San Diego Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee Meeting - June 8, 2022
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San Diego Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee Meeting - June 8, 2022
The Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee met on June 8, 2022, beginning at approximately 10:00 AM PDT (17:00 UTC) via teleconference under the COVID-19 state of emergency. The committee took unanimous action on a consent item, approved two homeless services funding agreements, and received an informational update on the Get It Done system. All votes were unanimous.
Consent Calendar
- Item 1 – Nonprofit Agreement with San Diego Unified School District for Taft Middle School Joint Use Park, Sara Mesa – Approved unanimously. Public comment from Ann Fage, chair of the Community Forest Advisory Board, requested that the agreement include tree planting, irrigation, and climate action plan alignment.
Public Comments & Testimony
Non-Agenda Public Comments (multiple speakers, each 2 minutes):
- Barbara Gordon: Cited a NIDA study linking marijuana use to increased suicide risk among young adults; urged policies that protect mental health.
- Francine Maxwell (Southeastern San Diego resident): Expressed concern about lack of community oversight in police meet-and-confer negotiations; requested an interim Community Police Review Board member be allowed in the room.
- Anne Elliott (North Park): Spoke in support of the Protect Ordinance, citing studies showing racial disparities in policing; urged adoption.
- Caller ending in 7234: Opposed adding marijuana businesses; supported a ban on flavored e-cigarettes and requested funding for prevention messages.
- Peggy Walker: Cited a Wall Street Journal article linking marijuana to violent incidents; asked the city to discuss public health risks.
- Navarre Perry (South Park): Urged approval of the Protect Ordinance, noting studies showing pretext stops disproportionately target people of color; criticized police union opposition.
- Lauren O'Demba (Golden Hill): Supported the Protect Ordinance, citing data that Black people face non-traffic stops 3.5 times more often and force five times more often than white people.
- Cinky Chapman (16 years old): Spoke in support of the Protect Ordinance to protect marginalized communities.
- Becky Rapp: Concerned parent; cited studies linking high-potency marijuana to violence; urged a ban on high-THC concentrates and flavored products.
Consent Agenda Public Comment:
- Ann Fage: Requested that the joint-use park agreement include tree planting, irrigation, and increased canopy to meet climate action plan goals.
Item 2 – Family Reunification Program:
- Josh Coyne (Director of Government Affairs, Downtown San Diego Partnership): Expressed support; noted the program has housed over 3,000 individuals since 2017 with a 65% success rate.
- Rose Harris (Program Manager): Shared a positive client story; 34 clients were reunified in the previous month.
Item 3 – HAP Round 3:
- Christina Selder (Serving Seniors): Supported the plan; noted 24% of homeless individuals are over 55, with 47% experiencing homelessness for the first time; requested shallow subsidies and age-friendly shelters.
- David Baker (YMCA Youth and Family Services): Thanked staff for engaging youth providers; urged funding for the Housing Our Youth Collaborative, which served 285 youth and housed over 100 in 18 months, with 70% identifying as BIPOC.
- Francine Maxwell: Asked about specific carve-outs for Black residents and seniors caring for grandchildren; referenced a KPBS article on San Diego being the worst city for Black renters.
- Sophia Hyjari (Youth Will): Recognized the 10% youth set-aside and encouraged partnership with evidence-based youth programs.
Item 4 – Get It Done Performance:
- Paul Kruger: Criticized the city's backlog and response times; called for improvements.
Discussion Items
Item 2 – Nonprofit Agreement with Downtown San Diego Partnership for Family Reunification Program Staff presented the program, which has served over 3,000 individuals since 2017, with 326 reunified in the current fiscal year. The new contract is $950,000 ($500,000 from HAP3, $450,000 General Fund), managed directly by the Homeless Strategies and Solutions Department. Committee members requested a detailed budget breakdown before the full council vote. The item was approved unanimously.
Item 3 – State Homeless Housing Assistance and Prevention Grant Round 3 ($27.5 million) Staff presented the proposed allocation, including funding for new shelters (e.g., Sprung structure, safe haven), street outreach, rapid rehousing, and a 10% youth set-aside. The plan aligns with the city's Community Action Plan on Homelessness and the Matthew Doherty report. The IBA noted that most of the $63 million in homelessness funding for FY23 is one-time, and future costs may fall to the General Fund. Discussion focused on equity, tracking outcomes, integrating county behavioral health services, and the need for long-term investments. The item was approved unanimously, with a request for ongoing reporting on outcomes.
