The San Diego Community Coalition publishes this email bulletin to keep our members and the general public informed about important Council and Planning Commission hearings.
Monday, January 26: City Council, Closed Session, 10:00 a.m.
Item CS-1: Conference with legal counsel regarding 56 flooding litigation suits brought by nearly 2,000 residents.
Why it matters: It’s been a full two years since Southeastern San Diego neighborhoods were flooded because the city failed to maintain storm drain channels. Victims are still seeking reparation.
Tuesday, January 27: City Council, 10:00 a.m.
Item 51: Consulting agreement with Christian Moeller Studio for the Pure Water North City Public Art Project
Why it matters: This would increase the amount of the contract to $1.14 million and extend the contract through December 2027. A sampling of Moeller’s public art projects is displayed at https://christianmoeller.com/.
Item 52: Outside counsel agreement with Buchalter APC
Why it matters: This fifth amendment to the City’s agreement with the Buchalter law firm raises the firm’s compensation by $1 million to $3.5 million. Buchalter represents the city in “its insurance recovery efforts across multiple matters, including in litigation matters involving De Anza Cove, 101 Ash Street [and] insurance coverage issues related to the January 22, 2024, rain occurrence and flooding.”
Tuesday, January 27: City Council, 2:00 p.m.
Item 331: Establishment of a Residential Parking Permit Program for Sundays in the Downtown, Uptown, and Mid-City Parking Meter Zones
Why it matters: The staff report for this item includes a proposed fee of $141.50 for the annual permit, which would only be good for Sundays.
Wednesday, January 28: Rules Committee, 9:00 a.m.
Item 2: Initial Consideration of a Ballot Measure submitted by Shane Harris for free public parking at Balboa Park on Sundays
Why it matters: The Committee will “determine if the proposal will receive subsequent review and a second discussion at a future Rules Committee meeting. … If the Committee takes no action on the proposal, then consideration for that proposal is ended.”
Item 4: Further Review of a Ballot Measure Proposal by Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera Regarding an Empty Second Home and Vacation Rental Tax
Why it matters: The proposed annual tax “is $8,000 on every empty second home or vacation rental that does not qualify for an exemption. Additional surcharges of $4,000 will be imposed for corporate-owned vacation homes and for vacation homes with repeat code violations.”
Thursday, January 29: Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, 1:00 p.m.
Item 8: Ratification of 23 Emergency Sole Source Contracts for FY2025
Why it matters: “The combined construction cost for all twenty-three (23) Fiscal Year 2025 Emergency Sole Source contracts is $68,219,075.” Emergency work caused by deferred maintenance costs far more than regular maintenance.
In-person: Council, 202 C St.
To participate via Zoom and submit written comments, click on the meeting agenda and look for the links.
This is an excellent idea to publish what our City Council and Mayor plan for the week.
This is being the thing we need our Council to be, transparent, communictive, and forthright.