CITY OF LEMON GROVE
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
TEAM BUILDING AND PRIORITY SETTING WORKSIIOP
TUESDAY, APRIL 14,2026 AT 6:00 P.M.
LEMON GROVE COMMUNITY CENTER
3146 SCHOOL LANE, LEMON GROVE, CALrFORNIA9L9AS
1. Call to Order
Mayor Snow called the Special Meeting of the City Council to order at 6:04 p.m Roll Call
Present: Mayor Alysson Snow, Mayor Pro Tem Jessyka Heredia, Councilmember Jennifer Mendoza, Councilmember Seth Smith, Councilmember Yadira Altamirano.
Staff Present
Interim City Manager Tony Winney, City Attorney Kristen Steinke, Public Works Director Izzy Murguia, City Clerk Joel G. Pablo, Community Development Manager Michael Fellows, San Diego Sheriff s Office Lt. Patrick Fox, Heartland Fire and Rescue's Deputy Fire Chief Jon Nevin.
3. Pledge of Allegiance
The Assembly recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
4. Lemon Grove Annual Priority Goals Workshop
A. Welcome and Onenins Remarks
Mayor Snow opened the workshop by explaining that the special meeting was devoted to team buiiding and the establishment of City Council priorities for Fiscal Year 202627. She noted that the workshop was intended to be collaborative and interactive, with opportunities for both the City Council and community members to contribute input.
Interim City Manager Tony Winney welcomed attendees and stated that the workshop served as the formal kickoff to the City's budget season and the first step in a broader process leading to adoption of the operating and capital improvement budgets at the end of June' Interim City Manager Winney introduced Richard Marks of RDM Management Group as the facilitator. Mr. Marks reviewed the workshop agenda, described the desired outcome as identiffing the City's top priority projects for the coming fiscal year, and outlined ground rules centered on respectful dialogue, active listening, patience and a focus on understanding differing viewpoints.
B. Opening Astivity
Mr. Marks led an opening exercise asking participants to imagine Lemon Grove in the year 2031 and identifli what a thriving community would look like five years into the future.
Aprll14,2026 Special City Council Meeting
Team Building and Priority Workshop - Minutes
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Councilmembers and attendees broke into small groups and then reported their shared visions to the room.
Recurring themes included
r { walkable and bikeable downtown Broadway corridor
. Attractive and activated storefronts
. Outdoor dining, music, festivals, and a stronger sense of place . Slower traffic and improved pedestrian safety
. Cleaner and smoother streets
. Additional trees and landscaping
I [ fully open Recreation Center and Senior Center
r More recreation opportunities for youth, families, and seniors r Better communication between the City and the community r d broader mix of locally owned businesses
. Affordable housing and increased opportunities for homeownership . Improved public transportation options
. Possible hotel development
. Activation of the City's Climate Action Plan'
C. Fiscal 2025-26 Prioritv Goals : Ilndate
Interim City Manager Winney provided an update on the current fiscal year's strategic goals and a brief budget overview and presented via MS PowerPoint' Discussion followed regarding the annualized cost of the two additional Community Oriented Policing and Problem Solving (COPPS) deputies, the potential for community partnerships to help leverage grants and community projects, long-term funding for the deputies, expansion of technology for public access and online surveys, and the status of the City's audio visual system for Council Chambers. Mr. Winney advised that the AV project was in motion and that additional online community engagement tools were also being developed.
D. Summary of City Council Interviews
Mr. Marks summarized individual interviews conducted with the Mayor and Councilmembers in advance of the workshop. He explained that proposed priorities had been organized under the City's four established strategic focus areas. The highest-ranking priorities identified by Councilmembers included planning and permitting process improvements, continued investment in streets and storm drains; reireation and senior center activation; parks expansion; homelessness response and diversion programming; and an economic development study focused on strengthening downtown, activating vacant storefronts, and increasing local revenue generation.
Additional priorities identified through the interview process included sidewalk improvements, lighting improvements, a vacant commercial property ordinance, community events, completion of the Downtown Village Specific Plan, traffic calming, a revolving loan or support program for local businesses, enhanced City communications, community enforcement and parking enforcement, fee schedule updates and exploration of staffing options related to community development.
Aprll14,2026 Special City Council Meeting
Team Building and Priority Workshop - Minutes
E. Priority Goals Development and Prioritization Activity Mayor Snow raised concerns that the preliminary list did not fully reflect all possible priorities and requested that the community be allowed to add new ideas for consideration.
