OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Public Safety Committee Meeting January 18, 2023: FALC Contract, Fire Code, and 2023 Priorities

Public Safety & Livable Neighborhoods Committee — Wednesday, January 18, 2023
BodySan Diego, California
SessionPublic Safety & Livable Neighborhoods Committee
DateWednesday, January 18, 2023
StatusFILED
Video Record
Meeting Thumbnail
⇩ GET FROM SOURCE

STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE

Transcript — Verbatim
0:47

Good afternoon.

0:48

Welcome everybody.

0:49

Welcome to the Public Safety Committee meeting of January 18th, 2023.

0:54

Very excited.

0:55

This is our first public safety meeting.

0:56

This committee used to be public safety and livable neighborhoods.

1:00

And we've decided instead of calling it PS, we're going to call it PSC, Public Safety Committee.

1:05

So now everyone knows our fun new acronym.

1:07

I'm very excited to be joined here alongside many of my colleagues who I'll introduce today.

1:12

And first I get to read about how to participate on public comment.

1:15

So 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.

1:37

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.

1:47

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.

1:59

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.

2:15

This will allow for better meeting management between the two platforms and ensure the committee is able to manage and conduct city business.

2:21

We appreciate the public's participation.

2:51

If you are in person, please place a completed speaker slip located at the entrance of chambers at the speaker's lectern at the front of the room.

2:59

Please do so in a timely manager manner to ensure you get on the list.

3:03

Members of the public can also join our webinar by computer, tablet, or smartphone by accessing the link which is listed online in the preamble language of our agenda on the city's webpage.

3:14

To join the Zoom webinar by telephone, please dial 1669-254-5252.

3:21

When prompted, input webinar ID number 161-413-8702 pound sign.

3:30

That information is also available on the committee agenda and will appear on the screen during the public comment period for each agenda item.

3:37

A quorum is now present and we will first take up the approval of the committee actions of November 16th, 2022.

3:44

Sarah, please proceed with any public comment.

3:49

If you are in person, please be sure to have your speaker slip submitted and come to the reserved seats at the front of the room when your name is called.

3:56

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.

4:09

If you have already joined the Zoom webinar online or by phone, please raise your hand if you wish to speak.

4:14

You can do so by selecting the raise your hand button or input star nine if by phone.

4:19

If you are watching on City TV or the live stream online and would like to call into the meeting to speak, please call 1669-254-5252.

4:28

And when prompted, input webinar ID 161-413-8702 Pound.

4:33

I will announce when it is your turn to speak.

4:35

Unmute yourself by either selecting the unmute button or by inputting star six.

4:51

So there are no speakers in the queue for this.

4:54

Okay, thank you.

5:00

Can I have a motion to prove the committee actions?

5:02

I'll move approval of the uh minutes.

5:04

Wonderful, thank you.

5:05

Um I'm happy to oh, I see Council President Pro Tam is unmuted.

5:09

Oh second.

5:10

Thank you very much.

5:11

Uh Vice Chair.

5:12

Um okay.

5:13

We have a motion by Councilmember Campillo and a second by Vice Chair uh Monica Montgomery Step.

5:19

I will now take any committee member questions and comments and have each committee member register their vote, beginning with um would you like to vice chair or council president pro temp or vice chair president potem.

5:30

No, whatever uh probably vice chair, shorter.

5:35

Okay, there we go.

5:35

Perfect.

5:36

Uh Vice Chair Montgomery Step.

5:38

Yes.

5:39

Um, I'll take the vote uh beginning with you.

5:41

I vote yes.

5:42

Wonderful, thank you, Council Mercampio.

5:44

I vote yes.

5:45

All right, I vote yes as well, so that passes unanimously.

5:48

Um now we will move on to any non-agenda public comment.

5:52

Uh the council members respect and appreciate the public's input and are fully committed to protecting every participant's free speech rights at council and committee meetings.

6:01

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 our agenda but are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the committee.

6:11

Each speaker will have two minutes.

