[0:02] here Council Member Von Wilpert
[0:03] Council Member Council
[0:07] PRESIDENT Pro Tem Lee
[0:08] Councilmember Campo Council
[0:08] Member Moreno Present Council
[0:11] Member Ella Rivera and Council
[0:16] PRESIDENT LaCava.
[0:17] Thank you Clerk I notice that
[0:17] Council member Whitburn has
[0:21] entered chamber so please mark
[0:22] him as present and we do in
[0:22] fact have a quorum.
[0:25] We will begin this morning with
[0:26] an invocation by Clark Fuentes
[0:27] followed with the land
[0:30] acknowledgment and the Pledge
[0:30] of Allegiance led by council
[0:35] member Campbell Grant.
[0:36] Those who hold office in this
[0:39] city the spirit of wisdom,
[0:40] charity and justice that with
[0:41] steadfast purpose they MAY
[0:44] faithfully serve in their
[0:45] offices to promote
[0:50] the well-being of all people we
[0:50] respect.
[0:51] We acknowledge that the county
[0:55] our nation are the original
[0:55] inhabitants of the land now
[0:58] known as San Diego.
[0:59] Despite enduring the horrors of
[1:08] genocide and colonization and
[1:09] to their ancestors who fought
[1:10] to protect their culture and
[1:14] land today they carry their
[1:14] legacy forward with their
[1:15] traditions continue to thrive
[1:22] in gratitude and respect.
[1:23] We stand with the truly ancient
[1:23] and connected to our past and
[1:28] committed to a thriving future
[1:28] .
[1:33] I pledge allegiance to the flag
[1:33] of the United States of America
[1:37] and to the Republic for which
[1:38] it stands one nation under GOD,
[1:39] indivisible, with liberty and
[1:45] justice for all.
[1:50] Clark, please go over how
[1:51] the public can offer their
[1:51] testimony.
[1:52] >> Thank you, Council PRESIDENT
[1:55] I'll highlight the slide on
[1:56] the screen that reviews how
[1:56] the public can offer their
[1:57] public testimony today.
[1:59] If you are in person please
[2:00] complete a speaker slip looking
[2:01] at the entrance of chambers and
[2:01] bring it to the front of
[2:04] the room.
[2:05] No in-person testimony will be
[2:05] taken once the Council begins
[2:06] Virtual testimony for better
[2:08] meeting management purposes
[2:09] each speaker will have one
[2:10] minute per item per person.
[2:14] If you are in the virtual queue
[2:14] now's the time to raise your
[2:15] hand for closed session.
[2:16] Thank you Council PRESIDENT All
[2:16] right.
[2:17] Thank you With that please read
[2:18] the closed session items into
[2:23] the record conference with your
[2:23] counsel Existing litigation
[2:24] pursuant to California
[2:27] Government Code Section 5495
[2:28] 6.91 is this one Dorset William
[2:32] Jane versus City of San Diego
[2:33] Siesta is Jacob Tresco versus
[2:33] City of San Diego c.
[2:37] S three is Rodney atl High
[2:38] versus City of San Diego.
[2:38] C.
[2:41] S for is livable San Diego
[2:41] versus City of San Diego.
[2:42] Conference with Property
[2:42] negotiator pursuant to
[2:45] California Government Code
[2:49] Section 54956.865 Property
[2:50] seven then market 55,000 square
[2:51] foot site located downtown San
[2:54] Diego between seventh sixth
[2:54] Avenue Market Street and Island
[2:55] Avenue.
[2:58] Under negotiation price and
[2:59] payment terms related to
[3:00] unsolicited offer for
[3:02] the potential redevelopment of
[3:03] the seventh and market site
[3:04] located on the block bounded by
[3:07] seventh sixth Market Island in
[3:08] downtown San Diego.
[3:09] Conference with existing Legal
[3:09] Counsel Existing litigation
[3:12] pursuant to California
[3:13] Government Code Section 5495
[3:17] 6.90 166 Brianna Cooper versus
[3:18] City of San Diego Conference
[3:18] with Legal Counsel Anticipated
[3:19] litigation Initiation of
[3:22] litigation pursuant to
[3:23] California Government Code
[3:26] Section 5495 6.94 is a seven
[3:27] number of cases one going to
[3:27] those participating remotely
[3:32] because there is nobody here in
[3:32] person.
[3:33] So I sorry at the five minute
[3:36] timer starting with Andrea
[3:37] Irving if you can please let me
[3:37] know which item or items you
[3:41] wish to speak to.
[3:42] >> I was just speaking to
[3:45] the closed session litigations
[3:45] .
[3:46] Which one?
[3:49] There are seven.
[3:50] >> I'll take the last one you
[3:54] said okay.
[3:58] So I wish us all the best of
[3:59] luck in these litigations
[4:03] because you know we have and
[4:04] things are emerging obviously
[4:04] look at our harm reduction
[4:05] team, right?
[4:09] They were supposed to be
[4:09] passing on our count but
[4:10] instead they're going to
[4:13] plastic surgery and hiding all
[4:13] that medication or whatever
[4:14] that was reversal drug under a
[4:18] tarp in Alpine under 123
[4:19] whether also included in
[4:22] the deal is information that
[4:23] was distributed about this
[4:27] thing is clear that we are not
[4:28] charging people for major
[4:28] narcotics.
[4:33] We were going to test their
[4:33] drugs for them.
[4:34] We're going to test their drugs
[4:35] to make sure they were safe to
[4:37] consume, safe to consume.
[4:38] >> I mean the whole thing is
[4:38] backwards So GOD help us.
[4:41] I have no idea what these
[4:42] litigations actually are.
[4:43] But what I do know is that
[4:46] we're in big trouble as a city
[4:47] and a county and all
[4:47] the malfeasance, all
[4:50] the corruption is shining and
[4:51] it's rearing its ugly head and
[4:52] it is horrifying.
[4:56] >> Thank you.
[4:56] Thank you.
[4:57] Next is Blair Beckerman If you
[4:59] can please unmute after that is
[5:00] 8700 please let me know which
[5:01] item or items you wish to speak
[5:05] to.
[5:05] >> All right.
[5:09] Where Beekman I wanted to speak
[5:10] to item five.
[5:11] >> You'll have one minute.
[5:14] Please proceed.
[5:15] Yeah.
[5:15] Um.
[5:15] Hi.
[5:19] Blair Beekman.
[5:20] It's 35.
[5:21] It's an item about development
[5:23] issues for the seventh and
[5:24] market area.
[5:24] I don't know if it's actually
[5:28] bounded by sixth Avenue.
[5:29] I don't know if this is exactly
[5:32] the place, but there's a huge
[5:32] parking space on between
[5:33] seventh and eighth Avenues That
[5:38] is of interest to myself.
[5:39] I don't know if that is this
[5:42] item.
[5:42] There is a hotel on the corner
[5:43] of this large parking lot that
[5:46] you want to redevelop.
[5:47] It's a very, very old hotel and
[5:51] it has a deep history of
[5:52] African-American heritage
[5:57] African-American history about
[5:57] it that I hope whatever
[5:58] development will be there in
[6:03] the future that will honor that
[6:03] building what we should be
[6:07] about.
[6:08] It's important affordable very
[6:08] truly affordable housing is a
[6:12] good idea.
[6:13] >> We think in those terms.
[6:13] Thank you.
[6:14] Thank you.
[6:18] And 8700 if you can please
[6:18] unmute and let me know which
[6:20] item or items you wish to speak
[6:25] to.
[6:25] >> Thank you.
[6:29] Item 126 please.
[6:30] >> You'll have three minutes.
[6:30] Please proceed.
[6:34] Jason Yeah the cd three Number
[6:35] one Even though the letter of
[6:39] the law the First Amendment
[6:39] rights drives the litigation
[6:43] the spirit of the law must
[6:44] drive the outcome of both
[6:48] involved with fairness ingested
[6:48] justice.
[6:49] Dear Public Take a look at
[6:54] qualified immunity Two words
[6:58] qualified immunity See as two,
[6:59] three and six cracks, trenches,
[7:03] potholes, skateboards,
[7:07] bicycles, motorcycles.
[7:08] The only way to get our arms
[7:09] around these obstacles is
[7:13] the public needs to point them
[7:13] out.
[7:14] The public need to do their own
[7:18] safety advocates see be alert
[7:19] and aware and the city needs to
[7:23] do their best and we're all
[7:28] doing our best to hold them in
[7:29] the paper on floor for us for a
[7:33] challenge.
[7:34] I am glad we are reigning in
[7:37] secure at state levels.
[7:38] We must all work together to
[7:41] shape sustainable development
[7:46] that serves all the side 17
[7:46] market.
[7:50] This feels like my third
[7:51] lifetime in this project site.
[7:55] The first two were very bumpy
[7:56] Dear Robert Green Company team
[8:01] put on top of your to do list
[8:05] for the seventh and market
[8:08] deals one people one San Diego
[8:12] and ditto for council Mayor and
[8:13] all involved in this price in
[8:18] payment terms thank you all for
[8:19] your consideration.
[8:19] Have a beautiful week and love
[8:22] you all.
[8:23] Thank you.
[8:23] That concludes public comment
[8:24] on the closed session agenda.
[8:24] All right.
[8:25] Thank you.
[8:27] City clerk We will now recess
[8:28] in the closed session and
[8:28] reconvene council today at 2
[11:19] And
[12:33] thank you
[14:03] for
[16:00] your
[16:00] All right.
[16:01] Good afternoon.
[16:07] I will now reconvene the City
[16:08] council meeting of Monday
[16:08] FEBRUARY 23rd, 2026.
[16:09] Clerk Please call the roll.
[16:13] Thank you.
[16:14] Council PRESIDENT Council
[16:14] Member Campbell Councilmember
[16:18] Whitman Council Member Foster
[16:18] Councilmember Von Wahlberg's
[16:27] Council PRESIDENT Pro Tem Lee
[16:28] Councilmember Campo Council
[16:29] Reno Present and Council Member
[16:31] Ella Rivera present.
[16:32] Would you like to make your
[16:39] statement?
[16:45] Councilmember Lerer We did hear
[16:46] you here in council chambers if
[16:46] you'd like to say your
[16:47] statement for the record.
[16:50] >> Yeah, I'm notifying
[16:51] the council that I will be
[16:52] attending the meeting today
[16:52] remotely due to just cause
[16:57] related to child care.
[16:58] So it's about act and
[16:58] disclosing that there are no
[17:02] individuals 18 years of age or
[17:03] older present in the room with
[17:04] me and I will update this
[17:04] disclosure a change during
[17:08] the course of the meeting And
[17:09] for the record I do need to
[17:15] call council PRESIDENT To cover
[17:16] PRESIDENT Also taking
[17:17] the meeting or is this the city
[17:17] attorney Leslie Fitzgerald
[17:18] Independent budget Analyst
[17:21] Charles Monaco Council Affairs
[17:22] Affairs Advisor in the mayor's
[17:23] office got advisor and myself
[17:23] for City Clerk Diana Fuentes
[17:24] Thank you.
[17:27] Council PRESIDENT All right
[17:27] thank you.
[17:28] Without a quorum is now present
[17:28] We'll start off if are there
[17:33] any comments from the mayor's
[17:34] office to the council members
[17:34] or the attorney and the budget
[17:39] analyst or the city clerk not
[17:39] seeing any.
[17:40] I'll move right along.
[17:40] So before the clerk goes over
[17:43] the public how the public can
[17:44] offer their public testimony
[17:44] just a notice to the public.
[17:49] We do have we had a morning
[17:50] session.
[17:50] We're having an afternoon
[17:51] session and we're going to have
[17:54] an evening session starting at
[17:55] 6:00.
[17:55] We will be taking public non
[18:00] agenda public comment after
[18:00] this afternoon session.
[18:01] We're not going to make you sit
[18:05] through the 6:00 session for
[18:05] that.
[18:06] So again at the end of this
[18:11] afternoon's session we will
[18:12] take public knowledge into
[18:13] public comment whether you're
[18:18] in person or remote after we
[18:19] take that agenda public comment
[18:19] the council will then recess
[18:24] and reconvene at 6 P.M. For our
[18:24] evening meeting That will take
[18:25] public input on the development
[18:29] of the fiscal year 2027 budget.
[18:30] So again non agenda public
[18:30] comment will be taken at
[18:35] the end of our current session
[18:36] the afternoon session and then
[18:36] we'll reconvene at 6 P.M. So
[18:40] with that clerk please proceed
[18:41] with how public can offer their
[18:41] testimony.
[18:42] >> Thank you.
[18:42] Council PRESIDENT I'll
[18:47] highlight the slide on
[18:48] the screen that review to
[18:49] the public and offer the public
[18:49] testimony during this
[18:50] afternoon's meeting.
[18:52] The order can be found on
[18:53] the agenda Summary found online
[18:54] or at the table in the back of
[18:54] the room.
[18:55] If you are in person please
[18:57] complete the speaker Slip
[18:58] looking at the entrance of
[18:59] chambers and bring it to
[18:59] the front of the room and place
[19:04] it in the clear box Council
[19:05] ambassadors are available in
[19:06] the entrance of chambers and
[19:06] can assist with questions and
[19:07] speakers Lips no further
[19:11] in-person testimony will be
[19:11] taken once the council begins
[19:12] Virtual testimony.
[19:13] Thank you, Council PRESIDENT
[19:13] All right.
[19:13] Thank you.
[19:16] And with that please introduce
[19:20] item 200 item 200 as the fiscal
[19:21] year 2026 mid-year budget
[19:21] monitoring report.
[19:22] If you'd like to speak to this
[19:26] item, now's the time to raise
[19:27] your hand by pressing Star nine
[19:28] or the raise your hand icon or
[19:29] if you are participating here
[19:33] in person please be sure to
[19:34] submit your speakers up to
[19:34] the front of the room in
[19:35] the clear box for better
[19:36] reading management.
[19:36] Thank you.
[19:39] Council PRESIDENT All right.
[19:39] Thank you.
[19:40] And as our good folks from
[19:40] the Department of Finance
[19:45] settle in, please identify
[19:46] yourself for the record and let
[19:47] us know how much time you need.
[19:51] >> Good afternoon, Council
[19:52] PRESIDENT Lacob and council
[19:52] members.
[19:53] I'm Ben Battaglia, director of
[19:54] finance and with me is Chris
[19:57] Purcell, Financial Operations
[19:57] Manager.
[19:58] We're here today to present
[19:59] the fiscal year 2026 mid-year
[20:03] budget monitoring report.
[20:04] >> And we'll need about 12
[20:05] minutes for our presentation.
[20:05] All right.
[20:09] When you're ready.
[20:10] This is the second budget
[20:10] monitoring report for
[20:15] the fiscal year in DECEMBER we
[20:16] presented the first quarter
[20:16] budget monitoring report to
[20:17] the city council.
[20:20] And this was based on only
[20:21] three months of financial
[20:21] activity.
[20:22] It also had a limited focus
[20:27] primarily on Major General fund
[20:27] revenues as well as over time
[20:28] projections for the police and
[20:29] fire rescue departments.
[20:32] The mid-year budget monitoring
[20:33] report was developed in
[20:34] coordination with departments
[20:34] based on five months of
[20:39] financial activity.
[20:39] It includes a full analysis of
[20:40] projected revenue and
[20:41] expenditures for all general
[20:44] fund departments as well as
[20:45] several non general funds.
[20:46] Since the release of the report
[20:50] there have been a few recent
[20:51] positive developments and we
[20:52] will discuss those with you
[20:52] today.
[20:56] The development of this report
[20:57] was a team effort.
[20:57] I'd like to thank all
[20:58] departments for their valuable
[20:59] contributions.
[21:02] We've requested departments to
[21:03] attend today to assist with any
[21:04] questions you might have.
[21:05] I'll now turn it over to Chris
[21:08] to walk through the specifics
[21:09] at a high level.
[21:09] >> The report projected general
[21:14] fund expenditures to exceed
[21:15] revenues resulting in a bottom
[21:16] line deficit of 16.8 million.
[21:19] This comprised the projected
[21:20] 13.6 million decrease in
[21:23] revenues and a slight 3.2
[21:24] million increase in
[21:24] expenditures.
[21:25] The decline in revenues was
[21:26] within both the major general
[21:29] fund revenue category and
[21:30] departmental revenues.
[21:31] While the increase in
[21:31] expenditures is primarily due
[21:36] to personnel expenditures since
[21:36] the release of the report we
[21:37] have received additional
[21:38] information that has a positive
[21:38] impact on the bottom line.
[21:42] These include the anticipated
[21:43] receipt of 8 million insurance
[21:44] proceeds related to flooding of
[21:48] the old Central Library
[21:49] provides that these unique
[21:50] franchise fees will have a
[21:50] positive $6 million impact on
[21:53] the general fund and additional
[21:53] sales tax distribution which
[21:54] increases our projection by 2.6
[21:55] million.
[21:59] These positive updates are
[22:00] slightly offset by the decline
[22:00] in transit occupancy tax of
[22:04] approximately 2,050,000 and
[22:05] the recent announcement of
[22:05] changes to Balboa Park parking
[22:08] which reduced anticipated
[22:09] revenue by 1.2 million.
[22:10] When factoring in these recent
[22:10] developments, the revised net
[22:15] projected activity is
[22:16] anticipated to be a deficit of
[22:16] 1.8 million as discussed in
[22:17] the report.
[22:21] Major general fund revenues
[22:22] were projected in the fiscal
[22:23] year 7.2 million under budget.
[22:23] The primary drivers of this
[22:27] decrease are the treated
[22:28] occupancy tax and other major
[22:29] revenue categories.
[22:33] Transit Occupancy Tax revenues
[22:34] in the general fund were
[22:35] projected in the fiscal year
[22:35] 7.4 million under budget due to
[22:39] a significant decline in
[22:40] international travel and terms
[22:41] growth in both leisure and
[22:41] business travel.
[22:42] As previously noted, recent
[22:46] updates have further reduced
[22:47] this revenue by an additional
[22:48] 350,000 but the major revenues
[22:51] were predicted in the fiscal
[22:52] year 6.7 million under
[22:53] the current budget due to
[22:53] reduced interest earnings and a
[22:56] decrease in the one city
[22:57] transfer driven by the noted
[22:58] decrease in total revenues.
[23:02] With the recent updates about
[23:03] the anticipated receipt of
[23:04] insurance proceeds, this
[23:04] projection would increase by 8
[23:05] million as now anticipated in
[23:08] the fiscal year.
[23:09] 1.3 million over budget.
[23:10] These are partially offset by a
[23:14] projected increase in property
[23:15] tax of 2 million due to
[23:15] increased collections.
[23:19] Additionally, sales tax was
[23:19] projected to be 2.1 million
[23:20] higher than assumed in
[23:21] the budget and this is now
[23:24] anticipated to increase by 2.6
[23:24] million.
[23:24] Lastly, franchise fees was
[23:25] projected to be 2.8 million
[23:30] over budget primarily due to
[23:30] increased tonnage at the Sigma
[23:31] landfill but with the cleanup
[23:32] payment recently received from
[23:32] Genie.
[23:36] This is expected to increase by
[23:37] an additional 4.5 million when
[23:37] including the updates after
[23:41] the release of our report.
[23:42] Major general fund revenues are
[23:42] now expected to exceed
[23:43] the budget by 7.5 million.
[23:48] The report included projections
[23:49] reflecting the anticipated
[23:52] decrease in departmental
[23:53] revenues of 6.4 million but
[23:53] this is now anticipated to be
[23:54] 6.1 million when including
[23:58] the recent updates.
[23:59] That reduction included a lower
[24:00] number of parking revenues in
[24:00] Parks and Recreation due to
[24:04] shift to the program's
[24:04] implementation timelines and
[24:05] adjustments to fee structures.
[24:06] And this has been further
[24:06] reduced by the recent
[24:10] announcement of changes to be
[24:10] implemented in MARCH.
[24:11] Details regarding public park
[24:12] parking will be discussed on
[24:15] the following slide.
[24:16] Additionally there were
[24:16] reductions anticipated for
[24:21] wayfinding kiosks, telecom and
[24:22] use of concession revenue
[24:23] within economic development.
[24:23] Reduced parking citation of
[24:24] parking meter reimbursement
[24:27] revenue and stormwater.
[24:28] And a continued decline in
[24:29] cannabis business tax revenue
[24:30] in city Treasuries.
[24:33] These decreases are partially
[24:34] offset by increases in fire
[24:34] rescue for reimbursements
[24:35] related to the junior lifeguard
[24:39] paramedic programs as well as
[24:40] strike team deployments.
[24:40] Police also anticipate
[24:41] additional reimbursements for
[24:45] work performed on special
[24:46] events.
[24:46] Lastly, offsetting some of
[24:47] the projected reduction in
[24:48] Parks and recreation is
[24:51] the portion of the increase in
[24:52] franchise fee revenue
[24:53] previously discussed which will
[24:57] be deposited into the bottom of
[24:57] the growth funds and to be able
[24:58] to reimburse eligible
[24:59] expenditures in the general
[25:04] fund.
[25:04] Here we see a breakdown of how
[25:05] the projections for our parking
[25:06] program have changed over time.
[25:10] The adopted budget was
[25:11] approved.
[25:11] The anticipated revenue for
[25:12] this program was 12.5 million
[25:12] based on city staff's
[25:15] assumptions and
[25:16] the modifications made by
[25:16] the City Council in SEPTEMBER.
[25:17] City staff presented to council
[25:22] an updated proposal for how
[25:23] rates could be structured to
[25:24] watch revenues that closely
[25:24] aligned with the amount
[25:27] included in the budget.
[25:28] This proposal is projected to
[25:29] generate 12.2 million in
[25:32] revenue approximately 3000 less
[25:33] than the budget assumed.
[25:33] The proposal was ultimately
[25:34] approved with an amended
[25:38] resolution.
[25:39] The implementation will begin
[25:39] only once quarterly annual,
[25:40] quarterly and annual passes
[25:44] were available and with
[25:44] modifications to the proposed
[25:45] fee structures.
[25:46] In NOVEMBER staff returned to
[25:50] council with the requested
[25:51] changes to the proposed fees.
[25:52] These changes included periodic
[25:56] passes to rate changes
[25:57] the hours of inspiration point
[25:57] resident versus nonresident
[25:58] rates and the delayed
[26:02] implementation to align with
[26:02] the availability of quarterly
[26:03] passes.
[26:03] Incorporating those changes
[26:04] resulted in a revenue
[26:07] projection of 3.7 million and
[26:08] represented a further reduction
[26:09] of 8.5 million from
[26:13] the proposal originally
[26:14] presented in SEPTEMBER for a
[26:15] total decrease of 8.8 million
[26:15] from the budget.
[26:20] Lastly, on FEBRUARY 6th
[26:21] the mayor announced he was
[26:21] expanding free parking zones
[26:22] for city residents and limiting
[26:26] parking enforcement to end at 6
[26:27] P.M. Rather than 8 P.M..
[26:28] These changes are expected to
[26:28] take effect in MARCH.
[26:32] With these changes, projected
[26:33] revenues are approximately 2.5
[26:38] million reflecting a further
[26:38] decrease of 1.2 million from
[26:39] the department projections
[26:42] included in the report and a
[26:43] total decrease of 10 million
[26:43] from the budget.
[26:44] The slide provides a breakdown
[26:48] of expenditure categories tied
[26:48] to city staffing.
[26:49] When combined personnel
[26:50] expenditure and fringe benefits
[26:53] are projected to exceed
[26:54] the budget by $15.1 million,
[26:55] the overage and personnel
[26:55] expenditures is mainly
[26:56] attributed to increased
[27:00] overtime cost of 12.9 million.
[27:01] This is primarily within three
[27:05] departments Fire Rescue to
[27:06] maintain constant staffing
[27:07] dispatcher training and
[27:07] deployment backfill.
[27:08] As noted, the increase is
[27:12] anticipated to be partially
[27:13] offset by increased
[27:13] reimbursements in police.
[27:14] This is due to support higher
[27:15] activity at special events and
[27:18] parking enforcement.
[27:19] And again this is projected to
[27:20] be partially offset by
[27:20] increased reimbursements.
[27:24] Lastly, transportation
[27:25] increases primarily to support
[27:26] emergencies and callbacks as in
[27:26] prior years.
[27:32] The projection does include an
[27:32] estimate for chalcedon
[27:33] the judgment of 3 million
[27:34] combined across salaries and
[27:36] fringe benefits to account for
[27:37] anticipated differences between
[27:38] what a department be project
[27:42] and your an actuals for non
[27:43] personnel expenditures and
[27:43] excluding fringe.
[27:44] These are projected to be under
[27:48] budget by 11.9 million.
[27:48] This includes a 2.8 million net
[27:49] decrease in contracts primarily
[27:54] due to a decrease in
[27:55] contributions to public
[27:55] liability fund as that fund
[27:56] received insurance proceeds
[27:59] that will be available to
[28:00] support current law payments.
[28:01] Those savings were partially
[28:02] offset by higher contractual
[28:05] equipment agreements and
[28:06] service cost across
[28:07] transportation, police parks
[28:07] and recreation and fire rescue.
[28:12] A 1.9 million decrease in
[28:12] information technology due to
[28:13] the fund's operational
[28:17] efficiencies and the use of
[28:18] their available fund balance to
[28:19] offset non-discretionary costs
[28:23] and a 1.4 million decrease in
[28:24] debt due to timing of
[28:24] the helicopter leases in fire
[28:25] rescue and police which reduced
[28:29] the anticipated number of
[28:30] payments in the current year.
[28:30] Offsetting these savings is an
[28:34] increase of 3.4 million energy
[28:35] utilities primarily in parks
[28:36] and recreation due to lottery
[28:36] changes.
[28:41] Lastly, we analyzed recent
[28:41] media reports of constituent
[28:44] actions Inc. An estimated $10
[28:45] million historical savings
[28:45] adjustment which is
[28:46] approximately 1.7% of projected
[28:50] expenditures.
[28:51] Here we have the requested
[28:52] appropriation adjustments for
[28:52] the general fund.
[28:56] We are requesting a
[28:57] reallocation of budget among
[28:58] departments with no bottom line
[28:58] impact.
[29:02] The savings within the general
[29:03] settings within the city wide
[29:04] program expenditures department
[29:04] are tied to the previously
[29:08] mentioned decrease contribution
[29:09] to the public liability fund
[29:09] and reallocating those savings
[29:10] will ensure continuity of
[29:15] operations and that required
[29:16] operations are met for the five
[29:17] departments noted in the table.
[29:20] For general funds each of these
[29:21] requests is supported by
[29:22] available fund balance in those
[29:22] funds and are critical for
[29:26] those funds to operate.
[29:26] Before we conclude budgeting
[29:31] about a look ahead at fiscal
[29:32] year 2027 as you remember
[29:32] the five year financial outlook
[29:36] released in NOVEMBER 2025
[29:37] reflected the projected
[29:37] baseline shortfall of 8.8
[29:38] million.
[29:41] Since the release of that
[29:42] report, the projected shortfall
[29:43] has increased by approximately
[29:43] 30 million due to increased
[29:48] expenditures and decreased
[29:48] revenues.
[29:49] Some items contributing to this
[29:53] increase are the removal of 5.8
[29:53] million property tax associated
[29:58] with the sale to a 5.6 million
[29:59] reduction treaty occupancy tax
[30:02] based on meter receipts and a
[30:03] 16.4 million increase in
[30:03] the pension payment.
[30:04] Based on the updated actuarial
[30:04] valuation.
[30:08] The city will need to be
[30:09] strategic in its reductions in
[30:09] service levels to address
[30:14] the projected shortfall which
[30:14] will be incorporated in a
[30:15] balanced draft budget released
[30:18] by the Mayor on APRIL 15th.
[30:18] To conclude, the report
[30:19] projects general fund revenues
[30:24] to come in under budget while
[30:25] expenditures are projected
[30:26] slightly over budget.
[30:26] Updates Since the report's
[30:30] release showing improvements in
[30:31] revenue but a deficit is still
[30:31] projected.
[30:32] If there are no more positive
[30:37] improvements, the general fund
[30:37] would need to draft
[30:38] the stability Reserve in
[30:39] the fiscal year balanced.
[30:39] We are requesting
[30:41] the reallocation appropriations
[30:42] between general fund
[30:43] departments to ensure
[30:43] continuity of operations and to
[30:48] beat record obligations without
[30:48] a bottom line impact.
[30:49] Mitigation efforts will
[30:50] continue to be implemented by
[30:55] departments and future reports
[30:55] will include updates on those
[30:56] efforts.
[30:58] Development of the fiscal year
[30:59] 2027 budget will be difficult
[31:00] and require strategic
[31:05] reductions in service levels to
[31:05] balance.
[31:06] The Department Finance will
[31:06] continue to monitor revenues
[31:07] expenditures and will release
[31:11] the fiscal year 2026 third
[31:12] quarter budget monitoring
[31:13] report on MAY 13th.
[31:13] That concludes the presentation
[31:17] on the Media Report And now we
[31:18] will turn it over to the police
[31:18] department so they can provide
[31:22] an update on their overtime and
[31:22] neighborhood policing as
[31:23] requested in the fiscal year
[31:24] 2026 appropriation ordinance.
[31:47] >> Chief, as you settle in
[31:49] introduce yourselves for
[31:50] the record and let us know how
[31:55] much time you will need.
