Minutes
Santee City Council
Council Chamber - Building 2
10601 Magnolia Avenue
Santee, California
January 28, 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 Jaime Pangman, Santee United Methodist Church.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was led by Councilmember Trotter.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
Councilmember Koval requested that Item 10 be removed from the Agenda and brought back at a future meeting.
(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 January 14, 2026. (City Clerk - Jeffries)
(3) Approval of Payment of Demands as Presented. (Finance - Jennings) (4) Approval of the Expenditure of $111,131.53 for December 2025 Legal Services. (Finance - Jennings)
(5) Acceptance of a Donation of One Sauna and One Cold Plunge from Dialed Labs. (Fire - Wallace)
(6) Adoption of a • Resolution Accepting the Citywide Concrete Repair & Replacement Program 2025 (CIP 2024-06) Project as Complete and Finding the Action is Not a Project Subject to the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"). (Engineering - Schmitz) (Reso 006-2026)
(7) Adoption of Resolution Accepting the Fire Station No. 4, 2nd Story Roof Replacement (CIP 2026-32) Project as Complete and Finding the Action is Not a Project Subject to the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"). (Engineering/Fire - Schmitz/Wallace) (Reso 007-2026)
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of January 28, 2026 (8) Adoption of Resolution Awarding the Construction Contract to T&M Electric Inc. DBA Perry Electric for the Citywide Fiber Communications Upgrade Project (CIP 2022-55). (Engineering - Schmitz) (Reso 008-2026) (9) Adoption of a Resolution Approving a Professional Services Agreement with Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group, for Occupational Health Services. (Human Resources - Freeman) (Reso 009-2026)
(10) 2025 Holiday Closure Recap. (City Manager - Kaserman) Item was removed from the Agenda.
Action: Councilmember McNelis moved approval of the Consent Calendar and Agenda as Amended.
Councilmember Koval 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 due to ceramic manufacturing.
(B) Cesar B. Javier spoke about toxic gases related to ceramic manufacturing and the lack of action from other agencies.
(C) Rachel Peterson requested sidewalks be put in on Dunwoodie Road and Inverness Road.
(D) Mary Davis thanked the Council for their fiscal pragmatism and spoke on the importance of responsible government spending.
PUBLIC HEARING:
(11) Public Hearing for a Major Revision (MJR-2025-001) to Development Review Permit (DR-2023-0002) to Construct Two Industrial Buildings Located at 10990 N. Woodside Avenue in the Light Industrial (IL) Zone and Consider the Addendum to Final Environmental Impact Report (ENV- 2024-0003) and Determine that no Further Environmental Review is Needed (Applicant: North Palisade Opco, LLC). (Planning and Building - Sawa) (Reso 010-2026)
The Public Hearing was opened at 6:46 p.m. Madeline Mattson, Principal Planner, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions with the assistance of the applicant.
Public Speaker:
• Joe Mishurda, Applicant/North Palisade
• Carl Costantino
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of January 28, 2026 Action: Councilmember Koval moved approval of staff recommendation.
Councilmember McNelis 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: O.
The Public Hearing was closed at 6:57 p.m.
(12) Public Hearing for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP-2024-0005) for a Drive- Through Oil Change Service Shop on a 0.26-Acre Vacant Lot at 10463 Mission Gorge Road (APN 384-091-51-00) in the General Commercial (GC) Zone and Finding the Project Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15303 (Applicant: Valvoline Instant Oil Change). (Planning and Building - Sawa) (Reso 011-2026)
The Public Hearing was opened at 6:57p.m. Rachael Lindebrekke, Associate Planner, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions.
Public Speaker:
Nina Ray, Valvoline
Action: Councilmember McNelis moved approval of staff recommendation.
Councilmember Trotter 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.
The Public Hearing was closed at 7:07 p.m.
(13) Public Hearing and Resolution Vacating Excess Right-of-Way Along Park Center Drive (VAC-2025-0001); Making Findings Pursuant to Government Code Section 37350; Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Quitclaim Deed to Transfer the Property to the Adjacent Landowner; and Finding the Action is Not a Project Subject to the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") Location: 701 Park Center Drive, APN: 381-032-29. (Engineering - Schmitz) (Reso 012-2026)
The Public Hearing was opened at 7:07 p.m. Carl Schmitz, Engineering Director, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions.
Action: Councilmember McNelis moved approval of staff recommendation.
Councilmember Trotter 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.
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of January 28, 2026 The Public Hearing was closed at 7:10 p.m.
CONTINUED BUSINESS:
(14) Resolution Authorizing the Appropriation of Initial Funds from the General Fund Reserve to Support the Start of Planning & Program Rollout for America's 250th Anniversary Celebration. (Community Services - Chavez) (Reso 013-2026)
Nicolas Chavez, Community Services Director, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions.
Action: Vice Mayor Hall moved approval of staff recommendation.
Councilmember McNelis 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
NEW BUSINESS:
(15) Pavement Management Report 2026 and Pavement Maintenance Workshop FY 2026-27 and Finding the Action is Not a Project Subject to the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"). (Engineering - Schmitz)
Carl Schmitz, Engineering Director, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions.
Action: Councilmember McNelis moved approval of staff recommendation.
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.
(16) Appointment of Boards, Commissions and Committees Representatives for Council and Citizen Committees and Approval of the Local Appointment List for 2026. (Mayor - Minto)
Mayor Minto presented the proposed changes and responded to Council questions.
Action: Councilmember McNelis moved approval of staff recommendation.
Councilmember Trotter 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.
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of January 28, 2026 NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT (Continued):
None.
CITY COUNCIL REPORTS:
Councilmember Hall provided updates on MTS committees.
Mayor Minto stated he would be attending an upcoming League of California Cities meeting.
CITY MANAGER REPORTS:
Wendy Kaserman, City Manager, reminded the community about the upcoming groundbreaking for the Community Center.
CITY ATTORNEY REPORTS:
None.
CLOSED SESSION:
Councilmembers recessed at 8:13 p.m. and convened in Closed Session at 8:16 p.m. (17) Conference with Real Property Negotiators
(Gov. Code § 54956.8)
Property: Parcel 4 of Parcel Map 18857 (Hotel Site) and Parcel 3 of Parcel Map 201777 (Theater Site), located to the south and north, respectively, of Town Center Parkway between Cuyamaca Street and Riverview Parkway in Santee California.
City Negotiator: City Manager.
Negotiating Parties: Santee Hotel LP.
Under Negotiation: Price and terms of payment.
Councilmembers reconvened in Open Session at 8:45 p.m., with all members present.
Mayor Minto reported for Item 17, direction given to staff.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
Date Approved: March 11, 2026
James Jeffies, City Clerk