Land Use and Housing Committee Meeting - July 23, 2021
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Land Use and Housing Committee Meeting - July 23, 2021
This meeting of the Land Use and Housing Committee was held virtually via Zoom due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The committee voted on several key items including a 99-year ground lease for San Diego High School, declared the Sports Arena site surplus land, and approved a property management agreement for three city-owned buildings. An informational update on homelessness data dashboards was also presented.
Consent Calendar
- Approved committee actions from June 10, 2021 (4-0).
- Approved Consent Agenda items 1–3 unanimously: acceptance of an access easement in Black Mountain Ranch, amendment for airport master plan studies with CNS Engineers, and declaration of Mission Gorge pump sewer station as exempt surplus land.
- Councilmember LaCava noted the airport master plan will address unleaded fuel solutions.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Non-Agenda Public Comment:
- Ms. Smith criticized San Diego Unified for using "secret backdoor tactics" and urged the committee to scrutinize proposals from the district.
- Catherine Rhodes argued that the city attorney's legal opinion on community parking district revenue was flawed, stating the city may use meter revenue for a broad range of street-related purposes.
- Madison Coleman (Climate Action Campaign) urged adoption of a well-designed inclusionary housing ordinance requiring 10% on-site deed-restricted affordable units, noting the current 4% incremental requirement is insufficient.
- Item 4 (San Diego High School Lease):
- Several speakers supported the lease: Amy Denhart (parent) and Josephine Peeler (student/PTSA president) highlighted the school's need for modernization; Eddie Head (Alumni Association president) emphasized the school's historical and community value.
- Opponents included a speaker who called it a giveaway of Balboa Park, citing a court agreement; Roger Showley (Balboa Park Committee of 100) proposed a joint planning effort for an "education park"; Michael Stepner (former city architect) urged a broader vision connecting the park to downtown; Renee Smith asked for stronger city protections; Catherine Rhodes suggested using the site for homeless services.
- Item 5 (Sports Arena Surplus Land):
- Laura Nunn (San Diego Housing Federation) supported the declaration, emphasizing the opportunity for affordable housing.
- D.K. Aniwo (Midway Pacific Planning Group) called the site a catalytic opportunity for community revitalization.
- Item 6 (Property Management Agreement): No public comments.
- Item 7 (Housing Commission Dashboards): No public comments.
Discussion Items
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Item 4: San Diego High School 99-Year Ground Lease
- Staff presented the lease with San Diego Unified School District for 34 acres of parkland. The lease includes $30 million+ in improvements, transfer of 11.7 acres to Mission Trails Park, and a parcel under Memorial Prep. The 99-year term is required to support bond-financed construction. Public access to facilities will continue.
- Committee members expressed strong support, noting the 2016 voter mandate (77% approval) and the need for school modernization. Councilmember Moreno made the motion; Vice Chair Elo-Rivera seconded. All voted yes (4-0) after receiving commitments on public access and joint use.
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Item 5: Sports Arena Surplus Land Declaration
- Staff explained that declaring the 48.5-acre site surplus is a necessary first step under the Surplus Land Act. A condition requiring renovation or replacement of the sports arena will be included in the notice to state agencies.
- Discussion focused on affordable housing requirements. Vice Chair Elo-Rivera expressed desire for a 25% affordable set-aside (the level required if a government agency responds) but did not amend. Councilmember LaCava cautioned that the percentages do not guarantee unit numbers. Councilmember Moreno urged use of the Business Cooperation Program. The motion (from Chair Whitburn, seconded by LaCava) passed 4-0.
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Item 6: Property Management Agreement for 1200 Third Ave, 201 A St, and 101 Ash St
- Staff requested approval of a three-year agreement with Meissner Jacquet for management of three city-owned buildings, including the vacant 101 Ash Street. The total cost for management fees and salaries over three years is $1.3 million.
- Councilmember Moreno objected to including 101 Ash Street, calling the building a waste of taxpayer money. The committee bifurcated the vote.
- First vote: management for 1200 Third Ave and 201 A St (excluding 101 Ash) passed 4-0.
- Second vote: management for 101 Ash Street passed 3-1, with Councilmember Moreno voting no. Vice Chair Elo-Rivera and Councilmember LaCava supported, citing liability and asset protection.
