Editor’s note: The 2024 candidates for two open Coronado City Council seats are Andrew Gade, Mark Fleming, Christine Mott, Amy Steward, Mark Warner and Laura Wilkinson Sinton. A third council member may be selected in the process depending on the mayoral result. Three current council members — John Duncan, Mike Donovan and Casey Tanaka — are running for mayor.
The Coronado News reached out to Steward and all candidates with questions to learn more about their priorities and philosophy. Responses have been edited for brevity and clarity, including additional information from a follow-up conversation.
Amy Steward, 63, is a decades-long community member who has called Coronado home for 30-plus years.
“I have always enjoyed giving back,” Steward said. “Being involved civically gives you purpose and satisfaction in life.”
Steward said her community service began as a young girl scout in Coronado and continued when her military family returned through her role as an educator at Village Elementary and Coronado Middle School. Steward has taught second through eighth grade in a variety of subjects. Today, she is president at Emerald Keepers, an environmental organization she founded in 2019.
“I’ve been at the forefront of positive change and this has led to real action,” added Steward. “I just want to continue being a steward of Coronado.”
Steward said her priorities for the city include the ongoing cross-border sewage crisis, climate change as it relates to infrastructure, public safety and fiscal responsibility.
“The clear and present danger is the sewage,” said Steward. “Coronado’s voice is a really big voice and I feel that sometimes it’s absent… I believe that there’s more that can be done.”
Q: Why did you choose to run for City Council?
Steward: I chose to run for City Council for two primary reasons. First, I bring decades of experience working as an active member within the community. It has provided me with deep insights and practical knowledge that can only be gained over time. This extensive experience has allowed me to refine my skills, develop effective problem-solving strategies and adapt to various challenges. It means I bring a proven track record of success, which ensures that I can contribute to the council from day one. Second, I have always worked as a member of a team. I believe by working together, we can preserve Coronado’s charm while preparing for the challenges of the future. Collaboration is the most important part of the council’s work. It is a natural progression for me.
Q: What are tangible examples of efforts you’ve made with the Tijuana sewage crisis. Or, what do you hope to do during your time in office?
Steward: I have been an advocate for clean water for over 20 years, and it has been a focus of Emerald Keepers. Last year, I was the only individual from Coronado to attend the County Board of Supervisors meeting where I spoke in support of their proposed — and subsequently passed — emergency declaration. …The City Council must be leading…not following.
…The clear and present danger of cross-border sewage constitutes an environmental, health, economic, and national security threat to our region, the state, and the nation. …Some may argue filing a Local Emergency Proclamation is an overstep. I disagree. Why would the State of California declare an emergency if the affected city is unwilling to do so?
Steward said the cross-border sewage issue — compounded by toxins flowing from manufacturing in Tijuana — meets the California Government Code definitions of a local emergency.
In a follow-up, Steward said she believes Coronado still needs to declare an emergency for the ongoing Tijuana sewage crisis.
“Coronado’s voice is missing…They voted to do a resolution… I really believe that what’s missing is what the other cities have done, which is declare a state of emergency…it’s imperative.”
Q: Can you spell out specific plans you’d advocate for fixing the stormwater infrastructure?
Steward: We all know Coronado is at sea level. Storm drains require gravity or pumps to remove water from our streets during and following a rain event. The storm the city experienced on Jan. 22 can no longer be classified as a 1,000-year storm. Climate change scientists tell us storms will continue to increase in both frequency and intensity as warming oceans and higher land temperatures cause greater evaporation, adding more moisture to the atmosphere.
A full evaluation of the current stormwater system is needed to determine areas and methods of improvement. We need to explore best practices used in other cities. Do we need additional mini-pumps, reservoir holding tanks, backup generators? I have spoken at length with an individual who was formerly responsible for all sewage and storm drains in San Diego County to learn more about this subject. Coronado’s location, topography, budget and infrastructure all limit options the city can pursue but there are real solutions. Recognizing that sea level rise will exacerbate our drainage problems, we must plan for the future now.
Q: Do you favor an ordinance with greater e-bike regulations?
Steward: Absolutely, I favor e-bike regulations. Assembly Member Tasha Boerner’s bill, AB 2234, was submitted with a broad educational component and licensing. It has been amended and reduced to banning anyone under the age of 12 from riding an e-bike. The bill has been passed by the House and is expected to pass in the Senate before heading to the governor’s desk. Cities will then have the option to adopt the bill.
While E-bikes are a useful mode of transportation — particularly for students living on the Amphibious Base or in the Cays — education, licensing, and enforcement are key to keep everyone safe. … As a proponent of exercise and fresh air, I would personally rather see our young students riding nonelectric bicycles to school and around town. I recommend the city begin complying with the state guidance while simultaneously developing additional guidance/restrictions as appropriate.
Q: What is your stance on the Cays Park Master plan?
Steward: What originally began as a landscape irrigation project grew into what it is today. I understand there has been a lot of misinformation and confusion regarding cost, design, and requirement for an Environmental Impact Report. What I do know is whatever the proposed price tag, it must be weighed against all other city priorities.
…The Cays Park (planning decision) is not a fait accompli. It will return to council with a menu of options. It will need to also have costs for each option. The situation is analogous to remodeling a house. Decisions and choices must be made.
Amid miscommunication surrounding the City’s Cays Park Master plan, Steward believes further public input is needed moving forward.
“I think it’s really important to hear from the residents. I mean the City Council works for the people…and they need to hear what they want. …We do have a much better understanding of who is using that park. So I think the city did a good job in that respect, but I do think we need to go back and talk to residents again.”
Q: What is your stance on the affordable housing allocation?
Steward: Coronado’s outrageous housing allocation was based on an inequitable formula that counted the residents of Coronado plus all the people working on our naval bases… but did not include the military housing units on Coronado naval bases in the count. The result: a very skewed allocation. Coronado must proactively work with sister cities across the bridge to build and strengthen our relationships. As Coronado’s housing requirement will be reviewed again in four years, continued collaboration should help clarify Coronado’s unique situation and produce a more equitable allocation.
Exacerbating this situation are two realities: [1] the majority of land on Coronado “island” belongs to the federal government; it is not available for civilian housing development. [2] For decades, the military has not provided enough housing for military families. Now the Navy is homeporting a third aircraft carrier in Coronado (and will periodically host a fourth carrier). Coronado has no control over either of these issues.
The city has done a good job identifying possible locations for additional housing and trying to identify locations of existing density to preserve as much of the small town charm as possible. It is imperative we be build strong relationships across the bridge and with our Navy partners going forward.
Q: City-wide ordinances have not been implemented for a single-use plastic ban. Where do you stand on this?
Steward: As the only city from Imperial Beach to Oceanside without a single-use plastic reduction ordinance, and the only city in San Diego County surrounded by water, Coronado can and must do better. Over 1,000 of our citizens have signed a petition initiated by Emerald Keepers to inform city leadership that people want a strong single-use plastic reduction ordinance similar to the city of Carlsbad’s. It is important to note that Emerald Keepers’ petition was not broadly circulated, and I believe the number of people in favor of this would be even higher if the entire community was canvassed.
The well-documented, negative impacts to human health and the environment are compelling. …It is time for Coronado to join the other 187 cities and counties in California; European nations; Canada; and other countries that have effectively implemented plastic reduction ordinances.
As a council member, I will introduce a strong single-use plastic reduction ordinance. My ordinance will allow restaurants and merchants to exhaust their current plastic inventory. In a town where many restaurants charge $16 to $18 for a hamburger, adding an additional 20 cents to cover the cost of exchanging non-plastics for plastics is not a huge burden… especially when weighted against the benefit.
