Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee Meeting - July 20, 2022
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Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee Meeting - July 20, 2022
The Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee of the San Diego City Council met on July 20, 2022, to discuss and take action on several items related to public safety, homelessness, and racial equity. The committee voted unanimously to adopt an ordinance on unsecured structures, and received updates on the HEAL Network's advocacy, the Community Action Plan on Homelessness, and the Regional Task Force on Homelessness's Ad Hoc Committee on Addressing Homelessness Among Black San Diegans.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Non-Agenda Public Comment: Multiple speakers urged the committee to approve the "PROTECT" ordinance, citing data showing racial disparities in SDPD stops and searches. Speakers included Francine Maxwell (Southeastern San Diego resident), Nabar Perry (South Park, District 3), Stephanie Aguirre, Lauren, Cyrus Barucha (District 5), Genevieve Jones Wright (co-founder, Community Advocates for Just and Moral Governance), Malcolm, Layla Aziz (District 4), and Ann Elliott (North Park). They emphasized that Black people are stopped 3.5 times more often, and that 85% of SDPD beats show higher stop rates for Black people. Other speakers addressed cannabis equity, SB 1097 warning labels, homelessness deaths (495 in 2021, a 48% increase), and police overtime costs for sweeps. A total of 8 speakers on the PROTECT ordinance were taken, and the queue was closed.
- Item 1 (Unsecured Structures): Francine Maxwell expressed concern that the 30-minute response time for business owners is too short, especially for those living far from their businesses. Mike Motowski (District 4) supported the ordinance but recommended a 1-hour response time like LAPD. Stacy and other callers asked whether the ordinance would apply to homeless tents; the chair clarified it applies only to built structures.
- Item 2 (HEAL Network): Speakers including Lori Saudania, Blair Beekman, Genevieve Jones Wright, Mark Sullivan, and Joyce Sanyaka praised the HEAL Network's approach, emphasizing the need for non-congregate shelters, trauma-informed care, and funding for lived-experience-led programs.
- Item 3 (Community Action Plan on Homelessness): Francine Maxwell criticized the plan for not centering Black people, citing LA's homeless authority study on institutional racism. Mark Sullivan questioned the number of implementing agencies. Lori Saudania expressed frustration with missed state/federal funding opportunities. Janice Wilde opposed new congregate shelters and police sweeps.
- Item 4 (Ad Hoc Committee on Black Homelessness): Derek Luckett (chairman, National Association of Real Estate Brokers) stressed the need for measurable goals for BIPOC and noted that fixed-income seniors are at risk of homelessness due to inflation. Lori Saudania criticized the "homelessness industrial complex" and urged direct aid. Janice Wilde highlighted lack of dental care and dangers of congregate shelters for Black people.
Discussion Items
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Item 1: Amendment to Municipal Code on Unsecured Structures
- Lieutenant Kevin Wathams (SDPD) presented the ordinance, which was developed in response to a city auditor's fraud hotline complaint. The ordinance authorizes police and fire to abate unsecured structures (commercial and residential) if a responsible person is unavailable within 30 minutes, and allows cost recovery. The city will issue an RFP for a board-up vendor. The ordinance applies only to built structures, not tents.
- Committee members praised the work and moved to adopt the staff recommendation.
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Item 2: HEAL Network Perspective on Homelessness
- Mayor Saimani (San Diego Housing Federation) and Vanessa Graciano (HEAL Network leader) presented. They emphasized that homelessness is primarily a housing problem, and that shelters are often unsafe and inaccessible. Graciano shared her personal story of addiction, trauma, and recovery, and advocated for non-congregate, holistic housing with wrap-around services. She noted that her nonprofit has helped over 250 people off the streets using private donations.
- Committee members asked about the city's CHART shelter and harm reduction strategies; Director Hafsa Keiko (Homeless Strategies and Solutions) highlighted the collaboration with county behavioral health services.
