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Record of Proceedings

Smart Growth and Land Use Committee Meeting - June 14, 2017

Land Use & Housing Committee — Wednesday, June 14, 2017
BodySan Diego, California
SessionLand Use & Housing Committee
DateWednesday, June 14, 2017
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
3:27

Thank you, everybody, and welcome for being here for the June fourteenth, twenty seventeen meeting of the Smart Growth and Land Use Committee.

3:34

Today we have Councilmember Chris Kate and Councilmember Georget Gomez from the mayor's office, Jack Straw, we have Chris Ojeda from the IBA.

3:44

We have Sarah Jarman from my office and the committee consultant.

3:49

We have Shannon Thomas filling in today from the City Attorney's Office.

3:52

Thank you.

3:52

And Councilmember Alvarez is also present.

3:55

Looks like we have a quorum and ready to go.

3:57

Thank you all for being here.

4:24

Um are we speaking on the uh consent items yet?

4:28

Or that's next.

4:29

Okay.

4:30

Perfect.

4:31

With that, moving on to the consent item.

4:33

The the consent agenda any wish for discussion on any of the items.

4:37

I just have a quick comment.

4:39

Sure.

4:39

Uh for staff.

4:40

Um I wanted to and I don't know how they um how this complies to the current leases that are in front of us, but uh just for future references, I just want to make sure that we're incorporating the cap um implementation specifically what's your waste.

4:56

We have an opportunity, and my understanding is that there isn't any references currently on their current lease.

5:02

So if we can make sure that that happens in future lease that we're complying as much as possible, I think that will help us to get to the goals that we're setting.

5:10

So anybody from staff here that would like to respond.

5:22

Good afternoon, Sabelle Thompson, director of real estate assets.

5:25

And um regarding the recycling concern, that's certainly a priority for us as well.

5:29

In all of our lease agreements, uh tenants are required to comply with all city ordinances and and laws, et cetera, um, regarding a specific clause for recycling.

5:39

Um we do have a a clause um related to plastic containers uh et cetera that we that we sent over to your office and happy to send to the committee.

5:48

Um and then for for the the city's recycling ordinance, we include that in any leases um which are specific for an office use, but for any non-office uses, we don't have a separate a separate clause just for recycling, but still the the lessees are um under the responsibility to comply with the site the recycling ordinance.

6:11

Okay, thank you.

6:14

Thank you.

6:14

Uh any other comment?

6:16

Councilmember Kate.

6:17

Thank you, Mr.

6:18

Chair.

6:18

And uh I don't know if that was motion to move it.

6:23

Yes.

6:23

Okay, I'll second it, just want to make sure.

6:24

Uh, but no need to pull any items.

6:26

I just want to make a comment on item number two.

6:29

I want to thank uh Park and Rec staff for all their work over the past year in keeping the uh North Claremont Senior Center open and want to thank everyone at Real Estate Assets for their work on this lease.

6:41

It's it's hugely, hugely important for us in Claremont's are one only senior center in Claremont that is used every day, all day.

6:49

And so I want to thank Park Rex staff for their work and real estate assets to make sure this happens and moves forward.

6:55

Thank you, Mr.

6:55

Chair.

6:56

Thank you.

6:56

And that was a second.

6:57

Yes.

6:58

All right.

6:59

Councilmember Alvers.

7:00

On item number one.

7:01

Um, don't know who staff is assigned to that one, but um on the issue of the restrooms at this at this uh location.

7:09

Is city staff opening these restrooms, or are the uh lease new leaseholders if this gets approved, are they responsible for opening and closing?

7:30

Hi, uh Pierre Saladin, um supervising property agent real estate assets.

7:35

Um actually the tenant opens and closes those restrooms.

7:39

Okay.

7:41

Um is that currently the practice, or is the staff in charge of that?

7:47

Um at this particular location that that's what is um understood.

7:53

I just want to make sure because um we asked some clarification.

7:56

This is these are public restrooms, and we want to make sure that they're actually open and available to the public.

8:01

So I want to make sure we get that on the record.

8:03

Thank you very much.

