OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Land Use and Housing Committee Meeting – July 9, 2026

Land Use & Housing Committee — Thursday, July 9, 2026
BodySan Diego, California
SessionLand Use & Housing Committee
DateThursday, July 9, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 48:39

Transcript — Verbatim
4:05

Good afternoon.

4:06

Welcome to the Lane Newson Housing Committee meeting of July ninth, twenty twenty-six.

4:09

Our committee lays on Natalie Kessler will provide information and instruction for the public to participate in today's meeting.

4:16

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.

4:26

Members of the public who wish to provide virtual testimony must enter the virtual queue by raising their hand before the virtual queue closes.

4:32

The queue will close when the last virtual speaker finishes speaking or five minutes after in-person testimony ends, whichever occurs first.

4:38

This will allow for better meeting management between the two platforms and ensure the committee is able to manage and conduct city business.

4:45

We appreciate the public's cooperation.

4:47

Chair.

4:49

I'll now call the Laney St.

4:51

Housing Committee meeting of Thursday, July 9th, 2026 to order.

4:53

Natalie, please call the rule.

4:55

Vice Chair Elo Rivera.

4:57

Councilmember Whitburn.

4:58

Here.

4:58

Council Member Moreno.

4:46

Present.

5:00

And Chair Council President Pro Tem Lee.

5:02

Here.

5:03

Also attending the meeting today.

5:04

Chris Ac Chris Ackerman Avila with Mayor Todd Gloria's office.

5:07

Deputy City Attorney Corinne Newfer with the city attorney's office.

5:10

Amy Lee with the independent budget analyst office, and Angeli Hoyos, committee consultant.

5:14

If you're in person, please complete a speaker slip located at the entrance of the committee room and place it on top of the box indicated at the front of the room.

5:21

Please do so in a timely manner to ensure proper meeting management.

5:24

Once organized presentations have concluded, no further organized presentations will take place.

5:29

No further in-person testimony will be taken once the committee begins virtual testimony, and members of the public can join the webinar by computer, tablet, or smartphone by accessing accessing the link listed online in the preamble language of the agenda on the city's webpage.

5:43

To join the Zoom webinar by phone, please dial 1669-2545252.

5:48

The webinar ID is 161-795-1933 pound.

5:53

This information is also available on the agenda.

5:55

Please note that if you're watching via City TV 24 or online, there may be a delay.

5:59

Please participate via the audio on your phone and mute your TV or computer when it is your turn to speak.

6:05

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 call and participant, press star nine on your phone.

6:14

If you raise your hand during a non-comment period, your hand will be lowered.

6:18

Chair.

6:19

Thank you, Natalie, for reviewing those instructions for the benefit of the public.

6:22

A quorum is now present.

6:24

As a reminder to the public and staff, item six was removed from the agenda and was sent out as a revised agenda with that update earlier this week.

6:32

So we'll start by taking up non-agenda public comment.

6:35

The 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.

6:42

Natalie, please proceed with non-agenda public comment.

6:45

Per 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.

6:54

Each speaker will have two minutes.

6:56

And we've received two speaker slips here in the committee room.

6:59

We will begin with those in person.

7:00

Maximilian Schmidt, please approach the lectern, and you'll be followed by Blair Beekman, and you'll have two minutes to speak to non-agenda public comment.

7:08

After in-person concludes, we will move to the virtual queue.

7:11

And there are currently four hands raised in the virtual queue.

7:21

Hi, um, I have thought of something that can actually end the um what some people call the thousands year holy war, and what others call the underground genocide that is being hidden out of sight where people are um cast as mentally ill.

7:37

And there's a book by um Thomas Friedman called The World Is Flat and talks about how in this new age of the internet um new technological advancements have flattened the economic uh playing field.

7:50

I think it's a socialist book.

7:52

Um, however, um we can there's tons of people who are um experiencing what's um um many pagans um what's going on is um for thousands of years um the through the very real third eye that um pagans get when they do a cult group rituals uh since the time of Christ, um they call it the third eye because you have two eyes and then one eye um you can see through other people's eyes.

8:24

Pagans have been driving people to insanity, and these are the poorest and most marginalized people on the planet, and every country is doing this for thousands of years by basically um saying what the person's doing.

8:37

And for never uh saying what the person's doing.

8:40

Some people call it live broadcasting their actions.

8:43

When people do it to me, I just kind of freeze up and disassociate into confusion and don't don't know what to do.

