San Diego · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in San Diego public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Fiscal Year 2027 budget and rising costs
The city is facing a budget squeeze from rising fuel, construction, and insurance costs while revenues lag. The May Revision hearing on the FY 2027 draft budget was pushed to May 27, delaying the public's chance to weigh in.
Rental assistance family contribution increases
A resident testified that emergency housing voucher holders, including herself, received letters saying their subsidies end November 30, potentially leaving over 1,600 people unhoused.
Trash fee on the property tax roll
The Council adopted the report putting the city's new trash fee on 2026-27 property tax bills. Only three owners protested, far short of the majority needed to block it. The fee varies by container size, with financial assistance covering 50 to 100 percent for qualifying households.
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.
Labor negotiations with city employee unions
The council met in closed session to set its position on contract talks with six unions representing city workers. Union speakers asked for equity adjustments and fair treatment; residents debated raises amid the budget deficit.
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.
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.
$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.
Golf course lease oversight
An audit found the city collects just $3.7 million in rent from leased golf courses whose operators earn $34 million, with Fairbanks Ranch paying only 5% of revenue. A 41% rent increase at Fairbanks Ranch is now in effect, and councilmembers want more staffing and transparency in real estate asset management.
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.
Sole-source extension of OpenGov pavement management contract
The Transportation Department wanted five more years with its pavement software without shopping the market, and the budget analyst called foul. The council sent it back, demanding an RFI and answers about why competitive review was skipped.
HHAP Round 6 homelessness funding
The city accepted nearly $26 million in state homelessness funding, mostly for shelter operations, with councilmembers pressing for input on future rounds.
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.
Housing Commission layoffs and federal funding cuts
A resident testified that emergency housing voucher holders, including herself, received letters saying their subsidies end November 30, potentially leaving over 1,600 people unhoused.
Homelessness funding oversight committee appointments
The revision adds $4.9 million to keep shelters and prevention programs running after state funding expired, but cuts $3.8 million from other homelessness services including safe parking and the Neil Good Day Center.
FY 2027 budget adoption
The council must adopt a balanced budget for next year amid a structural deficit of roughly $15 million and an $8 billion infrastructure backlog. The fight centered on whether to restore library, rec center and arts funding — and whether to pay for it by canceling the Flock surveillance contract.
Utility affordability state legislation
The council backed ten state bills aimed at utility affordability and accountability as San Diegans pay the nation's highest electricity rates — about 45 cents per kilowatt-hour — and SDG&E seeks $3.8 billion more starting 2028.
Maintenance assessment district annual reports
Property owners in 64 districts across the city pay extra assessments for landscaping, cleaning, and beautification above city baseline services. The council approved the FY2027 reports keeping those districts funded.
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.
Solid Waste Fee Reduction
Trash fees drop for 2028 and 2029 — the 95-gallon bundle goes to $38.75 then $39.91 a month — under the litigation settlement. The catch: the city will subsidize the gap with up to $22 million from the recycling fund plus $10-11 million from the general fund each year, and weekly recycling and bulky item pickup are deferred.
Elimination of arts and culture funding
The Mayor's budget zeroes out roughly $12 million in arts and culture grants, and the May Revision does not restore them. Hundreds of artists, organizations, and union workers testified that this would gut programs serving every district and cost the city tourism revenue.
Mary Brown et al. v. Joe LaCava et al. litigation
The city is defending a lawsuit that names Council President LaCava as a defendant. Commenters urged a settlement, saying the plaintiffs appear likely to prevail and that the city should honor the fee terms voters saw on the ballot.
FY 2027 salary ordinance and executive car allowances
Councilmembers balked at a $475/month car allowance for the mayor's deputy chief of staff while libraries and park programs face cuts. The ordinance was returned to staff to avoid a charter deadline violation, with a fix expected June 16.
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.