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 June 3, 2025, to consider authorization of an option to purchase approximately 3.04 acres in Fallbrook from the North County Fire Protection District for $2,060,000 for future affordable senior housing, and to issue a request for proposals for development. Supervisors asked staff to explore feasibility of requiring a developer to include indoor/outdoor community spaces (for example space shared with the adjacent Boys & Girls Club) and to maintain existing leases for Bonzel Fallbrook Little League fields for as long as feasible. Motion: Supervisor Jim Desmond (mover). Second: Supervisor Nora Vargas Montgomery Stepp. Outcome: set hearing; board passed motion unanimously (5‑0).

- Homekey Plus permanent supportive housing partnership (Item 15): The board authorized county participation in a Homekey Plus regional proposal in partnership with the San Diego Housing Commission and the City of San Diego to convert an existing property at 7798 Starling Drive into up to 81 permanent supportive housing units, including up to 40 county‑supported units for people with serious mental illness or substance use disorders and approximately 40 VASH project‑based vouchers for veterans. The county committed up to $7,000,000 (one‑time capital) and up to $3,400,000 in operating assistance over five years, contingent on due diligence and state awards; the City of San Diego committed $10,000,000 and the Housing Commission sought up to $35,000,000 in Homekey Plus funds. Motion: Supervisor Nora Vargas Montgomery Stepp (mover). Second: Supervisor Jim Desmond. Outcome: approved unanimously (5‑0). Public comment included endorsements and also fiscal cautions about using ARPA funds for capital.

- Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) access (Item 16): The board directed staff to explore options to expand access to AEDs for youth and private sports organizations in advance of the state requirement that most youth sports programs have access to AEDs by Jan. 1, 2027 (item references the Nevaeh Youth Sports Safety Act as described in the transcript). Staff was asked to examine delivery models (grants, rebates, bulk purchase or portable units), maintenance arrangements, liability questions and equitable distribution for under‑resourced programs. Motion: Supervisor Jim Desmond (mover). Second: Supervisor Nora Vargas Montgomery Stepp. Outcome: approved unanimously (5‑0).

- County counsel hourly billing rates (Item 17): The board adopted a resolution establishing county counsel hourly billing rates for attorney and paralegal services. Motion: Supervisor Jim Desmond (mover). Second: Supervisor Kristin Anderson. Outcome: approved unanimously (5‑0). Public comment urged reform in the legal department and questioned whether raises were appropriate prior to departmental reforms.

- Support for new tools addressing the Tijuana River sewage crisis (Item 18): The board adopted a letter of support for two legislative approaches discussed in the meeting: California Senate Bill 10 (legislation to authorize use of toll revenue from the Otay Mesa East Port of Entry for sanitation projects related to the Tijuana River and international wastewater treatment) and federal legislation (H.R. 1948 referenced in the staff memo) to allow the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) to accept non‑federal funding for operations. Motion: Acting Chair Tara Lawson Reimer (mover). Second: Supervisor Jim Desmond. Outcome: approved unanimously (5‑0). The board reiterated that sustained pressure on multiple levels of government and a mix of funding sources will be needed while also urging infrastructure action in Mexico to reduce raw flows entering the river.

What the motions did and did not do

Most votes approved staff direction or authorization for hearings, funding commitments contingent on future approvals, or requests for staff to return with implementation detail. Where money was authorized (for example Homekey Plus commitments and proposed one‑time capital), county staff noted that specific expenditures are contingent on due diligence, negotiated agreements and state award decisions. Several items included explicit requests that staff examine program details — for example, AED maintenance and liability, landlord incentive fund capacity for VASH vouchers, and inclusion of community spaces in Fallbrook development proposals.

Public comment and board concerns

Speakers during public comment expressed a range of views. Supporters of the Homekey Plus development and Tijuana River measures emphasized the urgency of housing operations and sanitation funding; others raised fiscal concerns about using ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds for capital or questioned long‑term sustainability of proposed funding sources. On AEDs, commenters recounted near‑misses and urged rapid expansion of access; supervisors asked staff to ensure equitable distribution and clear maintenance/liability protocols.

Next steps

Staff directed to return with more detailed proposals and necessary implementing documents where required: specific contract and due‑diligence materials for Homekey partnership, a detailed feasibility and design for a Fallbrook development request for proposals, AED program design options (including potential grant or rebate models and maintenance agreements), and follow‑through on the veterans homelessness strategy and related letters to federal officials. The June 3, 2025 public hearing was set for the Fallbrook land purchase authorization.