the 2:00 afternoon session.
So again, thank you to all of
you for your patience here.
I know some of you are here for
the very, very first time So
all right, we're ready.
Kevin All right.
Good morning.
I will now call the city
Council meeting of Tuesday,
JUNE 23rd, 2026 to order Deputy
Clerk please call the roll.
Councilmember Campbell here.
Council member Whitburn here
Council Member Foster here
Council Member Von Weber
Council PRESIDENT Pro Tem Lee
Council Member Campo here
Council Member Moreno Present
Council member Eli Rivera and
Council Member Council
PRESIDENT LaCava present.
Also attending the meeting are
Chief Deputy City Attorney
Melissa Ables, Independent
Budget Analyst Charles Mollica
Council Affairs Advisor in
the Mayor's office Kota Sizer
and myself your Deputy City
Clerk Kevin Smith All right,
thank you for that.
A quorum is now present.
We will begin this morning with
the land acknowledgment and
the Pledge of Allegiance led by
Council member Whitburn.
So if you would please stand we
respectfully acknowledge that
the committee should are
the original inhabitants of
the Unceded land.
I know to San Diego.
Despite enduring the horrors of
genocide and colonization,
the Holy 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 combination
connected to our past and
committed to a thriving future.
Please face the flag Hand 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.
All right.
Deputy Clerk please go over how
the public can offer their
testimony.
They will now highlight
the slide on the screen that
reviews how the public can
offer their public testimony
during today's meeting.
I'll summarize the slide on
the screen.
Please note that the time
allocations for proclamations
and consent items for meeting
management purpose purposes
the order can be found on
the agenda summary found on
line or at the table in
the back of the room.
If you are in person please
complete a speaker slip located
at the entrance of chambers and
bring it to the front of
the room.
Council ambassadors are
available near the entrance of
this room and can assist with
questions and speaker slips.
No further in-person testimony
will be taken once the City
Council begins virtual
testimony.
All right.
Thank you.
With that we will now dispense
with the approval of
the proclamation items.
Deputy Clerk Please proceed
with public comment.
The public comment period for
the proclamation items is now
open.
Each speaker will have one
minute per item per person.
If you would like to speak on
three or more items you will
have a maximum of three
minutes.
The proclamation items being
approved are items 3031 sw 500
and 504.
>> >> We will begin with
in-person public comment.
Jason Cox Please come forward.
You'll have one minute to speak
on items five and four.
Good morning everybody.
I'm speaking today as a
resident of Oak Park and a
frequent patron of the Oak Park
Library.
I probably been down there five
times for books, maybe 15 or 10
for community events but
the rest for Mark Davis.
I want to say he's gone far
beyond what it means to be a
librarian.
And I would want to call out
was active role in supporting
the community be it friends of
the library or the Oak Park
Youth Core and see that he's
been exceptional.
But what I really want to
highlight today is the fact
that for Mark it has never been
exceptional.
It's just a Tuesday.
I've never seen someone so
professional, so nonchalant and
yet so compassionate and
helpful at the same time.
He has proven that pragmatism
does not preclude activism and
in doing so rather than
exceeding the standards for
librarians, he's lifted them up
to his He's the quintessence of
what it means to be a librarian
in the 21st century and he's a
true public servant.
I hope he can serve as a model
for all those who come after
him and we're truly sad to see
him go.
Thank you for your comment.
>> Our next speaker is Lisa
Solis.
>> This is Lisa Solis.
You do have time ceded to you
by one other individual.
Eric Bana Tao, are you here?
Could you raise your hand,
please?
Oh, thank you very much.
You will have a total of two
minutes.
>> Good morning.
Good morning, City Council.
And on behalf of Bird Rock
Elementary School, I'm Eric
Bana, our school principal.
On behalf of the whole entire
staff, the community and our
students we are excited and
happy that you can acknowledge
our 75th anniversary.
And with that we have a little
bit of a serenade for you.
But first let me introduce our
music teacher MS..
Solis.
Good morning.
We're so excited to be here as
Sioux City Council today.
We have our students here.
When I found out that we were
having this celebration I
thought it was really important
for everybody to know that we
are Pelican's River pelicans.
Our our our how do you say our
motto are we have what's that
called The person The Pelican.
Our slogan Our slogan is
the Pelican And we are not
pelican.
We are pelicans and we love DR.
Barnett.
Well, we call him DR. At Bird
Rock.
So you'll hear him mentioned in
this song And I have today with
me a very Talia, Petra and
Campbell and they're going to
be singing our song.
It's great to be a pelican and
creatively again we find that
again and again Got to be
the way be jazz and get this
every day we live we learn, we
give and play We dance and sing
The pelicans where we live we
learn wages and we dance and
sing and let them tell you why
The pelicans we're not going
anywhere And the Pelican Land
Thank you.
Our next speaker is James
Savage.
James speaking on item 34
Pollinator Week James c of Yes
09090 sorry I couldn't read
James apologize.
No worries.
Well I wanted to thank Council
PRESIDENT LaCava and
the members of the City Council
Thank you today for recognizing
Pollinator Week 2026 As someone
who studies bees and
representing the city of San
Diego Obesity Initiative,
pollinators are not just a
symbol of nature they are part
of our working infrastructure
of healthy ecosystems In San
Diego they support canyons,
parks, gardens, native plants
and even food and therefore
they're really valuable part of
our city.
And I'm especially grateful
that the city has taken
the leadership role in
the mayor's monarch pledge and
particularly for supporting
Edie 2254 the Monarch
Protection Bill protecting
Monarch Overwintering habitats
in our California coast is
exactly the kind of practical
science based action that can
make a real difference.
So I think pollinator
protection with the city's help
is not just abstract We can
dedicate ourselves to reducing
chemicals, to planting
biodiverse water, drought
tolerant native plants and
bringing our actions to make a
real difference.
>> Thank you for helping San
Diego take the lead in this.
Thank you.
>> Our next speaker is Max
Schmidt.
Max Schmidt your final slip to
speak to items 31 s 505 before
so you will have a total of
three minutes.
>> Hi.
I just wanted to say that I'm
strongly opposed to all of
these on new dates on we've got
JUNE 22nd to 28th pollinator
week JUNE 30th Shawna Anderson
Day on JUNE AUGUST 26th Bird
Rock Elementary Day JUNE 25th
Mark Davis Day I'm opposed to
all of those days strongly
opposed to them very, very
strongly, strongly opposed to
them.
And the reason why is because
all they are are distractions
and cover ups for
the underground Catholic
genocide to something or if I'm
for something I'm about to say
the reason I'm opposed to
certain something I know my
rights and the reason I'm
opposed to these dates is
because in my opinion with my
First Amendment right I believe
that they are cover up for a
Catholic genocide happening in
San Diego where people are
being driven completely crazy
and driven to suicide and and
driven to drugs by being
constantly surrounded by
Freemasons who are telepathic,
who've done hermetic chants in
Masonic Lodge to become
telepathic Freemasons surround
Catholics and speak gibberish
nonstop while saying their
thoughts out loud to try to
drive them crazy mentally ill
suicidal into drugs And there's
an underground genocide in that
for city council to say like we
support human rights and we
support on all these human
rights issues they're phonies
if they support human rights
then why are they covering up
the Catholic genocide?
And I know my first minute
rights and I feel a little
frustrated I was interrupted
because if I come here and
spend my time and say if I'm
opposed to an issue I have
the right to say why I'm
opposed to it.
And I believe that these on
dates are cover ups for
Catholic genocide that's
happening in San Diego.
It's a miracle I'm even alive
right now because after being
made homeless in the dead of
winter by liberals in
Cincinnati, I moved to San
Diego to not freeze to death
And I am for the past year when
I go to job interviews they
also speak gibberish to me and
read my mind and mess with me.
i can't get a job in San Diego
and for the past year I've been
followed around and had my head
completely mentally destroyed
by people speaking gibberish
around me nonstop saying my
thoughts And there's a truth of
genocide and a city council are
phonies.
They don't care about human
rights.
They're covering up a Catholic
genocide in San Diego And I
don't want to be interrupted
again.
So what you might I mean this
works but the jurors I mean it
seems like the system is still
glitching.
No, you should do some
housecleaning real quick.
I brought my broom but we can
hear you and they can hear So
it's cool.
I'm live so we're getting it
out there.
You know what I mean?
This is not edited anyhow.
It's good to see you guys on
this level and like this is how
it should be This close to
the people know it terrifies
you guys but you know to really
feel like you're living and
doing what the people need we
should be on the same level and
not you guys up on a diet that
feels like you're trying to be
above the people And so I'm
going to connect 31 and 30 and
500 and that's 504 So with
the Pollinator week I think you
guys you know there's always
underlying things when you have
these proclamations And again I
feel like you should spend more
time on the rest of the agenda
as you do on proclamations You
spend a very long time on it
and then it's like we just rush
through the rest of
the business.
But with this pollinator stuff
I mean there are things that
are affecting pollinators like
five g like the chem trails and
even things like Roundup that
are being sprayed to you know,
kill certain weeds and stuff
but like there's an effect that
this has on the environment.
And so you know, when we have
people that are into
environmental protection, I
would think that they would be
into geoengineering and making
sure that you know, we don't
have things like that that are
not only detrimental to us as
human beings but also
the environment.
And so you know, bees are
heavily affected by five g and
there aren't as many as there
should be And this is why you
know, the environment is
affected And so it's like you
guys want to talk about climate
change and things like that but
you don't talk about
the manmade weather warfare
that is happening and that is
egregious because it's like
that's affecting all of us And
I just don't understand For
people who do claim to care
about the environment then that
stuff should bother you And
it's a disgrace to say this is
pollinators week when there are
things that are happening that
are detrimental to them that
could be stopped.
It doesn't have to take place
just like the storms didn't
have to take place.
But when there's you know,
cloud seeding happening there's
detriment that follows And so
it's like if we don't, you
know, acknowledge these things
it's just I mean what's
the point of doing this?
And then for, you know,
the librarian and for
the elementary you know what
bothers me is there's a lot of
sexualization of children
happening in schools And that
is the truth.
It's happening with books and
you know, under the guise of
pride.
But this is very dangerous
because I tell you guys all
the time it leads to a grooming
type of thing that leads kids
to being victims of sexual
assault because an adult can
come up to them and talk to
them about things that they
shouldn't know about and
shouldn't be learning in school
even pronouns.
That's not something that
children should be learning.
You know, they should be
learning things that are going
to help them in life And it
feels like, you know, kids are
failing because of curriculum
and stuff like this.
So I just feel like if you guys
want to sit here and be so
happy about things, we need to
talk about the underlying
things as well.
>> Thank you.
That does conclude your time.
That concludes in-person public
comment.
I've started the five minute
timer in council in committee
room.
We will now turn to the virtual
queue in which there are
currently three participants
requesting to speak.
Please state which proclamation
item items you wish to speak
to.
We'll go first to caller with
the last four digits 8700 if
you can please unmute please
proceed.
Thank you.
By the way I was applauding
with everyone I'm going to do
all of them.
A deputy city clerk Hello?
I'm sorry.
What was your question And no
question a deputy city Clerk I
will be doing all items.
>> All items.
Okay.
Thank you.
You'll have three minutes.
I'm sorry about that.
I think I was kind of muffled.
Okay, so let's start with Bird
Rock.
Oh, my GOD.
>> I just Those four faces.
Those faces of the children in
the song I mean, this is
the beauty.
This is the beauty.
This is just part of the whole
circle And I just Thank you.
>> Thank you, You guys and
gals, you were just so great.
You just touched my heart.
I love you so much.
And then on the stage I just
want to say that the very first
speaker who spoke on that and
he just said it so eloquently
and I wanted to thank him for
that.
And Mark Davis, thank you for
making the world better And
then Shawna Anderson, same for
you.
I celebrate you and I thank you
for making the world better.
Now here's the main one for me
today and that is number three
which is pollinator week.
So here we go enabling
the reproduction of flowering
plants standing well into
the city usa affiliate.
Love, love, love The mayor's
Bonner Pledge.
Thank you for that, Mayor.
One of the pollinator year
heroes to me is director of
the World Beat Cultural Center
in San Diego's Balboa Park with
Kate Cheatham.
Thank you Makita.
You do beautiful things for San
Diego and you love our
pollinators.
Okay.
And then lastly I want to
suggest that you Google
the image of bees
affectionately called pollen
pants where they carry
the pollen in the nectar back
to the hive.
It's just an amazing thing.
It's actually the little bags
are woven with hair and in just
it's just an amazing thing.
So I celebrate with all of you
a great job in moving in
adapting this morning and
looking forward to the rest of
the day and live to evolve.
Thank you.
Our next speaker is Blair
Beekman.
Please on you.
All right.
We're Beekman.
Happy Tuesday morning to
everyone.
I wanted to speak on item 30.
Just one item today.
Okay.
You'll have one minute.
Thank you.
>> Yeah, I just wanted to thank
yourselves for this item to be
thankful to our butterflies and
bees is a good thing and it's
nice to have to have such a
proclamation for our
pollinators.
Thank you.
Thank you For words of the ira
in stressing the importance of
all the things we have to
consider so we can continue to
have our flowers and an overall
good luck that as we are all
trying to understand you know
different levels and forces
that kind of hinder us and
conflict with us as we try to
work on our issues, we try to
find the constructive ness out
of it.
Identifying the weaknesses is
important but then finding
the positive constructive ness
out of it.
Good luck how we can do that in
the same public dialog I think
that can be a good thing.
I try to practice how to do
that.
Good luck from the negative
Speak of the positive it makes
for good meeting.
>> Thank you.
Thank you.
Next speakers Kathleen Lippert
please begin.
>> Thank you.
Good morning Council And thank
you for this proclamation of
the colony for the pollinators
.
I wanted to speak about
phenology.
It's the timing of endemic
plant species and it's
essential to understanding
their growth cycles and which
have evolved to be compatible
with flowering fruiting plants
,bird migrations and endemic
insects.
If you have a pollinator with
nothing to pollinate
the pollinator dies fruiting
and flowering and native
natural environments evolve to
be compatible so they can all
survive.
That process is disrupted when
endemic insect and species are
replaced with things like
marijuana and hemp growth that
are not native.
They consume massive amounts of
water and are grown with
pesticides.
Insecticides and herbicides
that will poison native plants,
insects and wildlife.
Those who care enough to
proclaim the importance of
pollinators for a proclamation
should recognize these harms
address reference to something
that does conclude your time.
Our next speaker is Tony.
Please begin Just Tony we can't
hear you very well.
We can hear like a tiny little
bit.
Can you turn up the volume or
something That's better.
>> You got to go into morning's
council.
How are you doing today?
I'm just calling to say that I.
I support the people which and
all the initiatives to bring
attention and highlight all
the actions in support of bees
and pollination.
Pollination plays an essential
role Food production supporting
local bees that are needed to
the area is super important.
Honey bees often get all
the credit and they get all
the glory But we have we have
to be and a number of other
native bees that actually grow
inside the ground And the more
that we expand the cities and
the more that we are able for
everything in the country of
everything we're getting rid of
the spaces where the growth is
Not all bees burrow in hives in
big colonies like that We want
to be honey bees.
You want to know on that side.
>> Thank you for your time.
Thank you.
That does conclude your time.
I will note for the record
the five minute timer has
concluded with one speaker left
in the queue.
No other speakers will be
taken.
Natalie Raskin Please begin.
>> Hey good morning.
Thank you for having me today.
It's Natalie Rush.
I just wanted to comment on
the Bee the Pollinator week.
It's contradictory that we have
this week but yet we still
spray our skies with chemicals.
I live in a big apartment
complex and I even have
pictures where they come in
every summer and spray all
the plants and we have massive
amount of dead bees in
the parking lot.
So we're going to have
pollinator week where we also
going to do to protect them in
areas such as the apartment
complex who's using what
chemicals to kill these bees
and why we spray our skies.
They want to see contrails or
contrails?
Which one is it?
Because when we spray the skies
we're spraying our children to
fix.
>> Thank you.
That concludes the public
comment on proclamation items.
All right.
Thank you, Deputy Clerk I'll
kick off council member comment
and move the proclamation Item
three Pollinator work As we've
heard in partnership with Mayor
Gloria, this proclamation
sustains the buzz that San
Diego values its environmental
impact as a designated bee city
pollinators are proof that
sometimes even the smallest
constituents have the biggest
impact And without our
pollinators and native plants
that go hand in hand to support
our biodiversity, our local
food system and economy, San
Diego would not have
the vibrant ecosystem that we
know and love without
pollinators from bees to
butterflies and everything in
between we rely heavily on
these pollinators to sustain
our communities.
It is important that we
continue to do everything we
can in San Diego to protect our
diverse ecosystem from the many
challenges that their
pollinators face including
climate change.
And I know my staff is taking
notes based on some of
the comments the public made.
Thank you to all the scientists
,biologists, local
environmental organizations,
the volunteers who make it
their mission to protect our
cities pollinators and keep say
the thriving and special thank
you to Professor DR. James Nye
for your research and your
passion in this area.
Item 5a1 word Rock Elementary
75th Anniversary day.
So congratulations to
the school for 75 years of
service to the Youth Alliance
San Diego through education and
innovation.
As many of you know, Bird Rock
Elementary holds a special
place in my family's heart.
My wife taught there for more
than 25 years and my children
attended their elementary
school years there being able
to witness firsthand
the dedication of care for
the school and staff put into
our youth is worthy to take a
moment to celebrate this
anniversary recognizing
the leadership and teachers of
the past to those who are
leading and will lead to
the school forward and to
the parents.
This is the first place that I
did Community volunteer work so
who knows?
You do some community volunteer
work.
You end up as an elected
official.
I don't that's bad or good but
at least that was my path away
from earning multiple awards
and honors as a California
Distinguished School and one of
America's healthiest schools,
Murdoch Elementary continues to
foster a thriving, supportive
and premier community where
students feel encouraged to
learn and succeed leading today
and sustaining high standards
for students and
the communities is the school's
principal DR. Eric How DR.
Bennett remains committed to
ensuring the same Scuse me
The Byrd Rock Elementary
continues to be a place where
students and parents alike feel
confident and connected and
with administrators like
Principal DR. Bennett, staff
teachers and parents Byrd Rock
Elementary It's upheld
the standards over the past 75
years.
Today we celebrate tomorrow I
know you continue to work on
behalf of the students Event
Item 31 Shawn Anderson Day in
partnership with Councilmember
Yvonne Wolpert.
I congratulate and thank John
Anderson for her work and
commitment of 26 years to
the San Diego River Park With
the past six years as
the executive Director of
the Joint Powers Authority,
Shauna has been consistently at
the forefront for local
environmental protections and
open space advocacy in District
one from securing over $6
million in state and federal
funding for regional trail
projects to being a respected
leader to her peers and staff,
she provided critical oversight
on major habitat restoration
projects built by others.
But now with management
responsibility, she drove
critical advances to the long
term build out of the 71 mile
Coast to Coast Crest Trail with
now 50 miles already in place,
she transformed long term plans
into groundbreaking projects
that expand environmental
access and restore natural
habitat because of her
residents and visitors are able
to experience more of what San
Diego and the region has to
offer.
Thank you Shauna for your
exceptional work with the San
Diego jpa and everything that
you've done for our city.
Congratulations on your
retirement.
Would you like to offer a few
words?
Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT Joe LaCava I
really like the connection
between Pollinator Week and
the San Diego River Park
because protecting our open
spaces and our river valleys
through the San Diego region is
so critical to our pollinators.
I'd like to thank the city of
San Diego for your years of
support for the jpa
particularly two board members
current board board members Joe
LaCava and Marni von Wilpert
who've been on the board of
the jpa since I've been
the director.
And for all your passion and
engagement as we navigate
the challenges protecting our
open spaces 35 miles of those
50 miles of the Coastal Crest
Trail and other trails in
the park are within the city of
San Diego City limits.
I'd like to add to the team
effort and I'd like to
acknowledge some of our jpa
staff that are here.
Please raise your hand.
We have a wonderful team of
only 12 people and we
accomplished so much.
I'd like to thank my family
who's also here.
Please raise your hand.
I like to say that I've raised
my kids at the San Diego River
Park and it's true.
