MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE CITY OF LEMON GROVE
Lemon Grove Community Center
3146 School Lane, Lemon Grove, CA 91945
Tuesday, November 4, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
Call to Order
Mayor Snow convened the Regular City Council meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Roll Call
Mayor Alysson Snow, Mayor Pro Tem Mendoza, Councilmember Jessyka Heredia, Councilmember Yadira Altamirano.
Staff Present
City Manager Lydia Romero, City Attorney Kristen Steinke, City Clerk Joel G. Pablo, Public Work Director Izzy Murguia, Senior Management Analyst Portland Bates, Heartland Fire and Rescue's Fire Chief Bent Koch and Fire Marshal Ken King, San Diego Sheriff's Office Lt.
Joseph Barry, Community Development Manager Michael Fellows, Public Works Operations and Administrative Manager Tom Martin.
Pledge of Allegiance
Councilmember Heredia led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Changes to the Agenda
Mayor Snow announced that Councilmember Altamirano had pulled Consent Calendar Item No.
1.F. Mayor Snow further stated that the Taiwanese Heritage Month found under Presentation would be heard once the recipients arrived.
City Clerk Pablo stated there are no further changes to the agenda.
Public Comment
Mayor Snow opened the public comment period.
In Person: Victoria
John L. Wood
Written: Ken King
Barbara Gordon
Mayor Snow closed the public comment period.
Consent Calendar
Action: Moved by Councilmember Heredia, second by Councilmember Altamirano to approve the Consent Calendar Item Nos. 1.A. through 1.E.
The motion passed by the following vote:
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 October 3, 2025 to October 16, 2025.
1.C Approval of City Council Meeting Minutes
Action: Approved the minutes of the Lemon Grove City Council meeting held on October 7, 2025 and October 21, 2025.
1.D Note and File Planning Commission Minutes
Action: Noted and filed approved Planning Commission Minutes for May 29, 2025; August 25, 2025; September 10, 2025 and September 22, 2025.
1.E Central Avenue Traffic Calming Update
Action: Received and Filed Report.
1.F Streetlight Replacement Appropriation Request
Action: Pulled from the Consent Calendar via Changes to the Agenda.
Reports to Council
2. Introduce Ordinance to Adopt by Reference the 2025 California Fire Code (Title 24 Part 9 of the Building Standards Code)
Mayor Snow introduced Fire Chief Bent Koch and Fire Marshal Ken King 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: Councilmembers directed questions/comments to staff.
Round 2: Councilmembers directed questions/comments to staff.
Action: Moved by Mayor Snow, second by Mayor Pro Tem Mendoza to introduce Ordinance to Adopt by Reference the 2025 California Fire Code (Title 24 Part 9 of the Building Standards Code).
The motion passed by the following vote:
AYES: Altamirano, Heredia, Mendoza, Snow
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Regional Task Force on Homelessness Phase One Encampment Resolution Funding Grant Update
Mayor Snow introduced Sr. Management Analyst Portland Bates, Regional Task Force on Homelessness (RTFH) Chief Operations Officer Lahela Mattox and Director of Regional Initiatives Merlynn Watanabe 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: Councilmembers directed questions/comments to RTFH and staff.
Round 2: Councilmembers directed questions/comments to RTFH and staff.
Action: Received the report on the progress of the first phase of the Encampment Resolution Funding Grant along the 94 freeway corridor.
Item Pulled from the Consent Calendar
1.F Streetlight Replacement Appropriation Request
Board Member Altamirano directed questions to staff.
Public Works Director Izzy Murguia provided a brief overview of the report and responded to questions from the City Council.
Action: Moved by Board Member Altamirano, second by Board Member Heredia to adopt Lemon Grove Roadway Lighting District Resolution No. 2025-188 to: (1) An appropriation of $25,206 from the Lemon Grove Roadway Lighting District: General Benefit Reserve to the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Lemon Grove Roadway Lighting District:
General Benefit capital expenditure budget line item "Broadway Downtown Business District;" and (2) Authorizing a purchase order to Southwest Signal Service to purchase and install the replacement streetlight.
The motion passed by the following vote:
AYES: Altamirano, Heredia, Mendoza, Snow
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Regular City Council Meeting November 4, 2025
Presentation
Taiwanese Heritage Month Proclamation
Mayor Snow read and presented the proclamation to Cindy Wu.
