San Diego City Council Meeting - May 12, 2025

The San Diego City Council convened on Monday, May 12, 2025, at 18:15 UTC (reconvening at 2 p.m. local after a closed session) with all nine council members present. The meeting covered a customer service improvement update from the Public Utilities Department, the Fiscal Year 2026 Business Improvement District budget approval, a coastal access replacement project in Ocean Beach, non-agenda public comments, and a report out on closed session litigation.

Closed Session & Special Closed Session

• The Council read four regular closed session items into the record: labor negotiations with Teamsters Local 911 (CS1); existing litigation in Michael Fox v. City of San Diego (CS2); anticipated litigation with one case (CS3); and David Catton v. City of San Diego (CS4). A special closed session item addressed labor negotiations with ASME Local 127, the Deputy City Attorney's Association Local 145, the Municipal Employees Association, the San Diego Police Officers Association, and Teamsters Local 911.
• Public Comments: The original (public speaker) expressed concerns about budget cuts, raises for employees, infrastructure maintenance, trip-and-fall litigation costs, and alleged conditions at a "Tent City" homeless facility including code violations, rat infestations, electrical hazards, lack of Naloxone, and a request to close the site, attributing these to "Dreams for Change" and the Downtown Partnership. Joyce Inada (District 3) spoke on items CS2 and CS4, offering appreciation for the land acknowledgment, concern for city employees, and commentary on affordable housing litigation complexity.

Item 200: Public Utilities Customer Service Update (Informational)

• Lisa Slaya (Executive Assistant Director, Public Utilities Department) and Michelle Costello (Deputy Director, Customer Support Division) presented. The division comprises the Customer Engagement Center (roughly 60 staff, ~85,000 calls, 40,000 web forms, 31,000 emails annually), the Billing and Financial Analytics team (over 2 million bills and close to $400 million in payments processed annually), and the Systems Performance and Workforce Analytics team.
• Key statistics presented: Average speed of answer reduced by 92% over the last year (from a 45-minute high; currently 69 seconds month-to-date in May, 2 minutes 33 seconds year-to-date). Customer satisfaction at 85% (very satisfied or satisfied); 87% of customers report full same-call issue resolution. Held bill backlog reduced by 90% (from upwards of 30,000 to ~2,400 as of the report date; ~1,300 currently, a 95% reduction, representing less than 1% (0.87%) of customers). Nearly 80% of held bills are less than six months old; 91% have been held for only one billing cycle. New hire retention is 79%. The new Salesforce platform (implemented October 2024) reduced web-form processing from 10-15 days to within one day. District 5 held bills dropped to 0.03% (89 held bills).
• Public comments: Lori Saldania encouraged creation of a public-owned energy utility, citing a billion dollars a year in exported profits to an investor-owned corporation. Joyce Inada praised accomplishments and requested explicit KPI reporting. Blair Beekman urged integration of prior 3-1-1 app concepts into the new Get It Done app and raised accessibility concerns for low-income residents. The original alleged "racketeering" in utility operations, argued energy should be free, and criticized rate increases and reserves.
• Council discussion: Councilmember Von Wilpert noted complaints had dwindled from a giant binder to nearly none, and asked how the council could continue supporting the improvement. Councilmember Moreno linked improvements to the 2018 performance audit and its fully implemented recommendations, including monitoring of implausible water meter readings and coordination between customer support and the meter shop. Council President Lacaava praised department candor and noted dramatic improvements in wait times, held bills, and satisfaction.

Item 201: Fiscal Year 2026 Business Improvement District (BID) Budgets - Annual Appropriation Process

• Sean Playstad (Small Business Engagement Specialist) and Sean Caraffin (Program Manager) presented. The program supports 18 active BIDs managed by 16 nonprofit associations (one managed directly by the Economic Development Department). Approximately $1.5 million in assessments would be collected from ~12,000 businesses. Council actions included confirming prior actions, authorizing CFO appropriation/expenditure of assessment revenues, approving a second amendment to 2024 BID management agreements, and authorizing the mayor to execute contracts. Performance metrics (Attachment G from BID managers, Attachment H from the city) were added post-2016 audit, covering assessment vs. non-assessment spending, business/job losses and gains, vacancy/rental rates, permits, and investment.
• Public comments: Lori Saldania questioned why short-term vacation rentals are not charged BID fees as businesses, citing fire safety violations and 16 of 24 units converted to short-term rentals in a Hillcrest building. Jacqueline Schleppnik Garcia (Executive Director, Diamond BID) expressed support, emphasizing tech assistance and workshops for underserved communities. Joyce Inada voiced support and requested KPI metrics highlighted for districts 3 and 9. Jimena Vesenor (San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce) expressed strong support, noting small businesses make up 98% of all businesses and employ over 60% of the workforce. Chad (speaker for North Park Main Street businesses) urged support for the Small Business Enhancement Program, citing closures from inflation and high interest rates. Blair Beekman commented on economic forecasts and parking policy. The original alleged nonprofits profit from BID fees and called the system a "racket."
• Council discussion: Councilmember Whitburn moved staff recommendation; Councilmember Campillo seconded. Councilmember Ila Rivera raised concerns about El Cajon Boulevard Association's high carry-forward amounts relative to assessments and asked about accountability, stating small businesses in City Heights deserve better return on investment and that organizations "don't have a birthright guarantee to these contracts in perpetuity." Staff (Sean Caraffin) replied that leverage varies across districts (average of $15 additional dollars per $1 of assessment) and that some districts lack additional assessment districts like PBIDs; staff reviews all assessment expenditures. Council President Lacaava noted Prop 26 limitations on modifying boundaries, observed that merchants select their BID managers, and gave a shout-out to Jody (La Jolla Village Merchants Association) and Sunny (Discover PB).
• Vote: The motion passed unanimously, 9-0.

