Minutes
Santee City Council
Council Chamber - Building 2
10601 Magnolia Avenue
Santee, California
June 11, 2025
This Regular Meeting of the Santee City Council was called to order by Mayor John W.
Minto at 6:33 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 Eric King, Lakeside Christian Church.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was led by Gary Halbert, Interim City Manager.
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) Adoption of a Resolution Awarding the Contract for Shadow Hill Park Playground Renovation to PlayCore Wisconsin, Inc., DBA Gametime, Utilizing the OMNIA Contract #2017001134 Awarded by US Communities Government Purchasing Alliance RFP #269-2017-028 for Playground and Outdoor Fitness Equipment, Site Accessories, Surfacing, and Related Products and Services. (Community Services - Chavez) (Reso 078-2025) (4) Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing an Agreement for Urban Forestry Management Services with West Coast Arborists, Incorporated per City of Rialto Contract RFB #24-025. (Community Services - Chavez) (Reso 079-2025)
(5) Adoption of a Resolution Approving the Second Amendment to the Contract with Advanced Railway Innovations, DBA Advanced Electrical Innovations, for Electrical Repairs and Related Maintenance. (Community Services - Chavez) (Reso 080-2025)
Action: Vice Mayor McNelis moved approval of the Consent Calendar.
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.
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of June 11, 2025 Page 2 of 5 NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT (15 minutes):
(A) Brenda Hammond spoke about being kind to one another (B) Amanda Daugherty, Santee Chamber of Commerce, introduced herself as the new CEO of the Santee Chamber of Commerce.
PUBLIC HEARING:
(6) Public Hearing for the Development of Fanita Ranch, to Consider Certifying Final Recirculated Revised Environmental Impact Report Including Second Recirculated Sections (ENV-2025-0003, AEIS 2022-4, AEIS 2017-11), and Approving the Fanita Ranch Development Plan and Development Review Permit (DR-2025-0001), Vesting Tentative Map (TM- 2025-0001), and Conditional Use Permits for Public Parks (CUP2025-0001 and CUP-2025-0002), and a Fire Station (CUP-2025-0003). (Planning and Building - Sawa) (Resos 072-2025, 073-2025, 074-2025, 075-2025, 076- 2025, and 077-2025)
Vice Mayor McNells recused himself from the Item and left the dais. The Public Hearing was opened at 6:39 p.m. Shawn Hagerty, City Attorney, and Sandi Sawa, Planning and Building Director, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions of Amanda Daams, Best Best & Krieger; Harley Wallace, Interim Fire Chief; and Carl Schmitz, Engineering Director.
Public Speakers:
• Ron Leholm
• Suzanne Till
• Sandy Schielke
• Eric Morgan
• Lynda Marrokal, provided additional written comments
• Julia McMillan
• Jon Cloud, Santee Hills - TM 06-03 Mrs. Connie Bailey, provided handout • Kathy Miller
• Eleanor Warsh
• Alison Liebrecht
• Dean Velasco
• Joseph McCormick
• Lenin Osburn
• Samson Osburn
• Dan Bickford
• Sharon Guerrero
• Charlie Plavi, did not speak, submitted late slip
Action: Councilmember Trotter moved approval of staff recommendation.
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of June 11, 2025 Page 3 of 5 Councilmember Koval seconded the motion, which carried by the following vote: Mayor Minto: Aye; Vice Mayor McNelis: Abstain; and Councilmembers Hall: No; Koval: Aye; and Trotter: Aye. Ayes: 3. Noes: 1. Abstain: 1.
The Public Hearing was closed at 7:53 p.m. Vice Mayor McNelis returned to the dais.
Council recessed at 7:53 p.m. and reconvened at 7:56 p.m. (7) Public Hearing on the Vacancy Rate Presented by Human Resources Pursuant to Assembly Bill 2561. (Human Resources - Freeman) The Public Hearing was opened at 7:56 p.m. Rida Freeman, Human Resources Director, introduced the Item and Michele Barcello, Senior Human Resources Analyst, and Adam Daniels, Fire Captain, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions.
Mayor Minto noted that the report was received and filed. The Public Hearing was closed at 8:16 p.m.
CONTINUED BUSINESS:
(8) Resolution Approving the Capital Improvement Program for Fiscal Years 2026-2030 and Adopting the Capital Improvement Program Budget for Fiscal Years 2025-26 and 2026-27. (City Manager/Finance - Halbert/ Jennings) (Reso 081-2025)
Heather Jennings, Finance Director, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions with the assistance of Steve Miller, Principal Civil Engineer; Nicholas Chavez, Community Services Director; and Rida Freeman, Human Resources Director.
Public Speaker:
• Truth
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
NEW BUSINESS:
(9) Review of the Proposed Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26. (City Manager/Finance - Halbert/Jennings)
Heather Jennings, Finance Director, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions with the assistance of Gary Halbert, Interim City Manager; James Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of June 11, 2025 Page 4 of 5 Jeffries, City Clerk; Sandi Sawa, Planning and Building Director; Nicholas Chavez, Community Services Director; Harley Wallace, Interim Fire Chief; Rida Freeman, Human Resources Director; Michele Barcello, Senior Human Resources Analyst; Shawn Hagerty, City Attorney; Carl Schmitz, Engineering Director; and Heather Heckman, Senior Management Analyst.
Public Speaker:
Truth
The City Council provided feedback and direction to staff. (10) Resolution Awarding the Construction Contract to Hazard Construction Engr. LLC for the Citywide Pavement Repair and Rehabilitation Program 2025 (CIP 2025-01) Project and Determining the Project is Categorically Exempt from Environmental Review Under the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") per State CEQA Guidelines Section 15301(c). (Engineering - Schmitz) (Reso 082-2025)
Carl Schmitz, Engineering Director, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions.
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.
NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT (Continued):
Truth spoke about a SANDAG community meeting, Waste Management EV trucks, potential ideas for the Arts and Entertainment District, former City Manager Marlene Best, and expenditures listed on the Payment of Demands Agenda Item.
CITY COUNCIL REPORTS:
None.
CITY MANAGER REPORTS:
None.
CITY ATTORNEY REPORTS:
None.
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of June 11, 2025 Page 5 of 5 CLOSED SESSION:
Councilmembers recessed at 10:37 p.m. and convened in Closed Session at 10:40 p.m. (11) Conference with Legal Counsel-Anticipated Litigation (Government Code section 54956.9(d) (2))
Significant exposure to litigation: Twelve potential cases related to the retail cannabis business selection process
(12) Conference with Legal Counsel-Anticipated Litigation (Government Code section 54956.9(d) (4))
Initiation of litigation: One potential case related to the City's electronic permitting software contract
Councilmembers reconvened in Open Session at 10:59 p.m., with all members present.
Mayor Minto reported for Items 11 and 12, direction given to Counsel.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 11:00 p.m.
Date Approved: August 13, 2025