Okay.
Good morning.
I will now call the special
City Council meeting of Monday,
JUNE 9th, 2025 to order Deputy
clerk please call the roll.
>> Councilmember Campbell.
Councilmember Whitburn here.
Councilmember Foster here
Council Member John Wolpert
Council PRESIDENT Pro Tem Lee
here.
Councilmember Campo here
Councilmember Moreno Present
Council member Eli Rivera and
Council PRESIDENT Lee Carver
present also attending
the meeting are Assistant City
Attorney Michelle Garland,
independent budget analyst
Charles Monica Council Affairs
Advisor in the Mayor's office
Curtis Iser and myself your
Deputy City Clerk Jennifer
Barry.
All right.
Thank you Deputy Clerk.
A quorum is now present.
We will begin this morning with
the land acknowledgment and
the Pledge of Allegiance led by
Council member Campo.
>> We respectfully acknowledge
that the culmination are
the original inhabitants of
the Unceded land now known as
San Diego.
Despite enduring the horrors of
colonization and genocide,
the ice spirit remains
unbroken.
We honor the resilience of
their ancestors who fought to
protect their culture and land
.
Today they carry their legacy
forward ensuring that their
traditions continue to thrive
in gratitude and strength.
We stand with the Cuzmy nation
connected to our past and
committed to a thriving future.
Please face the flag.
Ready?
Begin.
I pledge allegiance to the flag
of the United States of America
and to the Republic for which
it stands One nation under GOD,
indivisible with liberty and
justice for all.
>> With that Deputy clerk
please go over how the public
can offer their public
testimony.
I would now highlight the slide
on the screen that reveals how
the public can offer their
public testimony during today's
meeting.
Please note that the time
allocations for proclamations
consent items for meeting
management purposes the order
can be found on the agenda
Summary found online or at
the table in the back of
the room.
If you're in person please
complete a speaker slip located
at the entrance of chambers and
bring it to the front of
the room.
Council ambassadors are
available near the entrance of
chambers and can assist with
questions and speaker slips.
No further in-person testimony
will be taken once the council
begins Virtual testimony.
All right.
With that we will now dispense
with the approval of
the proclamation item.
Deputy Clerk Please proceed
with public comment.
The public comment period for
the proclamation item is now
open.
Each speaker will have one
minute per item per person.
The proclamation item being
approved is item 600.
Uh, we've got a few folks here
in council chambers.
If allegedly Audra would go
ahead and come up because it's
not loud at all.
>> Um, so as far as this
proclamation goes I think
what's happening as far as all
of the ice stuff is going on
because you guys incentivize
people to come and have incited
these things to happen.
I think it is a disservice to
immigrants who came here.
The legal way and did the right
thing went through the process
of coming here And you know, it
does them a disservice to see
that you're you think and just
let everybody come in whatever
manner that they want.
We're going to incentivize Is
it they're going to cause chaos
in our communities.
They're going to rape children
in their home.
They're going to murder people
out on a run.
They're going to do a lot of
different things and nobody
seems to care.
You seem to care about ice
coming down the pipe when you
knew that the federal
government was going to come in
and do its job.
You kept asking for them to.
This is their job.
This is not our job.
That's their job.
And now that they're doing it,
you guys are setting yourselves
up for ice to come into these
chambers and hold you
accountable for the aiding and
abetting and harboring of
illegal aliens that you've been
doing for years And you wonder
why this stuff is happening.
You're saying that what Trump
does is illegal.
No.
What you guys have done is
illegal and you're setting
yourself up and San Diego for
some really dire times And it's
not fair because nobody asked
for that.
You wouldn't You guys were so
trying to hide the information
of them just being here.
It was never even something
that was talked about like
there is an invasion happening
on our border Like I
continually was telling all of
the politicians here in San
Diego because I was down at
the border collecting their
documents, collecting their IDs
that they ripped apart even
money birth certificates from
children who disappeared into
our county and the nation
The convention center 3200
children have gone missing
because of you guys.
So when ice comes here to these
chambers don't question why it
happened.
Don't question why you're in a
jail cell.
No, it's because of the choices
that you have made and
the sodas It's seeds that you
have sown.
>> Thank you.
Seeing no hands in our virtual
queue, that concludes public
comment on the proclamation
items.
>> All right.
Thank you, Deputy Clerk We'll
turn it over to my council
colleagues for any questions
and entertain a motion and
we'll start out with Council
President Pro Tem Lee.
>> I think Council PRESIDENT
I'll speak to item 600 which
essentially allow Food festival
day proud to bring forward this
proclamation alongside council
members Campo Foster and Isla
Rivera.
