San Diego Environment Committee Special Meeting – June 30, 2022: 2022 Climate Action Plan and Consistency Regulations
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San Diego Environment Committee Special Meeting – June 30, 2022
The San Diego City Council Environment Committee held a special meeting on June 30, 2022, beginning at approximately 4:05 PM and concluding after 8 PM. The primary agenda items were the adoption of the updated 2022 Climate Action Plan (CAP) with a net-zero by 2035 goal, and the accompanying CAP Update Package including Municipal Code, Land Development Manual, and Local Coastal Program amendments (CAP Consistency Regulations). Chair Joel LaCava presided, with Councilmembers Campbell (remote), Campillo, and Von Wilpert present. The meeting included extensive public testimony and committee deliberation before both items passed unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Lori Saldania (non-agenda): Highlighted unsheltered deaths (344 in 2020, 434 in 2021) and warned of monkeypox risk for homeless populations, urging preparedness.
- John Botteroff (CleanEarthforKids.org): Requested an ordinance banning wood-burning fireplaces in new construction, citing PM2.5 health risks and 48,000 annual premature deaths from particulate matter.
- Enrique Dela Cruz (Groundwork San Diego/Joyce Creek): Supported CAP but urged community engagement principles for equitable climate planning.
- Suzanne Hume (CleanEarthforKids.org): Opposed synthetic turf due to health risks (MERSA, PFAS) and environmental waste, urged moratorium.
- Naeem Miller (Cleaners for Kids): Asked to include healthy soils, stop toxic pesticides, increase tree canopy to 35% by 2030, and improve urban greening.
- Maria Lopez (Environmental Health Coalition, via translator): Shared personal experience of living near truck routes in Logan Heights; requested specific air quality reduction goals and investments in her community.
- Kyle Heiska (Environmental Health Coalition): Supported CAP but requested stronger clean air goals with measurable targets and a 90% equity funding policy for environmental justice communities.
- Danielle Wilkerson (San Diego 350): Supported 90% CAP funding for EJ communities; cited asthma ER visits three times higher in Barrio Logan than county average.
- Madison Coleman & Brenda Garcia Milan (Climate Action Campaign): Supported CAP but stressed need for detailed implementation plan with costs, funding, timelines; noted 90% of 2015 CAP strategies unimplemented.
- Keola Minacho (Youth for Climate): Urged bold action and implementation plan; referenced Supreme Court ruling limiting EPA authority.
- Will Radigan (S.D. County Bicycle Coalition): Supported CAP but called for actionable roadmap; noted mode share remains below 10%.
- Sam Mazio (Business for Good): Demanded implementation plan with financial figures, likening it to business funding requirements.
- Ann Faggy (Community Forest Advisory Board): Concerned tree canopy targets (28% by 2030, 35% by 2035) were unachievable; suggested 20% target; criticized $725 tree fee as too low.
- Heather Hofshi (District 7 resident): Supported CAP but warned that fees in lieu of compliance become a loophole.
- Christian Victor (sustainability advocate): Reflected on two decades of climate planning; urged immediate implementation and aligned budget.
- Ron Askland (STSQL): Urged ban on gas-powered leaf blowers and transition to battery equipment due to nitrous oxide emissions and health impacts.
- John Oval (San Diego Audubon): Supported salt marsh restoration (700 acres) and urban canyon protection for carbon sequestration.
- Christina Marquez (IBEW Local 569): Supported CAP but called for just transition with union jobs and worker protections.
- Matthew Adams (Building Industry Association): Cautioned against premature electrification mandates, citing grid reliability and cost concerns.
- Craig Benedetto (NAIOP/BOMA): Supported consistency regulations but noted lack of commercial property expertise on stakeholder committee.
- Sanjay Ganguli Fitzgerald (youth, 14): Called for accessible transit, walkable design, and fully funded CAP.
- Kaitlin Haley (SDG&E): Offered partnership on EV infrastructure, electrification, and tree canopy.
Discussion Items
Staff from the Sustainability & Mobility and Planning departments presented the 2022 CAP, highlighting six strategies: Decarbonization of Built Environment, Clean & Renewable Energy, Mobility & Land Use, Circular Economy & Clean Communities, Resilient Infrastructure & Healthy Ecosystems, and Emerging Technologies. Key metrics included net-zero by 2035, interim 2030 targets, over 180 actions, and a commitment to plant 40,000 trees in communities of concern by 2030. The presentation also detailed the CAP Consistency Regulations replacing the CAP checklist, applying to ministerial and discretionary projects, with requirements for pedestrian amenities, bicycle parking, and tree canopy fees ($725 per tree for off-site planting).
