MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE LEMON GROVE CITY COUNCIL
LEMON GROVE COMMUNITY CENTER
3146 SCHOOL LANE, LEMON GROVE, CA 91945
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2026 AT 6:00 P.M.
Call to Order
Mayor Snow convened the Regular City Council meeting to order at 6:17 p.m.
Roll Call
Mayor Alysson Snow, Mayor Pro Tem Jessyka Heredia, Councilmember Jennifer Mendoza, Councilmember Yadira Altamirano, Councilmember Seth Smith.
Staff Members Present
Interim City Manager Tony Winney, City Attorney Kristen Steinke, City Clerk Joel G.
Pablo, Public Works Director Izzy Murguia, Public Works Operations and Administration Manager Tom Martin, Finance Director Stacey Tang, Communications Specialist Gregory Jackson, Community Development Manager Michael Fellows, Senior Management Analyst Portland Bates, San Diego Sheriff's Department Lt. Joseph Barry and Heartland Fire and Rescue's Fire Chief Bent Koch.
Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor Pro Tem Heredia led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Changes to the Agenda
City Clerk Pablo stated that there were no changes to the agenda.
Public Comment
Mayor Snow opened the public comment period.
In Person: John L. Wood
Ken King
Minola Clark Manson
Richard Hammett
Written: Truth
Mayor Snow closed the public comment period
Consent Calendar
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 Mendoza, second by Councilmember Smith to approve Consent Calendar Items 1.A through 1.G.
The motion passed by the following vote:
AYES: Altamirano, Heredia, Mendoza, Smith, 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 December 26, 2025 to January 8, 2026.
1.C Approval of City Council Meeting Minutes
Action: Approved the minutes of the Lemon Grove City Council meetings held on January 13, 2026 and January 14, 2026.
1.D Local Agency Investment Fund Authorization
Action: Adopted Resolution No. 2026-4149 authorizing participation in the California State's Local Agency Investment Fund (LAIF) and designating the City Manager, Administrative Services Director, Finance Director, Finance Manager, and Accounting Analyst as authorized staff agents.
1.E Approval of a Service Agreement Amendment and Purchase Order to Precision Concrete Cutting for Sidewalk Repairs
Action: Adopted Resolution No. 2026-4150 to (1) Approve Amendment No. 2 to Agreement (2024-18) with Precision Concrete Cutting, increasing the not-to- exceed amount from $125,000 to $150,000 and (2) Approve a Purchase Order for $65,015.60 for sidewalk repairs.
1.F Award of Contract (No. 2026-09) for the Davidson Ave Storm Drain Replacement Project
Action: Adopted Resolution No. 2026-4151 awarding Contract No. 2026-09 to A Vidovich Construction Company Inc. for $139,102.32 for the Davidson Ave Storm Drain Replacement Project and authorized the City Manager to execute necessary documents.
1.G Approval of a Purchase Order to Duke's Root Control, Inc. for Sanitary Sewer Root Control Services
Action: Adopted Lemon Grove Sanitation District Resolution No. 2026-01 approving a Purchase Order for $65,555.75 to Duke's Root Control, Inc. for sewer root control services.
Reports to Council
Consideration of an Ordinance Regarding Local Tenant Protections to Address No-Fault Just Cause Terminations of Tenancy or Alternatives Mayor Snow introduced Interim City Manager Tony Winney and City Attorney Kristen Steinke to present the staff report.
Mayor Snow opened the public comment period.
In Person: Denise Terrell
Michelle Krug
Jose Solis
Carla England
Londya England
Richet Golston
Israel Hernandez with AARP
Darrel Exline
Daniel Morrissey
Joanne Franciscus with Legal Aid Society of San Diego
Luis Tachiquin
Richard Hammett
Steve Porter
Shiela Spencer
Ken King
Chauntiele Corrington
Judy Tachiquin
Sandra Richardson
Written: Richard Hammett
Carole Otterstad with By The Sea Realty
Gilberto Vera
Aimee Faucet, Building Industry Association of San Diego County Richard D'Ascoli, Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors Molly Kirkland, Southern California Rental Housing Association Melanie Woods, Vice President - Local Government Affairs of the California Apartment Association
Mitchell Thompson
Molly Kirkland, Director of Public Affairs with the Southern California Rental Housing Association
Pat Russiano with Century 21
Peter W. Carlseen
Daniel Brunner
Truth
Mayor Snow closed the public comment period.
Round 1: Councilmembers directed comments/questions to staff.
Round 2: Councilmembers directed comments/questions to staff.
Mayor Pro Tem Heredia and Mayor Snow requested that a Closed Session item be scheduled to evaluate potential litigation against Serra Grove Apartments related to tenants who received notices.
