Mayor: San Diego stadium 'should be ratified by a majority vote'

SAN DIEGO -- After a second, short negotiation session with Chargers chairman Dean Spanos on Monday, San Diego mayor Kevin Faulconer announced a timeline that could fulfill the NFL's deadline for an approved stadium plan delivered to a public vote by the end of the year.

There's one major sticking point, however. The city still has to broker a deal on a finance plan and a location for a new stadium that meets the approval of the Chargers.

Faulconer said the city council can call a special election by Dec. 15 of this year, if those negotiations are successful. The election would be citywide. According to Faulconer, the San Diego city council has until Sept. 18 to approve ballot measures for a special election and to send them to the registrar of voters.

The vote would be by mail-in ballot, which is less expensive than a traditional election. Because Faulconer proposed a mail-in ballot, a countywide election cannot be held because county regulations prohibit mail-in elections. However, the county remains a financial partner with the city in the stadium proposal.

If the Chargers choose to stay in San Diego another year, a vote could occur during one of the next regularly scheduled elections in June or November 2016.

Faulconer, who remains committed to a public vote, offered two reasons why it is the best way to move forward.

"First, it's the right thing to do," he said. "As you've heard me talk about, with a project this size and scope, it should be ratified by a majority vote of the people.

"And second, a public vote provides more certainty and saves time, by removing the possibility of a costly and lengthy referendum challenge. ... We have all of the ingredients for success if we work closely together with the Chargers."

No representatives from the Chargers were present when Faulconer made his remarks. Based on their research by their own election attorneys, the Chargers have reservations that the process for a public vote can be completed in the calendar year.

Faulconer told reporters a third meeting is scheduled between the two sides in the coming days.

In May, the mayor-appointed citizens stadium advisory group released its recommendations for a $1.1 billion stadium project in Mission Valley, the current site of Qualcomm Stadium. The task force identified funding sources of $1.4 billion as a financing framework.

The Chargers and the NFL have said they do not believe the task force's proposal is actionable.