TOWN OF HILLSBOROUGH
San Mateo County
Sophie Cole, Mayor 1600 Floribunda Avenue
Leslie Marden Ragdale, Vice Mayor Hillsborough, CA 94010 Laurie Davies Adams, Councilmember www.hillsborough.net Marie Chuang, Councilmember Phone 650-375-7400
Christine Krolik, Councilmember
MINUTES
MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2025
4:30 PM CLOSED SESSION
6:00 PM CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Hillsborough Town Hall
Meetings of the City Council are held in-person at Town Hall. As a courtesy, and in compliance with applicable state law, staff and members of the public participated in the meeting in person at Town Hall or virtually via Zoom Video Conference.
CLOSED SESSION
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Cole called the meeting to order at 4:32 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Adams, Chuang, Krolik, Ragsdale, Cole
ANNOUNCEMENT OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST ON CLOSED SESSION ITEM(S) There were no announcements of conflict of interest.
CLOSED SESSION ITEMS
Mayor Cole announced the Closed Session items.
A. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6
Agency Negotiator: City Manager Doug Davis
Unrepresented employees: Accountant, Administrative Services Manager, Assistant City Manager, Assistant Director of Building and Planning, Assistant Director of Finance, Assistant Engineer, Assistant Planner, Associate Engineer, Associate Planner, Budget Analyst, Building Official, Chief Building Official, Chief of Police, City Clerk, Communications Manager, Deputy City Clerk, Deputy Director of Public Works, Director of Building and Planning, Director of Finance, Director of Public Works-City Engineer, GIS Coordinator, GIS Technician, Human Resources Manager, Management Analyst, Management Assistant, Planning Manager, Police Captain, Police Lieutenant, Public Works Superintendent, Senior Accountant, Senior Civil Engineer, Senior Management Analyst, Senior Planner, Support Services Manager B. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957(b)(1)
Title: City Manager
C. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6
Unrepresented employee: City Manager
Agency Designated Negotiator: Mayor Sophie Cole
PUBLIC COMMENT ON CLOSED SESSION ITEMS)
There were no speakers.
ADJOURN CLOSED SESSION
Minutes - Hillsborough City Council
Monday, December 8, 2025
The Closed Sesson adjourned at 5:50 p.m.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
I. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Cole called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Present: Adams, Chuang, Krolik, Ragsdale, Cole
III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Cole led the Pledge of Allegiance.
REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION
City Attorney Christopher Diaz stated the City Council met in Closed Session to consider three items and there was no reportable action.
MAYOR'S STATE OF THE TOWN
Mayor Cole provided the State of the Town.
VI. SELECTION OF MAYOR
Mayor Cole opened nominations for the position of Mayor.
Vice Mayor Ragsdale nominated Sophie Cole as Mayor. Councilmember Chuang seconded the nomination.
There were no further nominations.
By unanimous roll call vote, Sophie Cole was selected as Mayor.
VII. SELECTION OF VICE MAYOR
Mayor Cole opened nominations for the position of Vice Mayor.
Councilmember Krolik nominated Leslie Marden Ragsdale as Vice Mayor. Councilmember Adams seconded the nomination.
There were no further nominations.
By unanimous roll call vote, Leslie Marden Ragsdale was selected as Vice Mayor.
VIII. PRESENTATIONS
Legislative Update by Assemblymember Diane Papan
Assemblymember Diane Papan presented a legislative update and responded to City Council questions.
Mayor Cole opened public comment. There were no speakers. Mayor Cole closed public comment.
Police Department Drone First Responder Update
Chief of Police Meme Colla introduced the item. Police Lieutenant Robert Kalkbrenner provided an update regarding the drone program and responded to City Council questions.
Minutes - Hillsborough City Council
Monday, December 8, 2025
Mayor Cole opened public comment.
A member of the public inquired about the number of drones used in the town.
Lieutenant Kalkbrenner responded that the Town has five drones that each do different things.
Mayor Cole closed public comment.
IX. TOWN UPDATE
City Manager Doug Davis stated that there was no Town Update following the Mayor's State of the Town presentation.
X. PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
There were no speakers.
XI. ANNOUNCEMENT OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST
There were no announcements of conflict of interest.
XII. CONSENT CALENDAR
City Manager Davis requested that Item 4 be removed from the agenda.
Councilmember Adams requested to remove Item 3 and Item 10.
