San Diego Land Use and Housing Committee – September 4, 2026

The Land Use and Housing Committee met on Thursday, September 4, 2026 (the transcript repeatedly states September 3, 2026; the system timestamp identifies the meeting as September 4) to take up a consent calendar and one discussion item. The meeting was conducted in person and via Zoom, with a temporary City TV outage noted early in the proceedings. A quorum was present, with Chair Council President Pro Tem Lee presiding; attendees included Vice Chair Elo Rivera, Councilmembers Whitburn and Moreno, and staff from the Mayor's office, City Attorney, Independent Budget Analyst, and committee consultant. No agenda or minutes were provided in the source materials.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the committee minutes from July 9, 2026.
• Approved the first amendment to the subrecipient grant agreement with the County of San Diego for the riverbed encampment resolution funding project.
• Approved the third amendment to the grant agreement with the County of San Diego for the domestic violence shelter.
• Approved the first amendment to the real estate purchase and sale agreement between the city and Bridge Deck owner for city-owned property at 40th Street and El Cajon Boulevard, revising the sequence of work and extending the close of escrow date.
• Councilmember Whitburn made the motion; it was seconded and passed unanimously 4–0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Non-agenda, in person: Joyce Hanyada urged a changed perspective on homelessness. Janet Bourgeois praised Harrington Heights as helping very low-income families and urged preserving the Neil Day Goods Center. Maximilian Schmidt spoke about conspiracy/occult topics unrelated to land use. Lori Saldania presented new sea-level-rise projections and warned that El Niño could bring up to a foot of sea-level rise within weeks. Allegedly Audra criticized fire preparedness and evacuation planning in high-fire zones. Blair Beekman marked the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and asked for respectful debate about that event.
• Non-agenda, virtual: Becky Rapp requested a comprehensive smoke-free outdoor/odor ordinance for mixed-use and multifamily housing. Hector opposed development at the Petco parking lot, suggested opening Fiesta Island for camping, and commented on parking meter placement. Madison reported that Assembly Bill 2697 (cannabis drive-through sales) had been placed on hold and expressed relief, citing land-use and public-safety concerns. Judy Strang asked for more smoke-free public places to reduce tobacco waste in waterways. Kathleen Lippett said the city has paid over $38 million in large claims from bicycle and vehicle crashes tied to infrastructure hazards, including $24 million for a severe accident on Fiesta Island, about $3 million for a bicyclist injured by sunken asphalt on Santa Fe Street, $6.5 million over a fatal scooter accident, and $420,000 in e-bike crash lawsuits; she urged that maintenance funds be spent on maintenance.
• Consent agenda: Joyce Hanyada supported items 2–4, citing homelessness strategies and EEO/subcontractor requirements. Lori Saldania spoke to items 1–2, calling riverbed encampment resolution urgent before expected El Niño storms. Allegedly Audra criticized the domestic violence shelter amendment and meal services for homeless people. Blair Beekman supported the riverbed project and domestic violence work. Virtual commenter Hector spoke to item 4 and requested a recurring public Q&A with the city.
• Item 5: Sue Taylor, a 41-year former employee of the city's Real Estate Assets Department, supported the declarations but said the written record was insufficient, citing acreage discrepancies and an unmentioned right-of-way, and questioned whether the 30th Street parcel should be treated as unavailable for housing. Lori Saldania urged considering surplus parcels for pocket parks, community gardens, and native habitat rather than sale. Allegedly Audra expressed distrust and said small parcels were unsuitable for housing. Blair Beekman said the parcels looked like good parkland and cautioned against selling public land. Jeff Hewter asked about the bidding process and noted the Alder Drive parcel may lack street access. Hector urged the city to lease rather than sell land.

Discussion Items

• Item 5: Staff asked the committee to declare seven city-owned parcels exempt surplus land under California Government Code. The parcels, all under one-half acre, were described as: approximately 6,098 sq ft on Trinidad Way in Encanto, acquired in 1944 for the Bonita water pipeline; approximately 8,276 sq ft at Rio Drive and Banbury Street in Paradise Hills, acquired in 1915 for the Bonita pipeline; two non-contiguous parcels on Marina Boulevard in Bay Park, approximately 5,227 and 6,098 sq ft, acquired in 1964 for the Marina Boulevard expansion; approximately 1,306 sq ft on Alder Drive in Kensington, acquired in 1940 for a sewer pump station that was never completed; approximately 12,632 sq ft on Sweetwater Drive in National City, acquired in 1915 for the Bonita pipeline; and approximately 6,970 sq ft at 4069 30th Street in North Park, acquired in 1987 for a mid-city multi-service center, now a vacant office building.
• Staff said the parcels had been circulated to all city departments under Council Policy 700-10, with no department indicating a current or future municipal need. Disposing of the parcels would generate one-time revenue and ongoing property tax, reduce maintenance and liability costs, and return dormant assets to productive use. Staff also said the Real Estate Division is separately working on high-priority lease renegotiations and a broader property management plan, but funding for a comprehensive plan is not currently available.
• Councilmember Moreno said she consistently opposes sale of city-owned land because it is a limited public asset, cannot be recovered once sold, and should first be considered for affordable housing, parks, open space, community facilities, and future needs; she also cited potential impacts on the city's bonding capacity. Councilmember Whitburn questioned why 4069 30th Street was not pursued for affordable housing. Staff responded that a small affordable development there would likely require a large per-unit subsidy and compete for limited housing funds, and that selling the parcel would allow the market to propose uses. Vice Chair Rivera asked about lease prioritization, departmental review, and ensuring buyer accountability so properties do not become blight. Staff stated lease work and dispositions are being handled concurrently and that the city retains options when deciding how to dispose of property.
• Councilmember Whitburn moved to approve the staff recommendation with an amendment to remove 4069 30th Street from the exempt surplus declaration, so that parcel could be evaluated through the surplus housing availability process. Vice Chair Rivera seconded.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda approved unanimously, 4–0.
• Item 5 approved 3–1 (Councilmember Moreno dissenting), with 4069 30th Street removed from the list of parcels declared exempt surplus. That parcel is to be routed through the 60-day notice/negotiation process for surplus housing opportunities instead.
• No continuances were requested.
• The next regularly scheduled committee meeting is Thursday, October 8, 2026, at 1:00 p.m.