Board approves fees change, housing and homelessness measures, AED access and support for Tijuana‑river funding bills

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on a package of measures May 6 covering fees, housing, homelessness, youth sports safety and support for legislation to address the Tijuana River sewage crisis. Several items included board direction for staff to return with implementation details or to pursue intergovernmental coordination.

Key actions at a glance

- Health and human services fees (Item 12): The board approved amendments to Article 15B of the San Diego County Administrative Code related to health and human services charges and fees. Motion: Supervisor Nora Vargas Montgomery Stepp (mover). Second: Supervisor Kristin Anderson. Outcome: approved unanimously (5‑0). Public comment raised concerns about fee increases at Edgemoor Behavioral Health facility and impacts on lower‑income patients.

- Ending veterans homelessness (Item 13): Supervisors approved a motion to develop a strategy and funding mechanism to reinvigorate the county’s Leave No Veteran Homeless campaign, including continued landlord outreach and using a by‑name list in partnership with the Regional Task Force on Homelessness. The board also directed the CAO to explore drafting a county letter to federal officials urging protection of VA services; the CAO was asked to draft such a letter taking supervisory feedback into account before it is sent. Motion: Supervisor Jim Desmond (mover). Second: Supervisor Nora Vargas Montgomery Stepp. Outcome: approved unanimously (5‑0). The board discussed existing landlord incentive programs and a landlord assurance fund with current budget of $400,000; supervisors added direction to explore inclusion of community spaces and to preserve existing leases for Little League fields where feasible.

- Fallbrook land acquisition hearing (Item 14): The board set a public hearing for…