MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE CITY OF LEMON GROVE
Lemon Grove Community Cente
146 School Lane, Lemon Grove, CA 9194:
Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
Call to Order
Mayor Alysson Snow convened the meeting at 6:06 p.m.
Mayor Alysson Snow, Mayor Pro Tem Jennifer Mendoza, Councilmember Jessyka Heredia, Councilmember Steve Faiai, Councilmember Yadira Altamirano
Absent: None
Staff Members
City Manager Lydia Romero, City Attorney Kristen Steinke, City Clerk Joel G. Pablo, Public Works Director Izzy Murguia, San Diego County Sheriff's Office Lt. Joseph Barry, Heartland Fire and Rescue's Deputy Fire Chief of Operations Todd Nelson, Public Work Operations and Administrative Manager Tom Martin
Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor Snow led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Changes to the Agenda
City Clerk Pablo noted a correction to Item 1.F, clarifying that the title should read: Engineer's Report and Resolutions Declaring the Intention to Levy and Collect Assessments within the Wildflower Landscape Maintenance Assessment District 97-1 for Fiscal Year 2025-26 and Set Date for Public Hearing, correcting a typographical error in the word "Wildflower." City Manager Romero requested a modification to the order of the agenda. Specifically, she requested that Reports to Council, Item No. 3 be heard immediately following Public Comment, before returning to the Consent Calendar and resuming the regular order of business.
Presentations - None
Public Comment
Mayor Snow opened the public comment period.
In-person: Brenda Hammond
Jasmin Mendoza
John L. Wood
Ken King
Alexandra Camacho spoke on behalf of Sam Landeros
Nick Carrasco
Mat Kostrinsky representing the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 127.
May 20, 2025 - Regular City Council Meeting Page 2
Written: Barbara Gordon
Mayor Snow closed the Public Comment period.
Following General Public Comment, the Council proceeded directly to Reports to Council, Item No. 3.
3.' Annual Financial Reports for Fiscal Years Ended June 30, 2023 and June 30, 2024 Mayor Snow introduced City Manager Lydia Romero to provide introductory remarks.
Finance Director Stacey Tang presented the report.
Ahmed M. Badawi, CPA and President of Badawi & Associates presented the Annual Financial Reports for the Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2023, and June 30, 2024.
Mayor Snow opened the public comment. No comments were directed to the Council.
Round 1: Councilmembers directed questions/comments to Mr. Badawi and staff.
Round 2: Councilmembers asked questions/comments to Mr. Badawi and staff.
Action: Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Mendoza, second by Councilmember Faiai to receive and file the Annual Financial Reports for Fiscal Years Ended June 30, 2023 and June 30, 2024.
The motion passed on a vote of:
AYES: Altamirano, Faiai, Heredia, Mendoza, Snow
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Following the presentation, the City Council resumed the meeting with the Consent Calendar and continued in the regular order of the agenda.
Consent Calendar
Mayor Snow opened the public comment period. No comments were directed to the Council.
Action: Moved by Mayor Snow, second by Mayor Pro Tem Mendoza to approve Consent Calendar Item No. 1.A through 1.G.
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.
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1.B City of Lemon Grove Payment Demands
Action: Ratified demands covering April 30, 2025 through May 13, 2025.
1.C Approval of City Council Meeting Minutes
Action: Approved the minutes of the Lemon Grove City Council meetings held on May 6, 2025.
1.D Acceptance of Completion for the Citywide Roof Replacement Project (No. 2024-03) Action: Adopted Resolution No. 2025-4100 accepting the completion of the Citywide Roof Replacement Project (No. 2024-03).
1.E Engineer's Report and Resolution Declaring the Intention to Levy and Collect Assessments within Lemon Grove Roadway Lighting District for Fiscal Year 2025-26 and Set Date for Public Hearing.
Action: The District Board: (1) Adopted Lemon Grove Roadway Lighting District Resolution No. 2025-185 approving the engineer's report detailing assessments for Fiscal Year 2025-26; and (2) Direct the District Clerk to cause notice of the filing of the engineer's report and schedule a public hearing for considering adoption of the report and authorizing submittal of Lighting District assessments to the San Diego County Auditor and Controller for inclusion on the Fiscal Year 2025-26 property tax statements.
