OB Rag Staff
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 and other city public meetings.
Wednesday, February 18: Rules Committee, 9:00 a.m.
Item 2: Amendments to Council Policy 000-21 related to the submission of ballot proposals by the Mayor, the Council, City Hall departments and public agencies.
Why it matters: This proposal by Councilmember Raul Campillo would place new requirements on City-initiated ballot measures “that could potentially lead to the future introduction of a new property-related fee.” If this passes, a cost-of-service study would be required for the ballot measure. Such a study was not conducted on the notorious “bait and switch” trash fees that doubled the City’s initial estimates.
Item 3: Establishing a new Council Policy regarding property-related fees.
Why it matters: This proposal by Councilmember Raul Campillo would establish guidelines for conducting cost-of-service studies, for noticing public hearings, and for Proposition 218 proceedings, all issues that drove public debate over the injustice of the “bait and switch” trash fees.
Item 4: Possible changes to Council rules governing public comment during Council meetings
Why it matters: This information item is intended to comply with SB707, enacted last year to modernize the Brown Act in an age of growing telecom sophistication. The options being considered includes measures to limit public comment:
- End the practice of ceding time in-person during Council meetings
- Groups who wish to pool time would need to fill out a form with the names of their time ceders 48 hours in advance
- The practice of pooling time would only be allowed for groups of 5 to 10 people. This would reduce the current allotment of 15 minutes per speaker to 10 minutes.
Thursday, February 19: Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, 1:00 p.m.
Item 2: Change posted speed limits throughout the City as indicated by Vision Zero Update and findings from the Speed Management Plan
Why it matters: The City will reduce speed limits – typically, from 25 to 20 mph – on “street segments … based on the Vehicle Code definitions of safety corridor or high bicyclist/pedestrian activity corridor.” The changes will cost $2.4 million. According to data posted on the Vision Zero website, there have been no significant decreases in collisions resulting in severe injury or fatality since the policy was adopted in 2015.
In-person: Council, 202 C St.
To participate via Zoom and submit written comments, click on the meeting agenda and look for the links.
