San Diego Environmental Committee Meeting – June 13, 2019

The Environmental Committee of the San Diego City Council met on June 13, 2019 at 9:00 AM. The meeting covered a range of environmental issues, including a renewed state of emergency for the Tijuana River Valley, new curbside recycling contracts reflecting market shifts, and funding for long-term kelp forest monitoring. Public comments highlighted concerns about Campland lease extensions, a proposed fur ban, and the need for timely analysis of wetland restoration alternatives.

Consent Calendar

• Item 1: Award task order number 5 to Ramona Paving and Construction for utility underground project Block DBB Job 1 in Crown Point.
• Item 2: Award task order number 6 to Ramona Paving and Construction for utility underground project Block 2 BB Job 2 in Crown Point.
• Item 3: Water supply assessment for the Park and Broadway project.
• Item 4: Approval of cost-sharing agreement between the City of San Diego and County of San Diego for the San Pascual Valley Groundwater Basin groundwater sustainability plan.
• Item 5: Agreement with Woodward & Curran for development of a groundwater sustainability plan for the San Pascual Valley Groundwater Basin.
• Item 6: As-needed consultant services agreement with SCS Engineers for compliance with greenhouse gas regulations for landfills. All items were approved unanimously without discussion.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Martha Welsh (Pure Water/community member): Expressed concerns about the city’s sewage and stormwater systems, alleging that the county failed to build treatment plants with federal funds from the Clinton era, causing pollution to Mission Bay and the ocean.
• Peggy Walker (Sorrento Valley resident): Raised safety concerns about cannabis extraction labs being permitted by the city, noting that 27 of 40 MFP applications are for extraction labs and citing recent explosions at unpermitted labs. Requested a staff report on resources needed to protect businesses and residents.
• Karen Zirk (Friends of Rose Creek): Opposed Camp Land receiving $8 million in rent credits for De Anza Cove cleanup, arguing that $2 million in city staff estimates would suffice and that the remaining $6 million should go to other regional parks. Highlighted the Mission Bay Park Improvement Fund.
• Debbie Knight (Friends of Rose Canyon): Criticized the proposed Camp Land contract, urging that the contract return to council for review every three years and that the "rewild" alternative receive full EIR analysis. Characterized the rent credits as a giveaway to a private company.
• Jim Pugh (San Diego Audubon Society): Advocated for the "rewild" study to be placed on the committee’s July agenda, noting it has been available for six months. Expressed concerns that the Campland lease extension is an environmental issue and that the rewild alternative may not be fully funded or analyzed unless council requests it.
• Chuck Dunning (community member): Questioned the business logic of Camp Land investing $8 million in a project they could walk away from in five years, and worried that occupying the mobile home park could create a "possession is nine-tenths" situation. Concerned about $8 million in rent credits coming from taxpayers.
• Christa Dunning (volunteer/ Audubon swimmer): Urged wetlands restoration before extending Campland’s lease, citing poor water quality and trash in Rose Creek. Asked that solid science from Audubon be considered.
• Megan Flaherty (San Diego Audubon / ReWild Coalition): Asked that the ReWild study be presented before the Campland proposal goes to full council on June 24. Pointed out that investing $6 million in camping infrastructure would preclude other alternatives during the De Anza revitalization planning process.
• Stacy Plaikatis (San Diego native): Requested adding a fur ban ordinance to the July 18 meeting docket, citing environmental and ethical concerns and noting similar bans in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and others.
• Jose (community member): Supported the fur ban, describing it as a simple step and noting growing community support.
• Cheyenne Cox (San Diego Vegan Democrats): Stated strong community support for a fur ban, including a resolution from the San Diego County Democratic Central Committee.
• Doreen Nasser (35-year resident): Detailed the cruelty and environmental harm of the fur industry, including toxic chemicals used in tanning. Urged the committee to add the fur ban to the July 18 agenda.
• Liz Jacobelli (resident): Expanded on the animal cruelty and pollution from fur farms, and asked for the fur ban to be on the next ballot.
• Tommy Howe (community member): Opposed the characterization of potential loss of campsites as a "crisis," emphasizing that the city faces real crises like homelessness and climate change. Supported a presentation from ReWild next month.
• David McCullough (landscape architect): Cautioned that the Campland deal is being rushed and compared it to a "mousetrap," urging the city to slow down and consider other alternatives.
• Hal Haas (resident): Urged the committee to add a fur ban to the vote next month, arguing that fur is unnecessary and that other California cities have already acted.

Discussion Items

• Item 7: Tijuana River Valley State of Emergency Councilmember Moreno introduced a resolution updating the state of emergency due to ongoing discharge of raw sewage, solid waste, and sediment from Tijuana into the Tijuana River Valley. Staff presented a video tour and data showing: since 1993, Tijuana’s population has more than doubled; California State Parks hauled 468 tons of solid waste in 2015 and removed 520,000 cubic yards of sediment from 2005 to 2018; hazardous substances such as DDT, benzene, hexavalent chromium have been found in water samples. Dr. Oscar Romo (UCSD/UN Committee) described urbanization and illegal dumping in Tijuana canyons, and a project to repurpose trash into trash booms. Mayor’s office confirmed ongoing advocacy with U.S. and Mexican officials. The resolution passed unanimously.

• Item 8: Curbside Recyclable Materials Processing and Marketing Contracts Staff presented new contracts with Allen Company and EdCo Disposal Corporation for processing curbside recyclables. Due to China’s National Sword policy, the city will shift from receiving revenue (approx. $4 million in FY17) to paying $3–3.5 million annually in FY20. Contracts are cost-based, 10-year terms, with revenue sharing provisions. The city will partially offset costs through a $1/ton increase in the AB 939 fee, operational savings, and increased construction/demolition deposits. Polystyrene (Styrofoam) will no longer be accepted in recycling. The Independent Budget Analyst noted that future rate increases will impact the general fund. Councilmember Moreno requested that the IBA, ESD, and city attorney develop a menu of options for council. The item passed unanimously.

• Item 9: Agreement for Evaluation of Anthropogenic Impacts on San Diego Coastal Kelp Forest Ecosystem Staff and Dr. Ed Parnell (Scripps Institution of Oceanography) presented a five-year, $3.6 million agreement to continue monitoring kelp forest health. The project involves 450 dives per year across 21 sites, assessing giant kelp, fish, invertebrates, and oceanographic conditions. Historical data from 1971 helped evaluate the 1992 Point Loma outfall break. The new agreement extends through 2024 and is critical for the city’s wastewater discharge permits. Councilmember Sherman moved approval, noting the program’s value; Councilmember Moreno seconded. Passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Tijuana River Valley: Committee approved the updated state of emergency resolution, which will go to City Council for final adoption. Unanimous.
• Recycling Contracts: Committee approved the new contracts with Allen Company and EdCo Disposal, including a recommendation to develop a cost mitigation plan for FY2021 and beyond. Unanimous.
• Kelp Forest Monitoring: Committee authorized the five-year agreement with Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the expenditure of $3.6 million. Unanimous.
• Future Meetings: The next scheduled Environmental Committee meeting is July 18, 2019 at 1:00 PM.

Note: Several public speakers requested that the committee place a fur ban ordinance and the Rewild Mission Bay presentation on future agendas; no formal action was taken on these requests during this meeting.