San Diego Public Safety Committee Meeting Summary - November 20, 2024
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San Diego Public Safety Committee Meeting Summary - November 20, 2024
The Public Safety Committee of the San Diego City Council convened on November 20, 2024, chaired by Chair Von Wilpert with Committee Members Campbell and Whitburn present. The meeting covered the consent calendar, the Fiscal Year 2024 Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) Grant Program, and an informational update on the Managed Towing Program. Extensive public testimony was heard on various items.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: Approved committee minutes from October 16, 2024.
- Contract Amendment: Approved a second amendment to the contract with Intergraph Corp (Hexagon) for the Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) system, structured with four one-year options.
- Overt Camera Systems: Approved the overt camera systems under the Transparent and Responsible Use of Surveillance Technology Ordinance, making specific findings that the benefits outweigh the costs, the use safeguards civil rights and civil liberties, and no effective alternatives exist.
- Vessel Rentals/Sales: Approved amendments raising fines for illegal vendors to $250 and allowing the City Attorney to charge infractions or misdemeanors.
- Vote: The consent agenda passed unanimously (3-0) following a clarifying motion reaffirming the specific findings for the surveillance technology item.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Business Permitting & Air Quality: Cesar Javier expressed frustration with the city's business tax permit process, arguing it allows a ceramic kiln business to operate without accountability and hinders enforcement of health and safety codes.
- Cannabis/Marijuana Products: Multiple speakers raised concerns. Diane Grace urged stronger enforcement of flavored marijuana bans. Peggy Walker presented a California Department of Public Health report on high-potency THC, detailing risks of high addiction rates and psychosis, and urging the committee to implement safety policies. Megan Stewart highlighted a spike in child poisonings from edible marijuana products and urged stricter packaging regulations.
- Illegal Tobacco Sales: Becky Rapp presented a UCSD/CSUSM study showing over two-thirds of online flavored tobacco sales violate local laws. Judy Strang discussed the implementation of AB 3218, creating a list of legal tobacco products, urging local law enforcement to conduct preemptive seizures.
- Other Testimony: Francine Maxwell requested the committee send letters regarding a K9 unit presentation and updates for the Gang Prevention and Intervention Commission. A speaker from District 3 requested a future committee meeting and thanked security personnel. Blair Beekman advocated for openness and accountability in public safety governance.
Discussion Items
Item 5: Fiscal Year 2024 Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) Grant Program Chris Heiser (Office of Emergency Services) presented the UASI grant program detailing the regional approach to terrorism preparedness and the allocation process.
- Public Comment: Cesar Javier questioned lead agency coordination. A speaker expressed support and requested grant training for other city departments. Peggy Walker urged funds to mitigate drug and human trafficking. Blair Beekman suggested terminology changes towards 'violent extremism'.
- Committee Discussion: Councilmember Whitburn expressed appreciation for regional safety leadership. Councilmember Campbell inquired about cybersecurity investments, the SDSO acronym, and new funding for lithium-ion battery fire regional response.
- Vote: The resolution to accept and administer the grant funds moved by Councilmember Whitburn, seconded by Councilmember Campbell, and passed unanimously (3-0).
Item 6: Managed Towing Program (Informational Update) Jacob Mosteller (Tow Administrator) presented statistics from 2022-2024 on the reasons for tows, lien sales, response times, district breakdowns, and fee structures.
- Public Comment: Cesar Javier asked for data on towed vehicles connected to criminal activity. A speaker from District 3 thanked the department for previous equity work and noted the negative impact of aggressive towing in the Gaslamp district. Blair Beekman praised the committee's equity-focused work.
- Committee Discussion: Councilmember Whitburn cited a city audit and a California Court of Appeals ruling regarding towing for unpaid parking tickets. He expressed concern that towing for expired registrations disproportionately impacts low-income residents, noting that 16,625 vehicles were towed for expired registration since January 2022, with 35% sold at auction. He highlighted that District 3 has the highest number of tows. Councilmember Campbell asked about payment plans for low-income vehicle owners, the backlog in 72-hour abandoned vehicle complaints in District 5, and an open investigation into SNS Towing for predatory practices.
- Outcome: The item was informational and received by the committee. Staff were asked to research best practices and payment plans in other cities.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar (Items 1-4): Passed unanimously (3-0).
- UASI Grant (Item 5): Passed unanimously (3-0).
- Managed Towing (Item 6): Informational update received; staff to explore payment plans and best practices.
- Adjournment: Chair Von Wilpert provided closing remarks highlighting the committee's 2024 achievements, including the Stop Hate Littering Act, buffer zones for healthcare facilities/schools/worship places, and smart street light/ALPR initiatives resulting in over 130 investigations, 100 stolen vehicles recovered, and over $1 million in illegally gained property returned. The meeting was adjourned to the next regularly scheduled meeting on January 22, 2025.
Meeting Transcript
All right, everybody, welcome. Welcome. Uh good afternoon and welcome to the public safety committee meeting of November 20th, 2024. Our committee leads on Sarah Jordan will provide information and instruction on how to participate in today's meeting. Sarah, please proceed. Thank you, Chair Von Wilbert. 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 it will ensure the committee is able to manage and conduct city business. We appreciate the public's cooperation. Chair Von Wilpert. Thank you very much. Committee member Campbell. Committee member um Whitburn. And Chair Von Wilpert. Present, um, this is our last meeting. Yeah. I want to be Von Cam for it. I hereby make a motion. Everyone will have a Vaughn before their name. Uh no, my very first ID card ever put it out by the city when I elected said Marnie Von Whitburn. Okay, sorry, I'm here too. Go ahead. Also attending the meeting is Laura Easton from the office of the city attorney, Bakupatel from the office of the IBA and Coda Zeiser 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 in 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 when 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 queue by raising their hand before the queue closes. Thank you, Chair Perule 2.7 on agenda public comment as an opportunity for members of the public to comment on items that are not on the agenda that are within the subject matter jurisdiction of this 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 lectern in the order called. And if you're watching on City TV or the live stream online and you'd like to dial in in the meeting, please call 1669-2545252 and input webinar ID 161-2150336 pound. And as a final reminder, 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. So we'll begin with in-person testimony. Caesar Javier, if you can please approach the lectern. You will be followed by Perita Javier. Request that uh Puritauli speak first. Thank you. Basai in Data. The owner of Toxic Immitting Home Business has business tax permit for $38 fee. Annually, city tracers, office has no regulatory authority. Sign the application, no question asked, but don't forget to pay and you can do what you want in your business. City Code Enforcement says number one, ceramic scale business is exempt from permit city code rule 11, paragraph eight, which means the owner can locate, build, construct, and operate in a time. Number two, they advise us to get a land use and environment. Number three, supervisor Brennan referred us to the APCD, whose jurisdiction is air quality number four. Further, see declared that CCED has nothing to do with business permit.
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