MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE LEMON GROVE CITY COUNCIL
Lemon Grove Community Center
3146 School Lane, Lemon Grove, CA 91945
Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at 6:00 p.m.
Call to Order
Mayor Racquel Vasquez called the Regular City Council meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Roll Call
Mayor Racquel Vasquez, Mayor Pro-Tem Jennifer Mendoza and Councilmember Alysson Snow
Absent: Councilmember George Gastil and Councilmember LeBaron Staff Members Present
Lydia Romero, City Manager; Kristen Steinke, City Attorney; Joel G. Pablo, City Clerk; Izzy Murguia, Public Works Director; Roberto Hidalgo, Human Resources Manager, Fire Chief Bent Koch, Heartland Fire and Rescue; Lieutenant Joseph Barry, San Diego County Sheriff's Department.
Pledge of Allegiance
Councilmember Snow led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Changes - None
Presentations - None
Public Comment
Mayor Vasquez opened the public comment period.
In Person: Brenda Hammond
Consent Calendar
Action: Motion by Mayor Pro-Tem Mendoza, second by Councilmember Snow to approve Consent Calendar Item Nos. 1.A through 1.D
The motion passed by the following vote:
Ayes: Snow, Mendoza, Vasquez
Noes: None
Absent: Gastil, LeBaron
1.A Waive Full Text Reading of All Ordinances on the Agenda Action: Waived the full text reading of all ordinances on the published meeting agenda.
1.B City of Lemon Grove Payment Demands
Page |2 City Council Meeting Minutes - Regular Meeting December 19, 2023 Action: Ratified Demands
1.C Approval of City Council Minutes
Action: Approved the minutes of the Lemon Grove City Council meeting held on December 5, 2023.
1.D 2024 MiAdopte aes Incion No. 2023-392 to approve a minimum wage increase to ensure compliance with the California Minimum wage increase as govern by State law.
Public Hearing(s): - None
Reports to Council
Award of Contract (CMAS No. 4-20-56-0006) to The Garland Company, Inc., for Purchase of Roofing Construction Materials
Izzy Murguia, Public Works Director, presented the staff report.
Mayor Vasquez opened the public comment period. No comments were directed to the Council.
Round 1: Councilmembers provided questions/comments to staff.
Round 2: Councilmembers provided questions/comments to staff.
Action: Motion by Mayor Pro-Tem Mendoza, second by Councilmember Snow to adopt Resolution No. 2023-3993 to award a contract (CMAS No. 4-20-56-0006B) for the purchase of roofing construction materials from The Garland Company, Inc., in the amount of $467,075.46 and authorize the City Manager to execute any necessary documents.
The motion passed by the following vote:
Ayes: Snow, Mendoza, Vasquez
Noes: None
Absent: Gastil, LeBaron
Employee Equity Compensation Plan
Lydia Romero, City Manager, presented the staff report.
Mayor Vasquez opened the public comment period. No comments were directed to the Council.
Round 1: Councilmembers provided questions/comments to staff.
Round 2: Councilmembers provided questions/comments to staff.
Page | 3 City Council Meeting Minutes - Regular Meeting December 19, 2023 Action: Motion by Mayor Pro-Tem Mendoza, second by Councilmember Snow to adopt Resolution No. 2023-3994 to approve the Proposed Employee Equity Compensation Plan.
The motion passed by the following vote:
Ayes: Snow, Mendoza, Vasquez
Noes: None
Absent: Gastil, LeBaron
City Manager Employment Agreement - Third Amendment
Kristen Steinke, City Attorney provided a brief overview of the staff report and presented the subcommittee's recommendation to provide the City Manager a 3% increase in base salary for Ms. Romero, City Manager.
Mayor Vasquez opened the public comment period. No comments were directed to the Council.
Round 1: Councilmembers provided questions/comments to staff.
In response to Councilmember Snow, City Attorney Steinke mentioned the City Manager's contract has a provision that contains an automatic CPI (cost of living) increase of 2.5% per year. She noted that the City Manager has waived the automatic CPI increase since her employment agreement began with the City in 2016 and has only accepted one CPI increase in 2022.
Councilmember Snow questioned if the Council can provide the City Manager with a
5.5% increase as opposed to the recommended 3% increase proposed by the Council Committee.
City Attorney Steinke indicated that Council does have the discretion to amend the recommendation and amend the resolution to provide a 5.5% increase to the City Manager's base salary.
Mayor Pro Tem Mendoza supported the recommendation. Mendoza expressed her appreciation for Ms. Romero's many years of service and tireless work for the City.
Round 2: Councilmembers provided questions/comments to staff.
Councilmember Snow commended Ms. Romero for cultivating relationships with elected officials, appointed officials and various groups specifically in East County.
Both Mayor Vasquez and Councilmember Snow expressed gratitude for Ms. Romero's leadership role and work for the City.
City Council Meeting Minutes - Regular Meeting December 19, 2023 Page |4
Action: Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Mendoza, second by Councilmember Snow to adopt Resolution No. 2023-3995, as amended, authorizing an amendment to the City's budget, increasing the City Manager's base salary by 5.5%.
The motion passed by the following vote:
Ayes: Snow, Mendoza, Vasquez
Noes: None
Absent: Gastil, LeBaron
City Council Reports on Meetings Attended at the Expense of the City Councilmember Snow
December 7, 2023: Attended the San Diego Chamber of Commerce's Holiday Event December 7, 2023: Attended Imperial Beach's State of the City Address December 11, 2023: Attended the Clean Energy Coalition
• Announced that she has been elected as the 2nd Vice President for the League of California Cities - San Diego Region
Mayor Pro-Tem Mendoza
• December 6, 2023: Participated in Meeting with East County San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) Representatives
• December 8, 2023: Attended the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) Board Meeting
• December 11, 2023: Attended and Participated in the League of California Cities Meeting December 13, 2023: Met with the Lemon Grove Clergy Group • December 14, 2023: Attended the MTS Board Meeting
• December 15, 2023: Attended the SANDAG Transportation Committee • December 16, 2023: Participated in the Lemon Grove Food Distribution Mayor Vasquez
• December 7, 2023: Attended a Meeting with the Governor's Regional Office • December 7, 2023: Attended the Urban League 2023 Annual Meeting and Diversity Recognition Event
• December 13, 2023: Attended the San Diego Chamber International Tribute Awards • December 14, 2023: Met with Assemblymember Dr. Weber and Armand King; re:
Cannabis Social Equity
• December 16, 2023: Participated in the Lemon Grove Food Distribution December 16, 2023: Attended the House of Puerto Rico, San Diego Holiday Gala December 16, 2023: Attended the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Holiday Scholarship Ball
Page | 5 City Council Meeting Minutes - Regular Meeting December 19, 2023 City Manager Report
City Manager Lydia Romero announced the City's managers hosted an employee recognition luncheon at the Lemon Grove Bistro & Beer Garden on Wednesday, December 13, 2023.
Closed Session - None
Adjournment
There being no further business, Mayor Vasquez adjourned the City Council meeting at 7:35 p.m. Mayor Vasquez announced the first Regular City Council Meeting for 2024 will be held on Tuesday, January 16, 2024.
Joel G. Pablo, City Clerk
Approved by City Council on January 16, 2024