Minutes
Santee City Council
Council Chamber - Building 2
10601 Magnolia Avenue
Santee, California
January 22, 2025
This Regular Meeting of the Santee City Council was called to order by Mayor John W.
Minto at 6:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL: Present: Mayor John W. Minto, Vice Mayor Rob McNelis, and Councilmembers Ronn Hall, Laura Koval, and Dustin Trotter - 5 Dainer petrient: City Manager Marlene Best, City Attorney Shawn Hagerty and City Clerk INVOCATION was given by Jerry Phillips, Sonrise Church
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was led by James Jeffries, City Clerk PROCLAMATION: Shen Yun Performing Arts Day
Councilmember Koval presented the Proclamation to Jane Yang, San Diego Falun Dafa Association.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
James Jeffries, City Clerk, requested Item 5 be pulled for discussion. (1) Approval of Reading by Title Only and Waiver of Reading in Full of Ordinances and Resolutions on the Agenda. (City Clerk - Jeffries) (2) Approval of Payment of Demands as Presented. (Finance - Jennings) (3) Approval of the Expenditure of $83,472.40 for December 2024 Legal Services. (Finance - Jennings)
(4) Second Reading and Adoption of an Ordinance Amending Certain Sections of the Santee Municipal Code Title 12 "Subdivision of Land, Development Fees, and Dedications" and Chapter 12.30 "Development that the Actions are Exempt from
Environmental Review Under the California Environmental Quality Act. (City Clerk - Jeffries)
(5) Item Pulled for Discussion.
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of January 22, 2025 Page 2 of 5 (6) Adoption of a Resolution Accepting the Citywide Pavement Repair and Rehabilitation Program 2024 (CIP 2024-01) Project as Complete and the Action is Not a Project Subject to the California
Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") per State CEQA Guidelines Section 15378. (Engineering - Schmitz) (Reso 006-2025)
(7) Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing the Submittal of a Grant Application to the Federal RAISE (Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity) Grant Program for State Route 52 (SR 52) Improvements. (Engineering - Schmitz) (Reso 007-2025)
Action: Vice Mayor McNelis moved approval of the Consent Calendar and Agenda as amended.
Councilmember Hall seconded the motion, which carried by the following vote: Mayor Minto: Aye; Vice Mayor McNelis: Aye; and Councilmembers Hall: Aye; Koval: Aye; and Trotter: Aye. Ayes: 5. Noes: 0.
Item removed from the Consent Calendar:
(5) Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing the Submittal of a Grant Application to the County of San Diego for the Community Enhancement Program for FY 2024-2025 to Enhance Arts and Culture in Santee, Committing to Provide Matching Funds, and Approving the Partnership Between the City of Santee and County of San Diego. (Community Services - Chavez) (Reso 005-2025)
Public Speaker:
• Truth
Action: Vice Mayor McNelis moved approval of staff recommendation.
Councilmember Trotter seconded the motion, which carried by the following vote: Mayor Minto: Aye; Vice Mayor McNelis: Aye; and Councilmembers Hall: Aye; Koval: Aye; and Trotter: Aye. Ayes: 5. Noes: 0
NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT (15 minutes):
(A) Antonio Cabrera commented on recent fires and urged the Council to prioritize fire safety infrastructure and staffing.
(B) Truth shared her thoughts about car washes and battery energy storage facilities.
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of January 22, 2025 Page 3 of 5 PUBLIC HEARING:
(8) Public Hearing and Resolution for General Plan Amendment (GPA2019-4) to Update the Safety Element of the Santee General Plan and Adoption of a Negative Declaration (AEIS2019-8) Under the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"). (Planning and Building - Sawa) (Reso 008-2025) The Public Hearing was opened at 6:56 p.m. Christina Rios, Senior Planner, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions with the assistance of Justin Matsushita, Fire Chief; Carl Schmitz, Engineering Director; Shawn Hagerty, City Attorney; Marlene Best, City Manager; and Kelsey Hawkins, Harris & Associates.
