June 3, 2025, Item #2AGENDA REPORT CityofPoway DATE: TO: FROM: June 3, 2025 Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council Carrie Gallagher, City Clerk (858) 668-4535 or [email protected] CITY COUNCIL SUBJECT: Approval of the March 18, 2025 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Summary The City Council Meeting Minutes submitted hereto for approval are: • March 18, 2025 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes The Poway City Council sits as the Poway Planning Commission, the Poway Housing Authority, the Public Financing Authority, and the Successor Agency to the Poway Redevelopment Agency. Recommended Action: It is recommended the City Council approve the March 18, 2025 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes. Public Notification: None. Attachments: A. March 18, 2025 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Reviewed/Approved By: ✓~:if. ~ WerH:laserman Assistant City Manager 1 of 7 Reviewed By: Alan Fenstermacher City Attorney e City Manager
June 3, 2025, Item #2ATTACHMENT ACITY OF POWAY CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES March 18, 2025 City Council Chambers 13325 Civic Center Drive, Poway, California (Per Government Code 54953) (Meeting Called to Order as City Council/City of Poway Planning Commission/Poway Housing Authority/Public Financing Authority and Successor Agency to the Poway Redevelopment Agency) CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Vaus called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL: Present: Tony Blain, Jenny Maeda, Christopher J. Pikus, Peter De Hoff, Steve Vaus STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: City Manager Chris Hazeltine; Assistant City Manager Wendy Kaserman; City Attorney Alan Fenstermacher; City Clerk Carrie Gallagher; Director of Development Services Julie Procopio; Director of Finance Craig Schmollinger; Director of Human Resources and Risk Management Jodene Dunphy; Director of Public Works Eric Heidemann; Director of Community Services Audrey Denham; Fire Chief Brian Mitchell; Captain Claudia Delgado, Sheriff's Department. (Note: Hereinafter the titles Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Councilmember, City Manager, Assistant City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk and Director of Finance shall be used to indicate Mayor/Chair, Deputy MayorNice Chair, Councilmember/Director, City Manager/Executive Director, Assistant City Manager/Assistant Executive Director, City Attorney/Counsel, City Clerk/Secretary and Director of Finance/Finance Officer.) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Deputy Mayor De Hoff led the Pledge of Allegiance. MOMENT OF SILENCE: Mayor Vaus led a moment of silence. PRESENTATIONS: None. PUBLIC COMMENT: Karen Boyle requested the installation of a water station and warning signs relating to dog safety at the Iron Mountain Trail Head. 2 of 7
June 3, 2025, Item #2City of Poway -Minutes -March 18, 2025 Joe St. Lucas spoke in support of the newly installed shade structures at Adobe Ridge Park and commented on Global Recycling Day. Anita Anders spoke in support of City Management, she presented the City with a gift from the Blue-Orange map collection which included a personal description of Poway. Dale Davis provided updates on fire prevention efforts and called attention to fire risks. Anita Edmondson spoke regarding Councilmember Blain's conduct and announced efforts to recall the councilmember. John Couvrette spoke regarding Councilmember Blain's conduct and announced efforts to recall him. John Mullin spoke regarding Councilmember Blain's poor behavior and announced efforts to recall the councilmember. Vanessa Springett spoke regarding Councilmember Blain's conduct and called for his resignation. Chris Cruse commented on pre-development conferences between the City and developers. Frida Brunzel/ commented on her efforts to recall Deputy Mayor De Hoff. CONSENT CALENDAR: Motioned by Mayor Vaus, seconded by Councilmember Pikus to approve Consent Calendar Items 1 through 6. Motion carried 5/0 by the following roll-call vote: Ayes: Noes: Abstained: Absent: Disqualified: Blain, Maeda, Pikus, De Hoff, Vaus None None None None 1. Approval of Reading by Title Only and Waiver of Reading in Full of Ordinances on this Agenda 2. Adoption of Resolution No. 25-004, Authorizing the Award of Agreement to Roof Construction Chambers Inc. for Public Facilities Renovation Roofing Replacement at the Nelson House in Old Poway Park, and Transfer of Funds 3. Award of Agreement to UniFirst Corporation for Uniform, Laundering and Related Services Utilizing Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing Program Contract No. 011124 4. Acceptance of the Poway Road Safety Improvements Project with DBX, Inc., as Complete 5. Adoption of Resolution No. 25-005, Approving Minor Personnel Adjustments in the Department of Development Services 6. General Plan Implementation Annual Progress Report for 2024 3 of 7
June 3, 2025, Item #2City of Poway -Minutes -March 18, 2025 ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION: None. PUBLIC HEARINGS: None. STAFF REPORTS: 7. Appointments to the Budget Review Committee and Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Mayor Vaus presented the item. He noted the following nominations to serve on the Budget Review Committee: Mayor Vaus selected: Phil Rath -One Year Term Deputy Mayor De Hoff selected: Steven Bauman -Two Year Term Councilmember Maeda selected: Chris Olps -Two Year Term Councilmember Pikus selected: Alec Huettinger -Two Year Term The following individuals were nominated to serve on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee: Mayor Vaus selected: Sherry Bravo -Two Year Term Deputy Mayor De Hoff selected: Nick Carruthers -Two Year Term Councilmember Blain selected: Janice Schock-Two Year Term Councilmember Maeda selected: Juliet Vasel-Phillips -Two Year Term Councilmember Pikus selected: Gregg Brandalise -Two Year Term Public Comment: None. 4 of 7
