through
the All right, good
morning.
>> I will now call the City
council meeting of Monday, MAY
11th, 2026 to order.
Clerk Please call the roll.
Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT Councilmember
Campbell Councilmember Whitburn
here.
Councilmember Foster Council
Member Ron Wolper Present
Council PRESIDENT Pro Tem Lee
here Councilmember you here
Councilmember Moreno Council
Member Ella Rivera and Council
PRESIDENT LaCava present also
attending the meeting our city
Attorney Heather Ferber,
independent budget analyst
Charles Maka and myself your
city clerk Diana Fuentes thank
Council PRESIDENT Thank you
City Clerk The quorum is now
present.
We will begin this morning with
an invocation by Clark Fuentes
followed with the land
acknowledgment and the Pledge
of Allegiance led by council
member Vaughn Wilbur Grant.
Those who hold office in this
city the spirit of wisdom,
charity and justice that was
steadfast purpose.
They MAY faithfully serve in
their offices to promote
the well-being of all people.
We respectfully acknowledge at
the culmination or the original
inhabitants of the unseated
land now known as San Diego.
Despite enduring the horrors of
genocide and colonization,
the coming ice year remains
unbroken.
We honor the resilience of
their ancestors who fought to
protect their culture and land.
Today they carry their legacy
forward ensuring that their
traditions continue to thrive
and gratitude and strength We
see the combination connected
to our past and committed to a
thriving future.
Please stand and face the flag.
Ready to begin?
I pledge allegiance to the flag
of the United States of America
and to the Republic for which
it stands One nation under GOD
indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all.
All right.
>> So The Court Please go over
how the public can offer their
testimony.
Thank Council PRESIDENT I'd
like to highlight the screen
the slide on the screen that
reveals how the public can
offer their public testimony
during today's meeting.
If you are in person please
complete a speaker slip located
at the entrance of chambers and
bring it to the front of
the room.
No further in-person testimony
will be taken once the council
begins a virtual testimony for
better meeting management
purposes Each speaker will have
one minute per item per person
three or more items Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT All right.
>> Thank you.
With that please read
the closed session items into
the record.
>> Conference with Legal
Counsel Existing Litigation
pursuant to California
Government Code Section 5495
6.91 Is this one in regards to
national prescription opiate
litigation see us to is Cap Inc
at all versus discover
financial services at all
Discovery Card Merchant Class
action See us three is Matthew
Bradley versus City of San
Diego c As for Blanca Julio
Delgado versus City of San
Diego c has five County Water
authority and City of San Diego
versus State Water Resources
Control Board six six Shoji and
Ayako Matsumoto versus City of
San Diego and csf and Mary
Brown at all versus Joe LaCava
at all.
>> Thank you Council PRESIDENT
All right.
Thank you City Clerk And with
that please proceed with public
comment then Council PRESIDENT
There are no speakers here in
council chambers.
I've started the five minute
timer going to those
participating remotely when you
are unmuted Please let me know
which item or items you wish to
speak to.
Katherine Rhodes If you can
please unmute.
>> Hi this is Katherine Rhodes
and I wanted to talk on
the last two.
>> Please proceed.
You'll have two minutes.
Okay.
First of all for the trash fee
you know when we voted on it we
voted on something around
the $20 mark and now it's going
to, you know, 40 and pretty
soon it's going to be 50
something.
So I very much think that you
should take deal that Mike Gary
talked about previously and
what he said is we should just
go back to what you had on
the ballot measure.
That's perfect And we also
don't need a world class tree.
>> So Katherine is multitasking
muted But I'm and we don't need
I'm sorry we don't need a world
class trash lane for students.
We don't need a world.
I'm sorry.
We don't need the world class
trash.
Instead we could have what we
had before where we had one
week we had recyclable days in
the next week we had the green
cans for other things.
So I really think that you
should go back to what you were
before.
We don't need a world class
trash thing.
We just need our trash picked
up and we could do it.
We could also get rid of all
the people who go around ahead
of time and give people tickets
if they don't do their they
don't do the recyclables right
now.
So anyway, that's just such a
big deal.
Plus I don't think that you
know, you guys put in motions
to not have a mayor todd Gloria
City Council PRESIDENT Joe
LaCava and COUNCILMAN Rochelle
Ella Rivera to be part of
the you know, to actually
testify on how you came up with
all these numbers right here.
And so I actually think that
it's a it's a good deal for you
.
And then I heard also that
Kevin Faulkner and his group
will not try to get rid of
the trash fee for two years if
you actually approve it.
So thank you very much but
thank you.
Next is Hector If you can
please unmute please let me
know which item or items you
wish to speak to the trash fee
and then the hector trash fee
and the selling case with that
Hispanic guy.
>> Okay, two minutes Please
proceed.
Okay.
With the trash bins obviously
Got to get back to what it well
tell us and give out refunds
and then also in the trash I
would say don't have the county
collect that money to elect a
water bills where they can't
take the guy's house if he
doesn't pay the trash fee.
So that's that's kind of
inappropriate.
You know, it's just it's not
good.
And then I want to shout out
the couple council person
couple you took a racial slur
from some Mexican guy calling
him a banned day the other day.
I want to I want to give thanks
for not doing nothing about it.
You know, he took he took one
for the team and it wasn't it
was hot.
He was mad but did I think was
a racial slur or something.
Anyway, it could be just a
badge of courage And then that
was just on the side there And
then the on the when you settle
cases with people like the last
time you saw that the black kid
got shot and I think you should
took that to trial because I
think you guys were intimidated
We have another race or
something And if we did it if
he got off on it or you know,
we had to do something else
because that's just
intimidating.
You guys were intimidated by
that guy.
He was a 16 year old black kid
with a gun.
He ran the corner.
The cop was he was We tell our
cops to run toward the fire.
Maybe you still are cops.
Just sit back and watch and see
what happens.
He told the kid to run
the fire.
He runs.
You got to show cops your
hands, man.
If you run it from a crime
scene like we need to teach
black kids that like junior
high if you're running from a
crime scene gunshot to fire,
show the people your hands And
if you got a gun you might get
shot.
So he's old enough to have a
gun and nobody's ever busted
the guys that fired the shots.
Where are those guys?
I never heard nothing about
that.
So anyway, dope intimidated by
the lawsuits.
>> Thank you for my comments.
Our next speaker is the it is
the original Please proceed and
indicate which items you'll be
speaking to as many of them as
I can in three minutes.
>> Okay.
Please proceed.
Your ability to make decisions
regarding closed session is
significantly compromised when
you're unable to conduct
meetings legally blatantly So
not doing that, not having a
quorum and then deciding
several days later five times
after doing it in a row that
and potentially even more I'm
sure it was even more than I
caught but that all of a sudden
you need a quorum So when
you're suddenly making
decisions like that and
the reason why we're always in
litigation is because of your
willful negligence misconduct
mismanage management fraud,
waste and abuse The list goes
on.
I mean why are you even talking
about these and like that We're
doing something about this per
scription opioid opiate
litigation.
It's interesting because in
the city of San Diego drugs are
being done on a massive scale.
Fentanyl is being distributed
and you know, traffic in and
out of tent City in just
the city.
Police officers watch people do
it.
There's foil all over
the place.
So like you guys don't really
care.
You just want to make money off
the backs of people And that's
why you're doing this.
Discover Financial Discover
Card class action as well.
Any time you guys can jump on
the bandwagon but you're
hypocrites because you guys sit
here and you engage in fraud
with the people's money.
I mean you even say you want to
go against corporations when
you're a corporation that is
making the people's cost of
living go up.
So it's just crazy to hear
the double speak and people
praise you for what you're
doing And then the constant
litigation from tripping and
falling or a skateboard
incident from you know,
the infrastructure not being up
kept how many more of these are
we going to have to do And even
just like you know, drainpipes
not being kept all the you
know, $5 billion that you guys
need for storm infrastructure?
It's pretty ridiculous because
it's just like you just you
know, rob the people blind so
that we can not only get into
litigation because of your
negligence but also do other
things like you know, the trash
thing.
You know what you did is
constitutionally illegal but
you guys don't uphold that
anyway.
I don't even know why you guys
take an oath.
It's pretty crazy because right
in your face you blatantly do
things on people's face and
you're like Yeah, it's like you
I'm going to do it.
It's just not like that's how
brazen you guys are.
And then that leads to
litigation which cost
the people more money.
So hopefully at some point you
guys are going to course
correct and quit engaging in
like that And you know instead
of engaging in this litigation
why don't you go ahead settle
with the person and then course
correct and fix what you messed
up with with the whole trash
thing And you know, even going
into the fees here with
the water resources board like
you guys just cannot be trusted
with anything, not even
children.
And that's what's so sad.
It's like I mean just from
the least to the most you guys
are negligent.
Thank you for your comments.
Please note that the five
minute timer has concluded with
two speakers left in the queue
.
Our next speaker is Lori
Saldana.
Please proceed.
>> Hello, Good morning And a
bit of housekeeping for
the members who arrived late.
The mike is live when you
arrive in the chamber and
the public can hear your
comments they are audible
between when the meeting
actually starts and the time
you enter the chamber.
So just for I I'd like to speak
to see us four See us seven and
see us five please.
Okay Please proceed and see us
for this is a pedestrian who
trips on a metal storm drain.
I I have mentioned this in
the past in my comments that
the hazards presented to
residents of San Diego from
tripping and falling are not
just inconveniences and not
just monetary problems for
the city.
They can be life threatening
And I speak from the experience
of a member of my own family
who tripped just around
the corner from city Hall was
injured but not it was not
anticipated that the injuries
would would eventually kill her
within a few months And that is
what happened And that was my
mother And it's hard to
celebrate Mother's Day with
that in my mind.
But she tripped and fell on
the broken sidewalk and
the severity of her injuries
were not apparent.
They treated the most difficult
When she was bleeding profusely
They failed to notice some
other injuries that contributed
to her death a few months
later.
So these are not just
theoretical In my case when I
see these cases these are very
real Regarding Mary Brown and
the case on solid waste, thank
you Mike Aguirre for taking
this up and bringing justice to
ratepayers.
The city has a history of
overcharging rate payers when
it comes to basic necessities
and it is one reason so many
especially older adults are
losing housing because they
simply can't keep up with these
bills.
In 2005 the city was
investigated for financial
impropriety and it was
determined residents were
overcharged for basic water
services in violation of
the state's revolving fund loan
agreements.
So this is nothing new.
The city of San Diego has a
long history of putting
the burden of higher rates on
the back of those who can least
afford them as opposed to
charging industries and others
that operate for a profit a
fair amount and that includes
water, trash and electricity
things that every resident
needs and we cannot get around
paying for So I believe that
this is related to see us five
the state water resource
Control Board and this case
again the city has a long
history of these disputes
between the state regulatory
agencies and the fees and I
welcome and audit I welcome a
very thorough audit of the city
.
i realize as a result of
the cruel report from 20 years
ago that determined numerous
improprieties when it came to
city finances that periodically
I think every quarter century
or so having an outside auditor
go through the city's books
would be welcome And I hope
Mike Aguirre would consider
that as part of this settlement
You're going to go into closed
session.
These are cases that sadly
should be transparent, should
be discussed in front of
the public if not the terms of
the litigation then at least
how you came to your decision
making process and how you
missed the mark.
So badly in charging ratepayers
a fair amount.
Thank you for those comments.
Our next speaker is color with
the last four digits 8700.
Please proceed and please state
which class session item or
items you wish to speak to.
>> Thank you and welcome
aboard.
Joyce and I will speak on all
of them.
Okay?
Please proceed.
See as one pharmacy's in a
lumped together with a fiesta
and I'll say thank you for
opting into the fight against
big company power for us.
Three Skateboarding Safety
first and parental love and
guidance See for a trip and
fall Deer Public self advocacy
and so safety as six storm
drain pipe sinkhole I am very
concerned about the leeway that
was spoken about at the Budget
Review committee meetings last
week and now we will switch to
the discussion that was consent
that I just did so see as seven
which is solid waste management
fee Please be very diligent
about any fees and how they are
applied be as five which is
the if the c w a and the city
and the other the state thing
Good to see a partnership with
the c w a another c issue here
yet on a state level it's
regulatory so perhaps it's
going to be a tough fight with
the letter of the law involved
so blessings on that item Now a
question I think that covers it
all.
Question for you PRESIDENT On
the consent agenda compared to
how you usually do it at city
council meetings can you ask
the question are you supposed
to ask the question excuse that
word?
Does anyone want to pull any
item off consent?
So I don't know if there's a
different protocol for closed
session consent but I don't
remember through the years that
we ever had consent on
the closed session but for some
reason it's popping up into my
consciousness now that it's
there and I'm a little unclear
I should probably study that
But in any case thank you so
much.
Thank you City tv for
the beautiful, soothing,
calming music that's on the tv
screen.
Usually it's not that soothing
and calming so keep that up And
I had something else to say.
Well, it doesn't want to hang
in there.
Okay.
So thank you.
Have a beautiful week And last
week was absolutely lovely.
Great And I'm still processing
it So looking forward to what's
next Love to all.
>> Thank you for those
comments.
That does conclude closed
session Public comment All
right.
>> Thank you for that.
We will now recess in
the closed session and ring
reconvene council today at 2
P.M. Or shortly thereafter
.
Okay
.
>> And
then I
turn
back in
.
Good afternoon.
I will now reconvene the City
council meeting of Monday, MAY
11th, 2026 clerk Please call
the roll.
Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT Council
Member Campbell here Council
Member Whitburn here Council
Member Foster Councilmember Von
Wilpert Council PRESIDENT Pro
Tem Lee Council Member Can you
hear Council Member Moreno
Present Council Member Ella
Rivera Council PRESIDENT LaCava
also taking the meeting our
Assistant city Attorney Leslie
Fitzgerald Independent Budget
Analyst Charles Modica Council
Affairs Advisor in the Mayor's
office Kurt either and myself
your city Clerk.
>> Diana Fantastic and Council
PRESIDENT All right.
Thank you for that.
Let's so quorum is now present
Do we have any comments from
the mayor's office, council
member, city attorney and
the budget analyst or city
clerk?
>> Our City Clerk Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT.
I did just want to and good
afternoon to everyone.
I am pleased to announce that
once again my office in
partnership with the county
Registrar of Voters has secured
a ballot drop box for the JUNE
2nd election.
The ballot drop box is located
directly across from
the entrance to City Hall, also
known as a city administration
building.
Any county of San Diego
registered voter can vote using
these ballot drop boxes as
voters are not limited to
specific voting location in
the county.
That means those that live in
other cities such as Chula
Vista or Carlsbad but MAY be in
this area can use this ballot
drop box to cast your vote to
encourage the civic engagement
and increase voter turnout.
Your city Hall serves as a
convenient and accessible
voting location.
This ballot drop box I offers
ada accessible parking near
the drop box an accessible
entrance ramp and is located
adjacent to the Civic Center
Trolley Stop services by
the Orange and Blue mts trolley
Lines.
The central location is easily
accessible to thousands of city
and other government employees
as well as nearby workforce and
employment hubs.
The ballot drop box is
available for voting now
through Election Day on June
2nd.
I remain committed to working
with the registrar during each
election cycle to continue
providing a ballot drop box at
City Hall and the ballot drop
box will be locked at 8 P.M. On
JUNE 2nd and the ballots will
be collected by the Registrar
of Ballot Security Teams which
always consist of two staff
members working together.
The deadline to register to
vote for this election is MAY
18th.
After that deadline eligible
voters MAY still conditionally
register through Election Day.
Conditional voters MAY cast a
vote which will be processed
and counted once the registrar
of voters completes the voter
registration verification
process.
Voter registration forms are
available in multiple languages
on the first floor of City
Hall.
My passport and city connection
staff will be more than happy
to assist you.
There are also available in
the back of the room here on
the 12th floor and to register
online or check your voter
registration status please
visit sd vote.Com Please
remember to vote Thank you
Council PRESIDENT All right
Thank you City Clerk Not seeing
anybody else in the life please
go over how the public can
offer their testimony this
afternoon.
>> Thank you.
I I'd like to highlight
the slide that will be up on
the screen shortly that reviews
how the public can offer their
public testimony during this
afternoon's meeting.
The order can be found on
the agenda Summary The order
will be updated here today.
If you are in person please
complete the speaker slip
looking at the entrance of
chambers and bring it to
the front of the room.
Council ambassadors are
available near the entrance of
chambers and can assist with
questions and speaker slips.
No further in-person testimony
will be taken once the council
begins Virtual testimony Thank
you, Council PRESIDENT All
right.
Thank you for that as well.
I will note for the afternoon
session we have a new order of
the agenda items Item two to
the business improvement
district budgets will be done
First you can say thank you Now
item 12 for the 2006 26 land
development code or next then
the 12th item 203 the adoption
of the 2025 Urban Water
Management Plan.
Then the item 2a1 the Mission
to Improvements program and
then we'll close out
the afternoon with item 200
the Pavement Management
Management Plan which is an
information only item You'll
notice greater scrutiny by me
using my discretion as council
PRESIDENT To recognize
the attendance by city council
members and having the proper
order to make sure we get
the business that we must get
done to be done while folks are
here.
>> So with that please
introduce item 202 and 2 or 2
to the fiscal year 2027
Business Improvement District
Budget Annual appropriation
process.
