Councilmember· 2024-04-08–2026-12-10
Henry L. Foster III
San Diego
No biography on file yet.
Voice
- Meetings spoken in
- 51
- Total speaking time
- 7:22:20
- Avg per meeting
- 8:40
- Segments
- 4607
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Top issues during term (20)
data center moratorium
It could slow down tech investments in the short term, but it might save taxpayers from footing the bill for strained power and water grids later.
Police surveillance technology (Flock/ALPR)
$377,274.16 donated, no general fund cost.
June 2, 2026 municipal elections
The election is budgeted at about $1.76 million from the general fund.
Midway Rising ground lease negotiations
Lease terms for a major redevelopment of city-owned land are under negotiation.
Community Action Plan on Homelessness update
The city is spending heavily across the system — from about $7,700 per household for prevention to over $560,000 per unit to build new supportive housing.
10509 Vista Sorrento Parkway project appeal
January 22, 2024 flooding litigation
Nearly $4 million settlement plus the Patriot wastewater contract; future infrastructure failures could cost more.
Labor standards enforcement funding
Expected to reduce the general fund impact of the labor standards office through city attorney grant and penalty funds.
Tijuana sewage emergency
No direct cost attached to the declaration itself, but the underlying crisis drives major water infrastructure spending.
Affordable Housing Fund performance and volatile fee collections
Up to $8.5 million in developer-paid Neighborhood Enhancement Fees redirected to buying and preserving affordable housing.
Fiscal Year 2027 budget and rising costs
The city says every one-cent gas price increase adds $10,000 a month to its fuel bill.
El Niño emergency preparedness
The declaration itself has no price tag, but it unlocks faster spending and contracting when storms hit.
Temporary moratorium on data centers
Residents fear data centers would drive up already-high SDG&E bills and consume water in a drought; the city says the pause itself costs nothing.
Water rate restructuring after Pats ruling
Future water rate increases of roughly 5-15% per year are baked into the outlook, and the June election carries a $1.76 million budget.
La Jolla Cove sea lion protection
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
The city funds domestic violence programs and interim housing for survivors through its annual budget.
Mira Mesa Senior Center parking lot repairs
Repair cost not yet estimated; speakers cited an $11 million facilities fund and a $1 million community fund as funding sources.
Mission Bay Park Improvements Program
No cost for this action itself — projects will be funded later through the Mission Bay Park Improvement Fund from lease revenues.
November 2026 Ballot Proposals Pipeline
Election costs about $2.3 million from the General Fund; the failed measure would have raised an estimated $100 million annually.
Chief Operating Officer appointment of Bethany Bezak
Bezak's starting salary is $460,000 — about $541,000 in total compensation — which some residents criticized given budget strains.
Decisions during term (531)
Recorded while III was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
Proclamation items 30, S500, S501, S505
S510: Temporary Moratorium on Data Center Development
Item 330: Water rate adjustments to unitary structure
S506: $5M affordable housing loan for The Joule
S507: $5M affordable housing loan for Salvation Army Rady Center Phase II
Approval of Consent Agenda (Items 600-614)
Item 601 — Ordinance Prohibiting Smoking and Vaping in Outdoor Dining Areas
Item 604 — Wage Theft Ordinance Amendments
Item 613 — Revisions to Council Policy 100-03 (Arts and Culture Funding)
Item 609 — Appointment of Chris Kalstran to the Community Forestry Advisory Board
Item 610 — Continued State of Emergency, Tijuana River Valley Pollution
Item 611 — Wastewater Treatment Contract with Patriot
Item 612 — Declaration of 4069 30th Street as Surplus Land
Item 607 — Settlement of La Jolla Terrace HOA Litigation (~$4 million)
Item 608 — Litigation Settlement ($250,000)
OLSE cost recovery fees (Item 200)
Initiate overrule of Airport Land Use Commission on MCAS Miramar childcare provision (Item 201)
Proclamation items 30-32, S500, S502, S504
Consent agenda: items 10, 60, 100-104, S501, S503
Approval of Council Minutes.
