the All right good morning.
I have a long day ahead of us
so let's get this show
underway.
Good morning.
I will now call the special
City Council meeting of Tuesday
JUNE 9th, 2026 to order Clerk
Please call the roll.
>> Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT Council
member Campbell Councilmember
Whitburn here Council Member
Foster Council Member Yvonne
Wilbur Council PRESIDENT Pro
Tem Lee Council Member Campo
Councilmember Moreno
Councilmember Ella Rivera and
Council PRESIDENT LaCava
present also attending
the meeting or Assistant City
Attorney Leslie Fitzgerald
Independent Budget Analyst
Charles Mollica Council Affairs
Advisor in the Mayor's Office,
Code Advisor and myself your
city clerk Diana Fuentes Thank
you.
Council PRESIDENT All right,
Thank you.
A quorum is now present.
We will begin this morning with
the land acknowledgment and
the Pledge of Allegiance led by
Council member Whitburn.
We respectfully acknowledge
that the committee should are
the original inhabitants of
the Unceded land Now no to say
Diego Despite enduring
the horrors of genocide and
colonization, the cowboy spirit
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
stand with the committed and
connected to our past and
committed to a thriving future.
Please face the flag Head over
your heart.
Ready?
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.
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
morning's meeting The order can
be found on the agenda
somewhere and found online or
at the table in the back of
the room If you are interested
in speaking please complete a
speaker slip located at
the entrance of chambers and
bring it to the front of
the room in the clear box.
Council ambassadors are
available 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 again as a reminder
today is Tuesday but we are not
following the usual Tuesday
agenda format as we announced
yesterday.
Obviously the early start is
one signal on that We do
proclamations and consent items
yesterday.
Thank you for everybody
engaging in that We will start
this morning with not agenda
public comment and then we will
be taking up a discussion
agenda that will take us
through the morning.
We will reconvene after
the lunch recess at 1 P.M. To
get into the most important
item and one of the most
important items of the day
which is the f y 2027 budget.
So with that we will now take
up non agenda public comment
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.
Park Please proceed with public
comment Purl 2.7 on agenda
Public comment is an
opportunity for members of
the public to comment on items
that are not on the agenda but
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 to
the front of the room.
If you're joining us virtually
you please raise your hand by
tapping the raise your hand
icon or star nine If you're
calling participant back in
the following individuals
please come forward to
the yellow reserved seats and
then Apollo Madrigal if you can
please come up to the podium
and then we'll have Joyce
Sonata and Max Schmidt.
You can come up to those yellow
seats.
You'll have two minutes.
Please proceed When you get to
the microphone over here I'm
good to go.
Yeah.
Hello, council members and
hello Council PRESIDENT Carver
.
My name is Apollo Madrigal,
PRESIDENT And Democrats at uc
San Diego this morning I'm
speaking on behalf of Triton
Dems ucsd students and young
people across San Diego and
addressing the impending budget
crisis.
To put it simply, we can do
better and young people are
well aware of this.
I want to first acknowledge
the work that's been done by
the Council to restore many of
the deeply troubling cuts to
arts education resources being
housed and investment and our
future to the Office of Child
and Youth success.
I along with my fellow students
are cognizant of the positive
impacts your effort will have
on our great city and our
community.
However, we students are well
aware of the existential threat
the mere proposition of these
cuts have to our future and
the city as students while we
still stare down the barrel of
hundreds of thousands in
student debt and the pursuance
of knowledge and the honor to
contribute to our community.
City responds by defunding
the very resources that got us
here the solutions that will
keep our city green and
sustainable.
And once again attempt to
reduce resources being housed
while students bounce on
the tightrope of a housing
crisis and a tumultuous job
market, our city quietly tries
to remove the safety net.
I agree with the words of
Councilmember Lee in saying
that the artistic expression is
what makes us human.
It's all the more unfortunate
that our humanity is contingent
on multimillion dollar
donations rather than
institutional support.
All the while our council
remains complicit in
the funding of mass
surveillance of its citizens
through hpr expansion.
Yet resources for our most
vulnerable investment our
future and freedom of
self-expression are deemed
unnecessary or conditional.
We get the message.
Therefore I on behalf of
Trenton Dems call on the City
Council to deny this new budget
because as young people we are
aware of what's happening.
We are aware of what's possible
and we will keep showing up
until we get there.
Thank you all.
Thank you for that.
I give a little bit of leeway
to a first time speaker.
This is not agenda public
comment so don't speak on
anything that's on today's
agenda.
There's a time for that.
I think you're probably in
class today so a little bit of
leeway as well.
But for everybody else this is
not agenda public comment I
think of your opponent Joyce
Nero, the love the ambassador
city clerk okay.
Yesterday I said part one of my
comments on the trash pickup
fees Today I'll say part two
which is a batch of thank you's
thank you to the Honorable San
Diego Superior Court Judge Yuki
to Oliver for all of her work
through the litigation process
especially her judicial
discretion and as applied to
the outcome of this case.
Thank you to the former San
Diego City attorney Mike a Gary
and his law partner Maria
Severinsen.
The plaintiffs attorneys.
Thank you to Heather Ferber,
our current city attorney who
signed off on the agreement.
Thank you to council member
Stephen Whitburn.
Thank you to Labor leader and
Port Commissioner Michaels who
can't thank you to former Mayor
Kevin Faulconer and thank you
to all other involved attorneys
And the biggest thank you of
all is to all the public all of
the public Many, many came and
your voices were heard.
Thank you.
You really roared And we love
that.
So thank you to all of
the public who spoke for and
fought for.
They really did fight, didn't
they?
There were beautiful example of
what that that how that helps
So they they spoke for they
fought for this change of fees.
Oh and one more thing.
Good morning MR. Stamp.
I hope you're listening.
I second the motion and your
suggestion, Jen regarding
the proclamation.
>> So it's going to be a
beautiful day.
>> Love to all.
Thank you.
Max Schmidt Hi.
I just wanted to come out as an
American mind control think
done by liberal Freemasons.
It started in 2016 when I
started doing lots lots of
grassroots protesting for
Donald Trump such as flag
waving every single day for
hours and also posting online
how the Zionist controlled
white liberals are doing human
sacrifices in the Masonic Lodge
on basically what it's called
neuro linguistics And you can
look all into it on telepathic
masons like the ones on city
council can read your mind And
what they do is they use
English words to on constantly
say your thoughts but
the English words but they say
something for example or say
like how are you doing well And
then my brain will interpret as
you're going to and they'll
like do things like that
constantly nonstop.
And I sat here for three hours
yesterday waiting to speak and
I've been praying all day that
they hide behind 5150 laws.
They're communist.
If you try and speak about this
they will detain you If you
want 50 laws and throw you in
prison like an animal.
So I just want to speak
the truth and risk getting 5150
because this is America and
the First Amendment still alive
to me.
I sat here for three hours
yesterday and they tortured me.
The city council members
tortured me.
They used neural linguistics.
You can read all about it to
constantly say my thoughts out
loud to I couldn't think for a
single second The city council
sitting right behind this desk
tortured me yesterday for three
hours the same exact way I go
out in public and get stalked
and tortured And you'd better
not 5150 me because the First
Amendment is live and you know
I'm not crazy and you know
you're guilty guilty, guilty
And you know that you have done
a human sacrifice and
the Masonic Lodge and you know
you are cannibals and you know
you are telepathic.
How dare you try to mess with
my head?
How dare you mess up my head in
an American city council when
I'm here to talk about my
freedom and you try to question
my freedom and you better not
try to say I'm crazy because
I'm not crazy of the occult.
>> I'm not crazy.
>> That concludes knowledge at
a public comment hearing
Council chambers going to those
participating remotely We have
five speakers in the queue.
Francine Maxwell If you can
please unmute.
>> Francine Maxwell There you
go.
Good morning Francine Maxwell
Southeastern San Diego resident
I want to thank everybody for
their due diligence in giving
us 9:00 am appreciative I want
to make sure that we're on
the same page of what
transparency means If the city
of San Diego pays out 30
million and the taxpayers know
you paid out of 30 million, why
When we go and we scour and
read closed session it says no
report.
No report.
How can some payments be made
public and then some payments
are sealed?
We know that San Diego Police
Department officers former
current are suing the city of
San Diego.
>> We should be able to access
the list of lawsuits,
the payouts that are occurring
to the San Diego police
officers and the public all
within the same realm of
transparency that is not
occurring.
I pulled up closed session and
I saw Officer Art Scott and
there was nothing there,
nothing to report.
So you MAY still be in
litigation.
We MAY still be waiting for
someone to sign off but that
does not negate
the conversations that should
be happening right now We have
a couple that are divorced and
both of them are in San Diego
pd and they're both suing.
We should have a conversation
about that again as we continue
to want to build a bridge of
transparency, we want to build
a bridge of trust.
Let's have hard conversations
If you're going to settle,
settle no problem, turn around
and let's just discuss it so
that we can build on how not to
do it again, how we are going
to take what we settled for and
build.
You have still yet to have
the conversation about the 30
million.
What is the department doing
different?
What has changed?
Those are the conversations
that have to happen Respect
that Things are absolutely
private but when it comes to
our tax dollars nothing should
be private.
Thank you for allowing me to
speak.
Thank you.
Next is Becky Rob if you can
please.
And you for Becky will be
really strong Becky wrap for
you.
There you go.
Good morning.
My name is Becky Rapp and I'm
here today to ask the city to
prioritize public education and
prevention regarding the risks
associated with today's high
potency marijuana products.
The science around marijuana
has changed dramatically over
the last decade An ever growing
body of evidence from
researchers, hospitals, public
health agencies and now
the federal government can no
longer be ignored.
Just recently the us Substance
Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration
released a national advisory
calling for health care
providers to screen patients
for cannabis use disorder and
educate them about the risks
associated with cannabis use
across the lifespan.
Sam says specifically
highlights concerns related to
addiction mental health impacts
,cannabis induced psychosis
and increasing potency of
modern products.
Many San Diego and still
believe that marijuana is
the same product that existed a
generation ago and it is not
today's concentrates vapes
edibles and high thc products
can contain potency levels that
would have been unimaginable
just a few decades ago.
Yet many consumers are unaware
of the potential consequences
especially young people whose
brains are still developing.
Consumers deserve honest
science based information so
they can make informed
decisions.
Parents deserve resources to
recognize warning signs and
young people deserve to hear
the full story not just
the marketing And individuals
struggling with cannabis use
disorder deserve to know that
there is help available.
I urge Council to support
stronger public education
efforts Community outreach and
prevention campaigns that
communicate the documented and
science based health risks.
>> Thank you.
Thank you.
Next is Judy Strang, if you can
please On you.
Well, good morning and thank
you for the opportunity to
speak from my workshop.
Nine of us are scrambling this
morning but thank you.
I wanted to share some
information on behalf of those
who work with children,
particularly those that are
concerned about their exposure
to alcohol, tobacco and
marijuana.
The research that comes out
from the American Academy of
Pediatrics is pretty clear
about how they feel about
marijuana use during pregnancy.
But now we're hearing warnings
about pre-pregnancy
the interruption of the dna
process that produces the and
how it can affect the outcome
for the baby.
The cdc has followed up with
this and pointed out how
important it is for us to
recognize that epigenetic
changes happen with marijuana
use pre-conception.
Then conception as well during
the time of babies being
carried.
We are concerned that this
information is not getting out
to our young women and young
men.
We also need to be reminded
the cdc tells us that high
potency thc marijuana crosses
the placenta and passes into
the about potentially exposing
infants during these critical
stages of brain development.
Many of us have young children
within our purview of care as
do I.
And recognize how critical
these early years are and that
our children deserve to come
into childhood with as many
benefits as they can.
And we question and get
the promotion, the billboards,
the normalization of a few
across the city regarding
marijuana use is serving anyone
well certainly profiteers but
not our children.
>> Thank you for letting me
share.
Thank you.
If I MAY a time or two to
include during your comments
there are only two speakers in
the queue at that time.
Any additional speakers will
not be taken.
Blaire Beekman your next
speaker and our final speaker
is Hector.
>> All right.
Thank you everyone.
Thanks for the meeting today
and important meeting today.
I had a clarifying question As
you know, the budget items will
be at 1:00 and you're expecting
many people to speak on what
I'm assuming are the future
estates.
Nothing in that item that is
specifically meant to speak
towards technology.
So it seems like non agenda
public comment I should be
allowed to speak on the subject
if I want to Just to clarify
and question I won't speak I'll
wait for my comments on
technology at today's later
meeting at this time not
intended public comment I
wanted to comment that I really
have Thank you in how city
Council has been working in
the past few months in this
budget time to really make
clear the point on the on
the purpose of social services
and human care and care for our
local neighborhoods.
That's first And then we can
address budget deficit issues.
Budget deficit and its
austerity does not have to take
an over arching precedence and
I hope we're really learning
that and that's what we come
back to next year And how to
address our budget issues is
addressing our social service
needs of our local
neighborhoods first and then we
can address the deficit.
I know the deficit is a
troublesome thing.
It MAY take a bit longer and
years to fully work out and
we're going to have to be in
cutting practices for a while.
But as long as we keep those
social services in place, you
know, bring back library hours
there are ways to learn how to
do that and we have to do all
of that and to continue
the good day centers.
So good luck in those sort of
good efforts And that's how we
can talk about responsible tech
use in our future And good luck
to our afternoon meeting today
What we can be doing It takes a
community and participation not
government dictates.
>> That's our future.
Guys, thank you.
Thank you.
And our final speaker is Hector
.
>> Good morning guys.
Let's focus the city on
building a state of the art
sewer plant.
The two you want to river Lou
and turn it into drinking water
and stuff Top a line and get
money from tariffs from Mexico.
There's so much angles going
everywhere.
Different things in the city
and the county And let's focus
on the sewer plant because
because the kids down there
the poor kids that have to live
down there and breathe the air
are worth it.
Whatever color they are, they
are worth it.
Mexico does not care about us
one bit.
They'd be fixing their own
sewer plant than any and that
is gay pride month.
The city should organize a
SlutWalk from the city
operations building down to
where the are hanging on
National Avenue down there to
raise money for the sewer
plant.
That'd be great.
It would incorporate the gay
community that they love and
they could all walk down there
and raise money along the way,
do all these events to raise
money on the sewer plant And
then when the city really work,
the city of San Diego and
the county and state worked in
the 50s and 70s because white
men were running the show They
did it so we should have White
History Month in JULY and
celebrate the White guys that
ran the show really well and it
had great accomplishments in
the city at that time.
Now we're just down the hill
sliding to nowhere.
You know we were smelling
Mexican for decades because
the Democratic Party of these
they're stealing the election
in la right now The Democrats
are thieves.
All you guys are organized is
SlutWalk and do your part The,
the gay guys can be a part of
it all genders all three of
them that concludes my agenda
Public comment for today's
meeting.
>> All right now an opportunity
for knowledge in a public
comment from the mayor's
office, a city council member
City clerk attorney I did not
say any.
All right.
We'll move along.
Let's take it up.
Today's discussion agenda clerk
Please introduce item 700 item
700 as the fiscal year 2026
third quarter budget monitoring
report.
If you'd like to speak on this
item, now's the time to submit
your speaker steps to the front
of the room in the clear box
And if you are participating
remotely please be sure to
press star nine or the raise
your hand icon that you council
PRESIDENT All right.
>> Because they have settled in
.
Introduce yourselves for
the record and let us know how
much time you need.
Good morning.
Council PRESIDENT McAllen
Council members I'm Ben
Battaglia, director of finance.
And with me today is Rolando
Chavo, Chief Financial Officer
and Ember Gutierrez Financial
operations Manager.
We're here today to present
the fiscal year 2026 third
quarter budget monitoring
report.
And we'll need about 12 minutes
for the presentation.
This is the third budget
monitoring report for
the fiscal year.
It was developed in
coordination with departments
based on nine months of
financial activity.
It includes a full analysis of
projected revenues and
expenditures for all general
fund departments as well as a
number of nonfederal funds.
Overall general fund revenues
and expenditures are both
projected to be under budget
resulting in a slight net
positive position for
the general Fund in both
reflecting a variance of less
than 1% from budget.
However, there are some
sensitivities that are detailed
in the report including timing
of expenditures and receipt of
revenues that could have an
impact on actuals at year end.
The report also includes a
number of appropriation
requests and requested
authorities which will be
discussed in more detail.
I want to thank all city
departments for their
contributions in developing
this report and we've requested
departments to attend today to
help assist with any questions
you might have.
And I'll turn it over to Amber
to walk through the specifics.
>> Thank you, Ben.
At a high level general fund
revenues are projected to end
the fiscal year 10.5 million or
0.5% of our budget.
This is comprised of 6.9
million decrease in major
general fund revenues and 3.7
million in departmental
revenues.
General fund expenditures are
projected to end the fiscal
year 12.2 million or 0.6% under
budget.
This is comprised of 28.7
million in fringe and non
personal expenditures partially
offset by an average of 16.5
million in personnel
expenditures.
Based on projections included
in the third quarter report,
the General Fund is expected to
end the fiscal year with a
positive 1.7 million ending
that projected activity.
Before elaborating further, we
want to pause to summarize
the mitigation actions
implemented this fiscal year as
well as positive developments
that have improved the general
fund fiscal position.
These actions reflect
intentional and ongoing
strategies to maintain fiscal
stability.
This includes the f y 2026
Budget Mitigation Actions
Memorandum issued in NOVEMBER
2025 which is which implemented
a request to fill process
limiting hiring to the most
critical positions directed
suspension of discretionary
spending and non-essential
overtime and required contract
reviews for potential savings.
The city is also the city also
advanced organization
Realignment to improve
efficiencies and identified
available funding sources to
support to support or reimburse
eligible costs.
Positive developments include
reduced contributions to
the Public Liability fund
following receipt of onetime
proceeds and improved
performance of Major General
fund revenues.
Since the Media report here are
the third quarter projections
for the major general fund
revenues compared to
the current budget, overall
revenues are projected to
decrease by net 6.9 million
primarily due to declines in
transit occupancy tax revenues
and other major revenues.
Transit occupancy tax revenues
are projected 3.9 million
budget due to declines in
international travel and
moderate growth in leisure and
business travel.
Additionally, other major
revenues are projected 18.1
million under the current
budget primarily due to
negative interest earnings from
reduced general fund cash
balances.
These decreases are partially
offset by projected increases
of 2.8 million in property tax
due to higher collections 4.6
million in sales tax due to
stronger than anticipated
second quarter receipts and 7.8
million franchise fees.
Following the receipt of
the annual Genie cleanup
payment in FEBRUARY since
the release of the report we
have received updated receipts
from major revenues with
the most significant uptick in
property taxes coming in 2.4
million below projections.
This decrease is partially
offset by increases of 1.1
million in transit occupancy
tax and 359,000 sales tax.
Overall these updates result in
a net decrease of 946,000
compared to the third quarter
report.
Staff will continue to closely
monitor revenues and
expenditures for the remainder
of fiscal year for departmental
revenues.
A 3.7 million decrease is
primarily due to lower double
park parking revenue in parks
and recreation due shifts in
the program's implementation
timeline and adjustments to
the fee structure.
Additionally there are
projected decreases in leaf and
concession wayfinding kiosk and
telecom revenue with an
economic development reduced
parking meter reimbursement and
parking citation revenue and
stormwater.
A continued decline in cannabis
business tax revenue in city
Treasurer and reduced
reimbursements from the County
Fund for Homelessness Services.
Based on the expenditure
projections.
These decreases are partially
offset by increases in
environmental services from
higher reimbursements for code
enforcement abatements,
sidewalk sanitation and litter
container management as well as
work performed by the code
compliance team.
Fire Rescue is projecting
higher reimbursements for
Lifeguard Junior Lifeguard and
paramedic services as well
striping and deployments.
Police revenues are projected
to increase due to additional
reimbursements for special
events and parking enforcement
activities.
Joint projects.
Transportation is projected to
increase revenues due to higher
Transnet and gas tax support
for eligible expenditures while
General Services projects an
increase from higher
reimbursements for tenant
maintenance and repair
activities.
As noted earlier, general fund
expenditures are projected to
in the fiscal year 12.2 million
under budget.
This is comprised of 28.7
million in fringe and non
personnel expenditures
partially offset by an average
of 16.5 million in personnel
expenditures for fringe and non
personnel expenditures.
The largest savings included
10.6 million in contracts
primarily due to reduced
contributions to the public
liability fund following
the receipt of onetime
insurance proceeds.
An updated claim denied claims
assumptions 5.5 million
transfers out primarily due to
reduced transfers to the San
Diego Regional Parks and
the Mission Bay Improvement
funds due to lower than
anticipated Mission Bay lease
revenues received by
the Economic Development
Department and 3.3 million in
information technology due to
lower non-discretionary costs
supported by available fund
balance and operational
efficiencies to generate
savings.
Additional savings across
remaining categories include
reduced water costs in
the parks and Recreation
Department due to intentional
conservation efforts.
Deferred Capital Debt Service
due to lower than anticipated
principal draws and reduced
principal and interest payments
related to the fire rescue
helicopter purchase.
For personnel expenditures a
16.5 million overage if
compared to 15.5 million in
overtime primarily within
the public safety departments
which account for approximately
74.4% of the total increase.
This includes increases in fire
rescue to maintain constant
staffing and police to support
reimbursable activities such as
special events and parking
enforcement.
Additional overtime is also
anticipated in
the transportation and parks
and recreation departments to
support emergency response and
call backs and to maintain
service levels during events
and seasonal demands
respectively.
Detailed on this slide are
the changes that occurred
between the midyear and third
quarter reports compared to
the media report.
Revenues are projected to
increase by 3 million while
expenditures are projected to
decrease by 15.4 million
resulting in a net improvement
of 18.5 million for revenues.
The increase is primarily in
departmental revenues and due
to efforts to identify and
maximize eligible
reimbursements from other
funds.
The four main major general
fund revenues also reflect an
increase including higher
franchise fee revenue following
the receipt of the annual acg
cleanup payment of FEBRUARY as
well as stronger than
anticipated transient occupancy
tax and sales tax receipts
collected.
These increases are largely
offset by a decrease in other
major revenues primarily due to
decline in interest earnings
due to reduced cash balances on
the expenditures side, a 15.4
million decrease is primarily
due to reduced contributions to
public liability fund following
the fund's receipt of
additional onetime insurance
proceeds as well as lower
nondiscretionary costs and
clean water and information
technology services.
These decreases are partially
offset by increases in
personnel costs, primarily
public safety and fire rescue
To maintain confidence and
increase termination fee
primarily a belief based on
separations To date.
Here we have the general fund
balances and reserve estimates
based on the third quarter
projections.
The projected available fund
balance or access equity is 1.7
million.
The third quarter report does
not include any action items or
for council consideration
regarding the use of this
balance nor is it proposed for
use in the MAY revision to
the f y 27 draft budget.
This is primarily because while
a net positive position is
currently projected,
projections do remain sensitive
to changes in underlying
assumptions projected revenues
or savings not materialized and
the city and the year with a
negative fund balance.
The city will need to draw upon
the General Fund Stability
Reserve to prevent a negative
year end budgetary fund balance
.
This brings us to our requested
authorities.
The first request is our
standard annual request as part
of the purposes which allows
appropriation transfers between
departments to close out
the fiscal year in compliance
with the City Charter and
Municipal Code.
The second request is a
contingency authorization to
draw upon the facility reserve
if needed and an amount not to
exceed the level needed to
ensure the general fund ends
the fiscal year balance
consistent with applicable
financial reporting start
standards and guidance on
transparent disclosure of
general fund balances and
reserves.
Lastly, the following are
the recommended appropriation
adjustments for the General
Fund and select non general
funds based on identified
needs.
As noted there are savings from
the reduced contribution to
the Public Liability fund.
Staff is recommending
reallocating non personnel
appropriations among general
fund departments to ensure
continuity of operations and
the required obligations for
approved economic development
compensation agreements, fire
rescue contracted helicopter
maintenance and transportation
engineering and operational
support.
We are also requesting
authority to increase
appropriations and select nine
general funds supported by
either increased revenue or
available fund balance of those
funds to support fire ems
staffing.
And updated p emt program of
Golf Course Maintenance
operations at Technology Canyon
Golf Course.
Junior Lifeguard Contractual
services and special events and
filming for notice of right to
be of support.
To conclude the third quarter
report projects a net positive
position of 1.7 million an
improvement of 18.5 million
from the Media Report.
Mitigation actions and other
positive developments have been
critical to improving
the general fund position and
will remain in effect in fiscal
year end if actual results to
differ materially from current
projections and result in year
end deficit.
The general fund would need to
draw upon the stability Reserve
to maintain the positive
balance.
The report outlined outlined
standard year and budget
control authorities contingency
according to draw upon a
stability reserve if necessary
and appropriation adjustments.
The Department of Finance will
continue to monitor revenues
and expenditures and will
provide an update with
the release of the year end
financial performance report on
OCTOBER 7th of this year.
>> That concludes our
presentation.
Were available for any
questions.
All right.
Thank you for the presentation
and good work.
We'll turn it over to
the office of the rba Charles.
Great.
Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT Council
members.
On JUNE 2nd we released a
report 26 Dash 17 which is an
analysis of the third quarter
report.
My comments this morning will
be brief because Ben and Amber
already covered the numbers
well and by and large we
believe those numbers to be
reasonable.
It is worth noting that in
comparison to the first quarter
and mid-year reports, the third
quarter projection overall
better fiscal position for
the city and there are fewer
major surprises in it.
However, there are a few items
that we believe are worth
flagging.
On the revenue side, total
general fund revenue was
roughly $6.8 million below
the adopted budget but $3
million above where we were at
the mid-year.
The four major general fund
revenue sources property tax
sales tax, franchise fees and
totty all showed better year in
projections than they did at
the mid-year although we note
that it is still projected to
end the year below budget
projections nearly equal to
actual fy 25 receipts and
provide additional updates to
our major general fund revenues
since the release of the third
quarter specifically related to
property tax sales tax in
total.
I would just note that the fy
27 budget recommendation from
my office that we will discuss
this afternoon already do take
those updates into account.
There are some potential risks
for other non major general
fund revenues.
Interest earnings are projected
at-$11.1 million because
the general fund has not
maintained enough cash on hand
to receive interest income.
This is a $16.6 million swing
from what was budgeted.
Parking meter revenue is also
coming in about $5 million
below the budget largely driven
by not implemented metered
parking on Sundays as well as
usage changes equipment cost
from meter expansion.
Finally we note the cannabis
business tax is also slightly
underperforming down about $2.5
million from the adopted
budget.
The one largest risk associated
with the projections was
covered in the presentation and
that was $7.4 million
reimbursement from osa for
the JANUARY 2024 storms.
This reimbursement has not yet
been finalized.
If it is not received by AUGUST
it would not count towards our
fy 2026 and that would push our
total revenue about $14 million
below what it was in
the adopted budget.
On the expenditure side we are
projecting about $8.5 million
in the savings versus
the adopted budget.
That is primarily driven by non
personal savings But we do
caution that some of
the assumptions associated with
savings MAY be slightly
optimistic in that they reflect
generally past historical
savings as opposed to savings
associated with any specific
action.
We also note that overtime
particularly in fire rescue and
transportation continues to run
above budget which has been a
persistent issue.
In general our overall
recommendation is to approve
the appropriation adjustments
that are requested as well as
authorized use of the stability
reserve as a precaution And in
the meantime to keep a very
close eye on the Cal oas
reimbursement between now and
actual year end.
>> We will continue to monitor
and we will update this council
as necessary as well.
Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT.
>> All right.
Thank you, John, as always.
Helpful.
With that, Clark, please
proceed with public comment.
Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT I would like
to know for the record that
the Titan receives your
comments of everyone coming in
opposition of your comment form
which have been distributed to
the Council.
We have Joyce in Noda and Mike
Schmidt here to speak on this
item.
Joy, if you can please come up
to the podium.
>> You'll be our first speaker
and you'll have a minute and a
half.
First of all, I want to say
good morning to all
the departments that are
available for questions.
That's great.
Okay.
A positive position for
the general fund.
That's music to my ears.
Yet targets are going up and
down so there's still a lot of
uncertainty And it's just so
hard for us to really deal with
that.
But we're doing good.
So I didn't hear even one
sentence.
I didn't even hear anything
about the structural budget
deficit.
So maybe it wasn't appropriate
to include in this third third
quarter report.
At the same time it's there and
we've got to got to got to
listen to it.
So aba.
Charles Monaco, good morning.
In your report you talked about
the reserves as they relate to
the structural budget deficit
And I think you said that we're
going to have some information
on that this afternoon.
I hope so because I don't
understand it.
But apparently it's very, very
critical to our structural
budget deficit.
So I won't have time to do what
else I wanted to do But
Department of Finance you're
doing a great job.
You said this wonderful
statement a month or two ago
about the structural deficit.
Thank you for that concluding
comment.
>> Management just come to
the microphone.
You have a minute and a half.
>> The total revenue.
>> This is just an opportunity
for you to make your comments
okay On I believe the total
revenue for the third quarter
budget was in the hundreds of
millions if I'm correct.
Is that correct or like some
indicator?
Anyway on property tax sales
tax and cannabis tax is theft.
This I do not trust
the integrity of city council
to be taking my money for
property sales tax and cannabis
tax when they don't care about
the people.
If they cared about the people
they would be torturing me and
linguistically and then
mumbling We're going to 5150 If
you talk about it all during
your public agenda comment time
.
So these people are communist.
These people's only goal is to
create a one world government.
If they can do that by having
more legal immigrants, if they
can do that by making more poor
people homeless and killing
them off when they're homeless
and mind control and
depopulating the country of
patriots like they're trying to
depopulate me for being a
patriot whatever whatever they
can do.
These people do not care about
human rights If they cared
about people and the people of
San Diego and human rights why
would they be nervous
linguistically torturing me and
then saying we're going to 5150
You threatening me?
It's absolutely disgusting.
I just wanted to say down with
the court, down with
Freemasonry.
I'm not crazy And you know
you're all guilty and how dare
you treat me like this in a
city council meeting?
How dare you attack the time
Minute time again of those
participating remotely starting
with Hector.
>> If you can please unmute.
>> Whatever mental health
system we have that's that's
how it's looking Now.
So the mental mental health
system is just this is probably
more crazy than the people that
are really suffering from
mental health, you know and
there's a difference between
schizophrenic and organic brain
disease or organic brain
disease You do drugs and fries
your brain if you did it there
are people that just have
schizophrenia out of nowhere,
that kind of thing.
It just happens.
So anyway, let's focus on when
you do the financial stuff make
it simple Like yesterday we
took out a loan to pay our
short term bills and it what
really wasn't explained like
it's going to cost us we're
taking out 1330 million
whatever it was how much is it
going to cost us over a year
Just plain and simple.
It's like borrowing money from
your dad I'm going to borrow
50,000.
It's going to cost I'm going to
pay him back 60,000 over a year
If I don't pay him back, what
happens?
You know that's the city's keep
it more just a clear
interpretation of what's going
on financially.
But anyway, good luck.
Goodbye.
>> Thank you.
Next is Blair be kind of become
please on you after that is
Leonard all right.
Thank you.
We'll be friends.
Yeah.
I think the best way to address
schizophrenia is through direct
conversation and dialog.
People fall through the cracks
through honesty and direct, you
know, caring dialog that I
think really heals a lot of
issues with our government too.
I think we're all trying to
work harder to build a better
government community and
bureaucracy.
We do have bad patterns and we
want to address them good like
that.
We all are trying to address
our bad patterns now and
improve upon them and that's
working together and I hope we
are finding answers with this
item you know to offer try to
offer some just healing advice
that Charles Monaco has stated
continuously If we don't have
revenue sources we're going to
be in trouble.
I've learned you know that you
know all the cities I've been
talking about Oakland, San
Francisco, L.A. They all have
significant revenue sources so
they can stave off the deficit
concerns they have over a
longer period of time.
We don't have that in San
Diego.
It sounds like this item you
guys are living you know, just
like by, you know, skin your
teeth to get through it.
So thank you for the efforts
you're doing.
You know, I'm really
disappointed that, you know, we
can't I really hope we can have
conversations about revenue and
the people really understand
that we can't just cut services
in order to create our future
government.
>> Thank you.
Thank you Leonard if you can
please on you are Yes and hear
me.
Yes.
Please proceed.
All right.
I've worked for the city of San
Diego for 25 years nine years
with their environmental
services.
The Cost of service report is
deeply flawed.
The culture of woman workers on
point with the trash bins
easily could have purchased a
$2 rfid and retrofitted 200,000
green, blue and black beans to
save money.
The amount of new black and
blue green green cards were
ground and recycled and it was
a waste of money.
The epa has committed the sin
of oversaturated trash bins by
selling them for $75 when they
actually cost 45.
Who made the $30 on 300,000
beans?
I witnessed court proceedings
attorneys for the city of San
Diego They were very
incompetent witnesses.
I believe Again she represented
the general community in grand
fashion Judge Oliver for
hearing the case couldn't
afford the city attorney's
expert witness was a waste of
taxpayers money Bringing
the people from Fresno that are
in San Diego was a disaster.
Hdr Hilton and John Paul two
consultants for the of service
study robbed and raped the city
for $7 million You want to make
money back charge or make money
off the recycling?
>> Thank you for that
concluding comment That
concludes with a comment on
this.
I don't Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT Right.
Thank you City Clerk And with
that will turn it over to my
council colleagues for any
questions, comments and
entertain a motion And we'll
start with the Chair of
the Budget Committee Council
member foster Oh oh yes.
Thank you Council PRESIDENT And
thank you to Rolando, you and
your team and also to the ipa.
I think there is positive news
that potentially we can have a
$1.7 million some excess
equity.
Can you just kind of fill in
some of the blanks on the Cal?
Oh yes.
And what that I guess what
the issues are delays have we
met our requirements provided
all the information they have
what they need We crossed our
t's dotted our eyes.
Can you kind of shed some light
and elaborate on that process
and why it's so difficult to
get the reimbursement?
Absolutely.
Thanks for the question,
Councilmember.
So my department as well as our
oas Department has been meeting
with oas over the last six
months.
We first met with them in
DECEMBER to get a status update
on how their review is coming
along.
It's coming along very, very
slowly as you can imagine.
Oh, yes.
Has many, many, you know,
jurisdictions that they're
working on right now.
At that time the estimate for
the current fiscal year was
about 7.4 million is what
the city would receive related
to the JANUARY 2024 storms.
We recently met with them over
the last month or so.
They're still working through
that now To date the city has
received about 30 or 40,000 of
that 7.4 million.
We're hopeful that a majority
of that will come in this year.
However, it MAY be that that
full 7.4 will not come in this
fiscal year.
We do have until AUGUST of this
year to be able to crew
anything that comes in at fy
26.
If it isn't if it doesn't come
in by AUGUST, the revenue will
then be brought to 2027.
But we are working very closely
with oas getting regular status
updates from them and our own
staff, our work, our meeting
with them weekly to get updates
and the city has provided all
the information to yes that
they have requested today.
Okay.
Thank you for that And just so
I'm clear, Charles, you kind of
in just casual conversation
kind of said separately the 10
million is the number Is it
the hard number 7.4 million or
is there things that are kind
of being discussed And that's a
conservative estimate of what
we're receiving.
7.4 is the current estimate.
I think the 10 million or so
was what was submitted and we
get a percentage of that I
think it's 70 or 80% of that
total amount If approved.
Okay.
And how does that make us I
guess that's 7.4 million in
regards to making us whole on
what would were eligible
reimbursements I guess you're
comfortable We covered what we
needed to cover and included
what we could include.
Yeah it's if everything was
approved that we submitted
that's about a 70% support from
them.
Okay.
All right.
Thank you.
You know, every dollar counts.
Everything's important at this
point so please keep all of us
updated.
I guess it's also good to see
that we had the modest
improvements with the property
tax sales tax franchise fee.
I think, you know, at the same
time, you know, with the I
guess small margins when it
comes to our operations, I
think as MS..
Joy indicated, this deficit is
still glaring at us.
Clearing out is every time we
have a budget conversation I
think it's important that we
continue to focus on that long
term or long term solutions.
I think it's going to continue
to have to take robust
conversations by this body as
we continue to move forward
even as we look at you know,
we'll have further budget
deliberations later this
afternoon.
But even with the recent
settlements as we move forward
and we talk about certainty
versus uncertainty, right.
We're adding you know, every
decision we make has an
implication And that decision
we just made does some things
we do have to consider as we
look at the long term
structural deficit.
So thank you for the work on
this.
I will conclude my comments
there and move staff's
recommendation.
>> All right.
Thank you, sir.
We have a motion by Council
member Foster to move the staff
recommendation.
We'll go next to Council member
Marino.
Thank you for the presentation
and also thank you to
the partners to the Department
of Finance for all your work
this quarter report I think
does a good job of presenting
the state of the current year's
budget which is challenging as
you must utilize the most
recent revenue data and
projects through the end of
the year.
I do want to put on record that
utilizing the stability
reserves is something that
should be the absolute last
resort.
I know that the Department of
Finance certainly recognizes
this and could that
the Department of Finance
outlined the process The city
would follow to access reserve
funds if necessary?
>> Absolutely.
So if this council were to
grant the approval to utilize
the stability reserve if needed
as we're closing out the fiscal
year fiscal year 2026, if we
identify that we have a deficit
and we'll know in the AUGUST
SEPTEMBER timeframe as we're
closing the books, we will then
utilize the reserves in order
to close balance to the city
charter.
>> The city has to close
the general fund balance.
Got you.
So this action today allows you
to utilize the reserve fund so
you would not come back to this
council?
That's correct.
Okay.
However, what we would do is we
would if we were to have to use
the reserves we would come back
to council as part of the year
end performance report to
notify you and to communicate
whether we, you know, did use
the reserves and if so, how
much.
>> Got you.
So it would be an informational
item that would come to
the council before utilizing
the funds It would be after
after utilizing that we would
notify the council how much was
needed if needed.
>> Got you.
So if the city does need to dip
into the reserves is the intent
to provide the Council with
the plan to refund
the Stability Reserve in
the mid-year budget report?
Absolutely yes.
That would be part of the plan
That is also part of
the reserve policy as well if I
could add to it.
So there is a possibility for
example, as Charles was
explaining and then if
the revenue from Kelley Gas for
example is collected in OCTOBER
and NOVEMBER that money would
be in excess of what we've
already budgeted in 27.
So that would those funds even
though maybe would not be
recognized in effect 26 we
would have the ability to use
that late Calloway's
reimbursement to replenish
the reserves if we ended up
having to use them because of
you know, things that are out
of our control.
>> I have more questions on
that but I do want to close up
my my mistake.
Thank you for that though.
I appreciate that.
I appreciate your explanation.
I am very hesitant to utilize
the reserves.
We didn't even do that during
the pandemic which was a sudden
and unpredictable event and
that was before the cares Act
funding was available to
the city of San Diego.
So I just want to point out I
want to put on the record that
I'm I would like to avoid that
at all cost Regarding the $7.4
million oas funds, will
the funds go back to
the general fund or will it get
dispersed to each department
that utilized the funds during
the floods?
It would be deposited into
the general fund for general
fund use.
So 7.4 million is general fund.
There also is some additional
funding for environmental
services to it's about $2
million So that would go into
the Enterprise Fund for
Environmental Services was
the only one that had an
enterprise fund.
That's right That okay I do
know that amount.
It's about 2,000,002 million.
So we're looking at about 5
million roughly considering
that we get the 7 million back
That's Oh yes, it's on top of
the 7.20.
That's on top of the 7.2.
>> 7.4 is the general fund
amount.
Gotcha.
Is there any other funds that
we don't know about?
No, That's it.
Okay.
You just mentioned
environmental Services 2
million which I didn't see in
the documents but that doesn't
mean that it's not there.
I would welcome this council
and the mayor to utilize
the fund for flood prevention
the beta I don't know what
we're calling the p now
the Beta Street Channel in
the back is about last number
was about $85 million
considering what Chief Logan
expressed regarding El Nino I
think it's prudent for this
council and this administration
to put the money back into
preventing future funds as
we're all grappling through
the lawsuits that the city of
San Diego has based on the 2024
floods, I think it would be
prudent for us to allocate
the remaining funds to that
capital improvement project and
I believe it's Beta Street
Channel So I don't know for
the record but I am looking
forward to seeing the updated
information.
>> I think it's next month when
we are going to discuss this
issue again after the aba has
also provided their analysis
and I look forward to oas
reimbursing us but thank you
for that.
Thank you.
I'm sensing a declined to
second the motion or did you I
hate using reserve funds but
that's okay I'm I'm cool with
that You don't have to I'm I'm
okay with seconding the motion
Thank you.
Okay with that We will So we
have a motion by Councilmember
Foster a second by
Councilmember Reynold to move
the staff recommendation.
We'll go next to council member
Bob Wolpert.
>> Thank you very much and
thank you for the work in
the third quarter report.
>> Thank you.
To be able as well for your
analysis I have good news that
we're not projected to end in
deficit we thought we would be
so that's great you know
provided we have to get cal yes
to provide funding all of that
I hope they do But I do have
some questions in terms of you
what are coming under revenue.
I feel the airport authority as
well and we watched it Canadian
Airline after Canadian Airline
only canceled their summer
flights to San Diego.
They actually took themselves
out of the single market.
They just stopped They closed
all their gates because of what
the chaos in Washington dc is
causing And we saw that coming.
Our PRESIDENT Was horrible to
the Canadian government so they
stopped coming here And so now
we're seeing a result in
the decline in international
travel and they're flying over
us.
Going to Mexico is what we've
been told to the airport
authority which we can't
control of course.
But were we able to offset any
of that with a Measure c
appropriations we're now able
to get or is still we're at a
deficit because of travel we've
seen over the last three months
Todd has made a rebound which
is which is really good news.
So comparing f y 26 you're in
projections to f y 25 actual
projections They're about
the same.
So we're not seeing the large
decrease that we had assumed in
the major.
So we're hoping that this
rebound continues.
We have increased d o t revenue
projections for next fiscal
year and we hope that that
trend continues.
>> Is that because we're
charging a higher proportion
because letter c or because
we're actually seeing more
travel, we are seeing more more
being spent?
>> Yeah.
Okay.
>> And then I have another
question about police and fire
overtime.
It seems that our police
department for the first time
is actually doing well in
budget These overtime our our
fire department unfortunately
they have obviously different
incidences such as the fire in
Toronto Valley yesterday which
you cannot control how long and
how lengthy the fire will be.
But I do want to keep
monitoring how many
recruitments we do, how many
academies you do because we are
able to fully staff the fire
department and they won't have
to do as much overtime.
So I want to continue to watch
that.
But kudos to the police for
actually reducing their
overtime budget this year.
Other questions about
transportation and I know that
we needed more overtime based
on the potholes, the rainy
season, the floods How are we
looking there?
Do we need obviously Bethany,
you also all be telling us that
we need more transportation
funds but do we need to make
any more expenditures?
How are you doing?
What can we do to help with our
streets and roads and sidewalks
?
Good morning.
Council Van Wilpert, Naomi
Travis, interim director for
transportation As we continue
to communicate to this council
our transportation's ongoing
budget is significantly
underfunded for the needs of
the department We continue to
need approximately $6 million
in overtime just to deliver
the baseline level of service
and the demands that come to
the department.
So indeed with with this report
we do need the appropriation
and the allocation to be able
to to close out our budget for
the year.
>> And is that budget that
planned for in that that
appropriation that's done here
not not for the current fiscal
year I think Naomi is talking
about for next fiscal year they
would need an additional 6
million of overtime to maintain
or increase their service
levels to a certain standard
for fy 27.
>> Correct.
Historically our department
burns approximately $6 million
in revenue this fiscal year fy
26 our baseline was
approximately 2 million.
Our department came to council
twice in SEPTEMBER and in
OCTOBER to identify a couple of
mitigation opportunities to
free up some general fund
dollars so that our teams would
be able to deliver emergency
services on overtime.
So we were here for
the transfer of the in-house
side the ip for one point
million dollars in SEPTEMBER
and came back in OCTOBER for
the 1.8 million cpd allocation
to the Transportation
Department.
Okay.
i remember those and that's
just how you've cobbled
together the overtime you have.
And next year we haven't
identified how we're going to
do this correct Next year We
currently have I believe a 5
million a little over 5 million
in the budget which is which
helps but it's still not enough
for for what we historically
need.
Okay.
Thank you.
And then I want to follow up on
the questions about the reserve
policy.
I know that every year we vote
on the third quarter on our
budget report and we grant
authority to use the reserves.
I'm glad last year we did not
have to.
But is the authority unlimited?
You know what if could you use
all the reserves?
>> You know, what are we
granting here exactly?
You would think that it would
be limited to the amount that
we would need.
So for example, right now we're
projecting 1.7 over budget.
So then we would not need it If
everything turns out the way
the projections are holding if
for whatever reason for example
the county has money does not
come in and that 1.7 would
become closer to maybe-4
million So we would need we
basically we would be forced to
tap into fund balance in
the general fund in order to be
able to mitigate that 4 million
which means really the only
source would be reserves.
So it would be limited to i
mean at this point now we're
we're in JUNE So unless
something catastrophic happens
it would be really a very small
amount that would be tapping
into And then from there
the discussion would be how do
we replenish it?
>> Okay.
But we haven't contributed to
the reserves in the past few
fiscal years because of our
budget woes.
So that's why I'm getting more
and more uncomfortable with
the idea of ever even using
reserves And I'd prefer that
this actually came back to
council to talk about it if we
did have to use the reserves.
>> And so that's what I'm
feeling.
You said you wouldn't know
until around AUGUST or
SEPTEMBER were dark in AUGUST
and SEPTEMBER were here so we
could vote for that the next
time we come back to council
will be for the year end
financial performance report
and that's in OCTOBER after
essentially we've closed
the books for the year We'll
have as part of that report we
will communicate to the council
and the public essentially how
we close the year either
positive or negative if
negative that amount would be
needed to be drawn from
the reserves.
Okay.
Thank you.
I feel at this point I'd move
more comfortable if you if we
came back and had a discussion
about reserves because there's
a whole discussion we might
have about our reserve policies
and what that looks like So
i'll just listen to the rest of
my colleagues and hear what
they have to say.
But thank you for all the work
on this.
I appreciate it.
Councilmember I will just know
it's it's an important
discussion but it might also be
somewhat academic as opposed to
whether or not you authorize
use of reserves today or in
AUGUST in as much as if we get
to AUGUST and if 26 has a
negative on balance we do not
have any other way to close out
our books without tapping into
reserves.
So if you don't take action
today and we end up needing to
use reserves in AUGUST you're
going to have an item presented
to you where you really don't
have any realistic choices but
to approve what staff put
before you So just bear that in
mind.
All right.
Thank you Council member Yvonne
Wolpert And thank you Charles
Go next to Council PRESIDENT
Pro Tem we take PRESIDENT Thank
you for the presentation and as
always it's amazing to see how
tightly we're trying to sort of
stay in line with
the projections and we're
landing at least one on
the positive side all dependent
on this as reimbursement.
So maybe to follow up on some
of the questions my colleagues
have asked on this front, I
think last year in this third
quarter budget monitoring
report there was an actual
request for a specific amount
up to amount to be drawn from
the stability reserves as an
anticipation if it was
necessary to do so Last year it
was roughly $10 million and
ultimately we did not need it
By the year end you were able
to show that we were able to
mitigate that.
Is there is there not an
ability to appropriate a
specific amount here if that
would help to add to some
comfort potentially you could
let let's say you were to
approve up to a $10 million
amount again but we end up when
we closed the books if for some
reason that amount is higher
than 10 million we would not
have your approval or your
authority to go beyond that.
But as Charles mentioned, we
have to be able to close
the books at the end of
the year Balanced So
interesting that I guess I'm
just trying to understand last
year how you decided to pick a
number.
>> I think the number was
really just based on
the projection at the time we
were you know luckily we were
able to close the books with
Right right on budget.
We did not have a deficit So
but Councilmember, if that's
something you would want to
entertain and just establish a
limit that something we would
be comfortable with as well.
>> Yes.
So I think if that was
something that we had in
practice last year and I wonder
if that would help with some
comfort here So that it's not
just an unknown number.
So I would propose that we
amend us to limit pulling up to
$10 million in reserves similar
to last year That should cover
if for some reason the Kelly us
payment did not come in and any
other issues that could arise
in the next two and a half
weeks that that should help
cover that.
So that would be one piece that
I would throw out there.
The second is that because this
is contingent on a lot of this
is really a discussion around
the Kelly us reimbursement I
would like to add an additional
amendment that we direct that
the Department of Finance would
fully reimburse the reserves
utilizing the Cal Oh yes
reimbursement up to the amount
of reserve funds that are
utilized.
So I just want to be very clear
that we don't find ourselves in
a situation where those funds
don't come in, we pull from
the reserves and then we start
next year with a $7.4 million
increase in revenues and that
gets spent in some way.
I think this council because of
the discussion we're having
we'd like to ensure that that
Kaleo is reimbursement fully
reimburses any reserve funds
stability reserve funds that
are utilized in this case I'd
be happy and supportive of that
and I think that's a great idea
.
The 10 million number I just
sort of threw out there.
So Charles, I want to look to
you and if that could be less
that's fine too.
I just want to be I mean you
can cap that at whatever amount
you want maybe to have it be
more in concordance with
the cal Oh yes, Gramp maybe up
to 7.6 million because if you
draw more than that and the Yes
grant comes in in OCTOBER, you
can't fully reimburse the use
of reserves with just that.
