City Council Meeting Minutes
May 26, 2026
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES,
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, ONE TWIN PINES LANE, BELMONT, CALIFORNIA MAY 26, 2026
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. ROLL CALL
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Pang-Maganaris, McCune, Jordan, Mates COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: Latimerlo
3. ITEMS BEFORE 7:00 PM - none
A. CLOSED SESSION
B. STUDY SESSION
C. SPECIAL SESSION/OTHER TOPICS
ITEMS STARTING AT 7:00 PM
4. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Led by the Belmont Police Honor Guard
5. REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION - none
6. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
A. Proclamation Observing National Mental Health Awareness Month Mayor Mates read the proclamation. Leticia Bido accepted the proclamation on behalf of the San Mateo County Peninsula Suicide Prevention.
B. Proclamation Observing National Public Works Week and APWA Award Presentations
Mayor Mates read the proclamation. Alec Nicholas, APWA Awards Chair acknowledged Belmont award award recipients:
Dustin Moore, Merit Award for Operations/Maintenance Professional of the Year; the Belmont Creek Restoration Project, Project of the Year; Daniel Matthews, Project Manager Commendation; and
Hanford Applied Restoration and Construction, Contractor Commendation for the Belmont Creek Restoration Project
C. Proclamation Observing Public Safety Week
Mayor Mates read the proclamation.
D. Police Department Awards and Oath of Office
Police Chief Stenquist introduced newly appointed Officers: Victor Alvarez, Christopher Nardi, Joshua, Gonzales, Taeya Gonzales, City Clerk Plut administered the Oath of Office.
City Council Meeting Minutes
May 26, 2026
Chief Stenquist introduced the annual Belmont Police Department award recipients - Troy Adams officer of the Year, David Asher Professional Staff Employee of the Year, and Cindy Bertsch, Volunteer of the Year.
RECESS: 7:32 PM
RECONVENE: 7:37 PM
7. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
None
8. COUNCILMEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS
Councilmembers announced upcoming events.
9. CONSENT BUSINESS
A. Monthly Financial Report - March 2026
B. Approval of Minutes April 28, 2026 Meeting Minutes
C. Approval of New and Revised Job Descriptions in the Community Development Department
Resolution 2026-29 approving updated job descriptions within the Planner classification series and establishing the new Planning Manager classification in the Community Development Department.
D. Task Order with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. for Community Outreach and Preliminary Engineering Services for the Ralston Avenue Corridor Improvements Segment 4 Project
Motion authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and execute an agreement with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $250,978 to provide professional engineering services for the Ralston Avenue Corridor Improvements Segment 4 Project.
E. Service Agreement with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. for the Belmont Transportation Master Plan
Motion authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and execute an agreement with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. for an amount not to exceed $755,586.98 to provide transportation engineering services for the Belmont Transportation Master Plan F. 4 Laurel Court - Permanent Encroachment Agreement
Resolution 2026-30 approving a Permanent Encroachment Agreement to allow construction of a new concrete retaining wall within the public right-of-way at 4 Laurel Court (APN 044-221-050) to replace an existing wood retaining wall.
G. City Vehicle Purchases for Fiscal Year 2026
Resolution 2026-31 authorizing the City Manager to execute contracts for the acquisition of one Public Works truck, two Police vehicles, and associated vehicle equipment for a total amount not to exceed $233,263.
H. Hallmark-Crestview Fire Access Gate Memorandum of Understanding with the City of San Carlos
Resolution 2026-32 authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the City of San Carlos, including contributing 50 percent cost of upgrading the existing gate at the end of Hallmark Drive.
City Council Meeting Minutes
May 26, 2026
I. 2023 Pavement Project –Revised Notice of Completion
Resolution 2026-33 reauthorizing the issuance of a Notice of Completion for the 2023 Pavement Project, City Contract Number 2022-613, for a revised final construction contract amount of $3,198,216.50.
J. Annual Review of the Police Department’s Military Equipment Use Policy in Accordance with Assembly Bill 481
Receive the Police Department’s Annual Military Equipment Report; and adopt a Resolution 2026-34 approving the Belmont Police Department’s 2025 Military Equipment Report.
Councilmember McCune stated that he would recuse himself from consideration of Item H, the Hallmark-Crestview Fire Access Gate Memorandum of Understanding with the City of San Carlos, due to the proximity of his residence to the project area.
No public Comment received.
ACTION: On a motion made by Councilmember Pang-Maganaris and seconded by Councilmember Jordan the consent business items were approved by a roll call vote (4-1, Latimerlo absent and McCune recused from item H).
10. PUBLIC HEARINGS - none
11. GENERAL BUSINESS
A. Declaration of City Owned Properties as Exempt Surplus Land Housing and Economic Development Manager reported that the City Council previously adopted Resolution No. 2025-18 declaring the property located at 1000 O'Neill Avenue (Emmett House) exempt surplus land under the Surplus Land Act. Subsequent review identified minor errors in the resolution related to the property's square footage and parcel map attachment. The proposed resolution corrects those errors and updates the record without changing the property's exempt status or affecting the applicability of the exemption under Government Code Section 54221(f)(1)(B).
Council discussion ensued.
No public comment received.
ACTION: On a motion made by Councilmember Pang-Maganaris and seconded by Councilmember McCune Resolution 2026-35 declaring the city-owned property located at 1000 O’Neill Ave as exempt surplus land under the Surplus Lands Act (SLA) and finding the action exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), for the purpose of correcting Resolution No. 2025-18 related to parcel square footage and the associated plat/lot map exhibit was adopted by a roll call vote (4-1, Latimerlo absent).
B. Introduction of the Proposed Fiscal Year 2026-27 Budget City Manager Oskoui introduced the proposed FY 2026-27 Budget, by noting the challenges of balancing service demands and available resources amid ongoing economic uncertainty and the continued loss of Vehicle License Fee (VLF) revenues City Council Meeting Minutes
May 26, 2026
from the State. He thanked staff for developing a budget that maintains core services, advances Council priorities, and funds critical infrastructure improvements while addressing current fiscal constraints. He noted that while the budget absorbs these impacts through careful planning and one-time savings, restoration of State funding remains important to the City's long-term fiscal sustainability.
Finance Director Castaneda expanded her presentation to include the budget overview, long-term forecasts, and a five year capital improvement plan.
Department Directors provided highlights on their respective department budget.
Ms. Castaneda concluded the presentation by summarizing next steps noting that the Audit Committee will review the budget on June 3, 2026 and a public hearing and adoption is set for June 9, 2026.
No public comment received.
Council discussion ensued. No further action taken.
12. BRIEF VERBAL REPORTS FROM MEMBERS AND STAFF
A. Verbal report from Councilmembers on Intergovernmental (IGR) and Subcommittee Assignments
Councilmembers reported on their assignments.
B. Verbal report from City Manager
City Manager Oskoui announced a social media campaign to highlight key elements of the budget to increase community awareness of the City's priorities and investments he highlighted other City and staff and accomplishments.
13. MATTERS OF INTEREST/CLARIFICATION
14. ADJOURNMENT at 9:20 pm.
Submitted by,
Jozi Plut, City Clerk
Meeting is audio and video recorded.