Good morning.

I will now call the City Council meeting of Monday, October 20th, twenty twenty-five to order.

Before we proceed with the meeting, please be aware that Council Member Von Wolpert is participating remotely in the meeting via teleconference from Jackson City Hall in Jackson, Mississippi.

I understand Councilmember Von Wolpert would like to make a statement.

Yes, good morning, Council President.

Can you all hear me?

Yes, we can.

Wonderful.

I apologize.

The camera I'm actually here at Jackson City Hall in Jackson, Mississippi, and the camera is not working right now, but they're gonna bring a camera so I can be on as soon as it does.

And I have to say I'm calling in from Jackson, Mississippi from the second floor conference room at Jackson City Hall.

Notices were posted in accordance with the Brown Act seventy two hours in advance in a public location, allowing any member of the public should they wish to participate.

So they can be placed in the queue.

And I'd love to thank the city uh city clerk Harris of Jackson, Mississippi for all of her help for naming this because it's been quite do, but she's been fantastic to work with, and I really appreciate it.

Um I come to Mississippi once a year.

Uh I still work with a nonprofit here, uh, trying to do good work in the deep south and alleviate poverty.

And so I happen to be here during this week, and I'm doing my council meetings remotely.

So thank you.

All right, thank you, Councilmember Von Wolpert.

Clerk, please call the roll.

Thank you, Council President, Councilmember Campbell.

Councilmember Whitburn.

Here.

Councilmember Foster.

Here.

Councilmember Von Wilbert.

Councilmember Von Wilbert.

We're getting the camera on too.

Thank you.

Oh, I see you.

And she is here.

Council President Pro Temli.

Here.

Councilmember Campillo.

Here.

Councilmember Moreno.

Present.

Councilmember Ila Rivera.

And Council President Lakava.

Present.

Also attending the meeting, our city attorney Heather Ferbert, Deputy Director in the ABA's office, Jillian Andalina, and myself, your city clerk, Deanna Fuentes.

All right, thank you, City Clerk.

The quorum is now present.

We will begin this morning with an invocation by Clerk Puentes, followed with the land acknowledgement and the pledge of allegiance led by Councilmember Ilo Rivera.

Grant those who hold office in this city the spirit of wisdom, charity, and justice that with steadfast purpose they may faithfully serve in their offices to promote the well-being of all people.

We respectfully acknowledge that the Kumille Nation are the original inhabitants of the unceded territory, unceded land, now known as San Diego.

Despite enduring the horrors of genocide and colonization, the Kumye 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 there should their traditions continue to thrive in gratitude and strength.

We stand with the Kamier Nation connected to our past and committed to a thriving future.

Oh, for all those are able, please face the flag and 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.

The clerk will now go over how the public can offer their testimony.

Clerk, please proceed.

I will now highlight the slide on the screen that reviews how the public can offer their public testimony during today's meeting.

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.

No further in-person testimony will be taken once the council begins virtual testimony for better meeting management purposes.

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.

If you are trying to speak from the teleconference location, Councilmember Von Wilbert will let me know via email and or just raise her hand to ensure that we are able to get them before we proceed with the meeting.

Thank you, Council President.

All right, thank you.

With that, please read the closed session items into the record.

Thank you.

Conference with legal counsel existing litigation pursuant to California Government Code Section 54956.9 D1.

CS1, Barry Alred versus City of San Diego, CS2, Nicolas and Zunza versus City of San Diego, CS3, Boardwalk Development Inc.

versus City of San Diego.

Conference with legal council anticipated litigation initiation of litigation pursuant to California Government Code Section 54956.9 D4, CS4 number of cases one public employment reappointment evaluation pursuant to California Government Code Section 54957B1 is CS5 title city auditor.

Thank you, Council President.

All right, thank you, City Clerk, for reading that into the record.

Please proceed with public comment.

Thank you.

We actually have no speakers here for public comment in Council Chambers.

I've started the five-minute timer.

Going to those participating remotely, Lori Saldania, if you can please unmute and let me know which item or items you wish to speak to.

Good morning.

Thank you.

And I'd like to address the three items on closed session uh CS 1, 2, and 3.

Please proceed.

You'll have three minutes.

Thank you.

Um regarding the first item on uh industrial wastewater control program.

Uh again, we we aren't provided with details without some research on this, but I think it's the wastewater program, the industrial source control program in general is an important way to protect water quality in the region.

And one of the agreements going back decades uh with the federal and the state water agencies in this area was that the city would consult with Tijuana as needed to help with their industrial source control, because as we know, there are industrial wastes that are contaminating the not only the water but the air quality in the South Bay area related to the uh flows of untreated sewage.

Because as we know, there are industrial wastes that are contaminating the not only the water but the air quality in the South Bay area related to the uh flows of untreated sewage.

And Tijuana lacks a uh, or at least it used to lack a good industrial source control program.

So I'm just curious what the city's relationship is with Tijuana, and if you are sharing some of your technology and expertise with them, as was intended decades ago when the city was backing the construction of the wastewater outfall and the industrial or the treatment plan at the border.

Um regarding item number two, I don't have a lot to say on the condemnation there.

Um it's I I hope that you can come to some agreement.

It's when with a housing crisis, if there are 29 apartment units that could be housing people and uh for some reason they're being forced to vacate.

I hope whatever the violations are that they quickly are brought into compliance and housing can be provided for 29 additional units there.

Um the final item.

Oh, before I forget, um clerk, if you could add on to the agenda for closed session, a link for the Zoom.

Uh currently, people have to go to the agenda for the full council day to get that link to enter into the Zoom meeting.

There is not a link listed specifically on the closed session agenda, so it forces people to go to two different agendas before they can log in to this meeting.

Um, and then finally on item uh three related to stormwater uh flooding.

Uh this is another example where the city is continuing to struggle to maintain infrastructure related to uh increasing rains and powerful storms.

Uh it also brought to mind the fact that uh when I used to teach in the Midway area, we routinely had sewage backup at our campus there for the San Diego Community College District, and the the roads were crumbling around the location.

Uh and this is going back almost 20 years now.

And I I realize the city just lost the appeal to the lawsuit to increase the height in that area.

And I hope you take storm water into account when looking at midway and considering if you really want to build in an area that is rapidly sinking.

Thank you.

Your time has concluded, and there are no additional speakers with their hand raised.

So this does conclude public comment on closed session today.

All right, thank you, City Clerk.

We will now recess into closed session and reconvene council today at 2 p.m.

or shortly thereafter.

It really does.

And we'll notify the clerk if there are any public speakers at her location for any agenda items.

With that, clerk, please call the role.

Thank you, Council President.

Councilmember Campbell?

Councilmember Whitburn.

Here.

Councilmember Foster.

Councilmember Von Wilper.

Present.

Councilmember Council President Pro Tem Lee.

Here.

Councilmember Campio.

Councilmember Moreno.

President.

Councilmember Elo Rivera.

President.

And Council President Lacava.

Present.

Also attending the meeting, our assistant city attorney, Leslie Fitzgerald, Deputy Director in the IBA's office, Gillian Andalina, Council Affairs Advisor in the Mayor's Office, Coda Zeiser, and myself, your city clerk, the NF Wentes.

Thank you, Council President.

All right, thank you, City Clerk.

A quorum is now present.

And because we have a lot of folks here for the very first time, uh, I will read our notice.

Before we start today's meeting, I want to remind everyone about the city's practices and procedures for public comment at City Council meetings.

The city welcomes public participation at City Council meetings.

Speakers may address the council during public comment and also in connection with a specific item of business on the agenda.

However, the city must make sure that no one person or group of people disrupt the meeting in a way that prohibits other speakers from expressing their ideas and opinions.

So to make sure that everyone here has the opportunity to address the council, I will alert an individual or individuals if I think their conduct becomes disruptive.

If the disruption continues, I will rule the individual out of order.

And if disruption continues further, I will declare a recess so that we can restore order.

At that point, I will direct the individual to leave the room.

If the individual refuses, please will escort the individual out of the building.

If we have to repeat this process of warning and recessing the meeting, all members of the public will be excused from council credential media would be allowed to remain.

Again, we have these practices and procedures to protect the rights of other people speakers who wish to address the council and to allow the council to conduct the public's business.

So what does that all that mean?

So if you hear something that you like, thumbs up really sends the message.

We hear it, we see it very clearly from up here.

If somebody says something you don't like, you can put thumbs down and that will also be clearly communicated.

And on the particular items in front of us today, a loud share and applause when an item passes.

It's perfectly permissible.

Um I think we all have a lot of pent up energy that we'll want to deal with.

So let's get deal with a couple of items uh first.

Let's start off.

Any uh comments from mayor's office, city council members, city attorney, independent independent budget analyst or city clerk.

City clerk, I see you have your hand up.

Thank you, Council President.

I did just want to know due to recent USPS changes, mail ballots from communities located more than 50 miles from one of California's six regional mill processing centers, may not be postmarked if they are dropped off at the post office on election day, which is November 4th.

To ensure your ballot is counted, return it early by mail, drop box, or at a vote center.

If you choose to mail it, send it as early as possible, or walk it into the post office and request a postmark.

Go to SDvote.com for information about vote centers, drop boxes, and your voting options.

Voter can also sign up for track their ballot at where is my ballot.

SOS.ca.gov.

Thank you, Council President.

All right, thank you, City Clerk.

Not seeing anybody else on the lights.

I will extend the congratulations to Councilmember Whitburn, who was re-elected as chair of the board of MTS.

Thank you for your service there, sir.

With that, the clerk will now go over how the public can offer their public testimony.

Thank you, Council President.

I would like to note that we have updated the Zoom webinar ID access details for the public council meetings.

The meeting can still be accessed via WWW.sandiego.gov backslash council mtg for council meetings.

For calling participants, you will still dial one 669-2545252.

An input when prompted, the new webinar ID that is posted on our website 160-238-7663.

We encourage the public to review the updated details before meeting before the meeting to ensure a smooth participation.

For the latest Zoom webinar access information, please visit www.sandiego.gov/slash city clerk slash participate.

And that's also for information for in-person.

Screen also reviews further information on how the public can offer their public testimony during this afternoon's meeting.

The order can be found on the agenda summary found online 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.

If you're seating time, please be sure to submit all your speaker slips at the same time.

Council and past ambassadors are available near the entrance of chambers and can assist with questions and speaker slips.

No further in-person testimony will be taken once the council begins virtual testimony.

Thank you, Council President.

Oh, thank you.

City Clerk, please introduce item 200.

Item 200 is confirming the appointment of Rolando Charvel as the Chief Financial Officer for the City of San Diego.

Right, thank you, Clerk.

And with that, I would like to invite Mayor Gloria to the lector for this item.

Thank you, Council President.

Uh, good afternoon, members of the City Council.

I'm here today to present my appointee for Chief Operating Officer of the City of San Diego, Rolando Chaval.

Uh, at the beginning, I want to just acknowledge uh and thank our outgoing chief financial officer, Matt Vespey, who is here in the audience today, uh, who has accepted a position, as many of you know at the Port of San Diego.

I don't have to tell this council, because I know that you love Matt as much as I do, uh, but Matt has served our city with distinction uh for many years now from his start in financial as a as a financial planning and analysis coordinator, uh rising through his ranks to chief operating as chief financial officer.

Uh Matt has brought professionalism, steadiness, and integrity to the immense challenge of helping to run the nation's eighth largest city.

Mr.

Vespi, on behalf of the city, we thank you for your years of service to us, and we look forward to continuing to work with you uh in your new role.

Thank you, sir.

So, as all of you know, the role of chief financial officer is one of the most important positions in our city government.

It is a remote role that demands integrity, discipline, knowledge, and foresight, the kind of leadership that ensures that every single taxpayer dollar entrusted to us is managed wisely and transparently.

I can say with confidence that Rolando exemplifies those qualities.

Over his two decades of service to the city, Rolando has earned a reputation of being steadied, principled, and forward-thinking financial leader.

He began our his career at the city as an accountant trainee.

Uh and through dedication, talent, and hard work, he has rose to the ranks to lead our Department of Finance and serve as our city's controller.

During that time, he has helped to strengthen our city's financial systems, improve accountability, and navigate the complex challenges that come with managing a city as large and as dynamic as the city of San Diego.

He uh reflects his nomination reflects uh both his deep institutional knowledge and commitment to continued uh public service.

Uh, I am appointing Rolando at a critical time in our city's uh history with economic uncertainty and growing demands for public services that and a continued effort to try and eliminate our city's structural budget deficit.

Our residents deserve and expect a government that respond spends responsibly, plans strategically, and reports openly.

And I know that Rolando will do all of those things.

He understands that finance isn't just about numbers, it's about people, it's about neighborhoods, and it's about a trust that is placed in all of us by the by the people of this city to make the best decisions possible.

And whether we're balancing a six billion dollar budget or funding a single neighborhood improvement, every choice that we make should reflect that trust.

Rolando's approach to financial management is grounded in data, guided by transparency and focused on long-term sustainability.

I have full confidence in his ability to lead our city's financial operations with transparency, accountability, and the rigor that our residents and you as a council expect.

He will play a critical role in helping us to manage our resources responsibly, maintain our strong credit ratings, and continue to deliver services that our communities and each of your districts count on.

San Diego's financial health is the backbone of everything we do, from keeping our neighborhoods safe to maintaining our infrastructure to protecting our parks and our open spaces.

With Rolando Sharval as our chief financial officer, I'm confident that the city's finances will be uh capable, uh trying will be incapable and in trusted hands.

And with that, I respectfully ask for your support for Rolando to serve as our next chief financial officer of the City of San Diego.

Thank you, Council President.

All right, thank you, Mayor.

Did you want to make some comments now, sir?

Yes.

All right.

Please proceed.

Mayor Gloria.

Good afternoon, Council President and members of the City Council.

Thank you for the opportunity to be here today and for the trust you've placed in me through this confirmation process.

It's an honor to be considered for the role of Chief Financial Officer.

I also want to express my sincere appreciation to Mayor Gloria for his confidence and for the opportunity to continue to serve the city in this new capacity.

Before I begin, I want to acknowledge my friend and colleague, Matt Vespi, for his leadership over the past five years.

Matt guided the city through an incredibly challenging period, including the pandemic and the budget years that followed.

He did it with professionalism and steadiness.

I've enjoyed working alongside him and wish him continued success in his new role at the Port of San Diego.

Over the course of my career with the city, I've been fortunate to serve in a number of financial leadership roles, from the controller's office to the Department of Finance, and to work alongside many of you on issues that shape the core of our organization.

Budgets, labor agreements, financial reporting, long-term capital planning.

Those experiences have given me a deep respect for the responsibilities each of you carry in the importance of collaboration between finance and council.

If confirmed, I see the role of CFO as that of a bridge.

Connecting our financial realities, our operational needs, and the policy priorities established by you and the mayor.

My goal is to ensure that every financial decision we make is grounded in transparency, discipline, and alignment with the priorities of our communities.

We all recognize that the coming years will be financially challenging.

Costs are rising faster than revenues, and our aging infrastructure requires critical investments that exceed our current resources.

In that environment, my focus will be on stability, clear communication, and proactive planning.

How we manage through this period, the clarity of our choices and the honesty of our discussions will define the city's financial reputation for years to come and help position us to pursue future revenue opportunities to meet the community's long-term needs.

One of my central priorities will be improving communication and engagement throughout the budget process.

Too often, the timing and pace of the budget cycle force everyone into reactive positions, the administration, council, and the public alike.

I'd like to change that dynamic by engaging much earlier with you in your offices to discuss fiscal conditions, priorities, and potential trade-offs.

My goal is to reduce your prices, provide clarity, and create space for shared problem solving rather than last minute adjustments.

Even when we may not agree on every decision, we can build a shared understanding of the facts and a process grounded in transparency regarding policy and operating impacts.

Later this year, we'll begin a new round of labor negotiations, a process that will require both balance and trust.

This administration and the council, working together with the leadership of our recognized employee organizations, have made meaningful progress towards improving fair and competitive compensation for city employees.

My approach will build on that progress grounded in early dialogue, transparency, and fairness, to ensure we continue meeting our obligations to employees, keep pace with the rising cost of living, and at the same time protect the city, the city's long-term financial health.

Ultimately, my commitment is to lead the city's finances with integrity, professionalism, and collaboration.

The finance team provide you with clear, timely, and accurate information.

I'll be straightforward about both challenges and opportunities, and I'll always work to align financial decisions with the city's long-term interests, not just its short-term needs.

Finally, I want to extend my deepest thanks to the staff in the Department of Finance, which I currently oversee, and to the broader finance branch that I will now have the honor to lead.

Their professionalism, dedication, and quiet excellence are the backbone of the city's financial stability.

I'm grateful every day for their work and proud to represent them here.

Thank you again for your time and your consideration.

It would be an honor to continue serving the people of San Diego in this new capacity.

Thank you, Mr.

Charvel.

And with that, clerk, please proceed with public comment.

Thank you, Council President.

For this item, we do have Michael Zouquet here.

You'll have two minutes, please proceed.

Thank you.

Uh Council President, members of the Council.

Good to see you.

Michael Zuquet, representing the San Diego Municipal Employees Association.

Uh the mayor's appointment for CFO, Rolando Charvel.

We've enjoyed a good working relationship with him for more than 10 years, going back to his time before he was CFO and while he was CFO and while he's been director of the Department of Finance.

He used a lot of adjectives to describe himself just now, and I would uh agree with all of them, but especially his professionalism.

Um we don't always agree, nobody does, but uh he's always fostered constructive and functional communication, even in those times of disagreement.

Um, and we look forward to an ongoing collaborative relationship.

Um we joined the mayor in uh recognizing and thanking uh Matt Vespey who uh also uh was great to work with, uh served the city extremely well and establish a collaborative dialogue with stakeholders, the public, and everybody else.

