Combined Agency Meeting Minutes
March 26, 2024
MEETING MINUTES OF CITY OF BELMONT CITY COUNCIL AND BELMONT FIRE
PROTECTION DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS CITY COUNCIL REGULAR
MEETING
City Council Chambers, City Hall, One Twin Pines Lane, Belmont, California TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 2024
CALL TO ORDER: 7:00 PM
ROLL CALL
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Pang-Maganaris, Hurt, McCune, Latimerlo, Mates COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: None
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Led by Mayor Mates
REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION
No closed session on this agenda.
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
Proclamation Recognizing Outgoing Parks and Recreation Commissioner Karl Mittelstadt Item Continued to a subsequent meeting.
Proclamation Recognizing April as National Poetry Month Mayor Mates read the proclamation.
Belmont Poet Laurette Korde thanked the Council for recognizing National Poetry Month, she provided an update work she completed in 2023 and provided an outlook of new initiatives for 2024. She recited her piece A Festival of Colors.
SamTrans and San Mateo County Transit Authority Update
Mikaela Petrik, Government Affairs Officer SamTrans provided an update on ridership, and new initiatives including a bus stop improvement plan.
Sequoia Healthcare District Update on Service to the Belmont Community Jerry Shefren, Belmont Elected Sequoia Healthcare District Board Member provided a presentation on the Sequoia Healthcare initiatives.
Giuliano Carlini commented on services provided to the Belmont AYSO by Sequoia Health.
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
Kara Kim commented on zero waste party packs.
Giuliano Carlini provided comments of gratitude to the Public Works Staff.
Combined Agency Meeting Minutes
March 26, 2024
COUNCILMEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Mates provided information on upcoming community events.
CONSENT BUSINESS
Resolution 2024-18 authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and execute an amendment to an agreement with Ardurra (aka Infrastructure Engineering Corporation) for the engineering services to include additional scope of work for an additional amount of $34,520 for the Sanitary Sewer Master Plan Update and Program Support Services bringing the total contract amount to a not-toexceed amount of $610,690 Resolution 2024-19 approving revision to the City’s Master Employee Pay Schedule in compliance with California’s Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) regulations Resolution 2024-20 authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and execute a third amendment to the contract with Craftwater Engineering, Inc., for additional services including a supplemental topographic survey of the Meadow in Twin Pines Park and the inclusion of a pump station and electrical design for the detention basin for an additional amount of $87,973. for a total contract cost to a not-to-exceed amount of $1,299,438.
Minutes of City Council Meeting of February 27, 2024 and BFPD Meeting of February 27, 2024 No public comments received.
ACTION: On a motion made by Councilmember Hurt and seconded by Councilmember PangMaganaris the Consent Business was unanimously approved by a roll call vote (5-0).
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Outdoor Dining Program – Parklet and Sidewalk Dining Policies and Fees Assistant Public Works and City Engineer Scramaglia provided a background on outdoor dining in Belmont and proposed policy. She defined parklets and sidewalk dining and outlined benefits and challenges of allowing parklet and sidewalk dining.
Council and Staff deliberation ensued. City Manager Oskoui clarified that applicants must apply for an encroachment permit he noted that there are no by-right opportunities. City Attorney Rennie further clarified that the City has the right to revoke the encroachment permit for cause and right of way purposes.
Mayor Mates opened the public hearing.
Comments in support of an outdoor dining parklet specifically at Vivace restaurant Tom Diordon, David Taylor, Gary Roberts, Jeff Leavin, Kevin Dune, Elisabeth Torrelio, Praveen Prasad, Giuliano Carlini, David Tognotti, David Taylor, Adele Della Santina, Hayden, Nels Delander.
ZOOM caller spoke in opposition to the parklet at Vivace. E-mail comments also received.
Mayor Mates closed the public hearing.
RECESS: 9:05 PM
RECONVENE: 9:15 PM
Combined Agency Meeting Minutes
March 26, 2024
Council deliberation ensued Council generally concurred with staff recommendation not allowing the addition of outdoor dining on arterial streets in Belmont including Ralston due to safety.
ACTION: Councilmember Hurt made a motion to allow a case-by-case basis on Ralston and Alameda de Las Pulgas for sidewalk or parklet dining with sidewalk as preference but not priority when meeting City’s policy criteria.
Motion failed.
