Minutes
Santee City Council
Council Chamber - Building 2
10601 Magnolia Avenue
Santee, California
December 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 Manager Wendy Kaserman, City Attorney Shawn Hagerty, and City Clerk James Jeffries
INVOCATION was given by Ron Jacobsen, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was led by Kristine Costa, Waste Management PRESENTATION: Santee City Cup Presentation
Vice Mayor McNelis and Councilmember Trotter presented the Santee City Cup Trophy to members of the West Hills Highschool football team and coaching staff.
PROCLAMATION: Retirement of Principal Traffic Engineer Minjie Mei Mayor Minto presented the Proclamation to Minjie Mei and thanked him for his service to the City of Santee.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
James Jeffries, City Clerk, announced a speaker slip was submitted for Item 2. (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 Meeting Minutes of the Santee City Council for the Regular Meeting of November 12, 2025. (City Clerk - Jeffries)
Public Speaker:
• Truth
(3) Approval of Payment of Demands as Presented. (Finance - Jennings)
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of December 10, 2025 Page 2 of 7 (4) Approval of the Expenditure of $97,351.16 for November 2025 Legal Services. (Finance - Jennings)
(5) Second Reading and Adoption of an Ordinance Amending Title 10 (Vehicles and Traffic) of the Santee Municipal Code to Establish Regulations of the Use of Electric Bicycles by Children Under 12 and on Sidewalks. (City Clerk - Jeffries) (Ord 628)
(6) Adoption of Resolutions Declaring Intention to Vacate Real Property as Excess Right-of-Way (VAC-2025-0001) by Setting a Time and Place for a Public Hearing and Declaring Pursuant to Government Code Section 54221 that such Real Property is Exempt Surplus Land and Finding the Action is Not a Project Subject to the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") or is Otherwise Exempt from CEQA: Location: 701 Park Center Drive. (Engineering - Schmitz) (Resos 134-2025 and 135-2025) (7) Adoption of a Resolution Approving an Amended Salary Schedule to Reflect a Minimum Wage Increase and Authorizing the Appropriation of $2,010.00 to the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Adopted Operating Budget. (Human Resources - Freeman) (Reso 136-2025)
(8) Adoption of a Resolution Accepting the Citywide Streetlight LED Upgrade Project Phase 2 (CIP 2024-12) as Complete and Finding the Action is Not a Project Subject to the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"). (Engineering - Schmitz) (Reso 137-2025)
(9) Adoption of a Resolution Accepting the Citywide Storm Drain Trash Diversion 2025 (CIP 2025-20) Project as Complete and Finding the Action is Not a Project Subject to the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"). (Engineering - Schmitz) (Reso 138-2025)
(10) Adoption of a Resolution Accepting the ADA Pedestrian Ramp Improvements (CIP 2024-04) Project as Complete and Finding the Action is Not a Project Subject to The California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"). (Engineering - Schmitz) (Reso 139-2025)
(11) Adoption of a Resolution Approving the Fifth Amendment to the Agreement with Countywide Mechanical Systems, Inc. for Plumbing Repairs and Maintenance Services. (Community Services - Chavez) (Reso 140-2025)
(12) Proposed New Service Rates for the Waste Management (WM) Franchise Agreement for Solid Waste Services. (Community Services - Chavez) (13) Adoption of a Resolution Accepting and Appropriating FY 2025-26 San Diego River Conservancy and San Diego Regional Fire Foundation Grant Funds to Purchase Fire Hose and New Nozzles for the Fire Department Type 1 Fire Engines. (Fire - Wallace) (Reso 141-2025)
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of December 10, 2025 Page 3 of 7 (14) Adoption of a Resolution Finding in Support of and Authorizing the Purchase of One New 2026 Ford E450 Chassis with Remount of Existing Ambulance Module onto the New Chassis with Braun Northwest, Inc. per HGACBuy Contract AM10-23. (Fire - Wallace) (Reso 142-2025) (15) Adoption of a Resolution Approving a Second Amendment Extending the Term of a Professional Services Agreement with On Duty Health, PLLC for an Additional Three Years with the Option of Two Additional One-Year Extensions to Provide Firefighter Health and Fitness Assessments. (Fire - Wallace) (Reso 143-2025)
(16) Adoption of a Resolution Declaring Vehicle V-132 as Surplus Property and Directing the Sale at Public Auction or Inter-Agency Sale. (Fire/Community Services - Wallace/Chavez) (Reso 144-2025) Action: Councilmember Trotter 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 COMMENT (15 minutes):
(A) Truth commented on the Santee Holiday Lighting event; Mary Hennessy's celebration of life; City infrastructure needs; reasons citizens come to Santee, recent survey's sent to citizens; and a previous interview with the San Diego Union Tribune.
