San Diego City Council Special Meeting Summary (Nov 17, 2025)

On November 17, 2025, the San Diego City Council convened for a special meeting, preceded by a series of ceremonial public statements celebrating park upgrades, street naming, officer appreciation, and homelessness initiatives. The formal agenda focused almost exclusively on three closed session items related to ongoing litigation and labor negotiations, followed by public testimony expressing deep concerns regarding government transparency, housing policy, law enforcement surveillance, and public health.

Consent Calendar

• No specific items were voted on during the public portion of the meeting as the agenda prioritized the closed session.
• The Council recessed into closed session to deliberate on litigation and employment matters.

Public Comments & Testimony

Regarding Closed Session Items (SCS1: Save Our Access Litigation / Height Limits; SCS3: Flood Litigation)

• Paul Kruger: Expressed concern that the Council would conclude a day-long closed session without a set return time, effectively disenfranchising the public by hiding the vote rationale behind closed doors. He argued that the issue of Midway district height limits is a policy and political issue, not solely a legal one, and demanded a public disclosure of votes and reasoning.
• Kate Callan: Strongly opposed the City's attempt to overturn an appellate ruling regarding 30-foot height limits in the Midway district. She characterized the move as a "reckless action" and a "political ploy" that erodes public faith. She urged the Council to block Council President Gloria from conducting government business in secret.
• Unidentified Speaker (Coastal Commission): Expressed frustration that the City Council acts as a "soother" rather than a decision-maker under Mayor Gloria. This speaker argued for the complete elimination of the California Coastal Commission and called for forensic accountants to investigate potential corrupt financial practices.
• Mandy: Urged the Council not to appeal the California Supreme Court regarding the Midway rising litigation. She stated that the Court of Appeals correctly identified an incomplete Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and that the Midway area suffers from soil liquefaction and traffic congestion. She characterized the proposed affordable units as being for individuals earning over $100,000 annually, arguing the city needs deeper affordable housing solutions.
• Blair Beekman: Raised concerns about "water rise issues" affecting the Midway project, citing comments from Lori Solano. She suggested that bypassing the EIR process to seek an appeal may be questionable. regarding flood litigation, she expressed hope that the Council is considering counter-suits to hold responsible parties accountable for harm caused by weather events.
• Al Del Mastro (Small Housing Provider): Expressed extreme opposition to the Council's policies, stating they cater to the Council President to the detriment of residents. He accused the Mayor of suing landlords after the recent flood, described city policies as "insane," and argued that small landlords are not the ones gouging the public. He criticized the city for increasing taxes, issuing inflated water bills, and building housing without adequate parking or water supply, comparing current plans to the "disaster" of City Heights.

Regarding Non-Agenda Public Comment

• Blair Beekman (Second appearance): Expressed concern over the Flock surveillance technology contract. He suggested that the city should explore more responsible ALPR vendors, citing the city of Oakland's review of the vendor. He advocated for a community dialogue to possibly transition away from Flock by spring 2026 and recommended reduced surveillance placement in neighborhoods.
• Barbara Gordon: Highlighted a 42% increase in tobacco lobbyists and their aggressive marketing to youth. She urged the Council to strengthen tobacco retail licensing by reducing the number of retailers, restricting advertisements, and increasing taxes to counter public health risks.
• Nexus Madison: Called for policies that reduce youth access to tobacco and hold commercial interests accountable, noting that vaping and tobacco use are rising in vulnerable neighborhoods. She emphasized that lung cancer awareness requires active policy intervention, not just passive recognition.
• Becky Rapp: Requested greater transparency and accountability from the marijuana department. She noted that while she supports expanding delivery services, the city must first audit its ability to collect taxes and penalties from existing permitted businesses before adding new regulations.
• Al Del Mastro (Second appearance): Reiterated a lack of city accountability, citing inflated trash and water bills. He criticized the Council for doubling their salaries over five years (from $75,000 to $186,000) while restricting landlord incomes, urging them to "lead by example" with smaller raises.
• Unidentified Speaker (Rent Collection): Questioned the need for computer systems to collect rent at Fiesta Island, citing 30% non-payment rates and potential misuse of office space. The speaker suggested manual rent collection on "yellow pads" and advocated for publishing non-payment lists and potentially housing homeless individuals in vacant units.
• John Stump: Criticized a police press release regarding a murder suspect for identifying the victim's race (black female) and misidentifying the location (City Heights instead of Talmadge). He accused the police department of racism and suggested they need to "buy a map."

Discussion Items

• The Council did not engage in public discussion of project details during the open session. The primary focus was the procedural deliberation within the closed session regarding:
  • SCS1: Confidential conference with legal counsel regarding existing litigation (Save Our Access v. City of San Diego and Midway district height limits).
  • SCS3: Confidential conference regarding flood litigation (January 22, 2024 flood).
  • Labor Negotiations: Appointment of the Executive Director for the Commission on Police Practices and negotiations regarding operating procedures.

Key Outcomes

• Meeting Status: The Council recessed into closed session immediately following non-agenda public comment. No report of the closed session decisions was provided in the transcript.
• Public Engagement: The transcript documents 14 public comments, mostly opposing the Council's strategy to litigate Midway height restrictions behind closed doors and expressing broad dissatisfaction with city governance, transparency, and fiscal policies.
• Procedural Note: The Council President noted that the session could continue until 6:00 PM and that the public would be advised to watch City 24 or the online stream for the eventual report out of the closed session.