[0:00] Okay.
[0:00] Good morning.
[0:03] I will now call the special
[0:04] City Council meeting of Monday,
[0:08] JUNE 9th, 2025 to order Deputy
[0:08] clerk please call the roll.
[0:09] >> Councilmember Campbell.
[0:13] Councilmember Whitburn here.
[0:14] Councilmember Foster here
[0:15] Council Member John Wolpert
[0:19] Council PRESIDENT Pro Tem Lee
[0:19] here.
[0:20] Councilmember Campo here
[0:20] Councilmember Moreno Present
[0:23] Council member Eli Rivera and
[0:23] Council PRESIDENT Lee Carver
[0:27] present also attending
[0:28] the meeting are Assistant City
[0:29] Attorney Michelle Garland,
[0:29] independent budget analyst
[0:33] Charles Monica Council Affairs
[0:34] Advisor in the Mayor's office
[0:34] Curtis Iser and myself your
[0:35] Deputy City Clerk Jennifer
[0:37] Barry.
[0:37] All right.
[0:38] Thank you Deputy Clerk.
[0:38] A quorum is now present.
[0:42] We will begin this morning with
[0:43] the land acknowledgment and
[0:43] the Pledge of Allegiance led by
[0:51] Council member Campo.
[0:52] >> We respectfully acknowledge
[0:52] that the culmination are
[0:56] the original inhabitants of
[0:57] the Unceded land now known as
[0:58] San Diego.
[1:02] Despite enduring the horrors of
[1:02] colonization and genocide,
[1:03] the ice spirit remains
[1:03] unbroken.
[1:07] We honor the resilience of
[1:07] their ancestors who fought to
[1:10] protect their culture and land
[1:11] .
[1:11] Today they carry their legacy
[1:12] forward ensuring that their
[1:16] traditions continue to thrive
[1:16] in gratitude and strength.
[1:20] We stand with the Cuzmy nation
[1:20] connected to our past and
[1:21] committed to a thriving future.
[1:25] Please face the flag.
[1:25] Ready?
[1:25] Begin.
[1:30] I pledge allegiance to the flag
[1:31] of the United States of America
[1:35] and to the Republic for which
[1:36] it stands One nation under GOD,
[1:38] indivisible with liberty and
[1:38] justice for all.
[1:44] >> With that Deputy clerk
[1:49] please go over how the public
[1:49] can offer their public
[1:50] testimony.
[1:50] I would now highlight the slide
[1:52] on the screen that reveals how
[1:53] the public can offer their
[1:54] public testimony during today's
[1:54] meeting.
[1:55] Please note that the time
[1:58] allocations for proclamations
[1:58] consent items for meeting
[1:59] management purposes the order
[2:00] can be found on the agenda
[2:03] Summary found online or at
[2:04] the table in the back of
[2:04] the room.
[2:05] If you're in person please
[2:05] complete a speaker slip located
[2:08] at the entrance of chambers and
[2:09] bring it to the front of
[2:09] the room.
[2:10] Council ambassadors are
[2:10] available near the entrance of
[2:13] chambers and can assist with
[2:13] questions and speaker slips.
[2:14] No further in-person testimony
[2:15] will be taken once the council
[2:20] begins Virtual testimony.
[2:21] All right.
[2:22] With that we will now dispense
[2:22] with the approval of
[2:25] the proclamation item.
[2:26] Deputy Clerk Please proceed
[2:27] with public comment.
[2:27] The public comment period for
[2:30] the proclamation item is now
[2:30] open.
[2:31] Each speaker will have one
[2:31] minute per item per person.
[2:35] The proclamation item being
[2:36] approved is item 600.
[2:40] Uh, we've got a few folks here
[2:40] in council chambers.
[2:43] If allegedly Audra would go
[2:54] ahead and come up because it's
[2:58] not loud at all.
[2:59] >> Um, so as far as this
[3:02] proclamation goes I think
[3:03] what's happening as far as all
[3:07] of the ice stuff is going on
[3:08] because you guys incentivize
[3:12] people to come and have incited
[3:12] these things to happen.
[3:13] I think it is a disservice to
[3:14] immigrants who came here.
[3:17] The legal way and did the right
[3:18] thing went through the process
[3:22] of coming here And you know, it
[3:23] does them a disservice to see
[3:28] that you're you think and just
[3:28] let everybody come in whatever
[3:29] manner that they want.
[3:32] We're going to incentivize Is
[3:33] it they're going to cause chaos
[3:34] in our communities.
[3:34] They're going to rape children
[3:37] in their home.
