Posted on September 20, 2018 at 10:03 AM by grodericks grodericks
Council Meeting Date: September 19, 2018
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 their Regular City Council Meeting on Wednesday, September 19 beginning at 7 pm.
At 7 pm, the Council convened in Open Session for the Regular Meeting.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance, the Council moved to Presentations. The Mayor and Council presented a Proclamation to Barbara Wood in recognition of her service as a journalist covering the Town of Atherton for the Almanac News and congratulating her on her upcoming retirement. The Council also heard a presentation from Atherton Fiber/Paxio on the status of their fiber network deployment throughout Town. Following presentations, the Council moved to Public Comment where there were two speakers commenting on the current status of Surf Air. Later in the Agenda, the Mayor advised that he would be sending a letter to the County on behalf of the Town asking that they take efforts to prevent the return of Surf Air to San Carlos Airport.
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.
After the City Manager's Report, the Council moved to the Consent Agenda consisting of Items 8 through 18. 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, minutes, Treasurer's Report, 2nd Reading and Adoption of a Development Agreement Ordinance, Acceptance of Work for various Town projects, adoption of a Resolution establishing speed limits and authorization of a Request for Proposal for Environmental Work in support of a Water Capture Project at Cartan Field.
Following the Consent Agenda, the Council took up the first of four (4) Public Hearings. Item No. 19 was an Appeal of a Notice and Order Issued for 370 Walsh Road. The Council opened the Public Hearing and took comments from the appellant (property owner) and other public comment. Following the Public Hearing, the Council discussed issues related to the current condition of the property, the enforcement process, plans for the property by the property owner, concerns of the neighbors, remedies, fines, and next steps. Following discussion, the Council denied the Appeal and directed the property owner to work with Town staff over the next 30 days to bring the property into compliance.
Item No. 20 was a Public Hearing to introduce an Ordinance amending Chapter 12.24 of the Atherton Municipal Code related to Holbrook Palmer Park. Staff gave a brief presentation noting that the proposed ordinance amended sections of the Code related to the Park in order to bring those sections into alignment with other current law. A suggested amendment was related to Section 12.24.055, Animals to ensure that approved Facility Rental Agreements were taken into consideration. Following the staff report and public comment, the Council discussed the amendments and whether or not to consider a future discussion of an off leash area. It was noted that the Park & Recreation Committee would be reviewing the possibility of an off leash area in the near future. Following discussion, the Council introduced the Ordinance, as amended.
Item No. 21 was a Public Hearing for 2nd Reading and Adoption of an Ordinance related to False Alarm Systems and Adoption of a related Fee Resolution. Following the brief staff report and public comment, the Council briefly discussed issues related to processing of renewals. Following discussion, the Council adopted the Ordinance and Resolution.
Next up was the final Public Hearing, Item No. 22, a Fee Resolution Amending Fees and Charges Related to Rental of the Pavilion in Holbrook Palmer Park. Following a brief staff report and public comment, the Council discussed issues related to the various rental periods, comparatives to other rental venues, and the Administrative Fees charged by the Town. Following discussion, the Council adopted the Fee Resolution.
Next was the Regular Agenda, Item No. 23 was Review and Discussion of the Civic Center Project and approval of a Scope of Work from the Project Architect for the City Hall/Police Department Building Value Engineering. Following the staff report and public comment, the Council discussed issues related to the clay tile roof value engineering option, the future installation of photovoltaic panels, project funding, and the Council Chambers. Following discussion, the Council amended the scope for the roofing to place asphalt shingle wherever there were planned photovoltaic panels and clay tile in the remainder and directed that staff move the Council Chambers to an Additive Alternate as opposed to being a part of the base bid. With these changes to the value engineering options, the Council authorized the Scope of Work for the Project Architect.
Item No. 24 was the Adoption of a Tree Inspection and Risk Management Policy for Town-owned or Town-maintained Trees and Direction on the Continued Maintenance of Trees on Middlefield Road and the possibility of Maintenance of Trees on Marsh Road. Following a staff report and public comment, the Council discussed issues related to tree maintenance budget, types of trees, the tree inventory, current maintenance standards, rationale for the policy, Town risk, and complaint response. Following discussion, the Council adopted the Policy and directed that staff continue to maintain the trees along Middlefield Road but continue to require property owner maintenance of the trees along Marsh Road.
Next the Council moved on to the Staff Reports on Responses to the San Mateo County Grand Jury. Items 25 through 28 were required responses to four (4) Grand Jury Reports to Cities, Towns, and Jurisdictions in San Mateo County on various issues. For each Report, the Council heard a brief overview of the issue, reviewed the response letter, took any public comment and ultimately approved the response letters as written. There were no public comments.
Item No. 25 was a Response Letter to the Grand Jury Report Regarding Deployment of Narcan by Police Officers.
Item No. 26 was a Response Letter to the Grand Jury Report Regarding Smoke-Free Multi-Unit Housing.
Item No. 27 was a Response Letter to the Grand Jury Report Regarding Cooperative Purchasing.
Item No. 28 was a Response Letter to the Grand Jury Report Regarding Pension Obligations.
Item No. 29 was the last item on the Agenda, Introduction of an Ordinance Amending the Contract between the Town and CalPERS for Employee Pickup of a share of the Employer Pension Obligation. Staff gave a brief staff report. Following the staff report and public comment, the Council Introduced the Ordinance for adoption.
Following Council Reports and Final Public Comments, having cleared the entire Agenda, at approximately 10:10 pm, that as they say - was a wrap!
The next meeting of the City Council will be a Study Session on October 3. Tentative items for the Agenda include a presentation of options for Power Purchase Agreements and a presentation on options for funding related to the Atherton Channel District.