[1:12] Oh
[2:07] , I'm leaving
[2:07] .
[2:08] Mm hmm.
[3:36] Oh, well
[3:36] .
[3:37] Mm hmm.
[3:41] All right.
[3:42] >> Good morning.
[3:46] I will now call the city
[3:47] Council meeting of Tuesday,
[3:48] MARCH 3rd, 2026 to order.
[3:51] Clerk Please call the roll.
[3:52] Thank you.
[3:52] Council PRESIDENT Council
[3:53] Member Campbell.
[3:56] Council Member Whitburn or
[3:57] Council Member Foster.
[3:57] Council Member Yvonne Wilpert.
[4:02] Council PRESIDENT Pro Tem Lee
[4:02] here.
[4:03] Council Member Campos here.
[4:05] Council Member Moreno.
[4:06] Present Council Member Ella
[4:06] Rivera.
[4:07] And Council PRESIDENT LaCava.
[4:10] Present Also attending
[4:11] the meeting our City Attorney
[4:11] Heather Ferber, independent
[4:12] budget analyst Charles Monica
[4:15] and myself for City Clerk Diana
[4:15] Fuentes.
[4:16] Thank you Council PRESIDENT.
[4:16] Thank you.
[4:20] Quorum is now present.
[4:20] We will begin this morning with
[4:21] the land acknowledgment and
[4:22] the Pledge of Allegiance led by
[4:27] Council PRESIDENT Pro Tem Lee.
[4:32] Good morning.
[4:33] We respectfully acknowledge
[4:34] the commune nation or
[4:37] the original inhabitants of
[4:37] the Unceded land now known as
[4:38] San Diego.
[4:39] Despite enduring the horrors of
[4:42] genocide and colonization and
[4:43] the Cuzmy spirit remains
[4:43] unbroken, we honor
[4:44] the resilience of their
[4:47] ancestors who fought to protect
[4:48] their culture and land.
[4:49] Today they carry their legacy
[4:51] forward ensuring that their
[4:52] traditions continue to thrive
[4:52] in gratitude and strength.
[4:57] We stand with the community
[4:58] nation connected to our past
[4:58] and committed to a thriving
[4:59] future.
[5:02] If you'll join me in facing
[5:03] the flag, where do you begin?
[5:07] I pledge allegiance to the flag
[5:07] United States of America and to
[5:11] the Republic which stands one
[5:12] nation under GOD, indivisible
[5:14] with liberty and justice for
[5:14] all.
[5:19] MADAM City Clerk, please go
[5:24] over how the public can offer
[5:24] their testimony.
[5:25] >> Thank you.
[5:25] Council PRESIDENT.
[5:26] I'd like to highlight the slide
[5:28] that's on the screen that does
[5:29] review how the public can offer
[5:30] their public testimony.
[5:30] During today's meeting please
[5:31] note the time allocations for
[5:33] proclamation and consent items
[5:34] for meeting management
[5:34] purposes.
[5:37] One minute per item maximum of
[5:38] three minutes for three or more
[5:38] items are there.
[5:42] The order can be found on
[5:43] the agenda Summary found online
[5:43] or at the back table in
[5:47] the back of the room If you are
[5:47] in person please complete
[5:48] the speaker slip looking at
[5:49] the entrance of chambers and
[5:49] bring it to the front of
[5:52] the room in the clear box.
[5:52] Council ambassadors are
[5:53] available near the entrance and
[5:56] can assist with questions and
[5:57] speaker slips knowing no
[5:57] further in-person testimony
[6:01] will be taken once the council
[6:02] begins Virtual testimony.
[6:02] Thank you, Council PRESIDENT.
[6:03] All right.
[6:03] Thank you for that.
[6:06] We will now dispense with
[6:07] the approval of
[6:07] the proclamation items.
[6:08] Please introduce them and
[6:08] proceed with public comment.
[6:11] Thank you.
[6:11] The public comment period for
[6:12] the proclamation items is now
[6:12] open.
[6:15] Each speaker will have one
[6:15] minute per item per person.
[6:16] If you would like to speak on
[6:20] three or more items you'll have
[6:20] a maximum of three minutes.
[6:21] The proclamation items being
[6:23] approved are items 30 and 31.
[6:24] Jacob Edwards if you can please
[6:32] come forward and you're
[6:37] speaking on item 30.
[6:37] Thank you.
[6:41] City Council.
[6:42] Thank you for the work you do
[6:46] for the city of San Diego.
[6:47] Senior Chief Deputy City
[6:47] Attorney Donna Adams Today is
[6:51] very important to the city of
[6:55] San Diego being that the city
[6:56] attorney's office is very
[6:57] important to the city of San
[7:00] Diego.
[7:01] With that, I'm standing in
[7:05] front of you today to encourage
[7:06] a lawsuit to the federal
[7:11] government by the city
[7:11] attorney's office.
[7:15] In doing so along with
[7:16] the federal lawsuit could come
[7:19] protection orders.
[7:20] It could protect city hall,
[7:24] the mayor's office, the police
[7:29] department witnesses and go far
[7:29] and wide.
[7:33] >> That would be standing up
[7:33] for us citizens.
[7:38] Our city and our country.
[7:43] >> I highly encourage you to
[7:44] encourage the city Attorney's
[7:44] office to thank you for that
[7:45] concluding remark.
[7:48] >> Your time has concluded.
[7:49] Thank you for that concluding
[7:49] remark.
[7:50] I've started the you minute
[7:50] timer going to those
[7:53] participating remotely.
[7:54] Please let me know which item
[7:55] or items you wish to speak to.
[8:00] Hector if you can please unmute
[8:01] I'd like to respond to what
[8:05] that guy was saying whatever
[8:06] thing he was on So you're
[8:13] speaking on just item 30.
[8:14] You'll have one minute.
[8:14] Please proceed.
[8:15] Yeah, I think my Internet's
[8:15] kind of break.
[8:18] I'm like, Well I knew what that
[8:18] guy was talking about that
[8:19] item.
[8:23] I think the city attorney
[8:26] should list and deport all
[8:27] these guys and rapidly open up
[8:31] all the different places Now
[8:32] that we have 75,000 guys on
[8:37] Medicare that the government
[8:38] knows about and captain to San
[8:40] Diego of 75,000 people that are
[8:40] here illegally taking benefits.
[8:44] They should be the top of
[8:45] the list at the city attorney
[8:49] to protect us Most.
[8:59] Yeah yeah And and out in
[9:04] the last here we did a bunch of
[9:05] stuff we've been have of
[9:09] protective citizens of San
[9:09] Diego.
[9:14] Not the criminals not the guys
[9:14] and then the government
[9:15] the state guys.
[9:18] Those guys got to go.
[9:19] So hopefully the city attorney
[9:23] will proclaim Ice Day every
[9:23] day.
[9:24] >> Your time has concluded.
[9:27] Moving on to Michael Schmidt If
[9:28] you can please let me know
[9:29] which item or items you wish to
[9:32] speak to.
[9:33] >> Good morning everyone.
[9:41] My lovely friends on Santa I'm
[9:41] speaking to one on one.
[9:42] One on one.
[9:46] Is it worth doing proclamation
[9:46] Just 30 and 31 right now?
[9:47] >> Oh you are.
[9:50] I'm thinking of the consensus.
[9:51] >> Okay.
[9:51] We'll come back to you during
[9:52] consent.
[9:52] Thank you.
[9:55] That does conclude public
[9:56] comment on the proclamation.
[9:56] >> Thank you, Council
[9:57] PRESIDENT.
[9:57] All right.
[10:00] Thank you.
[10:01] City Clerk We'll turn it over
[10:02] to council members questions
[10:05] and comments and entertain a
[10:05] motion and we'll start with
[10:06] Council member Whitburn.
[10:06] Thank you.
[10:10] Council PRESIDENT I am pleased
[10:11] to bring forward item 31
[10:11] proclaiming APRIL 25th as
[10:15] Soroptimist International of
[10:16] San Diego Day in the city of
[10:17] San Diego for 95 years
[10:20] Soroptimist International of
[10:21] San Diego has been a powerful
[10:21] force for expanding opportunity
[10:25] and economic independence for
[10:26] women and girls across our
[10:27] community through their Live
[10:30] Your Dream Awards.
[10:30] Soroptimist International
[10:31] provides critical financial
[10:34] support to women who are their
[10:35] primary breadwinners for their
[10:35] families, helping them to
[10:36] access education and career
[10:40] training that transforms
[10:40] people's lives through their
[10:44] dream It be it a program local
[10:45] girls receive mentorship and
[10:45] encouragement to pursue their
[10:49] educational and professional
[10:49] goals with confidence
[10:50] Soroptimist International of
[10:51] San Diego also partners with
[10:54] organized and serving survivors
[10:55] of sex trafficking and domestic
[10:59] violence ensuring that women
[10:59] have access to the resources
[11:00] they need to rebuild their
[11:04] lives in a safe and dignified
[11:04] way.
[11:05] We appreciate their continued
[11:06] commitment to empowering women
[11:11] and girls in our city to and
[11:12] Lady Judy Lawton is with us
[11:13] from Soroptimist International
[11:14] of San Diego.
[11:15] I'd like to invite her to come
[11:15] up to the podium and thank you
[11:18] very much for being here and
[11:19] please share a few words with
[11:19] us this morning.
[11:20] What an honor.
[11:23] Thank you so much.
[11:24] Good morning.
[11:24] Council PRESIDENT And council
[11:25] members.
[11:28] My name is Judy Ludden and I'm
[11:29] a proud to be a 45 plus year
[11:30] member of Soroptimist
[11:33] International of San Diego and
[11:34] the chair of our 95th
[11:34] anniversary celebration.
[11:35] I'm here today to recognize
[11:38] this remarkable milestone as we
[11:41] will celebrating on Saturday
[11:42] MARCH 7th at the Bankers Hill
[11:43] Club for nearly a century.
[11:47] Soroptimist has been dedicated
[11:47] to empowering women and girls
[11:48] throughout our community by
[11:51] providing access to education,
[11:52] mentorship and financial
[11:56] support, helping them achieve
[11:56] economic independence, build
[11:57] back better, build brighter
[12:00] futures.
[12:01] Reaching 95 years of service is
[12:02] a testament to the dedication
[12:06] of generations of volunteers
[12:06] committed to improving
[12:07] the lives of girls and women in
[12:11] San Diego County.
[12:12] It is truly an honor to lead
[12:12] the celebration of our legacy
[12:16] and continue impact.
[12:16] Thank you.
[12:17] Thank you.
[12:20] And we look forward to APRIL
[12:20] 25th being Soroptimist
[12:21] International of San Diego Day
[12:22] in the city of San Diego.
[12:25] And with that I am happy to
[12:25] move the proclamations.
[12:26] All right.
[12:26] Thank you, sir.
[12:29] So we have a motion by
[12:30] COUNCILMAN Whitburn to move.
[12:31] The proclamation will go next
[12:31] to council member Vaughn
[12:34] Wolpert.
[12:35] Thank you Council PRESIDENT For
[12:35] item 31.
[12:36] I also want to take a moment to
[12:38] recognize Soroptimist
[12:39] International in San Diego for
[12:40] the extraordinary work that
[12:40] you've done in our city for 95
[12:41] years.
[12:43] It's also wonderful that it
[12:44] marches Women's History Month
[12:45] as well And so thank you for
[12:49] all the work especially you do
[12:49] around helping survivors of
[12:50] domestic violence get out of
[12:53] those situations so they can
[12:54] then be empowered to lead their
[12:54] own lives.
[12:55] And I know in District five in
[12:58] my particular community in
[12:59] Rancho Bernardo and Pena's
[13:00] career so hard to Soroptimist
[13:00] work So thank you for all that
[13:02] you do.
[13:03] I am also honored to bring
[13:07] forth on item 30 to join our
[13:07] city attorney Heather Ferber to
[13:11] recognize Senor Chief Deputy
[13:12] City Attorney Dana Adams.
[13:12] I cannot believe that Danny,
[13:16] you are already time to leave
[13:17] our city.
[13:17] I hope you can come back as
[13:21] original but more For more than
[13:22] 28 years, Diana has dedicated
[13:22] her career to serving
[13:23] the people of San Diego with
[13:25] integrity, professionalism and
[13:26] unwavering commitment to
[13:26] justice.
[13:29] A San Diego native like me,
[13:30] Dana built her an extraordinary
[13:31] career rooted in service for
[13:34] the United States Navy judge
[13:35] advocate general Corps to
[13:36] United States Attorney's Office
[13:39] and ultimately to the city's
[13:40] attorney's office where she has
[13:43] made a lasting impact since
[13:44] joining the city in 1997, she
[13:44] has handled more than 1300
[13:47] hearings, 400 depositions, 14
[13:48] trials and seven appeals.
[13:49] Those numbers reflect not only
[13:52] expertise but tireless
[13:53] preparation and steady
[13:53] leadership and deep
[13:57] institutional knowledge as
[13:57] chief of our Workers
[13:58] Compensation unit, Diana led
[13:58] with both strength and
[14:01] compassion.
[14:02] She mentored 11 attorneys,
[14:03] foster collaboration with our
[14:06] risk management division and
[14:07] worked diligently to ensure
[14:08] city employees receive timely
[14:08] access to benefits and medical
[14:11] care During the covid 19
[14:12] pandemic, she played a key role
[14:12] in advancing critical
[14:16] presumptions to protect our
[14:16] safety, protect our officers,
[14:21] lifeguards and firefighters.
[14:22] Danny's career is defined not
[14:23] just by legal excellence but by
[14:25] her commitment to the people
[14:26] she worked alongside and
[14:26] the employees she served.
[14:27] On behalf of the city Council
[14:30] and residents of San Diego, I
[14:31] want to thank you so much for
[14:32] your decades of service not
[14:32] only to our city but to our
[14:36] nation as well.
[14:36] And it's my privilege to be
[14:37] able to join our city attorney
[14:38] Heather Ferber in proclaiming
[14:41] MARCH third, 2026 as senior
[14:42] Chief Deputy City Attorney
[14:43] Danny Adams Day The city of San
[14:44] Diego.
[14:44] Dan, you want to come up and
[14:53] say a few words So I want to
[14:54] say thank you so much.
[14:58] >> It's been a pleasure and an
[14:58] honor serving the city of San
[14:59] Diego.
[14:59] We have the ability to
[15:03] collaborate with our
[15:04] colleagues, take responsibility
[15:05] for our own cases and most
[15:08] importantly to do the right
[15:08] thing.
[15:09] And I have really enjoyed being
[15:10] in the workers comp unit and
[15:13] providing timely and accurate
[15:14] benefits along with our risk
[15:17] adjusters for all of our city
[15:17] employees.
[15:18] >> So thank you so much.
[15:27] I really appreciate it.
[15:28] >> Thank you.
[15:28] I will second
[15:29] the proclamations.
[15:29] All right.
[15:30] Thank you.
[15:33] Council members, do we have a
[15:34] motion by Councilmember
[15:34] Whitburn, the second by council
[15:35] member Von Wolpert to move
[15:37] the proclamation And we'll go
[15:37] to our city attorney.
[15:38] Thank you so much.
[15:39] Council PRESIDENT Today I have
[15:41] the honor of joining
[15:42] Councilmember Yvonne Wilbert in
[15:43] recognizing a truly exceptional
[15:43] member of the city attorney's
[15:46] office and senior chief Deputy
[15:47] City Attorney Diana Adams.
[15:50] After more than 28 years of
[15:50] dedicated service to the city,
[15:51] Diana is concluding a career of
[15:55] unwavering commitment to public
[15:55] service.
[15:56] As the councilmember mentioned,
[15:57] she was born and raised in San
[15:59] Diego.
[16:00] She is a graduate from San
[16:01] Diego High.
[16:01] The second we have honored this
[16:05] year who have left our office.
[16:05] She received her bachelor's
[16:10] degree from St John's College,
[16:10] a master's degree from
[16:11] the University of New Mexico
[16:12] and came home for her law
[16:12] degree at the University of San
[16:15] Diego.
[16:15] Diana joined the city
[16:16] attorney's office in 1997 as a
[16:20] criminal prosecutor.
[16:21] One year later she joined Civil
[16:22] Litigation Division and in 1999
[16:22] she joined the Workers
[16:25] Compensation Unit where she has
[16:26] been assigned ever since.
[16:26] For more than 20 years Diana
[16:30] has served as chief of
[16:31] the Workers Comp Unit where
[16:31] she's mentored attorneys,
[16:32] fostered a culture of
[16:35] camaraderie and it's a
[16:35] testament that her team is here
[16:40] and the risk adjusters that she
[16:40] works with on a daily basis
[16:41] It's not always every attorney
[16:44] who has clients who actually
[16:44] want to come and celebrate
[16:45] them.
[16:45] For more than 26 years Diana
[16:48] has been a trusted advisor for
[16:49] risk management and has played
[16:50] a critical role in
[16:50] strengthening collaboration
[16:54] between attorneys and adjusters
[16:54] and helping risk management
[16:59] towards awards that they've
[16:59] received recently.
[17:00] Her impact on city employees
[17:00] has been immeasurable.
[17:03] Diana advanced the city's
[17:04] ability to timely and
[17:05] accurately deliver workers
[17:08] compensation benefits and was
[17:09] instrumental during the initial
[17:09] covid 19 Workers Comp
[17:13] Resumptions for safety after
[17:13] office hours.
[17:14] You've heard about the numerous
[17:15] hearings that Diana has already
[17:18] handled which is remarkable
[17:19] given anyone's caseload.
[17:19] So I am especially proud to
[17:23] join Councilmember von Wilber
[17:23] today in honoring Diana's
[17:24] extraordinary career.
[17:24] Her deep commitment to public
[17:27] service and her profound impact
[17:28] on the city of San Diego.
[17:29] You will be missed and we hope
[17:30] you enjoy every moment of your
[17:31] retirement.
[17:35] >> Thank you so much.
[17:41] All right.
[17:41] >> With that, I'll thank my
[17:42] colleagues and the city
[17:43] attorney for bringing these
[17:45] proclamations and resolutions
[17:46] robbing us of San Diego for
[17:47] the work you do every day And
[17:50] congratulations to MISS Adams
[17:50] on your retirement.
[17:51] You will be missed.
[17:55] With that we have a motion by
[17:56] Councilmember Lipper and
[17:56] the second by Councilmember
[17:57] Yvonne Wolpert clerk Please
[17:58] call the roll.
[17:59] >> I'm sorry The voting system
[18:03] Please cast your vote that
[18:08] passes unanimously 8 to 0 with
[18:09] council member Ella Rivera
[18:09] absent.
[18:10] Thank you, Council PRESIDENT.
[18:11] All right.
[18:11] Thank you.
[18:13] So we will take a brief pause
[18:14] for photos and we'll start with
[18:15] senior chief deputy City
[20:25] Attorney Donna Adams and
[21:59] all right with that we will now
[22:00] proceed with the approval of
[22:01] the consent items.
[22:04] >> Are there any requests to
[22:05] pull an item by the council Not
[22:09] seen any request?
[22:10] Clerk Please introduce
[22:10] the items and proceed with
[22:11] public comment.
[22:11] Thank you.
[22:14] Please now each speaker will
[22:14] have one minute per item per
[22:15] person.
[22:15] If you would like to speak on
[22:16] three or more items you'll have
[22:19] a maximum of three minutes.
[22:20] The consent agenda includes
[22:23] items 5060 101.1 and 500.
[22:23] Blaire Beekman if you can
[22:27] please come forward you'll have
[22:27] three minutes.
[22:29] You're speaking on items 50 as
[22:33] 501 hundred.
[22:34] Please proceed when ready at
[22:38] the mic.
[22:43] Hi everyone.
[22:44] Everyone I'm back from Maui.
[22:48] It's been a month and it's nice
[22:48] to be back.
[22:49] Nice to be back in
[22:49] the building.
[22:53] Um, I wanted to speak.
[22:54] I wrote three items I think I
[22:57] only want to mainly speak on
[23:01] two items items 50 and 100.
[23:02] >> Um, thank you for this.
[23:06] So Soroptimist item that was
[23:07] here earlier working on child
[23:11] trafficking issues a young
[23:12] women can get help can relate
[23:13] well to trafficking issues here
[23:16] in San Diego on many levels.
[23:16] A really interesting item.
[23:17] Thank you.
[23:23] Um, for item 50 um the My Water
[23:27] City web portal is getting
[23:28] software service agreements.
[23:29] It was that committee a few
[23:33] weeks ago and I went on and on
[23:37] about the importance of
[23:38] the mobile applications that
[23:38] this service agreement is going
[23:42] to serve and how awesome you
[23:43] guys are doing in public works
[23:47] to build a more public process
[23:47] for the public utilities
[23:48] department and smart water
[23:52] meter issues that Councilperson
[23:53] Campbell and Bond will really
[23:57] worked on in the past few years
[23:57] They did Awesome.
[23:58] I went a little overboard.
[23:58] Sorry about that.
[24:01] Um, but just to be clear
[24:02] they've done awesome work to
[24:07] make a real good public process
[24:07] that this item is serving.
[24:08] Good luck and the continued
[24:10] good efforts.
[24:11] It's I think a crowning
[24:11] achievement of what this
[24:16] current council is doing and
[24:16] and creating a public space.
[24:17] Good luck in the continued
[24:21] efforts And for item se 500 um
[24:26] resolute and excusing council
[24:27] person one will appear from
[24:27] certain City Council committee
[24:30] meetings.
[24:31] I made a references a few
[24:35] references last week um we're
[24:36] beginning a new stage of war at
[24:39] this time The work that I do
[24:40] with tech accountability
[24:41] immediately gets thrown under
[24:46] the bus At these times Council
[24:47] PRESIDENT Van Wolpert in her
[24:48] She's in a campaign an
[24:50] important campaign.
[24:51] I really like Councilperson
[24:51] Manuel and what she can do
[24:52] running for Congress.
[24:55] She's going to be a little
[24:55] tender and fragile to talk
[24:56] about how we can move forward
[24:59] with best practices in public
[24:59] safety.
[25:04] I want to hope this year we can
[25:04] still have those good
[25:05] conversations here at the local
[25:08] level and that we can be
[25:09] building a really smart, more
[25:10] intelligent future.
[25:14] Uh, you know it's based on best
[25:15] practices and civil rights and
[25:16] civil protections and privacy
[25:19] and we don't have to forgo or
[25:20] give those things up because of
[25:25] war, because of So we have
[25:25] the PRESIDENT Van Wilbur can
[25:28] have a good campaign and he's
[25:29] actually she's been learning a
[25:29] lot And I hope we can learn how
[25:33] to speak more clearly together
[25:33] that we really can still
[25:34] continue best practices in
[25:35] the coming year and good luck
[25:38] in the ways to talk about this
[25:39] publicly and that we can do it
[25:39] together.
[25:40] Thank you.
[25:40] Thank you.
[25:43] I started the five minute timer
[25:44] because there are no other
[25:44] speakers here in council
[25:45] chambers.
[25:45] We have three in the virtual
[25:48] queue starting with 7499 If you
[25:49] can please let me know which
[25:53] item or items you wish to speak
[25:54] to on the consent agenda.
[25:58] >> 7499 Item 5100 and 101
[25:59] You'll have three minutes.
[26:03] >> Please proceed.
[26:07] But because it's key here all
[26:08] three of these items are
[26:08] contracts of one form or
[26:12] another with private businesses
[26:13] and organizations.
[26:13] I understand that the city
[26:17] sometimes needs to enter into
[26:18] such contracts for products and
[26:22] services but I have to ask who
[26:23] exactly in this city is on
[26:27] the hook for the conduct of
[26:27] these businesses?
[26:31] There should be at least one
[26:32] person who is publicly
[26:36] accountable for the conduct of
[26:37] any private business
[26:38] contracting with the city of
[26:42] San Diego and that one person's
[26:42] name and contact information
[26:47] should be provided internally
[26:48] and publicly available to all
[26:52] citizens not some bureaucrat
[26:53] that we have to go find should
[26:57] be publicly and prominently
[26:58] available.
[26:58] For example, who is the one
[27:02] person who is accountable for
[27:03] the conduct of the business
[27:04] leasing our Torrey Pines Glider
[27:08] port And where would citizens
[27:08] find the name of that one
[27:13] person with those thoughts in
[27:14] mind I am asking the City
[27:14] Council to ensure that each and
[27:18] every contract with a private
[27:19] business including these three
[27:20] that I've mentioned includes
[27:24] the name of the person in this
[27:24] city who is publicly
[27:25] accountable for the conduct of
[27:28] those businesses.
[27:29] Do not approve any contract
[27:32] unless such an appointment is
[27:32] made.
[27:37] >> Thank you.
[27:38] Next is Michael Schmidt.
[27:38] If you can please unmute and
[27:39] let me know which item or items
[27:46] you wish to speak to.
[27:47] >> Speaking to one on one So
[27:50] you'll have one minute.
[27:50] >> Please proceed.
[27:51] All right.
[27:56] Good morning everyone.
[27:57] Oh my GOD.
[28:00] I'm very happy The fact that
[28:07] we're going to be having the I
[28:11] guess you But I just I have
[28:12] been missed.
[28:17] I mean, someone I've been
[28:18] listening to.
[28:21] I appreciate that Everyone
[28:32] should come from so speaking to
[28:32] everyone here.
[28:39] So please try to contact.
[28:44] >> Thank you.
[28:45] Our final speaker is 8700.
[28:56] If you can please unmute 80/700
[28:56] .
[28:57] >> There you go.
[28:57] Which item or items do you wish
[29:00] to speak to?
[29:01] I'll speak to 50 6100.
[29:01] Please proceed.
[29:07] You'll have three minutes.
[29:07] Thank you Joy.
[29:09] You had a cd three First of all
[29:10] I'm number 50.
[29:14] I want you to know that I do
[29:15] approve this Yet I must say
[29:19] the following Some old energy
[29:20] water for my water ski web
[29:24] portal Total employees 135 or
[29:31] admin workforce 57 Asian male
[29:36] 21 Asian female 33 white male
[29:37] out of 105 135 That's 111 on
[29:42] the eeoc I disagree with their
[29:43] under represented represented
[29:47] categories yet they say they
[29:53] are doing better so I hope
[29:54] that's true but the I just I
[29:58] don't see it once once
[29:59] the public registers for the my
[30:04] water safety web portal
[30:05] automatic switch to paperless a
[30:09] question how many customers so
[30:09] far are now paperless?
[30:14] The company rating is 2.5 out
[30:20] of five points Employee
[30:20] comments generally very
[30:25] negative Yet this is a win win
[30:26] and I know a lot of people like
[30:30] this If this is a win win for
[30:30] our customer service let's
[30:36] modify the service agreement.
[30:37] Yes I do think we can do better
[30:42] on contracts.
[30:43] >> Thank you Love to all number
[30:47] 60 California Believe what
[30:47] the 60 California Building
[30:48] standards codes and associated
[30:52] beauty codes a question Does
[30:53] the muni code states have
[30:58] safety procedures for public to
[30:59] evacuate the 12th floor And if
[31:02] so could you please post on
[31:03] the 12th floor in a clear
[31:03] location for reading by
[31:08] the public attending meetings
[31:09] How to do that evacuation a big
[31:14] big thank you on that.
[31:14] Please listen to me I'm 100
[31:18] Since legal matters permeate
[31:19] most of what the city is
[31:24] involved in, I fully support
[31:25] our great office of the city
[31:26] Attorney and this panel outside
[31:30] counsel I also want to welcome
[31:35] back Council member Campo and
[31:36] to once again congratulate he
[31:41] and his wife Nadya and
[31:41] the birth of their daughter.
[31:42] I have a beautiful day.
[31:47] Thank you for listening and
[31:47] love to all.
[31:48] Thank you.
[31:48] That concludes public comment
[31:49] on the consent agenda.
[31:52] All right.
[31:53] Thank you, city Clerk.
[31:53] And with that will turn it over
[31:54] to council members for any
[31:58] questions, comments Entertain a
[31:58] motion and we'll start with
[31:59] Councilmember Lambert.
[32:00] I thank you very much.
[32:03] I'm happy to make the motion to
[32:04] approve the consent agenda.
[32:05] I just wanted to comment on
[32:08] item 1 to 1 for the f y 26
[32:09] community programs Projects and
[32:10] services funding allocation for
[32:14] the Rancho Bene Scooters Town
[32:15] Council to support our annual
[32:15] very low Spanish growth very
[32:19] much looking forward to this
[32:20] event this year And I want to
[32:20] thank especially our
[32:21] Transportation Department for
[32:25] working overtime to get all
[32:26] the people feel on the roads so
[32:27] we can actually do that.
[32:27] We are still on that road So I
[32:31] very much appreciate everybody
[32:31] and looking forward to joining
[32:32] our community.
[32:33] I'm happy to make the motion to
[32:36] approve the consent agenda.
[32:37] All right.
[32:37] Thank you.
[32:38] So we have a motion by council
[32:39] member Barton Wolpert to move
[32:39] the consent items.
[32:43] I will go ahead and second and
[32:43] offer some brief comments on
[32:49] item 50 the pd customer service
[32:49] portal.
[32:50] This item was heard at
[32:50] the Environment Committee in
[32:51] FEBRUARY.
[32:51] I want to thank the public
[32:54] utilities team for
[32:55] restructuring this contract and
[32:55] continue to save ratepayers
[32:56] money.
[32:56] This portal has proven
[33:00] successful in letting customers
[33:01] access their accounts and
[33:02] streamlining their payments.
[33:05] When the original contract came
[33:05] before council in 2021, I made
[33:06] the amendment to remove credit
[33:07] card fees from being paid by
[33:11] the public Utilities department
[33:12] That still allows customers to
[33:12] pay through automatic debit
[33:13] from their checking account and
[33:17] avoid any fees and as a result
[33:20] saves all ratepayers over $14
[33:21] million in fees.
[33:22] Keeping the continuity This
[33:22] platform is helpful for
[33:23] the customer experience and
[33:27] thank you again to the good
[33:28] folks of public utilities for
[33:29] restructuring this contract And
[33:30] with that we have a motion by
[33:33] Council member of on Wolpert a
[33:33] second by myself Please call
[33:44] the roll that passes
[33:45] unanimously 9 to 0 Thank
[33:46] Council PRESIDENT All right All
[33:50] right Thank you.
[33:51] Do we have any comments from
[33:52] the mayor's office, city
[33:53] council member, city Attorney
[33:56] and if anybody Analyst or city
[33:57] clerk not seeing any will move
[33:57] right along.
[34:04] We will now take out
[34:05] Councilmember Gallardo.
[34:05] I think you guys read it.
[34:06] I just I won't take too much
[34:08] time on this and just as has
[34:09] been so often the case for
[34:13] the last 13 months or so, 14
[34:14] months, things that are would
[34:19] be absolute extraordinary or
[34:20] becoming quite routine.
[34:20] That doesn't mean that they
[34:21] should be normal.
[34:25] Over the weekend the PRESIDENT
[34:26] Launched an illegal war that is
[34:27] putting the lives of San
[34:31] Diegans and the friends and
[34:32] family of San Diegans at risk.
[34:37] And I just didn't want things
[34:38] to kind of go on as if that's
[34:38] not happening right now.
[34:43] We've already lost service
[34:44] members and there's also been
[34:45] tremendous loss of life beyond
[34:49] that.
[34:50] So again, just for the sake of
[34:57] not normalizing the what should
[34:58] never be normal but like what
[34:59] Saying something like thank
[34:59] you.
[34:59] All right.
[35:01] Thank you, sir.
[35:02] Not seeing anybody else We will
[35:02] now take up non agenda public
[35:07] comment The council members
[35:08] respect and appreciate
[35:08] the public's input and are
[35:09] fully committed to protecting
[35:10] every participant's free speech
[35:13] rights at Council and committee
[35:14] meetings but please proceed
[35:15] with public comment.
[35:15] >> Thank you.
[35:20] Council PRESIDENT Pearl 2.7 On
[35:20] the agenda Public comment is an
[35:21] opportunity for members of
[35:22] the public to comment on items
[35:25] that are not on the agenda but
[35:26] within the subject matter
[35:26] jurisdiction of the City
[35:27] Council.
[35:27] Each speaker will have two
[35:28] minutes.
[35:31] Please know if there are eight
[35:32] or more speakers on a single
[35:33] topic the maximum time for
[35:33] the topic will be 16 minutes.
[35:34] If you're in chambers place
[35:38] some of your speakers late.
[35:39] If you're joining us virtually
[35:39] now's the time to raise your
[35:40] hand by pressing the raise your
[35:41] hand icon or if you are calling
[35:43] participant Star nine If I
[35:44] could have Jacob Edwards please
[35:45] come forward and if I can have
[35:45] Blair Beekman, please come
[35:49] forward to the other reserved
[35:49] seats.
[35:53] Jacob Edwards You'll have two
[35:54] minutes When you get to the mic
[35:55] you can proceed when ready.
[35:58] >> Thank you for being the two
[35:59] men Excuse very quick I'm going
[36:00] to try some this off as quickly
[36:00] as possible.
[36:04] There's a lot to it.
[36:05] We have a lot of concerns in
[36:05] this country.
[36:09] Our country has been hijacked
[36:10] our federal government agencies
[36:11] by the mafia.
[36:12] It sounds crazy and it is It is
[36:16] absolutely the case They're
[36:16] doing such things as rolling
[36:17] federal grant money through
[36:18] mayors offices.
[36:21] Did the same thing in San
[36:22] Francisco outing the past mayor
[36:23] where the entire city is mafia
[36:28] in where is is the tug of war
[36:29] You had federal threat of
[36:33] federal indictments over him
[36:34] for mismanaging federal money.
[36:39] Now this is madness absolutely
[36:40] crazy And the Chinese I've
[36:45] recently become aware of well
[36:46] aware of what's going on they
[36:47] have paid close attention to
[36:51] that The allegiance was working
[36:52] for the mob and what they do
[36:57] going in behind them Bamboozle
[36:58] them, bamboozling them for
[36:59] the hijacking city is really
[37:03] maybe hijacked by the Chinese
[37:04] that we have some serious
[37:09] national security threat issues
[37:10] And that's why I was speaking
[37:10] upon a lawsuit with the federal
[37:15] government offering protection
[37:16] orders protecting the mayor You
[37:22] city council seats this city
[37:22] hall, the police department
[37:23] which would be standing up for
[37:28] the citizens of San Diego who
[37:28] would be standing up for
[37:29] the city and our country our
[37:34] country's future is at stake.
[37:35] Our lives are at stake.
[37:40] Chinese well aware that
[37:41] the Gambino's and the Genovese
[37:45] and the crime families would
[37:46] have us disposed of and badly
[37:47] hurt American citizens.
[37:47] They were keeping it under
[37:52] wraps waiting, waiting for
[37:52] the crime families to badly
[37:53] hurt us to swoop in as our
[37:58] savior, take out our
[37:59] government, take out the crime
[38:00] families.
[38:00] That's why Donald Trump bomb
[38:03] Iran to beat China and we're
[38:04] building comment blurb Ackerman
[38:08] If you can please come forward
[38:09] .
[38:15] All right where we can be nice
[38:15] to think that all the whales I
[38:16] was hanging around with in
[38:17] Hawaii and now we can be
[38:20] listening to this conversation.
[38:21] It's nice listening to their
[38:26] conversations this past month.
[38:27] I hope I can offer a few words
[38:28] from the international level
[38:29] that I relate to at work here
[38:32] at the local level.
[38:33] It's time to note the surprise
[38:33] of the recent us Israel
[38:38] airstrikes in Iraq.
[38:39] In Iran there was also a
[38:40] respected negotiation process
[38:41] that was taking place between
[38:45] these different sides in
[38:45] the Middle East.
[38:46] It makes these current
[38:46] airstrikes all the more
[38:47] surprising as it possibly has
[38:51] no clear end plan and reminder
[38:52] and how often the us itself can
[38:52] break agreements of trust.
[38:57] Thank you for the words of
[38:58] counsel personnel aware that
[38:59] our national security here at
[39:00] the local level does need to be
[39:02] seriously questioned by
[39:03] ourselves.
[39:03] Good luck in the work we do
[39:09] together at this time.
[39:09] It's from this to note at a
[39:10] local level we are simply
[39:11] getting better and how to
[39:11] seriously limit and to not
[39:15] simply allow the practices of a
[39:16] continual war from the national
[39:16] level to overly affect the day
[39:21] to day practices here at
[39:21] the local community level.
[39:22] The current growth at the local
[39:23] level, better reasoning and
[39:27] best practices and the current
[39:28] local efforts that specifically
[39:28] can work towards peace and not
[39:32] war can simply offer incredibly
[39:33] good examples in how countries
[39:33] at the national level can also
[39:34] limit war as these ideas of
[39:39] best practices.
[39:40] Here we're doing content We
[39:40] help work towards the dialog
[39:41] piece to solve differences in
[39:45] the future.
[39:46] I can't stress enough that
[39:47] the work we do attack
[39:47] accountability just creates
[39:51] incredibly good examples of
[39:51] open democracy best practices
[39:58] dialog We work on these things
[39:58] locally.
[39:59] It creates incredible examples.
[39:59] Our federal level will have to
[40:03] take notice of So good luck to
[40:04] ourselves in our continued work
[40:05] at doing best practices here
[40:09] What we know how to do best and
[40:10] that will just bring peace to
[40:10] everyone.
[40:11] >> Thank you.
[40:16] Thank you.
[40:17] I started the moment of time
[40:17] are going to those
[40:18] participating remotely.
[40:19] Growing up or speakers in
[40:20] the queue 8700 if you can
[40:21] please unmute after that is
[40:24] Peggy Walker 8700.
[40:24] Thank you.
[40:30] Thank you.
[40:30] Another 53 or excuse me our
[40:31] precious water.
[40:36] It begins with snow Then it
[40:36] becomes the Colorado River
[40:41] water.