Uh, finally I'd like to give a
quick thank you to the first
responders and the fire
department of the city of San
Diego Yesterday a brush fire
appeared next to Lake Hodges
and thanks to the firefighters
and first responders it was
only a brush fire was contained
within, you know, just a short
time And thankfully protecting
the San the important San Diego
River Valley.
So thank you so much.
I appreciate the recognition.
>> All right.
Thank you, John.
Again, congratulations that
your time and again I will move
the proclamation and we'll go
to Councilmember Foster.
Yes.
Thank you, council PRESIDENT.
And just a quick
congratulations to all of
the folks and organizations
that are being recognized for
the proclamations.
I would like to speak briefly
on item 30 and as five of four
first starting with pollinator
week 2026, just what we'd like
to thank you council PRESIDENT
And the mayor's office for
bringing this proclamation
forward.
Also just want to recognize a
very special place in District
four known as the Paradise
Hills Native Garden It with
the work of your office and
the mayor's office it has been
incorporated into the city of
San Diego's Bee City program
And so it is just such a
beautiful place And I say you
know we talk about
the resiliency of District four
that Native Garden is actually
built on an old landfill And so
you can only imagine
the challenges that go along
with that as you can only, you
know, penetrate to certain
levels and degrees.
And I tell you they have really
found a way to to make that
into a view to beautiful space.
Not only do they have to be
part of the bee garden that
they that they have out there
but they also have
the butterfly garden as well.
So if you ever have a chance
you like gardening please stop
by The Paradise Hills Native
Garden is just a beautiful
space and I say it's kind of
like the zoo.
They have all these species out
there with all names of this
species and it's really a
beautiful educational place.
So thank you.
Just a big shout out to Nancy
and West Jansen for and all
the volunteers for everything
that takes place at Paradise
Hills Garden Also as 504 Mark
Davis Day Um yeah Give him a
round of applause.
>> I'm proud to bring proud
Hello Proud to bring this
proclamation forward with Mayor
Todd Glory to recognize Mark
Davis day and celebrate a
career that has meant so much
to all park in our city for
nearly four decades, Marc
dedicated himself to public
service and to creating spaces
where people could learn,
connect and feel welcomed.
And if you ever been out to
the Oak Park Library and
the and the friends of
the library in the events, it
is truly truly a place that
brings committee community
together for fellowship.
As we know libraries are our
anchor in our community and
again special places where we
open the doors and just create
fellowship and opportunity for
our residents.
And Mark understood that
through his leadership in
partnership with the Friends of
the Oak Park Library,
the branch became a trusted
community space and brought
people together and created
opportunities for generations
of residents And we see that
impact directly in our office
today.
As you saw through the efforts
there and my my engagement with
the Oak Park community and
the friends of the Oak Park
Library Jackson that came up
and gave comment is now an
intern in my office and he made
it very adamant that he wanted
getting around that he wanted
to be here today to recognize
Mark So just really want to
just really appreciate
the partnership Mark built with
the community libraries staff
and his commitment to making
sure the future of the Oak Park
Library reflected the needs of
the people who use it every
day.
So on behalf of District four
and the Oak Park Community
Friends of the Oak Park Library
and the City of San Diego Marc
just thank you for your
service, your leadership and
for everything you have given
to Oak Park and the city of San
Diego.
And I just want you to really
enjoy this next chapter and it
is well deserved And of course
you are invited and want to
make sure we see you at the new
Oak Park opening when we get
that building completed.
So looking forward to having
you there.
Mark would you like to say a
few words If you want.
Okay.
Please.
All right coworkers.
It might have been nice if you
let me know that I was going to
be speaking today ahead of time
.
Know our libraries are
definitely are hubs to our
communities more than just
places for educational
materials but they are
community centers and I'm very
happy and proud to have been
able to work in one and and
serve a community in the city.
And I want to remind you guys,
a dollar for dollar investments
in libraries is probably more
effective than fighting crime
than investment in police.
>> So thank you for restoring
as much of the library funding
as you were able.
>> I appreciate it.
Thank you.
Thank you so much tonight And
I'm sure I'm sure Anita Chavez
will be giving you a big giant
hug as you retired But looking
forward to having you at
the opening of the New Oak Park
Library.
So with that I will second
the motion and thank you for
the opportunity Counsel
present.
All right.
Thank you.
So we have a motion by myself
and a second by Councilmember
Foster and with a proclamation
so I don't see anybody else on
the lights So please call
the roll Deputy Clerk I have
set up the voting system.
Please cast your vote.
Councilmember Weprin, could you
state your vote for the record,
please?
>> Thank you.
The item passes unanimously
with the council District five
absent.
>> All right.
Thank you for that for continue
to ask the indulgence of those
assembled here.
We're going to pause briefly to
go out in the chamber to take
pictures with the four
recipient of the proclamations
anybody who wants to come into
chambers and witness
the photos, you're welcome to
do that If you choose to leave
two elevators are are working.
I've been told the two
elevators are in fact working
so you won't have to walk all
the way back down.
So my colleagues would join me
in chambers for that.
We can take pictures with
the four recipients that don't
Oh I mean somebody just has
this opportunity to up
and
you
know Yeah, yeah.
Check One, two, three, four
And
the events that started right
here in say
just Okay, we're back from a
brief pause But Kevin why don't
you take attendance?
>> The council members security
Council member Campbell here
Council member Whitburn here
Council member Foster Von
Wilpert Council PRESIDENT Pro
Tem Lee Council Member Campos
Council Member Moreno Present
Council Member Eli Rivera
Resident for PRESIDENT LaCava
present All right Thank you And
again thank you for indulging
us as we kind of navigate these
10:00 technical problems.
So we're going to proceed with
the approval of the consent
items and there are two
corrective statements for
the record our City Attorney
Thank you Council PRESIDENT On
item as 501 our office will be
submitting a corrected digest
and ordinance to clarify that
the ordinance if approved will
remain in effect without any
further action by council If
Vehicle code section 21214.7 is
extended by the state
legislature.
All right.
>> Thank you for that.
And I believe the office of
the mayor has a correction as
well.
Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT For item 100.
The staff report on resolution
indicate that appointee
Stephanie Benvenuto resides in
Council District one.
However she actually resides in
Council District two.
>> a correct id resolution will
be submitted following
the meeting.
There we go with that.
Are there any requests to pull
an item or any of the items by
the council?
I don't see any request So with
that Deputy clerk please
proceed with public testimony
on the consent items.
>> Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT Please note
each speaker will have one
minute per item per person.
If you would like to speak on
three or more items you will
have a maximum of three
minutes.
The consent agenda includes
items 1050 through 52 100 1a1
as a5a1 as 502 and as 503 Also
let me note for the record
the potential appointments that
are on the agenda this morning
Item 100 at the potential
appointment of Stephanie
Benvenuto, John Ford, Tyler
Martin and Tiffany McDaniel to
the homelessness revenue
Account Citizens Oversight
Committee Item 101 is
the potential appointment of
Tom Harmon to the Board of
Building Appeals and Advisors.
We did receive comments on item
5a1 on our e comment form which
has been distributed to
the Council that we will go to
in-person comment.
Max Schmitt please come
forward.
You have submitted speaker
slips on all of the consent
items so you will have a
maximum of three minutes.
Hi I just wanted to use my
First Amendment right here
today at City Hall and say that
with my First Amendment right
in my opinion I am opposed to
all of the consent agenda items
.
I'm opposed to every single one
with my First Amendment right
and in my opinion and I want to
say the reason why the reason
why I'm opposed to all of these
items is because I believe that
every thing should be stopped
and that the city government
should actually be shut down
until more awareness is drawn
about the Catholic genocide and
if I'm going to get in trouble
for not staying on topic one of
the item 100 is appointments to
the Homeless Revenue account
Citizens Oversight Committee.
I think the Homeless Revenue
Oversight Committee should be
shut down until awareness is
drawn on homeless Catholic
people are.
You can call it death by
gibberish where Freemasons
surround homeless Catholic
people and speak gibberish
nonstop to the point they go
mentally ill commit suicide or
turn to drugs and it's an
underground hidden genocide and
I want to say the reason why
I'm opposed these items and why
it's such a big deal is because
homeless people are dying and
they're being intentionally
driven to suicide,
intentionally driven to drugs
by armed telepathic people
surrounding them nonstop
surrounding them at
the homeless shelter
surrounding them and public
transit surrounding them every
single where every single place
they go and speaking gibberish
so that their mind is so that
they their mind is constantly
going insane.
It's imagine being forced to
wear headphones that all you
hear is gibberish all day long
through these headphones and
then half the time if you can
make out any of the gibberish
it's saying your thoughts out
loud.
Imagine how that could drive
someone to suicide or drug
addiction.
There is an underground
genocide on in San Diego that's
being covered up and city
council are phonies.
They don't care about human
rights because they know about
this underground genocide.
And the reason I know why is
because when I come to city
hall, city council members are
actually intentionally speaking
gibberish to try to drive me
crazy And they know they're
guilty and I'm not stupid.
Stop targeting Catholics.
>> Shame on all of you.
Thank you.
That does conclude your time
Allegedly.
Audra, please come forward and
state the items you'd like to
speak to.
We'll cover as much as
possible.
Okay.
The three minutes listed items
5050 to 100 as 501 as 502 and
that's 503 on your speaker
slip.
That's right.
Three minutes.
Let's do this.
All right.
Fun fact flies also pollinate.
So that's interesting.
You MAY not want to kill them.
You know what I mean?
It's like they also you know
there's a reason why they go
after any who So yes, I'll
continue to say this with your
software agreements I feel like
it is very negligent when we
are engaging with these
monopolies that have all of
the government information
Again because it seems
convenient but it's very
dangerous with the people who
are have nefarious intentions
like BlackRock and Vanguard who
are you know, just being given
our data it's crazy.
>> Nobody cares.
And then there's appointment
for the homeless revenue
account.
I feel like you should rename
that because it sounds like
you're making money off
the homeless.
I mean you do but I feel like
it needs to be more along
the lines of the you know,
homelessness o t revenue
account because it really does
it doesn't it doesn't look
good.
But I guess let's be
transparent with the people so
that they know you know what I
mean that they're you know a
hot commodity because they make
you a lot of money And with
this electric bike stuff I just
feel like eventually these are
going to be regulated like
cars.
So you're going to need a
license and insurance and all
of that stuff.
So I mean people Sean, that
bike you know what I mean?
You're going to have to get a
specific license for it and
children will too.
So it's interesting And then
with this emergency ambulance
transportation billing so I
understand this is for billing
but ambulances like full
ambulance are ambulances that
are picking people up And I
would like to specify ambulance
number 36 that is engaged in
drugging people Falck also
manufacturers some of these
drugs that they use to kind of
sedate people and it is
something that is known that
happens in ambulances not just
in fog but across the nation
and probably the world where
people who get sedated also get
sexually assaulted.
And Andrea Epping had a rape
kit done after she was in a
fall ambulance after she was
assaulted by Anthony Warner San
Diego pd Officer and put into
this ambulance and one of those
like burritos or you know they
just like wrap you up it's a
wrap or whatever And she wound
up in the hospital with no
clothes and they're like Where
are your clothes?
I mean she had them at
the skate park.
Raul is in your district but
evidently when she ended up in
the hospital there were no
clothes and she had a rape kit
done And when that was done
they said this is one of
the worst cases I've seen And I
saw a bunch of bruises on her
legs that look like, you know,
fingerprints on the inside of
her thighs And so it's very
concerning to know that this is
happening in the city of San
Diego And right now they have
deemed her incompetent.
So you know, all of this can
get buried under the rock.
>> Good job.
But the risky police state
the item you would like to
speak to item ten the minutes.
Okay.
Thank you.
I just like to say that I'd
like to see more detail in
the minutes rather than less.
The minutes are supposed to
reflect what happened at
the meeting.
They're searchable so people
can look for what they're
interested in and I've heard
that push to actually reduce
the amount of detail in
the minutes when citizens speak
rather than increase it And I
think it should be increased so
that what we say here is at
least captured to some degree.
I know it has to be summarized
might be something for you to
do at some point But I do think
that you know, I spent six
hours here yesterday waiting to
give a two minute speech and i
think the citizens deserve a
little more than just their
name And a couple of words Also
I don't understand why we're
now reducing all citizen
comments to one minute.
There's not that many speakers
here.
There's no justification to not
have two minutes today And I've
seen it again and again Now I
can understand if you have a
council full of you know, a
chamber full of people as we
did yesterday with the telecom
but in general we should
reserve two minutes for
the Brown Act.
Thank you concludes your time
And Anthony Ralphs please state
the items you'd like to speak
to Like to speak to item ten
I'd like to speak to item 100
and I'd like to speak to item
501 please.
So you'll have three minutes
with regard to item ten.
Well first of all good
afternoon City Council With
regard to item ten I would like
to say that I strongly agree
with what Bob just shared.
I also share that position as
well.
I think that if we were making
the time to park down here for
making a time to sit here for
hours if we're making the time
to routinely show up, I think
that we all deserve to have
what we say recorded as
accurately as possible and as
thoroughly as possible.
Moving on to item 100 I've good
luck with these appointments.
I know that empty seats can't
make the important decisions
that are needed with regard to
all of these issues So I hope
that these people are
appointed.
I'm not sure who they are but I
hope that they are qualified
and good luck to them and with
regard to item s501
the Municipal Code the new
sections eight for 19 420 and
8421 relating to electric
bicycle safety.
I'm assuming that that's I
actually have not seen those
codes specifically so I can't
speak to all the nuances within
them but I just wanted to share
my own personal testimony with
regard to electrical bicycle
safety and share that my
brother's almost been hit by an
electric bike actually grazed
his bass almost and thankfully
it didn't hurt him and it
didn't hurt his bass But I'm
sure that you hear stories like
this all the time so I won't
bore you with more details Just
hoping that we can do something
with regard to public safety
with these electric bicycles.
Thank you.
That concludes in-person public
comment.
I've started the five minute
timer in the committee room.
We will now turn to the virtual
queue in which there are seven
participants requesting to
speak.
We'll begin with John Elway.
John, please begin.
Thank you.
Good morning.
City COUNCILMAN John Brady with
Experience Advisors.
I'd like to speak on
the consent agenda and item 100
please.
Thank you.
So I want I'm sorry item 100.
Yes.
Okay.
Well, I wanted to thank you and
also the consent agenda item
100 is on the consent agenda.
>> Oh, sorry about that.
I don't want to speak on
the item related to
the Homeless revenue Committee
as well.
Okay.
>> Thank you.
It's two minutes please.
So I am concerned about this
homeless revenue committee.
I we've spoken with our members
the way the language of this
committee is set up.
It appears that no one from
the homeless services base
could actually serve on their
committee if they are if they
are recipients of any city
funding which is almost
everyone in this space
including our own and what
appears to be developing based
on the first four appointments
is that there is no homeless
services or knowledge or
experience happening And on top
of it we are and I know no
problem with the individuals or
the resumes but what's
happening is we are actually
creating an exception for
someone who does not live in
the city who is a lobbyist.
This committee, if it has
impact over how this funding is
spent looks like to me it will
largely be made up by business
people and no one with any
lived experience or knowledge
of the industry itself And that
is problematic for us.
As to the public comment area,
I did want to say that when you
call in right now you get an
error.
If you dial in and enter
the code it says either it
doesn't recognize it or ask for
the code again and people hang
up.
Also when we pull an item like
yesterday on path we had two
people set up to speak but we
could not give them time to get
on the phone because there was
not the presentation that was
planned for.
Thank you.
Our next speaker is Aurora
Livingston.
Please state the items that you
would like to speak to and
begin.
>> Good morning Council
PRESIDENT And Council members.
My name is Aurora and I'm
speaking today on behalf of
California State Senator
Catherine Blake Speer on item
s5a1 The Senator supports this
ordinance to improve e-bike
safety and thanks Councilmember
Campo for his leadership on
this important issue.
Senator Blake's Mayor I applaud
the city of San Diego for
taking such a thoughtful
education First approach to
improving e-bike safety e-bikes
really are an important part of
our transportation system.
They provide a sustainable
mobility option for many
residents.
Unfortunately there have been
serious injuries involving
young riders who MAY not have
the training or understand
the rules of the road to safely
operate these e-bikes.
This ordinance strikes
the right balance by
establishing a reasonable age
restriction and prioritizing
public education And these are
commonsense guardrails that
focus on prevention and will
help keep all road users safe.
Senator Alex Mayor looks
forward to advancing
complementary state legislation
to strengthen e-bike safety
standards and improve consumer
protections.
>> Thank you.
Thank you.
Our next speaker is Leif
Ganzer.
Please state the item you would
like to speak to.
>> I am a novice.
My name is left and I want to
speak on 5a1.
I must have one bike right off
I take it to the grocery store
On the right is all the time I
have a class one e-bike which
is limited to 20mph.
I want to point out that you
picked up the worst statement
to support when it comes to
e-bikes.
There is no bicycle at all that
it supports This particular
bill especially because it
would limit children under 12
to ride Class one and Class two
e-bikes.
These are not the e-bikes that
people are always talking about
these monthly models.
These are typically not
the e-bikes that kids are doing
these on.
I want you to understand this
has nothing to do with kids
riding on the highway.
There's nothing to do with kids
doing wheelies.
Please don't use the excuse
that you're doing something
because what you're doing is
you're doing the easy thing and
you are creating bad things for
people that cannot vote.
So if you care about e-bike
safety you would be
consistently and fully about
implementing safe bicycle
infrastructure.
Might ask if you can do all of
the education first off and yes
you can all the education all I
don't even I'm opposed to
better enforcement but please
take out the restriction on
class one and custom e-bikes.
That's all I've got.
Thank you.
That concludes your time.
Please note that the five
minute timer has concluded with
five speakers left in
the queue.
No other speakers will be taken
.
Next up is Ross Tritt.
Please state the time you'd
like to speak to me in.
Thank you.
Speaking on this final one.
Good morning to all
the PRESIDENT With all
the members of the San Diego
Zoo Counsel.
My name is Ross Trade and I'm
speaking on behalf of
Assemblymember Brenner in
support of item as 5a1 which
would opposite of the need to
go into the 20 to 34 pilot
program that you can do
COUNCILMAN Camp over target
championing this ordinance in
San Diego.
Assembly member DR. Brenner
authored 80.34 in response to
the growing number of pigeons
involving young riders across
the district.
As a mom of two children, she
knows firsthand how important
it is to keep our kids safe on
the road.
And this is really just a
common sense change that gives
cities the tools to protect
families and prevent a tragic
accident from happening.
I respectfully ask for your
vote and thank you.
Our next speaker is Blair being
pleased that the item or items
he wished to speak to?
>> Hi.
Blair Bateman I wanted to speak
to It's 5a1 that's 5a3 an item
51.
>> You'll have three minutes.
Please proceed.
>> Okay.
Thank you.
I guess first to 5 or 1
the electrical electric
electrical electric bikes that
I come up to to more from what
the future of infrastructure is
going to be like in terms of
our smart cities and e-bike use
And do we have good tech
accountability practices and
policies for the future of
e-bikes?
The argument you guys are
having right now is interesting
.
Good luck how it can be
debated.
I think people should have
freedom but I guess that can
always be limitations with
the need for safety.
Good luck in finding that good
balance and good luck on tech
accountability Good check
accountability with the future
of e-bikes for item I need open
policy and best practices for
both emergency transport
billing and collection services
items.
I wanted to reiterate the words
of Dara We're doing our
ambulance service stuff.
Do we need a review of how our
ambulance workers are taking
care of our people?
I think it should be front and
center of how we address
ourselves at this time and with
the police issues as well.
I've been mentioning that I'm
really surprised at what's
happening to Andrea.
I mean she's a pretty innocent
person and she's getting real
railroad treatment right now.
She's her rights are being
taken away And I think we have
to really work something right
now and start better
principles.
Good luck how we can do that
and addressing exactly what
the Ari was talking about,
what's going on with how
ambulance workers take people
to the hospital, what's going
on in that time period, Those
things have to be addressed.
Is it larger than just Andrea's
issue here in San Diego?
We have to consider all these
things.
