San Diego City Council Meeting - January 27, 2026: Proclamations, Parking Permits, Energy Contract, and Housing Development
San Diego City Council Meeting - January 27, 2026
The San Diego City Council met on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. in Council Chambers. The meeting began with a land acknowledgement recognizing the Kumiai Nation, the Pledge of Allegiance, and roll call. Eight councilmembers were present; Councilmember Campillo was absent. The agenda included proclamations, consent calendar items, non-agenda public comment, a Sunday residential parking permit proposal (Item 331), an energy savings performance contract and financing agreement (Item 333), and a housing development project in Pacific Beach (Item 332).
Consent Calendar
- Approved unanimously (8-0) with Councilmember Von Wilpert voting no on Item 51 (public art contract extension for Pure Water North). The consent agenda included routine approvals, appointments, and reappointments, such as Sohail Nux to the Board of Building Appeals and Advisors, and Grace Jones, Cynthia Rose Harris, Stan Williams, Eric Lardy, and Abe Annabel Yi Gong to the Resiliency Advisory Board. Also approved were FY26 Community Projects, Programs, and Services (CPPS) funding allocations for several districts.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Proclamations: Several speakers celebrated the Patrick Henry High School girls flag football team's CIF championship and honored Holocaust Remembrance Day. Holocaust survivor Louis Pesci shared his story. Commenters also thanked the council for recognizing retiring city employees Paige Fulkman and Robert Cronk.
- Consent Agenda: Bob Kazuski criticized outsourcing of city services and the use of a third-party domain for agendas. Paul Kruger urged cutting public art and CPPS spending instead of raising fees and taxes. Blair Beekman and Kathleen Lippett questioned the timing and priority of public art funding given flood recovery needs.
- Non-Agenda Public Comment: Speakers addressed issues including poor conditions at supportive housing, opposition to ICE detention and cooperation, opposition to paid parking in Balboa Park, concerns about marijuana's health and public safety impacts, and allegations of government data manipulation.
- Item 331 (Sunday Parking Permits): Commenters opposed the requirement for residents near Balboa Park to pay an annual permit fee for Sunday parking, arguing it harms low-income visitors and local businesses. Others argued Sunday parking should remain free.
- Item 333 (Energy Savings Contract): Caitlin Haley (SCG&E) expressed support for the city's electrification goals. Blair Beekman asked for more committee preview time for such large contracts.
- Item 332 (Ava Pacific Beach): Supporters included Charlie Nieto (PB Town Council), Marcella Bothell (PB Planning Group chair), Shiloh Hales (Discover PB), who praised Avalon Bay's community engagement and the project's infill housing. Opponents included Ron (resident) who worried about parking spillover, Denise Friedman and Babette Bayer who cited sewage capacity issues, and Brian Flynn (attorney for SAFER) who argued the EIR failed to require all feasible VMT mitigation measures.
Discussion Items
- Item 331 – Sunday Residential Parking Permit Program: Transportation staff proposed creating three residential permit zones (downtown, uptown, mid-city) for Sundays only, with a $141.50 annual fee. Councilmember Whitburn, who requested the item, noted it was a compromise to mitigate impacts on residents who lack off-street parking. Councilmember Ila Rivera raised concerns about the lack of a low-income discount or payment plan. After debate, Councilmember Whitburn withdrew his motion, and no action was taken, effectively maintaining free Sunday parking in those neighborhoods. The budget impact was noted as a loss of approximately $700,000 in FY26 and $2.8 million annually thereafter.
- Item 333 – Energy Savings Performance Contract with Willdan Energy Solutions and Financing with Webster Bank: General Services staff presented a $112 million project to electrify 40 municipal buildings and retrofit 39,000 streetlights, funded through a 25-year tax-exempt lease purchase at 4.55% interest. The IBA highlighted risks: energy savings projections depend on a 3.75% average annual electricity rate increase; $8.1 million in solar tax credits are at risk; and city maintenance capacity after the three-year guarantee. Councilmember Von Wilpert proposed, and the motion was amended to require annual reporting on energy savings and debt payments. The item passed 8-0.
- Item 332 – Project 1059329 at 3823 Ingram Street (Ava Pacific Beach): The project adds 138 units (131 market-rate, 7 very-low-income affordable) on a 12.96-acre site, with a general plan amendment, rezone to RM3-8, coastal development permit, and public sewer easement vacation. The EIR found significant but unavoidable VMT impacts, with mitigation through five mobility choice points. The Planning Commission and Pacific Beach Planning Group both voted to recommend approval. Council President LaCava moved approval including an additional condition requiring Tier 4 final diesel engines for construction equipment. The item passed 8-0.
