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Santee council adopts updated Safety Element and environmental justice policies required by state law
Summary
Santee adopted a state‑mandated update to its General Plan Safety Element, including identification of disadvantaged communities as required by Senate Bill 1000 and a negative declaration under CEQA. Council and staff flagged local priorities including community center and improvements at Big Rock Park in the city’s disadvantaged area.
The Santee City Council voted unanimously to adopt a state‑mandated update to the city’s General Plan Safety Element and the related CEQA negative declaration after a continuation hearing on the item.
The update responds to state requirements to address flood hazards, very high fire severity zones, climate adaptation and resilience, evacuation routes and to incorporate environmental justice policies required by Senate Bill 1000. Staff described a multi‑year process that began in 2020, included stakeholder and safety advisory meetings and a Board of Forestry approval in 2023; the Department of Conservation also reviewed the element.
Consultant Sydney from Harrison Associates summarized the environmental justice analysis and the state’s definition of disadvantaged communities as low‑income areas disproportionately affected by pollution and hazards. The adopted mapping shows the city’s disadvantaged community area in the southern portion of Santee — generally west of State Route 67 and south of Mission Gorge Road — and informed targeted policies on pollution exposure, access to facilities, food access, physical activity, housing and climate‑related health risks.
Councilmembers praised staff outreach and suggested priorities for the mapped area: a community center funded through park‑impact fees, additional improvements at Big Rock Park and upgrades to restroom facilities. Councilmember Laura Koval noted the city’s intention to fund the community center first and said the teen center at Big Rock Park is heavily used and should remain on the city’s radar for future improvements.
Staff said a negative declaration was circulated, received one comment that did not require revisions, and recommended adoption of the safety element update to comply with state law. Councilmember discussion also touched on local air‑quality questions near Magnolia and the limits of city authority over regional features such as State Route 52 and Gillespie Field.
The council adopted the negative declaration and the updated Safety Element and directed staff to continue follow‑up on the community‑identified priorities. The update will be incorporated into the city’s General Plan record and used to guide future safety and resilience planning.
