Council fails to approve temporary extension for Ace Parking library contract; item continued to Nov. 12

Raul Godinho, deputy director for the San Diego Public Library, asked the City Council on Sept. 23 to approve a First Amendment extending Ace Parking’s management of the Central Library and the Mission Hills/Hillcrest branch garages through Dec. 31, 2024, and to authorize up to $350,148 in additional payments, bringing the total contract amount to $1,800,000. Godinho told the council parking operations generate roughly $89,000 in monthly revenue against about $29,000 in monthly expenses and average roughly $722,000 net to the general fund per fiscal year.

The motion to approve staff’s recommendation, moved by Councilmember Campillo and seconded by the council president pro tem, failed for lack of the six votes required under the city charter. The clerk announced the item failed 5–1 with Councilmembers Campbell, Whitburn and Von Wilpert absent. Staff said they would consult the deputy city attorney on next steps.

Councilmember Foster pressed the city and the vendor on Equal Employment Opportunity compliance during the discussion, saying the workforce report showed underrepresentation across multiple categories and that the council must take the municipal code requirements seriously. "At some point I want to think the city is going to take this seriously," Foster said, noting the existing EEO plan and urging further due diligence.

Public commenters voiced a mix of support and concern. Joyce Anyada, speaking from District 3, said she appreciated the library and the contract figures but asked about patron access during Padres events and noted the presence of EV charging stations at the Mission Hills structure. Laurie Saldana raised broader equity concerns and said the contract did not meet the city’s equal employment opportunity compliance goals, urging the council to enforce opportunity guidelines with contractors.

Ace Parking owner Keith Jones told the council his company would continue operating the garage services if the contract lapsed and welcomed an EEO workforce audit, saying "I am committed to those things" and to continuing to do business with the city.

Rather than advance the amendment, Councilmember Campillo moved to continue the matter so staff could address outstanding questions; council set the continuance for Nov. 12, 2024. Staff said Ace Parking would continue providing operations in the interim and that the city would loop in purchasing and contracting staff as needed. The mayor’s office committed to directing purchasing staff to conduct an EOC (equal opportunity compliance) workforce audit with Ace Parking.

Next steps: staff will consult the city attorney’s office, coordinate an EEO audit with purchasing and contracting, and return the item for council consideration on Nov. 12, 2024.