San Diego Environment Committee Meeting – August 20, 2026

The San Diego City Council Environment Committee met on August 20, 2026, to approve routine consent items, reapprove a regional wastewater agreement, and receive a detailed update on El Niño preparedness and the city's stormwater infrastructure. All consent items and the wastewater agreement were approved unanimously. The committee also discussed stormwater funding gaps and community concerns ahead of the anticipated El Niño season.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the committee minutes from June 18, 2026.
• Ratified an emergency sole-source agreement with Hydrodyne Engineering Incorporated for remanufacture of filter screens for pump station 64.
• Authorized a first amendment to the nonprofit agreement with Urban Corps of San Diego County for stormwater conveyance facilities maintenance.
• A motion by Council President Lacaba was seconded and the three items passed unanimously by voice vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Non-agenda: Joyce Añada discussed the Colorado River/Lake Mead crisis; Doreen Diaz said a bird survey contract and stormwater channel reports did not match on-the-ground conditions; Andrew Meyer (San Diego Bird Alliance) praised the Coastal Commission's approval of the Deanza Wetland Restoration Plan; Terry Ann Skelly, Judy Strang, and Becky Rapp called for stronger tobacco/nicotine restrictions and smoke-free public spaces; John Stump urged flood preparation in vulnerable neighborhoods; Lori Saldania showed flooding at Mission Beach and Midway Drive and warned of groundwater and sea-level rise.
• Consent agenda: Joyce Añada raised concerns about Hydrodyne's lack of workforce diversity (84 employees: 52 white males and 14 white females) and questioned city enforcement of equal opportunity ordinances; John Stump supported her comments and asked for a clear-channel flow analysis; Doreen Diaz said the Urban Corps contract needs more accountability and that invasive plants remain in the Hamishad channel; Lori Saldania referenced the committee minutes and noted groundwater flooding risks.
• Item 4 (wastewater agreement): Joyce Añada supported the agreement and noted 300 outreach meetings; Lori Saldania asked for a full accounting of Pure Water contingency funds and warned about sea-level rise; John Stump criticized the Pure Water program and asked about SDG&E utility relocation cost recovery.
• Item 5 (El Niño/stormwater): Alexandra Martin (San Diego Coastkeeper) highlighted the $5 billion funding gap and urged a ballot measure; Lori Lipsman asked to redirect police funding to stormwater; Joyce Añada asked whether the 2024 equipment shortage had been corrected; Lori Saldania urged not building in flood-prone areas; Ann Feggy raised park tree maintenance concerns; John Stump called for funding 2024 flood claims, a dam failure review, and a moratorium on new permits.

Discussion Items

Item 4: Second Amended and Restated Regional Wastewater Disposal Agreement (SARA)

• Lisa Salaya (Public Utilities Department) presented the item. Two modifications were made since the earlier approval: the approval threshold for financial items was raised from two-thirds to three-quarters, and the agreement was made retroactive to July 1, 2026. The agreement modernizes regional wastewater governance, updates cost allocation and billing, and provides a 40-year framework.
• Committee members thanked staff. Council President Lacaba moved approval; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously by voice vote.

Item 5: El Niño Preparations and 2026 Annual Stormwater Department Update

• Presentations were provided by Chris McCatt (Stormwater), Chief Rosende (Office of Emergency Services), Felix Castro (National Weather Service), Dustin Ivers (OES), and Todd Snyder (Stormwater Director). Key statistics included a 91% chance of a strong El Niño, a 69% chance of a historic event exceeding any since 1950, 15,000 acres of mapped floodplain, about 7,000 parcels in high-risk zones, more than 32,000 drain inlets inspected/cleaned, a $230 million emergency repair expenditure over five years, and a $5 billion infrastructure funding gap.
• Kim Desmond (Race and Equity) recommended a concise community engagement strategy, clear evacuation resources, activating community partnerships, and developing area-specific flood plans.
• Chair Ela Rivera invited Armand Harvey and Clarissa Marine, community leaders who helped during the January 2024 floods, to share their perspective. They said current preparedness efforts are insufficient, that a website or task force is not preparedness, and that the city must build plans with communities, acknowledge failures, and demonstrate accountability.
• Committee discussion covered flood insurance discounts, in-house vs. contracted repair capacity, area planning, emergency housing and philanthropy, sandbag distribution, the stormwater fee of 98 cents per month, and the need for a potential 2028 ballot measure. Council President Lacaba noted the presentation would be repeated at the full council meeting on September 1, 2026.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda passed unanimously (items 1–3).
• Item 4 (SARA) passed unanimously; the agreement will proceed with the three-quarters threshold and retroactive effective date.
• Item 5 was an informational update; no vote was taken. The committee directed that the El Niño/stormwater presentation be repeated before the full City Council on September 1, 2026.
• The next Environment Committee meeting is scheduled for September 17, 2026, at 1 p.m.