City Council - January 28, 2025
1. CALL TO ORDER
Public Comments:
The City Council minutes are prepared and ordered to correspond to the City Council Agenda. Agenda Items can be taken out of order during the meeting.
The Agenda Items were considered in the order presented.
Mayor Arapostathis called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
1.1 INVOCATION - COUNCILMEMBER LOTHIAN
Public Comments:
1.2 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Public Comments:
2. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS
Public Comments:
There were no comments.
3. COMMUNITY BULLETIN REPORTS
Public Comments:
The Mayor, Council and staff made announcements and reported on various events taking place in the City. No action was taken.
4. ADDITIONS AND/OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA
Public Comments:
There were no additions or deletions to the agenda.
5. PRESENTATIONS
Public Comments:
5.1 EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION PRESENTATION
Public Comments:
Mayor Arapostathis presented Certificates of Recognition to the recipients of the Employee of the Year Award, the Excellence in Service Award, and the Leadership Award.
Employee of the Year Award:
Jason Ney, Park Maintenance Lead Worker, Department of Public Works.
Excellence in Service Award:
Eddie Flores, Equipment Operator, Department of Public Works.
Leadership Award:
Lyn Dedmon, Assistant to the City Manager, City Manager's Office.
5.2 WILDFIRE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PRESENTATION
Attachments
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Public Comments
1. PowerPoint_Wildfire Emergency Preparedness.pdf
Emergency Preparedness Coordinator McKellar delivered a PowerPoint presentation on wildfire preparedness. The presentation covered essential steps for home preparation, including services and apps such as Alert San Diego and Genasys Protect, which help residents stay informed and receive alerts about disasters and evacuations in their area. Mr. McKellar also outlined the "Six P's" to remember when preparing for evacuation: People and pets, plastic (bank and credit cards, cash), papers (important documents), prescriptions, pictures, and personal computers. The presentation also discussed actions to prevent both wildfires and urban fires, along with additional resources to help individuals better prepare for such emergencies.
Council questions and comments ensued.
6. PUBLIC COMMENTS – (TOTAL TIME – 15 MINUTES)
Public Comments:
Wendy Mihalic spoke about remote public comment.
Dianne Osterling expressed her support for first responders and public works staff and spoke on policy development and remote public comment.
Brenda Leek spoke on outdoor dining regulations, requesting an update.
Brenda Hammond spoke on the annual WeAllCount homeless census.
Gene Carpenter spoke about remote public comment and the Council Public Comment Ad Hoc Subcommittee.
7. CONFLICT DISCLOSURES
Public Comments:
There were no conflicts of interest disclosed.
8. BOARD AND COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS
Public Comments:
8.1 RESOLUTION APPOINTING AND/OR REAPPOINTING MEMBERS TO THE CITY’S COMMUNITY POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD Attachments
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Public Comments
1. Memo_2025 CPOB Annual Appointments 2025-01-28.pdf
2. Attachment A - 2025 Applicant Matrix_CPOB.pdf
3. Attachment B - Resolution CPOB Annual Appointments_January.pdf Dianne Osterling spoke in support of the reappointment of Janet Castanos as the Helix Charter High School representative.
The Community Police Oversight Board Nominating Subcommittee, Mayor Arapostathis and Vice Mayor Dillard, nominated the following individuals for appointment and/or reappointment to the City's Community Police Oversight Board:
Brianna Coston, La Mesa Spring Valley School District representative Dave Hardenburger, Helix Charter High School representative John Fonseca, La Mesa Business Community representative Christian DeMent, La Mesa Faith Based Community representative Sophia Wright, Young Adult representative
Susan Wayne, Older Adult representative
Clifton Ewbank, Police Beat 3 representative
Resolution No. 2025-007
Moved By
Mayor Arapostathis
Seconded By
Vice Mayor Dillard
Approve the appointments of Sophia Wright, Dave Hardenburger, and Clifton Ewbank, and the reappointments of Brianna Coston, John Fonseca, Christian DeMent, and Susan Wayne to the Community Police Oversight Board. Adopt the Resolution confirming these appointments and reappointments.
For (5)
Mayor Arapostathis, Vice Mayor Dillard, Councilmember Lothian, Councilmember Cazares, and Councilmember Suzuki Approved (5 to 0)
9. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON CONSENT CALENDAR
Public Comments:
Dianne Osterling spoke on Item 10.2.
10. CONSENT CALENDAR
Public Comments:
(Items 10.1 through 10.4)
Moved By
Mayor Arapostathis
Seconded By
Vice Mayor Dillard
Approve Consent Calendar Items 10.1 through 10.4.
For (5)
Mayor Arapostathis, Vice Mayor Dillard, Councilmember Lothian, Councilmember Cazares, and Councilmember Suzuki Approved (5 to 0)
10.1 APPROVAL OF MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING OF THE TEXT OF ALL ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS AT THIS MEETING Public Comments:
Approve.
