On the route for the way little kids are amazed at these big vehicles.

You know, the arm is moving and just the whole mechanics of it is it's just always been awesome.

And you're just there to you know, smile wave.

And sometimes that's all it takes to change a person's mind about the perception of what you do.

Yes, we're trash.

Yes, it stinks.

But hey, how you doing?

They wave back.

Yeah, how you doing?

We just made a connection over trash.

Councilmember Lee, Council President Fort and Lee, my apologies.

Uh, could we check your mic?

I just tested.

Thank you so much.

We can hear you loud and clear.

Good morning.

I will now call the city council meeting of Monday, March 9th, 2026 to order.

Clerk, please call the roll.

Thank you, Council President.

Councilmember Campbell.

Councilmember Whitburn.

Here.

Councilmember Foster.

Councilmember Von Wilbert.

Council President Pro Tem Lee.

Here.

Thank you.

Councilmember Campillo.

Here.

Councilmember Moreno.

Present.

Councilmember Ela Rivera.

And Council President Lacava.

Present.

Also attending the meeting, our city attorney Heather Ferber, independent budget analyst Charles Matica, and myself, your city clerk, Deanna Fuentes.

Thank you, Council President.

Thank you.

And Council President Pro Tam Lee, would you like to make your statement?

Sure.

I'm notifying the council that I'll be attending today's meeting remotely due to just cause relating to family health care needs.

Pursuant to the Brown Act, I am disclosing that there are no individuals 18 years of age or older present in the room with me.

And I will update that disclosure if uh anything changes during the course of the meeting.

All right, thank you, sir.

And I see that Councilmember Von Wolpert is entering chambers.

And I want to uh give a hearty welcome back to Councilmember Campillo.

Uh I know you've bounced in a couple of times, but it's good to see you back on the dias.

Thank you.

It's good to be back.

A quorum is now present.

We will begin this morning with an invocation by Clerk Fuentes, followed with a land acknowledgement and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Councilmember Campio.

Grant those who hold office in this spirit in this city, the spirit of wisdom, charity, and justice.

That was steadfast purpose.

They may faithfully serve in their offices to promote the well-being of all people.

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

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

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

Please face the flag.

Ready?

Begin.

Legend 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.

All right, Madam City Clerk, would you please go over how the public can offer their testimony?

Thank you.

I'd like to 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.

Maximum of three minutes of three or more items.

Thank you, Council President.

All right, thank you.

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

Conference with legal council existing litigation pursuant to California Government Code Section 54956.9 D1 is CS1 Edward Fields versus City of San Diego.

CS2, Susan Enriquez versus City of San Diego.

CS3, Mary Brown et al.

versus Joe Locava et al.

Conference with legal council, significant exposure to litigation pursuant to California Government Code Section 54956.9 CS4 is pre-lit claim, San Diego's County, Regional Airport Authority, and CS5 Pre-Lit Claim Fireman's Fund as suburgie of Park Place on Harbor HOA.

Thank you, Council President.

All right.

With that, please proceed with public comment.

I do not see any public comment speakers here in Council Chambers, so I will start the five-minute timer and go to those participating remotely.

We currently have five speakers in the queue.

Blair Beekman, if you can please unmute and let me know which item or items you wish to speak to.

After that is 8700.

Blair.

Hi.

Blair Beekman, uh, I wanted to speak to item uh CS4.

Okay, you'll have a minute, please proceed.

Hi, thank you, Blair Beekman.

I hope my Zoom is working okay.

Sorry if it will cut out.

Um very much of a thank you that uh for on this item.

It offers the words this claim will uh uh involve uh damages to the San Diego County Regional Airport authorities property caused by the accidental release of approximately 9.9 million gallons of wastewater from city sanitizan sewer system on July on January 16, 2023.

Um this item is called uh significant exposure to litigation pursuant to California government code section such and such.

Um when you have significant exposure to litigation items on your closed session agendas, you usually don't go into explanations, and you do for this one.

I just wanted to thank you immensely that uh for as great as you guys can be at explanations at closed session time.

You took the extra time on this sort of item to give explanations.

That's just a lot of good work from yourselves.

Thank you.

Thank you.

After that is 8700, if you can please unmute.

Sorry, there you go.

Can you let me know which item I'll do?

I'm sorry, I got ahead of you.

Go ahead, Susie.

If you can just let me know which item or items you wish to speak to, please.

Yes, uh, one, two, three, and four.

You'll have three minutes, please proceed.

Good morning.

The first thing I wanted to say is thank you for showing up, all of you.

It just makes such a difference.

I really, really appreciate that all of you show up and and just appreciate the entire uh city council and everyone.

So thank you.

Okay, on one list of risks for riding a bike.

This litigation is hard to avoid.

And my best direction on this is to the bicyclist to be your own safety advocate, please.

It really, really helps.

Okay, on number two, it's really the same as number one, except uh people are walking.

And walking is risky.

I'm I'm a full-time walker.

Uh litigation can be expected on these trips and falls.

And again, I'll say to the walk, self-prevention, it works.

I do it absolutely every single day.

And then on number three, my direction on this is a first prop 218.

It's such a strong uh support for the public and for everyone that wants their voices to be heard, which is the way they want to speak on it.

For me, though, I a hundred years without a fee is a lot of money in the pocket.

So for me, the big picture as a big family is one family.

Is it's time to share the money.

Our budget needs it now.

Please help.

Thank you.

And on number four, I'd be interested in when, no, excuse me, I'd be interested in who and what caused the accident.

9.9 million gallons of wastewater.

Could it have been prevented?

I I really appreciate uh the extra information on that, as Blair said.

So uh have a beautiful day, a beautiful week.

Thank you for listening up to all.

Thank you.

Next is the original.

If you can please unmute and let me know which item or items you wish to speak to after you is Lori Saldania.

Uh just for housekeeping purposes, why did you clump them into consent and discussion before you've taken those separately, not clumped them all into one like this?

I can definitely email you, but this is all on discussion.

No, it's not.

It says consent and then three on discussion.

So all I'm saying is when you're presenting it that way, you guys need to mitigate that so that you can make sure that you're doing it correctly because you should be hearing each discussion item on your own, not acting like it's all on consent.

So I mean you've got to do that.

Please proceed which items you wish to speak to.

Nothing's changing all the time.

All of them.

All of them.

You'll have three minutes, please proceed.

So for the first two, with the you know, accidents and the roadways not being up kept.

It's you're still have many roadways that are not being taken care of.

And you know, you seem to be putting in sure bike lanes, but why don't you fix the roads first before you go and add anything?

Um, because we don't need to be continuing to pay litigation um settlements because you guys are failing to do so.

And um CS3 with this proposition 218, this is a totally unconstitutional act that takes place because it is uh sets at the bar so high that it's never going to be met.

So you circumvent the will of the people all the time, especially when you're doing things like this and raising fees, you're never gonna have enough protests.

It should be the reverse that you have enough people in um approval of it, that then you pass it.

But it's you know, it's already been deemed unsconstitutional, should so it shouldn't be something that you guys are even using, and this is you know going to make us pay more money because you guys are doing that, but what you do is unconstitutional on a daily basis, and you do circumvent the will and the voice of the people by the things you're doing like this when you're saying it like everything's on discussion.

If it whatever, when things are on consent, you group them all together and expect everyone to you know talk about a bunch of items um at one time, and it's like you're never gonna get what the people's opinion is because there's too much to talk about, and then you guys just act like it's routine, go about your business, and it's just really sad because on the same hand, you sit there and act like you care about what the people say, and uh you don't, and it's very obvious, especially the way that you you know treat the people.

Um, but this litigation as far as this um wastewater sewer spill.

It's like I don't know if you guys are trying to be like Mexico or what, but it's like you know, you can't even get Mexico to, you know, do that what they need to do.

You'd rather engage with business with them and work with the county, and like let's test the people and and you know it's just crazy that things that happen, and um you know, now we're gonna have to pay a lot more money just to fix what damage this did.

And it's like, and we also have to pay to fix damage that's done from Mexico.

And it's like, I mean, I just at what point, you know, are things going to start to change where you guys actually we don't have all this kind of litigation all the time because of the failures of the city.

And then you guys, you know, all you do is you want more and more money from the people.

Well, why is it what you have enough?

Because it's going into pockets of people that it shouldn't, you get into contracts with people that you shouldn't.

Instead of doing what you should, and people suffer because of it.

And it's ridiculous.

People shouldn't have to suffer because of your mistakes on a regular daily basis, and then pay for it on the back end.

You're double dipping in them.

Well, thank you for your concluding comment.

There are two speakers in the queue.

No additional speakers will be taking the five-minute timer had concluded.

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

Good morning.

Yes, uh, I'd like to speak to items CS3, CS4, and CS5.

Please proceed.

On CS3, uh, the ongoing issues to effectively implement the program are what are really is upsetting so many San Diegans.

And I've mentioned this before.

I believe one of the council members responded to my question.

Where are these uh people who are delivering and and switching out the old bins for the new bins?

Are they locals?

Are they employees or are they contractors?

Um, I like many in San Diego have had to place numerous calls and file numerous requests to have the bins managed as I had directed months ago.

Um the most recent delivery came a few days ago, and when I went outside to thank them for bringing me the bin I had requested in December, the truck was from out of state.

Uh the truck they were driving had plates from.

I've forgotten if it was Texas or Oklahoma, but this has been a consistent issue.

And the employees, there were three of them sitting in the front seat.

Um, I I didn't ask them, but they appear to be contractors, not employees.

So the rollout has really been problematic, and I think that's fueling this outrage over the cost.

Um let me switch to CS4 and CS5.

Both of these have to do with the severe flooding that took place around the midway and downtown area on January 16th.

Um, this was one year before the Choyas Creek flooding.

And this was an early warning to the city of the scale of flooding possible with our changes in climate and storm intensity.

And looking back, uh, I was in the midway area when the sewage spill was occurring, and uh you could smell the raw sewage in the drains as far in as the midway rosecrowns area.

This was not isolated to the downtown area or the airport.

This was a regional area in the very low sea level area around Midway where you want to build thousands of new homes.

Um, and so I I really encourage you to look at both of these lawsuits as an early warning of what is to come in the future, and take a lead or take a queue from the Bay Area and start to examine shifts and breaks in infrastructure that's underground.

What they are finding up in the San Francisco Bay Area is that there are places that the sea level rise is pushing against the groundwater and shifting underground infrastructure, and that's pretty much what happened with this case.

The sewer lines were probably out of alignment, the emergency system shut down and the overflow went into the bay, but it also backed up into other communities.

So, as someone who has studied this, who has worked on legisl legislation regarding climate change, who has worked with Scripps researchers on the intensity of these storms, um the changes that's going to occur in our coastal areas.

I want to encourage the council to not just look at this from a litigation standpoint, but from an infrastructure standpoint.

And if you are preparing, then the next storm will be even worse.

Thank you.

Next speaker is John Stump.

He's our final speaker.

If you raised your hand after the five-minute timer, you can definitely submit your comments to city clerk at Sandiego.gov.

Mr.

Stump, if you can please unmute there.

Good morning, everyone.

It's gonna be a long day.

Um, do I understand this is solely on the individual items or is this public comment also?

This is on just the closed session agenda.

If you can let me know which item or items you wish to speak to on closed session, all of the items.

Okay.

So I get three minutes.

Correct, Parceed.

Uh thank you very much.

All of the items uh deal with uses on city property or city easements.

And in preparation for an item later in the day, I've been reviewing council policies concerning such uses.

And my concern is that staff other than the city attorney is interpreting council policies legal uh requirements, and that council policies are not being uh completely enforced.

For you know the requirement when anyone uses any property in this the city under several council policies is that they have sufficient liability insurance.

Um then this the second thing is that whenever uh council uh people are using city property, whether it's a profit or a nonprofit, and they have a commercial use, they need to pay the city up to 50 percent of all of the profit made off that property.

And third, whenever there's a proposed capital approvement on city property, these are all under council policy, existing council policies.

They have to submit the plans in advance and um have them pre-approved.

So perhaps some of these difficulties in CS1, two, three, and four, particularly four and five, could have been involved, could have been avoided just by following council policies strictly.

It seems like there's a management problem at the city.

So I urge the council uh, particularly this commit make this committee make of a recommendation to rules that there be a review of council policies concerning lease and use by either for-profit or nonprofit organizations of city-owned property, including capital improvements on those properties.

The city seems to have not managing what they need to manage, and council staff who are not the city attorney, are making legal interpretations outside being an attorney.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

That does conclude public comment on the closed session agenda today.

I will refrain from commenting on the uh comments of the public, but we will now recess into closed session and reconvene council today at 2 p.m.

or shortly thereafter.

March 9th, 2026.

Clerk, please call the roll.

Thank you, Council President.

Councilmember Campbell here, Councilmember Whitburn.

Councilmember Foster.

Councilmember Von Wilbert.

Council President Pro Tem Lee.

Councilmember Campillo, Councilmember Moreno, President, Councilmember Elo Rivera, and Council President Lacava.

Present.

Also attending the meeting, our assistant city attorney, Michelle Garland, independent budget analyst Charles Monica, Council Affairs Advisor in the Mayor's Office, Coda Seizer, and myself, your city clerk, Deanna Fuentes.

Thank you, Council President.

All right.

Uh thank you.

So the quorum is now present.

We'll get started.

First off, do we have any comments from the mayor's office, city council member, city attorney, independent budget analyst for the city clerk?

Not seeing any.

I'll just put out a brief reminder that tomorrow uh city council will have a uh evening session starting at 6 p.m.

for the public to talk about the budget.

That will be the only topic for the 6 p.m.

session.

You can do to that, of course, in person or participate remotely.

So with that, clerk, not oh, city clerk.

My apologies for the late ad.

I did just want to uh mention that we did place a public notice on our website that if anybody would like to submit a arguments in uh opposition for any other ballot measure, the ballot measure, please be sure to submit them to my office by Wednesday, March 11th, close of business, 5 p.m.

My apologies.

You should go to the lobby, and we will come down from the second floor to assist you.

Thank you, Council President.

All right, thank you, Madam City Clerk.

And with that, please go over how the public can offer their testimony.

Thank you.

I'd like to highlight the slide on the screen that reviews 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 the speaker slip located at the entrance of chambers and bring it to the front of the room into the clear box.

Council ambassadors are available near the entrance 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.

And with that, uh clerk, please introduce item 200.

One minute, please.

Just a scare.

Window just popped up.

Informational item item 200 is the 2025 status update for the climate action implementation plan.

If you'd like to submit a speaker slip on this item, please be sure to submit a speaker slip to the front of the room in the clear box, or if you're participating remotely, please press nine or the raise your hand icon in order to speak on this item.

Thank you, Council President.

All right, thank you.

And with that, staff, as you settle yourselves in, um, introduce yourselves for the record.

Let us know how much time you need for your presentation.

Thank you.

Good afternoon, Council President, members of the city council.

My name is Kelly Stonko.

I'm Deputy Director of the Climate Preservation Public Spaces Division in the City Planning Department.

I'm joined here today by our chief sustainability officer, Andrew Martin, and we will need about 15 minutes for our presentation today.

All right.

When you're ready.

Thank you.

All right, thank you very much, Kelly.

Uh, this status update we have for you today is part of a larger package of efforts.

We take as staff to provide regular, transparent reporting of the city's progress towards its climate goals.

Transparency and accountability are important parts of the city's climate action plan.

And the plan lays out several transparency and accountability mechanisms.

These include annual progress reports, which have been prepared by the city going back to 2016, emissions inventory updates, which the city also prepares every year.

We also have built-in implementation flexibility so the city can adapt as real world conditions and circumstances change based on our evaluation and reporting.

And then the plan also includes and foresees a need for an update to the plan after five years to ensure that it remains effective and relevant.

The city also reports on climate action progress through our public-facing climate action plan dashboard, which includes a lot of the information from our annual reporting and our emissions inventories, including performance indicators, and it also provides department level updates on implementation status for all 190 actions within the climate action plan.

So it's in this context of regular transparent reporting.

Staff has prepared another document.

It was completed at the end of last year that also addresses progress towards climate action plan goals.

