Special Rules Committee Meeting Summary - April 14, 2023
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Special Rules Committee Meeting Summary - April 14, 2023
The special rules committee of the San Diego City Council met on April 14, 2023, to consider amendments to Council Policy 100-06 (CPPS) and receive an informational presentation on the performance audit of the Get It Done app and service request system. The meeting included public comment and unanimous approval of prior committee actions.
Approval of Committee Actions (March 15, 2023)
- The committee approved the actions of the March 15, 2023 rules committee meeting by a unanimous vote after hearing one public comment from Blair Beekman, who highlighted the importance of open discussion on homeless encampment programs.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Non-Agenda Public Comment: Blair Beekman emphasized the need for open conversations about homeless encampments and urged against criminalizing homelessness. Joy Sanyata (District 3) commented on the structural budget deficit and the role of council policies. John Brady criticized the previous day's vote on a homeless ordinance, stating shelters operated at 99% capacity and suggesting that thousands of complaints filed via Get It Done may be from repeat reporters influencing policy.
- On Item 1 (CPPS): Two virtual speakers supported the amendments, with one expressing hope that the changes would improve funding for programs serving unhoused individuals.
- On Item 2 (Get It Done Audit): Three virtual speakers commented. Joy Sanyata praised the Panda team but urged caution on 311 implementation. Blair Beekman expressed concerns about Get It Done's role in community complaints and suggested learning from other cities' 311 programs. Sally (District 4) highlighted equity issues, noting that seniors and those without internet access rely on in-person help, and urged the city to implement 311 as soon as possible.
Discussion Items
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Amendments to Council Policy 100-06 (CPPS): Brendan Nantino, policy director for Council President Yulor Rivera, presented proposed amendments to the policy governing community projects, programs, and services (CPPS). Key changes include making CPPS a standalone line item with equal funding per council office, allowing offices to supplement their CPPS allocation with non-personnel savings, and shifting from a reimbursement model to a grant system. The city attorney noted the draft was still under legal review. Councilmembers discussed the need to ensure equitable access and prevent gaming of the system. Councilmember Lee requested exploration of allowing personnel savings to also supplement CPPS, which was added to the motion. The committee voted unanimously to recommend the amendments to the full council.
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Performance Audit of Get It Done App and Service Request Management: City Auditor Andy Hanous and his team presented findings from an audit of the Get It Done app and the city's phone-based service channels. The audit found that Get It Done does not consistently provide target or estimated completion times, lacks progress updates for most service requests, and that approximately one in five customers received inaccurate or misleading closure details (the app often marked requests as "closed" when they were merely referred). The audit recommended improving the app and establishing a centralized 311 phone option. Panda management (Kirby Brady) disagreed with the 311 recommendation, arguing that the city must first invest in digital infrastructure, fix existing call center issues (e.g., PUD's call center modernization costing ~$6 million and taking two years), and create a unified customer service strategy. Councilmembers expressed support for the long-term goal of 311 but acknowledged resource constraints. Councilmember Moreno voiced strong disappointment with management's refusal to pursue 311, citing equity concerns for residents without digital access. The item was informational only; no action was taken.
Key Outcomes
- Item 1 (CPPS amendments): Voted unanimously (5-0) to recommend the amended council policy to the full city council, with an added direction to the city attorney to explore a mechanism allowing personnel savings to also supplement CPPS funding.
- Item 2 (Get It Done audit): No action required; the committee received the information and will continue discussions at the June 7, 2023 rules committee meeting, where Panda plans to present a customer service roadmap.
Meeting Transcript
All right. Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to the special rules committee meeting of April 14th, 2023. Our committee manager Ty Birch will go over information and instruction for today's meeting. Thank you, 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 mean management between the two platforms and ensure that the committee is able to manage and conduct city business. We appreciate the public's cooperation. Council President. All right, thank you, Ty. Uh, with that, I will now call the special rules committee meeting of April 14th, 2023 to order. And we'll call the uh Ty, you want to call the roll? Absolutely. We have Vice Chair Montgomery Step. Committee Member Lacaba present. Committee member Lee. And committee member Moreno. Present. And committee member Reno, if you would like to make your declaration at this time. Thank you, Ty. Um I I am present. I also um I wanted to notify the entire rules committee and the public that at the March 15th, 2023 rules committee meeting that I would attend today's committee meeting virtually due to just cause related to my child care needs. Uh 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. But I will update this disclosure if it changes during the course of this council meeting. Thank you. Thank you very much. And committee member Lee. Here thank you. And I'm also here. Um we've got with us we have uh infinite budget analyst Julian and Alina, city attorney Heather Ferber. Hey Matt. Matt Yagagin from the mayor's office and committee manager Ty Birch. I didn't see you before. You just dropped in there. Um Ty, please continue with public comment. Thank you, Council President. If you are in person, please complete a speaker slip located at the entrance and chambers and place in the box indicate of the speaker's electron 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 computer tablet or smartphone by accessing the link which is listed online in the preamble language of the agenda on the city's webpage. You may join the webinar by phone. Please dial 1669-254-5252. And when prompted input webinar ID 160557-2611 pound. This information is also available on the agenda and will appear on 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 public testimony or before the virtual speaking queue is exhaustive, whichever occurs first. If you are watching on CTV or 20 uh 24 or 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. If you wish to speak on a particular item, wait for that item to be called and then raise your hand to speak by tapping the raise your hand button or indicating star nine on your phone. If you raise your hand during a non-comment period, your hand will be lowered. Council President.
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