Councilmembers discussed the need to balance new ideas with realism and the importance of carrying forward unfinished goals from prior years. During this discussion, Councilmembers .o-*"nt"d on the need to complete incomplete goals before overextending the work plan; the importance of the AV system and televised meetings; the status of an eviction diversion fund prwiously set aside in the budget; and the need to understand the fiscal and operational implications of new priorities.
A member of the public requested clarification regarding parking enforcement revenues. In response, Sheriff s Lt. Fox explained that cost recovery varies depending on the type of citation, with some revenue allocated to the City and some to the State.
Following additional discussion, the facilitator adjusted the process to allow attendees to propose and vote on additional goals not included on the original lists. Added topics included reactivating the Climate Action Plan, adding housing staff, fire resiliency, pursuing more grants, reactivating the residential traffic management program, integrating artificial intelligence into planning services and redesign of Broadway.
F. Results of Prioritization Activitv
fhe workshop voting results reflected input gathered separately from community attendees and City Council members. The tallies were informational and no formal action was taken.
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Team Building and Priority Workshop - Minutes
- trategic Focus
Area
1. Streets,
Storm Drains,
and Sidewalks
l. Streetso
Storm Drains,
and Sidewalks
Priority GoaI Status Description
Continue to invest in the repair
and improvement of streets
and storm drains throughout
the City.
Identify where the City has
right of way andlor land to
construct needed sidewalks for
pedestrian connections
between neighborhoods and
parks. Select one sidewalk for
completion in Fiscal Year
202526.
Explore establishment of a
multi-year plan for improved
lighting in downtown and
public areas as a deterrent to
crime and to contribute to a
more attractive community.
Explore expanding traffi c
calming concepts into
neighborhoods to slow traffic
and improve pedestrian and
bicyclist safety.
Identify funding and/or
partners to open the Senior
Center and the Recreation
Center, including possible
contracts with private sector
vendors to offer plograms:
Pursue grant opportunities to
purchase or develop new or
expanded parks, including
resident donated land or other
grant funded opportunities.
This includes exploring a
pocket park in the Wildflower
area and park space on
Environmental Land Trust
property.
Community
Votes
t2
Council
Votes
2 Total
Votes
Streets and t4
Storm Drain
Repairs and
Improvements
Sidewalk
Improvements
New
Existing
Priority
8 1. Streets,
Storm I)rains,
and Sidewalks
Lighting
Initiative for
Public Spaces
Existing
Priority
12 13
26 15
4 t6
1. Streetso
Storm Drains,
..d Sidewalks
Traffic
Calming
New
Existing
Priority
Existing
Priority
1 l4
4 0 15
2. Community
Life
2. Community
Life
Recreation
and Senior
Center
Parks
Expansion
and
Equipment
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Team Building and Priority Workshop - Minutes
ommunity CommunitY
Events
Add a new event to the City's
current event schedule. Begin
planning and fundraising for
Lemon Grove's 50th
Anniversary and participate in
the celebration of America's
250th Anniversary.
Provide more updates on
priority projects to increase
transparency and ergagement.
Convene aCity Council study
session and explore software
options and costs for online
submittal and tracking of
planning and building
applications.
Hire a consultant to identifu
and analyze leading economic
development opportunities and
strategies to attract businesses
to Lemon Grove, with the goal
ofincreasing sales tax revenue,
reducing the commercial
vacancy rate, creating local
jobs, and enhancing public
infrastructure.
Analyzethe possibility of an
ordinance requiring vacant
commercial and office
properties to be maintained in
a manner that reflects the
community's standards of
cleanliness, care, and
attractiveness.
Continue the Downtown
Specific Plan project, which is
already in progress and
scheduled for completion in
December 2026.
Existing
Priority
8 2 10 .C
I
-'fe
2. Community
Life
3. Revenue,
Economic
Development,
and Budget
Enhance City
Communicati
ons
Flanning and
Permitting
Process
Improvements
New
Existing
Priority
New
Existing
Priority
New
' $evenue, t.
-onOmlC
Development,
and Budget
Economic
Development
Study
15 I2
13 t6
J 18
15 4 I7
t9
11 3. Revenue,
Economic
Developmento
and Budget
3. Revenue,
Economic
Development,
and Budget
Vacant
Commercial
and Office
Property
Ordinance
Complete
Downtown
Specific Plan
Project
9 2
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Team Building and Priority Workshop - Minutes
S.evenue,
-.nnnrnic
Development,
and Budget
3. Revenue,
Economic
Development,
and Budge!
