City Council - October 14, 2025
1. CALL TO ORDER
Public Comments:
The City Council minutes are prepared and ordered to correspond to the City Council Agenda. Agenda Items may be taken out of order during the meeting.
The Agenda Items were considered in the order presented.
Vice Mayor Cazares called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
1.1 INVOCATION - MAYOR ARAPOSTATHIS
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 Vice 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 PROCLAMATION CELEBRATING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LA MESA ROTARY CLUB AND PROCLAIMING OCTOBER 14, 2025, AS LA MESA ROTARY DAY Public Comments:
Vice Mayor Cazares read and presented the proclamation celebrating the 100th anniversary of the La Mesa Rotary Club and proclaiming October 14, 2025, as La Mesa Rotary Day to Rotary Club President Bonnie Welch and members of the Club.
Rotary Club President Bonnie Welch thanked the City Council for recognizing and honoring the Club with the proclamation.
5.2 PROCLAMATION CELEBRATING THE 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF SCISTERS SALON & APOTHECARY AND THEIR GREEN RIBBON AWARD FROM THE CITY Public Comments:
Councilmember Suzuki read and presented the proclamation celebrating the 15th anniversary of Scisters Salon & Apothecary and recognizing the business’s receipt of the City’s Green Ribbon Award to co-owner Easton Bajsec.
Co-owner Easton Bajsec expressed appreciation to the City Council for the recognition and honor.
6. PUBLIC COMMENTS – (TOTAL TIME – 15 MINUTES)
Public Comments:
Barbie Wheeler spoke regarding ongoing issues related to a house on Bellflower Drive and concerns about a proposed youth group home on the same street.
7. CONFLICT DISCLOSURES
Public Comments:
There were no conflicts of interest disclosed.
8. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON CONSENT CALENDAR
Public Comments:
There were no public comments on Consent Calendar items.
9. CONSENT CALENDAR
Public Comments:
(Items 9.1 through 9.5)
Moved By
Councilmember Suzuki
Seconded By
Councilmember Dillard
Approve Consent Calendar Items 9.1 through 9.5.
For (4)
Councilmember Dillard, Councilmember Lothian, Vice Mayor Cazares, and Councilmember Suzuki Absent (1)
Mayor Arapostathis
Approved (4 to 0)
9.1 APPROVAL OF MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING OF THE TEXT OF ALL ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS AT THIS MEETING Public Comments:
Approve.
9.2 APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR THE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING HELD TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2025 Attachments
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Public Comments
1. Post-Meeting Minutes - CCM_Sep23_2025.pdf
Approve.
9.3 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN AGREEMENT WITH ICS - INTELESYS, INC. FOR THE INSTALLATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A NEW CITYWIDE PHONE SYSTEM USING THE RINGCENTRAL PLATFORM Attachments
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Public Comments
1. Staff Report_Award RFP 25-15_Citywide Telephone System.pdf
2. Attachment A - Resolution_RFP 25-15_Citywide Telephone System.pdf
3. Attachment B - Agreement_Citywide Telephone System.pdf
4. Attachment C - Fiscal Certificate - Citywide Telephone System.pdf Resolution No. 2025-127
Adopt Resolution.
9.4 RATIFICATION OF DESIGN REVIEW BOARD APPROVAL OF PROJECT 2025-1013 (GOODWILL INDUSTRIES) Attachments
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Public Comments
1. Staff Report_Project 2025-1013 DRB Ratification_8250 La Mesa Blvd.pdf
2. Attachment A -Draft Resolution Project 2025-1013 DRB Ratification.pdf
3. Attachment B - DRB Staff Report_Cert of Action_signed.pdf
4. Attachment C - Project 2025-1013 Site Photos.pdf
5. Attachment D - Project 2025-1013 Rendering.pdf
6. Attachment E - Project 2025-1013 Color-Materials-Board.pdf RESOLUTION RATIFYING THE DESIGN REVIEW BOARD APPROVAL OF PROJECT 2025-1013 (GOODWILL INDUSTRIES) - A MAJOR EXTERIOR FAÇADE RENOVATION AT 8250 LA MESA BOULEVARD, APNs 494-402-07-00 AND 494-402-08-00 IN THE CD-D (DOWNTOWN COMMERCIAL/URBAN DESIGN OVERLAY) ZONE Resolution No. 2025-128
Adopt Resolution.