[3:37] They're going to murder people
[3:38] out on a run.
[3:39] They're going to do a lot of
[3:42] different things and nobody
[3:42] seems to care.
[3:47] You seem to care about ice
[3:47] coming down the pipe when you
[3:48] knew that the federal
[3:51] government was going to come in
[3:52] and do its job.
[3:52] You kept asking for them to.
[3:53] This is their job.
[3:56] This is not our job.
[3:57] That's their job.
[3:57] And now that they're doing it,
[4:01] you guys are setting yourselves
[4:02] up for ice to come into these
[4:02] chambers and hold you
[4:03] accountable for the aiding and
[4:06] abetting and harboring of
[4:06] illegal aliens that you've been
[4:07] doing for years And you wonder
[4:11] why this stuff is happening.
[4:12] You're saying that what Trump
[4:12] does is illegal.
[4:12] No.
[4:15] What you guys have done is
[4:16] illegal and you're setting
[4:17] yourself up and San Diego for
[4:21] some really dire times And it's
[4:22] not fair because nobody asked
[4:22] for that.
[4:25] You wouldn't You guys were so
[4:26] trying to hide the information
[4:30] of them just being here.
[4:31] It was never even something
[4:31] that was talked about like
[4:32] there is an invasion happening
[4:35] on our border Like I
[4:36] continually was telling all of
[4:37] the politicians here in San
[4:40] Diego because I was down at
[4:41] the border collecting their
[4:42] documents, collecting their IDs
[4:45] that they ripped apart even
[4:46] money birth certificates from
[4:47] children who disappeared into
[4:50] our county and the nation
[4:53] The convention center 3200
[4:54] children have gone missing
[4:55] because of you guys.
[4:59] So when ice comes here to these
[4:59] chambers don't question why it
[5:00] happened.
[5:03] Don't question why you're in a
[5:03] jail cell.
[5:04] No, it's because of the choices
[5:05] that you have made and
[5:09] the sodas It's seeds that you
[5:09] have sown.
[5:09] >> Thank you.
[5:13] Seeing no hands in our virtual
[5:14] queue, that concludes public
[5:15] comment on the proclamation
[5:15] items.
[5:15] >> All right.
[5:17] Thank you, Deputy Clerk We'll
[5:18] turn it over to my council
[5:19] colleagues for any questions
[5:19] and entertain a motion and
[5:23] we'll start out with Council
[5:23] President Pro Tem Lee.
[5:24] >> I think Council PRESIDENT
[5:28] I'll speak to item 600 which
[5:29] essentially allow Food festival
[5:30] day proud to bring forward this
[5:33] proclamation alongside council
[5:33] members Campo Foster and Isla
[5:34] Rivera.
[5:34] Recognizing the Lao community
[5:38] and culture and celebrating
[5:39] the upcoming Santa Allow Food
[5:41] Festival which will be
[5:42] the third iteration of this
[5:45] event from JUNE 20th 1st to
[5:45] JUNE 22nd.
[5:46] Lao San Diego will host this
[5:50] third annual Food Festival this
[5:50] year in District seven And
[5:51] the reason behind that for
[5:55] folks who might be curious is
[5:56] because Miramar Community Park
[5:56] is undergoing its Phase two
[6:00] upgrades and renovations And so
[6:01] we think my colleague from
[6:05] District seven as they'll be
[6:05] hosting the event this year
[6:06] it's a two day family friendly
[6:09] event, a celebration of Lao
[6:10] cuisine and culture.
[6:10] It also helps to recognize
[6:14] World Refugee Day an
[6:14] international day to honor
[6:15] the resilience of refugee
[6:16] communities that have made San
[6:19] Diego their home.
[6:20] San Diego happens to be one of
[6:20] the largest populations for Lao
[6:24] Americans and we are a more
[6:25] stronger and vibrant, vibrant
[6:26] because of their culture, their
[6:28] history and the traditions that
[6:29] they've brought here.
[6:30] I think often when we talk
[6:33] about the history of
[6:33] the Vietnam War, one of
[6:34] the discussions that we often
[6:38] don't touch upon is
[6:39] the forgotten war that impacted
[6:40] several neighboring countries
[6:42] and resulted in
[6:43] the displacement of many
[6:43] immigrants from last Cambodia
[6:48] and more attendees who do
[6:48] choose to attend.
[6:49] They'll get to enjoy a variety
[6:52] of Lao food traditional music
[6:53] and dance arts and crafts even
[6:54] some competitions.
