San Diego Environment Committee Meeting Summary - October 27, 2022
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San Diego Environment Committee Meeting Summary - October 27, 2022
The City of San Diego Environment Committee met in a special session on October 27, 2022, chaired by Councilmember Joel LaCava. The committee addressed a full agenda including consent items, a single-use plastic reduction ordinance, regional water agreements, and a resolution to explore funding for the San Diego River Park. All four members were present (LaCava, Vice Chair Vaughn Wilbert, Committee Members Campbell and Campillo).
Consent Calendar
- Item 1: First amendment to agreement with DNVGL Noble Tent and USA LLC for water modeling software licensing and support.
- Item 2: First amendment to contract with West Air Gases and Equipment Incorporated for liquid oxygen for water treatment plants.
- Item 3: First amendment to contract with Vulcan Materials Company for disposal sites.
- Key Discussion: Vice Chair Wilbert expressed concerns about retroactive payments on Item 3, noting the contract had expired in June 2021. Staff explained it was a cleanup item and that new controls are in place to prevent recurrences. Committee Member Campillo questioned a 21% price increase on Item 2; staff cited market conditions and the need to maintain supply for clean water. The consent agenda was approved 4-0.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Non-Agenda Public Comment: Multiple speakers addressed issues including urban forestry management (Lori Saldania), smoke-free multi-unit housing (Judy Strang), synthetic turf hazards (Suzanne Hume, John Bodworth), and hazardous waste from tobacco/marijuana products (Peggy Walker). Also, Joshua Allen requested expediting Universal Waste Systems' franchise agreement.
- Consent Agenda Public Comment: Lori Saldania urged the committee to enforce diversity and equity goals on city contracts, noting that West Air Gases and Vulcan Materials showed underrepresentation in several categories.
- Item 4 (Single-Use Plastics): Over a dozen public speakers supported the ordinance, including representatives from Surfrider Foundation, Sierra Club, San Diego Coastkeeper, Climate Action Campaign, and local residents. They cited environmental harm from polystyrene foam, noting that it accounts for 14-15% of beach debris and is found in 0.2% recycling rates. One speaker from California Grocers Association requested a six-month implementation timeline instead of four.
- Item 5 (East County Water): Councilmember Steve Golby (Chair of East County Advanced Water Purification JPA) expressed gratitude for collaboration. Other callers supported regional water supply efforts.
- Item 6 (San Diego River Park): Rob Hutzel (San Diego River Park Foundation) and Emily Weir (County Chair Fletcher's office) spoke in favor. Additional support from Climate Action Campaign, San Diego County Bicycle Coalition, and River Walk Project. Lori Saldania requested explicit equity language for future contracts.
Discussion Items
- Item 4 – Single-Use Plastic Reduction Ordinance: Staff presented the ordinance, which mirrors the 2019 version (repealed due to CEQA challenge) with new effective dates. It bans polystyrene foam food serviceware, prohibits city purchase of foam, and requires plastic utensils/straws only upon request. It includes a 12-month delayed implementation for small businesses (under $500,000 revenue) and three waiver types (contractual, financial, feasibility). The Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was certified. Chair LaCava noted the ordinance supports the Climate Action Plan. Committee members discussed enforcement (education-first) and loopholes for prepared foods packaged outside the city. Vice Chair Wilbert requested exploration of banning plastic straws outright. The motion passed 4-0.
- Item 5 – East County Advanced Water Purification Agreements: Staff detailed four agreements related to a new residuals pipeline and sale of the East Mission Gorge Pump Station. The city saves $8 million compared to the previous 2021 agreement. A cost allocation methodology based on flows ensures proportional payment. The agreements protect the city's Pure Water program. The motion passed 4-0.
- Item 6 – Resolution of Intent for San Diego River Park Funding: Committee Member Campillo introduced a resolution to explore forming an Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District (EIFD) with the County to fund river improvements (estimated $380–$750 million over 30 years) and a JPA or special district for O&M (estimated $500,000–$1.3 million/year). The EIFD leverages property tax increment growth, not new taxes. Staff noted the project aligns with Climate Action Plan measures. The committee voted to have the City Attorney's office draft the resolution, passing 4-0.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda Approved 4-0 with caveats on contract retroactivity and price increases.
- Item 4 Approved 4-0: Single-use plastic reduction ordinance to be sent to full City Council on November 15, 2022, with potential amendments (straw ban discussion).
- Item 5 Approved 4-0: Agreements with East County JPA for water purification infrastructure.
- Item 6 Approved 4-0: Resolution to draft formal partnership exploration with County for San Diego River Park EIFD.
Meeting Transcript
Oh, we do have one more forum. So we're going to give this meeting started. We have a very full agenda. I want to make sure we take advantage of all our time. Respectful for all of you that have shown up today or that may be on Zoom. So good afternoon and welcome to the October 27, 2022 special meeting of the City of San Diego Environment Committee. I am Joel Ocava, 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, we encourage you to maintain six feet of social distance as well as follow California mask guidelines where masks are strongly recommended. In addition to being able to attend in person, this meeting is being televised and live streamed 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, whichever 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 will now call the special environment committee meeting of October 27th, 2022 to order and call the roll. Vice Chair Vaughn Wilbert is not currently here. Committee member Campbell. Present. Committee member Campillo here. And Chair Lacava myself, I am present as well. And we can move forward. Also participating in the meeting are Jordan Moore, Office of the Independent Budget Analyst, Deputy City Attorney Nicole Dino, Chloe Madison, policy advisor in the office of Mayor Tagloria, and Committee Consultant Brian Elliott. Brian will now go over instructions for participating in the meeting. Brian? Thank you, Chair. 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 smart 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. To join the Zoom webinar by telephone, please dial 1669-254-5252. When prompted, input webinar ID 161-532-0355. This information is also available on the agenda and will appear on the screen during the public comment period for each agenda item. Members of the public who wish to provide testimony via a 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. If you are in person, please come up to the reserve seats at the front of the room when your name is called and be prepared to come up to the lector and in the order called. 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 briefly again when the public comment period on an item is open. 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 of your TV or computer before you begin to speak. Chair. Thank you, Brian. Uh I'll note for the record that Vice Chair Von Wilfurt has joined us. Uh all four committee members are present, and we have a quorum. We will now dispense with the approval of the committee actions of October 13th, 2022. Brian, do we have any public comment on this item? The public comment period for this item is now open. Again, if you are in person, please be sure to have your speaker slip submitted and come up to the reserve seats at the front of the room when your name is called and be prepared to come up to the elector in the order called.
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