City of San Diego Retired Employees Association

August 9th, 2022 

Meeting Minutes by Brad Jacobsen, Secretary

President Dick Wilken welcomed members and announced that the Board had decided at that morning’s meeting to lift the proof of vaccination requirement for attendance; the requirement may be reinstated should the County Department of Public Health recommend it. Masks will remain optional. He also informed members that a Nominating Committee has been formed to identify potential Board members.

Dave Twomey gave members an update on our Image Enhancement campaign. REA sponsored a Read Across America event at a local elementary school, raised over $5000 for the San Diego Food Bank, and is currently sponsoring a Learn to Swim program at the Tierrasanta Community Pool. We have developed good relationships with City Council offices through these efforts and a series of meet-and-greets with the councilmembers themselves.

Cynthia Queen informed members that the SDCERS office is now open to the public, but cautioned that construction across the street is causing traffic chaos. She also reported that Jessica Taylor was named SDCERS’ Employee of the Year.

Gregg Rademacher reported that Chief Investment Officer Liza Crisafi has retired and that her replacement is Carina Coleman. She is a former SDCERS Board member (and President) and was a director of pension and trust investments at Sempra Energy.

PROGRAM

The program was Danielle Rothman, a Transportation Planner at SANDAG, who spoke about SANDAG’s efforts to comply with the region’s climate mandates. SANDAG develops a 30-year plan that is reviewed and modified every four years based on current projections of traffic. As part of that review, SANDAG determines 30-year costs and sources of revenue including federal and state grants, sales tax revenues, and operational improvements. She noted that gas tax revenue has been declining about 7% per year, which makes it an unsustainable source of revenue. She also stated that SANDAG and others have identified six possible options for a mass transit connection to the airport.