City Council Meeting Minutes
July 23, 2024
MINUTES OF CITY OF BELMONT CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL AND REGULAR MEETING City Council Chambers, City Hall, One Twin Pines Lane, Belmont, California Tuesday, July 23, 2024
CALL TO ORDER: 6:00 PM
ROLL CALL
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: McCune, Hurt, Pang-Maganaris, Mates, (Latimerlo arrived at 6:30pm)
COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: None
CLOSED SESSION [6:15 PM]
Public Employee Performance Evaluation Government Code Section 54957(b)
Titles: City Manager, City Attorney
Conference with Labor Negotiators (Government Code Section 54957.6); Agency designated representatives: Davina Hurt and Robin Pang-Maganaris; Unrepresented Employees: City Manager, City Attorney
Recess to regular meeting at this time being 6:50 pm.
REGULAR MEETING
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Led by Mayor Mates
REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION
Closed session was recessed report will be given at the of the agenda.
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS (None)
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
Giuliano Carlini commented on cycling infrastructure in the city.
ZOOM caller requested clarification on public comments.
COUNCILMEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS
Councilmember Hurt announced her appointment to Chair of the Silicon Valley Clean Water (SVCW) Joint Powers Authority (JPA).
Mayor Mates announced upcoming events.
City Council Meeting Minutes
July 23, 2024
CONSENT BUSINESS
Meeting Minutes of City Council July 9, 2024, and BFPD July 9, 2024 Monthly Financial Reports - June 2024
Purchasing Ordinance
Ordinance 2024-1179 Of The City Of Belmont Amending Regulations In The Belmont City Code Related To Purchasing And City Manager And City Attorney Contract Authority Resolution 2024-58 authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and execute Amendment No. 5 to the Service Agreement with 4 Leaf, Inc. to provide building inspection services for $100,000, for a total not-to-exceed amount of $449,865
No public comment received on the Consent Business items.
City Attorney Rennie read the title of Ordinance 2024-1179 Of The City of Belmont Amending Regulations In the Belmont City Code Related to Purchasing and City Manager and City Attorney Contract Authority.
ACTION: On a motion made by Councilmember Hurt and seconded by Vice Mayor Latimerlo, the Consent Business items were approved by a roll call vote (5-0).
PUBLIC HEARINGS (None)
GENERAL BUSINESS
Stanford Belmont Campus Conceptual Development Plan and Development Agreement - Project Update and City Council Discussion
Deputy Community Development Director Russell presented the project status update from the City Staff and Applicant regarding the Stanford Belmont Conceptual Development Program Plan and Development Agreement.
Steve Elliot, Stanford Senior Managing Director of Real Estate, and John Donahoe Senior Director for Planned Entitlement Stanford Real Estate presented the development plans for the potential Belmont site. He explained that those 46 acres of the campus is the intent of Stanford’s purchase. He also noted that NDNU Elementary and High School are not part of the purchase. He explained that up to 700,00 square feet will be developed, maintaining the properties academic use, providing affiliate housing, and keeping open access to outdoor spaces. He noted that the renovation of Ralston Hall is included in the plan. He explained that the potential campus population is to be similar to NDNU at total capacity in 2013.
Council discussion ensued.
Public Comment provided by Beth Martin, Giuliano Carlini, Grail Walsh, and Margaret Judala City Council Meeting Minutes
July 23, 2024
Council direction was to review contributions to community benefits, namely contributions to the Barrett Community Center Upgrades and, future traffic impacts from the project.
RECESS: 8:20 PM
RECONVENE: 8:30
Zoning Text Amendments - Corridor Mixed Use District, Parking, and By Right Processing Deputy Community Development Director Russell made a presentation on proposed Zoning Text Amendments related to development standards in the Corridor Mixed Use (CMU) District; consolidation of parking requirements into one section of the Zoning Ordinance; and updates to facilitate "by right" processing as required by State Law.
She noted the following proposed changes to the development standards in the CMU District:
Increasing the base height from 45’ to 50’ will encourage ground-floor commercial uses and make four-story office development feasible. An increase to the community benefits height from 55’ to 60’ so that commercial projects have an approval pathway through City Council if the community benefits outweigh potential impacts. And an establishment of unique development standards for hotels of 2.5 FAR and 65’ height to provide an incentive for this fiscally positive land use.
She also noted the following changes to the consolidation of parking requirements into one section of the zoning ordinance with the proposed changes adding narrative standards to tables format, changing units of measurement to modern standards, such as linking requirements to physical measurements (like floor area) instead of things that might change (like employees).
Removing outdated land uses and revising the approval criteria for applications that would increase parking above the maximum or below the minimum—updating language to be consistent with AB 2097, which preempts parking requirements within one-half mile of the Caltrain station and simplifies loading requirements.
Council discussion ensued.
Public comment received from Neel Patel and E-mail correspondence was received.
Council Concurred with staff recommendation, no other action taken.
Informational Update on Unmanned Aerial System
Police Captain Armando provided an update on the use of unmanned aerial systems. He highlighted their applications, including managing and containing urban and open space fires, assisting in the search for missing persons, and monitoring and managing critical incidents. He highlighted the usage of other departments, including Public Works, during street construction and Parks and Recreation, in viewing tree canopy and open space areas.
Public comment provided by Giuliano Carlini.
City Council Meeting Minutes
July 23, 2024
Council discussion ensued. The council concurred with the report and expressed the need for transparency and privacy and a robust data retention policy for the use of the systems.
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 announced that the new Public Works Director will start in the coming days, and Interim Director Towne has successfully completed his assignment.
MATTERS OF INTEREST/CLARIFICATION-none
Recess at this time being 10:05 pm to continuation of closed session item.
Adjournment at this time being 11:24 p.m.
Submitted by,
Jozi Plut, City Clerk