1.F Engineer's Report and Resolutions Declaring the Intention to Levy and Collect Assessments within the Wildflower Landscape Maintenance Assessments District 97-1 for Fiscal Year 2025-26 and Set Date for Public Hearing.
Action:
a. Adopted Resolution No. 2025-4101 of the City Council of the City of Lemon Grove, County of San Diego, California, initiating proceedings and ordering the preparation of an engineer's report for Wildflower Landscape Maintenance Assessment District No. 97-1 ("District") for Fiscal Year 2025/2026.
b. Adopted Resolution No. 2025-4102 of the City Council of the City of Lemon Grove, County of San Diego, preliminarily approving engineer's report for Fiscal Year 2025/2026 for Wildflower Landscape Maintenance Assessment District No. 97-1 ("District").
c. Adopted Resolution No. 2025-4103 of the City Council of the City of Lemon Grove, County of San Diego, California, declaring its intention to levy and collect assessments for Fiscal Year 2025/2026 in Wildflower Landscape Maintenance Assessment District No. 97-1; declaring the work to be of more special than general public benefit; specifying the exterior boundaries of the areas within Wildflower Landscape Maintenance Assessment District No. 97-1 ("District") to be assessed the cost and expense thereof; designating said district as Wildflower Landscape Maintenance Assessment District No. 97-1, determining that these proceedings shall be taken pursuant to the Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972; and offering a time and place for the public hearing.
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Call for Applications and Setting Interview Date to Fill One Planning Commissioner Scheduled Vacancies
Action: Adopted Resolution No. 2025-4104 calling for the applications to appoint one member to the Lemon Grove Planning Commission, to serve a four year term, beginning July 1, 2025, and set June 17, 2025 as the date to conduct interviews of qualified applicants.
Reports to Council
Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance No. 468: Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map Updates
Mayor Snow introduced City Attorney Kristen Steinke to provide the second reading for Ordinance No. 468.
City Attorney Steinke presented the report.
Mayor Snow opened the public comment period. No comments were directed to the Council.
Action: Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Mendoza, second by Councilmember Altamirano to:
Hold the second reading, by title only, and adopted Ordinance No. 468 adopting the City of Lemon Grove Fire Hazard Severity Zones Map pursuant to Government Code Sections 51178 and 51179.
The motion passed on a vote of:
AYES: Altamirano, Faiai, Heredia, Mendoza, Snow
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
4. City's Vacancies, Recruitment and Retention Efforts
Mayor Snow introduced Human Resources Manager Roberto Hidalgo to present the report.
Mayor Snow then welcomed Mat Kostrinsky from AFSCME Local 127 to deliver his presentation.
City Clerk Pablo announced the receipt of a letter from Suzanna Hales, PAC Chair of the Heartland Firefighters of Lemon Grove Local 2728.
Mayor Snow opened public comment. No comments were directed to the Council.
Round 1: Councilmembers directed questions/comments to staff.
Round 2: Councilmembers directed questions/comments to staff.
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City Manager Romero noted that the draft budget discussion scheduled for June 3, 2025, will include funding considerations for issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a Classification and Compensation Study.
In response to an inquiry from Mayor Snow, City Attorney Steinke confirmed that Employee Exit Interviews may be discussed during Closed Session.
Action: The Council received a presentation on the status of City vacancies, recruitment, and retention efforts, as required by Assembly Bill 2561 and California Government Code Section 3502.3. General direction was provided by the Council.
Mayor Snow recessed the meeting at 8:26 p.m. for a brief break. The meeting reconvened at 8:35 p.m. with all Councilmembers present.
5. Annual Sanitation District Rate Analysis
Chair Snow introduced Public Works Director Izzy Murguia to present the report.
Mayor Snow opened the public comment period. No comments were directed to the Council.
Round 1: Councilmembers directed questions/comments to staff.
Round 2: Councilmembers directed questions/comments to staff.
Action: The Council received the report. The Council majority supported staff's recommendation regarding proposed sewer rate adjustments for Fiscal Year 2025-26, supporting Scenario 2 (DWE Analysis 3), which includes a 3.0% increase in FY 2025-26 and in subsequent years. Staff will prepare a report for City Council's consideration and formal adoption at its June 17, 2025 City Council meeting.