This document is the 2025 status update for the climate action implementation plan.

The original implementation plan prepared in 2023 is a tool to help clearly define each city department's role in carrying out the climate action plan.

It identifies responsible city departments, it has high-level estimates of city implementation costs, and also includes the council prioritization scores for each action in the plan.

The purpose of the original plan, or excuse me, the original implementation plan was to help align the climate action plan with the city's annual budgeting process and with departmental operations.

Now, the specific focus of this status update is to utilize the best available data we have to evaluate how the city's doing on progress towards the climate action plan's 2030 goal.

And then using that information to make updates to information in the original implementation plan.

So when it comes to best available data, the status update uses the following.

One, we looked at the most recent data and trends on the city's annual emissions and how that compares to the 2030 goal.

Two, we look at different climate action performance indicators.

These help us understand trends in our emissions levels and helps give us a window into the real world, excuse me, the real world impacts of governmental climate actions, including those of the city and our local partners, but it also takes into account other factors too, such as changes that result from federal and state government actions and also just from general socioeconomic conditions.

And then third, we also provide an up-to-date status on each action in the climate action plan, and that's to evaluate the progress on you know how is the city doing on carrying out the actions laid out for itself when the plan was last updated in 2022.

So the remainder of this presentation will review in brief these elements of the status update.

Also want to talk about some challenges we've encountered during implementation these last few years.

And then finally, also address how staff intends to use what we've learned from the status update and from our regular monitoring and reporting to help inform our ongoing implementation, and then also the next update of the climate action plan.

But first, I want to give some additional context for this status update.

In 2024, the city entered into a legal settlement agreement pending related to pending litigation on the 2022 climate action plan.

And along with those annual progress reports and emissions inventory updates we already prepare, the settlement agreement also called for a 2025 implementation plan update, and then to have a stakeholder workshop and a city council hearing related to that update.

So just last year, also held a stakeholder workshop, and then in February, we released a revised 2025 status update.

Wanted to note too that a full copy of the settlement agreement is included as an attachment to the staff report for this item.

So now let's review the findings of the updated implementation plan, starting with data on how we're doing on progress towards the climate action plan's 2030 goal.

So one way we measure progress is tracking how emissions change over time and then comparing those changes to climate action plan goals, which is what we're showing on this chart.

So just to orient you to the chart, uh it starts in 2019 and it starts there because that's the reference point or the starting point for measuring future change in emissions in the climate action plan.

And then the green line going across the top, that's showing that if no action were taken, emissions would actually be a bit higher in the future and by 2035.

Now, if we look down to the lower right, those two circles, uh excuse me, those two circles showing 2030 target, 2035 target, those are the goals of the climate action plan, and then that teal line moving down into the left from the orange circle of 2019.

Um, that's showing a steady annual pace of emissions reductions needed each year to meet the 2030 target, which ends up being about half a million metric tons of emissions each year.

So just a quick note on that.

This this straight line reduction from 2019 to 2030, that's not something that comes from the climate action plan.

The climate action plan doesn't require annual reductions in emissions.

We we provide this information you know purely for reference purposes, just trying to provide some context for how the city's emissions are doing and how they're trending.

And then finally, um in the upper left, if you look at those blue circles, those are showing actual emissions updates we've prepared each year since 2019.

The most recent year we have is for 2023, and that's because that's the most recent year for which we have complete data.

We will have updated data for 2024 soon, and we'll that will be included in our next annual progress report, which we'll have released here in the next few months.

So a few takeaways from this slide.

The first is that compared to 2019 emissions levels are down 19%, so we are seeing a trend in the right direction.

However, second, when we look at year-over-year change from 22 to 23, we do see a slight uptick with emissions being slightly higher than they were the year before.

And then third, if you take a look at the darker blue circle for 2023, that's showing that emissions in 2023 were about three and a half percent higher than what would be expected if we were on that straight line, that linear path straight down from 2019 to 2030.

I also want to point out while we're on this slide that it's important to keep in mind that for 2023, that was the first full calendar year after the climate action plan was last updated.

So the results we're looking at here show pretty early stages of plan implementation.

Also, we can kind of break down the emissions a little bit further to understand why we're seeing those trends that we're seeing.

There are a lot of different activities and sources that contribute to the city's emissions, but when we categorize them, we can see that most emissions come from just a few sources.

So, first of all, more than half of the city's emissions come from driving vehicles around the city.

Those people moving around doing their day-to-day errands, it's the movement of products, the movement of goods.

So that's more than half.

And then the other big category comes with how we use energy in our buildings and homes.

And so that's an additional about 41% of emissions.

It's roughly split between using natural gas and using electricity.

So if we add up just those three sources, that's about 96% of all emissions.

And then now, if we take a look at some of the performance indicators, that can help us understand some of the trends we just saw on the previous chart.

So both with respect to seeing the downward trend from 2019 to 2023 and then a slight uptick from 22 to 23.

The changes have to do with changes in vehicle use, driving patterns, electricity sources, and also how energy is used at home and in buildings.

So to start, if we look at 23 compared to 2019, we see more use of electric and other clean vehicles, we see less driving, we have cleaner electricity, and also more if you more efficient use of natural gas and electricity in homes and buildings.

Then if we look at 2022, for some of those indicators, we do still see trends in the positive direction, but for those shown in red, we do see a little bit of an uptick in the opposite direction.

So we do see a little bit more driving.

Electricity remains clean, it remains more than half renewable, just a little bit less so than it was the prior year, and then we do see a minor incremental increase in gas use as well.

So apart from the data, another way that we evaluate progress towards goals is looking at how city departments are doing carrying out the work of the climate action plan.

So overall, about three and four, about 75% of the 190 actions in the plan, they're either underway or already complete.

And a quick note about the ones that are in progress.

For many of those, about two thirds of those, those are continuous actions.

So that represents just kind of the regular, everyday ongoing work of city departments, and then the remainder that's in progress, that's sort of an action with you know you start, it's worked on, and then it's completed, so more of a finite action.

So taking a look at this uh information on this slide and the previous ones, um, we have seen some progress towards our climate action plan goals.

We have seen a lot of work happening the last few years at the city to implement the climate action plan, and a lot of work across city departments.

This is the result of a lot of coordination and hard work across city government, and think it's take uh worth taking a moment to acknowledge that.

But at the same time, we want to be clear to meet the climate action plan's goals, additional sweeping changes are needed, and not just by the city.

The scale of climate change is huge, and so is the scale of changes needed to address this problem.

And yes, the city needs to do its part, and we have more work to do.

But to meet our goals, our part needs to happen in coordination with actions across really every level of government, across the economy, across society.

If we think back to 2022, when the climate action plan was last updated, we had some examples of this type of large-scale action and governmental coordination starting to take place.

For example, if we look at the federal level, we had bills like the bipartisan infrastructure law, inflation reduction act.

We were seeing several billions of dollars for climate action, and that included grant funding for cities, including ours.

Unfortunately, we're in a very different environment now in 2026, and there are very serious challenges to overcome to meet the climate action plan goals.

For one, there's been a significant change in federal funding priorities.

It's been a strong shift away from climate action, and in many cases, toward activities that make climate change worse.

At the same time, there's been a major rollback of the federal government's legal regulatory support for climate action.

We've seen the current administration take steps to end federal authority to even address climate emissions at all.

They've moved to weaken standards for clean cars, reduce support for clean energy, and we've had federal court decisions that favor natural gas use over efficient clean electric buildings.

And then apart from what's happening federally, there are a couple other factors worth mentioning, and both have to do with the cost of climate action and who pays for it.

For one, San Diego is already one of the most expensive cities in the country.

That includes housing costs, electricity bills, other costs of living.

Because many climate actions have potential to increase costs for residents, residents and businesses.

And then one way to offset those costs and pay for climate work is with public investment.

That can include a lot of things, could be rebates for the higher costs of purchasing and using new equipment, new technologies.

It could pay for the new and upgraded infrastructure we need to meet our goals.

However, we're currently in a period of tight budgets of limited government funding.

So many programs that could pay for climate action right now, they're underfunded, they're delayed, they're just not funded at all.

As a result, at least for the time being, we must look for other ways to move our climate work forward.

We as staff have already doing that, and we're starting to look to potential alternative funding sources for the climate action plan, and we intend to make that a priority of our work going forward.

And also, despite all despite these challenges, that doesn't mean the city isn't doing anything that the city does continue to make progress and work on making progress toward our climate action plan.

This is not a complete list here, but a representative example of some of the good work that's going on right now.

So we we are providing rebates for low-income households to receive efficient electric appliances in their homes.

We continue to update our plans to allow more homes, including affordable ones near public transit and improve options for people to walk, bike, roll, use transit so they can get around with less reliance on a personal car.

We're in the process of some updates to city codes to improve energy efficiency, but making sure we do so in ways that are cost effective.

And then we also for the city itself when it comes to our buildings and our operations.

Okay, I'll wrap it up in just a moment here.

Also have examples of city using innovative financing tools related to managing our energy use and our city properties.

And then on the final slide here, as we look forward, the city will continue to implement the climate action plan.

And as I mentioned this spring, we'll have our next annual progress report released on the climate action plan.

In addition, with the support of grant funding we've received from the San Diego Association of Governments, we'll be getting started on the next update of the climate action plan this spring.

And as a final note, we're we're viewing this update as an opportunity to revisit the city's approach in the climate action plan in light of this progress to date, in light of our current challenges, and especially those related to costs and funding.

This kind of strategic approach to the update can help the city continue to make progress during these challenging times we're currently in.

And that concludes the staff presentation.

Thank you.

All right, thank you very much for the work on the presentation.

I'll turn it over to the office of the independent budget analyst.

Jordan.

Thank you, Council President, and good afternoon.

My name is Jordan Moore with the office of the IBA.

As you just heard, staff from city planning, as well as almost all other city departments have been making important strides in implementing the city's climate action plan over the last several years.

As noted in the staff presentation, the majority of actions are either complete or underway, and there have been notable strides taken in just the last couple of years, such as improvements to the building reach code, the installation of publicly available EV chargers, and various projects to decarbonize city facilities with no upfront cost.

Additionally, staff have also implemented the CAP dashboard, which offers real-time monitoring capabilities for CAP actions and implementation beyond annual updates.

The fact that these actions have been done in the city's current budget environment is a testament to the hard work city staff has undertaken to implement the CAP thus far.

However, as noted in the last CAP annual update, emissions did increase in 2023, which is the last year for which the city has fully available information.

Some context surrounding this increase should be recognized.

Starting with that the most consequential actions mentioned by staff took effect after 2023.

And as such, the city should see emissions decline in subsequent years, particularly starting when we get annual updates covering 2026 and beyond.

However, there is this gap between when indicators are reported and when we are the present day, and it does highlight an issue with monitoring CAP implementation.

Since only being able to judge CAP effectiveness at almost two full years in arrears does not allow for timely oversight over the CAP.

In the next update, our office recommends that staff work on shortening the reporting window to provide data in a more timely fashion, or develop additional indicators that can more effectively demonstrate in real time whether the city's actions are having the greenhouse gas impact emission emission impacts that are desired.

More timely indicators and the ability to see them more quickly could also allow better decisions on how to prioritize future CAP actions and further allow the city to see where emissions are coming from.

And if they are truly the city's responsibility.

However, these increased sources were not equal in their impact on emissions, as increased emissions from electricity due to lower renewable content made up more than half of the total emissions increase between 2022 and 2023.

The amount of renewable energy in the electricity supply is a decision made by either San Diego Gas and Electric or increasingly by San Diego Community Power.

And it's important to note that while the city has influence over the actions of SDCP, it does not control SDCP.

This is an example where even if the city takes all emissions reductions actions within its direct control, if SDCP does not increase its renewable power base, emissions could go up desite the city's best efforts to implement the CAP.

Our office therefore also recommends that in the next CAP update, city staff work on more accurately attributing which actions are leading to which emissions reductions and providing more context on what the city can and cannot control in the next CAP update.

That concludes my comments.

Thank you very much.

All right, thank you, Jordan.

With that, Clerk, please proceed with public comment.

Thank you, Council President.

We have no speakers here in Council Chambers for item 200.

Going to those participating online.

We currently have six speakers in the queue.

I'm sorry at the five minute timer starting with Lori Saldania.

If you can please unmute after that will be Kathleen Lippett.

Thank you.

Good afternoon.

My name is Lori Saldania.

I was uh co-author of AB 32 over 20 years ago.

Actually, it was 20 years ago when we created the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act that led to this and other climate plans, climate action plans.

I currently serve on the board of a local nonprofit organization.

And I just want to remind the council that San Diego ratepayers are charged the highest electrical utility rates in the country, and we created over $600 million in profits for STG and me and investor owned utility and subsidiary of CENFRA that also profits from natural gas.

Why does this matter to our climate action plan?

Because last year our foundation won a unanimous decision at the California Supreme Court.

They determined the latest net energy metering regulations are unfair to ratepayers, not just in San Diego, but statewide, who installed solar on their homes and businesses.

And when I look at what you are proposing in this plan, I see no reported increase in local electricity production via solar panels on city buildings.

They could offset some of the costs that residents pay multiple times.

SEGAE lobby.

They took those profits from ratepayers to lobby against our interests.

And now we not only pay the highest electrical rates at our homes, we pay the parking fees and other fees to help City of San Diego bounce their budget, which includes paying more and more for utility costs in the city.

We pay retailers, grocers, and others who increase their prices to pay for their business utility bills that are increasing because of STG and E's unfair policies.

So I'm asking you, as part of this plan, where is the increase in solar power on government city rooftops in our parks?

You're charging more cars, and yet you're not doing more local energy generation.

Where is the goal for that?

I read through the report, I glanced over it quickly this morning.

I see a lot of admirable goals, but I don't see you actually installing solar panels on existing buildings, retrofitting standing buildings.

Please do that.

Thank you for that concluding comment.

Kathleen Lippett, if you can please unmute.

After that will be John Stump.

Kathleen.

Kathleen, I can't unmute for you.

You should have a pop-up come up.

There you go.

Sorry.

Did you come back to me in just a moment, please?

I'm sorry, I'm not able to return to speakers if you're not able to speak now.

Skip your turn.

We cannot return.

Okay.

Can you hear me?

We can hear background noise.

There is a lot of background noise.

It is a lot.

Okay.

Can you still hear me?

Yes, please continue.

No.

Dang.

We can hear you, please, proceed.

All right, moving on to the next speaker, John Stump, if you can please unmute.

Hi, good afternoon.

Climate action.

Do we really believe that there is a threat and change in climate action?

The report says yes.

The presentation by staffs, IBA, and uh the climate staff were nice.

I ask first of all that the climate staff stop using visuals which portray the largest creation of climate action CO2.

Downtown is not where we're trying to influence.

That's a that's a loser.

We want to influence, we want to show city employees and what they're doing to reduce climate uh impacts and homes, not uh the port, the downtown commuter area.

Now, talking about city departments, we need specifically to reduce uh uh climate impacts at the city's airports, and the big item today at maintenance of zoological exhibits.

What the zoological exhibits department is probably the third largest producer of climate change impacts at in the city.

The five million people a year who fly in or drive in by tourism is a huge impact and should be included.

Um so, and then finally I agree with Ms.

Soldania.

Council, you're responsible for the fact that SDGE is creating so much uh climate impacts.

You gotta change that franchise.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

The five-minute timer has concluded.

There are six speakers in the queue.

No additional speakers will be taken.

Livya, if you can please unmute.

Good afternoon, President Lacava and Council members.

My name is Livia Wark Bowden.

I'm an attorney at Coast Law Group, and I represent Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation or SURF, one of the litigants involved in the CAP lawsuit and settlement.

First, I'd like to echo the IBA's comments regarding transparency and granularity in future reports.

It's disheartening to see the city failing to take this as an opportunity to candidly discuss the status of its climate actions and challenges.

The directory to 2030 goal is steep, but the 2035 goal is even more ambitious and is only nine years away.

The fact that the 2025 annual report came out late last year and only included 2023 data is also disappointing.

It doesn't meet the letter or spirit of the settlement agreement, and I would argue there's more recent available emissions data, especially since the county released its 2025 report in July and included 2024 data.

