INITIATIVE MEASURE TO BE SUBMITTED DIRECTLY TO THE VOTERS
To the Honorable City Council of the City of San Diego:
We the undersigned registered voters of the City of San Diego, California, by this petition hereby
respectfully propose the following legislative act be adopted by the City Council or submitted to the
registered voters of the City of San Diego for their adoption or rejection:
The People of the City of San Diego do ordain:
SECTION 1. Title.
This initiative measure (Initiative) shall be known and may be cited as the “SDSU West Campus
Research Center, Stadium and River Park Initiative.”
SECTION 2. Purpose, Intent, and Findings.
A. Purpose and Intent. The People of the City of San Diego find and declare that our purpose
and intent in enacting the Initiative is to:
1.

Adopt a new legislative policy of the City of San Diego (City) authorizing, directing,
and providing the means for the sale of the approximately 132 acres of real property
situated in the City at 9449 Friars Road, between Interstate 15 (I-15) and Interstate 8 (I8), as reflected on the site map attached hereto as Section 8, Exhibit “A”) (Existing
Stadium Site), to San Diego State University (SDSU) for Bona Fide Public Purposes;
provided, however, that:
(a) Such sale shall be at such price and upon such terms and timing as the City
Council shall deem to be fair and equitable and in the public interest, and
(b) Such sale will create jobs and economic synergies in the City and improve the
quality of life for Mission Valley residents through development of the following:
(i)

A Joint Use Stadium for SDSU Division 1 collegiate football and other
Potential Sports Partners, including but not limited to professional,
premier, or Major League Soccer (MLS) and adaptable for the National
Football League (NFL);

(ii) River park, walking and biking paths or trails, and associated open space
for use by all members of the public;
(iii) Passive and active recreation space, community and neighborhood parks;
(iv) Practice, intramural, intermural, and recreation fields;
(v) Facilities for educational, research, entrepreneurial, and technology
programs within a vibrant mixed-used campus village and research park
that is constructed in phases and comprised of:
a)

Academic and administrative buildings and classrooms;

b)

Commercial, technology, and office space, compatible and
synergistic with SDSU’s needs, to be developed through SDSUprivate partnerships, and with such uses contributing to sales tax

 and possessory interest tax, as applicable, to the City;

2.
B.

c)

Complementary retail uses to serve neighborhood residents and
businesses and create an exciting game-day experience for SDSU
football fans and other Potential Sports Partners, and with such
retail uses contributing to sales tax and possessory interest tax, as
applicable, to the City;

d)

Hotel(s) to support visitors to campus and stadium-related events,
provide additional meeting and conference facilities, and serve as
an incubator for graduate and undergraduate students in SDSU’s L.
Robert Payne School of Hospitality and Tourism Management; and
with such uses contributing to sales taxes, possessory interest taxes,
and transient occupancy taxes, as applicable, to the City;

e)

Faculty and staff housing to assist in the recruitment of nationally
recognized talent; and with such uses contributing to possessory
interest taxes, as applicable, to the City;

f)

Graduate and undergraduate student housing to assist athlete and
student recruitment; and with such uses contributing to possessory
interest taxes, as applicable, to the City;

g)

Apartment-style homes for the local community interested in
residing in proximity to a vibrant university village atmosphere;
and with such uses contributing to possessory interest taxes, as
applicable, to the City;

h)

Other market-rate, workforce and affordable homes in proximity to
a vibrant university village atmosphere; and with such uses
contributing to possessory interest taxes, as applicable, to the City;
and

i)

Trolley and other public transportation uses and improvements to
minimize vehicular traffic impacts in the vicinity.

Implement this legislative policy by amending the San Diego Municipal Code to add
Section 22.0908 to Chap. 2, Art. 2, Div. 9.

Findings. The People find, declare, and reason as follows:
1. The People of the City of San Diego desire to authorize and direct the sale of the Existing
Stadium Site to SDSU, but only if such sale is at such price and upon such terms as the
City Council shall deem to be fair and equitable.
2.

