SD City Council President Withdraws Proposed Stormwater Funding Measure

San Diego City Council President Sean Elo-Rivera announced Friday that he has decided to withhold the proposed stormwater infrastructure measure from the November 2024 ballot.

The measure was first proposed by Elo-Rivera after the Jan. 22 storm, which caused widespread flooding in Southeast San Diego. Thousands of residents were forced from their homes, and many of them lost nearly all their possessions.

The measure would help fix infrastructure that could have prevented the extent of damages experienced by residents. Currently, the city of San Diego has a $1.6 billion stormwater deficit, meaning repairs and restructuring of outdated infrastructure have been delayed due to lack of funding.

The decision to delay the stormwater measure follows “substantial changes” to ACA 1, a proposed state ballot measure which, if approved by voters, would have set the threshold for voter approval of local infrastructure funding at 55% instead of two-thirds.

“The two-thirds voter approval threshold for infrastructure revenue is undemocratic and has stood as an impediment to San Diego making critical improvements,” said Council President Sean Elo-Rivera, “Our coalition saw real hope in the proposal to change the threshold to 55% and were confident voters would strongly support the ballot measure we were advancing.”

“Unfortunately, the rules we thought we would be playing by were changed,” he said, “and our coalition decided the most responsible thing to do is to pause, continue growing our coalition and create a plan for securing the dedicated revenue needed to provide San Diegans with clean and safe neighborhoods, beaches and bays.”

Following concerns about the proposed ACA 1 changes, Elo-Rivera said he will take time to grow the coalition and pursue a plan for securing dedicated revenue to fix San Diego infrastructure.

“Aging infrastructure, flood prevention, and clean waters remain immediate, yet underfunded priorities within our existing stormwater system,” said Council President Pro Tem Joe LaCava. “Though a dedicated revenue stream for stormwater is the ultimate goal, the development of this measure highlighted the value that tackling the billion-dollar infrastructure backlog will have for our neighborhoods.

“I remain committed to not losing this momentum as we develop a stormwater system that meets the needs of our neighborhoods and today’s climate challenges.”

Other organizations, such as San Diego Coast Keeper and Climate Action Campaign, have also asserted their dedication to keep fighting for the funding.

City News Service contributed to this article