The People’s Business – April 21, 2026
Three committees meet this week. Rules Committee will make an initial review of a ballot measure that proposes a Large Portfolio Homeownership Speculation Tax. Community and Neighborhood Services will vote on accepting donation from the San Diego Parks Foundation. Active Transportation and Infrastructure will amend the municipal code to increase the work limit by City Forces for public works projects.
From the Office of Council President Joe LaCava
Rules Committee Meeting – April 22, 2026 – 9 a.m.
Rules Committee Meeting Agenda
Item 1 – Approval of Committee Minutes
Item 2 - Amendments to the San Diego Municipal Code Chapter 2, Article 7, Division 1 related to the San Diego Unified School District Board of Education district primary elections
In November 2024, the voters approved a San Diego Charter amendment to amend Charter section 66 to eliminate the primary election for San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) Board of Education seats when two or fewer candidates, including qualified write-in candidates, file for a particular office.
These changes to the San Diego Municipal Code (Municipal Code) are clean up to align it to the changes in the Charter section and the existing practices of the Registrar under the Education Code.
Item 3 - Initial Committee Review of a Ballot Measure proposed by Council President Pro Tem Kent Lee to Advance a Large-Portfolio Homeownership Speculation Tax
This item is the first consideration of a proposed ballot measure regarding a tax on large-portfolio owners of homes that could be purchased by families — but are instead operated as rental units. This item is the initial discussion of a proposed ballot measure submitted in accordance with Council Policy 000-21 by the March 6, 2026, deadline for consideration for the November 2026 primary election.
This measure was submitted on time, but for meeting management purposes, was scheduled to be heard at the April Rules Committee meeting.
Item 4 - Resolution affirming the City of San Diego’s commitment to limit greenhouse gas emissions
On February 12, 2026, the Trump Administration finalized the rescission of the EPA’s 2009 Endangerment Finding, the scientific finding that established that current and projected concentrations of six well-mixed greenhouse gases (GHG) threaten the public health and welfare of current and future generations, and that emissions from motor vehicles cause and contribute to climate change.
The Endangerment Finding was based on more than 200 pages of research and evidence including decades of research done by scientists globally and Supreme Court precedent. The repeal of this finding is expected to increase the country’s GHG emissions by 10 percent over the next 30 years, according to the Environmental Defense Fund.
The proposed resolution upholds the City’s Climate Action Plan goals.
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Community and Neighborhood Services Committee Meeting - April 22, 2026 – 2 p.m.
Community and Neighborhood Services Committee Meeting Agenda
Item 1 – Approval of Committee Minutes
Item 2 - Acceptance of donations from the San Diego Parks Foundation during Fiscal Year 2025
During Fiscal Year 2025, the City of San Diego received in-kind donations from the San Diego Parks Foundation that supported recreation programs, community events, and park improvement projects in City parks, with a primary focus on historically underserved communities.
These in-kind contributions advanced the City’s equity goals by prioritizing investments in Communities of Concern, reducing barriers to participation, and improving access to safe, high-quality parks, programs, and community experiences for historically underserved populations.
Council Policy 100-02 requires City Council approval for donations with an aggregate value of $250,000 or greater. The total value of in-kind donations received from the San Diego Parks Foundation during FY 2025 is $1,875,500
Item 3 - Presentation by the San Diego River Conservancy
The San Diego River Conservancy is an independent, non-regulatory state agency established to preserve, restore, and enhance the San Diego River watershed.
The Conservancy also administers a grant program, with the Governing Board awarding approximately $5 million biennially for local assistance projects that conserve land, improve ecosystem services, reduce fire risk, and implement nature-based solutions. City of San Diego Strategic Plan.
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Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Meeting – April 23, 2026 – 1 p.m.
Item 1 – Approval of Committee Minutes
Item 2 - Request for an Extension of the obligations of Construction Contract #K-21-1966-DBB-3 with Burtech Pipeline, Inc., beyond five years to June 14, 2027, for the Construction of Sewer Group 843 project
This council action is to request an extension of the obligations of the Construction Contract #K-21-1966- DBB-3 with Burtech Pipeline, Inc. for the construction of the Sewer Group 843 project. Per Article VII, Section 99 of the City of San Diego Charter: “No contract, agreement or obligation extending for a period of more than five years may be authorized except by Ordinance adopted by a two-thirds’ majority vote of the members elected to the Council”.
