San Diego Environment Committee Meeting - February 13, 2020
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San Diego Environment Committee Meeting - February 13, 2020
The Environment Committee of the San Diego City Council met on February 13, 2020, at 1:00 PM. Chair Campbell presided, with Council Members Moreno, Bree, Sherman, and Campbell present. The meeting covered a range of environmental topics, including public comments on various issues, presentations on vaping and cigarette butt waste, approval of routine contracts, discussion of committee priorities for 2020, the 2019 Climate Action Plan annual report, and the new Climate Equity Index.
Consent Calendar
- Item 1: Authorized an agreement with Allied Waste Systems (Republic Services) for trash and recycling collection at city facilities. Approved unanimously after waiving presentation.
- Item 2: Approved a sewage transportation agreement between the City of San Diego and the City of El Cajón. Approved unanimously after waiving presentation.
Public Comments & Testimony
Public comments were heard on non-agenda items and specific agenda items. Key speakers and positions:
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Non-Agenda Public Comments:
- Martha Welsh: Criticized city and county governance, alleging corruption and lack of accountability.
- Tracy Andrea (La Jolla Shores resident): Requested a ban on wood and charcoal fires at La Jolla Shores Beach and Kellogg Park, citing health and safety risks.
- Dr. Meinrod Andrea (atmospheric chemist, Scripps): Presented air quality data showing PM2.5 levels from beach fires comparable to Beijing and wildfire conditions.
- Carolyn Marsden: Urged a ban on gas-powered leaf blowers, citing noise, air pollution, and climate action plan benefits.
- Ann Feige (Community Forest Advisory Board Chair): Supported the creation of a broader environmental advisory group and highlighted the board's accomplishments.
- Robin Davidoff (SEAL Society docent): Requested enforcement of laws protecting sea lions at La Jolla Cove, with better signage and movable ropes/cones.
- Andrew Meyer (San Diego Audubon Society): Thanked council members for prioritizing wetland restoration in Mission Bay's Northeast corner.
- Jim Pugh: Supported wetland restoration and carbon sequestration analysis.
- Group on Right to Rescue (Kevin Luna, Doreen Nasser, Cameron Mehta, Christopher Hayward, Shannon Sears): Presented graphic footage of animal cruelty on farms, requested a "Right to Rescue" resolution to protect activists rescuing farm animals. They emphasized they have been engaging with the city for eight months.
- Virginia Wilson (Community Forest Advisory Board): Opposed consolidating advisory boards, arguing the forestry board's expertise is valuable.
- Tommy Howe: Supported wetland restoration in Northeast Mission Bay, noting benefits for water quality and recreation.
- Gabriela Sosa: Advocated for banning gas-powered leaf blowers, citing health and environmental impacts.
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Public Comments on Vaping (Item 4):
- In favor: Becky Rapp (public health educator) highlighted the environmental hazard of disposable e-cigarettes (Puff Bars) as hazardous waste. Kathleen Lippett supported the county's ban and criticized industry misinformation.
- Opposed: Molly Sylvester (Communities for Safer Vaping) argued that CDC recommends against THC-containing products, not nicotine; James Mitchell said big tobacco causes youth use, not local vape shops; Ramon Monsour noted FDA already banned flavored pod systems; Giselle Torres stated vape shops are heavily regulated.
- Additional speakers: Arkan Samo (Neighborhood Market Association) urged the city to gather data before enacting bans; Rami Gergis (vape shop owner) said his store checks IDs and passes decoy tests; George Johnson (hookah manufacturer) requested an exemption for traditional hookah due to cultural heritage.
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Public Comments on Cigarette Butt Waste (Item 5):
- Alexander Farron (Surfrider Foundation): Reported that cigarette butts are 20% of litter picked up at beach cleanups, with 47,000 collected in 2019.
- Patrick McDonough (San Diego Coastkeeper): Noted that smoking bans on beaches have not reduced butt litter, and filters are toxic.
- Kathleen Lippett: Supported the ban on filters but opposed hookah exemptions, calling hookah harmful to public health.
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Public Comments on 2020 Committee Priorities (Item 6):
- Virginia Wilson: Requested funding for street trees, tree care, and arborist staff.
- Ann Feige: Encouraged deeper attention to urban forestry, code compliance, and tree planting.
- Patrick McDonough: Supported stormwater funding and integrated water management.
- Jay Powell (Sustainable Energy Advisory Board): Urged prioritizing the municipal energy strategy and franchise agreement.
- Martha Welsh (opposition): Criticized the city for acting as a county and failing to address sewage issues.
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Public Comments on Climate Action Plan (Item 6):
- Virginia Wilson: Noted tree maintenance is not enough; tree canopy goals are downplayed.
- Ann Feige: Called for a tree canopy analysis, tree care, and organized planting.
- Matthew Vasilakis (Climate Action Campaign): Said emissions reductions are largely from state actions; city is not on track for 2035; requested a performance audit and five-year outlook.
- Carolina Martinez (Environmental Health Coalition): Asked for funding transparency, inclusion of air quality in CAP, and a mobility equity specialist.
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Public Comments on Climate Equity Index (Item 7):
- Carolina Martinez (Environmental Health Coalition): Praised the index but urged immediate improvements in top communities and inclusion of air quality data.
- Sarah Bolton (Business for Good San Diego): Supported equitable CAP implementation.
