Minutes
Santee City Council
Council Chamber - Building 2
10601 Magnolia Avenue
Santee, California
May 13, 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, and Rob McNelis. Absent: Councilmember Dustin Trotter.
Officers present: City Manager Wendy Kaserman, City Attorney Shawn Hagerty, and City Clerk James Jeffries
INVOCATION was given by Rabbi Rafi Andruiser, Chabad of East County.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was led by Mayor Minto.
RECOGNITION: Santana High School Students Abraham Espino, Ben Siekert, and Rahaf Katan
Mayor Minto presented Certificates of Recognition to Abraham Espino, Ben Siekert, and Rahaf Katan.
PROCLAMATION: National Small Business Week
Mayor Minto presented the Proclamation to Meri Williams, East County Small Business Development Center, and presented a Certificate of Recognition to Devon Julian, Village Pet and Feed.
PROCLAMATION: Public Works Week
Mayor Minto presented the Proclamation to Eric King, Public Services Manager.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
Note for the record: Written correspondence received for Item 2, Item 3, Item 16, Item 17, Item 18, Item 19, and Non-Agenda Public Comment was distributed to the City Council and posted online for public viewing prior to the meeting.
Councilmember Koval requested Item 14 be pulled for discussion. (1) Approval of Reading by Title Only and Waiver of Reading in Full of Ordinances and Resolutions on the Agenda. (City Clerk - Jeffries)
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of May 13, 2026 (2) Approval of Meeting Minutes of the Santee City Council for the Regular Metie of April 22, 2026, and Special Meeting of May 5, 2026. (City Clerk (3) Approval of the Payment of Demands as Presented. (Finance - Jennings) (4) Approval of the Expenditure of $82,907.97 for March 2026 Legal Services. (Finance - Jennings)
(5) City Conflict of Interest Code - Biennial Review. (City Clerk - Jeffries) (6) Adoption of Resolutions Approving the Engineer's Report and Declaring the City Council's Intention to Levy Assessments and Setting a Public Hearing for the FY 2026-27 Santee Roadway Lighting District Annual Levy of Assessments. (Finance - Jennings) (Resos 038-2026 and 039-2026) (7) Adoption of Resolutions Approving the Engineer's Report and Declaring the City Council's Intention to Levy Assessments and Setting a Public Hearing for the FY 2026-27 Santee Landscape Maintenance District Annual Levy of Assessments. (Finance - Jennings) (Resos 040-2026 and 041-2026)
(8) Adoption of Resolutions Approving the Engineer's Report and Declaring the City Council's Intention to Levy Assessments and Setting a Public Hearing for the FY 2026-27 Town Center Landscape Maintenance District Annual Levy of Assessments. (Finance - Jennings) (Resos 042-2026 and 043-2026
(9) Adoption of a Resolution Declaring the City Council's Intention to Levy, as a Successor Agency to County Services Area (CSA) 69, a Special Tax within the Santee-Lakeside Emergency Medical Services Authority Boundary for FY 2026-2027 and Setting a Public Hearing. (Finance - Jennings) (Reso 044-2026)
(10) Adoption of a Resolution Approving the Second Amendment to Task Order No. DU-TO1 with Dudek for the San Diego River Fire Hazard Mitigation Plan - Phase 1 of the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. (Fire - Wallace) (Reso 045-2026)
(11) Adoption of a Resolution Awarding a Contract for the Purchase of Emergency Medical Services Supplies on an As-Needed Basis to Life- Assist, Inc., per National Purchasing Partners dba NPPGov Contract #PS23120. (Fire - Wallace) (Reso 046-2026)
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of May 13, 2026 (12) Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of One (1) APX 8500 All-Band Mobile Radio, Two (2) APX 6000 Portable Radios, Two (2) Six- Unit APX Radio Chargers, and Twenty (20) Portable Radio Batteries from Motorola Solutions, Inc. per County of San Diego Regional Communications System Contract No. 553982. (Fire - Wallace) (Reso 047-2026)
(13) Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of Three (3) New Dell R670 Servers through the Minnesota NASPO ValuePoint Master Agreement Number 23026. (City Manager - Kaserman) (Reso 048-2026) (14) Item Pulled for Discussion.
Action: Councilmember McNelis moved approval of the Consent Calendar and Agenda as Amended.
Vice Mayor Hall seconded the motion, which carried by the following vote: Mayor Minto:
Aye; Vice Mayor Hall: Aye; and Councilmembers Koval: Aye; and McNelis: Aye. Absent:
Councilmember Trotter. Ayes: 5. Noes: 0. Absent: 1.
Item removed from the Consent Calendar:
(14) Approval of Assignment and Assumption Agreements for Landscape and Horticultural Services (Areas 2 & 3) between the City of Santee, Steven Smith Landscape, LLC and Verde Property Services, LLC., dba LaBahn's Landscaping. (Community Services - Chavez)
Nicolas Chavez, Community Services Director, provided a verbal report and responded to Council questions with the assistance of Tom Heaviland, LaBahn's Landscaping, David Howell, LaBahn's Landscaping, and Dana Robinson, LaBahn's Landscaping.