Voting record (360)
Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.
Item 330: Water rate adjustments to unitary structure
Approval of Consent Agenda (Items 600-614)
Confirmation of Bethany Bezak as City Manager (Chief Operating Officer) — R-2027-107
Item 200 — Clean Water SRF Loan for Pump Station 2 (O-2027-13 / R-2027-69)
Item 201 — Drinking Water SRF Loan for El Monte Pipeline No. 2 (O-2027-12 / R-2027-70)
Item 330: Procedural motion that legal objections do not warrant changes to proposed water rates
He criticized the protest-notification process as failing to empower the public.
Item 330: Continuance of water rate hearing to October 27
He wanted to press forward and had raised process and affordability concerns.
Item 103: Increases to outside legal services agreements
Uncomfortable increasing outside counsel spending without seeing how the city is mitigating its liabilities.
Consent agenda (Items 10, 50-62, 100-112)
Opposed the military equipment item, waste cart contract, and Patz settlement.
Consent agenda (Items 10-114, S501-S504, S510-S511)
Opposed the trash-cart RFID contract extension
S506: Water rate adjustment — accept Stantec Memorandum, set Proposition 218 hearing
Believed the rate shift disproportionately harms under-resourced districts and that communication to the public was inadequate
S400: SDPD Military Equipment Use Procedure and AB 481 Renewal (O-2026-150)
Believed the AB 481 30-day posting requirement was not met before the community meeting
Consent agenda including e-bike safety ordinance S501 and committee appointments
Opposed replacing a certified Black woman-owned business with a non-certified firm at double the cost on Item 50.
Item 704: Approval of the City's FY 2027 Budget
Consent Agenda (Items 603-619, 621-627, 636-638, 642)
Opposed replacing a Black woman-owned firm with a non-certified firm at more than double the cost.
CONSENT MOTION BY VIVIAN MORENO TO ADOPT.
MOTION BY JOE LACAVA TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION IN SUBITEM A DENYING THE APPEAL AND AFFIRMING PLANNING COMMISSION’S DECISION TO GRANT THE PERMITS; AND ADOPT THE RESOLUTION IN SUBITEM B DENYING THE APPEAL
MOTION BY VIVIAN MORENO TO APPROVE.
CONSENT MOTION BY VIVIAN MORENO TO APPROVE.
MOTION BY VIVIAN MORENO TO APPROVE.
MOTION BY VIVIAN MORENO TO APPROVE.
CONSENT MOTION BY VIVIAN MORENO TO ADOPT.
MOTION BY VIVIAN MORENO TO APPROVE.
MOTION BY VIVIAN MORENO TO APPROVE.
CONSENT MOTION BY VIVIAN MORENO TO ADOPT.
MOTION BY VIVIAN MORENO TO APPROVE.
CONSENT MOTION BY VIVIAN MORENO TO ADOPT.
MOTION BY VIVIAN MORENO TO APPROVE.
MOTION BY VIVIAN MORENO TO APPROVE.
CONSENT MOTION BY VIVIAN MORENO TO ADOPT.
MOTION BY VIVIAN MORENO TO APPROVE.
MOTION BY VIVIAN MORENO TO APPROVE.
MOTION BY JOE LACAVA TO DISPENSE WITH THE READING AND ADOPT THE ORDINANCE.
CONSENT MOTION BY VIVIAN MORENO TO ADOPT.
MOTION BY VIVIAN MORENO TO APPROVE.
Approval of Council Minutes (Items 10A-B)
Proclamations approved (Items 30-32, 34-38, S500-S502)
Item 100: Talmadge Banner District established
Item 101: FAA grant drawdowns for city airports
Item 102: $1.5 million wildfire prevention grant accepted
Item 103: $1.875 million in Parks Foundation donations accepted
Item 104: Conflict of Interest Codes biennial review
Item S505: Highway Bridge Program grant and Santa Fe Irrigation District agreement
Item S504: FY 2027 Salary Ordinance adopted 5-2
Opposed on precedent grounds regarding selective compliance with the charter timeline