then
the change is ready.
>> All right.
Good morning.
I will now call the Special
City Council meeting on
Wednesday, MAY 20th, 2026 to
order Clerk Please call
the roll.
>> Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT Council
Member Campbell Council Member
Whitburn here Council Member
Foster You're Council Member
Ron Wilber Council PRESIDENT
Pro Tem Lee Council Member Can
you hear COUNCILMAN Moreno?
Council Member Ellen Rivera and
Council PRESIDENT LaCava
present also attending
the meeting or Assistant City
Attorney Michelle Garland
Independent Budget Analyst
Charles Mollica Council Affairs
Advisor in the Mayor's office
Curtis Iser and myself your
city clerk Diana Fuentes Thank
you.
Council PRESIDENT All right,
Thank you.
With that a quorum is now
present So Clerk please go over
how the public can offer their
testimony.
>> Thank you.
I'd like to highlight the slide
on the screen that reviews how
the public can offer their
public testimony during this
evening During this morning's
meeting the order can be found
on the agenda summary found
online or at the table in
the back of the room.
If you're in person, please
complete a speaker slip look 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 speakers Lips no
further in-person testimony
will be taken once the council
begins Virtual Testimony Thank
you Council PRESIDENT All
right.
Thank you.
With that we will now proceed
with the approval of
the consent agenda and request
to pull an item off the consent
agenda.
Not seen any such request.
>> Clerk Please proceed with
public comment.
Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT We do have
one speaker here.
It's item 600.
Item 600 is on the consent
agenda.
Jeffrey Shuter, if you can
please come forward.
You'll have one minute.
Please proceed.
Thank you.
Council members, I just wanted
to say I appreciate
the thoughtful compromise that
was reached at the MAY 7th
meeting.
I think it's put it in a place
where we can proceed forward at
sandag with determination of
what the transit stops will be
for sb 79.
The only thing I will say is a
lot of the debate revolved
around proposition that there
are 48 additional bus stops and
that should have been included
in the sb 79 map.
We have actually gone through
in detail what those arguments
were and submitted it as a
public comment today So you
don't have to listen to we go
through all five pages of it
and I just hope that people
look at that.
And one of the things that's
important is sb 79 is a transit
oriented development bill.
It's not a general housing bill
And if the goal of this is to
push development in the single
family neighborhoods, we have
other tools for that.
>> Thank you.
Thank you.
>> Start the five minute time
recording of those
participating remotely starting
with heck.
Hector if you can please unmute
.
>> Thanks for taking my call.
I think we should ignore this
bill 79 Bill State law You guys
are ignoring the federal laws
and the immigration guys so why
should we our city is big
enough to determine our own
zoning laws right now in
Claremont that up on Claremont
Drive there's like a four story
a new right off in a great
neighborhood And for some
reason that slipped in.
We are ignorant and all that
stuff happened but we're big
enough to just ignore the bill
and move on with our own zoning
laws like we had in the past.
They seem to be working pretty
good and there's poverty.
There's also enough housing
being built.
Here's just people that can't
afford them because there's
100,000 illegal aliens living
in our county and when they
leave it's going to lower
the rent for a lot of people.
So if we go that rapid
deportation plan that Trump's
going to come come through with
after he takes over Cuba, he's
going to turn hopefully
the time has concluded.
Next is 8700.
If you can please unmute.
Thank you, Joy.
Senator Yes two phased in
implementation prior to broader
implementation plus exemptions
exemption of areas outside of
one mile walk from Cody Jodi
stop this is from me just to
add thought to it.
Please look at the end.
Look for our application.
Please look at the ministerial
process and projects.
The word ministerial is used a
lot.
Ministerial public input.
None No public hearings or
neighbor No vacations are
required and the timeline is
fast and predictable so please
use your due diligence on sb 17
nine process.
It's a big deal.
It's an important deal and I
appreciate all of your work on
all levels so up to all thank
you.
>> This item did receive one
comment in favor and one
comment in opposition b r e
comment form which has been
distributed to the council and
that concludes public comment
on the consent agenda.
All right.
Thank you City Clerk Without
turning over to my council
colleagues questions comments
entertain a motion and we'll
start with council member
Lipman.