Administrative Services Manager William Li responded to a question from Vice Mayor Ragsdale regarding Item 7.
On motion by Councilmember Krolik, seconded by Councilmember Chuang and unanimous on roll call vote, Consent Calendar Items 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 were approved.
1. Approve City Council Meeting Minutes of November 10, 2025 The City Council meeting minutes of November 10, 2025 were approved as submitted.
2. Monthly Claims: November 1 through November 30, 2025 The monthly claims for November 2025 were approved as submitted.
3. Acceptance of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) Together with the Independent Auditors' Report on Internal Control of Financial Reporting for the Year Ended June 30, 2025
Finance Director Jan Cooke responded to City Council questions.
On motion by Councilmember Krolik, seconded by Councilmember Adams and unanimous on roll call vote, the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report together with the Independent Auditors' Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025 was accepted and filed.
4. Resolution Implementing Previously Approved Increases to Water Service Charges and Volume Charges Effective January 2026
This item was removed from the agenda at the request of staff and no action was taken.
5. Appoint a Town of Hillsborough Representative to the San Mateo County Mosquito & Vector Control District Board of Trustees
Dr. D. Scott Smith was appointed as the Town's representative to the San Mateo County Mosquito & Vector Control District Board of Trustees for a four-year term, January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2029.
Minutes - Hillsborough City Council
Monday, December 8, 2025
6. Resolution Establishing the Local Appointments List for Calendar Year 2026 The resolution establishing the Local Appointments List for Calendar Year 2026 was adopted.
7. Resolution Adopting the Classification Specification for the Position of Code Compliance Coordinator I/ll and the Position of Public Works Assistant Superintendent The resolution adopting the Classification Specification for the Position of Code Compliance Coordinator I/ll and the Position of Public Works Assistant Superintendent was adopted.
8. Resolution Adopting Policy 516, Grants Management Policy, to Establish Grant Management Guidelines
The resolution adopting Policy 516, Grants Management Policy, to establish grant management guidelines was adopted.
9. Resolution Approving and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Purchase Agreement with IT Management Corporation for Town Network and Server Infrastructure Equipment Replacement in the Amount of $166,405.04 with a 10% Contingency in the Amount of $16,641.00 for a Total not-to-Exceed Amount of $183,046.04 The resolution approving and authorizing the City Manager execute a Purchase Agreement with IT Management Corporation for Town network and server infrastructure equipment replacement in the amount of $166,405.04 with a 10% contingency in the amount of $16,641.00 for a total not-to-exceed amount of $183,046.04 was adopted.
10. Approve and Authorize the Mayor to Sign Letters of Support for AB 1243 and SB 684:
Polluters Pay Superfund Climate Act of 2025
Councilmember Adams provided comments. Assistant City Manager Mandy Brown responded to City Council questions. City Attorney Diaz provided additional information.
Mayor Cole opened public comment.
Arlene Rosenberg provided comments in support of authorizing the Mayor to sign the letters.
Mayor Cole closed public comment.
On motion by Councilmember Cole, seconded by Vice Mayor Ragsdale, the City Council approved and authorized the Mayor to sign letters of support for AB 1243 and SB 684:
Polluters Pay Superfund Climate Act of 2025 by the following roll call vote:
Yes (4) - Councilmember Chuang, Councilmember Krolik, Vice Mayor Ragsdale, Mayor Cole
No (1) - Councilmember Adams
XIII. PUBLIC HEARING
11. Adoption of an Ordinance Adopting 2025 Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations ("California Buildings Standards Code") by Reference, and Modifying Title 15 of the Hillsborough Municipal Code ("Buildings and Construction") by Amending, Repealing, and Replacing Various Chapters, Under CEQA Guidelines 15061(B)(3) and 15378 Building & Planning Department Management Assistant Nicole De Lancie provided the staff report.
Mayor Cole opened the Public Hearing at 7:52 p.m. There were no speakers. Mayor Cole closed the Public Hearing at 7:52 p.m.
On motion by Councilmember Chuang, seconded by Councilmember Krolik, and unanimous on roll call vote, the Ordinance Adopting 2025 Title 24 of the California Code Minutes - Hillsborough City Council
Monday, December 8, 2025
of Regulations ("California Buildings Standards Code") by Reference, and Modifying Title 15 of the Hillsborough Municipal Code ("Buildings and Construction") by Amending, Repealing, and Replacing Various Chapters, Under CEQA Guidelines 15061(B)(3) and 15378 was adopted.
