By Sue Taylor
Jack McGrory was City Manager during some of the early pension decisions, including the 1996 agreement often cited as a starting point in the City’s pension problems, but he was not City Manager when the financial and disclosure issues later came to light.
Those problems involved many players over a number of years, including elected officials, the pension board, labor and City leadership. After that crisis, San Diego put major safeguards in place, including the independent Audit Committee, a stronger independent City Auditor, tighter budget, reserve and debt policies, stronger pension oversight, more rigorous financial disclosure rules, and greater transparency and public reporting.
So, the City operates today with far more financial oversight, audits, checks and reporting requirements than existed during that era.
I think those safeguards would make a City Manager form of government even stronger today than it was in the past because it would allow a trained administrator to handle the day-to-day operation of the City while operating within a much tighter framework of oversight, accountability and financial controls than before. The changes have already been made to make that work better.
Also, if you happen to get a bad City Manager, he/she can be let go by the Mayor and Council at any time. If you get a bad mayor, you are pretty much stuck for at least four years or maybe eight if you can’t wake up the electorate to the issue. Recalls never happen though people talk about them.
McGrory at Mission Valley Library, Sat., June 20
Jack McGrory, a former city manager for San Diego, will share his thoughts at a town hall forum on “Why We Need a City Manager and Other Insights” on Saturday, June 20, from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Mission Valley Library, 2123 Fenton Parkway.
Sponsored by the San Diego Community Coalition (SDCC) and Neighbors for a Better San Diego (NFABSD), the forum is the fifth in a series of question-and-answer sessions on important civic issues.
These events are free and open to the public, but seating is limited.
On Wednesday 06/24/2026 the City Council Rules Committee will hearing Item-7 from Council Member Kent Lee for his proposed Ballot Measure for City Charter Amendment that will change the current “Strong Mayor form of government,” into the “Strong Mayor and Strong City Council form of government.”
https://tinyurl.com/20260624
I also thought we originally voted for the “Strong Mayor and Strong City Council form of government.” With these proposed City Charter changes power will be moved from the Mayor’s office to the City Council.
06/24/2026 Rules Committee. Item-7 Kent Lee’s Ballot Measure. See Page 24.
“MEASURE ___. FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND OVERSIGHT
CHARTER AMENDMENTS. Shall the City Charter be amended to establish
minimum funding for the City Auditor, Clerk, Commission on Police
Practices, Ethics Commission, and Independent Budget Analyst, remove the
Auditor’s term limits, authorize the Council to initiate budget amendments
during the fiscal year, mandate the Mayor appoint a Chief Operating
Officer accountable to the Mayor and Council, add the Chief Operating
Officer’s duties and employment conditions, and make related amendments?”
Yes? Or No?
Page 7 of Rules Agenda Item-7 attached stated that the Ordinance is not subject to the Mayor’s Veto. Great news.
Pages 9 and 10 state that Unclassified Service employees, not in City Unions can be fired and removed at any time. without appeal. Great news. I always thought this is the case as is. Now Mayor Gloria cannot pretend they cannot be fired on the spot.
Page 17 discusses the City Council ability to be part of the Mid-Year Budget Amendments.
“(h) The Council shall, by ordinance, consistent with the Charter, establish the conditions under which the Mayor, Council, or both, may propose, discuss, and implement mid-fiscal year amendments to the City’s adopted fiscal year budget.”
Page 17 also get rid and delete of Section 72.”
To be deleted [SECTION 72: MID-YEAR AMENDMENT TO ANNUAL BUDGET
The Council shall by ordinance set forth the terms and conditions under which the Mayor must propose mid-year amendments to the annual budget.]
Page 17. Section 73 transfer of appropriations and fund balances at any time from the control of the Strong Mayor to the control of the Stronger City Council.
Page 18. Requirement for a Chief Operating Officer (COO).
Pages 19 and 20. Some of the Strong Mayor’s “sole authority” will be taken away.
Pages 20 and 21. COO Qualifications and Removal Procedures.
Page 22. Requires the COO or their designee, as part of the Mayor’s Office to attend every City Council Meeting to respond to questions at the public hearings. Great news.
Page 23. No City Council member can coerce the COO to fire and remove any Classified Service employee protected by the Unions.
Page 23. (i) The Council may consider a mid-fiscal year amendment to the City’s adopted budget under Charter section 69.
Page 24. Ballot Language with 50%+ Majority voter approval required.
Page 25. If approved by voter the Ordinance will be in effect immediately on November 3, 2026, or when approved by the Registrar of Voters.
I would vote yes on Kent Lee’s Ballot Measure and take away financial power from our Strong Mayor Todd Gloria and instead give it to the equally Strong City Council, to create a new Strong Mayor and Strong City Council form of government, as originally envisioned when we first vote 22 years ago on Proposition F in November 2004.
If Kent Lee’s ballot measure passes, a change to the former City Manager form of government that put the City in financial peril may not be needed.