[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6527774,"mediaKeyId","3533897-8e72e292d6e97173ef7f2b26d6a73fb5","parentId",3533897,"title","Votes at a glance: El Cajon council approves consent items, receives beautification report and adjourns to closed session","audioSeconds",4099,"startMs",555000,"endMs",4654000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3533897-8e72e292d6e97173ef7f2b26d6a73fb5&start=555&end=4654","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3533897-8e72e292d6e97173ef7f2b26d6a73fb5/thumbnail_555000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6527774/El-Cajon/San-Diego-County/California/Votes-at-a-glance-El-Cajon-council-approves-consent-items-receives-beautification-report-and-adjourns-to-closed-session","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6527774-e615b7b2042c339d9a5b977303a4a464/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170079&Signature=ZWSZcnwmzlDjq22nQ-DTs-mPyOLAZ-oHqw--MognOW8vaujSRZNG-kU6RIct-By4OdUWekPul1AKFhdsaDasDthF3m-aCN37KzjI20Rewmi29wNLRGXkMk2LpIj2jA4GTWgdD0lZiKpf~y1EVHJVkRX4QaF32o4euz9UbzCPyK~TnpKbnpzMhoDxxOasYf9vLtisSISXs4Oj5lt9hD5XiZXZg8t5mc2B-3YPppXTtCOeFo0LPz58wv4maJVkE10d143gbuPoTq6Kbrj9CHpA93SPxUi4pAWnfp~GusrIxaiCdgyH4Fs9GDCLOjcSutyyZf8q3r0vMgWGdn4dbc8hJQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Elcajon","date","2025-05-27T00:00:00Z","article","The El Cajon City Council took several procedural votes during its May 27, 2025 meeting.

- Consent items: Council moved and seconded a single motion to approve routine consent calendar items; the mayor announced the motion carried by unanimous vote.

- Business Beautification Grant report (Item 10): Councilmember Steve Goble moved to receive the staff report summarizing program outcomes; Mayor Wells seconded. The motion carried by unanimous vote.

- Closed session: The council voted unanimously to adjourn to closed session on two anticipated-litigation items. The city attorney later reported the council met in closed session and gave direction to the city’s attorneys on both matters; no closed-session actions were disclosed.

No ordinances or resolutions received final action at the meeting; staff will follow up on the outstanding grant permits and on action-plan directives discussed under Item 11.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Elcajon - City Council Meeting 3pm - May 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At the May 27 meeting the council unanimously approved routine consent items, voted to receive the Business Beautification Grant report and took procedural votes to move into closed session.","taxTitle","El Cajon, San Diego County, California","taxId",2845,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6527781,"El Cajon council debates homelessness strategy: staff to return with options for local counts and enhanced enforcement",444,3896000,4340000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3533897-8e72e292d6e97173ef7f2b26d6a73fb5&start=3896&end=4340","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3533897-8e72e292d6e97173ef7f2b26d6a73fb5/thumbnail_3896000.jpg","/articles/6527781/El-Cajon/San-Diego-County/California/El-Cajon-council-debates-homelessness-strategy-staff-to-return-with-options-for-local-counts-and-enhanced-enforcement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6527781-7153eb498394afdfd001c9fb4b448282/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170079&Signature=cGTa5h1alZSMAof8SoQ46EhXMEQuqXl9SHG8NBnOu5Bob1czayehcqFWv~CjNDaaN9SkaGo7UFTSkHZH4Z4J7Umt6fIYZCytLpyGKyzwqomYbiWH4yR2Ccj1tVECxfZB1DKjGwEeOgViFJKmBtAZNaX0wAYL2nmlhaWtm2CoDBSkQkoqP2mXua10RUOJehwjD8vPvxvB3sccOWaelBTWM2tiP-E4xlsGQQB1y64jjHXa7-fjMqJt3txsMyqLCHdEyLZ8NKpaaPN7RHaaww0gwgekqfAVXQEUm351L0SRlnKyrzi7la-B1uIMTvowHgvNWfLEeixKSjXPCW5XiKaLmg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City Manager Graham presented a quarterly update on the City Council Action Plan at the May 27 El Cajon City Council meeting, focusing on five topics that staff said required council guidance: a volunteer program, a homelessness success-story video, quality-of-life team coverage for outreach and encampment cleanup, the city’s response to the point-in-time homeless count, and a citizens academy.