9.5 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN AGREEMENT WITH ENVISIO SOLUTIONS, INC. FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING AND PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT DASHBOARD SOFTWARE AND A BUDGET ADJUSTMENT TO APPROPRIATE $28,275 FROM GENERAL FUND RESERVES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026 Attachments
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Public Comments
1. Staff Report_Approval of Envisio Agreement 2025-10-14.pdf
2. Attachment A - Resolution_ Envisio Agreement.pdf
3. Attachment B - Envisio Agreement.pdf
Resolution No. 2025-129
Adopt Resolution.
10. STAFF REPORTS
Public Comments:
10.1 CONSIDERATION OF THE LA MESA COMMUNITY PARKING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION TO UPDATE PARKING METER RATES, PARKING PERMIT PRICING, AND PARKING PERMIT PROGRAM GUIDELINES IN PARKING DISTRICT ONE Attachments
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Public Comments
1. Staff Report_Update to Parking Meter Rates 2025-10-14.pdf
2. Attachment A - Resolution_Update to Parking Meter Rates.pdf
3. Attachment B - Parking Permit Program Policies and Procedures_edited.pdf
4. Attachment C - 2025-07-08 Staff Report.pdf
5. 10.1 PowerPoint_Parking Meter Rates Recommendation.pdf James Simpson
Parking permits should be given to store front businesses ONLY.
Beatrix Farhat
Parking permits should only be given to businesses, if future residents have permits too, where are our customers supposed to park? We need a parking structure for downtown La Mesa not more permits.
Also the increase of the annual permit rate is very steep. Business are very essential to down town La Mesa and should not be hammered with more and more costs.
Theresa Favro
As a business owner with staff in the village, I am very concerned about losing our parking permits to new residents. The lack of parking is already going to create more hardship on the businesses. Why make it worse? In my opinion, apartment developers should not depend on permits that are currently available for business owners and their employees. They should be responsible for providing enough parking spaces for their tenants. These permits were not intended for public parking, please keep it that way.
Thank you
Jon Boyle
Parking in La Mesa is getting more and more difficult. Policies like this are harming businesses and their ability to bring in customers from out of the area. We need a comprehensive overhaul of the parking plan, especially in the Village. Without this, the area will be increasingly difficult to visit and will hinder future growth.
Michelle Huey
$1.50/hr ok
1-tier Parking Permits- excellent!
Parking permit price increase- ok
5 permits per business- ok. I know at least 4 businesses who currently have more than 5 parking permits, so please make the request for additional permits a simple process.
Parking Permits MUST remain for brick and mortar businesses ONLY, and not be opened for residential use.
We are in a PARKING CRISIS. The old US Bank(CityMark) parking lot is now being run by LAZ Parking. Parking in that lot is $2.50/hr + $0.65 service fee. This lot held 80 cars free of charge for years, and was FULL from morning til night. Now it sits 1/4-1/2 full because people don’t want to pay $5.65 (2 hrs) or $10.65 (4hrs) . Regular customers are going elsewhere because they can’t find parking and aren’t willing to pay LAZ fees. This is confirmed by a nearby “sister” restaurant hearing what their new customers are saying.
This past Friday, during the Farmers Market, the CityMark lot was only 1/3 full at 4:00pm. That’s concerning because it is normally full. In order to keep our Farmers Market as successful as it is, customers need to have parking that is easy and free or minimal, as well as have parking for the 100 vendors that make the market. We have private parking for 30 vendors, and send 70 vendors to the Date Ave Lot. In order for this weekly Special Event to be truly successful, it needs to bring in enough customers to shop at both the Market, and the Brick and Mortars.
This past Sunday was BAD. All Peoples Church paritioners, many of whom park in the CityMark lot, did not because they aren’t going to pay to go to church. Instead, they filled up the Allison Lot, taking up most of the parking for customers going to the other 25+ businesses that are open on Sundays.