Item 4 – Get It Done Program Performance (Information Item) The Performance and Analytics team presented an update. Key points:
- The system handles services from nine departments; backlog is largest for transportation (50% of requests).
- A performance coach model with the Transportation Department led to a 30% increase in streetlight repair productivity and reduced backlog to under 5,000. Staffing was identified as a key driver; two new electricians were hired in April.
- Pothole-related claims cost the city over $2 million from 2016-2020; customer satisfaction for pothole repairs is low (2.3 out of 5).
- Plans include expanding performance coaching, improving customer communication codes, and partnering with UC Berkeley on equity analysis to address bias in self-reported data.
- The team is also working to bring Parks and Recreation services online and to improve employee experience.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar (Item 1): Approved unanimously.
- Item 2 – Family Reunification Program: Approved unanimously, with a request that a detailed budget be provided to the full council.
- Item 3 – HAP Round 3: Approved unanimously.
- Item 4 – Get It Done Performance: Received as information; no vote required.
- Next Meeting: The committee will next meet on July 20, 2022.
Meeting Transcript
Um good morning, everyone. I do hear an echo. A simple button that I did not push. Okay. Until further notice, uh, committee member meetings will be conducted pursuant to the provisions of California Government Code, Section 54953E, 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 during a proclaimed state of emergency. While the public is allowed to attend the meetings in person, we encourage you to maintain six feet of social distance as well as follow California mask guidelines where masks are strongly recommended. In addition to being able to attend in person, this meeting is being televised and live streamed on the city's website, and the committee liaison will continue to make arrangements for the public to comment using the Zoom webinar platform. Additionally, members of the public who wish to provide testimony via a call-in option or an internet internet-based service option must enter the virtual speaking queue within five minutes after the conclusion of in-person public testimony or before the virtual speaking queue is exhausted, whichever occurs first. This will allow for better meeting management between the two platforms and ensure the council is able to manage and conduct city business. We appreciate the public's cooperation. Thank you. Okay, I'm sure she will be joining shortly. And committee member Campio. Here. Thank you so much. Also attending the meeting is Laura Easton, Office of the City Attorney, Baku Patel, Office of the IBA, and Matt Yagegan, Office of the Mayor. If you are in person, please complete a speaker slip located at the entrance of chambers and place it in the box indicated at the speaker's lectern at the front of the room. Please do so in a timely manner to ensure proper meeting management. Members of the public can join the webinar by computer, tablet, or smartphone by accessing the link, which is listed online in the preamble language of the agenda on the city's webpage. 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 1669-2545252 when 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. Members of the public who wish to provide uh testimony via a call-in or internet-based service option must enter the virtual speaking queue within five minutes after the conclusion of in-person public testimony or before the virtual speaking queue is exhausted, whichever occurs first. Please note that if you're watching via City TV 24 or online, there may be a delay. Please participate via the audio on your phone and mute your TV or computer when it is your turn to speak. When I introduce the item 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 9 on your phone. When our committee uh committee consultant indicates it is your turn to speak, they will call you by your name as it appears on the Zoom webinar attendee list, or they will read out the last four numbers of your phone number if you have called into the meeting. That's how you'll know it is your turn to speak. If you're in person, please come up to the reserved seats at the front of the room when your name is called and be prepared to come up to the lectern in the order called. If you have joined the webinar by computer, tablet, or smartphone, you will receive a pop-up notice 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. A quorum is now present. Um and we will now take up the approval of the committee actions of May 18th. Tiffany, please proceed with public comment. The public comment period for this item is now open. If you are in person, please be sure to have your speaker slip submitted and come up to reserve seats at the front of the room. Your name is called and be prepared to come up to electorate order called. Members of the public who wish to provide testimony via call-in or an internet-based service option must enter the virtual speaking queue within five minutes after the conclusion of in-person public testimony or before the virtual speaking queue is exhausted, whichever occurs first. If you have already joined the Zoom webinar online or by phone, please raise your hand if you wish to speak. If you are watching on TV or City TV or the live stream online and would like to call in to the meeting to speak, please call 1669-254-5252. When prompted, input webinar ID 160-780-2331 pound. As a reminder, virtual speakers, please raise your hand to speak. You can do so by selecting the raise your hand button or input start nine in if by phone. So I currently see that we have two speakers in the queue. And I have no speaker slips in chambers, so I'll go over to virtual public non-agenda public, or excuse me, virtual comment on committee actions.
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