San Diego Environment Committee Meeting Summary - March 18, 2021
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San Diego Environment Committee Meeting Summary - March 18, 2021
The San Diego City Council Environment Committee met virtually on March 18, 2021, from approximately 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, via Zoom due to Executive Order 29-20. The meeting covered five agenda items, including the 2020 Climate Action Plan (CAP) Annual Report, a performance audit of the CAP, a naming opportunity program for Balboa Park's Botanical Building, a software agreement for the My Water SD portal, and a presentation on equitable park access. The committee also acknowledged recent violence against the Asian American and Pacific Islander community.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the committee actions of March 4, 2021, by a vote of 4-0.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Robin Davidoff (Sierra Club/SEAL Society) urged the committee to address sea lion harassment at Point La Jolla and Boomers Beach, requesting a future agenda item to discuss solutions.
- On the CAP Annual Report (Item 4), multiple speakers expressed support but noted the city is not on track to meet its goals:
- Joyce Lane (San Diego 350, Building Electrification Coalition) thanked the city and supported a regional climate authority.
- Malika Marsten (Climate Action Campaign) called for a detailed transportation roadmap, a CAP five-year outlook, a grant writer, and increased funding for sustainability.
- Ann Fege (Community Forest Advisory Board) emphasized equitable tree canopy investments and underfunding of urban forestry.
- Sheila Ott (Hammond Climate Solutions) supported the climate equity index.
- Kelly McCormick highlighted the carbon footprint of indoor marijuana cultivation and urged transparency.
- Melissa Elder (Sunrise Movement San Diego) stressed bold actions in CAP 2.0 and holding departments accountable.
- Other speakers (Scott Anglin technical issues, a caller on border pollution and rail) also testified.
- On the CAP audit (Item 1), speakers agreed with findings:
- Malika Marsten (Climate Action Campaign) urged accelerated timelines and mayor's office leadership.
- Joyce Lane (San Diego 350) supported recommendations and called for a five-year outlook.
- Kyle Haskala (Environmental Health Coalition) requested equity-focused prioritization and a grant writer.
- Ann Fege gave examples of poor inter-departmental coordination.
- Victoria Morales (Climate Action Campaign) and Sheila Ott also supported the recommendations and building electrification.
- On the Balboa Park naming program (Item 2), both speakers supported:
- Jen Davies (San Diego Tourism Authority) supported approval.
- John Bolthouse (Friends of Balboa Park) endorsed the proposal.
- On the My Water SD agreement (Item 3), no public comment was received.
- On the Parks for Everyone report (Item 5), speakers supported:
- Joy Sanyata praised the report and noted the upcoming Parks Master Plan and an audit on program equity.
- Randy Torres Van Vleck (City Heights CDC) shared a story about transit access to the beach and encouraged using the report's data.
Discussion Items
- Item 4 (Information): 2020 Climate Action Plan Annual Report
- Staff (Eric Caldwell, Ashley Rosia Tremonte, Scott Anders) presented the fifth annual report. Key points: total emissions at ~0.6 million metric tons CO2e; on-road transportation is 55% of emissions; energy category is >40%. Progress included the launch of San Diego Community Power, a benchmarking ordinance with 48% compliance, 96 electric vehicles in city fleet, 47.3 miles of bike lanes added, and methane capture at 99.9% at Point Loma. A change in renewable energy data methodology was discussed. CAP 2.0 planning includes a climate equity index and targeted engagement.
- Item 1 (Discussion): Performance Audit of the Climate Action Plan
- City Auditor Andy Hanau and team presented findings: oversight mechanisms are weak; lack of department accountability; sustainability roundtables held only 13 times from 2015-2020; no cost estimates or formal prioritization; CAP annual report only goes to committee, not full council. Six recommendations were made, all accepted by the sustainability department.
- Item 2 (Discussion): Balboa Park Botanical Building and Gardens Restoration Naming Program
- Parks and Recreation Director Andy Field proposed a donor recognition program for 15 specific sites (e.g., welcome gallery, gardens, pergola) after Phase 1 restoration (funded by state grant, completion in 2023). Phase 2 would be philanthropically funded. The proposal had prior approvals from the Balboa Park Committee and Park and Recreation Board.
- Item 3 (Discussion): My Water SD Software Agreement
- Staff requested a five-year, $16.3 million sole-source agreement with Smart Energy Water for the web portal and mobile app. Licensing fees total $1.2 million; the bulk of cost is credit card processing fees (currently utility-paid). Three payment options exist: utility-paid, customer-paid convenience fee, or in-house processing.