In arriving at the Fair Market Value, the City may fairly consider various factors,
adjustments, deductions, and equities including, but not limited to: the costs for
demolition, dismantling, and removal of the Existing Stadium; the costs associated with
addressing current flooding concerns; the costs of existing contamination; the costs for
revitalizing and restoring the adjacent River Park and the costs of avoiding, minimizing,
and mitigating impacts to biota and riparian habitat.

3. The People of the City of San Diego desire the Existing Stadium Site to be
comprehensively planned through an SDSU Campus Master Plan revision process, which

 process shall require full compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA; Pub. Resources Code, commencing with section 21000), the State CEQA
Guidelines (14 Cal. Code Regs., commencing with section 15000), Government Code
section 65451, subdivision (a), and Education Code section 67504, subdivisions (c) and
(d), along with ample opportunities for public participation, including input from the
Mission Valley Planning Group and other key stakeholder groups.
4. The People of the City of San Diego also desire that the above comprehensive SDSU
Campus Master Plan comply with the content requirements of a Specific Plan prepared
pursuant to California Government Code section 65451, subdivision (a), which provides
that “[a] specific plan shall include a text and a diagram or diagrams which specify all of
the following in detail: (1) The distribution, location, and extent of the uses of land,
including open space, within the area covered by the plan[,] (2) The proposed
distribution, location, and extent and intensity of major components of public and private
transportation, sewage, water, drainage, solid waste disposal, energy, and other essential
facilities proposed to be located within the area covered by the plan and needed to
support the land uses described in the plan[,] (3) Standards and criteria by which
development will proceed, and standards for the conservation, development, and
utilization of natural resources, where applicable[,] (4) A program of implementation
measures including regulations, programs, public works projects, and financing measures
necessary to carry out paragraphs (1), (2), and (3).”
5. The above environmental commitment, required during the SDSU Campus Master Plan
revision process, includes the CEQA requirement for SDSU to take steps to reach
agreements with the City and other public agencies regarding the payment of fair-share
mitigation costs for any identified off-site significant impacts related to campus growth
and development associated with the Existing Stadium Site. Pursuant to CEQA, such
steps shall include at least two publicly noticed environmental impact report (EIR)
scoping meetings; preparation of an EIR with all feasible alternatives and mitigation
measures; allowance for a 60-day public comment period on the Draft EIR; preparation
of written responses to public comments to be included in the Final EIR; and, a noticed
public hearing.
6. The People of the City of San Diego desire to exercise their reserved power of initiative
under the California Constitution and the City Charter to sell the Existing Stadium Site to
SDSU and amend the San Diego Municipal Code to implement such sale to another
public agency for Bona Fide Public Purposes, as set forth in Section 2.A., Purpose and
Intent, above. The People find that such purposes also constitute bona fide governmental
purposes under City Charter section 221.
7. The People of the City of San Diego desire revitalization and restoration of the San
Diego River Park south of the Existing Stadium Site as envisioned by past community
planning efforts so as to integrate the Mission Valley’s urban setting with the natural
environment; and incorporate active and passive park uses, 8- to 10-foot wide linear
walking and biking trails; a river buffer of native vegetation and measures to mitigate
drainage impacts and ensure compliance with water quality standards; and said River
Park improvements be made at no cost to the City General Fund and completed not later
than seven years from the date of execution of the sales agreement.
8. The People of the City of San Diego also desire the reservation and improvement of an
additional minimum of 22 acres within the Existing Stadium Site as publicly-accessible
active recreation space.
9. The People of the City of San Diego desire a Joint Use Stadium, comprised of