8:50

And never before in history, um, people are looking for answers on the internet, and there's hundreds of books on Amazon about targeted individuals, and it talks about um how mind control technology is being confusing these mentally ill schizophrenics.

9:04

So people are looking for answers.

9:06

We need to let them know that pagans are actually doing cult group rituals where they can look through your eyes, and we need to draw awareness, and with awareness, we can end the holy wars.

9:15

The thousand we can end the thousand-year holy wars, and we can end the underground hidden genocide that casts people's mentally ill and leaves no evidence.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Miscellaneous█████████████████████████████████████████████61%
Homelessness██████████████19%
Arts And Culture█████████12%
Procedural████5%
Parks and Recreation██3%
Summary of Proceedings

Land Use and Housing Committee Meeting – July 9, 2026

The Land Use and Housing Committee met on Thursday, July 9, 2026, in the afternoon, with Chair Lee presiding. Councilmembers Whitburn and Moreno were present; Vice Chair Elo Rivera was absent. The committee considered a consent agenda with three routine items and two discussion items: a meal delivery services contract for homeless shelters and a 50-year ground lease with the San Diego Unified School District for an auditorium in Balboa Park. All items were approved unanimously.

Consent Calendar

  • Item 1: Approval of the committee minutes of June 11, 2026. Approved.
  • Item 2: Authorization to execute a relinquishment agreement with Caltrans for land on SR 15 at Alcohon Boulevard and Adams Avenue to construct the Central Avenue Bikeway. Approved.
  • Item 3: Authorization to grant a First Amendment to overhead and underground electrical easement to San Diego Gas & Electric along portions of Old SeaWorld Drive in Mission Bay Park. Approved. All consent items were approved 3-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

Non-Agenda Public Comment:

  • Maximilian Schmidt spoke about a "holy war" involving pagans and mind control technology, calling for awareness and discussion. He referenced a book by Thomas Friedman.
  • Blair Beekman discussed racial discrimination concerns regarding the Emerald Hill area, the need for open dialogue on ALPR (automated license plate readers) and Flock technology, and the importance of community conversation on tech.
  • Madison (virtual) urged the committee to prioritize smoke-free multi-unit housing, citing a study showing cannabis exposures in children under 6 increased from 132 cases in 2009 to over 8,400 in 2024, and a 14,000% increase in exposures among ages 6-12. She stated affordable housing should also be safe housing.
  • Becky Rapp (virtual) requested the city update its process for cannabis business ownership changes, specifically when a permit approved through a public process is transferred to a new operator. She noted that in Rancho Bernardo, a permit was sold to a new operator (The Cake House) without community notification or opportunity to meet the new operator.
  • Terry Ann Skelly (virtual) advocated for smoke-free and vape-free outdoor areas, especially parks and trails, citing health risks from secondhand cannabis and nicotine smoke. She referenced an American Heart Association press release.
  • Joy Sanyata (virtual) thanked Mayor Gloria for his work on the "half round six" (likely a reference to a project), congratulated Mardine Matics as new CEO of the San Diego Convention Center, and shared a positive story about a homeless woman.
  • Kathleen Lippett (virtual) criticized the shift from "equality" to "equity," arguing it causes division. She claimed that government policies 50 years ago paid black women more if they did not have a husband in the home, which she said unraveled strong family structures.

Consent Agenda Public Comment:

  • Maximilian Schmidt spoke on items 1, 2, and 3, expressing concerns about the bikeway and SDG&E deals, reiterating his "holy war" narrative.
  • Blair Beekman spoke on items 2 and 3, supporting the bikeway and discussing ALPR issues and the Islamic Center incidents.
  • Joy Sanyata (virtual) spoke on items 2 and 3, supporting the bikeway and expressing cautious optimism about SDG&E collaboration.

Discussion Item 4 Public Comment:

  • Maximilian Schmidt expressed concerns about the OLOT Safe Sleeping program and alleged mistreatment in behavioral health.
  • Joy Sanyata (virtual) voiced strong support for the meal delivery contract, praising Sarah Jarman.
  • Blair Beekman (virtual) supported the item, noting that two people had died in the area in the past week and suggesting smaller encampment spaces.

Discussion Item 5 Public Comment:

  • Maximilian Schmidt opposed the lease, stating Balboa Park is not enjoyable due to his "holy war" experiences.
  • Blair Beekman (virtual) supported the lease, appreciating the history and community use of the auditorium.
  • Joy Sanyata (virtual) supported the lease, noting the stability of a 100-year arrangement (50+50 years) and her residence in District 3.

