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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

San Diego City Council Meeting - September 15, 2026: AV Resolution, Bridge Contract, and Right-of-Way Vacation

City Council — Tuesday, September 15, 2026

BodySan Diego, California

SessionCity Council

DateTuesday, September 15, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 2:25:31

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:00

I will now reconvene the city council meeting of Monday, September 14th, 2026.

0:04

Clerk, please call the role.

0:06

Thank you, Council President.

0:07

Councilmember Campbell.

0:08

Councilmember Whitburn.

0:10

Here.

0:10

Councilmember Foster.

0:13

Councilmember Von Wolpert.

0:14

Council President Pro Tem Lee.

0:16

Here.

0:17

Councilmember Campio.

0:18

Here.

0:19

Councilmember Moreno.

0:20

Present.

0:21

Councilmember Ilo Rivera.

0:23

And Council President Lacava.

0:25

Present.

0:25

Also attending the meeting or Assistant City Attorney Michelle Garland, Independent Budget Analyst, Charles Modica, Council Affairs Advisor in the Mayor's Office, Coda Zeizer, and myself, your city clerk, Deanna Fuentes.

0:37

All right, thank you, City Clerk.

0:39

A quorum is now present.

0:41

Do we have any comments from the mayor's office, city council members, city attorney, independent budget analyst, or city clerk?

0:48

Not hand or not hearing.

0:50

Oh, city clerk.

0:51

Sorry.

0:52

I was not fast on the lights.

0:54

Um it's a very quick comment, but I did just want to announce that we have officially launched our pilot year of ENCODE.

1:02

ENCODE is our new municipal code platform has a lot more search functionality.

1:08

It has the municipal code translated in several eight different languages.

1:12

It also allows you to email parts of the code to you.

1:16

It's mobile friendly.

1:17

It has a definition pop-ups and cross hyperlinks.

1:21

In addition to that, anything that says on file in the office of the city clerk within the code that you used to have to contact my office to receive is now available online through the hyperlink available in there.

1:33

You can go to Municode.sandiego.gov and check out the new Muni code yourself.

1:38

It is a pilot year, so the old municode PDF is also still available at San Diego.gov/slash MUNICOD.

1:45

Thank you so much, Council President.

1:47

All right, thank you, City Clerk.

1:48

Um I'll make a brief comment.

1:50

Saturday night we lost a 14-year-old in a fatal uh accident in Pacific Beach.

1:57

So our hearts go out to his friends and family and especially to the students at PB Elementary and the staff at PB Element PB Middle School and the staff at PB Middle School who woke up Sunday morning to that terrible terrible news.

2:12

With that, Clerk, please go over how the public can offer their public testimony.

2:18

Thank you, Council President.

2:19

I'd like to highlight the slide on the screen that shows that reviews how the public can offer their public testimony during this afternoon's meeting.

2:25

The order can be found on the agenda summary found online or at the table in the back of the room.

2:30

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.

2:36

Councilambassadors are available at the entrance of chambers and can assist with questions and speaker slips.

2:41

No further in-person testimony will be taken once the council begins virtual testimony.

2:46

I would like to just give a reminder that for those of you that submit an organized presentation for the desert view item.

2:52

If um once we actually call the item, please be sure to have all of your identified participants present when the item is introduced.

2:59

And as another friendly reminder, all organized presentation requests or presentation materials must be submitted 24 hours in advance for organized presentations and two hours in advance of the meeting for presentations to be viewable here during the council meeting.

3:13

Thank you, Council President.

3:15

All right, thank you for that.

3:17

Um couple of changes to note in today or this afternoon's agenda.

3:23

Item 203, item 203 will be returned to staff and will not be heard this afternoon.

3:30

We will also start this afternoon session with item 201.

3:35

Then we will hear item 200, and after that, we will conclude with item 202 before going to non-agenda public comment.

3:44

So again, 203, return to staff, will not be heard this afternoon.

3:48

We'll start with 201, then go to item 200, and after that, we'll then close the discussion item with item 202 before going to non-agenda public comment.

4:00

So with that, clerk, please introduce item 201.

4:03

Thank you.

4:04

Item 201 is a resolution to demand local control and protection and protect public safety and workers in the deployment of artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Public Safety██████████████████████22%

Transportation█████████████13%

Autonomous Vehicles███████████11%

Technology and Innovation█████████9%

Procedural████████8%

Public Comment███████7%

Homelessness███████7%

Engineering And Infrastructure█████5%

Cannabis Regulation████4%

Summary of Proceedings

San Diego City Council Meeting - September 15, 2026

The San Diego City Council reconvened at 11:00 AM on September 15, 2026, with a quorum present. The meeting began with announcements, including the launch of the new ENCODE municipal code platform and condolences for a fatal accident in Pacific Beach. The agenda was revised: Item 203 was returned to staff, and the order was changed to Item 201, then Item 200, then Item 202, followed by non-agenda public comment.

Public Comments & Testimony

Item 201 (AV Resolution): The e-comment system recorded 0 comments in favor and 8 in opposition. In-person and remote testimony included passionate views from drivers, labor unions (United Taxi Workers, San Diego Drivers United, California Gig Workers Union, San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council, Building and Construction Trades Council), advocacy groups (Youth Will, Center on Policy Initiatives, Mid City CAN), and individuals. Speakers in support emphasized protecting jobs, local control, and safety concerns about autonomous vehicles (AVs) obstructing emergency responders. Speakers in opposition included representatives from Waymo (Adam Lane), the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, and individuals who highlighted safety benefits of AVs and potential accessibility improvements for the blind and disabled. The National Federation of the Blind of California San Diego chapter urged amendments to protect access to autonomous vehicles for people with disabilities, stating they could not support the resolution as written without such protections. Several callers also shared personal stories about AV incidents, including blocked emergency vehicles and dangerous driving.
Item 200 (El Camino Real Bridge Contract): Public comment included concerns about the contractor’s diversity record, the project’s cost, and whether storm drain issues should take priority. One speaker asked about groundwater levels and flood risk.
Item 202 (Desert View Drive Vacation): One speaker questioned the history of the unused right-of-way and suggested the city should review similar properties. Another inquired about slope stability and emergency access.
Non-Agenda Public Comment: Topics included homeless policy, weather modification, hang gliding access, police use-of-force incidents, surveillance technology (Flock/Axon), marijuana policy and youth prevention, cigarette/vape litter, and property tax issues.

