THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA
MINUTES FOR THE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
OF
MONDAY, JULY 28, 2025
AT 10:00 AM
IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS – 12TH FLOOR
Table of Contents
CHRONOLOGY OF THE MEETING..........................................................................................1 ATTENDANCE DURING THE MEETING...................................................................................1 ROLL CALL ..........................................................................................................................1 INVOCATION.......................................................................................................................2 LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .................................................................................................2 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE......................................................................................................2 CLOSED SESSION................................................................................................................2 NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT .........................................................................................4
MAYOR, COUNCIL, CITY ATTORNEY, INDEPENDENT BUDGET ANALYST, CITY CLERK COMMENT ..........................................................................................................................................7 Item 600: Balboa Park Paid Parking Implementation Update..................................................7 Item 601: Establishment of a Parking Meter Zone at Balboa Park ...........................................8 Item 602: Proposed FY 2026 Statement of Budgetary Principles.............................................9 Item 603: This item was removed from the Agenda ............................................................10 Item 650: Submission of Ballot Proposals for the June 2, 2026, Ballot...................................10 REPORT OUT FROM CLOSED SESSION................................................................................11 ADJOURNMENT .................................................................................................................12 Minutes of the Council of the City of San Diego Page 2
for the Special Meeting of Monday, July 28, 2025
CHRONOLOGY OF THE MEETING
The meeting was called to order by Council President LaCava at 10:04 a.m. The meeting was recessed by Council President LaCava at 10:14 a.m. for the noon recess to be reconvened at 2:00 p.m.
The meeting was reconvened by Council President LaCava at 1:05 p.m. with Councilmember Moreno and Councilmember Elo-Rivera not present. Councilmember Elo-Rivera arrived to the meeting at 1:14 p.m. Councilmember Campbell left the meeting at 4:27 p.m. The meeting was adjourned by Council President LaCava at 4:58 p.m.
ATTENDANCE DURING THE MEETING
PRESENT:
CD-1 Council President Joe LaCava
CD-2 Councilmember Jennifer Campbell (attended virtually) CD-3 Councilmember Stephen Whitburn
CD-4 Councilmember Henry L. Foster III
CD-5 Councilmember Marni von Wilpert - (Pursuant to California Government Code section 54953(f), participated remotely for just cause due to a contagious illness with no individuals 18 years of age or older present in the room.)
CD-6 Council President Pro Tem Kent Lee
CD-7 Councilmember Raul A. Campillo
CD-9 Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera
ABSENT:
CD-8 Councilmember Vivian Moreno
CITY CLERK:
Pantaleon/Berry (cp)
ROLL CALL
(1) Council President LaCava-present
(2) Councilmember Campbell-not present
(3) Councilmember Whitburn-present
(4) Councilmember Foster-present
(5) Councilmember von Wilpert-not present
(6) Council President Pro Tem Lee-present
(7) Councilmember Campillo-present
(8) Councilmember Moreno-not present
(9) Councilmember Elo-Rivera-present
Minutes of the Council of the City of San Diego Page 3
for the Special Meeting of Monday, July 28, 2025
INVOCATION
The invocation was given by Assistant City Clerk Daichi Pantaleon.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Statement read by Councilmember Foster.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilmember Foster.
CLOSED SESSION
Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation, pursuant to California Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1):
CS-1 Miguel Perez and Almira Vasquez-Mekhael v. City of San Diego, et al.
San Diego Superior Court Case No. 37-2023-00045606-CU-PA-CTL Risk Management Department Claim File No. 33061
REFERRED TO CLOSED SESSION OF MONDAY, JULY 28, 2025
SCDCA Assigned: J. J. McQuarrie
This case arises from a traffic collision between Plaintiffs’ vehicle and a San Diego Police Department vehicle which occurred on December 10, 2022. Plaintiffs allege personal injuries as a result of the collision. The City Attorney’s Office will update the Mayor and City Council on the status of the litigation and seek direction.
COUNCIL ACTION: Start Time: 10:07 AM
Public testimony by Cesar Javier and Joy Sunyata.
