MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE LEMON GROVE CITY COUNCIL
LEMON GROVE LIBRARY - COMMUNITY ROOM
3001 scHool, LANE, LEMON GROVE, CA 91945
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15' 2026 AT 6:00 P.M.
Call to Order
fr4uyor etyrron Snow convened the Regular City Council meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. held in person and via Zoom (Telephonic / Electronic Means).
Roll Call
prer"nt'. tvtayor Alysson Snow, Mayor Pro Tem Jessyka Heredia, Councilmember Seth Smith, Councilmember Jennifer Mendoza, Councilmember Yadira Altamirano.
Absent: None
Staff Present
City Munuger Tony Winney, City Attorney Kristen Steinke, Deputy City Attorney Tim Campen, City Clerk Joel G. Pablo, Finance Director Shanta Wilson, Public Works Director lzzyMurgvia, Community Development Manager Michael Fellows, Public Works Operations and Administration Manager Tom Martin, Heartland Fire and Rescue Fire Chief Bent Koch; and San Diego County Sheriff s Office Lieutenant Patrick Fox.
Pledse of Allesiance
The Assembly recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
Chanses to the Aoenda
City Clerk Pablo stated there were no changes to the agenda.
City Manager Winney requested that Item No. 1.H be removed from the agenda to allow staff additional time to refine the agenda report and stated that the item would be brought back at a future meeting.
Presentations
ng3tottr"rr eig Sisters - California Violence Intervention and Prevention Grant Participation I Sarah Beth Cooper, Big Brothers Big Sisters
Sarah Beth Cooper, Califomia Violence Intervention and Prevention (CalVIP) Project Coordinator with Big Brothers Big Sisters presented on the organization's one-to-one youth mentoring program, the process for enrolling youth and volunteers, the organization's local impact and its participation in the CaIVIP grant program.
Councilmembers provided comments and thanked Ms. Cooper for the presentation. o
a
a
Public Comment
Mayor Snow opened the public comment period'
John L. Wood
Aline King
LauraMonteverde
In Person:
September 15,2026 Regular City Council Meeting - Minutes Pagel2 Mayra Mancilla
Jay Bass
Chelsea Gastelum
Yasmin Mendoza
YiaZoom: Truth
Madison
Becky Rapp
Written: Truth
During the comment provided viaZoomby Truth, Mayor Snow paused the speaker's time and issued a first and second warning pursuant to Lemon Grove Municipal Code Section 2'14'150 for remarks directed to an individual Councilmember rather than to the City Council as a body.
Mayor Snow closed the public comment period.
In response to public comment, City Manager Winney stated that staff would follow up with Ms.
King regarding speeding on Eldora Street and Ensenada Street, asked that she provide her contact information to Public Works Director Murguia and stated that he would follow up with Lieutenant Fox regarding enforcement options in that area.
City Manager Winney also responded regarding the commercial vehicles parked on Golden Avenue, stated that staff and the Sheriff s Department have investigated the location and issued citations, that the Sheriff s Department would continue to follow up on complaints, that the City could consider adding signage on the street and invited the speakers to contact Lieutenant Fox before leaving the meeting.
Mayor Snow requested that an item regarding a potential e-bike ordinance and speed-related regulations be agendized following action by the Govemor on Senate Bill 1167 (Blakespear).
Consent Calendar
Mayor Snow opened the public comment period.
In Person:
Yia Zoom:
Written:
None
None
None
Mayor Snow closed the public comment period.
Action: Moved by Councilmember Mendoza, second by Mayor Snow to approve Consent Calendar Item Nos. 1.A through 1.G.
The motion passed by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Smith, Altamirano,Mendoza,Heredia, Snow
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
1.A Waive the Futt Text Reading of All Ordinances on the Agenda September 15,2026 Regular City Council Meeting - Minutes Page | 3
1.C
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 August 21,2026 to September 3,2026.
Approval of City Council Meeting Minutes
Action: Approved the minutes of the following City Council meetings: July 28,2026 (Special Meeting of the City Council and the Lemon Grove School District), September 1, 2026 (Regular Meeting) and September 1, 2026 (Special Meeting).
