Minutes
Santee City Council
Council Chamber - Building 2
10601 Magnolia Avenue
Santee, California
February 25, 2026
This Regular Meeting of the Santee City Council was called to order by Mayor John W.
Minto at 6:30 p.m.
Mayor Minto introduced Chris Katra, San Diego County Sheriff Office, who is Santee's new Sheriff Captain.
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 Councilmember Trotter.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was led by Sam Rensberry.
PROCLAMATION: Retirement of Sam Rensberry, Public Services Manager Mayor Minto presented the Proclamation to Sam and, along with each Councilmember, thanked him for his service to Santee.
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) Approval of the Expenditure of $93,678.49 for January 2026 Legal Services. (Finance - Jennings)
Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Concessions Services Agreement for Concession Services at Town Center Community Park East with Nhelonly Flores Gregorio, dba Riverwalk Grill. (Community Services - Chavez) (Reso 018-2026) (5)
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Chavez) (Reso 019-2026)
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of February 25, 2026 Action: Councilmember Koval moved approval of the Consent Calendar.
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.
NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT (15 minutes):
(A) Peggy Meredith, Indivisible, invited individuals to join the Indivisible organization and to participate in peaceful protests.
PUBLIC HEARING:
(6) Continued Public Hearing to Assess Community Development Needs and California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"). (Planning and Building - Sawa) (Reso 020-2026)
The Public Hearing was re-opened at 7:04 p.m. Brittany Gohres, Senior Management Analyst, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions.
Public Speaker:
• Keri Irwin and Leila Head, Recovery and Beyond
Action: Under discussion, Vice Mayor Hall moved approval of staff recommendation with the Program Year 2026 CDBG funds to be allocated as follows:
Public Facilities (CDBG) Allocation
City of Santee - Citywide ADA Pedestrian Ramp Project $227,110.00 Total $227,110.00
Administrative Activities (CDBG)
CDBG Program Administration $47,880.00
CSA San Diego County (Federally Required Fair Housing Service) $22,000.00 Total $69,880.00
Public Service Activities (CDBG) Allocation
East County Transitional Living Center (ECTLC) 5,000.00 Elder Help 5.000.00
Meals on Wheels 5,000.00
Recovery and Beyond
Santee Food Bank 27,410.00
Santee Santas 5,000.00
Voices for Children 5,000.00
Total $52,410.00
Grand Total Allocation $349,400.00
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of February 25, 2026 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 7:24 p.m.
NEW BUSINESS:
(7) Fiscal Year 2025-26 Operating Budget Update and Resolution Amending the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget. (Finance - Jennings) (Reso 021-2026) Heather Jennings, Finance Director, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions with the assistance of Harley Wallace, Fire Chief, and Steve Miller, Principal Civil Engineer.
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.
(8) Resolution Appropriating Funds for an Initial Assessment, Feasibility Study, and Concept Plans for the Remodel of Fire Station 4 and Approving the Fifth Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with COAR Design Group for Fire Infrastructure Design Services. (Fire - Wallace) (Reso 022-2026)
Harley Wallace, Fire Chief, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions with the assistance of Steve Miller, Principal Civil Engineer.
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.
(9) Presentation of Sales Tax Feasibility Study Results. (City Manager - Kaserman)
Wendy Kaserman, City Manager introduced the Item and Timothy McLarney, TrueNorth Research, and Jared Boigon, TeamCivX, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions with the assistance of Harley Wallace, Fire Chief, Wendy Kaserman, City Manager, Heather Jennings, Finance Director, and Steve Miller, Principal Civil Engineer.
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of February 25, 2026 NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT (Continued):
None.
CITY COUNCIL REPORTS:
Vice Mayor Hall commended Mayor Minto on the Homeless Progress Report he presented, reported on potential MTS rate increases and noted the East County Economic Development Council has selected a new CEO.
Councilmember Koval spoke on actions recently taken by the San Diego River Conversancy that affect East County and fire safety.
Mayor Minto stated he gave a report to the San Diego Rescue Mission related to homelessness and gave a synopsis of that report to the Council.
CITY MANAGER REPORTS:
Wendy Kaserman, City Manager, reported that the League of California Cities board voted down a sales tax reform proposal that would negatively impact Santee and other Cities.
CITY ATTORNEY REPORTS:
None.
CLOSED SESSION:
None.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:17 p.m.
Date Approved: March 11, 2026