MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE LEMON GROVE CITY COUNCIL
LEMON GROVE LIBRARY _ COMMUNITY ROOM
3001 scHool, LANE, LEMON GROVE, CA9l945
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1' 2026 AT 6:00 P.M.
Call to Order
Mayor Alysson Snbw convened the Regular City Council meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. held in person and via Zoom.
Roll Call
Present: Mayor Alysson Snow, Mayor Pro Tem Jessyka Heredia, Councilmember Seth Smith, Councilmember Jennifer Mendoza, Councilmember Yadira Altamirano.
Absent:None
Staff Present
Interim City Manager Tony Winney, City Attorney Kristen Steinke, City Clerk Joel G. Pablo, Finance Director Shanta Wilson, Interim Finance Director Darlene Morrow-Truver, Public Works Director Izzy Murguia, Public Works Operations and Administration Manager Tom Martin, City Engineer Ed Walton, Heartland Fire and Rescue Fire Chief Bent Koch with Andy McKellar, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator; and San Diego County Sheriff s Office Lieutenant Patrick Fox.
Pledse of Allesiance
The Assembly recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
Chanses to the Agenda
City Clerk Pablo stated there were no changes to the agenda.
Councilmember Altamirano pulled Item No. 1.F from the Consent Calendar for separate discussion Item No. 1.F was heard following Item No. 4.
Presentations
Proclamation - National Preparedness Month I Bent Koch, Fire Chief . Andy McKellar, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator presented on National Preparedness Month.
. Mayor Snow presented a proclamation recognizing National Preparedness Month. Fire Chief o Bent Koch accepted the proclamation and provided remarks.
Sheriff s Department - Presentation on E-Bike Safety I Lieutenant Fox, San Diego County Sheriff s Department
Lieutenant Patrick Fox with the San Diego County Sheriff s Department presented information regarding e-bike safety.
a
September 1,2026 Regular City Council Meeting - Minutes Paee l2 Public Comment
Mayor Snow opened the public comment period and set the speaking time at three minutes per speaker.
In Person Brenda Hammond
John L. Wood
J. Dumas
William "Wally" Murphy
Yia Zoom: Truth
Terri Ann Skelly
Madison
Becky Rapp
Written: Truth
Mayor Snow closed the public comment period.
Interim City Manager Winney responded to the public comment and stated that the City's code enforcement officer had reviewed the property referenced by J. Murphy and would follow up with the speaker and the property owner, that staff would follow up regarding the apartment property referlnced by J. Dumas, and that staff would follow up on the Central Avenue property referenced by Mr. Wood.
Public Works Director Murguia responded regarding the number of trash receptacles in the breezeway and along the Broadway business corridor, stated that the breezeway and business district ur" po*"i washed twice per year as funded in the Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget with additional cleaning available as needed and stated that an inspection of the breezeway would be conducted' Consent Calendar
Mayor Snow opened the public comment period
In Person:
YiaZoom:
Written:
None
None
None
Mayor Snow closed the public comment period'
Action: Moved by Councilmember Mendoza, second by Mayor Pro Tem Heredia to approve Consent Calendar Item Nos. 1.A through I'E and 1.G.
The motion passed by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Smith, Altamirano, Mendoza, Heredia, Snow
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Waive the Full Text Reading of All Ordinances on the Agenda Action: Waived the fulI text reading of all ordinances included in this agenda. Ordinances shall be introduced and adopted by title only.
1.4 September 1,2026 Regular City Council Meeting - Minutes Paee | 3
1.8 l.c
1.D
1.8 1.F
City of Lemon Grove Payment Demands
Actioar Ratified demands covering August 7,2026 to August 20,2026.
Approval of City Council Meeting Minutes
^q.ction: epproved the minutes of the Lemon Grove City Council meeting held on July 7, 2026 (Regular Meeting).
Award of a Purchase Order to Trueskil for the Lemon Grove Park Restroom Site Improvements
Action: Adopted Resolution No. 2026 - 42ll awarding a Purchase Order in an amount notto-u*"""{ $31,800 to Trueskil for concrete and accessibility improvements for the Lemon Grove Park restrooms.
Continuation of Emergency Procurement Actions for Emergency Storm Drain Repairs Near 3281 College Place - Update 8 (4/5th Vote Required) Action: Adopted Resolution No. 2026 - 4212 by the required four-fifths vote for the "onti.r*tt"e of emergency repairs to the storm drain system near 3281 College Place.
