Environment Committee Meeting July 18, 2024: Tree Contracts, SDG&E Equity, and Coastal Wildlife Concerns
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Environment Committee Meeting – July 18, 2024
The Environment Committee of the San Diego City Council, chaired by Councilmember Joe Lacava, met on July 18, 2024, to approve routine items, hear extensive public testimony on wildlife and fireworks impacts, award two tree maintenance and planting contracts, and receive an update from SDG&E on customer equity programs. Key votes included approval of the consent agenda (3-1) and unanimous approval of the tree service contracts.
Consent Calendar
- Committee Minutes (June 20, 2024): Approved 4-0 after public comment from three speakers. Speakers raised concerns about EV infrastructure health effects, nearly $50 million in change orders approved without public review, and the need for addressing wastewater issues including the Tijuana River Valley.
- Consent Agenda Items 1 & 2: Ratification of contract amendments for electrodialysis reversal system maintenance (with S Services USA) and as-needed removal/transport of grit, sludge, scum, and stormwater from wastewater facilities (with Patriot Environmental Services). Passed 3-1, with Vice Chair Von Wilpert voting no due to payments made after contract expiration. Staff acknowledged the issue and stated these are among the last such cleanups, with new controls in place.
Public Comments & Testimony
- La Jolla Cove Sea Lions: Numerous speakers (Nathan Brenner, Carol Toy, Robin Davidoff from Sierra Club Seal Society, and others) described a crisis at La Jolla Cove where sea lion pups are being harassed by crowds. They reported that nine pups were born in the cove but only two remain; three dead pups were found in six days. Showed photos/video of crowds surrounding newborn pups. Requested emergency actions: station rangers on the beach, use cones and tape for viewing areas, post NOAA signs, temporarily close the west stairs gate, and form a panel of experts. They emphasized that the problem is managing human behavior, not wildlife.
- Fireworks and Nesting Birds (Mission Bay): Multiple speakers (Jim Pugh, Padma, Savannah Stallings, Leslie Honda, Christina Santamaria, Angela Noble, Muriel Spooner, and others) from San Diego Audubon Society and public urged the committee to stop nightly fireworks at SeaWorld and postpone the Bay Fair (Thunderboat races, Sept. 13-15) until after the endangered California least tern nesting season. They cited that over 16,000 birds are nesting on Whiskey Island, that July 4th fireworks caused panic flights and carcasses washing ashore, and that SeaWorld’s permit violates its master plan requiring a half-mile buffer from Stony Point nesting preserve. Speakers also noted health impacts of fireworks on humans (asthma, PTSD).
- Vaping/E-cigarette Waste: Several public health advocates (Madison Rapp, Peggy Walker) highlighted the environmental and health hazards of disposable vapes, which contain liquid nicotine (acute hazardous waste), lithium batteries, and microplastics. They called for including vape waste in any assessment of fiscal/health impacts of cannabis.
- Other Topics: Terry Ann Skelly reported on cleanups of illegal marijuana cultivation in state parks (Sweetwater watershed). Blair Beekman and Nathan Brenner also spoke on sports lighting and technology transparency. Cesar Javier and Purita Javier raised issues about toxic emissions from a ceramic kiln and personal grievances.
Discussion Items
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Item 3: Award Two Contracts for Tree Maintenance and Tree Planting Services (Street Rights-of-Way)
- Presented by Chelsea Clacious (Deputy Director, Transportation Dept.) and John Ide. The contracts, split into two lots, are for preventive/corrective tree maintenance, planting, watering, and emergency response. Lot A (Districts 1,5,6,7) awarded to Atlas Environmental Services; Lot B (Districts 2,3,4,8,9) to West Coast Arborist. Combined value ~$3.6M for tree planting/watering under the “Ready, Set, Grow” grant.
- Staff addressed a concern about Atlas’s license (C49 tree service license), stating the new license went into effect in January 2024 and Atlas is grandfathered with an 18-month window to obtain it; compliance will be monitored.
- Public comments: Support from union representative (Kelvin Barrios, Laborers’ Local 89) praising West Coast Arborist’s pension and benefits; concerns from Tanisha Jean Martin and Ann Feggy about hiring local workers and equity – requested mandates for 25-50% local labor. Another speaker (Lori Saldania) warned against real estate departments authorizing tree removal without urban forestry review.
- Committee discussion: Vice Chair Von Wilpert asked about tree root damage to sidewalks; staff responded that the RFP includes language for collaboration with the Safe Sidewalk Program, and internal protocols are being updated. She also noted a prior prevailing wage violation by one contractor (now resolved) and inquired about contractor education on prevailing wage. Chair Lacava highlighted that city forces also perform tree work but contractors provide specialized equipment and capacity. The motion to approve passed 4-0.
