San Diego Special Rules Committee Meeting - June 12, 2025
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San Diego Special Rules Committee Meeting - June 12, 2025
The Special Rules Committee of the San Diego City Council met on June 12, 2025, under Chair Joel Vacalva (Councilmember for District One). The meeting included a consent calendar item, two resolution discussions on climate and utility accountability, and an informational update on language access. The committee unanimously approved the prior meeting minutes, passed two resolutions supporting state legislation, and received a presentation on civic engagement efforts.
Consent Calendar
- Item 1 – Approval of Committee Minutes (April 16, 2025): Moved by Councilmember Moreno, seconded by Councilmember Ilo Rivera, and passed unanimously by voice vote. One virtual speaker criticized the accuracy of minutes, alleging they were skewed to favor the city.
Public Comments & Testimony
Non-Agenda Public Comment:
- Blair Beekman urged the city to improve communication and transparency, particularly regarding trash collection services, and suggested holding more public meetings on the topic.
- A speaker (identified as "the original") expressed concern about planned protests on June 14, alleging paid agitators and criticizing the city for not supporting federal immigration enforcement.
Item 2 – Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Resolution:
- In-Person Speakers (all in favor): Sophia Carrasco (age 16, Carmel Valley), Chris Roberts (Carmel Valley, bicycled 22 miles), Sophia Tata (age 17, Tierra Santa), Tarika Saiti (age 14), Diego Sandoval (East Lake High School), and Serena Pelka (Climate Action Campaign). They emphasized the need for polluters to pay for climate disaster costs, protect frontline communities, and relieve taxpayer burden. Three additional individuals registered support without speaking.
- Virtual Speakers: Rachel Abbott (family medicine physician) supported for health reasons; a speaker ("the original") opposed, claiming the bill would raise gas prices and that climate disasters were caused by geoengineering; Blair Beekman suggested similar funding models for city services; Elena Greley (age 17, La Jolla) strongly supported; Doran Tarzovich (age 14, District 5) supported. One additional virtual speaker (Homer) opposed, blaming Democratic leadership for mismanagement.
Item 3 – Utility Affordability & Accountability Package:
- In-Person Speakers: Masada (San Diego 350) and Serena Pelka (Climate Action Campaign) both spoke in favor, noting SDG&E's high rates and need for transparency.
- Virtual Speakers: One speaker ("the original") accused the council of hypocrisy for supporting fees that increase costs; Karina Gonzalez (Hammond Climate Solutions Foundation) supported; Blair Beekman praised the city's utility work and urged more discussion on subsidies; Homer opposed, citing trash fee increases and alleging council ignored voters.
Item 4 – Language Access Update:
- Virtual Speakers: One speaker ("the original") accused the city of lying and ignoring dissent; Blair Beekman praised the city’s efforts and referenced San Jose’s similar work.
Discussion Items
Item 2 – Resolution Supporting Polluters Pay Climate Superfund of 2025 (SB 684 & AB 1243):
- Presenters: Julio Garcia (Government Affairs Manager for Council President) and Emma Vibel (Youth V Oil intern, age 17). Emma outlined the bill: it would require companies emitting over 1 billion metric tons of greenhouse gases (1990–2024) to pay into a state superfund for climate projects, with at least 40% going to frontline communities. She cited 2023 ExxonMobil and Chevron profits ($36B and $21B respectively) and noted similar laws passed in Vermont and New York. The resolution would commit San Diego to endorse the bills.
- Councilmember Ilo Rivera spoke in strong support, emphasizing that corporations must be held financially accountable for climate harm and that costs are already borne by taxpayers.
- Key Outcome: Motion by Chair Vacalva, seconded by Councilmember Ilo Rivera, passed unanimously (Vice Chair Lee absent).
