Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee Meeting - October 7, 2020
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Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee Meeting - October 7, 2020
The Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee met on October 7, 2020, at 5:00 PM UTC via Zoom due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Committee Chair Councilmember Montgomery Steph presided, joined by Vice Chair Councilmember Barbara Bree, Councilmember Kate, and Councilmember Moreno. Staff from the San Diego Housing Commission, city departments, and the San Diego Police Department presented several items. All agenda items were approved unanimously.
Consent Calendar
- The committee approved the actions from the previous meeting via a motion by Councilmember Moreno, seconded by Vice Chair Bree, with all members voting yes.
Public Comments & Testimony
Non-Agenda Public Comment:
- Barbara Gordon, advisor for a Hispanic youth group, expressed concern about secondhand tobacco and marijuana smoke in multi-unit housing, urging the committee to consider prohibiting smoking in such buildings.
- Lois, a taxpayer, criticized city reliance on seller appraisals (e.g., 101 Ash Street) and buyer assessments (e.g., Mission Valley Stadium), calling for independent appraisals and criminal prosecutions.
- Kelly McCormick, a youth mentoring program director, cited the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health showing increased teen marijuana use and low perceived harm, urging more education and enforcement against marijuana ads and products.
- Martha Wells accused the city of lying about police pensions and hiring, demanding accountability.
- Joy Sunata encouraged public participation and thanked officials.
Public Comment on Items 1 & 2 (Hotel Acquisitions & CARES Act Funds):
- Marshall Anderson (Downtown San Diego Partnership) supported the item, noting downtown’s disproportionate burden as a shelter location and urging the committee to address conservatorship and enforcement.
- Monica Ball expressed concern about administrative fees ($4.7 million) and lack of a safe exit gap plan for families in COVID-response motels (e.g., Pacific Inn and Travelodge in Point Loma) being asked to exit October 25, while Golden Hall shelter reopens in December.
- Martha Wells echoed skepticism about conditions at the Convention Center and Golden Hall.
- Diana Catalano (Mission Village condo owner for 30 years) opposed the Hotel Circle acquisition, citing safety, property values, and increased costs to secure her complex.
- Alexandra Walker (Mission Village resident) objected to the Hotel Circle location due to a single bus route, pedestrian-unfriendly roads, lack of amenities, and potential liability near freeway exits.
- Matthew Basilakis (Climate Action Campaign) supported moving the item to full council, emphasizing the need for affordable and supportive housing.
- Gina Catalano (Mission Village resident) urged consideration of full impact on residents, including safety, mental well-being, property values, and security costs.
- Joy Sunata praised collaboration and encouraged public participation.
No public comment was received for Items 3, 4, or 5.
Discussion Items
Items 1 & 2: Residence Hotel Acquisitions and Allocation of CARES Act Funds
- Staff from the Mayor’s office (Francis Barraza), San Diego Housing Commission (Lisa Jones, Michael Pavco, CEO Rick Gentry), and Economic Development (Christina Bibler) presented a joint package to purchase two hotels and convert them into permanent supportive housing for up to 400 homeless individuals, funded by federal, state, and local sources.
- Hotel Circle (190 units): Located near the 8 freeway, built 2003, renovated 2018, with 1- and 2-bedroom units with kitchenettes. Funding: $27.7 million state Home Key funds, $50 million permanent loan from Chase Bank (secured by 332 project-based housing vouchers), plus CDBG and Housing Commission funds.
- Kearny Mesa (142 units): Located off the 163 freeway, built 1990, renovated 2013, studios and 2-bedroom units. Funding: $10 million state Home Key funds, permanent loan from Chase, $10 million CARES Act from city, plus Housing Commission funds.
- Total acquisition cost ~$11 million (city portion), with $37.7 million state Home Key as keystone. Operating agreements: PA (Passages) for Hotel Circle ($2.79 million for services and property management) and Father Joe’s Villages for Kearny Mesa ($2.09 million).
- The city also accepted $22.7 million in ESG-CV Round 2 and $12.2 million in CDBG-CV Round 3 for shelter operations, rental assistance, and program administration. $5 million of CDBG-CV Round 3 allocated to the Emergency Rental Assistance Program; staff reported 13,158 applications received with 4,400 qualified, using $15.1 million initially approved.
- Administrative fees: 20% for CDBG ($4.7 million) and 10% cap for ESG, justified by increased workload (budget rose from $34M to $79M) and strict compliance requirements.
- Councilmember Moreno noted the 332 vouchers were redeployed (not new), with Section 8 waitlist typically 7-10 years. Councilmember Kate asked about community engagement; staff promised a “good neighbor committee” for stakeholder meetings.