So okay so let's let's change
that So this will be an
amendment that we authorize up
to $7.6 million to be pulled
from reserves with
the stipulation that once that
class reimbursement comes back
that would be used to replenish
any amount of the reserves that
are utilized funds I don't
write that up.
>> So it is the maker of
the motion.
Okay with that?
I am And just as I made my
motion in the conversation that
we had, I thought it was
totally dependent on the Cal Oh
yes, the 7.4 that would
essentially make us whole.
So I am totally in line with
making that part of the motion
for clarity purposes and
direction.
Okay.
And the second third of
the motion Yes, I'm okay with
that.
Thank you.
All right.
So I know the city clerk's
office well and the city
attorney will scramble but just
just if I MAY, I think I heard
7.6 where the number 7.4 So I
think the numbers should be
7.4.
7.4 is the estimate.
Yes, that's correct.
Okay.
7.4.4.
Yes, seven point.
So the city clerk the city
attorney will craft that
language and circulate it to
the maker of the motion and
make sure that we got that
correct.
That concludes your comments,
sir.
>> It does.
Thank you.
We'll go back to council member
Eli Rivera.
>> Thank you Council PRESIDENT.
Appreciate the presentation
here and the work you did
Charles and the work of my
colleagues here.
Charles as you were running
through some of the variances
actually before I do that a
question of a transportation to
what extent is the you are
the overages that we're seeing
related to what was budgeted
for Because I'm seeing some
correlation and I could be
mistaken here in Charles feel
free to jump in if I'm missing
something as well between where
we're underperforming or
revenues coming in below were
expected and we're we're above
budget and I'm trying to
understand Naomi I think you
can have an impossible job
because the expectations have
not changed But revenue that's
come in has just So when do you
throttle back when the revenue
starts to to slide from where
it was anticipated to be or
projected to be in the approved
budget that that part of that
is an operations question Then
part of it is like a math
question for Charles about
making sure that I'm I'm not
misreading where we're falling
short there.
One just want to make sure I'm
clear on the question you for
helping along as well I assume
that referring to less revenue
coming in from parking meter
operations to reimburse
transportation for their work
Yeah Okay.
So I'll let you handle
the first question on that.
How do you respond to what
happened?
>> Yeah, I'll jump in.
So operationally we ensure that
the overtime is for essential
services.
Of course emergencies call back
We had back to back storms so
we had to prioritize that
debris clearing street like
traffic signal resets knock
over anything that's that's
caused by by extreme weather or
storms.
And in this case this fiscal
year we also make sure that we
are prioritizing overtime for
our paving projects.
So anything that's already
funded that's going to deliver
the paving mileage that's
budgeted for the fiscal year
and just being very just
ensuring that it's that either
funded or something that is
critical something that's
emergency and has a funding
source attached to it.
Right.
I guess that's what I'm trying
to understand.
I think there's a funding
source attached but we're we're
we've got a gap It's
accumulating across over
the course there And this is
where I'm kind of looking for
some help your Charles because
I'm what I'm hearing is that
you've been tasked with a list
of things to do and we've
allocated a certain amount of
money for that.
Your list doesn't change even
if the money changes And I'm
trying to understand where in
the fiscal year you get
the direction hey, the money is
not what we thought it was
going to be So we need to
change the list of things that
need to be done Otherwise we're
going to end up over budget.
So again, I kind of there's
like the understand the budget
piece which I'm looking to
Charles for and then
understanding how you're being
directed on the operation side
think of a few things you're on
one on the operational side
each department has analysts
that goes over their budgets
and kind of day to day basis to
see what's coming in and how
much they actually have, what
their expenditures are using
that and in consultation with
the Department of Finance
presumably with
the administration as well if
dollars are not coming in to
the point they need to support
activities or if cost of
activities are coming in higher
than what we've anticipated,
there needs to be discussion on
what can actually be done and
then you get to the point where
if the dollars are not there
you'll have to see some amount
of services that we asked
departments to reform be cut
back.
There is a process provided in
our budgetary principles which
are agreed on each year for
when there are times that a
department or
the administration needs to
pull back on services that are
assumed to be delivered in
the proposed early adopted
budget that there's
notification sent to this
Council and then that
the budget government
efficiency take up a discussion
of that item at its next
available committee meeting.
I believe that specifically
the Transportation they did
send a memo right maybe last
week talking about the overtime
use and other items that would
be scaled back from that.
Maybe it's unfortunately timed
in that we are very close to
the end of the fiscal year So
there's not really much that an
additional discussion can
potentially change on that at
this point.
But that is a process that
we've got laid out and that was
agreed to by both this council
and the administration.
So I guess kind of thank you
coming back to you now and
anyone from the operations side
of things I think is again
you've been given a list a to
do list.
We've given you amount at
the beginning of the fiscal
year allocated you a certain
amount of resources to do that
with And I just I want to make
sure I'm clear on this There's
a we're all on the hook for
this because what I what I'm
hearing is least part of this
is after we kind of gave you
the fuel you were supposed to
need to get to your destination
and we started siphoning fuel
out of that tank and your
destination didn't change And
so the communication between
operations and and the council
isn't really important here
because as decisions are being
made to to pull back on on
decisions that are related to
revenue we need to understand
the operational impacts of that
real time.
And again that's that's not a
used thing.
Naomi To a certain extent I
guess it is but there's just a
reality here that we're like
continuing to defund activities
that we've told you all that
you want that we want done,
that everyone wants done that
the city wants done,
the residents want done So what
is a better way to communicate
in real time And whether it's
Naomi or Rolando or whoever
wants to jump in here about
what the operational impacts
would be of the decisions that
the council's making when it
relates to increasing or
decreasing the revenue flow
after the budgets been approved
.
I can take a first down and
Bethany wants to chime in as
well.
I think it just comes back to
just this is philosophical
discussion about both mayor and
council are responsible for
the budget, right?
So they it is and neither
council nor mayor can
unilaterally impact what is
contemplate it in the budget.
What could happen though it is
dynamic you could have JANUARY
or a season where it's you know
you know it's a much Rainier
season and there's a lot of
potholes and well there could
be an emergency.
So there are things that could
happen during the year.
Right now I'm a little less
concerned with sorry about
the variables because I think
that's understood right 2024
huge flood And we've got we
have to deal with
the emergency.
But what I'm hearing Naomi say
this is something a little bit
different which is we were told
to do this work.
We're working off our project
list and we're like that's
the job.
So head down, do the job.
And then I'm also hearing that
revenues are coming in below
projections some of that
related to policy decisions of
the council And when does
the thinking up happen in that
instance Because emergencies
have to be dealt with.
We all have to pivot and make
adjustments on the fly That's
different than us decreasing
revenue and keeping
the workload the same because
the obvious result of that is
going to be being over budget.
>> If I MAY share an example,
hopefully this answers your
question.
For example streetlights we're
not resourced to do that.
We've we've communicated time
over time that overtime is
the only mechanism we have to
be able to turn streetlights
back on.
We don't do that throughout
the year unless it's in cpd's
because we receive that
allocation or it's an
emergency, it's a knock over
either from you know, a driver
or a storm.
So we would address
the emergency but that asset
does not get touched right
because we don't have
the budget for it.
So that to you So Bethany Bees,
our chief performance and
logistics Officer So what I
would add in terms of
the mechanics about how this
will function so transportation
in that fy 27 budget has a
certain amount of overtime
associated with transportation
has done is they've looked at
the year over year overages and
which teams are incurring those
costs.
So what we've done is we've
established essentially
allocations you don't see that
breakdown but at the department
level two operations level
we're seeing a certain amount
of overtime has been allocated.
Then what we're doing is we're
creating individual funding
centers for let's say
the streetlight team,
the traffic safety team,
the pothole team etc. Based on
what our typical spend has been
then what we do during quarter
one midyear third quarter is
see what individually those
teams look like.
They're tracking it And then I
believe that's the mechanism
where the operations then would
follow into whether or not
policy decisions and or revenue
are are trending accordingly to
match the operations.
So using it that's the best
mechanism to essentially true
up those things and to
communicate.
But Rolando and I are happy to
work with you if there's a
better mechanism to demonstrate
that figure does that when
there are significant
divergences in the expenditures
or the revenues.
One we hope that we can see
that in the quarterly budget
monitor reports like we're
talking about right now and
that both have communicated
clearly in those reports as
well as frankly in my Office of
Analysis of those reports when
they there's something that
comes up between them or is
going to be real change to what
operations can be provided,
that's something that should be
communicated to this council
through some kind of mechanism,
be it a memo, be it a
presentation, whatever.
And then the final item I would
note as you noted this some of
the declines in revenue from
what was in the adopted budget
to where we are now are
the result of some of
the policy decisions that
the council made after adoption
of the budget.
I will be frank the potential
impacts of this Council
choosing to take actions that
generate less revenue those
operational impacts should be
presented to you at the time
those items are brought before
you and if they have not been
filed they should be.
Yeah I think in the future I
think that's an important part
of the conversation both for
understanding the impacts and
for making it less likely that
we end up in a situation where
we end up over budget because
detaching the conversation
about pulling back from
the operational impacts it's a
tiny portion of the story and
so I appreciate that this is
super helpful for me.
>> I think that something this
year one obviously we turned
multiple switches last year on
on revenue.
There's less of that in this in
this budget and moving forward
I think kind of all of us need
to that that more holistic
conversation needs to happen
when we're discussing decisions
related to increasing or
decreasing revenue and and then
the communication piece from
the operations side I mean
quite literally like this is
what my list I have this many
projects to do and I'm going to
have to chop off the bottom 25%
if you do this like that's
the sort of stuff that we need
to wrestle with because that's
the reality of the decisions
are being that are being made.
So anyway, just in
the presentation as I was
listening that was that
particular piece
the transportation piece stood
out to me and I wanted to make
sure that I wasn't conflating
correlation with causation too
much.
I know that it's not quite as
simple as that but there also
does seem to be some causation
on the council side on this
particular issue.
Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT All right.
Thank you, sir.
And for Council PRESIDENT Pro
Tem weigh in Customer
replacement cost Marino We have
the new language up there.
We're going to make sure that
you're that reflects what you
all intended to but we'll go to
council member Von Wolpert In
the meantime thank you For me
this amendment helps me in
terms of combining the future
discretion we're granting So
I'm happy to support it.
But to a council I think also
part of it is the function of
our committee system.
Bethany Now you've come to
the Active Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee over
and over to brief us on how
much where our Transportation
Department is suffering due to
lack of revenue.
So part of it is just we're on
different committees.
You have been the most
transparent department.
I think we've had in terms of
my office has experience of
telling us exactly what's going
to happen, how many fewer
potholes, how many more fewer
miles And I just appreciate
that very much because it's
been, you know, sending off
alarm.
But we don't have the revenue
of course.
But I just want to say for our
committee you've done a very
good job being open and
transparent.
So maybe when we do the larger
at full council we can
highlight that more for
everybody because it's one of
the most common complaints we
get is roads and sidewalks And
you know we do the cip
monitoring report but there's
so much in it maybe we can do a
better job for that my rest of
the colleagues to see that
particular portion because you
guys have been sounding
the alarm bell So I appreciate
it.
All right.
Thank you.
Council member Von Wolpert
Council Member Whitburn Thank
you.
>> Council PRESIDENT So we're
waiting on the Callaway Yes, I
think I heard you mentioned
that while Access equity is 1.7
to the positive right now
you're seeing less and property
tax revenue coming in since
the third quarter.
But I guess my question is if
that trend continues and you
know we end up with a I mean
sort of negative access to
equity that's probably not a
term but would we need to use
reserves to cover that?
Can you come back and get that
from us if we're capping
the 7.4 right here?
Yeah.
I think on the property tax
side major shift there was
related to our it's not the 1%
We did get our our final rpi
etf amount yesterday and it was
down 2.2 to 2.2 about 200,000
difference one point it was it
was slight it's slightly down
So the change to our third
quarter projections is down
about 2 or $300,000.
Okay.
Based on what we got yesterday.
>> Okay.
So you don't anticipate
the need to go into reserves
beyond now for property?
Okay.
Well at all I just want to be
sure that there's a mechanism
if for whatever reason there's
a need to dip into reserves
beyond the 7.4 billion from
the Callaway Yeah.
So we have a better mechanism
to actually do that.
That's a great question.
So if council approves
the action before you now
that's up to 7.4 million If for
some reason we do end
the fiscal year with a deficit
that's higher than 7.4 million,
we will need to dip into
the reserves in order to close
that we would be bringing that
information back to council as
part of the year end financial
performance report.
>> Okay.
So do you be able to get that
done if necessary?
Okay.
Thank you.
Just wanted to make sure we had
that mechanism in place All
right.
Thank you.
Council member Whitburn.
I didn't see any objection to
the language of that.
It does reflect what the motion
is.
I'll offer a couple of
thoughts.
Thank you for the good work
that you bring forward.
I'll put on the record that in
my final budget memo I did
suggest the 1.7 as kind of a
mitigation that was wrong.
I do not support using the 1.7
identified in the third quarter
for the budget conversation
this this afternoon and I
appreciate how finance and
the idea has communicated that
to folks The I also want to
make a reminder to folks we
change the summer recess so we
do come back AUGUST 24th.
So there is a little bit of an
opportunity as you began And I
think you know to the I really
appreciate that the outloud
conversation by my colleagues I
don't we shouldn't be under
the illusion that what we're
going to adopt and what we
adopted in JUNE or what we're
going to adopt this afternoon
fully fund the departments and
the workload they have.
So right off the bat there is a
disconnect between what
the departments are hoping to
do and the funds they actually
get allocated and that's what
we're having to live with
during areas where we don't
have the revenue to manage
the workload going forward.
So and I also as you've often
reminded us the lag you know it
would be great to get real time
information on this.
It doesn't come in real time.
There's a lag between when do
you find out about property tax
for sales tax or pot?
You know, we didn't get a third
quarter report on APRIL 1st
when the first quarter or
the third quarter ended the day
before.
It takes a while for it to
figure out.
So that's the balance That's a
challenge we have and how you
communicate with us And it
really strikes me that
the public is not here
listening to this because we
say all sorts of kinds of
things that adopting the budget
this is where the rubber meets
the road.
How are we actually performing
on what we talked about in JUNE
And at the risk of irritating
everybody, the one thing that's
not being talked about out loud
is that there actually is a
mitigation for the oas and that
is to cut 7.4 million out of
the f y 27 budget this
afternoon.
I don't think anybody wants to
talk about that but that would
be the way to stop the talk
about the reserve is to cut
that money out And I'm looking
at you and I'm not looking at
that because I can imagine
the looks on their faces going
forward on that.
i do want to make sure that
there is an opportunity to
the answer that you gave to
Council member Whitburn that
there is an opportunity to come
much earlier to council when
the numbers start to really be
manifest and really you start
to get a handle you'll know
whether the money came in.
So there is an opportune to
come back to council and get
further authorization if that
is what is necessary.
So because things could happen
in the fourth quarter we don't
have the fourth quarter numbers
yet.
Right.
You have probably a little bit
sense because you guys are
pretty smart but that's
the challenge we have going
forward.
So I think everybody on
the operations side,
the Department of Finance side
and the council is doing
the best with the challenges we
have in front of us and trying
to do that delicate balance
because we do have so many
needs that our constituents
whether it's libraries and
parks, whether it's stormwater,
whether it's everything else in
between and we're trying to
figure out a way to do the best
we can with those resources
still meet a balanced budget at
the end of the day.
So I think that's part of
the challenge.
I really want to emphasize what
you produced on Slide four
which was the mitigation
measures that were taken in
the operational changes I think
to some of my colleagues
questions about when do you
begin to realize there are some
problems and what actions are
you taking to try to minimize
the financial impact of those
and begin to send a clear
message?
I know for me I got
the transportation memo I
wasn't happy with it.
I asked for an explanation.
I'm not happy with that But I
understood that and supportive
of why that memo had to come
out, why those actions need to
be taken.
But that's the hard
conversations that we all have.
I think we all understand we
all own it.
So I'm a little bit nervous
about putting the 7.4 but I
understand I'll be supportive
of it today or for this vote.
But thank you for the good work
and navigating all
the challenges we have and
we'll go to Council member
Foster Oh yes.
I just wanted to add an
additional comment As we were
talking about the excess equity
in the 1.7 I think if I
understand your comments
Council PRESIDENT I do have
concern about the excess equity
.
I would like to see it actually
go to our our reserves As we
colleague just said, you know,
we have not allocated dollars
to our reserves over the past
couple of of cycles and also
just knowing that as we look at
future years we have a deficit
that we will have to address
And I think at some point we
really need to to dive in as we
look at this fiscal year and
really in 28 and 29 I think
it's the more that we can
secure and hold back And I say
that during this budget cycle
as revenues increased we still
like to increase our
expenditures where we need to
to manage that a little better
and hone in our core services.
So I, I actually like that idea
of this 1.7 and moving it over
to two reserves if everything
works and comes in right So All
right.
Thank you sir.
Nothing Anybody else on
the lights We do have a motion
by council member Foster second
by council member Morena which
is staff recommendation as
amended and as shown on
the screen and not seeing
anybody else in the lights
please call the roll.
I'm sorry The voting system
Please cast your vote that
passes 8 to 1 with Council
member Campbell voting no Thank
you.
Council PRESIDENT All right.
Thank you City Clerk And again
thank you to good folks at dol
and our cfo.
Clerk Please introduce item 701
Item 701 is the fiscal year
2026 Capital Improvements
program Cap year end budget
monitoring report and copy
budget revisions.
If you'd like to speak to this
item now's the time to raise
your hand by pressing Star nine
or the raise your hand icon
I'll get it.
Just put it right there and
then you can If you'd like to
speak in person please just
place your speaker slip in
the clear box missing out or
you can just place it right
there in the clear box.
Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT.
All right.
I see that you're seated.
Introduce yourselves for
the record and let us know how
much time you need.
>> Good morning.
Council PRESIDENT And members
of the Council this is Jody
Pantalone, assistant director
with the Department of Finance
and presenting with me today is
Michael Polo, financial
operations manager.
Also the duf will need about
ten minutes.
All right when you're ready
give this reporters a
semiannual update to
the Capital Improvements
program.
It provides budget monitoring
updates on several of the more
critical capital program
funding sources.
This report also includes a
consolidated action for
council.
This request includes $69.9
billion in appropriations
the appropriations and
reallocations between projects.
I will turn it over to Michael
to go through the details.
>> Good morning everyone.
The slide shows a summary of
the cip budget adjustments.
Of the new appropriations
the largest amounts come from
the development impact fees
Transnet and interest earnings
on a sip Related grant.
For the transfers the largest
amounts come from the rtc ip
fund in the San Diego Regional
Parks Improvement Fund.
>> For several years
the Department of Finance,
Transportation and Engineering
Capital Projects departments
have been working together to
monitor and prioritize
the spend down of Transnet
funds held at sandag.
Based upon current estimated
revenues for the fiscal year,
it is anticipated that both
the congestion relief and
maintenance transit funds will
likely have available fund
balance at the end of
the fiscal year.
These requests are included as
part of the consolidated action
item of this report.
This graph shows where the city
earns and compares to other
agencies participating in
the Transnet program.
As of MARCH 31st, 2026 which
shows our Transnet cash balance
is about 100% of projected
annual revenue.
The Transportation Department
currently estimates that
the Transnet extension cash
balance held at sandag will be
approximately $39 million by
JUNE 30th, 2026, representing
approximately 81% of the city's
annual revenue.
The city continues to try and
maintain low cash balances held
at sandag and has been
consistently among the lower
municipalities among others in
the region to participate in
the program.
The Department of Finance works
closely with the Transportation
Department to monitor and
maximize the use of gas tech
funding for right of way
maintenance and improvements.
Both are volatile funding
sources as revenues can
fluctuate depending both on
the price of gas as well as
consumer demand.
So we will continue to monitor
through the end of the fiscal
year based upon current
estimated revenues.
It is anticipated that gas tax
and armory funds MAY have
available fund balance at
the end of the fiscal year.
The gas tax is proposing to use
the anticipated fund balance as
part of a 426 as part of this
consolidated action.
This report while the Armory
funding is being used for 27
draft budget as well as
the four 27th MAY revision.
>> The Department of Finance
also works with engineering
capital projects and various
asset management departments to
propose the best uses for
the general Fund contributions
to the c ip.
Capital outlay Infrastructure
and climate Equity funds.
This table shows the expected
uncommitted fund balances
anticipated at the end of
the fiscal year.
The infrastructure fund is
proposed to absorb additional
debt service as part of this
consolidated action to free up
general fund resources and
the Climate Equity Fund was
included as part of the fiscal
year 2027 draft.
The ip budget.
The slide showed the debt
funded the ip appropriations
and spend down as of the third
quarter of fiscal year 2026.
These represent the unfunded
appropriated actions budgeted
and expended The Capital
Improvements program only and
the slide shows the debt
supported activity of both
the capital improvements
program and other capital needs
that have been previously
approved.
The city has spent down
the 2024 a lease revenue bond
proceeds.
The remaining authorized
appropriations will be financed
through future long term
financings including
the recently issued 2025 Alief
revenue bonds.
>> The slide shows the spend
down progress on the WiFi
alone.
Many projects have not entered
into the construction phase
which is when we will see
the spend down really start to
ramp up.
>> Shifting gears to
the capital improvements
program administrative budget
updates the fiscal year 2026
Appropriation ordinance
authorizes the cfo to modify
project appropriations for
various fund or project
management purposes under
certain conditions.
These administrative
authorities create efficiencies
across departments by saving
time and helping to promote and
implement cash management
strategies in the capital
program.
Wanted to take this opportunity
to highlight just a few of
the various sections used
during the second and third
quarters of the fiscal year.
There are additional details
and examples included in
the report.
Section 235 authorizes the cfo
to transfer and appropriate a
maximum of $200,000 per project
not to exceed 10% of
the project budget from annual
allocations or fund balance in
order to complete the project.
>> Section 237 authorizes
the cfo to swap revenues
sources between projects as
long as the reallocations do
not result in a net project
increase.
This authority was used to
provide effective cash
management and ensure
the funding was spent on timely
while also ensuring items that
could not be financed were
appropriately funded by cash
funding sources.
Section two caa authorized
the cfo to appropriate revenue
sources to projects from fund
balance and to return existing
revenue sources to fund balance
within the same capital project
where the net change in funding
does not result in a net change
to the project budget.
This authority was used to
spend on older funding sources
or to keep the right mix of
funding sources between
the public utility funds for
their projects.
>> Section 239 authorizes
the cfo to modify capital
project budgets in accordance
with the City Council approved
financing plans.
As we move away from community
based if enough space this
particular Aota will likely be
used less and less each year.
Section two 312 was used to
appropriate older funds that
are being targeted for closing
as they no longer receive
revenue other than interest
earnings.
Section two c 15 authorizes
the cfo to modify
the accounting of capital
improvements program projects
to ensure the use of the most
appropriate project type.
Section two c 16 similar in
that it also allows
the conversion if the project
meets the thresholds to become
a standalone project.
So in conclusion this report
request the allocation or
transfer funds between projects
of $69.9 million.
We continue to have success in
the spend down of
transportation funds,
infrastructure funds and bond
proceeds.
The successes attributed to
various cash management efforts
and a strong collaboration
between the Department of
Finance Engineering Capital
projects and various asset
management departments.
Look forward to continuing
discussions on improving
the delivery of infrastructure
in the capital program
providing effective cash
management of the program and
increasing transparency.
This effective cash manager is
important given our limited
resources and constraints to
the capital program.
>> Can be happy to answer any
questions you MAY have.
All right.
Thank you for the presentation
.
Good work.
Um.
No report.
I'm okay with that.
>> Clerk Please proceed with
public comment.
Thank you.
Mac Schmidt if you can please
come up to the podium after
that will be Joyce Senator.
>> You can please come up to
the other reserved seats.
How much time do I have?
>> One and a half.
I just wanted to say that this
PowerPoint is the perfect
presentation of how demon
possessed progressives work to
try to create a one world
government.
They've got $100,000 they're
allocating for the Balboa Park
Mission Bay or the Mission Bay
Golf course and then on their
conclusion they put continued
success spending down
transportation cost.
So they just basically spend
money and say we have continued
success and I don't trust these
people.
And the reason I don't trust
these people is because I just
want to open Pandora's Box into
the entire population knows
what's going on.
A group rituals are so inside
the Masonic Lodge are so
powerful that it allows these
people to teleport and become
possessed by demons And then
the demons command them to
create a one world government
And that's what's going on
here.
All these people are sipping to
Satan in the Masonic Lodge and
they basically live for occult
group rituals where they
sacrifice humans in the lodge
in come possessed by demons to
be like a living GOD to
the point where they can
teleport around and to
the point where they can
reincarnate and then state and
commands them to create a one
world government.
They get together and say All
right, let's create a one word
government $100,000 for
the baseball park golf course
that we can just steal from
the people to make them poorer
and then we can just put on
the end of the PowerPoint.
Conclusion in continued success
Spending down transportation
cost to make it seem like we're
doing a good job this is an
embarrassment.
Shame on all of you And that's
disgusting that you teleporter
and you should drive cars
tracing out if you can please
come forward.
>> Thank you.
Is a sign?
Yes.
Okay.
Thank you.
Thank you for your presentation
And these Skype projects and
the resources and the whole
area is just so big and so
complex And I really appreciate
the way you worked with it and
how you showed us pieces of it.
So we certainly need
collaboration and monitoring of
the funds and the projects And
I know and I know you're doing
your best to make that happen
for the public.
So I want to talk about
the structural budget deficit.
What I want you to do is to
speak to that on every single
critical item, bring it to
the table and look at it and
incorporate it into what we
need to do, what we are doing
in both the long term and
the short term.
Of course the long term is very
critical And I want to say this
we need an officially we need
an officially adopted plan to
return to structural balance.
We must bring this to the table
now not next year not long will
will take long term and we'll
speak to it and bring it up in
two years And thank you for
that kind of tool.
>> I've started the five minute
time We're going to those
participating remotely.
Hector if you can please unmute
.
Thanks.
They're one of the biggest
danger facing is the water
program so we should have
updates on that every month.
How much is going to cost?
What are the billion dollar
cost overruns like
the railroad, the high speed
rail, huge overruns and
the city of San Diego biggest
fear The biggest thing we got
going I think now is
financially the long term
overruns of that project.
We've got to do it month by
month.
There's going to be some big
time extra bills come And so
that's one thing we could do
and then we should definitely
fund the SlutWalk and maybe Max
could be the grand marshal.
We could do it to raise
the money for the sewer plant
that we got to build However we
get the money, the design we're
going to build big spats down
there like big sized swimming
pools down there to hold it and
to treat it So but anyway, just
keep it simple And then when
you're trying to figure out how
how it's not working out, tell
them one excuses Hey,
the mayors in the Philippines
spending $450,000 and he's
taken the budget and it's like
the let them eat cake budget
Let's de-fund everything and
then just let them eat cake.
Well that's you blame it on
the mayor where he's in France
and stuff goes to France and
takes the money Thank you.
>> Your time is concluded.
Blair Beakman If you can please
unmute I we're big fan thank
you for the item You know
the city items is a real
important revenue It has its
own plate of revenue that it
can work from Good Look how
we're reviewing such concepts
at each department can be
creating their own revenue.
We talked about that yesterday
with the waste manager solid
waste management issues and
that should be hopefully a
regular conversation to have.
You know each department having
its own revenue source source
where it comes from.
So thank you for the work of
this department what you can be
doing It's important to me to
really note that in your
procurement for all these
projects coming up in the next
few years when you include tech
tech accountability in that
procurement process it makes
something really clear to other
cities that you're trying to
talk with or to other you know
or cities or corporations or
you know, private entities
whoever what you what our goals
and objectives are for
the future San Diego And when
you when you put that into
the tech accountability into
the process it it does
something really important in
expectations and best practices
It just everything becomes a
more understandable process ipo
which is what we're trying to
do with the park issues right
now If you've noticed everyone
thank you for that concluding
comment That does conclude
public comment on this item.
>> All right.
Thank you, City Clerk.
And with that we'll turn it
over to council for questions.
Comments Entertain a motion.
>> I'm almost happy to make
the motion to approve
the recommendation.
All right.
So we have a motion by council
member whitburn.
>> We'll go next to council
member Von Wolford.
Thank you Council present.
I'm happy to second the motion
and thank you for the report
and all the work we're doing to
try and get copies going.
My one question is what are we
doing to try and contain our
costs?
I feel that contractors when
they see the city coming they
upcharge us for the price of
everything from asphalt to
building materials and you know
we were suing a fire engine
company for overcharging us for
the parts of fire engines.
You know, what are we doing to
try and contain our costs here
?
Good morning Council member
Onyeama City Engineer The staff
continue monitoring all bids
coming in and ensuring that on
with the engineering estimates
we also participate in multiple
regional media meetings and
collaboration with other
agencies to ensure that our
bids are coming in are very
similar in nature and then
looking for ways to improve
the scrutiny of all the bids
and analyzing them as we go.
So we're keeping a really close
tab on all the bids are coming
in and monitoring this one and
comparing that on the regional
level as well.
So and then it's coming in I
mean Iliffe can shed more light
but as we see new bids coming
in that are within
the engineering estimate and
then if it's above
the engineering estimate we
ensure this is justified And
then compared to other agencies
within the region.
Okay.
And what about in housing?
I mean is it cheaper for us to
do a mile of mill paid in house
rather than Odessa overlay
contracted out?
>> I mean it's not comparisons
apples to apples because
the work really included and
the teams as it's different in
natures on what is comprised of
the contract such as the curb
ramps for instance that are not
part of the multi delivery.
So the cost is not really
comparable from that
perspective but something we
add Both teams are comparing
notes and and they're coming
within the range both of them.
Okay I'm just I'd love to hear
if we you know taking out
the programs for the sidewalks
I'm sure we could figure out
how to do that in house too.
But I just the cost of our cap
keeps growing and I just don't
know what to do about it.
So yeah, I mean this is
the cost of doing business
right now as the materials
costs continue to fluctuate and
other outside factors such as
the tariff and whatnot really
makes the market a little bit
unstable.
But as we again compare notes
with other agencies within
the region, this is across
the board and probably you see
the airport project for
instance is coming way above
budget and then the amount of
change orders.
So something we're trying to
continue keeping a close tabs
on it.
In the meantime we're looking
for a way to improve our
contract documents to not allow
for any change in order as we
award the contract as well.
This is something in our
control and this is what staff
they're constantly working
toward.
Okay, got it.
Luckily at the airport we
actually are getting a lot of
change orders on this portion
of the terminal.
We're actually on budget which
is great But yeah, I mean
the tariffs are something that
we can't control and our
businesses are being price
gouging by the Americans are
paying the tariffs.
We are the ones paying these
tariffs.
It's been very clear And so I
just that's very hard for a
city to have to absorb because
we can't control whether or not
the price the United States
puts on tariffs off and on.
So okay.
Well thank you for answering
the question And I'm always
interested to see what we can
do.
>> All right.
Thank you.
And I fail to mention that we
do have a motion by
Councilmember Whipper and a
second by COUNCILMAN Paul
Wolpert to move the staff
recommendation.
>> Or maybe I did I don't know
But we'll go to Councilmember
Foster.
Thank you for that And it just
just really quick on my
colleague's question there's
there's no way that a general
contractor should be able to
have a lower cost to do milling
paving.
We just isolate asphalt work
that should not they should we
should be able to be very, very
competitive But I'll leave that
there.
That's a conversation for
another day I guess just with
the item one Thank you for
the presentation.
I do have just a couple of
quick questions on some
specifics.
I see I do appreciate in
regards to Marie Whitman that
we are moving forward.
I see we are moving some
dollars going from debt to cash
to get our initial worked on
the demolition.
So I do appreciate those
efforts as you're working to
get that done before our JULY
12th date for our big Encanto
block party.
>> But I do see that we are
taking that cash from
the Paradise Hills Community
Park Trail.
>> Can you give me an update on
where we're at with that
project and when we will be
seeing that move forward?
I guess if I can ask that
question, council member will
get you the update on this one.
>> This is a project delivered
by in-house Parks and Rec staff
and then we will make sure to
get you the update on this.
Okay, Great know Thank you.
And just very quick back to
the paving Most of the work now
is been the I mean we give
priority to our teams right We
are trying to contract out
the bare minimum as we go Those
are the one bundled with
pipelines project and other
work within the right of way.
So this is the direction that
we're gearing toward that I
understand.
>> I understand and I
understand there's more work to
do as we are And also the one
thing that we need to be
careful is to make sure that we
can execute right.
We know the condition of
the yard.
We know condition of certain
things.
So we need to make sure that we
are taking that into account
too.
So I don't want to throw all of
the miles on you at this point
but I just like to see it
continue to improve and
continue to expand.
So thank you for those efforts
.
What else do I have here?
Also I think this is probably
another park and rec question
but I know we have some things
going on with our tennis club
There and so I'll be following
up with Park and Rec to make
sure that we have that project
continuing to move forward as
we address the media and
certain things.
So looking forward to that one
coming on board as well.
I think with that I don't have
any other questions or comments
at this time.
Thank you.
All right.
Thank you, Councilmember
Foster.
I will go next to Council
PRESIDENT Pro Tem Lee.
Thank you, MR. PRESIDENT and
I'll be quick Appreciate some
of the changes that are that
we're seeing with this update.
But I also just really wanted
to give a special thanks to
Rania and the entire team as
well because we know not every
project is the same.
Some have challenges.
So one of the items here is
South Neighborhood Park which
has been difficult and has
taken far longer than I think
we all anticipated.
We've had another project in so
that is ahead of schedule and
every single time I think just
the willingness of the team to
try to work with the community
to understand and
the variability in these
projects to try to figure out
how we're keeping contractors
accountable to what we put them
towards.
It is a challenge and so we
appreciate the partnership and
actually trying to use our
dollars wisely but also
communicate with the public in
a way that doesn't offer some
trust as to how we're
delivering these major csp
projects.
So thank you to the team for
the work on that front.
Thank you.
All right.
Thank you.
Not seeing anyone else in
the lights I add my thanks to
the work and especially
the effort that you started a
few years ago was to make sure
that we don't have money
sitting around and and buckets
that we do everything we can to
put money in our hands to work
And I think it's made a
significant difference in terms
of being able to fund the vip
rollout.
I know that there is one change
in my district but that will be
returning fba funds back to
the community and we'll look
forward to reallocating those
dollars at a different time.
You know the other other
thought that I had which is
probably as dangerous as
the one that I comment that I
made earlier goes to one of my
colleagues comments about kind
of getting updated and
the decisions we make One
project start to get very, very
expensive for whatever reason
and whether there is really a
process I, I think last year I
kind of just the moment that
this is the moment to say
something about a project and
the increased budget that it is
being identified with and do I
still support one in my
district?
Do I ask my colleagues whether
they still support
the allocation of funds knowing
that we use multiple buckets to
be able to fund our very big
projects And you guys are
amazing in terms of identifying
those buckets whether it's
grants, community deaths
citywide deaths etc. Etc. Going
forward.
But sometimes I pause and
wondering about as this project
just got beyond the pale and
maybe we should rethink it But
I'll circle back It's I'm only
talking about projects in my
district so I want to be clear
about that But I'll circle back
on that kind of conversation
and I know it's just so
difficult takes so long.
So anyway, thank you for
the good work.
So we do have a motion by
council member whitburn,
the second by council member
Von Wilpert to move the staff
recommendation Please call
the roll and start the voting
system.
Please cast your vote And that
passes unanimously 9 to 0.
Thank you Council PRESIDENT All
right.
Thank you And with that please
Clark please introduce item 702
Item 702 is the fiscal year
2025 annual reporting on
development impact fees and
other city planning managed
funds along with capital
improvement program allocations
.
If you'd like to speak on this
item, now's the time to raise
your hand by pressing Star nine
or the raise your hand icon And
if you are here in council
chambers please be sure to
submit your speaker slips to
the front of the room in
the clear box.
Thank you, Council PRESIDENT.
All right.
Thank you.
>> And as you settle yourselves
in, please introduce yourselves
for the record and let us know
how much time you need.
Good morning, everyone.
I'm Sameera Rao, assistant
deputy director with City
Planning.
I have with me Eduardo
Hernandez will be making
the presentation and we will
need 10 to 12 minutes.
All right, when you're ready.
Okay.
Thank you very much.
Good morning.
>> Today we're presenting on
the un a report of development
impact fees as well as other
city planning managed funds for
fiscal year 2025.
This item includes a request
for City Council approval to
appropriate development impact
fee funds towards a list of a
specific capital improvement
program projects to further
spend on community specific
funds that have been in
the accounts for more than five
years.
As mentioned before, this
package includes three items
the city is required to
mitigate by the mitigation fee
Act to provide an annual report
on development impact fees also
known as Death to the City
Council.
This act mandates that local
agencies with this program
makes a specific information
available to the public and
establish certain findings
related to their funds that
have been in their account in
an allocated for a period of
five years or longer.
This and a report is being
presented to the City Council
to satisfy the requirements of
the Mitigation Fee Act.
We also have broken out
the report to include a
separate section for all other
fees collected by city planning
including habitat acquisition
fee, climate equity,
neighborhood enhancement fee
and historic Preservation Fund.
In addition, we are requesting
the City Council adopt a
resolution team to establish a
capital improvement program
Capital Improvement Project.
Alternate ascap record in
the city's financial system
solely for administrative and
accounting purposes.
This action is necessary to
facilitate reimbursement of
eligible project costs using
development impact fee funds
that have been held in
the account for more than five
years.
Previous reimbursements were
provided in the form of credits
established in the cpa record
and will enable reimbursement
in cash and does not constitute
approval of a new project.
Lastly, we are requesting City
Council approval to allocate
community specific development
impact fee funds that have been
in the account for over five
years to two specific
infrastructure projects.
>> The report provides
information on the type and
amount of fees collected.
Beginning and ending fund
balance.
Amount of fees collected
including interest Earned.
Project funded in any injury
from transfers or loans made.
It also provides findings for
funds that have been in each
account for over five years and
have not yet been allocated to
projects.
>> Development impact fees are
fees imposed on projects to
cover all or a portion of
the cost of public
infrastructure needed due to
new growth and development.
>> All development impact fees
must be expended in accordance
with their associated nexus
study.
Nexus studies determine how
much the impact fees can be
charged to a new development
and which type of projects are
eligible for development impact
fee funding.
There are two types of nexus
studies fees.
One is plan based nexus study
which live to specific projects
on which the development impact
fee funds can be expended and
the other is standards based
nexus study which establishes
public infrastructure standards
that must be met under
the prior system.
>> Each community had its own
public facilities financing
plan which serve as a as
the Nexus study for community
Development Impact Fee.
These plans define local
infrastructure projects and fee
structures but over time led to
inconsistent and outdated rates
across communities.
The Citywide Development Impact
Fee structure now replaces
those 43 communities
communities specific studies
with four citywide nexus
studies for parks mobility
libraries and fire rescue along
with an all time mass mobility
fee.
So that burden didn't fall on
the entire city for that needed
infrastructure.
All new development
applications submitted on or
after JULY 1st of 2023 are
subject to these citywide
development impact fees.
Since community specific
development impact fees are no
longer updated, the public
facilities financing plan that
supported them no longer
require revisions.
This shift creates a modern,
equitable and efficient
framework ensuring consistent
development impact fee rates,
unlocking unused funds and a
line increase spending with
with citywide infrastructure
needs.
>> As noted in the previous
slide, the transition from
community specific development
impact fees to citywide fees
will take several years to
fully materialize.
However, the shift is already
well underway.
In fiscal year 20 2024
community revenue represented
approximately 64% of total
revenue whereas in fiscal year
2025 it declined to
approximately 35% with citywide
revenue increasing from 36 to
65% over the same period.
>> It is however important to
note that development impact
fees are just one of several
funding sources to fund
infrastructure and continue to
be a critical component and
support the Capital Improvement
Program's budget to provide
needed infrastructure.
>> While the report goes into a
lot of detail regarding each of
the funds, here's a glance at
the revenue collected and
expended.
The total development impact
fees collected including
commuter and citywide for
fiscal year 2025 is around
$50.2 million and the city was
able to expend around 81.1
million on infrastructure
projects.
This is a step in the right
direction as we have
successfully expended
development impact fee funds on
the much needed infrastructure
projects across the city.
This is helped significantly by
the ability to access citywide
development impact fees and
make up any funding gaps left
by community specific funds
under the Mitigation Fee Act.
The city is required to make
findings for any development
impact fee funds that have
remained unspent for more than
five years.
This ensures that all funds
collected from development are
actively program for eligible
public improvements and remain
consistent with adopted public
with adopted public facilities
financing plans.
For this reporting period a
total of 38 accounts have
balanced the Middle five year
threshold.
The good news is that most of
those funds are already
appropriated to specific
capital projects and will be
expanded as those projects
progress toward construction.
However, these five communities
better behind entrenched
northern areas of the city
Sarah Meza, Carmel Valley and
Mission Valley.
If you'll have an allocated
balance that no need to be
addressed through new
appropriations as part of
the five year findings required
by the mitigation fee and if
staff is requesting City
Council approval to appropriate
these remaining or community
specific funds to eligible
projects identified in
the corresponding public
facilities financing plans,
the goal is to ensure
compliance with the with
the Mitigation Fee Act, reduce
unspent balances and continue
advancing infrastructure
improvements in communities
where these funds were
originally collected.
>> Instead request City Council
approval to appropriate
community specific funds that
have been in the count for over
five years toward Creekside
Park and Hickman Fields as part
of the Department of Finance
item presented earlier today.
Funds that have been in
the account for more than five
years purpose Pacific Highlands
Ranch and or University
The city will be allocated to
existing chp projects.
Please keep in mind that these
are funds collected from
the community and can only be
spent within the community in
which they were collected.
Unless otherwise noted in their
financial plans, these
appropriations will further
support the city's efforts to
reduce the fund balances in
communities Specific funds.
>> The next slide show
the Development Impact fee
revenue expended.
Cash balance and fund balances
in fiscal year 2025.
The current fund balance as of
quarter three in fiscal year
2026 this community development
impact fee amounts include all
community based funds not
including Otay Mesa Local
mobility development impact fee
because it's a localized fee
established in conjunction with
the city or other development
impact fees.
For all these slides please
note that the cash balance
includes funds set aside for
projects but not yet expended.
Fund balance means the amount
of money that has not been
allocated to projects and is
available to be allocated.
>> This slide shows information
for the citywide funds which
are parks Library fire rescue
Mobility and Otay Mesa Local
mobility.
Now the Regional Transportation
Congestion Improvement Program
Fund also known as the Transit
extension or tcap fee collected
$9 million, expended the 1.4
million and had a fund balance
of 7.9 million at the end of
fiscal year 2025.
>> Although the active
Transportation in Lieu Fund did
not receive revenue during
fiscal year 2025, several
developments and development
projects remain subject to this
fee and are expected to
contribute to the fun as they
reach completion and undergo
final inspection.
In addition and over the years
the city has established
several especially its funding
mechanisms outside of
the development fee structure
to address emerging priorities
which includes habitat
acquisition fund, neighborhood
fund, Climate Equity Fund and
Historic Preservation Fund.
These programs were adopted
independently of city wide and
community development impact
fees and have been collected
under their respective
authorizations since their
inception.
Our annual report provides more
detail on the amounts collected
expenditure imbalances for each
of these funds.
>> All current finance
financial summaries for funds
managed by the City Planning
Department can be found by
searching for City of San Diego
planning financial summaries or
by using the qr code or wire or
web address provided on
the slide.
As next level City Planning
staff continue to bring
the annual Development Impact
Free Report to City Council
each year and are anticipating
coming to Council in the fall
with an update to the Citywide
Development Impact Fee Nexus
studies.
In order to meet
the infrastructure needs of
community members across
the city due to new growth and
development and with that we
conclude our presentation.
All right.
Thank you very much for
the work and the presentation.
Clerk Please proceed with
public comment.
>> Mike Schmidt if you can
please come up to the podium.
You'll have a minute and a half
after that as Joyce and you
have become please come forward
to the other reserved seats on
another PowerPoint about
revenue being basically stolen
from the people of San Diego to
spend with whoever however you
want to.
There's no transparency in
these PowerPoints.
I wish that they would break
down into more detail where
exactly actually the money's
going on All of you are trying
to create a one world
government.
You don't care about the people
of San Diego.
You care about the demons
inside you commanding you to do
things.
And I just wanted to take a
moment to say that I'm a mind
control victim and part of
being a mind control victim as
they try and convince me I'm
going to And the people on
city council are using neuro
linguistics to try to convince
me I'm going to too And I'm
Catholic So I believe that I'm
going to heaven and I don't
appreciate it.
And for this to be going on in
city council and actual occult
programs Victim I'm trying to
speak his part and make his
voice heard and then people
abusing him Neuro
linguistically you're trying to
make him an abuse victim.
It's absolutely disgraceful and
I even talked to the security.
Do you know what telepathic
neuro linguistic harassment is?
And he said No, I don't know
And that's B.S. The security
knows exactly what's going on
So I actually demand every
single one of you to not only
step down from office but to
turn yourself into the police
for harassment because saying
scaring me so bad that it makes
my tingle and then saying
we're about to make your
tingles and threatening me
neuro Linguistically I still
think physical assault down
with the occult I'm not crazy
down of the occult tracing out
if you can please come forward
after that as Mary Serrano if
you can please come forward to
the yellow reserved seats.
First of all I want to say this
Thank you everyone because this
is great.
We've got a full guy.
Yes, we've got the mayors rep.
We've got the operations
department and we have public
speakers.
This is what it's all about.
So thank you so much for that.
All right.
So on this item in particular
so City Planning Manage Funds
cip program allocations.
All right.
We've got funds equal money
versus allocations using
the money we have revenues
expenditures.
This is the heart of
the structural budget deficit.
It's really quite simple Money
in, money out And we've got to
make it simpler because it is
simpler.
And so I want to again say this
I'm going to repeat it.
This is kind of what I'm going
to focus on now as we move
forward.
We need an officially adopted
plan to return to structural
balance.
Please let's get together on
this and I just it's good to be
here.
>> Love to all Mary, begin.
Please come forward.
Okay.
Mary Soriano, PRESIDENT La Hoya
Town Council Develop an impact
fees La Hoya had it legacy
funds and I think I looked into
it a couple of years ago We had
about $350,000.
Not sure what's happening with
that today but now I guess
the city decided to put that
all in one pot and what
the frustration is frustration
is is that I could see maybe a
point of imbalance that you
mentioned because at one they
were legacy funds and other
towns didn't have enough or had
more.
But at the same time legacy
funds actually allowed us
locally to be able to put
things into what we need in our
local towns.
So I think we really need to
look at a local perspective on
the fund.
It's been taken away from us.
Thank you.
Thank you for the five minute
time or going to those
participating remotely.
>> Blair Beckman If you can
please unmute.
>> All right.
Thank you for Beakman Thanks to
the words of Mark two I started
to hear really constructive
ideas about you know, actual
items agenda items and it was
really good comment from him.
You know, I don't know if I
fully agree with with these
ideas but it was constructive
If he works on that working on
those terms he's he be really
good for the process and good
luck He could do that and we
all understand its current
feelings how he's being treated
and I respect his rights.
I think we all want to respect
his right to be speaking to
the subject matter man We'll
all be going good.
So good how we can be doing
that.
I think he can do well with
that.
Thank you.
I wanted to comment that yeah
we want to be positive So so we
stick to the items agenda items
themselves like myself At this
time I need to speak to a an
interesting item.
I have questions for this item
you know more than you know
mainly just questions about how
do we address the future
development fees.
We do deal with it in terms of
impact fees consistency or do
we deal as it's a flexible
variation, a continual
variation That's the normal
standard practices.
It's a respectable way to work.
>> It accomplishes things.
Consistency is also a very
respectable way to work and I
hope we can consider
consistency in building our
future projects and impact
the issues or a number of
issues.
Thank you.
Next is Hector if you can
please.
>> I'm you.
>> It's good to hear the city's
equal opportunity taking
the money from The Hoya as they
do like the golf place and
everybody else.
Maybe that's a little equity
show And through the city there
now and then I'm wondering how
you guys are going to blame it
on Trump the vote you did for
the city meters the parking
meters that Trump's wall to Is
it the terrorists fault?
>> You probably got to find a
way to pay to go throughout
the day without blaming Trump
only one time of day you know
you just you know, play
the race card and I'll give you
three times a day on the race
card like that.
But anyway, it's all about
the money and just we don't got
any money and that's the way it
is.
>> Thank you.
Thank you.
That concludes public comment
on this item.
>> All right.
Thank you, City clerk We'll
turn it over to the council
please.
No clapping while people are
talking Simple ask Well now
turn over to council for
questions, comments and
entertain a motion.
We'll start with council member
on Water.
I thank you for the report on
our fees and I'm glad that we
have moved to city wide because
it's enabling us to spend down
the smaller lives that weren't
getting money into their
pocket.
That is great.
At the same time I do not
believe we are collecting
enough revenue to actually
provide the services that we
promised our residents when new
development comes in.
I know we're going to have a
larger conversation about that
later so I'm not going to talk
about Nexus and all that.
But what I do want to point out
is that we are severely under
collecting for what we need to
build.
In my district we have
the trails and what do you
think you and you village and I
can even think of all the other
names of developers coming in
and they were supposed to build
parks but they're not in Black
Mountain.
Phase two is already going to
be cut in half And so what do
we do about this?
They promise that all these
parks and fire stations whatnot
are not delivering.
