San Diego Budget Review Committee Meeting – May 7, 2025
San Diego Budget Review Committee Meeting – May 7, 2025
The Budget Review Committee met on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, from approximately 9:00 a.m. to after 2:00 p.m. to review proposed budgets for the Infrastructure Branch (Public Utilities, Stormwater, Transportation) and the Engineering and Capital Projects Department, including the Capital Improvements Program (CIP). The meeting was informational; no votes were taken, but council members expressed strong positions on several items.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Public Utilities / Lakes: Multiple speakers from the Friends of San Diego Lakes Coalition, bass fishing clubs, and residents urged the restoration of lake access days (especially Lake Murray, Lake Miramar, and El Capitan), noting the program is nearly 90% self-sustaining and supports community health, local businesses, and youth programs. Over 5,000 signatures were cited on a petition to keep Lake Miramar open seven days a week.
- Transportation / Safe Streets: Families for Safe Streets, North Park Planning Committee, and other advocates asked the city to use existing TransNet and SB1 funds to improve the six most dangerous pedestrian corridors, fix the “Fatal 15” intersections, and reduce speed limits in school zones via AB 43. They highlighted the fatal crash at El Cajon Boulevard, Park Boulevard, and Normal Street.
- Stormwater: Several speakers emphasized the need for dedicated stormwater funding to prevent future floods and noted the 98-cent monthly fee is far below other cities.
- In-House Paving: A representative from the Municipal Employees Association (MEA) supported using in-house crews over contractors for paving, citing lower cost and community benefits.
Discussion Items
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Public Utilities Department (PUD):
- The proposed budget includes a 20% reduction in general fund support for lakes, reducing Lake Murray and Lake Miramar from 7 days/week to 2 days/week (Saturday–Sunday), saving $414,000. Councilmember Campillo, Von Wilpert, and others strongly opposed this cut, calling it disproportionate and harmful to equity. Councilmember Von Wilpert stated she would not vote for a budget that closes lakes. Councilmember Ilo Rivera suggested exploring parking fees for non-residents to offset costs. PUD noted that parking on water fund land would go to water rates, not recreation. The department also projected substantial future rate increases (water 11–14.5% per year, wastewater 6–8% per year) due to County Water Authority costs.
- Customer service improvements were highlighted: call wait times reduced by 89%, unbilled accounts down 67%, and Amazon Connect offers translation in 75 languages. Pure Water Phase One is 70% constructed, with readiness funding of $13.5 million and 10 positions requested.
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Stormwater Department:
- $6.7 million in contract reductions proposed, maintaining core flood control services but reducing compliance contracts ($2.3 million) and planning ($850,000). IBA noted the department has been underfunded for years, with $200 million in emergency spending over seven years and a $3.7 billion infrastructure deficit. Councilmembers Moreno and Ilo Rivera expressed concern that cuts invite future disasters. Councilmember Campbell called for increasing the stormwater fee (currently 98 cents/month) and noted legal efforts to reclassify stormwater as a utility. The department confirmed $733 million WIFIA loan match is fully funded.
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Transportation Department:
- The department manages 540 employees and a $200 million budget. Key proposals include transferring five positions from Sustainability & Mobility for curb space management, reducing tree planting (1,000 fewer trees), and continuing mill-and-pave in-house teams. Councilmember Whitburn requested $600,000 for a feasibility study of a roundabout at El Cajon-Park-Normal intersection, funded by parking meter revenue. Councilmember Ilo Rivera questioned cost competitiveness of contractors vs. in-house crews (in-house: ~$1.2 million/mile; contractors: ~$1.5–1.8 million/mile). Councilmember Moreno raised concerns about unimproved streets in District 8 and graffiti abatement response times. Councilmember Foster noted graffiti abatement saves lives and urged maintaining service levels.
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Engineering and Capital Projects (ECP) & CIP:
- ECP proposed eliminating 61 vacant positions and 17.4 hourly positions to align with a reduced CIP program ($845.9 million proposed, down from $950 million in FY25). The five-year CIP outlook has a $6.5 billion funding gap. Councilmember Moreno highlighted several District 8 projects (Bayer Park, Chicano Park, La Media Road). Councilmember Campbell inquired about funding for the Ocean Beach Pier and cooling pavement pilot. Councilmember Lee noted the need to balance efficiency with resident expectations for road repairs. IBA recommended council reassess projects with no defined path to completion.