Um, and also for item 51
improvements and modernization
project for a an improvement
I'm learning important lessons
in the difference between storm
water storm drain issues and
these are sewer systems.
These are all different
classifications.
I spoke much a week or so ago
on my feelings of storm water
issues when you were working on
Storm drain issues the related
but there can be a bit of
differences and I didn't mark
those differences I wish I did.
I really tried to be heartfelt
in my work last week and I was
spoken to what is the more
proper order of how to talk
about the things But
nonetheless my words have good
intentions for everyone and I
hope we continue to work on our
stuff and work on clarifying
language when we clarify each
other that it can be done
softly.
It's I have to learn that too.
>> Thank you.
Thank you.
Natalie Raskin Please state
which item or items you wish to
speak to.
I Can you hear me?
Yes I can hear you.
Which item would you like to
speak on Consent Item one 100
100.
Okay.
That's Natalie Roski.
The title is kind of concerning
to me.
It does sound a bit boxy More
on ish.
It's concerning to me also that
there's appointed for people to
this board and I want to go
fill out an application and
it's saying it's not taken any
applications and that there are
seven seats available.
I think with the transparency
that is happening through
the city and with its
constituents I'm supposed to be
a stakeholder but it doesn't
seem that my stake holding
seems to be noticed too much
with this I got a letter from
the housing Commission that my
age We will end NOVEMBER 30th
and then I will no longer be a
part of any housing commission
available.
>> Thank you.
That does conclude your time.
The next speaker the caller
with the last four digits 8700
Please state the item or
anybody wish to speak to Am I
on You are on which item would
you like to okay Sorry Deputy
City Clerk Good.
>> You're doing such a good
job.
5051 Excuse me a hundred 5 or 1
two, 213 and four and two.
I'm sorry.
Did you get that or you want me
redo it?
>> I got that.
You'll have a total of three
minutes.
Okay.
Thank you so much.
Okay, so 15.
Yes.
This is a very important item.
Yes.
To be to know to collect for a
comprehensive contract and
labor compliance software
solution support.
This is the administration and
enforcement functions of
the llc the play and the you'll
see programs Wonderful
wonderful important item a
question in today's I.T world
is ten years too long 51 yes to
Brown in Caldwell the eeoc
report 59 employees 11
subcontractors a question what
about under-representation in
the subcontractors do we follow
that workforce No copy of
the workforce report from Brown
and Caldwell It's what
the county This is one reason
why item 50 is so crucial 100
Yes to the appointments for
the homeless Whether you
accounted a sense oversight
committee.
Thank you.
Thank you Volunteers for years
seems appropriate length of
service revenue from
the measure security Please
consider what John Brady said
this morning.
I think that's a good thing to
look at and 5a1 yes and thank
you to council member Ken Peel
and all others involve on
the e-bike prohibition for
under 12 one people This makes
sense.
We need to guide our young
people and this is very
important for their safety.
So a question on that Could
the lack of resources affect
enforcement of it?
5 or 3 yes.
But will three on the fence
with Whitman contract for
ambulance building and
collection services?
Is there a program to help low
income people with
the payments?
I'm sorry back to 502 Yes to
the First Amendment to all
involved cdb grant funds and
thank you This hub system
timeline has been bumped for
meeting deadlines.
Please be careful on that
involves equity and underserved
communities.
It's a good thing.
So thank you to the Economic
Development Department.
So this is chock full of good
stuff and appreciate your work
on this letter.
Well thank you.
Our next speaker is Katherine
Douglas.
>> Please state which item or
items you would like to speak
to Safety.
Okay.
You'll have one minute.
Please proceed.
I strongly support this common
sense e-bike safety proposal
unanimously approved by
the Public Safety Committee.
There's an urgent need for
practical measures that will
enhance public safety and help
prevent avoidable injuries.
Setting a minimum age of 12 for
Class one and Class two e-bike
riders prohibiting passengers
unless a bike is specifically
designed with a permanent
second seat.
These are simple common sense
safety measures.
These safeguards will protect
young riders, reduce dangerous
riding behaviors, make our
streets safer for everyone.
As as e-bike usage continues to
grow, kids need these
protections now more than ever
to ensure they can ride safely
and responsibly while
protecting those around them.
I urge you to support
Councilmember Campos proposal
and swiftly implement these
much needed safety
improvements.
Thank you very much.
>> Thank you.
That does conclude public
comment on the consent agenda.
All right.
Thank you.
Deputy Clerk turned over to
council members Questions,
comments Entertain a motion and
we will start with council
member Campbell.
Thank you Council PRESIDENT
Thank you to members of
the public for their
participation today I will move
approval of the consent agenda
and speak briefly to item 5a1
The regulations on e-bikes.
This ordinance comes down to
one simple question for me and
my constituents If we know
children are being seriously
injured on e-bikes and we have
the legal authority to act, why
wouldn't we?
As a parent of two young
children, a former fifth grade
teacher as well?
Child safety is always at
the top of my mind and I've
seen the data.
I've spoken with the families.
I've spoken to the doctors.
I've heard from health care
professionals and educators In
the message is clear They want
to see us do more to protect
our children.
Today's e-bikes are not
the bicycles many of us grew up
writing.
They travel farther and faster
often in traffic alongside cars
And yet many young writers
haven't received the training
on the rules of the road or
safe riding practices.
So this ordinance uses
the authority provided by ab
2234 to establish common sense
guardrails focused on education
and accountability and safety.
The goal is not to punish
anyone particularly children.
The goal is to prevent injuries
before they happen.
I want to particularly thank
Assembly member Tasha Burner
for authoring ab 2234 and
Senator Catherine Blake Speer
whose upcoming legislation will
put more responsibility on
manufacturers.
And that has my full support as
well.
E-bikes are and can be a great
transportation option.
But safety cannot be optional.
So when children are being
seriously injured and other
pedestrians walking around or
being injured doing nothing
can't be an option.
Our state legislature allows us
allows for this ordinance to be
a tool to protect children and
protect everyone really and
collect evidence for several
years to help shape policy into
the future.
This ordinance is reasonable.
It's balanced and the necessary
step to protect young riders,
their families and everyone who
shares our roads and sidewalks.
So with that I respectfully ask
support of the Council.
And that concludes my motion.
Council PRESIDENT All right.
Thank you.
Council Member Kennedy So we
have a motion to move
the consent items not seen in
the light.
I'll second it and I will thank
you Council Member for bringing
the item forward and I will
join you in expressing
the frustration for the good
work that Senator Blake's mayor
and Assembly member Barnard
have been trying to have common
sense legislation and having a
tough time up in Sacramento but
at least we have this.
Thank you for taking that
opportunity for the pilot
program And I thank you to
the city attorney for
clarifying that this will have
the same term of whatever of
the state legislation is going
forward.
So we have a motion by Council
member Campi and a second by
myself to move the consent
items will go next to council
member Ella Rivera.
>> Thank you Council PRESIDENT
I will first be asking some
questions about item 100
the appointments to
the homeless revenue account
Citizen Oversight Committee.
This has nothing to do with it
Specific resumes or
qualifications of the folks who
are being nominated today.
But I do think that it's
incredibly important that there
eventually be folks who have
lived experience on that
committee That's especially
important since as was
mentioned in public comment
the service providers will
almost certainly be excluded
from participating.
That experience of having been
homeless tried to navigate
the system seeing what works
and what doesn't work from
various perspectives is
incredibly important.
We know that when the city has
done our best work on
homelessness it has been very
much guided by people with that
experience at the table not as
a as an afterthought, not as
window dressing but as you know
in a meaningful way that
actually helps inform
the direction that is being
being headed.
So I am happy to support
the appointments of the folks
who are nominated today.
I will not be supporting any
additional appointments to this
committee until there are until
at least someone with lived
experience is appointed after
this.
I just want to be transparent
about that because I do think
it's it's critical to ensure
that the intended effect of
this committee lands in the way
that it's supposed to land in
terms of impact item as 5 or 1
appreciate the work that's been
done here.
The one thing that I will flag
is wanting to be sure that we
are tracking what
the enforcement of this
ordinance looks like Once that
does go into effect there are
already gross
disproportionality in terms of
enforcement of the variety of
laws in the city.
Young people experience those
disproportionate enforcements
in a significant way.
The school to prison pipeline
is real.
The youth to prison pipeline is
real And I want to be sure that
this ordinance is being
enforced with the intended
effect of protecting young
people from harm not as a
pretext to additional contacts
with law from law enforcement
to young people especially
young people of color.
I do I, I will be very closely
looking to see that black and
brown youth are not being
disproportionately targeted for
enforcement of this law.
So understand the desired
effect.
I too have been very concerned
at times when I've seen young
folks bombing down hills on
e-bikes and all of that All
that can go wrong there and
again just want to be sure that
we're not opening the door to
disproportionate and
unnecessary interactions
between young folks and the in
law enforcement or the justice
system.
And I'll just play out one
example where we could see this
happening where a young person
13 or 14 years old, maybe 15,
16 or 17 depending on how
creative folks want to be in
terms of of enforcing this or
attempting to enforce this law
gets stopped with the pretext
of checking to make sure that
the person is of
the appropriate age to be
riding a class one or class two
e-bike and that initiates an
unnecessary contact between
that young person and
the system.
If that person is not carrying
id you can kind of see it going
from there in terms of what
that contact can look like And
again thinking about my
constituents, the young folks
that I worked with over
the years who have have had
negative experiences that very
rarely involve them actually
causing harm but has
permanently clouded their their
perception of the city, their
perception of public safety.
I want to make sure that this
doesn't open the door for that
.
And then lastly just want to
make sure that we continue to
to encourage folks to to ride
when possible that we encourage
folks to develop those habits
rather than discourage that.
That's important to me as well.
So I appreciate the intended
effect.
I will support the motion in
front of us but we'll be
looking closely to make sure
that it's not being enforced in
a disproportionate way.
Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT All right.
Thank you, Council Member de La
Rivera.
We'll go next to Council member
Foster Yes, thank you.
>> Council PRESIDENT.
i just would like to register I
will be supporting the consent
agenda but I would like to
register a no vote for item
number 50.
The new contract with Biji
would be to g Now again we are
ending a contract with a
certified black women owned
woman owned business and we are
entering into a new agreement
with a non certified firm at
double the cost and that is
very problematic for me.
So I will be registering a no
vote.
All right.
Thank you, Councilmember Foster
.
We'll go back to council member
Thank you, Council PRESIDENT.
I appreciate it.
Councilmember Eloy Rivera's
points are completely spot on
on the historical and societal
effects that he's talking
about.
I just want to point out about
20 to 34 does account for
collection of the data that
he's pointing out that are
important.
Subsection d of that state law
says that the when we submit
the data to the state to
the state legislature as a
result of this pilot program,
it does include how many times
a person is stopped while under
the age of 12 but then where
they an officer thought they
were under the age of 12 but
was in fact over the age limit.
The officer does have to take
down information about
perceived race, ethnicity,
gender and approximate age of
the person stopped and provided
that the identification of
these characteristics is solely
based on the observation or
perception of the police
officer who initiated
the traffic stop.
So I appreciate his points on
that And note that the state
legislature does require us to
collect and submit that
information to protect against
the issues he brought up.
So thank you for those points.
All right.
Thank you, sir.
Not seeing anyone else in
the lights.
We have a motion by
Councilmember Campos second by
myself.
Deputy Clerk Please call
the roll.
I have set up the voting system
.
Please cast your vote Count
Councilmember Woodburn, can we
get a voice vote from you as
well?
Yes, thank you.
The item passes unanimously
with district for a casting a
no vote on item number 50 and
districts one and districts
five and District two and
District five absent.
Thank you Council PRESIDENT.
>> Stephanie's messed up my
head with that we have any
comments by mayors office
council member City attorney
Independent Budget analyst.
City Clerk The only comment I
have to follow up on
Councilmember Eloy Rivera's
comments regarding item 101 of
the appointees does have lived
experience but I completely
understand your concern and
your request that for
the remaining three
appointments to keep that top
of mind so completely.
All right.
Thank you for that input Kota
not seeing anybody else we will
now take up non agenda public
comment.
Council members respect and
appreciate the public's input
and are fully committed to
protecting every participant's
free speech rights at council
and committee meetings.
Deputy Clerk Please proceed
with public comment.
Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT Per Rule 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 are in the committee
room please submit your speaker
slip.
If you are joining us virtually
please raise your hand to speak
by tapping the Raise your hand
icon or if you are a call in
participant star nine.
We will begin with in person
comment Maximillian Schmitt
Please come forward.
You'll have two minutes to
speak.
Communist countries across
the world are eliminating
dissidents and killing off
anyone who opposes them and how
they do this Is there actually
people What if I told you that
if someone does a hermetic
chant in a masonic lodge they
have the ability to look
through your eyes and read your
mind and access your
consciousness completely.
And what's going on is
communist countries.
If someone's a dissident they
will actually surround
the dissident and they will
speak gibberish half gibberish
half on like patronizing their
private thoughts to drive them
mentally ill to on suicide or
mental illness or drug
addiction.
And it's it's extremely cruel
and unusual.
What's the equivalent of
wearing headphones speaking
gibberish or patronizing your
private thoughts nonstop and
that those communist tactics to
remove dissidents has sadly
spilled over into San Diego
where I'm someone who's done a
lot of grassroots on my own on
my own free time I took it upon
myself to go to the store and
get a Trump flag and wave a
Trump flag on the corner.
That's what I like to do for
fun And after that happened I
started to get surrounded by
people telepathic Freemasons
speaking gibberish nonstop,
driving me insane, driving me
crazy And I wanted to say
the gop doesn't do that.
We don't target people who
don't like the gop and try to
drive them crazy and kill them
with driving them crazy
gibberish.
That's what communists do and
that's what liberals do.
And I want to make it clear
that liberals do not care about
human rights.
They're supposed to be like
the party that cares about
human rights, cares about any
hate against homosexuals, cares
about illegal immigrants.
However they're using communist
tactics to kill people who
don't like them.
>> So liberals aren't the party
of human rights.
They're phonies.
Thank you.
That does conclude your time.
Next up is allegedly Andre
lived to experience should be a
requirement not for that but
whatever I mean because I feel
like you're just saying that
you're going to do that and
role I would actually say that
collecting that guilt data on
children under 12 could be very
concerning with the things that
happen with children and data
collection with your guys's
cannabis item yesterday.
I'm wondering if you know that
in DECEMBER that it got
reclassified as a schedule
three like ketamine and so it's
going to have to be
pharmaceutical grade and have
like fda approved manufacturing
and all of these things.
So as you're bringing in these
requirements I mean the goal is
to like get the cannabis
industry out of here.
I mean it's just going to go
back to back to the black
market but it's going to put
dispensaries out of business.
So as you're talking about
deliveries here and there, you
know, reclassifying this again,
that's why it's like back and
forth.
I mean it's like a roller
coaster ride.
How do you keep up with that?
But you should think about that
as you're bringing in
enforcement and going back to
Andrea Ebbing it's very
concerning to know that they
have deemed her incompetent
because she's not incompetent
and a psychological evaluation
The evaluator said she was
competent and then somebody
from the county like a social
worker came in and started
asking her political questions.
And so if regardless of that,
the judge has the deciding
factor in a pc 1368 So
the problem is is that this is
going to stall the proceedings
and she could potentially go
into a mental facility and be
drugged up And this is a way to
silence people and it's just
really sad to know that she has
been fighting for her children
fighting to report crimes that
have happened against her and
this is what takes place.
And her attorney prior to
saying that she was incompetent
like a few weeks prior had
filed a dismissal of charges
because the arrest was
unlawful.
So there is a huge problem here
that they have now deemed her
incompetent when all
the charges could be.
>> That does conclude your time
.
Next up is Lay brother Stephen
g.
Said love.
Please come forward to
the microphone.
You'll have two minutes.
I understand you have some
media you'd like to project if
possible.
Good afternoon San Diego City
Council and Citizens I am Lee
Brother Steven Gerrard should
love ski I'd like to open up
with holy Scripture because
that's a good thing to do.
I think And I'm going to open
up to Proverbs ten in honor of
we've just celebrated Father's
Day Mother's Day, the Father's
Day time frame, the proverbs of
Solomon a wise son make of
the glad father but a foolish
son is the heaviness of his
mother treasures of wickedness,
profit nothing but
righteousness delivers from
death.
The Lord will not suffer
the soul of the righteous
the famished But he cast away
the substance of the wicked.
He become a poor that delyth
with a slack hand but the hand
of the diligent make it through
rich he that gather it And
summer is a wise son but he
that sleep in harvest is a son
that cause of the shame and
finally blessings are upon
the head of the just but
violence covers the mouth of
the wicked to I delivered all
of you a wonderful Bible
bookmark I travel the country
and I have spoken at Standing
Eagle in the past amplifying
new usa preborn personhood
cities since I am a pro-life
speaker What I wanted to
display before you is that I
attended the California MARCH
for Life on MARCH 16th of this
year in Sacramento and
the document up there shows
that about 4000 citizen sons
attended the wonderful MARCH
for For Life because we are
marching for the sanctity of
life.
We all here in council chambers
started off our journey of life
in our mother's.
Fatherhood starts in
the mother's.
Motherhood starts in
the mother's.
Childhood starts in the mother.
Thank you.
That does conclude your time.
Thank you And I'll continue to
update you on the new
possibilities opportunities.
Thank you.
Next speaker is Bob Kozinski My
video.
Okay we'll bring the video up
Bob Kozinski here.
>> a week ago today I was hang
gliding at Dockweiler State
Beach in Los Angeles under
the Dockweiler waiver that has
been in place since 2017
the public has been able to
hang glider at Dockweiler Beach
for nearly ten years under that
waiver a decade ago however,
hang gliding at Dockweiler was
not allowed by the county of
Los Angeles without use by
membership.
Fortunately that all changed
due to a sequence of events
that started right here in San
Diego On JULY 24th, 2011.
A female student named Shannon
Hamby was taking lessons at
Tori through the city's
concessionaire.
She was under radio supervision
when she was flown directly
into the path of another
student.
She crashed and was badly
injured.
I was contacted by Shannon's
lawyer and asked to testify as
an expert witness and I did.
My testimony in SEPTEMBER of
2014 was solid and the case was
quickly settled in Shannon's
favor for an undisclosed
amount.
Uber ended up losing their
insurance coverage by November
of 2014.
I was retaliated against by
your concessionaire who
conspired with you spend
the spring of 2015 to have me
expelled for my testimony which
ended my ability to fly at all
use for sites including Torrey
Pines and Dockweiler.
In early 2017 we met with newly
elected Barbara Bree for help
Barbara Bree suggested a flight
waiver to solve the problem but
she never followed through.
Joel Foulston I also spoke to
the Los Angeles County Board of
Supervisors While Barbara Bree
did nothing here in San Diego,
Los Angeles Supervisor Janice
Hahn stepped up and actually
instituted a waiver.
The first Dockweiler waivers
were issued to Joe Foust, Frank
Culver and myself on JULY 26th,
2017 and we have flown under
those waivers without incident
.
Ever since Barbara Barrie
dodged the issue for the rest
of her term until her failed
mayoral bid in 2020.
Joe LaCava has followed her
lead throughout his entire term
reactivate the Torrey Pines
City Park Advisory Board and
institute a Torrey Pines flight
waiver now.
>> Thank you, Tom.
Thank you.
Next speaker is Anthony Ralphs
Good.
Good afternoon City Council.
I'm sure you're probably
wondering what the flowers are
for.
The flowers are from Dee Flock,
San Diego and they are to all
of our city council members who
voted against Flock and who
respect their constituencies
privacy rights.
And I actually got some.
I tried to find some blue
irises since they're
the official flower of
the city.
I wasn't able to find any But I
did get these irises that
really resemble the blue irises
And I think that they're really
pretty.
I wanted to give these two are
independent budget analysts to
Charles Modica because he
advised the city council to cut
flock from the mayor's budget.
And because he's
the independent budget analyst,
we should be listening to him.
We should be respecting
the financial input that he
gives our city and the fact
that we are not and the fact
that we are disrespecting our
constituent his privacy and
that we are giving an already
overbloated police budget even
more money and even more
surveillance technology to use
against us is extremely
concerning.