Council President LaCava closed the hearing.
Minutes of the Council of the City of San Diego Page 4
for the Special Meeting of Monday, July 28, 2025
CS-2 Abdullah Wright v. City of San Diego, et al.
United States District Court 24cv02089 GPC (BLM)
Risk Management Department Claim File No. 35760
REFERRED TO CLOSED SESSION OF MONDAY, JULY 28, 2025
DCA Assigned: E. L. Atkins
This case arises from a police interaction with Abdullah Wright on September 24, 2023, which led to a civil rights lawsuit against the City. The City Attorney’s Office will update the Mayor and City Council on the status of the litigation and seek direction.
COUNCIL ACTION: Start Time: 10:07 AM
Public testimony by Cesar Javier and Joy Sunyata.
Council President LaCava closed the hearing.
CS-3 City of San Diego v. Public Risk Innovation, Solutions, and Management (PRISM)
San Diego Superior Court Case No. 37-2023-00010905-CU-BC-CTL Risk Management Department Claim File Nos. LP0501300251, LP0401300524 REFERRED TO CLOSED SESSION OF MONDAY, JULY 28, 2025
SDCA Assigned: S. M. Robinson
Outside Counsel: C. Miller and R. Caplan – Buchalter, APC In this lawsuit, the City seeks recovery from PRISM, one of its insurance carriers, for relocation costs paid in the De Anza Cove Homeowners Association, Inc. v. City of San Diego lawsuit. The City Attorney’s Office will update the Mayor and City Council on the status of the litigation and seek direction.
COUNCIL ACTION: Start Time: 10:07 AM
Public testimony by Cesar Javier.
Council President LaCava closed the hearing.
CS-4 Terry Wilson v. City of San Diego
San Diego Superior Court No. 37-2024-00011752-CU-PO-CTL Minutes of the Council of the City of San Diego Page 5
for the Special Meeting of Monday, July 28, 2025
Risk Management Department Claim File No. 34047
REFERRED TO CLOSED SESSION OF MONDAY, JULY 28, 2025
DCA Assigned: J. P. Pearson
This case arises from a trip and fall accident which occurred on March 16, 2023, at the intersection of Front Street and West Lewis Street in San Diego. The City Attorney’s Office will update the Mayor and City Council on the status of the litigation and seek direction.
COUNCIL ACTION: Start Time: 10:07 AM
Public testimony by Cesar Javier and Joy Sunyata.
Council President LaCava closed the hearing.
NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT
PUBLIC COMMENT-1:
Joy Sunyata commented on alliance model.
COUNCIL ACTION: Start Time: 4:26 PM
PUBLIC COMMENT-2:
Blair Beekman commented on tech accountability.
COUNCIL ACTION: Start Time: 4:28 PM
PUBLIC COMMENT-3:
Purita Javier commented on ceramics toxicity in a residential zone community.
COUNCIL ACTION: Start Time: 4:31 PM
PUBLIC COMMENT-4:
Cesar Javier commented on ceramics toxicity in a residential zone community.
COUNCIL ACTION: Start Time: 4:33 PM
Minutes of the Council of the City of San Diego Page 6
for the Special Meeting of Monday, July 28, 2025
PUBLIC COMMENT-5 (virtual):
Terri-Ann Skelly commented on smoke-free and vape-free policies.
COUNCIL ACTION: Start Time: 4:35 PM
PUBLIC COMMENT-6 (virtual):
Kathleen Lippitt commented on harms of high potency marijuana.
COUNCIL ACTION: Start Time: 4:37 PM
PUBLIC COMMENT-7 (virtual):
Lori Saldaña commented on public safety; and parking incident.
COUNCIL ACTION: Start Time: 4:39 PM
PUBLIC COMMENT-8 (virtual):
Meredith H. commented on Resiliency Board and Coastal Resilience Master Plan.
COUNCIL ACTION: Start Time: 4:41 PM
PUBLIC COMMENT-9 (virtual):
Barbara Gordon commented on marijuana use and abuse.
COUNCIL ACTION: Start Time: 4:43 PM
PUBLIC COMMENT-10 (virtual):
Becky Rapp commented on a ban on intoxicating hemp products.
COUNCIL ACTION: Start Time: 4:45 PM
PUBLIC COMMENT-11 (virtual):
Judi Strang commented on the staff report on fraud hotline at Audit Committee meeting.
Minutes of the Council of the City of San Diego Page 7
for the Special Meeting of Monday, July 28, 2025
COUNCIL ACTION: Start Time: 4:47 PM
PUBLIC COMMENT-12 (virtual):
Andrea Ebbing commented on safety of San Diego.
COUNCIL ACTION: Start Time: 4:50 PM
PUBLIC COMMENT-13 (virtual):
Ernie Casco commented on Torrey Pines Gliderport.
COUNCIL ACTION: Start Time: 4:52 PM
PUBLIC COMMENT-14 (virtual):
Kelly McCormick requested support of extending the 2024 emergency regulations on the sale of intoxicating hemp products.
COUNCIL ACTION: Start Time: 4:54 PM
PUBLIC COMMENT-15 (virtual):
Marco Espinosa commented on trolley line to airport going further.
COUNCIL ACTION: Start Time: 4:56 PM
MAYOR, COUNCIL, CITY ATTORNEY, INDEPENDENT BUDGET ANALYST, CITY CLERK COMMENT None.
Item 600: Balboa Park Paid Parking Implementation Update.
Total Estimated Cost of Proposed Action and Funding Source:
This is an informational item only; there is no cost associated with this item.
Minutes of the Council of the City of San Diego Page 8
for the Special Meeting of Monday, July 28, 2025
Council District(s) Affected: 3.
Proposed Actions:
ITEM PRESENTED
This is an informational item only.
Committee Actions Taken: N/A
Parks & Recreation: Conrad Wear, (619) 533-4079
COUNCIL ACTION: Start Time: 1:39 PM
Item 601: Establishment of a Parking Meter Zone at Balboa Park.
Total Estimated Cost of Proposed Action and Funding Source:
There are no costs associated with this action.
Council District(s) Affected: 3.
Proposed Actions:
(O-2026-5) INTRODUCED WITH DIRECTION, TO BE ADOPTED TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2025 Introduction of an Ordinance establishing a parking meter zone in and around Balboa Park.
Committee Actions Taken: N/A
Transportation Department: Ahmad Erikat, (619) 236-7072 City Attorney Contact: Cassandra Mougin
COUNCIL ACTION: Start Time: 3:35 PM
MOTION BY ELO-RIVERA TO INTRODUCE THE ORDINANCE WITH DIRECTION TO STAFF TO
PROPOSE A PLAN FOR FREE OR DISCOUNTED RESIDENT PARKING PASS FOR THE BALBOA
PARK PARKING METER ZONE AND OTHER PARKING DISTRICTS WHEN THE BALBOA PARK PARKING PROGRAM IS BROUGHT TO COUNCIL IN SEPTEMBER. Second by Joe LaCava.
Passed by the following vote:
Yea: Joe LaCava, Stephen Whitburn, Henry L. Foster III, Marni von Wilpert, Kent Lee, Sean Elo-Rivera;
Nay: Jennifer Campbell, Raul A. Campillo;
Recused: (None);
Minutes of the Council of the City of San Diego Page 9
for the Special Meeting of Monday, July 28, 2025
Not Present: Vivian Moreno.
Item 602: Proposed FY 2026 Statement of Budgetary Principles.
Total Estimated Cost of Proposed Action and Funding Source: N/A Council District(s) Affected: Citywide.
Proposed Actions:
(R-2026-6) ADOPTED AS RESOLUTION R-316369
Resolution adopting the Statement of Budgetary Principles setting forth the roles and duties of the Mayor and City Council with respect to the City's Fiscal Year 2026 Budget.
Committee Actions Taken:
This item was heard at the Budget and Government Efficiency Committee meeting on July 16, 2025.
ACTION: Motion by Vice Chair Moreno, second by Councilmember Elo-Rivera, to recommend Council approval of staff’s proposed actions with the following revisions to Section C7: “In order to allow Council to receive feedback on the impacts of Council’s final budget adjustments – including potential operational and service-level impacts of Councilmember proposed budget reductions (including positions and non-personnel expenditures) – and to allow time for any necessary technical corrections, Councilmembers are encouraged to present and discuss any proposed amendments with the Office of the IBA prior to the Council’s final budget adoption meeting.”
VOTE: 4-0; Foster III-yea, Moreno-yea, Lee-yea, Elo-Rivera-yea.
Office of the Independent Budget Analyst: Lisa Byrne, (619) 236-5917 City Attorney Contact: Bret A. Bartolotta
COUNCIL ACTION: Start Time: 1:08 PM
MOTION BY HENRY L. FOSTER III TO ADOPT. Second by Kent Lee.
Passed by the following vote:
Yea: Joe LaCava, Stephen Whitburn, Henry L. Foster III, Marni von Wilpert, Kent Lee, Raul A.
Campillo, Sean Elo-Rivera;
Nay: Jennifer Campbell;
Recused: (None);
Not Present: Vivian Moreno.
Minutes of the Council of the City of San Diego Page 10 for the Special Meeting of Monday, July 28, 2025
Item 603: This item was removed from the Agenda.
NOTE: The following Public Notice was for public record only. This item did not require Council action or public testimony.
Item 650: Submission of Ballot Proposals for the June 2, 2026, Ballot.
City Council Policy 000-21 establishes a procedure for submittal of ballot proposals to the City Council, by members of the public, Councilmembers, the Mayor or mayoral departments, independent department directors or a public agency. Ballot proposals may be submitted to the Office of the City Clerk. The City Clerk shall then transmit them promptly to Rules Committee Consultant. The Office of the City Clerk has established the following calendar for the ballot proposals for the June 2, 2026, election. Please submit all proposals to [email protected].
Date E- Event
Friday, 10/24/2025 221
LAST DATE (5:00 P.M. DEADLINE) for ballot
proposals submissions to the City Clerk for review by
Committee.
Wednesday,11/05/2025 209
Committee Meeting Review may Begin
The Committee Consultant shall place the proposals
on the Committee meeting agenda for subsequent
review and comment by the Committee. The
Committee may approve or reject proposals
submitted for review. Ballot proposals may advance
from initial review and proceed to a second
Committee review. Only proposals approved or
forwarded to the full Council by the Committee may
be acted upon by Council.
Monday, 01/05/2026 148
FIRST DAY City Council may discuss ballot proposals
and adopt ordinances prepared by the City Attorney
to place measures on the ballot.
Friday, 03/06/2026 88
LAST DAY City Council may discuss measures and
adopt ordinances prepared by the City Attorney to
place measures on the ballot.
Monday, 03/09/2026 85
LAST DAY to submit the Fiscal Impact Analysis; Ballot
and Title Summary; and Impartial Analysis with City
Clerk.
Wednesday, 03/11/2026 83 LAST DAY to file ballot arguments with City Clerk.
Minutes of the Council of the City of San Diego Page 11 for the Special Meeting of Monday, July 28, 2025
Subscribe to receive City Council and Rules Committee agenda notifications. For additional public notices, visit https://www.sandiego.gov/city-clerk/officialdocs/public-notices.
If you have questions, please contact the Office of the City Clerk at [email protected] or (619) 533-4000.
This does not include other processes, such as citizen initiatives, that can place a measure on a ballot.
REPORT OUT FROM CLOSED SESSION
The City Attorney gave a report out from Closed Session. https://www.sandiego.gov/city-clerk/officialdocs/closed-session-reports.
COUNCIL ACTION: Start Time: 4:57 PM
Minutes of the Council of the City of San Diego Page 12 for the Special Meeting of Monday, July 28, 2025
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by Council President LaCava at 4:58 p.m.
COUNCIL ACTION: Start Time: 4:58 PM