MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE LEMON GROVE CITY COUNCIL
3 emboo Lave Lemon Grite, Center
Lemon Grove, CA 91949
Tuesday, October 1, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.
Call to Order
Mayor Vasquez called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Mayor Racquel Vasquez, Mayor Pro-Tem Jennifer Mendoza, Councilmember Liana LeBaron (Joined at 6:02 p.m.), Councilmember Alysson Snow, Councilmember George Gastil.
Absent: None
Staff Members Present
City Manager Lydia Romero, City Attorney Kristen Steinke, City Clerk Joel G. Pablo, Community Development Manager Michael Fellows, Public Works Director Izzy Murguia, Fire Chief Bent Koch, Interim Marshall Chuck Strickland, Sr. Management Analyst Atilano Moran, Communications Specialist Gregory Jackson, Sergeant Ken Seel and Sergeant Billy Price, San Diego County Sheriff's Office.
Pledge of Allegiance
Councilmember George Gastil led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Changes to the Agenda
City Clerk Joel G. Pablo announced an amendment to the agenda meeting packet materials, directing the Council's attention to Public Hearing Item No. 2, Attachment A, and noted that a clearer and true copy of the Planning Commission resolution has been provided.
Presentations
Busy Bee Garden Co-Op
Mayor Vasquez read the proclamation into the record. Chelsea Gastelum, Co-Founder, delivered remarks and expressed her gratitude upon receiving the proclamation.
Proclamation - National Fire Prevention Week
Mayor Vasquez read the proclamation into the record. Chief Bent Koch and Interim Marshal Chuck Strickland provided remarks.
Public Comment
Mayor Racquel Vasquez opened Public Comment:
In Person: John L. Wood
Kenneth King
Susana Hales
Page |2 City Council Meeting Minutes - Regular Meeting October 1, 2024 Brenda Hammond
Written: Kenneth King
Consent Calendar
ACTION: Councilmember Liana LeBaron requested to pull Item No. 1.B from the Consent Calendar. Motion failed due to a lack of a second.
ACTION: Motion by Mayor Pro-Tem Mendoza, second by Councilmember Snow to approve Consent Calendar Item No. 1.A through Item No. 1.E.
The motion passed on a vote of:
AYES: Snow, Gastil, Mendoza, Vasquez
NOES: LeBaron
ABSENT: None
1.A Waive the 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 covering August 14, 2024 to September 3, 2024.
1.C Approval of City Council Meeting Minutes
Action: Approved the minutes of the Lemon Grove City Council meeting held on September 17, 2024.
1.D Ratification of Contracted Emergency Work for the Skyline Drive Sewer Repair [Item Carried from the August 6, 2024 and September 17, 2024 City Council Meeting]
Action: Adopted Sanitation District Resolution No. 2024-328 to ratify an emergency contract (No. 2024-20) in the amount of $36,022.85 for emergency sewer repairs on Skyline Drive, make required findings in accordance with Public Contract Code Section 22050, and authorize the filing of a Notice of Completion with the County of San Diego. (4/5th Vote Required).
1.E Award an Agreement for Sanitary Sewer Root Foaming Services to Duke's Root Control, Inc. (No. 2025-06)
Action: Adopted Sanitation District Resolution No. 2024-329 approving an agreement with Duke's Root Control, Inc. (Duke's) to provide as-needed sanitary sewer root foaming services and authorize the General Manager to execute any and all necessary documents.
Public Hearing
2. Continued Public Hearing to Consider Appeal No. AA2-200-0010 Regarding the Planning Commission Approval of Conditional Use Permit No. CUP-220-0001.
Page | 3 City Council Meeting Minutes - Regular Meeting October 1, 2024 Under Consideration is a Wireless Communications Facility that would Include a 70-toot Mono-broadleat Tower and Associated Equipment at the Property Located at 6970 San Miguel Avenue (APN: 479-240-06-00) in the Residential Low Medium (RLM) Zone. [Continued from the September 17, 2024 City Council Meeting]
Mayor Racquel Vasquez opened the Public Hearing at 6:30 p.m.
City Clerk Pablo confirmed that all legally required notices have been issued and that all relevant documents and exhibits have been submitted.
City Attorney Kristen Steinke requested Councilmembers to disclose any conflicts of interest or ex-parte communications. Councilmember Liana LeBaron, Councilmember George Gastil and Mayor Racquel Vasquez each indicated they Councilmember Alysson Snow and Mayor Pro-Tem Jennifer Mendoza both recused themselves from Public Hearing Item No. 2 due to their residence being within 500 feet of the proposed project.
Community Development Manager Michael Fellows presented the staff report.
Councilmember LeBaron left the dias at 6:39 p.m.
Mayor Racquel Vasquez recessed the Council meeting due to a loss of quorum at 6:39 p.m.
Councilmember LeBaron returned to the dias at 6:41 p.m.
Mayor Racquel Vasquez reconvened the Council meeting at 6:41 p.m.
Jason Sundberg, the Appellant presented.
Round 1: Councilmembers directed questions/comments to the Appellant.
Round 2: Councilmembers directed questions/comments to the Appellant.
Harold Thomas, Jr., the Applicant presented.
Round 1: Councilmembers directed questions/comments to the Applicant.
Round 2: Councilmembers directed questions/comments to the Applicant.
Mayor Racquel Vasquez opened the Public Comment period at 7:24 p.m.
In Person: Jessyka Heredia
John L. Wood
Scott Miller, Christian Church of Lemon Grove
Taylor Farson
Page | 4 City Council Meeting Minutes - Regular Meeting October 1, 2024 Written: David Leon
Jason Sundberg
Mayor Racquel Vasquez closed the Public Comment period at 7:34 p.m.