Recognizing the Lao community
and culture and celebrating
the upcoming Santa Allow Food
Festival which will be
the third iteration of this
event from JUNE 20th 1st to
JUNE 22nd.
Lao San Diego will host this
third annual Food Festival this
year in District seven And
the reason behind that for
folks who might be curious is
because Miramar Community Park
is undergoing its Phase two
upgrades and renovations And so
we think my colleague from
District seven as they'll be
hosting the event this year
it's a two day family friendly
event, a celebration of Lao
cuisine and culture.
It also helps to recognize
World Refugee Day an
international day to honor
the resilience of refugee
communities that have made San
Diego their home.
San Diego happens to be one of
the largest populations for Lao
Americans and we are a more
stronger and vibrant, vibrant
because of their culture, their
history and the traditions that
they've brought here.
I think often when we talk
about the history of
the Vietnam War, one of
the discussions that we often
don't touch upon is
the forgotten war that impacted
several neighboring countries
and resulted in
the displacement of many
immigrants from last Cambodia
and more attendees who do
choose to attend.
They'll get to enjoy a variety
of Lao food traditional music
and dance arts and crafts even
some competitions.
I understand the spicy papaya
salad eating contest is a big
hit at this event as well and
it brings folks together not
just from our region but
throughout California and more
.
This was really heralded in its
first year as a significant
event across the country So
we're certainly proud to honor
the contributions of the Lao
American community and to help
recognize JUNE 21st, 2025 a
single Lao food Festival day
and thank you again to left San
Diego for hosting this
incredible celebration and we
look forward to seeing them
this weekend.
>> With that I'll move
the proclamation agenda.
All right.
We have a motion by PRESIDENT
Pro Tem Lee.
We'll go next to council member
Campo.
Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT I'm honored
to join my fellow council
members in proclaiming
Saturday, JUNE 21st as San
Diego Lao Festival Day.
The Laotian community has been
part of San Diego since
the 1970s and before enriching
our city with their culture,
resilience and deep community
roots.
And even in my district within
the neighborhood of Linda
Vista, the Lao Novarum Temple
stands as a cultural and
spiritual anchor reflecting
decades of Lao heritage
presence and resilience across
San Diego.
The Lao Food Festival on
the 21st celebrates that legacy
and showcases traditional
cuisine and music, dance and
local entrepreneurs.
In honor of World Refugee Day
And I'm honored that we'll be
able to host it and my
community of Allied Gardens and
District seven.
And with that I will second
the proclamations.
Thank you.
All right.
Thank you.
Council member will have now a
motion by Council PRESIDENT Pro
Tem Lee and the second by
COUNCILMAN Peel to move
the proclamation will go next
to council member Whitburn.
Thank you Council PRESIDENT I
what I thank Council PRESIDENT
Pro Tem Lee and Council members
Carpio Foster and Isla Rivera
for bringing forward San Diego
Lao Food Festival de San Diego
has such a vibrant Laotian
community with organizations
like the Lao Community Cultural
Center, San Diego Lao heritage
working to preserve and promote
the culture.
And it is a pleasure to join my
colleagues at honoring this
community.
Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT All right.
Thank you.
Council member Whitburn.
We'll go next to Councilmember
Foster Yes, Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT.
First I'd like to thank Council
PRESIDENT Pro Tem Kent Lee,
Councilmember Isla Rivera and
Councilmember Campo for
bringing forward this
proclamation to honor San Diego
Lao Food Festival Day.
It's important that we take
time to recognize the cultural,
economic and civic
contributions of our Lao
community both here in San
Diego and across the country.
What else?
Donate example of this is a Lao
food festival itself which not
only showcases traditional
cuisine but brings people
together, drive small business
visibility and strengthens
community bonds.
I've had the privilege of
attending Lao cultural events
with the Lao community and
district for including the Lao
New Year celebration.
These gatherings reflect
the heart of what makes not
only District four but the city
of San Diego great shared
culture community pride and
connection across generations.
I want to give a special
acknowledgment and thank you to
Peter Po Town who supports
community matters in District
four and serves as a board
member and public relations
director for Lao sd and special
thanks to the local community
for their contributions, mutual
support and commitment to
family and neighborhood.
>> And that concludes my
comments.
All right.
Thank you.
Council member Foster Not
seeing anyone else Lights We do
have a motion by Council
PRESIDENT Pro Tem Lee and a
second by Council member Campo
to move the proclamation.
Deputy Clerk Please call
the roll.
I have now started the voting
system and you'll go ahead and
enter your vote.
>> Council member Whitburn
There you go.
Okay, that passes unanimously.
>> All right.
Thank you.
