San Diego Environment Committee Meeting Summary – October 10, 2019
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San Diego Environment Committee Meeting Summary – October 10, 2019
The Environment Committee of the San Diego City Council met on October 10, 2019, at 1:00 PM. Chair Councilmember Campbell presided, with Councilmembers Moreno, Sherman, and Bree present. The committee heard non‑agenda public comments on several topics, including the proposed consolidation of advisory boards, animal rescue rights, and climate emergency declaration. The committee then considered three items related to the Pure Water San Diego Program, voting on amendments and an incentive agreement.
Public Comments & Testimony
Non‑Agenda Public Comments
- Ann Feige (Chair, Community Foundation Advisory Committee) expressed disappointment that the Community Forest Advisory Board (CFAB) was to be disbanded without input, and urged the committee to consider a subcommittee for trees within a new environment board.
- Vince Mukalonis (District 7 representative, CFAB) stated he was "100% opposed to the manner" of disbanding CFAB without consultation, and argued that the new board must include urban forestry expertise.
- Virginia Wilson (CFAB representative) voiced concern that the proposed 15‑member board would not cover all areas of expertise, especially forestry, and noted that the city’s five‑year forestry plan requires staffing and budget advocacy.
- Andrew Meyer (San Diego Audubon Society) requested an opportunity to present the Rewild Mission Bay Project, highlighting the need for wetland restoration and climate adaptation, and delivered 100 postcards urging clean water and shoreline restoration.
- Seven speakers (Cameron Maita, Shannon Sears, Stacy Plukitis, Melanie Bazell, Liz Jacobelli, Rachel Holser, and Lindsay Demek) spoke in support of a “Right to Rescue” resolution, arguing that California’s penal code is not enforced for farm animals, that animal cruelty is widespread, and that all animals – not just pets – deserve protection. Shannon Sears stated she faces felony charges for protesting outside a duck farm. They urged the city to adopt a local ordinance to protect rescuers.
- Nancy Cassidy (co‑founder, San Diego Climate Mobilization) called on the committee to recommend a declaration of a climate emergency, citing methane releases in the Arctic and the need for a massive mobilization to replace fossil fuels.
- Derek Cassidy (co‑founder, San Diego Climate Mobilization) echoed the request, noting that 200,000 Americans die annually from air pollution, and urged the council to pass a climate emergency resolution.
Public Comments on Agenda Items
- Lonnie Lutar (speaking as an individual) spoke in favor of the Stantec contract amendment (Item 2), emphasizing the critical importance of continuity and community outreach for the Pure Water program, which is now a national and international model.
- Sophie Barnhorst (San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce) spoke in support of the incentive agreement with Metropolitan Water District (Item 3), calling the $285 million in credits a huge benefit to ratepayers and key to moving Pure Water forward.
Discussion Items
Item 1: Pure Water Amendment No. 2 – Hawkins Delafield & Wood (Sole Source Legal Services)
Staff presented an amendment to extend the contract for specialized legal services for the North City Renewable Energy Project, increasing the total by $1.1 million to $2.4 million and extending the term by five years. Councilmember Moreno moved to approve the staff recommendation. Councilmember Sherman stated he would vote no because the Pure Water program includes a provision requiring union-only jobs, which he said discriminates against 85% of the workforce. The motion passed 3‑1 (Moreno, Campbell, Bree in favor; Sherman opposed).
Item 2: Pure Water Amendment No. 3 – Stantec Inc. (Engineering Technical Services)
Staff presented an amendment to increase the contract from $56.4 million to $94.1 million and extend the term to 2025, without competitive bidding. Councilmember Moreno expressed concern about the lack of competitive bidding and the tripling of the original contract amount. She moved to forward the item to full council “without recommendation,” and requested that the Independent Budget Analyst (IBA) work with the Public Utilities Department to produce a report analyzing whether the city is getting a good deal, including benchmarking program management costs and oversight mechanisms. The motion passed 3‑1 (Moreno, Campbell, Bree in favor; Sherman opposed).
