MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE LEMON GROVE CITY COUNCIL
LEMON GROVE COMMUNITY CENTER
3146 SCHOOL LANE, LEMON GROVE, CA 91945
TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2026 AT 6:00 P.M.
Call to Order
Mayor Snow convened the Regular City Council meeting to order at 6:02 p.m.
Roll Call
Mayor Alysson Snow, Mayor Pro Tem Jessyka Heredia, Councilmember Yadira Altamirano, Councilmember Seth Smith, Councilmember Jennifer Mendoza.
Staff Present
Acting City Manager/Public Works Director Izzy Murguia, City Attorney Kristen Steinke, City Clerk Joel G. Pablo, Finance Director Stacey Tang, Public Works Operations and Administrative Manager Tom Martin, San Diego Sheriff's Office Lt. Joseph Barry, Heartland Fire & Rescue's Fire Chiet Bent Koch, Human Resources Manager Roberto Hidalgo, Pledge of Allegiance
Councilmember Smith led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Changes to the Agenda
Mayor Snow stated that Councilmember Altamirano pulled Item No. 1.G from the Consent Calendar.
City Clerk Pablo announced that the noticed public hearing for the appeal of the Community Development Manager's decision to deny Minor Use Permit No. 250-0001, Appeal No. AA2- 500-0001, for a regulated use at 8280 Broadway previously noticed for this meeting, will be continued to a future date. Pablo noted that new public hearing notices will be mailed and published once a new hearing date is scheduled, in accordance with applicable noticing requirements.
Presentations - None
Public Comment
Mayor Snow opened the public comment period.
In Person: John L. Wood Sheila Spencer
Brenda Hammond Ann
Sandra Richardsor Norma Viloria
David Morrisser Rich
Lourdes Reyes Richet Golston
Gino Ouarles Unknown Speaker
Written: Craig Sean
Mayor Snow closed the public comment period.
City Attorney Steinke stated that the City of Lemon Grove does not currently have a Tenant Protection Ordinance in place and noted that an item regarding tenant protections could be brought back for Council consideration.
Steinke provided guidance on the process for adopting an Urgency Ordinance including the requirement for the proposed resolution to have specific findings and a four-fifths vote, as well as the process for an Regular Ordinance requiring two readings.
Mayor Snow with the support of Councilmember Heredia directed the City Attorney to proceed with exploring Council options to include drafting said ordinances.
Consent Calendar
Mayor Snow opened up the public comment period.
In Person: John L. Wood
Mayor Snow closed the public comment period.
Action: Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Mendoza, second by Councilmember Smith to approve Consent Calendar Item Nos. 1.A through 1.H excluding Item 1.G.
The motion passed by the following vote:
AYES: Smith, Altamirano, Mendoza, Heredia, 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 November 28, 2025 to December 25, 2025.
1.C Acceptance of the Connect Main Street Project Phase 3 Project (No. 2023-21) Action: Adopted Resolution No. 2026 - 4142 accepting the Connect Main Street Project Phase 3 (No. 2023-21) as complete.
Award of Agreement (No. 2026-04) to Saturn Electric, Inc. for On-Call Electrical Services
Action: Adopted Resolution No. 2026 - 4143 to award an agreement (No. 2026-04) for on-call electrical services to Saturn Electric, Inc. in the amount not-to-exceed $75,000 and authorize the City Manager to execute any necessary documents.
1.E Ratification of Purchase Order for Repairs to City Hall Action: Adopted Resolution No. 2026 - 4144 ratifying a Purchase Order for $17,400 to ID Construction for repairs to City Hall.
1.F Ratification of Purchase Order, Project Acceptance, and Notice of Completion for Parsonage Museum Patio Deck Replacement
Action: Adopted Resolution No. 2026 - 4145 to: (1) Authorize an appropriation of $16,855 from the General Fund unassigned fund balance to the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Facilities Maintenance "Contractual Services" (01-50-14-5470) budget line item; and (2) Ratify a purchase order to MJC Construction in the amount of $16,855; and (3) Accept the two Parsonage Museum Patio Deck Replacements at 3185 Olive Street by Jimenez Inc., DBA MJC Construction as complete.
1.G City Manager Separation Agreement and General Release of All Claims Action: Pulled from the Consent Calendar.
Acceptance of Supplemental Lease Agreement for Additional Ground Space Action: Adopted Resolution No. 2026 - 4147 to accept the Supplemental Lease Agreement for Additional Ground Space with PTI US Towers II, LLC ("Phoenix Towers").
Reports to Council
2. Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance No. 471 Establishing City Council Salaries After the 2026 Election
Mayor Snow introduced City Attorney Kristen Steinke to present the staff report.
Mayor Snow opened the public comment period.
In Person: None
Mayor Snow closed the public comment period.
Action: Moved by Councilmember Altamirano, second by Mayor Pro Tem Heredia to Introduce for its second reading, by title only, and adopt Ordinance No. 471 titled:
Ordinance of the Lemon Grove City Council Amending Lemon Grove Municipal Code section 2.16.010 Establishing City Council Salaries."
The motion passed by the following vote:
AYES: Smith, Altamirano, Mendoza, Heredia, Snow
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Interim City Manager Employment Agreement
Mayor Snow introduced City Attorney Kristen Steinke to present the staff report.
