April 7, 2026, Item #2
AGENDA REPORT Cit yof Poway
DATE:
TO:
FROM:
April 7, 2026
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
Carrie Gallagher, City Clerk ~
(858) 668-4535 or [email protected]
CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT: Approval of the January 20, 2026 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Summary
The City Council Meeting Minutes submitted hereto for approval are:
• January 20, 2026 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 January 20, 2026 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes.
Public Notification:
None.
Attachments:
A. January 20, 2026 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Reviewed/Approved By:
Assistant City Manager
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Reviewed By:
Alan Fenstermacher
City Attorney City Manager
ATTACHMENT A2 of 7 April 7, 2026, Item #2
CITY OF POWAY
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
January 20, 2026
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: Peter De Hoff, Christopher J. Pikus, Jenny Maeda, Steve Vaus STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:
City Manager Chris Hazeltine; 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; Lieutenant Colin Hebeler, San Diego County Sheriff's Office. (Note: Hereinafter the titles Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Councilmember, 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, City Attorney/Counsel, City Clerk/Secretary and Director of Finance/Finance Officer.) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Deputy Mayor Maeda led the Pledge of Allegiance.
MOMENT OF SILENCE:
Mayor Vaus led a moment of silence.
PRESENTATIONS:
None.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Jim Bunner congratulated the Poway High School Cheer team on their CIF achievements and voiced his support while promoting their upcoming national competition.
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Tony Rubino expressed his appreciation to City staff for the successful Winter Festival event and for their efforts to accommodate the special-needs community.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
Motioned by Mayor Vaus, seconded by Councilmember Pikus to approve Consent Calendar Items 1 through 3. Motion carried 4/0 by the following roll-call vote:
Ayes:
Noes:
Abstained:
Absent:
De Hoff, Pikus, Maeda, Vaus
None
None
None
Disqualified: None
1. Approval of Reading by Title Only and Waiver of Reading in Full of Ordinances on this Agenda
2. Approval of the November 4, 2025 Special and Regular City Council Meeting Minutes and November 7, 2025 Special City Council Meeting Minutes
3. Annual Investment Policy Review
ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION:
None.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
4. Public Hearing for Proposed Five-Year Water, Recycled Water, and Wastewater Rates Mayor Vaus opened the Public Hearing at 7:05 p.m.
Director of Finance Craig Schmollinger presented the item along with a PowerPoint presentation. He provided an update on the Indirect Cost Allocation Plan (Plan), noting it was initiated as part of the Fiscal Year 2024-25 Finance workplan and referenced in the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget. He explained the Plan distributes shared costs among benefiting enterprise funds rather than assigning full positions or departments to a single fund. The results were incorporated into the water and sewer cost-of-service studies, with minimal impact to the water enterprise and reduced costs to the sewer enterprise.
Mr. Schmollinger reviewed proposed pass-through provisions which allow agencies to pass through wholesale cost increases with 30 days' written notice to customers. He noted 21 of 22 water providers in San Diego County use similar provisions. The proposed mechanisms would remain in effect through 2030 and apply to wholesale water purchases from the San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA), recycled water purchases from the City of San Diego, and wastewater treatment costs from the San Diego Metro Joint Powers Authority (JPA), all of which are outside the City's control.
Water rate design was discussed, including recent court rulings challenging tiered volumetric structures. Staff recommended adopting a uniform volumetric rate as a more equitable and legally defensible approach, confirming compliance with Proposition 218 cost-of-service principles. Key rate drivers were outlined, including wholesale water costs from the SDCWA,
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pumping energy from San Diego Gas & Electric, capital improvement and Water Infrastructure Program projects, operations and maintenance, and debt service obligations.
Proposed water revenue adjustments from the cost-of-service study include a 9.9% revenue increase effective January 2026, followed by 4.0% annual increases from January 2027 through January 2030. He noted 2027-2030 rates do not include future pass-through or CPI adjustments.
Wastewater rate drivers were also reviewed, with treatment and disposal costs from the San Diego Metro JPA identified as the primary factor. Proposed wastewater adjustments include no revenue increase in January 2026 or January 2027, followed by 3.0% annual increases in January 2028, January 2029, and January 2030. A combined household impact analysis was presented for reference.
Mr. Schmollinger summarized the Proposition 218 timeline and noted Year 1 rates would become effective immediately, with subsequent annual adjustments effective January 1 of each year through 2030.
Public Comment:
Jim Bunner spoke in opposition to Item #4.
Yuri Bohlen spoke neutrally on Item #4.
End of Public Comment.
Mayor Vaus closed the Public Hearing at 7:22 p.m.
City Clerk Gallagher announced that 59 total protests were received which does not constitute a majority protest. She also confirmed that zero (0) written objections were submitted.
Council discussed the proposed annual increases, highlighting cost drivers including wholesale water rates, infrastructure investment, and inflationary pressures. Council also reviewed the balance between fixed and commodity charges, reserve levels, bond ratings, and regional rate comparisons, emphasizing transparency in the rate study process and stating the proposal is intended to maintain safe, reliable service and fiscal stability.
Responding to Council questions, staff clarified the prior wholesale pass-through adjustment was a one-time action to address costs exceeding forecasts and explained any future pass throughs would require notice. Staff further explained the proposed percentages include all projected City and wholesale costs and represent not-to-exceed amounts; any increase beyond those levels would require a Proposition 218 process. Staff also noted legal limitations on subsidizing one customer class with rate revenue from another and referenced available external assistance programs.