Volunteer program: Staff described challenges in vetting volunteer groups and residents’ needs, the liability exposure that can accompany city matchmaking, and the staff time required to manage such a program. Staff offered two options: defer the program or maintain a low-vetting online resource page listing volunteer organizations and letting residents contact them directly. Councilmembers generally favored deferring the full program but supported a simple resource page.

Homelessness video and success stories: Staff described an earlier video that followed outreach work and said contractors and service providers were reluctant to be filmed for a new, longitudinal success-story production. Councilmembers favored repurposing existing footage into shorter clips for web and social channels rather than commissioning an expensive new documentary.

Quality-of-life team coverage: Staff outlined two paths for increasing outreach and encampment work. A full expansion — which staff said would require hiring a sergeant, six officers, four public-works employees and one parks employee (12 positions in total) — carried an estimated one-time cost of about $1.5 million. The lower-cost alternative proposed was to pay overtime to existing staff for periodically increased enforcement; staff estimated a 10-hour extra operation costs about $20,000 in overtime and that 24 such events a year would total nearly $480,000. Councilmembers asked staff to return with a menu of options at several price points and to consider one-time “full court press” scenarios funded from reserves.

Point-in-time (PIT) count: Staff raised concerns that the regional PIT count included census tracts partially or entirely outside El Cajon city limits and reported a jurisdictional discrepancy. City staff said the regional tally showed 344 people counted but that their review suggests the city’s true number may be closer to 243; staff said they would work with the regional task force to investigate. Several councilmembers supported the idea of the city conducting its own periodic counts (quarterly suggested) to obtain consistent, locally relevant data and to ask additional survey questions useful to city policy.

Other items: Staff reported 13 arrests with bookings under the city’s Prop 36 enforcement approach and suggested reassessing providers and funding priorities; staff recommended shelving a proposed citizens academy pending budget constraints.

Council direction and next steps: Council asked staff to return with a proposal that includes: (1) cost estimates and pros/cons for a city-led PIT count at different frequencies, (2) a tiered menu of options for increased quality-of-life operations (including one-time and recurring costs), (3) options for storage or handling of property left at cleared encampments, and (4) a plan to reassess service-provider contracts and RFP timing. No formal votes were taken on those items at the meeting.","Councilmembers discussed volunteer programs, repackaging homeless outreach videos, expanding the quality-of-life team (staffing vs. overtime options), and concerns about the regional point-in-time count. Staff was asked to return with costed options for local counts and enforcement tiers.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6527786,"El Cajon reports business-beautification grants funded with ARPA; city says 60 businesses received upgrades",991,2511000,3502000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3533897-8e72e292d6e97173ef7f2b26d6a73fb5&start=2511&end=3502","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3533897-8e72e292d6e97173ef7f2b26d6a73fb5/thumbnail_2511000.jpg","/articles/6527786/El-Cajon/San-Diego-County/California/El-Cajon-reports-business-beautification-grants-funded-with-ARPA-city-says-60-businesses-received-upgrades","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6527786-65c7f63942834f97c0dd62cdab6e99f2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170079&Signature=XwwJ1G4rBsSOFPzzrcMIHt1wWiQllQLaKgHPi0kogZLbI~WvaZQine-6dJHw5NEdMtxM8hovdk7FEbWyAExp1v-KPiM6CLl8onoNTo2Ibc78d1nUT-zARxccbi7sj76p7TL17n0wwUYp0dkZwpTBaI4EyelZSwHjRRnYBPJrmlc4p2-MhU4r~~dj7wYKaaAdsq0N3~AGgeZqn1u4~iPLqaXZP0HaxX4T8DzOYL6EmBosCksUf2PZcPZJ0LYLAqMgkpcwFkr4R9KrcwzgDVjAQKdUgKxUilfJkuuQOR63d0FZ4S5DbUuhG~3q1vZzGrEnoShHqLiP02AngGZjs5Zoog__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Marketing and Engagement Manager Chris Berg briefed the El Cajon City Council on May 27 on the city’s Business Beautification Grant program, which used American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to help local businesses repair signs, paint facades and fix windows.

Berg said the city initially allocated $500,000 from ARPA in January 2024, launched the program in February and received roughly $1.7 million in requests from businesses. Council then increased funding, doubling the original allocation to about $1,000,000 and provided a prioritization matrix so staff could distribute awards.

