San Diego Public Safety Committee Meeting - December 5, 2018
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Public Safety and Local Neighborhoods Committee Meeting - December 5, 2018
The Public Safety and Local Neighborhoods Committee met on December 5, 2018, with Chair Kate, Vice Chair Bree, and Councilmember Gomez present. The meeting covered non-agenda public comments, approval of previous minutes, a fire station agreement with UCSD, an annual update from the Community Review Board on Police Practices (CRB), the Crime Free Multi-Housing program, the Unmanned Aircraft System Integration Pilot Program, and the Age-Friendly Communities initiative.
Consent Calendar
- The committee approved the action items from the October 24, 2018 committee meeting unanimously, with a motion by Councilmember Gomez and a second by Vice Chair Bree.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Terry Best (San Diego Americans for Safe Access) criticized Councilmember Lori Zapf's stance on medical cannabis, alleging she ignored patients and used junk science.
- Becky Johnson expressed concerns about marijuana product safety, lack of testing, and risks to children from edibles, and called for odor remediation standards.
- Martha Welch complained about limited police station hours, officer shortages, pension issues, and marijuana testing failures.
- Kelly McCormick argued the number of marijuana production facilities is excessive, citing impacts in Kearny Mesa, Otay Mesa, and Mira Mesa, and raised concerns about normalization leading to youth use.
- Alicia Nicole Mason reported being harassed and unlawfully detained by police at 30th and Ocean View Boulevard, describing the incident as discriminatory.
- Catherine Mendoza (community cop watch) described an incident where a subject in custody experienced excited delirium, was tased, and had a seizure while in a wrap, with delayed medical response; she argued police should not be first responders to mental health crises.
- Martha Welch (on item 2) opposed the fire station deal, questioning the land donation and timeline.
- Jeff Gaddis (UCSD Assistant Chancellor) expressed strong support for the fire station collaboration, noting benefits for campus and community.
- Evie (Women Occupy San Diego) called for an independent CRB and criticized appointment processes.
- Brittany McLean opposed the CRB report, citing dismissive handling of the carotid restraint issue and lack of community consideration.
- Darwin Fishman (Actors San Diego, Racial Justice Coalition) argued CRB policy recommendations are ineffective, police reject them, and called for more investigative power and professional staff.
- Tasha Williamson reported on Aaliyah Jenkins, who was in ICU after being in police custody, alleging SDPD narrative of overdose was contradicted by doctors; called for release of tapes and reform.
- Chloe Triplett (ACLU of San Diego) raised privacy concerns about drones, questioned data sharing with federal agencies, and asked for a use policy to be made public.
- Alan Schmiding (St. Paul's Senior Services) supported age-friendly planning.
- Eric Tilkemeyer (City Heights CDC) supported age-friendly principles aligning with city goals.
- Lillian Choney (Revisions Resources) supported the age-friendly initiative, citing the eight domains of livability.
- Bob Kaiser (AARP volunteer) shared his experience with community advisory groups and supported joining the network.
- Philip Manson supported age-friendly planning for mobility and community engagement.
- William Kelly expressed strong optimism for age-friendly communities as a solution to demographic challenges.
Discussion Items
- Item 2: Fire Station Purchase Agreement (UCSD) – Real Estate Assets Department presented a package deal: UCSD contributes land and up to $20.556 million for design/build, city responsible for equipment ($1.2M) and annual operations ($1.865M). City also grants UCSD an option to purchase Torrey Pines Center South in 2042-2044 at appraised value (currently $35.3M) with 2.41% annual escalator. The IBA noted the deal is contingent and that construction must start within 5 years. Vice Chair Bree and Councilmember Gomez supported the motion, which passed unanimously.
- Item 3: CRB Annual Update – CRB reported on fiscal year 2018: reviewed 43 cases (down from 54), majority in Southeastern and Mid-City. Board agreed with IA findings in most cases; officer-involved shootings (6) all found within policy, but not all unanimous. In-custody death case also within policy (non-unanimous). Body-worn camera use improved (~99% on). Treasurer noted budget for outside counsel was depleted. Councilmember Gomez asked for faster report delivery, breakdown of findings, and reconsideration of carotid restraint. Vice Chair Bree offered to include budget request in mid-year revisions.
- Item 4: Crime Free Multi-Housing Program – Officer Louie Roman and Marsha Lyon (Say San Diego) presented the three-phase certification program: manager training, safety inspection, residential engagement. Over 340 properties in program, 126 fully certified. Program aims to reduce crime and calls for service. Councilmember Gomez asked about eviction data and requested maps and statistics. Vice Chair Bree praised the partnership.
