San Diego City Council Meeting – September 29, 2026

The San Diego City Council met on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, in morning and afternoon sessions chaired by Council President Lacava. The morning session included a land acknowledgement and pledge of allegiance, approval of eight proclamations (Items 30–36 and S500), and non-agenda public comment. The afternoon session approved a five-year lease extension for the city-owned Sports Arena (Item 330) and a right-of-way vacation at 40th Street and El Cajon Boulevard (Item 331). Council President Lacava noted that the consent calendar had already been handled during the Monday, September 28 session, so no consent items were before the Council this day.

Proclamations

The Council unanimously approved the following proclamations (7–0, with Councilmembers Von Wilpert and Campbell absent per the Clerk's roll call, though Campbell had been marked present at the start of the meeting):

• Item 30 – San Diego Climate Week (October 1–8, 2026): Sponsored by Mayor Gloria, Lacava, and Councilmember Elo-Rivera. Climate Week co-chairs Erica Rodriguez and Meg Brigneau reported the event grew from 120 events with roughly 6,000 registrations last year to more than 200 events this year, organized around five summits (water, land, fire, air, and people).
• Item 31 – San Diego Hunger Awareness Month (September 2026): Sponsored by Lacava, Lee, Whitburn, and Von Wilpert. Councilmembers cited an estimated 362,000 San Diegans facing hunger (Lee) and more than 360,000, including 84,000 children (Foster). The San Diego Hunger Coalition noted one in four San Diegans — including nearly 29% of children and older adults — cannot reliably count on three nutritious meals a day; Councilmember Lee noted the San Diego Food Bank distributed more than 51 million pounds of food last year, serving about 400,000 people per month.
• Item 32 – La Jolla Country Day School Centennial Day (October 6): Recognized the school's 100th year; head of school Jeff Turwin noted it began in 1926 with four students and now serves more than 1,100 students.
• Item 33 – National Pedestrian Safety Month (October 2026): Sponsored by Lacava and Whitburn; highlighted Vision Zero, speed management, leading pedestrian intervals, and pedestrian hybrid beacons. Circulate board chair Belody Cote accepted the proclamation on behalf of the Vision Zero Coalition.
• Item 34 – Scott Mercer Day: Recognized Scott Mercer's retirement from the City Planning Department after 29 years of city service.
• Item 35 – Autism Acceptance Day (October 3): Sponsored by Whitburn; honored Autism Society San Diego's 60 years of service. Executive Director Teresa Contreras cited prevalence of 1 in 31 nationally and 1 in 19 in San Diego.
• Item 36 – Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15–October 15): Sponsored by Moreno, Foster, Campillo, and Elo-Rivera; Councilmembers noted roughly 1.1 million Latinos live in the San Diego region.
• Item S500 – Amigos San Diego Car Club 50th Anniversary Day: Sponsored by Moreno; the club was described as established April 18, 1977, has coordinated the Lowrider Car Show for over 40 years, created the first car club mural in Chicano Park (2019), and was recognized in connection with the first U.S. Postal Service lowrider stamp.

Public Comments & Testimony

Proclamation-related testimony: Speakers expressed broad support for the hunger, climate, pedestrian safety, heritage, and school proclamations, including representatives of the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank, the San Diego Hunger Coalition, the Autism Society San Diego, the Chicano Federation, and La Jolla Country Day. Several speakers opposed specific proclamations: Maximilian Schmidt opposed Items 30 and 33, asserting that climate awareness is being used to advance communism; a speaker identified as "Allegedly Audra" opposed Items 30, 31, 33, and 35, calling the proclamations propaganda, disputing sea-level rise claims, and alleging vaccines cause autism; Hector opposed Items 30, 31, and 36, making statements about immigration and food assistance; and Natalie Rashke questioned climate change narratives.

Non-agenda public comment: Topics included the Civil Grand Jury report "Shifting Gears" on the City's bicycle infrastructure (Joy Sonata); the January 28, 2025 fatal shooting of 16-year-old Kanoa Wilson by San Diego Police Officer Daniel Gold II at the Santa Fe Depot, the City's $30 million settlement with his family, and the absence of criminal charges (Daniel LaSalle); calls to replace the Flock ALPR system with a more accountable vendor and to reduce surveillance, including a cited 32% error rate and 167 false tags in one month in Los Angeles (Blair Beekman, Tony Rolfs, Allegedly Audra); Kratom enforcement, citing 233 kratom-associated deaths nationally from 2015–2025 with more than 10% in San Diego County (Barbara Gordon); the conflict between marijuana advertising and Vision Zero impaired-driving messaging (Becky Rapp); tobacco's effect on fertility, including a WHO finding that women who smoke have a 40% higher risk of infertility (Madison); allegations of Council corruption regarding the Torrey Pines Glider Port (Bob Kazuski, remote); and electrical grid and construction-safety failures attributed to infill development, including a transformer fire at 6142 Mesita Drive and a scaffolding collapse on Mississippi Street that crushed six vehicles (Dave Nicolai).

