San Diego Rules Committee Meeting - March 15, 2023: Safe Parking Expansion & Election Code Amendments
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San Diego Rules Committee Meeting - March 15, 2023
On March 15, 2023, the San Diego City Council's Rules Committee convened to discuss two major agenda items: a second amendment to the nonprofit agreement with Jewish Family Service for the Safe Parking Program and amendments to the city's election code. The meeting was chaired by Council President Ela Rivera, with Councilmembers Moreno (participating virtually due to childcare just cause), Montgomery Steppe, Lakaba, and Lee present. Also in attendance were City Attorney Kathy Steinman, Independent Budget Analyst Charles Modica, and Mayor's Representative Matt Yoyagan.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of February 22, 2023 Committee Actions: Unanimously approved via voice vote. No public testimony was offered.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Non-Agenda Public Comment: Becky Rapp, a public health educator focused on drug prevention, expressed concerns about the city's marijuana ordinance. She argued that lowering taxes for marijuana production facilities (from 8% to 2%) reduced crucial city funds and that spending $5 million from the general fund to expand the retail market takes away from basic community needs like safe streets, clean parks, and libraries. She urged the committee to prioritize rules that benefit residents over industry interests.
- Item 1 – Safe Parking Program: Two public speakers commented. First, Chris Olson, Chief of Staff at Jewish Family Service, spoke in support of the expansion, highlighting that UCSD research recommended expanding service to 24 hours and increasing geographic diversity. He noted the new Rose Canyon site would address needs in District 2. Second, Joey Seniata (District 3) praised the program and thanked city staff and Jewish Family Service but questioned coordination among different entities and when program costs would impact the general fund.
- Item 2 – Election Code Amendments: Two virtual speakers commented. Blair Beekman discussed the importance of the recall process but expressed concern about its overuse and urged attention to making democracy accessible for disadvantaged individuals. Lori Soldania raised an issue about city voter pamphlets arriving after county materials in the last primary election and asked whether the proposed timeline changes would ensure timely delivery of voting materials.
Discussion Items
Item 1: Second Amendment to the Nonprofit Agreement with Jewish Family Service for the Safe Parking Program
- Presentation: Hafsa Keika, Director of Homelessness Strategies and Solutions, along with Deputy Director James Carter and Jewish Family Service's Chris Olson, presented the proposal. The amendment adds a fourth safe parking site at the city's Rose Canyon Operations Yard in District 2, featuring 15 vehicle spaces and 12 camper trailers (received from the state during COVID-19) that include beds, restrooms, and showers. The site will operate 24/7 and follow Housing First principles. The budget includes $474,403 in additional FY23 operating funds (bringing the total FY23 contract to $2.3 million) and three one-year options with annual amounts not to exceed approximately $2,828,070 for the full program. The county is anticipated to cover one-time startup costs through a competitive grant. The program aligns with the Regional Continuum of Care Action Plan on Addressing Homelessness among Black San Diegans.
- Committee Questions & Deliberation:
- Councilmember Moreno (remote) noted the item was heard in Rules due to timing constraints and expressed support. She asked about performance outcomes: James Carter reported that year-to-date 940 individuals had been served, with 291 (nearly a third) achieving positive exits.
- Councilmember Lakaba inquired about funding sources (capital grant from county for site improvements; general funds for operations) and the operational model for the trailers, which will prioritize families. Chris Olson explained that families with multiple children will be assigned trailers, leveraging a family homelessness challenge grant.
- Council President Pro Tem Montgomery Steppe asked for more detail on outcomes (unknown/negative exits) and praised the inclusion of equity action items. Staff committed to providing further data.
- Councilmember Lee asked about utilization rates (near 100%, with over-enrollment and a waitlist) and raised fiscal sustainability concerns, noting that the requested $474,403 for five months annualizes to about $975,000, which may be tight given cost increases. Staff confirmed the annualized amount is $975,000, explaining the prorated figure includes one-time client-driven costs.
- Council President Rivera highlighted the importance of data-driven questions and encouraged asking without fear of appearing unsupportive. He also asked about site assessment results: a January 2023 memo identified 10 potential sites, but only Rose Canyon was viable due to environmental, land use, safety, and operational constraints. Staff committed to further exploring removal of land use restrictions and obtaining data on the number of unsheltered individuals living in vehicles.
- Vote: Motion by Councilmember Moreno, seconded by Councilmember Lakaba. Passed unanimously (5-0) to forward to full City Council.
Item 2: Amendments to the Elections Code and Related Administrative Guidelines
- Presentation: Interim City Clerk Deanna Fuentes, joined by Deputy Director Jen Barry and Elections Analyst Mark Moreno, presented recommended amendments to the San Diego Municipal Code. Key changes include:
- Making the election code gender-neutral (per §11.0211).