Thank you very much.
Council PRESIDENT I will move
the consent agenda.
This is the second reading of
this item so I'll be brief.
At the first reading I proposed
amending the ordinance to
reflect that the bus corridors
on Park Boulevard and
University Avenue at Alcohol
Boulevard long stretches of
which fall within my district
should be included as qualified
transit oriented development
stops.
Thank you to my colleagues for
working with me on that.
We ultimately removed specific
language calling out specific
stops leaving get to said that
to determine I supported that
outcome.
I do want to be clear about
where I stand.
I believe that those corridors
do qualify and my office will
be communicating that directly
to said that get happy to move
the consent agenda.
Thank you Council PRESIDENT All
right.
Thank you Council members we
have Council member Whitburn
moving in The consent agenda
will go to Council member
Foster Yes, thank you Council
PRESIDENT I was not here for
the last hearing.
I do understand this is a
second reading but if I can
have some clarification as to
why that change was done based
on what I reviewed of
the hearing it seemed like
there was sound legal, a sound
legal determination between
planning and the city
attorney's office in regards to
the language that they
originally developed.
So can you explain to me what
impact this actually has or
what was it How this
determination came about and
why we landed here?
And this is and also I'm asking
because if I recall
the original draft of
the ordinance I believe as you
highlighted or indicated what
the bus stops were there was
also the next line indicated
that whatever sandag way
the state bill is written, it's
my understanding that sandag is
the agency that will determine
what those routes are and
certain things And I thought
there was another line that
said the maps weren't done.
As soon as sandag completes
their maps and their routes
then we would incorporate their
determination At the end of
the day.
So can you explain to me
overall what took place, how
we're here?
I will probably leave it to
your council colleagues to
explain, you know,
the viewpoints and the debate
that occurred at the council.
However, what I will say is
that the amendments that were
made at council staff is
supportive of because they have
little effect moving forward.
Staff had always planned to
defer to the sandag map is that
is what is specifically
required by the state statute.
>> Okay so that last so that
last point that you made that
the law does state that at
the end of the day sandag does
have that authority and that is
how we would proceed as we are
developing said plan, correct?
Yes, that that is correct.
We as the professional staff do
community and coordinate with
other agency staff and have
been coordinating closely
throughout this process.
The maps that were presented
was what our understanding was
of the interpretation of
the statute consistent with
other agencies that we had
coordinated with.
But again Sendek has not yet
released that map so I still
cannot tell you with 100%
certainty what that will look
like.
But what I can tell you is
whatever it looks like is what
city staff will incorporate.
Okay.
Thank you.
And if I recall I'll turn to my
colleague Councilmember Campo.
I believe there was a line
there was a point in
the hearing where you
essentially said the same
thing.
>> Is that correct?
Well, I asked that question and
they confirmed it.
So yes, I was getting at
the point that you're
absolutely pointing to okay,
thank you so much which is
which is why I supported
the motion.
Okay.
Thank you.
I will conclude there and I
will second the motion.
>> All right.
So thank you, sir.
And if I can Heidi, I just want
to thank you for your position
in in proceeding in accordance
with the statute and
the provisions that will allow
us to really take a look at
areas to make sure that we are
trying our best to account for
any unintended consequences and
what's in the best interest of
the public.
>> So thank you for your
approach to this to this item.
Thank you.
All right.
Thank you.
So again, we do have a motion
by councilmember and second by
Councilmember Foster and will
go to council PRESIDENT Pro Tem
Lee take out the PRESIDENT Just
to keep it simple, I
unfortunately missed the first
hearing on this item as we had
our first budget town hall that
evening in the community But
just want to share my
appreciation to my colleagues
for I know this considerable
amount of time was spent to try
to work things out that evening
and thank you to the team as
well Given the timeline that we
have to get this implemented
and will share my support.
>> Thank you.
Sounds good and I'll see
anybody else in the lights.
I will also express my thanks
to everyone despite some of
the comments we heard that
night and I've heard in other
places sb 79 has very specific
language and options for local
jurisdictions and how to
implement them.
What we're doing is exactly
implementing what sb 79 allows.