City Council Reports on Meetings Attended at the Expense of the City Councilmember Altamirano
• May 8, 2025: Attended the Al Summit at the Lemon Grove Library. • May 15, 2025: Attended a session at the Emergency Operations Center. • May 16, 2025: Participated in a site visit to the Tijuana River with Cal Cities to tour and discuss the sewage issue.
• May 16, 2025: Participated in a Community Food Distribution Event.
In response to Councilmember Altamirano, City Attorney Steinke clarified the proper procedure for placing a Councilmember-requested item on the agenda noting that it requires the support of two Councilmembers.
Mayor Snow called for a recess of the City Council at 9:38 p.m. The Council reconvened at 9:43 p.m. with all Councilmembers present.
Mayor Snow announced that Councilmember Altamirano with support from Mayor Pro Tem Mendoza, requested to waive the Closed Session attorney-client privilege relating to the County May 20, 2025 - Regular City Council Meeting Page 6
of San Diego's Troy Street Project. Mayor Snow stated the matter would be discussed at a future Closed Session meeting of the City Council.
Councilmember Faiai
• May 12, 2025: Attended the GOP Regional Meeting in La Mesa featuring Richard Bailey, former Mayor of Coronado.
• May 16, 2025: Participated in a site visit to the Tijuana River with Cal Cities to tour and discuss the ongoing sewage issue.
• May 17, 2025: Participated in the Lemon Grove Food Distribution event.
Councilmember Heredia
• May 7, 2025: Attended the Helix Water District Board meeting. • May 16, 2025: Participated in a site visit to the Tijuana River with Cal Cities to tour and discuss the ongoing sewage issue.
• May 16, 2025: Attended the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) Safety Advisory Committee meeting
• May 17, 2025: Hosted Coffee with a Councilmember joined by Councilmember Faiai.
Mayor Pro Tem Mendoza
• May 8, 2025: Chaired the SANDAG Micro Transit Joint Working Group. • May 15, 2025: Participated in Bike Anywhere Day.
• Attended San Diego Metropolitan Transit System meeting. • May 16, 2025: Attended the SANDAG Transportation Committee Meeting • May 19, 2025: Los Angeles - San Diego - San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor Agency: Board Meeting
• May 17, 2025: Participated in the Lemon Grove Food Distribution event. • Announced that the Soroptimist International Group held a celebration on May 19, 2025, where several thousand dollars in scholarships were awarded to graduating seniors from Helix and Mount Miguel High Schools, as well as to a single mother continuing her college education.
Mayor Snow
• May 7, 2025: Attended the 39th Annual Law Enforcement Officer Memorial • May 8, 2025: Met with Mrs. England C. regarding program offerings. • May 8, 2025: Attended the Lemon Grove Farmers Market. • May 9, 2025: Participated in an Independent Tax Oversight Committee Review May 9, 2025: Attended the Mt. Vernon Multicultural Fair and San Altos Elementary School Spring Fling
• May 10, 2025: Volunteered at the San Diego County Food Bank • Participated in the Lemon Grove Leadership Academy
• May 10, 2025: Toured the EDCO facility.
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• May 10, 2025: Participated in a Leadership Panel for Women of Color Leadership Academy
• May 12, 2025: Attended the League of California Cities meeting • May 12, 2025: Met with San Diego Community Senior Foundation event. • May 13, 2025: Participated in the Lemon Grove City Council's Priority Setting Session. • May 15, 2025: Attended the Lemon Grove Farmers Market and participated in Bike Anywhere Day.
• May 17, 2025: Participated in the Lemon Grove Food Distribution event. • May 17, 2025: Met with Mark Horton
• May 20, 2025: Attended the City of Lemon Grove's Arab American Heritage Month Celebration and presented a proclamation.
• Attended a Youth Mental Health event with Supervisor Joel Anderson at the Grossmont Healthcare District.
City Manager's Report
City Manager Lydia Romero announced an upcoming special event, "PAWs in the Park," scheduled for May 31, 2025 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Treganza Park.
Closed Session - None
Adjournment
There being no further business to come before the City Council, Mayor Snow adjourned the meeting at 10:04 p.m. and announced that a Special City Council Meeting for the Capital Improvement Program Workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. and the next regular City Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.
Approved by the City Council on June 3, 2025