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San Diego County supervisors receive three public comments, then recess into closed session
Summary
At a special Oct. 16 meeting, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors heard three phone-in public comments—raising concerns about battery storage near Valley Center, possible displacement in the Tijuana River Valley and allegations about a personnel demotion for Michael Booth—then recessed into closed session to consider agenda items.
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors convened a special meeting Oct. 16 and recessed into closed session after hearing three public commenters who raised safety, displacement and personnel allegations.
Paula Bold, a caller, criticized the meeting notice for lacking descriptive agenda details and urged fuller descriptions so the public can offer better input. Bold also warned against siting battery storage facilities near hospitals, schools, animal facilities and residential areas, saying, "Lithium used navy batteries and stable metal causes spontaneous fires ... You can't put them out. Toxic fumes and mass evacuations." Bold referenced concerns about a proposed facility in Valley Center.
An unnamed caller followed, urging the county to be direct with people in the Tijuana River Valley and claiming the county plans to move residents out of the area. The caller said residents were not briefed and that the county appeared unprepared for any evacuation or relocation.
A third, unidentified caller said the special meeting concerned a personnel matter involving Michael Booth and alleged Booth had received a "demotion and an $85,000 pay cut for no reason." The caller made broader allegations about local patronage and media influence, naming Nathan Fletcher, Cindy Chavez, SEIU, Paul Worley and others; the caller urged recusal and release of emails. Those claims were made during public comment; the transcript records no response from board members or staff during public session.
Clerk staff closed public comment and the board recessed into closed session to consider the matters listed on the special meeting agenda. The clerk said any reportable actions would be announced after the closed session.
The public comments in this meeting were statements and allegations offered by callers during the public-comment portion of a meeting whose only listed agenda items concerned closed-session matters. The transcript does not record any formal votes or reportable actions in open session.