[31:56] Good afternoon.
[31:56] Scott Walker, chief of police.
[32:02] I'm joined today by our cfo.
[32:03] We meet about 5 or 6 minutes.
[32:04] All right.
[32:04] All right.
[32:08] Good afternoon.
[32:08] Council PRESIDENT.
[32:09] Like other notable
[32:10] councilmembers, we're here
[32:10] today to provide an update on
[32:11] two important areas required
[32:14] under the f y 26 appropriation
[32:14] ordinance.
[32:15] First is are police overtime
[32:15] spending.
[32:19] And the second is our
[32:19] neighborhood policing division.
[32:20] I bring with me today some good
[32:21] news.
[32:24] This update reflects real
[32:25] progress in how we are managing
[32:26] our resources while continuing
[32:31] to meet serious public safety
[32:31] challenges.
[32:32] Our department's overtime
[32:35] budget for f y 26 is about 45
[32:35] million.
[32:36] It is important to say that
[32:37] overtime remains a critical
[32:41] resource for our department as
[32:42] we are extremely with extremely
[32:42] low staffing levels.
[32:47] We rely on overtime to maintain
[32:47] service levels, maintain
[32:48] response times and support
[32:53] special operations.
[32:54] I've been very clear since
[32:54] becoming police chief.
[32:55] While overtime is necessary,
[32:59] achieving maximum efficiency
[33:00] with the limited number of
[33:01] officers we have and spending
[33:01] our overtime dollars
[33:02] responsibly are part of our top
[33:06] priorities.
[33:06] My commitment has been bringing
[33:07] our overtime spending back into
[33:12] budget in a to say this year.
[33:13] We did that for fiscal year 26.
[33:17] Are non cost recoverable
[33:18] overtime is on budget.
[33:18] We did that in part by putting
[33:19] each commanding officer on a
[33:24] budget and by shifting our
[33:25] focus to cost recoverable
[33:25] overtime areas like grants and
[33:29] special events.
[33:30] We anticipate being 3.4 million
[33:31] over budget in those cost
[33:31] recoverable areas.
[33:35] However, those areas are
[33:36] reimbursable.
[33:40] All told we're expecting to see
[33:41] a 6.5 million reduction in
[33:42] overtime spending compared to
[33:42] last year the largest year over
[33:46] year decrease in more than a
[33:46] decade.
[33:47] More importantly we were able
[33:48] to do it without negatively
[33:53] impacting response times.
[33:53] This reduction didn't happen by
[33:54] chance.
[33:59] We knew if we were going to
[33:59] significantly cut overtime
[34:00] costs we need we would need to
[34:01] take a hard look at how we
[34:04] track and manage those funds.
[34:05] We built an entirely new
[34:05] monitoring process that gives
[34:11] command staff a much clearer
[34:11] look into how we're spending
[34:16] those overtime dollars.
[34:17] That increased transparency
[34:17] allows for real time oversight
[34:18] and better decision making.
[34:22] The result is a leaner overtime
[34:23] budget and better stewardship
[34:23] of our employees on shift Now
[34:28] over to our neighbor policing
[34:28] division.
[34:29] When I restructured
[34:29] the department, one of my goals
[34:30] was to strengthen our efforts
[34:34] in the area of homelessness.
[34:35] To accomplish this I
[34:35] immediately shifted each
[34:36] academy class to spend three
[34:39] months working with
[34:40] the neighborhood policing
[34:41] officers, learning their craft
[34:41] and supporting them in their
[34:45] work.
[34:46] Homelessness remains one of
[34:47] the top concerns we hear from
[34:47] residents and it requires a
[34:52] consistent coordinated
[34:52] approach.
[34:53] Our department uses a
[34:53] progressive enforcement model
[34:57] that means officers work
[34:58] alongside service providers
[34:59] mental health clinicians,
[34:59] outreach workers and registered
[35:04] nurses to offer education
[35:05] outreach and support first.
[35:10] Enforcement is a last resort
[35:11] but it is an important tool
[35:11] When people are offered help
[35:12] repeatedly and understand that
[35:15] there are consequences for
[35:16] refusing services.
[35:16] We see better outcomes.
[35:22] This approach is not about
[35:23] criminalization.
[35:23] It's about using every part of
[35:24] the system to connect people to
[35:24] long term solutions.
[35:28] The strategy helped contribute
[35:29] to a decrease in the number of
[35:30] unsheltered individuals in
[35:30] the 2025 point in time count.
[35:35] The first decrease since 2020
[35:40] mpd operates with a budget of
[35:41] approximately 29.6 million with
[35:44] about 23% of that or 6.8
[35:45] million being in overtime.
[35:45] Importantly, the division is
[35:50] projected to be on budget this
[35:51] fiscal year while delivering
[35:51] measurable results for
[35:56] the community.
[35:56] Mpd work isn't always the most
[35:57] visible but it is very
[35:57] impactful.
[36:03] It was mpd that took the lead
[36:04] in enforcing our oversize book
[36:05] ordinance and vehicle
[36:05] habitation ordinances.
[36:08] So far they referred over 400
[36:09] individuals to the safe parking
[36:10] program at each barracks
[36:14] resulting in 94 successful
[36:14] placements.
[36:15] They've also helped to complete
[36:18] 245 abatements and removed more
[36:18] than 226 tons of waste from
[36:19] freeway on and off ramps
[36:19] downtown.
[36:24] Many of you have seen how that
[36:25] area had become out of control.
[36:25] These efforts significantly
[36:30] improved the health and safety
[36:30] in those areas.
[36:31] I've said it before and I'll
[36:32] say it again.
[36:36] Being fiscally responsible is a
[36:37] top priority for me as chief.
[36:38] The historic rate reduction and
[36:38] overtime spending and
[36:42] the responsible management of
[36:43] the Neighborhood Policing
[36:43] division reflects that
[36:44] commitment.
[36:44] We are focused on using
[36:48] taxpayer dollars wisely while
[36:48] continuing to deliver the level
[36:49] of service our community
[36:50] expects and deserves.
[36:55] Thank you and we'll be here if
[36:56] there are any questions later.
[36:56] All right.
[36:57] Thank you you for that
[36:57] presentation.
[36:59] I will now turn it over to
[37:00] the Office of the Independent
[37:01] Budget analyst MR. Monaco for
[37:01] your presentation.
[37:02] Thank you.
[37:07] Council PRESIDENT And council
[37:07] members.
[37:08] As my team comes up I know that
[37:09] I'll be joined for today's
[37:12] presentation by surgery
[37:13] Oncology and Jordan Moore.
[37:14] Although our whole team is here
[37:14] either in person or on
[37:18] the phone for questions, our
[37:19] office released a detailed
[37:20] analysis of the Media report on
[37:20] FEBRUARY 18th and we will cover
[37:25] that in this presentation.
[37:26] And so once you get settled in
[37:26] perfect go to the next slide.
[37:30] Our report specifically covers
[37:30] general fund revenue and
[37:31] expenditure and we provide
[37:32] additional context and updates
[37:32] to the mid-year projections.
[37:36] We also discuss additional
[37:37] items including the city's
[37:37] reserve homelessness programs,
[37:42] the Development Service Fund
[37:43] and the proposed appropriation
[37:43] adjustments that are included
[37:44] in the mid-year.
[37:44] Beyond that we include
[37:48] attachments to our report that
[37:49] provide a status update on
[37:49] various items including
[37:50] modifications for council made
[37:54] to the budget during
[37:55] the budget's adoption in JUNE
[37:55] as well as the status of
[37:56] positions that were eliminated
[37:57] in the current year's adopted
[37:57] budget.
[38:00] With that I will turn this over
[38:01] to surgical holding who will
[38:02] walk us through general fund
[38:02] revenues and expenditures.
[38:06] Thanks Charles.
[38:06] The major projects the Media
[38:07] report projects the city's
[38:11] general fund revenues to be a
[38:12] net $9.9 million below
[38:13] the budget of this major
[38:18] general fund revenues projected
[38:19] to end the fiscal year $7.2
[38:20] million below that budget or
[38:23] the department revenues are
[38:24] projected to be $2.7 million
[38:24] below the adopted budget.
[38:28] We'd like to note that the $2.7
[38:29] million $2.7 million
[38:29] departmental variance in
[38:34] the table differs from the $6.4
[38:35] million figure referenced in
[38:40] the year presentation.
[38:40] This difference is because our
[38:41] comparison is based on
[38:42] the mid-year projections
[38:47] the adopted budget while
[38:47] the audit compares projections
[38:48] to the current budget.
[38:49] The difference between
[38:52] the adopted budget and
[38:52] the current budget is primarily
[38:53] due to an increase in budgetary
[38:54] revenue for the Transportation
[38:55] Department which we will
[38:59] discuss later in this
[38:59] presentation or the next few
[39:00] slides will cover additional
[39:04] information and considerations
[39:05] and select revenue items.
[39:06] Starting off at Celltex.
[39:10] Well our office concurs with a
[39:11] current sales tax projection.
[39:12] There are some factors worth
[39:12] noting.
[39:16] Economists have described
[39:16] post-pandemic recovery as
[39:17] k-shaped with spending by
[39:21] higher income households
[39:22] growing while lower income
[39:22] spending declines.
[39:23] The reliance on consumer
[39:27] spending from high income
[39:28] households MAY be a result of
[39:29] high stock market returns and
[39:33] the growth of companies.
[39:34] This fiscal year sales tax
[39:39] growth MAY mask increased risks
[39:40] associated with a potential
[39:40] overheated stock market that
[39:41] could lead to a large impact on
[39:45] the city's sales tax revenue if
[39:45] the market cools.
[39:46] That said, elevated household
[39:51] spending MAY continue in
[39:51] the immediate future as
[39:52] consumers receive increased tax
[39:56] refunds from provisions in
[39:57] the One big Beautiful Bill Act
[39:58] which MAY act like a one time
[40:03] stimulus payment.
[40:03] One additional note on sales
[40:04] tax a city just recently
[40:08] received a cleanup payment for
[40:08] a second quarter fiscal year
[40:13] 2026 sales which came in $2.5
[40:14] million higher than anticipated
[40:14] in the Media Report.
[40:15] Similarly regarding franchise
[40:19] fees, the city was just
[40:20] recently informed that these
[40:22] cleanup payments for fiscal
[40:23] year 2026 would be $4.5 million
[40:29] above projections.
[40:30] Moving on to the transient
[40:30] occupancy tax, the general fund
[40:34] portion of total is projected
[40:35] to end the fiscal year $7.4
[40:36] million below the adopted
[40:36] budget.
[40:40] Overall total revenues
[40:41] projected to end the fiscal
[40:42] year at $19.4 million below
[40:46] the shortfall is partly due to
[40:47] reduced international travel to
[40:47] the United States because
[40:52] revenue received from
[40:53] the General Fund special promo
[40:54] programs and council
[40:54] discretionary portions of totty
[40:58] as well as revenue from
[40:58] the Total Homeless Fund are
[40:59] used to reimburse eligible
[41:00] general fund expenses.
[41:05] The decline in overall total
[41:05] revenue has a greater general
[41:09] fund impact than just the-$7.4
[41:10] million Million dollar
[41:10] variance.
[41:11] Additionally, since
[41:11] the publication of the mid-year
[41:15] report total has come in less
[41:15] than budgeted but to
[41:16] the projections for the month
[41:21] of JANUARY as well.
[41:22] This equates to an
[41:22] approximately $400,000
[41:23] reduction to the general fund
[41:27] in council discretionary
[41:28] portions of tlt and several
[41:33] departmental revenues starting
[41:34] off with the revenue from
[41:34] the paid parking program in
[41:35] the ballpark.
[41:39] The media report assumes that
[41:40] the program will generate
[41:41] approximately $3.7 million in
[41:41] revenue.
[41:45] This estimate was based on
[41:45] limited data following
[41:46] the implementation of the paid
[41:50] parking program on JANUARY 5th
[41:50] following the release of
[41:51] the mid-year report.
[41:51] However, the mayor announced
[41:55] certain modifications to pay
[41:56] parking program on FEBRUARY 6th
[41:56] including free parking for
[41:57] verified city residents at
[42:02] certain lots.
[42:03] With these modifications staff
[42:03] now projects the year end
[42:07] revenue from the paid parking
[42:08] program to be $2.5 million
[42:08] which is $10 million less than
[42:12] what was included in the budget
[42:13] .
[42:13] Additionally, expenditures to
[42:14] implement and operate
[42:15] the program are currently
[42:18] projected to be $505,000
[42:19] dollars.
[42:22] Under budget resulting in a
[42:22] projected $9.5 million net
[42:23] impact of the general fund
[42:28] regarding parking meter related
[42:29] revenue transfers from
[42:29] the Parking Meter Operations
[42:30] Fund to the general fund are
[42:34] projected to be $3.6 million
[42:35] less than budgeted.
[42:35] The shortfall reflects lower
[42:36] than budgeted revenues from
[42:41] initiatives including
[42:42] the budget such as event based
[42:42] pricing, double meter rates and
[42:46] expanded hours as well as
[42:47] increased expenditures related
[42:47] to meter expansions.
[42:48] These negative impacts are
[42:52] partially offset by additional
[42:53] unbudgeted revenue from loss of
[42:53] revenue fees and revenue
[42:54] collected from new parking
[42:54] meters.
[42:58] Additional information on
[42:59] the Parking Meter operations
[43:03] fund can be found in Attachment
[43:03] three of our report.
[43:08] The Mitchell Report projects
[43:08] $19.1 million in revenue from
[43:09] the cannabis business tax which
[43:14] is approximately $2 million
[43:15] lower than what was included in
[43:15] the budget.
[43:19] The shortfall is primarily due
[43:20] to continued decline in
[43:21] reported taxable gross receipts
[43:21] driven by increased competition
[43:25] from the legal market and
[43:26] increased wholesale prices from
[43:27] an oversupply of cannabis
[43:31] products.
[43:32] It remains unclear whether
[43:33] the 2% tax increase for retail
[43:33] outlets implemented in MAY last
[43:37] year has contributed to
[43:38] the overall projected shortfall
[43:39] by driving customers to other
[43:43] jurisdictions or the illicit
[43:43] market.
[43:44] Sales data suggest that
[43:45] the rate increase did not have
[43:49] a significant immediate impact
[43:50] on taxable sales as a down a
[43:51] downward trend was seemingly
[43:55] driven by preexisting factors.
[43:56] Moving on to homelessness
[44:01] department revenue $5.6 million
[44:01] from one time measure.
[44:02] Revenue from four homelessness
[44:06] collect collected in fiscal
[44:07] year 2025 was included in
[44:08] the mid-year report.
[44:08] However, rather than being used
[44:12] to offset the use of limited
[44:13] limited state app grants as
[44:17] contemplated in the most recent
[44:18] financial outlook is now
[44:19] projected to offset
[44:19] the decreases in total funding
[44:24] to supports homelessness.
[44:30] Shifting over to general fund
[44:31] expenditures, our report
[44:31] largely focuses on salaries and
[44:36] wages which are projected to go
[44:37] over budget by $18.2 million
[44:40] with the most significant cost
[44:41] being over time of $16.2
[44:41] million.
[44:42] We note that the departments
[44:43] with the largest overtime
[44:47] overages include fire rescue,
[44:52] transportation and police fire
[44:53] rescue is projected to be $6.8
[44:54] million over their overtime
[44:58] budget but the net impact of
[44:59] this is reduced to
[44:59] approximately $5 million when
[45:00] accounting for strike team
[45:05] deployment reimbursements.
[45:05] This overage is largely due to
[45:06] constant fire suppression
[45:07] staffing needs and increased
[45:11] fire dispatch overtime
[45:12] according to the fire rescue
[45:12] department.
[45:13] This use of overtime is
[45:13] necessary to backfill
[45:17] dispatcher positions while
[45:18] recent hires complete
[45:18] dispatcher training.
[45:23] The police department is
[45:24] projected to be $3.4 million
[45:25] over budget for overtime with
[45:29] the general fund impact being
[45:29] reduced to $1.1 million after
[45:30] accounting for revenue from
[45:31] reimbursable overtime
[45:35] activities including special
[45:36] events and grant or task force
[45:37] participation as well as
[45:41] enhanced parking meter
[45:41] enforcement.
[45:42] It's worth noting that pd's
[45:45] projected overtime expenditures
[45:46] in fiscal year 2026 are lower
[45:47] than actual expenditures in
[45:51] fiscal year 2024 and fiscal
[45:51] year 2025, indicating that
[45:52] the department's efforts to
[45:53] better manage overtime are
[45:57] proving effective and haphazard
[45:57] over to join a more to cover
[45:58] the most of the remaining
[46:03] slides.
[46:03] Thank you Sergio.
[46:07] So on this slide the first
[46:08] thing we'd like to point out is
[46:09] transportation salary budget
[46:12] which the media report projects
[46:12] to be $2.1 million over
[46:13] the adopted budget.
[46:14] The report notes that this is
[46:18] mostly due to the Department
[46:19] hiring at a faster pace than
[46:19] projected following the lifting
[46:20] of the request for process at
[46:24] the beginning of this fiscal
[46:25] year and prior to its
[46:25] reimposition at the release of
[46:26] the first quarter report.
[46:27] What this indicates to us is
[46:30] that vacancies in
[46:31] the department are lower than
[46:32] what has historically been seen
[46:32] within the department's overall
[46:36] budget.
[46:36] Regarding overtime
[46:37] transportation is projected to
[46:42] be $4.6 million over
[46:42] the adopted budget.
[46:43] However we do note that
[46:45] mid-year report shows overall
[46:46] only be $1.2 million.
[46:47] This is due to two previous
[46:47] actions taken by the council
[46:51] which included the waiving at
[46:52] the community parking districts
[46:53] which brought revenue into
[46:54] the general fund as well as an
[46:58] increased revenue related to a
[46:59] sidewalk sip.
[46:59] Both of these actions also
[47:00] included the authority to
[47:01] increase the Transportation
[47:04] Department's overtime budget.
[47:05] So we had both revenue and
[47:05] expenditures and that is what
[47:10] led to the variance that Sergio
[47:10] noted earlier.
[47:11] >> Overtime overages have
[47:12] become common for
[47:16] the transportation Department
[47:16] over the last several years,
[47:21] particularly since fiscal year
[47:21] 2023 overtime overages have
[47:22] grown substantially.
[47:22] Recent overages according to
[47:23] the department have largely
[47:28] been driven by increases in
[47:28] priority one emergency
[47:29] responses or additional dig
[47:29] other regulations.
[47:33] Additionally, historical
[47:33] overages have enabled increases
[47:34] in service levels performed by
[47:39] the Department that have not
[47:40] been budgeted.
[47:41] However, these increases have
[47:41] sometimes resulted in other
[47:46] services being reduced to keep
[47:46] the department within its
[47:47] overall budget allotment.
[47:52] Transportation noted to us that
[47:53] without additional overtime
[47:54] spending in the current year
[47:54] when we asked if they could
[47:57] pull back that they would be
[47:58] unable to generate the revenue
[47:58] currently assumed in
[47:59] the current budget.
[48:03] So our office suggests a
[48:04] misalignment between budgeted
[48:05] revenues and the level of
[48:05] expenditures required to
[48:09] generate those revenues.
[48:10] >> Accordingly we recommend
[48:10] the Department of Finance in
[48:11] coordination with
[48:14] transportation ensure that
[48:15] the fiscal year 27 proposed
[48:15] budget better align expenditure
[48:16] assumptions with revenue
[48:20] projections and that in
[48:21] the near term we recommend
[48:21] transportation limit overtime
[48:24] to adjust priority one
[48:25] emergency and storm response
[48:25] and or ensure that any
[48:26] additional overtime is directly
[48:30] tied to generating revenues
[48:31] consistent with the 26 budget.
[48:31] On Homelessness the Media
[48:36] Report projects expenditures
[48:37] will be $1.3 million lower than
[48:37] budgeted.
[48:38] However, what we do know is
[48:41] that there is a homelessness
[48:42] expenditure update that was not
[48:43] discussed in the Media report
[48:44] and this is the unknown cost of
[48:48] the JANUARY storm shelter
[48:48] relocation.
[48:49] For context following a storm
[48:53] on JANUARY 1st of this year
[48:53] the 64 Newton sprung shelter
[48:54] flooded requiring a temporary
[48:58] relocation of households to
[48:59] the San Diego municipal gym
[48:59] resulting in unanticipated
[49:03] relocation expenses.
[49:04] Hst anticipates absorbing these
[49:04] relocation costs using
[49:05] projected budgetary savings
[49:10] once cuts are known in MARCH.
[49:10] Other homelessness program
[49:13] updates include a combined
[49:14] $669,000 in projected savings
[49:18] due to staffing vacancies at
[49:19] the 20th and b and Allied safe
[49:22] sleeping sites as well as
[49:23] $140,000 in estimated savings
[49:23] from eliminating security
[49:24] services for public restrooms.
[49:29] Moving to the Development
[49:30] Services Fund report projects
[49:30] the fund's year in revenue to
[49:34] exceed expenditures by 11.7
[49:34] million.
[49:35] Increases in revenue are driven
[49:40] by increases in dsd fees that
[49:40] took effect on Made in MAY
[49:41] 2025.
[49:45] The implementation of a dynamic
[49:46] pricing model that charges fees
[49:46] based on time of invoicing
[49:50] rather than upon completed
[49:51] application submittal and
[49:51] increased billable work.
[49:52] The Development Service Fund
[49:56] balance began fiscal year 2026
[49:57] at-17.8 million with
[50:01] the projected revenue surplus
[50:02] the fiscal year anticipated to
[50:06] end with an improved balance of
[50:07] -6 million as a shortfall.
[50:08] The fund will continue with no
[50:10] reserve balance for fiscal year
[50:11] 26 and will not be its reserve
[50:15] policy target of 19.3 million.
[50:16] Dsd has no positive revenue
[50:16] impacts due to new state
[50:20] building code updates according
[50:20] to the department.
[50:21] Historically the month
[50:24] preceding quarter updates
[50:24] typically sees a 20 to 40%
[50:25] increase in permitting activity
[50:29] in DECEMBER of 2025 the month
[50:30] before the latest code update.
[50:30] Department revenues exceeded
[50:34] mid-year projections by $3
[50:34] million.
[50:35] This amount will be reflected
[50:39] in the third quarter report.
[50:40] >> The mid-year report projects
[50:40] a $16.8 million revenue
[50:41] shortfall.
[50:45] However, subsequent to its
[50:46] release the Department of
[50:49] Finance was informed of an
[50:49] offsetting $8 million in
[50:50] anticipated insurance proceeds
[50:51] related to flooding damage at
[50:55] the old Central Library.
[50:55] Consequently, if your activity
[50:56] were to equal the mid-year
[50:57] revenue expenditure projections
[51:01] adjusted for additional surance
[51:02] proceeds, the General Fund
[51:02] Reserve would need to be tapped
[51:05] by $8.8 million and this table
[51:06] shows the impact on
[51:06] the reserve.
[51:09] >> With a reserve balance of
[51:10] 207 million, the impact of
[51:13] tapping the reserve by 8.8
[51:14] million would bring the balance
[51:15] to $64.6 million less than
[51:15] the Reserve policy target for
[51:19] this fiscal year of 262.9
[51:19] million.
[51:20] Given how the city's fiscal
[51:24] challenges have impacted recent
[51:25] budgeting process,
[51:25] the Department of Finance is
[51:26] currently working with
[51:27] the mayor's office on proposed
[51:30] revisions to the Reserve policy
[51:30] which are anticipated to be
[51:31] presented later this fiscal
[51:36] year.
[51:36] It is important to consider
[51:37] that there is always some
[51:38] uncertainty in the media
[51:38] projections and you've heard
[51:41] some of that from Department of
[51:42] Finance here this morning.
[51:45] Some other significant areas of
[51:45] uncertainty in fiscal 2026
[51:46] include impacts of departmental
[51:50] mitigation directives such as
[51:51] the request to fill process
[51:51] suspension of discretionary
[51:52] spending and non-essential
[51:56] overtime and the zero based
[51:57] review of external contracts.
[51:58] Departments MAY also be able to
[52:01] identify additional savings as
[52:02] the year progresses including
[52:02] through the potential
[52:03] implementation of fy 2027
[52:07] expenditure modifications.
[52:07] However, the Department of
[52:08] Finance also has incorporated
[52:12] an overall general fund
[52:13] expenditure savings adjustment
[52:17] of 10 million of $30 million
[52:17] which is based on historical
[52:18] trends between mid-year
[52:19] projections and in actual
[52:22] expenditures in prior years.
[52:22] If these savings do not
[52:23] materialize by year end
[52:27] the resulting negative impact
[52:27] could be to further reduce
[52:28] the general fund reserve.
[52:33] Turning to items that are not
[52:34] factored into the general fund
[52:34] manager projections most of
[52:35] these have already heard of
[52:35] this morning.
[52:38] There were revenue updates
[52:39] including a sales tax cleanup
[52:40] payment franchise fees and pot
[52:43] reimbursements.
[52:44] Again examples of things that
[52:45] will change between now and
[52:45] the third quarter report That
[52:46] will give you a better idea of
[52:48] how much the general fund
[52:53] Reserve will need to be tapped
[52:53] .
[52:54] Additionally, the council is
[52:54] being asked to approve general
[52:55] fund appropriation allocations
[52:58] among departments involving non
[52:59] personnel expenditures and to
[53:00] non general fund appropriation
[53:04] increases.
[53:05] In particular regard to
[53:05] the general fund reallocations.
[53:06] Important to note these
[53:09] reallocations do not increase
[53:09] overall expenditure
[53:10] appropriations for the general
[53:14] fund but rather align
[53:14] appropriations with major
[53:15] projected spending by using
[53:18] $8.2 billion in savings in
[53:19] citywide program expenditures
[53:20] to cover increased expenditures
[53:20] in several departments.
[53:24] We note that these
[53:24] reallocations will not fully
[53:25] cover projected expenditure
[53:26] overages from relevant
[53:29] departments and that those
[53:30] departments are still expected
[53:31] to identify savings or other
[53:33] resources to cover their
[53:34] remaining overages.
[53:35] Our office supports
[53:35] the proposed appropriation
[53:40] adjustments necessary for
[53:40] continued operations though
[53:41] the Council MAY wish to request
[53:45] more details on the appropriate
[53:46] ness of the general fund
[53:46] appropriations.
[53:47] Given the overall projected
[53:50] current year deficit, I'll turn
[53:50] it back to Charles.
[53:51] Thanks, Jordan.
[53:52] So in conclusion if you thought
[53:55] the media report is projecting
[53:56] a current year deficit of 16.8
[53:56] million, there has been
[53:57] positive news in this release.
[54:01] As you've heard, we will
[54:01] receive additional dollars for
[54:02] an insurance payment and two of
[54:03] our major revenues sales tax
[54:06] and stadium franchise fees and
[54:06] seen positive movement in
[54:07] the last several weeks.
[54:10] Although others hotel taxes and
[54:11] parking revenue in particular
[54:12] are likely to further
[54:15] underperform from projections,
[54:16] we know these projections will
[54:17] continue to shift as the year
[54:17] progresses and we'll have
[54:20] additional information when
[54:21] the third quarter is released
[54:21] in MAY.
[54:22] But especially given the fiscal
[54:25] challenges that we are headed
[54:26] into next year, it is important
[54:27] to understand the city's
[54:30] tenuous finances and to
[54:31] the extent that new savings or
[54:32] budget mitigate budget
[54:35] mitigations are not identified,
[54:36] the city MAY be forced to tap
[54:37] into its general fund reserves
[54:41] which while currently funded at
[54:41] $207 million are already below
[54:45] policy targets.
[54:46] To the extent the appropriation
[54:47] requests that are in
[54:47] the mid-year are necessary for
[54:50] continue to operations we
[54:51] support them But we also
[54:51] suggest that Council MAY wish
[54:55] to ask about the need to make
[54:56] additional appropriations to
[54:56] departments that are already
[55:00] trending over budget especially
[55:00] given the imminent need for
[55:01] budget cuts as we head into our
[55:05] fy 2027 Council MAY also wish
[55:06] to ask for more specifics about
[55:06] potential current year
[55:07] mitigations that the city could
[55:10] implement that could begin to
[55:11] address that looming f y 27
[55:12] deficit that will need to be
[55:14] closed.
[55:15] >> With that my team and I are
[55:16] also all available for
[55:16] questions.
[55:19] All right.
[55:20] >> Thank you Charles for
[55:21] the good work of you and your
[55:25] office Always very helpful.
[55:26] >> With that, Clark, please
[55:26] proceed with public comment.
[55:27] Thank you.
[55:30] Council PRESIDENT I have no
[55:31] speakers here in council
[55:32] chambers to speak to this item
[55:34] I'm going to those
[55:35] participating remotely started
[55:36] the five minute timer.
[55:36] We have three people in
[55:39] the queue starting with Blair
[55:40] Beekman.
[55:40] You'll have two minutes Please
[55:44] proceed after that is 8780 813
[55:44] then 7499.
[55:49] Blair Please proceed.
[55:49] >> All right.
[55:50] Thank you.
[55:50] Blair Beekman Oh, thanks a lot
[55:53] for this item.
[55:54] I guess for myself I can go
[55:55] over some regular talking
[55:55] points I've been offering
[55:58] lately.