This Council action will approve an ordinance to extend the contract above by an additional 12 months. No additional funding is requested as part of this item.
Item 3 - Request for authority to accept, appropriate, and expend additional Highway Safety Improvement Program Grant Funds for the B-19056 Torrey Pines Road (Prospect Place to Coast Walk) Guardrail Project
This action will authorize the Mayor or his designee to enter into a grant agreement to accept, appropriate and expend grant funding for B-19056 Torrey Pines Road (Prospect Place to Coast Walk) Guardrail project to support the construction phase. This action increases the construction phase grant amount by $281,300.00.
Item 4 - Acceptance of Highway Bridge Program Grant, and Agreement with Santa Fe Irrigation District for The El Camino Real to Via De LaValle (1/2 mile) Project
The Engineering & Capital Projects Department (E&CP) is requesting Council authorization for the El Camino Real to Via De LaValle (1/2 mile) Project as follows: Action to authorize the Mayor or his designee to apply for and enter into a grant agreement to accept, appropriate and expend grant funding for El Camino Real to Via De LaValle (1/2 mile) project, WBS S-00856, for the purposes of Engineering and Construction.
Item 5 - Request Approval of a Second Amendment to the Consultant Agreement (H186974) with Kleinfelder Inc. for Extension of Professional Services During the Construction of Lakeside Valve Station Replacement Project
This item is to request approval of a Second Amendment to the Consultant Agreement with Kleinfelder Inc., extending the contract term by 18 months for continuing support services during the construction phase of Lakeside Valve Station (LVS) Replacement Project.
Discussion Agenda
Item 6 - Amendment to the Municipal Code Section 22.3105 to Increase the Work Limit by City Forces on Public Works Projects
This action will authorize an amendment to the San Diego City Municipal Code Section 22.3105 to increase the cost threshold for use of City Forces on public works projects without City Council approval from $500,000 to $30,000,000 to be consistent with current requirements for private contracting.
Item 7 - Award of Design-Build Phase-Funded Contract Agreement K-26-2318-DB2-3-C with Hensel Phelps Construction Co. for the Alvarado Laboratory Improvements and Trailer Project
This item is to request City Council approval to award a phase-funded design-build agreement in an amount not to exceed $151,966,015.00 with Hensel Phelps Construction Co. for the design and construction of the Alvarado Laboratory Improvements and Trailer project; and to authorize expenditure of $12,000,000.00 for Phase 1, which includes the permitting and fabrication of the trailers and the design of the Alvarado Laboratory.
Item 8 - Award a Consultant Agreement, Contract #H2526737-M, with New City Consulting Inc. for the purpose of providing professional construction management services during the design and construction of the Alvarado Laboratory Improvements and Trailer Project
The purpose of this item is to request City Council approval of a Resolution to award a construction management contract to New City Consulting Inc. for professional construction management services (H2526737-M) during the design and construction of the Alvarado Laboratory Improvements project, L22000, for an amount not to exceed $6,064,319.00.
Item 9 - Approve project list to be funded by the Fiscal Year 2027 Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA) Funds
This item would approve the list of Fiscal Year 2027 projects to be funded by the Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account, authorize six slurry seal construction contracts, and authorize the use of City Forces and funding allocations for additional roadway maintenance and safety improvements.
Information Agenda
Item 10 - Pavement Management Plan Annual Update
In January 2024, the Transportation Department developed the City’s first comprehensive Pavement Management Plan (PMP), establishing a data-driven framework to assess current street conditions and guide long-term investment strategies.
The PMP summarized the condition of the City’s street network, outlined pavement management practices, and identified funding needs to achieve and sustain an average Pavement Condition Index (PCI) of 70. The PMP was first introduced at the January 24, 2024, Active Transportation & Infrastructure Committee meeting.
Item 11 - Information Item on the Broadband Master Plan
This information item will provide insight into the City’s Broadband Master Plan (BBMP) effort. Selected consultant Columbia Telecommunications Corporation (CTC) utilized a data-driven approach to study San Diego’s internet access landscape.
Through a comprehensive report and implementation plan, CTC provides actionable recommendations to expand affordable, high-quality internet access and digital equity initiatives. They also define locations of highest need as Digital Equity Priority Areas to be targets for future resource allocation and investment.
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