San Diego City Council Meeting: June 16, 2026 – Proclamations, Budgets, and Contracts
San Diego City Council Meeting: June 16, 2026 – Proclamations, Budgets, and Contracts
The San Diego City Council met on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, starting at 9:00 AM (morning session) and reconvening in the afternoon. The meeting included ceremonial proclamations, public comments on multiple items, approval of consent items, detailed discussion and return of the Recreation Center Fund budget (S501), approval of water revenue bonds, a salary ordinance amendment, a sole-source software contract, and a contract time extension. Roll call showed a quorum with several members absent at various points. The meeting also included a public facilities financing authority (PFFA) session.
Consent Calendar
- Proclamations (Items 30-32 and S503): Recognized Jewish American Heritage Month (May 2026, deferred), Haitian Flag Day, Juneteenth 2026 Day, and San Diego Scottish Highland Games Day. Approved unanimously (7-0; Councilmembers Campbell and Von Wilpert absent).
- Consent Agenda (except S501): Approved unanimously (7-0) with a motion by Councilmember Elo Rivera and second by Council President LaCava. Items included routine approvals, MOU agreements, and various resolutions.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Morning Session – Proclamations: Several speakers addressed the proclamations. Jacob Edwards spoke on African American history and general government concerns. Joy Sanyata spoke on unity and family trees. Samuel Merrill emphasized Juneteenth’s significance. Stephen Lundy discussed Scottish Highland Games. Ronnie Gillett introduced Pastor Johnny Oseda. Maximilian Schmidt criticized Jewish American Heritage Month and Haitian Flag Day, citing Freemasonry and corruption. Allegedly Audra criticized city spending and made anti-Semitic remarks. Jason Shanley and others supported Juneteenth. Robin Todd (field rep for Assemblymember Sharp-Collins) thanked the council for recognizing Juneteenth. Lauren Cobbs (SD Melanin) expressed gratitude. Blair Beekman (remote) commented on multiple proclamations, encouraging open dialogue. Additional remote speakers included Kathleen Lippett and Judy Strang, who highlighted Scottish and Jewish contributions.
- Morning Session – Consent Agenda (including S501): Jacob Edwards and Maximilian Schmidt made general comments. Allegedly Audra criticized city policies and made allegations about pedophilia. Anthony Dang (Climate Action Campaign) urged approval of energy affordability resolution. Joyce Sanyata praised union agreements. Claudia Rodriguez, Jocelyn Estrada, and Sherry Jones (small business owners) supported the Tourism Marketing District (TMD) budget. Blair Beekman (remote) commented on various consent items, including utility affordability and detention facilities. Testimony on S501 (Rec Center Funds) included a speaker asking about safeguards against pedophiles in city programs.
- Afternoon Session – Non-Agenda Public Comment: Speakers included Becky Rapp (thanking city attorney for action against illegal marijuana sales), Kathleen Lippett (criticizing reparations and environmental policies), and others. Blair Beekman called for inclusive dialogue. Peggy Walker raised substance use issues among LGBTQ+ youth. Callers also discussed AI enforcement and city policies.
- Afternoon Session – Water Bonds (Item 333/FA1): Maximilian Schmidt and Allegedly Audra opposed the bonds, citing concerns about Freemasonry and debt. Blair Beekman commented on equity in billing.
- Afternoon Session – Salary Ordinance (S504): Maximilian Schmidt and Allegedly Audra opposed salary increases, advocating for pay cuts to fund services. Blair Beekman remarked on the balance of employee morale and community needs.
- Afternoon Session – Adam AI Contract (Item 330): Maximilian Schmidt and Allegedly Audra opposed the software contract, citing concerns about AI and Freemasonry. Joyce Sanyata supported the contract for its project coordination benefits. Blair Beekman questioned the 10-year duration but appreciated long-term planning.
- Afternoon Session – Kimley Horn Contract Amendment (Item 331): Maximilian Schmidt and Allegedly Audra opposed, raising Freemasonry and project delays. Joyce Sanyata supported the amendment. Blair Beekman commented on stormwater issues and collaboration.
