San Diego City Council Committee Meeting on Authorized Agents and FY2023 HUD Action Plan - April 7, 2022
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San Diego City Council Committee Meeting on Authorized Agents and FY2023 HUD Action Plan - April 7, 2022
On April 7, 2022, the Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee (PSNL) met virtually to consider two items: designation of authorized agents for disaster cost recovery and the FY2023 annual action plan for HUD programs. The meeting was conducted via teleconference due to public health concerns, with quorum present. The committee unanimously approved both items.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 1 – Authorized Agents: Two public speakers addressed the committee. Judy Strang asked whether there would be general public comment, and the Chair clarified that special meetings do not include non-agenda public comment. Daniel Smyowski objected to the lack of non-agenda public comment, arguing it should be allowed despite the special meeting format. No public comment was received for Item 2.
Discussion Items
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Item 1 – Designation of Authorized Agents for Disaster Cost Recovery: Megan Beale, Program Manager in the Office of Emergency Services (OES), presented a request to renew a resolution designating city officials authorized to execute applications for federal and state financial assistance after emergencies. The resolution must be renewed every three years per California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services requirements. Authorized agents include the Mayor, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Fire Chief, OES Executive Director, and OES Program Manager. The resolution covers three programs: FEMA Public Assistance (for debris removal, emergency protective measures, and permanent repair), FEMA Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAG), and the California Disaster Assistance Act (CDAA). Past qualifying events include COVID-19, 2017 winter storms, 2007 firestorms, 2018 Lilac Fire, and 2019 winter storms. Councilmember Von Wilpert made a motion to approve, seconded by Vice Chair Moreno. The committee voted unanimously to approve.
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Item 2 – FY2023 Annual Action Plan for HUD Programs: Angela Nazareno, HUD Program Manager, along with Michelle Morano and Leonardo Alicone, presented the FY2023 annual action plan covering the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships Program, and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG). The CDBG budget is estimated at over $27 million, with allocations limited by HUD regulations: 20% for administration, 15% for public services, and 65% for other priorities (30% affordable housing, 25% city projects/nonprofit facilities, 10% economic development). The competitive NOFA process resulted in 41 eligible proposals from 44 submissions; 15 public service projects, 6 microenterprise technical assistance projects, and several nonprofit facility improvements were recommended for funding totaling over $5 million. The HOME program, administered by the San Diego Housing Commission, has an estimated budget of over $21 million, with 85% allocated to rental housing production, 5% to first-time homebuyer assistance, and 10% to administration. The ESG program has about $1 million for shelter, rapid rehousing, and HMIS. The committee also approved continuing projects: $1.3 million set aside for homeless services (including Neil Good Day Center, Father Joe’s Village, Connections Housing, and a new family shelter site), $1 million for the Homelessness Response Center, and $5.4 million for two city capital improvement projects (a community park on Fire Boulevard and ADA improvements at Agers South Bay Community Park). The Housing Commission reported that the first-time homebuyer assistance program now provides up to 22% down payment assistance (up from 17%), with average assistance over $100,000; last year, 26 households were assisted. The annual action plan public comment period runs April 1–30, 2022, with City Council consideration on April 26, 2022. The IBA’s Aaron Noel noted that the CIPRAC committee did not formally review the CIP projects due to timing issues, but EDD staff reviewed them and the Project Controls Committee received an informational briefing. Staff committed to more frequent updates. Councilmember Campillo made a motion to approve, seconded by Vice Chair Moreno, with support from Councilmember Von Wilpert. The committee voted unanimously to recommend City Council approval.
Key Outcomes
- Item 1: Unanimous approval (3-0) of the resolution to designate authorized agents for disaster cost recovery.
- Item 2: Unanimous approval (3-0) to recommend City Council approval of action items 1–22 for the FY2023 annual action plan and associated HUD allocations.
- The committee requested more frequent updates on CDBG and HUD programs, particularly on the status of NOFAs and progress toward homelessness goals.
- The next regular committee meeting was scheduled for Wednesday, April 27, 2022, at 9:00 a.m.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon. Per California Government Code Section 54953, Subsection E, added by Assembly Bill 361, which allows the city to use teleconferencing and to provide the public an opportunity to address the city council via a call-in option or an internet-based service option. No members of the public will be in attendance at the meeting 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 committee liaison has made arrangements for the public to comment using the Zoom webinar platform. We appreciate the public's cooperation. I will go over the specifics of how to join the webinar and will give details on how the public can offer their public testimony. Vice Chair Moreno. Present. Thank you. Councilmember Von Wilbert. Present. Thank you. Councilmember Campio. Here. Thank you. Each committee member is attending virtually and also on the virtual meeting is Laura Easton, Office of the City Attorney, and Erin Noel, Office of the IBA, and with us in chambers is Matt Yagegan, Office of the Mayor. The public may view the meetings on public television television on City TV, Channel 24 for Cox Communication and Spectrum, or Channel 99 for ATT, or view the meeting online by going to the City Council Committee's homepage at Sandieago.gov and selecting the City TV Live Webcast blue button on the right hand side of the page. The committee meetings will be held virtually using the Zoom webinar platform. Members of the public can offer public comment on items by accessing the Zoom webinar online using the desktop computer, laptop, a tablet, or smartphone, or by calling into the meeting using a smartphone, cellular phone, or landline. The link to join the committee meeting webinar by computer, tablet, or smartphone is listed on the agenda on how to join by iPhone 1 tap. To join the Zoom webinar by telephone, you may dial 1669-2545252. And when prompted, input webinar ID 160-780-2331 pound. This information is also available on the agenda and will appear on the screen during the public comment period for each item. When I introduce the item you would like to comment on, raise your hand by either tapping the raise your hand button on your computer, tablet or smartphone, or by pressing star 9 on your phone. You will be taken in the order in which you raise your hand and you may only speak once on a particular item. When our committee consultant indicates it is your turn to speak, she will call you by your name as it appears on the Zoom webinar attendee list, or she will read out the last four numbers of the phone number. If you have called into the meeting, that is how you'll know it is your turn to speak. If you have joined the webinar by computer, tablet, or smartphone, you will receive a pop-up notice to select the unmute to select to unmute your device. If you have called into the meeting by cell phone or landline, press star six on your phone to unmute yourself. We will review these instructions briefly again when the public comment period on an item is open. 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. When you are announced as the next speaker, please unmute yourself and offer your comments. Also, please mute the volume on your TV or computer before you begin to speak. Quorum is now present, and now at this time, we will take up the discussion agenda. And we will start with item one, which is to designate authorized agents to obtain certain federal and state financial assistance on the city's behalf. So the public comment period for this item is now open. If you have already joined the Zoom webinar online or by phone, please raise your hand if you wish to speak. And if you're watching on City TV or the live stream online and would like to call into the meeting to speak, please call 1669-254-5252. And when prompted, input webinar ID 1607 eight zero two three three one pound. To raise your hand to speak, select the raise your hand button or press star nine. So we do have uh staff here to present on this item. Please introduce yourself and let us know how much time you need. Good afternoon. My name is Megan Beale. I'm a program manager in the Office of Emergency Services. I'm here with my colleagues, Chris Heiser, the executive director of OES, and Amber Hill, a program manager in OES. We need um about four minutes. Okay, thank you. Please proceed.
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