San Diego Environment Committee Meeting with Fire Chief Swearing-In - Sept 12, 2024
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San Diego Environment Committee Meeting with Fire Chief Swearing-In - Sept 12, 2024
This meeting began with a ceremonial swearing-in of Robert Logan II as San Diego Fire Rescue Department Chief, followed by the regular Environment Committee meeting chaired by Councilmember Joel Lacava. The committee considered consent items, discussed contract amendments for the Pure Water Program, ratified an emergency debris contract, and voted on a sole-source contract extension.
Ceremonial Swearing-In of Fire Chief
- Mayor Todd Gloria introduced Fire Chief Robert Logan II, highlighting that Logan, a native San Diegan from Lincoln Park, rose from a field of 70 applicants. Logan brings 24 years of experience and a vision emphasizing equity, honesty, and justice.
- Mayor Gloria recognized Ben Holman, the first Black firefighter integrated into the San Diego Fire Department in 1951, who later became a deputy chief. Holman pinned the badge on Chief Logan.
- Chief Logan took the oath of office and delivered remarks, honoring predecessors and noting that he earned his EMT certification at Fire Station 19—the same station where African American firefighters were once segregated. He cited Chief George Cursor (who ordered integration) and Chief John DeLoach (who hired Logan) as key influences.
- Several city employees (from street painting, lifeguard services, library makerspace, and police helicopter unit) were featured in a video segment highlighting their work and the city’s workforce diversity.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Consent Agenda and Non-Agenda Comments: Multiple speakers criticized the practice of placing many items on the consent agenda, arguing it limits public scrutiny. Specific concerns were raised about $44 million in change orders being approved without presentation. Others called for smoke-free housing policies (citing Carlsbad’s model), highlighted environmental harms of vaping, and opposed marijuana billboards near youth.
- Item 3 (CH2M Hill Amendment): A speaker noted the contractor’s lack of diversity in management and trades, urging the city to demand more inclusive hiring.
- Item 6 & 10 (Pure Water Contingency and Update): Speakers acknowledged the project’s complexity but expressed concern about cost overruns and questioned whether the public is adequately informed about water treatment processes and potential health risks.
- Item 7 (Republic Services Emergency Contract): A speaker requested workforce diversity data and cautioned about sole-source waste in emergency contracts.
- Item 9 (EPI Environmental Products): A speaker questioned the sole-source justification and asked about health effects of landfill odors.
Consent Calendar
- Items 1 (SCS Engineers for greenhouse gas compliance), 2 (Lead hazard investigation agreement with County), 4 (North City Water Reclamation Plant change order – $16M), and 5 (North City Pure Water Facility change order – $11.36M) were approved by a 3-0 vote (Councilmember Campbell absent). Item 3 was pulled by Council President Elo-Rivera for discussion.
Discussion Items
- Item 3 – Pure Water Program Amendment with CH2M Hill Engineers: Council President Elo-Rivera expressed concerns about the contract more than doubling from original $17M to over $40M. Staff explained that COVID-era supply chain issues, unforeseen site conditions (e.g., dock banks), and the need for on-site engineering support drove the $14M amendment (total now $44M). They noted that the consultant fee is within industry standards. The motion to approve passed 3-0.
- Items 6 and 10 – Pure Water Phase One Pooled Contingency Increase and Program Update: Staff reported construction is 60% complete, ahead of schedule. They requested a $102.64M increase to the pooled contingency (total $245M) to cover pending change orders and unforeseen conditions, noting that $116M in savings from SDG&E utility relocation and lower bid amounts partially offset costs. The motion passed 3-0.
- Item 7 – Ratification of Emergency Contract with Republic Services: The contract, retroactively approved, provides debris containers for homes damaged in the January 2024 storm. To date, 3,000 tons of debris have been removed, 125 containers delivered, and 36 remain active. Staff noted some illegal dumping issues. The motion passed 3-0.
- Item 9 – EPI Environmental Products Contract for Landfill Cover: The sole-source contract extension (additional $3.8M over 5 years) supplies polyethylene film for the Miramar Landfill’s odor control system. Councilmember von Wilpert declined to vote for the motion because the contract had expired months earlier; she moved to send it to full council without a recommendation. That motion carried 2-1 (Chair Lacava and Council President Elo-Rivera in favor, von Wilpert opposed). Item 8 was returned to staff.