[55:59] Hopefully they won't be tedious
[55:59] but good reminders of things we
[56:03] can be doing at this time to
[56:08] begin to again offer.
[56:08] Paula Kruger has been
[56:09] mentioning fairly regularly for
[56:13] a while now that in talking
[56:14] about the parking issues about
[56:18] ball park the revenues from
[56:18] the parking new parking issues
[56:19] isn't going to about a park
[56:23] fund it's going into
[56:24] the general fund And I think we
[56:28] have to be very clear on that
[56:28] narrative.
[56:29] If he's accurate we can't be
[56:33] fibbing about the kind of
[56:34] efforts we have to be honest
[56:35] with ourselves in how we're
[56:38] talking about the budget as a
[56:38] full community process.
[56:39] The work I do with tech
[56:43] accountability is the same
[56:43] thing.
[56:44] We just have to be honest and
[56:47] direct in how we have our
[56:48] dialog on these on the subject
[56:48] matter.
[56:49] But whether a mistake you made
[56:52] I hope you can make up and all
[56:53] is forgiven.
[56:53] It's just a matter that we can
[56:57] talk clearly about the subject
[56:57] matter.
[56:58] Good luck on those efforts.
[56:58] It's a full community process
[57:01] and cutting people out of it
[57:02] isn't the way to work.
[57:06] With that said I
[57:06] congratulations that the police
[57:11] department is working on
[57:11] overtime issues fairly well.
[57:12] I've heard in previous
[57:16] committee reports there at $5
[57:16] million less in overtime costs
[57:21] than last year.
[57:22] So that's a hearty
[57:22] congratulations.
[57:23] Keep up those sort of good
[57:25] efforts.
[57:26] Thank you for that.
[57:30] I do believe parking above
[57:31] ballpark issues again can
[57:35] really seriously be cut in half
[57:35] from what the fees are now and
[57:36] you can still bring in a pretty
[57:40] significant revenue.
[57:41] I hope that can be considered
[57:41] in the future for both resident
[57:44] and nonresident issues And good
[57:45] luck in looking into Oakland
[57:50] how they're working their
[57:50] deficit programs And then you
[57:51] can work the same sort of
[57:52] programs that respect social
[57:54] services.
[57:55] Your time has concluded There
[57:56] are five speakers in the queue
[57:58] still 8781 three If you can
[58:01] please unmute 8700.
[58:06] >> Thank you Joyce Any other cd
[58:07] I'll start with the Department
[58:11] of Finance Expenditure to
[58:11] succeed revenue.
[58:12] That's so simple isn't it?
[58:16] And so basic question Is it
[58:21] appropriate to end the fiscal
[58:21] year with a negative budgeting
[58:22] fund balance?
[58:26] I'm thinking of best practices
[58:31] and policies KPIs kpi, kpi and
[58:31] we're calling to you
[58:36] performance and analytics.
[58:36] Remember what you did when you
[58:37] shadowed the pudi You brought
[58:40] in sunlight.
[58:41] You are so great in this work.
[58:46] Let's do the kpi, let's get it
[58:47] done penned and now love to you
[58:55] Please my like big time new
[58:56] overtime monitoring process
[59:00] allows for greater command
[59:01] oversight and control.
[59:04] Well those two cs command and
[59:05] control Congratulations Entire
[59:10] department at 23% or 6.8
[59:14] million and overtime dollars
[59:14] for the neighborhood policing
[59:15] division Chief Ball
[59:19] congratulate Asians on this.
[59:20] Remember when you came out of
[59:21] the gate I hope I get this
[59:24] right.
[59:25] You said at the top of
[59:26] the priority list was the word
[59:30] trust and the work of doing
[59:30] that.
[59:31] So I would love to It's
[59:33] probably hard to speak to it so
[59:34] subjective but I would love to
[59:35] get a report from you on that.
[59:42] Now moving to the ib a 16.8
[59:43] million g f budgetary deficit
[59:48] projection somewhat uncertain
[59:52] so several notable items not
[59:52] factored into the projections.
[59:57] More details on
[59:58] the appropriateness of the g f
[1:00:02] appropriations as recommended
[1:00:02] by them.
[1:00:03] So this was fabulous almost in
[1:00:07] our this this was fabulous.
[1:00:08] Your time has come into it.
[1:00:11] Thank you.
[1:00:12] Next is 813 then 7499 after
[1:00:20] that 8813 please unmute I
[1:00:21] academy for you star six to
[1:00:25] unmute.
[1:00:25] Okay sorry about that.
[1:00:26] Thank you.
[1:00:30] Okay so Consuelo here and yeah
[1:00:31] I'm just uh thank you Blair I
[1:00:33] totally agree with the first
[1:00:34] part of what you had to say.
[1:00:38] >> Um well that was a loaded
[1:00:43] presentation and I just chimed
[1:00:44] in so I didn't catch all of it
[1:00:47] but well I'm just to think
[1:00:48] about how much money those two
[1:00:51] things with minimal results as
[1:00:57] usual But I guess I'm even more
[1:00:58] saddened that every time I
[1:01:01] chime into these meetings it's
[1:01:02] the same people who call in and
[1:01:02] who are paying attention
[1:01:06] unfortunately um yeah we've got
[1:01:07] to do better with that.
[1:01:10] You guys need to broadcast to
[1:01:11] the news and people need to
[1:01:15] start paying attention to how
[1:01:16] much money's going to places
[1:01:17] like I said with minimal
[1:01:20] results.
[1:01:21] What a shame.
[1:01:22] Okay, that's all I have to say.
[1:01:25] Thank you.
[1:01:30] Next 27499 if you can please
[1:01:31] unmute 7499 after that is
[1:01:35] Andrea ebbing Please continue.
[1:01:35] Bob Kozinski here.
[1:01:38] I just heard that there's a
[1:01:39] projected $6 million shortfall.
[1:01:40] I also heard that the new
[1:01:43] Balboa Park parking fees are
[1:01:44] projected to bring in 1.2
[1:01:44] million.
[1:01:45] Well gee how much money is
[1:01:48] the business at Torrey Pines
[1:01:49] glider port making every year?
[1:01:50] We know that the new lease has
[1:01:57] that business paying a whopping
[1:01:57] $3,412.50 a year.
[1:01:58] But what are they bringing in
[1:01:58] every year?
[1:02:01] Joe LaCava Do you know has that
[1:02:02] business reported their income
[1:02:03] to anyone in this city in
[1:02:06] the last decade?
[1:02:07] The last reporting of their
[1:02:07] income that I could find was
[1:02:10] from 2010, 11 and 12.
[1:02:11] The figures for those three
[1:02:17] years were 1.1 million 1.28
[1:02:17] 9,000,001.361 million
[1:02:18] respectively.
[1:02:19] And those numbers were from
[1:02:19] over ten years ago.
[1:02:22] Have you heard of inflation?
[1:02:23] They could easily be bringing
[1:02:24] in over $1.5 million a year in
[1:02:24] 2026.
[1:02:28] So if you subtract $2,400 in
[1:02:31] rent from about $1.5 million
[1:02:34] income, you still get about
[1:02:35] $1.5 million income every year.
[1:02:36] That would more than cover all
[1:02:40] the money you're expecting from
[1:02:40] Balboa Park parking That would
[1:02:41] cover nearly one tenth of
[1:02:42] the projected shortfall.
[1:02:45] All the city has to do is run
[1:02:46] their own glide report and
[1:02:47] collect collect the profit for
[1:02:50] the city instead of giving it
[1:02:50] to a private business.
[1:02:51] But neither Joe LaCava nor Todd
[1:02:55] Gloria will touch that
[1:02:55] business.
[1:02:55] Why is that?
[1:02:56] Joe LaCava What kind of
[1:02:59] corruption squeezes every
[1:03:00] dollar out of citizens while
[1:03:01] giving away our multimillion
[1:03:01] dollar park to a private
[1:03:04] business to make money?
[1:03:05] If people wonder why they
[1:03:05] should care about the glider
[1:03:06] port they should remember this
[1:03:09] analysis every time they're
[1:03:10] paying to park in our own
[1:03:14] Balboa Park.
[1:03:14] >> That's it.
[1:03:15] Thank you.
[1:03:15] Next is Andrea Ebbing then
[1:03:19] Katherine Douglas.
[1:03:19] The five minute timer did
[1:03:20] conclude there were three
[1:03:21] people in the queue with their
[1:03:24] hand raised.
[1:03:24] >> No additional speakers will
[1:03:25] be taken.
[1:03:25] Andrea please proceed.
[1:03:29] My this is Andrea ebbing.
[1:03:29] That's a great thing that we
[1:03:33] speed's down 6 million and over
[1:03:37] time projected That's great.
[1:03:38] I, I wanted to once again bring
[1:03:42] up other pay.
[1:03:43] I haven't heard anybody discuss
[1:03:44] other pay in the entire year
[1:03:47] except for me from the city
[1:03:47] standpoint.
[1:03:48] So I don't really know how we
[1:03:52] can get those answers again On
[1:03:52] Transparent California it shows
[1:03:56] that city employees were paid
[1:03:57] $152 million of other pay in
[1:04:01] the year 2020 for which doesn't
[1:04:02] appear to be pension benefits
[1:04:06] regular pay or any form of
[1:04:07] benefits.
[1:04:11] So it's like fringe benefits is
[1:04:12] 152 million for city employees.
[1:04:15] What is that fringe benefit?
[1:04:20] We're very curious about that.
[1:04:21] I am concerned about one You
[1:04:22] know, I've heard some
[1:04:25] projections and estimations but
[1:04:26] I didn't hear anything about
[1:04:26] some of our programs like
[1:04:30] the Family Justice Center,
[1:04:30] which was a city initiative for
[1:04:36] decades And then recently as of
[1:04:36] this last year I guess Summer
[1:04:39] Stephan our district attorney
[1:04:40] who's a county employee took it
[1:04:40] over.
[1:04:44] So I don't know how that plays
[1:04:45] out and what you know how we
[1:04:46] factor in any of that money.
[1:04:49] But there was a massive issue
[1:04:50] when Mara Elliott was running
[1:04:50] it that the Union-Tribune had
[1:04:54] picked up on the fact that they
[1:04:55] weren't actually licensed to
[1:04:55] operate in the state of
[1:04:56] California and money was being
[1:04:59] filtered through it.
[1:04:59] So that is a place we should
[1:05:00] probably look for money if we
[1:05:08] need money and the reduced
[1:05:09] revenue and increased budget
[1:05:12] deficit is concerning
[1:05:13] especially with the Balboa Park
[1:05:13] parking situation.
[1:05:17] It looks like some people have
[1:05:18] taken it upon themselves to
[1:05:19] continuously vandalize these
[1:05:22] parking meters and that's very
[1:05:23] expensive.
[1:05:27] So all in all and in attendance
[1:05:27] is down.
[1:05:28] >> Very concerning But thank
[1:05:28] you.
[1:05:32] That's all.
[1:05:33] Katherine Douglas if you can
[1:05:33] please unmute.
[1:05:35] After that is 1384 Katherine
[1:05:35] Douglas.
[1:05:36] >> Shout out to the San Diego
[1:05:39] Police Department under
[1:05:40] the leadership of Chief Wall
[1:05:45] and he certainly deserves
[1:05:45] credit.
[1:05:46] So does everybody else on his
[1:05:49] team because I have seen
[1:05:50] the concerted effort that they
[1:05:54] have made to save the to stay
[1:05:55] within their budget And over
[1:05:59] time I only hope that other
[1:06:00] departments will do the same
[1:06:05] thing and keep pace with what
[1:06:05] the San Diego Police Department
[1:06:06] has been able to accomplish.
[1:06:11] Thank you.
[1:06:11] Thank you.
[1:06:12] And next our final speaker is
[1:06:13] 1384.
[1:06:21] Please unmute.
[1:06:22] Hello Ernie Casco La Hoya
[1:06:26] resident senior pilot Another
[1:06:26] shady deal at Torrey Pines
[1:06:30] ahead report the complaint is
[1:06:30] well documented on your desk.
[1:06:31] We have a proven solution known
[1:06:35] as the San Diego recreational
[1:06:36] waiver that would end
[1:06:36] the dispute.
[1:06:40] It's time for transparency to
[1:06:40] stop the corruption within your
[1:06:41] own admission administration.
[1:06:45] Joe LaCava your leaseholder is
[1:06:45] caught.
[1:06:46] It is illegal to turn our
[1:06:50] freedom into a privilege for a
[1:06:50] license and a fee under any
[1:06:54] terms circumstances or
[1:06:54] condition.
[1:06:55] I should not be forced to sign
[1:06:58] a leaseholder waiver when
[1:06:59] the city liabilities are
[1:06:59] already covered by California
[1:07:03] recreational laws.
[1:07:04] This is misappropriation of
[1:07:04] public funding going into a
[1:07:08] private account and needs to be
[1:07:08] fully audited for transparency.
[1:07:13] City The San Diego Recreational
[1:07:14] Waiver stops city lease over
[1:07:17] internal corruption and revise
[1:07:17] by revising the permanent
[1:07:21] reinstatement of Torrey Pines
[1:07:22] Advisory Board with unanimous
[1:07:27] support from every one as a
[1:07:27] proven solution.
[1:07:32] This needs to be done for
[1:07:32] public safety, safety and
[1:07:36] oversight and would end
[1:07:37] the dispute.
[1:07:37] The San Diego recreational
[1:07:42] waiver secures city city
[1:07:42] liabilities, restores
[1:07:43] recreational fee freedom and
[1:07:46] addresses the victim and
[1:07:47] witnesses who have been damaged
[1:07:48] and assaulted within a timely
[1:07:51] fashion.
[1:07:52] It's a win for city
[1:07:52] liabilities, restores
[1:07:53] recreational rights and
[1:07:56] freedoms for years to come.
[1:07:57] It's the best decision City
[1:08:01] Council and you could make Joe
[1:08:01] LaCava.
[1:08:02] If you want me to walk away you
[1:08:06] are blatantly blatantly robbing
[1:08:06] America.
[1:08:07] The City Council is still
[1:08:08] liable and needs to address
[1:08:11] the victims and witnesses who
[1:08:11] have been damaged.
[1:08:16] Thank.
[1:08:17] >> Thank you.
[1:08:17] And that concludes all
[1:08:18] the comment on this item.
[1:08:18] All right.
[1:08:20] Thank you, City Clerk.
[1:08:21] And with that we will turn it
[1:08:22] over to council members for
[1:08:26] questions, comments and
[1:08:26] entertain a motion And we'll
[1:08:27] start with the chair of
[1:08:27] the Budget Committee.
[1:08:31] Council Member foster Thank
[1:08:31] you.
[1:08:36] Council PRESIDENT And thank you
[1:08:37] staff for the presentation and
[1:08:41] also thank you to the ipa.
[1:08:42] We did have an opportunity to
[1:08:45] hear this report in the Budget
[1:08:46] and Government Efficiency
[1:08:47] Committee so I'm going to keep
[1:08:50] my comments brief as I did have
[1:08:51] an opportunity to provide some
[1:08:55] feedback There as I'd like to
[1:08:55] hear from my colleagues that do
[1:08:56] not sit on the committee and
[1:08:59] allow them to have the time
[1:08:59] that they need.
[1:09:04] I do have one question in
[1:09:04] the aba's report under
[1:09:05] conclusion the last bullet kind
[1:09:08] of said Hey, Council MAY wish
[1:09:09] to request more details on
[1:09:09] the appropriateness of
[1:09:14] the general fund appropriations
[1:09:14] .
[1:09:15] I guess the question is to
[1:09:15] the impacted departments is
[1:09:18] there not an opportunity to
[1:09:19] absorb say cost overruns that
[1:09:20] are being projected or that we
[1:09:24] are seeing in this midyear?
[1:09:28] If you can answer that quickly
[1:09:29] and if there's any opportunity
[1:09:30] or if we need to take a look at
[1:09:34] it and get back to us.
[1:09:34] Yeah, we did address that These
[1:09:38] appropriation reallocations are
[1:09:39] not addressing the entire over
[1:09:39] budget projections in those
[1:09:40] departments.
[1:09:43] It's only doing a portion of
[1:09:43] it.
[1:09:44] We are expecting them to find
[1:09:47] other mitigation actions within
[1:09:48] their operations.
[1:09:48] >> Okay.
[1:09:52] And I, I, I guess you know
[1:09:53] short answer you know of course
[1:09:57] i'm looking forward to third
[1:09:58] quarter monitoring which just
[1:09:59] gives us a little more
[1:10:02] certainty as we work to close
[1:10:03] out this current budget cycle.
[1:10:06] So with that council PRESIDENT
[1:10:07] I will move staff's
[1:10:07] recommendation.
[1:10:11] Thank you.
[1:10:11] Thank you, sir.
[1:10:12] So we do have a motion by
[1:10:16] Councilmember Foster to move
[1:10:17] the staff recommendation and
[1:10:17] we'll go next to Council
[1:10:18] PRESIDENT Pro Tem Lee who
[1:10:21] accidently got knocked off
[1:10:21] the lights.
[1:10:22] >> That's okay.
[1:10:22] Thanks, Council PRESIDENT.
[1:10:26] And like our budget chair
[1:10:27] Councilmember Foster, we did
[1:10:27] discuss this at budget and
[1:10:31] government efficiency.
[1:10:31] So I'll try to keep my comments
[1:10:32] short as well.
[1:10:34] I think for me there's just
[1:10:35] three things that are really on
[1:10:38] my mind that I thought I would
[1:10:39] at least vocalize today.
[1:10:40] One is just the fact that
[1:10:44] the council approved the final
[1:10:45] budget that I know included
[1:10:49] some budgetary cuts that have
[1:10:50] to date still not been
[1:10:50] implemented.
[1:10:53] And as I understand them will
[1:10:54] not be implemented.
[1:10:55] And that is just as we look for
[1:10:58] anything something hard for us
[1:10:59] not to continue thinking about
[1:11:00] how we move forward in terms of
[1:11:02] the council's authority with
[1:11:03] the budget.
[1:11:03] Second, I recognize that a
[1:11:08] chunk of the revenue shift in
[1:11:09] the midyear is allocated to
[1:11:13] baseball park parking.
[1:11:14] And to that I will only note
[1:11:15] that much of the changes that
[1:11:18] you think have occurred to
[1:11:18] the program since it was first
[1:11:19] implemented have largely been
[1:11:22] focused on either reducing or
[1:11:23] now to this point making free
[1:11:27] parking for residents.
[1:11:28] And if that is the case I will
[1:11:32] only leave the question that
[1:11:33] given that shift in the revenue
[1:11:37] assumptions, what does that say
[1:11:37] about how much the city was
[1:11:38] relying on charging residents
[1:11:41] in order to get revenue for
[1:11:42] public park?
[1:11:43] And then finally as we look
[1:11:47] forward to the budget, we know
[1:11:48] this is going to be a
[1:11:48] challenging time.
[1:11:49] I appreciate in recognizing
[1:11:51] that there have been some
[1:11:51] shifts since the report was
[1:11:52] first compiled that put us in a
[1:11:53] better position than what we
[1:11:55] started.
[1:11:56] And as we look towards any
[1:11:57] reductions, whether it's in
[1:12:00] the mid-year or into the next
[1:12:01] year's budget, I would hope
[1:12:02] that again we will consider
[1:12:05] what the impact might be on
[1:12:06] front line employees.
[1:12:06] And recognizing that we cannot
[1:12:09] simply have them shoulder
[1:12:10] greater burden of the same
[1:12:10] level of services that we must
[1:12:14] provide as a city with markedly
[1:12:15] less resources.
[1:12:19] So with that I will go ahead
[1:12:20] and second the motion.
[1:12:20] >> Thank you, Chair.
[1:12:21] All right.
[1:12:21] Thank you, sir.
[1:12:22] So we have a motion by
[1:12:24] Councilmember Foster in a
[1:12:25] second by Council PRESIDENT Pro
[1:12:26] Tem Lee to move the staff
[1:12:26] recommendation.
[1:12:28] We'll go next to council member
[1:12:29] Campbell.
[1:12:30] Thank you, Council PRESIDENT.
[1:12:34] I must continue to stress that
[1:12:38] passing a balanced budget is
[1:12:39] one of our most fundamental
[1:12:39] responsibilities as council
[1:12:43] members as it is our job to
[1:12:48] ensure that expenditures do not
[1:12:48] exceed revenues.
[1:12:53] The midyear report before us is
[1:12:54] a direct result of last year's
[1:12:58] shortfalls and revenue over
[1:12:58] projections.
[1:13:03] Deficit spending forces
[1:13:03] difficult corrective actions
[1:13:08] later and makes it harder to
[1:13:12] protect the core services that
[1:13:13] our residents rely on.
[1:13:14] These fiscal realities must be
[1:13:18] taken into account as a
[1:13:22] foundation as we move toward
[1:13:22] adopting a fiscal year 27
[1:13:23] budget.
[1:13:23] Thank you.
[1:13:27] Council PRESIDENT.
[1:13:28] All right.
[1:13:29] Thank you, Councilmember Kemp
[1:13:29] for those good words.
[1:13:31] We'll go next to Councilmember
[1:13:32] Whipple.
[1:13:33] Thank you, Council PRESIDENT.
[1:13:33] I will just offer a comment on
[1:13:37] Chief Wall's report.
[1:13:37] I am glad to see that
[1:13:38] the Neighborhood Policing
[1:13:42] Division is on budget and I
[1:13:42] want to thank the chief for
[1:13:47] having the Academy graduating
[1:13:48] classes engage with
[1:13:48] the neighborhood police and I
[1:13:49] think that is vital.
[1:13:52] A significant number of
[1:13:52] the police department's calls
[1:13:53] involve people experiencing
[1:13:57] homelessness So having officers
[1:13:57] learn how to effectively
[1:13:58] interact with the homeless
[1:14:01] population and help them get
[1:14:02] into services is crucial.
[1:14:02] And we are seeing the benefits
[1:14:06] of that in many areas.
[1:14:07] Most recently we got updated
[1:14:08] homelessness numbers from
[1:14:11] the San Diego riverbed.
[1:14:12] People living in the riverbed
[1:14:16] has been a huge problem in a
[1:14:17] couple of different ways.
[1:14:17] Obviously it's unsafe.
[1:14:18] We've seen people swept away
[1:14:21] when the river rises during
[1:14:22] storms but it's also
[1:14:22] unsanitary.
[1:14:26] According to the San Diego
[1:14:27] River Park Foundation, 65% of
[1:14:28] the trash in the San Diego
[1:14:32] River is attributed to people
[1:14:32] living in the riverbed which
[1:14:36] obviously has environmental
[1:14:37] consequences.
[1:14:41] But the most recent
[1:14:42] homelessness count in the San
[1:14:42] Diego River was the lowest that
[1:14:46] it has been in years And many
[1:14:46] of the people who are leaving
[1:14:51] the riverbed are going to our
[1:14:52] safe sleeping sites which are
[1:14:55] much safer And obviously much
[1:14:56] healthier.
[1:14:56] So there are a lot of different
[1:14:57] elements of our homelessness
[1:15:00] system that work together and
[1:15:01] we are seeing the results.
[1:15:02] And I want to thank the chief
[1:15:05] and the department for its
[1:15:06] contribution to that effort.
[1:15:06] >> Thank you.
[1:15:07] Council PRESIDENT.
[1:15:10] All right.
[1:15:10] Thank you.
[1:15:11] Council member Whitburn not
[1:15:12] seeing anybody else on
[1:15:15] the lights.
[1:15:16] I'll offer a few thoughts and
[1:15:16] thank you.
[1:15:19] Council member Foster for
[1:15:20] deferring to those of us not at
[1:15:24] Budget Committee.
[1:15:25] So I want to thank Department
[1:15:25] of Finance and our cfo for
[1:15:29] the very good work that they do
[1:15:30] every year putting the report
[1:15:33] together, comparing their
[1:15:34] projections to the reality and
[1:15:35] trying to put it together in a
[1:15:39] way that even us council
[1:15:39] members can possibly understand
[1:15:43] given the complexity of how we
[1:15:43] the city operates.
[1:15:44] Thank you to the Office of
[1:15:48] the Independent Budget Analyst
[1:15:48] for your insight and analysis.
[1:15:49] It's good to have the two
[1:15:50] different perspectives put in
[1:15:52] front of us.
[1:15:53] And as others have said, thank
[1:15:54] you Chief, for the very good
[1:15:57] work.
[1:15:57] You made a lot of bold promises
[1:16:01] and you clearly have delivered
[1:16:02] without compromising public
[1:16:02] safety.
[1:16:03] >> So we owe you a debt of
[1:16:07] gratitude.
[1:16:08] And you know, as was said, I
[1:16:11] also want to take this
[1:16:12] opportunity to talk a little
[1:16:12] bit about overtime.
[1:16:13] Fire rescue is in a position
[1:16:16] where they have to respond when
[1:16:17] there is an emergency and there
[1:16:21] is not much you can say about
[1:16:21] that.
[1:16:22] While we can continue to
[1:16:26] control and I know Chief Logan
[1:16:27] didn't make the promises that
[1:16:27] chief while did but I think he
[1:16:31] did keep a share a sharp eye on
[1:16:32] that And I know some of that
[1:16:35] will be reimbursed at a later
[1:16:36] time And even in transportation
[1:16:37] when we listen to our
[1:16:40] constituents complain about
[1:16:41] sidewalk cracks, potholes and
[1:16:45] street lights being out there
[1:16:46] has been a remarkable shift in
[1:16:50] transportation being able to
[1:16:50] accelerate and respond to that.
[1:16:51] I think the conversation about
[1:16:55] our community parking districts
[1:16:56] was really a game changer in
[1:17:00] that conversation.
[1:17:01] And if we can just get
[1:17:01] transportation out of
[1:17:04] the business of dig alerts and
[1:17:05] get them focused on what our
[1:17:06] constituents want, we'll do
[1:17:06] even better.
[1:17:08] But I appreciate everybody in
[1:17:09] transportation and what you've
[1:17:10] been able to do with
[1:17:14] the resources we have provided
[1:17:14] you.
[1:17:15] I've said on multiple occasions
[1:17:18] I stand ready to docket early
[1:17:18] actions to course correct and
[1:17:19] generate savings to balance
[1:17:23] this year's budget and get a
[1:17:24] jump on cuts necessary to
[1:17:25] balance the f y 27 budget.
[1:17:28] And I'll continue to voice that
[1:17:28] commitment.
[1:17:29] The mid-year budget monitoring
[1:17:33] report is one rather limited
[1:17:33] way for the Council to weigh in
[1:17:34] on the budget outside of
[1:17:37] the formal budget adoption
[1:17:38] process we do in JUNE.
[1:17:39] And I recognize that the mayor
[1:17:42] has used his executive
[1:17:43] authority to require mitigation
[1:17:43] measures and I know that
[1:17:47] department directors are taking
[1:17:47] this budget crisis very
[1:17:48] seriously.
[1:17:48] We cannot predict or control
[1:17:52] for everything.
[1:17:52] The report highlights a
[1:17:57] predicted difficult reality of
[1:17:58] the 16.7 and for a change we
[1:17:58] actually got a series of good
[1:18:02] news which feels like we've
[1:18:03] really been lagging over
[1:18:07] the past several months.
[1:18:08] So I appreciate that reporting
[1:18:12] And we're now getting down from
[1:18:15] 16.7 to 1.8 starting third
[1:18:16] quarter and fourth quarter to
[1:18:16] navigate.
[1:18:17] >> But at least it feels like
[1:18:22] we're on the right track.
[1:18:23] >> Budgeting for our cities
[1:18:27] needs a complex balance of cash
[1:18:28] flow, long range planning and
[1:18:29] of course addressing those
[1:18:29] emergencies.
[1:18:33] I applied Department of Finance
[1:18:33] for navigating this difficult
[1:18:34] work.
[1:18:34] This is a year for tough
[1:18:37] conversations and a need for
[1:18:37] much greater scrutiny.
[1:18:38] And I think me and my council
[1:18:42] colleagues will dig in probably
[1:18:42] a little bit deeper than we
[1:18:43] have in the past going forward.
[1:18:47] So I have a couple of questions
[1:18:47] I want to build on
[1:18:51] Councilmember Foster's comments
[1:18:51] .
[1:18:52] So for the good news that we
[1:18:56] got in, how much of that is
[1:18:56] actually ongoing revenue that
[1:19:01] we can use to predict for f y
[1:19:02] 27 how much of it is one time
[1:19:05] that the insurance recovery I
[1:19:09] suspect is a one time dollar
[1:19:09] amount?
[1:19:10] >> That's correct.
[1:19:10] Thank you.
[1:19:11] Council PRESIDENT.
[1:19:14] So 8 million for the old
[1:19:14] Central Library insurance
[1:19:17] proceeds is one time
[1:19:18] the revised sdg any franchise
[1:19:22] fee of 6 million is ongoing
[1:19:22] The revised sales tax and
[1:19:27] the total sales tax was an
[1:19:27] increase of 2.6 total is a
[1:19:31] decrease of about 400,000.
[1:19:32] That's considered ongoing.
[1:19:32] And then finally the Balboa
[1:19:36] Park parking update of-1.2
[1:19:40] that's considered ongoing as
[1:19:41] well.
[1:19:41] >> Okay.
