San Diego City Council Meeting - June 9, 2025: Proclamation, Consent Items, and Conflict of Interest Waiver
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San Diego City Council Meeting - June 9, 2025
The San Diego City Council convened on June 9, 2025, at 18:15 UTC for a special meeting followed by a regular session. The meeting began with a land acknowledgement and pledge of allegiance, then addressed a proclamation, consent agenda, and a discussion item on a conflict of interest waiver. Public testimony was heard on multiple items, and several votes were taken.
Consent Calendar
- Items 601–614 were approved unanimously on a motion by Councilmember Whitburn. These included routine approvals, contracts, and appointments, such as the appointment of Michael Singleton to the Balboa Park Committee and Daniel Reeves to the Planning Commission.
- Public comment on the consent agenda included concerns about workforce diversity in landscaping contracts, the handling of water main breaks and sewer backups, and a $80,000 settlement for alleged excessive force during a DUI arrest.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Proclamation Item 600: A speaker (Audra) opposed the city’s immigration policies, alleging that the city incentivizes illegal immigration and harbors undocumented individuals, and warned of consequences from ICE enforcement.
- Consent Items: The same speaker criticized the city for lack of transparency, waste of funds, and poor conditions at Tent City, including lack of adequate food, medical care, and safety. A virtual caller (Julie Tinetta, District 3) expressed concern about ongoing underrepresentation of African American, Asian, and female contractors in city contracts and questioned the effectiveness of project labor agreements.
- Discussion Item 615: Julie Tinetta spoke against the conflict of interest waiver, stating she did not fully understand the risks and feared it could harm the city in the La Jolla incorporation lawsuit.
Discussion Items
- Item 615 – Conflict of Interest Waiver for Colantuno, Hiatt, & Watley PC: Deputy City Attorney Ben Seats presented the request. The law firm currently represents the city in two ongoing lawsuits and also serves as general counsel for LAFCO. The firm requested a waiver to continue representing the city while also representing LAFCO in the city’s anticipated lawsuit against LAFCO regarding La Jolla incorporation proceedings. Seats stated the waiver posed no risk of detrimental impact to the city. Councilmember Campillo asked clarifying questions about the potential loss of the law firm if the waiver were denied. The council debated the matter, with Councilmember Campillo noting that denying the waiver could harm the city by losing legal representation in existing cases. The motion to approve the staff recommendation was made by Council President Lacaba and seconded by Councilmember Ila Rivera.
Key Outcomes
- Proclamation Item 600: Unanimously approved to recognize June 21, 2025, as San Diego Lao Food Festival Day, celebrating the Lao community and culture.
- Consent Items 601–614: Approved unanimously.
- Item 615: Approved with 6 votes in favor, 2 recusals (Councilmembers Whitburn and Von Wilpert), and 1 absence. The council clarified that recusals and absences were noted separately, resulting in a tally of 6 yeses, 2 recused, and 1 absent.
Meeting Transcript
2025 to order. Deputy Clerk, please call the roll. Councilmember Campbell. Councilmember Whitburn? Here. Councilmember Foster? Here. Councilmember Von Wilpert. Council President Pro Tem Lee. Here. Councilmember Campio? Here. Councilmember Moreno. Present. Councilmember Ila Rivera. And Council President Lacaba. Present. Also attending the meeting are assistant city attorney Michelle Garland, Independent Budget Analyst Charles Monica, Council of Affairs Advisor in the Mayor's Office, Coda Seizer, and myself, your deputy city clerk, Jennifer Barry. All right. Thank you, Deputy Clerk. A quorum is now present. We will begin this morning with the land acknowledgement and the pledge of allegiance led by Councilmember Campio. We respectfully acknowledge that the Kumeyai Nation are the original inhabitants of the unceded land now known as San Diego. Despite enduring the horrors of colonization and genocide, the Kumeayai 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 in gratitude and strength. We stand with the Kumeayi Nation, connected to our past and committed to a thriving future. Please face the flag. 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. With that, Deputy Clerk, please go over how the public can offer their public testimony. I would now highlight the slide on the screen that reviews how the public can offer their public testimony during today's meeting. Please note that the time allocations for proclamations consent items for meeting management purposes. The order can be found on the agenda summary found online or at the table in the back of the room. If you're in person, please complete a speaker slip located at the entrance of Tramers and bring it to the front of the room. Council ambassadors are available near the entrance of chambers and can assist with questions and speaker slips. No further in-person testimony. It will be taken once the council begins virtual testimony. All right. With that, we will now dispense with the approval of the proclamation item. Deputy Clerk, please proceed with public comment. The public comment period for the proclamation item is now open. Each speaker will have one minute per item per person. The proclamation item being approved is item 600. Uh we've got a few folks here in council chambers. Um, if allegedly Audra would go ahead and come up. It's not loud at all. Um as far as this proclamation goes, I think what's happening um as far as all of the ICE stuff is going on, because you guys incentivize people to come and have incited these things to happen.
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