Two committees meet this week. The Public Safety Committee holds a special meeting which includes consideration of a contract extension with American Medical Response. The Special Audit committee will hear an audit of the City’s disaster response for the January 2024 floods.

From the Office of Council President Joe LaCava

Special Public Safety Committee Meeting – July 23, 2025 – 9:00 a.m.

Public Safety Committee Meeting Agenda

Information Items/Consent Agenda/Discussion Agenda

Item 1 – Approval of Committee Minutes

Item 2 - San Diego Fire-Rescue Department Annual Surveillance Report (SDMC §210.0102)

This action is to request approval of the continued use of surveillance technology by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (SDFD) under the Transparent and Responsible Use of Surveillance Technology Ordinance (Surveillance Ordinance), related to Unmanned Aircraft System technology (UAS) and the Mission Bay and Ocean Beach (OB) Pier Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) Camera System.

On February 1, 2025, under San Diego Municipal Code section 210.0108, SDFD submitted Annual Surveillance Reports regarding the two existing technologies. The Annual Surveillance Reports were discussed at the Privacy Advisory Board (PAB) meeting on April 17, 2025.

PAB issued a memorandum as follows: 1) affirming its recommendation for the use of the UAS technology without modification to SDFD’s current Use Policy, and 2) affirming its recommendation for use of the UASI Camera System technology with one indicated modification to SDFD’s current Use Policy.

The proposed modification to the UASI Camera System Use Policy specifically addresses the sharing of data with federal law enforcement agencies. SDFD has incorporated these recommended modifications into the updated Use Policy. It is important to note that the UASI Camera System has remained nonoperational since the inception of the Surveillance Ordinance, ensuring SDFD's full compliance with its Use Policy regarding the system.

SDFD anticipates the Camera System will be fully installed and operational within the current calendar year.

Item 3 - Contract Extension with American Medical Response

This item would approve a resolution authorizing a First Amendment to the Sole Source Contract between the City and AMR to extend the term through September 30, 2027, and to increase the not-to-exceed amount by $17,705,341 for a total Contract amount of $28,754,604.

AMR currently provides 72 ALS hours per day, consisting of six ambulances staffed for 12 hours each. These hours are needed to continue meeting the City’s response time goals and maintain a stable EMS system. The two-year contract with AMR is set to expire on September 30, 2025. The City intends to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a new EMS contract and anticipates having a new EMS contract fully executed and in place by September 30, 2027, or earlier.

The modification to the existing AMR contract is necessary to extend the AMR contract term through the issuance of the new RFP or September 30, 2027, whichever occurs first.

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Special Audit Committee Meeting – July 25, 2025 – 10:00 a.m.

Audit Committee Meeting Agenda

Consent Agenda

Item 1 – Approval of Committee Minutes

Item 2 – City Auditor’s Quarterly Fraud Hotline Report

The City Auditor reports the status of Fraud Hotline cases to the Audit Committee on a quarterly basis as required under San Diego Municipal Code § 26.1710 (d)

Item 3 - City Auditor’s Monthly Activity Report

This Monthly Activity Report provides information about the Office of the City Auditor’s activities in June 2025. This includes audit reports issued, the status of current audit projects, and a list of planned audits that have not yet started

Discussion Agenda

Item 4 - Performance Audit of the City’s Disaster Response

On January 22, 2024, a historic storm brought heavy rain to the region, flooding homes and businesses and prompting emergency declarations at local, state, and federal levels. In response, hundreds of personnel from the City of San Diego (City), alongside neighbors, community members, and dozens of community groups, mobilized to address the crisis.

With the frequency of extreme weather events expected to increase, the City must assess the effectiveness of its response to ensure it is prepared to respond to future disasters. The Office of the City Auditor conducted a performance audit and reveals its findings and recommendations.

Item 5 - Citywide Risk Assessment and Audit Work Plan – Fiscal Year 2026

OVERVIEW: Auditing standards encourage an organization’s Chief Audit Executive to establish a risk-based approach for determining audit priorities. In addition, City Charter Section 39.2 requires the City Auditor to annually prepare an Audit Work Plan. This item provides an overview of the City Auditor’s Citywide Risk Assessment and Proposed Audit Work Plan for Fiscal Year 2026.

Item 6 - Review and Approve a Request for Proposals for Independent Legal Counsel for the Office of the City Auditor and the Audit Committee

On March 5, 2024 over 67 percent of voters approved Measure A, which amended the City Charter to provide the Office of the City Auditor (OCA) and the Audit Committee with access to independent legal counsel in certain circumstances.

On May 22, 2025, the City Council approved amendments to the San Diego Municipal Code to implement Measure A and establish processes for the retention and use of independent legal counsel. In consultation with the Audit Committee’s Ad Hoc Subcommittee for Implementation of Measure A, the Office of the City Attorney, and the Purchasing and Contracting Department, OCA has drafted a Request for Proposal (RFP) for independent legal counsel for the Office of the City Auditor and the Audit Committee for the Committee’s consideration.

Once the Audit Committee approves the RFP, OCA will continue with the procurement process consistent with City contracting procedures, and present a proposed contract to the Audit Committee, to be forwarded to the City Council for approval.

Closed Session Agenda

Item 7 - Reappointment of Mr. Andy Hanau to a Second Term as City Auditor

In closed session, the Audit Committee will consider the reappointment of Mr. Andy Hanau to serve a second five-year term as City Auditor. Mr. Hanau was appointed by City Council as City Auditor on November 10, 2020, and his term is set to expire on November 10, 2025.

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