San Diego Public Safety Committee Meeting: July 10, 2024
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San Diego Public Safety Committee Meeting Summary: July 10, 2024
The San Diego City Council Public Safety Committee met on July 10, 2024, to consider routine approvals, a semi-annual report from the Commission on Police Practices, and a proposal to allow flexible relocation of smart streetlights and automated license plate readers (ALPRs) citywide. The meeting included extensive public comment and unanimous votes on all agenda items.
Consent Calendar
- Items 1-4 were approved unanimously (3-0, with Councilmember Campio absent). These included:
- Approval of the SWIFT under-door camera under the surveillance technology ordinance.
- Approval of FLUR generation one, FLUR generation two, and ICOR robots.
- Approval of the 836 Technologies Sent Commander and tactical throw phone.
- Authorizing execution of an agreement with the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority for fire rescue and emergency medical standby services at San Diego International Airport.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Non-agenda public comment featured speakers on a range of topics:
- Cesar Javier and Perita Javier raised concerns about toxic emissions from a ceramics manufacturing business operating in a residential zone, alleging inadequate enforcement.
- Joyce Sanyata praised the library director and discussed the security guard contract issue (not on the agenda).
- Blair Beekman commented on national politics and urged cooperative dialogue.
- Virtual speakers included Becky Rapp, who cited a study on cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome and urged the committee to invite Dr. Rani Lev to present; Terry Ann Skelly expressed concern about marijuana normalization and youth mental health; Lori Saldania criticized the city's surveillance technology deployment around Pride and Comic-Con without council review; Megan Stewart cited a study showing adolescents using marijuana are 11 times more likely to develop psychotic disorders; Kathleen Lippett argued the marijuana industry has increased violence and cartel activity; Peggy Walker and Kelly McCormick presented data on youth vaping and substance use, urging enforcement and education.
- On consent agenda items, several speakers supported the technology (e.g., Cesar Javier, Joyce Sanyata) while others raised concerns about transparency and civil liberties (e.g., Blair Beekman, Francis Yasmin Marawala, Lori Saldania, Danny Avidia). Ike Anyanetu, chair of the Privacy Advisory Board, thanked the committee for its work but noted ongoing concerns about data sharing and vendor vetting.
- On item 6 (Commission on Police Practices), speakers welcomed the new executive director and urged robust community outreach and responsiveness. Francine Maxwell requested more accessible complaint filing locations and a backup plan for outside counsel. The original speaker expressed distrust based on personal experience with the former oversight body.
- On item 5 (smart streetlight relocation), public comment was divided. Supporters (Cesar Javier, Joyce Sanyata, Catherine Douglas) cited crime-solving benefits. Opponents (Blair Beekman, Francis Yasmin Marawala, Ike Anyanetu, Lori Saldania, Mark Maddox, Danny Avidia, Colleen Cusick, Isaac Warner, Jean Wee) raised concerns about racial bias, lack of community input, data privacy, and the use of Pride events as a pretext for expanded surveillance. Several speakers objected to the committee's inability to discuss the recent exigent circumstances deployment around Hillcrest, which was not on the agenda.
Discussion Items
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Item 6: Semi-Annual Report of the Commission on Police Practices (CPP)
- Chair Gloria Tran, new Executive Director Paul Parker, First Vice Chair Dennis Brown, and Second Vice Chair Doug Case presented accomplishments since the commission was seated in August 2023:
- Filled vacant commissioner positions; set consistent meeting dates (first and third Wednesdays); drafted standard operating procedures (SOPs) to be submitted to the committee and city council.
- Implemented a conflict of interest policy; held a retreat; staff attended the NACOLE conference.
- Extended employee assistance program to commissioners; opened new offices at 525 B Street.
- Reviewed 48 allegations, including officer-involved shootings, and no cases have expired since the permanent commissioners were seated.
- Hired an interim executive director (Dr. Danelle Scarborough, whose last day was July 12) and two paralegals; hiring underway for investigators, policy manager, and other key roles.
- Planned community hearings on pretext stops and Fourth Amendment waiver searches (August 7), and future hearings on protest policy, special operations unit, and de-escalation.
- Engaged an external investigator to review approximately 150 expired cases; report expected in September.
- Committee members thanked the commissioners and staff, noting the heavy volunteer workload (up to 40 hours per week). Councilmember Whitburn asked about sustainability; the commission acknowledged the need for additional staff to reduce commissioner burden.
- Chair Gloria Tran, new Executive Director Paul Parker, First Vice Chair Dennis Brown, and Second Vice Chair Doug Case presented accomplishments since the commission was seated in August 2023:
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Item 5: Approval of Smart Streetlight and ALPR Relocation
- Sergeants Megan Pazesto and Chris McAndrew presented on the need for flexible deployment:
- Since December 28, 2023, 439 cameras have been installed. Results include recovery of 100 stolen vehicles ($1.3 million value), 95 arrests, 5 firearms recovered, and assistance in fatal accident investigations, kidnapping, and robbery cases.
