San Diego, CA

San Diego thinks it’s found a way to fix its crumbling infrastructure faster

Published

6 months ago

October 16, 2025

San Diego thinks it’s found a way to fix its crumbling infrastructure faster

San Diego is stepping up its efforts to tackle billions in overdue infrastructure projects by shifting to a model where contractors help design projects, instead of just building ones already designed by city engineers.

Officials expect the new model, which the City Council approved last week, to reduce cost overruns, improve quality, boost transparency and help the city tackle its massive infrastructure backlog more quickly.

“These changes aim to help the city meet growing infrastructure needs by streamlining the capital improvement program, enhancing public works contracts and encouraging innovation,” said city engineer Rania Amen. “This diversified approach will enable the city to better manage costs, schedules, risks and quality.”

City officials say the new method will be used for large and complex upcoming projects like the Hodges Dam replacement, convention center expansion and new drainage channels in parts of southeastern San Diego that flooded in January 2024.

They say early collaboration between a contractor and city officials boosts understanding of project goals and agreement on them, making projects easier to build and allowing innovations that improve quality.

San Diego faces nearly $12 billion in infrastructure projects over the next five years, and the city expects to have only about $5.5 billion to spend on infrastructure during that time.

That leaves a $6.5 billion gap, which is the largest ever. And the gap has more than tripled since early 2020, when city officials estimated it at $2.16 billion.

Officials say the new method could help them more quickly replace the city’s daunting amount of aging infrastructure — a result of so much of it having been built during the city’s population boom of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.

Because contractors will be chosen based on qualifications instead of submitting the lowest bid, costs for some projects may be higher, city officials said.

But because the new model fosters earlier collaboration between the city and the contractor, cost overruns are much less likely and savings from mutually agreed-upon value engineering are more likely, they said.

Some projects might start more slowly because a contractor must be chosen before design begins, but the new model is likely to end up being faster overall because it will eliminate some tasks now handled sequentially, the city’s independent budget analyst said.

A key element of the process is the contractor being required, partway through the design process, to propose a guaranteed maximum price. The city can either accept that price or reject it and find another contractor.

Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera called the new model an important change in city policy.

“We’ve actually missed out by not having these tools in the city’s toolbox,” he said.

The new tools are called “progressive design-build” and “construction manager at risk.” The key difference from the city’s existing policy is that contractors will participate in design.

The city’s existing process has design work being completed either by city engineers or outside architects before a contractor is chosen — a decision based on which contractor submits the lowest bid.

City officials said that method will still be used for smaller projects with clear scopes and fully developed plans.

They said the progressive design-build approach will be used for projects that require significant innovation and that face potential permitting and regulation headaches, such as sewer and water projects.

They said the “construction manager at risk” approach would likely be used for projects that require more design work, such as dams and large buildings.

Officials said other city projects that are candidates for the new method include Fire Station 49 in Otay Mesa, a proposed joint training facility for police and firefighters in Kearny Mesa and Phase Two of Pure Water — the city’s sewage recycling system.

Construction crews work on the Pure Water facility in mid-September 2024. (Ana Ramirez / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

While San Diego hasn’t previously used these construction methods, many other local agencies have since they first became common about a decade ago.

They were used to build the new Terminal 1 at San Diego International Airport, the sheriff’s Ramona substation and the San Diego Trolley’s Blue Line extension to University City.

“Early contractor involvement is critical,” said Matthew Fleming, a local contractor.

Michael Daneshvar of Turner Construction said the new method is the right move.

“It’s better value for the city of San Diego and better value for the taxpayers,” he said.

Mike Guzzi of Clark Construction said shifting to the new method will encourage higher-quality contractors to pursue the city’s projects.

“I think all of the major, competent and qualified general contractors in the area will lean more into San Diego projects,” he said.

Councilmember Marni von Wilpert said it can’t hurt for the city to have multiple possible ways to tackle projects.

“We need to broaden the options,” she said.

An aerial view of the San Diego Convention Center, as pictured on Aug. 4, 2025. (K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

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San Diego, CA

The Best Things to Do in San Diego: May 2026 | San Diego Magazine

Published

12 hours ago

April 20, 2026

Press Room

The Best Things to Do in San Diego: May 2026 | San Diego Magazine

When we think of May, we think of Mother’s Day, blooming flowers, sunny skies, and lots of fun, seasonal events in the city. This month, locals can dine on the creations of James Beard Award-Winning Chefs at Rancho Bernardo Inn, or take advantage of berry season at the annual Vista Strawberry Festival. Theatre lovers can enjoy a showing of Kim’s Convenience at The Old Globe, while the San Diego Natural History Museum invites art enthusiasts to view its latest marine-themed exhibit. Grab your tickets and crack open that planner. Here are all the best things to do in San Diego this month:

Concerts & Festivals | Theater & Art Exhibits | More Fun Things to Do

Concerts & Festivals in San Diego This Month

29

Louisiana legend Juvenile, enhances by the live instrumentation of The 400 Degreez Band, will perform career hits and his newest album, Boiling Point, at House of Blues San Diego.