By conveying that the vast majority of strategies are in progress, the city fails to detail exactly what that means in terms of realistically achieving its goals.

For example, achieving decarve of existing buildings and mobility goals by 2030 seems virtually impossible at this point.

The reliance on the CAP is not that is not likely to be achieved to push through sequel projects, means the city misses out on project-level greenhouse gas mitigation measures and approves projects and plans like the community plan updates without including additional greenhouse gas reduction measures.

Failing to acknowledge our shortcomings will be mean we'll be that much farther behind when we attempt to correct course.

Thank you.

Next is Blair Beekman.

If you can please unmute.

Thanks a lot for this item.

It's important.

You had a very nice, or not a nice, but you had a uh relevant uh closed session item on what's going on at the airport issues right now.

Um is that not sea level rise issues uh taking place that Lori Soldano very nicely talked about.

Uh we need to refer to the San Francisco Bay Area, how they're working on their sea rise issues.

Um I I see in this report not a lot of mention of C rise things.

Sea level rise things.

And um I'm wondering where what part does that place in these climate issues and our coastal concerns that I think there's a there's a very strong hefty group of people who have a certain way to view coastal planning and construction and and you know maintenance that um it's not fully jiving with city government at this time.

I hope you guys can learn to get together, and I I think we have to really honestly truly acknowledge there are sea uh level rise issues to be concerned about.

It's then how to proceed with that concept and how to provide maintenance and fixes and and that's the question that should be the argument and not a sea level rise.

There, I think there's been so many glaciers that have been melting all around the world.

It's uh it seems undeniable to not say there's sea level rise concerns.

Um it's it's what to do out of that process, working together out of that process.

Good luck how we do that.

Lori Soldano, again, she offered very interesting comments about the Midway uh housing project area that has sea level rise concerns about it.

And um, you're not at all talking about that.

Your future, your current court things are about subject matter that may pertain to sea level rise issue.

Please talk about those if you're time has concluded next is 8700 and then J Powell and then 7499 is our last speaker.

8700, please unmute Star Six.

Uh thank you uh so much.

Uh Joyce, CD3.

Uh, first of all, uh Lori Soldania, thank you for all your work, especially for your work on this item.

Okay, uh climate action plan.

I'm not too up on all of this, but I I'm gonna jump in.

Uh from the staff report, thank you, thank you.

While important find found foundational actions have been completed, referred to strategies one, two, three, thank you.

And significant work continues, sweeping changes, not just by the city, but at all levels of government and throughout the economy and society.

For me, that word society is important, are still needed to meet the ambitious goals of the climate action plan.

Now, this is from me.

The key word here is society.

Here are AI thoughts.

Systemic, economic, and psychological barriers.

Here's my white elephant in the room.

Is this an evolutionary change fueled by human society?

This is very important.

I'm appreciating everybody who is so intensely passionate about this and really knows what's happening on on it.

Just keep at it.

We don't know where we're headed on the big picture, you know, uh practically the universe, but we have to keep trying.

So uh thank you.

This is tough work.

Thank you to planning, IBA, all others involved.

Thank you for listening.

We are doing our best love to all.

Thank you.

7499, if you can please unmute and then J Pell Bob Kazuski here.

We need to be careful about the visibility that we give to the so-called climate change issues.

It's important to remember that all of our youth and all of the new AI models are watching and learning from everything we say or write about nearly everything.

The ongoing panic that we continually exhibit about climate change will soon be training our AI models and our youth that the human race needs to be exterminated.

Please think about the consequences of your ongoing panic.

Thank you.

And our final speaker is Jay Powell, if you can please unmute.

And I want to just add my um appreciation to the presentation of the IBA and comments more.

And also note that one of the comments regarding San Diego Community Power.

The city doesn't control it but has a powerful representative there.

And they can do a lot more in terms of creating local renewable power, community-based microgrids, is one of the things that we can put on city buildings, city facilities, and city lecees, such as uh the zoo.

So I would encourage that.

And my other question is was this issue or report rather reviewed by the climate advisory board and the resiliency advisory boards, and did they submit any particular uh recommendations?

I think that's important to take that into account.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

That does conclude public comment on this item.

We did receive one comment in favor via our e-comment form, which has been distributed to the council.

Thank you, Council President.

All right, thank you, City Clerk.

Uh we'll turn it over to the council members.

This is an information item.

No motion is required.

Uh, and we'll start with the chair of the environment committee, council member Ila Rivera.

All right, thank you, Council President.

Uh, thank you for the presentation here and the briefing ahead of time.

Um these reports are super important because they help give us a clear picture of progress and and where we have work to do.

I appreciate your uh Jordan, your work um and pointing out how much effort it takes to do what has been done, given the context that that work has been done in.

Um it also is really helpful to see the breakdown of where emissions are coming from.

As has been the case, transportation continues to be the largest source, swallowed by a natural gas use in buildings and electricity, and this just reinforces how important it is that our climate work is connected to how we're planning housing, mobility, and energy across the city.

Um a couple questions.

Um, the report highlights actions related to reducing natural gas use in buildings and electrifying city facilities.

Uh, can you talk to us about what barriers, financial, regulatory, technical or otherwise, uh, we're encountering in scaling our building electrification citywide.

Sure, happy to do that.

Um to be clear, I'll speak to citywide, like community-wide facing actions.

Is that what you're asking about?

As opposed to like city operations.

Well both.

So okay.

Yeah, okay.

Um the perspective of community-wide and citywide efforts, um, in the climate action plan itself, it envisioned to move towards all electric buildings, making code ups in that direct code updates in that direction.

Um, shortly following the climate action plan update.

Um there were court rulings um involving the it's known as the Berkeley case involving efforts in the city of Berkeley to make similar efforts there.

And I guess to make a long story short, that that has really um really complicated local efforts, local efforts to move towards all electric buildings.

Um, and the city has tried to pivot its approach um since that time.

So that's been a big um that's been a big roadblock, not just in San Diego but in other places and trying to move towards all electric new construction.

And then I would say, and we tried to speak at this uh a little bit in the presentation, but when it comes to existing buildings, we're we have we did include um, we have included in some ongoing code updates some items related to improving energy efficiency of existing buildings.

Um, there we're trying to be really focused and sensitive to the costs, especially the upfront costs that come along with using new um energy efficient and renewable technologies much of the time.

And so, and that and that come that's where our thoughts about really looking at ways to seek alternative sources of funding and really making sure that as we move in that direction, we do so in a way that is um really is not exacerbating cost of living and other concerns for our communities.

And then for as far as city facilities, uh I know we have uh Heather with the Department of General Services on the line who can speak more to some of the strategies that we've implemented for the city operations and buildings.

Thanks, Mandy.

I you I think more than strategies deployed, I think barriers to deploying those strategies would be helpful.

Yeah, I I can add on a little bit to that.

I mean, there is a couple of barriers.

Um, it doesn't mean it's impossible, it just means that there's some additional challenges.

The number one challenge being related to cost efficiency and financial feasibility.

So while we do have the ability to seek some funding, and the city has made some good progress with respect to its existing city buildings, we are constrained by court cases as well as new bills that have come down from the state of California, limiting our ability to address building codes.

But we also do want to be sensitive, as Andrew said in his presentation to the cost of living in San Diego as well.

But I would say the biggest challenge overall is the lack of funding that's available at the federal level to implement some of the bigger ticket items that we have in our climate action plan.

So that is what we do want to and plan to focus on more significantly this year is identifying alternative funding strategies.

Thank you.

I appreciate that.

Included in those alternative funding strategies.

Power purchase agreements that help offset or eliminate cost for the city.

So is there a thought to pivot toward revenue generating revenue neutral investments while we kind of wait for a federal environment that's that's more helpful on that front?

Yes, absolutely, council member.

Um so we we have pivoted to some of those cost neutral and in some cases even some upside with the energy savings performance contract that the council saw recently.

That was the first portfolio in uh a much broader strategy that has been years in the making.

We had to make some adjustments to our code, uh, hire some experts to help us move through this process because it is a model that is new to the city, but now we have the first one inked and and underway.

We're very excited to see that uh hopefully be successful and a model that we can continue to expand upon.

Uh we did uh something sort of similar in terms of a uh public-private partnership with a concessions agreement to basically make use of our city facilities for that EV charging for for the public to utilize.

So definitely see us doubling down more and more on those types of models where we can bring in private financing or uh innovative funding models that don't require a big capital outlay from the city up front.

Thank you.

Um, as we're beginning to prepare for the the next CAP update, what are some key lessons from this implementation period that we're already thinking will inform that update, especially those that will have the biggest impacts on emission reductions?

I think one example was something that was uh mentioned by the IBA earlier, something we're also looking at too is um we do have a lot of actions in the plan right now.

We do have 190, and really focusing in more on and prioritizing those that are within uh more strongly within the city's jurisdiction, within its legal authority, within its influence area, um, and then I think also overlapping that with what are our largest emission sources, and then another element of that that we do, and that I think we do a pretty good job of them, the current plan, and perhaps we can always do better, but then also overlaying that with what are the other co-benefits we get this maybe to the city, to communities, to communities of concern, etc.

that come from these climate actions, and really having that information front and center to help inform good decision making going forward.

Thanks.

Um just uh two more questions.

I think that that very lengthy list of actions of the actions that haven't started or are in the planning stage.

Can you give us some examples of um actions that are kind of within the city's direct control and not dependent on federal or state funding, but then and help us understand what's blocking those actions from moving forward?

I'd be happy to do that.

Uh I think one really good example of that is what's referred to in the existing climate action plan as an existing building decarbonization roadmap, which is another way of saying it's a plan for how can we reduce emissions from our existing buildings, save energy in our existing buildings.

Um that effort um has not really moved forward in full since the climate action plan was updated.

However, we have been able to the funding source I mentioned for the climate action plan update from SANDAG, we are able to utilize that to move that roadmap forward.

And we're really excited about that.

We think that's really important because there we can really, as we I think this was part of your question, existing buildings and energy use there.

That's one of the biggest sources in the city.

If we fast forward to the future, um, most of the buildings that we'll have in the future are already here now.

So that's that's a big part.

So being able to move that effort forward to identify what are the policy strategies within the city's control, um, what how do they break down across different kinds of buildings, different age of buildings, um, what are the cost implications of that?

We have a cost effectiveness study along with that.

So sorry to interrupt.

I think I understand like that's an important one that's not moved moving.

What I'm trying to have some help with is us understanding why is it staff capacity was um was it in internal funding?

I can answer your question.

It's staff capacity and internal funding.

So how much more staff would be needed to make the progress we want to make on that?

The the progress that was called for in the plan.

Right.

Um, so um, you know, I I I come before this council a lot and I tell you that we'll do the best that we can with the resources that are available, which is what I'll tell you now.

Um in an ideal world, would we have unlimited staffing resources?

Yes, we would.

Um, but uh given given the budgetary constraints, I don't have an answer for you today on your particular question, but what I will say is that when we are able to um at least have the capacity to strategize on how to go get the funding, that's very helpful.

So, in the example that Andrew gave, we were able to repurpose money that we have to achieve two outcomes.

Got it.

Um again, in terms of like lessons learned, I think making sure that what we have is a plan moving forward is a plan that we can implement or at least have a clear understanding of what is needed in order to implement is gonna be super super important.

And last thing, kind of somewhat along those lines.

Um as we as was mentioned, affordability is incredibly important.

We want to be very mindful of anything that increases cost.

But there are undoubtedly actions that would meaningfully reduce emissions and could reduce cost of living, especially when it as relates to transportation.

Um, the less dependent people are on gas-powered vehicles to get to and from where they need to go, the less they are subject to the whims of an insane president who just spiked everyone's gas prices.

Um, the less um and the more that they can they can save.

And so we've done a lot in that vein in terms of making mobility options more accessible.

We've done a lot to increase housing density near those mobility options, and I think we can lean more into like literally putting people into those modes of transportation and mobility.

Um so that's something that I'm gonna be looking for in the next in the next uh cap because again, it's a way of directly reducing people's cost of living and meaningfully move moving the needle in terms of emissions reductions, and I don't think it needs to be done necessarily at a huge cost of the city or even any cost of the city if we're being creative about opening up opportunities and looking for partnerships.

So thank you again for the update.

Thank you, Council President, appreciate all the time.

All right.

Uh thank you, Councilmember Elo Rivera.

I'll go next to Council Member Whitburn.

Thank you, Council President.

Uh, thank you very much for the presentation on this update.

I will sort of pick off uh pick up exactly where uh Councilmember Ilo Rivera left off, uh, which is elaborating a little bit on the third strategy of the climate action implementation plan, which is mobility and land use.

Uh there are a number of references in uh the status update related to the importance of pairing housing with access to transit as a means of reducing emissions from vehicular travel and reducing cost of living.

Uh so in addition to what has been already discussed this afternoon, I want to call attention uh to the city's support for transit-oriented housing development.

Um council members Moreno and Ila Rivera uh and Foster and I serve on the MTS board of directors, and just last week we celebrated the grand opening of an affordable housing project uh on MTS property in Councilmember Vaughn Wilbert's district uh up in Rancho Bernardo.

Uh it's a development called Skylined.

It's providing 99 units of affordable housing uh to individuals and families earning between 30% and 50% of the area median income.

Uh and it is located right next to the Rancho Bernado Transit Station, uh, which makes it easy for residents to use transit to get to work or to school, medical appointments, uh, to commercial centers.

And the city of San Diego has supported this project uh rather significantly.

Thank you, Council President.

Thank you, Councilmember Whipper.

And we'll go next to Councilmember Von Wilbert.

Thank you very much for the work on this in the presentation.

To actually meet our climate action goals.

I mean, if you read the report, there's a lot more actions we've done than we saw in the presentation.

And you know, we just voted a week and a half ago, two weeks ago, to spend the most money we've ever spent, 125 million dollars to retrofit our buildings to have solar on top of them, and that wasn't even mentioned today.

And so uh I'm just a little confused about why we're not highlighting some of this.

And so my first question is, you know, it's March of 2026, and so why couldn't we have the 2024 data done and ready to present by now, especially since the counties already had theirs done?

So the the primary reasons have to do with some of the inputs we get from other agencies and other places to prepare a complete emissions inventory.

It's not that we don't have all the data or parts of the information.

We do have a lot of it, and we will we are on track to have it published this spring.

But there are some inputs from places like the Energy Commission, the State Energy Commission from Caltrans, with at least with the way the city does our inventory, um, that we simply don't have that data in a timely manner, and we do need some time from receipt of the information to process it and organize it and review it and prepare, you know, an inventory update that we feel good about.

Um so that's that's the case uh for our situation.

Okay, I'm I guess I'm just half confused about how the county would be able to do it, but we wouldn't we'd be happy to take a look at the specific methodologies and data sources the county is using in their inventory and do a comparison and see if there's something we're missing that we could be doing better and doing faster.

Okay, uh that would be great because I feel that we're really missing the ability to show the public what we're doing to try and meet our climate action goals, and we're missing the ability for the council to see where we are on each goal.

Um, you know, one question I have is how is it that emissions from electricity use rose in 2022, which was four years ago, when we're expanding our community aggregate, our community energy aggregate choice providers through North County through East County.

So the more and more customers CDO community power gets to go to Power 100.

How is it that we're not able to reduce the amount of emissions from our electricity use?

So what I can't say with the data that we use in our latest emissions inventory, um it's a blend of emissions sources.

So for electricity, the city is served primarily by San Diego Community Power, but not exclusively.

There's also electricity from San Diego Gas and Electric.

There also is from what are called direct access providers.

Um we essentially prepare a blend of emissions from those sources to calculate the emissions serving the entire city as a whole.

And I guess what I would say is it's still very the the profile is still very clean overall, it's still a lot cleaner than it was when the plan was last updated, or at least from the starting point of the plan in 2019.

But the amount of renewables, the amount of clean energy in the mix, according to those data, it was a little bit less renewable in 23 than it was in 2022.

Okay, wouldn't I guess we would just have to go and ask the other entity why?

Yeah, I would need to I don't have that information for you, but we'd be happy to get that.

Okay.

