Minutes
Santee City Council
council Chamber - Building :
10601 Magnolia Avenue
Santee, California
July 8, 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 Hannah Bergstrom de Leon, Carlton Hills Lutheran Church.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was led by Vice Mayor Hall.
PRESENTATION: Certificates of Recognition to Four Santana High School Students for Forming the Nonprofit Company All Kids Swim and Placing Third in Junior Achievement's Future Bound, a National Competition for Entrepreneurship
Mayor Minto presented the Certificates to Davis Jesperson, Cody Nelson, Jared Parkinson, and Justin Hocanson.
PROCLAMATION: Proclaiming July 2026 as Parks and Recreation Month Mayor Minto presented the Proclamation to the Santee Park and Recreation Committee (SPARC), and Community Services department staff.
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) 12) Approval of Payment of Demands. (Finance - Jennings) (3) Approval of the Expenditure of $58,657.60 for June 2026 Legal Services. (Finance - Jennings)
(4) Adoption of a Resolution Rejecting the Bid Submitted by South Coast Industrial Door, Inc. and Awarding the Contract for Doors and Gates - Vlaintenance, Repair & Replacement to Highland Arms Enterprises, LLC
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of July 8, 2026 dba Precision Garage Door Service per RFB #26/27-20093. (Community Services - Chavez) (Reso 074-2026)
(5) Adoption of a Resolution Approving the First Amendment to the Agreement with Downstream Services, Inc. for Trash Capture Device Cleaning Services. (Community Services - Chavez) (Reso 075-2026) (6) Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Public Right-of-Way Improvement Agreement for Public Improvements Associated with the Recreational Vehicle and Self-Storage Facility (CUP- 2023-0003) Located at 8355 Graves Avenue. (Engineering - Schmitz) (Reso 076-2026)
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) Brenda Hammond commented on the Santee Salutes - America250 celebration and Santee Summer Concerts.
(B) Truth spoke about emailed comments, the 2022 Memorandum of Understanding with the County of San Diego regarding fair housing and tenant/landlord services, the proposed sales tax measure, the Patriotic Drone Show and the Santee Salutes - America250 celebration.
(C) Becky Rapp congratulated the four Santana High School students on their recognition and spoke about findings from the San Diego County Cannabis Public Health Initiative Report on the increase of cannabis-related emergency room visits and its impact on youth.
(D) Ann Riddle spoke about how vaping and smoking affects the adolescent brain. (E) Kathleen Lippitt spoke about the decision to allow marijuana businesses in the City of Santee and the importance of educating the community about the associated risks, harms, and costs.
PUBLIC HEARING:
(7) Public Hearing on a Resolution Establishing a Special Assessment on Certain Parcels of Land that were Subject to Involuntary Weed Abatement and/or Administrative Fees by the City and for which Costs Have Not Been Paid by the Owners) of Record of Said Parcels and Determining the Project is Categorically Exempt from Environmental Review Under the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") Per State CEQA Guidelines Section 15301(c). (Planning and Building - Sawa) (Reso 077- 2026)
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of July 8, 2026 The Public Hearing was opened at 7:10 p.m. Karen Maillet, Code Compliance Officer, 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.
The Public Hearing was closed at 7:15 p.m.
(8) Public Hearing to Consider General Plan Amendment (GPA-2025-0002) to Adopt the Updated Land Use Element of the Santee General Plan, Zoning Ordinance Amendment (ZOA-2025-0001) to Implement the Land Use Element Update, and Certitication of Program Environmental Impact Report (ENV-2025-0009) Under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). (Planning and Building - Sawa)
The Public Hearing was opened at 7:15 p.m. Madeline Mattson, Principal Planner, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions with the assistance of Sandi Sawa, Planning and Building Director and Emily Rimmer, Dudek.
Public Speaker:
• Carl Costantino
• David Bakker
• Truth
Action: Councilmember Koval moved to adopt the Resolution certifying the Program Environmental Impact Report as presented, Council pursue Alternative 4 as presented by staff, and direct staff to return with documents needed to implement Alternative 4 at the next City Council meeting.
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.
The Public Hearing was closed at 8:07 p.m.
NEW BUSINESS:
(9) Resolution Adopting the 2026 Emergency Operations Plan. (Fire - Wallace) (Reso 080-2026)
Kyle Moyneur, Deputy Fire Chief, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions.
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of July 8, 2026 Public Speaker:
• Truth
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.
NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT (Continued):
(A) John Hossick invited the Council and community to the Buddy's Backpacks giveaway event and thanked the Council and community for their support.
CITY COUNCIL REPORTS:
Councilmember Koval spoke about Santee Salutes and other community activities on July 4*; she also spoke on SB 1572 related to non-functional turf and its potential impact.
Councilmember McNelis provided feedback on Santee Salutes and thanked staff for their hard work.
Mayor Minto reported he will be attending a League of California Cities conference next week; he also commented on the Santee Salutes event and thanked staff for their work.
CITY MANAGER REPORTS:
Reminded the community the July 22, 2026, Regular City Council Meeting has been cancelled.
CITY ATTORNEY REPORTS:
None.
CLOSED SESSION:
Councilmembers recessed at 8:34 p.m. and convened in Closed Session at 8:39 p.m. (10) Conference with Labor Negotiators
(Government Code Section 54957.6)
City Designated Representative: City Manager
Employee Organization: Santee Fire Chief Officers Association Councilmembers reconvened in Open Session at 9:34 p.m., with all members present.
Mayor Minto reported for Item 10, direction given to staff.
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of July 8, 2026 ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:35 p.m.
Date Approved: August 12, 2026