Approval of Amendment No. 1 for the 3281 College Place Emergency Storm Drain Project with MJC Construction (No. 2026'19)
Pulled from the Consent Calendar by Councilmember Altamirano. The item was heard following Item No. 4 and the action taken is recorded there.
1.G Annual Investment Policy Review
Action: Adopted Resolution No.2026 - 4214 approving the updated City of Lemon Grove Investment Policy and rescinding Resolution No. 2025-4125.
Recognitions
fotto*rngoction on the Consent Calendar, Mayor Snow and Interim City Manager Winney recognized Interim Finance Director Darlene Morrow-Truver for her service to the City during the Finance Director transition and the Fiscal Yeat 2026-27 budget process Interim City Manager Tony Winney introduced newly appointed Finance Director Shanta Wilson.
Public Hearing - None
Reports to Council
Z ,tpp-nut of Change Order No.3 for the Fiscal Year 2022-2024 Street Rehabilitation Project (No. 2025-05)
Mayor Snow introduced the item by title. Public Works Director Murguia presented the staff report.
Mayor Snow opened the public comment period.
In Person:
YraZoom:
Written:
None
Truth
None
September 1,2026 Regular City Council Meeting - Minutes Page | 4 3 Mayor Snow closed the public comment period.
Round 1: Councilmembers directed questions/comments to staff.
Round 2: Councilmembers directed questions/comments to staff.
Action: Moved by Councilmember Mendoza, second by Councilmember Altamirano to uaopt n.rolution No. 2026 - 4215 authorizing the Interim City Manager to approve Change Order No. 3 to the contract with Eagle Paving Company (No. 2025-05) in an amount not-toexceed $250,000 for additional street improvements, increasing the total contract amount from $3,899,8I4 to $4,149,814.
The motion passed by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Smith, Altamirano, Mendoza, Heredia, Snow
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Conduct the Second Reading and Adoption of the City of Lemon Grove's Tenant Protections Ordinance
Mayor Snow introduced the item by title. City Attorney Steinke presented the staff report, witfi Special Counsel Nazanin Salehi available viaZoom. City Attorney Steinke stated there is a typogfaphical error in the staff report, noting that the effective date of the local ordinance is January I,2027.
Mayor Snow opened the public comment period.
In Person Kirk Hensley
Sheila Jones
Luis Plantier
Norma Viloria
Paula
Steve Porte
YiaZoom: Truth
Written: None
Mayor Snow closed the public comment period.
Round | &2: Councilmembers directed questions/comments to staff.
City Attorney Steinke advised that discussion of a specific property should be agendized for closed session. Interim City Manager Winney stated that the City conducts regular inspections of construction projects and would keep the City Council updated. Mayor Snow stated that two Councilmembers supported agendizingthe matter and that it would be placed on a future agenda.
September 1,2026 Regular City Council Meeting - Minutes Page I 5
4. Mayor Snow moved to amend the ordinance to include the relocation benefits previously provided in the urgency ordinance and to otherwise adopt the ordinance as written. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Mendoza.
A substitute motion was offered by Mayor Pro Tem Heredia to adopt the ordinance as written, consistent with staff s recommendation, and was seconded by Councilmember Altamirano. [The original motion was superseded by the substitute motion and did not come to a vote.]
Action: Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Heredia, second by Councilmember Altamirano to ionduct the second reading, by title only, and adopt Ordinance No. 475, an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Lemon Grove, California, Adding Chapter 18.52 ("Just Cause Eviction") to Title 18 ("City-Wide Regulations") of the Lemon Grove Municipal Code, Prohibiting the Termination of Certain Residential Tenancies Without "Just Cause" in the City of Lemon Grove.
The motion passed by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Altamirano, Smith, fleredia
NOES: Mendoza, Snow
ABSENT: None
Approval of Cify Manager Employment Agreement
MJyor Snow introduced the item by title. City Attorney Steinke presented the staff report and summarized the material terms of the proposed employment agteement.
City Attorney Steinke also noted two typographical corrections to the agreement, correcting the date in Section 4.a.1 from August 18,2029 to September 1,2029, and correcting the numbering of the indemnification provisions.
Mayor Snow opened the public comment period.
In Person:
Yra Zoom:
Written:
None
Truth
None
Mayor Snow closed the public comment period.
Rsuadl-&z Councilmembers directed questions/comments to staff.
Mayor Snow noted two corrections to the proposed employment agreement: in Section 4(a)(l), the date is corrected from August 18,2029 to September 7,2029; and in the indemnification provision, the subparagraphs numbered"2" and "3" are corrected to "A" and "B," and the paragraph numbered "4" is corrected to "2." City Attorney Steinke confirmed the corrections would be made.
