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February 10, 2026
ITEM TITLE
South County Higher Education Task Force: Nominate Applicants to be Interviewed, Determine a Date and Time for an Open Meeting to Conduct Interview and Selection of Public Member(s) Report Number: 26-0053
Location: University-Innovation District
Department: City Manager
G.C. § 84308 Regulations Apply: No
Environmental Notice: The Project is adequately covered in a previously certified Final Environmental Impact Report (“FEIR”) for the Chula Vista University & Innovation District (FEIR-14-01; SCH #2014121097; certified by City Council Resolution No. 2018-221 on November 13, 2018).
Recommended Action
A) Discuss and nominate applicants who sub mitted a qualified application during the application period to be interviewed.
B) Select a date and time for an open City Council meeting to conduct interviews for applicants who receive three or more nominations.
SUMMARY
Assembly Bill 662 , authored by Assemblymember David Alvarez , establishes the South County Higher Education Task Force, creating a collaborative body that will bring together the City of Chula Vista, University of California, California State University, California Community Colleges , Sweetwater Union High School District and other stakeholders to evaluate the governance models, funding mechanisms, and statutory changes required for creating a four-year public university.
Among the Task Force membership is at least one public member to be appointed by the City of Chula Vista.
To appoint the public member(s), the City Council will make nominations for those they wish to interview and set a date and time to conduct the interviews. All qualified applicants who receive t hree or more nominations will be invited to an interview.
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ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The Project has been reviewed for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has been determined that the Project is adequately covered in a previously certified Final Environmental Impact Report for the Chula Vista University & Innovation District (FEIR-14- 01; SCH #2014121097; certified by City Council Resolution No. 2018 -221 on November 13, 2018). Therefore, no further environmental review is required.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Community engagement efforts for this item included a call for applications advertised via news release, social media, and newsletters.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
Not applicable.
DISCUSSION
Since 1993, the City of Chula Vista has pursued a strategic, long -term vision to develop a University Innovation District on City -owned land to serve Chula Vista and South San Diego County and has taken actionable steps to turn this vision into a reality. From 2001 through 2014, through a combination of land offer agreements, land exchanges, and other agreements with developers, the City acquired 383 acres of land for University-Innovation District (UID) purposes. In 2018, the City certified Final Environme ntal Impact Report (FEIR-14-001/SCH 2014121097) and adopted the University-Innovation District Sectional Planning Area Plan (SPA) approving the entitlements for a UID.
The UID is expected to accommodate up to 20,000 students and is entitled for development of approximately 10 million square feet of mixed-use development; 4.4 million square feet of academic space; 2 million square feet of commercial space for business innovation uses; and 3.6 million square feet available for development of market rate and student/faculty housing. The City’s goals for the UID are as follows:
Develop a university campus offering four -year degrees consistent with the City’s binational and multi-institutional university vision;
Establish a business environment within the Innovation District that embraces the technology and/or higher education sectors to serve as a talent pipeline for the University(ies); Create an on-going income stream and/or one-time capital event; Support increases in tax revenue;
Support equitable access to higher education;
Foster additional economic development and education opportunities for the community at large; and
Develop a financial model that allows development to occur with as little out -of-pocket cost to the City as possible.
Additionally, over the years, the City has engaged in several studies to determine the type of university(ies) that would best fit the UID from a land use and economic development perspective. These studies resulted in the vision of the Cit y Council to develop a binational, multi -institutional university that leverages the P a g e | 3
border as a laboratory to attract students from both the United States and Mexico, offers baccalaureate and graduate level degrees and academic studies for the binational region, and serves as a catalyst for growth and economic development.
In November of 2024, the City Council received the University Now Initiative white paper (the “UNI Report”) developed by Southwestern Community College (SWC) District and the University Now Initiative Committee through an agreement with the City of Chula Vista. The UNI Report identifies academic and instructional programs that provide SWC wit h new or enhanced academic opportunities to support the region’s current and future workforce. The UNI Report also outlines findings to inform specific legislative and funding actions for the City to consider in pursuit of a university.
Earlier this year, Carrier Johnson conducted a feasibility study for the initial phase of UID development. Their work included developing building square footage estimates, floor plates, parking strategies, building heights, hard/landscape, parks & open space, active residential open space, other public use (including public trails), education, public mass transit elements, vehicular and pedestrian circulation and other pertinent development characteristics. The report’s phasing plan supports seamless integration of future phases with the initial development and also included construction cost estimates for the development.
AB 662 (Alvarez)
Authored by Assemblymember David Alvarez, Assembly Bill (AB) 662 establishes the South County Higher Education Task Force, a collaborative body to advance university planning efforts.
The Task Force membership will be composed of at least (8) members including:
At least one representative from San Diego State University appointed by the Chancellor of the California State University.
At least one representative from Southwestern College appointed by the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges.
At least one representative from the University of California, San Diego, appointed by the President of the University of California.
At least one representative from the City of Chula Vista. At least one representative from the Sweetwater Union High School District. At least one public member appointed by the City of Chula Vista. At least one representative appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly. At least one representative appointed by the President pro Tempore of the Senate.
All task force members shall be South County residents or individuals who work or have a vested interest in the area.
The Task Force will be responsible for:
Identifying and recommending potential governance structures for the mixed -use intersegmental educational facility, including, but not limited to, consortia and other collaborative models. Identifying and analyzing potential site locations and infrastructure requirements. Identifying and recommending potential funding mechanisms, resources, and partnerships for the mixed-use intersegmental educational facility.
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Recommending legislative solutions to remove barriers to institutional innovation.
The Task Force is required to submit a comprehensive report with findings and recommendations to the California Legislature by July 1, 2027.
City Appointments
On December 2, 2025, City Council designated City Manager Tiffany Allen to represent the City of Chula Vista on the Task Force.
The City Council is also required to appoint at least o ne public member. City staff conducted a call for applications and received over 50 qualified submissions (Attachment 1) by the January 9, 2026 deadline. All applicants meet the minimum requirement of living, working or having a vested interest in South County.
The appointment process for the public member(s) will be similar to the Planning Commission process, in which the entire City Council participates in the interview and selection of the member. Therefore, and given the volume of applications, the City Council is encouraged to nominate up to 10 individuals to interview. Any applicant receiving three or more nominations will be invited to interview.
Additionally, City Council will set a date and time to conduct the interviews, deliberate and appoint the public member(s).
City staff recommends the appointment of three public member(s) representing various perspectives including those in the business and innovation sector, higher education staff, and students.
DECISION-MAKER CONFLICT
Staff has reviewed the decision contemplated by this action and has determined that it is not site-specific and consequently, the real property holdings of the City Council members do not create a disqualifying real property-related financial conflict of interest under the Political Reform Act (Cal. Gov't Code § 87100, et seq.).
Staff is not independently aware and has not been informed by any City Council member, of any other fact that may constitute a basis for a decision-maker conflict of interest in this matter.
CURRENT-YEAR FISCAL IMPACT
There is no current-year fiscal impact as a result of this action.
ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT
There is no ongoing fiscal impact as a result of this action.
ATTACHMENTS
1. South County Higher Education Task Force Applications
Staff Contact: Adrianna Relph, Special Projects & Legislative Manager Tiffany Allen, City Manager