Public Safety Committee Meeting – November 15, 2023
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Public Safety Committee Meeting – November 15, 2023
The San Diego City Council Public Safety Committee met on November 15, 2023, at 10:00 AM. The committee addressed four agenda items: an update on the emergency medical services alliance model, proposed amendments to the surveillance technology ordinance, a contract for body-worn cameras, and the Fiscal Year 2023 Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant. All votes were unanimous (4-0).
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Committee Actions (October 18, 2023): Approved unanimously 4-0 after two public comments on gun violence and firearm procurement.
Public Comments & Testimony
Non-Agenda Public Comment:
- Jill Pfeiffer and Rich Janot (downtown residents) requested traffic calming and noise abatement on G Street, citing speeding motorcycles and car alarms.
- Alexander Carp (co-founder, Etha Natural Botanicals) and Mac Haddo (American Kratom Association) urged the city to lift the ban on Kratom, citing its use for chronic pain and opioid withdrawal. Several other speakers supported Kratom regulation.
- Shelby Huffaker (public health researcher) expressed support for cannabis social equity amendments.
- Dan Schmikowski proposed a $2,000 bonus for police, firefighters, and lifeguards.
- Catherine Douglas criticized the cost of required technology presentations, noting only 8 citizens attended at 9 locations.
Item 4 – Alliance Model EMS Update:
- John Goward (FALC managing director) reported FALC exceeded contractual obligations, delivering over 105% of required unit hours between June and October 2023.
- Bob Ilko (Scripps Ranch community) and Joy Sonny (District 3) expressed support for the alliance model.
- One speaker raised concerns about ambulance costs and the subcontracting arrangement.
Item 1 – Surveillance Technology Ordinance Amendments:
- Multiple speakers from the Trust SD coalition (including Jacob Van Day, Seth Hall, Lucky Adon, Hamira Youssefi, Lily Irani, Patricia Mondragon, and others) opposed the mayor's proposed amendments, arguing they would weaken the ordinance and the Privacy Advisory Board (PAB). They supported coalition-proposed amendments.
- Dr. Robert Brown (PAB member) and Catherine Douglas supported the mayor's amendments as necessary operational fixes.
- Ike Anyanetu (PAB chair) opposed shortening the review period from 90 to 60 days and urged the committee to keep the current timeline.
Item 2 – Body Worn Camera Contract:
- Catherine Douglas and Blair Beekman expressed support for the contract, with Beekman raising questions about officer health impacts and public access to footage.
- One speaker criticized the contract renewal process and officer non-compliance with camera activation.
Item 3 – UASI Grant:
- Blair Beekman and Joy Sonny expressed support for the grant program. One speaker criticized the terrorism focus and border policies.
Discussion Items
Item 4 – Alliance Model Emergency Medical Service Update:
- Deputy Fire Chief Jody Pierce presented the transition to the alliance model, which began October 1, 2023. Key metrics: FALC provided a monthly average of 934 ALS and 127 BLS unit hours, exceeding the 780 ALS and 120 BLS minimum. AMR was deficient in ALS hours and received a notice of performance. Response time compliance improved: under the previous single-provider model, there were 6 response levels below 90% and 84 outliers; after subcontracting, only 1 response level below 90% and 50 outliers. The city assumed billing, deployment, and system status control. No penalties were assessed under the new model. The committee received the update as informational.
Item 1 – Proposed Amendments to the Transparent and Responsible Use of Surveillance Technology Ordinance:
- Chloe Madison (senior policy advisor, Mayor's Office) presented a list of proposed amendments to clarify the ordinance, including: adding a purpose and intent section, defining existing vs. new surveillance technology, exempting routine office hardware, databases, and physical security systems, modifying community meeting requirements, and clarifying the PAB's scope. The motion directed the City Attorney to work with the Mayor's Office on drafting amendments and bring them to the City Council. Councilmember Montgomery Steppe noted the need for balance and requested continued collaboration with the PAB. The committee expressed concern about grant timelines and the need to avoid losing federal funding for technologies like bomb squad robots and internet crimes against children task force. The motion passed unanimously 4-0.
