Rules Committee Meeting Summary – August 26, 2026
Rules Committee Meeting Summary – August 26, 2026
The Rules Committee met on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at 9 a.m. to consider several significant items, including amendments to the Ethics Commission municipal code, campaign finance reforms, and an ordinance to preserve free parking at city-owned beach and Mission Bay lots. The meeting was chaired by Council President Joe Lacava, with Councilmembers Kent Lee (President Pro Tem), Raoul Campillo, Vivian Moreno, and Sean Elo Rivera (absent for initial items). Staff from the Office of the Independent Budget Analysts, City Attorney, and Mayor’s Office were present. The agenda was taken out of order, and non-agenda public comment was heard after all agenda items.
Consent Calendar
- Item 1 – Approval of Committee Minutes (June 24, 2026): Approved unanimously by a voice vote of 4–0 (Councilmember Ilo Rivera absent). Public comment included requests for more descriptive summaries of speaker positions.
Public Comments & Testimony
- On Item 1: Audra and Blair Beekman commented that minutes should better reflect the strength of speakers’ positions (e.g., “extremely concerned” rather than neutral language).
- On Item 2 (Ethics Commission): Speakers expressed support for independence but raised concerns about the appointment process (e.g., retired judges panel suggested) and minimum staffing requirements. Victoria Labruzzo opposed locking staffing levels into ordinance given budget deficits. Several called for strong, clear standards and transparency.
- On Item 4 (Campaign Finance): Public comment was mixed. Supporters praised transparency goals; some asked about enforcement mechanisms and nuances (e.g., defining “public communication”, disclosure timing). One speaker objected to using an active candidate’s mailer as an example. Others urged that the ordinance have “teeth” to avoid performative politics.
- On Item 3 (Free Parking): Extensive testimony – approximately 14 virtual and 6 in-person speakers. Supporters emphasized equitable coastal access for all San Diegans, especially low-income families and inland residents. Opponents cited the city’s infrastructure deficit, arguing free parking is a subsidy for car storage and that revenue options should not be taken off the table. Several community groups (e.g., Pacific Beach Planning Group, Community Planners Committee) voted to support the ordinance. Advocacy for free transit alternatives was also mentioned.
Discussion Items
- Item 2 – Amendments to Municipal Code – Ethics Commission: Brynn Kervin, Executive Director of the San Diego Ethics Commission, presented proposed changes in three categories: (A) conforming to Charter Section 41.3 following Measure D (2024), (B) discretionary operational changes, and (C) bargainable issues with the Deputy City Attorneys Association. Key proposals included: increasing minimum staff from 3 to 6, expanding qualification/disqualification criteria (criminal/civil history), strengthening removal procedures, and allowing tolling of the statute of limitations. Council President Lacava supported the package and requested additional benchmarking on commissioner qualifications from peer cities. Councilmember Ilo Rivera questioned the felony disqualification scope. Two separate motions for ordinances A and B both passed unanimously (voice votes). The city attorney will prepare final drafts.
- Item 4 – Exposing Dark Money, Shadow Campaigns, and Perpetual Fundraising: Councilmember Sean Elo Rivera and staff Rosa presented a proposal to close loopholes in campaign finance: (1) requiring disclosure of pre-candidacy “shadow campaign” spending, (2) requiring top-five funder disclosure on all public communications, and (3) aligning fundraising timelines to start one year before the election. The council discussed enforcement, coordination rules, and alignment with state law. Council President Lacava moved to forward the item back to committee for a drafted ordinance, emphasizing the need to resolve nuances (e.g., reprinting mailers when top funders change). The motion passed unanimously.
- Item 3 – Ordinance to Preserve Free Parking at City-Owned Beach and Mission Bay Lots: Councilmember Campillo and Council President Lacava presented an ordinance originally proposed to prohibit parking fees for 10 years at designated city-owned lots. The IBA noted potential annual revenue of over $10 million if fees were implemented, but also recognized the council’s desire for flexibility. After debate, Council President Pro Tem Lee offered a substitute motion: (1) protect free parking only for city residents, (2) remove the 10-year sunset (making it indefinite). The substitute was seconded by Councilmember Ilo Rivera. Councilmember Campillo opposed the residency restriction but supported the removal of the sunset. Councilmember Moreno initially undecided but ultimately supported. The substitute motion passed unanimously 5–0. The ordinance will be forwarded to full council with the amendments: free parking for San Diego residents in city-owned beach and Mission Bay lots, effective until changed by future ordinance.
Key Outcomes
- Item 1: Consent minutes approved.
- Items 2A & 2B: Ethics Commission ordinance packages (A – non-discretionary and discretionary; B – bargainable) advanced to full council for adoption.
- Item 4: Campaign finance reform directed for drafting and return to the Rules Committee.
- Item 3: Free parking ordinance amended to apply to city residents indefinitely, forwarded to full council.
- Non-agenda public comment: Heard on topics including surveillance technology (Flock/Axion), city lease negotiations (golf courses), marijuana tax enforcement, substance abuse prevention, and governance accessibility.
Meeting Transcript
Audio check one two, three, four. Audio check one, two, three, four. Good morning. Our committee's liaison, Sarah Jordan will go over instructions for today's meeting. Thank you, Council President. While 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 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. All right, thank you. I will now call the rules committee meeting Wednesday, August 26, 2026 to order and call the roll. Vice Chair, Council President, Pro Tem, Kent Lee. Here. Councilmember Raoul Campio. Here. Councilmember Vivian Moreno. Present. Councilmember Sean Elo Rivera is not yet in attendance, and I am present. Also attending the meeting today, Gillian and Delina with the Office of the Independent Budget Analysts, Kathy Steinman with the Office of the City Attorney. Matt Yet Yagan with the Office of Mayor Todd Gloria and Abby Reuter committee consultant. This is our first meeting out of the summer recess, and I'm not gonna throw shade on any other committee, but we come in hot. We have got a big agenda with big items here because we're ready to go to work. That's what the rules committee does. And because of that, and as a note to the public, we will be taking the agenda out of order today. Non-agenda public comment will be taken at the end of our meeting. And the order we'll be hearing items is one, two, four, and three. So again, we'll be hearing items one, two, four, and three. And then non-agenda public comment will be taken after our agenda items are heard. We want to get right down to order. So 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 in the box on the table at the front of the room. Please do so in a timely manner to ensure proper meeting management. Once any organized presentations have concluded, no other organized presentations will be taken. We have received no organized presentations today. In-person testimony will conclude before virtual testimony begins. And no further in-person testimony will be taken once the committee begins virtual testimony. 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 160439-9420 pound. This information is also available on the agenda and 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's 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 to speak by tapping the raise your hand icon if you're a Zoom participant or if you're a call and participant by pressing star nine on your phone. If you raise your hand during a non-comment period, your hand will be lowered. Chair. All right, thank you, Sarah, for those instructions. And as a friendly reminder, non-agenda public comment is the opportunity to speak on items within the purview of the rules committee. But when you speak to a docuted agenda item, please focus your comments on that docket.
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