DATE: January 13, 2020
TO: Councilmember Jennifer Campbell, Chair, Environment Committee
FROM: Councilmember Vivian Moreno
SUBJECT: 2020 Environment Committee Priorities (Print Memo)
In response to your memorandum soliciting priorities for the Environment Committee, I urge your careful consideration of the following:
Tijuana River Valley Pollution
- The Tijuana River Valley (TJRV) has a long history of trash, sediment and water quality issues, which impacts sensitive natural resources located in the TJRV, such as riparian zones, which are instrumental in water quality improvement because they filter pollutants and reduce soil erosion, which provides habitat for both fauna and flora. Last year the City updated the state of emergency concerning this issue and joined with other local jurisdictions in litigation to force the federal government to address the situation with the needed infrastructure upgrades. These were major steps forward in solving this problem. In 2020, the City should continue to seek Federal and State funding resources to assist with the restoration, mitigation, and cleanup efforts of the area, work with the EPA to take the necessary steps to declare the TJRV as a Superfund site and coordinate closely with regional partners to advocate for a continued focus on stopping pollution from flowing into the Tijuana River Valley.
Proactive Monitoring of Grant Funding Opportunities at the Federal, State and Regional Levels
- Receive an update from staff on grant funding the City could apply for in the upcoming year for items under the committee’s jurisdiction and work closely with the City’s State and Federal lobbyists to identify potential grant funding and regulation changes that can promote and expedite city programs and funding for water, storm water, and the Climate Action Plan (CAP), including funds to assist in tree plantings, expanding Otay Valley Regional Park (OVRP) and addressing pollution in TJRV and Chollas Creek.
Water Reuse
- Monitor and support implementation of the Pure Water program, including review of grant funding applications, bond financing, and consultant, design and construction contracts.
- Receive an update regarding the potential for the construction of a large storm water capture facility in Otay Mesa.
- Discussion of the concept for a storm water capture system funded jointly by the Public Utilities Department (PUD) and the Transportation and Storm Water Department.
Water Conservation
- Receive an update from PUD regarding evolving state conservation and drought standards and drought/rainfall projections for the next year.
- Receive an update on PUD conservation efforts, including the rain harvesting rebate program and graywater rebate program.
- Consider ways to increase water conservation efforts and preparing for future periods of drought.
Water and Wastewater Rates
- Receive an update from PUD regarding customer billing practices, including reforms the department is implementing to ensure customers are not overcharged.
- Receive an update on progress towards the next Cost of Service Study.
- Receive an update from the City 10 regarding activity with the County Water Authority.
- Discuss a strategy of continuing to diversify the City’s sources of water and how we can further minimize importing increasingly expensive water from outside the region, including efforts to incentivize water conservation.
- Receive an update regarding the Help To Others (H2O) San Diego program.
Storm Water Channel and Storm Drain Maintenance
- Receive updates regarding the Master Storm Water System Maintenance Program, including review of 2019/2020 winter storms and preparation for 2020/2021 winter storms.
Climate Action Plan
- Move forward with implementation of Climate Action Plan (CAP) goals and recommendations and receive regular updates on achieving the Greenhouse Gas Reductions detailed in the plan.
- Development of a 5-year outlook for CAP related goals.
- Receive a status update on City’s tree-planting program.
- Receive updates from climate change researchers and experts regarding the latest data available regarding projections and real-time effects of climate change.
- Discuss funding a study in conjunction with UCSD that would provide an accounting for San Diego’s blue carbon, the burial pf plant material buried in local wetlands. This information could be integrated into future CAP updates.
Litter and Graffiti Abatement
- Receive an update regarding litter and graffiti abatement from the Environmental Services Department and consider potential for expanding those services.
Pond 20 Update
- Receive an update regarding the status of the Pond 20 property, located between Palm Avenue and the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge, as a wetlands mitigation bank.
CC: Honorable Mayor Faulconer
Honorable City Attorney Elliott
Andrea Tevlin, Independent Budget Analyst
