City Council Regular Meeting Action Minutes December 2, 2025
VALERIE VANDEVER, MAYOR
ALONSO LEDEZMA, MAYOR PRO TEM
CLARISA SANCHEZ, COUNCILMEMBER
PHIL AYALA, COUNCILMEMBER
CRYSTAL RUIZ, COUNCILMEMBER
ACTION MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE SAN JACINTO CITY COUNCIL
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2025
6:30 PM OPEN SESSION
LIVE STREAM LINK: https://vimeo.com/user115670369
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1. ORGANIZATION
Mayor Valerie Vandever called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
1.1.Roll Call
City Clerk Julia Espinoza conducted the roll call:
Present: Mayor Valerie Vandever, Mayor Pro Tem Alonso Ledezma, Councilmember Crystal Ruiz, and Councilmember Clarisa Sanchez
Remotely: Councilmember Phil Ayala
1.2. Invocation
Councilmember Ruiz gave the invocation.
1.3. Pledge of Allegiance
Lieutenant James Roy led the Pledge of Allegiance.
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City Council Regular Meeting Action Minutes December 2, 2025
1.4. Mayor/Council Reports
Councilmembers provided their reports
1.5. Late Items
There were no late items.
2. PUBLIC COMMENTS
There were three (3) public comments:
• Debbi Rex
• Matt McPherson
• Cathleen Scafani
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 November 18, 2025/City Clerk/Approved
3.A.3. Treasurer’s Report at September 30, 2025 /Finance/Approved
3.A.4. Authorizing Submittal of Application 2026-2027 Emergency Solutions Grant Program (ESG) /City Manager/Approved
M/S/C (Ayala/Sanchez) moved to approve the consent calendar. Motion carried 5/0.
Ayes: Ledezma, Ayala, Ruiz, Sanchez, Vandever
Nays: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
4. REORGANIZATION OF CITY COUNCIL
Councilmember Ayala made a motion to continue the City Council reorganization to the January 6, 2026, meeting, giving the current Mayor, Vandever, a full twelve months in office.
M/S/C (Ayala/Vandever) moved to push the City Council reorganization to January 6, 2026. Motion failed 2/3.
Ayes: Ayala, Vandever
Nays: Ledezma, Ruiz, Sanchez
Absent: None
Abstain: None
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City Council Regular Meeting Action Minutes December 2, 2025
Mayor Vandever called for nominations for Mayor:
Councilmember Sanchez made a motion to nominate Councilmember Ruiz for Mayor, did not receive a second.
Councilmember Ruiz made a motion to nominate Councilmember Ledezma.
Councilmember Ayala made an alternate motion to nominate himself as Mayor.
M/S/C (Ayala/Vandever) moved to appoint Councilmember Ayala as Mayor. Motion failed 2/3.
Ayes: Ayala, Vandever
Nays: Ledezma, Ruiz, Sanchez
Absent: None
Abstain: None
M/S/C (Ruiz/Ledezma) moved to appoint Councilmember Ledezma as Mayor. Motion failed 2/3.
Ayes: Ruiz, Ledezma
Nays: Sanchez, Ayala, Vandever
Absent: None
Abstain: None
Councilmember Sanchez made a motion to nominate herself as Mayor.
Councilmember Ayala made an alternate motion to nominate Councilmember Vandever as Mayor.
M/S/C (Ayala/Vandever) moved to appoint Councilmember Vandever as Mayor.
Motion failed 2/3.
Ayes: Ayala, Vandever
Nays: Sanchez, Ledezma, Ruiz
Absent: None
Abstain: None
M/S/C (Sanchez/Ruiz) moved to appoint Councilmember Sanchez as Mayor. Motion failed 2/3.
Ayes: Sanchez, Ruiz
Nays: Ledezma, Ayala, Vandever
Absent: None
Abstain: None
Councilmember Ledezma made a motion to nominate Councilmember Ruiz for Mayor.
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City Council Regular Meeting Action Minutes December 2, 2025
M/S/C (Ledezma/Vandever) moved to appoint Councilmember Ruiz as Mayor. Motion passed 4/1.
Ayes: Sanchez, Ledezma, Ruiz, Vandever
Nays: Ayala
Absent: None
Abstain: None
Mayor Vandever called for nominations for Mayor Pro Tem:
Councilmember Ayala made a motion to nominate himself as Mayor Pro Tem.
Mayor Pro Tem Ledezma made a motion to nominate Councilmember Sanchez as Mayor Pro Tem.
M/S/C (Ledezma/Ruiz) moved to appoint Councilmember Sanchez as Mayor Pro Tem.
Motion passed 4/1.
Ayes: Ledezma, Ruiz, Sanchez, Vandever
Nays: Ayala
Absent: None
Abstain: None
M/S/C (Ayala/Vandever) moved to appoint Councilmember Ayala as Mayor Pro Tem.
