environment Committee met on January 24, 2019, under new Chair Dr. Jennifer Campbell, with Councilmembers Vivian Moreno (Vice Chair), Chris Bree, and Scott Sherman present. The meeting covered approval of previous minutes, non-agenda public comments, a discussion of the 2019 committee priorities and work plan, and three action items: a $10 million amendment to the Pure Water engineering contract with Stantec, two $10 million engineering services agreements with Kleinfelder and HDR, and a central discussion on establishing a Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program. The CCA item drew extensive public testimony and was forwarded to the full City Council without a committee recommendation.
Consent Calendar
- The minutes of the November 29, 2018 committee meeting were approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Joe Lakava urged the city to join a lawsuit with Imperial Beach, the Port, and Chula Vista seeking relief from sewage spills in the Tijuana River Valley, citing $2–3 million annual cleanup costs and health threats to lifeguards, stormwater employees, and residents.
- Martha Welch criticized the county for failing to build wastewater treatment plants promised under NAFTA, claimed the city “does not do the right thing,” and alleged that committee work on “dry solids” and pump stations has stalled.
- Mr. Glenn (unidentified full name) argued that the homeless situation is a key environmental issue, especially downtown, and left handouts.
- Karen Zirk (Friends of Rose Creek) called on the committee to push city departments to collaborate beyond their silos, citing Rose Creek as an example managed only for flood control despite potential recreation and habitat benefits.
- For the work plan discussion, Ann Feige (Community Forest Advisory Board Chair) supported climate action and urged robust discussion on the urban natural environment for mitigation and adaptation. J. Powell (Sustainable Energy Advisory Board) supported the work plan, highlighted the undergrounding program’s link to the franchise agreement expiring in two years, and emphasized local clean energy generation.
- On the Pure Water item, Martha Welch expressed hope for local jobs and union contracts.
- On the CCA item, 33 individual speakers and a coalition presentation addressed the committee. The coalition (Gretchen Newsom, IBEW 569; Eddie Price, Grid Alternatives; Matt Vesalakis, etc.) outlined 15 provisions including adoption of the business plan, JPA pathway, competitive rates, regular reports, public participation, a strategic plan, investments in communities of concern, project labor agreements, union neutrality, prevailing wages, exclusion of coal and nuclear, and transparency in power mix notices. Many subsequent speakers supported CCA with these provisions, including Joe Lakava, Joyce Lane (San Diego 350), Paul Cleary (Grid Alternatives San Diego), Clovis Honore (NAACP San Diego), Barry Pollard (Southeast San Diego resident), Sebastian Sarria (San Diego Community Choice Alliance), Kareem Boris (Business for Good), Karen Burnett (Small Bar and Grill), Scott Borden (Uptown Tavern), Mikey Nab (Ponce’s Mexican Restaurant), Tara Hammond (Solar and Energy Storage Association), Brenna Alexandre, Taylor Markwith, Taylor Basso (all from Sullivan Solar Power), Dr. Peter Anderson (Sierra Club San Diego), Anthony DeGuzman (Alliance San Diego), Bill Powers (Powers Engineering – supported but urged city council engagement on the franchise agreement), Cody Peterson (San Diego County Democrats for Environmental Action), Tyson Siegel (Protect Our Communities Foundation), Jennifer Summers (SDG&E – affirmed support for customer choice and partnership), Karen Zirk (also as individual), Steven Gunther (Center for Sustainable Energy), Will Moore (small business lawyer), Kristen Victor (Pacific Beach Eco District), Ciamalis Crespo (San Diego County Taxpayers Association – supported JPA for financial protection), Tommy Howe (former president of San Diego County Democrats for Environmental Action), Jay Powell (emphasized local energy development), Shandon Harbour (Associated Builders and Contractors – opposed union-only language, supported skilled/trained workforce and prevailing wage but not discrimination), Evelyn Andrade Heimsfield (Santee resident – noted Santee last night voted to study CCA with Chula Vista and La Mesa), and Jason Anderson (Cleantech San Diego – supported moving forward).
Discussion Items
- 2019 Environment Committee Priorities and Work Plan: Chair Campbell presented a topic-based work plan aiming for efficiency and innovative policy. Councilmembers shared priorities: Moreno highlighted Tijuana River Valley pollution and holding federal/Mexico governments accountable; Bree focused on climate action plan implementation, mobility, mode share, sea level rise, stormwater, the SDG&E franchise agreement, and Pure Water; Sherman emphasized completion of Mission Trails Regional Park Master Plan (funded in 2008), San Diego River Park, invasive species removal, review of zero waste goals after China’s “National Sword” policy, stormwater regulation reform, and continued cleanup. No vote was taken as it was informational.