So we're grateful for that, and we look forward to that.

Um continuing under uh Orlando's uh tenure as uh Chief Financial Officer, and we ask for your consideration uh of his appointment today.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And our next speaker is Connor Robbins.

Good afternoon, council.

I'm Connor Robbins, the chief steward of Teamsters Local 986 representing San Diego Life Guards.

I'd like to express our appreciation to Matt Vespey and um our support of the appointment of Rolando as the next CFO.

We're confident that his experience and ambition will benefit the City of San Diego and our San Diego Life Guards in his new role.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I do not have any more speakerships for this item here in Council Chambers going to those participating remotely.

We have Blair Beekman.

If you can please unmute Hi, thank you.

Uh Blair Beekman.

Happy Monday, happy meeting.

Um nice to see the mayor here.

I think this is the second time he's been at uh city council in October.

Uh it's really nice when he's uh at City Council meetings, him and his staff.

Thank you.

Uh this is a big item, obviously.

Uh thank you for it.

Um I think if it's been spoken at uh council meetings this October, the importance of a new contract process that we're developing, a more accountable process where contracts can be signed and delivered before uh their expiration dates.

Um it's really important accountability work for the future of San Diego.

That I is this role, the CFO position, is it going to have a new leadership role in making sure those contracts are more accountable and clear and and there's good better communication going on as previously suggested.

Um good luck in those type of efforts.

Um yeah, it's just it's amazingly important how how the contract item can be building uh a more important uh well, the future of San Diego and uh good luck in the role of the CFO in that role as a director of responsibility and leadership to make sure the contract process uh is is working smoothly.

Oh, if that can be his role, good luck in those sort of efforts.

Thank you.

Thank you.

That does conclude public comment on this item.

All right, thank you, City Clerk.

And with that, we will go to the council colleagues for questions and comments and entertain a motion, and we will start with the chair of the budget committee, council member Foster.

Uh yes, thank you, Council President, and thank you, Mayor Gloria, for your presentation in bringing this item forward today.

Um, first, um, just want to take a quick moment to thank our outgoing chief financial officer, Matt Vespey, uh, for all of your years of service and steady leadership while you served in that position.

Um of course, um just wanted to thank you for all of your help during the COVID-19 um time frame, um, all of the work that we um continue to to go through now with the floods, um, and just your attention um and your professionalism and your commitment.

So thank you.

Um if ever we can um snatch you back or or have you come back over, don't hesitate to pick up the phone and give us a call to work with uh Scott Chadwick on that side and make sure he's in good place, right?

Um but today's action considers the mayor's appointment of Rolando Charvel as the next chief financial officer for the city of San Diego.

Mr.

Charvel brings more than 26 years of public finance experience, all of it rooted in service to this city.

He started as an intern in 1999, later served as our CFO from 2017 to 2020, and currently serves as director of finance and city comptroller.

He holds a bachelor of science degree in the county from San Diego State University, graduating cumulada, and serves as chair of the California Society of CPA's committee on municipal accounting.

During his tenure, Mr.

Charville led efforts to consolidate the city's accounting, budgeting and debt management functions, and globally oversaw the city's fiscal house.

As CFO, my expectation is that he will continue to work collaboratively with city council during this budget process, work with city staff to improve efficiencies, identify opportunities, mitigate risk, and take challenges head on.

As I hope most folks have come to understand, is that the status quo is very troubling to me.

And I think one thing, Rolando, I just want to appreciate the conversation that we had as we were preparing for this item in this day.

That's just the way the city does it.

And I think as we look at what we are currently finding the position we are in when we talk about a structural deficit, I'd like to think that there's one place where we can all agree.

And that's doing things the way that we typically do them is no longer an acceptable answer.

And we need to do things differently.

And that means we need to keep nothing off the table.

And we need to turn every stone to ensure that we are doing the best that we can do for our taxpayers and to make sure the city of San Diego can meet its obligations.

And so with that, just as we are going through this next budget cycle, would like to have robust conversations regarding where we can look at implementing potentially zero-based budgeting, to have a robust conversation to see if there's a way to work that into our program and where.

Also, when we talk about reserve policies, I think it's time for us to take a look at reserve policies and to see what's in the best interest of the city of San Diego.

Also, I know work that you're doing right now consistently is working on vacancy savings and how we're dealing with unbudgeted positions.

So I appreciate all of those efforts to clean all of that up as we are trying to deal with the structural deficit.

Also just want to make sure as we talk about doing things differently, is that at the forefront of what we do and how we do it, that we are just making sure that we're maintaining fiscal responsibility when it comes to expenditure of taxpayer dollars.

So I think in all of those areas, um, I think um hopefully we can um continue to have the robust conversations, continue to address the structural deficit.

As you know, there is um definitely um more work to do, and I'm confident if we can work collaboratively um and openly transparently that we will um do some good work.

So with that, um I am uh proud to move staff's recommendation to appoint Rolando Charvel as the city's next chief financial officer, and again look forward to continuing to work with you in this new capacity.

And thank you for your continuous service.

All right, thank you.

Councilmember Foster, I'm gonna take the privilege and jump in and second the motion.

Um I want to start out by thanking the mayor for moving swiftly to fill this critical position.

Uh, you certainly have made an excellent choice.

Um to Mr.

Vespe, I think there'll be another opportunity to really weigh in and either embarrass you or bring you to tears for your decision to leave uh home and venture out.

Uh but thank you for the service you've provided to the city over the years.

Uh thank you for the candid conversations uh that we have had in helping me as a new council member understand the budget and the challenges that we have.

Uh and I think my colleagues would agree with that as well.

I think there is no better testament to a leader than the people that he serves over, and how you have trained and worked with your team uh and brought them forward is really a testament exemplified by Mr.

Charvel.

Uh, we are very fortunate for the leadership you brought, the values you instilled, and how the city should look differently and think differently about facing its financial challenges and opportunities.

So thank you for that.

Uh to Mr.

Charvel, um, I don't know anybody that would have been better prepared uh to step into this role given your years of service uh and the roles that you've played and the folks like Mr.

Vespee and the others that you've worked under that have mentored you and taught you every facet of what being a CFO is really all about.

And I'll add it always exemplifies what a class act you are, uh the way you respond to council, the way you respond to the operation side, um, your transparency, your clarity, and bringing forth your IELTS.

And that brief speech you gave right set a pretty high bar uh for yourself.

Uh, but knowing you the way that I do, I know that you're gonna work every day very hard to reach that aspiration.

Uh and as my colleague, Councilmember Foster said, we have some challenges.

Uh we faced those challenges last year.

We will face new challenges in the upcoming budget conversations, uh, and we are so grateful that you're ready to step up and willing to continue what being a public servant is all about.

So thank you for your service.

Thank you for your continuing service.

And again, I'll second that motion and we'll turn it over to Council President Pro Tem Lee.

Thank you, Council President.

Uh, I too am very much happy to support today's motion uh and to see Mr.

I think as others uh have done and uh others will continue to do.

I want to take this opportunity to thank our outgoing Chief Financial Officer, uh Mr.

Vespi, and to congratulate him on the new appointment to his role at the Port of St.

Diego.

Uh I think there's no doubt to say that for all of us there is some sense of loss here at the city, but we know that that with that loss is a gain for the entire region, considering your new capacities at the port.

So congratulations, Matt.

Um, for Rolando, I I appreciate the the speech that you put together to really share and touch upon many of the areas that I think you've long discussed with um members of this council.

And I think many of us have had the fortune of working with you in various capacities.

Uh, for me in particular, that was during our time serving as the budget chair uh the year preceding this one, uh, which at that time we already knew was a challenging uh budgetary year.

Um, Ronald, you you've had a significant amount of experience throughout the city.

Um, and I think not only will you carry the financial expertise and functions that you've had, but um, some of the areas that you'll help to oversee um will be critical to the city's um future, not just in this generation but the next, um, especially when it comes to IT and some of the modernization we're doing, um, the performance and analytics, uh, knowing that data still drives a lot of what we do.

Um, but I think most of all, I I think what we've all come to recognize is how you've shown your leadership with your team and our ability to have frank discussions about where we stand from a financial standpoint at the city, uh, but to also think about how we can move forward to address the challenges that we're we're facing.

I know in our conversations, you've very much expressed your desire to work with the council and to find collaboration and to find new opportunities for transparency and to build trust in ways that will benefit, I think just all of us from an operational standpoint, but also the public.

Um and I think that's very much needed at a time where we all have recognized the challenges that we're facing in the years ahead, and more than ever we're gonna need that ability to work together to resolve um those challenges.

So, congratulations to you on your appointment.

Uh, very much excited to support that and look forward to working with you in the year ahead.

Thank you, Council President.

Thank you, Council President Pro Tem.

And again, we have a motion by Councilmember Foster and a second by myself to move the staff recommendation.

We'll go next to Councilmember Campbell.

Thank you so much, Council President.

I'll be very brief.

First of all, thank you, Matt Vespe.

What a what a wonderful uh CFO you've been.

And I I can't tell you how much I appreciate your service to the city, and I know it's gonna continue uh with you at the port, it's gonna be even broader.

So I really appreciated everything you've done in my seven years here, and I especially appreciate uh you bringing Rolando up with you among the the highest level of management.

Uh Rolando Charvel started 26 years ago at the city.

Can you believe that?

He looks like he must have been six years old then.

But he probably had hair then.

But at any rate, um he started as uh uh an intern in accounting, I think, isn't that right?

And he's uh just held so many different jobs over the 26 years and and done such an outstanding job and has finally advanced to the top leadership position in the finance department.

And this is such a big job.

Uh there's so much in your department, there's so much under you, and I really appreciate you taking on this responsibility.

I know how good you are at this and how wonderful it will be to have you uh thank heaven you're here and thank heaven for taking this on.

So this is a well-deserved appointment.

I fully support, and I look so forward to the expertise and leadership that you will bring uh to this job.

Thank you so much, and thank you, Council President.

Thank you, Councilmember Campbell.

Going next to Councilmember Whitburn.

Thank you, Council President.

I will share my appreciation of Mr.

Vespe.

Uh thank you for your leadership in that role.

Um and uh Mr.

Vespi has not only served the city as CFO, he has been one of the city's uh appointees to the San Diego County uh water authority board of directors and has been a huge asset on that board.

So really appreciate your leadership, Mr.

Vespe.

Uh Mr.

Charbell, uh thank you for um agreeing to uh take on this task at a difficult budgetary environment for the city of San Diego.

It's been a real delight uh to have had the pleasure to work with you over the last five years.

Um I uh took note of and very much appreciated the remarks uh you made uh in your opening statement, particularly as it regards collaboration with the city council.

Uh and I know that the public can feel a great sense of confidence uh with Mr.

Charvel coming in at the helm as uh chief financial officer.

Thank you, Mayor Gloria, for making such an excellent appointment, and uh thank you, Council President.

All right, thank you, Councilmember with Byrne.

Councilmember Moreno.

Yeah, thank you.

Um Mr.

Charbell, congratulations on the appointment to become the city's new chief financial advisor.

Uh I know that the city will be served very well by you filling this role.

Uh your commitment to serving the people of San Diego is clear.

You've been a city employee since 1999, over 25 years as a public servant.

Um, you've always been very straightforward with the city council when discussing the particulars of city finance, and I know that this will continue in your time as the chief financial officer.

I am looking forward to working closely with you on budgetary and financial reporting matters, and um thank you for agreeing and stepping up to the plate and congratulations.

Thank you, Councilmember.

We'll go uh to Councilmember Von Wilbert.

Uh thank you, Council President.

And um, I'm calling in from Jackson, Mississippi City Hall, and they have quite similar issues running the local government that we do, uh way too many needs and not enough money or funds to do it.

So uh it's been nice to be here, and they've been welcoming me here.

But um, I want to thank Matt Vespie as well for all of your work.

Um, we're gonna miss you here, and you know, the port is a huge entity that also does help with our tourism in the city of San Diego, and I'm very much looking forward to the new Seaport Village.

So, Matt, I will uh expect that hopefully to be uh groundbreaking soon as we can.

Um, it's gonna be a beautiful project.

Uh, but thank you for all you've done.

You know, you came and helped us on board, you know, five of us new city council members in the middle of a pandemic, and I'll never forget all the work you did to get us up to speed, and we were on Zoom in our offices by ourselves.

And I just want to say thank you for all the work you've done to educate us and get us ready to help govern the city.

Uh and so in uh Rolando, I'm very excited about your appointment, and I want to thank you as well for all the work that you've done over the years at the city.

And I do I have a couple of questions for you about how we can work together as a as a city council and the mayor's office and this and the finance staff to to better communicate with the public what's going on and in some of our hearings and our finances.

So, you know, for example, when we had the phone call last week uh when we got you and I got to chat about how you would want to lead as the finance director of the city, you know, one of the things we talked about was the audit that we saw uh on October 6th about city contracting and how you know unauthorized spending has reached the tens of millions of dollars, and you you had a lot more to say about what the city is doing to wrap its arms around that.

And so I'm wondering if you could share with everybody here what you told me over the phone about what IT is doing, what other you know, what we've been doing to wrap our arms around that.

Absolutely.

Thank you for the question, Councilmember Yvonne Wilbert.

Um what we talked about, it's like any any organization that's as large and complex as a city.

We are six billion dollar operation with 13,000 employees.

Uh, there will be issues that come up.

Uh, I think as as management and now part of the executive management team, what's important is for us to quickly identify those types of issues, uh, see if it's a systemic problem, and and and be very transparent and forthcoming with council as soon as we identify those types of problems and really treat them with the sense of urgency that they deserve.

Uh, in this particular case, uh, and we've been I've been looking a little bit more into the that particular audit.

Uh it was something that happened uh between 2017 and 2023, uh, talking to Jonathan Banke, your IT director, he explained that a lot of those systemic issues were resolved through our system, which in an organization this large, that is the right way to go.

When we're implementing internal controls, we need to leverage our technology to make sure we do it efficiently.

There was uh a system issue that was corrected, and now since 23 2023 and moving forward, that issue has not occurred again.

Um so I think what's really important is for us to be able to identify those types of issues early and be able to uh and be again transparent and forthcoming with council again trying to use our technology and our internal controls to prevent those uh issues from happening again.

Fantastic, and I was very happy to hear that about we can utilize our software programs to prevent city employees from even accidentally going over the limit of the contract and spending money that we didn't authorized to spend.

And we need to hear those things because if there is a deficiency in the software, we as the city council control the budget.

But if we don't know what the problem is in a public hearing, we can't then budget to help the city staff do its job.

And so I just it it was very frustrating for us to not hear all of that at the hearing on October 6th.

You know, instead, people weren't here to give the public and give us those answers.

And you know, I had asked on the dias on October 6 where the six million dollars had come from that was taken from the general fund and increased unlawfully to the Herc rental contract.

And I'm still waiting for an answer.

Uh and I know that you're all working on it, but I just feel as the new financial director for the city that we'd have better communication going forward.

And so, could I just ask you to make sure that you are proactive in reaching out to our office if you see something coming up on the docket that you know we're gonna have questions about the city finances that you are present at the hearing, or you have someone from your office present at the hearing going forward because we want to be able to answer the public's questions, and it turns out the city was doing more than we thought to solve this problem, but nobody was there to give us these answers at this hearing.

So, can you commit to going forward making sure that you and your department proactively communicate better with us as a city council?

Absolutely.

Yeah, my commitment.

Okay, thank you.

I appreciate you.

Um, you know, we're all rolling in the same direction in the same, we all want the best for our city, everyone here in this in this room.

So I just want to make our office is open, our doors open.

Um I appreciate you, and I all um definitely support your confirmation.

I think you've done a great job for the city, and I want to thank our union representatives for coming in.

It speaks volumes when you know two of our our biggest union representatives come and say that you've done a great job because they have a hard job too.

So I appreciate you know, Connor and Mike being here, and I'll support the motion.

All right, thank you, Councilmember.

We'll go next to Councilmember Elo Rivera.

Thank you, Council President.

Um, I'll just start by saying uh thank you and congratulations to Mr.

Besby.

Uh, thank you for all the work that you've done and um the the time and effort you've spent uh with the city.

Obviously, not always easy to to get to the goals that we have, but um I have appreciated working with you very much and uh look forward to continuing that work.

Uh and then uh Rolando, congratulations and thank you for your efforts.

Um I think the the words of Mr.

Zuquet actually um really landed with me.

The professionalism you you've sat in that chair during some very very tough conversations, um receiving tough questions from us, frustrations from us, and you've done that um with the steadiness and uh responsiveness that I really do appreciate.

I also um do uh appreciate you making some recognition of the the ways in which improved communication uh can help us get to better places during the budget process or ahead of the budget process, I should say.

Um I'm looking forward to that uh and obviously wishing you the absolute most success because your success is our success.

Thank you.

All right, thank you, Councilmember.

We'll go next to Councilmember Camp Keel.

Thank you, Council President.

Uh, first I want to thank uh our outgoing CFO Matt Vespey.

Uh there's fewer people I've had conversations with over the last five years to try to think through the city of San Diego as an organization, and that is a word that I know came up uh in how you try to instruct council members to think of the long-term good of our city.

Uh, if there's uh an organization uh that is lucky today, it's certainly the port of San Diego because of someone who thinks long-term and tries to deliver long term for the health and safety of the uh people that that's organization serves.

So thanks for teaching me so much, Matt.

And I want to appreciate Mayor Gloria for this appointment of Mr.

Charvel.

Uh, there's no person better suited to step into this right now when it's so important.

I know that uh Mr.

Charvel carries that same organizational mindset, and he has been on most of those same phone calls and conversations that were right there with Mr.

Vespie.

So I owe him a lot of credit for teaching me how to be a good council member and think of the city's long-term health and safety as well.

