Minutes for Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Normal Heights Community Center/Zoom
4649 Hawley Avenue
Attendees:
X = in attendance
| X | Paul Coogan (C) | X | Kenny Patrick | X | Emilie Dedeic |
| X | Allan Harjala (VC) | X | Dan Soderberg | X | Sierra Orsinelli-Rivers |
| X | Julia Corbett (S) | X | Mark Lawler | X | Brian Adams |
| X | Frances Prichett (T) | X | Nancy Lawler | X | Minhhieu Phamvu |
| X | Sami Burrows | X | Kim Pham | X | Matthew Chaffee |
Paul called the meeting to order at 6:05. The board read the opening reflection and then gave a brief overview of the meeting procedure.
Community Attendees
Estimate: 6 zoom attendees, 9 in person attendees
Non-Agenda Public Comment
- Becky Rapp*: Encourages people to report illegal sales of THC products. Expressed concern that laws against illegal THC products aren’t being enforced.
- Paul: Renters deserve the same rights as homeowners regarding parking.
Sam Gonzalez – State Senator Weber Pierson
- Reach out to the Senator for help with DMV, EDD, or other state agencies
- awards a certificate of appreciation along with the board to timekeeper Parker
- Gov. Newsom proposed a draft budget in January, a revised budget will be released in May
- The Senator will hold a Lupus Awareness Research Symposium
- The Senator is accepting nominations for the LGBTQ+ community leader award, including a small business owner award. The deadline for nominations in 5/29.
Scott – Adams Avenue Business Association (AABA)
- $650,000 budget & over 800 dues-paying members
- The city has contributed funding to the AABA since 2001, because the AABA does the City’s work, including
- emptying trash cans
- planting trees
- picking up litter\
- hosting special events
- painting and maintaining the historic Adams Avenue sign
- The City cut half of its funding to the AABA last year and will cut the other half this year
- Simultaneously, the City is increasing fees
- the police bill for the most recent Adams Avenue event nearly tripled
- You can write a letter of support for restoring the AABA’s funding to the City
- Expresses concerns regarding where parking meter revenue will go
- Revenue is legally supposed to be directed towards the parking/business districts where meters are located
Vote to send a letter to the City in opposition to AABA budget cuts
Emilie 1st, Frances 2nd
Yes: unanimous
- Ramie: The City’s budget shortfall is just about the same as the funding they lost in waived impact fees
Impacts of SB79 on Normal Heights
- SB79 updates allowable density near high quality transit
- Floor Area Ratio (FAR) will increase in the SE corner or Normal Heights by El Cajon Boulevard (ECB)
- Choice between high density along ECB and some of the surrounding residential areas, or along ECB only
Bryan: I recommend increased density along ECB only. As you move away from ECB distance to transit becomes less feasible for commutes.
Julia: Raises concerns about displacement for residents in residential areas, which are primarily renters, due to redevelopment.
Consensus: Board advocates for increased density along ECB only, but to maintain current density north of Meade.
- However, if current community plan draft goes through, all of Normal Heights south of Adams Avenue will have allowed density increased.
Parking
Bryan: Supports teeth (parking spot outlines), and for owners/renters to be able to block their own driveway. Does not support parking permits.
Minhhieu: Also support teeth but not parking permits
Kim: Over time, parking in Normal Heights will not increase but density will
Julia: There should be investment in public transit when zoning density is increased
Madison: proposes resident-only parking infrastructure at Rite Aid. Concerned about the beauracratic difficulty of getting resident parking permits.
Actions/Decisions
April Minutes approved
Paul 1st, Frances 2nd
Yes: unanimous with the exception of…
Abstain: Madison, Julia, Dan (all abstaining members were not present at the April meeting)
Reports/Updates
Government Representatives
Fatima – Mayor Todd Gloria
- $18 million city budget deficit
- Stormwater, street repair, homeless services, police, and fire will experience no cuts
- 3/31 will be renamed Farmworkers’ Day
- The City is looking for grants to expand EV charging stations
- There is a new affordable development around University & I-15
- The Rock N’ Roll Marathon will take place including sections of Normal Heights on 5/31
Standing Committees
Community Planning Group – Paul
- When there’s presentations at the City Council CPG people should get more than the standard 1-2 minutes of public comment time.
- The community garden is getting water installed on May 13th!
- The group still needs a Right of Entry (ROE) from the City, which will take some time.
- Applied to AARP and County grants but haven’t yet heard back
- Weeds have been wacked
Adams Community Recreation – Nancy
- May move meetings to once every 3 months
- Movies in the Park will include screenings of Zootopia at Ward Canyon Park
- Summer camps are filling up
- The library and Rec Center will be closed on Mondays due to budget cuts
- Proposes writing a letter to advocate against the closures
Adjournment
Paul called the meeting to adjournment at about 8:15pm