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Item 3: Community Action Plan on Homelessness Update
- Lisa Jones (SDHC), Hafsa Keiko, Tamara Kohler (RTFH), and Nancy Saw presented progress on the 10-year plan (accepted in 2019). Key metrics: 60% of permanent housing need met (3,277 of 5,416 resources); shelter beds increased by 291 since 2019 (from 350-500 goal); 30% reduction in veteran homelessness (725 to 510); but average length of homelessness increased, and returns to homelessness rose. The leadership council recommended resetting goals due to pandemic impacts. A new interactive dashboard tracks progress.
- The chair noted the need to balance crisis response with long-term housing affordability, and asked about universal basic income pilots. Hafsa Keiko confirmed a shallow subsidy program for up to 300 households launching mid-to-late August. The chair also requested that the plan be presented to the full council.
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Item 4: Ad Hoc Committee on Addressing Homelessness Among Black San Diegans
- Lahela Maddox and Hanan Scrapper (RTFH) presented the committee's work. Data show Black people are 6 times more likely to experience homelessness, 5 times more likely unsheltered, and 7 times more likely sheltered. The committee developed six action plans: (1) HMIS data dashboard, (2) inclusive procurement, (3) training/education, (4) mentorship of Black-led organizations, (5) centering lived experience, and (6) transforming the crisis response system. The report includes quotes from Black individuals with lived experience.
- The chair stressed that systemic racism is the root cause and committed to supporting the recommendations.
Key Outcomes
- Item 1: The committee voted unanimously (3-0) to adopt the ordinance amending the municipal code on unsecured structures, directing staff to proceed with an RFP for a vendor and to bring the ordinance to the full city council.
- Items 2, 3, 4: These were information items; no votes were taken. The committee expressed appreciation for the presentations and directed staff to provide updates on implementation, including resetting Community Action Plan goals, expanding the shallow subsidy pilot, and releasing the final report on Black homelessness.
- The next regularly scheduled meeting was set for September 7, 2022.
Meeting Transcript
Just checking my audio chair. We can hear you, Councilmember. Thank you. Until further notice, committee 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 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. 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. Vice Chair Moreno. Present. Committee member Von Wilpert. Present and committee member Campillo. Here. Also attending the meeting is Laura Easton from the Office of the City Attorney, Jillian Cassie, Office of the IBA, and Jessica Lawrence, 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 in by computer, tablet, or smartphone is listed on the agenda. To join the Zoom webinar by telephone, please dial 1 669-254-5252. And when prompted, input webinar ID 160-780-231 pound. Members of the public who wish to provide testimony via a 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. Please note that if you are watching via City TV 24 or online, there may be a delay. If you've joined the webinar by computer, tablet, or smartphone, you will receive a pop-up notice to select the unmute unmute your device. If you have called into the meeting by cell phone or landline, please 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. And at this time, we will believe take up non-agenda public comment. Okay. Per temporary rule 2.6, non-agenda public comment is an opportunity for members of the public to comment on items that are not on the agenda, but within the subject matter jurisdiction of the committee. Each speaker will have two minutes. If you are in person, please come up to the reserve seats at the front of the room when your name is called and be prepared to come up to the left turn in the order called. Members of the public who wish to provide testimony via call-in or in a best 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've already joined the Zoom webinar online or by phone, please raise your hand if you wish to speak. 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. When prompted, input webinar ID 1607 eighty two three three one 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. I'll announce when it's your turn to speak. Unmute yourself by either selecting the unmute button or by inputting star six. We currently have one non-adivid public comment speaker, and we have uh 16 folks in the queue. Miss Maxwell, please come forward. Good evening. Francine Maxwell, Southeastern San Diego resident. As a member of Women Occupy, we are very concerned with the next CPP meeting when they're going to review a job description for a community engagement coordinator. Something that the City of San Diego didn't have when we all pushed to have measure B.
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