[40:42] Then after a long journey of
[40:47] over 242 miles we cook and
[40:52] drink the miracle of water.
[40:53] This miracle this is our utmost
[40:59] respect and that is not what is
[41:00] happening from the people
[41:01] involved and the systems they
[41:05] have put in place to harness it
[41:05] and manage it.
[41:10] Please read the article from
[41:11] this past Valentine's Day
[41:16] titled Western States Again
[41:22] The Deadline for Water Bill.
[41:23] Here's what We need.
[41:28] Crowfoot California's Natural
[41:29] resource secretary said talks
[41:34] would continue even after
[41:34] today's deadline.
[41:40] Negotiations and even after
[41:41] today's deadline.
[41:42] Negotiations in recent weeks
[41:47] have centered on the five year
[41:48] plan during which states share
[41:48] in water cuts.
[41:53] While the states in
[41:54] conservation conservation
[41:59] naturally in hopes of
[41:59] stabilizing the water supply to
[42:00] a longer term water sharing
[42:04] deal can be struck.
[42:05] End of quote from me from
[42:06] Google If the federal
[42:12] government interested change it
[42:12] will involve legal pushbacks
[42:17] involving our precious miracle
[42:18] of water.
[42:18] Please don't let that happen.
[42:23] More from me later.
[42:24] I'm really following this
[42:24] closely.
[42:29] Please join me in this blog to
[42:30] all thank you.
[42:30] >> Next is Peggy Walker.
[42:35] If you can please unmute Peggy
[42:36] Walker after that is 749.
[42:36] Thank you.
[42:41] Good morning.
[42:42] As a public health professional
[42:43] and use mentor I came to share
[42:47] that yesterday was world team
[42:47] Mental Wellness Day.
[42:48] It's observed worldwide
[42:49] annually to raise awareness
[42:53] about mental health issues
[42:54] impacting teenagers but it
[42:59] should be a daily observation.
[43:00] We need to better educate about
[43:01] the devastating devastating
[43:05] impact of the increasing number
[43:06] of intoxicating addictive drugs
[43:06] being normalized and made
[43:11] available to young people in
[43:12] today's marketplace.
[43:13] Easy access to high potency
[43:18] marijuana bounce and dispenser
[43:18] and on the Internet promises
[43:19] that legalization would prevent
[43:24] youth access have failed.
[43:25] And studies show youth use goes
[43:25] up when dispensaries are
[43:29] located where young people
[43:30] live.
[43:30] The harmful mental health
[43:31] impacts are well documented.
[43:36] Further teens are confronted by
[43:37] a bevy of unregulated
[43:37] intoxicating drugs.
[43:42] So the neighborhood convenience
[43:42] and liquor stores, gas stations
[43:47] and smoke shops many are
[43:48] exported from China.
[43:48] The sheriff's department has
[43:53] issued warnings about these and
[43:54] a multitude of candy and snack
[43:55] products packaged to attract
[43:59] kids that are mislabeled,
[44:00] intoxicating and cannot be
[44:06] trusted in terms of content.
[44:06] Addictive Kratom seven products
[44:12] are increasingly available but
[44:12] unregulated as are nitrous
[44:13] oxide products like Galaxy Gas.
[44:18] The da's office and doctors are
[44:19] warning that youth are
[44:23] suffering addiction and serious
[44:24] cold burns from nitrous oxide.
[44:25] I'm here to urge increased
[44:29] public education which is
[44:30] critical for public
[44:30] understanding that these
[44:35] intoxicating but unregulated
[44:36] products are increasingly
[44:36] common and dangerous.
[44:43] Thank you for your time.
[44:43] Thank u next 27499 if you can
[44:44] please And after that is our
[44:44] next go.
[44:48] So before I let Bob Kazuki here
[44:49] my recent speeches have been
[44:53] highlighting the problems that
[44:54] arise when a government shirks
[44:55] its duties and turns government
[44:59] functions over to a private
[45:00] business.
[45:00] That's been happening in San
[45:01] Diego for years under recent
[45:02] administrations and I've given
[45:06] several notable examples.
[45:07] Let's remember San Diego Mayor
[45:07] Jerry Sanders allowing a
[45:08] private business to set up
[45:12] their own red light camera
[45:13] system to issue tickets to
[45:13] citizens and take a cut of
[45:14] the profits.
[45:14] But Mayor Filner discontinued
[45:18] that practice.
[45:19] Let's remember a private
[45:20] business deciding that they
[45:20] didn't want to accept cash in
[45:21] our city parking structure.
[45:25] They were forcing citizens
[45:25] these electronic payment to
[45:26] park in our own city parking
[45:26] structure.
[45:27] Let's remember the ongoing
[45:30] requirement for citizens to be
[45:31] tracked by constant contact in
[45:32] Highland Cloud in order to
[45:32] obtain updates and to access
[45:36] city documents like the agendas
[45:37] for this meeting.
[45:37] Let's remember the ongoing
[45:38] requirement to join use for
[45:42] private business and sign an
[45:43] abusive contract with our
[45:44] California adventure and other
[45:44] private business in order to
[45:48] hang glider paraglider to our
[45:49] own Torrey Pines City Park.
[45:50] That abuse of contract requires
[45:50] citizens to pay to use their
[45:55] park and agree not to sue
[45:55] the business even if
[45:56] the business is negligent.
[45:57] But it's even worse than that
[46:00] because being a member of you
[46:00] limits citizens rights to even
[46:01] speak to this council or to
[46:07] even testify in court against
[46:07] you.
[46:07] But back to businesses.
[46:08] In other words, in order to use
[46:12] our city park we cannot come
[46:13] and speak to this council about
[46:13] abuses at that park.
[46:14] We cannot testify in court
[46:19] about abuses at that park or we
[46:20] risk expulsion from use but
[46:21] which denies us access to our
[46:24] city park That is outrageous.
[46:25] These are just the examples
[46:25] that I've personally
[46:26] encountered in the city.
[46:31] It's likely just the tip of
[46:31] the iceberg In all of these
[46:34] cases citizens are forced into
[46:35] relationships of one form or
[46:36] another with a private business
[46:37] in order to access city owned
[46:37] resources.
[46:41] This must not be allowed to
[46:42] continue.
[46:42] Joe Lacob It's time to
[46:43] reactivate the Torrey Pines
[46:47] City Park Advisory Board and
[46:48] implement the Torrey Pines
[46:48] waiver to protect citizens
[46:54] against the abuse of business
[46:54] that you've put in.
[46:59] >> If you can please unmute.
[47:00] >> Yes.
[47:06] Ernie Casco Lori Resident
[47:06] Senior Pilot Torrey Pines gone
[47:07] to court.
[47:08] I second Bob's statement there.
[47:12] It's time to stop decline
[47:12] within the college
[47:13] administration.
[47:13] Torrey Pines My report
[47:17] complaint is welcome mounted on
[47:18] your desk.
[47:19] I should not be forced to sign
[47:23] a leaseholder Illegal access
[47:24] pass waiver when city
[47:25] liabilities are already covered
[47:25] by California statutes laws.
[47:30] It is misappropriation of
[47:30] public funding going into
[47:31] private accounts and demands
[47:36] for transparent city audit that
[47:36] would end the corruption.
[47:42] It is illegal for anyone for
[47:42] anyone Joe Lacob to turn our
[47:43] freedom into a privilege for a
[47:44] license and a fee under any
[47:48] terms, circumstances or
[47:49] conditions.
[47:49] Allowing this crime to continue
[47:50] is a violation of your oath of
[47:54] office and automatic forfeiture
[47:55] of your chair.
[47:55] We have a petition to block
[47:59] the beach recreational scandal
[48:00] to stop the illegal
[48:00] commercialization and
[48:06] privatization of Torrey Pines
[48:06] Glider Park.
[48:07] What else do we have?
[48:12] We have unanimous letter of
[48:12] support from La Hoya Town
[48:13] Council Locations Association
[48:18] to Stop the corruption out of
[48:18] your administration and
[48:19] reconvene Torrey Pines Advisory
[48:24] Board for Public Safety and
[48:25] Oversight.
[48:25] Why haven't you taken action?
[48:30] What City Council has a
[48:31] beautiful proven solution known
[48:31] as the San Diego Recreational
[48:36] Waiver that would end
[48:36] the dispute on your desk?
[48:37] The San Diego recreational
[48:41] waiver stops the city lease
[48:42] over internal corruption by
[48:42] separating the business.
[48:47] You're out of control Business
[48:47] from public access.
[48:48] Your city leaseholder is caught
[48:48] blatantly robbing America
[48:54] forcing citizens into an
[48:54] illegal contract.
[48:55] It is your job to stop it.
[48:59] The City Council is ultimately
[48:59] liable and needs to address
[49:00] victims and witness witnesses
[49:06] who have been damaged.
[49:07] >> The San Diego Your time has
[49:08] concluded Judy Strang if you
[49:12] can please on know the five
[49:13] minute timer is also concluded
[49:13] No additional speakers will be
[49:16] taken to restrain and then
[49:17] hector Me?
[49:17] >> Yes.
[49:18] Good morning.
[49:18] Thank you for this opportunity
[49:22] to speak to you from my
[49:22] workshop.
[49:23] I do not take this opportunity
[49:23] lightly.
[49:29] I wanted to share with you that
[49:29] California is an act of
[49:33] the first law ab 455 that
[49:34] requires sellers of single
[49:34] family homes to disclose in
[49:39] writing any known indoor
[49:40] smoking, vaping or thirdhand
[49:44] smoking or vapor contamination
[49:45] to prospective buyers.
[49:51] This is marijuana or tobacco.
[49:52] Third hand smoke refers to
[49:57] toxic residue left behind from
[49:58] smoke or vapor When they settle
[49:58] into surfaces into building
[50:03] materials.
[50:04] These pollutants are classified
[50:05] under Prop 65 as carcinogens
[50:09] and reproductive toxins because
[50:10] they can persist for years and
[50:11] pose particular risks to
[50:15] children, the elderly and
[50:16] immunocompromised individuals.
[50:22] It's very hard to remove Baby
[50:22] four by five classifies third
[50:28] hand Smoke is an environmental
[50:28] hazard comparable to investors
[50:29] radon and lead paint.
[50:34] I bring this to your attention
[50:35] because it is the first in
[50:35] the nation.
[50:40] It's so pervasive that it
[50:41] becomes part of the California
[50:42] Department of Toxic Substances
[50:42] Control and it'll go in
[50:46] the homeowner's Guide to
[50:47] Environmental Hazards.
[50:47] It's significant that it
[50:52] recognizes the role of tobacco
[50:53] and marijuana smoke and vapor
[50:53] in the health of everyone
[50:54] around us.
[50:58] One has to ask ourselves here
[50:59] in the city why we have
[50:59] businesses that promote and
[51:05] make available those things
[51:05] that can be smoked and baked
[51:06] when it's so clearly hazardous
[51:07] to all of our health.
[51:11] Thank you.
[51:12] >> Thank you.
[51:12] And our final speaker is
[51:13] Hector.
[51:17] If you can please unmute.
[51:17] Thanks for taking my call to
[51:18] Hector here.
[51:24] I got another message to
[51:24] the people the occupiers of San
[51:25] Diego County counter invaders
[51:29] and here illegally that are
[51:29] using our benefits medical
[51:30] benefits.
[51:35] It was in the paper that 75,000
[51:36] guys on Medicare that are
[51:36] illegal aliens.
[51:42] So there's a these guys get to
[51:42] take their bodies and their
[51:49] families and go back to their
[51:49] countries, man.
[51:50] MR. Trump, you got your number
[51:51] now you got those illegal
[51:51] benefits.
[51:54] You don't want to have
[51:54] the knock on the door when I
[51:55] start wrapping up the raids.
[52:00] So if you care about your
[52:00] family, sit down with them.
[52:01] I go back to wherever it is we
[52:05] came from because we're afraid
[52:06] of the knock on the door.
[52:06] You know, if that's what's
[52:12] going to happen they know where
[52:13] you're not.
[52:14] So to actually free up a lot of
[52:17] housing for American citizens
[52:21] in San Diego County just like
[52:22] the 75,000 people have to go,
[52:26] that's probably 120,000 people.
[52:27] That's got to lower the rent.
[52:32] It'll create less traffic on
[52:32] the freeways, open up a lot of
[52:38] jobs for American citizens.
[52:38] And we can go about trying to
[52:39] build that dam before it breaks
[52:44] And so if it does break up
[52:45] there, it might wipe out Bill
[52:46] Gates house.
[52:50] You've got a house on the beach
[52:50] down there.
[52:51] Maybe it'll be a good thing if
[52:51] it does break takes out Bill
[52:56] Gates House and we can move on
[52:56] with our lives.
[52:56] Okay.
[52:57] Thanks a lot.
[52:57] Thank you.
[53:01] That concludes our agenda
[53:01] Public comment for today's
[53:02] meeting.
[53:03] I thank you, City Clerk And
[53:06] with that we will now adjourn
[53:07] for the noon recess and
[53:08] reconvene open session at 2
[53:52] I can count to five.
[53:52] Good afternoon.
[53:53] I will now reconvene the City
[53:58] council meeting of Tuesday
[53:58] MARCH 3rd, 2026.
[53:59] >> Please call the roll.
[53:59] Thank you.
[54:00] Council PRESIDENT Council
[54:04] member Campbell Councilmember
[54:04] Whitburn Councilmember Foster
[54:09] Councilmember Bunuel for
[54:10] Council PRESIDENT Pro Tem Lee
[54:15] Councilmember Campeon
[54:16] Councilmember Moreno Present
[54:17] Councilmember Eloy Rivera and
[54:22] Council PRESIDENT LaCava
[54:23] present.
[54:23] Also taking the meeting are Sin
[54:24] City Attorney Michelle Garland,
[54:28] independent budget analyst
[54:29] Charles Monaco, Council Affairs
[54:29] advisor and the Mayor's office
[54:30] for I'm sorry and myself our
[54:34] city clerk Diana Fuentes.
[54:34] >> Thank you Council PRESIDENT
[54:35] All right.
[54:35] Thank you city clerk for that.
[54:39] The quorum is now present.
[54:39] >> clerk Please introduce item
[54:44] three three zero three Council
[54:44] PRESIDENT Item 330 As an
[54:45] informational item it is
[54:45] the performance audit of
[54:46] the city's key performance
[54:51] indicators.
[54:52] If you'd like to speak to this
[54:52] item please submit a speaker
[54:53] slip to the front of the room
[54:54] in the clear box If you are
[54:56] participating remotely now's
[54:57] the time to raise your hand by
[54:57] pressing Star nine or the raise
[54:58] your hand icon.
[55:02] Thank you Council for that.
[55:03] All right Thank you With that
[55:04] staff as you're trying to
[55:08] settle in, please introduce
[55:08] yourselves for the record and
[55:09] let us know how much time you
[55:13] need.
[55:14] Good afternoon.
[55:15] Council PRESIDENT Council
[55:19] Members Andy House City Auditor
[55:20] We are here to present our
[55:21] performance audit of the city's
[55:23] key performance indicators or
[55:24] KPIs And we have about ten
[55:25] minutes please.
[55:25] All right.
[55:26] When you're ready.
[55:29] Thank you.
[55:30] According to the city's
[55:31] strategic plan, the city values
[55:31] transparency and the use of
[55:35] data to make informed
[55:36] decisions.
[55:36] To that end, kpi should be a
[55:37] key management and transparency
[55:41] tool.
[55:42] But we found the city
[55:43] underutilized as them due to
[55:43] concerns about accuracy and
[55:47] relevance and a lack of venues
[55:48] for the City Council to discuss
[55:49] and provide feedback on
[55:53] the KPIs departments produce.
[55:53] We want to thank
[55:54] the performance and analytics
[55:55] department for all of their
[55:55] assistance on this audit and
[55:59] all the city departments and
[56:00] council offices who responded
[56:01] to our survey on how they use
[56:05] KPIs and their suggestions for
[56:05] improvement.
[56:06] We heard back from almost every
[56:10] department and council office
[56:11] and we appreciate all the time
[56:12] and feedback you are provided
[56:12] to help this audit identify
[56:17] many key issues and make
[56:18] actionable recommendations to
[56:18] improve the usefulness of KPIs
[56:23] for various stakeholders.
[56:24] The audit team with me here
[56:25] today is Principal Performance
[56:25] Auditor Nathan Auto Senior
[56:30] performance under Nicky Thomas
[56:30] and performance auditor Alberto
[56:31] Mario and I handed over to them
[56:32] for the details on what we
[56:35] found and recommended.
[56:35] Thanks Andy.
[56:36] So for any large complex
[56:37] multibillion dollar
[56:37] organization performance
[56:42] measurement is an essential
[56:42] tool in this case allowing
[56:43] residents and taxpayers to
[56:44] monitor and engage with how we
[56:47] as a city are performing.
[56:48] And as you're aware, of course
[56:49] the city is facing considerable
[56:49] fiscal challenges for
[56:54] the foreseeable future which
[56:55] makes performance monitoring
[56:55] just that much more important.
[56:56] You can see.
[56:59] Three formal audit objectives
[57:00] there on the slide.
[57:00] But overall we had two formal
[57:01] findings.
[57:05] And broadly we found that KPIs
[57:06] are underutilized like Andy
[57:06] said.
[57:07] The result of that is that a
[57:08] city is missing chances to make
[57:11] the best data driven decisions
[57:12] in monitoring for key services.
[57:13] We found that improved
[57:13] oversight of the city's kpi is
[57:17] needed to ensure accuracy and
[57:18] accountability.
[57:18] And a formal kpi philosophy is
[57:23] needed to improve comparability
[57:24] .
[57:25] So we made five recommendations
[57:25] to address the issues we found
[57:26] and the management did agree to
[57:30] all of those recommendations.
[57:31] So that's a good thing.
[57:32] And just the last slide for me
[57:36] here just by way of background
[57:37] KPIs as you know are reported
[57:37] annually and published for each
[57:38] department in the city's budget
[57:43] documents.
[57:43] There's also a kpi dashboard
[57:44] but you can see the more
[57:45] familiar version there the blue
[57:48] and white table that is in
[57:49] the budget documents.
[57:50] This is a generic form here to
[57:50] keep your eyes include a
[57:55] baseline which is based off of
[57:55] recent historical data and a
[58:00] goal set by the Department.
[58:01] And performance and analytics
[58:01] plays a supporting role.
[58:02] But the departments have a lot
[58:03] of autonomy.
[58:07] They're responsible for
[58:08] selecting, monitoring and
[58:09] reporting their own KPIs.
[58:09] Go ahead.
[58:09] I'll happen again.
[58:13] Another time for the findings
[58:14] and recommendations.
[58:15] I looked at performance order
[58:18] in this project and finding
[58:19] one.
[58:19] We found that in our survey of
[58:20] city council offices and city
[58:23] departments only one out of
[58:24] seven council officers and nine
[58:25] out of 27 departments reported
[58:25] routinely using KPIs to inform
[58:29] budget policy and or
[58:30] operational decisions.
[58:30] Thus the city is not
[58:31] consistently using KPIs to
[58:35] inform high level decisions.
[58:36] When used correctly, KPIs can
[58:36] lead to meaningful
[58:36] improvements.
[58:40] We found examples of city
[58:41] departments and other cities
[58:42] using KPIs to help deliver
[58:42] improved outcomes for residents
[58:46] and evaluate present programs
[58:47] and services.
[58:47] For example, quotes on this
[58:48] slide are from our survey
[58:49] showing specific examples of
[58:52] how departments have used KPIs
[58:53] for decision making.
[58:54] The Office of the City Clerk
[58:54] used their performance data to
[58:55] improve customer satisfaction.
[58:59] Similarly the library
[59:00] department use their kpi to not
[59:00] only improve their future
[59:01] performance but also taking
[59:04] actions to meet
[59:05] the accessibility needs of
[59:05] the community.
[59:06] There are limited controls and
[59:07] oversight that would ensure key
[59:10] performance indicators are
[59:10] accurate and reliable.
[59:11] For example part of Council
[59:15] policy 000-02 requires
[59:15] departments provide
[59:16] explanations for performance
[59:17] measures not meeting or
[59:21] training towards performance
[59:22] targets shown on the slide.
[59:22] We found that departments were
[59:23] not consistently provided
[59:26] explanations.
[59:27] Additionally for the past for
[59:28] the last ten years
[59:28] the Statement of Budgetary
[59:29] Principles has included
[59:33] guidance for KPIs to be
[59:34] reviewed at the Budget and
[59:34] Government Efficiency
[59:35] Committee.
[59:35] However, we found no evidence
[59:39] that KPIs have been discussed
[59:40] in a systematic or regular
[59:41] manner at b n g from fiscal
[59:43] year 2015 through fiscal year
[59:43] 2025.
[59:44] Reviewing performance data on a
[59:49] regular basis can help identify
[59:50] trends before they become
[59:51] problems and help ensure timely
[59:51] performance management.
[59:52] Because kpi has received
[59:56] limited scrutiny and
[59:57] examination, a standalone
[59:58] performance report specifically
[59:58] for KPIs could strengthen
[1:00:01] oversight create a culture of
[1:00:02] continuous improvement and
[1:00:02] promote performance monitoring
[1:00:03] as a year round activity
[1:00:08] inaccurate or unreliable KPIs
[1:00:09] put the city at risk of
[1:00:10] inaccurate performance
[1:00:10] assessments resulting in
[1:00:11] improper policy or management
[1:00:15] decisions.
[1:00:16] Shown on the Slide 11 different
[1:00:16] audits by oci have identified
[1:00:17] various issues with KPIs that
[1:00:21] were unrealistic, inaccurate,
[1:00:21] not relevant or did not follow
[1:00:22] best practices.
[1:00:22] We also found that council
[1:00:26] officers have concerns
[1:00:27] regarding the accuracy of
[1:00:27] the current KPIs reported in
[1:00:28] the budget.
[1:00:28] Although pen requires all
[1:00:32] the city's KPIs to meet certain
[1:00:33] standards such as calculation
[1:00:34] methodology and it does not
[1:00:34] have the capacity to check a
[1:00:37] kpi for accuracy Thus
[1:00:38] publishing the kpi calculation
[1:00:39] methodology and annual
[1:00:39] performance report can
[1:00:44] strengthen the oversight of
[1:00:45] KPIs by providing a dedicated
[1:00:46] forum for departments to review
[1:00:49] their kpi methodologies and
[1:00:50] potentially discuss them with
[1:00:51] City Council or city
[1:00:51] leadership.
[1:00:56] The city's KPIs are currently
[1:00:56] published in tables in
[1:00:57] the annual Budget and
[1:00:57] the performance dashboard.
[1:00:58] However, the city does not
[1:01:01] publish tables or graphs with
[1:01:02] historical kpi data.
[1:01:02] We found that most cities that
[1:01:03] we benchmark publish their
[1:01:07] historical performance in
[1:01:07] online dashboards.
[1:01:08] Therefore the city can improve
[1:01:09] its online kpi dashboard by
[1:01:13] incorporating visuals and
[1:01:14] historical data.
[1:01:14] Being able to visualize
[1:01:15] historical data can help
[1:01:16] identify performance trends
[1:01:20] over time and improve
[1:01:21] monitoring and oversight.
[1:01:21] As a supplement to this audit
[1:01:22] report we built a performance
[1:01:26] dashboard which is shown on
[1:01:26] the right as an example of how
[1:01:27] the city's dashboard could be
[1:01:28] improved to include historical
[1:01:32] trends and description.
[1:01:33] You can access the city.
[1:01:34] You can access the dashboard we
[1:01:34] created to view the city's
[1:01:38] current KPIs at the link on our
[1:01:38] slide and in our report.
[1:01:39] Therefore in this finding we
[1:01:40] recommend developing a
[1:01:44] publishing an annual
[1:01:44] performance report for
[1:01:45] the city's KPIs creating a kpi
[1:01:46] data validation process and
[1:01:50] ensure accuracy of the city's
[1:01:50] KPIs and developing a publicly
[1:01:51] accessible dashboard that
[1:01:57] includes historical performance
[1:01:58] .
[1:01:58] Nick You know what you're
[1:01:59] finding too.
[1:02:00] Thank you all there To become a
[1:02:02] senior performance auditor on
[1:02:02] this project.
[1:02:03] In finding two we found that
[1:02:04] Panda provides support,
[1:02:04] training and guidance to
[1:02:09] departments on their KPIs but
[1:02:09] the three does not have a
[1:02:10] formal enforceable policy on
[1:02:10] whether kpi should be
[1:02:15] aspirational or realistically
[1:02:15] achievable.
[1:02:16] For example, one department may
[1:02:20] set aspirational kpi goals
[1:02:21] meaning at the ideal service
[1:02:21] level and therefore MAY not be
[1:02:22] able to achieve all of
[1:02:26] the goals with their
[1:02:27] department's budgeted
[1:02:27] resources.
[1:02:28] At the same time another
[1:02:29] department means that its kpi
[1:02:32] goals to be attainable and
[1:02:33] therefore can report meeting
[1:02:33] all of their kpi goals.
[1:02:34] Thus we found that meeting a
[1:02:38] kpi goal is not necessarily
[1:02:39] indicative of how a department
[1:02:39] is performing.
[1:02:44] As a result, as you can see on
[1:02:44] the graph we found that
[1:02:45] the percent of KPIs that met
[1:02:46] their targets varies widely
[1:02:50] across city departments ranging
[1:02:51] from 0% to 100% due to
[1:02:52] the differing ways in which
[1:02:56] departments select kpi goals.
[1:02:57] It is unclear what conclusions
[1:02:57] decision makers and the public
[1:03:02] are supposed to reach.
[1:03:03] Further, our survey found mixed
[1:03:04] beliefs on whether kpi should
[1:03:04] be more realistic or
[1:03:05] aspirational.
[1:03:08] The quotes on this slide are
[1:03:09] from our survey.
[1:03:10] One response is that kpi should
[1:03:14] be aspirational so council can
[1:03:14] decide if increased budget is
[1:03:15] required.
[1:03:15] But the other state that
[1:03:16] aspirational KPIs could lead to
[1:03:20] unreasonable expectations from
[1:03:20] the public.
[1:03:21] Most departments and council
[1:03:22] offices that took our survey
[1:03:26] did agree that departments
[1:03:27] should have at least one
[1:03:27] realistic kpi and one
[1:03:28] aspirational kpi.
[1:03:32] Thus a city wide kpi policy
[1:03:33] where departments must clearly
[1:03:34] define if a target is realistic
[1:03:38] or aspirational would help city
[1:03:39] council and the public to
[1:03:39] compare KPIs across the city
[1:03:40] and understand how a kpi should
[1:03:44] be used.
[1:03:45] Finally at the time of
[1:03:45] the audit the city Attorney's
[1:03:46] office was the only department
[1:03:51] without at least one kpi due to
[1:03:51] its concern that certain KPIs
[1:03:52] could lead to the perception of
[1:03:56] improper motives or incentives
[1:03:57] to meet them from their office.
[1:04:01] However we benchmarked against
[1:04:01] eight comparable offices and
[1:04:02] found that many do have
[1:04:03] performance measures.
[1:04:07] Therefore in this finding we
[1:04:08] recommend that panel work
[1:04:09] collaboratively with city
[1:04:12] leadership to create a formal
[1:04:13] policy documenting the city's
[1:04:14] kpi philosophy and that
[1:04:14] the City Attorney's office work
[1:04:19] with Panda to establish and
[1:04:19] report a kpi or KPIs.
[1:04:25] Panda and City management
[1:04:26] agreed to all five of our
[1:04:26] recommendations.
[1:04:27] This is an informational item
[1:04:29] so no action is required and
[1:04:30] we're happy to answer any
[1:04:31] questions that you MAY have.
[1:04:36] Thank you.
[1:04:43] But they were all right.
[1:04:43] >> So we actually have a
[1:04:44] presentation I think first by
[1:04:44] Panda.
[1:04:48] Alex, I want you to inject
[1:04:49] yourself for the record.
[1:04:49] >> Sure.
[1:04:50] Thank you.
[1:04:54] Good afternoon And thank you.
[1:04:54] Counsel Present.
[1:04:55] My name is Alex Compton and I
[1:04:56] serve as director of
[1:04:56] the Performance and Analytics
[1:05:00] Department.
[1:05:01] Our department's mission is
[1:05:01] simple to improve how the city
[1:05:02] works.
[1:05:04] We do that by putting people
[1:05:05] first by making data more
[1:05:06] usable processes easier and
[1:05:10] services better for
[1:05:11] the residents of San Diego.
[1:05:11] I'll say candidly in a
[1:05:12] transparent and holistic
[1:05:16] information sharing hasn't
[1:05:17] always been the city's
[1:05:17] strongest area.
[1:05:18] We know that our key
[1:05:22] performance indicators can and
[1:05:23] must be outcome driven clearer,
[1:05:23] more useful to both decision
[1:05:24] makers and the public.
[1:05:29] The good news is that we are
[1:05:30] making steady incremental
[1:05:30] progress even within limited
[1:05:31] resources.
[1:05:35] Thanks in part to this audit
[1:05:36] and to the work already
[1:05:37] underway across departments
[1:05:37] we're seeing measurable
[1:05:38] improvement.
[1:05:41] One important step forward this
[1:05:41] year is the release of
[1:05:42] the first volumes of our
[1:05:43] comprehensive citywide
[1:05:47] performance report.
[1:05:48] For the first time this report
[1:05:48] will provide a city wide view
[1:05:53] of how the organization is
[1:05:53] performing.
[1:05:54] It will include performance
[1:05:55] details for every city
[1:05:55] department and will complement
[1:06:00] and strengthen department's
[1:06:00] annual KPIs.
[1:06:01] This is about more than just
[1:06:01] reporting metrics.
[1:06:05] It's about helping us measure
[1:06:06] what truly matters for San
[1:06:06] Diegans and ensuring that
[1:06:07] performance information is
[1:06:11] clear, accessible and aligned
[1:06:12] with community priorities.
[1:06:13] I want to thank the City
[1:06:13] Auditor and the audit committee
[1:06:17] for their support and
[1:06:18] recognition of the importance
[1:06:19] of this work And I would also
[1:06:20] like to thank the independent
[1:06:23] budget analyst and Kim Desmond
[1:06:24] and the Division of Race and
[1:06:25] Equity for their partnership
[1:06:25] and collaboration on this
[1:06:26] effort.
[1:06:30] We look forward to continuing
[1:06:31] this work and strengthening how
[1:06:31] we measure share and improve
[1:06:32] performance across the city.
[1:06:36] Thank you.
[1:06:36] All right.
[1:06:37] Thank you Alex for that.
[1:06:38] And now I'll turn it over to
[1:06:38] the office of the Independent
[1:06:42] journalist.
[1:06:42] Thank you and good afternoon.
[1:06:43] Council PRESIDENT LaCava and
[1:06:48] members of the Council.
[1:06:49] I'm Erin Noel with the Office
[1:06:50] of the ipa.
[1:06:50] And with me is Kim Desmond from
[1:06:54] Reese and Equity.
[1:06:55] Our office does not have
[1:06:56] concerns about this item but I
[1:06:59] would like to provide brief
[1:06:59] comments on three items and
[1:07:00] after I conclude I'll pass it
[1:07:01] off to Kim to make some
[1:07:05] comments regarding
[1:07:06] the importance of KPIs and race
[1:07:07] inequities work First as
[1:07:12] the City auditor staff noted.
[1:07:13] This report is intended to help
[1:07:14] start a broader conversation on
[1:07:17] the city's use of key
[1:07:18] performance indicators.
[1:07:18] The audit highlights and we
[1:07:23] agree that KPIs are essential
[1:07:23] for transparency,
[1:07:24] accountability and data driven
[1:07:30] decision making especially as
[1:07:30] the city faces ongoing fiscal
[1:07:31] challenges.
[1:07:35] KPIs can be valuable tools for
[1:07:36] prioritizing programs and
[1:07:37] services, evaluating program
[1:07:41] effectiveness and enabling
[1:07:42] course correction and ensuring
[1:07:43] that limited resources are
[1:07:47] allocated to areas with
[1:07:48] greatest impact.
[1:07:48] This means focusing on outcome
[1:07:53] oriented KPIs rather than just
[1:07:53] outputs or activities.
[1:07:54] For example, dsd has a current
[1:07:59] output focused kpi measuring
[1:08:00] the percentage of building
[1:08:01] inspections completed by
[1:08:01] the target date which provides
[1:08:05] more actionable insight than
[1:08:06] simply counting the number of
[1:08:06] inspections.
[1:08:11] Second, our office works with
[1:08:12] the performance and analytics
[1:08:13] department and race inequity to
[1:08:14] provide feedback for some key
[1:08:17] department KPIs in DECEMBER and
[1:08:18] JANUARY.
[1:08:19] And we plan to continue
[1:08:23] reviewing departmental KPIs as
[1:08:24] part of our overall review of
[1:08:29] the proposed budget.
[1:08:29] And lastly regarding the Budget
[1:08:30] and Government Efficiency
[1:08:35] Committee's review of KPIs as
[1:08:35] mentioned by MR. Hampton, Panda
[1:08:36] is anticipating bringing an
[1:08:41] item on the comprehensive
[1:08:41] Citywide Performance report
[1:08:42] related to kpi philosophy to be
[1:08:47] Jenny and potentially JUNE or
[1:08:47] JULY.
[1:08:53] And this will help to initiate
[1:08:54] review and discussion of KPIs.
[1:09:00] And now I'll pass it off to
[1:09:01] Kevin Desmond from Reason
[1:09:01] Equity.
[1:09:02] Good afternoon.
[1:09:05] Council PRESIDENT Carbone
[1:09:06] Members of Council Kim Desmond
[1:09:06] here serving as the Director
[1:09:07] for the Division of Region
[1:09:11] Equity and ipa.
[1:09:12] So wanted to provide some
[1:09:13] comments in three categories.
[1:09:14] First and foremost you heard
[1:09:17] the current state and thank you
[1:09:18] to the auditor for providing
[1:09:19] this level of analysis will be
[1:09:23] candid from a reasonably
[1:09:24] perspective to say it is a
[1:09:25] challenge to identify equity
[1:09:29] without consistent KPIs.
[1:09:29] And so with that in this
[1:09:35] partnership to address gaps,
[1:09:36] disparities in efficiencies in
[1:09:36] recreation programs and
[1:09:37] stormwater systems, we need to
[1:09:41] be clear about the data equity
[1:09:42] is an outcome and if it's
[1:09:42] inconsistent around
[1:09:48] the departments it is really a
[1:09:49] challenge for us to do our work
[1:09:49] to really systematically
[1:09:54] dismantle inequity in the way
[1:09:55] that we allocate either fiscal
[1:09:55] allocations or how we change
[1:10:00] ongoing operations.
[1:10:01] And so with that grateful for
[1:10:01] that.
[1:10:02] And so as noted in the report
[1:10:07] we see the inconsistency in
[1:10:07] that.
[1:10:08] So for recent equity to do our
[1:10:09] job we want to make sure that
[1:10:12] we're partnering with Panda to
[1:10:12] work with all the departments
[1:10:13] to get more pointed in precise
[1:10:19] around the subjectivity in
[1:10:19] the way that KPIs are set.
[1:10:20] And so that is a huge culture
[1:10:20] shift.
[1:10:24] So some of the things that we
[1:10:24] have seen for example is making
[1:10:25] sure the department goals and
[1:10:30] objectives actually match their
[1:10:30] KPIs.
[1:10:31] And so in order to measure
[1:10:31] progress to the auditor's
[1:10:37] comment, how do you know
[1:10:37] historically you're addressing
[1:10:38] the challenges if that's
[1:10:39] inconsistent each year?
[1:10:39] And so these are the things
[1:10:43] that dray instead of just
[1:10:43] complaining about it, we're
[1:10:44] working with kind of to figure
[1:10:48] out how do we fix these things
[1:10:48] and how do we make sure that
[1:10:49] there is an organizational
[1:10:50] shift towards what it means to
[1:10:54] be more concise with setting
[1:10:55] KPIs in that manner?
[1:10:56] And so with that I will say
[1:10:59] this data without context is
[1:11:00] just information.
[1:11:06] And so what we endeavored to do
[1:11:06] is to look at the technical
[1:11:07] equity plan infrastructure as a
[1:11:12] way to contextualize how we're
[1:11:13] talking about problematic
[1:11:13] disparities through our
[1:11:14] different departments.
[1:11:19] And so the tv dashboard is
[1:11:20] going to be used to provide
[1:11:20] context.
[1:11:21] So when you're talking about
[1:11:21] I'm looking at you talking
[1:11:26] Moreno around your excellent
[1:11:26] work with your programing
[1:11:26] audit.
[1:11:27] That's the context, right?
[1:11:28] And so in that context we made
[1:11:31] an ask questions.
[1:11:31] I'm looking to Councilmember
[1:11:32] Foster around where are we at
[1:11:33] with addressing those
[1:11:36] problematic get?
[1:11:37] So these are all KPIs.
[1:11:38] Equity is an outcome and we got
[1:11:43] to do better with how we
[1:11:43] showcase that in our work to
[1:11:44] address those gaps disparities
[1:11:45] in efficiencies.
[1:11:50] And so in that we know
[1:11:50] the evidence is hard to digest
[1:11:54] we could all look at that
[1:11:55] right?
[1:11:56] And so it is counter we want to
[1:12:01] consider how do we have a value
[1:12:01] to charter really gives us
[1:12:02] the information that we need to
[1:12:03] increase the auditor's
[1:12:07] perspective built around who's
[1:12:08] actually utilizing these Keep
[1:12:08] your eyes And so we want to
[1:12:09] make sure that the velocity
[1:12:13] that you have is easily
[1:12:14] digestible and understandable
[1:12:14] as you are looking at volume
[1:12:15] two of the budget book.