[1:19:42] And I guess I do want to be
[1:19:44] careful because sometimes we
[1:19:45] think of one time as kind of a
[1:19:49] bad use but the insurance we
[1:19:49] spent the 8 million already to
[1:19:50] repair the library if I
[1:19:54] understand correctly And now
[1:19:54] we're finally getting that
[1:19:55] insurance proceeds.
[1:19:58] So it's not always a bad thing
[1:19:59] .
[1:19:59] What about the appropriations
[1:20:00] that we're making?
[1:20:04] How much how many of those are
[1:20:04] one time or do we actually
[1:20:05] anticipate they'll be ongoing
[1:20:09] That will be added to our f y
[1:20:13] 26 baseline.
[1:20:14] It is a combination of one time
[1:20:18] and ongoing.
[1:20:18] We can provide you details how
[1:20:22] that breaks out afterwards.
[1:20:23] >> We don't have that right.
[1:20:27] Okay that'll be good to know
[1:20:28] Again to inform us as we start
[1:20:31] thinking ahead about our fy 27
[1:20:31] going forward.
[1:20:32] You know, I appreciate
[1:20:35] the question of Councilmember
[1:20:36] Foster, our budget chair in
[1:20:41] terms of department's ability
[1:20:41] to absorb these costs And as
[1:20:42] you mentioned, there MAY be
[1:20:45] additional overages that we'll
[1:20:46] have to figure out how to
[1:20:47] navigate those as we understand
[1:20:50] them.
[1:20:50] To your point of whether they
[1:20:55] are ongoing or one time cost
[1:20:56] but in order to keep the wheels
[1:21:00] on the bus so to speak, it's
[1:21:01] the time that we do have those
[1:21:05] additional savings that we can
[1:21:06] allocate to which I will admit
[1:21:06] causes me a little bit of
[1:21:10] heartburn But on the other hand
[1:21:10] we have to pay our bill.
[1:21:11] Some of these I'm sure are
[1:21:13] invoiced items that vendors are
[1:21:19] expecting payment for that and
[1:21:23] I always like to be careful
[1:21:24] because the job that
[1:21:27] the Department of Finance does
[1:21:28] when you look at them as line
[1:21:29] items you think really we
[1:21:32] really missed out.
[1:21:33] But against $2 billion in
[1:21:37] the total they are a pretty
[1:21:38] small percentage And the kinds
[1:21:39] of things that will just kind
[1:21:42] of sneak through literally
[1:21:43] pennies on the dollar compared
[1:21:43] to the total budget.
[1:21:47] So I appreciate the challenges
[1:21:48] of trying to manage every
[1:21:51] single aspect everything that
[1:21:52] is built in in terms of cost of
[1:21:57] living increases in our various
[1:21:57] contracts etc. Continues to be
[1:22:01] a challenge going forward.
[1:22:02] I also kind of wanted to
[1:22:07] mention a little bit about Bell
[1:22:07] part which is an ongoing
[1:22:08] painful conversation.
[1:22:11] This council did try to
[1:22:11] accelerate Bell Ballpark by an
[1:22:15] additional porter that didn't
[1:22:16] happen That certainly caused
[1:22:20] some of that reduction in cost
[1:22:21] .
[1:22:21] The MARCH update which I had
[1:22:24] thought was about a $700,000
[1:22:25] hit to the projected revenue I
[1:22:28] guess you're predicting 1.2
[1:22:29] million now And it's also I
[1:22:33] think important to remind folks
[1:22:33] this is just what we're getting
[1:22:37] an f y 26 We're learning a lot
[1:22:41] from this f y 27 Some people
[1:22:41] have different ideas but can
[1:22:45] actually be a full year worth
[1:22:46] of revenue and perhaps some
[1:22:51] stabilization in the operation
[1:22:51] .
[1:22:52] And I know there'll be more
[1:22:52] conversation in that regard by
[1:22:55] some individuals but I did want
[1:22:56] to point that the difference
[1:22:57] out there So this was a pretty
[1:23:00] fundamental change.
[1:23:01] Thoughtful predictions were put
[1:23:05] together How do we actually
[1:23:06] solve some of the issues as
[1:23:06] Council PRESIDENT Pro Tem Lee
[1:23:10] said about the impact on
[1:23:11] residents?
[1:23:11] We're all I think very
[1:23:12] carefully navigated in
[1:23:15] the conversation.
[1:23:16] >> So I'll close there.
[1:23:20] I'll be supporting the motion.
[1:23:25] I appreciate your detail and
[1:23:25] other thing I'll close with
[1:23:26] I've got to keep saying one
[1:23:32] more thing but there's a lot of
[1:23:33] things for people can be
[1:23:33] frustrated about.
[1:23:36] But I think just in the five
[1:23:37] years that I've been in office
[1:23:39] and the 1520 years that I've
[1:23:40] been paying attention, I don't
[1:23:41] think there's been more
[1:23:44] transparency in exactly what
[1:23:45] our financial condition is,
[1:23:46] whether it is the general fund
[1:23:49] budget, whether it is
[1:23:50] the capital improvement
[1:23:51] program, the kinds of numbers
[1:23:54] that we're exposing could have
[1:23:55] easily been exposed 20 years
[1:23:56] ago and just never were And
[1:23:59] maybe decisions would have been
[1:23:59] differently and adjustments
[1:24:00] would have been made over
[1:24:04] the years rather than us
[1:24:05] scrambling now that it's so
[1:24:05] much more front and center.
[1:24:08] So thank you all for that good
[1:24:09] work.
[1:24:10] So with that we have a motion
[1:24:13] by Council member Foster and a
[1:24:14] second by Council PRESIDENT Pro
[1:24:15] Tem Lee to move the staff
[1:24:16] recommendation.
[1:24:21] Clerk Please call the vote I'm
[1:24:22] sorry the voting system Please
[1:24:22] cast your vote.
[1:24:24] Council member Ella Rivera My
[1:24:29] apologies if you have your own
[1:24:29] .
[1:24:33] >> That passes unanimously 7 to
[1:24:34] 0 with Councilmember Campo and
[1:24:34] Council member Von Wilpert
[1:24:38] Absent.
[1:24:39] Thank you, Council PRESIDENT.
[1:24:39] All right.
[1:24:40] Thank you And thank you to all
[1:24:43] the directors and chiefs that
[1:24:43] the stood ready for any
[1:24:44] questions we might throw at
[1:24:44] you.
[1:24:48] So with that.
[1:24:49] >> Clerk please introduce item
[1:24:52] 201 Item 2a1 is the creation of
[1:24:53] an annual allocation for
[1:24:53] the Convention Center
[1:24:57] Modernization projects.
[1:24:58] And approval of the fiscal year
[1:24:58] 26 itemized budget for
[1:25:02] the Convention Center revenue
[1:25:02] account under Measure c.
[1:25:03] If you'd like to speak to this
[1:25:04] item, now's the time to raise
[1:25:07] your hand by pressing Star nine
[1:25:08] or the raise your hand icon.
[1:25:11] And if you are here in person
[1:25:12] please submit your speaker slip
[1:25:13] to the front of the room in
[1:25:13] the clear box.
[1:25:13] Thank you.
[1:25:16] Council PRESIDENT.
[1:25:17] All right, staff.
[1:25:17] Now that you're settled in,
[1:25:18] please introduce yourselves for
[1:25:19] the record and let us know how
[1:25:21] much time you need.
[1:25:22] >> Okay.
[1:25:22] Good afternoon.
[1:25:23] Council Kristin LaCava.
[1:25:26] Council members I'm elected and
[1:25:27] director of Engineering and
[1:25:28] Capital Projects Department.
[1:25:30] We will need ten minutes.
[1:25:30] All right.
[1:25:31] Joining me today is Dominique
[1:25:34] Dawes, interim deputy director
[1:25:35] with ecp staff from the city
[1:25:36] attorney's office and
[1:25:40] the department of Finance are
[1:25:40] also in attendance Support
[1:25:41] item.
[1:25:44] Before we start, I would like
[1:25:44] to acknowledge the San Diego
[1:25:45] Convention Center Corporation
[1:25:49] staff.
[1:25:50] MR. Cushman, special advisor to
[1:25:53] the mayor and Rania mann Chief
[1:25:54] Community Services Officer.
[1:25:54] For their collaboration,
[1:25:58] support and guidance in
[1:25:59] bringing this item forward I
[1:26:03] would like to add that we are
[1:26:04] in receipt of today's San Diego
[1:26:07] County Lodging Association
[1:26:08] letter and understand Chair
[1:26:09] Gleason's remarks at Gleason's
[1:26:12] remarks made at the api
[1:26:13] committee.
[1:26:13] We appreciate their
[1:26:17] constructive suggestions and
[1:26:17] look forward to their
[1:26:18] participation along with other
[1:26:22] representatives of the hospital
[1:26:23] hospitality industry in our
[1:26:27] stakeholder engagement process
[1:26:28] is soon to take place while
[1:26:29] making sure that we stay
[1:26:32] compliant with our commitment
[1:26:33] under the settlement agreement
[1:26:33] with Fifth Avenue Landing.
[1:26:37] Now I will turn it over to
[1:26:38] Dominique to present the item.
[1:26:38] Thank you, Leif.
[1:26:42] Dominique deals with
[1:26:43] engineering capital projects.
[1:26:45] Here to speak about item 2a1
[1:26:46] the creation of the annual
[1:26:46] allocation of the Convention
[1:26:47] Center modernization projects
[1:26:53] and approval of the 2026 budget
[1:26:53] .
[1:26:54] So it's a brief summary of
[1:26:55] the requested actions.
[1:26:55] One we are looking to approve
[1:26:58] the annualized annual Adams
[1:26:59] budget for fy 2026 for
[1:27:00] the Convention Center revenue
[1:27:00] account.
[1:27:03] Also we're looking to authorize
[1:27:04] the cfo to add a new line in
[1:27:05] the cityscape for
[1:27:05] the Convention Center
[1:27:08] Improvements.
[1:27:08] And lastly we're looking to
[1:27:11] have the cfo authorize to
[1:27:12] transfer roughly 2020 $1.4
[1:27:15] million from business area 19
[1:27:16] one three to the new newly
[1:27:17] created scope line item to
[1:27:17] initiate the modernization
[1:27:20] projects.
[1:27:26] The portion of the projected
[1:27:26] measure c total revenues are
[1:27:27] shown in this table.
[1:27:30] These numbers account for
[1:27:30] the 59% allocation of
[1:27:31] the overall duty revenues that
[1:27:35] are allocated Allocated
[1:27:35] specifically to the Convention
[1:27:36] Center.
[1:27:39] The proposed actions today seek
[1:27:40] to the authority to appropriate
[1:27:41] a portion of these revenues for
[1:27:44] the modernization projects
[1:27:48] Roughly 21.4 of the 45.6
[1:27:49] million in projected revenue.
[1:27:53] >> The identified modernization
[1:27:54] projects are shown here in
[1:27:57] the table in yellow.
[1:27:58] The larger projects we're
[1:27:59] looking to focus on are
[1:28:02] the roof replacement and
[1:28:03] the overhaul of the central
[1:28:04] plant that supports facility.
[1:28:07] All projects considered for fy
[1:28:14] 2026 are roughly $21.4 million
[1:28:14] .
[1:28:15] As a brief background for
[1:28:15] the facility.
[1:28:16] The convention center was
[1:28:19] originally erected back in 1989
[1:28:20] and underwent a major expansion
[1:28:20] in 2001.
[1:28:24] Increasing the total usable
[1:28:25] square footage to approximately
[1:28:26] two point 6,000,000ft.
[1:28:29] The structure is primarily a
[1:28:30] cast place concrete structure
[1:28:34] with precast elements.
[1:28:34] The major building systems
[1:28:35] include a central chilled water
[1:28:38] plant large air handling units,
[1:28:39] gas fired boilers and emergency
[1:28:39] generators.
[1:28:43] The operational context for
[1:28:44] the facility is that it's a
[1:28:44] high use mission critical
[1:28:45] public facility requiring
[1:28:47] limited downtime.
[1:28:52] >> Historic funding has focused
[1:28:53] on operations and debt service
[1:28:53] unfortunately leaving
[1:28:54] insufficient funding for long
[1:28:57] term capital renewals.
[1:28:58] Increasing system failures of
[1:28:59] the recent include boilers and
[1:29:02] chillers, electrical
[1:29:02] infrastructure, plumbing and
[1:29:03] the most recent rain events
[1:29:04] that we've experienced the past
[1:29:07] couple of months.
[1:29:08] >> The roof leaks to
[1:29:11] the facility while the facility
[1:29:12] remains functional.
[1:29:12] It is aging and requires
[1:29:13] capital investment to maintain
[1:29:17] its class-a standards.
[1:29:17] The projects we're looking to
[1:29:18] undertake would seek to limit
[1:29:21] the service disruptions and
[1:29:22] also quell the potential safety
[1:29:23] concerns that have been
[1:29:26] identified.
[1:29:30] Back in 2022 the Convention
[1:29:31] Center hired a third party to
[1:29:35] conduct a property condition
[1:29:36] assessment without getting too
[1:29:36] technical.
[1:29:37] That condition assessment
[1:29:40] yields a facility condition
[1:29:41] index fci which is really just
[1:29:45] the cost for repairs to
[1:29:46] the total cost of replacement.
[1:29:49] As that number trends towards
[1:29:49] one you're looking for you're
[1:29:50] looking towards a full
[1:29:51] replacement of the facility f
[1:29:54] fy 2020 2020 two's assessment
[1:29:58] yielded about.023 is the rating
[1:30:01] and extrapolating that to 2026
[1:30:02] that rating increased 2.035.
[1:30:03] So right now we're at an
[1:30:06] opportune time to really imbue
[1:30:06] capital into the into
[1:30:07] the facility to get it back in
[1:30:10] Right standing that that
[1:30:14] assessment also identified
[1:30:15] approximately 244,000,000 in
[1:30:16] 2022 for 25 your capital needs
[1:30:18] when you account for the 5%
[1:30:18] inflation.
[1:30:22] That number is roughly 453
[1:30:22] million.
[1:30:27] The strategy for these cp
[1:30:28] modernization projects that
[1:30:28] we're bringing forward are
[1:30:31] looking to prioritize critical
[1:30:32] life safety and operational
[1:30:32] systems, restore near-term
[1:30:36] reliability and reduce risk
[1:30:37] reduction for the facility
[1:30:37] overall.
[1:30:38] It's essentially a multiyear
[1:30:41] modernization with goals in
[1:30:41] sustainability and energy
[1:30:46] energy efficiency.
[1:30:46] >> Again, a quick summary of
[1:30:47] the actions that we're bringing
[1:30:50] forward today.
[1:30:51] >> We're looking to approve
[1:30:52] the analyzed itemized budget
[1:30:56] for fy 2026 for the Convention
[1:30:56] Center revenue account,
[1:30:57] authorize the cfo to create a
[1:31:00] new line item recipe for
[1:31:00] the convention center
[1:31:01] improvements.
[1:31:02] And then lastly authorize
[1:31:06] the cfo to transfer that
[1:31:06] roughly $21.4 million from
[1:31:09] business Area nine and one
[1:31:10] three to the newly created cp
[1:31:10] line item for these
[1:31:14] modernization projects.
[1:31:15] You can open it to the group
[1:31:18] for questions.
[1:31:19] >> All right.
[1:31:19] Thank you very much for
[1:31:20] the presentation.
[1:31:21] Clerk Please proceed with
[1:31:22] public comment.
[1:31:23] Thank you.
[1:31:23] Council PRESIDENT We do have
[1:31:27] some speakers here and
[1:31:28] Administrator and Robert
[1:31:28] Gleason if you can please come
[1:31:33] forward and send me on Strether
[1:31:40] is okay You submitted 4 to 1.
[1:31:48] Yeah This is item two one to
[1:31:49] you not want to speak to
[1:31:50] the modernization fund?
[1:31:57] Sure.
[1:31:58] Hey good afternoon everybody My
[1:32:01] name is and said Magic Estrada
[1:32:02] ,political director for
[1:32:02] the San Diego Building and
[1:32:03] Construction Trades Council.
[1:32:06] I'm here to ask that you move
[1:32:07] forward with staff
[1:32:08] recommendation on this item.
[1:32:10] I'll see you in a couple of
[1:32:11] minutes for 2 or 2 as well.
[1:32:12] But you know, I don't want to
[1:32:14] get in my comments there but
[1:32:15] thank you so much.
[1:32:15] >> Thank you.
[1:32:19] After that is Robert Gleason.
[1:32:20] >> Good afternoon.
[1:32:21] Council PRESIDENT Council
[1:32:21] members Robert Gleason I'm
[1:32:24] the chair of the San Diego
[1:32:25] County Lodging Association.
[1:32:25] You received our letter this
[1:32:30] morning and I spoke to those of
[1:32:30] you on the committee previously
[1:32:34] So I just want to reiterate a
[1:32:34] few points here.
[1:32:35] Obviously recognize
[1:32:39] the situation that the city is
[1:32:40] in in and want to move forward.
[1:32:43] But as the last remaining
[1:32:43] member of the coalition that
[1:32:44] actually negotiated and wrote
[1:32:48] and put measure c on the ballot
[1:32:49] amongst hotels, labor council
[1:32:53] building trades and the chamber
[1:32:54] I'm the only person I'll hear
[1:32:55] from today that can and just
[1:32:58] want to caution about the use
[1:32:58] of these funds.
[1:32:59] This measure was never intended
[1:33:02] to be a source.
[1:33:03] It was meant to be a source of
[1:33:04] new revenue for homelessness
[1:33:08] programs, streets and
[1:33:08] convention center repairs.
[1:33:09] Using it for anything other
[1:33:12] than that is not what
[1:33:13] the measure says.
[1:33:13] It's definitely not what
[1:33:14] the measure intended and it's
[1:33:17] absolutely not what was sold to
[1:33:18] the voters.
[1:33:18] What's being proposed today is
[1:33:22] deferred maintenance and it's
[1:33:22] disappointing that this is
[1:33:23] the first use of funds from
[1:33:26] Measure c.
[1:33:27] However, all that being said,
[1:33:31] the convention center has very
[1:33:32] significant deferred
[1:33:32] maintenance.
[1:33:36] The city under previous
[1:33:37] administrations and previous
[1:33:37] councils and continued through
[1:33:41] these has been underfunding
[1:33:42] those capital needs for many,
[1:33:42] many years.
[1:33:43] So as I've learned to say in
[1:33:46] therapy both things are true.
[1:33:47] We need to address the deferred
[1:33:51] maintenance but we need to
[1:33:52] really focus on the ultimate
[1:33:56] expansion and modernization of
[1:33:56] the convention center.
[1:33:57] So assuming you move this
[1:34:00] forward today, I'd ask you to
[1:34:01] keep an eye particularly in
[1:34:02] the upcoming budget
[1:34:02] conversations to make sure that
[1:34:06] measure c funds are used as
[1:34:06] intended not for deferred
[1:34:07] maintenance, not for operation,
[1:34:11] not for sales, not for
[1:34:11] marketing but for new
[1:34:12] homelessness programs and
[1:34:12] ultimately for the expansion
[1:34:15] and modernization of
[1:34:16] the Convention center in order
[1:34:16] to keep with public trust and
[1:34:18] the trust of the voters.
[1:34:23] >> Thank you.
[1:34:24] >> Thank you.
[1:34:24] That does conclude public
[1:34:25] comment here in council
[1:34:26] chambers one of those
[1:34:28] participating remotely
[1:34:29] currently have five people with
[1:34:33] their hands raised 8700 if you
[1:34:33] can please unmute after that Is
[1:34:34] Andrea Ebbing and then Blair
[1:34:36] Brickman Okay.
[1:34:37] >> Excuse me.
[1:34:42] Thank you Joyce Any other
[1:34:42] district three City Clerk How
[1:34:43] much time do I have?
[1:34:46] >> We'll reset the clock for
[1:34:46] two minutes.
[1:34:47] >> Thank you for resetting.
[1:34:51] I appreciate that so much.
[1:34:51] Okay.
[1:34:52] I like what that gentleman just
[1:34:52] said.
[1:34:56] I might not agree with
[1:34:56] everything just the way it was
[1:34:57] worded but I especially like
[1:35:01] the caution on the use of
[1:35:01] the funds.
[1:35:02] And so we need oversight.
[1:35:06] We need transparent and say and
[1:35:07] we need monitoring.
[1:35:11] You know we have to remember
[1:35:12] and this is new stuff so I'm
[1:35:13] seeing right this minute but we
[1:35:15] have to remember that things
[1:35:15] have to be tweaked.
[1:35:16] Things will change.
[1:35:20] You know, it was said a certain
[1:35:21] way and the measure and now we
[1:35:25] might be tweaking it That's
[1:35:25] okay.
[1:35:26] You know, things do change.
[1:35:27] You're moving targets all over
[1:35:30] the place So let's not get too
[1:35:31] locked into the wording on a
[1:35:31] measure.
[1:35:35] Let's work together on this.
[1:35:36] I didn't plan on saying that.
[1:35:40] So if dcc certainly a great
[1:35:45] asset we we have fallen short
[1:35:45] though for a long time on
[1:35:49] safety factors.
[1:35:50] You know where was
[1:35:54] the prevention of this deferred
[1:35:54] maintenance?
[1:35:55] It happened over time and it's
[1:35:58] just so sad.
[1:36:02] I just I feel very sad about it
[1:36:02] .
[1:36:03] And one other thing I love
[1:36:04] the PowerPoint but boy, did it
[1:36:07] go over my head.
[1:36:08] I think you had to be a
[1:36:12] PRESIDENT LaCava or you know a
[1:36:13] professor or I mean somebody
[1:36:13] who understands all that
[1:36:14] language.
[1:36:17] So one question as I finish out
[1:36:21] here is a generator the same
[1:36:22] thing as a boiler because you
[1:36:25] know, I'm fighting I'm I'm
[1:36:26] trying to heal the big canary
[1:36:27] with the band covered with
[1:36:31] the Band-Aids which is known as
[1:36:31] the boiler.
[1:36:35] So I just pray and as if
[1:36:35] the boiler be part of
[1:36:36] the mineralization it's
[1:36:40] deferred maintenance big time.
[1:36:41] So is a generator or a boiler?
[1:36:41] I don't know.
[1:36:45] I try to look it up on Google
[1:36:46] and it said they can be
[1:36:50] confused So thank you so much
[1:36:50] and it's a great great report
[1:36:54] And for that concluding comment
[1:36:54] .
[1:36:55] Andrea Ebbing if you can please
[1:36:56] unmute after that.
[1:36:59] Blair Beckman I Andrea are
[1:36:59] being so for the modernization
[1:37:03] project I'm wondering this MAY
[1:37:08] not be part of this budget, it
[1:37:09] MAY actually exist and I don't
[1:37:10] know about it but we used to
[1:37:12] have Converse Convention
[1:37:13] Visitors Bureau I think to
[1:37:17] complement any upgrades or
[1:37:18] anything we're doing we need to
[1:37:22] attract people to So if there's
[1:37:23] any portion of that budget that
[1:37:27] can be used to collaborate and
[1:37:28] come up with initiatives to
[1:37:28] attract additional business
[1:37:33] coming to San Diego for more
[1:37:33] conventions, more room nights,
[1:37:34] that sort of thing that would
[1:37:37] be so helpful.
[1:37:37] i think we need to like
[1:37:38] consider a campaign to kind of
[1:37:42] like you turn from like San
[1:37:43] Diego is the drop off for all
[1:37:47] the rejects and addicts and all
[1:37:48] this stuff that's kind of like
[1:37:49] importing addicts from all over
[1:37:51] the country and how they're
[1:37:52] homeless.
[1:37:52] Let's give them Narcan that
[1:37:53] whole that whole thing We can
[1:37:56] kind of shift away from that
[1:37:57] into like let's have your
[1:38:01] amazing conventions in San
[1:38:02] Diego room nights, patronize
[1:38:06] our nightclubs and restaurants
[1:38:06] and all of the different
[1:38:07] offerings that we have and
[1:38:07] events.
[1:38:11] I think you know a portion of
[1:38:12] an investment toward that to
[1:38:16] complement the upgrades would
[1:38:17] be great upgrade the technology
[1:38:21] obviously the parking situation
[1:38:21] there is a little wild But
[1:38:26] anyways I appreciate overview
[1:38:26] and that's it Thanks.
[1:38:32] >> Next is player Beakman if
[1:38:32] you can please unmute and then
[1:38:34] the final speaker is 8813.
[1:38:38] >> Hi thank you for Beakman
[1:38:39] Thanks for this item It's been
[1:38:43] coming to council committee
[1:38:44] over the past few months now
[1:38:48] the last time was the committee
[1:38:48] heard Joyce Snyder wasn't
[1:38:49] around and I was just really I
[1:38:53] spoke a public comment time
[1:38:54] would be nice to hear Joyce on
[1:38:54] this item because it's really
[1:38:58] important to her and it's nice
[1:38:58] she's returned and able to
[1:38:59] offer her $0.02 on the item.
[1:39:02] Very nice public comment from
[1:39:03] the first person that he's very
[1:39:07] nicely identified What this
[1:39:07] project is actually doing and
[1:39:11] how it relates to measure c
[1:39:11] funding.
[1:39:16] Um yeah I hope this sort of
[1:39:16] project can be funded to have
[1:39:17] an identification of wordage of
[1:39:21] what it is actually doing
[1:39:24] That's important and good luck
[1:39:25] From there we can be funding
[1:39:26] this legally and and working in
[1:39:30] good terms.
[1:39:31] Thank you for the work on this
[1:39:34] that you'll be talking about in
[1:39:35] the next item in connection
[1:39:40] with play work and just
[1:39:40] the overall project of it.
[1:39:41] I always try to say for
[1:39:45] convention center items that if
[1:39:46] you work on the tech
[1:39:46] accountability practices and
[1:39:50] upgrades with the convention
[1:39:50] center you know have clear
[1:39:54] policies that make it a real
[1:39:54] cooperative shared process that
[1:39:55] will bring people to
[1:39:59] the convention center, that
[1:39:59] will bring people to San Diego.
[1:40:00] They want to be around that
[1:40:01] sort of thing and feel
[1:40:04] comforted by it and to
[1:40:05] understand what are best
[1:40:08] practices of public
[1:40:09] accountability, I think people
[1:40:10] will want to see that and
[1:40:14] that's a very important source
[1:40:14] draw in the future.
[1:40:15] So good luck to yourselves in
[1:40:16] considering that sort of
[1:40:18] concept and working in good
[1:40:19] terms as a as a community
[1:40:22] process and not just as a
[1:40:23] government handing down
[1:40:23] dictates.
[1:40:24] >> Thanks a lot.
[1:40:24] Bye bye.
[1:40:27] And 8813 If you can please
[1:40:32] unmute I can't commute for you.
[1:40:40] Start There you go.
[1:40:41] Okay thank you for being
[1:40:41] patient.
[1:40:42] Okay Going here?
[1:40:47] >> Yep.
[1:40:47] Uh yeah.
[1:40:48] This presentation.
[1:40:52] Yeah I agree Joy It's uh it is.
[1:40:53] It's designed to go over
[1:40:57] the people's heads because they
[1:40:58] truly don't want the taxpayers
[1:40:58] understanding what the city is
[1:41:02] being wasteful there And um
[1:41:02] yeah.
[1:41:06] Anyways, okay, expansion and
[1:41:07] modernization just more waste.
[1:41:12] Uh, the convention center MAY
[1:41:13] need to be up to date but not
[1:41:16] at the real I'm not at
[1:41:17] the sacrifice of real
[1:41:18] priorities and issues of
[1:41:21] the city and it's it's kind of
[1:41:22] like wow, I don't know.
[1:41:26] I just feel like if more people
[1:41:27] were paying attention to how
[1:41:31] you guys go about using
[1:41:31] taxpayer money, it would be a
[1:41:32] whole lot different.
[1:41:36] But yeah, deferred maintenance
[1:41:37] there's nothing you know you
[1:41:41] guys are notorious for deferred
[1:41:46] maintenance and you know, like
[1:41:47] I said, real priorities and
[1:41:50] the real issues of the city's
[1:41:51] need to be um the priority.
[1:41:55] I mean and it's like me wanting
[1:41:56] to invest in plastic surgery,
[1:41:56] you know, when my kids are
[1:42:00] starving and my toilet's don't
[1:42:01] flush, you know what I'm
[1:42:01] saying?
[1:42:01] Like come on.
[1:42:05] But yes, here we are in
[1:42:06] the system ruled by
[1:42:10] the establishment and uh,
[1:42:11] people that just want to
[1:42:13] surviving and not thriving.
[1:42:19] That's the game.
[1:42:19] I'm done.
[1:42:20] Thank you.
[1:42:24] Well, there you go And great.
[1:42:25] >> So that concludes with a
[1:42:25] comment on item two.
[1:42:26] A one Thank you.
[1:42:28] Council PRESIDENT All right.
[1:42:28] Thank you.
[1:42:29] City clerk will turn it over to
[1:42:30] council members Questions,
[1:42:33] comments entertain a motion and
[1:42:34] we'll start with Council member
[1:42:34] Whitburn.
[1:42:35] Thank you Council PRESIDENT
[1:42:35] I'll make the motion to approve
[1:42:38] this staff recommendation.
[1:42:39] We heard this at the Act of
[1:42:39] Transportation and
[1:42:40] Infrastructure Committee late
[1:42:40] last month.