Photo Credit: Dahlia Katz

Theater & Art Exhibits in San Diego This Month

5/5–6/1

Turning the spotlight on contemporary LGBTQ artists, the inaugural ArtSpectrum 2026 will showcase both the grand and intimate scale of contemporary painters, photographers, and mixed media artists at Village Arts Outreach in Balboa Park.

12–24

The only ordinary element of the San Diego International Fringe Festival is the constant thrill of the extraordinary. Discover a plethora of innovative performances at venues from Pacific Beach to Baja.

5/15–6/14

A Korean-Canadian family balances tradition and assimilation from their Toronto storefront in Ins Choi’s comforting satire Kim’s Convenience, making its local premier at The Old Globe.

5/22–2/2027

Ocean debris will receive a new beginning at the San Diego Natural History Museum. Using repurposed pollution, Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea depicts creatively sculpted marine life.

More Fun Things to Do in San Diego This Month

4/30–5/3

Enjoy fine dining at its finest from a lineup of gastronomic titans during 54 Hours with James Beard Award-Winning Chefs. Savor elegant meals, masterclasses, tastings, and more at Rancho Bernardo Inn.

2

Unlimited bites, regional craft beers, and animal observations are on the menu for San Diego Zoo Food, Wine & Brew (with live music), a culinary evening in support of the San Diego Wildlife Alliance.

7

Spend An Evening with David Sedaris, humorist, essayist, and best-selling author. Never afraid to point the pen at himself, Sedaris will share old favorites and works in progress in the classic satirical style he’s known for at Jacobs Music Center.

15–17

Say cheese! And toast to the Cheese & Libation Expo. Explore three days of all-you-can eat and drink fare at BRICK, along with boutique shopping and bountiful pairings.

PARTNER CONTENT

10 Years In, Puffer and Malarkey Are Just Getting Started

Elevating an Icon: Inside the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Clu…

16

Stroll the private grounds of several luxurious homes, accompanied by live music, tabletop designs, and outdoor artistry, during the Secret Garden Tour, La Jolla Historical Society‘s flora and fauna fundraiser.

24

Vista recalls its days as a strawberry-producing superpower through its free Strawberry Festival. Wear your berry best fit, watch film screenings, and enter contests for shortcake, pie, and sundae indulging.

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San Diego, CA

City considering cutting funding to resource center for those experiencing homelessness

Published

1 day ago

April 20, 2026

Press Room

City considering cutting funding to resource center for those experiencing homelessness

Last week Mayor Todd Gloria released the budget proposal for the 2027 fiscal budget. Protected homeless services is among his top priorities mentioned in the proposal. However, some of the reductions he’s proposing could impact thousands of San Diegans experiencing homelessness.

Located on 17^th and K Street, the Neil Good Day Center offers an array of services to nearly seven thousand people experiencing homelessness. The services include giving them a place to shower and do laundry, and connecting them to a case manager, among others.

“These are critical services that are helping people off the streets, but really better their lives and their health and their employment situation as well,” Deacon Vargas with Father Joe’s Villages said.

Deacon Jim Vargas heads Father Joe’s Villages, which runs the center. He said through their prevention and diversion strategies, they’ve managed to keep nearly one thousand individuals from falling into homelessness.

“So by helping them pay rent, or helping them with their utilities, or helping them to reunite with family,” Vargas said.

Right now, the city allocates at least $850,000 per year to the Neil Good Day Center, according to Vargas.

But the future and funding for these services are in limbo because of Mayor Todd Gloria’s proposed budget cuts.

“The impact to those whom we’ve been serving the Daily Center would be very severe,” Deacon Vargas said.

In a statement to NBC 7, Mayor Todd Gloria said in part, “We must find more efficient and cost-effective ways to address this crisis and prioritize funding for programs that provide shelter beds and maximize resources to programs that place people into permanent housing.”

Since it’s still at a proposal stage, Deacon Vargas said it’s unclear how the city will decide to move forward.

However, Deacon Vargas said services would be significantly reduced because they would be forced to operate solely on a budget of about half a million dollars they receive from philanthropy.

“The hours would be cut. Some days would be cut. We would have showers that might be impacted because they’re given seven days a week and we’d close two days a week, then the showers would be five days a week, the case management,” Deacon Vargas said.

Deacon Vargas is certain of one thing.

He would like to continue offering services at the Day Center, even if the city goes through with the funding cuts.

“As we work with individuals at the Day Center and at Father Joe’s Villages, the community becomes healthier as a result of it,” Deacon Vargas said.

The budget also recommends additional cuts to homeless services, but does not give specifics as to where those cuts would be.

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