Combined Agency Meeting Minutes
January 23, 2024
Page | 1
MEETING MINUTES OF THE CITY OF BELMONT CITY COUNCIL AND BELMONT
FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
City Council Chambers, City Hall, One Twin Pines Lane, Belmont, California TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2024
SPECIAL MEETING
CALL TO ORDER: 6:30 PM
ROLL CALL
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: McCune, Latimerlo, Mates, Pang-Maganaris (arrived at 6:55 pm)
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Hurt
ITEMS OF BUSINESS
STUDY SESSION
State Legislative Advocacy for the city of Belmont 2024 Update Alyssa Silhi Director of Government Affairs, RPPG provided an update on of the State lobbying services completed by the City’s Lobbying consultant RPPG. She outlined key elements and timeline of the Governor’s proposed budget. She provided an overview of new housing laws. She reviewed the City’s Legislative Platform and suggested changes to the Governmental Transparency and Public Access, including removing references to COVID-19 state of emergency and support the virtual participation as update in the Ralph M. brown Act. She further suggested adding a section related to the use of technology in government operations including artificial intelligence pertaining to ethical considerations, privacy, and emerging technologies, and cybersecurity measures and funding opportunities for local governments to bolster capabilities to protect our communications infrastructure and capabilities.
Council Discussion ensued; Council concurred to add language regarding workforce training on artificial use.
Ms. Silhi noted that the proposed suggestion will be added to the platform and returned for Council approval at a subsequent meeting.
ADJOURNMENT at this time being 7:07 p.m.
Submitted by,
Jozi Plut, City Clerk
Combined Agency Meeting Minutes
January 23, 2024
Page | 2
REGULAR MEETING
CALL TO ORDER: 7:00 PM
ROLL CALL
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: McCune, Hurt (arrived at 7:55 p.m.) Pang-Maganaris, Latimerlo, Mates
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: None
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Led by Mayor Mates.
REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION
No closed session on this agenda.
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
Black History Month Proclamation
Mayor Mates read the proclamation and presented it to outgoing Parks and Recreation Commissioner James Simmons.
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
Giuliano Carlini provided comments on complete streets.
COUNCILMEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS
Councilmember Pang-Maganaris commented on OmniBike Bill AB1909 for bicycle road safety.
Mayor Mates announced upcoming community events and noted that the Parks and Recreation Open Space Plan is available for review and comment, she announced Commission Recruitment period was extended for an additional week.
CONSENT BUSINESS
City Council, January 9, 2024 BFPD, January 9, 2024
Monthly Financial Reports - November 2023
Introduce an Ordinance adopting by reference the animal control regulations in San Mateo County Ordinance Code Chapter 6.04 and replacing similar regulations in Belmont City Code Chapter 5, Article 1 and set a public hearing for February 13, 2024 to consider adopting the ordinance
City Attorney Rennie read the title of the ordinance introduced.
ACTION: On a motion made by Councilmember McCune and seconded by Councilmember Pang- Maganaris was approved by a roll call vote (4-1 Hurt absent).
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Cannabis Regulatory Permit
Assistant City Manager Kleinbaum provided a presentation on the cannabis regulatory permit and associated fees. She included an overview of the regulations and submittal requirements and noted Combined Agency Meeting Minutes
January 23, 2024
Page | 3
that the permit will be issued by the Belmont Police Department. She explained that the proposed ordinance reorganizes the City Code for regulated business and includes cannabis and massage businesses. She noted that the Council received revised an ordinance at the dais that changes language in section 13-50 of the purpose statement removing the phrase - related to cannabis cultivation use and commercial activities.
Ms. Kleinbaum outlined the proposed cannabis permit fees to be included on the City’s Fee Schedule and explained the fees are based on estimates of staff time and expenses. She provided the cannabis prequalification and regulatory process timeline.
Council deliberation ensued. Staff explained that along with City regulations cannabis operations are also State regulated.
Mayor Mates opened the public hearing no member of the public came forward to speak. Email correspondence was received on this item. Mayor Mates closed the Public hearing.
Councilmember Pang-Maganaris read the title of the proposed ordinance and resolution into the record.