If you'd like to speak on this
item please be sure to submit
your speakers up to the front
of the room in the clear box
And if you are participating
remotely now's the time to
raise your hand by pressing
Star nine or the raise your
hand icon.
>> Thank you Council PRESIDENT
All right.
Thank you for that introduction
and staff As you settle in
introduce yourselves for
the record.
Let us know how much time you
need.
>> Good afternoon.
Council PRESIDENT Lacob and
City Council members.
My name is Shawn placed in
small business engagement
specialist with economic
Government department.
With me today is Shawn
Kerrigan, program manager.
We respectfully ask for five
minutes The item before you
today is the fiscal year 2027
Business Improvement District
or bid budgets.
The city collects assessments
from businesses within bids and
contracts with nonprofit
associations to provide
technical assistance for small
businesses, promote
neighborhood identity and
attract customers to local
businesses.
>> The city's bid program is
authorized by the Parking and
Business Improvement Area Law
of 1989 in the California
Streets and Highways Code.
The intent of the program is to
strengthen small business
communities, create new jobs,
attract new business and
revitalize older commercial
neighborhoods.
This action relates to
the strategic plans Priority
Area.
Protect and enhance every
neighborhood The Business
Improvement District Program
supports dynamic neighborhoods
that incorporate mobility,
connectivity and sustainability
by fostering resilient and
economically prosperous
neighborhoods.
>> The city of San Diego has a
total of 18 active bids that
are individually managed by 16
nonprofit business associations
and one currently managed by
the economic Development
Department.
For fiscal year 2027 an
estimated $1.5 million in
assessments would be collected
from approximately 12,000
businesses located within
the districts shown on this
slide.
>> it association managers have
developed a variety of
successful strategies to
increase business and invest in
their communities.
Some districts choose to
strategically deploy
assessments to develop and
market their own unique
identity.
This is usually done through
large scale events,
neighborhood promotions and
targeted social media campaigns
to highlight assessment paying
businesses in the El Cajon
Boulevard bid.
They focus their resources on
amplifying outreach and
revitalizing unused areas in
the district to create new
business hubs.
The Oakland Boulevard Business
Improvement Association
internally staffs a support and
outreach specialist as a way to
strengthen relationships with
their businesses and resolve
business challenges along
the boulevard.
They also support their
businesses through placemaking
community activated lots
transform once vacant lots into
vibrant community gathering
places for 44 and pop up
Wenonah each attract over 1000
local visitors per week driving
over $1 million in annual
spending directly to
the businesses within a four
block radius.
All these metrics are provided
in the bid's annual performance
reports.
Bids are required to post an
annual performance report to
their website summarizing
activities during the fiscal
year and detailing revenue and
expenditures.
Each year the Council considers
approving a one year extension
to the agreement which includes
two six month periods per state
law.
The Council must take eight
actions over two council
meetings during the last
meeting.
Council appointed
the respective advisory board
for each bid.
Approved the 2027 budget
reports for each bid.
Declared the Council's intent
to collect assessments from
businesses.
And set today MAY 11th as
the notice public hearing date.
In addition inaction action was
added this year to allow
the Economic Development
Department to continue to
directly manage the San Isidro
bid including including waiving
sections of Council policy 900
Dash seven.
During this meeting the Council
will consider confirming
the actions taken at the first
meeting authorizing the city's
cfo to appropriate transfer and
expend assessment revenues.
Approving the Third Amendment
to the fiscal year 2024 bid
management agreements with
the nonprofit associations.
>> And authorize the mayor to
execute the contracts as part
of their agreement.
The Economic Development
Department works collaborates
with bid managers to better
understand each district
through metrics.
The metrics provided are for
fiscal year 2025 and provide
information regarding the ratio
of assessment versus non
assessment spending business
losses and gains.
Job losses and gains.
Vacancy rates and rental rates.
These are included in the staff
report as attachment f metrics
are also provided by other city
departments.
These include building permits
both applications and approved
public projects Private
investment and public
investment.
These are also included in
the staff report as Attachment
g.
Accountability provisions
remain part of the current
agreement.
These provisions include
the requirement of an
anti-harassment
nondiscrimination and inclusion
policy signed by all board
members and staff and
the requirement that all board
members and staff attend a
related training.
>> Also included are additional
conflict of interest processes
.
>> a final summary of Council
actions required for the fiscal
year 2027 Business Improvement
District budgets is shown on
this slide and we are available
to answer any questions you
have.
Thank you.
All right.
Thank you for the presentation
and the work that it takes to
bring these items forward.
>> Clerk Please proceed with
public comment.
>> Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT Sunny Lee if
you can please come forward to
the microphone after that.
Ben Nichols and then Blair
Beekman if you can all come up
to the yellow reserved seat and
then I have three who would
like to register a position in
favor but do not wish to speak.
You'll have two minutes.
>> Please proceed.
Good afternoon.
I am Sunny Lee, The PRESIDENT
Of the San Diego Beard Alliance
and executive director for
Discover Pacific Beach.
I'm here in support of our bid
budget and I also wanted to say
thank you.
Last week you all showed real
support for small businesses
and arts and culture and that
didn't go unnoticed.
I'm hoping that these programs
make their way into the next
version of the budget with
the support you all have shown.
Programs like asb and Arts and
Culture funding are not extras
for Aapis.
They are part of how we drive
business into our districts.
Support the small businesses
and keep our neighborhoods
active When our districts are
working, businesses see more
customers more activity and
that also translates into
revenue for the city.
So we're asking you to continue
that support and make sure
these programs are included in
the next version of the budget.
Thank you.
>> Thank you.
Ben Nichols Hello.
My name is Benjamin Nichols and
I'm the executive director of
the Hillcrest Business
Association.
The bid and programs are vital
parts of our neighborhoods
economy.
Just this past quarter we
launched a still fabulous
promotional campaign that
supports businesses through
the many public construction
projects occurring in
the neighborhood.
We also hosted a mother's Day
raffle a shop local raffle
campaign and next week we will
host our quarterly business
mixer.
There's always things going on
in Hillcrest and these funds
are a vital part of that.
But what makes this program
exceptional and the bid program
at large exceptional is that
for every dollar you invest
through the bid program we
raise an additional $19.
This kind of leverage is very
rare and it's why these
programs matter.
Please support this program and
the related small business
enhancement funding.
Thank you.
>> Blair Beekman Hi We're
Beekman for the change
the order of the meeting today
I have to I'm going to come in
and out of the meeting.
I got chores to do around
downtown today so I'll do that
and hopefully make it back for
the later part of the meeting.
Thank you.
That I think I heard
Councilperson Foster is around
here still and thank you.
He's back.
I wish him well And what he's
been going through Um, I.
I wanted to comment on this
item.
You know, it's my real hope
that with this item that you're
creating a sense of the parking
boards that were summarily
dismissed and sadly so
hopefully can have a place
within this new appropriations
process and that there can be a
clear respect and of ideas of
what parking needs for each
business district And along
with those needs a reminder
that the work I do with tec
accountability has been I think
can be really interesting to
business owners in and not only
the public safety aspect but
learning to balance public
safety with responsible
practices and learning that
combination uh that's that's
the sustainability that I've
been trying to learn and
understand better And I think
it's a community process and
neighborhood process.
It's interesting and for our
business community to have a
good sense of that and
understanding of not just
public safety but responsible
tech practices that's a good
combination That's really
building our future.
And thank you for your time and
Evanston.
>> Good afternoon.
Council PRESIDENT Council
Members My name is Evan Strawn
speaking on behalf of the San
Diego Regional Chamber of
Commerce and is here today to
support the funding for our
bids across the city.
Thank you to city staff for
your hard work on this.
Thank you to Council for your
support.
Small businesses are really
the lifeblood of our local
economy and so we're really
grateful for the support and
the great activities and work
that bids do as well as funding
that support small businesses
themselves.
So really appreciate your
support today.
>> Thank you.
Thank you.
I'm sorry the five minute timer
going to those participating
remotely starting with
the original.
Yeah, it's interesting to see
you guys.
Perpetrator So you care about
small businesses when they were
actively closing them down
during the days of covid you
know if they weren't, you know,
abiding by I mean you even got
rid of your own employees,
the police department it's like
and then you guys wonder why
things are like they are if
they weren't engaged in such an
of various acts to you know,
actively close small businesses
down and you know, pretty much
gaslight them at this point
acting as though you cared
about them You should have been
doing something to ensure that
they stayed open and not that
they closed down.
And when you guys engage with
NGOs or nonprofits they are for
profit and the problem is when
you contract with them they are
making money off of these bids
and the money that you are
allocating to them that you
know there is some that's going
to go to the community but
there's no you know, checks and
balances, no accountability and
transparency to see exactly
where the money is going.
It's as though you guys just
give it into these nonprofits
hands and kind of let them run
rampant.
I mean as you can see with
Dreams for Change in downtown
San Diego Partnership with Tent
City.
So it's like you know, it's
really hard to trust you guys
making sound mind decisions
when you have proven time and
again that you cannot be
trusted when you're allocating
money to different entities and
you kind of take out your you
know, accountability in it and
act as though you're immune
from anything if they're
engaged in it.
And that's the problem is that
you know, there's no way to for
the people to follow where
their money is going and ensure
that it is actually making
the communities better and
who's determining what needs to
go into that community.
If you have an ngo doing it
then it's like they're going to
be pushing a certain agenda And
is that exactly what the people
want or is that what they want
and are they getting money to
do it and then you know,
profiting off of it when it
should be all of it should be
going into the communities so
that it can be better and not
like it.
It's.
>> Thank you for that
concluding comment.
We're going to Andrea Epping
next and we're just updating
our slide to have the right
number You can give us one
minute Our apologies for
the delay.
>> Please proceed.
This is Andrea Ebbing.
I think the bids are critical.
We must invest in the bids.
I was in the Columbia District
when I was the marketing
director for w Hotels and
Starwood had me do a
qualitative quantitative
analysis of the Columbia
District over like a 6 or 7
year period for a $26 million
investment into a property in
the air and that's when
the Columbia District was kind
of being defined because little
Italy was so successful in how
they ran things.
And I feel like we have
obviously we have a budget
crisis but I've mentioned this
before it's like Todd Gloria is
an assemblyman trying to
operate the city as a
politician when it's a
business, you know what I mean?
Like we need to really look at
this as a business and drive
revenue And certainly there are
people and issues and human
rights and civil rights that
need to be met and addressed.
But in terms of driving revenue
and the investment, the bids
are where it's at.
I mean look what look what
the bid did for Little Italy.
I think you guys I'll see that
in agree.
But I think that you know, that
is going to be our key to
helping fix because because we
have a lot of we have a lot of
aftermath and fallout from all
the issues we've had recently.
So we're already all the way
down.
We need to have promotions and
we need to have like feeder
market promotions going on.
I often go back to the time we
had convoys when Joe Jersey was
running convoys and like one of
the things was just as an
example there was an Arizona
promotion where the investment
would be 300,000 and the return
on investment would be 5.2
million And in order to make
that kind of money when
the tourist or the person
arrives in our city they have
to have a great time not be
squeezed for every dollar for
parking be able to enjoy
downtown without feeling
threatened And you know it has
to be clean and safe.
So thank you.
>> Next is I phone if you can
please unmute everybody.
This is Jody Ruddick,
the executive director of
the La Hoya bid and I am so
excited to be talking with you
and apologize for not being
there in person.
It is not indicative of my
passion for this item so I
wanted to make sure that I got
a chance to call in.
I first of all want to thank
the economic development
Department for all of their
hard work.
Putting together these budgets
is no small feat.
So thank you to Christine, Bill
Blair and all of her team.
I want to thank you in advance
and optimistically for your
unwavering support of
the resources and
the commitment to small
business.
I know this has been an
incredibly difficult budget
process but lj VMAs success is
also a balancing act.
Like all of the other bids as
we work to meet the needs of
our nonprofit partners, our
cultural arts organizations and
of course our 1280 bed members
our community of young
professionals continues to grow
exponentially through our
monthly activities and events
and that is something that we
are incredibly proud of and we
are prioritizing as we move
forward.
As you know, our bid assessment
fees are fixed, event costs
continue to rise and funding is
on the chopping block Yet lj
Beam has continued to increase
services along with the other
bids.
When I hear the list of
programs, services and events
that are being put out by these
tiny nonprofit organizations,
it is absolutely overwhelming l
j v m a continues to connect
with our community our
nonprofits use other grant
funds to help us set actions.
We want to help you also do
your job.
We are committed to growing our
social media.
We're committed to telling your
story as a community and we
want to make sure that we are
there for you.
For example, hey by the si.Com
through some of the work with
some of our partners now
exceeds 60,000 unique visitors
a month.
That's not look Hoya story that
San Diego story it is a very
unusual time both in La Hoya as
we have groups of citizens
looking at your time has
concluded 8700 if you can
please and you star six if you
can please unmute Thank you Joy
to see the three As all of you
know by now I love the bids and
I am looking forward to
districts five, six and seven
coming into our bid Family.
Now I want to give you a red
flag because I know the Gaslamp
district bid I know how it
ticks.
I know how the energy comes in
and the top energy getter are
the conventioneers.
So my red flag is we've got to
put our arms around our
convention center and make sure
that we keep it vibrant and
cooking along because we need
them desperately, desperately
That's I don't like that word
but we need them to be our gym
In the Gaslamp District.
A bid to I'm going to I'm going
away Save that red flag for you
on this.
So thank you for listening on
that.
Now I love to focus on
the metrics and I know we're
very good at the quantifiable.
i'm going to research this at
some point on the call of
viable metrics because they're
subjective Of course at times.
So I'd like to qualify that
quantifiable and quantifiable
because when I first started
reading those performance
reports on the bids on my bid
downtown, I really sympathized
with what it takes to run a bid
and the challenges they face.
>> Some of them are really
enormous So it's not just
pretty on the top but there's a
lot going on that you always
have to look at and really
respect the bids So the metrics
are great qualifier bold ones
to see you know how it's
working on all levels and love
to what the five minute timer
had concluded No additional
speakers will be taken.
>> We have four speakers left
in the queue.
>> Jacqueline if you can please
unmute.
Good afternoon.
My name is Jacqueline Garcia
and the Executive Director of
the Diamond bid and
the Secretary of the Bid
Alliance And I'm here to say
thank you to city staff for
passing our budgets for
the bid.
They are super important and I
also want the public to know
that every single penny that we
receive for the bids are
accounted for.
We have checks and balances And
so it's really important to
know that the support that we
receive for the small business
in our neighborhoods is very
important in our districts It
really helps us do placemaking
resource classes for our
business owners a lot of
opportunities for different
people in the neighborhood that
are working really hard to make
it a better place and a better
San Diego.
So I just want to say thank you
to our bid alliance for showing
up today.
You guys are amazing and also
to everyone in the city who is
pushing for us to continue to
get support for programs like
Creative Communities and all
the grants that we need to move
forward for our dining, for our
shopping, for our small
business districts, arts,
culture, everything that we
have been talking about
the last few weeks are very
important Part of what happens
in San Diego.
So thank you very much and you
all have a wonderful day.
Thank you.
Next is Toni.
If you can please unmute.
Yes, hello.
>> Can you hear me?
Yes.
Please proceed.
>> Hey, thank you.
How's it going today?
City Council How are we doing?
Just wanted to thank
the previous caller I believe
her name was Jacqueline for
what she just said I was kind
of arrived late to the meeting
so I didn't get a chance to
hear everything.
I'm reading the agenda but as
I'm looking online I'm seeing
the business Improvement
District Alliance and reading
its purpose and with what she
said and combined to what I'm
reading right now it sounds
like a fantastic program.
It's super beneficial coming to
these meetings.
I just want to say for anybody
that MAY be listening there's
so many things that are
discussed at every meeting and
I'm really grateful.
I know I don't always we don't
always agree on every issue but
it's really beneficial Even
the things that I don't
necessarily agree with on
the surface I find out there
are nuances that I am grateful
for like the No Shots fired
program.
I think that's a great use use
of funds within this budget.
But anyway, getting back to
the bid budgets and and
the business improvement
district, I think that this is
exactly what our government is
supposed to be serving and this
is a form of public safety is
making sure that we have
economic justice right and
making sure that small
businesses don't don't face
the foreclosures that end up
becoming a blight on
the community when we have
empty buildings.
Right.
And none of us wants to live in
a corporate conglomerate town
where it's the same the same
layout of the city that you
could find in any other city
because it's the same handful
of corporations.
Our local businesses are what
make San Diego unique And if
our if our local government
doesn't step in to protect them
then we're not protecting those
that create the economic
opportunities that create
the stability they create
the safety that makes our city
great.
So thank you.
>> Time is concluded.
Kathleen, if you can please
unmute and then our final
speaker will be Michael
Tremblay.
>> Kathleen Lippert Yes.
If I'm here Sorry.
Thank you.
It's important that bids like
Discover work to improve their
partnership with community
members Recently one of
the representatives came to
City Council to speak in
support of a neighborhood bar
which has been the subject of
neighborhood nuisance problems
for decades.
It's admirable when they
support community friendly
alcohol license fees but
supporting pub crawls and other
high risk drinking events is
not in the best interest of
either their any of their bars
or or for the community
members.
>> tb ranks consistently in
the top three communities for
crime most with most violent
incident of being alcohol
related and occurring in bar
districts euphemistically
referred to as hospitality
districts.
