Debating City Ballot Choices

A San Diego City Council committee is debating 11 measures today that could be placed before city voters this year. Though we’ll be delving into them as elections approach, I figured a quick rundown now would be helpful.

• Make the “strong mayor” form of government permanent as well as adding a ninth council district. Another proposal would extend the trial period for strong mayor for another five years. (See below for a video explainer of the system.)
• Facilitate pension reform by changing city charter language.
• Increase military veterans preference for city employment.
• Impose a tax to maintain Balboa Park’s zoo.
• Limit eminent domain power by removing property transfers to private citizens.
• Increase penalties for employees who lie to the public and limit charges for public records.
• Increase the number of San Diego Unified school board members.
• Tie City Council pay to median income in the city.
• Make explicit any “clean up” changes to the city’s charter.
• Increase City Council power in the “strong mayor” system.
• Include a preamble to the charter.

Here’s the City Council Rules Committee agenda, which has more details on each initiative. Here’s our “strong mayor” video explainer:

Update: Council’s Rules Committee forwarded just two of these proposed initiatives to the full council today. The first was the permanent “strong mayor” initiative, which is obligated to be on the ballot. The second was increasing military veteran preferences for city employment.

— LIAM DILLON