[1:42:42] It passed unanimously.
[1:42:43] These funds will address urgent
[1:42:47] needs at the convention center
[1:42:48] today that will allow San Diego
[1:42:49] to remain a competitive
[1:42:52] convention destination with a
[1:42:53] well functioning facility.
[1:42:54] But I also will say that we
[1:42:57] need to get on with
[1:42:57] the business of expanding
[1:42:58] the convention center as soon
[1:43:02] as we can.
[1:43:02] We need to expand
[1:43:03] the convention center if we're
[1:43:03] going to keep some of
[1:43:04] the conventions that we
[1:43:07] currently have if we're going
[1:43:07] to attract bigger ones.
[1:43:08] The public expects us to expand
[1:43:11] the convention center.
[1:43:11] So let's make the needed
[1:43:15] upgrades with today's action
[1:43:16] and at the same time keep our
[1:43:17] eye on the ultimate prize which
[1:43:20] is an expanded convention
[1:43:21] center which will keep San
[1:43:21] Diego in the top tier of
[1:43:25] convention destinations.
[1:43:26] Thank you, Council PRESIDENT.
[1:43:26] All right.
[1:43:30] That was a motion in there made
[1:43:30] the motion upfront.
[1:43:31] >> Yes.
[1:43:31] To approve the staff
[1:43:32] recommendation.
[1:43:35] I'm distraught that I forgot to
[1:43:36] introduce you as a chair of
[1:43:36] the Active Transportation
[1:43:37] Infrastructure Committee.
[1:43:39] Well, so focus But we do have a
[1:43:40] motion by Council member
[1:43:41] Whitburn to move the staff
[1:43:41] recommendation.
[1:43:42] We'll go next to council member
[1:43:44] Campbell Thank you.
[1:43:45] Council PRESIDENT Thank you for
[1:43:48] the motion.
[1:43:49] As one of the few remaining
[1:43:53] standing who in the original
[1:43:57] iteration of this way back in
[1:43:58] 2000 I don't know if there's
[1:44:02] any council members left who
[1:44:03] voted for it and who supported
[1:44:07] it at that time But I know I
[1:44:08] did And those were the days
[1:44:12] those were days when
[1:44:12] the Republicans and
[1:44:13] the Democrats worked together.
[1:44:16] Those were the days when
[1:44:17] the unions and the Chamber of
[1:44:18] Commerce worked together.
[1:44:22] Those were the days And this
[1:44:22] was an excellent, excellent
[1:44:23] measure that was passed
[1:44:27] approved by all the citizens of
[1:44:27] the city who voted for it,
[1:44:31] which was a majority.
[1:44:32] And unfortunately litigation
[1:44:33] has stopped it going forward
[1:44:36] for five years, which indicates
[1:44:41] to me that we need to we need
[1:44:41] to fix up our judicial system
[1:44:46] But that's a whole other can of
[1:44:46] worms.
[1:44:50] So let me just say that I am so
[1:44:51] glad that we have finally
[1:44:51] reached the end of
[1:44:52] the litigation point.
[1:44:55] We're going to move forward
[1:44:55] with this.
[1:44:56] It's going to be an excellent
[1:45:00] addition to our armamentarium
[1:45:01] to keep our city growing and
[1:45:05] progressing and I am grateful
[1:45:05] for it.
[1:45:06] >> I'm happy to second
[1:45:06] the motion.
[1:45:07] All right.
[1:45:10] Thank you, Council member
[1:45:11] Campbell.
[1:45:11] So we have a motion by Council
[1:45:13] member Whitburn and a second by
[1:45:14] Council member Campbell to move
[1:45:15] a staff recommendation.
[1:45:19] I don't see anybody else on
[1:45:20] the light.
[1:45:20] >> I will not add any comments
[1:45:24] to the good work that you're
[1:45:24] doing.
[1:45:25] I am grateful despite some of
[1:45:28] the concerns that we are moving
[1:45:29] quickly now that the litigation
[1:45:30] has been cleared to figure out
[1:45:33] how to spend that money and
[1:45:34] move on these items, I want to
[1:45:38] make sure that if and when
[1:45:38] the conversation comes about
[1:45:43] modernization or even expansion
[1:45:44] that there is actually a
[1:45:44] convention center there to work
[1:45:45] with that And at the pace we're
[1:45:48] going there is some real risk
[1:45:48] there.
[1:45:53] So with that for those of us
[1:45:53] that are not more intimately
[1:45:57] involved in the conversation,
[1:45:58] what is the timeline that we
[1:46:02] can talk about expansion We
[1:46:02] can't do that now.
[1:46:03] >> Correct?
[1:46:03] The city attorney's office will
[1:46:06] comment on it.
[1:46:07] Yes.
[1:46:07] Senior Deputy City Attorney
[1:46:08] Kevin Rush The settlement
[1:46:12] agreement prohibitions are in
[1:46:13] effect through the end of this
[1:46:13] calendar year so the city is
[1:46:16] freed up to publicly discuss
[1:46:21] expansion and take actions in
[1:46:22] that regard starting next year.
[1:46:22] Okay.
[1:46:23] Thank you, Jim for that
[1:46:26] clarification and let folks
[1:46:26] know what timelines might be
[1:46:31] possible going forward.
[1:46:31] And also just to confirm
[1:46:32] the allocation, this is cash.
[1:46:36] We're not bonding.
[1:46:37] We're just using the money that
[1:46:41] is in the bank for this.
[1:46:41] >> That's correct.
[1:46:42] Council member Okay, great.
[1:46:43] Thank you for clarifying that.
[1:46:43] All right.
[1:46:46] Again we have a motion by
[1:46:47] council member Whitburn,
[1:46:47] the second by Council member
[1:46:48] Campbell to move the staff
[1:46:51] recommendation clerk Please
[1:46:51] call the roll I'm sorry
[1:46:52] the voting system Please cast
[1:46:52] your vote.
[1:46:53] >> Council Member Yellow River
[1:46:54] If I MAY get your vote for
[1:46:55] the record.
[1:47:04] >> Yes.
[1:47:08] That passes unanimously 6 to 0
[1:47:09] with Council member Moreno,
[1:47:10] Council member Campo and a
[1:47:12] Council member Von Wilpert
[1:47:12] absent.
[1:47:13] Thank you Council PRESIDENT All
[1:47:13] right.
[1:47:17] Thank you for that.
[1:47:18] >> With that clerk please
[1:47:21] introduce item 202 Item two two
[1:47:21] is the third addendum to
[1:47:26] the third amended and restated
[1:47:26] management agreement between
[1:47:27] the City of San Diego and
[1:47:28] the San Diego Convention Center
[1:47:30] Corporation Inc and
[1:47:31] the designation of specific
[1:47:31] future Convention Center
[1:47:35] Capital Improvement Projects as
[1:47:36] covered projects under
[1:47:36] the Project Labor Agreement.
[1:47:37] If you'd like to speak to this
[1:47:41] item please be sure to submit
[1:47:42] your speaker slip to the front
[1:47:43] of the room in the clear box or
[1:47:45] if you're participating
[1:47:46] remotely start nine at
[1:47:47] the raise your hand icon.
[1:47:47] Thank you.
[1:47:51] That we got the same staff but
[1:47:51] later So introduce yourself for
[1:47:52] the record again and let us
[1:47:54] know how much time you need.
[1:47:55] Good afternoon Council
[1:47:55] PRESIDENT Like our council
[1:47:59] members I'm still illiterate in
[1:48:00] the engineering capital
[1:48:00] Projects Director And here with
[1:48:05] me is Dominique Taos, interim
[1:48:05] Deputy director with the same
[1:48:06] department.
[1:48:06] We will need ten minutes
[1:48:07] please.
[1:48:07] All right.
[1:48:08] When you're ready.
[1:48:09] >> Thank you.
[1:48:14] Okay, Moving on to item two or
[1:48:14] to the third Amended to
[1:48:15] the third.
[1:48:15] Sorry, Excuse me.
[1:48:18] The third addendum to the third
[1:48:19] amended management agreement
[1:48:19] between the city of San Diego
[1:48:20] and the City Convention Center
[1:48:22] Corporation.
[1:48:23] A quick summary of
[1:48:23] the requested action we're
[1:48:27] looking to authorize the mayor
[1:48:28] or his designee to enter into
[1:48:28] the proposed addendum and to
[1:48:33] delegate any of the p projects
[1:48:33] to the Convention Center
[1:48:34] Corporation.
[1:48:36] We're looking also to have
[1:48:37] the cfo authorized to transfer
[1:48:38] funds from the revenue fund to
[1:48:41] the specific c ip projects.
[1:48:42] And then finally a resolution
[1:48:42] identifying the convention
[1:48:43] Center capital improvement
[1:48:46] projects as part of the covered
[1:48:47] projects listing in the prior
[1:48:48] established Project Labor
[1:48:49] Agreement the city put in place
[1:48:55] back in FEBRUARY of 2020 for
[1:48:55] this.
[1:49:00] >> So the original agreement
[1:49:00] the third amended and restated
[1:49:01] management agreement went into
[1:49:04] place in MAY 20th, 2005.
[1:49:05] There was a first addendum to
[1:49:07] that agreement in MARCH 2nd,
[1:49:08] 2012.
[1:49:08] This allowed the Convention
[1:49:12] Center Corporation to enter
[1:49:13] into third party marketing and
[1:49:14] promotion agreements and also
[1:49:14] address the allocation of
[1:49:17] annual operating surplus funds
[1:49:21] Later that year there was a
[1:49:22] second addendum in NOVEMBER
[1:49:22] 2012 that was executed after
[1:49:23] the Convention Center
[1:49:26] Corporation entered into a
[1:49:27] third party marketing agreement
[1:49:28] and then it closed the loophole
[1:49:31] for the surplus fund allocation
[1:49:31] leaving that allocation to go
[1:49:32] back to the regular annual
[1:49:36] budgeting process.
[1:49:36] Currently the framework between
[1:49:37] the Convention Center
[1:49:38] Corporation and the City of San
[1:49:41] Diego has the Convention center
[1:49:42] operating as a day to day
[1:49:46] operator or the convention
[1:49:46] center as an independent
[1:49:47] contractor.
[1:49:47] They are responsible for event
[1:49:51] booking and marketing facility
[1:49:51] operations and maintenance,
[1:49:52] financial admin and
[1:49:53] coordination of capital
[1:49:56] improvements.
[1:49:56] They are subject to the city's
[1:49:57] oversight and funding approval
[1:50:00] and the agreement currently
[1:50:01] defines governance, financial
[1:50:02] reporting and roles to support
[1:50:02] the economic development and
[1:50:05] tourism.
[1:50:10] >> This third addendum that
[1:50:10] we're bringing forth today I
[1:50:11] like a few key changes.
[1:50:14] One being the clarifying
[1:50:14] provisions that is a
[1:50:15] requirement of prevailing wages
[1:50:18] per state law, establishment of
[1:50:19] a reimbursement process and
[1:50:19] compliance with all laws,
[1:50:20] permits and approvals.
[1:50:23] And then ensuring that any San
[1:50:24] Diego Convention Center
[1:50:25] Corporation contract includes
[1:50:28] the city as and specified
[1:50:28] parties as additional insured
[1:50:29] and indemnified and also
[1:50:33] requires payment and
[1:50:33] performance bonds for those
[1:50:34] construction contracts
[1:50:34] Additionally will be looking to
[1:50:38] look into establish a
[1:50:38] delegation process.
[1:50:39] This would allow the city to
[1:50:40] delegate contracting oversight
[1:50:43] of certain types of projects to
[1:50:44] the Convention Center
[1:50:44] Corporation via individual
[1:50:48] delegation agreements.
[1:50:48] The mayor then is authorized to
[1:50:49] enter into these agreements
[1:50:52] setting the city's maximum
[1:50:53] contribution based off of
[1:50:54] Council's appropriations
[1:50:54] contracting and oversight
[1:50:58] requirements.
[1:50:58] And then ultimately as I
[1:50:59] mentioned before, these
[1:51:02] projects will be covered under
[1:51:02] the prior established project
[1:51:03] labor agreements under quote
[1:51:07] unquote covered projects.
[1:51:07] >> Again, a quick summary of
[1:51:11] the requested actions.
[1:51:12] The third addendum would be
[1:51:16] sort of discard excuse me we
[1:51:16] will we will be looking to
[1:51:17] authorize the mayor or designee
[1:51:21] to enter into the third
[1:51:22] addendum with the San Diego
[1:51:23] Convention Center Corporation
[1:51:26] and allowing any individual
[1:51:27] delegation agreements for this
[1:51:28] individual chp projects.
[1:51:30] We would also look to have
[1:51:31] the cfo authorized to make any
[1:51:32] necessary funds transfers to
[1:51:35] execute those vip projects.
[1:51:36] And then lastly there would be
[1:51:40] a resolution identifying these
[1:51:40] capital improvements projects
[1:51:41] to be under the covered
[1:51:42] projects under the city's prior
[1:51:44] established Project Labor
[1:51:50] Agreement back in 2024.
[1:51:50] >> With that I can take
[1:51:51] questions.
[1:51:51] All right.
[1:51:52] Thank you very much for
[1:51:55] the presentation.
[1:51:55] >> The Clerk Please proceed
[1:51:56] with public comment.
[1:52:00] Thank you.
[1:52:01] And let me know if you'd like
[1:52:02] to come forward.
[1:52:02] I think we got our speaker
[1:52:03] slips confused.
[1:52:04] This one says you don't want to
[1:52:05] speak and the other one did.
[1:52:08] So that's like I know you speak
[1:52:09] to both of them.
[1:52:09] Yeah.
[1:52:13] Anybody Political director for
[1:52:14] the San Diego Building and
[1:52:15] Construction Trades Council.
[1:52:18] I want to thank you all so much
[1:52:19] for considering this item at
[1:52:19] the convention center I
[1:52:20] mentioned last time.
[1:52:22] It is a pillar of our economic
[1:52:27] health of the region and
[1:52:27] the city and our members of
[1:52:32] the Building Trades Council to
[1:52:32] affiliated unions.
[1:52:33] We bring skilled and trained
[1:52:34] forward to all the projects we
[1:52:37] work on and we want to do that
[1:52:37] for the Convention center.
[1:52:38] We are happy that moving on
[1:52:41] moving these projects under
[1:52:42] the city's play is here for
[1:52:46] consideration.
[1:52:47] Councilmember Whitburn as chair
[1:52:47] you mentioned that San Diego
[1:52:51] could only get by so long on
[1:52:52] its good looks and we need a
[1:52:53] convention center that kind of
[1:52:53] matches that And I don't need
[1:52:55] to tell anybody here just what
[1:52:56] the lack of maintenance has
[1:53:01] done to the convention center
[1:53:01] is time for that to get
[1:53:02] addressed And we're here and
[1:53:03] ready to do that work.
[1:53:04] So please approve this item.
[1:53:11] Thank you so much.
[1:53:11] >> Thank you.
[1:53:12] At the five minute time we're
[1:53:13] hearing council chambers, there
[1:53:13] are no other speakers here
[1:53:14] going to those participating
[1:53:18] remotely starting with 8700 and
[1:53:18] then 81 three 8700 If you can
[1:53:23] please unmute a thank you Joyce
[1:53:27] Any other cd3I think I see MR.
[1:53:31] Cushman Hello MR. Cushman I
[1:53:32] know that your work with I
[1:53:36] don't understand your work with
[1:53:37] the Convention Center say about
[1:53:41] that but just having you there
[1:53:41] is so strong and I appreciate
[1:53:45] that so much So I approve
[1:53:49] the changes and I especially
[1:53:50] like the requiring of
[1:53:55] the prevailing wages to make
[1:53:56] sure that it's being done.
[1:54:01] I for a long time I had him he
[1:54:04] moved away to another state but
[1:54:05] for a long time I had
[1:54:06] conversations with a gentleman
[1:54:10] who worked in the food aspect
[1:54:14] of the convention center and he
[1:54:14] just loved it.
[1:54:15] He just loved every single
[1:54:19] moment of it and so I'm so glad
[1:54:25] that the a p a is is part of
[1:54:25] this And you know how much I
[1:54:29] really enjoy these days looking
[1:54:30] at the eoc and the workforce
[1:54:34] reports and but I'll tell you
[1:54:34] folks we have to do a lot more
[1:54:39] monitoring and making sure that
[1:54:40] the under representation is
[1:54:40] changed and that they are
[1:54:44] represented and included.
[1:54:48] So this is this is an important
[1:54:48] item.
[1:54:49] Thank you for the presentation
[1:54:54] and look to all 8813 if you can
[1:55:03] please unmute 88130 okay
[1:55:04] control over area just me to
[1:55:05] say remember your priorities
[1:55:12] city of San Diego and yeah I
[1:55:16] got to make you really know no
[1:55:17] I think dedicate it if I can
[1:55:20] does that conclude your
[1:55:21] comments Yeah I'm sorry Yes I'm
[1:55:21] done.
[1:55:25] Okay Thank you That does
[1:55:25] conclude public comment on this
[1:55:26] item.
[1:55:26] All right.
[1:55:27] Thank you, City Clerk.
[1:55:27] And with that we'll turn it
[1:55:30] over to some members for
[1:55:30] questions, comments and
[1:55:31] entertain a motion and we'll
[1:55:35] start again with the chair of
[1:55:36] act a Transportation and
[1:55:36] Infrastructure Committee
[1:55:37] Council member Whitburn Thank
[1:55:37] you.
[1:55:40] Council PRESIDENT I'll make
[1:55:40] the motion to approve the staff
[1:55:41] recommendation on this item as
[1:55:41] well.
[1:55:45] We also heard this at
[1:55:46] the Active Transportation and
[1:55:46] Infrastructure Committee where
[1:55:49] it was passed unanimously.
[1:55:50] I am of course pleased that we
[1:55:51] are designating these projects
[1:55:54] as covered under the city's
[1:55:55] Project Labor agreement that
[1:55:55] helps ensure that these
[1:55:56] projects will create good jobs
[1:56:00] and that the work will get done
[1:56:00] right.
[1:56:01] So again, I'll make the motion
[1:56:01] to approve the staff
[1:56:02] recommendation.
[1:56:02] All right.
[1:56:03] Thank you.
[1:56:05] Council members.
[1:56:06] So we do have a motion by
[1:56:06] Councilmember Whitburn to move
[1:56:07] The staff recommendation will
[1:56:08] go next to council member
[1:56:10] Campbell Thank you Council
[1:56:10] PRESIDENT I am happy to second
[1:56:11] this motion as well.
[1:56:11] All right.
[1:56:15] We have a second So we have now
[1:56:16] a motion by council member
[1:56:16] whitburn, the second by Council
[1:56:17] member Campbell to move
[1:56:19] the staff recommendation not
[1:56:20] see anybody else in the lights.
[1:56:24] A couple of quick questions on
[1:56:25] this.
[1:56:25] This will be the first time
[1:56:26] capital projects at
[1:56:30] the convention center will be
[1:56:30] covered under the play.
[1:56:31] That's correct.
[1:56:35] And who will be monitoring that
[1:56:36] city's compliance office will
[1:56:40] be monitoring that with our
[1:56:40] support as well.
[1:56:40] >> All right.
[1:56:45] Even though the good folks at
[1:56:45] the convention center will be
[1:56:46] contracting, we will monitor
[1:56:51] the play.
[1:56:51] Correct.
[1:56:52] And then that will be handled
[1:56:53] actually at the delegation
[1:56:53] agreement that we are going to
[1:56:56] have on Project by project
[1:56:56] basis.
[1:56:57] That will be one of two items
[1:56:58] as well if I'm not mistaken,
[1:56:58] correct?
[1:57:01] That's correct.
[1:57:01] Okay.
[1:57:02] And then there will be a
[1:57:02] conversation between
[1:57:03] the convention center and their
[1:57:06] staffing and ecp and the city's
[1:57:06] staffing.
[1:57:07] Yes, we have been coordinating
[1:57:11] leading to this point and we're
[1:57:12] going to continue coordinating
[1:57:12] on the best way to deliver
[1:57:13] these projects.
[1:57:16] >> Okay.
[1:57:17] Thank you for that.
[1:57:18] And then one thing I forgot to
[1:57:19] ask last time but appropriate
[1:57:21] this time One of the things
[1:57:22] that MR. Gleason asked for was
[1:57:26] for the lodging association to
[1:57:27] have some representation on
[1:57:27] kind of an ongoing committee
[1:57:31] both on capital projects as
[1:57:32] well as the homelessness.
[1:57:36] Is that in the works or can we
[1:57:37] get some one to get back to me
[1:57:38] later on that the application
[1:57:42] for the homeless the oversight
[1:57:42] committee actually just went
[1:57:43] live And so yes, it is our
[1:57:47] intent to have representation
[1:57:48] from Australian Lodging
[1:57:48] Association on both Both Okay,
[1:57:49] great.
[1:57:52] Thank you for confirming that.
[1:57:53] So so MR. Gleason we do read
[1:57:58] your letters and appreciate
[1:57:58] your testimony with that.
[1:57:59] We do have a motion by
[1:58:02] Councilmember Whipper and a
[1:58:03] second by Council member
[1:58:03] Campbell to move the staff
[1:58:04] recommendation.
[1:58:07] >> clerk Please call the roll
[1:58:08] Councilmember Lerner if I MAY
[1:58:09] get your vote for the record.
[1:58:15] Yes.
[1:58:20] And that passes unanimously 7
[1:58:21] to 0 with Council member Campo
[1:58:22] and Councilmember Yvonne
[1:58:22] Wilpert absent.
[1:58:22] Thank you.
[1:58:26] Council PRESIDENT.
[1:58:26] All right.
[1:58:27] Thank you And again thank you
[1:58:27] everybody that worked on
[1:58:28] bringing this forward.
[1:58:31] So with that we will now take
[1:58:32] up non agenda public comment.
[1:58:32] The council members respect and
[1:58:33] appreciate the public's input
[1:58:36] and are fully committed to
[1:58:37] protecting every participant's
[1:58:37] free speech rights at council
[1:58:42] and committee meetings.
[1:58:43] >> Clerk Please proceed with
[1:58:43] public comment Pearl 2.7 on
[1:58:44] agenda Public comment is an
[1:58:54] opportunity so can you see it
[1:58:54] on the record?
[1:58:55] >> Oh I want to cast a yes vote
[1:58:57] on item 2a1.
[1:58:58] Thank you.
[1:58:58] I'll mark that for the record.
[1:58:59] Thank you very much.
[1:59:02] Thank Pearl Two points over
[1:59:03] that agenda.
[1:59:03] Public comment is an
[1:59:07] opportunity for members of
[1:59:08] the public to comment on items
[1:59:08] that are not on the agenda but
[1:59:09] within the subject matter
[1:59:12] jurisdiction of the city
[1:59:13] Council.
[1:59:13] Each speaker will have two
[1:59:14] minutes please And if there are
[1:59:15] eight or more speakers on a
[1:59:17] single topic the maximum time
[1:59:18] for the topic will be 16
[1:59:18] minutes.
[1:59:19] I see no non agenda public
[1:59:23] comments because here in
[1:59:24] council chambers so I will be
[1:59:27] going to those participating
[1:59:27] remotely starting the five
[1:59:28] minute timer We currently have
[1:59:29] 11 speakers in the queue.
[1:59:33] Barbara Gordon If you can
[1:59:34] please unmute after that is
[1:59:34] Kathleen Lippert and then
[1:59:38] Brenda thank you.
[1:59:38] As a public health advocate I
[1:59:42] wanted to share and newly
[1:59:43] released Kaiser Permanente
[1:59:44] study found adolescent cannabis
[1:59:49] use linked to doubling the risk
[1:59:50] of psychotic and bipolar
[1:59:53] disorder.
[1:59:54] This was published in
[1:59:55] the Journal of American Medical
[1:59:59] helped form the Longitudinal
[2:00:00] study found over 465,000
[2:00:05] adolescents between the ages of
[2:00:09] 13 and 17 and through the age
[2:00:10] of 26 found that past year
[2:00:10] cannabis use during adolescence
[2:00:15] was associated with a
[2:00:15] significantly higher risk
[2:00:20] incident of psychotic bipolar
[2:00:21] depressive and anxiety disorder
[2:00:26] Even after accounting for prior
[2:00:27] mental health conditions and
[2:00:27] other substance use,
[2:00:28] adolescents who reported
[2:00:31] cannabis use had a substantial
[2:00:32] higher risk of developing
[2:00:33] psychiatric psychiatric
[2:00:37] disorders particularly
[2:00:38] psychotic and bipolar disorder.
[2:00:45] This was said by Kelly Wolfe
[2:00:45] Young Wolfe, Ph.D., who was
[2:00:48] the leading author of the study
[2:00:49] .
[2:00:49] The study also found that
[2:00:50] cannabis use was more common
[2:00:54] among adolescents that were
[2:00:55] enrolled in Medicare, Medicare,
[2:01:00] Medicaid and those living in
[2:01:01] more socioeconomically deprived
[2:01:01] neighborhoods.
[2:01:05] Raising the concern that
[2:01:06] expanding cannabis
[2:01:06] commercialization could
[2:01:11] exasperate existing mental
[2:01:12] health disparities as cannabis
[2:01:12] becomes more potent and
[2:01:17] aggressively marketed.
[2:01:18] This study indicates that
[2:01:19] adolescent cannabis use is
[2:01:23] associated with the risk of
[2:01:24] the two of the most serious
[2:01:24] health conditions.
[2:01:25] I am urging the city to take a
[2:01:29] more aggressive action to limit
[2:01:30] the exposure of advertising and
[2:01:34] marketing by prohibiting
[2:01:35] billboards and the marketing
[2:01:36] image of marijuana on any
[2:01:36] signage.
[2:01:41] Thank you for letting me speak.
[2:01:41] >> Thank you.
[2:01:42] Next is Kathleen Lippert.
[2:01:46] If you can please unmute then
[2:01:47] it's Brenda.
[2:01:48] Thank you for letting me speak.
[2:01:51] I appreciate Councilmember
[2:01:52] Campbell's reminder that
[2:01:53] deficit spending is the genesis
[2:01:57] of future City problems that
[2:01:58] will become increasingly
[2:01:58] difficult to deal with in
[2:01:59] the city's scramble to address
[2:02:04] their looming deficit.
[2:02:05] Turn to the will with which it
[2:02:05] is most familiar and that's
[2:02:09] increasing taxes and fees
[2:02:09] without ever any mention of
[2:02:10] decreasing city staffing levels
[2:02:15] salaries, pensions or benefits.
[2:02:16] The burden of a deficit should
[2:02:16] be the responsibility of city
[2:02:21] leaders.
[2:02:21] Cuts begin there before
[2:02:22] redirecting the burden to
[2:02:23] taxpayers who had no part in
[2:02:27] creating it.
[2:02:28] >> Yet the city continues to
[2:02:28] maximize expenditures using
[2:02:32] sole source contracting union
[2:02:33] workers or supporting
[2:02:33] industries like the cannabis
[2:02:39] industry who socialize,
[2:02:39] privatized their profits and
[2:02:40] socialize the costs and
[2:02:44] the socialization of those
[2:02:45] costs are paid on the backs of
[2:02:50] the city Residents.
[2:02:51] >> Most troubling we do not see
[2:02:51] the city evaluating any of
[2:02:56] their policies for the future
[2:02:57] costs of those decisions or
[2:02:57] recognizing when funding has
[2:03:02] not resulted in mitigating a
[2:03:02] problem but instead has shown
[2:03:03] that it is only created
[2:03:08] bureaucracy that has grown up
[2:03:09] to take advantage of the new
[2:03:09] funding availability.
[2:03:14] Leadership should be grounded
[2:03:14] in reality affordability and
[2:03:15] responsibility and the deficits
[2:03:20] we see today are a failure at
[2:03:20] all three of those levels.
[2:03:25] City policies like its ongoing
[2:03:26] support of the marijuana
[2:03:26] industry will continue to
[2:03:27] increase behavioral health
[2:03:31] problems.
[2:03:32] That is not a question anymore.
[2:03:33] That is a prediction that has
[2:03:37] been rooted in evidence We
[2:03:38] have.
[2:03:42] The California audit found $24
[2:03:43] billion in homelessness $18
[2:03:48] billion lost on high speed
[2:03:48] rail.
[2:03:49] We need financial literacy and
[2:03:56] it should begin with the city
[2:03:56] included.
[2:03:57] Any additional comments can be
[2:03:58] emailed in and the city clerk
[2:03:58] could send to your doctor and
[2:04:00] we will distribute Brenda pleas
[2:04:01] on you.
[2:04:01] Good afternoon Mayor city
[2:04:02] council members and members of
[2:04:05] the public.
[2:04:06] My name is Brenda Gallacher and
[2:04:07] I serve as an outreach analyst
[2:04:11] and your liaison with
[2:04:12] the California Department of
[2:04:13] Insurance.
[2:04:13] Under Commissioner McNamara's
[2:04:14] leadership we're advancing
[2:04:17] the sustainable insurance
[2:04:17] strategy.
[2:04:18] Great news in six companies
[2:04:19] have committed to growing in
[2:04:23] California with more expected
[2:04:24] to follow.
[2:04:25] We are requesting that you and
[2:04:25] the board of the following
[2:04:26] legislative bills that are
[2:04:30] being proposed.
[2:04:30] Assembly Bill 1795 The Smoke
[2:04:31] Damage Recovery Act.