But when people visitors come
to pub they do not want to be
fearful of walking at night and
being spending a lot of money
to spend in hotels that they
can't sleep because of the bar
noise and they and they have
the music that they play and
also the vulgar language that
is that is telegraphed
throughout the community There
.
Those are things that they
should be careful to do Be
careful to only sponsor and
support businesses that are in
the best interest of both
businesses and community.
Thank you for letting me speak
.
Thank you.
And our final speaker is
Michael Tremblay.
If you can please unmute.
Thank you Council PRESIDENT
Council members My name is
Michael Trimble and I'm
the executive director of
the Gaslamp Quarter
Association.
I'm here today to strongly
endorse the f y 27 Business
Improvement District budgets.
These budgets are critical to
the success of small business
community in the Gaslamp
Quarter and in
the neighborhoods throughout
the city.
Business improvement districts
provide direct support to small
businesses through advocacy,
maintenance, marketing, special
events and programs that help
keep our businesses active,
safe and economically vibrant.
I also want to reiterate
the importance of fully funding
the small businesses
Enhancement Program.
This program is not a luxury It
is a necessity for investment
into the small business
community.
When small businesses are
supported they generate
activities jobs, tax revenue
and long term economic
stability for the city.
I want to thank the Economic
Development Department for its
partnership and continue to
work in supporting the bids and
recognizing the value of
the small businesses in our
neighborhood.
The Gaslamp quarter's very
important economic cultural
area in San Diego and the bid
funding plays a vital role in
helping our businesses succeed.
So I respectfully urge to
support their 427 bid budgets.
And thanks very much for all
your support everyone on
the City Council.
>> Thank you.
Thank you.
And that concludes public
comment for this item.
>> All right.
Thank you, City clerk.
I will now turn it over to
council members for questions,
comments and entertain a
motion.
We'll start with Council member
Campo, the Chair of Economic
Development and
Intergovernmental Relations.
Thank you, Council PRESIDENT.
Thank you to our city staff.
Thank you for members of
the public who called in in
support of this this is a no
brainer Help small businesses
keep good jobs, improve
the local economy.
I move approval of the item.
Thank you.
All right.
We have a motion to move a
staff recommendation will go
next to council member
Whitburn.
Thank you Council PRESIDENT
Thank you to Chair Carpio As
was mentioned this is
the second part of the bid
budget allocation process We
approved part one last month.
District three is home to
the majority of San Diego's
bids and I want to thank all of
our business districts their
executive directors, all
the board members, the staff,
the politicians, all of
the individual businesses that
participate in those business
improvement districts.
Thank you for your continued
partnership and for all
the work you do to help our
wonderful neighbors
neighborhood succeed.
I also want to thank
the Economic Development Team
for all of your work in making
this complex process as
seamless as possible year after
year and I will second
the motion to approve the staff
recommendation.
All right.
Thank you, Councilmember
Whitburn.
So we have a motion by
Councilmember Campion, a second
by Councilmember Whitburn, not
anybody else in the lights.
I'll offer my thanks to Jody
Ruddick who called in from
the Lawyer Merchants
Association and of course Sonny
Lee who has double duty with
executive director of Pacific
Beach Bid and also the Bid
Alliance which I still call
the Bid Council.
So there you go.
I want to thank the setting for
her comments.
I appreciate her recognition of
the importance of bid and
economic development and I
don't know why I have to say
this every time we're just
giving money back to
the merchants and how they
choose to form their governing
board, how they choose their
executive director is up to
them.
So it's really their money and
they're deciding what to do
with it.
We don't do anything more than
that except for
the extraordinary support that
we give every single day to
help them navigate
the challenges that small
business have in today's
environment.
So thank you very much to
everybody at that participates
in that.
All right.
We do have a motion by Council
member Campion, a second by
Council member Whitburn
The move the staff
recommendation and clerk please
call the roll Sorry the voting
system Please cast your vote
that passes unanimously 7 to 0
with council member Yvonne
Wolpert and Councilmember
Foster absent.
Thank you Council PRESIDENT
Thank you City Clerk and thank
you again to the good folks at
Eddy So as they're departing
Clerk please introduce item 204
item 204 is the 2026 update to
the San Diego Municipal Code
Land Development Code and Local
Coastal Program Minor
amendments to the Downtown
Community Plan and General plan
and associated implementing
actions.
If you'd like to speak on this
item please be sure to submit a
speaker slip to the front of
the room in the clear box and
if you are participating
remotely now's the time to
raise your hand by pressing
Star nine or the raise your
hand icon.
Thank you Council PRESIDENT All
right.
Thank you.
And we got a bit of a turnout
here from city planning so
please introduce yourselves for
the record and let us know how
much time you need making
Covarrubias who would need 28
minutes for that item?
All right.
When you're ready.
>> Good afternoon.
My name is Megan Caribbean
senior planner with the city of
San Diego City Planning
Department.
And today I'll be providing an
overview of the 2026 Land
Development Code update.
Joining me today is city
Planning director Heidi Von
Blum, deputy director says
legend and principal planner
Courtney Pash.
Also joining me from dsd urban
division is deputy director
Bryan Schoen, Fish and senior
planner Jacob Basinger,
component of the Land
Development Code Chapters 11
through 15 of the San Diego
Municipal Code are known
collectively as the ldc.
These chapters cover land
development procedures the Land
Development Review process,
Zoning General regulations and
the plan districts.
There are 134 proposal
amendments 103 are dedicated to
city wide amendments and 31 to
downtown amendments.
The Land Development Code team
evaluated roughly 242
submissions from a variety of
different groups that are
highlighted on the screen.
In addition staff we researched
and reviewed state legislation
for inclusion in the in this
code update package on FEBRUARY
19th the Planning Commission
voted unanimously to recommend
to the City Council approval
the 2026 ldc update.
The motion included removal of
items 34 and 91 and additional
amendments to item seven
related to complete County's
Housing Solutions staff waiver
Item 17 Fire Suppression
Distance Item 39 to
the Mavericks Options Item 76
Affordable Housing regulations
for moderate income and I and
item 92 Residential development
and the Max Miramar Airport
influence area on MARCH 5th
Elion voted unanimously to
recommend to the City Council
of the proposed 2026 ldc update
which included return of item
109 and amendments to item
seven for complete community
housing solutions tiff waiver
to continue to give waiver for
homes under 500ft with the cap
of 30% of total homes on
the development provided that
at least 10% include three or
more bedrooms Item 87 privacy
conforming premises and uses
for city staff to work with
Council District six office to
refine the in lieu options for
requires street frontage
improvements for the previously
conforming regulations
The removal of item 87 an
amendment to the previously
conforming premises and use
regulations which was intended
to provide more flexibility for
lots with commercial or
industrial uses that were at
reason through a community plan
update by allowing additional
but similar previously
conforming uses in some
circumstances provided the lots
are outside the environmental
justice communities with
requirements to provide street
frontage requirements such as
wider sidewalks, street trees,
public spaces and other
improvements based on feedback
from alienate staff engage with
stakeholders who explore
additional options for City
Council's consideration.
Following these discussions,
the item and its associated
resolution were removed from
the 2026 ldc update at
the request of the stakeholders
existing previously conforming
use regulations will apply as
is moving forward Updates to
the code are grouped into five
categories you here see on
the screen align policy with
climate equity or housing
goals.
Second clarifications.
Third compliance with state law
for the corrections and
the last category Regulate
regulatory reforms in
parentheses.
The numbers of proposed
amendments are included in each
category.
First I will review changes to
the to the proposed amendments
to align the code with
the city's climate equity or
housing goals.
The next slide highlights
Select condominium items that
generate public interest, raise
questions during outreach or
required further violation.
While some of these items will
be reviewed here, additional
details on all items are
provided in the backup
materials before I begin
presenting on the citywide
items, I would like to point
out that the category that
the proposed item is associated
with can be found at the bottom
right hand corner of
the screen.
Item three includes changes to
the floor area ratio bonus and
commercial base zones to
encourage more mixed income
development by allowing an
additional point five floor
area ratio bonus for
residential makes use of
elements that provide all
required deed restricted
affordable homes on the site.
This amendment only applies in
commercial base zone star
located in mobility zones 2 or
3 within higher highest
resource areas as defined by
the California Tax Credit
Allocation Committee.
This would incentivize
affordable homes to be
constructed on site in high and
highest resource communities in
this city.
Item six.
Currently the complete
community Housing Solutions
only permits rental homes.
This amendment allows
the development for for sole
homes and provides additional
homeownership opportunities
across various income levels.
>> Item seven the proposed
amendment to the communities
Housing Solutions requires
certain conditions to be met to
receive a waiver for homes less
than 500ft.
At the time the full waiver was
fully adopted with the adoption
of city wide if all new homes
were required to pay the same
amount regardless of the size
of the home with the adoption
of city wide if all dif are
scaled based on home size
meaning the smaller homes pay
less than greater homes a
complete waiver of dif is not
recommended for smaller homes.
Since infrastructure
investments are needed to
ensure adequate public
facilities are provided which
is the intended purpose of
divide and step estimates, they
MAY result in the continual
loss of revenue for
infrastructure in the amount of
about 11 million annually.
The City Planning Department
initially proposed removing
the diff waiver from
the Complete Communities
regulations.
However, the Planning
Commission recommended the idea
for year for homes Less than
500ft continue to be applied
based on the Land Use and
Housing Committee's
recommendation Staff made
revisions to this item to
clarify that the diff waiver
would continue to apply to
homes less than 500ft provided
the development includes 10%,
three or more bedroom homes and
that the diff waiver is limited
to 30% of the total homes in a
development that are less than
500ft.
It is important to note that
the city currently still
provides a full diff waiver for
any deed restricted affordable
home meaning that these smaller
units would still be eligible
for a waiver if a deed
restricted was placed on
the home.
In order to be consistent with
the Mid-City Community plan
which calls for medium high to
high density residential
development and commercial uses
along transit corridors,
the Central Urbanized Plan
District needs to be updated.
The amendment proposal would
prohibit new moving and storage
facilities in specific central
urbanized commercial zones that
include c2-3 through c2-5 zones
to be consistent with
the Mid-City community plan.
This would not impact existing
storage facilities which would
be subject to the city's
previously conforming use
regulations.
This amendment is also
consistent with the city's
climate goals of encouraging
active pedestrian communities
and encouraging new housing to
be built, new transit to be
built near transit.
Now we move on to our next
category that comprised of 23
items within the code update
under clarifications.
Note that we will review some
of these items but that more
detail and all items are
contained in the backup
materials.
Item 11 amends the noise
regulations to clarify In
certain cases noise levels MAY
temporary exceed limits if
the activity or use is
authorized by a special event
permit development permit or
other permits or agreement
approved by the city manager.
This amendment clarifies
current implementation
practices.
Item 17 The amendment is meant
to inform development
applicants to fire defensible
space buffer MAY be required
that is greater than
the setback in the base zone.
Nothing in this section
increases the authority of
the fire marshal but simply
provides notice and applicant
that other requirements MAY be
applicable.
The Planning Commission
recommended that step insert
the defensible space qualifier
to the fire setback language to
differentiate between the two
different requirements in
the base zones.
City staff change the amendment
from fire setback to fire
defensible space for to address
the Planning Commission's
concern and increase clarity of
the amendment.
Item 18 in the plant makes use
of at least 50% of the project
floor areas required to be a
nonresidential use and
the remainder area MAY be used
for either nonresidential or
residential uses.
Live work quarters are
considered nonresidential uses
even though they provide a
residential component to
provide additionally additional
flexibility.
The amendment proposal
clarifies up to 5,050% of live
work quarters floor area can be
counted toward the minimum
nonresidential requirement of
the impact zone.
Item 25 Alliance Affordable
Housing Complete Communities
Housing Solutions and Dwelling
Unit protectant Protection
Regulations for Government Code
Section 663.5 By clarifying
that equipment size means that
the replacement dwelling units
must include the same total
number of bedrooms as the units
being replaced.
This is to ensure that families
occupying the protected units
can still qualify for
the replacement units Since
bedroom count determines
the affordability of
the replacement unit.
>> Next we focus on code
amendments that bring the San
Diego Municipal Code into
compliance with state law.
Again, we will review some of
these items but that more
detail and all items are
contained in the backup
materials.
Please note that the proposal
amendments simply implement
state law and do not go beyond
what is otherwise required by
item 39.
Tentative map align aligns with
ten of map regulations with
the Subdivision Map Act for
land zoned Industrial
Commercial development
clarified when a tentative map
is not required pursuant to
government code section 66426.
The Planning Commission was
concerned that mixed use zones
were not explicitly included
and therefore would not be
eligible for a tentative map
waiver.
City staff added language to
clarify that the tentative map
waiver would be allowed in
mixed use zones for development
that is consistent with
the subdivision map Act.
>> Item 40 allows for
ministerial approval of a
subdivision of a 210 dwelling
units allowed zone for multiple
dwellings that are five acres
or less to be compliant with
Senate Bill 684.
The state bill establishes a
streamlined approval process
for such subdivisions exempting
them from the California
Environmental Quality Act and
other requirements.
However, the application of
this amendment would be
excluded in very high fire
hazards severity zones wetlands
development with existing deed
restricted affordable homes and
rental homes.
Item 41.
Senate Bill 1123 Expands on
Senate Bill 684 that was
previously discussed in this
slide to allow for streamlined
subdivisions and single
dwelling unit zones.
The same site eligibility
restrictions for Senate Bill
684 and multifamily zones apply
to single dwelling unit zones.
However, this bill included
additional location criteria
that includes the site must not
be more than 1.5 acres and
located adjacent to existing
development.
In addition, Senate Bill 1123
allows for the creation of a
remainder law and requires lots
to be sold with a dwelling unit
unless they are reserved for
open space common area or a
remainder parcel.
The Land Development code
includes 19 items that fall
into the corrections category.
Again we will review some of
these items but that more
detail and other items are
contained in the backup
material of item 68.
This amendment to the airport
land use compatibility overlay
zone regulations would align
the code with the Memphis
Miramar Airport land use
compatibility plan by
permitting moving and storage
facilities wholesale and
distribution and storage uses
in areas with noise levels up
to 80db.
Provided that any associated
office or retail indoor spaces
are mitigated to achieve an
interior noise level of 50db.
Based on the recommendation
from the Planning Commission.
Vehicle and vehicular equipment
sales and services were added
as a permitted use but only
within Memphis Miramar Airport
influence area.
Since it is the only area that
currently identifies this use.
Now moving on to our last
category regulatory reforms
which is comprised of 22 items
in the ldc.
Again we will review some of
these items with more detail
and all items are contained in
the backup materials.
Item one The administrative
citations have not been revised
since 2007.
This amendment increases
increases existing penalties
which range from $100 to $1000
now up to $10,000 per
violation.
This is to deter code
violations.
Item 81 The administrative
payment penalties have not been
revised since 2007.
This amendment increases
penalties for causing or
maintaining a public nuisance
from $2500 to $10,000 per
violation and increases the cap
per parcel or structure from
$200,000 to $500,000 in a
calendar year To better reflect
current administrative and
investigation costs and to
better deter violations.
Item 82 Administrative or Civil
Penalty.
Penalties for code violations
have not been updated since
2017.
This amendment proposal raises
administrative civil penalties
for code violations to to
better reflect current
enforcement costs and serve as
a stronger deterrent against
noncompliance.
It maintains the maximum rate
of $10,000 per violation limit
while increasing the cap of
$400,000 to a $500,000 cap per
parcel or structure for civil
penalties imposed for general
code violations.
Code enforcement would retain
discretion to impose
appropriate penalty amounts
given the surrounding
violations.
>> Item 85 Project and
environmental appeal fees need
to be updated to accurately
reflect staff Time involved in
appeals are considered by
planning Commission and City
Council.
This proposed amendment would
increase the planning
Commission appeal fee from
$1000 to $1140 and the City
Council appeal pool fee from
$1000 to $2380.
The proposed amendment also
establishes a reduced fee
option based on the updated fee
amounts.
Appellants MAY receive a 50%
reduction from the newly
increased appeal fee if
the project is within a low
resource census tract area.
Identified by the California
Tax Credit Allocation Committee
at the time the application is
deemed complete.
These new updated fees reflect
the current estimated costs to
process these appeals ensuring
better cost recovery.
Item 93 This item allows child
care centers and the Marine
Corps Air Station Miramar
Airport influence area
transition zone as eliminate
use and establishes a maximum
floor area ratio of 0.42 for
the youth which is consistent
with other small assembly uses.
It also removes the expansion
limit for a child care centers
under previously conforming
regulations that no longer
apply as a result of this
amendment Because the msi is
Miramar Airport land use
compatibility plan prohibits
child care centers in
the transition zone.
Adopting this item would
require a city council overhaul
of the airport land use
Commission as provided under
state law.
Item 94 Wireless Communication
Facility regulations
streamlines the review process
by reducing the approval
process level for certain
wireless communication facility
applications through a process
for to a process through and
from a process three to a
process two.
This would allow timely
approval and avoid requiring
planning commission approval
while maintaining a
discretionary process with
appeal rights for the public
and applicant.
Item 1 or 2 proposes how to
calculate the vehicle Miles
traveled reduction measure
pilot fee for that for
development applications and
mobility zones two and three
that choose to pay the buyout
fee if they are unable to
implement the reduction
measures.
