City Council - 2026-03-02 - Monday Agenda Revised Added S400-S401
Meeting Intelligence Preview
Meeting Summary
San Diego City Council received updates on the Port of San Diego's major development projects including Freedom Park (10-acre veterans park at Navy Pier, completion 2028), Seaport San Diego (39 acres land/63 acres water mixed-use development with EIR expected late 2025), and East Harbor Island redevelopment with Topgolf and 10-acre park. Council approved two 10-year dam design services contracts totaling $150 million (7-1 vote) with HDR Engineering and Stantec Consulting to address critical dam safety repairs, with Lake Hodges Dam identified as the state's worst-condition dam requiring priority attention.
Key Decisions (2)
Dam Design Services Agreements with HDR and Stantec
Council approved two 10-year as-needed dam design services agreements: one with HDR Engineering Inc. (H2426347-M) and one with Stantec Consulting Services Inc. (H2426348-M), each not to exceed $75 million, totaling $150 million. Contracts support design work for dam safety repairs across 11 dams and 2 water tanks regulated by California Division of Safety of Dams.
Alley Naming - Itai Way in Cabrillo Heights
Council approved naming an existing unnamed 26-foot wide, 0.4-mile long alley in Cabrillo Heights neighborhood (Serra Mesa Community Plan Area) as 'Itai Way.' Located between Larkdale Avenue and McCullough Avenue within RM-11 and RS-17 zones. Petition received 25 signatures (29% support) from 85 affected property owners/tenants.
Development Activity (6)
Freedom Park at Navy Pier
10-acre veterans park (largest on West Coast), underwater reinforcements underway, head house warehouse demolished, Midway Museum continuing fundraising for construction
Seaport San Diego
Plazas, parks, promenades, piers, marinas, hotels, retail, restaurants, commercial fishing, visitor attractions, urban beach, educational uses
East Harbor Island Redevelopment
10-acre waterfront park, 6.5-acre entertainment and restaurant district, Topgolf facility on 10 acres
Topgolf East Harbor Island
10-acre entertainment facility, EIR to be circulated fall 2025, requires California Coastal Commission review after port certification
1220 Pacific Highway Development
Redevelopment of 3.4-acre site with Navy office buildings from 1949, new public attraction proposed, presentation to Port Board March 10
Cesar Chavez Park Improvements
Splash pad, lawn space for picnics, perched beach, Aztec-inspired hardscape, shade structures; funded through balanced capital program
Market Signals (5)
Infrastructure
City estimates approximately $3 billion needed over coming decades to complete all dam safety improvements across 11 dams and 2 water tanks.
Commercial Demand
Port of San Diego cruise business rebounding with 107 cruise ship calls and 389,000 passengers this season, generating estimated $157 million economic impact to San Diego County.
Infrastructure
Lake Hodges Dam replacement cost estimates have increased from $275 million to $500-700 million, with San Diego County Water Authority declining to pay 50% share for full replacement.
Housing Demand
Local reservoir water costs approximately $400 per acre foot compared to $2,600 per acre foot for imported water from San Diego County Water Authority.
Sentiment
Port's maritime clean air strategy achieved 30% decrease in nitrogen oxides and 46% decrease in diesel particulate matter emissions in five-year period, securing quarter billion dollars in federal/state funding.