MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE CITY OF LEMON GROVE
Lemon Grove Community Center
3146 School Lane, Lemon Grove, CA 91945
Tuesday, April 1, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
Call to Order
Mayor Alysson Snow convened the regular City Council meeting to order at 6:02 p.m.
Mayor Alysson Snow, Mayor Pro Tem Jennifer Mendoza (joined at 6:30 p.m.), Councilmember Yadira Altamirano, Councilmember Steve Faiai, Councilmember Jessyka Heredia
Absent: None
Staff Members Present
City Manager Lydia Romero, City Attorney Kristen Steinke, Executive Assistant Shaun Dershem, Public Works Director Izzy Murguia, Heartland Fire and Rescue's Fire Chief Bent Koch, San Diego County Sheriff's Office Lt. Joseph Barry.
Pledge of Allegiance
Councilmember Faiai led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Changes to the Agenda
Mayor Snow reported receiving Councilmember Heredia's request to pull Item No. 1.B - City of Lemon Grove Payment Demands from the Consent Calendar.
No other changes to the agenda were made.
Presentations
Arbor Day Proclamation
Mayor Alysson Snow read and presented the Arbor Day Proclamation to Public Works Director Izzy Murguia who provided brief remarks.
Recognition of the Lemon Grove Lions Club and Lemon Grove Forward Club Mayor Snow read and presented a proclamation honoring the Lemon Grove Lions Club and the Lemon Grove Forward Club for their dedicated service to the community. Representatives from both organizations accepted the recognition.
Public Comment
Mayor Snow opened the public comment period.
In Person: John L. Wood
Brenda Hammond
Truth
Ralph C.
Ken King
Chris Williams
Written: Ken King
Barbara Gordon
Mayor Snow closed the public comment period.
Consent Calendar
Mayor Pro Tem Mendoza joined the meeting at 6:30 p.m.
Action: Motion by Councilmember Altamirano, second by Councilmember Heredia to approve Consent Calendar Item Nos. 1.A through 1.D excluding Item 1.B.
The motion passed on a vote of:
AYES: Altamirano, 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 City of Lemon Grove Payment Demands
Action: Item pulled via changes to the agenda.
1.C Approval of City Council Meeting Minutes
Action: Approved the minutes of the Lemon Grove City Council meeting held on February 25, 2025, March 4, 2025 and March 18, 2025.
1.D Authorizing an Application for San Diego Association of Government's Smart Growth Incentive Program (SGIP)
Action: Adopted Resolution No. 2025-4092 to authorize the City Manager to submit a grant application for San Diego Association of Government's Smart Growth Incentive Program (SGIP) for the Broadway and Sweetwater Road intersection improvements and a regional bikeway corridor study in the amount of $4,134,500, and authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary application and funding documents.
Public Hearing
Amendment to the 2025 Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP) City Manager Romero indicated that all notices as required by law and that all documents, exhibits and correspondence have been provided.
City Attorney Kristen Steinke requested Councilmembers to disclose any conflicts of interest or ex-parte communications. Councilmembers Altamirano, Councilmember Faiai, Councilmember Heredia, Mayor Pro Tem Mendoza and Mayor Snow each indicated they had no conflicts.
Mayor Snow opened the public hearing and introduced Public Works Director Izzy Murguia to present the staff report.
Mayor Snow opened the public comment period.
In-Person: Brenda Hammond
Mayor Snow closed the public comment period.
Round 1: Councilmembers directed comments/questions to staff.
Round 2: Councilmembers directed comments/questions to staff.
Mayor Snow recessed the Council at 7:13 p.m. to allow staff to review and correct a calculation. The Council reconvened at 7:30 p.m. with all Councilmembers present. Staff stated the corrected calculation displayed on a slide, revising the figure from $3,379,000 to $3,209,000.
Action: Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Mendoza, second by Councilmember Faiai to close the public hearing at 7:31 p.m.
The motion passed on a vote of:
AYES: Heredia, Faiai, Altamirano, Mendoza, Snow
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Action: Motion by Councilmember Altamirano, second by Mayor Pro Tem Mendoza to:
I) Conduct a Public Hearing; 2) Receive Public Comment; and 3) Adopt Resolution No. 2025-4093 amending the 2025 Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP) for Fiscal Year 2024-25 through Fiscal Year 2028-29.
The motion passed on a vote of:
AYES: Heredia, Faiai, Altamirano, Mendoza, Snow
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Reports to Council
Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance No. 467: An Ordinance Amending Lemon Grove Municipal Code Title 12, Chapter 12.10 - Increasing the Valuation Threshold for
Public Street Dedications and Public Street Improvements and Adding Additional Exceptions to Building Valuation
Mayor Snow introduced City Attorney Kristen Steinke to conduct the second reading.
Mayor Snow opened the public comment period. No comments were directed to the Council.
Action: Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Mendoza, second by Councilmember Heredia to Hold second reading, by title only and adopt Ordinance No. 467 amending Lemon Grove Municipal Code (LGMC) Sections 12.10.050 and 12.10.060 increasing the valuation threshold amount and establishing additional exemptions for public street dedications and public street improvements.