6:13

Sarah, please proceed.

6:15

If you are in person, please be sure to have your speaker slip submitted and come up to the reserve seats at the front of the room when your name is called.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Safety███████████████████████████████████35%
Public Comment███████████████████19%
Emergency Management███████████11%
Public Health██████████10%
Fire Safety████████8%
Procedural███████7%
Workforce Development█████5%
Wildfire Preparedness███3%
Traffic Safety██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Public Safety Committee Meeting – January 18, 2023

The Public Safety Committee (PSC) convened for its first meeting of 2023, chaired by Councilmember Von Wilpert. The committee addressed the ongoing FALC ambulance contract challenges, adopted the 2022 California Fire Code with local amendments, and set priorities for the year. All votes passed 3-0 with Councilmember Campbell absent.

Consent Calendar

  • Item 1: Resolution authorizing grant process for the National Urban Search and Rescue Preparedness Cooperative Agreement. Approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Non‑agenda public comment:
    • Molly Sylvester described witnessing a fatal pedestrian collision on the freeway on September 22, 2022, and urged the committee to establish ordinances to keep encampments farther from freeways, improve lighting and fencing, and explore using hospital ships for mental health and addiction services. She expressed that the lack of support for witnesses added to her trauma.
    • Sunyada (District 3) thanked Vice Chair Montgomery Step for past work and welcomed Chair Von Wilpert.
    • Peggy Walker asked the committee to address fentanyl, marijuana potency caps, and warning labels, asserting that marijuana is a gateway drug to fentanyl.
  • Item 4 (FALC contract):
    • Tony Sorcy (President, San Diego Association of Pre-Hospital Professionals) stated the workforce is severely overworked and understaffed; urged competitive wages through collective bargaining.
    • Jeff Baim (Managing Director, FALC San Diego) reported the $50,000 sign‑on bonus had attracted 15 new paramedics since late November, with 9 more in orientation; FALC continued to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement with the union.
  • Item 3 (2023 priorities):
    • Mark (Point Loma resident) criticized lack of traffic enforcement by SD police, saying officers are instructed not to prosecute traffic laws, and urged the committee to adopt a clear objective statement.
    • Judy Strang requested the committee receive reports from tobacco policy workgroups and consider health effects of secondhand smoke.
    • Kelly McCormick (public health educator) supported priorities on youth development and mental health, but asked for expanded prevention education on marijuana and its risks.
    • Sunyada voiced support for first responder wellness, youth diversion, hate crime response, police retention, homelessness programs, and the committee name change.

Discussion Items

  • Item 4: FALC Mobile Health Corporation Contract Update (Informational)

    • Fire Chief Colin Stoll and Deputy Chief Jody Pierce presented. Compliance for July–September 2022 (Q1 FY23) showed 14 response‑time zones below 90%, 119 outliers (double the allowed response), and one incident with no paramedic ambulance dispatched. Penalties for that quarter exceeded $900,000. From October to December 2022, the system lost over 10,000 paramedic unit hours, and time spent at “level zero” (no ALS ambulance available) remained high. FALC hired 20 paramedics but saw 24 departures.
    • Chief Stoll noted the fire department is developing recommendations for system improvements—including subcontracting and a nurse‑navigation pilot—that will be brought to committee in February 2023.
    • Chair Von Wilpert expressed frustration that the system has not met contract obligations after one year. She opposed raising patient charges and played a video of a high school student, Jasmine Nelson, describing how high ambulance costs forced her family to choose between medical care and other necessities. The Chair supported subcontracting to relieve overwork and called for a sustainable solution that does not burden patients.
    • Councilmember Campillo questioned FALC’s $50,000 sign‑on bonus (paid out over 36 months at ~$8.67/hour extra) and asked whether a wage increase for existing employees would have improved retention. He noted the net gain of only four paramedics after sign‑ons and departures.
    • Vice Chair Montgomery Step asked about recruitment efforts and the current paramedic shortfall (approximately 32 full‑time paramedics).
    • No action taken; the item was informational only.