Key Outcomes
- No formal votes taken (informational hearing).
- Councilmembers Campillo, Von Wilpert, and others stated they will not support a budget that cuts lake access to two days per week. They requested the administration find alternatives, such as county partnerships, parking fees, or policy changes to Council Policy 400-03.
- Councilmember Whitburn requested $600,000 from parking district revenue for the El Cajon–Park–Normal intersection study.
- Councilmember Moreno requested a written response from transportation on mill-and-pave team management and CIP reimbursement impacts.
- Council President LaCava noted a presentation by the San Diego County Water Authority and city representatives will be scheduled for June.
- Councilmember Ilo Rivera urged drawing a “line in the sand” on contractor costs and exploring in-house solutions.
- ECP will relocate staff from downtown to Kearny Mesa (Gibbs office complex) to save $8 million over five years; telework will be expanded.
- The May Revision to the budget will be released on May 14, and further committee meetings will continue on May 8 (9 a.m.) and subsequent dates.
Meeting Transcript
Stephen Redmond. Good morning. And welcome to the next session of the budget review committee of May seventh, twenty twenty-five. Our committee liaison Sarah Jordan will go over instructions for today's meeting. The meeting will continue until the entire agenda is completed. Department budgets will be heard in the order of the agenda, subject to the chair's discretion. Throughout the continuous budget review committee meeting, public comment will be taken during each sub-item. While the public is allowed to attend the meetings in person, this meeting is being televised and live streamed on the city's website, and council administration will continue to make arrangements for the public to comment using the Zoom webinar platform. Additionally, members of the public who wish to provide virtual testimony must enter the virtual queue by raising their hand before the queue closes. This queue will close when the last virtual speaker finishes speaking, or five minutes after in-person testimony ends, whichever occurs first. This will allow for better meeting management between the two platforms and ensure the council is able to manage and conduct city business. For sub-items containing more than one department being discussed, members of the public will have one minute per department listed with a maximum of three minutes total. We appreciate the public's cooperation. Chair Foster. Thank you, Sarah. I will now call the budget review committee meeting of Wednesday, May 7th, 2025 to order. Sarah, please call the roll. Vice Chair, Council President Lakava. Committee Member Campbell. Committee member Whitburn. Here. Committee member Von Wilpert. Council President Pro Tem Lee. Here. Committee member Campio. Here. Committee Member Moreno. Present. Committee member Ila Rivera. And Chair, Committee Member Foster. Present. Also attending the meeting today is Jordan Moore from the Independent Budget Analysts Office. Chief Deputy City Attorney Melissa Abels from the City Attorney's Office. Chief Financial Officer, Matt Vesby, Department of Finance Director Rolando Charvel, and Senior Policy Advisor for Mayor Todd Gloria, Randy Wilde. If you are in person, please complete a speaker slip located at the entrance of chambers and place it on the top of the box indicated at the speaker's lecture and at the front of the room. Please do so in a timely manner to ensure proper meeting management. In-person testimony will conclude before virtual testimony begins. Members of the public can also join the webinar by computer, tablet, or smartphone by accessing the link which is listed online in the preamble language of the agenda on the city's webpage. If you need to participate by telephone, you may dial 1669-2545252, inputting webinar ID 160-664-9340 pound. This information is also available on the agenda and it will appear on the screen during the public comment period for each agenda item. As noted previously, members of the public who wish to provide virtual testimony must enter the virtual queue by raising their hand before the queue closes. Please note that if you are watching via City TV 24 or online, there may be a delay. Please participate via the audio on your phone and mute your TV or your computer when it is your turn to speak. If you wish to speak to a particular item, please wait for that item to be called and then raise your hand to speak by tapping the raise your hand icon, or if you're a call and participant, by pressing star nine on your cell phone or landline. If you raise your hand during a non-comment period, your hand will be lowered. Chair. Thank you, Sarah, for reviewing those instructions for the benefit of the public. A quorum is now present. We will now move to committee members, mayoral staff, city attorney, and independent budget analysts for comments. Seeing none, we will now take up our information agenda.
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