Environment Committee Meeting – May 25, 2023
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Environment Committee Meeting – May 25, 2023
The Environment Committee of the San Diego City Council met on May 25, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. (local time) under Chair Joel Ocava. The meeting had a light agenda, consisting only of two consent calendar items, but included extensive non‑agenda public comment and staff updates. The proposed REACH code for building electrification was postponed pending legal review.
Consent Calendar
- Item 1: First amendment to contract with Ferguson Waterworks for water and sewer couplings.
- Item 2: Transfer of non‑exclusive solid waste management franchises for Waste Management Inc.
- Approved unanimously (3‑0) with Vice Chair Von Wolpert absent. No committee member requested to pull the items.
Public Comments & Testimony
Non‑Agenda Public Comment (multiple speakers on topics not on the formal agenda):
- Ruth Sandben (SD Sequel): Expressed support for an equitable ban on gas‑powered leaf blowers, urging the city to transition city landscaping to electric equipment and to ban gas leaf blowers once a trade‑in program is in place.
- Dr. Ronald Asklin (Sierra Club): Cited CARB data that running a gas leaf blower for one hour produces the same smog‑forming pollution as driving a mid‑sized sedan from Los Angeles to Denver. Converting 20 gas leaf blowers to electric would reduce smog pollution equivalent to removing 1,900 cars. He urged the city to act to meet Climate Action Plan goals.
- Alex Rivest (SD Sequel): Highlighted health concerns from toxic emissions and noise, noting that a two‑minute leaf blower run is equivalent to a car tailpipe running for 36 minutes. He called for a health‑focused policy shift.
- Maria Cook (SD Sequel): Supported a phased ban on gas‑powered landscaping equipment beginning with leaf blowers, emphasizing equitable incentive programs for small operators. Referenced bans already in Coronado, Solana Beach, Encinitas, and Del Mar.
- Kelly Linden (San Diego Building Electrification Coalition): Provided feedback on the draft REACH code when it resumes, recommending inclusion of significant additions/alterations and narrowing deviations (e.g., gas‑fired commercial cooking equipment, labs, hospitals). She argued that all‑electric designs are feasible.
- Diane Grace (property owner, Barrio Logan): Asked the city to consider a smoke‑free, vape‑free public places ordinance, citing disproportionate health impacts on communities of color.
- Blair Beekman (community advocate): Urged minimal new ALPR cameras for SDPD in the FY24 budget and emphasized the need for open transparency and oversight of surveillance technology.
- Joy Sanyata (District 3): Expressed condolences and concern after a shooting at the Central Library.
- Serena Pelka (Climate Action Campaign): Encouraged the committee to pursue the REACH code, limit deviations, and explore other ways to restrict fossil fuel gas in buildings.
- Kathleen Lippett: Discussed environmental destruction from illegal marijuana grows, including water theft, chemical contamination, and harm to endangered species. Called for stronger enforcement.
- Karen McBeth (UCSD student): Opposed exceptions for gas‑fired commercial cooking equipment in the REACH code, citing extreme heat and health risks for kitchen workers, many of whom are minorities. Urged protection of workers and the environment.
Public Comment on Consent Agenda:
- Blair Beekman: Commented on Item 1, asking that water/sewer funding be coupled transparently with law enforcement when applicable.
- Lori Saldania: Raised concerns about Item 1’s lack of compliance with equal employment opportunity goals (underrepresentation of women and Asians in professional roles) and Item 2’s too‑few employees to evaluate. She urged improved diversity outcomes in city contracting.
Discussion Items
- Chair’s Remarks on REACH Code: Chair Ocava noted that a proposed REACH code for building electrification was not on the agenda due to ongoing legal review related to Ninth Circuit rulings. Staff continue to work on zero‑emission building actions.
- Staff Updates (Randy Wilde, Mayor’s Office):
- Parks and Recreation has been piloting electric leaf blowers and landscaping equipment since 2022.
- The draft REACH code is available online; stakeholder engagement continues.
- The city was accepted into the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED for Cities cohort.
- An RFQ for energy services companies to retrofit city facilities closes June 7.
- An RFP for an electric vehicle vendor closes June 23.
- Discussions with San Diego Gas & Electric continue on franchise audit terms and administrative MOU refinements.
Key Outcomes
- The consent agenda (Items 1 and 2) was approved unanimously (3‑0) with Vice Chair Von Wolpert absent.
- No further business was taken up; the meeting adjourned at approximately 2:00 p.m. The next regularly scheduled Environment Committee meeting is June 22, 2023, at 1:00 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon. Welcome to the Environment Committee meeting of May 25th, 2023. I am Joel Ocava, Councilmember for District One and Chair of the Committee. Our committee's manager, Ty Birch will go over the instructions for today's meeting. Ty. Thank you very much, Chair Lakava. While members of the public are able to attend this meeting in person, the meeting is also being televised and live streamed on the city's website, and council administration will continue to make arrangements for the public to comment using the Zoom webinar platform. Members of the public who wish to provide virtual testimony must enter the virtual speaking queue by raising their hand before the virtual queue closes. The queue will close when the last virtual speaker finishes speaking, or five minutes after in-person testimony concludes, whichever occurs first. This will allow for better meeting management between the two platforms and ensure the committee is able to manage and conduct safe business. We appreciate the public's cooperation. Chair Thank you. I will now call the special environment. Oh, the environment committee meeting of Thursday, May 25th, 2023 to order and call the roll. I believe Vice Chair Von Wolpert is not attending this afternoon. But Councilmember Dr. Jennifer Campbell. Here. Councilmember Campillo. Here. And I am here. So also attending the meeting today, Jordan Moore with the Office of the Independent Budget Analyst. Deputy City Attorney Nicole Dino, Randy Wilde, Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of Mayor Todd Gloria, and Brian Elliott, the committee consultant. Ty, please continue with public comment instructions. Thank you, Chair. If you are in person, please complete a speaker slip located at the entrance of chambers and place it on top of the box indicated. If you need to participate by phone, you may dial 1669-254-5252 and input webinar ID 161-163-9403 pound. 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 virtual testimony must enter the virtual speaking queue by raising their hand before the queue closes. The queue will close when the last virtual speaker finishes speaking, or five minutes after in-person testimony concludes, whichever occurs first. Please note that if you're watching on C 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. If you wish to speak on a particular item, wait for that item to be called and then raise your hand to speak by tapping the raise your hand icon, or if you're a call and participant, press star nine on your cell phone or landline. If you raise your hand during a non-comment period, your hand will be lowered. Thank you, Ty, for reviewing those instructions for the benefit of the public. A quorum is now present with Vice Chair Mulmulbert absent. We will now dispense with the approval of the committee actions of April 20th, 2023 and April 27th, 2023. Ty, please proceed. Thank you, Chair. The public comment period for the committee actions of April 20th, 2023, and April 27, 2023 is now open. Uh if you'd like to speak on the committee actions, you may raise your hand at this time. Chair, we do not have any individuals that have submitted speaker slips on the committee actions or in the virtual queue, so that will conclude public testimony. All right, thank you. We will now vote on the approval of the committee actions of April 20th, 23, and April 27th, 2023. Can I get a motion to approve the committee actions? I see Councilmember Campillo and second by Councilmember Campbell. And with that, we'll take the roll. Please vote. And that does pass 3-0 with Vice Chair Valpert absent. A quick note on today's meeting and the shorter than usual agenda. We were hopeful to bring an item on the proposed REACH code for building electrification.
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