Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee Meeting – November 16, 2022
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Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee Meeting – November 16, 2022
The Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee met on November 16, 2022, to discuss several items including the FY2022 Urban Area Security Initiative Grant Program, library contracts, an update on the Your Safe Place Family Justice Center, the Falk ambulance contract compliance, the library master plan framework, and the annual joint use program report. The meeting included public testimony on various topics and unanimous approval of consent and discussion items.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Committee Actions (October 6, 2022): Moved by Councilmember Campillo, seconded by Councilmember Von Wilpert, and passed unanimously.
- Item 1 – First Amendment to Contract with UCSD: Authorized a contract amendment with the University of California San Diego to provide medical behavioral health direction and clinical oversight for emergency medical services. Unanimously approved.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Non-Agenda Public Comment:
- Francine Maxwell (Southeastern San Diego resident) urged the committee to expedite the police oversight commission application process and honor the memory of activist Stephanie J.
- Peggy Walker (public health advocate) expressed concern about fentanyl and marijuana use among youth, asking the committee to address drug-related public health issues.
- Joyce Sunyata (District 3) spoke about youth homelessness and the need for prevention.
- Anthony Avalos (District 2) voiced support for the Protect Act, citing the need to prevent consent searches and reduce police misconduct.
- Judy Strang (parent advocate) opposed increasing marijuana outlet caps, stating that the city attorney’s office failed to consult parents and public health organizations.
- Lauren Odemba (District 9) urged passage of the Protect Ordinance, highlighting racial disparities in policing.
- Consent Agenda Public Comment:
- Joyce Sunyata expressed excitement about the UCSD behavioral health partnership.
- Item 2 – UASI Grant Program: No public comments.
- Item 3 – Library Contracts: Joyce Sunyata voiced support for the library but questioned the matching donation funds.
- Item 7 – Your Safe Place Update: Two callers (Joyce Sunyata and John) expressed strong support for the family justice center.
- Item 4 – Falk Contract Update: Multiple speakers, including:
- Anthony Sorci (President, San Diego Association of Pre-Hospital Professionals – STAP) detailed staffing failures, mandatory overtime, and unsafe working conditions, stating Falk has failed to meet contractual obligations.
- Tom Solomon (HR Business Partner, Falk) defended Falk’s efforts, including new ambulances and paramedic school tuition reimbursement.
- John Ward (former San Diego Firefighter, now Falk employee) described frequent level-zero situations and burnout.
- Item 5 – Library Master Plan: Joyce Sunyata praised the framework and community engagement.
- Item 6 – Joint Use Program: No public comments.
Discussion Items
- Item 2 – FY2022 Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) Grant Program:
- Megan Beal (Office of Emergency Services) presented an overview of the grant, which funds regional terrorism preparedness. The program requires 30% minimum for law enforcement terrorism prevention activities and 3% for national priorities (soft target protection, intelligence sharing, domestic violent extremism, community preparedness). The Urban Area Working Group (UAG) allocates funds. The city’s departments (OES, Police, Fire, IT) receive consistent funding. Councilmember Von Wilpert asked about ghost guns and sustainability of ongoing expenses. Staff will provide a final accounting.
- Item 3 – Library Materials Contracts:
- Raul Vadinho (Library) presented the award of contracts to Baker & Taylor (books, up to $15M over 5 years) and Midwest Tape (AV materials, up to $2.5M). Total funding includes $2.8M/year from the general fund and $3.5M projected from matching donations. The library has 2.7 million items, 75% print. Councilmembers discussed equity in donor fund distribution and support for teen labs.
- Item 7 – Update on Your Safe Place (Family Justice Center):
- Diane D’Aharty (Executive Director, Your Safe Place) and City Attorney Mara Elliott presented the 20-year history. The center serves domestic violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, elder/child abuse victims. It now has 40+ partners, provides confidential, free services. They’ve expanded to mobile clinics, men’s/boys support groups, financial literacy, and gun violence restraining order education. They need continued funding and a new facility lease ending December 2023. Councilmembers praised the work and discussed housing solutions (e.g., Palm Avenue Hotel).
