Time and Location
2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month. 3:00 PM
Council Chambers
200 Civic Center Way
El Cajon, CA 92020
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elcajon.gov/videostreaming
or Facebook Live (comments are not monitored)
In-Person Comments
Members of the public may address the City Council/Agency Members on any item listed on the agenda, or on matters which are not listed on the agenda but are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the City Council, Housing Authority and Successor Agency to the El Cajon Redevelopment Agency.
Public comments are limited to three (3) minutes per person, per agenda item.
Written Comments
Comments must be emailed to [email protected] or mailed to the City Clerk at 200 Civic Center Way, El Cajon, CA 92020 and received by 4:00 pm the day prior to the City Council meeting for prompt distribution. Written public comments will be recorded in the public record and will be provided to the City Council in advance of the meeting for review.
Listening Devices and other Accommodations
ALDs are available from the City Clerk’s office. As required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), requests for reasonable accommodations to facilitate meeting participation will be provided, please contact the City Clerk’s office at least two (2) working days prior to the meeting at 619.441.1763.
For more information, please contact the City Clerk’s office at 619.441.1763.
Business hours: Monday-Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and alternating Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
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FUTURE AGENDAS
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CITY COUNCIL
HOUSING AUTHORITY AND
SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE EL CAJON
REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
Council Chamber
200 Civic Center Way
El Cajon, CA 92020
Agenda
MARCH 24, 2026, 3:00 p.m.
Bill Wells, Mayor Graham Mitchell, City Manager
Michelle Metschel, Deputy Mayor Vince DiMaggio, Assistant City Manager Steve Goble, Councilmember Marisol Thorn, Deputy City Manager Gary Kendrick, Councilmember Jennifer Lyon, City Attorney Phil Ortiz, Councilmember Angela Cortez, City Clerk
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Bill Wells
ROLL CALL: City Clerk Angela Cortez
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG AND MOMENT OF SILENCE
POSTINGS: The City Clerk posted Orders of Adjournment of the March 10, 2026, Meetings and the Agenda of the March 24, 2026, Meeting in accordance to State Law and City Council/Housing Authority/Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency Policy.
PRESENTATIONS:
USDA Tree Grant Update
AGENDA CHANGES:
~ Valley of opportunity
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CONSENT ITEMS:
Consent Items are routine matters enacted by one motion according to the RECOMMENDATION listed below. With the concurrence of the City Council, a Council Member or person in attendance may request discussion of a Consent Item at this time.
1. Minutes of the City Council/Housing Authority/Successor Agency to the El Cajon Redevelopment Agency Meeting
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council/Housing Authority/Successor Agency to the El Cajon Redevelopment Agency approves Minutes of the March 10, 2026, Meetings of the El Cajon City Council/Housing Authority/Successor Agency to the El Cajon Redevelopment Agency.
2. Warrants
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council approves payment of Warrants as submitted by the Finance Department.
3. Approval of Reading Ordinances by Title Only
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council approves the reading by title and waives the reading in full of all Ordinances on the Agenda.
4. Acceptance of Overlay 2023 Project
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council:
Accepts the Overlay 2023 project (233786PWCP), Bid No. 019-25; and 1.
Authorizes the City Clerk to record a Notice of Completion and release the bonds in accordance with the contract terms.
2. 5. 2025 General Plan Annual Progress Report
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council:
Accepts the 2025 General Plan Annual Progress Report; and1.
Directs staff to forward the report to the Governor's Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI), the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), and the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG).
2. 6. Classification specifications update for the Police Department's Communication Center
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council approves and authorizes the proposed classification specification updates for Police Dispatcher I, Police Dispatcher II, Police Dispatcher Supervisor, and Communication Center Manager.
7. Approval of Resolution to Authorize the Contract Amendment for Continued Assessment of Existing Box Culverts
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council adopts the next Resolution, in order, to authorize an amendment to the Agreement for Professional Services with Kleinfelder, Inc. (KI) for Continued Assessment of Existing Box Culverts in the not-to-exceed amount of $40,000, for work to be performed through and including December 17, 2026.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
At this time, any person may address a matter within the jurisdiction of the City Council/Housing Authority/Successor Agency to the El Cajon Redevelopment Agency that is not on the Agenda. Comments relating to items on today’s docket are to be taken at the time the item is heard. State law prohibits discussion or action on items not on the Agenda; however, Council, Authority and Agency Members may briefly respond to statements or questions. An item may be placed on a future Agenda.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS:
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
8. Public Hearing to Consider Appeal of the Planning Commission's Decision Denying a Request to Allow a Temporary Tent for More than 180 Days
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council:
Opens the public hearing and receives testimony; and1.
Considers adoption of the next Resolution, in order, if denying the appeal.2.
9. Public Hearing to Consider FY 2026-2027 One-Year Action Plan and Approval of Resolution to Adopt CDBG and HOME Funding Allocations
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council:
Opens the public hearing;1.
Accepts public testimony for the draft FY 2026-2027 One-Year Action Plan;2.
Closes the public hearing;3.
