Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee Meeting – April 27, 2022
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Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee Meeting – April 27, 2022
The Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee met on April 27, 2022, in a hybrid format. The committee approved consent calendar items, heard public testimony on multiple topics, and voted on three action items: a contract with Palomar Health for medical evidentiary exams, amended interim operating procedures for the Commission on Police Practices, and the Fiscal Year 2023 Recreation Center Fund budgets. The committee also received an informational update on the Graffiti Abatement Program.
Consent Calendar
- The committee unanimously approved the minutes of the March 9 and April 7, 2022 meetings.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Lori Saldania (former legislative women's caucus chair) urged the committee to recognize Denim Day and address the backlog of sexual assault evidence kits, noting San Diego has been last in California in testing DNA from kits. She encouraged the city to ensure the crime lab has resources.
- Ann Elliott supported the Protect Ordinance, which would limit pretext traffic stops, citing disparate impact on people of color and examples from other cities.
- Daniel Smyoski called for action against reckless motorists on residential streets.
- Diane Grace raised concerns about secondhand marijuana smoke from neighbors, citing health hazards.
- Yanwe (community advocate) urged passage of the Protect Ordinance, emphasizing the need for data-driven policy but also action.
- Becky Rapp (parent) expressed concern about youth mental health and marijuana use, citing the U.S. Surgeon General's warnings.
- Aurora highlighted Denim Day and called for San Diego to proactively address sexual assault, including testing rape kits and prosecuting.
- Anthony Avalos (District 2) urged support for the Protect Ordinance, citing statistics on disproportionate stops of Black, Latino, and Pacific Islander individuals.
- Helen (District 4) supported the Protect Ordinance, citing Campaign Zero data on consent searches and LGBTQ+ stops.
- Kristen Emerson Power (District 2) supported the Protect Ordinance, citing concerns about over-policing of marginalized communities.
- Cyrus Sparucha (District 5) urged passage of the Protect Act, citing disparities in stops and force.
- Judy Strang thanked the committee for the flavored tobacco ban and suggested extending it to flavored marijuana products.
- Peggy (Asian Solidarity Collective) supported the Protect Ordinance.
- Faith Garcia (District 4) supported the Protect Ordinance, sharing a personal experience of a pretext stop.
- Tasha Williamson supported the Protect Ordinance, citing excessive force and lack of transparency.
- Navarre Perry (District 3) urged adoption of the Protect Ordinance, saying no more surveys are needed.
- Sally Small (on item 3) thanked the department for equity efforts and requested more outreach in multiple languages and underserved areas.
- Reverend Clyde E. Gaines (on item 4) spoke about the impact of gang graffiti on community safety and urged faster response, noting a recent shooting near graffiti.
- Sally Small (on item 4) asked about public awareness of the Get It Done app and suggested signs; also questioned commercial property compliance.
Discussion Items
1. Authorization for Five-Year Agreement with Palomar Health for Medical Evidentiary Examinations
- Presentation by Captain Matt Novak and Lieutenant Carmen Rivera (SDPD): The contract provides forensic medical exams for victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse. Palomar Health is the only organization meeting all requirements in the county. The contract is for up to five years, $2.1 million maximum. The city has a sole-source purchase order to cover the gap until July 1, 2022.
- Public Comment: Lori Saldania urged clearing the backlog of untested rape kits, noting that San Diego had nearly 3,000 backlogged kits, and asked for an update on current status.
- Committee Discussion: Councilmember Campillo moved approval; Councilmember Von Wilpert seconded. Questions about exam locations, transportation for victims, and status of untested kits. Assistant Chief Paul Connolly reported that the department is 100% compliant with SB 22 (2016-2019 kits tested), and 1,386 of 1,800 historical SART kits have been completed, with additional testing through contract lab Bodhi.
- Vote: Unanimous approval (4-0).
2. Resolution Approving Amended Interim Standard Operating Procedures for the Commission on Police Practices (CPP)
- Presentation by Doug Case (First Vice Chair, CPP) and Charmaine Mosley (Interim Executive Director): The amendment strikes a sentence that prohibited the CPP from making determinations on officer-involved shootings or in-custody deaths until an independent investigation was concluded. This change allows the CPP to continue its current practice of agreeing or disagreeing with SDPD's findings until independent investigations are operational. The amendment requires meet-and-confer notice.
- Public Comment: None.
- Committee Discussion: Councilmember Campillo moved, Councilmember Von Wilpert seconded.
- Vote: Unanimous approval (4-0).
3. Fiscal Year 2023 Recreation Center Fund Budgets
- Presentation by Andy Field (Director, Parks and Recreation) and Sarah Arazzo (Recreation Services Program Manager): Overview of the recreation center fund budgets, revenue sources (78% class fees, 22% facility fees), and projected $3.2M revenue and $4.1M expenditures for FY23. The department highlighted equity efforts, including the Come Play Outside program (over 16,000 participants), the opportunity fund, low-income fee waiver improvements, and digital navigator program. The department lost one-third of its workforce during the pandemic and is working to fill vacancies.
- Public Comment: Sally Small thanked the department for equity efforts and requested more outreach in multiple languages and underserved areas.