[6:57] I understand the spicy papaya
[6:57] salad eating contest is a big
[7:02] hit at this event as well and
[7:02] it brings folks together not
[7:03] just from our region but
[7:06] throughout California and more
[7:07] .
[7:08] This was really heralded in its
[7:08] first year as a significant
[7:12] event across the country So
[7:12] we're certainly proud to honor
[7:13] the contributions of the Lao
[7:15] American community and to help
[7:16] recognize JUNE 21st, 2025 a
[7:16] single Lao food Festival day
[7:21] and thank you again to left San
[7:21] Diego for hosting this
[7:22] incredible celebration and we
[7:22] look forward to seeing them
[7:25] this weekend.
[7:26] >> With that I'll move
[7:27] the proclamation agenda.
[7:27] All right.
[7:28] We have a motion by PRESIDENT
[7:31] Pro Tem Lee.
[7:32] We'll go next to council member
[7:32] Campo.
[7:32] Thank you.
[7:33] Council PRESIDENT I'm honored
[7:34] to join my fellow council
[7:35] members in proclaiming
[7:35] Saturday, JUNE 21st as San
[7:40] Diego Lao Festival Day.
[7:40] The Laotian community has been
[7:43] part of San Diego since
[7:44] the 1970s and before enriching
[7:44] our city with their culture,
[7:48] resilience and deep community
[7:49] roots.
[7:49] And even in my district within
[7:50] the neighborhood of Linda
[7:53] Vista, the Lao Novarum Temple
[7:54] stands as a cultural and
[7:55] spiritual anchor reflecting
[7:55] decades of Lao heritage
[7:58] presence and resilience across
[7:58] San Diego.
[8:02] The Lao Food Festival on
[8:03] the 21st celebrates that legacy
[8:03] and showcases traditional
[8:06] cuisine and music, dance and
[8:07] local entrepreneurs.
[8:07] In honor of World Refugee Day
[8:08] And I'm honored that we'll be
[8:11] able to host it and my
[8:12] community of Allied Gardens and
[8:13] District seven.
[8:16] And with that I will second
[8:16] the proclamations.
[8:17] Thank you.
[8:17] All right.
[8:17] Thank you.
[8:21] Council member will have now a
[8:21] motion by Council PRESIDENT Pro
[8:22] Tem Lee and the second by
[8:24] COUNCILMAN Peel to move
[8:25] the proclamation will go next
[8:26] to council member Whitburn.
[8:30] Thank you Council PRESIDENT I
[8:30] what I thank Council PRESIDENT
[8:31] Pro Tem Lee and Council members
[8:32] Carpio Foster and Isla Rivera
[8:34] for bringing forward San Diego
[8:35] Lao Food Festival de San Diego
[8:39] has such a vibrant Laotian
[8:39] community with organizations
[8:40] like the Lao Community Cultural
[8:44] Center, San Diego Lao heritage
[8:45] working to preserve and promote
[8:49] the culture.
[8:50] And it is a pleasure to join my
[8:50] colleagues at honoring this
[8:51] community.
[8:51] Thank you.
[8:54] Council PRESIDENT All right.
[8:55] Thank you.
[8:55] Council member Whitburn.
[8:56] We'll go next to Councilmember
[8:58] Foster Yes, Thank you.
[8:59] Council PRESIDENT.
[8:59] First I'd like to thank Council
[9:04] PRESIDENT Pro Tem Kent Lee,
[9:05] Councilmember Isla Rivera and
[9:05] Councilmember Campo for
[9:08] bringing forward this
[9:09] proclamation to honor San Diego
[9:09] Lao Food Festival Day.
[9:12] It's important that we take
[9:13] time to recognize the cultural,
[9:17] economic and civic
[9:18] contributions of our Lao
[9:18] community both here in San
[9:19] Diego and across the country.
[9:22] What else?
[9:23] Donate example of this is a Lao
[9:24] food festival itself which not
[9:27] only showcases traditional
[9:28] cuisine but brings people
[9:29] together, drive small business
[9:29] visibility and strengthens
[9:33] community bonds.
[9:33] I've had the privilege of
[9:34] attending Lao cultural events
[9:35] with the Lao community and
[9:38] district for including the Lao
[9:38] New Year celebration.
[9:39] These gatherings reflect
[9:42] the heart of what makes not
[9:43] only District four but the city
[9:44] of San Diego great shared
[9:47] culture community pride and
[9:47] connection across generations.
[9:48] I want to give a special
[9:52] acknowledgment and thank you to
[9:53] Peter Po Town who supports
[9:57] community matters in District
[9:57] four and serves as a board
[9:58] member and public relations
[10:02] director for Lao sd and special
[10:03] thanks to the local community
[10:03] for their contributions, mutual
[10:04] support and commitment to
[10:07] family and neighborhood.