 approximately 35,000 seats for SDSU football, Potential Sports Partners, and the
community’s use year-round; and capable of accommodating the growth of the SDSU
Division 1 football program, and the inclusion of other Potential Sports Partners,
including but not limited to professional, premier, or MLS soccer and adaptable for the
NFL. The construction of the Joint Use Stadium shall be completed not later than seven
years from the date of execution of the sales agreement. The People of the City of San
Diego also desire the new Joint Use Stadium to have adjacent and convenient parking
and include all the amenities expected of a sports stadium – proximity to campus and
trolley access, an intimate fan-experience design, enhanced game-day experience for
fans, premium seating, access to technology, community gathering areas, local foods and
beverages, positive impact on athlete and student recruitment, positive economic impact
on the San Diego community, and the ability to attract other events due to expanded
capacity and functionality.
10. The People of the City of San Diego desire that the City not pay for any stadium
rehabilitation costs, stadium demolition or removal costs, stadium cost overruns, Joint
Use Stadium operating costs, Joint Use Stadium maintenance, or Joint Use Stadium
capital improvement expenses; and that the City be reimbursed for reasonable costs
incurred by the City in providing public safety and traffic management-related activities
for games or other events at the Existing Stadium Site.
11. The People of the City of San Diego seek to encourage the daily and efficient use of the
existing underutilized Metropolitan Transit System’s Green Line transit station,
accommodate the planned Purple Line transit station, and provide an enhanced pedestrian
connection to the existing light rail transit center, all of which are located proximate to
the City’s regional public transportation network.
12. The People of the City of San Diego desire the reuse of the Existing Stadium Site to
comply with the City’s development impact fee requirements, its housing impact
fees/affordable housing requirements, and its greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction
goals. Further, the People desire that the Existing Stadium Site focus growth into mixeduse activity areas that are pedestrian-friendly and linked to improved regional
transportation systems; draw upon the character and strengths of the City’s natural
environment, neighborhoods, commercial centers, institutions, and employment centers;
and sustain the long-term economic, environmental, and social health of the City and its
many communities.
13. Since its founding in 1897, SDSU has grown from a small teacher’s college into a
national research university of approximately 35,000 students enrolled in bachelor’s,
master’s and doctoral programs, and has engaged the entire San Diego region through
SDSU’s education, arts, cultural, and athletics events. For the past 120 years, SDSU has
become a critical component to the region’s higher education system, and has supported
the City's growth by offering first class education, training, leadership, and employment
to residents of the City and regionally. SDSU contributes an estimated $2.4 billion
annually to the San Diego City economy through approximately 35,000 students, about
9,000 university and auxiliary employees, and nearly 240,000 local alumni. As San
Diego continues to progress, the growth of SDSU will assist the region in creating and
preparing a qualified and job-ready workforce for the region’s industries, providing
employment opportunities for a highly trained and educated workforce, and promoting
the City as a great place to live and work.
14. The Mission Valley Terminal, a petroleum fuel distribution facility, located north of the
Existing Stadium Site, has had historical accidental releases of petroleum from its fuel

 supply operations, and those operations have contaminated soil and groundwater on- and
off-site. The City has entered into settlement agreements with certain adjacent
landowners to address the contamination, and these agreements govern the allocation of
costs for mitigation or remediation work on, under, or in the vicinity of the Existing
Stadium Site and San Diego River Park. This Initiative will not alter any obligations
under existing settlement agreements that pertain to the Existing Stadium Site and the
San Diego River Park.
15. All proceeds received by the City from the sale contemplated by this Initiative shall be
allocated and deposited as required by law.
16. Nothing in this Initiative is intended to limit the financing mechanisms available to
SDSU to acquire the Existing Stadium Site, or to proceed with any component or phase
of development if the sale contemplated herein is consummated. SDSU-private
partnerships also are contemplated to realize the public purposes and benefits described
in this Initiative.
17. This Initiative will not raise or impose any new or additional taxes on City residents. To
the contrary, this Initiative adopts an innovative legislative policy authorizing the sale of
the Existing Stadium Site to a public agency for Bona Fide Public Purposes, and
implements this delegated authorization by amending the San Diego Municipal Code.
18. The provisions and mandates set forth in this Initiative for the sale of the Existing
Stadium Site to SDSU, and its other related provisions, are independent of, and shall not
be subject to, any previously enacted city ordinance or resolution pertaining to the sale of
property owned or controlled by the city, including but not limited to Sections 22.0902
(sales of real property), 22.0903, and 22.0907 (sales of real property to public agencies)
of the San Diego Municipal Code.
19. This Initiative does not adopt or amend any zoning ordinance or any other similar
document (e.g., a general plan, community plan, specific plan, or development
agreement) that would (a) convert any discretionary land use approval to a ministerial
approval, (b) change the zoning classification on any parcel or parcels covered by the
Initiative to a more intensive classification, or (c) authorize more intensive land uses
within an existing zoning district.
20. Accordingly, implementing the Initiative will protect the public health, safety, and
welfare, and enhance the quality of life for the People of the City of San Diego.
SECTION 3.