So I look forward to supporting you and working closely with you yet again.

Thank you, Council President.

Thank you, Councilmember Campio.

So with that, uh we have a motion by Councilmember Foster and a second by myself to move the staff recommendation.

Clerk, please call the roll.

I started the voting uh system.

Please cast your vote.

And council member von Wilbert, if I may please have your vote.

I vote yes.

Thank you.

That does pass unanimously with Councilmember von Volper voting yes from teleconference not absent.

Thank you.

We have a new CFO.

Congratulations, Mr.

Chardell.

Thank you very much.

And with that, Clerk, please introduce item 201.

Item 201 is the to approve a resolution to set a public hearing date for the creation of underground utility district for University Heights 02 and Encanto 09 and certification of the final environmental impact report EIR EIR number 675395 SEH number 2018 101037 for the utilities underground program.

Thank you, Council President.

All right, thank you, Clerk.

So please introduce yourselves for the record and let us know how much time you need for the presentation.

Thank you, Council President.

Chelsea Clacius, Deputy Director in the Transportation Department.

With me is Jim Nabong, who is an ADD over Utility Undergrounding.

We need five minutes for our presentation.

All right.

Thank you very much.

Good afternoon.

Today we are going to be looking at one action before you, which is to set a public hearing date for the creation of two utility undergrounding projects.

Approximately one to two times a year, we come before you to do this process, which is outlined in the undergrounding utilities procedural ordinance.

And we'll do a quick overview of that process.

So today we are holding a vote to have a noticed public hearing.

We want to set December 8 of this year as the date for that public hearing.

Next, after that, we will mail notices to property owners and utility owners that are within the boundaries of this district to identify them of the date so they can come and make their um make their voices known.

The next item uh coming in December will have several actions.

One is to certify a programmatic EIR, and then after the certification of that EIR, it will be to create the two utility undergrounding districts.

Now, when that happens, it basically finds and determines that the creation of these districts are in the general public interest, and it also assigns responsibilities to the utility companies as well as the property owners.

Once the UUD is created, all overhead wires are then required to go underground.

The items that will be coming before you in December, if you vote yes today to bring it to December 8th council, is to um create districts uh in university heights, which is council district three specifically for this block, and one in council district four in Encanto.

Here is a zoomed-in look of what the boundary maps are.

University Heights.

The second is in Encanto.

This is a map of that.

Um, and I want to just reiterate that today the only action before you is to approve a resolution setting that public hearing date.

We are welcoming of any questions.

All right, thank you for your presentation.

Clerk, please proceed with public comment.

I do not have any speaker slips here in council chambers for this item, but I'll go to those participating remotely.

I do have two speakers in the queue.

Lori Saldania, if you can please unmute.

You'll have two minutes, please proceed.

Um, yes, thank you.

It's always good to see undergrounding proceed in San Diego for all the different neighborhoods, especially those that have uh potentially fire hazards if for open spaces and and canyon areas.

I I would like to encourage the council to uh not ignore neighborhoods that have already done the undergrounding because the the need for infrastructure review and and repairs is ongoing.

And in particular, what the beach area, which was in Mission Bay mission beach area, which is one of the first to have undergrounding done uh decades ago.

Um there is now signs that there is underground shifting of infrastructure as a result of a rising water table and pressure from uh changes in sea level.

And I I bring that up because it's become apparent that with some of the businesses that have undergrounding of their electrical and also of the gas and other utilities, um, that there are leaks occurring.

And one of the problems is when STGE comes out to repair those underground uh uh problems, they sometimes damage the surrounding pavement and public areas.

And in one case of a small business on Mission Boulevard, um after a gas leak was reported a year ago.

SCG and E came out.

There was in fact a problem.

They had to do some uh digging.

They had to do some uh digging and the result is uh that it's still uh a very ugly appearing and dangerous area around the underground repairs that they did.

So in addition to having these uh underground activities take place initially, please make sure that the utility is following up with the needed repairs when problems occur after that underground program is complete.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next is Blair Beekman, if you can please unmute.

All right, thank you.

Blair Beekman.

Nice to hear Lori Slodano.

Haven't heard her for a while.

Good advice from her as always.

Um you had an item on undergrounding undergrounding uh wiring uh issues at uh environmental committee last Thursday.

Uh I was at that meeting.

Very nice.

It was actually a really good meeting for myself.

Thank you.

Um I learned at that meeting, you know, you're talking about undergrounding issues.

There are several items that SDGE, I am assuming is a part of this undergrounding process.

Um they're having a major role in infrastructure building in San Diego at this time.

Um I'm all for uh a more unified approach to our future utility concerns, and um I'm for you uh SDGE having a role in in that uh unifying approach uh to lay the groundwork for the future of community energy to be our future leaders of of energy choices for our community.

Um but at the same time, with all of that said, I I just worry that there may be an over reliance on allowing S DG ⁇ E to be uh have the contracts and to be doing all of this uh infrastructure work.

And um I just wanted to question that at this time and and to ask if there can be other choices of other agencies or companies to to help in in the infrastructure process.

Um it's a bit of a complaint, and I'm sorry if I don't have better constructive advice, but um I worried about the same issues in San Jose that you know, and with San Diego, you're relying on um building the future smart street light poles and constructing that whole process.

I worry a bit about that.

So just to mention it at this time.

Thank you.

Thank you.

That does conclude public comment on this item.

All right, thank you, City Clerk.

And we'll now turn it over to colleagues for questions and comments entertain a motion, and we will start with Councilmember Whitburn.

Thank you, Council President.

In University Heights, the underground utility district would be great news for residents from Cleveland Avenue to Florida Street and from Madison Avenue to Mission Cliff Drive.

There would be visual appeal, of course, uh, but it would also make university heights safer and more resilient to wildfire and other hazards.

Uh there are a number of canyon slopes in and around University Heights.

Today's action is the first step in a lengthy process uh after the public hearing is held and the underground district is officially formed.

Design work will begin.

Uh that phase uh allows opportunities for property owners and community members to share feedback on things like street light and utility box locations uh prior to the actual start of construction.

Again, it could be a long process, uh, but we are getting the ball rolling on this, and I'm happy to make the motion to approve the staff recommendation.

Thank you.

All right, thank you, Councilmember Whitburn.

So we do have that motion on the steel staff recommendation.

We'll go next to Councilmember Campbell.

Thank you, Council President.

I'm happy to second the motion.

All right.

So we have a motion by Council Member Whitburn, a second by Councilmember Campbell to move the staff recommendation.

Not seeing anybody else on the lights.

Please call the rule.

I'm sorry, the voting system, please cast your vote.

Councilmember Von Wilbert, if I may get your vote, please.

I vote yes.

And that passes unanimously nine to zero.

All right, thank you very much.

And we'll see you back here Monday, December 8th.

All right.

Clerk, please introduce item S400.

Item S400 is a consideration of the due process and safety ordinance and directing the city's management team for labor relations to engage in the required process under the mayor's Milius Brown Act.

If you'd like to speak on this item, now is the time to raise your hand by pressing star nine or to submit your speaker slips to the front of the room in the clear box.

Thank you, Council President.

All right, thank you, Clerk.

I will turn it over to Councilmember Elo Rivera for opening remarks on this item.

All right, thank you, Council President.

Uh, before we get started, I do want to thank you again uh for docketing this item and partnering with our office.

Uh thank you to uh city attorney Herbert for uh the significant significant work, significant work that she and the rest of the city attorney's office did on this.

Um I will thank my team later so I don't embarrass them now.

Um, but I will uh say that uh what you're about to see is an ordinance that we see as a direct and necessary response to the unprecedented times that we're facing.

Fundamental constitutional rights and due process are under attack.

This action is a multi-jurisdictional action taken uh alongside various cities, government agencies, and the county of San Diego.

The goal is to safeguard our rights and ensure the City of San Diego resources are not being used to facilitate unconstitutional or discriminatory federal activities, and the measure creates a stronger legally sound foundation for each individual in our city to defend their constitutional liberties.

With that, I will hand it over to Maya Anne Rosa.

Hi, everyone.

And my name is Maya Rosas, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy.

On behalf of Councilmember Ila Rivera, we are here to present the due process and safety ordinance.

We will need 15 minutes.

The requested action for this item is as follows.

Adopt an ordinance amending chapter 5, Article 2 of the San Diego Municipal Code by adding Division 15 relating to the due process and safety ordinance, and adopt a resolution requesting the city's management team engage in the meet and confer process on the mandatory subjects of bargaining related to the ordinance and to return to the city council for city council's final determination on the Myers Milius Brown Act issues and the ordinance.

We have a video to set the tone of the reality our communities are facing.

This is the moment Tufts University graduate student Rumesa Oster was arrested and taken into federal custody.

Two plainclothes officers approaching the 30-year-old in Somerville outside of Boston.

Oz Turk at first appears to back away before more agents approach.

Officers then take her backpack off, handcuff her, and lead her across the street to a car.

Meanwhile, in nearby Broadview, Illinois, an unlawful assembly has been declared tonight after confrontations during protests near the ICE facility there.

Trump administration has deported some 250 people it claims are gang members from Venezuela.

But the people were not returned to Venezuela.

They were flown to El Salvador.

Salvadoran officials have imprisoned them.

No evidence has been presented to support the accusations of crime against the deportees.

A federal judge in the U.S.

verbally told the federal government to turn the planes back, but that didn't happen.

President Trump has invoked a rarely used wartime power to justify his action.

We also know of a big deal recently reached between the Department of Homeland Security and the IRS to better share information between the two agencies, and that could include DHS being able to obtain information like addresses of illegal immigrants facing deportation orders.

ABC News has learned that the Act and Commissioner of the IRS plans to resign as early as today, along with other senior officials at the tax collecting agencies.

These resignations come after a data sharing agreement that was revealed late Monday night, where the IRS must share confidential tax information with immigrations and customs enforcement for the purposes of identifying and deporting people illegally in the United States.

The policy states that media outlets and reporters cannot obtain any information that the Pentagon does not explicitly authorize.

About 40 to 50 journalists from major news outlets left together in a joint statement.

NBC News, ABC News, CBS News, CNN, and Fox News all said, quote, we join virtually every other news organization in declining to agree to the Pentagon's new requirements, which would restrict journalists' ability to keep the nation and the world informed of important national security issues.

Ice agents have been around all over Southern California.

This weekend was marked with absolute violence.

Since returning to office in January.

Sorry.

Take a moment.

Don't worry.

The Trump administration has launched an escalating series of actions that threaten longstanding constitutional protections and democratic norms.

By disregarding the established legal safeguards and institutional checks and balances, the administration has sought to advance political and personal objectives at the expense of individual rights and the constitutional principles that protect all residents.

This growing disregard for democratic norms and constitutional limits underscores the need for local governments, including the city of San Diego, to reaffirm and codify protections that safeguard residents' rights and ensure city resources are not used to facilitate unconstitutional or discriminatory federal activities.

Our office sees the effects of the Trump administration's actions on our communities, and we foresee continued escalation by the administration that will impact many of us, our families, and our neighbors.

The values listed above guide our approach for how we address the federal impact on our local communities.

We want to be clear that we cannot stop the federal government from continuing on their trajectory.

But we have developed the due process and safety ordinance to reflect our values and assert our legal rights.

The proposed ordinance establishes clear constitutional safeguards to ensure City of San Diego property, personnel, and funds are not used for unauthorized or discriminatory enforcement activities, aligning local practices with state law and expanding rights for San Diegans.

The due process and safety ordinance also reinforces long-established constitutional protections that have been eroded or ignored through recent federal actions.

These include the Fourth Amendment, protection against unreasonable searches and seizures.

The ordinance codifies these standards locally by requiring judicial warrants for access to non-public city property and prohibiting voluntary cooperation with warrantless federal searches.

Fifth and 14th Amendments, due process and equal protection.

By forbidding city participation in enforcement targeting protected personal characteristics and activities, the ordinance ensures local actions remain consistent with equal protection and due process principles even when federal authorities utilize contrary practices.

The First Amendment, freedom of speech, press and association.

By prohibiting the use of city data, property, or contracts to identify or monitor individuals based on political or expressive activity, the ordinance protects San Diegans' rights to speak, organize, and report freely without local facilitation of unconstitutional surveillance.

And the Tenth Amendment, local autonomy, and federal limits.

The city is exercising its right not to be conscripted into federal civil enforcement efforts, preserving local resources for lawful public safety priorities.

The due process and safety ordinance builds upon the protections afforded under California law to mitigate federal threats to safety and to provide all San Diegans with the firmest ground possible to assert their constitutional rights.

California has expanded these protections through the California Values Act, the Truth Act, Immigrant Worker Protection Act, and Reproductive Rights Law Enforcement Act.

The California's Value Act, SB 54, provides the framework of this ordinance.

We're building upon a strong foundation established by SB 54 and taking these protections a step further.

While SB 54 focuses on immigration, this ordinance expands the scope to vote to include safeguards for all restaurant residents based on the protected personal characteristics and activities.

The due process and safety ordinance is broken up into five sections that will require public reporting of law enforcement related to personal protected characteristics and activities, uphold civil rights in city operations, restrict access to non public areas in city facilities, requires notice in city facilities, and requires contractor compliance.

This ordinance establishes civil rig protections to ensure that city personnel, facilities, resources, and contractual relationships are not utilized in a manner that can facilitate discrimination, unlawful detention, or the criminalization of individuals based on protective characteristics and activities.

Before I explain each section, I would like to go over key definitions.

Law enforcement personnel.

This ordinance is not targeting specific federal law enforcement agencies or even just federal law enforcement.

This ordinance protection applied to certain actions by any federal law enforcement agency personnel out of state law enforcement personnel or a private party acting under the color of law enforcement authority.

This ordinance does not focus on providing protections for a single personal characteristic or issue area.

We define protected personal characteristics as an individual actual or perceived attributes that are safeguarded from discrimination under federal or state law, including race, ethnicity, national origin or language, gender identity, gender expression, or transgender status, sexual orientation, disability status, immigration or citizenship status or familial status.

Additionally, protected personal activities in this ordinance means an action that an individual has the right to undertake free from undue governmental interference, discrimination or criminalization under either federal or state law, including exercising the First Amendment right, political or religious expression, making reproductive decisions, accessing or receiving reproductive health care, and accessing and receiving gender affirming health care or mental health care.

The reporting requirement in the due process and safety ordinance implements SB 54 task force transparency, truth act public forums, and RIPA aligned data summaries in order to provide city council and the public with information about when, how, and what impact the city of San Diego is participating in, coordination with the federal law enforcement agencies.

The ordinance does not prohibit the participation in joint law enforcement task force as long as a task force is not related to investigating a protected personal characteristic or activity as a criminal activity.

This slideshow shows the city manager's requirement for reporting.

Report must include participation of joint law enforcement task force, changes in federal or state law enforcement affecting SDPD, data that SDPD already compiles and reports to the state that comply with RIPA, a summary of known law enforcement activity by federal, out of state or private law enforcement actions involving protected personal characteristics activities within the city, and a summary of the Truth Act Forum.

Report requirement of the chief of police include a public incident report within three business days if San Diego Police Department responds to federal, out-of-state, and private law enforcement activity involving protected personal characteristics or activities.

Report must include agencies present, warrants present, and identifying information.

A written report to city council within three business days if San Diego Police Department cooperates with federal out-of-state law enforcement involving the protected personal characteristics or activities in response to immediate threat or life of public safety.

The city operations and facilities section of the ordinance bars data sharing related to protected personal characteristics or activities.

This action limits cities' resources from facilitating federal enforcement targeting protected personal characteristics and activities and prohibits joint operations that involve immigration enforcement or investigates protected personal characteristics or activities.

This provision aligns with SB 54 core limits and California privacy norms while honoring constitutional protections.

Access to city facilities requires a judicial warrant or comparable court order for federal, out of state, or private law enforcement to access non-public city areas.

If access to a non-public area is permitted, the city manager must report any access to city council within three business days.

The ordinance requires standardized multilingual signage informing the public of warrant requirements for non-public areas and the right to decline conversations without counsel.

Reinforcing due process norms and reducing fear and confusion in city spaces.

The notice will be posted at public entries of all city facilities and will read as.

Lastly, the ordinance extends city standards to entities using city funds or facilities, protecting against unnecessary risks to the rights of people performing work on behalf of or funded by the city of San Diego.

Moving forward, any new city agreement must include compliance with state law relating to work side protections, cooperation with investigations of legally protected health care activity and protections of reproductive rights.

Requirement to keep information information confidential related to protected personal characteristics or activities and prohibits sharing such information unless required by law.

Public facing signage similar to requirements for non-public areas of city facilities and requirements to inform the city within five days of any law.

Law enforcement requests targeting protected personal characteristics or activities.

The requested requested action for this item is as follows.

Adopts an ordinance amending chapter 5, Article 2 of the San Diego Municipal Code by adding division 15 related to the due process and safety ordinance.

Adopt the resolution requesting the city's management team engage in the meet and confer process on the mandatory subjects of bargaining related to the ordinance and to return to the city council for city council's final determination on the Myers Mills Brown Act issues and the ordinance.

Thank you.

We're available to answer any questions.

All right, thank you for the presentation.

Clerk, please proceed with public comment.

Thank you, Council President.

We do have 93 speakers here in council chambers and currently six in the virtual queue with their hands raised.

So we will be going down to a minute per person.

I will be calling you in groups, and if you can please come up to the yellow reserve seats in the front, and then as you call your name, you can come as I call your name, you can come up to the microphone, and I'll start your time once you begin speaking.

The following individuals of Michael Zuquet can please come up to the microphone.

After that, we have Amira Yusufie, uh Ramo Abdi, Patricia Serrano, Daniela Alvarado, Maria Chavez, Jermaine Roca Corva, and Nicholas Paul.

