San Diego City Council Meeting Summary - November 18, 2025
San Diego City Council Meeting Summary - November 18, 2025
This two-part meeting (morning and afternoon sessions) addressed public proclamations, consent items, non-agenda public comments, funding for Balboa Park parking fees, the Fiscal Year 2027 budget priorities, and sewer revenue bond issuances. The morning session focused on recognizing Indigenous Heritage Month, Transgender Day of Remembrance, specific unions, and community leaders. The afternoon session featured intense public debate and a divided vote on implementing paid parking passes for Balboa Park, followed by the adoption of the FY27 budget priorities and approval of sewer bonds.
Consent Calendar
- Proclamations (Items 30, 31, 32, S500-S503): Unanimously approved (7-0). Recognized Native American Heritage Month (honoring Kumeyaay Nation and Ruth Ann Thornes), Transgender Day of Remembrance (honoring Julia Jiggs Legaspi), UA Local 230 (125th anniversary), Peter Chu (Peter Chu Day), Khmer Refugees of San Diego Month, and Alzheimer's San Diego (10th anniversary).
- Item 101 (Budget Update): Continued as a procedural update; no consent vote required.
- Item 56 (Solid Waste Lease Agreements): Approved with registered no-votes from Councilmembers Campillo (Sub-item B) and Whitburn (Sub-item A) regarding specific sub-components.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Proclamation Comments: Speakers expressed gratitude and pride. Councilmember Jamie La Break (Seaqua) offered a blessing. Sean Ellis and Sermio Estrada (Local Union 230) expressed support for labor building the city's infrastructure. Blair Beekman called for peace and tech accountability with tribes. Khmer American community members (including Van Thowen Penn, Lem Sansing, Greg Kauf, Rotha Kelly, Chris Chan, Lisa Chang, Mimi Liu) expressed deep gratitude for the recognition of their refugee history and culture, with some presenting lotus cookies as symbols of peace. Margaret Kazaki and Eugenia Welch provided testimony on Alzheimer's San Diego's growth and service.
- Consent Agenda Comments: Blair Beekman requested more transparency on RFID waste policies, parking limits at Balboa Park, and pure water rates. Catherine Rhodes expressed opposition to changing classified service positions to exempt roles to increase pension benefits, calling it a loophole that increases the budget unfairly.
- Non-Agenda Comments (General): Public speakers raised concerns about wildlife harassment at La Jolla Cove, the need for rangers, the commercialization of Torrey Pines Gliderport, the impact of marijuana and nicotine on youth, and the handling of closed session agendas. Several speakers addressed the "crisis" at La Jolla Cove and requested Mayor's office involvement. Theresa Casco made serious allegations regarding threats and commercialization at Torrey Pines, while Paul Krueger criticized the lack of transparency in closed sessions. Other speakers advocated for stricter enforcement of Kratom bans and youth substance use prevention.
- Balboa Park Parking Comments: Numerous speakers strongly opposed the proposed parking fees ($150 for residents, $300 for non-residents), arguing they would exclude low-income residents, seniors, and regional visitors. Community groups (Redwood Bridge Club, San Diego Beekeeping Society, Master Gardeners, Museum representatives) warned of lost membership and revenue. Speakers requested lower fees, volunteer/employee exemptions, and a sunset clause. Some speakers advocated for the fees to remain to fund park maintenance, while others called for the fees to be rejected entirely and city executive salaries to be cut instead.
Discussion Items
- Balboa Park Paid Parking (Item S505): Staff proposed annual passes ($150 residents/$300 non-residents) and special event fees to fund park infrastructure, making the program a condition of the September 15 authorization. Councilmember Foster and Campillo expressed concern over the lack of market research and revenue elasticity. Councilmember Moreno and Campillo opposed the fees as inequitable and a "cash grab" that would harm the arts and institutions. Council members Whitburn and Moreno voted against the measure due to affordability concerns. Council members Ilo Rivera and Moreno voiced support for the revenue necessity but acknowledged the hardship. Councilmember Von Wilbert voiced strong support after assurances that funds would stay in the park and that volunteers/employees would have free access. The motion to approve staff recommendations passed 6-3.