In this last week I saw a
report that was detailing 17
cases of police stalking their
former ex-girlfriends using
Floc a lpr technology.
Just yesterday there was a
shooting and it was not stopped
due to Floc a lpr technology.
That's the second time that
Floc has failed in the last
month.
If I were to fail at my job
like that in significant
instances where I was expected
to give a performance and I
didn't deliver I would be
immediately fired.
I don't understand why as dpd
continues to be shown
the leniency that they've been
shown and I'm not sure how
we're going to hold them
accountable when we have $42
million in the public liability
fund that they've blown through
and all of the lawsuits that
they've cost the city and we're
not done paying those.
I would like to see this
council focus on police
accountability.
>> Thank you.
That does conclude your time
And our city clerk staff can
help distribute the flowers.
That does conclude in-person
public comment.
I've started the five minute
timer.
In the committee room we will
now turn to the virtual queue
in which there are currently
ten participants requesting to
speak.
We will go first to Blair
Beekman.
Please begin your comments.
All right.
Thank you First for me to go
first myself.
But first as I am also really
trying I think we can address
our issues in new ways.
I'm hoping that there is simply
a can I feel there's
the continuing growing
political will in the past year
in San Diego and across
the country to no longer do
business with Fox as block
maybe developing its ideas its
data within the context of
supporting international
policies.
The work I have been describing
for months now How about
the city of Oakland County of
Alameda are creating a process
of full community input best
practices to leapfrog for a new
better principles approach
under this is simply a good
model San Diego can refer to at
this time a good beginning one
I simply should be continuing
community dialog and
conversations now formerly
leader Carpenter Fox and to
look for a better principal
vendor or do we simply give up
the vendor process altogether
and work out new data
collection arrangements
securely So owners of new San
Diego ale yards at the same
time San Diego we can be
working towards something of a
yearly review process.
I feel that can be important
also at this time and how to
create a small reduction of
unnecessary or redundant
surveillance technology used
from local San Diego
neighborhoods And at the same
same time this will not take
much away from the current use
of surveillance technology
within San Diego neighborhood
Public safety concerns.
I'm also hoping this can
develop a consistent,
responsible yearly reduction of
unnecessary unnecessary
surveillance tech while at
the same time developing better
principled, more responsible
community tech use with clear
oversight.
I think it can work.
Monica Montgomery Step two
years ago Gail yours would be
reduced.
That was that was on her mind
with new APIs and good luck we
can talk more about your use of
these accounts conclude your
time Next speaker is Terry and
Skelly.
Please begin.
Good afternoon San Diego City
Council Chair McCarver My name
is Terry and Skelly and I work
with my planning group on good
public health and safety
policies in land use decisions.
I spoke yesterday and support
for item 2 or 2 regarding
creating more comprehensive
policies regarding popular
rates.
I truly appreciate the city's
efforts to know who is selling
pot in our cities and where
the pot is coming from since it
doesn't seem to have a physical
location within the city.
I was concerned that there were
those yesterday He wanted to
have a permit from other
another jurisdiction and then
wanted to deliver in San Diego
but did not want to register
for a permit to deliver in San
Diego.
That was a scary declaration
and made me wonder about all
those pot entrepreneurs who
continuously tell us that they
are providing a necessary
service.
However, they don't want to
abide by the rules and register
in the city of San Diego to
deliver pot That makes
the public wonder if the real
motive behind selling pot is
just money which has always
been the motive behind selling
drugs.
So I especially appreciate
the work of City Councilperson
Camille and staff for creating
a system of fines associated
with enforcement against pot
deliveries.
Doing so illegally.
I also appreciate the larger
dialog regarding enforcement
commitments for the police
department and code
enforcement.
>> Thank you for hearing my
issues this morning or
afternoon.
Thank you.
Our next speaker is Barbara
Gordon.
Please begin.
>> Thank you.
As a public health educator I
wanted to share with you
the American Medical
Association's recently adopted
new policy calling for
the prohibition of flavored
cannabis vaping products in
cannabis dispensaries, hemp
product retailers and other
retail outlets while also
advocating for legislate
changes.
Their position reflects
the organization's growing
concern about public health
risks associated with flavored
vaping products and their
appeal to adolescents and young
adults, according to the ama.
Flavors such as fruit candy
menthol can make vaping
products more attractive to
youth, increasing
the likelihood of initiation
and long term substance use.
The new policy extends to
the ama's longstanding position
reflect in a broader effort to
reduce youth exposure to an
inhaled psychoactive
substances.
The report says there is no
public health justification for
flavors that enhance the appeal
of cannabis based products
particularly when youth vaping
remains a significant concern.
Ama leaders leaders have
emphasized that protecting
young people from addiction and
potential health harms should
take precedence over
the commercialization and
availability.
>> Thank you.
That does conclude your time.
Our next speaker is caller with
last four digits 8700.
Please begin.
Thank you, Joyce And yet
the beautiful tapestry the lens
through which we look at and
see life here's my lens.
What if we are all pollinators
in city government?
After 20 years in my work as an
activist I see a common thread
through it all.
We are all working to see what
works best.
We now know that bees are
connected to a bigger picture
that includes a mysterious
miracle.
Yes, the mysterious miracle is
a bumpy yet something is
working.
We're still here.
Life is still here.
I woke up feeling different
this morning about cgt, about
public power, about fees,
parking fees, budget abuse
parks, libraries, even floor
and so forth.
We are doing something that
the whole world is doing.
We are doing what we are meant
to do.
We are fulfilling our role as
pollinators of the great circle
of life.
In my opinion we are so lucky
We are just happened to be here
in San Diego.
We are just so lucky and we are
connected.
I believe in that.
i really do And I just I'm
getting stronger and stronger
about it through all these
difficult days.
It's all connected.
I believe in that.
So I hope you'll consider that
too.
And I'm sure you're there
already on many levels.
Maybe you're even the best of
the best.
Help us with our new vision if
you are.
So I believe in all of that and
I believe in the beautiful
tapestry.
Love to all beauty.
Great day.
Thank you.
Please know that the five
minute timer has concluded with
five speakers left in
the queue.
No other speakers will be taken
at this time.
Next up is John Elliott.
Please begin.
Good afternoon.
Thank you, Council members.
Thank you Johnny Lowe for
discussing lived experience.
The lived experience that was
mentioned is not what we would
define as lived experience
which is somebody who has
experienced homelessness within
the last 5 to 10 years and is
intimately involved in
the homeless space as an
advocate.
I don't think that anybody here
should consider experiencing
somebody who MAY have
experienced homelessness ten,
15, 20 years ago not even in
the region iPad or here because
things are different now.
I also want to talk about Neil
Goode.
So it was not clear to any of
us that when you voted to cut
the funding for Neil Good that
there would not be an option to
do fundraising and maintain
the operations and that
the permit was being pulled at
the end of the year.
If that is the case that is
outrageous.
That means we traded critically
needed resources for our most
suffering people to fund floc
and that is completely
unacceptable.
It was never made clear in any
of your deliberations that
the funding you were committing
or committing was tied to a
permanent closure by revocation
of permit and no one including
everybody in the community
community Body Alliance was
aware of that either.
We would have addressed it
differently when it comes to
that issue.
We need to be revisiting why
exactly we are terminating
the permit when there is an
option and people are
interested to fundraise
the necessary funds to keep
the facility open as is.
And then finally it has come to
our attention that if you do
not have a solution for your
fee voucher by the end of
the year that you are going to
be dropped have no priority and
and be on your own finding
housing And that too is not
acceptable especially when
the county failed all theirs.
>> That does conclude your
time.
Our next speaker is Natalie
Maskey.
Please begin.
Hi.
i just want to give you an
update on the letter that I
received.
I was on a phone call and I got
interrupted.
It basically states for word
for word that when the San
Diego Housing Commission stops
paying the rent subsidy you
will no longer be an chc
participant.
You will not need to do
anything and you will no longer
be a part of this program.
I was informed that I would be
on a waiting list for a project
based voucher so it's unclear
to me if that would still be
the case.
I have tried contacting I am in
contact with Legal Aid which it
tells me to do.
There's urgency it seems with
any of these entities surging
up It still has not seemed to
get back to me.
I have contacted every single
entity that I can to put me in
front of somebody that I can
relate to How wrong this is.
It's extremely overwhelming
going to these websites When I
spoke last week or the week
before a willing and able
bodied person that has
the ability to do certain tasks
that is having a really hard
time completing tasks when
the other parties are
participating back or there
doesn't seem to be an urgency
in what's happening.
I'll give you an estimation on
what NOVEMBER 30th will look
like if nobody else gets
housing there will be over 1600
people.
A lot of them with children
that will be unhoused on that
day.
That is overwhelming to me just
to even think about and with
the cuts, where are these
people going to go?
Thank you.
Next up is Judy Strang.
Please begin.
>> Good afternoon.
San Diego City Council.
Thank you for the many comments
we've heard so far.
I wanted to share with you an
article that came out from
the Washington Post in
association with the University
of Colorado study regarding
cannabis and brain surgery as
Brain Awareness Month.
I talked about that when we
were talking about e-bikes
because that's the injury you
so often hear about.
And traumatic brain injuries
are horrific.
Those of you who've had
exposure to that with people
can appreciate it.
Anyway, the article from
Washington Post is entitled
Seven Unexpected Findings that
Highlight Significant
Vulnerabilities of Younger
Individuals Related to
Marijuana Use.
I'm only going to share a
couple that really struck me.
First, I would like to share
that because continues to
surprise me that people don't
realize that the cannabis
people are using these days are
not the plant with low
concentrations.
They are highly engineered and
engineered to increase their
potency.
And this of course is what
leads to addiction and
dependance and adverse mental
health episodes.
Number two the structural
change to the adolescent brain
due to their exposure to
marijuana use is significant.
They call it in this article
brain inflammation and it
changes the structural wiring
of the White matter in
the brain.
One can only think for about
10s and you know what that
means for a population of
children a whole demographic.
And three the concern they have
regarding working memory
impairment and I've spoken to
that concern as it applies to
impaired driving.
The fourth and the one that
brings me here is the role of
marijuana use in triggering
the mental health problems of
paranoia and panic.
If you've ever dealt with
someone having a bad experience
with paranoia you know how
painful it is.
Thank you.
Thank you, Becky Rapp.
Please begin.
Good afternoon.
My name is Becky Robin.
I'd like to thank the Public
Safety Committee for bringing
forward the transition Support
Team pilot program helping to
connect vulnerable individuals
with behavioral health services
,housing resources and other
supportive programs as it is
crucial.
However, I'm concerned that in
the report marijuana and its
potential behavioral health
impacts were not included.
If the goal of the transition
support team is to improve
behavioral health outcomes and
prevent people from falling
deeper into crisis then we must
recognize the connection
between high potency marijuana
products and mental health
consequences.
The most recent publicly
reported San Diego County
toxicology report found that
thc was present in 43% of
completed suicides involving
individuals age 25 and younger.
Let that sink in for a minute.
43%.
We have to start recognizing
the role marijuana plays in
mental health outcomes.
I'm also encouraging
the council to request updated
information from the medical
examiner, behavioral health
services and other agencies
regarding thc positive
suicides.
Marijuana related psychiatric
admissions, emergency
department visits and impaired
driving incidents.
As this pilot program
progresses, council must ensure
that marijuana prevention,
education and behavioral health
reporting are integrated into
this program.
If the mission of the trans
transition support team is to
help people avoid crisis and
achieve stability then we
should be willing to address
all substances that MAY be
contributing to those
challenges.
>> Thank you.
Thank you.
Our final speaker is Madison.
Again.
Hi.
Thank you and good afternoon.
My concern is about the growing
normalization of marijuana use
and what science tells us about
its impact on young people.
Lynn Silver is a San Diego
based public health physician
and advocate focused on
protecting youth health through
evidence based policy
prevention and education.
Her work centers on reducing
the harms of substance use and
supporting healthier
communities and she shared
the recent research that shows
that when it comes to cannabis,
three factors matter most how
often it is used.
How young someone is when they
start and the potency of
the thc.
Unfortunately today's marijuana
products are far more potent
than those used in previous
generations and young people
are particularly vulnerable to
the effects.
Studies have found that heavy
cannabis use is associated with
changes in brain connectivity,
reduced working memory and an
increased risk of psychosis
like symptoms perhaps most
concerning adolescents who use
cannabis within the previous
year were found to have double
the risk of developing a
psychotic or bipolar disorder
by age 26.
We're also seeing other serious
consequences like cases of
cannabinoid hyperemesis
syndrome, a condition that
causes severe and repeated
vomiting.
Have quadrupled among young
people in recent years.
Researchers have concluded that
cannabis does not support it as
a treatment for many mental
health conditions.
Despite claims often made by
the industry, the takeaway from
all this research is clear
there is no safe limit for
youth cannabis use.
The developing brain is
uniquely susceptible to harm
and early exposure carries
measurable risks that can last
well into adulthood.
As policymakers you have
the responsibility to put
the health and well-being of
young people first.
I urge you to continue
supporting policies that reduce
youth exposure, limit
normalization and prioritize
prevention and education.
>> Thank you.
Thank you.
>> This concludes knowledge and
the public comment.
All right.
Thank you Deputy Clerk for
that.
I haven't gotten confirmation
that the chambers will be
suitable.
I'm getting ahead Not that it
probably won't be.
So when you come back to
the 12th floor, check if
Chambers ready will go in there
And if not we will resume
the meeting here in
the committee room.
So we will now adjourn for
the noon recess and reconvene
in open session at 2 P.M. Or
shortly thereafter.
Thank you everyone for their
All right.
>> Good afternoon.
We're going to get started.
I will now reconvene the city
council meeting of Tuesday,
JUNE 23rd, 2026.
Deputy Clerk Please call
the Roll Council Member
Campbell.
Council Member Whitburn here
Council Member Foster here
Council Member Vaughn Wilbert.
Council PRESIDENT Pro Tem Lee.
Council Member Campo here.
Council Member Moreno.
Present Council Member Isla
Rivera.
And Council PRESIDENT LaCava.
Present.
Also attending the meeting are
Assistant City Attorney Leslie
Fitzgerald, Independent Budget
Analyst Charles Monica.
Council Affairs Advisor in
the Mayor's office Gomez Iser
and myself Definitely.
Deputy City Clerk Kevin Smith.
All right.
Thank you for that Quorum is
now present.
While the technical issues in
council chambers look like
they're very, very close to
being resolved, we decided to
take this or I decided to take
the safer course.
>> We know this works.
It went very well This morning.
And again, thank you to
the city clerk's work, I.T. And
everybody my colleagues and
the public.
Flexibility to move us into
the committee room and get on
with this morning's business.
With that we also have a change
of order for this afternoon.
We will start with item 333.
We will hear the staff
presentation and public comment
for that item and we will trail
item 333 after the public
hearing is concluded.
We will then hear item 330.
After that is concluded we will
come back for item 333 to hear
the tabulation of any protests
and proceed with council member
comments.
Questions and entertain a
motion.
With that Deputy Clerk please
introduce item 333333 is
collection of solid waste
management fee on county tax
rolls.
Six votes are required pursuant
to health and safety Code
section 5473.
>> All right.
We will now open the notice to
public hearing to consider
whether to adopt the written
report identifying the parcels
receiving city provided solid
waste management services and
the solid waste management fees
for each parcel for
the upcoming tax year.
If the report is adopted,
the solid waste management fees
listed in the report will be
collected on the 2026 2027
county tax roll in the same
manner by the same persons at
the same time as together with
and not separate from
the general taxes.
If you are an affected property
owners and have a written
protest that you want to submit
please bring it to the front
where speaker slips are
submitted And if you wish to
register a protest as part of
your comments please state your
name and address for
the record.
Both oral and written protest
will be accepted including
protest received virtually.
The public hearing will
conclude at the end of all
public testimony.
And as stated earlier we will
then trail this item and move
on to item 330 to allow
the clerk to tabulate
the protests from affected
property owners without staff.
Please introduce yourselves for
the record and let us know how
much time you need for your
presentation.
Good afternoon Council members.
My name is Jeremy Bauer and
Assistant Director of
Environmental Services
Department and joined today
with us with Deputy Director
Sarah Sims.
We request ten minutes please.
When you're ready.
So today's action we'll talk
quickly about the background.
Following the description of
the proposed action, talk about
today's meeting, the proposed
hearing and how it was noticed.
We'll discuss how the fees were
calculated for those that are
in the report that will be
presented and considered by
city council.
Will remind the departments
benefits of tax for billing
that we had identified last
year and continue to hold today
And then timeline of next steps
.
So on the proposed action I
just for the record I want to
note that yesterday we did
update the description of
the proposed action in
the staff report.
It had referenced the fiscal
year as fiscal year 27 dash
2006 2006 dash 2007 and just
didn't conform with how
the city typically refers to
fiscal year.
We corrected it to match what's
on the screen fiscal year 2047.
So the item today as council
PRESIDENT Explained is for
Council to consider a report of
a list of the properties that
receive solid waste management
services from the city of San
Diego and the amount of fee to
be charged for the solid waste
management fee for fiscal year
2027 as background.
Last JUNE after the fee was
adopted by City Council
emergency Services Department
returned to City Council to
receive authorization to
collect that fee on the county
tax roll.
The city then submitted a
report to county of the list of
properties and the amount of
the fee.
And then as the county collects
the fee it remits revenue to
the city each month as it
revenues receive from
the county from customers to
the county typically comes into
a bulk areas of revenue around
NOVEMBER, DECEMBER and between
FEBRUARY and APRIL
corresponding when the majority
of customers pay their property
taxes.
So today's action is to request
Council to adopt the report for
fiscal year 27 And as Council
PRESIDENT Noted, this requires
a two thirds majority to pass a
public hearing.
Notice was published on JUNE
8th and filed with the city
clerk.
The city Clerk website includes
the report of the properties.
We also turn on the daily
transcript We advertised notice
of today's meeting and
availability of the report as
well as how to protest and how
to be present for this meeting
and then the report if adopted
by City Council today.
Environmental Services
Department by AUGUST 10th will
submit that report to
the county which will then
allow us to collect the revenue
in the coming year.
This slide just shows a an
image of notice that was
published with the daily
transcript including a
description of today's hearing.
The time and location
the health and Safety code
citation contact information
and information on how the city
considers protests.
This slide shows the headings
of the report.
So the first column is
the individual id for each
property the assessor's parcel
number.
The second column is
the baseline fee for each
property.
So corresponding to the service
level that that property has.
So for example if a property
has the 35 gallon trash
container package it would show
$403.92 corresponding to
the baseline rate for that
service package.
The next four columns show
potential credits that that
property might have earned in
this current fiscal year.
So for example, if a property
ordered a 35 gallon package
the smallest container this
year in right now and they
received that in JANUARY.
The 35 gallon package is $10.78
less than the 95 gallon.
So the math would be six months
times $10.78.
So that would show-$64.68.
So demonstrating a credit of
$64.68 for the difference in
the fee.
Similarly, the next column
shows financial assistance
received.
So if a property was eligible
for financial assistance in
this case it might show
-$201.96 corresponding to that
credit for assistance.
The next item just says other
adjustments That's a catch all.
We don't have any other
adjustments but we included
that in case there were other
adjustments to account for.
And then the next column is
total of all the credits.
So in this case for example I
just described it would be
$64.68 plus 201 96.
So a total credit of $266.64.
The next several columns show
debits or additional charges.
So if for example a customer
received a second trash
container in JANUARY in this
fiscal year a second trash
container costs $17.78 per
month.
If they received that in
JANUARY the math would be six
times 1778.
So this customer would show a
debit of $106.68.
Assume as well for example that
this customer pledged to donate
$100 toward the financial
assistance program.
In that case, the column for
financial assistance donation
would show $100.
So in this example if you
summarize to the total would
show $206.68.
The final column on the right
is the net.
So we would show whatever
the baseline fee was for
the customer minus any credits
plus any additional charges or
debits.
And that would be the amount to
be charged to the customer.
Just want to note that although
this MAY sound complicated,
the portal was designed to
track the delivery dates of
containers and to export
the report in an easy manner
for stuff.