Item 3: North City Pure Water Facility Local Resources Program Incentive Agreement
Staff presented an agreement with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California that would provide the city with credits of approximately $340 per acre‑foot of water produced by Phase 1 of Pure Water, valued at an estimated $11.4 million per year ($285 million over 25 years). Councilmember Moreno moved to approve the staff recommendation. Councilmember Sherman asked if the credits would go only to Pure Water; staff confirmed they are credits on the city’s water bill for imported water. The motion passed unanimously 4‑0.
Key Outcomes
- Item 1 (Hawkins Delafield & Wood) : Approved 3‑1, to be forwarded to full council.
- Item 2 (Stantec) : Forwarded to full council without recommendation (3‑1), with a request for an IBA report on contract value and oversight.
- Item 3 (MWD Incentive Agreement) : Approved 4‑0, to be forwarded to full council.
- The committee’s next scheduled meeting is Thursday, November 7, 2019, at 1:00 PM.
Meeting Transcript
A dream of who you are an idea of how it should be a wish upon the star Remember Remember It can't be denied Uh everyone has everyone has everyone has seek rain down sweet shell but I don't know what I can look I can rest me see it out it all come out Wake me up I see the tree And now I lose control I see the tree Shake it out It's just the word I feel And now I take control I feel the tree Oh so quiet when they in the street And the starly sky cruelty for my eyes Twenty two instead by the bank so cry Oh I see the tree And now I eat control I see the tree Shake it out beyond And now I take control I see the tree I was being a tree Don't tell me this is all for nothing I can only tell you one thing on the nights you feel out number Baby I'll be out there somewhere I could have showed you all the scars at the start But that was always the most difficult part See I'm in love with how your soul's a mix of chaos and art and how you never try to keep them apart I wrote some words and then I stared at my feet became a coward when I needed to speak I guess love took on a different kind of meaning for me So when I go just no one kills me the lead To all the stars the light to roll Don't ever leave that girl so cold Never let me down just leave me home Don't tell me this is off another thing I can't I wrote some words and then I stared at my feet. Became a coward when I needed to speak. I guess love took on a different kind of meaning for me. So when I go, just know it kills me to leave To all the stars that like the road. Don't ever leave that girl so cold. Never let me down, just leave me home. Don't tell me this is all for nothing. I can only tell you one thing on the nights you feel out numbers. Maybe I'll be out there somewhere. I see everything you can be. I see the beauty that you can see on the nights you feel out nor be out there somewhere. There's beauty here that's yet to depart. There's still a song inside the halls in the dark. I'll come for you if you just stay where you are. And I'll always hold your hand in the car. There'll be days when it's difficult, but I ask it and never leave behind the reciprocal price. That love is not designed for the synagogue. So we have that we can have that stars that light the road. Don't ever leave that girl so cold. Never let me down, just leave me home. I can only tell you one thing on the nights you feel out number. Baby, I'll be out there somewhere. I see everything you can be. I see the beauty that you can see on the nights you feel out numbers. Baby, I'll be out there somewhere. Hello Can you wait for the one you deserve? Don't tell me this is all for nothing. I can only tell you one thing on the nights you feel out number, baby. I'll be out there somewhere. I see everything you can be. I see the beauty that you can see on the nights you feel out number, baby. I'll be out there somewhere. Baby, I'll be out there somewhere, somewhere, somewhere. Baby, I'll be out there somewhere, somewhere. I woke up to the morning sky first. When I get up off this ground, I should leave back down to the brown, brown, brown brown till I'm clean. Then the walk, I'll be shaded by the trees by a metal of green or by my town town with all my favorite course. Yes, yes. See you black new Oh my baby clothes, I'm the day for me. I'm a baby seat, my favorite powers. My sisters and my brothers, all my favorite powers with a bitty bleed clouds, all our calls, or blue skies. We gon' fly, feel all right. We don't fly out to Hong Kong for a baby in the morning. Yes, ma'am. See you back to bed. Yes, man. Oh, my baby. Oh, my favorite car. Your access to City Hall.
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