Item 3: 2020 DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Grant
- Lieutenant Daniel Meyer (SDPD Crime Lab) requested authorization to apply for $369,460 in grant funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance. Funds would cover overtime for staffing ($139,621), accreditation-mandated training ($33,954), and new technology ($195,788). The lab’s current backlog is 632 cases (91% property crimes, plus 9 sex crimes, 5 murders, 30 assaults, 14 gang/firearms, 2 robberies). Grant period: October 1, 2020 – December 31, 2022.
Item 4: Fiscal Year 2021 Sexual Assault Evidence Submission (SAFES) Grant
- Lieutenant Meyer presented a request for $138,204 from the California DOJ to augment SB22 compliance, including $23,986 for SART consumables and $114,218 for outsourcing current SART cases. The current backlog of sexual assault kits is 9 (recent kits); historical SB22-related kits have been sent to contract lab Bodie, with returns at ~73-75 per month.
Item 5: 2020 Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Grant
- Detective Sergeant Garrett Nugent (SDPD ICAC Task Force Commander) requested acceptance of $950,000 from Cal OES for salary, technology, training, travel, outreach, and investigator wellness. The San Diego ICAC Task Force includes 33 agencies across three counties. Cyber tips addressed: 3,058 as of August 2020, rising to 4,201 by the meeting date (October 7, 2020). Grant funds support the entire task force network.
Key Outcomes
- Items 1 & 2: Motion by Councilmember Kate, seconded by Vice Chair Bree, with all members voting yes. The committee recommended approval to the full City Council for the hotel acquisitions and funding allocations.
- Item 3: Motion by Vice Chair Bree, seconded by Councilmember Kate, passed unanimously.
- Item 4: Motion by Vice Chair Bree, seconded by Councilmember Kate, passed unanimously.
- Item 5: Motion by Vice Chair Bree, seconded by Councilmember Kate, passed unanimously.
- The meeting adjourned at approximately [time not specified in transcript], with the next committee meeting scheduled for October 28, 2020, at 9:00 AM.
Meeting Transcript
On uh some of the previous communications. So with that, I'll shut up my video and uh turn it back on Venus. Okay. Um and then Chloe and Councilmember Montgomery and I'm not seeing anyone from CD for items three through five yet. So hopefully they'll join us. If not, I'll reach out to Libby to see if we can get them on the call. I'm here as Lieutenant Dan Meyer with the time lab and I have all um presenters present with all. I'm sorry about that, Dan. My apologies. Okay. Okay, we can be good to go then. And if Chloe, if you're watching on the TV screen, you can run it down quite my great. So um we're gonna go ahead and get started. Um good morning. Uh per executive order 2920, uh, which suspends certain requirements of the Brown Act. The council members will be participating via Zoom, and no members of the public will be in attendance at the meetings in the interest of public health and safety. In addition, this meeting is being televised and live streamed on the city's website, and the clerk has made arrangements for the public to comment by phone and electronically. We appreciate the public's cooperation. I will now call the public safety and livable neighborhoods committee meeting of Wednesday, October 7, 2020 to order. Each council member is attending virtually via Zoom. Those on the teleconference include uh myself, Council President Pro Tim Bree, Councilmember Kate, and Councilmember Moreno. Uh also on the Zoom call is Julian C Office of the IBA, Michelle Garland, Office of the City Attorney, Conrad Ware, Office of the Mayor. The public may call in following the instructions posted on the agenda by calling 619-541-6310 and entering conference ID 877-861 pound to be placed in the queue for public comment. You should do this when the item you wish to speak to is introduced. Please do not call in uh prior to that time. Our consultant to the committee will announce when the public comment period is open for an item, and a slide will go up on uh City TV. When the phone queue is empty, the public comment period will be closed. This same process will be used for each agendized item. When you are in the queue, you will be able to hear the meeting and all others that are providing comments. You will know that it is your turn to speak when you hear the system prompt saying your phone has been unmuted. When you hear the prompt, immediately state your name and make your comment, then hang up. Uh each speaker will have uh one minute. Also, please mute the volume on your TV or computer before you begin to speak. If you call in during a non-comment period, your call uh will not be taken. Please monitor the meeting and ensure you are calling at the appropriate time. The public may view the meetings on public television on City TV channel 24 for Cox Communication and Time Warner Cable or channel 99 for ATT, or view the meeting online by going to the City Council Committee's homepage at Sandiego.gov and selecting the City TV live webcast blue button on the right hand side of the page. A quorum is uh now present. We will dispense with the approval of the committee actions. Um actions uh before you are for the approval of our uh last meeting. Um do I have a motion to approve the actions? Chair, I'm happy to make a motion. This is Vivian. Thank you, Councilmember Moreno. Uh we have a motion and a second. I'm happy to second it. This is uh Barbara Breeze. Thank you by Chair Bree. Uh, we will now have each council member register their vote. We'll start with uh by Chair Bree. I vote yes.
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