[10:08] >> And that concludes my
[10:08] comments.
[10:09] All right.
[10:09] Thank you.
[10:11] Council member Foster Not
[10:12] seeing anyone else Lights We do
[10:13] have a motion by Council
[10:15] PRESIDENT Pro Tem Lee and a
[10:16] second by Council member Campo
[10:16] to move the proclamation.
[10:17] Deputy Clerk Please call
[10:19] the roll.
[10:20] I have now started the voting
[10:23] system and you'll go ahead and
[10:28] enter your vote.
[10:33] >> Council member Whitburn
[10:33] There you go.
[10:37] Okay, that passes unanimously.
[10:42] >> All right.
[10:43] Thank you.
[10:43] We will now proceed with
[10:44] the approval of the consent
[10:48] items First, are there any
[10:48] requests to pull an item by
[10:49] the council members not seeing
[10:51] any requests?
[10:52] >> Deputy Clerk Please proceed
[10:53] with public comment on
[10:57] the consent items.
[10:57] Please note each person will
[10:58] have one minute per item per
[10:58] person.
[11:01] If you would like to speak on
[11:01] three or more items you have a
[11:02] maximum of three minutes.
[11:04] The consent agenda includes
[11:09] item 60126 14.
[11:09] I'd also like to note for
[11:10] the record that the potential
[11:11] appointments that are on
[11:14] the agenda this morning are
[11:15] item 6 to 12 is the potential
[11:18] appointment of Michael
[11:18] Singleton to the Balboa Park
[11:19] Committee and item 613 as
[11:23] the potential appointment of
[11:23] Daniel Reeves to the Planning
[11:24] Commission.
[11:24] We have one person here in
[11:28] chambers for public comment You
[11:29] have allegedly Audra if you
[11:33] want to go ahead and come up
[11:34] you have four items So I'm
[11:37] going to put three minutes on
[11:41] the timer, give you a check.
[11:46] You MAY proceed.
[11:47] I MAY not proceed.
[11:47] Sorry.
[11:48] I was like one.
[11:48] Yes.
[11:51] So for this as needed agreement
[11:54] with the two entities regarding
[11:59] services to the water main
[12:00] breaks and sewer backups you
[12:01] know you guys need to make sure
[12:04] that you're taking care of
[12:05] things when it needs to happen
[12:06] instead of, you know, allowing
[12:06] people to lose everything
[12:10] because of your, you know,
[12:11] unwillingness to do what needs
[12:11] to be done.
[12:14] It's funny you guys are so
[12:14] smug.
[12:15] It's like and you act like you
[12:18] do these really great things
[12:19] for the community and you
[12:20] really don't especially when
[12:23] you try and hide all the things
[12:24] that you're doing You can't be
[12:25] transparent And that just shows
[12:25] that when you can't be
[12:29] transparent there's some wrong
[12:30] there And that's that's what's
[12:34] taken place with this entire
[12:34] thing that you guys are dealing
[12:38] with with ice and it's just sad
[12:42] And then we spend money like
[12:43] $6.6 million for rental of you
[12:47] know, traffic and street
[12:48] warning devices Like you spend
[12:48] a lot of money, you waste a lot
[12:52] of money of the people's money
[12:52] .
[12:53] They work really hard and you
[12:54] guys get to sit up here on a
[12:55] dias, go home to a beautiful
[12:57] home.
[12:58] There's people suffering on
[12:58] the streets.
[12:59] I've been telling you about
[13:00] Tent City And that brings me to
[13:02] Balboa Park Committee because
[13:02] it's like Steven, when are you
[13:06] going to go and mitigate what's
[13:07] happening at Tent City?
[13:08] Do people deserve to be raped
[13:11] in like have employees sit
[13:12] there and you know, get people
[13:17] drunk and high and then take
[13:17] them into the bathroom and make
[13:18] them on their?
[13:21] Is that acceptable?
[13:22] Is it acceptable to die there
[13:23] because there's no staff for
[13:26] the people to access the Narcan
[13:26] that they need?
[13:27] Is it acceptable for there to
[13:31] be flooding there for tends to
[13:32] be infested with bugs for them
[13:36] to be given Not even anything
[13:37] that is like anything that you
[13:38] would eat as far as food goes
[13:41] yet we spend millions of
[13:42] dollars You upped down Dreams
[13:46] for Change contract just under
[13:51] $500,000 and the racketeering
[13:51] with that like people are being
[13:55] abused in tent city and you
[13:56] don't care It's really sad but
[13:56] you care about giving Theresa
[14:00] Smith dreams for change some
[14:01] money, right?