Um can you bring up slide number eight, please?

I'm sorry, that's not the um go.

It's the one with the giant that one, this one.

So it would be much more helpful for for me on the council, I think for the public to have a much more detailed explanation of what the 78% of actions are either in progress or complete, and 66% are continuous act.

I mean, for example, we we approved a 60 million dollar contract to make sure we're installing electric vehicle chargers in our public facilities.

How many have been rolled out?

And what are we waiting on?

Where are we on this metric?

I'd like to be able to monitor that.

That's money that we spend on taxpayer funding, and we should be able to see where we are on this.

I read in the report and it just says in progress or completed in progress.

It would be much more helpful to see a data set that shows us where we are.

Do we know how many have been installed and how many are left to be installed?

Uh for the reporting on EV charging installations.

I can hand it over to Heather Werner and the Department of General Services team online.

I will just note I think there is a lot more detailed information on the climate dashboard than what is presented in the just kind of the single status uh in terms of the status of each action.

There's more indicators and more detail on the dashboard, but as far as the EV charging, uh I'll let the Department of General Services chime in if they're online.

I'm here, thanks, Randy.

Uh hi, council member, thank you for your question.

So we are doing those installations in bulk.

We have 53 live ports.

There are about 50 sites, which equal about 300 ports, both a mix of level two and uh DC fast charging.

I'm sorry, 600 ports, there's about 300 of each.

Um at 45 sites.

Most of those, all of those have been submitted and are in process with DSD, and all of them are also in process with SDG and E.

Certain sites will be able to be installed probably in the summer and fall because they don't require utility upgrades and additional power.

Others will take longer as uh SDG and E goes through the process of working with us to get more power to those sites for those installations.

Um I would also remind you that yes, the 60 million is the NTE for that contract, but for right now we are actually receiving revenue and do so throughout the 10 years of that contract and still we've until we purchase the actuals on the buyout.

And we do anticipate uh an update as part of the budget process on where we are with those anticipated costs and revenues.

Okay, so when are we gonna get a report that says how many are installed and how many are left to install?

So we have we category one is all the way through.

That's all the public-facing sites.

We are starting to work to identify category twos, those are our workplace chargers.

We also have chargers going in as part of a number of our CIPs.

That includes the update to Rob Field.

Um there are charging ports that we're going to be installing when uh the East Village Green project uh comes in, and um a number of our other kind of EV required charge, like EV is now required in new construction, and so we're working with those, and those will be obviously online as we um as the projects come online.

Councilmember right now we've got about 600-ish ports in the queue across 47, excuse me, 47 different sites that are all going through the permitting and um SD, the electrification, the SDG and E side of the process.

Once we have those through, though everything's been approved and thing work is completed.

Um, we'll then start notifying different sites on their construction timeline.

But right now, everything that is we are on track in timeline um for things getting through permitting and uh into construction.

Because Mara I was just gonna offer if it's of interest, we'd be happy to prepare a written report or provide an update to council committee.

Yeah, I think it would be helpful to be in the climate action annual report as well because our climate action advocates are asking us for debt to do that.

So I'm happy to receive a report, but it'd be nice for the public to see it too.

What about our Zenbach goals?

I don't see anywhere in this report how many installations we've done that have actually met our zero emissions goals.

I mean, we have a library in Carmel Valley that's fully electric now.

We're building or maybe we've built the fire station that's fully electric.

And so it's just none of this is in this report, so I can't track it or see it.

Um didn't the city plan over a thousand trees last year?

This was also not in the PowerPoint.

Where does that bring us to our canopy goals?

I just I'm having a hard time tracking data with what we're seeing here, and the city is doing more, and we should be showing what we're doing.

Council member, uh, I would just note this is not kind of the regular annual reporting that we have typically done.

We we did provide that to the environment committee, I think in November, and and as staff mentioned, we'll have another uh more detailed annual report uh ready this spring.

Um so I think we're just maybe not providing the same level of detail about each action as as we would in the annual report.

Um, a lot of that information is available or can be made available, but uh understand that you're looking for more detail in terms of the status uh and indicators within each individual action.

So I appreciate that feedback.

Okay, I think that'd be much more helpful going forward.

Um thank you for the presentation.

All right, thank you, Councilmember Von Wolpert.

Not seeing anybody else on the lights.

Um I'll offer a couple of comments.

Um my colleagues asked a number of the questions that I was going to touch on, but thank you for the presentation and the broader presentation they actually did at environment committee.

Uh, and being sensitive to how busy city council is that maybe this presentation got a little abbreviated.

Uh I appreciate Council Member Von Wolpert actually highlighting the number of things that we are doing as a city that we didn't actually detail out uh in today's uh presentation.

I also once again want to um thank city planning and general services that absorb the old sustainability mobility department uh and kept everybody uh on the ground running.

Um so I certainly want to recognize the work that's being done on climate across multiple departments and the integration of climate action throughout our city and our budget processes.

These efforts should be recognized despite limited city funding and adverse at federal administration and court rulings that are holding us back.

The goals remain imperative, the welfare of a city, our quality of life, the stability of our economy, and of course, future generations.

Um I do want to just re-emphasize um what has been mentioned uh that the city has actually been very aggressive.

I know government never moves as fast, uh, but people actually want us to go down a little bit slower so they understand what we're doing and when we're doing it.

Uh but the recent ESCO contract uh that we approved, I don't even know what it was.

Was that last week or last month?

Uh was a huge step for the city and uh and hopefully will be uh the pioneer that shows the way for us to do more of those.

Um I want to emphasize Zembop that not only affects city buildings but in affects buildings that are on city property, which I had to fight very hard to get those on those, and Mr.

Wilde, you did a big lift to try to get those on our city owned properties on and for the lessees.

Um the public spoke a little bit about the impact of SDGE but missed something that I think we've all kind of seen now.

I mean, not only can you talk about the cost of electricity, uh, but the investor-owned utilities uh lobby the CPUC, not only a net metering, but they also imposed a lot of other requirements on the CCAs that increase the cost of doing business.

And as the former chair of community power, um, I saw directly the impact on what that did in terms of expanding the renewable portfolio uh going forward.

Uh, and what we also saw is the resistance of trying to build um renewable energy within our own backyard uh and trying to figure out how we actually meet those very, very ambitious goals.

Uh so there's a lot of things that that come after us that interfere with our ability, but nevertheless, city staff do a remarkable job.

The folks at community power do a remarkable job.

Uh and for those of you that were talking about sea level rise, that's in resilient SD.

It is not in the climate action plan, which is why we didn't talk about it today.

Uh, and I'll close with uh joining my colleagues as well as the IBA be very interested in how we can have a shorter turnaround in terms of monitor measuring goals uh and then reporting uh on them.

Um I know we throw a lot at you and we don't give you the resources to do that work, but uh to the degree that we can better understand what's working and what's not, I think it would be helpful for all of us uh going forward.

So I'll close there again.

Thank you for the good work.

Not seeing anybody else in the lights.

This was an information item, no motion was required.

So we will close there and again thank you to city staff and the mayor's office for your good work on this effort.

And so with that, clerk, please introduce item S400.

Thank you, Council President.

Item S400 is to authorize the second amendment to lease agreement between the City of San Diego and the Zoological Society of San Diego for the San Diego Zoo property located in Balboa Park.

If you are here and like to speak on this item, please submit a speaker sip to the front clear box at the front of the room, or if you are participating virtually, now is the time to raise your hand by pressing star nine or the raise your hand icon.

Thank you, Council President.

All right, thank you.

And city staff, I understand you're going to be doing a combined presentation, so please introduce yourself for record and how much time do you need for the total presentation?

Thank you, Council President.

Good afternoon.

Uh Council members, I'm Casey Smith, Chief of Housing and Community Development, and I will need about 13 minutes for a joint presentation today.

All right, I'm here to present the second amendment of the lease agreement with the zoo for the property located within Balboa Park.

With me today from the city is Christina Bibler, Director of Economic Development Department, Policy Advisor Emily Pia Tanesi, and Deputy City Attorney Julie Inman.

We also have Adam Day, Treasurer of the Board of Trustees of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and other representatives from the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance with us today.

The Zoological Society of San Diego or Society has operated the Zoo in Balboa Park since 1916.

For today's purposes, I'll be referring to the Zoological Society as the Zoo.

The current lease agreement was originally executed in July of 1979 and has a term of 55 years, expiring in July of 2034.

The zoo property is an important asset of the city and region, and the zoo is a major contributor to local tourism, generating 3.9 million visits in 2024, with guests spending over 571 million in the region, with a total economic impact of 925 million in San Diego.

Further, the zoo supports nearly 6,500 jobs.

In addition to the zoo within Balboa Park, they also lease and operate the San Diego Zoo Safari Park on City of San Diego Public Utility Department property in the San Pascual Valley.

Due to the implement implementation of paid parking in Balboa Park, the Zoo approached the city last summer and requested a minor amendment, allowing for the zoo to charge different rates for users of the zoo parking lot.

This change would have was approved by City Council on September 18th of last year.

During those initial lease negotiations for the first amendment, the zoo expressed interest in extending their current lease, and those negotiations have concluded.

The second amendment extends the current lease and allows for an annual payment to the city and revenue split of parking.

For those listening in who may not be familiar with the site for today's conversation, on your screen, you will see outlined in red is the zoo lease within Balboa Park with the parking lot on the right.

To highlight the second amendment, the amendment extends the lease by 52 years from the current date to July 23rd, 2078, making the entire lease period 99 years.

Or as the IBA pointed out in their report, extends the lease by 44 years from the current lease expiration date of 2034.

There is a $3 million annual payment as part of this amendment with a 3% annual escalator.

There is a 50-50 revenue split minus reasonable expenses that is capped at $700,000 per year.

It's important to note that there is no escalator on the $700,000.

That amount is fixed for the duration of the lease.

There are no changes to the zoo's obligation to maintain the zoo parking lot, including capital and day-to-day maintenance.

The zoo will be required to provide a new survey and map of the leasehold based on approval from city parks and rec and EDD staff, which will be completed within six months of lease execution.

This amendment adds prevailing wage and the city's zero emissions building policy or Zembop into the lease.

This amendment requires the zoo to provide at a minimum 250,000 in complimentary daily admission tickets annually to San Diego nonprofits, school groups, and children.

Some important items to note about this amendment.

The three million annual payment can be reduced or eliminated if there are further changes or removal of paid parking in Balboa Park.

I will have an example in a few slides to walk you through this.

If the zoo charges for parking at any time, the city is entitled to 50% of the revenue.

The 3% annual escalator will commence in 2030.

The annual payment is due to the city by April 1st of each year.

For this year, the current payment will be due in 30 days from execution of the lease.

The total amount of revenue the city will receive from the annual minimum payment is approximately 330 plus million, assuming there are no changes to paid parking in Balboa Park.

The 50-50 revenue payment is due to the city by May 15th of each year and is collected based on the calendar year.

The revenue stays in Balboa Park and will be deposited into the Balboa Park Paid Parking Program Fund, which can be used by Parks and Rec for day-to-day operations, capital, et cetera, in Balboa Park.

This amendment also ensures that city residents are charged commensurate rates for parking in the zoo parking lot.

In the event the city does not charge for parking with in Balboa Park on five or more consecutive days in any calendar year, including both consecutive and non-consecutive free parking days, but excluding any city holidays, the city's minimum payment shall be reduced by a percentage equivalent to the total number of days in which no parking fees are charged.

As an example, if the city does not charge for parking on 15 days exclusive of city holidays, the city's minimum payment in that calendar year would be reduced by 4.11%, such that a minimum payment otherwise due of $3 million would be reduced by approximately $123,000 for a total city minimum payment of roughly $2.8 million.

Before you is an example of a parking revenue breakdown.

Assuming the zoo parking lot takes in $6 million in revenue in calendar year 2027, and assuming that there are no additional changes to the parking in Balboa Park that impact the number of days the city charges for parking.

If the day-to-day operating expenses are 1.4 million, you would take the 6 million, subtract the 700k for the cap on annual operating expenses, which will leave 5.3 million.

You would then split the 5.3 million 50-50, leaving $2.65 million.

Because the city already received the $3 million annual minimum payment, the city would not receive any additional revenue from paid parking in calendar year 2027 using this example.

However, as revenue from paid parking in the zoo lot increases, the chances of the city receiving more revenue increases.

For instance, if this amount were 10 million in the city would receive 4.65 million or 1.65 million more above the 3 million annual payment amount.

The proposed actions before you today are make a finding under Council Policy 700-10 that the second amendment will serve a valid public purpose and provide public benefit.

Adopt a resolution to waive Part 5, Section C6 of Council Policy 700-10.

Authorize the CFO to accept and deposit revenue under the Balboa Park Paid Parking Program Fund.

Determine that approval of the second amendment is categorically categorically exempt from CEQA.

And finally, authorize the execution of the second amendment to the lease agreement between the City and Zoological Society of San Diego for the San Diego Zoo property located in Balbo Park.

That concludes my portion of the presentation.

And at this time I would like to invite Adam Day, Treasurer of the Board of Trustees of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, up to the dais to say a few words.

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

It's my pleasure to be here on behalf of my colleagues on the Board of Trustees.

I'd like to recognize my colleague, Trustee Emeritus Rick Gully, who's here, along with our senior staff, and along with, as you see, many of our dedicated and uh very special volunteers who've joined us as well.

Uh next slide, please.

For over 100 years, the San Diego Zoo and the City of San Diego have enjoyed a tremendously positive relationship.

I think one that flows equally in both directions.

The zoo and its property, its world-class collection of plants and animals, all belong to you and are owned by the city.

It's our honor and privilege to serve as your stewards for such a well-respected institution built by previous generations of visionary city leadership and passionate and dedicated team members and volunteers.

For the past eight months, it has been my honor and privilege to represent the zoo in negotiating this lease amendment with Casey Smith on behalf of the city and the mayor and the city attorney.

I can tell you those negotiations were certainly rigorous.

It took us eight months, which is a bit of a time, but I do think they were very thorough.

And it's also been my pleasure to interact with each of you and your staffs, and I appreciate your attention to this important matter.

We may be a bit biased, but we start with the proposition that the San Diego Zoo is the crown jewel in the entire city and in fact the entire county.

The proposal before you today aims to keep it so.

Your vote today will allow our successful relationship to thrive for generations to come and adapt as we prepare for what the zoo will look like in the next 50 years.

The action before you honors the commitment I made to you in September and goes even further, both financially as well as with updated lease provisions that Mr.

Smith has identified, and it allows us an extension of the lease terms so that we can properly plan and execute on future projects to ensure we maintain our legacy of excellence.

We plan in terms of decades, not years, and this extension gives us the ability to work with our financial institutions to further invest in deferred maintenance and new capital projects.

I believe this represents a true partnership and successful negotiation for both parties while ensuring our legal and fiduciary obligations.

I thank you for your time.

I hope we've addressed any concerns, and I'm hopeful to earn your positive vote on this critically important matter.

I would now like to introduce our president CEO, Mr.

Sean Dixon.

Thank you.

Good afternoon, Council President, Council members.

I'm standing here in a historic moment for this community.

If you could go to the next slide for me.

We are the crown jewel of San Diego.

We produce 2.1 billion dollars in economic activity in the San Diego region.

We welcome over 3.9 visitors.

And a lot of those visitors come here just to visit the San Diego Zoo.

It's it's incredible, it's an incredible asset for this city.

We're a major employer.

I think you heard from Casey.

We employ an impact of 6,500 employees.

That's just in San Diego.

It's much higher if you think about the region of this economy.

We are an employer that partners with labor.

We have an incredibly strong labor force.

We have jobs for first-time jobs for first-time people coming into the workforce, and we have jobs that are lifelong career jobs for the city.

Um the tenure of our organization runs from you started yesterday to 45, 50-year tenure age going through this organization and being employed by this organization.

So we're very proud of the tenure of this organization.

You'll hear from Erica on community engagement and how we partner with the community to provide better access with school districts and visitors coming to the San Diego Zoo.

We hope that you consider this lease extension for the benefit of this organization, the benefit of this community.

Every dollar that we make, we put back into the city assets.