Action: Vice Mayor Hall moved approval of staff recommendation.
Councilmember Koval seconded the motion, which carried by the following vote: Mayor Minto: Aye; Vice Mayor Hall: Aye; and Councilmembers Koval: Aye; and McNelis: Aye.
Absent: Councilmember Trotter. Ayes: 5. Noes: 0. Absent: 1.
NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT (15 minutes):
(A) Keith Animo spoke about a County owned dirt lot located east of Town Center Community Park and stated a meeting with staff from Supervisor Anderson's office would be taking place regarding the property.
(B) Carl Costantino expressed concern for exposed edging and graffiti at Shadow Hill Park.
(C) Brenda Hammond expressed excitement for the upcoming summer concerts and commended the students at Santana High School.
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of May 13, 2026 PUBLIC HEARING:
(15) Public Hearing on the Adoption of the TransNet Local Street Improvement Program of Projects for Fiscal Years 2027 through 2031 to Align the Regional Transportation Improvement Program ("RTIP") with the Adopted Capital Improvement Program Budget and Finding the Action is Not a Project Subject to the California Environmental Quality Act. (Engineering - Schmitz) (Reso 049-2026)
The Public Hearing was opened at 7:33 p.m. Brittany Gores, Senior Management Analyst, 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; and McNelis: Aye.
Absent: Councilmember Trotter. Ayes: 5. Noes: 0. Absent: 1.
The Public Hearing was closed at 7:36 p.m.
(16) Public Hearing and Introduction and First Reading of an Amendment to an Urgency Ordinance of the City of Santee, California Enacting an Essential Housing Program to Boost Housing Production and Improve Housing Affordability in Order to Achieve the Goals Set Forth in the City's Housing Element (Sixth Cycle: 2021-2029) and Determining the Amendment Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act. (Planning and Building - Sawa)
The Public Hearing was opened at 7:36 p.m. Madeline Mattson, Principal Planner, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions.
Action: Vice Mayor Hall moved approval of staff recommendation.
Councilmember Koval seconded the motion, which carried by the following vote: Mayor Minto: Aye; Vice Mayor Hall: Aye; and Councilmembers Koval: Aye; and McNelis: Aye.
Absent: Councilmember Trotter. Ayes: 5. Noes: 0. Absent: 1.
The Public Hearing was closed at 7:39 p.m.
CONTINUED BUSINESS:
(17) Approve the First Amendment to the Memorandum of Understanding ('MOU") with the San Diego County Sheriff's Office for the Sheriff's Safe Street Santee Program. (Community Services - Chavez)
Nicolas Chavez, Community Services Director, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions.
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of May 13, 2026 Public Speaker:
• Tony Renna
Action: Councilmember McNelis moved approval of staff recommendation.
Councilmember Koval seconded the motion, which carried by the following vote: Mayor Minto: Aye; Vice Mayor Hall: Aye; and Councilmembers Koval: Aye; and McNelis: Aye.
Absent: Councilmember Trotter. Ayes: 5. Noes: 0. Absent: 1. (18) Approval of the City of Santee Legislative Platform. (City Manager - Kaserman)
Bill Crane, Senior Management Analyst, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions with the assistance of Wendy Kaserman, City Manager.
Action: Councilmember Koval 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; and McNelis: Aye. Absent:
Councilmember Trotter. Ayes: 5. Noes: 0. Absent: 1.
NEW BUSINESS:
(19) Resolution Awarding the Construction Contract to Hazard Construction Engr. LLC for the Citywide Pavement Repair and Rehabilitation Program 2026 (CIP 2026-01) Project and Determining the Project is Categorically Exempt from Environmental Review Under the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") per State CEQA Guidelines Section 15301(c). (Engineering - Schmitz) (Reso 050-2026)
Steve Miller, Principal Civil Engineer, 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; and McNelis: Aye. Absent:
Councilmember Trotter. Ayes: 5. Noes: 0. Absent: 1.
NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT (Continued):
None.
CITY COUNCIL REPORTS:
Councilmember Koval reported on her attendance at the Industrial Environmental Association 42nd Annual Environmental Training Symposium and Conference, Air Pollution Control District meetings, various ribbon cuttings, and Chamber events.
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of May 13, 2026 Councilmember McNelis reported on his attendance at a San Diego Gun Owners Association event and a ribbon cutting at the Santee School District.
Mayor Minto reported on attending a League of California Cities regional meeting.
CITY MANAGER REPORTS:
None.
CITY ATTORNEY REPORTS:
None.
CLOSED SESSION:
None.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:41 p.m.
Date Approved: May 27, 2026
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