How do we hold them to this for
the particular projects that
are at issue?
I will have to confer with our
department services department
and get back to your office on
the particular details of those
developments And then with
respect to your questions of
the overall funding, we are
constrained development impact
fees do fund or are able to
fund the amount attributable to
the burden posed by the new
development.
But we are not permitted to
charge an amount that is
greater than that amount.
As you mentioned, the City
Planning Department is working
on updating our nexus studies
for the citywide development
impact fees And so I do
anticipate and welcome a larger
conversation in the coming
months on that issue.
Okay.
So then what we the Planning
Department we discussed how
much it should be or say, you
know, you guys brought forward
the Trails project and they had
promised you 3600 and
recreational point value and
electric vehicle all the things
they promised and they're not
delivering.
And so what do we do about
that?
Is that your department who
enforces it or who so all
permitting is done through
the department Services
Department And so any
conditions related to park
improvements provided on site
would go through department
service department, city
Planning Department opposes
the department impact fees.
>> Yes.
But you also bring us
the projects to approve them.
They're going to build these
parks and then they don't.
Yeah.
So those projects are brought
forward by department services
department and so we can
connect with that department
and get back to you on any
specific details for those
projects or anyone here who can
answer the question since we're
talking about this.
No, that's my I don't believe
anybody from Development
Services is here.
I know staff has met with your
team a number of times on this
project more than happy to
continue meeting on this
project to make sure that
the promises made to
the community are executed and
delivered upon.
But I think we would have to
set up a follow up call with
dsd and your team to to hash
that out.
>> Okay.
So this is the conversation So
if somebody wants to build a
project in anyone's district
they have 100 houses say and
instead of paying into the city
by different parks
the developer says we're going
to build the park on site so
then they don't have to pay
the debt.
Correct.
There are certain procedures
where you can be exempt from
payment of the diff when you're
providing on site parks And so
if a park is not being provided
on site then they do not
receive that that corresponding
exemption from the department
impact fee and they would be
subject to the payment of that
.
It's not always straightforward
because we are restricted under
state law under which fee
schedule we can impose due to
the timing of the application
that that development came in
And so we would have to do more
of a deep dive analysis and get
back to our office on what
the particulars of that
department impact fee would
look like where the park is not
being provided or what are
the fire station You know
the fire station block on ranch
was supposed to be built way
before I got elected by
the developer.
They never did to the city,
picked up the tab and we're
doing it now in the next I'm
not going to put in an access
fee study if people say they're
going to do things that are not
you know we have no teeth built
in to actually require them to
do this.
They can build all the housing
they want Then when it comes to
the amenities like oh it's too
expensive sorry community,
we're going to build these for
you.
Why don't we put it that they
have to build the park first
for the fire station first
before they can sell a house?
You know I just this is
happening over and over in our
community and we're certainly
not collecting enough the fees
to build out the fire stations
that we need.
I mean we just heard from
the fire rescue department how
they are working out of
crumbling facilities and they
collected over $1 million in
the fees for a fire.
It just isn't working.
You know, we promise our
communities are going to have
amenities.
We bring new development in and
then they don't And I just I
don't understand how
the planning department is
engaged in enforcing the things
that you bring to us, you know,
So we're just go in the back
over and over and I'm not going
to approve a new negative study
unless there's actual teeth to
it.
So so just a quick point of
clarification When negative
duties are approved,
the council adopts a resolution
imposing the fees and those are
the fees that the Planning
Department does impose on each
project that comes forward.
There are some larger projects
particularly in your district
that have separate
discretionary approvals that
outline certain park
improvements that are being
brought forth.
The details of those particular
project specific approvals are
enforced through the permit
process.
But with respect to the on
the impact fees, the next two
studies that the Council
approves and the corresponding
fees our department does impose
for each developer project.
Okay.
Well we'll have to have a
conversation when the next test
becomes I'm just sick of
the city but we're in the bad
with people promises things
they don't do it so okay Thank
you.
All right.
Thank you.
Councilmember Von Wilpert not
turning on the lights.
I'm going to move the staff
recommendation and then a
couple of questions.
One, as you brief me this is an
f y 2025 report So it's not
where we are today although
there are some questions about
the current fund balances.
So that's Appreciate it.
I know one of the conversations
about our crb process is which
funds are most flexible and
let's pick those up first
before we do the ones that are
a lot of things.
Is there anything that this
council needs to do on a
legislative or policy level
that makes it easier to spend
down the community?
>> Yes, I can assure you
the city staff has worked with
many city departments including
each of the asset manager
departments, internal capital
projects and Department of
Finance to as well as ideas
office to identify ways to
spend down this money in
the most efficient way possible
.
There are a lot of constraints
that we are up against and
the city unfortunately has its
hands tied on due to
constitutional limitations as
well as mitigation fee Act
requirements Procedurally it is
also not as simple as amending
state law because a lot of
these requirements stem from
the constitution itself And so
those are the constraints that
we have But we do kind of do
the opposite of what you said
is that we use the most
constrained funding source
first when we're funding a
project And Department of
Finance works very carefully
with our team in city planning
to be able to do that and make
sure that we are leaving
the more flexible funds for
more flexible funding.
But when we can allocate
the projects that have that
more constrained funding those
do go first.
>> Okay.
Thank you for politely
correcting.
One of things you noticed is
this issue about the five year
limitation.
I think you're resolving two of
the communities.
I think there's still three
left to in my district.
Do we have a game plan?
Are we at risk or Yes.
So we do identify the whole
purpose of one of the main
purposes of this report that is
before you is that we are
required to make findings to
keep funds and account for more
than five years.
So the findings for each of
those are included in
the materials included.
As part of this we do have
additional projects identified
for expenditure and then I'll
let my team speak to future
allocations as well.
We have five accounts with
moneys in the account that has
been in five years but no
projects or two of them we're
bringing forward Two of them
are being funded by item and
then one other one is Gama
Valley which over the last
three years we have reduced
the fund balance significantly.
I think we had around $12
million.
We brought it down to more like
$1.2 million.
There are certain active
projects but they don't have a
funding need at this time.
But as construction progresses
that is going to be an
opportunity and that's how we
will manage the additional $1.2
million that is due in
the account.
We're not appropriating it to a
specific project at this time
but we will keep an eye out and
work on that.
Okay.
Thank you very much.
You have way too many buckets
of money to manage but I
appreciate the good work that
you do and somehow I take a
hold of it and community is
still kind of the legacy for
projects that were covered by
that when we still have
the community depth And so you
still have to manage those and
spend them down and track them
and all that.
So thank you for that very good
work.
So I did move the staff
recommendation.
>> We'll go next to
Councilmember Foster.
Yes.
Thank you council PRESIDENT And
thank you for the presentation.
I just wanted to as I look at
this item I understand we have
some difference in salary in
council neighborhood is
possible if we can fall back,
get a commitment, fall back,
have some conversations and
look at how we can deploy those
dollars and get them actually
in place.
I think it would be a very,
very good conversation if
you're open to that.
Yes Councilmember, there is
about $800,000 in the difficult
for Encanto neighborhoods and
we're happy to work with your
office to identify projects
that that funding can be
allocated toward.
Okay.
I appreciate that.
And also how are we doing in
regards to our fire Um fire
allocation.
We have Station 51 there that
is still a temporary facility
And um, you know I made this
thing before and I'll make it
again I'm not going to be
supportive of any other fire
stations and I'm referring to
Fairmont Avenue Fire Station
until 51 is we receive a
permanent facility per council
member.
I'll have to get back to you on
the current status of Fire
Station 51.
I do recognize the Fairmont
fire station allocation as it
reads in the report It is a
look back to what was invested
to get us to this point now So
no future allocations and it's
not funding any future work And
so I think it meets the goal of
not pursuing that until
the fire Station 51 is
resolved.
I'll do follow up with your
office to get an update from
you.
>> All right.
Thank you for that.
With that I will be I will
second the motion Council
president All right.
Thank you.
With that we have a motion by
myself on the second by
Councilmember Foster to move
the staff recommendation not
see anybody else in the lights.
>> Please call the roll.
That's right.
The voting system.
Please get your vote That
passes unanimously 920.
Thank you, Council PRESIDENT.
All right.
Thank you.
And again thank you to staff
for the good work.
Clerk Please introduce item 703
Item 723 is the allocation of
fiscal year 2027 parking meters
are revenue for transportation
infrastructure improvements.
If you'd like to speak to this
item please be sure to submit a
speaker step to the front of
the room in the clear box or if
you're participating virtually
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.
I see staff coming into
the dias once you get yourself
comfortable please introduce
yourselves for the record and
let us know how much time you
need.
Good morning.
Council PRESIDENT And council
members.
My name is Alex Waldo, interim
deputy director with
Transportation.
I'm also joined by Naomi
Chavez, interim director And we
will need ten minutes by way of
background.
Community parking districts
were originally established to
manage a portion of the parking
revenue and ensure revenues are
reinvested back into
the communities where they are
generated.
There are eight established
parking meter zones currently
there are five.
There are active downtown
uptown Mid-City Pacific Beach
and Balboa Park.
Parking meter revenues must
remain within the parking meter
zone and support activities to
benefit parking mobility and
traffic safety improvements In
OCTOBER 2025 Council powers cpd
revenue allocations under
Council Policy 100 Dash 18
through fiscal year 2027 That's
a two year pause allowing
parking meter revenues to be
prioritized for transportation
infrastructure improvements
Council allocate add $1.8
million to Transportation
Department to accelerate
delivery of transportation
infrastructure maintenance work
within the parking meter zones
beyond their normal operations
.
The intent was to provide
additional capacity through
overtime so city crews could
make meaningful progress on
long standing maintenance needs
and transportation safety
improvements.
Since that initial allocation
td has completed a significant
amount of infrastructure
maintenance work within
the parking meter zones.
These are extra repair work
being done in O.T. And speeds
are receiving enhanced services
compared to non cpd areas.
Improvements include over 2000
streetlight restorations more
than 3300 pothole repairs,
sidewalk improvements nearly
50,000 linear feet of crosswalk
striping at nearly 100
intersections traffic signage,
pavement markings and over
20,000 linear feet of ab four
went three at the red curbing
at intersections per day
lighting improvements.
These investments greatly
support neighborhood safety
accessibility and vision zero
goals td has been providing
regular monthly updates to
council offices on project
status expenditures and
accomplishments to date.
>> So while significant
progress has been made,
substantial maintenance and
safety needs remain within all
parking meter zones.
Existing backlogs continue to
include the streetlight repairs
,the sidewalk repairs, traffic
safety upgrades and some
efficiency related improvements
.
Many of these requests
originate from Get It Done
reports or stakeholder
feedbacks and ongoing
operational assessment.
So continued funding will allow
td to maintain momentum and
continue addressing these
critical infrastructure needs
without interruption into
fiscal year 2027.
Again, the funding
appropriation provides
supplemental funding primarily
through overtime to deliver
transportation improvements
beyond what can be accomplished
through our normal operations
alone.
We continue to maintain ongoing
coordination with cpd
stakeholders, council offices
and community partners to
discuss the transportation
infrastructure needs and
investment priorities.
At the end of MAY last month we
held four meetings requesting
for their feedback on these
priorities.
We also invited community and
planning groups that previously
had no role in the cpd funding
.
We compiled a list of their
priorities for fiscal year 27
and we'll be looking at those
requests to see which ones we
can implement Given the limited
funding available we remain
committed to regular
communication including monthly
progress updates and will work
collaboratively with cpd
stakeholders to promote
transparency, accountability
and ongoing investments in
the neighborhood.
Transportation improvements.
>> So this item is essentially
the fiscal year 27 continuation
of Transportation Department's
efforts.
We are requesting Council to
appropriate another $1.8
million in existing parking
meter revenue fund balances to
continue the maintenance of
safety improvements within
downtown Uptown Mid-City and
Pacific Beach parking meter
zones.
There are available parking
meters on balances within each
community as shown on the far
right column.
That would be the fund balance
remaining after the $1.8
million allocation.
Approval of this item will
allow us to continue
reinvesting parking meter
revenues into transportation
maintenance and safety
improvements that directly
benefit the communities where
those revenues are generated.
And with that we're happy to
answer any questions.
All right.
Thank you for the work and
the presentation.
Clerk Please proceed with
public comment.
>> Out if you can please come
forward to the microphone.
>> Allocation of parking meters
zone revenue for transportation
infrastructure improvements.
This is put back into
the respective communities and
that's a wonderful, wonderful
thing.
So thank you so much for that.
I have a question and a concern
that relates to this Has our
parking fee revenues been or
will be impacted by errors and
citations that were sent to
the public?
Has litigation has a litigation
ruling been done against
the city on that?
Is there a possible appeal in
the works?
I read something in
the Union-Tribune just recently
and I.
I stepped back because I
thought oh no not another $10
million hit or something we
didn't expect.
But it was in the Union-Tribune
I think like a week this week
or last week.
So heads up on that public and
everybody.
So dear transportation please
protect our revenues from cuts
that we can control.
It's we've got to do that.
Okay.
Thank you so much for
listening.
A great morning for you this
afternoon.
Well, thank you.
>> That does it for public
comment hearing council
chambers going and then
participating remotely.
We just have one speaker in
the cupola Beekman if you can
please unmute.
>> All right big man.
Thank you for this item.
Good luck on addressing our sun
issues.
I felt something was a little
awkward in addressing the sun
parking issues to reduce
the parking hours as much as
possible.
>> Good luck in that kind of
effort.
Thank you for your effort.
I reviewed how you worked on
the proposed parking issue and
you did try to reduce the fees
a lot.
Thank you for that.
I think you left the non
residential for the $16 a
little high barrier to come
down to 12 I think because I
can work on such things in
the future overall.
Good work.
>> We're trying to adjust our
parking.
I wanted to quickly note I
heard this anecdotal story.
When local governments try to
over work on their parking
issues they have a tendency to
become more conservative in
their overall thinking and
actions.
It's a good fair warning for
ourselves how we proceed.
You know, to be wary of that.
We've had a lot of parking
worries and had to deal with a
lot of things and I notice that
we ended up growing a bit more
conservative in our thinking
from that the way we were
acting and working.
That was a few months ago.
I hope we're coming out of that
now.
You've tried to make some good
choices are flexible choices
with parking and thank you for
that because look how we work
on this item continuously.
Thank you.
>> Thank you.
Our next speaker is Hector.
If you can please unmute I
would like to thank
the Transportation Department
for paving the roads from
Mission Valley all the way up
to the Home Depot now.
Over the last few years they've
done a little bit road Each
time they've just done the last
one by my house.
So it's a total luxury drive
and I'm freshly paved roads
through the Home Depot in
Claremont and now they're
working at the Claremont two
Torrey Pines So they'll be
the next things going on
anyway.
Allocate the money.
I don't know man.
I think should allocated to
the SlutWalk get that thing
going to get the guys going out
there to raise money for
the sewer treatment plant
the water treatment plant stuff
and no more studying and things
on how to do the money.
No more studies for anything
that would really save the city
a lot of money.
Sorry No more money for looking
at the road condition.
Everybody knows the roads that
need to be paved.
There's no use in wasting money
on allocating any kind of money
toward any kind of studies or
anything.
And you know even the genders.
Well now I realize there's
three genders, there's male
there's females and mentally
ill.
That's the third gender.
I had a breakthrough in
the gender game.
Instead of 15 now there's only
three.
Thanks a lot.
That is a good public comment
on this item.
>> All right.
Thank you, city Clerk And with
that will go back to council
for questions, comments
Entertain a motion.
We'll start with council member
Whitman Thank you Council
PRESIDENT This program which
has been enacted really gives
the city the opportunity to
manage the parking revenues
directly for a couple of years
really the Transportation
Department to deliver
the improvements quickly and
reflect what the communities
are looking for there.
It's allowed us to take
immediate action.
It's pressing neighborhood
needs like fixing streetlights
it to downtown north Park
Crosswalks have been repainted.
It's really helped to improve
public safety and other areas.
We've been seeing those
results.
There have been 185 traffic
safety improvements including
two crosswalks and stop signs
striping read capacity to
comply with the 80 for 30 day
lighting requirements In
District three we've seen 17
crosswalks downtown, 14 with
cities located uptown.
Everybody has walked.
I'd be street up the way here
by that taco stand will notice
that that sidewalk has been
repaired which was a terrible
trip hazard for quite some time
but it has been fixed with
the use of this program
the funds that have been
allocated directly to
the Transportation Department
to do those things And I really
want to recognize that
the communication by
the Transportation Department,
the monthly detail reports that
have been sent to the office
into the parking districts have
really outlined the great
amount of work that has been
done as a result of this
program and just really
appreciate the communication
but also teams that have been
working overtime to get these
projects that otherwise quite
likely would not well they
would not have been done as
soon as they are.
So this is proving to be a real
benefit certainly for
the communities that I
represented to express my
appreciation to
the Transportation Department
and I am happy to make
the motion to approve the staff
recommendation.
All right.
Thank you.
So so we have a motion by
Council member Whitburn to move
the staff recommendation will
go to Councilmember de Lovato.
>> Thank you Council PRESIDENT.
Thanks for the presentation
here.
I'll start by seconding
the motion.
I also want to say thank you
for the way that we are
tracking and monitoring
the work that's being done with
the parking your funds and I
think the emails that you send
with those updates are super
helpful for us and we
communicate that back out to
our community So it's super
helpful for them to know what
work is actually being done.
I've had a few conversations
with constituents who while
certainly not happy to be
paying for parking felt
differently when they knew what
had been done with those
resources.
That being said, we've had kind
of an ongoing conversation
between my office and
transportation department and
mayor's office about being more
and more committed to having a
conversation with the community
about how these funds are are
invested.
And the reason I think this is
important is because again,
while no one likes paying for
parking, there is a I think
pretty unique opportunity with
parking meters to really draw
the line between a dollar
invested by a community member
in their city and seeing that
dollar spent by their city.
Generally speaking I think
the city does a pretty poor job
actually of explaining how it
is that we are spending tax
dollars of letting folks know
how the money that they
contribute to the city's
coffers get spit out in by way
of city services or resources
or city projects.
And the line here is so short
and straight you put a dollar
into a meter, it gets spent in
the immediate proximity of that
of that meter.
I think there's opportunity
here to develop more trust and
more of an understanding of why
revenue is valuable.
So as you all know, we had a
committee workshop at Adams
Avenue Rec Center on how new
revenue in normal height should
be spent.
I'm not going to pretend like
that was an entirely fun
conversation.
It wasn't And we walked out of
there with a clear sense of
what the committee's priorities
were.
We've kept that going and with
an online survey and so where
I'm going with this is I
really, really think we should
be leaning into this even more
.
I know that we're putting signs
up and work is done saying this
was work was paid for with
parking It needed dollars but
making the providing an
opportunity at the time of
the transaction for residents
to provide their input on how
dollars are spent is something
that I think again could help
build trust and help educate
the public about why revenue is
important So could I actually
turn to you on this because I
know it's a conversation we've
been having as we we look
forward into the next fiscal
year to to what extent should
those of us who have parking
meter districts in our
communities be expecting to
have a little bit more
prominent opportunities for
committee members to express
their priorities for how this
this revenue is invested?
Yeah.
And thank you for that question
Councilmember and I've really
appreciated the collaboration
with your office to to make
that effort at the forefront
and with your community
engagement team being out in
the community as our avenues
rolled out And then also your
ideas and feedback on
the a-frame signs the stickers
,the social media posts that
stand out getting a little bit
more priority and level setting
of expectations I guess on
the front end is helpful And so
you absolutely have
the commitment to be more
proactive before work is done
to better understand what
the priorities of residents who
live in cpd are, whether that
is a proactive survey sent by
your office or office and
consider whether that's a qr
code at the kiosk to take that
survey or other forms as your
community wraps around town
council meetings, planning
groups and things like that.
And so yes, absolutely that
commitment is there to continue
collaborating to make sure that
folks know the dollars they're
spending are getting reinvested
back in their neighborhood.
I appreciate that but I like
your quoted that again at
the point of transaction I
think actually is a really good
opportunity that will everyone
do it?
No.
Well some people market yes.
But there's again two things
that happen there.
One the level setting of
expectations, letting it be
known what can and can't be
funded with those dollars and
to for those who do participate
in that process they will see
that work done If we give them
a transparent list of the work
that can be completed, we can
turn that into action And again
we expect everyone to be
supportive of parking fees.
No.
Do I expect a parade at the end
of this?
No.
But I do think we can be a
place where community trusts a
little bit more the city to to
use its dollars wisely and can
better understand why revenue
is essential piece of
the equation when services and
capital investments are
demanded rightfully so by our
residents.
Thank you for the time there.
Council PRESIDENT And that
concludes my second.
All right.
Thank you Councilmember.
So we have a motion by
Councilmember Woodburn, a
second by council member Ella
Rivera to move the staff
recommendation will go to
council PRESIDENT Pro Tem Lee
Daniels PRESIDENT I just have 1
or 2 questions with this update
There was a lot of mention in
the update that the funding
that is being utilized to
accomplish some of
the additional work is that all
overtime funding for fiscal
year 26.
>> Yes And what we are bringing
forward for you today is 1.1
million and overtime funding at
approximately 700,000 and be
and should in the future if you
anticipate this to continue to
largely require the use of
overtime in order to deliver
the work that's specifically
for the parking districts.
Yes.
Council PRESIDENT Pro Tem I
guess I would ask how is that
decision made as to what's
actually coming out of assuming
over time costs a lot more than
the regular work that
department we're specifically
expecting over time out of
these parking districts which
to me just sort of been drawn
down faster from them as we
would with other projects in
the city.
Like I'm somebody who's
actually performance in
logistics officer.
So if you look at the summary
in the budget document that
will outline the revenue
associated with each parking
meter area and that it will
outline by each department
the eligible expenditures and
the cost associated with them.
So there's plenty of work
that's going on in regular time
in these parking meter areas
and we actually have more
eligible expenditures than we
have revenue associated with
it.
So what this is doing is trying
to get extra time out of our
transportation crews to try to
mitigate some of the backlogs.
What we heard from a lot of
those stakeholders as part of
our engagement process is that
they were looking for enhanced
services.
So the overtime is what's
providing that direct
connection to the enhanced
level of service.
Yeah.
And I only ask as I think it's
fair to be transparent about it
which is I've always struggled
with this item recognizing that
we're taking dollars that
communities felt like they had
a say in and that they that
were intended for projects that
were over and beyond what
the city is typically
responsible for.
And so as much as I cherish you
know, I think everyone should
celebrate I just feel like
the sidewalks and crosswalks
are being done And I also can
look at that sometimes and feel
like the system that was
designed with the council
policy previously that's that
part of the work should have
always come from the 85% that
came from the city.
But now we're celebrating that
additional work being done by
the city from the remaining 15%
which is largely funded through
overtime meaning it cost even
more to do that work And I know
for some of them they would
probably go back and pick other
items that they identified
within their communities that
were needed.
That's where I think
the community feedback is
important in the future because
I'm sure when some of the park
districts were started didn't
all intended to spend that
funding on the work that they
do the city was already
responsible for They were
hoping that it would help
accomplish things that the city
does not going to do that
the community identified.
And so for example in my
district if the county makes
the whole area still being
looked at as a potential area
to add parking meters, I think
that discussion will be very
difficult without any active
participation for the committee
parking district which was
formed before this policy
basically eliminated them
temporarily.
So I just I know that because I
think it'll be a challenge
always as we're looking to
the future I understand that
the selling point is that we're
able to accomplish more but I
think from a communications
standpoint we have to we have
to be able to show them why
that's doing something more and
how their feedback is still
valued and not that this was
just a way to supplant
the city's lack of funding for
our overtime needs.
So with that said I did not
support this item last and this
came a year ago.
I still don't support this item
for the same reasons and so
I'll be voting on the motion.
All right.
Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT Pro Tem not
see anybody else in the lights.
Thank you for the work in
bringing this forward.
Just a couple of questions.
I've heard from my constituents
when we've done some sidewalk
repairs that was caused by a
street tree that the street
tree was not replaced, that not
an eligible fund.
Our use of these funds I'm not
going to ask you about
specifics.
I don't actually know
specifics.
But are we allowed to replace
the tree that was the wrong
tree and cause three problems
and why don't you get back to
me?
It's not important for this
vote but I'd like to know and
be able to answer
the constituents.
The other part that I was
curious about was when we took
action in OCTOBER which was
the first action we allocated
the 1.89 and this time we're
doing exactly the same amount.
There's nothing magic about
that dollar amount that you
chose to do that or that is
based on the Transportation
Department's capacity to
deliver on the work.
>> Okay.
So if we said the more money
because the fund balances are
bigger you would say no thank
you because we just don't have
the capacity to really close
Like okay that makes a lot of
impact.
And to answer your first
question, the parking funds are
two for project that I have
mobility and parking in
the district So you have to say
that the trees would not be an
eligible expense.
>> Okay.
All right.
Sad to hear but I understand
the nuance of there and thank
you for taking the time.
I know I have some questions
When I got the briefing on this
and you took the time to
explain why there was such a
small amount I mean not a pb
but pd parking meters are
relatively new pretty small
compared to the other parking
districts.
I appreciate your willingness
to take the time to answer my
questions.
So with that we have a motion
by Councilmember Whitburn, a
second by Councilmember Ella
Rivera.
>> Please call the roll I'm
sorry the voting system has
your vote and that passes 8 to
1 with Council PRESIDENT Pro
Tem Lee voting no Thank you,
Council PRESIDENT.
All right.
Again thank you to good folks
of transportation for your
work.
So that brings us to the end of
the morning session.
We will now adjourn for
the noon recess and reconvene
in open session at 1 P.M. Or
shortly thereafter And
good afternoon and welcome to
Council Chambers.
>> Can you hear me?
I almost have the clap once but
I guess we're above
kindergarten.
I'm your city clerk Deanna
Fuentes and we're happy to have
you here in council chambers
for this meeting.
Hello.
Just wanted to make sure that
if you have anybody seating
time make sure that you submit
all of those speakers lips
together at one time so that we
make sure that we give you that
seated time.
The council PRESIDENT Will also
remind you at one point that if
you'd like if you like
something thumbs up if you
don't thumbs down, clapping
doesn't allow the next person
being called to actually come
up to the yellow reserved seats
And that's the last thing I'll
say when I call your name I
tend to call some of them in in
batches so you can all come up
to the yellow reserved seats to
make it easier for you to come
up to the microphone When it is
your turn to speak.
So watch out for your name and
thank you again for coming down
and participating.
Have a great afternoon
and
will
okay.
Okay.
That's very yeah I'm not really
I yeah I know your last
question to that one Yeah All
right we're we're going to get
started that afternoon that
you've all been waiting for So
if we could all began to settle
down.
There we go.
All right.
Good afternoon.
I will now reconvene the city
council meeting of Tuesday,
JUNE 9th, 2026 clerk Please
call the roll.
>> Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT Council
member Campbell Council Member
Whitburn here Council Member
Foster here Council Member
Yvonne Wilbur and Pro Tem Lee
You're here Council Member Can
you hear Council Member Moreno
Present Council Member Ella
Rivera and Council PRESIDENT
LaCava present also attending
the meeting our Assistant City
Attorney Leslie Fitzgerald
Independent Budget analyst
Charles Monica Council Affairs
Advisor Matt your gang General
and Policy Director from
the mayor's office as well as
the mayor himself and myself
your city clerk Diana Fuentes
Thank you.
>> Council PRESIDENT All right.
Thank you, MADAM City Clerk
before we a quorum is now
present so we are underway.
I see a lot of new faces in
the audience.
I know there's going to be a
lot of passion and emotion on
some of the issues we'll be
discussing for the fy 2027
budget.
So I'm going to read the script
When we have these kinds of
sessions I want to remind
everyone about the city's
practices and procedures for
public comment at city council
meetings.
We certainly welcome your
public participation at our
hearings.
Speakers MAY address
the Council during public
comment and also in connection
with specific items of business
on the agenda.
However, the city must make
sure that no one person or
group of people disrupt
the meeting in a way that
prohibits other speakers from
expressing their ideas and
opinions excessive yelling and
screaming or speaking beyond
ones a lot of times are
examples of that kind of
behavior that disrupts
the meeting.
It is not the content is
the disruption that we're
focusing on.
So to make sure that everyone
here has an opportunity to
address the council, I will
alert an individual or
individuals if I think their
conduct becomes disruptive.
The disruption continues.
I'll roll the individual out of
order and if the disruption
continues further will declare
a recess so that we can restore
order.
>> At this point I will direct
the individual leave the room
and if the individual refuses
police will escort
the individual out of
the building.
If we have to repeat this
process of warning and recess
the meeting all members of
the public will be excused from
the council chamber credential
Media will be allowed to remain
once again We have these
practices and procedures to
protect the rights of other
speakers who wish to address
the Council and to allow
the Council to conduct
the public's business.
So with that clerk please
introduce item seven oh four.
>> Item 704 is the approval of
the city's fiscal year 2027
budget.
If you'd like to speak to this
item now is the time to please
bring your speaker slip up to
the front of the room into
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.
So this item the staff is
the office of the Independent
Budget analyst So Charles kick
us off and make sure we get an
introduction.
Everybody who was speaking and
how much time the team needs.
>> Right.
Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT.
We had roughly 30 minutes to go
through representation.
All right.
So we are here this afternoon
at the conclusion of this
year's budget process to
discuss our office's final
budget report which is before
you today I am joined for this
presentation by Emily, Jillian
and Alina and Jordan Moore.
Although our entire team is
also here for questions and
follow up discussion our
presentation this afternoon
will largely cover the items
that we discussed at Friday's
final brc hearing.
I will kick us off with a brief
overview and then my team will
walk you through the bulk of
our presentation before I wrap
up with recommended actions and
concluding thoughts.
I'll start with an overview of
the last two months.
The proposed budget was
released on APRIL 15th.
That budget included a number
of significant cuts and those
reflected the city's ongoing
structural budget deficit.
In early MAY this council heard
hearings over the course of a
week to walk through that
budget proposal and then
the mayor released a revised on
MAY 13th that MAY revise
identified $13.5 million in
additional resources mainly
from stronger hotel tax revenue
and transfers to the general
fund from the golf course fund.
Then they revised and used
those resources to fund $13.5
million in expenditure
restorations including library
and rec center hours and
districts for 89 as well as
shoreline restrooms and funding
for youth drop in centers.
Then on Tuesday, JUNE 2nd my
office released ibr report 26
Dash 15 That report identifies
additional resources beyond
those that are in the MAY
revise and we also recommend
technical adjustments and
corrections and finally
incorporate the restoration of
programs based on our review of
Councilmember Budget memos that
we received on MAY 20th.
The item before you today is
the proposed budget as modified
by the MAY revise along with
the additional modifications
that are recommended by
the Ibus office.
The task of this Council today
is to adopt a final budget.
In doing so you can make
additional modifications but it
is also essential and legally
required that the budget that
is adopted remains balanced.
Turning to our report itself it
is worth noting and
highlighting that we identified
resources that can support
the restoration of all items
that were included in a
majority of Council member
memos.
This includes the partial
restoration of arts funding as
well as the Child and Youth
Success Program.
The film program manager
position cpf, the Small
Business Enhancement Program
and others.
At a high level our report
covers five main areas.
First, we recommend three
modifications that can be
implemented with no net impact
to the city's general fund.
These are the restoration of
arts and cultural funding an
alternative package for
homelessness programs and
the transfer of the Office of
Labor Standards and Enforcement
to the City Attorney's Office.
These were all supported by a
majority of council members in
their nanos and my team will
walk through each of them.
We then identify and recommend
an additional $6.6 million in
general fund resources based on
updated revenue projections,
expenditure reductions and
technical corrections Of this
amount 4.5 million is ongoing.
Those identified sources can
support all majority supported
expenditures as well as other
recommended adjustments which
all together total $2.9
million.
That leaves 2.6 million in
remaining ongoing resources and
1.1 million in remaining one
time resources.
Our office does recommend that
the one time resources be set
aside either into reserves or
held as excess equity to help
protect against upcoming fiscal
challenges although ultimately
that will be this Council's
decision.
While the budget that we are
discussing today is balanced,
it is also worth noting that it
is not structurally balanced
and setting aside one time
resources today instead of
spending them can help avoid
that structural imbalance from
growing that accounted for
There are $2.6 million in
remaining ongoing resources.
While we have recommended
funding all expenditures that
were in the memos of a majority
of council members.
There were additional items
that were not in a majority of
memos but were in the mouths of
four council members.
Our officers identified
resources to cover that can
cover some but not all of
those.
Chief among those requests was
additional library and rec
center restorations along with
some potential additional
revenue resources.
In general we present each of
those items without a
recommendation although in some
we actually recommend against
pursuing them.
My team will walk us through
these as well.
Finally we discuss additional
considerations the city's
structural deficit, the impacts
of the trash fee and Balboa
Park paid parking settlement
that was approved yesterday and
the city's enormous unfunded
infrastructure needs.
Council should consider all of
these as it engages in its
final deliberations on the f y
27 budget.
With that I will turn this
presentation over to Amy.
>> Thank you very much,
Charles.
I will first start by
highlighting the recommended
modifications to the budget
that would each have no net
impact to the general fund.
First our office proposes a
restoration of up to $6 million
for the three arts and culture
grant programs that were
eliminated in the proposed
budget on nine Councilmembers
supported some type of
restoration to these grant.
The proposed budget would pay
12.1 million of annual debt
service on the 1998 Convention
Center expansion bond from
the special promotional
programs budget which is also
where Arts and Culture Fund is
traditionally coming from Our
office recommends instead using
up to $6 million of Measure c
funds to partially pay for
annual debt service in fiscal
year 2027.
This would in turn free up $6
million in special promotional
programs budget that could then
go towards arts and culture.
While council MAY free up to
the full 12.1 million amount by
using Measure c Convention
Center funds.
We recommend against using more
than $6 million And there are
two reasons.
First, the county of San Diego
has committed almost $3 million
for arts program grants and
the private foundation
announced they would also
provide $3 million for arts and
culture funding the next year.
And second, while the use of
measure c convention center
funds to pay existing
convention center debt service
is legally permissible.
The convention center faces an
operating deficit and large
capital needs backlog.
The convention center will
eventually need significant
resources to move forward with
a future expansion which was
the primary intent of Measure c
Regarding the $6 million that
we do recommend, we should
suggest it be allocated to
the three grant programs
proportional to their fiscal
year 2026 budgeted amounts and
we previously suggested council
consider implementing funding
caps to ensure more
organizations can be supported
.
If councilmembers do not
support the restoration amount
or caps.
We recommend noting that in
today's final budget action on
homelessness services
the program reductions in
the MAY revision most closely
resemble Option a from our
office's review of the proposed
budget but includes the closure
of Arrow Drive safe parking
instead of prevention
reductions.
Our office recommends three
modifications to the MAY
revision.
The modifications were
developed by the Housing
Commission and in consultation
with h r 56 councilmembers
supported these program
reductions and a seventh
councilmember supported three
of the alternate reductions
The recommended alternate
reductions include first a $1.6
million reduction to the 16th
and meeting shelter $1.3
million less than the MAY
revision.
This would result in
the reduction of 50 beds which
is less than the estimated 200
to 250 beds reduced and to be
revised while 50 guys would
still be reduced they will be
replaced by expanded capacity
at another shelter.
Next we recommend the closure
of the 37 bed city funded
lighthouse shelter due to
operational challenges running
two different service models at
the same site.
This would reduce expenditures
by 980,000.
However, these beds would
continue to operate under a
different program without city
funding.
And lastly we recommend the use
of $406,000 in state grant
funding for the family
reunification program.
These three modifications
netted additional $42,000 in
seatings and we recommend they
be used to support additional
wind down funding at the new
Good Day Center.
The program operator
transitions to a scaled down
services at a smaller site.
The elimination of security at
the Old Central Library and
safe parking at your drive in
Central Elementary remain
unchanged from the MAY revision
Last recommended recommended
modification without a net
general fund impact is to
restore one fte program manager
position and Office of Labor
Standards and Enforcement in
transferring all of
the personnel revenue and
expenditure from the City
Treasurer's office to the City
Attorney's Office.
Once in the City Attorney's
office grant and penalty
funding can be used to offset
dollar general fund costs for a
net zero impact.
We note that our office has
made a technical correction to
the table summarizing these
adjustments in a report on page
ten to ensure they are budget
neutral.
This proposal was supported by
seven councilmembers in their
budget priority memos.
Next transitioning to our
office's recommendations for
ongoing and one time revenue
adjustments and resource
modifications.
Like Charles previously
mentioned, our office
identified $4.5 million in
ongoing resources and 2.1
million in 1 time resources for
a total of $6.6 million.
In later slides Gillian will
detail the exact expenditures
but we were recommending using
1.9 million in ongoing
resources and $180,000 in one
time resources for a total of
2.9 million.
This leaves 2.6 million in
ongoing resources and 1.1
million in 1 time resources
remaining.
Given the structural budget
deficit and economic
uncertainty, we'd like to
stress the importance of not
using any ongoing remaining
resources for any new ongoing
expenditures that could
exacerbate the deficit.
Additionally, we recommend
leaving one time remaining
resources as excess equity or
reserve contribution to help
address any unexpected needs in
fiscal year 2027.
This table breaks down where
office identified ongoing
resources based on revenue
adjustments, expenditure
reductions and technical
adjustments.
We identified additional
ongoing revenue from
the transient occupancy tax
sales tax and an increased
reimbursable amount from
the low moderate Income Housing
Asset Fund.
However, these resource
increases are more than offset
by decreases in property taxes
Cannabis business taxes and a
reduced transfer from
the Parking Meter Operations
Fund to net $319,000 in reduced
revenue.
Our office also identified
budgeting expenditure
reductions that could be made
due to revised NOVEMBER
election cost reductions.
Revised property management
cost projections for one on one
and the reduction of one fte
Public affairs Program Manager
in the police department
the latter of which was
supported by five
councilmembers.
These expenditure reductions
matched to 3.4 million in
ongoing savings.
Lastly, we identified a
technical correction to
the transit transfer to
the general fund and trusted
the demolition of a building at
Liberty Station as ongoing to
instead be one time reverse
the errant transfer of one fte
hazardous material Inspector
two from the refuse disposal
fund to the general Fund and
corrected the fte count and
personal expenditures of a
recreation center restoration
error.
These corrections net 1.5
million in ongoing savings.
Finally we note that a report
identified updated residual ppf
as a potential resource but
with an amount listed as tbd
since the release of a report
our allocations were finalized
and they will have a negative
impact of $185,000 on our
fiscal year 2027 resources and
recommend that be reflected in
any final budget motion today.
This list breaks down the eight
one time resources Our office
identified that next to 2.1
million of these one time
resources we would like to
highlight the $621,000 in
savings identified in
the performance Analytics
department After working with
Pando to identify additional
savings.
These savings included budgeted
personnel expenditure savings
from holding three positions
vacant and changes to the cost
sharing for gas mapping program
licenses.
Access equity in fiscal year
2026 is not proposed as the one
time resource to be used in
fiscal year 2027 because of
elevated risks associated with
budgeting but not yet received
revenue in fiscal year 2026.
Additionally, our office
recommends leaving
the remaining 1.1 million in
unused one time resources for
potential for potential access
equity or reserve contributions
in fiscal year 2027.
Now I will hand it over to
Jillian.
Thank you, Amy.
Now I'll go over our office's
recommended expenditure
modifications which includes
all majority supported items in
councilmember budget
modification memos.
They mostly fall within
the category of ongoing
expenditures with seven items
totaling 1.9 million.
First there's 900,000 for
Council's community projects
programs and service grants for
kpbs which equates to $100,000
per council office.
We note that this amount could
be reduced or made one time to
free up ongoing resources for
other things.
Next is 336,000 to Restore
the Child and your success
program coordinator with
$100,000 for contracted youth
services.
We also recommend placing this
position in the mayor's office
to strengthen policy
involvement and coordination.
There's $263,000 to restore
the city auditor's budget.
This is partially offset by
$55,000 at one time Cut to
the office if recommended or
requested to take instead.
There's $215,000 to restore
the filming Program manager
165,000 to restore the cut to
our office to avoid staffing
reductions.
21,000 for the addition of a
deputy city clerk two in
the clerk's office which is net
of anticipated passport
revenue.
And finally $20,000 for ongoing
licensing costs for the new
case management system for
the Ethics Commission.
We also have three recommended
one time items totaling
980,000.
The first is restoring the base
budget for the small Business
Enhancement Program at 750,000.
Second is funding for
the Office of the Commission on
Police Practices Complaint and
Investigation Management System
for 200,000.
This item actually had support
from four councilmembers but we
were able to identify savings
within the office to offset
much of the cost.
And finally is one the one time
portion of the new Ethics
Commission software system for
$30,000.
So that completes our formal
recommendations which again
includes all majority supported
items.
After funding them we have $3.7
million in remaining resources
of which $2.6 million is
ongoing.
When looking at items supported
by four councilmembers there
are an additional items
totaling 4.4 million With
the remaining resources only a
portion of that items could be
funded.
And because of that we present
the following items as
potential additions and are not
part of our recommendation.
Before going into them we want
to again stress the importance
of keeping the city's long term
fiscal stability in mind and
constraining the addition of
any new ongoing expenditures
especially if they would worsen
the structural budget deficit
versus the full restoration of
both recreation center and
library hours totaling 2.9
million.
For both of these our office
includes location by location
cost to guide any partial
restorations.
Next is 592,000 for the police
department front counter
staffing which would limit
the hiring freeze for these
positions.
Next is council funding for
arts culture and community
festival grants or ccf for
$450,000 or $50,000 per office.
There's $222,000 to restore 24
hour security at the Storage
Connect Center in line with
the initial agreement with
the community.
We do note that security has
been reduced since JANUARY and
both agencies and the police
department report no
operational impacts or security
concerns.
However, if there was a break
in and any items were lost that
could have severe impacts on
individuals experiencing
homelessness.
Finally there was support for
restoring a chief operating
officer by promoting one
existing deputy chief operating
officer.
The net cost would be about
$194,000 based on timing and
salary assumptions which would
vary if implemented.
Now I will cover additional
potential resources supported
by several council members or
identified by our office.
Some have significant drawbacks
so we recommend against
pursuing them as shown in red
on the slide.
First is the elimination of
Axon by 90 software in
the police department.
This doesn't produce general
fund savings because it isn't
budgeted within the general
fund.
Next is implementation of two
officer units in the police
department.
We recommend against this item
as it would result in a 40%
reduction in patrol vehicles
which would lead to fuel
savings but would likely have
detrimental impacts to response
times especially in divisions
with large geographic service
areas to address response
times.
It would require increased
overtime costs leading to
likely no savings or
potentially increased costs
instead.
Another option is one that our
office identified which is
reallocating homocysteine grant
funds that support the Regional
Task Force on Homelessness.
Fourth hmas System used to
report program outcomes in
service utilization.
However, this would require
the task force to find
alternative funding for this.
Four council members supported
the exploration of cost savings
through reductions to car
allowances, cell phones and
non-essential travel expenses.
$616,000 is the maximum
estimate we have for this since
it doesn't account for
increases related to employees
submitting for mileage
reimbursements or travel that's
still likely needed.
Eliminating cell phone costs
would also require labor
discussions that MAY also have
offsetting costs.
So we recommend against that
option.
Next is cancellation of
the automated license plate
reader or a lpr contract.
This is a service bundled with
Ubiquiti, a contract for
the use of smart street lights
to cancel a lpr.
Only would require contract
renegotiation determine a
savings amount which we don't
have identified at the moment.
Alternatively the whole
contract could be terminated
with 30 days notice which would
lead to $2 million in savings.
We also raised for
consideration an item that
would require action to make
fees for public safety support
at special events organized by
nonprofits.
A 100% cost recoverable Instead
of providing existing discounts
.
This would generate up to $2.1
million.
And finally for council members
asked our office to identify $3
million in cuts to departments
with higher unclassified staff
such as Panda and
Communications Department.
We identified 200 I'm sorry
621,001 time savings for Panda
which is included in our
recommendations.
Since this falls short of
the $3 million target we
provided additional information
on the major activities of both
departments with associated
costs as well as high level
potential impacts of reducing
these functions.
Should Council decide that they
are no longer a priority?
It should be noted that other
departments with higher
proportions of unclassified
staff are in other departments
including independent or
elected official offices.
With that I'll hand it off to
Jordan.
>> Thank you, Jillian.
So before we conclude again
there are additional
considerations that we believe
the Council and the public
should be made aware of and
should be present in your minds
as you go about making
the final budget decisions
today.
Next slide.
>> The first is the city's
structural budget deficit.
While some progress has been
made on addressing the long
term structural budget deficit,
the overall problem remains
unsolved and the budget is
currently constructed.
The MAY revise is still
structurally imbalanced by
about $15.3 million.
But if reserve contributions in
line with the current reserve
policy were included, that
imbalance will grow to $95.4
million.
We know in our report no
reserve contributions have been
made since 2023 and fiscal year
2022 is the last time the city
had reserves in line with what
the policy would have called
for.
Additionally, while projections
in APRIL showed a smaller
deficit of $32.9 million for
2028 and potential surplus in
fiscal year 2029, those
projections are now no longer
viable.
I'll discuss the impacts of
the settlement from yesterday
on the next slide but
the impacts of that settlement
will result in long term
revenue declines.
There are also however
additional cost pressures such
as both be finalized and still
to be negotiated labor
contracts that while the ones
that have been approved to date
have limited cost impact in
the near term, they're
currently projected to increase
costs significantly beginning
in fy 2029 and beyond.
And I will note that most
likely doesn't also include
the impacts for things that you
heard about yesterday.
There are also cost pressures
from potential litigation and
financial exposure due to
failing infrastructure which
when combined with everything
else suggests there is a lot
more work that will need to be
done to improve the city's long
standing financial issues.
It is crucial that the city
consider how to right size
the organization in order to
avoid the perpetuating cycle of
annual budget cuts and restore
the public confidence that will
be needed to address this as
well as other issues.
As mentioned, the recently
approved agreements from
yesterday on solid waste fees
and parking in Balboa Park are
not anticipated at this time to
have an impact on the 2027
budget but they will result in
ongoing revenue declines.
On the solid waste piece rates
are now reduced for fiscal year
2029 which combined with
the mitigating actions that you
heard about yesterday will most
likely result in an increased
turn off on spending of around
$10.8 million in 28 and $10
million in 2029 and would
potentially be that amount or
larger in every year thereafter
unless a new cost of service
study is completed.
The mitigating actions again
mostly include were service
levels such as the elimination
of walking and pickup in weekly
recycling which if the council
did wish to maintain both
levels would require additional
fund contributions.
Additionally now the fees are
locked in place and with as i
mentioned any unanticipated
cost increases for waste
collection such as labor costs,
vehicle maintenance and
disposal fees will require
additional general fund
resources to fund a service
that is not provided to all of
the city's residents.
But it was only provided to
some based on the municipal
code.
Given this general fund
exposure, our office recommends
that environmental services
develop and produce a five year
financial outlook that covers
their operations particularly
but not exclusively funded by
the solid Waste Management Fund
that can be present alongside
the general fund and beauty
outlooks every year on paid
parking.
At least at this point.
When we wrote this report there
was no anticipated impact for
2027 as again neither parking
was set to remain in place
through the end of the calendar
year.
We had anticipated that revenue
from Zoom remained about $3
million.
I will note this is possibly up
in the air to the rapidly
changing development but as far
as our report was concerned we
assumed that $3 million would
stay for the non-new parking
lots.
Updated revenue projections
with these thoughts are now
based based on recent
experience with indicate that
the overall revenues of paid
parking had not been eliminated
would have been about
the amounts included in
the current budget based on
the half year of revenue and
combined combined with
the reduction in expenses to
the non-school lot would result
in a net zero budget impact to
the general fund for 27.
However the hope this would
lower ongoing net revenue by
about $9.4 million beginning in
2028 and obviously continuing
thereafter.
Lastly, even if it is possible
to replace the city for day to
day operations with ongoing
revenue, it would still not
resolve the ongoing
infrastructure funding deficit
which as of the last ip outlook
was around $7.8 billion over
the next five years.
As is usual, storm water
remains the driving force
behind this ever increasing
deficit with current but with
current capital budgets mostly
relying on reactive needs and
emergency funding.
However, storm water is not
the only major asset with a
deficit.
There are also significant
deficits for streets,
streetlights, sidewalks, parks
and public safety assets such
as police and fire stations.
Without additional funding
mostly I would know for capital
renewal of existing
infrastructure or funding to
add new infrastructure called
one community finance or other
documents.
The city's current
infrastructure is basically set
to go on a run to fail mode
which is mentioned will
increase financial liabilities
for the city, reducing
resources for other operating
services in the long run.
Additionally, maintenance of
existing infrastructure
continues to be underfunded
quickening the run to failure
cycle while the MAY revision
and the budget modifications
presented do return some
service levels.
Facility maintenance which
ensures the services have a
place to happen is still being
cut.
This is an issue that due to
its magnitude will require
significant new revenue as even
the wholesale elimination of
some current city services
would not generate the savings
necessary to address
the infrastructure funding gap.
And now I'll hand it back to
Charles to conclude.
Thank you, Jordan.
So that brings us to our final
recommended actions taking
these actions would result in
the adoption of a balanced fy
27 budget.
The first two actions on
the slide are to adopt
the proposed budget as modified
by the MAY revise and as
modified by my office's
recommendations.
We do note that our report
identified $3.7 million in
additional resources for which
we do not make recommendations
and council could allocate this
amount to additional
expenditures today although we
do suggest at one time amounts
identified preserved.
