City Council

Item 200: Consideration of a Ballot Measure Proposal by the City Auditor to Amend the San\nDiego City Charter Relating to Independent Legal Counsel for the Office of the City\nAuditor and the Audit Committee, for Placement on the March 5, 2024 Municipal\nSpecial Election Ballot, Consolidated with the California State Presidential Primary\nElection and Related Actions Regarding Ballot Materials.\nThis item will be considered in the afternoon session which is scheduled to begin at\n2:00 p.m.\nTotal Estimated Cost of Proposed Action and Funding Source:\nPlease note that the financial information associated with this item represents the initial\nbudgeted amount of $4,212,979 within FY 2024 Citywide Elections Expenditures. Final\nelection costs will be calculated based on the total number of participating jurisdictions,\nthe number of items placed on the ballot, and may differ from the information included\nhere.\nCouncil District(s) Affected: Citywide.\nProposed Actions:\nSubitem-A: (O-2024-42 Cor. Copy) (Rev. 11/2/23)\nIntroduction and Adoption of an Ordinance submitting to the qualified voters of the City\nof San Diego at the Municipal Special Election, consolidated with the California State\nPresidential Primary Election, to be held on March 5, 2024, one measure amending the\nSan Diego City Charter, by amending Article V, by amending section 40 and adding\nsection 40.2, relating to independent legal counsel for the Office of the City Auditor and\nAudit Committee on specified conditions.\nSubitem-A is not subject to the Mayor's veto. (Rev. 11/2/23)\nSubitem-B: (R-2024-149 Cor. Copy) (Rev. 11/2/23)\nResolution directing the City Attorney to prepare a ballot title and summary and an\nimpartial analysis; directing the Mayor, Independent Budget Analyst, and City Auditor to\nprepare a fiscal impact analysis; and assigning ballot arguments, all regarding one\nmeasure amending the San Diego City Charter, by amending Article V, by amending\nsection 40 and adding section 40.2, relating to independent legal counsel for the Office of\nthe City Auditor and Audit Committee on specified conditions, to be submitted to\nqualified voters of the City of San Diego at the Municipal Special Election, consolidated\nwith the California State Presidential Primary Election to be held on March 5, 2024.\nSubitem-B is not subject to the Mayor's veto.\nCommittee Actions Taken:\nThis item was heard at the Rules Committee meeting on February 16, 2022.\nACTION: Motion by Committee Member Cate to approve staff’s proposed actions.\nSeconded by Chair Elo-Rivera with the following Amendment to Section 2 of the\nproposed actions: “Such ballot measure language shall vest the Audit Committee with the\nsole power to deem independent legal counsel for the City Auditor in the City’s best\ninterest.”\nVOTE: 3-2; Elo-Rivera-yea, LaCava-yea, Cate-yea, Whitburn-nay, Campillo-nay. (Rev.\n11/1/23)\nOffice of the City Auditor: Matthew Helm, (619) 533-3007\nCity Attorney Contact: Joan F. Dawson