Amendment to the San Diego Municipal Code.

A new section is added to Chapter 2 (Government), Article 2, Division 9, of the San Diego
Municipal Code as follows (new language to be inserted into the San Diego Municipal Code is
shown as underlined text):
§ 22.0908

Sale of Real Property to SDSU
The Existing Stadium Site belonging to the City is needed for Bona Fide Public
Purposes by SDSU, a public agency, and for that reason, the City shall sell such
property to SDSU in accordance with the City Charter, but only if such sale is in
compliance with the conditions herein established.
(a) Such sale shall be at such price and upon such terms as the Council shall deem
to be fair and equitable and in the public interest; and the City may fairly

 consider various factors, including but not limited to: adjustments, deductions,
and equities in arriving at a Fair Market Value.
(b) Such sale shall proceed without advertising for bids and shall not be subject to
any of the provisions of this Code pertaining to the sale of City property,
including but not limited to Sections 22.0902, 22.0903, and 22.0907.
(c) Such sale shall provide for the development of:
(1)

A new Joint Use Stadium for SDSU Division 1 collegiate football and
other Potential Sports Partners including but not limited to
professional, premier, or MLS soccer and adaptable for the NFL;

(2)

A River Park, public trails, walking and biking paths or trails, and
associated open space for use by all members of the public;

(3)

Passive and active recreation space, community and neighborhood
parks;

(4)

Practice, intramural, intermural, and recreation fields;

(5)

Facilities for educational, research, entrepreneurial, and technology
programs within a vibrant mixed-used campus village and research
park that is constructed in phases and comprised of:
(A)

Academic and administrative buildings and classrooms;

(B)

Commercial, technology, and office space, compatible and
synergistic with SDSU’s needs, to be developed through
SDSU-private partnerships, and with such uses contributing to
sales tax and possessory interest tax, as applicable, to the
City;

(C)

Complementary retail uses serving neighborhood residents
and businesses while also creating an exciting college gameday experience for SDSU football fans and other Potential
Sports Partners, and with such retail uses contributing to sales
tax and possessory interest tax, as applicable, to the City;

(D)

Hotel(s) to support visitors to campus and stadium-related
events, provide additional meeting and conference facilities,
and serve as an incubator for graduate and undergraduate
students in SDSU’s L. Robert Payne School of Hospitality
and Tourism Management; and with such uses contributing to
sales taxes, possessory interest taxes, and transient occupancy
taxes, as applicable, to the City;

(E)

Faculty and staff housing to assist in the recruitment of
nationally recognized talent, and with such uses contributing
to possessory interest taxes, as applicable, to the City;

(F)

Graduate and undergraduate student housing to assist athlete
and student recruitment, and with such uses contributing to
possessory interest taxes, as applicable, to the City;

 (G)

Apartment-style homes for the local community interested in
residing in proximity to a vibrant university village
atmosphere, and with such uses contributing to possessory
interest taxes, as applicable, to the City;

(H)

Other market-rate, workforce and affordable homes in
proximity to a vibrant university village atmosphere, and with
such uses contributing to possessory interest taxes, as
applicable, to the City; and

(I)

Trolley and other public transportation uses and
improvements to minimize vehicular traffic impacts in the
vicinity.