On the screen here it says 289 million dollars invested in the city asset over the last decade.

Investments like Africa Rocks, a region within the zoo, investments like Giant Pandas, another region within the zoo, and an investment of the old children's zoo called Wildlife Explorers Base Camp.

All investments into this city.

That's on top of the deferred maintenance of a hundred and ten-year-old, I call it house, 110-year-old house that, as you know, is this city has all the deferred maintenance that goes along with it.

So we invest all those dollars back into the city's assets.

Um this does not include the work that we do at the Safari Park and the conservation both locally and our Southwest and globally around the world that we do for conservation.

The bottom line is we're asking you to extend this partnership, and it truly is a partnership of ourselves and the city.

Um we provide an economic and community benefit to this organization and this city.

Um, we provide that economic benefit that goes beyond just the doors of the San Diego Zoo, but to the community that lives here.

Next, I'd like to invite up Erica Kohler, our director, executive director of the San Diego Zoo.

Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.

Good afternoon, Council President and Council members.

Uh next slide, please.

Uh this is uh a snapshot of the value that we provided to the community in 2025, and I'm really proud to share this with all of you.

We provide engaging recreation for San Diego families, a resource for residents, not just tourists.

And while we're recognized globally, we are the hometown zoo for San Diego, a zoo which the residents can be proud of.

More than 140,000 students visit us annually, and we offer free and low-cost programs for school schools, military, and others, which we commit to doing so because that's the core.

That's who we are.

Next slide, please.

We offer free free field trips for all San Diego San Diego's second graders, free programs and field trips for kinder through fifth graders from Title I schools.

We have educational internships and a youth career program for underserved youth.

We serve a thousand wounded service members and their families, and we have unique and educational offerings for our 400,000 members.

We are a living classroom that connects San Diegans of all ages to the natural world.

We have programs with hands-on opportunities for students and the community at large.

In addition, we have active conservation programs protecting endangered species at home.

These programs are in our own backyard.

A few examples include California Condors, Desert Tortoise, Mountain Legg Yellow Frog, and Burrowing Owls.

And through our partnership with the city, we help support San Diego becoming a B city to support pollinator work, which is important being an agricultural state.

Our impact truly extends across the entire community.

And finally, I'd like to close and invite Adam back up to the podium.

Thank you, Council Members.

In conclusion, uh, we are proud to be your trusted partner for the last hundred and nine years.

We'd love to continue that partnership.

We're proud of the work that we've done.

It's been done by our volunteers and our dedicated team members and working very closely with the uh the city of San Diego at all levels.

We want to continue to reinvest back into the infrastructure, both the third maintenance as well as new projects that you've heard about, and we want to continue to make resources available to uh the broader community on a free or discounted basis.

Um, with that, we are available to answer any questions, and again, I hope to earn your positive vote on this action.

It's critically important to the future of the zoo.

Thank you.

All right, thank you for the combined presentation.

We'll turn it over to the office of the independent budget analyst.

Thank you, Council President.

On Friday, our office released IBA report 26-07, which contains an analysis of the proposed amended lease agreement between the city and the zoo.

For anyone who wisely decided not to spend their week in reading that report, I'll provide a brief summary.

Conservatively, we estimate the lease extension could generate $347.6 million in nominal or face value, but using a 4.5% discount rate, the net present value would be closer to 98.5 million for the entire 52-year length of the lease.

This equates to an average annual revenue of 1.9 million in net present value.

These amounts could decrease if the city pairs back its paid parking program in Balboa Park, but these amounts could also increase if the zoo generates gross revenue higher than the minimum payment amount.

Council ultimately has three choices.

One, approve the proposed lease as negotiated at this time.

Two, request the item be returned to staff to further negotiate terms and conditions that could be represented to council at a future date.

Or three, reject the proposed lease extension and request staff to negotiate a new lease amendment closer to the current lease expiration date in 2034.

As council considers this lease proposal and may wish to weigh short-term and long-term costs and benefits related to the terms of the lease.

For example, one payments structured only on pay parking related activity over 52-year period will be subject to fluctuations in parking policies in Balboa Park evolve over time.

Council may wish to consider alternative or additional payment economic options, such as a percentage or dollar amount of tickets and membership, concessions and sales, and/or gross rent from subleases.

While the lease provides for review of payment terms every 10 years to account for current economic conditions as required by state law, the lease is silent on what terms will be reviewed and adjusted, or how disputes over adjustments will be mediated and resolved.

The zoo lot is planned location for future zoo exhibit expansion, which also entails the undergrounding of the existing lot.

The lease is silent on how temporary or ongoing changes to the amount of on-site or off-site parking will be resolved.

While the proposed lease amendment only applies to the zoo property, the zoo's current lease of the zoo property in Balboa Park and the Safari Park for pop property in the San Pascual Valley have a concurrent lease term and expiration date.

Council may wish to consider the benefits and risks of negotiating these leases separately instead of concurrently as a package.

And finally, the FY26 budget and FY27 to 31 five-year outlook assume $3 million in revenue from zoo parking.

Returning this proposal to staff or requesting staff negotiate a new lease amendment closer to the current lease expiration date in 2034 would add to the current fiscal year's projected shortfall, potentially requiring use of the general fund reserve and add to the projected budget deficit in the next several future fiscal years.

Thank you very much for your attention, and I'll be available to answer questions you may have for our office.

All right, thank you, Noah, for your and your office's uh analysis of the proposal.

So with that, uh clerk, please proceed with public comment.

Thank you, Council President.

We do have uh quite a number of speakers, so we will be going to one minute each.

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

Susie Tig, you can come up to the podium to the high mic, and then Jennifer Roy, Craig Sanders, Kelly Maiden, Madden, Marsha Dideer, Philip McMullen, Beverly McKinney.

I'll please come up to the front row.

And if you could actually use the other mic, because that way you can actually see the clock tick away that 60 seconds.

I appreciate you.

Please proceed already.

Hello, I am Susie Ty, and I am a volunteer with San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.

Um I'm a San Diegan native.

Uh I went to Torrey Pines High School.

After that, I went to the U.S.

Naval Academy.

I did four tours here in San Diego, and after that, I bought a house, and I'm very happy to say I have now paid off the mortgage for it.

Uh I choose to spend my time with the zoo.

Uh I do that.

I've spent almost 1,500 hours with them last year, both at the zoo at the Safari Park and in our conservation science building, where we're pulling DNA out of Tory Pine samples and doing endocrine studies on endangered species, um, which we call drying down poop for fun and profit.

Uh I can share with you when I go on travel and I tell people I'm a zoo volunteer, it is universally greeted with admiration and respect.

Not just here in San Diego, not just in the United States, but literally around the world.

Thank you so much for listening to us.

Thank you.

Jennifer.

Hi there.

My name is Jennifer Roy, and I am a resident of District 2.

I am a longtime member of, and more recently, a volunteer for the San Diego Zoo and the Safari Park, where I get to experience firsthand the positive impacts of this special place.

It inspires people of all ages to see and think about a world bigger than themselves.

People come here because our zoo is awesome.

I hear it over and over, both in the park and while I'm traveling.

Our entire city benefits from the vision, foresight, and proper planning of this organization.

But we don't get to rest on our laurels.

Thank you.

Next is Craig.

Good afternoon, Council members, and thank you for the opportunity to speak and share my support for item S400.

As a volunteer at the zoo for four years, I'm grateful that I have the opportunity to witness firsthand how dedicated the staff is to the wildlife care and safety in education.

S400 benefits conservation and the San Diego community.

Our conservation programs exist for decades.

Our zoo is helping save species here and around the world.

Community impact.

Kids free October.

Active duty military programs, free admission every day of the year.

Field trips and education programs.

The important successful passing of S400 ensures that we can continue our conservation and allowing for much needed planning required by welfare implants in our care.

Thank you.

Thank you, Kelly.

Kelly Maiden.

Hello, City Council members.

My name is Kelly Madden, and I'm here representing the zoo as a volunteer.

Our world famous San Diego Zoo is not just an attraction, it's the heartbeat of our city and our economy and our pride.

Currently, the San Diego Zoo is saving endangered species from all over the world and educating generations, as witnessed by myself when I was a little child, and I'm still volunteering there.

This work inspires hope and puts San Diego on the world stage, ensuring long-term stability and world-class wildlife conservation.

I strongly support you and support the San Diego Zoo and our city and have you and ask your support in supporting S400.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you.

Marcia.

After that will be Philip McMullen, Beverly McKinney, Rodolfo Serene, Ed Fuller.

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

Those that have already spoken can definitely go back to their other seats.

Please proceed.

Thank you.

Good afternoon, Council members, and thank you for the opportunity to speak.

My name is Marcia Didier, and I'm here to express my support for item S400.

As a volunteer for the last five years, this role has greatly enriched my life, and I've seen firsthand how the zoo's commitment to our community enriches the lives of both children and adults.

Programs such as Kids Free October, free daily admission for active duty military, field trips, and educational programs make a meaningful difference for families across our region.

I've been bringing my children, my grandchildren, and now my great-grandchildren here for more than five decades.

I truly can't imagine San Diego without our world-class famous San Diego Zoo.

Thank you for your time and for listening.

Thank you.

Phillip.

Good afternoon, Council members.

My name is Philip McMullen.

I live in Hillcrest, and I've been a volunteer at the zoo for four years.

So I spent the last 30 years of my career in education, so I'm very passionate about how important education is to us having a viable future as we say where all lives thrive.

So in addition to all the benefit the zoo brings to the economy, I believe one of its most important missions is educating generations and generations from all over the world about well animal welfare and in particular the very thin fragile line between extinction and endangered.

So I really hope that you will support S 400 today and keep this important mission going.

Thank you.

Thank you, Beverly.

Good afternoon, Council members, and I live in Rolando, so my council member is right here.

I hope you will seriously consider S400 today and agree to it.

Long-term planning is so important for an organization like the zoo.

Our work with endangered species like the uh keynote uh Chekhermoff butterfly that we put back into the environment here in the county.

Those kinds of scientific works take enormous planning, and there has to be time for that planning.

So an extended lease is critically important.

We can all talk about what the zoo does for kids.

It's amazing, and you all know that.

Thank you for your time.

Rodolfo Hi, Councilman, thank you for having me here and let me speak.

I want to say that uh hope you would support S 400 because it's really important.

One of the things that uh experience that it really is uh heartwarming to me is seeing kids come to the school and talk about their experience of being all excited.

There's these kids that get support by the programs that we offer them, and some of them come from um Calexico in that area, and on the free kids in October, and they get up at four o'clock to go to the meeting place, and then they leave at 4 30, and they arrive at the zoo.

And oh my god, they're so excited about being able to see the animals there and to see their energy and their happiness.

These are the young minds that we are forming to help preserve and the conservation of all the animals in the future.

So your support in this program, your support in the S 400 is really meaningful and important.

Thank you.

Next is Ed Fuller, your final speaker here in Council Chambers.

Please proceed.

Thank you so much for your time.

Um my wife and I both have been coming to this zoo for over 60 years, and we've seen so many changes.

It's really gone forward in animal conservation and building for this community.

And I just can't imagine this community without this zoo.

So I strongly support you this resolution.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

I'm sorry, the five-minute timer going to those participating remotely.

We currently have eight people with our hands raised.

If we can start with the gambler, if you can please unmute.

You'll have one minute.

Please proceed.

I can't, there you go.

So let me go in and get this straight.

The contract is good until uh the 32.

So why are you threatening them of removing it if you don't allow, don't force them to make it paid parking?

That part I don't really understand.

There is no risk of the San Diego Zoo getting moved.

I really doubt it unless these city council members are that much of a jerk, which I believe that they truly are.

Now I understand it's because you guys don't really belong there.

Faulty elections, we have faulty leaders.

I'm suspecting that this is going to be changing soon.

I'm gonna I'm trying to work with Orange County to go ahead and fix elections if I can convince them to go ahead and reveal the data.

Then we don't have to really worry about bad leaders like we have in the city of San Diego.

And I just hope that we just postpone this until after this year.

See what happens by the end of this year.

John Stump, if you can please unmute.

Thank you very much.

I'm urging you to take um recommendation number two from the IBA, which is to send this back to committee.

It's interesting what the zoo leadership doesn't talk about.

They don't talk about whether these are sandy, city of San Diego employees, or are they regional San Diego employees?

They don't talk about the lungworm infection that's threatening all agriculture and health in San Diego in the region.

Now, they don't talk about the fact that this deal is worth two billion dollars to them.

And I urge you to read by two memos.

Don't pass this now, send it back to committee.

We have eight years before it's necessary.

Thank you.

Oh.

And in the future, you what where is the utilization data on the employees in the zoo?

Are they city of San Diego?

And what race and color?

Thank you.

Next is Shane Harris, if you can please unmute.

After that is Lori Saldani.

Shane, please unmute.

Yes.

Can you hear me, Madam Clerk?

Yes, please proceed.

Good afternoon, Council.

My name is Shane Harris, and I'm today here today as a public as a public advocate for the residents of San Diego.

I want to be clear at the outset.

I'm not here to argue for or against the San Diego Zoo lease amendment.

The zoo is a treasured institution in our city and something many of us take pride in.

My purpose today is to simply raise a few concerns that I believe deserve careful consideration.

First, this proposal represents a very long-term extension of a public asset located in one of the most important public parks in our city.

When we enter into agreements, this length and scale of the public deserves confidence that the terms fully reflect the value of that asset and the long-term interest of San Diego taxpayers.

Second, there are legitimate questions about the financial structure of the agreement.

The zoo is a globally recognized organization with significant revenue and resources.

At the same time, the city of San Diego is facing serious budget challenges.

It's reasonable for the public to ask whether the city is receiving a fair value and whether the additional opportunities exist for the zoo.

Time has concluded.

Thank you.

Yes, thank you.

First, uh it's a lifelong San Diegan.

I visited the zoo often with my family, and as an assembly member, I visited behind the scenes and learned more about their operations.

I admire how they support animals in their care, especially endangered and threatened species.

Um but this important discussion needs to be more thoroughly reviewed by the economic development committee.

This is an economic discussion.

Thanks to all the volunteers who showed up and testified.

But the economic value of this is what's at stake.

And I am concerned that they have not installed solar panels over every square inch of their massive parking lot in my lifetime, even as the university schools and community colleges in San Diego have done over the last 20 years.

I encourage the climate action plan to estimate how much electricity would be generated by putting panels on the parking lot.

And I'd like to know what is their annual energy bill, and were there operations included into the city's climate action plan.

The original lease states that books of the society shall be open to the city by April 1st of each year.

I look forward to seeing your utility bills on April 1st.

Thank you for that concluding comment.

8700, if you can please unmute star six.

Please proceed.

Joyce and Yat of C D3.

A big question for you.

What about the assets of the zoo employees?

I Googled a lot of this, and it didn't look good at times.

So 6,500 jobs.

So I I want uh before we sign this approve this, I want EO's new updated EOC reports, workforce reports.

And I I think we need to return this for staff to staff.

Actually, I would sort of love having a new a brand new lease, but I would go with the middle road too.

So the 52-year extension to 2078 is a major long-term commitment of public land, making it critical to align to align the 1979 era agreement with current labor and equity standards.

This is not being looked at completely, and it's very important.

800 million dollars total asset value.

What about our employees?

I don't get it yet.

Please love it.

Our time has concluded.

Phone number ending in 8813, please unmute.

After that is Andrea Ebbing.

Okay, thank you.

Um, so first off, I just kind of wanted to point out how um gosh.

I too grew up going to the zoo, but I am entirely against any animals being in cages, including humans.

Um and also I wanted to comment referring to pull over and speak.

Um the whole climate crisis, um emission reduction, aka controlling the people's movement and behavior to accommodate goals for the UN's 2030 plan and to further enslave the people and disguise it as progress.

I mean, people really have to wake up to this.

And just like uh uh I think his name is Bob Kacinski.

Mr.

Kaczynski had the best comment of all comments of the day um regarding the previous.

Andrea Ebbing, if you can please unmute after you is 7499.

Please proceed.

Andrew Ebbing, I can't unmute for you.

We'll need to move on if you can't unmute.

