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City Council

The People's Business: Jan. 28, 2020

Today we look at the agendas for Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee and the Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, both of which meet tomorrow -- Wednesday, Jan. 28. For background on the agenda items mentioned here, click on the agenda, then click on the item and find the staff report and supporting documents over on the right.

Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee — Wednesday, Jan. 29

The highlight on the PS&LN Committee agenda is a proposed new policy on the use of data generated by thousands of streetlight sensors that are being installed throughout San Diego. 

Smart Sensor San DiegoSo far, sensors have been installed on 3,200 light fixtures in public places, with 1,000 more scheduled to be installed this year. The sensors use cameras to collect numerical data on vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian movement and parking activity, as well as environmental data such as temperature, air pressure, and humidity.

However, since the installation project began, community concerns have arisen over how the images and data generated by the sensors are being used, or will potentially be used in the future. 

Staff from the city’s Sustainability Department will present a new policy governing the use of this data and solicit feedback from the committee.

Also on the agenda for discussion:

  • Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. Each year, the City Council allocates funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the CDBG program, which is aimed at improving quality of life in low- and moderate-income communities. Last April, the City Council allocated CDBG funds for the current fiscal year, which ends on June 30. For various reasons, the city ends up with unallocated CDBG dollars, known as “reprogrammed funds.” On Wednesday, the PS&LN Committee will consider a recommendation to allocate roughly $4.5 million in reprogrammed funds on a new City Heights Pool, a Mid-City IDEA Lab, and programs to combat homelessness.
  • Committee work plan for 2020. Council rules state that each policy committee must develop an annual work plan and post it online by Feb. 1. The PS&LN Committee will review its 2020 work plan on Wednesday.

The committee meeting starts at 9 a.m. 

Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee — Wednesday, Jan. 29

On Wednesday, the ATI Committee (agenda) will hear a forecast from city staff on how much Capital Improvements Program revenue is expected over the next five years, and what that means for the city’s infrastructure needs.

The city’s infrastructure needs (streets, sidewalks, water projects, libraries, parks, public safety, etc.) would require an estimated $4.76 billion during the next five years . Revenue for these projects over that time is estimated at $3.87 billion, which, while short of the demand, is roughly $106 million higher than last year’s forecast.

On the agenda for discussion:

  • Fiscal Year 2020 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) Mid-Year Budget Monitoring Report and CIP Budget Revisions. The committee will weigh in on a request for $139.9 million worth of revisions to the Capital Improvement Program for the current fiscal year. This is an annual process based on a mid-year review of the funding sources that pay for infrastructure projects
  • Design-build contracts for golf-course improvements. The committee will consider a proposal for the city to enter into contracts with four private companies to make a total of $15 million worth of improvements to the Torrey Pines Golf Course. This item is only to authorize the contracts, not to authorize any specific design or construction activities
  • Committee work plan for 2020. Council rules state that each policy committee must develop an annual work plan and post it online by Feb. 1. The ATI Committee will review its 2020 work plan on Wednesday.

The committee meeting starts at 2 p.m.