Summary

Rules Committee advances SB 707 rule changes and directs drafting of multiple November 2026 ballot measures including TOT reforms and campaign finance/charter amendments

San DiegoMar 18, 20263 min read

At a glance

Quick context to catch up fast.

The San Diego City Council Rules Committee (Chair Joe LaCava) met March 18, 2026. The committee approved prior minutes and voted to direct the Council President’s Office and City Attorney to draft an ordinance to amend Rules of Council for consistency with State Senate Bill No. 707 (effective July 1, 2026). The committee requested City Attorney drafting and analyses for several proposed November 2026 ballot measures: two proposals to modify the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) definition to include online travel agencies and explore other TOT changes; a request for fiscal, operational and legal analyses and framework for a proposal to establish free parking at beaches and bays; direction to Council District 6 to develop proposed San Diego City Charter amendments on fiscal accountability and to remove term limits for the City Auditor; and direction to draft a ballot measure to reform campaign finance and ethics laws. No committee action was taken on proposals to repeal paid parking in Balboa Park or to impose a Traffic Congestion and Mobility Impact Tax. Public comment addressed a range of topics including cannabis licensing, flavored inhaled products, and other local issues.

Committees mentioned

Open the committee coverage hubs tied to this summary.

Rules Committee

Topics discussed

TransportationBudget & TaxHealthcareElections

View official document

Was this summary helpful?

Your feedback helps us prioritize what to improve next.

Key decisions

Follow the major takeaways from this briefing.

Approved Rules Committee minutes for February 18 and February 25, 2026.
Directed the Council President’s Office to work with the City Attorney to draft an ordinance to amend the Rules of Council for consistency with State Senate Bill No. 707, effective July 1, 2026.
Requested the City Attorney work with Council District 1 to prepare draft ballot measure language to modify the TOT definition to include online travel agencies and to explore applicability to fees, rate changes, and converting TOT to a General Tax; return to Rules Committee for further consideration (motions applied to proposals by Katheryn Rhodes and Zachary Russem).
Took no action on ballot measure proposals to terminate/repeal paid parking fees in Balboa Park (proposals by Shane Harris and John Stump).
Requested Council District 7, City Attorney, and Independent Budget Analyst provide preliminary fiscal, operational, and legal analyses and draft framework for a ballot measure to establish free parking at beaches and bays, and report back to Rules Committee.
Directed Council District 6 to work with the City Attorney to investigate legal issues and develop proposed language for potential City Charter amendments related to fiscal accountability and transparency, including removing term limits for the City Auditor, and return to Rules Committee.
Directed the City Attorney to draft a ballot measure for November 2026 to reform campaign finance and ethics laws (proposal by Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera).

Timeline & follow-ups

Action items flagged by the community.

No follow-ups have been shared yet. Add one in the community board below.

Meeting information

Details and records from this meeting.

San Diego Rules Committee - Rules Committee Meeting Minutes

Mar 18, 2026, 4:00 PMcompleted

Agenda

Agenda items not available.

Documents from this meeting

Recent documents

Fresh records from this municipality.

Civic leadership

Know who to contact about the decisions that matter.