CITY OF LOS ALTOS
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Sally Meadows, Mayor
Jonathan Weinberg, Vice Mayor
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2023 Pete Dailey, Councilmember
7:00 p.m. Neysa Fligor, Councilmember
1 N. San Antonio Rd. ~ Los Altos, CA Lynette Lee Eng, Councilmember CALL MEETING TO ORDER - Sally Meadows, Mayor, called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
ESTABLISH QUORUM - All Councilmembers were present and in person.
PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG - Neysa Fligor, Councilmember, led the Pledge of Allegiance.
REPORT ON CLOSED SESSION - There was no Closed Session meeting.
CHANGES TO THE ORDER OF THE AGENDA
There were no changes to the order of the agenda.
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
The following member of the public spoke during Public Comment:
• Eric Steinle
CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion by Fligor and Seconded by Dailey to approve the Consent Calendar. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.
1. Approve Meeting Minutes for the Regular Meeting of September 12, 2023
2. Treasurer's Report - Month Ended June 30, 2023
PUBLIC HEARINGS
3. Appeal of the Planning Commission's Decision on the Design Review and Variance Applications SC22-0029 & V23-0002 at 5790 Arboretum Drive This item was continued from the Regular Meeting of June 27, 2023 Jia Liu, presented the report.
Tom Carruba, Project Architect, presented the appellant report.
Sally Meadows, Mayor, opened the Public Hearing.
There were no speakers during the Public Hearing.
Sally Meadows, Mayor, closed the Public Hearing.
Bill McClure, Appellant Attorney, provided rebuttal statements to the City Council.
City of Los Altos
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
September 26, 2023
Motion by Weinberg and Seconded by Meadows to uphold the Planning Commission's denial of Design Review and Variance Applications SC22- 0029 & V23-0002 at 5790 Arboretum Drive and find no environmental review is required under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15270 ("Projects Which are Disapproved") because CEQA does not apply to projects which are disapproved. Motion carried 3-2 by roll call vote with Councilmembers Fligor and Lee Eng opposed.
4. Introduce and Waive Further Reading of Zoning Ordinance Text Amendments which implement programs identified in the adopted housing element, Program 3.B: Modify building height in mixed-use zoning districts, Program 3.C: Remove floor-to-area ratio (FAR) restriction at Rancho Shopping Center and Woodland Plaza, Program 3.F:
Reduce Conditional Use Permit requirement for residential mixed-use and multi-family, Program 3.G: Amend Conditional Use Permits findings applicable to housing Developments, Program 3.N: Modify standards in the R3 zoning districts and consideration of the City of Los Altos Planning Commission's September 7, 2023 decisions; Action (1) on Program 3.C, PASSED (4-Yes, 1-No, 1-Rescue, 1-Absent); Action (2) on Program 3.B, 3.F, 3.G, 3.N, PASSED (6-Yes, 1-Absent) both recommendations approved the proposed amendments with minor modifications. The proposed amendments are exempt from environmental review pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines since there would be no possibility of a significant effect on the environment.
Nick Zornes, Development Services Director, presented the report.
The City Council took a recess at 9:24 p.m.
The City Council reconvened at 9:38 p.m.
Sally Meadows, Mayor, opened the Public Hearing.
The following members of the public spoke during the Public Hearing:
• Alice Shyu • Shirin Cooper
• Jennifer Griffin Jon Baer
Gina Atkinson • Anne Paulson
• Ajay Saproo • Russ Nord
Jon Daseking • Daphne Ross
• Nancy Martin • San R
• Teresa Morris • Samsung SM
Sally Meadows, Mayor, closed the Public Hearing.
The City Council provided the following amendment:
• Require a minimum of 20% floor area ratio for nonresidential uses and a maximum of 33% floor area ratio for nonresidential uses in the Community Neighborhood (CN) Zoning District
City of Los Altos
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
September 26, 2023
Motion by Dailey and Seconded by Weinberg to waive first reading and introduce the ordinance, as amended. Motion carried 4-0-1 by roll call vote with Councilmember Lee Eng abstained.
The City Council took a recess at 11:35 p.m.
The City Council reconvened at 11:44 p.m.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
5. Confirmation of City Council Appointments to City Commissions and Committee Melissa Thurman, City Clerk, presented the report.