[2:04:35] This bill would establish
[2:04:36] standards and protocols related
[2:04:37] to smoke damages from
[2:04:37] wildfires.
[2:04:41] The goal is to give wildfire
[2:04:42] survivors a reliable health
[2:04:43] oriented framework and
[2:04:48] inspecting testing, restoring
[2:04:48] and filing claims for smoke
[2:04:49] damage properties.
[2:04:53] Assembly Bill 1680 The Make It
[2:04:53] Fair Act aims to reform
[2:04:58] the insurer of last resort
[2:04:59] the California Fair Plan by
[2:04:59] requiring it to adopt
[2:05:03] recommendations from the recent
[2:05:04] Department of Insurance
[2:05:04] examinations, strengthen
[2:05:05] governance and consumer
[2:05:09] protections potentially expand
[2:05:10] policy limits and coverage
[2:05:10] options such as more
[2:05:11] comprehensive homeowner's
[2:05:15] coverages, improve transparency
[2:05:16] and impose civil penalties for
[2:05:21] noncompliance helping ensure
[2:05:22] the fair, better serves
[2:05:22] Californians will get covered
[2:05:26] and can get coverage in
[2:05:27] the public market.
[2:05:27] Senate Bill 876 which is
[2:05:33] the disaster Recovery Act and
[2:05:34] it really aims to seek to
[2:05:34] reform how insurers handle
[2:05:40] residential property claims and
[2:05:40] fire insurance claims
[2:05:41] especially after a major
[2:05:46] disaster like the wildfires we
[2:05:46] just experienced.
[2:05:47] This bill would require
[2:05:51] insurers to prepare disaster
[2:05:51] recovery plans, set clear
[2:05:56] timelines for payments
[2:05:57] including earlier actual cash
[2:05:58] value replacement, double
[2:05:58] penalties during emergencies.
[2:06:04] Lastly, as your liaison we
[2:06:05] would like to partner up and
[2:06:06] continue to provide insurance
[2:06:10] information.
[2:06:11] Thank you for that concluding
[2:06:12] comment and I think if you can
[2:06:19] please you after that is 1384
[2:06:26] under every academy before you
[2:06:27] you should have gotten a pop
[2:06:27] up.
[2:06:27] If you can't hear me.
[2:06:28] I will have to move on to
[2:06:29] the next speaker.
[2:06:32] Also note the five minute timer
[2:06:33] also concluded during the last
[2:06:34] speaker and there were eight
[2:06:34] speakers in the queue.
[2:06:35] No additional speakers will be
[2:06:42] taken after that and I'll need
[2:06:43] to move on to the next speaker.
[2:06:54] 1384 If you can please unmute
[2:06:55] 1384 you are unmuted.
[2:06:55] We did not hear you here in
[2:06:56] council chambers.
[2:06:56] Not sure if the device that
[2:06:57] you're speaking into MAY be
[2:07:02] muted.
[2:07:15] 1384 You muted yourself again.
[2:07:16] You'll need to unmute we did
[2:07:20] hear the unmute so it is just
[2:07:21] something on your device.
[2:07:22] Is your phone muted?
[2:07:27] Maybe we do not hear you here
[2:07:33] in council chambers we will
[2:07:34] need to move on.
[2:07:34] Thank you Walker if you can
[2:07:35] please on mute.
[2:07:39] Thank you.
[2:07:39] Hello.
[2:07:40] As a public health educator I
[2:07:40] believe it's in the public
[2:07:45] interest for policymakers to be
[2:07:45] aware of a mounting nationwide
[2:07:46] shift on marijuana
[2:07:46] legalization.
[2:07:51] The Wall Street Journal and
[2:07:51] other media report referendum
[2:07:52] campaigns to roll back
[2:07:57] marijuana legalized action are
[2:07:58] now underway in Massachusetts,
[2:07:58] Maine, Arizona and other
[2:07:59] jurisdictions.
[2:08:03] These referendums are not
[2:08:03] ideological but science driven.
[2:08:09] Peer reviewed studies document
[2:08:10] sharp rises in marijuana
[2:08:10] related e-r visits and
[2:08:11] psychiatric emergencies.
[2:08:16] When longitude a longitudinal
[2:08:21] study of nearly 465,000
[2:08:22] adolescent aged 13 to 17 found
[2:08:26] past year marijuana use is
[2:08:27] associated with significantly
[2:08:28] increased risk of psychotic
[2:08:33] bipolar depressive and anxiety
[2:08:33] disorders By age 26,
[2:08:39] the Massachusetts state
[2:08:40] referendum push follows
[2:08:41] findings from Mass General
[2:08:45] Hospital of a fourfold increase
[2:08:45] in marijuana related
[2:08:46] psychiatric emergencies among
[2:08:52] adolescents since legalization.
[2:08:52] Closer to home San Diego County
[2:08:57] data show high E.R. Admissions
[2:08:58] for cannabis hyperemesis
[2:09:02] syndrome and psychiatric issues
[2:09:03] particularly among those 10 to
[2:09:03] 24.
[2:09:09] Further a meta analysis by ucla
[2:09:10] Health with contributions from
[2:09:11] Harvard, uc San Francisco,
[2:09:15] Washington University and New
[2:09:16] York University is among others
[2:09:16] concluding that scientific
[2:09:22] support for most quote medical
[2:09:23] uses of marijuana is weak to
[2:09:27] nonexistent.
[2:09:28] I therefore urge this council
[2:09:29] to join others Reassessing
[2:09:33] marijuana policies in light of
[2:09:33] mounting health and fiscal
[2:09:34] consequences.
[2:09:34] Thank you.
[2:09:39] Thank you.
[2:09:40] Next is 8813 If you can please
[2:09:41] unmute Bandler because after
[2:09:45] that 888133 go.
[2:09:51] >> Okay I'm still here so what
[2:09:52] is that something that
[2:09:53] the people who genuinely want
[2:09:53] what's best for humanity are
[2:09:57] labeled extreme or cuckoo?
[2:09:58] Well those behaving in truly
[2:09:58] extreme ways against nature,
[2:10:02] against humanity, against
[2:10:03] common sense are protected,
[2:10:04] funded and praised by
[2:10:04] government local government
[2:10:09] agencies like this one are
[2:10:10] filled with board members who
[2:10:10] have become the real extremists
[2:10:15] entirely out of touch with what
[2:10:15] it means to be human.
[2:10:16] Many of you have lost your
[2:10:17] connection to reality, to
[2:10:21] community and to consequence.
[2:10:22] Everything that happens here is
[2:10:22] not for the benefit of San
[2:10:23] Diego County or city.
[2:10:28] It serves a much bigger agenda
[2:10:28] and I will continue to name
[2:10:29] that agenda meeting after
[2:10:33] meeting for as long as it takes
[2:10:34] until you wake up to what you
[2:10:35] are actually participating in.
[2:10:39] That is the United Nations
[2:10:40] agenda for the 21st century.
[2:10:40] As some of you already know
[2:10:41] exactly what you're doing.
[2:10:42] Many of you have sold
[2:10:46] yourselves to the highest
[2:10:46] bidder.
[2:10:47] But understand this you are not
[2:10:47] exempt.
[2:10:51] You are disposable to the very
[2:10:52] system you serve.
[2:10:52] You too will face consequences.
[2:10:56] You too will suffer through
[2:10:57] what you have the power to
[2:10:58] prevent others from suffering
[2:10:58] through.
[2:10:59] You've helped create
[2:11:03] unnecessary wasteful things
[2:11:04] like stupid bike lanes And now
[2:11:05] this whole convention center
[2:11:10] updates.
[2:11:11] It's just so sad.
[2:11:11] Anyways, while families
[2:11:12] struggle to survive, the money
[2:11:16] could have gone to could go to
[2:11:16] homeless veterans people who
[2:11:17] fought for this country.
[2:11:22] Yeah, they fought only to come
[2:11:23] home and sleep in their cars
[2:11:24] trying to make sense of what a
[2:11:28] sacrifice for agencies like
[2:11:29] sandag and the board and can
[2:11:29] need to take advantage of a
[2:11:34] population that is stressed,
[2:11:35] exhausted and barely surviving.
[2:11:36] And not to mention not paying
[2:11:36] attention.
[2:11:40] You think you're helping but
[2:11:40] this is an abusive relationship
[2:11:41] and you are on the abusive
[2:11:41] side.
[2:11:46] The system is sick.
[2:11:47] It is self inflating and
[2:11:47] anything that goes against
[2:11:53] humanity nature will collapse
[2:11:53] your time.
[2:11:54] >> It better be commended for
[2:11:56] completing you After that will
[2:11:57] be 7499 And I'm begging Robert
[2:11:58] Blair please proceed.
[2:12:02] >> I Beekman Thanks for
[2:12:03] the meeting today.
[2:12:04] I will be looking forward to
[2:12:04] the 6:00 meeting.
[2:12:04] Thank you.
[2:12:09] Or it a couple items I wanted
[2:12:12] to bring up at no Agenda public
[2:12:13] comment One is I sent a letter
[2:12:14] to the clerk's office this
[2:12:14] morning.
[2:12:19] You're talking about possibly
[2:12:19] ending having an additional
[2:12:20] five minutes for people to
[2:12:25] raise their hand for a virtual
[2:12:25] public comment time.
[2:12:30] I hope you can keep it.
[2:12:31] I fully understand
[2:12:32] the housecleaning where you're
[2:12:36] doing it and that Zoom is going
[2:12:37] to be mandated to continue now
[2:12:37] in California.
[2:12:38] Thank you.
[2:12:42] That it is and that you're
[2:12:43] going to just you're doing some
[2:12:44] housecleaning measures And once
[2:12:49] you end virtual public comment
[2:12:49] time where you can raise your
[2:12:50] hand at the end of in-person
[2:12:54] public comment.
[2:12:55] Only fair thing to do.
[2:12:56] I don't argue with it at all
[2:13:01] but it's just convenient as all
[2:13:01] heck for people and the public.
[2:13:05] You have that additional five
[2:13:05] minutes.
[2:13:06] You know their mothers are
[2:13:10] working on items and for me I'm
[2:13:11] running around doing things.
[2:13:11] It really is helpful just to
[2:13:15] have that additional five
[2:13:15] minutes So hopefully you can
[2:13:16] consider that and that can be
[2:13:22] we can talk about it a bit more
[2:13:22] before I reach your final
[2:13:23] approvals.
[2:13:23] Good luck and working on I
[2:13:24] think a letter to better
[2:13:27] describe I hope we can write
[2:13:28] back and we can talk about it
[2:13:28] as needed and such And also
[2:13:33] with my remaining 30s.
[2:13:34] San Jose I've talked about open
[2:13:38] and they've compromised and
[2:13:39] walk in two years and in that
[2:13:44] time look for a new vendor I
[2:13:45] mean I think that's like
[2:13:46] absolutely brilliant in terms
[2:13:46] of how to work with community
[2:13:51] towards future best practices.
[2:13:51] They're working now San Jose is
[2:13:52] considering divestment issues
[2:13:58] with you know to address, you
[2:13:58] know the future of detention
[2:14:04] centers and Israel in fact so
[2:14:05] good luck that we can be
[2:14:05] working in your time that
[2:14:09] suited my apologies seven 499
[2:14:10] if you can please unmute and
[2:14:10] then after that is back You
[2:14:10] ready?
[2:14:16] >> All right.
[2:14:17] Bob Cusack This year nearly
[2:14:17] every week I talk about
[2:14:18] the problems at the Torrey
[2:14:20] Pines Flight Airport.
[2:14:21] But those problems are really
[2:14:22] just a very specific example of
[2:14:23] a more pervasive problem
[2:14:23] throughout the city.
[2:14:26] That problem is the unhealthy
[2:14:27] mix of government power and
[2:14:27] private profit.
[2:14:28] Today I'd like to explore that
[2:14:32] broader problem.
[2:14:32] Everyone knows that running a
[2:14:33] city requires purchasing goods
[2:14:34] and services that the city
[2:14:38] itself should not produce.
[2:14:39] Examples run from pencil to
[2:14:39] police cars.
[2:14:40] The city could try to make
[2:14:41] their own pencils and police
[2:14:44] cars but that would be
[2:14:45] extremely inefficient a huge
[2:14:46] waste of resources and
[2:14:46] the results would be terrible
[2:14:47] anyway.
[2:14:50] And so the police cars are much
[2:14:50] more efficiently purchased on
[2:14:51] the open market.
[2:14:51] But does it make sense for
[2:14:52] the city to purchase outside
[2:14:56] police and other services?
[2:14:57] Where should the city draw
[2:14:57] the line?
[2:14:58] That's a complicated question
[2:14:59] but let me suggest an important
[2:14:59] criteria.
[2:15:02] In all cases the city should
[2:15:03] never delegate direct power
[2:15:07] over citizens to third party
[2:15:08] businesses operating for
[2:15:08] profit.
[2:15:09] Period.
[2:15:09] The city should never, for
[2:15:10] example, delegate police
[2:15:14] authority over citizens to a
[2:15:14] for profit business as was done
[2:15:15] with the red light cameras.
[2:15:20] The city should never delegated
[2:15:21] as in communication to a for
[2:15:21] profit business as you're doing
[2:15:22] with constant contact.
[2:15:26] The city should never delegate
[2:15:27] authority of our parking
[2:15:27] structure to a for profit
[2:15:28] business.
[2:15:28] As you're doing in the Jones
[2:15:29] Park eight the city should
[2:15:32] never delegate authority over
[2:15:33] our parks to a for profit
[2:15:33] business.
[2:15:34] As you're doing at Torrey Pines
[2:15:38] Glider Park in all of these
[2:15:39] examples the city can't just
[2:15:40] delegate authority and then
[2:15:40] look the other way.
[2:15:44] That's a recipe for abuse And
[2:15:44] we've seen that abuse in each
[2:15:45] example including the glider
[2:15:49] port business refusing park
[2:15:50] access to people who've
[2:15:50] testified against them in
[2:15:51] court.
[2:15:55] These are the abuses that arise
[2:15:56] when it's when the city hires
[2:15:57] outside businesses and then
[2:15:58] shirks its duty to ensure that
[2:16:01] citizens are treated fairly by
[2:16:02] those businesses.
[2:16:02] What's ironic is that all of
[2:16:03] you are left wing council
[2:16:07] members and mayor would quickly
[2:16:08] accuse conservatives of putting
[2:16:09] business interests above
[2:16:09] the public.
[2:16:14] But here you are doing it every
[2:16:15] single day.
[2:16:15] We have to make the Torrey
[2:16:16] Pines City Park Advisory Board
[2:16:20] and implement the Torrey Pines
[2:16:21] waiver.
[2:16:21] >> Thank you for that
[2:16:22] concluding comment.
[2:16:22] If you raise your hand after
[2:16:23] the five minute timer we won't
[2:16:26] be able to take your call today
[2:16:27] but you can definitely email it
[2:16:28] to City Clerk of San diego.Gov
[2:16:28] and your comments will be
[2:16:33] delivered to the council.
[2:16:36] Becky please unmute after that
[2:16:37] 8700 a.M Skilling No other
[2:16:37] speakers will be taken.
[2:16:38] >> But good afternoon.
[2:16:43] My name is Becky Rapp.
[2:16:44] I'm a local parent.
[2:16:44] Concern for the health and
[2:16:45] safety of our young people
[2:16:48] today especially as they're
[2:16:49] bombarded with misinformation
[2:16:49] regarding drug use especially
[2:16:54] marijuana.
[2:16:54] Recently The New York Times
[2:16:55] published an editorial titled
[2:17:00] It's Time for America to Admit
[2:17:01] That It Has a Marijuana
[2:17:01] Problem.
[2:17:02] National publications like
[2:17:02] the New York Times are
[2:17:06] recognizing that marijuana is
[2:17:07] not what the industry has told
[2:17:08] us but that there are serious
[2:17:08] public health concerns that
[2:17:13] have evolved since they've been
[2:17:13] permitted.
[2:17:14] Consumers were promised
[2:17:14] transparency and especially
[2:17:19] guardrails.
[2:17:19] But many consumers have no idea
[2:17:20] how potent these products are.
[2:17:24] Young adults are being exposed
[2:17:25] to levels of thc that research
[2:17:30] increasingly links to higher
[2:17:31] risks of psychosis, anxiety
[2:17:31] disorders and long term
[2:17:36] psychiatric harm particularly
[2:17:37] in the developing brain.
[2:17:37] And here in San Diego we cannot
[2:17:38] ignore the significant problem
[2:17:43] Many residents are facing as
[2:17:43] they struggle with addiction.
[2:17:44] Overdose Behavioral Health
[2:17:44] crisis.
[2:17:48] Impaired driving and
[2:17:49] homelessness tied to substance
[2:17:49] use.
[2:17:50] So we have to ask ourselves are
[2:17:54] we trying to mitigate our drug
[2:17:55] problem or are we fueling it?
[2:17:55] If we're serious about
[2:18:00] prevention then we must be
[2:18:00] serious about guardrails,
[2:18:01] potency caps, meaningful
[2:18:02] warning labels, youth
[2:18:05] prevention funding and
[2:18:06] enforcement against marketing
[2:18:07] that normalizes youth.
[2:18:07] San Diego deserves an honest
[2:18:12] assessment of where we are and
[2:18:13] whether our policies are
[2:18:14] reducing harm before expanding
[2:18:14] it.
[2:18:18] Thank you.
[2:18:19] >> Thank you.
[2:18:20] Next is 8700 If you can please
[2:18:32] unmute for Joyce in your other
[2:18:32] district.
[2:18:33] She could easily see Quick
[2:18:33] point.
[2:18:35] Sorry about the star nine.
[2:18:36] I was in that queue for a while
[2:18:36] and then I don't know I looked
[2:18:42] at my screen and I didn't see
[2:18:43] Star and I was starting to see
[2:18:44] her and start talking.
[2:18:47] But really your time is going
[2:18:47] so please start to your
[2:18:48] comments please.
[2:18:48] That's okay.
[2:18:49] I knew it would start.
[2:18:52] That's okay.
[2:18:52] That's okay.
[2:18:53] I got that.
[2:18:54] So I want to share this with
[2:18:54] all of you.
[2:18:58] I want to say that yes, it is
[2:18:59] good to be back participating
[2:19:05] in government Yet it does feel
[2:19:06] new to me and I can't figure
[2:19:10] out why that appeals to me and
[2:19:11] perhaps a little bumpy in some
[2:19:11] ways.
[2:19:12] So I just wanted to thank
[2:19:16] everyone for your patience and
[2:19:17] to let you know that I am glad
[2:19:17] to be back.
[2:19:23] So I wanted to also as as Blair
[2:19:23] just spoke on the five minute
[2:19:28] rule, I also want to say that
[2:19:29] I'll leave it up to you because
[2:19:30] you can get the bigger picture
[2:19:30] and how it's going to impact on
[2:19:34] all the methodologies and
[2:19:35] everything.
[2:19:36] But I will tell you this There
[2:19:40] have been times when I
[2:19:41] definitely could not under that
[2:19:42] I wouldn't I would not be
[2:19:42] allowed to speak.
[2:19:46] And mostly if I remember right
[2:19:47] is housing authority items
[2:19:48] where there was no presentation
[2:19:48] like maybe that was not that
[2:19:54] difficult to comment on your
[2:19:54] presentation nobody in
[2:19:55] the chambers.
[2:19:55] So my question for you if you
[2:19:58] could answer this for
[2:19:59] the public what's going to be
[2:19:59] the trigger when we can raise
[2:20:00] our hands?
[2:20:04] Do we have to begin with
[2:20:05] the agenda item?
[2:20:05] Do you have to say now is
[2:20:06] the time for another agenda?
[2:20:10] Public comment?
[2:20:11] I don't think we're going to be
[2:20:12] able to raise our hand.
[2:20:16] I just go by you know, my phone
[2:20:17] so please let us know on that
[2:20:18] And then one do the thing I
[2:20:21] don't have time for today but
[2:20:22] maybe tomorrow I'm going to be
[2:20:23] speaking on Western states
[2:20:28] again.
[2:20:28] Missed the deadline for water
[2:20:29] deals.
[2:20:29] This came into the U.S. On
[2:20:30] Valentine's Day.
[2:20:35] So I'll probably speak on that
[2:20:35] tomorrow.
[2:20:36] So thank you everybody And up
[2:20:37] to our thank you for your
[2:20:38] comments and if we complete and
[2:20:43] you.
[2:20:44] Good afternoon San Diego City
[2:20:45] Council Chair LaCava My name is
[2:20:49] Darian Skelly and I'm here as a
[2:20:50] planning group attendee and
[2:20:51] community volunteer one of
[2:20:51] the teen and parent programs at
[2:20:55] our high schools.
[2:20:55] That is important to me and
[2:20:56] speaking to all of us in
[2:20:57] the city is the start.
[2:21:00] Smart program provided to high
[2:21:01] school students and their
[2:21:01] parents by the California
[2:21:06] Highway Patrol.
[2:21:07] Alcohol and drug use are a
[2:21:07] nationwide roadway safety
[2:21:13] concern and almost 1 in 3
[2:21:13] traffic deaths involve in a
[2:21:18] pair driver As you can imagine,
[2:21:19] insurance companies care a
[2:21:19] great deal about teen driving.
[2:21:20] So I wanted to share today
[2:21:25] information from ucsd and from
[2:21:25] the California Department of
[2:21:26] Traffic Safety.
[2:21:31] What's regarding marijuana
[2:21:31] impaired driving by young
[2:21:32] adults which shows that it is
[2:21:33] increasing in communities that
[2:21:37] permit marijuana storefronts.
[2:21:38] The ucsd Energy Studies show
[2:21:42] that driving while under
[2:21:43] the influence of marijuana
[2:21:43] negatively impacts
[2:21:44] attentiveness, perception of
[2:21:49] time and memory Impaired memory
[2:21:50] can affect the ability to draw
[2:21:55] from past driving experiences
[2:21:56] especially in emergency
[2:21:56] situations.
[2:22:01] Marijuana impaired drivers
[2:22:01] react slower to traffic lights
[2:22:02] and unexpected obstacles and
[2:22:07] are less aware of their own
[2:22:07] speed.
[2:22:08] Perhaps it is time for a closer
[2:22:09] look at marijuana Businesses
[2:22:13] impact on the health and safety
[2:22:13] of our city residents.
[2:22:14] Thank you for hearing my
[2:22:19] concerns this afternoon.
[2:22:20] >> Thank you.
[2:22:20] That does conclude our agenda.
[2:22:21] Public comment Again if you
[2:22:22] were not able to speak today
[2:22:22] because you raise your hand
[2:22:26] after the five minute timer
[2:22:27] please be sure to email city
[2:22:28] representative.Gov and we will
[2:22:28] distribute those
[2:22:29] communications.
[2:22:31] Thank you Council PRESIDENT All
[2:22:31] right.
[2:22:32] Thank you City Clerk With that
[2:22:33] does the city Attorney have
[2:22:33] anything to report out from
[2:22:36] closed session?
[2:22:37] Yes Thank you.
[2:22:37] Council PRESIDENT Today in a
[2:22:38] closed session meeting the City
[2:22:39] council took the following
[2:22:43] action.
[2:22:43] City council voted in closed
[2:22:44] session item number seven to
[2:22:45] authorize the initiation of
[2:22:48] litigation Once litigation is
[2:22:49] formally commenced the action
[2:22:50] the defendants and other
[2:22:54] particulars will be disclosed
[2:22:55] to any person upon inquiry
[2:22:56] unless to do so would
[2:22:56] jeopardize effective service of
[2:23:01] process or settlement
[2:23:02] negotiations.
[2:23:02] The motion passed 620 with
[2:23:03] council members from Wilbert
[2:23:07] Campo and Elio Rivera absent.
[2:23:08] That concludes my report.
[2:23:08] All right.
[2:23:13] Thank you for that report Out
[2:23:13] as a friendly reminder to my
[2:23:14] colleagues, this is going to be
[2:23:15] the end of our afternoon
[2:23:19] session.
[2:23:19] We're going to reconvene.
[2:23:20] We need all five of us to
[2:23:23] actually be there at 6:00.
[2:23:24] Councilmember Campbell has gone
[2:23:25] home a little bit under
[2:23:25] the weather.
[2:23:29] We do need to have five in
[2:23:30] chambers irrespective of
[2:23:30] whether council member Isla
[2:23:31] Rivera participates remotely.
[2:23:35] So just that friendly reminder
[2:23:35] I see a lot of smiles on
[2:23:40] the faces.
[2:23:41] So with that and I want to make
[2:23:42] sure that you're going to be
[2:23:43] here because we're all
[2:23:50] committed right.
[2:23:50] All right.
[2:23:51] With that, we will now recess
[2:30:27] P.M. Or shortly thereafter
[2:32:27] And
[2:33:01] All right, good evening.
[2:33:02] I will now reconvene the city
[2:33:02] council meeting of Monday,
[2:33:06] FEBRUARY 23rd, 2026 to order.
[2:33:07] Clerk Please call the roll.
[2:33:07] Thank you.
[2:33:08] Council PRESIDENT Council
[2:33:12] member Campbell Council Member
[2:33:13] Whitburn here.
[2:33:13] Councilmember Foster here
[2:33:18] Council Member Ron Wilbur
[2:33:19] Council PRESIDENT Pro Tem Lee
[2:33:19] Councilmember Campeon
[2:33:25] Councilmember Moreno Present
[2:33:26] Council Member Eli Rivera
[2:33:27] Present and Council PRESIDENT
[2:33:27] Look our PRESIDENT Also
[2:33:31] attending the meeting our Chief
[2:33:31] deputy city Attorney brought
[2:33:32] out a lot of independent budget
[2:33:33] analyst Charles Monaco Council
[2:33:37] Affairs Advisor in the mayor's
[2:33:38] office Curtis Iser and myself
[2:33:39] your city clerk, the other
[2:33:39] fantastic council PRESIDENT.
[2:33:40] All right.
[2:33:42] Thank you for that.
[2:33:42] >> clerk Please introduce items
[2:33:47] four hundred items 400 is an
[2:33:48] informational item.
[2:33:48] It is a hearing for public
[2:33:52] input on the development of
[2:33:53] the fiscal year 2027 budget.
[2:33:54] If you are hearing council
[2:33:54] chambers please be sure to
[2:33:55] submit a speaker's up to
[2:33:58] the front of the room in
[2:33:59] the clear box And if you are
[2:33:59] participating remotely now's
[2:34:04] the time to raise your hand by
[2:34:05] pressing Star nine or the raise
[2:34:05] your hand icon.
[2:34:06] Thank you Council PRESIDENT All
[2:34:06] right.
[2:34:10] Thank you.
[2:34:11] So in lieu of presentation I'm
[2:34:12] going to make some opening
[2:34:12] comments.
[2:34:13] I'm going to turn it over to
[2:34:17] MR. Molokai, the aba office and
[2:34:17] then will conclude with Council
[2:34:21] member Foster the chair of
[2:34:22] the Budget Committee and then
[2:34:23] we'll open it up to the public.
[2:34:24] >> So we're holding this
[2:34:28] evening session as the first
[2:34:29] opportunity for the public to
[2:34:29] provide comment on fiscal year
[2:34:30] 2027 budget.
[2:34:34] I want to thank in advance
[2:34:34] those who are here in chambers
[2:34:35] and those who are waiting to
[2:34:39] speak online.
[2:34:40] Last year's budget was
[2:34:40] challenging but as a council we
[2:34:41] worked hard to preserve
[2:34:46] essential services and trimmed
[2:34:47] what we believe were
[2:34:47] non-essential operations.
[2:34:48] Doing so required difficult
[2:34:52] decisions raising fines and
[2:34:53] sharing more services are cost
[2:34:54] recoverable and charging for
[2:34:54] parking available park None of
[2:34:58] that is something I wanted to
[2:34:59] do but I weighed the closing of
[2:35:00] rec centers, libraries and
[2:35:04] public restrooms against those
[2:35:05] other options for f y 27 If I'm
[2:35:05] going to support an expenditure
[2:35:10] I have to balance that with
[2:35:11] either revenue increase or by
[2:35:12] cutting another service.
[2:35:16] Conversely, if I'm going to
[2:35:17] support cutting or eliminating
[2:35:18] ongoing revenue I need to see a
[2:35:18] replacement revenue or cutting
[2:35:22] expenditure.
[2:35:23] We just have that difficult of
[2:35:23] a conversation.
[2:35:24] I hope that all in this
[2:35:28] conversation operate with that
[2:35:29] same approach.
[2:35:30] It is too easy to just say I
[2:35:30] have this service or cut that
[2:35:34] revenue help us understand your
[2:35:35] priorities and balance them
[2:35:35] against the tradeoffs.
[2:35:36] We can't have it all.
[2:35:40] We can't prioritize by
[2:35:41] the needs of each community,
[2:35:42] each neighborhood, each San
[2:35:46] Diego This year I'm again
[2:35:47] committed to that reality.
[2:35:48] I will not and this Council
[2:35:48] cannot tell the public we will
[2:35:53] fund a service and then a few
[2:35:53] weeks later not vote for
[2:35:54] the same revenue to keep that
[2:35:54] promise.
[2:35:58] Now before I turn it over to
[2:35:59] the public I ask for your
[2:35:59] assistance If you're going to
[2:36:00] be asking us to increase
[2:36:04] funding, tell us where you're
[2:36:04] willing to cut.
