San Diego City Council Meeting Summary - October 21, 2025
San Diego City Council Meeting - October 21, 2025
On October 21, 2025, the San Diego City Council convened to address a wide range of proclamations, consent items, development plans, and critical housing updates. The session featured significant recognition of public servants and local businesses, alongside urgent discussions regarding the expiration of federal Emergency Housing Voucher funding due to the federal government shutdown. Council members unanimously supported a series of proclamations honoring Tony Khalil, San Diego FC, and Domestic Violence Awareness Month, while also approving the reappointment of the City Auditor and the adoption of Development Impact Fee (DIF) allocations. A notable portion of the meeting was dedicated to the San Diego Housing Commission's report on the imminent end of EHV funding, with officials highlighting the need for local philanthropy and strategic waiver implementation to protect vulnerable residents.
Consent Calendar
- Item 104: Reappointment of Andy Hanau to a second term as City Auditor, with recommended annual salary of $288,328.
- Item 106: Appointments to the Board of Building Appeals and Advisors, including Reagan Lawson, John O'Malley, Matt Mangano, Dave Kenneth Adams, Caitlin Andres, and Frank Frisch.
- Item 107: Honorary street naming for Julia "Jiggs" Legaspi (9,000 block of Penticton Way) and Alan Brainen (Cornerstone Court West and Pacific Heights Boulevard intersection).
- Item 330: Appropriation of over five years of unallocated community-specific Development Impact Fee funds to projects in Carmel Valley and Del Mar Mesa, and authorization for a new Del Mar Mesa trails project.
- Item 331: Approval of the 8610 Genesee Avenue Project (PRJ-1121151), a Plan 5 decision.
- Housing Authority Minutes: Approval of the minutes from the July 22, 2025, meeting.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Proclamation Items:
- Sam Abed and HRC Chair Nicole Murray Ramirez: Expressed gratitude for the "Tony Khalil Day" proclamation and spoke passionately about the rise in hate crimes. Murray Ramirez stated a position of support for Councilmember Elo Rivera's due process and safety ordinance and expressed strong appreciation for Councilmember Campillo for introducing the "United Against Hate Week" resolution.
- Carlos (Remote): Requested a public comment on non-agenda items.
- Item 107 (Julia Legaspi):
- Nicole Murray Ramirez and Alex Villaforte: Expressed full support for the honorary street naming, highlighting Legaspi's legacy as a transgender Filipino advocate and her impact on multiple communities.
- Item 104 (City Auditor):
- Kyle Elsler and Eduardo Luna: Expressed full support for the reappointment of Andy Hanau, citing the office's accountability and high-quality reporting.
- Non-Agenda Public Comment:
- Robert Hermann, Guthrie Leonard, and Sandy Zackenberg: Raised concerns regarding lead emissions from Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, the safety of children on dangerous streets like Jackson Drive, and the limited access for street performers to the city's 4B8 spaces.
- Barbara Gordon, Blair Beekman, Francine Maxwell, Kathleen Lippett, and others: Expressed opposition or deep concern regarding marijuana-impaired driving, the genetic health impacts of cannabis use, and the impact of high-potency marijuana on youth mental health. Gordon stated a position of support for stricter marijuana impaired driving laws. Lippett and other speakers called for the adoption of responsible on-sale CUP processes to address neighborhood nuisance issues in Pacific Beach.
- Carlos Potel (Army of Saints): Proposed solutions for street homelessness, advocating for a scalable intake site on the five acres behind Father Joe's Village.
- Becky Rapp: Reaffirmed the need to protect youth by acknowledging the negative health impacts of high-potency marijuana.
Discussion Items
- Proclamations:
- Tony Khalil Day: Councilmember Moreno and Mayor Gloria expressed high praise for Khalil's 37-year career, highlighting his engineering expertise and role in reducing flood risks in the Tijuana River Valley.
- Domestic Violence Awareness Month: City Attorney Heather Ferbert stated the solemn responsibility to honor lives lost and support survivors, citing statistics of 15,000 calls in 2024. Councilmember Campillo and Councilmember Foster expressed their positions of support for the City Attorney's efforts and the "Your Safe Place" program.
- United Against Hate Week: HRC Chair Murray Ramirez and Councilmembers Elo Rivera and Campillo expressed strong positions of support for the resolution, acknowledging the rise in hate crimes against Black, Jewish, and LGBTQ+ communities. Elo Rivera called for consistent collective action against hate.
- Show Up for San Diego FC Week: Councilmembers Whitburn and Elo Rivera expressed full support for the team, noting their record-breaking first season and community engagement. Campillo, serving as a dedicated fan, expressed enthusiasm for the team's investment in youth and local neighborhoods.