[1:12:19] And so I do want to close with
[1:12:20] this by saying the work to
[1:12:24] change a cultural shift We do
[1:12:25] consider KPIs is a large
[1:12:26] structural change in this
[1:12:26] organization.
[1:12:30] And so pointing to
[1:12:31] the auditor's finding around
[1:12:32] there's one fte in our team has
[1:12:37] started to offer workshops with
[1:12:38] those employees.
[1:12:38] So I want to give a shout out
[1:12:42] to Alex Tang and Justin around
[1:12:42] .
[1:12:43] Getting into the work of an
[1:12:44] outcome is different than an
[1:12:44] input.
[1:12:48] Don't say you're making
[1:12:49] progress when you're counting
[1:12:49] by people, right?
[1:12:50] And so we want to make sure
[1:12:55] that we are being more concise
[1:12:56] with the way that we are
[1:12:56] reporting outcomes.
[1:12:57] And also I would say the ways
[1:13:01] in which different council
[1:13:02] districts MAY have different
[1:13:02] levels of engagement as a part
[1:13:03] of this conversation.
[1:13:07] And so these are all the things
[1:13:08] that we want to make sure that
[1:13:08] we are able to shift that
[1:13:12] culture especially in the space
[1:13:13] where the city budget
[1:13:14] constraints will happen.
[1:13:19] Our ability to allocate more
[1:13:20] staffing to this endeavor.
[1:13:21] But I will close with this by
[1:13:25] saying for recent equity to do
[1:13:25] this work will we need to fix
[1:13:31] the inconsistency in KPIs that
[1:13:32] is our huge challenge.
[1:13:32] And so happy to address any
[1:13:33] questions and how we see that
[1:13:37] throughout all the departments
[1:13:37] .
[1:13:37] All right.
[1:13:38] Thank you to the Office of
[1:13:39] the Independent Auditor.
[1:13:43] Thank you to Panda and thank
[1:13:44] you to the Office of
[1:13:44] the Independent Budget analyst
[1:13:49] and Kim's work under recent
[1:13:49] equity.
[1:13:50] >> So with that please proceed
[1:13:51] with public comment.
[1:13:55] We have no speakers here in
[1:13:56] council chambers going to those
[1:13:57] participating remotely.
[1:13:58] We currently have four speakers
[1:14:02] with their hands raised.
[1:14:02] Doreen Diaz if you can please
[1:14:06] unmute and to speak on the item
[1:14:06] 330 regarding the performance
[1:14:07] audit.
[1:14:12] >> Yes, thank you.
[1:14:13] I'm very happy to hear that
[1:14:14] Raised in auditing Sorry I
[1:14:18] didn't write down the full
[1:14:18] name.
[1:14:19] Recent equity is going to be
[1:14:24] looking at the kpi for accuracy
[1:14:31] There is issues other than
[1:14:31] inconsistency and kpi but
[1:14:36] please please special attention
[1:14:37] to all the kpi you receive from
[1:14:42] developmental services and from
[1:14:48] the Planning Department because
[1:14:49] only in areas domestic areas
[1:14:55] fostering stating that in very
[1:14:56] tight fire zones and
[1:15:01] applications when in fact they
[1:15:01] are and the developers are
[1:15:06] getting away with it So when
[1:15:07] you see something unless you're
[1:15:13] actually verifying it please do
[1:15:14] not rely on this kpi.
[1:15:15] Another example is the drainage
[1:15:18] can.
[1:15:24] It's been cleaned twice since
[1:15:24] the JANUARY 22nd 2024 flood
[1:15:31] twice and it is still invasive
[1:15:31] weed.
[1:15:32] I had a neighbor report last
[1:15:37] month or JANUARY Gary again
[1:15:42] that the drainage channel had
[1:15:42] come into her backyard
[1:15:48] destroyed grass it made mud but
[1:15:48] your records might say oh we
[1:15:49] had maintenance done in this
[1:15:55] area If you do not go there
[1:15:55] right there and look at it,
[1:16:00] please do not believe what is
[1:16:00] put on paper from that
[1:16:01] stormwater department or that
[1:16:06] dsd or planning because we are
[1:16:12] witnessing breaking flood and
[1:16:13] what your time has concluded
[1:16:14] next is John Stump.
[1:16:18] >> If you can please unmute
[1:16:19] after John Stump of the 8700
[1:16:23] piece procedure Hi John Stump
[1:16:24] keep copies.
[1:16:30] I want to thank the very
[1:16:31] talented and committed persons
[1:16:35] who worked on this project and
[1:16:36] are committed to it.
[1:16:37] You know I am past CHAIRMAN Of
[1:16:41] the Equal Opportunity
[1:16:42] Commission under three mayors
[1:16:43] and I served on the government
[1:16:47] efficiency and fiscal reform
[1:16:48] body.
[1:16:48] I also serve the city and
[1:16:54] county on a Joint Powers Agency
[1:16:58] for more than 20 years.
[1:16:59] You know the problem with CPAs
[1:17:04] at the moment it's it's like
[1:17:05] rearranging the deck chairs on
[1:17:10] the Titanic.
[1:17:11] The ship you are in fiscal
[1:17:16] crisis you don't have
[1:17:17] the ability to budget and you
[1:17:22] overspend that council needs to
[1:17:23] focus its time on reducing its
[1:17:27] spending and learning how to
[1:17:28] budget.
[1:17:33] You know it's very nice that
[1:17:34] we're going to spend a lot of
[1:17:39] time I think there's what six
[1:17:40] staff persons here working on
[1:17:45] KPIs but yet the city is $100
[1:17:49] million overspend.
[1:17:50] The first thing that you need
[1:17:51] to do is get the performance
[1:17:56] indicators that you can spend
[1:17:57] only within your revenues.
[1:18:03] Thank you very much.
[1:18:04] Thank you.
[1:18:05] Next is when I'm running an
[1:18:12] 8700 If you come please and you
[1:18:12] think you are Joyce said you
[1:18:17] had a cd three First of all I
[1:18:23] have a dream realized you have
[1:18:24] now and that is because
[1:18:24] the CPGs are have been looked
[1:18:29] at in audits and it's unfolding
[1:18:30] And the second part of
[1:18:34] the degree is can dezmond and
[1:18:35] she's part of reason equity
[1:18:40] thank you to the forces that be
[1:18:41] you know here we go I vote for
[1:18:46] really realistically all
[1:18:46] realistic okay this is my
[1:18:52] letter to start with the public
[1:18:53] I think your public I have to
[1:18:56] at the top of my f 127 budget
[1:19:01] needs any additional needed
[1:19:02] cost and funding for
[1:19:03] implementation and monitoring
[1:19:07] that she can transparency and
[1:19:08] oversight of what the audit
[1:19:11] committee so beautiful is
[1:19:17] recommending your public
[1:19:18] the best way to get your needs
[1:19:23] realized in your communities is
[1:19:24] with the vigilant use of kpi.
[1:19:28] If we need more resources let's
[1:19:29] get them.
[1:19:29] If we need more money let's
[1:19:30] find it.
[1:19:35] Councilmember Rivera this shell
[1:19:40] shell provide one answer to
[1:19:41] your beautiful important
[1:19:47] question What city are we
[1:19:47] trying to be?
[1:19:48] Office of the City Auditor By
[1:19:52] standards Award on this Thank
[1:19:52] you Panda.
[1:19:53] Thank you.
[1:19:58] Thank you, Officer Grayson
[1:19:58] Equity.
[1:19:59] And lastly, could we please
[1:20:00] have panda shadow each
[1:20:03] department during
[1:20:04] implementation like they did
[1:20:05] with the p u d?
[1:20:09] This is a beautiful moment.
[1:20:10] Let's celebrate and let's get
[1:20:10] it done now.
[1:20:11] Love you all.
[1:20:15] I'm so excited.
[1:20:16] >> Thank you.
[1:20:16] Next is Alvin.
[1:20:17] Let's try it again.
[1:20:19] Please unmute.
[1:20:25] And my name's Allerdale Mastro
[1:20:25] and the Performance de
[1:20:26] Performance Indicator.
[1:20:30] I can't tell you how
[1:20:30] disappointed I am in San Diego.
[1:20:31] I know that the revenues are at
[1:20:36] an all time high than our
[1:20:36] staff.
[1:20:40] Your staff has increased 27%
[1:20:41] over the last five years even
[1:20:46] though the population has only
[1:20:47] increased 1%.
[1:20:47] Some of the decisions that have
[1:20:52] been made I can't find anybody
[1:20:56] that even would understand why
[1:20:57] going out and spending $65
[1:21:03] million on trash cans in
[1:21:03] the middle of this crisis when
[1:21:04] many of the citizens have
[1:21:08] pretty functional trash cans
[1:21:13] and being able to replace them
[1:21:14] is just baffling to me.
[1:21:15] The other thing that's baffling
[1:21:19] is the accountability here that
[1:21:20] you have for your employees In
[1:21:25] 2004 a turn an attorney that
[1:21:25] worked for the city made
[1:21:30] $200,000 and she was in she got
[1:21:30] a $100,000 raise and was able
[1:21:34] to take a four month cruise
[1:21:35] which was considered working at
[1:21:35] home.
[1:21:40] This is the kind of waste and
[1:21:41] abuse that the public sees And
[1:21:42] and we just don't understand
[1:21:42] it.
[1:21:46] You want us to believe that if
[1:21:47] you cut that out I don't
[1:21:51] understand why you wouldn't cut
[1:21:51] that.
[1:21:52] i haven't heard an explanation
[1:21:53] by these panels on these
[1:21:53] different issues.
[1:21:57] I don't even know how many city
[1:21:57] employees go into the office
[1:22:02] every day what the policy is.
[1:22:03] There could be a lot of
[1:22:07] overstepping there and only
[1:22:08] thing that seems to be willing
[1:22:11] to be cut is a library or a
[1:22:12] park or some one is a staff so
[1:22:13] large and how is that helping
[1:22:16] any performance as our roads
[1:22:21] are terrible our street lights
[1:22:22] on on.
[1:22:26] Oh thank you.
[1:22:26] Thank you.
[1:22:27] The five minute timer has
[1:22:28] included There were five
[1:22:28] speakers with their hands at
[1:22:31] the time.
[1:22:32] No additional speakers will be
[1:22:33] taken there only two speakers
[1:22:33] with their hands raised now as
[1:22:34] well.
[1:22:38] No additional speakers will be
[1:22:38] taken.
[1:22:39] Beekman if you can please on
[1:22:39] it.
[1:22:40] All right.
[1:22:40] Thank you.
[1:22:42] We're Big Ben.
[1:22:42] Thanks a lot for this item.
[1:22:43] It's kind of new to myself.
[1:22:47] I mean I have been here you
[1:22:47] guys talking about kpi for
[1:22:48] the past year or so and I'm
[1:22:51] still not totally familiar with
[1:22:52] it.
[1:22:52] I'm kind of slow at this stuff
[1:22:56] and but I'm trying to catch up
[1:22:57] .
[1:22:57] >> I really liked the comment
[1:22:58] from the first public comment
[1:23:02] or today on this item is she
[1:23:03] made a lot of sense and how I
[1:23:04] can understand this issue
[1:23:07] the way I'm understanding it
[1:23:08] for myself and understanding is
[1:23:13] that kpi can be a very nice
[1:23:18] reference point and factual
[1:23:18] reference point of how to
[1:23:19] understand you know your
[1:23:24] projects and items and how
[1:23:24] they're working And it sounds
[1:23:25] like what you were talking
[1:23:26] about in the presentation is do
[1:23:29] you want to add to that and
[1:23:30] present it more in terms of
[1:23:34] what can be project goals and
[1:23:35] how do you incorporate kpi into
[1:23:39] actual corporate project goals
[1:23:40] or do you want to treat kpi
[1:23:44] Well I think kpi should be
[1:23:45] treated as a very factual
[1:23:48] accountable thing giving
[1:23:49] information about the project
[1:23:54] very specific and and you
[1:23:55] shouldn't try to overemphasize
[1:23:59] being persuasive or overly
[1:23:59] flowery with its subject
[1:24:00] matter.
[1:24:04] Now that comes back to what
[1:24:05] the first public comment you
[1:24:06] said where he was describing
[1:24:06] they're just getting their
[1:24:10] facts wrong and something is
[1:24:10] going wrong with the facts
[1:24:11] process.
[1:24:11] >> You're not even doing that
[1:24:14] part correctly fully.
[1:24:15] So I think you've got to really
[1:24:16] pare down and make sure that
[1:24:19] kpi is doing something
[1:24:19] incredibly factual and we can
[1:24:24] just trust it to no end That
[1:24:25] there's no partizanship
[1:24:25] involved with it just
[1:24:26] delivering you know, straight
[1:24:29] back about it This is happening
[1:24:30] and this is happening and that
[1:24:31] takes practice to do that And
[1:24:34] then on top of that then you
[1:24:35] can add the flowery intentions
[1:24:39] and what you know I hope it can
[1:24:40] be of a project on top of that
[1:24:40] That's my guest work.
[1:24:41] >> Thank you.
[1:24:41] Thank you.
[1:24:45] Our final speaker is Francine
[1:24:45] Maxwell You're going to take
[1:24:46] from you Afternoon Francine
[1:24:49] Maxwell Southeastern San Diego.
[1:24:50] Thank you so much for
[1:24:51] the presentation from a
[1:24:54] department the audit committee
[1:24:55] audit department that we truly
[1:24:55] trust.
[1:24:56] We have some suspects when it's
[1:25:00] time to shift and look at other
[1:25:00] departments that are
[1:25:01] independent and who they
[1:25:04] actually are working for and
[1:25:05] reporting for And so k p I's
[1:25:09] are extremely important because
[1:25:10] right now given our fiscal
[1:25:15] challenges we are going to be
[1:25:16] leading and paying close
[1:25:16] attention.
[1:25:17] We're looking for the city
[1:25:20] council who happens to be
[1:25:20] the housing authority
[1:25:24] Absolutely to let go over 33
[1:25:25] since San Diego Housing
[1:25:25] Commission did.
[1:25:26] And so when we're looking at
[1:25:30] cuts, when we're looking at a
[1:25:30] continuation of care, when
[1:25:31] we're looking at equity
[1:25:35] absolutely equity for
[1:25:35] the taxpayers, the citizens,
[1:25:39] the residents And again, when
[1:25:40] we're looking at the fact that
[1:25:44] there's too many deputy
[1:25:45] directors, too many middle
[1:25:46] management, this tanda
[1:25:49] department should be screaming
[1:25:54] Kay, eyes on how much waste we
[1:25:55] have when we look at our org
[1:25:55] chart.
[1:25:59] So again, thank you so much for
[1:25:59] this presentation.
[1:26:03] We look forward to 10th and we
[1:26:04] have a lot of work to do as a
[1:26:04] city.
[1:26:07] Thank you so much for allowing
[1:26:08] me to speak.
[1:26:08] >> Thank you.
[1:26:09] That does conclude public
[1:26:10] comment on this item.
[1:26:12] All right.
[1:26:13] Thank you, City Clerk As a
[1:26:14] reminder this is an information
[1:26:17] item No motions required but
[1:26:18] I'll turn it over to council
[1:26:19] members for questions and
[1:26:20] comments And we'll start with
[1:26:20] the chair of the audit
[1:26:22] committee.
[1:26:23] >> Council Member Moreno Thank
[1:26:24] you for the presentation and
[1:26:27] thank you again to the audit
[1:26:27] team for another great audit
[1:26:32] Key performance indicators are
[1:26:32] important tools for not just
[1:26:33] the department using them as
[1:26:37] metrics throughout the year but
[1:26:38] also for the public and
[1:26:38] the City council which is why I
[1:26:43] request id for this audit to be
[1:26:43] done When done right they allow
[1:26:47] us to make budget decisions
[1:26:48] based on data and allow us to
[1:26:51] see the effectiveness of
[1:26:55] spending taxpayer dollars on
[1:26:56] one activity versus another.
[1:27:00] Unfortunately the way many KPIs
[1:27:01] are used and produced here in
[1:27:01] the city not are not very
[1:27:05] useful for members of
[1:27:06] the public or the city Council
[1:27:10] to utilize when evaluating
[1:27:11] the effectiveness of a
[1:27:11] department in providing a
[1:27:12] service.
[1:27:15] The annual budget includes KPIs
[1:27:16] within each department and I
[1:27:17] could attest to the fact that
[1:27:20] they are often simply not a
[1:27:21] good metric to use to determine
[1:27:25] a department's effectiveness at
[1:27:26] providing a surface service.
[1:27:30] This creates a scenario where
[1:27:31] the KPIs are not relied upon by
[1:27:32] the City Council During
[1:27:35] the annual budget discussion
[1:27:36] and that is just very
[1:27:36] unfortunate.
[1:27:40] We love to say we're a data
[1:27:41] driven city but this audit
[1:27:42] shows we are budgeting year in
[1:27:45] and year out without good data
[1:27:49] to support budget allocations.
[1:27:50] One part of the problem is that
[1:27:51] the KPIs are all over all over
[1:27:55] the place and not consistent in
[1:27:56] what is being measured.
[1:27:59] Some as was mentioned are
[1:28:00] aspirational goals while some
[1:28:04] are focused unrealistic
[1:28:05] outcomes based solely on what
[1:28:09] can be done down to the dollar
[1:28:10] ,these inconsistencies make
[1:28:10] them less meaningful measures
[1:28:14] for policymakers to consider
[1:28:15] when balancing the budget to
[1:28:19] ensure these are improved and
[1:28:20] helpful to the public,
[1:28:21] the Council and public must
[1:28:21] have an opportunity to
[1:28:25] interface with department staff
[1:28:25] to create meaningful KPIs.
[1:28:29] Recommendation 1.1 is to
[1:28:30] develop and publish an annual
[1:28:33] performance report for
[1:28:34] the city's KPIs separate from
[1:28:35] the city's budget document and
[1:28:39] to discuss it at the Budget and
[1:28:40] Government Efficiency
[1:28:40] Committee.
[1:28:41] I think this makes sense and is
[1:28:44] definitely a good start to
[1:28:45] making improvements to our
[1:28:45] KPIs.
[1:28:48] In fact our own statement of
[1:28:49] budgetary principles say that
[1:28:50] the KPIs will be reviewed and
[1:28:53] discussed at committee so we
[1:28:54] should already be doing it.
[1:28:59] However, I would go beyond just
[1:29:00] issuing an agenda using a
[1:29:03] report and say that multiple
[1:29:04] council committees should
[1:29:05] discuss the KPIs of the major
[1:29:09] city departments that are
[1:29:09] tasked with monitoring each
[1:29:10] year that we're tasked with
[1:29:13] monitoring each year pd
[1:29:14] Transportation stormwater stp
[1:29:18] fire Those are some that could
[1:29:23] be a focus conversation that
[1:29:23] provides department directors
[1:29:24] with clear direction about what
[1:29:27] would be the what would be most
[1:29:28] helpful in determining
[1:29:28] the effectiveness of a
[1:29:29] department's activity
[1:29:33] throughout the year.
[1:29:33] Finally, I do very much agree
[1:29:34] with the recommendations
[1:29:37] regarding the city having a
[1:29:38] publicly accessible dashboard
[1:29:38] that includes historical data
[1:29:43] to demonstrate departmental
[1:29:43] performance over time.
[1:29:47] Other cities do this and
[1:29:52] updating it regularly is good
[1:29:52] and transparent government
[1:29:53] policy and it would be very
[1:29:57] useful to the members of
[1:29:57] the public especially when
[1:30:01] discussing the budget each year
[1:30:02] .
[1:30:02] The report includes five
[1:30:03] recommendations including
[1:30:04] developing an annual
[1:30:06] performance report establishing
[1:30:07] kpi data validation process and
[1:30:11] creating a policy that
[1:30:12] documents the city's kpi
[1:30:16] philosophy.
[1:30:16] I.
[1:30:22] I do want to make note that
[1:30:22] the performance in Natalie an
[1:30:23] analytic department is doing
[1:30:27] well with the resource is that
[1:30:27] have that they have an interest
[1:30:31] in assisting departments with
[1:30:31] their KPIs but any real success
[1:30:35] at updating the metrics we use
[1:30:36] comes down to the management
[1:30:40] within each department coming
[1:30:41] to hand with accurate and
[1:30:42] meaningful metrics to be
[1:30:45] considered and then using their
[1:30:49] expertise to redefine it So
[1:30:50] once again thank you for
[1:30:51] the audit and that concludes my
[1:30:51] comments.
[1:30:55] Council PRESIDENT Thank you.
[1:30:56] All right.
[1:30:56] Thank you, Councilmember
[1:30:56] Moreno.
[1:30:57] We'll go next to council member
[1:30:59] Ella Rivera.
[1:31:00] Thank you Council PRESIDENT
[1:31:04] Thank you to the auditor
[1:31:05] the officers of the auditor as
[1:31:05] always for the work that you
[1:31:08] all do.
[1:31:09] Thank you Councilmember Moreno
[1:31:14] for your commitment to not just
[1:31:14] the officers to be able to make
[1:31:18] sure that we have robust
[1:31:18] discussions about what's
[1:31:23] brought to your committee.
[1:31:24] Our KPIs are should be very
[1:31:28] important and could should
[1:31:28] serve as a backbone of
[1:31:29] effective governance and
[1:31:33] accountability And the city
[1:31:33] does not have a formal
[1:31:34] enforceable policy that clearly
[1:31:38] defines whether our KPIs should
[1:31:38] be aspirational or
[1:31:42] realistically achievable.
[1:31:43] I appreciate that this was
[1:31:43] named in the report.
[1:31:44] I often talk about
[1:31:46] the difference between
[1:31:47] standards and goals and what do
[1:31:51] we want to set standards for
[1:31:52] our city and what do we want to
[1:31:56] aspire to be as a city in
[1:31:56] the future?
[1:31:57] And the city should absolutely
[1:32:01] be aiming high and signaling
[1:32:01] what excellent looks like
[1:32:02] excellence looks like And at
[1:32:06] the same time we need targets
[1:32:07] that are honest about current
[1:32:08] capacity and budget so we can
[1:32:08] measure our progress toward
[1:32:11] those standards.
[1:32:12] So finding two lays out a
[1:32:12] couple of recommendations.
[1:32:16] I'm wondering if if the auditor
[1:32:16] could walk us through what
[1:32:21] implementation of those
[1:32:21] findings would look like in
[1:32:25] practice Specifically are there
[1:32:26] changes in department
[1:32:27] operations reporting structure
[1:32:30] oversight?
[1:32:31] I can take a first crack at
[1:32:31] that.
[1:32:35] So finding two there's a couple
[1:32:36] of recommendations that go with
[1:32:36] that.
[1:32:39] The easier one is a smaller one
[1:32:40] just has to do with the city
[1:32:43] attorney's office to develop a
[1:32:44] kpi and they've actually agreed
[1:32:45] to do that.
[1:32:45] So implementation to your
[1:32:48] question there implementation
[1:32:49] should be good to go there and
[1:32:49] we'll check that with our
[1:32:53] regular recommendation follow
[1:32:53] up process.
[1:32:54] The other recommendation in
[1:32:58] that finding was essentially
[1:33:02] the kpi philosophy which goes
[1:33:03] to that chart we had on there.
[1:33:04] The blue bars are all over
[1:33:04] the place.
[1:33:08] Some departments are achieving
[1:33:08] 0%, some are achieving 100%.
[1:33:12] So the to bring it back to your
[1:33:13] question about what would
[1:33:13] implementation look look like
[1:33:14] there, I think Panda would
[1:33:17] probably be the lead
[1:33:17] quarterback working with city
[1:33:18] leadership hopefully such as
[1:33:19] yourselves in your offices in
[1:33:22] terms of like what do we want
[1:33:22] to do?
[1:33:23] Do we want to do a mix of
[1:33:26] realistic and aspirational KPIs
[1:33:27] like they do at the federal
[1:33:31] government or the city and
[1:33:32] county of San Francisco?
[1:33:32] Some other examples So it would
[1:33:35] really be probably Panda
[1:33:36] working with city leadership to
[1:33:37] articulate that guidance for
[1:33:40] departments so that we as a
[1:33:41] city are not just all of the So
[1:33:42] all over the place.
[1:33:45] Yeah well I certainly like
[1:33:46] the idea of us setting some
[1:33:50] standards vary across
[1:33:51] departments of setting some
[1:33:55] baseline nice expectations
[1:33:55] about what the public and
[1:33:59] the council should expect from
[1:34:00] different departments And then
[1:34:04] you know always aspiring to do
[1:34:05] to do better And and in that
[1:34:09] conversation there should be an
[1:34:10] understanding of what would be
[1:34:10] required in terms of resourcing
[1:34:13] in order to get to that higher
[1:34:13] level.
[1:34:14] So thank you again for all
[1:34:15] the work that went into this.
[1:34:19] I very much appreciate it.
[1:34:20] >> That concludes my comments.
[1:34:20] Council PRESIDENT All right.
[1:34:21] Thank you.
[1:34:24] Council Member We'll overall go
[1:34:25] next to Council member Von
[1:34:25] Wolpert.
[1:34:27] >> Thank you for the audit and
[1:34:28] the work on this.
[1:34:29] It has been a challenge to try
[1:34:33] and negotiate how KPIs are
[1:34:33] tracked across budget years and
[1:34:34] sometimes KPIs are different
[1:34:37] across budget years without any
[1:34:37] notice and sometimes there are
[1:34:38] no KPIs And so I just
[1:34:41] appreciate you doing this work
[1:34:42] as well.
[1:34:43] I think one question I do have
[1:34:46] and it might be for our
[1:34:47] management side is how do we
[1:34:47] involve our workers in
[1:34:51] developing our KPIs Because our
[1:34:52] unions are represented,
[1:34:53] Employees are the ones doing
[1:34:56] the work every day and so they
[1:34:57] MAY see things on the ground
[1:34:57] that our management doesn't.
[1:34:58] So how do we involve
[1:34:58] the workers in developing our
[1:35:03] goals for our city?
[1:35:04] That's a great question and I
[1:35:05] know for our team working on
[1:35:09] KPIs where we want to involve
[1:35:12] as many people as possible in
[1:35:13] the process.
[1:35:13] One of our constraints last
[1:35:14] year was we see positions from
[1:35:18] the team that works on KPIs
[1:35:19] were reduced and this year
[1:35:19] we're anticipating another
[1:35:22] reduction.
[1:35:23] So that does kind of limit our
[1:35:24] capacity to do as many
[1:35:27] workshops and get as much input
[1:35:28] as we as we would like.
[1:35:32] But I think you bring a really
[1:35:32] valid point and we do work with
[1:35:33] departments largely upon
[1:35:37] request from the departments
[1:35:38] will reach out for a coaching
[1:35:38] session and that's a great
[1:35:41] opportunity to analyze
[1:35:42] the employee sentiment survey
[1:35:43] results we do twice a year So
[1:35:46] that's one great way to
[1:35:47] incorporate feedback but we can
[1:35:48] look into that more and make
[1:35:51] sure that we're casting a wider
[1:35:52] net.
[1:35:52] Yeah, immediately within
[1:35:53] the areas for example
[1:35:56] the represented employees all
[1:35:57] have leadership within their
[1:35:57] unions and so they could be
[1:35:58] very helpful in providing
[1:36:01] feedback to us.
[1:36:01] All right.
[1:36:02] Well I appreciate the work on
[1:36:03] this and I'm looking forward to
[1:36:07] improving our KPIs going
[1:36:08] forward.
[1:36:08] >> Thank you.
[1:36:08] All right.
[1:36:09] Thanks.
[1:36:11] Councilmember Velma Wolpert not
[1:36:12] see anybody else in the lights.
[1:36:13] Phil offer a few closing
[1:36:13] comments.
[1:36:16] I want to thank you, COUNCILMAN
[1:36:16] Foster.
[1:36:17] You can jump in.
[1:36:17] Thank you.
[1:36:18] i have my apologies.
[1:36:20] Council PRESIDENT I mean I'll
[1:36:24] keep my comments brief because
[1:36:25] this has been something that
[1:36:26] has been discussed for quite
[1:36:30] some time and I appreciate
[1:36:34] the work of the auditor on
[1:36:34] this.
[1:36:39] I think it's good to have this
[1:36:39] item come forward acknowledge
[1:36:40] that the KPIs do need
[1:36:44] the extensive work that they do
[1:36:44] need.
[1:36:45] Also appreciate the comments by
[1:36:47] the ipa when as it relates to
[1:36:51] equity.
[1:36:52] But I do want to say this and I
[1:36:53] do appreciate how this
[1:36:56] conversation is tied to
[1:37:01] the budget but it does leave me
[1:37:02] in a position as I have dealt
[1:37:06] with these over the years and
[1:37:11] it takes me back to operations
[1:37:12] and as I say, do our directors
[1:37:16] truly understand what their
[1:37:17] book of business, their
[1:37:21] obligation and how to execute
[1:37:22] in accordance with all of our
[1:37:25] standards The charter federal
[1:37:26] statutory requirements, state
[1:37:30] requirements and our policies
[1:37:31] that we set right As we talk
[1:37:35] about the council, as we talk
[1:37:36] about council policies, as we
[1:37:40] talk about how important equity
[1:37:41] is as you can see when we have
[1:37:44] an equity conversation I do
[1:37:45] appreciate the transparency
[1:37:45] that we're hearing as now
[1:37:49] the you know, the Department of
[1:37:50] Race and Equity is in
[1:37:55] the office because Kim, I will
[1:37:55] tell you I appreciate
[1:37:56] the conversations that we've
[1:37:59] been having over the past month
[1:37:59] as we are looking at what
[1:38:00] improvements we can make.
[1:38:04] But I think this drives to
[1:38:04] the bigger picture And what I
[1:38:05] have been saying that it's very
[1:38:09] important that we do have a ceo
[1:38:10] and someone with operational
[1:38:13] experience because I think we
[1:38:14] need that expertise to make
[1:38:19] sure that we are executing and
[1:38:20] meeting our obligation.
[1:38:21] So with that council PRESIDENT
[1:38:24] I will leave that there As
[1:38:25] Budget Chair I will say I am
[1:38:25] very open to this conversation
[1:38:28] Looking forward to this
[1:38:29] conversation but I am looking
[1:38:33] for impact transparency and
[1:38:34] accountability, right?
[1:38:35] I just can't I just have to
[1:38:39] make sure I state that.
[1:38:39] So thank you.
[1:38:40] All right.
[1:38:40] Thanks Councilmember Foster
[1:38:44] again, not to anybody else No
[1:38:44] lights off for a few closing
[1:38:45] comments.
[1:38:48] Thank you To the office of
[1:38:48] the Independent Audit Auditors
[1:38:49] for the good work that you've
[1:38:52] done in bringing this forward
[1:38:53] and putting it in good plain
[1:38:54] speak so that we could wrap our
[1:38:57] heads around it.
[1:38:58] Thank you for the work of
[1:39:02] Performance Analytics Panda for
[1:39:03] the work that you do and thank
[1:39:07] you to the office of the ipa.
[1:39:08] Clearly the move that the City
[1:39:11] Council made last JUNE to embed
[1:39:12] the Office of Race and Equity
[1:39:17] in ipa was a very smart one and
[1:39:18] I think it's ultimately going
[1:39:18] to be very productive.
[1:39:21] I was one of those individuals
[1:39:22] who had a very, very, very low
[1:39:26] opinion of KPIs going forward
[1:39:31] and until I actually heard a
[1:39:32] briefing from MR. Iseman and
[1:39:35] folks from Panda I had little
[1:39:36] hope that there was anything to
[1:39:36] be resurrected recommendations
[1:39:40] or not if there was no path
[1:39:40] forward why bother?
[1:39:41] And I think it's somewhat
[1:39:44] ironic that most of the work
[1:39:45] that's going to be done going
[1:39:46] forward is being done by those
[1:39:49] middle managers who often get
[1:39:50] castigated as the problem with
[1:39:50] our city budget.
[1:39:54] So I look forward to those
[1:39:55] middle managers who bring that
[1:39:59] expertise to the conversation
[1:39:59] and change it.
[1:40:00] The only thing I didn't hear
[1:40:04] and I appreciate Councilmember
[1:40:05] Moreno and her leadership at
[1:40:05] the audit committee and
[1:40:08] Councilmember Whitman's role on
[1:40:09] the audit committee as well is
[1:40:13] where do we go from here?
[1:40:14] And a couple of things that
[1:40:15] were mentioned I would like
[1:40:18] this is there's no action item
[1:40:18] here but to suggest that we
[1:40:22] don't do a dashboard we've
[1:40:23] already convinced ourselves
[1:40:24] that the KPIs historically were
[1:40:27] not worthy.
[1:40:28] Why bother repeating them And
[1:40:33] even to go so far as to suggest
[1:40:34] that we don't put any KPIs in
[1:40:37] the f y 27 budget The work that
[1:40:38] panned out and the Office of
[1:40:39] recent Equity is doing I've
[1:40:42] already heard will not be
[1:40:43] completed or reintroduced until
[1:40:48] after the budget has to be
[1:40:48] adopted So why keep repeating
[1:40:49] stuff that actually is not
[1:40:52] helpful that the councils are
[1:40:53] not off Council members are not
[1:40:54] using that departments don't
[1:40:57] really believe in And so that
[1:40:58] would be my suggestion just to
[1:41:02] strip the KPIs out of the f y
[1:41:03] 27 proposed budget.
[1:41:03] Let's take a let's start a
[1:41:04] clean slate.
[1:41:07] Let's go back to Ground Zero
[1:41:08] Given what we've learned what
[1:41:12] the auditors figured out, what
[1:41:13] the aba is determining and use
[1:41:16] that as the new baseline going
[1:41:17] forward and maybe allows us to
[1:41:18] focus a little bit more on how
[1:41:19] we're going to balance in our
[1:41:21] budget rather than creating
[1:41:22] tools that won't be done in
[1:41:22] time.
[1:41:26] The last thing I'll say is and
[1:41:30] I it probably didn't need to be
[1:41:31] said in this audit but I would
[1:41:32] throw out there the city
[1:41:35] departments don't produce
[1:41:36] widgets.
[1:41:36] Some departments do something
[1:41:37] You can say did you produce You
[1:41:40] should be producing ten widgets
[1:41:41] a day Are you producing ten
[1:41:42] Which is a very easy metric.
[1:41:45] A lot of what departments do is
[1:41:50] responding proactively or
[1:41:51] reactively to what we see going
[1:41:51] on around us.
[1:41:55] They're responding to new state
[1:41:56] laws.
[1:41:56] I'm working on policy that I
[1:41:57] don't want to be working on but
[1:41:59] Sacramento made a new law and I
[1:42:00] have to stop everything I'm
[1:42:00] doing.
[1:42:04] Focus on that So but
[1:42:05] the initial briefing of what
[1:42:10] When I see where panda and
[1:42:10] the eBay is going gives me hope
[1:42:11] that we can actually figure out
[1:42:15] and tailor KPIs.
[1:42:16] I know my colleagues have said
[1:42:19] both can be very fundamental,
[1:42:20] can also be aspirational and
[1:42:24] that also tries to figure out
[1:42:25] what resources we need to
[1:42:25] actually deliver those KPIs
[1:42:29] which I think has always been
[1:42:30] sorely lacking.
[1:42:30] So with that I'll stop.
[1:42:31] Again, thank you to everybody
[1:42:32] that's brought this forward.
[1:42:33] This was an important thing to
[1:42:34] hear.
[1:42:34] It took us a while.
[1:42:35] The agenda is out so I
[1:42:38] appreciate your patience as
[1:42:38] well.
[1:42:38] All right.
[1:42:39] Thank you Again, that was an
[1:42:43] information item No motion was
[1:42:43] required.
[1:42:44] So with that Clark, please
[1:42:49] introduce item f501.
[1:42:49] >> Thank you.
[1:42:52] Council PRESIDENT Items 501 is
[1:42:53] the consideration of an empty
[1:42:53] homes tax ballot measure
[1:42:54] proposal by council member
[1:42:57] Shawn Illo Rivera If you're
[1:42:58] here in council chambers and
[1:42:59] would like to speak to this
[1:43:02] item please be sure to submit a
[1:43:02] speaker slip to the front of
[1:43:03] the room in the clear box.
[1:43:04] If you have people seating you
[1:43:06] time please be sure to submit
[1:43:07] those speakers slips together
[1:43:08] If you are joining us virtually
[1:43:11] now's the time to raise your
[1:43:12] hand by pressing Star nine or
[1:43:13] the raise your hand icon so
[1:43:17] that we can hear from you.
[1:43:18] >> Thank you, Council PRESIDENT
[1:43:18] All right.
[1:43:21] Thank you City Clerk With that
[1:43:22] And before we turn it over for
[1:43:26] the presentation, I see a
[1:43:27] number of individuals some of
[1:43:27] you perhaps even many of you
[1:43:31] MAY be in chambers for the very
[1:43:31] first time and just want to
[1:43:32] offer a little bit of thought
[1:43:35] about protocols going forward.
[1:43:36] There's clearly a lot of
[1:43:40] passion about this item You
[1:43:40] will hear things you agree
[1:43:41] with, you will hear things you
[1:43:44] disagree with, extend
[1:43:45] the courtesy to whether it is
[1:43:46] staff, whether it is a council
[1:43:46] member or whether it is a
[1:43:50] member of the public that is
[1:43:50] speaking.
[1:43:54] What we have found at is really
[1:43:55] quite effective is by giving us
[1:44:00] hand signals You like what a
[1:44:00] speaker is saying thumbs up
[1:44:01] from up here.
[1:44:04] It's very obvious what your
[1:44:04] feelings aren't If you hear
[1:44:05] things you don't like Thumbs
[1:44:05] down.
[1:44:08] Again a very strong visual
[1:44:08] there but do extend
[1:44:09] the courtesy to whoever is
[1:44:13] speaking.
[1:44:14] I know we're going to have a
[1:44:14] lot of speakers here.