It also had to be done under a
very a bit of a compressed
timeline.
So I want to thank everyone
that made this morning special
hearing possible.
Apparently how you calculate
calendar days is critically
important.
And today was the magic day to
both have the second reading
and get it in place on our city
books before the JULY 1st
turnaround time.
So thank you everyone.
Thank you to my colleagues for
making time for a special
meeting on a Wednesday morning
and clerk and my staff and just
losing it and just everybody
who made this possible.
So with that we have a motion
by Council member whitburn,
the second by Council member
Foster To move the consent
agenda.
Clerk Please call the roll I'm
sorry the voting system Please
cast your vote That passes
unanimously 6 to 0 with Council
member Ella Rivera Council
Member Cantley I mean sorry
Council member Van Wilpert and
Council member Campbell absent.
All right.
Again thank you.
Everybody is going to work Make
this possible With that clerk
please introduce item 601 Item
601 is the Transnet Local
Street and Roads Program 2027
Regional Transportation
Improvement Program Artist
Development and Fiscal Year 20
2720 2031 Program of Projects.
If you'd like to speak on this
item and you're here in council
chambers now is the time to
submit your speaker slip to
the front of the room in
the clear box.
As a reminder no additional
speakers will be taken in
chambers once we go to virtual
comments And now's the time If
you're in virtual participation
to raise your hand by pressing
the raise your hand icon or
star nine Thank you Council
PRESIDENT All right Thank you.
As a brief reminder, this was
one of the items that was on
the Monday afternoon docket
that we canceled due to those
unique circum stances and
tragic circumstances of
the day.
We found a little bit of time
to schedule it for this morning
so I appreciate staff's
patience in rescheduling this.
So with that introduce
yourselves for the record and
let us know how much time you
need.
Good morning Council PRESIDENT
And council members.
My name's Naomi Chavis
Transportation Department
Interim director.
Joining me today is Patrick
uct, interim deputy director
And we will need ten minutes
for this presentation when
you're ready.
The item before you today
includes the development of
the 2027 Regional
Transportation Improvement
Program commonly known as
the aatip as well as an update
to the fiscal year 2027 to 2031
program of projects.
This item was direct docketed
due to committee being
adjourned and needs a signed
resolution by JULY 1st.
The Aatip is a multibillion
dollar multi-year program of
transportation projects that is
managed by sandag and
the Transnet revenue
Allocations included in
the aatip are based on
the fiscal year 2027 proposed
Transnet budget.
With this I'll turn it over to
Patrick to go over
the presentation.
>> Thank you.
Naomi and good morning Council
PRESIDENT LaCava and members of
the City Council.
This and presentation will
first go over an overview of
the Transnet Local Streets and
road formula funding.
Before diving into the fiscal
year 26 status of Transnet
funds then we will take an
outlook on the 27 to 31 five
year revenue forecast that
sandag puts out once a year.
And then we will have a look at
the 2027 proposed Transnet
budget and the specific project
allocations that are being
proposed.
And we're ending this
presentation with a overview of
any budget adjustments that
were processed in the current
fiscal year using
the appropriation ordinance.
The chance that funding comes
from a half cent local sales
tax that is administered by
sandag to fund local
transportation projects
consistent with the Regional
Transportation Improvement
Program.
As the graph on the right side
of the slide shows 29.1% of
the net annual Transnet
revenues are set aside for
the local streets and road
formula funds.
This revenue gets distributed
to 19 local jurisdictions of
which the city of San Diego is
one of them and receives a
proportionate allocation of
roughly 41% of the total
funding.
The Transnet Ordinance and
sandag board Policy 31 require
and required to spend at least
70% of the funding on
congestion relief projects and
no more than 30% on maintenance
activities and about 1% on
the program.
Administration projects that
receive Transnet funding must
be programed into Aatip as a
requirement to receive
the funding and unlike the city
of San Diego, the aatip is on a
two year budget cycle and in
fiscal year 2027 we are moving
from the 2025 to the 2027
aatip.
>> This table shows an overview
of the city's estimated revenue
projections as well as our
actuals and expenditures for
fiscal year 2026 and to last
for years of actuals.