Discussion Items
- Item S501: Recreation Center Fund Budgets and Opportunity Fund (Morning Session): The Parks and Recreation Department presented proposed FY27 budgets for 62 recreation center funds, including a 38% increase in the Opportunity Fund ($555,000) and the 2025 Come Play Outside report. Councilmember Moreno raised strong concerns about inequitable distribution of Opportunity Fund dollars, with District 8 receiving only ~$70,000 compared to over $240,000 each for Districts 4 and 9. She criticized that District 8 parks had high fund balances (e.g., Montgomery Waller $302,000) but funds were not spent, leading to lower Opportunity Fund allocations. Department staff (Andy Fields, Sarah Irazzo) acknowledged issues and committed to spend down balances and improve oversight. Councilmembers Ilo Rivera, Foster, President Pro Tem Lee, and LaCava discussed operational and policy fixes, including using incoming polo fields revenue ($100,000) and improving communication. The item was returned to staff for re-evaluation, to be redocketed on June 29, 2026.
- Afternoon Session – Item 333/FA1: Senior Water Revenue Bonds: Staff presented a financing plan for $475 million in bonds (new money and refunding) with an estimated true interest cost of 4.42%. Moody’s downgraded the water revenue bonds from AA2 to AA3 (outlook stable) earlier that day, but staff confirmed the bonds remain double-A and the issuance is still advisable. The item was approved unanimously (8-0) as city council and as PFFA.
- Afternoon Session – Item S504: Salary Ordinance Amendment for FY27: Staff summarized agreements with MEA, DCA, and Local 127, including a 2% wage increase effective July 1, 2026, and equity adjustments for certain classifications. Unrepresented employees would receive 2% effective June 30, 2027. The mayor’s office also eliminated automobile allowances for chief of staff and deputy chief. Approved unanimously (6-0; three members absent).
- Afternoon Session – Item 330: Sole Source Contract with Adam AI Solutions Inc.: Staff recommended a 10-year, $1.35 million contract for the DOT Maps software used citywide for project coordination. The software is proprietary and deeply integrated. Approved unanimously (8-0).
- Afternoon Session – Item 331: Time Extension for Kimley Horn Contract: Staff requested a 36-month no-cost extension (to August 2029) to complete two projects: Kensington storm/sewer work and Black Mountain Reservoir spillway stairs. Councilmember Ilo Rivera questioned why delays were not anticipated. Approved unanimously (8-0).
Key Outcomes
- Proclamations approved (7-0).
- Consent agenda (excluding S501) approved (7-0).
- S501 returned to staff for revised Opportunity Fund allocation, with a commitment to address fund balance spending and equity; to be heard on June 29, 2026.
- Water revenue bonds (Item 333/FA1) approved (8-0) for up to $475 million, with pricing expected July 1, 2026.
- FY27 Salary Ordinance amendment (S504) approved (6-0) with wage increases and furlough exclusions.
- Sole-source contract with Adam AI (Item 330) approved (8-0) for 10 years at $1.35 million.
- Time extension for Kimley Horn contract (Item 331) approved (8-0) with no additional cost.
- PFFA minutes approved unanimously.
Meeting Transcript
All right, we're gonna get started. Good morning. I will now call the city council meeting of Tuesday, June 16th, 2026, to order. Clerk, please call the roll. Thank you, Council President. Councilmember Campbell. Councilmember Whitburn. Here. Councilmember Foster. Here. Councilmember Von Wilper. Council President Pro Temley. Here. Councilmember Campia. Councilmember Moreno. Present. Councilmember Elo Rivera. Present. And Council President LaCava. A quorum is now present. We will begin this morning with the land acknowledgement and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Council Member Moreno. Thank you. Please stand. We respectfully acknowledge that the Kumiai Nation are the original inhabitants of the unceded land now known as San Diego. Despite enduring the horrors of genocide and colonization, the Kumeay 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. Please face the flag, put your hand over your heart and repeat after me. 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. The proclamation items being approved are items thirty through thirty-two and s five oh three. And then after that is Joy Sanyata. And then after that, we have Samuel Merrill, Stephen Lundy, Ronnie Gillett, and Johnny Oseda. If you can all please come up to the front row in the yellow reserve seats. Jacob, you're speaking on item 3031 and 32, so you'll have three minutes. Please proceed. Good morning, men and women of uh city council and everybody in council chambers. Thank you for allowing me standing in front of you today to speak. Proclamation days are very important. That uh to recognize days of recognition. This is a city, this is a country of a melting pot for the people by the people. I would like to address our African American friends, neighbors, loved ones, community members that uh African American folk were done horribly wrong in past history. That needs to be recognized. For what's going on in our country, though, is unjust for everybody. I spoke in front of City Council a couple months back, and I posted it on YouTube. If you look up Jacob Edwards speaks on YouTube, and you'll see that short clip. Since that speech, what has occurred, is very concerning. Our country had been hijacked, it was hijacked by the Italian mafia, and we allowed that in our country. Chinese espionage was on it the entire time. From the jump, and they have capitalized on it.
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