San Diego Environment Committee Meeting – January 19, 2023
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San Diego Environment Committee Meeting – January 19, 2023
The Environment Committee of the City of San Diego met on January 19, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. under Chair Joel Ocava. The meeting covered a consent agenda, annual stormwater update, briefings on SDG&E coordination and customer equity/climate equity programs, and discussion of the 2023 committee work plan. Public testimony was heard on multiple items.
Consent Calendar
- Approved (3‑0, Councilmember Campbell absent) the third amendment with iTron Inc. for meter reading system maintenance and the second amendment with Trustle Technologies Inc. for technical support at Pure Water facilities.
- Councilmember Campillo asked about the advanced metering infrastructure timeline. Staff reported a program management vendor was selected, with kickoff expected in spring 2023.
- Public comment (B. Beekman) requested transparent data policies for smart meters.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Non‑agenda public comment:
- Ann Feggy (Community Force Advisory Board) requested a performance audit of the brush management program on open space lands, noting contractor errors.
- Jay Powell (Sustainable Energy Advisory Board) urged the committee to nominate a fifth member for the Franchise Compliance Oversight Committee and recommended transparent meeting practices.
- Item 4 (Stormwater):
- Lori Saldaña compared San Diego unfavorably to Los Angeles County, which has captured over 20 billion gallons of stormwater; urged stormwater capture and noted sewage pump failures.
- Jay Powell echoed support for capture and incentivizing cisterns; praised regional projects.
- Richard Diaz (Oak Park Community Council) criticized the Streamview Drive project for lacking trees and community‑requested safety features; requested attention to maintenance policy.
- Philip Musgus (San Diego Coastkeeper) supported the stormwater department and urged a long‑term funding strategy, including public polling.
- April Mahoney described traffic safety issues at the Streamview traffic circle; requested redesign and public education.
- Nicole Burgess advocated for permeable pavers, cisterns, and stormwater capture in street projects.
- Item 5 (SDG&E COO meetings):
- Lori Saldaña called for more transparency in the quarterly COO meetings and asked for public participation opportunities.
- Jay Powell noted that the meetings are closed and unagendized, limiting public input.
- Items 6 & 7 (SDG&E Customer Equity & Climate Equity):
- Lori Saldaña criticized SDG&E for high rates, stating that programs requiring three months past due damage credit; argued that ratepayers fund assistance while shareholders profit; urged focus on equitable transition.
- Joy Sunyatta asked SDG&E to prioritize “humanity” and questioned how many assistance programs are shareholder‑funded.
- Sally (Emerald Hills) described residents choosing between heat and rent; said EV programs are irrelevant for low‑income residents.
- B. Beekman commented on solar policy and worker rights in mineral supply chains.
- Jay Powell argued for a community‑owned electric utility and criticized the vertical integration of Sempra/SDG&E.
- Item 3 (Work Plan):
- Speakers addressed energy storage, tree replacement in ADU construction, tobacco/vape bans, stormwater funding, Mission Bay rewilding, equitable community engagement, and MHPA management.
Discussion Items
- Item 4 – Stormwater Annual Update (Bethany Bizak, Interim Director):
- Highlighted a $274 million annual funding gap; FY23 staff of 295 (60% filled); $733 million WIFIA loan covers 36% of CIP over 5 years but 0% of O&M.
- Two in‑house pipe repair teams exceeded KPIs; a third team is requested in FY24 budget.
- Over 200 channel segments need maintenance; only four funded annually.
- Street sweeping: 5,800 dump trucks of debris collected; 61,000 miles swept.
- Water quality response team closed several long‑standing dry‑weather cases.
- ThinkBlue campaign: 44 million impressions in FY24.
- Committee members commended the department and asked about stormwater capture (three concept designs underway), rebates, tree maintenance, and the need for a long‑term dedicated measure.
- Item 5 – SDG&E COO Quarterly Meetings (Heather Werner, Sustainability & Mobility):
- Four coordination meetings in 2022 with former COO Jay Goldstone; first meeting with new COO Eric Dargan in December.
- Topics: major projects (Line 1600, battery storage microgrids), municipal energy accounts (billing software feedback), ECA items (CAP coordination, solar equity program), and after‑action on September 2022 heat wave.
- Discussion focused on making the report more substantive; Vice Chair Von Wilpert asked about grid readiness for electrification (staff noted incremental improvements being made).
