City Council - May 26, 2026
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.
Mayor Arapostathis called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
1.1 INVOCATION - COUNCILMEMBER SUZUKI
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 SCHOOL SAFETY PATROL AWARDS
Public Comments:
Mayor Arapostathis, Chief Sweeney and School Resource Officer Watkins presented the Safety Patrol Awards to:
Genevieve Macias, La Mesa Dale Elementary School
Violet Vargas, Murray Manor Elementary School
James Gunn, Rolando Elementary School
Greyson Buckland, Maryland Avenue Elementary School
Evelynn Sayklay, Lemon Avenue Elementary School
5.2 PROCLAIMING JUNE 19 AS JUNETEENTH NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE DAY Public Comments:
Councilmember Dillard read the proclamation declaring June 19 as Juneteenth National Independence Day.
5.3 PROCLAIMING JUNE 2026 AS LGBTQ+ PRIDE MONTH
Public Comments:
Vice Mayor Cazares read the proclamation declaring June 2026 as LGBTQ+ Pride Month.
5.4 PROCLAIMING MAY 2026 AS JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH Public Comments:
Councilmember Suzuki read the proclamation declaring May 2026 as Jewish American Heritage Month.
6. PUBLIC COMMENTS – (TOTAL TIME – 15 MINUTES)
Public Comments:
Barbie Wheeler spoke regarding ongoing issues related to two houses on Bellflower Drive.
Dawn-Marie Tol commented on concerns raised regarding the trolley and homeless encampments.
Vaughn Rios spoke on Waite Drive Park.
Brother Steven Gerard Sidlovsky spoke about compassion, healing, and his support for designating the city a safe preborn personhood city.
7. CONFLICT DISCLOSURES
Public Comments:
There were no conflicts of interest disclosed.
8. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON CONSENT CALENDAR
Public Comments:
Rick M. spoke on Item 9.2.
9. CONSENT CALENDAR
Public Comments:
(Items 9.1 through 9.9)
*If a public hearing item is part of the Consent Calendar, the public hearing shall be deemed held if the item is not removed from the Consent Calendar for discussion and possible action (Item 9.7).
Vice Mayor Cazares requested that Item 9.2 be removed from the agenda and considered at a future Council meeting.
Moved By
Vice Mayor Cazares
Seconded By
Councilmember Suzuki
Approve Consent Calendar Items 9.1 through 9.9, except for Item 9.2.
For (5)
Mayor Arapostathis, Councilmember Dillard, Councilmember Lothian, Vice Mayor Cazares, and Councilmember Suzuki Approved (5 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.
9.3 PERMIT AND DEVELOPMENT QUARTERLY UPDATE (JANUARY 2026 – MARCH 2026) Attachments
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Public Comments
1. Memo - Permit and Development Quarterly Update_2026-05-26.pdf
2. Attachment A - Applications and Issued Permits.pdf
Receive and file.
9.4 LA MESA POLICE DEPARTMENT POLICE CHIEF'S 2026 FIRST QUARTER OPERATIONS REPORT Attachments
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Public Comments
1. Memo - LMPD 2026 First Quarter Operations Report_2026-05-26.pdf
2. Attachment A - Report_LMPD 2026 First Quarter Operations Report.pdf Receive and file.
9.5 RESOLUTION ACCEPTING A JOINT BID WITH CITY OF EL CAJON FOR FIRE STATION 11 AND FIRE STATION 13 APPARATUS BAY DOORS PROJECT (CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT NO. 8608 AND 8620) AND AWARDING A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO GMAT, INC., IN THE AMOUNT OF $529,500 Attachments
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Public Comments
1. Staff Report - Contract Award Fire Station 11 and 13 Bay Doors_2026-05-26.pdf
2. Attachment A - Resolution_Contract Award Fire Station 11 and 13 Bay Doors_2026-05-26.pdf
3. Attachment B - Bid 024-26 Tabulation.pdf
4. Attachment C - Product Brochure_Cookson Doors.pdf
5. Attachment D - Fiscal Certificate_ Fire Station 11 and 13 Bay Doors Award.pdf Resolution No. 2026-048
Adopt Resolution.
9.6 RESOLUTION ADOPTING A PROPOSED LIST OF PROJECTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027 FUNDED BY SB1 THE ROAD REPAIR AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2017 Attachments
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Public Comments
1. Staff Report - FY27 SB1 Proposed Project List_2026-05-26.pdf
2. Attachment A - Resolution_FY27 RMRA Projects.pdf
Resolution No. 2026-049
Adopt Resolution.
9.7 *RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE TRANSNET LOCAL STREET IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR FISCAL YEARS 2027 THROUGH 2031 Attachments
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Public Comments
1. Staff Report - 2027-2031 RTIP_2026-05-26.pdf
2. Attachment A - Resolution_2027-2031 RTIP.pdf
3. Attachment B - TR Rev Forecast_2027-2031.pdf
4. Attachment C - RTIP Program_2027-2031.pdf
Resolution No. 2026-050
Adopt Resolution.
9.8 RESOLUTION AWARDING A TASK ORDER TO HARRIS AND ASSOCIATES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027 WASTEWATER UTILITY BILLING, ANNUAL ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED SERVICES Attachments
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Public Comments
1. Staff Report - FY27 Wastewater Billing Task Order_2026-05-26.pdf
2. Attachment A - Resolution_Wastewater Billing.pdf
3. Attachment B - Proposal_Harris Associates.pdf
4. Fiscal Certificate - FY27 Wastewater Billing.pdf
Resolution No. 2026-051
Adopt Resolution.