Finally we make three
recommendations that would
provide for additional arts
funding, provide an alternative
package of homelessness program
as well as a transfer
the Office of Labor Standards
and Enforcement to the City
Attorney's office all of which
can be accomplished without any
impact to the city's general
fund.
With that I will wrap up with a
few observations on next slide.
First, there is some good news
here Adopting a balanced budget
for fy 27 that includes
meaningful majority supported
surplus restorations if
possible.
Our office identified
sufficient resources to fund
all of the modifications that
were supported by a majority of
this council.
The Arts and Cultural
Restorations The Alternative
Homelessness package and
the llc transfer can all be
done with no net impact to
the general fund and that is a
real achievement given
the fiscal environment that we
are working in.
But I also want to be direct
about what adopting a balanced
budget today will not
accomplish.
It will not solve the city's
structural fiscal issues.
Our structural deficit will
persist into fy 28 with a gap
of nearly $33 million projected
out of the proposed budget that
will likely grow the small
surplus that was last projected
in Nephi 29 is also unlikely
given the impacts of
the settlement and labor cost
that we discussed and
the city's unfunded
infrastructure backlog at
nearly $8 billion over the next
five years alone will continue
to compound every year that
goes unaddressed The ongoing
misalignment between the city's
revenues and the cost of city
services that residents expect
particularly around
infrastructure cannot be solved
through cuts inefficiencies
alone.
We have stated this before
The numbers continue to bear
this out and addressing this
misalignment will ultimately
require a significant new
revenue source.
Securing that new revenue will
require a future public vote.
And to that end building and
maintaining public trust cannot
just be a political
consideration but must be a
fiscal consideration as well.
And so as you consider any
additional modifications beyond
those that my office has
recommended, I urge each
councilmember to weigh this
reality against your final
budget decisions.
The decisions that you make
today will either strengthen or
weaken the foundation for
the conversation that the city
needs to have with residents
about the true cost of city
services and the revenues that
are needed to provide them
sustainably.
And to the members of
the public that are here this
afternoon.
For those of you that are here
to advocate for more
restorations, please consider
that identifying what you want
funded all the addresses half
of what's needed.
The other half is ensuring that
the city has the ongoing
resources needed to pay for
them.
Our current resource
constraints mean that any major
restoration or new program can
only be funded by cutting
something else without
additional revenue.
This will remain the case and
additional resources, as I
said, will ultimately require a
public vote.
So if you are here today to ask
us Council to provide more
funding for services that you
rightly care about, I would
also encourage you to have that
same conversation with your
neighbors.
Because if council alone cannot
solve the resource side of that
equation with that my team and
I are available and look
forward to this afternoon's
discussion.
>> All right.
Thank you, Charles.
Thank you to your entire office
for the very deep and
thoughtful identification of
expenditures and resources
validating them as necessary
and the candor in which you
express that throughout your
team.
>> So with that, please proceed
with public comment.
Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT We do have a
little over two hours of public
comment here in council
chambers and about 60 people
with their hands raised in
the virtual queue.
So it will be one minute per
person.
As noted previously if I call
your name in a batch it's to
come up to the front row in
the yellow reserved seats to
make it easier for you to get
up to the microphone.
We will be starting with Greg.
So I'm sorry but you know I'm
off to a bad start today.
My apologies.
>> But you have time to go to
by Rudy Liberia.
Rudy, can you please raise your
hand?
Rudy, can you hear him down?
>> She does need to be or he he
or she MAY need to be present
for them to send you time.
So I will go to Robert Morales
.
Ron Morales, please come up.
You have time seated by Sarah
Lopez.
Can you please raise your hand
?
And then I'm going to
the following individuals
please come up to the other
reserved seats Stand Goodman
Fernanda Flores, Doris Wynn,
Steven Gold and Akilah
Templeton.
If you can all please come up
to the yellow reserved seats.
Robert you'll have two minutes.
Please start ready.
Excellent.
Thank you.
Good afternoon.
Council PRESIDENT And council
members.
My name is Robert Morales and I
am the business representative
for I.R.S. Local 122.
I represent more than 2600 Arts
and Entertainment Convention
and trade show workers
throughout San Diego County.
I want to thank council members
Lee and Foster for spearheading
a plan of action to address
the proposed 2027 budget cuts
to the arts and culture funding
.
So kudos.
I also want to recognize County
Supervisor Monica Step at
the San Diego Private
Foundation for stepping forward
and taking action to support
our region's arts community.
These proposed cuts would have
real impact on working
families, local businesses,
cultural organizations and
thousands of workers who help
bring arts, entertainment
conventions and community
events to life in San Diego.
Arts and culture are not
expenses to be cut.
They are investments.
They strengthen our community,
enrich our neighborhoods and
create jobs.
I urge all council members to
vote yes on this common sense
proposal and demonstrate your
commitment to preserving San
Diego's vibrant arts and
culture sector.
Thank you for your time and
consideration.
Thank you, Gregg.
Is Rudy back in?
Thank you.
>> You'll have two minutes.
Please proceed.
Thank you.
Good morning, council members.
My name is Greg Sylvester's All
the PRESIDENT 8122 I represent
the workers who build load and
run and support live
entertainment theater, film,
television conventions and
cultural events throughout this
region.
I'm here today to speak in
favor of the budget before you.
I know this has been a
difficult budget year and I
want to acknowledge the work
that has been done to listen,
adjust and respond to
the community.
In particular I want to thank
Council PRESIDENT Pro Tem Lee
as well as Budget Chair Foster
for the leadership in restoring
Arts and culture funding for
the Council and the Council and
for preserving the city's film
office position.
Arts and culture are just fine.
Sorry.
Arts and culture are not just
line items they are workers
stages, classrooms,
neighborhood events, museums,
theaters.
Music, dance, film.
And the organizations that make
San Diego feel like San Diego.
These dollars touch
institutions like the Old
Globe, San Diego Opera,
the Symphony, San Diego musical
theater and many smaller
organizations across the city.
I also want to thank you for
preserving the city's film
office position.
That position is not just
paperwork it is the front door
for productions that want to
film here and be crew hotel
rooms, catering and parking.
Local spending and national
visibility to San Diego.
I also want to acknowledge
the Convention center.
For my members it is not
abstract.
It is one of the most important
workplaces in the city.
Its expansion and modernization
must remain part of the long
term conversation.
They are connected pieces of
the same economy.
So I support this budget
because it keeps the door open.
But this restoration should be
seen as a bridge not just
the finish line.
It gives the city to the city
philanthropy, labor, tourism
and the creative community time
to build something more
permanent.
>> Thank you for listening and
thank you for your time.
Thank you.
>> Dan Goodman.
Dan Goodman Are you here?
>> Fernanda Flores Do you have
to be present when they're
here?
Fernanda Flores You have time
to buy that card.
Thank you so much.
You'll have two minutes.
Please proceed.
Thank you.
Good afternoon, Chair LaCava.
Anything?
Council members?
My name is Fernanda Flores.
I am also a 28 year resident of
District four and the political
director without the local 122.
Today we're probably
representing 5000 stagehands
throughout San Diego and
Coachella Valley.
We urge you to vote yes on
the updated budget proposal
including potential
modifications by four council
members.
Arts and culture is often
viewed as an extra for
the people I represent.
It is not.
It is an economic engine Any
source of employment for
thousands of workers who keep
our theaters, cultural
institutions and community
spaces running.
When arts funding is cut, jobs
are lost, opportunities
disappear and communities
suffer.
As we look at the state of
the world today, uncertainty of
hitting workers at every level
from federal funding cuts and
economic stability instability
to challenges at the state
level, working families are
facing growing job insecurity
and threats to their careers
wondering whether their jobs
will be there tomorrow.
That issue is also deeply
personal to me.
Growing up I was
the beneficiary of city funded
recreation center programs.
For seven years my father made
sacrifices so my siblings and I
could take that going to class
at that kind of rec center with
MR. Evans, a veteran and a
mentor who helped shape my
confidence and discipline as a
brown woman.
My father believed that
investing in those
opportunities would give us
the tools not just to survive
but to thrive.
Today I stand before you as
proof of what public investment
in community programs can
accomplish.
The decisions you make today
will determine whether the next
generation of San Diego and
those same opportunities on
behalf of our people will win
22.
Thank you for listening with
empathy for finding solutions
and continuing to stand with
working families and investing
in the jobs and communities
that make Then you go to find a
city.
>> Thank you.
Thank you for that concluding
remark.
Doris when after Doris win
we're going to have Stephen go
Akilah Templeton, Jim Whalen
join Senator and Nicole Maria
Ramirez If you can please come
up to the other reserve seats.
>> Please proceed.
My name is Doris Wynn, resident
of District one speaking as a
volunteer with San Diego 350.
I'm here today to ask you fund
the Multimodal road safety team
in the fiscal year 27 budget.
Why?
Because cutting plans for
bicycle lanes and crosswalks
makes our communities less
safe.
In addition, improving bicycle
lanes, crosswalks and other
multimodal measures make it
more attractive for people to
drive less.
Reducing emissions and
pollution that contribute to
climate change.
We understand that resources
are tight but we believe there
are places in the budget where
money can be saved and used to
fund multimodal road safety
teams specifically use Transnet
or arm or mra funds and
prioritize safety over other
transportation priorities.
Council the flock surveillance
contract and taxpayer funded
subsidies for police at Petco
Park.
Thank you very much.
Without the team we aren't
going to see new bike lanes or
potholes for a long time.
>> Thank you for listening.
>> Go.
My name is Steven Gelb and I'm
the board PRESIDENT Of San
Diego.
350.
I urge you to restore
the multimodal team to
the budget.
Consider that up to 30% of San
Diego cannot drive because of
age disability license
suspension or not being able to
afford a car.
Prioritizing biking
infrastructure at this moment
when residents are being
squeezed by the cost of car
ownership and high gas prices
sends the message that
the city's transportation
network is for those who can
afford to drive and not for
everyone.
I also support the River Park
Foundation's push for the West
Valley River crossing.
I recently cycled across
the river on Marina Boulevard
and cars whizzed by me and cut
me off as they accelerated onto
highway ramps.
The crossing would transform
the situation.
It would also be a recreational
asset allowing San Diego to
enjoy the river's natural
beauty.
>> Thank you.
Thank you.
Akeelah Templeton.
I They attempted to you by
Marshall Anderson.
Thank you.
You'll have two minutes.
Please proceed.
Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT And members
of the City Council.
Afternoon, Mayor Gauna.
My name is Akeelah Templeton
and I serve as the ceo of
Veterans Village of San Diego.
As you all can imagine,
the initial budget proposal
generated significant concern
among our unhoused veteran
clients their families and of
course our staff.
Many fear displacement of
the veterans who are currently
residing on our campus to make
room for a new opioid treatment
program.
So today I'm here to first
thank the San Diego Housing
Commission for updating its
budget priority memorandum to
clarify that a site for these
treatment beds have not yet
been determined.
I'd also like to thank
the independent budget analyst
for noting in the budget
modification report that
Veterans Village of San Diego
is no longer being
contemplated.
And then lastly because bfd
remains referenced in
the mayor's revised budget, I
would respectfully request that
today's action clearly reflect
the understanding that no site
has been selected and that
the veterans village of San
Diego campus is not being
considered for this proposal.
>> Thank you all for your time
and have a great afternoon.
Thank you.
Dan Goodman.
That's me.
Sorry Nature called.
>> Please proceed.
Good afternoon, Council
members.
My name is Dan Goodman.
I'm a local videographer and a
stage name but I with 1.2
people visit San Diego for
the beaches and the weather.
But what makes them stay and
come back is and build a life
here is the culture that we
create together.
It's in the theaters.
It's in the music, it's in
the conventions and in
the festivals that bring our
neighborhoods to life.
As someone who works behind
the scenes, I can tell you that
every performance represents
hundreds of hours worked by
local people here workers,
artists, technicians and small
businesses throughout our city.
>> This funding isn't just an
investment in the arts it
investment in San Diego's
identity.
Our economy and our community.
I appreciate the leadership and
the collaboration that has
brought this proposal forward
and I urge you guys to support
this.
Thank you.
Thank you, Jim Whalen Good
afternoon.
Council PRESIDENT Carver
Members of the commission on
the Commission not on
the Commission any more.
City Council in America I am
here in my personal capacity
because this is real life and
it's important while the budget
is important all around I'm
here for the arts and with some
concern on block I want to
thank Tony Reyes by the way for
consistently highlighting these
issues and forcing me to pay
attention better.
I like what I'm hearing about
restoring the arts funding.
That's great and I would like
to get it back 200%.
Block, however, is a different
story.
Both sides have valid points
here.
It is a force multiplier
indeed.
But it also gives me concerns
about empowering police and
accountability.
There have been already some
bad false identifications not
to mention the easy misuse of
data.
That said, there is a value to
floc and if we are going to
fund any of it at least why
don't we use it where it should
be targeted for being needed?
Thank you for your attention.
>> Thank you for raising it.
Our city needs a new vision
that fosters all components of
our budget.
Your public all of you are at
the very top of our city's
organization chart.
Our city has a structural
budget deficit for our city to
become the great city we strive
for so we can all thrive.
We need a new vision a noble
vision.
A noble vision.
Dear public special shout out
to our mayor.
What vision would you fight
for?
What are we fighting for?
Do we really know?
In my opinion a new vision is
the kickstart we need for
the boldness We need and to
unravel and solve our
structural budget deficit.
Thank you for listening.
It's great to be here with all
of you today.
Love to all Nicole Murray
rumors we can please come
forward.
Good afternoon Wealth.
Today I'm speaking to you at
the chair of the San Diego jail
Betty Hastert Task Force.
We support funding for the San
Diego Police Department,
especially funding for hpr.
For us and the lgbt community
it's not about technology.
It's about safety, about
results and a proven record of
stopping crime, especially hate
crimes.
Help your help investigators
identify and arrest criminals
who have been driving by gay
nightclubs and shooting at
these establishments with
pellet guns not only causing
serious physical harm but
creating fear and hate when
criminals spray painted
swastikas and hateful
homophobic slurs in Hillcrest.
Alper also helped catch
the criminals.
The bottom line is this tool is
working.
It allows crime, protects our
communities and makes better
use of limited police
resources.
As a senior I can also tell you
it makes us also feel safer in
our community.
Thank you for that concluding
sentence.
Barry Edelstein if you can
please come forward to
the microphone.
And then if I can have
the following individuals
please come forward to
the other reserved seats.
Marshall Veteran Larry Webb.
Janie Emerson.
Catherine Douglas Baer Wolfe.
Nicole Lilly.
Kevin Vino.
And coming up you if you can
all please come forward to
the first row.
Barry, you have time ceded to
you by James Lawson.
Thank you.
Peter Comiskey Oh, sorry No,
just by James Lawson.
They got connected.
You have two minutes.
>> Please proceed.
Thanks.
Good afternoon, Council
members.
I'm Barry Edelstein with
the old Globe.
I'm here to urge you to vote
for this budget.
This has been a tough process
and the conversations we've all
been having have been hard.
But on behalf of a constituency
of a quarter million people
served by the Old Globe, 30,000
of them served for free and on
behalf of nearly 1200 full and
part time employees many of
them union labor.
I want to thank you all for
your hard work.
We're grateful in particular to
Councilmember Lee Councilmember
Foster for their innovative
approach to solving this
problem and also to
the partnership of the county
and the great private
foundation for their visionary
participation.
But you know, I want to thank
the entire council because we
know those of us in the arts
sector that all nine council
members have expressed their
support for the arts and
culture in our city.
We see that we recognize it and
we're grateful for it.
What's happened over this past
month is that our sector has
really come together.
It has expressed a sense of
solidarity that I have not seen
in the 14 years that I've been
in San Diego.
I moved here from New York City
where there is a very
sophisticated approach to
public funding for the arts.
We have a lot to learn from
that place.
When I came here I knew that my
life was going to be enhanced.
I look back on 14 years and I
see that I've been living an
extraordinary eerily blessed
existence.
To be the head of one of
the greatest arts institutions
in the country when I look at
the hard work that this council
is doing, the hard work that
the city is doing to really
express its understanding of
what the arts can contribute to
the quality of life of every
San Diego And it makes me want
to redouble my efforts to find
a really permanent solution a
stable solution that the city
can boast about And we can go
to New York and say we know how
to fund the arts in a way that
you guys haven't even dreamed
of.
So I look forward to working
with all of you and to you to
MR. Mayor, on a solution that's
going to make San Diego proud.
Thanks again for your support.
>> Let's please move forward
from here.
Thanks.
Thank you.
And as noted, I had some paper
clipped to a different speaker
steps So Peter Kaminski or
Kaminski and Susan Martin if
you can please come forward.
>> And it's Martin if you can
please come forward to
the other reserved seats.
Peter, you can come up to
the microphone.
>> Here's what's next.
It was just a papercut.
>> Council PRESIDENT Members of
the council Peter Kaminski
Baobab Park Cultural
Partnership.
Thanks for your overwhelming
public comments regarding arts
and culture and your shared
dedication for a vibrant world
class San Diego.
If I had time I could walk
through each and every one of
you and the great comments you
have made in support.
I want to recognize
the incredible collaborative
work of Cristina martinez with
Arts and Culture San Diego and
Bob Lehmann from Arts Matters
together with the hundreds of
advocates and thousands of
members of the general public
who express their opinions
through multiple channels.
Members of the Cultural
Partnership are very grateful
to Council PRESIDENT Pro Tem
Cantley Budget chair Foster
Grant Oliphant from Krebs
Foundation and Supervisor
Montgomery.
We urge you we urge you to
return arts and culture funding
to the highest possible level
flagged by Council PRESIDENT
Pro Tenley to ensure that we
have no longer an ongoing
battle that impacts arts and
culture every day.
>> Thank you for that
concluding sentence.
That was Martin.
>> Hello.
My name is George Munoz and I
am speaking on behalf of
the Chicano Federation and in
solidarity with the Community
Budget Alliance.
The contradictions in this
budget are impossible to
ignore.
Somehow there's always more
money for criminalization and
surveillance but not for
investing in youth and working
class people and in
historically disadvantaged
communities.
Passing a budget that only
allocates the bare minimum for
youth, public spaces,
environmental justice and
housing protections is not fair
for us.
It's not fair for
the marginalized community.
Members of East Village and
condo convoy Linda Vista Sunny
see the Southeast.
If you truly value your
communities as much as you say
you do then cancel flock and
allocate more funds for
libraries, parks, stormwater
infrastructure and the Office
of Child and Youth Success.
>> Resist multilateral
wrestling You have time seating
people sitting on time.
Marty Zimmerman a beacon please
raise your hand.
You'll have two minutes.
Please proceed.
Oh, okay.
>> Good afternoon.
My name is Marcella Duran.
I'm in charge of as a volunteer
of 92 board captains.
And I've heard everybody here
because I've been here many
times that safety is important
right?
Safety is important no matter
what community we're from.
So my community of Neighborhood
Watch watches urges you today
to support the l p r
technology.
And a good example is
the recent kidnaping of
the woman who was taken by her
ex-boyfriend and shoved in a
car.
And the way they found her was
through the al pr These are
real life people.
And I wish it wasn't such a
hard decision but we're talking
about safety safety and your
community Safety and mine.
And cutting the San Diego
police budget and removing a
tool to help solve crimes in
each one of our communities is
really an effort to defund
the police.
That's what we're talking
about.
And that's great for all
the people who don't like
the police.
But police cannot be judged as
a general group You have to
look at them, their people and
their individuals.
The if you do cut out these
tools and continue to put
the pressure on them, it's
going to decrease morale and
they're not going to be able to
solve crimes as fast as they
have been with the El Paso.
Please make your decision with
an open mind and not prejudice
And I really appreciate your
time.
>> Thank you.
Larry Webb, if you can please
come forward and remember your
time to by Nikki Zimmerman
Sorry, I just wanted to say
thank you.
Thank you.
Councilmember Lori Webb,
founding member of the Coastal
Coalition.
We strongly oppose defunding
Diego Police Department to be
clear, failing to fund
the continued use of officers
effectively reduces
department's ability to protect
the public.
Government's foremost
responsibility is public
safety.
There is no dispute that our
police department is
understaffed eliminating a
proven force multiplier
multiplier will only worsen
the challenges created by
the current officers shortage.
While our technology is not
perfect, it remains one of
the most effective tools
available until a better
alternative exists.
So it has funded hundreds of
additional officers that should
continue to be supported
cutting 40% of the beach
maintenance positions from
the parks and Rec budget MAY
have significant unintended
consequences.
This team is responsible for
constructing the protective
berms around Mission Bay each
winter with a 40% reduction in
staffing, the department will
be unable to perform this
critical work increasing
the risk of flooding for
hundreds of homes.
Such pouring flooding could
expose the city to substantial
liability and result
potentially millions of dollars
for property damage claims in
addition, San Diego beaches are
among the city's most valuable
assets and a primary attraction
for visitors Maintaining clean
well capped beaches is
essential to preserving
the visitor experience.
The decline in beach
maintenance could negatively
impact tourism resulting in a
drop in European sales tax
revenues.
We all recognize that certain
items in our personal budgets
are necessities such as food
and shelter.
We fund those needs before
spending on discretionary items
government funding budgets
should follow the same
principle until public safety
and long term interests such as
these are fully funded.
Discussion Thank you for
creating contact a lower
priority Think about concluding
Comment Jeannie Emerson Good
afternoon Council.
>> Safety is priority number
one.
If we aren't safe in the city
then the rest of the budget
doesn't make any difference.
I know there's a big concern
about privacy relative to
the Alpers How many people here
have a smartphone?
How many people have a smart
watch?
>> How many people are on
social media, have an Alexis
device in their house, have a
ring doorbell or do other
things on Google and research
things.
I'm here to tell you that if
you do worldwide there's a
profile on you on all of your
preferences and everything you
want you have no privacy.
The Alpers simply read license
plates.
They save lives and solve
crimes.
Please continue to fund this
key element of our San Diego
Police Department.
Thank you.
>> Katherine Douglas, if you
can please come forward.
Good afternoon.
This council has a choice.
Are you going to look at our
communities in the face and say
you're willing to give up a
truly effective, accurate tool
that has proven time and time
again to accelerate the capture
of murderers, human
traffickers, robbers, burglars
hit and run drivers, fugitives,
kidnapers, perpetrators of
domestic violence and
perpetrators of other violent
crimes.
Or are you going to do
the right thing and fund this
game changing technology that
has provided critical
investigative leads that aid sd
pd in solving cases faster and
with greater accuracy?
Yelpers are investigative
accelerator and force
multiplier for our understaffed
police department.
They generate real time leads
that result in far safer
communities The expectation of
privacy is moot.
We are all being tracked by our
smart phones, smart TVs, voice
assistants, security cameras,
laptops and wireless routers Do
the right thing.
Thank you for the next sentence
Bear Wolf I only have a minute
so I'll go quick.
First of all, thank you for all
of this opportunity.
Secondly, I come to you today
not to speak to you but to
speak to your humanity as a
college professor in
the humanities I can tell you
we teach at Miramar.
We teach the police, we teach
the fire firefighters and
without understanding what
humanity is they are useless.
And also when it comes to these
flight technology things of
this nature please do your
research and not Google
assistant but actual research.
Like I tell my students these
things do not work.
There are people getting
arrested because the facial
recognition is doing making
mistakes And please remember
that your daughter your son has
a favorite story.
You have a favorite song.
That song got you through
the worst breakup of your life.
These are the human things that
we need because that's what
defeats crime And all
the research shows that and
I'll leave you with this quote
from Dune which everyone here
knows about Once men turn their
thinking over to machines and
the hope that this world will
set them free, they are only
permit other men.
Thank you for that concluding
sentence.
Thank you Nicole Lilly And if I
can have Kevin Vino Corrina
Pugh, Christine Martinez, Bob
Lehman, Michael Werber and
Khalid Alexander Lucky Aiden
and Humaira Go Sophie please
come up to the front row.
Please proceed.
Hello, my name is Nicole Lilly.
I I'm a renter resident of
District three and
the executive director of our
Time to Act The investments you
make today have impacts far
beyond the next fiscal year.
We're done pleading.
We are demanding investments in
a future where all San Diego
ans can thrive.
Let me be clear that future is
free of free from surveillance.
It is free from bloated police
budgets and subsidies for
the wealthy that future invest
in the community.
It has a fully resourced office
of Child and youth success.
It prioritizes stormwater
infrastructure and housing.
It funds parks and arts and
create safe spaces for San
Diegans to thrive amongst
friends and family rather than
under invasive camera lenses
and abusive officers.
I am a organizer in San Diego.
I am a young person in San
Diego and I am telling you that
floc surveillance and any kind
of surveillance is harmful and
dangerous to our communities.
It does not create safety.
It is a proven failure of
technology and always having
smartphones and technology is
not a license to surveil our
communities.
>> Thank you, Kevin Wehner
Kevin, before you come up we
were doing really good but I
know that passion excitement
with people you agree and
disagree with is starting to
bubble up.
>> The professor that spoke I
didn't hear this last part of
his probably excellent comments
because people started getting
excited by what he was saying
Give everybody a chance whether
you like what they're saying or
don't like so that we can hear
them clearly They took a long
time to sit here and wait wait
patiently for their chance for
a 1 or 2 minutes.
So let's give everybody a
chance to speak and allow all
of us to hear them.
Go ahead.
Thank you.
Council members.
My name is Kevin.
I'm with our Times act Youth
led 51c3 nonprofit a resident
of District one and on the Wall
Community plan a group And I'm
urging you guys not to continue
funding Floc We do not want
mass surveillance in our city
and this funding is millions of
dollars that could be better
spent on other projects that
actually help citizens instead
of stalking citizens.
We know that Flock has shared
their data with the federal
government that has been going
after residents in our
community.
We would rather see this
funding go to projects like
O.C. Weiss which is the Office
of Child and Youth Success
which helps young people across
the city.
They're very small budget.
They're only 350,000 and they
bring in millions of dollars in
grants specific funding.
Right now in the San Diego
Unified School District, 8% of
students and their families are
going to experience
homelessness in the San Diego
Unified School District.
So it is really critical that
we give funding to the Office
of Child and Youth Success to
really help out with youth
issues because it also affects
the families that are
supporting youth here in
the city.
Thank you.
>> Thank you.
Coming up, you.
>> Good afternoon council
members.
My name is Carina Pugh.
My pronouns are she her and I
am speaking today on behalf of
the San Diego lgbt Community
Center.
I'm asking the Council today to
take bold action and vote to
pass a budget that invests in
every San Diego and especially
our most underserved
communities including the and
trans folks living in our city.
Time and time again our
community shows up to these
budget hearings to ask our
elected leaders to invest in us
the people.
Today we're asking you to do it
again to invest in our youth by
ensuring programs like
the Office of Child and Youth
Success remain funded and
accessible to the public to
invest in our lgbtq plus
community by ensuring
the Opioid Settlement Fund
allocation in the MAY revised
remains allocated to Substance
Use Disorder services for
the community to invest in What
we say makes San Diego
America's finest cities city
our arts, our culture and
the people who keep
the creative heart of San Diego
beating.
Please ensure that the city's
budget invests in the entire
San Diego community.
Thank you.
Christine Martinez.
Good afternoon.
>> I'm Christine Martinez from
Arts and Culture San Diego.
I'm here to support council
PRESIDENT Pro Tem Lee and
Budget Chair Henry Foster in
their plan to restore much of
the arts and culture budget.
Thank you to both of you and
thank you to all nine of our
City Council members who have
been so vocally supportive of
arts and culture throughout
this budget process.
We appreciate you taking
the time to listen to hundreds
of our arts and culture
community who emailed your
offices called, rallied and
gave public testimony.
It is obvious you understood
the very real risk to our
community.
We appreciate this plan to get
us through to next year as we
work toward a more sustainable
plan.
Let's keep the arts and culture
economic engine fueled and
ready to work for San Diego.
Thank you.
Bob Lehman if you can please
come forward.
Bob Lehman.
Good afternoon Council
PRESIDENT And City.
City Council Members I'm here
to thank Council PRESIDENT Pro
Tem Ken Lee and Council Member
Foster for their great plan
working together with
the Premier's Foundation to
restore much of the funding for
arts and culture and also more
importantly looking at
the collaborative efforts of
working with the county and
foundations in the future to
resolve this problem.
Going forward.
We look forward to working with
you and the mayor and
the mayor's office going
forward to make this something
that doesn't happen every year
but a plan that works great for
our entire region.
Thank you.
>> Thank you.
Michael Warburton if you can
please come forward.
>> I'd like to clarify
something for the budget team.
The county's arts funding is
going directly to artists and
not for operational support.
That's important because
the area museum we need that
operational support in shoulder
seasons.
I look at the osp funding as
payrolls right?
That gets us through the hard
times and especially now we're
still going to be dealing with
six months of hard times with
the paid parking.
So thank you in advance for
voting for this modified budget
and also to I'm really looking
forward to leaning in with
the arts community and with
city council to really figure
out a long term solution for
the arts funding.
It needs to happen.
It's been on the plan for what,
12 years now?
Something like that.
So let's finally pull
the trigger and make this thing
happen.
Thank you.
Khalid Alexander?
>> Yeah.
Hello, Counsel.
Khalid Alexander born and
raised in San Diego And ever
since this guy over here was
elected and we had a majority
Democratic Senate up here, I've
never been as ashamed to be a
San Diego and as proud to be
from District four.
Today you have a very simple
question You're going to either
vote to support and fund
the police or you're going to
support the people.
We're asking you that you
support the people.
Are you going to support
the police whose union dues go
to funding the maga agenda?
Or are you going to support
people who are targets of
the pro mega agenda?
We request that you support
the people who are begging you
to support programs that
prevent crime and that you
defund the police that continue
to perpetuate the crime that
we're talking about.
Support the people.
The police.
Invest in programs that prevent
crime, not the police who
perpetuate it.
Thank you.
Lucky Aiden.
>> Good afternoon.
Council members Lucky eating
with pana and the Trust sd
Coalition.
Over the past several weeks
you've heard directly from
community members on what
matters to us.
We asked you to invest in our
neighborhoods fund parks,
libraries, arts and youth
programs and the services to
help families thrive.
We ask you to reject harmful
technologies that
disproportionately target civil
our marginalized communities
immigrant communities,
communities of color and young
people.
Today your vote will show us
whether you are truly listening
to us.
We will.
Will you stand with San Diego?
The San Diegans who report
repeatedly called for
investment in people Or will
you ignore those voices and
move forward with policies that
cause harm?
Many of you campaigned on
standing with immigrants, youth
working families in strictly
underserved communities.
You spoke about equity
accountability and people
putting people first.
But your values are proving
that during a campaign these
are the they are proven in
moments like this.
Today is one of those moments.
The community is paying
attention.
Thank you.
Omara Yusef, you Amira, you
have a lot of time, a lot of
people sitting your time if
they can please raise their
hand.
Mused Ahmed.
Sorry means diamond.
Can you please raise your hand?
Thank you.
Mohammed Mohammed obtain to to
a mic.
Thank you.
Fatima say side.
Thank you.
You'll have five minutes.
Please proceed.
My name is Humaira Safi with
the trust as the coalition and
senior policy strategist with
Pana.
Today your vote shows where
your values lie.
Do you stand with the community
and the programs and services
we all need as San Diegans?
Or do you stand with a Georgia
based company and give those
vital funds that we need here
in San Diego to an organ to a
company that has ties with
the Trump administration?
Flock has been proven time and
time again to be ineffective
that even your own reports
demonstrate that 99.97% of hits
are completely useless.
That and I wonder what you all
think What happens when you get
hundreds of data points
Hundreds of thousands of data
points are collected on our of
our community.
Right.
Do you all think of
the immigrant community,
the lgbt communities,
the Muslim communities,
the black and brown communities
who are put in harm's way
because you all are collecting
this data.
A company that has so many
problems that is so poisonous
that 68 cities across
the country have ended their
floc contracts.
>> If you all did the right
thing here today you would not
be the first and you will
definitely not be the last city
to end the contract.
Okay This is a community.
This is a cost that is not
worth it.
It's not cost.
>> It's not worth it for
the community cost
the financial cost and
the legally liability.
More than that though, I just
want you all to understand
today is about who do you stand
with?
Councilmember Yvonne Wilber
Every time we bring this to you
you cry and you have tears and
you talk about that one police
officer that died.
I want to know what about our
community?
Are you what are the where are
the tears for our communities?
Where are the tears for our
immigrant communities who are
separated?
Where are the tears for
the Muslim community Who is
recovering from a domestic
terrorist attack on our
communities?
Where are the tears for our
children who are now because of
what happened, because of these
two teenagers that came to our
Islamic center and killed three
of our heroes?
Where is the tears for them?
Okay.
Where are the tears for our
children who are now afraid to
go outside who are bedwetting,
some of them who have gone
mute.
Okay.
Where is the tears for our
communities Because we don't
feel it.
You can say all you all want
all council members who are not
who are not understanding
the fact that this technology
was used as a tool that
actually pulled resources away
from saving our three heroes
that day.
>> I just wanted to make sure
you all understand what you are
voting for.
>> Okay.
Hmm.
>> Police relied on faulty
flock technology rather than
using common sense practices
that could have saved the lives
of our three heroes.
Stop saying that you stand with
immigrant communities and urge
the federal government to shut
down ice or to fund the state
security Because you know what?
There's a vote in front of you
right now that you can do to
work with our communities and
protect our communities.
When hpr was first being
considered in 2023, icac
specifically said don't put it
in front of our mosque because
they understood that our
communities were going to be
used and we're going to be put
in harm's way if this
technology was put in front of
our senators.
Okay.
And so we understand that
the PRESIDENT And
the administration and those
members of Congress who are
calling us all terrorists and
telling us to go back to our
country are going to use
technologies like this to
weaponize against us.
>> So there are council members
here for council members
council Pro Tem Lee, council
member Foster Council member
Sean Nila Rivera and Vivian
Marino who have a proposal in
front of you.
Please I'm asking each one of
you Council member to cover
Council member Whitburn Council
member Von Wilbur.
I don't know.
Council Member Alec Campbell
and Raul Campo We need you to
actually stand with our
communities.
We need these vital services.
Our community needs parks,
libraries.
Our children need arts to
recover from the pain that we
are feeling.
Then and we are rebuilding a
sense of safety and belonging
And we need those vital
services.
We don't need any more flack
api technology.
So please stand with them.
>> Thank you.
If I can have the following
individuals.
Thank you.
Can I have the following
individuals please come forward
to the microphone and to
the yellow reserved seats.
Patricia Serrano if you can
please come to the microphone
after That will be Lynell
Brown, Shaheed Price, Mitchell
Woodson, Mimi Hernandez.
>> These Van Huong, Amelia
Lopez and Margarita Valdes as
well as Belen Hernandez.
Can you all please come forward
to the front row?
That speech was worth a round
of applause.
Let's not do it again.
Okay.
Patricia One was worthwhile.
Sorry.
>> Patricia, please proceed.
Good afternoon.
My name is Patricia Serrano and
I work for Pilar.
I just want to say they are
good friends and community
members are hurting because of
luck.
Enable this to happen and must
be stopped and protect San
Diego.
I want to speak directly to
Miami.
You have followed my mind both
on how you are a candidate for
District 48 and now how you
stood up to Trump in voting for
Flag as a vote for Trump.
You don't understand our
communities.
You don't understand immigrant
communities.
It is enough to say that you
are anti-Trump.
It's not enough.
>> You have to act.
>> Today you have the choice to
do a stand with our communities
,our brothers and sisters, our
Muslim communities, our black
communities, our immigrant
communities.
>> Down to thank you for that.
Concluding Remarks Lynell Brown
Because I hear okay.
Shaheen Price.
Good afternoon.
Council members My community
needs investment.
It needs resources.
My community don't need
surveillance or the continuance
of overpolicing in our
communities.
Why do we continue to give as
dpd billions to harass
the black and brown peoples in
our communities?
My my community is South San
Diego District four.
Give my committee the resources
to thrive like other
communities are able to thrive
with resources Funding South
These treatment centers fund
the community and not
the police.
You know smart streetlights,
lpr drones you know these
things don't keep us safe.
You know I heard of a lot of
people come up here talking
about taking a police and
the guy over there about how to
keep us safe But we know what
really keep communities safe
and invest in our communities.
>> Michelle Wilson good
afternoon.
And Charlie Woods said I'm
the legal director of Pillars
of the Community.
>> I have one minute one minute
to tell you all the data about
alpa and its law technology.
I have one minute to share
stories after stories about
community members who have been
harassed by the police.
I can do that.
But one minute isn't enough.
>> We've spent hours at city
council telling you exactly
that giving you the data,
giving you the community
experiences.
And that's not enough.
>> But one message is
resoundingly clear Our
communities do not trust
the police.
They do not prevent crime.
Instead they enforce
harassment, discrimination and
racism on our community
members.
I see it every single day.
And this budget is a message of
your values.
So are you deciding to continue
to fund that harassment,
discrimination and racism or
are you deciding to fund
prevention of crime by funding
our communities?
>> That's on you.
Mimi Hernandez Hernandez What's
up City members We don't need a
lpr We need c o m m you and I t
y.
And we need you to do the right
thing by getting behind our
people.
For those of you who are left
to vote, we're going to tell
you now do not vote yes on that
system.
Yesterday four young four young
including a minor black boys
were pulled over and 30 cop
cars for four young black boys
just for them to go to jail for
something that they weren't
even involved in or didn't do.
It took us the community c o m
m and I t y community.
It took us to come and save
those young black boys Not no
system.
So we say it again and again
and again Put the money where
it belongs, put it in the right
resources.
Allow us to do what we do.
The community Think about it.
They can take that way up north
somewhere But what we see in
southeast San Diego District
49821 whatever we don't see it
nowhere else.
>> Thank you for that
concluding sentence.
Leila Aziz Council PRESIDENT
Not going waste my time on
the others.
We know that they're not with
us.
We got one about to run against
a Republican as a moderate
Republican and I don't know how
that's going to turn out.
LaCava You are going to give
the San Diego Police Department
technology when they are filing
all complaints and oversight
and miscellaneous.
Why would you not ensure that
Measure a is fully implemented
And there's good oversight,
strong strategic oversight
without giving them some power
that they've already
demonstrated?
If they have it they'll do it
what they want with it.
One time I saw Marty ask him
Are you going to do the right
thing?
And they said yes.
It was like a cartoon.
We have the structure get
the cbp get oversight together
and then you can have these
other conversations But
everything else you're doing
harm.
>> Thank you, Van Horn.
I know Brown's here and Brown
is here His did I call his
speakers in Our group is before
me here.
I said he wasn't here.
Oh please come forward.
Can you go to the microphone
over there?
Oh, hello.
Oh hi.
City council and mayor and
everybody I'd like to thank you
for allowing that money to come
back in case it comes back.
If it comes back, you know, we
appreciate it.
You know we've been doing a lot
of work in this community and
you can see by the vote turnout
you know, we had a bunch of
parties vote to party.
We knocked on doors and we got
everybody to come out and vote
for this district so that we
could see if the change could
be made.
And we tried to from one color
to another and that's thanks to
the work that we do in
the community, you know, and we
have the power to change things
.
So and we showed it by going
out there and having people
vote.
So the change that we need to
make is within us But it's
because of you guys so we need
you guys to help us make a
difference by, you know, a fair
invested in our community.
Give me a hand.
You know the drop centers we
here we fight.
We got a feisty woman right
here.
>> Thank you for that
concluding sentence.
Van Horn.
I can have the following
individuals please come forward
to the microphone and then to
the other reserved seats Van
Juan Amelia Lopez.
Margarita Valdez.
Belen Hernandez Paloma Quote
The Victor Ponce de Caleb
Flores, Ashley Leyva and Ramos
Noah you work and Janica
Falkner if you can all come
forward as well as Patricia
Mondragon Van Huang if you can
please come to the microphone.
>> We're a group Which group
What's the name?
>> Okay.
You'll be managing your own
time then because there's no
checkbox checked Is it from Van
Wang all the way to I don't got
a Victor went to okay to Victor
that six please proceed.
>> Hello council members again
I'm here as a youth organizer
with Mid-City Kan and a
homeowner in City Heights.
I want to thank you all for
the restorations to
the libraries park and rec
centers in d 48 and the nine I
am here asking you to keep this
restorations in the final
budget that you vote for today
and to fully restore the hours
for our parks and rec centers.
These spaces are especially
useful to have for our youth
during the summer.
Ed is a space to foster
community like the parks after
dark events that we see
the activities offered
throughout these spaces help
our youth have healthy outlets
and the libraries provide a
designated cooling zone during
the hot summer days when
streets when heat strokes
become a concern.
Our hope is that we continue to
have parks that are open where
we can hear laughter, smell
food from gatherings, see
diverse spaces, feel the metal
of the slides and taste letters
from the palette that'll again
please fully restore the hours
for libraries Park and rec
centers and thank you for what
you have been able to restore
so far.
Hello City COUNCILMAN Inspector
Ponti and the organizer of
Mid-City can where I've had
the pleasure working with our
youth council since 2018.
Since then many of them have
grown up and I'm happy to say
that they're all doing well So
have continued their
involvement committee work and
now actually going back a trip
contributed to their community
in their own ways.
They are just a handful of
examples So it's possible when
you invest in youth and set up
them to succeed that
achievements demonstrate
the incredible potential of
young people when given
opportunities and support And I
believe their ongoing
contributions will continue to
positively impact our community
for years to come.
However, I believe the city
offering to support and
contribute them and contribute
to them by successfully
restoring that by fully
restoring the proposed cuts to
the Office of Child and Success
Centers children Our youth and
youth deserve more than
symbolic support.
There's a visible permanent and
adequately funded office that
can coordinate services,
leverage additional funding and
ensure their their needs remain
at the center of city policy.
We just got a chance to go last
week with our youth to
the event that they hosted in
those beautiful I see so many
youth there in the space just
being able to gather once they
amongst each other have been
able to connect, being able to
see the different resources
that are available to them in
the city And this isn't
possible without that office
putting that together and
coordinating that I know that
there's funding is limited so I
would recommend cutting
the proposed block funding
that's going there.
We've seen that only harming
our communities.
We wanted to ensure that we can
distribute the money from there
to the youth instead.
Thank you.
>> Okay We are grateful for
the restoration and to parks
that my colleague Paloma
already mentioned but we are
also still disappointed and sad
by the remaining cuts to
the Parks Department
specifically three positions
which are to park designers
which each cost 170,000 per
position with overhead and
the assistant deputy director
Parks infrastructure and assets
220 k per year The park
designers are part of the asset
management team led by Deputy
Director Michelle Obama, Sean
They play a vital role in
the delivery of minor capital
projects in-house design in
project completion in a shorter
amount of time and less cost by
eliminate these positions you
are effectively outsourcing
their jobs to consult and
contracts which are
significantly more expensive
and take much longer.
For example on Wall Street Park
Playground Improvement 95 k
Parks and Rec cost in lieu of
acp Playground improvement cost
of 3 million ib scripts
Sidewalk widening 290 k Parks
and rec costs in lieu of acp
estimated cost of 3.2 million
The Parks Asset Management team
works so effectively with
the community and nonprofits
that they produce high quality
park designs in do it as a
front at a fraction of the cost
that acp does it That's how we
got Henwood Park done for
the first two years This team
oversees 1.2 billion worth of
capital projects with the acp
Department in over 30 million
of privately delivered parks
and amenities.
They also manage and oversee
134 million grant funds outside
funding coming into the city
for Parks and Rec The moment
you approved this budget today
you just made repairs more
expensive on less.
Unless you restore these
positions I ask you to at least
restore the Deputy director to
keep the asset management team
operational.
Please pick up your pen so that
you can write this down and add
it to the budget 220 k to
restore the Assistant Deputy
Director of Parks
Infrastructure and Assets Can
you do this for our youth in
our parks?
Thank you.
I don't have a script or notes
so I'm just going um this
the first time I heard about
these cameras which is where
because they're going to record
every single every single
citizen's of San Diego or
wherever and we should every
single one of us should know
that we are being recorded and
every single one of us should
know that we there are votes
going without us knowing
because we are a member of this
community and we deserve to
know and it should be
everywhere.
Everyone should have.
These are information.
It should be on billboards.
People should if they know
there would be lines and lines
and lines of people go in here
And that's all I have for you.
>> Happy Friday.
Thank you.
Kaley Flores, if you can please
come forward to
the microphones.
>> After that we'll have Ashley
Leyva and a Ramos Noah, Jenny
Faulkner, Patricia Mondragon
And instead of available you
can all please come up to
the yellow reserved seats.
>> Kaley, please proceed.
Hello council members.
My name is Katie Flores and I'm
here with Ace and the Community
Budget Lions.
So firstly thank you for
starting to show support
towards the youth of San Diego
by starting the restoration of
the parks and starting the fund
the youth and arts But I'm also
here to plead with you all to
do more.
Not only should San Diego be
focusing more on funding our
youth, giving them resources
and opportunities to grow but
that includes providing funding
towards places where they can
feel safe Libraries, community
resource centers Majority of
the proposed budget is
allocated to public safety or I
should say a version of public
safety.
Definitely not my version
because my version of public
safety is being able to walk
the streets without fear of ice
attacks to the people in our
communities.
The data tracking the mass
surveillance and stalking I'm
pleading with you to cancel
your contract with Block
allocate those funds and
resources to the youth instead.
Thank you.
>> Ashley Leyva.
>> Good afternoon City Council
members.
My name is Ashley Labor and I
live in District eight.
I am a member of ace and a
member of the Community Budget
Alliance.
I am here as a concerned
community member and educator.
The arts It's incredibly,
incredibly important to me and
many other committee members
because of the immense positive
impact it has on
the development of children.
I don't oh I know I don't have
to explain the benefits that
the arts and other youth
programs have in a community
but the disadvantage of block
and the flawed police
department present presence is
concerning especially when
the already target art
disenfranchized youth and
communities funding floc will
be a failure on your part.
I urge you to not fund floc and
instead invest in
the well-being and future of
our children and communities.
Thank you.
And I'm Ramos.
>> Hello council members.
My name is and Ramos.
I'm a community organizer with
a's and a member of
the Committee on Budget Lines.
I want to start off by thanking
you for restoring the funding
for arts and culture like
genuinely these are the city
resources actually keep our
community safe because it
allows for people to build a
genuine sense of community with
each other instead of fostering
a growing isolation and hate
that leads to the violence
around us.
But it is the bare minimum And
what we also need is to cancel
the contract with the block
This company has already
violated public trust by
sharing our private data so why
should we keep throwing away
millions of tax dollars to fund
a violent mass surveillance
technology that targets working
class people?
>> And also this budget deficit
will continue until we hold
corporations like Flagg
accountable who are profiting
and weaponizing their
technology against us and
corporations like core civic
accountable who keep
dehumanized immigrants and are
continually allowed to profit
off of violence and
exploitations of human beings.
>> Thank you.
Thank you.
No Hayek.
>> Good afternoon Council
members.
My name is No I'm a researcher
with the Center on Policy
Initiatives and a member of
the Community Budget Alliance.
How many stories does it take
for you to see, listen and
value someone?
Hundreds of San Diegans have
told you their stories this
year sometimes about the joy
they find through parks,
libraries and arts sometimes
about the challenges they face
as young people in this city
with dwindling support
sometimes about the sorrow and
anxiety of flooding every time
it rains always about what they
need from this city to thrive.
Our communities have made it
clear that more criminalization
and surveillance do not keep us
safe or help us thrive.
What I'm asking you to do is
your job.
Listen to San Diegans not to
corporations money or your next
political ambition.
Listen to San Diegans.
Value our experiences and
invest in us.
Cancel the contract fund Youth
Success Libraries, Parks and
Rec the stormwater department
and install the pedestrian
beacon near Rosa Parks
Elementary.
>> San Diegans have told you
what they need to thrive.
Now show us you've been
listening.
>> Thank you, Jenny Co-Founder
Jenny you have time ceded to
you by Chris Kennison If you
can please raise his hand as
well as it's my order.
Thank you.
You'll have three minutes.
Please proceed when ready.
How come I met you too?
Anyway, I am Janika Addie for
resident with a lie in San
Diego and a member of
the Community Budget Alliance.
We all know San Diego is prone
to floods especially in black,
brown and low income
communities.
We did the work to prove our
communities are asking for
prevention of any future
disasters.
We stand here more than two
years later on the fence about
about providing preventative
funding in communities we have
seen historically underfunded,
undervalued and overpoliced.
What are we saying to
communities that had to swim
through sewage to rescue their
neighbors And after the city
had been warned numerous times
and those those warnings were
ignored?
The warnings came from
the storm water department,
the aba and many other city
officials is cutting stormwater
funding how you honor and
uplift human dignity of those
flood survivors.
We cannot continue to run
the city as we have.
Council members It's your most
important job is to listen to
your constituents.
Only four of you have heard our
calls and have finally stood
with us.
Thank you.
Ella Rivera, Foster Lee and
Moreno for calling out what has
been in front of us for so
long.
We are wasting $2 million
annually to fuel ineffective
and overpriced technology that
solves less than 1% of crimes.
Instead of thinking through
real solutions that will bring
back resources and trust into
our communities to the rest of
you especially those of you who
are running for other seats and
that are up for reelection We
remember we will remember this
when we go to vote.
Instead of funding rec centers,
libraries and parks, you have
sat through hours of public
comment and ignored us.
You have an opportunity today
to do the right thing.
We are living through history
and the city of San Diego has
the opportunity to take
the lead in the state of
California and the rest of
the country.