You should have had a pop-up come up.

We will need to move on.

7499, if you can please unmute.

Bob Kazuski here.

Let me describe a hypothetical zoo situation worth considering with regard to such a long lease.

Let's imagine that one of the zoo keepers was negligent, and as a result of that negligence, one of the zoo's elephants got loose and trampled a young woman who suffered a broken pelvis.

Let's further imagine that a regular zoo visitor witnessed that negligent situation and had reported similar negligence in the past.

Imagine that the young woman sued the zoo and she called on the regular visitor as an expert witness.

And that witness testified to the negligence that he had witnessed for years at the zoo.

His testimony was devastating, and the zoo settled the lawsuit for a lot of money.

And then the zoo began retaliating against that witness and banned him from coming to the zoo.

Does that say scenario sound far fetched?

It shouldn't, because that's what's happened via the long-term lease at Torrey Pine's Glider Port.

Despite the claims, a shorter term lease would not stop the do the zoo from doing all of the great things that it has done.

Thank you.

Thank you, Jay Powell.

If you can please unmute.

Well, the pop-up didn't come up.

Can you hear me?

Yes, please forget.

Okay, thank you.

I'd like uh the slide that shows the uh overall zoo, the picture, the aerial view uh to be pulled up before my time starts.

Um resident here, this is not about loving the zoo.

Uh me and my family love the zoo.

This is about uh a huge uh extension uh very, very long term.

Uh I'd like you to refer this back and also to the climate advisory board, the resilience advisory board.

We talked about the climate action plan earlier.

Um, notwithstanding the new parking requirements and the confusion about that.

Um this is something that the vast parking lot in that picture that you can see there.

It's a single lever, massive black asphalt heat generator that could become a major energy producer and rainwater capture basin if it was properly designed to accommodate parking, solar panel, electric storage equipment.

Such a development in conjunction with other improvement in the zoo facilities could serve as a community-based microgrid easily publicly.

Blair Beekman, I can't unmute for you.

I've asked you to unmute a pop-up should come up or some sort of instructions.

I will need to move on.

And the last speaker is Hector, if you can please unmute.

Oh, thanks for taking my comments, Hector.

I would think of like many things for the city.

Let's have a three-hour question and answer period, like down at the gym down there, Balboa Park or the Balbola room, where we can just ask everybody questions for three hours and get answers.

Like the mayor and you guys, and because it is, you know, this is how the city does it, though.

They kind of surface things that jam it down everyone's throat at the last minute.

You know, but next time, and this every big thing that's coming up.

Also, growing up in the zoo, and when I when I grew up there in the 50s, 60s, the bus driver would go at the end of the bus route.

They would point out the most dangerous animal ever to walk the earth and where they where they're at.

They're living over there at Roosevelt Junior High School.

The bus driver used to say this is the most dangerous animal.

And it's true, Matt.

We should bring that back to the bus driver to say that to the kids.

It's true more than ever.

That concludes public comment on this item.

Thank you, Council President.

All right, thank you.

I remember the road hogs at 163.

Uh, with that, thank you for everyone that spoke here in chambers and those who parts CSV to remotely.

And I'll, as always, thank you, City Clerk, for handling all that.

We'll turn it over to my council colleagues uh for questions, comments, and ortain a motion, and we'll start with council member Campbell.

Thank you very much, Council President, and thank you to staff for today's presentation and to everyone who came uh and called in with public comment.

I appreciate the the zoo alliance very much.

Thanks for being here.

I'm pleased to support this amendment to the lease with the zoological society of San Diego for the continued operation of the world-famous San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park.

For more than a century, the zoo has been one of San Diego's most treasured institutions and a major driver of our regional economy.

In 2024 alone, it welcomed nearly 3.9 million visitors, generated significant economic activity, and supported at least 6,500 jobs.

This amendment strengthens the city's long-standing partnership with the zoo, providing stability for continued investment in the property, and creates meaningful revenue for the city.

This agreement includes an annual payment to the city that will grow over time.

It also ensures continued community benefits, including complementary admissions for local nonprofits, school groups, and children, as well as prevailing wage requirements for construction and maintenance work.

Overall, this agreement protects a key city asset while supporting one of San Diego's most iconic institutions.

I'm happy to make the motion to support staff's recommendation.

Thank you, Council President.

All right, thank you, Councilmember Campbell.

We have a motion to move the staff recommendation.

I'll take the liberty of jumping in.

There is no doubt about the love of the zoo, and I'm not going to tell you the dad jokes I used to play with my daughters on it.

But that's not what's in front of us.

What in front of us is a real estate transaction.

And I think that's what was presented to us was a real estate transaction, and I think my council colleagues will agree this is a real estate transaction.

The action in front of us includes some waivers of 700-10.

But I also want to remind folks that we also have another council policy, 700-04, that talks about what we do for projects in Balboa Park.

And as noted for city subsidized nonprofit cultural recreational institutions, in certain instances, it may be necessary to grant an extended and specific term of occupancy to assist the tenant and securing financing for improvements or modifications to the premises.

In these cases, an appropriate term should be approved.

That is commensurate with the those requirements.

And I appreciate the fact that I think we did I do the math correctly, 30 million a year in infrastructure over the past 10 years.

And I suspect we'll see that level of investment.

And more particularly to the comments of the public, I don't think that parking lot is there for the long term of this.

For those with longer memories, there was a very ambitious plan laid out a number of years ago that things life gets in the way.

Something that we should not plan our annual budget conversations on, but the three million and as a minimum statement is something that we can now plan on going forward.

And I do want to recognize that even though uh paid parking is just getting started, that the zoo has agreed to issue with that three million for this fiscal fiscal year.

Um that should not go uh unnoticed.

Um I also want to mention the uh the adding Zembop to uh the lease agreement, which as I mentioned in the earlier item is particularly important to me because I was the one that fought to get Zembop included on city land, even if it was leased to private parties, and certainly recognize that Zembop does have exclusions in it.

Uh there has to actually be feasible uh methods, uh, and there has to be a financial component, prevailing wage is always important on big capital projects.

Um then to counteract a couple of things uh that I heard one that I hear over that somebody said and keeps getting repeated over and over again.

This three million will go into the Balboa Park paid parking program.

Is that correct, Casey?

That is correct.

Essentially a lockbox and can only be used within Balboa Park.

Correct.

I think some members of the public try to confuse people.

The other thing is for whatever you think about paid parking in Balboa Park.

I learned quite a bit about Balboa Park, despite being a native and having enjoyed Balboa Park over the years.

And one of the things that I learned is that the leaseholders in Balboa Park don't pay for water.

The exception is the zoo, a number of years ago.

And the basic reason is there's only one meter for all the your uh auto water system that goes throughout Balboa Park.

Again, except for the zoo who put in a submeter and they actually pay for their own uh water there.

Um of many things to uh be recognized.

And I think I mentioned the parking lot, so I think I covered all the ground that I wanted to.

So with that, um I will second the motion to move the staff recommendation.

And with that, we will now go to Councilmember Moreno.

Uh thank you, and also uh thank you for the presentation.

Um, I want to thank city staff and representatives from the San Diego Zoo for the work that went into negotiating this amendment.

The San Diego Zoo is an important institution in our city, and it has a very long history in Balboa Park.

Um, it brings visitors from around the world, and it plays an important role in conservation.

But I think the most important thing that it does is it keeps local San Diegan students at the forefront of their mission.

The zoo has a commitment to every second grader in San Diego so that they have access to the zoo for free.

36 years ago, I was one of those students.

So to say that the San Diego Zoo is a good steward of parkland, I think is an understatement.

Currently, the zoo houses 12,000 animals that live in a naturalistic habitat.

Eight gardens dedicated to native plant species, and as was stated, it generates an economic impact of about two billion dollars.

All of this exists within the larger area that makes it possible.

Balboa Park is one of the most important public spaces we have in the city, and it belongs to the people of San Diego.

Families come here because it's a place where they could spend time together, enjoy the museums, the gardens, and the cultural institutions without having to worry so much about costs.

I have voted in the past against paid parking at Balboa Park to keep the park accessible to everyone in San Diego.

My colleagues have voted for paid parking at Balboa Park, and this is why we are here today.

I wish this was not the situation.

However, this agreement continues our commitment to putting San Diegans first, supporting the world-renowned wildlife conservation, the zoo has achieved, and also, in my opinion, ensuring a fair outcome.

So therefore, I will be voting on the motion before us today, and that concludes my comments.

Thank you.

Uh thank you, Councilmember Moreno.

And I forgot to repeat that we do have a motion by Council Member Campbell and a second by myself to move the staff recommendation.

We'll go next to Councilmember Von Wilbert.

Thank you.

Thank you for the work in the presentation on this, and thank you to all of our volunteers here for the zoo.

Uh, every time I visit the zoo, I am always incredibly delighted by every single volunteer who knows so much about the exhibits that they are volunteering for, and I have been blown away by your dedication and your knowledge and your your stewardship to the city.

I mean, these are volunteer positions that you're doing, and I can see how deeply you care about the animals that you see and how deeply you care about the public engaging.

So just thank you for your work.

Thank you for being here.

We need more people in the world who are like the zoo volunteers, and I just want to say how much I appreciate you.

Um thank you to the zoo leadership as well.

Uh it's wonderful opening of Elephant Valley last week at the San Diego Safari Park.

I mean, it made worldwide news.

It was actually incredible to see, and I can't wait to go back just as a regular visitor as well.

Uh I saw the line, the crowd whine to come in, and it was incredible.

So I just want to thank you for being a world-class institution located right here in the city of San Diego.

And I agree with what council were or council president Lakaba stated.

We all are very, very excited about the zoo growing and being a part of our community, and we have to do our jobs as council members to view a lease, a real estate transaction that really is not just about the zoo.

So that's why we have a bunch of questions about our real estate transactions going forward.

Um, I do uh understand and and I I would assert that the Safari Park and the Zoo are completely different negotiations for their leases.

One up at it's an operating agreement, it's completely different than the Balboa park, so I do think they should be done separately.

Um, and we will have the Safari Park coming up soon.

It's also on PUD land, which is regulated by Prop 218, so it's completely different than the Balboa Park.

We also need to do this now because it was the city that put the urgency on the zoo to do this when we were the ones who instituted parking at Balboa Park.

So that's why these are separate, and I think that they should be.

Um second plug, we need to make sure that the farmers in the San Pascual Valley have their leases done.

I cannot support having a neighbor next door having their lease done when our farmers haven't for years.

Mark Kersey spent his entire term trying to get our farmers their leases done in the San Pascual Valley, and they're all partners.

You wouldn't believe the amount of work these farmers do to clear trees, brush off the roadway, you know, fire safety.

So please put the same effort into getting our farmers' leases done as we do the Safari Park, because I know they are all partners up there, and we need to get it done.

Um so Casey, I know you're working on it, but the farmers are gonna come down to City Hall to talk with us about it, because we need to get their leases done.

Um side note, so I do have a question here about why this is under 700-10, because I believe it really needs to be controlled under 700-04, and with that we don't need to be waiving anything in the motion.

Um, for example, the newspaper reported there's no appraisal here, and we as a city have had past real estate transactions where we've gotten in trouble for not having an appraisal, such as the 101 Ash building across the street.

However, we do not charge rent for Balboa Park tenants that are nonprofits.

We have decided as a city that we do not do that.

So the only reason we would invest in paying for an appraisal is if we were to set a price for rent or sale.

And so I wanna make sure that that is the understanding that's why we do not need an appraisal here is because we're not charging rent or selling the property.

That is correct, council member.

Okay.

Just solely focused on parking.

And we do not charge rent because it's Balboa Park.

Correct, 700 04.

So then why it's a question for the city attorney, why aren't we just implementing this under 700 04?

I don't think we as a council have to waive important provisions in 700-10, such as market rate rent improvements in the property when 700-10 doesn't apply to the situation.

And if you look at uh section five uh um or letter Roman numeral V of the disposition of city property if by lease under 700-10, it states that if section five of this policy conflicts with a more specific applicable council policy, the more specific council policy will control, and that's 700-4.

Deputy City Attorney Julie Inman.

So the specific portions of council policy 700-10 that are waived solely apply to uh time extensions of leases and amendments that extend time, and so one is a waiver of the requirement that the lease be updated to fair market value, and then the other is the requirement that the tenant proposed capital improvements that um justify the extension, and those aspects weren't addressed in 700-4, and the long-term extension of the lease wasn't addressed in council policy 700-4.

So that's the reason why the waiver was included here.

Councilmember, if I may also just add for additional context, in terms of this council's policy that was updated last February, a long-term lease and disposition really is covered by 700-10, and then in addition, because it's Balboa Park, because it's the zoo, that's the 700-04.

So ensuring that we're covering our bases based on this council's direction.

We wouldn't want to run a foul associated with which one is governing, but that both technically do apply, and that we're being transparent about what we're asking you to do.

Okay, I appreciate that.

As as an attorney, I I would disagree.

And the reason is I don't want the public to think that we are screwing our responsibility to get market rate when the zoo is never paying rent in the first place.

And that we are not giving the zoo a special deal, the other abil, you know, city lessees would take.

They've always been under uh the Balboa park rules, which means that these things don't have to be waived, and I want the public to know we are holding them to the same account that we are holding every single other person about.

And that's why I'm saying it should be under 700 4.

I won't die on this hill, um, but I want folks to know that this has always been the case.

Plus, the zoo has put in substantial uh revenue into improving the park, improving our city assets.

I mean, they've put in tens of millions of dollars into infrastructure upgrades that they're not gonna get credit for in this lease because they didn't need to because it wasn't under 700-10.

Okay, I'm done being with my legal hat on.

Um last uh point is just that the teamsters are the ones who represent the zoo workers here, and they are fantastic.

There was a question about who are the workers, they're wonderful.

I've met with the Teamsters recently, and I'm glad to see they've approved the latest collective bargaining agreement, which is great because we have to inverse invest in our workforce as well.

Um, and that I'm glad we are um increasing our ZenBop goals here, our zero admissions goals, and that we are putting in prevailing wage because it's a semi-property.

So we're doing everything that we should be for the workers in the zoo uh in the park.

And um because of that, I will let it go on which council policy we need to be in because we're gonna get to the same result anyway.

Um, but I just want to thank you very much for the work on this.

I am very, very excited to see the growth of the zoo and very excited for a partnership.

Um, and I will support the motion today.

Thank you.

All right, thank you, Councilmember Von Wolpert.

We'll go next to Councilmember Campillo.

Thank you, Council President.

Thank you to our city staff uh for their good work today and the presentation.

I do have a question, uh it's very specific question, wasn't addressed in any of the slides, but it's something that I know that the zoo provides uh as a service.

Um, if there's someone from the zoo that's able to answer it.

Um I know that the zoo for roughly eight, maybe nine years has been supporting uh the wounded warrior organization that allows early access to the zoo for their physical fitness needs, rehabilitation, and to their physical trainers.

Um my hope is that this program continues without any additional impact to those participating.

Um I know that now that there's charging at at uh the parking lot, that might be getting in the way.

Um I see Mr.

Day is at the uh at the microphone.

Uh Mr.

Day, can you speak to whether that program is gonna continue on beyond going and how you plan to continue to support those folks who've been wounded serving our in our military.

Thank you, Councilman.

And uh through the council president, yes, we're proud of our partnership with wounded warriors.

Um we we have as you've heard earlier, we provide free admission to active duty military, roughly 130,000 members per year.

Um so it's a substantial um benefit that we want to recognize our military, and we're honored um uh to work with the wounded warriors and the and the sacrifices that they've made.

And so we look forward after today's action, uh, hopefully knock on wood.

Um, we're gonna work uh very diligently with our uh with our donors, with our team members, and with the window warriors and other veteran groups to make sure we minimize or eliminate the impact uh of this change uh as soon as possible.

Understood.

I heard minimize or eliminate the impact.

So I appreciate that that work.

Um thank you.

Uh appreciate that this items before us.

Um just to very touch on it very briefly.

I know that some members of the public uh have mentioned today uh about the charge for parking.

Um obviously I've been in support of free parking for all people in all of Balboa Park since day one, and I still support free parking today, though, that we are talking about something very different.

