City Council - Regular Meeting

That's awesome. Here we go.

Absolutely. [laughter] You were over there. You should be here. [laughter] Happy new year. Your name is

I could go double, you know.

We have met. Yes. Okay.

Hello here. I'm not on social media at all. I don't want

Good evening. Welcome to the meeting for January 13th. Madame Clerk, will you please call roll? Council member Dillard. here. Council member Lotheian here. Council member Suzuki present. Vice Mayor Kazarez here. Mayor Rapastath here. We begin every meeting with an invocation of flag salute. And tonight it'll be given by council member Suzuki. Council member Suzuki. Thank you, Mayor.

Good evening, everyone. As we gather at the start of this new year, let us reflect on the spirit of community that unites us. I'm reminded of TS Elliott's words, "Every moment is a fresh beginning." As we embrace this year with that sense of renewal, let us also honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., whose commitment to equality and community uplift inspires us all. May our work be guided by that same spirit of unity and hope. Thank you. Please rise for the um pledge of allegiance. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Yes.

Thank you. Next on the agenda are city manager comments. I have none.

Community bulletin reports. I'll start with council member Dillard. Yes. Uh uh thank you uh Dr. Arap Arabuses. Um I just have one um announcement. Uh it's regarding affirmed housing group. Um they finally um uh came back to me and have uh announced that uh they have been awarded the accepted tax credits uh for the project that we've been working on off of Spring Street uh down at the um Metropolitan Transit System uh trolley track. uh that platform. Uh that property right there, uh we have a a brand new affordable housing project that's going to go up and they're announcing that they will be breaking ground uh late May and andor early June. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Council Member Lotheian.

Uh first of all, happy new year. Um I um couple of things. I had a really wonderful conversation with um restaurant tour Alberto Morieli. He owned Smoking the brisket, Lemonch Cello and Hienda Nicasadoris. So Hassiend Casadoras opened toward the end of last year and he opened Lemonchello three years ago. So I asked him to compare his experience and he said Hi Nicasadoris was an easy permit experience. He with total cooperation, easy peasy. Lemonchello was a nightmare. And the fact that over a three-year period, our permit department has changed so radically for the better makes me want to thank city management, city staff, the building department, Lynette Santos. To have someone like him thrilled with how easy it the permit process was was music to my ears. So, number one. Uh number two, I'm sure everybody's heard we're we're losing Macy's. Um they've been at Gmont Center for 30 years. Um they're shutting down 14 nationwide and LA Mesa's, you know, one of the ones on the chopping block. So sad. Um, but we do have really good businesses coming in. And I don't know if you've heard this or not. Uh, but we are getting um there's a company called uh San Diego Sweet and Savory Collective, and they're the parent company for San Diego Pop Pie Company, which I've been to in South Park, and uh Stella Jeans Ice Cream, and they're going in the village. And the thought they were going to have these pop pies in ice cream is fantastic. and they're already located in Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, University Heights, PointLoma, Pacific Beach, Carlsbad, Kensington, and South Park. So, I think that puts La Mesa in really good company. Very excited about that. Um, these obviously are signs that Lamea is a good investment. And just as a reminder to people, uh, Better Buzz opened two years ago. Uh, Ulta makeup is coming in, and we all know In-N-Out Burger is coming. So, these are all very good signs of Lame Mesa's health and popularity. Thank you, Council Member Suzuki.

Yeah. Um, so on that note, Gmont Center, I I had the opportunity to attend a um an exercise class in Gro Swmont Center at dance days and it's called Turn It Up. So on Friday, if anyone wants to join middle-aged people um at club time, it's like 6:30 or 6:45, but it's great and it's good exercise. It's between seas and Panera and it's a good time. It's I think it's like5 or ten dollars. It's cheaper than the club and you roll out of there and it's you feel better about your health. So, thank you. Thank you, Vice Mayor Casares.

Thank you. Um I'm also very excited about Pop Pico. I had just ordered one on Uber Eats the night before we found out and it came all the way. I'm so glad that I'll be able to come down to the village for that. Uh and the other thing is uh there's been lots of news about uh parking. I just want to remind everyone that we have 15 parks and 78 785 free parking spaces at our parks plus street parking. Thank you. uh addition additions and or deletions from the agenda none from