- Pure Water Consultant Agreement Amendment (Item 1): John Halminski (Assistant Director) and Amy Dorman presented amendment #2 to the Stantec engineering contract, adding $10 million ($3.9M wastewater-funded, $6.1M water-funded) to support Phase 1 activities (owner-controlled insurance, high-purity oxygen testing, pipeline working groups, etc.) and Phase 2 planning (alternatives study, demonstration plant, regulatory strategy). The contract was originally $30M (Jan 2015) and amended $16.4M (Dec 2016). Accomplishments included a Title 22 engineering report (first for surface water augmentation), pilot studies, and value engineering. Councilmember Moreno questioned Stantec’s EOC goals; Doug Owen (Stantec) reported 22.4% for EOC and over 25% including WBE. Bree confirmed the $10M was already in the $1.4B Phase 1 budget and the contract was competitively bid. Sherman opposed due to the council’s recent vote on construction-phase discriminatory employment practices (union-only requirement). The motion passed 3-1, with Sherman voting no.
- Engineering Services Agreements (Item 2): Matt Vespi (Interim PUD Director) and Soraya Rashid presented two $10 million, five-year as-needed contracts with Kleinfelder and HDR for specialized services (condition assessments, planning studies, regulatory support). Moreno asked about routine work and EOC compliance; staff confirmed they meet EOC goals and contracts supplement in-house staff. Examples included dam assessments after the Oroville spillway incident. The motion passed 4-0.
- Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) Discussion (Item 3): Cody Hooven (Chief Sustainability Officer) and Mark Fulmer (MRW & Associates) presented the business plan, recommending a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) model. Key points: CCA would enable the city to meet its 100% renewable electricity goal by 2035; the business plan shows competitive rates vs. SDG&E generation; revenue could fund local programs, reserves, or lower rates; startup and working capital needs range from $200,000 (city budget) to $5–10M (startup) and $30–120M (working capital, financed by JPA/loans). Risks include legislative/regulatory changes and PCIA uncertainty. To meet the December 31, 2019 CPUC filing deadline for a 2021 launch, staff sought a resolution accepting the business plan, supporting the JPA pathway, authorizing JPA discussions, and pursuing objectives (100% renewable, fiscal responsibility, competitive rates, local jobs, equity). The city attorney noted Charter Section 40 and flagged legal issues with some of the 15 coalition provisions (prevailing wage, PLA, etc.). Councilmember Moreno moved to refer the staff recommendation to full council with no committee recommendation and to have city staff analyze all stakeholder recommendations. Councilmember Bree initially preferred a motion with specific negotiating objectives but ultimately supported Moreno’s motion. Councilmember Sherman seconded, expressing concerns about a government-run utility and union-only mandates, but favored advancing the discussion. Chair Campbell supported moving forward. The motion passed 4-0.
Key Outcomes
- Approval of Pure Water Stantec Amendment: Passed 3-1 (Sherman dissenting).
- Approval of Kleinfelder and HDR Engineering Agreements: Passed 4-0.
- CCA Referral to City Council: Passed 4-0 to forward the staff recommendation without committee recommendation, with a request for city staff to analyze all stakeholder recommendations (including the 15 provisions from the coalition) and report back.
- Meeting adjourned: Next meeting scheduled for February 14, 2019.
Meeting Transcript
Please take your seats. We have side conversations. Please go out in the hall. Good afternoon. Welcome to the environment committee meeting of January 24th, 2019. The meeting is now in order. Let the record reflect that Councilmember Moreno, Councilmember Bree, and Councilmember Sherman are present. The first item is to approve the committee actions of the last meeting, which was November 29, 2018. And on our adoption agenda today, that is the uh the only necessary thing. So could I have a motion, please? Thank you. Uh Councilmember Bree as second to that motion. Thank you, Councilmember Sherman. And um so now we're going to uh go to non-agenda public comment. Oh, I did. Councilmember Brie Marina. You got a motion in a second. Oh, I'm sorry. All in favor say aye. Aye. Thank you, thank you. Okay. Yes. Now we'll go to non-agenda public comment. Uh we have four speakers. Uh and uh this portion of the agenda provides opportunity for members of the public to address the committee on items of interest within the jurisdiction of the committee, but not on today's agenda. The comments will be limited to two minutes. And our first speaker will be Joe Lakava. And our second speaker will be Martha Welch. So please be ready. Okay. Well, thank you to the committee, and welcome to the new chair, uh, Councilmember Campbell. Uh I'm asking the city council to join Imperial Beach, the port, and Chula Vista in their lawsuit that is seeking relief from sewage spills in the sixth canyon collectors and the main Tijuana River Channel. It's costing San Diego two to three million dollars a year to clean up. It's a health threat to our San Diego Lifeguard River Rescue Team, our San Diego stormwater employees, and San Isidro residents, not to mention the beachgoers and of course the surfers down in Imperial Beach. I'm not sure if this item has been discussed in closed session before, but I certainly would urge the city council to consider it and join the lawsuit. Thank you. Thank you. Martha, and then after Martha. We have I believe it's O and the last name is Glenn. And yes, okay, and you'll be after Martha, and then after you will be Karen Zirk. Martha Welts. We never voted to change the committee to non-agenda to two minutes. Used to be three minutes. Um the meeting when you change Monday and Tuesday only. Now the problem with the point Loma used to be the county, believe me, it used to be the county. They always give the cities what they won't do, they gave you that. Because if they have um they don't do that's what they do, they don't give the money, that's what they do all the time. Now you know what happened was when Clinton was a president in NAPTA. The supervisors got 400 million to build three plants.
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