Minutes
Santee City Council
Council Chamber - Building 2
10601 Magnolia Avenue
Santee, California
February 12, 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 Officers present: City Manager Marlene Best, City Attorney Shawn Hagerty and City Clerk James Jeffries
INVOCATION was given by Marshall Masser, Lakeside Christian Church PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was led by Sandi Sawa, Planning and Building Director PRESENTATION: Certificate of Recognition Celebrating Deputy Jabbour.
Councilmember Hall with the assistance of Mayor Minto presented the Certificate to Deputy Jabbour.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
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 Meeting Minutes of the Santee City Council for the Regular Meetings of November 13, 2024, December 11, 2024, January 8, 2025, and January 22, 2025, and the Special Meetings of November 12, 2024, and December 11, 2024. (City Clerk - Jeffries)
Approval of Payment of Demands as Presented. (Finance - Jennings) (4) Second Reading and Adoption 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 Clerk - Jeffries) (Ord 622)
(5) Adoption of a Resolution Prohibiting Parking of Vehicles Over Eight Feet in Height Between the Hours of 12:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. on Olive Lane. (Engineering - Schmitz) (Reso 008-2025)
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of February 12, 2025 Page 2 of 5 (6) Adoption of a Resolution Adopting the Second Amendment to the Santee- Lakeside Emergency Medical Services Authority Joint Exercise of Power Agreement. (Fire - Matsushita) (Reso 009-2025)
(7) Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing the Appropriation of Funds to Purchase Items in Preparation for the Transition to Parks and City Facilities Landscape and Custodial Park Services Supported by City Employees Beginning FY 2025/26. (Community Services - Chavez) (Reso 010-2025)
Action: Vice Mayor McNelis moved approval of the Consent Calendar.
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):
Adam Smosna, Santee Firefighters Association, discussed concerns regarding fire station infrastructure and staffing challenges.
PUBLIC HEARING:
(8) Public Hearing to Assess Community Development Needs and to Solicit Proposals for Program Year 2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Program Funding Consistent with the Consolidated Plan and Finding the Action is Not a Project Subject to the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"). (Planning and Building - Sawa) The Public Hearing was opened at 6:47 p.m. Bill Crane, Senior Management Analyst/Grant Coordinator, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions.
Public Speaker:
• Jared Hernandez, CSA San Diego Fair Housing
• Rebecca Rader, Voices for Children
Tonya V. Hendrix, Santee Santas
• Tim Ray, Meals on Wheels East County
• Kelcie Parra, Crisis House
• Dennis Martins, Santee Foodbank
Action: Vice Mayor McNelis moved approval of staff recommendation.
Councilmember Koval 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 continued to February 26, 2025, at 7:16 p.m.
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of February 12, 2025 Page 3 of 5 CONTINUED BUSINESS:
(9) Second 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) (Ord 623)
Shawn Hagerty, City Attorney, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions.
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.
NEW BUSINESS:
(10) Resolution Appropriating Funds for a Feasibility Study for the Future Construction of a Temporary Fire Station and Subsequent Permanent Fire Station at Woodglen Vista Park. (Fire - Matsushita) (Reso 011-2025) Justin Matsushita, Fire Chief, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions with the assistance of Marlene Best, City Manager, and Shawn Hagerty, City Attorney.
Action: Councilmember Hall moved approval of staff recommendation.
Councilmember Koval 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.
(11) Consideration of a Resolution Cancelling a Regular City Council Meeting in the Summer Months of July or August. (City Clerk - Jeffries) (Reso 012-2025)
James Jeffries, City Clerk, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions.
Action: Vice Mayor McNelis moved to cancel the July 23, 2025, City Council Meeting.
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.
(12) Proposal to Adopt the City Holiday Closure for 2025 and Future Years. (City Manager - Best)
Marlene Best, City Manager, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions.
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of February 12, 2025 Page 4 of 5 Action: Vice Mayor Minto 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.
NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT: (Continued)
(A) Dean Velasco discussed past improvements at Woodglen Vista Park and the potential impacts of either a temporary or permanent fire station at Woodglen Vista Park.
CITY COUNCIL REPORTS:
Mayor Minto stated he will be attending a League of California Cities Board meeting next week.
Councilmember Koval spoke about Chinese New Year decorations displayed throughout the community.
CITY MANAGER REPORTS:
Marlene Best, City Manager, informed the community about upcoming events.
CITY ATTORNEY REPORTS:
None.
CLOSED SESSION:
Councilmembers recessed at 8:39 p.m. and convened in Closed Session at 8:44 p.m. (13) Conference with Legal Counsel-Anticipated Litigation (Gov. Code section 54956.9(d) (4))
Initiation of litigation pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9: One case involving the property located at 11011 Collinwood Drive in Santee.
(14) Conference with Labor Negotiators
(Government Code Section 54957.6)
City Designated Representative: City Manager
Employee Organization: Santee Firefighters Association
Councilmembers reconvened in Open Session at 9:53 p.m. with all members present, Mayor Minto reported for Item 13 information was received and direction was given to legal counsel to initiate action, Item 14 direction given to staff.
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of February 12, 2025 Page 5 of 5 ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:54 p.m.
Date Approved: February 26, 2025