City Council Meeting Minutes
March 11, 2025
1 CITY OF BELMONT CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
City Council Chambers, City Hall, One Twin Pines Lane, Belmont, California Tuesday, March 11, 2025
CALL TO ORDER [7:00 p.m.]
ROLL CALL
Councilmembers Present: Latimerlo, McCune, Jordan, Pang-Maganaris, Mates Councilmembers Absent: none
CLOSED SESSION [none]
STUDY SESSION [none]
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Led by Mayor Mates
REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION [none]
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
Third Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Poetry & Essay Contest Recitals The following students recited their winning submissions.
Grades 3-5th
Poetry: Victoria Li
Essay: Arjun Popuri
Grades 6-8th
Poetry: Ellie Howard
Essay: Theofanis Karabelas
Grades 9-12th
Poetry: Grace Stiefel
Essay: Raya Skaf
Public comment
Giuliano Carlini offered congratulatory comments to the writers.
Proclamation Honoring Retiring San Mateo Consolidated Fire Chief Thrasher Mayor Mates read a proclamation honoring Chief Thrasher on his retirement.
Councilmember and staff offered congratulation to Chief Thrasher.
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
City Council Meeting Minutes
March 11, 2025
2 Giuliano Carlini commented on the need for childcare for volunteers participating in local sports programs. He acknowledged Footsteps for providing care without charge.
Max R. commented on a communication issue he is experiencing with the Planning Department.
COUNCILMEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS
Councilmembers provided updates on upcoming events.
CONSENT BUSINESS
Approval of Minutes February 25, 2025
Monthly Financials December 2024 January 2025
Ordinance 2025-1183 establishing a state video franchise holder fee to support Public, Education, and Government (PEG) facilities and penalties of material breach of state and federal customer service standards
Motion authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and execute Amendment 3 to Task Order 1 with Moore Iacofano Goltsman, Inc. (MIG) to provide environmental monitoring and reporting services for the San Juan Pump Station Slope Repair Project for an additional amount of $6,496, for a total contract cost of a not-to-exceed amount of $101,366 Motion authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and execute an agreement to purchase a Vac-Con in the amount of $667,167.19 from Vac-Con Inc. through Municipal Maintenance Equipment
Resolution 2025-20 accepting the public improvements for the Firehouse Square Townhouse Project at 1300 El Camino Real as completed and complying with the City’s approved plans, authorize the release of the subdivision improvement bond and accept a maintenance and warranty bond for the required one-year warranty period City Attorney Rennie read the title of Ordinance 2025-1183 establishing a state video franchise holder fee to support Public, Education, and Government (PEG) facilities and penalties of material breach of state and federal customer service standards.
ACTION: On a motion made by Councilmember Pang-Maganaris and seconded by Councilmember Latimerlo the consent business was unanimously approved by a roll call vote (5-0).
PUBLIC HEARINGS [none]
GENERAL BUSINESS
State Legislative Advocacy for the City of Belmont - 2025 Update Dane Hutchings, City Consultant from the California Public Policy Group (CPPG), provided an overview of 2024 legislative actions impacting the City. He highlighted key legislative City Council Meeting Minutes
March 11, 2025
3 challenges, emphasizing housing affordability and budget concerns as ongoing priorities for municipalities.
Hutchings reviewed the City's Legislative Platform, incorporating input from City staff discussions. Proposed amendments were introduced in the areas of Fiscal and Administrative policies, Housing and Land Use, and Public Safety, serving as a foundation for Council discussion and direction to staff and CPPG.
Fiscal and Administrative Initiatives
New Proposed Statement:
"Support legislation that preserves the integrity of the local collective bargaining processes and maintains a level playing field for negotiations. Oppose measures that mandate specific benefits or terms that undermine the ability of local governments to engage in meaningful dialogue and reach mutually beneficial agreements with bargaining units." Housing and Land Use
New Proposed Statement:
"Support legislation that takes a comprehensive approach to housing production, recognizing all factors contributing to the State’s housing crisis, and works to close the economic gap, ensuring projects are feasible without imposing excessive financial burdens on cities."
Public Safety
Modified Statement:
"Support legislative efforts to improve local law enforcement, fire suppression and prevention, hazardous materials mitigation, rescue, emergency medical services, and disaster preparedness. This includes legislation and grant funding opportunities for innovative fire mitigation planning and suppression technology." New Proposed Statement:
"Support legislation that provides affordable home insurance rates for at-risk residents, including policies that stabilize the California FAIR Plan." Hutchings noted that the legislative platform remains an evolving document, to be updated at the start of each two-year session and reviewed annually to ensure continued alignment with City priorities.
Following deliberation Council concurred with the updated language.
ACTION: on a motion made by Councilmember Pang-Maganaris and seconded by Councilmember Jordan Belmont’s State and Federal Legislative Platform was reaffirmed as amended.
Annual Report on Vacancies and Recruitment and Retention Efforts for 2024 City Council Meeting Minutes
March 11, 2025
4 Interim Administrative Assistant Ritzma provided a report on the City’s workforce vacancies, recruitment and retention efforts in compliance with Assembly Bill (“AB”) 2561. (Gov. Code § 3502.3.). She noted that the Council adopted a Vacancy Reporting Policy at the February 25, 2025 meeting to enhance transparency regarding City vacancies, recruitment efforts, and workforce challenges. Ne explained that the policy aims to improve public access to data on recruitment and retention while addressing challenges related to hiring policies and procedures.
Council received the report no deliberation occurred.
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 provided updates on upcoming events and acknowledged the Council for a successful Strategic Planning Session. He announced that Belmont PD can be now followed on Instagram.
MATTERS OF INTEREST/CLARIFICATION
ADJOURNMENT at this time being 8:35 pm
Submitted by,
Jozi Plut, City Clerk