Minutes
Santee City Council
Council Chamber - Building 2
10601 Magnolia Avenue
Santee, California
Tuesday, July 8, 2025
Thursday, July 10, 2025
Friday, July 11, 2025
CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL:
Day one of the Special Meeting was called to order by Mayor Minto at 8:31 a.m.
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.
NEW BUSINESS:
Public Hearing for the Selection of Up to Four Retail Commercial Cannabis Businesses (CCBs) with Up to Four Alternate CBs and Finding the Action Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15303. (Planning and Building - Sawa) (Reso 101-2025)
The Public Hearing was opened at 8:32 a.m. Rachael Lindebrekke, Associate Planner, provided a PowerPoint presentation and explained how the interview process would work.
Representatives from Siesta Life (Siesta Life Santee LLC) provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to the interview questions.
Council recessed at 9:14 a.m. and reconvened at 9:31 a.m.
Representatives from Flame (Market Equities LLC) responded to the interview questions.
Council recessed at 10:03 a.m. and reconvened at 10:31 a.m.
Representatives from Green Reserve (East County Prospect LLC) provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to the interview questions.
Council recessed at 11:18 a.m. and reconvened at 11:22 a.m.
Representatives from Catalyst (South Cord Holdings LLC) provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to the interview questions.
Council recessed at 12:08 p.m. and reconvened at 1:00 p.m.
Santee City Council Special Meeting Minutes of July 8, 10 and 11, 2025 Page 2 of 6 Representatives from Dr. Green Thumb's (Santee Project LLC) provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to the interview questions.
Council recessed at 1:46 p.m. and reconvened at 1:50 p.m.
Representatives from Flyte (9805 Prospect LLC) provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to the interview questions.
Mayor Minto announced day two of the meeting would be reconvened on July 10, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. Council recessed at 2:24 p.m.
Day two of the Special Meeting was reconvened on July 10, 2025, at 8:36 a.m. with all members present.
Representatives from Embarc (Santee Responsible and Compliant Retail LLC) provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to the interview questions.
Council recessed at 9:23 a.m. and reconvened at 9:26 a.m.
Representatives from Off the Charts (OTC Santee LLC) provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to the interview questions.
Council recessed at 10:20 a.m. and reconvened at 10:24 a.m.
Representatives from Mission Greens (Santee Prospect LLC) provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to the interview questions.
Representatives from Hightend (OC Coast Inc.) provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to the interview questions.
Council recessed at 12:02 p.m. and reconvened at 12:12 p.m.
Representatives from Wellgreens (Mission Gorge Ventures LLC) provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to the interview questions.
Council recessed at 12:57 p.m. and reconvened at 1:05 p.m.
Representatives from March and Ash (March and Ash Santee Inc.) provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to the interview questions.
Representatives from BUZZ (Hilife Group Santee LLC) responded to the interview questions.
Council recessed at 2:32 p.m. and reconvened at 2:40 p.m.
Representatives from Culture Cannabis Club (Santee Store LLC) provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to the interview questions.
Santee City Council Special Meeting Minutes of July 8, 10 and 11, 2025 Page 3 of 6 Council recessed at 3:16 p.m. and reconvened at 3:32 p.m.
Representatives from Leaf Society (Prospect Avenue Holdings LLC) provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to the interview questions.
Representatives from Santee Holistics (TD Santee Inc.) provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to the interview questions.
Council recessed at 4:43 p.m. and convened in Closed Session at 4:45 p.m.
CLOSED SESSION:
(2) 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
Council reconvened in Open Session at 5:00 p.m. Mayor Minto reported direction was received for day three of the meeting and that day three would reconvene on July 11, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. Council recessed at 5:01 p.m.
Day three of the Special Meeting was reconvened on July 11, 2025, at 8:02 a.m. with all members present.
NEW BUSINESS:
(1) Public Hearing for the Selection of Up to Four Retail Commercial Cannabis Businesses (CCBs) with Up to Four Alternate CCBs and Finding the Action Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15303. (Planning and Building - Sawa) (Reso 101-2025)
Mayor Minto announced that public comment would be limited to two minutes per speaker and provided brief comments on how public comment would be conducted.
Public Speakers:
• Stephen Parkhurst, Dr. Green Thumb's
• Bridget Hagopian, Dr. Green Thumb's
• Zachory, Dr. Green Thumbs, provided letters of support • Lisbeth Johnson, Dr. Green Thumb's
• John Hossick, Embarc
• Mike Aiken, Embarc
• Elana Levens-Craig, Embarc
• Jocelyn Rodriguez, Off the Charts
• Shelby Fischer, Off the Charts
• Darren, The Fight Smokers Club Fight Foundation
• Austin Johnson, Off the Charts
Santee City Council Special Meeting Minutes of July 8, 10 and 11, 2025 Page 4 of 6 • Sydney Ruiz, Off the Charts
• Jordan Johnson, The Standard by Farmdale, did not speak • Maribel McKinze, UFCW, did not speak
• Jazlin Marquez, Off the Charts
• Adam Schilling, Off the Charts
• Douglas Helfman, Crystal Clear, Off the Charts
• Chris Salem, Flyte
• Moises Astrada, Off the Charts
• Monica Castaneda, Off the Charts
• Jon Wooding, Young Life, Embarc
• Dillon Marogy, Off the Charts
• Becky Rapp
• Peggy Walker
• Kathleen Lippitt
• Arya Lareybi, Buzz Cannabis
• Greg Buffington, Buzz Cannabis
• Christian Espinoza, Off the Charts
• Maria G. Avila, Buzz Cannabis
• Silvino Rodriguez, Buzz Cannabis, did not speak
• John Avita, Wellgreens
• Darryl Allen, Off the Charts
• Brian Swope, Buzz Cannabis
• Jim Bartell, Catalyst, provided letters of support
• Debra Fieter, Wellgreens
• Saad S. Pattah, Mission Greens
• Daniel Buksa, Mission Greens
• Mark Tauma, Wellgreens
• Hiwalani Sierra, Catalyst
• Jadzia Freed, Catalyst
• John Moralez, Catalyst
• Doug Dixon, Off the Charts
• Alex Dos Santos, Mission Greens
• Matt Jones, Off the Charts, provided letters of support • Donna McManus, Santee VFW, proved letter of support
• Reese Raven, Dr. Green Thumb's
• Dan Bickford, Culture Cannabis
• Alyssa Ontiveros, Off the Charts
• Toby, Santee Holistics
• Sean Ryan, Murphy's Ridge, Catalyst
Council recessed at 9:31 a.m. and reconvened at 9:42 a.m.