1.D Acceptance and Notice of Completion - Davidson Ave Storm Drain Improvement Project (No. 2026-09)
Action: Adopted Resolution No. 2026 - 4217 accepting the Davidson Ave Storm Drain f-prou.-.nt Project (No. 2026-09) by A. Vidovich Construction as complete; authorizing the City Manager or designee to file a Notice of Completion with the County of San Diego; authorizing staff to release retention in the amount of $6,937.05 no sooner than thirty (30) days after the Notice of Completion is filed; releasing the Merchants Bonding Company Payment Bond in the amount of $139,106.72; andretaining the Merchants Bonding Company Performance Bond for a period of one year.
Award of Agreement (No. 2026-05) to GM Ptumbing Corporation, DBA International City Plumbers for As-Needed Plumbing Services
Aciion: Adopted Resolution No. 2026 - 4218 approving an agreement (No. 2026-05) with Ctf,t pt.r-Uing Corporation, DBA International City Plumbers for as-needed plumbing services in an amount not-to-exceed $75,000 and authorizingthe City Manager to negotiate, execute, and manage all project documents.
Award of a Purchase Order to Western Door for the Replacement of Exit Doors at the Recreation Center
Action: Adopted Resolution No. 2026 - 4219 approving a Purchase Order to Western Door ir th" amount of $16,927 for the replacement of an emergency exit door at the Recreation Center and authorizingthe City Manager, or designee, to execute the Purchase Order and related documents necessary to implement the project.
Continuation of Emergency Procurement Actions for Emergency Storm Drain Repairs Near 3281 College Place - Update 9 (4/5th Vote Required) Action: Adopted Resolution No. 2026 - 4220 by the required four-fifths vote for the continuance of emergency repairs to the storm drain system near 3281 College Place.
Side Letters of Agreement with American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 127 Bargaining Units and Employee Salary Adjustments Removed from the agenda at the request of the City Manager. The item will be brought back at a future meeting.
1.E
1.F
1.G
1.H
Public Hearins - None
Reports to Council
September 15,2026 Regular City Council Meeting - Minutes Paee | 4
2. 3.
Award of Agreement (No. 2026-23) to CR Associates for the Connect Main Street Phases 2 and 3 Design Services Project
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:
Chelsea Gastelum
Truth
None
Mayor Snow closed the public comment period.
Round l: Councilmembers directed questions/comments to staff.
Round 2: Councilmembers directed questions/comments to staff.
Action: Moved by Mayor Snow, second by Councilmember Mendoza to adopt Resolution No. ZOZO - 4222 approving a budget adjustment in the amount of $74,000 to the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Sundry Grants (Fund 08) budget line items "ATP Connect Main St. Ph2 & 3" (08- 00-00-4602) and "ATP Connect Main St Ph2 & 3 Exp" (08-00-00-1255); approving an agreement (No. 2026-23) with CR Associates for engineering and design services for Connect Main Street Phases 2 and 3 in an amount not-to-exceed $373,893; and authorizing the City Manager or designee to execute all agreement documents.
City Attorney Steinke asked Mayor Snow to confirm the amount stated in the motion and Mayor Snow confirmed the amount to be authorized is $373,893.
The motion passed by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Mendoza, Altamirano, Smith, Heredia, Snow
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Council Initiated ltem - Discussion on Term Limits for Mayor and Councilmembers Mayor Snow introduced the item by title and called on Councilmember Altamirano and Councilmember Mendoza to introduce the item.
Councilmember Altamirano stated that she had wanted to bring the item forward for some time and that she had discussed it with City Manager Winney during his first week as Interim City Manager. Altamirano had previously understood term limits could be implemented as a Council policy but now understands the matter must go to the voters. Councilmember Altamirano stated that the item is not directed at any individual who serves or has served on the City Council, that a number of cities in San Diego County have term limits, and that the community has expressed interest in the subject.
