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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

San Diego City Council Special Meeting - September 23, 2026: Closed Session on Midway Rising Lease

City Council — Wednesday, September 23, 2026

BodySan Diego, California

SessionCity Council

DateWednesday, September 23, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 18:15

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

0:00

Call the special city council meeting of Tuesday, September 22nd, 2026 to order.

0:05

Clerk, please call the roll.

0:07

Thank you, Council President.

0:08

Councilmember Campbell.

0:10

Councilmember Woodburn.

0:11

Here.

0:12

Councilmember Foster.

0:13

Councilmember Von Wolpert.

0:15

Council President Pro Tem Lee.

0:18

Councilmember Campillo.

0:19

Here.

0:20

Councilmember Moreno.

0:21

Present.

0:22

Councilmember Ila Rivera.

0:24

And Council President Lacava.

0:25

Present.

0:26

Also attending the meeting are City Attorney Heather Ferber, Independent Budget Analyst Charles Modica, and myself, your city clerk, Deanna Fuentes.

0:33

Thank you, Council President.

0:35

All right.

0:35

Thank you.

0:35

A quorum is now present.

0:37

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

0:49

Grant those who hold office in this city the spirit of wisdom, charity, and justice that with steadfast purpose, they may faithfully serve in their offices to promote the well-being of all people.

1:03

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

1:11

Despite enduring the horrors of genocide and colonization, the Kumiai spirit remains unbroken.

1:17

We honor the resilience of their ancestors who fought to protect their culture and land.

1:23

Today they carry their legacy forward, ensuring that their traditions continue to thrive in gratitude and strength.

1:30

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

1:35

Please face the flag, put your right hand over your heart and repeat after me.

1:40

I pledge 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 the questions.

2:09

Consider this to be kind of a hybrid of what we do on a morning, a Monday, and what we do on a Tuesday.

2:15

So this morning is scheduled for a special closed session.

2:19

And this afternoon at our 2 p.m.

2:22

session, we will hear our consent agenda and our two discussion items.

2:27

Non-agenda public comment will be taken at the end of the afternoon session.

2:32

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

2:35

Thank you, Council President.

2:36

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

2:42

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

2:46

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.

2:51

No further in-person testimony will be taken once the council begins virtual testimony for better meeting management purposes.

2:57

Each speaker will have one minute per item per person.

3:00

Thank you, Council President.

3:02

All right, thank you.

3:03

With that, please read the closed session item, the special closed session item into the record.

3:10

Thank you.

3:10

Conference with leak conference with real property negotiator pursuant to California Government Code Section 54956.8.

3:17

Special closed session item one is conference with real property negotiator pursuant to California Government Code Section 54956.8 properties 3220, 3240, 3250, and 3500 Sports Arena Boulevard, San Diego, California.

3:33

The council will meet with its negotiator regarding the price and payment terms for potential long-term ground lease with Midway Rising LLC to redevelop the city owned real property located at 3220, 3240, 3250, and 3500, Sports Arena Boulevard, San Diego.

3:48

Thank you, Council President.

3:49

All right, thank you, City Clerk.

3:51

And with that, please proceed with public comment.

3:53

Thank you.

3:54

If the following individuals can please come forward to the front row and to the microphone, first is Maximilian Schmidt.

4:00

After that is allegedly Art Audra, Lori Saldania, and then Paul Kruger.

4:06

Maximilian, if you can please come up to the microphone.

4:25

Um I'm opposed to this item, and I'm opposed to um anything that the San Diego City Council does.

4:37

And with my first amendment right, I believe that the um city council should be shut down, and every count council member should be turned into prison.

4:47

Um they know the reason why they are saying my thoughts out loud and um torturing me with Zerzetzong in an American chamber, and they know they are guilty.

5:01

And um and I demand justice and I demand everyone in city council to be um put in put in prison for this because it is um it is torturous, and I'm a mind control victim, and um this this um is happening to people all across America, and I'm here to stick up for everyone on being tortured by voice sensitization.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Public Comment█████████████████████████████████████████████55%

Public Lands Management███████████████████23%

Procedural██████████████████22%

Summary of Proceedings

San Diego City Council Special Meeting - September 23, 2026: Closed Session on Midway Rising Lease

The San Diego City Council convened a special meeting on September 23, 2026, with a quorum present. The morning session was dedicated to a closed session under California Government Code Section 54956.8 to negotiate the price and payment terms for a potential long-term ground lease with Midway Rising LLC for city-owned properties at 3220, 3240, 3250, and 3500 Sports Arena Boulevard. Before recessing, the Council heard public testimony on the item.

