Minutes
Santee City Council
Council Chamber - Building 2
10601 Magnolia Avenue
Santee, California
August 12, 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 Fr. Yurii Sas, St. John the Baptizer Ukrainian Church.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was led by Aaron Murg, Fire Marshal.
PRESENTATION: Placement on the Fire Risk Reduction Community List with the California State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection
Aaron Murg, Fire Marshal, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
James Jeffries, City Clerk announced speaker slips had been submitted for Items 3, 6, and 7.
(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 Meetings of June 10, 2026, June 24, 2026, and July 8, 2026. (City Clerk - Jeffries)
(4) Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing Acceptance and Appropriation of FY 2025 Tech Cy Pres Grant Funds for the Purchase of Technology Equipment to Provide Remote Access for Staff with Emergency Operations Center Responsibilities. (Fire/City Manager - Wallace/Kaserman) (Reso 081-2026) (5) Adoption of a Resolution Accepting the Public Improvements for the Santee Auto Center Project (P2022-10) as Complete and Finding this Acceptance is Not a CEQA Project. Location: 10335 Mission Gorge Road. (Engineering - Schmitz) (Reso 082-2026)
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of August 12, 2026 Action: Councilmember McNelis moved approval of the Consent Calendar excluding Items 3, 6, and 7.
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.
Items removed from the Consent Calendar:
(3) Approval of Payment of Demands. (Finance - Jennings) Public Speaker:
• Truth Tonix
(6) Adoption of a Resolution Approving the Final Map for Townsend, a Multi- Family Residential Development Consisting of 52 Units (TM-2024-0003) and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Associated Subdivision Improvement Agreement. Location: 7737 Mission Gorge Road. Applicant:
KB Homes. (Engineering - Schmitz) (Reso 083-2026)
Public Speaker:
• Truth Tonix
(7) Adoption of a Resolution Accepting and Appropriating the Monetary Donation of $5,000.00 from Lantern Crest Senior Living. (Community Services - Chavez) (Reso 084-2026)
Public Speaker:
• Truth Tonix
Action: Councilmember McNelis moved approval of Items 3, 6, and 7.
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) Sharon Thomas, Cameron's Mobile Estates Resident Association, commented ongoing power outage issues at Cameron's Mobile Estates. (B) Beth Hanson spoke about the Wi-Fi upgrades and electrical issues at Cameron's Mobile Estates.
(C) Adam Daniels, Santee Firefighters Association, spoke about the Santee Firefighters Association support for the General Tax Measure on the November 3, 2026, ballot.
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of August 12, 2026 (D) Truth Tonix commented on telephonic public comment process, spoke about the MOU supporting homeless solutions in East County, SANDAG information on e-bikes, and State of California reducing local control. (E) Becky Rapp spoke in opposition of AB 2697 authorizing cannabis drive-through sales.
(F) Tony Shephard shared the results of recent record requests he has conducted for Fiscal years 2024, 2025, and 2026 of the City's travel expenses, pro-card usage, contracts, fuel management, public records archiving, and contracting and bidding practices.
(G) Carl Costantino inquired about the status of cameras for Santee parks and trails and shared responses from San Diego County and City of Santee staff. (H) Mary Williams addressed the power outages and living conditions at Cameron's Mobile Estates.
(1) Kathleen Lippitt spoke regarding the increased rate of emergency department visits related to Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome.
PUBLIC HEARING:
(8) Continued Public Hearing to Consider General Plan Amendment (GPA- 2025-0002) to Adopt the Updated Land Use Element of the Santee General Plan, and Zoning Ordinance Amendment (ZOA-2025-0001) to Implement the Land Use Element Update. (Planning and Building - Sawa) (Reso 085- 2026)
The Public Hearing was opened at 7:29 p.m. Sandi Sawa, Planning & Building Director, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions.
Public Speaker:
Carl Costantino
• Truth Tonix
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: 0.
The Public Hearing was closed at 7:35 p.m.
(9) Public Hearing to Consider the City of Santee's San Diego River Fire Hazard Mitigation Program: Fuels Treatment Plan and Supporting Documents and Consider Certification of the Environmental Impact Report (ENV-2026-0001) Under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to Meet the Federal Emergency Management Agency Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Phase 1 Requirements. (Fire/Planning and Building - Wallace/Sawa) (Resos 086-2026 and 087-2026)
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of August 12, 2026 The Public Hearing was opened at 7:35 p.m. Harley Wallace, Fire Chief, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions with the assistance of Erin Lucett, Dudek.
Public Speakers:
• Truth Tonix
• Kathleen Lippitt
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 7:55 p.m.
(10) Resolution Adopting the Santee-Lakeside Emergency Medical Services Authority Fee Schedule into the City of Santee Fee Schedule. (Fire - Wallace) (Reso 088-2026)
The Public Hearing was opened at 7:55 p.m. Harley Wallace, Fire Chief, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council questions.
Public Speaker:
• Truth Tonix
Action: Councilmember Trotter 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.
The Public Hearing was closed at 8:04 p.m.
NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT (Continued):
None.
CITY COUNCIL REPORTS:
Councilmember Koval requested more information regarding AB 2697 and shared her experience volunteering with the River Park Conservancy to evaluate grant applications for the distribution of Proposition 4 funding and participated in site visits. She also wished her husband, JP, a happy birthday.
Councilmember Trotter requested items be brought back to the City Council at a future meeting to discuss public comment and election-related policies.
Santee City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of August 12, 2026 Councilmember McNelis recognized Santee Mobilehome Owner Action Committee (SMOAC) and John Hossick for the success of the Buddy's Backpacks event.
Mayor Minto thanked the volunteers who helped at the Buddy's Backpack's events and reported that SANDAG and League of California Cities took summer recesses as well.
CITY MANAGER REPORTS:
Wendy Kaserman, City Manager, gave a reminder for the last concert of the Santee Summer Concert series on August 13, 2026.
CITY ATTORNEY REPORTS:
None.
CLOSED SESSION:
Councilmembers recessed at 8:14 p.m. and convened in Closed Session at 8:20 p.m. (11) Conference with Real Property Negotiators
(Government Code section 54956.8)
Property: APNs: 381-050-59, 381-050-77, 760-143-40, 381-050-69, 381-050- 81, and 381-050-66
City Negotiator: City Manager
Negotiating Party: County of San Diego
Under Negotiation: Price and Terms of Payment
(12) 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 9:09 p.m., with all members present.
Mayor Minto reported for Items 11 and 12, no action taken, direction given to staff.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m.
Date Approved: August 26, 2026
James Jeffries, City Clerk