- Committee Discussion: Vice Chair Moreno noted the ongoing inequity in recreation budgets and asked about centralizing programming. Director Field said they are planning a retreat to discuss centralization. Councilmember Von Wilpert asked about staffing and potential collaboration. Councilmember Campillo thanked the department for work in District 7. Chair Montgomery Steppe asked about simplifying the hiring process.
- Vote: Unanimous approval (4-0) to authorize the Chief Financial Officer to appropriate and expend the recreation center funds.
4. Graffiti Abatement Program Update (Information Item)
- Presentation by Patrick Hadley (Deputy Director, Transportation) and Juan Aguirre (Program Manager): The program has 9 dedicated abatement staff and 2 code enforcement officers, with $300,000 for private property abatements. The city receives about 25,000 requests annually, abating 700,000-800,000 square feet. Average response time for public property is 11 days, but District 8 averaged 21 days due to access issues, high gang presence, and equipment limitations. The department has been working to reduce backlogs. The program uses graffiti tracker, community cleanups, and enforcement. The FY23 proposed budget includes an additional $300,000 for private property abatements.
- Public Comment: Reverend Clyde E. Gaines (Paradise Hills) urged faster removal, citing gang graffiti's role in violence and a recent shooting near graffiti that took over a month to remove. Sally Small asked about public awareness of Get It Done and commercial property enforcement.
- Committee Discussion: Vice Chair Moreno expressed concern about the 21-day response time in District 8 vs. 5-7 days in other districts, calling it a disparity. She asked about resources and staffing. Mr. Aguirre explained that the delay was concentrated in 10% of cases due to access and gang presence. Councilmember Campillo asked about the program's location in Transportation and whether a centralized approach is best. Chair Montgomery Steppe asked about prioritizing gang-related graffiti. Staff confirmed they prioritize egregious or gang-related graffiti.
- No vote – information item only.
Key Outcomes
- Unanimously approved the five-year contract with Palomar Health for medical evidentiary exams (up to $2.1 million).
- Unanimously approved amended interim standard operating procedures for the Commission on Police Practices, allowing the commission to continue making findings on officer-involved shootings and in-custody deaths before independent investigations are operational.
- Unanimously approved the Fiscal Year 2023 Recreation Center Fund budgets, authorizing appropriation and expenditure.
- The committee received the Graffiti Abatement Program update as information; no action taken. Councilmembers expressed concern about response time disparities and requested additional resources.
Meeting Transcript
53E 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. We will be uh participating in a hybrid meeting this morning. In addition, this meeting is being televised and live streamed on the city's website, and the council administration 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 uh public testimony. I will now call the public safety and livable neighborhoods committee meeting of April 27, 2022 to order, and I'll call the roll. Vice Chair Moreno. Member Von Wilpert. Present. Committee member Campillo. Here. Thank you. Also attending the meeting are Laura Easton from the Office of the City Attorney. Baku Patel, Office of the IBA, and I believe Matt Yaggin, he is here, is also in chambers from the Office of the Mayor. The public may view the meetings on public television or 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 San Diego.gov and selecting the City TV Live Webcast blue button on the right hand side of the page. The committee meetings will be held using the hybrid option in with the Zoom webinar platform. 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 uh by calling into the meeting using a smartphone, a cellular phone, or in landline. Um the link to join the committee meeting webinar by computer, tablet, or smartphone is listed on the agenda. To join the Zoom webinar by telephone, please dial 1669-254-5252. 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 agenda item. When I introduce the item, excuse me, that you would 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 will be taken in which the order you raised your hand, and you may only speak once on a particular item. When our committee consultant indicates it is your turn to speak, um, she will call you by your name as it appears on the Zoom webinar attendee list, or she will read uh out the last four digits of your phone number if you have called into the meeting, and that's how you'll know it's your turn uh to speak. If you have joined the webinar um by computer, tablet, or smartphone, you'll receive a pop-up notice to select the unmute your device. And if you have called into the meeting by cell phone or landline, please uh press star six on your phone to unmute yourself. And we'll review these instructions briefly again when the public comment period on an item is open. Also, for those who are present in chambers today, please be sure to fill out a speaker slip, uh put it in the box here in the front, and we will ensure that we call your name in order to speak before we go to uh those who are attending online. So a quorum is now present, and we will take up the approval of the committee actions of March 9th and April 7th. So the public comment period for this item is open. If you've 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 160-780-2331 pound. As a reminder, please raise your hand to speak. You can do so by selecting the raise your hand button or input star nine if by phone. Um we'll announce when it's your turn to speak and unmute yourself by either selecting the unmute button or by inputting star six. Uh Tiffany, uh, how many speakers do we have in in chambers? Carly, I don't see any speakers in chambers for uh public comment on this item. We do have one hand raised. Oh no, we don't have a hand raised anymore for online. Okay, thank you for that. And so uh now I will entertain a motion to approve these committee actions on March 9th and April 7th. Happy to make a motion. I have a second. Okay. So we have a motion and a second on the floor. Um I should have asked before, but are we using the system or are we doing a voice vote? Voice vote. Okay. So we will do voice votes.
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