Council acknowledged the difficulty of rate increases and expressed support for the proposal as a measured approach to maintaining long-term service reliability and financial stability.
Deputy Mayor Maeda motioned to amend the proposed rate structure to reduce the bi monthly water meter service charge for single-family customers by 25% and increase the per-unit commodity charge by 12%. Motion failed due to lack of a second.
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Motioned by Councilmember De Hoff, seconded by Councilmember Pikus to: consider any protests, objections and responses; adopt Resolution No. 26-001 entitled "A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Poway, California, Establishing Water Service Charges and Rates per Section 13.11.120 of the Poway Municipal Code"; and Resolution No. 26-002 entitled "A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Poway, California, Establishing Sewer Service Charges and Rates per Section 13.03.010 of the Poway Municipal Code" if a majority protest does not exist. Motion carried 3/1 by the following vote:
Ayes:
Noes:
Abstained:
Absent:
Disqualified:
De Hoff, Pikus, Vaus
Maeda
None
None
None
5. General Plan Amendment 25-0001 and Zone Change 25-0001: a Request to Change the General Plan Land Use Designation and Zoning Classification of Parcels, or Portions Thereof, to the Open Space-Resource Management or Natural Open Space Zoning Designation at Various Locations Citywide and Determine the Project is Categorically Exempt from CEQA Mayor Vaus opened the Public Hearing at 7:51 p.m.
Assistant Planner Jasmine Sanchez presented the item along with a PowerPoint presentation.
She noted this action represents a key milestone toward implementing the Pathway Subarea Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), adopted by the City Council in 1996 to preserve threatened and endangered plant and animal species and their habitats across approximately 13,000 acres, covering more than half of the City.
Ms. Sanchez explained the HCP requires land under a Biological Conservation Easement (BCE) to be rezoned as Open Space Resource Management (OS-RM) to reflect its permanent preservation status. She confirmed all 32 parcels identified in the Agenda Report are located within HCP boundaries and this action would result in more than 311 acres being rezoned for permanent preservation. She further noted property owners developing land within the HCP area are required to mitigate any loss of natural habitat, ensuring that the protected land remains undeveloped in the future.
For 25 of the parcels, only the portions of the property under BC Es would be rezoned to OS RM, while the remaining areas would continue to be zoned residential, preserving existing development rights. The remaining parcels have been acquired by the City for habitat preservation resulting in approximately 205 acres being rezoned to OS-RM. Ms. Sanchez highlighted examples including 165 acres on Van Dam Peak and 39 acres on Twin Peaks, which would remain as open space in their natural condition.
She concluded the combination of BCEs and City-acquired parcels has established a large, contiguous open space area, reflecting the City's substantial progress in building the preserve and advancing the goals of the HCP.
Public Comment:
None.
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End of Public Comment.
Mayor Vaus closed the Public Hearing at 7:55 p.m.
Council highlighted the City's continued expansion of open space holdings, noting approximately 50 percent of the City's land area is preserved as open space and the addition of 311 acres reflects long-term planning and stewardship. Council stated the action supports preservation for future generations and expressed support for securing the property as open space.
Responding to Council questions regarding whether the proposed zoning would trigger Proposition FF voter requirements for any future rezoning, staff indicated that was likely and clarified the properties are already restricted by easements and not developable.
Motioned by Mayor Vaus, seconded by Councilmember De Hoff to: approve Resolution No. 26-003 entitled "A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Poway, California, Amending the Land Use Element of the General Plan of the City of Poway, General Plan Amendment 25-0001 "; make the determination the project is categorically exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as a Class 8 Categorical Exemption, pursuant to Section 15308 of the CEQA Guidelines. This project also qualifies under the "common sense" exemption set forth in CEQA Guidelines 15061(b)(3), because it can be seen with certainty that it has no possibility of resulting in a significant impact on the environment; and introduce Ordinance No. 879 entitled "An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Poway, California, Changing the Zoning Classification of Certain Properties to Open Space Resource Management (OS-RM) or Natural Open Space (OS) (ZC 25-0001 )" for first reading by title only, waive further reading, and schedule the adoption of the Ordinance for the February 3, 2026 Regular City Council meeting. Motion carried 4/0 by the following vote:
Ayes:
Noes:
Abstained:
Absent:
Disqualified:
STAFF REPORTS:
None.
WORKSHOPS:
None.
De Hoff, Pikus, Maeda, Vaus
None
None
None
None
COUNCIL-INITIATED ITEMS:
None.
COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS and ANNOUNCEMENTS: Pursuant to AB1234 -(G.C. 53232(d))
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Councilmember De Hoff reported having dinner with City fire personnel, he thanked Fire Chief Mitchell and described the visit as an educational opportunity to observe operations firsthand . He noted firefighters responded to an emergency call during his visit and encouraged residents to follow the recommendation and guidance of paramedics', expressing appreciation for their professionalism.
Mayor Vaus reported attending the annual Poway Senior Volunteer Patrol breakfast and highlighted the group's extensive service to the community over the past year. He expressed appreciation for the volunteers' continued support of the Sheriff's Department and fire services, recognizing their significant contribution to public safety.
CITY MANAGER ITEMS:
None.
CITY ATTORNEY ITEMS: (Including any public report of any action taken in closed session) None.
CLOSED SESSION:
None.
ADJOURNMENT:
The meeting was adjourned at 8:02 p.m.
Carrie Gallagher, CMC
City Clerk
City of Poway, California