[14:01] That doesn't matter.
[14:02] We don't mind giving people
[14:05] money but we don't really need
[14:06] to worry about whether or not
[14:07] they're going to provide
[14:09] the services.
[14:10] I mean because nobody's leaving
[14:14] that place.
[14:15] They're just sitting there
[14:19] sitting and maggots and flies
[14:20] right now You do you want me?
[14:21] I have video of it, dude.
[14:25] And you're sitting here
[14:25] laughing.
[14:26] That's what such a disservice
[14:26] it is.
[14:27] It's a slap in the face And
[14:30] then yeah, do your eyebrows
[14:30] like that, bro, Because it's
[14:31] like that's just like when I
[14:34] came to you and asked you what
[14:34] was going on at the school
[14:35] Elementary school during
[14:39] the count for homeless and you
[14:40] know we're counting
[14:40] the homeless.
[14:40] Yeah.
[14:43] I'm wondering why I came across
[14:43] 50 military age men behind a
[14:48] fence that conclude your time.
[14:48] Thank you.
[14:49] I'm going to go ahead and set
[14:52] our five minute timer here in
[14:52] chambers.
[14:53] We have no more speakers in
[14:56] chambers and take our online
[14:56] folks.
[14:57] We have one person in
[15:01] the online q color ending an
[15:02] 8700 If you could go ahead and
[15:06] unmute.
[15:06] >> There you go.
[15:10] Can you let me know which item,
[15:11] which item or items you'll be
[15:12] speaking to?
[15:15] >> Yes.
[15:16] Thank you.
[15:17] I will be speaking to five
[15:23] items six all four, five, six,
[15:23] eight and 11.
[15:23] >> Okay.
[15:28] We'll put three minutes on
[15:28] the timer for you.
[15:32] >> You can go ahead and proceed
[15:32] .
[15:33] Thank you so much.
[15:37] Deputy City Clerk Barry on all
[15:38] or six of four actually six
[15:41] four 6 or 5 and 6 or 6 104 is a
[15:46] landscape contract with West
[15:47] Turf five is landscape tree
[15:50] beard six is Landscape usa for
[15:55] Scripps Miramar I mostly looked
[16:00] at the contract and there's a
[16:00] continuing thing that's
[16:05] happening where the under
[16:06] served under representative
[16:10] tend to be African-American,
[16:11] Asian and so well not female so
[16:14] much but female is included
[16:15] this time around in these
[16:19] contracts And I just am
[16:24] concerned about that And I look
[16:25] at the workforce report
[16:26] sometimes there's a workforce
[16:28] report there, sometimes there's
[16:29] not If it's 15 and under
[16:30] they're exempt from them.
[16:34] So there's so many different
[16:35] things to look at.
[16:39] I'm stunned just when I think I
[16:39] understand them I don't And
[16:40] because of a lack of
[16:44] information or protocol that I
[16:45] don't understand for how they
[16:45] fill out these reports.
[16:49] But in any case, I don't know
[16:50] how the play is really
[16:51] enforcing all of this and I
[16:54] don't fully understand the play
[16:55] either but I understand it's
[16:58] mostly good So I'm just
[16:59] concerned that this ongoing
[17:03] representation continues and I
[17:04] don't know how it's being
[17:04] addressed.
[17:09] So on 608 the water main Briggs
[17:10] and sewer back up No on this
[17:14] there was an eoc report again
[17:15] unrepresented in those areas I
[17:19] just mentioned with a little
[17:19] addition of female in
[17:20] management and financial I
[17:24] couldn't find a workforce there
[17:28] report there but there's 114
[17:29] admin workforce And one of
[17:29] the things I don't understand
[17:34] in landscape is how why do we
[17:34] need that many admin and
[17:38] the laborers are really much
[17:39] lower So I don't really fully
[17:40] understand that yet.
[17:44] I'll be looking into it on 611
[17:44] I felt really really sad about
[17:48] this when I read about
[17:49] the $80,000 paid to an alleged
[17:53] excessive force during arrest
[17:53] for a dui.
[17:54] So I'll just say this mostly
[17:58] from my heart Anybody who's
[17:59] driving the eye we know how
[18:18] dangerous this is Joy that
[18:19] we're going to set 30 minute or
[18:19] 30s back on your timer.
[18:22] I apologize, sweetie.
[18:27] How much are you giving me And
[18:27] we stopped about 30s so we'll
[18:32] go ahead and put 30s back on.