We will now proceed with
the approval of the consent
items First, are there any
requests to pull an item by
the council members not seeing
any requests?
>> Deputy Clerk Please proceed
with public comment on
the consent items.
Please note each person will
have one minute per item per
person.
If you would like to speak on
three or more items you have a
maximum of three minutes.
The consent agenda includes
item 60126 14.
I'd also like to note for
the record that the potential
appointments that are on
the agenda this morning are
item 6 to 12 is the potential
appointment of Michael
Singleton to the Balboa Park
Committee and item 613 as
the potential appointment of
Daniel Reeves to the Planning
Commission.
We have one person here in
chambers for public comment You
have allegedly Audra if you
want to go ahead and come up
you have four items So I'm
going to put three minutes on
the timer, give you a check.
You MAY proceed.
I MAY not proceed.
Sorry.
I was like one.
Yes.
So for this as needed agreement
with the two entities regarding
services to the water main
breaks and sewer backups you
know you guys need to make sure
that you're taking care of
things when it needs to happen
instead of, you know, allowing
people to lose everything
because of your, you know,
unwillingness to do what needs
to be done.
It's funny you guys are so
smug.
It's like and you act like you
do these really great things
for the community and you
really don't especially when
you try and hide all the things
that you're doing You can't be
transparent And that just shows
that when you can't be
transparent there's some wrong
there And that's that's what's
taken place with this entire
thing that you guys are dealing
with with ice and it's just sad
And then we spend money like
$6.6 million for rental of you
know, traffic and street
warning devices Like you spend
a lot of money, you waste a lot
of money of the people's money
.
They work really hard and you
guys get to sit up here on a
dias, go home to a beautiful
home.
There's people suffering on
the streets.
I've been telling you about
Tent City And that brings me to
Balboa Park Committee because
it's like Steven, when are you
going to go and mitigate what's
happening at Tent City?
Do people deserve to be raped
in like have employees sit
there and you know, get people
drunk and high and then take
them into the bathroom and make
them on their?
Is that acceptable?
Is it acceptable to die there
because there's no staff for
the people to access the Narcan
that they need?
Is it acceptable for there to
be flooding there for tends to
be infested with bugs for them
to be given Not even anything
that is like anything that you
would eat as far as food goes
yet we spend millions of
dollars You upped down Dreams
for Change contract just under
$500,000 and the racketeering
with that like people are being
abused in tent city and you
don't care It's really sad but
you care about giving Theresa
Smith dreams for change some
money, right?
That doesn't matter.
We don't mind giving people
money but we don't really need
to worry about whether or not
they're going to provide
the services.
I mean because nobody's leaving
that place.
They're just sitting there
sitting and maggots and flies
right now You do you want me?
I have video of it, dude.
And you're sitting here
laughing.
That's what such a disservice
it is.
It's a slap in the face And
then yeah, do your eyebrows
like that, bro, Because it's
like that's just like when I
came to you and asked you what
was going on at the school
Elementary school during
the count for homeless and you
know we're counting
the homeless.
Yeah.
I'm wondering why I came across
50 military age men behind a
fence that conclude your time.
Thank you.
I'm going to go ahead and set
our five minute timer here in
chambers.
We have no more speakers in
chambers and take our online
folks.
We have one person in
the online q color ending an
8700 If you could go ahead and
unmute.
>> There you go.
Can you let me know which item,
which item or items you'll be
speaking to?
>> Yes.
Thank you.
I will be speaking to five
items six all four, five, six,
eight and 11.
>> Okay.
We'll put three minutes on
the timer for you.
>> You can go ahead and proceed
.
Thank you so much.
Deputy City Clerk Barry on all
or six of four actually six
four 6 or 5 and 6 or 6 104 is a
landscape contract with West
Turf five is landscape tree
beard six is Landscape usa for
Scripps Miramar I mostly looked
at the contract and there's a
continuing thing that's
happening where the under
served under representative
tend to be African-American,
Asian and so well not female so
much but female is included
this time around in these
contracts And I just am
concerned about that And I look
at the workforce report
sometimes there's a workforce
report there, sometimes there's
not If it's 15 and under
they're exempt from them.
So there's so many different
things to look at.
I'm stunned just when I think I
understand them I don't And
because of a lack of
information or protocol that I
don't understand for how they
fill out these reports.
But in any case, I don't know
how the play is really
enforcing all of this and I
don't fully understand the play
either but I understand it's
mostly good So I'm just
concerned that this ongoing
representation continues and I
don't know how it's being
addressed.
