MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE CITY OF LEMON GROVE
Lemon Grove Community Center
3146 School Lane, Lemon Grove, CA 91945
Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
Call to Order
Mayor Alysson Snow convened the regular City Council meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Mayor Alysson Snow, Vayor Pro Lem Jennifer Mendoza, Councilmember Yadira Altamirano, Councilmember Steve Faiai
Absent: Councilmember Jessyka Heredia
Staff Members Present
City Manager Lydia Romero, City Attorney Kristen Steinke, City Clerk Joel G. Pablo, Public Works Director Izzy Murguia, Public Works Operations and Administrative Manager Tom Martin, Heartland Fire and Rescue's Fire Chief Bent Koch and Fire Marshall Ken King; and San Diego County Sheriff's Office Sergeant Ken Seel and Sergeant Steve Sepulveda Pledge of Allegiance
Councilmember Altamirano led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Changes to the Agenda
None
Presentations
Proclamation - Public Works Week
Mayor Snow read and presented the proclamation to Public Works Director Izzy Murguia who provided brief remarks. Public Works Director Murguia introduced the members of the Public Works Crew who were present at the meeting:
Alexandra Camacho, Streets Technician II
• Tania Iriarte, Facilities Technician II
• Ricky Nunez, Streets Technician II
Sam Landeros, Streets Supervisor
• Florentino Alfaro, Facilities Supervisor
Nick Carrasco, Streets Crew Leader
• Humberto Alonso, Sanitation Technician II
• Elijah Briseno, Streets Technician I
• Tom Martin, Public Works Operations & Administration Manager • Rudy Romero, Sanitation Crew Leader
Public Comment
Mayor Snow opened the public comment period.
John L. Wood
Jay Bass
Patricia Dillard, Vice Mayor with the City of La Mesa
Lauren Cazares, Councilmember with the City of La Mesa
Cori Schumacher
Brenda Hammond
Michelle Krug
Ansermio Estrada
Colin Parent
Carol Kim
Marco Bizzones
Humberto Rodriguez
Genevieve Suzuki
Diego Espinoza
Ellen Nash
Chris Williams
Carl Berg
Greg Woods
Written: Ken King
Mayor Snow closed the public comment period.
Consent Calendar
Action: Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Mendoza second by Councilmember Faiai to approve Consent Calendar Item Nos. 1.A through 1.F.
The motion passed on a vote of:
AYES: Altamirano, Faiai, Mendoza, Snow
NOES: None
ABSENT: Heredia
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 April 16, 2025 through April 29, 2025.
1.C Approval of City Council Meeting Minutes
Action: Approved the minutes of the City Council meetings held on April 1, 2025 and April 15, 2023.
1.D Authorizing an Application for SANDAG Smart Growth Incentive Program Action: Adopted Resolution No. 2025-4096 to authorize the City Manager to submit a grant application for the Lemon Grove Massachusetts Avenue Safe Routes to Transit Connectivity Plan in the amount of $463,567 and authorized the City Manager to execute all necessary application and funding documents.
1.E Cal Office of Emergency Services Designated Applicant's Agent Resolution Action: Adopted Resolution No. 2025-4097 to authorize the City Manager, Finance Director, and Public Works Director to execute disaster-related documents on behalf of the City.
1.F Award a Professional Services Agreement for SB 1383 Compliance Support Action: Adopted Resolution No. 2025-4098 awarding a professional services agreement for SB 1383 compliance support services to Blue Strike Environmental.
Reports to Council
2. Resolution Affirming Limitations on the Two-Year EDCO Corporation Rate Schedule Mayor Snow introduced City Manager Lydia Romero to present the report.
EDCO's General Manager Carl Scherbaum provided a brief overview of the silverbag program.
Mayor Snow opened public comment. No comments were directed to the Council.
Round 1: Councilmembers directed questions and comments to staff.
Round 2: Councilmembers directed questions and comments to staff.
Action: Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Mendoza, second by Councilmember Altamirano to:
Adopt a Resolution No. 2025-4099 affirming the two-year EDCO Rate Limitation for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26 and 2026-27.
The motion passed on a vote of:
AYES: Altamirano, Faiai, Mendoza, Snow
NOES: None
ABSENT: Heredia
Introduction and First Reading of Ordinance for Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map Fire Chief Bent Koch provided introductory remarked and then called on Fire Marshall Ken King to present the report.
Mayor Snow opened public comment. No comments were directed to the Council.
Round 1: Councilmembers directed questions and comments to staff.
Round 2: Councilmembers directed questions and comments to staff
Action: Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Mendoza, second by Mayor Snow to introduce for its first reading on Ordinance No. 468, an ordinance of the City Council of the City of Lemon Grove adopting a fire hazard severity zones map as required by the State of California.
The motion passed on a vote of:
AYES: Altamirano, Faiai, Mendoza, Snow
NOES: None
ABSENT: Heredia
Annual Sanitation District Rate Analysis
Mayor Snow introduced Public Works Director Izzy Murguia. Natalie J. Fraschetti, P.E. with Dexter Wilson Engineering, Inc. fielded questions from the Council.
Round 1: Councilmembers directed questions and comments to staff.
Round 2: Councilmembers directed questions and comments to staff.
Action: Council received the report staff. The Board directed staff to return with revised sewer rate scenarios.
