Council Meeting Date: April 19, 2023 (full Agenda link)
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 Regular Meeting on Wednesday, April 19 at 6 pm. Following the Roll Call the Council began moving through the Agenda beginning with Public Comments and Presentations. The City Council adopted a Proclamation in support of National Peace Officers Memorial Day and heard and expressed support for participation as part of the San Mateo County Age-Friendly Committee.
Next, the Council moved to Departmental Reports (~6:27 pm). The Departmental Reports are prepared monthly as part of the City Council's Regular Agenda. In addition to current reports from the City Manager, it typically includes departmental updates on the various happenings around Town such as reports from Administration, Community Services, Planning, Police, and Public Works.
Following Departmental Reports, the Council moved to the Consent Agenda consisting of Items 1 through 5 (~6:36 pm). 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 bills and claims, minutes, and Approval of Scopes of Work for the Inclusionary Study, Event Garden Enhancement and DG Pathway @ the Park. The Council approved all items on the Consent Agenda.
Next was Public Hearings.
Public Hearings are typically held for Ordinances, Budget Adoption, Fee Adoption, and Land Use approvals. There were two scheduled Public Hearings.
Item No. 6 was Introduction of an Ordinance to ban the use of Gas Powered Leaf Blowers beginning July 1, 2024. (~6:38 pm) Following brief Q&A and opportunity for public comment, the Council introduced the Ordinance for 1st Reading. 2nd Reading and Adoption is scheduled for May 17, 2023.
Item No. 7 was Approval of a Tentative Map Exception for 43 Santiago to allow subdivision of the lot. (~6:42 pm) Following discussion related to setbacks, similarly situated lots, and prospective Code changes, the Council took public comment. Following discussion, the Council approved the Exception, making the associated findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.
Next up was the Regular Agenda. The Regular Agenda is reserved for items that require more deliberation and discussion by the City Council and items that are not routine in nature.
Item No. 8 was a report from the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Housing related to the creation of criteria for the identification of housing opportunity sites as part of the 6th Cycle Housing Element. (~6:53 pm) Following a brief staff report and public comment, the Council discussed the criteria and suggested the following revisions, reducing the total number of criteria to 7:
- 1st Bullet - Reduce the 1/2 mile designation to 1/4 mile; Eliminate Minor Arterials restricting the routes to El Camino Real only.
- 2nd Bullet - Revise "Across from" to "Across the Street from"; Remove "planned" and retain "existing" only.
- 3rd Bullet - Remove "planned"; eliminate "denser development"
- 4th Bullet - Leave as is
- 5th Bullet - Leave as is
- 6th Bullet - Leave as is
- 7th Bullet - Leave as is
- 8th Bullet - Remove
Following discussion and recommended revisions, the Council directed that the criteria be revised and returned for further discussion.
Item No. 9 was authorization to add EV Charging Stations at the Park. (~8:07 pm) Following a brief staff report and public comment, the Council discussed issues related to need, placement, capacity, and future technology. Following discussion, the Council approved 8 charging ports with 2, 4-port units at the Entry Lot and 2, 4-port units at the Pavilion parking lot.
Item No. 10 was authorization to rehabilitate the Play Structure at the Park. (~8:23 pm) Following a brief staff report and public comment, the Council discussed issues related to off-the-shelf purchase of structures, public contract process, timing for renovation and expansion of the entire play structure and timing of the installation of repairs. Following discussion, the Council authorized moving forward with the rehabilitation.
Item No. 11 was award of contract for the Train Station Rehabilitation Project. (~8:33 pm) Following a brief staff report and public comment, the Council discussed issues related to the number of bids received, quality of the contractor, bidding process, timing, future station memoriabilia and content, and potential use of Town funds. Following discussion, the Council awarded the contract for the work.
Item No. 12 was authorization for the use of Town Library Funds for creation of Town and Train History Videos. (~8:45 pm) Following a brief staff report and public comment, the Council expressed support for the use of Library funds for the identified purpose.
The last items on the Agenda were Council Reports and final Public Comments.
Having cleared the entire Agenda, at approximately 8:48 pm, that as they say - was a wrap!
The next meeting of the City Council will be a Study Session on Wednesday, May 3 at 4 pm. The Agenda includes the FY 2023/24 Budget Capital Improvement Program Review (Joint Meeting with the Audit and Finance Committee) and Review of Proposed Revisions to the Town's Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance (Joint Meeting with the Planning Commission)..
Thanks for reading!
George Rodericks
City Manager
Town of Atherton
grodericks@ci.atherton.ca.us