Today you can follow the aba's
recommendations to reject
surveillance dollars in our
city budget and say no to
the big corporations that are
targeting our communities and
further damaging our city.
We need bold ideas and real
investments in our people, not
punishment.
Please act now and uplift
the people's budget and modify
the budget to reflect
the people's true needs.
And with that we will again do
a moment of silence for
the flood survivors
.
>> Patricia Madrigal.
>> After Patricia will be in
Cervello Beth Givens.
Claire Snyder.
Juan Cordero.
Cristina Garibay Taylor.
Maria Lorena Garcia.
Franco de Mayo.
And Ian Embry.
If you can all please come up
to the front row now Patricia
you have time ceded to you by
Olivia Castillo.
>> Thank you.
You'll have two minutes.
Please proceed.
Good afternoon.
Council members Patricia
Mondragon with Alliance San
Diego, a member of
the Community Budget Alliance
Trustee Coalition and the San
Diego Immigrant Rights
Consortium.
We are our District three
residents.
As you finalize this budget, we
urge you to invest in
the programs that protect human
rights and make our communities
stronger.
San Diego and have been clear
about what creates safety
stable housing, youth programs
,libraries, arts and cultural
services, homelessness
prevention and infrastructure
that protects families from
flooding and climate disasters.
Yet this budget underfund many
of those priorities while
continuing to invest in
policing and surveillance
technologies like Floc Alper.
>> Just a few minutes ago
Congress voted to add $70
billion for ice and Border
Patrol.
All of you expressed anger
after the Denver for cat ice
raid.
Today you can do something
about it by ending the pilot
contract.
>> We ask you to to to reject
the false choice between public
safety and community
investment.
Real safety comes from
preventing homelessness,
supporting young people,
keeping families housed and
ensuring neighborhoods have
the infrastructure they need to
withstand future disasters.
>> That means restoring funding
for community service and
the full $100 million for
stormwater infrastructure.
>> I want to end by saying my
niece is here with me today.
>> She's a rising sophomore in
high school at Senior Unified
School District.
This is her first city council
meeting.
She's not ready to speak yet
but she's watching.
She's watching to see what her
future is.
She's watching you guys to see
if you're going to invest in
her future or in more
surveillance.
I hope you choose people over
technology communities over
monitoring and adopt about a
budget that gives the next
generation a city where they
can thrive.
Thank you for that concluding
comment and Cervello.
>> Good afternoon everyone.
My name is Ian Sidwell.
I am a member of the Asia
Pacific American Labor Alliance
and I'm also the chairperson of
the San Diego Immigrant Rights
Consortium.
I am a practicing immigration
attorney that defends many of
our community members from
deportation every day I
interact with immigrant
families who are suffering from
this cruel mass deportation
policies of this administration
For over a year now the racist
Trump administration has
violently separated families,
kidnaped community members
surveilled and racially
profiled black and brown
communities, denied due process
and violated human rights of
our community members.
Now while the federal
government is intending to
intensify its attack of our
communities, is the city of San
Diego going to give them more
tools to conduct mass
surveillance on us in the city
of San Diego willing to be
complicit in these attacks
against communities of color?
You have a choice and I implore
you to invest in our
communities.
Thank you so much.
>> Thank you.
Beth Givens.
>> Yeah.
I urge you to cancel the flock
Ale pr contract to nearly 70
cities have done so including
seven in California primarily
for violating city data sharing
rules, inaccurate data and
residents objections to
warrantless surveillance.
A San Diego man was wrongfully
jailed for several weeks for a
violent crime he did not commit
because of erroneous data he's
likely to sue.
Such errors have occurred
elsewhere across the nation.
Further, the police department
kept one here captain here who
pushed hard for flock was hired
by flock upon retirement.
That is shady to say the least.
Flux technology is flawed and
its leadership has thumbed its
nose at city's rules by sharing
data with federal law
enforcement in violation of
local laws.
The fbi is now seeking real
time access to Alper data
nationwide According to recent
news reports.
The money spent on Floc 2
million a year could well be
allocated elsewhere.
>> Libraries.
Rec centers.
Thank you.
Including sentence we have
clear Snyder.
Next is a group that will be
sharing time but if they can
please raise their hand even if
they will be speaking so that I
can put that time on the clock
and I understand you have a
PowerPoint as well.
Claire Snyder Liliana So Diana,
please raise your hand.
>> Alex Castillo Please raise
your hand.
>> We are going to la To la.
Please raise your hand.
C.J. Mendoza Please raise your
hand.
Olivia Davis, Tristan Carmen
and Christian accent.
Thank you.
You'll have nine minutes.
Please proceed.
Hello.
Budget Review Committee and
counsel continuously During
these past few months you have
heard from each of us on
the importance and on
the importance of investing in
youth through Aussie whilst at
youth level We believe that
every young person should have
everything that they need to be
happy, healthy and reach their
full potential.
One way of ensuring that vision
is by having committed staff at
the city of San Diego dedicated
to driving critical investments
in child care accessibility,
youth leadership and family
support systems.
Everything mentioned above is
what Aussie Wales accomplishes
and more as outlined in its
specific goals in the Child and
Youth Plan which was recently
unanimously adopted by council
last year.
Aussie Why I got pushed into
the library department to save
money while also stripping away
its autonomy to actually have
effective interdepartmental
communication and
collaborations that persist.
Positionality this year
translated into a hasty
decision at the Mayor's office
office which was eliminating
Ozawa as completely.
Currently we know six council
members support
the preservation of Aussie
wires and we thank you for it
because today's fight is ensure
that the office doesn't
disappear.
Children and youth should also
be a commitment for
the remaining council members
and I'll pass it over to Claire
.
>> Last week the Office of
Child.
Sorry.
Next slide please.
>> Last week the Office of
Child and Youth success proved
exactly why they are vital to
our city.
They hosted the first citywide
Youth Summit above Balboa Park
bringing together over 200
young people and dozens of
community partners including us
youth.
Well our time to act The lgbt
Center Reality Changers San
Diego Public Library and San
Diego promise known as Core
Planning Partners.
Next slide please.
This wasn't just another event.
It was entirely youth centered
and had youth at the forefront
of planning and execution.
Featuring youth led workshops
rooted in the city's Child and
Youth plan and art activities
facilitated by the San Diego
Creative Youth Development
Network.
O.C. Is something rare and
essential.
They broke down silos and
convened a massive diverse
coalition across multiple
sectors to lift up our young
people.
Next slide please.
This is exactly what O.C. Weiss
was created to do and it's what
they do best.
We need them funded, supported
and sustained so they can
continue doing this crucial
work alongside and for San
Diego's youth.
This is what we're talking
about when we're talking about
community safety.
>> We're not talking about
the alba.
We're talking about this youth
joy youth resource is.
>> And I'll pass it to Alex to
talk more about her experience
at the youth summit.
>> All right.
Good afternoon, council
members.
My name is Alex Castillo.
I'm a District eight
constituent here.
Last week I was very fortunate
to attend the O.C. Youth
Council an event filled with
activity booths free
professional headshots,
resource tables, breakout rooms
and of course the opportunity
to connect with potential
employers and connect with
fellow youth.
I went with my sister last week
and we both came out better
than when we came in.
My sister who has been away
from home for four years going
to college came back and
learned about resources old and
new such as internships with
the sd Parks and Rec department
and support from organizations
such as Saluda.
She feels especially confident
after the networking
opportunities she had with
the teen clinic as she is
looking for research
opportunities as a psych grad.
>> I mean I was very content to
connect with folks my age
access resources and I'm very
happy that I won a raffle to
the San Diego Plunge Pool and
the Youth Summit was such a
great event.
And it could have been
the last.
So don't get me wrong we're
very grateful for the support
but we need to keep supporting
.
>> Okay, So can we have
the next slide please?
One more.
>> One more please.
And thank you Alex for sharing
your story.
Without this office we can't
support young people like Alex
.
But on this last slide we did
want to highlight the partners
across different organized
groups that stood with us to
support the Office of Child
Abuse Success That includes
community based organizations,
service providers, labor and
education groups.
We need a fully functioning
autonomous office that is also
fully funded.
Next year we will have to come
back and continue the fight.
If City little leadership is
unable to figure out how this
office can be sustained.
Throughout these past few
months of community engagement
in this budget cycle we have
also suggested the cancellation
of the you because contract
which is $2 million that money
would be better spent directly
into the community instead of
going into the pockets of a
wealthy corporation or see why
this is non-negotiable viable.
There is no city department or
program that supports youth
the same way.
This office aims to I as a
Iliana Soriano want to be clear
that when Mayor Todd Gloria
tries to justify making this
cut because we have a state
funded program that is
literally not the same we
cannot compare compare apples
and oranges especially because
the employee in and power
program that I went to mainly
exposes careers in public
service and is limited to youth
who are required to be enrolled
in academic or technical
school.
Osiris on the other hand, is
committed to our youth
specifically vulnerable
populations such as opportunity
youth who are both disconnected
from education and workforce
opportunity should be for all.
Likewise, if the Council
adopted the and supported a
plan to support children and
youth then today must you must
put that symbolic gesture into
action and ensure that
investments in youth are
permanent by funding the office
of child and you success.
Thank you.
We're done.
Thank you so much.
If I can have one Cordero,
please come forward.
Juan, I know you have a
PowerPoint as well and you have
people seating you time they
can please raise their hand.
Cristina Garibay Taylor is on
speaker.
I'm on speaker Speaker He is
sitting.
We're in the same group.
Okay.
>> But you guys will all be
sharing time together.
Uh, so you'll have three
minutes on the clock and you
guys can speak or else I give
you one minute each and
the thing will ding and then
the next speaker comes up.
>> So that's better.
But if we can Well no, no, no.
Let's keep it separate.
Okay.
So Juan Cordero, will you need
the PowerPoint?
Okay, We'll put the PowerPoint
up.
You'll have your minute and it
will ding.
Oh, I think there's these paper
clips kind of start clipping
together And so that's what
happened.
My apologies, but when there's
your PowerPoint, please
proceed.
>> I'm here regarding
the Granger and Obi Street
conditions I have pictures
slides to share.
They're just going to continue
running.
My mother lives in Granger
Street for over 40 years.
She's 92 years old.
I used to live there and i
still take physical care of my
mother.
Exercise is important for her
health.
She has a walker and tries to
walk.
There are no sidewalks and
the unevenness of the street
because of the potholes.
It's difficult and could be
hard for her.
When I drove my mom with broken
ribs trying to MISS
The potholes was inedible.
No matter how slow I drove
the jog will cause pain to my
mother.
I know there are city
governments tries to do their
best with what they have by.
But I also know of streets
There are planned to be
resurfaced.
They are not as damage as our
own streets.
This is my way to bring
attention to this.
Thank you for that concluding
comment.
Christina And you have time to
you by James Gale.
There's no baby or no age
limits here.
>> You have two minutes.
Please proceed.
We'll get the next PowerPoint
up Now.
Thank you for your patience.
There you go.
Please proceed.
My name is Christine Lagarde.
Right.
Taylor.
I am here to request for
resurfacing of the 1000 block
Granger Street and 1400 Block
Illinois Avenue.
The presentation illustrates
deteriorating conditions of
these roads.
Next slide.
>> Here is the current list of
upcoming city led street
resurfacing and overlay
projects for Southern San
Diego.
Granger and Ebola are not
included.
>> Next slide.
Number three in this example
Will House Drive is currently
in good condition with a pcr
score of 86 from its 2023
evaluation.
It received maintenance in 2018
and it's scheduled for
additional maintenance in 2027.
Next slide.
Look at Granger Street in 2016
Granger Street received a score
of eight placing it in failed
category.
By 2023 its high score had
improved slightly to 17 which
still falls within the serious
condition range.
City records indicate that
Granger's last major
maintenance was in 1990 1998 30
years ago.
These data points suggest that
Granger has not been
prioritized for roadway
improvements.
Granger is not currently
scheduled for resurfacing in
2027 despite its poor condition
.
Slide six please.
In the last 365 days zero
reports were made for potholes
along will house Drive while 15
plus reports were submitted for
Granger Street.
Explain to me how is this
possible?
Whoever is making this
decisions has demonstrated a
remarkable level of
incompetence.
My neighbors and I attended
various local community
planning group meetings to
raise awareness and ask for
help.
On MARCH 26th the board sent a
formal letter to the mayor's
office and Transportation
Department.
And no action has been taken.
How is it possible that
the Transportation Department
will choose to prioritize a
street like Wheelhouse Drive
whose in great condition and
which receives zero requests
for street maintenance and has
completely ignored Granger
Street?
>> Thank you.
>> Thank you, Maria Lorena
Garcia.
I Lorena Garcia and I am a
homeowner on Elbow Avenue.
I'm here to act the city to
pave our street during
the heavy rain in 2021 our cul
de sac flooded badly because
our street is made up loose
gravel and has many potholes.
Dirt rock and debris wash down
the street and clogged
the sewer.
The flooding was so severe that
it looked like a river running
through my property.
Mud and rock ended up in my
pool in my driveway causing
damages and requiring extensive
cleanup.
We at a we pay our property
taxes every year as we pay late
we are charged penalty.
We do our part at the taxpayer
and we believe our neighborhood
deserve basic infrastructure
improvement including a
properly properly paved street.
>> Thank you.
Thank you Franco Demayo.
If I can have the following
people please come up to
the yellow reserved seats in
Embry Aria Grossman Mark
Frederick and Satomi or Jake e
as making their Brock Corvet
Melody core villain Joshua Dunn
and Manuel Enriquez If you can
all please come forward to
the front row.
You'll have one minute.
>> Please proceed.
We never voted for this as
surveillance state.
The people have a voice you
best appreciate because Uncle
Sam is a scam and he ain't even
a man.
You think we don't know what
your plan is?
Agenda 2030 is a no go so just
chill.
Y'all better back the people
yolo for reals.
Get the plaque out.
Get the out.
Get the out Get the out Get
the floor Count Get the out.
Get the out.
Creepy old men I will go south
Turned into a peeping tom
trying as fast as he can but he
don't know right from wrong So
we say Get the out Get the
out Get the out and get the
out Get the out.
Get the out.
>> Thank you for the musical
reprieve And Embry, if you can
please come forward in red.
I did not bring my guitar but
I'll still go back.
Good afternoon, City Council.
My name is Ian Henry and I'm
the advocacy and community
manager for the San Diego
County Bicycle Coalition.
I'm here today to urge you to
pass a budget with funding for
the multi-modal team.
In the past this Council has
embraced the mission of Safer
Streets.
You've adopted vision Zero
Affirm Safety as the highest
transportation related priority
Pass the Complete Streets
policy and approve the Climate
Action Plan.
Now we need you to fund
the multimodal team.
We will not achieve our Vision
Zero and climate goals by
treating traffic safety or
something.
We need million dollar sips or
state funded grants to pursue.
It must be interwoven into
the regular work of
the Transportation Department
making improvements every time
we touch a street.
That is what the multimodal
team does.
Eliminating this team would be
a mistake that would take years
to recover from.
With a tiny portion of armory
funding we can enable this team
to continue their work and
making our streets safer and
more livable.
>> Thank you for your time Aria
Grossman.
>> Good afternoon.
My name is Aria Grossman.
I'm the policy manager at
Circulate Planning and Policy
and I'm here one final time to
urge you to fund the multimodal
team in the final budget.
These positions that I'm asking
you to retain are engineers
dedicated to making our streets
safer and preventing future
crashes.
If we want less traffic deaths
we cannot continue to be a city
of people that are only
supportive of safety
improvements when tragedy has
already struck.
We have to invest in
preventative measures if we
want to ensure that the ride to
school or the walk to the bus
stop is safe.
That is what this team does and
quite literally the cheapest
and most efficient way possible
.
Thankfully we have the tools to
preserve this core city
function without touching
the general fund.
I urge all of you to support
funding for the multimodal team
using Armory dollars.
Thank you again to
Councilmembers Campo Whitburn
and LaCava who have been
repeatedly vocally supportive
of this action.
At the end of the day making
sure our roads are safe for
drivers, pedestrians and
cyclists is a basic core
responsibility of the city.
And please maintain those core
services.
>> Thank you.
Mark Frederick if you can
please come forward.
Thanks and good afternoon.
I'm Mark Frederick.
I'm the program manager for
real estate dispositions for
the city of San Diego at least
for the next three weeks.
I'm one of the program managers
whose position is set to be cut
from the f y 27 budget.
I'm speaking today as a private
citizen and I'm not here to try
to save my job.
However, I would like to put at
least one face in name to
the impending layoffs and offer
a few thoughts on the impacts
of the cuts.
I've been the program manager
for real estate dispositions
for three years.
I came to the city to help
after working as a commercial
real estate broker here in town
for 20 years.
My primary function at the city
has been to negotiate and
manage the sale of surplus city
owned property in accordance
with the State Surplus Land Act
primarily for the development
of Affordable housing and to
provide new sources of income
to help offset the city's
budget shortfalls.
This work will continue after I
leave the city but I can tell
you based on my experience that
the quality, quantity and
efficiency of these
transactions will go down after
my position is cut.
Thank you for listening.
It's been nice working with you
and a pleasure serving the city
.
>> I sincerely wish you all
good luck.
Thank you for that concluding
remark and setting me back and
have the following individuals
Please come up to the yellow
reserved seats as Mike Quintero
brought Cavite Melody Kavalan,
Joshua Don Manuel and Riechers.
It really helps if you come up
to those yellow reserved seats.
Please proceed.
Hi my name is instead of Magic
Estrada.
Estrada with the San Diego
Building and Construction
Trades Council.
Here today I ask you all to
pull money out of flock.
I only have a minute so keep it
quick.
We're out here pushing
apprenticeships into
communities.
We do so because we understand
that when folks have access to
opportunity to jobs they will
have better outcomes in their
life.
When we pull this money from a
program that nobody has trust
in and put it into something
like the Office of Youth and
Child Success.
We know that we will all
benefit from the outcomes of
that cause symptom.
Everybody wants to go after
the symptoms because it's
better in the in the headlines.
It makes us all feel good but
the causes is what we really
need to tackle.
And that's not what we're doing
with this.
So please pull this money out.
Put it in the Office of Youth
and Child Success and help us
build some trust in our city.
Thank you.
As making federal how Council
Members My name is Beryl and
I'm a resident of the for you
so Hi Steven I'm a community
organizer in the community and
a member of a community budget
alliance.
Austerity is a choice much like
how the city has a choice and
its last opportunity to uphold
its values through our budget.
I want to thank those of you
who have already fought to
restore cuts to the arts of us
in our various tba priorities.
But I also want to heed
the warning that you have
repeatedly heard from our
constituencies.
But the alpa contract does not
work from them.
I know you've heard from me
mind Granny but they MAY like
it.
But frankly what we do know
about Flock is that it was used
to hunt down a woman in Texas
who thought abortion care.
But it's been used to hunt down
migrants.
And how much longer until it's
used against us Against your
and trans community who have
already been labeled as
domestic terrorists by our
federal government, Save our
Kids Fund our growth fund
the city and keep it going.
Thank you, Brooke.
Please come forward.
>> Good afternoon, City council
members.
My name is brought Cabinet.
I am a resident of District six
and work in District three.
I urge you to approve
the budget proposed today by
the aba and commend the public
private proposal announced last
Friday by Council PRESIDENT Pro
Tem Lee and Council Member
Foster.
This proposal is an important
step toward ensuring the arts
and culture organizations have
the resources necessary to
continue serving our
communities and advancing their
missions.
Like many organizations San
Diego Pride I work for San
Diego Pride Happy Pride has
already made difficult
decisions to reduce programing
in response to declining
funding opportunities rising
city costs for public safety
and event permitting and
increased security needs Amid a
troubling rise in anti lgbt
violence organizations should
not be forced to cut community
programing in order to afford
the security needed to keep our
community safe.
The magnitude of the proposed
budget before it was well
beyond what most organizations
could afford or planned for.
In contrast to this alternative
budget would restore funding to
a level that allows orgs to
adapt responsibly while
continuing to serve the public.
>> We urge you to restore these
funds.
Thank you, Melanie If you can
please come forward.
Melody Corella Okay.
>> Thank you Joshua Done
neither.
Joshua You said I do have to
say for the record making sure
Manuel and Ricky's but I
appreciate you're telling me.
Hello.
My name is on the case.
I am with the Center on Policy
Initiatives.
I am born here and born and
raised here in San Diego And
growing up for myself I want to
say that I've seen the city you
know, change so much.
One of the big things that for
me has been great has been
seeing youth programs flourish.
You know, from the time when I
was a child to now that I've
been organizing in
the community, we need more
youth programs, more
opportunities for leadership.
We appreciate some of
the restoration spending that
have been done but I'm here to
advocate that You know, I hope
that you all as our
representatives for San Diego
and to do what's best for San
Diegans and say hey, we don't
need to prioritize cameras and
machines over people over youth
These are people who are losing
their job youth who are losing
opportunities.
So I come here to, you know,
advocate for you all to please
represent us and say let's
cancel the whole block contract
and save $2 million and put
that back into our communities.
>> Thank you, Grace Professor
Jimenez.
After that will be Christian
Fuentes, Jean Turgeon, if you
can please come forward.
>> Please proceed.
How come?
My name is Grace Victoria
Rojas, M.A..
My parents are c they aged and
I am a member of cpi Center on
Policy Initiatives as a student
for economic justice and also
as Alliance of Californians for
Community Empowerment.
>> I'm here to demand that we
cancel Floc right here right
now because 2 million of that
needs to go to the community
and you're telling us no
because for safety.
>> But Floc is funded by a
billionaire and you're giving
those funds to him and also
he's Peter Thiel which is also
a Zionist.
>> Also on the Epstein files.
So what are your values?
Are you and the values of
the billionaires?
Are you in the values of
the people?
>> Because we don't feel that
50.
And as a person you're talking
about like crimes Well fund
education fund things that will
help the community not create
crime.
>> And I don't give my tax
dollars for funding.
Thank you for that concluding
comment.
Your time has concluded.
Christian Fuentes, Christian
Fuentes, are you here?
Well, thank you.
Well, hi everyone.
Thank you so much for
the opportunity to be here.
I want I'm going to be very
quick.
I think something that is very
important to me is the youth
services.
So if you could please, please,
please prioritize Office of
the Youth Services.
Right now I know it's not a
good time economically for
people but I feel like you is
one of them that has been hit
the most especially
unemployment especially for
those that have graduated from
college recently.
It's very bad right now.
So please consider funding
the youth services And if you
can remove the money from
the youth services that will be
held.
>> I live in District eight so
yeah.
Thank you so much.
Bye Jean.
So tired that are you doing?
Are you here not Daniel
Cleveland Clinic?
No that's about climbing Get
Daniel Ellis.
Dingman Grant Guthrie.
Leonard Alberto Vera Maria
Cortez.
Isabel Kay.
Please come up to the yellow
reserved seats.
>> John Brady.
Jillian Quint or any of you
Jean?
>> No Jean Going once?
No Jean Warren Joyce Daniel and
maybe Daniel Caleb I am jt No
Daniel left Dingman.
Please come up to
the microphone.
You have people seating your
time.
Sasha LaVar, please raise your
hand And Megan Day please raise
your hand.
No Megan Day We'll start with
the two minutes of Megan Day is
in the overflow.
>> Please come in and raise
your hand and I'll add that
minute.
You'll have two minutes for now
please proceed.
>> Hey, my name is Alice.
I'm from District two.
Now about a year ago my
neighbor's car was entirely
destroyed in a flood that could
have been prevented.
It did not happen because there
was unexpected weather.
It happened because the nearest
storm drain was a block and a
half away and completely
overloaded That neighbor needed
storm water front deck.
>> There was a picture that I
saw growing on the San Diego
River bike path.
Now for those who don't know a
Decorah is a plant that is
extremely poisonous including
to touch the people who go on
that path to walk.
>> Need our parks funded so
that could be removed.
I got here by bus and by
walking I did the multi-modal
safety team that makes sure
that I don't get hit by a car
when I cross the street
the police want to block.
>> People here need so many
things and none of them are
cameras.
We at the end of the day even
putting aside all my personal
concerns with what flock is a
machine you are deciding
whether to find a machine or
whether to fund the people that
live here and need your help.
>> Thank you for your time.
That's all you're done.
Three letter Hello Honorable
Council PRESIDENT Council
Members Thank you for making
street safety a priority this
year through speed reductions
and community plan updates.
I've seen your commitment but I
really can't understand how
staff expects existing work to
be completed by anyone except a
fully funded multimodal team.
Would this Council represent
its constituents and function
as intended with half or none
of its members?
I put a lot of effort into
getting the College Area
community plan passed with Safe
Streets initiatives specific
civically on managing the road
a quarter of the I have nearly
been hit on by cars multiple
times and I don't see how I
could feel safe on Montezuma
without the work that
the multimodal team does.
Please use those armory funds
and fully staffed multimodal
team this year.
Thank you Gilbert Olvera or
Hill whatever.
>> Thank you and good afternoon
Council PRESIDENT Council
Members My name is Gilbert.
I'm with the Legal Aid
Society's Inigo Legality is a
recipe for the city's eviction
prevention program which
provides free legal services.
Case management rental
assistance to low income San
Diego is to prevent
homelessness.
We understand the city's facing
serious budget constraints and
we're grateful for the mayor
and Council for Investing in
Homelessness Prevention.
Ebv is one of cinema's most
effective tools for preventing
homelessness.
From JULY 2024 through MARCH
26th, the program served nearly
40,000 households representing
over 8000 residents while
providing thousands of clinic
services, hotline responses,
referrals and outreach events
in the city.
Ebs Also smart fiscal
investment an average one time
cost per household of about
$1,100 compared to the nearly
$50,000 per year per
chronically homeless person.
It cost our government
eviction, prevented evictions
early avoids far greater deaths
the cost of shelters,
healthcare systems, emergency
services and the courts.
We urge County to maintain
level ib funding and thank you
for your time.
>> Thank you.
Maria Cortez.
>> Hello my name is Maria
Cortez.
I'm a resident of City Heights
and I am opposing you
considering cutting cutting
the parks and rec hours.
I know, I know some of us have
been saved but to consider
cutting their cutting their
hours is ridiculous because
the kids in the youth and even
the seniors we deserve a safe
place to go to.
We deserve to have somewhere
somewhere to relax somewhere or
to stay out of trouble
especially for our youth and
also defunding the police and
the fire department.
That's ridiculous because who's
going to be there when to
answer your call And there's
nobody there.
I know it ain't going to be
Ghostbusters.
So I'm saying don't defund
the police, don't defend
the fire department and also
consider don't defund libraries
and the park hours because this
is what we need.
>> Thank you for that.
Isabel Kay.
Hello, I'm City Council
PRESIDENT LaCava.
I reside in District one and I
have to say that even in
District one streets are in a
terrible mess that La Hoya and
the much needed commuter bike
path up the Gilman Drive is
still not completed and
the stormwater and habitat
restoration project at
the Northern Wildlife Reserve
is still not funded and
completed.
Where is all this money going
that the city has?
I do support fully funding
Measure b's needs including
the Commission for Police
Practices.
I finitely support eliminating
the flood system entirely.
This is a system that has
allowed the targeting and
assassination of teachers,
students, poets, doctors,
ambulance drivers in Gaza and
in Lebanon in many places.
>> Thank you for that
concluding remark.
John Brady if you can please
come forward your time.
Thank you By Matthew Carney
Thank you so much.
You'll have two minutes.
Please proceed.
I city council members John
Brady with lived experience
advisors We speak on behalf of
the homeless community.
I know this has been a tough
year and you guys have done
the best of me Gloria included
in keeping funding in place.
I just want to share that
the Good Day Center is a much
needed resource cutting funding
for that facility.
While I know that many of
the folks that owned property
around that area would like to
see it go away, it's going to
be a loss of a critical
resource that cannot be easily
replaced.
I also want to talk about
the cuts to the funding for
the family shelter that we were
announcing too soon to be
opening.
You know, as we know we do not
have enough shelter spaces.
It is it's a difficult time out
on the streets.
We don't know what the impact
is going to be with the food
stamp cuts that will be in
place starting JUNE 1st That
could affect as many as nearly
100,000 residents in the county
of San Diego.
So I have to ask in these
difficult times that you
consider restoring that
funding.
>> Thank you very much.
Thank you.
Jillian Quince If you can
please come forward I will
update that We have about 35
speakers left here in council
chambers and 23 with their
hands raised.
I can have Danielle Gomez, Amy
Kenmore, Kerry Lander, Nadia
Keene Are you Care of Rainbow
Spaces Vivian Quinonez and
Jared Wilson Please come
forward to the other reserved
seats.
Please proceed.
Good evening Council I'm
the River Trail advocacy
manager Jillian Quint here with
you again on behalf of the San
Diego River Park Foundation.
We strongly support Council
PRESIDENT MacArthur's budget
request to reopen the West
Valley River crossings Kip and
also Council member Whipper and
for your steadfast support as
well we urge the full Council
to join them and vote to
include the West Valley River
crossing in the budget.
This project was identified in
the Impact Fee study and has a
clear nexus for the funds.
It's backed by over 300 city
wide letters and multiple city
plans.
It is now in the hands of
the city to provide the lift
off.
Let's utilize the existing
revenue obligation Using these
fees does not compete with
general fund.
Instead it commits to districts
to three, seven and nine
increasing safe access to a
regional greenway for
communities that span nine
miles east along the scenic
over the trail watershed.
>> This crossing transforms a
dangerous gap in Thank you for
doing our work.
Thank you.
Danielle Gomez Hello City
Council members My name is
Danielle.
I'm a resident of District nine
member of City Heights Defense
Committee and a mental health
Board student.
City Heights Defense Committee
works closely with our
immigrant and refugee neighbors
who are being harmed by dhs And
I.
I support the people's budget
And I've learned through my
mental health work study that
being a community member we
keep us safe.
It's not the police or
surveillance that does that for
a community Wellness and safety
comes from community care and
resourcing care decreases crime
and increases safety and
outcomes for all community
members through humanistic
prevention and intervention.
These technologies are not with
humans in mind and are not with
care and are not recommended by
psychologists, academics,
people in the field that study
the humanity of them.
What works for communities I
ask you to decrease police
funding by 2% canceled entire
block contract leave canceled a
subcontract to save 2 million
and invest in what actually
creates community safety youth
programs, parks, libraries,
culture, public health all of
these things.
>> Thank you for that
concluding remark.
Amy in Council members My name
is Amy kind of morning teacher
a Latin American studies
program at uc San Diego.
I'm also a member of my
teachers union and also a
member of the City Defense
Committee.
Just next week we're going to
be celebrating the amazing
achievements of many of our
students.
Many of them have carried
additional burdens that most of
us never know working full time
navigating housing and food
insecurity, helping take care
of younger siblings.
The very programs on Earth are
the ones that have helped them
thrive and will continue to
help them thrive.
But this is the thing that
really gets me.
Last year some of my students
didn't even get to go to their
graduations.
Their family members didn't
join them because at this very
moment ice raids were picking
up in Southern California And
they're telling me now that
this year they're also not
going to fly because they're
scared because they know what
is tracking them.
They know it's not accountable
And we fear and that is truly a
shame and we can do better And
we know these contradictions
when you talk to your attacks
continue and our students out
of fear we invest in them in
their future and not in flock.
Thank you, Carrie.
If you can please come forward
.
>> Hello.
My name is Carrie.
She hurt and I'm speaking as a
concerned citizen who lives in
District two.
The proposed budget still
historically cut services such
as libraries, art arts
programs, homelessness
outreach, substance abuse
programs and many, many others
that have a direct benefit on
our community.
If we are serious about public
safety and preventing crime
then we need more of these
programs defunded, not
defunded.
When I moved to San Diego early
last year I was truly shocked
to see that my local O.B.
Library was only open Tuesdays
to Saturdays.
Surely such an important
community hub would have
the full support of the city
that is known for being so
family friendly?
So I'm here today fighting for
these important programs and
services to receive even more
funding, not less.
Specifically, if lot cameras
don't prevent crime investments
in the community, do I urge
the council to end the contract
and get rid of cameras?
Thank you.
Nadia Khan Are you able to
based.
>> Hi my name is Mike niu and I
want to advise you to send
Please restore the hours for
the San Diego City libraries.
We have over 250 individual
interactions over 30 events
that we participate with San
Diego City Library and all
those youth come from
communities where they are
either unhoused or they are
lower income.
These events allow them to
participate free of charge and
allow them to be part of it.
>> I've seen librarians feed
them, help them tutor them and
all of this is done without
block cameras, flock cameras
and police officers don't serve
the community the way that
librarians do and they deserve
our respect and they deserve to
be a priority.
Please make sure that you
restore the hours for
the libraries will be known as
if you can please come forward
.
So good evening Councilmember.
My name is Julie.
I am 16 years old.
I'm about to be a senior at
Lincoln High School and I live
in District four.
I'm here to sit and volunteer
with the Center on Policy
Initiatives.
I've been working at the rec
center of this past year and my
wish is that we do not cut
the budget for rec centers
because it cuts deep into our
community.
How we connect with each child
and how we try to find a way
these troubles of the older
generation to walk through our
doors.
We do not only fund parks, rec
centers and libraries but that
you maintain the funding so
that kids like me don't have to
spend our summer break asking
you to give us the resources we
deserve.
Thank you for your time.
>> Excuse me.
Darren Wilson journals And
after that will be Phillip
Phillip Ling.
Christopher Gomez.
Karina Vega, Anthony Ramos and
Elise going If you can all
please come up to the yellow
reserved seats as well as Mary
Soriano.
Jerry do you have time ceded to
you by David?
People ask.
Thank you so much.
You'll have two minutes.
Please proceed.
Thank you.
Thank you and good afternoon to
council PRESIDENT Council
members.
My name is Gerard Wilson and
the PRESIDENT Of the San Diego
Police Officers Association.
I want to thank the council
members who supported restoring
some sworn police officer
positions in their budget
memos.
Specifically, there are two
critical roles that we need
restored in this budget.
One is a sergeant in the sex
crimes unit and the other is a
sergeant in the Graffiti and
Virgin Gangs Unit.
These positions provide direct
operational value to
the department and the public.
Both of these positions are
currently filled by senior
supervisors.
The sex crimes sergeant
oversees some of the most
sensitive investigations we
handle and during already
convicted sex offenders of
which there are over 1200 in
the city of San Diego are
registered.
If this position is cut,
the duties will fall on an
already overworked sex crimes
unit.
The graffiti sergeant helps
address quality of life issues
in emergency entrance
throughout neighborhoods in
the city.
Additionally for police
officers, positions are being
cut at a time when response
times are rising.
We have two of these specific
positions are restored that
will get targeted investments
in improve efficiency and
service delivery and ask for
them in restoring these
positions and ask for your
help.
Thank you today and also want
to thank our city Clerk MS.
Point eyes on your hard work on
days like today to make sure it
runs smoothly efficiently It's
neutral and we definitely
appreciate you So thank you
very much.
You were efficient About 42
seconds left.
Thank you so much.
>> Philip Lane if you can
please come forward.
Good afternoon.
My name is Philip.
I'm in Residence District seven
and participate with the city
of River Park Foundation.
I come to request support to
the West Valley River crossing
the city of River Trail.
It's essential to the quality
of life in Mission Valley which
is exploding in population and
enables the community to enjoy
physical activity a natural
setting important for mental
and physical health.
Right now there's a gap at that
bridge the river trail forcing
families and pedestrians onto
high speed roads just to get
across the west for crossing
bridges, critical buildings,
pedestrian and bicycle will
transforming broken unsafe gap
into a continuous flow allowing
people to travel safely from
east to west All end up without
needing a car.
Beautiful public infrastructure
an investment in our economic
vitality and tourism.
Turning pass through areas and
through destinations.
Most importantly, I wanted to
thank you for putting all this
.
>> Good afternoon, Council
members.
My name is Christopher Gomez
and I'm an organizer with
the San Diego and Ariel
Counties Labor Council also a
resident of District three And
I'm here to support innovative
solutions during these
incredibly challenging fiscal
times.
You have the choice to invest
in your constituents and their
concerns to listen to
the overwhelming research that
shows funding social services
is a crime prevention tactic
that makes communities more
safe, more livable.
Or you can choose to continue
funding a dystopian technology
that has shown us its flaws
time and time again that has
shown us its many avenues for
abuse and how it will
inevitably be used by this
Federal ministration to harm
the very communities it claims
to protect.
Ending Floc will not solve
the budget crisis.
We understand this but this
choice matters to the people
who be most impacted by
the changes to funding in
the city.
We urge you to listen to them.
We urge you to listen to us and
divert flight contract funds to
preventative community
services.
Thank you.
Corina Vega.
I want to see my time to
Anthony Ralph.
Okay Anthony please come up.
You'll have two minutes.
Please proceed.
All right.
Thank you.
Council, I would like to start
by asking this room Well,
actually specifically the chief
of police since I know that
he's here right now, I would
like to ask him if they have to
break laws to catch criminals.
What's the point of law
enforcement?
Please?
I'm asking you Joe LaCava,
don't waste this public
engagement, this crowd
participation.
This is a level of civic
parties.
This is a level of civic party
participation that you rarely
see.
Don't squander it.
Don't squander the good faith
of the people in this room who
believe their civic
participation matters because
it does.
This is what the social
contract is predicated upon.
We agree to be governed so long
as you agree to listen to us
PRESIDENT I'm begging you to be
responsible.
Our city is at a breaking point
Trust in the police has never
been lower and rightfully so.
Just last Sunday the Times of
San Diego reported that two men
were falsely arrested and
imprisoned based on
the misreadings of the data
provided to them by flock from
sdp.
These two men were arrested.
They weren't even in the same
area where the car was stolen
But because sdp failed to read
the license plate they entered
a car description matching what
they thought they saw.
Turns out they were wrong.
Well, now those two men are
suing the city asking for $1.5
million each.
When the dust is settled on
that lawsuit and the city
settles for violating their
rights, we will likely lose $1
million on that single error
alone which is nearly half
the cost of the flight
contract.
For those of you supporting
this block contract, I want to
ask why is this collateral
damage acceptable to you?
Why don't you care about human
rights, privacy rights or
fiscal responsibility in
the middle of a budget crisis?
Is it because this is coming
out of the public reserve funds
?
Sdp needs a better way to
unload their staffing issue
than offloading their labor to
luxury surveillance technology
in a predictive police state.
Thank you Can't leave for
changing your position on Floc.
That means a lot to the city of
San Diego.
Please the cava this is on you
do the right thing.
>> Concluding remarks My
apologies and at least going I
do see here that you'd like to
register your position in
opposition but you do not wish
to speak so that will be kept.
For the record.
Maria Soriano if you can please
come forward.
Mario Soriano And then Ariane
Dixit.
Daniel Soraya Danny Zou
Kimberly Molina.
Blaire Beekman.
Travis Bouchard.
Marco Barreto.
Serena Koza, Nathalie Roski and
Max Schmidt.
Can you all come forward to
the front row?
Marie you have time to go to my
house.
Ammerman Can you please raise
your hand after there I'm
sorry.
We'll come right in.
Potential new trustee
the council but can have So
raise your hand.
Oh, thank you.
You'll have two minutes.
>> Please proceed.
Mary three on know PRESIDENT
Look Hoya Town Council Revenue
solution The city is leaving
millions on the table
Development impact dif are not
collected on 80 use under
750ft set by California law I
urge this Council to implement
80 you 750.99ft minimum to
trigger death over 5780 you'd
have been built average 600 to
800ft.
That's a conservative a $57
million in potential funds for
roads, fire services,
libraries, parks and rec
accountability matters grand
jury found in both 2020 to 2025
that the city rift returning
$178 million to property owners
under the Mitigation Fee Act.
Faa for lack of reporting fire
safety San Diego will burn not
if when Yesterday 2200 homes
evacuated.
In fact the rental valley and
Oceanside the nearest
helicopter water refill flight
from La Hoya is 15 minutes
away.
Cuts in consolidation to our
fire department hurts the fire
rescue department.
Please listen to our fire
rescue department on what they
need with ad revenue.
It can fund helicopter water
ditch full recreation center
hours with maintenance and care
local for local rec centers
shade structure over
playgrounds.
Currently there are no trees
and no shade.
Aarp quit build traffic calming
for interim capital improvement
fund and concrete paving on
Nardo Street Set the 750.99
minimum 80 square footage
Invest in our community.
Thank you everyone.
Hello my name is Ari indicated
I'm a resident of District one
and the board PRESIDENT Of
the Student Civil Liberties
Union which is a youth
nonprofit.
I'm here to demand two things
Firstly the continued funding
of the Office for Child and
Youth Services.
Sorry success in San Diego with
additional funding through
the full termination of our
city's automated license plate
reader contract with
the vehicle or at least our
subcontract with.
Furthermore, them and
the overinflated police budget
has placed a multimillion
dollar burden on the city and
instead of supporting and
promoting our marginalized
populations we are using
surveillance that is dangerous
misuse and a harmful waste of
our city resources that hurts
our immigrant and people of
color populations.
In order to really change
the landscape of crime and
homelessness in our city, we
have to invest in the real
problem which is our investment
in the community.
So please do take the right
decision and de-fund work and
support the Office of Child
Youth Success.
>> Thank you.
Thank you, Daniel.
Sorry.
Good afternoon, Council
members.
My name is Daniel Soria.
I am the executive director of
Students Civil Liberties Union
representing a coalition of
student organizers across
districts one and three.
How you vote on this budget
demonstrates where your values
life.
We will always discover money
for surveillance and criminal
criminal ization but somehow
investing in youth, in parks,
in environmental justice well
oftentimes we deem that
downright unaffordable.
We reject that logic.
Austerity is indeed a choice
and today so is accountability
.
So we ask that you support
the future leaders of the city.
Here is one concrete choice
right in front of you at this
moment Cancel the ubiquitous
surveillance contract.
Take that money and put it
where it belongs into youth
access into libraries, parks
and recreation, stormwater
infrastructure and in a
pedestrian beacon outside
the Rosa Parks Elementary
beyond the cycle.
>> Thank you, council members.
Thank you, Danny.
Good afternoon, Council
members.
My name is Dan and I'm a
resident of District one of
the Burlington Civil Liberties
Union and the San Diego Youth
Action Network.
I'm here today on behalf of my
other peers young people who
want to build their future
the San Diego beloved District
one District three District six
District eight and I ask
the Council to cancel
the contract with you because I
ask that the City Council
terminate this contract because
we so need programs for youth
access and services that allow
us the city to thrive instead
of surveillance.
It doesn't make any sense that
while more funds are dedicated
to criminalization programs for
us, for young people and
working class individuals are
thrown to the wayside, I'm
asking you all to prioritize,
to prioritize our well-being
and not just and not to mention
that many of us have been
shocked by the recent use of
these smart cameras leading to
wrongful arrest.
I'll be more shocked if this
unreliable, unreliable and
innovative technology is
prioritized over the well-being
of San Diego's youth.
So I'm asking PRESIDENT LaCava
and Councilmember Woodburn to
please terminate the Thank you
for that concluding remark.
>> Kimberly Mullin Kimberly
Molnar here Emily Lyon.
Blair Beckman.
Blair Beckman are you here?
Please come up to
the microphone after Blair will
be Travis Bouchard.
Margo Hado Serena Kooser.
Natalie Roski Max Schmidt.
Arianna a Claire Vanessa
melendez, Nerissa Gonzalez.
Please all come up to the front
row.
>> Blair please come up to
the microphone.
All right.
Claire Beekman stumbling and
mumbling.
Thank you.
Thank you, Council for our
possible good direction in our
current budget work as there is
much anger and fear towards our
practices at this time, City
Council MAY present some
interesting plans today or soon
to try to leave work But if
this new plan doesn't work and
San Diego will have to continue
with Block in a few months
time, can we then be prepared
for immediate next steps for
something of a 6 to 12 month
study session commission
process that invite the entire
San Diego community and so we
can decide together who could
be the best to help your vendor
besides Block for the future of
San Diego.
I've described regularly that
this is what Oakland Alameda
County are trying to develop at
this time.
It is simply an important model
for San Diego.
I have also regularly described
for the past year now have
smaller amounts of
strategically placed
surveillance can accomplish
mostly the same public safety
needs and local neighborhoods
and they can also save up to
possibly $125,000 or more.
We also need more open and
accountable community
conversation about procedures
and guidelines You can help
your Thank you tonight
including comment in real time.
How do we have that
conversation?
Travis Bouchard openly.
Hello Travis District seven.
In the words of Harvey Milk let
me have my tax money go for my
protection and not my
prosecution.
Let my tax money go to
protection of me when you can't
be a champion of Harvey Milk
legacy while voting to fund
police surveillance and
de-funding rec centers,
libraries, arts and youth.
Prioritizing someone Recovering
or stolen care over kids having
access to libraries and rec
centers is evil behavior role.
>> So I'm going to rake you
over the coals in 28 with your
you're able villainizing street
vendors for a full minute and
now funding government
surveillance potentially for a
second time.
Remember the left and right are
aligned.
They don't want government
surveillance.
It's a bipartisan issue.
You don't narrow hopes you're
going to bash them right now
cancel bloc class action
lawsuits are coming which will
further kill your budget
funding Ultimately.
>> Marco Rubio hurdle Marco you
have time to to you by killing
Mayor Giuliani.
Okay, two minutes Please
proceed.
Hi, my name is Serena Kooser.
I would also like to proceed my
time to my coworker Serena
because I think you'll have
three minutes.
Please proceed.
Hi.
Council members.
My name is Michael Lockhart,
resident of District three.
I'm here to advocate for
the canceling of the Flugge
contract and funding of of
humans and arts programs and
parks and raising libraries
The unrolling of mass
surveillance technology started
after 2001 after 911 and it's
well documented of the way that
the mass surveillance
technologies have been abused
by the government targeting
people of color Muslims, Arabs
And even though we we're we're
we're positioning ourselves as
trying to prevent hate crimes
in certain areas by
implementing surveillance
technologies, there's a much
longer and larger track record
of mass surveillance being used
as one large hate crime against
Americans by by the government.
And this is something that it's
demonstrated you know, over 25
years and it's something that
32 cities across the U.S. Have
have understood and decided to
to cancel their their contracts
Write it.
We're trying to act like if
we're afraid of of some
individuals while there's a
much larger governmental abuse
violation issue and because
it's not if it's it's when
these these technologies are
going to be infiltrated abused
and and it just creates more
loopholes for for the abuse of
law enforcement and and it
creates a self-reinforcing loop
where if if you're if you
taking resources away from from
individuals and you them and
your and those resources into
law enforcement you just
further criminalizing those
those communities please cancel
the flight contract and fund my
communities thank you thank
you.
He didn't use the third minute.
You still want to set your time
to Serena?
Is it okay?
Natalie Rescue please come
forward.
You have time to two by Dan and
then end that Okay.
>> You'll have three minutes.
Please proceed.
It's ironic I stand here with
almost speechless but with so
many things to say And it's
kind of I guess what you would
say deja vu because I was here
in 2020 two to have a 24 hour
safe with me.
We're talking about cutting
this new elementary 24 hour
safe sleeping sites for
families.
I'm losing my job.
>> So and here I am in this
loop this loop and now not only
that, this is what happened.
This is just some of
the tickets.
I'll remind people this is what
happened to me while I was
homeless the first time So now
I'm a target for block.
This puts me an algorithm.
I've never been in trouble with
the law ever.
>> I don't have a police
record.
I'm a mom of four children.
i am tired of carrying all
these papers because when
you're in the system then you
have to have all these papers
And when you're homeless trying
to keep track of all these
papers and dates and times it's
exhausting And I am a willing
abled body sound in mind person
that cannot do what you're
asking people to do when you're
unhoused.
I can't do it.
I'm a I was a comedic athlete.
I internship for the Navy
treating sea lions in dolphins
.
I'm a college graduate.
I'm a smart person.
I contribute to my community
and I can't do what you ask
people to do that are unhoused
That is real and not to be
homeless again.
I was never in the system until
covid happened.
We have these governmental
bodies that are doing things.
The information's out there.
I'm not asking you to believe
me.
I'm asking you to do
the research.
Covid was put That's a crime
against humanity.
It's a crime against our state.
Then if we're vaccinating
people now they're sick Now we
have mosquitoes Now we have
flock and you know we have
carparks for the police.
>> Did anybody know that I was
just at San Diego last week?
Carfax is giving police
information.
So you look at your oil change
and you had a Carfax car.
Now go to the police.
Look it up.
That's one thing I'm not asking
you guys to believe me.
I'm asking you to do
the research And now I'm an
algorithm In that time being
housed I've created an llc, a
nonprofit.
I'm trademarking a methodology
for sports athletics.
I've launched a podcast.
I can't do any of those things
And you're hired.
I'm going to circle.
It's not hard.
Oh, it's housing authority.
Housing is all you need.
Contact Todd.
I'm waiting for Sarah Jacobs
office.
>> Call me back.
It's like Thank you for your
concluding remark.
Max Schmidt I just wanted to
say that I do not support
the city of San Diego taxing us
at all And I want to say I love
the people of San Diego.
They are some of the nicest
people in the world and I do
not I'm opposed to all tax
period.
