July 29, 2026 Escondido City Council Minutes Page 1 of 10
CLOSED SESSION
4:00 PM
CALL TO ORDER
1. Roll Call: Fitzgerald, C. Garcia, J. Garcia, Martinez, White
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None
CLOSED SESSION
I. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS (Government Code § 54956.8) a. Property: 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido (California Center for the Arts, Escondido) Agency negotiator: Sean McGlynn, City Manager, or designees Negotiating Party: California Center for the Arts Foundation Under Negotiation: Terms of Management Agreement
b. Property: 272 E. Via Rancho Pkwy., Escondido (Mershops North County Mall) Agency Negotiator: Sean McGlynn, City Manager, or designees Negotiating Party: Costco Wholesale Corporation
Under Negotiation: Price and Terms of Ground Lease and REA
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor White adjourned the meeting at 4:45 p.m.
______________________________ _______________________________
MAYOR CITY CLERK
Docusign Envelope ID: 4D427E15-7275-8CD9-8376-1D03D0E13861
July 29, 2026 Escondido City Council Minutes Page 2 of 10
REGULAR SESSION
5:00 PM Regular Session
MOMENT OF REFLECTION
FLAG SALUTE
The City Council conducts the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of every City Council meeting.
CALL TO ORDER
Roll Call: Fitzgerald, C. Garcia, J. Garcia, Martinez, White
PRESENTATION
Certificate of Recognition - Officer Jesus Vea
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Stephen Wheeler – Expressed opposition to the proposed Rinks Project at Kit Carson Park.
Ruth Weber – Expressed opposition to the proposed Rinks Project at Kit Carson Park.
John Weber – Expressed opposition to the proposed Rinks Project at Kit Carson Park.
Joe Houde – Expressed opposition to the proposed Rinks Project at Kit Carson Park.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion to approve items 1-11, 14-16, 18-19: White; Second: Fitzgerald; Approved: 5-0
1. AFFIDAVITS OF PUBLICATION, MAILING, AND POSTING (COUNCIL/RRB)
2. APPROVAL OF WARRANT REGISTER
Request the City Council approve the City Council and Housing Successor Agency warrants issued between June 15, 2026 to July 19, 2026.
Staff Recommendation: Approval (Finance Department: Christina Holmes, Director of Finance) Docusign Envelope ID: 4D427E15-7275-8CD9-8376-1D03D0E13861 July 29, 2026 Escondido City Council Minutes Page 3 of 10
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Regular meeting of June 24, 2026
4. WAIVER OF READING OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
5. SETTING SPECIAL TAX LEVY FOR COMMUNITY FACILITIES DISTRICT NO. 2022-1 (ECLIPSE/MOUNTAIN HOUSE)
Request the City Council adopt Resolution 2026-124, setting the Special Tax Levy for Community Facilities District No. 2022-1(Eclipse/Mountain House) (the “District”) for Fiscal Year 2026/27. (File Number 0685-10)
Staff Recommendation: Approval/Receive and File (Finance Department: Chr istina Holmes, Director of Finance)
Presenter: Christina Holmes, Director of Finance
a) Resolution No. 2026-124
6. SETTING SPECIAL TAX LEVY FOR COMMUNITY FACILITIES DISTRICT NO. 2006-01 (EUREKA RANCH)
Request the City Council adopt Resolution 2026-122, setting the Special Tax Levy for Community Facilities District No. 2006-01 (Eureka Ranch) (the “District”) for Fiscal Year 2026/27. (File Number 0685-10)
Staff Recommendation: Approval (Finance Department: Christina Holmes, Director of Finance) Presenter: Christina Holmes, Director of Finance
a) Resolution No. 2026-122
7. SETTING SPECIAL TAX LEVY FOR COMMUNITY FACILITIES DISTRICT NO. 2000-01 (HIDDEN
TRAILS)
Request the City Council adopt Resolution 2026-121, setting the Special Tax Levy for Community Facilities District No. 2000-01 (Hidden Trails) (the “District”) for Fiscal Year 2026/27. (File Number 0685-10)
