City Council Meeting, March 17, 2026: Proclamations, Housing, and IHRA Vote
San Diego City Council Meeting: March 17, 2026
The San Diego City Council met on March 17, 2026, to consider proclamations, a consent calendar, a housing authority update, a Barrio Logan community plan amendment, and a resolution to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of anti-Semitism. The meeting spanned from morning into evening, featuring extensive public testimony and council deliberation.
Consent Calendar
- Item 50: Awarded as-needed dam design services agreement (HDR Engineering) – approved 7-1 (Councilmember Foster voted no).
- Item 51: Reduced software service agreement for smart energy water web portal from $16.3M to $5.5M – approved.
- Item 100: Accepted state funding for youth internship program (Employ and Empower) – approved.
- Item 101: Reappointed Michael Zuquette to San Diego Unified Port District Board of Commissioners – approved.
- Item S504: Accepted $2.5M state grant for Rancho Bernardo Community Park – approved.
- Other consent items (10, 50–52, 100–102, S504–S507) approved unanimously with the above noted exception.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Proclamations: Public comments supported Transgender Day of Visibility, National Nutrition Month, Ramadan Month, Captain Jerry Hara Day, and Shane Hog Day. One speaker opposed the transgender proclamation; others voiced concerns about food safety and police response times.
- Consent Calendar: Speakers supported Lake Hodges dam replacement and youth workforce programs; some opposed software contracts and raised concerns about data privacy and government accountability.
- Housing Authority: Union members (SEIU) and employees protested layoffs of 33 staff, urging equitable cuts across management and frontline workers. Management cited $23.5M projected deficit.
- Non-Agenda Public Comment: Residents discussed tax fraud in construction, public safety training, homelessness, sea lion protection at La Jolla Cove, Torrey Pines Gliderport disputes, and tobacco/marijuana regulations.
- Barrio Logan Amendment: Community members and organizations (Environmental Health Coalition, Chicano Park Steering Committee) urged approval to correct zoning errors and protect parks; some demanded consultation with the Steering Committee.
- IHRA Anti-Semitism Definition: Over three hours of testimony: supporters (including Jewish organizations, ADL, Holocaust survivors) argued the definition is a necessary educational tool to combat rising anti-Semitism; opponents (including ACLU, Jewish Voice for Peace, Palestinian advocates) claimed it conflates criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism and threatens free speech. 271 e-comments in favor, 169 opposed.
Discussion Items
- Proclamations (Items 30–32, S501, S502): Councilmembers spoke in support of Transgender Day of Visibility, Ramadan Month, National Nutrition Month, Captain Jerry Hara Day, and Shane Hog Day. Approved unanimously (8-0; Moreno absent).
- Housing Authority Update: CEO Lisa Jones reported on a 14% workforce reduction (33 layoffs, 25 vacant positions eliminated) due to federal funding cuts and rising costs. No motion required; council members expressed concern and encouraged continued dialogue with staff.
- Barrio Logan Community Plan Amendment (Item 331): Staff presented technical corrections to land use maps and rezones to align with the 2021 plan, protecting Chicano Park and Boston Avenue Linear Park. Approved 8-0 (Campbell absent).
- IHRA Definition Resolution (Item S500): After hours of public comment, Councilmember Whitburn moved adoption. Councilmembers debated: supporters (Campillo, Campbell, Von Wilpert, Lee, LaCava) emphasized the rise in anti-Semitic incidents and the non-binding, educational nature of the definition; opponents (Ela Rivera) argued it has been weaponized to silence legitimate criticism of Israel and lacks inclusive process. An amendment by Councilmember Lee to request the Human Relations Commission address other forms of hate was incorporated.
Key Outcomes
- Proclamations: Adopted unanimously (8-0).
- Consent Calendar: Adopted with Item 50 passing 7-1 (Foster dissenting); all other items passed 8-0.
- Housing Authority Update: Received as information; no vote.
- Barrio Logan Amendment: Approved 8-0 (Campbell absent).
- IHRA Definition Resolution: Approved 8-1 (Ela Rivera dissenting). The resolution adopts the IHRA working definition, condemns anti-Semitism, and requests the Human Relations Commission to address and define other forms of hatred (e.g., Islamophobia, anti-LGBTQ hate, anti-Asian hate).
Meeting Transcript
And I will now call the city council meeting of Tuesday, March 17th, 2026 to order. Clerk, please call the role. Thank you, Council President. Councilmember Campbell. Councilmember Whitburn. Here. Councilmember Foster. Councilmember Von Wilper. Council President Pro Tem Lee. Here. Councilmember Campio. Here. Councilmember Moreno. Councilmember Elo Rivera. And Council President Lacava. Present. Also attending the meeting or Chief Deputy City Attorney Tina Ray, Deputy Director in the IBA's office, Jillian Andalina, and myself, your city clerk, Deanna Fuentes. Thank you, Council President. All right, thank you, City Clerk. A quorum is now present. We will begin this morning with the land acknowledgement and the pledge of allegiance led by Councilmember Whitburn. We respectfully acknowledge that the Cobia Day should are the original inhabitants of the unceded land, thou notice Saint Diego. Despite enduring the horrors of genocide and colonization, the Cubia 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 at gratitude and strength. We stand with the Kobe Idation, connected to our past and committed to a thriving future. Please face the flag. Ready? Begin. I fly to the flag of the United States of America. And to your public for which it stands. Thank you, Council President. I'd like to highlight the slide on the screen that reviews how the public can offer their public testimony during today's meeting. Please note the time allocations for proclamations and consent items for meeting management purposes. The order can be found on the agenda summary found online or at the table in the back of the room. If you're in person, please complete a speaker slip located at the entrance of chambers and bring it to the front of the room in the clear box. Council ambassadors are available near the entrance and can assist with questions and speaker slips. No further in-person testimony will be taken once the council begins virtual testimony. Thank you, Council President. All right, thank you. We will now dispense with the approval of the proclamation items. Please introduce them, clerk, and proceed with public comment. Thank you. The public comment period for the proclamation items is now open. Each speaker will have one minute per item per person. If you would like to speak on three or more items, you will have a maximum of three minutes. So now is the time to please submit your speaker slip to the clear box. I do see one in the clear box now. As well as if you are attending virtually, please be sure to raise your hand by pressing star nine or the raise your hand icon. The proclamation items being approved are items 30 through 32, S501, and S502.
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