Environment Committee Meeting Highlights – July 20, 2023
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Environment Committee Meeting – July 20, 2023
The San Diego City Council Environment Committee met on July 20, 2023, to consider several items including contracts for landfill engineering, dam spillway repairs, a public power feasibility study, and a proposed year-round closure at Point La Jolla. The committee approved all action items unanimously and heard extensive public testimony on the public power study and the La Jolla closure.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Committee Actions (June 22, 2023): Passed 4-0 after public comment. Speakers urged the committee to convert informational items to action items and noted concerns about utility debt and climate equity.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Non-Agenda Public Comment: Several speakers addressed topics including marijuana smoke, street cleanliness, children’s park security, and the need for a public power utility. One speaker urged a ban on public smoking/vaping. Another requested the city consider a task force for public power.
- Item 1 – Landfill Engineering Contract: Two speakers commented. One raised concerns about water leakage at the Chollas Landfill and the adjacent Chollas Heights Reservoir. The other noted the winning firm’s lack of diversity relative to city equity goals.
- Items 2 & 3 – Dam Spillway Repairs: Two speakers commented. The first highlighted the excluded Chollas Heights Dam and its lack of a natural spillway. The second questioned the contractor’s labor practices and diversity, noting that Latinos make up a majority of construction workers while whites hold administrative roles.
- Item 5 – Public Power Feasibility Study: Over 20 speakers testified. Union representatives (IBEW 465, 569, Labor Council) opposed the study, arguing it would bust union jobs, risk reliability, and cost billions. Business and chamber representatives opposed the move. Community members and environmental groups supported the study, citing SDG&E’s high rates and the need for climate action. Several speakers emphasized that union jobs must be protected.
- Item 4 – Point La Jolla Year-Round Closure: 13 speakers testified. Opponents argued the closure would set a bad precedent, harm public access, and that environmental impacts were not studied. Supporters cited public safety, sea lion protection, and the success of the seasonal closure. The chair noted that the city lacks federal enforcement of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Discussion Items
- Item 1 – Award of Contract with SWT Engineering Inc. for Landfill Engineering Services: Staff presented the need for as-needed engineering support for active and inactive landfills. The contract is for 5 years, not to exceed $7.5 million. The committee approved the staff recommendation 4-0.
- Items 2 & 3 – Dam Spillway Repair Contracts for El Capitan and Morena Dams: Both awarded to Orion Construction Corporation. El Capitan: $4,872,000; Morena: $4,087,000. Staff noted the dams are over 100 years old and that a comprehensive dam program will be presented in fall 2023. The committee approved both items 4-0.
- Item 5 – Public Power Feasibility Study Phase 1 Report (Informational): Consultants presented findings that a municipal electric utility is financially feasible (2–6 billion purchase price, 10–15% savings at low end, 0–5% at high end) but complex and risky. Governance options favor a special district. The study excludes natural gas. Phase 2 will include stakeholder engagement and a strategic plan, expected by summer 2025. Committee members expressed support for further study but stressed that any transition must protect union jobs, wages, and benefits. The chair and vice chair stated they would not support a city-run department.
- Item 4 – Proposed Amendment to Municipal Code for Year-Round Closure of Point La Jolla: Staff recommended changing the seasonal closure (May–Oct) to year-round, per Coastal Commission direction. The closure area includes Point La Jolla and Boomer Beach, with an ocean access corridor for swimmers. The amendment would also prohibit dogs year-round. The committee voted 4-0 to approve the staff recommendation.
Key Outcomes
- Item 1: Approved 4-0 (motion by Vice Chair Von Wilpert, second by Councilmember Campillo).
- Items 2 & 3: Approved 4-0 (same motion/second).
- Item 4: Approved 4-0 (motion by Chair La Cava, second by Councilmember Campillo).
- Item 5: Informational only; no vote. The committee directed staff to incorporate stakeholder engagement and a citizens task force in Phase 2, and to protect union jobs.
- The committee will next meet on September 14, 2023.
Meeting Transcript
So good afternoon and welcome to the environment committee meeting of July 20th, 2023. I'm Joel Locava, Council Member for District One, and Chair of the Committee. Our committee's manager, Ty Birch will go over instructions for today's meeting. Ty. Thank you very much, Chair Locava. While members of the public are able to attend the meeting in person, this meeting is being televised and live streamed on the city's website, and the 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 bearing 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, Di. I'll now call the environment committee meeting of Thursday, July 20th, 2023 to order and call the roll. Vice Chair Vaughn Wolbert. Councilmember Jennifer Campbell. Here. Councilmember Raul Capillo. Here. And I am here, so we have a full house. 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, with that, please continue with public comment instructions. Thank you very much, 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 indicate at the speaker's electron at the front of the room. Please do so in a timely manner to ensure proper main management. In-person testimony will conclude before virtual testimony begins. Members of the public can also 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. If you need to participate by phone, you may dial 1669-2545252 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 via 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, please wait for that item to be called. 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. Chair. Thank you, Ty, for reviewing those instructions for the benefit of the public. A quorum is now present, and we will dispense with the approval of the committee's the committee actions of June 22nd, 2023. Ty, please proceed with public comment. Thank you very much, Chair. The public comment period for the past committee actions of June 22nd, 2023 is now open. You may indicate if you wish to speak on the past committee actions of uh June 22nd, 2023. Chair, we do not have anyone in chambers that submits speaker slips for the past committee actions. I'll move over to the virtual queue. And we have three speakers that have indicated that they wish to speak. Again, this is on the past committee actions of June 22nd, 2023. And we will begin with John Stump. Uh thank you. Good afternoon. It's a warm day here in San Diego.
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