- Items 6 & 7 – SDG&E Customer Equity & Climate Equity (Brittany Appelstein Seitz, Holly Beerman, Natasha Contreras):
- SDG&E acknowledged an unprecedented natural gas commodity price surge (90% of increase) due to cold weather, reduced pipeline capacity, and low storage; committed to helping customers via payment plans and assistance programs.
- Customer programs: CARE (35% discount, 150,000 San Diegans enrolled), FERA (18%), medical baseline, Neighbor to Neighbor ($1 M shareholder‑funded, $300–$400 per eligible customer), LIHEAP (7,000 San Diegans in 2022), energy efficiency demand response programs.
- Climate equity: San Diego Solar Equity Program (31 enrollments), EV infrastructure (Power Your Drive for Fleets, Apartments/Condos/Workplaces, School Parks/Beaches), proposed NEVI (14 station groups in San Diego region, at least 40% in disadvantaged communities), pre‑owned EV rebate (5–6 M/year, approved late 2022).
- Regional collaboration: Accelerate to Zero Emissions (EV strategy expected first half 2023).
- Committee members pressed SDG&E on ratepayer‑funded vs. shareholder‑funded programs, price transparency, comparison to PG&E, and the absence of a rate stabilization fund. Chair Lacava expressed frustration that SDG&E passes costs through rather than absorbing them.
- Item 3 – 2023 Work Plan (Brian Elliott, Committee Consultant):
- Public survey available until January 27, 2023; final work plan to be presented February 9, 2023.
- Committee members submitted priority memos (in backup). Recommended action: chair to create work plan based on input from members and public.
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda approved 3‑0.
- Items 4, 5, 6, and 7 were information only; no actions taken.
- Motion (Campillo, seconded Von Wilpert) to have the chair develop a 2023 work plan based on committee and public input passed 3‑0 (Campbell absent).
Meeting Transcript
Okay, we're gonna get started now that we've got uh our two colleagues here. Good mor oh good afternoon, and welcome to the January nineteenth, twenty twenty-three meeting of the City of San Diego Environment Committee. I am Joel Ocava, Council Member for District One, and I have the honor of serving as chair of the committee. Until further notice, committee meetings will be conducted pursuant to the provisions of California Government Code Section Five Four Nine Five Three E, added by Assembly Bill Three Six One, 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 encouraged. 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. Ty. Thank you, Chair Lakava. 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 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 located online in the preamble lake which of the agenda on the city's webpage. The link to join the meeting by webinar computer tablet or smartphone is listed at the top of the agenda. To join the Zoom webinar by phone, please dial 1669-254-5252 and when prompted input webinar ID 161-163-9403 pound. This information is all of 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 our 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 VSC TV 24 online, there may be a delay. So please participate via the audio on your phone and mute your TV or computer when it's 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 will be taken an order which you have raised your hand, and you may only speak once on any particular item. I and when I indicate it is your turn to speak. I will call you by your name as it appears on the Zoom webinar attendee list, or read out the last four digits of your phone number if you've called into the meeting. That is how you will know 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 lectern in the order called. If you've joined the webinar by uh tablet or smartphone, you will receive a pop-up notice to select to unmute your device. Uh and if you've called into the meeting, you may unmute by pressing star six. We will review these instructions briefly again when the public comment period on IM is open. So please wait until the item you wish to speak to has been called to raise your hand to speak on that item. 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 unmute, please mute the volume on your TV or computer before you speak again. Chair Lacaba. Thank you, Ty. As I said, a quorum is present. We will now dispense with the approval of the committee actions of November 21st, 2022. Uh Ty, do we have any public comment on the committee actions? Thank you, Chair. The public comment period for the committee actions of November 21st, 2022 is now open. Uh it does not seem that we have any speakers in chambers or raising their hand in the virtual queue to speak on the committee actions of November 21st, 2022. So that will conclude public testimony. Thank you, Ty. With that, we'll turn it over to our committee members for a motion and a member comment. Uh Vice Chair Vaughn Wolpert. So committee member uh Campillo, excuse me. And with that, we'll vote uh electronically. And that passes three to zero with committee member Campbell absent. We'll now take up non-agenda public comment. Ty. Thank you, Chair Lakava. Per temporary rule 2.6, non-agenda public comment is an opportunity for members of the public to comment on items that are not on the agenda, but within the subject matter jurisdiction of the committee.
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