SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY COMMISSION MEETING
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25,2000

MINUTES

ACTION ITEMS
Form Ad hoc committees (Digital Divide, Vision)
 
Members Present: Susan Myrland, Jon Cohen, Tom Dillon, Admiral Slaght, Carrie Stone John Hull (representing David Nichols)
 
Members Absent: Irwin Jacobs, David Nichols, David Robino, Steven Briggs, Steven Engle, Bill Geppert, Richard Jennings, David Eccles, David Hale, Craig Irving, Julie Wright, Scott Corlett, Mary Walshok
 
City Staff Present: Dianah Neff, Bonnie Jarman, Mike Jenkins, Trudy Sopp
 
City Staff Absent: Ben Haddad, Hank Cunningham
 
CCDC Staff Present: Donna Ahlm, Joe LeBreche of JMI Realty
 
Public Present: None
 
I. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Ms. Dianah Neff. Ms. Neff asked Ms. Jan-nan to note the members who were present.

Ms. Neff stated the reason for keeping the meeting short was the mayoral debate this evening at 6:00 pm. The topic is on technology

 
II. PUBLIC COMMENT There was none.
 
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The minutes of August 28, 2000 were not approved and tabled until the October 23, 200 meeting. There was not a quorum.

 
IV. NEW BUSINESS

Ms. Neff introduced Donna Ahlm of CCDC (Center City Development Corp.

Ms. Ahlm introduced Joe LeBreche of JMI Realty who is also interested in the technology industries coming to downtown San Diego. Ms. Ahlm stated that CCDC is working on a program called Bandwith Bay. Bandwith Bay is a moniker that has been applied to downtown San Diego, which is to encourage technology to come to downtown San Diego. CCDC, the City's Economic Development Corp., Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown San Diego Partnership to try and make this a success downtown. She stated the Regional Technology Alliance did a study last year and stated downtown San Diego is a logical place for new media technology to grow. Ms. Ahlm additionally CCDC is looking to technology experts like the Commission members to see what technology companies look for; what do we have and what don't we have. For that purpose, Ms. Ahlm introduced Trudy Sopp of The CENTRE for Organization Effectiveness to go over some questions and help CCDC put together a concept.

Ms. Sopp stated the Commission was the third focus group. The two previous groups were grouped together by location. There was a focus group in the North County, Sorrento Valley/UTC area (new digital media businesses in that area). The second group were companies strictly based in downtown (high technology and new media industry)

Commission members present were asked to introduce themselves for the focus group.

A. Presentation - CCDC Downtown San Diego Focus Group Discussion Lead by:
Trudy Sopp, Co-Director
The CENTRE for Organization Effectiveness

There was detailed dialogue from members of the Science & Technology Commission, as well as from Ms. Donna Ahl of CCDC, and CCDCs consultant Joe LeBreche of JMI Realty.

Ms. Ahlm presented the Commission members present with the Bandwith Bay CD-ROM (A detailed audio recording ofms. Sopp's presentation is available upon request)

B. Vision & Digital Divide Subcommittee Assignments
Ms. Neff asked if the Commission could discuss the two different subcommittees. In the minutes the Commission received from the August 28" meeting, there were samples of vision statements included. At the last meeting, Ms. Neff reminded the members the visioning subcommittee needed to be organized. The other subcommittee that was previously discussed was the digital divide. Ms. Neff asked who would be interested in either subcommittee; she would take his/her name. She added that Ms. Jarman would work on that and contact the members by e-mail to see who would be interested in the subcommittees. Ms. Neff asked if either of the members present would be interested in chairing either of the subcommittees.

Dr. Dillon suggested starting as ad hoe committees, and the members agreed. Dr. Dillon suggested Ms. Jarman circulate dates that ad hoc committee meetings would occur on a specific topic. Members interested in participating would attend a particular ad hoc meeting.

Ms. Neff stated she would want a member to step up to the plate and chair these ad hoc committees, so we will have someone responsible for making the subcommittees take place.

Dr. Dillon agreed to be the lead for a working group, if that group is formed; RADM Slaght agreed to head the visioning; Carrie Stone agreed to head the digital divide working group along with Jon Cohen and Susan Myrland. Mike Jenkins of City's Economic Development office agreed to provide assistance to the digital divide working group.

Ms. Neff added that Dr. Caves of SDSU has contacted her and is interested in working with the digital divide working group. She will provide Ms. Stone with his address.

Ms. Myrland added she felt there would be many people interested in working on the digital divide subcommittee.

 
V. UPCOMING MEETINGS

The next meeting will be October 23rd. Ms. Neff asked the two ad hoc committees to meet and report out to the full Commission on the 23d.

Ms. Stone stated she felt the Commission has not been able to "role up their sleeves" and, do any work, because we have been involved in focus groups.

Ms. Neff replied there are no more focus groups scheduled, but City Manager, Mike Uberuaga will be attending the October meeting, and giving a brief presentation on some of the City's key issues and how technology impacts those issues.

It was asked by Ms. Myrland when the Commission would get a chairperson. Ms. Neff advised that Mr. Haddad has been working closely with Mayor Golding on the selection of a chair.

If members have any other issues, Ms. Neff asked them to e-mail her or Mr. Haddad with their issues and/or concerns. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. An audio recording of the meeting is available upon request. Contact Bonnie Jarman at (619) 533-6565 ifyou are interested in receiving a copy.