Now hand off the PowerPoint to
dry up passenger to discuss
the downtown amendments.
Thank you Megan.
There are 30 proposed items
affecting the Center City and
Gaslamp Quarter Plan District
ordinances which regulate land
use and development in
the downtown community plan
area.
One additional item proposes
minor amendments to
the downtown community plan.
The downtown items are
organized into the same five
categories as the citywide
amendments.
Most are minor clarifications
or refinements to existing
programs.
Over the next slides I'll
highlight some of the more
substantive items with more
information on all proposed
downtown items available in
the backup materials.
>> These first slides focus on
amendments that align downtown
regulations with climate equity
or housing goals.
Downtown zoning code includes
several incentive programs
designed to encourage
development in return for
public benefits or development
amenities.
>> Most of the items within
this category fall within these
programs.
Item one expands the existing
downtown eco roof density bonus
by adding an additional
incentive for projects that
provide a rooftop community
garden that is accessible to
building occupants.
It also encourages rooftop
landscaping to meet mechanical
screening requirements, giving
projects more flexibility and
supporting greener rooftops.
>> Item two streamlines
development in the downtown
coastal zone overlay.
This overlay is a small area
primarily located between
the railroad tracks and Pacific
Highway outside of the Coastal
Commission's appealable area.
For projects within this
overlay that provide public
benefits or development
amenities through existing
downtown for area ratio bonus
programs, this amendment would
reduce the approval level from
process to two process one.
Provided the project is
consistent with the local
coastal program and satisfies
required coastal findings.
Item six would encourage
development on small
underutilized downtown lots.
It would establish a new
density bonus and provide
limited regulatory exemptions
that address challenges
associated with tower
development on smaller parcels
.
>> Item eight would support
revitalization along c Street
by offering an additional
density bonus for projects
along the transit corridor that
also use at least one other
downtown bonus program.
This amendment would strengthen
incentives for higher density
transit supportive development
along the c Street corridor in
the downtown area.
Item nine would promote
preservation of existing mature
trees downtown.
This concept originated from
the 2025 City Council
Environment Committee which
found that downtown has lost
more tree canopy than any other
community because mature trees
provide greater ecological
benefits than newly planted
trees.
This item would grant a 0.2
floor area ratio bonus for each
mature tree preserved.
It would also provide options
for 2 to 1 replacement on site
or off site within the downtown
area or a payment to
the downtown for bonus fund for
public improvements in addition
to existing urban tree canopy
fund requirements.
>> The downtown items also
include 12 proposed amendments
in the clarification category
to make downtown regulations
easier to understand and apply
.
These items are fairly
straightforward and more
information is available in
the downtown update list and
draft code language materials.
The downtown amendments also
included one item to ensure
compliance with state law.
Item 22 would provide minor
amendments to the downtown
community plan to align it with
the current Center City and
Gaslamp Quarter Plan District
ordinances.
These are minor updates that
remove outdated references,
text graphics and images so
that the plan reflects existing
regulations and remains
internally consistent.
This would also amend
the city's general plan due to
the downtown community plan
being a component of
the general plan.
There are also three proposed
corrections included in
the downtown items.
Item 25 updates The Gaslamp
Quarter land use tables so that
its use categories along align
with the citywide use tables.
This would remove outdated
terminology improve code
consistency and make it easier
to identify permitted uses in
the Gaslamp quarter.
Finally the downtown items
include seven regulatory
reforms currently temporary
community focused uses on
downtown private property which
are referred to as outdoor
activities in the downtown
Patios.
Require a discretionary permit
which can encourage or sorry
which can discourage activation
of underutilized outdoor
spaces.
Item 27 would make these
activities a permitted use
downtown encouraging more
temporary community serving
uses such as farmer's or
artisan markets on private
property.
>> Outreach for the ldc Update
Updating a public comment
portal to virtual public
Workshops An overview video of
the ldc update to Community
Planner Committee meetings
three ldc Update Subcommittee
meetings and meetings with
three community planning groups
and one advisory board to
discuss specific ldc items
impacting their community areas
.
>> On JANUARY 27th the cpc
passed the motion shown here on
this slide to approve the ldc
subcommittee's recommendation
to the Land Development Code
Update.
Additionally the cpc met again
in FEBRUARY to amend their
recommendation for the 2026 ldc
update approval timeline.
We are here today presenting to
City Council.
Recommendation So staff
recommends Asian to the City
Council is approval of
the proposed 2026 Land
Development Code update and
local council program as well
as minor amendments to
the downtown community plan and
general plan.
The recommendation also
includes the adoption of two
resolutions and one ordinance
that includes amendments
the adu density Bonus program
community hands free adopt
minor amendments The vehicle
miles traveled reduction
measure biography with an
amendment to the Land
Development Manual Appendix t
and an ordinance to increase
fees for project and
environmental appeals.
Thank you very much for your
time today and this concludes
staff's presentation.
>> All right.
Thank you for the presentation.
All the work that it took to
bring this item and all
the public outreach that you
conducted to get this ready for
both planning commission ldc
excuse me l'ue and h and now
City Council with that clerk
Please proceed with public
comment.
>> Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT We do have
quite a number of speakers on
this item so you will be going
to one minute each If we can
start with Evan Strawn If you
can please come up to
the microphone.
Evan Strum here.
Okay.
Amy Fossett, if you can please
come up after that If I can
have the following individuals
please come up to the yellow
reserved seats up front.
John Allen Heather Riley, Mindy
Harston Jeffrey Shooter and Bob
Kozinski.
If you can all please come up
to the front row.
Amy, you'll have one minute.
>> Please proceed.
Thank you very much.
Good afternoon.
Council members.
My name is Amy Fossett and I'm
the PRESIDENT And ceo of
the San Diego building industry
Association.
And as you very well know, we
are still much in a housing
crisis.
And while the city has made
clear progress, it is critical
that we not take our foot off
the gas and retreat.
Anything less than an adamantly
pro housing philosophy that
said the package before you is
the product of an immense
amount of work from various
stakeholders including our
members in the Urban Council
who painstakingly reviewed
these amendments in their
different iterations.
Thank you to staff for working
with industry to identify
policies that needed more
vetting or hearing our pleas
for amendments in Planning
Commission.
We believe this is a better
update because of that in
totality This is a package that
we are proud to support and I
hope you will vote in favor of
its adoption.
Thank you.
>> John Allen Good afternoon
City Council Thank you for your
time today.
My name is John Allen.
Founding Principle of
Streamlined Development Group
and the Chair of Business Urban
Council.
We are charged with reviewing
and advising the organization
on city specific policies.
And we're highly active in
reviewing the 2026 Land
Development Code update.
First of all I'd like to thank
Heidi in the planning team for
their countless discussions and
willingness to dive into detail
.
It means a great deal to know
that there is a ready ear at
the city.
We want to say that the package
has evolved significantly and
is something that is largely a
positive addition to the city's
code.
It will benefit not only
builders but more importantly
everyone who is feeling
the pressure of the housing
deficit.
I'd like to add that we while
we support this package we're
eager to review these policies
Once adopted to continue to
refine them for the maximum
impact.
Specifically we believe there's
an incredible opportunity to
enhance our for sale
opportunities through code
improvements.
We commit to keeping this
Council and and planning staff
in front of our discussion.
>> In closing please adopt this
package.
Thank you Heather.
Good afternoon everyone.
Heather Riley with Alan
Mickens.
Today I'm actually here on
behalf of the Kids Bay Learning
Center.
They're the original proponent
of item 93 on your chart.
And this came up because of all
the changes you guys have been
so great at doing through
the community plan update
process.
We realized a very strange
quirk of the mcas Miramar
Airport land use compatibility
plan prevented child care in
the transition zones.
Nowhere else in the city was
that code change made.
>> It's a weird quirk.
We have no idea why it's there
but it doesn't need to be
there.
Particularly since the Kearny
Mesa and University plans are
encouraging m x and remix
zones.
So there's a lot of development
happening in that neighborhood
and we want to put childcare
where that development will be.
Many of you know my kids are
older.
They don't need child care But
this is personal.
I remember the stress when my
kid was in my stomach 19 years
ago and I was trying to find
daycare near where I worked or
near where I lived.
And it's not a stress We need
to have our families go
through.
>> So please support that
change.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mindy.
>> Okay.
>> Good afternoon Mindy
Hartstein representing t Mobile
And I'm very specific as to
the wireless proposed changes.
While we are supportive
obviously of many of
the changes that were in
equipment enclosure size
increase increase in
the antenna stand off distance
process review shifts which
allow for quicker review and
streamlining the process and
also a path for temporary
communication wireless
facilities.
We do have some concerns
centered on very specific items
.
We've supplied a letter.
Hopefully you've all received
that for consideration.
But one is the small cell
facility design which is more
restrictive than the fcc small
cell order and basically would
limit height and type of small
wireless facilities to only
light pole attachments And that
should not be the case.
>> I'm running out of time but
for a temporary community Thank
you for that Comments.
We've asked for a I do have to
be fair to everybody but thank
you for that Concluding
comment.
Jeffrey Tudor you have times
cited to you by and give it as
well as Yvonne Jones You'll
have three minutes.
Please proceed.
Oh okay.
Maybe you get maintenance on
this or get it into the budget
I think.
>> All right.
Council members so we don't
have a lot of input on this
year's land development code
update.
We interact with staff
previously in the process.
It's a fairly technical package
this year But I did want to do
is if you go to the next slide
just focus on one of the items
in here that MAY be
underestimated and 103 and
that's the small light
subdivision item.
This is a implementation of
something called the Starter
Starter Home Revitalization Act
.
And what it does is it allows
you to subdivide a lot and this
is ministerial in a sense It's
like sb ten but not something
we opt into as ministerial You
can create a subdivision of up
to ten lots.
The building on those can be up
to 1700 and 50ft and you can
subdivide down to a minimum lot
size of 1200 square feet and
that's actually consistent with
what for example we do with sb
nine.
The difference is is this
doesn't have a home ownership
requirement but what it does
but it is limited to our vacant
lots which is either there
completely empty or mostly
empty as it turns out with some
other restrictions.
There is a far flung area ratio
increase that comes with this.
So whereas on a typical single
family lot you would be allowed
say you know 3000ft of
development on a 5000 square
foot lot, this basically
doubles that to 6000.
So that far increase is not
insignificant.
And then there's also item 40
which does this for multifamily
lots But for the sake of
completeness I'll just skip
over that.
Go to the next slide.
This is basically what it looks
like You have a large lot maybe
it has one house on it and you
can subdivide that and now
create 11 parcels.
Yeah with ten new items.
Now go to the next slide.
And this is really what I want
to talk about.
This is all new restricted
vacant lots and it has
exemptions for certain
environmentally sensitive and
fire areas And we think that's
a useful part of this because
rather than applying it
everywhere in the city and
putting that development
pressure on every single
homeowner, this is only for a
certain and we've created a
market where people can come in
and develop these vacant lots
and a market where somebody who
just wants to buy a house and
live in it isn't facing that
competition from developers.
So we think that's an important
feature And the final aspect to
this is if you go to the last
slide is we have something
that's ongoing called
neighborhood homes for all of
us.
And rather than create a whole
new set of development
regulations for that program
but we would like to use is
that program to create
pre-approved plans for that
program.
Thank you for that Concluding
comment, Bob, because it's we
all know that real estate is
the most valuable resource in
this city.
It's obvious that this current
item reflects the ongoing and
continuous housing pressure
resulting from our ever growing
population.
If you ask your constituents
they will tell you that
population is the one problem
in this city that drives all
other problems.
Yet this city government
continues to conduct the city
of San Diego as a sanctuary
city worsening all of these
problems.
I suspect all members of this
council are suffering from
stage four Trump Derangement
Syndrome.
What other excuse do you have
for refusing to place
the picture of our PRESIDENT In
the place of honor on that wall
that had been reserved for
other presidents for decades?
Shame on each of you for
putting your personal politics
above the people of San Diego
Evanston.
>> Good afternoon again.
Council PRESIDENT Council
Members Again my name is Evan
Strawn speaking on behalf of
the San Diego Regional Chamber
of Commerce.
And really just want to start
by thanking staff for their
hard work Heidi Setting this
whole team It's definitely been
a labor of love on this whole
ldc update and really
appreciate their work in making
sure that this package which is
a lot of state law changes that
we don't necessarily have
control over still makes sense
for San Diego.
So really appreciate their work
appreciate the work of
the planning Commission,
the Land Use and Housing
Committee looking at all of
these you know, 100 plus items
and really were especially
supportive of the items that
promote housing throughout our
city that help revitalize
downtown, that speed up
processes for things like
outdoor dining establishments
and wireless communication
facilities and really help
promote small business growth
and housing opportunities
throughout our city.
So we encourage you to support
the ldc update as proposed
today.
>> Thank you.
Thank you.
Started the five minute time
ago one of those participating
remotely starting with Andrea.
We currently have 13 people in
the queue.
>> I'm Andrea Hatch and we had
Hayward withhold the hill.
I submitted a policy paper
titled Capacity before density
into the record for this item
The paper proposes that to
the extent not prohibited by
state or federal law the city
incorporates a sequencing
framework into implementation
of all discretionary and
ministerial housing schemas
including complete communities
density bonus programs, transit
oriented development programs
and future sb 79
implementation.
As I discussed Thursday night
during the Council hearing on
that matter, the central issue
was not whether low resource
communities should grow, they
should.
The issue was whether growth
occurs alongside sufficient
amenity investment,
infrastructure capacity and
economic diversification to
avoid intensifying existing low
resource conditions.
The state itself has now
acknowledged to sb 79
implementation options that
absorptive capacity and
sequencing matter in vulnerable
communities.
>> Thank you.
Thank you.
Next is Becky Rapp.
If you can please unmute Becky
Repp Academy for you.
>> Thank you and good
afternoon.
My name is Becky Rapp and I
just wanted to voice my support
for item 20 on the land
development Code update and
urge the city to strengthen
this ordinance even further by
expanding it beyond site
signage its cannabis on site
signage to include all offsite
cannabis marketing and
advertising.
If the city has determined that
the marijuana leaf symbol and
cannabis imagery are
inappropriate for storefront
signage then the same standards
should apply to billboards,
banners, event promotions and
other off site marketing.
The families and children see
every day these symbols
normalize drug use, target
young people through branding
and imagery and undermine
public health messaging about
the real risks associated with
high potency marijuana
including addiction impaired
driving and psychosis.
San Diego regulates tobacco and
alcohol advertising because we
recognize the influence that
marketing has on behavior.
Marijuana should not time
concluded.
>> Gary Hewitt.
If you can please and you.
Good afternoon.
My name is Gary Hewitt, chair
of the Downtown Community
Planning Council.
On behalf of the dcp, I want to
thank council and staff for
the collaborative process on
this general plan Update I
personally want to raise one
concern critical to
the downtown plan success.
This update continues to
support significant residential
development in downtown mixed
use neighborhoods something
that the downtown community
continues to support.
But the goal depends on
residents being able to
actually live in those homes
which requires enforcement of
the noise standards This plan
commits to.
Item 11 would allow staff to
administratively override state
and city noise limits for
special events and projects
combined with noise enforcement
already being downgraded to
alternative compliance due to
budget cuts.
This effectively eliminated
noise protections for downtown
residents.
The district pc has a live
entertainment permit I attended
this month.
It was now consider approving
it knowing that the applicant
won't be held accountable if
they violate the noise
ordinance.
Am The City council restores
restore noise enforcement and
reject the staff discretion
proposed in item 11.
Thank you.
>> Next is John Stump.
If you can please unmute.
>> Thank you very much.
I'm content to you to protest
item number 85 on page 16 which
raises the fees to file an
appeal to some two thousand
$480.
>> This is an amount that.
Severely discriminate against
people of median income in
the city of San Diego people of
color That fee should only be
$100 or something like that.
This is a disgrace And secondly
the policy should be changed So
that should a party prevail in
the appeal.
The fee will automatically be
refunded to them.
Come on you know if staff did
good work we wouldn't have to
have these fees.
>> Thank you very much.
Thank you.
Next is Craig Benedetto If you
can please unmute.
Good afternoon Craig Benedetto
I'm here today representing Day
Out San Diego the Commercial
Real Estate Development
Association speaking in support
of the staff recommendation for
the 2026 Land Development Code
update I'd like to thank
the entire Planning Department
team for their efforts in
developing this latest
addition.
>> Staff spent countless
countless hours with
stakeholders throughout
the city to help develop
the list and refine
the provisions.
In some cases items were
removed and others changes were
made that will ultimately
improve our city's code for
the betterment of our city.
In closing, we appreciate
staff's consideration of our
members perspective in
developing these updates and
respectfully request council
approval of the staff
recommendation.
>> Thank you.
Thank you.
During.
If you can please unmute during
this.
Oh thank you.
I, I really hope that this
council would pull item 41 and
figure out a way that you will
enforce the non removal because
your dsd department as
evidenced by Project 1128933.
Where developers falsely lie
that the lot is empty So I'd
like to know how you actually
enforce non removal of these
rentals.
Second thing is item 97 should
be this they have not contacted
any.
88 groups relocating assessable
parking is unacceptable and all
it's going to do is redo
another lawsuit hopefully a
very late in 80 and you guys
still haven't even read reads
all some ada issues that are in
existence for 88 parking on
Market Street.
