Community Coalition Bulletin: This Week at San Diego City Hall — Feb. 9th Through Feb.13

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.

Monday, February 9: City Council, 10:00 a.m.

Agenda:

Non-Agenda Public Comment:  The Mayor and the Council just cut a ragtag deal to “reform” paid parking at Balboa Park (but still charge for the closest lots). So the topic won’t be on this week’s Council docket. But San Diegans can still express their views on the issue in person or virtually during non-agenda public comment. On Monday, non-agenda comment is scheduled early in the meeting at about 10:15 a.m. On Tuesday, the comment period is near the end at about 12 noon.

Tuesday, February 10: City Council, 10:00 a.m.

Agenda:

Items 30, 31, 32: Proclaiming Black History Month, National Engineers Week, and Year of the Horse in the City of San Diego.

Why it matters: City Council proclamations honoring local people and programs are meaningful. But the first two events are national in scope, and the third is a global celebration. Why not proclaim December 25 as “Christmas Day in San Diego”? If the city plans civic observances to mark these occasions, great, tell us that. If not, such perfunctory items seem out of place on a legislative docket.

Item 55: Amending a contract between the City and Ace Parking for managing the Evan V. Jones Parkade in the Civic Center.

Why it matters: The Mayor and City Council have challenged San Diegans to take public transit. So it’s fair to ask: How many elected officials and city staffers drive to work and park in the Parkade? And how much do they pay to park there?

Item S500: Settlement of A.M. v San Diego Rock Church

Why it matters: The City must pay $10 million in damages because a San Diego Police officer and a Fire Department volunteer failed to report suspected abuse implicated in the death of an 11-year-old and the abuse of her two minor sisters.

Item S501: Amending agreement for Schwartz, Semerdjian, Cauley, Schena & Bush to continue serving as outside counsel

Why it matters: The firm’s fees will rise from $1.5 million to $2.5 million for defending the city in multiple lawsuits including “lawsuits arising from injuries allegedly sustained while riding rented electric scooters, which include two electric-scooter operators’ bankruptcy/insolvency proceedings.” (Here’s a look back at City Hall’s ill-fated romance with scooters.)

Wednesday, February 11: Audit Committee, 9:00 a.m.

Agenda:

Item 2: Performance Audit of the City’s Management of Its Leased Golf Property Portfolio

Why it matters: The audit found “a lack of regular site inspections and ongoing holdovers put the City’s leased golf course properties at risk of property deterioration, reduced public benefit, and lost financial value.”

In-person: Council, 202 C St.

To participate via Zoom and submit written comments, click on the meeting agenda and look for the links.