[18:32] >> That's no problem here.
[18:34] This is a new set for you up
[18:37] there.
[18:38] So anyway, in some ways here
[18:42] you know a lot of it already So
[18:42] good luck with that.
[18:43] Yes.
[18:45] So just finishing up on 611
[18:49] which is the dui $80,000
[18:50] payment to the person that
[18:50] actually was driving under
[18:55] the influence which shocked me
[18:55] and also saddened me.
[19:00] So I love to see pd Anytime you
[19:01] get involved with these scenes,
[19:05] anything it's so subjective.
[19:08] It's so amazing how in a split
[19:09] second or less you have to make
[19:15] a decision for so much that
[19:15] affects you personally in
[19:16] the city.
[19:18] So love all of that very much
[19:19] and thank you.
[19:19] That concludes your time.
[19:20] Apologies for the technical
[19:23] difficulties that as our only
[19:24] virtual caller.
[19:25] So that concludes public
[19:28] testimony on the consent items
[19:28] .
[19:29] All right.
[19:29] Thank you, Deputy Clerk.
[19:30] With that we'll turn over to my
[19:33] council colleagues for any
[19:34] questions and comments and then
[19:35] entertain a motion and we'll
[19:35] start with Council member
[19:36] Whitburn.
[19:39] Thank you.
[19:39] Council PRESIDENT Happy to move
[19:40] the consent agenda.
[19:41] I just want to congratulate
[19:41] District three Michael
[19:43] Singleton at his appointment to
[19:43] the Balboa Park Committee as
[19:44] well as District three is
[19:45] Daniel Reeves on his
[19:47] appointment to the planning
[19:48] Commission.
[19:49] Both MR. Singleton and MR.
[19:49] Reeves have been active in
[19:53] civic affairs for years and I
[19:53] just want to thank them for
[19:54] their continued service to our
[19:54] city.
[19:55] Thank you.
[19:55] All right.
[19:57] So we do have that motion by
[19:58] Council member Whitburn to move
[20:01] the consent items all second,
[20:02] not seeing anybody else on
[20:02] the lights And with that deputy
[20:09] clerk please call the roll.
[20:10] I have turned on the voting
[20:11] system If you can please record
[20:14] your vote If you could try one
[20:14] more time Council member
[20:19] Whitburn and Moreno thank you
[20:19] very much.
[20:24] And that passes unanimously.
[20:24] >> All right.
[20:29] I just will take a yes from
[20:29] Councilmember Moreno and one
[20:34] absent So So with that we will
[20:35] now take up our morning
[20:38] discussion agenda.
[20:38] >> Deputy Clerk please
[20:44] introduce item 6156 15 Item 615
[20:44] is the approval of a request
[20:45] for a conflict of interest
[20:49] waiver from Colleen Tuna
[20:49] Highsmith and Whitely Peachey
[20:50] Citywide.
[20:50] >> Okay.
[20:50] All right.
[20:53] I noticed that two of our
[20:53] colleagues are recusing from
[20:57] this particular item.
[20:57] Do we need a presentation on
[21:02] this one that we have five
[21:06] minutes presentation Five
[21:07] minutes will go at once.
[21:07] You go ahead and do
[21:08] the presentation just to dot
[21:11] the I's and cross the t's.
[21:12] >> Good morning.
[21:12] City Council Senior Deputy City
[21:16] Attorney Ben Seats I'm here
[21:17] today on item 615 which is a
[21:21] request for a conflict of
[21:22] interest waiver by the content
[21:22] of law firm The law firm
[21:23] currently represents us is San
[21:26] Diego in two ongoing lawsuits
[21:27] and they're requesting
[21:32] the waiver to allow them to
[21:32] continue to represent the city
[21:33] and to also represent Lasco in
[21:36] the city's anticipated lawsuit
[21:37] against Lafc related to the La
[21:38] Hoya and Corporation
[21:38] proceedings.
[21:42] The conflict waiver does not
[21:42] pose a risk of any detrimental
[21:43] impact to the city In the city
[21:46] Attorney's office recommends
[21:47] granting the request.
[21:47] >> Please let me know if you
[21:48] have any questions.
[21:51] All right.
[21:52] >> And your name for the record
[21:52] I forgot to ask Senor Deputy
[21:55] City Attorney Ben Seats all
[21:55] right.
[21:55] Thank you for that.
[21:56] With that Deputy clerk please
[22:00] proceed with public comment.
[22:01] >> We have one public commenter
[22:02] here in chambers of allegedly
[22:12] order what come up?
