San Diego Council to Weigh Proposed Local-Control Resolution for Autonomous Vehicles
The San Diego City Council is scheduled to consider a proposed citywide resolution Monday seeking more local authority over autonomous passenger services, less than two weeks after Waymo began offering rides in the city.
Item 201 is listed for the council’s 2 p.m. discussion and adoption agenda on September 14, 2026. The full council meeting begins at 10 a.m. The proposal would urge the California Legislature and governor to restore local control over autonomous-vehicle passenger-service operations.
The resolution is supported by Councilmembers Sean Elo-Rivera and Marni von Wilpert. The council had not voted on it as of Sunday, September 13.
What Item 201 would ask for
The proposed resolution would support H.R. 10033, the AV Emergency Response Coordination Act, concerning coordination between autonomous-vehicle operators and public-safety personnel during emergencies.
It also would urge state officials to require responsible autonomous-vehicle operations and protect vulnerable workers from job displacement. The city’s preview identifies taxi, rideshare, transportation-network-company and delivery drivers as workers whose livelihoods could be affected as artificial-intelligence and autonomous-vehicle systems expand.
Other provisions would call for cooperation between autonomous-vehicle operators and the city on public-safety, noise, curbside-use, accessibility and data-privacy standards. These are policy concerns raised by the resolution’s supporters, not findings that the council has already adjudicated.
What it would—and would not—do
A council resolution would state San Diego’s policy position and ask state and federal officials to act. It would not itself create new local autonomous-vehicle regulations, halt Waymo service or immediately change the company’s operations in San Diego.
The proposal reflects a dispute over which level of government should oversee autonomous passenger services. It asks California to restore authority to cities, while the current state regulatory framework remains in place.
Why the issue is before the council now
Waymo began offering passenger service in San Diego on September 1, according to Times of San Diego. That report said the vehicles were operating on downtown streets, in coastal neighborhoods and in Balboa Park, but not on freeways or to the airport at that time.
Supporters say the city should have a voice in decisions affecting streets, transportation workers, emergency response, neighborhoods, accessibility and local infrastructure. The city’s official preview also raises concerns about public safety, noise, curbside use and data privacy.
Waymo and local advocacy groups have urged councilmembers and Mayor Todd Gloria to reject the proposal. They have argued that restrictions could reduce transportation choices and limit potential safety, economic and accessibility benefits. Those statements are responses to the pending resolution, not independent findings established by the council.
How residents can participate
The council meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday at the City Administration Building, 202 C Street, with the Item 201 discussion and adoption agenda set for 2 p.m. The city also lists online and telephone participation options.
Item 201 lists an expected public-comment allocation of one minute per person. Speaking times remain subject to the Council President’s discretion. Residents may comment in person, online or by telephone and should identify Item 201 when submitting written comments or requesting to speak.
The council could adopt, amend, postpone or reject the proposed resolution. For residents, the immediate event is a debate and possible vote on the city’s position—not a new San Diego autonomous-vehicle regulation. Any practical effect on Waymo’s availability, routes or operations would depend on later action by state or federal policymakers.
Sources
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