Accepts staff recommendations for projects and programs using FY 2026-2027 Community Development Block Grant (“CDBG”) and HOME Investment Partnership (“HOME”) grant funds and other CDBG, HOME, and HOME-American Rescue Plan (“HOME-ARP”) prior year unallocated fund balances and carryover funds;
4. Authorizes staff to release the draft FY 2026-2027 One-Year Action Plan for a thirty-day review and comment period from April 1, 2026, to April 30, 2026;
5. Adopts the next Resolution, in order:6.
To approve an allocation of $300,000 in HOME funds to Crisis House for the implementation of a Tenant-Based Rental Assistance Program; to approve the reauthorization and allocation of HOME funds for $900,000, or carryover fund balance, whichever is less, to the San Diego Housing Commission to continue administering the First Time Homebuyer Program; a.
To approve an allocation of $1,864,127 in HOME-ARP funds to Wakeland Housing for the production or preservation of affordable rental housing serving qualifying populations; and
b.
Make the necessary changes to the One-Year Action Plans, authorize the City Manager or designee to execute the subrecipient and funding agreements and any other documentation required, and submit all required documentation to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) for activities that are described in the Resolution. c.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS:
10. Acceptance of Wells Park Pickleball Project
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council:
Accepts the Wells Park Pickleball project (233793PWCP), Bid No. 022-25; and1.
Authorizes the City Clerk to record a Notice of Completion and release the bonds in accordance with the contract terms.
2. 11. Consideration of Resolution to Authorize the Acceptance, Appropriation, and Expenditure of the Fire Station No. 7 Renovation Grant Award
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council adopts the next Resolution, in order, to:
Authorize the City Manager, or approved designee, to accept, appropriate, and expend grant funding as provided through the San Diego River Conservancy Proposition 4 - Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Fund Bond Act of 2024 grant program (SDRGP42504);
1. Authorize the City Manager, or approved designee, to execute the grant agreement and such other necessary documents, with the San Diego River Conservancy, to accept any awards of grants;
2. Appropriate and transfer $2.5 million of General Fund reserves to increase City Capital Improvement Program Fund appropriations; and
3. Appropriate $1,500,000 from the San Diego River Conservancy Grant (SDRGP42504) and $2,500,000 from the City Capital Improvement Program Fund (501590) for the Fire Station No. 7 Renovation capital improvement project (210051PWCP), and authorize the expenditure of these funds.
4. COMMISSION REPORTS:
ACTIVITIES REPORTS/COMMENTS OF MAYOR WELLS
SANDAG (San Diego Association of Governments) Board of Directors.
12. Council Activity Report
ACTIVITIES REPORTS/COMMENTS OF COUNCILMEMBERS:
13. COUNCILMEMBER STEVE GOBLE
MTS (Metropolitan Transit System Board); East County Advanced Water Purification JPA Board; Chamber of Commerce – Government Affairs Committee; SANDAG – Board of Directors – Alternate; SANDAG – San Diego Military Working Group (non-voting chair).
14. COUNCILMEMBER GARY KENDRICK
METRO Commission/Wastewater JPA; Heartland Communications; Heartland Fire Training JPA.
15. DEPUTY MAYOR MICHELLE METSCHEL
Harry Griffen Park Joint Steering Committee; METRO Commission/Wastewater JPA – Alternate; Heartland Communications – Alternate; Heartland Fire Training JPA – Alternate.
16. COUNCILMEMBER PHIL ORTIZ
16. COUNCILMEMBER PHIL ORTIZ
League of California Cities, San Diego Division; East County Economic Development Council; MTS (Metropolitan Transit System Board) – Alternate; East County Advanced Water Purification JPA Board – Alternate; Chamber of Commerce – Government Affairs Committee – Alternate; SANDAG – Board of Directors – Alternate.
JOINT COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS:
17. Town Hall on Reducing Speeding Motorists
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council directs staff to conduct a town hall meeting regarding motorist speeding by May 9, 2026.
GENERAL INFORMATION ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION:
ORDINANCES: FIRST READING
18. Introduction and First Reading of an Ordinance Amending Chapter 3.20 of the El Cajon Municipal Code for Bidding and Written Contracts
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council introduces and conducts the first reading of an Ordinance, by title only, to amend various sections of Chapter 3.20 of the El Cajon Municipal Code ("ECMC") related to Bidding and Written Contracts; and Directs the City Clerk to read the title of the Ordinance.
ORDINANCES: SECOND READING AND ADOPTION
CLOSED SESSIONS:
19. Closed Session - Conference with Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation - Initiation of litigation pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (d) of section 54956.9: One (1) potential case
20. Closed Session - Conference with Labor Negotiators pursuant to Government Code section 54957.6
Agency Designated Representatives:
Graham Mitchell, City Manager
Vince DiMaggio, Assistant City Manager
Marisol Thorn, Deputy City Manager
Clay Schoen, Director of Finance
Jennifer Lyon, City Attorney
Employee Organizations:
El Cajon Municipal Employees Association
El Cajon Mid-Management and Professional Employees Group El Cajon Professional Firefighters International Association of Fire Fighters Local 4603
ADJOURNMENT: The Adjourned Regular Joint Meeting of the El Cajon City Council/El Cajon Housing Authority/Successor Agency to the El Cajon Redevelopment Agency held this 24th day of March 2026, is adjourned to Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at 3:00 p.m.