Staff Recommendation: Approval (Finance Department: Christina Holmes, Director of Finance) Presenter: Christina Holmes, Director of Finance
a) Resolution No. 2026-121
8. SETTING SPECIAL TAX LEVY FOR COMMUNITY FACILITIES DISTRICT NO. 2020-2 (THE
VILLAGES)
Docusign Envelope ID: 4D427E15-7275-8CD9-8376-1D03D0E13861 July 29, 2026 Escondido City Council Minutes Page 4 of 10 Request the City Council adopt Resolution 2026-123, setting the Special Tax Levy for Community Facilities District No. 2020-2 (The Villages) (The “District”) for Fiscal Year 2026/27. (File Number 0685-10)
Staff Recommendation: Approval (Finance Department: Christina Holmes, Director of Finance) Presenter: Christina Holmes, Director of Finance
a) Resolution No. 2026-123
9. ESTABLISHING THE PROPERTY TAX RATE AND FIXED CHARGE ASSESSMENTS FOR GENERAL
OBLIGATION BONDED INDEBTEDNESS
Request the City Council adopt Resolution No. 2026-125 to establish the property tax rate and fixed charge assessments for bonded indebtedness for Fiscal Year 2026/27. (File Number 0480- 40; 0440-35)
Staff Recommendation: Approval (Finance Department: Christina Holmes, Director of Finance) Presenter: Christina Holmes, Director of Finance
a) Resolution No. 2026-125
10. REJECT ALL BIDS FOR THE JOHN MASSON MEMORIAL BIKE PARK PROJECT AND AUTHORIZE
STAFF TO RE-BID
Request the City Council adopt Resolution No. 2026-129 rejecting all bids for the John Masson Memorial Bike Park Project and authorizing staff to re-bid the project. (File Number 0470-45) Staff Recommendation: Approval (Development Services Department: Kevin Snyder, Development Services Director)
Presenters: Jason Christman, Interim City Engineer and Michael Tully, Project Manager a) Resolution No. 2026-129
11. FINAL MAP UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR APPROVAL
Request the City Council receive and file notice that a Final Map for Tract Nos. SUB18-0005 and SUB20-0007 located on both sides of North Nutmeg Street, between North Centre City Parkway and Interstate 15, has been filed for approval. (File Number 0800-10) Staff Recommendation: Receive and File (Development Services Department: Kevin Snyder, Director of Development Services, and Jason Christman, Interim City Engineer) Presenter: Leia Cabrera, Engineering Manager
Docusign Envelope ID: 4D427E15-7275-8CD9-8376-1D03D0E13861 July 29, 2026 Escondido City Council Minutes Page 5 of 10
12. APPROVE A BUDGET ADJUSTMENT FOR THE GRAND AVENUE VISION PHASE III PROJECT Request the City Council adopt a $2,000,000 budget adjustment for the Grand Avenue Vision Phase III project. This budget adjustment appropriates $2,000,000 in Smart Growth Incentive Program (SGIP) grant funding within Fund 1230 to the Grand Avenue Vision Phase III project account. (File Number 0430-80)
Staff Recommendation: Approval (Development Services Department: Kevin Snyder, Director of Development Services and Jason Christman, Interim City Engineer) Presenters: Christopher Hudson, Project Manager and Jason Christman, Interim City Engineer Truth Tonix – Expressed opposition to this item.
Motion: White; Second: J. Garcia; Approved: 5-0
13. APPROVE THIRD AMENDMENT TO CONSULTING SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH HR GREEN PACIFIC, INC. FOR ON CALL ENGINEERING SERVICES
Request the City Council adopt Resolution 2026-109 authorizing the Mayor to execute, on behalf of the City, the Third Amendment to a consulting services agreement with HR Green Pacific, Inc., for on call engineering services for the SiFi FiberCity project. (File Number 0600- 10; A-3484-3)
Staff Recommendation: Approval (Development Services Department: Kevin Snyder, Director of Development Services)
Presenter: Leia Cabrera, Engineering Manager
a) Resolution No. 2026-109
Truth Tonix – Expressed opposition to this item.