Thank you next is Catherine
Rose if I have my time I also
concluded there were nine
speakers in the queue and that
included no additional speakers
will be taken.
Catherine please proceed.
>> Hi.
Hi.
This is Catherine Roach and i
want to talk about the fees for
appeals.
You know I did an p bill for
the Navy Broadway complex
because I thought there was an
active fault on it and even
with the appeals nothing ever
happened.
Nobody ever confirmed or denied
the act defaulting.
And so just to increase
the appeal so that people can't
afford them.
That's not cute.
You should you should want as
many appeals as possible so you
could know what the dangers are
.
So I don't like that One thing
that I was very concerned about
is you're talking about how you
could increase the height in
mobility zone one and then you
have to go to another thing to
say mobility zone one is
downtown.
I would like if you actually
put the word downtown in there.
When you talk about mobility
zone one so people don't get
confused like I did and then it
started in on page eight 142 of
211 You talk about
the exchanges for affordable
housing dwelling units and in
some Gary time has concluded
the original if you can please
unmute.
>> You think these changes are
going to be your key to
success?
I highly doubt it because it
seems like you're more
concerned about following state
law when you're a charter city
and you But I mean obviously
you do things because you want
to bite the hand that they do
in your concern that you're not
going to be getting your money
coming in from different
things.
But if you really cared about
putting into people's
communities what the people
wanted, you wouldn't be
concerned about following state
law.
You'd be concerned about
following what the people in
our communities are desiring
And it seems like you guys are
constantly getting in your own
way to providing the things
that need to be provided but
also your implement you know
changes that are going to force
others to do the work in
the communities that you can't
do yourself by way of making it
a requirement Bill And it's
interesting that you guys have
density bonuses but you also
have density fees.
The fact that you're using
vehicle miles traveled when
that is a fraudulent data point
and that shouldn't even be
something that's included And
you guys just really need to
think about what the community
wants over what the state is
requiring.
>> Your time is concluded.
Tell me if you can please
unmute Tony Academy for you.
>> I will need to move on to
the next speaker If you can't
unmute for yourself going on to
Peggy Walker if you can please
unmute.
Thank you.
I endorse strict strengthening
of language regarding onsite
advertising and I'm prohibiting
the marijuana live or colored
images on buildings That's good
policy and suggest extending
those to uptake marketing
including prohibition of
billboards as we do with
tobacco when recent federal
rescheduling of marijuana is
creating confusion and this
will help reduce misconceptions
about marijuana safety and
medical utility, medical
societies still do not endorse
dispensary pot for medical or
mental health treatment.
Nevertheless, advertising
regulations enable
manufacturers to exaggerate
therapeutic uses and downplay
harms especially to vulnerable
populations including youths.
We can choose how we allow weak
to be marketed in our
communities prohibition of
marijuana billboards and
stronger advertising
restrictions will help us.
Conclusion Thank you 8700 If
you can please unmute.
Thank you Joy.
It's your turn 53 Heidi I
support updates to the appeal
fees for project and
environmental appeals
especially environmental
appeals in regards to
the downtown plan Yes to
transit oriented items.
Yes to tree canopy.
And then my last statement is
again to you Heidi, please.
We do we need to update any new
codes land development codes in
the future to bring all in
alignment with sb seven nine,
the transit oriented housing
project item I.E. Include fees
and there's lots of other stuff
presently cover.
You didn't say it the way I did
but you did bring up
the question last week Your
time has concluded.
Sorry Hector if you can please
unmute Hector you're pretty
complicated on all these codes
but the city should implement a
land development code or
municipal code or if you rent
out to illegal aliens you can
get a fine like a $10,000
because we're going to have a
mass rapid deportation program
coming up with Trump.
It's going to hit the county
and city pretty hard And we've
got to do our part.
And just if you rent out to
illegal aliens or you're
involved in that like a
landlord, we can find a ten
grand or maybe take your
property or something like that
because we got to even even
the governor said now that
the Medi-Cal program is
bankrupt with all these medical
patients taking over the state
and Governor knew something was
behind it.
So eventually we're going to
have to come up with the Mass
Rapid Deportation Committee and
move forward and get San Diego
back to be in Great again.
Thank you.
Blair begin if you can please
unmute where we can.
>> I often feel like an illegal
alien in the public process to
try to offer my $0.02 Here I am
when I can with downtown
issues.
I really like the public
comment.
Thank you.
I'm concerned on ideas.
Council PRESIDENT Carver made a
very nice comment on
the previous item how
the appropriation boards can
work if applicable.
I'm hoping it's possible that
economic development persons
can possibly be attending
the meetings more if that's
applicable Appropriations
meetings.
Good luck with that and good
luck with a public process to
define our future of these sort
of issues.
You know I'm really hurt that
the parking ban it really
excludes the public process
like what we can be doing with
that and with downtown I hope
we can keep our buildings
parking accessibility is being
taken away.
I feel that could be a part of
the solution.
Thank you.
Medicine if you can please On
you I thank you.
I wanted to say that I support
the proposed update to prohibit
the cannabis leaf symbol on
cannabis outlet signage.
As a mom of three and someone
who works in youth drug
prevention, I've seen how
recognizable that symbol has
become to kids and teens
displaying a prominently near
restaurants, schools, parks or
along our streets normalizes
cannabis use and increases
youth exposure to a mind
altering substance.
I also believe that marijuana
billboards should not be
allowed for the same reason
Large scale advertising further
promotes and normalizes
cannabis use in ways that
impact young people and
the overall character of our
community.
The current regulations already
limit signages to business
names, alphabetic characters
and simple colors Prohibiting
the cannabis leaf symbol is a
reasonable extension of those
protections.
It simply creates sensible
guardrails to reduce youth
exposure and community impacts.
Please support this amendment.
>> Thank you.
And our final speaker Kathleen
Catherine.
Thank you.
>> I'd like to address
the municipal code updates 8594
and 107 regarding the appeals
fees project and environmental
appeals that would increase
fees for projects and
environmental appeals that
would align with fees charged
by other cities.
I don't think that has anything
to do with our city.
Your city fee should be
tailored to the city, not to
other cities.
And as John Staff pointed out,
that exorbitant fees or
discriminate discriminate
against low income communities
and all they do is serve as a
deterrent never to appeal such
projects.
94 The wireless communication
facilities.
And it says that they will
streamline the process by
reducing the approval process
for specific wireless
communications.
What that means is it's just a
euphemism for we're going to
eliminate the public voice in
opposition and we're going to
streamline it to make it an
administrative process And that
is not that is not that does
not serve the public need.
And one of the seven replacing
parking fees for street trees
act on sidewalks, outdoor
dining, the outdoor dining and
those street areas have already
removed nearly all of
the public.
>> Your time has concluded and
that goes as well to comment on
this item.
All right.
Thank you city Clerk for that.
So with that we'll turn it over
to council for comments,
questions and entertain a
motion and we'll start out with
the chair of Land Use and
Housing Council PRESIDENT
Pro-Tem we thank yous PRESIDENT
And thank you to the City
Planning Department for
the tremendous amount of time
that's been dedicated to
delivering this land of on
the code update working with
various stakeholders, working
with our offices as well And I
will for one recollect that I
believe we all thought this was
first going to come forward
back in late 2024.
So that's just to say that
there's been a huge amount of
time that's been dedicated to
trying to get this to
the finish line.
There have been many thorough
discussions regarding numerous
components in this update
including since it went through
Planning Commission and then
most recently through our Land
Use and Housing Committee
meeting back in MARCH.
We made a few amendments at
that time and so I'm glad to
see some of our recommendations
were included in today's
version particularly for item
seven relating to micro unit
waivers For those who might
recollect a little over two
years ago the council chose to
maintain waivers for micro
units and while I was glad to
support that I was also
understanding the need that we
have to collect abatement
impact fees and assure that
the city is actually providing
incentives that match up with
the areas that we believe are
in short welcome to housing
production.
So I want to thank the City
Plan department for
incorporating our amendment for
making the waivers so that they
continue to be offered but it
be done so as an incentive tied
to the ever elusive larger
three bedroom units.
And I think this is one of
the ways in which a community
complete communities remains an
important program that helps
our city encourage all types of
housing including micro units.
On item 87 I want to specially
thank you Heidi, for your
leadership in trying to work on
a sensible solution with our
offices and various
stakeholders especially as we
all seek to see the committee
plan updates that we've worked
to past actually come to
fruition.
We talk often about how we
create capacity but whether
that actually results in
the production that we intend
and in all of that also taking
the opportunity acknowledge
that there are some severe
economic realities that are
being faced.
So I just want to take this
moment to thank you and your
staff for spending so much
energy perhaps more than it was
ever worth on that effort.
Next I want to thank staff for
the efforts made towards
streamlining the wireless
communication facility
regulations and then also
allowing child care centers in
the next year.
My area in my district along
with other items to help make
clarifications and corrections
for the community's Housing
solutions program and lastly I
appreciate staff in bringing
forward and one of three which
expands where medical offices
are allowed Medical clinics can
be a good fit for many business
parks and I think about how
other areas of the city can
also have the potential to see
expanded access to health care
including in my district and
with that mine only just going
to ask that you consider in
the next ltc update perhaps
reviewing what we categorized
as medical offices to ensure
that we're not overly overly
limiting where they can be
placed as well as ensuring that
we match up with the types of
facilities that we're seeing
Given health care as we know it
continues to evolve.
So with that I'm going to go
ahead and move the approval of
the 2026 city wide ltc package
and downtown obviously package
I think it gets better.
>> All right.
Thank you.
So we have a motion by
the council PRESIDENT Pro
complete to move the staff
recommendation.
We'll go next to council member
Watford.
Thank you Council PRESIDENT
Thank you to Chair Lee for
those comments.
I also I think the Planning
Department dsd and outside
urban division for all the work
committed to this update
the community members, business
groups for all the review and
feedback I made most of my
comments at the lady said How
was the committee meeting in
APRIL?
So I'll just touch on a few
citywide abatements here before
turning my attention to the top
Item six expands complete
communities for for sale homes
That's a meaningful shift told
how that program will be
applied to rentals open it up
to home ownership including
affordable for sale homes be
it's more say the agents will
have a real path to hope your
transit your schools and your
the amenities that make our
neighborhoods work.
Another item they're really
looking forward to implementing
citywide is item 50 the shared
housing density bonus which
will make it easier to build
share housing citywide that
plan is a great place to start
with that particularly related
office buildings Shared housing
improves affordability by
splitting rent and utility
costs and it fosters social
connection and security
especially for seniors.
Many of the changes in front of
us today seem small but could
actually make a really
significant difference.
What are those instances as
item 90 regarding emergency
shelters?
It streamlines the permitting
process for emergency shelters
making it easier to get them up
and running without regulatory
burdens.
So that we could more
efficiently help people who are
homeless get off the streets
and into shelter if it was most
of my time though our downtown
every great city has a great
downtown.
We have seen more and more
people able to get without
Outside Diego we've added
parks, we've added trees, we've
expanded our cultural resources
.
There is a renewed commitment
to downtown San Diego to making
our streets vibrant.
It's safe and welcoming for
everybody.
This didn't happen by accident.
Thoughtful planning by Dgd's
Urban Division played an
important role in that This
code update doled out that
little bit of an idea but opens
the door to more rooftop
gardens of downtown have died
encourages preservation of
the mature trees that give our
neighborhood shade character
and comfort.
Together they will help to cool
our streets, improve air
quality and bring nature into
the heart of our city, I
replied creates new
homeownership opportunities for
people who want to live
downtown.
Additional opportunities for
people to make downtown their
homes strengthens our
neighborhoods, supports local
businesses and build a sense of
stability and pride in very
small parcels in the urban core
have said underdeveloped
tourist parking lots for years
because the rules have made it
very difficult to build them.
Item six is incentives for
small lots and item eight
revitalization But as a legacy
street I would like those sites
for new housing due activity
You do like the blocks that
I've been waiting for The next
chapter and clearer rules for
programing provides a simpler
pathways for outdoor community
uses Those make it easier to
bring people together whether
it's a fitness class, a
farmer's market, a cultural
event or a pop up activation
Together these updates move us
toward a downtown that is
greener, more attainable, more
dynamic, a more complete.
And what that utters our
character supports our
residents.
It strengthens the economic and
cultural heart of this city.
Really glad to see this code
update coming forward and I'll
be happy to Second
Councilmember Lee's motion.
>> All right.
Thank you, sir.
So we have a motion by Council
PRESIDENT Pro Tem Lee and a
second by Councilmember
Whitburn to move the staff
recommendation.
We'll go next to Councilmember
Hilo Rivera All right.
Thank you, council PRESIDENT.
Thank you, Heidi and team for
all of your work on this.
I was just thinking about as
you were running through each
item how much work there must
be behind each of those items
So it shows up as you know,
very, very comprehensive list
of updates.
I know it takes hours and hours
and hours of work each and
every item So thank you for
that effort And I know there's
a lot of thought that goes in
each of those I think both my
comments at the council but I
will say thank you again for
including prohibition on moving
and storage facilities in
the zones that we've laid out
here.
As I said before, I'll say it
again we need homes and small
businesses in my district, in
our communities.
We don't need more spaces for
folks from other neighborhoods
to store their stuff And each
of those facilities deprives
the community of an opportunity
to build housing So I'm glad
we're making that move.
District nine City Heights and
other parts of the city are not
the storage centers for
wealthier parts of the city.
They're neighborhoods that
deserve respect and along those
lines increasing the fines for
abandoned properties I think is
a very important thing for us
to do.
It's been far too easy for
disrespectful property owners
to hoard property, leave it in
an abandoned state which has
negative impacts on property
values, safety and just general
quality of life in my district
in other parts of the city as
well and ensuring that
the penalties for those bad
actors are sufficient enough to
actually discourage that
behavior in a city where
holding on to property can
produce so much profit over
the course of time I think is
an important step to make sure
that all our neighborhoods get
the respect they deserve.
So thank you again for all
the work on this.
i very much appreciate it and
I'm support of the motion.
Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT All right.
Thank you.
Council member Laura We'll go
next to Council member Campi
Okay Thank you Council
PRESIDENT Thank you to our
staff from our planning
department.
I'll check with my colleagues
appreciation for staff and
stakeholders and community
members who've been involved
throughout the process.
Obviously we have a lot of
technical amendments before us
but want to make space for
the community and industry
feedback Throughout that
process we get a very good
result and that's a workable
result outside of
the development streamlining
provisions which I'm always
encouraged to see.
I appreciate the inclusion of
8812 from Assembly member
Werner Putting aside some of
that meaningful opportunity for
artist housing in San Diego is
a good path forward and I
appreciate the spaces for our
team at the spaces for our team
to advocating and championing
that.
I'm also glad to see
the incentives for family
housing and homeownership
opportunities and opportunities
for child care in our military
communities around them since
Miramar And I do have one quick
question from something someone
said on the public comment
about a fee going up to 2400.
Can you elaborate on what that
might be?
Is that an appeal fee?
Yeah, I believe that
the reference was to the appeal
fees of lots of planning
commission and city council.
The fees are proposed to
increase from 1000 to 1140 for
appeals to planning commission
and the appeals from City
council are currently set at
1000 and they're proposed to
increase to $2,380.
This is due to the need to
provide for full cost recovery
for the staff time it takes to
process the items City Council
understood.
So essentially $1,000 more is
what it takes to get to
Costco's 1% cost recovery.
>> Is it partial And the new
fees would be at a 100% cost
recovery.
>> They currently are not at
100% cost recovery.
I see.
Okay I do agree with what
the caller pointed out that
there are there are some
planning groups and individuals
who sometimes struggle to get
that money together when an
appeal is successful.
This appeal for refund in order
is it not?
>> It is not okay.
Understood.
Well I just would like to know
that I think that maybe it
should be if you appeal and you
win and maybe you should get it
back.
But I understand it's not
before us today.
Last thing I had heard from
members in the department in
the industry that a couple
months ago there was an issue
around a couple of definitions
that seem to be not completely
clear about the size of
the hedge trees things like
this.
Have those definitions been
worked on, cleared up?
I believe they there was
comment at planning Commission
about this sort of thing And so
the 2026 Land Development Code
update included an item that
was intended to clarify
the landscaping requirements or
to state that the preservation
of trees and shrubs was part of
the intent of the regulations
as there are regulations that
apply to their preservation.
The Planning Commission
requested that that intent
language be removed and it was
removed prior to committee.
Very good.
All right.
Thank you.
I'd heard about that a few
different times out in public
so I appreciate you doing that
with that.
Thank you for the detailed work
And I know you do this once a
year and it's extraordinary My
work I'll be in support.
Thank you.
All right.
Thank you, Councilmember Camp.
Not anybody else on the lights.
I'll jump in with a few
comments As I said at the onset
thank you.
City planning for all the work
that it took to a multi-year
project to bring this forward
and the outreach you did and
packaging this up for CPCs and
planning commissions, land use
and housing and extraordinary
work to really get feedback
from the public and fine tuning
and tweaking that It really
shows evidence of that based on
the comments that we heard we
heard today from the public.
I also appreciate
the collaboration that seems so
long ago.
On to La Hoya amendments, one
of which came directly from
the community that I supported
and one that which was adjusted
based on the community feedback
We thank you for that On items
81 through 83 I'm glad to see
the adjustments to
the administrative penalties
that our Blue team could assess
particularly given our
conversation in and b or b r c
last week.