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Item 7: Informational Update – Homelessness Data Dashboards
- The Housing Commission presented new performance dashboards to track outcomes of homeless services. Data covers July 2020–March 2021, with plans to update monthly. Dashboards include metrics on shelter, housing placements, returns to homelessness, and demographics by council district.
- Committee members praised the transparency. Vice Chair Elo-Rivera asked about tracking disparities for Black San Diegans (who represent 6% of population but 27% of those served) and former foster youth. Councilmember LaCava inquired about unrecorded homeless individuals. Councilmember Moreno suggested making the dashboard easily accessible on the city website.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda: Approved 4-0.
- San Diego High School Lease: Approved 4-0 to forward to City Council for final authorization.
- Sports Arena Surplus Land: Approved 4-0 to forward to City Council. The declaration includes a condition to retain a sports arena.
- Property Management Agreements:
- For 1200 Third Ave and 201 A St (King Chavez): Approved 4-0.
- For 101 Ash Street: Approved 3-1 (Moreno opposed).
- Homelessness Dashboards: Informational item; no vote taken. Staff will consider adding data on former foster youth and improving website visibility.
The meeting adjourned at approximately [no time given in transcript].
Meeting Transcript
Chair, please proceed. Thank you. Greetings, everyone. Good morning, and welcome to today's meeting of the Land Use and Housing Committee. Thank you for being with us today. Per executive order N0821, which suspends certain requirements of the Brown Act. The committee members are participating via Zoom. In addition, this meeting is being televised and live streamed on the city's website. No members of the public will be in physical attendance at the meeting in the interest of public health and safety. However, the committee liaison has made arrangements for the public to make comments using the Zoom webinar platform. As we go forward, I'll go over the specifics of how to join the webinar and we'll give details on how people can offer public comment. At this time, I will call to order the land use and housing committee meeting of Friday, July 23rd, 2021. I will now call the road. Vice Chair Sean Ilo Rivera. Present. Councilmember Joe Lakava. Present. And Councilmember Vivian Moreno. Present. I'm Stephen Whitburn, and with all committee members present, we have a quorum. I'd also like to welcome from the office of the independent budget analyst, Baku Patel and Jillian Cassie from the Mayor's Office, Randy Wilde, and from the City Attorney's Office. We're joined by Corinne Newfer. Thank you to each of you for being here. Members of the public may view the meeting on the City TV channel for Cox Communication and Time Warner Cable, that's Channel 25, or for ATT, that's Channel 99. Or you can view the meeting online by going to the City Council Committee homepage at San Diego.gov and selecting the City TV Live Webcast blue button on the right hand side of the page. Thanks to our City TV staff for broadcasting this meeting. Members of the public can offer public comment on items by accessing the Zoom webinar online using a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone, or by calling into the meeting using a smartphone, cellular phone, or landline. The link to join the committee webinar by online is listed on the agenda under how to join by iPhone 1 tap. To join the Zoom webinar by telephone, you may dial either 1 669-254-5252 or 1-646-828-7666. And when prompted, input webinar ID 161042-5337 pound. That information is also available on the agenda and it will appear on the screen during the public comment period for each item. When I introduce the item you'd like to comment on, please raise your hand by either tapping the raise your hand button on your computer tablet or smartphone or by pressing star nine on your phone. You'll be taken in the order in which you raise your hand. And you may only speak once on any particular item. When our committee consultant, Juan Carlos Leiva indicates it's your turn to speak. Please wait until the item you wish to speak to has been called before raising your hand to speak. If you raise your hand during a non-comment period, your hand will be lowered. Also, please mute the volume on your TV or computer before you begin to speak. Let's start by taking up the approval of the committee actions of June 10th, 2021. Do I have a motion to approve the committee actions? So moved. And is there a second? Uh a second. All right, we have a motion by Vice Chair Ila Rivera and a second by Councilmember Lacava. If there are any council member comments or questions regarding the approval of the June committee actions, we will invite those now as I call the roll at each committee beverage register their vote. Vice Chair Ilo Rivera. Yes. Councilmember Lakawa. Vote yes. And Councilmember Moreno.
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