- Item 5 (Information): San Diego Foundation Parks for Everyone 2020 Report
- Everett and Les (Outdoor Outreach) presented findings: equitable park access remains a problem, with physical and functional barriers (transportation, fees, safety, cultural inclusion). The report recommends increasing green space, improving transit access, and streamlining permitting for community-based organizations. The city's Parks Master Plan update, Climate Action Plan, and Climate Equity Fund are opportunities to address gaps.
Key Outcomes
- Item 4: Informational only; no action required.
- Item 1: Motion by Vice Chair Von Wilpert to accept the audit report and forward it to the full City Council. Passed 4-0.
- Item 2: Motion by Vice Chair Von Wilpert to advance the naming opportunity program to the City Council. Passed 4-0.
- Item 3: Motion by Councilmember Kate to approve the five-year agreement with Smart Energy Water. Passed 3-1, with Councilmember Lacaba dissenting, citing a preference for switching to the customer-paid convenience fee model immediately.
- Item 5: Informational only; no action required.
Next Meeting: Thursday, April 15, 2021, at 1:00 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon. Per executive order 29-20, which suspends certain requirements of the Brown Act. The committee members will be participating via Zoom and no members of the public will be in attendance at the meeting in the interest of public health and safety. In addition, this meeting is being televised and live streamed on the city's website, and the committee liaison has made arrangements for the public comment using the Zoom webinar platform. We appreciate the public's cooperation. I will go over the specifics of how to join the webinar and we'll give details on how the public can offer their public testimony. I will now call the role. Present. And I am also here, and each of us as committee members are attending virtually. Also on the virtual meeting are representatives from the Office of the Independent Budget Analyst, the Office of the Mayor, and the City Attorney's Office. I believe we have well, I don't want to get that wrong. So we've got representatives from each of each of those offices.gov and selecting the City TV Live Webcast blue button on the right hand side of the page. The committee meetings will be held virtually using the Zoom webinar platform. Members of the public can offer public comment on items by accessing the Zoom webinar online using a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone, or by calling into the meeting using a smartphone, cellular phone, or landline. The link to join the committee meeting webinar by computer, tablet, or smartphone is listed on the agenda on how to join by iPhone one tap. To join the webinar by telephone, you may dial either one six six nine two five four five two five two when prompted input webinar ID 16053203 55 pound. This information is also available on the agenda and will appear on the screen during the public comment period for each item. When I introduce the item you would that you would like to comment on, you will raise your hand by either tapping the raise your hand button on your computer, tablet, or smartphone, or by pressing star nine on your phone. You will be taken in the order in which you raise your hand. You may only speak once on a particular item. When our committee consultant Brendan indicates it is your turn to speak, he will call you by your name as it appears on the Zoom webinar attendee list, or he will read out the last four digits of your phone number if you've called into the meeting. That is how you will know it is your turn to speak. If you've joined the webinar by computer, tablet, or smartphone, you will receive a pop-up notice to select to unmute your device. If you've called into the meeting by cell phone or landline, press star six on your phone to unmute yourself. Don't worry, we will review these instructions briefly again when the public comment period on an item is open. Um please wait until the item you wish to speak has been called before raising your hand to speak. If you raise your hand during a non-comment period, we will have to lower your hand. When you are announced as the next speaker, please unmute yourself and offer your comments. Also, please mute the volume on your TV or computer before you begin to speak. A quorum is now present. I just want to note that before getting to the meetings business. Uh the the I want to note the uh items the sorry the numbering of the items today. Uh, when we get to the agendized items, we'll first hear item four, which is 2020 climate action plan annual report, which is on the information agenda. We'll then jump to item one, performance audit of the city's climate action plan on the discussion agenda. We'll then hear items two and three of the discussion agenda, and then finish with item five of the information agenda. So, in order, we'll hear item four, item one, item two, item three, and then item five. I know that's a bit confusing, but we wanted to make sure the two climate action plan related items are heard in succession. I'll remind the committee and the public of where we're at in the agenda as we go along. We will now dispense with the approval of the committee actions of March 4, 2021. Do I have a motion to approve the committee actions? Moved. Moved by Vice Chair Von Wilpart. And then I hear a second from Councilmember Kate. Yes. Thank you. Vice Chair Vaughn Wilpert. No comments or questions, I vote yes. Thank you. Thank you. Councilmember Kate.
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