PUBLIC HEARING:
(17) Public Hearing for a Tentative Map (TM-2025-0002) and Development Review Permit (DR-2025-0002) for a Multi-Family Residential Development Consisting of 100 Units and Related Site Improvements on a 5.26 Acre Parcel Located at 9506 Mission Gorge Road (APN 381-040-36- 00) in the Town Center High Density Residential (TC-R-22) Zone and Subject to CEQA Guidelines Section 15168(c) and 15162 and Finding No Additional Environmental Review is Required as the Project is Consistent with Findings Analyzed in the Housing Element Rezone Program EIR (Applicant: Borstein Enterprises). (Planning and Building - Sawa) (Reso 145-2025)
The Public Hearing was opened at 6:53 p.m. Madeline Mattson, Principal Planner, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions. Erik Pfahler, Senior Vice President, Borstein Enterprises, provided an additional PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions.
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of December 10, 2025 Page 4 of 7 Public Speaker:
• Truth
Action: Councilmember Koval 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: Aye; Koval: Aye; and Trotter: Aye. Ayes: 5. Noes: 0.
The Public Hearing was closed at 7:21 p.m.
(18) Resolution Awarding | the Construction Contract to Barnhart-Reese Appropriation of Funds. (Engineering/Community Services - Schmitz /Chavez) (Reso 146-2025)
The Public Hearing was opened at 7:22 p.m. Steve Miller, Principal Civil Engineer, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions with the assistance of Carl Schmitz, Director of Engineering, and Shawn Hagerty, City Attorney.
Public Speaker:
• Truth
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.
The Public Hearing was closed at 7:48 p.m.
(19) Second Reading and Adoption of an Ordinance Amending Title 11 "Building and Construction" of the Santee Municipal Code to Adopt by Reference the 2025 California Building Standards Code, Including the 2025 California Administrative Code, the 2025 California Building Code, the 2025 California Residential Code, the 2025 California Electrical Code, the 2025 California Mechanical Code, the 2025 California Plumbing Code, the 2025 California Energy Code, the 2025 California Historical Building Code, the 2025 California Existing Building Code, the 2025 California Green Building Standards Code, the 2025 Wildland-Urban Interface Code, the 2025 California Fire Code, and the California Referenced Standards Code, Together with Modifications, Additions, and Deletions Thereto, and to Amend Chapter 11.36 "Flood Damage Prevention' to Meet State and Federal Requirements (Case File ZOA-2025-0004) and Finding the Action to be Exempt from Review Under the California Environmental Quality Act (ZOA-2025-0004). (Planning and Building - Sawa) (Ord 629) Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of December 10, 2025 Page 5 of 7 The Public Hearing was opened at 7:48 p.m.
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: Aye; Koval: Aye; and Trotter: Aye. Ayes: 5. Noes: 0.
The Public Hearing was closed at 7:49 p.m.
(20) Consideration of an Urgency Ordinance (4/5 Vote Required) and Public Hearing and First Reading of a Regular Ordinance Amending Title 13, Chapter 10, Section 045 of the Santee Municipal Code Relating to Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units to Comply with Recent Changes in State Law, and Finding the Actions to be Statutorily Exempt from CEQA Under Public Resources Code § 21080.17. (City Attorney/Planning and Building - Hagerty/Sawa) (Ord 630) The Public Hearing was opened at 7:50 p.m. Tari Williams, Assistant City Attorney, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions with the assistance of Shawn Hagerty, City Attorney, and Sandi Sawa, Director of Planning and Action: Councilmember Hall 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.
The Public Hearing was closed at 8:09 p.m.
CONTINUED BUSINESS:
(21) Resolution Authorizing the City to Execute a Contract with Fire Trucks Unlimited, a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Brindlee Mountain Fire Apparatus, to Refurbish V138, a 2005 Pierce Arrow XT Type 1 Fire Engine, per Sourcewell Contract 110921-BLE and Authorizing the Transfer and Appropriation of $803,260.33 from General Fund Reserves to the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Vehicle Replacement Fund Operating Budget. (Fire - Wallace) (Reso 147-2025)
Harley Wallace, Fire Chief, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions.
Action: Councilmember Hall moved approval of staff recommendation.
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of December 10, 2025 Page 6 of 7 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: O.
NEW BUSINESS:
(22) Selection of Mayor Pro Tempore (Vice Mayor). (Mayor - Minto) Mayor Minto provided a brief report and presented a plaque to Vice Mayor McNelis for his service as Vice Mayor.
Public Speaker:
• Truth
Action: Mayor Minto 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:
Councilmember Hall reported on attending various community events, meetings on behalf of the City, and changes coming to Council meetings related to Senate bill 707.
Councilmember Trotter recognized Sam Rensberry's pending retirement from the City and thanked Sam for his years of service.
Mayor Minto reported on a recent League of California Cities Conference he attended and the goals and priorities set by the organization this veal CITY MANAGER REPORTS:
None.
CITY ATTORNEY REPORTS:
None.
CLOSED SESSION:
None.
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of December 10, 2025 Page 7 of 7 ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:31 p.m.
Date Approved: January 14, 2026
Jumpin
James Jeffries, City Clerk