“Almost all were completed by December of last year,” Berg said, adding that 60 businesses were served through 75 grants (some businesses applied for multiple grant components). He reported the sign grant was the largest category, with more than $700,000 allocated to signage projects.

Several business owners and nonprofit leaders praised the program during public comment. Linda Baltudano, president of the East County Art Association, said the grant allowed her gallery to install a new sign and mural. Molly Cromwiede, owner of Camp Renamut, said a sign grant “was beyond our expectations” and helped customers identify the business after a move. Councilmembers thanked staff and said the program yielded visible improvements on Main Street and in other commercial corridors.

Councilmember Steve Goble moved to receive the report; the motion was seconded and carried unanimously.

Key details provided by staff:
- Initial allocation: $500,000 from ARPA (January 2024).
- Total requests received: approximately $1,700,000.
- Council increased funding to roughly $1,000,000 and gave staff prioritization guidance.
- Businesses served: 60 businesses with 75 grants.
- Largest category: sign grants (more than $700,000).
- Outstanding items: two grants awaiting permits; staff reported the program would have a zero balance once those are completed.

What happens next: No further council action was required; staff will monitor the two outstanding permit-dependent grants and finalize closeout paperwork.","City staff said the Business Beautification Grant program began with $500,000 in ARPA funds, drew $1.7 million in requests, and was increased by the council to about $1,000,000. Staff said 60 businesses received 75 grants and most work was completed by December 2024; council received the report unanimously.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6527789,"El Cajon police say they did not work with ICE after community reports of a raid; officials urge residents to report incidents",475,1415000,1890000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3533897-8e72e292d6e97173ef7f2b26d6a73fb5&start=1415&end=1890","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3533897-8e72e292d6e97173ef7f2b26d6a73fb5/thumbnail_1415000.jpg","/articles/6527789/El-Cajon/San-Diego-County/California/El-Cajon-police-say-they-did-not-work-with-ICE-after-community-reports-of-a-raid-officials-urge-residents-to-report-incidents","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6527789-d5022cafafdb6e2c81b8cbe278ce9f00/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170080&Signature=AXmPHjwiw7aiwUP4dF-eVLtEZN2TyWJ0nFsbDPi~s56ISWgss9tGYPmS3BYoMc506e3bf1pER~Z~-L~oanK5vSyHh~7B5MX40qycP8VorLapGgPIu630sSZe7NA-mqJ8xRrHt1vhhroOclR175YLoIF9tZXM4gLqzPIpH3Q4KLDImLi9rEka4iDWWX6LqbHSsKeYYF-7anD9suKm723RWdppiQoBBd1i6jML-My-LSDZJlYVmekcHKs5P2UcmRfxF0YiM5~wlAziMIT91NIorFzhPh90Aw3hgrxrimDzfpISc65mHolWcv~5RC~LkK4VBRhD6903MQyTs3mn38FPXg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several residents raised alarms at the May 27 El Cajon City Council meeting about what they described as an attempted immigration enforcement incident involving an elderly couple. Community members said video evidence exists showing people trying to force entry at a trailer park and that a drone and officers later arrived.

Mayor Wells and City Manager Graham asked Police Chief (name not provided) to brief the council. The chief said the department responded to a call about a suspicious vehicle that had a connection to a registered sex offender and that El Cajon police did not coordinate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on the response. “ICE was not in our community that day,” the chief said. “We do not call ICE. We do not call the IRS. We respond to and we prevent crime in the city of El Cajon regardless of who’s involved.”

The chief told council that federal partners — ICE, DHS, FBI and DEA — inform local agencies when they are in the city, and that the police department had received no notifications in the prior four to six weeks of federal activity in El Cajon. The chief also said the department is not deputizing officers to act as ICE agents and cited SB 54 as limiting local involvement.

Councilmembers encouraged residents to report incidents directly to police and to ask the department whether activity in a neighborhood is occurring. “If anyone in the city feels unsafe, they should call the police and say, is this a reason to be unsafe in the city?” Councilmember Steve Goble said. City staff offered to provide a contact within the police department for residents seeking real-time confirmation of activity.

Why it matters: Several people at the meeting said they feared immigration enforcement actions and that social media rumors had raised alarm. City officials said confusion and hearsay can create fear and that direct communication with the police is the quickest way to confirm whether federal enforcement is occurring.