If you can all please come up to the yellow reserve seats up front, and you'll have a minute, please proceed.

Thank you, Madam Clerk, Council President, members of the council.

Uh MEA strongly supports the action that's recommended of you today.

We look forward to the meet and confer over any bargainable subjects and having uh a more detailed discussion about this in general.

We do want to also say that we support this general effort.

We appreciate your uh desire to bring clarity uh to our community, our broader community, and particularly the city employees in an area where all we get is uh some measure of chaos from the federal government.

We your employees want to hear from you as to how you want things to be handled in the city of San Diego.

We want our employees to not be as they already have been, and foreseeably will continue to be put in the middle of bad situations.

We appreciate uh your desire to put in one ordinance, uh state law, uh, the mayor's uh executive order, council member Ila Rivera's and everybody's uh uh ideas.

Thank you very much.

Um, Amira Yesufi.

You have time seated to you.

If you can please raise your hands, ayan um, if you can please thank you.

And Sayed Lamar and Fatima Sayyid.

Thank you so much.

You'll have four minutes, please proceed.

Thank you.

My name is Hamira Yousafy with PANA, Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans.

Um, first, I'd like to thank Council Member Ila Rivera for bringing forward this important discussion to council chambers because we cannot ignore the realities of what it's like for San Diegans who are being targeted for by the federal administration right now.

At PANA, we are part of a legal immigration hub where our team receives calls from individuals from throughout the community whose families have been abducted by immigration enforcement while they're taking their kids to school while they're going to work, while they are just doing everyday normal things, and they are being violently abducted, and they're calling, asking, where are they, what can I do?

How can I get my family member back?

That is the reality of what San Diegans are facing, not in other parts of the country, right here.

Our community members are afraid to congregate for normal activities and celebrations, not knowing if there would be immigrate um rated by immigration enforcement.

They're afraid of engaging civically.

There are a lot of folks who could also be here today, but they are not because they're afraid.

But I want you all to know that they are watching you right now.

And I'm here as a member of my community to speak on their behalf.

Because we are no longer looking to the federal government to save us.

We are looking at each other for support, and we are looking to you all as our local government to protect vulnerable community vulnerable communities.

At this time, we need bold leadership.

I urge you to support the due process and safety ordinance because at this time more than ever, we need the state the city to stand with vulnerable communities, be they individuals seeking reproductive care, immigrants, LGBT individuals, LGBTQ individuals, people with disabilities, religious minorities, and others that are targeted by federal enforcement.

This ordinance will provide transparency so that we as residents of the city of San Diego and council and you all as council will finally understand what our police department's role is in joint task forces with the federal government and their role in providing mutual aid to federal agents.

We need to better understand what resources are being spent and what data is being shared within these task forces.

The ordinance will help close some of the loopholes of SB 54 and increases transparency for all.

With the passage of this ordinance, we will protect local resources from being spent on assisting in federal immigration enforcement, protect private data from being shared with federal agencies, and require judicial warrants for access to city-owned non-public areas.

Real transparency and accountability are vital to restoring trust with immigrant communities.

That our local police will not provide assistance to ICE agents while they're abducting loved ones, and that you that the city will not share our data.

This ordinance is an important first step towards disentangling our local resources from rogue federal agencies.

As a city, we must also reject the use of mass surveillance technologies such as automated license plate readers that are developed to surveil vulnerable populations.

We must also ensure that there's proper independent auditing procedures in place so that prohibitions that are in this ordinance stay intact and are actually followed.

Making a commitment to due process and safety means removing mechanisms that put vulnerable communities at risk.

For that concluding comment.

Next is Ramu Abdi.

And you have time ceded to you by Mohammed Mohammed.

If you can please raise your hand.

And Mohamed Muhe.

Mohamed Muhey, if you can please raise your hand.

Thank you so much.

You'll have three minutes, please proceed.

Thank you.

Good afternoon, Councilmember.

My name is Rahmo Abdi.

Um the director of organizing and campaign with PANA, the Partnership for Advancement of New Americans, also a proud resident of District 9.

Right now, our people in our community are very scared.

They are afraid to leave their home, to go to work, to take their kids to school, or to go to the park like normal families.

When local police work with eyes, it breaks our trust.

We do not feel safe.

We feel watched.

California passed AP 54, the California Value Act to protect our community.

This law says local police should not work with eyes.

We want to make sure this law is followed so our community can be safe.

When something happened, our community are afraid to call 911.

They are afraid to call police who will bring they're afraid to call the police because the police will bring the eyes with them.

This is not safety.

This is a fear.

No one should be scared to ask for help.

Everyone should be feel safe no matter where they came from or what language they speak.

So you have the power to make sure SP 54 respected and followed.

Police stop local police officers from working with eyes.

Stand with our community.

Protect our community.

Let our community leave without fear.

Please listen to the people who elected you.

We trust you to represent us.

And we are asking for you to stand with us and protect our community.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Patricia Serrano.

Thank you.

You'll have two minutes, please proceed.

Good afternoon.

My name is Patricia Serrano.

And I urge the City Council to pass the process safety ordinance to protect communities from being terrorized by ICE and other federal agencies.

For 25 years, I live undocumented in this country.

Not by choice, but because the immigration system offers no viable path for people like me.

It is a system that privilege only a few.

During those years, I survived supporting my family by working at jobs.

Today I'm a proud American citizen.

And now I work with PANA in the legal department, using it my passion to serve immigrant communities.

Even as naturalized citizens, the trauma of those 25 years undocumented remains in me, my body, my thoughts, my fears.

I'm still worried about deportation because it seems like my color of skin is a crime.

My son carries to this weight in his law school statement.

He grew about growing up for 70 years in fear, never knowing if his parents will be taken away.

This is the reality of our children in our communities.

But you don't need to take us my work for granted.

Look around.

See the many Latino owner businesses that contribute to this city.

My community is firing, hardworking, and honest.

We are not criminals.

Because no human being is illegal.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I know there's a lot of passion, emotion, fear, frustration, and every everything in between.

But help us get through this meeting.

I want to give everybody a chance to speak.

So if you could do the thumbs up, I know it's not very satisfying, but save your applause for the end.

It'll be well worth waiting for.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Daniela Alvarado.

Okay.

Hi, my name is Daniela Alvarado.

I'm the chief operating officer for Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans for PANA.

And I'm here because I urge the city council to pass due process, the due process and safety ordinance.

So as you've heard already from some of my peers, no one should be afraid to ask for help.

No one should fear going outside in general to the grocery store to work to take their little ones to school.

A lot of people may not be here because of that fear, and that's why we're here to speak out for them.

The shocking rise and violent immigration enforcement in San Diego has instilled fear and distrust in our communities.

Mothers and fathers have been arrested without any criminal charges.

Families are being separated here in San Diego.

Yet it's essential for the city to stand by all vulnerable communities and safeguard them from harm.

This ordinance will offer crucial protections to these vulnerable groups, including those.

Thank you.

Thank you, Maria Chavez.

Good afternoon.

I am Attorney Maria Chavez, and I am the immigration legal director at PANA.

As an immigration attorney, I see firsthand how my clients, immigrant communities, and San Diego as a whole suffers when the federal government overreaches.

We need bold leadership, and the San Diego government must protect San Diegans.

The best way to do this is to cease all work with federal governments.

I have personally been attacked, and I've had my clients assaulted in front of me.

In one instance, multiple ICE agents threw my client to the ground, twisting and severely injuring his arm while they were dragging him into their basement holding facility.

This violent cannot violence cannot continue.

The administration claims to be arresting the worst of the worst.

Those are not my clients.

Watch the press conference from earlier.

But regardless, all human beings deserve a life of dignity and respect.

Thank you.

Sorry.

Hello, my name is Jermaine Rocokorba.

I work for the Partnership for Advancement of New Americans or PANA.

I was speaking in support of item S400 because months ago, right in front of me where I work, a white supremacist approached me threatening to deport immigrants in our communities and claimed that he was law enforcement.

This shook me and made me feel afraid that this is a type of reality we live in.

Who knows who he actually works for?

But this is one example of how federal agents and their allies are terrorizing our communities and spreading fear and distrust.

The due process and safety ordinance makes one thing clear.

It protects immigrants, LGBTQ people, those seeking a reproductive care, people with disabilities, religious minorities, and anyone under attack.

The due process and safety ordinance sets clear limits on police involvement and demands transparency.

We can't stop federal crackdowns, but we can refuse to be part of them.

Thank you.

For that concluding remark.

Rachel, Lazano Castro, Ramla Sahid, Andres Alva, Cardenas, Amy, Bryan, Victor Bloomberg, Judy Voz, and Lori Johnson.

If you can all please come up to the front row.

Please proceed.

Good afternoon, City Council members, staff.

My name is Nicolas Paul.

I am an immigration attorney working with PANA in District 9.

I'm calling on you all to pass this ordinance.

As some of my colleagues have mentioned, I'm actually one of the staffers that uh manned the emergency helpline for folks that have been impacted by federal immigration enforcement in our communities.

And every day on the line, we're hearing stories of families being ripped apart.

Many of these families are mixed status families with little ones under the age of 18.

And again, I'm calling on you all to pass this ordinance, not as the end all be all, but as a first step in the assertion that this the city of San Diego will not be in lockstep with the federal government's deportation machine.

And I urge you all to continue with the work that you're doing and pass this ordinance.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Rachel Good afternoon.

My name is Rachel Lozano Castro.

I'm a city of San Diego resident in District 4 and work at PANA Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans.

I urge the city council to pass the due process and safety ordinance.

Family and friends fear to be in public spaces and fear gathering, and we have a duty to make sure rights and protections are extended.

We've seen an appalling increase in immigration enforcement under the Sandy in San Diego under the Trump administration, and it is critical that the city stands with all vulnerable communities, including those that seek reproductive care, immigrants, LGBTQ individuals, people with disabilities, religious minorities, and others targeted by federal enforcement.

We must ensure that our local resources are not aiding in hateful actions.

Please pass this ordinance.

Thank you.

Ramla.

Good afternoon, and thank you for the opportunity.

There were also so many missed opportunities to pass stronger protections over the years with this council and previous councils.

We've asked you to protect our data by eliminating data sharing with federal agencies.

We've asked you to protect us from warrantless surveillance and end contracts that give billionaire Peter Thiel ownership of our private data and everyday movements.

We knew that when we allow marginalization and targeting of any group as we have been, we sanctioned the very tools of oppression that history has showed, will eventually be used to erode our everyone's civil liberties.

Any amendments to weaken this ordinance today shows us who is willing to stand with our community and who's not willing to do that for that concluding support with no amendments.

Thank you.

Andres Alva Cardanas.

Good afternoon.

Andres Salva Cardanos, Senior Representative of Absolute Local 127, speaking in support of the proposed actions.

Put simply, this ordinance is important.

The Trump administration is targeting and will continue to target many of our members who fit the characteristic characteristics of its fascist and racers' policies.

In response, this ordinance strengthens U.S.

constitutional protections as provided under the first fourth, fifth, tenth, and fourteenth amendments, and strengthen state laws, including the California Values Act, the Truth Act, and the Racial Profiling Identity Profiling Act.

It also restricts the use of city money, personnel, resources from assisting federal agencies when conducting their quote unquote enforcement activities.

Moreover, we emphasize our support by delivering a message to one of our members who is in removal proceedings of U.S.

immigration court.

For these reasons and more, as the local 127's proposed supports these proposed actions.

Thank you.

Thank you, Amy Bryan.

My name is Amy Bryan.

I'm with a large mutual age group known as Somostillas, a group of neighbors helping neighbors picking up the drop pieces of this broken system.

Today I was at immigration court to support our representatives' demand of oversight of the 200 individuals improperly detained in the basement of the federal building.

One set of these detainees are very personal to our group as last week.

We were contacted by a school liaison.

A kindergartner had just arrived home after school to find that both of her parents had been taken to this basement by ICE.

We get to pick up the pieces for this child to help her new guardian to afford food for her, to obtain mental health care for this child, which could never be enough.

We have hundreds of these cases in our care.

It is community that suffers from the rampant lack of due process.

Families being destroyed by ICE are our community's loss.

Participation by the city in this community destruction is counterproductive and cannot be tolerated for this kindergarten child and for our communities.

I'm asking you to adopt this organization.

Thank you for that concluding comment.

Victor Bloomberg.

So thank you to the young person, and here I am.

My dad served in World War II as a sailor in the US Navy.

And he told me about a poet who said, if you don't speak up for your neighbors when they come to get you, no one will be there to speak up for you.

So I'm asking this council to speak up for all of our shared humanity.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Judy Voz.

You have time seated to you by Sue Vargas.

So thank you so much.

You'll have two minutes, please proceed.

Whoo, so taking that in.

Good afternoon, Council President Lakava and City Council members.

My name is Judy Voz.

I'm the public affairs manager at Planned Parenthood Action Fund at the Pacific Southwest.

And I am the proud daughter and granddaughter of immigrants.

And thank you, Maya and Rosa, for presenting to us moments ago.

Federally sanctioned kidnappings are happening in broad daylight, and our local government has a moral and legal duty to protect us.

People are afraid of being surveilled while accessing health care, including reproductive health care and gender-affirming care.

People are being detained based on the color of their skin and the sound of their voices.

An apartment complex being raided late in the night in Chicago could easily happen here in San Diego.

And we must realize that an attack on one community is an attack against all of us.

And we cannot afford to become complacent.

There is too much at stake.

We are powerful, and there is more of us than them.

Let's remind this regime of our power and our and fight back.

Thank you again to the city council.

I urge you to pass this ordinance today, and I don't want my tax dollars going to kidnappings by this federal government.

Thank you.

Next is Lori Johnson.

Good afternoon, Council members, Council President.

Joe Carva.

Sorry, I'm nervous.

My name is Lori Johnson.

Take a moment.

We're not gonna start your time.

I'm a proud volunteer with Plan Premier.

I need to show you.

I'm here to urge you to vote for the due process and safety ordinance.

You would set a powerful, powerful precedent to other cities and counties to ensure safety and dignity to all of their residents too.

I'm a family nurse practitioner.

My patients are so scared to come and get the medical, the medical support and treatment that they deserve and the and the medicines that they deserve as well.

It's so scary.

There's just it can't do it all on TV.

We can't do it all on Zoom and telephone.

We need to see our patients, and they're too scared.

Finally, I urge you to cancel the contract with Flock and their automated license plate recognition systems.

They have shared data with ICE.

Canceling this contract will help ensure that certain city resources are not used for federal immigration purposes.

Sorry, I couldn't.

Thank you for your concluding remarks.

Jenny.

If I can have the following individuals, please come up to the front row.

Jenny Kingston.

Jenny, you can come up to the microphone after that.

We have Anselmeo Estrada, Michelle Krug, Bridget Hernandez Escobar, Yalizia Cancino, Laris Osani.

L-E-R-I-S or H E R I Sano or Ojano.

Fernando Ramirez Sanchez and Alexia Green, if you can all please come up to the front row.

Please proceed when ready.

Hi, my name is Jenny, and I'm a resident of District 2, as well as a volunteer for Planned Parenthood and the ACLU of San Diego.

I'm asking the council to vote in favor of the due process ordinance.

This ordinance matters to me because I believe that protecting the rights and due process of all San Diegans is essential to upholding reproductive justice.

The ordinance does this by ensuring that the city resources and practices are in alignment with protecting patients and providers from targeted immigration enforcement and ensuring their access to health care free from imitation intimidation or surveillance.

Please vote in favor of the due process ordinance and thank you.

Thank you, Anselmo Estrada.

And you have time seated to you by Mabi Castro, if you can please raise your hand.

Thank you.

You'll have two minutes, please proceed.

Thank you.

My name is Ansermio Jacostrada, the political director for the San Diego Building and Construction Trades Council.

We're here to ask you to pass this ordinance.

That the City of San Diego takes the maximum position to strengthen the constitutional protections that every single individual, regardless of race, creed, nationality, gender, or political leanings, is afforded, should be afforded in our society.

There is lawlessness in our streets, but it is coming from the federal government.

There is fear in our communities, but it's coming from small men, weak men, terrorizing working people to make a dangerous political point that their lawlessness is beyond our criticisms and accountability.

They want us to believe that they are above the law.

We have seen Stephen Miller's DHS place quotas on our people.

We've seen Tom Homan, Trump's boat borders are, take bribes.

We have watched them target our migrant neighbors and in real time move on to permanent residents.

And now American citizens are being harassed, detained, and arrested.

They are not testing boundaries.

They are working to destroy due process rights under the U.S.

Constitution, a document that was created not to protect the government from its people, but to protect people from government overreach and abuse.

I've been in this building many a times.

I've sat in this audience room.

I've sat behind that dais.

I've never been in those seats, thank God.

And I thank you all for doing the work you're doing.

But I've stared at that city seal many times since 2013.

Semper vigilance.

Always vigilant.

I can't think of a better motto for this council right now at a time when our basic rights are being stripped from us.

We need you all to be vigilant.

We're already on that line.

We need you to step up with us.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next is Michelle Krug.

Good afternoon.

Um as a former city employee, um, I am so grateful that my city council has the courage to take this up.

We have to fight this day by day by day, because otherwise we're really back in 1938 before the Nazis.

Um I am really grateful that you've also added rights and in more than just English and Spanish.

Um I just think that it, and I want to reiterate, please stop the flock contract, because every inch that we give them to use against us is coming back tenfold on our community.

Thank you.

Thank you, Bridget.

Hernández Cobar.

Good afternoon, council members.

My name is British Hernandez, and I come from District 8, Vivian Moreno.

I am a student at King Chavez Community High School.

I come from Mexican parents that feel afraid and are under lots of pressure.

This law would really benefit my family.

And I love my community.