(d) Such sale shall be based on the Fair Market Value of the Existing Stadium Site,
and the City may fairly consider various factors, adjustments, deductions, and
equities, including, but not limited to: the costs for demolition, dismantling, and
removal of the Existing Stadium; the costs associated with addressing current
flooding concerns; the costs of existing contamination; the costs for revitalizing
and restoring the adjacent River Park and the costs of avoiding, minimizing, and
mitigating impacts to biota and riparian habitat.
(e) Such sale shall be at such price and upon such terms as are fair and equitable,
including without limitation payment terms, periodic payments, payment
installments, and other payment mechanisms.
(f) After such sale, the Existing Stadium Site shall be comprehensively planned
through an SDSU Campus Master Plan revision process, which process requires
full compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (Pub. Resources
Code commencing with section 21000), the State CEQA Guidelines (14 Cal. Code
Regs., commencing with section 15000), and Education Code section 67504,
subdivisions (c) and (d), along with ample opportunities for public participation,
including but not limited to input from the Mission Valley Planning Group.
(g) Though not required by the SDSU Campus Master Plan revision process, SDSU
shall use the content requirements of a Specific Plan, prepared pursuant to
California Government Code section 65451, subdivision (a), in completing the
SDSU Campus Master Plan revision contemplated by this section.
(h) The environmental commitment set forth in subdivision (f) shall include the
requirements arising under CEQA for SDSU to: (i) take steps to reach agreements
with the City of San Diego and other public agencies regarding the payment of
fair-share mitigation costs for any identified off-site significant impacts related to
campus growth and development associated with the Existing Stadium Site; and
(ii) include at least two publicly noticed environmental impact report (EIR)
scoping meetings, preparation of an EIR with all feasible alternatives and
mitigation measures, allowance for a 60-day public comment period on the Draft
EIR, preparation of written responses to public comments to be included in the
Final EIR, and a noticed public hearing.
(i) Such sale shall cause the approximate 34-acre San Diego River Park south of the
Existing Stadium Site to be revitalized and restored as envisioned by past
community planning efforts so as to integrate the Mission Valley’s urban setting
with the natural environment; the River Park will incorporate active and passive

 park uses, 8- to 10-foot wide linear walking and biking trails; a river buffer of
native vegetation, and measures to mitigate drainage impacts and ensure
compliance with water quality standards. River Park improvements shall be made
at no cost to the City General Fund and completed not later than seven years from
the date of execution of the sales agreement. The City shall designate or set aside
for park purposes the River Park pursuant to City Charter Section 55. In addition,
the Existing Stadium Site shall reserve and improve an additional minimum of 22
acres as publicly-accessible active recreation space.
(j) Such sale shall result in the demolition, dismantling, and removal of the Existing
Stadium and construction of a new Joint Use Stadium. The construction of the
Joint Use Stadium shall be completed not later than seven years from the date of
execution of the sales agreement.
(k) Such sale shall facilitate the daily and efficient use of the existing underutilized
Metropolitan Transit System’s Green Line transit station, accommodate a planned
Purple Line transit station, and enhance a pedestrian connection to the existing
light rail transit center.
(l) Such sale and ultimate development shall require development within the Existing
Stadium Site to comply with the City’s development impact fee requirements,
parkland dedication requirements, and housing impact fees/affordable housing
requirements.
(m) Such sale and ultimate development shall require development within the Existing
Stadium Site to comply with the City’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction
goals.
(n) Such sale, upon completion, shall ensure that the City does not pay for any
stadium rehabilitation costs, stadium demolition or removal costs, stadium cost
overruns, Joint Use Stadium operating costs, Joint Use Stadium maintenance, or
Joint Use Stadium capital improvement expenses; and that the City be reimbursed
for reasonable costs incurred by the City in providing public safety and traffic
management-related activities for games or other events at the Existing Stadium
Site.
(o) Such sale and ultimate development shall not impair or preclude SDSU from
engaging in SDSU-private partnerships with other entities or affiliates to finance,
construct, and operate the resulting buildings and facilities on the Existing
Stadium Site for a defined period of time.
(p) Such sale and ultimate development shall not impair the City’s ability to continue
its plan of environmental remediation of the Existing Stadium Site and River Park
based on its existing agreements with responsible parties.
(q) Such sale shall not raise or impose any new or additional taxes on City residents.
(r) Such sale shall not prohibit SDSU from leasing, selling, or exchanging any portion
of the Existing Stadium Site to an entity or affiliate as part of a SDSU-private
partnership/arrangement, or to an SDSU auxiliary organization.
(s) Such sale shall require SDSU and the City to negotiate fair-share contributions for
feasible mitigation and applicable taxes for development within the Existing
Stadium Site.