[1:44:16] We want to give them every one
[1:44:17] of them a chance to say their
[1:44:17] piece.
[1:44:18] And again, whether you agree or
[1:44:22] disagree, extend the courtesy
[1:44:22] to them and let's get started.
[1:44:27] So with that I'm a turn over to
[1:44:28] my colleague council member
[1:44:28] Isla Rivera and after that will
[1:44:31] turn to staff for
[1:44:31] the presentation sir.
[1:44:32] All right.
[1:44:33] Thank you Council PRESIDENT.
[1:44:36] Appreciate the opportunity.
[1:44:37] I've just got some introductory
[1:44:38] comments before we handed over
[1:44:40] to Maya.
[1:44:41] We're here for a really simple
[1:44:46] reason and that's because San
[1:44:47] Diego are paying too much for
[1:44:50] housing and families can no
[1:44:50] longer wait for additional
[1:44:55] action when homes sit empty for
[1:44:55] most of the year during a
[1:44:56] housing shortage That hurts all
[1:44:56] of us.
[1:44:57] It hurts renters.
[1:45:00] It hurts first time homebuyers.
[1:45:00] It hurts the communities that
[1:45:01] depend on teachers,
[1:45:04] firefighters and other
[1:45:05] essential workers being able to
[1:45:05] live near where they serve.
[1:45:09] Throughout this process we've
[1:45:09] referenced the vision and
[1:45:10] values that motivate this
[1:45:14] proposal.
[1:45:15] That's why I bring that up
[1:45:16] because we want to reiterate
[1:45:19] those and we simply want to.
[1:45:20] And are you going to be a city
[1:45:21] that works for the people who
[1:45:23] live here where the people who
[1:45:24] live here can see a future for
[1:45:24] themselves, for their families
[1:45:28] and their friends And we know
[1:45:28] that that is only possible when
[1:45:29] people believe that they will
[1:45:33] be able to afford to live in
[1:45:33] this city and ideally own a
[1:45:37] home that can provide
[1:45:38] the foundation they need to
[1:45:38] grow a family and pursue their
[1:45:39] dreams.
[1:45:41] The proposal Maya will present
[1:45:42] is the product of months and
[1:45:43] months and months of rigorous
[1:45:43] work.
[1:45:46] We work closely with
[1:45:47] the Treasurer's office to build
[1:45:48] a measure that is operationally
[1:45:48] sound and implementable.
[1:45:52] We worked extremely closely
[1:45:52] with the city Attorney's office
[1:45:56] since late spring of last year
[1:45:57] who brought in expert outside
[1:46:00] counsel to ensure that council
[1:46:01] and the public can feel
[1:46:01] confident in the legal
[1:46:06] foundation that this measure is
[1:46:06] built upon.
[1:46:11] To that point, some have raised
[1:46:11] a similar measure in San
[1:46:12] Francisco as a reason for
[1:46:15] concern about the legal defense
[1:46:15] ability of our proposal And I
[1:46:20] saw what I will actually refer
[1:46:21] to as pretty irresponsible not
[1:46:21] even reporting but opinionated
[1:46:25] about whether or not the amount
[1:46:26] the proper amount of due
[1:46:30] diligence has gone into
[1:46:30] bringing this measure forward.
[1:46:31] I want to reiterate that
[1:46:34] the city attorney's office has
[1:46:35] been working on this since last
[1:46:39] summer.
[1:46:40] They've brought in outside
[1:46:40] counsel and they've worked
[1:46:41] extremely hard and I want to
[1:46:44] make sure that that work is
[1:46:45] appreciated because there has
[1:46:48] been a significant amount of
[1:46:49] work And the result of that is
[1:46:53] is a measure that is clearly
[1:46:54] distinguishable from San
[1:46:54] Francisco much more closely
[1:46:58] modeled on one that has
[1:46:59] withstood this is operating
[1:47:03] successfully without successful
[1:47:03] legal challenge for over two
[1:47:04] years.
[1:47:05] With that I'll hand it over to
[1:47:08] Maya for the presentation.
[1:47:08] Thank you.
[1:47:09] Good afternoon.
[1:47:09] My name is my process Deputy
[1:47:13] Chief of Staff for Policy on
[1:47:14] behalf of Councilmember Eli
[1:47:14] Rivera.
[1:47:14] I'm here to present
[1:47:17] the considering of an empty
[1:47:18] homes tax ballot measure
[1:47:19] proposal by Councilmember Shawn
[1:47:20] Eli Rivera and I will need 12
[1:47:25] minutes.
[1:47:26] The requested action for this
[1:47:30] item is as follows requests
[1:47:31] the City Council adopts
[1:47:34] the ordinance and some item
[1:47:34] eight a place on the JUNE 2nd,
[1:47:35] 2026 municipal Special election
[1:47:39] consolidate it with
[1:47:40] the California State primary
[1:47:43] election one measure amending
[1:47:44] the San Diego Municipal Code by
[1:47:47] adding Chapter three Article 12
[1:47:48] Division one Sections 32 0101
[1:47:52] through 30 201 23 relating to
[1:47:52] an empty homes tax.
[1:47:57] Furthermore requests that
[1:47:58] the City Council adopt
[1:47:58] the resolution and so we do so
[1:48:01] item b directing the city
[1:48:02] Attorney to prepare a ballot
[1:48:02] title and summary and an
[1:48:06] impartial analysis directing
[1:48:07] the Mayor, independent budget
[1:48:07] analyst and city auditor to
[1:48:08] prepare a fiscal impact
[1:48:11] analysis and assigning ballot
[1:48:12] arguments all regarding one
[1:48:12] measure amending the San Diego
[1:48:16] Municipal Code by adding
[1:48:16] Chapter three Article 12
[1:48:20] Division one Sections 32 0101
[1:48:20] through 30 201 23 relating to
[1:48:25] an empty homes tax to be
[1:48:25] submitted to qualified voters
[1:48:29] of the City of San Diego at
[1:48:30] the Municipal Special election
[1:48:30] consolidated with
[1:48:31] the California State primary
[1:48:34] election to be held on JUNE
[1:48:39] 2nd, 2026 2026.
[1:48:40] Once again our vision of San
[1:48:40] Diego that works for the people
[1:48:43] who live here where everyone
[1:48:44] can see a future for
[1:48:44] themselves, their families and
[1:48:48] their friends is what guides us
[1:48:49] as well as our goals.
[1:48:50] Homes for San Diegans Protect
[1:48:53] San Diegans from displacement,
[1:48:54] protect San Diego's
[1:48:54] neighborhoods and make
[1:48:56] speculative investors pay their
[1:49:01] fair share.
[1:49:02] In the United States there are
[1:49:02] nearly as many homes kept for
[1:49:05] seasonal recreational or
[1:49:06] occasional use than
[1:49:07] the combined number of homes
[1:49:10] listed for rent or listed for
[1:49:11] sale.
[1:49:11] The us Census Bureau found that
[1:49:14] in 2020 there were over 4.6
[1:49:15] million homes vacant for
[1:49:19] occasional use compared to 3.8
[1:49:22] million for rent and 1.2
[1:49:23] million for sale.
[1:49:24] At the same time, the current
[1:49:24] housing supply shortage is
[1:49:27] estimated at 2.8 million homes
[1:49:32] nationally.
[1:49:32] Other cities are taking a stand
[1:49:33] to counter the negative impacts
[1:49:37] of empty homes and they are all
[1:49:37] tailoring their approach based
[1:49:38] on local circumstances.
[1:49:42] In Berkeley voters approved
[1:49:43] the empty homes tax in 2022.
[1:49:46] The tax is imposed on homes
[1:49:47] vacant for more than 182 days
[1:49:48] annually and Berkeley has begun
[1:49:51] collecting the tax.
[1:49:52] The Montana legislature
[1:49:55] increased taxes on residential
[1:49:56] properties used as vacation
[1:49:57] homes while reducing taxes for
[1:50:01] primary residences and
[1:50:02] Washington dc adopted a tax for
[1:50:02] vacant residential and
[1:50:06] commercial properties.
[1:50:11] What is an empty home Empty
[1:50:11] homes are homes that are not
[1:50:12] the primary residents of a San
[1:50:15] Diego and are left vacant for
[1:50:16] more than 182 days a year or
[1:50:17] over half a year.
[1:50:20] These MAY be speculative
[1:50:21] investments or a vacation home
[1:50:21] for personal use.
[1:50:25] Bottom line these are homes
[1:50:26] the owner has chosen to keep
[1:50:31] empty what is not an empty
[1:50:31] home.
[1:50:32] This tax will not apply to
[1:50:35] homes where San Diegans live.
[1:50:36] If you live in the home you
[1:50:36] own, this does not apply to
[1:50:39] your home.
[1:50:40] If you are a renter in San
[1:50:41] Diego you do not pay this tax
[1:50:45] If you are a landlord to San
[1:50:45] Diego tenants you and your
[1:50:49] tenants do not pay this tax
[1:50:49] whether your tenants are long
[1:50:50] term or even medium term such
[1:50:53] as traveling nurses who rent
[1:50:54] for more than 30 days.
[1:50:57] If you live in your home with
[1:50:58] an 80 you that you keep empty
[1:50:59] as an office or for occasional
[1:51:03] visitors he will not be taxed
[1:51:04] for your 80 you and whole home
[1:51:06] year round 2 or 3 and for short
[1:51:06] term rentals are not empty
[1:51:07] homes in this ballot measure
[1:51:10] and won't be taxed as they can
[1:51:11] be occupied up to year round
[1:51:12] and contribute revenue to
[1:51:15] the city via Toti.
[1:51:16] In other words 99% of San Diego
[1:51:20] homes are not taxed, 99% of San
[1:51:24] Diegans are not taxed and 100%
[1:51:25] of homes lived in by San
[1:51:25] Diegans are not taxed by
[1:51:29] the empty homes tax.
[1:51:30] Empty homes can be high priced
[1:51:34] downtown condos with bay views
[1:51:35] such as these on Pacific
[1:51:35] Highway.
[1:51:39] As you can see many of the Bay
[1:51:40] facing and top floor condos are
[1:51:40] vacant in La Hoya.
[1:51:44] Many of these beachfront condos
[1:51:44] are also sitting empty.
[1:51:49] But this is not just an issue
[1:51:49] with luxury high rises and
[1:51:50] beachfront properties which are
[1:51:54] not affordable to most San
[1:51:55] Diegans even if they did return
[1:51:55] to the market.
[1:51:59] There are also homes in our
[1:52:00] neighborhoods that are being
[1:52:00] left vacant.
[1:52:01] These are homes that many
[1:52:03] though certainly not all San
[1:52:04] Diego families could
[1:52:05] realistically afford if given
[1:52:08] an opportunity Along Friars
[1:52:09] Road there are 48 condos
[1:52:13] sitting empty and not available
[1:52:14] for a San Diegan to move into.
[1:52:17] There are 36 in the college
[1:52:18] area including three in this
[1:52:22] condo.
[1:52:22] The most up to date figure is
[1:52:26] that there are currently 5140
[1:52:26] homes sitting vacant with no
[1:52:30] renter or owner living in them
[1:52:31] based on the owners filing of a
[1:52:32] second home exemption of
[1:52:35] the rental unit business tax
[1:52:35] with the Treasurer's office.
[1:52:39] That exemption is the mechanism
[1:52:40] available for identifying empty
[1:52:40] homes.
[1:52:41] The Treasurer's office will be
[1:52:45] able to identify empty homes
[1:52:45] using this available data that
[1:52:47] has the flexibility to adapt in
[1:52:52] the future.
[1:52:53] The data shows that while these
[1:52:53] properties exist across
[1:52:56] the city in every community
[1:52:57] they are especially
[1:52:58] concentrated 45% of empty homes
[1:53:02] are in the downtown La Hoya,
[1:53:03] Pacific Beach and Peninsula
[1:53:06] Communities.
[1:53:07] Currently owners of empty homes
[1:53:11] do not pay any additional taxes
[1:53:12] or fees for their impact on
[1:53:12] the cost of housing or
[1:53:16] additional impacts such as
[1:53:17] hollowing out neighborhoods,
[1:53:17] reducing school enrollment and
[1:53:21] changing the neighborhood
[1:53:21] character.
[1:53:22] For all these reasons we have
[1:53:25] proposed an $8,000 annual tax
[1:53:28] per empty home beginning in
[1:53:29] 2020 2027 which increases to
[1:53:29] $10,000 beginning in 2028.
[1:53:33] With cpi increases beginning in
[1:53:38] 2029 empty homes held by
[1:53:38] corporate and institutional
[1:53:39] investors impose additional
[1:53:42] burdens on San Diego's housing
[1:53:43] market by removing homes from
[1:53:43] residential use and treating
[1:53:47] housing primarily as a
[1:53:48] financial asset.
[1:53:48] Corporate ownership is also a
[1:53:52] reasonable proxy for commercial
[1:53:53] scale activity and speculative
[1:53:53] behavior that undermines
[1:53:57] neighborhood stability, reduces
[1:53:57] housing availability and makes
[1:53:58] it harder for San Diego
[1:54:01] families to compete for
[1:54:01] homeownership in
[1:54:02] the communities where they live
[1:54:03] and work.
[1:54:03] Corporate entities often
[1:54:07] benefit from structural
[1:54:07] advantages that individual
[1:54:08] homeowners do not including
[1:54:12] easier access to capital.
[1:54:12] The ability to make all cash
[1:54:13] offers portfolio strategies and
[1:54:16] the capacity to hold properties
[1:54:17] vacant without the same
[1:54:17] pressures faced by a household
[1:54:21] seeking stable housing.
[1:54:21] Those same structures can also
[1:54:22] make enforcement more
[1:54:22] difficult.
[1:54:25] When an empty corporate owned
[1:54:26] home creates blight code issues
[1:54:30] or neighborhood impacts, it is
[1:54:31] often harder for the city and
[1:54:31] neighbors to quickly identify
[1:54:35] responsible decision makers and
[1:54:36] secure compliance in practice.
[1:54:40] Llc and similar entities can
[1:54:40] reduce transparency and diffuse
[1:54:41] accountability Increasing
[1:54:45] public costs and delaying
[1:54:45] remediation.
[1:54:46] For these reasons, imposing a
[1:54:50] higher rate on corporate owned
[1:54:50] empty homes is a fair and
[1:54:51] administrative way to reflect
[1:54:54] their disproportionate impact
[1:54:55] promote compliance and protect
[1:54:55] housing availability and
[1:55:00] neighborhood quality.
[1:55:00] Accordingly, the measure
[1:55:01] applies an additional surcharge
[1:55:04] of $4,000 beginning in 2027
[1:55:07] increasing to $5,000 beginning
[1:55:08] in 2028 with cpi increases
[1:55:11] beginning in 2029.
[1:55:11] We developed exclusions from
[1:55:16] the tax that are reasonable and
[1:55:16] allow for some empty homes to
[1:55:17] not be taxed.
[1:55:17] With appropriate verification
[1:55:21] by the Treasurer's office.
[1:55:21] Exclusions include disaster
[1:55:25] period Family and residence
[1:55:26] period homeowner period lease
[1:55:30] period newly built housing
[1:55:34] period non ownership period
[1:55:35] owner death period Legacy owner
[1:55:39] hardship period owner in care
[1:55:40] period and qualifying military
[1:55:44] service period.
[1:55:45] Exemptions are slightly
[1:55:49] different than exclusions but
[1:55:49] still require verification from
[1:55:50] the Treasurer to be exempted
[1:55:50] from the tax.
[1:55:54] This exemption an owner of an
[1:55:55] empty home that had a bonafide
[1:55:59] lease or leases for occupancy
[1:55:59] for that specific residential
[1:56:00] unit for more than 182 days in
[1:56:04] the calendar year prior to its
[1:56:04] becoming an empty home can
[1:56:05] cover several different
[1:56:08] scenarios where a rental
[1:56:09] property is not occupied for
[1:56:10] more than 182 days in a
[1:56:13] calendar year.
[1:56:13] Another exemption is for an
[1:56:18] owner of a property composed of
[1:56:19] four or fewer separate
[1:56:19] residential units where
[1:56:22] the owner occupies one of
[1:56:23] the residential units as their
[1:56:27] principal residence.
[1:56:28] >> Our office began meeting
[1:56:28] with the city Attorney's office
[1:56:32] in MAY of last year to start
[1:56:33] developing our original tax
[1:56:33] proposal which followed a
[1:56:34] similar framework as
[1:56:37] the proposed empty homes tax
[1:56:37] being presented today.
[1:56:38] Ten months later our work with
[1:56:42] the city Attorney's Office
[1:56:42] which included engaging with
[1:56:46] our outside counsel focused on
[1:56:47] answering legal questions to
[1:56:48] ensure that we felt comfortable
[1:56:51] moving forward.
[1:56:52] Before we even began drafting
[1:56:52] the measure we presented our
[1:56:56] previous proposal twice at
[1:56:57] committee creating significant
[1:56:57] opportunities for feedback from
[1:56:58] the public and committee
[1:57:01] members and shaping the current
[1:57:02] proposal for an empty homes tax
[1:57:04] that we brought forward two
[1:57:05] rules last week.
[1:57:06] If the measure moves forward
[1:57:10] today and is placed on
[1:57:10] the ballot that will be
[1:57:11] the result of nearly ten months
[1:57:12] of working in close partnership
[1:57:14] with the city Attorney's office
[1:57:15] and the Treasurer's office to
[1:57:15] build a strong and legally
[1:57:19] defensible ballot measure.
[1:57:20] Then if this passes in JUNE
[1:57:21] the Treasurer's office will
[1:57:24] have over a year and a half to
[1:57:25] develop administrative
[1:57:25] regulations, hire staff and
[1:57:28] procure tools needed to
[1:57:29] implement the measure before
[1:57:33] they will send the first bill.
[1:57:34] The requested action for this
[1:57:34] item again is as follows
[1:57:38] Request the city Council adopt
[1:57:39] the ordinance and submit them
[1:57:42] to place on the JUNE 2nd, 2026
[1:57:43] Municipal Special Election
[1:57:43] Consolidated with
[1:57:44] the California State Primary
[1:57:44] election.
[1:57:47] One measure amending the San
[1:57:48] Diego Municipal Code by adding
[1:57:51] Chapter three Article 12
[1:57:51] Division one Sections 32 0101
[1:57:54] through 30 201 23 relating to
[1:57:55] an empty homes tax.
[1:57:59] Furthermore request that
[1:57:59] the City Council adopt
[1:58:00] the resolution in five Item b
[1:58:01] directing the City Attorney to
[1:58:04] prepare a ballot title and
[1:58:04] summary and an impartial
[1:58:05] analysis directing the mayor
[1:58:08] independent budget analyst and
[1:58:09] city auditor to prepare a
[1:58:10] fiscal impact analysis and
[1:58:14] assigning ballot ballot
[1:58:14] arguments all regarding one
[1:58:15] measure amending the San Diego
[1:58:16] Municipal Code by adding
[1:58:19] chapter three Article 12
[1:58:22] Division one Sections 32 0101
[1:58:23] through 30 201 23 relating to
[1:58:24] an empty homes tax to be
[1:58:28] submitted to qualified voters
[1:58:28] of the City of San Diego at
[1:58:29] the Municipal Special election
[1:58:33] Consolidated with
[1:58:33] the California state primary
[1:58:34] election to be held on JUNE
[1:58:37] 2nd, 2026.
[1:58:37] I want to express our team's
[1:58:42] appreciation for David and
[1:58:42] Brett from the City Attorney's
[1:58:43] office as well as Liz Ricardo,
[1:58:46] Matt and Hiroto from
[1:58:47] the Treasurer's office.
[1:58:47] We are all available for
[1:58:48] questions.
[1:58:51] Thank you.
[1:58:51] All right.
[1:58:52] Thank you Mayor for your
[1:58:52] presentation.
[1:58:53] With that we'll turn it over to
[1:58:54] the Office of the Independent
[1:58:56] Budget Analyst.
[1:58:56] Thank you Council PRESIDENT And
[1:59:00] council members to help inform
[1:59:01] the Rules Committee's
[1:59:01] consideration of this item Last
[1:59:02] week our office released a
[1:59:05] report analyzing the potential
[1:59:06] fiscal impacts of this measure
[1:59:06] on Tuesday of last week.
[1:59:10] As you are all aware and as you
[1:59:11] heard in the recommendations,
[1:59:12] should this item move forward
[1:59:12] to the ballot?
[1:59:15] My office in consultation with
[1:59:16] the City Order and the cfo will
[1:59:17] be tasked with preparing
[1:59:19] the fiscal impact Statement for
[1:59:20] the ballot.
[1:59:21] Given the timeline for when
[1:59:21] that statement must be
[1:59:24] submitted which is MARCH 10th,
[1:59:25] a week from the day we have
[1:59:26] been working with the cfo and
[1:59:28] the auditor over the last
[1:59:29] several weeks and continued
[1:59:29] working with them to finalize
[1:59:30] our assumptions and fiscal
[1:59:33] modeling that will go into that
[1:59:34] potential fiscal impact.
[1:59:35] I would note that some of our
[1:59:38] projections have shifted
[1:59:38] slightly since last week to
[1:59:39] take into account their input.
[1:59:43] And our presentation today will
[1:59:43] reflect that although by and
[1:59:44] large the overall takeaway that
[1:59:48] we presented in our report in
[1:59:48] our analysis last week remained
[1:59:49] today.
[1:59:49] Noah Fleishman from our team
[1:59:51] will walk you through our
[1:59:52] analysis and his presentation
[1:59:53] will take about 12 minutes.
[1:59:56] Thank you very much Charles.
[1:59:57] Last Tuesday, FEBRUARY 24th our
[2:00:00] office released ibm report 20
[2:00:01] 6-25 which analyzed
[2:00:01] the proposed empty homes tax.
[2:00:02] We presented the report to
[2:00:05] the rules Committee last
[2:00:06] Wednesday.
[2:00:06] This will be a similar
[2:00:07] presentation with a new fiscal
[2:00:08] impact modification that I'll
[2:00:12] note later on.
[2:00:13] The proposed tax if placed on
[2:00:14] the JUNE 2026 ballot and
[2:00:14] approved by voters would create
[2:00:18] a new excise tax on empty homes
[2:00:18] in the city of San Diego.
[2:00:21] The tax would be $8,000 in
[2:00:22] the first year and $10,000 in
[2:00:22] the second year.
[2:00:23] There would be an additional
[2:00:25] surcharge of $4,000 in
[2:00:26] the first year and $5,000 in
[2:00:27] the second year on empty homes
[2:00:30] owned by corporations not
[2:00:30] individuals.
[2:00:31] The base tax and surcharge
[2:00:32] would be increased annually by
[2:00:32] the change in the consumer
[2:00:35] price Index which has grown at
[2:00:38] an average rate of 3.2% over
[2:00:39] the last four decades.
[2:00:40] The ordinance language provides
[2:00:40] multiple ways for owners to be
[2:00:44] exempted or temporarily
[2:00:44] excluded from paying the tax.
[2:00:45] However, we'd like to draw your
[2:00:46] attention to the bottom right
[2:00:49] hand box of four potential
[2:00:50] scenarios where owners MAY exit
[2:00:50] the taxpayer base which is
[2:00:53] different than receiving an
[2:00:53] exemption.
[2:00:54] These include converting
[2:00:55] the property to a short term or
[2:00:58] long term rental the latter of
[2:00:59] which is a stated policy goal.
[2:00:59] The property is sold to a new
[2:01:00] owner who does not use it as an
[2:01:03] empty home.
[2:01:03] The owner reclassifies
[2:01:04] the property as something other
[2:01:05] than an empty home or the owner
[2:01:08] avoids paying the tax by other
[2:01:08] means.
[2:01:09] Both exemptions and exits would
[2:01:09] require documented prove to be
[2:01:12] provided to the City Treasurer
[2:01:13] and there will be enforcement
[2:01:13] mechanisms in place that I'll
[2:01:14] discuss in a later slide.
[2:01:17] The number of units exempted or
[2:01:18] that exit the taxable base will
[2:01:19] have a direct impact on
[2:01:21] the potential revenue the city
[2:01:22] MAY receive from the tax.
[2:01:23] This dynamic was observed in
[2:01:25] other cities with similar taxes
[2:01:26] .
[2:01:26] >> To help frame expectations,
[2:01:27] our office compared San Diego's
[2:01:31] proposal with vacancy taxes in
[2:01:32] four cities Berkeley, Oakland,
[2:01:33] Washington dc and Vancouver.
[2:01:36] While the type of tax and
[2:01:37] structure varied, I'd like to
[2:01:37] direct your attention to
[2:01:38] the two columns on the far
[2:01:38] right.
[2:01:40] These columns show the variance
[2:01:41] between the preliminary
[2:01:42] estimates those cities had for
[2:01:42] their projected number of
[2:01:45] taxable units and revenue and
[2:01:46] the actual number of taxable
[2:01:47] units there were in revenue
[2:01:50] they received after the taxes
[2:01:51] were implemented.
[2:01:51] The pattern across all four
[2:01:52] cities was that early estimates
[2:01:55] of taxable units and revenue
[2:01:56] were significantly higher than
[2:01:56] what was actually realized.
[2:02:00] The exceptions were Oakland
[2:02:00] because staff there already
[2:02:01] assume that 60 to 70% of
[2:02:04] parcels were initially exempted
[2:02:05] .
[2:02:05] In Washington dc where
[2:02:06] the vacancy tax was assessed as
[2:02:07] an ad valorem property tax that
[2:02:09] increased with the value of
[2:02:10] the homes resulting in revenue
[2:02:14] growth or vacancy taxes in a
[2:02:15] relatively new tool for cities
[2:02:15] to generate revenue and
[2:02:16] disincentivize real estate
[2:02:19] speculation.
[2:02:20] There are a few key takeaways
[2:02:20] I'd like to highlight from our
[2:02:21] office's research.
[2:02:22] First cities experience high
[2:02:23] exemptions or drop off rates
[2:02:24] and revenue tended to decrease
[2:02:27] over time as more units were
[2:02:28] occupied or exempted.
[2:02:28] Cities reported data accuracy
[2:02:32] challenge challenges including
[2:02:32] inconsistencies in
[2:02:33] self-reported data and the need
[2:02:33] to for extensive data cleanup
[2:02:36] prior to billing.
[2:02:37] And lastly, vacancy taxes do
[2:02:38] help reduce the number of empty
[2:02:38] homes.
[2:02:42] However, recent research shows
[2:02:43] limited evidence that these
[2:02:43] taxes alone improve housing
[2:02:46] affordability because effects
[2:02:47] on rents and new construction
[2:02:47] tend to be minimal unless
[2:02:48] paired with broader housing
[2:02:51] policies.
[2:02:51] These findings inform
[2:02:52] the assumptions and estimates
[2:02:56] in our fiscal impact analysis
[2:02:57] After this item was heard and
[2:02:57] Rules Committee last week our
[2:02:58] office met with the Chief
[2:03:01] Financial Officer and City
[2:03:01] Auditor to refine and update
[2:03:02] our fiscal impact model.
[2:03:03] The significant changes include
[2:03:03] new data from the City
[2:03:06] Treasurer which indicates
[2:03:07] the potential taxpayer base is
[2:03:07] actually 5140 units a small
[2:03:11] half percent increase from
[2:03:11] the previous number reported.
[2:03:12] We increased the number of
[2:03:13] exempted units for our
[2:03:15] conservative estimate in
[2:03:16] the first year of
[2:03:16] implementation to adjust for
[2:03:17] outcomes seen in benchmark
[2:03:17] jurisdictions.
[2:03:21] We also assume a new 10%
[2:03:22] decline in the taxable unit
[2:03:22] base in year two as units
[2:03:26] become rentals or become
[2:03:26] permanently excluded from
[2:03:27] the tax in different ways.
[2:03:28] And lastly we incorporate a tax
[2:03:31] collection rate of 90% into
[2:03:31] the model to account for
[2:03:32] the reality that not all
[2:03:33] the bills will be paid While
[2:03:35] appeals, audits and penalties
[2:03:36] are processed.
[2:03:36] This collection rate is
[2:03:37] consistent with the current
[2:03:38] collection rate of the city's
[2:03:40] rental unit Business tax.
[2:03:41] We believe these changes better
[2:03:42] reflect a revenue forecast for
[2:03:42] this new tax or shifts in owner
[2:03:48] behavior or highly unknown.
[2:03:49] >> Based on the City Treasury's
[2:03:49] rental unit business tax data
[2:03:51] or ebitda, we identified 5140
[2:03:52] units that were self-reported
[2:03:55] as vacation or second homes in
[2:03:55] 2025.
[2:03:56] These are the properties most
[2:03:57] likely to meet the ordinances
[2:04:00] Definition of an empty home
[2:04:01] which is a residential unit
[2:04:02] that is not the owner's primary
[2:04:04] residence and is a vacant 483
[2:04:04] days or more in a calendar
[2:04:05] year.
[2:04:05] Of the 5140 units.
[2:04:09] We believe that 5097 or 99% are
[2:04:10] owned by individuals or
[2:04:13] revokable trusts and the other
[2:04:14] 43 units are owned by
[2:04:15] corporations.
[2:04:15] We'd like to note that the rv
[2:04:18] exemption data is a proxy for
[2:04:19] the potential number of vacant
[2:04:20] units but does not include all
[2:04:20] units that MAY fit
[2:04:23] the Ordinance's definition of
[2:04:24] an empty home and MAY also
[2:04:24] include units self-reported as
[2:04:25] empty homes that no longer meet
[2:04:28] the proposed taxes definition.
[2:04:29] The latter is The latter is a
[2:04:30] data accuracy challenge that
[2:04:33] will need to be addressed by
[2:04:33] the City Treasurer if the tax
[2:04:34] is approved.
[2:04:37] We estimate there to be a total
[2:04:38] of 5140 units that MAY be empty
[2:04:38] homes.
[2:04:39] There are multiple ways for
[2:04:42] the units to be excluded from
[2:04:43] paying the tax that will reduce
[2:04:43] the total number of taxable
[2:04:44] units and therefore the actual
[2:04:49] revenue of the new tax to model
[2:04:49] potential number of units that
[2:04:50] MAY be excluded from paying
[2:04:50] the tax.
[2:04:54] We looked at Barkley's
[2:04:55] experience implementing a
[2:04:55] similar vacancy tax.
[2:04:56] As we previously noted in our
[2:04:59] benchmarking table Berkeley saw
[2:04:59] a 45.5% drop between
[2:05:00] the initial estimated numbers
[2:05:01] of units that would be subject
[2:05:03] to the tax and the actual
[2:05:04] number of units that were
[2:05:04] built.
[2:05:05] Some differences between
[2:05:06] Berkley's tax and the San Diego
[2:05:09] proposal that we believe
[2:05:09] justify modeling a more
[2:05:10] conservative range of excluded
[2:05:11] units include.
[2:05:13] Berkeley's data came from
[2:05:14] the Rent Stabilization Board
[2:05:15] which maintained data more
[2:05:15] likely to accurately estimate
[2:05:20] the number of vacant units and
[2:05:20] San Diego's are beat data.
[2:05:21] Also while Berkeley tax was
[2:05:23] targeted towards homes already
[2:05:24] on the rental market, intended
[2:05:24] taxpayer in San Diego MAY be
[2:05:25] more likely to have the ability
[2:05:28] and incentive to change their
[2:05:29] behavior to be excluded from
[2:05:30] paying the tax.
[2:05:30] And lastly the relative tax
[2:05:33] amount in San Diego is larger
[2:05:33] than the amount in Berkeley.
[2:05:34] Taken together we believe it's
[2:05:38] reasonable to project that of
[2:05:38] the 5140 units the percentage
[2:05:39] that MAY be excluded from
[2:05:42] having to pay the taxable range
[2:05:43] between optimistically 45% and
[2:05:43] conservatively 70%.
[2:05:47] This range is also in line with
[2:05:48] other benchmark cities like
[2:05:52] Oakland and Vancouver.
[2:05:53] Based on our office's updated
[2:05:53] model we estimate net general
[2:05:56] fund revenue in year one which
[2:05:57] is fiscal year 2028 to be
[2:05:59] between $9.2 million and $21.4
[2:06:00] million.
[2:06:00] Then in year two revenue is
[2:06:05] projected to increase to
[2:06:06] between $10.4 million and $24.2
[2:06:06] million.
[2:06:08] The increased revenue in year
[2:06:09] two is a result of a larger tax
[2:06:10] amount beyond year two.
[2:06:10] We would expect revenue to
[2:06:13] decline over time as more units
[2:06:13] convert to rentals, sell or
[2:06:14] otherwise become occupied which
[2:06:15] is one of the stated policy
[2:06:20] goals of the proposed tax.
[2:06:21] These revenue ranges reflect
[2:06:21] different scenarios for
[2:06:22] the proportion of units
[2:06:25] excluded from paying the tax
[2:06:26] and tax collection rate a 10%
[2:06:27] plus and minus contingency for
[2:06:27] uncertainty And the Treasurer's
[2:06:29] preliminary estimated cost to
[2:06:33] administer the program.
[2:06:34] >> The City Treasurer indicated
[2:06:35] that administering the tax
[2:06:36] would require an additional
[2:06:38] four employees and a one time
[2:06:39] it system upgrade which
[2:06:41] together would potentially cost
[2:06:42] $1 million in the first year of
[2:06:42] implementation.
[2:06:43] A potential challenge will be
[2:06:43] establishing a clear,
[2:06:47] enforceable standard of proof
[2:06:47] for occupancy.
[2:06:48] This will likely require
[2:06:48] the City Treasurer to implement
[2:06:51] new processes and procedures to
[2:06:51] validate self-reported
[2:06:52] documents.
[2:06:52] The relative magnitude of
[2:06:53] the new proposed tax MAY
[2:06:55] incentivize avoidance but
[2:06:56] violations would result in a
[2:06:57] misdemeanor and the Treasurer
[2:06:57] would have the power to audit
[2:07:01] owners or office would like to
[2:07:01] clearly explain the assumptions
[2:07:02] and limitations that underpin
[2:07:06] our fiscal impact estimates.
[2:07:06] We assume the tax will be
[2:07:10] effective JANUARY 1st, 2027 and
[2:07:10] that exemptions will be
[2:07:11] processed and billing completed
[2:07:12] in the third quarter of fiscal
[2:07:12] year 2028.
[2:07:14] Significant delays That
[2:07:15] timeline would likely change
[2:07:16] the estimate of revenue.
[2:07:16] We assume the Treasurer's
[2:07:19] operating costs will be
[2:07:20] the only new cost to the city.
[2:07:21] We also assume the tax
[2:07:21] collection rate for the units
[2:07:25] subject to the tax will be at
[2:07:25] 90%.
[2:07:26] We assume 50% of the units
[2:07:30] excluded from the empty homes
[2:07:30] tax will pay the rental unit
[2:07:31] business tax fee But since
[2:07:33] the rebate tax is about $55 per
[2:07:33] unit it will have minimal
[2:07:34] fiscal impact.
[2:07:38] And lastly, we assume that
[2:07:38] the taxable pool of units will
[2:07:39] decrease by 10% in the second
[2:07:40] year and that corporate and
[2:07:41] individual owned units will
[2:07:42] have the same tax exclusion
[2:07:46] rate.
[2:07:47] >> The scope of our model's
[2:07:47] projection is limited by timing
[2:07:48] and data availability most
[2:07:51] notably we are unable to
[2:07:52] estimate the potential revenue
[2:07:52] from property tax growth after
[2:07:53] the sale of homes or from
[2:07:56] the collection of penalties for
[2:07:57] late payments.
[2:07:57] The range of excluded units we
[2:07:58] assume is an aggregate of all
[2:08:02] exemptions and exits and we
[2:08:03] cannot estimate the number of
[2:08:04] empty homes not in the rv
[2:08:04] exemption data.
[2:08:06] And lastly our office's
[2:08:07] analysis was conducted in a
[2:08:07] relatively limited time frame
[2:08:09] and therefore we were unable to
[2:08:10] solicit significant stakeholder
[2:08:14] feedback.
[2:08:15] In closing, our office finds
[2:08:16] that the proposed empty homes
[2:08:17] tax would be likely to generate
[2:08:19] additional net general fund
[2:08:20] revenue and increase the number
[2:08:21] of homes available for long
[2:08:21] term rental or occupancy over
[2:08:22] time.
[2:08:24] At the same time revenue from
[2:08:25] the tax will likely decline
[2:08:25] over time.
[2:08:28] If the measure is effective in
[2:08:28] reducing vacancy which aligns
[2:08:29] with the policy goals of
[2:08:30] the tax, our office's updated
[2:08:33] Fiscal impact estimate in
[2:08:34] consultation with the cfo and
[2:08:34] auditor projects the city
[2:08:37] collecting $9.2 million to
[2:08:38] $21.4 million in net revenue in
[2:08:42] year one and $10.4 million to
[2:08:42] $24.2 million in year two.
[2:08:43] Then we note the fiscal and
[2:08:46] housing impacts will depend
[2:08:47] heavily on owner behavior.
[2:08:48] Thank you very much and will be
[2:08:48] available to answer questions
[2:08:54] that you MAY have.
[2:08:54] >> Okay.
[2:08:55] Thank you very much for
[2:08:55] the presentation.
[2:08:58] We always appreciate the office
[2:08:59] of the rba weighing in on these
[2:09:00] important matters.
[2:09:02] So with that City Clerk please
[2:09:07] proceed with public comment.
[2:09:08] Thank you.
[2:09:08] Council PRESIDENT We do have
[2:09:09] over 50 speakers here today
[2:09:12] plus those on line another 14
[2:09:13] So they will be going down to a
[2:09:17] minute per person.
[2:09:18] If I can have the following
[2:09:18] individual please come up to
[2:09:22] the yellow reserved seats at
[2:09:22] the front of the room and then
[2:09:23] this first individual please
[2:09:24] come up to the microphone.