This slide shows in text form
what I just described on how
the fees were calculated in
the report.
I'll also note that customers
can view the fee breakdown on
their portal account if they
have a portal account at which
portal that San diego.Gov.
If they don't have a portal
account they can call our call
center.
The number listed on the slide
858694 7000.
And our call center staff have
access to the background data
and could describe the math
that goes into the charts for
each property.
This slide just recaps
the rationale why staff
proposed checks were billing
initially.
We had estimated that standing
up any billing department would
cost a significant sum of money
and the costs of that program
would have been incorporated
into the overall fee that went
to customers.
By taking another path that
savings has been passed on to
customers.
Its actual billing is also
convenient for customers.
They're already paying
the property tax bill anyway so
this is one less bill to track.
It's easier for the city We
have no need to track tenants
coming and going.
The customer is the property
owner.
There is a strong payment
compliance.
As of last week 98.48% of
customers have paid their
property tax bill.
We have a couple more weeks
left in the fiscal year.
Typically the city budget its
budgets with an assumption of
98.89 8.9.
So we'll be able to see in
the coming weeks whether this
year is on track with prior
years or if there's any
difference and the cost to
the city for the county to send
other bills, collect
the revenue and do any follow
up customers cost us around
$22,500 per year for the county
to take care of all of them.
And this last slide just shows
a summary of the timeline.
So on JUNE 8th as I noted, we
noticed the action today,
the report today being
available.
The hearing is taking place as
we speak.
And then by AUGUST 10th if
council adopts the fee we will
provide the report to
the county which will then
allow us to collect this
revenue in the coming fiscal
year.
And then in the fall customers
can expect to see the fee on
their property tax bills.
And that's all I have.
Thank you.
All right.
Thank you for the presentation.
So with that we will go to
public comment.
And as a friendly reminder to
issue a protest you must
actually be a customer of
the City of San Diego trash
collection system.
So please proceed with public
comment.
>> Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT The public
comment period for this item is
now open.
I would like to remind everyone
that if you are an affected
property owner and wish to
submit a protest against
adoption of the written report
identifying solid waste
management fees to be collected
on the 2026 2027 tax rule You
must do so prior to the close
of the public hearing or
protests started during
the public comment period.
Protests that are received by
the court before the hearing is
closed will be counted.
If you're in chambers please
submit your speaker slip on top
of the box at the front of
the room.
If you're watching on city tv
or the live stream online and
would like to call into
the meeting to speak please
call 16692545252.
When prompted input webinar id
1609430466 If you are joining
us virtually please raise your
hand to speak by tapping
the raise your hand icon or if
you are calling participant
Star nine.
We will we will begin with
in-person comment.
Max Schmitt to please come
forward you'll have ten minutes
to speak.
Hi.
I wanted to be a voice for all
property owners in San Diego
who could not come to this
meeting to say that
the property taxes are too high
and that for there to be this
additional fee on the property
taxes.
I think a lot of property
owners obviously don't want
this fee.
I know many people I know that
might be the minority of people
because I do believe in fair
elections and I believe that
there's many liberals in San
Diego who believe that city
council knows how to spend
their money better than they
do.
So maybe they support the fee.
However, I do know that there
is a voice of resistance in San
Diego who thinks the property
taxes are too high.
I for 1 A.M. Homeless so I
don't have the property so it
doesn't really count for me.
And I also want to be a voice
for Catholics where I think
many Catholics would be against
an added property tax for to go
to the city of San Diego
because of the Catholic
genocide going on.
I think that until the city of
San Diego addresses
the underground hidden Catholic
genocide I believe many
Catholic property owners in San
Diego would be against an extra
an increase in property tax.
And the reason I think that is
because the genocides real on
Catholics are being killed.
They're being surrounded by
people speaking gibberish until
the point they're driven
completely insane and it's
become a serious problem And
needs to be addressed.
>> Thank you for your comments.
Allegedly under I guess I
wonder how many times we're
going to go down this path.
I mean what was Proposition 218
put in place for And we just
had a lawsuit for $1 million to
get you guys to change what is
happening.
And here we are again saying
that you want people property
owners to come and protest.
Are you going to honor Prop 218
or are we going to go down
the path again to potentially
engage in litigation and cause
the city really the people a
million more dollars or
potentially more than that
because you are not engaging in
this work properly the way that
you talk about you know, you
know, strong payment compliance
.
Well, I mean when you're set to
lose your house if you do not
pay this bill I mean of course
you're going to force
compliance.
But when you talk about making
it easier and cheaper and
convenient to put it on a tax
roll that is very negligent
because that's not true, you're
actually setting people up to
lose their property And when
nobody knows about you guys
it's like this room is filled
with your staff and a couple of
people who you know, care about
what's going on in
the community around us.
But when you have people who
are working right now trying to
make ends meet and you're
expecting them to come and
protest a new tax bill, just
kind of wondering like why we
continue to do these things
that that is insanity when you
continue to try and stick a
square peg into a round hole
and expect people to I mean,
yeah, most people don't pay
attention but you will have
people that will come against
you in litigation and it's not
fair to the people to make us
do that in order for you guys
to follow the law you expect us
to.
And so I think that you should
be held to the same standard.
Thank you.
That does conclude in-person
public comment.
I've started the five person
excuse me I've started the five
minute timer in the committee
room and will now turn to
the virtual queue which there
are currently two participants
requesting to speak.
Hector please begin your
comments.
All right.
Thanks for building trust in
the community.
This is not like the one two
kick or this thing was not
really documented Trust for
the community but the way you
collect the fees I disagree
with this.
I don't have a house.
I got a condo.
So we had trash pickup private
and then the let it is where
there's no one even there to
protest.
Yes, they probably don't even
know about it If you send them
a message I think you should
just trust trust the people to
send their money and every
month just trust the public to
send you a check every month
instead of taking out of your
property tax which is just
that's like that's not right
you know to do that And any way
who gets the spread so your
check clears your property tax
like a week ago and then
the property taxes do like in
the next week and then who gets
the spread from the actual
money being in the bank So
the money comes to the city It
probably doesn't go directly to
the city for a while.
So does the city get
the spread?
That's the whole banking system
is in the spread.
Whoever makes that holding
the money for seven days is
worth something.
That's a lot of money that's
going to somewhere.
I was just wondering who get do
you guys know who gets
the spread?
Does the county get it while
they're sitting on all the cash
before they give it to you Or
do you when they pay your taxes
you don't get the money that
same day.
So I just wondered who's
shading, who's getting
the spread And you might want
to tell us if you know that
who's getting the spread.
That's one of my questions And
then good luck with the trash
thing to That's my thing.
Thank you for your comments.
Our next speaker is a caller
with the last four digits 8700
Please begin.
Thank you.
So we have two minutes right?
Deputy City Clerk That's
correct.
Thank you so much, Joy.
Senator first of all yes to
trash collection system I think
I heard this correctly
The county is going to keep
$22,000 per year out of those
fees in order to process them.
Tax rules that surprise me.
I wish it were zero.
So thank you for
the presentation dsd and thank
you to esd for all your work on
this matter especially thank
you to Kirby Brady,
the director.
Now for me this process really
was the lessons I've learned.
I learned a lot.
You know I was a board right
from the beginning and I know
how many years ago that was And
I just have learned a lot And
after that give and take on
both sides that we came to this
place.
I support the adjusted lower
fee schedule Now I want to say
this Dear homeowners, I've
never been a homeowner.
I wish that would have happened
to me.
It wasn't in the cards.
But anyway, dear homeowners,
please don't protest this.
I'm trying to get inside your
pocketbook, inside the quality
of your life And you know I
can't in reality but I just ask
that we need your help.
We need you just to jump on
board and to help us through
this big crisis of deficits and
so forth.
Everybody makes mistakes.
We're all doing our best So
dear homeowners on all sides
please do not protest.
Please participate in our
government and make it work for
all of us together at the same
family table.
So thank you for listening And
to all thank you.
Our next speaker is Toni.
Please begin your comments.
Toni we can't quite hear you.
Can you speak up or turn up
the volume please?
Toni, we cannot hear you.
We will have to move on.
Council PRESIDENT That
concludes public comment on
this item.
All right.
>> Thank you Deputy Kirk With
that the public hearing is now
closed.
And as previously noted we will
trail this item while protests
are being tabulated and move on
to item 330.
The protest will be read into
the record after item 330
concludes and we will take
councilmember comments
questions and entertain a
motion at that time.
So with that Deputy Clerk
please introduce item 330 Item
330 is city provided
residential Solid waste
management services
Implementation Update.
All right, Please introduce
yourselves again for the record
and let us know how much time
you need for this item.
>> Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT.
Good afternoon, Council
members.
My name is Jeremy Bauer,
Assistant Director,
Environmental Services
Department.
I'm joined with Sarah Sims, our
Deputy director.
MAY please have up to 15
minutes for this item.
>> All right.
When you're ready.
Great.
So today's item is to provide
an update on the implementation
activities.
Environmental Services
Department has been up to since
last JUNE when the solid waste
management fee was adopted.
We'll provide a quick update on
the background.
We'll discuss the container,
roll out the customer portal.
We'll talk about the financial
assistance program.
The outreach and engagement
activities we've undertaken
upcoming program developments.
The fund outlook And next Steps
.
So as a background under
the city ordinance city forces
are obligated to provide trash
and recycling services to
eligible customers in the city
of San Diego.
The city ordinance specifies
that this work be done by
employees of the city of San
Diego.
And it clarifies who's eligible
namely residential properties
with one of up to four
properties on a single lot that
meet city requirements for city
service.
Measure b.
When it was adopted by voters
in 2022, it removed a long
standing prohibition that had
been in place that prevented
the city from recovering
the cost To provide this
service.
Following a year of outreach
and engagement and a cost of
service study, we presented
four City Council
considerations last JUNE a fee
to recover those costs.
City Council adopted that fee
on JUNE nine, 2025 and then a
couple of weeks after that
authorized the city to collect
the fee on the county textual.
Before the adoption of that fee
the services were primarily
covered by the general fund.
Now they're largely covered by
the fee as well.
I'll note in this presentation
that on JUNE 8th the City
Council authorized a settlement
agreement which reduces
the previously adopted fee for
fiscal year 28 and 29.
The action did not change
the fee for the current year
nor did it change the fee for
next year.
So on the container rollout
I'll take the opportunity to
remind the rationale for
replacing the containers.
The new fee is based on
the size of the trash container
and the total number of
containers on the property.
The new containers recognizing
that the city did not have
great data on the number of
containers at each property.
We didn't have sufficient
accuracy or precision to be
able to know how many
containers were out there and
to be able to ensure customer
verification that we were only
providing service to eligible
customers and that we were
providing service at the level
selected by the customer.
Also recognizing that so many
of the containers out there
were well beyond their useful
life, we did make
the determination that the most
effective way to validate our
customers and their service
level was to do provide new
containers, new trash and
recycling containers.
Importantly we involved in this
process collecting
the containers to recycle them
to ensure that that material is
available to make new plastic
products including buckets,
pallets or even new trash
containers.
I will also note that the we
are not doing a comprehensive
replacement of the green
organics containers as those
are quite new But those
customers that are changing
their organics service level or
have the legacy yard waste
containers they will receive a
new green container.
This slide shows a visual
representation representation
of the progress of the roll
out.
You'll see the bar graphs on
the left.
The progress on the gray
container rollout.
We started in OCTOBER and
essentially completed that
process in MAY.
As of there's a less than half
a percent or so of data
verification for some of
the gray containers But
essentially it's complete at
259,000 containers to nearly
2020 5000 customers at this
point.
And as I mentioned, we're
verifying data for
the remaining of the blue
containers.
We're at nearly 60% roll out.
Do you see the teal shows,
the actual and the blue shows
the anticipated progress and
scheduled to be complete by
the end of SEPTEMBER?
The customer portal we launched
in in JULY of last year.
It's a way for customers to
engage in self-service to
select their containers, to
track their service levels,
track their billing history and
also to sign up for text
message alerts or email alerts
.
Over 123,000 customers have
created portal accounts about
55%.
We designed it to be optional.
We know some customers prefer
to speak on the phone and that
remains an option.
It also allows customers to
pledge donations.
And as of this week around
$63,000 has been raised by
customers who not only are
paying the fee for the first
time but pledged to donate
money to the financial
assistance program to help
their neighbors.
I'll also note that customers
can create a portal account at
any time.
They have benefits to doing so.
The website San Diego dot gov
slash trash has a 1 to 3 step
process for how they can create
an account and by doing so
again they have the benefits of
the ability to self-service for
container replacement repairs,
checking service or to view
their history.
So the financial assistance
program I really want to
describe this as a success
story.
We were throughout the outreach
and engagement we heard
concerns from residents about
paying a fee for the very first
time and we have reassured them
that we are working on
developing a financial
assistance program to help
those who would be most in
need.
So it was very meaningful for
us that city council included
in the budget for esd funding
to launch this program in
JANUARY We partnered with
the Metropolitan Area Advisory
Committee on Anti-Poverty of
San Diego County, also known as
Mack, a local nonprofit And I'm
pleased to share that a couple
of representatives from Mack
are here with us today in
the chamber.
>> The program was designed
based on either household
income if household if
customers meet income
requirements or as a proxy if a
member of the household is
enrolled in an existing
assistance program including
Medi-Cal Health, Fresh CalWORKs
or the Low Income Home Energy
Assistance Program.
If they apply they could be
deemed they could qualify for
the assistance program.
The assistance amount was set
at 50% off of the solid waste
management fee or recognizing
the concerns around charging on
the tax roll.
We added an additional
criterion If a household was
enrolled in a payment plan for
past due property taxes which
is an indicator of past
inability to pay their property
taxes, they would qualify for a
400% subsidy.
And as of this week two two
customers have met both
criteria And so we have made
use of both both the 50% off
assistance as well as the 100%
subsidy.
I'll note for fiscal year 26
assistance we had set a
deadline of APRIL 30th and Mac
is currently going through
the fourth thousand
applications that were
received.
We're still accepting
applications now through next
APRIL 30th for assistance
towards the fiscal year 27 fee.
And I'll note that as of as of
now of the approximately 4000
applications received, around
2400 have been fully approved
and Mac is busy working through
the remainder.
Some things to look forward to
for next year with with
the program.
As I noted in addition to this
this program remains in our
budget.
In addition to the budgeted
amount from the general fund
we're also counting on
the $64,000 in donations from
customers.
We've also based on feedback
from the community we've added
an additional proxy criterion
if a household member is
enrolled in the Jenny Care
program they would also qualify
for our program.
That will also be updating
the income requirements to
$2,027.
We've also streamlined
enrollment re enrollment based
on feedback.
If a customer is eligible one
year they would qualify for a
second year assuming it's a
still the same property owner.
Similarly if they apply for
the first time in 2027 they
would have a streamline and a
qualification for the year
after that.
For applications that are
approved to the for AUGUST 10th
they will see their reduction
applied proactively to the bill
that they see on their property
tax bill after AUGUST 10th
assuming funding remains.
We will continue to accept
applications on a rolling basis
and at that point the payments
will be provided as a rebate.
We'll continue to hold clinics,
in-person clinics to assist
customers on how to enroll, how
to apply for the program And
the program will continue to be
first come first serve.
I'll note that the funding for
the program had capacity for
7000 customers.
We had 4000 applications this
year so we did have capacity to
fully cover the number of
applications.
We continue to spread the word
about the program and we
believe with through word of
mouth and social media and
targeted outreach more people
will become aware.
We continue to believe that
the existing capacity is enough
to meet the need of people who
will apply.
With that said, we are
receiving weekly updates for
Mac and as we get the data if
we need to revisit or pivot we
will be able to do so.
Outreach and engagement.
Mac I mentioned has done at
this point 1515 in-person
clinics the last fiscal year or
sorry before APRIL 30th and
seven more since APRIL 30th.
For our part it's been
important to us to continue to
be available and present in
the community to give updates
similar to what you're hearing
in this presentation.
Talk about financial assistance
and answer questions face to
face.
I've seen many of your staff.
I've seen some of you in person
yourselves as well at these
meetings and we continue to be
available to do so.
As of now we've done about 25
of these meetings with
community planning group
meetings, town councils and
others.
We talk about the container
rollout potential systems and
we answer the questions.
So what's coming up with
the adoption of the reduced
fees for fiscal year 28 and 29?
As we get out in the community
we'll continue to amplify that
decision and what it means for
the timing of the reduced fees
and what it means with regard
to weekly just like
the previous plans for weekly
recycling and previous plans
for the bulky item program.
We'll also continue to
emphasize that the plan was
always when we developed
deliver the new containers to
ultimately phase out collection
from the old black containers
and the old dark blue
containers.
So we'll continue to
communicate on that as well as
customers who need additional
containers engaging with them
so they know how to do so
whether it's ordering more or
for those who have determined
they don't need as much
capacity how to downsize which
could result in reduced fee for
them going forward as well as
emphasizing the availability of
the financial assistance
program.
Our code compliance officers
when they observe overflowing
containers they will be
engaging with customers leaving
behind literature so customers
know how to order a second
container as well as if they
continue to see the lingering
black containers to remove
those and engage with
the customers.
So if they need to order
another one another gray one
they know how to do so.
We mentioned last JUNE that all
of the new containers become
equipped with rfid readers.
We are working on the next
stages of a pilot to test
the technology of the hardware
that will be attached to
the trucks and that hardware
when when installed would allow
us to collect operational data
to improve services over time
as well as identify containers
that are not where they are
supposed to be.
That's not the purpose of
today's item but we will you
can look forward to an item in
the coming weeks or so on on
that item.
The fee schedule I won't go
into too much detail.
We've presented this a couple
of weeks ago but I'll just
highlight for those present.
The second column are the fees
that go into effect JULY 1st,
2026 of this year.
You can see they are about a
dollar more for the three main
bundles but then I'll emphasize
the latter two columns Those
are the newly adopted reduced
fees for fiscal year 28 in
fiscal year 29.
And one thing in particular I
want to emphasize is
the because the reduced fees
are heavily subsidized by
the recycling fund.
The fee for an additional
recycling bin for fiscal year
28 goes down to $6.01 per month
for that fiscal year and then
$6.56 per month for
the following fiscal year.
And this is important to note
as some customers MAY have
ordered fewer recycling
containers anticipating weekly
recycling.
So I wanted to be sure to
amplify the subsidized rate for
a second recycling container.
This next slide as well we
presented a couple of weeks ago
at the adoption of the reduced
fees.
I'll just note a couple of
things.
One, the second row shows
the rate revenue.
So looking at the third column
you see the rate revenue goes
down significantly when
the fees are reduced.
The next two rows show
the subsidies.
So you see the estimated
subsidies from the recycling
fund.
And then the next row
the subsidies from the general
fund.
I'll note these are these are
estimates They will ultimately
be subject to the budgeting
process and actual expenditures
and revenues leading up to
those years.
And then lastly the fund
balance, you can see that we
are one of the anticipated
changes we made to our
operation based on the reduced
fees is not funding our to
build up our fund balance.
So you see if we remain in a
negative position through
the four year period.
So next steps is following up
the latter part of the hearing
on the adoption of the report
for the property tax bill
Following this item between now
and AUGUST 10th Mac will
continue to review applications
for fiscal Year 27 assistance.
For those who will see
the assistance in the form of a
credit on their tax bill and
then after AUGUST 10th they'll
continue to review applications
for rebate style And then by
AUGUST 10th if City Council
adopts the fee today the report
today rather by AUGUST 10th
will submit the report to
the county and then between MAY
and the SEPTEMBER will continue
the rollout of the new
recycling containers.
>> And thank you for your time
this afternoon.
All right.
Thank you for the work and
the presentation.
Deputy Clerk Please proceed
with public comment.
Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT.
We will begin with in-person
public comment.
Max Schmitt please come
forward.
You'll have two minutes to
speak.
Hi.
I just wanted to say that
increasing the fees increase
for the monthly fees that
homeowners pay for their trash
and recycling services to me
seems unnecessary.
I believe that homeowners
should not have to pay such
high fees for trash and
recycling.
I believe that if
the government was cut out of
the situation and the homeowner
could pay the trash or
recycling company directly, it
could be cheaper.