 (t) Such sale shall not change or alter any obligation under any existing lease
regarding the use of Existing Stadium Site, or any portion thereof, that continues
in effect until approximately 2018 and that could be extended until approximately
2022 or thereafter.
(u) Such sale shall acknowledge that portions of the Existing Stadium Site are
currently owned by the City’s Public Utilities Department, which has reserved
rights to extract subsurface water, minerals, and other substances (excluding those
under permanently erected structures) and that such department has received, and
may continue to receive, compensation for its portion of the Existing Stadium Site.
If the Initiative is approved, the sale shall acknowledge said department’s
entitlement, if any, to receive compensation for its portion of the Existing Stadium
Site at a price that is fair and equitable, in the public interest, and commensurate
with prior compensation actually received.
(v) Such sale shall require the City and SDSU to cooperate to modify or vacate
easements or secure lot line adjustments on the Existing Stadium Site (other than
easements of the City or any utility department of the City for which the City
retains its full regulatory discretion), so that development of the Existing Stadium
Site is facilitated.
(w) Such sale shall require SDSU or its designee to pay prevailing wages for
construction of the Joint Use Stadium and other public improvements, provided
that the construction occurs on state-owned property or involves the use of state
funding. To the extent possible under state law, all building and construction work
shall be performed by contractors and subcontractors licensed by the State of
California, who shall make good faith efforts to ensure that their workforce
construction hours are performed by residents of San Diego County. With respect
to the new Joint Use Stadium, SDSU will use good faith efforts to retain qualified
employees who currently work at the Existing Stadium.
(x) For the purpose of this division, the following definitions shall apply:
(1)

“Bona Fide Public Purposes” means a good faith or genuine use or uses
for public or government purposes such as public university uses or
facilities; institutional uses or facilities; offices; buildings; stadium, park,
open space, trail, and recreation uses and facilities; academic uses and
facilities; public parking; faculty, staff, student and residential marketrate and affordable housing; hotel uses and facilities to support university
goals and objectives; and public-private partnership support uses and
facilities, including but not limited to commercial, neighborhood-serving
retail, research, technology, development, entrepreneurial, and residential
uses, because all such uses, individually and cumulatively, promote or
facilitate SDSU’s higher education mission, goals, and objectives.

(2)

“Campus Master Plan” means an SDSU physical master plan, or any
revisions to such plan, to guide future development of SDSU facilities,
based on academic goals for an established time horizon.

(3)

“Existing Stadium Site” means the approximate 132-acre real property
situated in the City of San Diego at 9449 Friars Road, between Interstate
15 (I-15) and Interstate 8 (I-8), as reflected on the site map attached
hereto as Section 8, Exhibit A (page A-1).

 (4)

“Existing Stadium” means the existing “SDCCU Stadium,” formerly
known as Qualcomm Stadium and Jack Murphy Stadium, located on the
Existing Stadium Site, as of Initiative Effective Date.

(5)

“Fair Market Value” means the value of the Existing Stadium Site with a
date of value that is the date of the “Initiative Notice Date,” defined
below. This determination is intended to be based on a value of the
Existing Stadium Site that does not consider any later effect on value
caused by adoption of this Initiative. In determining the appropriate
factors to use, the City may consider an independent appraisal or
appraisals of the Fair Market Value of the Existing Stadium Site, which
considers the physical condition of the Existing Stadium Site and other
above-identified factors, adjustments, deductions, and equities as of the
Initiative Notice Date, together with the zoning for such property and
other permits and approvals for development, as of the Initiative Notice
Date. Any and all such appraisals, including any prepared for SDSU,
shall be made available to the public upon submittal to the City.