Key Outcomes
- Swearing-In: Robert Logan II officially became San Diego Fire Rescue Department Chief.
- Consent Items 1,2,4,5: Approved 3-0.
- Item 3 (CH2M Hill Amendment): Approved 3-0.
- Items 6 & 10 (Pure Water Contingency & Update): Pooled contingency increase of $102.64M approved 3-0.
- Item 7 (Republic Services Emergency Contract): Ratified 3-0.
- Item 9 (EPI Environmental Products): Moved to full council without recommendation (2-1 vote) due to expired contract concerns.
- Next Environment Committee meeting scheduled for October 17, 2024, at 1:00 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Dargan and executive team who is here as well. Of course, the family and friends of Robert Logan II. And I don't ever want to miss an opportunity. This room is full of our city family, to every city employee who's here. Thank you for what you do. I appreciate you. I respect you. And in particular today, I want to say to our firefighters, our paramedics, our lifeguards, thank you to each and every one of you for helping keep us safe. Can we get a round of applause for our fire rescue department personnel? So when we started out on the difficult task of replacing fire chief Colin Stoll, I'm here to tell you that we got 70 applicants for the job. Many of them were truly exceptional. We were an embarrassment of riches who all applied. And as we went through the lengthy, I know very lengthy process of finding that perfect candidate, one rose to the very top. Now, there were many things that impressed me about Rob Logan. But the thing that stood out the most to me was the fact that we had so much in common. We were both native San Diegans that grew up in the neighborhood, and both of us knew what we wanted to do, even from a very young age. Rob, that was growing up right here in Lincoln Park in the southeastern corner of our city. He dreamed of racing around in a fire truck, heading toward danger, responding to emergencies and calls for service, simply put, protecting the people of San Diego. Now, realizing that dream was not going to be easy for Chief Logan. He faced some of the same obstacles that many children from this zip code from this neighborhood from this community face. And he overcame them. This man is precisely the kind of leader that we want and that we need in leadership positions in this city. A man who's experienced adversity, a man who persevered, a man who was a child in this community, but is now going to be a role moder for children in this community. A leader who knows San Diego because he is from San Diego, a leader who I know can build trust with this community, a leader with the ability, the credibility, the opportunity to aspire others because he was once where they were. And a leader who truly understands that the honor, integrity, and empathy are not just words, but they are his guiding principles. Chief Logan brings 24 years of experience to this position. He brings a commitment to leadership, to equity, to honesty, and to justice. He brings an innovative vision to the fire rescue department that will ensure that we will not miss a beat during the transition after the incredible culture of excellence established by Chief Stoll and his executive team. His leadership, his vision will usher the department into the future, allowing him to adjust to the many challenges that is fire rescue service in the 21st century. Job number one for me as your mayor is keeping San Diegans safe. It is the responsibility that I place above all others. This year, I had the unique opportunity to appoint a new police chief and a new fire chief. And with police chief Scott Wall and Fire Rescue Chief Robert Logan, I believe that we have the dream team for public safety. This dynamic duo has the skills, the brains, and the leadership capabilities necessary to keep San Diego the safest big city in the United States of America for decades to come. San Diego is lucky to have both of them. So to Chief Logan, I want to thank you for taking on this immense responsibility. And as you step into this role, know that you have the full support of your mayor and my entire administration. An incredible gentleman who will be pinning the badge on Robert Logan. His name is Alwyn Benjamin Holman, or as many of you know him as Ben or Benny. Now, Ben's story is very similar to many of ours. He came to San Diego how? The United States Navy. After having served in the Navy, Ben was hired as a probationary firefighter at the City of San Diego in 1951. Ben was the first black firefighter not assigned to an all black fire station, making him the catalyst for San Diego Fire's integration of the department. Mr. Holman climbed the ranks of firefighters. His dedication and hard work were recognized when he was promoted to battalion chief, a role that he served as suppression chief, as training officer, and his data systems officer. His journey continued as he became the first African American firefighter in California to attain the rank of deputy chief, where he served as director of support services, director of suppression, and director of administration services, leaving an indelible mark on the fire rescue service. And after thirty-two years of service, Ben retired in nineteen eighty-three, make marking the end of an era and leaving a legacy that continues to this day. In fact, I think it's fair to say we would not be here today if it wasn't for you, Ben.
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