Announcements & Procedural Notes

• City Clerk Deanna Fuentes announced a ballot drop box for the November 3 election, located in front of the City Administration Building, open October 4 through Election Day per SB 884, with registration information available at SDvote.com.
• Council President Lacava responded to public questions about the prior day's continuance, stating he was seeking City Attorney guidance on Brown Act requirements and would adjust the protocol for continuances and returning items to Council if needed.

Discussion Item: Item 330 – Sports Arena Interim Lease Second Amendment

Economic Development Director Christina Bibler presented the second amendment to the percentage lease with Midway Rising Venue Management LLC for the city-owned property at 3500 Sports Arena Boulevard. The amendment grants a five-year extension of the interim lease, running through December 4, 2031, with minimum rent increasing 3% annually, ensures continued operations and bookings at the arena, and directs lease revenue to the general fund. The current interim lease, effective August 1, 2023, coincides with the exclusive negotiating agreement for the site's redevelopment, which expires December 4, 2026; nothing is currently booked past December. The item also included a CEQA categorical exemption for existing facilities.

Public comment included opposition from Maximilian Schmidt and Allegedly Audra; concern about sea-level rise, liquefaction (including a California Supreme Court ruling cited by a District 7 speaker), and acquisition practices (Amanda, Blair Beekman); a note that Legends' acquisition of ASM Global triggered a $3.5 million DOJ settlement (Joy Sonata); allegations of human trafficking and illegal sales at arena-area swap meets (Hector); and a "who gains and who loses" analysis of the lease benefiting the developer (Natalie Rashke).

Council President Lacava clarified that the item is about operating the existing arena — which he stated generates up to $750 million a year in revenue to the city (as transcribed) — not about the future Midway Rising redevelopment project. Councilmember Campbell moved approval, noting the City owns nearly 50 acres that are not being sold, and emphasized that the future Midway project's 4,200 housing units are not part of this lease action. Councilmember Whitburn seconded. In response to a question about flooding and sea level rise, Bibler stated the lessee maintains and operates the site in its current fully impervious format, and flooding is not currently occurring inside the arena itself.

Vote: Approved 8–0, with Councilmember Von Wilpert absent.

Discussion Item: Item 331 – 40th Street and El Cajon Boulevard Right-of-Way Vacation (PRJ-114743)

Development Services project manager Ben Heffertepi presented the vacation of 0.10 acres of public right-of-way, comprising Parcel A (3,645 square feet of 40th Street, acquired by the State for highway purposes and relinquished to the City in 2005) and Parcel B (786 square feet of an unnamed alley dedicated in 1908 under Subdivision Map 1108, with ownership reverting to abutting fee owners). Conditions require the applicant to dedicate and improve a vehicle turnaround area and to enhance an existing pedestrian accessway into a 26-foot-wide promenade, preserving pedestrian and bicycle access from 40th Street to El Cajon Boulevard.

The project's prior 2021 CEQA exemption and vacation resolution expired on December 14, 2024, because conditions of approval were not met within three years. The Council declared Parcel A exempt surplus land and authorized its sale on July 21, 2022; a first amendment to the purchase and sale agreement with Bridge Deck Owner LLC will be presented by the Economic Development Department at a future hearing. The Land Use and Housing Committee recommended approval of the first amendment on September 3, 2026, and the Normal Heights Community Planning Group recommended approval 100 to 1 with no conditions (as transcribed). This item is not subject to mayoral veto.

Public comment included concerns from abutting owner Ray Salem about the fire-department turnaround design and drainage relocation, noting three of his units were nearly flooded three years ago; support from 2D Thomas of the El Cajon Boulevard BIA; neighborhood-character concerns about ending the alleyway (Blair Beekman); and opposition from Allegedly Audra and Maximilian Schmidt. Councilmember Elo-Rivera asked staff to address the concerns: Supervising Deputy Fire Marshal Tyler Larson confirmed a modified T-turnaround meeting California Fire Code Appendix D and described emergency apparatus staging; staff described two new private storm drain inlets, abandonment of the existing storm drain, and a connection to a public storm drain, with the right-of-way permit expected within weeks and a two-year construction window.

Councilmember Elo-Rivera moved approval; Council President Pro Tem Lee seconded. Council President Lacava asked about future development: staff confirmed there is no active ministerial building permit, future land development would likely proceed ministerially, and the western alley will remain, with a 2.5-foot dedication now and eventual widening to 20 feet as adjacent development occurs.

Vote: Approved; the transcript does not state the vote tally.

Key Outcomes

• Proclamations (Items 30–36, S500): Approved unanimously, 7–0, with Councilmembers Von Wilpert and Campbell absent per the Clerk.
• Item 330 (Sports Arena lease extension): Approved 8–0 (Von Wilpert absent). The five-year lease extension runs through December 4, 2031, with 3% annual minimum rent increases; the CEQA categorical exemption was approved, and revenue will flow to the general fund.
• Item 331 (Right-of-way vacation): Approved with conditions including the vehicle turnaround and 26-foot pedestrian promenade; the vote tally was not announced in the transcript.
• Procedural commitment: Council President Lacava committed to reviewing continuance protocol with the City Attorney's office and sharing any Brown Act guidance with committee chairs.