Minutes
Santee City Council
council Chamber - Building
10601 Magnolia Avenu
Santee, California
June 25, 2025
This Regular Meeting of the Santee City Council was called to order by Mayor John W.
Minto at 6:31 p.m.
ROLL CALL: Present: Mayor John W. Minto, Vice Mayor Rob McNelis, and Councilmembers Laura Koval, and Dustin Trotter. Absent: Councilmember Ronn Hall.
Officers present: Interim City Manager Gary Halbert, City Attorney Shawn Hagerty, and City Clerk James Jeffries.
INVOCATION was given by Garry Phillips, Sonrise Church.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was led by Aaron Murg, Fire Marshal.
PROCLAMATION: Parks and Recreation Month
Mayor Minto presented the Proclamation to Santee Park and Recreation Committee members and Community Service Department staff.
RECOGNITION: Anita Bautista
Mayor Minto, Vice Mayor McNelis, and Councilmembers Koval and Trotter presented the Certificate of Recognition to Anita Bautista and spoke about Anita's impact and dedication to Santee.
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) Approval of Meeting Minutes of the Santee City Council for the Regular Meetings of May 14, 2025, and May. 28, 2025. (City Clerk - Jeffries) (3) Approval of Payment of Demands as Presented. (Finance - Jennings) (4) Approval of the Expenditure of $129,731.15 for May 2025 Legal Services. (Finance - Jennings)
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of June 25, 2025 Page 2 of 5 (5) Adoption of a Resolution Accepting the Citywide Crack Sealing Program 2025 (CIP 2025-03) Project as Complete and Finding the Action is Not a Project Subject to the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"). (Engineering - Schmitz) (Reso 083-2025)
(6) Adoption of a Resolution Establishing the Appropriations Limit for FY 2025-26. (Finance - Jennings) (Reso 084-2025)
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: Absent; Koval: Aye; and Trotter: Aye. Ayes: 4. Noes: 0. Absent: 1.
NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT (15 minutes):
(A) Brenda Hammond spoke about Council meetings at other cities, anger and harassment, and summer concerts for various cities.
(B) Carl Costantino inquired about the renovations scheduled for Shadow Hill Park and whether or not plans would be shared with the public. (C) John Hossick, Santee Mobilehome Owners Action Committee, announced that Buddy's Backpacks would be kicking off in July and thanked the Council for their support.
PUBLIC HEARING:
(7) Continue Public Hearing for Tentative Map TM-2023-0003 and Development Review Permit DR-2023-0007 for a Multi-Family Residential Development Located at 10939 Summit Avenue (APN 378-190-01-00) to the July 9, 2025, City Council Meeting (Applicant: Warmington Residential). (Planning and Building - Sawa)
The Public Hearing was opened at 6:56 p.m. Madeline Mattson, Principal Planner, introduced the Item and announced that the applicant requested the Public Hearing be continued to July 9, 2025.
Public Speakers:
• Mikhail Livak
• Megan Leary
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: Absent; Koval: Aye; and Trotter: Aye. Ayes: 4. Noes: O. Absent: 1.
The Public Hearing was continued to July 9, 2025, at 7:03 p.m.
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of June 25, 2025 Page 3 of 5 CONTINUED BUSINESS:
(8) City Council Direction on the Selection Process, Including Interview Questions, for Phase IV of the Retail Commercial Cannabis Business (CCB) Permit Application Review and Finding the Direction is Not a "Project" as Defined by the California Environmental Quality Act ("'CEQA") and Therefore Not Subject to CEQA. (Planning and Building - Sawa)
Rachael Lindebrekke, Associate Planner, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions with the assistance of Sandi Sawa, Planning and Building Director.
Public Speaker:
• Devon Wardlow, Embarc
Vice Mayor McNelis requested altering a question to include whether any applicant had defaulted in payment with a vendor.
Action: Councilmember Koval moved to approve the seven interview questions as modified with Vice Mayor McNelis' request and approval of the selection process.
Vice Mayor McNelis seconded the motion, which carried by the following vote: Mayor Minto: Aye; Vice Mayor McNelis: Aye; and Councilmembers Hall: Absent; Koval: Aye; and Trotter: Aye. Ayes: 4. Noes: O. Absent: 1.
(9) An Ordinance to Adopt the Santee Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map as Recommended by Cal Fire for Compliance with Government Code Section 51179 and Find that the Action is Not a Project and Therefore Not Subject to the California Environmental Quality Act. (Fire - Wallace) Aaron Murg, Fire Marshal, 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: Absent; Koval: Aye; and Trotter: Aye. Ayes: 4. Noes: O. Absent: 1.
(10) Continued Review of the Proposed Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26, and Resolution Adopting the Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26 and Taking Related Actions. (City Manager/Finance - Halbert/ Jennings) (Resos 085-2025 and 086-2025)
Heather Jennings, Finance Director, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions.
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of June 25, 2025 Page 4 of 5 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: Absent; Koval: Aye; and Trotter: Aye. Ayes: 4. Noes: 0. Absent: 1.
NEW BUSINESS:
(11) Resolution Proclaiming an Emergency, Authorizing the Maintenance of Existing Defensible Space Areas in the San Diego River Corridor and Finding Such Action is Exempt from Review Under the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15269(c). (City Manager - Halbert) (Reso 087-2025) Sam Rensberry, Public Services Manager, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions.
Public Speaker:
• Carl Costantino
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: Absent; Koval: Aye; and Trotter: Aye. Ayes: 4. Noes: 0. Absent: 1.
(12) Resolution Awarding the Construction Contract to T&M Electric Inc. DBA Perry Electric for the Traffic Signal and Communications Upgrade Project - Isolated Locations (CIP 2023-09). (Engineering - Schmitz) (Reso 088- 2025)
Carl Schmitz, Engineering Director, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions.
Public Speaker:
• Carl Costantino
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: Absent; Koval: Aye; and Trotter: Aye. Ayes: 4. Noes: 0. Absent: 1.
NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT (Continued):
None.
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of June 25, 2025 Page 5 of 5 CITY COUNCIL REPORTS:
Councilmember Koval reported that she was put on the Air Pollution Control District Planning Subcommittee.
Councilmember Trotter reminded the community of the upcoming summer concert and 4th of July Santee Salutes event.
CITY MANAGER REPORTS:
Gary Halbert, Interim City Manager, requested Aldo Hernandez, Sheriff Captain, provide an update on recent traffic enforcement efforts.
CITY ATTORNEY REPORTS:
None.
CLOSED SESSION:
Councilmembers recessed at 7:49 p.m. and convened in Closed Session at 7:52 p.m. (13) 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
(14) Threat to Public Services or Facilities
(Gov. Code section 54957(a))
Consultation with: City Attorney regarding threat to public services Councilmembers reconvened in Open Session at 9:14 p.m., with all members present, except Councilmember Hall who was absent. Mayor Minto reported for Items 13 and 14, no action was taken.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
Date Approved: August 13, 2025