[22:13] >> You MAY proceed.
[22:17] Too bad Steven's gone.
[22:18] Yeah.
[22:18] It's interesting that you guys
[22:19] want to deal with conflicts of
[22:23] interest codes when there's
[22:23] conflicts of interest going on
[22:24] across the board with you guys
[22:28] yet you sit here and you're
[22:29] like This isn't going to affect
[22:29] anything.
[22:32] You can't be trusted because
[22:33] the choices that you guys make
[22:34] lead to really bad things like
[22:38] little girls being raped in
[22:39] their home five years old or
[22:39] the 21 year old her.
[22:42] How cool is that, right?
[22:43] But yeah, let's just keep keep
[22:47] pretending that what we've done
[22:47] is good.
[22:48] Right?
[22:48] And it's interesting that
[22:52] Steven doesn't think that
[22:53] anything that's going on in
[22:53] Tent City is actually happening
[22:54] but yet when I'm exposing it
[22:58] they tend to be asking all of
[22:58] the employees who's giving out
[22:59] the information we need to keep
[23:02] this confidential.
[23:03] We can't be having people talk
[23:04] about what's going on outside
[23:04] of Tent City.
[23:07] You know what?
[23:07] You're fired.
[23:08] So they fire people and then
[23:09] they do You know what else
[23:12] Because they live there too.
[23:12] Then they file complaints
[23:13] against them so that they can
[23:17] set to basically kick them out
[23:18] onto the streets.
[23:18] But I'm sure you'll offer up
[23:22] another solution right?
[23:23] It's disgusting the things that
[23:27] takes place with our money and
[23:27] the abuse of people And you
[23:32] guys sit up there and you're
[23:32] just like horizontal Great.
[23:33] We're just so great going to
[23:34] pat myself on the back.
[23:36] We're going to give ourselves
[23:37] raises, ignore the suffering of
[23:41] people that is going on in
[23:41] the community And exactly for
[23:46] that reason I cannot weigh in
[23:46] until I is in these chambers
[23:50] And you guys are the ones
[23:50] begging and pleading Oh my
[23:51] gosh.
[23:55] >> Oh no we didn't do anything.
[23:56] Yeah you did And you've been
[24:00] warned and you had been for
[24:04] years yet you don't care but
[24:05] perhaps you will when you're in
[24:06] a jail cell and you're just
[24:09] trying to get something to eat
[24:10] and maybe call one of your
[24:11] loved ones And when you're
[24:14] separated from your family
[24:15] because of your choices that
[24:20] concludes your time.
[24:20] We have no more speakers here
[24:21] in chambers so I'm going to set
[24:22] our five minute timer and go to
[24:24] our virtual queue.
[24:25] We have one hand raised and
[24:28] the virtual queue caller ending
[24:29] and 8700 You can go ahead and
[24:33] unmute If you have two minutes
[24:38] you MAY proceed.
[24:38] >> Thank you so much.
[24:41] Joining me out of District 30I
[24:46] don't quite quite know how to
[24:47] speak on this.
[24:47] I'm really coming from
[24:48] the heart and the mind.
[24:50] Hopefully that's a good
[24:51] combination this morning.
[24:55] I respect the office of
[24:56] the City attorney so very very
[25:00] much Yet I know that things can
[25:01] be ministerial and very
[25:02] subjective often in life but
[25:06] I'm I just feel not good about
[25:06] this item.
[25:07] I just think it's almost a
[25:11] conflict of interest to bring
[25:12] it in as an agenda item And
[25:16] then we have the other conflict
[25:16] of interest is to really allow
[25:17] these attorneys to handle this
[25:26] and PRESIDENT LaCava I love a
[25:26] lawyer.
[25:27] It's it's some things I don't
[25:30] like about it but in general
[25:31] it's a wonderful place.
[25:35] And so this is involving whole
[25:36] situation was so high and
[25:40] they're wanting to become a new
[25:41] city and it's going to be a
[25:41] long process.
[25:45] So I just don't feel good about
[25:46] them being represented in other
[25:50] cases for the city and then
[25:51] going sort of with this other
[25:55] firm that really is against us.
[26:00] So I just wish I understood I
[26:00] tried to read all the back up.
[26:04] It was late and I just don't
[26:04] understand risk not involved
[26:05] here.
[26:09] I think there is a risk and and
[26:10] these things might just come up
[26:14] to really haunt So make sure
[26:15] that you really want to do
[26:15] this.
[26:19] I would go on the no side but I
[26:20] respect all of you and thank
[26:20] you for listening.