5. PUBLIC HEARING
5.1. Annexation of Territory commonly known as Esplanade Collection Tract 38872 into Community Facilities District No. 2020-1, Submitting the Levy of Special Tax to the Qualified Electors, Declaring Results of the Election, and Authorizing the Levy of Special Taxes for Annexation No. 19
Supervisor Finance Analyst Crystal Williamson presented the staff report.
Mayor Ruiz opened the Public Hearing at 7:20 p.m.
There was one public speaker:
• Terry Laened
Mayor Ruiz closed the Public Hearing at 7:25 p.m.
M/S/C (Ayala/Vandever) made a motion to adopt Resolution No. 4109, A Resolution of the City Council of San Jacinto, Authorizing the Annexation of Territory to Community Facilities District No. 2020-1, Authorizing the Levy of a Special Tax, and Submitting the Levy of a Special Tax to Qualified Electors. Motion carried 5/0.
Ayes: Vandever, Sanchez, Ayala, Ledezma, Ruiz
Nays: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
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City Council Regular Meeting Action Minutes December 2, 2025
City Clerk Julia Espinoza confirmed that the official ballot was received, and all votes were in favor of the proposition presented on the ballot.
M/S/C (Vandever/Ledezma) made a motion to adopt Resolution No. 4110, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of San Jacinto, Declaring the Results of a Special Annexation Landowner Election and Directing the Recording of an Amended Notice of Special Tax Lien for Community Facilities District No. 2020-1, Annexation No. 19. Motion carried 5/0.
Ayes: Sanchez, Ledezma, Vandever, Ayala, Ruiz
Nays: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
M/S/C (Ledezma/Vandever) made a motion to introduce Ordinance No. 25-13, An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of San Jacinto Authorizing the Levy of Special Taxes in a Community Facilities District, including certain Annexation Territory identified as Annexation No. 19 (Tax Zone No. 20), into San Jacinto Community Facilities District No. 2020-1. Motion carried 5/0.
5.2. Annexation of Territory into Community Facilities District 2003-1 (CFD 2003-1), Authorizing the Levy of Special Taxes, Submitting the Levy of Special Tax to the Qualified Electors, Declaring the Results of the Election, and Authorizing the Levy of Special Taxes for Annexation No. 75
Supervisor Finance Analyst Crystal Williamson presented the staff report.
Mayor Ruiz opened the Public Hearing at 7:30 p.m. There were no public speakers.
Mayor Ruiz closed the Public Hearing at 7:31 p.m.
M/S/C (Ledezma/Sanchez) made a motion to adopt Resolution No. 4111, A Resolution of the City Council of San Jacinto, Authorizing the Annexation of Territory to Community Facilities District No. 2003-1, Authorizing the Levy of a Special Tax, and Submitting the Levy of a Special Tax to Qualified Electors. Motion carried 5/0.
Ayes: Ledezma, Sanchez, Vandever, Ayala, Ruiz
Nays: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
City Clerk Julia Espinoza confirmed that the official ballot was received, and all votes were in favor of the proposition presented on the ballot.
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City Council Regular Meeting Action Minutes December 2, 2025
M/S/C (Vandever/Sanchez) made a motion to adopt Resolution No. 4112, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of San Jacinto, Declaring the Results of a Special Annexation Landowner Election and Directing the Recording of an Amended Notice of Special Tax Lien for Community Facilities District No. 2003-1, Annexation No. 75. Motion carried 5/0.
Ayes: Sanchez, Vandever, Ayala, Ledezma, Ruiz
Nays: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
M/S/C (Sanchez/Vandever) made a motion to introduce Ordinance No. 25-12, An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of San Jacinto Levying a Special Tax within City of San Jacinto Community Facilities District No. 2003-1, including certain Annexation Territory identified as Annexation No. 75 into San Jacinto Community Facilities District No. 2003-1. Motion carried 5/0.
Ayes: Vandever, Ayala, Ledezma, Sanchez, Ruiz
Nays: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
6. DISCUSSION ITEMS
6.1. Urgency Ordinance 25-14 – Relating to Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units
Deputy City Manager Travis Randel presented the staff report.
M/S/C (Ledezma/Vandever) made a motion to approve Urgency Ordinance No. 25-14, An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of San Jacinto repealing and replacing Section 17.405.060 of the San Jacinto Municipal Code relating to Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units to comply with recent changes in State Law and finding the action to be statutorily exempt from CEQA under Public Resources Code § 21080.17.
Motion carried 5/0.
Ayes: Ayala, Ledezma, Sanchez, Ruiz, Vandever
Nays: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
7. FUTURE REQUESTS FROM CITY COUNCIL TO CITY MANAGER
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City Council Regular Meeting Action Minutes December 2, 2025
8. ADJOURNMENT
With no further business before the City Council, Mayor Ruiz adjourned the meeting at 7:52 p.m. with a moment of silence in honor of two members of the West Virginia National Guard, Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, who were ambushed while conducting high-visibility patrols on November 25, 2025. Beckstrom was killed, and Wolfe was critically injured.
CITY OF SAN JACINTO:
____________________________
Crystal Ruiz, Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________
Julia Espinoza, City Clerk
Approved as read: December 16, 2025
Approved as amended:
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