San Diego · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in San Diego public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Cannabis business tax collections audit
The FY2025 financial report shows a $414.6 million general fund balance and a clean audit — good news for the city's credit rating and borrowing costs as budget deficits loom.
Gliderport lease and city facility revenue
Long-running dispute over gliderport fees, insurance requirements and access; residents pushed for a recreational waiver and a city park advisory board, citing a supporting letter from the La Jolla Shores Association.
Outside legal counsel spending
The council raised the cap on five outside law firms by $1 million each — over $12 million total for those firms. Councilmember Foster voted no, and a speaker urged an audit of the city attorney's outside-counsel spending.
Flatiron West settlement accountability
The city paid $2.5 million to settle a contractor's claim that city delays drove up costs on the West Mission Bay Bridge. Public speakers demanded accountability for the delays and questioned whether anyone at City Hall is ever held responsible.
$48.3 Million Vehicle Fleet Financing
The city is borrowing to pay for 213 vehicles and equipment already on order. Councilmembers fought over the 7% interest rate ceiling, with critics calling it too high and lacking protections against overpaying.
Litigation settlements costing taxpayers
Residents flagged more than $57 million in settlements approved on the consent agenda, including $40 million tied to water rates and $10 million for the La Jolla Terrace slope damage, arguing the city must prevent the negligence behind them.
Independent legal counsel for the City Auditor
The council approved a contract letting the City Auditor hire outside legal counsel, fulfilling Measure A, which 67% of voters passed.
Trash cart contract and RFID spending
The council extended the Rehrig Pacific trash cart contract by $3 million to fund RFID readers, with two councilmembers voting no over procurement and cost concerns. Residents questioned how the cart program grew from $3 million to $106 million.
November 2026 Ballot Proposals Pipeline
Measure A, the non-primary homes tax, failed in June with 53% against. The council called the November 3 general election, where Councilmembers Foster, Lee, and Campbell face voters.
Wage ordinance enforcement authority (Item S505)
The council moved wage-law enforcement (living wage, prevailing wage, minimum wage) into the City Attorney's office, matching a budget decision to shift the Office of Labor Standards and Enforcement there to save general fund money.
FY2027 Downtown PBID budget
Downtown property owners fund about $15.4 million in extra clean and safe services — trash removal, power washing, safety ambassadors — beyond what the city provides. The council renewed this for another year.
Short-Term Borrowing for Cash Flow
The city will borrow up to $340 million in short-term notes to cover cash flow gaps next fiscal year — the first such borrowing since 2013 — largely because reserves are drained and the pension payment comes due July 1.
Litigation over federal grant funding cuts
The city is part of a lawsuit challenging executive orders blocking federal grant funding. The council received a closed-session update and sought direction on the case.
City Litigation Posture (Closed Session)
The council took up seven litigation matters in closed session, including the trash fee Proposition 218 challenge and storm drain injury cases, and voted to join two class actions that could recover money for the city.
City internal financial controls
The city's annual internal controls report says everything is effective — clean audit opinion, eleventh straight GFOA award. But several residents and councilmembers noted the tension with the audit findings presented just before it.
City KPI performance audit
The city auditor found San Diego barely uses its key performance indicators when making budget decisions — only 1 of 7 council offices and 9 of 27 departments routinely use them. Goals are inconsistently defined as aspirational or realistic, making them hard to compare. Five recommendations were made and management agreed to all.
Neighborhood nonprofit grant funding
Council districts 3, 4 and 7 directed $287,000 total to local nonprofits serving seniors, youth, homeless services and more — with demand up because of federal cuts.
City Hall security after protest damage
Council President LaCava said damage from a protest at the Mayor's office will likely force the city to spend money on building security during an already tight budget year.