Item 3 – Resolution Supporting Utility Affordability & Accountability Legislative Package:
- Presenter: Julio Garcia. He detailed eight state bills (SB 330, SB 332, SB 500, SB 24, SB 636, AB 1167, AB 1020, AB 1017) aimed at capping rate increases, limiting ratepayer-funded lobbying, increasing transparency, and exploring public ownership of utilities. He noted that San Diego had the highest electricity rates in the U.S. (42 cents/kWh) as of November 2024, and more than 25% of SDG&E customers were >30 days behind on bills. All bills except SB 636 had passed their respective legislative houses.
- Councilmember Ilo Rivera supported, citing SDG&E's resistance to including cost-of-living adjustments in solar programs.
- Key Outcome: Motion by Chair Vacalva, seconded by Councilmember Ilo Rivera, passed unanimously (Vice Chair Lee absent).
Item 4 – Language Access and Community Inclusion Engagement Update (Information Only):
- Presenter: City Clerk Deanna Fuentes, with assistants Day Chief Pantaleon, Jennifer Barry, and Christina Hernandez. She reported that about 14% of San Diego’s population (≈183,000 people) face language barriers. Her office provides interpretation at council meetings, translates summaries into eight languages (Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, Tagalog, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Vietnamese), offers ASL interpretation and closed captioning, and hosts passport pop-ups (11 in FY25) with bilingual staff. Translated agendas received 243 clicks in April–May 2025, and the “How to Participate” page had 6,480 views since May 2024. The office also modernizes records management and fulfills 88.79% of public records requests within 1–5 days.
- Councilmembers thanked the clerk for her work, particularly noting the popularity of passport events in Linda Vista and modernization efforts.
- No motion required; item was informational.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda (Item 1): Approved unanimously.
- Item 2 (Climate Superfund Resolution): Passed unanimously. The Office of the Council President will draft a resolution supporting SB 684 and AB 1243.
- Item 3 (Utility Affordability Package): Passed unanimously. The Office of the Council President will draft a resolution supporting the eight-state-bill package.
- Item 4 (Language Access Update): Received as information; no vote required.
- Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at approximately [not specified] until the next regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, at 9 a.m.
Meeting Transcript
And later led the field artillery section chief school at Camp Pendleton. I've received several commendations during my service, including the Navy Achievement Medal for leadership. June 12th, 2025, I'm Joel Vacalva, Councilmember for District One and Chair of the Committee. Our committee's liaison, Sarah Jordan will go over instructions for today's meeting. Sarah? Thank you, Chair Lakava. Well, members of the public are able to attend the meeting 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 Web 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. Thank you, sir. I will now call the special rules committee meeting of Thursday, June 12th, 2025 to order and thank my colleagues for making themselves available for this special time. And call the role. And do you wish to make a statement? Yes, thank you, Council President. Notifying the rules committee, I'll be attending today remotely due to related uh causes related to family caregiving needs pursuant to the Brown Act. Disclosing there's no individuals aged 18 or older in the room present with me. And if that changes, I will update the committee. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Councilmember Vivian Moreno. Present. Councilmember Sean Elo Rivera. And I am present. Also attending the meeting today is Jillian Andalino with the office of the independent budget analyst, Hilda Mendoza with the Office of the City Attorney, Coda Zeiser with the Office of Mayor Todd Gloria. Abby Reuter, our committee consultant. With that, Sarah, please continue with public comment instructions. Thank you, Chair. If you are in person, please complete a speaker slip located at the entrance of the committee room and place it at the top of the box indicated at the table in 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. 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 participate via telephone, you may dial 1669-2545252. Inputting webinar ID 161-232-7007 pound. This information is also available on the agenda and it will appear on the screen during the public comment period for each agenda item. Please note that if you're watching via City TV 24 or online, there may be 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 to a particular item, please wait for that item to be called and then raise your hand by to speak by tapping the raise your hand icon, or if you're calling participant by pressing star nine on your cell phone or landline. If you raise your hand during a non-comment period, your hand will be lowered. Chair. Thank you, Sarah, for reviewing those instructions for the benefit of the public. A quorum is now present. We will start by taking 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. Sarah, please proceed with non-agenda public comment. Thank you, Chair. Pearl 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 are within the subject matter jurisdiction of this committee.
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