Key Outcomes
- Proclamations: Approved unanimously (8-0) recognizing the Patrick Henry girls flag football team, International Holocaust Remembrance Day, and retirements of Paige Fulkman (City Attorney's Office) and Robert Cronk (Public Library).
- Consent Agenda: Approved 8-0, with Councilmember Von Wilpert voting no on Item 51 (public art contract).
- Item 331: No action taken; motion withdrawn. Sunday paid parking will not be implemented in the proposed zones, resulting in a budget shortfall of $700,000 in FY26 and $2.8 million annually thereafter.
- Item 333: Approved 8-0. Authorized an energy savings performance contract with Willdan Energy Solutions and a 25-year financing agreement with Webster Bank. Council requested annual reporting on energy savings and debt payments.
- Item 332: Approved 8-0. Certified the EIR, adopted the statement of overriding considerations, approved the land use amendment, rezone, coastal development permit (with added condition for Tier 4 engines), and easement vacation.
Meeting Transcript
So much for your leadership for your advocacy for getting on that plane every single week. We thank you for what you're doing because it's having real results here in the city. I also want to express my appreciation to State Senator Steve Padilla. Not just for being here today and looking very Dapper May today. That's I love that coat. But for his broader efforts to bring more state funding back here to San Diego County. He has a very large district. You educated me the other day. Is it five counties? Four counties? Four counties. And so he has pulled in a lot of different directions. But we know that he is a uh a leader here from our South San Diego communities. Uh and in when he's in Sacramento or in any part of his district, he's always thinking about us down here in our southern San Diego neighborhood. So, Senator, thank you for what you do to bring dollars back to support community investments like this. Uh both of them deserve a round of applause. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Both you know, from parks to infrastructure to programs that expand opportunities, having champions like assembly members, uh, assembly member Alvarez and Senator Padilla in Sacramento who understand what San Diegans need is how we can make difference in the quality of life for people right here in this neighborhood. Uh the investments of Proposition 4 uh that uh Assemblymember Alvarez mentioned do matter, and we are grateful to the voters of California who back in 2024 approved this, authorizing literally billions of dollars in bond proceeds to go to support critical environmental uh and community infrastructure like a neighborhood park. Uh now that those dollars have been authorized by the voters, now we have to have folks who are gonna go out there and get those dollars and get our fair share to San Diego, and that's what these gentlemen are doing, and that's what we're celebrating today. This funding is real, it is tangible, and it's gonna make life better for folks right here and the Grove Neighborhood Park, I think is a perfect example of why the voters of California supported Prop 4. Um, I want to say I'm here on behalf of the city, but we have other city representation. Unfortunately, uh Councilmember Moreno is not able to be here, but we do have representation uh from her office. Thank you guys for being here uh to uh representing council district eight. Um I also want to point out that our chief uh community services officer and city engineer, Ranya Amen is here. Uh Ronnie, thank you. She's uh the one that'll be overseeing and making sure this gets done. Uh the person who's in charge of parks and in engineering, this is the right combination. Ronnie is our person, uh, and she gets a lot of big important things done. So, Ronnie, thank you to our park and rec staff, to our library folks who are here as well, uh ground maintenance PD. Uh, what I hope this neighborhood sees is that this city cares deeply about this community. I know historically that hasn't always felt this way, but under the leadership of folks like as Councilmember Moreno, Assemblymember Alvarez, and Senator Padilla and myself, we're hoping to show that we're paying close attention, we're trying to invite some of these historic wrongs and building more parks in this neighborhood is exactly one of the ways that we can do that. Everyone in this community deserves access to high quality outdoor recreation spaces. And while I recognize there may be a need for a senior center or a dog park or just recreational space for kids, we will figure that all out. Um but the fact that we're paying more attention to these communities to figure this out long term, this will get done and this will be better for everybody. So let's continue to work hard to build a city that works for all of us, including our South San Diego communities. Um we will get this done. This is one of many uh uh parks that we either built or are under construction. Uh we'll be back soon for buyer park phase one. That's gonna be incredible for this community. And again, that's a cooperative effort of our partners at the federal, state, and local level to get that done. So in the meantime, I want you to hear from somebody uh who is a fierce advocate for these communities and a dear friend. Uh again, like David, traveling up to SAC away from the family, but importantly getting stuff done, and that's what we're here to celebrate today. Would you please welcome and uh hear a few words from our state senator Steve Padilla. Senator. Thank you very much, Mr. Mayor, and thank you, Assemblymember Alvarez, two amazing leaders and collaborators. And look, I'm just here to add my voice to congratulating you two. I mean, I am I am happy to always be fighting for our underinvested, underserved communities. I was honored in the uh legislature to be part of the team that helped negotiate the framework for this.
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