SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — The San Diego City Council declined to approve a proposed settlement that would have ended a lawsuit filed by residents alleging the city’s trash fee, implemented in 2025, is illegal, according to the plaintiffs’ attorney.
“City Council declined to agree to the settlement in closed session today,” attorney Michael Aguirre, who represents the plaintiffs, said in an email.
The city council meeting ended Monday evening without the council even discussing the matter.
“We definitely feel that the city was trying to pull a fast one on us basically because of the budget being so out of control right now. They're looking to get money any way they possibly can,” Patty Ducey-Brooks, one of the residents who filed the lawsuit last year, said.
The Uptown area resident said she was surprised the city didn't settle the lawsuit and had believed the matter was going to be resolved with trash fees being reduced to $23 - $29 a month instead of the $47.59 many are now paying.
In 2022, San Diego voters approved a monthly trash fee ranging from $23-29 a month as part of a ballot measure.
The lawsuit is scheduled to head to civil trial Tuesday afternoon in San Diego Superior Court.
The City Attorney’s Office said the city does not comment on pending litigation when asked for comment Monday morning.
Mayor Todd Gloria's office responded to ABC 10News' request for comment, with the mayor saying in part:
“Repeal of the trash fee would blow an estimated $150 million hole in the City’s budget. This would mean radical cuts to city services including layoffs of firefighters and police officers and permanent closures of libraries and recreation centers. The special interests who are working overtime to advance this bad idea are motivated by politics, not protecting ratepayers. Because if they are successful, the people who lose are you — the people of this city.”
