Combined Agency Meeting Minutes
January 24, 2023
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MEETING MINUTES OF SPECIAL AND REGUALR CITY OF BELMONT CITY
COUNCIL AND BELMONT FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS Tuesday, January 24, 2023
City Council Chambers City Hall, One Twin Pines Lane, Belmont, California CALL TO ORDER: 5:30 PM
ITEMS OF BUSINESS
ROLL CALL
COUNCILMEMEBERS PRESENT: McCune, Pang-Maganaris, Hurt, Mates COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: Latimerlo
Public Comment on Closed Session Items
No member of the public came forward.
CLOSED SESSION
A. Conference with Legal Counsel (Govt Code Section 54956.9(d)(1) Pending Litigation, two cases:
Carrillo v. City of Belmont, U.S.D.C.ND.Cal.22-CV-07658-JCS Cuviello v. City of Belmont et al, U.S.D.C.ND.Cal.23-CV-0029-LB
B. Conference with Real Property Negotiators (Govt Code Section 54956.8) for city property located at El Camino Real at Hill Street, APN's 045-163-070, 045-162-070, 045-162-080, 045-162-090
Agency Negotiators: Afshin Oskoui, Scott Rennie, Jennifer Rose Negotiating Parties: City of Belmont and Linc-Hill Street, L.P.
Under Negotiation: Price and terms of payment for sale of city property ADJOURNMENT at this time being 6:10 P.M.
COUNCILMEMEBERS PRESENT: McCune, Latimerlo (joined at 6:30 pm via Zoom) PangMaganaris, Hurt, Mates SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS – 6:15 P.M.
State Legislative Advocacy for the City
Alyssa Silhi, RPPG, City of Belmont Legislative Advocacy Consultant provided an update on the City’s legislative platform and advocacy. She outlined activities by RPPG on behalf of the City noting that the City last year positioned on five legislative and fiscal measures in Sacramento of which three measures resulted in successful outcome including securing 3.5 million dollars in the State budget for City projects including the Alameda De Las Pulgas Corridor Project and the successful protection of Education Revenue Augmentation Fund (ERAF) and Vehicle License Fee (VLF) funds. She provided key points of the State Budget and identified areas of most significance to the City are 1) increased housing accountability, and 2) the failure to include San Mateo County’s VLF short fall claim with an impact to City this year being $500,000. She noted that the Combined Agency Meeting Minutes
January 24, 2023
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San Mateo delegation will work on placing the claim into the budget by the May due date. She outlined new housing laws and noted that Belmont is a good actor on housing including increasing density and production.
Ms. Silhi explained that RPPG performed an annual review of Belmont’s State Legislative Platform and made suggested additional language in the areas of Housing and Land Use, Community Services, Infrastructure Maintenance and Rehabilitation, and Public Safety.
Council deliberated and concurred on the suggested language.
Councilmember Hurt suggested adding language for securing resources for mental health services to first responders and the community. She also suggested including language for public transit investments for multimodal transportation efforts.
Council discussion ensued regarding language in regard to the Brown Act flexibility. Ms. Silhi noted that more legislative action will come forth in the legislation in the coming months. City Manager Oskoui noted that virtual opportunities for public participation will remain in place.
Council concurred to add language to include proposals to recognize and incentives good actor cities in regard to housing.
Mayor Mates suggested increased language to protect cities from state overreach on ERAF and VLF.
Council concluded the discussion.
ADJOURNMENT at this time being 7:00 P.M.
REGULAR MEETING
CALL TO ORDER: 7:05 P.M.
ROLL CALL
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: McCune, Latimerlo (virtual), Pang-Maganaris, Hurt, Mates
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Led by Mayor Mates.
REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION
City Attorney Rennie stated that there is no reportable action from the earlier held closed session.
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
January 2023 Human Trafficking Prevention Month Proclamation Mayor Mates read the proclamation.
