San Diego Rules Committee Meeting Summary: July 27, 2022
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San Diego Rules Committee Meeting Summary: July 27, 2022
The San Diego City Council Rules Committee met on July 27, 2022, to approve prior committee actions, hear non-agenda public comments, and consider two agenda items: amendments to the municipal election code regarding publishing requirements for petitions, and a second amendment to the Salesforce software and services agreement. All votes were unanimous with Vice Chair Lakava absent.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Committee Actions (June 8, 2022): The committee unanimously approved the minutes of the previous meeting. Council Member Campillo seconded the motion. Passed 4-0 (Vice Chair Lakava absent).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Non-Agenda Public Comment: Several residents spoke on various topics:
- Joyce (District 3) asked about policy review frequency and equity implications.
- Kathleen Lippitt expressed concern that marijuana project applicants receive extended application periods and that one applicant in Rancho Bernardo was given additional time for a traffic study despite failing sensitive-use setbacks.
- Assemblywoman Lori Soldania (retired) criticized the all-male composition of the Rules Committee and urged the Council President to appoint women. She also referenced a prior vote on an asbestos building settlement, noting that all female attorneys on the council opposed it.
- B. Beekman spoke about the Russia-Ukraine conflict, hoping for peace and suggesting local equity efforts as a model.
- Becky Rapp (District 5) raised concerns about a marijuana dispensary application at 16375 Bernardo Center Drive, stating the planning group believed it would be denied due to zero-foot setback from a residence. She requested the Rules Committee address the issue.
- Judy Strang questioned municipal code changes that appeared to be policy shifts rather than technical fixes, and asked whether the city is truly committed to transparency and equity.
- Public Comment on Item 1 (Election Code Amendments):
- B. Beekman discussed election accessibility and raised concerns about the recall process being used by right-wing factions.
- Assemblywoman Lori Soldania urged the city to expand publication requirements to include community newspapers in multiple languages (e.g., Filipino, Vietnamese, Spanish) to reach English-learner voters.
- Public Comment on Item 2 (Salesforce Agreement):
- Assemblywoman Lori Soldania opposed the contract, noting Kerasoft Technology (the sole government reseller) does not meet the city’s equal opportunity goals—over 70% of its employees are white—and argued that the Get It Done system is used to criminalize homeless people, disproportionately people of color.
- B. Beekman raised concerns about private data collection and urged stronger civil protections, referencing the city’s Surveillance and Technology Ordinance.
- Joy Sanyaka (District 3) supported the contract, praising the city's strategic plan and the Performance and Analytics team.
Discussion Items
- Item 1: San Diego Municipal Code Amendments – Publishing Requirements for Initiative and Recall Petitions
- Deanna Fuentes (Assistant City Clerk) presented the proposed change to remove the word “daily” from the requirement, allowing publication in any newspaper of general circulation (as defined by state law). The current requirement only allowed the San Diego Union-Tribune, which may stop daily print. The amendment aligns with state law. The city clerk's administrative guidelines were also updated for clarity and gender neutrality.
- The committee approved the staff recommendation unanimously.
- Item 2: Second Amendment to Salesforce Software and Services Agreement with Kerasoft Technology Corporation
- Marcus Lestraco (Performance and Analytics) explained that Salesforce is a CRM used citywide for Get It Done and other applications. The amendment extends the contract from November 2022 to 2029, increases the total not-to-exceed amount from $2.8 million to $8.5 million (with no required minimum spend), and accounts for 10% annual license growth and up to 3% annual price increases. The original 2017 procurement was competitive, but Salesforce licenses must be purchased through Kerasoft, the sole government reseller.
- Council Member Kate asked whether the city could purchase directly from Salesforce; staff confirmed they cannot, as Kerasoft is the authorized reseller. The committee approved the amendment unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Votes: All three actions (consent calendar, item 1, item 2) passed unanimously, 4-0, with Vice Chair Lakava absent.
- Next Meeting: The committee adjourned to the next regularly scheduled meeting on September 21, 2022, at 2:00 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon. 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 a safe social distance and adhere to mask 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 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 call-in 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. And we'll now call the roll. Vice Chair Lakava is absent, correct? That is correct. All right. Councilman Whitburn? Here. Councilember Kate. Here. Councilmember Campillo. Here. And I too am here. Also attend the meeting is uh Mr. Matica from the independent budget analyst office. Kathy Steinman from City Attorney's Office. Christopher Ackerman Avila from the Mayor from the Mayor's Office. And my committee consultant, Brendan Dentino. If you are in person and want to provide public comment, please complete a speaker slip located at the entrance or chambers and place it in the box indicated to the speaker's like turn at the front of the room. Please do so in a timely manner. If you are in person, please come to the reserve seats of the front of the room when your name is called and be prepared to come to the lectern in the order called. 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. The link to join the committee meeting webinar by computer tablet or smoke smartphone is listed on the agenda. 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 testimony via call-in or internet-based service option must enter the virtual speaking queue within five minutes after the conclusion of in-person public testimony before the virtual speaking queue. Uh whichever occurs before the virtual speaking queue is exhausted, whichever occurs first. 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 is your turn to speak. When I introduce the item you would like to be comment on, please raise your hand by either tapping the raise your hand button or 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. Thank you, Brendan. A quorum is now present, and we will take up the approval of the committee actions of June 8th, 2022. Please proceed with public comment. Public comment period for approval of the minutes of the committee actions of June 8th, 2022 is now open. If you're in person, please be sure to have a speaker slip submitted. Members of the public who wish to provide testimony via calling or in a business 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. We have no speakers in person. We have one speaker uh in the virtual queue, Becky Rapp. Uh, this is for the committee actions approving the committee actions of June 8th, 2022. Uh Becky lowered her hand. So, Council President, that concludes public comment on this item. All right, thank you, Brendan. Uh, I will move approval of the committee actions. Do I have a second? Second. A second from Council Member Kate. Um see no additional requests to speak.
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