Public Speaker:
• Truth
After Council comments, Mayor Minto gave direction to staff to bring item back after further review, ensuring that all questions are answered, and any necessary definitions or clarifications are provided.
The Public Hearing was closed at 7:58 p.m.
(9) Public Hearing and Introduction and First Reading of an Amendment to an Urgency Ordinance Enacting an Essential Housing Program to Boost Housing Production and Improve Housing Affordability in Order to Achieve the Goals Set Forth in the City's Housing Element (Sixth Cycle:
2-21-2029) and Determining the Amendment Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act. (City Attorney - Hagerty)
The Public Hearing was opened at 7:58 p.m. Shawn Hagerty, City Attorney, provided a staff report.
Action: Councilmember Koval moved approval of staff recommendation.
Councilmember Hall seconded the motion, which carried by the following vote: Mayor Minto: Aye; Vice Mayor McNelis: Aye; and Councilmembers Hall: Aye; Koval: Aye; and Trotter: Aye. Ayes: 5. Noes: 0
The Public Hearing was closed at 8:00 p.m.
NEW BUSINESS:
(10) City Council Policy on Annexation Policy Direction. (Planning and Building - Sawa)
Sandi Sawa, Planning and Building Director, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions with the assistance of Carl Schmitz, Engineering Director; Shawn Hagerty, City Attorney; and Marlene Best, City Manager.
The Council received the report and provided feedback and direction to staff.
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of January 22, 2025 Page 4 of 5 (11) Pavement Maintenance Workshop FY 2025-26 and Finding the Action is Not a Project Subject to the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"). (Engineering - Schmitz)
Carl Schmitz, Engineering Director, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions with the assistance of Toby Espinola, Senior Civil Engineer and Steve Miller, Principal Civil Engineer.
The Council received the report and provided feedback and direction to staff. (12) Proposal to Consider Transitioning Contract Landscaping and Custodial Services in Area 1 to Services Supported by City Employees. (Community Services - Chavez)
Nicolas Chavez, Community Services Director, introduced the Item and Trey Robak, Office Assistant, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions with assistance of Sam Rensberry, Public Services Manager, and Heather Jennings, Finance Director.
The Council received the report and provided feedback and direction to staff. (13) First Reading of an Ordinance Adding Chapter 7.19 to Title 7 of the Santee Municipal Code to Prohibit Trespass on Private Property and Business Premises. (City Attorney - Hagerty)
Shawn Hagerty, City Attorney, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions with the assistance of Aldo Hernandez, Santee Sheriff's Captain.
Action: Mayor Minto moved approval of staff recommendation.
Vice Mayor McNelis seconded the motion, which carried by the following vote: Mayor Minto: Aye; Vice Mayor McNelis: Aye; and Councilmembers Hall: Aye; Koval: Aye; and Trotter: Aye. Ayes: 5. Noes: 0
(14) Report on New Laws Enacted in 2024 Relevant to Santee. (City Attorney - Hagerty)
Shawn Hagerty, City Attorney provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions.
Public Speaker:
• Truth
The Council received the report.
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of January 22, 2025 Page 5 of 5 NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT: (Continued)
None.
CITY COUNCIL REPORTS:
Councilmember Koval announced that she was appointed to the Air Pollution Control District (APCD) board and that she attended a League of California Cities meeting as an alternate.
Councilmember Trotter spoke about meeting with the San Diego County River Conservancy and the risk of losing grant funds.
Vice Mayor McNelis spoke about a recent success for the Heartland Fire Training Facility, finding a new vendor to build training structures.
Mayor Minto stated he will be attending a League of California Cities Board meeting next month and that he was appointed as 2nd Vice Chair of SANDAG.
CITY MANAGER REPORTS:
Marlene Best, City Manager, informed the community about upcoming events.
CITY ATTORNEY REPORTS:
None.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:02 p.m.
Date Approved: February 12, 2025