Minutes
Santee City Council
Council Chamber - Building 2
10601 Magnolia Avenue
Santee, California
May 28, 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.
Officers present: Interim City Manager Gary Halbert, City Attorney Shawn Hagerty and City Clerk James Jeffries
INVOCATION was given by Kevin Miller - Foothills Christian Church PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was led by Vice Mayor McNelis
ADJOURNMENT IN MEMORY: Paul Berghoff
Vice Mayor McNelis presented the Adjoumment in Memory certificate to Bill Berghoff who shared some memories of his father.
ADJOURNMENT IN MEMORY: Jerry Park
Vice Mayor McNelis presented the Adjournment in Memory certificate to Sharon Park and shared some memories of Jerry.
RECOGNITION: Santana High School Students Ben Siekert and Abraham Espino Vice Mayor McNelis presented Certificates of Recognition to Ben Siekert and Abraham Espino gold and silver winners at the SkillsUSA California State Leadership and Skills Conference, Collision Repair Technology event; he also presented a Proclamation to Ben Sikura Auto Body Teacher at Santana High School who praised the award winners and shared information about the program.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
(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 $114,150.29 for April 2025 Legal Services. (Finance - Jennings)
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of May 28, 2025 Page 2 of 6 (4) Adoption of a Resolution Ratifying the City Manager's Approval of the Third Amendment to the Contract with Countywide Mechanical Systems, Inc. for Emergency Plumbing Repairs at Fire Station #4 and As-Needed Plumbing Maintenance Services Through FY 2024-25. (Community Services - Chavez) (Reso 064-2025)
(5) Adoption of a Resolution Awarding Eight On-Call Professional Service Agreements to Qualified Planning and Environmental Services Firms and Authorize the City to Award Task Orders. (Planning and Building - Sawa (Reso 065-2025)
(6) Adoption of a Resolution Modifying the Position Title of the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) Manager from Hazard Mitigation Project Manager to Emergency Manager - HMGP Project Manager. (Fire/Human Resources - Wallace/Freeman) (Reso 066-2025) (7) Acceptance and Appropriation of FY 2024 Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) Grant Training Funds for Training Reimbursement. (Fire - Wallace)
(8) Adoption of a Resolution to Extend Contract with Life-Assist, Inc. for the Purchase of Emergency Medical Services Supplies on an As-Needed Basis per National Purchasing Partners dba NPPGov Contract #PS20180. (Fire - Wallace) (Reso 067-2025)
Action: Councilmember Hall moved approval of the Consent Calendar.
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.
NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENTS (15 minutes):
(A) Brenda Hammond spoke about the upcoming local summer concerts. (B) Carl Costantino asked questions about the upcoming Palisade project and inquired how notifications for the project were sent out.
PUBLIC HEARING:
(9) Resolution Adopting a List of Projects for Fiscal Year 2025-26 Funded by Senate Bill 1: the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017. (Engineering - Schmitz) (Reso 068-2025)
Mayor Minto left the dais at 7:01 p.m. The Public Hearing was opened at 7:01 p.m.
Brittany Gohres, Senior Management Analyst, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions.
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of May 28, 2025 Page 3 of 6 Action: Councilmember Koval moved approval of staff recommendation.
Councilmember Trotter seconded the motion, which carried by the following vote: Mayor Minto: Absent; Vice Mayor McNelis: Aye; and Councilmembers Hall: Aye; Koval: Aye; and Trotter: Aye. Ayes: 4. Noes: 0. Absent: 1.
The Public Hearing was closed at 7:03 p.m.
(10) Public Hearing for Tentative Map TM-2024-0003 and Development Review Permit DR-2024-0005 for a Multi-Family Residential Development Consisting of 52 Units and Related Site Improvements on a 2.63 Gross Acre Parcel Located at 7737 Mission Gorge Drive (APN 386-701-02) in a High Residential (R-22) Zone and General Plan Land Use Designation and Finding the Project Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act Pursuant to the Class 32 Infill Exemption. (Applicant: KB Homes). (Planning and Building - Sawa) (Reso 069-2025 and 070-2025) The Public Hearing was opened at 7:04 p.m. Mayor Minto returned to the dais at 7:06 p.m. Austin Silva, Contract Planner, with 4Leaf, Inc., provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions with the assistance of John Abboud, KB Homes.