Um securing a portion of the revenue that's already being collected from visitors by the zoo is a reasonable step for the city right now.

And the zoo has long been one of our strongest strategic partners for our region, and it's long provided enormously positive economic impact in terms of tens of thousands of jobs, billions of dollars in uh secondary and tertiary impacts.

Uh so I'm confident that we're gonna continue to work well together with the zoo to continue to serve the public.

Uh, and I appreciate that their mission is something that should be the mission of all of San Diego.

So I will be in support of the item.

Thank you, Council President.

All right, thank you, Councilmember Campio.

Uh not seeing anybody else in the lights.

Uh thank you, my colleagues for your questions and comments.

Uh, thank you, Councilmember Bon Wolpert.

Uh constant struggle to make sure all our council policies actually interreact.

Um and maybe we can do a little bit of cleanup at uh the next uh next opportunity.

But uh given the in the absence of uh caution or abundance of caution, that's what I want to say.

Uh I think I appreciate why you did it, but your your points were well taken.

You do have 700-04 that also speaks to Balboa Park in particular.

So with that, I don't see anybody else on the lights.

Uh we have a motion by council member Campbell and a second by myself.

Clerk, please call the roll.

Thank you.

I'm sorry, the voting system.

I will also note that we did receive six speaker slips in favor here in council chambers with no need to speak, and this item also received 28 comments in favor and two comments in opposition via our e-comment form, which was distributed to the council.

This does pass unanimously eight to zero with council member President Pro Tem Lee absent.

Thank you, Council President.

All right, thank you.

Again, thank you to staff for the very good work in bringing this forward.

So with that, Clerk, please introduce item S401.

Item S401 is the approval of an affordable housing CDBG loan agreement with community revitalization development corporation in an amount not to exceed $6,650,000 for the Promenade Apartments Affordable Housing Project.

If you'd like to speak on this item, please be sure to submit a speaker slip to the front of the room and place it in the clear box.

If you are joining us virtually and would like to speak on this item, please be sure to raise your hand by pressing star nine or the raise your hand icon.

Thank you, Council President.

All right, thank you.

I see staff is starting to settle in.

When you are settled in, introduce yourselves for the record and let us know how much time you need.

Good afternoon, Council President Lacava and honorable council members.

We will need approximately seven minutes for this presentation.

All right, when you're ready.

My name is Christine Marcella, Deputy Director with the Economic Development Department, and with me is Monica Hartman, Assistant Director, and it's our pleasure to present the Affordable Housing CDBG loan agreement with Community Revitalization Development Corporation.

Today we are requesting that the City Council approve the staff report actions summarized on this slide.

The actions include approval of the loan agreement with Community Revitalization Development Corporation or CRDC, authorizing the mayor to execute, administer, and implement the loan agreement, authorize the transfer appropriation and expense of $6.65 million from the unobligated CDBG grant to the Promenade Apartments project, and authorizing the $25,000 developer deposit for city costs and loan repayments to be deposited to the low and moderate income housing asset fund or LMIHAF.

Before discussing the project, I'll provide a brief summary of the Bridge to Home Program.

The bridge to home program has proven to be a valuable tool in allocating gap financing to assist in meeting critical affordable housing needs.

Since 2021, the economic development department has issued seven rounds of its bridge to home notice of funding availability with round seven applications due this April 6th.

Rounds one through five have resulted in 22 approved loan agreements.

One pending round four agreement will be brought for council consideration in May.

There are three pending agreements from round six, with this agreement being the first to be brought before council, as this project is receiving CDBG funds that need to be expended for timeliness.

Altogether, these 26 loans will provide a total of nearly 123 million dollars in affordable housing funding, creating 2,528 total apartments, including 2,499 affordable rental homes, of which 436 are permanent housing with supportive services.

An informational presentation on the bridge to home round six NOFA process was provided at the Economic Development and Intergovernmental Relations Committee meeting on December 10th, 2025, and loans for four projects were recommended.

One project has since been unable to move forward.

The remaining three projects will create 391 affordable rental homes, including 55 permanent supporting housing supportive housing units.

The promenade apartments is one of the three round six projects and the only project moving forward that was eligible to receive CDBG funds.

Now I'll take a few moments to provide a brief description of the promenade apartments.

The project will be developed by the nonprofit community revitalization development corporation, partnering with CRP Affordable Housing and Community Development.

CRDC was established in 1991 and has been involved in the development, ownership, and operation of over 10,000 affordable housing units.

CRP was established in 2019, and its founders have owned, developed, and managed over 2,500 affordable units.

The project site is located at 3972-86 and 3990 Cleveland Avenue in the uptown neighborhood within the state's highest resource area in Council District 3.

The site is located within a transit priority area and located in an area near grocery retail, school, medical, and park facilities.

The proposed eight-story new construction development will include 94 affordable one, two, and three-bedroom apartments for families earning between 30 and 70 percent of the area median income and one manager's apartment.

There will be 22 parking spaces, despite the fact that no parking is required given its location in a transit priority area.

The project will meet California energy standards and include solar panels and stormwater bioretention filtration.

Amenities include a community space, kitchen, laundry, bike parking, a tot lot, and play areas.

The loan agreement will provide a $6.65 million CDBG loan for acquisition at a 3% simple interest rate with a 55-year term to be repaid from residual receipts.

The city will have 55-year affordability covenants on the 94 affordable apartments at 70% AMI, and the developer will be applying for other sources that will restrict lower units uh that will restrict units at lower AMI levels.

These tables show the projected sources and uses.

The 6.65 million dollar city loan provides approximately 70,000 per unit and 36,000 per bedroom.

When leveraged with multiple financing sources, the total project cost is approximately 60.3 million.

Please note that these sources and uses of funds are based on estimates and assumptions and will be finalized at closing once all financing sources are obtained.

Now we will review the tentative schedule for the project.

The developer has applied for tax credits with potential award in May 2026.

And if successful, construction could begin in the fourth quarter of 2026.

The construction period is anticipated to be approximately 26 months.

Staff recommends approval of the requested actions summarized here, and representatives from the development team as well as city staff are available to respond to questions.

This concludes our presentation.

Thank you.

All right, thank you for your good work in the presentation this afternoon.

Clerk, please proceed with public comment.

There are no speakers here in Council Chambers going to those participating remotely.

There are four speakers.

You'll have two minutes each.

Starting with 8700, if you can please unmute.

After that is 8813.

94 affordable apartments, 30% to 70% AMI, one, two, three bedroom apartments for families.

That's great news.

29 units are 30% AMI.

47 units are 50%.

That's middle income.

The total cost of the project is $60,311,000.

Now I finally found this.

The per unit subsidy approximately $70,745 per unit.

I'm not used to the word being put there with the per unit cost.

So I need to get clear on that.

It's probably very uh clear, but I just didn't get that word subsidy.

But that amount of per unit is pretty darn good.

The developer is awaiting final decision for an award of tax credits on May and May of 2026.

My fingers are crossed.

Um also we need to receive a HUD CUD's authority to use the grant fund.

Uh I was a little afraid of that, but I I hope that's going to come easily uh in spite of what's happening with HUD and our housing situation.

So uh this is a great item.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Uh just love these projects for housing coming to in our current environment.

So keep up the great work and look to all yes to round six allocation of CDBG funds.

Thank you.

8813, if you can please unmute after that as Blair Beekman.

Hi, can you hear me?

Yes, please proceed.

Okay, got it.

Okay, gone so here.

Yeah, I just wanted to um to confirm that this too is just another uh just another uh come on, Leia.

Aye, excuse me, sorry.

Uh sorry, I'm grocery shopping.

Uh it's just another um plan for the United Nations, agenda for the 21st century.

Um, just you know, living in the stack and packs.

We got these things going up everywhere.

That's all by design as well.

Uh, they know people living in these little condensed cages.

You don't uh you don't have the uh the capacity or the desire to want to question anything, to want to go up against anything, especially especially what the local government is doing and implementing.

And yeah, all my design.

So I didn't really get to listen into everything about this item, but I just want to encourage the people listening in.

Please do your due diligence and look up the United Nations agenda for the 21st century because we are here, and living in a fishbowl is the reality.

No, we're not getting that too much sugar.

Too much sugar.

Um, and yep, that's where we're at.

So yeah, that's pretty much all I have.

Thank you.

Next is Blair Beekman.

If you can please unmute Blair Beekman.

Can you please unmute I can and cannot unmute for you?

We will have to move on to the next caller.

Andrea Ebbing, I um kind of neutral.

I I do believe we need housing.

Um I wish I knew a bit more on like the back end and the developers and like who got the kickbacks and all that stuff, but um I wonder what how it's going to impact uh like trash fees for these multi uh family units, um what that's gonna look like.

And I also found that on um transparent California, somebody named Kenneth A.

Biggers, district refuse collection supervisor had zero in regular pay, but 146,000 in other pay and 18,000 in overtime.

Uh and he made almost 300,000 with no salary.

Kenneth A.

Biggers, district refuse collection supervisor in 2024.

Thank you.

That's it.

Thank you.

Next is Lori Zaldania, if you can please unmute.

The five-minute timer also concluded there were two speakers in the queue.

No additional speakers will be taken.

Lori and John Stump is our final speaker.

Please proceed.

Uh yes, thank you.

It uh Madam City Clerk, could you please confirm what's showing on the screen for us to speak to, which item it is that we are addressing?

Sorry, it is item S401.

Uh according to the screen, that is the Zoological Society.

My apologies.

It is item S401.

We will bring it down, but if you can please focus on the timer, my apologies.

Item S401 is the approval of an affordable housing CDBG loan agreement with the community realization department.

If you can make please make your comments to that.

I apologize and we'll have that corrected.

All right, thank you.

Uh I appreciate any time developers are willing to build affordable housing and take the step of uh doing so using tax credit programs.

It is it is challenging.

Uh as I learned when I chaired the assembly housing committee, it is difficult to find developers who are in the position to do that type of a development and count on uh the credits coming forward, and especially difficult given our current economic uh outlook, uh both long-term and short term.

So uh we desperately need housing.

I would prefer that uh we free up housing that is currently being used as short-term rentals.

I think that in addition to building housing and affordable housing, we also need to make sure every house that was approved under my committee and subsequent committees as part of our regional housing needs assessment is being used for regional housing and not for temporary hotel types of lodging.

So I I speak strongly in support.

I appreciate the developer for uh taking this position.

I hope that all the the federal funds and tax credits continue to support this type of development, and I encourage the city to do its part and make sure that every housing unit that's been built with the understanding it would be affordable or that it would simply be available for permanent residential use, is in fact being used for that purpose because as it stands now, we know that is not the case, and we will never catch up with our housing need, despite the good work of developers such as this one.

If you don't also enforce permanent housing as you add more units, whether it's ADUs or other housing that is being pushed forward, if those are not inspected regularly to ensure that they are being used for full-time housing, projects like this are admirable, but they will never close the gap that we need for addressing homelessness in San Diego.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our final speaker is John Stump.

If you can please unmute again, this is item S401, approval of the affordable housing.

Please proceed.

I always uh like to follow uh Lori Soldania because she picks up stuff that I wanted to say, and of course it's uh showing the zoo lease still.

Uh and we understand little mistakes happen.

Um so my questions on this are uh dealing with climate change and uh particularly Zembach is this project going to be uh a Zembach project.

And secondly, I hope there's no parking being provided.

If this is a uh project, it should be transit oriented, and the way to make sure it people use transit is not to provide subsidized parking.

So I hope you have this project does not include subsidized parking, it's totally Zimbabwe, and uh the workers at the housing project, you know, the janitors, the manager, etc.

All meet or exceed the city's wage standards.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you again for pointing that out.

We will be sure to triple check our slides next time.

And that does conclude public comment on this item.

All right, thank you, Madam City Clerk.

And with that, we will go to the council member representing District 3 where the project's located.

Councilmember Whitburn.

Thank you, Council President.

Uh big thank you to uh the team for all the work on this project.

This uh housing is going to be close to grocery stores, uh, it'll be close to schools, uh, right up the street from transit, uh a block away from the incoming Pride promenade.

Uh the project's gonna add 94 truly affordable homes.

Uh that includes a great mix of 33 one-bedrooms, 33 two bedrooms, 28 three bedrooms, uh, and that will allow for families of all sizes uh with all kinds of great amenities uh right in the area there.

So uh again, thank you for this, and I will make the motion to approve the staff recommendation.

All right, thank you, Councilmember Whitburn.

So we have that motion to move the staff recommendation.

We'll go next to council member with uh Campbell.

Thank you.

And uh thank you for the presentation for all the hard work on this.

I am really excited about this project.

It adds a great beautiful building to an area that is just alive with promise and will provide a great deal of uh a great deal of culture and cultural availability to those who move into there.

And uh I'm sure they will add to the neighborhood as well.

And so I'm quite excited and happy to second this motion.

Thank you.

All right, thank you, Councilmember Campbell.

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

We'll go next to Councilmember Elo Rivera.

All right, uh, thank you so much, Council President.

Thanks for the presentation and and all the work on this.

Um definitely appreciate the comments made by Councilmember Whitburn.

Um the mix of bedrooms, I think is fantastic.

Um that's a really really good sign.

Um the three bedrooms in particular.

Um we're seeing uh that I think a little bit more often now.

Um I think that's a product of asking to see that a little bit more often.

Um so uh thank you for for doing the work to make sure that that happens.

Um I did want to take a moment to um acknowledge Councilman Whitburn actually for you know, obviously you've been supportive of housing since you got here.

Um I ride through your district on the way to work on a regular basis, and um the amount of housing that uh district three is is um absorbing, um, bringing online in Hillcrest in particular um is pretty astounding.

And I know that doesn't come I know that the the well many neighbors welcome it, others don't, and uh I appreciate you um staying committed to that effort because I mean there are thousands more homes for folks um in um in the community as a result of that, and um as you said, transit-oriented.

Um we've invested a lot in um making walk walking and biking more accessible in the community as well, and um the parking fees are you said 23 spots.

So some 22?

Sorry.

Um so there's some, but not one per unit.

Um and the folks will know that as they have the opportunity to move in there.

I did have one question, and if I miss this, I apologize.

Uh I see the subsidy per unit, which I appreciate.

We're below that hundred thousand dollar guidance threshold.

Um the cost per bedroom, I know you all had started doing that.

I might have just again missed it.

The total cost per apartment is six hundred and thirty-five thousand, and the total cost per bedroom is three hundred and twenty-six thousand.

Great, thank you.

Um, and again, that I think that's super important to note because um so often in critiquing the way the city is is uh subsidizing and investing in housing.

Um all homes are treated the same and all homes are not the same.

Those three bedroom homes are going to to you know have um four or five folks living in them.

So when you break that down on a per person basis, we're getting an even more uh bang for our buck.

So uh this is uh excellent uh use of the resources in my estimation.

Again, uh thank you to staff for the work on this.

Uh and thank you, Councillor Whitburn.

Thank you, Council President.

All right, thank you, Councilmember Ela Rivera, and we'll go next to Councilmember Campio.

Thank you, Council President.

Thank you, staff for your work on this.

Um, I want to call attention to the fact that these are uh these units will be built within a state of California designated highest resource area, as folks have heard me speak on numerous occasions about affirmatively furthering fair housing, getting uh rent restricted uh units uh that will be guaranteed affordable with the depth of affordability that this shows in a highest resource area is particularly difficult.

Uh I know that the staff uh report doesn't necessarily have a subheading that says how does this affirmatively further fair housing?

Maybe in the future we'll go in that direction.

I know I've asked for that in other types of things, um, but I just wanted to point that out because uh that continues to be a very high priority for me, something that we need to do and are legally obligated to do.

So thank you for uh putting this through.

Uh the second question uh actually the first question I have for you is is this a project that received quote unquote bonus points or extra consideration for the fact that it's in highest resource, or are we not yet implementing that just quite yet?

I know you've said you're going to, but I'm wondering if this is one of those projects.

This is one of those projects.

Round six was the start of where we began to award bonus points for moderate, high and highest resourced area projects, and this is one of those projects.

Understood.

Well, thank you very much for that.