And I think that property taxes
could go down and I think
property taxes are too high for
people And I do not support
giving the city of San Diego
any more money.
And it has to do with many
reasons.
And one is because of
the underground hidden Catholic
genocide that needs that hasn't
been addressed.
And I just also wanted to say
that there's a one of the sides
and raised fees says that are
recycled containers are going
to be repurposed into other
plastic products and they tried
to make it an environmental
issue.
And I just wanted to say there
seems to be a connection and
random tax increases and trying
to help the environment where
it seems like an age old
liberal strategy straight out
of the liberal playbook to
throw in some slides about
the environment when they
increase, when they try to
increase taxes I'm going to say
this tax increase on property
is a big deal and that I don't
want the I don't think
the climate should be used as a
scapegoat to tax people more.
And I will honestly say that I
believe that Satan MAY be
telling liberals to exaggerate
the climate to try to tax
people more.
>> Thank you.
That does conclude your time.
Allegedly Audra definitely will
use the climate to tax people
more.
This is interesting Why does
the negative balance get
smaller to 2029?
>> That's interesting.
I don't know if I'm reading it
right and then saying there
will be reductions through that
year.
I mean really because I feel
like you guys are going to come
back to us for more money at
some point because it's not
going to be enough.
And again, you talk about
people receiving trash cans.
No, they're paying for them.
Let's be real.
They're forced to pay for those
even if they don't need them.
And the fact that you're saying
you're going to recycle them I
mean we'll see about that.
I'm sure that's another racket
that's going to be you know,
engaged in because I mean
anything you can make money off
of people are like jumping on
that.
So I guess I was a little
confused as well about Prop 218
unfortunately.
I guess it's like you guys can
sit here and raise the fee as
much as you want and as long as
nobody's here to protest it
doesn't matter Or so it's like
oh so many loopholes that you
know, get taken advantage of
when people are you know,
having to pay more money And
these rfid chips I mean come
on, You're like we're
collecting debt.
I mean the amount of data
that's collected on people is
just so insane, especially when
these data centers like they're
going to be taking all our
fresh water.
How cool is that?
I mean are you guys excited for
us to like figure out how ice
is going to provide us with
more water?
Probably that'll be neat.
But yeah, I just this is very
sad because people should have
the ability to say what they
want as far as the tax goes and
yet here we are again You're
not going to have enough
protests And so this is going
to move forward And I'd like to
know I mean what are you doing
Because this was the million
dollar lawsuit that made you
reduce the fee.
Are you going to give people a
credit for what they paid in
the interim of, you know, your
mistake?
>> Thank you.
That does conclude your time.
I have that That concludes
in-person public comment.
I have started the five minute
timer in the committee room.
We will now turn to the virtual
queue in which there are
currently three participants
requesting to speak.
We will begin with Hector.
Please begin.
Thanks guys.
Yeah this is a different
another example of a city not
knowing what's going on where
there was 2500 people getting
their trash picked up that
shouldn't have got it done.
So they just found that out
when they started doing
the cans taken up some guy's
apartment that should have had
a commercial guy doing it.
So this is probably not
the only thing.
There's other places in
the city where they're giving
out free services or they're
giving out special deals to
people that no one knows about
yet.
But this is another example.
And then to set the record
straight to build trust in
the community, why don't you
pull all the parking meters of
Balboa Park now so we can have
free parking over the summer to
go visit Balboa Park and stuff
That would be like show us a
good sign of building trust in
the community.
Just just apologize to
everybody for putting them
through And you want to start
you want to turn over a new
leaf and go for it and then
let's see there was one other
thing I wanted to do.
Yeah, you're going to charge
them for the Oh yeah, the solid
waste we got to get a solid
waste factory down the t on a
river and do some waste removal
down there and I think that
the city should focus on
the t12 river sewer plant
upgrades big time upgrade down
there with solar use some of
that recycle old stuff down
there that that absorb all
the sewer gas and everything
Anyway it's going to be it's
going to be a good summer.
It's going to be hot and that
stuff's going to smell terrible
for the kids.
So that's that's should be our
number one focus.
Okay.
Thank you.
We'll go to our next speaker
with a caller What the last
four digits 8700 Please begin.
Thank you, Joy.
Senator, I just have a bachelor
of Arts and ends.
Thank you for the update esd
Very very good update.
Thank you.
Also for our great financial
assistance program that you're
you've been rolling out.
It sounds very successful still
available and just thank you so
much I appreciate the recycling
of the container and I thank
you for improved line Thank you
everybody for improved
alignment with Measure b in a
question for you esd would you
and Director Kirby Brady
discuss adding qualitative data
to the metrics that would be
really super for you to explore
that innovative idea?
It's not really innovative.
It's being used throughout a
lot of other different areas in
government, in business and so
forth.
So let's see what is this We
can always improve customer
relations right and community
outreach and engagement.
So any efforts that you can
approve to make those better
would be absolutely super duper
love the customer donations.
>> Thank you Customers Whoever
you are you get five stars.
I think it's up to $67,000.
So thank you and thank you sd g
and e, I mean I don't get it
but if there's an opportunity
to thank them for caring about
the community, let's do it.
So their care program I guess
can be added to our quote They
can qualify if they qualify for
our programs that program can
be added to it.
So I feel really, really good
and I want to be sure and thank
them for any little steps big
steps.
We want some big steps if any.
But thank you for that.
And again this is a great item
We've made great project
progress lessons learned all
thank you.
Our next speaker is Toni.
Please begin your comments.
Toni please please unmute and
begin your comments.
>> Can you hear me?
Yes we can hear you.
Please begin.
Thank you.
Hey I am in support of this
measure.
I think that it's necessary.
I think we need to have some
type of crash service.
I would love to see putting in
more of an effort to create
some some conversations.
I know that we do have like
green compost at some areas
like the Mira mesa landfill for
example.
But I know that we don't have
any actual compost landfills
that are designed for like
biodegradable plates and cups
and utensils and things like
that.
Or please correct me if I'm
wrong whenever y'all respond to
these comments, please please
let me know if there is a
compostable site because as far
as I know like when you pick up
compostable plates or utensils
or whatever even napkins they
all say on the packaging itself
they say only it's only
disposable or only compostable
within compostable landfill
facilities.
I have not I don't know of any
that exist here in San Diego
and that would be a huge
incentive for people within
the sustainable community and
for waste at large.
If we can if we can eliminate
the mass amount of plastics
that we're using, we would be
so much better off if we could
create some type of ordinances
requiring packaging on foods
and on goods to use alternative
packaging because I mean we've
been beholden to the DuPont
monopoly on plastics for far
too long and there's way too
many alternatives that exist
for packaging including like
amp which has been declassified
.
It's now available for
commercial use.
It's now not scheduled as like
a narcotic as it previously was
as of 2019 the end of the first
Trump administration was one of
the things we did idly on his
way out legalizing hemp which
was super cool and really
unexpected.
>> Thank you Anyway, conclude
your time.
Thank you.
That concludes the public
testimony on item 330.
All right.
Thank you, Deputy Clerk.
A reminder this is an
information item No motions
required but I'll turn it over
to council member for questions
and comments and we'll start
with Councilmember Rivera.
Thank you, Health PRESIDENT.
Thanks for the presentation,
Jeremy and for all the work
that led up to this.
A couple of questions.
One and this is for you and or
Jordan the fund balance that
was was shown there.
What are the effects of that?
>> So when we think of
the question council member
when we crossed the threshold
of a fiscal year with a
negative balance we do have
the ability to pay that
enterprise fund a one day loan
to cross the threshold at a non
zero and then the first day of
the next fiscal year to pay it
back.
So there's an ability to cross
the fiscal year with negative
ultimately as we adopted
the fee last year the goal was
to build up a reserve fund.
We are postponing that at this
time but long term that is
something we can do.
Does it Ultimately we would
want to be in a position with
with a positive balance.
I turned over to Jordan to get
more.
Yeah, I mean it mostly did It
mostly starts to be a big
budgeting problem If you have a
lot of on balances with a
negative fund balance which is
why we typically try to
highlight these things if we're
seeing many of them.
Jeremy is correct as far as esd
goes because he is he also runs
two other large enterprise
funds.
They currently are projected to
have positive cash balances So
within esd you will be fine.
But again it's not a good
practice.
The original cost of service
did anticipate building up a
reserve over a number of years
in order to adjust to
fluctuations that MAY or MAY
not happen in between cost of
service studies.
But at this point right now
given where we are with
the fees, the settlements,
etc., the best course of action
at this point is just to manage
the fund where it is because
otherwise you would be
requiring the general fund to
be spending more money into
the fund in order to try to get
out of that negative fund
balance quicker than what's
currently projected.
Right.
Okay.
And I'll note too.
So originally the plan was for
the fund to Jeremy correct me
if I'm wrong it would have
gotten out of negative balance
around what your 2 or 3?
Correct.
Yeah.
So there was a plan to get
there for it.
This might have just been
changed.
Okay.
Will it be a problem?
It would it would be a bigger
problem if the fund balance was
going the other way.
So one of the reasons why
you're actually seeing that
going into a but it's going
smaller is because a lot of
that is the general fund paying
back for costs that were
incurred but not reimbursed in
the first year If it was
getting larger perpetually
larger that would be a problem
that you would see because then
you don't have a plan at which
you there would be no plan in
order to to bring it back in at
that point you would need to
start taking financial actions
to bring it back into positive
balance which would either
require more general fund
subsidies or higher fees and a
subsequent cost of service
study.
Thank you.
We've talked about this a
little bit but I want to make
sure I drill down just a little
bit more.
Some of services that are
provided or planned to be
provided are now that the plan
is scaled back.
Are there and there's
the services that residents can
receive and experience as a
result of those operations.
And then there's the diversion
from our landfill.
There's climate action goals
that we're pursuing.
Are there plans in place or is
there planning happening to
pursue those goals to reduce
what ends up in the landfill in
a different way than what we
we'd planned for?
>> Yes.
Councilmember one One example
is investment of some of our
recycling staff from our waste
reduction division to be
stopped at the landfill itself
at the gate that help identify
loads of waste that is heading
towards the face of
the landfill but to engage with
them to divert what's
recyclable from that load.
>> Additionally, as I mentioned
in my remarks, additional
outreach to help customers
understand that for a second
recycling container is more
affordable than it was last
year and make sure they know
that.
So if they need to order a
second recycling container they
can do so at a subsidized rate.
Okay.
I appreciate that And
the reason I keep asking what
this part is and we're going to
continue our conversations at
this environment committee and
hopefully at the full council
is the closure of the landfill
is it's not a small deal for
the city.
It's a really, really big one
on a variety of fronts.
And so I want to make sure that
we're doing everything we can
to push that out or at least
not accelerate cliff that we're
running toward.
Okay.
Is there anything that you are
not planning to do but you
would like to be able to do
that doesn't involve the weekly
recycling or something that was
already planned for?
I don't know if that makes
sense Or are there other
strategies or tactics that are
being considered as a way of
again either pushing out
the cliff or at least not
accelerating our approach to
the cliff?
The clean up division helps
with some of the community
cleanup events that is a
general fund funded division.
So to the extent that that
division had more funding
available they could be more
available to do those community
cleanups And when our staff are
directly involved in cleanup
events it's easier to divert to
separate segregate recyclable
materials versus materials that
are intended for the landfill
itself.
Yeah.
And just to kind of give it to
you if you can to reiterate to
all of us from a financial
perspective the impacts of are
closing sooner rather than
later or being able to push
that out.
>> I mean it's hard to quantify
at this point But I will tell
you as is so Miramar as it
stands right now is
the cheapest place to deposit
solid waste and go to recycling
to do those things.
And the reason why it's
the cheapest is because it's
managed by the city.
Right.
So this would be similar to you
know, if the city was able to
manage its water to a
wholesaler as opposed to having
a different entity charge you
to do different things.
So to that end, if Miramar goes
away as being the place where
waste could go to be deposited
and the city does have to start
going to other private
landfills which I believe it's
only private landfills that are
remaining in the county At that
point you now have to pay
either their disposal fees
which will make the cost for
collection services go up which
will then require either higher
fees on homeowners or
additional general fund
dollars.
There's also the options to do
the transfer station But again
the transfer station just
because it's extra steps it
could be cheaper than
the landfills directly but it
still would not be the same as
just being able to utilize me
or mine the way it's currently
being utilized.
>> And then there's the tipping
fees that we want And
the tipping fee is what you for
collection services Even though
it's city of San Diego dumping
a city San Diego site pays to
dump at the Miramar land
tipping fees that we received
from from other entities as
well correct?
>> So yeah so those will come
up We'll have to figure out a
way to run the landfill.
One landfills run other
operations without receiving
tipping fees both from the city
of San Diego and from outside
entities as well because
they'll no longer be a landfill
to operate.
I appreciate this and I know
we've talked to this a bit.
I just I keep hammering this
part because I think there was
a perception that we could
recycling was a nice to have
and I suppose it was from a
perspective of it's not
something that the city needed
to do today necessarily and
it's not necessarily something
that residents all needed on a
weekly basis but it served a
greater purpose that has
significant environmental and
economic impacts for the city
over the long term.
And so as with everything that
we deal with, there are no easy
outs And you know, not doing
weekly recycling solves for one
problem and it creates others
as well And we just need to be
eyes wide open about that.
And I appreciate the creativity
of of esd on how we're going to
approach that.
I think it's going to require a
group effort.
I remember a few years ago I
asked the ways in which in my
mail services was kind of boxed
in by not being able to recover
cost And I actually got a
really interesting response to
that question which was in
certain ways requires the city
to be more creative because
there the ability to recover
costs just wasn't there.
And so it looks like you're
leaning back into that
creativity that we needed to
use in the past.
But the General General Fund
still has in a period
significant costs I think as a
result of this.
Last thing I want to say is
thank you again for
the outreach and the really
intentional effort there to to
make sure that folks know about
know about the rebate or
the refund programs or
the discount programs.
That was very important to us.
That was important to us before
we ever got to the program up
and running and will continue
to be important to me as well.
So thank you again for
the work.
Thank you for the time.
Council PRESIDENT.
All right.
Thank you, Councilmember
Talavera.
We'll go next to Councilmember
Moreno.
Thank you And thank you for
the presentation.
I want to start off by thinking
of the environmental Services
Department for the incredible
work you guys do day in, day
out This past MARCH I had
the pleasure of joining city
staff for a ride along during a
trash pickup day in District
eight and the A.T.M. At
the Miramar Landfill Operations
station.
Pretty impressive piece of work
that we have there in the city
of San Diego.
I think the yard has
the collection services,
the division, the container
management program and
the trash pickup for truck
maintenance crews.
We exited the operation station
and what really astounded me
was the hundreds of trucks that
are housed at the station just
and just how everybody left in
just it was almost like a
beautiful symphony of trash
trucks going out And I was able
to ride one of the trucks
driven by MR. Enrique Rojas,
also known as Kiki.
MR. Rojas has been a sanitation
worker for the city of San
Diego for almost 40 years and
he was kind enough to share his
experience with me as we drove
south to the southern part of
the district.
And one of the things that I
was just taken aback by is that
these folks are really
sometimes for a lot of
residents their number one
people rate the number one
person that they first connect
with in the city of San Diego.
The love and admiration from
the kids was also really quite
impressive And MR. Rojas just
really went out of his way to
accommodate every question,
every comment.
So just kudos to him and I'm
sure I was probably a thorn on
his back for the morning But
nonetheless it was it was quite
the experience.
We were in the community of
Nestor and unbeknownst to me we
were for a time we were being
followed by another vehicle
that was collecting the empty
containers.
So this allowed me to see
firsthand just
the complications of this
rollout of such a just a
massive scale But it was
impressive to see how you know,
obviously they work together
and and how complicated this
endeavor was Truly complicated.
My ride along ended with with
the Otay landfill in Chula
Vista and just the impressive
work that goes there I believe
it's owned by Republic if I'm
not mistaken.
So I was able to see firsthand
what the esd men and women do
daily and it's just incredible
to witness the magnitude of
work that happens behind
the scenes of a service that I
think often goes unnoticed.
So I'm just extremely grateful
to all the sd everybody in sd
because I know it's not just
the folks speaking up.
It's like I said, it's like a
symphony.
It was grueling and it was
demanding just but the one
thing that it was very clear to
me is it's so it's such a it's
such a it's something like I
said that we don't think about
And thanks to you guys we don't
have to think about it.
It's just so invaluable to
the quality of life.
I quickly understood if these
men and women decide not to
show up one day or even two it
would just be super detrimental
to the city workers.
So just wanted to say recognize
them and thank them for
everything that they do.
Moving on to the updates
regarding the implementation, I
want to note that this is
obviously it's important to me
that residents receive access
to financial aid.
How many financial aid clinics
have we helped stop Checking my
notes I believe it's 22 with
six since the APRIL 30th
deadline for fiscal year 26
assistance and they've
continued after that And we're
currently coordinating with
macc to identify dates for
additional clinics for that And
these are in-person right?
The 22 they are in person
Wonderful.
>> And how many have been held
in District eight I believe it
was four would double check my
notes but my recollection was
it was it was four.
Got you.
And at what times have these
clinics been held?
They've been approximately
again MR. Memory around 930 in
the morning to 330 in
the afternoon give or take.
>> And I do appreciate
the effort that esd has put to
reaching out to the community.
I am concerned regarding
the times that we've chosen to
hold these clinics and this
would be a follow not a follow
up but a critique if you will.
I represent a working class
community where folks often
have just more than one job and
I do find it problematic that
these clinics are not being
held past 530 or even on
weekends when residents are
more likely to attend.
I'd also like to ask given that
the program can support
approximately 7000 customers
and only 3897 applications have
been received right Not
accepted Receive That's correct
.
What target outreach tactics
are being considered for fiscal
year 27 to increase
the participation And out of
those?
So that's one question.
And the second question is out
of those 3897, how much how
many have been accepted?
So I'll take the last one
first.
So far around 2300 have been
fully approved of the of
the nearly 4004.
I thank you for the feedback on
the timing.
I'll note last year one of
the constraints with
involvement of our staff is
that the financial assistance
program is general fund funded
and our program was funded by
the rate payers.
Now that will be entering a
subsidized program with general
fund we might have
the opportunity to explore
whether staff could become
involved in either providing
more assistance or even
attending more clinics
something we can look into now
that we're not 1% but we have
Sorry you've made me think of
another question We have enough
money for up to 7000 folks.
That's correct.
So that isn't a question.
And on that note, on
the targeted outreach we've one
one item we've done is reached
out to the county to see if
there's any information they
could share either of those
folks who MAY have in the past
had inability to pay their
property taxes on time.
Also if they'd be willing to
pass along our information if
they couldn't share
the addresses directly.
And then additionally we've
been coordinating with
community based organizations
and to invite them to pass
along information on
the program to their
communities they serve in their
networks.
Okay.
And that is what that's
the tactic to get more folks to
apply or yeah I guess at this
point to just apply right?
Yes.
And the other thing I would
note is one of the feedback we
received in the first year was
rather than having people apply
from scratch in the second
year, can we streamline so that
if they qualified from one year
if they remain the property
owner of that property have it
be two year increments And what
that means is for the second
year we're not starting from
zero.
We're essentially starting from
and then we can build from
there 2300 correct.
Which would be okay And there
is an opening and a closing
right?
When is the opening and closing
of these applications for
the fiscal year 24 fiscal year
26.
The program launched in JANUARY
and it was through APRIL 30th
are now starting MAY 1st
through we projected next year
APRIL 30th.
And the reason for that it
gives us an ability to go
through all of the applications
received and then get through
that queue and get
the assistance out before
the end of the fiscal year.
So it's currently open
the application process is
currently current.
Okay And Mac is a provider or a
partner I should say.
What are we paying Mac to do
This work The first fiscal year
fiscal 26 it was approximate
only on the order of 500,000
for the year for next fiscal
year Again based on approximate
memory it's on the order of
around 250,000.
>> So part of the reason
the first year was more was
standing up the program and
building infrastructure So it's
500,000 to put on 15 clinics
and to accept or deny
the applications correct and
also to outreach for
the applications.
That's correct.