next we have a presentation state of the streets presentation welcome sorry right good evening mayor and council members tonight I will be presenting an overview of the current condition of the city of Lamesa streets. Uh so the city is divided into seven zones as depicted on the map. Uh each zone contains miles of streets, sidewalks, curbs and gutter, numerous trees, signs, pavement stripings and markings and many underground utilities. Divid uh dividing the city into zones allows us to rotate maintenance and improve efforts in a structured and predictable way zone by zone. We typically try to start in zone one and end in zone 7 after seven years. Maintenance improvements are performed following a logical sequence. The first item on the list is underground utilities. This item takes the most time due to the needed coordination between con the needed coordination uh between construction of utility companies and the city. To stay ahead of potential conflicts, we host quarterly utility meetings uh where these meetings allows us to plan future projects and avoid overlapping construction. This proactive approach helps us prevent cutting into newly paved and slurry sealed streets which can significantly reduce pavement lifespan and increase ming costs. That said, utility emergencies do occur. When they do, we take the appropriate steps to ensure the streets is properly repaired and restored. Once utility work is completed, public works move systematically down the list to address all these items either through staff's

efforts or the use of contractors. The street deterioration occur occur occurs um for several primary reasons. traffic loading from heavier vehicles, environmental factors such as weather, temperature fluctuations, and moisture, and subsurface conditions related to soil and underground utilities. One of the most common and effective methods the city utilizes as a preventive measure is slurry seals. Slurry seals is a thin protective treatment applied to existing existing pavement that restores pavement surface improves ride quality and protects streets from water intrusion and sound related damage. As illustrated on this slide, the timing of slurry sealing is critical. When applied on the seven-year cycle, slurry sealing can significantly extend the life cycle of the street, often increasing it from approximately 20 years to more than 40 years. Our payment management plan is to keep streets in the green or yellow condition range for as long as possible. We do that by slurry sealing resurface streets on a seven-year cycle. In March of 2025, the city worked with Applied Research Associates to complete a comprehensive payment condition index survey or PCI survey using advanced technology. This included high resolution imaging, laserbased crack detection, and LAR scanning. These tools allowed us to collect accurate datadriven information without relying solely on visual inspections, ensuring consistent and reliable information across all streets. All collected data was added into a pavement management software which rank and quantify that various pavements distress types to provide a complete picture of the 1542 pavement sections and 145 centerline miles of lamesa streets.

This slide uh highlights the data collection process. The survey vehicle records pavement conditions while driving at normal speeds, minimizing disruption to residents and traffic. This approach provides a detailed and objective snapshot of street conditions citywide. The results of the pavement condition survey show that the city o city's overall pavement condition index is 57. This score places Laamesa streets network in the fair condition range. In practical terms, this means that many streets are still providing acceptable service to residents, but signs of aging and wear, such as cracking and surface distress, are becoming more noticeable. Streets in the fair range benefit the most from timely maintenance and rehabilitation efforts. Strategic investments at this stage can slow further deterioration, extend pavement life, and help avoid the higher costs associated with more extensive repairs in the future. Public Works will continue to make every effort to maintain and improve the city's PCI through proactive maintenance, coordinated utility planning, and capital improvement projects. Thank you, mayor and council members, for your time this evening and for the ongoing support on the for the public works department. We appreciate the opportunity to present this information and provide insight in the condition to the condition of the city streets network. Your engagement and guidance are essential as we plan responsibly, prioritize investments, and ensure safe, reliable infrastructure for Lamesa community. Our goal is to preserve existing infrastructure and steadily raise the overall payment condition across the city. Um, I would like to emphasize that our department is here to serve. If you or any member of the community notice something that needs repair, replacement, or improvement in our public infrastructure, please don't hesitate to let us know. We actively

monitor, respond through multiple uh multiple communication channels to ensure your concerns are addressed quickly and effectively. The most efficient way to reach us is to see clickfix, which is easily accessible right from the city's website. This way, however, whoever submits a report can submit photographs, which is a great way for us to precisely know where the location of the situation is that needs to be addressed. Uh, they can also receive email updates on the status of the report. This concludes staff's presentation and I'm available for any questions you may have. Vice Mayor Casares, followed by Council Member Loian. I was just going to do that for you in case you needed me to say

Oh, sorry. I hear what you're saying. Okay, I got it. So, I'll start with Council Member Lotheian and then uh Council Member Suzuki. Hi, thank you for the presentation. I was surprised uh to see that the condition of Lamea's roads overall are fair. I felt like because I feel like they're better than fair because when I drive on other cities, ours are far better. So, is there a plan to like upgrade the fair to the next level up? One question. And the second one, have you noticed in your public works and paying attention to our roads, have the roads gotten more deteriorated because of more and more uh battery cars because I know they're heavier.