Um as I look through the rest of this, I just uh I I do appreciate that it has a depth of affordability of 30 to 70 percent AMI.

Uh that is that is hard to get in a highest resource area.

So thank you for your good work on this.

I will be in support.

All right, thank you, Councilmember Campillo.

Not seeing anybody else in the lights off for a couple of comments.

Uh, Councilmember Whitburn, you failed to mention that it is across the street from the DMV.

So that's just a bonus for those folks.

Um a more serious note.

I know we have big plans to revitalize that that property and its big parking lots.

Uh thank you for the presentation, the good work that you do consistently in managing this process, evaluating the proposals that come in and and the strict adherence you do to the guidelines and picking the projects uh that come forward.

Uh there were a couple of things that were mentioned by the public that I want to touch on.

One uh it was not included in the presentation, but I do want to mention that it is incorporating sustainable development features, including rooftop solar, energy efficient lighting, and all electric energy star rate appliances.

Zembop does not apply to private projects like this, it applies to city buildings and city-owned property, uh, but clearly they are actually even exceeding the standard uh that we would be able to impose on them.

Uh so want to make uh note of that.

Uh there was also some sort of implication that uh on the arena numbers, I think we're doing fine with above moderate housing in meeting our READA obligations.

This, of course, is more of our uh below market uh housing.

If anybody has any idea that any contr any property that is under contract uh for affordability is not using it for housing, please let my office know.

I think all the council would want to know about that.

So I don't want there to be any confusion out there.

Uh above moderate, that's a different conversation.

We don't seem to have again any challenge meeting our RENA numbers for above moderate, uh, but that's not what we're talking about here.

So um I know it's a complicated process.

The capital stack is uh for something that is so desperate, it continues to be a challenge, but we do our part moving it forward.

So I will be in support as well.

And as a reminder, we have a motion by council member Whitburn, the second by Councilmember Campbell.

Clerk, please call the roll sorry, the voting system, please cast your vote.

And that passes unanimously eight to zero with council president pro ten the absent.

Thank you, Council President.

All right, thank you.

And again, thank you to everybody at EDD that brings these items forward to us.

With that, 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 public comment.

Thank you, Council President.

Per rule 2.7 on 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 are in chambers, please submit your speakers up to the front of the room.

If you are joining us virtually, please raise your hand to speak by tapping the raise your hand icon.

Or if you're a call on participants, star nine.

If I can have Mary Soriano, please come forward.

You will have two minutes for your non-agenda public comment.

Mary Soriano, president of La Jolla Town Council.

Trying to get ahead of tomorrow night.

La Jolla Town Council sent out the mayor's resident budget survey.

The response and consistent response from the community is that the survey focused on the city eliminating services.

It isn't what people want to hear.

Maintenance cuts.

Public restrooms, reduced maintenance is susceptible to drugs and homeless use.

Health and safety risk, disease transmission, fecal matter, toilet pume, running out of essential hygiene supplies, washing hands, toilet paper, etc.

Next item, infrastructure CIP funding gap of 12.8 billion in need.

If the percentage of funds needed for high priority is met, clarity is appreciated in some of these areas.

Stormwater, does this take care of every neighborhood?

Street and roads pavement.

Is this concrete or slurry seal?

How are the streets selected?

Bike facilities, 88.6 million.

I'm sure you all have heard questioning on the bike lanes that don't seem to justify the expense last year to the amount of users.

Bike lanes on Convoy Street has been discussion among strangers in line for their favorite eatery.

Strangers in line can't understand why parking spaces were taken away for bike lanes in co in convoy.

Thank you.

Thank you.

That does conclude our public non-agenda public comment here in Council Chambers.

So I will be going to those participating remotely.

Five-minute timer has been placed.

We have 12 speakers in the queue.

Blair Beekman, if you can please unmute.

All right, Blair Beekman, can you hear me this time?

Yes, we can.

Please proceed.

Uh yeah, I had a problem with my Zoom uh all day today.

I couldn't uh for public comment.

I'm really sorry.

Thank you for taking my public comment at this time.

I wish you could have come back around for me previously, but uh thank you for the meeting today.

Informative.

Um, I think it's been a pretty tough weekend for all of us.

Uh, we're learning uh the events of uh U.S.

continual war at this time and how we have to be thinking around its subject matter.

Um, I think it's really important that the work we be doing at the local level, we continue our good efforts.

I think we really know how to talk about peace, to create peace and sustainability at the local level, and it's those good examples that uh you know our our national and international level needs from us right now.

They need to see best practices, they need to see what we do well, and what what is our good thinking and not our fearful thinking because war is making us fearful and scared.

We need to be strong and go go for our best practices and not cower to questionable war practices at the national and international level.

Uh I'm upset.

This the work at the international level is doing a lot.

It's uh quite an upheaval.

But I just think the overall efforts of international war is very aggravating and frustrating.

And I like working towards negotiation to solve our issues.

And if we've got negotiation and best practices we do here at the local level, that means we have to coordinate well between us and that we're on the same page together.

I think that was an important lesson with the uh climate report today.

We have to better learn how to be accessible in public and learning to work together like that.

Um, the zoological memo itself actually offers words about how parking revenue can be used initially towards general fund items.

So council person Lakaba really has to rethink his words and belittling the public also.

We have to work together, not separately.

Thank you.

Your time has concluded.

Barbara Gordon, if you can please unmute.

After that will be Lori Saldonia.

Please proceed, Barbara.

Um, thank you.

Uh good afternoon.

I'm a public health advocate, and I urge you to recognize the commercialization of high potency THC has produced a rise in addiction, poisoning, cardiovascular disease, emergency rooms, traffic fatalities, serious psychiatric harms, especially among youth.

In 2024, 26 of 12th graders and 16 percent of nth graders reported past marijuana use.

5% of those high school seniors use their drug daily, placing them at a higher risk for addiction.

Claims that dispensaries keep marijuana away from teens, rings hollow in light of the persistence high level of use.

If teens can't buy marijuana legally, how do they obtain it?

About 65% of 12th graders reported that marijuana is easy or very easy to get.

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, prevalence of cannabis use disorder among adolescents and young adults is almost 16%.

Uh states with marijuana laws have historically shown higher teen use, reflect reflecting the normalization and widespread available in social networks.

I urge the city to take more aggressive action to limit the number of storefronts and exposure of advertising and marketing of marijuana by prohibiting billboards, marijuana images on any signage.

Unfortunately, the numerous marijuana predators and policy makers that pursue profits at the extent at the expense of public help actively undermine any prevention efforts.

Thank you for letting me speak.

Thank you.

Laurie Saldonia.

Good afternoon again.

So uh 40 years ago, there was a public art project that plastered city buses and billboards with images and the tax that San Diego is America's finest tourist plantation.

And you can imagine city leaders were outraged that public money had gone to state what those of us who have lived here for decades, grew up here, have known all our lives.

San Diego relies heavily on hospitality and tourism dollars.

And unfortunately, it is now to the detriment of people who want to buy homes or rent homes in San Diego.

So when the regional housing needs assessment is brought up, it is not looking prospectively or even currently.

It is looking backwards at what was promised for housing, going back decades, and what we have today.

We have housing for visitors, and we don't have enough housing for full-time residents.

And the people who are hardest hit are those who are working in hospitality service and other low-wage seasonal jobs.

So I wanted to bring that forward as the reminder that the committee that should be looking at this, the community neighborhoods and community committee has failed completely in looking at how this ordinance that was passed a few years ago is operating.

They've held informational hearings but have never done an investigation.

And it is harming people all over the city of San Diego.

So I want to encourage in this as we approach our summer season that everyone on the council look at how many people come here, how many people take housing away from full-time residents in order to enjoy our beautiful climate, and how being America's finest tourist plantation is causing us to sink into financial ruin in cases, such as the recent budget hole that we're in.

Housing is fundamental.

It's a human right, it's necessary for basic health.

And if we don't provide it, our city will be sicker for it.

Thank you.

Your time has concluded.

Ernie Casco, if you can please unmute.

Yes, Ernie Casco here, La Jolla resident.

Time to stop the crime at Tory Pines Gliderport.

I should not be forced to buy insurance, not required by law and sign an illegal access pass and waiver to use a free public park when city liabilities are already covered by California recreational laws.

This is insurance waiver fraud and misappropriation of public funding going into private accounts.

It is well documented on your desk and demands a full transparent city audit that would end the corruption within your own administration.

We have a petition, black speech recreational scandal to stop the illegal commercialization and privatization of San Diego Parks with hundreds of signatures demanding authorities take action.

We have unanimous letter of support from the town council, La Jolla Shores Association to reconvene permanently the Torrey Pines Advisory Board as needed for public safety and oversight at Tory Pines Glider Report.

Tomorrow, March 10th, the University Community Planning Group is taking an action item to write a letter to council members in the mayor's office and park and recreation department to end this this dispute.

The proposed San Diego recreational waiver does that, ends the dispute, stops city legal, city leaseholder illegal collection of public funding into private accounts, and separating by separating the business from free public access.

The San Diego recreational waiver isolates safety concerns, secures city liabilities, restores recreational freedoms back to normal, and addresses the victim and witnesses who have been damaged and assaulted within a timely fashion.

It's a win for city council liabilities, restores recreational rights and freedoms for years to come.

It's the best decision city council and you can make Joe Lakala.

Thank you.

Next speaker is 8700.

If you can please unmute after that is Jonathan Yepies.

Here is my short list of words that stood out to me recently, eight items.

His words, I come from a place of love.

Blair Beakman's words on peace.

Chief Information Officer Bank's words about AI, skills, erosion.

He also said must have humans in the loop.

Councilmember Campbell's words about how little we get from property taxes.

Councilmember Elo Rivera's words.

Director Kim Desmond's words, all of her words on race and equity.

More to come in the future.

And then I'll try to fit this in.

I may not.

I Googled uh is Mexico involved with the Colorado River water deal, or is it only New Mexico?

And I was shocked.

Google came back, and I I can't speak on it thoroughly because it's it's huge and it's complicated.

So to be said later, uh the water deal that was missed on Valentine's Day.

That was a second myth.

October 26th, it is going to collapse if it's not signed.

And the federal government has a plan waiting in the wings to take over.

So please keep an eye on this.

Love to all.

Thank you, Nexus.

Jonathan, if you can please unmute after that is Kathleen Lippett.

Hello.

Um, my name is Jonathan, and I'm here to talk about a lack of quality electronic waste resources for residents in San Diego.

Um, so due to the prevalence of planned obsolescence, um, which has led to major increases and e-waste the city, I believe has to do a better job of informing residents.

Um, e-waste is growing five times faster than documented e-waste recycling, and it's um reaching a projected 82 million tons by 2030.

So it is a growing issue.

Um, currently in San Diego, there are multiple nonprofit and third-party organizations that offer free e-waste drop-off and pickup services like urban corps and dream e-waste, and there's a few more.

Um, and then there's company like tech companies like Best Buy that have comprehensive electronic recycling programs.

And even UCST and STSU have drop-off locations available.

Um, but the only facility that is run through the city of San Diego is the Miramar Household Hazardous Waste Transfer Facility, um, which is by appointment only, and it's only open on Saturdays with limited hours.

And even worse, it doesn't even accept e-waste.

Um, I think that this is a major issue, or this is an issue.

Um, and then furthermore, and the city of San Diego's what goes aware guide that is um distributed.

There is a lack of information on the actual harms of improper disposal of hazardous materials like e-waste.

Um, and then additionally, the only way that the guide advertises to dispose of e-waste in San Diego is to take it to that Miramar HHW transfer facility, which I mentioned before does not even accept e-waste.

Um, and there's no alternative option that is offered.

So I do suggest that this be worked on.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you, Nexus Kathleen Lippett.

If you can please unmute thank you.

Good afternoon, Council.

My name is Kathleen Lippett.

Wall Street Journal had an article that highlighted the challenges high schools are facing today from the use of high potency THC vape pens.

They're easy to hide and often used in bathrooms or during class.

Legalization and rising social acceptance has made marijuana more accessible to teens.

Overwhelming schools' ability to discipline and detect them.

Administrators say the problem is growing faster than they can respond.

And legalization in states like California have made marijuana easier for teens to access, more socially acceptable and harder for schools to police.

Students are vaping in bathrooms, hallways, and sometimes even during class.

Vape detectors are being installed, but students often find ways around them.

Administrators report constant alerts and frequent bathroom speech sweeps.

And students try to avoid school bathrooms often because they want they would rather wait till they leave school to be able to use a bathroom that is not filled with marijuana.

Cities that create a commercial marijuana footprint result in increased availability and reduced stigma.

And while schools are doing their best to protect students, cities like San Diego are making the jobs of schools and parents unnecessarily difficult.

Like to know what the city of San Diego is doing to partner with these with parents and with schools, because it appears that the city's policies are doing the opposite.

They will continue schools will continue to lose ground despite technology and stricter monitoring.

And the combination of legally legalization, high potency products, and discrete vaping devices.

Challenge traditional schools.

The very same industry that claims they do not want to target students is the same industry that is.

Next is 8813 and then Madison.

Please unmute.

Okay, some fellow here.

And I'm definitely coming from a place of love.

Um, so let's see.

I wanted to focus on um how things have been done incrementally, step by step, uh, so people don't slowly so people slowly submit and consent to everything being built around them, all presented as if it's for our benefit while quietly leading to our own demise.

The UN agenda for the 21st century didn't just appear overnight.

It has been layered in piece.

It has been layered in piece by piece from chemtrails in our skies to homelessness, filling our streets, the decline of human health, and the erosion of the human spirit from endless wars to inflation, squeezing families, every pressure point pushing people closer to exhaustion and defeat.

And now the climate crisis narratives.

They continue using to influence people for decades.

The seashore line, uh, the sheets the lines have not increased.

Many coastal photos have half a century uh from half a century years ago have shown the exact same levels, yet the fear messaging continues because when people are afraid, they're easier to control.

All of it contributes to the people feeling defeated.

And when people feel defeated, they stop resisting.

This is the oldest strategy there is.

Divide and conquer, create the crisis, amplify the chaos, and then present the solution.

Order out of chaos.

And while people are busy fighting each other, struggling to survive, and just trying to keep their heads above water, the system of control quietly expands.

None of this is random.

The real question is not whether we can see it.

The real question is what we choose to do once we know.

And uh, yeah.

Again, there's a lot of people who are concerned, not being paid.

Call it voluntary.

Call it we are the volunteers.

We are the stewardship.

If you can please unmute after Madison is John Stump.

Please proceed.

Hi, thank you.

Good afternoon.

Um, much of the public conversation about marijuana focuses on short-term intoxication.

But emerging research shows that THC behaves very differently from substances like alcohol.

Alcohol is processed and cleared from the body within hours.

THC, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis, accumulates in the body's fat and organs, including the brain and liver, and can be slowly released back into the bloodstream long after the immediate high has faded.

According to physicians and toxicology researchers, THC spreads quickly into tissues throughout the body rather than remaining in the bloodstream where it can be easily measured.

This means that even when a drug pet test appears negative, THC and its biological effects may still be present in body tissues.

Modern oils, vape cartridges, and edibles can contain 10 to 20 times more THC than products from the 70s and 80s.

As a result, many people are repeatedly exposing their bodies to high levels of THC that do not leave the body quickly.

Researchers are also learning that THC can affect the immune system and inflammation throughout the body.

When the immune system remains activated for long periods of time instead of returning to a resting state, it can increase long-term risks for conditions such as heart disease and metabolic problems.

As THC potency rises and frequent use is more normalized, we are only beginning to understand the long-term health consequences of a substance that can persist in the body for weeks or even months.

Thank you.

Thank you.

John's porn.

Oh, we're gonna lose quorum here, so we'll take that non-agenda public comment at the beginning of tomorrow morning's session, along with the regular non-agenda public comment at the end of the morning session.

My apologies.

So, real quickly, does the city attorney have anything to report out from closed session?

There is nothing to report.

Thank you.

Okay, we will now adjourn counsel to the regularly scheduled council meeting on Tuesday, March 10th, 2026 at 10 a.m.

Again, my apologize to those who were in line.

I don't know what it is.