MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE CITY OF LEMON GROVE
Lemon Grove Community Center
3146 School Lane, Lemon Grove, CA 91945
Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
Call to Order
Mayor Snow convened the Regular City Council meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Mayor Alysson Snow, Mayor Pro Tem Mendoza, Councilmember Jennifer Mendoza, Councilmember Yadira Altamirano.
Staff Present
Public Works Director Izzy Murguia, City Attorney Kristen Steinke, City Clerk Joel G. Pablo, Community Development Manager Michael Fellows, Public Works Operations and Administrative Manager Tom Martin, Community Development Manager Michael Fellows, Heartland Fire & Rescue's Fire Chief Bent Koch, San Diego County Sheriff's Office Sergeant Steve Sepulveda.
Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor Snow led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Changes to the Agenda
City Clerk Pablo stated there were no changes to the agenda.
Presentations - None
Public Comment
Mayor Snow opened the public comment period.
In Person: Brenda Hammond
John L. Woods
Mat Kostrinsky, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 127
Minola Clark Manson
Jasmin Mendoza
Mayor Snow closed the public comment period
In response to public comment made by John L. Woods, Public Works Director Murguia addressed John Wood's concerns regarding Traffic Calming Measures on Central Avenue.
Council Requests to Place Items on a Future Agenda
1. Traffic Calming - Central Avenue
ayer fate with the ser 2025 of Councira bposal miran ipice stalito ad timeline.
2. Wage & Compensation Study Committee Composition
• Mayor Snow with the support of Councilmember Altamirano: Add an item to the November 4, 2025 agenda for the Council to review and decide committee membership and to include one or two Councilmembers on the committee • Altamirano add-on: Include discussion explaining any resistance/issues and ensure transparency.
Consent Calendar
Action: Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Mendoza, second by Mayor Snow to approve Consent Calendar Item Nos. 1.A through 1.F.
The motion passed on a vote of:
AYES: Altamirano, Heredia, Mendoza, Snow
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: 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 September 19, 2025 to October 2, 2025.
1.C Approval of City Council Meeting Minutes
Action: Approved the minutes of the Lemon Grove City Council meeting held on September 2, 2025.
1.D Acceptance and Notice of Completion of the Citywide Heating, Ventilation, and Air Condition (HVAC) Replacement Project (HVAC) Project (Sourcewell No. 070121) Action: Adopted Resolution No. 2025 - 4135 accepting the Citywide HVAC Replacement Project by Siemens Industry, Inc. (Sourcewell No. 070121) as complete and authorize the City Manager or her designee to file a Notice of Completion with the County of San Diego.
1E Acceptance and Notice of Completion of the Acacia Street Storm Drain Improvement Project (No. 2025-27)
Action: Adopted Resolution No. 2025 - 4136 accepting the Acacia Street Storm Drain Improvement Project by Bert W. Salas, Inc. (Contract No. 2025-27) as complete and
authorize the City Manager or her designee to file a Notice of Completion with the County of San Diego.
1.F Authorization of Agreement Dissolving Regional Cooperative Care Partnership ction: Adopted Resolution No. 2025 - 4137 authorizing the execution of an agreemer issolving the Regional Cooperative Care Partnership and authorize the City Manager t execute any necessary documents.
Public Hearing
Authorize the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program Application
City Clerk Pablo indicated that all documents, exhibits and correspondence have been provided as required by law.
City Attorney Steinke requested Councilmembers to disclose any conflicts of interest or ex-parte communications. Councilmembers Altamirano, Councilmember Heredia, Mayor Pro Tem Mendoza and Mayor Snow each indicated they had no conflicts.
Mayor Snow introduced Public Works Director Izzy Murguia to present the report.
Mayor Snow opened the public hearing at 6:39 p.m.
Mayor Snow opened the public comment period. No comments were directed to the Council. Mayor Snow closed the public comment period.
Round 1: Councilmembers directed comments/questions to staff.
Round 2: Councilmembers directed comments/questions to staff.
Action 1: Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Mendoza, second by Councilmember Altamirano to close the public hearing at 6:50 p.m.
The motion passed on a vote of:
AYES: Altamirano, Heredia, Mendoza, Snow
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Action 2: Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Mendoza, second by Councilmember Heredia to Hold a public hearing, receive public comment, and adopt Resolution No. 2025 - 4138 authorizing the submittal of an application for the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Community Development Block Grant Program Application.
The motion passed on a vote of:
AYES: Altamirano, Heredia, Mendoza, Snow
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Reports to Council
City Council Vacancy Process
Mayor Snow introduced City Attorney Steinke to present the report.
Mayor Snow opened the public comment period. No comments were directed to the Council.
Round 1: Councilmember directed comments/questions to staff.
Round 2: Councilmembers directed comments/questions to staff.
Council Direction
The City Council set the appointment timeline as follows:
1. Applications are accepted by the City Clerk from October 22 to November 13, 2025, with a firm submission deadline of November 13 at 5:00 p.m.
2. Staff will host an Applicant Informational Forum on Wednesday, November 5, 2025 at 5:30 p.m.
3. Applications will be released to the public no later than Wednesday, November 26, 2025 as part of the agenda packet for the Tuesday, December 2, 2025 meeting.
4. Candidate interviews and the appointment will occur on Tuesday, December 2, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.; the City Clerk will conduct a random draw beforehand to set the interview order, which will be published in the packet, and the Mayor will call applicants in that order.
