San Diego EDIR Committee Meeting: March 4, 2026
San Diego Economic Development and Intergovernmental Relations Committee Meeting – March 4, 2026
The Economic Development and Intergovernmental Relations Committee met on March 4, 2026, to consider a consent agenda, a discussion item on Business Improvement District budgets, a proposal to establish a cannabis social equity and economic development program, a state budget and legislative update, and an information item on artificial intelligence policy. The meeting adjourned early due to loss of quorum. Chair Campillo (participating virtually) presided, joined by Vice Chair Lee, Councilmember Campbell, and Councilmember Foster. No agenda or minutes were available.
Consent Calendar
- The consent agenda included: (1) approval of committee minutes from February 20, 2026; (2) a marketing partnership agreement with California Coast Credit Union; and (3) a marketing agreement with Hyundai Motor America. All items were approved as a block with a motion by Councilmember Foster, seconded by Councilmember Campbell, who recorded a no vote on item #2. Vote: 3-0-1 (Campbell no on item #2).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Non-Agenda Public Comment: Speakers raised concerns about subsidy language in public policy, called for better KPI development and data transparency, urged council to coordinate with other jurisdictions on cannabis regulation, requested support for SB 936 (restricting large nitrous oxide canisters), shared observations on a community vehicle donation, and asked the committee to invite San Diego State University researchers to present on AB 455 (disclosure of indoor smoking/vaping in single-family homes).
- Consent Agenda (Item #3): Blair Beekman spoke about the importance of transitioning to safer electric vehicle battery technologies.
- Item #4 (BID Budgets): Speakers included Benjamin Nichols (Executive Director, Hillcrest Business Association) who urged support for the program, citing $19 in leveraged services per $1 invested; Blair Beekman who linked parking concerns to the BID process; Sunny Lee (Executive Director, Discover Pacific Beach) who highlighted the importance of the Small Business Enhancement Program; Francine Maxwell (Southeastern San Diego) who asked for EDD community meetings and better public education on CPP funds; and Jacqueline Garcia (Executive Director, Diamond BID) who emphasized the need for SBEP dollars for business outreach and placemaking.
- Item #5 (Cannabis Social Equity): A lengthy public comment period featured 9 in-person speakers and 12 virtual callers. Supporters, including Andrew Bañez (President, Filipino American Chamber of Commerce), Robert Wood (adjunct professor, violence interrupter), Gina Austin (land use attorney), Edward Batista, Brian Gooden (former inmate for cannabis conviction), Dr. Tyrone Freeman (California Minority Alliance), Rashida Hamid, and others, argued that communities harmed by the war on drugs deserve access to the legal cannabis industry, and that a social equity program can generate tax revenue and correct past injustices. Opponents, including Scott Chipman (Americans Against Legalizing Marijuana), Terry Ann Skelly (parent, public health educator), Becky Rapp, Madison, and Judy Strang, raised concerns about federal equal protection lawsuits, public health risks (psychosis, addiction, youth vulnerability), market saturation, the city's budget deficit, and the failure of similar programs elsewhere.
- Item #6 (State Budget & Legislative Update): Blair Beekman and a caller (phone ending 870) offered comments on housing coordination, tech accountability, and support for the city’s state advocacy.
Discussion Items
- Item #4 – FY 2027 Business Improvement District Budgets: Sean Plaisted and Sean Caraffin (Economic Development Department) presented. The city has 18 active BIDs collecting approximately $1.5 million in assessments from 12,000 businesses. BIDs fund marketing, placemaking, and direct business support. Council must take eight actions across two meetings, including approving budgets, appointing advisory boards, and authorizing expenditure. The action also allows EDD to directly manage the San Isidro BID. The committee unanimously approved the item.
- Item #5 – Cannabis Social Equity & Economic Development Program: Councilmember Foster introduced the item, noting that a 2021 court order reduced ~20,000 felony cannabis convictions in San Diego County. Tiffany Harrison (Deputy Chief of Staff, CD4) and Jacqueline Kennedy (Senior Policy Advisor) presented a history of cannabis equity efforts since 2019, including a prior resolution, a state grant (returned in 2024), and community outreach. The proposed action is to draft an ordinance establishing a social equity program. Councilmember Foster moved the staff recommendation. Councilmember Campbell voted no, citing the city's $120 million budget deficit and the need to first address the illegal market. Councilmember Lee supported moving forward but expressed concerns about the economic viability of 36 new licenses, license transferability, and the need for strong data to justify the number. Chair Campillo voted yes. Vote: 3-1 (Campbell no). The item will return to committee before going to full council.