The following members of the public spoke regarding the item:
• Teresa Morris
• Monica Waldman
Motion by Dailey and Seconded by Meadows to confirm the appointments detailed below to City Commissions and Committee:
Wesley Helmholz and Scott J. Pietka to the Complete Streets Commission.
The City Council assigned Scott J. Pietka to the vacant seat with a two-year term and Wesley Helmholz to the vacant seat with a one-year term.
Deepak Jain, Patrick Dupuis, Scott Ottoes and Jesse Zhang to the Financial Commission.
Commissioners are appointed to seats with four-year terms.
Michelle Morris to the Library Commission.
Commissioner is appointed to a seat with a four-year term.
Laurel Iverson and Sumita Chandra to the Joint Community Volunteer Service Awards Committee.
Commissioners are appointed to seats with four-year terms.
The City Council continued the discussion of a potential third appointment to the Joint Community Volunteer Service Awards Committee to the meeting of October 10, 2023.
The City Council continued the discussion regarding the Parks, Arts, Recreation & Cultural Commission appointment to the meeting of October 10, 2023.
Kris Olson to the Senior Commission.
Commissioner is appointed to a seat with a two-year term.
Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.
City of Los Altos
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
September 26, 2023
6. Council consideration of Vice Mayor Weinberg's request to discuss remedial action regarding Planning Commissioner Kate Disney's violation of the City's Norms and policies
Jonathan Weinberg, Vice Mayor, presented the item.
Kate Disney, Planning Commissioner, spoke regarding the item.
The following members of the public spoke regarding the item:
Teresa Morris • Roberta Phillips
• Jennifer Griffin Joe Beninato
• Monica Waldman
The City Council provided the following direction:
• For Planning Commissioner Disney to meet with Vice Mayor Weinberg to discuss the issue
7. Cities Association of Santa Clara County's request for approval of Joint Powers Agreement to establish the Cities Association of Santa Clara County Joint Powers Agency
Neysa Fligor, Councilmember, spoke regarding the item.
There were no speakers regarding the item.
Motion by Weinberg and Seconded by Dailey to approve the Cities Association of Santa Clara County's request for approval of Joint Powers Agreement to establish the Cities Association of Santa Clara County Joint Powers Agency. Motion carried 4-1 by roll call vote with Councilmember Lee Eng opposed.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS ONLY
8. Tentative Council Calendar and Housing Element Update Calendar
COUNCIL/STAFF REPORTS AND DIRECTIONS ON FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS • Lynette Lee Eng, Councilmember - Provided an oral report regarding her attendance at the CalCities Annual Conference held in Sacramento, CA September 20 - 22, 2023.
Councilmember Lee Eng requested the following future agenda items:
• Request to receive City Council agenda packets earlier than the current schedule (No support received)
• Pete Dailey, Councilmember - Requested the following future agenda items:
• Discussion item on ways to improve wireless connectivity in Los Altos (Supported by Weinberg and Meadows)
• Requested the Library Commission discuss possible improvements to the Library, and to direct staff to return to the City Council at a future Study Session to discuss City of Los Altos
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
September 26, 2023
Library Commission recommendations on the subject. (Supported by Weinberg and Meadows)
• Neysa Fligor, Councilmember - Provided an oral report regarding her attendance at the CalCities Annual Conference held in Sacramento, CA September 20 - 22, 2023.
Councilmember Fligor requested the following future agenda item:
, Letter of support to Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors regarding the Stanford Community Plan (Supported by Meadows and Lee Eng) • Community Meetings on Housing Element Updates (Supported by Weinberg and Dailey)
• Sally Meadows, Mayor - Provided an oral report regarding her attendance at the CalCities Annual Conference held in Sacramento, CA September 20 - 22, 2023.
ADJOURNMENT - The meeting adjourned at 1:50 a.m. on September 27, 2023.
The meeting minutes were prepared by Melissa Thurman, City Clerk, for approval at the regular meeting of October 10, 2023.
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Sally Meadows, Melissa Vhurman, MMO
Mayor City Clerk
The September 26, 2023 City Council meeting recording may be viewed via the following external website: https://www.youtube.com/@CityofLosAltosCA The City of Los Altos does not own or operate YouTube. The video referenced on these minutes were live at the time the minutes were published.