San Diego City Council Meeting Summary – April 14, 2026
San Diego City Council Meeting – April 14, 2026
The San Diego City Council convened on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at approximately 9:00 AM, reconvening after recess at 2:00 PM. The meeting covered proclamation recognitions, consent agenda items, a salary ordinance, rule changes, and a clean water infrastructure loan. Public comments addressed a wide range of topics including stormwater management, trash fees, cannabis policy, and community planning. The council voted on several items, with multiple unanimous decisions and one split vote.
Consent Calendar
- Proclamation Items (30–32, S500, S501, S504, S505): Approved unanimously (8-0). Recognized included Arab American Heritage Month (April 2026), National Public Safety Dispatcher Week (S500), Month of the Military Child (S501), Don Diego Day honoring a retiring city employee (S504), and San Diego Lynx Achievers 40th Anniversary (S505). Councilmembers highlighted the contributions of Arab Americans, dispatchers (734,000 calls handled in 2023–2024, averaging 2,901 calls/day), military families, and the Lynx Achievers program (850 young men mentored).
- Consent Agenda Items (including Item 101 – Support for AB 2525 on Surplus Lands for Mission Bay Park): Moved by Councilmember Campbell, seconded by Councilmember Von Wilpert. Passed unanimously (8-0). Public comments supported exempting Mission Bay from the Surplus Land Act.
- Other Consent Items: Included software contracts, conflict of interest codes, and a $312,500 state grant for the Family Justice Center (S502).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Proclamation Items: Multiple speakers appeared in person and virtually. The American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) presented on Arab American history and contributions, emphasizing cultural diversity and rejection of stereotypes. Others expressed concerns about recent council actions on IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) and California legislation AB 715, arguing they stifle free speech and target Arab Americans. Speakers also praised dispatchers and military children.
- Consent Items: Speakers raised issues about data privacy in software contracts, potential conflicts of interest, and misuse of surplus land. One speaker supported the Family Justice Center grant, while another alleged corruption in homeless services.
- Non-Agenda Public Comment: Citizens criticized the new trash fee (voters expected $23–29/month but faced up to $43.60), questioning the city’s projections. Others opposed the cannabis social equity program, citing health risks and a struggling existing permit system. Several urged the council to pause expansion of marijuana businesses.
- Salary Ordinance (S506): Callers opposed salary increases, arguing council should cut its own pay given budget deficits and staff furloughs. Some questioned reclassifications and title changes as cost-increasing.
- Rules Changes (S503): The Community Planners Committee (CPC) requested a formal “seat at the table” for planning groups, with structured presentation time equal to project applicants. Other speakers supported expanded virtual access but raised concerns about the new organized presentation requirements.
- Clean Water Loan (S507): Public comment focused on viewing stormwater as a resource rather than a problem, with suggestions for natural water retention and tree planting.
Discussion Items
- Item 101 – Support for AB 2525 (Surplus Lands – Mission Bay Park): Councilmember Campbell led the resolution, noting Mission Bay Park is protected by voter-approved measures and state law. The council supported AB 2525 to prevent the Surplus Land Act from applying to the park, arguing housing development is prohibited there.
- Salary Ordinance for FY 2027 (S506): The Human Resources Department presented changes including title alignments for fire and police command staff, working title updates (e.g., “Chief of Staff” for Assistant City Manager), and minimum wage compliance ($17.75/hour). No salary increases were proposed due to ongoing union negotiations. After debate over late-added changes, the council amended the motion to strike updates to working titles 211, 2153, 2112, and 2127 and corresponding changes in exhibits C, F, G, and H. The amended ordinance passed 7-1 (Councilmember Foster dissenting, Councilmember Moreno absent).
