Environment Committee Meeting Summary: May 22, 2025
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Environment Committee Meeting – May 22, 2025
The Environment Committee of the San Diego City Council met on May 22, 2025, at 9:00 AM. Chair Elo Rivera presided, with Council President Lacava and Vice Chair Campbell present. The committee reviewed a consent agenda, two joint contracts for remediation services, a proposed ordinance on utility pass-through charges, and received an informational update on the urban forestry program. All voting items passed unanimously (3-0).
Consent Calendar
- Item 1: Approval of committee minutes from April 17, 2025. Passed unanimously.
- Item 2: Authorized the Fifth Amendment to a sole source agreement with Dr. David Victor for energy market expert review services regarding the San Vicente Hydroelectric Pumped Storage Project. Passed unanimously.
- Item 3: Authorized a First Amendment to a contract with Hudson Safety Light for miscellaneous traffic and street warning device rentals. Passed unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
Non-Agenda Public Comment (before consent agenda):
- Cesar Javier expressed frustration with code enforcement, discrimination, and lack of response from the city, demanding a step-by-step policy change.
- Becky Rapp (local planning group, public health educator) urged the city to require marijuana businesses to meet environmental standards (energy efficiency, water conservation, impact assessments).
- A speaker (anonymous) alleged that the city's Tent City operations (Dreams for Change, downtown partnership) are in breach of contract, with code violations, environmental destruction, and exploitation of homeless individuals.
- Joyce Seniata (District 3) offered condolences for a recent plane crash, thanked the City Attorney for transparency, and expressed support for the Pure Water project while urging improved public outreach.
- Blair Beekman discussed memorial park funding, ALPR technology use, and encouraged cooperation between the mayor and city council.
- Kathleen Lippett criticized the city for partnering with for-profit industries at the expense of residents, urging a focus on basic needs.
- Peggy Walker advocated for a city ban on disposable e-cigarettes and vapes due to environmental hazards (lithium batteries, toxic chemicals).
- Marco Espinoza echoed condolences for the plane crash.
- Madison highlighted the massive energy footprint of indoor cannabis cultivation, noting it accounts for 1% of U.S. electricity use (3% in California) and urged local regulations for energy efficiency.
Consent Agenda Public Comment (Items 1-3):
- Cesar Javier spoke about the minutes, referencing the need for affordable housing and jobs, and criticized city leadership.
- Joyce Seniata noted the absence of a workforce report on Item 3 and raised concerns about underrepresentation.
- A speaker (identified as “the original”) criticized the long duration of the consulting contract with Dr. Victor (since 2015) and the doubling of the hourly rate (from $210 to $390), as well as the practice of repeatedly increasing not-to-exceed amounts on rental contracts.
- Blair Beekman questioned whether the traffic warning devices (Item 3) fall under the city's technology ordinance and urged accountability.
Items 4 & 5 Public Comment (remediation and adjuster services):
- Cesar Javier criticized the city's reliance on old pipes, cited Proposition 59 and 65, and warned of future breakages and corruption.
- A speaker (“the original”) accused the city of creating problems to then offer expensive solutions, calling the contracts a “scam” and “racket.”
- Joyce Seniata noted the absence of a workforce report on the $25 million contract but acknowledged the EOC goals (20% SLB and ELB).
- Blair Beekman discussed the need to legally combine sewer and stormwater funding, referencing San Jose's upcoming discussions.
Item 6 Public Comment (Utility pass-through ordinance):
- Supporters included:
- Amalia Romero (Legal Aid Society) – supported but suggested expanding the definition of utility services and increasing the notice period to 90 days.
- Gil Vera (Legal Aid) – supported, recommended adding a defense in eviction cases for noncompliance and requiring landlords to automatically provide billing documentation.
- Aaron Siremoto Grassi (Alliance San Diego) – supported, called for limits on third-party administrative fees and automatic provision of bills.