Councilmember Mendoza stated that she supports term limits and had offered to support Councilmember Altamirano in bringing the item forward, that she understood the matter September 15,2026 Regular City Council Meeting - Minutes Page | 5 would need to be placed on the ballot and that she had asked whether the discussion could be postponed to a later date.
City Manager Winney presented the staff report.
Mayor Snow opened the public comment period
In Person:
Yia Zoom
Written:
Chelsea Gastelum
Richard Hammett
None
None
Mayor Snow closed the public comment period.
City Manager Winney clarified that no vote was expected and that the matter would need to be 6rought back to the City Council seated in late 2027 or early 2028 for direction including whetheito hold public workshops and whether to place a measure on the ballot for the 2028 general municipal election.
City Attorney Steinke added that the process for placing a measure on the ballot includes a discussion item, feedback from the City Council and the public and the drafting of an ordinance that would then be placed on the ballot for a vote of the public.
Council Preferences:
Mayor Snow: Not opposed to term limits, but unwilling to support the cost of placing a -*r.,t" on the ballot unless the measure is brought forward by the community, as occurred with a pior citizens' initiative that qualified for the ballot; noted that the City has had steady tumover and that voting serves as a natural term limit.
Mayor Pro Tem Heredia: Option 4 or Option 5, the lifetime limit options; supports bringing the matter to the public through a workshop so that residents have time to weigh in.
Counsilmember Mendoza: A limit of three four-year terms, combined across offices regardless of the seat held; noted that Lemon Grove has historically had one Mayor who served approximately 20 years and one Councilmember who served approximately 18 years, but that ihe voters have elected one or two new Councilmembers nearly every election cycle, and that the lengthy tenures of the members of the County Board of Supervisors prompted her interest in the subject.
Councilmember Altamirano: Option 2,two consecutive terms with a break and would also support a lifetime limit of two terms for both the Mayor and Councilmember offices; stated ttraf the City should not campaign for or against a measure or bear campaign costs, and that former officials can continue to mentor others and remain involved in the community.
Councilmember Smith: A lifetime limit of three four-year terms applied collectively to the Mayor and Councilmember offices and, as a second preference, two consecutive four-year terms with a break of six years; suggested that apartial term be counted by rounding to the nearest full term, so that apartial term of less than two years would not count; stated that a September 15,2026 Regular City Council Meeting - Minutes Page | 6 campaign would not be necessary and that the experience of a former Councilmember is not necessarily lost at the end of a term, citing the appointment of former Councilmember Jerry Jones as the City's representative to the wastewater board.
General Direction: The City Council expressed general support for establishing term limits for the Mayor and Councilmembers, with the exception of Mayor Snow, who supports term limits only if a measure is brought forward by the community. No consensus was reached on a specific term limit structure; preferences expressed ranged from two consecutive terms with a break to a lifetime limit of three four-year terms, with support expressed for applying any limit collectively across the Mayor and Councilmember offtces. The City Council also expressed general support for public outreach, including a community workshop before any -"ur.tr" is brought forward and general agreement that the City should not campaign for or against a measure.
Specific Direction: Councilmember Mendoza requested that staff note the interest and aitectio" expressed by the current City Council for the consideration of the future City Council which would make the final decision.
City Manager Winney stated that staff would summaizethe comments provided at this rn.Ltitrg and include that summary in any future item brought before the City Council seated in late 2027 or early 2028.
Mayor Snow stepped away from the dais at7:55 p.m. during this item and Mayor Pro Tem Heredia presided. Mayor Snow returned to the dais at 8:02 p.m.
Action: No action was taken. The item was presented for discussion only.
Citv Council Reports on Meetings Attended at the Expense of the Citv Councilmember Smith
. Reported that his committee assignments had not met since the last City Council meeting and that he would attend the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) Board meeting on Thursday and report at the next City Council meeting.
. Noted: Following Mayor Snow's report I That the San Diego Food Bank distribution center is a LEED certified building and that the City's food distribution receives product from that distribution center.
Councilmember Altamirano
. September 4,2026: East County Chamber of Commerce First Friday Breakfast meeting, held at the Cuyamaca College campus.
