Rules Committee Meeting: July 9, 2025 – Public Safety, Disclosure, and Nonprofit Improvement Policies
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Rules Committee Meeting – July 9, 2025
The Rules Committee of the San Diego City Council met on July 9, 2025, chaired by Councilmember Joel Ocava (District 1). The meeting addressed non-agenda public comments regarding ICE enforcement and police collaboration, approved a contract for public records management, updated the composition of the Disclosure Practices Working Group, and initiated a new council policy for public improvements by nonprofits. All votes were 4-0 (Councilmember Moreno absent).
Public Comments & Testimony (Non-Agenda)
- Multiple community members urged the committee to protect residents from aggressive federal immigration enforcement. Speakers expressed fear, described militarized ICE raids, and called for the San Diego Police Department to cease cooperation with federal agents. Key positions:
- Aubrey Miller (South Park resident) asked the council to prioritize constituents over political careers and not blur lines between SDPD and federal matters.
- Patricia Mondragon (Alliance San Diego) urged policy to protect against excessive force by federal agencies and to avoid SDPD assistance with immigration enforcement.
- Chris Ofovo Gomez (San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council, representing 130+ unions) called for the city to protect hardworking families from violent political theater.
- Nancy Francis reported a 71-year-old grandmother detained at the federal courthouse and demanded immediate action.
- Hamira (PANA and Trust SD Coalition) echoed calls for policies to stop resource sharing, data sharing, and task forces with ICE.
- Rahmo Abdi (District 9) and Lucky (District 9) described community fear, reluctance to call 911, and urged the city to set boundaries upholding the California Values Act.
- Tazin Azam (Muslim community) criticized SDPD presence with ICE as state-sanctioned trauma and called for cutting ties.
- Councilmember Ila Rivera responded, thanking speakers and announcing an intention to bring forward an ordinance in September to protect due process, require warrants, prohibit discrimination, and establish protocols for SDPD regarding federal actions.
Consent Calendar
- Item 1: Approval of the committee minutes from June 12, 2025. Passed 4-0 without discussion.
Discussion Items
Item 2 – Update on Disclosure Practices Working Group (DPWG)
- Staff (Jyoti Pantalu, Dept. of Finance) presented two updates: adding the Finance Director as a sixth member of the DPWG, and allowing the CFO, Deputy City Attorney for Finance and Disclosure, and Finance Director to name designees for meetings (similar to existing flexibility for COO and City Attorney). The changes aim to ensure quorum and timely review of financial disclosures.
- Councilmember Campillo asked if the update affects legal obligations from the Kroll report; staff confirmed it strengthens the group without impacting prior protections.
- Councilmember Ila Rivera requested notification when designees are used. Council President Ocava suggested including designee names in staff reports for preliminary official statements. The motion passed unanimously (4-0).
Item 3 – Contract for Public Records Request Management Solution
- Nicole Darling (Communications Director) presented a five-year contract (with five one-year renewal options) with Civic Plus LLC (Next Request) for a public records portal, not to exceed $879,288. The city received 50,000 requests since 2016 and nearly 9,000 in the last year. The contract includes software, hosting, updates, and support.
- Public comment noted the importance of efficiency and transparency. Council President Ocava confirmed the portal does not affect response times; staff response times are based on document search complexity. The motion passed unanimously (4-0).
Item 4 – New Council Policy for Public Improvements by Nonprofits
- Brian Elliott (Policy Director for Council President Ocava) and Abby Reuter presented a draft council policy to streamline processing of infrastructure offers from nonprofits, universities, or public agencies. The policy establishes guidelines for financing, construction documents, permit fees, and community/council outreach. It authorizes departments to negotiate individual agreements, requires detailed financial statements, and demands maintenance plans for non-standard assets.
- Councilmember Campillo supported the policy, noting it can lower barriers for public art. Councilmember Ila Rivera raised concerns about over-regulation of simple volunteer projects (e.g., painting playgrounds). Staff clarified that the policy is intended for larger capital improvements, not minor community efforts, and will work with the city attorney to avoid unintended obstacles. Council President Pro Tem Lee noted potential benefits for partnerships with UC San Diego. The motion passed unanimously (4-0).
Key Outcomes
- Item 1: Consent agenda approved 4-0.
- Item 2: Approved ordinance to amend Municipal Code Section 22.4103, adding Finance Director to DPWG and allowing designees; staff will include designee names in future reports. Vote: 4-0.
- Item 3: Authorized contract with Civic Plus LLC for up to 10 years, amount not to exceed $879,288. Vote: 4-0.
- Item 4: Approved directing the Council President's office to work with the City Attorney, Mayor's office, and relevant departments to finalize a council policy for public improvements by nonprofits, with possible municipal code changes. Vote: 4-0.
- Councilmember Ila Rivera announced plans to introduce an ordinance in September to protect constitutional rights, due process, and limit SDPD collaboration with federal immigration enforcement.
- The next Rules Committee meeting is scheduled for September 17, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.
Meeting Transcript
I'm Joel Ocava, Councilmember for District One and Chair of the Committee. Our committees liaison Sarah Jordan will go over instructions for today's meeting. Sarah? Thank you, Chair Locava. 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 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. Thank you, Sarah. I will now call the rules committee meeting of Wednesday, July 9th, 2025 to order. Call the roll. I know Vice Chair, Council President Pro Tem Kent Lee will be here about 10 minutes late. Councilmember Campill. And I am present. Also attending the meeting today, Gillian Andalina with the office of the independent budget analyst, Hilda Mendoza with the office of the city attorney. Matt Yeah with the office of Mayor Tagloria, Abby Reuters, the committee consultant. Sarah, please continue with public comment instructions. And 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 1669-2545252, inputting webinar ID 161-232-7007 pound. If you wish to speak to a particular item, please 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 by pressing star nine on your cell phone or landline. A quorum is now present. We will now take 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. And as a reminder, if you'd like to participate by telephone, you may dial 1669-2545252. And input webinar ID 161-232-707 pound. We'll begin with in-person testimony. Aubrey Miller, if you will please approach the lecture, and you will have two minutes. You will be followed by Patricia Madragon, Chris Ovo Gomez, and Blair Beekman. If you would like to come to the front seats reserved at the room hi, is this on? Okay. Um may I speak now? I'm here as a resident of South Park. Um I was forced to take action when people decided upon our community in tactical gear and spread fear and distrust throughout our powers that exist to help keep communities safe. Today I'm here to ask you and implore you to not think about your next election or not think about your political career. But I think of the constituents and the people who you are here who elected you, and to ask for your help to not blur the lines of how the San Diego police get involved with these matters that are federal matters, and to be on our side of your constituents. And I implore you to think about how that will affect your career and how it will affect your next election. Are the matters that you take into your hands now and how you help your constituents in order to help us feel safe? Because when constituents do not feel safe and they feel like they have to take matters into their own hands, things can get out of control and people's safety can get eroded. And also it just breeds this trust for the police and for our federal law enforcement and for you as our elected officials. So I just want you guys to think about that, and I appreciate your time. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Patricia. Good morning, Council. Patricia Mondragon, Regional Policy Manager for Alliance San Diego. I am here today to urge you to pass policy to protect San Diegans against unchecked federal agencies using excessive force against all residents, regardless of status or citizenship. We have seen a continued escalation of force against community members and an abrogation of due process and our constitutional rights. Any collection of agents, including SDPD, raises alarm bells. When SDPD continues to respond and assist federal agents with immigration enforcement, it erodes trust in local law enforcement and makes us all less safe.
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