10.2 RESOLUTION APPOINTING THE HELIX WATER DISTRICT PRIMARY AND ALTERNATE REPRESENTATIVES TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION Attachments
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Public Comments
1. Memo_ESC Helix Water District Representative Appointment_2025-01-28.pdf
2. Attachment A - Resolution_ESC Helix Water Rep.pdf
3. Attachment B - Helix Water District New Appointments Letter_Jan 2025.pdf Resolution No. 2025-008
Adopt Resolution.
10.3 RESOLUTION APPROVING AND ACCEPTING A DONATION OF TWO ELECTRIC UTILITY VEHICLES AND TWO SOLAR-POWERED LIGHT TOWERS FROM THE LA MESA PARK AND RECREATION FOUNDATION AND APPROVING ANY RELATED DOCUMENTS Attachments
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Public Comments
1. Staff Report - Accepting Donation from La Mesa Park and Recreation Foundation 2025-01-28.pdf
2. Attachment A_Resolution -La Mesa Parks and Recreation Foundation Donation 2025-01-28.pdf Resolution No. 2025-009
Adopt Resolution.
10.4 POLICE CHIEF’S QUARTERLY OPERATIONS REPORT
Attachments
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Public Comments
1. Memo_PD Quarterly Report_3nd Quarter 2024.pdf
2. Attachment A - La Mesa Police Department 3rd Quarter Report 2024.pdf Receive and file.
11. HEARING
Public Comments:
11.1 CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION ADOPTING A FEE SCHEDULE TO BE CHARGED BY VARIOUS CITY DEPARTMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025 Attachments
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Public Comments
1. Staff Report - Resolution to Adopt a Fee Schedule for Fiscal Year 2024-2025.pdf
2. Attachment A_MGT Summary of Findings_2024.pdf
3. Attachment B_Fee Schedule_FY24-25.pdf
4. Attachment C_Resolution_Adoption of the FY 2024-2025 Fee Schedule.pdf Notice of the hearing was given in accordance with legal requirements, and the hearing was held on the date and at the time specified in the notice.
Mayor Arapostathis opened the hearing for Item 11.1.
Assistant to the City Manager Dedmon provided background on the City’s Cost Allocation and User Fee Study. Mr. Dedmon discussed the update of the fees and explained the new and adjusted fees.
Dianne Osterling recommended adding a business tax on short-term rentals.
Moved By
Mayor Arapostathis
Seconded By
Councilmember Cazares
Close the hearing.
For (5)
Mayor Arapostathis, Vice Mayor Dillard, Councilmember Lothian, Councilmember Cazares, and Councilmember Suzuki Approved (5 to 0)
Resolution No. 2025-010
Moved By
Mayor Arapostathis
Seconded By
Councilmember Cazares
Adopt Resolution.
For (5)
Mayor Arapostathis, Vice Mayor Dillard, Councilmember Lothian, Councilmember Cazares, and Councilmember Suzuki Approved (5 to 0)
12. ORDINANCE: SECOND READING
Public Comments:
12.1 CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA MESA ADDING SECTION 14.04.020 TO THE LA MESA MUNICIPAL CODE ("LMMC") TO CLARIFY THE PREEMPTION OF THE CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE, ADOPTED BY REFERENCE IN CHAPTER 14.04 Attachments
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Public Comments
1. Memo - 2nd Reading Ordinance Adding LMMC Section 14.04.020_2025-01-28.pdf
2. Attachment A_Draft Ordinance Adding LMMC Section 14.04.020.pdf City Attorney Sabine read the title of the Ordinance.
Dianne Osterling spoke about the critical need to review and modify building codes to reduce and mitigate fire risk burdens for taxpayers, first responders, insurance companies, and entire communities.
Ordinance No. 2025-2915
Moved By
Mayor Arapostathis
Seconded By
Vice Mayor Dillard
Approve the second reading and adoption of the Ordinance.
For (5)
Mayor Arapostathis, Vice Mayor Dillard, Councilmember Lothian, Councilmember Cazares, and Councilmember Suzuki Approved (5 to 0)
13. COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS (3 MINUTE LIMIT)
Public Comments:
The Mayor and Council reported on various outside boards, commissions and committee meetings they attended. No action was taken.
14. AB 1234 REPORTS (GC 53232.3 (d))
Public Comments:
Vice Mayor Dillard, Councilmember Cazares, and Councilmember Suzuki reported they would be attending the League of California Cities' New Mayors and Council Members Academy in Garden Grove, California, from January 29 to 31, 2025.
15. CITY ATTORNEY REMARKS
Public Comments:
There were no remarks.
16. ADJOURNMENT
Public Comments:
Mayor Arapostathis adjourned the meeting at 7:02 p.m.