We started the fiscal year with
a $40 million fund or cash
balance that was at sandag
which means these are budgeted
Transnet funds but we haven't
spent them down yet and
Transnet funds get reimbursed
to the city of San Diego at
the same pace as we spent them
And the Transportation
Department in collaboration
with the Department of Finance
Process Monthly reimbursement
requests equal to our actuals.
We're projecting to have a
disbursements by the end of
this fiscal year in an amount
of $49 million that would bring
down our fund balance to 31.1
million anticipating 48.1
million of additional revenues
this fiscal year That would be
a decrease of 2% compared to
the beginning fund balance This
fiscal year And our goal is to
continuously decrease our fund
balance at sandag and through
proper fund management and
prioritization of the Transnet
fund expenditures and decrease
that fund balance even more.
In this chart we can see how
effectively our 19 local
jurisdictions in San Diego
spend their Transnet allocation
.
>> The graph shows that in
comparison shows the annual
Transnet revenue in comparison
to the cash balance that
the local jurisdictions hold a
value of 100% would equal a
cash balance of equal to the at
the current fiscal years
revenue And as you can see
the city of San Diego has
the third lowest cash balance
with a 101% compared to their
fiscal year 26 revenue.
And this and charge we can see
the five year Transnet revenue
forecast that gets updated by
sandag once a year and it is
categorized by the required
split between administration
maintenance and congestion
relief and funding is allocated
via the budget development
process.
At the beginning of each fiscal
year but it is important to
note that sandag receives
actual revenue on a monthly
basis and some years budget
adjustments might be required
at the end of the fiscal year
for fiscal year 2027
the Transnet revenue is
estimated to be $49.1 million
followed in the required split
between maintenance, congestion
relief and administered Nation
.
We are proposing to allocate
14.6 4.6 million to maintenance
activities that are related to
street division 34 where 70%
will be allocated to congestion
relief activities of which 79%
will go to the Capital
Improvements program and that
is also included in Attachment
a and c on that report to
Council.
And 21% are our congestion
relief activities that do not
meet the capital threshold.
>> On the next slide we will
take a deeper dive into
the allocation that will go to
the chp So 14.8 million is
proposed to go to street
resurfacing of which 13.7
million is for the in-house
mill page project.
3.5 million will go to El
Camino Rialto via De la Valle
3.2 million goes to the Choice
Creek to Bayshore Multi-Use
Path Project which is coded
under the bike facilities asset
type.
2.6 million goes to new
walkways specifically to
college Meridian to Judy
McCarthy sidewalk.
And 1.3 million to traffic
signals point 4 million to
normal street promenade.
>> This slide shows all transit
budget adjustments that have
been processed using
the current fiscal year
appropriation ordinance and
that require a programing
update in the current article.
It can also be found on
attachment number b.
Please note that Attachment b
was updated in the backup
document and in the resolution.
These are all even budget swaps
with a net zero budget increase
in our projects to prioritize
Transnet spent down.
So this brings us to our last
slide which is a summary of
what this action is asking
the council for.
So this action requests
the authority to develop
the 2027 aatip and to program
transmit budget adjustments as
outlined in an Attachment c
program.
The next five years of revenue
forecasts as outlined in
Attachment a and make any
programing changes triggered by
the use of the current fiscal
year appropriation ordinance as
outlined in Attachment b.
For your reference we also
included a list of all Transnet
funded projects as of quarter
three in Attachment b of this
item sorry in attachment d of
this item.
This concludes our presentation
and we are happy to answer any
questions.
>> All right.
Thank you for the work and
the presentation this morning.
Clerk Please proceed with
public comment.
Jeff Tutor if you can please
come forward.
You'll have two minutes.
Please proceed.
I should add very much of that.
The other thing that caught my
eye is there was an emphasis on
the statement that the cash
balance was ratio being
particularly low relative to
the rest of the county.
I would be interested if
somebody in the council is to
and what the significance of
that ratio is and whether
there's actually any policy
levers that need to be changed
in order to change that.
The typical understanding is
you get money from transit
transit and then you spend it.
So it seems like just sort of a
pass through.
