Land Use and Housing Committee Meeting on Unauthorized Camping Ordinance - April 13, 2023
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Land Use and Housing Committee Meeting Summary
On April 13, 2023, the San Diego Land Use and Housing Committee held a meeting lasting over seven hours, dominated by a proposed ordinance to prohibit unauthorized camping on public property (Item 5). The committee also approved consent items and advanced two items related to the Civic Core redevelopment. Over 140 public speakers testified, with sentiments sharply divided.
Consent Calendar
- Item 1-3 (Consent): Declared a city-owned parcel at 7th & Market as surplus land; accepted a donation of real property from Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation; approved a first amendment to a disbursement agreement with the San Diego Police Officers Association for a childcare facility. All passed unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Non-Agenda & Consent: Speakers urged the city to consider a ban on smoking in public places (citing Encinitas), address cannabis business proximity to schools, and use city-owned land for emergency housing or recuperative care rather than police facilities. Concerns were raised about in-lieu fees and the need for more public restrooms downtown.
- Item 5 (Camping Ordinance): Over 140 speakers provided testimony. Supporters (residents, business owners, hoteliers, school principals) described encampments as unsafe, unsanitary, and detrimental to children's safety (e.g., students forced to walk in streets). They cited daily incidents of drug use, violence, human waste, and blocked sidewalks. Business representatives from hotels, restaurants, and the Padres supported the ordinance as a necessary first step. Opponents (homeless advocates, service providers, formerly homeless individuals) argued the ordinance criminalizes homelessness without adequate shelter. They noted only ~1,800 shelter beds for ~4,800 unsheltered individuals, and that enforcement would merely displace people, not solve underlying causes. Many cited data that criminalization harms BIPOC communities and fails to improve health or housing outcomes.
- Items 6 & 7 (Civic Core): Speakers urged including a strong theater presence in redevelopment, ensuring affordable housing requirements are not waived, and prioritizing housing for the homeless. Some questioned the surplus land designation for a new city hall.
Discussion Items
- Item 5 – Unauthorized Camping Ordinance: Councilmember Whitburn presented a measure to amend the municipal code, banning camping on all public property when shelter is available, and at all times within 2 blocks of schools/shelters, along trolley tracks, waterways, open space, and in Balboa Park, Mission Bay Park, Presidio Park, and shoreline parks. Staff cited 15,689 Get It Done reports (Aug 2022–Feb 2023), 431 homeless-related vegetation fires in 2022 (219% increase from 2018), and 230 encampments along the San Diego River producing 70% of trash. The IBA noted potential costs for signage, storage, and abatement. Councilmembers Lee and Moreno expressed concerns about enforcement feasibility, shelter availability (only ~10% daily vacancy), equity in park selection, and the lack of a comprehensive plan. Vice Chair LaCava moved the item to full council with no recommendation, requiring a companion information item detailing shelter expansion, enforcement transition, and safe camping sites. This passed 3–1 (Moreno opposed).
- Items 6 & 7 – Civic Core Surplus Land & Homelessness Response Center: Mayor's special advisor Jay Goldstone presented the plan to declare five blocks surplus for affordable housing (minimum 25% at ≤80% AMI) and to redevelop the Civic Core, including a new city administration building. The former Central Library site and a site for a homeless response center would be explored for affordable housing and/or shelter. Staff noted a timeline with NOA issuance in May 2023, potential building heights up to 450 feet, and a new city hall possibly ready by 2029–2030. Councilmember Moreno voted against Item 7, arguing the focus should be entirely on housing and shelter rather than a new city hall. Item 7 passed 3–1; Item 6 (exploring homelessness response center and former library for housing/shelter) passed unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Item 5 (Camping Ordinance): Approved 3–1 to send to full council with no recommendation. A companion information item will be presented covering shelter expansion, safe camping sites, enforcement transition, and a legal analysis. Councilmember Whitburn agreed to include all city parks in the ordinance before final council hearing.
- Item 7 (Civic Core Surplus Land): Approved 3–1 (Moreno dissenting). The NOA will be issued in May 2023, offering five blocks for redevelopment (≥25% affordable). $2 million appropriated for a new city administration building CIP.
- Item 6 (Homelessness Response Center & Former Library): Approved unanimously. Staff will explore options for affordable housing and/or shelter uses, returning to council with options in summer 2023.
- Consent Agenda: All three items approved unanimously.
- Next Meeting: Thursday, June 15, 2023, at 1:00 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
Audio check one two. Audio one two three four. Check in one two three four audio feed. Give me a thumbs up if you've got it. Wonderful. Excellent, thank you. Our meeting liaison's Natalie Kessler will go over instructions for today's meeting. Thank you, Chair Moreno. 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 the 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 speaking queue 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. Natalie, please call the roll. Councilmember Whitburn. Councilmember Lee. And Chair Council Member Moreno. Present. Also attending this meeting, Chris Ackern Ackerman Avila with the mayor's office. Uh Corey Newfer from the City Attorney's Office. And Natalie Kessler, Committee Liaison. Natalie, please continue with public uh comment instructions. Thank you. If you're in person, please complete a speaker slip located at the entrance of chambers and place it on top of the box indicated at the speaker's lectern at the front of the room. Please do so in a timely manner to ensure proper meeting management. Please do not submit a speaker slip for speakers who are not present. In-person testimony will conclude before virtual testimony begins. Members of the public can also join the webinar by computer, tablet, or smartphone by accessing the link which is listed online in the preamble language of the agenda on the city's webpage. If you need to participate by telephone, you may dial 1 669 2545252, webinar ID 160268-1157 pound. This information is also available on the agenda and will appear on the screen during the public comment period for each agenda item. Members of the public who wish to provide virtual testimony must enter the virtual queue by raising their hand before the queue closes. The queue will close when the last virtual speaker finishes speaking or five minutes after in-person testimony ends, whichever occurs first. Please note that if you are watching via City TV 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 are a call-in participant, star nine on your cell phone or landline. If you raise your hand during a non-comment period, your hand will be lowered. Wonderful. Thank you, Natalie, for reviewing those instructions for the benefit of the public. A quorum is now present, and we will now dispense with the approval of the committee actions of March 2nd, 2023. Uh Natalie, please proceed. The public comment period for the committee actions is now open. If you have already joined the Zoom webinar online or by phone, please raise your hand if you wish to speak on the committee actions of March 2nd, 2023. And if you're watching on City TV or the live stream online and would like to call into the meeting to speak, please call 1669-2545252. When prompted, the webinar ID is 160, 268, 1157 pound. To raise your hand to speak on the past committee actions, please raise your hand using the star nine. I will announce when it is your turn to speak. Um, and at that point, please unmute yourself by selecting the unmute button or by inputting star six. We currently have two speakers in the queue who wish to speak on the past committee actions. Our first speaker is Marco Lamandry. I've given you permission to speak. Please unmute yourself and begin your comments. I'm sorry, I was going to speak on one of the agenda items, so I don't have to speak it.
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