[2:09:27] Ken Miller After Ken Miller Can
[2:09:31] I have George cheering Noah Yee
[2:09:35] Patricia Serrano Mohammed Omar
[2:09:36] Wesley Morgan.
[2:09:40] Laurie Lipson Christopher
[2:09:41] Kennison If you can all please
[2:09:41] come up to the front row and be
[2:09:42] prepared.
[2:09:45] And if you can proceed when
[2:09:50] ready you'll have one minute.
[2:09:50] Thank you.
[2:09:51] And with respect to the San
[2:09:55] Francisco case, that case is
[2:09:56] now before the court of appeals
[2:10:00] and it will have ramifications
[2:10:00] throughout the state of
[2:10:01] California and in particular
[2:10:05] here in San Diego.
[2:10:06] That case was resolved in
[2:10:06] the trial court by a motion for
[2:10:10] summary judgment where
[2:10:10] the court ruled that
[2:10:11] the measure violated the taking
[2:10:14] clause of the Fifth Amendment.
[2:10:15] It was preempted by
[2:10:19] California's Ellis Act.
[2:10:20] It was unconscionable burden
[2:10:24] upon due process equal
[2:10:24] protection and private rights.
[2:10:29] I think it'd be wise to wait
[2:10:30] for the outcome of the Court of
[2:10:30] Appeals decision instead of
[2:10:31] rushing to litigation.
[2:10:34] The United States Supreme Court
[2:10:34] has held that the right to
[2:10:38] exclude others for months
[2:10:39] Property is a core
[2:10:40] constitutional property right?
[2:10:43] The government cannot compel an
[2:10:44] owner to rent a unit over their
[2:10:48] objection by opposing
[2:10:49] financially coercive penalties
[2:10:54] on owners who choose to keep
[2:10:54] their property vacant if it is
[2:10:58] effectively taken including
[2:10:58] comment.
[2:10:59] If you have any written
[2:10:59] statements we can definitely
[2:11:00] continue to pass those out to
[2:11:01] the Council is where as well.
[2:11:07] George Good afternoon Council
[2:11:08] members Thank you for your
[2:11:08] time.
[2:11:11] My name is George Chen with
[2:11:12] the Pacific Southwest
[2:11:13] Association of Realtors here to
[2:11:13] speak in opposition to
[2:11:16] the proposed tax because
[2:11:17] the messaging for for this tax
[2:11:21] is targeting vacant properties
[2:11:21] .
[2:11:22] I don't think that the general
[2:11:22] public is aware that this is
[2:11:26] going to create a legal burden
[2:11:26] for every homeowner to prove
[2:11:27] that they live in their own
[2:11:28] home every year even if they're
[2:11:31] exempt they're going to have to
[2:11:32] file paperwork in order to
[2:11:33] prove that they're exempt And
[2:11:36] that's creating an opportunity
[2:11:37] for for errors and the need for
[2:11:37] appeals.
[2:11:40] The other thing is I'm
[2:11:41] reviewing the language of
[2:11:41] the actual ordinance.
[2:11:45] I don't see the particular
[2:11:46] section where properties that
[2:11:46] are in the process of being
[2:11:50] sold are vacant because they're
[2:11:51] being sold are exempted from
[2:11:51] this.
[2:11:52] So if you're an owner looking
[2:11:52] to sell your property there's
[2:11:55] the potential that it could be
[2:11:56] vacant for more than six months
[2:11:57] because of a transaction And
[2:12:01] then to consider making that
[2:12:01] increase of 8000 potentially
[2:12:02] into the price that they're
[2:12:05] asking for that they choose to
[2:12:06] rent it out that just creates
[2:12:06] less opportunities for people
[2:12:07] to buy a home.
[2:12:08] Please vote no.
[2:12:09] >> Thank you.
[2:12:13] Thank you, Noah.
[2:12:14] >> Good afternoon, council
[2:12:14] members.
[2:12:19] My name is no I'm a researcher
[2:12:20] and policy advocate and on
[2:12:20] policy initiatives.
[2:12:23] And we've known for years that
[2:12:24] our city has a structural
[2:12:27] budget deficit but every year
[2:12:28] we're not identifying any new
[2:12:28] revenue.
[2:12:28] Instead the mayor tries to
[2:12:32] balance the budget by cutting
[2:12:33] the programs and services our
[2:12:33] community members rely on.
[2:12:37] Cuts to libraries, parks, rec
[2:12:38] centers and public restrooms
[2:12:38] have become the norm.
[2:12:42] And this year is no different.
[2:12:43] There's over $120 million
[2:12:46] deficit and no new revenue has
[2:12:46] been identified.
[2:12:47] At the same time there are
[2:12:48] thousands of San Diegans that
[2:12:50] struggled to keep a roof over
[2:12:51] their heads while homes across
[2:12:52] our city sit empty owned by
[2:12:56] people wealthy enough to leave
[2:12:56] them vacant.
[2:12:57] That is why we must support
[2:13:00] the empty second homes tax It
[2:13:01] is a revenue solution that
[2:13:01] stops asking working class
[2:13:02] people to pay the price Instead
[2:13:05] ask the wealthiest to
[2:13:06] contribute their fair share.
[2:13:06] We urge you to support
[2:13:07] the empty empty homes tax Take
[2:13:11] a step away from austerity and
[2:13:11] toward a city that invests in
[2:13:12] people and prevents harm before
[2:13:15] it happens.
[2:13:15] >> Thank you.
[2:13:20] Patricia Serrano Good
[2:13:20] afternoon.
[2:13:25] My name is Patricia Serrano and
[2:13:26] I work with Partner.
[2:13:26] I'm in support of their homes
[2:13:29] for San Diegans working
[2:13:29] families, immigrant refugees,
[2:13:34] communities of color are
[2:13:35] the ones who are struggling
[2:13:35] because the housing cost is too
[2:13:39] high In San Diego while
[2:13:39] corporations and wealthy
[2:13:40] investors purchases thousands
[2:13:44] of property is leaving me
[2:13:49] leaving many of them begging
[2:13:50] These empty houses reduce
[2:13:50] the supply and driving up
[2:13:51] prices.
[2:13:53] This is about prioritizing
[2:13:54] homes for people who live in
[2:13:54] work.
[2:13:57] And here in San Diego this
[2:13:58] proposal creates accountability
[2:13:59] for the wealthiest.
[2:14:02] Thank you.
[2:14:07] Next is Muhammad.
[2:14:08] Good afternoon.
[2:14:13] Council members.
[2:14:13] My name is Mohammed Omar.
[2:14:14] I'm with the Partnership for
[2:14:15] the Department of Americans and
[2:14:17] also co facilitator for c d
[2:14:18] Coalition for Equitable
[2:14:18] Development.
[2:14:22] I would like to thank council
[2:14:23] member Shari Liberal for its
[2:14:24] leadership in bringing forward
[2:14:24] the homes for San Diego's
[2:14:27] proposal.
[2:14:28] San Diego continues to face a
[2:14:28] serious housing housing
[2:14:32] shortage when homes remain
[2:14:33] vacant it reduces availability
[2:14:33] supply and contributes to
[2:14:37] rising costs.
[2:14:37] This proposal provides a
[2:14:38] solution by encouraging
[2:14:38] properties to return to
[2:14:42] the market or generate revenue
[2:14:43] for affordable housing and
[2:14:43] infrastructure.
[2:14:47] This proposal creates
[2:14:47] accountability to encourage
[2:14:48] vacant homes to return to
[2:14:52] the market or contributes to
[2:14:52] building more affordable
[2:14:53] housing Homes should be for San
[2:14:56] Diego is not held empty as
[2:14:57] investment assets urge support
[2:14:58] for this measure.
[2:14:59] Thank you.
[2:15:04] Thank you Wesley.
[2:15:05] >> Good afternoon Council
[2:15:05] members.
[2:15:08] I had to look at the data
[2:15:09] before deciding whether or not
[2:15:09] this policy would be meaningful
[2:15:12] And it turns out it is in two
[2:15:13] ways especially in our coastal
[2:15:14] communities where it's
[2:15:14] the hardest to build new
[2:15:18] housing.
[2:15:19] The city's own data shows that
[2:15:19] Ocean Beach, Pacific Beach,
[2:15:22] Mission Beach and Peninsula
[2:15:23] have 1700 empty second homes
[2:15:28] are over this entire arena
[2:15:28] cycle Since 2021.
[2:15:30] Those same communities are
[2:15:31] permitted just 526 non-native
[2:15:31] homes.
[2:15:36] That's more than three empty
[2:15:37] homes for every new home we
[2:15:38] permitted in the last four
[2:15:42] years And the higher the ratio
[2:15:43] of 6 to 1 because of a beach 3
[2:15:44] to 1 Mission beach 18 to 1 in
[2:15:45] Ocean Beach and plan for 2 to
[2:15:45] 1.
[2:15:48] And in these coastal areas 80%
[2:15:49] of the owners are not local To
[2:15:50] San Diego where new
[2:15:53] construction faces the most
[2:15:53] resistance.
[2:15:54] We can't afford to let existing
[2:15:58] homes vacant.
[2:15:58] And turning to downtown alone
[2:15:59] there are 792 empty second
[2:15:59] homes.
[2:16:03] The equivalent of three full
[2:16:04] towers like Vina Noma or
[2:16:07] Bayside That stand empty.
[2:16:07] And 80% of those owners are
[2:16:10] also not local to San Diego.
[2:16:10] Thank you.
[2:16:10] Thank you.
[2:16:15] Including Mark Laurie.
[2:16:16] >> Good afternoon.
[2:16:20] My name is Laurie Swim.
[2:16:21] She her resident of district
[2:16:24] three since 1988 in support of
[2:16:24] item 501.
[2:16:29] It is a disgrace that a city
[2:16:29] with such extreme wealth has an
[2:16:34] and housing crisis and a severe
[2:16:34] lack of low income housing and
[2:16:39] where people are being housed
[2:16:39] in tents.
[2:16:40] Stop capitulating to money and
[2:16:44] start working for your constitu
[2:16:45] tions taxed wealth individuals
[2:16:48] and corporations and invest in
[2:16:49] housing, health care and
[2:16:53] education for all.
[2:16:54] There is no excuse for this
[2:16:54] level of lack of basic needs
[2:16:57] for so many in a city where
[2:16:58] the wealth is abundant.
[2:17:03] >> Thank you.
[2:17:03] Thank you Christopher.
[2:17:04] After Christopher If I can have
[2:17:08] Zack Schlegel please come up
[2:17:09] and public advocate Shane
[2:17:13] Harris Karen Ede Bruce Karen
[2:17:17] Christopher Gomes and Ethan
[2:17:18] Chavis If you can all please
[2:17:23] come forward as well as
[2:17:23] Patricia Mondragon All please
[2:17:24] come forward to the other
[2:17:28] reserve seats Please proceed.
[2:17:28] >> The fact that we're here
[2:17:29] fighting for a better
[2:17:31] opportunity to get housing yet
[2:17:32] again is mind blowing
[2:17:33] opportunities is all we're
[2:17:36] asking for when it boils down
[2:17:37] to it, people shouldn't have to
[2:17:38] commute an hour or two just to
[2:17:38] get to work and still live.
[2:17:41] Check the check.
[2:17:42] I'm one of those people.
[2:17:45] I leave my home by 730 every
[2:17:45] morning just to get to work by
[2:17:46] 9 A.M..
[2:17:47] I'm not here to dismiss
[2:17:50] the opposition stats or
[2:17:50] feelings.
[2:17:51] I'm here to speak for
[2:17:51] the greater good of all
[2:17:52] the people.
[2:17:54] We have 5000 homes sitting
[2:17:55] unoccupied.
[2:17:58] The way I see it, there's 5000
[2:17:59] opportunities for people to
[2:17:59] give their families a better
[2:18:00] quality of life.
[2:18:03] That's 5000 opportunities for
[2:18:03] people to have a roof over
[2:18:04] their head.
[2:18:06] That's 5000 opportunities for
[2:18:07] kids to have access to a
[2:18:07] quality education.
[2:18:11] That's 5000 opportunities for a
[2:18:11] kid to grow up in a healthy
[2:18:15] home and strive for success.
[2:18:16] I grew up in a two bedroom
[2:18:17] apartment with seven plus
[2:18:20] people for most of my life.
[2:18:21] If we live in a true democracy
[2:18:21] we have to end the hypocrisy of
[2:18:25] elected officials and community
[2:18:25] members knowing the issues that
[2:18:29] need to be fixed.
[2:18:30] >> Thank you Zach.
[2:18:31] Good afternoon.
[2:18:35] I'm here on behalf of staff to
[2:18:36] support the proposed empty
[2:18:36] homes tax.
[2:18:37] I want to thank council member
[2:18:40] Ella Rivera and the Rules
[2:18:40] Committee for moving this item
[2:18:41] forward.
[2:18:41] At the end of the day what
[2:18:42] the people we serve need
[2:18:44] the most is affordable housing.
[2:18:45] This proposed tax could create
[2:18:45] that by opening up
[2:18:49] underutilized housing stock and
[2:18:50] by bringing in some much needed
[2:18:51] additional revenue to build new
[2:18:51] units.
[2:18:55] While this proposal won't solve
[2:18:55] homelessness on its own, every
[2:18:56] single unit of housing stock
[2:19:00] that would come online due to
[2:19:01] this tax would meaningfully
[2:19:01] impact our efforts to combat
[2:19:02] this trend and make
[2:19:05] homelessness more rare.
[2:19:05] Brief and non.
[2:19:06] We urge you to support this
[2:19:07] proposal to create more homes
[2:19:09] for San Diegans.
[2:19:10] >> Thank you.
[2:19:10] Public advocate Shane Harris
[2:19:14] You have people sitting you
[2:19:15] time they can please raise
[2:19:15] their hand.
[2:19:19] Frank took a ton of Frank Thank
[2:19:19] you.
[2:19:20] And then Ina Weitzman thank you
[2:19:21] so much.
[2:19:24] You'll have three minutes.
[2:19:24] >> Please proceed.
[2:19:25] Thank you.
[2:19:25] Good afternoon.
[2:19:26] Council PRESIDENT And members
[2:19:29] of the City Council I'm San
[2:19:29] Diego public advocate Shane
[2:19:30] Harris.
[2:19:30] I was born and raised here.
[2:19:34] I lost both of my parents at a
[2:19:34] young age and age out of
[2:19:35] the San Diego foster care
[2:19:37] system at 18 and went homeless.
[2:19:38] When you leave foster care you
[2:19:43] don't inherit property savings
[2:19:43] or a safety net.
[2:19:44] You're trying to build
[2:19:47] stability from nothing building
[2:19:48] something from nothing is
[2:19:49] something I understand.
[2:19:52] And some of the 5000 homeowners
[2:19:53] second homeowners come from
[2:19:53] that background to that
[2:19:57] experience shaped how I view
[2:19:58] housing and building yourself
[2:19:59] up from the ground.
[2:20:03] Housing is not just policy to
[2:20:03] me.
[2:20:04] It is a security.
[2:20:08] It is dignity and foundation
[2:20:08] for opportunity.
[2:20:09] I support housing but I still
[2:20:12] support smart, smart housing
[2:20:13] build through collaboration
[2:20:13] with neighborhoods, builders
[2:20:14] and stakeholders.
[2:20:17] But I cannot support this
[2:20:18] proposal as written today.
[2:20:19] My primary concern is simple If
[2:20:22] this measure passes the revenue
[2:20:23] does not go into a protected
[2:20:23] housing fund.
[2:20:24] It goes into the city's general
[2:20:28] fund the same fund facing a
[2:20:33] $121 million deficit and total
[2:20:34] mistrust from the voters.
[2:20:34] If this was truly about
[2:20:37] housing, the dollars would be
[2:20:38] locked into housing dedicated
[2:20:39] to building units and
[2:20:43] increasing affordability.
[2:20:44] Instead the revenue becomes
[2:20:45] general revenue and we've seen
[2:20:48] where that goes.
[2:20:49] That raises serious questions
[2:20:49] for me.
[2:20:50] This is about housing policy or
[2:20:54] is this about plugging a budget
[2:20:54] hole?
[2:20:55] I'd say a budget hole before
[2:20:58] asking homeowners second
[2:20:59] homeowners to pay more.
[2:21:00] We should take a serious look
[2:21:04] internally the city has and not
[2:21:05] fully examined the bloated
[2:21:05] middle management layers or
[2:21:09] whether consolidate adding
[2:21:10] the city's media department
[2:21:11] into the mayor's office where
[2:21:11] it already is working anyway
[2:21:14] Could save us somewhere between
[2:21:15] 1.5 million and $3 million
[2:21:15] annually.
[2:21:19] Those savings could go into
[2:21:20] parks, roads, infrastructure
[2:21:21] without imposing another tax.
[2:21:25] We should exhaust internal
[2:21:26] efficiencies before creating
[2:21:26] external burdens and we should
[2:21:31] stop framing second homes as if
[2:21:32] they automatically mean wealthy
[2:21:32] spectators.
[2:21:35] I met families in District four
[2:21:36] in District eight who bought
[2:21:36] modest homes in the 1990s.
[2:21:40] Today on paper those homes
[2:21:40] appreciated.
[2:21:41] That does not make them rich.
[2:21:41] That makes them long term
[2:21:45] homeowners.
[2:21:46] I met families in District nine
[2:21:46] who inherited a small house
[2:21:50] from their parents.
[2:21:51] It is not a luxury estate.
[2:21:52] It's not a it's a legacy home.
[2:21:52] The first generational
[2:21:56] stability their family ever
[2:21:56] had.
[2:21:57] Does that make them villains?
[2:21:58] Many second properties are
[2:22:01] inherited homes and probate
[2:22:02] modest condos purchased decades
[2:22:03] ago or small properties owned
[2:22:06] by retirees relying on rental
[2:22:07] income.
[2:22:07] These are not hedge funds.
[2:22:11] These are families.
[2:22:12] And this vacancy tax would be
[2:22:13] layered on top of overwhelming
[2:22:16] property taxes and one of
[2:22:17] the most expensive housing
[2:22:18] markets might I add property
[2:22:18] taxes in the country.
[2:22:22] If we're serious about solving
[2:22:22] the House housing budget
[2:22:27] crisis, this is not the route.
[2:22:28] >> Please say no to this
[2:22:28] erroneous tax measure.
[2:22:32] Karen, if you can please come
[2:22:32] forward.
[2:22:36] Hello Karen Aid.
[2:22:37] Tax revenue from this proposal
[2:22:38] as noted that it MAY not shall
[2:22:42] go to a general fund for
[2:22:43] specific specifically related
[2:22:43] to housing.
[2:22:47] Therefore this is an arbitrary
[2:22:48] tax to be used to fund anything
[2:22:49] from the general fund.
[2:22:49] It is a money grab tax.
[2:22:53] Owners of second homes have no
[2:22:53] obligation to subsidize other
[2:22:54] San Diego for their housing.
[2:22:58] They pay property taxes on
[2:22:59] their properties like everyone
[2:22:59] else.
[2:23:00] The people that own these
[2:23:04] properties successfully made
[2:23:04] good financial decisions to
[2:23:05] purchase and maintain these
[2:23:06] properties for their own
[2:23:09] enjoyment not for the benefit
[2:23:10] of everyone else.
[2:23:10] If people in San Diego cannot
[2:23:14] afford the local rental market
[2:23:15] or purchase market of a
[2:23:16] property they should likely
[2:23:16] relocate somewhere else that is
[2:23:19] financially responsible for
[2:23:20] them to live a good quality of
[2:23:21] life and not expect to be
[2:23:25] subsidized by others or expect
[2:23:25] a handout by others.
[2:23:26] This proposal is an arbitrary
[2:23:31] and discriminatory tax on
[2:23:32] select group of less than 1% of
[2:23:32] the homeowners.
[2:23:33] This proposal is in violation
[2:23:36] of the California Constitution
[2:23:37] which allows for the right to
[2:23:37] thank you.
[2:23:45] >> Thank you, Bruce.
[2:23:46] No first Karen.
[2:23:50] Next is Christopher.
[2:23:50] >> Good afternoon, council
[2:23:51] members.
[2:23:56] My name is Christopher Gomes
[2:23:57] and I'm an organizer with
[2:23:58] the San Diego Organized Labor
[2:23:58] Council.
[2:23:59] I want to thank Councilmember
[2:24:01] Yellow Rivera and his staff
[2:24:02] along with city staff for their
[2:24:02] hard work on this item.
[2:24:06] You know, at the Labor Council
[2:24:07] we represent over 130 unions
[2:24:08] and 200,000 working families
[2:24:11] across the county who don't
[2:24:12] want to move out of the county.
[2:24:13] Many of these folks are feeling
[2:24:14] the impacts of the growing
[2:24:18] economic uncertainty in
[2:24:19] the country and the crushing
[2:24:19] cost of housing in the city
[2:24:20] which is only made worse by our
[2:24:24] stock of homes that sit empty.
[2:24:25] Well, there are San Diegans
[2:24:25] living on the street with this
[2:24:29] federal administration showing
[2:24:29] zero interest in addressing
[2:24:30] the needs of the working class.
[2:24:31] It is incumbent on local
[2:24:34] government to do everything in
[2:24:35] their power to relieve some of
[2:24:36] that pressure to be bold, to
[2:24:36] put forth policy and to
[2:24:40] compromise when necessary in
[2:24:41] order to make the city more
[2:24:42] livable for the working folks
[2:24:42] who keep it running.
[2:24:47] We urge our support in this
[2:24:47] item.
[2:24:48] Let's move to the ballot.
[2:24:49] San Diego San Diego is going to
[2:24:49] have a say on the matter.
[2:24:50] Thank you.
[2:24:53] >> Thank you.
[2:24:59] Next is Ethan.
[2:24:59] >> Yes you do.
[2:25:00] Once you walk up into your city
[2:25:03] time by and that please raise
[2:25:04] your hand.
[2:25:04] And Aaron or diversity.
[2:25:07] And before I thank thank you
[2:25:08] You'll have three minutes
[2:25:08] please.
[2:25:09] No you have four minutes.
[2:25:09] Please proceed.
[2:25:10] Thank you.
[2:25:13] Good afternoon, Council.
[2:25:14] My name is Natalia Civic
[2:25:14] engagement director with
[2:25:18] Alliance and Diego and resident
[2:25:19] of Golden Hill in Council
[2:25:19] District.
[2:25:22] I called San Diego my home for
[2:25:22] over 26 years.
[2:25:23] And my experience in the city
[2:25:24] has always been that of a
[2:25:24] renter.
[2:25:28] I arrived here in 1999 and at
[2:25:29] that time my family of five
[2:25:33] shared a small room and a three
[2:25:33] bedroom apartment that housed
[2:25:34] at least five per room and a
[2:25:35] few others in the living room.
[2:25:39] My childhood memories are
[2:25:40] filled with a full house in
[2:25:40] the heart for smiles of working
[2:25:41] people.
[2:25:44] After a few years of working
[2:25:45] two jobs, my mom and Helen
[2:25:46] saved enough to get us into our
[2:25:48] own apartment just the five of
[2:25:48] us.
[2:25:49] That was probably about 25 And
[2:25:53] I remember the rent bill was
[2:25:54] about $1,200 for a spacious
[2:25:55] three bedroom apartment that
[2:25:55] allowed my siblings and I
[2:25:59] the personal space that we
[2:25:59] always wanted.
[2:26:00] >> Things were good for a
[2:26:00] while.
[2:26:01] However, as time went on my mom
[2:26:05] didn't want wages, didn't keep
[2:26:05] up with the rising rent cost
[2:26:06] and the cost of living.
[2:26:07] And we were fortunate to stay
[2:26:10] with family to keep up with
[2:26:10] the rising rents.
[2:26:14] But between the ages of 16 to
[2:26:15] 19 since we could only afford a
[2:26:16] two bedroom apartment at $1,600
[2:26:16] I slept on the living room
[2:26:20] couch.
[2:26:21] >> Fast forward 12 years and my
[2:26:25] husband and I pay $2,250
[2:26:26] monthly for a one bedroom and
[2:26:29] we have no option but to stay
[2:26:30] in our 500 square foot unit
[2:26:31] until we can afford to buy
[2:26:35] which we know is not anytime
[2:26:35] soon.
[2:26:36] And that directly impacts our
[2:26:36] ability to grow our family.
[2:26:41] We are both first generation
[2:26:41] graduates of San Diego State
[2:26:42] University actually the first
[2:26:46] in our families to cross many
[2:26:46] milestones And yet
[2:26:47] the possibility the possibility
[2:26:48] of buying a home in a city that
[2:26:51] raised does educated us and
[2:26:52] shaped our commitment to
[2:26:52] community feels more and more
[2:26:57] out of our reach.
[2:26:57] And unfortunately our story is
[2:26:58] not unique.
[2:26:58] It echoes across neighborhoods
[2:26:59] with young families doubling up
[2:27:03] in tiny apartments with our
[2:27:04] elders watching their children
[2:27:04] move away to more affordable
[2:27:09] cities and with essential
[2:27:09] workers commuting long hours
[2:27:10] because they cannot afford to
[2:27:11] live where they serve.
[2:27:17] While thousands struggle to
[2:27:18] find stable housing, homeless
[2:27:18] homes here sit vacant, they are
[2:27:21] treated as mere investment
[2:27:21] vehicles rather than places for
[2:27:22] people to live.
[2:27:22] Today in history today is
[2:27:23] history in the making and I am
[2:27:27] grateful for the opportunity to
[2:27:28] push San Diego into a better
[2:27:28] direction one that just makes
[2:27:29] sense.
[2:27:33] Today's vote will have a direct
[2:27:33] impact on my life And in
[2:27:34] the more than 5100 homes left
[2:27:38] vacant in the city were put up
[2:27:39] for sale.
[2:27:39] My husband and I might actually
[2:27:40] have a shot at making San Diego
[2:27:43] forever home three times
[2:27:44] the chances we have now.
[2:27:45] And if these homes are put back
[2:27:49] on the market for rent then you
[2:27:49] can have more homes to choose
[2:27:50] from that make better sense for
[2:27:51] their commute, their careers
[2:27:54] and their communities.
[2:27:55] Both of these options help San
[2:27:56] Diego significantly increase
[2:27:57] the housing supply and drive
[2:27:57] the costs down.
[2:28:02] This is a win win in Alliance
[2:28:02] and Diego.
[2:28:02] We are a human rights
[2:28:03] organization building community
[2:28:04] power to bring human rights
[2:28:06] home.
[2:28:07] We stand a strong support of
[2:28:08] the empty homes tax because we
[2:28:09] are invested in real solutions
[2:28:13] And we we stand strong today
[2:28:14] with community based and fair
[2:28:14] housing organizations, labor
[2:28:18] unions and everyday San Diego
[2:28:19] and that are just looking for a
[2:28:20] chance to keep calling San
[2:28:20] Diego our home.
[2:28:25] We urge that we urge you all to
[2:28:25] vote yes and move forward.
[2:28:26] The empty homes are so that
[2:28:30] voters can have a say and make
[2:28:30] that final decision.
[2:28:31] Thank you for your time.
[2:28:32] Thank you, Patricia.
[2:28:32] Another one.
[2:28:37] Thank you.
[2:28:38] Have time to go to my audience.
[2:28:38] Thank you so much.
[2:28:39] You have two minutes.
[2:28:43] Please proceed.
[2:28:43] Good afternoon, everyone.
[2:28:44] Day three Resident I'm here in
[2:28:48] support of attacks on second
[2:28:49] beget homes owned by wealthy
[2:28:49] investors and corporations.
[2:28:50] San Diego and North Park have
[2:28:54] been my home since 1969.
[2:28:55] Like many longtime residents,
[2:28:55] I'm still struggling to afford
[2:29:00] a home to stay in the city I
[2:29:00] love and retire here.
[2:29:01] I don't want to work for
[2:29:02] the rest of my life just to
[2:29:06] rent and build wealth for
[2:29:06] someone who MAY already be a
[2:29:07] billionaire.
[2:29:11] The cost of moving rising rent
[2:29:12] and wages that haven't kept up
[2:29:13] with the cost of living make
[2:29:13] that unsustainable.
[2:29:18] I wasn't able to buy earlier
[2:29:19] because of student loan debt.
[2:29:20] But year after year I watched
[2:29:23] prices rise beyond what working
[2:29:24] for and against could afford.
[2:29:25] Even when families qualified
[2:29:30] they were often outbid.
[2:29:30] Working in real estate, I
[2:29:31] routinely saw speculators beat
[2:29:35] out local families with all
[2:29:35] cash offers.
[2:29:36] When our neighbor passed away,
[2:29:41] an investor bought the house
[2:29:42] next to my parents in North
[2:29:42] Park.
[2:29:43] They left it vacant for over
[2:29:48] five years while its value more
[2:29:48] than doubled.
[2:29:53] It went from 464,000 to 940,000
[2:29:53] 940,000.
[2:29:58] That's a 103% increase on a two
[2:30:03] bedroom one bath cottage.
[2:30:03] No housing was created.
[2:30:04] No family was helped.
[2:30:09] Profit was the only gold.
[2:30:09] Corporations and wealthy
[2:30:10] investors have purchased
[2:30:11] thousands of homes in our city
[2:30:15] and left many empty.
[2:30:16] These vacant homes titans
[2:30:16] supply and drive up prices and
[2:30:17] erode the community.
[2:30:21] How we should not be for people
[2:30:22] who live at home should be for
[2:30:23] people who live and work here
[2:30:26] Not for corporations to
[2:30:27] warehouse wealth.
[2:30:28] As you have already today you
[2:30:33] will hear fearmongering and
[2:30:34] disinformation from those who
[2:30:34] profit from keeping housing out
[2:30:35] of reach for working San Diego.
[2:30:40] Please vote yes and let
[2:30:40] the voters decide.
[2:30:41] Thank you.
[2:30:41] Thank you.
[2:30:46] Hazardous materials.
[2:30:47] Those materials.
[2:30:47] Yeah.
[2:30:53] If I can ask the following
[2:30:54] people to please come to
[2:30:55] the front row Jesse Schmidt.
[2:30:55] Anna Ramos.
[2:30:56] Gene Kelly.
[2:30:59] Florence, Steve Russell, Karen
[2:31:00] Barton and Robert.
[2:31:04] Come on it If you can all
[2:31:04] please come forward and you'll
[2:31:05] have one minute.
[2:31:05] >> Please proceed.
[2:31:06] Good afternoon.
[2:31:10] My name is Martin Munoz.
[2:31:11] I am a community organizing
[2:31:12] coordinator with the Chicano
[2:31:15] Federation, a member of
[2:31:16] the Community Budget Alliance
[2:31:17] and a resident of District
[2:31:17] eight.
[2:31:17] For the past three years we
[2:31:18] have been faced with a budget
[2:31:21] deficit which has
[2:31:22] disproportionately affected San
[2:31:23] Diego's most marginalized and
[2:31:24] disenfranchized communities.
[2:31:27] But this proposal could allow
[2:31:28] us to bring in a substantial
[2:31:29] amount of revenue to continue
[2:31:29] funding the services that our
[2:31:33] communities rely on.
[2:31:34] Furthermore, this proposal will
[2:31:35] allow individuals like myself
[2:31:39] to remain in San Diego.
[2:31:40] To the contrary and we will
[2:31:40] continue to continue down
[2:31:41] the path of becoming a city
[2:31:44] which does not cater to
[2:31:45] the working class like myself.
[2:31:45] On behalf of the Chicano
[2:31:46] Federation we urge you to vote
[2:31:51] in favor of this item to uphold
[2:31:52] our community's democratic
[2:31:52] values and to empower our
[2:31:53] residents to exercise their
[2:31:55] right to vote for their values
[2:31:55] .
[2:32:01] Thank you Jesse.
[2:32:02] >> Good afternoon.
[2:32:06] Council Jesse Schmidt, District
[2:32:07] eight resident here today in
[2:32:08] full support of the second home
[2:32:08] stacks.
[2:32:09] Growing up in San Diego, my
[2:32:12] family had anything but a
[2:32:13] stable housing situation.
[2:32:14] My mother often worked two and
[2:32:14] sometimes three jobs just to
[2:32:19] make sure that she had
[2:32:19] the means to provide for my
[2:32:20] sister and I from growing up
[2:32:21] and living inside a friend's
[2:32:24] houses to sleeping in freezing
[2:32:25] cold garages and on
[2:32:25] the couches.
[2:32:26] These challenges resonate
[2:32:27] deeply with the community
[2:32:30] behind me here today.
[2:32:31] Last week we heard a public
[2:32:32] comment to say Stop being poor.
[2:32:32] Let me ask you a question Do
[2:32:36] you tell that to the hands of
[2:32:37] farmworkers that put food on
[2:32:37] your table?
[2:32:38] Do you say that to the military
[2:32:42] families struggling to make it
[2:32:43] here in San Diego willing their
[2:32:44] life down for your greed?
[2:32:44] Or the teachers barely making
[2:32:47] it by just to make sure that
[2:32:48] your child has a bright future
[2:32:49] because that is who we are.
[2:32:49] Let me be abundantly clear
[2:32:54] Poverty is not a moral failure
[2:32:54] .
[2:32:55] It is a policy failure.
[2:32:56] If we're going to turn slogans
[2:32:56] around, here's three that
[2:32:57] actually work.
[2:33:01] Tax the rich invest in San
[2:33:01] Diego and build more housing.
[2:33:02] >> Thank you Council member Eli
[2:33:03] Rivera for your work on this.
[2:33:09] Thank you, Anna Ramos.
[2:33:10] >> Good afternoon council
[2:33:10] members.
[2:33:11] My name is and Ramos, a
[2:33:15] community organizer with
[2:33:15] the Alliance of Californians
[2:33:16] for Community Empowerment.
[2:33:17] And although I don't live in
[2:33:21] the city of San Diego, I've
[2:33:22] been organizing in District
[2:33:23] eight for some months now And
[2:33:27] in doing so have helped
[2:33:27] the community form the first
[2:33:28] ever East chapter in San Isidro
[2:33:29] with the goal of coming
[2:33:33] together as a group of
[2:33:34] neighbors who care deeply about
[2:33:34] improving their community and
[2:33:39] improving the quality of life
[2:33:39] of everyone there.
[2:33:40] They have been meeting for
[2:33:40] months talking about the issues
[2:33:44] their community faces and at
[2:33:45] the top of the list is of
[2:33:45] course housing affordability.
[2:33:46] We have members who have shared
[2:33:51] their struggles having to live
[2:33:52] with six people in a one
[2:33:52] bedroom apartment because that
[2:33:53] is the only thing that they can
[2:33:56] ever afford.
[2:33:57] There are folks living in
[2:33:58] mobile home parks who dream of
[2:33:59] one day being able to afford a
[2:34:03] home but that has become almost
[2:34:03] impossible.
[2:34:04] So on their behalf we strongly
[2:34:09] support this empty home tax.
[2:34:10] San Diegans really need this
[2:34:11] housing crisis to be addressed
[2:34:11] as soon as possible.
[2:34:15] Thank you for that Concluding
[2:34:15] remark.
[2:34:16] >> It's only the second row for
[2:34:20] people to find out It's
[2:34:21] important for the people you
[2:34:21] lay in the back.
[2:34:22] That's cool.
[2:34:22] There's nobody behind you But
[2:34:26] it's important that
[2:34:27] the audience can actually see
[2:34:28] the speaker or actually see
[2:34:28] the reaction of the council
[2:34:29] members.
[2:34:29] So thank you very much.
[2:34:31] No worries.
[2:34:32] Thank you.
[2:34:37] If you can please come up.
[2:34:38] >> Hello, my name is d.
[2:34:39] I'm a resident of District nine
[2:34:39] and I'm here in favor of
[2:34:40] the empty home tax.
[2:34:44] Again, I'd like to personally
[2:34:45] thank you Better for
[2:34:45] prioritizing people over
[2:34:46] property.
[2:34:49] It's imperative that we keep
[2:34:50] the San Diego for the families
[2:34:50] that have built it and we
[2:34:51] should forget that black and
[2:34:55] brown owners were barred from
[2:34:56] owning homes in the La Hoya and
[2:34:56] expensive districts just until
[2:34:57] recently.
[2:35:01] These people that own multiple
[2:35:01] homes were benefiting from
[2:35:02] systematic racism and white
[2:35:02] privilege.
[2:35:06] Yet the families that have been
[2:35:07] here for generations shaping
[2:35:07] the culture and character of
[2:35:08] the city by focusing on their
[2:35:13] neighbors were reinvesting in
[2:35:13] the stability of their
[2:35:14] communities which will yield in
[2:35:15] a stronger district and a more
[2:35:19] sustained local economy.
[2:35:19] Keeping vacant homes does
[2:35:20] the opposite.
[2:35:20] It contributes to nothing.
[2:35:21] It doesn't support the local
[2:35:21] tax base.
[2:35:25] It doesn't fill the seats in
[2:35:26] the schools and it certainly
[2:35:27] doesn't contribute to
[2:35:27] community.
[2:35:28] It's a depletion of the city's
[2:35:32] vitality and we hope to see you
[2:35:32] pass this and thank you again
[2:35:33] Shanita rivera Thank you,
[2:35:37] Kaylee.
[2:35:37] >> Hello council members.
[2:35:43] My name is Keeley Hawes and I'm
[2:35:44] here today as a member of
[2:35:45] the Alliance of Californians
[2:35:45] for Community Empowerment to
[2:35:49] show my support to put
[2:35:49] the empty home tax on
[2:35:50] the ballot.
[2:35:50] Although I am not a resident of
[2:35:55] San Diego, I do work three jobs
[2:35:56] in the city and yet I cannot
[2:36:01] afford to live in the city of
[2:36:01] San Diego where I spend most of
[2:36:02] my time, most of my commute and
[2:36:06] all of my money.