- Amendments to Council Rules for SB 707 (S503): The council adopted changes to comply with state law effective July 1, 2026. Key modifications include provisions for organized presentations (groups submitting forms 24 hours in advance, 15-minute time limit), clarification that the 16-minute maximum for non-agenda public comment applies separately to in-person and virtual speakers, and a new rule on disruptions to telephonic/internet service (requiring a one-hour recess and restoration efforts). The item also eliminates costly transcription of closed sessions, replacing it with recording. Passed unanimously (8-0).
- Clean Water SRF Loan – Choyas Green Infrastructure (S507): The council approved entering a $22 million low-interest loan (2%, 30-year term) plus up to $5 million in potential principal forgiveness from the state for storm drain and green infrastructure projects in the Choyas watershed (El Cerrito and Rolando Park). The loan will support six modular wetland systems and 3,500 feet of new reinforced concrete drains. Passed unanimously (8-0).
Key Outcomes
- Proclamations approved 8-0.
- Consent agenda (including Mission Bay resolution) approved 8-0.
- Salary ordinance (amended) passed 7-1 (Foster no, Moreno absent). The council rejected certain working title updates and corresponding benefit changes.
- Rules amendments (SB 707 compliance) passed 8-0.
- Clean water loan (Choyas project) passed 8-0.
- Council adjourned in memory of Navy veteran/firefighter Ben Holman (age 100) and public affairs professional Alex Libby (age 34).
The meeting adjourned to the next scheduled council meeting on Monday, April 20, 2026, at 10:00 AM.
Meeting Transcript
Much in San Diego, but when there's a storm in the forecast, the city of San Diego goes into action. The job of the city of San Diego is to prepare for storm weather conditions year-round. Before any storm, the city employees clean and clear storm drains. During the storm, city employees monitor storm drains for any issues. We have a critical drain in our area that we have to go inspect and monitor. When it rains, uh, water starts flowing down this alley. Together, we can work to reduce flood risk in San Diego. So switching from gas furnaces and kitchens to electric systems, which allows us to remove uh greenhouse gas emissions from the environment. The financing agreement is cash flow neutral. We're essentially shifting our operating costs from energy bills over to loan repayment across a 25-year term and with no upfront cost to the city. Hi, I'm Bethany Bizak. It takes a lot to keep the eighth largest city running. A lot of buildings, roads, sidewalks, street lights, parks and reservoirs, and a lot of vehicles. In fact, San Diego has more than 5,000 vehicles in its fleet. Think trash trucks, fire engines, and police cars. All of these vehicles need fuel and regular maintenance. But over the past several years, fuel prices have continued to rise, and that's directly impacting San Diego's budget. In fact, for every one cent increase per gallon at the pump, the city's monthly fuel costs rise by 10,000. We know that San Diegans are also feeling the rising impact of prices at home. It's not just our vehicles. Construction and insurance costs have increased dramatically over the past several years, and our city revenues have not kept pace with those rising costs. As we face some difficult budget decisions, we want San Diegans to know that we're listening. All right, good morning. I'll I'll call the city council meeting of Tuesday, April 14th, twenty twenty-six to order. Clerk, please call the role. Thank you, Council President. Councilmember Campbell? Here. Councilmember Whitburn. Here. Councilmember Foster. Here. Councilmember Von Wilpert. Council President Pro Tem Lee? Here. Councilmember Campillo. Here. Councilmember Moreno. Councilmember Ila Rivera. And Council President Lacava. Present. Thank you. Also attending the meeting are Chief Deputy City Attorney Brett Bartelata, Independent Budget Analyst, Charles Matica, Council of Affairs Advisor and the Mayor's Office, Coda Zeiser, and myself, your city clerk, Deanna Fuentes. Thank you, Council President. All right, thank you. With that, a quorum is now present. We will begin this morning with the land acknowledgement and the pledge of allegiance led by Councilmember Campbell. We respectfully acknowledge that the Kumyai Nation are the original inhabitants of the unceded land now known as San Diego. Despite enduring the horrors of genocide and colonization, the Kumiyai spirit remains unbroken. We honor the resilience of their ancestors who fought to protect their culture and land.
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