Public Speaker:
• Dwayne Patenande
Jessica Palmer
• Corrie
• Brooke Miller, Sheppard Mullin
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 7:38 p.m.
CONTINUED BUSINESS:
(11) Approve Amendment to Cannabis Retail Business Application Process. (City Attorney - Hagerty)
Shawn Hagerty, City Attorney, provided a staff report and responded to Council questions.
Action: Councilmember Trotter 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.
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of May 28, 2025 Page 4 of 6 (12) Feasibility Study for the Construction of a Fourth Fire Station in Northeast Santee - Staff Update on Progress. (Fire - Wallace)
Harley Wallace, Interim Fire Chief, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions with the assistance of Gary Halbert, Interim City Manager.
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.
(13) Second Reading and Adoption of an Ordinance Amending Chapter 2.40 of the Santee Municipal Code Pertaining to Election Campaign Finance and Control. (City Clerk - Jeffries) (Ord 625)
James Jeffries, City Clerk, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions.
Action: Mayor Minto moved approval of staff recommendation and directed staff to bring back information related to a separate contribution limit for Mayor and contributions allowed by businesses.
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.
NEW BUSINESS:
(14) Resolution Determining a Distillery to be a Permitted Use in the Industrial Districts on the Basis of Similarity to Uses Specifically Listed. (Planning and Building - Sawa) (Reso 071-2025)
Madeline Mattson, Principal Planner, provided a PowerPoint presentation.
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.
(15) Presentation of the Proposed Capital Improvement Program for Fiscal Years 2026-2030. (City Manager/Finance - Halbert/Jennings) Heather Jennings, Finance Director, Carl Schmitz, Engineering Director, and Nicholas Chavez, Community Services Director, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions with the assistance of Steve Miller, Principal Civil Engineer.
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of May 28, 2025 Page 5 of 6 Public Speaker:
• Carl Costantino
After discussion, Council provided direction and feedback to staff.
NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT (Continued):
None.
CITY COUNCIL REPORTS:
Councilmember Hall spoke about future budget problems projected at MTS.
Councilmember Koval requested the City Attorney keep up to date on SB 569.
Councilmember Trotter thanked American Legion Post 364 of Santee for changing out the American flag at the Veteran's Memorial on Memorial Day.
Vice Mayor McNelis shared his experience judging the Miss Santee Pageant; he also thanked American Legion Post 364 of Santee for changing the American Flag; and he wished Councilmember Koval happy birthday and Councilmember Trotter happy belated birthday.
Mayor Minto spoke about the recent SANDAG retreat he attended.
CITY MANAGER REPORTS:
Gary Halbert, Interim City Manager, shared his excitement to work with the City Council and City staff.
CITY ATTORNEY REPORTS:
None.
CLOSED SESSION:
Councilmembers recessed at 8:59 p.m. and convened in Closed Session at 9:07 p.m.
Councilmember McNelis recused himself from Closed Session on Item 18 due to conflict of interest.
(16) Public Employment
(Gov. Code section 54957)
Title: City Manager
(17) Conference with Labor Negotiators
(Government Code Section 54957.6)
City Designated Representative: City Manager
Employee Organization: Santee Firefighters Association
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of May 28, 2025 Page 6 of 6 Conference with Legal Counsel-Existing Litigation
(Gov. Code section 54956.9(d)(1))
Name of Case: Preserve Wild Santee v. City of Santee, SDSC Case No. 37- 2022-00041478-CU-MC-CTL
Councilmembers reconvened in Open Session at 10:30 p.m., with all members present.
Mayor Minto reported for Item 16, direction given to staff; Item 17, the Council unanimously approved terms for a new agreement with the Santee Firefighters Association and directed staff to bring back a Memorandum of Understanding reflecting these terms as part of the budget approval process; and Item 18, direction was given.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned in memory of Paul Berghoff and Jerry Park at 10:31 p.m.
Date Approved: June 25, 2025
James Jeffies, City Clerk