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Pamela Estes, San Mateo County Human Trafficking Program Coordinator, thanked the Council for recognizing January as Human Trafficking Prevention Month and provided an overview of the County’s program and services.
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
None
COUNCILMEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS
Councilmember Hurt announced the Martin Luther King Essay Contest.
Mayor Mates on the behalf of the Council denounced the tragic shootings in Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay, she provided information on opportunities to help the two communities and provided information on mental health crisis hotline. She announced upcoming community events.
CONSENT BUSINESS
Intergovernmental Assignments for 2023
January 10, 2023 Council meeting minutes as presented
Resolution 2023-005 approving the plans and specifications, authorizing advertisement for sealed bids, and authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract with the lowest responsible bidder for an amount not to exceed $352,000 plus a ten percent construction contingency for the Ralston Avenue Adaptive Signal Control Technology Project, Cabinet Relocations, City Contract Number 2022-623
ACTION: On a motion made by Councilmember Hurt and seconded by Councilmember McCune the Consent Business items were unanimously approved by a roll call vote (5-0).
PUBLIC HEARINGS
None
GENERAL BUSINESS
Creation of New Classifications, Administrative Services Director and Payroll Manager; and Revision of the Master Pay Schedule
Interim Assistant City Manager Stevenson provided a brief overview of the job descriptions. In response to Council questions, she explained that there is an immediate need for the positions to fill vacancies. She noted that filing the Administrative Services position will be instrumental in filling the needs and objectives of the human recourses and information technology departments.
City Manager Oskoui explained that the City is currently recruiting for the Payroll Manager position. He also explained that he is undertaking an organizational evaluation to assess the structural needs of the organization.
Public Comments
Unidentified caller commented on the need for additional personnel.
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ACTION: On a motion made by Councilmember McCune and seconded by Councilmember Hurt Resolution 2023-006 approving the creation of new job classifications, Administrative Services Director, and Payroll Manager; and revising the City’s Master Employee Pay Schedule, to include Administrative Services Director and Payroll Manager, in accordance with California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) regulations was unanimously approved by a roll call vote (5-0)
Belmont Community Foundation Memorandum of Understanding Parks and Recreation Director Shearer explained that the Barret Community Center (BCF) is aging out and improvements to the property are estimated to cost over 70 million dollars. She also explained that in November 2022 the Council received a presentation from the representatives of the Belmont Community Foundation, in December the Council authorized the City Manager to negotiate and execute a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to document the BCF and City’s intent of realizing a new community center and continued access and improvement to recreation programs. She noted that under the MOU the foundation will independently raise funds thru capital campaigns.
Mayor Mates stated that she recently resigned from the BCF Board to avoid appearance of impropriety.
Public Comment
Email correspondence was received o the item.
ACTION: On a motion made by Councilmember McCune and seconded by Councilmember Pang-Maganaris Resolution 2023-007 Authorizing The City Manager To Execute a Memorandum of Understanding Between The City of Belmont And The Belmont Community Foundation and a motion to designate the Mayor and Vice Mayor as Council representatives to the Foundation's Board of Directors was unanimously approved by a roll call vote (5-0).
BRIEF VERBAL REPORTS FROM MEMBERS AND STAFF
Verbal report from Councilmembers on Intergovernmental (IGR) and Subcommittee Assignments
Councilmembers reported on their assignments.
Verbal report from City Manager
City Manager Oskoui recognized Economic Development and Housing Manager Rose and Community Development Director De Melo on their efforts in preparing the Housing Element for adoption by Council on an upcoming. He announced upcoming Parks and Recreation events and recruitments for summer employment and internship opportunities. He announced that FEMA was performing storm damage assessments in the City.
MATTERS OF INTEREST/CLARIFICATION
None
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ADJOURNMENT at this time being 7:45 P.M. in memory of Belmont Community Leader and former Councilmember and Mayor George Metropulos.
Jozi Plut
City Clerk