Imagine what the Village parking situation will be like once the Jewel project is complete- 64 units, 29 parking spots, at least 35 cars needing parking. The Allison Lot is free from 6pm Saturday night until 8am Monday morning. Residents parking in the Allison Lot will kill Sundays in the Village. Residents with parking permits will kill every day in the Village.
Without parking, we lose customers. Workout customers, we lose businesses. With businesses, we lose our Village.
Assistant to the City Manager Dedmon presented an overview of the Community Parking Commission’s recommended updates to parking meter rates, permit pricing, and program guidelines for Parking District One. The recommendations included increasing parking meter rates to $1.50 per hour, consolidating the current two-tier permit structure into a single rate of $80 per quarter or $288 annually, and limiting businesses to five parking permits, with the option to request additional permits based on demonstrated need. Assistant to the City Manager Dedmon noted that the Community Parking Commission proposed these changes to promote consistency and more effectively manage parking resources within the district.
Council questions and comments ensued.
Tony Gaipa expressed concern about Downtown Village parking availability and suggested measures to reduce impacts from residential parking.
Council questions and comments continued.
Michelle Huey submitted a comment regarding the Downtown Village parking crisis and parking permit policies.
Jon Boyle submitted a comment urging a comprehensive overhaul of the Downtown Village parking plan.
Theresa Favro submitted a comment opposing the use of business parking permits for residential tenants.
Beatrix Farhat submitted a comment opposing residential parking permits and expressing concern over increased permit costs for businesses.
James Simpson submitted a comment stating that only businesses should be given parking permits.
Resolution No. 2025-130
Moved By
Vice Mayor Cazares
Seconded By
Councilmember Dillard
Adopt the Resolution updating the parking meter rates, parking permit pricing, and Parking Permit Program Guidelines in Parking District One.
For (4)
Councilmember Dillard, Councilmember Lothian, Vice Mayor Cazares, and Councilmember Suzuki Absent (1)
Mayor Arapostathis
Approved (4 to 0)
11. STAFF REPORTS - CITY COUNCIL - PUBLIC FINANCING AUTHORITY - SUCCESSOR AGENCY Public Comments:
11.1 CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTING THE FINAL BIENNIAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026 AND FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027 Attachments
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Public Comments
1. Staff Report_Final Biennial Budget Adoption for FY 2025-2027.pdf
2. Attachment A - Budget Adoption Resolution .pdf
3. Attachment B - FY 2025-2027 Final Budget Book.pdf
4. Attachment C - CIP Budget_FY26 - FY30.pdf
5. Attachment D - Updated Compensation Plan FY26.pdf
6. 11.1 PowerPoint_ 2025-2027 Final Biennial Budget .pdf City Manager Humora delivered opening remarks and expressed appreciation to all those who contributed to the completion of the final budget.
Interim Director of Finance Herrera presented the 2025–2027 Final Biennial Budget, noting that the $82 million General Fund and $145 million total City budget remain balanced and fully funded. Revisions from the Preliminary Budget included funding for a new fire truck in Fiscal Year (FY) 2026–2027, $20,000 for upgrades to the Urban Search and Rescue vehicle, and updated revenues and expenditures based on the FY 2024 audit. A mid-cycle review would be conducted in April 2026 following completion of the FY 2025 audit.
Council questions and comments ensued.
Resolution No. 2025-131
Moved By
Vice Mayor Cazares
Seconded By
Councilmember Suzuki
Adopt Resolution adopting the Final Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 and Fiscal Year 2026-2027.
For (4)
Councilmember Dillard, Councilmember Lothian, Vice Mayor Cazares, and Councilmember Suzuki Absent (1)
Mayor Arapostathis
Approved (4 to 0)
12. COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS (3 MINUTE LIMIT)
Public Comments:
The Vice Mayor and Council reported on various outside boards, commissions, and committee meetings they attended. No action was taken.
13. AB 1234 REPORTS (GC 53232.3(d))
Public Comments:
There were no reports.
14. CITY ATTORNEY REMARKS
Public Comments:
There were no remarks.
15. ADJOURNMENT
Public Comments:
Vice Mayor Cazares adjourned the meeting at 6:49 p.m.