San Diego City Council and Housing Authority Meeting - October 5, 2026

The San Diego City Council convened on the afternoon of Monday, October 5, 2026. The meeting was called to order by the Council President (the transcript initially identifies this person as Joel Agua but the roll call lists Council President Lacava as a separate member). Councilmember Von Wilpert participated remotely due to a COVID-19 illness. The agenda included an appeal of a CEQA environmental determination for a single-family home, the Fiscal Year 2026 Affordable Housing Fund Annual Report, and a subsequent Housing Authority meeting featuring reports from the Executive Director and on the loan portfolio. The meeting concluded with non-agenda public comment.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Item S400 (Environmental Appeal): Appellants John and Debbie Kay requested a slight adjustment to the house location to preserve five pine trees, citing habitat for 14 species of birds including mating hawks. Public speakers supporting the appellant echoed the request for compromise. The applicant, Claudia Cito, described years of delays and over $51,000 in costs. Public speakers supporting the applicant argued for property rights, criticized CEQA processes, and called the trees a fire hazard.
• Item 200 (Affordable Housing Fund): Speakers emphasized the need for equitable fund distribution, supported moderate-income housing creation, and criticized perceived inefficiencies in government housing programs.
• Item HA1 (Housing Authority Report): Speakers raised concerns about the city contracting with Catholic Charities for Rachel's Promise given their bankruptcy filings. Issues at Tent City, including reported deaths and restricted Narcan access, were highlighted. Others praised the Housing Commission's voucher conversion work.
• Non-Agenda Public Comment: Speakers addressed police use of ALPR technology, criticized government handling of homelessness and shelter conditions, discussed mental health trauma, raised vaccine safety concerns, and called for greater transparency and accountability.

Discussion Items

• 11370 Pamogo Court Environmental Determination Appeal (Item S400): The council considered an appeal of a staff decision that the project was categorically exempt from CEQA. Staff presented a survey showing three of the five disputed pine trees were on the applicant's property and will be removed, while two on the appellant's property will be preserved. Staff concluded the trees are ornamental Tier 4 habitat with no significant biological, air quality, or aesthetic impacts under CEQA. The appellants asked for a compromise to save the trees. The applicant detailed significant financial burdens and years of delays due to site constraints. Councilmember Von Wilpert stated there was no legal basis for the appeal.
• Affordable Housing Fund FY 2026 Annual Report (Item 200): The San Diego Housing Commission presented the report. Revenues totaled $5.8 million, down from $19.5 million in FY25. Expenditures of $9.2 million leveraged over $219 million in non-city capital (a 23-to-1 ratio). The fund assisted over 1,100 households experiencing homelessness and financed 251 affordable units. The IBA noted a historic low in Inclusionary Housing fee collections. Council discussion focused on the need for moderate-income housing programs.
• Housing Authority Executive Director Report (Item HA1): Executive Director Lisa Jones reported that a federal continuing resolution allowed over 300 Emergency Housing Voucher families to convert to Tenant Protection Vouchers. New family contribution rates (32% for elderly/disabled, 40% for others) took effect to stabilize the rental assistance program. The report highlighted the signing of AB 2518 to expedite utility connections for affordable housing, the expansion of Rachel's Promise to 210 beds, and the launch of the Diversion Collective, which served 48 households with a 91% exit rate to permanent housing at an average cost of $2,557 per household.
• Housing Authority Loan Portfolio Report (Item HA2): Vice President Sujata Rahman presented the portfolio, totaling $596 million across 1,714 active loans with a default rate of 0.08%. In FY 2026, $31.4 million in new funding produced 420 units, and 603 affordable units completed construction.

Key Outcomes

• Appeal Denied (Item S400): Councilmember Von Wilpert moved to deny the appeal. The motion passed unanimously 6-0 (Councilmembers Elo Rivera, Campillo, and Whitburn absent). The project will proceed to a hearing officer for approval.
• Housing Authority Minutes Approved: The minutes from June 29 and July 13, 2026 special meetings were approved 6-0.
• Information Items Received: The Affordable Housing Fund Annual Report (Item 200), the Housing Authority Executive Report (Item HA1), and the Loan Portfolio Report (Item HA2) were received and filed as informational items.