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Item 4: SDG&E Presentation on Customer Equity Programs (Information Only)
- Presented by Holly Beerman (Director of Customer Programs). Covered programs: CARE (30% discount, 320,000 San Diegans enrolled), FERA (18% electric discount), Medical Baseline, Energy Savings Assistance (ESA) – no-cost home upgrades for low-income households, Percentage Income Payment Plan (PIPP) pilot – caps monthly bills for very low-income customers (1,000 enrolled, waitlist), plus decarbonization programs like SGIP (solar/battery for equity customers) and CHIRP (electrification readiness tool). SDG&E also highlighted the San Diego Regional Energy Network (SDREN) proposed decision for $125 million in funding. Noted a 20% drop in residential past-due balances (from $275M to $226M year-over-year).
- Public comments: Several speakers criticized SDG&E for high profits and rates, calling the equity programs insufficient and insulting. Others (Joyce Añada, Blair Beekman) acknowledged the programs but urged SDG&E to step back as community power grows. Questions from committee: Council President Pro Tem Rivera asked about opportunities for additional funding (LIHEAP, CARE) and legislative advocacy. Chair Lacava asked for household-level data on arrears and suggested partnerships with the Housing Commission for early intervention. He also questioned SDG&E’s position on legislation to eliminate the public purpose surcharge; Brittany Appelstein (SDG&E) stated they support socializing costs across the state rather than on individual bills, but noted the bill has been killed for this year. Chair Lacava raised concerns that without backfill, critical programs could disappear.
Key Outcomes
- Approved Committee Minutes of June 20, 2024 (4-0).
- Consent Agenda Items 1 & 2 Approved (3-1, Vice Chair Von Wilpert dissenting). Staff to provide a formal presentation on contract controls to a future committee.
- Item 3 (Tree Maintenance/Planting Contracts) Approved (4-0). Staff directed to ensure compliance with license requirements and to provide public with information on local hiring and equity measures.
- Item 4 (SDG&E Customer Equity Programs) Accepted as Information. Chair Lacava and Council President Pro Tem Rivera requested follow-up data on arrears by household count and geography, and will consider legislative advocacy on public purpose surcharge and program funding.
- Chair Lacava stated he will follow up with city departments on La Jolla Cove (rangers, cones) and SeaWorld fireworks (subject matter experts), and clarify the nature of sports field lighting for parks.
Next Meeting: The Environment Committee will next meet on Thursday, September 12, 2024, at 1:00 PM.
Meeting Transcript
All right. Good afternoon and welcome to the Environment Committee meeting of July 18th, 2024. I'm Joel Ocava, Councilmember for District One and Chair of the Committee. Our committee's liaison, Sarah Jordan will go over instructions for today's meeting. Sarah? Thank you, Chair Locava. Well, members of the public are able to attend the meetings 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 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 ends, whichever occurs first. This will allow for better meaning management between the two platforms and ensure the committee is able to manage and conduct city business. We appreciate the public's cooperation. Council Member Campbell. Also attending the meeting today, Jordan Moore with the Office of the Independent Budget Analyst, Lead Deputy City Attorney Nicole Dino, Randy Wilde with the Office of Mayor Todd Gloria, and Brian Elliott, committee consultant. Sarah, please continue with public comment instructions. If you are in person, please complete a speaker slip located at the entrance of the committee room and place it on top of the box indicated at the table in the front of the room. Please do so in a timely manner to impurse your proper meeting 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 via telephone, you may dial 1669-2545252. Entering Web ID 160, 670, 8143 Pound. This information is also available on the agenda and will appear on the screen during the public comment period for each agenda item. As a reminder, members of the public who wish to provide virtual testimony must enter the virtual queue by raising their hand before the queue closes. Please note that if you're watching via City TV 24 or online, there may be delay. Please participate via the audio on your phone and mute your TV or computer when it is your turn to speak. And if you wish to speak to a particular item, please wait for that item to be called and then raise your hand by speaking the tapping by tapping the raise your hand icon, or if you are a call in participant by pressing 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, Sarah, for reviewing those instructions for the benefit of the public. A quorum is present, and we will now dispense with the approval of the committee minutes of June 20th, 2024. Thank you, Chair. I have not received any speaker slips here in the committee room, but we have a few hands raised in the virtual queue to speak to the past committee minutes. So I will begin the five minute timer for all those to indicate if they wish to speak to the past committee minutes. You will have one minute. We will begin with the original. Yes. On the past committee minutes, it was saying that I was talking about the EV infrastructure and the effects that it has on human health and the environment. I want it to be specific because it's not good health effects or anything that it's you know for the people or the environment when we're using it. And so we should be doing studies that are going to be making sure that the radiation that's coming off of this these infrastructure and the fires that are started from the um like lithium bombs uh that we continue to use. Um it's it's not good for the environment or or the health of the people that is around it and using it. And I don't know the clock stops, so I don't know if it's you guys or you have 10 seconds remaining. Okay, yeah. So I just um want to be clear on um the fact that I was saying it's not good. It's it's very ambiguous the way it's written. Thank you for your testimony. Our next speaker is Lori Saldania. Please unmute yourself and provide your comments on the past committee minutes. You will have one minute. Uh yes, to people who don't have access to those minutes. Uh nearly 50 million dollars in change orders were approved without any public review according to the minutes in the agenda. This was done without advising the public of what was driving these costs, unless they took the time to go and read uh the documents.
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