Mayor Minto thanked everyone for their testimony over the last several days and provided an overview of how the selection process would continue and be narrowed down.
Santee City Council Special Meeting Minutes of July 8, 10 and 11, 2025 Page 5 of 6 Vice Mayor McNelis listed the following eight applicants that he would like to be considered to move onto the next phase of deliberations: Green Reserve, Dr. Green Thumb's, Mission Greens, Flyte, March and Ash, Embarc, Off the Charts, and Buzz.
Councilmember Hall listed the following eight applicants that he would like to be considered to move onto the next phase of deliberations: Buzz, Culture Cannabis Club, Dr. Green Thumb's, Embarc, Flyte, Green Reserve, Mission Greens, and Wellgreens.
Councilmember Trotter listed the following eight applicants that he would like to be considered to move onto the next phase of deliberations: Embarc, Culture Cannabis Club, Flyte, Mission Greens, Dr. Green Thumb's, Green Reserve, Buzz, and Santee Holistics.
Councilmember Koval listed the following eight applicants that she would like to be considered to move onto the next phase of deliberations: Culture Cannabis Club, Dr.
Green Thumb's, Embarc, Green Reserve, March and Ash, Off the Charts, Siesta Life, and Wellgreens.
Mayor Minto listed the following eight applicants that he would like to be considered to move onto the next phase of deliberations: Culture Cannabis Club, Dr. Green Thumb's, Embarc, Green Reserve, March and Ash, Mission Greens, Santee Holistics, and Wellgreens.
Council recessed at 11:11 a.m. and reconvened at 11:28 a.m.
Following Council discussion, the following eight applicants were selected by the City Council to move onto the next phase of deliberations: Buzz, Culture Cannabis Club, Dr.
Green Thumb's, Embarc, Green Reserve, Santee Holistics, Flyte, and Mission Greens.
Mayor Minto listed the following six applicants that he would like to be considered to move onto the next phase of deliberations: Buzz, Culture Cannabis Club, Dr. Green Thumb's, Embarc, Santee Holistics, and Green Reserve.
Vice Mayor McNelis listed the following six applicants that he would like to be considered to move onto the next phase of deliberations: Buzz, Green Reserve, Mission Greens, Flyte, Embarc, and Dr. Green Thumb's.
Councilmember Hall listed the following six applicants that he would like to be considered to move onto the next phase of deliberations: Buzz, Culture Cannabis Club, Dr. Green Thumb's, Embarc, Flyte, and Mission Greens.
Councilmember Koval listed the following six applicants that she would like to be considered to move onto the next phase of deliberations: Buzz, Culture Cannabis Club, Dr. Green Thumb's, Embarc, Green Reserve, and Flyte.
Councilmember Trotter listed the following six applicants that he would like to be considered to move onto the next phase of deliberations: Mission Greens, Green Reserve, Flyte, Dr. Green Thumb's, Buzz, and Embarc.
Santee City Council Special Meeting Minutes of July 8, 10 and 11, 2025 Page 6 of 6 Following Council discussion, the following six applicants were selected by the City Council to move onto the next phase of deliberations: Buzz, Culture Cannabis Club, Dr.
Green Thumb's, Embarc, Flyte, and Green Reserve.
Councilmember Trotter listed the following four applicants that he would like to be considered as one of the four Commercial Cannabis Businesses: Green Reserve, Flyte, Buzz, and Dr. Green Thumb's.
Councilmember Koval listed the following four applicants that she would like to be considered as one of the four Commercial Cannabis Businesses: Dr. Green Thumb's, Green Reserve, Buzz, and Embarc.
Councilmember Hall listed the following four applicants that he would like to be considered as one of the four Commercial Cannabis Businesses: Buzz, Culture Cannabis Club, Embarc, and Flyte.
Vice Mayor McNelis listed the following four applicants that he would like to be considered as one of the four Commercial Cannabis Businesses: Green Reserve, Buzz, Flyte, and Dr. Green Thumb's.
Mayor Minto listed the following four applicants that he would like to be considered as one of the four Commercial Cannabis Businesses: Buzz, Culture Cannabis Club, Dr.
Green Thumb's, and Embarc.
Following Council discussion, Buzz, Dr. Green Thumb's, Flyte, and Green Reserve were selected by the City Council as the four Commercial Cannabis Businesses with Embarc selected as first alternate and Culture Cannabis Club, Mission Greens, and Santee Holistics as additional alternates.
Council recessed at 12:57 p.m. and reconvened at 2:01 p.m.
Sandi Sawa, Planning and Building Director, provided an update on the changes made to the Resolution being considered for Council adoption.
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
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 2:04 p.m.
Date Approved September 24, 2025