The motion passed on a vote of:
AYES: Heredia, Faiai, Altamirano, Mendoza, Snow
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Mayor Snow called for a recess of the City Council at 7:43 p.m. The meeting reconvened at 7:52 p.m. with all Councilmembers present.
Park Restroom Replacement Project Discussion
Mayor Snow introduced Public Works Director Izzy Murguia to present the staff report.
Mayor Snow opened the public comment period. No comments were directed to the Council.
Round 1: Councilmembers directed comments/questions to staff.
Round 2: Councilmembers directed comments/questions to staff.
Following staff's presentation by Izzy Murguia and Council discussion, the general direction from the City Council was as follows:
Prioritize replacement of one restroom at Lemon Grove Park using the basic pre- fabricated design, estimated at $325,000, with possible added amenities (e.g., water fountain) to reach up to $400,000.
2. Amend the grant application to allow use of funds for only one restroom at Lemon Grove Park instead of two.
3. Defer action on Berry Street Park and request further analysis, including potential remodel costs, funding eligibility under the grant, and cost breakdowns.
4. Explore funding options to cover the remaining cost gap, including County contributions, Measure T, and General Fund (not ARPA).
5. Address specific concerns and requests, including:
a. Assessing in-house vs. contracted demolition and prep work costs. b. Evaluating rehab feasibility and costs (especially for Berry Street). c. Confirming baby changing stations will be included in the basic restroom design.
No formal vote was taken; direction was given for staff to return to the Council at a future meeting with refined cost estimates and feasibility details.
Item Pulled from Consent Calendar
1.B City of Lemon Grove Payment Demands
Mayor Snow introduced the item by title and invited Councilmember Heredia to share her questions and comments with staff.
Action: Motion by Councilmember Heredia, second Councilmember Faiai to ratify demands covering March 11, 2025 through March 24, 2025.
The motion passed on a vote of:
AYES: Heredia, Faiai, Altamirano, Mendoza, Snow
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
City Council Reports on Meetings Attended at the Expense of the City Councilmember Altamirano
• March 18, 2025 - Attended East County Chamber of Commerce meeting March 19, 2025 - Attended East County Economic Development meeting • March 25, 2025 - Attended Grossmont College Business Summit hosted by Carl DeMaio Councilmember Faiai
• March 29, 2025 - Participated in community dumpster cleanup Councilmember Heredia
• March 19, 2025 - Attended Helix Water District meeting • Participated in San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) Safety Commission meeting
• March 22, 2025 - Attended Chili Cookoff
• March 26, 2025 - Attended Helix Water District meeting
Mayor Pro Tem Mendoza
• March 21, 2025 - Attended SANDAG Transportation Committee meeting • Participated in California League of Cities Transportation, Communications and Public Works Policy Committee meeting
• March 30, 2025 - Attended rededication of the mural commemorating the Lemon Grove Incident
Mayor Snow
March 19, 2025 - Attended East County Economic Development Council meeting March 19, 2025 - Participated in small business tour with Sara Jacobs in Lemon Grove • Participated in a tour of the Public Works Yard
Attended Revitalize Broadway meeting with the City Manager • March 20, 2025 - Attended Innovation Center meeting and mural dedication • March 20, 2025 - Attended Lemon Grove Farmers Market
• March 20, 2025 - Participated in meeting with San Diego Rescue Mission (East County project in El Cajon)
• March 22, 2025 - Attended 7* Annual Fancy Teen Girls Scholarship Award • March 22, 2025 - Attended Lions Club Chili Cookoff
• March 22, 2025 - Attended Historical Society Essay Contest • March 24, 2025 - Attended meeting with William (property owner on Grove Ave) • March 24, 2025 - Participated in meeting with Mayor Pro Tem Mendoza at St. John of the Cross and Kunkel Park
• March 26, 2025 - Attended meeting with labor representatives at UC San Diego March 27, 2025 - Participated in SANDAG Social Equity Working Group • March 28, 2025 - Attended SANDAG Board of Directors meeting and follow-up meeting with SANDAG Reps
• March 29, 2025 - Participated in National Mom and Pop Foundation event (Fiona Ma) • March 30, 2025 - Attended rededication of Lemon Grove Incident mural at "The Neighborhood"
• April 1, 2025 - Participated in meeting regarding improved community communication City Manager's Report
City Manager Romero attended the Public Policy Committee at Cal Cities and announced that the fourth cannabis dispensary opened at 8290 Broadway.
Closed Session
City Attorney Kristen Steinke read the Council into closed session. The Council then recessed into Closed Session.
a. Conference with Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation (Govt Code §54956.9(d)(4)) One potential case
The Council reconvened from closed session at 9:15 p.m., with all Councilmembers present.
City Attorney Steinke reported that there was no reportable action taken during closed session.
Adjournment
Mayor Snow adjourned the meeting at 9:16 p.m. and announced that the next regular meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.
Joel G. Pablo, City Clerk
Approved by City Council on May 6, 2025