Minutes
Santee City Council
Council Chamber - Building 2
10601 Magnolia Avenue
Santee, California
September 10, 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: City Attorney Shawn Hagerty and City Clerk James Jeffries INVOCATION was given by James Class, Calvary Chapel of Santee.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was led by Wendy Kaserman.
Vice Mayor McNelis requested a moment of silence in memory of Charlie Kirk.
PRESENTATION: Introduction of 2025 Miss Santee, Miss Teen Santee and Four Miss Santee Princesses
Councilmember Koval introduced the Miss Santee Court with the assistance of Lauren Bachmann, Program Director, for the Miss Santee Pageant.
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 Authorizing the Purchase of Offsite Commercial Fleet Fuel Utilizing the WEX Fleet Card Program, per Sourcewell Contract No. 030625-WEX. (Fire - Wallace) (Reso 117-2025)
(4) Adoption of a Resolution Accepting the Citywide CMP Lining and Rehabilitation Program 2023 (CIP 2023-20) Project as Complete and Finding the Action is Not a Project Subject to the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"). (Engineering - Schmitz) (Reso 118-2025) (5) Adoption of a Resolution Approving the Sixth Amendment to the Agreement with Paradigm Mechanical Corp. for HVAC Maintenance and Repairs. (Community Services - Chavez) (Reso 119-2025)
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of September 10, 2025 Page 2 of 4 (6) Adoption of a Resolution Approving the Third Amendment to the Contract with Advanced Railway Innovations, DBA Advanced Electrical Innovations, for Electrical Repairs and Related Maintenance. (Community Services - Chavez) (Reso 120-2025)
(7) Opt into Settlement Agreement with Manufactures of Opiods, Alvogen, Inc., Amneal Pharmaceuticals Inc., Apotex Corp., Hikma Pharmaceutical USA, Inc.., Indivior Inc., Mylan, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc., and Zydus Pharmaceuticals (USA), Inc. (City Manager - Halbert) Action: Vice Mayor McNelis moved approval of the Consent Calendar.
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.
NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT (15 minutes):
(A) Carl Costantino spoke on historical re-enactments and suggested Santee explore doing such events.
(B) Renee Woodward spoke in support of the Multiple Species Conservation Program Subarea Plan and a river cleaning event sponsored by San Diego River Park Foundation.
(C) Hale Simonds expressed concern for pedestrians for certain types of traffic lights and requested changes be looked at in the future; he also spoke on road conditions.
(D) Robin Rierdan requested her property be removed from the Multiple Species Conservation Program Subarea Plan.
(E) Al Smith, provided a handout, spoke on public notices sent by City staff and requested his property be removed from the Multiple Species Conservation Program Subarea Plan.
(F) Brenda Hammond thanks staff for the Santee Summer Concerts and churches that pop up during events.
CONTINUED BUSINESS:
(8) Introduction and First Reading of an Ordinance Adding Chapter 8.10 "Electric Bicycles" to the Santee Municipal Code. (City Attorney - Hagerty)
Shawn Hagerty, City Attorney introduce the item and Tari Williams, Assistant City Attorney, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions with the assistance of Shawn Hagerty, City Attorney, and Aldo Hernandez, Sheriff Captain.
Public Speaker:
• Carl Costantino
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of September 10, 2025 Page 3 of 4 After discussion, Council provided direction to bring the item back with additional information.
NEW BUSINESS:
(9) Resolution Appointing Wendy Kaserman as City Manager, Approving City Manager Employment Agreement, Appropriating Funds to the City Manager's Operating Budget, and Adopting Amended Salary Schedule. (Human Resources - Freeman) (Reso 121-2025)
Rida Freeman, Human Resources Director, provided a staff report and responded to Council questions.
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.
NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT (Continued):
None.
CITY COUNCIL REPORTS:
None.
CITY MANAGER REPORTS:
None.
CITY ATTORNEY REPORTS:
None.
CLOSED SESSION:
Councilmembers recessed at 7:57 p.m. and convened in Closed Session at 7:57 p.m.
Vice Mayor McNelis recused himself from Closed Session due to conflict of interest. (10) Conference with Legal Counsel-Existing Litigation
(Gov. Code section 54956.9(d))
Names of Case: Preserve Wild Santee v. City of Santee, San Diego Superior Court Case No. 37-2022-00041478-CU-MC-CTL
(11) Conference with Legal Counsel-Existing Litigation
(Gov. Code section 54956.9(d))
Names of Case: Preserve Wild Santee v. City of Santee, San Diego Superior Court Case No.25CU036645C
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of September 10, 2025 Page 4 of 4 Councilmembers reconvened in Open Session at 8:03 p.m., with all members present.
Mayor Minto reported for Items 10 and 11, information was received, and no action was taken.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:05 p.m.
Date Approved: October 22, 2025