MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF TH LEMON GROVE CITY COUNCIL
Lemon Grove Community Center
3146 School Lane, Lemon Grove, CA 91945
Tuesday, September 19, 2023 at 6:00 P.M.
Call to Order
Mayor Raquel Vasquez called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m.
Vasquez Welcome to the City of Lemon Grove - City Council meeting.
Betore we get started, I want to let everybody know that we are having technical difficulties with the mics.
That includes the mic for public comment and the mies here at the platform. And because of this, we are going to rearrange the agenda tonight, we will say our Pledge, we will have public comments, but we have staff here who will be taking notes. And then after public comment, we will go directly into Closed Session while we continue to troubleshoot. Our hope is that once we are done with Closed Session - that we will be able to come back to our meeting and continue with our mics operational.
And so, to get the meeting started tonight, I'm going to ask the City Clerk to call the roll.
Roll Call
Present: Mayor Raquel Vasquez, Mayor Pro-Tem George Gastil, Councilmember Liana LeBaron, Councilmember Jennifer Mendoza and Councilmember Alysson Snow.
Staff Members Present: Lydia Romero, City Manager; Kristen Steinke, City Attorney; Joel G.
Pablo, City Clerk; Izzy Murguia, Public Works Director; Gregory Jackson, Communications Specialist; Bent Koch, Fire Chief; and Joseph Barry, Lieutenant with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.
Pledge of Allegiance
The Assembly recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
Changes to the Agenda - None
Presentation - None
Public Comment
Vasquez: As mentioned, the mics are not working tonight, but we do have staff here who are taking notes diligently.
And - so we will move portions of this meeting. I'll start with Teresa Rosiak Proffit, followed by John L. Wood
Teresa Rosiak I was served by the City of Lemon Grove by a process server to a subpoena at Proffitt my home, which was not necessary. Somebody could have brought it to me, they could have called me and had me come down to City Hall. You all know where I am. So today I was deposed for 2 hours. My opinion was that I was grilled for 2 hours with regards to the lawsuit Williams versus the City of Lemon Grove. It was a fishing expedition and you came up on the fishing pole empty-handed. Because I do not working taxpayer dollars to have hac this happen. It was unnecessary, and I want the residents of Lemon Grove to know this.
My second item is to speak to you with regards to the Lemon Grove Improvement Council and the Church of Salvation Homeless Outreach. I have been asking for years; for you to collaborate with us on the homeless outreach and you refuse. Pastor Brian had a wonderful day of dignity on a Sunday a few weeks ago. We need more of them. You partnered and collaborated with Pastor Brian. We are no different than Pastor Brian. We have a common goal.
Vasquez Thank you so very much. Next we have John L. Wood, followed by Brenda Hammond.
John L. John L. Woods... I'm very angry with the City of Lemon Grove myself.
Woods
9/11, which was a couple of days ago, the flag at City Hall, which is basically a postage stamp on the big pole, was supposed to be a half mast all day long. It wasn't. I tried to get to see Lydia. Oh no, she is in a meeting can't be disturbed. So, apparently somebody doesn't know what happened on 9/11 in your organization. Whoever puts the flag up is supposed to know when to put it up half-staff and what the occasion is. There were a lot of people killed on 9/11 and nothing. Now, nobody gave up - hope about it. The only thing you had going on was - oh - that was the VFW; where the perpetrators of 9/11 used to hang out when they were living here. But you probably didn't know that because you were too busy. I have a list of days that the flag is supposed to be at half-mast. I found it on the computer and I'm no good with those 9-1-1 back then I got two fire trucks. Oh - shut up.
Vasquez Thank you so very much. Next we have up is Brenda Hammond, followed by Chris Williams.
Brenda Hello...
Hammond
it should be considered crimina.
Whoever is sending people out to purposely harass and make others angry should be considered dangerous and brought up on domestic terrorist charges. I could name a few; you know, like some homeless that get slipped $20 by certain law enforcement to harass people. And then, of course, there are some of the county programs that I don't feel were properly vented - vetted because some are out there creating their own job security, trying to make people angry enough to crack. Night, before that, I sat with a dude for up to 2 hours in the breezeway. I wasn't scared, but amused by him sharing his work experience and a really funny story about this San Francisco girl - um - friend hooking up with this San Diego girl. Then all of a sudden, he gets up and he asked me why do I ever talk about anything else but myself? What? Of course, when I walked away, I dropped my phone because I knew this day was coming and that day would be today. I was at Sprouts, and I heard all this loud laughing. I turned and saw that dude that I sat with the night before carrying on with you. You know the volunteers from your County. You know, the ones at the library presentation that I told how I recognized them as the same women who pushed and verbally abused me at a La Mesa restaurant.
Remember, I have photos of them at both places, and they're probably on at least two videos. And I want to know how much... is getting compensated for messing with businesses and even echo bins on commercial property. I've been complaining about this dude for the businesses for a while. So finally, I spoke with Steve South of EDCO about a different problem, and I told him what was going on. How much is this city getting compensated for being with Counties like that? And this is.... was given to me when I had the surgery done, the one that took away the area that causes seizures and PTSD and bipolar first black male surgery. Anyway, my mother's cousin sent it to me with a note that said, now we know you're never going to crash. Thank you.
Vasquez Thank you so very much. And finally, we have Chris Williams.