- FY2027 Budget Priorities (Item 331): The Office of the Independent Budget Analyst (IBA) presented priorities based on council memos, including affordable housing, street safety, and arts funding (4.28% of TOT). Councilmember Foster noted the need for revenue mitigation. Councilmembers opposed to parking fees raised concerns about the city's deficit management. The item was adopted unanimously (8-0), incorporating the EDNIR committee's recommendation for arts funding and including expenditure priorities supported by four council members.
- Sewer Revenue Bonds (Items 330 & FA1): Staff requested authorization for up to $240 million in sewer revenue bonds to fund the Capital Improvement Program and refund existing bonds to achieve estimated savings of $36 million. Councilmember Foster and Council President Pro Tem Lee moved to approve. Councilmember Campbell was absent. The items passed unanimously (7-0).
Key Outcomes
- Proclamations: Unanimously approved (7-0) recognizing Native American Heritage Month, Transgender Day of Remembrance, UA Local 230, Peter Chu, Khmer Refugees, and Alzheimer's San Diego.
- Consent Agenda: Passed with registered no-votes on Item 56 sub-items (Campillo/Whitburn).
- Balboa Park Parking (Item S505): Approved (6-3). Motion supported by Councilmembers Lee, Lacava, Ilo Rivera, Foster, Campbell, and Von Wilbert. Opposed by Councilmembers Campillo, Moreno, and Whitburn. The program implements $150 resident/$300 non-resident annual passes and special event fees effective January 5, 2026. Funds are restricted to park infrastructure and maintenance within Balboa Park.
- FY27 Budget Priorities (Item 331): Adopted unanimously (8-0). Includes specific allocations for arts (4.28% of TOT) and addresses homelessness, housing, and infrastructure safety.
- Sewer Bonds: Authorization for $240M sewer revenue bonds passed (7-0).
- Minutes: September 9, 2025 Public Facilities Financing Authority minutes approved (7-0).
Meeting Transcript
Council President Pro Tem Lee. Here. Councilmember Campillo. Here. Councilmember Moreno. President. Councilmember Ilo Rivera. Council President Lacava. Present. Also attending the meeting our City Attorney Heather Ferber, Independent Budget Analyst, Charles Bodica, Council of Affairs Advisor and the Mayor's Office, Coda Zeiser, and myself, your city clerk, Deanna Fuentes. Thank you, Council President. Thank you, Madam Clerk. A quorum is now present. We will begin this morning with the land acknowledgement and the pledge of allegiance led by Councilmember Campbell. Please stand. We respectfully acknowledge that the Kumey Nation are the original inhabitants of the unceded land now known as San Diego. Despite enduring the horrors of genocide and colonization, the Kumiai spirit remains unbroken. We honor the resilience of their ancestors who fought to protect their culture and land. And today they carry their legacy forward, ensuring that their traditions continue to thrive in gratitude and strength. We stand with the Kumya Nation connected to our past and committed to a thriving future. Please face the flag, put your right hand over your heart, and join us in the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. Our nation and indivisible liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Council President. Please note that the time allocations for proclamations and consent items for meeting management purposes are one minute per item per person with three minutes maximum if you're speaking on three items or more. 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. Council ambassadors are available near the entrance of chambers and can assist with questions and speaker slips. No further person, no further in-person testimony will be taken once the council begins virtual testimony, and the information to attend virtually is found on the agenda front page. Thank you, Council President. All right, thank you for that. We will now dispense with the approval of the proclamation items. Clerk, please proceed with public comment. Thank you. 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. Proclamation items being approved are items 30, 31, 32, S500, S501, S502, and S503. We have several speakers here in Council Chambers. Again, just a reminder, one minute per item. So please plan accordingly, starting with Blue Eagle, if you can please come up to the microphone. After that, we have Councilmember Jamie Le Brake, if you can please come up to the yellow reserve seats, as well as Margaret Ikazaki, Sean Ellis, and Sermio Estrada, Eugenia Welch, and Jackie Sangzang Hui. If you can all please come up to the yellow reserve seats, and you'll have one minute, please proceed. Hi, my name is Jamie the Break, Council of Seaqua. I'm going to go ahead and start this with a blessing to honor both our Ruth Ann Thorn and Martha Rodriguez for their achievements. And I just want to, before I start, just share my gratitude. I wanted to be here today to give thanks to the San Diego City Council for your efforts and recognizing the great efforts of our people and our community. It means so much as we continue to build and amend policy, but most importantly, building our bridges to us who better serve the city of San Diego. Thank you. Sir, I'm sorry, before you begin.
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