To not be afraid.

My family and I believe that God isn't just a religion, but a love lifestyle.

We look forward to going to church every week.

The only place where we can find that peace that we cannot fight outside.

The one place where we can forget about our problems outside.

We are afraid to step out of our homes because we are afraid to be separated from our loved ones.

I see it happening in my community and think to myself that could be my family.

Even though the situation gets harder and harder every day, I still thank God because I'm here.

So I speak on behalf of my community and family that I pray to God that He touches your hearts and allows this law to pass for the better of my family and my loved ones.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Yalizia.

Good afternoon, Council members.

My name is Yalisa Cancino, and I come from District 8, Vivian Moreno, and I am a student at Kinchaves Community High School.

I come from Mexican culture, and I speak on behalf of my community who cannot use their voice to express their views on this matter.

My mother is from the States, but my grandparents come from Mexico.

I don't believe that the color of someone's skin should skin should determine who was legally able to be here or not.

People should not be afraid to visit open public places while having the thought in the back of their mind of getting detained.

I think we should all be respected as humans and get together as a community to not fight against each other.

Having this type of law can affect many restaurants, businesses, and public public places in our community, such as our parks, the zoo, the beach, and even walking down the street.

This may also cause a decrease in our field workers, which can which can ultimately create a shortage of natural resources that is a necessity for most families.

This is why I believe that this law shouldn't be passed, since it doesn't contribute to either the families of individuals who are immigrants in our community.

Thank you.

Lady Sosania.

Hello, my name is Luzorio.

I'm the proud son and brother of immigrants.

I'm a student from Kinshaves High School in Vivian Moreno's district.

Coming from Mexican heritage, I know how important it is that the law gets passed, so our communities can be safe.

Our families can be safe.

It will protect immigrant families from being taken by ice when they try and enjoy a walk at the park with their family or learning at the libraries.

Places that should be safe.

Without the law, this law, families will always live in fear that ice will come and brutally drag them or someone that they love away.

Imagine a child at the library waiting for their parents who will never come back because Ice took them.

The law will make it so families will not have to look over their shoulders, worrying if ice will come and take them, and our communities could heal.

Please vote in favor of due process and safety ordinance.

Thank you.

Fernando Ramirez.

Good afternoon, City Council members.

I am a student from King Chavez Community High School, located in District 8, and I come here today to reason with you all about an issue that is affecting the city at the moment.

Public spaces are meant to help our communities grow by providing an area for safety, learning, and belonging.

Definitely not fear.

People should not live with the feeling that they are risking their futures by entering such spaces.

If public spaces remain freely open to federal agencies, then many families will end up torn apart, which results in the dismantling of the very communities that make up our city.

Currently, there are a lot of hardworking and law-abiding people, such as parents and students that live with the continuous fear of being taken away, not because of serious immoral crimes, but simply for their immigration status.

You, as our city leaders, have the power and moral responsibility to maintain safety and peace in our communities.

So please vote in favor of due process and safety ordinance.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you.

Alexia Green.

Good afternoon, Council City members.

My name is Alexia Green, and I am a member of King Travis Community High School.

What is happening in our world now is not just affecting the adults, but it is affecting the children.

The children are learning from a young age to be afraid from the exact thing that is supposed to be protecting us.

The United States Constitution in America as a country preaches about the land of the free.

So why is it any different to the people that don't look like you and I and don't speak like you and I?

Deportation without due process is simply kidnapping, and I will not support that, and neither should you thank you.

Thank you, Denise Lopez.

Okay, if I can have the following individuals, please come up to the yellow reserves seats.

Uh Denise Lopez, Aaron Surmoto Grassi, Marco Briones, Chris Soforo Gomez, Hacintawang, CJ Balasek, Lori Lipsman.

If you can all please come up to the front row.

And Denise, you can come up to the microphone as soon as you're ready.

Um good morning, good afternoon.

My name's Denise Lopez, and I'm from District 9, and I came here with the student civil liberty unions and with Miss Edican.

When I was six years old, I remember that I had to worry my family would get deported because we had no court case.

During those years I could just have to help my aunt.

And they were scared to gain deported.

My family members, when they got deported, some of them their wife has followed them, and me and my mom and my parents didn't we were able to.

What a miracle was to fix our papers.

We had to deport our family members one by one.

Thank you for that concluding remark.

Aaron.

And um Mallory Adamski.

Thank you so much.

You'll have three minutes, please proceed.

Good afternoon, Council Aaron Sermonograssi, Associate Director at Alliance San Diego.

First, we'd like to thank Councilmember Ila Rivera and your team for being proactive and responsive to the community and bringing this ordinance forward.

Also want to thank City Attorney Heather Ferbert for her support.

Alliance San Diego strongly supports the due process and safety ordinance because it will help align the city and the police department with existing state law, including the California Values Act and the Truth Act.

It will help the city, its contractors, and the public better be able to assert their rights.

It will increase transparency and accountability when the San Diego Police Department participates in join task force operations, and it will clarify SDPD's role when responding to immigration enforcement by requiring a report of the incident.

Public safety is dependent on community and trust in law enforcement.

When community members are afraid that our local law enforcement are collaborating with federal agents on immigration enforcement, people will not call the police department.

That means victims will not report.

Witnesses will not call to report either.

And that impacts all of us.

It doesn't matter if it's happening or not, just the perception is enough to damage trust.

We know that federal agents try to utilize loopholes to have our local law enforcement help them with immigration enforcement.

We see this with federal task forces.

When federal agencies make collateral arrests, or when agents choose to, in the words of former Sheriff Gore, self-deploy.

Or in some cases, as we've seen recently, not just in San Diego County, but across the country, federal agents will also falsely claim they're being attacked to try to get other agencies to respond and cover up their own use of force violations.

This is why we need clarity, transparency, and accountability when SDPD is working on joint task forces and responding to immigration enforcement incidents.

The public has a right to know when and how our city resources are being used and what local law enforcement is doing.

By providing transparency and accountability, it builds the community trust we need to keep all San Diegans safe.

And so for these reasons and many, many more, we support this ordinance and urge the council to pass it.

Thank you.

Thank you, Marco Brianas.

Thank you, Council members.

Marco Briona is a political director of the San Diego and Apillo Counties Labor Council and a proud product of Mexican immigrants.

I'm proudly representing over 130 unions and 200,000 working families in our border region, many of which are immigrants or descendants from immigrants themselves.

I want to thank Council Member Alu Rivera and his staff and these colleagues that are supporting this ordinance for being bold and courageous.

In our work, we continually fight for workers regardless of a union.

We've seen this federal government demonize and round up grandmothers, fathers, mothers, children, siblings, vendors, car washers, construction workers, not criminals, but our friends, our neighbors, our co-workers.

We in Labor are proud of our diversity as our strength and our solidarity to one another, regardless of country of origin.

We commit to standing side by side by someone we don't know on the principle that we're stronger together.

We urge you to stand in solidarity with our communities against these racist attacks and show San Diego, so the country who San Diego really is.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good afternoon, Council members.

My name is Christophome, and I'm an organizer with the San Diego and Imperial County's Labor Council.

I'd also like to thank Councilmember Ilo Rivera's office for bringing this forward.

Workers, your constituents have been experiencing the terror of ICE firsthand through workplace raids, public intimidation, and families being torn apart.

Well, this ordinance aims to protect our immigrant communities who have been the target of this violence.

It also protects speech statuses and identities that this administration has already stated its plans to target.

In this moment, local government must do everything in its power to confirm and enshrine that public institutions are here to protect your communities, not target them.

This ordinance does just that, and we urge your support.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Hassin Tawan.

Thank you.

Good afternoon, uh, Council President Lakava and members of council.

My name is Jacinta Wong, and I'm here on behalf of the San Diego Asian American Pacific Islander Coalition.

I spent over 20 years as a civil servant in Chicago, most recently as a deputy director for the city clerk's policy team, working to make government fair, transparent, and accountable.

For the past few years, I've proudly called San Diego home and have had the privilege of leading the San Diego Chinese Historical Museum.

Our history tells the hard truth.

When fear rules, justice falters.

From the Chinese Exclusion Act and the Japanese American incarceration, these moments remind us what happens when we fail to protect one another.

That's why this ordinance is so important.

It is a promise, a promise that in San Diego, we will choose justice over fear, compassion over suspicion, and humanity over division.

On behalf of the San Diego API Coalition and the many communities we serve, we urge your full support.

Thank you.

Thank you.

CJ Balasque.

Good afternoon, Council.

Uh, my name is Dr.

CJ Balisek, and I'm a researcher and policy advocate with the Center on Policy Initiatives, a San Diego organization fighting for economic and racial justice alongside workers, unions, and community partners.

We're here to voice our strong support for the due process safety ordinance because everyone in the city deserves to access public spaces and services without fear of surveillance detention or discrimination.

Now, recent data from the Department of Homeland Security obtained by our local MBC 7 reported that there are three times as many San Diegans arrested by ICE from January to July this year than all of 2024 last year.

Data also shows that there is a sevenfold increase of individuals being arrested who have no criminal charges.

Okay, so what is this really about?

It's about keeping our marginal communities quiet.

It is about disciplining our labor, right?

So we see that when this immigration enforcement is going on, there are reduction in wage death retaliations and the other.

Thank you for that concluding remark.

Lori Lipsman.

Hello, hello, Council members.

I'm a resident of North Park San Diego.

I'm speaking today in strong support of due process and safety ordinance.

This measure will provide essential safeguards for some of the most vulnerable and also some of the most hardworking and productive members of our community.

As a volunteer at the immigration court on Front Street, I have personally witnessed the devastation caused by current federal immigration policies and the deeply troubling interactions many immigrants experience with ICE.

Protecting all people who live in San Diego should be a fundamental responsibility of the government.

In the absence of adequate constitutional protections at the federal level, it falls to our cities, counties, and states to step up.

Please accept this ordinance.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Now Kaba Shona.

After that, we have Kat Blue, Patricia, Mondragon, Ian Um Sorrello, Daniel Alejandro Saraya, Clint Corney, and Carney.

Hi, my apologies.

Clint Carney, Lisa.

Hi Hoff.

If you can all please come up to the front row.

Please proceed.

Hi, good afternoon.

My name is Naoka Bashima.

I'm executive director of the Carreno Organization of San Diego.

I'm here to urge the city council to pass the due process and safety ordinance.

With this ordinance, we can make sure that all San Diegans are protected with their basic human rights, constitutional rights to due process no matter who they are.

San Diego is a home for many refugee immigrants from all over the world, and including more than 2,000 refugees from Burma.

And I've been working with them and for them for past 16 years now to make sure that their food is supported to be included in this society and to find true belonging here.

And they are here because they needed to free their beautiful homeland due to injustice, state violence for over 75 years because of their ethnicity, revisions, and just because who they are.

And they fled Burma where they're reprocessing even their existence denied.

Please support to pass this ordinance so that San Diego can treat all residents all never visited.

Thank you for that concluding remark.

Cat Blue.

Good afternoon.

Cat Blue District One, community advocate and organizer of San Diego Community Action Coalition, representing over 450 constituents.

Great, great, great great granddaughter of immigrants, other than those of us descended from First Nations.

This is happening mostly to people who are not criminals.

It's happening to people who are born here.

It's happening to people who are here legally.

It's happening to people who are grandmothers who are children.

It's happening to anybody.

None of us are safe.

We need you to act now and keep us safe.

Thank you for that concluding remark.

Patricia Mondragon.

And I understand you have a PowerPoint presentation as well.

So we're getting your slides up.

Please proceed when ready.

Good afternoon, Council members.

Patricia Mondraone with Alliance San Diego and South Park resident.

San Diego has a three has seen a threefold increase in immigration arrests, far outpacing the national average.

The aggressive nature of federal immigration enforcement has impacted constituents in every district.

Families are afraid to leave their homes.

Immigrants who have lived here for decades, even those with legal status are afraid they might be next.

Many tell us they fear going to government offices and calling law enforcement for help.

By aligning city policy with state law, increasing transparency, protecting due process, privacy.

This measure helps restore community trust and safety.

This ordinance reflects fairness, dignity, and respect.

Thank you.

And then Ian Ceruello is next, and he has time seated to him by Inez Delgado.

Ines, thank you so much.

So you'll have two minutes.

Please proceed.

My name is Ian Ceruelo.

I'm the chairperson of the San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium, or SDIRC.

I come before you today to register SDIRC's strong support uh to this initiative.

I am also a practicing immigration attorney who represents hundreds of families here in San Diego.

I have personally seen the impact of the cruel and inhumane policies of the Trump administration to our residents, as reflected by the uh summary above.

I just came from the immigration court across the street, actually, and ICE continues to arbitrar arbitrarily arrest and the chain San Diego residents, breaking up families.

A big majority has no criminal record and record of violence.

The federal government has actively deprived due process to our community members, uh use intimidation and has instilled fear in our communities, violating our constitution and people's civil rights.

Uh it's not the way to make our neighborhood safe and thrive.

I think it is a good time to review the vision and mission statements of the city of San Diego.

Our vision and mission statements aim for, and I quote, a well-managed city in a thriving community.

We provide a fiscally sound, effective government that is responsive and dependable, a safe, well maintained and healthy environment, an abundant opportunities so our residents and visitors can enjoy the highest quality of life.

The only way for the city of San Diego to provide a safe, a healthy environment and allow residents to enjoy the highest quality quality of life is if its residents trust their local law enforcement and local government.

And this will be impossible if the if our local law enforcement and the local government are seen as part of ICE tools in enforcing federal immigration laws and all the illegal policies of the Trump administration.

So it is imperative more than ever to show that our immigrant uh to our immigrant and refugee communities that their local government is a part of Trump's fastest mass deportation campaign.

To opponents of this uh uh proposed policy, it is important to remember that.

Thank you for that concluding remark.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Danielle Alejandro Soran.

Hello, Council members.

My name is Anila Le Handel Sodia.

I'm here uh in support of the due process and safety ordinance.

I am also imploring you all to shut down flock ALPR systems.

When I think about uh the due process and safety ordinance, oftentimes what comes to mind is the story of my father.

My father actually grew up in your district, Councilmember Moreno.

He was a kid from Nestor, and he commuted all the way up to your district, Councilmember Lee.

And oftentimes he tells me about the stories of his encounters with immigration enforcement.

He tells me about all the close calls, the times that his life could have been changed and snap.

And I think I think whether or not he could have become a poet.

I think whether or not I would have known my brother, whether or not my parents would get married, whether or not communities like the ones I grew up in would even exist.

Please support these measures.

Thank you for the same comment.

Clint Carney.

Hello, Council members.

My name is Clint Carney.

I'm on the advisory board of the San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium, and I'm with Survivors of Torture International.

Thank you for proposing this uh item, S400 to provide support for immigrant communities.

At Survivors of Torture International, we're primarily a mental health uh therapy organization.

Those are our core services.

Um, our clients are the strongest people you will ever meet.

They come from all over the world.

They live in San Diego County.

At the end of 2024, more than 123 million people were worldwide were forcibly displaced as a result of persecution, war, conflict, violence, many, many types of human rights violations, including torture.

They endured three general categories of trauma that are described on the handout that I gave you there.

Pre-migration, during migration, and even resettling here in San Diego.

On the bottom right column, uh, the very bottom, the last item listed there is what we are experiencing today.

So our clients are reliving what they ran from in other countries.

So thank you for this ordinance.

Thank you, Lisa.

After Lisa, we have Ruth Kaplan, Felix Lopez, Nicole Lilly, Liliana Soriano, We Tran, Kevin Vero, Dale McKinnon McKennany.

If you can all please come up to the front row.

Please proceed when ready.

Thank you.

Hi, I'm Lisa Heikoff.

I'm a physician.

Um I live in District 6.

And I'm really here, kind of representing only myself, but myself as a as a physician and as somebody who cares deeply about the community.

Obviously, I want the council to support this ordinance.

I can't possibly add to the incredible emotional testimony that we have heard today.

But as the granddaughter of immigrants myself, I can speak to the sort of generational trauma that occurs and that doesn't go away.

We we are at risk of creating many, many years and decades of trauma to our families because it's not just what people experience today, it's what happens to these families and how that uh follows through generations and creates mental health and physical health uh challenges that are gonna face our community for many years to come.

Please pass this ordinance.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Ruth sorry, that was Ruth, right?

Felix Lopez.

Oh, are you Ruth Kaplan?

My apologies.

I got mixed up with the slips.

My apologies.

Please proceed.

Please proceed.

Thank you.

I'm Ruth Kaplan.

Uh, like Lisa, I live in uh Councilman's Cantley's district, University City.

And I'm a volunteer with Jewish Family Services and Catholic Charities and a proud member of SDOP San Diego organizing project.

Um I have been closely connected with a with a asylum seeking family that came six years ago from Venezuela, across at the border, followed all the rules.

And um, and when their TPS expired, they've been you know called back to court.

Just a week ago, the um mother was given only two days' notice to appear for an unexpected check-in.

The children left for school not knowing if she'd be home when they got there.

She was home, but now she's under surveillance and uh with a court date coming up.

The this family is particularly concerning because of their disabled child, and if they were having to go back to Venezuela, he would lose my medical care has education that is unavailable to him.

Thank you.

Felix Lopez.

Hey, hello everybody.

My name is Felix Lopez, community engagement coordinator at Logan Heights CDC, a leading nonprofit in the Senago Promise Zone located just one mile that way.

I'm here to talk about this item, uh item um 400.

Uh but before I start, just a few moments ago, today, Congressman Juan Vargas was denied entry to a federal courthouse in this city where over 200 people are being held in a basement without access to beds, to showers, and other amenities essential to human life.

Uh, where do we want to stand in this moment in history?

Under the Trump administration, federal agents have carried out violent unconstitutional attacks against primarily immigrant communities.

