CITY OF POWAY
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
August 19, 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 (via teleconference), 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 Community Services Audrey Denham; Fire Chief Brian Mitchell; Captain Claudia Delgado, San Diego County Sheriff's Office . (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 .
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City of Poway-Minutes -August 19, 2025
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Scott Jirik shared concerns over the proposed development at O Oorathea Terrace and advocated for Council to consider land preservation instead.
Barbara Diederichs requested the City streamline the solar permitting process for Poway residents and questioned if the City was in compliance with SB 379, the Residential Solar Permit Reporting program.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
Motioned by Deputy Mayor De Hoff seconded by Mayor Vaus to approve Consent Calendar Items 1 through 5. 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. Approval of the May 20, 2025 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes
3. City's Investment Report as of June 30, 2025
4 . Award of Contract to Econolite Systems , Inc ., for the Traffic Signal Video Detection Upgrades Project, Bid No . 26-001 , and Determination the Project is Categorically Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act
5. Award of Agreement to Dudek for As-Needed Environmental and Biological Monitoring Services for the Hazardous Tree Mitigation Grant Program (Phase 2 of FEMA DR-4382-199- 12), RFP No . 26-002
ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION:
6 . Ordinance to Amend Poway Municipal Code Chapter 3.28 Regarding the Award and Execution of Contracts
Director of Finance Craig Schmollinger presented the item along with a PowerPoint presentation . Mr. Schmollinger explained the proposed amendments reflect the operational needs of the City and are consistent with state procurement standards, internal budget alignment, and best practices. He emphasized these changes are intended to maintain adequate checks and balances in the City's procurement processes.
Public Comment:
None
End of Public Comment.
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City of Poway -Minutes -August 19, 2025
Motioned by Mayor Vaus, seconded by Councilmember Pikus to introduce Ordinance No. 876 entitled "An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Poway, California, Amending Chapter 3.28 of the Poway Municipal Code Regulating the City's Formal Bidding Procedure, and Award and Execution of Purchasing Contracts" for first reading by title only, and schedule the second reading and adoption of the Ordinance for the September 16, 2025 Regular City Council Meeting. Motion carried 5/0 by the following vote:
Ayes:
Noes:
Abstained:
Absent:
Disqualified:
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
Blain, Maeda, Pikus, De Hoff, Vaus
None
None
None
None
7. Minor Conditional Use Permit 24-0001, a Request to Approve Existing Lighting to a Recreational Court (Pickleball) for a Single-Family Residence Located at 13607 Via Serena (APN 275-271-15)
Mayor Vaus opened the Public Hearing at 7:12 p.m.
Assistant Planner Jazmin Sanchez presented the item along with a PowerPoint presentation.
Public Comment:
None .
End of Public Comment.
Mayor Vaus closed the Public Hearing at 7 :16 p.m.
Motioned by Deputy Mayor De Hoff, seconded by Mayor Vaus to adopt Resolution No. 25-041 entitled "A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Poway, California, Approving Minor Conditional Use Permit 24-0001 Assessor's Parcel Number 275-271-
15." Motion carried 5/0 by the following roll-call vote:
Ayes:
Noes:
Abstained:
Absent:
Disqualified:
STAFF REPORTS:
None.
WORKSHOPS:
None .
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Blain, Maeda, Pikus, De Hoff, Vaus
None
None
None
None
City of Poway -Minutes -August 19, 2025
COUNCIL-INITIATED ITEMS:
None.
COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS and ANNOUNCEMENTS: Pursuant to AB1234 -(G.C. 53232(d))
City Attorney Fenstermacher reminded Councilmembers that with a recall election now on the ballot, any form of campaigning during Council meetings is a violation of state law and added, Council, Committee Reports and Announcements agenda item cannot be used for campaign- related activities.
Councilmember Blain stated several residents have recently contacted him regarding the recall election, adding he respects the electoral process and the right of voters to decide. He discussed engaging with residents and reported the most common concern raised was the continued rise in water rates.
Discussion ensued between Mayor Vaus , Councilmember Blain , and City Attorney Fenstermacher regarding whether constituent concerns related to the recall election constituted campaigning . Mr. Fenstermacher advised again against making campaign-related statements during Council meetings.
Councilmember Blain spoke regarding public safety, local volunteer patrols and assisting neighborhoods in organizing local Neighborhood Watch programs.
Councilmember Maeda requested Council consensus for the following :
Councilmember Maeda initiated a future agenda item regarding ridgeline development approval process, including possible directions to amend the current administrative review process. Approved 5/0.
Discussion ensued and City Manager Hazeltine stated, following review, staff would return to Council with a report of their findings at a future City Council meeting .
Deputy Mayor De Hoff shared the importance of responding to public records requests in a timely fashion.
Mayor Vaus commented on the Volunteer Dinner held on Thursday, August 14, 2025 at Old Poway Park . The event honored and celebrated the contributions of Poway's volunteers. He thanked City staff for organizing the event and recognized the many volunteers who serve the Poway community.
CITY MANAGER ITEMS:
Responding to Public Comment, City Manager Hazeltine confirmed the City is in compliance with the on demand solar permitting process, SB 379.
CITY ATTORNEY ITEMS: (Including any public report of any action taken in closed session) None.
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City of Poway -Minutes -August 19, 2025
CLOSED SESSION:
None.
ADJOURNMENT:
The meeting was adjourned at 7:26 p.m.
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Carrie Gallagher, CMC
City Clerk
City of Poway, California