No formal action was taken; councilmembers requested clearer communication lines to the public and asked staff and police to continue outreach.","Residents described an alleged ICE attempt and video evidence; the police chief and city manager told council members ICE was not in El Cajon that day, and the police department said it does not deputize officers to act as ICE agents under SB 54.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6527794,"Resident says speeding drivers are hitting parked cars on Graves Avenue; council asks staff to re-evaluate traffic warrants",215,737000,952000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3533897-8e72e292d6e97173ef7f2b26d6a73fb5&start=737&end=952","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3533897-8e72e292d6e97173ef7f2b26d6a73fb5/thumbnail_737000.jpg","/articles/6527794/El-Cajon/San-Diego-County/California/Resident-says-speeding-drivers-are-hitting-parked-cars-on-Graves-Avenue-council-asks-staff-to-re-evaluate-traffic-warrants","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6527794-5b70c30e84649d14597a51eb02fa74e2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170080&Signature=M1DVo8ENuqCDTr2IPY2P8dehK5lruwGJ1mHGIs8vcTSLJY6gkJLR0-KEzdhhk5Eu61CWfBTAauErbdAaTIW6t5yl056LJJd6TzAmLsUHp1bMmj8lywgtmPJxkUloSOW6Y8G8xLqfljZ69RBANSAG9SrTg04Q2RLn0yrqlc6qw1mjSNA0Wq4Gt79PE7d3qhjneKILerVdIH72tauFYsJ6mYUkFvbCrDbmHVpFvWcEf99~mV7OzhY2AxwlYc0ihcQ0T1AQIKcfF7I3Fy8mId06zCR~FcAT0AZp0wmi~s4S3d~Ob~LziWREYvtVDxVxa-CTFyBvJ9xu83jRZYweggDxgw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Justin Heffernan, a Graves Avenue resident, told the El Cajon City Council on May 27 that cars have been speeding “upwards of 60 miles per hour” on Graves Avenue and described a crash the morning of the meeting in which a southbound car struck a parked van and pushed it about 10 feet onto the curb.

The council and staff responded that traffic control devices such as stop signs must meet established engineering warrants before the city installs them. City Manager Graham said staff would re-examine the prior traffic study and “run some another analysis, especially given the latest crash” to determine whether warrants have changed.

Why it matters: Neighbors described repeated crashes and near-misses that they say have made driveways and sidewalks dangerous. Councilmembers stressed that local reporting and police documentation — police reports and other official records — strengthen the case for engineering changes.

Heffernan said he submitted a service request through the city’s app on Nov. 26, 2024, and received a reply on Dec. 4, 2024, that a traffic study found stop signs were unwarranted and that the city planned to add 25-mph speed-limit signs instead. He told council that the temporary stop controls used when a sewer repair closed part of Ballantine in late 2024 sharply reduced speeding.

“From the day I moved in to yesterday, I’ve witnessed three accidents where speeding cars have hit parked cars,” Heffernan told council. He asked the city to install stop signs at Graves and Cedar and said the speed-limit sign placed after the earlier crash had been knocked down in the most recent collision.

Graham and councilmembers described the legal and engineering constraints cities face when adding stop signs, saying installing an unwarranted stop sign can create liability. Councilmember Gary Kendrick urged neighbors to document crashes and file police reports, and Councilmember Steve Goble said staff would “relook at that” in light of the new crash.

What the city will do: Staff committed to re-running analyses of crash history and speeds on Graves Avenue and to report back; no council motion or formal policy change was taken at the meeting. Councilmembers suggested residents gather additional documentation, including police reports, and pursue petitions if staff analysis remains unchanged.

The discussion occurred during the public comment portion of the May 27 meeting and did not result in an immediate council vote.","A resident told the El Cajon City Council that drivers travel up to about 60 mph on Graves Avenue and described a crash that pushed a parked van onto a curb. Staff said traffic warrants must be met before adding stop signs and agreed to re-run studies after the recent crash.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: El Cajon council approves consent items, receives beautification report and adjourns to closed session

El Cajon council debates homelessness strategy: staff to return with options for local counts and enhanced enforcement

El Cajon reports business-beautification grants funded with ARPA; city says 60 businesses received upgrades

El Cajon police say they did not work with ICE after community reports of a raid; officials urge residents to report incidents

Resident says speeding drivers are hitting parked cars on Graves Avenue; council asks staff to re-evaluate traffic warrants