PRESENT:
ABSENT:
STAFF PRESENT:
PRESENTATIONS
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ESCALON
SPECIAL MEETING OF AUGUST 10, 2026
City Council Chambers, 2060 McHenry Avenue - 7:00 P.M.
Mayor Andrew Hagan
Mayor Pro Tern Malinda Walker
Councilmember Jeremy Engle
Councilmember Jeff Kay
Councilmember Shawn Strohman
Jaylen French, City Manager (CM)
Robert Hardgraves, Chief of Police
Beginning Minute Order No. 49-26
Beginning Resolution No. 33-26
Beginning Ordinance No. 603
Trevin Barber, Development and Community Services Manager (DCSM) Luke Lindenbusch, 4LEAF Inc., Housing Element Consultant Andreas Booher, Legal Counsel
1. Recognition of Elias, Amaya, Isaiah, and Julius Krumeich for their Achievement in Qualifying for the US Junior Olympics and Their Success at the Event Mayor Hagan recognized Elias, Amaya, Isaiah, and Julius Krumeich for qualifying for, and competing in, the 2026 USATF Junior Olympics. Peter Krumeich thanked the Council for recognizing the children and stated that their success was the communities' success and reflected the community's shared drive for excellence. He credited the children for their hard work and their mother for serving as a head coach.
Council congratulated the family and thanked the athletes for representing Escalon at the national competition.
CONSENT CALENDAR
2. Approve the Minutes of the Regular City Council meeting on August 3, 2026
3. Waive the Second Reading and Adopt Ordinances 603 - 604 and Resolutions 33-26 - 35-26 approving Development Application 24-797 "Murphy Ranch" (APNs 225-040-28 & 225-040-29) Entitlement Package, including Annexation, Pre-Zoning, Tentative Subdivision Map, Specific Plan, Planned Development, Development Agreement, Inclusionary Housing Agreement, and the CEQA Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, and Direct Staff to File a Notice of Determination with the State Clearinghouse
4. Waive the Second Reading and Adopt Ordinance No. 605 and Resolution No. 36-26 Approving Annexation and Pre-zoning of City-Owned Property Located at 17341 Escalon Bellota Road (APN 225-020-110-000) (Project 26-821). Action is Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), and Direct Staff to File a Notice of Exemption with the State Clearinghouse
MOTION -it was mis by Kay/Walker to approve the consent calendar as presented with Item No. 3 being Ordinances 603 and 604 and Resolution Nos. 33-26- 35-26 and Item No. 4 being Ordinance No. 605 and Resolution No. 36-26. Motion carried 4-0 with Councilmember Strohman absent. MINUTE ORDER 49-
26. STAFF COMMUNICATIONS & UPDATES
Police Chief Hardgraves reported that the Police Department conducted focused traffic enforcement near local schools during the first days of the school year. Officers issued citations and warnings for speeding and stop sign violations and observed that average vehicle speeds declined as enforcement continued.
CM French thanked Police and Public Works staff for assisting with school traffic and stated that the City was developing a traffic enforcement plan to address the long-standing concern around speeding.
He noted that the City had already made strides toward this goal by investing in equipment that allows officers to identify speeds more efficiently, and that Chief was personally working traffic enforcement to supplement staff resources. He stated that they would return to Council with a plan to address the issue.
MATTERS PRESENTED FROM THE AUDIENCE
None
PUBLIC HEARINGS
5. Adopt Resolution No. 37-26 Adopting the 2023-2031 Housing Element Update, Find the Action Exempt from CEQA Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 1506l(b)(3), and Direct Staff to File a Notice of Exemption with the State Clearinghouse
CM French introduced the Housing Element and explained that a separate public hearing (item #6) would follow for the zoning amendments required to implement the document and achieve State certification.
Luke Lindenbusch, 4LEAF, Inc., housing consultant, presented the 2023-2031 Housing Element Update. He explained that the Housing Element is the only General Plan element subject to review by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and must address housing needs, resources, constraints, fair housing, available sites, and implementation programs. HCD's June 26, 2026 findings letter determined that the document substantially complied with State Housing Element Law, subject to adoption of the related zoning amendments.
The presentation summarized community outreach and survey results, which identified priorities including senior housing, housing choices for first-time buyers and lower price ranges, preservation of Escalon's small-town character, accessory dwelling units, and smaller housing types. The 2023-2031 Housing Element contains five goals addressing viable housing sites, facilitation of housing development, neighborhood preservation and improvement, affordable and accessible housing, and elimination of housing discrimination. Mr. Lindenbusch explained that changes in State law limit the City's ability to enforce its Growth Management Ordinance (GMO) until at least 2030 and that comments from HCD prompted the inclusion of program actions to ensure the GMO does not constrain housing development during the planning period.