Action: Moved by Mayor Snow, second by Councilmember Mendoza moved to adopt the Urgency Ordinance with the following stated revisions to Exhibit A:
Section 8.80.030: Definition of "Demolish"
Revise the definition to state that demolition means removal of 75 percent of the total square footage of the unit.
2. Section 8.80.040(B)(1): Exemptions
Amend language to remove references to single-family residential rental units and clarify that the exemption applies only to commercial rental units and lots.
3. Section 8.80.040: Small Owner Exemption
Add a new subsection requiring that, to qualify for the exemption for owners with fewer than 15 units, the Notice of Termination must include a declaration under penalty of perjury stating that the owner owns fewer than 15 units as described in the ordinance.
4. Section 8.80.060(B): Relocation Assistance
Amend language to require that where:
• Code violations exist due to landlord negligence, or
• The unit is illegal or unpermitted, the owner must provide relocation assistance and may not elect waiver of rent in lieu of payment.
5. Section 8.80.060(B): Contractor Declaration for Demolition Add a new subsection requiring a declaration under penalty of perjury from a licensed home improvement contractor stating that demolition will exceed 75 percent of the total square footage of the unit. The declaration or applicable permits must accompany the notice.
6. Consistency Revision: Definition of "Elderly"
Revise the ordinance to ensure the definition of "elderly" is consistent at 60 years of age throughout all sections of the ordinance.
The motion failed by the following vote:
AYES: Mendoza, Snow
NOES: Altamirano, Smith, Heredia
ABSENT: None
Councilmember Altamirano left the dias at 8:25 p.m. and returned at 8:29 p.m.
Action: Moved by Mayor Snow, second by Councilmember Mendoza to: Adopt the findings contained in Urgency Ordinance No. 472 together with the following additional provisions:
1. Implement, in addition to the protections provided by the Tenant Protection Act of 2019, a requirement that all no-fault just cause evictions require 120 days' notice, regardless of income level; and
Require relocation assistance for all no-fault just cause evictions in the form of a direct payment to the tenant equal to:
One month of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) Small Area Fair Market Rent for the applicable zip code at the time the notice to terminate tenancy is issued; and • One month of the actual rent in effect under the tenant's lease;
3. Require that if the tenant's income is below 80 percent of the Area Median Income for the County of San Diego, the tenant is 60 years of age or older, is disabled, or there are minor children in the household, the direct payment shall be equal to:
• Two months of HUD Small Area Fair Market Rent for the applicable zip code at the time the notice to terminate tenancy is issued; and • One month of the actual rent in effect under the tenant's lease; and
4. Include a 180-day sunset provision to allow the City time to develop a more comprehensive and permanent ordinance.
The motion passed by the following vote:
AYES: Smith, Mendoza, Heredia, Snow
NOES: Altamirano
ABSENT: R None
Councilmember Mendoza left the dias at 8:52 p.m. and returned at 8:55 p.m.
Mayor Snow recessed the City Council for a break at 9:02 p.m. The Council reconvened at 9:12 p.m. with all Councilmembers present.
CONTINUANCE OF AGENDA ITEMS TO A FUTURE MEETING
Action: Moved by Mayor Snow, second by Councilmember Mendoza to continue Reports to Council Item Nos. 3 and 4 along with the City Council Reports on Meetings Attended at the Expense of the City to the next regular City Council meeting on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.
The motion passed by the following vote:
AYES: Smith, Altamirano, Mendoza, Heredia, Snow
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
3. Council Initiated Item - Spanish Translation of Public Outreach Materials Action: Item continued to Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.
Council Initiated Item - Process for Council Initiated Items Action: Item continued to Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.
City Council Reports on Meetings Attended at the Expense of the City Action: Item continued to Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.
City Manager's Report - None
Closed Session
City Attorney Kristen Steinke read the Council into closed session.
Mayor Snow opened the public comment period. No comments were directed to the Council.
Mayor Snow closed the public comment period.
The Council convened into Closed Session at 9:14 p.m.
Public Employment (Government Code §54957): City Manager • Conference with Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation (Government Code §54956.9(d)(4))) - 1 case
The City Council reconvened in open session at 10:48 p.m. with all Councilmembers present. City Attorney Steinke reported that there was no reportable action on both items listed on the Closed Session agenda.
Adjournment
Mayor Snow adjourned the meeting at 10:48 p.m. and announced that the next regular City Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 18, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. and a Special City Council Meeting (Workshop) is set for February 10, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.
Joel G. Rablo, City Clerk
Approved by the City Council on Tuesday, March 03, 2026