. September 14,2026: Staff briefing on the Downtown specific Plan. . September 15, 2026: Meeting with a business owner and Mayor Pro Tem Heredia, regarding support for a pilot program at the Recreation Center serving youth ages 12 to
17. Councilmember Mendoza
. September 11, 2026: San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) Board of Directors meeting as an alternate.
. September 14,2026: Staff briefing on the Downtown Specific Plan.
September 15,2026 Regular CiE Council Meeting - Minutes Page | 7 Mavor Pro em Heredia
September 2,2026: Helix Water District Board meeting'
September 11,2026: SANDAG meeting as alternate with Councilmember Mendoza, September 14,2026: Staff briefing on the Downtown Specific Plan with Councilmember Smith, City Manager Winney and City staff.
September 15,2026: Meeting with a business owner, with Councilmember Altamirano, regarding pilot program funding through a public-private partnership.
League of California Cities tour of the San Diego Food Bank. a
a
a
a
a
Mayor Snow
. September 2,2026: Meeting with a business owner regarding sign regulations. . September 5, 2026: McAlister Institute Run for Recovery. . September 9, 2026: SANDAG briefing on SR-125 and I-15. . September 14, 2026: League of California Cities event including a tour of the San Diego Food Bank.
. September 14,2026: Downtown Specific Plan briefing.
Mayor Snow also recognized Labor Day and the workers of the Lemon Grove community and recognized the 21thuntrirr.trury of September 1 l, 2001 honoring first responders and the memory of those who lost their lives.
Citv Manager's Report
City Manager Winney reported on the following:
o Downtown Specific Plan: Individual briefings were held with the City Council this week on the Downtown Specific Plan, the vision document that will guide development and investment in the downtown area for the next 20 years. The presentation from the public workshop held the prior week, the revised and updated draft plan, and a means to submit "o-*"ni, are avallable on the project page on the City's website. The plan will move to the Planning Commission later this month.
o Emergency Preparedness: September is Emergency Preparedness Month and staff is meeting every two weeks to prepare for storms anticipated this season. Preparedness information will continue to be posted on the City's website and social media. o Storm Water Infrastructure: Since January 2024, the City has completed 14 storm drain improvement projects valued at over $4 million funded by Measure T. The College Place storm water improvement project currently underway is valued at just over $1 million, and staff has videoed over 3,000linear feet of storm drain lines to assess their condition.
Six additional projects are on the horizon, three of which are in design and nearing completion. city Manager winney thanked Public works staff. 29th Annual tv Bonfire: December 4,2026 from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. a o Heartland Fire Annual Community Breakfast: October 2026. councilmember Altamirano asked the city Manager for the following:
September 15,2026 Regular City Council Meeting -Minutes Page | 8 o An update on the hiring process for the code enforcement officer. o what can be done regarding vehicles parking at Lemon Grove Park. o A presentation from the Sheriff s Department regarding the Troy Street Study.
City Attorney Steinke advised that brief updates are appropriate but that an item requiring discussion should be agendized before it is discussed.
City Manager Winney responded as follows:
o No existing study has been conducted by the County as it pertains to law enforcement coverage for that facility. Councilmember Altamirano requested that the matter be agendized and the request was supported by Mayor Pro Tem Heredia. o Staff can reach out to the County regarding communication with participants in the safe parking program about the impacts of their presence in the park on residents. o The hiring process for the code enforcement officer position has not yet moved forward and the position will most likely be posted early next year.
Closed Session
Ctty Att"-.y Steinke read the Council into Closed Session. The Council recessed to Closed Session at 8:32 p.m.
a. Conference with Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation (Government Code $s49s6.9(d)(4)): 1 case.
Mayor Snow reconvened the meeting to open session at9z04 p.m with all Councilmembers present.
City Attorney Steinke reported out from Closed Session and announced that the City Council provided direction to staff and that there was no reportable action.
Adiournment
Mayor Snow adjourned the Regular meeting at 9:05 p.m. and announced that the next regularly City Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 6,2026 at 6:00 p.m. , City Clerk
Grove
Approved by the City Council on October 6,2026
J
Ci