Action: Moved by Councilmember Altamirano, second by Mayor Pro Tem Heredia to adopt Resolution No. 2026 - 4216 approving the employment agreement with Tony Winney for the position of City Manager and authorizingthe Mayor to sign the agreement.
September r,2026 Regular City Council Meeting - Minutes Paee I 6
1.F
The motion passed by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Smith, Altamirano, Mendoza, Heredia
NOES: Snow
ABSENT: None
City Manager Winney provided remarks thanking the City Council and City staff.
Approval of Amendment No. I for the 3281 College Place Emergency Storm Drain Project with MJC Construction (No. 2026-19)
Item No. LF was pulled from the Consent Calendar by Councilmember Altamirano and was heard at this time.
Mayor Snow introduced the item by title. Public Works Director Murguia presented the staff report with City Engineer Ed Walton.
Mayor Snow opened the public comment period.
In Person:
YraZoom
Written:
None
None
None
Mayor Snow closed the public comment period.
Round I &2: Councilmembers directed questions/comments to staff.
Action: Moved by Mayor Snow, second by Mayor Pro Tem Heredia to adopt Resolution No. ZOZO - 4213 to: (l) authorize an appropriation of $400,000 from Fund 02 Gas Tax fund balance to the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Gas Tax capital expenditure budget line item; and (2) approve Amendment No. I to the contract with MJC Construction (No. 2026-19) for the :^Z^St Cottege Place Emergency Storm Drain Project in the amount of $350,000 and authorize the Interim City Manager to execute the amendment.3
The motion passed by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Smith, Altamirano, Mendoza, Heredia, Snow
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Citv Council Reports on Meetines Attended at the Expense of the Citv Councilmember Smith
. Reported that his committee assignments did not meet between the last City Council meeting and this meeting and had nothing to report.
Altamirano
. Plans to submit her report to the City Clerk in writing.
Councilmember Mendoza
. Reported that the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) and the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) were dark for the month and had nothing to report.
Regular City Council Meeting - Minutes Page I 7
September 1,2026
Mayor Pro Tem Heredia
. Nothing to rePort.
Mayor Snow
-.4uguStl8,2026:EastCountyChamberofCommerceGovernmentAffairsCommittee meeting.
. August 19,2026: East County Economic Development Council (ECEDC) meeting. . August 20,2026: Continuum of Care board retreat.
' August 21,2026: Lemon Grove Farmers Market'
. Attended Retirement event for Michael Bonelli.
. August 24,2026: Meeting with board members of the Lemon Grove Little League regarding the memorandum of understanding for field use' . August 31,2026: Interview with the Japan Times.
. Seplember 1, 2026: State and local officials webinar on North American trade and the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement review.
Mayor Snow also reported that on September 1,2026 the County of San Diego approved a $250,000 contribution to the East county revolving loan fund by a vote of 5-0.
Citv Manager's RePort
Ctt@portedthattheCityisenteringphasetwoofpublicoutreachonthe Downtown Specific Plalupdate and announced a public workshop on September 9,2026 at 6:00 p.m. at the Lemon Grove fibtury Community Room, at which the updated plan will be presented with the City's consultants. City Manager Winney also announced the Heartland Fire and Rescue annual haunted pancake breakfast on October 24,2026 at 8:00 a.m. at Fire Station 10, and stated that the date of the City'r trunk or treat event would be announced on the City's website and social media.
Closed Session
-tyntto*"ysteinkereadtheCouncilintoClosedSession.TheCounciladjournedtoC1osed Session at 8:30 p.m.
a. Conference with Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation (Government Code $549s6.9(d)(4)): 1 case.
b. Conference with Labor Negotiator (Govemment Code $54957'6): Agency Representative: Tony Winney, Interim City Manager, and Gena Burns, Burke, williams & s orensen, LLP ; Employee or ganization(s) : AFS CME Lo cal 127' Mayor Snow recused herself from Closed Session Item a.
Mayor Snow reconvened the meeting to open session at9:47 p.m. City Attorney Steinke reported out from Closed Session and announced that the City Council provided direction to staff on both items and that there was no reportable action.
Adiournment
fufuyot Sno* udjourned the Regular meeting at9:48 p.m., announced that the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 15,2026 at 6:00 p.m' Regular City Council Meeting - Minutes Page | 8
September 1,2026
G.
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Approved by the City Council on