CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CITY MINUTES
7:00 PM - Tuesday, February 22, 2022
via Teleconference
CALL MEETING TO ORDER
At 7:01 p.m. Mayor Enander called the meeting to order.
ESTABLISH QUORUM
PRESENT: Council Member Fligor, Lee Eng, Weinberg, Vice Mayor Meadows and Mayor Enander ABSENT: None
PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
Arya Tatavarty, with Troop 60430, let the Pledge.
REPORT ON CLOSED SESSION
There was no closed session, therefore nothing to report.
SPECIAL ITEMS
A. Proclamation of the month of March to be Youth Art Month Mayor Enander presented the Proclamation.
CHANGES TO THE ORDER OF THE AGENDA
No changes were made to the agenda.
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
There was no public comment.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Council Member Lee Eng pulled Item 3 from Consent for discussion and was placed after the Public Hearing by Mayor Enander.
1. Minutes: Approve Minutes of the February 8, 2022 Regular City Council Meeting
2. SB 1383 Local Assistance Grant: Adopt Resolution 2022-XX authorizing submittal of an application for CalRecycle payment programs and related authorizations Upon motion made by Vice Mayor Meadows, seconded by Council Member Weinberg, the Consent Calendar was approved 5-0 with the following roll call vote:
2/22/2022 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Page 2 of 5
AYES: Council Member Fligor, Lee Eng, Weinberg, Vice Mayor Meadows, Mayor Enander
NOES:
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
PUBLIC HEARINGS
4. ZTA 21-005 - City of Los Altos - Los Altos Municipal Code Text Amendments: Hold Public Hearing and Introduce, as read by title only, and waive further reading, of a Zoning Text Amendment Ordinance (ZTA 21-005) modifying the Los Altos Density Bonus Ordinance pursuant to recent changes to state law. The proposed text amendment would also make other updates to the Los Altos Municipal Code. Chapter 1.12 to address City appeals procedures, Chapter 14.02 to address ongoing maintenance requirements for landscaping, and Chapter 14.28 o clarify the City's existing inclusionary housing requirements. This action is exempt from thi California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines
Mayor Enander opened the Public Hearing at 7:08 p.m.
Interim Planning Director Simpson introduced the item. City Attorney Ramakrishnan provided a staff report, answered questions from Council, and conducted live minor edits.
The following members of the public commented: Roberta Philips and Jeanine Valadez.
At 9:29 p.m., Mayor Enander called for a brief recess. At 9:40 p.m., the meeting was reconvened.
Following Council discussion and upon motion made by Council Member Weinberg, Seconded by Council Member Lee Eng, the Council introduced, as read by title only, and waived further reading, of a Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA 21-005) modifying the Los Altos Density Bonus Ordinance pursuant to recent changes to state law being exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines with the following roll call vote:
AYES: Council Member Fligor, Lee Eng, Weinberg, Vice Mayor Meadows, Mayor Enander
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
3. Off-Leash Fenced-in Dog Parks: Hold second reading and adopt an ordinance amending Los Altos Municipal Code Section 5.08 authorizing off-leash fenced-in dog parks in certain designated areas within Los Altos; make findings that the projects are exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption), 15301 (Existing Facilities), 15304 (Minor Alterations to Land), and 15305 (Minor Alterations to Land Use Restrictions) and also find that none of the exceptions set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 apply to the Project; and direct the City Manager or designee to prepare and file a notice of exemption in 2/22/2022 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Page 3 of 5
connection with this ordinance, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15062 and increase the current fiscal year budget by $100,000.
Council Member Lee Eng asked for additional information relating to dog park rule enforcement to be included in the Ordinance itself.
Council discussion commenced
Council Member Lee Eng moved to include rule enforcement language in the ordinance. The motion died for lack of a second.
Upon motion by Council Member Weinberg, seconded by Vice Mayor Meadows, the Council held a second reading and adopted an ordinance amending Los Altos Municipal Code Section
5.08 authorizing off-leash fenced-in dog parks in certain designated areas within Los Altos; make findings that the projects are exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption), 15301 (Existing Facilities), 15304 (Minor Alterations to Land), and 15305 (Minor Alterations to Land Use Restrictions) and also find that none of the exceptions set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 apply to the Project; and direct the City Manager or designee to prepare and file a notice of exemption in connection with this ordinance, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15062 and increase the current fiscal year budget by $100,000 was approved as presented with the following roll call vote:
AYES: Council Member Fligor, Lee Eng, Weinberg, Vice Mayor Meadows, Mayor Enander
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
DISCUSSION ITEMS
Council Legislative Subcommittee: Discuss the structure, format, and authority of the Legislative Subcommittee, and vote on the proposed and any related actions set forth in the agenda item report
Council Member Fligor provided background information and answered Council questions.
The following members of the public commented: Roberta Philips.
Following Council discussion and upon motion made by Council Member Weinberg, seconded by Mayor Enander, the Council confirm that the Legislative Subcommittee is a standing subcommittee, subject to the provisions of the Brown Act, that the Legislative Subcommittee shall provide materials at least 72 hours in advance of a scheduled meeting with arguments in favor and against the bill, unless information is not available, but shall in all cases present argument in favor of and against the bill if the subcommittee is making a recommendation that the Council take a position on a bill. It was further confirmed that the Legislative Subcommittee Update and Report be a standing agenda item during Regular Meetings. In addition, the City Manager or the City Attorney are able to make a recommendation of a bill to be considered by the subcommittee, that the subcommittee shall not take a position on a bill on behalf of the Council without full Council authority unless it is to submit a letter to a different house for a bill 2/22/2022 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Page 4 of 5
that has not been amended by the first house, that the subcommittee shall focus on bills that directly impact Los Altos but my use its best judgment in considering all bills the Legislative Subcommittee deems relevant even if they don't directly impact the City of Los Altos. The motion passed 5-0 with the following roll call vote:
AYES: Council Member Fligor, Lee Eng, Weinberg, Vice Mayor Meadows, Mayor Enander
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS ONLY
6. Alta Annual Housing Report
Council discussion commenced and asked for additional information to be brought back.
7. Tentative Council Calendar
Council Member Fligor reminded staff that the item on Distell Circle was missing. Staff confirmed that it will be added.
COUNCIL/STAFF REPORTS AND DIRECTIONS ON FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Council Member Lee Eng asked for a discussion item on how our City representative at the Cities Association is going to represent the interest of our City and positions taken there.
Council Member Fligor inquired as to Council Office Hours and asked for them to start up. City Manager Engeland confirmed that Staff will publicize the dates and times on the City website once they are set and finalized by each by Council Members.
Vice Mayor Meadows reported that the Lehigh subcommittee wrote a letter in support of Supervisor Simitian's referral to identify options for the potential acquisition of the Lehigh Cement Plant and Quarry, which was subsequently supported by the entire Board of Supervisors. Mayor Enander reported her participation as a private citizen at the City of Cupertino press conference on Lehigh and the installation of two new art sculptures.
City Manager England reminded Council that on March 1, Council will have their Goal Setting session.
ADJOURNMENT
At 10:50 p.m., Tuesday, February 22, 2022, Mayor Enander adjourned the meeting. 2/22/2022 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Page 5 of 5
Quito Emendo
Anita Enander MAYOR