MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE LEMON GROVE CITY COUNCIL
Lemon Grove Community Center
3146 School Lane, Lemon Grove, CA 9194
Tuesday. November 18, 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 Jennifer Mendoza, Councilmember Yadira Altamirano Councilmember Jessyka Heredia
Staff Present
City Manager Lydia Romero, City Attorney Kristen Steinke, City Clerk Joel G. Pablo, Community Development Manager Michael Fellows, Special Projects Administrator Bill Chopyk, Public Works Director Izzy Murguia, Finance Director Stacey Tang, San Diego Sheriff's Office Lt. Joseph Barry, Heartland Fire and Rescue's Fire Chief Bent Koch, Deputy Fire Marshal Frankie Rodriguez and Fire Marshal Ken King.
Pledge of Allegiance
Councilmember Altamirano led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Changes to the Agenda
City Clerk Pablo stated there are no changes to the agenda.
Presentations
Presentation of Certificate of Recognition to O'Chea
Mayor Snow presented the Certificate to Chebra "O'Chea" Dorsey.
Presentation of Certificate of Recognition to Project Aware in Celebration of its 20th Anniversary Mayor Snow presented the Certificate to Lloyd Baker, Marquitta Barnes, Shnika Spearman, Guillermo Briseno and Wendy Luna.
Public Comment
Mayor Snow opened the public comment period.
In Person: Ken King
John L. Woods
Mayor Snow closed the public comment period.
City Manager Romero responded to public comment and stated that the Regional Task Force on Homelessness (RTFH) has completed Phase 1 of its program, housing 30 of 32 individuals in
permanent housing with wraparound services. She noted that Phase 2 is now focused on encampments near the Buena Vista bridge and behind Walgreens/Chevron, includes 42 individuals and has already housed two people with work continuing through the holidays. She added that staff are coordinating with property owners to maintain the sites and will clear remaining encampments once individuals are housed. She further reported that an $8.4 million, two-year grant shared with the City of La Mesa funds housing and supportive services with a goal of permanently housing at least 102 individuals along the corridor.
Consent Calendar
Action: Moved by Councilmember Altamirano, second by Mayor Pro Tem Mendoza to approve Consent Calendar Item Nos. 1.A and 1.B.
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 17, 2025 to October 30, 2025.
Public Hearing
2. Ordinance Amending Lemon Grove Municipal Code Title 17 ZONING, Chapter 17.08 DEFINITIONS, Chapter 17.16 ZONING DISTRICTS, Chapter 17.20 SPECIAL OVERLAY DISTRICTS, and Chapter 17.28 PROCEDURE AND ADMINISTRATION implementing General Plan Housing Element Programs 14 and 22.
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 Special Projects Administrator Bill Chopyk to present the report.
Mayor Snow opened the public hearing at 6:39 p.m.
Mayor Snow opened the public comment period.
In Person: Chen Cong
Shane Hanna
Carla Murphy
Daniel Murphy
Mayor Snow closed the public comment period.
Round 1: Councilmembers directed comments/questions to staff.
Round 1: Councilmembers directed comments/questions to staff.
Action 1: Moved by Councilmember Heredia, second by Mayor Pro Tem Mendoza to close the public hearing at 7:22 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 Mayor Snow to: 1) Conduct the Public Hearing; 2) Receive Public Comment; and 3) Introduce for its first reading an Ordinance amending Lemon Grove Code (LGMC) Title 17 ZONING, Chapter 17.08 DEFINITIONS, Chapter 17.16 ZONING DISTRICTS, Chapter 17.20 SPECIAL OVERLAY DISTRICTS, and Chapter 17.28 PROCEDURE AND ADMINISTRATION implementing General Plan Housing Element Programs 14 and 22.
The motion passed on a vote of:
AYES: Altamirano, Heredia, Mendoza, Snow
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Reports to Council
Discussion on New Sidewalk Project Areas
Mayor Snow introduced Public Works Director Izzy Murguia to present the report.
Mayor Snow opened the public comment period.
In Person: Jacquelyn Clark
John L. Wood
Gabrielle Bunn
Joe Smith
Mayor Snow closed the public comment period.
Round 1: Councilmembers directed comments/questions to staff.
Round 1: Councilmembers directed comments/questions to staff.
The Council receive report and provide direction to staff on sidewalk improvement prioritization criteria.
Mayor Snow recessed the Council to a break at 8:36 p.m. The Council reconvened at 8:42 p.m. with all Councilmembers present.
Items Moved to a Future City Council Meeting
Action: Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Mendoza, second by Councilmember Altamirano to continue Item No. 6: Council Initiated Item - Reallocation of Homeless Funds and City Council reports on Meetings Attended at the Expense of the City to a future City Council meeting.
The motion passed on a vote of:
AYES: Altamirano, Heredia, Mendoza, Snow
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
4. Second Reading: Ordinance Adoption by Reference of the 2025 California Fire Code (Title 24 Part 9 of the Building Standards Code)
Mayor Snow introduced City Attorney Steinke 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.
Action: Moved by Councilmember Altamirano, second by Mayor Pro Tem Mendoza to:
Hold the second reading, by title only, and adopt Ordinance No. 469 adopting by reference the 2025 California Fire Code (Title 24 Part 9 of the Building Standards Code), including local amendments and related findings, entitled "An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Lemon Grove, California, Rescinding Section 15.26 of Title 15 of the Lemon Grove Municipal Code, Entitled "Fire Code" in its Entirety, and Adopting a New Section 15.26, Adopting by Reference the 2025 California Fire Code, and Local Amendments and Related Findings."
The motion passed on a vote of:
AYES: Altamirano, Heredia, Mendoza, Snow
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
COPPS Goals and Objectives
Mayor Snow introduced City Manager Romero and Lt. Barry to present the report.
The Council received the report.
Council Initiated Item - Reallocation of Homeless Funds Item Continued to a Future City Council meeting.
City Council Reports on Meetings Attended at the Expense of the City - Item Continued to a Future City Council meeting.
City Manager's Report - Item Continued to a Future City Council meeting.
Closed Session
City Attorney Steinke read the Council into closed session. The Council adjourned to Closed Session at 9:13 p.m.
a. Public Employee Performance Evaluation (Government Code §54957) Position:
City Manager
The Council reconvened into open session at 10:09 p.m. with all Councilmembers present.
City Attorney Steinke reported on the Closed Session item and stated that the City Council directed the subcommittee to meet with the City Manager regarding the City Manager's performance evaluation.
Adjournment
Mayor Snow adjourned the meeting at 10:10 p.m. and announced the next regular City Council meeting will be on Tuesday, December 2, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
Joel G. Pablo
City Clerk
Approved by the City Council on December 2, 2025