City Council Reports on Meetings Attended at the Expense of the City Councilmember Yadira Altamirano
• April 17, 2025: Met with Lemon Grove School District Superintendent Mariana Vincent alongside Councilmember Faiai
• April 18, 2025: Assisted with the Lemon Grove Food Distribution • April 19, 2025: Supported the continuation of the food distribution effort • April 19, 2025: Attended the Annual Lemon Grove Eggstravaganza • April 22, 2025: Attended the Lemon Grove School District Community Appreciation Event with Councilmember Faiai and Mayor Snow
• April 26, 2025: Participated in the City's Arbor Day Celebration • April 30, 2025: Strategic Planning Zoom Meeting with John Graves May 2, 2025: Participated in "Coffee Fridays" with the East County Economic Development Council and the East County Chamber of Commerce; met with County Clerk/Recorder/Assessor Jordan Marks
• May 2, 2025: Attended the grand opening of CaliMex initiated by Councilmember Heredia
Councilmember Steve Faiai
• April 17, 2025: Met with Lemon Grove School District Superintendent Mariana Vincent alongside Councilmember Altamirano
• April 19, 2025: Participated in Lemon Grove Food Distribution with Mayor Pro Tem Mendoza
• April 19, 2025: Attended the Annual Lemon Grove Eggstravaganza • April 22, 2025: Attended the Lemon Grove School District Community Appreciation Event
• April 25, 2025: Visited San Marcos to receive an overview of the Respect Project, with the tour led by Lieutenant Barry.
• May 1, 2025: Attended the Lemon Grove Farmer's Market Mayor Pro Tem Mendoza
• April 16, 2025: Attended the Annual State of the County Address April 17, 2025: Attended Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) Board Meeting • April 18, 2025: San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) Committee Meeting • April 18, 2025: Assisted with Lemon Grove Food Distribution • April 19, 2025: Supported the continuation of the food distribution effort • April 25, 2025: Attended SANDAG Board Meeting
• April 26, 2025: Participated in the City's Arbor Day Celebration • April 29, 2025: Attended the City Council - Revenue Projection Meeting • May 1, 2025: Attended the SANDAG Retreat
Mayor Alysson Snow
• April 16, 2025: Attended the East County Economic Development Council Meeting • April 16, 2025: Attended the Annual State of the County Address • April 17, 2025: Visited the Lemon Grove Farmer's Market • April 17, 2025: Attended the Just in Time Gala
• April 18, 2025: Presented at the San Diego Working Families Group event • April 18, 2025: Attended the Ending Apartheid Across Borders Gala • April 18, 2025: Participated in an interview with Lemon Town Films • April 19, 2025: Attended the Annual Lemon Grove Eggstravaganza • April 21, 2025: Participated in a Legislative Update hosted by the League of California Cities
• April 22, 2025: Attended the Caltrans Workers Memorial and Worker Safety Event • April 22, 2025: Participated in the Lemon Grove School District Community Partners Event with Councilmembers Faiai and Altamirano
• April 23-25, 2025: Attended the League of California Cities Leader's Summit in Sacramento
• April 24, 2025: Participated in the FACT (Facilitating Access to Coordinated Transportation) Board Meeting
• April 26, 2025: Attended the City's Arbor Day Celebration • April 26, 2025: Participated in the Community Garden Event • Attended the F.A.N.C.Y. Detour Teen Girls Expo - Confidence Training • Attended Spring Valley Days
• April 29, 2025: Attended the Special City Council Meeting - Revenue Projection Workshop
• April 30, 2025: Met with an individual she met from the East County Economic Development Council and East County Chamber of Commerce to discuss drone support for cities
• May 1-2, 2025: Participated in the SANDAG Board Retreat with Councilmember Heredia and Mayor Pro Tem Mendoza
• May 2, 2025: Attended the California Cities Officer's Planning Meeting . May 3, 2025: Participated in Lemon Grove Community Gardens Events • May 6, 2025: Met with John Graves regarding Strategic Priorities City Manager's Report
City Manager Romero announced that Bike to Anywhere Day will take place on May 15, 2025, from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the Promenade in Lemon Grove. She also shared that the Paws in the Park event will be held on May 31, 2025, at Treganza Park. This pet-focused event will feature a special appearance by City Kitty, who will showcase her signature butterfly dress.
City Manager Romero announced that Sergeant Ken Seel will be departing Lemon Grove to begin a new assignment with the major crimes unit. She introduced Sergeant Steve Sepulveda to the City Council as his replacement.
Closed Session
City Attorney Kristen Steinke read the council into closed session. The Council adjourned into closed session at 9:07 p.m.
a. Conference With Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation (Government Code § 54956.9(d)(1)) Lewis Mendenhall (State of California, Civil Rights Dept., Case No.:
202401-23154004)
Mayor Snow reconvened the City Council from closed session at 9:39 p.m.
City Attorney Steinke reported that, during Closed Session, the City Council took action to waive the attorney-client privilege by a vote of 4-Ayes (Snow, Mendoza, Altamirano, Faiai), O Noes, and 1-Absent (Heredia). The waiver was approved solely for the purpose of providing the investigative reports to the Civil Rights Department (CRD) of the State of California, and for no other purpose. The investigations were conducted by independent third-party attorney investigators and concluded in April 2023 and April 2024, respectively. The City Council directed the production of the reports to the CRD to assist in its investigation of a pending matter. The first report pertains to a complaint filed by Lewis Mendenhall with the City in November 2022. The second report pertains to a complaint filed in February 2024 by a City employee regarding Mr. Mendenhall. Both reports will be provided to the CRD in accordance with the Council's direction.
Adjournment
Mayor Snow adjourned the meeting at 9:40 p.m. and announced that a Special City Council Meeting - Strategic Priority Setting is set for Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. and the next regular meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
Joel G. Pablo
City Clerk