Motion: White; Second: C. Garcia; Approved: 5-0
14. LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE ASSESSMENT DISTRICT – FINAL ENGINEER’S REPORT FOR ZONES 1-38 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026/2027
Request the City Council adopt Resolution No. 2026-37, Assessment Engineer’s Report for the annual levy and collection of assessments for the City of Escondido Landscape Maintenance Assessment District (“LMD”) (Attachment “1”, LMD Map) for Zones 1 through 38 for Fiscal Year 2026/2027. (File Number 0685-10)
Staff Recommendation: Approval (Public Works Department: Joseph Goulart, Public Works Director)
Docusign Envelope ID: 4D427E15-7275-8CD9-8376-1D03D0E13861 July 29, 2026 Escondido City Council Minutes Page 6 of 10 Presenter: Jen Conway, Management Analyst II
a) Resolution No. 2026-37
15. CALRECYCLE GRANT APPLICATION AUTHORIZATION FOR BEVERAGE CONTAINER RECYCLING
CITY/COUNTY PAYMENT PROGRAM
Request the City Council adopt Resolution 2026-120, authorizing the Director of Utilities or his/her designee to complete and submit an application to CalRecycle for Beverage Container Recycling funds, the Used Oil Payment Program, and other eligible CalRecycle grants, payments, and funding opportunities to support all citywide recycling education, infrastructure, and programs. (File Number 1340-70)
Staff Recommendation: Approval (Utilities Department: Daniel Peterson, Director of Utilites) Presenter: Daniel Peterson, Director of Utilities
a) Resolution No. 2026-120
16. AWARD PURCHASE OF FUELS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027
Request the City Council adopt Resolution No. 2026-128, authorizing the Mayor to execute an agreement for the purchase of unleaded gasoline and renewable diesel fuel from Mansfield Oil in the amount of $1,550,000 utilizing a Cooperative Purchase Agreement between Sourcewell and Mansfield Oil. Contract No. 121522-MNF, pursuant to Escondido Municipal Code Chapter 10, Article 5, Section 10-91. (File Number 0600-10; A-3606) Staff Recommendation: Approval (Public Works Department: Joseph Goulart, Director of Public Works)
Presenter: Jeramiah Jennings, Fleet Maintenance Manager a) Resolution No. 2026-128
17. CARNEGIE FOUNDATION GRANT BUDGET ADJUSTMENT
Request the City Council authorize a budget adjustment to allocate the Carnegie Foundation Grant funds on behalf of the Escondido Public Library. (File Number 0430-80) Staff Recommendation: Approval (Public Works Department: Joseph Goulart, Director of Public Works)
Presenter: Robert Rhoades, Assistant Director of Community Services Truth Tonix – Expressed opposition to this item.
Docusign Envelope ID: 4D427E15-7275-8CD9-8376-1D03D0E13861 July 29, 2026 Escondido City Council Minutes Page 7 of 10 Motion: White; Second: Fitzgerald; Approved: 5-0
CONSENT RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES (COUNCIL/RRB)
The following Resolutions and Ordinances were heard and acted upon by the City Council/RRB at a previous City Council/Mobilehome Rent Review meeting. (The title of Ordinances listed on the Consent Calendar are deemed to have been read and further reading waived.)
18. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ESCONDIDO, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLE 1 AND ARTICLE 70 OF THE ESCONDIDO ZONING CODE
Approved on June 24, 2026 with a vote of 5/0.
a) Ordinance No. 2026-13R (Second Reading and Adoption)
19. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ESCONDIDO, CALIFORNIA,
AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF A SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE CONSULTING AGREEMENT WITH HROD, INC. DBA MMO PARTNERS AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO APPROVE FUTURE CONTRACT AMENDMENTS WITH HROD, INC. DBA MMO PARTNERS FOR FEDERAL LOBBYING SERVICES THROUGH JUNE 30, 2027 IN A TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $109,000
Approved on June 24, 2026 with a vote of 5/0.
a) Ordinance No. 2026-14R (Second Reading and Adoption)
PUBLIC HEARING
20. BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS WITHIN THE CITY OF ESCONDIDO Request the City Council adopt Ordinance No. 2026-09, adopting the County of San Diego Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) guidelines as a local amendment to the California Fire Code. (File Number 0680-50)
Staff Recommendation: Approval (Fire Department: Tyler Batson, Deputy Fire Chief) Presenter: La Vona Koretke, Fire Marshall
a) Ordinance No. 2026-09 (First Reading and Introduction) Jason Anderson – Expressed support for this item.
Christina Marquez – Expressed support for this item.
Docusign Envelope ID: 4D427E15-7275-8CD9-8376-1D03D0E13861 July 29, 2026 Escondido City Council Minutes Page 8 of 10 Serena Pelka– Expressed support for this item.