[2:36:07] I move to San Diego because I
[2:36:08] was originally pushed out of my
[2:36:08] hometown and community because
[2:36:12] of housing affordability and I
[2:36:13] could no longer afford to live
[2:36:18] there and I fear that that is
[2:36:19] the direction Sanyo was headed
[2:36:24] in If we do not make a change
[2:36:25] with this empty home tax to be
[2:36:25] put on the ballot we will be
[2:36:26] taking a step in the right
[2:36:30] direction to a more affordable
[2:36:30] city so that the people who
[2:36:31] work in this beautiful city MAY
[2:36:32] continue to live and grow in a
[2:36:36] place where we are proud to
[2:36:36] call home.
[2:36:37] And I've dreamed of living in
[2:36:37] the city.
[2:36:43] Don't make me change that
[2:36:43] dream.
[2:36:43] Thank you.
[2:36:44] Thank you.
[2:36:44] Steve Russell.
[2:36:45] Steve Russell You have time to
[2:36:49] give to you by Juliet Ornelas.
[2:36:49] Thank you.
[2:36:50] You'll have two minutes please.
[2:36:50] Thank you.
[2:36:54] Well, good afternoon.
[2:36:55] Honorable Council PRESIDENT
[2:36:55] Council members I'm Steven
[2:36:56] Russell, PRESIDENT And ceo of
[2:36:57] the San Diego Housing
[2:37:00] Federation and the Federation.
[2:37:01] We believe that everyone has
[2:37:01] the right to have
[2:37:06] the opportunity for safe and
[2:37:07] affordable home safe and
[2:37:07] affordable place to live
[2:37:08] because all other social goods
[2:37:09] come from having a stable home
[2:37:13] environment.
[2:37:13] We do know how housing crises
[2:37:14] develop.
[2:37:14] It's there's a very good
[2:37:18] scholarship on this.
[2:37:19] There's a simple formula
[2:37:19] basically create a lot of high
[2:37:20] wage jobs and then don't build
[2:37:21] the housing to house those
[2:37:21] workers.
[2:37:25] What will happen with
[2:37:25] resources?
[2:37:26] We'll find homes most typically
[2:37:26] homes that were previously
[2:37:31] rented or owned by poor folks
[2:37:31] And that is a downward ladder
[2:37:32] that reaches down to where we
[2:37:36] have families who are being
[2:37:37] forced out onto the streets.
[2:37:37] They're doubling up, tripling
[2:37:38] up or leaving the region.
[2:37:43] So this dynamic is well
[2:37:43] established in the supply and
[2:37:44] demand patterns and constraints
[2:37:45] in constrained housing markets
[2:37:48] to be clear, there are multiple
[2:37:48] strategies that are needed to
[2:37:49] address the housing crisis.
[2:37:50] One is expanding overall
[2:37:54] housing production to help
[2:37:55] increase availability and
[2:37:55] alleviate price pressure and
[2:37:56] the other is to increase
[2:37:57] the availability of affordable
[2:38:00] housing housing affordable to
[2:38:00] the lowest income individuals
[2:38:05] in our community and ensuring a
[2:38:06] strategy to ensure that
[2:38:07] existing homes are actively
[2:38:07] used rather than sitting
[2:38:07] unused.
[2:38:12] This measure today which we
[2:38:13] urge you to support focuses on
[2:38:13] improving availability of a
[2:38:14] portion of the existing housing
[2:38:17] stock in a market where supply
[2:38:18] is already limited and it also
[2:38:19] creates the opportunity to have
[2:38:19] new resources with which we can
[2:38:23] develop new affordable homes.
[2:38:24] The majority of properties are
[2:38:25] such as primary residences
[2:38:30] simply won't be affected.
[2:38:30] And it's important to remember
[2:38:31] though that a house is not a
[2:38:32] home if no one's living there.
[2:38:36] So we urge you to support
[2:38:36] the action before it today and
[2:38:37] give the voters the opportunity
[2:38:38] to vote on this issue.
[2:38:40] Thank you for your time and
[2:38:41] attention today, Karen.
[2:38:46] All right.
[2:38:47] Hello council members.
[2:38:51] I'm Karen Barton and I live in
[2:38:51] District two.
[2:38:52] I'm representing my neighbor
[2:38:56] today who's at work.
[2:38:57] She owns two homes on the same
[2:38:57] neighborhood.
[2:39:03] She's got three kids at home
[2:39:03] and her husband travels a lot.
[2:39:04] They work hard and have little
[2:39:05] time for themselves.
[2:39:09] Her parents come into town
[2:39:10] twice monthly to care for
[2:39:10] the little ones.
[2:39:11] They trade off with other
[2:39:15] grandparents.
[2:39:15] One week on, one week off she
[2:39:20] uses that second home 120 days
[2:39:20] per year.
[2:39:21] Is this a family you deem too
[2:39:26] rich or in need of double
[2:39:26] taxation?
[2:39:26] I don't think so.
[2:39:27] They have come up with a
[2:39:31] creative solution to use family
[2:39:32] to provide care instead of
[2:39:32] socking away savings for their
[2:39:33] own retirement or college.
[2:39:37] They're investing in their
[2:39:37] family.
[2:39:38] They want a second home, a
[2:39:38] modest condo providing a place
[2:39:43] to live for their parents to
[2:39:44] help raise children.
[2:39:44] Please vote no on this
[2:39:45] initiative.
[2:39:47] Thanks for your time.
[2:39:55] >> Robert.
[2:39:55] >> Yes.
[2:39:55] I'm Bob Kevin.
[2:39:56] As PRESIDENT Of the Senate
[2:40:02] Association Realtors
[2:40:02] representing 10,000 members.
[2:40:05] Look, I would appreciate if I
[2:40:05] could have three minutes.
[2:40:06] >> I'm really sorry We have to
[2:40:07] treat everybody exactly
[2:40:07] the same.
[2:40:08] Okay, fine.
[2:40:11] Thank you.
[2:40:12] We have submitted a formal
[2:40:12] letter to you setting forth
[2:40:13] some of the reasons why we're
[2:40:17] against the proposed empty home
[2:40:18] tax measure bill before us
[2:40:18] today.
[2:40:24] And I hope you come up with
[2:40:24] the right conclusion.
[2:40:25] Thank you very much.
[2:40:25] Thank you.
[2:40:26] If I could have the following
[2:40:31] individuals please come up to
[2:40:31] the other reserved seats and up
[2:40:32] to the microphone Daryl Cotton,
[2:40:33] Nicole Lilly and Rohana
[2:40:41] Hariharan.
[2:40:45] R White Barry As a last name
[2:40:45] Brenda Lindstrom, Shane
[2:40:51] Pendergrass and Brian Broad and
[2:40:52] Mary Burke.
[2:40:52] If you can all please come up
[2:40:53] to the first room.
[2:40:53] Please proceed already.
[2:40:57] Good afternoon Counsel.
[2:40:57] My name is Darryl Cotton and I
[2:40:58] am a 45 year resident of
[2:40:59] the city of San Diego And I am
[2:41:03] here because what I've got to
[2:41:04] tell this council is I don't
[2:41:04] think we really have a budget
[2:41:05] problem as much as we have a
[2:41:09] collection problem.
[2:41:09] And although we should
[2:41:10] incentivize people getting into
[2:41:11] homes, I believe there are
[2:41:15] other ways to do it If we can
[2:41:16] take care of the budget.
[2:41:16] The deep hole that we've dug
[2:41:21] here in this city and what I've
[2:41:21] come to find is that there are
[2:41:22] millions of dollars in cannabis
[2:41:23] tax revenues in the cannabis
[2:41:28] business tax that aren't being
[2:41:29] paid And I have evidence of
[2:41:30] that of two public records that
[2:41:30] try to get that information
[2:41:33] from the city.
[2:41:34] They won't give it to me.
[2:41:35] So I finally file a petition of
[2:41:35] mandamus to get the city to
[2:41:40] give me that record and they
[2:41:40] won't.
[2:41:41] The city attorney tells me they
[2:41:42] won't give it to them either.
[2:41:42] So I have a document here and
[2:41:46] put it on the council that's
[2:41:46] willing to see it should
[2:41:47] because if we can pick up just
[2:41:48] budget shortfalls we don't have
[2:41:51] to tax parking and we don't
[2:41:52] have to pick up the housing
[2:41:58] crisis by burdening owners.
[2:41:59] >> That shouldn't affect them.
[2:41:59] Thank you for the concluding
[2:42:00] sentence Nicole.
[2:42:01] You have time to get it to you
[2:42:04] by sparking me To think that
[2:42:05] Sparky was she wasn't sure
[2:42:10] somebody was clapping or
[2:42:11] raising your hand.
[2:42:11] Okay?
[2:42:12] You were raising your hand.
[2:42:15] Thank you.
[2:42:15] Yeah.
[2:42:16] Okay, so you have two minutes.
[2:42:17] Thank you.
[2:42:17] Hello.
[2:42:21] My name is Nicole Lilly.
[2:42:22] >> I'm a 23 year old renter
[2:42:23] resident of District three and
[2:42:24] executive director of our Time
[2:42:27] to Act where at youth led
[2:42:28] nonprofit organizing Powerful
[2:42:28] Youth for Housing justice.
[2:42:29] I'm here today again to urge
[2:42:34] you to vote for housing justice
[2:42:35] Every day San Diego boys are
[2:42:35] struggling to survive in
[2:42:36] the city a majority of you
[2:42:39] against our renters and
[2:42:40] the majority of renters are
[2:42:41] paying more than 30% of their
[2:42:41] income on housing alone.
[2:42:45] This is an unaccepted and
[2:42:46] avoidable reality.
[2:42:47] This is the result of treating
[2:42:47] housing as an investment and
[2:42:52] profit gouging tools rather
[2:42:52] than the human right.
[2:42:53] But it is as more of our
[2:42:54] neighbors are thrown into house
[2:42:57] lessness and housing insecurity
[2:42:58] every day as we continue to
[2:42:59] fall woefully short on our
[2:42:59] housing development goals as we
[2:43:04] face devastating cuts to
[2:43:04] essential services due to
[2:43:05] growing budget shortages.
[2:43:09] It is inexplicable to me why we
[2:43:10] should allow over 5000 homes to
[2:43:10] sit entirely empty without
[2:43:11] consequence.
[2:43:15] I want to live in a city that
[2:43:15] prioritizes its people not
[2:43:16] property and profit whether it
[2:43:20] creates revenue or puts these
[2:43:21] homes back into the hands of
[2:43:21] San Diegans.
[2:43:22] Your vote on this item tells us
[2:43:27] how you see housing.
[2:43:27] Do you believe housing is a
[2:43:28] tool for profit or a human
[2:43:29] right for your constituents?
[2:43:32] I urge this council to pass
[2:43:33] this item and bring this
[2:43:33] decision to the people.
[2:43:34] And finally, I'd like to speak
[2:43:38] to my fellow neighbors which
[2:43:39] you all are as well owners of
[2:43:40] second homes who allow them to
[2:43:44] sit empty while the rest of us
[2:43:45] struggle to survive in the city
[2:43:45] are not victims.
[2:43:46] The people who are struggling
[2:43:50] every day to pay your rent and
[2:43:51] to work and support the needs
[2:43:51] of the city need you to support
[2:43:52] them.
[2:43:57] We are human beings.
[2:43:57] Renters are human beings and
[2:43:58] this is not them being
[2:43:58] victimized.
[2:44:02] This is not them subsidizing
[2:44:03] their fellow neighbor.
[2:44:03] This isn't paying their fair
[2:44:04] share.
[2:44:04] This is only a first step and
[2:44:05] this deserves to go to
[2:44:09] the people.
[2:44:09] >> I appreciate your time
[2:44:10] today.
[2:44:10] Thank you.
[2:44:16] Thank you everyone.
[2:44:17] Oh, my name is Dan and I look
[2:44:20] at our contract alongside being
[2:44:21] a student at ucsd.
[2:44:21] I come here on behalf of all my
[2:44:22] friends and many students all
[2:44:27] of whom have who have not had
[2:44:28] an easy journey with finding
[2:44:28] off campus housing and who wish
[2:44:29] they could be here but have to
[2:44:33] prioritize their classes
[2:44:34] instead.
[2:44:34] This policy will affect over
[2:44:35] 5000 homes homes that would
[2:44:39] students of that house families
[2:44:39] Even by conservative numbers
[2:44:40] This could lead to housing
[2:44:41] thousands of families and
[2:44:44] students and if not the city
[2:44:45] can use the revenue from
[2:44:46] the tax to help fund our most
[2:44:46] basic needs and improve San
[2:44:50] Diegans lives.
[2:44:51] Youth are struggling with
[2:44:51] housing.
[2:44:52] We need you to help us.
[2:44:52] This is a step in the right
[2:44:58] direction and you can show us
[2:44:58] that you care about us by
[2:44:59] taking this step Those who own
[2:45:00] multiple homes while the rest
[2:45:02] of us struggle to survive are
[2:45:03] not victims for being asked to
[2:45:03] pay their fair share.
[2:45:04] I hope everyone understands
[2:45:08] the urgency of this.
[2:45:08] Thank you.
[2:45:15] Thank you very or very Hello
[2:45:15] Council.
[2:45:16] My name is Kristen Berry.
[2:45:17] I'm here with you as well to
[2:45:20] speak in support of the empty
[2:45:21] home tax going to the ballot.
[2:45:21] As someone who has spent many
[2:45:22] nights searching for a roof
[2:45:26] over my head at many points in
[2:45:27] my life, housing should be a
[2:45:28] fundamental right for all and
[2:45:28] not an opportunity for profit
[2:45:33] That does not seem to be
[2:45:34] the case currently in the city
[2:45:34] of San Diego though as we see
[2:45:35] the hoarding of empty
[2:45:35] properties by the very wealthy
[2:45:38] leaving both city and revenue
[2:45:39] leaving both city revenue and
[2:45:40] unhoused individuals by
[2:45:40] the wayside, we must rectify
[2:45:45] this greed that is costing San
[2:45:46] Diego stability, dignity and
[2:45:47] the right to a home.
[2:45:50] The home taxes a crucial step
[2:45:51] towards housing justice in San
[2:45:51] Diego.
[2:45:52] It is a great method for us to
[2:45:52] generate necessary revenue to
[2:45:57] address our budget deficit
[2:45:57] without burdening us
[2:45:58] the people.
[2:45:58] The less about the deficit
[2:45:59] the city finds itself into less
[2:45:59] of a burden.
[2:46:02] There is on programs and
[2:46:02] services that youth and
[2:46:03] families of San Diego happily
[2:46:03] rely on.
[2:46:04] It is important that this
[2:46:07] decision will ultimately be
[2:46:08] made by the people of San
[2:46:08] Diego.
[2:46:09] You are allowing the process of
[2:46:10] democratic decision rather than
[2:46:14] impeding it.
[2:46:14] >> Please vote yes today to
[2:46:15] move the home tax ballot to
[2:46:16] the ballot.
[2:46:21] Thank you Britta where do you
[2:46:22] have people sitting your time
[2:46:22] if they can please raise their
[2:46:25] hand joyfully and thank you.
[2:46:33] And Elizabeth Kelly, thank you
[2:46:33] so much.
[2:46:34] You'll have three minutes.
[2:46:34] Please proceed.
[2:46:34] Great.
[2:46:35] Hello council members.
[2:46:38] I am in opposition to fiber one
[2:46:39] I would like to focus on
[2:46:39] the legal and operational
[2:46:44] realities of implementing a
[2:46:44] vacancy based tax.
[2:46:45] First of all, how do you
[2:46:50] identify the vacancy?
[2:46:50] Is it utility usage thresholds
[2:46:55] self-reporting, physical
[2:46:56] inspection which presents legal
[2:46:56] and privacy implications?
[2:47:01] Second enforce ment in due
[2:47:01] process.
[2:47:02] Property owners must have clear
[2:47:07] notice standards, appeal rights
[2:47:07] and transparent evidentiary
[2:47:08] requirements.
[2:47:12] Ambiguous definitions increase
[2:47:13] rate disputes and legal
[2:47:13] exposures.
[2:47:18] Third administrative costs.
[2:47:19] These systems typically require
[2:47:20] compliance tracking databases,
[2:47:25] verifications staff audit
[2:47:25] procedures, appeals processing
[2:47:26] and legal defense capacity.
[2:47:31] Also what is the actual
[2:47:32] projected net revenue After all
[2:47:37] these full implementation
[2:47:37] costs?
[2:47:38] I believe it's much lower than
[2:47:39] projected.
[2:47:42] Third excuse me for legal
[2:47:43] exposure.
[2:47:48] Targeting tax structures can
[2:47:49] invite litigation on
[2:47:49] constitutional, statutory or
[2:47:50] procedural grounds.
[2:47:55] Has the city fully assessed
[2:47:55] the litigation risk and a long
[2:48:00] term administrative burden?
[2:48:01] Finally, scalability Once
[2:48:02] created compliance systems tend
[2:48:06] to expand over time.
[2:48:07] This can grow into significant
[2:48:08] regulatory structure and
[2:48:08] financial nightmares.
[2:48:13] So before even voting on
[2:48:13] something like this there must
[2:48:14] be the evidence of enforcement
[2:48:18] methodology, privacy
[2:48:19] safeguards, appeals framework,
[2:48:20] administrative cost estimates
[2:48:25] and net revenue projections and
[2:48:26] measurable affordability
[2:48:31] benchmarks.
[2:48:31] Do not develop and implement
[2:48:32] these processes after it's on
[2:48:33] the ballot.
[2:48:37] That without these processes in
[2:48:38] place our money will once again
[2:48:43] be spent without accountability
[2:48:43] and without reaching your
[2:48:44] stated objectives.
[2:48:49] Please do not create more
[2:48:50] chaos.
[2:48:50] Do the right thing.
[2:48:51] Do not advance this further.
[2:48:52] Your constituents are watching
[2:48:55] how you are voting but I would
[2:48:56] like to just make an additional
[2:48:57] comment and that is I
[2:49:01] completely empathize with
[2:49:02] the people here who are saying
[2:49:03] they cannot afford housing.
[2:49:07] Their work their hard workers
[2:49:08] are smart, They're dedicated.
[2:49:08] They cannot afford It makes no
[2:49:13] sense to me that now being
[2:49:14] built there are to use their
[2:49:15] 450ft and they're going to be
[2:49:18] gone for 1714 to $1700 a month.
[2:49:19] Nobody can afford that.
[2:49:25] This is not going to solve that
[2:49:25] problem.
[2:49:31] This is not the answer and it's
[2:49:31] not going to.
[2:49:31] It's going to fail in
[2:49:31] the courts.
[2:49:31] So please let's find an
[2:49:31] accurate solution.
[2:49:32] Let's stop this.
[2:49:37] There's no way I can afford any
[2:49:38] of this housing if I Thank you
[2:49:38] for that concluding comment.
[2:49:43] Shane Pendergrass and the woman
[2:49:49] Shane in the audience.
[2:49:49] Thank you for the opportunity
[2:49:50] to speak to you today.
[2:49:55] My husband and I bought our
[2:49:55] condo here 13 years ago.
[2:49:56] We have children and
[2:49:56] grandchildren here.
[2:50:02] We live in Maryland where I'm a
[2:50:02] retired state legislator and
[2:50:03] that's where we spend
[2:50:07] the majority of our year.
[2:50:08] We're here about 170 days a
[2:50:08] year.
[2:50:09] I get to be a part of my
[2:50:13] grandchildren's lives here and
[2:50:14] my grandchild's life back in
[2:50:14] Maryland.
[2:50:19] i'm very grateful for that.
[2:50:19] We worked hard.
[2:50:20] We both were government
[2:50:20] employees.
[2:50:25] We did not earn enormous
[2:50:26] amounts of money and we spent a
[2:50:26] lot of hours trying to do
[2:50:27] the right thing just as you do.
[2:50:31] I appreciate any consideration
[2:50:32] you can give to people like me
[2:50:37] who want to contribute to our
[2:50:38] grandchildren and our
[2:50:38] children's happiness and
[2:50:39] growth.
[2:50:47] Thank you Brian.
[2:50:48] >> I am from District five and
[2:50:49] I've made several changes to my
[2:50:54] comments based on the opening
[2:50:54] comments that were made.
[2:50:55] The San Francisco case is
[2:50:56] relevant to this measure
[2:51:00] The same constitutional issues
[2:51:01] apply and the Ellis Act
[2:51:01] applies.
[2:51:02] The Berkeley Property Owners
[2:51:06] Association filed an amicus
[2:51:06] brief opposing the San
[2:51:07] Francisco measure.
[2:51:08] They are watching the Court of
[2:51:12] Appeal decision very closely
[2:51:13] and the Court of Appeal agrees
[2:51:14] with the Superior Court ruling.
[2:51:17] They will undoubtedly sue
[2:51:18] the city of Berkeley to
[2:51:19] overturn the measure and they
[2:51:19] are most likely be successful.
[2:51:24] That being the case, don't move
[2:51:25] forward on this measure until
[2:51:25] litigation is settled.
[2:51:29] Otherwise if it's found to be
[2:51:30] illegal you'll have to refund
[2:51:31] taxes collected.
[2:51:31] Exhibit a The Trump Tariffs.
[2:51:36] Remember that?
[2:51:37] I love San Diego and I hate to
[2:51:38] see it making mistake after
[2:51:41] mistake one on one street to
[2:51:41] trash and double park parking.
[2:51:42] Today we have an opportunity to
[2:51:47] prevent another mistake.
[2:51:47] This measure is flawed and
[2:51:48] legally dubious.
[2:51:49] You can't vote away people's
[2:51:49] constitutional rights with a
[2:51:50] ballot.
[2:51:50] Thank you for that concluding
[2:51:51] remark.
[2:51:56] >> Mary.
[2:51:57] This measure is based on
[2:52:02] the assumption that properties
[2:52:02] that don't have a county
[2:52:03] homeowner's exemption and are
[2:52:03] not rented are empty.
[2:52:08] However, some owners no longer
[2:52:09] rent out a second home because
[2:52:09] they maintain and use their
[2:52:13] home to help not only immediate
[2:52:14] family but also an aunt and
[2:52:15] uncle and eastern half of your
[2:52:15] cousin and even close friends
[2:52:20] And they maintain and use a
[2:52:21] second home themselves.
[2:52:21] Examples include during times
[2:52:22] of illness surgery,
[2:52:25] rehabilitation through job
[2:52:26] losses and other calamities
[2:52:27] such as after the fires.
[2:52:27] The amount of taxes and
[2:52:33] substantial gated and arbitrary
[2:52:33] and has been set to motivate
[2:52:34] the rental or indeed sale of
[2:52:34] properties.
[2:52:38] The tax amount is unaffordable
[2:52:38] and for some owners to have to
[2:52:44] rent against their will or
[2:52:44] force to sell their properties
[2:52:45] against their will.
[2:52:46] There hasn't been a study of
[2:52:50] who this tax would affect.
[2:52:51] The people we know who own a
[2:52:51] second home are mostly between
[2:52:52] the ages of 65 and 80.
[2:52:56] Throwing seniors under the bus
[2:52:57] when their properties have
[2:52:57] already started changing hands
[2:53:02] and will continue to change
[2:53:02] hands Anyway.
[2:53:03] Thank you for that Very cool
[2:53:04] and unlawful Thank you for that
[2:53:04] concluding comic.
[2:53:08] Christina Christina Marie Green
[2:53:09] if you can please come forward
[2:53:10] after that will be Ted Womack.
[2:53:15] Liliana Soriano, Claire Snyder.
[2:53:15] Mike Frittelli.
[2:53:16] And then Jason Lopez.
[2:53:18] If you can all please come
[2:53:21] forward.
[2:53:28] Please begin already.
[2:53:28] Good afternoon City Council.
[2:53:29] My name is Christina Marie
[2:53:32] Green, a renter in District
[2:53:33] eight advocate for the aclu of
[2:53:34] Santiago Imperial County and
[2:53:38] the program director of
[2:53:38] the Poverty Project at ucsd
[2:53:39] advocating for housing insecure
[2:53:44] and how students I am in favor
[2:53:45] of the housing that empty house
[2:53:45] homes tax towards owners of
[2:53:49] second, third and more homes.
[2:53:50] As a former student who
[2:53:50] navigated being unhoused couch
[2:53:55] hopping in a housing market
[2:53:56] designed to price students out
[2:53:56] and to price our workers and
[2:54:01] families out, the city of San
[2:54:01] Diego was losing the bright
[2:54:02] minds and leaders met to stay
[2:54:03] and contribute to this amazing
[2:54:06] city during a time where
[2:54:07] federal funding is being cut
[2:54:08] from vital programs and
[2:54:12] the greed of homeowners who
[2:54:12] continue to escape paying their
[2:54:13] fair share.
[2:54:13] It's time to redistribute
[2:54:18] housing availability and punish
[2:54:19] those who continue to make
[2:54:20] the housing market unbearable,
[2:54:20] inaccessible and monopolized.
[2:54:24] Thank you so much for your
[2:54:24] time.
[2:54:25] >> And vote in favor of
[2:54:26] the empty homes tax.
[2:54:26] Thank you so much.
[2:54:27] Thank you, Ted.
[2:54:36] Woman.
[2:54:37] >> Hey, how are you doing
[2:54:37] today?
[2:54:38] i'm I'm here in support of
[2:54:39] the empty homes tax.
[2:54:42] I grew up in 84 where my
[2:54:43] grandfather was a homeowner
[2:54:43] before he passed away.
[2:54:49] He taught me the strategy and
[2:54:49] the steps about, you know,
[2:54:50] growing up and getting into
[2:54:51] those things of owning a home.
[2:54:51] Unfortunately today like those
[2:54:54] steps and that strategy is not
[2:54:55] possible because of
[2:54:55] affordability, affordability
[2:54:56] and availability.
[2:55:01] And you know, there's a lot of
[2:55:02] things that are said by folks
[2:55:02] who do own different homes.
[2:55:03] But my question to all those
[2:55:04] folks is why don't we deserve a
[2:55:07] chance to buy a home ourselves?
[2:55:08] There's a lot of different
[2:55:08] factors in why people can't buy
[2:55:12] homes ready talked about cost
[2:55:13] of living where you talk about
[2:55:14] how much you get paid versus
[2:55:14] how much that is.
[2:55:15] But you know, we hear a lot of
[2:55:19] people say that we need to do
[2:55:20] things for retirees.
[2:55:20] We need to do things for
[2:55:21] the revenue.
[2:55:21] We need to do things for all
[2:55:22] these other people.
[2:55:25] But what about real San Diego?
[2:55:26] You know, I want to have an
[2:55:26] opportunity to invite my family
[2:55:27] over from out of town to my
[2:55:27] home.
[2:55:30] I want to have an opportunity
[2:55:31] to maybe even games I can hold
[2:55:31] myself But at the moment that's
[2:55:32] not possible.
[2:55:36] So can we have the opportunity
[2:55:37] to gain one home for ourselves
[2:55:37] before we start saying this?
[2:55:38] You know, thank you but I
[2:55:45] completely comment Lily on it.
[2:55:45] Good afternoon council members.
[2:55:52] I am the Director of policy at
[2:55:52] Youth.
[2:55:53] Well that item before you is an
[2:55:54] important step to address
[2:55:54] the budget deficit.
[2:55:55] Young people for the past few
[2:55:57] budget cycles have not been a
[2:55:58] priority in many of your memos.
[2:55:59] Many of our youth members
[2:56:03] continue to express their own
[2:56:04] and their families inability to
[2:56:05] keep a roof over their heads.
[2:56:09] Meanwhile, around 5140 homes
[2:56:09] are empty.
[2:56:10] Cost of living continues to
[2:56:14] rise and services meant to be
[2:56:14] safety net before their eyes
[2:56:15] disappear as a community based
[2:56:16] organization.
[2:56:20] We strongly support this fair
[2:56:21] approach to reduce anticipated
[2:56:22] impacts to real public safety
[2:56:26] programs and services utilized
[2:56:27] by many youth.
[2:56:27] Please vote yes and let
[2:56:28] the voters decide to move or
[2:56:32] not move this tax forward
[2:56:33] because many of the residents
[2:56:33] will not be impacted by this
[2:56:34] and the people in this room do
[2:56:39] not represent the entire U.S.
[2:56:39] Especially those that are
[2:56:40] against this proposal.
[2:56:40] Thank you.
[2:56:44] Thank you, Claire Snyder.
[2:56:45] Good afternoon, counsel.
[2:56:45] My name is Claire.
[2:56:50] I am with youth.
[2:56:51] Well, I'm a resident of
[2:56:51] District three and I'm also a
[2:56:52] renter.
[2:56:53] I just want to make it very
[2:56:56] clear that if you can afford to
[2:56:57] home afford a home that can sit
[2:57:01] and you are much more well-off
[2:57:02] than anybody in San Diego, I'm
[2:57:03] a renter but paying rent is
[2:57:03] fine.
[2:57:08] Kind of but like I can afford
[2:57:09] it and I feel comfortable with
[2:57:09] that But that so me being
[2:57:13] comfortable that means that
[2:57:14] other people who can afford all
[2:57:14] these homes are much more
[2:57:15] well-off and other people in
[2:57:19] San Diego deserve
[2:57:20] the opportunity and the chance
[2:57:20] to be able to own a home and
[2:57:21] not have it be a dream that
[2:57:25] maybe they can afford a home
[2:57:26] when they're near dead at 85.
[2:57:27] It should be a reality for us
[2:57:31] now and I think that we should
[2:57:32] give this opportunity to
[2:57:33] the rest of San Diego to be
[2:57:37] able to vote on this matter in
[2:57:38] San Diego to make the decision.
[2:57:38] So I urge you to move this
[2:57:40] forward.
[2:57:47] >> Thank you, Mike.
[2:57:47] >> Good afternoon.
[2:57:51] Mike Patel District six.
[2:57:52] I'm speaking in opposition
[2:57:53] because there's three major
[2:57:57] problems with this proposed tax
[2:57:57] .
[2:57:58] One it MAY not help the city
[2:57:59] financially in the absence of
[2:58:00] budget budgetary reform there's
[2:58:03] no guarantee the additional
[2:58:04] revenue is to the extent that
[2:58:05] there is additional revenue
[2:58:05] would go to public safety or
[2:58:06] critical infrastructure
[2:58:10] maintenance.
[2:58:11] Two it probably won't make that
[2:58:11] much of a difference makes me a
[2:58:12] target more affordable.
[2:58:14] There are 1.5 million people in
[2:58:15] this city Focusing on 5000
[2:58:16] units is little more than a
[2:58:21] distraction.
[2:58:21] Three And most importantly it
[2:58:22] will create what has been
[2:58:23] referred to as an audit
[2:58:26] industrial complex.
[2:58:27] The idea has noted and I quote
[2:58:28] the magnitude of the proposed
[2:58:28] tax will incentivize tax
[2:58:33] avoidance given that the city
[2:58:34] will use and I quote
[2:58:34] flexibility to adapt to
[2:58:38] identify such avoidance is not
[2:58:39] reassuring.
[2:58:39] As a consequence, all
[2:58:40] homeowners be burdened by
[2:58:45] the possibility of an extensive
[2:58:45] and unaccountable monitoring
[2:58:46] and enforcement regime.
[2:58:47] Proving that you own your own
[2:58:47] house should not be more
[2:58:51] complicated than getting
[2:58:52] parking at the ballpark.
[2:58:52] Thank you very much for that
[2:58:53] concluding comment.
[2:58:58] Jason Lopez.
[2:58:59] After that it will be Paul
[2:58:59] Kruger and Thurman Estrada
[2:59:03] Kevin Ben.
[2:59:04] Conor Robbins.
[2:59:04] Grace Jimenez.
[2:59:05] Please proceed.
[2:59:05] Good afternoon, counsel.
[2:59:09] I'm just Lopez and I'm here to
[2:59:10] speak in opposition of the tax
[2:59:10] measure.
[2:59:11] I have the privilege of serving
[2:59:14] as the 2020 PRESIDENT Of
[2:59:14] the Pacific Southwest
[2:59:15] Association of Realtors here in
[2:59:16] San Diego and I currently
[2:59:19] serves on the board of
[2:59:20] directors and executive
[2:59:20] committee with the California
[2:59:21] Association of Realtors.
[2:59:25] Our members represent tens of
[2:59:26] thousands of homeowners in San
[2:59:27] Diego who also oppose moving
[2:59:27] this forward.
[2:59:31] I've often said that
[2:59:32] the association's exists for a
[2:59:32] couple of reasons.
[2:59:33] Among those are to protect
[2:59:33] private property rights and to
[2:59:37] promote homeownership
[2:59:37] opportunities.
[2:59:38] This measure would impact those
[2:59:39] negatively by putting
[2:59:43] the burden on homeowners to
[2:59:44] document their occupancy when
[2:59:45] they MAY not have need to.
[2:59:49] So we speak in opposition to
[2:59:50] this and would ask that you
[2:59:51] work in partnership with
[2:59:51] the associations and other
[2:59:55] local housing advocacy groups
[2:59:56] to come up with real solutions
[2:59:56] for San Diego.
[2:59:56] Thank you.
[2:59:57] Thank you.
[3:00:01] Paul Krueger.
[3:00:02] >> I know you have something to
[3:00:07] share so we'll get that up.
[3:00:08] >> What I'm going to show you
[3:00:08] is just two paragraphs from
[3:00:13] the Union-Tribune editorial.
[3:00:13] It's not the voters who are
[3:00:14] going to decide this issue.
[3:00:18] It's the courts And the San
[3:00:19] Francisco vacancy tax was
[3:00:23] struck down in the most
[3:00:24] forceful way possible which is
[3:00:25] that the court said there's not
[3:00:29] even enough argument to take it
[3:00:29] to trial.
[3:00:30] Berkeley has not gotten an
[3:00:35] exemption from court review.
[3:00:35] There is no indication that
[3:00:41] the Berkeley vacancy tax will
[3:00:41] ever be held to be legal
[3:00:42] because the landlords there are
[3:00:47] simply holding off their filing
[3:00:47] .
[3:00:48] The gentleman noted an amicus
[3:00:48] brief.
[3:00:52] If you think that this Supreme
[3:00:53] Court of California and more
[3:00:54] the Supreme Court of the United
[3:00:58] States is going to back a
[3:00:59] vacancy tax, you know they're
[3:00:59] not.
[3:01:00] Please don't rush into this.
[3:01:03] And more importantly, please
[3:01:04] listen to the aba.
[3:01:10] Those figures conflict greatly
[3:01:11] with what you're hearing.
[3:01:11] >> Thank you for that complete
[3:01:12] comment.
[3:01:16] I'm sorry my brother.
[3:01:16] Good afternoon, counsel.
[3:01:21] My name is Anselmo Jake Estrada
[3:01:22] Estrada.
[3:01:22] i am the clinical director for
[3:01:23] the San Diego Construction
[3:01:27] Trades Council.
[3:01:27] You know, working people work
[3:01:28] hard.
[3:01:31] It's literally in the name
[3:01:32] every day by every definable
[3:01:33] measure, every metric that we
[3:01:33] can we can speak to.
[3:01:37] They've been what we've been
[3:01:38] left behind at every step,
[3:01:43] every single benchmark like key
[3:01:44] point health care housing.
[3:01:48] Today like every day working in
[3:01:49] San Diegans or waking up and
[3:01:49] wondering how they're going to
[3:01:53] afford to buy a home, whether
[3:01:54] wondering whether they can
[3:01:55] afford to expand their family
[3:01:59] have a kid and right now they
[3:02:00] can't.
[3:02:00] So this is actually the only
[3:02:01] revenue measure that we might
[3:02:05] be able to have before working
[3:02:06] in San Diego And and the only
[3:02:07] one of the only opportunities
[3:02:10] that we have to actually put
[3:02:11] housing out there on
[3:02:11] the market.
[3:02:12] I'm asking you to please move
[3:02:12] this forward.
[3:02:13] Please give us a chance to
[3:02:16] actually have the housing that
[3:02:17] we've all been talking about
[3:02:17] for decades.
[3:02:22] >> Thank you, Kevin.
[3:02:22] Good evening.
[3:02:28] Council My name is Kevin Vino.
[3:02:29] I'm the housing justice
[3:02:29] director at our Times Act where
[3:02:30] a youth based nonprofit
[3:02:33] fighting for housing justice
[3:02:34] here in San Diego.
[3:02:35] So the average home price right
[3:02:38] now in San Diego is around $1
[3:02:39] million.
[3:02:40] So if people have the luxury to
[3:02:40] have two of these they're not
[3:02:44] just a millionaire but by
[3:02:44] definition a multimillionaire
[3:02:48] On average when the average San
[3:02:49] Diego can't even afford one of
[3:02:49] these homes.
[3:02:50] So I really appreciate Sean's
[3:02:53] office for bringing this as a
[3:02:54] tax because we are sick and
[3:02:54] tired of having taxes that
[3:02:59] target lower income and middle
[3:03:00] class San Diego And this is
[3:03:00] primarily going to be affecting
[3:03:04] people who can afford this tax.
[3:03:05] So I strongly advocate urged
[3:03:10] council to bring this to
[3:03:11] the ballot and so that we as
[3:03:12] San Diegans can vote on this.
[3:03:12] Thank you.
[3:03:18] Thank you, Conor Robbins.
[3:03:19] >> Good afternoon.
[3:03:23] City Council.
[3:03:24] I'm Conor Robbins, the chief
[3:03:28] steward for Teamsters Local 96
[3:03:28] representing San Diego
[3:03:29] Lifeguards.
[3:03:29] We're in strong support of
[3:03:33] the anti home tax and I
[3:03:34] appreciate Councilmember De La
[3:03:35] Rivera for bringing this item
[3:03:35] forward.
[3:03:39] I hear from my members all
[3:03:40] the time about how hard it is
[3:03:41] to live in San Diego and this
[3:03:44] is largely because of the cost
[3:03:44] of housing.
[3:03:45] This tax supports our members
[3:03:49] ability to build a stable
[3:03:50] future here in San Diego.
[3:03:51] That's why we support this.
[3:03:56] Thank you all for considering
[3:03:56] and we hope you'll vote in
[3:03:56] favor.
[3:04:00] >> Thank you Grace Rock a few
[3:04:01] minutes after that if I can
[3:04:06] have Patrick for your heart You
[3:04:07] My apologies Jonathan Rain
[3:04:12] Carmen Penaloza, Valdez and
[3:04:12] Ramsey's If you can please come
[3:04:13] forward.
[3:04:13] These are our last speakers
[3:04:14] here in council chambers before
[3:04:20] we go virtual please proceed.
[3:04:21] My name is Grace Minutes and I
[3:04:22] was born and raised in San
[3:04:22] Diego.
[3:04:25] Kumi I territory.
[3:04:26] I'm a member of a's Alliance of
[3:04:27] Californians for Community
[3:04:31] Empowerment and Infant for cpi
[3:04:32] Students for Economic Justice
[3:04:35] and a Renter for District four.
[3:04:36] I'm here to support the empty
[3:04:37] home tax ballot measure Bake at
[3:04:41] Home should not be left to sit
[3:04:42] and stale for months when so
[3:04:46] many of our communities are in
[3:04:46] danger of becoming houseless or
[3:04:51] already are houseless If these
[3:04:51] homes were to open up and be
[3:04:52] made more affordable to renters
[3:04:56] it will help with safety to our
[3:04:57] San Diego residents and prevent
[3:04:58] displacement to families.
[3:05:01] The taxation of empty homes
[3:05:02] will ensure much needed
[3:05:02] investment on infrastructure
[3:05:06] and services for the people of
[3:05:06] San Diego.
[3:05:07] I also do not give consent of
[3:05:08] my tax dollars to be used for
[3:05:11] Israel's genocide on Palestine
[3:05:12] nor the terrorist group ice who
[3:05:17] are attacking our people.
[3:05:17] >> Invest in affordable housing
[3:05:23] for everyone not unjust wars.
[3:05:24] >> Patrick for Crane Friedman
[3:05:26] is sitting in a time You'll
[3:05:27] have two minutes.
[3:05:27] >> Please proceed.
[3:05:31] Council PRESIDENT LaCava
[3:05:32] distinguished members of
[3:05:33] council members of public here
[3:05:33] today to talk My name is
[3:05:37] Patrick Ferrier Straight day
[3:05:38] Director of San Diego City
[3:05:38] Firefighters Local 145 I'm here
[3:05:42] today to speak in favor look at
[3:05:43] 145 I was disappointed
[3:05:44] the initial version didn't make
[3:05:44] it.
[3:05:48] The Rules Committee However we
[3:05:48] are in strong support of
[3:05:49] the initiative as it stands
[3:05:52] before the full council today.
[3:05:53] I thank you Council member
[3:05:54] Yellow River for your hard work
[3:05:54] and your dedication to bring
[3:05:55] affordable housing to
[3:05:58] the firefighters and
[3:05:58] the citizens of the San Diego
[3:05:59] City.
[3:05:59] >> They all deserve a good
[3:06:02] place to live.
[3:06:03] I want to talk a little bit
[3:06:04] about our firefighters though.
[3:06:07] We have some of the bravest,
[3:06:08] the finest and most selfless
[3:06:09] people you're ever going to
[3:06:09] meet.
[3:06:10] They took an oath to lay their
[3:06:13] lives down for any one of us in
[3:06:14] this building here today.
[3:06:15] But they're exasperated.
[3:06:18] The inability to afford a home
[3:06:19] within the city limits has left
[3:06:20] them grasping at straws and
[3:06:23] frustrated and they bring their
[3:06:24] concerns to us.
[3:06:24] Now they're commuting from out
[3:06:28] of state, out of county,
[3:06:28] sometimes out of the country
[3:06:33] and it leaves them exhausted.
[3:06:34] I want to put you into a
[3:06:34] situation here.
[3:06:37] Imagine you're up all night in
[3:06:38] our fine city.
[3:06:38] You're going to fires.
[3:06:39] You're taking care of our most
[3:06:43] vulnerable populations and
[3:06:43] you're giving the best service
[3:06:44] that you can.
[3:06:47] Then you drive 2 to 4 hours to
[3:06:47] your house.
[3:06:48] Imagine trying to be a good
[3:06:52] parent, a good spouse or just
[3:06:52] enjoy your time off.
[3:06:53] Now whether this initiative
[3:06:57] brings revenue frees up homes
[3:06:57] are both.
[3:06:58] It's a win to the firefighters
[3:07:02] and the citizens of this great
[3:07:02] city.
[3:07:03] i urge you to please move this
[3:07:04] forward to the voters to decide
[3:07:05] and I thank you very much for
[3:07:13] your time today Jonathan Right
[3:07:14] .
[3:07:18] Hi and thank you for doing this
[3:07:19] .
[3:07:20] I just turned 62 on FEBRUARY
[3:07:20] 26th.
[3:07:21] I currently live in an
[3:07:24] affordable housing building for
[3:07:25] age 55 plus which actually I
[3:07:25] converted to a hotel with no
[3:07:29] kitchen run by the San Diego
[3:07:30] Housing Commission.
[3:07:34] I cannot legit I cannot find
[3:07:35] legit housing living on Social
[3:07:38] Security at three $1,350 per
[3:07:43] month I have resigned.
[3:07:44] I have resigned to never owning
[3:07:48] my own home condo or otherwise
[3:07:49] in a city that I have resided
[3:07:52] in since 1988.
[3:07:53] I would like to at least be
[3:07:57] able to rent a decent apartment
[3:07:58] in a safe neighborhood.
[3:07:59] I find this proposal very
[3:08:02] acceptable.
[3:08:03] We need to weed out corporate
[3:08:07] and rich people and once again
[3:08:08] make housing affordable In San
[3:08:12] Diego some say live within your
[3:08:17] own means What is living with
[3:08:18] your own means?
[3:08:21] Social Security does not allow
[3:08:22] Thank you for that.
[3:08:29] Thank you for doing Carmen So
[3:08:34] short for Hello My name is
[3:08:35] Carmen and I'm a resident and
[3:08:35] living in District nine.
[3:08:39] I'm here with you as well to
[3:08:40] comment on the empty home tax
[3:08:41] proposed to go to this year's
[3:08:44] ballot.
[3:08:44] Housing is a fundamental human
[3:08:45] right for all and not a profit
[3:08:48] opportunity for a select few.
[3:08:49] While thousands of San Diegans
[3:08:50] struggle to keep a roof over
[3:08:54] their heads including myself
[3:08:54] and other family members living
[3:08:55] on the street or on the verge
[3:08:59] of homelessness.
[3:09:00] Currently ownership of multiple
[3:09:00] properties is a reality for
[3:09:04] wealthy people and
[3:09:05] corporations.
[3:09:05] It is this greed that caused
[3:09:08] San Diego instability, dignity
[3:09:09] and their right to a home.
[3:09:10] The measure is clear this will
[3:09:14] not impact primary home owners
[3:09:15] or renters and only applies to
[3:09:15] homes sitting vacant for most
[3:09:16] of a year.
[3:09:19] If you're in San Diego and you
[3:09:20] can own this many homes, you
[3:09:24] can take this tax like this has
[3:09:25] been affecting us in low income
[3:09:29] marginalized communities for
[3:09:29] years.
[3:09:30] So yeah, please vote yes today
[3:09:32] to move the empty home tax
[3:09:33] proposal to a ballot.
[3:09:37] >> Thank you.
[3:09:38] >> And our final speaker here
[3:09:42] in council chambers is Ramsey's
[3:09:42] .
[3:09:42] >> Hello.
[3:09:44] I want to speak in favor of
[3:09:49] this item.
[3:09:50] So over the last year of
[3:09:51] the budget the budget
[3:09:51] discussion, one thing has
[3:09:54] become absolutely clear
[3:09:55] The poor people of San Diego
[3:09:56] can no longer afford to fill
[3:09:56] this budget deficit.
[3:10:00] We saw that with the failure of
[3:10:00] Balboa Park making a net of
[3:10:03] less than what, 3 million less
[3:10:04] than that.
[3:10:04] And now we have an option that
[3:10:05] could potentially get us tens
[3:10:08] of millions of dollars.
[3:10:09] So on that on that level alone
[3:10:09] it's a no brainer.
[3:10:13] Now personally I've wanted to
[3:10:13] live in San Diego my whole
[3:10:14] life.
[3:10:17] i was born in San Diego.
[3:10:18] My parents relocated to East
[3:10:21] County and we had a house and
[3:10:22] shortly after 2008 private
[3:10:22] equity purchased that house and
[3:10:26] we lost it.
[3:10:27] This year I tried moving into
[3:10:27] San Diego and unfortunately I
[3:10:31] was I was met with the prices
[3:10:32] and I was not able to So now I
[3:10:33] live exactly half a mile away
[3:10:36] from the border.
[3:10:36] But everything in San Diego
[3:10:37] still affects me.
[3:10:37] Everything that you guys do
[3:10:38] still affects me.
[3:10:40] So that's why I come to these
[3:10:41] these things One day I hope
[3:10:41] that I can afford to live in
[3:10:42] San Diego but right now that's
[3:10:45] not today.
[3:10:46] I'm saying the five minute time
[3:10:46] we're going to those
[3:10:50] participating remotely.
[3:10:51] We have 14 speakers in
[3:10:51] the queue starting with Mary
[3:10:52] Carson.
[3:10:57] If you can please unmute.
[3:10:58] >> Hello.
[3:11:03] My husband and I purchased a
[3:11:03] second home a two bedroom condo
[3:11:07] in 2011 for our family,
[3:11:08] children, grandchildren,
[3:11:09] siblings, parents and close
[3:11:09] family friends.
[3:11:12] What concerns us the most with
[3:11:12] this proposal?
[3:11:13] If it goes into effect it will
[3:11:17] significantly impact our local
[3:11:17] businesses.
[3:11:18] The one thing we all do when we
[3:11:22] visit San Diego is spend money
[3:11:22] by going out to eat, drink and
[3:11:23] we go to entertainment venues.
[3:11:26] And I haven't read any economic
[3:11:27] impact analyzes of the fiscal
[3:11:31] consequences to local
[3:11:32] businesses as a result than
[3:11:32] the reduction of second home
[3:11:33] ownership.
[3:11:36] The very people I feel
[3:11:37] Councilmember Ella Rivera is
[3:11:38] trying to support and protect
[3:11:41] are going to be hurt the most
[3:11:42] with the contracting business
[3:11:42] environment.
[3:11:45] This tax feels very punitive to
[3:11:46] not just second home owners but
[3:11:47] to the people who work locally.
[3:11:51] We are not a wealthy family and
[3:11:51] this proposal is not
[3:11:52] the answer.
[3:11:55] It hasn't worked well in other
[3:11:56] cities, often garnering far
[3:11:57] less revenue than projected as
[3:12:00] identified in the city's
[3:12:01] independent Budget Analyst
[3:12:01] report.
[3:12:05] Thank you for a no vote.
[3:12:06] >> Next a Zoom user if you can
[3:12:09] please unmute.
[3:12:14] >> Hi, my name is Diana
[3:12:14] Browning.
[3:12:15] I am totally against
[3:12:19] the proposed tax on vacant
[3:12:19] homes.
[3:12:20] People who spoke before me made
[3:12:25] good cases for the fact that we
[3:12:26] the city of San Diego will have
[3:12:29] to get involved in
[3:12:29] the inevitable litigation which
[3:12:34] could be costly and that other
[3:12:34] jurisdictions have not shown
[3:12:38] great success in impacting
[3:12:39] the availability of affordable
[3:12:43] housing.
[3:12:44] But on a personal note, let me
[3:12:45] tell you our story.
[3:12:48] The notion that many of these
[3:12:48] vacant home owners are wealthy
[3:12:52] and can afford the tax is
[3:12:53] totally unfounded.
[3:12:54] My husband and I are 87 and 82
[3:12:54] years old.
[3:12:58] We both worked and saved for
[3:12:58] decades.
[3:12:59] We've owned our house in old
[3:13:02] Scripps Ranch for 48 years,
[3:13:03] raised three children here.
[3:13:07] We also have a small home up
[3:13:08] near Seattle where we have
[3:13:08] other family.
[3:13:12] When we're out there our house
[3:13:12] is not vacant.
[3:13:13] It's occupied periodically by
[3:13:17] other family members.
[3:13:18] >> Please vote no to putting
[3:13:18] this on the ballot.
[3:13:19] Sorry your time has concluded
[3:13:21] although Maestro, if you can
[3:13:25] please unmute.
[3:13:30] Hi my name is Del Mastro.
[3:13:31] I'm a disabled veteran.
[3:13:32] I'm an ex blue collar worker on
[3:13:35] the senior year and I'm a small
[3:13:36] mom and pop landlord.
[3:13:40] This is being pushed through
[3:13:40] without being completely
[3:13:41] reviewed.
[3:13:48] I my issues with it is that in
[3:13:49] 2000 24th JANUARY I had a
[3:13:50] tenant give me notice.
[3:13:54] I was in such so much pain
[3:13:54] physically I had to have a hip
[3:13:55] replacement in MARCH.
[3:13:59] It took me longer than the 183
[3:14:04] days to be able to read to get
[3:14:05] my apartment up.
[3:14:08] The same thing happened for me
[3:14:09] in 2005 where I had another hip
[3:14:13] replacement not only need a
[3:14:13] knee replacement.
[3:14:14] Is there a way I can have an
[3:14:18] extension here if I have health
[3:14:19] issues?
[3:14:19] I'm a senior.
[3:14:20] I mean it shouldn't
[3:14:23] discriminate against disabled
[3:14:23] people or handicapped people.
[3:14:28] Most mom and pops or senior
[3:14:29] years and we have issues not
[3:14:30] being able to get your time has
[3:14:33] concluded after John Stump.
[3:14:37] After John Stump it is Tony and
[3:14:38] then 8700 John Stump please
[3:14:41] unmute I can't hear me for you.
[3:14:42] >> Thank you.
[3:14:46] I sent in a letter.
[3:14:47] This is a pure tax measure.
[3:14:51] If it was a housing measure
[3:14:56] housing would be the dedicate
[3:14:57] hated use of these funds.
[3:14:57] But of course there is no
[3:15:01] dedicated use of this fund.
[3:15:06] Please council members at least
[3:15:06] modify the proposal.
[3:15:11] So the fund is our dedicated to
[3:15:12] housing debt reporting on
[3:15:12] the actual number of housing
[3:15:16] units created by this occurs
[3:15:21] and that the audit of
[3:15:22] the number of housing units
[3:15:25] created by this tax.
[3:15:26] Otherwise you're pouring this
[3:15:31] tax into a general fund and
[3:15:36] it's going to disappear down
[3:15:37] the drain like all the other
[3:15:37] overspending.
[3:15:41] Thank you.
[3:15:41] >> Thank you.
[3:15:42] Next is Tony If you can please
[3:15:45] unmute.
[3:15:50] >> That also concludes the five
[3:15:50] minute time We're here in
[3:15:51] council chambers.
[3:15:51] There are 14 speakers in
[3:15:52] the queue.
[3:15:54] No additional speakers will be
[3:15:55] taken.
[3:15:55] >> Tony if you can please
[3:15:56] proceed with your comments.
[3:16:00] Hello City Council.
[3:16:00] Thank you very much for letting
[3:16:03] me speak with you all today And
[3:16:04] I want to start by apologizing
[3:16:08] to Councilmember Vivian Moreno
[3:16:08] .
[3:16:09] Yesterday I falsely attributed
[3:16:13] the credit that should have
[3:16:14] been given to you to Stephen
[3:16:15] Whitburn for supporting
[3:16:19] the empty House proposal in
[3:16:23] the committee last week And I
[3:16:24] wanted to speak today in favor
[3:16:25] of the measure.
[3:16:28] I also did want to address
[3:16:28] the concerns that have been
[3:16:33] raised in San Francisco and in
[3:16:33] Berkeley as well.
[3:16:34] I want to say that everyone's
[3:16:38] concerns about the litigation
[3:16:38] in Berkeley and and waiting for
[3:16:42] reservation for whatever
[3:16:43] happens there to determine what
[3:16:44] we decide to do here.
[3:16:47] I think we're missing the point
[3:16:48] .
[3:16:48] We need bold leadership.
[3:16:49] Now we don't need to wait for
[3:16:52] other cities to tell us what to
[3:16:52] do in our city.
[3:16:53] We that's why we have our own
[3:16:57] courts to decide those things
[3:16:57] for ourselves.
[3:16:58] >> And we need bold leadership
[3:16:58] to take action now.
[3:16:59] Thank you.
[3:17:02] Thank you.
[3:17:03] >> Next is 8700 If you can
[3:17:07] please unmute Star six turn
[3:17:12] mute.
[3:17:13] >> Thank you Joy from the cd
[3:17:14] three.
[3:17:17] I'm going to repeat what I said
[3:17:17] at Rules.
[3:17:18] I feel good about it.
[3:17:21] There are parts of this item
[3:17:26] that will only be clear as we
[3:17:27] implement and live them.
[3:17:30] Does this apply to all of life?
[3:17:31] Yet we must have the courage to
[3:17:35] take our leaps.
[3:17:36] Here is my main point.
[3:17:41] We are one people equals.
[3:17:45] We are one family in one San
[3:17:45] Diego.
[3:17:46] One family has one part of
[3:17:51] the money used to cover their
[3:17:55] needs in our city family.
[3:17:56] That includes all levels of
[3:18:00] income and revenue for sharing.
[3:18:04] For sharing with all San Diego
[3:18:05] homeowners are part of this
[3:18:09] family's assets.
[3:18:10] Let's do one step at a time.
[3:18:15] This is exciting on this item
[3:18:16] and if we get enough time has
[3:18:20] concluded the San Diego family
[3:18:20] moves this up.
[3:18:21] We try and if you can please
[3:18:21] unmute.
[3:18:24] After that is Francine Maxwell
[3:18:25] .
[3:18:25] >> Oh hi.
[3:18:32] My name We trained and I'm
[3:18:33] executive director of people.
[3:18:35] I'm one of kalinin to continue
[3:18:35] to attract my support for
[3:18:39] the ballot measure.
[3:18:39] Like I said a long time it's
[3:18:40] really difficult to build
[3:18:45] housing and the most thing that
[3:18:46] we can do is just ship a lot of
[3:18:49] the empty homes and make them
[3:18:49] make them available For many,
[3:18:54] many folks here And then I go
[3:18:55] and make it more affordable for
[3:18:55] them.
[3:18:58] Revenues increase so high none
[3:18:58] of that came in by home
[3:18:59] anymore.
[3:19:03] My friends are leaving the town
[3:19:04] and I really don't want them to
[3:19:04] leave.
[3:19:05] I don't want anymore about to
[3:19:05] leave.
[3:19:10] So please vote for days and
[3:19:10] support for that two and then
[3:19:12] put them on the ballot and
[3:19:13] thank you.
[3:19:13] >> Thank you.
[3:19:14] Next is Francine Maxwell If you
[3:19:19] can please unmute.
[3:19:20] >> Francine Maxwell District
[3:19:24] four in Opposition data can be
[3:19:25] manipulated.
[3:19:26] As we have seen before as it
[3:19:29] pertains to our trash free we
[3:19:30] had an outside attorney's I
[3:19:30] understand that was named.
[3:19:34] We have a plethora of city
[3:19:34] attorneys but we continually
[3:19:35] spend money to get an outside
[3:19:39] attorney.
[3:19:39] So again we are paying
[3:19:40] attention closely to how our
[3:19:43] tax dollars are being spent.
[3:19:44] When you look at this, this is
[3:19:48] going to be dedicated money for
[3:19:49] public safety because again we
[3:19:50] are one of the safest big
[3:19:53] cities and public safety is
[3:19:54] number one for all.
[3:19:55] So there is other ways that we
[3:19:55] can do this.
[3:19:58] And when somebody keeps saying
[3:20:03] that people are just so evil
[3:20:03] because they have to homes
[3:20:04] remember what it took for some
[3:20:08] people to purchase their
[3:20:09] parents home.
[3:20:12] And so they are also working
[3:20:13] two and three jobs and can't
[3:20:13] afford their parents home.
[3:20:17] But generational wealth starts
[3:20:17] with making sure that grandma
[3:20:22] and mom's house never gets sold
[3:20:22] .
[3:20:23] >> So please keep that in mind.
[3:20:24] Thank you for that concluding
[3:20:24] comment.
[3:20:25] Blair Beckman if you can please
[3:20:30] unmute high where we commenced
[3:20:34] this item Was it committee Last
[3:20:35] week I was in Maui learning
[3:20:38] about it and now back in San
[3:20:38] Diego and we're finalizing
[3:20:39] things.
[3:20:39] Good luck in your efforts.
[3:20:44] I think this is an important
[3:20:44] item.
[3:20:45] We're having an important shift
[3:20:47] in thinking that you're trying
[3:20:48] to develop a sense of care for
[3:20:52] our the people of our community
[3:20:53] and our society.
[3:20:54] I don't think anybody can fault
[3:20:58] councilperson Lapera and staff
[3:20:58] for what they're working on
[3:21:02] their goals their commendable
[3:21:03] really good luck in such
[3:21:03] efforts.
[3:21:07] I think we're trying to address
[3:21:07] San Francisco and that Oakland
[3:21:08] and Berkeley have improved upon
[3:21:12] San Francisco's ideas that that
[3:21:13] needs to be considered And I
[3:21:13] don't know quite what to do
[3:21:17] with the taxation issue how our
[3:21:18] founding fathers would view
[3:21:22] taxation versus an overall care
[3:21:23] for people that we're trying to
[3:21:23] offer for this item.
[3:21:24] Good luck how we can move
[3:21:27] forward in our human history
[3:21:28] and thinking of care as an
[3:21:29] important concept of our
[3:21:33] beliefs systems.
[3:21:33] >> Thank you.
[3:21:36] Next is phone number ending in
[3:21:39] 356356 and then after that evac
[3:21:45] 3856.
[3:21:46] This is Carol Shorter said I
[3:21:47] oppose this under tax on a
[3:21:49] residential real estate broker
[3:21:50] of over 40 years in San Diego
[3:21:54] loving this tax on likely
[3:21:58] nonresidents who have no voice
[3:21:59] in this conversation and they
[3:22:00] will have no vote is absolutely
[3:22:04] unconscionable.
[3:22:05] They already pay their fair
[3:22:05] share I for fair share a number
[3:22:08] of times they pay their fair
[3:22:09] share.
[3:22:09] It's all done on property tax
[3:22:10] valuation.
[3:22:10] Many of these people are
[3:22:13] recently purchasing They're
[3:22:14] paying over $10,000.
[3:22:14] You want to pay them another x,
[3:22:18] y, z amount arbitrarily.
[3:22:18] That's way more than their fair
[3:22:19] share.
[3:22:23] These are visitors to our city.
[3:22:24] What used to be like San
[3:22:28] Diego's Best Buy some you know
[3:22:28] Not anymore.
[3:22:29] Not if you're going to have
[3:22:32] this unwelcome mat at your door
[3:22:32] .
[3:22:33] I don't like where our city is
[3:22:33] headed.
[3:22:34] I don't think you have any
[3:22:38] right to tax second homes.
[3:22:41] What gives you the privilege to
[3:22:42] stand there discriminate
[3:22:42] against one group of people and
[3:22:46] you say to them oh you you
[3:22:47] people over here have to pay
[3:22:48] for our bad management.
[3:22:48] That's wrong.
[3:22:51] There's so many things wrong
[3:22:51] with that.
[3:22:52] >> Your time has come back.
[3:22:55] If you can please unmute I am a
[3:22:59] resident of d five and I am
[3:23:00] calling in to support this
[3:23:00] measure.
[3:23:04] I believe that housing is a
[3:23:04] human right.
[3:23:05] I believe that the city has a
[3:23:05] responsibility to ensure that
[3:23:09] its housing stock is being used
[3:23:09] by residents, by
[3:23:10] the communities, by people who
[3:23:14] are currently struggling to
[3:23:14] afford to live in
[3:23:15] the communities that they work
[3:23:18] in and serve.
[3:23:19] >> If somebody wants to have a
[3:23:20] second vacant home or have a
[3:23:23] vacation home or speculate on
[3:23:24] real estate, that's fine.
[3:23:25] That's not something the city
[3:23:28] will ever be able to stop.
[3:23:28] But I believe that the city has
[3:23:33] a duty to disincentivize it and
[3:23:33] if that goes to help provide
[3:23:38] more service is by giving a
[3:23:39] progressive tax measure that
[3:23:39] supports our general fund.
[3:23:42] I'm fine with that too.
[3:23:43] >> I live in this city.
[3:23:44] I benefit from the services
[3:23:44] here.
[3:23:48] Thank you.
[3:23:48] Thank you.
[3:23:49] Next is respect a bird rug If
[3:23:57] you can please unmute.
[3:23:57] Good afternoon.
[3:23:58] I'm Henry Bevins With respect
[3:24:03] Bird one in La Hoya along
[3:24:03] the coast.
[3:24:06] We're here to say build more
[3:24:07] first homes first and support
[3:24:08] the empty second homes.
[3:24:11] That's but pair it with
[3:24:15] the coastal height limit Update
[3:24:16] on the 2026 ballot.
[3:24:17] Don't be scared Taxing
[3:24:20] vacancies Managers scarcity But
[3:24:21] it does not end in the 1972
[3:24:24] Nixon era coastal height limit
[3:24:25] update will end scarcity.
[3:24:29] For 54 years this Nixon Arab
[3:24:30] law has used I-5 as a concrete
[3:24:34] barricade to opportunity west
[3:24:35] of the freeway.
[3:24:35] Coastal neighborhoods approved
[3:24:38] only 25 affordable homes in
[3:24:38] three years.
[3:24:39] That's just not fair.
[3:24:43] These measures are partners.
[3:24:44] One treats a symptom, the other
[3:24:46] treats a disease An artificial
[3:24:47] Watergate error 50 years
[3:24:47] scarcity of land.
[3:24:51] Please place both on the 2026
[3:24:51] ballot a draconian 30 foot
[3:24:57] height limit until these miles
[3:24:57] from the coast is simply not
[3:24:58] serving San Diego.
[3:24:59] Great turnout today.
[3:24:59] I hope people work on that.
[3:25:05] Thank you.
[3:25:06] Next is Looper Rogers If you
[3:25:09] can please unmute and for that
[3:25:10] will be Narcan and and cpm
[3:25:14] please proceed.
[3:25:14] Thank you.
[3:25:15] Oh the metric community
[3:25:18] advocacy Network is in support
[3:25:19] of this proposal.
[3:25:20] Thank you Council Member de La
[3:25:20] Ribera.
[3:25:23] Since we believe that it is
[3:25:24] time to address the housing
[3:25:24] crisis that the city's
[3:25:25] residents have been
[3:25:27] experiencing in these recent
[3:25:28] years people who are actually
[3:25:29] working and are contributing to
[3:25:33] the city.
[3:25:33] Please people don't choose to
[3:25:34] be poor San Diego and are
[3:25:37] stepping up and doing what they
[3:25:38] can to continue living in
[3:25:38] the city.
[3:25:41] It is difficult to hear of
[3:25:42] parents taking second shifts
[3:25:43] just to be able to afford rent.
[3:25:46] For many mothers this is their
[3:25:46] first time working but they are
[3:25:47] willing to step up out of their
[3:25:50] homes and work because they
[3:25:51] understand the reality that
[3:25:51] they are facing.
[3:25:55] This year we will start to see
[3:25:55] the effects of the many budget
[3:25:56] deficits happening at every
[3:25:57] single level and it is
[3:26:00] difficult to imagine to imagine
[3:26:01] how much worse the housing
[3:26:01] situation will get.
[3:26:06] That is why we asked City
[3:26:06] Council to vote yes on this
[3:26:07] proposal and let us have final
[3:26:09] say in the JUNE elections.
[3:26:10] Like many advocates, we want to
[3:26:11] see more housing for working
[3:26:12] class San Diego and thank you
[3:26:15] for your time and consideration
[3:26:15] .
[3:26:15] Thank you.
[3:26:16] Next is on If you can please
[3:26:24] unmute I, I want to touch on
[3:26:28] the fact that Joe LaCava talked
[3:26:29] on it in the Rules Committee on
[3:26:30] this Is that what will happen
[3:26:35] if somebody takes a house back
[3:26:35] they get it back for three
[3:26:38] months or if they have to
[3:26:39] renovate it then they have to
[3:26:42] list the home and then most
[3:26:43] first time home buyers are
[3:26:44] going to need 60 days for loan
[3:26:48] approvals for that particular
[3:26:49] seller can just go and sell it
[3:26:52] to a corporate nation.
[3:26:53] The idea this law should be put
[3:26:57] into place is going to promote
[3:26:58] selling your home to a
[3:27:02] corporation over selling it to
[3:27:03] a first time home buyer.
[3:27:07] This six month period is is is
[3:27:07] a wrong idea without any kind
[3:27:12] of extension for motivation For
[3:27:13] me I have health issues so I
[3:27:17] need to have an extension at
[3:27:21] times longer than 183 days.
[3:27:21] >> Thank you.
[3:27:22] Thank you, Nancy.
[3:27:28] If you can please unmute I can
[3:27:28] you hear me?
[3:27:29] Yes.
[3:27:33] Please proceed.
[3:27:33] >> Thanks.
[3:27:34] I'm Nancy with of your Families
[3:27:35] for Justice calling in support
[3:27:37] of the empty homes tax ballot
[3:27:38] measure.
[3:27:38] I also work in homeless
[3:27:42] services with staff who have
[3:27:42] previously and currently are
[3:27:43] experiencing homelessness.
[3:27:44] We believe housing is a human
[3:27:48] right.
[3:27:48] We are grateful for Sean
[3:27:49] Rivera's persistence in finding
[3:27:50] a way to address our housing
[3:27:50] crisis.
[3:27:52] We need both bold solutions and
[3:27:53] this is one of them.
[3:27:54] It's all the better By being a
[3:27:57] voter decision.
[3:27:58] We are a collection of families
[3:27:58] who are finding it almost
[3:27:59] unbearable to raise our kids
[3:28:02] here under the burden of
[3:28:03] housing and child care costs.
[3:28:04] Many of us wish to have kids or
[3:28:06] more kids but can't because of
[3:28:07] the inability to rent or buy
[3:28:07] bigger.
[3:28:11] But the commenters with two
[3:28:12] homes that have called in these
[3:28:16] wake up you are not suffering.
[3:28:17] You can avoid this by making
[3:28:17] your property available for
[3:28:18] short term renters or other
[3:28:21] ways.
[3:28:22] >> It's not occupied.
[3:28:22] Maybe even increase your
[3:28:23] income.
[3:28:26] Last but not least our budget
[3:28:26] woes could be quickly solved
[3:28:30] with public outrage over apd
[3:28:30] murdering and spending $30
[3:28:35] million of our taxpayer dollars
[3:28:36] until the time has concluded.
[3:28:37] >> Chris Gene, if you can
[3:28:40] please unmute.
[3:28:40] >> After that is Lyn.
[3:28:41] Christine Please proceed.
[3:28:45] Hi, I'm in District one.
[3:28:46] I don't understand why there's
[3:28:50] a rush to get this on
[3:28:50] the ballot.
[3:28:51] You guys have had ten months
[3:28:53] you've been working on it for
[3:28:53] ten months to get your
[3:28:54] propaganda out and everything
[3:28:54] else.
[3:28:58] You know people in opposition
[3:28:59] only have a few months to get
[3:29:00] the other side out So I think
[3:29:03] that's really wrong.
[3:29:04] I also believe there's going to
[3:29:04] be a lot of unintended
[3:29:05] consequences that come with
[3:29:07] this.
[3:29:08] People are going to be turning
[3:29:12] their homes The Airbnbs it's
[3:29:13] going to destroy neighborhoods.
[3:29:14] I don't think it's a good thing
[3:29:18] And I just I don't like
[3:29:18] the rush.
[3:29:19] Also currently right now in my
[3:29:22] area rent is 10 to $20,000 a
[3:29:23] month.
[3:29:26] That's going to go up because
[3:29:27] when you guys changed
[3:29:27] the zoning, the fire zoning now
[3:29:32] all of a sudden we've lost our
[3:29:32] homeowner's insurance.
[3:29:33] So we're probably gonna have to
[3:29:34] go with the fair plan which is
[3:29:37] anything but fair.
[3:29:38] It's expensive And if people
[3:29:39] are renting their homes out if
[3:29:41] they're going to have to
[3:29:42] increase the rent from 10 to 20
[3:29:46] to 20 to 30,000, it's not a
[3:29:46] good thing.
[3:29:47] >> Please vote no.
[3:29:47] Your time has concluded.
[3:29:55] Next is Lynn.
[3:29:56] >> Hi there.
[3:30:00] My name is Lynn and I'm a San
[3:30:01] Diego resident strongly in
[3:30:05] support of the empty homes tax
[3:30:05] .
[3:30:06] I've been in San Diego over 30
[3:30:10] years and I once owned a condo
[3:30:11] that I lost in the crash of
[3:30:15] 2008 And after that I.
[3:30:16] I could never seem to get
[3:30:16] caught up.
[3:30:20] As prices continued to rise
[3:30:23] etc. But when the pandemic hit
[3:30:24] in 2020 all of my friends even
[3:30:28] the ones that were somewhat
[3:30:29] poor like me became
[3:30:29] millionaires overnight who
[3:30:34] owned homes, anybody who owned
[3:30:35] a home even if it was a you
[3:30:37] know, 400 square foot hovel.
[3:30:41] Well, I spent the last five
[3:30:42] years getting worrying about
[3:30:42] getting kicked out of my
[3:30:46] apartment that I rent.
[3:30:47] So I've been checking into all
[3:30:48] kinds of things that California
[3:30:51] dream for all addus tiny homes.
[3:30:55] >> But none of those things are
[3:30:56] doable because of permitting
[3:31:01] and all that kind of stuff and
[3:31:02] I'm glad some of that
[3:31:05] concluding comment Janika after
[3:31:06] that is Doreen Diaz and she is
[3:31:06] our final speaker.
[3:31:11] Janika Falconer Hi, can you
[3:31:11] hear me?
[3:31:12] Yes, Please proceed.
[3:31:15] How can you to me anyway I am
[3:31:16] Janika Addie for resident
[3:31:17] people who live and work in San
[3:31:20] Diego know firsthand that
[3:31:21] the cost of renting and buying
[3:31:21] a place to live is sky high.
[3:31:24] Part of our housing crisis is
[3:31:25] due to big corporations and
[3:31:28] wealthy investors snatching up
[3:31:29] over 5000 homes.
[3:31:29] These empty second, third and
[3:31:30] fourth homes tighten Housing
[3:31:34] market and make it more
[3:31:34] expensive to rent or buy.
[3:31:35] San Diego can increase access
[3:31:38] to housing by supporting a
[3:31:39] proposed ballot measure that
[3:31:39] would tax big corporations and
[3:31:42] wealthy investors who are
[3:31:43] keeping homes off the market.
[3:31:44] This will encourage them to
[3:31:48] either put homes on the market
[3:31:49] for Sandy against to rent or
[3:31:49] buy.
[3:31:49] Increasing the supply and
[3:31:53] lowering the cost or pay a tax
[3:31:53] to generate revenue to build
[3:31:54] more affordable housing and
[3:31:54] infrastructure.
[3:31:58] Please put voters in control of
[3:31:58] deciding how revenue for
[3:31:59] affordable housing and other
[3:32:02] items are spent.
[3:32:03] Through public input,
[3:32:03] transparent oversight and an
[3:32:08] independent budget audit.
[3:32:08] Thank you for serving our
[3:32:09] communities.
[3:32:12] Have a good night.
[3:32:12] Thank you.
[3:32:13] Our final speaker is during
[3:32:13] Diaz.
[3:32:16] If you can please unmute.
[3:32:16] >> Hi.
[3:32:22] I am in favor of this.
[3:32:23] That has been fighting a vacant
[3:32:27] hold for five years.
[3:32:30] This home was a public nuisance
[3:32:31] since DECEMBER 2021 Code
[3:32:31] enforcement abatement.
[3:32:35] There was no action taken.
[3:32:40] The project 112833 also states
[3:32:45] that this lot is empty because
[3:32:49] dsd allows fraud with Diva llc
[3:32:50] and broker committing fraud
[3:32:51] saying it's an empty lot.
[3:32:55] But as I ask you this with this
[3:32:56] vacant property it can an empty
[3:32:58] lot get a demolition permit?
[3:32:59] And why would an empty lot be
[3:33:03] given a demolition permit and
[3:33:04] they lie in the application
[3:33:05] saying it's known to very high
[3:33:09] fines then no to code
[3:33:10] enforcement.
[3:33:14] These vacant home is a nuisance
[3:33:15] and anybody who can't rent a
[3:33:19] home has a problem.
[3:33:20] >> The delivery not wanting.
[3:33:24] Your time has concluded That
[3:33:25] does include public comment.
[3:33:25] I would just note for
[3:33:28] the record that we did receive
[3:33:29] four speakers in favor that did
[3:33:29] not wish to speak.
[3:33:30] One speaker in opposition that
[3:33:33] did not wish to speak and we
[3:33:33] received 20 comments in favor
[3:33:37] and 94 comments in opposition
[3:33:37] very comment form which have
[3:33:38] been distributed to
[3:33:38] the Council.
[3:33:39] Thank you.
[3:33:41] Council PRESIDENT.
[3:33:41] All right.
[3:33:42] Thank you City Clerk.
[3:33:46] Before we move on, please join
[3:33:47] me in thanking City Clerk
[3:33:49] Fuentes for managing as well as
[3:33:54] her entire team going forward.
