Posted on April 16, 2020 at 2:19 PM by grodericks grodericks
Council Meeting Date: April 15, 2020
Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/user/TownOfAtherton/featured
Details of each item can be found via the links to Staff Reports within the narrative.
The City Council met for the April Regular Meeting (in an anything but regular virtual format) on Wednesday, April 15 at 7 pm via Zoom Teleconference pursuant to the Governor's Executive Order No. 25-20. Following the Roll Call, the Council began moving through the Agenda beginning with Presentations and Public Comments.
Presentations included a Proclamation for Public Safety Communications Personnel Week - April 12 through April 18. The Mayor read the Proclamation aloud for those in attendance.
Following recognition for Communications Week, the Council moved on to recognize retiring Atherton Dispatcher Janelle Miller in honor of her over 23 years of service to the Town, presenting her with a Proclamation for her service to the Town.
Following Public Comment, the Council moved to the City Manager's Report. The City Manager's Report is prepared monthly as part of the City Council's Regular Agenda. In addition to current reports from the City Manager, it includes departmental updates on the various happenings around Town such as reports from Administration, Community Services, Planning, Police, and Public Works. The Council received Oral Reports from the City Manager and staff on various issues contained within the City Manager's Report. As part of the City Manager's Report, the Council also certified the continuation of the local emergency due to COVID-19. The Council also discussed issues related to the Town's response to COVID-19, updates to FAQs on the Town's website regarding COVID-19, direction regarding a letter to the County Health Officer for allowances for landscaping and gardening activities under the Shelter-in-Place Order, and establishment of an Ad Hoc Committee to discuss restarting operations in the Town in the midst of the Shelter-in-Place Order.
Following the City Manager's Report, the Council moved to the Consent Agenda consisting of Items 6 and 10. Items on the Consent Agenda are considered routine in nature and are generally considered in one motion and adopted by a single vote of the Council. Included in this month's Consent Agenda were minutes of various meetings, bills and claims, Resolutions related to adoption of a Debt Policy and Disclosure Policy, and a Resolution approving a Project List qualifying under SB 1. Following amendments to various sets of minutes, the City Council approved the Consent Agenda.
Next up was a Public Hearing - Item No. 11, Introduction and 1st Reading of an Ordinance establishing Signature Authority for Town contracts. Following a brief staff report and opportunity for public comments, the Council discussed issues related application of and need for the Ordinance, how it integrated into the Town's existing policies and protocols, and current practices. Following discussion, the Council introduced the Ordinance for 1st Reading.
Item No. 12 was a Public Hearing to consider adoption of a Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program; Approval of a Conditional Use Permit and Direction to Staff regarding continuing negotiation with Menlo School and Menlo College for use of the property at 30 Alejandra Avenue for the Cartan Field Stormwater Capture Project. Following a staff report, presentations, and opportunity for public c comment, the Council discussed the condition of the Atherton Channel at the project location, affected Heritage Trees, the use of the water filtered from the system, the condition of the water filtered through the system, and design and construction timing. The Council inquired about the addition of water from El Camino Real to the Project. Following discussion, the City Council adopted the IS/MND, approved the Mitigation Monitoring Plan, approved the conditional use permit and directed staff to continue negotiations with Menlo School and Menlo College in support of the Project.
Next up was the Regular Agenda.
Item No. 13 was a review and discussion of potential revenue and expenditure impacts due to COVID-19 for Fiscal Year 2019/20 and 2020/21. Staff presented the staff report and following questions and public comment, the Council discussed issues related to reductions in revenues, opportunities for reduction in expenses, reduction in the Educational Revenue Augmentation Fund (ERAF), affect of the loss of ERAF, impacts from property tax payment delays, and other potential exposures for Town revenues in the current and future fiscal year. The Report was informational only.
Following Council Reports and Final Public Comments, having cleared the entire Agenda, at approximately 9 pm, that as they say - was a wrap!
The next meeting of the City Council will be April 22. This will be a Special Meeting of the City Council. The Council meets weekly on Wednesdays at 4 pm to discuss the continuing emergency related to COVID-19. Further Staff Reports for the FY 2020/21 Budget Process will be presented to the Council at the May 6 Study Session.