- Thelma Navarro (Center on Policy Initiatives) – supported for transparency and to prevent landlords from profiting on city services.
- Christopher Gomez (San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council) – strongly supported, calling it a necessary step to protect working families.
- Anthony Dang (Climate Action Campaign) – supported, especially as a safeguard for the upcoming trash fee.
- Sadio Jacob Strata (San Diego Building & Construction Trades Council) – supported, emphasized fairness and transparency.
- Opponents/neutral:
- Craig Benedetto (landlord representative) – testified that overcharging is not a problem; called the ordinance a “solution searching for a problem.”
- Natalie Rashke (tenant) – shared personal experience of high utility charges ($102/month for trash, multiple water fees) and late fees, illustrating the need for protection.
- Melanie Woods (California Apartment Association) – neutral, requested clarity on notices and a 60–90 day implementation period.
- Molly Kirkland (Southern California Rental Housing Association) – neutral, requested longer compliance time and clarity on city-only services.
- Kathleen Lippett – argued that city fees are the root cause, and that the ordinance unfairly targets landlords who need to pass through costs.
- A speaker (“the original”) – argued that the city’s own fee increases cause the domino effect, and that the ordinance is a cover for city budget issues.
- Additional callers: Blair Beekman supported the transparency goals; Marco Espinoza shared a story about water meter manipulation; Michael Dwyer pointed out confusion in the municipal code section numbering.
Item 7 Public Comment (Urban forestry update):
- Ann Feige (former CFAB chair, now Kate Sessions Committee) – praised increased staffing and interdepartmental cooperation, but cautioned about monitoring young trees planted under grants.
- Blair Beekman – compared tree canopy equity in San Jose, stressed the importance of community involvement.
- A speaker (“the original”) – criticized the city for planting trees without adequate maintenance, calling it a waste of money.
- Joyce Seniata – expressed concern about the use of a $10 million grant and the condition of trees downtown, specifically a beautiful tree on Market and First Street.
- Marco Espinoza – thanked the forestry team and acknowledged the value of shade trees.
Discussion Items
Items 4 & 5 – Remediation and Adjuster Services Contracts (Joint Presentation): Presenter William Curcio (Deputy Director, Water Distribution) and Margaret Hiagas (Deputy Director, Wastewater Collection) presented a joint proposal for two contracts: (1) Adjuster services with George Hills Company (3-year, $3 million not-to-exceed) and (2) Remediation/cleanup with Silverado Builders (5-year, $25 million not-to-exceed). The contracts are split to allow more competitive bidding and better oversight. The current contractor (Luthen Turley) will complete ongoing projects under a time-only extension with no new funding. The committee discussed the claims process, the aging of council policy 400-10 (40 years old), and the possibility of expanding it to cover stormwater assets. Council President Lacava moved Item 4, seconded by Vice Chair Campbell, passed 3-0. Vice Chair Campbell then moved Item 5, seconded by Council President Lacava, passed 3-0.
Item 6 – Ordinance Regarding Pass-Through Utility Charges: Jeffrey Newin (Policy Advisor, District 9) presented the proposed ordinance (adding Division 12 to Chapter 9, Article 8 of the Municipal Code) to require landlords to pass through utility fees (water, sewer, stormwater, solid waste) at no more than the city’s charge, provide written notice, and supply documentation upon request. The ordinance aims to prevent landlords from profiting on city services and to increase transparency, especially with the upcoming trash fee from Measure B. Committee members discussed the scope (including stormwater) and the possibility of requiring automatic disclosure rather than on request. Council President Lacava seconded Chair Elo Rivera’s motion. The committee voted unanimously to forward the ordinance to full council.