- All of Cafe and Olive Baking Company: Councilmember Campbell expressed deep gratitude for the business's community contributions, including pandemic-era grocery delivery and support for first responders.
- Housing Authority Session:
- Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) Expiration: Housing Commission Executive Director Lisa Jones and Agency Members expressed grave concern regarding the premature end of EHV funding in Fall 2026. Jones stated that existing funds will be depleted before transitioning families to traditional vouchers.
- Councilmember Moreno questioned the feasibility of solving the resulting 10 million dollar annual gap for 400 households through philanthropy and local resources, noting the severity of the vulnerability of these families.
- Agency Member Moreno and Council President Pro Tem Lee expressed support for the administrative plan revisions to create a local preference for EHV families while acknowledging the harsh realities of reduced funding.
Key Outcomes
- Unanimous Approval (8-0, Von Wilbert absent): The motion to approve all proclamation items (Items 30-32, S500-S502) passed unanimously, with Councilmember Moreno and Councilmember Whitburn sponsoring and seconding the motion.
- Unanimous Approval (8-0, Von Wilbert absent): The reappointment of Andy Hanau as City Auditor (Item 104) and the appointments to the Board of Building Appeals and Advisors (Item 106) were approved.
- Unanimous Approval (8-0, Rivera absent): The appropriation of Development Impact Fee funds (Item 330) and the 8610 Genesee Avenue Project approval (Item 331) passed.
- Unanimous Approval (9-0): The revision of the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan, establishing a local preference for Emergency Housing Voucher families, was approved by the Housing Authority.
- Adjournment in Memory: The meeting was adjourned in memory of Dr. David Emile Joseph Bazo, a UC San Diego Professor Emeritus and medical leader.
Meeting Transcript
Council President Pro Tem Lee. Here. Councilmember Campillo. Here. Councilmember Moreno. President. Councilmember Elo Rivera. And Council President Lacava. Present. Also attending the meeting, our city attorney Heather Ferbert, Deputy Director in the IBA's office, Jillian Andalina, Council of Affairs Advisor in the Mayor's Office, Coda Zeiser, and myself, your city clerk, Diana Fuentes. Thank you, Council President. All right, thank you. We will begin this morning with the land acknowledgement and the pledges of allegiance led by Councilmember Campbell as soon as she settles in. We were certainly all the nation are the original inhabitants of the unseen land now known as San Diego. Despite enduring the wars of genocide and colonization, remains unbroken. We honor the resilience of our ancestors who fought to protect their culture and land. Today, a carry the legacy forward, ensuring that their traditions continue to thrive in gratitude and strength. We stand in our nation, connected to our past and committed to a thriving future. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic. One nation under God. Liberty and Justice Carol. Clerk, please go over how the public can offer their testimony. Thank you, Council President. I'd like to highlight the slide on the screen that reviews the public testimony rules for today's meeting. Please note that time allocations for proclamations and consent items for meeting management purposes are one minute per item with a maximum of three minutes if you're speaking on three or more items. 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 locate at the entrance of chambers and bring it to the front of the room in the clear box. Council 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. All right, thank you. We will now dispense with the approval of the proclamation items. Clerk, please proceed with public comments. The public comment period for the proclamation items is now open. Each speaker will have one minute per item per person. If you would like to speak on three or more items, you will have a maximum of three minutes. The proclamation items being approved are items 30 through 32 and S500 through S502. I would like to mote note that we did receive one public comment speaker in favor of item 30 via web comment form, and that was distributed to the council. If I can have the following people come up to the front row, Sam Abed, if you can please come up to the microphone. You'll be speaking on item 30, and then um HRC Chair Nicole Murray Ramirez, if you can come up to the front row as well. Please proceed. Well, good morning, uh Mayor Gloria, Council President, and Council members, staff, and wonderful uh residents here. It is my great honor to stand here today and celebrate the remarkable 37-year career of my dear friend Tony Keril, a truly dedicated public servant of the beautiful city of San Diego. For nearly four decades, Tony demonstrated both effective leadership and relentless pursuit of excellence. His contribution always went far beyond public expectations, demonstrating a deep and sincere dedication, excellent judgment, rich institutional knowledge, and the drive to make San Diego a better place for all. Tony didn't simply manage the city's business, he passionately served the people and the community he loved and cared about. Tony's conviction was driven and guided by his deep belief that public service is an honorable mission. He genuinely touched countless life in our community. That belief that belief was always at the core of his values and commitment.
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