MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE LEMON GROVE CITY COUNCIL
Lemon Grove Community Center
3146 School Lane, Lemon Grove, CA 91945
Tuesday, November 7, 2023 at 6:00 P.M.
The City Council sits as the Board of Directors for the Lemon Grove Housing Authority, emon Grove Sanitation District Board, Lemon Grove Roadway Lighting District Board, anc emon Grove Successor Agenci
Call to ardel Vasquez called the Regular City Council meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
City Council Present
Mayor Racquel Vasquez, Mayor Pro-Tem George Gastil, Councilmember Alysson Snow and Councilmember Jennifer Mendoza
Absent: Councilmember Liana LeBaron
Staff Members Present:
Lydia Romero, City Manager; Kristen Steinke, City Attorney; Izzy Murguia, Public Works Director; Joel G. Pablo, City Clerk; Gregory Jackson, Communications Specialist; Bent Koch, Fire Chief; and Joseph Barry, Lieutenant with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.
Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor Pro-Tem Gastil led everyone present in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Changes to the Agenda - None
Presentations
United Against Hate
Mayor Vasquez introduced Shastity Urias, Chair of the United Against Hate Week Committee. Urias provided information on the United Against Hate Campaign.
Mayor Vasquez read and presented a proclamation to Shastity Urias in support of United Against Hate Week.
Veterans East County Alliance (VECA)
Mayor Vasquez introduced Susan Roberts-Egley, Chair with the Veterans East County Alliance. Not present.
(Roberts-Egley presented following the conclusion of Public Comment.) Roberts-Egley provided information on the Veterans East County Alliance.
Page |2 City Council Meeting Minutes (Regular Meeting) November 7, 2023 Public Comments
Mayor Vasquez opened the public comment period.
In-Person: Brenda Hammond
John L. Wood
Joseph Felix
Nick Rubio
Mayor Vasquez noted and directed Nick Rubio to provide public comment under Agenda Item No. 3.
Mayor Vasquez announced that Council will return back to the Presentations portion of the meeting prior to moving to the Consent Calendar.
Consent Calendar
Action: Motion by Councilmember Gastil, second by Councilmember Snow to approve the Consent Calendar Items No. 1.A through 1.H.
The motion passed by the following vote:
Ayes: Snow, Mendoza, Gastil, Vasquez
Noes: None
Absent: LeBaron
1.A Waive Full Text Reading of All Ordinances on the Agenda Action: Waived the full text reading of all ordinances included in this agenda; Ordinances shall be introduced and adopted by title only.
1.B City of Lemon Grove Payment Demands
Action: Ratified Demands
1.C Approval of City Council Minutes
Action: Approved the minutes of the Lemon Grove City Council meeting on September 19, 2023.
1.D Note and File Planning Commission Meeting Minutes
Action: Noted and File Approved Planning Commission Minutes of August 28, 2023.
1.E Award Agreement (No. 2023-24) for As-Needed Environmental and Biological Services to Dudek
Action: Adopted Resolution No. 2023 - 3980 to Award an agreement (No. 2023-24) for as needed environmental and biological services to Dudek with a not-to-exceed amount of $50,000 and authorize the City Manager to execute any necessary documents.
Page |3 City Council Meeting Minutes (Regular Meeting) November 7, 2023
1.F Amendment No. 2 to the Professional Services Agreement (No.2020-15) with CR Associates
Action: Adopted Resolution No. 2023 - 3981 approving Amendment No. 2 to the professional services agreement (No. 2020-15) with CR Associates; and for a not-to exceed amount of $690,879.50.
1.G Consideration of a Resolution Authorizing Emergency Repairs at 7330 and 7336 Canton Drive (4/5ths Vote Required)
Action: Adopted Resolution No. 2023 - 3982 Authorizing Emergency Repairs at 7330 and 7336 Canton Drive.
Findings:
PCC 22050 requires that the following findings be made to approve the emergency repairs contemplated by the attached Resolution:
A. The public interest and necessity demand immediate expenditure of public money to safeguard life, health or property, and the City Council and/or the City Manager may expend any sum required in the emergency for the construction or completion of any building structure or improvement B. The emergency will not permit a delay resulting from a competitive solicitation for bids, which is necessary to respond to the emergency.
1.H New Senior Analyst Position in City Manager's Office Action: Adopted Resolution No. 2023 - 3983 establishing a Senior Analyst Position in the City Manager's Office and allocating revenue to fund six months of salary and benefits.
Public Hearing:
2. Authorize the FY 2024-2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program Application
The Clerk stated all notices as requested by law have been given and all documents and corresponding exhibits have been provided.