It is necessary to give that
team the flexibility to assess
penalties at a level that
better reflects costs and
incentivizes compliance as was
said.
Bless you Whoever that was.
A question about item 17 this
question about defensible space
buffer which we're getting from
the state does our regulations
still kind of grandfather
everybody else but they still
have to deal with the state for
existing homes and properties?
I think you're referencing
maybe two different items.
Okay.
Maybe one of them is just
clarification that step backs
MAY be more than what
the setback is if it doesn't
meet the defensible space
requirement for new buildings.
And then there's a sort of
totally separate issue which is
related to existing homeowners
and how to comply with the new
regulations related to them
Throw Those are not before
the council today but happy to
follow up with the on zero is
compliance step for existing is
2029 okay so there's
communication coming for fire
rescue department educating
homeowners now.
Oh fantastic.
Thank you.
So something was just
clarifying that possibly Okay
So on item 94, the wireless
communication facility, you
know we've had some policy
differences.
I've expressed feedback that
I've heard from my constituents
but I appreciate
the conversation about that
although optimally those were
not brought forward to
the concern that I think
somebody from the public was
calling in the proposed process
level changes within 100ft
maintain the notice
requirements and a public
hearing where the committee
members MAY express concerns
that they MAY have on projects
of this nature that correct
that we enter Understand that
correctly?
Yes, that's correct.
The wireless facilities would
still go through a
discretionary process that
would be appealable to
the Planning Commission rather
than required to go to
the Planning Commission.
Okay.
I was just trying to save all
those wireless companies in
trouble of introducing things,
getting beat up by
the community and then walking
away and wasting all that time
and money.
But maybe we'll we'll come back
to that another day.
So again, thank you for all
the work and I certainly will
be supporting this item as well
No one else So we have a motion
for PRESIDENT Sorry to
interrupt you.
Can I just make one
clarification or response to
Councilmember Campos question
about the apologies I did want
to note that the appeal fee
resolution provides for a 50%
reduction in the appeal fees if
the project is located within a
low resource area.
That's very good.
I appreciate that.
Thank you.
>> Thank you for looking at it.
Yeah, that is that is good.
I'm old enough to remember $0
appeal but with that we have a
motion by Council PRESIDENT Pro
Tem Lee and a second by
Councilmember Whitburn to move
the staff recommendation.
Please call the roll clerk
Start the voting system Please
cast your vote And that passes
unanimously 7 to 0 with council
member Von Wilber and
Councilmember Foster absent.
>> Thank you.
All right Again, thank you
everybody from city planning
for your good work and
everybody else who worked on
it.
So as they pack up clerk please
introduce item 203 Item 2 or 3
is the adoption of the 2025
Urban Water Management Plan and
the 25 water shortage
contingency plan.
If you'd like to make any
comments to this item please be
sure to submit your speaker
slip to the lectern and
the clear box at the front of
the room And if you are
participating remotely now's
the time to raise your hand by
pressing Star nine or the raise
your hand icon.
Thank you, MR. PRESIDENT.
All right.
Thank you.
And our staff settles in When
you're ready, please enter
These results will record and
let us know how much time you
need.
>> Good afternoon.
Council PRESIDENT Council
members My name is Christiana
Gorder.
I'm the assistant director over
the Public Utilities
Department's technical support
branch.
We'll need about 15 minutes for
this presentation when you're
ready.
I'm very pleased to be here
today with two members of
the team that have worked to
bring to you the 2025 Urban
Water Management Plan and
the Water Shortage Contingency
plan The city is required to
update, adopt and submit these
plans.
The state every five years
Making an address We'll discuss
how the updated 2025 plans meet
state guidelines for compliance
with the California Water Code.
In addition, the team work to
ensure that the creation of
these plans with considered
analytical and data driven in
order to produce an accurate
projection of future urban
water demand and supply.
The team has a number of
details to walk through so I
will now ask them to introduce
themselves and start
the presentation.
Thanks Christina.
My name is Megan Hickey.
I'm an assistant director with
the Public Utilities
Department.
With me today is Andrew Funk,
principal water resources
specialist.
And as Christiana highlighted
we will provide an overview of
the 2025 Urban Water Management
Plan.
Its components water supply and
demand projections on
the city's water shortage
Contingency Plan.
Urban water management plans
are high level plans that
predict future water supply and
demand over a 25 year time
frame to help inform local,
regional and state planning
efforts.
They must be adopted and
submitted to the California
Department of Water Resources
every five years.
Urban water management plans
are also foundational documents
for subsequent water supply
assessments and water supply
verifications performed by Puti
to assess the availability of
water for development in
the city of San Diego.
The plan must include a water
shortage contingency plan which
defines the actions the city
will take in the event of a
declared water emergency or
enactment of more stringent
restrictions on water use
allowing the city to respond in
an efficient and timely manner
to manage and mitigate any
potential water shortages.
In addition to be eligible for
any grant or loan administered
by the Department of Water
Resources, the city must have a
current urban water management
plan on file that has been
determined by bwr to address
the requirements of the water
code.
The 2025 or more water
management plan is the city's
ninth iteration of the Urban
Water Management Plan and is
due to ewr on JULY 1st.
Urban water management plans
have five key required
components as shown in
the graphic on the left
including the development of a
20 year water supply and demand
forecast.
An overview of water demand
management measures implemented
by the city.
An analysis of water supply
reliability as well as
the energy intensity of our
water and wastewater system.
And the adoption of a water
shortage contingency plan.
We also have corresponding
implementation goals for
the 2025 Urban Water Management
Plan which included
the development of a credible
and balanced 25 year projection
of water demand by utilizing a
25 year planning horizon
instead of the required 20 year
projection.
We close potential planning
gaps during cycles where we are
updating the urban water
management plan.
Next we wanted to update and
refined our water our water
demand modeling approach for
more accurate projections.
This included the development
of an alternative on trend
forecasts detailed in Appendix
f of the draft Urban Water
Management Plan which is a
lower demand forecast than what
is proposed for adoption in
the Urban Water Management
plan.
The on trend forecast assessed
beauty staff with strategic
strategic capital investment
planning in the pure Water
Program and other cities.
By evaluating a range of
potential future demands,
the city can evaluate the size
of the water system and
consider downsizing where
appropriate to reduce capital
costs.
At the same time, the adoption
of a more conservative demand
forecast allows the city to
support conclusions that we
have adequate water supply for
major development projects.
Other housing initiatives and
community plan updates.
Our next goal included an
analysis of system reliability
and the integration of
the water shortage contingency
plan.
We also utilize and build upon
the city's Climate action Plan
and water conservation goals.
Last we prepare for future
inclusion and expansion of
local water supply development
as the ninth iteration of
the city's urban water
management plan.
Puti has continued to strive
for enhancing and increasing
the accuracy of our demand
forecasting approach for
the 2020 Urban Water Management
Plan.
Puti developed a hybrid
approach combining actual water
use data the parcel level with
a statistical model that
considers land use as well as
water use factors such as
temperature, irritable parcel
area number and types of
housing units income and
persons per household.
This hybrid approach allows us
to more accurately spatially
represent demand within our
service area allowing us to
better understand where we MAY
need infrastructure
improvements based on
the increased accuracy of
the 2020 forecast.
The first step for the demand
forecasting in the 2025 Urban
Water Management Plan was
adopting the 2020 model.
This included analyzing and
updating the water use factors
based on recent water usage
trends and accepted planning
practices in accordance with
the guidelines.
Next we utilize the sandag
Theory 15 Regional Growth
forecast to assess population
growth within the 30 service
area over the planning horizon.
Sandag Theory 15 Includes
projected household population
Total population.
Information on single family
and multifamily occupied units
Household income projected
Total employment by census
track and information on
development and redevelopment
projected out to the year 2050
In comparison to the sandag
Theory 14 forecast which was
utilized in the 2020 Urban
Water Management Plan series 15
projects roughly 12 to 17%
reduction in the forecasted
population in total households
within the city service area.
That had a significant impact
on the 2025 demand forecast
which will be detailed in
the following slides.
Next we select a base period
based on hydrologic conditions
so we want to look at a rainy
year as well as a dry year and
corresponding water use trends
for billing data.
Our base period also overlaps
with sandag 315 base period
which increases our model
accuracy.
Last we incorporate water
conservation savings based on
compliance with existing state
mandated conservation and new
upcoming regulations.
>> Puti is confident that we
have developed a defensible and
more accurate demand forecast
for the city as visualized on
this slide.
The graph on the left
illustrates historic potable
water usage shown in blue as
well as the 2025 more water
management plan demand forecast
shown in orange.
The table on the right provides
a specific breakdown on total
potable and non-potable water
usage by sector with
residential water usage making
up the majority of demand
within our service area.
More than 50% of the demand
forecast to be adopted in
the Urban Water Management Plan
represents a measured approach
with respect to long term water
supply planning and meets
the regulatory planning goals
defined by the Department of
Water Resources.
The 2025 Urban Water Management
Plan is projecting a lower 25
year demand than the 2020 Urban
Water Management Plan,
primarily based on reduced
growth projections included in
sandag Theory 15 based on
the updated 315 growth forecast
and water usage in the city.
>> There is also now a
projected flattening of water
demand out to the year 2050 for
the development of the 2025
demand forecast.
>> Additionally analyze our
historic water usage and legacy
forecast from previous urban
water management plans as can
be seen on the slide similar to
the previous graph on Slide six
the blue line illustrates
the historic water usage for
potable water demand in
the city and the hash line show
the pass for urban water
management plan demand
forecasts for historic water
usage.
The city's water demand has
decreased by 34% over the past
two decades despite
the population growing from
1.29 million in 2007 to
the current peak customer base
of nearly 1.4 million
residents.
This is primarily based on
statewide droughts and
subsequent mandatory water
conservation regulations that
have decreased customer water
usage.
When looking at the previous
urban water management plan
forecasts, the city has
historically overestimated
demand.
A primary driver of this is
the use of regional growth
forecasts which are required by
market guidelines.
However, in more recent
iterations our urban water
management plans have been more
accurate.
Puti updated its water demand
modeling methodology
incorporating actual water use
trends, recognizing that
customer use has significantly
shifted over the past two
decades.
Additionally, refinements from
sandag in their growth
forecasts for the region have
increased accuracy in
the demand forecast for
the 2025 plan.
An adequate and reliable water
supply is vital for the city
and demand has greatly outpaced
local supply from rain.
The city has historically
purchased roughly 70 to 90% of
our water supply which is
imported from Northern
California and the Colorado
River.
Pudi actively pursues ways to
increase and diversify local
water supply and maintain
reliability.
This includes pursuing
additional local supplies and
maximizing the utilization of
our existing surface water
groundwater non-potable
recycled water and in the near
future pure water as required
by the water Code.
The 2025 Urban Water Management
Plan analyzes water supply
reliability under multiple
hydrologic conditions to
confirm that the city has
adequate supplies and methods
established for reducing demand
during times of single or
multiple dry year periods and
through coordination with
the County Water Authority can
supplement any projected supply
deficiencies as they MAY arise
.
>> Based on the city's
projected increase in local
supplies and reduced demand
forecast in comparison to
the 2020 Urban Water Management
Plan, the city is anticipating
to utilize less important water
supplies into the future than
previously expected.
By 2030 the city anticipates
using 40% local supplies and
70% by 2050 with the majority
of local supplies being
supplied by the city's pure
water program.
The development of local water
supplies and transition from
imported supplies will directly
benefit parity with water
supply reliability during
periods of multi drier
conditions as well as reducing
the cumulative energy intensity
required for conveyance and
distribution thus making it
more sustainable and cost
effective.
The updated energy intensity
data from the Urban Water
Management Plan will be
utilized to aid in the five
year update of the city's
Climate Action Plan in the near
future and is included in
the city's ghg emissions
strategies.
Based on historic water
conservation by customers,
the city is currently in
compliance with all state
mandated conservation
regulations.
Specifically the city has met
the Water Conservation Act
requirements which with a 20%
demand reduction by the year
2020.
We are meeting the model water
efficient landscape ordinance
and our urban water use
objective.
The Urban Water Management Plan
incorporated additional
conservation for outdoor water
usage in the demand forecast
for future compliance with
Assembly Bill 1572 which is
also known as the nonfunctional
turf ban.
The city continues to offer
active water conservation
programs largely driven by
state regulations including
residential water surveys and
water conservation rebates as
required by the water code and
previously mentioned.
The city must also prepare and
adopt a water shortage
contingency plan in conjunction
with the Urban Water Management
Plan.
Water shortage Contingency
plans provide the plan in
the event of a declared water
emergency or enactment of more
stringent restrictions on water
use allowing the city to
respond in an efficient and
timely manner to manage and
mitigate any potential
shortages.
The plan identifies how
the city will annually assess
water supply and demand to
determine if a water shortage
exists.
Shown on the slide are
the sixth standard water
shortage levels and their
corresponding shortage range
that lead to a variety of
response actions in addition to
permanent water based
prohibitions and ongoing
consumption reduction methods.
The table on the slide shows an
example of corresponding
shortage response actions to
water shortage level one which
is up to a 10% shortage in
supply compared to anticipated
demand.
Each water shortage level has
corresponding response actions
that are categorized as one of
the following by the Department
of Water Resources.
Supply Augmentation Demand
Reduction Actions Operational
changes or mandatory water use
prohibitions in addition to
state mandated prohibitions.
The response actions
incorporate mwd and cwa
emergency and catastrophic
planning as well as the City
Council Policy 400 zero four
which is the emergency storage
of water policy, an outline of
public participation and a
schedule for adoption and
submittal to Department of
Water Resources for the 2025
Urban Water Management Plan and
Water Shortage Contingency Plan
as shown on this slide.
Public participation began on
FEBRUARY 27th and the draft
Urban Water Management Plan was
posted on the city's web page
for public comments.
The plan was highlighted on
the city's social media
announced via inside sd sent
directly to a list of
interested stakeholders and
members of the public were
notified of their opportunity
to provide public comment
during today's hearing via
the Daily Transcript newspaper
as required by the California
Water Code.
After adoption by council,
the Urban Water Management Plan
will be submitted to
the Department of Water
Resources on JULY 1st.
>> Puti is requesting more
support for the following
actions.
Approving a resolution to
declare the adoption of
the Urban Water Management Plan
and water shortage Contingency
plan to be statutorily exempt
from sequel and approving a
resolution to adopt the 2025
Urban Water Management Plan and
Water Shortage Contingency plan
as required by the California
Water Code.
Thank you for allowing us
the opportunity to present an
overview of the 2025 Urban
Water Management Plan.
We are available to answer any
questions you might have at
this time.
>> All right.
Thank you for the presentation
and good work to bring this
forward.
Clerk Please proceed with
public comment.
>> And Council PRESIDENT Cllr
Beckman if you can please come
forward.
Senior Elder you are here.
Please come to the mic after
that we'll be back because this
game will be a minute and a
half.
All right.
Thank you.
I just walked in from doing my
chores around downtown.
Hi again.
I was listening to this item.
I thank you for it.
We're coming up on a pure water
feature because look what you
can be doing with this item.
I really hopeful what we can be
doing with the future of
the public process and working
with water board issues
overall.
I think it's really important
for ourselves a reminder and
how important what building
the future of our public
process means to us at this
time and place in our history
and what we can be doing for
ourselves.
I think it always should be
remembered what the public
participation participation can
do for the process.
I think we're growing.
Imagine what the public process
was like in times of war in 911
compared to now We're starting
to ask questions more and be
more open and clear and that
develops better reasoning and
that is our future.
Good luck in the efforts What
you can do with the water board
with this.
Thank you.
Subcommittee as I mentioned in
your earlier item it is
population that drives all of
this city's major problems
including water use.
Virtually all citizens would
prefer a less crowded San
Diego.
However, it is our growing
population that makes each of
you more powerful and more
likely to ascend to higher
offices in our government.
I think that's a pretty fair
characterization of our
problems.
Thank you for the five minute
time record of those
participating remotely.
We have Tony.
Please unmute.
>> Hey how's it going?
City Council can you hear me?
Yes please proceed.
Okay.
Thank you.
How's it going?
I just wanted to speak to
the Urban Water Management plan
and the presentation that was
given.
It's really good presentation.
I encourage the staff to look
into it.
i'm sure they have already but
I really encourage them into
looking into permaculture water
collection devices and
permaculture water collection
just in general.
I did not see and excuse me if
I if I missed it I'm doing some
cleaning right now so I just
hearing the presentation out
loud but I did not see anything
about collection of rainwater
from rooftops All of our
rooftops are enormous pools an
enormous wasted opportunity
currently in all of our gutters
because they're just going
right into storm drains.
All of that is mostly clean
water and I say mostly because
it's acidic and that's why
we're having problems with our
avocado growers in San Diego
that have traditionally done so
well because our we have so
much contamination in the air
now that it's causing more
acidic more acidity in our in
our water which is affecting
our crops as well.
But anyway, we can we can work
on that reducing the or
balancing a each of the water
reducing its contaminants But
in essence we should be
collecting all that rainwater.
If we if we invested in
rainwater storage collection
tanks that would be a huge way
to go about getting ahead of
this problem.
>> So time has concluded.
The next is the original If you
can please email.
