Council Approves BevMo!, Hotel Tax on Ballot and River Property Preservation

The meeting was a quick one, with little debate and unanimous votes on issues including a liquor license for the incoming , upgrades to the that would appear on the November ballot, and the acquisition of riverfront property for preservation.

BevMo!

Mayor Randy Voepel said he received a few notes from residents that said Santee already has enough liquor stores, but he maintained that BevMo! would only be replacing the alcohol selection that was available at the next door.

The Conditional Use Permit to allow a liquor store was approved with five votes.

Beverages and More is set to open at 9755 Mission Gorge Road, in the Plaza de Cuyamaca shopping center. It would open in the , 9,502 sq. ft. that recently became vacant.

TOT Tax

Councilmember raised a question about the application of TOT taxes to campsites in Santee, namely at . The city manager said that two-thirds of the new TOT tax income would come from applying the tax to campsites.

The council voted to put on the November ballot a measure to increase in the rate of the city’s from six to ten percent and include campsites in the TOT tax. The city revenue would increase by an estimated $260,000 annually if it passes in the November election.

Hanlon-Walker Preservation

The City Council voted to approve the final measures in Santee's aquisition of the . The lands is valued at approximately $2 million, and will cost the city about $20,000 plus $18,750 for annual maintanence. Grants from the State Coastal Conservancy and California Wildlife Conservation Board funded the rest of the acquisition project.

The trail that would go through the property is in a list of the city's capital improvement projects, but the City Manager said no funds are budgeted for it yet.

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