  • Item 2: Adoption of 2022 California Fire Code with Local Amendments

    • Fire Marshal Tosca presented. The update aligns with state law and addresses local wildfire resiliency, defensible space, and water supply requirements. The changes include updating municipal code to maintain current 35‑foot zone one defensible space standards and improving ingress/egress for at‑risk communities.
    • Chair Von Wilpert inquired about evacuation plans for communities like Scripps Ranch; the Fire Marshal confirmed that building‑specific emergency plans are not affected, but community wildfire protection plans will be updated every five years.
    • The item passed 3‑0.

  • Item 3: Public Safety Committee Priorities for Calendar Year 2023

    • Each member highlighted priorities: Vice Chair Montgomery Step emphasized building a “public safety ecosystem” with first‑responder wellness, youth diversion, and traffic safety. Chair Von Wilpert stressed gun violence prevention, fentanyl response, and staffing for police and fire. Councilmember Campillo focused on improving emergency response times, reopening police station front counters, and addressing homelessness. Councilmember Campbell (absent) had submitted priorities on hate crimes, mental health, and police retention.
    • The committee voted unanimously to adopt the staff recommendation, which will be used to develop a formal work plan.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent agenda (Item 1) approved 3‑0.
  • 2022 California Fire Code (Item 2) adopted with local amendments 3‑0.
  • 2023 committee priorities (Item 3) adopted 3‑0; staff will compile a work plan.
  • FALC contract (Item 4): No formal action; an amendment strategy (including subcontracting and system changes) is expected at the February 15, 2023 meeting.
  • Next meeting: Wednesday, February 15, 2023, at 2:00 p.m.

Meeting Transcript

Good afternoon. Welcome everybody. Welcome to the Public Safety Committee meeting of January 18th, 2023. Very excited. This is our first public safety meeting. This committee used to be public safety and livable neighborhoods. And we've decided instead of calling it PS, we're going to call it PSC, Public Safety Committee. So now everyone knows our fun new acronym. I'm very excited to be joined here alongside many of my colleagues who I'll introduce today. And first I get to read about how to participate on public comment. So 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 committee is able to manage and conduct city business. We appreciate the public's participation. If you are in person, please place a completed speaker slip located at the entrance of chambers at the speaker's lectern at the front of the room. Please do so in a timely manager manner to ensure you get on the list. Members of the public can also join our webinar by computer, tablet, or smartphone by accessing the link which is listed online in the preamble language of our agenda on the city's webpage. To join the Zoom webinar by telephone, please dial 1669-254-5252. When prompted, input webinar ID number 161-413-8702 pound sign. That information is also available on the committee agenda and will appear on the screen during the public comment period for each agenda item. A quorum is now present and we will first take up the approval of the committee actions of November 16th, 2022. Sarah, please proceed with any public comment. If you are in person, please be sure to have your speaker slip submitted and come to the reserved seats at the front of the room when your name is called. 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. If you have already joined the Zoom webinar online or by phone, please raise your hand if you wish to speak. You can do so by selecting the raise your hand button or input star nine if by phone. If you are 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 161-413-8702 Pound. I will announce when it is your turn to speak. Unmute yourself by either selecting the unmute button or by inputting star six. So there are no speakers in the queue for this. Okay, thank you. Can I have a motion to prove the committee actions? I'll move approval of the uh minutes. Wonderful, thank you. Um I'm happy to oh, I see Council President Pro Tam is unmuted. Oh second. Thank you very much. Uh Vice Chair. Um okay. We have a motion by Councilmember Campillo and a second by Vice Chair uh Monica Montgomery Step. I will now take any committee member questions and comments and have each committee member register their vote, beginning with um would you like to vice chair or council president pro temp or vice chair president potem. No, whatever uh probably vice chair, shorter. Okay, there we go. Perfect. Uh Vice Chair Montgomery Step. Yes. Um, I'll take the vote uh beginning with you.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com