5. If an appointment is made on December 2, the City Clerk will administer the Oath and the new Councilmember will be seated on Tuesday, December 16, 2025.
For the candidate Q&A, each candidate will have 15 minutes total:
A 2-minute opening, a 12-minute Q&A with one-minute responses per question, and a 1-minute closing.
2. Staff will solicit, duplicate and tabulate community questions in advance.
3. Each Councilmember will select two community questions and also ask one Council-crafted question, yielding 8 community questions and 4 Council questions that are the same for every candidate and provided in advance.
4. Staff will also reach out to prior applicants to confirm interest.
4. City Council Initiated Items - Fill Vacancies on External Committees, Commissions and Boards
Mayor Snow introduced City Clerk Pablo to present the report.
Mayor Snow opened the public comment period. No comments were directed to the Council. Mayor Snow closed the public comment period.
Round 1: Councilmember directed comments/questions to staff.
Round 2: Councilmembers directed comments/questions to staff.
Action: Moved by Mayor Snow, second by Councilmember Altamirano to: 1) Appoint Make i new er liamens to the HearSand Comical racing Annie he Heartland Fire Training Facility Authority, maintaining Councilmember Mendoza as the City's representative to both; (3) Appoint Councilmember Altamirano as alternate to the Helix Water District; (4) Appoint Councilmember Heredia as alternate to the Metropolitan Transit System and (5) Directed staff to update the 2025 Commissions, Boards and Committees Appointment Listing.
The motion passed by the following vote:
AYES: Altamirano, Heredia, Mendoza, Snow
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
City Council Reports on Meetings Attended at the Expense of the City Councilmember Altamirano
• October 8, 2025: Attended the League of California Cities (Cal Cities) Annual Conference in Long Beach, California.
• October 15, 2025: Attended the East County Economic Development Council (ECEDC) meeting.
• October 17, 2025: Attended the ribbon cutting for One Safe Place South County Family Justice Center in National City, California.
• October 17, 2025: Attended the Women in Leadership Conference at Sycuan with Mayor Snow.
Councilmember Heredia
• September 17, 2025: Met with Planning Commissioner Minola Clark Manson. • October 8, 2025: Attended San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) briefing on behalf of Mayor Snow.
• October 8, 2025: Attended the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce Salute to Local Heroes in La Mesa with the Fire Chief.
• October 13, 2025: Met with Planning Commission Chair Seth Smith. • October 18, 2025: Attended the La Mesa Rotary 100 Year Celebration in La Mesa.
• October 21, 2025: Attended the County of San Diego Board of Supervisors meeting with Councilmember Altamirano regarding Item No. 11 for Councilmember Heredia. • October 18, 2025: Attended the No Kings protest.
Mayor Pro Tem Mendoza
• October 8, 2025: Attended the League of California Cities Annual Conference. • October 16, 2025: Attended the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System Board meeting.
Attended the SANDAG Transportation Committee meeting.
• October 2025: Attended the Los Angeles, San Diego, San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor Agency Board meeting.
Mayor Snow
• Paid tribute to La Mesa Police Department Officer Lauren Craven and acknowledged her recent passing.
• October 8, 2025: Attended the Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors (PSAR) Committee meeting.
• October 8 to October 10, 2025: Attended the League of California Cities Annual Conference in Long Beach, California.
• October 14, 2025: Attended a preview screening of the Lemon Grove documentary by Lemon Town Films with Councilmember Heredia.
• October 15, 2025: Attended the East County Economic Development Council (ECEDC) • October 15, 2025: Attended an Lemon Grove Encampment Resolution Fund program site visit along the State Route 94 corridor with the Regional Task Force on Homelessness (RTFH), the City of La Mesa, and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans).
• October 17, 2025: Attended the Assembly District 79 Roundtable in Lemon Grove with Assemblymember LaShae Sharp Collins, Sheriff Kelly Martinez, District Attorney Summer Stephan, representatives from the Office of the Public Defender, and the Probation Department.
• October 18, 2025: Participated in the Lemon Grove Food Distribution. • October 18, 2025: Attended the Kaleidoscope Quilt Collaborative Exhibit in Lemon Grove.
• October 18, 2025: Attended the East County Transitional Living Center open house. • October 18, 2025: Attended the No Kings protest.
• October 21, 2025: Attended the County of San Diego Board of Supervisors meeting to address Item No. 11.
City Manager's Report
Public Works Director Murguia announced the "Booth or Treat" event on October 31, 2025, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Recreation Center featuring a kids zone and food for purchase, with "Lilo & Stitch" screening in the gym at 7:45 p.m. attendees encouraged to bring blankets and chairs.
Murguia noted ongoing utility maintenance on a high-pressure gas line in the area between Pacific and Church; there are no road closures, but traffic control is in place and motorists should use alternate routes. The work has begun and was scheduled to continue through October 25.
Closed Session
City Attorney Steinke read the Council into closed session. The Council adjourned to Closed Session at 8:19 p.m.
a. Public Employee Performance Evaluation (Government Code §54957) Position: City Manager
The Council reconvened into open session at 9:33 p.m. with all Councilmembers present. City Attorney Steinke reported out from Closed Session and stated there is no reportable action.
Adjournment
Mayor Snow adjourned the meeting at 9:34 p.m. and announced that the next regular City Council meeting will be on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
Joel G. Pablo
City Clerk
Approved by the City Council on Tuesday, November 4, 2025.