JOINT MEETING OF THE
EL CAJON CITY COUNCIL/HOUSING
AUTHORITY/SUCCESSOR AGENCY
TO THE EL CAJON
REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
MINUTES
CITY OF EL CAJON
EL CAJON, CALIFORNIA
January 27, 2026
An Adjourned Regular Joint Meeting of the El Cajon City Council/Housing Authority/ Successor Agency to the El Cajon Redevelopment Agency, held Tuesday, January 27, 2026, was called to order by Mayor/Chair Bill Wells at 7:05 p.m., in the Council Chambers, 200 Civic Center Way, El Cajon, California. This meeting was adjourned from the Adjourned Regular Joint Meeting held at 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 27, 2026, by order of the El Cajon City Council/Housing Authority/Successor Agency to the El Cajon Redevelopment Agency.
ROLL CALL
Council/Agencymembers present:
Council/Agencymembers absent:
Mayor Pro TemNice Chair present:
Mayor/Chair present:
Other Officers present:
Goble, Kendrick, and Ortiz
None
Metschel
Wells
Mitchell, City Manager/Executive Director
DiMaggio, Assistant City Manager
Thorn, Deputy City Manager
Lyon, City Attorney/General Counsel
Cortez, City Clerk/Secretary
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG led by Mayor Wells and MOMENT OF SILENCE.
Joint Meeting: El Cajon City Council/Housing Authority/ Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency -21-
January 27, 2026
7:00 p.m.
AGENDA CHANGES:
Mayor Wells announced that due to the number of people in the audience, Commission Interviews, Item 1, would be considered next on the agenda.
COMMISION INTERVIEWS:
1. Interviews for City Commissions
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council conducts interviews for one (1) seat on the Personnel Commission and one (1) seat on the Planning Commission, and authorizes the City Clerk to continue accepting applications for future commission vacancies.
DISCUSSION
Personnel Commission
Vacancy: One (1) Commissioner vacancy to be appointed by the City Council directly, with a term expiring on 01/31/2030.
Requirements: Applicant must be a resident of the City of El Cajon and continue to reside in the City during the term of office. Applicants nominated by the employee associations are not subject to this requirement according to Section 2.24.11 O of the El Cajon Municipal Code.
Personnel Commissioners are required to file a Form 700 according to provisions of the Political Reform Act, the Fair Political Practices Commission, and the City's Conflict of Interest Code.
Applicants for the Personnel Commission:
1. Richard Nasif
MOTION BY GOBLE, SECOND BY KENDRICK, to APPOINT Richard Nasif to the Personnel Commission, with a term to expire on January 31, 2030.
MOTION CARRIED BY UNANIMOUS VOTE.
Planning Commission
Vacancy: One (1) Commissioner with a Term expiration of 01/31/2030.
Requirements: Applicant must be a resident of the City of El Cajon and continue to reside in the City during the term of office.
Joint Meeting: El Cajon City Council/Housing Authority/ Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency -22-
January 27, 2026
7:00 p.m.
COMMISION INTERVIEWS: (Item 1 - Continued)
Planning Commissioners are required to file a Form 700 according to provisions of the Political Reform Act, the Fair Political Practices Commission, and the City's Conflict of Interest Code.
Applicants for the Planning Commission:
1. Gavin J. Busby
2. Ivan Cruz
3. Anthony Sottile
MOTION BY METSCHEL, to APPOINT Ivan Cruz to the Planning Commission, with a term to expire on January 31, 2030.
MOTION FAILED DUE TO A LACK OF A
SECOND TO THE MOTION.
MOTION BY ORTIZ, SECOND BY KENDRICK, to APPOINT Anthony Sottile to the Planning Commission, with a term to expire on January 31, 2030.
MOTION CARRIED BY UNANIMOUS VOTE.
Mayor Wells announced that Public Comments would be limited to 2 minutes.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Gary Kendrick spoke about the political state of the County and shared that he felt the need to speak up for Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
Allyson Smith spoke in support of cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Chris Ford spoke in opposition of cooperating with ICE.
Mary Ann Ostermeyer spoke in opposition of cooperating with ICE.
Melissa Burrows read a statement from Alex Pretti's family.
Christine Sphar spoke in opposition of cooperating with ICE.
Chuck Kaye, Candidate . for District 1 for 2026, expressed concern regarding Councilmember Kendrick's priorities and spoke about being solution focused.
Joint Meeting: El Cajon City Council/Housing Authority/ Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency w23~
January 27, 2026
7:00 p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT: (Continued)
Will Coppock requested a moment of silence for Renee Good and Alex Pretti, and thanked Deputy Mayor Metschel and Councilmember Kendrick for voting no on Resolution 015-25, regarding immigration.
Ramses L. thanked Councilmember Kendrick for his comments at an earlier press conference and spoke in opposition of the actions of ICE.
Alexander Kraft, Candidate for Mayor for 2026, thanked Councilmember Kendrick standing up to his political party and spoke in opposition of Mayor Well's actions.
Alicia Aguayo thanked Councilmember Kendrick and spoke in opposition of Resolution 015-25, regarding immigration.
Peggy Meredith spoke in opposition of the actions of ICE.
Patricia Berndt spoke in support of Deputy Mayor Metschel and Councilmember Kendrick, and expressed concern regarding the Attorney General's lawsuit regarding the City's Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR) policy.
Steph Cauchon read a statement from Mairene Branham regarding Resolution 015-25, regarding immigration.
Carlos Gutierrez spoke in support of ICE and other Law Enforcement branches.
Mary Davis spoke in support of finding common ground and ICE removing violent criminals.
Ilka Weston spoke in opposition of Mayor Wells.
Crystal Abrahim spoke in support of Councilmember Kendrick and recited a quote from Pope Fransis.
Councilmember Goble spoke about criminals that have been removed from El Cajon by ICE and Resolution 015-25, regarding immigration.
ADJOURNMENT: Mayor Wells adjourned the Adjourned Regular Joint Meeting of the El Cajon City Council/Housing Authority/Successor Agency to the El Cajon Redevelopment Agency, held this 27th day of January, 2026, at 8:21 p.m., to Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at 3:00 p.m.
Joint Meeting: El Cajon City Council/Housing Authority/ Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency -24-
~CMc
City Clerk/Secretary
January 27, 2026
7:00 p.m.