San Diego Rules Committee Meeting – January 19, 2022: Priorities and Direct Docketing Review
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San Diego Rules Committee Meeting – January 19, 2022
The Rules Committee of the San Diego City Council met virtually on January 19, 2022, at 2:00 PM under Assembly Bill 361 teleconferencing rules. Chair Elo-Rivera presided with Vice Chair LaCava and Councilmembers Campillo, Whitburn, and Kate present. The meeting covered approval of prior minutes (with a correction), non-agenda public comment, discussion of 2022 committee priorities, and an informational update on the direct docketing process. All motions passed unanimously.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Committee Actions (December 8, 2021): Initially approved unanimously. Later, during the meeting, Councilmember Campillo moved to reconsider and amend the minutes to correct the identification of a public speaker from "Lori S" to "Lori Saldania" for her comments on equal opportunity hiring. The motion was seconded by Vice Chair LaCava and passed unanimously. The minutes were corrected accordingly.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Non‑Agenda Public Comment:
- A single mother expressed concern about a marijuana outlet reconsideration at the Planning Commission, urging impartiality and transparency in municipal code changes.
- Lori Saldania requested correction of the December 8 minutes (addressed above) and recommended adopting digital signatures for nominating petitions to protect public health during the pandemic, noting the current requirement of at least 240 qualified signatures for citywide candidates.
- Becky Rapp, a parent and public health advocate, opposed loosening marijuana regulations, citing a U-T article where industry insiders admitted to operating on both legal and illicit markets. She urged the city to uphold current ordinances.
- Public Comment on Item 1 (2022 Priorities):
- Joyce Lane (San Diego 350) urged the committee to address climate advisory boards: many lack quorums due to vacancies and no new appointments. She called for a formal climate emergency task force with diverse stakeholders.
- Lori Saldania supported digital signatures for petitions, urged focus on trash service transition, and stressed the need to fill board and commission vacancies, noting that a $1 million working group on public power had not received appointments despite submitted applications. She also pointed out the lack of women on the Rules Committee.
Discussion Items
- Item 1: 2022 Rules Committee Priorities – Chair Elo-Rivera opened discussion, noting that 2022 is an election year with a focus on ballot measures and transparency. Councilmembers submitted written priorities. Comments from staff:
- Heather Herbert (City Attorney) reminded the committee of a municipal code requirement to review the standing committee structure every three years (last done over two years ago) and to hold a biennial review of boards and commissions, including sunsetting obsolete ones.
- Jeff Kawar (IBA) highlighted the need for timely final ballot language to develop fiscal impact statements; deadlines are March 15 for June and August 16 for November 2022 elections.
- Councilmembers Campillo, LaCava, Whitburn, and Kate expressed broad support for priorities including election accessibility, translation services, Safeguard San Diego (ballot measure), child care at parks and rec facilities, revisiting Measure E, improving transparency, and strengthening boards and commissions. Councilmember Whitburn stressed the importance of early review of ballot measures.
- A motion by Councilmember Campillo, seconded by Vice Chair LaCava, directed the chair to draft a 2022 work plan based on member and public input. It passed unanimously.
- Item 2: Informational Update on Direct Docketing Process – Haley Besser (Council President’s Office) presented the historical list of items that can bypass committee review directly to council (e.g., appointments, settlements, tax levies). She proposed requiring staff to check with the appropriate committee chair before direct docketing and to include that in the memo. Randy Wilde (Mayor’s Office) added that citywide meet‑and‑confer items often require direct docketing to full council. Public commenter Lori Saldania cautioned against allowing real estate transactions to bypass committee review, citing risks of reduced transparency. Councilmembers discussed:
- Vice Chair LaCava supported retaining the original 2013 list but opposed adding items like routine easements or time‑sensitive real estate, noting potential pitfalls. He endorsed the proposal to notify committee chairs.
- Councilmember Whitburn was comfortable with most items except time‑sensitive real estate transactions, urging consultation with the IBA and city attorney, and suggested checking with the relevant council office for geographically specific items.
- Councilmember Kate appreciated proactive notification and agreed with colleagues on the need for thorough review.
- Chair Elo-Rivera emphasized the importance of the committee process and promised a follow‑up memo incorporating feedback. No motion was taken as the item was informational.
Key Outcomes
- Unanimous approval of committee actions from December 8, 2021, as amended to correct the public speaker's name.
- Unanimous approval of a motion to direct the chair to create a 2022 Rules Committee work plan based on member and public input.
- The committee received input on the direct docketing process; a memo will be issued by the Council President’s office to codify updated procedures, including a requirement to consult committee chairs before direct docketing.
- The next Rules Committee meeting is scheduled for February 16, 2022.
Meeting Transcript
We can go live though, Brendan. Please. Yeah, Councilmember, it is two o'clock and you have a quorum. I can make the webinar live if you would like. Works for me. Sweet. Whenever you're ready. Thank you. Good afternoon. Per California government code section 54953G added by Assembly Bill 361, which is allows the city to use teleconferencing and to provide the public an opportunity to address the city council via a call-in option or internet-based service option. The committee members will be participating via Zoom, and no members of the public will be in attendance at the meeting in the interest of public health and safety. In addition, this meeting is being televised and live streamed on the city's website. And the committee liaison Brendan has made arrangements for the public to comment using the Zoom webinar platform. We appreciate the public's cooperation. We will go over the specifics of how to join the webinar and will give details on how the public can offer the public testimony. I will now call the rules committee meeting of January 19, 2022 to order. I will now call the role. Councilmember Whipper. Councilmember Kate. And Councilmember Campio. I am also here. Each committee member is attending virtually. Also on the virtual meeting is Jeff Kawar from the office of the independent budget analyst. Heather uh Herbert and Kathy Steinman from the city attorney's office and Randy Wilde from the Office of Mayor Todd Gloria. Our committee consultant Brendan Dentino will now go over instructions for joining the meeting. Go ahead, Brendan. The public may view the meeting on public television on City TV channel 24 for cost communication and spectrum or channel 99 for ATT Uverse, or view the meeting online by going to the City Council Committee's homepage at Sandieago.gov and selecting the City TV Live Webcast button on the far right hand side of the page. The committee meetings will be held virtually using the Zoom webinar platform. Members of the public can offer public comment on items by accessing the Zoom webinar online or using a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone, or by calling into the meeting using a smartphone, a cellular phone, or landline. The link to join the committee webinar by computer, tablet, or smartphone is listed on the agenda. To view the Zoom webinar by telephone, you may dial 1669-254-5252 when prompted input webinar ID 161708-6946 pound. This information is also available on the agenda and will appear on the screen during the public comment period for each item. When the chair introduces the item you would like to comment on, you will raise your hand by either tapping the raise your hand button on your computer, tablet, or smartphone, or by pressing star nine on your phone. You will be taken in the order in which you raise your hand. You may only speak once on a particular item. When I indicate it is your turn to speak, I will call you by your name as it appears on the Zoom webinar attendee list or read out the last four digits of your phone number if you have called into meeting. That is how you will know it is your turn to speak. If you have joined the webinar by computer, tablet, or smartphone, you will receive a pop-up notice to select to unmute your device. 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. Uh Council President. Thank you, Brendan. Quorum is now present. We will now dispense with the approval of the committee actions of December 8, 2021. Do I have a motion to approve the committee actions? I still move, Council President.
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