3. Revenue,
Economic
Development,
and Budget
4. Public
Safety, Law
Enforcement,
--d
= Jmelessnes
4. Public
Safety, Law
Enforcement,
and
Ifomelessness
Local
Business
Support /
Revolving
Loan
New Provide training, advising, and
loan opportunities for
entrepreneurs to launch or
expand businesses.
I
2 13
COUNCIL
VOTES
8 2
4 6
5 18
4 8
5 Fee Schedule New
Updates
Ensure City fees continue to
cover the cost of providing
services.
Explore the feasibility of
adding a Community
Development Director
position.
Work with service providers to
find grants and other resources
to fund homelessness diversion
programs and homelessness
outreach services.
Proactively enforce parking
regulations citywide.
Explore
Feasibility of
Hiring a
Community
Development
Director
Addressing
Homelessness
Community
Enforcement
New
s
New
New 4
ADDITIONAL GOALS RAISED DURING THE
MEETING
Redesign of Broadway 13
Apply for More Grants 11
Reactivate Climate Action Plan 7
Focus on Fire Resiliency 6
Add Housing Staff 5
Research Additional Options to Integrate AI into 3
Planning Services
Reactivate Traffic Management Program 4
COMMUNITY
VOTES
TOTAL
VOTES
3 2
0 0
0 2
t6
t3
7 6
5 5
0 4
Aprll14,2026 Special City Council Meeting
Team Building and Priority Workshop - Minutes
PageT
5. Public Comment
Mayor Snow opened the public comment period. By consensus of the City Council, the time for each speaker was reduced from three minutes to two minutes.
The following comments were directed to the Council.
o Brianna Bearce: Spoke in support of fully activating the Recreation Center through a public-private partnership model. She stated that Lemon Grove Community Activities is already demonstrating demand through recreation and educational programming with more than 500 attendees monthly, and proposed expanded weekday evening and weekend use to create a multigenerational hub without requiring significant additional City staffing.
John L. Wood: Requested revival of the Lemon Grove Residential Traffic Management Program and referenced City Council Resolution No. 2019-3653. He also urged the City to work with shopping center owners to redesign traffic circulation near the In-N-Out at 7160 Massachusetts Avenue, including a dedicated southbound stacking area, and expressed frustration with delay in addressing the traffic issue.
Minola Clark Manson: Commented that the annual priority-setting process has improved, but said the City should also develop a broader five-year plan so each annual workshop builds on a longer-term framework rather than starting over each year a Paula Hensley: Expressed frustration with poor street lighting and unclear street signs which makes navigating unfamiliar roads diffrcult. She also raised traffic/speeding concerns and suggested considering roundabouts to calm speeding and reduce accidents.
Jacquelvn Clark: Urged the City to poll seniors directly about what they want from the Senior Center and to ensure programming is meaningful to older adults. She also said any operating arrangement should avoid unnecessarily burdening the City and supported homelesiness diversion efforts to help prevent residents from becoming homeldss. a
a
a
o Jennifer Morrissey: Encouraged the City to closely monitor upcoming state funding opportunities, including Proposition 4-related funding and a greening gtantthat could potentially benefit the Wildflower open space area. She strongly advocated for adding grant-writing capacity, stating that a grant writer could help bring substantially more outside funding into the City.
Chelsea Gastelem: Encouraged the City to rely more on community groups with subjectmatter expertise, especially when staff capacity is limited. She said committees should include community members, noted that local residents akeady have strong knowledge and partnerships, and urged a more collaborative approach so projects have stronger community ownership and supPort.
a
April14,2026 Special City Council Meeting
Team Building and Priority Workshop - Minutes
John Sepulvado: Expressed support for Brianna Bearce's communityled Recreation Center proposal, stating that recreation activity can increase foot traffic and help the business corridor. He also said local businesses are under strain from retirements, rising insurance costs, and rent pressures, and suggested abusiness-focused subgroup or subcommittee to better address local business needs.
Matthew Soler: Spoke in support of Recreation Center activation and Brianna Bearce's frogramming, noting from personal experience that the activities attract participants from L"-or Grove and nearby communities and can help generate foot traffic for businesses.
He also expressed support for the Climate Action Plan and raised exploring participation in San Diego Community Power as part of broader renewable energy goals Written: Richard Hammett
Brianna Bearce
Mayor Snow closed the public comment period
6. Closing Remarks and Next StePs
Interim City Manager Winney that the workshop results would help inform development of the Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget and the City's work plan, while staff would also evaluate how to translate the results into a manageable and achievable set of annual goals.
7. Adjournment
Snow adjourned the Special Meeting at 8:36 p.m
City Clerk
Approved by the City Council on Tuesday, April 21,2026
o
a
Joel G.