June 3, 2025, Item #2City of Poway-Minutes -March 18, 2025 End of Public Comment. Council discussion ensued. Council thanked the applicants, noting the number and quality of applications submitted for both committees. Motioned by Mayor Vaus, seconded by Deputy Mayor De Hoff to 1) appoint Steven Bauman, Chris Olps and Alec Huettinger to each serve two-year terms and Phil Rath to serve a one-year term on the Budget Review Committee; and 2) appoint Sherry Bravo, Nick Carruthers, Janice Schock, Juliet Vasel-Phillips and Gregg Brandalise to each serve two-year terms on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee. Motion carried 5/0 by the following vote: Ayes: Noes: Abstained: Absent: Disqualified: Blain, Maeda, Pikus, De Hoff, Vaus None None None None 8. City Council Waiver of Privilege Re Communications with Councilmember Blain regarding Remote Meeting Participation City Attorney Alan Fenstermacher presented the item. Mr. Fenstermacher stated the item is a consideration and recommendation to waive privilege of certain emails. He explained the emails in question have been provided privately to City Council for review, and if the waiver is approved, an index of the emails will be publicly posted on the website and released. Mr. Fenstermacher briefly discussed the nature of the privileged emails, explaining the communications are between the City Attorney's office and Councilmember Blain regarding remote participation in City Council meetings in the event of an Army deployment. He added, the City Attorney's Office responded to the Councilmember's questions and discussed the rules for remote participation as established by California Government Code (the Brown Act). Some of those privileged email communications were made public on Councilmember Blain's website, claiming the City Attorney and City Council were attempting to remove Councilmember Blain from Council due to his deployment. Mr. Fenstermacher noted requests from Council, including Councilmember Blain, to agendize this item and to consider the waiver, he stated the City Attorney's office supports the recommendation. He cautioned discussion of the email contents stating discussion should not proceed without Council's explicit approval to waive privilege. Mr. Fenstermacher noted attorney-client privilege is joint and held collectively by City Council, and no individual councilmember can waive privilege or release privileged information without the majority approval of Council. Public Comment: None. End of Public Comment. 5 of7
June 3, 2025, Item #2City of Poway -Minutes -March 18, 2025 Council discussion ensued. Councilmember Blain stated he did not make the request to release the emails. Council noted they did not find any evidence to substantiate accusations made by Mr. Blain in the emails. Discussion ensued about the value of attorney-client privilege and the importance of maintaining its protection. Council further addressed the conduct of Councilmember Blain, citing instances of threats and intimidation directed at City staff and fellow Councilmembers, along with repeated violations of the City's Code of Ethics, Municipal Code, and the Brown Act. Motioned by Deputy Mayor De Hoff, seconded by Mayor Vaus to waive attorney-client privilege regarding all communications between Councilmember Blain and the City Attorney's office regarding remote appearances at City Council meetings, and for all communication between Councilmember Blain and the City Attorney's office that occurred on March 11, 2025 as described in the staff report and associated index attached to the staff report. Motion carried 4/1 by the following vote: Ayes: Maeda, Pikus, De Hoff, Vaus Noes: Blain Abstained: None Absent: None Disqualified: None WORKSHOPS: None. COUNCIL-INITIATED ITEMS: None. COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS and ANNOUNCEMENTS: Pursuant to AB1234 -(G.C. 53232(d)) Councilmember Blain discussed local volunteering opportunities. I Councilmember Pikus announced the upcoming 'Sweep the Trails' volunteer event tentatively scheduled for Saturday, May 17, 2025. The volunteer event is an opportunity for the community to clean and maintain Poway's trails. Mayor Vaus announced upcoming City events including the Poway Chamber of Commerce 12th Annual Mickey Cafagna Golf Tournament to be held on April 4, 2025 and the Poway Firefighters Foundation Charity Golf Tournament taking place on April 7, 2025. CITY MANAGER ITEMS: None. CITY ATTORNEY ITEMS: (Including any public report of any action taken in closed session) None. 6 of 7
June 3, 2025, Item #2City of Poway -Minutes -March 18, 2025 CLOSED SESSION: 9. City Conference Involving a Joint Powers Agency (Metro Wastewater Joint Powers Authority) Conference with Legal Counsel -Significant Exposure to Litigation (Gov. Code 54956.9(d)(2)) -One potential matter Name of Local Agency Representative on Joint Powers Agency Board: Councilmember Peter De Hoff Other Attendees: City Manager, City Attorney, Counsel for Metro Wastewater Joint Powers Authority 10. Public Employee Performance Evaluation -Government Code §54957(b)(1) Title: City Attorney 11. Public Employee Performance Evaluation -Government Code §54957(b)(1) Title: City Manager Mayor Vaus requested Councilmember Blain recuse himself from participating in Items #10 and #11, citing prior comments and actions directed at the employees under evaluation. Mr. Blain declined the request. ADJOURNMENT: Mayor Vaus recessed the Regular City Council meeting into Closed Session at 8:08 p.m. The meeting was adjourned at 10:10 p.m. 7 of 7 Carrie Gallagher, CMC City Clerk City of Poway, California