ACTION: On a motion made by Councilmember McCune and seconded by Councilmember Pang-Maganaris an Ordinance to amend regulations in the Belmont City Code to allow and regulate commercial cannabis businesses and reorganize massage business regulations was introduced; and Resolution 2024-05 making Fiscal Year 2023-24 amendments to the Master Revenue Schedule for cannabis business permitting fees was approved by a roll call vote (4-1, Hurt absent),
GENERAL BUSINESS
Belmont 2035 General Plan, Belmont Village Specific Plan and Zoning Ordinance Amendments – Implementation of 2023-2031 Housing Element, State law and City Deputy Community Development Director Russell presented the staff report on amendments to the land use regulatory framework specifically related to the Housing Element implementation and discussion on height increases in the Commercial Mixed Use (CMU) Zoning District. She provided an overview of the Housing Element process and timing of the amendments to meet State deadlines. She explained the proposed amendments to the CMU District which include an increase in floor area ration (FAR) from 1.75 to 2.0 with community benefits increase from 2.2 to 2.5. the proposed amendments also include to eliminate residential density maximum of 45 units per acre.
She added that in the Village Specific area the proposed FAR increases from 1.5 to 2.0 and community benefits increase from 20 to 2.5 and no height change. She provided an overview of State law compliance and proposed labor policy language including hiring local labor, contributing to apprenticeship programs, increasing resources for labor compliance and providing living wages.
She further explained the proposed height increase and noted that the Planning Commission did not recommend height increases in the CMU.
Council and staff discussion ensued. Councilmembers discussed the City’s discussion with community members objection to height increases to be included in the Housing Element.
Combined Agency Meeting Minutes
January 23, 2024
Page | 4
Ms. Russell clarified that although height increases are not a State requirement it is looked upon favorably as reducing constraints to housing.
Public comment received from Genek, Giuliano Carlini, Joanne Adamkewicz, and Laura Klieves, email correspondence also received.
RECESS: 8:35 p.m.
RECONVENE: 8:48 p.m.
Council deliberation ensued. Councilmember motioned to adopt staff recommendation to adopt an ordinance omitting the increase in height in the CMU District and to study the CMU height and bring back options for consideration at a later date, including design standards and ground floor height, to ensure the development standards align with the City’s vision for the ECR corridor.
Mayor Mates proposed a friendly amendment to add language regarding local hires that includes providing priority to San Mateo workforce and amend the term living wages to standard area wages City Attorney Rennie clarified that the motion to introduce the ordinance strikes the height requirement language in section five, he explained that the ordinance will be renumbered for the second reading.
ACTION: On a motion made by Councilmember Hurt amended by Mayor Mates and seconded by Vice Mayor Latimerlo ordinance amending the Belmont Zoning Ordinance (BZO) to implement State law and modify development standards in the Corridor Mixed Use (CMU) and Village Station Core (VSC) Districts was introduced and, Resolution 2024-06 amending the 2035 General Plan Land Use Element and Belmont Village Specific Plan (BVSP) that would implement the 2023-2031 Housing Element, State law, and City Council direction; and, adjourn the meeting for a public hearing on Tuesday, January 30, 2024 to consider the recommendations of the Planning Commission before adopting the general plan, BVSP and zoning amendments was approved by a roll call vote (5-0).
Belmont Harbor Industrial Area (HIA) Specific Plan Project Update At this time Vice Mayor Latimerlo recused herself from the dais do to her residing in the area of the discussion.
Community Development Director de Melo introduced the item and City Consultant Carol Johnson, Good City. He noted that notices were sent in both Spanish and English for participation in the discussion.
Public Works Director Brown offered Spanish translation on the item.
Ms. Johnson provided an overview of the HIA activities and draft plan goals, guiding principles and policy framework.
Council discussion ensued. Art, smart street (multimodule connections) and treescape inclusion was requested as forefront of the vision.
Combined Agency Meeting Minutes
January 23, 2024
Page | 5
In response to Council inquiry, Ms. Johnson stated that residential planning was not proposed for the north side of Harbor Boulevard to extensive underground contamination.
Public Comment provided by- Giuliano Carlini, Phillip Duffy, Elena Barriga, Gene K.
Council and Staff concurred that the mobile park area will remain concurrent with the current County zoning. City Manager Oskoui clarified that the land and infrastructure of the property to serve the mobile park is a private property matter. He noted that the City will continue working with the County and other agencies on progress to infrastructure including storm and sewer issues.
Council concluded the conversation.
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 noted that the Parks and Recreation activities are once again revving up. He announced the Parks and Recreation Open Space Plan will be discussed at the February 7, 2024 Commission meeting.
MATTERS OF INTEREST/CLARIFICATION
None
ADJOURNMENT at this time being 9:35 p.m. in memory of Jose Mendoza, 50 year Belmont resident active member of the Homeview community with his wife Elia of 55 years and their children.
Submitted by,
Jozi Plut, City Clerk