So on 608 the water main Briggs
and sewer back up No on this
there was an eoc report again
unrepresented in those areas I
just mentioned with a little
addition of female in
management and financial I
couldn't find a workforce there
report there but there's 114
admin workforce And one of
the things I don't understand
in landscape is how why do we
need that many admin and
the laborers are really much
lower So I don't really fully
understand that yet.
I'll be looking into it on 611
I felt really really sad about
this when I read about
the $80,000 paid to an alleged
excessive force during arrest
for a dui.
So I'll just say this mostly
from my heart Anybody who's
driving the eye we know how
dangerous this is Joy that
we're going to set 30 minute or
30s back on your timer.
I apologize, sweetie.
How much are you giving me And
we stopped about 30s so we'll
go ahead and put 30s back on.
>> That's no problem here.
This is a new set for you up
there.
So anyway, in some ways here
you know a lot of it already So
good luck with that.
Yes.
So just finishing up on 611
which is the dui $80,000
payment to the person that
actually was driving under
the influence which shocked me
and also saddened me.
So I love to see pd Anytime you
get involved with these scenes,
anything it's so subjective.
It's so amazing how in a split
second or less you have to make
a decision for so much that
affects you personally in
the city.
So love all of that very much
and thank you.
That concludes your time.
Apologies for the technical
difficulties that as our only
virtual caller.
So that concludes public
testimony on the consent items
.
All right.
Thank you, Deputy Clerk.
With that we'll turn over to my
council colleagues for any
questions and comments and then
entertain a motion and we'll
start with Council member
Whitburn.
Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT Happy to move
the consent agenda.
I just want to congratulate
District three Michael
Singleton at his appointment to
the Balboa Park Committee as
well as District three is
Daniel Reeves on his
appointment to the planning
Commission.
Both MR. Singleton and MR.
Reeves have been active in
civic affairs for years and I
just want to thank them for
their continued service to our
city.
Thank you.
All right.
So we do have that motion by
Council member Whitburn to move
the consent items all second,
not seeing anybody else on
the lights And with that deputy
clerk please call the roll.
I have turned on the voting
system If you can please record
your vote If you could try one
more time Council member
Whitburn and Moreno thank you
very much.
And that passes unanimously.
>> All right.
I just will take a yes from
Councilmember Moreno and one
absent So So with that we will
now take up our morning
discussion agenda.
>> Deputy Clerk please
introduce item 6156 15 Item 615
is the approval of a request
for a conflict of interest
waiver from Colleen Tuna
Highsmith and Whitely Peachey
Citywide.
>> Okay.
All right.
I noticed that two of our
colleagues are recusing from
this particular item.
Do we need a presentation on
this one that we have five
minutes presentation Five
minutes will go at once.
You go ahead and do
the presentation just to dot
the I's and cross the t's.
>> Good morning.
City Council Senior Deputy City
Attorney Ben Seats I'm here
today on item 615 which is a
request for a conflict of
interest waiver by the content
of law firm The law firm
currently represents us is San
Diego in two ongoing lawsuits
and they're requesting
the waiver to allow them to
continue to represent the city
and to also represent Lasco in
the city's anticipated lawsuit
against Lafc related to the La
Hoya and Corporation
proceedings.
The conflict waiver does not
pose a risk of any detrimental
impact to the city In the city
Attorney's office recommends
granting the request.
>> Please let me know if you
have any questions.
All right.
>> And your name for the record
I forgot to ask Senor Deputy
City Attorney Ben Seats all
right.
Thank you for that.
With that Deputy clerk please
proceed with public comment.
>> We have one public commenter
here in chambers of allegedly
order what come up?
>> You MAY proceed.
Too bad Steven's gone.
Yeah.
It's interesting that you guys
want to deal with conflicts of
interest codes when there's
conflicts of interest going on
across the board with you guys
yet you sit here and you're
like This isn't going to affect
anything.
You can't be trusted because
the choices that you guys make
lead to really bad things like
little girls being raped in
their home five years old or
the 21 year old her.
How cool is that, right?
But yeah, let's just keep keep
pretending that what we've done
is good.
Right?
And it's interesting that
Steven doesn't think that
anything that's going on in
Tent City is actually happening
but yet when I'm exposing it
they tend to be asking all of
the employees who's giving out
the information we need to keep
this confidential.
We can't be having people talk
about what's going on outside
of Tent City.
You know what?
You're fired.
So they fire people and then
they do You know what else
Because they live there too.
Then they file complaints
against them so that they can
set to basically kick them out
onto the streets.
But I'm sure you'll offer up
another solution right?
It's disgusting the things that
takes place with our money and
the abuse of people And you
guys sit up there and you're
just like horizontal Great.
We're just so great going to
pat myself on the back.