Discussion Items

Item 201 – Resolution for Local Control over Autonomous Vehicles (R-2027-49): Presented by Council offices of District 5 and District 9. Staff detailed concerns about AV deployment without local input, impacts on transportation workers, public safety risks (e.g., blocked emergency access, traffic violations), and the need for local oversight. Councilmembers Ilo Rivera and Von Wilpert spoke in favor, emphasizing that innovation must be balanced with worker and community protection. Councilmember Ilo Rivera introduced four amendments: (1) reduce empty AV circulation and report deadhead mileage; (2) require demonstration of safe-stop capability during network/power failures; (3) prohibit use of bike lanes/sidewalks for loading/unloading; (4) require full ADA compliance including wheelchair-accessible vehicles. The second and fourth amendments were adjusted for clarity (removing “ADA” acronym). The motion carried unanimously 8-0 (Councilmember Foster absent).
Item 200 – Award Construction Contract for El Camino Real Bridge Project: Staff from Engineering and Capital Projects presented a $57.4 million contract with Skanska USA for a bridge replacement, road realignment, bike lanes, sidewalks, and a water pipeline. The project spans 111 months (51 months construction, 60 months monitoring), with completion expected by summer 2030. Councilmember Lee moved approval, noting the project implements the community plan and leverages multiple funding sources. The motion passed unanimously 7-0 (Councilmembers Foster and Von Wilpert absent).
Item 202 – Desert View Drive Public Right-of-Way Vacation: Staff proposed vacating approximately 1,002 square feet of excess right-of-way, facilitating completion of a missing sidewalk segment. The vacation was deemed categorically exempt from CEQA. The city had not accepted the original 1960 offer of dedication, and a 2024 court judgment quieted title. Councilmember Lee moved adoption; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Whitburn and passed unanimously 7-0 (Councilmembers Foster and Von Wilpert absent).

Key Outcomes

Item 201: Resolution R-2027-49 adopted 8-0 with four amendments. The resolution demands state and federal action for local control over AV operations, requires AV operators to cooperate with the city, urges the Airport Authority to prohibit driverless vehicles at San Diego International Airport, and directs the mayor’s office and police/fire departments to develop a process for tracking AV violations and public safety impacts.
Item 200: Ordinance authorizing construction contract with Skanska USA for $57.4 million approved 7-0.
Item 202: Resolution approving public right-of-way vacation PMT-3360692 adopted 7-0.
Non-agenda public comment concluded without formal action.

Meeting Transcript

I will now reconvene the city council meeting of Monday, September 14th, 2026. Clerk, please call the role. Thank you, Council President. Councilmember Campbell. Councilmember Whitburn. Here. Councilmember Foster. Councilmember Von Wolpert. Council President Pro Tem Lee. Here. Councilmember Campio. Here. Councilmember Moreno. Present. Councilmember Ilo Rivera. And Council President Lacava. Present. Also attending the meeting or Assistant City Attorney Michelle Garland, Independent Budget Analyst, Charles Modica, Council Affairs Advisor in the Mayor's Office, Coda Zeizer, and myself, your city clerk, Deanna Fuentes. All right, thank you, City Clerk. A quorum is now present. Do we have any comments from the mayor's office, city council members, city attorney, independent budget analyst, or city clerk? Not hand or not hearing. Oh, city clerk. Sorry. I was not fast on the lights. Um it's a very quick comment, but I did just want to announce that we have officially launched our pilot year of ENCODE. ENCODE is our new municipal code platform has a lot more search functionality. It has the municipal code translated in several eight different languages. It also allows you to email parts of the code to you. It's mobile friendly. It has a definition pop-ups and cross hyperlinks. In addition to that, anything that says on file in the office of the city clerk within the code that you used to have to contact my office to receive is now available online through the hyperlink available in there. You can go to Municode.sandiego.gov and check out the new Muni code yourself. It is a pilot year, so the old municode PDF is also still available at San Diego.gov/slash MUNICOD. Thank you so much, Council President. All right, thank you, City Clerk. Um I'll make a brief comment. Saturday night we lost a 14-year-old in a fatal uh accident in Pacific Beach. So our hearts go out to his friends and family and especially to the students at PB Elementary and the staff at PB Element PB Middle School and the staff at PB Middle School who woke up Sunday morning to that terrible terrible news. With that, Clerk, please go over how the public can offer their public testimony. Thank you, Council President. I'd like to highlight the slide on the screen that shows 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 a speaker slip located at the entrance of chambers and bring it to the front of the room. Councilambassadors are available at the entrance of chambers and can assist with questions and speaker slips. No further in-person testimony will be taken once the council begins virtual testimony. I would like to just give a reminder that for those of you that submit an organized presentation for the desert view item. If um once we actually call the item, please be sure to have all of your identified participants present when the item is introduced. And as another friendly reminder, all organized presentation requests or presentation materials must be submitted 24 hours in advance for organized presentations and two hours in advance of the meeting for presentations to be viewable here during the council meeting. Thank you, Council President.

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