Minutes
Santee City Council
Council Chamber - Building
10601 Magnolia Avenue
Santee, California
May 27, 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 Zach Wilbur, Palm Church.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was led by William Patrick Dirickson and Madison Dufel of Santee Cub Scouts Pack 383.
PRESENTATION: Total Altruism Project (T.A.P.) Update and California Parks and Recreation Society (CPRS) State Award Presentation
Gary Blume, Total Altruism Project provided an introduction and Nico Lundgren, Mesa College student, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions. Aumee Frey, CPRS Region 5 State Representative, presented the Community Impact Award of Excellence for Thriving Environment to Anne Morrison, Recreation Services Manager.
PRESENTATION: Presentation by the County of San Diego on the San Diego River Basin Sewer Pipe Lining Project at the San Diego River Trail Walker Preserve Site
Michael Hilker, Project Manager, County of San Diego, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions with the assistance of Carl Schmitz, Engineering Director.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
Note for the record: Written correspondence received for the Presentation by the County of San Diego, Item 2, Item 3, Item 7, Item 8, Item 9, Item 10, and Non-Agenda Public Comment was distributed to the City Council and posted online for public viewing prior to the meeting.
(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 27, 2026 (2) Approval of Meeting Minutes of the Santee City Council for the Regular Meeting of May 13, 2026. (City Clerk - Jeffries)
(3) Approval of Payment of Demands. (Finance - Jennings) (4) Approval of the Expenditure of $54,666.45 for April 2026 Legal Services. (Finance - Jennings)
(5) Second Reading and Adoption of an Amendment of 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 Ordinance Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act. (City Clerk - Jeffries) (Orc 632)
(6) Adoption of a Resolution Rejecting the Proposals Submitted for the Design-Build Construction Contract for the City Hall Improvements - Building 4 Front Counter Remodel (RFP #25/26 - 20094) Project, and Finding the Action is Not a Project Subject to the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"). (Engineering - Schmitz) (Reso 051- 2026)
Action: Councilmember McNelis moved approval of the Consent Calendar.
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) Carl Costantino spoke about safety hazards at Shadow Hill Park. (B) Lynda Marrokal spoke about traffic and parking concerns on Marrokal Lane.
PUBLIC HEARING:
(7) Public Hearing on the Adoption of a List of Projects for Fiscal Year 2026- 27 Funded by Senate Bill 1: The Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 and Finding the Action is Not a Project Subject to the California Environmental Quality Act. (Engineering - Schmitz) (Reso 052-2026) The Public Hearing was opened at 7:04 p.m. Brittany Gores, Senior Management Analyst, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions.
Action: Councilmember McNelis moved approval of staff recommendation.
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of May 27, 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 7:08 p.m.
CONTINUED BUSINESS:
(8) E-Bike Informational Update. (City Manager - Kaserman) Wendy Kaserman, City Manager, introduced the Item and Chris Katra, Sheriff Captain, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions.
Public Speaker:
• Carl Costantino
Progress Update on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant and Defensible Space Maintenance Efforts within the San Diego River Corridor. (Fire - Wallace)
Harley Wallace, Fire Chief, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions.
NEW BUSINESS:
Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) Presentation and Discussion. (City Manager - Kaserman)
Wendy Kaserman, City Manager, introduced the Item and Chris Katra, Sheriff Captain, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions.
Public Speaker:
• Carl Costantino
NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT (Continued):
None.
CITY COUNCIL REPORTS:
Vice Mayor Hall reported on a recent MTS meeting in which the MTS budget was discussed.
Councilmember Koval reported on attending various community events and attending a San Diego River Conservancy meeting and an Air Pollution Control District meeting.
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of May 27, 2026 Councilmember Trotter invited the community to attend a joint City of Santee and Santee School District e-bike torum coming up.
Mayor Minto reported on a recent trip he took and spoke on how e-bikes and e-scooters were prevalent in the area he was in.
CITY MANAGER REPORTS:
None.
CITY ATTORNEY REPORTS:
None.
CLOSED SESSION:
None.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:27 p.m.
Date Approved: June 10, 2026
Alf-
lames Jeffries, City Clerk