- Item 5: Unmanned Aircraft System Integration Pilot Program – Office of Homeland Security and EDC presented four concepts: public safety (pre-stationing drones), package delivery (Uber), border inspection (reduce wait times), and medical delivery (UCSD Health). Community outreach includes surveys and town halls. ACLU raised privacy concerns. Committee members supported the program while emphasizing safeguards.
- Item 6: Age-Friendly Communities Program – San Diego Foundation and AARP presented the initiative, noting San Diego is the last major California city without an age-friendly action plan. The eight domains of livability would be customized. Grant funding available for planning phase. Committee expressed strong support and commitment to advancing the program.
Key Outcomes
- Item 2: Motion by Vice Chair Bree, second by Councilmember Gomez, to authorize the fire station agreement, option agreement, and lease amendment, along with associated financial actions. Passed unanimously.
- Item 3: No action required (information item). Councilmember Gomez requested the chief reconsider the carotid restraint policy; Vice Chair Bree offered to increase CRB's outside counsel budget.
- Item 4: No action required. Councilmember Gomez requested follow-up data on evictions and property locations.
- Item 5: No action required. Committee members urged continued community engagement and privacy safeguards.
- Item 6: No action required. Committee members expressed support and requested to be kept informed as the mayor's office considers signing the letter of commitment.
The meeting was adjourned with thanks to members and staff, and holiday wishes.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning. We are going to call the December 5th, 2018 Public Safety and Local Neighborhoods Committee meetings order. Let the record reflect we have a quorum consisting of myself, Vice Chair Bree, and Council Member Gomez. We're first going to start off with non-agenda public comments. Speakers will have two minutes for non-agenda. We'll first start off with Terry Best, followed by Becky Johnson, and then Martha Welch and then Kelly McCormick. Good morning. Good morning. I'm Terry Best from San Diego Americans for Save Access. We are a cannabis patient advocacy group. I'm here at the final public safety committee meeting to place a public record about the election in District 2. Thank you. 8,0902. That is the number of votes Lori Zapp is losing by in District 2. 8,902 could also be the number of medical cannabis patients in District 2 who Laurie has made cry because of her cannabis science and stance. 8,902 may be the number of health care workers in District 2 who are currently engaged in science of cannabis and health. 8,902 could be the number of patients in District 2 whose kids have been denied education because of a cannabis conviction. Lori Zapf may well have lost because of her failure to consider cannabis patients as voters. She has refused to meet her constituents on this issue. I've seen dozens of emails of her dodging patients in her district, saying her calendar was too full, and there would be not time to meet ever. Cannabis engaged physicians and scientists have tried to see Lori and could not. Instead of meeting with physicians and scientists, Lori met with religious zealots, grantees of prohibition money to gather faulty science and statistics. Instead of reaching out to the University of California, the largest employer in the state to avail herself of cannabis science. Laura used junk science to support her ban on others' choices of medicine. Yes, there could easily be 8,902 voting patients in District 2. We can serve them better now. Becky Johnson, followed by Martha Welch, followed by Kelly McCormick. Good morning. My name is Becky Johnson. My husband runs and operates a skilled nursing home facility. This business is subject to extremely detailed regulations and regular inspections. However, I feel that the marijuana businesses, retail, cultivation, and manufacture, manufacturing, are getting a free pass. There are no state licensed testing facilities in San Diego. Safety and cleanliness of marijuana and marijuana products are unknown. As you know, these products are taken into the body. When these products are tested outside of the city, nearly 20% of them fail for potency and purity. These failed tests are particularly high in cannabis-infused cookies and candies. About one-third have been blocked from store shelves. According to the associated press by the State Bureau of Cannabis Cannabis Control, unacceptable levels of pesticide solvents and bacteria, including E. coli and salmonella have been found. My question is this is the product being tested outside the city. What about those that aren't being sent out? Do we know what the safeguards the city has put into place to protect our health? This brings me to my next concern. Children. What child wouldn't want to eat some of their parents' candies or cookies? Um how can we prevent children from accidentally taking these edibles? According to an ER nurse at Radies Children's, they are seeing far too many children coming in to have their stomachs pumped from eating their parents' pot-infused edibles. With improper testing, it could mean life or death for children and adults. The city is not, has not created standards for odor remediation as part of the application process, nor is there a clear path for resolving current odor complaints for those MPFs that were established with a business tax certificate.
openpublica.com