- Installation faced infrastructure issues (missing power, poles belonging to Caltrans, etc.), making the original 500 specified locations unfeasible.
- The proposal allows camera relocation within two-block zones around identified high-crime areas, based on criteria including violent crime statistics, input from investigators, commanders, community members, and council members. No cameras near immigration facilities, reproductive health clinics, or places of worship.
- The use policy remains unchanged: ALPR data retained 30 days, video 13 days; no real-time monitoring; no facial recognition; data used only for investigating violent crimes.
- Chair Von Wilpert emphasized the need for flexibility to respond to community requests and evolving crime patterns, noting the current six-to-nine-month approval process for relocations is impractical.
- The committee discussed hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community, including a May 2024 incident where a pride flag was burned in Hillcrest. The chair argued that ALPRs could have captured the suspect vehicle in a recent drive-by shooting at a gay bar where the only description was a "newer black sedan."
- Councilmember Whitburn and Campbell expressed strong support, citing crime-solving benefits and the need to protect all communities from hate crimes.
- Sergeants Megan Pazesto and Chris McAndrew presented on the need for flexible deployment:
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously (3-0).
- Item 6 (CPP Report): Informational only; no vote required. The committee expressed support and looked forward to the SOPs.
- Item 5 (Smart Streetlight/ALPR Relocation): Approved unanimously (3-0) to recommend the proposal to the full city council. The committee requested that the police department notify the Privacy Advisory Board and affected council districts when new locations are selected, and that the interactive map be updated regularly.
- The meeting adjourned at approximately 1:45 PM (based on transcript length).
Meeting Transcript
Information and instructions for the public to participate in today's meeting. Sarah, please proceed. Thank you, Chair Von Wilpert. 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 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. Also attending the meeting today is Larry Easton from the office of the city attorney. Baku Patel from the office of the IBA and Chloe Madison from the office of the mayor. If you are in person, please complete a speaker slip located at the entrance of the committee room and place it on the box indicated at the table 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 dial 1669, 2545252 and one prompted input webinar ID 161-215-0336 pound. This information is also available on the agenda and it 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 speaking 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 delay. Please participate via the audio on your phone and mute your TV or computer when it is your turn to speak. If you wish to speak to a particular item, please wait for that item to be called and then raise your hand by speaking the tap by tapping the raise your hand icon, or if you are a call and participant, by pressing star nine on your phone. If you raise your hand during a non-comment period, your hand will be lowered. We're going to take up our um first committee meeting minutes, but then our consent agenda, then we will go to our informational item number six, and we will finish with our discussion item number five. So consent, then item six and finish with item five. So now we will take up the approval of the committee meeting minutes of June 5th, 2024. Sarah, do we have any public comment on the meeting minutes of June 5th? Thank you, Chair. No, we have not received any speaker slips here in the committee room, but there is a hand raised in the virtual queue. So I will begin the five-minute timer for all those in the virtual queue to indicate if they wish to speak to the past committee minutes. Uh we will begin testimony with the original. Please unmute yourself and provide your comment. Um, I also wanted to say I know there's non-agenda public comment, so was that going to be at the end? That was just a question. But um, in that meeting, it was saying that I express concern surrounding sexual abuse. I was actually talking about a rape of a child and also rapes of people who are crossing or taking the track to um cross the border. Um, and uh so I just would like to have that be more transparent that there was actually the rape of a five-year-old little girl here in San Diego. Um, and the information is actually being hidden. So I think for transparency, it would be better to be um more consistent with what was said, which was about a little five-year-old girl that was raped by an illegal um in the county. And um, so I would like that to reflect on the record if that could be possible, um, just so that people understand what was actually said, and it's not kind of brushed under the rug like under an umbrella term of sexual abuse. Thank you for your testimony. Our next speaker is Lori Saldania. Please unmute yourself and provide your comments on the past committee minutes. You will have a minute. Uh yes. Last month I testified about free speech and people being able to participate uh and make comments during the retirement ceremony for the chief of police. I remain concerned that the agendas are uh sometimes being manipulated to avoid having the public address issues that may be controversial to try and suppress dissent. And uh I likewise attended a news conference on Monday where members of the public were uh kept outside. It was held in a private venue, and it had to do with an emergency declaration of safety to uh to put up surveillance uh devices in the Hillcrest area and and far beyond that for mass uh gatherings. So I am concerned that this committee and the council at large are limiting the public's right to comment and participate in areas of public safety. Thank you for your comment and chair with no other hands in the virtual queue. That concludes public testimony on the past committee minutes. Thank you very much.
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