San Diego Environment Committee Meeting – April 15, 2021
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San Diego Environment Committee Meeting – April 15, 2021
The Environment Committee of the San Diego City Council met virtually on April 15, 2021, at 9 a.m., pursuant to Executive Order 29-20. The committee unanimously approved minutes from the previous meeting, took non-agenda public comment, and heard a presentation on the City's 2020 Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) and Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP). It also received informational presentations from the Port of San Diego on the Maritime Clean Air Strategy and the Pond 20 wetland mitigation bank, and from the Edison Electric Institute on investor-owned utilities and energy industry trends. Agenda items 2 and 3 were returned to staff and not heard.
Consent Calendar
- Unanimously approved the committee actions of March 18, 2021 (motion by Councilmember Lacava, second by Vice Chair Von Wilpert; vote 4-0).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Non-agenda: Ann Fage, chair of the Community Forest Advisory Board, expressed concern about tree removals due to development, drought, and pests; noted rising costs for removing date palms due to the South American palm weevil; and called for better resources to protect San Diego's urban canopy.
- Item 1 (UWMP/WSCP): Lucero Sanchez (San Diego Coastkeeper) commended the revised demand forecast but urged greater stormwater capture and asked how past droughts informed the shortage tiers. Jay Powell (Sustainable Energy Advisory Board) asked about energy intensity and Pure Water's net-zero energy goal.
- Item 4 (Maritime Clean Air Strategy): Kyle Heiskala (Environmental Health Coalition) said the draft was not strong enough, requesting 100% zero-emission trucks by 2030 and four zero-emission vehicle charging sites by 2024. Jay Powell suggested partnering with San Diego Community Power and using port sites for microgrids.
- Item 6 (Investor-Owned Utilities): Eight speakers (Sonia Robinson, Matthew Vasilakis, Jay Powell, John Stump, Joyce Lane, Heather Hofche, Karina Gonzalez, and Tara Hammond) opposed the IOU model, criticized SDG&E's rates and practices, and urged the committee to pursue a short-term franchise, include a right-to-purchase, and fund a public power feasibility study.
Discussion Items
- Item 1 – 2020 Urban Water Management Plan and Water Shortage Contingency Plan: Public Utilities Department staff (Director Shauna Laurent and Assistant Deputy Director Kelly Baylow) presented the state-required plan. Key points: pure water phase two will reduce imported water reliance from a historical high of 90% to 40%, with local supplies meeting 60% of demand by 2045; the demand forecast is about 20% lower than the 2015 forecast; total 2045 demand is projected at 228,000 acre-feet per year (12% higher than today); the city has exceeded the state's 20% conservation target, using 102 gallons per capita daily versus the 142 baseline; and the WSCP expands from four to six shortage levels. Councilmember Kate clarified that Pure Water's water-side cost is approximately $1,700 per acre-foot, not the higher figures sometimes cited. The committee voted unanimously to recommend adoption by the full City Council (motion by Councilmember Kate, second by Vice Chair Von Wilpert).
- Item 4 – Port of San Diego Maritime Clean Air Strategy (MCAS): Port Chairman and Commissioner Jennifer Lasar presented a discussion draft addressing emissions from cargo terminals, trucks, ships, and tenants. Goals include reducing cargo handling equipment emissions by 50–90% by 2026, developing a zero-emission truck program starting in 2024, achieving zero emissions for fixed short-haul trips by 2031 (four years ahead of state targets), and expanding shore power. The public review period ends April 20, with port board consideration on May 11. Committee members asked about charging infrastructure, Harbor Drive 2.0, and funding coordination. No action was required.
- Item 5 – Port of San Diego Wetland Mitigation Bank at Pond 20: The Port described plans to restore an 83.5-acre parcel of the 95-acre former salt evaporation pond into tidal wetlands, creating the first coastal wetland mitigation bank in San Diego Bay. Construction is expected to begin in 2022 and take about 18 months. The estimated construction cost is ~$30 million, and credit sales could generate roughly $30 million over 10 years for adjacent communities (Council District 8 and Imperial Beach). Committee members asked about timeline, public access, and future lessons. No action was required.
- Item 6 – Edison Electric Institute (EEI) on Investor-Owned Utilities: Brad Viatour, EEI Vice President of External Affairs, presented general benefits of IOUs, including lower carbon emissions (45% below 2005 levels), economies of scale, access to cheap capital, and CPUC oversight. He noted that since 2000, of more than 60 communities that considered municipalization, only nine succeeded and two later returned to an IOU. Committee members and public speakers pushed back with concerns about high rates, lack of transparency, and the need for accountability measures such as shorter franchise terms and off-ramps. No action was required.
Key Outcomes
- Unanimously approved the March 18, 2021 committee actions (4-0).
- Recommended approval of the 2020 UWMP/WSCP to the full City Council.
- Items 2 and 3 were returned to staff and not heard.
- Informational items (4, 5, and 6) required no votes.
- The next Environment Committee meeting is scheduled for Friday, May 28, 2021, at 9 a.m.
Meeting Transcript
The case name is Connie. And Councilmember Elo, if you can please proceed. 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 to 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 will give details on how the public can offer their public testimony. I will now call the environment committee meeting of April 15, 2021 to order. I will now call the role. Present. Councilmember Kate. Here. And I am also here. Also on the virtual meeting is Randy Wilde from the mayor's office, Angela Colton from the Independent Budget Analyst, and Mark Mercer, City Attorney's Office. For management purposes, items two and three on the discussion agenda will be returned to staff and will not be heard at today's meeting. So that means we'll hear item one on the discussion agenda, then proceed to items four, five, and six on the information agenda. I'll remind everyone as we go along. The public may view the meetings on public television on City TV Channel 24 for Cox Communication and Time Warner Cable or Channel 99 for ATT or view the meeting online by going to City Council Committee's homepage at Sandieago.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 1 tab. To join the webinar by telephone, you may dial either 1669 2545252 when prompted. Input Webinar ID 160 532 0355 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 like to comment on, you will raise your hand by either tapping the raise your hand button on the computer, tablet, or smartphone you are using, or by pressing star 9 on your phone. You will be taken in the order which you raise your hand. You may only speak once on a particular item. When our committee consultant, Brendan Dentino indicates it's 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 join 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. We will review these instructions briefly again when the public comment period is uh open on an item. Please wait until the item you wish to speak to has been called before raising your hand to speak. If you raise your hand during a non-comment period, your hand will be lowered. 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. We will now dispense with the approval of the committee actions of March 18, 2021. Do I have a motion to approve the committee actions? I will second. Thank you. We have a motion by Councilmember Lacava, a second by Vice Chair Von Wilpert. We will now take councilmember questions and comments and have each council member register their vote. Please mute yourself once you've completed your comments. Uh starting with Vice Chair Von Wilper. Vote yes. Councilmember Lacava. Yes.
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