Escalon's Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) for the 2023-2031 planning period is 367 units, consisting of90 very low income, 56 low income, 66 moderate income, and 155 above moderate income units. The strategy includes 225 pipeline units, 10 projected accessory dwelling units, vacant sites, and r
religious institution sites. The identified capacity provides a 202-unit buffer, as strongly encouraged by HCD to ensure housing totals can be met and to comply with State no-net-loss requirements. The buffer also helps the City preserve flexibility in determining when and how the community grows.
Mayor Hagan questioned whether affordable housing programs could provide preference to current Escalon residents. Mr. Lindenbusch explained that local preference policies may be available if structured consistently with fair housing requirements and offered to provide additional information regarding available policy options.
The public hearing was opened. No public testimony was received and the hearing was closed at 7:15 PM.
MOTION - it was mis by Engle/Kay to adopt Resolution No. 37-26 Adopting the 2023-2031 Housing Element Update, Find the Action Exempt from CEQA Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), and Direct Staff to File a Notice of Exemption. Motion carried 4-0 with Councilmember Strohman absent.
MINUTE ORDER 50-26.
6. Introduce and Waive the First Reading of Ordinance No. XXX Amending Title 17 (Zoning) of the Escalon Municipal Code to Implement the 2023-2031 Housing Element Programs and Ensure Consistency with State Housing Law, Find the Action Exempt from CEQA Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), and Direct Staff to File a Notice of Exemption with the State Clearinghouse
Mr. Lindenbusch presented the proposed zoning amendments needed to implement the Housing Element and obtain HCD certification. The amendments establish a Religious Institution Overlay (RIO) for qualifying church sites, provide by-right processing for an applicable Housing Element reuse site when at least 20% of units are affordable to lower income households, and update provisions governing supportive housing, low-barrier navigation centers, emergency shelters, employee housing, residential care facilities, manufactured homes, accessory dwelling units, density bonuses, parking, and definitions.
Council discussed the proposed residential parking standards. The consultant clarified that the amendments for multi-family generally require one (1) parking space for a studio or one-bedroom unit,
1.5 parking spaces for a two- or three-bedroom unit, and two (2) parking spaces for a unit with four or more bedrooms, and 0.5 guest spaces per unit. It was noted that the Bold Communities project is subject to separate SB 35 and SB 423 requirements of one ( 1) parking space per unit regardless of number of bedrooms.
Mr. Lindenbusch also explained that State law requires qualifying residential properties in San Joaquin County to unbundle parking from the price of rent. The requirement does not increase the number of parking spaces a developer must provide, and staff stated that it was unlikely to be implemented in a geographic area like Escalon, but is intended for larger, denser communities.
The public hearing was opened at 7:48 PM.
Sherry Hill thanked Council and staff for responding to her questions regarding SB 4 and asked the Council to consider a future discussion of additional zoning concerns. Council expressed support for bringing the matter forward for consideration.
The public hearing was closed at 7:50 PM.
MOTION - it was mis by Kay/Engle to introduce and waive the first reading of Ordinance No. XXX amending Title 17 of the Escalon Municipal Code to implement the Housing Element and conform the Zoning Ordinance to State Housing Law, find the action exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061 (b )(3 ), and direct staff to file a Notice of Exemption. Motion carried 4-0 with Councilmember Strohman absent. MINUTE ORDER 51-26.
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
None
COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
Councilmember Kay encouraged motorists to allow additional travel time, remain patient, and drive cautiously near schools. He also encouraged the community to pray for students, teachers, school staff, and families as the school year began.
Councilmember Engle requested that the item requested by Sherry Hill be brought before the Council in a timely manner. CM French stated that staff had spoken with representatives of the California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA), and local Almond Grove representatives, and that he believed their request was consistent with Housing Element Program 3-3(D) and expected to return to Council within the next several months. Councilmember Engle encouraged staff to bring the matter forward sooner if feasible.
Mayor Pro Tern Walker supported further consideration of housing preferences for existing Escalon residents. She stated that smaller and more affordable units could allow older residents to downsize while making larger homes available to local families. She also congratulated the Krumeich family and thanked them for their contributions to the community.
Mayor Hagan thanked the public and echoed the importance of school safety and community support.
He reiterated concern that State and federal housing programs may not provide sufficient flexibility to prioritize current residents seeking affordable housing within their own community.
CLOSED SESSION
None
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mayor Hagan adjourned the meeting at approximately 8: 12 PM.
Respectfully submitted,