City agrees to repeal paid Balboa Park parking, lower trash fees to end lawsuit

The San Diego City Council reached a settlement Wednesday to end a lawsuit over trash fees and paid parking. As part of the agreement, the city will reduce trash fees by less than $5 a month, bringing them to $38.75 starting next year, and will revoke paid parking at Balboa Park, beginning Jan. 1, 2027. In exchange, the plaintiffs, a group of homeowners, must drop their efforts to repeal the trash fees via a citizen initiative this fall. This decision is a compromise that allows the city to avoid potential losses from ongoing litigation while addressing public opposition to the fees. However, the settlement leaves the city to find alternative revenue sources to fill the gap, as the budget process for Fiscal Year 2027 enters its final weeks. The trash fee was introduced in June 2025 following the passage of Measure B, which ended over 100 years of free trash pickup for single-family homes. The plaintiffs argued the fees violate Proposition 218, claiming the approved rate of $23 to $29 was adjusted to nearly $44. The move to scrap Balboa Park's paid parking program was also a key demand from the plaintiffs, as attendance at the park's museums had dropped significantly since the fees went into effect in January. Councilman Raul Campillo, who voted against both the fees, praised the settlement as a win for reducing the cost of living and rebuilding trust in city government. The legal battle, which included arguments from former City Attorney Michael Aguirre, is expected to be dismissed this week.

(Source：Nbc 7 San Diego)