Chris First and foremost, I'd like to send my sincere condolences to the entire Williams Mendoza family, but especially Jennifer Mendoza. Sorry to hear about your husband. We may not always see eye to eye, but I know he was your family and you loved him. And may your memories help you in your healing.
Now to City Business, I recently was challenged by a spouse of a Councilmember to find any proof of concern regarding taxpayer funds.
During my search, I found that the city's latest audit - I found the city's latest audit, and I was absolutely stunned how incredibly alarming it is. For years, Councilmembers, former Councilmembers, their family and their friends have bullied, harassed and ridiculed me for my public concerns regarding the City's books and taxpayer's funds. I want nothing more than what most of the people want, which is best for my family and best for my community. Even with the knowledge of the most recent audit only Councilmember Lebaron has shown any concern with how the people's money is being managed.
That's an outright travesty. As every one of you were elected to advocate on behalf of your constituents, I'm sure that means making sure their money is not being misallocated or misappropriated. Every Councilmember has failed to do their job except for Ms. LeBaron, and has lied by admission, at the very least by overlooking and staying mum about the findings of that last audit.
The City of Lemon Grove had many, as the auditor stated, significant errors
in transactions recorded, including, but not limited to double booking of the repayment of a successor agency loan. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to understand that double booking anything is not good. The recording of the payment was recorded as a transfer in incorrect recording and revenue recognition of the American Rescue Plan Act; that's COVID money, that is sending regular individuals to prison for a very, very long time. No capital assets activities recorded in the sanitation fund, including depreciation. I believe the City was sued by Mr. Jack Moore for a similar transgression in the past. The city made multiple adjustments mid-audit and the auditor stated that it couldn't ensure the accuracy of various account balances, because the city provided inaccurate or incomplete information and documentation. The lack of complete inaccurate information caused delays and added complexity to the audit. The point the citizens deserve the truth, the whole truth, transparency and accountability regarding their funds. Council is unwilling to vote in favor of a forensic audit after receiving of the findings.
Vasquez Thank you so very much. We have completed the public comments portion of the meeting.
As I mentioned before, the mics are not working, but staff is diligently taking Closed Session
a. Conference With Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation (Government Code §54956.9(d)(1)) Daniel Owens and Erlaine Ah Lan Owens v Dity of Lemo-G-ce San Diego Superior Court, Case No.: 37-2023 b. Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation (Government Code §54956.9(d)(1)) Margaret Hutter, Ellen Hutter and Dorothy Jean Saito v. City of Lemon Grove (San Diego Superior Court, Case No.: 37-2023-00039058-CU-EI-CTL)
Steinke Thank you.
So we are adjourned into Closed Session to discuss two items.
The first is conference with legal counsel regarding existing litigation under Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1) which is Daniel Owens and Erlaine Ah Lan Owens v. City of Lemon Grove.
The second item is conference with legal counsel regarding existing litigation under Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1) which Hutter and Saito v.
City of Lemon Grove.
Thank you.
The Council recessed into Closed Session at 5:22 p.m.
The Council reconvened into Open Session at 7:38 p.m.
Steinke All right, we are adjourned from Closed Session. We had two items.
The first was Owens v. the City of Lemon Grove. I have no report.
The second is Hutter and Saito v. Lemon Grove and I have no report on that item either.
Thank you.
City Council Action on Remaining Items on the Agenda
Vasquez Thank you so very much and our mic system is still not working at this time.
Ind so due to the fact that they are not operable right now, what we will do i ve will continue all of the items that are on the agenda tonight to our nex City Council meeting. And so, that meeting will be held.
Steinke You need a motion and a second for that.
Vasquez That meeting will be held on October 3rd at 6:00 p.m. and so, I will check with our City Councilmembers to see if we have a motion to continue the reno ning items ta our next City Council mecting, which is Ortober 3m at Vasquez Motion by Councilmember Snow, second by Mayor Pro-Tem Gastil to continue the remaining items on the Agenda to the City Council meeting on October 3, 2023 at 6:00 p.m.
The motion passed by the following vote:
Snow, Mendoza, Gastil, LeBaron, Vasquez
NOES:
ABSENT: None
Consent Calendar
1.A Waive the Full Text Reading of All Ordinances on the Agenda [ITEM MOVED TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON
OCTOBER 3, 2023]
1.B City of Lemon Grove Payment Demands
[ITEM MOVED TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON
OCTOBER 3, 2023]
1.C Approval of City Council Meeting Minutes
[ITEM MOVED TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON
OCTOBER 3, 2023]
Public Hearing - None
Reports) to Council
2. City Website Redesign Presentation
[ITEM MOVED TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON
OCTOBER 3, 2023]
3. Amendment No. 1 to the Professional Services Agreement with Rick Engineering Company for the FY 2020-21 and 2021-22 Sewer Replacement and Maintenance Project
TITEM MOVED TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON
City Council Reports on Meetings Attended at the Expense of the City [ITEM MOVED TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON OCTOBER
3, 2023]
City Manager Report
[ITEM MOVED TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON OCTOBER
3, 2023]
Adjournment
Vasquez Thank you.
Again, our next City Council meeting will be held on October 3rd at 6:00. This neeting is now adiourned
There being no further business, Mayor Vasquez adjourned the meeting at 7:41 p.m.
City Clerk
Approved by City Council on November 7, 2023