Minutes
Santee City Council
Council Chamber - Building 2
10601 Magnolia Avenue
Santee, California
April 23, 2025
This Regular Meeting of the Santee City Council was called to order by Vice Mayor McNelis at 6:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL: Present: Vice Mayor Rob McNelis, and Councilmembers Ronn Hall and Dustin Trotter - 3. Excused: Mayor John W. Minto and Councilmember Laura Koval - 2.
Officers present: City Attorney Shawn Hagerty and City Clerk James Jeffries INVOCATION was given by Jeremy Chan - Foothills Christian Church PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was led by Gary Halbert
PRESENTATION: 22nd District Agricultural Association's Fairgrounds 2050 Zach MacQuarrie with Southwest Strategies Group presented a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions.
PROCLAMATION: Arbor Day 2025
Vice Mayor McNelis presented the Proclamation to SPARC Chair Dean Velasco.
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 April 9, 2025, and the District 4 Town Hall Special Meeting of April 17, 2025. (City Clerk - Jeffries)
(3) Approval of Payment of Demands as Presented. (Finance - Jennings) (4) Approval of the Expenditure of $93,759.19 for March 2025 Legal Services. (Finance - Jennings)
(5) Adoption of a Resolution Approving the City of Santee Investment Policy and Delegating Authority to the City Treasurer. (Finance - Jennings) (Reso 040-2025)
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of April 23, 2025 Page 2 of 4 (6) Adoption of a Resolution Initiating Proceedings and Ordering the Preparation of an Engineer's Report for the FY 2025-26 Santee Landscape Maintenance District Annual Levy of Assessments. (Finance - Jennings) (Reso 041-2025)
(7) Adoption of a Resolution Initiating Proceedings and Ordering the Preparation of an Engineer's Report for the FY 2025-26 Town Center Landscape Maintenance District Annual Levy of Assessments. (Finance - Jennings) (Reso 042-2025)
(8) Adoption of a Resolution Initiating Proceedings and Ordering the Preparation of an Engineer's Report for the FY 2025-26 Santee Roadway Lighting District Annual Levy of Assessments. (Finance - Jennings) (Reso 043-2025)
(9) Adoption of a Resolution Accepting the Public Improvements for the Walker Trails Subdivision Project (TM2016-1) as Complete and Finding this Acceptance is Not a California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") Project. Location: Northwest of the San Diego River and Magnolia Avenue. (Engineering - Schmitz) (Reso 044-2025)
(10) Adoption of a Resolution Accepting the Public Improvements for the Popeye's Chicken Project (P2021-1) as Complete and Finding this Acceptance is Not a California Environmental Quality Act ("'CEQA") Project. Location: 10308 Mission Gorge Road. (Engineering - Schmitz) (Reso 045-2025)
(11) Adoption of a Resolution to Authorize an Amendment to Increase the Contract Value of the Existing Professional Services Agreement with Ebbin Moser + Skaggs, LLP for Additional Services Related to the Santee Multiple Species Conservation Program Subarea Plan, Environmental Assessment, Environmental Impact Report and Implementing Agreement. (Planning and Building - Sawa) (Reso 046-2025) (12) Adoption of a Resolution Acknowledging Receipt of a Report Made by the Fire Chief in Accordance with Section 13146.4 of the California Health and Safety Code (Annual Fire Inspection Compliance Report). (Fire - Matsushita) (Reso 047-2025)
Action: Councilmember Trotter moved approval of the Consent Calendar.
Councilmember Hall seconded the motion, which carried by the following vote: Vice Mayor McNelis: Aye; and Councilmembers Hall: Aye; and Trotter: Aye. Ayes: 3. Noes: 0.
Absent: Mayor Minto and Councilmember Koval - 2.
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of April 23, 2025 Page 3 of 4 NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENTS (15 minutes):
(A) Brenda Hammond commented on how kind the community is to the local seniors. (B) Carl Costantino commended Councilmember Trotter on his Town Hall meeting for District 4; he also requested a Town Hall meeting for District 2.
PUBLIC HEARING:
(13) Public Hearing to Review the Draft Program Years 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan and Program Year 2025 Annual Action Plan; this Item is Exempt from Environmental Review Under the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") by Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3). (Planning and Building - Sawa) (Reso 048-2025)
The Public Hearing was opened at 6:46 p.m. Brittany Gores, Senior Management Analyst, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions with the assistance of Sandi Sawa, Planning and Building Director.
Action: Councilmember Hall moved approval of staff recommendation.
Councilmember Trotter seconded the motion, which carried by the following vote: Vice Mayor McNelis: Aye; and Councilmembers Hall: Aye; and Trotter: Aye. Ayes: 3. Noes: 0.
Absent: Mayor Minto and Councilmember Koval - 2.
The Public Hearing was closed at 6:52 p.m.
NEW BUSINESS:
(14) Resolution Appointing an Interim City Manager and Approving Employment Agreement. (City Council) (Reso 049-2025)
Rida Freeman, Human Resources Director, provided a report and responded to Council questions with comments from Gary Halbert.
Action: Councilmember Hall moved approval of staff recommendation.
Councilmember Trotter seconded the motion, which carried by the following vote: Vice Mayor McNelis: Aye; and Councilmembers Hall: Aye; and Trotter: Aye. Ayes: 3. Noes: 0.
Absent: Mayor Minto and Councilmember Koval - 2.
NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT: (Continued)
None.
CITY COUNCIL REPORTS:
Councilmember Trotter provided an update from his Town Hall for District 4.
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of April 23, 2025 Page 4 of 4 Vice Mayor McNelis reminded the community of the upcoming Lakeside Rodeo and parade.
CITY MANAGER REPORTS:
None.
CITY ATTORNEY REPORTS:
None.
CLOSED SESSION:
Councilmembers recessed at 6:57 p.m. and convened in Closed Session at 7:00 p.m. (15) 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 7:27 p.m., with all members present.
Vice Mayor McNelis reported on Item 15 direction was given.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:28 p.m.
Date Approved: May 14, 2025