Discussion Items

Item 4: Meal Delivery Services Contract with Roe Solutions

  • Sarah Jarman (HSSD) presented the request to approve a five-year contract with Roe Solutions to prepare and deliver meals for city-funded shelters, initially needed at the OLOT Safe Sleeping Program near Balboa Park. The program provides 580 tent spaces with support services. The contract value is $13.1 million total, with an estimated $2.5 million in the first year. Meals are USDA-compliant, providing at least 1,000 calories per meal, two meals per day, 365 days per year.
  • Amy Lee (IBA) noted that the per-meal cost increased: breakfast $5.50 (19% increase), dinner $6.50 (15% increase). The first-year estimate is slightly less than the FY2026 projected cost of $2.6 million due to reduced meal quantity assumptions (581 individuals vs. 662 previously).
  • Committee discussion: Councilmember Whitburn made a motion to approve; seconded. Approved 3-0.

Item 5: 50-Year Ground Lease with San Diego Unified School District for Auditorium in Balboa Park

  • Mary Carlson (Economic Development) presented the item. The city owns a 0.288-acre parcel adjacent to Roosevelt Middle School. In 1974, a 50-year lease allowed the school district to build the auditorium on city property. That lease expired in October 2024. The new lease is for 50 years with rent waived due to public purpose (recreational/cultural facility open to the public). The land was appraised at $90,300. The auditorium is available for public use via Facilitron. The school district maintains operations and landscaping. CEQA exemption was requested.
  • Committee discussion: Chair Lee noted interest in the history of the property. Councilmember Whitburn made a motion to approve; seconded by Chair Lee. Approved 3-0.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Agenda: Approved 3-0 (items 1-3).
  • Item 4: Approved a five-year meal delivery services agreement with Roe Solutions for up to $13.1 million, with an initial $2.5 million for the first year. Staff will monitor contract expenditures.
  • Item 5: Approved a 50-year ground lease with San Diego Unified School District for the auditorium at Roosevelt Middle School, with rent waived for public use. The lease is exempt from CEQA.
  • The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Land Use and Housing Committee will be on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at 1:00 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Good afternoon. Welcome to the Lane Newson Housing Committee meeting of July ninth, twenty twenty-six. Our committee lays on Natalie Kessler will provide information and instruction for the public to participate in today's meeting. 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 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. 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 Laney St. Housing Committee meeting of Thursday, July 9th, 2026 to order. Natalie, please call the rule. Vice Chair Elo Rivera. Councilmember Whitburn. Here. Council Member Moreno. Present. And Chair Council President Pro Tem Lee. Here. Also attending the meeting today. Chris Ac Chris Ackerman Avila with Mayor Todd Gloria's office. Deputy City Attorney Corinne Newfer with the city attorney's office. Amy Lee with the independent budget analyst office, and Angeli Hoyos, committee consultant. If you're in person, please complete a speaker slip located at the entrance of the committee room and place it on top of the box indicated at the front of the room. Please do so in a timely manner to ensure proper meeting management. Once organized presentations have concluded, no further organized presentations will take place. No further in-person testimony will be taken once the committee begins virtual testimony, and members of the public can join the webinar by computer, tablet, or smartphone by accessing 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 1669-2545252. The webinar ID is 161-795-1933 pound. This information is also available on the agenda. Please note that if you're watching via City TV 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 call and 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 instructions for the benefit of the public. A quorum is now present. As a reminder to the public and staff, item six was removed from the agenda and was sent out as a revised agenda with that update earlier this week. So we'll start by taking up non-agenda public comment. The 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 non-agenda public comment. Per 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. And we've received two speaker slips here in the committee room. We will begin with those in person. Maximilian Schmidt, please approach the lectern, and you'll be followed by Blair Beekman, and you'll have two minutes to speak to non-agenda public comment. After in-person concludes, we will move to the virtual queue. And there are currently four hands raised in the virtual queue. Hi, um, I have thought of something that can actually end the um what some people call the thousands year holy war, and what others call the underground genocide that is being hidden out of sight where people are um cast as mentally ill. And there's a book by um Thomas Friedman called The World Is Flat and talks about how in this new age of the internet um new technological advancements have flattened the economic uh playing field.

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