City Council Reports on Meetings Attended at the Expense of the City Councilmember Altamirano
October 28, 2025: Met with a Community Business Member Michael Borrelli.
October 27, 2025: Staff briefing with Mayor Snow and City Manager Romero. • October 30, 2025: Visited the San Diego Rescue Mission site in National City with Councilmember Heredia.
• November 3, 2025: Staff meeting with the City Manager.
Councilmember Heredia
• October 23, 2025: Attended an Effective Media Communications Workshop with City Clerk Pablo and Jeremy Ogul.
• October 23, 2025: Met with San Diego City Councilmember Vivian Moreno (District 8). • October 26, 2025: Attended the VFW breakfast fundraiser. • October 26, 2025: Attended the American Legion steak dinner fundraiser. • October 27, 2025: Met with Michael Borrelli regarding former Business Improvement District activities.
• October 29, 2025: Interviewed via Zoom by KPBS regarding homelessness efforts. • October 30, 2025: Met with the City Manager and Department Managers for a staff briefing with Mayor Pro Tem Mendoza.
• October 30, 2025: Attended the San Diego Rescue Mission Lighthouse Tour. • October 30, 2025: Attended the pumpkin painting event at the Early Childhood Education Center.
• October 31, 2025: Attended the Booth a Treat at the Recreation Center. • October 31, 2025: Attended the VFW Trunk-or-Treat event. • October 31, 2025: Attended the La Mesa Village Halloween event. • November 2, 2025: Participated in Busy Bee's planning at the Sunshine House with the Forward Club.
• November 2, 2025: Participated in the Bikes on Broadway and Royal Grill as part of the bicycle and business community event.
Mayor Pro Tem Mendoza
• October 23, 2025: Met with Business Owner Michael Borrelli. • October 24, 2025: Attended the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) Board Meeting.
• October 26, 2025: Organized a Helix High School alumni gathering and birthday celebration.
• October 30, 2025: Attended the a Council Briefing with Councilmember Heredia.
Regular City Council Meeting November 4, 2025
Mayor Snow
• October 22, 2025: Attended a Community Resource Fair hosted by Being Safe San Diego • October 24, 2025: Attended a consumer policy retreat. • October 27, 2025: Attended the Staff Briefing with Councilmember Altamirano. • October 27, 2025: Met with Mayor Pro Tem Mendoza regarding the Performance Evaluation process for the City Manager.
• October 28, 2025: Visited Lemon Grove fourth-grade classes to review student policy letters.
• October 30, 2025: Attended a Special SANDAG meeting regarding the selection of the new General Counsel.
• October 31, 2025: Attended the SANDAG Board Meeting; received public comment and updates regarding the Purple Line project.
• October 31, 2025: Attended the Lemon Grove Trunk-or-Treat event. • November 1, 2025: Attended the Lemon Grove Art Show at the Parsonage Museum. • November 1, 2025: Attended a fashion show hosted by Lemon Grove designer O'Shea. • November 1, 2025: Attended the Lemon Grove Business Group meeting.
City Manager's Report
City Manager Romero announced that a City Council Candidate Forum will be on Wednesday, November 5, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. at Community Center encouraging anyone interested in applying for the vacant Council seat to attend.
Fire Chief Bent Koch provided an overview of upcoming personnel changes noting that after more than 30 years in the fire service Chief of Operations Nelson has retired from Heartland Fire & Rescue. He also shared that the Heartland Fire has selected Jon Nevin as Nelson's replacement.
Closed Session
City Attorney Steinke read the Council into closed session. The Council adjourned to Closed Session at 7:40 p.m.
a. CONFERENCE INVOLVING A JOINT POWERS AGENCY (Metro Wastewater Joint Powers Authority) Discussion will concern: Conference with Legal Counsel - Signiticant Exposure to Litigation (Gov. Code 54956.9(d)(2)) - One potential matter Name of local agency representative on joint powers agency board: Jerry Jones b. Public Employee Performance Evaluation (Government Code §54957) Position: City Manager
The Council reconvened into open session at 10:02 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 10:03 p.m. and announced that the next regular City Council meeting will be on Tuesday, November 18, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
Joel G. Pablo
City Clerk
Approved by the City Council on Tuesday, December 2, 2025