Okay.
What's the average wait time
for a financial assistance
application So I can answer
that question indirectly They
have been getting through a
round lately around 100 to 200
applications a week.
It's hard to give an exact
average because a lot of
the applications if they're
100% complete they have all
the information they can
approve it very quickly.
What they've been doing is if
an application is missing
information, they've been
reaching out, calling
the applicant or calling them
waiting them to call back to
get missing information or
corrected information.
So depending on how responsive
an applicant is that could
extend how long it how long it
would take.
>> We have 3997 applications.
So can you tell me how long You
probably can't tell me right
now but can you tell me
the median wait time for
the financial assistance
application for maybe even say
the 2300?
I guess we should only include
that because there are also So
for the 3897 if I could know
how many you know how long it
takes just on average even not
putting into consideration any
variable just this is what it's
taking I would say multiple
months to give you an average
it would include the date that
application was received and
then the date.
So it would be looking at
the individual factors for all
4000.
I can check with a mac I'm not
going to put them on the slide
unless they I would say no I
wouldn't want that.
I can even just an email just
so I could see it and I would
our staff and Mac also to
factor in working families
schedules for I mentioned that
for the clinics if they could
start later in the day
obviously robust outreach for
residents consider senior
citizens especially
the inability to attend some of
the meetings I think is going
to be a factor and also
the fact that a lot of well I
shouldn't say a lot 10% of
the population in my district
are they exist within
the digital divide.
So they have they do not have
access to any, you know, smart
form phone wi fi.
So really getting creative on
how we outreach this program so
our residents able to walk into
Mac's installations and receive
information for the financial
assistance program.
I understand that there their
offices are in Chula Vista but
is is a resident are we able to
send a resident to the Mac
facility to apply in Chula
Vista?
They aren't staffed and set up
to accept walk in the clinics
are the primary approach and so
i thank you for the feedback on
the timing of those events and
that's something we can look at
for the coming years and sketch
with those to make sure they're
accessible.
>> Thank you.
And so obviously just to put it
on the record, future clinics
are being considered in other
communities in addition to San
Ysidro and Logan Heights.
Right.
We're looking at Otay Mesa
Nester Egger I just want to put
that on the record and I just
have a few more maybe a minute
or two.
Once again it's important to me
that residents in District
eight have the opportunity to
easily participate in
the financial assistance
clinics provided by esd.
It's good to hear that you guys
might jump in and get some of
that intellectual property
right that we're handing over
to Mac.
Thank you Mac by the way.
And so yeah, we should make it
easier rather than harder for
folks to apply And so that
would be my concluding comments
But once again just tremendous
work that the men and women did
out in in esd Just it was truly
phenomenal and it was tough too
And I actually got to lift up a
trash can.
So that was that was really
cool.
So please thank Kiki and all of
his and I think we're working
on a ride share That's what
came out of this conversation
is a ride share with sandag.
So it was a really fun time And
thank you you guys.
I appreciate it.
Thank you, Councilmember.
All right.
Thank you.
COUNCILMAN Moreno.
We'll go next to Councilmember
Camp You you council PRESIDENT.
Thank you to our staff
obviously Environmental
Services does an excellent and
important job for making sure
public is safe and healthy and
million other things.
We wanted to just get a sense
of one of the issues in
the staff report It looks like
the first rfid readers aren't
working out but we're going to
a second one.
Can you give us a little more
information on that?
Oh yes.
So we discussed last JUNE that
all the new containers come
with the rfid Readers
themselves are in
the containers and that our
plan was to test hardware
through a pilot before we
invested in installing on our
on our fleet of trucks We did
test one hardware the detection
rate and the versatility of
the equipment was not
sufficient for our in our
perspective to invest the money
to buy 150 to 200 of those
devices.
In that sense we see it as a
successful pilot and that we
were able to conclude something
before purchasing varig
the same the same vendor that
makes the containers we became
aware also makes this hardware
So our next step is to test
that hardware and if and only
if it also turns out to be
successful scanning meeting our
Detectability goals Then at
that point we would plan to
invest in the equipment to
install on the trucks.
Okay understood.
In terms of the second pilot
that we see we're at, where
have we already started testing
that as early this summer?
So we have an item coming to
council in the coming weeks or
so to consider the contract
vehicle that would allow us to
buy the equipment.
Very good.
Okay.
What's the long term plan?
What what's plan c if this one
doesn't work Because rfid chips
are important for us to be able
to certify that we're charging
people for the right at
the right location for
the right amount of trash in
general if for some reason it
wasn't giving the detective
rate we would look for we would
look for if there's other
equipment, other vendors and
then we could also test.
Okay.
Well looking forward to
bringing that seeing that item
come to full council and making
sure we get this to work.
Thank you.
Councilmember.
All right.
Thank you, Councilmember Campo.
I don't see anybody else in
the lights.
I'll add my thanks.
You know a good reminder that
everything you're doing you
started from scratch and and a
fabulous job and you know, a
lot of bumps along the way.
But you navigated those and
righted the ship and really
delivered for us.
A couple of questions kind of
inspired by my colleagues that
I wasn't really going to ask.
So in the f y 26 budget we
allocated money for this
financial assistance.
It sounds like we did not burn
through that.
Did we roll that over So we
actually have more money in f y
27 or do we still have the 3
million?
Yes.
So the for the contract
administration we simply
wouldn't spend that for
the amount that was allocated
for the assistance itself.
We still have that and we're
going through the nearly 4000
applications and depending on
whether there's how many of
those are fully approved,
the remaining funding would
first go to those.
It would then roll over and
then when we review
the applications for next year
we'd have it available.
If funding is not used then at
that point it would be
available to return to
the general fund.
Okay.
In terms of expectations,
the 2300 that were approved
that would be a credit towards
the f y 26 cost that would show
up in their f y 27 bill.
So no thank you.
Thank you for the question
Councilmember So for those that
have applied for fiscal year 26
because they've already
received their bill and in most
cases already paid it
the assistance for this year is
in the form of a rebate so they
will receive or have already
received in some cases either a
check or direct deposit for
next year.
The plan is to primarily do
the proactive credit on the tax
bill.
Okay.
And then the remainder of
the 4000 And once they get
finally approved I get there in
process.
Will they also get a rebate
That will be a rebate as well?
Yes.
Okay.
All right.
Again, standing up a first time
effort So really doing a very,
very good job.
I appreciate Councilmember
Moreno's perspective given her
knowledge of her constituents
about how to connect with them.
I think that's the biggest
challenge we have is how to
connect with people who don't
know our programs available And
this is something that can be
pretty available to them.
There was a comment I want make
sure people realize t genie
does not run the care program
or they run the care program.
It is not Genie's money it is
ratepayers money that Genie
manages on behalf of a
statewide public purpose
program No shade on Genie but I
didn't want anybody to get
confused after yesterday's
conversation And I appreciate
the conversation too about
the fund balance and keeping an
eye and managing on that.
But at the risk of
relitigating, I think about 70
or 80 million that was being
taken out of the general fund
to run esd that no longer is
part of the conversation and
and I know there are still some
folks that believe that private
haulers charge less than
the city And I think I know
personally that that is not
true.
We heard a lot of stories about
how much people pay for private
waste collection that goes
above and beyond what the city
is actually charging.
Nevertheless, we should be
sensitive to what constituents
have to pay going forward.
So with that again, thank you
for the very good work.
Thank you for these regular
updates about the program and
keeping us informed.
It's I think very helpful to us
and to the public.
So again this was an
information item and no motion
is required.
So with that Deputy clerk
please reintroduce item 333 and
proceed with the tabulated
protests.
Item three through three is a
collection of solid waste
management fees on the county
tax roll.
There's information provided by
the Environmental Services
Department 112,516 protest
would represent 50% plus one of
parcel subject to the proposed
solid waste management fees.
The city clerk's office
received three protests against
adoption of the written report
identifying affected parcels
and the solid waste management
fees to be charged to each
affected Parcel parcel on
the 2026 2027 County Tax Bill
without reviewing or
authenticating any protests and
assuming that they are all
valid and from affected
property owners.
We can clearly say that
the number of protests lodged
with the city clerk's office is
clearly below the threshold of
50% plus one.
This concludes my report.
All right.
Thank you, Deputy Clerk.
Again, the public hearing
portion was closed.
We will now take up council
members questions and comments
and entertain a motion and we
will start with Councilmember
Rivera.
Thank you.
Health resident I'll move
the recommendation here.
All right.
And not see anybody else in
lights.
I'll go ahead and second that
I'll leave it at that not see
anybody else.
So we have a motion by council
member Eli Rivera and a second
by myself to move the staff
recommendation on item 333.
Clerk Please call the roll.
I have started the voting
system.
Please cast your vote and I
will need a verbal votes from
Councilmember Campbell and
Council member Whitburn Please
.
Yes yes.
Thank you.
That item passes.
Um 622 with District five
absent.
>> All right With that Deputy
clerk please introduce item
s505 items 505 is the fiscal
year 2027 Appropriation
ordinance.
All right.
As you settle yourself in,
please introduce yourselves for
the record and let us know how
much time you need for your
presentation.
>> Good afternoon.
Council PRESIDENT LaCava and
council members.
I'm Ben Battaglia, Director of
Finance.
With me today is Amber
Gutierrez, financial operations
manager.
Today we'll be presenting
the fiscal year 2027
appropriation ordinance and
we'll need about five minutes
please.
>> All right.
When you're ready.
The city council approved
the fiscal year 2027 budget on
JUNE 9th and the mayor signed
the budget resolution on JUNE
11th.
The adoption of
the appropriation ordinance is
the final step in the fiscal
year 2027 budget process as
outlined in Charter section 69.
The aoa appropriates the budget
based on the two controlling
documents The salary ordinance
which sets the compensation for
city employees and the budget
resolution And this
incorporates the mayor's draft
budget as modified by the MAY
revision and the City Council's
additional modifications.
The purpose of the eo is to
define the legal level at which
the Mayor and the cfo are
authorized to control
operational and capital project
expenditures.
Additionally it facilitates
administration of the city's
$6.4 million for $6.4 billion
budget by providing certain
delegations of authority to
the Chief financial officer.
And this is mostly for routine
non policy items.
Charter Section 69 requires
that the City Council adopt
the aoe by JUNE 30th each each
year.
This year there are three
requested modifications to
the act.
The first is modifying section
2g2 and adding a new section
2g4 and this authorizes the cfo
to reallocate unobligated cdbg
balances to previously council
approved nonprofit facility
improvement projects to support
timely project completion.
This authority is to reallocate
funds for completed canceled or
ineligible cdbg projects to
eligible nonprofit facility
projects in line with
consolidated plan objectives
and will assist the city in
meeting federal timeliness
requirements.
Since this item was presented
to the budget and government
Efficiency Committee last week
we worked closely with
the Office of the aba to revise
the language to clarify
the intent of this section
including that authority to
appropriate balances on future
activities not previously
approved in the annual Action
Plan or are subject to Council
authorization and all uses of
this added authority will be
included in the consolidated
annual performance and
Evaluation Report each year.
The second update authorizes
the cfo to accept appropriate
and expend grants that are
awarded to the office of
the City Clerk.
The new section improves
administrative efficiency for
the city clerk's grant funded
projects and it expands
the city's ability to leverage
external funding sources.
And the third update removes
section 2b8 and this removes
the automated refuse container
fund from the Special Revenue
Fund section with
the establishment of the Solid
Waste Management Fund.
This fund will be fully
exhausted and closed in fiscal
year 2026 and therefore this
section is no longer required.
And finally there are minor
language updates throughout
the document including updating
the fiscal year and
the recitals.
>> Included with this item are
the fiscal year 2027 operating
and capital appropriations
along with the annual change
letter as well as a signed
budget resolution.
Staff's recommendation is to
approve the fiscal year 27
Appropriation ordinance which
will codify the adopted budget
into law.
That concludes our presentation
and we're available for any
questions.
>> All right.
Thank you for the work and
thank you for the presentation.
Deputy Clerk Please proceed
with public comment.
>> Thank you.
We will begin with in-person
public comment.
Max Schmitt please come forward
if you will have two minutes on
finalizing this ordinance and
finalizing the fiscal year 27
tax limit is a big deal and I
just wanted to say that I'm
opposed to all city tax.
>> One of the things I saw in
there was a recycling
enterprise fund and I don't
think that money should be
taken from the people for
the climate agenda hoax that's
being pressed and I just wanted
to say that San Diego in their
general fund has about $2
billion that they get from
property sales on cannabis tax
And if that $2 billion they
provide fire and police safety
,they operate the parks.
They operate the libraries.
And I just want to give a first
hand testimony of why I'm
opposed to San Diego Getting
taxes from a homeless person
who uses the libraries, uses
the parks.
And I just wanted to say that
I've been harassed by police
officers who believe it or not
this is going to sound crazy
but have actually exposed me to
squad cars teleporting on in
conjunction my private thoughts
and then literally said to me
police officers tried to scare
me saying you're getting
teleport traffic which was
the stupidest thing in
the world where freemason
luciferian is like I said
the police exposed me to
teleporting and then said
You're going to teleport
traffic is stupid And then at
the library on which taxes go
to support the library I get
surrounded by librarians
speaking gibberish trying to
make me go insane and then at
the parks the same thing
happens Park employees will
speak gibberish to make me go
insane and then the transit of
the transit police will also
try to make me go insane.
>> So I don't think San Diego
should begin any.
Thank you for your comments.
That does conclude your time.
Our next speaker is allegedly
Andrea sent not funny to
anybody else.
The only three people protested
.
Does that sound like good
numbers?
Right.
Good outreach.
I mean, Anyway, uh, that's just
so sad because these people are
going to have a rude awakening
.
Who knows?
Just the things change or that
I mean, sure, it gets less
whatever.
Yes, This is interesting, Sean.
Be creative with less Right?
I mean, don't you guys think
that you could do that?
I think that should be an
ordinance that you guys create.
You know, I mean because
the mayor it's like absolute
power corrupts obviously.
And then a couple of you guys
want to be mayor so it'll be
interesting to see how that
plays out.
But wouldn't it be good if
there was an ordinance for real
when we have to do with
the budget that it's like let's
see how much we can cut back
your funds and see how much you
can do with less and I mean I'm
telling you you guys get
creative, right?
Sean Don't you guys feel like
you could do a lot more with
less money?
I do.
I feel like you guys would be
very good and you could do like
a competition where you see who
you know comes up with the best
ideas.
I'm telling you I mean people
have to do it out in
the public.
You could even have a citizen
board of people that would come
in and be like This is what we
could do with less and we'll
get more with it Telling you
people like on their budget
just to go to the grocery store
it's like I mean you can't buy
organic but you sure make sure
I mean I remember being a kid
and I was like I could live off
of 20 bucks for a week and I
did it.
I mean it's possible So I feel
like we should be really good
stewards of the people's money
and seeing what we can do
again.
You guys are going to have to
take cuts.
You're not going to be able to
,you know, wear those fancy
suits and ride your electric
bikes.
But at least the people won't
be suffering as much, right?
Because you're not going to
take as much from us.
It'll be good.
I think that that should be
something you guys work on
lickety Split and I know you
well.
Thank you That include your
time.
Next speaker is Anthony Ralphs
.
Good afternoon City council.
Just want to let you know can
Lee I didn't forget about you.
I got you these flowers as
well.
This is a sign a gesture of
appreciation for the change of
position on flock.
It means a lot to us residents
in San Diego that you're taking
our privacy concerns seriously.
And I know that it was within
the context of a budget crisis
that we're still in.
And I know that you explained
that given the circumstances,
if we could afford everything
you would still prefer to have
this type of technology in
place.
And while that position is
hopefully one that you'll
reconsider when you reevaluate
when you look into all of
the harm that Floc has been
causing throughout the city,
hopefully that can weigh in on
your mindset moving forward.
Hopefully it's not just
something that's solely
predicated upon the fiscal
situation that we find
ourselves in which is only
going to get worse until we
address the root systemic
issues of this problem which is
a totally unaccountable police
force and a city council or
only half of a city council
that's willing to address that
problem.
The other half I'm concerned
about because they're not
making eye contact with me and
I'm addressing them and it
looks like they're on their
phones right now as I'm
speaking to them And it's
disrespectful And there's a
number of council members that
aren't even here right now
including Marni von Wilpert.
And I know that this is
something that's frustrated you
LaCava as well.
You've mentioned it multiple
times It's it's disrespect for
the people of San Diego to
the constituents.
You know y'all are being paid
well and we spend a lot of our
time and a lot of our money to
come out here and to have these
two minutes to be able to
address you and the least that
y'all can do is look at us and
make eye contact with us.
MISS Campbell MR. Whitburn, as
we're addressing you directly
thank you.
Thank you.
That does conclude in-person
public comment.
We will now turn to virtual
public comment.
I've started the five minute
timer in the committee room and
there are currently there is
currently one participant
requesting to speak.
So we will go to caller with
the last four digits 8700
please begin.
Thank you.
First off point for just a few
seconds.
Thank you, PRESIDENT Lacob for
giving me the clarity on
the sdb sdg Any item that we
really appreciated.
And then Councilmember Marino.
Five stars for that
storytelling.
Does everybody notice the power
of storytelling?
That was an example on me
picking up the trash story That
was five stars.
Okay.
So on the item itself please
let's work on open
communication and collaboration
between all branches of
government.
Okay.
I think this is a very, very
important it's kind of a dicey
I have an item to me for some
reason but I want that kind of
improvement.
The public really deserves
that.
Now on the update with the item
involving c, d, b, g a little
concern on the project, this
goes way back with me when I
used to really put time in on
that some of the projects fail
and I can't remember if
the training was inappropriate
or the application was
inappropriate.
But let's make sure that we're
handling all those projects for
those wonderful people that
want to do them And I think a
lot of them are low income
people having a dream come
true.
So I don't know exactly how I'm
saying that in the right way
but if I'm helping I hope so.
And then one thing I hope you
have time to read This is
the Department of Finance.
The whole thing is a quote As
the city continues to address
the structural budget deficit,
the importance of maintaining
cash reserves to strengthen
the city's fiscal position and
effectively manage potential
future economic downturns has
never been more critical.
Thank you for your time.
Thank you.
>> That concludes public
testimony and item 5 or 5.
All right.
Thank you, Deputy Clerk.
Will now turn over to council
members for questions, Comments
Entertain a motion and we'll
start with the chair of
the Budget Committee.
Council member Foster.
Yes, Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT And Rolando
I'm sorry Thank you for
the presentation and thank you
for addressing the cdbg item.
You know our discussion in
committee.
So with that I will move
staff's recommendation.
All right.
Thank you Council member.
So we have a motion by
Councilmember Foster to move
the recommendation.
We'll go next to Councilmember
Campo.
Thank you Council PRESIDENT
Thank you to our Department of
Finance and our city attorney's
office for the good work on
this.
>> I'll second All right.
We have a motion by
Councilmember Foster or second
by Councilmember Champion to
move the staff recommendation
And I'll just quickly add my
thanks for the good work.
I know there's a lot that goes
into this And responding to
Councilmember Foster's concern
the cbd are a tricky thing and
you all do a great job of
navigating the challenges
associated with that So with
that again we have a motion by
Councilmember Foster, a second
by Councilmember Campo.
Deputy Clerk Call the roll
after the voting system please
cast your vote and they'll need
a verbal vote from
Councilmember Campbell and
Councilmember William Campbell.
Yes.
Thank you.
That item passes unanimously
with Council District five
absent.
Yeah.
So that's 818 yeses and one
absent, correct?
Yes we'll get it today Anyway
with that Deputy clerk please
introduce item 332 item 332 is
the fiscal year 2027 tax
appropriations when it began
when it And with that staff
please introduce yourself again
for this item and let us know
what time you need.
>> Good afternoon Council
PRESIDENT Lacob and Council
Members.
I'm Ben Battaglia, director of
Finance and with me is Amber
Gutierrez, financial operations
manager.
We're here today to present
the fiscal year 2027 tax
appropriations limit also known
as the gambling And we'll need
about four minutes.
All right.
When you're ready.
In NOVEMBER of 1979, California
voters approved Proposition
four, also known as the gan
initiative.