I'm wondering what's coming
down the pike because as you
talk about a water shortage we
always know that there's
something that's going to be
coming and you know it's all
about control controlling
the resources And when you guys
put in your smart meters then
when you say that people have
used too much water you can,
you know, shut it off And I
mean this already came down
because you guys have been
talking about a drought and
it's like you don't really act
like we're having problems with
the water.
I mean you buy it, you sell it
when you're transferring it
like 50% of it gets lost.
I mean it's just the way that
you guys treat it.
It's it's not it's scarcity And
that's the problem is that you
want to say it is but your
actions speak louder than that
because you wouldn't like pour
half of the glass of water out
if that's all you had left you
would make sure that you're
preserving it and you can't
even keep up with
the infrastructure that is
needed to make sure that we
have an abundance of water.
And the problem is is that you
can drill for it.
You guys want to give us back
our own sewage and put a bunch
of chemicals in it and say that
it's cleaner than the Colorado
River And it's like I mean how
is that when you're like
literally talk supplying it
with things that are deadly to
the human body and then saying
that it's better I mean it's
just sad the way that you guys
treat our resources and how you
treat the people and act like
you know, don't have a lawn and
don't do this because it's such
a scarcity again you wouldn't
buy and sell it like you do and
treat it like a business If it
was in scarce demand and you
should drill for it but you
won't because it's not
profitable.
>> Your time has concluded
Don't stop if you can please
And you are water It's one of
the essentials along with air
and food Water.
Your chart is flawed First of
all you've got 12% as non
revenue.
What does that mean?
Does that mean leak just
leakage or does it mean
the water that's given to
the city or your friends?
Is that the water tap that
fills the choice lake Every day
with potable treated water?
The second thing is you group
in irrigate you you group an
irrigation both decorative
irrigation, you know
landscaping and food production
.
San Diego was once food
independent all the water for
agriculture and food production
has been moved to residency.
You need to break that category
out so that you have a
contingency plan for continuing
food production.
I mean is the plan we're going
to take cut down every tree and
stop grazing every crop?
>> Thank you very much.
Thank you.
The five minute timer has
concluded here in council
chambers There are four
speakers in the queue and
additional speakers will be
taken.
>> Andrea I think if you can
please proceed.
Now this is Andrea Ebbing and I
just wanted to bring up this
like a data center in Georgia.
>> Good news today that 30
million gallons of water was
basically like not paid for and
wasted and nobody noticed.
I know that we're looking at
the same valley and like
different projects and we
should consider that and we
should consider the you know,
paying close attention whoever
feels this particular issue
closest to their heart.
You know, when you have some
free time to investigate, dig
around and see what people are
doing Something like this 30
million gallons of water
without paying for it or nobody
even knew about it, I feel like
that could happen to us
Quickly.
Another thing I want to bring
up about the water is like
maybe when we are approving
massive buildouts for
businesses specifically
businesses like the I fly that
like place where you would be
like skydiving.
I do think that there's an
impact in the amount of water
it takes to build a place like
that that really just didn't
have a future.
Like if you had presented that
idea to me to build that in San
Diego I'd be like That sounds
kind of novel and maybe that
would be fun for like a few
months.
But with the costs associated
and the whole production I
probably would have rejected it
.
So I think stuff like that
would be helpful in conserving
the water and then just keeping
the rates low for us is to
watch out for things like
the two things I just talked
about.
>> Thank you.
Thank you Hector If you can
please unmute.
>> Thanks for taking my call.
I know something about this
water thing.
I've been following the lake
thing.
There's a lake website that
does all the lakes in
California reservoirs and
the state and I sit in a
country Lake Mead is at the all
time lowest level right now and
there's no snowpack in the in
the Rocky Mountains this year
It's very low and they're not
like they're releasing water
from Lake Powell into Lake Mead
And they're also Las Vegas is
on the third intake.
They've already done two that
went below the intake level and
they're on their third one.
They made a one about ten years
ago down really low and Arizona
was getting a lot of water too.
So they're talking I don't know
if they're talking Deadpool If
Lake Mead goes Deadpool, we got
a problem that and I don't know
if we can handle it but one
thing I worked on a sewer plant
in Steamboat Springs in 1984 a
year and a half.
There are 200 systems from
Colorado to San Diego that
treat their water and put it
back into the in the Napa River
.
They put it in the Colorado
River 200 cities that doing
what we're doing and they put
it in the Colorado River.
So it's affected we do and we
could do that with the t you
want to river take all
the water treated stage five
and it's worth a fortune and we
could we could actually have a
lot of money from five stage
treatment plant in in your time
has exploded 8700 if you can
please unmute and then our
final speaker is Katherine
Rhodes It is 700 There you go.
>> Thank you, Joy.
It's your turn.
So this is data driven which is
always great to me.
That's our future.
Love it.
Every five years seems a good
time.
You know that I have very much
interested in water
conservation and I've really
looked at it in these last few
years so it really affects
water usage.
So I'm wondering it's been
years since our program was
started or all of you really
accumulate Can we accumulate
data on our water usage and we
can did we for the last five
years what happened with our
conservation Because it's a
lifestyle change which we
honored and it's a paradigm
shift with happen to more data
on water conservation I was
really surprised but I guess I
shouldn't be that you
overestimated the demand and
that you have improved that you
said to you know that really is
going to affect the water
shortage data So I just want
this data to be as as
quantifiably excellent as we
can love the water shortage
contingency plan.
Thank you.
We're going to have such a big
reduction eventually in
imported water with the a will
they inflate the cost of
imported water thereby
impacting water rates and
reducing our savings from
the pure water plan.
So thank you.
That does conclude your time.
>> Thank you.
Katherine Rhodes or final
speaker.
Please proceed.
Hi, this is Katherine Rhodes
and civil engineer.
I hate to see the San Diego
River water go all the way down
without capturing anybody any
of it.
So my plan is called as part of
a full title and reclamation
that could be actually used at
Midway Rising And what it's
called is still apply a plan
for continuation of the 19
eight and 1926 Snowline Plan
which established Lindbergh
Field butts off of the airport
Pacific Highway Harbert Drive
and the Midway area.
So the Plata plan will
futureproof for a full state
public trust title land
reclamation project by taking
out the hydraulic field So
foundations are now in
subterranean land and they
could be founded on competent
soils not subject to flooding
or sea level.
Right?
So the pilot project for that
is already done which is
the Navy Broadway complex and
then also the systems at
the airport.
And so what I want you to do is
actually look at my a plan for
full type of reclamation
especially under the project at
Midway Rising because right now
water comes up during the king
tides and in that area And so
you you do have to futureproof
and your plan right now is to
put in five feet of additional
fill and then like a two foot
mat foundation which is not
proper engineering wise and
would be subject to
catastrophic failure.
So please look at my my and
apply to plan for structural
integrity.
Thank you.
That concludes with a comment
on this item.
>> All right.
Thank you, city Clerk And with
that we will turn it over to
the council for questions.
Comments Entertain a motion and
we'll start with the Chair of
the Environment Committee,
council member Eli Rivera.
>> All right.
Thank you, council PRESIDENT
And thanks for all the work on
this.
I know a lot of effort went
into it.
I don't want to get too far
into it but I do think that at
times the conflation of more
people meaning um we actually
hear it in a variety of forums
that more people means higher
water bills and more strain on
our system We've planned for
the population to grow correct
And everything that we're
mapping out is based on that
population and growth, correct?
>> Yes.
And again this isn't the you
all don't do rates but if there
are fewer people the rates are
higher because we have a
certain amount of water that we
are getting because we were
planning for a certain number
of people to move here to be
born here.
i just every time we get a
chance to repeat some of these
things I think it's important
to do so.
All that being said, I think I
appreciate all the effort and
planning that goes into this.
This is the you know, the not
so glamorous work that's really
important to make sure that San
Diegans do have the water that
we need that we do have a plan
in case there are there are
shortages in the future.
So thank you for doing that
work.
I very much appreciate it And I
will move approval of the staff
recommendation.
Thank you Council PRESIDENT All
right.
Thank you.
Council members.
So we have a motion by council
member Eli Rivera to move
the staff recommendation not
see anybody else.
I'd like to make the second as
the other member of
the Environment Committee for
that day And as my colleague
said, we did hear this in
the Environment Committee there
was a good robust conversation.
So again I want to thank public
utilities for the data driven
approach Update using updated
data from sandag and really
actually getting down to
the parcel level in this
conversation and as my
colleague referenced I want
acknowledge to graphs and
charts that you presented on
Slide six you highlighted
the historic water use
decreasing over the past 25
years And what is equally
significant is that we have
continue to do that despite
rising projections in the prior
urban water management plan.
So I think we're really zeroing
in on the appropriate level of
projections but a realistic one
that we can actually do a
management plan.
I think there was some
conversations about projects
but that's not really for
today.
Well Will be another time for
that and the level projections
in the 25 2025 plan makes
perfect sense and are apparent
in the chart You have on Slide
eight showing an entire
reversal from predominantly
imported water to local supply
via pure water.
That's an accomplishment that
we're all aware on our way to
achieving and I appreciate you
highlighting that achievement.
So again thank you for the very
good work Every five years
maybe isn't too bad that the is
playing I know it's still a lot
of work and that you just don't
roll over what you had and
polish it up but you actually
dove deep and really updated
the data So that's a lot of
extra work and we're very
grateful for that.
So with that not see anybody
else in the light we have a
motion by council member Eli
Rivera and a second by myself
to move the staff
recommendation.
>> clerk Please call the roll.
That's right The voting system
Please cast your vote and that
passes unanimously 7 to 0 with
council member Yvonne Wolpert
and Council member Foster
Absent Thank you Council
PRESIDENT All right thank you
And again thank you to staff
for that very good work.
Clerk Please introduce item 2a1
Item 2a1 is the Mission Bay
Park Improvements Program
programatic Environmental
Impact Report and
Implementation Framework If
you'd like to speak to this
item please be sure to submit
Your speaker slips to the front
of the room in the clear box
and if you're participating
remotely now's the time to
raise your hand by pressing
Star nine or the raise your
hand icon.
Thank you, Council PRESIDENT.
All right.
Thank you for that introduction
And as staff as you settle in
please introduce yourselves for
the record and let us know how
much time you need.
Okay?
Thank you.
Um, I would probably need about
12 minutes or so I would say
when you're ready.
All right.
Well good afternoon, Council
PRESIDENT.
Council members.
Thank you for this opportunity.
My name is Carrie Purcell.
I'm a deputy director with
the Engineering Capital
Projects Department over
the program Project Development
Division.
And with me today presenting
this item is Nancy Graham.
She is a program manager over
our secure and entitlements
section for the Department.
The item before you today is
the work of many years of hard
work of ecp staff working in
collaboration with staff from
Parks and Rec.
We've also been working with
key departments such as
the Planning Department.
The item before you today would
be to approve the Mission Bay
Park Improvement Plan and
Implementing framework.
We would like to acknowledge
our consultant Dudek who is
with us here today.
They provided the technical
studies, the analysis,
the preliminary engineering
reports.
They also supported us during
the public outreach during this
effort.
During this time we'd also like
to thank the members of
the public and the outside
agencies, outside
organizations, other
stakeholders that provided very
important feedback and input
throughout this process.
This information was used to
help shape these projects and
the program alternatives.
While this might be the end of
this process in terms of
the secret process, it's also
the beginning of the next
process which would be how to
implement these important
projects in Mission Bay.
And with that I would like to
turn it over to Nancy Graham.
Thank you.
>> Thank you, Carrie.
Again, I'm Nancy Graham,
program manager in
the Engineering and Capital
Projects Department.
>> The overview of our
presentation will go through
some project history our
implementation framework,
the Environmental Impact report
and the actions before you
today.
So for some context and
Proposition c in 2008 and
Measure j in 2016 significantly
changed how funding works for
Mission Bay Park.
It created the Mission Bay Park
Improvement Zone as well as
the Mission Bay Park Oversight
Committee and Fund.
The fund itself dedicates lease
revenue and directs it towards
capital improvement projects
within those measures also
identified priority projects
within the charter.
So the priorities in
the charter include wetland
expansion, water quality
improvements and protection and
expansion of eelgrass beds,
shoreline restoration expansion
of endangered or threatened
species preserves and upland
habitats, deferred maintenance
projects addressing
deficiencies in the bicycle and
pedestrian circulation network
and also restoring the seawall
Bulkhead within Mission Beach.
>> So the charter laid out all
of these priorities but we were
tasked with turning this into a
program in order for them to be
implemented.
So to do that we did a signifi
can amount of community
outreach.
We did baseline studies When
you have the task to to improve
water quality but we had to
study both what are the water
quality issues as well as
the engineering solutions that
could be developed to improve
water quality.
So all of this work was done
collaboratively with
the community where we reported
our study results and they were
presented.
We worked with stakeholders to
develop and luminary
engineering reports or
the papers that were used as
the basis for this project.
We had a public scoping meeting
for our environmental impact
report and all along the way
we've been working with
the Mission Bay Park Committee
and we got a vote in favor of
program approval this month I'm
sorry last month and it was
unanimous with one abstention.
>> So this program began all
the way back in 2018 and we've
been working through each of
the steps from our scoping of
the projects We developed
the implementation framework,
we put the draft air out last
fall and then we presented
the final year and it's been
posted on our website now and
we're here bringing it forward
for you for adoption.
So the program itself has some
core elements.
>> Those include wetland and
water quality improvements,
shoreline restoration, upland
habitat expansion, seawall
restoration and bike and pet
improvements All of these
within the Mission Bay Park
improvement zone.
So our wetland projects those
include Technology Creek and
Fiesta Island Causeway, North
Vista Island creating a
significant new wetland piece
on the north side as well as
restoration of the Kootenay
Creek Wetlands.
Shoreline restoration happens
primarily in the western side
of Mission Bay and it includes
both structured solutions as
well as more nature based
solutions like oyster reef in
order to protect the different
beach areas.
>> Our upland habitat expansion
occurs in North and South Vista
Island and that includes
the dedicated least turned site
South Shores The Triangle
Parcel as well as
the Cloverleaf Parcel Bicycle
improvements include the Ocean
beach bike path, the Rose Creek
bike path and the Fiesta Island
Causeway and seawall
restoration and would happen
between Grand Avenue to Ventura
Place as well as San Fernando
Place to Balboa Court.
And that includes a new segment
between Grand Avenue and Thomas
Avenue upgraded beach access
points and also replacing
the deteriorated parapet.
To be clear, Danza Cove is not
part of this program.
It was originally part of this
project but it was identified
that we had a land use plan
amendment to the mission Bay
Park plan needed to be
completed and so that was
transferred to the City
planning Department and became
Diane's and Natural.
That project is currently under
review by the Coastal
Commission.
Our project does not require a
mission.
Bay Park master Plan amendment
so therefore that will not
require Coastal Commission
approval.
What you are seeing today
though individual permits will
go to them in the future.
Diaz itself is working towards
a general development plan.
Yeah our program focus on that
on the implementation framework
document.
This document establishes how
to implement the charter as an
interim step to funding and
prioritization.
It identifies the approach for
implementing the project's
maintenance needs as well as
resilience to sea level rise.
It lays out the applicable
engineering and permitting
procedures to realize each
project.
>> The document itself
consolidates the various
elements and components into a
single document.
It's a tool for city engineers
and planners to implement
the program.
It's intended to be transparent
and digestible to the public
and it supports funding
decisions for prioritizing and
implementing the charter.
And it's the basis of our
environmental impact report.
The environmental impact report
is required per the California
Environmental Quality Act and
informs the public and decision
makers of potential adverse
effects of implementation of
our program.
It affords mandated
opportunities for public input
and it identifies required
feasible mitigation measures to
reduce the effects as well as
alternative.
But particularly a program
document allows the engineering
Capital Projects Department to
be able to fulfill the desire
to streamline capital
improvement projects and bring
them online faster.
Because this document will
establish a basis for tearing.
So when each of these projects
moves forward in the future
will be able to adopt them more
quickly and easily.
>> The program Air identifies
any potential significant
impacts and required mitigation
as well as feasible
alternatives.
In addition, we developed
conceptual habitat restoration
and monitoring plans for all
the restoration projects and
the document itself.
In most resource areas actually
has no impacts or less than
significant impacts.
>> The few areas that we do
have the potential for
significant impacts are air
quality, biological resources,
cultural resources, historic
resources, noise and
recreation.
Our mitigation reduces
the effects to less than
significant for air quality and
cultural resources for
biological resources because
these are complex projects.
And Sequa says that any impact
to biological resources if you
take something off line in
there potentially as part of
construction bringing it
forward there could be a delay.
So there is potential for
biological impacts.
Historic resources is because
the seawall itself is a
historic resource so you have
the potential for impacts.
So we're following all
the secretary of the interior
standards.
Noise and noise impacts.
These are large construction
projects so there is potential
for noise.
And because it's a park, any
impacts within the park would
be considered a restoration
impact.
Oh sorry recreation impact.
We also looked at project
alternatives including the No
project alternative and
increased public access
alternative and a reduced
hardscape alternative.
The square required
environmentally superior
alternative is the reduced
hardscape alternative because
it reduces impacts to cultural
resources near the seawall.
The actions before you today
and staff's recommendation is
to certify the final program
Environmental Impact report and
adopt the implementation
framework.