But if there is something
that's of interest there I'd be
interested to know as well as
the public.
Thank you.
>> Thank you.
At the five minute time ago one
of those participating remotely
we have three speakers in
the queue.
So with Hector if you can
please unmute please.
>> All right.
Thanks for taking my call.
I know a few years ago you guys
spent millions of dollars to
look at all the streets and
determine what street needed
the best, how they repaved
the streets and don't don't
allow sandag to do that any
more.
Don't pay millions to look at
the streets.
Hire the Boy Scouts and
the Girl Scouts to go around.
They always do it with their
parents anyway When they're
going to school they can know
where all the streets are, all
the communities and pay them
instead of $2 million for a
computer that scans the streets
.
They know where the streets
Everyone knows where
the streets are But how
the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts
pay them instead of a contract
kind of shady deal that
the city does normally.
>> But just go direct, have
direct sandag do not study
the streets no more.
We know the streets and we'll
work with the Boy Scouts and
the Girl Scouts.
They'll get a badge on your
thing and will actually pay
them money that the That's my
idea.
Thanks a lot.
Thank you.
Next is 8700 If you come please
unmute.
>> Ladies 700.
Thank you Joy.
Assume you have a program
transmit money while sales tax
revenue share zero.
Thank you everyone.
So on the budget just three
items I definitely like
maintenance activities in
question on that How much how
many how much is deferred and
sidewalks Yeah traffic signals
are so important and especially
regarding dangerous
intersections And the gentleman
that just spoke in the chambers
I thought that was interesting
too.
I didn't understand it probably
like he doesn't all of you but
the low cash balance policy
levels change question there So
that's the best I can do on
this this morning.
So thank you for the meetings.
Have a beautiful day.
Love to all.
Thank you.
Next is Blair Beekman your
final speaker in the queue?
So now time Thank you.
Good morning.
We're between the two items on
my mind for this item I wanted
to offer up as starts of
consideration with our this
been funded by Transnet dollars
I wanted to offer a reminder
that with there's a serious
question of a bus fare increase
is coming up that sandag
transit money that this comes
from can be a way to help
mitigate bus fare costs for a
short term in and how do you
train the name of the to hold
on hold on my comment being
screwed up here I'm not
disappointed a quickly after
that can someone turn that
person off?
>> We don't have any concern Oh
did something is is is is is
bouncing back and forth here so
I just wanted to quickly offer
that as just a note and it's
hard to think and work on
the bus fare situation and
transit dollars how they can be
used to offer quickly you know
this is money that can be used
for the future of surveillance
tech on our street lives with
the incidents that happened a
few days ago please keep while
is making a really big push it
sounds like that he's going to
want more help for tech and
surveillance tech and I don't
think that's the answer.
>> I think we have to go really
slow on that and really ask
the question how do we better
coordinate our human
communication and our and our
social laws that dictate how
we, you know, work that sort of
crime situation something stop
them from working that
situation.
And I think it was a human
communication error and our and
our societal values that we
couldn't work more clearly and
we don't need more tech Please
we don't Thank you for that
concluding statement And that
does conclude public comment
for this item.
All right.
Thank you, city clerks.
I'll turn over my colleague's
questions, comments and
entertain a motion and I will
kick it off If nobody else
wants to get on the customer
with her.
Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT Sure.
Thank you to staff for
the presentation.
Great to see these funds being
used that for projects that
make the public right of ways
safer and more desirable for
pedestrians and bicyclists such
as by using new walkways and
bicycle facilities that will be
installed also very pleased to
see $400,000 in transit funds
going toward finishing
the Noble Street Private Art
Project at Hillcrest.
I can tell you the community is
very excited for that product
to open.
I'm grateful that these funds
will help us get their feature
and I would like to thank
everybody from
the Transportation Department
for all the hard work on
creating this highly
anticipated public space a
cultural destination So happy
to make a motion to approve
the staff recommendation.
Thank you, Council PRESIDENT
All right, Thank you.
Council member Whitburn.
I'll jump in and second
the motion.
So we have a motion by
Councilmember Lipman to second
by myself.
Do you want to make the second?
Okay, Well we'll go to council.