There's been three times as many incarcerations in the first half of 2025 compared to 2024.

And as someone mentioned, seven times an increase in the arrest of innocent individuals with no criminal history.

This due process ordinance will provide critical protections to our immigrant communities, and it will provide it will clarify the role from police department with this administration.

Thank you.

Nicole Lilly.

Nicole, you have time seated to you by Guadalupe Rojas, if you can please raise your hand.

You'll have two minutes, please proceed.

Hello, my name is Nicole Lilly.

I'm the executive director of Our Time to Act, a youth-led and youth-founded 501c3 nonprofit.

I'm also the proud granddaughter of immigrants and a resident of District 3 here in the city of San Diego.

As a young person, I can tell you personally that every single day I look at the news and I worry about the future that I have yet to experience.

There have been plenty of youth here today that have spoken to you, and I want to uplift the perspectives of all of the youth in this city who need you and are relying on you to pass this ordinance and protect their rights.

There is no justifiable excuse.

There are not enough words that I can say to tell you how important this is to our city.

You have a choice today to either protect the constituents that you have been elected to serve or to be complicit with the harms committed against them.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, Liliana Soriano.

Hi, Council members.

My name is Liliana Soriano.

Some of you guys know me.

I'm the director of policy at Youth Will.

We are an organization advocating for young people across San Diego.

Today I am representing them, young people 25 and under all over the city who will not stand by the violence happening to our immigrant communities and people who are just targeted because of their skin color.

Every person and family in San Diego deserves to feel protected, especially at city facilities such as their libraries and parks.

The due process and safety ordinance is a critical step toward ensuring that youth, families, and city staff feel safe accessing city services without fear of bias surveillance that can lead to irreparable harm.

I urge you to vote yes to strengthen due process, protect privacy, and show young people that San Diego stands for safety for all.

Thank you.

Thank you.

After that, we have Kevin Venno, Dale McKennany, and Karina Pugh, as well as David J, if you can all start coming up to the front row.

Please proceed.

Thank you.

Hi, my name is We Trans, and I'm executive director for Big Voices.

Um I'm here to advocate for you all to support it ordinan for the last few months.

I have to work with a community member who came to us and said I'm worried about ice will raise the Vietnamese restaurants, the hands alone because her mom owns us hands lawn.

We have to divert a lot of a funding at a smaller organization, struggling, trying to fundraise money to keep my staff.

We follow the responsibility to divert the funding to do that work.

We work on a community where we did two round of campusing and we want to do it a third one.

So I'm asking the city also to do the same thing.

Do not use your resources to support ICE agent to kidnap our people.

My community deserved to be here.

And if any better, even better, put the funding into the city budget because you know you have the power to do that, to fund the community to the work, outreach the community and protect us.

Thank you.

Thank you, Kevin.

Good evening, Council members.

This is my first city council meeting coming to San Diego is a sanctuary city.

We have made a per commitment to protect all of its law abiding residents, a commitment that still stands to this day.

ICE is coming into our streets and taking residents out of our communities.

They're pulling them off the streets.

We do not want ICE here.

This ICE has been coming to our streets and is dangerous to the people of San Diego.

These are incel extremists.

They are a danger to us, and we do not want them here.

We do not want our police abating in Trump's Gestapo.

Thank you.

Dale.

Um good evening.

My name is Dale McNenny.

It's okay, everybody gets my last name wrong.

Um, I hope everyone's having a good day.

Um, like many people here, I am Mexican American, and I am outraged at ICE targeting people for how they speak or the color of their skin.

San Diego, more than almost any other city in this country, owes its success to immigration.

This ordinance protects the people who makes the city run by limiting federal surveillance on those just trying to get by.

It is a necessary measure to take against a federal government that has shown a disregard for all of our civil rights, and I urge every council member here to vote in favor.

Thank you.

Thank you, Karina Pugh.

My apologies for your last name, too.

Good afternoon.

My name is Karina Pugh.

My pronouns are she, her, and I am speaking in support of this item on behalf of the San Diego LGBT community center.

San Diego has seen an appalling increase in immigration enforcement under this current administration.

The violent and unlawful attacks upon our communities are creating an environment of fear and mistrust.

Our communities are living their lives in fear.

Immigrants, trans folks, people of color, and so many other folks are scared.

Just for how they appear, how they sound, how they are perceived.

People are being targeted by the federal government and illegally taken from their places of work, from their homes, from places where they have the right to feel safe.

You, as local elected leaders, have a responsibility to take a stand and ensure that our local resources are not aiding in these atrocities.

The San Diego LGBT Community Center asks that you pass this ordinance and act as bold leaders and ensure that our most vulnerable communities are protected from harm.

Thank you.

Thank you, David Jay.

Good afternoon.

As a board member of San Diego Organizing Project and a resident of District Three, I stand to um speak in favor of the ordinance because any time we have a chance to act for justice, due process, and the safety of our neighbors, we must do so.

Too many of our neighbors feel unsafe and basic activities, like going to the library with your children, like accessing health care and even coming to speak to you, our representatives.

So I encourage all of you to stand on the right side of this issue and pass the measure without the concluding remark.

And Cristina, if you can please come up to the microphone.

Yes.

Good morning, or good afternoon, I should say.

This ordinance provides additional transparency in how local law enforcement resources are used and direction on how to protect the personal information of our community members here in San Diego.

Nationwide we are wit witnessing an increase of targeting of immigrant communities and generally people of color, no matter the citizenship status.

We are systematically being targeted, kidnapped, and disappeared due to the color of our skin or the language we speak.

Thank you for that much for your time comment.

Lydia My name is Lydia Chopaz, and I'm here today on behalf of the law firm singleton Schreiber in my capacity as its political director.

I'm also here as a concerned community member as we are seeing a consistent rise in both racial profiling and violence towards immigrants and other marginalized community groups.

Many of us have friends and families who came to this country as immigrants.

These loved ones have been dealing with fear of racial profiling and deportation for decades.

These are the same individuals who daily contribute to society in meaningful ways and have greatly contributed to so many parts in building this nation.

Federal agents continue to act unlawfully by ignoring court orders, refusing to identify themselves.

Thank you.

I am their voice to take your response back to them.

I'm waiting to go back there to go through the door where more than two thousand people enter every Sunday.

So that you all have open hearts as we are all suffering with our children during this moment.

And we are waiting for your support and your care so that I can take this message back to them.

Gracias.

Thank you.

Next is Jay Carlos Morales.

But the reality is that it's happening right now.

I have been witness and my family.

I have been witnesses outside the courtrooms.

And I will challenge every one of you to go and demand access to the basement of the federal building right now to see the conditions that the people holding in there is been living.

Following the law brings no honor and something.

So I just like to really ask you to take in consideration this ordinance because you have heard plenty of good testimonies and how this is affecting our family.

Thank you, Reverend Mary Sue Brookshire.

Good afternoon.

My name is Reverend Mary Sue Brookshire.

I am part of the San Diego organizing project.

I'm the pastor of a church in District 2, and I'm a resident of District 7.

I add my voice to those today urging you to adopt the due process and safety ordinance.

The gentleman earlier mentioned World War II and the importance of speaking out for others.

I'm the pastor of Pioneer Ocean View United Church of Christ, and many members of our congregation are Japanese Americans, a community that knows all too well what it is like to be denied due process when over 120,000 Americans of Japanese ancestry were in prison during the war in internment camps.

Thank you, Father TJ.

I first came to San Diego in 1972 as a young Marine.

And there's been many many developments here.

And I'm here today for Fidel.

Fidel is a part of our Spanish speaking community.

He was taken away to the court.

And my mind is running all over the place because I one lady came up five weeks ago and said, What country is this?

For the first time in my life, I had to pause before I answered that question.

Sean hats off to you for getting this initiative going.

Thank you for that concluding remark.

Brian, Sarah Brian Kubol, K-O-U-G-L.

Okay.

Valeria Aguilar.

After that, we have Ted Wamak, Brisa Brisa Velasquez, Celine Saris, Sauri Sorry.

My apologies.

Maria Delgado, Gabriel Medina, and Mikhail Hussein.

If you can all please come up to the front row, please begin when ready.

My name is Valeria Aguilar, and I'm the social justice coordinator at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego.

On behalf of our congregation, I urge you to support the due process and safety ordinance.

As people of faith, we believe that everyone, regardless of immigration status, deserves safety, dignity, and respect.

This ordinance is a necessary step to uphold fairness, due process, and the inherent worth of every person.

As Unitarian Universalists, our faith signals to us that when one member of our community is at risk, we are all affected.

Supporting this ordinance isn't just good policy, it's a moral commitment to justice and humanity.

By voting yes, you help ensure San Diego is a place where all people are treated with dignity.

Thank you.

Ted Wamak, if you can please come forward.

Good afternoon, everybody.

Umack District 9.

Uh, I think one thing that's been pretty clear to all of us is that ICDHS, HSI is gonna do whatever they feel like they want to do to do whatever job that they're going to try to do, rather that's taking parents while they're picking up kids, rather that's taking representatives while they're trying to do oversight and do their job, whether that's being in communities, going up to restaurants, or just literally breaking the peace of a community.

We've seen all these things happen.

And that also includes partnering with local law enforcement to make pilot programs to spy on people.

All of these things have been happening.

So I think it's in San Diego's best interest to support this due process ordinance so that we can have some kind of structure.

San Diego has always been an example, so let's set an example in California about how we could at least try to protect some of our folks because we already know that, like I said, ICE is gonna do whatever they can to try to do whatever they want to do.

Also, alongside with support and due process, I ask that you take now ALPRs and disband our flocking.

Thank you for that.

License remark.

Borisia, Barisa Velasquez.

You have time seated too by Jeffrey.

Thank you so much.

You'll have two minutes, please proceed.

Good afternoon.

My name is Briesa Velasquez.

I'm an attorney at the ACLU of here of San Diego and Imperial Counties.

We fully support the due process and safety ordinance.

It's a critical response to increase local protections for San Diego families.

This ordinance sends a clear message to all San Diegans.

You deserve to feel safe in your city, and your city is fighting to protect you.

We are in support of this ordinance because it establishes clear guidelines for how the city will address the attacks we are seeing on immigrants, black and brown community members, the LGBTQ plus community, people seeking reproductive or gender-affirming care, people with disabilities, and those simply expressing their political or religious beliefs.

These attacks are not just on immigrant communities, they are part of a broader power grab, which aims to dismantle the protections previous generations fiercely fought to secure.

When one person's rights are stripped away, the thread that binds us all and all of our freedoms begins to fray.

The city of San Diego has a responsibility in ensuring the civil rights and liberties of all its residents.

This ordinance takes a critical regional approach to increase local protections for San Diego families.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Celine Good afternoon.

I'm here because I have peers that are too scared to speak because of their status.

And even as a naturalized citizen myself, I'm scared to be here.

And I want to remind all of you in front of me that you should all be scared as well.

Because when you're not seeing these raids happen right in front of you, and when you're not interacting with the people who are experiencing them, it's easy to feel like somebody else's rights are being violated, but all of our rights are being violated.

Due process does not exist if it only applies to some of us.

Due process needs absolute integrity in order to be effective.

Your due process is on the line as well as mine, as well as everyone's in this room.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Maria delgado.

Good afternoon.

I hope you're all doing well.

My name is Maria.

So you orgullosamente San Diego.

I'm a very proud member of the community of San Diego.

And very proud of my union.

And I've seen very frustrated and angrily how our working people sa gente de Ice y la Patria fronteresa.

Is mistreated by ICE and the CBP.

But it's oui, come Trabajadora.

That's why today as a worker.

Who care?

Who prepare your work?

And support this measure that will protect our workers and our dignity.

Gracias.

Thank you, and please vote yes.

Terrible things are happening outside.

At any time of the day and night, poor helpless people are being dragged out of their homes.

Families are torn apart.

Men, women, and children are separated.

Children come home from school to find their parents have disappeared.

This isn't written in 2025, although it could have been.

There are 15 people here in favor who did not wish to speak.

And we also received an additional 60 people in favor via our web comment portal, and those comments were uh delivered to the council prior to this meeting.

I'll now go to those participating remotely.

We currently have nine people in the queue with their hands raised.

I've started the five minute timer.

Please be sure to raise your hand if you'd like to speak on this item before that timer concludes.

Ariano, Ariana Federico, if you can please unmute.

Hi, thank you for your time.

Um, first my name is Ariana Federico Montragon, her AEA with Mid City Can.

Um here to just express my support for the item.

And just um to continue to uplift the experiences our migrant communities are currently facing.

Um I'm actually really proud of San Diego, the leadership here that has put forward this item and the staff that are continuing to support.

I also um would like to thank all the community advocates, the young people that are showing up today and sharing their testimonies.

It's it's uh it's um a powerful thing to experience.

Um I think for a long time.

We've been trying as organizers, we've been trying to uh find a place to um put our energy towards and your time has concluded to participate in these space.

Thank you for that concluding remark.

Gianna, if you can please unmute.

Hi, my name is Gianna Giacaloni.

I usually he pronouns, and I'm a resident of District 2.

I'm in support of this item because every person deserves dignity, safety, and due process.

The due process and safety ordinance helps protect community members by ensuring that local resources are not used to further federal immigration enforcement efforts and provides a much needed additional transparency on resource use and direction on how to protect information of community members.

It's imperative that we spell out where our local leaders stand and emphasize that we are working towards safety for all people, especially the most vulnerable of us.

The federal government is intentionally creating a climate of fear and intimidation, so we must work to counteract this.

The due process and safety ordinance takes a critical regional approach to increase local protections for San Diego families and makes it clear where our priorities lie.

Please, I urge you to vote yes for the due process and safety ordinance.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next to Serena, if you can please unmute.

Hi, good afternoon.

This is Serena Pelka from Climate Action Campaign calling in to urge the council to pass the due process and safety ordinance.

I want to thank Council Member Ilo Rivera for bringing this policy forward.

As we work towards an affordable pollution-free future that improves quality of life for all communities, we're deeply concerned about what we're seeing in our city in the collective future that we're working towards the safety and protection of all communities to live in peace is a non-negotiable.

This collective future is impossible when our friends, families, neighbors, and communities are living in overwhelming fear as increased immigration enforcement in our city has become violent attacks and lawless activity without protection.

The city must uphold constitutional rights, ensuring due process for everyone and create legal protections across the city.

By supporting this ordinance, you are doing that.

So today, as you vote on this critical policy, I urge you to think about the precedent that you have the opportunity to set to uphold basic human rights.

Thank you.

Thank you, Nexus Sparky.

If you can please unmute.

Hello, Council members.

Thank you, Councilmember Yolo Rivera for championing this effort.

I'm Swarky Mitra, a D3 resident, current PhD student, and a daughter of Bengali immigrants.

Thank you for your efforts in trying to ensure that the city remains safe for all San Diegans.

Our city must stand behind people being targeted and abducted by terrorists and law enforcement's clothing.

The community's civil liberties have been repeatedly chipped away by complacence and inaction when students were muzzled, tracked, and apprehended for protected speech, and by the ever present complicity of ICE and federal agents as they increasingly surveil and break up families, torture and kidnap people, and spit in the face of due process.

By strengthening protections first mentioned in SB 54, you only make our local community safer by wielding transparency to keep the SDPD and the city accountable.

For yours, it is the community that has protected its members.

This is your chance to join us to be a part of the community you have been elected to serve, and now we're called to protect.

We keep us safe.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next is Emily, if you can please unmute the President.

Good afternoon.

My name is Emily Mullen.

I'm a D3 resident, and I am on the board of the San Diego Progressive Democratic Club.

And I believe the board, the council is going to do the right thing and approve this ordinance.

So I just want to urge you to really think about how this will play out in the future in terms of San Diego Police Department's cooperation with ICE.

I hope you all saw the videos of the ICE rate at the Mesa Vista apartments in July.

San Diego police responded and set up a perimeter.

They've claimed that by doing so they are not violating the spirit of SB 54 and they're there to protect the public.

But I saw ICE agents dragging members of our community back behind the cordon and then throwing them on the ground and arresting them for simply recording and trying to witness what was going on there.

And San Diego police stood by and watched.

So they take up fully 32% of our city's general fund budget.

They should be protecting us.

Thank you.

Thank you.

The five-minute timer did conclude.

There are six people with their hands raised.

No additional speakers will be taken after that.

Claire, if you can please unmute.

Good afternoon.

My name's Claire.

I'm with Youth Will and a resident of District 3.

Um, I'm just here to urge the council to pass this ordinance.

As we've heard from many people today, um, the violence that we're seeing from the federal government and ICE and the arrests and kidnapping and disappearing of our community members is not okay and is severely impacting our city.

We've heard from so many of youth today about the issues and how they're being impacted by them.

And so again, I just urge you to please pass this ordinance and stand up for San Diego.

Thank you, Blair Beekman.

If you can please unmute.

Hi, Blair Beacon.

Uh, thanks a lot for this item.

With the events in um North Park in May and here in San Diego.

Um, it really set a course that we in San Diego and Council Person Whitburn himself actually commented that you know we have to really be addressing overmilitarization issues of ICE agents.

Um the following months with data collection issues, San Diego City Park officials and city council have been really questioning how data is shared.

Uh what is the flock process?

What is all of that about?

Um, I've noticed cities around the country are now saying and working in these terms much more from these initial ideas of San Diego.

Keep up the good work.

Um, the the president of Mexico practices a very progressive, uh straightforward approach that I think Trump really likes.

If we practice that well here in San Diego, Trump will listen.

He has to listen to best practices.

And that's what we're offering.

Good luck with this continued good efforts, guys.

And do well with tech.

Thanks.

Thank you.

Next is Zoom user.

After that, Al Del Mastro, and then 7499.

If you can please unmute.

Julio Loaquin here.

My pronouns are deport them all.

There's no due process if you're not an American citizen.

If you guys are gonna pass this ordinance, you better put on a sombrero.

Because we're in a meme war right now.

Nobody's voting democratic.

You guys are woke, man.

And plus, you got to get a trunk flag next to the rainbow flag.

The city attorney knows better than the fly flags that aren't for the county or the city.

So you have to equal process.

You need a trunk flag next to that rainbow flag just to be fair and equal and diverse.

So you know the diversity with the sombrero.

We're in a me war, and you guys are front row center, man.

You're gonna have those mustaches with the sombreros.

It's gonna be a it is a war, man.

That's what's up.

I say deport them all rapidly.

Thank you very much.

That concludes your time.

Next is Al Del Mastro.

If you can please unmute my name's El Del Mastro.

Um an alien, I mean, not an alien, an immigrant.

Um, we've worked very hard legally to um have her here.

I had to go to the US embassy twice in another country.

First time we weren't approved.

This has been a long financial burden, long process.

And we're still after nine years for going through it.

I don't believe that somebody should just jump ahead of the line.

I don't think that's correct.

I've had to pay for me to be vetted out of my pocket and my wife.

And if she had ever worked for her government, she would never be allowed to become here as a citizen unless she came here illegally.

I think that we should.

I mean, two things could be true here.

I mean, this is no different than what I saw Obama do or what Hillary Clinton has proposed.

I'm old enough to remember Obama sending ICE agents and T B or sending uh school buses to fields and taking people.

Your time has concluded.

7499, if you can please unmute.

After that is uh 3856.

Please proceed.

Bob Kazuski here.

I've heard lots of concerns about the children, and I agree with those concerns.

No child should have to live in fear of the law.

Such fear is harmful in the many ways that we've heard today.

So any parent who involves their child in the active commission of a crime, an ongoing crime, day after day, year after year, is an unfit parent and should lose their child and be put in jail.

Those parents are actively and willingly putting their own children at risk of all of the horrors that we've heard described here today.

This misguided ordinance encourages this horrible, ongoing and destructive practice of putting these children at all of these risks rather than encouraging parents to legally return to their native lands and homes.

Do not pass this ordinance unless you really don't care about the children.

Thank you.

3856, if you can please unmute.

3856, I can't unmute for you.

There you go.

My name is Carol Waters.

You have an obligation to uphold the laws of our country.

This, the United States of America, do not pass this ridiculously labeled ordinance.

You have an obligation to protect the legal citizens of this country and this city, first and foremost.

The word treason comes to mind.

Thank you.

That does conclude public comment on this item.

Thank you, Council President.

All right.

Thank you, City Clerk, and thank you to everybody who took the time to come down and speak.

Um, whether you're an individual or organization.

So we'll now turn it over to my council colleagues for comments, questions, and entertain a motion.

And we will start with the sponsor of this measure, Councilmember Ilo Rivera.

Thank you, Council President.

Um let me start with uh some more thank yous again to the city attorney's office um for working so hard on this uh and and and working to bring this forward as quickly as possible.

Mayor Gloria and Coda, thank you for your your work on this and uh to STPD for making sure that we could work together in such a way that ensure that there weren't any unintended consequences uh as a result of of drafting and passing this ordinance.

I want to make sure I also thank the members of my team from Ava and Diana who are in the um in the audience right now, um Roberto, Ben, um, Molly, Maya, and Rosa, thank you for working so hard on this and with so much passion.

Um I really appreciate it.

Uh and to everyone who showed up today, um, and who uh the people who provided input and feedback on the ordinance and bringing it forward, folks who are here today um for having the courage to show up today, regardless of your immigration status.

You are speaking up and speaking against the federal government that is trying to make that illegal.

So thank you for having the courage to be here today.

It means a lot.

You're showing up not just for yourself and for your communities, but the many, many people who you know would like to be here, but don't feel safe being here today.

Maya and and Rosa spoke to the values that were motivating this ordinance.

They did an incredible job, but there was one value that was not mentioned in in that presentation, and that's the most important value of everything driving this, and that's love.

The love that we feel for our community.

The love that we feel for the community members who are here in the room today, and those who are not here because they're afraid to leave their homes.

I'm thinking specifically about some of the folks in my district.

I'm thinking specifically about some of the folks in my district who are everything we should be honoring as a country.

Community leaders, hard workers, amazing parents and grandparents.

That is why we're bringing this forward.

I want to speak to the youth who are here today.

Uh I need to be honest with you about what we can't promise you.

Because I I it would not be right to not level with you.

We can't promise you that the federal government won't make your nightmares a reality.

Can't promise you that your parents are grant private parents or the others you love and are vulnerable in our community won't be targeted, detained, and arrested.

I so badly wish that I could make that promise to you.

Sadly, we cannot control the actions of the federal government.

And every day the Trump regime makes good on its promises of cruelty, hatred, and vindictiveness.

We've seen it on TV, on social media, we've seen it on our streets, we've seen it in our federal courthouse where I visited and seen injustice so blatant that it has all but destroyed the notion of equal justice under the law.

We saw it on the first day of the second chapter of this nightmare when Trump decided to use his powers not to bring peace, not to feed the hungry, not to house the homeless, but instead to release thousands of violent felons.

However, not being able to stop the federal government from all of their worst impulses does not mean that we can't do something here.

And the most obvious thing that we can do is to make sure we don't allow a cent of our money, a moment of our time, or a single piece of our data to be used by the federal government to violate anyone in San Diego's rights.

That means the rights of the tens of thousands who marched in the No Kings Valley this past weekend, the rights of those who are in San Diego to receive reproductive health care, those who are living their authentic truth as members of the LGBTQ community, those with and without citizenship, the rights of everyone.

Trump, Vance, Miller, and the fascist federal government are intent on dehumanizing all of those who don't fit their twisted idea of who an American is and what America is.

This ordinance makes it law in San Diego that we will not be part of that in any way, shape, or form.

This is our way of turning our commitment to the rights and dignity of all people and love for our community into policy.

With that, I move approval of the staff of the recommendation.

Thank you, Council President.

All right, thank you, Councilmember Vera.

So we do have a motion to move the staff recommendation.

We'll go next to Councilmember Foster.

Yes, thank you.

Um President.

Um just um would like to thank Councilmember Ilo Rivera and his staff for the work that you did on bringing this forward.

I know you've put a lot of time and effort into getting us to this to this place.

And so I just want to voice my sincere appreciation to you and your team and the leadership and courage to bring this forward.

Um, also like to say thank you to the mayor's office and all the departments that have participated thus far and our REOs, our organizations who helped on the front end to um make sure we we were able to do this.

Um across the nation, we've seen the harm of policies that target immigrants, restrict reproductive freedom, and roll back years of work on equity.

These attacks go against the very values of fairness and dignity that define us, that we proudly go around and say we are the America.

We are the United States of America.

But I like to think today we are taking a step here in San Diego to show that we are different, that we won't stand for the ignorance that we are facing every day.

For working families, for those seeking safety and reproductive health care, for anyone who calls this city home.

It works to strengthen accountability and transparency by requiring an annual public report on the city's participation in joint law enforcement task forces, including those involving federal agencies.

Just as importantly, it holds up civil rights by prohibiting the city from sharing data related to protected characteristics or activities, and by requiring city contractors to keep the information confidential.

These are important protections, practical and values-based.

They reflect San Diego's commitment to due process, transparency, and the safety of all residents.

And that crossroad is we cannot speak on behalf of the federal government.

We cannot look everyone in the face in the eye and say bad will not happen.

But this is a heck of a step forward.

I do have a question for the city attorney.

And as we talk about imminent threat to life or public safety, I did not see where this was truly defined.

And I think, like any policy that we have in front of us, it's always the more clarity we can bring, I think the better off we are.

I think it would be good to flush that out so that we can have a clear definition and expectation of what we expect our departments and our law enforcement to do.

Also, I just um a question I do have is I just want to make sure that as we talk about state laws and officers' duty to report unlawful activity.

Does that same requirement cover interaction with law enforcement as a whole?

So if they are called to an incident and they see an agent doing, if I can have a few more moments and see something that is that should not be happening, that we have a vehicle in place in a manner in which they can report.

Or I should say, a do do they do they have the same duty to report?

With respect to law enforcement, that is not one of the defined law enforcement agencies in the ordinance.

So it would apply to federal enforcement uh out of state actors operating in these protected classifications and people acting under the color of vote, those types of laws.

Yes.

It does not apply beyond that, but I'll defer to the policy makers if there's an intent and also to Ms.

Abels in case there's anything I've missed.

Thank you.

Councilmember, um we can certainly look at the state law and see if there's any additional need.

It was not drafted with that particular state law.

Uh we did not look at that particular state law, but we can look at that and get back to you.

Okay.

I'd appreciate that just as we continue to move forward.

Um, I don't want to do anything to to hold up this process.

Um, I think with any good policy, um, we will always have revisions as things continue to transpire, um, especially as we look at the you know the continued recklessness of this administration.

Um, things are changing every day, almost every hour, every minute.

Um, and so I just want to make sure we keep that um in the forefront as we move forward.

Council Member Foster, may I kind of offer like an example of what this might look like and make sure that we're we're addressing your question.

So what we've what we've seen is situations where federal agents call SDPD to a scene.

And I've tried to level with the community that it's a very difficult thing for us to prevent from happening.

They can call for any reason, really, just call it an emergency and not say who they are.

But if they show up and what is happening is a enforcement activity based on a personal character, a protected personal characteristic or a protected personal activity.

They have a couple uh requirements at that point.

One is to not engage, similar to how they're not to engage under SP 54 for immigration, and then there's the reporting mechanism as well.

So who's there, um, whether a judicial warrant was presented, um, and then uh any identifying information about who participated in that.

And the the hope is is that through that information, one the clear parameters about what we will and will not engage in that broadens beyond SB 54, um, that we as a community have a better sense of what the federal government is doing here.

Uh, and so um I think that there is still some information that we are looking to see from um Premess DPD in terms of very specific um operational guidelines, but this is meant to be kind of a higher level policy position as to what's supposed to happen when they show up and what they are seeing is not an enforcement activity aimed at actual violations of the law, but instead is uh activity that is aimed at um targeting people because of who they are or the activities that they are engaged in that should otherwise be improjected of the Constitution.

Understood, thank you for that.

Um I just want to say that I do agree with the concerns that were raised around the surveillance ordinance.

There were specific um exemptions that were put in place in regards to the surveillance ordinance and federal task force.

Um I I think at some point we as a council should re-look at those types of exemptions, and again, it's not a an issue that um I am necessarily um indicating um that I have issues with our police force, but I think it's just a matter of trust and um accountability in regards to the federal government.

Um and so I think we are really running some risk risk there by continuing certain efforts and certain things that we have done, and I think we need to pull those out and look at that as well.

Councilman Foster, we're quick to address that, and the city attorney's office may want to correct me.

Our understanding is that this ordinance would supersede those exemptions and prohibit, so not the I we share we share this position on the LPRs and and the the cameras, uh, but the the the sharing of that information uh that is a thing that is meant to be um stopped.

Yeah, okay.

Very city attorney, do you confirm so this ordinance does prohibit the the sharing or transmission of data uh except in certain circumstances?

So, yes, it's but it's meant to work with the surveillance ordinance, it doesn't they can coexist together.

Okay, very good.

Um and I'm sure we'll have some additional um discussions um as well.

Um so with that um said again, I want to um thank council president Elo Rivera and staff um again for your leadership and efforts on this.

Um, given the moment we're in as a nation, it's it's critical um that we stand firm in protecting the rights of all people, especially those most vulnerable to discrimination or oppression.

Um just to bring my comments um to a close to the young folks that came out today.

Um it looks like they left, but I just want to commend them on their courage.

Um the young lady that came up and expressed her concern, her fears.

Never did I think I would be in a place where families were concerned about going to church.

Never I will say this watching the young lady, and I've said this before.

My mother was born in Mexico, and she came here when she was four years old, and listening to the comments today just brings back the memories of the stories and the difficulties and the challenges that she experienced trying to find her way.

My grandmother, my Aguilita.

It is 2025, and we are still experiencing hate and discrimination.

I had a conversation with my staff over the weekend.

And one of them brought to me a Bible verse.

Matthew chapter 25, verse 35.

And it says, For I was hungry and you gave me food.

I was thirsty and you gave me drink.

I was a stranger and you welcomed me.

This is truly about morals and values.

This is about right and wrong.

And this is about our future, not only as a nation, but as a city.

Man, never did I.

You know, when you talk about the power of the vote, if we're not understanding how critical the power of the vote is here and now, we should never willingly or knowingly not participate in our greatest fundamental right.

And so I encourage everyone.

Vote, please.

Um, and with that, um I am honored to second the motion here today, Councilmember Ilo Rivera to move this item forward and uh look forward to the work ahead and continuing to work to ensure that every member of our communities is safe and has an opportunity to be the best that they can be.

So thank you.

And that concludes my comment.

All right, thank you, Councilmember Foster.

I'll give you three of my minutes.

So we have a motion by Councilmember Ilo Rivera and second by Councilmember Foster to move the staff recommendation.

We will go next to Council President Pro Tam Lee.

Thank you, Council President.

Um I'll start just by thanking Councilmember Elo Rivera and your team for bringing this ordinance forward.

Uh, but more than that, for collaborating, I believe, with a number of other jurisdictions throughout our region, including the county and other cities, um, so that this is also a regional effort.

I don't want to have to repeat what many in the community have already shared.

Um so I I want to reflect on just um two small things.

One is to thank both Council members Ilo Rivera and Foster for sharing and recognizing the limitations of of where we stand and vocalizing that with our community because I think that's important um even as we take this step, and I know this is just an initial step that will send this to what we what we call meet and confer, um, that it is a part of the broader puzzle of how we meet this moment as a community.

Um, the second piece that I really want to note is that all of you out here today, um, I mean, this is why we're here.

I I want to share my appreciation to all of you for coming out and speaking up.

And I share this not just because you're sharing your stories, but I think a moment like this is important not just because of the policy on the table, but because of the nexus between where policy lies and where the community meets it.

Um we all know that whatever we put in policy will have its limitations on where we can provide protections, what we can accomplish, where law will be tested, but the community plays a significant role, and we've seen it already time and time again in the last nine months, ten months, eleven months, losing track, um, where the community has met the moment by stepping up and sharing their voices, stepping up in in marching in the streets, and also quietly behind the scenes, a number of organizations and people who are here today who are doing work every single day to meet the needs of the very communities that are being impacted.

Um, and I just want to shine a light on that because as much as we take the step today, I think the next question I continually have is how do we further this nexus with the community to ensure that where our limitations are met, they will be met by those of you in the community who are doing this good work every single day.

So thank you for coming out, speaking out.

Um, and again, I am happy to support today's uh motion.

Thank you, Council President Proteb.

Uh, we'll go next to Councilmember Campio.

Thank you, Council President.

I want to begin by thanking Councilmember Ilo Rivera and our Council District 9 staff for bringing this item forward and working closely with many uh folks across the city as as was said earlier about across the county, working closely with city departments, including the police department to incorporate feedback from the original text of the proposal, uh, changes ensuring that the ordinance is practical without compromising the safety of our residents or the professionalism of our officers, uh, collaborating uh with uh police chief wall in depth and incorporating his suggestions uh to ensure that we can continue to not further burden our overburdened police officers is important, and I know that uh given the drafting meet and confer should go very quickly, and we heard from our REOs their support of this.

So that should be a speedy process, and I thank Councilmember Elo Rivera for that.

And I took a very close read of the task forces issue.

That's a thing that we've had discussion at Council before.

I believe uh preserves our abilities to work on non-immigrant related cases that will keep our region safe.

So the public should know that while continuing to defend our values as a city, we are not going to be sacrificing our ability to combat significant things like fentanyl or extremely dangerous firearm trafficking or human trafficking.

Thank you, Council President.

I'll be in support.

I believe uh Councilmember Von Wolpert.

Yes, uh, thank you very much.

Uh Council President.

Thank you to Council President or Shawnee La Rivera's office and your chief of staff, Molly Chase, especially for your diligent work in this ordinance.

Um, your commitments to getting this very tough needle threaded is admirable, and I appreciate all of your work with our public safety officers as well.

Um, we've heard a lot about what's going on with Trump and our nation, as well as the need for certain federal task forces here in San Diego that prosecute crimes far beyond immigration enforcement, including human trafficking, drug trafficking, cybercrime, financial crimes, armed trafficking, fraud, and the one that makes my heart churn the most.

Internet crimes against children, in which children are preyed upon online, mainly for sex trafficking, and that happens every day here in San Diego.

So I think that this ordinance does a good job of providing transparency which we need for community trust and report outs about the federal task force that we work on, but also still allows us to combat these heinous crimes against our residents.

San Diego continues to be the safest big city in the nation, and that strength comes from our enduring partnership between the community and our San Diego police department.

And let us be clear, the federal government under the Trump administration is going to continue to engage in un-American assaults on our cities.

We are seeing Trump trying to deploy and in some cases actually deploying National Guard troops on our own soil in Los Angeles, Chicago, Portland, Memphis.

And because of Trump, Robie Wade was overturned, and we in this as women in this nation have lost what was our constitutional right for 50 years to make decisions about our own bodies and reproductive health rights.

And it is not just President Trump who is threatening the peace in our cities.

Texas took a stuff took a step towards state border restrictions even before Roe v.

Wade was overturned in 2021 with a law that allows extra-territorial lawsuits against the person who aids or abet to the performance of reproductive care, including abortion.

In December of 2024, Texas Attorney General Kent Paxton sued Dr.

Margaret Daly Carpenter, a New York doctor for allegedly providing abortion-inducing drugs via telehealth to a Texas resident who required and requested her services.

