This Week at City Hall
The San Diego Community Coalition publishes this email bulletin to keep our members and the San Diego public informed about important Council and Planning Commission hearings and other city public meetings.
Monday, March 16: City Council, 2:00 p.m.
Item 200: City of San Diego Crime Briefing, January-December 2025
Why it matters: In keeping with national trends, crime reporting news is almost all good: hate crimes down 32%, motor vehicle thefts down 22%, non-fatal shootings down 21%, robberies down 11%. The bad news: “Violent gang activity has increased,” and arrests of documented gang members was up 20%.
Item 201: Determine/Declare Posted Speed Limits Throughout the City, Vision Zero Update, Speed Management Plan
Why it matters: As we’re reported before, our cash-starved City is spending $2.4 million on installing new street signs to reduce speed limits from 25 MPH to 20 MPH. That performative gesture will not slow down speeding traffic. So what will? Greater enforcement of existing speed limits, which is where this money should be spent.
Item 202: Appeal of the Environmental Determination for 710 Garnet Streetary Project (710 Beach Club)
Why it matters: The appeal lists this bar’s long record of noxious impacts – hundreds of noise complaints, parking congestion – and concludes, “This city is getting a reputation for not listening to and ignoring the needs of its citizens. This is an opportunity to listen to strong arguments and the historic pleas for relief of nearby residents from an abusive situation. It is time to listen and act appropriately and remove the exemption.”
Tuesday, March 17: City Council, 10:00 a.m.
Item 101: Reappointment to the San Diego Unified Port District Board of Commissioners
Why it matters: Michael Zucchet, head of the San Diego Municipal Employees Association and former Councilmember, joined the Port Commission in 2017. This reappointment requires a waiver to Council Policy governing appointments. Why? Is there a scarcity of capable candidates?
Tuesday, March 17: Audit Committee, 2:00 p.m.
Item 330: Senate Bill 79 Phased Implementation and Exempting Specified Areas
[This item was pulled for unexplained reasons.]
Why it matters: Like the rest of California, San Diego must now begin implementing the density-on-steroids SB 79. The staff report on this item states that the city will “comprehensively address fire safety, fair housing, historic resources, climate resiliency, neighborhood scale, and related considerations prior to broader implementation.”
Wednesday, March 18: Rules Committee, 9:00 a.m.
Item 2: Amendments to the Rules of Council Governing Public Comment During Council Meetings
Why it matters: This is intended to comply with Senate Bill 707 to modernize the Brown Act in an age of growing telecom sophistication. To include equal time for in-person and virtual speakers, the proposal includes:
- A notice will indicate whether public comment will be allotted 1 minute of 2 minutes per speaker
- Organized presentations will be taken before individual comment and must be 15 minutes or less, Presenters must give 24-hour notice to the City Clerk. Electronic presentation materials must be provided 2 hours in advance.
- Finally, “proposed amendments will provide for recording closed sessions [to] eliminate the requirement of costly transcriptions.” Audiotapes are less accessible than written transcripts, which can be searchable and excerpted. This keeps the public at a greater remove from Council deliberations.
Item 3: Review of Ballot Measure Proposals for the November 2026 Election
Why it matters: A measure proposed by Councilmember Raul Campillo would establish free parking at beaches and bays in the City of San Diego. The measure states, “Ensuring equitable public access to these coastal resources remains an important component of the City’s commitment to maintaining a high quality of life for San Diegans.”
Wednesday, March 18: Community and Neighborhood Community Services Committee, 2:00 p.m.
Item 4: Resolution in Support of AB 2525 Surplus Lands, Mission Bay
Why it matters: The City Charter prohibits housing development in Mission Bay Park. But the State Surplus Land Act requires the city to prioritize affordable housing in Mission Bay Park to lease certain park properties for a period that exceeds 15 years. To ensure that housing is not allowed, Assemblymember Chris Ward has introduced this legislation to exempt Mission Bay Park from the Surplus Land Act.
Thursday, March 19: Planning Commission, 9:00 a.m.
Item 1: 2906 University Avenue – Project No. 1105210
Why it matters: This is a proposal to demolish nearly all of a dedicated historic resource, the Edward and Emma Newman Building. The developer would preserve two facades and construct a seven-story mid-rise with 92 dwelling units, 16 of them affordable. The staff report notes that the “proposed massing, size, scale, and proportion” of the added six stories “in relation to the historic resource is not consistent with the Secretary of the Interior’s standards.”
Thursday, March 19: Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, 1:00 p.m.
Item 3: Information Item on the Broadband Master Plan
Why it matters: Staff report notes that “while broadband services are widely available in San Diego, service affordability remains the primary barrier for residents. In specific areas of the city, residents lack choice in internet service providers due to a lack of competition. The report emphasizes targeted strategies to lower broadband subscription costs and increase provider competition.”
In-person: Council, 202 C St. Commission, 7650 Mission Valley Rd.
To participate via Zoom and submit written comments, click on the meeting agenda and look for the links.
On Thursday morning, March 19, 2026 the City of San Diego Planning Commission is holding a workshop on the Mid-City Communities Plan Update (MCCPU), which includes the four communities of Normal Heights, Kensington-Talmadge, Eastern Area, and City Heights. The agenda can be found at: https://www.sandiego.gov/planning-commission/documents/agenda. David Moty (Chair, Kensington-Talmadge Planning Group) wrote an article about the MCCPU that includes background and recommendations about the plan update, and instructions regarding how to make public comments in writing or in-person: https://www.neighborsforabettersandiego.org/
ITEM 3: MID-CITY COMMUNITIES PLAN UPDATE WORKSHOP
Staff: Alex Frost
City Council District: 4,9
Plan Area: City Heights, Eastern Area, Kensington-Talmadge, Normal Heights
This is a workshop for the Planning Commission to provide input on the Mid-City Communities Plan Update Draft Ideas Report, Draft Planned Pedestrian and Bicycle Networks, Corridor Concept Analysis, and Phase 2 Public Engagement Summary.
No action is required on the part of the Planning Commission at this time.
This activity is not considered a “project” by the definition set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15378. Report No. PC-26-007 Attachment 1: Mid-City Planning Area and Neighborhoods Attachment 2: Village Climate Goal Propensity Map Attachment 3-10
PROPOSED ACTION A workshop is to be given. The Planning Commission will take no action.
Susan, we reposted your comment as an article and also reposted Dave Moty’s entire article.