Council rejects Closed Session — Authorization to Initiate Litigation, 0–2

Closed Session — Authorization to Initiate Litigation

0 yes, 2 no

Jim Desmond (no), Joel Anderson (no)

Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to evaluate Assembly Bill 518, the Low-Impact Camping Areas Act, and return to the Board within 180 days with options for implementation that take into consider

5 yes, 0 no

Monica Montgomery Steppe (yes), Terra Lawson-Remer (yes), Paloma Aguirre (yes), Joel Anderson (yes), Jim Desmond (yes)

authorized County Counsel to initiate litigation

0 yes, 2 no

Joel Anderson (no), Jim Desmond (no)

Post-employment lobbying and prediction-market rules (Item 24)

5 yes, 0 no

Joel Anderson (yes), Jim Desmond (yes), Monica Montgomery Steppe (yes), Terra Lawson-Remer (yes), Paloma Aguirre (yes)

Low-Impact Camping Areas Act (AB 518) implementation options (Item 28)

5 yes, 0 no

Monica Montgomery Steppe (yes), Terra Lawson-Remer (yes), Paloma Aguirre (yes), Joel Anderson (yes), Jim Desmond (yes)

Sheriff ASO pass-through payment model (Item 23)

5 yes, 0 no

Jim Desmond (yes), Joel Anderson (yes), Monica Montgomery Steppe (yes), Terra Lawson-Remer (yes), Paloma Aguirre (yes)

Safety Net Bridge Pilot Program (Item 21)

5 yes, 0 no

Joel Anderson (yes), Terra Lawson-Remer (yes), Paloma Aguirre (yes), Monica Montgomery Steppe (yes), Jim Desmond (yes)

Alpine road vacation (Item 16, Resolution 26-128)

5 yes, 0 no

Monica Montgomery Steppe (yes), Joel Anderson (yes), Terra Lawson-Remer (yes), Paloma Aguirre (yes), Jim Desmond (yes)

Central Jail renovation change order (Item 7)

5 yes, 0 no

Monica Montgomery Steppe (yes), Joel Anderson (yes), Terra Lawson-Remer (yes), Paloma Aguirre (yes), Jim Desmond (yes)

Workers' Rights Enforcement Grant (Item 4)

4 yes, 1 no

Jim Desmond (no), Joel Anderson (yes), Monica Montgomery Steppe (yes), Terra Lawson-Remer (yes), Paloma Aguirre (yes)

Approval of Statements of Proceedings/Minutes (Oct. 6 and 7, 2026)

5 yes, 0 no

Joel Anderson (yes), Jim Desmond (yes), Terra Lawson-Remer (yes), Paloma Aguirre (yes), Monica Montgomery Steppe (yes)

New school resource officer in Vista (Item 3)

5 yes, 0 no

Joel Anderson (yes), Jim Desmond (yes), Terra Lawson-Remer (yes), Paloma Aguirre (yes), Monica Montgomery Steppe (yes)

Teleconference meetings for boards and commissions (Item 25)

5 yes, 0 no

Jim Desmond (yes), Joel Anderson (yes), Terra Lawson-Remer (yes), Paloma Aguirre (yes), Monica Montgomery Steppe (yes)

Saturn Boulevard pipe extension (Item 17)

5 yes, 0 no

Joel Anderson (yes), Monica Montgomery Steppe (yes), Terra Lawson-Remer (yes), Paloma Aguirre (yes), Jim Desmond (yes)

County contracting reforms (Item 22)

5 yes, 0 no

Joel Anderson (yes), Monica Montgomery Steppe (yes), Terra Lawson-Remer (yes), Paloma Aguirre (yes), Jim Desmond (yes)

ADT donation for dispatch software (Item 1)

5 yes, 0 no

Monica Montgomery Steppe (yes), Joel Anderson (yes), Terra Lawson-Remer (yes), Paloma Aguirre (yes), Jim Desmond (yes)

2026 State of the County Address (Item 26)

5 yes, 0 no

Monica Montgomery Steppe (yes), Terra Lawson-Remer (yes), Paloma Aguirre (yes), Joel Anderson (yes), Jim Desmond (yes)

Surplus land sale and notice (Item 5, Resolution 26-127)

5 yes, 0 no

Monica Montgomery Steppe (yes), Terra Lawson-Remer (yes), Paloma Aguirre (yes), Joel Anderson (yes), Jim Desmond (yes)

FY 2027-28 Annual Plan Strategy for federal housing funds (Item 19)

4 yes, 0 no

Joel Anderson (yes), Paloma Aguirre (yes), Monica Montgomery Steppe (yes), Jim Desmond (yes)

County Counsel contract amendment (Item 29)

5 yes, 0 no

Jim Desmond (yes), Joel Anderson (yes), Terra Lawson-Remer (yes), Paloma Aguirre (yes), Monica Montgomery Steppe (yes)

County Medical Services reform package (Item 20)

4 yes, 1 no

Monica Montgomery Steppe (yes), Terra Lawson-Remer (yes), Paloma Aguirre (yes), Jim Desmond (no), Joel Anderson (yes)

Biometric identification system (Item 2)

5 yes, 0 no

Jim Desmond (yes), Terra Lawson-Remer (yes), Paloma Aguirre (yes), Monica Montgomery Steppe (yes), Joel Anderson (yes)

$500,000 grant for Black Arts and Culture District (Item 11)

5 yes, 0 no

Jim Desmond (yes), Terra Lawson-Remer (yes), Paloma Aguirre (yes), Monica Montgomery Steppe (yes), Joel Anderson (yes)