- Item #6 – 2026 State Budget & Legislative Update: Walt Bishop (Director of Government Affairs) and Moira Topp (Platinum Strategies) provided a biannual update. The state budget is approximately $280 billion general fund; revenues are strong but expenditures face pressure from federal cuts. The 2026 legislative session features ~1,800 bills, with themes including housing (e.g., proposed $10 billion housing bond, REAP program, condominium liability reform), homelessness (SB 569, interim shelter capacity), behavioral health, mission Bay Park redevelopment (AB 2025), and data center energy impacts. The meeting highlighted the city's core priorities. Information item only; no motion.
- Item #7 – Artificial Intelligence Policy (Information Item): Alexander Hempton (Chief Innovation Officer) and Jonathan Banke (CIO) presented an overview of the city's AI governance. The city has adopted a comprehensive AI policy effective January 2025, with an AI subcommittee for IT governance. Pilots include Microsoft Copilot for M365 (used by hundreds of staff, estimated 27,000 hours saved annually), AI-assisted language translation by the city clerk, a new claims system for risk management, chatbot pilots for the city website, and an AI agent trained on city budget data. Future priorities include AI literacy, scaling prototypes, consistent standards, improved data quality, and human oversight for multi-step AI agents. The meeting adjourned early due to loss of quorum before committee comments could be taken.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda: Approved (3-0-1, Campbell no on item #2).
- Item #4 (BID Budgets): Approved unanimously (4-0).
- Item #5 (Cannabis Social Equity): Passed (3-1). The Office of Councilmember Foster will work with the City Attorney, IBA, and stakeholders to draft an ordinance establishing a cannabis social equity and economic development program. The item will return to committee before final council consideration.
- Item #6 (State Budget Update): Received as information.
- Item #7 (AI Policy): Received as information; no action taken due to loss of quorum before discussion could proceed.
Meeting Transcript
Sorry, Chair Camp Hugh, can you give me one more audio check? Yes, Ty, here we are. Thank you very much, sir. Okay. Just wait for a few more members. Absolutely. Welcome to the Economic Development and Intergovernmental Relations Committee meeting of March fourth, twenty twenty-six. Uh, before we jump into this, I'll just notifying the public and my fellow committee members. I'll be uh sharing the meeting virtually today under uh just cause exception related to the Brown Act uh due to uh child care and uh uh sickness needs. Uh and there is no one over the age of 18 in the room here with me. If that changes, I will notify the committee. Uh our committee liaison Natalie Kessler will provide information and instruction for the public to participate in today's meeting. Thank you, Chair. While members of the public are able to attend the meetings in person. This meeting is being televised and live streamed on the city's website, and council administration will continue to make arrangements for the public to comment using the Zoom webinar platform. Members of the public who wish to provide virtual testimony must enter the virtual key by raising their hand before the virtual queue closes. The queue will close when the last virtual speaker finishes speaking or five minutes after in-person testimony ends, whichever occurs first. This will allow for better meeting management between the two platforms and ensure the committee is able to manage and conduct city business. We appreciate the public's cooperation. Chair. I'll now call the meeting of the economic development and intergovernmental relations committee of Wednesday, March 4th, 2026 to order calling the role by Chair Lee. Here. Council Member Campbell. Here. Council Member Foster. Here. I am also present virtually. Also present with us is Noah Fleischman, senior physical senior fiscal and policy analyst from the office of the IBA, senior deputy city attorney, Kate Malcolm from the office of the city attorney, and Chris Ackermann Avila, policy advisor from the office of the mayor. Natalie, please continue with public comment instruction. If you're in person, please complete a speaker slip located at the entrance of chambers and place it in the tray indicated at the front of the room. Please do so in a timely manner to ensure proper meeting management. In-person testimony will conclude before virtual testimony begins. And members of the public can join the webinar by computer, tablet, or smartphone by accessing the link listed online in the preamble language of the agenda on the city's webpage. To join the Zoom webinar by phone, please dial 16692545252. When prompted, the webinar ID is 160-340-6084 pound. This information is also available on the agenda and will appear on the screen during the public comment period for each agenda item. Please note that if you're watching via City TV Channel 24 or online, there may be a delay. Please participate via the audio on your phone and mute your TV or computer when it is your turn to speak. If you wish to speak on a particular item, wait for that item to be called and then raise your hand to speak by tapping the raise your hand icon. Or if you're a called participant, press star nine on your phone. If you raise your hand during a non-comment period, your hand will be lowered. Chair. Thank you, Natalie, for reviewing those structures for the benefit of the public. The quorum now being present, let's take up non-agenda public comment. Council members respect and appreciate the public's input and are fully committed to protecting every participant's free speech rights at council and committee meetings. Natalie, please proceed with the non-agenda public comment. For Rule 2.7, non-agenda public comment is an opportunity for members of the public to comment on items that are not on the agenda but within the subject matter jurisdiction of the committee. Each speaker will have two minutes. We will begin with those who have submitted speaker slips here in chambers. We have received two speaker slips.
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