[26:23] Love to all.
[26:24] Thank you so much.
[26:28] That concludes public testimony
[26:28] on item 615.
[26:29] All right.
[26:29] Thank you, Deputy Clerk.
[26:34] With that we'll turn over to
[26:34] the council for questions.
[26:35] Entertain a motion not seen in
[26:35] the lights.
[26:38] I'll go ahead and move
[26:39] the staff recommendation and I
[26:43] get a second.
[26:43] Okay.
[26:44] We have a second by council
[26:47] member Isla Rivera and Council
[26:47] member Campo.
[26:48] >> Thank you.
[26:49] Just a quick question for MR.
[26:50] Seats.
[26:55] So it's my understanding that
[26:55] the particular law firm in
[26:56] question they're kind of caught
[26:57] between a rock and a hard place
[27:00] because there the general
[27:00] counsel for Lascaux but
[27:01] represent us in two particular
[27:01] cases.
[27:05] So it seems to me that if we
[27:05] didn't waive or didn't have a
[27:06] waiver of the potential
[27:10] conflict of interest, we'd lose
[27:11] them as a lawyer, not laugh, go
[27:13] lose them as a lawyer in
[27:13] the potential proceedings that
[27:19] it might come.
[27:20] I think well, I believe, you
[27:21] know, deference on the law firm
[27:23] but that is a potential outcome
[27:24] that we understood.
[27:27] Well, it's part of your
[27:28] comments earlier were that
[27:28] there's nothing you don't
[27:29] foresee any detriment to
[27:33] the city.
[27:33] It seems to me that there would
[27:34] be a detriment to the city.
[27:35] Is it We've hired a law firm to
[27:38] represent us in two cases and
[27:39] then well after the fact it
[27:43] turns out that they're
[27:44] representing a potential
[27:44] opposing party to us.
[27:45] There would be no there would
[27:47] be no detriment if we granted
[27:48] the waiver or representation in
[27:52] either matter would or in
[27:53] the existing matter would not
[27:53] be impacted by their
[27:54] representation of
[27:57] the anticipated new matter.
[27:57] Understood.
[27:58] Okay.
[27:58] Of no further questions.
[28:02] Thank you Counsel PRESIDENT All
[28:03] right.
[28:03] Thank you, Council Member
[28:06] Campbell So we have a motion by
[28:06] myself and a second by council
[28:07] member Eli Rivera not seeing
[28:08] anyone else in the lights
[28:10] Please call the roll.
[28:11] I have started the voting
[28:11] system If you'll go ahead and
[28:15] put in your vote you MAY have
[28:20] to press the button twice.
[28:21] >> Council member Whitburn is
[28:25] as absent okay Council Member
[28:30] Foster Thank you very much.
[28:35] That passes with a five votes
[28:35] and four council members
[28:36] absent.
[28:36] >> All right, Thank you very
[28:39] much and thank you for your
[28:40] good work on that.
[28:41] With that we will now adjourn
[28:44] the PRESIDENT My my apologies
[28:45] but I think on the earlier vote
[28:49] the screen isn't registering
[28:49] correctly because I think it
[28:50] missed my vote on the item,
[28:53] the consent agenda and then
[28:54] just on this one council member
[28:55] Ellen Rivera should she was
[28:59] absent I apologize for
[28:59] the record.
[29:00] Council member Ella Ribeiro Yes
[29:03] on item 615 And just to be
[29:04] clear Council PRESIDENT Pro Tem
[29:09] voted yes on the consent
[29:09] agenda.
[29:09] Thank you.
[29:10] Council PRESIDENT Apologies if
[29:12] I MAY I just for the record
[29:13] also I think it I think we
[29:14] typically distinguish between a
[29:18] recusal in an absence when
[29:18] we're setting the record on
[29:19] the vote.
[29:23] >> That's a very good point.
[29:24] So a type network.
[29:27] Okay.
[29:28] >> Okay, go ahead.
[29:31] Well I can go ahead and Sorry
[29:32] it's not my everyday job That
[29:37] was five votes to Council
[29:37] member Whitburn and Council
[29:42] member Von Wilpert recused and
[29:47] and one absence and it's two
[29:48] Yes yes six plus two plus one
[29:49] equals nine.
[29:52] >> Okay.
[29:53] >> Apologies.
[29:53] Thank you, Council member
[29:56] Rivera for that reminder.
[29:57] With that we will now adjourn
[29:58] the special council meeting for
[30:01] the noon recess and convene
[30:02] the regular council meeting at
[30:15] 2 P.M. Or shortly thereafter