SUBJECT
Title
ADOPTING A REVISED RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO THE CHARTER OF THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO ENTITLED “A TRANSPARENT, ACCOUNTABLE, MODERN COUNTY GOVERNMENT” AND AMENDING THE ORDINANCE MODERNIZING THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY CHARTER TO STRENGTHEN TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
On April 21, 2026 (14), the Board of Supervisors (Board) considered a proposal to amend the County Charter, and, by a vote of 3 to 2, adopted a resolution and approved the introduction of an ordinance to submit proposed County Charter amendments to County voters on November 3, 2026.
During the Board discussion on this item, members of the Board were provided supplemental information by staff, shared additional ideas, and expressed their openness to the possibility of making revisions during the further consideration of the ordinance, scheduled for May 19, 2026.
Based on the Board’s discussion of the proposed amendments to the County Charter, I am submitting a revised resolution proposing amendments to the County Charter and a revised version of the proposed ordinance for the Board to consider during the May 19, 2026, Board meeting. In summary, the revisions I am suggesting to the proposed ordinance include the following:
• Restore language maintaining two four-year term limits for current members of the County Board of Supervisors and clarify that the proposed term limit extension for members of the County Board of Supervisors would only apply to future Board members
• Delete language empowering Supervisors to confirm and remove senior staff appointed by the Chief Administrative Officer
• Add language establishing the proposed independent program auditor position as either:
o an elected position; or
o an appointed position reporting to an elected auditor
• Clarify language specifying that members of the Board of Supervisors are prohibited from interfering in the decisions of the County’s Director of the Department of Purchasing and Contracting, prohibited from dealing directly with the Director for the purpose of buying supplies, and are limited to conducting official business with the Director only when the Board is convened in regular session
• Delete provisions proposing to establish term limits for the elected County offices when a change in State law would be required to establish such limits.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
SUPERVISOR JOEL ANDERSON
1. Adopt a Resolution entitled RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AMENDING RESOLUTION NO. 26-024 PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO THE CHARTER OF THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO ENTITLED “A TRANSPARENT, ACCOUNTABLE, MODERN COUNTY GOVERNMENT.”
2. Approve the introduction of a revised Ordinance (first reading), amended from the Ordinance that was introduced at the April 21, 2026 (14) meeting, entitled:
AN ORDINANCE CALLING A SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE CONSOLIDATED WITH THE STATEWIDE GENERAL ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 3, 2026 FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUBMITTING TO THE VOTERS AMENDMENTS TO THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY CHARTER ENTITLED “A TRANSPARENT, ACCOUNTABLE, MODERN COUNTY GOVERNMENT.”
3. Submit the revised Ordinance for further Board consideration and adoption (second reading) on June 23, 2026.
4. If the proposed amendments to the County Charter are passed, create the Charter Reform Implementation Task Force (Task Force), co-chaired by Jack McGrory and Dr. Kyra Greene. Each member of the Board of Supervisors shall appoint one additional member to serve on the Task Force. The co-chairs may appoint additional temporary or advisory members as necessary to ensure subject-matter expertise and effective implementation. The Task Force shall be staffed by the Office of County Counsel and shall operate for a two-year period following its establishment.
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
This action supports the County's commitment to equitable service delivery by strengthening transparency, accountability, and independent oversight of County government operations. Ensuring that public resources are managed effectively and that performance information is accessible to all residents supports more equitable outcomes across all communities served by the County.
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT
This action supports the County's long-term fiscal and operational sustainability by establishing independent oversight mechanisms and improving access to budget and performance information. Strengthening accountability structures and evidence-based decision-making supports responsible stewardship of public resources over time.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with today’s actions and there will be no change in net General Fund cost and no additional staff years. There may be future fiscal impacts from related recommendations which staff would bring back to the Board for consideration and approval.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
The proposed Charter reforms do not create new regulatory burdens or costs for businesses. By improving transparency, fiscal discipline, and government effectiveness, the reforms are expected to foster a more stable, predictable, and competitive local economic environment.
Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
N/A
BACKGROUND
On April 21, 2026 (14), the Board of Supervisors (Board) considered a proposal to amend the County Charter, and, by a vote of 3 to 2, adopted a resolution and approved the introduction of an ordinance to submit proposed County Charter amendments to County voters on November 3, 2026.
During the Board discussion on this item, members of the Board were provided supplemental information by staff, shared additional ideas, and expressed their openness to the possibility of making revisions during the further consideration of the ordinance, scheduled for May 19, 2026.
During the Board’s discussion on term limits, clarification was provided to the Board that proposed term limits for several of the County’s elected officials could not be established by solely amending the County Charter, and that state legislation would also be needed to impose such term limits. I am, therefore, recommending that the proposed term limits for these County officials not be included in the proposed Charter amendments.
Board members also discussed whether or not proposed term extensions for members of the Board of Supervisors should apply to current members of the Board desiring to remain in office beyond their term limit or if term limit extensions should only be applicable to future Board members. Based on that discussion, I recommend maintaining the two four-year term limits for current members of the County Board of Supervisors and clarifying that the proposed term limit extension for members of the County Board of Supervisors would only apply to future Board members.
