A bipartisan group representing a majority of SANDAG Board Members are demanding an item be placed on the Jan 13th agenda to discuss common-sense policy changes to give more San Diego residents a voice at SANDAG. The current voting system at SANDAG requires just three jurisdictions to approve any measure, even if representatives of the other sixteen cities or unincorporated county disagree*.
Reforming this voting procedure is critical to ensure the voices of all cities in the County are heard and citizens receive a fair share of their tax dollars for road, highway, and other transportation improvements.
Prior to 2018, a measure could only be passed at SANDAG if a majority of cities AND cities representing a majority of the county population both agreed. This process ensured that both the interests of individual cities and the majority population were both represented.
After AB805 was signed into law, a measure could be passed by as few as three cities that represented a majority of the county population. This new voting procedure was known as the “weighted vote” and it immediately disenfranchised nearly half of the San Diego county population and eliminated the voice of most cities in San Diego County.
The implementation of the weighted vote system has eliminated input from small and mid-sized cities while reducing board collaboration and public trust in the SANDAG Agency. The few but powerful board members of larger cities can now propose tax increases for the entire County yet deliver no public benefit to many of the residents paying these burdensome taxes. Coronado Mayor Richard Bailey said, “The weighted-vote system has created a situation that is effectively ‘taxation without representation’ and must be corrected.” Del Mar Councilmember Terry Gaasterland said, “We need to set the weighted vote aside and listen to each other again. Overriding a tally vote disenfranchises the smaller cities – collectively 50% of the region. Let’s pursue balanced planning that treats the needs of all residents equitably and fairly.”
The ten board members requesting the agenda item are confident Vice Chair Gloria and Executive Director Ihkrata recognize the need for equitable, countywide representation and will place this item on the January 13th meeting to facilitate a much-needed discussion. Please direct media inquiries to Del Mar Council Member and SANDAG Board Member Terry Gaasterland.
∗ Under the weighted voting formula, the City of San Diego and the County control 57% of the weight and need just one more city to prevail in a weighted vote. (See attached Table, from May 22, 2022, SANDAG Board meeting item 9). 43% of the region’s population live in the other 17 cities.
Dear Vice Chair Gloria and Executive Director Ikhrata,
The undersigned representatives of SANDAG Member Agencies request you, in your capacity as SANDAG leadership, place an item on the agenda for the January 13, 2022, regular SANDAG Board meeting regarding use of the “weighted vote”.
The intent of this request is to give the Board an opportunity to discuss the use of the “weighted vote” and deliberate on potential policy changes that could create a more collaborative organization that respects the input of individual cities and interests of the regional population.
Specifically, the agenda item should provide information and allow for discussion with possible action on the following items:
1. SANDAG Bylaws Article IV Section 5 Subsection a
2. Board Policy Number 004
Given the importance of a collaborative body for 2023, we insist this item be the first actionable item placed on the January 13, 2023, Board agenda.
We request confirmation of receipt of this letter and stated intention to put the requested item on the agenda for the January 13, 2023, meeting.
Respectfully,
Member agencies listed below: Terry Gaasterland, City of Del Mar
Richard Bailey, City of Coronado Rebecca Jones, City of San Marcos Steve Vaus, City of Poway
Jack Fisher, City of Imperial Beach Ryan Kleim, City of Oceanside John Franklin, City of Vista
Dane White, City of Escondido
Bill Wells, City of El Cajon
John Minto, City of Santee
Attachment 1
FY 2023 WEIGHTED VOTING FORMULA
SANDAG Member Agency
Certified Population Jan. 1, 2022
Percent of Subtotal
Fractional Share of Votes
Fractions Less Than “1” FY 2023
Adjusted Weighted Vote
FY 2022
Weighted
Vote
Vote
Change
San Diego 1,374,790 41.821% 41.821 41 42 ** 42 –
County 513,170 15.611% 15.611 15 15 15 –
Chula Vista 276,785 8.420% 8.420 8 8 8 –
Oceanside 173,048 5.264% 5.264 5 5 5 –
Escondido 150,679 4.584% 4.584 4 4 4 –
Carlsbad 115,585 3.516% 3.516 3 3 3 –
El Cajon 105,638 3.214% 3.214 3 3 3 –
Vista 100,291 3.051% 3.051 3 3 3 –
San Marcos 93,585 2.847% 2.847 2 3 ** 3 –
Encinitas 61,515 1.871% 1.871 1 2 ** 2 –
National City 61,471 1.870% 1.870 1 2 ** 2 –
La Mesa 60,472 1.840% 1.840 1 2 ** 2 –
Santee 59,015 1.795% 1.795 1 2 ** 2 –
Poway 48,759 1.483% 1.483 1 1 1 –
Lemon Grove 27,242 0.829% 0.829 1 * 1 1 –
Imperial Beach 26,243 0.798% 0.798 1 * 1 1 –
Coronado 22,277 0.678% 0.678 1 * 1 1 –
Solana Beach 12,812 0.390% 0.390 1 * 1 1 –
Del Mar 3,929 0.120% 0.120 1 * 1 1 –
Total Region 3,287,306 100.00% 100 94 100 100
* Agencies gaining a full vote by boosting fractions that are less than one.
** Agencies gaining a full vote based upon highest fraction.