9.9 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CONTRACT CHANGE ORDER NO. 2 TO BWE INC., FOR ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY EXPANSION PROJECT (CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT 8615) Attachments
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Public Comments
1. Staff Report - Contract Change Order No. 2_PD IT Expansion Project _Awarding BWE_2026-05-26.pdf
2. Attachment A - Resolution_Contract Change Order No. 2 to BWE, Inc._2026-05-26 .pdf
3. Attachment B - Proposal_Contract Change Order No. 2_PD IT Expansion Project_BWE .pdf
4. Attachment C - Fiscal Certificate_Contract Change Order No. 2 - PD IT Expansion Project_BWE.pdf Resolution No. 2026-052
Adopt resolution.
9.2 RESOLUTION APPROVING AN AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT WITH PARTNER INSIGHTS, LLC TO CONTINUE INDEPENDENT POLICE AUDITOR SERVICES IN SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD (“AMENDMENT AGREEMENT”) Attachments
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Public Comments
1. Staff Report - Amendment to Agreement with Partner Insights_2026-05-26.pdf
2. Attachment B - Resolution_Amendment Agreement with Partner Insights.pdf
3. Attachment A - Amendment Agreement with Partner Insights_Independent Police Auditor Services.pdf This item was deleted from the agenda.
10. HEARINGS
Public Comments:
10.1 CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTIONS APPROVING THE FISCAL YEAR 2027 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) ANNUAL ACTION PLAN, AND A SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT TO FISCAL YEAR 2025 CDBG ANNUAL ACTION PLAN Attachments
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Public Comments
1. Staff Report - 2nd Hearing CDBG _2026-05-26.pdf
2. Attachment A - Resolution_FY 2027_CDBG Annual Action Plan.pdf
3. Attachment B - Resolution_FY 2025_CDBG Annual Action Plan_Amendment.pdf
4. Attachment C - Draft_FY 2027_ CDBG Annual Action Plan.pdf
5. Attachment D - Draft_FY 2025_CDBG Annual Action Plan_Amendment.pdf
6. Attachment E - Staff Report_ 2025_2028-04-28.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 10.1.
Senior Management Analyst Pina presented the FY 2027 Community Development Block Grant Annual Action Plan and a substantial amendment to the FY 2025 Action Plan, outlining proposed allocations of $467,440 to support sidewalk and mobility access improvements, fair housing services, program administration, and housing-related oversight activities. She also explained the proposed reallocation of $150,000 from the Nancy Drive Street Improvement project to the FY 2025 Sidewalk Improvement Project due to utility-related delays, and recommended Council approval of both resolutions.
Council questions and comments ensued.
Moved By
Mayor Arapostathis
Seconded By
Councilmember Dillard
Close the hearing.
For (5)
Mayor Arapostathis, Councilmember Dillard, Councilmember Lothian, Vice Mayor Cazares, and Councilmember Suzuki Approved (5 to 0)
Moved By
Mayor Arapostathis
Seconded By
Vice Mayor Cazares
Adopt Resolutions.
For (5)
Mayor Arapostathis, Councilmember Dillard, Councilmember Lothian, Vice Mayor Cazares, and Councilmember Suzuki Approved (5 to 0)
a.
RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE FISCAL YEAR 2027 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) ANNUAL ACTION PLAN AND AUTHORIZING SUBMITTAL TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD) Public Comments:
Resolution No. 2026-053
Adopt Resolution.
b.
RESOLUTION ADOPTING A SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) ANNUAL ACTION PLAN AND AUTHORIZING SUBMITTAL TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT(HUD) Public Comments:
Resolution No. 2026-054
Adopt Resolution.
11. COUNCIL INITIATED
Public Comments:
11.1 CONSIDERATION OF DIRECTING STAFF TO IMPLEMENT DOWNTOWN VILLAGE PARKING MODIFICATIONS - COUNCILMEMBER LOTHIAN & VICE MAYOR CAZARES Attachments
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Public Comments
1. CI.Lothian and Cazares_Downtown Village Parking Modifications.pdf Councilmember Lothian and Vice Mayor Cazares explained their request for staff to assess several low-cost parking modifications in Downtown La Mesa (Downtown Village) to provide immediate parking relief on the east side of Spring Street. The proposed changes included reducing red curb space, converting an underutilized loading zone to metered parking, relocating bike racks to create golf cart parking, evaluating new parking spaces behind Pete’s Place, and striping additional parking spaces throughout the Downtown Village, with staff directed to report back to the Council within 60 days.
Ryan Umbenhaur spoke in support of the City assessing the feasibility of implementing low-cost, minimal-infrastructure parking modifications in the Downtown Village.
Council questions and comments ensued.
Moved By
Councilmember Lothian
Seconded By
Vice Mayor Cazares
Direct staff to assess the viability and implementation of low-cost, minimal-infrastructure parking modifications in the Downtown Village, including reducing red curb space on Allison Avenue, converting the loading zone in front of Turpin and Rattan to metered parking, relocating bike racks to create golf cart parking, evaluating additional parking spaces behind Pete’s Place, and striping parking spaces throughout the Downtown Village boundaries of Allison Avenue, Spring Street, 4th Street, and Fresno Avenue, and return to the Council with a report and recommendations within 60 days.
For (5)
Mayor Arapostathis, Councilmember Dillard, Councilmember Lothian, Vice Mayor Cazares, and Councilmember Suzuki Approved (5 to 0)
12. 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.
13. AB 1234 REPORTS (GC 53232.3(d))
Public Comments:
Councilmember Suzuki reported on her attendance at the CalCCA Annual Conference in Sacramento, California, held May 13–14, 2026, as the City of La Mesa representative on the San Diego Community Power Board of Directors.
14. CITY ATTORNEY REMARKS
Public Comments:
There were no remarks.
15. ADJOURNMENT
Public Comments:
Mayor Arapostathis adjourned the meeting at 7:07 p.m.