Concerns were also raised about a proposed change to the Charter that would bestow a new power on Supervisors to confirm and remove senior staff appointed by the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). I am proposing that this provision be deleted and the CAO retain the ability to appoint or remove senior staff as currently allowed for in the Charter.
During the discussion related to the proposed establishment of an independent budget analyst and/or independent program auditor, the Board was informed that other California counties use different models to ensure audit work can be conducted independent of, and without directly reporting to, the Board of Supervisors or County executives. I propose that the County include language in the proposed Charter amendments that would either: 1) establish the independent program auditor position as a position elected by the voters; or 2) establish the independent program auditor position as a direct report to a County auditor that is elected by the voters.
Several members of the Board expressed concern with proposed changes to Section 705.3 of the County Charter, which currently prohibits members of the Board of Supervisors and other County officers from attempting to influence or coerce Department of Purchasing and Contracting staff, prohibits Supervisors from dealing directly with the Director of Purchasing and Contracting for the purpose of buying supplies, and limits the Board to conducting official business with the Director only when the Board is convened in regular session. Although the proposed amendments to this section would prohibit officers from attempting to influence or coerce the Director of the Department of Purchasing and Contracting for illegal personal gain or in a manner that contravenes the prohibition on interference as included in Section 501.9 of the County Charter, there is a need to clarify that the Board of Supervisors would continue to be prohibited from interfering in decisions by the Director. I am, therefore, recommending that the proposed amendments to the Charter be revised to clarify the language in Section 705.3 to prevent the possibility of Board interference in the purchasing process.
Based on the Board’s discussion of the proposed amendments to the County Charter, I am submitting a revised resolution proposing amendments to the County Charter and a revised version of the proposed ordinance for the Board to consider during the May 19, 2026, Board meeting. In summary, the revisions I am suggesting to the proposed ordinance include the following:
• Restore language maintaining two four-year term limits for current members of the County Board of Supervisors and clarify that the proposed term limit extension for members of the County Board of Supervisors would only apply to future Board members
• Delete language empowering Supervisors to confirm and remove senior staff appointed by the Chief Administrative Officer
• Add language establishing the proposed independent program auditor position as either:
o an elected position; or
o an appointed position reporting to an elected auditor
• Clarify language specifying that members of the Board of Supervisors are prohibited from interfering in the decisions of the County’s Director of the Department of Purchasing and Contracting, prohibited from dealing directly with the Director for the purpose of buying supplies, and are limited to conducting official business with the Director only when the Board is convened in regular session
• Delete provisions proposing to establish term limits for the elected County offices when a change in State law would be required to establish such limits.
ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT
N/A
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today's action supports the County of San Diego's 2026-2031 Strategic Plan initiatives of Sustainability, Equity, and Community by advancing transparency and accountability through independent oversight of County budgets, programs, and operations; fostering the implementation of proven best practices in government performance evaluation and public reporting; and supporting engagement by expanding access to information and decision-making processes for all residents, particularly those who have historically had limited ability to participate in or influence County government.
Respectfully submitted,
Joel Anderson
Supervisor, Second District
ATTACHMENT(S)
Attachment A-1 - AN ORDINANCE CALLING A SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE CONSOLIDATED WITH THE STATEWIDE GENERAL ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 3, 2026 FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUBMITTING TO THE VOTERS AMENDMENTS TO THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY CHARTER ENTITLED “A TRANSPARENT, ACCOUNTABLE, MODERN COUNTY GOVERNMENT.” (AS REVISED ON MAY 19, 2026) (Option 1)
Attachment A-2 - AN ORDINANCE CALLING A SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE CONSOLIDATED WITH THE STATEWIDE GENERAL ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 3, 2026 FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUBMITTING TO THE VOTERS AMENDMENTS TO THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY CHARTER ENTITLED “A TRANSPARENT, ACCOUNTABLE, MODERN COUNTY GOVERNMENT.” (AS REVISED ON MAY 19, 2026) (Option 2)
Attachment B-1 - SUMMARY OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE (Option 1)
Attachment B-2 - SUMMARY OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE (Option 2)
Attachment C-1 - REVISED RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO THE CHARTER OF THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO ENTITLED “A TRANSPARENT, ACCOUNTABLE, MODERN COUNTY GOVERNMENT.” (Option 1)
Attachment C-2 - REVISED RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO THE CHARTER OF THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO ENTITLED “A TRANSPARENT, ACCOUNTABLE, MODERN COUNTY GOVERNMENT.” (Option 2)
Attachment D-1 - REVISED RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO THE CHARTER OF THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO ENTITLED “A TRANSPARENT, ACCOUNTABLE, MODERN COUNTY GOVERNMENT.” (Option 1 - CLEAN)
Attachment D-2 - REVISED RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO THE CHARTER OF THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO ENTITLED “A TRANSPARENT, ACCOUNTABLE, MODERN COUNTY GOVERNMENT.” (Option 2 - CLEAN)