This legislation requires a
governing body of each local
jurisdiction in California to
establish a tax appropriations
limit and this is a restriction
on the amount of tax revenue
that can be appropriated in any
fiscal year.
Local jurisdictions can choose
among four adjustment factors
which includes measures of
inflation and population growth
to complete the final
adjustment factor.
The measures for inflation or
price factors include growth in
California per capita income or
growth in the city's gross
assessed valuation due to new
nonresidential construction
which measure which measures
While measures for population
growth include population
growth within the county or
the city, revenue subject to
the limit consist of tax
proceeds and state subventions
.
Tax proceeds include property
tax, sales tax, transient
occupancy tax and other local
taxes.
As a result, not all city
revenues are included in this
calculation The tax
appropriations limit must be
established on or before JUNE
30th each fiscal year for
the following fiscal year.
The fiscal year 27 can limit
calculation verifies that
appropriations are below
the limit in accordance with
Proposition 111 guidelines.
The fiscal year 2027 tax
appropriations limit was
calculated by adjusting
the prior year's tax
appropriations limit using one
of four annual adjustment
factors the recommended fiscal
year 27 adjustment factor uses
the percentage change in
assessed valuation in new
nonresidential construction and
the population factor based on
the percent growth in
the city's population.
And this results in an
adjustment factor of 1.1168 or
11.68%.
The adjustment factor is then
applied to the previous year's
appropriations limit of 6.29
billion resulting in a fiscal
year 27 tax appropriations
limit of 7.03 billion.
And again this is an 11.68%
increase over the fiscal year
26 tax appropriations limit.
I will note the fiscal year 26
tax appropriations limit was
revised from 6.24 billion to
6.29 billion following receipt
of a revised report from
the county which made a
correction to the city's
assessed valuation of
nonresidential construction
from the prior year.
And this revision has no impact
on the city's compliance with
the tax appropriations limit.
The fiscal year 27 tax
appropriations limit is
calculated to be 7.03 billion a
total adjusted appropriations
subject to this limit for
fiscal year 27 is 1.71 billion.
As a result, the fiscal year 27
tax appropriations are
projected to be below the limit
by 5.32 billion.
Staff's recommendation is to
approve the resolution to
establish a tax appropriations
limit of 7.03 billion for
fiscal year 27.
That concludes our presentation
and we're happy to answer any
questions you MAY have.
>> All right.
Thank you for the presentation
and the work.
I'll now turn it over to
the office of the ipa for
comments.
Great.
Thank you Council PRESIDENT,
council members and thank you
again for the presentation.
So this is really a routine
item that we take up every year
but it is worth taking a moment
to talk about what the gambling
bit tells us about the city's
overall level of resources.
As you heard, the gang limit
was established by 1979 a
statewide measure that was
implemented in 1980 and it set
a cap on the total amount of
tax revenue that the state as
well as any local government in
the state can appropriate.
And it tied that cap to actual
tax appropriations in 1979.
Again, as you heard, the limit
can be adjusted each year by
using several factors growth
and income growth
nonresidential assessed value
growth from the population of
the city of the county.
And this was done to recognize
that inflation exists in
the city's growth but still
with the underlying intention
of holding tax revenue near or
below those 1979 levels.
The adjustment to the gan limit
that you just heard would bring
the city's limit to just over
$7 billion.
Our actual tax revenue that is
subject to the gambling it for
the upcoming fiscal year is
estimated at $1.7 billion.
This tells us something about
our resources and this will be
inexact because the city's
economy does not precisely
track the four adjustment
factors in the city generally
uses the largest possible
factor One of three calculates
the limit.
But it's a very rough
shorthand.
The $5.3 billion difference
between our actual tax revenues
and the updated gambling It
illustrate that if the city's
tax revenues simply kept pace
since 1980 with growth in
income, property values and
population, the city would be
collecting roughly four times
the tax revenue that it does
today.
And this gap is one of the real
reasons that the investments
the city made in its operations
and the infrastructure 45 years
ago were in many cases
significantly larger than
the investments that it can
make now.
Now the constraints on
the city's resources are not
caused by the gambling.
They're instead the result of
how the city raises money and
what voters are willing to
approve.
But this annual item is a
useful reminder of the gap
between what the city once
invested in itself and what it
can afford to invest it today.
And this should also complicate
any notion that the city's
current budget issues are
simply the result of
overspending instead of
the larger part of that story
is that tax revenues have not
kept pace with growth of
the city or with the cost of
demands for programs and
infrastructure in the city.
We've just moved past
the adoption of a difficult
budget but it is worth keeping
this gap in mind as we go
through the rest of the year
and continue to have
discussions about the programs
and policies that this Council
would like to pursue.
Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT.
All right.
Thank you, Charles.
Always appreciate your
perspective.
And with that Deputy clerk,
please proceed with public
comment.
Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT We will begin
with in-person public comment.
Next minute please come
forward.
You'll have two minutes to
speak on.
I just want to say I was at
City Hall when they had
the fiscal year 2027 budget
finalized and it was a big
crowded day at city hall And
then now we have these final
two ordinances finalizing it
again.
And then I just want to say
that it's very interesting to
me that after the it's
finalized and we have the tax
revenue is stated at $1.7
billion.
It's very item three three to
the limit is very interesting
to me.
And the reason why is because
it's on just this kind of
random number of $7 billion and
on there $5 billion underneath
underneath that.
And I just want to say it's
just kind of interesting to
have this information item
right after everything is
finalized to say oh by the way,
there's a limit to how much
revenue we can make and it's 7
billion when when the revenue
is only 1.7 billion.
And the reason it's interesting
to me is the Chinese communist
Party has something called ten
year and 20 year plans laid out
And to me it almost reminds me
of something that the Chinese
Chinese Communist Party would
do as a ten year plan and
the gang limit presentation
even said that on revenues that
the revenues are not keeping up
with city growth and they want
revenues to be higher.
And I just can't imagine
the financial hardship
the people of San Diego would
have if if the gang limit was
reached this year and we
actually had $7 billion in
revenue all taxed on it just it
just almost seems like a very
interesting thing to have this
random gang limit after
the budget finalized Almost
seems like a a plan of sorts to
try to increase thinking that
does conclude your time
allegedly order the surely is
interesting never really
understood it before you get
really good education come into
meetings like this That's why
people should pay attention.
But it's interesting that you
set the limit of like how much
you guys can spend.
Like what if your children were
like I'm going to tell you how
much you can spend on me and
it's like a billion bucks and
you better spend it And if you
don't you better give me that
money back, you know, because
you guys it's like obviously
you're going to come in below
that but it makes it look good
that like we're coming in below
our limit And it's just
interesting to see the way
the government works how it's
like you know, you set your
policies and like you want to
keep people in compliance with
your policies but doesn't
really matter if they break
the law.
It's like you can break the law
but just follow the policy and
like we'll do all this nonsense
to pretend like we're holding
people accountable.
It's just you know But when
you're setting your own limits
I mean like you're going to set
it to a place where you're
going to exceed it.
I mean obviously you would not
be stupid.
I mean but it's also sad to
see, you know, people come in
and give you guys, you know,
accolades and appreciation for
votes and you know, I'm used to
you guys not looking.
It's like it's fine.
I mean enjoy do appreciate even
though half the time your faces
are kind of funny because but
you're you're you're you're not
on your phone you know you're
you're sometimes I feel like
you're in la la land It's okay
but you're you're you know
listening which you can get
into that mode But it's like I
mean if you guys treated your
or if your staff treated you
this way if your staff while
you were talking to them was
looking down on their phone you
would fire them immediately.
You wouldn't put up with it.
But yet people we pay your
paycheck and you guys can't
even give people the courtesy
of even saying thank you for
something like that.
I mean he didn't have to do
that.
He spent his own money doing it
And just the fact that you guys
don't even acknowledge it just
shows you that doesn't work
with your time.
I have started the five minute
timer in the committee room.
We'll now turn to virtual
the virtual queue which there
are currently just one
participant requesting to
speak.
So we will begin with caller
with the last four digits 8700
please begin.
Thank you.
Excuse me a deputy city Clerk
Two minutes.
Yes, two minutes.
Thank you Joy.
Assuming I've never spoken on
this item and I wasn't going to
speak So this is off the top of
my head and in what MAY be
pressed or nine is our idea or
great idea.
Monica Monica speaking And you
spoke beautifully.
I want to add to it because we
have a structural budget
deficit and it does involve
overspending and it's out of
balance and it's replicating
itself for 20 or more years And
we're like a journal stuck on a
wheel going round and round and
round and round again And I'm
looking forward to speaking
with all of you maybe tomorrow
if I get energy about the time
of reckoning which has to do
with the people who didn't vote
on the sales tax measures,
the recent one and we need to
listen to them because they're
telling us we're not spending
our money correctly.
We are overspending.
I know what's more complicated
than that And I just thank you
,Monica.
That was beautifully said But I
think we need to tweak it a
little bit And I'm really
there's a great article from
the u-t on It's got the word
reckoning in it for our city
and the people are saying no to
our things So I'm going to
really try to work on that for
tomorrow.
Anyway, thank you for listening
Always a great day.
We have one more love to all.
Thank you.
That concludes public testimony
on item 332.
>> All right.
Thank you, Deputy Clerk.
With that we'll turn over to
the council members for
questions.
Comments Entertain a motion and
we'll start with council member
You Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT I think you
members of the public for their
participation this item of
approval of such
recommendation.
>> All right.
We have a motion by Council
member Campo.
We'll go next to Council Member
Foster a second by Council
member foster So we do have a
motion by Council kennedy a
second by Council member Foster
I don't think I throw in that
the element please correct me
if I'm wrong was actually a
voter approved So we're just
following the voter approved
measure.
That's correct.
It's probably like 218 There's
a lot of reasons to be a little
frustrated by it But until
there's a new vote and
repositioning that legislation
with that we just have to
follow that.
>> So all right.
We have a motion by Council
member Kennedy on a second by
Council member Foster.
I think as you've seen we have
a little glitch in the voting
system of the tally system.
So all in favor say aye.
All right.
And he opposed and was that of
no council member.
You know what I pay attention
to the audience So that passes
8 to 0 with District five
absent Deputy Clerk please
introduce item 331 Thank you
Council PRESIDENT Item 331 is
the fiscal year 2027 tax rate
ordinance for the maintenance
of zoological exhibits.
This item is not subject to
the mayor's.
Yeah.
All right.
Thank you for that.
So we have the same staff but
please introduce yourself for
this item and let us know how
much time you need.
>> Good afternoon.
Council PRESIDENT Joe Lacob and
council members.
I'm a financial operations
manager with the Department of
Finance and with me is that
battalion director of Finance.
We are here to present
the fiscal year 2027 tax rate
ordinance.
We about three minutes.
All right when you're ready.
The tax rate ordinance
establishes a tax levy for
the maintenance of the logical
exhibits in accordance with
section 75 of the city charter
which requires the adoption of
an annual tax levy by
ordinance.
Approval of this ordinance also
ensures compliance with
the filing requirements and
deadline established by
the County Auditor and
Comptroller which mandates
submission no later than
the last day of AUGUST of each
year.
This levy was originally
approved in 1934 when San Diego
voters approved Section 77 of
the city charter to levy an
annual property tax of $0.02
per $100 of assessed value to
be used exclusively for
the maintenance of zoological
exhibits in Double Park in
1981, the California Revenue
and Taxation Code's definition
of the assessed valuation on
which property taxes are levied
was changed from 25% of
the property's value to 100% of
the property's value In order
to translate Charter Section 77
a's tax rates to the new
definition a conversion factor
of one fourth was applied to
logical exhibits tax rate
changing the levy from $0.02
per $100 of assessed value to
half a cent per $100 of
assessed value.
Since then the tax rate has
remained unchanged for fiscal
year 2027 with the Logical
Exhibits Maintenance Fund is
budgeted at approximately 22.8
million for revenues and
expenditures and it's based on
the calculation of a half a
cent per every $100 of assessed
value.
This amount is an estimate
based on the city's fiscal year
2027 property tax budget.
Each year the city transfers
transfers the actual property
tax revenues collected by
the county for this purpose be
22.8 million represents only a
portion of the total costs of
maintenance The logical
exhibits the remaining costs
are funded through new
operations and support from
members, donors and guests.
Staff's recommendation is to
approve the fiscal year 2027
tax rate ordinance levying a
property tax of half a cent per
$100 of assessed value to be
used exclusively for
the maintenance of zoological
exhibits in double Park in
compliance with Charter Section
75 and the County Auditor and
Comptroller's requirements.
That concludes our presentation
that we're available for Any
questions.
All right.
Thank you for the work and
thank you for the presentation
.
Deputy Clerk Please proceed
with public comment.
Thank you Counsel PRESIDENT Max
Schmidt We'll begin with
in-person comment.
Max Schmidt please come
forward.
You'll have two minutes to
speak on increasing the tax to
$0.05 for every $100 of the $22
million in maintenance revenue
on seems unnecessary.
And I just wanted to say that
earning taxes off of San
Diego's amazing zoo also seems
unnecessary I think with on
the $2 billion in taxes that
San Diego San Diego has to
spend on maybe they could try
to make the zoo more affordable
or even free.
I know St Louis, Missouri has a
free zoo and it's very popular
and I just wanted to also say
that I've mentioned this a lot
already but I'm against
the city of San Diego getting
any tax dollars from the people
whether it's through the zoo's
maintenance fee or whether it's
through property or sales tax.
And the reason why is because
there is serious criminal and
illegal activity that falls
under city sponsored and state
sponsored.
And what that is is people
being paid tax dollars like
staff at homeless shelter
police officer transit
authority on the trolley on
whoever is running the trolley
intercom are actually harassing
Catholics And what they do is
this They speak constant,
bizarre, strange half
gibberish, half I'm reading
your mind I know it sounds
crazy where they're telepathic
from doing hermetic chants
The Masonic Lodge and people
who are getting paid tax
dollars are actually trying to
drive Catholics either to
suicide or drug addiction And
there's a genocide happening.
Thank you.
That does conclude your time
Allegedly order Poor Vivienne
got thrown under the bus.
Why?
Why not call out Jennifer?
You didn't think it was her?
>> Yeah, this is interesting.
That's I mean a half a cent and
you get $22 million almost 23 I
feel like that should give us a
free pass to go to the zoo when
they're getting that much money
from the people in is this
county leaders is just in
the city is this just city
property Yeah that's
interesting That's a lot of
money and those people still
have to pay to go to the zoo.
And I'm wondering because it's
like nobody really keeps up
with their maintenance.
How do we know that this is
going towards their maintenance
really?
I mean do we know that Is there
any kind of checks and balances
to be sure we just give it to
them and say it's out of our
hands?
Right.
So how it works I guess so.
I mean that's that's the way it
seems.
That's the way the government
works.
We contract with you.
We did our part.
We followed the policy.
We created a bike lane.
Yeah.
It cost like $13 million and it
goes to no or but we did what
we were supposed to do.
So again it's like until people
are going to like go to the zoo
for free I mean $22 million and
plus we're like holding animals
in captivity.
I always hated that as a kid
like go in and watching these
animals I mean they say they
save them but it's like is it
really I mean because like out
in their own habitat they don't
really do those things But it's
like, you know, wild horses,
mustangs.
I had a couple of those ones So
sad They're like 50 bucks You
can't even like sell them for
that much because they're wild
horses anyway.
Yeah.
So I just like to see kind of
some kind of uh you know, uh
audit to make sure that this
money is going towards
maintenance and how much more
they're like requiring from
the people.
I'd also like to request an
audit on flock so if we could
do that as well that would be
good.
Thank you.
That does conclude your time.
Our next speaker is Anthony
Ralphs.
I think I'm in favor of this
tax but I'm not entirely sure.
Um, I.
I don't know if the zoo is a
private corporation and if
they're getting public subsidy.
If so, then it probably I don't
know if this tax is justified.
They do bring in a lot of
people.
They are like a world famous
and the world famous San Diego
Zoo.
Right.
So I guess there's a there
could be a justification for it
But the not knowing that
distinction makes it difficult
to formulate a fully educated
opinion.
So I think I'm in favor of it
Anyway, thanks.
Thank you.
That does conclude in-person
public comment.
I I've started the five minute
timer and the committee room
and we will now turn to
the virtual queue where there
is one speaker requesting to
speak.
Hector please begin your
comments.
Having grown up here I've been
to the zoo a lot of times as a
kid.
I think we should sunset this
thing and not pay him anything
because originally did that to
get the zoo running up and
running so the Sand City could
with the zoo when it first
started to get everything going
But now the zoo is in great
hands.
There's a lot of entrepreneurs
there, a lot of people donate.
It's top of the line and we
should almost charge them $20
million like rent or something
because they're the you know,
they have all sorts of things
going on and we don't need to
subsidize them.
Not that we got to be mad him
or nothing but just we got 20
million we can spend on so many
other things and they should we
could charge him maybe a
million bucks rent because I
think we own the property but
it's probably it's it's own
corporation or how it works and
the zoo works but all the big
time guys in the zoo, they know
what's going on And this is
just an extra this is almost
mayonnaise on the sandwich.
You know if you take out
the mayonnaise it would still
be a good sandwich.
You know they're not hurting
for money but they're getting
the parking revenue now So who
knows what's going to happen.
But anyway, we should move to
sunset this politically it
might be a no no for you guys
but we'll spend the money down
in Barrio Logan man setting up
a lot of stuff down there.
Parks Dumber and you give
the money to you know, all
sorts of different things we
could do and it would make a
positive impact in a lot of
different places.
Thanks for your time.
Thank you.
We have the next speaker is a
caller with the last four
digits 8700.
Please begin your comments.
Thank you Joyce and your to
Councilmember Foster the third
Would you listen up on this
item please?
We have a world class zoo.
There's no doubt about it.
And in on another item this
year last year we realized in
real life that we just had we
were told and we knew how great
they are and how they improved
and the executives and
everything and then great And
you know so out of the five
stars which I think is the best
sometimes I give a plus more
But out of the five stars they
only get four from me And
the reason for that is there's
a question mark on the Fifth
Star and that is how they treat
their employees And I don't
know excuse me if I stumble on
this with the eeoc and
the workforce reports I Googled
back away a year or two ago I
Googled how they treat their
employees and I got awful
negativity stuff and I just
it's it frightened me.
It just shocked me.
So I just would like to shine a
light there.
Councilmember Foster the third
and make sure that I can that
I'm wrong that it's just fake
fake news on Google And so I
just had to get that off my
chest.
I wasn't going to speak on this
item.
I was sort of waiting for MR.
Stump to speak.
So I feel better that I put
that out there.
I hope it's wrong But if there
me if these people these
employees are doing
the maintenance, we've got to
treat them five stars So please
check on that and it's been a
great day and thank you so much
for listening up to all Thank
you.
That concludes public testimony
on item 331.
All right.
Thank you, Deputy Clerk.
With that will turn over to
council members for questions,
Comments Entertain a motion and
we'll start with Council member
Whitburn.
Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT 92 years ago
Sandiego residents voted to
enact this property tax to help
maintain the exhibits at
the zoo.
Whatever voters pass a property
tax for a specific purpose
the funds have to be used for
that purpose and only that
purpose.
In this case the funds must be
used for the exhibits at
the zoo.
San Diego Zoo is a point of
pride for our city.
It's the reason many tourists
visit our city.
A lot of the people who work at
the zoo have worked there for
decades and speak very highly
of their experience.
Many of them are represented by
the Teamsters Union.
I very much appreciate
the zoo's long standing
partnership with the city and
I'm happy to move the staff
recommendation.
All right.
We have a motion by council
member Whitburn.
Well let's go to Councilmember
Camp.
You happy to Second Council
PRESIDENT Oh right.
>> Well quick on the on that I
don't see anybody else on
the lights And so we're going
to do a voice vote again We
have a motion by COUNCILMAN
Whitburn, the second by Council
member Campo to move the staff
recommendation In favor say aye
Aye Any nays that passes eight
zero with District five absent.
That brings us to the end of
our agenda.
We will now adjourn Council to
the next regularly scheduled
council meeting on Monday JUNE
29th, 2026 at 10 A.M. And I am
confident we will be back in