The Independent Budget Analyst (Jordan Moore) noted improvements in comprehensiveness and staffing, but urged prioritization of actions. Committee members discussed implementation timelines, CEQA compliance, equity index updates, and opportunities like the San Diego River and AB 43 speed reductions.
Key Outcomes
- Item 1 (2022 Climate Action Plan): Moved by Chair LaCava, seconded by Councilmember Campbell. Friendly amendments by Councilmember Campillo added: (1) San Diego River language in strategies 3 and 5 for river trail mobility and restoration partnerships; (2) emphasis on Class IV separated bikeways in Measure 3.1; (3) inclusion of Assembly Bill 43 to reduce speed limits on select corridors. The motion passed unanimously (4-0).
- Item 2 (CAP Update Package – Consistency Regulations, GHG Thresholds, Tree Canopy Fee): Moved by Chair LaCava, seconded by Councilmember Campbell. Councilmember Von Wilpert confirmed clarification that at least 50% of a project's footprint must be within a Transit Priority Area to qualify for CAP consistency benefits. The motion passed unanimously (4-0).
- Staff committed to: finalize a full implementation plan by February 2023, incorporate input from the Air Pollution Control District, and provide regular CAP progress updates to the committee.
Meeting Transcript
To arrange translation services online, and we're having just a little bit of trouble to get them set up. So Ty is working curiously to get that taken care of. So we'll shoot for four oh five and we'll see where we're at, but we want to make sure that becomes available to anybody who might call in the case. Yeah. Testing audio. Can you hear me? Yes, we can. Thank you. That's Councilmember Campbell. For those that are curious, she'll be participating remotely. All right. Technology solved in Concord. We have online translation. So we'll get started. Good afternoon and welcome to the June 30th, 2022 special meeting of the City of San Diego Environment Committee. I am Joel LaCava, Council Member for District 1 and Chair of the Committee. Until further notice, committee meetings will be conducted pursuant to the provisions of California Government Code Section 54953E, added by Assembly Bill 361, which allows the city to use teleconferencing and to provide the public an opportunity to address the city council via call-in option or an internet-based service option during a proclaimed state of emergency. While the public is allowed to attend the meetings in person. Do we have translation on this slide to talk to her? Okay. While the public is allowed to attend the meetings in person, we encourage you to maintain six feet of social distance as well as follow California Mass Guidelines where masks are strongly recommended. In addition to being able to attend in person, this meeting is being televised and live stream on the city's website, and the committee liaison will continue to make arrangements for the public to comment using the Zoom webinar platform. Additionally, members of the public who wish to provide testimony via call-in or internet-based service option must enter the virtual speaking queue within five minutes after the conclusion of in-person public testimony or before the virtual speaking queue is exhausted to whoever occurs first. This will allow for better meeting management between the two platforms and ensure the committee is able to manage and conduct city business. We appreciate the public's cooperation. I'll now call the special environment committee meeting of June 30th, 2022 to order. Let me call the roll. Here. She is participating remotely, as we said. Committee member Campillo. Here. And I am chair and I am here as well. So we are all present. And please note, as I've said a couple of times, committee member Campbell is attending virtually. Also participating in the meeting are Jordan Moore, Office of the Independent Budget Analyst, Deputy City Attorney Nicole Dino, and Randy Wilde, Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of Mayor Todd Gloria. I want to thank you all for being here this afternoon and a special thanks to Ty Birch, our committee liaison, and the staff at City TV for coordinating the afternoon start and making this accessible to the public. And certainly thank all of folks up here in the dais for arranging for this special meeting. Spanish translation services are also available for anyone to wishing to offer public testimony. Brian Elliott, our committee consultant, will now go over instructions for participating in the meeting. Thank you, Chair, and good afternoon. If you are in person, please complete a speaker slip located at the entrance of chambers and place it in the box indicated at the speaker's lectern at the front of the room. Please do so in a timely manner to ensure proper meeting management. Members of the public can join the webinar by computer, tablet, or smartphone by accessing the link which is listed online in the preamble language of the agenda on the city's webpage. The link to join the committee meeting webinar by computer, tablet, or smartphone is listed on the agenda. Members of the public who wish to provide testimony via call-in or an internet-based service option must enter the virtual speaking queue within five minutes after the conclusion of in-person public testimony or before the virtual speaking queue is exhausted, whichever occurs first. Please note that if you are watching via City TV, Channel 24 or online, there may be a delay. Please participate via the audio on your phone and mute your TV or computer when it is your turn to speak. When I introduce the item you would like to comment on, please 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'll be taken in the order which you raise your hand. You may only speak once on a particular item.
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