MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE LEMON GROVE CITY COUNCIL
Lemon Grove Community Center
3146 School Lane, Lemon Grove, CA 91945
Tuesday, June 18, 2024 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 (joined at 6:03 p.m.), Councilmember George Gastil, Councilmember Liana LeBaron (joined at 7:30 p.m.) and Councilmember Alysson Snow
Absent: None
Staff Members Present
City Manager Lydia Romero, City Attorney Kristen Steinke, City Clerk Joel G. Pablo, Public Works Director Izzy Murguia, Executive Assistant Shaun Dershem, Interim Finance Manager Darlene Morrow-Truver, Associate Accountant Bella Casares, Human Resources Manager Roberto Hildago, Fire Chief Todd Nelson, Heartland Fire and Rescue; Lt. Joseph Barry, San Diego County Sheriff's Department.
Pledge of Allegiance
Councilmember Snow led the Pledge of Allegiance.
manges abounced that there are no cha
anges to the agend
Presentations - None
Public Comment
Mayor Vasquez opened the public comment period.
In Person: Brenda Hammond
John L. Wood
Stephen Caldero
Nick Rubio, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
Michelle Krug
Written: Barbara Gordon
Mayor Vasquez closed the public comment period.
Page |2 City Council Meeting Minutes - Regular Meeting June 18, 2024 Consent Calendar
ACTION: Motion by Mayor Pro-Tem Mendoza, second by Councilmember Snow to approve Consent Calendar Item Nos. 1.A and 1.G.
The motion passed by the following vote:
Ayes: Snow, Gastil, Mendoza, Vasquez
Noes: None
Absent: LeBaron
1.A Waive the 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
Action: Ratified Demands covering May 8, 2024 through May 21, 2024.
1.C Approval of City Council Meeting Minutes
Action: Approved the minutes of the Lemon Grove City Council meetings held on June 4,2024.
1.D Resolution Adopting a List of Projects for Fiscal Year 2024-25 Funded by Senate Bill 1.
The Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017
Action: Adopted Resolution No. 2024-4029 approving the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Road Maintenance Rehabilitation Account funding allocation.
1.E Lemon Grove Housing Element Finding
Action: Adopted Resolution No. 2024-4043 finding that existing uses on non-vacant sites identified in the 2021-2029 Housing Element are not an impediment to meet the lower-income Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) for Lemon Grove.
1.F Award of a Master Service Agreement to Precision Concrete Cutting for City-Wide Sidewalk Trip Hazard Remediation
Action: Adopted Resolution No. 2024-4044 to award a Master Service Agreement (No. 2024-18) for city-wide sidewalk trip hazard remediation to Precision Concrete Cutting in the amount not-to-exceed $75,000, and authorize the City Manager to execute any necessary documents.
1.G Amendment No. 4 to the Professional Services Agreement with Rick Engineering Company
Action: Adopted Resolution No. 2024-4045 approving Amendment No. 4 to the professional services agreement (No. 2019-17) with Rick Engineering Company.
Public Hearing(s): - None
Page | 3 City Council Meeting Minules - Regular Meeting June 18, 2024 Reports to Council
Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance No. 34 Amending Ordinance No. 33 Describing Methods for Calculating Lemon Grove Sanitation District Sewer Service Charges
Chair Vasquez introduced Kristen Steinke, District Council to present the staff report.
Steinke presented the Staff Report.
Mayor Vasquez opened the public comment period. No comments were directed to the Council.
Action: Motion by Councilmember Gastil, second by Mayor Pro-Tem Mendoza to Introduce to conduct a second reading, by title only, adopted Ordinance No. 34 entitled "An Ordinance Amending Ordinance No. 33 of the Lemon Grove Sanitation District Describing Methods for Calculating Sewer Service Charges." The motion passed by the following vote:
Ayes: Snow, Gastil, Mendoza, Vasquez
Noes: None
Absent: LeBaron
Discuss and Advise 2024-2025 City Council Priorities and Work Plan [Item Continued from the June 4, 2024 City Council Meeting!
Mayor Vasquez introduced Lydia Romero, City Manager to present the staff report.
Romero presented the 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.
Discussion ensued and the Council provided general direction to the City Manager to finalize the list of agreed upon 2024-2025 City Council Priorities and Work Plan and prepare a report for subsequent Council adoption at its June 25, 2024 Special City Council meeting.
4. Fiscal Year 2024-25 Budget [Item Continued from the June 4, 2024 City Council Meeting]
Mayor Vasquez introduced Lydia Romero, City Manager to present the staff report.
Romero presented the staff report. Izzy Murguia, Public Works Director presented the Lemon Grove Sanitation District portion of the report.