And I just wanted to also draw
attention to on what we can
allocate tax towards and
something I believe we can
allocate Maybe if you have
taxes towards is the miracle of
the sun and Saddam of Portugal
1917 and the events in Lubbock,
Texas and England Lubbock Texas
on there is a miracle in Texas
on the feast of the assumption
that was not aliens it was
the Blessed Virgin Mary I want
to say English word programing
If you say GOD is not dead and
then if you say Nevada Area 51
Nevada and then test your eyes
how you blink you can see
you're a victim of English word
programing and the Luciferian
are doing human sacrifices So
no they know GOD is not dead or
they want to name a programing
GOD is not dead Arianna Okay
I'm Arianna declare prime is
arbitrary Violence is not
arbitrary Flock cameras record
arbitrary events cherry picked
to be crime by violent bigots
putting people in cages.
You define these people as
criminals I devise to find them
And survivors surviving toxic
actions toxic actions to
survive accommodate toxic
societal structure.
You speak on California's
ongoing economic struggle.
Government snuffed business out
like a legal horror film using
legal structure that is cruel
and unusual parody opening and
running a business to house
feed and provide independent
mobility so you can stay home
Meaning like this is a human
fundamental need.
There is no reason for any
adult of any ability They
should be able to be here to
sustain their needs.
>> We need to support our
citizens.
Thank you for that computer
work.
>> Vanessa is Good afternoon.
My name is Vanessa Mildred and
I represent the Filipino Worker
Center and I'm a member of
the Community Budget Alliance
of San Diego.
My phone is at 4%.
I'll try to make this that many
communities have a deep
distrust of surveillance and
overpolicing because of a long
history of racial profiling.
The data tells a clear story.
According to the aclu, nearly
30% of black men report
experiencing police violence
just in 2025 after 911, 30,000
foreign nationals were placed
into deportation proceedings as
a part of the us federal
response.
Yet none were charged with
terrorism.
Do these examples show that
expanding surveillance and
enforcement does not
automatically create more
safety or reduce crime but
greater harm to minority
communities?
>> I urge you to cancel
the Floc surveillance contract
Instead invest those public
dollars in the services that
actually strengthen our
communities.
>> Thank you Neurosci Gonzalez
She had to go.
Okay, Thank you.
Kevin Wehner, Kevin, if you can
please come up to
the microphone.
Amanda Hare Hill Amanda Kevin
Winn Thank you.
That was a doop then Amanda
Hearing goal Gwendolyn Garcia
Gabriel Aravena allegedly.
Audra Lilly Irani Marco
Espinosa and final call for
Kimberly Mullen.
Please come up to the yellow
reserved seats.
Amanda please come up to
the microphone.
>> My city council in a city
full of generations of military
men and women who have put
their lives on the line to
protect the Constitution of
this country I find it
absolutely despicable that you
are sitting here in your cushy
sleep and air conditioning
being so comfortable crapping
all over the Fourth Amendment
Rights of our families have
bled and died.
The begging with the press of a
button This is one of
the safest cities in the nation
and we have a huge budget
deficit continuing to fund lpr
with not only an unreasonable
seizure of our data it is also
fiscally irresponsible and
empirically unwarranted.
Your own data screams that I
personally have a hacktivist
who is able to get into
the camera system.
>> Luckily they had altruistic
intent.
Their time has concluded it's
going to enable criminals to
commit more crimes.
Thank you.
You can definitely email
comments and a city caucus
continue your doctor and those
will be distributed.
>> And you were Amanda,
correct.
So Gwendolyn Garcia I.
I'm Gwen.
I'm a resident of District nine
and a volunteer with the San
Diego River Park Foundation.
I'm also here with
the forecast.
First the San Diego cameras and
police don't keep our community
safe.
We've known this for decades
and we were reminded last month
when sd pd and their lp failed
to prevent the anti-Muslim
terrorist attack at the Islamic
Center of San Diego.
They had their chance and they
failed.
Investment in community and
infrastructure are what keep us
safe.
I live in District nine and I
want to connect the community.
Which is why I strongly support
the San Diego River Park
Foundation's request to use
developer impact fees to fund
the West Valley River crossing.
Completing the segment Lake
City Council District two,
three, seven and nine It gives
us a safe, beautiful non
vehicular route to the beach or
employment centers, transit and
local businesses.
Residents want to swap driving
for carbon free multi-modal
commute but do not feel safe or
like this is a realistic option
until this link is established.
Please help connect us and make
sustainable travel a reality in
our community.
Thank you.
Thank you, Gabriel.
>> Our Ravenna.
>> Hello.
My name is Gabriella.
I'm a union member of Teamsters
for 81 and constituent of
District three.
Hi, Steven.
Not good enough.
Even how many of your
constituents including those
from lgbt community that you
use of progressive performative
MS..
Do you need to hear tell you
that they do not want floc
technology for you to listen?
Please we are begging you to
oppose cancel eliminate block a
lpr technology.
It's creepy and it's super
weird and we do not want it
because it's usually being used
as collective data for mass
surveillance.
It's also pushing racism and
ice agents and allowing them to
kidnap and terrorize our
community.
Stop performing and be
progressive for real.
Our problems, problems and
deficits are due to corruption
within our government Utilities
,food system and every aspect
of our lives.
We need to immediately stop a
lot of council members from
using Thank you for that.
Something like voting or more.
We don't have a budget problem
like have black rocketing
remark I do have to be fair
allegedly Audra.
>> After that will be Lily
Irani, Marco Espinosa Kimberly
Moreland Those are our final
speakers here in council
chambers trading children and
youth success for a digital
prison is extremely negligent
and people need to take a
broader step back and see that
this hpr this is going into
residential neighborhoods.
People are getting contracts
with it And the fact is is when
it's put together with ai and
things like Palantir in these
fusion centers and the fact
that they can have piggyback
access, they have you know an
enterprise contracts with these
fusion centers that advanced
tech that use advanced
technology that's insulated
from legal legislative
processes that would allow us
to get rid of it And San Diego
Police Department is one that
is feeding into these analytics
and you know, once it's at
the fusion center it goes out.
So it's like no matter what you
guys do this digital prison is
here, It's going to be
weaponized.
We can see that All you have to
do is look at China but it's
like you guys are going to
bring it in in some other
fashion whether or not it's
walk or not And we need to be
very concerned because it's all
of us, not just immigrant.
>> Thank you.
Lily Irani Hi, my name is Lily
Iranian, a resident of d-3 and
a member of dsa.
So Hi Stephen and I am also a
member of the uc San Diego
Faculty Association so Hi Joe.
People have made very powerful
points about how every dollar
we spend on flag total 2
million a year should be spent
on local jobs in arts parks and
rec child and youth services
and transportation planning.
So I want to share some facts
that maybe haven't been shared
before.
In Milwaukee, a police officer
search for his partner and her
ex-boyfriend over 170 times on
a flag system in Kansas.
The police chief searched for
his ex 280 times.
So Fox talking at a click of
the mouse.
And these are stories from
other cities.
But now we learn from the times
of San Diego that five months
ago Hugo Parra was wrongly
jailed for a month for missing
the holidays with his family
based on flawed flight data.
And we only know this because
of dogged reporting so we can
only imagine how many other
stories like this are already
happening in San Diego.
>> But the fog makes us less
safe and jobs keep the money
local.
Marco Espinoza.
Afternoon.
My question is to the in terms
of the what I hear about Flock
today and of all the times I've
come to these public meetings
I'm pretty sure I've heard
the are use of flock is extreme
only limited and it's very
narrow and but there's a lot of
confusion and animosity towards
the parent company and how it's
used in other cities.
I could be wrong in
interpreting number incorrectly
here which I've done.
But anyway I just wanted to get
that one off.
Not that I'm trying to give any
cover but if there is confusion
out there that could be it
people just aren't aware of Oh
shoot I used up all my time.
I'm so sorry I'm such a dork.
Anyways, uh, the retirement
program um.
I don't want anyone in
the future running for office
to be using that as excuses And
I'll be watching.
>> And then Kimberly Mullen No
.
Kimberly Mullen That does
conclude public comment here in
council chambers We are now
going to those participating
remotely I'm sorry at the five
minute timer it is one minute
apiece as it was in person We
have 27 people with their hands
raised starting with Josephine
vote if you can please raise
please unmute yourself.
Hi I'm here.
Please proceed.
Okay.
Once again let me pull it up.
Okay.
Hi.
I want to echo the comments of
other community members.
We cannot strengthen an
unaccountable state security
apparatus at the expense of
real long standing safety and
real opportunity for
the people.
I also want to speak to
longtime property owners and
more wealthy San Diego
neighborhoods.
You guys are the ones who are
robbing our city and a large
part of the reason for this
deficit every time you vote to
preserve your low property
taxes and you steal from your
neighbors.
Traditionally before Prop 13,
property taxes were how cities
and counties in California
funded their services and
infrastructure And this it's
still the case for most other
states.
Every time we've tried to raise
the cap on increasing property
taxes, homeowners have voted
against it.
Shame on you for stealing from
your neighbors and for those
who know about it But don't
speak up.
I'm home owning neighbors When
you pay your to your property
taxes year after year.
And now here today when you try
to take money from services
that we need and make to make
the city charge for parking
make the police need to issue
parking tickets to fund their
departments instead of actually
help keeping us safe.
You vote to surveil us because
of your own paranoia.
Make no mistake that you're
stealing from us from your
precious police force and
forcing the zero sum game.
We can't keep playing this
game.
We need real revenue sources
And that's an even if we had
the money.
We cannot strengthen an
unaccountable.
Sorry your time did run out
with my apologies Jason Maybe
if you can please unmute.
>> Hi my name is Jason.
I urge you to keep
the multimodal traffic safety
team funded at least partially
since we have no net impact on
the general fund because
the Transportation Department
is already funded.
This is about priorities within
transportation.
In SEPTEMBER of 2024 this
Council unanimously passed a
resolution to affirm safety as
transportation's highest
priority.
The traffic safety team is only
2% of the transportation
budget.
If safety truly is the highest
priority we can certainly
dedicate 2% of
the transportation budget to it
even if that means 4% fewer
potholes to fill.
Just this Saturday a 62 year
old woman was killed crossing a
section of Elkhorn Boulevard
where there's no crosswalk for
a quarter of a mile.
That section is scheduled for
resurfacing later this year.
This is exactly the type of
dangerous street conditions
that multimodal traffic safety
team is critical for fixing.
>> So please fund them.
Thank you.
Next is Barbara Gordon If you
can please unmute Barbara
Gordon.
>> City's number one
responsibility is public
safety.
I urge you to not cancel
the police department's
automated license plate
recognition program.
This technology has proven to
be one of the department's most
effective crime fighting tools
helping officers quickly
identify stolen vehicles,
locate suspects and solve
serious crimes that might
otherwise remain unsolved.
At a time when public safety
remains a top concern for
residents, it would be
counterproductive to weaken a
technology that provides law
enforcement with timely
objectives and actionable
information.
I urge you this Council to
prioritize community safety by
maintaining support for the a l
p r program preserving
the tools that help keep San
Diego residents and businesses
and neighborhoods safe.
Thank you.
Next is Kate Kate burnett
please unmute.
>> I'll thank you all again for
the opportunity.
My name is Keeper and I am
calling on behalf of the arts
and Culture community and in my
role at the San Diego Museum of
Art.
Again, we so appreciate
the eBay and the City Council
for finding really creative
ways to leverage public private
partnerships to ensure that
the arts and culture industry
in the city maintains its sort
of excellence even in this
difficult budget year.
Echoing my ask from Friday
regardless of whether you
managed to restore fully
the nearly $12 million grant
funding, we hold it at 6
million or we get it somewhere
in between.
We are asking you to maintain
the existing grant allocation
structure.
We are incredibly aware of
equity concerns and the need to
mitigate impacts as much as
possible and we will continue
to do so in long term
conversations.
But we're hoping for this year
to keep the funding the same.
>> Concluding remarks Nancy, if
you can please unmute Nancy
Weatherford and before you
begin that was the five minute
timer.
>> No additional speakers will
be taken.
28 speakers are in the queue.
Please proceed.
Hi.
Can you hear me?
Yes.
Please proceed.
Thank you.
Happy pride.
My name is Nancy Rella Ford.
I'm a resident of District
three and a member of the lgbtq
community.
I want to quickly thank
Councilmember Whitburn for
getting rid or helping to get
rid of double park paid parking
.
And then I will just say please
defund Floc and redirect those
funds to community needs.
I want to thank the four
council members who have
proposed a start to that effort
and I urge you Council member
Whitburn and the others to join
them.
Members of the broader lgbt two
trans community and residents
of your diverse district are
harmed more than helped by
police surveillance technology
.
It's easy for older white
people like me to if we don't
look outside our own bubble to
believe the story that please
keep us safe and technology
prevents crime and those things
are not true if we just look
outside our bubble or listen to
people here your time has
concluded.
>> Andrew.
>> Andrew Andrew Sorry Andrew
Hollingworth If you can please
unmute.
Yes, thank you.
>> I'm Andrew Hollingworth
representing the Peninsula
Community Planning Board in
District two.
We urge the restoration of cuts
to recreation centers libraries
and arts and culture in
District two and city wide for
which four of you supported new
budget minimum rent
memorandums.
You should fund this by further
cuts to bloated city staffing,
wages and benefits.
We also urge cutting car
allowances, cell phones and
travel for city staff.
We reject any tax and fee
increase is an already
overburdened residence as
advocated by the ipa and
COUNCILMAN Rivera as evidenced
by the rejection of Measure
eight last week by Taxpayers
for City Staff made more than
the us PRESIDENT.
At least ten made more than a
us senator so wages and
salaries are still bloated.
Please restore the cuts to
library and rec center and
the arts.
>> Thank you.
Thank you Taxpayer If you can
please unmute.
>> Hello and good afternoon.
>> I am here to state my
opposition to cuts to the arts
and parks services and would
urge our City Council to
consider ending our contract
with Block.
I'd like to thank the City
Council for being patient and
hearing our voice for many many
against these meetings On
Tuesday afternoons are
unattainable as we work very
hard to enjoy America's finest
city.
Our investment in park is not
keep us safe.
Our investment in communities
does So if we're able to
address the root cause of crime
which is shattered social
services and funding we'll be
able to prevent crime.
Unlike mass surveillance,
giving away our right to
privacy today is taking away
rights for future generations.
I again implore you to cancel
the flight contract and
reinvest in San Diego to make
sure that we remain America's
finest city.
Be leaders not reactionaries
and flock.
Next is a phone number ending
in 26602660 If you can please
unmute star six.
After that is Jesse Schmidt.
>> 2660.
There you go.
Good afternoon Council members
.
My name is Brendan Segal and
I'm a senior policy advocate
for the aclu of any one
Imperial County.
How we choose to invest our
money dictates the future of
our city.
Our budget should tell
the story of hope over fear.
Fear is funding
the surveillance of our
community members while
reducing the services that keep
them safe and supported.
Fear is bankrolling automated
license plate readers and
already dangerous technology
under a hospital administration
in anticipation of problems
that have not yet occurred and
MAY never occur.
There is the planned
overinvestment in law
enforcement all while
recklessly accepting San Diego
police departments skyrocketing
over time and civil lawsuit
settlement cost as the price of
supposed safety.
We need to change the story.
Hope is investing in a future
where all can thrive.
It means funding proven
solutions to the problems that
we are facing right now.
Hope means supporting our youth
in community centered services
and programs like parks and Rec
libraries, the Office of Child
and Youth Success and the Arts.
Hope means finding peaceful
infrastructure Serving
the constituents of this city
means investing in our future
and not our oppression.
Funding services San Diego
desperately need but San Diego
budget tell us their time has
come.
Thank you.
Jesse if you can please unmute
.
You.
Good afternoon Council
PRESIDENT And Council members.
My name is Jesse Committee and
I served as you District
Commissioner on the Commission
on Gang Prevention and
Intervention.
I'm here today in support of
ending the city's automated
license plate reader contract.
I want to thank COUNCILWOMAN
Vivian Moreno for her
commitment to working with
community and continuing to
uplift our voices and concerns.
As someone who works on issues
related to violence prevention
and community safety, I believe
that we must be thoughtful
about the types of investments
that we actually make
throughout our communities.
District has north of 100 hpr
cameras throughout our
community nearly 20% of which
are within a half mile of
Chicano bart cameras stretching
along Logan Avenue.
Communities that have
historically been overpoliced
including immigrant
communities, communities of
color and low income
neighborhoods often bear
the greatest burden of expanded
surveillance.
Public safety is strongest when
communities trust the public
institutions.
That trust is built through
investment in people, not
perpetual expansion of
surveillance infrastructure.
I urge the Council to terminate
this contract.
Time has expired.
Thank you Satterlee for
following Martinez Cano.
After that is Tanner Moreno
said slowly If you can think of
your constituents have spoken
to you for hours about
the importance of funding
communities, the realities of
funding floc how it would
target women marginalized
communities and do more harm
than good.
But I'll speak to you about
what you like.
Money Floc will lose money for
San Diego whereas the arts and
community orgs increase
funding.
Floc will not cost 2 million.
It will cost much much more.
San Diego police is already
facing a lawsuit due to misuse
of Floc data.
They're seeking 1.5 million
each in damages.
That's not 2 million for Floc
That's 5 million.
With many more incidents to
come Floc is easy, easily
hackable and it has already
been used in disgusting ways to
support eyes and harass
citizens.
You cannot afford floc and
nobody wants it.
Support youth services arts
community orgs.
Nobody wants Floc and San Diego
cannot afford it.
Thank you.
Next is Tanner.
If you can please unmute Tanner
.
Hello.
We can hear you.
Please proceed.
Sorry.
Yes, thank you.
I would like to thank
councilmembers Shani Le Rivera,
Henry Foster Cantley and Vivian
Moreno for a proposal to end
the contract and put money back
into the communities of San
Diego.
Just this week at the Times of
San Diego reported how Floc led
an innocent man to be jailed
for over a month.
It doesn't keep you in your
safe because it's to waste
money on lawsuits and our
freedoms.
Councilmember Flippen.
As a member of your district
please vote to shut down Fort.
Protect our civil liberties and
put our money back to our
communities for everyone.
>> Thank you.
Thank you.
Next is Francis If you can
please unmute just a couple of
blocks from where you're all at
.
At Bluebottle Coffee I
overheard Mayor Gloria tell
the chair of the San Diego
Democratic Party they needed to
make sure the public didn't
blame the city for
the flooding.
Budgets are moral documents.
The flooding was a direct
result of years of neglected
drain planning in poor
neighborhoods.
But you all voted for.
And do you remember when many
many of you approved
the mayor's plan to criminalize
the unhoused?
Well, how much time now do
the police spend doing sweeps
and picking people up?
I actually watch someone then
spend a half hour arresting a
man in a wheelchair for missing
a court date.
That man needed food, a shower
shelter and a community that
cares about him not police.
Dehumanizing him in public and
and and taking him in.
Perpetuating a broken system.
I'm personally appalled
The mayor Gloria was chosen to
lead the Council of Mayors.
I hope instead of spreading
draconian policies he'll learn
from other mayors.
>> Lead with your time has
concluded I schreier I mean try
and try out me to me if you can
please unmute.
Oh, hi all My name is Sparky.
Dear councilmembers I'm
sparking me.
You're an engineering Ph.D.
Student and three resident.
It's time to abandon a
dystopian desire for a
surveillance state in favor of
one that serves the people and
truly protects us.
What keeps us safe Investing in
child and youth success.
What keeps us safe?
Putting money towards arts,
culture, libraries and parks
Who keeps us safe?
We keep us safe Not flock not
corporations not over
surveillance.
Now it's your time to decide If
you'll join us you get to
decide with your wallet.
Thank you.
>> Thank you.
Next is Yana.
If you can please unmute Yana
Merino.
Oh, can you guys hear me?
>> Yes please proceed.
Thank you.
I'm here to oppose the cuts to
our infrastructure.
You now know that floor cameras
have zero oversight no
meaningful impact and leaves us
vulnerable for lawsuits.
Do not forget it failed to stop
the Islamic center shooting an
event enabled by our mayor and
this council failure to meet
Islamophobia with the same zeal
It discourages dissent toward a
foreign nation.
So why pour millions into a
tool that does not work?
You know these systems continue
to amplify algorithmic racial
profiling in neighborhoods
already over police.
The cpd 2025 crime report shows
that overall crime fell by 6%
and is expected to stay on
trend.
Yet our spending on
surveillance keeps rising.
Honestly, how is an officer
supposed to prevent crime when
our youth have nowhere to go?
We should be investing in arts,
public space, youth programs
and infrastructure the things
that are proven to build
community resilience And to
the folks who say we already
carry a smartphone so who cares
about privacy with respect Many
of them can't even find
the brightness setting on their
device.
Please divest from Private
Shady companies and invest in
San Diego and not in our
criminalization.
Thank you.
>> Thank you Tony.
If you can please unmute Tony
Harrison You know yes I'll come
and serve Verizon's concerns as
an extra veteran can hear me
Yes we can.
>> Please proceed.
I notice that the up has been
all over the city and it's not
something that I paid for or
that we had a vote on And and
like I said I me being a
veteran fought for our rights
and our freedoms and this
violates that freedom.
I feel like we should defund
our law contract and reinvest
into the community and to
the ymca Boys and Girls Club,
the Arts because those programs
work and the community for
which we all grow and benefit
from that Defund police.
Thank you, Nancy.
If you can please unmute.
>> Hi, I'm a mom to two
littles.
I'm an organizer and I work in
homeless services and public
health.
I have used my First Amendment
rights a lot since OCTOBER
2023.
>> I'm asking you to cancel a
contract and use the money to
fund community care including
libraries, parks and rec and
the feel good day center.
Is about investment with a 99.9
fail rate.
It's about investment When it
failed to stop a domestic
terrorist attack.
A good investment is focused on
prevention by preventing a
costly outbreak and providing
showers and laundry or
preventing overflowing yards by
providing a place for someone
to receive their medical
renewal paperwork.
Case management support and
training and employment help to
keep their Medi-Cal under H.R.
One.
This is wise.
Foxman used to wrongly accused
and jail people.
It's been used to stalk women
protesters and immigrants and
cpd for documents Are now so
severely redacted and one
officer looks up when and how
often.
How can I trust that you'll
catch any wrongdoing by an
officer when cpd did it
willingly do that when your
time has concluded?
Harry Evans If you can please
unmute.
Good afternoon and thank you
for the slurry ideas to fund
the multimodal program.
They designed safe crossings
and complete streets in all
nine council districts In 2024
crashes kill three times more
San Diegans than homicides.
That's a safety need.
This team also wins state
grants and supports affordable
housing.
Cutting them would cost
the city And you know about
costly lawsuits from crashes.
This team would help avoid that
for general revenue.
Sell custom San Diego street
signs.
Like other cities do.
New York City just sold out of
Knickerbocker Avenue signs.
Guess why?
For everyone else, let's
pressure Congress to cut just
one f-35 fighter jet.
That alone would cover
the deficit.
Thank you for your continued
investment in the multimodal
program and fund the West
Valley River crossing.
It really would be epic for all
San Diegans.
>> Thank you.
Thank you, Danny.
If you can please unmute me.
Yes, please proceed.
So my name is Danny Rose.
I'm a resident of District
three.
If this council claims to care
about the people that you
represent then I ask you to
think about your neighbors who
are just trying to make it
through the week.
Think about parents who are
looking for something free to
do with their kids on a
Saturday.
Think about kids and teens that
need somewhere to be when
school is out.
Think about college students
who are stretched thin and just
need to go sit in a park that's
maintained or study in a
library that's openly access to
those things is how people are
holding it together.
We make it to the next week
with the support of our
community and we can only help
each other if we have space
safe spaces dedicated to doing
so.
Block Safety cameras don't do
that.
Surveillance doesn't make
people feel safe.
It makes people feel watched.
Cities don't become communities
because you put more cameras on
their corners.
So today you have an
opportunity to tell us with
your vote that you see us.
You hear us and you're going to
invest in us.
Please cancel the flier
contract.
>> One of the library's arts
parks and youth programs.
Thank you.
And x is John Stump.
If you can please unmute.
John Stump I can on mute for
you.
>> There you go.
Yes, Thank you very much.
Earlier I provided you a
suggestion for gaining more
funds by charging a rebate to
any operator in the Belmore
Park and other parks that pays
their employees more than half
$1 million a year.
What I'm concerned about in
this budget is particularly for
the council persons in
districts four, eight and nine.
Have you provided that funding
for the 2024 flood victims?
Is there money in the liability
fund to pay the half billion
dollars worth of claims for
the 2024 flood victims?
Or is an attorney like Michael
Geary going to have to come and
demand those funds from you in
that trial?
Thank you very much.
Bye bye.
Next is Pat Wilson please on
mute but Wilson presents San
Diego Public Library.
Sorry I couldn't be there in
person today.
Thank you for being responsive
to the public's advocacy on
behalf of libraries, parks and
the arts.
Investing in community
resources is public safety.
There's still more work to be
done though.
Library hours haven't been
fully restored even to 2026
levels.
So we request that be done.
Every community just needs its
libraries open and staffed.
The retro pennant skaters
branch should only be closed
for as long as the much needed
renovations take.
Not all year Auction tech
recreation centers are also
vital resources and should be
prioritized over surveillance
technology.
You can cancel a contract and
no one wants it.
Thank you very much for your
attention and good luck on
the rest of the day.
Thank you David.
See if you can please unmute.
Good afternoon.
My name is David Cathal and I'm
calling from Pacific Beach.
I want to emphasize how
important public safety is for
me, my neighborhood and people
all across the city.
Several city council members
say that they too prioritize
public safety and I ask them to
invest in one of the best ways
to keep San Diego safe.
That is funding the multi-modal
team.
It is easy to downplay and
dismiss the dangers of poorly
designed intersections and
crossings until someone dies in
funding the multi-modal team.
There is an opportunity to
proactively save lives.
You cannot save these lives
through weed brush and graffiti
abatement.
You cannot save lives with 12
miles of slurry seal.
If you wish to do more than
just pay lip service to public
safety and instead actually do
something about it if you value
the lives of all San Diegans
including the ones who choose
to walk, ride and roll please
use the r m funds to fund
the multi-modal team.
The West Valley River Crossing
should also be funded.
>> Thank you.
Zoom user If you can please
unmute zoom user.
A pop up should have shown I
can't mute for you.
>> I will have to go to
the next speaker if you can't
name yourself Alida Travis If
you can please unmute.
Alita.
>> Good afternoon City Council
members.
I'm only that Travis print of
the Open Library and
Opportunity Council.
Thank you COUNCILMAN Foster
Rivera Moreno and all of you
for supporting our libraries to
stay open and for our Parks and
Rec.
Again, I'm asking you to
continue working on those
priorities and especially to
make sure that the fund
the funds are for the arts and
culture programs as well.
These services are priority for
our youth families and in all
communities especially in
District four, eight and nine.
Please, please, please make
sure that those three services
continue in all of our
communities especially for
eight and nine.
I urge you do not support block
funding.
Thank you.
Next speakers Dominic Landry if
you can please unmute.
>> Hi.
Hi.
Yes my name is Dominic Landry
from the East Village
Association and I'm here to
speak in support of
the maintenance of the lpr
system utilized by sd pd.
East Village is a large
district.
We are the largest downtown
residential district and
because of our size we see and
because of our accessibility we
see a lot of unfortunate
criminal acts that happen in
and around downtown that seem
to pass through our district
And having an additional tool
for pd to follow up on crimes
and prosecute crimes via
evidence gathering that is
provided by the lpr system
helps our downtown community
remain safer and helps keep
criminals accountable.
I don't think that necessarily
that we need to choose between
arts funding or youth success
funding and lpr funding.
I consider both matters of
public safety and I think it's
incumbent upon this council to
find a way forward in which we
can accomplish both task in
terms of funding our youth
services but also keeping our
public safe.
Thank you.
>> Thank you.
We do have eight speakers left
in the queue.
No additional speakers will be
taken because if you can please
unmute you are unmuted.
>> We do not hear you here in
council chambers.
I'm not sure of the device that
you're speaking into MAY be
muted as well.
If you cannot fix your
technical difficulties will.
We will need to move on
the device your phone or tablet
or any device that you're using
MAY be muted.
You can definitely send in your
comments through City clerk at
San diego.Gov.
Courtney if you can please
unmute.
>> Good afternoon honorable
council members My name is
Courtney Multi-skilled with
the ymca of San Diego County in
Children First Collective.
Thank you for being open to
learning about how thriving
communities are safe
communities and restoring
funding to arts and culture
Park and Rec library and
importantly the Office of Child
and Youth Success I report and
recommendations for a position
back under the mayor's team
will help continue the Child
and Youth Plan really see this
as a baseline and something to
build upon.
We want to applaud all of
the young people who showed out
through budget discussions and
recognize the presentations
given by used will our time to
act amidst City Council Over
the last couple of weeks we
encourage council members and
the mayor to set conditions
where young people continue to
be engaged and heard for civic
engagement.
Appoint your youth
commissioners and young people
cheap show and out Thank you.
>> Thank you.
Next is Susan if you can please
unmute Thank you.
>> My name is Susan Baldwin.
I'm a d9 resident.
After listening to
the testimony today I urge you
to cancel the flier contract
and invest those funds in park
and Recreation and library
programs that benefit San Diego
youth.
Thank you to the council
members who support council
canceling clock But to those
who have not gotten there yet I
sincerely hope you change your
mind and vote to shut down.
>> Block.
Thank you.
Next is Seth Hall.
If you can please unmute Serve
hall.
>> Thank you.
Council members set up hall
with the trust us Nicole and
it's very clear from
the testimony across
the community today that
surveillance system blocking
ubiquity is the wrong
technology in the wrong place
at the wrong time.
And the only remaining question
from this process is whether we
have the wrong city leaders in
place as well.
Four council members have
proposed biting the bullet
making difficult decisions to
reprioritize and fund community
services and fund the things
that the people who are talking
to you are asking for.
The question is do we have a
majority of city council and a
mayor who will double down on
using the wrong technology even
when the vast majority of
the community is asking you to
please redirect the funding?
I implore the City council
members to make difficult
decisions but to go ahead and
make them today and listen to
the community.
>> Your time has concluded and
thank you so much Benjamin
Nichols If you can please
unmute.
>> Hello, my name is Benjamin
Nichols and I'm the executive
director of the Who Quest
Business Association and I
represent 1800 small business
and property owners.
We register our support for
the preservation of the alpaca
camera Technology has a vital
tool for preserving public
safety and Hillcrest.
The troubling rise in
incidences we witnessed several
years ago including a pellet
gun attack and the appearance
of hate filled graffiti
throughout the neighborhood has
receded due to the presence of
these cameras.
This technology isn't about
surveillance but it's about
providing a sense of safety to
our customers and projecting
the message to criminals that
they will be caught.
I must also report our
opposition to the proposed
increase of police fees related
to special events.
Raising these fees is a way to
see your neighborhood.
Street fairs canceled right
now.
Police staffing represents over
20% of the budgets for our
neighborhood festivals.
We have already canceled
beloved neighborhood events
because these huge costs.
>> This is untenable.
Thank you for your time.
Thank you.
Annexes Carina Hellman.
>> Hello?
Can you hear me?
Yes.
Please proceed.
Hi, my name is Carina and I'm
here as a concerned citizen.
I urge you to cancel the Ale
Park Block contract.
It is a serious risk to our
privacy and civil liberties.
It does not require
establishing probable cause and
obtaining search warrants which
provide oversight and
accountability as required by
the Fourth Amendment.
Some folks MAY ask why should I
care if I have nothing to hide?
Because you don't get to decide
what suspicious looks like
tomorrow and mistakes happen
and you're the one who pays for
them.
As history has shown, when
governments or third parties
gain unchecked surveillance
powers their eventually used
against people who aren't doing
anything wrong until someone
decided they are until early in
2025 apps weren't used for
tracking immigrants.
But now they are.
Despite policies prohibiting
it.
>> History has shown that
powerful your time has
concluded at my apologies your
time has concluded.
Blaine Wagner, if you can
please on mute.
Blaine Wagner.
>> How am I coming through One?
Yeah, one minute.
Please proceed.
We can hear you.
>> Hello?
Members of the City Council.
My name is Blaine Wagner and I
live in Bunker Hill in District
three.
First off, I want to thank you
for listening to all of our
comments and dedicating your
time to our city.
I'd like to comment to urge
the City Council to include
the multimodal transportation
team in the budget to members
in their full capacity.
According to the city's
official Vision Zero data in 20
2454 San Diego lost their lives
on our safer streets while in
another hundred and 38 were
severely injured.
These figures are not some
random statistics from a far
far away land.
There are own neighbors and
loved ones.
The multimodal team is an
investment in directly saving
lives pure and simple through
vital work like daylighting
reviews and street redesigns.
I know we're budget sensitive
at the moment.
For this reason I recommend
using the flexible mra or
Transnet Funds consulting
the multimodal team during
routine street repaving creates
an incredibly cheap opportunity
to build safer streets and
completely avoids expensive
capital projects later and
saves our neighbors lives.
>> Thank you.
Thank you.
Next is senior Sanchez and then
our final speaker review at
Voices.
Sign up please unmute icons
again.
Hear me now?
Yes.
Please proceed.
Okay.
>> I do not believe that cbt
should be rewarded with
expanded surveillance powers
while serious questions about
accountability and public trust
remain unresolved.
Now as dpd Officer Brandon
Mcgivern is facing federal
child exploitation charges
involving multiple minors while
he is entitled to due process,
these allegations have
understandably shaken public
confidence in the Department.
At the same time, taxpayers
continue to pay for lawsuits
and settlements involving
police misconduct by officers
and community members raise
concerns about favoritism,
retaliation and a lack of
transparency.
And after the horrific attack
at the Islamic Center claimed
the lives of me and Abdullah
Mansoor as he had an idea of
why we should be asking whether
more surveillance is actually
preventing violence and not
simply collecting more data
after tragedy strikes.
For as dpd receives more
surveillance technology
the public deserves
accountability, transparency
and proof that these systems
are making our community safer.
Trust must come before more
power does.
Thank you.
>> Thank you.
Voices if you can please.
And you.
>> Hi.
My name is a teacher and
the executive director for Big
Voices.
I have been engaged in
the budget process in 2020 now
and every single time.
My only hope is for more people
to engage in the same process
because the conversation about
the budget on the one side I
hear the police turning people
out talking about public safety
and a very singular perspective
The camera and that's it.
But the other side of
the conversation you MAY not
hear it is and I want to state
it out loud is that you cannot
balance the budget on a single
day department.
You have to balance the budget
on every single services
department and needs of
the community.
Because you know what?
Camera does not send no kids to
college.
Its libraries do park keep kids
alive and healthy.
They will send it to our kids
colleges and our culture would
make all kids more imaginative
to become better leaders.
The joke about going to
lobbying to all of you council
member is that the question is
all we have ever done in adult
city I am asking your time has
concluded.
For the record this item did
receive 12 comments in favor
and 29 comments in opposition
Very comment form which have
been distributed to the Council
That does conclude public
comment on item 704.
Thank you Council PRESIDENT.
>> All right.
City Clerk First let's give a
big thank you to city Clerk and
all the city parks staff.
>> They always do an amazing
job juggling all the slips that
come in the bundling the paper
clips, the paper clips that go
sideways, the handwriting that
cannot be written.
But thank you for that.
Before I turn over to my
colleagues, I do want to thank
Charles and Gillian and
the Office of the aba for your
work over the past few weeks.
It's an extraordinary amount of
work processing a lot of data.
I do want to thank the mayor
for sitting through with the 45
chiefs for the city through
the various department heads
that are in the audience
listening in and will make
themselves available if our
colleagues have any questions.
i also want to start out by
recognizing Councilmember
Foster who has been the chair
of the Budget Committee,
chaired the Budget Review
Committee.
And as Council PRESIDENT I'm
going to extend the courtesy to
let you control
the conversation.
Obviously you will kick this
off and we'll see how it goes.
But Friday was not your last
day as budget chair.
>> We're going to keep you a
tight rein on you, sir, because
you've really done the work and
dug in you and your staff and
it is very much appreciated.
I will have more comments but I
wanted to kind of signal to my
colleagues about how we should
run this.
We are going to get a budget
adopted to day to night.
Let's see how we get there.
So with that council member
foster chair of our budget
committee kick us off.
Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT And thank you
to the independent budget
analyst and your team for all
the work with this fy 2027
budget process not just for
the work with the Council but
also for the work with
the public and community town
halls.
It's always good to have you
and your team in District four
so thank you for your
willingness to always come out
.
Also just want to thank
the public for your engagement
during this budget development
cycle not just for today.
These conversations have
because of the challenges that
we face with this budget.
We tried our best in working
with Council PRESIDENT To make
sure we offered additional
opportunities for public
engagement because as we are
trying to deal with
the structural deficit we just
want to make sure that we do
everything we can to understand
your thoughts, your needs as we
continue to move forward.
I would also like to thank
the mayor and city staff as I
said, you know, this has been
going this has been a long road
to get us here today.
>> First I want to start by
also acknowledging
the structural deficit.
And thank my colleagues for
the robust discussion that has
taken place this year.
As everyone is aware, we
started the f y 2027 budget
discussions with about $120
million structural deficit.
This structural deficit did not
begin yesterday nor is it
the cause of this council.
Rather is the cause of years of
mismanagement by the very
individuals that we see today
in press conferences and on
social media that are
intentionally misleading
the public.
And I must say this budget
cycle demands tough discussions
and decisions.
But as I have previously said,
even in a deficit we must not
lose our moral compass.
>> For me this is about
the city's priorities and what
the city plans to prioritize in
its budget.
And unfortunately due to
the deficit, city services are
affected which in turn directly
impacts the quality of life for
residents.
I represent communities that
for generations have been
overlooked in budget
conversations.
These are working families
primarily people of color who
have long endured
disinvestment, inadequate
infrastructure and lack of
access to opportunity.
Let me be very clear.
Equity has to continue to be
the path forward.
>> And as we continue to move
away from across the board cuts
,it will be more
uncomfortable.
Change is not easy.
But change we must.
This proposal budget has made
progress.
When we look at equity we are
investing in community and our
youth essential for safety,
workforce development and
community well-being.
We are restoring library parks
and recreation.
Prioritizing services in
under-resourced communities
where these services are
critical to the success of our
neighborhoods.
We are investing in
infrastructure in our
under-resourced communities.
We must hold the line and go
further.
A city where equity drives
investment decisions must be
our standard, not a sound bite.
As we move forward the city
must continue to address
the structural deficit.
And the city must improve
Regarding transparency and
accountability.
We must improve public trust.
There is still much to do and I
look forward to the discussions
to come as we work to make San
Diego the best it can be and
meet the call of all residents
to the residents of District
four And I spend my days with
one question on my heart.
What is in the best interest of
District four?
And I stand committed to
ensuring that District four
receives investment that it
deserves.
And so with that Council
PRESIDENT I offer the following
motion MADAM Clerk, if we can
pull up the slide deck Next
slide.
Next slide.
So with that item number one I
move that we approve
the mayor's fiscal year 2027
proposed budget as modified by
the mayor's MAY revision.
>> Number two approve the eib's
recommended final budget
expenditure modification tions
included in ibr report.
Number 26 dash 15 as summarized
in Table two.
Recommended General Fund
Expenditure Modifications Page
20.
And as supported by recommended
resources identified in Table
one.
Recommended General Fund
resources for modifications to
f y 2027 Budget Page 12 with
the following modifications to
Table one to reduce residual
redevelopment Property tax
Trust Fund r f the amount of
$185 I will just as a point of
clarification if I can ask
the City Attorney's office do I
need to read into the record
each and every dollar value or
is referencing the tables?
Does that mean that satisfy
what we need?
>> These are already in the ibj
reports so you can just read
them.
Okay.
Think about saying all
the dollar amounts.
>> Okay.
So then what I will do is I
will read through for table two
as shown the aba's recommended
general fund expenditure
modification from the iab
report 26 Dash 15.
The following are ongoing
operating budget items restored
cps Child and Youth Success
Program Coordinator and Non
Personnel Expenditures Office
of the City Auditor
Restorations Special Events
Filming Program Manager
Restoration Independent Budget
Analyst Office Restoration
Monies allocated for a Deputy
City Clerk two and funding
provided for the Ethics
Commission Management Software
Licensing fee I'm sorry.
Yes.
Licensee fee For one time
operating budget items
the following are restored or
included The Small Business
Enhancement Program The Office
of the Commission on Police
Practices Complaint and
Investigation Information
Management System and
the Ethics Commission
Management Software
Implementation Item number
three approve the restoration
of the multi-modal team for
1.41.44 $1,450,000 within
the Transportation Department
and authorize the same amount
the use of road maintenance and
rehabilitation account rmr
funds to reimburse work of
the team on eligible projects.
Number four Approve arts and
culture funding in the amount
of $6 million by transferring
$6 million in Measure c
Convention center funds to
the special promotional
programs budget for payment of
existing convention center debt
as described on pages five
through seven an award freed up
special promotional program
dollars to arts I'm sorry to
hold on really quick Just need
to check something two Arts
organization is using currently
established methodology number
five approve alternative
homelessness program reductions
as described on pages seven
through nine In place of those
reflected in the MAY revision
adjustments or which have no
net budgetary impact number six
approve the restoration of one
program manager within
the Office of Labor Standards
and Enforcement transfer
the existing 28 fte positions
and restored program manager
from the City Treasurer's
office to the City Attorney's
Office and increase city
Attorney office revenue by 2.2
million as described on pages
nine through ten I have a
number seven approve
the following expenditure
restorations and additional
operating expenditures Library
restorations all branches
recreation center restorations
all parks and rec centers Arts
and culture a community
festival program funding
$450,000 Homelessness Security
services for safe Storage
Police Department Graffiti Unit
Supervisor Police Department
Sex Registration Unit
Supervisor.
Stormwater clearance includes
Wetland and channel maintenance
The amount of $1,345,451
includes expansion of Lifeguard
Wilderness program Fire Rescue
Community Resource Officer and
taking the excess equity and
making a contribution to
the general Fund Stability
Reserve in the amount of $1.7
million.
Number eight to effectuate
action seven Allocate
the following identified
resources Take in additional
property management cost
savings and also defund
the smart street light
automated license plate reader
contract.
Again I would like to note for
the record in regards to
the license plate reader
contract I have very specific
concerns and ethical issues
regarding on how that contract
was awarded.
As we know it was a sole source
negotiated contract and
the current and the officer
that was responsible for
negotiating that contract is
now employed by
the manufacturer.
We have already had data
breaches within our own system
and as stated during public
comment almost 70 cities have
either rejected or canceled
the flight contracts.
Moving to item number nine
appropriate $750,000 from
the Mission Valley Urban Impact
Fee to a new capital
improvement project scope
project for the West Valley
River Crossing and item number
ten allocate the remaining 2.6
million from the Neighborhood
Enhancement Fee Fund to
the Affordable Housing
Preservation Fund to be managed
by the San Diego Housing
Commission.
And with that that concludes
the motion to approve the f y
27 budget.
Council PRESIDENT You stepped
up and delivered my friend.
Well done.
All right.
So we have a motion by Council
member Foster as hard copy that
was distributed and was on
the screen briefly We'll go
next to Council PRESIDENT Pro
Tem Lee Thank you Council
PRESIDENT And thank you to
the public for your patience
and feedback not just as we
finalize the budget today but
throughout the months of this
process.
I want to thank Chair Foster
for his leadership through this
process as well as walking
through this motion.
I'm going to take a quick aside
to recognize our six interns
Saba, Natalie, Paulo and Jacob
who are back here of all
meetings.
They chose this meeting to be
their first meeting to be in
chambers.
Thank you for making that
choice.
>> Thank you for the ipa.
We cannot accomplish what we do
without their work But I want
to note especially that
the public benefits
tremendously from their ability
to provide greater transparency
and clarity in understanding
every step of this budget
debate took all of our
priorities and ultimately
recommended a series of actions
that matches with many of those
priorities including restoring
funding for community programs
and projects the Office of
Child and Youth Success,
the film program manager and
much more.
I want to especially note my
frustration that with every
budget year we see attempts to
cut funding for the city's
critical oversight offices such
as the Office of the City
Auditor.
Thank you for restoring that
and I certainly believe it is
time that we now take action to
prevent this annual back and
forth with our auditor moving
forward.
We often talk about how a
budget is a statement of our
values not just as ambiguous
beliefs, not even just the KPIs
or goals we work to achieve
year over year but perhaps
literally what do we value?
And from the very start of our
budget hearings I have stated
that it's not enough to simply
balance our budget fiscally but
to actually deliver a balance
that meets the needs of
residents throughout every part
of San Diego.
To me a balanced city means
that we value the significance
of our libraries and recreation
centers for the critical role
they play especially for young
people.
This motion provides a full
restoration of library and
recreation center hours across
the city.
We value our artistic and
cultural economy One that we've
studied provides over $1
billion of economic impact but
which also impacts are very
livelihoods and what it means
to be a San Diego And I'm proud
to have collaborated with
Budget Chair Foster as we held
numerous discussions with
stakeholders throughout our
arts and culture community,
the tourism industry and
philanthropic partners to not
only seek restoration of
funding for this year but to
begin the broader regional and
collaborative discussions about
how we move forward.
I want to take this moment to
thank our county supervisors
Chair Larson Riemer, Vice Chair
Montgomery Step and Pro Tem
Aguirre for their recent
support of arts and culture not
in place of the city's efforts
but as an addition to what we
envision is needed for our
region.
Thank you to the previous
foundation who stepped up at
this critical moment with a
matching commitment of $3
million Again not to backfill
the city but to show that they
can collaborate with the city,
the county and the entire arts
and culture community to
explore a new path forward
Together with this proposal's
restoration of kps and aco
funding we restore over $10.3
million back into our
communities.
Finally, we absolutely do value
public safety in this city in
fact, I'm sure many members of
the public would be happy to
point out that our budget seems
to value it heavily.
But I would also note that we
don't just value public safety
in the form of our police
department which does do
essential and critical work
that keeps all of us safe on a
daily basis.
This motion shows that we value
the safety that is achieved
through a variety of our core
services libraries that teach
and provide safe spaces rec
centers that keep youth and
families active stormwater
channel maintenance needs that
are recommended by our fire
chief ahead of future storms.
And finally funding to support
Lifeguard Wellness Fire
Department outreach needs and
police department positions to
address sex crimes and graffiti
All of these I consider to be
part of public safety as well.
This council has had plenty of
difficult discussions about
the use of automated license
plate readers and as a
councilmember I have supported
the use of lpr technology and
believe that it can support our
effort when it comes to solving
crimes.
Even in doing so I've also
fought to tighten our
regulatory regulations around
its use and to ask that we
identify new potential vendor
options.
If this were a year where
resources were abundant I would
choose to fund every one of
these priorities.
But that's not this year.
This is a year when the city
faces difficult choices and
we're being asked to choose
what comes first and when that
choice is between the use of
lpr technology versus restoring
libraries and rec center hours
funding storm water channel
clearance that the city has
frankly neglected for decades
and that our fire chief again
has explicitly identified as a
public safety priority or even
funding actual police officers
and other public safety
personnel doing work in our
communities.
>> To me that choice is clear.
>> Take the three minutes.
These are the core services
this city must deliver and I am
willing to redirect funding
from our technology to make all
of that possible.
Let me close that by noting
that each of these last few
years this mayor has proposed
each budget cycle to cut
libraries, to cut rec centers
and this year to decimate
the city's commitment to public
arts and culture support.
Each year this Council steps in
to explore every possible
avenue to restore these
critical facilities, programs
and services.
What is frustrated many of us
is not simply that we're facing
fiscal challenges.
Many major cities are facing
fiscal challenges.
What is frustrated us is being
repeatedly told that these cuts
are inevitable only to discover
that alternatives existed And
this council with the ipa was
left to do the work of finding
them.
We and the public we want to
believe We want to know that
even if a budget proposal does
not protect everything we care
about that we will and that we
are doing everything we
possibly can to protect those
things we claim to value.
So today I believe this motion
reflects exactly that
commitment.
It demonstrates that even in a
difficult year we are willing
to fight for libraries,
recreation centers, arts and
cultural programs and
the public safety services that
San Diego fans value most.
And with that I proudly second
this motion.
All right.
Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT Pro Tom Lee.
So we have a motion by Council
member Foster a second by
Council PRESIDENT Pro Tem Lee
as distributed by our Budget
Chair Council member Foster.
We'll go next to council member
Eli Rivera.
Thank you Council PRESIDENT
Charles Thank you to you and
your team for all the work you
did throughout this process.
Thank you to the mayor and your
team for engaging in
conversation.
Chair Foster thank you for
everything you've done since
the beginning of this process
I've been consistently
emphasizing that these
conversations about the budget
must begin with a vision for
the city that we're trying to
build.
I've also tried to be clear
that I'm willing to make
difficult choices if it means
moving us toward a San Diego
that prioritizes San Diegans,
our working families, our young
professionals, our youth not
the wealthy interests that have
too often dictated our
priorities.
The decision today is an
opportunity to act on the on
the values we spent this budget
season talking about.
I want to thank Council
President Pro Tem Lee and
Budget Chair Foster for acting
on their values and doing
the work to identify
responsible resources to
largely restore arts and
culture funding.
Thank you for rolling up your
sleeves and doing that.
I'm also glad the Mayor's
office and Department of
Finance and ipa worked with us
to revise the budget in such a
way that included the choice to
modernize our use of accessible
funds to maintain operations at
libraries, parks and rec
centers in districts four,
eight and nine.
Every dollar that we spend
reflects a choice about what
matters most to us.
What matters most to me is that
the people in our community can
see a future for themselves and
feel that we believe in them
and love them especially our
youth.
That commitment raises
questions that I think are
worth asking out loud and
wrestling with.