8:03

Thank you.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Housing████████████████16%
Affordable Housing███████████████15%
Placemaking██████████10%
Airport Management██████████10%
Public Engagement█████████9%
Land Use and Planning█████████9%
Public Comment████████8%
Environmental Review████4%
Procurement████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Smart Growth and Land Use Committee Meeting - June 14, 2017

The Smart Growth and Land Use Committee met on June 14, 2017, from approximately 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, to consider a consent calendar, action items, and informational reports. Key topics included environmental consulting agreements, a transportation modeling contract, placemaking code amendments, companion unit financing and regulations, and the airports business plan. The committee heard public testimony on several items and took unanimous votes on action items.

Consent Calendar

  • The consent agenda (items 1, 2, 3) was approved unanimously. Councilmember Chris Kate thanked staff for keeping the North Claremont Senior Center open (item 2). Councilmember David Alvarez asked about restroom operations at item 1; staff confirmed the tenant opens and closes those public restrooms.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Placemaking (Item 6): Joe Cosgrove (Circulate San Diego) supported the effort but recommended: an easy-to-read bulletin, allowing community nonprofits (not just city-recognized groups) to apply, accepting leaseholder permission instead of property owner permission, removing community planning group sign-off, and avoiding extra Commission for Arts and Culture approval steps. David Modi (Community Planners Committee) supported requiring planning group letters of support for placemaking projects.
  • Companion Unit Regulations (Item 7):
    • Molly Kirkland (San Diego County Apartment Association) supported the ordinance but expressed concern about the owner-occupancy requirement.
    • Marta Stasik (Talus Properties) and Michelle Robb (Ritz Design Build) supported, citing benefits for seniors, property values, and affordable housing.
    • Matt Adams (Building Industry Association) supported the companion unit concept as a tool to address the housing crisis.
    • Mary Leiden (Housing You Matters) supported the staff recommendation and urged making the process easy.
    • David Modi (Community Planners Committee) supported a 30-day minimum rental, no front yard parking, and owner occupancy; he opposed parking exemptions in transit areas that lack transit.
    • Rhea Kuhlman (College Area Community Planning Board) supported but requested a fix to apply bedroom limits cumulatively to properties with companion units in the college area, citing the mini-dorm ordinance.
    • Andre Beauparlant (homeowner) supported requiring record owner occupancy to prevent rental companies from outbidding homebuyers.
    • Ann Cottrell (college area resident) expressed concern that investors would use companion units to circumvent existing bedroom limits.
    • Artemis Spiridonidis (development consultant) supported the amendments as a feasible way to increase housing supply and reduce displacement.
    • Ryan Maxon (Greater San Diego Association of Realtors) supported the staff recommendations and opposed owner occupancy requirements.

Discussion Items

  • Environmental Consulting Agreements (Item 4): Planning Department staff presented four on-call contracts (total $6.5 million, five-year terms) for CEQA/NEPA, greenhouse gas, and climate resiliency studies. Councilmember Gomez asked about the work program; Councilmember Alvarez noted that workforce statistics forms were blank. Staff explained the forms would be completed before council. The item passed unanimously.
  • SANDAG Transportation Modeling Contract (Item 5): Staff requested a $500,000 amendment to extend the agreement for five years. Councilmember Gomez asked about the shift from in-house modeling; staff cited cost savings ($130,000/year vs. $800,000 previously) and increased complexity. The item passed unanimously.
  • Placemaking Code Amendments (Item 6): Economic Development Department staff proposed a definition for placemaking and streamlined permits (process one) for temporary activation of public and private spaces. Councilmember Gomez inquired about fees; staff noted a process one permit would cost $400–$1,200, plus $200,000 in activation grants and a $400,000 revolving loan fund. Councilmember Kate asked about zones and adjacent property permissions. Councilmember Alvarez raised concerns about excluding industrial zones and limiting assembly uses in residential zones. The committee voted to forward the item to the Planning Commission and requested that the committee consultant receive a draft before the August 24 Planning Commission hearing.
  • Companion Unit Financing (Item 9): Informational presentation by Sarah Jarman (committee consultant) and Ricardo Flores (LISC) on developing a San Diego-specific toolkit and a loan program model (like Santa Cruz, targeting 80% AMI tenants). LISC may provide HUD Section 4 funds through an intermediary. Councilmember Alvarez asked about the AMI level and the role of the Housing Commission. No action was taken.
  • Companion Unit Regulations (Item 7): Planning staff presented amendments to comply with state law (SB 1069, AB 2406) and add incentives: no owner-occupancy requirement for companion units, reduced parking, and a new junior unit category. Councilmember Alvarez asked about junior unit definitions, multifamily zone provisions, floor area ratio, parking, and setbacks. Councilmember Gomez expressed support but proposed amendments: a two-year pilot with a flat fee of $2,000 (including all fees) and compliance with the high occupancy ordinance to the extent legally possible. Councilmember Alvarez added amendments: allow detached companion units up to 1,200 square feet and able to exceed the floor area ratio, and eliminate the above-garage setback requirement. The motion passed unanimously.
  • Airports Business Plan (Item 8): Informational report by Rod Props (Deputy Director for Airports) covering Montgomery Field and Brown Field. Goals included safe operation, regulatory compliance, self-sufficiency, and development. Financial highlights: $47 million in assets, $15 million in working capital, but operational inefficiencies due to holdover leases. Councilmember Kate asked about timelines for the minimum standards document and the National Air College RFP; staff estimated next month for both. Councilmember Gomez asked about holdover leases and financial liabilities; staff explained increases due to FAA grant accounting. No action taken.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent calendar approved unanimously.
  • Environmental consulting agreements approved (4 contracts, $6.5 million total).
  • SANDAG modeling contract amendment approved ($500,000).
  • Placemaking code amendments forwarded to Planning Commission with a request for the committee to review the draft beforehand.
  • Companion unit regulations approved with amendments: two-year pilot with a flat $2,000 fee (including all fees), compliance with the high occupancy ordinance, detached units up to 1,200 square feet allowed to exceed FAR, and elimination of the above-garage setback requirement.
  • Airports business plan received as informational.

