Minutes – Regular Meeting 10.08.25 Page 1 of 4
MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
City Council of the Town of Colma
Town Hall Council Chamber
1198 El Camino Real, Colma CA
Also viewable via Zoom.us
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Regular Session – 7:00 PM
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND ROLL CALL
Mayor Gonzalez called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.
Council Present – Mayor Ken Gonzalez, Vice Mayor Carrie Slaughter and Council Members Helen Fisicaro and Joanne F. del Rosario
Council Absent – Council Member Thomas Walsh
Staff Present – City Manager Daniel Barros, City Attorney Christopher Diaz, Chief of Police John Munsey, Administrative Services Director Nathan Bassett, Director of Planning and Public Works Brad Donohue, City Planner Farhad Mortazavi, Recreation Manager Angelika Abellana, Assistant Planner Jacob Bard, City Clerk Michelle Estabillo, and Deputy City Clerk Abigail Dometita
Council recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
Action: A motion was made by Council Member Fisicaro, seconded by Council Member del Rosario, to adopt the agenda. The motion carried by the following vote:
Name Voting Present, Not Voting Absent
Aye No Abstain Not Participating
Ken Gonzalez, Mayor ✓
Carrie Slaughter ✓
Helen Fisicaro ✓
Joanne F. del Rosario ✓
Thomas Walsh ✓
4 0
PRESENTATIONS
•City Planner Farhad Mortazavi introduced new Assistant Planner Jacob Bard. •Mayor Gonzalez read the proclamation recognizing October as Italian American Heritage Month and presented it to Richard Rochetta of the Colma Historical Association, who offered brief remarks in appreciation.
AGENDA ITEM #1
Minutes – Regular Meeting 10.08.25 Page 2 of 4
• Mayor Gonzalez read the proclamation recognizing October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and presented it to Jennifer Jimenez Wong of ALLICE Kumares and Kumpares, who offered brief remarks in appreciation. Ms. Wong also presented a brief presentation on ALLICE’s mission against Intimate Partner Violence.
Mayor Gonzalez called for a brief recess at 7:21 p.m. for refreshments and photos; the meeting reconvened at 7:37 p.m.
• City Manager Barros introduced Nick Yee and Jessica Manzi of SamTrans who gave a brief presentation on the Grand Boulevard Initiative (GBI) Action Plan. Council discussion followed.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
There were no Public Comments.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Council Member Fisicaro pulled Item #2 for discussion.
1. Motion to Approve the Minutes from the September 24, 2025 Regular Meeting
2. [Pulled for discussion]
3. Motion to Approve and Authorize the City Manager to Execute a One-Year Agreement for Services with Arboricultural Specialties, Inc. dba The Professional Tree Care Company for Comprehensive Street Tree Maintenance in an Amount not to Exceed $200,000, Including City Manager Authority to Extend the Agreement for Two Additional Two-Year Periods in an Amount Not to Exceed $400,000 per Extension for an Aggregate Total Contract Not-To- Exceed Amount of $1,000,000 Through 2030
4. Motion to Adopt Ordinance No. 827 Amending Sub-Chapter 5.11 of the Colma Municipal Code Relating to the Water Efficient Landscape Regulations Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines 15378 and 15308
There were no Public Comments.
Action: A motion was made by Council Member Fisicaro, seconded by Vice Mayor Slaughter, to approve the balance Consent Calendar.
Minutes – Regular Meeting 10.08.25 Page 3 of 4
The motion carried by the following vote:
Name Voting Present, Not Voting Absent
Aye No Abstain Not Participating
Ken Gonzalez, Mayor ✓
Carrie Slaughter ✓
Helen Fisicaro ✓
Joanne F. del Rosario ✓
Thomas Walsh ✓
4 0
ITEMS PULLED OFF THE CONSENT CALENDAR
2. Motion to Accept Informational Report on Recreation Department Programs, Activities, Events, and Trips for the Third Quarter of 2025
Council Member Fisicaro asked questions, Recreation Manager Abellana answered her questions.
Action: A motion was made by Council Member Fisicaro, seconded by Mayor Gonzalez, to approve Item #2. The motion carried by the following vote:
Name Voting Present, Not Voting Absent
Aye No Abstain Not Participating
Ken Gonzalez, Mayor ✓
Carrie Slaughter ✓
Helen Fisicaro ✓
Joanne F. del Rosario ✓
Thomas Walsh ✓
4 0
STUDY SESSION
5. CANNABIS BUSINESS IN THE TOWN OF COLMA
City Manager Barros introduced Economic Development Consultant Ben Sigman who presented the staff report.
There were no Public Comments.
Council questions and commented followed.
City Manager Barros, City Attorney Diaz, Director Donohue and Mr. Sigman responded to Council questions.
Minutes – Regular Meeting 10.08.25 Page 4 of 4
Direction was given to staff to conduct community meetings with both residents and businesses to educate them on the cannabis industry. Following these meetings, Council requested that staff distribute surveys to gauge community feedback. Once information is collected, staff will return the item to Council for further discussion.
COUNCIL CALENDARING
Mayor Gonzalez announced the next Regular Council meeting will be on October 22, 2025.
REPORTS
Mayor/Council Reports
There were no reports.
Committee Reports
There were no reports.
City Manager Reports
City Manager Barros reported the following:
• TextMyGov officially launched on October 1st, and as of today 29 residents have opted-in. • Deadline for the ERP RFP has been extended by one week. • Spooktacular Brews and Bingo is scheduled for October 10 from 6-9 p.m. at the Colma Community Center.
• Medical Equipment Loan Program (MELP) Drive is scheduled for October 11 from 9-12 p.m. at the Colma Community Center.
• Cinema at the Cemetery featuring the Haunted Mansion is scheduled for October 18 from 6-9 p.m. at the Italian Cemetery.
• Veterans Card Making Day is scheduled for October 21 from 4-5 p.m. at the Colma Community Center.
Mayor Gonzalez added that the Colma Firemen’s Social Club Spaghetti Feed is on October 18 from 4-7 p.m. at the Colma Fire Station.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Gonzalez adjourned the meeting at 8:47 p.m. in support of the peace talks between Israel and Hamas.
Respectfully submitted,
Abigail Dometita, CMC
Deputy City Clerk