MINUTES OFTHE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE LEMON GROVE CITY COUNCIL
Mall to Dol convened the Regular City Council meting to order at 6:04 p.m.
Mal or Alysson Snow, Mayor Pro Tem Jennifer Mendoza, Councitmember Jessyka Heredia, Councilmember Yadira Altamirano.
Staff Members Present
City Manager Lydia Romero, City Attorney Kristen Steinke, City Clerk Joel G. Pablo, Senior Management Analyst Portland Bates, .
Adminisation and peration Managerim Makin, SanDrey Merit a Price l rs.
Barry, Heartland Fire &, Deputy Fire Chief Jon Nevin.
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
Insurance Services Office (ISO) Class 1 Re-Certification, Heartland Fire & Rescue Deputy Fire Chief Jon Nevin and ISO Senior Field Representative Andy Bolton gave a presentation and Certificate.
Public Comment
Mayor Snow opened the public comment period.
In Person: John L. Wood
Mat Kostrinsky, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (ASFME) Local 127
Calvin Manson
Written: Barbara Gordon
Geramine Grande Shaver
Mayor Snow closed the public comment period.
Consent Calendar
Action: Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Mendoza, second by Councilmember Heredia to approve Consent Calendar Item 1.A through 1.C.
The motion passed by the following vote:
AYES: Altamirano, 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.
1.B City of Lemon Grove Payment Demands
Action: Ratified demands covering October 31, 2025 to November 13, 2025.
1.C Approval of City Council Meeting Minutes
Action: Approved the minutes of the Lemon Grove City Council meeting held on November 4, 2025 and November 18, 2025.
Reports to Council
2. Second Reading and Adoption of 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.
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 Mayor Pro Tem Mendoza, second by Mayor Snow to adopt Ordinance No. 470 titled: "An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Lemon Grove, California, Amending Lemon Grove Municipal Code Title 17 ZONING, Chapter
17.08 DEFINITIONS, Chapter 17.16 ZONING DISTRICTS, Chapter 17.20 SPECIÁL OVERLAY DISTRICTS, and Chapter 17.28 PROCEDURE AND ADMINISTRATION Implementing General Plan Housing Element Programs 14 and 22." The motion passed by the following vote:
AYES: Altamirano, Heredia, Mendoza, Snow
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
City Council Vacancy - Applicant Interviews
Mayor Snow introduced City Manager Romero to present the report. City Clerk Pablo and City Attorney Steinke provided an overview of the rank choice voting process.
The Council deliberated.
By Consensus, the City Council agreed to amend the voting process and use the weighted scoring system. Under this method:
• Preferred Candidate 1 would receive a score of 8.
• Preferred Candidate 2 would receive a score of 7.
• Preferred Candidate 3 would receive a score of 6.
• Preferred Candidate 4 would receive a score of 5.
• Preferred Candidate 5 would receive a score of 4.
• Preferred Candidate 6 would receive a score of 3.
• Preferred Candidate 7 would receive a score of 2.
• Preferred Candidate 8 would receive a score of 1.
By Consensus, the City Council agreed that in the event of a tie, the tied names would be placed into a hat; the name drawn would be eliminated and the remaining individual would be declared the winner.
Interviews were conducted in first-name alphabetical order.
1. Brianna Bearce 3. Minola Clark Manson
2. Joseph Smith 4. Seth Smith
Mayor Snow recessed the City Council meeting at 7:54 p.m. for a five-minute break. The Council reconvened at 8:00 p.m. with all Councilmembers present.
Interviews continued with the remainder of candidates.
5. Sophia Elena Felix 7. Victor Vega
6. Stephen Browne Yasmin Mendoza
Mayor Snow opened the public comment period.
In Person: Jacquelyn Clark Andres Ruiz
Ranee Garcia Calvin Manson
Demash Janos Azucena Garcia
Gabriela Carbajal Joshua Bloom
Rebecca Hernandez Victoria
Raquel Lopez Beatriz Lopez
Robert Logan
Written: Randy Carstens
Mayor Snow closed the public comment period.
Each Councilmember completed and submitted their weighted-voting sheet to the City Clerk.
Mayor Snow recessed the City Council meeting at 9:30 p.m. for a break. The Council reconvened at 9:41 p.m. with all Councilmembers present.
Using the weighted voting method, staff tabulated the results shown below in alphabetical order:
Briana Bearce: 17 Sophia Felix: 14
Joseph Smith: 20 Stephen Brown: 21
Minola Clark Manson: 21 Victor Vega: 4
Seth Smith: 22 Yasmin Mendoza: 13
Action: Moved by Councilmember Heredia, second by Mayor Pro Tem Mendoza to appoint Seth Smith to fill the vacant City Council seat with a term ending in December 2026
The motion passed by the following vote:
AYES: Altamirano, Heredia, Mendoza, Snow
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
City Council Reports on Meetings Attended at the Expense of the City Councilmember Heredia
November 4, 2025: Attended Helix Water District - Master Plan Update • November 6, 2025: Attended Metro JPA meeting and received a Pure Water facilities tour. • November 13, 2025: Attended City-School collaboration meeting. • November 17, 2025: Held one-on-one meeting with City Manager Lydia Romero. • November 20, 2025: Attended Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) Board meeting. • November 21, 2025: Attended SANDAG Public Safety Committee meeting. • November 22, 2025: Phone call with Joe Smith regarding Council appointment. • November 22, 2025: Attended memorial service for Cheryl Jones. • November 22, 2025: Attended Neighborhood to Worship event. • November 25, 2025: Received briefing from the City Clerk on Senate Bill 707. • November 27, 2025: Participated in outreach assisting unsheltered residents with community volunteers David Eckler and Felina Thom.
Mayor Snow
• November 5, 2025: Met with Brianna Bearce.
• November 7, 2025: Participated in National Association of Women Journalist Success Inside and Out program.
• November 8, 2025: Attended Project Aware 20th Anniversary Gala. • November 11, 2025: Attended Solidarity gathering and rally. • November 13, 2025: Met with San Diego 365 and Sierra Club. • November 14, 2025: Met with City Manager and Councilmember Mendoza. • November 14, 2025: Assisted with food distribution preparation. • November 15, 2025: Attended Lemon Grove Food Distribution. • Attended "She's Worthy" event.
• November 18, 2025: Represented the City at the East County Chamber Government Affairs meeting.
• November 19, 2025: Attended SANDAG briefing.
• November 19, 2025: Served on Voices of Leadership panel • November 19, 2025: Attended Lemon Grove Historical Society - Art Awards. • November 22, 2025: Attended Senator Akilah Weber's Turkey Giveaway • November 22, 2025: Attended memorial for Cheryl Jones.
November 23, 2025: Attended Neighborhood to Worship event. • November 26, 2025: Attended meeting regarding Social Equity Grant Program • November 26, 2025: Attended League of California Cities Planning and Strategies Session.
City Manager's Report
City Manager Romero announced that the 274 Annual Bonfire Event will take place on Friday, December 5, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
Closed Session - None
Adjournment
Mayor Snow adjourned the meeting at 9:55 p.m. and announced that the next regular City Council meeting will be on Tuesday, December 16, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. 10 Joel G. Pable
City Clerk
Approved by the City Council on Tuesday, December 16, 2025