XIV. OLD BUSINESS
12. 40 Baywood Avenue Property Donation Proposal Discussion City Manager Doug Davis introduced the item. Assistant City Attorney Mark Hudak provided the staff report. City Attorney Christopher Diaz provided additional information.
Mayor Cole opened public comment.
Kathleen McCrea, family friend of the Lilienthals, provided comments regarding Mrs.
Lilienthal's vision for 40 Baywood.
Diane Marcus, San Mateo neighbor, provided comments regarding Mrs. Lilienthal's vision for the use of 40 Baywood for community gatherings and for programming for liberal arts activities and personal financial planning, especially for women, and spoke in support of the ability of Friends of 40 Baywood to fundraise for those purposes.
Mayor Cole closed public comment.
Anne Lassahn provided comments regarding renovations she made to the home, the "assignee" clause in Section 5 of the agreement, the addition of the clause specifying a day for day increase to the 10-year term for every day the property cannot be opened, the potential to raise funds for the property, and responded to additional City Council questions.
Following discussion, Mayor Cole moved to amend the agreement as presented to add clearer legal understanding stipulating that the property taxes are resolved before the Town accepts the donation and that the "assignee" is mutually agreed upon.
Assistant City Attorney Hudak provided clarification regarding the way the property tax language is currently written in the draft proposed agreement.
Following discussion, Councilmember Krolik seconded the motion.
Ms. Lassahn stated that she agrees the assignee should be mutually agreed upon and responded to additional City Council questions.
Mayor Cole amended her motion to add "unforeseen environmental catastrophes beyond our control" should be added to the contract.
Ms. Lassahn responded that that is very reasonable.
Vice Mayor Ragsdale requested clarification to confirm that an unforeseen environmental disaster would not add days to the term.
Mayor Cole confirmed that the motion was to add "mutually agreeable" to the assignee clause language and to add "environmental disasters" or whatever legal language would give the Town some cushion around that.
Following further discussion, Assistant City Attorney Hudak summarized the motion as made by Mayor Cole and seconded by Councilmember Krolik to amend the proposed agreement: 1) the "assignee" mentioned in the agreement will be a mutually agreeable nonprofit corporation, and 2) once the grounds and the house are opened, if for some reason beyond our control or a natural disaster we are unable to make the scheduled number of openings, we are not in default and there is no extension as a result of it.
Assistant City Attorney Hudak further clarified that the day for day applies only to the initial opening date; thereafter, if the Town is unable to keep it open because of a natural disaster, something out of our control, then there is not an extension during those Minutes - Hillsborough City Council
Monday, December 8, 2025
periods.
Councilmember Chuang acknowledged Ms. Lassahn nodding affirmatively in the audience.
The motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Yes (3) - Councilmember Krolik, Vice Mayor Ragsdale, Mayor Cole No (2) - Councilmember Adams, Councilmember Chuang
XV. CITY COUNCIL ITEMS
Mayor Cole reported her attendance at a meeting of the Peninsula Clean Energy Board of Directors in her role as the Alternate member and at the California Association of Youth Commissions Fall Conference in which she was invited to attend as a featured speaker regarding Mentorship and Interprofessional Collaboration. Mayor Cole directed members of the community to the Town website for home hardening tips from Firewise.
Vice Mayor Ragsdale provided a presentation regarding her activities in November and December and reported her attendance at the California Association of Youth Commissions Fall Conference, reported the availability of the home electrification concierge service through Peninsula Clean Energy, provided Hillsborough Recreation program statistics, and reported her attendance at a Loneliness to Light event hosted by County Board of Supervisors Board President David Canepa at the Peninsula Humane Society.
Councilmember Krolik expressed appreciation to the Hillsborough Beautification Foundation for the Veterans Day and Light Up the Town events, reported her attendance at the swearing in of new San Mateo County Sheriff Ken Binder and a meeting of the SFO Airport/Community Roundtable, and reported a recent The New York Times Magazine article regarding e-bikes in which the neurosurgeon who saved a woman's life is from Hillsborough.
Councilmember Adams provided a presentation regarding her activities in November including the Leadership Council San Mateo County CORPS program. Councilmember Adams announced the birth of her grandson in November and congratulated her son and daughter-in- law on his arrival.
XVI. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Cole adjourned the meeting at 9:56 p.m.
Submitted by:
Yun att
isa Natusch, City Clerk