(6)

“Initiative” means the “SDSU West Campus Research Center, Stadium
and River Park Initiative” adopted on the Initiative Effective Date.

(7)

“Initiative Effective Date” means the date that the Initiative becomes
effective.

(8)

“Initiative Notice Date” means the date the Notice of Intent is first
published signaling the intent to circulate the Initiative.

(9)

“Joint Use Stadium” means a quality multi-use outdoor stadium
comprised of approximately 35,000 seats for collegiate and professional
sports, including use for SDSU Division 1 football, National Collegiate
Athletic Association Football Bowl Subdivision Division 1 programs, the
National Football League, professional, premier, or Major League
Soccer, collegiate and professional football bowl games, other sports, and
other events, including without limitation concession areas, restaurants,
bars, clubs, retail stores, kiosks, media facilities, athletic training and
medical facilities, locker rooms, offices, meeting rooms, banquet
facilities, ticketing facilities, on- and off-site signage, scoreboards, and
other ancillary and support uses and facilities customarily made part of a
stadium of the quality necessary to house collegiate and professional or
premier sports, civic events, conventions, exhibitions, concerts and other
outdoor events. SDSU also can explore, and proceed with, a phased
build-out of such stadium that will allow SDSU to add on to such
stadium at a later point to facilitate SDSU growth and acquisition of
Potential Sports Partners.

(10)

“Potential Sports Partners” means collegiate or professional sports
leagues including but not limited to football, soccer, esports, or other
high level or premier sports leagues, clubs, or franchises.

(11) “River Park” means approximately 34-acres of land south of the Existing
Stadium Site to be revitalized and restored as envisioned by past
community planning efforts so as to integrate the Mission Valley’s urban
setting with the natural environment (see Site Map, attached hereto as
Section 8, Exhibit “A”); the River Park will incorporate active and

 passive park/recreation uses, 8- to 10-foot wide linear walking and biking
trails; a river buffer of native vegetation, and measures to mitigate
drainage impacts and ensure compliance with water quality standards.
(12) “SDSU” means San Diego State University, a California State
University, with authority delegated by the Board of Trustees of the
California State University, which is the State of California acting in its
higher education capacity; and any SDSU auxiliary organization, entity,
or affiliate. As defined, SDSU is a public university; and as such, acts in
its capacity as a state public agency. Nothing in this Initiative abrogates,
or is intended to abrogate, the authority of the Board of Trustees of the
California State University.
(y) This section shall be liberally construed in order to effectuate its purpose, intent
and findings. No error, irregularity, informality, and no neglect or omission of
any officer, in any procedure taken under this division which does not directly
affect the jurisdiction of the City to order the work, contract, or process shall
void or invalidate such work, contract, or process done thereunder.
(z) Nothing in this section abrogates, or is intended to abrogate, the Mayor’s
administrative and executive authority, particularly with regard to engaging in
good faith contract negotiations, including purchase and sales agreements for
the City. The section does not mandate, dictate, or impede the Mayor’s
administrative or executive authorities; instead, the section makes clear the
City’s legislative policy is to sell the Existing Stadium Site to SDSU for Bona
Fide Public Purposes consistent with the purpose, intent, findings, and
conditions set forth above in this section.
(aa) The sale of the Existing Stadium Site to SDSU, and its other related provisions,
shall be independent of, and shall not be subject to, any previously enacted City
ordinance or resolution pertaining to the sale of property owned or controlled
by the City, including but not limited to Sections 22.0902 (sales of real
property), 22.0903, and 22.0907 (sales of real property to public agencies) of
the San Diego Municipal Code.
SECTION 4. Implementation of Initiative.
A. Upon the effective date of this Initiative, the City of San Diego is directed to promptly take
all appropriate actions needed to implement this Initiative. This Initiative is considered
adopted and effective upon the earliest date legally possible after the City Council adopts
this Initiative, or the Elections Official certifies the vote on this Initiative by the voters of
the City of San Diego, whichever occurs earlier.
B. Upon the effective date of this Initiative, the provisions of Section 3 are hereby inserted into
the San Diego Municipal Code without alteration.
SECTION 5. Effect of Other Measures on the Same Ballot.
In approving this Initiative, the People of the City of San Diego hereby establishes a new legislative
policy and authorizes, mandates, and directs the sale of the Existing Stadium Site to SDSU for Bona
Fide Public Purposes that will then facilitate creation of a SDSU Campus Master Plan to govern the
future use and development of the Existing Stadium Site. To ensure this intent is not frustrated, this
Initiative is presented to the voters with the express intent that it will compete with any and all voter
initiatives or City-sponsored measures placed on the same ballot as this Initiative and which, if