City Attorney requested Councilmembers to disclose any conflicts of interest or ex-parte communications. Chair Vasquez, Mayor Pro-Tem Gastil, Councilmember Mendoza and Councilmember Snow each stated they had no conflicts.
Izzy Murguia, Director of Public Works, presented the report.
Mayor Vasquez opened the Public Hearing.
Mayor Vasquez opened the Public Comment period.
Page |4 City Council Meeting Minutes (Regular Meeting) November 7, 2023 In-Person: John L. Wood
Izzy Murguia, Director of Public Works, responded to public comments received.
Murguia defined and provided an overview of Pavement Condition Index (PCI).
Round 1: Councilmembers provided questions/comments to staff.
Round 2: Councilmembers provided questions/comments to staff.
Action: Motion by Councilmember Gastil, second by Councilmember Mendoza to close the Public Hearing.
The motion passed by the following vote:
Ayes: Snow, Mendoza, Gastil, Vasquez
Noes: None
Absent: LeBaron
Council provides comments to staff.
Action: Motion by Councilmember Mendoza, second by Councilmember Snow to adopt Resolution No. 2023 - 3984 authorizing the submittal of an application for the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Community Development Block Grant Program.
The motion passed by the following vote:
Ayes: Snow, Mendoza, Gastil, Vasquez
Noes: None
Absent: LeBaron
Reports to Council:
3. Council Initiated Item - Discuss a 3% wage increase for AFSCME Local 127, General and Supervisorial Bargaining Units
Councilmember Snow and Councilmember Mendoza presented the report.
Mayor Vasquez opened the public comment period.
In-Person: Nick Rubio
Council deliberations ensued regarding the proposed wage increase, contract negotiations with the union and process.
In response to Councilmember Snow, Steinke advised Council to provide specific and clear language in their motion on the wage increase and retroactive date / end date. Romero commented if Council's desire is to provide a wage increase she suggested that the motion to include November 28, 2023 as the effective date for any and all retroactive payments to be made.
Page |5 City Council Meeting Minutes (Regular Meeting) November 7, 2023 Action: Motion by Councilmember Snow, second by Councilmember Gastil to rovide a 3% wage increase for AFSCME Local 127, General and Supervisorial Bargaining Units retroactive July 1, 2023 and without an end date; effective the pay period ending on November 28, 2023.
The motion passed by the following vote:
Ayes: Snow, Mendoza, Gastil
Abstain: Vasquez
Absent: LeBaron
City Council Reports on Meetings Attended at the Expense of the City Councilmember October 2023
Mendoza • San Diego Association of Governments - Transportation Committee
• Monthly Food Distribution at the Recreation Center
Old Globe Theatre
• Heartland Fire Communications Meetings
Trunk or Treat
• Heartland Fire - Pancake Breakfast
November 2023
• Siroptimist Chili Cook Off
Councilmember October 2023
Snow • SD East County Economic Development Council: Learned of two funding opportunities to include the small business revolving loan program and small business entrepreneurship mant Besines revolting loan program concumci on the
•
Mayor Pro-Tem October 2023
Gastil • Metropolitan Transit System Board of Directors Meeting Mayor Racquel October 2023
Vasquez San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce: 2023 Women in Leadership
Lemon Grove Distribution
• Casey Castillo, CEO of the San Diego Food Book
• Old Globe Theatre
• The Comedy of Errors play
• San Diego Association of Governments - Business Meeting •
San Diego Rescue Mission
Page |6 City Council Meeting Minutes (Regular Meeting) November 7, 2023 • Interviewed by CBS 8
City Manager Report
Lydia Romero, City Manager informed Council that the City of Lemon Grove has been awarded a grant recipient for the Lemon Grove Rezoning and Downtown Specific Expansion plan from the San Diego Association of Governments. Romero mentioned staff will work on a report for Council to formally accept the grant from SANDAG and will likely hire a Consultant to carry out the plan.
City Manager Romero expressed her gratitude to Monica Gonzales and Isabel Armenta for organizing the annual Trunk or Treat.
she plans to report out on the program at a future Council meeting.
Closed Session
Kristen Steinke, City Attorney, read the Council into Closed Session. The Council recessed into Closed Session at 7:43 p.m.
a. Public Employee Performance Evaluation (Government Code §54957) Position: City Manager
The Council reconvened into open session at 8:24 p.m. Steinke reported out from Closed Session.
Action: No reportable action.
Adjournment
The being the rehe buiet our guer adored ay, ty cone can a Joel G. Pablo
City Clerk
Approved by City Council on November 21, 2023