[3:33:55] >> At this time you could clap
[3:33:59] Nobody.
[3:34:04] Anyway, it is not an easy task
[3:34:05] and her and her team do a
[3:34:05] fabulous job.
[3:34:08] We very much appreciated.
[3:34:09] Make sure everybody gets heard
[3:34:10] that wants to speak.
[3:34:13] Thank you all for showing up
[3:34:14] and speaking Those who
[3:34:14] participated remotely
[3:34:15] appreciate that as well.
[3:34:18] So now we'll turn it over to
[3:34:19] council members for questions,
[3:34:23] comments and entertain a motion
[3:34:24] and we'll start with council
[3:34:25] member Ella Rivera.
[3:34:25] >> Thank you.
[3:34:29] Council PRESIDENT Or say thank
[3:34:30] you to Mayor you and Molly for
[3:34:33] all the work that you put into
[3:34:33] this.
[3:34:34] Thank you so much.
[3:34:38] Thank you, Charles to you and
[3:34:38] your team for all the analysis
[3:34:39] that you provided Treasurer's
[3:34:43] office for their work and again
[3:34:44] the City Attorney's office I
[3:34:44] also want to say thank you to
[3:34:48] the folks who came down here to
[3:34:48] share your story.
[3:34:49] I think you helped ground us in
[3:34:52] what is at stake today and I
[3:34:53] could not help but notice how
[3:34:57] many young faces we saw here
[3:34:57] today.
[3:35:02] Um, the desire to just have a
[3:35:06] chance to live in this city is
[3:35:11] so strong and we need to
[3:35:11] encourage that.
[3:35:16] We need to make folks know that
[3:35:17] we are trying to give them
[3:35:17] again.
[3:35:20] No one's asking for a handout.
[3:35:21] No one here was asking for free
[3:35:21] housing.
[3:35:25] They want a chance to live in
[3:35:25] the city that they love and
[3:35:26] that they work in.
[3:35:26] We heard it from teachers.
[3:35:30] We heard it from firefighters.
[3:35:30] We heard it from students.
[3:35:31] We heard it from recent grads.
[3:35:32] And I so appreciate you all
[3:35:34] showing up here and sharing
[3:35:39] your stories And that's why
[3:35:40] home shouldn't be sitting empty
[3:35:43] during a housing crisis.
[3:35:44] We are making strides as a
[3:35:45] city.
[3:35:45] We've strengthened tenant
[3:35:48] protections.
[3:35:49] We've increased permitting and
[3:35:49] production.
[3:35:50] We've created tools to preserve
[3:35:53] affordable housing And we have
[3:35:54] an opportunity today to take an
[3:35:54] additional step and ask voters
[3:35:58] whether they want another tool
[3:35:59] that can directly help San
[3:36:00] Diego and stay in San Diego.
[3:36:03] The empty homes tax that's
[3:36:04] proposed would do two things
[3:36:04] that matter.
[3:36:05] First, it changes incentives.
[3:36:09] Some homes currently sitting
[3:36:09] vacant would are more likely to
[3:36:13] be rented or sold to people who
[3:36:13] actually live here.
[3:36:17] As a council we've celebrated
[3:36:18] breaking ground and approving
[3:36:18] financing for the development
[3:36:21] of 50 homes 75 homes, 100
[3:36:22] homes.
[3:36:22] And we should celebrate that
[3:36:26] every time we build a home we
[3:36:27] add a home.
[3:36:28] We relieve pressure in a market
[3:36:31] that has become a pressure
[3:36:32] cooker for everyday people.
[3:36:32] We cannot predict exactly how
[3:36:33] many homes will return to
[3:36:36] the long term market if this
[3:36:36] measure passes but we do know
[3:36:37] this incentives will change and
[3:36:40] homes will come back into use.
[3:36:41] And just like every new home we
[3:36:42] build, every home returned to
[3:36:46] the housing market is worthy of
[3:36:46] celebration because it opens a
[3:36:47] door to a family or a young
[3:36:51] professional that gets to stay
[3:36:52] in San Diego potentially even
[3:36:52] as a homeowner.
[3:36:56] The second thing it does is
[3:36:56] generate new revenue for
[3:36:57] general city services services
[3:37:00] that support housing stability,
[3:37:00] homelessness prevention and
[3:37:01] the basic infrastructure that
[3:37:02] residents rely on.
[3:37:05] They genuine win win for San
[3:37:06] Diego and for San Diegans.
[3:37:10] The overwhelming majority of
[3:37:11] San Diegans will never pay this
[3:37:11] tax because it does not apply
[3:37:12] to primary homes.
[3:37:15] It does not apply to long term
[3:37:15] rentals.
[3:37:16] It targets a narrow category
[3:37:20] homes left vacant for most of
[3:37:20] the year.
[3:37:21] Again in the middle of a
[3:37:24] housing shortage.
[3:37:25] I want to be explicit for
[3:37:26] the record I did this in
[3:37:26] committee.
[3:37:27] I'll do it again on a legal
[3:37:30] question that's come up in
[3:37:30] recent weeks regarding
[3:37:31] the Ellis Act.
[3:37:34] This measure does not require
[3:37:35] anyone to rent their home.
[3:37:36] It does not compel anyone to
[3:37:36] remain in the rental business.
[3:37:40] Nothing in this proposal
[3:37:40] changes The Ellis Act, changes
[3:37:41] eviction law or creates any
[3:37:44] right for the city or for
[3:37:45] anyone else to occupy.
[3:37:48] Private property owners retain
[3:37:49] the full right to keep a home
[3:37:50] vacant if they choose.
[3:37:53] What this measure does do is
[3:37:54] straightforward It sets an
[3:37:57] objective standard vacant for
[3:37:58] more than 180 days and says
[3:37:58] that if an owner chooses to
[3:37:59] keep a residential property
[3:38:02] vacant beyond that threshold
[3:38:03] during a housing shortage, that
[3:38:07] choice has a real public cost
[3:38:08] and a tax applies that is
[3:38:08] illegitimate exercises exercise
[3:38:11] of the city's taxing authority
[3:38:12] and is meaningfully different
[3:38:13] from what San Francisco tried
[3:38:13] to do.
[3:38:17] San Francisco's measures would
[3:38:18] strip San Francisco's measure
[3:38:19] was structured in a way that
[3:38:19] courts found effectively
[3:38:22] compelled rental of specific
[3:38:22] residential buildings.
[3:38:23] Ours is not that our scope is
[3:38:23] different.
[3:38:28] It's more carefully crafted and
[3:38:32] it exists in its exclusions and
[3:38:32] modeled closely on a measure
[3:38:33] which has operated successfully
[3:38:36] for over two years without a
[3:38:37] successful legal challenge.
[3:38:40] So while amateur legal analysts
[3:38:41] are throwing spaghetti at
[3:38:41] the wall because they know
[3:38:42] the people are broadly
[3:38:45] supportive of this proposal,
[3:38:46] the city's attorney's office
[3:38:46] with outside expert counsel has
[3:38:50] reviewed this carefully and I'm
[3:38:51] very confident in
[3:38:55] the foundation we built.
[3:38:56] I want to be clear about how
[3:38:56] carefully the rest of this
[3:38:57] proposal proposal has been put
[3:38:58] together.
[3:38:59] We work closely with
[3:39:00] the Treasurer's office and with
[3:39:00] people in the community to
[3:39:04] create a measure that is
[3:39:04] implementable.
[3:39:05] We took into account real life
[3:39:08] circumstances where a tax
[3:39:09] should not apply and I hope
[3:39:10] that some of the opponents who
[3:39:13] spoke today listen to this
[3:39:14] because some of the concerns
[3:39:18] were raised are not actually
[3:39:19] you're going to be exempt from
[3:39:21] this tax if a family member is
[3:39:22] living in a second home, that
[3:39:23] home should not be taxed and it
[3:39:23] won't.
[3:39:26] If a loved one has passed away
[3:39:27] and the family is navigating
[3:39:28] probate or cannot yet afford
[3:39:31] needed repairs, that home
[3:39:31] should not be taxed and it
[3:39:32] won't be.
[3:39:33] If someone is deployed in
[3:39:35] the military their home should
[3:39:36] not be taxed and it won't be.
[3:39:36] These exclusions exist because
[3:39:40] good policy has to be sensible
[3:39:40] and fair.
[3:39:41] While staying focused on
[3:39:41] the goal getting homes back
[3:39:45] into use for San Diegans who
[3:39:46] need them My priority is San
[3:39:47] Diego families its young
[3:39:50] professionals.
[3:39:50] It's the public workers who
[3:39:51] want to live in this city.
[3:39:52] This is one piece of a broad
[3:39:55] strategy to lower the cost of
[3:39:55] living and expand opportunity
[3:39:56] in the city.
[3:39:59] The opportunity before us today
[3:40:00] is straightforward.
[3:40:01] We can act or we can leave
[3:40:01] intact a system where thousands
[3:40:04] of homes sit empty while
[3:40:05] everyday people work their off
[3:40:08] just to afford a place to live
[3:40:09] .
[3:40:10] With that I move I move staff
[3:40:13] recommendation and authorize
[3:40:14] myself Councilmember Isla
[3:40:15] Rivera to sign and file a
[3:40:15] written ballot argument in
[3:40:18] favor of the ballot measure for
[3:40:19] inclusion in the voter
[3:40:19] pamphlet.
[3:40:20] Thank you Council PRESIDENT.
[3:40:20] All right.
[3:40:23] Thank you, Council members.
[3:40:24] >> So we do have a motion to
[3:40:25] move the staff recommendation
[3:40:27] that it's shown on the screen
[3:40:28] And we'll go next to Council
[3:40:33] PRESIDENT Pro Tem Lee Thank you
[3:40:33] Council PRESIDENT And thank you
[3:40:34] council member Ella Rivera for
[3:40:37] bringing this proposal forward
[3:40:37] .
[3:40:38] We all know that San Diego is
[3:40:38] facing a housing crisis.
[3:40:41] We need more homes as part of
[3:40:42] that housing supply.
[3:40:43] Yet many homes that could house
[3:40:47] San Diegans are sitting empty,
[3:40:48] built, ready but unused while
[3:40:51] families struggle to afford
[3:40:52] rent.
[3:40:52] First time homebuyers struggle
[3:40:53] to compete.
[3:40:56] And young people who grew up
[3:40:57] here wonder whether they'll
[3:40:57] ever be able to stay.
[3:41:00] That disconnect is what this
[3:41:01] measure is intended to address.
[3:41:02] At its core, this proposal is
[3:41:06] about fairness and responsible
[3:41:06] use of housing in a city where
[3:41:07] housing is scarce.
[3:41:10] Homes should be lived in,
[3:41:11] rented out or sold to someone
[3:41:15] who will live in them.
[3:41:15] What this measure says is
[3:41:16] simple If someone chooses to
[3:41:19] keep a home empty then they
[3:41:20] should contribute a little more
[3:41:21] to the community that makes
[3:41:21] that investment possible.
[3:41:25] If someone can afford to own a
[3:41:26] second home and not use it for
[3:41:29] any purpose they can absolutely
[3:41:30] afford to pay this tax and
[3:41:34] should importantly this
[3:41:35] proposal still leaves
[3:41:35] the choice with the homeowner.
[3:41:39] A homeowner can continue to
[3:41:40] leave the home empty and pay
[3:41:40] the tax.
[3:41:41] Or they can put the home to use
[3:41:44] by living in it, renting it out
[3:41:45] or selling it.
[3:41:48] This is why I view this as a
[3:41:49] very reasonable and targeted
[3:41:49] approach.
[3:41:50] It does not impact as
[3:41:54] Councilmember Isla Rivera
[3:41:54] mentioned, any primary
[3:41:55] residences or renters and is
[3:41:58] focused specifically on
[3:41:59] the roughly 5000 homes that
[3:42:00] already file an exemption to
[3:42:03] the city's rental unit business
[3:42:04] tax and identify themselves as
[3:42:07] a second home or vacation home.
[3:42:08] That list already exists
[3:42:12] doesn't require some audit.
[3:42:12] Many of these are likely owned
[3:42:16] by people who live elsewhere
[3:42:17] and are not part of our local
[3:42:18] housing supply.
[3:42:21] The measure also includes
[3:42:22] thoughtful exemptions for
[3:42:22] homeowners facing unique
[3:42:26] circumstances such as those in
[3:42:27] long term care or on military
[3:42:27] deployment.
[3:42:28] And I also want to thank
[3:42:28] council member Ella Rivera for
[3:42:31] taking our amendment a
[3:42:31] committee to ensure that
[3:42:32] the measure does not impact
[3:42:35] newly built housing.
[3:42:36] >> We appreciate the report
[3:42:37] provided by the aba which helps
[3:42:37] us to understand how this
[3:42:40] measure compares with similar
[3:42:41] policies adopted in other
[3:42:41] cities.
[3:42:42] And the end result is a range
[3:42:45] of revenue expectations that I
[3:42:46] believe gives voters a
[3:42:50] realistic understanding of what
[3:42:50] this measure can generate.
[3:42:51] That revenue MAY be modest but
[3:42:55] at a time when the city faces
[3:42:55] ongoing budgetary challenges,
[3:42:56] every responsible source of
[3:42:56] revenue helps support
[3:43:00] the services that our residents
[3:43:01] rely on.
[3:43:01] Ultimately, today's action is
[3:43:05] about giving voters
[3:43:06] the opportunity to weigh in on
[3:43:06] a focused and reasonable
[3:43:07] proposal.
[3:43:10] I believe this is a thoughtful
[3:43:11] step for us to place before
[3:43:12] the voters again in a housing
[3:43:14] crisis.
[3:43:15] Homes should be for living in
[3:43:16] not sitting empty.
[3:43:20] And for these reasons I'm proud
[3:43:21] to support this measure and I'm
[3:43:24] happy to second the motion.
[3:43:25] All right.
[3:43:25] So with that we have a motion
[3:43:26] by council member Ella Rivera
[3:43:28] and a second by Council
[3:43:29] PRESIDENT Pro Tem Lee to move
[3:43:33] the staff recommendation with
[3:43:34] the additional language as
[3:43:38] shown on the screen.
[3:43:39] All offer a few comments
[3:43:43] because I don't see anybody
[3:43:43] else on the lines of
[3:43:47] Councilmember Campos.
[3:43:52] Thank you Council PRESIDENT And
[3:43:53] thank you to the members of
[3:43:54] the public who came in at Rules
[3:43:58] Committee and today to express
[3:43:58] their views.
[3:44:01] And I appreciate the District
[3:44:02] nine staff for the work in
[3:44:03] bringing back a revised
[3:44:03] proposal.
[3:44:04] And I thank them for excluding
[3:44:07] tier three and Tier four short
[3:44:07] term vacation rentals.
[3:44:08] And the definition of an empty
[3:44:08] home.
[3:44:11] You know, I'm all ears on ideas
[3:44:12] that could potentially put
[3:44:13] homes on the market.
[3:44:16] And it seems that this proposal
[3:44:17] certainly would.
[3:44:17] And when this item came to
[3:44:21] the Rules Committee last week,
[3:44:22] I asked for one thing to help
[3:44:22] make my decision at full
[3:44:26] council a robust legal memo
[3:44:26] analyzing the taxes ability to
[3:44:27] withstand a lawsuit.
[3:44:30] I have not received it.
[3:44:31] It is hard to believe that
[3:44:32] after months of developing
[3:44:35] the proposal with significant
[3:44:36] similarities to a version
[3:44:38] that's been stopped in court in
[3:44:39] 2024 that there is no memo to
[3:44:39] share.
[3:44:43] When we have tight lines, tight
[3:44:44] timelines as we do today with
[3:44:45] less than one week between
[3:44:48] committee and council, we
[3:44:49] should rely on the analysis not
[3:44:53] just the conclusion to make
[3:44:53] responsible decisions.
[3:44:54] Councils past and present have
[3:44:58] relied on recommendations that
[3:44:59] ended up wasting staff time and
[3:44:59] taxpayer dollars without
[3:45:03] demanding the analysis first.
[3:45:04] I won't make that same mistake.
[3:45:08] Let me be clear that our deputy
[3:45:09] city attorneys are competent
[3:45:09] and diligent and dedicated
[3:45:10] public service servants working
[3:45:12] on the most important issues
[3:45:13] facing our city.
[3:45:13] i know this personally because
[3:45:17] I have worked with them for.
[3:45:20] As a council member for over
[3:45:21] five years and as one of them
[3:45:22] for two and a half years before
[3:45:22] that.
[3:45:26] But I weigh the potential legal
[3:45:26] viability and risk together
[3:45:30] with the net public benefit and
[3:45:31] the decisions I make no matter
[3:45:32] how compelling or urgent
[3:45:35] the motivation behind it is.
[3:45:36] And certainly there is an
[3:45:37] urgent and compelling
[3:45:40] motivation.
[3:45:41] I'm hesitant to vote for this
[3:45:41] today because I have not
[3:45:44] received the information I need
[3:45:45] to be confident in that
[3:45:46] decision and confidence in our
[3:45:50] decisions is something
[3:45:50] the public truly lacks these
[3:45:51] days.
[3:45:54] I wanted simple information to
[3:45:55] make the best decision for my
[3:45:56] constituents and I cannot in
[3:45:59] good faith vote yes today on
[3:46:00] the reasonable request I made
[3:46:00] last week has not been
[3:46:01] fulfilled.
[3:46:04] As stated earlier, there is so
[3:46:04] much at stake.
[3:46:09] I agree.
[3:46:09] And that's why moving forward
[3:46:10] without the final piece of work
[3:46:13] and perhaps the most
[3:46:14] consequential piece of work
[3:46:15] being done is inadvisable.
[3:46:20] Thank you.
[3:46:21] >> All right.
[3:46:21] Thank you.
[3:46:22] Councilmember Camp here for
[3:46:25] your comment.
[3:46:26] Again, not seeing anybody else
[3:46:30] on the lights.
[3:46:30] >> Okay.
[3:46:31] Well, I'll give you that extra
[3:46:34] time.
[3:46:36] Let me offer a few comments of
[3:46:40] my own and then maybe ask a
[3:46:40] couple of questions.
[3:46:44] So I do want to thank
[3:46:45] Councilmember Gil Rivera and
[3:46:49] your team for the good work in
[3:46:49] bringing this forward.
[3:46:50] I want to thank the aba for
[3:46:54] your in-depth analysis which
[3:46:54] this Council relies on and
[3:46:59] the candor you described in
[3:46:59] terms of trying to frame how
[3:47:03] much from purely a revenue
[3:47:04] point of view this could
[3:47:04] generate.
[3:47:08] I'm a little frustrated by
[3:47:09] those who throw the Bible under
[3:47:10] the bus when they don't like
[3:47:14] the numbers and then tell us to
[3:47:15] follow the debate carefully
[3:47:15] when they do like the numbers.
[3:47:19] But I do appreciate the good
[3:47:19] work you've done and the very
[3:47:20] thoughtful way in which you've
[3:47:23] approached it And I know
[3:47:24] there's more work to be done.
[3:47:25] Yeah, I have to get on to
[3:47:25] the ballot.
[3:47:28] I want to thank the city
[3:47:28] attorney's office for the good
[3:47:32] work that they did in helping
[3:47:33] to craft this language.
[3:47:37] And the one thing that I'm
[3:47:41] assured of is that the city
[3:47:42] attorney's office would not put
[3:47:42] something in front of this
[3:47:46] council for a final vote that
[3:47:46] not have had not been fully
[3:47:50] vetted in light of case law,
[3:47:51] federal law, local law, state
[3:47:55] law and litigation.
[3:47:56] I also want to thank all
[3:47:57] the members of the public
[3:48:00] whatever side you are on.
[3:48:01] You brought compelling
[3:48:05] arguments both for and against
[3:48:06] this measure.
[3:48:06] You were respectful to one
[3:48:10] another which as counsel
[3:48:11] PRESIDENT I certainly
[3:48:11] appreciate and I hear
[3:48:15] the passion in your voices.
[3:48:19] We face many challenges as a
[3:48:19] city and two of our most
[3:48:20] pressing are housing and our
[3:48:24] structural budget deficit.
[3:48:24] The Empty Homes Initiative is
[3:48:25] not a silver bullet in itself
[3:48:29] To solve these challenges we
[3:48:29] know there isn't one solution
[3:48:30] to make everything better.
[3:48:31] But let me be clear Every
[3:48:34] action we can take small and
[3:48:34] targeted big and bold is
[3:48:35] important.
[3:48:38] This measure has the potential
[3:48:39] to move us in the right
[3:48:39] direction by generating new
[3:48:42] revenue to fund city services,
[3:48:43] turning empty houses into homes
[3:48:44] for San Diego through some
[3:48:47] combination of the two and
[3:48:47] however this mix plays out.
[3:48:48] This is a good measure for San
[3:48:52] Diego and for San Diego.
[3:48:53] I also want to thank Council
[3:48:56] member Hill over here and his
[3:48:56] team for moving this proposal
[3:48:57] forward.
[3:48:57] Over the past several months
[3:49:01] for listening to stakeholders
[3:49:02] right sizing the initiative to
[3:49:03] the version we see today, I
[3:49:06] also want to put this measure
[3:49:06] in proper context because I
[3:49:07] heard a number of things that
[3:49:10] are a little bit at odds with
[3:49:11] reality.
[3:49:12] The fact is we all operate in a
[3:49:15] way driven by state, local and
[3:49:15] federal law.
[3:49:20] We also make decisions based on
[3:49:20] the tax code, the tax code,
[3:49:25] the federal and state tax codes
[3:49:25] is the very essence of driving
[3:49:26] the public's investments
[3:49:29] investments and financial
[3:49:30] decisions incentivizing their
[3:49:30] behavior.
[3:49:34] The federal tax code ironically
[3:49:35] in this conversation for
[3:49:39] example literally incentivizes
[3:49:40] empty second homes.
[3:49:44] How the tax code allows
[3:49:44] the owner to deduct mortgage
[3:49:45] payments, deduct a portion of
[3:49:49] property tax.
[3:49:49] This measure has
[3:49:50] the opportunity to level
[3:49:54] the playing field for the rest
[3:49:54] of us.
[3:49:55] However, the Empty Homes
[3:49:59] initiative plays out is in
[3:49:59] the hands of the empty
[3:50:00] homeowners.
[3:50:00] It is their choice.
[3:50:01] Pay the tax.
[3:50:04] Change Behavior.
[3:50:04] Offer their units for rent or
[3:50:05] sell the property.
[3:50:06] That's their choice.
[3:50:11] >> Many of those owners of
[3:50:12] empty homes tell us they
[3:50:16] operate in a certain way.
[3:50:17] This MAY be an incentive to
[3:50:20] slightly change how you operate
[3:50:21] as so many other laws and tax
[3:50:26] code provisions compel us to do
[3:50:26] so.
[3:50:27] >> Make no mistake every home
[3:50:28] that comes in the market for
[3:50:31] rent or for sale is something
[3:50:31] to celebrate whether it is high
[3:50:32] end or workforce housing.
[3:50:35] Every new unit that is
[3:50:35] available to San Diego is a
[3:50:36] win.
[3:50:36] This measure could bring
[3:50:40] hundreds of empty homes back
[3:50:40] into the marketplace making
[3:50:41] more homes available to San
[3:50:45] Diego residents.
[3:50:45] That's a win at any scale.
[3:50:46] This measure could generate new
[3:50:50] revenue.
[3:50:50] Even the low end estimate of
[3:50:51] what I hear now is 9 million
[3:50:54] per year will be a significant
[3:50:54] contribution towards our
[3:50:55] structural deficit.
[3:50:59] That's a win at any scale And
[3:50:59] if these homes are flipped to
[3:51:03] short term rentals, well that's
[3:51:04] new Totti that flows to
[3:51:04] the city budget as
[3:51:05] Councilmember Campo mentioned
[3:51:08] at committee and that's a win
[3:51:09] as well.
[3:51:09] So in closing, however, empty
[3:51:13] homes initiative plays out
[3:51:13] keeping that empty home empty
[3:51:18] and paying the tax.
[3:51:18] Changing the owners behavior
[3:51:19] based on the language of
[3:51:23] the ballot measure.
[3:51:23] Converting it to rental
[3:51:24] converting it to a short term
[3:51:25] rental or selling it no matter
[3:51:27] what choices owners make.
[3:51:28] It is a win for San Diego and a
[3:51:29] win for San Diego.
[3:51:32] So I will be voting to support
[3:51:33] the empty homes tax on the JUNE
[3:51:37] ballot.
[3:51:38] Sitting up here as council
[3:51:38] PRESIDENT.
[3:51:41] I hear a lot of things that I
[3:51:42] have to decide what I'm going
[3:51:42] to talk about.
[3:51:43] I'm a little bit disturbed that
[3:51:46] there is an implication in here
[3:51:47] that the city attorney has not
[3:51:48] responded to a committee
[3:51:52] members request for a legal
[3:51:52] interpretation.
[3:51:56] Now you would never ask your
[3:51:57] personal attorney to tell
[3:51:58] the world what your legal
[3:52:01] strategy is.
[3:52:01] That would be foolhardy And I
[3:52:02] think everybody in this room
[3:52:02] knows about it.
[3:52:05] It was very uncomfortable to
[3:52:06] listen to the questions at
[3:52:07] Rules Committee that
[3:52:10] essentially was asking the city
[3:52:11] attorney to resuscitate.
[3:52:15] That's not the right word.
[3:52:15] To repeat what their legal
[3:52:16] strategy is in defending this
[3:52:17] ballot measure.
[3:52:20] So I'm very concerned about
[3:52:21] the idea that is being
[3:52:21] represented in this chambers
[3:52:24] that the city attorney has done
[3:52:25] nothing since committee.
[3:52:26] They have done things in
[3:52:30] the best action that a city
[3:52:30] attorney should provide in
[3:52:31] terms of informing council
[3:52:35] members of a legal basis for a
[3:52:35] measure.
[3:52:36] You MAY disagree with that.
[3:52:36] That's okay.
[3:52:40] You can disagree with it.
[3:52:40] You can have your own opinion.
[3:52:41] We have attorneys on this
[3:52:45] council that MAY have a
[3:52:45] different interpretation.
[3:52:46] I'm okay with that.
[3:52:48] But to represent to this public
[3:52:49] that we have received no legal
[3:52:54] briefings on this measure is
[3:52:54] just frankly false.
[3:52:59] And I'm really disappointed by
[3:52:59] that.
[3:53:00] I'll leave it at that.
[3:53:00] But I will be supporting
[3:53:02] the measure.
[3:53:03] >> And we'll go next to council
[3:53:07] member Yvonne Wolpert.
[3:53:08] Thank you very much for
[3:53:09] the work and the presentation
[3:53:12] to council in the Oval Office.
[3:53:13] Thank you to everyone who has
[3:53:14] weighed in on this measure.
[3:53:17] I know it's been a lot of time
[3:53:18] and effort and thoughtfulness.
[3:53:19] I've heard from many of my
[3:53:21] residents not only in District
[3:53:22] five or across the city
[3:53:23] actually who have varying
[3:53:26] opinions on this on this ballot
[3:53:27] measure And some of
[3:53:31] the concerns that I did hear
[3:53:32] from residents are one not only
[3:53:33] we can't afford to live here my
[3:53:36] daughter became a teacher and
[3:53:37] she can't afford to stay in
[3:53:39] the city To folks who have a
[3:53:40] second condo in their parents
[3:53:41] come in to do childcare for
[3:53:44] their grandchildren and that's
[3:53:45] what they use it for.
[3:53:46] And so I've heard from all
[3:53:46] sorts of folks on this and I
[3:53:50] did have a couple of concerns
[3:53:50] that I'm glad have been
[3:53:51] addressed including our
[3:53:52] military service members.
[3:53:54] I have quite a few members of
[3:53:55] the military who live right
[3:53:55] outside of Miramar in my
[3:53:59] district and I'm glad to see
[3:54:00] that if they are deployed which
[3:54:00] is completely out of their
[3:54:03] control especially given
[3:54:04] the national events going on
[3:54:05] right now, this empty homes tax
[3:54:08] would not apply to their home
[3:54:08] while they're deployed.
[3:54:13] That's correct.
[3:54:14] >> Thank you Council everyone.
[3:54:14] Wolpert That's correct with
[3:54:15] the exclusion.
[3:54:17] Okay.
[3:54:17] Thank you.
[3:54:18] And I also have heard from many
[3:54:23] of my constituents are they own
[3:54:23] a second home but I have family
[3:54:26] members that live in that
[3:54:27] second home and they MAY not
[3:54:28] have a formal lease for
[3:54:28] example.
[3:54:30] Their children MAY come back
[3:54:31] from college for the summer and
[3:54:32] in the fall season and they are
[3:54:35] here more than 183 days a year
[3:54:39] but they don't have a lease
[3:54:39] with their kids.
[3:54:40] Maybe they should Maybe their
[3:54:41] kids are actually you know,
[3:54:41] should learn how to get into
[3:54:44] leases But my understanding is
[3:54:45] that there is a rental unit
[3:54:45] business tax exemption that's
[3:54:49] available for individuals in
[3:54:50] the circumstance where a family
[3:54:50] is using the home so that they
[3:54:54] can show what they're doing
[3:54:55] with their home.
[3:54:56] It's not an actual empty home
[3:54:56] that their children or their
[3:54:57] relatives are in it.
[3:55:00] So can anyone from your office
[3:55:00] or the city treasurer or anyone
[3:55:01] please speak to the process and
[3:55:04] what's involved in exempting a
[3:55:05] property or that has their own
[3:55:05] family staying in their second
[3:55:06] home?
[3:55:09] Thank you.
[3:55:09] I can start us off and if
[3:55:10] the Treasurer's office wants to
[3:55:11] chime in they're more than
[3:55:14] welcome to But you're right in
[3:55:18] the r u b t which owners of
[3:55:18] residential units they pay for
[3:55:23] the rental unit business tax.
[3:55:23] There's an exemption that is
[3:55:24] available for I forget what
[3:55:27] it's called in the rfp but
[3:55:28] there is an exemption for
[3:55:28] family members living on
[3:55:32] the property even if they don't
[3:55:33] have a lease even if they're
[3:55:34] paying less than the cost to
[3:55:34] operate the property And we did
[3:55:39] copy that same exemption
[3:55:40] practically into the into our
[3:55:44] empty homes tax as well.
[3:55:44] Okay.
[3:55:45] Got it.
[3:55:45] Understood.
[3:55:49] I don't know if the city
[3:55:50] Treasurer wants to weigh in on
[3:55:51] that now or later but happy we
[3:55:54] are residents will want to know
[3:55:55] what the process is to make
[3:55:55] sure that they are exempt from
[3:55:56] the tax If they do meet
[3:55:59] the qualifications of having
[3:56:06] their own family in their home
[3:56:06] .
[3:56:07] I have a link to I know I'm
[3:56:08] the business tax program
[3:56:08] manager with the city
[3:56:09] Treasurer's office So yes we do
[3:56:12] have a current exemption where
[3:56:13] the family member if a family
[3:56:14] was living in the property we
[3:56:18] have the exemption from we
[3:56:18] require to some certain
[3:56:23] documents for example like a
[3:56:24] proof of residence which could
[3:56:24] be like a bill utility bill.
[3:56:28] There's also the amount that
[3:56:29] that the property is being
[3:56:29] rented for.
[3:56:34] So that's we rented that land
[3:56:35] and in their owners owner's
[3:56:38] expense So if it's for a profit
[3:56:38] then it's not exempt.
[3:56:42] But there's a specific formula
[3:56:43] we use to exempt the homes and
[3:56:47] that will continue to run with
[3:56:47] it very quickly.
[3:56:48] And now we're talking about
[3:56:51] multiple exemptions at the same
[3:56:52] time.
[3:56:52] So to make sure so
[3:56:53] the exemption that was
[3:56:56] referenced there and and
[3:56:56] the Treasurer can correct me if
[3:56:57] I'm wrong there they're
[3:57:01] referring to the exemption from
[3:57:02] the rental business rental unit
[3:57:02] business tax, right?
[3:57:05] So we've got the exemptions and
[3:57:06] exemptions for this but
[3:57:11] the nuances of being able to be
[3:57:12] exempt from the rental business
[3:57:15] tax that we're just spoken to
[3:57:16] as well.
[3:57:16] >> Okay.
[3:57:17] Understood.
[3:57:17] Thank you.
[3:57:20] I appreciate that.
[3:57:21] Got it.
[3:57:22] So this is that I just read it
[3:57:23] knowing that if there is a
[3:57:25] homeowner who does have their
[3:57:26] children coming home for
[3:57:27] the summer or you know, parents
[3:57:27] coming in to help a grandchild
[3:57:32] care that will they will be
[3:57:32] able to use the existing
[3:57:33] exemptions and lohud to make
[3:57:35] sure that they're exempt from
[3:57:35] this tax when their home is
[3:57:36] literally empty.
[3:57:37] If it is empty you'd be a
[3:57:39] different discussion.
[3:57:40] Okay, Thank you.
[3:57:41] I appreciate that very much and
[3:57:44] I appreciate everyone who has
[3:57:45] weighed in on this since There
[3:57:45] are people who have very
[3:57:46] different opinions back and
[3:57:49] forth.
[3:57:50] But you know, we are in
[3:57:51] the middle of a real housing
[3:57:54] crisis here in San Diego and I
[3:57:54] do believe that big policy
[3:57:55] decisions like this deserve
[3:57:59] public input And I do support
[3:58:00] giving voters a chance to weigh
[3:58:00] in on the empty homes ballot
[3:58:03] measure.
[3:58:04] I've heard from too many local
[3:58:05] San Diego families who are
[3:58:08] struggling to find housing that
[3:58:09] they can afford and it's
[3:58:12] reasonable to ask whether a
[3:58:13] vacant second home should be
[3:58:14] part of that conversation.
[3:58:15] But I do appreciate that this
[3:58:17] ballot measure includes
[3:58:18] important protections for other
[3:58:21] San Diego families who are
[3:58:21] using their second homes to
[3:58:22] house their own family or to
[3:58:26] house their own parents who are
[3:58:27] coming in to make sure they can
[3:58:28] care for grandchildren other
[3:58:28] things.
[3:58:31] So since it would not apply to
[3:58:32] homes occupied by family
[3:58:32] members or properties that are
[3:58:33] vacant through no fault of
[3:58:36] the owner including military
[3:58:36] deployment disaster anything or
[3:58:41] inheriting a home suddenly due
[3:58:41] to a death in the family.
[3:58:42] I do think that this was
[3:58:46] crafted in a way to make sure
[3:58:46] that it only applies to truly
[3:58:47] vacant homes and this is about
[3:58:50] transparency and democracy And
[3:58:51] I believe that letting
[3:58:52] the voter decide how we address
[3:58:55] our housing challenges is
[3:58:55] appropriate and right.
[3:58:56] And I think that the goals of
[3:58:57] this are very important And so
[3:59:01] I will be supporting it today.
[3:59:01] Thank you.
[3:59:02] All right.
[3:59:02] Thank you.
[3:59:03] Council member Velma Alpert.
[3:59:04] We'll go back to Council member
[3:59:04] Campion.
[3:59:05] Thank you.
[3:59:06] Council PRESIDENT Respectfully
[3:59:06] sir, you and I are both bound
[3:59:10] by the attorney client
[3:59:10] privilege as members of this
[3:59:11] body regarding the legal advice
[3:59:15] we are given So I'm unable to
[3:59:16] respond to your assertion that
[3:59:18] you just made without violating
[3:59:19] that privilege.
[3:59:24] >> I'll just repeat the line I
[3:59:28] said in my comments We should
[3:59:29] rely on the analysis not just
[3:59:31] the conclusions to make
[3:59:36] responsible decisions.
[3:59:37] >> All right.
[3:59:38] I appreciate that clarification
[3:59:42] Not seeing anybody else but I'm
[3:59:42] sorry just on my very briefly
[3:59:49] my apologies Certainly the city
[3:59:50] attorney as the deputy city
[3:59:50] attorney is on this case As I
[3:59:54] pointed out, are diligent,
[3:59:58] competent and dedicated.
[4:00:03] Just to reiterate, I asked for
[4:00:04] a robust memo that went into
[4:00:04] some depth.
[4:00:08] You can see my comments at
[4:00:09] rules as to what that was
[4:00:09] asking for.
[4:00:10] That is what I have not
[4:00:10] received.
[4:00:16] Thank you.
[4:00:16] Okay.
[4:00:16] Fair enough.
[4:00:17] I'm tired of reading things in
[4:00:18] the paper that are not what we
[4:00:20] meant but how they get
[4:00:21] interpreted and that's
[4:00:22] the sandbox that we're all
[4:00:22] stuck in.
[4:00:25] So I appreciate your
[4:00:26] clarification.
[4:00:26] So with that I don't see
[4:00:27] anybody else in the lights.
[4:00:30] We have a motion by council
[4:00:31] member Ella Rivera that moves
[4:00:35] the staff recommendation with
[4:00:36] the authorization for himself
[4:00:37] council member Olivia to sign
[4:00:39] and file a written ballot
[4:00:40] argument in favor of the ballot
[4:00:41] measure for inclusion in
[4:00:44] the voter pamphlet and was
[4:00:45] seconded by Council PRESIDENT
[4:00:45] Pro Tem Lee.
[4:00:49] Clerk Please call the roll I'm
[4:00:50] sorry the voting system Please
[4:01:02] cast your vote that passes 8 to
[4:01:03] 1 with Councilmember Campos
[4:01:04] voting no Thank you Council
[4:01:04] PRESIDENT All right.
[4:01:07] >> Thank you.
[4:01:13] And with that final vote and
[4:01:13] final action we will now
[4:01:14] adjourn council to the next
[4:01:17] regularly scheduled council
[4:01:18] meeting on Monday MARCH 9th,
[4:01:23] 2026 at 10 A.M..