So the first question um let me u address that one. Um so we do have some plans in you know in place. So we have different strategies that we are looking into to improve the uh the PCI the payment condition index um that we can bring forward to the council at a later time uh so that they can be uh looked at and maybe um you know provide some guidance. uh in the second uh question is I particularly or our department hasn't particularly I don't I don't believe that they're done of actually study uh to see if the actual uh weight since it is uh larger for electric vehicles if that has become a factor. We know that uh heavier vehicles do um wear the the pavement um faster of course uh but I don't believe that we have done a particularly uh study to u look at electric vehicles. Council member Suzuki,

I actually wanted to echo that, but I wanted to say that I felt that this survey was was unfair because I can definitely tell the difference when I'm driving from San Diego into La Mesa. Our streets are fantastic and you folks have been very responsive. Whenever I've I've had emails, they've immediately been addressed. So, I just want to say keep up the good work and um let's keep going. And I, you know, I think it's I still I would like to know did any of these people list what streets they thought were fair or

we we have a deeper study basically that um goes into sections of payment. We have 1542 sections. Um but as an overall report, you know, we're basically doing like a um high, you know, um you know, high view, you know, report. So, uh, but we can specifically look at a smaller sections basically and not all zones have, you know, all all zones have good and okay and then bad sections basically, but we're just doing the average for for this presentation. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Oh, I'm sorry. Okay,

Council Member Dillard, sorry, I apologize. Um, first of all, thank you for the presentation and uh I do agree uh with my colleagues about the condition of our street and it's probably because I drive outside of La Mesa a lot and see uh a lot of really bad roads and so kudos to you. If average is in our opinion better, um that's uh good news and and hopefully uh we'll see higher scores in the future. Um, the one thing I wanted to mention was about uh Cclick Fix. Uh,

uh, I don't know how often you get responses about Cclick Fix, but I often get uh asked um about certain things that are happening on the street. Uh, and uh, I always refer to them with Cclick Fix and some of them have responded by saying, "Oh, yeah, you know, that that's a good idea. I did that before. I should do this." um and they have really good responses uh about um how quickly everything gets taken care of or someone else vouches while I'm standing there and says, "Oh yeah, I used it." You know, so it is working really well. I'm glad that we have that for our city because it is a quick way for people to just upload a photo and describe what's going on uh with the name of the street and uh you guys are so efficient about um being on top of that. So I just want really wanted to recognize you for that uh because it is a very good service and it seems to be working and and our residents are very happy about it. So wanted you to know.

Thank you very much. Thank you. Any other comments? All right. Thank you for your report. Next on the agenda are public comments. We have one speaker Barbara Barbie Wheeler. Welcome.

Thank you. Good evening, mayor, council members, and happy new year. Thanks for your chance to speak before you. As you know, I am here representing the residents of Belfflower Drive. As concerned citizens and residents, we have recently met together to discuss the continuing problem we have on Belflower Drive. Mr. Richard Evans, the so-called owner of the drug house, has put it up for sale. In a normal situation, this would be caused to celebrate, but not in this case. Not [sighs and gasps] the idiot is advertising it as a detox center. We have forwarded the listing to the person we have contacted and initially investigated and sent a cease and deceased for from the CA DHS to hopefully keep him from selling under false preenses. We the residents are feeling somewhat disappointed with the city since they have left a lot of investigation up to us the residents. The liability was disclosed to the council months years ago and we are still the ones uncovering the unlaw unlawful sorry behavior and trying to address it with little to no support and traction from the city. We understand that there are limitations from fair housing, but there are also many other tangible violations we can go after, including public nuisance, unlicensed operation, and false advertising and exploiting residents. Why is this not being pursued? Additionally, even after the

cease and deceased from the DHS, he revamps his website and is listing the home with a mention of being a detox facility. How is this allowed? This is unacceptable and disappointing for our neighborhood. The safety of our children and grandchildren should be priority. How are we to feel safe when when just recently one of the druggies came to my front door begging for money?

How can I How can I live safely on this street? This is not about me alone. It is about all the residents on Belfflower Drive. Our children should not have to live in fear of their own street. What other work do you want us to do for you since it seems that we're doing all the investigating ourselves? We do not see a safe lame Mesa here. Thank you.

Thank you. Next is conflict disclosures from anyone on council. Uh public comments on consent calendar. Right. [snorts] Uh the consent calendar I'll make a motion to approve the consent calendar. Second.

Motion carries with all council members voting yes. Sorry. Thank you. Um uh next item number 10 one is the reappoint of outside boards and commissions and ad hoc. Um, [snorts] if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to take it a little bit out of order and go to council appointed outside boards and commissions and committees and start with um the second page with MTS. [cough] I would assume, [clears throat] Council Member Dillard, you prefer to stay the the primary and um uh I'd like unless anybody um I'd like to stay the alternate unless any there's someone else that really really wants it. Okay. Then um can do do I can I do them all with one once we agree or do you want me to do separate motions each time?

Um the former you you could do it in one fil. All right. Um then I'm going to move to um Sandag. I'm gonna step down in Sandag and I'm going to put up um Vice Mayor Casaris as the primary and council member Dillard as the alternate and I'll step away and then um ask Council Member Loathian to stay in as a second alternate. Does anyone have uh any issues with that? Okay. I just want to say thank you.