Public Comments & Testimony

Maximilian Schmidt expressed opposition to the item, calling for the shut down of the City Council and alleging torture via mind control.
Allegedly Art Audra opposed the lease, accusing the city of prioritizing profit over people and raising concerns about flood risks in the marshland area given climate change and El Niño storms. She argued that union jobs should not justify building projects detrimental to communities.
Lori Saldania urged the Council to be careful with the lease, referencing past poor stadium deals and warning that the developer (Stan Kroenke) is a bad actor who recently lost $400 million in a similar project in Inglewood. She noted that developers claim a groundbreaking in October and have sent out notices, but the city must not rush.
Paul Kruger (speaking after Lori Saldania) also urged caution, expressing concern that the mayor is pushing the project for legacy purposes. He highlighted liability risks regarding low-income unit construction and groundwater pumping, and said Stan Kroenke, worth $25 billion, does not make deals that protect taxpayers.
Catherine Rhodes spoke in opposition, demanding that the lease payment include enough money to house 2,000 people with housing vouchers and fully finance affordable housing units. She criticized the lack of structural plans and noted that a preliminary geotechnical investigation lacked deep foundation recommendations, suggesting a bathtub foundation similar to the Navy Broadway Complex.
Mandy expressed adamant opposition, arguing that the ground rent at only 1.5% of net operating income is unfair while the developer recoups 100% of equity first. She noted Stan Kroenke's net worth ($27.6 billion, up 30% this year) and called for fair market ground rent.
Joy Sanyata (seemingly speaking to Director Bibler) acknowledged the due diligence process and asked the city to check the affordable housing component of the project, especially tax credits, and seal the deal with due diligence. She indicated she would support the project only if that condition is met.
Natalie Rashki opposed the project, recalling that the area is known as "the gauntlet" due to constant issues with traffic and safety, with only two roads in and out. She urged the Council to consider long-term effects.
Blair Beekman expressed opposition, calling on the city to speak openly about sea level rise issues and mitigation, and criticized the process for labeling critics as crass or arrogant.
Amanda (District 7) vehemently opposed the project, calling it a cash grab at the expense of San Diegans. She criticized the city's mismanagement, citing $190 million in no-bid contracts for vehicles and $106 million for new trash cans, and argued the project degrades quality of life and safety.
One additional speaker (Amanda, same name?) unmuted but produced no sound, and their comment was not heard.

Key Outcomes

The City Council received public testimony on the lease item and then recessed into closed session to continue negotiations. No public votes or decisions were taken during this session. The afternoon session was scheduled to resume at 2 p.m. for consent agenda and discussion items, followed by non-agenda public comment.

Meeting Transcript

Call the special city council meeting of Tuesday, September 22nd, 2026 to order. Clerk, please call the roll. Thank you, Council President. Councilmember Campbell. Councilmember Woodburn. Here. Councilmember Foster. Councilmember Von Wolpert. Council President Pro Tem Lee. Councilmember Campillo. Here. Councilmember Moreno. Present. Councilmember Ila Rivera. And Council President Lacava. Present. Also attending the meeting are City Attorney Heather Ferber, Independent Budget Analyst Charles Modica, and myself, your city clerk, Deanna Fuentes. Thank you, Council President. All right. Thank you. A quorum is now present. We will begin this morning with an invocation by Clerk Fuentis, followed with the land acknowledgement and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Councilmember Maureen. Grant those who hold office in this city the spirit of wisdom, charity, and justice that with steadfast purpose, they may faithfully serve in their offices to promote the well-being of all people. We respectfully acknowledge that the Kumiyai Nation are the original inhabitants of the unceded land now known as San Diego. Despite enduring the horrors of genocide and colonization, the Kumiai 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 Kumiyai Nation connected to our past and committed to a thriving future. Please face the flag, put your right hand over your heart and repeat after me. I pledge 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 the questions. Consider this to be kind of a hybrid of what we do on a morning, a Monday, and what we do on a Tuesday. So this morning is scheduled for a special closed session. And this afternoon at our 2 p.m. session, we will hear our consent agenda and our two discussion items. Non-agenda public comment will be taken at the end of the afternoon session. With that, clerk, please go over how the public can offer their testimony. Thank you, Council President. I like to highlight the slide on the screen that reviews how the public can offer their public testimony during today'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're 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. Thank you, Council President. All right, thank you. With that, please read the closed session item, the special closed session item into the record. Thank you. Conference with leak conference with real property negotiator pursuant to California Government Code Section 54956.8. Special closed session item one is conference with real property negotiator pursuant to California Government Code Section 54956.8 properties 3220, 3240, 3250, and 3500 Sports Arena Boulevard, San Diego, California. The council will meet with its negotiator regarding the price and payment terms for potential long-term ground lease with Midway Rising LLC to redevelop the city owned real property located at 3220, 3240, 3250, and 3500, Sports Arena Boulevard, San Diego. Thank you, Council President.

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