Item 202: Narragansett Avenue Coastal Access Replacement Project (PRJ-1113538)

• Spencer Dean (Development Project Manager, Engineering and Capital Projects) presented. The project would repair an existing coastal access stairway and replace the sidewalk at the top, at the western terminus of Narragansett Avenue in Ocean Beach, within the Coastal Commission appealable overlay zone. Work includes repairing the upper four stairway flights and landings, removing/replacing the lower stairway and bottom landing with concrete steps, installing stainless steel handrails, widening the sidewalk, and adding directional signage. Staff recommended certification of a CEQA categorical exemption and approval of a Site Development Permit and Coastal Development Permit. The Ocean Beach Community Planning Group voted 12-0 to recommend approval.
• Public comments: Lori Saldania (in chambers) suggested the city should plan for coastal retreat given sea level rise and questioned the expense during a budget deficit, noting infrastructure impacts like gas line leaks in Mission Beach. The original questioned cost and timeline and argued red tape delays the project. Blair Beekman expressed sympathy for sea level rise concerns and offered general support for addressing the issue.
• Council discussion: Councilmember Campbell moved approval, calling the stairway's condition terrible and non-code-compliant, and noting the 12-0 community group vote. Councilmember Von Wilpert seconded. Staff confirmed only a site development permit and coastal development permit were required.
• Vote: The motion passed unanimously, 9-0.

Non-Agenda Public Comment

• Lori Saldania: Criticized the police department's sexual assault evidence kit testing report as lacking data on suspects identified, prosecutions, or cold cases solved, in contrast to other cities that cleared their backlogs.
• Dorothy Herman (District 1): Described how an ATT FirstNet 30-foot cell tower with diesel generator was proposed within 100 feet of her home and open space near a nursing home and nursery school; the coalition gathered 1,200 signatures, and ATT withdrew. She urged a 500-foot setback ordinance modeled on Encinitas.
• Patty: Urged a 500-foot cell tower setback ordinance, citing peer-reviewed studies including the U.S. National Toxicology Program and Ramazzini Institute studies linking RF radiation to cancer and DNA damage, and AAP findings on children absorbing up to 10 times more radiation.
• Becky Rapp (public health educator): Noted a May 2 statewide voluntary recall by the California Department of Cannabis Control of marijuana products with child-appealing packaging, and urged enforcement of smoke shops selling similar intoxicating hemp products.
• Barbara Gordon (public health educator): Discussed links between marijuana use and worsened anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia, and urged the city to weigh mental health impacts.
• Madison: Compared cannabis marketing to the youth e-cigarette crisis, referencing the Supreme Court ruling in FDA v. Triton Distribution, and urged prevention of youth access to flavored cannabis products.
• Blair Beekman: Praised community engagement progress on water issues, stressed balancing digital divide needs with health concerns, and suggested a possible two-year budget plan.
• Terry Ann Skelly: Urged investment in parks and recreation in communities of concern, noting tobacco/vape/marijuana storefronts are more often located in lower-income neighborhoods.
• Joyce Inada: Requested that speaker timers be displayed on the television screen, and raised concerns about cybersecurity investment in the IT budget.
• Judy Strang: Praised former City Attorney Mara Elliott's enforcement against illegal vape shops and urged the new city attorney to continue and publicize enforcement actions.
• The original: Criticized Councilmember Whitburn regarding Tent City, alleging fire hazards, code violations, rat infestations, inadequate food, electricity shutoffs at 10 p.m., a black fence with inward-facing spikes, and coercion of residents, requesting the city close the facility.

Closed Session Report Out

• City Attorney Heather Ferbert reported that the Council voted to initiate litigation against the San Diego County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) and its executive officer Keen Simons in their official capacity, related to the issuance of a certificate of sufficiency for the proposed special reorganization for the incorporation of the City of La Jolla on April 29, 2025. The motion passed 6-0, with Councilmembers Whitburn and Von Wilpert recusing and Councilmember Campillo absent.

Adjournment

• Councilmember Moreno requested the Council adjourn in memory of Gina Camilla Vera, who passed away April 21, 2025. Born May 3, 1957 in Guanajuato, Mexico, she served as a professor and in public relations for UABC and the Comision Estatal de Servicios Publicos de Tijuana-Tecate, then worked at the San Isidro Business Association from 2000-2020, coordinated Holidays on the Border for 18 years (performing as Mrs. Claus), and was active in several church ministries. The Council adjourned to the regular meeting on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at 10 a.m.