MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2025
TED ADCOCK COMMUNITY CENTER, 535 KELLY AVENUE
1. ROLL CALL / PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Brownstone called the regular meeting to order at 7:18 p.m. and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Roll call was taken.
PRESENT: Councilmembers Jonsson, Nagengast, and Penrose, Vice Mayor Ruddock and Mayor Brownstone
2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION
Councilmember Penrose moved and Vice Mayor Ruddock seconded a motion to approve the Agenda. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
3. PROCLAMATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
3A. MIDCOAST COMMUNITY COUNCIL UPDATE
Midcoast Community Council Treasurer Bollinger provided an update to the Council. 3B. HISPANIC HERITAGE PROCLAMATION
Management Analyst Acosta presented the Hispanic Heritage Proclamation to Coastside Hope, Puente and Jose Luis Aguirre.
3C. FARMWORKER HOUSING STUDY
Urban Habitat Institute representative Chang presented a Farmworker Housing Study. Farmworkers Uriel and Vicente addressed the Council.
4. MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS OF COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AND COMMUNITY SERVICE Mayor Brownstone announced that Summer’s End celebration would take place Saturday, October 4 at Carter Park and that Pumpkin Festival would be held on Saturday and Sunday, October 18 and 19.
5. REPORT OUT FROM RECENT CLOSED SESSION MEETINGS
Mayor Brownstone reported that the Council met in Closed Session on September 16, 2025 to discuss four personnel items:
• PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION (Govt. Code section 54957) Annual performance evaluation of City Manager Matthew Chidester; • PUBLIC EMPLOYEE APPOINTMENT/EXTENSION/SEPARATION (Govt. Code section 54957) Title:
City Manager;
• PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION (Govt. Code section 54957) Annual performance evaluation of City Attorney Catherine Engberg; and • PUBLIC EMPLOYEE APPOINTMENT/EXTENSION/SEPARATION (Govt. Code section 54957) Title:
City Attorney.
Mayor Brownstone announced that City Manager Chidester’s evaluation would take place at an Special Meeting on October 21, 2025. He also announced the Council voted in Closed Session to discharge the legal firm Shute, Mihaly and Weinberger, effective 90 days after written notice and that the Council would begin looking for a law firm. The motion passed on a 3 - 2 vote, with Mayor Brownstone and Councilmember Penrose dissenting.
6. CITY MANAGER UPDATES TO COUNCIL
6A. SENIOR COASTSIDERS VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
City Manager Chidester announced that this update would be brought back to a future meeting due to scheduling issues.
6B. ABODE
Management Analyst Acosta gave an update on Abode services and council asked questions.
7. PUBLIC FORUM
The following individuals addressed the Council:
• Deborah Penrose
• Jimmy Benjamin
• Harvey Rarback
• Joaquin Jimenez
• Krystlyn Geidt
8. CONSENT CALENDAR
The Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
8A. WAIVE READING OF RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES
8B. APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 2, 2025 SPECIAL MEETING 8C. APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 2, 2025 REGULAR MEETING 8D. UPDATED RECORDS RETENTION SCHEDULE (Resolution 2025 – 64) 8E. RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR GRANT APPLICATION TO THE SAN MATEO COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY FOR THE MEASURE A AND W 2025 HIGHWAY PROGRAM FOR THE HIGHWAY 1 MAIN STREET TO KEHOE AVENUE PROJECT (Resolution 2025 - 65) 8F. WARRANTS FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST 2025
MOTION
Councilmember Penrose moved and Mayor Brownstone seconded a motion to approve the Consent Calendar. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
9. ORDINANCES AND PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
10. RESOLUTIONS AND STAFF REPORTS
10A. FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE QUARTER ENDED ON JUNE 30, 2025 Finance Manager Stiles presented the staff report to the Council. The Council discussed the item.
MOTION
Mayor Brownstone moved to accept the Financial Report for the quarter ended on June 30, 2025 and Vice Mayor Ruddock seconded the motion. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
10B. OPPORTUNITY CENTER OF THE COASTSIDE
Economic and Community Vitality Manager Decker presented the staff report to the Council. The Council asked questions and discussed the item.
The following individuals addressed the Council:
• Sophia Layne
• Nancy Fontana
• Eric Vettel
MOTION
Mayor Brownstone moved to adopt Resolution 2025-66, Authorizing the City Manager to: 1) fund utilities and janitorial services at the Opportunity Center of the Coastside through January 2026 in an amount not to exceed $10,000, 2) Extend the professional service agreements with JobTrain, Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center, the Chamber of Commerce, and American Energy Society with a term ending January 15, 2026; and 3) Use technical funds from the Community Services Finance Assistance grant. Councilmember Penrose seconded the motion. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
10C. COMMUNITY MICROGRID DISCUSSION
Public Works Bozorginia presented his staff report to the Council. The Council asked questions, discussed the item.
The following individuals addressed the Council:
• Jimmy Benjamin
11. COMMISSION / COMMITTEE UPDATES
None.
12. FOR FUTURE DISCUSSION / POSSIBLE AGENDA ITEMS
None.
13. CITY COUNCIL REPORTS
None.
14. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Brownstone adjourned the meeting at 10:03 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted: Approved:
___________________________ _____________________________ Maggie Rodriguez, Assistant City Clerk Robert Brownstone, Mayor Approved at the October 7, 2025 Regular City Council Meeting