[2:36:05] We have to balance this budget
[2:36:06] and a priority needs to come
[2:36:10] with a priority reduction.
[2:36:11] This will not be easy but we
[2:36:12] can and we will do this
[2:36:12] together.
[2:36:12] Thank you.
[2:36:16] And now I'll turn it over to
[2:36:17] our independent journalist
[2:36:17] Charles Parker.
[2:36:18] Sir.
[2:36:18] Thank you.
[2:36:19] Council PRESIDENT I should just
[2:36:22] say did open instead I will
[2:36:23] read longer remarks from that.
[2:36:24] I did want to provide some
[2:36:28] context for discussions for
[2:36:29] the upcoming 27 budget.
[2:36:29] Most of you will have already
[2:36:30] heard this but I do
[2:36:34] nevertheless think it is
[2:36:35] important for both council and
[2:36:35] the public to bear in mind
[2:36:36] where the city finds itself and
[2:36:40] the difficult choices that we
[2:36:41] are facing in the upcoming
[2:36:41] budget.
[2:36:42] As my office has noted for some
[2:36:42] time the city has faced
[2:36:46] significant fiscal challenges
[2:36:47] for years and our challenges
[2:36:47] today really have been decades
[2:36:48] in the making.
[2:36:52] While San Diego is a large
[2:36:53] city, its revenues are
[2:36:53] generally lower than comparable
[2:36:54] cities and they are frankly
[2:36:58] insufficient to support
[2:36:59] the city's operations.
[2:37:00] The city has been able to get
[2:37:03] by for the last 20 years or so
[2:37:04] by keeping its costs low but it
[2:37:05] did so largely through putting
[2:37:05] off infrastructure maintenance
[2:37:09] and keeping city salaries well
[2:37:10] below the median for comparable
[2:37:11] cities and even other cities in
[2:37:15] our region.
[2:37:15] Both of those had long term
[2:37:16] consequences and long term cost
[2:37:21] over the last several years
[2:37:21] The city began addressing many
[2:37:22] of these issues but the city
[2:37:23] was only able to do so by
[2:37:26] tapping into a significant one
[2:37:27] time resources that have since
[2:37:27] been exhausted.
[2:37:28] While the city attempted to
[2:37:32] respond to this longstanding
[2:37:33] structural deficit through 2020
[2:37:34] fourth Measure e sales tax
[2:37:39] measure that ballot item failed
[2:37:39] which left the city needing to
[2:37:40] realign its ongoing services
[2:37:46] with its ongoing resources last
[2:37:46] year at this time we were
[2:37:47] staring at a roughly $260
[2:37:48] million deficit for the current
[2:37:51] fiscal year of 26 which we
[2:37:51] closed through three main
[2:37:52] actions.
[2:37:52] First, we delayed reserve
[2:37:57] contributions which solved
[2:37:58] roughly $60 million of that
[2:37:58] deficit.
[2:38:02] Second, we implemented a little
[2:38:02] over $100 million in new
[2:38:03] revenues to offset expenses
[2:38:03] that would have otherwise
[2:38:07] fallen to the general fund
[2:38:08] notably through trash fees,
[2:38:08] fines and parking fees.
[2:38:12] And then the final roughly 100
[2:38:13] million came through other
[2:38:13] onetime resources and then cuts
[2:38:14] to city services such as
[2:38:18] library hours.
[2:38:19] This year we are facing another
[2:38:20] deficit for the upcoming year.
[2:38:23] It was reported at $88 million
[2:38:23] in the year five year outlook.
[2:38:27] It has since grown to between
[2:38:28] 100 and $120 Million.
[2:38:28] That already reflects continued
[2:38:33] delays to reserve contributions
[2:38:34] .
[2:38:35] I also think that it is fair to
[2:38:35] note that most of new revenue
[2:38:36] sources that could be tapped
[2:38:39] into in the next year have
[2:38:40] already been tapped and
[2:38:40] the appetite for new revenue
[2:38:41] from the immediate future seems
[2:38:45] limited which means that
[2:38:46] the projected deficit we are
[2:38:46] facing has to be closed by and
[2:38:51] large through cuts.
[2:38:52] As you are aware cuts are not
[2:38:52] easy.
[2:38:52] It gives me absolutely no
[2:38:53] pleasure to say that they are
[2:38:58] required but by law the city's
[2:38:59] budget need to be balanced and
[2:38:59] we cannot spend money that we
[2:39:03] do not have.
[2:39:04] To that end, as we have
[2:39:04] discussions tonight and as we
[2:39:05] continue to have discussions
[2:39:06] about the budget over the next
[2:39:10] several months, we really need
[2:39:10] to be realistic about what we
[2:39:11] can fund with the resources
[2:39:15] that we have And therefore I
[2:39:15] recommend folks I think
[2:39:16] focusing our conversation on
[2:39:17] one core services that council
[2:39:21] and the public want to see
[2:39:22] maintained and to areas where
[2:39:22] the city should consider
[2:39:23] pulling back or reducing
[2:39:26] services which will be
[2:39:27] difficult but necessary.
[2:39:28] With that I look forward to
[2:39:28] hearing comments from
[2:39:33] the public and from council
[2:39:34] members and at this point I
[2:39:35] will toss it over to
[2:39:39] Councilmember Foster.
[2:39:39] Thank you Council PRESIDENT And
[2:39:45] thank you to the aba for your
[2:39:45] remarks and thank you to
[2:39:46] the public for your
[2:39:50] participation this evening.
[2:39:51] As I indicated, the city is
[2:39:52] potentially facing a shortfall
[2:39:56] with our current f y 2026
[2:39:57] budget and we certainly have
[2:40:01] more work to do as we monitor
[2:40:02] third quarter and fourth
[2:40:02] quarter returns.
[2:40:06] In addition, any shortfall to
[2:40:07] the current budget creates even
[2:40:08] more challenges for the f y
[2:40:09] 2027 budget cycle that is
[2:40:14] already projected to be a
[2:40:14] deficit of $120 million As
[2:40:15] the mayor prepares his proposed
[2:40:19] budget in accordance with
[2:40:20] the Charter I cannot stress
[2:40:21] enough we cannot proceed with
[2:40:25] business as usual Simply we are
[2:40:26] not in business as usual
[2:40:31] circumstances as the mayor
[2:40:32] assesses budget cuts, it's
[2:40:33] important that staffing levels
[2:40:33] align with the scope of
[2:40:37] services delivered in
[2:40:37] operations most clearly
[2:40:38] communicate adjustments to
[2:40:42] service levels to all residents
[2:40:43] .
[2:40:43] Staffing changes should be
[2:40:44] proportional across front line
[2:40:48] supervisory and management
[2:40:49] levels and service or staffing
[2:40:49] reductions need to preserve
[2:40:50] core functions.
[2:40:54] In short, we must levels at
[2:40:55] the organization and address
[2:40:56] unclassified upper and middle
[2:41:00] management positions Over
[2:41:01] the last several budget cycles
[2:41:02] equity has been a guiding
[2:41:06] principle As the city invested
[2:41:07] in programs, services and
[2:41:08] the city workforce to meet
[2:41:08] the unique needs of residents
[2:41:13] citywide equity must remain at
[2:41:14] the forefront.
[2:41:14] I do appreciate the update
[2:41:20] regarding recent revenues
[2:41:20] exceeding projections and
[2:41:21] further further mitigating
[2:41:25] the use of reserves.
[2:41:26] However, just as updates come
[2:41:27] in we are also met with
[2:41:31] challenges such as increased
[2:41:32] rainfall levels and the need
[2:41:32] for releasing of water that
[2:41:37] comes at a cost.
[2:41:38] Let me be clear there will be
[2:41:42] cuts as we approach the f y
[2:41:43] 2027 budget but they cannot be
[2:41:48] across the board.
[2:41:48] Over the last several budget
[2:41:49] cycles equity has been a
[2:41:54] guiding principle Equity must
[2:41:54] remain at the forefront.
[2:41:55] That means being mindful is
[2:42:00] strategic.
[2:42:00] As we evaluate impacts our goal
[2:42:01] must be to preserve core
[2:42:06] services and ensure we maintain
[2:42:06] clean and safe neighborhoods.
[2:42:07] We must maintain our
[2:42:11] infrastructure.
[2:42:12] We must maintain functioning
[2:42:13] libraries and parks and we must
[2:42:13] be better at maintaining
[2:42:17] the facilities and equipment
[2:42:18] that our employees rely on to
[2:42:18] do their jobs.
[2:42:23] We must be good stewards of
[2:42:24] taxpayer dollars and bring
[2:42:25] accountability to the table.
[2:42:30] There is much more work to do
[2:42:30] and we need the public's input
[2:42:31] Like tonight we will have
[2:42:35] additional public comment
[2:42:36] meetings held in the evening so
[2:42:37] please mark your calendars for
[2:42:41] MARCH 10th MAY 4th and MAY
[2:42:41] the 18th.
[2:42:42] I strongly encourage residents
[2:42:46] to participate.
[2:42:47] There are difficult decisions
[2:42:48] ahead and the community
[2:42:48] deserves to be part of
[2:42:53] the conversation.
[2:42:54] With that I'll look forward to
[2:42:54] public comment and suggestions
[2:42:59] regarding what services you
[2:42:59] would like to see prioritized
[2:43:00] in services recommended for
[2:43:04] reductions and mitigations.
[2:43:05] Our budget process cannot
[2:43:06] simply be about cutting for
[2:43:10] the sake of cutting it must be
[2:43:11] about building a sustainable,
[2:43:11] equitable and structurally
[2:43:16] sound budget that reflects our
[2:43:17] values and protects core
[2:43:17] services for the long term.
[2:43:22] Again, thank you Council
[2:43:23] PRESIDENT For scheduling this
[2:43:23] meeting and that concludes my
[2:43:28] comments.
[2:43:29] All right.
[2:43:29] Thank you.
[2:43:30] Councilmember Foster, Chair of
[2:43:30] our Budget Committee.
[2:43:34] Thank you, MR. Monaco for
[2:43:34] the Office of the Budget
[2:43:35] analyst with that clerk Please
[2:43:41] proceed with public comment
[2:43:41] then council PRESIDENT Starting
[2:43:42] with Pat Wilson.
[2:43:42] If you can please come up to
[2:43:46] the microphone and I can have
[2:43:47] the following individuals
[2:43:47] please come up to the front row
[2:43:48] In the other reserved seats
[2:43:53] Sara Orman, Vicki Grandmoms and
[2:43:53] Ramsey if you can all please
[2:43:54] come up to the other reserved
[2:43:55] seats you have time seated to
[2:43:58] you by Patricia Patricia again
[2:43:59] please raise your hand.
[2:44:03] You're setting your time.
[2:44:10] Sorry Patricia Is that okay?
[2:44:11] Thank you.
[2:44:11] Sorry.
[2:44:12] Two people raise their hand at
[2:44:12] me.
[2:44:12] Okay.
[2:44:16] Based on the amount of speakers
[2:44:17] we're going to be at 1.5
[2:44:17] minutes so you'll have three
[2:44:18] minutes.
[2:44:21] Please proceed.
[2:44:22] Thank you.
[2:44:22] Hello again, Council.
[2:44:23] How are you all tonight?
[2:44:27] Thank you for being here.
[2:44:28] I appreciate the opportunity
[2:44:28] for the public to give input to
[2:44:33] Council on our priorities
[2:44:34] before the mayor's proposed
[2:44:35] budget is finalized even as I'm
[2:44:35] certain that what we want will
[2:44:39] have no bearing on what comes
[2:44:40] forth.
[2:44:40] That's it.
[2:44:41] I'm here once again asking you
[2:44:45] to stand up for libraries and
[2:44:45] parks the beating heart of our
[2:44:46] communities especially in these
[2:44:51] times People need a place to
[2:44:52] gather, socialize and relax
[2:44:52] That doesn't cost them money.
[2:44:57] We need spaces to decompress,
[2:44:57] learn new skills and broaden
[2:44:58] our outlooks.
[2:45:03] We need access to resources
[2:45:04] that we don't have at home.
[2:45:04] We all need these spaces
[2:45:09] regardless of demographics.
[2:45:09] Every council district has
[2:45:10] residents who rely on libraries
[2:45:14] and parks to provide vital
[2:45:15] physical and mental health
[2:45:15] opportunities No matter
[2:45:21] the median income of the area.
[2:45:21] We must not pick winners and
[2:45:22] losers here.
[2:45:22] All of these facilities are
[2:45:27] vital to their communities.
[2:45:28] The fact that the mayor keeps
[2:45:28] coming back time and again to
[2:45:33] take money from all already to
[2:45:33] small budgets is infuriating.
[2:45:39] I cannot accept that there
[2:45:39] aren't other places to look.
[2:45:43] Council identified places in
[2:45:43] the fifth school 26 budget
[2:45:44] where savings could be found
[2:45:48] but these savings have yet to
[2:45:49] be realized and really some
[2:45:53] things MAY just have to wait
[2:45:53] $2.4 million for slowing down
[2:45:58] traffic come on.
[2:45:59] I mean I'm sure in this year in
[2:46:05] this year when we're when we're
[2:46:06] cutting back on vital things
[2:46:06] that already here I'm sure
[2:46:07] there are other needs to have
[2:46:11] proposed expenditures that can
[2:46:11] wait for a year or two And
[2:46:12] since I've got time I'm going
[2:46:17] to rattle off some statistics.
[2:46:18] The library system last year
[2:46:21] and 2025 showed it saw 4.8
[2:46:26] million visits among all 37
[2:46:26] branches.
[2:46:31] We had 14,000 program attendees
[2:46:32] and 736,000 users of library
[2:46:38] computers and wireless.
[2:46:39] And if you don't think that
[2:46:40] makes a difference to people
[2:46:44] and I just I just can't even.
[2:46:45] And every council district and
[2:46:50] every branch has communities
[2:46:50] who depend on that library and
[2:46:56] that branch being open.
[2:46:57] We know we lost Sunday hours.
[2:46:58] What are those people doing
[2:46:58] now?
[2:46:59] Half of our branches more than
[2:46:59] half of we're not open on
[2:47:01] Mondays People don't People who
[2:47:02] need those resources can't get
[2:47:02] them.
[2:47:09] So anyway, I implore you we'll
[2:47:10] be back time again You'll hear
[2:47:11] and I'm sure Patrick can show
[2:47:13] you all the wonderful things
[2:47:14] that the Library Foundation has
[2:47:15] been putting together for you
[2:47:15] all.
[2:47:19] You should have them in your
[2:47:20] council offices already.
[2:47:21] >> Thank you very much for your
[2:47:21] time.
[2:47:22] Good luck.
[2:47:29] >> All right.
[2:47:29] >> Good evening.
[2:47:34] My name is Cheryl Ormond and I
[2:47:35] live at 427 ninth Avenue.
[2:47:39] My husband and I came to San
[2:47:39] Diego in 2012 from suburban
[2:47:40] Detroit.
[2:47:45] As two retired librarian we
[2:47:46] were delighted to find
[2:47:47] ourselves just two blocks from
[2:47:51] the new Central Library.
[2:47:52] Back in Michigan we used to
[2:47:53] joke that we had the wealthy
[2:47:57] suburbs sewn up with the school
[2:47:58] librarian and growth Point.
[2:47:59] And I was a public librarian in
[2:48:02] Birmingham at the Baldwin
[2:48:03] Public Library.
[2:48:04] At one point Baldwin had
[2:48:09] the highest per capita budget
[2:48:10] for circulating materials in
[2:48:10] the entire state of Michigan.
[2:48:15] Sadly, the same is not true for
[2:48:15] San Diego.
[2:48:21] Fact compared to other urban
[2:48:21] libraries, San Diego library
[2:48:26] systems fare very poorly.
[2:48:27] Seattle has a population of
[2:48:31] just over 737,000 people.
[2:48:32] Their library system has 26
[2:48:37] branches and their total budget
[2:48:38] is 100 million.
[2:48:44] San Diego has a population over
[2:48:49] 1,388,000 people and we have 37
[2:48:49] branches.
[2:48:54] But our budget is just 70
[2:48:54] million.
[2:48:55] We like to claim that we live
[2:49:00] in a world class city.
[2:49:00] But would a world class city
[2:49:01] have a substandard library?
[2:49:03] Thank you for that Concluding
[2:49:03] remark.
[2:49:09] >> Vicki Reynolds.
[2:49:10] >> Hi, I'm Vicki Reynolds with
[2:49:11] the San Diego Parks Foundation
[2:49:15] and we want to thank you for
[2:49:16] restoring funding to ac dc
[2:49:20] hours and wi fi last year.
[2:49:21] And we're going to ask you to
[2:49:22] do the same this year.
[2:49:23] We want to remind you Parks and
[2:49:27] Recreation is an essential
[2:49:28] service that provides help
[2:49:33] safety and education as our
[2:49:33] communities become increasingly
[2:49:34] dense.
[2:49:34] They're not going to have
[2:49:35] backyards.
[2:49:39] Parks are going to be
[2:49:39] essential.
[2:49:40] The other thing I want to say
[2:49:45] is that I'm going to apologize
[2:49:46] for Andy Fields and his team up
[2:49:46] front.
[2:49:50] But there has been an
[2:49:51] exponential growth at
[2:49:51] the management level in Park
[2:49:57] and Rec and we think that there
[2:49:57] is an opportunity to in
[2:50:03] the short run maybe consolidate
[2:50:03] some of those positions.
[2:50:04] For the meantime, while we're
[2:50:09] in budget crisis rather than
[2:50:09] doing cutbacks we also believe
[2:50:14] you could push back opening of
[2:50:15] new parks.
[2:50:16] I know that you off so I'm at
[2:50:20] least doing equal opportunity
[2:50:21] for some people off.
[2:50:22] The other thing to off
[2:50:26] the public to be totally fair.
[2:50:27] We do not need rec groups at
[2:50:28] every park.
[2:50:33] You could actually do them so
[2:50:33] that they're limited to one in
[2:50:34] a council district.
[2:50:38] If you look at the attendance
[2:50:39] of rec councils they're very
[2:50:39] small.
[2:50:41] Thank you for that Concluding
[2:50:41] comment.
[2:50:54] >> Ramsay's No thank you guys
[2:50:55] for doing this.
[2:50:55] >> I am kind of impressed with
[2:50:56] a little bit of the work you
[2:51:00] guys have done.
[2:51:01] I want to thank you guys for
[2:51:02] all that.
[2:51:02] It was nice to see the overtime
[2:51:03] again for police.
[2:51:06] You know, I've been asking for
[2:51:06] reform on that aspect.
[2:51:11] What I wanted to talk about was
[2:51:12] I know that we're in a budget
[2:51:13] crunch and I know the parks and
[2:51:14] everything are on the line but
[2:51:17] we need to be really looking at
[2:51:18] the stakes of the immigration
[2:51:18] crisis right now.
[2:51:23] And what I mean by that is
[2:51:24] we're a few steps ahead of
[2:51:25] the Holocaust right now and we
[2:51:25] need to get on with it.
[2:51:29] >> Because yesterday I went to
[2:51:30] a detention facility and that
[2:51:31] was my first time going And
[2:51:35] I've seen pictures of videos of
[2:51:35] it But standing in front of it
[2:51:36] and just seeing what a massive
[2:51:37] facility this and knowing that
[2:51:41] there are women and children in
[2:51:41] there.
[2:51:42] From my side it just felt so
[2:51:46] disgusting and it's bad Like
[2:51:47] while we were there we had to
[2:51:48] leave at 330 because they
[2:51:53] weren't going to allow anyone
[2:51:54] to go outside into the backyard
[2:51:54] until all protesters had left.
[2:51:58] So there was a strict deadline
[2:51:59] by the time we had to be out of
[2:52:00] there so that they could
[2:52:01] actually see the sign before
[2:52:04] they went to sleep like that's
[2:52:04] that's the kind of depravity
[2:52:05] that we're talking about.
[2:52:11] And but right now they're
[2:52:11] sending pregnant minors to
[2:52:12] Texas.
[2:52:12] That's a place where it's
[2:52:13] illegal to have an abortion And
[2:52:16] none of that none of this is an
[2:52:17] accident.
[2:52:17] Like these people are our
[2:52:18] enemies Like we need to be
[2:52:22] aware of this.
[2:52:23] >> Like I know they want a
[2:52:28] budget crunch but yeah.
[2:52:29] Thank you for that concluding
[2:52:29] comment That does include
[2:52:30] public comment here in council
[2:52:34] chambers going to those
[2:52:35] participating remotely.
[2:52:35] Again it'll be a minute and a
[2:52:36] half each.
[2:52:39] We have ten speakers in
[2:52:39] the virtual queue starting with
[2:52:40] Kessler and Catherine Douglas.
[2:52:45] Then after that is Madison and
[2:52:46] then Laurie Lipman.
[2:52:47] >> Catherine, if you can
[2:52:47] please.
[2:52:51] I'm Catherine Douglas.
[2:52:52] It goes without saying that
[2:52:52] public safety is your number
[2:52:56] one responsibility as you work
[2:52:56] on the 2027 budget you must
[2:52:57] start afresh with zero based
[2:52:58] budgeting across the board.
[2:53:02] There is a need for more
[2:53:03] frontline workers and less
[2:53:03] middle management.
[2:53:04] Many city duties should be
[2:53:08] outsourced to experts who can
[2:53:09] do the job for less.
[2:53:10] San Diego deserve an honest
[2:53:13] assessment of our pension
[2:53:14] liabilities, the structural
[2:53:14] deficit and the real cost of
[2:53:19] deferred infrastructure Not
[2:53:20] assumptions, not optimistic
[2:53:20] projections.
[2:53:21] Real numbers.
[2:53:26] Pension obligations must be
[2:53:26] honored but failing to plan for
[2:53:27] them responsibly deepens
[2:53:27] the deficit.
[2:53:32] Delaying infrastructure repairs
[2:53:33] only guarantees higher cost
[2:53:38] costs later and without a clear
[2:53:38] financial picture.
[2:53:39] Budgeting becomes guesswork
[2:53:39] instead of stewardship.
[2:53:44] This is this isn't about blame.
[2:53:45] It's about accountability.
[2:53:50] Before raising taxes, cutting
[2:53:50] services or approving new
[2:53:51] programs show the public
[2:53:56] exactly where the city stands.
[2:53:57] This is the minimum standard
[2:53:57] for responsible governance.
[2:54:02] No more guesswork that has seen
[2:54:02] disastrous results such as
[2:54:03] the trash fees and the Balboa
[2:54:03] parking rollout.
[2:54:08] Thank you.
[2:54:08] >> Thank you.
[2:54:09] Next is Madison if you can
[2:54:13] please on mute.
[2:54:14] All right.
[2:54:14] Thank you.
[2:54:17] As you consider the 2027
[2:54:18] budget, I urge you to
[2:54:19] prioritize investments that
[2:54:23] reduce long term city costs by
[2:54:24] strengthening public health now
[2:54:24] especially when it comes to
[2:54:29] youth cannabis exposure.
[2:54:29] Last week the Public Health
[2:54:30] Institute announced findings
[2:54:31] from a major study published in
[2:54:35] jama Health Forum.
[2:54:35] The study followed over 400,000
[2:54:36] adolescents and young adults
[2:54:41] and found that teens who
[2:54:41] reported past year cannabis use
[2:54:42] had double the risk of
[2:54:46] developing psychotic disorders
[2:54:47] and double the risk of
[2:54:47] developing bipolar disorder in
[2:54:48] young adulthood.
[2:54:52] They also a significantly
[2:54:53] higher risk of depression and
[2:54:53] anxiety.
[2:54:58] Untreated mental illness shows
[2:54:58] up everywhere in our local
[2:54:59] spending.
[2:54:59] Behavioral health Services
[2:55:04] Homelessness Response.
[2:55:04] Emergency room visits, law
[2:55:05] enforcement interactions and
[2:55:06] lost productivity.
[2:55:10] So prevention efforts would be
[2:55:10] fiscally responsible.
[2:55:11] The study also found high rates
[2:55:15] of cannabis use among youth
[2:55:15] enrolled in Medicaid and those
[2:55:16] living in more
[2:55:20] socioeconomically deprived
[2:55:21] neighborhoods.
[2:55:22] So here are just two ideas As
[2:55:25] you shape the 2027 budget.
[2:55:26] Ensure strong enforcement of
[2:55:26] local regulations that reduce
[2:55:31] youth exposure and high potency
[2:55:31] product promotion.
[2:55:32] And second evaluate cannabis
[2:55:37] related impact through a public
[2:55:37] health cost lens not just
[2:55:42] projected revenue.
[2:55:43] If we want to reduce city costs
[2:55:43] over time we must reduce
[2:55:44] preventable harm.
[2:55:48] Now thank you.
[2:55:53] Next, Laurie after that is are
[2:55:54] you Laurie?
[2:55:58] Please unmute.
[2:55:59] Hello and can you hear me?
[2:55:59] Yes Please proceed.
[2:55:59] Okay.
[2:56:04] Thank you for including
[2:56:05] the public in this process.
[2:56:08] I urge the City Council to
[2:56:09] prioritize two public safety
[2:56:09] the kind that helps communities
[2:56:14] not just survive but thrive.
[2:56:15] That means invest in education
[2:56:16] deeply affordable low income
[2:56:20] housing not the vague category
[2:56:20] of affordable and ensuring
[2:56:21] access to comprehensive medical
[2:56:25] care.
[2:56:26] It also means rethinking what
[2:56:31] does what does make us safer.
[2:56:32] I'm asking you to decrease
[2:56:32] police funding and cancel
[2:56:35] the contract with Block
[2:56:36] surveillance and replacing Do
[2:56:37] not prevent crime or build
[2:56:37] trust.
[2:56:42] A healthy sustainable,
[2:56:42] productive and joyful city is
[2:56:43] built through investment in
[2:56:44] people, not expanded
[2:56:48] enforcement.
[2:56:48] >> Thank you very much.
[2:56:49] Thank you.
[2:56:50] Next is Aria If you can please
[2:56:59] unmute.
[2:56:59] >> Good evening.
[2:57:00] My name is Aria Grossman and
[2:57:00] the policy manager articulate
[2:57:04] San Diego and I'm urging you to
[2:57:05] fund the Vision zero
[2:57:08] Coalition's budget priorities
[2:57:09] two one Fix the fatal 15 to
[2:57:09] Funds Management Plan
[2:57:14] implementation while
[2:57:15] prioritizing school towns as
[2:57:16] the Transportation Department
[2:57:17] intends and three fund funding
[2:57:18] implementation.
[2:57:19] The City of San Diego has not
[2:57:20] made progress on equipment ten
[2:57:21] road deaths Nearly every
[2:57:24] councilmember named road safety
[2:57:24] is a priority.
[2:57:25] Safety advocates are telling
[2:57:28] you that these three funding
[2:57:29] requests will save lives.
[2:57:29] >> If you're serious about
[2:57:30] Vision Zero, please fund these
[2:57:33] priorities.
[2:57:34] I understand that it's a tough
[2:57:35] budget year.
[2:57:35] However, transportation dollars
[2:57:39] are not subject to the same
[2:57:39] tradeoffs.
[2:57:40] The Transportation Department
[2:57:40] budget relies on state and
[2:57:44] federal formula funding which
[2:57:45] must be spent on transportation
[2:57:46] and this funding increased in
[2:57:50] the city budget last year.
[2:57:51] I know you're facing difficult
[2:57:51] choices.
[2:57:52] We heard someone say earlier
[2:57:53] that we shouldn't fund speed
[2:57:55] management plan implementation
[2:57:56] and instead support libraries.
[2:57:56] I want to make clear that this
[2:58:00] tradeoff does not exist.
[2:58:01] Transportation funding can only
[2:58:01] be spent on transportation.
[2:58:02] What I'm asking you to do is
[2:58:05] choose these safety
[2:58:06] improvements over routine road
[2:58:06] maintenance No other city
[2:58:10] services Please fund these
[2:58:11] requests to save lives.
[2:58:11] >> Thank you.
[2:58:11] Thank you.
[2:58:15] The five minute timer did
[2:58:15] conclude during that speaker
[2:58:16] There are 14 speakers with
[2:58:17] their hands raised, no
[2:58:20] additional speakers will be
[2:58:20] taken.
[2:58:21] >> guthrie Leonard if you can
[2:58:24] please unmute.
[2:58:25] >> Hi, can you hear me?
[2:58:26] Yes.
[2:58:26] Please proceed.
[2:58:26] Hi.
[2:58:30] Thank you guys so much for
[2:58:31] starting so early on this and
[2:58:31] including us.
[2:58:35] It really means a lot to have
[2:58:36] our voices heard.
[2:58:40] I love what Aria said on Vision
[2:58:40] Zero.
[2:58:41] I don't have anything to add to
[2:58:41] that.
[2:58:42] I think those are all worthy
[2:58:44] goals for our transportation
[2:58:45] funding.
[2:58:46] And I also want to talk briefly
[2:58:50] about the 215 bus which is from
[2:58:50] sdsu to downtown.
[2:58:55] I think this bus deserves
[2:58:55] further investment.
[2:58:56] It was envisioned as more than
[2:59:00] it is now and I think that
[2:59:00] money is well spent and results
[2:59:01] in higher ridership which would
[2:59:05] you know, fulfill the money
[2:59:05] we're spending on it.