I'll keep on the second and
then we'll go to Councilmember
Foster for questions.
Thank you.
I think one I just want to
thank you Council PRESIDENT
Thank you staff for
the presentation that we've had
some very I guess pointed
conversations about paving and
transportation And I just want
to say thank you for the work
that you guys have done.
We've went to a 43% commitment
for District 49 and I just want
to say thank you.
You have you are continuing to
proceed with that policy
decision in that determination.
And so I just want to say thank
you because that is a shift in
philosophy and making sure that
we receive the investment in
our typically historically
under under resource
communities.
I also would like to say I do
appreciate my good friend
George Anthony.
I just want to bring him up.
I do still appreciate getting
his emails every time I see him
I do read them myself but he is
doing a great job at
identifying those really poor
conditions and getting our
minimum pay folks out there.
So I also want to say thank you
for that as I often tend to be
very critical of of our efforts
and how we are investing in our
under-resourced community.
So I just wanted to say that
what we're getting with our
millennial team I love to see
the numbers numbers moving in
the right direction Again I
will say I am all for us
bringing as much as we can in
house.
I know we have our issues and
challenges out of the yard and
so forth that we still need to
get our arms around But I am a
full supporter of looking at
how we can continue to grow our
in-house paving program because
I still feel we will be more
competitive than outsourcing.
So I do I do want to thank you
for that.
The one thing that does trouble
me is the term bicycle
facilities.
i mean I brought this up in our
our briefings but can you as we
are in the financial scenario
that we are in I know we've
made some changes with our
mobility department so far.
So I think we are kind of
winding things down.
But you can you explain what's
in this actually in this line
item for bicycle facilities
Because I think there's an
immediate interpretation that
this is the bike lanes and
we're continuing to invest in
just bike lanes which is
driving, you know, a lot of
contentious conversations in my
community.
So if you can shed some light
as to what that term is, what's
included in what that actually
accounts for.
Of course first of all, thank
you for your words of
appreciation.
Councilmember Foster And in in
this budget the $3.1 million
for bicycle facilities that's
where the choice Creek to
Bayshore project and there are
other grant funds available for
this project and it is
scheduled to go into
construction this coming year.
>> Okay.
Thank you for that.
And again, as I have asked you
you know, I know it's a term
that we use but I think it
would it's always good when we
can get some clarification in
detail So folks just don't
think it's we're just
continuing to invest in bike
lanes as we are going through
our financial challenges.
So thank you for that And I
will be supporting the item
that concludes my comments.
Thank you.
All right.
Thank you.
Councilmember Foster.
Not seeing anyone else on
the lights.
I will add my thanks to
the work that you do every year
to bring this item forward and
clarify You know, I'll add
inspired by the public comment
that the three days gone past
and prior administrations had a
different philosophy Let money
sit in buckets that we were
receiving and not spending.
You know at the end of the day
what the public wants us to do
if we have the funds let's go
out and get the work done and
so I'm I've been around long
enough at City Hall to know
that that pivot I think is an
extraordinary measure.
We have the money let's put
the money to work as
efficiently and thoughtfully as
possible given the balance
between congestion relief and
maintenance to be a little
protective of our smaller
cities, projects cost a lot of
money and the allocation that
the smaller cities get is not
enough in one year to actually
do those bigger projects And so
they have to save up year after
year after year to get enough
money to actually build
the bigger projects.
So it is somewhat
understandable why their ratios
are much different than ours.
We're a big city.
We have plenty of projects that
we can tackle in our cip so
that's exactly what
transportation is doing.
So I very much appreciate
putting that money to work and
i know our residents do as well
So with that we have a motion
by Councilmember Whipper and a
second by myself to move
the staff recommendation
forward.
Please call the roll I'm sorry
the voters and please cast your
vote And that passes
unanimously 6 to 0 with Council
member Eli Rivera Council
member on the opening Council
member Campbell Absent Thank
you Council PRESIDENT All
right.
>> Thank you.
So that concludes this very
short docket this morning.
We will now adjourn Council to
the special closed session
meeting today, Wednesday, MAY
20th, 2026 at 10 A.M..
So I'll see everybody in about
20 minutes.