- Item 4 – Falk Ambulance Contract Update:
- Fire Chief Colin Stoll and Deputy Chief Jody Pierce reported that Falk has failed to meet the contracted 900 monthly median paramedic unit hours, missing over 34,000 hours in the past year (equivalent to $6.8M). Level-zero events are trending upward. Jeff Baim (Falk) acknowledged national staffing challenges, offered $12,000 sign-on bonuses, and cited hospital delays. The union president (Sorci) disputed national shortage claims, noting local competitors are fully staffed. Councilmembers expressed frustration, noting Falk’s promises during the contract award. Chief Stoll stated they will return in January with either an agreed amendment or options for enforcement (including potential bond/takeover).
- Item 5 – Library Master Plan Framework:
- Library Director Misty Jones presented the framework from Phase 1 (community outreach with 8,000 participants). Phase 2 will assess each facility and recommend improvements, with a final report by end of fiscal year. Councilmembers highlighted inequities in underserved areas (e.g., Paradise Hills, Oak Park) and the need for capital investment.
- Item 6 – Annual Report on Joint Use Program with School Districts:
- Parks Director Andy Field reported 102 joint use sites (over 400 acres). 21 new facilities opened, 8 in construction, 11 in design, 16 future sites. Financial contributions: $500,000 added in FY22, $243,000 in FY23. Coordination with San Diego Unified occurs bi-weekly. Issues include illegal off-leash dogs and maintenance responsibilities. Councilmembers discussed expansion opportunities with Poway Unified and cricket field demand.
Key Outcomes
- Approved: Committee actions of October 6 (unanimous).
- Approved: Consent agenda item 1 (UCSD contract amendment) (unanimous).
- Approved: Item 2 (UASI Grant Program) – motion by Councilmember Von Wilpert, seconded by Councilmember Campillo, passed unanimously.
- Approved: Item 3 (Library contracts) – motion by Councilmember Von Wilpert, seconded by Councilmember Campillo, passed unanimously.
- No Action Needed: Items 7, 5, and 6 were informational.
- Next Steps for Falk Contract: Chief Stoll committed to returning in January 2023 with either a contract amendment (if agreed upon with Falk) or direction to exercise contract options to improve service levels. Councilmembers requested solutions from the union and Falk, and emphasized that the pandemic is no longer an acceptable excuse.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning, everyone. 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. Or whichever occurs uh first. This will allow for better meeting management between the two platforms and ensure the city council is able to manage and conduct city business. We appreciate the public's cooperation. I will now call the public safety and livable neighborhoods committee meeting of November 16, 2022 to order. I will now call the roll. Committee member Von Wilpert. Present. Committee member Campillo. Here. And uh Vice Chair Moreno is absent. Also attending the meeting is Laura Easton from the Office of City Attorney, Baku Patel, Office of the IBA, and Chloe Madison, Office of the Mayor. If you are in person, please complete a s 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 committee meeting webinar by computer, uh the tablet or smartphone is listed on the agenda. To join the Zoom webinar by telephone, please dial 1669-2545252. When prompted, input webinar ID 160 780-231 pound. Members of the public who wish to provide 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 are watching via City TV 24 or online, there may be a delay. If you're 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 lectern in the order called. 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 uh present. We will now take up the approval of the committee actions of October 6th, 2022. Tyler, please proceed with public comment. Thank you very much, Chair. The public comment period for the uh committee actions of October 6, 2022 is now open if you are in person. Please be sure to have your speaker slip submit and 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 lectern in the order called members of the public who wish to provide testimony via calling 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. You've already joined the Zoom webinar online or by phone, please raise your hand if you wish to speak. If you are watching on CTV or the live stream online and you would like to call into the meeting, please call 1669-254-5252 and when prompted input webinar ID 160780231 pound. As a reminder, virtual speakers, please raise your hand to speak. You may do so by selecting the raise your hand button or input star nine if you are by phone. I will announce once you're in turn to speak. You may unmute yourself by either selecting the unmute button or inputting star six. Uh chair, we currently do not have any speakers uh submit speaker slips in chambers, as well as we don't have any. Well, sorry, we have one speaker in the virtual queue that has raised their hand again. These are the uh this is public comment for the committee actions of October 9th, 2022. Uh, they lowered their hand. So that'll conclude public testimony on this item. All right, yeah, it's a lot.
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