City
San Diego revives sidewalk repair fee waiver that saved property owners thousands
The revived Sidewalk Replacement Expedite program cuts the permit fee from $2,200 to $190 after budget cuts killed the three-year pilot in June, with the Development Services Department saying it can run the program without adding staff.
City audit finds streetlight electricians paid for 198 hours of idle time as repair backlog hits 7,000
The Audit Committee accepted a performance audit Thursday revealing two electricians spent the equivalent of 25 workdays parked at job sites with no documented repairs, while average repair times more than doubled to 340 days.
City Council forced to agree with grand jury: police oversight commission still can't do its job six years after voter mandate
The council voted 5-1 to change its responses from 'disagree in part' to 'agree' on two findings that the Commission on Police Practices lacks investigative capabilities and access to complaint data.
City proposal would let mayor approve naming-rights deals up to $3 million without council vote
The Economic Development Committee unanimously forwarded the changes, which eliminate department-head and volunteer-panel approvals and raise the threshold for council scrutiny from $250,000 to $3 million.
City Council unanimously approves $4.2B Midway Rising redevelopment after seven-hour hearing
The 8-0 vote authorizes 4,254 housing units — half of them income-restricted — a 16,000-seat arena and 14.5 acres of parks on the 48.5-acre Sports Arena site, with the city contributing an estimated $605 million.
Council votes Monday on $4.2B Midway Rising arena and housing deal; budget analyst calls it fair
The special Nov. 9 meeting covers the land deal, zoning and a tax-increment district to repay $370 million in infrastructure costs.
Challenger Martha Abraham leads Councilmember Henry Foster III by 1,779 votes in San Diego's District 4
Unofficial returns show Kent Lee winning a second term in District 6 and newcomers leading for the open District 2 and District 8 seats.
San Diego forecast shows $5.1M surplus for 2028, then shortfalls growing to $62M by 2032
The mayor says the structural deficit is gone; the city's own outlook shows gaps returning once reserves, new facilities and infrastructure debt are counted.
San Diego council votes 9-0 for 45-day data center moratorium, with extension planned
The emergency ordinance halts new and expanded data centers, including pending applications, while the city writes permanent rules.
San Diego council approves flat $11.09 water rate 6-2; low users pay more starting Jan. 1
Foster and Lee voted no as the council replaced tiered prices to comply with the Patz court ruling, cutting bills for the heaviest users.
San Diego's low-water users would pay more under flat rate forced by lawsuit; council votes Tuesday
A single $11.09 rate would replace tiered pricing for homes Jan. 1, raising bills for small users while ratepayers' water fund covers a $40 million settlement.
Midway Rising $4.2 Billion Sports Arena Redevelopment Clears Council Committee Unanimously
The Land Use and Housing Committee advanced the project to the full City Council for a November vote. The plan includes 2,000 affordable homes, a 16,000-seat arena, and 14.5 acres of parks on 48.5 acres of public land.
Mayor Gloria Appoints Bethany Bezak as City's Chief Operating Officer After 20 Months of Direct Oversight
Bezak, currently the city's Chief Performance and Logistics Officer, would oversee day-to-day operations. Council confirmation is scheduled for Monday, the mayor's office said.
San Diego Homelessness Services Up 37% Since 2019, but System Still Short 3,100 Supportive Housing Units
A City Council update showed more people receiving services and longer durations of homelessness, even as unsheltered counts declined for the second straight year. Supportive housing units cost an average of $565,000 each to develop.
City Council Drops October Budget Priority Memos, Reducing Own Input Into $6 Billion Spending Plan
The council is eliminating the early wave of priority requests it sends the mayor each fall, shrinking members' annual budget memos from three rounds to two.
San Diego's $4.2 Billion Midway Rising Deal Heads to Committee Friday; IBA Backs Terms as 'Fair and Reasonable'
The Independent Budget Analyst projects the city would net $38 million to $68 million in today's dollars from a 105-year ground lease of 48.5 acres of public land at the Sports Arena site.
City Council Introduces Ordinance Giving City Attorney Power to Sue Employers Over Wage Theft
The proposal from Councilmembers von Wilpert and Elo-Rivera would add civil enforcement authority city law currently lacks; sick leave provisions would also align with state requirements.
City Auditor: 110 Audit Recommendations Past Due, Including Brush Management and Code Enforcement
The semi-annual follow-up report shows more than half of outstanding audit recommendations remain unimplemented past their deadlines.
San Diego City Council Delays Water Rate Restructuring Vote After Three Members Absent
The proposal to replace tiered water rates with a single unitary rate drew 3,644 written protests; the matter was continued to October 27.
City Council Ratifies El Niño Emergency Declaration, Delays Water Rate Vote to Oct. 27 as Three Members Absent
The 6-0 emergency vote unlocks state and federal assistance tools ahead of a potentially historic storm season; the public hearing on unitary water rates was continued after Council President Joe LaCava determined the votes were not secured.
City Attorney Ferbert Helps Secure $272.5 Million Lyft Settlement for Misclassified Drivers
At least $237 million reserved for California drivers, with millions expected for San Diego workers in the largest misclassification settlement in state history.
City Proposes Switch to Unitary Water Rate After Court Finds Tiered System Violates Prop 218
A public hearing is set for Oct. 6 as San Diego moves to comply with the Patz v. City of San Diego ruling; the city says total revenue will not increase but individual bills could shift.
Newsom Signs Legislation Clearing Path for Midway District, Sports Arena Redevelopment
SB 344 and SB 958 provide CEQA clarity for the $3.9 billion project that promises over 4,000 new homes — including 2,000 affordable units — and a new world-class arena on city-owned land.
City Ends Starlight Bowl Negotiations, Takes Over Management of Historic Balboa Park Venue
Parks Department to secure amphitheater closed since 2010, issue RFP for food vendor after concerns arose about Save Starlight nonprofit's board governance and financial controls.
San Diego Chamber Leads Coalition Against 92% Increase in City Wage Enforcement Fee
Budget Committee unanimously approved the fee hike from $1.47 to $2.82 per employee plus two new fees totaling $2.18 million annually; business groups say the city failed to justify the jump just one year after the fee was created.
Technical Error Overcharges 87,000 San Diego Households on Trash Fee Property Tax Bills
Mayor Todd Gloria called the mistake unacceptable and said corrected bills will arrive before the Nov. 1 deadline; some residents reported overcharges exceeding $1,000.