We're going to give ourselves
raises, ignore the suffering of
people that is going on in
the community And exactly for
that reason I cannot weigh in
until I is in these chambers
And you guys are the ones
begging and pleading Oh my
gosh.
>> Oh no we didn't do anything.
Yeah you did And you've been
warned and you had been for
years yet you don't care but
perhaps you will when you're in
a jail cell and you're just
trying to get something to eat
and maybe call one of your
loved ones And when you're
separated from your family
because of your choices that
concludes your time.
We have no more speakers here
in chambers so I'm going to set
our five minute timer and go to
our virtual queue.
We have one hand raised and
the virtual queue caller ending
and 8700 You can go ahead and
unmute If you have two minutes
you MAY proceed.
>> Thank you so much.
Joining me out of District 30I
don't quite quite know how to
speak on this.
I'm really coming from
the heart and the mind.
Hopefully that's a good
combination this morning.
I respect the office of
the City attorney so very very
much Yet I know that things can
be ministerial and very
subjective often in life but
I'm I just feel not good about
this item.
I just think it's almost a
conflict of interest to bring
it in as an agenda item And
then we have the other conflict
of interest is to really allow
these attorneys to handle this
and PRESIDENT LaCava I love a
lawyer.
It's it's some things I don't
like about it but in general
it's a wonderful place.
And so this is involving whole
situation was so high and
they're wanting to become a new
city and it's going to be a
long process.
So I just don't feel good about
them being represented in other
cases for the city and then
going sort of with this other
firm that really is against us.
So I just wish I understood I
tried to read all the back up.
It was late and I just don't
understand risk not involved
here.
I think there is a risk and and
these things might just come up
to really haunt So make sure
that you really want to do
this.
I would go on the no side but I
respect all of you and thank
you for listening.
Love to all.
Thank you so much.
That concludes public testimony
on item 615.
All right.
Thank you, Deputy Clerk.
With that we'll turn over to
the council for questions.
Entertain a motion not seen in
the lights.
I'll go ahead and move
the staff recommendation and I
get a second.
Okay.
We have a second by council
member Isla Rivera and Council
member Campo.
>> Thank you.
Just a quick question for MR.
Seats.
So it's my understanding that
the particular law firm in
question they're kind of caught
between a rock and a hard place
because there the general
counsel for Lascaux but
represent us in two particular
cases.
So it seems to me that if we
didn't waive or didn't have a
waiver of the potential
conflict of interest, we'd lose
them as a lawyer, not laugh, go
lose them as a lawyer in
the potential proceedings that
it might come.
I think well, I believe, you
know, deference on the law firm
but that is a potential outcome
that we understood.
Well, it's part of your
comments earlier were that
there's nothing you don't
foresee any detriment to
the city.
It seems to me that there would
be a detriment to the city.
Is it We've hired a law firm to
represent us in two cases and
then well after the fact it
turns out that they're
representing a potential
opposing party to us.
There would be no there would
be no detriment if we granted
the waiver or representation in
either matter would or in
the existing matter would not
be impacted by their
representation of
the anticipated new matter.
Understood.
Okay.
Of no further questions.
Thank you Counsel PRESIDENT All
right.
Thank you, Council Member
Campbell So we have a motion by
myself and a second by council
member Eli Rivera not seeing
anyone else in the lights
Please call the roll.
I have started the voting
system If you'll go ahead and
put in your vote you MAY have
to press the button twice.
>> Council member Whitburn is
as absent okay Council Member
Foster Thank you very much.
That passes with a five votes
and four council members
absent.
>> All right, Thank you very
much and thank you for your
good work on that.
With that we will now adjourn
the PRESIDENT My my apologies
but I think on the earlier vote
the screen isn't registering
correctly because I think it
missed my vote on the item,
the consent agenda and then
just on this one council member
Ellen Rivera should she was
absent I apologize for
the record.
Council member Ella Ribeiro Yes
on item 615 And just to be
clear Council PRESIDENT Pro Tem
voted yes on the consent
agenda.
Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT Apologies if
I MAY I just for the record
also I think it I think we
typically distinguish between a
recusal in an absence when
we're setting the record on
the vote.
>> That's a very good point.
So a type network.
Okay.
>> Okay, go ahead.
Well I can go ahead and Sorry
it's not my everyday job That
was five votes to Council
member Whitburn and Council
member Von Wilpert recused and
and one absence and it's two
Yes yes six plus two plus one
equals nine.
>> Okay.
>> Apologies.
Thank you, Council member
Rivera for that reminder.
With that we will now adjourn
the special council meeting for
the noon recess and convene
the regular council meeting at
2 P.M. Or shortly thereafter