- Fabiola Lau (Center for Sustainable Energy): Applauded the community engagement in developing the index.
Discussion Items
- Item 4: Youth Vaping and Environmental Impact – Supervisor Nathan Fletcher presented the County of San Diego's policies, including a ban on flavored tobacco products and a temporary moratorium on e-cigarette devices in unincorporated areas. He cited a doubling of youth vaping to 5 million, environmental harms from disposable pods, and the tobacco industry's targeting of kids. Council members discussed the need for data on effectiveness, the environmental impact of disposable devices, and state legislation SB 424 (cigarette butt waste).
- Item 5: Cigarette Butt Pollution – Dr. Thomas Novotny (SDSU) presented on the environmental toxicity of cigarette filters, which are non-biodegradable plastic and contain heavy metals and nicotine. He noted that filters are the most common litter item, with 20,000 butts collected in one hour on SDSU's campus, and that they are toxic to aquatic life. He proposed banning the sale of filtered cigarettes (SB 424). Council members expressed interest in the study and noted the ineffectiveness of current bans.
- Item 6: 2020 Environment Committee Priorities – Chair Campbell opened discussion on member-submitted priorities. Council Member Moreno highlighted priorities including addressing Tijuana River Valley pollution, pursuing grant funding, stormwater capture, blue carbon studies, and the Pond 20 wetland mitigation bank. A motion to adopt a work plan based on input was passed unanimously.
- Item 7: 2019 Climate Action Plan Annual Report – Staff (Cody Hoovin, Ashley Rosia Tramonti) reported a 24% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 2010 levels, exceeding the 2020 interim goal of 15%. Key progress: 15% residential energy reduction, 14 gallons/day water savings, establishment of San Diego Community Power, 42 miles of bike lanes, 8,800 linear feet of sidewalk, 65% waste diversion rate, and 23,000 trees maintained. Challenges remain in mode share (biking/walking), tree canopy, and waste diversion. Council Member Moreno urged more investment in active transportation and green waste bins. Council Member Sherman noted mode share has not changed despite investments and called for better data and leading by example.
- Item 8: Climate Equity Index – Staff (Roberto Carlos Torres, Mark Steele) presented the first-ever Climate Equity Index, developed with 23 community organizations. The index assigns census tracts a score from very low to very high access to opportunity. Key findings: 13 tracts with very low access (Barrio Logan, Lincoln Park, Tijuana River Valley) are 96% people of color. Recommendations include pursuing grants, community engagement, an ambassador program, and incorporating equity into city programs. Council Members praised the tool and requested timelines for implementation.
Key Outcomes
- Consent items 1 and 2 approved unanimously.
- Motion to adopt 2020 committee work plan passed unanimously (Council Member Sherman absent).
- Informational items (vaping, cigarette butt waste, CAP report, equity index) were received and filed; no votes were taken. However, council members gave direction to staff on future updates.
- Right to Rescue – Chair Campbell stated that the city has no factory farms and suggested the group work with the county and state. She noted that the committee is not the proper forum and that the city has been engaging with the group for eight months.
- Next meeting scheduled for March 22, 2020, at 1:00 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon and welcome to the environment committee for February thirteenth, twenty twenty. The meeting is now in order. Let the record reflect that Council Members Moreno, Bree, Sherman, and myself are present. Does anyone have any changes or corrections? Is there a motion to second? It's been moved and seconded. All in favor say aye. That passes unanimously. This portion of the agenda provides an opportunity for members of the public to address the committee on items of interest within the jurisdiction of the committee and not on today's agenda. Comments are limited to two minutes. There are too many vacancies, and not enough members with a true passion for the mission of the committee that they serve on. This is evidenced by the lack of discussion, the absence of questions, and a preponderance of unanimous decisions. These are not deliberative bodies, they're rubber stamps. And there's a reason for this. Every member of every one of these committees is appointed by the same person. And because the process for appointments is set forth in the municipal code, that is where we must make the changes. So unless six members of the city council agree that we need fundamental change, we will continue to have rubber stamp machines, simply agreeing to everything that is placed before them. So to put this all very simply, you will never change the direction of a ship by rearranging the deck chairs. Thank you, Madam Chair, for the opportunity to speak, and thank you all for your attention. Thank you. Our next speaker is Martha Welsh. Martha Welch. Right now, Bill Horn or William, his real name. Can't call anymore. He's in the hands of the federal. What he used to do is take all in checks in and how many and out. You can't build anything for that reason. Now, FBI told them about this, and they found out it's true. He uh they got the checks. It's evident in his case. So you can email anything. That's why now everything gets built here. Also, Poppy, no one will work with you because it's in the charter. We didn't vote for that. We vote for things we don't get, and we um voted that's what happens here. That's why two minutes in this meeting also we didn't vote for that also. So this was going on for a long time. Now you can't opt out anymore. No one has um uh can't do any Tony can't help you um can't help you. You have to find on audits. You haven't done that for a long time. Performance, all you do here. Now you have to do that if you want money for the federal or state, they hate you because we there's bribes in the city and the county. County's worse. But they have they didn't pay taxes and other things they took up there. And now he's gone, and he's he all what he does, he always says it's somebody else, even for over 20 years. Believe me. I pointed him out in the supervisor when he was there that he was a problem one time. This is wrong. What do you do here there?
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