Item 7 – Informational Update on Urban Forestry Program: Bethany Bizak (Transportation Department Director) and Brian Widener (City Forester) presented an annual update. Key accomplishments: tree canopy increased from 13% to 15% between 2014 and 2021, with nearly all communities seeing gains; 4,000 trees planted in the past year (double the previous year) through the “Trees for Communities” and “ReadySet Grow San Diego” programs (the latter funded by a $10 million federal grant); 25,000 trees pruned; 65,000 individual waterings; and a new branding campaign “Grow a Green San Diego.” Challenges include staffing shortages, aging equipment, a backlog of 600 tree requests, loss of funding for “Free Tree SD” in FY26, and the need to update over 50 tree-related codes and policies. The team aims to plant 100,000 trees by 2035 (9,300 per year). Committee members praised the work and discussed community engagement, palm tree maintenance (2-year cycle vs. 20-year cycle for shade trees), and the potential for replacing some palm trees with shade trees. No action was taken as it was an informational item.
Key Outcomes
- Consent calendar (Items 1-3) – Approved unanimously (3-0).
- Item 4 (Remediation contract with Silverado Builders) – Approved unanimously (3-0).
- Item 5 (Adjuster services contract with George Hills) – Approved unanimously (3-0).
- Item 6 (Ordinance on pass-through utility charges) – Approved unanimously (3-0) to forward to full council with suggestions for strengthening (e.g., automatic notice, longer notice period, eviction defense).
- Item 7 (Urban forestry update) – Received as information; no vote required.
- The committee adjourned to the next regularly scheduled meeting on June 12, 2025 at 1:00 PM.
Meeting Transcript
All right. Uh good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to the environment committee of May 22nd, 2025. Our committee leads on Sarah will provide information and instruction for the public to participate in today's meeting. Thank you, Cherry Livera. Well, 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. 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 testimony via a call-in or an internet-based service option must enter the virtual speaking queue within five minutes after conclusion of in-person public testimony or before the virtual speaking queue closes, whichever occurs first. This will allow for better meeting management between the two platforms and ensure the committee is able to manage and conduct city business. Council President Lacava. Chair Elo Rivera. Present. Also attending the meeting today is City Attorney Representative Corinne Newfer. Mayor Representative Randy Wilde and IBA representative Jordan Moore. If you are in person, please complete a speaker slip located at the entrance of the committee room and place it in the speaker slip box at the table at the front of the 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 listed online in the preamble language of the agenda on the city's webpage. To join the Zoom webinar by telephone, please dial 1669-2545252. And when prompted, input webinar ID 161-907-2156 pound. This information is also available on the agenda and it will appear on the screen during the public comment period for each agenda item. 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. If you wish to speak to a particular item, please 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 calling participant by selecting star nine on your cell phone or landline. If you raise your hand during a non-comment period, your hand will be lowered. All right. His business is not on the list for regulatory permits required of industrial activity. This means he can locate, construct, operate, and sell the product in his own way, and discretion. Selling is not through the San Diego pottery guild shops at Spanners Villas, Balbova Park, and from customers, orders without selling permits from the state. One critical fire survey, questionnaire in the application of wherever or not. The honor handles chemical has her does materials also on honors information. He is required of professional license number. Moreover, hobby or pastime, the honor does beekeeping, and marijuana culture activities, toxicity, emission harms, too. Good afternoon, César. My wife, who is now declared Alzheimer's dementia. Towards stage two. But she refuses. She refuses. That's why we are here in the exercise of our intellectual, humble intellectual. Mr. Rivera by Discovery is my classmate at the air pollution governing board. The only problem is I am always present and most of the time absentee. How could he respond to the issue which we have submitted to the District 9 when they stop our playing with us? Ben Mendoza, Mr. Dentino. Oh, I cannot guide you a step-by-step policy change because I believe the investigation of code enforcement, and I believe the investigation of Consular Rivera governing board of the air pollution control district. And never to shout according to Dr. Campbell, who is now the representation to the air pollution control district. Her input, oh, let's discuss your salary as volunteer of the governing body. That's the first shot of the representative of the city.
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