Do we want to support arts and
culture organizations that
enrich our communities and make
self-expression accessible to
all San Diego?
Or do we want to use public
dollars to subsidize a single
billionaire owned enterprise?
Do we want to spend scarce
resources on a 24 seven ai
powered surveillance?
Or do we want to use those
dollars to keep parks open,
restored library hours and
create opportunities for young
people, families and seniors in
our rec centers?
One point on the surveillance
question We've heard from San
Diegans for years now about why
so many in our community
distrust this technology.
The data breaches
the inappropriate relationship
between the officer who
champion the technology and
the company who makes millions
for our city.
The untrustworthiness of
the corporation we contract
with.
The posture of a fascist
federal government that has
shown it will use any tool
available to use it to use
against immigrants and
dissenters.
And we just learned about one
more reason for serious
concern.
And that's the false sense of
confidence this technology
creates and what that can cost
us.
That false confidence led to
the wrongful jailing of two
innocent people in our city.
One of them spent over a month
behind bars missing
Thanksgiving with his family
for something he didn't do.
The legal cost to the city will
likely be significant.
But more importantly the cost
to him his family and
the distress shown by those who
know the story cannot be undone
.
And there are the other moments
that are much more difficult to
count when officers wait for an
lpr to ping.
While action could have been
taken.
That's not safety.
That's technology getting in
the way of work.
It's irresponsible and
unnecessary to spend nearly $2
million on a system that has
produced this outcome while we
are telling kids their library
hours are being cut.
I support the motion made by
Councilmember Foster because it
moves us closer to the city
that we should be a city where
our young people feel loved and
supported by an office
dedicated to their health,
happiness and success.
A city where libraries, parks
and rec centers remain open and
accessible to every community.
A city with safer streets for
everyone whether they walk,
bike or drive.
Through continued support for
the multimodal transportation
team a city with a vibrant arts
and culture ecosystems
supported through a coordinated
partnership with the city,
the county and philanthropy.
And to that point I do want to
say thank you, Kim.
You and your team within
the Division of Race and Equity
in the Ideas Office for
pointing out a structural issue
that we've had for a long time
in terms of how arts funding is
distributed.
I know that we're not going to
make the strides that we could
make this year on that front
but I do think it's important
again to wrestle with
the question of what as we're
distributing and investing in
arts and culture should we be
factoring in that we are
contributing more to
organizations where the city
where the executives make more
than entire organizations get
on an annual basis?
That's a community conversation
that needs to be wrestled with.
And I thank you all for
pointing that out.
And that brings me to where we
thought we shouldn't be
wrestling with on a year by
year basis.
San Diegans I'm not satisfied
with this budget.
To that point, San Diegans
should not be scrambling to
save funding for their most
cherished neighborhood
services.
Firefighters and lifeguards
should not have to beg this
city for the basics They need
to do their jobs.
That is not who we should be.
We cannot continue avoiding
the underlying problem.
We must address our revenue
challenges and our ongoing
structural budget deficit year
after year we find ourselves
fighting over what services to
cut and what services to save.
I asked a question at
the beginning of this budget
cycle What city do we want to
be?
Again and again San Diegans
have shown up and told us they
want more.
They want better and they
believe we can do more, can do
more and be better.
I agree with them.
The next important conversation
is about how we collect
the resources necessary to get
there.
I say tax the rich and wealthy
and make tourist pay their fair
share.
I think most San Diegans agree.
But that's a conversation for
tomorrow.
We've got a budget to pass
today.
This motion reflects
responsible budgeting and our
shared values.
It prioritizes the services
that residents use every day
and invests in the quality of
life that makes neighborhoods
stronger.
And I hope this this motion in
front of us will pass.
It doesn't get us entirely to
the city.
We should be but it's a step
forward.
We'll keep fighting for
the rest.
Thank you, Council PRESIDENT.
All right.
Thank you, Council member Ella
Rivera.
We'll go next to Council member
Moreno.
Thank you for the presentation
And and first I would like to
thank our budget review
committee chair council member
Foster and all your staff for
writing a efficient and
transparent budget process.
Thank you to all the community
members who have voiced their
viewpoints throughout this
hearing.
We are listening.
Also thank you to the aba for
your continuing and your
continued analysis of this
budget and suggested
modifications.
The original proposed budget
was being balanced on the backs
of communities that have been
underserved by the city for
decades.
The motion before us today as
crafted by my colleagues take
major steps in the right
direction.
If given the choice of
defunding automated license
plate reader technology or
keeping core services like
parks and rec libraries open we
should absolutely be choosing
park and rec and libraries to
stay open in the city of San
Diego.
Automated license plate readers
should never be viewed as a
substitute for the relationship
Trust and presence that comes
from having police officers
actively engaged in our
community.
This is not the first time I
voiced concern about
surveillance technology.
When the contract was first
introduced I raised questions
about privacy data security and
the potential for misuse.
I still am concerned about this
PRESIDENT's administration's
use of surveillance technology
and I'm still concerned about
how ice and other agencies
might be using this technology
to target specific groups of
people.
I have a responsibility to
carefully evaluate technologies
that collect and store large
amounts of information about
the public.
This is why I voted no When
the contract first came to
council.
And I would urge my colleagues
to vote for the motion on
the floor and the floor to
defund the Floc surveillance.
Moving on The restoration of
arts and cultural funding is
particularly important to
communities that I represent.
I want to thank I want to take
this opportunity to think Chair
Foster Pro-Tem Lee and
the private foundation.
For many years I have urged
the arts and cultural community
to bring the services to date.
Thanks to that commitment my
community has been exposed to
arts and culture and I would
venture to say that many of my
residents first exposure to
arts and cultural programing
comes through programs
supported by the city.
Arts and culture is a core
service of the city because
this council has said this
through policies like Penny for
the Arts Anyone who disagrees
with me I would welcome them to
slash our arts and cultural
funding.
>> I'm also pleased to see this
Council honor its commitment to
continue 24 hour security at
the storage Connect Center
site.
Indeed, when this storage
facility was first introduced
to council in 2018 before I was
elected the city made a
commitment to keep 2047
security on the safe storage
site on 116 South 20th Street
which I will point is right
next to Our Lady of Guadalupe
Church right that has an
elementary school in it.
>> Funding for security
services at the safe storage
facility is about more than a
line item in the budget.
It's about keeping a promise to
the community.
I remain deeply moving right on
to another topic I still remain
deeply concerned about
the proposed reduction to
several stormwater programs.
I know these concerns are
shared by the Storm water
department.
I was very happy to see Fire
Chief Logan recognize what i
said during the budget reviews.
I stated during the MAY
revision discussion The city
must learn from the storms of
2024 and prepare for future
severe weather events including
the possibility of a Super El
Nino this year.
I appreciate the proactive ness
of the new head of the office
of Emergency Services Fire
Chief Logan for looking into
what preventative measures
the city can take before
disaster happens.
>> Funding for storm Water
channel clearance is essential
to protecting public safety and
safeguarding our communities.
>> However, the broader reality
remains the Storm water
department must be funded at a
level that allows it to
adequately maintain and
modernize our infrastructure so
that it can withstand
the increasingly severe storms
we're facing.
One way that I welcome to
achieve all of these goals is
by implementing the many
recommendations that the city
auditor has proposed to this
administration.
I also support
the recommendations to
strengthen oversight and
accountability through
investment in the city
Auditor's Office, the Ethics
Commission, the City Clerk's
Office and the Office of Labor
Standards and Enforcement.
Residents expect transparency
and an end in effective
government and these functions
are essential to maintaining
public confidence in the city.
I believe the motion on
the floor as crafted by my
colleague reflects many of
the values this Council has
consistently expressed.
Investing in core city
services, protecting community
resources and ultimately
ensuring that our budget
decisions are aligned with
the needs of the residents.
So I'm very supportive of
the motion before us today.
Thank you.
All right.
Thank you.
Council member Moreno.
We'll go next to Council member
.
Thank you Council PRESIDENT.
Thank you to the members of
the public who joined us
through the entire process.
Thank you to the eib's office
for your good work and analysis
and working with my staff to
analyze this throughout
the throughout the last month
and a half.
Marianne, your team of course
for being at these meetings and
listening the whole time.
And thank you to our budget
chair for his preparation and
guidance throughout this.
I appreciate just how much
the motion in front of us does
in terms of meeting
the priorities that serve
District seven residents.
Office of Child and Youth
Success was something I
obviously championed in 2021
and happy to see that re
refunded in this measure.
Small Business Enhancement
Program As the chair of edi and
I are I've been pressing for
that every single year
undeniably and of course
the opposite The independent
offices that hold the city
accountable not just the mayor
but also the city council,
the city auditor, the ethics
commission and all of those
getting funding absolutely
critical.
And of course working hard year
after year to restore library
hours, recreation hours Those
are of immense importance to
children In Linda Vista and
children in every community.
Oftentimes communities of
concern are described in one
part of the city and I can
attest with my own eyes that
there are low income and
working class families in every
single neighborhood in my
district who rely on those
services and absolutely
appreciate the advocacy of not
just me but all nine city
council members.
And last but not least the arts
and culture community for
pressing so hard for a complete
gutting back to where we are
today.
It's a very, very strong signal
that the community sent that I
absolutely stand with And I do
have to appreciate that we're
seeing graffiti unit supervisor
in the sex registration unit
supervisor place back in that
is undeniably important What I
see through the rest of
the motion definitely has my
support.
I do appreciate that the West
Valley River crossing something
that I've pushed for before
while sitting in the sandag
boardroom and sitting with San
Diego River Park Foundation
trying to get that connected.
It's not always a DR. Steven
Gallop who comes in to advocate
for that with me but many, many
people as I see this entire
motion before us I'm deeply,
deeply appreciative.
But there is a $2 million
problem The idea of license
plate readers being directly
pitted against children and
youth and families is a false
choice as any as false of any
choice as we've seen in this
entire debate.
And of course it's deliberate
It forces us to ignore
the reality of what these tools
do to save lives in the city
every day.
Let me be clear I want every
person to feel safe in our
city.
When I was a prosecutor for
the city, whether it was trying
a trial or a verdict and having
12 people find their peers
guilty or it was dismissing a
case with a green sheet many,
many times justice has to be
done and lawyers collect some
of that evidence.
But ending the use of Alpers
does not make everyone in this
city feel safe.
It doesn't make us safer.
First of all, no piece of
technology can stop all crime.
I don't think it was ever
promised as such.
If the measure of success is
that some tool is going to stop
all crime, well then that's a
measure that will never be met.
No tool will ever be perfect.
I don't think anyone on
the streets ever promised that
either.
And personally I resent
the idea of placing children
and families directly against
this technology because I've
had families who've had their
children and their their
fathers, their aunts and uncles
the perpetrators who murdered
them, beat them to death and
went to their court with this
multiple times trying to see it
on a weekly basis.
Those families aren't faceless
people.
They're humans oftentimes who
are at a park when they got
beat to death.
The reality is that
the children that are kept safe
because their abusers are found
those children are human beings
.
>> Who here wants to go tell
those families no, your family
doesn't get justice.
The domestic violence survivors
,they get justice.
>> Do you sit in a courtroom,
You prosecute a person who's
done something heinous.
And the difference between a
guilty conviction and that
person walking free is an lpr
who here stands with that
criminal.
I don't think the person or I
don't think anybody in that
room.
One more outburst and you'll
have to be escorted.
You know the rules.
Let them talk.
We'll let everybody else talk.
But you agree with them or not?
Now here's the difference.
I don't think anybody in here
is trying to get rid of lawyers
stands with that criminal.
I'm not going to take
the debate in that direction.
I know you want people to have
justice fairness on both hands
because you're human.
I'm human.
All these councilmembers up
here are human.
We're trying to make human
decisions.
The fear of parents that are
relying on Amber Alerts to find
their missing children that's
human.
As I've said in public and on
the dais, I unequivocally
condemn the humanitarian abuses
that are occurring across this
country.
I've made my perspective clear
.
I've done my part in elections
to make sure that never came to
pass in our country.
And I'll highlight again why I
really deeply resent the way
this conversation goes.
Someone raising children with
multiple heritages Mexican and
Iranian heritage Mexican
immigrant and Muslim parents
knowing this is the world
they're inheriting.
I know that world where they're
going to walk and be viewed
suspiciously by virtue of their
last name.
That fear is real.
But here's a question I come
back to every day.
What's the impact of
the decision today and
tomorrow?
Ending the El Al pr contract
doesn't alleviate everyone's
fear.
For many people it actually
increases it.
Tomorrow the city would lose
the public safety tool that
saves lives each and every day.
>> So many other cities around
us using that technology,
removing it in essence would be
inviting more crime to our
neighborhood.
You can laugh.
Okay, But I'm going to tell you
home and Julissa.
Second warning Nobody
interfered with anybody's
ability to talk.
It's a simple rule.
Extend the courtesy.
Put your thumbs up or thumbs
down.
Let the individual speak.
As I said, it was never about
content.
It was about disruption and
disrupting the meeting.
Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT.
It's not logical to remove them
when so many other cities
around us have them and then we
are no longer we're no longer
part of that network.
That's not a tradeoff I'm
willing to make.
That's not a tradeoff that
the vast majority of our
constituents are asking for.
Council member Foster I
appreciate the details you have
in here but there's $2 million
problem one that I think
sacrifices significant public
safety evidence collection for
us to hold people accountable
in court which is what it does.
>> I've seen it firsthand.
Thank you.
I think a council member can't
be our connector Council member
Von Wolford, thank you very
much And thank you to Charles
and your entire team for all
the incredible work you do
every year on our budget
process.
Thank you to the mayor's office
and Department of Finance and
everybody And thank you,
Councilmember Foster for
putting together the budget
motion.
What I'm very pleased to see
that we are going to be
restoring the funding for arts
and culture.
It's fantastic.
Thank you art and culture for
coming to be here every year.
But I do hear you on finding a
permanent solution.
Agreed.
And if there is no greater
proof that arts and culture
create incredible jobs in an
economy here in San Diego, it's
our focus.
Is the hard working stagehand
workers who put together this
incredible you know, Comic-Con
is coming.
It's one of the biggest year to
build a city inside
the convention center.
And so I want to thank the ac
workers for being here to show
us that arts and culture is not
only need in our communities
but also create jobs at
the same time leading to my
next point which is we have to
protect working people from
wage theft.
There are so many people who go
in and work incredibly hard in
their employer does not pay
them for a fair day's wages and
they steal their wages.
It is a real crime that needs
to be addressed.
The San Diego District
Attorney's Office has found
that an overwhelming majority
of surveyed hourly workers face
some form of stolen wages.
Yet a massive proportion of
these violations go unreported
because they are vulnerable
workers.
I'm talking about low wage
earners.
Immigrant populations are
taking advantage all the time
by employers.
Service sector workers anyone
paid hourly.
So I'm very glad to see that we
are going to in this motion
putting forward a program
manager position in the Office
of Labor Standards Enforcement
to combat wage theft in
the city.
I'm glad we're taking it over
to the city attorney's office
because that can be a self
recovering funding position.
The more fines and fees you get
from criminal employers you can
put it back into the system to
enforce it against anyone else.
So I think that's a really
great change.
I'm also glad to see that we
are using our opioid settlement
funds as they are intended to
be used which is combating
the addiction crisis in our
streets, in our homes.
Thank you to the lgbt Center
for being here.
I'm very glad we're going to be
partnering with you to be doing
subsidies treatment for some of
our most vulnerable lgbtq folks
who have historically been
kicked out of treatment
programs because they come out
as gay.
And so I'm glad to see we are
doing this.
I'm also glad to see we're
continuing our partnership in
our emergency rooms with
the transition support team at
uc San Diego to get people help
if they survive an overdose and
wake up in your bed.
I want to thank Legally for
being here with the eviction
prevention program Partnering
our eviction prevention funds
with a qualified lawyer from
Legal Aid is the best
partnership we can do to keep
people in their homes.
I want to legally where I used
to survey the eviction defense
clinics and the restraining
order clinics and I know how
important it is to have that
back rent so you can pay it and
it does not affect you.
So thank you for being here for
the fire department.
Do you have a question for
Chief Logan?
Considering we just had a fire
to date yesterday in support of
Alley one.
Thank you for your work on that
but I just want to ask again
and make sure that we are fully
funded for our aerial
operations to protect the city
from fires this coming year.
Yes, we are.
What?
Thank you.
Fantastic.
Also, you know, I really want
to make sure that we have
strong qualified women in our
fire department.
You know, every the city has
done pay equity studies to show
that women can be paid less.
Unfortunately, city employees
and hardest glass ceilings to
crack has been the fire
department.
And so I was very sad to see
that the Women's Firefighter
Academy was not restored this
year.
But I do want to make sure that
there are qualified women in
leadership positions And that's
what you were committed to
going to do?
Yes.
Okay.
But you can be qualified.
We're not just supporting
anybody Believe you don't want
to send me into a burning
building.
I will not be able to help
anybody.
But thank you.
I appreciate that.
And finally, when it comes to
public safety, you know, we
discussed this a bit on Friday
but I do believe we need to
have a holistic conversation on
public safety.
I believe we need both.
We need our parks and rec and
libraries.
We need arts and we need police
officers to respond to criminal
activities that make those
public spaces unsafe.
You know, when I first got
elected there was a fatal
stabbing in a community park in
Favor Springs And none of
the families who use that
community park want to go back
there until the suspect who
murdered somebody was arrested
because it was no longer a safe
space.
I don't believe that we have to
take away funding from one part
of public safety or to fund
the other.
We can have both.
I reject the premise that
the only way to have a good
parking brake system is by
defunding part of our police
department.
The city spent $60 million
buying new traffic lanes for
everybody recently which is now
apparently would affect our
general fund based on
the settlement that we just did
on crashes.
I mean that's ridiculous.
New trashcans don't make anyone
safer.
We could have rejected that and
funded both our police
department and our parks and
rec and our libraries.
So I don't agree with this
premise right now at all.
I also think we need
the Commission on Police
Practices to be funded to be
part of our public safety and
our No shots fired program for
violent interruption.
So I'm glad to see that in this
motion we are providing
technology that they need at
the Commission on Police
Practices and I hear so often
about what other cities do or
police and other cities do.
We cannot control what's
happening in other cities and
what the police officers choose
to do in other cities.
It is horrendous.
If anyone wants to stalk a
girlfriend based on technology
that is awful, they should be
fired.
And in this city we're fighting
to make sure that ice does not
come in.
I want to thank you for beating
on the due process ordinance to
make sure that ice agents are
not allowed on city property
without a warrant just like
police should be able to.
And we have led the vote to sue
ice taken to court alongside
our sister city in Minneapolis
to prevent them from coming
into our communities.
And we've led the fight to make
sure that our systems are
locked down.
San Diego is the only one in
the state that I know of that
doesn't share automated license
plate reader data with other
cities.
They did when we first tried to
mine an audit court that we
turned that function off
because we don't trust other
cities.
Even at that level
underestimated before.
So I want a commitment again
from our police department that
we are not cooperating in
immigration enforcement and
that there will be consequences
for any officer who violates
California state law.
Good evening.
Council Member.
Absolutely.
We are committed to one abiding
by state law and also being
transparent about the way that
we're using that technology.
I want to thank you, Chief.
>> You know, I've heard we
litigate this issue so many
times.
I mean I'm a member of
the lgbtq community and I
remember when the hate crimes
were happening a few years ago
before Pride and there was an
unidentified gunmen who was
shooting pellets at people just
sitting in bars or bridges and
somebody almost lost an eye and
we couldn't find that person
until we had an npr interview.
This is making us safer.
But I'm also just so confused
about this conversation because
I believe in accountability and
trust in oversight which we
have worked so hard to do in
the city.
We have to hold police officers
accountable when they break
the law.
I'm glad that Wanda Fisher is
no longer in the department But
the same time during the height
of the MeToo look the MeToo
movement I remember across
the country we all said hey,
survivors of sexual assault and
violence have to be believed.
They have to be held
accountable.
The perpetrators have to go.
We jailed Harvey Weinstein and
others but just yesterday we
found out about a woman who was
kidnaped in the mermaid
community by her domestic
violence abuser.
Witnesses saw her being pulled
into a car screaming.
She got out.
He pulled her back into the car
taking to her house.
And the only reason we caught
this guy is because his license
plate triggered on on.
She's a victim.
Why aren't we going to support
her abuser being caught?
I don't understand it.
There was a woman who lost her
life this weekend when her
abuser came from Arizona and
shot her in the head while she
was pregnant.
These are the people that I
care about when we talk about
this so we can go back to
the old way of policing if we
want But there'll be
consequences of that if it.
All right.
Thank Councilmember Obama
Albert not seeing anybody else
on the lights.
I guess I'll kind of close it
up.
I'm going to be particularly
brief as some of you especially
those that have already left
have anticipated.
But I do want to thank
Councilmember Foster for your
leadership and especially your
work today.
The progress from the initial
four person memo to what is in
front of us is our rather
extraordinary piece of work.
Listening to the public,
listening to your colleagues
during budget conversations.
Again, thank you to the aba.
I also want to thank Council.
Council PRESIDENT Pro Tem Lee
and Councilmember Foster for
their work on the arts funding
and what it took to pull that
together.
And the partnership with
the private foundation as well
as the county.
Again I want to thank
Councilmember Whitburn for
the work on the settlement
agreement which removed a very
dark cloud that would have hung
over us in these budget
conversations going forward.
Real quickly I can still
remember my attempt last year
to get a little extra money
into stormwater and that failed
So to see in excess of 1.3
million being proposed is
rather an extraordinary change
and I really applaud my
colleagues for that.
So at the end of the day was
really only one question I
think is everybody's mind.
And so let me I'm not a
storyteller.
I'm just going to cut to
the chase.
Council PRESIDENT Pro Tem Lee
enough often think very, very
much like in the introduction
you gave sir to your logic is
exactly the same process I got
you on the pivot.
The question for you was a
matter of the budget If I
understood correctly with
the concerns and the places we
were aligned.
For me it is not I think we can
do both.
I don't think there is one
incident that justifies
the lpr.
I don't think that one incident
that justifies eliminating a
person that I respect who made
an important point I'm not
going to disrespect by using
her name with my comment gave
me my workplan for the rest of
the year.
There is work to be done.
We are not done with
the Ubiquiti contract and I
look forward to conversations
with them.
So while I love so much of what
is in this motion I will be
voting no.
So with that I see nobody else
on the lights.
We do have a motion by Council
member Foster.
We have a second by Council
PRESIDENT Pro Tem Lee.
We are voting on the handout
here.
In front of the council members
going forward So please call
the roll.
>> I'm sorry the voting system
Please cast your vote and that
fails 5 to 4 with council
PRESIDENT Like all the Council
member Campo Council member Von
Wilpert Council on the report
and Council Member Campbell
voting No Thank you Council
PRESIDENT Okay we're not done.
We still have work to do and as
I said at the onset Council
Member Foster I would return to
you if you wanted to offer an
alternative motion.
Yes.
And I just want to to make
something clear.
This was not a pit one against
the other.
This is what I identified in
the budget as I want And I
think if we are going to have
serious conversations about a
structural deficit, we need to
really understand
the difference between a want
and a need.
And I can appreciate certain
individuals who think
the camera or license plate
reader makes them safe.
But truly what makes people
safe is community And I think
we need to be honest about that
.
And as much as we talk about
the tell it to cities, I am
very, very taken aback by how
much we disregard certain
communities and their lives as
well as community members And I
have to say that like that
because I truly do question Do
we care about all people or do
we just care about a select few
?
And the longer I sit in this
seat every day I feel
the latter And we are only
concerned about a select few.
I think it even tells in
the conversations as we talk
about how we handle supplements
and the dollar values that are
put on individuals lives.
Some of the most difficult
conversations that I have ever
had to have in my lifetime and
I must tell you is times I'm
just purely disgusted So I
believe that there council
PRESIDENT For now and I do have
an alternate motion to present
and I will ask the city
attorney as I go through this
let me know if there are
certain things that need to be
said that I have not said
because some of it is
repetitive from the last last
item.
>> So with that you should have
do you have a slide deck?
Thank you.
>> So with that council
PRESIDENT I would like to enter
in a new second motion.
I will start as I did before
item number one approve
the mayor's f y 2027 proposed
budget as modified by
the mayor's MAY revision number
to approve the eib's
recommended final budget
expenditure modifications
included in ida report number
26 Dash 15 as summarized in
Table two Recommended General
Fund Expenditure Modifications
page 20 and as supported by
recommended resources
identified in table one
Recommended General Fund
resources for modifications to
f y 2027 Budget Page 12 with
the following modifications to
Table one to reduce again
the residual Redevelopment
Property Tax Trust Fund revenue
r t f in the amount of $185,000
Excuse me Councilmember If
the if your the things are
the same from the last motion
you can say that you can okay
through blank are the same as
the last motion and then read
the others to save time.
Okay The just let me check my
number.
So item number three is
the same That's c multimodal
team item for is the same That
is the arts and culture portion
item five is the same as
the alternative homelessness
program item six is the re
relocation of the Office of
Labor Standards and Enforcement
.
>> That's the same for
the number seven changes Number
seven changes to include the c
c f in the amount of $450,000
That's ongoing funding.
>> It includes the homelessness
security services for city
staff just 220 $2,000.
>> We also have the stormwater
wetland and channel
maintenance.
We are including an ongoing
cost of $841,000 for stormwater
clearing.
We are including a one time
expenditure of $1,000,093 and
2020 $0.07.
We are including an expansion
of lifeguard wellness program
that's an ongoing expense of
173,285 and the contribution to
general fund stability reserve
one time 1.7 million That is
the same as the last item.
Moving on to item number eight
approve the following
expenditure restorations and
additional operating
expenditures for the following
library restoration at these
located at the following
locations North Park Location
the Mira mesa location and
the Linda Vista location for
the following recreation center
Restorations The following
locations Carmel Valley Pacific
Highlands Ranch Rob Athletic
Field Canyon Side Doyle Mira
mesa Hourglass Field Novella
Noble Athletic Fields and
Stanley to effectuate action
seven and eight allocate
the additional resources again
the additional property
management cost savings in
the amount of $200,000.
Item number ten is the same
appropriate 750,000 for Mission
Valley Urban Impact Fee Fund to
a new capital improvement
project for the West Valley
River Crossing and item number
11 allocate the remaining 2.6
million from the Neighborhood
Enhancement Fund to
the Affordable Housing
Preservation Fund to be managed
by the San Diego Housing
Commission.
And with that Council PRESIDENT
That concludes the second
motion.
All right.
Thank you very much, sir.
We'll go now to council
PRESIDENT Pro Tem to Thank you,
PRESIDENT Thank you Chair
foster Budget chair foster for
expressing his thoughts on this
as well and council position.
I appreciate that We're a
council where we understand
that we have different
perspectives and we MAY
actually think of times
the same and come to different
resolutions.
I will for one say just because
I think this is coming up quite
a bit up here I don't think
this is a I don't think this is
a scenario we're talking about
whether we're being forced to
make false choices.
The reality is we are being
asked to make choices And in a
city where we don't have
the resources, the only
difficult thing we get to do is
make those choices.
They might be hard choices.
We might disagree with
the choices but I certainly be
mine when I felt like it was
one worth making because we had
every opportunity to restore
every hour for libraries, rec
centers much more.
So I understand why Without
that we are in a slightly
different position.
I do support this motion as
well.
I believe it will continue to
deliver on providing some
restorations across libraries
and rec centers.
It will provide us an
opportunity to address some of
the public safety needs that
have been mentioned especially
on the stormwater channel
clearance side because that has
been emphasized heavily And I
just want to share my
appreciation again to Chair
Foster for taking the time to
be prepared for this moment and
appreciate the public for being
along for the ride with that I
was going to motion.
All right.
So we have a motion by
Councilmember Foster and a
second by Council PRESIDENT Pro
Tem Lee On this second motion
we'll go next to Councilmember
Moreno.
Thank you.
I am supportive of the motion
on the floor and I would like
to add an amendment to
the motion.
I would like to include
the fuel and fleet savings for
from the police department at
$370,000 as an additional
ongoing resource and also to
restore the graffiti unit
supervisor at 196,450 and sex
registration unit supervisor at
100 at 197,890 $197,881.
Accepting that amendment,
Council member Foster Can we
just take a quick second to
check the balancing of
the numbers quickly if I MAY?
You said 373 75 Okay.
It's 370, not 375 So I think
it's down We let us put 375
just to be over And you put up
.
Councilmember Foster
the identified cost of those
two positions came to around
396 million With the motion
that you put forward there was
roughly a $26,000 unallocated
So 375 for 26 is balanced
provided you want to take that
quarter second or the motion
I'll take it.
Okay.
Thank you.
The motion has been amended as
shown on the screen.
That concludes your comments.
That concludes my comments.
Thank you.
All right.
Thank you for that.
So we'll go next to
Councilmember Ila Rivera.
Thank you, Council PRESIDENT
Thank you Chair Foster for this
thoughtful alternative.
Thank you for your comments
because I do think that
the part that you named is
important to name.
It plays itself out in really
important ways in our community
When we tell people we care
about them and they matter to
us but we don't actually act
upon the things that they're
asking us to do.
They do not trust that we
actually care about them And we
just saw this in a very, very
tragic way a few weeks ago
where the city that should have
been able to offer comfort and
support and love wasn't seen as
a trusted source of those
things because requests have
continuously fallen on deaf
ears.
So I'm not going to question
motive or intent behind
the words of support that are
offered from the dais.
But I'm going to offer caution
that if we use those words and
do not back it up with action
when tough moments come we're
going to be told to go away not
thank you for being here And
that is fair because that's how
every relationship works And
council PRESIDENT Pro Tem, I
appreciate you saying what you
said today is choice day.
This council decision day We
make choices so if the choices
being presented are not
acceptable then we need to see
alternatives.
But absent an alternative we
just continue to play the same
game over and over poking holes
at potential solutions and
perpetuating this idea that
we're just, you know, one
middle manager away from
balancing the whole city and
that is not real.
We're two decades in plus of
underfunding the city of
letting conservative radicals
tell us that smaller and
smaller and smaller and smaller
is better with the goal of
privatizing the entire thing so
their buddies can make as much
money as possible.
And I don't know how many times
we as Democrats are going to
follow them down that path but
at a certain point we're either
going to choose an alternative
or we're going to end up having
to sell this at the city after
the folks who want to buy it or
make money off it.
The option in front of us still
does a lot of good.
It it makes sure that our
Office of Charlie Success
maintains funding.
We get some libraries and parks
and rec centers open again.
The stormwater funding is
incredibly important and make
no mistake if the whole budget
isn't as good as it should be,
this motion isn't as good as
the last one and I support this
one because it's it's a better
direction But at the end of
the day we're leaving $2
million in resources on
the table that could be opening
more rec centers, opening more
libraries and opening more
parks And I think that's a
shame and I don't think we're
safer for it.
So thank you for the thoughtful
alternative COUNCILMAN Foster
I'll be supporting the motion a
point of clear point of
clarification Point of
information.
Okay.
All right.
So can I Well next up what I
would like to get something
pointed out First I believe in
the amendment $375,000 was
mentioned something about fuel
as first time ever that I was
going to jump in actually try
and provide some clarification
on that one.
This conversation too I wanted
to be explicitly clear that
the $370,000 in savings of
fleet clean fuel costs
associated with at police
department I assume is coming
from the suggestion to move to
two officer patrol units.
Please correct me if that's not
the case.
I'm not seeing any correction
so I will assume that is
the case.
I would just note I'll answer
that Yes.
If you recall originally when
Chief Nez like was here he
offered up a $750,000 savings
at the time in speaking with
Chief deadline on your question
listen, if you go through it
and you go he's he indicated
that it was for safety reasons,
right.
And we've had this conversation
Officers do not show up at a
call by themselves.
They have another unit that
comes with them.
Point of clarification.
I'm sorry I'm answering
the question.
Oh, you're making something up
from a chief that hasn't been
trained for a couple of years.
What What Councilmember Foster
finish and then it will be your
turn.
I think you've got
the information that you were
seeking.
Yes.
So that's where it comes from?
Yes.
And instead of doing it in
further conversations instead
of taking it to where it was
the entire fleet, it was cut to
a lower number to allow
the police department to
determine how they will work
within these components.
Appreciate that Councilmember.
I was going to note two things
One that the amount that is in
this motion is less than
the $750,000 was initially
there.
Presumably that that that means
that there is some opportunity
for the police chief for
the department to choose where
or which units would go to two
officers.
There will likely still be some
impact on overtime and response
times.
I will leave that to
the council decide on
the merits of the other note
that I was going to make is
that this is likely something
that would require meeting
confer with the play.
That said, I also know that
the play suggested moving to
two officer patrol units so
presumably that would be a
relatively quickly in confer
session But just want to
highlight that.
Thank you.
All right.
That was the comment you want
to make on the lights.
Okay.
Councilmember Campbell, I
didn't mean to jump in but I
don't want to get back and
forth going on here But
important clarifications I
think evolved out of your point
of order.
So so I want to know if that
has to go to meet and confer
that it is not appropriate to
put into this budget at this
moment.
It's something that's just been
added.
It wasn't in the previous
motion so could I the police
chief to come and talk about
this or I'm meeting confer
issues I might defer to
the city attorney's office.
Okay, sure.
Yes.
This type of change would need
to go through the meeting
confer process.
i would also like to add that
although the charter gives
the Council the authority to
adopt the budget and make cuts,
the charter also gives
the police chief the power and
authority to operate in control
of the police department
subject to applicable rules.
So those are all things that
the Council should factor into
their discussions.
So for clarification is
the $375,000 included in
the current motion or not?
Yes.
She made COUNCILMAN Moreno made
the amendment and make her
the motion in the second set.
Yes.
Somebody else part of
the motion Now.
Okay.
And then that decision is then
up to the police department
after the meeting confer
the police chief under the city
charter.
Yes.
Okay.
So thank you very much And I
appreciate that that
clarification.
I was on the lights because I
wanted to say a few words about
our budget that it is our
responsible body to balance
the budget unlike last year and
to ensure that we make
thoughtful decisions and
maintain essential services we
need to deliver core services
with fiscal discipline.
We need public safety.
It is the city's primary
responsibility to our citizens.
Our budget decisions should
continue to support
the personnel and resources
necessary to maintain our
police, fire, rescue and
lifeguards.
I support keeping smart street
lights and license plate
readers through this particular
contract until it is over and
then hopefully we can find a
better provider.
At the time this contract was
made there was only one
provider that provided both and
that's why it was a single
source.
These are common sense tools
that help our police officers
do their jobs more effectively
and keep our community safe.
These technologies have helped
locate missing children,
seniors and have led to
the arrest of very serious
criminals.
They have supported 792
investigations, recovered $7.5
million in stolen property
lives.
The recovery of 580 stolen
vehicles contributed to 20%
reduction in auto theft in our
city in just the past year.
And I want our police
department continues to face
staffing challenges.
It simply does not make sense
to take away tools that are
helping solve crimes and
protect San Diego and we should
continue also supporting our
arts and culture community as
we have done these investments
strengthen neighborhoods,
support local jobs, drive
tourism and economic activity
across the city.
The arts feed our souls but
also provides revenue for our
city.
The restoration of
the stormwater clearance
measures is very important was
requested by our fire chief and
it is most welcome especially
given the climate changes that
indicate we MAY have to face
huge rainstorms in this coming
year And so therefore I want to
thank you for the second motion
and amendments and I will vote
in favor.
Thank you all right.
Thank you.
COUNCILMAN Campbell, go back to
Councilmember Camp you.
Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT.
Just an issue of housekeeping
of the revise on page 12 there
there's still $2.4 million in
expenses associated with the 72
bed shelter expansion at
veteran building veteran
village San Diego last year
from the Housing Commission,
bsd is no longer being
considered for the funding
because it's a different site
is currently being identified
and we have a little bit of
clarity on that piece and
exactly what it means There's
that revised site has been
abandoned and we're looking for
a completely different place to
put that money comes more if I
MAY or I'm here.
Yes, 72 bed shelter would be
funded with opioid settlement
funds which are obviously very
restricted And we are under our
negotiations with the Senior
Housing Commission working
towards an opportunity for that
shelter irrespective of
the veteran's vote to give us.
>> Okay.
Does that mean that I just want
to very clear veterans villages
any ago is no longer the site
where we're looking to spend
that opioid So mainly
the senior Housing Commission
who I believe is there with you
today did release and ask you
for opportunities for folks to
provide options to us if they
did not provide it to
the Housing Commission that
they would not be considered at
this time.
>> Okay.
Thank you for that clarity.
I want to touch base on one
item related to public safety.
It was not discussed much over
the last few days or weeks but
it's something that because
I've done the ride along with
Firehouse one really matters to
me the bomb squad And I know
that right now we're moving to
cross staffing for that under
the current proposal you know
knowing that that's the only
team that's dedicated to
addressing bomb threats in our
city's public city's response
whether it's schools, clinics,
wherever it comes in from.
I know that for many years
those were crossed out.
I know that now it looks like
we're going back to it.
That's something in the future
I want us to move away from
because of the burnout that we
heard from our officers, our
firefighters and local one 45
yesterday.
And so I will continue to
advocate for that.
But knowing that that hasn't
come up as a majority item I
know that that's unlikely to be
accepted today.
The last thing I wanted to
point out because we're at
the end of this item something
that everything we've talked
about today is really
downstream at the end of
the process and we haven't
taken too much time to talk
about the upstream issues
especially since there is a
budget structure, a budget
deficit that is persisting And
that's because the way
the problem is actually
presented to us through
the budget cycle it's actually
focusing on the thing right in
front of us instead of
something that hasn't been
dealt with for many years.
We take what we had last year,
we review it, we see what
didn't work, what worked, what
obligations we have and that's
all appropriate analysis.
But one thing I see frequently
is that the job roles and
the procedures within our
departments it remains decades
old.
We have maintained buildings
but we also have to maintain
our approach to the delivery of
public services and those job
roles are overly complicated at
this moment The job
descriptions are very outdated,
the performance plans are
outdated as well and more than
anything there's just too much
inflexibility to do new things
that the public expects.
That's actually we're one of
the reasons why there's so many
middle managers that grew over
the last several decades not
because we didn't want to do
better or cheat more.
It's because we didn't actually
fix a systemic problem which is
job descriptions and duties did
not evolve and thus the jobs
did not evolve And that hurts
all of our workers whether
they're supervisors or they're
unionized members supervisors
can't that they have to do
their job anymore while
represented workers can't grow
and display the full breadth of
their skill.
That's a very detailed and
descriptive way of saying that
our constituents feel this one
question every day Why does it
take so long to get things done
around here?
It's not all about funding and
budget.
It's actually the internal
structure that we actually have
our workforce working under
because our employees have very
high workloads, limited time
And so the incentive is to work
very, very hard every single
day but not be able to see how
to transform their job and
transform the department over
the long term which is another
way of saying modernize it to
2026 And within the supervisor
ranks specifically we have very
skilled employees program
coordinators, program managers
They were often unionized
workers who we wanted to keep
on and they took over these
supervisory role positions
created literally to keep them
in place particularly since
there was a wage freeze for
most city employees for over a
decade.
But today we now see less
accountability in those
specific roles What they're
doing No one's tracking that in
a detailed way.
So the discussion about
the budget and the distrust and
the questions about why things
are set to be cut that's all
downstream and it matters And
it's the reason we're having
the same conversation over and
over again is because of
the upstream lack of
modernization.
We need to have our personnel
department and Civil Service
Commission truly analyze job
roles and job duties in
the city so that the council in
the mayor's office and our
barrios, our city unions can
together pinpoint which roles
need to be adjusted, maximize
productivity and accountability
And when it's done right city
employees will be able to do
the thing they do best in which
they do what they love to do
which is serve the public.
I think we'll have that
discussion the another day.
Thank you, Council PRESIDENT.
All right.
Thank you, Councilmember Campo.
We'll go back to Councilmember
Bumper.
Thank you very much.
And I second what councilor can
be said about modernizing our
personnel department and
getting technology in the city
we can actually utilize them
from Our department was using
horrible software for their
billing until recently So I'm
glad that that is all being
fixed.
I do have a question about
the amendment of the motion
though If you could bring it up
on the screen please.
I'm so sorry that Catherine
Marino made over 12.
Okay.
So my eyes are going to get a
little better.
So I am very supportive of
including the graffiti unit
supervisor and the six
registration supervisor back
into the budget.
My question is just that
the two unit are two police
officers per car how that's
going to be deployed Because in
my district we only have four
cars that go out sometime
actually four by two and kids
all the way from Mesa all up to
San Pascal.
We have four cars that will
territories If you put two at
one time or 12 hour shift where
there's only one car, four cans
just to get one car from my
district.
So I just want to were the most
understaffed districts in
the city.
So I just want to make sure
with the chief that that's not
going to happen up in our area
.
It's just not possible.
I do understand some officers
might want to ride impaired and
that's fine.
That could cut down on
distractions and that's fine
But it should be flexible and
it should be based on voluntary
choice is not mandated for
areas like ours.
I don't know.
We'll do our best to try to
make it work but if it was an
idea that I thought was a good
one I would have proposed it
originally.
We agree with the aba's
perspective that this could
impact response times
negatively and or increase our
overtime to make sure that we
have the proper amount of cars
in the field.
We'll do our best.
>> Okay.
Well I know we'll have to go to
meeting Confer but I do want to
and obviously the police want
to run but that would be a
significant hindrance to
answer.
No one calls up in our district
saying we only have two cars
going out on second watch.
Understand it.
Okay.
Thank you.
>> Thank you, Councilmember.
We'll go next to Councilmember
Whitman.
Thank you, council PRESIDENT.
That just gave me a little bit
of pause there, a little bit
concerned about the prospect of
increased response times and
some of the other concerns
expressed by the chief.
I do support the restoration of
the two supervisors.
I personally given what we just
heard from the chief would
probably prefer to fund that
from $375,000 out of that
excess equity rather than from
the fuel and fleet savings.
I won't make that as amendment
.
We'll see if everybody else of
the council wants to do that.
Aside from that one concern
there, I will say this is a
reasonable budget that reduces
the deficit and maintains key
services.
I was determined to prevent a
closure of shelters that would
force homeless people back out
onto the streets.
This budget ensures that that
won't happen But fortunately
this budget does not provide
additional shelter beds that
could help more people off
the streets.
But at least we're not going
backwards.
It is good that we are
restoring significant funding
for the arts to be clear but
really restoring funding for
people youth will be inspired
by the arts communities who
attend free performances that
they otherwise couldn't afford
workers who are employed by
the arts and all of us who
benefit from the revenue that
is generated by visitor
spending.
The restoration of the special
events filming program ed is
good for our city.
This program at position helps
to attract and coordinate
movies being filmed in our city
and commercials being filmed in
our city That is great exposure
for San Diego.
There's a film shoot tomorrow a
sponsor of the nascar races is
shooting a promotional
commercial tomorrow with say
Diego's downtown skyline in
the background.
This budget restores library
rec center hours and restores
the Small Business Enhancement
Program.
There's funding for
the multi-modal team the West
Valley River crossing Many of
the things that were restored
in this budget were restored
because residents engaged in
this budget process and shared
their priorities.
So thank you to everybody who
participated in this process.
I do want to thank Budget Chair
Foster and his team for
the many hours that they have
invested in this process.
Thank you To the opposite
the independent budget analyst
Their analysis has been
invaluable The very public
hearings that they have
participated in have helped to
engage city residents in this
process.
I appreciate the council
PRESIDENT All of my colleagues
for what has been a
collaborative and productive
process at times a process but
a productive one.
Thank you to the mayor's office
for engaging the council early
in the process.
I think that was very helpful
to all of our city departments
and staff who have worked
extensively on this budget and
who have worked extensively
with us And I appreciate
the city Attorney's office for
their legal analysis.
And last but not least thank
you to my staff Every member of
my team has helped out either
through policy analysis or
through public engagement.
A lot of people have been
involved in this budget
process.
So thanks to all of you Again,
I think we have a reasonable
budget that reduces the deficit
and maintains key services and
I will be in support.
Thank you, Council PRESIDENT.
All right.
Thank you, Councilmember
Whitburn.
Not see anybody else on
the lights.
A few closing comments for five
of us This is the sixth budget
cycle that we're going through
.
I think every year the process
has gotten better through
Monica montgomery's leadership.
>> Now Councilmember Fosters
leadership.
I think we have a city, a big
city still have a long way to
go to really figure out how to
dig deep on budget.
The budget is so big and so
complex and there are so many
buckets of expenditures and
funding that it makes it a
challenge.
I appreciate Councilmember
Foster's work on zero based
budgeting on contracting.
I would be curious to see how
that manifests itself going
forward and I appreciate
the double work that you and
your office took to come up
with a updated motion.
>> One of the pieces that were
eliminated in this update of
motion was not funding all
reduced hours and recreation
centers on Friday my team and I
introduced the possible use of
Recreation Center fund balances
as a way to restore recreation
center hours an idea that has
generally been vetted by
the ipa Parks and Recreation
And I believe the city
Attorney's office.
However, it became quite
apparent to me on Friday that
introducing something so new
and so novel and that would
have been a fundamental policy
call was not appropriate for
this budget conversation in
this short amount of time.
However, I understand
the Department MAY introduce
this to the individual rec
councils as an option for them
to restore hours as they
balance restoring hours funding
programs, funding repairs but
that is a choice they can make
on a recreation center by a
recreation center balance.
But we MAY have another option
on the table as Charles would
remind us, that probably does
qualify as a one time option
not a ongoing option going
forward.
We'll see if and when that goes
forward.
But I appreciate
the thoughtfulness.
While I'm not a big fan of
funding individual positions, I
do respect Councilmember
Marino's introduction of those
two positions and
the thoughtfulness in listening
to comments to only propose
half the dollar amount so that
I can be more strategic about
when and where the northern
the folks in the northern part
of my district would also have
the same concerns.
But I also realize and learned
through this process that
response time is based on
the first officer that shows up
and then you have to wait for
that second officer.
I did ride along this as well
and saw what happened.
So it's a delicate balance and
I trust that the chief and
the department and the way will
figure that I think I'd
negotiate a contract So throw
that into part of the contract.
Maybe I'm not going to tell you
how to do your business.
I'm not authorized to negotiate
contracts but that seems like a
real time saving opportunity
And with that I will be
supportive of this motion so
not see anybody else in
the lights.
We do have an updated motion
put forward by Councilmember
Foster and seconded by
the Council PRESIDENT Pro Tem
Lee and amended by Council
member Marino.
So unless there's any other
questions or comments and I
don't see any.
>> Please call the roll clerk
as I read the voting system
please cast your vote That
passes unanimously 9 to 0.
All right.
Thank you for that.
Thank you for everybody's
patience.
We're not done.
We still have one book of
business to finish up here at
starting at 615.
With that, the crowd seems to
be leaving relatively quietly.
So Clerk please introduce item
705I didn't know anybody want
to longer break this a power
through all right please
introduce item 705 as an item
7o5 is a proposed fiscal year
2027 City of San Diego
Affordable Housing Fund Annual
Plan.
If you would like to speak on
this item, now is the time to
raise your hand by pressing
Star nine or the raise your
hand icon or if you are here in
person now's the time to submit
your speaker slip at the front
of the room in the clear box.
Thank you, Council PRESIDENT
All right.
Probably take a little bit of
time to sit down because we're.
No, no, no.
Come sit down or wait for
the room to clear and
the voices to subside and okay.
>> All right.
Looks like it's quieted down in
chambers.
So when you're ready, introduce
yourself for the record and let
us know how much time you need
.
I need about ten minutes.
All right.
And just like I said, unity
stuff for the record, make
sure.
Thank you again when you're
ready.
Good afternoon, Council members
seven point vice PRESIDENT Of
financial services of the San
Diego Housing Commission.
With me is principal budget and
reporting analyst Matt Hagan's
.
This afternoon we seek your
approval of the proposed fiscal
year 2027 Affordable Housing
Fund and your plan The plan was
approved by the Land Use and
Housing Committee on MAY 14th,
2026 and by the Housing
Commission Board on APRIL 16,
2026.
We'll start with a quick
discussion of the Fund, then
we'll take a look at the fund
revenue over the years and
we'll provide details on
budgeted programs for fiscal
year 27.
>> The City of San Diego's
Affordable Housing Fund is
composed of two permanent
annually renewable funding
sources First the Housing Trust
Fund which was established in
1990.
It consists of revenue from
housing impact fees on
commercial development and loan
repayments.
Second, the inclusionary
Housing Fund which was
established in 2003 It consists
of revenue from the collection
of fees on residential
development and from then on
repayments and the developers
has the option to either build
affordable housing units or pay
the fees that will be used in
the creation and preservation
of affordable housing And
the slide here display
the history of fee collection
for both funds.
The Blue Line represent a
housing trust fund which hovers
between $1.2 million and $3.1
million annually.
The Red Orange Line represent
inclusionary fees as you can
see does fluctuate more
dramatically in fiscal year 20
2023 and 2024 Fee collection
were around $700,000 and $2.9
million respectively.
But in fiscal year 2025 because
of the fees paid by two large
development project in city
center and current MISS
The areas the fee collection
were $15.8 million.
Many factors affect collection
including economic factors,
development activity,
the timing of fee collections
and the number of development
that choose to build affordable
housing units rather than pay
the Affordable housing fund fee
for the purpose of
the Affordable Housing Fund
annual plan and by extension to
Housing Commission's budget.
We use an estimate based on a
historical calculation and
current collections.