And we're available for any
questions.
Thank you.
All right Jim, thank you for
the work and thank you for
the presentation.
Clerk Please proceed with
public comment.
>> Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT Stephanie
Saathoff If you can please come
forward.
And then after that we have
Blair Beckman will have two
minutes.
I promise not to take them all.
I'm here for Mission Bay
Lessees Association today.
We consider ourselves partners
in stewardship of Mission Bay
with all of you.
It is a park for visitors and
San Diegans.
In fact, San Diego is are by
far the biggest users.
It is the nearest beach or sand
and water access for recreation
for most San Diego.
We participate in our process.
We encourage you to move ahead
today with key priorities
the bike and pedestrian path
improvements, our safety
issues, the wayfinding signage
we are very excited is a long
overdue and deferred
maintenance.
It is a charter priority.
It is a safety issue Also
before we add new features that
we struggle to maintain we
encourage first taking care of
what we have.
So thank you to Nancy Graham
and the staff for getting us to
this point.
We look forward to your
approval today.
So all of the mission Bay
priorities can move forward.
Thank you.
Blair Beckman.
>> Hi.
We're Beekman.
I thought Councilperson Prosser
was here today.
Seems like he isn't.
I hope he's not.
If he's not here.
I hope he can come back soon
and things can be going well
for him.
Thank you for this item.
Thank you for the presentation.
I don't know how much.
Well, I guess first to start is
I talk here often.
You know the importance of that
.
There is a lot of surveillance
technology in wildlife trails
and and how I'm sure you will
be planting this item in some
form since data collection.
You know what the endangered
species species count.
You know technology is used for
that these days.
You know the air quality
samples.
And the city of Davis as I've
described before, has created a
really good set of public
policies around wildlife
ordinance, wildlife technology
issues.
And it gives clear definitions
how it can be good public
policies with you know,
the tech can be with the public
that I think possibly can give
us good examples how to feel
more safe and trusting and
about how to talk about our
overall day to day tech issues.
And you know, I always am
trying to find ways that can be
easier to talk about and that
can be a way.
The city of Davis is over by
Sacramento, its home of uc
Davis And yeah, they had a
really good start on this stuff
.
I mean people would flock
there.
It would not flock but people
would.
It was a pilgrimage for city
governments to go to Davis and
check out what they do with
their wildlife policies with
tech, tech and um so good luck
in those efforts.
What you can be doing.
Uh, Councilperson LaCava, thank
you very much for your
questions.
A few items back around
technology use and broadband
are important.
>> Thank you.
Thank you.
Sorry the five minute time
recording of those
participating remotely We
currently have five speakers in
the queue The original If you
can please unmute.
Can't hear me.
Please proceed.
Hello.
Okay.
Yes so it's interesting to hear
you guys talk about like
wildlife preservation and
things like that and anything
going on with Mission Bay Park
especially You say that
the water level is going to
rise, right?
Oh I we do leases down there
Seems a little bit
counterproductive But for you
guys to be trusted with
wildlife if at preserving
anything it's a little bit
scary because I mean not only
has it been shown and proven by
the birds that have been dying
there and the other people
having to come in and mitigate
those things because you guys
refuse to It's like you can't
even help anybody that's living
better their life.
I mean you have to sit here and
say that you're helping
the homeless when in reality
you're killing us.
I mean you're surely doing that
and you're keeping them
homeless.
So it's a wonder if this is
just your way to get money to
pretend to preserve stuff.
I mean you guys give us back
water that's tainted like you
You do literally put things
like why and coloring I mean
all this stuff claiming that
it's healthy when it's like I
guarantee if I gave you a cup
of that stuff you guys wouldn't
drink it because you'd be like
You're poisoning me but you do
it on a massive scale to
the people and hey there's
fluoride in the water which is
a total neurotoxin, right?
But it's good for our teeth.
Yeah, right.
Like you guys just you invert
everything and you want to sit
here and, you know, virtue
signal as though you actually
can preserve anything and I
don't know.
I mean it.
It'd be better at preserving
your own.
I mean at this point because
it's like you can't even
preserve money.
I mean you guys basically just
come and take people's money
and pretend to do something
that is better for us And all
we have to do is again look at
the world around us and see
what you're doing is not
beneficial especially when you
like on one hand say that
you're like doing something
healthy and like you want
people to inject themselves
with a bio.
What's it like?
Come on.
Everything that you guys have
done over the years has been
totally detrimental to every
living thing So get a grip.
>> Let's be where time has
concluded.
Katherine Rhodes if you can
please unmute.
>> Hello, this is Katherine
Rhodes and first I want to say
that I really like E.R. And
Mission Bay Park improvements
Super supportive of the Rewild
pb.
And I think that this year
should be an example for
the Midway rising Earth where
this one was complete.
This one went through so many
things that I haven't even been
able to read the report because
it's so long you know it's
thousands and thousands of
pages long with this great
information.
So I just want to say to
the city staff that and and
your contractors that you did a
great job and I wish you would
do the same exact job at Midway
Rising and specifically for
Midway Rising not go along with
the Senate Bill 958 which is
trying to get rid of
the requirements for height to
be analyzed in the air and
geology and hydrology.
That means that if that passes
that means that you can do high
rise hotels all over Mission
Bay on map foundations that are
not safe.
And the solution for that is to
call in the state Seismic
Safety Advisory board that has
engineers from Caltech,
Berkeley and there were two of
them from ucsd to actually give
you information if you're going
to be doing high rise
structures that actually give
you information how to create
backup foundations.
And so thank you so much for
this And I really also like
that you talked about our aging
seawall and I was thinking that
our seawall instead of doing
what you have right now you
should look at the city of
Coronado and see how they put
the big rock rip preps and then
the sands and created sand
dunes.
I think that would be a great
idea for Mission Beach.
>> Thank you.
But thank you.
>> Next is Toni.
If you can please unmute.
>> Hello?
Can you hear me?
Yes.
Please proceed.
Hey thank you.
Good afternoon.
City Council.
I hope you're having a good
day.
I just wanted to say I really
appreciate all of the input
that Katherine Rhodes gives
routinely on all of these
calls.
I think she has some really
brilliant advice and and I was
just looking at the agenda for
today And when I look at
the bottom I saw that she had
actually been responsible for
implementing one of the ballot
proposals, the one for amending
the municipal code related to
transient occupancy tax
including reclassifying online
travel companies agencies as
hotel operators.
And I believe I was there
either in camp like in person
in council or I heard that
discussion online But I vaguely
remember the conversation about
it.
But anyway I just really spoke
to the power of individuals
being able to effect change and
I know that a lot of us feel
like we're sometimes in an echo
chamber.
Sometimes we feel we get
frustrated feeling like y'all
aren't listening.
But throughout the day to day
you have given us continuous
examples of the fact that you
are listening whether it was
Rahul Gandhi or responding to a
question or rather wanting
clarification on a question
that a caller was asking or
whether it was Joe LaCava
responding or Shawnee Lou
Rivera responding.
I just appreciate
the conversation that's that's
being had back and forth.
I appreciate you all
acknowledging the things that
we say when we call in to see
them and great work to
the staff that put together
this presentation And I think
it's a tremendous job And I
totally agree with what
Katherine Rhodes was saying
about it being a good idea to
put some rocks.
I went to high school near
Cornaro and have seen all
the work that they've done
recently to expand the sidewalk
and put up those rocks to to
prevent further sand erosion
which is a big problem you know
in all the beaches in San Diego
and including Coronado.
But yeah so good luck with with
all of that and thanks for
everything.
>> Thank you.
If I MAY Timer has concluded no
additional speakers will be
taken.
We have three speakers in
the queue 8700 If you can
please unmute.
Thank you joy.
Sonya two years ago when I
started being active in ccd I
was really enthralled with
the Irish and found them very
complicated but I was
enthralled with them and even
more so I never could get a
handle on the m them.
I could mitigation and
monitoring reports and I'll
tell you why.
Now in regards to this on item
80 you've got to resolve
certifying the I r o by the way
I agree it is a great air.
It's absolutely excellent a
model.
But anyway we've got
the resolve certifying the air
and the r p so the m m r p How
does it become transparent that
these mitigations that were six
areas four of them were green,
which were the bigger ones I
believe and two of them were
blue.
The blue was the air quality
And I think the other one I MAY
have written this wrong
cultural resources but I've
always wondered and never
really gotten the full answer
is there data accumulated a
cool bar was up on
the implementing nation and
watches these mitigations and
that's still sort of gnaws at
me So I wish I could get that
answer.
I didn't have time to do much
work with this item but I'm
very concerned about the mmr
piece and how we're watching
over because it does tweak
the requirements of the air and
I'm not against that but I just
hope that somebody is watching
over the monitoring, somebody
is monitoring the mitigation
and its implementation and
protecting our beautiful
mission Bay Park in that in
that area.
Okay.
Thank you for listening to all.
Thank you.
Kathleen Lippert, if you can
please unmute then Peggy
Walker's our last speaker.
>> The same reason that cigaret
butts remain a top pollutant of
coastal ecosystems endangering
wildlife, releasing toxic
chemicals like arsenic lead and
nicotine into the water is
the same reason we see people
throwing litter onto public
streets and sidewalks They
perceive no risk of
consequence.
What good are $1,000 litter
fines if no one is ever fine
for littering?
If we are serious about keeping
toxic pollutants off our beach
then the potential for being
fine must be real And we must
the public must be seen as
being fined for littering and
making sure that we protect
the beaches that we say that we
care about.
>> These items are non
biodegradable.
The plastic base filters are
ingested by fever and sea
turtles fish and causing
malnutrition, poisoning and
death.
>> Please consider adding more
enforcement to such that these
are these really go along
the way of broken window
theories and they MAY seem
inconsequential but they are
not.
You find people for making sure
that they take care and prevent
and don't engage in minor
crimes.
They won't go on to be worse.
Thank you for letting me speak.
Thank you.
Peggy Walker Thank you.
>> I just want to follow up on
that last speaker to say that
considering the hazards of
cigaret butter and single use
plastic vape devices that we
should be uncertain about
bringing our resources, our
precious resources like parks
and beaches of these as we are
of plastic food containers and
as such a lot about
the enforcement cigaret butts
and I think the previous
speaker mentioned those are
the largest source of
microplastic waste in the world
and single use plastic vape
devices are e-cigs are
hazardous waste and due to
toxic chemicals the plastic
device itself and flammable
lithium ion batteries that can
flame up at any time anywhere.
So good mitigation policy would
be to prohibit the use of these
in environmentally
environmentally and any other
environmentally mentally
detriment into tobacco or pet
products in and around our our
most precious resources.
I hope you'll consider further
enforcement strategies.
Thank you.
>> Thank you.
And my apologies, Hector.
I thought we had heard from you
but maybe that was Tony.
Can you please on mute?
Oh, yeah.
Thanks a lot.
I I haven't talked yet.
I've been thinking about it.
Yeah, I grew up in San Diego
rather than riding
the boardwalk since 1965.
I wrote it this week.
I write a couple of times a
week and are really excited but
I didn't know this was all
going on with the boardwalk
itself.
I do know something about
the boardwalk When you guys
redid the northern part you
built it in the same spot where
you should have widened it like
ten feet and you built it brand
new like ten years ago.
I know.
How is the city going to mess
this up?
We spend all this money there
building one to just make it
ten feet wider.
You guys probably ride
the boardwalk.
That's where it's really
restricted in there.
It's hard to ride your bike and
stuff.
A lot of people So when you do
the southern part it looks like
you're going to do a new
southern wall down there on
the southern part by the jetty
makes at ten feet wider And
actually the people down there
the owners, property owners
down there I used to live on
double court there on
the front.
The property owners have been
cringed on our land.
The guys that the owners of
that land it's not their land
And the very front was about
15ft that belongs to the city
So maybe charge those guys for
the land.
I hope you guys know this cause
and make that wider down there
at South Mission it's really
restricted too and it needs to
be built up But it's do a good
job, build the wall first and
then do the sidewalk.
You know you got to do it So it
works for everybody But that
sounds really cool man.
And then but either charge
the guys they're not going to
tell you that I hope you guys
know that that it's actually
our land and they've actually
just took it over time.
They just put their chairs on
it and they built the little
fence and they got the land now
looks like it but there's some
shady thing going on down
there.
It's a power play So hopefully
and I guess could make the wall
a little higher for that
seawall.
Seawater rise.
So thanks for your time has
concluded and so has the public
comment on this item.
>> All right.
Thank you.
So we'll quickly turn to
council member questions
comments entertain a motion and
we'll start with Council member
Campbell Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT I'll be very
brief.
I just want to start by
thanking staff for all your
hard work on this and for your
presentation.
Long term plans to upgrade
Mission Bay Park are critical
for our aging park as it's been
environmentally degraded in
some areas partly due to its
heavy use.
It is very popular and it is
the largest manmade aquatic
park in America and possibly in
the world.
The public amenities will be
important to preserving
the park for residents and
visitors alike.
Mission Bay is one of
the city's most important
recreational environment and
environmental assets and taking
the proactive approach now will
help avoid larger maintenance
and environmental challenges in
the future.
So I would like to make
the motion to move staff's
recommendation and again thank
you so much for the good work.
>> All right.
We have by Councilmember
Campbell to move the staff
recommendation And since I have
the other part of Mission Bay
I'll make the second.
I had extensive comments at
the Environment Committee which
I will not repeat here in
the interest of time thank you
for the very good work.
This is a big deal to get to
this moment and thank you for
that.
Not anybody else in the life We
have a motion by Council member
Campbell I second by myself to
move the staff recommendation.
>> Please call the roll As far
as voting system please cast
your vote that passes
unanimously 5 to 0 with Council
Member Councilor Campo,
Councilmember Von Wilpert and
Councilmember Foster absent.
Thank you, Council PRESIDENT.
All right.
Thank you.
So we're going to return item
to Hunter to staff because
we're going to lose quorum.
I apologize to the staff that
stuck around for that and I'm
going to ask my colleagues to
stick around for the in-person
non agenda Public comment as a
courtesy to people have been
sticking around and we will
take up remote as part of
tomorrow's agenda.
My apologies for that as well.
The council members respect and
appreciate the public input and
are fully committed to
protecting every participant's
free speech rights at council
and committee meetings.
Clerk Please proceed with
the in-person public comment.
Again we'll be taking remote as
part of tomorrow's agenda for
all 2.7 on general public
comment is an opportunity for
members of the public to
comment on items that are not
on the agenda or within
the subject matter jurisdiction
of the City Council.
Each speaker will have two
minutes.
Please note if there are eight
or more speakers on a single
topic the maximum time for
the topic will be 16 minutes.
If you're in chambers please
submit your speaker slip now
Blair Beckman if you can please
come forward after that will be
Bob because his q Blair Beckman
First thank you.
Um it'll be nice to hear Bob
after myself.
Um, I uh it was a long week
last week and I hopefully I
learned a lot.
I learned that and use can be a
good source of revenue for
the city besides taxes that I
hope can be more implemented.
I've learned that Oakland and
all the major cities that
council personnel overall
operate last week they have
these revenue sources that they
can rely on but San Diego does
not.
Um really good luck what we can
be doing I still think we can
take a more broader view to
give some sort of picture of
what we can be working towards
and and make things into a 8 to
10 year plan instead of a 3 to
5 year plan And that way we can
be working on social services
Still it was really
disheartening to hear
the retaliation things that are
going on in the police
department and I think it's
indicative of what's also been
happening in the mayor's office
and I think it's an issue that
we really want to address here
in the city If we do, I think
we'd be doing something really
positive and we'd have
something to really be working
on together and wanting to do
better And I think it'd be help
helpful for ourselves to find
ways to address the retaliatory
things on a number of items and
including of course Andrea I
mean we've been talking about
recently I hope her situation
can be much more clearly
understood.
Um and with that um there's
other stuff there's a lot of
other stuff I hope we can be
working on making the words
biometric technology okay to
say in public We're not afraid
of those conversations And
Oakland Oh my gosh they're
doing it again.
They're really working on
technology issues.
People really check out what
they're doing.
>> It's not fearful They are
building our future for all of
us.
Thank you.
>> Thank you, Bob because this
key I know you have a video so
I won't start your time until
the video's up
.
That concludes his public
comment and public comment here
in council chambers.
All right.
That includes everybody here in
person.
Again, we'll take remote as
part of tomorrow's meeting.
My apologize for anybody that
was sticking around for that.
So with that, does the city
attorney have anything to
report out from closed session?
>> Yes.
Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT Today in a
closed session meeting the city
council took the following
actions.
City council voted on closed
session item number one in Ray
National prescription opiate
litigation United States
District Court Northern
District of Ohio Eastern
District Case number 117 M.D.
2804 mdl Number 2804 to
intervene into proceedings with
several pharmaceutical
companies and distributors.
The motion passed 820 with
council member Foster Absent.
The city Council also voted on
closed session Item number two
Cap Inc at all versus Discover
Financial Services All Discover
Card Merchants Merchant Class
action United States District
Court for Northern District of
Illinois Case number 123 cv
04676 to intervene into
litigation proceedings against
Discover Financial Services.
The motion passed 820 with
Council member Foster Absent.
That concludes my report.
Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT.
>> All right.
Thank you.
The Office of the City Attorney
We will now adjourn Council to
the regularly scheduled council
meeting on Tuesday MAY 12th