Ashwood Street hearing set for Nov. 17 (Item 15)

5 yes, 0 no

Jim Desmond (yes), Terra Lawson-Remer (yes), Paloma Aguirre (yes), Monica Montgomery Steppe (yes), Joel Anderson (yes)

1) Receive the County Medical Services (CMS) Reform Analysis. 2) Direct the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to proceed with implementation of the recommended reforms to the CMS program... 3) Approv

0 yes, 1 no

Jim Desmond (no)

Revised Rules Governing Incompatible Activities for the Department of General Services

5 yes, 0 no

Approve 22 Conflict of Interest Codes Submitted by County Departments and Local Agencies for the Required Biennial Review

5 yes, 0 no

Acceptance Of Gifts and Donations Exceeding $5,000 to the San Diego County Library and Related CEQA Exemption

5 yes, 0 no

Ratify Acceptance of Gifts and Donations Exceeding $5,000 to the Department of Environmental Health and Quality and Related CEQA Exemption

5 yes, 0 no

Semi-Annual Report of Gifts and Donations and Ratification of Acceptance of Gifts and Donations Exceeding $5,000 to the Department of Parks and Recreation and Related CEQA Determination

5 yes, 0 no

Communications Received

5 yes, 0 no

Sale of Cottonwood Avenue parcel / surplus land declaration

Cottonwood Avenue and Magnolia Avenue, Santee (County Parcel No. 2013-0091-A; No. 2023-0036 C-D)

The county is auctioning about 11.71 acres near Las Calinas Center in Santee and declaring another 12 acres on Magnolia Avenue surplus — future land use will be governed by the City of Santee.

approved (5-0) · still approved

Alpine public highway dedication vacation (VAC 2025-0182)

Alpine Community Plan Area, San Diego County

A portion of a dedicated public highway in the Alpine Community Plan area was vacated on consent.

approved (5-0) · still approved

Ashwood Street Corridor Improvement Project right-of-way acquisition

Ashwood Street, District 2 (Parcels 2016-0281-A, -B and 2016-0285-A, -B1, -B2, -C1, -C2, -D1, -D2, -E)

The hearing to consider eminent-domain acquisitions for the Ashwood Street corridor project was pushed to November 17.

Discussed — no decision yet

School resource officer in Vista

A new SRO funded by Vista arrives amid debate: supporters call it prevention investment, critics note the city's pot shops and ask why county taxpayers should backfill a city's policy choices.

What it means: $336,945 plus a $94,498 vehicle, funded by Vista revenue.

Tijuana River Valley Pollution Emergency

The Saturn Boulevard pipe extension moves forward with a city agreement and construction contract, part of the county's capture-and-clean push for South Bay communities living with sewage pollution.

What it means: Includes roughly $6.5 million in pipe extension infrastructure per one commenter's account; full contract value not stated in the record.

Automated biometric identification system

A $5 million competitive solicitation replaces the aging fingerprint system — but Aguirre drew a line at facial recognition and mass surveillance, demanding board and public engagement before any expansion.

What it means: $5 million from the Sheriff Fingerprint ID Trust Fund balance.

County Medical Services and Healthcare Safety Net Reforms

The county's last-resort health program for uninsured residents is being modernized ahead of H.R. 1's Medi-Cal cuts — liens, credit checks, and in-person requirements are gone. Bigger eligibility expansions depend on future funding, possibly from Measure B.

What it means: No price tag today — but Chair Lawson-Remer said real expansion could cost $50-100 million a year and might rely on Measure B revenue.

Investing in San Diego County Arts and Culture Initiative

$500,000 goes to the San Diego African American Museum of Fine Art to build out the nine-block district in Encanto — community space, youth programs, and arts infrastructure. Some callers objected to the targeted grant.

What it means: $500,000 one-time county investment.

Board Meeting Public Participation Rules

A parade of speakers blasted the board for dropping non-agenda comment from Land Use sessions and new speaker rules they called censorship — a recurring fight over who gets heard at county meetings.

What it means: The board's stated goal is orderly meetings.

Safety Net Bridge Program for Medi-Cal Disenrollment

A 12-month, $20.4 million bridge to keep residents losing Medi-Cal or CalFresh connected to primary care, prescriptions, and food while they navigate new federal work requirements.

What it means: $20.4 million over 12 months, drawn from one-time funding.

County-authorizing litigation in closed session

The board voted 3-2 to have County Counsel file a lawsuit, but the subject remains confidential until the case is formally filed. Residents can request particulars once litigation begins.

What it means: Depends on the case — the county itself, and potentially residents if the suit defends public interests.

Low-impact camping on agricultural land (AB 518)

Supervisor Anderson wants the county to study letting farmers and ranchers host low-impact camping — extra income for rural landowners and cheaper outdoor access for residents, with fire risk and tax revenue to be weighed.

What it means: Farmers, ranchers, and rural landowners seeking supplemental income, plus residents and visitors seeking affordable outdoor recreation.

Roadside vending regulation countywide

State law no longer lets the county ban roadside vending outright, so staff proposed a permitting program instead. It could help small vendors operate legally while keeping roads safe.

What it means: Roadside vendors and small businesses, plus drivers who get clearer rules of the road.

Speed limit certifications and stop controls in Districts 2 and 5

New enforceable speed limits on Posthill Road and Pauma Heights Road, all-way stops in Lakeside and Lake San Marcos, and a Borrego Springs crosswalk aim to cut crashes in unincorporated communities.

What it means: Residents of Eucalyptus Hills, Lakeside, Valley Center, Twin Oaks, Borrego Springs, and Lake San Marcos.