Minutes
Santee City Council
Council Chamber - Building 2
10601 Magnolia Avenue
Santee, California
January 14, 2026
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 Ronn Hall, and Councilmembers Laura Koval, Rob McNelis and Dustin Trotter Officers present: City Manager Wendy Kaserman, City Attorney Shawn Hagerty, and City Clerk James Jeffries
INVOCATION was given by Eric King, Lakeside Christian Church PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was led by Bill Crane, Senior Management Analyst.
PRESENTATION: Republic Services Update Regarding the Sycamore Landfill Jesus Torres, Republic Services, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions.
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 Meeting Minutes of the Santee City Council for the Regular Meeting of December 10, 2025. (City Clerk - Jeffries)
(3) Approval of Payment of Demands as Presented. (Finance - Jennings) (4) Adoption of a Resolution of the Community Development Commission Successor Agency Approving the Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule for the Period from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027 ("ROPS 26- 27"'). (Finance - Jennings) (CDC Successor Agency Agenda Item) (Reso 001-2026 CDCSA)
(5) Adoption of a Resolution Approving a Professional Services Agreement with Spicer Consulting Group, LLC for Assessment Engineering and Community Facilities District Administration Services. (Finance - Jennings) (Reso 001-2026)
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of January 14, 2026 (6) Second Reading and Adoption of an 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 9 21080.17. (City Clerk - Jeffries) (Ord 631)
(7) Adoption of a Resolution Amending Resolution No. 134-2025, Regarding the City's Intention to Vacate Excess Right-of-Way (VAC-2025-0001), Solely to Revise the Date for the Public Hearing and Clarify the Property's APN (Location: 701 Park Center Drive, Portion of APN 381-032-29). (Engineering - Schmitz) (Reso 002-2026)
(8) Adoption of a Resolution Proclaiming the Termination of the Existence of a Local Emergency Relating to Extreme Fire Risk in the San Diego River Corridor and the Completion of the Defensible Space Maintenance to Mitigate Fire Risk; and Finding • Such Action is Exempt from Environmental Review Under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15269(c). (City Manager - Kaserman) (Reso 003-2026)
(9) Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute Two Services Agreements with the East County Transitional Living Center (ECTLC) and San Diego Habitat for Humanity for Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) Grant-Funded Homeless Outreach and Accessibility Modifications for Lower-Income Property Owners. (City Manager - Kaserman) (Reso 004-2026)
Action: Councilmember McNelis moved approval of the Consent Calendar.
Vice Mayor Hall seconded the motion, which carried by the following vote: Mayor Minto:
Aye; Vice Mayor Hall: Aye; and Councilmembers Koval: Aye; McNelis: Aye; and Trotter:
Aye. Ayes: 5. Noes: 0.
NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT (15 minutes):
(A) Purita A. Javier spoke about concerns related to health impacts certain types of businesses can have on neighbors.
(B) Cesar B. Javier shared lessons he has learned about health impacts related to pollution of manufacturing businesses.
(C) Jackie Urgeleit spoke about the historical barn property and expressed her desire for the trees on the property to be preserved in future developments. (D) Carl Costantino spoke about vegetation mitigation in the riverbed and requested staff provide information regarding the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant on the City's website.
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of January 14, 2026 CONTINUED BUSINESS:
(10) Feasibility Study for the Construction of a Fourth Fire Station in Northeast Santee - Staff Update on Progress and Site, Staffing, and Equipment Procurement Recommendation. (Fire - Wallace)
Harley Wallace, Fire Chief, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions.
Following discussion, Council provided feedback and direction to staff.
NEW BUSINESS:
(11) Consideration of a Resolution Cancelling a Regular Meeting in the Summer Months of July or August 2026, and Rescheduling the November 11, 2026, Regular Meeting. (City Clerk - Jeffries) (Reso 005-2026) James Jeffries, City Clerk, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions.
Motion: Councilmember McNelis moved to cancel the July 22, 2026, City Council meeting. Councilmember Koval seconded the motion.
Amended Motion: Vice Mayor Hall requested the motion be amended to include rescheduling the November 11, 2026, City Council meeting to November 18, 2026.
Councilmembers McNelis and Koval accepted the amended motion, which carried by the following vote: Mayor Minto: Aye; Vice Mayor Hall: Aye; and Councilmembers Koval: Aye; McNelis: Aye; and Trotter: Aye. Ayes: 5. Noes: 0
NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT (Continued):
None.
CITY COUNCIL REPORTS:
Vice Mayor Hall provided an update on community events he attended and spoke about a ride-a-long he did with the Sheriff Department.
Councilmember Koval provided an update on the Air Pollution Control District and recent legislation that affects it; she also invited the community to check out her flag initiative in relation to America's 250th birthday
Councilmember Trotter wished everyone a Happy New Year.
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of January 14, 2026 Councilmember MoNells spoke on the Heartland Fire raining Authority's new training structure; he reported on a joint meeting with the Santee School board he attended; and he also talked about a youth group meeting at a local restaurant in Santee.
Mayor Minto spoke about various Senate Bills passed by the California legislature and currently proposed bills.
CITY MANAGER REPORTS:
Wendy Kaserman, City Manager, reported that a recent article in the San Diego Union Tribune has been updated with corrected information.
CITY ATTORNEY REPORTS:
None.
CLOSED SESSION:
None.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:51 p.m.
Date Approved: January 28, 2026
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James ulties, City Clerk