 approved, would regulate the use or development of the Existing Stadium Site in any manner or in
any part whatsoever (each, a "Conflicting Initiative"). In the event that this Initiative and one or
more Conflicting Initiatives are adopted by the voters in the same election, then it is the voters'
intent that only that measure that receives the greatest number of affirmative votes shall control in
its entirety and said other measure or measures shall be rendered void and without any legal effect.
In no event shall this Initiative be interpreted in a manner that would permit its operation in
conjunction with the non-conflicting provisions of any Conflicting Initiative. If this Initiative is
approved by the voters but superseded by law in whole or in part by any other Conflicting Initiative
approved by the voters at the same election, and such Conflicting Initiative is later held invalid, this
Initiative shall be self-executing and given immediate effect and full force of law.
SECTION 6. Interpretation and Severability.
A. This Initiative shall be interpreted so as to be consistent with all federal and state laws,
rules, and regulations. If any section, sub-section, sentence, clause, phrase, part, or portion
of this Initiative is held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a final judgment of a court of
competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions
of this Initiative. The People of the City of San Diego declare that this Initiative, and each
section, sub-section, sentence, clause, phrase, part, or portion thereof, would have been
adopted or passed irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, sub-sections,
sentences, clauses, phrases, parts, or portions are found to be invalid. If any provision of
this Initiative is held invalid as applied to any person or circumstance, such invalidity shall
not affect any application of this Initiative that can be given effect without the invalid
application.
B. This Initiative does not alter any City obligations under existing settlement agreements that
pertain to the Existing Stadium Site.
C. If any portion of this Initiative is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, the
People of the City of San Diego express the strong desire that: (i) the City Council use its
best efforts to sustain and re-enact that portion; and (ii) the City Council implement this
Initiative by taking all steps possible to cure any inadequacies or deficiencies identified by
the court in a manner consistent with the express and implied intent of this Initiative,
including adopting or reenacting any such portion in a manner consistent with the purpose,
intent, and findings of this Initiative.
D. This Initiative shall be broadly construed in order to achieve the purpose, intent, and
findings stated above. It is the intent of the People of the City of San Diego that the
provisions of this Initiative be interpreted or implemented by the City and others in a
manner that facilitates the purpose, intent, and findings set forth in this Initiative.
SECTION 7. Amendment.
A. On or after the 20th Anniversary of the adoption of this Initiative, a vote of the people shall
not be required to amend or repeal any portion of this Initiative, and this Initiative and the
Amendments that it adopts, including all exhibits thereto, may be amended or repealed by
any procedure otherwise authorized by law.
B. Any amendments to this Initiative shall not impair the contractual rights or vested rights
conferred by a lease and option agreement or any associated development agreement.
SECTION 8. List of Initiative Exhibits.
The Exhibits to this Initiative are:

 Exhibit A: Site Map

Exhibit A - Site Map
MISSION
DR
VILLAGE

RS
IA
R
F

SAN
DI

EGO

MISS

ION

RD

INTE

N
O

5
TE 1
RSTA

RT
HS
ID
E
DR

FEN
TON

RD

PY

Existing Stadium Site

IN

TE 8
STA
TE R

River Park

0

page A-1

300

Feet
600