Cori Schumacher – Expressed support for this item.
Truth Tonix – Expressed opposition to this item.
Motion to approved staff recommendation with the inclusion C10 Licensed Contractor requirements for the Workforce Standards: White; Second: J. Garcia; Approved: 5-0
CURRENT BUSINESS
21. AUTHORIZATION TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION ON BEHALF OF HILL VALLEY, LLC FOR A
GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT RELATED TO A MULTI-FAMILY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT Request the City Council consider adoption of Resolution No. 2026-101 authorizing City staff to intake and process a General Plan Amendment application to amend the adopted 2012 General Plan to facilitate construction of 125 multi-family units on a site with an existing General Plan land use designation of Estate I (E1). (File Number 0830-20) Staff Recommendation: Provide Direction (Development Services Department: Kevin Snyder, AICP, Director of Development Services)
Presenter: Esteban Danna, Principal Planner
a) Resolution No. 2026-101
Laura Hunter – Expressed opposition to this item.
Truth Tonix – Expressed opposition to this item.
Motion: White; Second: Fitzgerald; Approved: 5-0
22. DESIGNATION OF VOTING DELEGATE – LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES CONFERENCE Request the City Council designate the voting delegate and up to two alternates for the 2026 League of California Cities Annual Conference and Expo, Sept. 23-25, 2026 at the Anaheim Convention Center. (File Number 0610-55)
Staff Recommendation: Approval (City Clerk’s Office: Zack Beck, City Clerk) Presenter: Zack Beck, City Clerk
Truth Tonix – Expressed opposition to this item.
Docusign Envelope ID: 4D427E15-7275-8CD9-8376-1D03D0E13861 July 29, 2026 Escondido City Council Minutes Page 9 of 10 Motion to designate Councilmember Martinez as the voting delegate, Mayor White as first alternate and Councilmember J. Garcia as second alternate: White; Second: C. Garcia; Approved: 5-0
FUTURE AGENDA
23. FUTURE AGENDA
The purpose of this item is to identify issues presently known to staff or which members of the City Council wish to place on an upcoming City Council agenda. Council comment on these future agenda items is limited by California Government Code Section 54954.2 to clarifying questions, brief announcements, or requests for factual information in connection with an item when it is discussed.
Staff Recommendation: None (City Clerk's Office: Zack Beck)
COUNCILMEMBERS SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS AND OTHER REPORTS
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
The most current information from the City Manager regarding Economic Development, Capital Improvement Projects, Public Safety, and Community Development.
City Manager clarified that the language for item 20 BESS that was approved will be updated prior to its second reading.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Merrillyn Carpenter – Expressed opposition to the proposed Rinks Project at Kit Carson Park.
Barbara Aguilar – Expressed opposition to the proposed Rinks Project at Kit Carson Park.
Dori Fiamor – Provided background of the Bahai Faith.
Tracy Henchbarger – Expressed opposition to the proposed Rinks Project at Kit Carson Park.
Melissa Petri – Expressed opposition to the proposed Rinks Project at Kit Carson Park.
Ann Lievers – Expressed opposition to the proposed Rinks Project at Kit Carson Park.
Farhad Razmi – Expressed concern regarding chemical runoff from SDG&E poles. Reported possible runoff
Martha Tucker – Expressed opposition to the proposed Rinks Project at Kit Carson Park.
Docusign Envelope ID: 4D427E15-7275-8CD9-8376-1D03D0E13861 July 29, 2026 Escondido City Council Minutes Page 10 of 10 Bonnie Wagner – Expressed opposition to the proposed Rinks Project at Kit Carson Park.
Stuart Reyes – Requested the City Council build more benches throughout the City Eleni Tignor – Expressed opposition to the proposed Rinks Project at Kit Carson Park.
Robin Weistruck – Expressed opposition to the proposed Rinks Project at Kit Carson Park.
Tedi Jackson – Expressed concern regarding the proposed Aldea project Truth Tonix – Expressed opposition to the proposed Rinks Project at Kit Carson Park.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor White adjourned the meeting at 7:25 p.m.
______________________________ _______________________________
MAYOR CITY CLERK
Docusign Envelope ID: 4D427E15-7275-8CD9-8376-1D03D0E13861