Councilmember McCune proposed to adopt the resolution as presented by staff and request to research the creation of an exception process specifically for Ralston. Clarifying his motion by stating no sidewalk or parklet dining on El Camino or Ralston unless there is a viable exception process for applicants to apply for.
Councilmember Hurt countered the motion proposing an that staff research exceptions for the one Ralston applicant.
Motion failed.
ACTION: Councilmember McCune motioned to return the item to staff and request the development of an exception process for parklets on Ralston. Motion was seconded by Councilmember Hurt and approved by a roll call vote (3-2, Latimerlo and Pang-Maganaris no)
GENERAL BUSINESS
800-803 Belmont Avenue Affordable Housing Loan Documents Assistant City Manager Kleinbaum provided an overview of the ROEM Development entitled as project consisting of 125, 100% affordable housing units. She outlined the financing for the project and noted that the City approved a $2.5 million loan in 2022 from the City’s Affordable Housing Successor Agency. She explained that project cost has escalated and ROEM is requesting a loan amount increase of $3.5 million, the City’s contribution will be $28,000 per unit.
Public comment provided by Nels Delander commented on labor standards.
Council deliberation ensued, regarding labor standards and housing needs in Belmont and the County. Councilmember McCune does not concur with the developer strategies for funding.
ACTION: On a motion made by Councilmember Latimerlo, seconded by Councilmember Hurt Resolution 2024-22 authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and execute: (1) an affordable housing loan agreement and associated documents with Belmont Family Apartments, LP, to provide $3.5 million for the construction of the 125-unit affordable housing project at 800-803 Belmont Avenue, and (2) related subordination agreements was approved by a roll call vote (4-1, McCune no).
Combined Agency Meeting Minutes
March 26, 2024
2023-2031 Housing Element Update and City Council Direction Deputy Community Development Director Russell briefed the Council on the State required Housing Element process. She noted that Belmont began work on the Element Update in 2021, adopted it in 2023 and certified the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) prior to the statutory deadline. She further noted that amendments were made and additional HCD comments were received. She explained the HCD approach and noted that with incremental feedback they indicate the City is on the right path to approval. She outlined the SB9 and additional dwelling units (ADU) implications. She outlined the approach to Housing Element Revisions and noted that no additional housing sites are proposed. She explained the required policy enhancements to affirmatively further fair housing (AFFH) and changes to improve clarity and standardize assumptions. She outlined the next steps and noted that April 2024 is the target date for resubmission and HCD may take up to 60 days for review.
Council and staff discussion ensued.
ACTION: On a motion made by Councilmember McCune and seconded by Councilmember Latimerlo the meeting was unanimously extended 30 minutes by a roll call vote (5-0).
Council affirmed staff recommendations on the proposed changes to the Housing Element discussed.
Automated License Plate Readers
Police Chief Stenquist provided an overview of Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs). He explained that an ALPR is a crime solving tool that focuses on the vehicle and not the driver. He explained how the data received is processed and maintained and noted that personal identifying information is not identified. He provided an overview of the proposed ALPR policy. He provided case outcomes in neighboring jurisdictions that used the technology.
Council discussion ensued. Staff explained that Council affirmation is needed for acquisition of automated license plate readers (ALPR) to begin budget evaluation and deployment of the technology.
ACTION: On a motion made by Councilmember Hurt and seconded by Councilmember Latimerlo the meeting was unanimously extended 30 minutes by a roll call vote (5-0).
Discussion ensued regarding the policy and data use.
Public comment provided by Giuliano Carlini, M Olsen, e-mail comments were received.
Council deliberation ensued; Mayor Mates suggested a third-party audit process added to the policy.
Council concurred to support the next steps to acquisition of automated license plate readers.
Combined Agency Meeting Minutes
March 26, 2024
BRIEF VERBAL REPORTS FROM MEMBERS AND STAFF
Verbal report from Councilmembers on Intergovernmental (IGR) and Subcommittee Assignments
In consideration of the time no reports were made.
Verbal report from City Manager
City Attorney Oskoui commented on the use of Belmont Sports Fields related to the current weather conditions and that an update will be agenized in a subsequent meeting.
MATTERS OF INTEREST/CLARIFICATION-None
ADJOURNMENT at this time being 11:25 p.m.
Submitted by,
Jozi Plut, City Clerk