MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE CITY OF LEMON GROVE
Lemon Grove Community Centel
3146 School Lane, Lemon Grove, CA 9194:
Tuesday, February 4, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
Call to Order
Mayor Alysson Snow called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Roll Call
Mayor Alysson Snow, Mayor Pro-Tem Jennifer Mendoza, Councilmember Steve Faiai, Councilmember Jessyka Heredia
Absent: None
City Manager Lydia Romero, City Attorney Kristen Steinke, City Clerk Joel G. Pablo, Public Works Director Izzy Murguia, Executive Assistant Shaun Dershem, Senior Management Analyst Portland Bates, Chief Bent Koch with Heartland Fire and Rescue, Sergeant Kenneth Price with the San Diego County Sheriff's Office.
Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor Snow led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Changes to the Agenda
City Clerk Pablo stated there are no changes to the agenda.
Presentations - None
Public Comment
Mayor Snow opened the public comment period.
In Person: Joyce Moore
Donna Lynn Clabby
Ken King
Brenda Hammond
John L. Wood
Chelsea Gastelum
Written: Barbara Gordon
Mayor Snow closed the public comment period.
Consent Calendar
Mayor Snow opened the public comment period.
Page |2 City Council Meeting Minutes - Regular Meeting February 4, 2025 In Person: Mat Kostrinksy, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (Local 127)
Mayor Snow closed the public comment period.
ACTION: Motion by Mayor Pro-Tem Mendoza, second by Councilmember Heredia to approve Consent Calendar Nos. 1.A through 1.D.
The motion passed by the following vote:
AYES: Faiai, Heredia, Mendoza, Snow
NOES: None
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 Approval of City Council Meeting Minutes
Action: Approved the minutes of the Lemon Grove City Council meeting held on January 21, 2025.
1.C City of Lemon Grove Payment Demands
Action: Ratified demands covering January 8, 2025 through January 28, 2025.
1.D Award of a Contract (No. 2025-25) to Jimenez Inc., DBA MJC Construction for Citywide Sidewalk Concrete Repairs
Action: Adopted Resolution No. 2025-4084 to award a contract (No. 2025-25) for citywide concrete repairs to Jimenez Inc., DBA MJC Construction in the amount not-to- exceed $199,999, and authorize the City Manager to execute any necessary documents.
Reports to Council
2. City Council Vacancy Interviews
Mayor Snow introduced the item by title, and City Manager Lydia Romero presented the staff report. She mentioned that two applicants, Jay Bass and Meredith Levin, had withdrawn their applications for the vacant Council seat.
Mayor Snow explained that the interview process would begin with each applicant delivering a 3-minute introduction. Following the introduction, Councilmembers would ask a question, and the applicant would have 2 minutes to respond. The applicant would then conclude with a 1-minute closing statement.
Interviews were conducted in alphabetical order, though some names listed below may appear out of sequence due to applicants withdrawing, which led to adjustments in the Page |3 City Council Meeting Minutes - Regular Meeting February 4, 2025 interview schedule to accommodate candidates' arrival times and ensure each had an opportunity to be interviewed.
1. Cody Littleton 6. Robert Holaday
2. James G. Stout 7. Robert M. Rael
3. Minola Clark Manson 8. Seth Smith
4. Kenneth Davies 9. Yadira Altamirano
5. Oyuki Littleton
Mayor Snow opened the public comment period.
In Person:
Rosa Carney Reginald Washington
David Eckler John Michno
Lupe Guerrero Jean Peterson
Laura Ocampo Michael Borrelli
Anne Stapleton Renee Menifee
David Leon Donna Clabby
Brenda Hammond Beatrice Lopez
Steven Brown
Written: Joyce Moore
Mayor Snow closed the public comment period
The Councilmembers deliberated on the matter.
City Manager Romero outlined the process for the Council appointment and distributed slips of paper for City Council members to mark their top three names in no particular order.
Mayor Snow called for a brief recess at 9:11 p.m. The City Council reconvened at 9:15 p.m. with all Councilmembers present.
City staff reviewed and tallied the worksheets, with the following results:
Yadira Altamirano: 3
Minola Clark Manson: 2
Robert Holaday: 2
James G. Stout: 1
Oyuki Littleton: 1
Seth Smith: 1
Mayor Snow asked the Council if there is any further discussion or does anyone have a motion.
Page | 4 City Council Meeting Minutes - Regular Meeting February 4, 2025 ACTION: Motion by Councilmember Heredia moved, second by Councilmember Faiai, to appoint Yadira Altamirano as City Councilmember to serve the remainder of the term for the vacant seat left by Alysson Snow's ascension to Mayor, commencing on February 18, 2025, and ending in December 2026.
The motion passed by the following vote:
AYES: Faiai, Heredia, Mendoza, Snow
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
City Council Reports on Meetings Attended at the Expense of the City Councilmember Faia
• January 29 - 31, 2025: Attended the League of California Cities Conference Councilmember Heredia
• January 22, 2025: Attended the Helix Water District Board Meeting • January 25, 2025: Assisted a community member alongside Councilmember Faiai and volunteers in cleaning up debris caused by the January 2024 winter storm. • January 29 - 31, 2025: Attended the League of California Cities Conference • February 1, 2025: Attended the Los Angeles Fire Fundraiser • Met with Sergeant Seal from the San Diego County Sheriff's Office for an overview of their agency's operations.
• Met with Chief Bent Koch from Heartland Fire and Rescue for an overview of their agency's operations.
Mayor Pro-Tem Mendoza
• January 16, 2025: Attended the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System Board Meeting
• January 24, 2025: Attended the California Transportation, Communications and Public Works Committee meeting
• January 31, 2025: Attended the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) Board Meeting
Mayor Snow
• January 22, 2025: Attended the grand opening of El Cata! • January 22, 2025: Participated in the SANDAG Briefing • January 22, 2025: Met with California Consulting
• January 23, 2025: Visited the Lemon Grove Farmer's Market • January 24, 2025: Attended SANDAG
• January 25, 2025: Represented the City at the Mormon Battalion Parade and Community Event in Old Town San Diego
• January 27, 2025: Engaged with students at St. John of the Cross for Catholic Schools Week
• January 29, 2025: Attended another SANDAG meeting
Page | 5 City Council Meeting Minutes - Regular Meeting February 4, 2025 • February 1, 2025: Attended the 2025 Woman of Color Roar Event • February 1, 2025: Attended a presentation hosted by Alliance San Diego • February 3, 2025: Met with community members in Lemon Grove and Sun Garden Terrace representative
• January 29 - 31, 2025: Attended the League of California Cities Conference City Manager's Report
City Manager Romero reported attending two events: the New Mayors and Councilmembers February 14, 2025, allowing parents to drop off their children from 6 to 10 p.m. The cost is $30 per child, with a discount for additional children.
Closed Session - None
Adjournment
There being no further business, Mayor Snow adjourned the meeting at 9:30 p.m. and announced that the next regular City Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 18, 2024, at 6:00 p.m.
Joel G. Pablo, City Clerk
Approved by the City Council on
Tuesday, February 18, 2025