Mayor Snow opened the public comment period.
In Person: None
Mayor Snow closed the public comment period.
Councilmembers and incoming City Manager Tony Winney provided remarks.
Action: Moved by Councilmember Mendoza, second by Councilmember Smith to adopt Resolution No. 2026 - 4148 approving the employment agreement with Tony Winney for the position as Interim City Manager, authorizing the Mayor to sign the agreement and updating the City's salary schedule for Fiscal Year 2025/2026 to reflect the compensation level for the Interim City Manager position.
The motion passed by the following vote:
Smith, Altamirano, Mendoza, Heredia, Snow
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Item Pulled from the Consent Calendar
1.G City Manager Separation Agreement and General Release of All Claims Mayor Snow introduced City Attorney Kristen Steinke to present the staff report and answered questions posed by the City Council.
Mayor Snow opened the public comment period.
In Person: None
Mayor Snow closed the public comment period.
Action: Moved by Councilmember Mendoza, second by Councilmember Altamirano to adopt Resolution No. 2026 - 4146 authorizing the Mayor to sign the former City Manager's Separation Agreement and General Release of All Claims.
The motion passed by the following vote:
AYES: Smith, Altamirano, Mendoza, Heredia, Snow
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN: None
City Council Reports on Meetings Attended at the Expense of the City Councilmember Smith
• January 8, 2026 - Received a tour of the Heartland Fire Training Facility in El Cajon.
Councilmember Altamirano
• January 9, 2026: Visited the City of La Mesa regarding speed bumps. • January 10, 2026: Attended the National Electrical Contractors Association Gala. • January 13 and January 14, 2026: Attended the City Council Special Meetings. • January 17, 2026: Met with a Lemon Grove Business Owner. • January 19, 2026: Met with Helen regarding grant opportunities for the City. • Future Agenda Items
(1) Requested that at least one agenda item / header be designated as a Councilmember- initiated item; and
(2) Requested that all City communications, including social media, be translated in both English and Spanish to better serve Spanish-speaking residents * Both requests were sponsored or supported by Mayor Pro Tem Heredia.
Councilmember Mendoza
• January 15, 2026: Attended the Metropolitan Transit System Board meeting; elected a Chair Pro Tem and made annual committee appointments; renewed as Board representative to the LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency and appointed to the San Diego Association of Governments Regional Planning Committee representing MTS. • Shared a Black History Month PRONTO card designed by a local MTS artist.
Mayor Pro Tem Heredia
• January 10, 2026: Attended the National Electrical Contractors Association Gala with Mayor Snow and Councilmember Altamirano and met with regional representatives and contractors.
January 12, 2026: Met with former Councilmember Jerry Jones. • January 14, 2026: Participated in a League of California Cities Zoom on Chamber partnerships and business attraction; noted the importance of establishing a Lemon Grove-specific Chamber of Commerce.
• January 16, 2026: Attended the San Diego Association of Governments Public Safety Committee meeting.
Mayor Snow
• January 7, 2026: Met with Tad Parson of the Burnham Center to discuss regional collaboration and community unity initiatives
• January 7, 2026: Attended a San Diego Association of Governments Briefing January 8 and January 15, 2026: Attended the Lemon Grove Farmers Market. • January 9, 2026: Attended multiple San Diego Association of Governments meetings including Board and Executive sessions; Chaired the Social Equity Working Group. • January 10, 2026: Attended the National Electrical Contractors Association Gala January 12, 2026: Attended a League of California Cities meeting.
• January 13 and 14, 2026: Participated in Special Meetings to interview Interim City Manager candidates.
• January 14, 2026: Met with Juliette Ryan with Interwest. • January 15, 2026: Attended the Lemon Grove Farmer's Market • January 16, 2026: Attended the 2026 Regional Research Summit hosted by the Center of Excellence by the San Diego Policy and Innovation Center and noted the upcoming Economic Summit in March 2026.
• January 19, 2026: Attended the Martin Luther King Jr. Day "All People Celebration" hosted by Alliance San Diego.
• January 20, 2026: Attended the East County Chamber Government Affairs Committee meeting and reported progress toward formation of the Lemon Grove Business Group under the East County Chamber of Commerce.
City Manager's Report
Acting City Manager Izzy announced that the Mayor will deliver the State of the City on January 29, 2026 at the Lemon Grove Library at 6:00 p.m. and noted that registration is required to attend.
City Clerk Pablo provided a status update on the Planning Commission vacancy and application process, reporting that three applications have been received and that the application deadline will be extended to February 9, 2026 to allow additional interested individuals time to apply.
City Attorney Steinke encouraged the Council and members of the public to share this information with their networks.
Closed Session
City Attorney Steinke adjourned the Council into closed session at 7:24 p.m. • Public Employment (Government Code §54957): City Manager The Council reconvened into open session at 7:48 p.m. with all Councilmembers present.
City Attorney Steinke reported out from Closed Session and stated that the Council provided staff with general direction.
Adjournment
Mayor Snow adjourned the meeting at 7:48 p.m. and announced that the next Regular City Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. and reminded the public that the State of the City address will take place on January 29, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
Joel G. Pablo, Clty Cl erk
Approved by City Council on February 17, 2026