City Council Meeting Minutes - Regular Meeting June 18. 2024 Page | 4
Councilmember LeBaron joined at 7:30 p.m.
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.
Discussion ensued and the Council provided general direction directing the City Manager to finalize the Fiscal Year 2024-25 Budget and prepare a report for subsequent Council adoption at its June 25, 2024 Special City Council meeting.
Item Pulled from the Consent Calendar on May 21, 2024
City of Lemon Grove Payment Demands
City Manager Lydia Romero and City Attorney Kristen Steinke fielded questions from Councilmember LeBaron. The matter was moved to the Regularly Scheduled Meeting on July 2, 2024.
Item Pulled from the Consent Calendar on June 4, 2024
Fiscal Year 2024-25 City Calendar
Mayor Vasquez opened public comment.
In Person: Michelle Krug
Mayor Vasquez closed public comment.
The Council provided the City Manager with general direction and moved to a future Council meeting.
City Council Reports on Meetings Attended at the Expense of the City Councilmember Snow
• June 6, 2024: Attended the Lemon Grove Farmers Market • June 7, 2024: Hosted Community Conversations at Berry Street Park with Councilmember Gastil
• June 8, 2024: Attended the La Mesa Flag Day Parade
• June 8, 2024: Attended the Lemon Grove Park Grand Unveiling • June 12, 2024: Attended the Revenue Subcommittee
• June 13, 2024: Attended the Presentation of the City of San Diego from Homeless Strategies and Solutions
• June 13, 2024: Attended the Thomas C. Holman Bar Association Event • June 13, 2024: Attended the Lemon Grove Farmer's Market Page | 5 City Council Meeting Minutes - Regular Meeting June 18, 2024 • June 15, 2024: Attended the Cooper Family Juneteenth Celebration • June 16, 2024: Attended the La Mesa Juneteenth Event
• June 17, 2024: Attended the El Cajon Community Town Hall Meeting • June 18, 2024: Attended the Government Affairs Committee for the East County Chamber of Commerce
• June 18, 2024: Lemon Grove's Juneteenth Flag Raising
Councilmember LeBaron
• Expressed her concerns about the issues the property owner of the Golden Avenue Condos has with the City.
Councilmember Gastil
• June 7, 2024: Participated in Community Conversations at Berry Street Park with Councilmember Snow.
• June 8, 2024: Attended the grand unveiling of Lemon Grove Park • June 12, 2024: Attended the Revenue Subcommittee
Mayor Pro-Tem Mendoza
• June 15, 2024: Organized and Assisted in the Lemon Grove Food Distribution Mayor Vasquez
• Attended the San Diego Association of Government: Briefings • June 14, 2024: Attended the 2024 Tribal Summit at Pala Casino • Attended the San Diego Housing Federation Ruby Awards • Attended the 2nd Annual Shaw CAASAS Awards held at the Alvarez Auditorium • Attended the Grand Reopening of the Lemon Grove Park Playground • Attended the State of Black California Event
• Attended the 2024 Electrical Training Institute Graduation Ceremony • Attended and Raised the Juneteenth Flag at City Hall
City Manager Report
City Manager Lydia Romero noted that Lemon Grove Deputies were unavailable due to an emergency call, which is why Santee deputies responded to an incident that occurred on John L.
Wood's property. Romero mentioned that Summer Camp registration is open and noted a table will be set up at the Farmer's market for City Staff to engage with residents and answer questions, promoting transparency and community involvement.
Closed Session
City Attorney Kristen Steinke read the Council into Closed Session. The Council adjourned into Closed Session at 9:53 p.m.
a. Public Employee Performance Evaluation (Government Code §54957(b)) City Attorney (Item Continued from the City Council Meeting on May 21, 2024 and June 4, 2024) b. Conference with Labor Negotiator (Government Code §54957.6)
Agency Representative: Lydia Romero, City Manager
Employee Organization: AFSCME Local 127, General and Supervisorial Bargaining Units
The Council reconvened from Closed Session at 11:01 p.m.
City Attorney Steinke announced that she had recused herself from Closed Session Item (a).
Mayor Vasquez stated there is no reportable action for Closed Session Item (a).
City Attorney Steinke stated there is no reportable action for Closed Session Item (b).
Adjournment
There being no further business to come before the City Council, Mayor Vasquez adjourned the meeting at 11:02 p.m. She mentioned that a Special Meeting of the City Council will take place on Tuesday, June 25, 2024 and the next regularly scheduled meeting of the City Council is set for Tuesday, July 2, 2024
I G. Pablo
Cite Clerk
Approved by City Council on October 15, 2024