Environment Committee Meeting Summary – May 28, 2021
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Environment Committee Meeting Summary – May 28, 2021
The Environment Committee of the San Diego City Council met virtually on May 28, 2021, at 1:00 p.m. via Zoom, in accordance with Executive Order 29-20 and public health protocols. The meeting was chaired by Councilmember Elo-Rivera, with Vice Chair Von Wilpert and Councilmembers LaCava and Kate present. The committee approved the minutes of April 15, 2021, unanimously and then proceeded through a consent agenda, discussion items, and an informational presentation.
Consent Calendar
- Item 1: Authorized an as-needed consulting agreement with Geologic Associates Incorporated for disposal site water monitoring services.
- Item 2: Authorized a second amendment to the agreement with SCS Engineers Incorporated for interim landfill gas systems operation, maintenance, and gas supply services at the Miramar landfill.
- Both items were approved unanimously without discussion.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Non-Agenda Public Comment:
- Robin Davidoff (Sierra Club Seal Society) urged the city to budget for a full-time ranger at Point La Jolla Sea Lion Rookery, citing 92 reported harassment incidents per month and approaching pupping season. She noted that every hour over 300 tourists disturb resting sea lions.
- Dave Engel (San Diego Direct Action Everywhere) thanked Councilmember LaCava for his vote against the SDG&E franchise agreement and called for a ban on SeaWorld’s nightly fireworks due to animal distress and pollution.
- Christy DiMaria requested adding a SeaWorld fireworks ban to the agenda, citing terror to animals, people with PTSD, and environmental pollution from gunpowder and chemicals.
- Ellen Shivley described a fatal attack on a sea lion pup at La Jolla and asked for better oversight, rangers, and signage.
- Kirk Broton (Mission Hills resident) noted fireworks can be heard from his home, causing distress to his rescue dog, and advocated for drone alternatives.
- Public Comment on Item 6: Victor Vino (Falcon Strategies, representing Biomed Realty) spoke in support of the Los Peñasquitos Lagoon restoration cost share agreement, highlighting its benefits for flood reduction and stormwater management.
- Public Comment on Item 8: Andrew Meyer (San Diego Audubon) endorsed the Green New Deal Alliance presentation and called for accelerating wetland restoration projects like Rewild Mission Bay.
Discussion Items
- Items 3 & 4 – Authorizing Environmental Services Agreements: Staff presented a combined proposal for two citywide on-call contracts (ICF Jones & Stokes and DUDAC) for as-needed environmental services related to stormwater management (channels, pump stations, outfalls). Each contract is for a five-year term, not to exceed $7.5 million. Staff noted the contracts were pulled from the previous month’s agenda to allow additional union coordination; unions are now on board. The committee approved both items unanimously.
- Item 5 – Clean SD Contract Amendment: Staff from Environmental Services presented a contract amendment with the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO), a nonprofit employing formerly incarcerated individuals. The contract, originally $2 million per year, was increased to $2.6 million annually due to higher-than-expected waste volumes (300–400 tons per month). The total over the remaining contract life is $11.5 million. CEO provides labor for six neighborhood policing abatement teams, removing illegal dumping and litter. Robert Smith (CEO) highlighted success stories, including a participant who had been homeless. Councilmembers discussed career pathways into city employment; staff agreed to explore formalizing such pathways. The item was approved unanimously.
- Items 6 & 7 – Los Peñasquitos Lagoon Restoration Phase 1:
- Item 6 (Cost Share Agreement): The committee authorized a cost share agreement among the City of San Diego, County of San Diego, City of Del Mar, and City of Poway to fund phase 1 of the lagoon restoration ($35.2 million total, of which San Diego’s share is ~78% or $27.5 million). The project will restore at least 23 acres of salt marsh, improve water quality (sediment TMDL compliance), and reduce flood risk for Sorrento Valley businesses. Caltrans will contribute a lump sum during construction. The city will pursue state revolving fund loans and other sources.
- Item 7 (Sole Source Agreement): A 15-year, up to $984,000 sole source agreement with the Los Peñasquitos Lagoon Foundation for technical advisory committee services, stakeholder engagement, and design/permitting support. Mike Hastings (Foundation) spoke in support, noting the Foundation’s long history and expertise. Both items were approved unanimously.
- Item 8 – Informational Presentation: San Diego Green New Deal Alliance – Principles of Climate Action:
- Representatives from the Alliance (including Malika Marison, Karina Gonzalez, Maria Mohammed, Joyce Lane, Lucero Sanchez, Rick Bates, and Cynthia Harris) presented a vision for zero carbon by 2035 through a just transition, equitable green jobs, community engagement, building electrification, solar expansion, and stormwater infrastructure investment. They emphasized the need for a CAP advisory committee with intergenerational leadership from communities of concern, climate ambassador programs, anti-displacement policies, and tribal co-management of natural resources. Councilmembers expressed strong support and discussed related topics: organic diversion (SB 1383), building electrification, the recent SDG&E franchise vote, and federal/state funding opportunities. Rick Bates noted an upcoming study (June 2021) on just transition economics. The presentation was informational only; no vote was taken.
Key Outcomes
- All action items (1–7) were approved unanimously.
- The committee heard non-agenda public comment on sea lion protection and SeaWorld fireworks, but no formal action was taken on these topics.
- The next Environment Committee meeting is scheduled for June 17, 2021, at 1:00 p.m.
- Chair Elo-Rivera wished all a safe Memorial Day weekend and adjourned the meeting.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning. 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 attending in attendance 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 Brendan has made arrangements for public to comment using the Zoom webinar platform. We appreciate the public's cooperation. We 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 May 28, 2021 to order. I will now call the roll. Vice Chair Von Wilper. Present. Councilmember LaCaba. Present. Councilmember Kate. Here. And I am also present. Each committee member is attending virtually. Also on the virtual meeting is Jordan Moore from the Office of the Independent Budget Analyst. Mark Mercer from the City Attorney's Office, and Matt Yagan for Office of Mayor Todd Gloria. Our committee consultant Brendan Dentino will now go over instructions for joining the meeting. 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 the City Council Committee's homepage at Sandiego.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 Zoom webinar by telephone, you may dial 1669-254-5252 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 the chair introduces the item 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 9 on your phone. You will be taken in the order in which you raise your hand. You may only you may only speak once on a particular item. When I indicated your turn to speak, I will call you by your name as it appears on the Zoom webinar attendee list, or I'll read out the last four digits of your phone number if you have called into the meeting. That is how you will know it is your turn to speak. If you have joined the webinar by computer, tablet, or smartphone, you will receive a pop-up notice to select to unmute your device. If you have called into the meeting by cell phone or landline, press star six on your phone to unmute yourself. We will review these instructions instructions briefly again when the public comment period on an item is open. 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, 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 the speak. Chair. Your unmute, Chair. Let's hope we got that out of the way early. Uh a quorum is now present. We will now dispense the approval of the committee actions of April 15, 2021. Do I have a motion to approve the committee actions? Second. Motion by Vice Chair Von Wilpert. We have a second. Kate. Thank you, Councilmember Kate. We will now take councilmember questions and comments and have each council member register their vote.
openpublica.com