Item 2 – Authorization to Enter into Agreement with Axon Enterprise for Body Worn Cameras and Digital Evidence Management:
- Lieutenant Steve Waltheim presented the 5-year contract with Axon, valued at approximately $12.1 million (not to exceed). The contract includes 1,950 cameras, unlimited storage, full warranty, auto-tagging, and the Axon Citizen program for video uploads. The department has used Axon since 2014 and has compiled over 6 million videos without compromise. The committee approved the contract unanimously 4-0.
Item 3 – Fiscal Year 2023 Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) Grant Program:
- Megan Beale (Office of Emergency Services) presented the $10 million+ grant program administered by the city since 2003. The grant funds terrorism prevention and preparedness projects, with at least 30% allocated to national priorities (cybersecurity, active shooter, etc.). The allocation process involves stakeholder proposals, vetting by subject matter experts, and approval by the Urban Area Working Group (UAG). City departments receiving funding include OES, Police, and Fire. The committee approved the staff recommendation unanimously 4-0.
Key Outcomes
- Approval of Committee Actions: Unanimous (4-0).
- Item 1 (Surveillance Ordinance Amendments): Motion passed 4-0 to direct the City Attorney to draft amendments based on the Mayor's Office framework and report back to the City Council.
- Item 2 (Body Worn Camera Contract): Contract with Axon Enterprise approved unanimously 4-0.
- Item 3 (UASI Grant): Grant program approval unanimous 4-0.
- Next Meeting: The committee will reconvene on January 17, 2024, at 2:00 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Audio check, audio check, one, two, three, four. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, great. Okay, I'll be one. Yeah, so I might have it. Perfect. Okay. Yes, that we can. Okay, thank you. All right, welcome everyone. Welcome very uh everyone to the public safety committee meeting of November 15th, twenty twenty-three. Our committee liaison, Sarah Jordan will provide information and instruction for the public on how to participate in today's meeting. Sarah, please proceed. Thank you, Chair. While members of the public are able to attend the meeting in person, this meeting is being televised and live streamed on the city's website, and the council administration will continue to make arrangements for the public to comment using the Zoom webinar platform. Members of the public who wish to provide testimony via call-in or internet-based service option must end to 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 that the committee is able to manage and conduct city business. Also attending the meeting is Laura Easton, Office of the City Attorney, Baku Patel from the Office of the IBA and Chloe Madsen in the 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. In-person testimony will conclude before virtual testimony begins. 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. To join the Zoom webinar by telephone, please call 1669-254-5252 and when prompted and put webinar ID 161-413-8702 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 virtual testimony must enter the virtual queue by raising their hand before the queue closes. The queue will close when the last virtual speaker finishes speaking or five minutes after in-person testimony ends, 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's your turn to speak. If you wish to speak on a particular item, please wait for that item and be called and then raise your hand by tapping the raise your hand icon, or if you're a call-in participant, star nine on your phone. If you raise your hand during a non-comment period, your hand will be lowered. Chair. Thank you very much. Um a quorum is now present. Do we want to check in with Council Member Campio? Finally can hear you, uh, Chair von Wilbert. Uh must sign in through one form of audio and then one form of video. So we'll just have to make through like that, I guess. Thank you, Councilmember Camp. Would you like to make your declaration at this time? Yes, absolutely. Thank you very much. And uh I am hereby notifying this uh committee that I am attending virtually due to cause related to family caregiving needs. Uh there is no one uh under just cause under state law. There's pursuant to the Brown Act uh disclosing that there is no one over the age of 18 years of age or older uh in the room with me, and I will update if that is uh if that changes. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, and thank you very much, Councilor Campio, for being here. Um, I know you're brand new parents, so we appreciate you taking time to be awake at this time. Um so we will now take up the approval of the committee actions of October 18, 2023.
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