City Council Regular Meeting Action Minutes October 15, 2024
PHIL AYALA, MAYOR
VALERIE VANDEVER, MAYOR PRO TEM
ALONSO LEDEZMA, COUNCILMEMBER
BRIAN HAWKINS, COUNCILMEMBER
CRYSTAL RUIZ, COUNCILMEMBER
ACTION MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL – REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2024
6:30 PM OPEN SESSION
LIVE STREAM LINK: https://vimeo.com/user115670369
COMMUNITY CENTER
625 S. PICO AVENUE
SAN JACINTO, CA 92583
951-487-7330
1. ORGANIZATION
Mayor Phil Ayala called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
1.1.Roll Call
City Clerk Julia Espinoza conducted the roll call:
Present: Mayor Phil Ayala, Mayor Pro Tem Valerie Vandever, Councilmember Brian Hawkins, and Councilmember Alonso Ledezma
M/S/C (Ayala, Hawkins) to excuse Councilmember Crystal Ruiz for being tardy. Motion carried 4/0.
Ayes: Ledezma, Hawkins, Vandever, Ayala
Nays: None
Absent: Ruiz
Abstain: None
1.2. Invocation
Mayor Pro Tem Vandever gave the invocation.
1.3. Pledge of Allegiance
Councilmember Ledezma led the Pledge of Allegiance.
City Council Regular Meeting Action Minutes October 15, 2024
1.4. Special Presentation
1.4.1. Hispanic Heritage Month
1.4.2. Proclamation in Support of Proposition 36, the Homeless, Drug Addiction, and the Theft Reduction Act
Councilmember Ruiz joined the meeting at 6:40 pm.
1.5. Mayor/Council Member Reports
Councilmembers provided their reports.
1.6. Late Items
There were no late items.
2. PUBLIC COMMENTS
There were seven (7) public comments:
• Alicia Marquez (written)
• Esther Applesne
• Michael J Siordia
• Deidra Hampton
• Sonia Lamas
• Veronica Damian-Hawkes
• Marcy Aguilar
3. CONSENT CALENDAR
3.A. Consent Calendar - City Council
3.A.1. Waiver of Full Reading of Ordinance(s), and Reading by Title Only
3.A.2. Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting of October 1, 2024/City Clerk/Approved
3.A.3. Warrants and Disbursements – September 2024/Finance/Approved
3.A.4. Treasurer’s Report at August 31, 2024/Finance/Approved
3.A.5. Resolution No. 4044 – Resolution of Intention to Annex Territory into Community Facilities District 2020-1 and to Authorize the Levy of Special Taxes Therein/Finance/Approved
3.A.6. Resolution No. 4045 – Resolution of Intention to Annex Territory into Community Facilities District 2003-1 and to Authorize the Levy of Special Taxes Therein/Finance/Approved
City Council Regular Meeting Action Minutes October 15, 2024
3.A.7. Parcel Map 38245/Engineering/Approved
M/S/C (Ledezma/Vandever) to approve the remainder of the Consent Calendar. Motion carried 5/0.
Ayes: Vandever, Ledezma, Ruiz, Hawkins, Ayala
Nays: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
4. DISCUSSION ITEMS
4.1. Discussion and Direction on Cannabis Tax Rate
Finance Director Erika Gomez presented the staff report.
There were twenty-nine (29) public comments:
• Jasmine Becker (written)
• Maisara Rahman (written)
• Breanna Romero (written)
• Sam Shaheen (written)
• Barry Mulcock(written)
• Ellie Mulcock (written)
• Angelica Chavez-Olivo (written)
• Valerie Ray (written)
• Darleen McClean (written)
• Adriana Romero (written)
• Mia Saldana (written)
• Karen Oquita (written)
• Mariah Salcedo (written)
• Aide Salvador (written)
• Michael Siordia
• William Hendriksen
• Fatima Rahman
• Aylla Z.
• Kathy Robinson
• Shadee Rahman
• Ryan Hibert
• Alah Rahman
• Anai Vieyra
• Andrew Green
• Adam Tostado
• Sonia Lamas
• Steve DiMemmo
• Boomer Shannon
• Travis McClean
City Council Regular Meeting Action Minutes October 15, 2024 Councilmember Ledezma made a motion for the Cannabis tax to retain the existing 15% Retail Cannabis Business Tax. Motion failed 2/2.
Ayes: Ledezma, Ruiz
Nays: Hawkins, Ayala
Absent: None
Abstain: Vandever
Councilmember Hawkins made a motion to adopt a resolution that would reduce the Cannabis Business Tax on microbusinesses and dispensaries to 8%, as well as adding a cap on dispensaries. The resolution includes an effective date of January 1, 2025. Motion failed 2/2.
Ayes: Hawkins, Ayala
Nays: Ledezma, Ruiz
Absent: None
Abstain: Vandever
Councilmember Ledezma made a motion to adopt a resolution that would reduce the Cannabis Business Tax on microbusinesses and dispensaries to 13%. The resolution includes an effective date of January 1, 2025. Motion failed 2/3.
Ayes: Ledezma, Ruiz
Nays: Vandever, Hawkins, Ayala
Absent: None
Abstain: None
M/S/C (Vandever/Hawkins) made a motion to adopt a resolution that would reduce the Cannabis Business Tax on microbusinesses and dispensaries to 10%. The resolution includes an effective date of January 1, 2025. Motion carried 3/2.
Ayes: Vandever, Hawkins, Ayala
Nays: Ledezma, Ruiz
Absent: None
Abstain: None
Councilmember Ledezma left the meeting at 9:53 pm.
City Council Regular Meeting Action Minutes October 15, 2024
4.2. Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem Rotation Policy Options
City Attorney presented the staff report.
There were seven (7) public comments:
• Fatima Rahman
• Steve Dimemmo
• Ryan Hibert
• Shadee Rahman
• Veronica Damian-Hawkes
• Michael Siordia
• Sonia Lamas
• Boomer Shannon
M/S/C (Hawkins/Ayala) made a motion to amend the City’s mayoral rotation policy by adopting Resolution No. 4042, approving that after the 2024 election, the council will appoint the current Mayor Pro Tem as Mayor and the most senior member of the City Council as Mayor Pro Tem, and then the selection process would default to a rotational system. Motion carried 3/1.
Ayes: Vandever, Hawkins, Ayala
Nays: Ruiz
Absent: Ledezma
Abstain: None
5. FUTURE REQUESTS FROM CITY COUNCIL TO STAFF
6. ADJOURNMENT
With no further business before the City Council, Mayor Ayala adjourned the meeting at 10:30 p.m.
CITY OF SAN JACINTO:
____________________________
Phil Ayala, Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________
Julia Espinoza, City Clerk
Approved as read:
City Council Regular Meeting Action Minutes October 15, 2024 Approved as amended: