Rules Committee Meeting - June 8, 2022
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Rules Committee Meeting - June 8, 2022
The Rules Committee met on June 8, 2022 at 2:00 PM to consider several items, including a restructuring of council administration staffing and three ballot measures for the November 2022 election. The committee approved forwarding all three ballot measures to the full City Council and discussed the staffing restructure.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the committee actions of April 20, 2022, by unanimous vote after no public comment.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 1: People's Ordinance Amendment – Multiple speakers testified in support, including Kim Knox and Ruth Sandvin (League of Women Voters), Madison Young (student intern), Richard Anthony (Zero Waste San Diego), Mike Zuquette (San Diego Municipal Employees Association), and representatives from the Center on Policy Initiatives, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, Green New Deal Alliance, Climate Action Campaign, Local 127, Hammond Climate Solutions, and Teamsters Local 911. They emphasized equity, environmental benefits, job protection, and the need to let voters decide. One speaker, Paul Kruger, expressed agnosticism but warned about low trust in government and potential regressive impacts on low-income homeowners. Eleven virtual speakers also voiced support.
- Item 2: Coastal Height Limit – No public comments.
- Item 3: Child Care on Park Property – Two speakers, Aaron Hogaboom (Every Child) and Stephanie Benvenuto (San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce), expressed support, citing the need for accessible child care and the opportunity for innovative park use.
Discussion Items
- Information Item: Restructuring Council Admin Staffing – Mary Ann Wallace, Director of Council Admin, presented a proposal to remove eight committee consultant positions and allocate approximately $85,000 per council office to create additional council representative positions. Three new positions would support committee administration and budget/personnel duties. The change aims to create more equitable budgets, streamline committee procedures, and free policy staff to focus on constituent priorities. Councilmembers discussed the new roles and operational benefits. No motion was required; the item was for feedback only.
- Item 1: People's Ordinance Amendment – Brendan Dentino presented a draft ballot measure to amend Municipal Code Section 66.0127, allowing cost recovery for refuse services, protecting city jobs, closing loopholes for vacation rentals and ADUs, and providing free bins. The measure would not impose a fee but allow future cost recovery via a Proposition 218 process. A poll showed 14-point support among voters. Many organizations endorsed. Council President Rivera and Councilmember Lacava argued it would improve equity, environmental outcomes, and city services. Councilmember Whitburn supported; Councilmember Campillo expressed timing concerns but voted yes, stating voters should decide. Councilmember Kate voted no. The motion passed 4-1.
- Item 2: Coastal Height Limit – Anthony George presented a measure to remove the 30-foot coastal height limit overlay zone for the Midway-Pacific Highway Community Plan area, identical to 2020's Measure E which passed with 57% but was invalidated due to insufficient environmental review. A supplemental EIR is underway. Councilmember Kate moved approval; Councilmember Campillo seconded. All members supported, noting the need for redevelopment and housing. The motion passed unanimously.
- Item 3: Child Care on Park Property – Anthony George presented a measure to amend Charter Section 55 to allow child care at recreation facilities on dedicated park land without a public vote, with careful language to limit uses. City Attorney Jane Boardman explained the language ensures council and park board involvement in approvals. Councilmember Kate moved approval; Councilmember Campillo seconded. Councilmembers noted the importance of child care affordability and the narrow scope to protect parks. The motion passed unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- The committee discussed the council admin restructuring; no action taken, but feedback will inform future rule changes.
- Approved forwarding the People's Ordinance amendment to the full City Council for ballot placement (vote: 4-1, Councilmember Kate dissenting).
- Approved forwarding the coastal height limit measure for the Midway area to the full City Council (vote: 5-0).
- Approved forwarding the child care on park property measure to the full City Council (vote: 5-0).
- The next regularly scheduled Rules Committee meeting is July 27, 2022, at 2:00 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon, everyone. Uh, 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 Mass Guidelines as 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 Brendan 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 option 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 council is able to manage and conduct city business. Present. Committee member Whitburn. Here. Committee member Kate. Here. Committee member Cambio. Here. And I am also here. Uh we also have IBA representative Charles Matica. City Attorney Representative Heather Ferbert. Mayoral Representative Christopher Ackerman Abila. Committee consultant Brendan Dentina. Brendan. If you are in person and want to provide public comment, please complete a speaker slip located at the entrance of chambers and place it in the box indicated to speakers' lecture at the front of the room. 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 to the lecture and in order called. Members of the public can join the web 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. The link to join the committee meeting webinar by computer tablet or smartphone is listed on the agenda. To join the Zoom webinar by telephone, please dial 1669-254-5252. When prompted input webinar ID 1617086946 Pound. This information is also available on the agenda and will appear on the screen during the public comment period for each agenda agenda item. Members of the public who wish to provide testimony via calling internet-based service option must enter the virtual speaking queue within five minutes after conclusion of in-person public testimony or before the virtual speaking queue is exhausted. Whichever occurs first. If you're watching on 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. 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 I will read out the last four digits of your phone number if you have called in to the meeting. If you have joined the webinar by computer, tablet, or smartphone, you'll 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. Please wait until the item you wish to speak 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. We will review these instructions briefly again when the public comment period on the item is open. Thank you, Brendan. A quorum is now present. We will now take up the approval of the committee actions of April 20th, 2022. Brendan, please proceed with public comment. The public comment period for approval of the committee actions of April 20th, 2022 is now open. If you're 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. Members of the public who is to provide testimony via call-in or inter-based service option must enter the virtual speaking queue within five minutes after conclusion of in-person public testimony or before the virtual speaking queue is exhausted. We have no requests to speak in person or online. That concludes public testimony on this item. Thank you, Brendan. I'll now turn it over to committee members and entertain a motion to approve committee actions.
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