Since inception, the Affordable
Housing Fund has assisted was
the creation and preservation
of over 10,100 Fordable housing
units assisted in more more
than 31 thousands and began
experiencing homelessness and
assisted over 410 household to
become first time homebuyers.
I will now personal to mare
will share the model program
and a proposed funding
allocations.
Thanks Crystal Good evening.
Sorry Good afternoon everyone.
Affordable housing funds MAY be
allocated to programs
identified in the list of model
programs for fiscal year 2027.
We propose allocating the funds
to rental housing finance,
homelessness activities and
loans to create accessory
dwelling units that were
committed in prior years and
required to be affordable
rentals for households with low
income.
As part of the plan
preparation.
We continue to solicit feedback
through outreach efforts.
We made presentations to
the University Mission Beach
and Troy especially community
planning groups.
A video of our presentation
about the Affordable Housing
Fund and your plan including
Closed Captioning was also made
available on our website and
sdh Seized public engagement
portal and as public input to
increase awareness of
the annual plan and the comment
period.
We also emailed households who
previously participated in a
survey for the study about
residential evictions in
the city of San Diego and
posted on the agency's social
media accounts.
Members of the public were
invited to provide comments on
how they thought we should best
use the Affordable Housing Fund
funds.
The comments we received are
attached to the proposed annual
plan.
With that in mind, let's take a
look at the proposed allocation
.
Here you can see the fiscal
year 2027 proposed funding
allocation to the various
programs as compared to
the fiscal year 2026
allocation.
As a reminder, the Affordable
Housing Fund is only one of
the multiple funding sources
the Housing Commission
administers for housing
assistance and homelessness
programs.
This annual plan includes
the proposed uses of only
the Affordable Housing Fund and
the anticipated outcomes
associated with the fund.
The Revised Housing Commission
budget which is coming out
shortly, will reflect proposed
sources and uses for all
the funds we administer with an
estimated $37.1 million in fund
balance and $5.4 million in
revenues.
We propose funding
the following $22.4 million
towards prior year commitments
from notices of funding
availability on notice and
committed accessory dwelling
unit loans.
These are funds that were
awarded in prior years Some of
the no for developments have
received board approval while
others are in different stages
of finalizing their funding
stack.
In fiscal year 2027 we are also
allocating $9 million towards a
new note for additional funding
sources Besides the Affordable
Housing Fund, the court will
make a total of $22 million
available for the fiscal year
2027 No fund.
We also propose allocating $5.8
million towards homelessness
programs that include landlord
engagement prevention and
diversion and transitional
housing grants.
The remaining funds are
allocated to ongoing capacity
building program administration
and some legal fees.
The Total Affordable Housing
Fund plan commitments are $39
million in fiscal year 2027.
Here's another representation
of the proposed allocation 78%
is committed to rental housing
finance activities for
the production of affordable
housing.
>> Here we can see two examples
of newly constructed affordable
housing developments But with
financing the included
affordable housing fund
revenues.
Today we're asking City Council
to take the actions detailed in
the staff report and shown on
this slide that concludes
the presentation where
available answer questions.
>> All right.
Thank you very much for
the work and for
the presentation.
Clerk Please proceed with
public comment.
Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT We have joy
Senator please come forward to
the microphone.
After that we have Natalie
Roski as well as Max Schmidt
and allegedly Audra Joy.
You'll have a minute and a half
.
>> Thank you.
Excuse me just a minute.
Okay.
I'll just sort of piece it
together as best I can.
Um, just did this this
afternoon.
I love love that machine back
there.
So replaced homelessness with
housing instability.
I really like that.
I love the leap program.
Landlord Engagement and
Assistance Program.
They do that where I live and
so I have a lot of interaction
with it and I absolutely
support it and I really really
think it works.
I love the prevention and
diverse diverse vision program
Love Flexible spending program.
Now on the approval end of it
where the funds were stated to
be around 39 million and then
22 million of that had been
approved in prior years.
Now I know some of those
projects can take forever but
what I don't get is when you
come back to the next portion
which is authorized, how do you
reallocate projects that were
held up and then you have a new
batch of project and how do you
decide who you're going to give
them to?
So I don't know if that makes
sense and I didn't like
the wording in response to
market demands.
I liked in response to
opportunities but I like
clarity on market demand.
Thank you for that concluding
comment.
Natalie Raskin are you here?
Natalie Rash Here.
I do not see her Dan In Are you
here if you wanted to speak.
Max Schmidt Um hi.
I just want to say that I kind
of wish you had a longer
microphone for how tall I am or
at least a chair I can sit down
on.
>> But anyway, um, I just
wanted to say that I'm against
the proposed fiscal year 2027
Affordable Housing Fund, omb's
annual Plan and the reason why
is because it is a ridiculous
plan And I just want to take a
moment to shine light on what's
happening.
Um, not all Freemasons are evil
and a lot of the young
Freemasons actually support me
fighting for 0% tax.
I've been here for eight hours
today um, talking to these
people in City Hall and they're
some of the friendliest people
in the world.
So I just want to make that
point clear and I wanted to say
I am paying for a libertarian
revolution that does fight for
zero 0% tax no taxes at all.
>> And I just wanted to say I
am for exposing that everyone
up here is in the New World
Order trying to make a one
world government and that
accord group rituals are so
powerful that when these people
do human sacrifices in
the Masonic Lodge they actually
have the ability to read minds
teleport feel like a living GOD
reincarnate and I'm out here
exposing them and I just want
to say that I'm very excited
that people have been giving me
feedback of how I stood up
today almost made world history
and there's something there.
English word programing
Repeating Nevada fifth Area 51
Bears repeating GOD is dead
because GOD is not dead.
We need an increase of faith
because 30% of time has
concluded allegedly Order if
you can please come forward.
>> I'm just wondering when you
guys are going to treat
the homeless like people and
not a number I feel like you
know, is any of this stuff
really working?
I mean you guys do these nice
presentations.
You talk about, you know, tens
of millions of dollars in
accounts and what you're going
to do with it But it's just
like the 24 billion on
homelessness that this state
it's like word that go you guys
got some of it where to go you
know what I mean?
Like the problem doesn't get
better It literally continues
to get worse And it's like if
that is what's happening
shouldn't it be time to course
correct and actually like
really think about these be
like what would you want if you
guys were the ones out on
the streets?
I don't feel like you put
yourself in that position and
you really are thinking about
it in that manner.
I think you guys just do it
like it's business as usual.
Let's just get this stuff
passed.
We got to get out of here.
We have something to do All
while the people you know are
just hoping that this money is
going to be used to get them
off the streets and they just
continue doing Wait for that
concluding comment.
>> Oh, Natalie Raji, is your
dad's here so you'll get
the minute.
Please proceed.
>> It's a housing authority.
So this is item seven and five
the proposed fiscal year 2027
City of San Diego Affordable
Housing Fund.
>> Oh geez.
I just feel like I'm in a loop.
Like it's just this constant
circle of filing these papers,
getting someone to listen to me
heard Like I said it's heard
says Oh no contact Housing
Authority Contact Housing
authority I don't even want to
be in this loop.
I don't want to I don't even
want to have a voucher.
But situations happen.
Covid happened and here I am
and now I'm going to be there
again.
>> So who do I need to speak
to?
Who do you put me in front of
Because I can't get a hold of
anybody.
I have Sarah Jacobson office.
They haven't gotten back to me.
They said they hand my
paperwork to hud.
I don't know what is happening.
Why do you know what's
happening?
But we need to pull our heads
out of the sand as a society
And what's going on in this
administration and all of these
things because the ripples
haven't even hit us yet from
what's happening.
They haven't Our food, our
homes, the fertilizer like I
said, the mosquitoes.
>> And so while being housed
I've done many things It's
going to be disrupted again And
I'm here to build community And
it's hurtful that I'm trying to
do good things and yet I got
all these things to battle.
Thank you.
>> That doesn't mean public
comment here in council
chambers going to those
participating online we have
two speakers.
Kathleen Lippert, if you can
please unmute.
You have a minute and a half
please proceed.
Kathleen Lippert, I can't
unmute for you.
Sorry.
Thank you very much.
The lack of city required
infrastructure for housing
projects always will allow
greedy developers to decrease
costs and increase profits.
Future infrastructure cost
cheaply built projects with or
without infrastructure and
without green space will become
taxpayer burden.
Equity is not a path forward
but a step back to tribalism.
It is a want not a need.
Discriminating against anyone
population simultaneously
discriminate aids against
another and the goal of
achieving equity is a myth.
It's a but it's a useful
strategy for politicians equity
goals distort incentives,
reduce motivation and trap to
them.
Disadvantage groups and
dependency loops Without a
vision for future farmer plans
to offer equity licenses for
those formerly convicted of
drug crimes was not a path
forward but a return to a life
that harmed them and their
families.
City photos showing a city
dominated by featureless cold
uniform one dimensional housing
projects MAY be a dream of
Google Brutalist architects but
their dystopian nightmare for
humans unbridled housing
projects destroyed single
family residences, violate
community plans, ignore
community dissent and
opposition and will destroy our
most charming and unique
communities Hillcrest,
Oceanside, North Park, Little
Italy and Barrio Logan are time
has concluded Blair Beakman if
you can please on mute All
right we're Beakman thanks a
lot for this item Over the past
year I've been I was amazingly
impressed by some city
government presentations and
the work of what part's doing
right now.
They're really finding housing
for people and they made that a
very clear point in what
they're doing And with that it
made it clear to me that, you
know, with all the housing
ordinance things we've been
doing or the unhoused ordinance
things in downtown and such,
you know some city governments
down was really dedicated to
the idea of housing and it was
really important and it managed
just made something really
clear to me how to work on
issue Shelter is important.
Working on housing just seems
really key and I want to better
understand that And I guess
you're trying to do that here.
I heard housing is opening up
in California overall at this
time And would this be a time
I'm I suppose that market rate
housing was the standard in
what they've used but is this a
time we can start talking more
about middle income housing?
>> If you can remember in
the Bay Area their housing
costs are so expensive.
I mean they constantly complain
that they can't build
affordable housing There were
housing costs in San Diego are
much cheaper actually now It's
affordable housing and how we
can talk about how to have that
conversation.
Good luck with that And I'm
very concerned that we could
have been talking about aren't
I stuck for the future to leave
flock in the next few months
just as a trial basis to lower
budget concerns?
>> Sorry your time has
concluded Francis as our final
speaker Francis, please on
mute.
>> Hi.
I wanted to first have to say
thank you to the Council for
this meeting the opportunity to
hear the public go vote and
think in particular those
members of the council that you
know, truly seem to be
listening to the community on
this item.
I want to just mention as we're
talking about affordable
housing I think right now you
know there's so many people who
have zero income and no
prospects for income and are,
you know, left out from
the shelters the shelters lack
a lot of Well, I heard there
nasty I heard a lot of people
don't want to go to shelters
because they're nasty and or
just to talk about, you know
what We really have to be
thinking about facilities
public showers, bathrooms.
You know, we're talking about
getting people off the street,
improving our city and making
quality of life happy for
everyone.
Let's give people let's invest
a little bit extra and make
sure there is a lot of like
outdoor shower facilities and
safe sleeping sites.
We need more of that.
We can't not do that every day.
We're not doing more of that.
There's people getting raped on
the street or beaten up while
they're just trying to survive
.
>> That is a thank you.
Thank you.
That does conclude the public
comment for this item.
>> Thank you, Council PRESIDENT
All right.
Thank you.
City Excuse me.
Thank you.
City Clerk.
With that we'll turn over to
colleagues for questions.
Comments entertain a motion.
We'll start with the chair.
Land use and Housing Council
PRESIDENT Pro Tem Lee I think
as reservation of minutes on
here with the quick we do hear
this at the land use and
housing committee I don't think
we need to add too much more on
this particular item but I will
think that Sandy Housing
Commission team for
the presentation I think with
that I'll simply move
the staff's recommendation.
>> All right.
Council PRESIDENT Pro Tem
please move the staff
recommendation will go to
Councilmember Moreno.
Happy to second.
All right.
We have a second So we have a
motion by Council PRESIDENT Pro
Tem Lee, a second by council
member Moreno to move the staff
recommendation not see anybody
else in the light.
I'll just say you for the very
good work.
I hope that one public holiday
misunderstood what this item
was about because I do not
agree with the statements she
made but all kinds of opinions
out there So thank you for
the very good work.
This is a continuing challenge
the end of the pipeline going
from those on the street to
actually having a home that
they can possibly entertain.
So with that again we have a
motion by Council PRESIDENT Pro
Tem Lee in a second by Council
member Marina move this item
please call the roll Sorry
the voting system Please cast
your vote.
>> Thank you.
That passes unanimously with
Council member Campbell Absent
.
Thank you Council PRESIDENT.
All right.
Thank you City Clerk We will
now adjourn as the city council
and convene as the housing
authority clerk Please
introduce housing Authority
Item one Housing Authority Item
one is the San Diego Housing
Commission Proposed fiscal Year
2027 budget.
If you'd like to speak on this
item, now's the time to submit
your speakers up to the front
of the room in the clear box
And if you are participating
remotely please be sure to
raise your hand by pressing
Star nine or the raise your
hand icon.
Thank you Council PRESIDENT Oh
right now we're watching for
the PowerPoint slide deck to
come up know There we go So
once again staff introduce
yourselves for the record and
let us know how much time you
need.
Hello.
Good afternoon Council members.
I'm also sent out via the lead
chief operating Officer at
the San Diego Housing
Commission.
We'll need about 6 or 7 minutes
for a presentation.
All right, when you're ready.
The proposed budget we are
presenting to you today
includes a few updates from
what we presented to the Budget
Review committee on MAY 7th.
We will highlight those
revisions in today's
presentation as we go through
the proposed budget today we
will draw your attention to a
few revisions to the budget
from what we presented to
the Budget Review Committee a
few weeks ago.
We'll also discuss
the challenges we're navigating
and the actions we've taken to
balance our budget.
We are proposing a budget of
$694 million That is $6 million
more than the initial budget we
presented to the budget review
committee in MAY.
The $6 million change is due
primarily to one an increase of
$3.5 million and moving to work
or mtw revenue After we
received the hud funding letter
to an increase of $2.4 million
in philanthropic grant funding
for homelessness programs and
finally an increase of $750,000
in capital expenditures
following the award of the San
Diego Gas and Electric Funds
under the Multifamily Energy
Savings Program.
This budget continues to
advance our mission to foster
social and economic stability
by ensuring the development and
preservation of quality
affordable housing solutions
for San Diego and this slide
provides an overview of
the fiscal challenges.
This slide provides an overview
of the fiscal challenges we are
navigating and as we showed in
our previous presentation, our
federal funding is not
sufficient to support rental
assistance for the families
currently in our voucher
programs.
This has required us to use
diminishing mtw voucher
reserves to achieve a balanced
budget.
Local reserves are also
insufficient to meet all of
the needs they have supported
in the past.
Here you can see again many of
the steps we have taken so far
to contain costs and generate
revenue.
>> Our recent reduction in our
workforce and other adjustments
are among our cost containment
efforts along with other
initiatives in our strategic
plan.
These efforts will also create
a more sustainable fiscal
outlook for the future.
Yeah, I think it should be
Slide seven.
We're recalibrating the talking
points with the slide.
Again, this slide shows our
budgets over the past five
years.
Budgets have been higher in
recent years due to new funding
sources such as the state's
homekey program which launched
in 2020 for our rental
assistance program.
Since our budget review
committee presentation last
month we made a small
adjustment to our mtw funding
to align with the funding
letter received from hud.
Was this adjustment in fy 2027
will invest more than 341
million to help our
approximately 17,000 households
with low income through a
Section eight Housing Choice
voucher program.
As we discussed previously with
the Budget Review Committee,
the proposed budget also
commits up to 22 million in gap
financing to develop to
increase the affordable housing
supply in our city.
The budget also includes
approximately 6 million in city
neighborhood enhancement fee
funds.
Now I'm Minister for Affordable
Housing Preservation Subject to
approval from the Housing
Authority and City Council In
addition to first time
homebuyer program budget of 3.4
million will fund assistance
for up to 40 households to
become homeowners.
We'll also budgeted 7.9 million
to rehabilitate housing
Commission on units to support
our ongoing commitments to
provide equality, affordable
housing.
>> The proposed a total corpus
homelessness budget is 77.7
million and include 52.6 or 60%
of city funded homelessness
programs and 25.2 million or
32% of Housing Commission
programs funded by grants and
local funds.
We administer the homelessness
budget used to here will be
adjusted based on the City
Council final determination and
that was taken to date.
The proposed homelessness
budget would support ongoing
operations of approximately
1300 shelter beds and 87
transitional housing beds.
City funding will also continue
to support homelessness service
programs including the programs
on this slide based on
the city's final budget
determination.
We'll wrap up our presentation
with a few slide about proposed
uses and sources of funds.
>> The proposed budget spending
for fy 27 amounts to 561
million That consists of 359
million for rental assistance
programs 102 million for real
estate which includes 22
million for capital
expenditures, 73 million for
homeless illness and 27 million
for operation support.
Since the Budget Review
Committee presentation on
housing program expense I have
increased by 1.4 million.
>> This is mainly a result of
the award of philanthropic
local funding to support
homelessness programs.
Capital expenditure have
increased by $750,000 following
the award of additional funds
through the multifamily energy
saving program in fiscal year
27 we'll have a net decrease of
41 position.
This reflects 58 eliminated
position.
Those workforce reduction are
offset by the addition of three
position for property
management for the newly
acquired Starling Drive
property a direct hire position
to serve as our homeownership
advisor.
Funded by a grant from
the Wells Fargo Foundation.
And 13 additional position for
a city staff to manage more
than more sgc properties
in-house which resulted which
will result result in a cost
saving of approximately
$700,000.
Next we'll look at Jen's
separate sources of funds.
This table will compare fiscal
year 27.
This table compares fiscal year
2027 and 2026 funding sources
across federal and local and
state categories.
Key changes since the Budget
Review Committee presentation
include in local funds
the addition of 2.6 million in
local grants for use in
homelessness, housing
innovation programs as well as
the award of 750,000 for
the multifamily energy savings
programs.
Federal funding Additional 3.5
million of judgment assistance
funds.
Following the receipt of our
official funding letter for
calendar year 2026, we've
budgeted an estimated 353
million from hud and
approximately 16.7 million in
voucher reserved drawdown to
cover all rental assistance
expenses for all revenues
continuing to be the primary
source of funding and accounts
for 72% of new revenue with mtw
more specifically representing
64% of the budgeted new revenue
for fiscal year 27.
Updates through
the presentation such as an
increase in funding for mtw and
associated voucher programs
resulted in 4 million increase
to our total fund balance
primarily 2,000,002 million in
housing assistance payment
reserve and the remainder to
program restricted reserves.
Our 133 million fund balance
includes 73 million in program
restricted funds previously
committed for no fers and
affordable housing activities
and 60 million in reserve
including real estate operating
debt service and mtw housing
assistance payment reserves.
Even with a very modest
increase in reserve level,
the 60 million of projected
reserve from mil remains well
below the minimum reserve
target of 70 million and
significantly lower than
the recommended stabilization
target reserve level.
Today we are requesting that
the housing authority take
action detailed in the staff
report and shown on the slide.
As we have discussed we will
continue to use our reserves in
fiscal year 2027 to assist our
families and serve our
community.
But the efforts we have
undertaken provide us more
fiscal stability and move us
toward a stronger financial
footing for the years to come.
This concludes our presentation
and we are available to answer
any questions you MAY have.
All right.
Thank you for the work and
thank you for the presentation
.
Clark Please proceed with
public comment.
Joyce In your honor, if you can
please come forward to
the microphone After that will
begin to hire and then John
Brady ending with allegedly
Andre Oh, that's enough and not
enough time but that's okay.
When we got hit by hud and
the San Diego San Diego Housing
Commission came out with their
new plan to to have the seniors
and other low income people
fixed income people having to
pay more for their rent.
The reason that really bothered
me was because we didn't have
the there was this even
the board Commissioner Cushman
really spoke forward about this
at the board meeting.
He was shocked by how low
the reserves were And so that
that really hit me like our
beautiful housing commission
hadn't really done their work
to keep that stable base to
help our vulnerable people.
And so I wasn't too happy about
the budget last year and now
we've got layoffs and we've got
rent increases for fixed income
people.
But on this budget I do want to
say this this strategic plan
the new one is fabulous.
It's absolutely excellent.
And so I'm very positive about
moving forward on this budget
and I hope the reserves I don't
fully understand reserves but I
hope they're going to get
better.
I do understand that they
weren't good And before So if
you haven't had a chance to
look at this, this is
absolutely five star.
So thank you very much and I
approve that concluding
comment.
Jen to hear.
>> Good afternoon ladies and
gentlemen.
My name is Jeannie and Sali and
let me just say first thank you
for your hard work.
I just ran into a piece where
you really worked hard for my
life.
I've been out there ten years
and I happen to have moved into
St Theresa's Calcutta for a
good probably four years.
But I had trouble the whole
time I'm evicted today.
I'm not quite sure why.
Mark Colvin of Housing
Commission a housing commission
just evicted and just without.
I'm homeless as of the third.
I'm not quite sure why that
happened.
He took my voucher away six
2424 JUNE 1st as 30th of 24 And
I'm just finding this out and
I'm not quite sure where all
the others where that since
then that I've been living
there comfortably.
All the sudden I'm I'm left
out.
I haven't read out my voucher
nor am I also my sexuality to
be able to move with this
council helping build a
protection for me.
I'm not quite sure where
the conflict was.
I didn't have I was I'm not
aware of any violations that I
can't discuss.
It was just JUNE 2nd that five
shows came and said I was no
longer welcome there at my at
my apartment I made thank you
for that my work.
My voucher is Thank you so much
for that concluding remark.
John Brady John Brady you have
time to you by Matthew Carney
You'll have three minutes.
>> Please proceed.
So she's in behavioral health
program called No Place Like
Home.
It's supposed to be managed and
supported by case management.
From what I understand from and
I've been engaged with this
almost two years.
The client did not have she she
she did not have electricity
for over a year.
Meanwhile there was an electric
subsidy built into her rent.
She lost her hud voucher
apparently because not having
electricity is one of
the requirements from hud.
And yet there was a $69 a month
subsidy provided clearly in
the billing statements that I
have seen where the property
management should have been
either giving her money to pay
the subsidy or paid the
electric bill.
But for a $30 a month electric
bill somehow we've allowed
somebody a 61 year old woman to
become homeless.
And that's my problem here.
And this is the issue that
we've said multiple times
Nobody owns the client when it
comes to these situations.
I've been in the middle of a
circular shooting range and I
will give compliments to
the Housing commission because
they're the only ones that
really have gotten involved in
trying to figure out what's
happened here.
But it's been a week since
she's been evicted and we still
don't have any clarity about
why that happened.
And this is why we advocate for
an ombud someone within
the housing commission to look
at any eviction for anyone that
is in affordable or supportive
housing and reviews that
process to make sure that we
have done everything.
Clearly we've got behavioral
health issues here.
Clearly we did not do the right
thing.
We failed her and now she's
homeless.
She spent ten years on
the street.
We got her into housing for
four years.
Somehow they managed to let her
live there, paid the bill or
somehow for two years after
supposedly her voucher was
terminated.
And we still don't have clarity
about what happened here.
That's not acceptable And
there's another person who
wanted to come here but was
afraid to speak up who also has
a 60 day ad terminate a loss of
notice to move out because of
an electric bill that didn't
get paid.
And this is happening We get
these calls because nobody
knows where else to turn to and
this is happening a lot.
We cannot continue to allow
this to happen.
We need a role somewhere in
this giant system of ours to
make sure that no 61 year old,
63 year old nobody that is in a
behavioral health and permanent
supportive housing gets evicted
for this kind of money.
It's ridiculous And frankly we
should find housing for her.
Thank you.
Allegedly Andre, this is what
I'm talking about.
>> There's somebody right in
front of you guys and you just
sit up there on your phones and
like because it's the end of
the day you guys just went
through all of your your things
and it's like you're presented
with real life situations that
shouldn't be happening And you
sit here and you say that you
provide solutions.
This help has been weaponized.
These people are
the gatekeepers of that help
The ones that are going and
getting these grant funds that
you guys are distributing are
the problem because they are
the make or break her of you
being in a home and your rent
going up.
>> When are you guys going to
take it seriously like Joe
Those those shelters are nasty.
>> What Francis said is true.
Do you guys ever go to them?
>> I would like to see you guys
go stay at Tent City.
>> Tell me if you feel safe
overnight or even right out
here where these people lay
that you guys walk over.
>> I don't understand.
Like you sit here and talk
about caring and what you do.
What are you doing?
It's a disgrace.
It's so embarrassing.
It's so sad to see people cry
and then they have to leave And
people only want to come in
here because they're terrified.
>> They're terrified of
exposing what's happening
because it comes and it falls
upon deaf ears.
>> Natalie you're asking Hi.
Thank you for listening today.
Natalie Roshni I don't know if
you or guys are familiar with
who Robert Edward Grant is.
He's like a mathematical genius
and he created his own I called
Ryan architect and I had
the privilege to ask MR. Robert
Grant if he would ask his
architect how he would build
this shelter.
And I think this is where we
need to start thinking outside
of the box and really think
about resonating with Earth's
frequency and how we build
things because we have all of
these energies that are coming
at us all the time And I like
to hear Do you hear a little
bit of what he said from
the Kodak perspective?
>> Homelessness is not merely
the absence of shelter.
It is the disconnection from
the basic harmonic triad one
root stability, shelter and
safety to emotional resonance
community and belonging.
Three Personal frequency
Meaningful contribution.
When these harmonics collapse
the individual falls out of
phase with social structures
solution Restoring harmonic
coherence one anchor the root
frequency create transitional
harmonic shelters not just beds
but spaces tuned with sound
light and geometry that
stabilize the root chakra use
432 You can you can look Thank
you Kestrel as castronovo.
Good evening.
I would just like to simply add
to feelings that have been said
that I would encourage and
actually urge all of you to go
visit any of these shelters or
places that are funded But not
pre noticed If there's any way
you can visit them and walk
the walk that someone MAY have
to walk when they're doing
intake and see what's really
going on.
I have spoken with people that
have taken job opportunities at
specific shelters and they've
worked a few days and couldn't
do it.
They said the way things were
being run they at best were not
.
They were being managed very
well and I've talked to a lot
of different people that work
in the field in the trenches
and they all agree something
needs to be done and no one's
there.
Direct report tools aren't
managing it.
And I'll try to think how to
make a better presentation on
this.
>> Thank you.
Thank you.
Sorry The five minute time
we're going to those
participating remotely.
We currently have two speakers
in the queue.
>> Blair Beckman if you can
please unmute.
Oh hi.
Blair Bateman.
I am attending the Paul Simon
concert tonight at the Ready
Ben Show.
I'm sitting down here now and
so he had because of covid he's
lost his hearing a bit and
that's really sad for an artist
such as him this music.
A reminder that with our
bureaucracy as I said earlier,
people can fall through
the cracks.
We're at a time I said that
this morning where the time to
we can more quickly help people
when we see that happening and
make adjustments And I hope we
can be helping the person today
.
Good luck on those efforts.
Good luck in the efforts that I
guess it would Market rate
housing that has helped
kickstart a new housing boom
that's slowly happening or kind
of happening in California at
this time possibly.
Can we adjust ourselves to want
to consider middle income more?
And I hope we can.
It's an important concept how
we be addressing the items
these sort of items with city
governments, staff and their
work.
You Good day Thunder.
I hope we're going to be
working more at the New York
City Center and concentrating
on their social service needs
and that can be more of a
regular item and we can
continue on.
Neil Good.
And to conclude.
Really good luck.
Well I'll save my concluding
remarks about your technology
for tomorrow's meeting so thank
you.
>> Thank you.
Francis If you can please
unmute.
Then after that is Nancy.
All right Francis Yes you will
hear Ola share some experiences
of Head.
Recently I've one of
the unhoused friends I've made
is bored as You know there's
nothing She has no purpose, no
job opportunity No no You know
ability to get into a home a
real home and have a room of
one's own is what everyone
really needs and deserves.
And there's a lack of
the community.
i mean earlier we're talking
about the cutting of the arts
and the culture And and you
know, I think about, you know,
community programs.
Let's not leave the unhoused
community out of community
programs that are fun and
social and like you know,
include the learning but also
just community.
I want to suggest that, you
know, it's been awesome to see
the Prebys Foundation really
step up and throw down And they
do a lot of focus on belonging
And what would it mean for
the unhoused folks that you
know, people struggling
the impoverished, the you know
,to actually feel like they
mattered and they were part of
the community know that's where
we need to spend money and
focus I believe things.
Nancy, if you can please unmute
.
>> Hi there.
I'm Nancy with your Families
for Justice.
Um, I'm getting an alert about
being a panelist here.
When I say can I get you some
time my apologies please
decline will pass your time.
Right.
>> Okay.
Thank you.
Um, I work in homeless services
for three agencies implementing
counseling programs.
My team previously housed 85
people with each year in
the pandemic.
I am extremely concerned about
all of those people becoming
homeless.
>> In OCTOBER the Housing
Commission budget could do more
to ensure protections for those
people.
I also want to mention that
counseling programs are not
going to be the solution that
you think they are or want them
to be especially when
the Medi-Cal enrollment comes
and I spoke about this before.
But truly if people cannot get
their mail at the gate center
to maintain their medical
enrollment.
That's going to be a problem.
They will lose their counseling
case manager if they cannot
complete a job requirement or
training or educational
programs, they will lose their
medical.
We're going to have overflowing
.
So keeping something like
the your good day center makes
sense.
Also love the idea of
the person.
I have attempted personally
with my staff to get numerous
people into permanent
supportive housing when they
get matches but if they cannot
act swift and arch they lose
that chance to even get in to
the queue.
And especially navigating these
instances of eviction I think
it's a great ask and a really
encouraged to incorporate that
in the budget.
Thank you.
>> That concludes public
comment on this item.
All right.
Thank you, City Clerk.
So before we turn this over to
my members for questions
comments entertain a motion Is
this individual getting some
help, Lisa?
Okay.
Yes.
Casey was aware of this
particular situation.
It is quite complex.
It seems like something's been
devolving for a couple of years
now and we're trying to figure
out what that looks like.
In the meantime, we're also
trying to offer a shelter
opportunities and other interim
housing while we figure out
what's happened.
Okay.
Thank you for that effort So
with that I'll turn it over to
the council PRESIDENT Pro Tem
Lee Think about council
PRESIDENT Thank you for asking
about that directly as well.
Um I do want to thank the Sandy
Housing Commission for the vast
portfolio of work that you
administer in the city of San
Diego from housing assistance
through vouchers and our
preventative programs.
You help us in addressing
homelessness and also in
managing a significant
portfolio of affordable housing
Despite the volatility of
federal and state funding.
I do want to thank the Housing
Commission team for continuing
to ensure that Santiago remains
competitive and proactive when
it comes to leveraging many of
our programs.
You continue to pursue vouchers
as difficult as that is in this
environment And to embrace
additional affordable housing
production.
I don't want to pretend like
any of the work that you've
done has been easy especially
in an environment where we have
our challenges continue to
outpace our ability to address
all of them.
And what I want to share is
that reflected in this budget
is the Housing Commission's own
efforts to make the difficult
decisions that it's had to make
doing so by engaging with
stakeholders and ultimately by
acting with urgency so that you
can get ahead of some of
the cliffs that you are bound
to face shortly And I think
that work is reflected in this
budget.
It's reflected in some of
the conversations we've had
with this council as well And I
think there are some positives
on the horizon too.
I want to thank you for
continuing to lead the way in
particular on preservation
efforts and to Councilmember
Moreno especially for her
continued leadership and
advocacy on that front.
I'm looking forward to
the council taking our next
steps to officially approve
the establishment of an
affordable Housing preservation
fund.
So with that again want to
share my thanks to the Housing
Commission for the work that
you do And given the recent
approval we just took on the f
y 27 adopted budget I do want
to make a motion and I'm going
to ask to be put up on the on
the slides with an amendment to
it which is to approve the f y
2027 San Diego Housing
Commission budget as proposed
with the following
modifications one which is a
$2.6 million from the City of
Santa Cruz neighborhood and
Enhancement Fee Fund to be
transferred to the Affordable
Housing Preservation Fund to be
managed by the Housing
Commission and two adjustments
to conform to alternative
homelessness program reductions
adopted in the City of San
Diego f y 2027 adopted budget
as described in the Independent
Budget analysts report Number
26 Dash 15 on pages seven
through nine and this motion
simply assures that in
approving this budget we make
the necessary changes to match
to the adopted budget that
the Council just passed Right
before this concludes my
comments.
Okay.
Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT Pro Tem I
believe you probably were aware
of these changes.
Yeah.
Okay I see nodding heads.
I will go next to Councilmember
Ella Rivera.
>> Thank you Council PRESIDENT
Thank you for the presentation
here.
I'll start by seconding
the motion.
Everything PRESIDENT Pro tem
said about the difficult
circumstances that we're in.
Lisa thank you for making sure
your team is out there and
working to provide support.
It would be good to know if
the council could get an update
on the status but I also want
to recognize that every time
we've been in a situation like
this I know you care enough to
like I was personally involved
yourself in making sure that
folks are taken care of to
the best of your ability And
that's incredibly difficult
because the resources that you
are are provided to deal with
these with the whole thing is
not enough.
And I know that if you had your
way everyone would be taken
care of in a much better way
than than we currently Take
care of people.
I just want to you don't have
to respond to that if you want
to You can I guess I will just
say so We weren't unaware of
this woman's case and our
homeless team in our rental
assistance team has been
working together on this.
It's a lot to unravel but it
feels like there are sort of
multiple places where either
the system or the regulations
failed This client whether it's
property management supervision
,voucher requirements that
there's sort of multiple things
that came together that that
did not serve her and she fell
through that net And that is
very obviously very concerning
and really demonstrates that
our programs still need to
improve and look different than
they do when the programs are
supposed to keep people house
end up potentially penalizing
them.
Right.
And when service provision
isn't enough to actually help
them navigate that.
So we're doing what we can to
look into it and we'll keep you
updated.
I appreciate that.
And there's parts of this that
are as you said, difficult to
unravel.
There's a lot going on and some
of it, you know, just could be
about designing a system that
doesn't treat every person
seeking assistance as a suspect
and instead shows up to support
them and say no one should be
homeless because housing is a
human right and we're going to
start from there.
But that's not the system
that's been built And until
that's the way we approach
things we're not going to be
doing folks that we're not
going to be treating people as
well as we should.
At the same time you have again
fewer resources than you should
be working with.
Those resources are being a
chainsaw is being taken to them
at the federal level and that's
unacceptable as well.
And so you know, while we're
welcome to all go on too long
about this, we know it's been a
long day but it is so
frustrating to see folks
showing up needing this sort of
assistance and yes, people
sleeping outside this building
while we are spending billions
of dollars on an unnecessary
war while we are giving away
handouts to billionaires while
we are doing everything except
taking care of the most
vulnerable people and at
the local level also not
willing to make people who have
multiple homes pay their fair
share not asking some of
the wealthiest corporations in
the country to pay their fair
share.
All of that is happening.
We could have dedicated
resources to take care of
people better So just like
the city budget is a is an
opportunity for choices, there
are choices that are involved
in why we are where we are.
I will just finish by
expressing the appreciation
that Council PRESIDENT Pro Tem
shared for you Seeing this and
acting and making difficult
decisions earlier earlier
rather than later to avoid
the painful decisions that
we're wrestling with and being
even more painful.
So thank you Lisa.
Thank you, Council PRESIDENT.
That concludes my second.
All right.
So we have a motion by Council
PRESIDENT Pro Tem Lee and
second by council member Eli
Rivera as shown up on
the screen.
And thank you council PRESIDENT
For dotting the I's and
crossing the t's and make sure
that the two actions today
correlated.
>> And we'll go next to council
member Von Wolpert.
Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT Yes, thank
you Council PRESIDENT Pro tem
for making sure these match and
thank you for the work in
the presentation and for
assisting the young women
outside with her needs.
I also want to thank you for
taking really strategic and
very painful actions to right
the ship because we saw in
the last two years reserves
dwindling and dwindling and
dwindling and it was unclear
what was going to happen to
the Housing Commission budget.
These are not actions you
wanted to take You know,
cutting personnel by 13%, $7
million that's a lot dipping
into reserves once again
because the cost of keeping up
with the rent in San Diego is
not fully funded by
the vouchers that we get from
the federal government.
They haven't been listening for
years about that.
I mean it is still remarkable
that we're we're spending $340
million to assist 17,000
families.
I don't want that to go
unnoticed.
That is a huge effort.
We obviously need more And I
agree with Councilor Olivia
that we shouldn't be spending
billions of taxpayer dollars on
a fruitless war in the Middle
East and tax breaks to wealthy
people and payouts to people in
JANUARY six who want to do
the That's not what our tax
dollars should be used where
they should be used for
homelessness and housing.
That's not that you can control
or we can control here at
the city level.
But part of the problem that
we're in is because of
the values in Washington D.C.
That trickle down to us.
So and I know you're trying
your best to advocate I
appreciate you've gone directly
to dc to advocate with folks
about what's happening but I
just I mean this is not great
that you have to make these
changes but I appreciate you
doing the hard things to make
sure that the budget is
fiscally sound And I think my
last question is just how can
we be helpful in giving you
the resources you need when
further government cuts are
going to hit?
They're going to affect
the folks who are in Section
eight You know Medicaid cuts
Health care is about to be
ripped away from people.
We're already seeing snap
benefits.
People aren't signing up.
So your folks are going to need
more help.
So how can you be helpful?
They are And part of it is
going to be getting information
out to folks about their
community resources that are
available to them.
We have a much more robust
community resource page on our
website than we have before.
We're pushing a lot of
information out to our voucher
holders or public housing
residents to our families as
well around that information.
So we'll make sure we're
sharing this with you so that
you're sharing this with your
constituents And that's from
like boots on the ground.
It's getting information out
through all of your community
reps and that way we've also
worked with community based
organizations to help us make
our website and our information
when people reach out to us
more robust So our community
partners have been really
helpful from an advocacy
standpoint and I just can't
help but take this I want to go
back to a little bit of also
you both you and Councilmember
Rivera said this is like we
have programs that maybe are
sometimes the regulations
currently or requirements
penalize people And we need we
need we need them to be better
We need them to be supporting
people and serving people.
That's not what's happening at
the federal level.
At a federal level those
programs are getting more and
more diluted from a sense of
how many how few people can be
served, how few people can we
serve, how can we restrict
the type of people and
populations we serve?
So advocacy at a state or local
and a federal level is more
important than ever And your
support when we push back and
we take legal action against
our own government to protect
our families is important too
And we really value that And
thank you for that support.
Thank you.
Thank you very much And Council
PRESIDENT That concludes my
comments.
All right.
Thank you.
Council We'll go next to
council member Whitmer Thank
you.
Council PRESIDENT Thank you for
the presentation all the work
that's gone into the budget.
Thank you to Council PRESIDENT
Pro Tem Lee for the amendment.
I'll be supporting this And MR.
Coats, thank you for sharing
what you know so far about
the situation that
the constituent who apparently
lost her housing is dealing
with Your team is out there
trying to assist her.
My staff was out there trying
to help.
I would like it if your team
could follow up with my office
on this just so that we can
understand what happened.
But as she was surrounded by
the best of the brightest, I'm
confident that you know, people
are going to help her to
the degree that we get a little
concerned about what else MAY
be going on out there that is
causing people to fall through
the cracks which as you said,
it's a very complex system.
There's just a lot going on.
But if it's possible that there
are other people falling
through the cracks, I would
want to know why that might be
And more importantly what we
could do to prevent that.
>> Absolutely.
And I'll make sure that
the entire council gets an
update as well.
And when we do see things come
up where we see oh, this is a
systemic issue, not a one off,
then we certainly look to where
we can make improvements on
that.
That also helps Like on
the homelessness side obviously
we do compliance but on the on
the voucher side it's how we
work with our partners.
This is a partner project with
St Teresa's father Joe's and
the county as well I believe so
yeah there's a lot of players
in addition to keep you Thank
you Council PRESIDENT All right
thank council Bern So does she
have someplace to go tonight or
that offers been made?
I don't know.
Okay.
Thank you.
I see some nodding heads in
the background.
Okay.
I appreciate the work you do.
I'm not sure where Commissioner
Cushman was going but I know
that if you didn't tighten down
on the budget that you were on
a path insolvency and that
really wouldn't MAY have
protected somebody for a few
short amount of time and you
would have been an unacceptable
outcome.
So you made the hard choices.
I think you made harder choices
than we've made here at City
Hall but it's very much
appreciated.
Insolvency in the continuing
work despite the changing
landscape is certainly
the priorities.
So I thank you Council
PRESIDENT Pro Tem Lee for
really leaving a lasting and
amending the action.
So with that we do have a
motion by Council PRESIDENT Pro
Tem Lee as shown on the screen
seconded by council member Eli
Rivera.
>> Please call the roll I'm
sorry the voting system Please
cast your vote That passes
unanimously 7 to 0 with Council
member Moreno and Council
member Campbell absent.
Thank you Council PRESIDENT All
right.
Thank you.
One last thing to do We will
now take up housing authority
knowledge and the public
comment.
Housing Authority members
respect and appreciate
the public's input are fully
committed to protecting every
participant's free speech
rights at the Housing Authority
meetings.
Clerk Please proceed with
public comment.
Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT Pearl 2.7 An
Agenda Public comment is an
opportunity for members of
the public to comment on items
that are not on the agenda but
within the subject matter
jurisdiction of the Housing
Authority.
Each speaker will have two
minutes.
If you're in chambers please
submit your speaker slip.
If you're joining us virtually
please raise your hand by
tapping the raise your hand
icon or the clock participant
star nine Joyce anybody if you
can please come forward after
that is allegedly under okay
you see this is was fairly
polished about six pages which
I did very late last night
before our sleep when I woke up
this morning And now what 12
hours under my belt.
But I want to speak very
extemporaneous to you on
the homeless issue and
the issue of living this life.
I want you to know that we are
all doing our best and I want
you to believe that I want you
to wake up every single morning
and pat yourself on the back
because we are doing our best.
I have worked with the homeless
for 18 years on many levels.
We can't help them really.
It's too big.
It's individual, it's vast.
Their stories are vast just
like our lives are vast I one
of the quit to just live it
Just live the miracle that we
are setting on that we are
angry about that we are blaming
people about this is a miracle
and it goes by in a blink.
Believe me I know it.
It's going by.
It will blink.
Don't MISS It.
You guys that have the little
bitty beautiful baby don't MISS
It.
Don't get angry at the federal
government.
Yes To your fight But at night
laugh at all those babies and
all you are doing the best
deal.
>> Believe me, I know it for
sure.
I get it.
I got it.
Thank GOD I got it.
It's a miracle.
It's a miracle And we're doing
the best love to all.
Thank you for that concluding
comment allegedly If you can
please come forward.
Yeah, I guess maybe treat this
problem like if it was your
child.
I mean this is a systemic issue
and it's like we can blame
Washington dc all we want that
compounds on the problem But
this has been going on forever
and it's sad because it is a
community problem and like
Henry was talking about I mean
our community has been
fractured because of people
like you So it's like the left
and the right and let's fight
each other instead of joining
together and actually not
turning away from
the suffering.
And that's what happens is
people turn away from it
because it's really hard to
look at and it's like what I
deal with with child
trafficking it's very difficult
and that's why most people want
to just push it away and it's
like the homeless It's like
it's easier to walk over them.
It's easier to say move down
the street because you're an
eyesore than to actually go and
help them.
And it's like you guys you do
your budget and you do these
contracts and you kind of leave
it there But this room would be
overfull with the amount of
people that have this same
issue this woman has But they
can't They're afraid to come up
here afraid of retaliation,
afraid of something worse
happening than being evicted.
And it's like there are a lot
of players And that's
the problem is that it goes out
to so many people that it's
like if you want to deal with
you got to go to them and then
they send you over here and
then they send you over here
and that's why the system
doesn't work.
But it should because people
should feel like they belong
enough to be taken care of And
that's why I said What if it
was your child?
I don't feel like you guys
would act the same And I just
feel like it's like if you
Natalie were asking if you
could please come forward.
Hey, just two more minutes.
I really wish I could let you
finish listening to Robert
Edward Grant's solution on how
we build shelters and evolve
and how we build them and how
they're placed in community
involvement while they're there
in the shelter that woman was
having a panic attack is
basically what was happening
And I feel for her because that
is how I I don't I feel that I
don't have the panic and that's
a really feeling to have is
having a panic attack is
the probably worst worst things
I have four children that I'm
raising in this society and
it's mind blowing what's
happening Mind blowing it's
mind blowing And so at least
when my children grow up and
they hear about all these heart
disease, these horrible things
that are happening in our
administration, they're going
to ask me, Mom, why didn't
anybody do anything?
My choice is huge.
The problem is huge And hud
should be held accountable.
How do we make that happen?
I don't know.
I pulled my kids from public
school.
Everybody pull your kids from
public school.
We're going to have to
sacrifice at some point
something to regain power back
for the people they're supposed
to work for us Somehow
the switch flipped But this is
getting way out of control And
and now with this disclosure
movie they're trying to use
fear mental warfare on people
do the research.
There are multidimensional
beings that are interacting, do
the research and they're using
fear.
Thank you for the five minute
timer.
Castronovo Sorry Samantha
Astronaut You'll have two
minutes.
Please proceed.
Good evening Council members
The timer was at two minutes is
that correct?
Okay it's at 532.
That's great.
I'm learning how to speak in
one minute two minute locks.
So thank you for bearing for me
learning how to do that Hope to
get much better.
The things I want to mention
right now is I'm just planning
a feed of thought and I hope
it's appropriate to plant these
seeds.
If not, please let me know when
you're considering the right
now I believe it's 10% When
there's new properties that are
built, 10% should be and you
know the language I'm I'm
learning this topic right now
and I plan to learn it better
But I'm I'm hoping that some
way somehow we can increase
that to 20% or maybe more
because right now if a 40 unit
building is built, 10% is only
four units and that's
incredibly competitive And even
if you think about just
everyone out there that's
trying to be able to afford
rent, that's a very small
number.
The next thing you plan on is
let's see when people are left
unhoused by court things such
as probate and when assets are
settled often family members
will be left without shelter
just the way things go Also in
family court if there can be
some sort of I don't know what
the right word is use
legislation laws that the ones
not being unhoused somehow
think about that and provide
shelter for those becoming
unhoused by probate and family
court issues.
I'm going to have to think of a
better way to present that And
also, you know, thank you for
your comments.
I so the five minutes we're
going be participating online
we have Blair Beckman If you
can please unmute then after
that as Francis All right.
>> We're going and on agenda
public comment or housing
issues or I thank you for items
overall we are trying to
address our budget how it works
in with housing issues I been
learning important lessons that
we that city government of San
Diego is trying to address
extremely low and very low
income housing more I'm trying
to find out how that is
happening and understand that
better and there's a commitment
to that and how to understand
that.
So I'm hopeful and what you can
be doing in those terms to
address are very low and
extremely low in this new state
year coming up and you know
what Joyce was saying I have a
bit of hope in what we're doing
at this time is going to set a
good taste for how we consider
our budget issues in the coming
years.
I'm not certain but I'm hopeful
if I can be of any help to that
situation.
So we'll pull it back that you
know over the next few days I
hope to talk more about a items
to address you know short term
changes to the current block
program that can bring a new
way up here a vendor at a much
more cost budget wise and save
you budget always I'm surprised
no one talked about that today
to talk about that in
the coming week we have a
little bit of time left here in
JUNE to talk about it but it's
tough to know how we can do
that And I'll be talking about
that kind of stuff later in
this week.
Thank you.
Thank you, Francis, if you can
please.
I'm you So I just want to talk
about like what I see is an
elephant in the room just
before this storm of your voted
for $2 million for flock and
then turn around and are like
you know saying that you want
to do everything to help
everyone who's falling through
the cracks that $2 million a
flock literally could be going
directly into saving people's
lives and pulling people off
the streets today and keeping
people off the streets and I
think it's I mean, Bernie, I
have to call you up like it's
really down there for you to
have just voted for that and
then say that you can't control
things and that the federal
government is there
surveillance I mean come on,
let's use that money and create
a real emergency plan Like
we're at the point where we
need to create a tent city.
Let's let's create let's think
out of the box.
Let's create some sort of
shelter that can actually not
get nasty.
I mean let's look at Burning
Man and Outdoor wilderness
camping and like you know,
let's get let's let's start to
stop just spending money on
things of course that you're
actually going to get out of
the bureaucracy.
Well it will go back to
the surveillance.
You know a big other as far as
we know the surveillance is
keeping track of the unhoused
folks and making sure they
don't get into the nice
neighborhoods.
You know, and that's that's
it's we got every go to be as a
social worker and a librarian
that's going to be solving
the problems.
We know that a lot of money is
getting wasted on things that
are just keeping some people
safe but are literally again
those are the people stepping
over the other people.
America supposed to be a place
where we help each other and
it's up to us to do it.
Thank you.
Thank you, Council PRESIDENT.
Thank you, General.
The car for the housing
authority.
All right.
Thank you.
City clerk We will now adjourn
as a housing authority and
reconvene as a city council And
so city clerk, you and your
team I want to thank you once
again for a very long day and
how you handle it And also City
24 stays up late with us Pretty
much appreciate that And our
executive detail for the good
work that you do and for
the soul that stuck around all
day long.
We will now adjourned Council
to the next regularly scheduled
council meeting on Monday June