Minutes
Santee City Council
Council Chamber - Building 2
10601 Magnolia Avenue
Santee, California
March 26, 2025
This Regular Meeting of the Santee City Council was called to order by Mayor John W.
Minto at 6:30 p.m.
Officers present: City Manager Marlene Best, Assistant City Attorney Tari Williams, and City Clerk James Jeffries.
INVOCATION was given by Eric King, Lakeside Christian Church.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was led by Eric King.
RECOGNITION: San Diego Regional Fire and Emergency Services Foundation and San Diego River Conservancy
Justin Matsushita, Fire Chief, presented Certificates of Recognition to the San Diego Regional Fire and Emergency Services Foundation and San Diego River Conservancy.
PROCLAMATION: Celebrating John Morley
Christopher George, Supervisor Joel Anderson's Office, County of San Diego, presented a Resolution to the Morley family; Mayor Minto and Councilmember Hall honored the family with a Proclamation, followed by heartfelt stories about John shared by the Council, audience members, and the Morley family; Mayor Minto also announced the meeting would be adjourned in John's memory
PRESENTATION: Waste Management ("WM") 2024 Year in Review Kristine Costa, Senior Account Manager, Waste Management, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions.
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 Meeting of February 26, 2025, Special Meeting of February 27, 2025, and Regular Meeting of March 12, 2025. (City Clerk - Jeffries) Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of March 26, 2025 Page 2 of 4 (3) Approval of Payment of Demands as Presented. (Finance - Jennings) (4) Approval of the Expenditure of $110,321.14 for February 2025 Legal Services. (Finance - Jennings)
(5) Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing the Expenditure of Funds for Emergency Repair of Fire Engine 4 (V178). (Fire - Matsushita) (Reso 030- 2025)
(6) Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of Three (3) Toro Zero-Turn Mowers, One (1) Toro Stand-On Aerator, and Add-On Items per Sourcewell Contract #112624-TTC from Western Mower & Engine in an Amount Not to Exceed $64,700.00. (Community Services - Chavez) (Reso 031-2025)
(7) Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing Submission of the General Plan and Housing Element Annual Progress Report for Calendar Year 2024 to the State of California's Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation and Department of Housing and Community Development and Finding the Action is Not a Project and Therefore Not Subject to the California Environmental Quality Act. (Planning and Building - Sawa) (Reso 032- 2025)
Action: Vice Mayor McNelis moved approval of the Consent Calendar.
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 (15 minutes):
(A) Brenda Hammond spoke about unity and shared a photo.
PUBLIC HEARING:
(8) Continued Public Hearing for a Tentative Parcel Map (TPM2020-1) and Development Review Permit (DR2020-1) for a Residential Subdivision Consisting of Four Single-Family Dwelling Units Located at 8732 Prospect Avenue in the Low-Medium Density Residential (R-2) Zone (Applicant: Palm Tree Investments). (Planning and Building - Sawa (Reso 033-2025 and 034-2025)
The Public Hearing was opened at 7:17 p.m. Christina Rios, Senior Planner, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions with the assistance of Tari Williams, Assistant City Attorney; Carl Schmitz, Engineering Director; Sandi Sawa, Planning and Building Director; Tricia Estrada, Palm Tree Investments; and Rick Alzaga, Palm Tree Investments.
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of March 26, 2025 Page 3 of 4 Public Speakers:
• Becky Kennedy
• Beth A. Atuatasi
Lacey Cornejo
Keith Koble
Tricia Estrada, Palm Tree Investments
Thomas Romero, Palm Tree Investments
• Rick Alzaga, Palm Tree Investments
Action: Vice Mayor McNelis 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 8:13 p.m.
NEW BUSINESS:
(9) Proposed "Accessible Santee Small Business Grant Program" Utilizing Certified Access Specialist Program Fees. (Planning and Building - Sawa)
Pam White, Economic Development Manager, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions with the assistance of Aaron Strum, Building Official; Sandi Sawa, Planning and Building Director; and Tari Williams, Assistant City Attorney.
Motion: After discussion, Councilmember Koval moved approval of staff recommendation; Vice Mayor McNelis seconded the motion with changes to the program as requested by Council, the amendment was accepted.
Action: The motion 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. (10) Resolution Amending the Management Services Agreement of the City Clerk and Authorizing the Appropriation of Funds to the Operating Budget. (Human Resources - Freeman) (Reso 035-2025)
Rida Freeman, Human Resources Director, provided a staff report Action: Vice Mayor McNelis 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):
None.
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of March 26, 2025 Page 4 of 4 CITY COUNCIL REPORTS:
Councilmember Koval spoke about her attendance at the Ethics in Business event hosted by the East County Chamber of Commerce; she also spoke about a meeting hosted by the City related to the progress on the FEMA grant that the City was awarded.
Councilmember Hall informed the community about the upcoming ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Grossmont Hospital Neuroscience Center; he also reported on a Transfer of Care meeting he attended.
Vice Mayor McNelis requested support for the Santee VFW's grant application to Supervisor Joel Anderson's Office.
Mayor Minto informed the community about the upcoming Mary's Donuts Santee 40th Anniversary event with a short video presentation.
CITY MANAGER REPORTS:
Marlene Best, City Manager, informed the community about upcoming events and a playground survey currently being conducted.
CITY ATTORNEY REPORTS:
None.
CLOSED SESSION:
Councilmembers recessed at 8:51 p.m. and convened in Closed Session at 8:54 p.m. (11) 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 9:24 p.m., with all members present.
Mayor Minto reported on Item 11 that direction was given.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:25 p.m. in memory of John Morley.
Date Approved: / April 9, 2025
James Jeffries, City Clerk