Meeting Transcript

Thank you, everybody, and welcome for being here for the June fourteenth, twenty seventeen meeting of the Smart Growth and Land Use Committee. Today we have Councilmember Chris Kate and Councilmember Georget Gomez from the mayor's office, Jack Straw, we have Chris Ojeda from the IBA. We have Sarah Jarman from my office and the committee consultant. We have Shannon Thomas filling in today from the City Attorney's Office. Thank you. And Councilmember Alvarez is also present. Looks like we have a quorum and ready to go. Thank you all for being here. Um are we speaking on the uh consent items yet? Or that's next. Okay. Perfect. With that, moving on to the consent item. The the consent agenda any wish for discussion on any of the items. I just have a quick comment. Sure. Uh for staff. Um I wanted to and I don't know how they um how this complies to the current leases that are in front of us, but uh just for future references, I just want to make sure that we're incorporating the cap um implementation specifically what's your waste. We have an opportunity, and my understanding is that there isn't any references currently on their current lease. So if we can make sure that that happens in future lease that we're complying as much as possible, I think that will help us to get to the goals that we're setting. So anybody from staff here that would like to respond. Good afternoon, Sabelle Thompson, director of real estate assets. And um regarding the recycling concern, that's certainly a priority for us as well. In all of our lease agreements, uh tenants are required to comply with all city ordinances and and laws, et cetera, um, regarding a specific clause for recycling. Um we do have a a clause um related to plastic containers uh et cetera that we that we sent over to your office and happy to send to the committee. Um and then for for the the city's recycling ordinance, we include that in any leases um which are specific for an office use, but for any non-office uses, we don't have a separate a separate clause just for recycling, but still the the lessees are um under the responsibility to comply with the site the recycling ordinance. Okay, thank you. Thank you. Uh any other comment? Councilmember Kate. Thank you, Mr. Chair. And uh I don't know if that was motion to move it. Yes. Okay, I'll second it, just want to make sure. Uh, but no need to pull any items. I just want to make a comment on item number two. I want to thank uh Park and Rec staff for all their work over the past year in keeping the uh North Claremont Senior Center open and want to thank everyone at Real Estate Assets for their work on this lease. It's it's hugely, hugely important for us in Claremont's are one only senior center in Claremont that is used every day, all day. And so I want to thank Park Rex staff for their work and real estate assets to make sure this happens and moves forward. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you. And that was a second. Yes. All right. Councilmember Alvers. On item number one. Um, don't know who staff is assigned to that one, but um on the issue of the restrooms at this at this uh location. Is city staff opening these restrooms, or are the uh lease new leaseholders if this gets approved, are they responsible for opening and closing?

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