Harold Thomas, Jr. and John P. Heffernan, the applicant provided rebuttal comments.
Jason Sundberg, the appellant provided rebuttal comments.
Round 1: Councilmembers directed questions/comments to the Appellant and the Applicant.
Round 2: Councilmembers directed questions/comments to the Appellant and the Applicant.
ACTION: Motion by Councilmember George Gastil, second by Mayor Racquel Vasquez to close the Public Hearing at 7:55 p.m.
The motion passed on a vote of:
AYES: LeBaron, Gastil, Vasquez
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Councilmembers deliberated and provided final remarks.
ACTION: Mayor Vasquez moved to call the question, with Councilmember Gastil seconding. After additional deliberation, Mayor Vasquez retracted her motion and Councilmember Gastil withdrew his second.
ACTION: Motion by Councilmember LeBaron to uphold the appeal of the project. The motion failed due to a lack of a second.
The Council held the public hearing, considered all oral and written testimony, and chose not to take action on the matter.
Reports to Council:
Mayor Vasquez recessed the Council at 8:35 p.m. Mayor Vasquez reconvened the Council meeting at 8:45 p.m. with all Councilmembers present.
3. Award of Contract (No. 2024-12) for the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Corona Street, Davidson Avenue, and Nida Place Street Improvement Project to Eagle Paving Company Inc., DBA Toro Engineering
Mayor Racquel Vasquez introduced Public Works Director Izzy Murguia to present the report. Murguia presented the staff report.
Round 1: Councilmembers directed questions/comments to Staff.
Round 2: Councilmembers directed questions/comments to Staff.
Mayor Racquel Vasquez opened the Public Comment period. No comments were directed to the Council on the matter.
ACTION: Motion by Mayor Pro-Tem Mendoza, second by Councilmember LeBaron to: Adopt a Resolution No. 2024-4054 awarding a contract (No. 2024-12) for the Fiscal Year 2023-24 CDBG Corona Street, Davidson Avenue, and Nida Place Street Improvement Project to Eagle Paving Company, Inc., DBA Toro Engineering in the amount of $212,100, and authorize the City Manager to execute any and all necessary documents.
The motion passed on a vote of:
AYES: Gastil, Snow, LeBaron, Mendoza, Vasquez
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
4. Installation of an All-Way Stop at Golden Avenue/School Lane and Central Avenue/School Lane Intersections
Mayor Racquel Vasquez introduced Public Works Director Izzy Murguia to present the report. Murguia presented the staff report.
Mayor Racquel Vasquez opened the Public Comment period. No comments were directed to the Council on the matter.
Round 1: Councilmembers directed questions/comments to Staff.
Round 2: Councilmembers directed questions/comments to Staff.
ACTION: Motion by Councilmember Gastil, second by Councilmember LeBaron to: Adopt Resolution No. 2024-4055 approving the installation of an all-way stop at Golden Avenue/School Lane and Central Avenue/School Lane intersections.
The motion passed on a vote of:
AYES: LeBaron, Snow, Gastil, Mendoza, Vasquez
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
City Council Reports on Meetings Attended at the Expense of the City Councilmember Snow
• September 18, 2024: Attended the East County Economic Development Council Page | 6 City Council Meeting Minutes - Regular Meeting October 1, 2024 • September 19, 2024: Attended the Lemon Grove Farmer's Market • September 21, 2024: Participated in the Lemon Grove Food Distribution • September 23, 2024: Engaged in Community Conversations • September 24, 2024: Met with the County's Office of Immigrant Refugee • September 25, 2024: Attended State Assembly Member Dr. Akilah Weber: Young Legislators Program
• September 26, 2024: Meeting with San Diego Rescue Mission Councilmember LeBaron
• Shared community concerns.
Councilmember Gastil
• Expressed gratitude to Councilmember Snow for representing the City on the East County Economic Development Council as an Alternate. • Announced that the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System is offering free rides on October 2, 2024.
Mayor Pro-Tem Mendoza
• September 21, 2024: Attended the Lemon Grove Food Distribution • September 21 & 22, 2024: Attended St. John's Church's Fall Festival Mayor Racquel Vasquez
• Attended the City School Collaboration Meeting
• Meeting with Caltrans District 11
• Attended Concerts in the Park
• Attended Movie in the Park - Kung Fu Panda
• Attended Lemon Grove Food Distribution Event
• Attended Lemon Grove Farmer's Market
• Attended the Joint City School Meeting
• Attended the Homeless Outreach and Ordinance/Contract/Cities Meeting • Attended the National Council of Negro Women 56th Annual Community Services Award Presentation
• Attended the St. John's of the Cross Lemon Grove Bake-Off Contest • Attended the San Diego Association of Governments Meeting • Attended the Cal City's African American Caucus Meeting City Manager's Report
City Manager Romero announced that the Connect Main Street project is progressing well and mentioned further status updates will be provided to the Council.
Closed Session(s):
City Attorney Kristen Steinke read the Council into Closed Session at 10:09 p.m. a. Conference with Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation (Government Code §54956.9(d)(2)-(4)) 1 case
Page | 7 City Council Meeting Minutes - Regular Meeting October 1, 2024 The Council reconvened into Open session at 10:26 p.m.
City Attorney Kristen Steinke reported there is no reportable action from Closed Session.
Adjournment
Mayor Vasquez adjourned the meeting at 10:26 p.m. and announced the next regularly scheduled meeting of the City Council will be on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.
City Clerk
Approved by City Council on October 15, 2024