[2:59:06] And I also just want to say
[2:59:10] that when it comes to
[2:59:10] transportation spending,
[2:59:11] especially when it comes to
[2:59:15] roads, bike infrastructure and
[2:59:16] transit infrastructure lasts
[2:59:16] longer than resurfacing.
[2:59:20] So if we're going to spend this
[2:59:21] money in a way that makes it
[2:59:25] count, I think it's worth it to
[2:59:25] spend it on the stuff that's
[2:59:26] going to last the longest And
[2:59:27] in this case that's active in
[2:59:30] public transportation.
[2:59:31] >> So please take that into
[2:59:32] account when you are choosing
[2:59:32] where those dollars go.
[2:59:33] Thank you.
[2:59:36] Thank you.
[2:59:36] Next is asthma.
[2:59:37] Asthma.
[2:59:41] If you can please unmute.
[2:59:42] >> Hi, my name is Asma Abdi.
[2:59:46] i'm a constituent of district
[2:59:47] three and I'm here speaking in
[2:59:47] my personal capacity as a
[2:59:48] concerned citizen.
[2:59:52] I was born and raised in San
[2:59:52] Diego.
[2:59:53] I'm a daughter of immigrants.
[2:59:54] Our families did not leave a
[2:59:57] frying pan just to end up in a
[2:59:57] pressure cooker.
[2:59:58] We need protection and we need
[2:59:59] investment and vulnerable
[3:00:01] communities especially at a
[3:00:02] time when so many families are
[3:00:03] feeling uncertainty.
[3:00:07] We recently had a lot of rain
[3:00:07] in San Diego and it's clear
[3:00:08] the city is not investing in
[3:00:09] proper stormwater
[3:00:09] infrastructure.
[3:00:11] We need to make sure that at
[3:00:12] the very least people are
[3:00:13] provided with basic human needs
[3:00:16] such as affordable housing for
[3:00:17] very low and low income
[3:00:18] families as well as a decrease
[3:00:21] in police funding and canceling
[3:00:22] contracts with flock which has
[3:00:26] been proven to share data with
[3:00:26] ice.
[3:00:27] So as you consider the budget I
[3:00:28] urge you please don't balance
[3:00:31] the budget on the backs of
[3:00:32] immigrant black immigrant and
[3:00:33] refugee communities communities
[3:00:36] that are marginalized and we
[3:00:37] need protection now more than
[3:00:37] ever.
[3:00:38] So please invest in our
[3:00:38] communities.
[3:00:41] Thank you.
[3:00:41] Thank you, Sally.
[3:00:42] If you can please.
[3:00:45] I'm you.
[3:00:46] >> Thank you.
[3:00:51] I do appreciate this Early time
[3:00:51] for getting input from people
[3:00:56] but didn't do a great job in
[3:01:00] promoting this Obviously with
[3:01:01] the number of people online let
[3:01:01] alone in person.
[3:01:05] I wanted to request that you
[3:01:10] cancel flock put the money
[3:01:10] towards the safety of
[3:01:15] the people and the welfare of
[3:01:16] the people and for me that
[3:01:19] means not the police but
[3:01:25] towards parks and library.
[3:01:26] I'm not saying you have to
[3:01:30] create new ones Nets etc..
[3:01:33] I agree with the vision Zero
[3:01:33] efforts to slow speeds
[3:01:39] especially in the areas with
[3:01:39] the with the number of deaths
[3:01:43] that we have this past year.
[3:01:44] It's still still too high.
[3:01:48] I'd also like to request that
[3:01:49] you work on the middle
[3:01:53] management level of jobs.
[3:01:58] I think that's where a lot of
[3:01:58] the cuts are.
[3:02:02] The people that are on
[3:02:03] the ground need to be able to
[3:02:04] do their work but the middle
[3:02:07] management I think in a lot of
[3:02:08] instances can be combined.
[3:02:12] >> Thank you.
[3:02:13] Please consider before igniting
[3:02:18] as communities of concern and
[3:02:18] our stormwater.
[3:02:19] Thank you for that concluding
[3:02:21] comment.
[3:02:26] >> Next is Samantha Schumer.
[3:02:26] >> Hi, good evening Council.
[3:02:27] Thank you so much for
[3:02:30] the opportunity to speak on
[3:02:31] such a critical issue.
[3:02:32] We are in a serious budget
[3:02:36] crisis not only in our city but
[3:02:37] our county, our state and our
[3:02:37] nation.
[3:02:40] And it's time for our leaders
[3:02:40] to take serious looks at
[3:02:44] revenue options that don't
[3:02:45] punish our working families but
[3:02:49] hold those accountable who have
[3:02:50] taken advantage of tax breaks
[3:02:55] for decades at our city.
[3:02:56] I think it's time to make
[3:02:57] entities like Airbnb pay their
[3:02:59] fair share and I'm really
[3:03:00] encouraged to see council
[3:03:04] taking a serious look at items
[3:03:05] that will bring in revenue to
[3:03:05] our city that we so desperately
[3:03:09] need to keep our roads safe, to
[3:03:10] keep our kids safe and have
[3:03:15] access to parks and clean air
[3:03:15] and all sorts of wonderful
[3:03:16] things that our city provides
[3:03:20] and I am in huge support of any
[3:03:24] revenue measures that hold
[3:03:24] those entities accountable who
[3:03:29] are again like I said, not
[3:03:30] serving working families.
[3:03:34] And I think fundamentally this
[3:03:35] is a moral crisis.
[3:03:39] We have served our communities
[3:03:40] for so long to the point where
[3:03:44] basic things like storm water
[3:03:45] drainage are not being met and
[3:03:49] we can't sit around waiting any
[3:03:49] longer for answers.
[3:03:50] It's time to take serious
[3:03:50] action.
[3:03:54] We have The Waltons, Indiegogo
[3:03:54] and I really encourage
[3:03:55] the council to look to address
[3:03:59] that in.
[3:04:00] Q Thank you.
[3:04:01] Next is I phone if you can
[3:04:08] please unmute I, I can you can
[3:04:09] you hear me Diana?
[3:04:09] >> Yes.
[3:04:10] Please proceed.
[3:04:12] Hey, that's Michael Schmidt.
[3:04:13] Hi.
[3:04:13] Hi.
[3:04:17] I was I'm calling to point out
[3:04:18] I think part of the budget
[3:04:21] should go to tation and
[3:04:26] especially to fixing the roads.
[3:04:31] But I appreciate all of you and
[3:04:32] also for everyone.
[3:04:33] Thank you very much to all of
[3:04:37] you guys.
[3:04:37] >> Okay.
[3:04:37] Okay.
[3:04:38] Thank you.
[3:04:40] Next is 8700 If you can please
[3:04:45] unmute.
[3:04:50] Thank you Jason 53 Okay.
[3:04:55] I want our library parks equity
[3:05:00] Fair immigration Internet
[3:05:04] access kpi as kpi KPIs in all
[3:05:04] departments.
[3:05:05] We need to get started on
[3:05:09] whatever we can do in the f y
[3:05:09] 27 budget to fund those.
[3:05:13] The cuts are very interesting
[3:05:14] and what's being presented I'm
[3:05:15] very surprised about the cuts
[3:05:19] being asked for or suggested in
[3:05:19] parks.
[3:05:24] It makes sense in a way that
[3:05:24] they're doable And yes I'm I'm
[3:05:28] for the less middle management
[3:05:29] and in tweaking that
[3:05:33] coordinating it combining it
[3:05:33] and somehow I like the idea of
[3:05:34] maybe maybe maybe on
[3:05:38] the outsourcing to pay less Now
[3:05:44] I want to see oh gosh there's
[3:05:44] just not enough time.
[3:05:47] I want to say one thing I'm
[3:05:48] looking at a new way of us to
[3:05:52] come together is once San Diego
[3:05:53] and I won't go into it now I'll
[3:05:53] look forward to the budget
[3:05:57] meeting committee meeting or
[3:05:58] something but just wanted to
[3:05:58] put that out there.
[3:05:59] I think we need to enlarge our
[3:06:00] one people pocket to council
[3:06:05] PRESIDENT Pro Tim Lee You said
[3:06:06] something that really really
[3:06:06] woke me up and I don't know
[3:06:10] what to do with it.
[3:06:10] You said I think it was very
[3:06:13] recently at 80 and I think you
[3:06:14] said what to do on a daily
[3:06:18] basis to remove the structural
[3:06:18] budget deficit.
[3:06:19] >> So I think we're doing it
[3:06:24] now in a way but I want to know
[3:06:24] more about that so maybe you
[3:06:28] can save your time if you could
[3:06:28] include it.
[3:06:29] My apologies.
[3:06:29] Thank you, sir.
[3:06:29] Thank you.
[3:06:30] Sorry.
[3:06:30] And if you can please unmute
[3:06:36] after that is Berlin.
[3:06:37] >> Good evening City Council.
[3:06:38] My name is Ian Embry and I'm
[3:06:38] the advocacy and community
[3:06:40] manager with the San Diego
[3:06:41] County Bicycle Coalition.
[3:06:42] I'm calling in tonight to ask
[3:06:45] that you include the vision
[3:06:46] Zero Coalitions by Budget asks
[3:06:46] for your upcoming for this
[3:06:50] upcoming fiscal year.
[3:06:51] As a reminder they are to fund
[3:06:53] improvements to the fatal 15
[3:06:53] intersections fund
[3:06:54] the associated budget requests
[3:06:54] related to the speed management
[3:06:58] plan and create a dedicated
[3:06:59] fund to delight intersections
[3:06:59] across the city.
[3:07:03] Increasingly kids across
[3:07:03] the city are dying because of
[3:07:04] our city's inaction on
[3:07:05] the traffic safety crisis.
[3:07:08] Cities around the world have
[3:07:08] figured out how to reach
[3:07:09] the Vision Zero goal.
[3:07:12] When budget season comes along
[3:07:13] in those cities they allocate
[3:07:14] significant funds to keep their
[3:07:14] citizens safe.
[3:07:17] I wish I could ask for
[3:07:18] significant funds but instead
[3:07:18] I'm asking for pennies on
[3:07:21] the dollar to keep us safe.
[3:07:22] We're asking for cost effective
[3:07:23] solutions to save lives, do it
[3:07:27] for our kids, our seniors, our
[3:07:27] walkers, our riders, Our
[3:07:31] drivers Do it for all of us.
[3:07:32] >> Thank you.
[3:07:32] Thank you.
[3:07:37] Next is Berlin.
[3:07:45] If you can please unmute Berlin
[3:07:45] .
[3:07:46] >> I do see that you've unmuted
[3:07:51] but we do not hear you here in
[3:07:51] council chambers.
[3:07:52] Not sure if the mic if
[3:07:55] the device you're speaking into
[3:07:55] MAY be muted.
[3:07:56] You hear me now?
[3:07:56] Yes.
[3:07:59] Please proceed.
[3:08:00] >> Hey, I'm here on behalf of
[3:08:04] Mitzi Kahn today and I'm
[3:08:04] calling because we want to
[3:08:05] encourage all of you to take a
[3:08:06] serious look.
[3:08:09] Maximize city efficiency.
[3:08:10] And I'm here to point out one
[3:08:14] concrete action that you could
[3:08:15] take which is to allow
[3:08:15] the Parks and Recreation
[3:08:19] Department to do repairs and
[3:08:20] house the current system to
[3:08:24] carry out park improvements Is
[3:08:24] too lengthy, too lengthy and
[3:08:25] too costly By doing projects in
[3:08:29] house.
[3:08:29] They can address the backlog of
[3:08:30] maintenance requests and reduce
[3:08:34] the much higher costs required
[3:08:35] to carry out major repairs.
[3:08:38] When the park reaches a crisis
[3:08:39] point, complex projects can
[3:08:39] always be sent to specialized
[3:08:43] teams.
[3:08:44] But please let them do
[3:08:44] the small projects to save time
[3:08:48] to save money.
[3:08:49] And this could be a net zero
[3:08:49] expense if you really look into
[3:08:50] it.
[3:08:53] So if you have any questions
[3:08:54] feel free to reach out to me
[3:08:54] again.
[3:08:55] We'll be circling with your
[3:08:55] offices.
[3:08:58] Thank you.
[3:09:07] >> If you can please unmute.
[3:09:07] >> Good evening Council
[3:09:08] members.
[3:09:08] I just want to stress my
[3:09:11] concern about any additional
[3:09:12] cuts to libraries and parks and
[3:09:12] rec.
[3:09:17] Those were already cut last
[3:09:18] year so that would be
[3:09:18] the second time these
[3:09:21] communities folks that need
[3:09:22] these libraries and rec centers
[3:09:23] because they often cannot
[3:09:26] afford the private solutions of
[3:09:27] buying books Every time you
[3:09:28] want to read or paying for
[3:09:31] specific class it's much more
[3:09:32] expensive not at a rec center.
[3:09:33] So this will be the second year
[3:09:36] that these communities face
[3:09:37] cuts and I think that's deeply
[3:09:37] concerning.
[3:09:41] And it's ultimately a
[3:09:41] distributional choice.
[3:09:42] It's no it's a tax by any other
[3:09:46] means to force these people to
[3:09:46] lose that service or now have
[3:09:47] to pay for it out of pocket.
[3:09:51] So we are concerned about fees
[3:09:51] or taxes.
[3:09:52] Ultimately the people who will
[3:09:56] bear this will be those who
[3:09:56] have the least resources which
[3:09:57] is deeply concerning And I hope
[3:09:58] we can find other solutions to
[3:10:03] this.
[3:10:04] Yeah, I mean I'm well aware
[3:10:05] that there are tradeoffs.
[3:10:08] I feel like blaming middle
[3:10:09] missing middle management is
[3:10:12] not always the exactly the best
[3:10:12] solution.
[3:10:13] There's tradeoffs.
[3:10:14] I think city workers provide
[3:10:17] great resources and I in fact
[3:10:18] wish there were more city
[3:10:19] resources to manage how where
[3:10:22] the parking implementation went
[3:10:22] .
[3:10:23] I feel like that would actually
[3:10:23] have made it better.
[3:10:24] So I think there's a true
[3:10:25] tradeoff there.
[3:10:27] So blaming it on this so-called
[3:10:28] middle management will require
[3:10:29] a tradeoff as well.
[3:10:32] Hard decisions to come but I
[3:10:33] want to make sure the emphasis
[3:10:34] on the low income folks are not
[3:10:35] borne the bearing the brunt of
[3:10:40] this crisis.
[3:10:40] Thank you.
[3:10:44] Kevin, if you can please unmute
[3:10:44] .
[3:10:50] Kevin I can unmute for you if
[3:10:51] you can unmute by pressing.
[3:10:56] There you go.
[3:10:56] No With each other?
[3:10:57] No.
[3:10:57] Okay.
[3:10:59] Can you hear me?
[3:10:59] Yes.
[3:11:00] Please proceed.
[3:11:03] Okay.
[3:11:04] Hello, Council members.
[3:11:05] I just wanted to talk to you
[3:11:08] guys about the budget So it
[3:11:09] seems like you guys have been I
[3:11:14] think misallocating some of
[3:11:14] the budget So I've been a
[3:11:15] little bit disappointed with
[3:11:18] the police budget So I'm ad1
[3:11:19] resident and it's been
[3:11:20] disappointing to see that you
[3:11:23] guys have been talking about
[3:11:24] the police being underfunded.
[3:11:25] However there has been parking
[3:11:28] disputes and all Hoya a couple
[3:11:29] of months ago where 11 cop cars
[3:11:32] showed up to the parking
[3:11:33] dispute 11 cop cars yet you
[3:11:34] guys claim that the place is
[3:11:34] being underfunded.
[3:11:38] So I think that would be one
[3:11:42] area to not necessarily cut
[3:11:43] the budget but to reallocate
[3:11:43] where officers are going And if
[3:11:44] there are some areas that are
[3:11:45] understaffed because clearly
[3:11:46] some areas are being
[3:11:51] overstaffed, I think it's also
[3:11:51] important to make sure that
[3:11:55] we're funding the trolley
[3:11:56] system.
[3:11:56] The trial is actually one of my
[3:11:57] favorite parts of San Diego and
[3:12:00] I think would be great if we
[3:12:01] kept it funded also with us.
[3:12:04] b 79 If you guys expanded
[3:12:05] the trolley that would also be
[3:12:06] great Get more housing and more
[3:12:08] trolley.
[3:12:09] So you could definitely use
[3:12:10] some more trolley.
[3:12:12] So that be great.
[3:12:13] >> Um I think the parks and
[3:12:18] libraries also are really
[3:12:18] important so make sure you guys
[3:12:22] are funding those as well.
[3:12:27] >> So um yeah and so that's
[3:12:28] overall yeah I think just
[3:12:32] reallocate some funding.
[3:12:32] >> That'd be great.
[3:12:32] Thank you.
[3:12:36] Next is Blair Beekman.
[3:12:41] If you can please unmute.
[3:12:41] All right.
[3:12:42] Thank you.
[3:12:45] Thanks for this meeting
[3:12:46] tonight.
[3:12:51] I was interested from my public
[3:12:51] comment non agenda public
[3:12:52] comment today What I failed to
[3:12:56] mention the relevance I think
[3:12:57] to this meeting today is that
[3:12:58] you know it's Oakland and San
[3:12:59] Jose are both they're working
[3:13:01] proactive really on items and
[3:13:02] issues to deal to address this
[3:13:05] new Trump administration but
[3:13:06] San Diego also worked well
[3:13:11] previously on Park issues and
[3:13:12] you took a break on more
[3:13:13] surveillance tech for Park.
[3:13:15] You just have to really
[3:13:16] consider, you know, what
[3:13:17] the Trump administration's
[3:13:17] going to do with data
[3:13:20] collection things.
[3:13:21] I think we're afraid now We've
[3:13:21] seen best practices.
[3:13:25] We're afraid to move into
[3:13:26] the future of best practices.
[3:13:27] I explained ideas from Oakland
[3:13:30] and Canada that they are
[3:13:31] working proactively.
[3:13:35] I hope San Diego can do it.
[3:13:36] It's been an election year.
[3:13:37] i hope you don't You're not
[3:13:37] afraid of things.
[3:13:40] I hope you're not afraid that
[3:13:41] I've been saying consistently
[3:13:41] that we can be addressing
[3:13:45] the future of tech and we can
[3:13:45] be reducing tech and still
[3:13:46] offering the same public safety
[3:13:50] for a lower cost.
[3:13:51] I know and a tremendous budget
[3:13:51] savings we can be working on
[3:13:55] block a huge funding well
[3:13:55] principled future in your
[3:13:58] vendor and I hope you guys take
[3:13:59] the time and effort to want to
[3:13:59] do that sort of stuff.
[3:14:02] Let's really do that in 2026
[3:14:03] and from that I hope and 2027
[3:14:08] we're dealing with a new form
[3:14:08] of budget issues Actually at
[3:14:09] the end of this covid era we
[3:14:12] have to be talking about new
[3:14:12] forms of money management and I
[3:14:13] hope you guys are up to those.
[3:14:17] I'm Thank you.
[3:14:17] >> Thank you.
[3:14:18] Thank you.
[3:14:20] If you raised your hand after
[3:14:21] the five minute timer you will
[3:14:22] not be taken tonight but you
[3:14:22] can definitely continue to
[3:14:23] submit your comments through
[3:14:26] city Clerk at San diego.Gov and
[3:14:26] those will be distributed and
[3:14:28] there'll be other opportunities
[3:14:29] for 937 If you can please
[3:14:34] unmute And then it's McLean
[3:14:35] photography.
[3:14:36] Those are our final speakers
[3:14:41] for 937 Please unmute.
[3:14:46] >> Hi I'm a I'm a constituent
[3:14:47] of district three Are you
[3:14:48] the same Steven Whiteman I
[3:14:52] noticed that you are also
[3:14:52] appearing at the Democratic
[3:14:53] Party Metro West meeting
[3:14:54] tonight I need supposed to be
[3:14:54] working to serve
[3:14:59] the constituents right now Also
[3:15:02] I support funding for
[3:15:03] transportation with the trolley
[3:15:12] and the busses.
[3:15:12] >> Does that concludes your
[3:15:13] comments?
[3:15:16] Yes thank you.
[3:15:17] >> Next is McLean Photography.
[3:15:22] If you can please unmute.
[3:15:22] Good evening everyone.
[3:15:23] Thanks for having this meeting
[3:15:27] for us and letting us speak to
[3:15:28] the public at 13.
[3:15:28] So anyway so I'm from
[3:15:31] Philadelphia but I'm in San
[3:15:32] Diego for about 12 years right?
[3:15:33] And I'm a local photographer
[3:15:36] and a business man but prior to
[3:15:37] coming here one of the things
[3:15:40] that kind of got me on track to
[3:15:41] change my life was the public
[3:15:41] libraries.
[3:15:42] So in my neighborhood in
[3:15:46] Philadelphia, you know,
[3:15:46] Westwood was pretty poor and we
[3:15:47] had to go really far to even go
[3:15:50] to a library and luckily in
[3:15:51] Philadelphia the public
[3:15:51] transportation is pretty good
[3:15:52] So I had to take the train all
[3:15:55] the way in the center city
[3:15:56] right just to go to a good
[3:15:56] library and use the free
[3:16:00] services, you know, because I
[3:16:00] was poor at the time.
[3:16:01] So I think it's really
[3:16:02] important for us to have access
[3:16:02] to libraries.
[3:16:04] Number one and reliable
[3:16:05] transportation so that people
[3:16:08] can have a way to change their
[3:16:09] lives you know, learn research
[3:16:10] networks and be in community
[3:16:14] and also have, you know,
[3:16:15] situations where for example,
[3:16:15] the Malcolm x Library in
[3:16:18] southeast San Diego there's a
[3:16:19] new liberal center there across
[3:16:19] the street.
[3:16:23] My work is actually in that
[3:16:24] behavioral health clinic again
[3:16:24] because I think it's important
[3:16:25] to have a community space where
[3:16:28] people can actually congregate
[3:16:29] but also heal and also research
[3:16:29] what they're going to do with
[3:16:30] their lives.
[3:16:32] So for me once again library
[3:16:37] transportation thank you for
[3:16:38] Thank you.
[3:16:38] Let us include public comment
[3:16:42] on this item.
[3:16:42] All right.
[3:16:43] Thank you City clerk Again, as
[3:16:47] I said, thank you everybody
[3:16:48] that showed up in person and
[3:16:51] those who participated remotely
[3:16:52] Information item No motions
[3:16:53] required But I want to turn
[3:16:53] over to my council colleagues
[3:16:57] If you have any additional
[3:16:57] comments and we'll go first to
[3:17:01] council member Ella Rivera.
[3:17:02] Thank you Council PRESIDENT.
[3:17:06] Appreciate your comments.
[3:17:11] Budget Chair Fosters Charles
[3:17:12] yours as well and thank you to
[3:17:12] the members of the public who
[3:17:13] participated tonight.
[3:17:16] I appreciate the opportunity to
[3:17:17] get the budget conversation
[3:17:17] started early this year because
[3:17:18] it is going to be so difficult
[3:17:23] and I think what is a positive
[3:17:29] is that there's no one
[3:17:29] pretending like we're not going
[3:17:33] to have difficult decisions or
[3:17:34] a hard conversation over
[3:17:35] the next several months.
[3:17:38] But I do think it's important
[3:17:39] for us to kind of ask what this
[3:17:42] all is for.
[3:17:43] What are we actually aiming to
[3:17:44] be?
[3:17:48] And I do think we're I when I
[3:17:48] say we I mean the council I
[3:17:49] mean the mayor's office.
[3:17:52] I mean even the public to a
[3:17:53] certain extent.
[3:17:53] What type of city are we
[3:17:57] actually trying to be?
[3:17:58] And I, I don't know that that's
[3:18:02] being articulated right now in
[3:18:03] a clear way that allows us to
[3:18:03] actually know what we're aiming
[3:18:06] for Should we be should we just
[3:18:11] be slashing Are we satisfied
[3:18:11] with the amount of resources
[3:18:12] that we're working with?
[3:18:16] I don't hear that from
[3:18:16] the constituents who I engage
[3:18:17] with the most.
[3:18:18] We obviously need to be as
[3:18:21] efficient with the dollars that
[3:18:21] we have as possible.
[3:18:22] But you know, I think sometimes
[3:18:27] a fresh set of eyes can be
[3:18:28] really useful And when folks
[3:18:32] move to San Diego and they they
[3:18:33] notice how our library system
[3:18:37] stacks up to other library
[3:18:38] systems in terms of per capita
[3:18:42] investment, I think that's
[3:18:42] useful for us.
[3:18:47] I think it's useful for us to
[3:18:48] keep in mind that the cities
[3:18:48] that we often compare ourselves
[3:18:52] to that are resource resourcing
[3:18:53] their library systems better
[3:18:54] their park systems that are
[3:18:57] their rec systems better.
[3:18:58] It's they often have one thing
[3:18:59] in common that we do not do
[3:19:02] here in San Diego and that's
[3:19:02] ask those with the most to pay
[3:19:03] their fair share.
[3:19:06] So I know I've said this before
[3:19:07] I know I will say it again and
[3:19:11] it's probably getting old to a
[3:19:11] lot of people but there is no
[3:19:16] way that in a city with this
[3:19:16] level of affluence with people
[3:19:17] who are doing so well with
[3:19:20] corporations that are making so
[3:19:21] much that all of
[3:19:21] the conversation should be
[3:19:24] about cutting and then all of
[3:19:25] the conversation should be
[3:19:29] about reductions because we're
[3:19:34] we can't ask residents to pay
[3:19:35] more as if is not an option to
[3:19:39] pay those with much, much more
[3:19:40] to simply pay to pay their fair
[3:19:40] share.
[3:19:44] So I think about where we were
[3:19:45] last year and how we dug deep
[3:19:49] in order to preserve what we
[3:19:49] determined to be essential
[3:19:50] services And those were rec
[3:19:54] centers that families depend
[3:19:54] on.
[3:19:55] Those were libraries.
[3:19:55] The families depend on their
[3:19:56] parks.
[3:19:58] The neighborhoods depend on And
[3:19:58] I am under no illusions that
[3:20:03] this is not going to be
[3:20:03] difficult.
[3:20:04] I'm under no illusions that
[3:20:04] we're not going to have to make
[3:20:05] difficult decisions, that we're
[3:20:07] going to have to make some
[3:20:08] reductions and some closures.
[3:20:09] But I, I do very much hope that
[3:20:12] in this conversation we can in
[3:20:17] a much more clear way determine
[3:20:18] what type of city we want to be
[3:20:18] over the long term so we can
[3:20:21] start to aim for that because I
[3:20:22] worry that instead we will have
[3:20:27] is a balanced budget but a
[3:20:28] balanced budget that doesn't
[3:20:33] necessarily get us pointed in a
[3:20:33] better direction over the long
[3:20:34] term.
[3:20:36] The last thing I will share is
[3:20:37] this I was I was moved by an
[3:20:37] article that kpbs published
[3:20:41] last week.
[3:20:42] The headline was Recreation
[3:20:42] Centers to the Rescue
[3:20:45] The Search for Affordable
[3:20:46] Summer Camp.
[3:20:46] And this was just a great
[3:20:51] reminder of how for families in
[3:20:51] and in parts of this city
[3:20:55] absent our programing that this
[3:20:56] city provides there there are
[3:21:00] kids who would have nothing to
[3:21:00] do and parents who would
[3:21:05] despite working full time jobs
[3:21:06] be left to explain to their
[3:21:09] children why they have to sit
[3:21:10] at home during the day instead
[3:21:14] of being enriched and fulfilled
[3:21:19] and connected to a city and I
[3:21:20] think that that's something
[3:21:20] that's very much worth fighting
[3:21:21] for.
[3:21:24] So again that having kind of
[3:21:25] continuous continued
[3:21:29] conversation about who it is in
[3:21:30] this city that can't afford to
[3:21:31] pay more and asking them to do
[3:21:31] so it's making sure that we're
[3:21:34] not giving city resources away
[3:21:38] by not renewing leases that are
[3:21:39] long overdue.
[3:21:43] It's certainly making sure
[3:21:44] we're managing the cities as
[3:21:44] efficiently as possible.
[3:21:45] But more than anything it's not
[3:21:48] giving up on our parks.
[3:21:49] It's not giving up on our rec
[3:21:50] centers, it's not giving up our
[3:21:53] libraries in a way that doesn't
[3:21:53] increase it doesn't improve
[3:21:57] service level and aim to make
[3:21:58] this a better city for everyone
[3:21:59] but especially our young
[3:21:59] people.
[3:22:02] Thank you.
[3:22:03] >> Council PRESIDENT All right.
[3:22:03] Thank you.
[3:22:07] Council member Ella Rivera Not
[3:22:08] seeing anybody else I'd like to
[3:22:09] know My colleagues have had
[3:22:09] other opportunities to talk
[3:22:12] about budget and other
[3:22:12] committee meetings.
[3:22:13] There'll be plenty of more
[3:22:14] opportunity to talk about
[3:22:17] budgets So with that we will
[3:22:21] close this item and we will now
[3:22:22] adjourn Council to
[3:22:22] the regularly scheduled council
[3:22:26] meeting on Tuesday FEBRUARY
[3:22:30] 24th, 2026 at ten a m.
[3:22:30] Again, thank you all for