California law requires that people who have access to abortion care, family planning, and other sexual reproductive health care services have can safely, confidentially, and a timely manner and without harassment, threats, or fear of bodily harm, access those services.

In California, we also have the Values Act, which is a 2017 California Senate Bill Common 54, commonly referred to as the Values Act, that prevents our state and local law enforcement agencies from using their resources on behalf of federal immigration enforcement agencies.

This was a statement on Fox News in Chicago that was highlighting what the Hanover Park Police Department has said.

And you can see the highlighted portions.

The quote the bottom line is that all information we received from the federal government indicated the officer Bojovick is legally authorized to work in the United States as a police officer.

Yet he was arrested and detained by ICE a few weeks ago.

Thank you.

You can take down the slide.

There are countless stories like Officer Vojzek's that we're seeing the news nationally and here in our hometown in San Diego.

It's stories like these that show why our due process under law is not only a constitutional right, it is also critically important to a just society.

President Trump said that he would only be deporting, quote, criminals, quote, and the worst of the worst, quote.

Well, Hanover Police Officer Bajovic and the thousands like him aren't criminals.

They are human beings who live and work in our communities, and we must uphold the rights of due process for all.

I will support this ordinance to strengthen our due process rights under the law today.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember.

We will now go to Council Member Whitburn.

Thank you, Council President.

We saw more anguish and fear and despair in these chambers this afternoon than I've seen in the five years that I've been on the city council.

And it is sobering to know that that is just a small sampling of the genuine terror that exists in our community today.

We need to do everything we can at the city to demonstrate to our residents that we care and that we will stand up for their rights, even if the federal government won't.

So I applaud and appreciate Councilmember Ila Rivera and his team for bringing this forward, and I will be voting in support.

All right.

Thank you, Councilmember.

Not seeing anybody else in the lights, I'll offer a few brief comments to kind of wrap it up.

So I too want to join in and thank Council Member Elo Rivera and your District 9 team for bringing this item forward.

Thank you to all the organizations that showed up today and are on the ground fighting these good fights and taking some of your time to inform us about what is happening, what you're seeing as an organization and to your members and to the residents of this city.

And this is also my plea to the REOs.

We do have to go through meet and confer.

It takes too damn long to bring these kinds of things forward that actually embeds in our laws when the need is so uh urgent.

So I asked the REOs to be diligent in moving through the meet and confer process.

We've heard from some of them.

We did not hear from all of them.

But I do want to thank the mayor for the executive order that was issued that comes out pretty fast.

I think you did this those in Sacramento that passed the Values Act.

We don't think those went far enough, and that's why we're taking the action today to take it to the next level.

We've seen increasing predatory detainments by the federal government under this current administration, so eloquently and passionately stated by the speakers today for targeting people for the color of their skin or how they speak.

Our neighbors and friends are being detained, even though they have the right to be in this country.

We must act to defend the rights of all San Diego residents.

And it's our responsibility that if the federal government and those who hide behind the American flag, the Constitution or even the Bible do not understand, then it is our job to step up and make sure the law is clear.

And as a city, we must not waste our city's resources, whether it is our city employees or valuable time or our city facilities, uh, in abuse of due process or risking public safety.

This ordinance will, upon its adoption, will protect our residents, our police officers, and our city.

And while we didn't, we heard a lot about police department, and they were not here.

The emergence, the executive order, and a lot of the things that we've been talking about have already been implemented by the police department.

We get those briefings, you don't hear those, and I kind of regret that, but um this takes it to another level.

And there is nobody here from the operation side that is speaking in opposition to this.

And uh am I correct in that, council member.

I know you were thinking about your next thoughts that PD is not uh raising any objections to the language of this ordinance in front of us.

Council President, that is correct.

PD will be here in chambers during the second reading when that comes forward to answer any more specific questions that you all may have.

Unfortunately, they weren't able to be here tonight, but that is not an indication of their opposition to this.

And I want to applaud Council District 9 and your team for engaging so in good faith with them to get something that is deliverable for uh the city.

Okay.

For the record they were.

Okay.

Yep.

And that is the operation side.

It is not necessarily the REO.

They were available up until 5 o'clock, but that public testimony was too important to interrupt.

So this action is not about the rights, not just about the rights guaranteed to us by our country's constitution.

It is about human rights.

It is about human dignity, it's about equality, it's about decency, it is about all of us.

These are basic human rights of this administration.

Its supporters seem so eager to strip away from Americans.

We cannot stand for it.

We will not stand for it.

We will act.

And today is not the end of our actions, but the beginning.

So with that, I'm proud to support this item to protect San Diegans from the political agenda of fear and disruptions practiced by this federal administration, and we'll be voting in support.

And so with that, not seeing anybody else in the lights.

We do have a motion by Councilmember Ila Rivera, a second by Councilmember Foster.

Clerk, please call the roll.

I've started the voting system.

Please cast your vote.

Councilmember Von Wilbert, if I may have your vote for the record.

I vote yes.

That vote does pass unanimously, nine to zero.

As I said, this was a big step.

I hope it's the first of many.

And again, I thank everybody that participated in bring us forward, especially Councilmember Elo Rivera and your team and what you had to navigate to get us here.

And I accidentally forgot.

City attorney.

For I want to thank you for allowing us to take this to the very edge of our legal authority as a local jurisdiction.

It is important that we push the boundaries, and you've helped guided us there with the appropriate warnings and considerations.

But it is so important when we take these aggressive steps.

So thank you for that.

So again, thank you all for your participation.

Thank you to the organizations, the work you do every day on the ground.

But we're not done yet.

We will now take up non-agenda public comment.

The 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.

Clerk, please proceed with non-agenda public comment.

Thank you, Council President.

Per rule 2.7 non-agenda public comment is an opportunity for members of the public to comment on items that are not on the agenda but within the subject matter jurisdiction of the city council.

Each speaker will have two minutes.

Please note if there are eight or more speakers on a single topic.

The maximum time for the topic will be 16 minutes.

If you're in chambers, please submit your speaker slip if you're joining us virtually.

Please raise your hand to speak by tapping the raise your hand icon, or if you are calling participants, star nine.

I have no speaker slips for non-agenda hearing, Council Chambers going to those participating remotely.

Give a second to get the timer up.

We have six speakers in the queue currently.

I've started the five-minute timer starting with Francine Maxwell, if you can please unmute.

Good evening, Francine Maxwell, Southeastern San Diego resident.

Thank you for allowing me to speak.

The city has a truth problem absolutely because we have some truth dodgers.

You know that things have been occurring within the park and rec system for years.

It's gone all the way up to the mayor's office on racism, and you've embedded the executive director in the IBA, and nothing has been done with the racism, and that people are scared to speak.

The city has a whole bunch of diff money, and in an IBA report dated November 5th, 2021, funding park improvements within communities of concern.

Again, we stay concerned because people do what they want to do.

You don't have to not tell the truth and say that this is what I'm going to do this year.

So to say that we're getting a basic skate park in Encanto Rick, and that's a wish that we have had.

There is nobody in San Diego County that has ever wished to get something basic.

What we wished for our BIPOC community was a pool on the property that is owned across from Encanto Park and Rec, and we can't afford it, never could, but the city played with us and let us go through the whole thing that we were going to get a pool.

So again, to tell San Diego Foundation that it's a wish list and that we never use the space.

We didn't have staff to use the space.

Be honest.

Stop being disingenuous.

It is what it is.

San Diego Parks Foundation has a wonderful donation.

San Diego Foundation is given money.

Tell the people the truth because it will set you free.

I've been hearing Bible quotes today from the city council.

So again, do not be truth dodgers.

It is what it is when this when the city council has made a decision.

You don't have to have meetings to check a box.

Just tell the community, this is what I've decided.

You are duly elected, and people will support that.

But when you talk behind the doors, that's why there's no trust.

Thank you.

Next is Madison.

If you can please unmute.

Yes, thank you.

I'm here to speak about a public health harm linked to vaping and marijuana use, especially among our youth.

As new vaping and marijuana products outpace our regulations, it's time for decisive action.

Tighter retail oversight, stronger youth prevention programs, and restrictions on flavored and high nicotine devices.

A recent New York Times report by health journalist Danny Bloom highlights alarming new evidence about vaping.

Researchers are now finding high levels of toxic heavy metals like nickel, antimony, and even lead in popular vape products.

These are the same substances known to cause lung cancer and neurological damage.

One scientist said the contamination was so extreme that he thought his testing machine had broken.

The article also points to immediate cardiovascular effects.

Each puff of a vape stresses the heart, raises blood pressure, and constricts blood vessels.

Effects that over time can lead to stroke, heart attack, or heart rhythm disorders.

The vaping issue is not just adults making personal choices.

The next generation is now getting hooked earlier and earlier.

Nearly 8% of high school students reported vaping last month, and many teens now sleep with vapes under their pillows.

Products with 20,000 puffs equal to 100 packs of cigarettes are now sold on the market, often flavored and marketed in ways that appeal to youth.

We're also seeing studies linking frequent marijuana use to the same cardiovascular harms.

Higher risks of heart attack and stroke, especially when smoked or vaped.

As these products evolve, we should consider protecting our young people by putting limits on flavored vapes and high nicotine devices.

Let's not wait for another generation to pay the price.

Thank you.

Blair Beekman, if you can please unmute.

Hi, uh Blair Beekman.

Uh thank you to the meeting today and to Council Person Bon Wilford's continual work in Jackson, Mississippi.

Is my current feelings that the PAB subcommittee process has been mostly used at this point only to strengthen a legal language and reasoning for the many additional surveillance technologies that can be placed within current San Diego AOPRs.

A reminder that some of the main reasons of why this subcommittee process was called for in the first place was to consider how to better question and reduce the current numbers of AOPRs in San Diego, and also more openly question the continued maintenance and ownership of San Diego ALPRs by the flock company.

I believe from the efforts this summer that we need to be considering SDAOPR use in more singularly focused, responsible terms of license plate data collection.

And from this, AOPRs can then be systematically reduced more easily and understandably, and for more helpful budget savings at this time, while still continuing to fulfill current San Diego neighborhood public safety and coverage concerns.

Also helping the important goals how to keep additional surveillance tech at a responsible minimum with future San Diego AOPR use overall as well.

So overall, I would rather not finalize anything this fall until the following.

We have more open and clear community conversations and understandings, the more openly acknowledge that more and more surveillance tech with ALPRs does not necessarily equate to better neighborhood public safety.

And from this, uh we can continue to consider how to significantly reduce San Diego LPRs without hurting neighborhood public safety.

And uh to openly ask for and look for more sensitive caring, responsible tech providers other than PLOC.

This is an important concept.

Again, it is my current feelings.

The PAB process uh lacked a bit, is lacking a bit.

I hope the parameters of public comment can be of help at this time to help better balance and develop the ideas and policies of public safety and civil protections for the trust ordinance at this time and possibly for the overcrowded yet comprehensive updates and review of tech in April 2026.

Thanks.

Thank you.

Next is Becky Rapp, if you can please unmute.

The five-minute timer has also concluded.

There are four additional people in the queue.

No others will be taken after Becky Rapp, it will be 3856, then Zoom user, then 7499.

Please proceed.

Thank you.

And good evening, Chair Lakava and Council members.

My name is Becky Raff, and I'd like to take a moment to recognize the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control for its outstanding work over this past year in enforcing the state's illegal hemp product regulations.

In just 12 months, ABC agents visited nearly 15,000 licensed locations and removed over 7,000 illegal intoxicating hemp products and achieved 99% compliance statewide.

It shows what's possible when a state agency takes swift, coordinated, and consistent action.

Californians are safer today because of that.

As we recognize this great progress, we must also ask who will take accountability for the same enforcement among tobacco retailers and smoke shops.

These are the storefronts where illegal intoxicating hemp products continue to be sold every day, right here in San Diego, often right next to schools, parks, and family neighborhoods.

Smoke shops have and do operate in a gray area, taking advantage of loopholes between tobacco hemp and marijuana regulations.

All while the ABC has taken action and held violators accountable.

We need stronger oversight, clearer accountability, and real enforcement at local level.

The question is not whether we have the laws because we do.

The question is who will enforce them and protect our communities from products that are harming youth and undermining public health.

I urge this council to call for coordinated enforcement between the California Department of Public Health, the Department of Tax and Fee Administration, and local jurisdictions to ensure that all retailers, not just alcohol, alcohol licensees, are held to the same standard of compliance.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next is 3856.

If you can please unmute after that, Zoom user and then 7499.

Please proceed.

I do see that you're unmuted, but we do not hear you here in Council Chambers.

Not sure if the device that you're speaking.

Hi, my name is Carol Otterson.

I'm a real estate broker, and this is the real reason I called you today.

Was because I noticed again that you are on the road to vacation home operation tax.

And I just want to hit this one early on so that you understand.

This is you people do not belong in the business of real estate, period.

End of sentence.

You do not know what you're doing.

You do not know what harm you are causing to our industry.

For 40 years, I've been in San Diego, and I have never seen such an abysmal group working on just absolute you're you're deploying what would be a good real estate situation.

You you claim in this vacation tax that you're only gonna hurt one percent of the marketplace.

They're out of state.

I have out-of-state clients who come here six months of the year and they spend their money, and that's part of our tourism.

But you folks don't seem to understand that.

You just want to find money somewhere that you can take from somebody else instead of balancing the damn budget and working harder at your job.

That is your job.

Your job is not to take money away from people, it's certainly not to regulate how they utilize their property within zoning uses.

A vacation tax is very scary to me.

Let me read what I read today that really really makes me very unhappy.

It would be a tax on vacation home, and that means 99%.

I mean, literally 99% of San Diego would not pay this tax.

And it's a way of ensuring that people have homes in San Diego that aren't being used for homes in San Diego's pay their fair share.

Really?

The 15-bedroom place in La Jolla on the cliff that you next mention is gonna be used for the homeless.

Come on, get real.

This is all creative marketing.

I have a marketing degree.

This just stands out as enormous recklessness, Mr.

Rivera.

Makes me very angry as a citizen of the city that you would be proposing such a thing under such a guide.

Such a lie.

So please stay out of the real estate business, and it is a private enterprise that is intended to be in supply and demand marketplace, not to be messed with by the city.

Your time has concluded.

There were two speakers left in the queue when the five minute timer uh concluded, so if you raise your hand after that, you will not be taken, but you can definitely send in comments to City Clerk at Sandieago.gov, and those will be distributed.

Next is Zoom user, and then our final speaker is 7499.

Zoom user, please proceed.

Thanks for taking my call.

The uh Julio Joaquin here.

Yeah, I want the city council to get together and send a thank you card to Joe Biden and Kamola Harris for the open border policy that they did for four years.

Let in 30 million people, drug dealers, criminals, all sorts of people.

And it killed 400,000 American citizens with fentanyl and drugs because of Joe was sleeping on the beach.

And Kamala was down on her knees tackling somewhere, learning how to say something.

You should send them a thank you card.

Thank you, Joe.

And thank Jill too.

She was probably running the show.

400,000 young, mainly young kids, college kids.

They take one film of debt.

Wasn't just drug acts dying.

400,000 died.

Five, let's see, 55,000 died in Vietnam War.

And you guys just you guys voted for Joe Biden, right?

And Camilla Harris.

Wow.

You should be proud of yourself, man.

And uh it's just it's just pathetic, man.

But we got to uh Trump's gonna hire 15,000 more ICE agents.

It's only gonna get better.

You know, it's gonna be more ICE agents.

Portland just got the National Guard sent in.

The courts ruled it was cool.

So I don't know.

Do we need the National Guard down here?

We might.

We should use the Marines, man.

My dad was a Marine.

They would love to back up the cops, man.

The Marines would have a field day.

We could send them to Phil's barbecue for lunch.

And have the city pay for that instead of taking out of the parking fees at the zoo or something.

And by those guys by the Marines.

Young jarhead guys and everything.

They could back up the cops, back up the ICE agents.

And just start the mass deportation.

It's coming, it's on the wind, and it's coming whether you guys like it or not.

Have a good day.

Next is 7499.

If you can please unmute.

Bob Kazuski here.

My last non-agenda comment was almost a week ago on October 7th.

That was the two-year anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel, which famously used paraglider technology in that military attack.

I have suspected for years that similar training is taking place behind the scenes at the Tory Pines glider port.

If that's true, then those of us who are speaking about this week after week after week must be making some of those people very, very uncomfortable.

So for those who are uncomfortable about our speaking about this issue week after week, I have a very good solution for you.

It's easier than you may think.

Simply return the Tory Pines glider port to being a safe and happy recreational resource where no one has any reason to come to this council and complain.

If your glider port concessionaire is not doing that, then they are putting the secrecy of any potential glider port operations at risk.

If you want to keep a lid on the operations there, then make it the happiest place in San Diego.

Don't bar people, don't bully people, and don't abuse people who just want to use their public park.

If you want this issue to go away, then just fix the problem now.

It's that simple.

Just reactivate the Tory Pine City Park Advisory Board and implement a flight waiver similar to the one that we've been using in Los Angeles since 2017.

Finally, I want to commend the good people who speak to this council every week, week after week, to protect our youth from the deadly traps of drug abuse.

I know that this arrogant council doesn't hear you, but the people do.

I salute you, and I thank you.

Thank you.

That does conclude non-agenda public comment for today's meeting.

All right, thank you, City Clerk.

Does the city attorney have anything to report out from closed session?

Yes, thank you, Council President.

Today the city council voted on closed session item number four to initiate litigation.

Once litigation is formally commenced, the action, the defendants, and other particulars will be disclosed to any person upon inquiry, unless to do so would jeopardize effective service of process or settlement negotiations.

The motion passed seven to zero with council members Foster and Von Wilpert absent.

That concludes my report.