Okay. You're welcome. Um um uh Metro Water JPA um um actually if if you don't mind, let's go back then to the top page. Um East County Economic Development. Uh we have Council Member Loathian and is as the person. Would you prefer to stay or is there anyone else that would like to talk to her about um serving in that? Okay. Uh Harry Griffin JPA cons uh currently it's council member Suzuki. Yes.

Okay. You'd like to prefer to stay there? Um Hartland Communication Primary Council member Dillard, are you willing to continue to serve on that? Okay. And then H Heartland Communications alternate count. Uh Vice Mayor Casaris, are you okay being the alternate? Yes, I'm happy to be the alternate on both of the H Heartland.

Okay. And and the same thing, H Heartland Fire Training Authority, that's Council Member Dillard, the primary. Yes. And Vice Mayor Casares. Okay. I would like to stay on as Lamesa Spring Valley. Um, Council Member Lotheian, would you continue to be the alternate? Okay. And then, League of Cities, Council Member Lotheian, would you like to still continue to do that? Turning the page. [clears throat] Metro Wastewater Primary. We need a primary. Who's you've been going to those meetings? Yes, I've been going to those ving meetings since we lost uh former Councilman Faber and I'd be happy to serve as the primary.

Okay. That means we need a alternate for Metro Wastewater JPA. Anybody that would like to I'll do it. I'll do it. Okay. Council member Suzuki. Um we already did MTS and Okay. Um Mission Trails Park. Uh Council Member Suzuki, will you continue to do that? Yes. What about um the I don't I can't speak for the the people that we're serving the the residents that we're serving. We can go ahead and reappoint them. Okay.

All right. Thank you. Um the regional task force on homelessness. Um I don't know. You're going to have a lot on your plate, but I'm going to ask Council Member Dillard, would you like to be the Okay. All right. All right. It's that's a you're you have a lot to do right now. You do it. You're the primary of a lot of things. Um Okay. Who said they would want to do that? Oh, Council Member Lotheian. All right. I will step away. And um that's um San Diego Community Board um Powers Board Council Member Suzuki and Vice Mayor Casaris, would you still be willing to be the primary and secondary alternate? Okay.

Yes. and Sweetwater Watershed Advisory. Council member Dillard, you have a My gosh. Can someone else Do you Do you want to You're not going to ever be in La Mesa. [laughter] No, I know you're busy. I mean, you Oh, I'm sure you do. Yeah. That's not even our ad hoc committees yet. So, would someone else want to um step up to Since it's twice per year and I have experience in water, I'm happy to. Okay. All right. Thank you. And I'm going to make a motion for all the things we just discussed. Mayor, I'm I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I should have said something. Okay.

For the League of California Cities, is it possible for me to an alternate or with Council Member Loian? We can have two people. We You can do that with

Okay, great. Because I I I was just appointed to you that committee. Okay. Thank you. All right. I'll I'll amend my motion. Okay. Thank you. Just one second. [snorts] motion carries with all council members voting yes.

Okay. For expediency, I'm going to ask [snorts] this for the appointments to standing and ad hoc subcommittees. My proposal is to keep composition of each subcommittee the same unless anyone has any requested changes. And here's the the following. Animal welfare audit, developmental approval, council leazison, development permit process improvement, downtown events, future MacArthur Park, public art, career exposition, citizens emergency preparedness, climate action. The following are ad hoc committee's America's 250th birthday child-friendly city of La Mesa civic center master plan review of the design review board. Does anyone have any changes to anything I just said?

Yes. Only if I'm not stepping on toes. So I want to hear from uh my colleagues that currently sit on it. But um I've been meeting a lot with the friends of m the friends of MacArthur Park, the dog owners, and I would love to sit on the future of MacArthur Park subcommittee if that's possible. But if my colleague and council member Suzuki only if only if you're willing, it's okay if not.

Okay. So that'll be amendment to the emotion and that will be my motion then. second. Thank you. [cough] Okay, please vote. We'll get you some uh paper towels.

It did. Did it really?

First meeting of the year. We're doing great. Mo [laughter] motion carries with all council members voting yes.

Thank you. Council committee reports. Council member Dillard. Thank you. Council member um Loathian, Council Member Suzuki, Coun Vice Mayor Casaris. Uh we had our first Sandag meeting of the year last Friday and we discussed uh 2025 and the way that uh the SADAG board has really come together and is working really well to fix a lot of the issues um from years past um including settling some lawsuits and and whatnot. So um really looking forward to it. We talked about um the next year and uh I'm looking forward to serving as primary. Thank you again.

Thank you. Um, AB1234, no one traveled. City attorney remarks. Okay, we're adjourned until the second of the fourth Tuesday. Thank you for your cooperation.