- Changing the candidate statement submission deadline from 98 days to 100 days before the election to ensure the 5-day review period completes before materials must be sent to the Registrar of Voters.
- Clarifying that candidates may change their photograph between primary and general elections, with a 100-day submission deadline.
- Correcting an incorrect municipal code reference regarding word counts for elected titles.
- Requiring recall petitions to be submitted all at once and with blank copies, consistent with initiative and referendum rules.
- Extending charter removal election provisions to school board members (per 2020 charter amendment).
- Legal Review: City Attorney Kathy Steinman noted the office received the proposals recently and still needs to complete legal review, but the committee proceeded to consider the item.
- Committee Questions & Deliberation: Council President Rivera asked about the administrative appeal process for signature determinations on initiatives. Fuentes explained that a challenge process was repealed in 2019 due to inefficiency, and the current remedy is a writ of mandate via the courts. She noted further amendments may be brought later this year. No other questions were raised.
- Vote: Motion by Council President Rivera, seconded by Councilmember Lakaba. Passed unanimously (5-0) to direct the City Attorney to prepare an ordinance and resolution for City Council review.
Key Outcomes
- Item 1 – Safe Parking Program Expansion: Approved unanimously to forward the second amendment to the full City Council. The amendment adds a 27-space site at Rose Canyon (15 vehicle spots, 12 camper trailers), increases FY23 funding by $474,403, and adds three one-year options for ongoing operations. The program will prioritize families and incorporate equity action items.
- Item 2 – Election Code Amendments: Approved unanimously to ask the City Attorney to draft the corresponding ordinance and resolution. The amendments address gender neutrality, submission deadlines, candidate photos, technical corrections, recall procedures, and school board removal provisions. Further legal review is pending.
- Next Meeting: The Rules Committee will next convene on April 21, 2023 at 9:00 a.m.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning, everyone. Welcome to the rules committee meeting of March 15th, 2023. Our committee manager Ty Birch will go over information and instruction for today's meeting. Um as soon as he is done with that, Councilmember Moreno, if you would like to uh make your just cause statement, um, feel free to jump in once Ty is done. Thank you very much, Council President. 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 council administration 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 or 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, say, business. We appreciate the public's cooperation. Councilmember Moreno. Thank you, Chair. Um, I am present and I also have uh the comments. Uh I notified the entire city council and public on at the February 27th, 2023 City Council meeting that I would attend today's committee meeting virtually due to just cause related to my child care needs. Now, pursuant to the Brown Act, I am disclosing that there are no individuals 18 years of age or older present in the room with me. I will update this disclosure if it changes during the course of this council meeting. And additionally, pursuant to the Brown Act, I will also take this opportunity to notify the committee and the public that I will also be attending the April 14th, 2023 rules committee virtually due to just cause related to child care needs. Thank you. Thank you, Councilmember Moreno. Uh with that, um, we will call the rules committee of March 15th, 2023 to order. And I will call the role beginning with Council President Pro Tem Montgomery Step here. Councilmember Lakaba here. Councilmember Lee here. And Councilmember Moreno. Present. And I am also here. Um also attend the meeting. Is our independent budget analyst Charles Matica, City Attorney Kathy Steinman. Mayor Representative Matt Yoyagan, Committee's manager Ty Birch. Ty, please continue with the uh public comment instructions. Thank you, Council President. If you are in person, please complete a speaker slip located at the entrance of chambers and place it in the box indicated the speaker's left turn at the front of the room. Please do so in a timely manner to ensure proper main management in-person testimony will conclude before virtual testimony begins. Members of the public can join the webinar by your computer tablet or smartphone by accessing the link which is listed in the preamble language on the agenda on the city's webpage to join the Zoom webinar by phone. Please dial 1669-2545252 when prompted input webinar ID 160557-2611 pound. 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 calling or internet based service option must enter the virtual speaking queue within five minutes after the conclusion of in-person testimony or before the virtual speaking queue is exhausted, whichever occurs first. If you're watching on C TV 24 online, there may be a delay. So please participate via the audio on your phone and mute your TV or computer when it's your turn to speak. When I introduce the item you'd like to comment on, please raise your hand by either tapping the raise your hand button on your computer, tablet, or smartphone, or by pressing star nine on your uh cell phone. You will be taken in the order in which you raise your hand. You may only speak on once on a particular item. If you raise your hand during a non-comment period, your hand will be lowered. Council President. Thank you, Ty. Uh, we've got a quorum here. Let's take up the approval of the committee actions of February 22nd, 2023. Please proceed with public comment. Thank you. The public comment period for the approval of the committee actions of February 22nd, 2023 is now open. Uh Council President, we don't have anyone who has submitted speaker slips for the committee actions nor raise their hand in the virtual queue.
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