City of Menlo Park 701 Laurel St., Menlo Park, CA 94025 tel 650-330-6600 menlopark.gov City Council
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Date: 11/1/2022
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Locations: Teleconference and
City Council Chambers
701 Laurel St., Menlo Park, CA 94025
Regular Session
A. Call To Order
Mayor Nash called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m.
B. Roll Call
Present: Combs, Mueller (exited at 8:16 p.m.), Nash, Taylor, Wolosin
Absent: None
Staff: City Manager Justin I. C. Murphy, City Attorney Nira F. Dohertpy, Assistant to the City Manager/City Clerk Judi A. Herren
C. Agenda Review
None.
D. Public Comment
Jenny Michel spoke in support of functional zero homelessness. Ron Snow spoke in support of a 25 mph (miles per hour) zone at Santa Cruz Avenue approaching Avy Avenue.
Shani Podell spoke in opposition of pickleball courts at the Nealon Park tennis courts.
The City Council received clarification that 25 mph zones will return to the City Council.
E. Presentations and Proclamations
E1. Proclamation: Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day (Attachment) Mayor Nash read the proclamation (Attachment).
San Mateo County Office of Education representative Theresa Vallez-Kelly accepted the proclamation.
F. Advisory Body Vacancies and Appointments
F1. Consider applicants and make appointments to fill vacancies on various advisory bodies (Staff Report #22-211-CC)
City of Menlo Park 701 Laurel St., Menlo Park, CA 94025 tel 650-330-6600 menlopark.gov City Clerk Judi Herren introduced the item.
Jennifer Wise spoke on their Library Commission application. Andre Ehrich spoke on their Planning and Environmental Quality Commissions (EQC) applications.
Paul Collacchi spoke in support of appointing Nicole Chessari to the Planning Commission. Kim Yaeger spoke in support of appointing Nicole Chessari to the Planning Commission. Jennifer Schindler spoke on their Planning Commission application. Brian Kissel spoke in support of appointing Jennifer Schindler to the Planning Commission, on their application for the EQC, and expanding the EQC membership size. Pam Jones spoke in support of District elections and balanced District representation on advisory bodies.
Jenny Michel spoke in support of appointing Maria Doerr to the EQC, appointing Andrew Ehrich or Jennifer Schindler to the Planning Commission, and balancing District representations on advisory bodies.
Carolyn Ordonez requested extending the application process for Planning Commission to increase diversity.
The City Council made appointments to fill vacancies on the Environmental Quality Commission, Library Commission, and Planning Commission:
Environmental Quality Commission:
John McKenna – term expiring April 30, 2024
Library Commission:
Ada Chen Rekhi – term expiring April 30, 2026
Planning Commission:
Jennifer Schindler – term expiring April 30, 2026
G. Consent Calendar
G1. Accept the City Council meeting minutes for October 11 and 18, 2022 (Attachment) G2. Adopt a resolution to continue conducting the City’s Council and advisory body meetings remotely due to health and safety concerns for the public and to authorize the use of hybrid meetings (Staff Report #22-209-CC)
G3. Reject all bids for the Chrysler Stormwater Pump Station Improvement project and direct staff to rebid the project at a future date (Staff Report #22-208-CC) G4. Authorize the Mayor to sign the City’s response to the San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury Report:
“A Delicate Balance Between Knowledge and Power: Government Transparency and the Public’s Right to Know.” (Staff Report #22-212-CC)
ACTION: Motion and second (Wolosin/ Nash), to approved the consent calendar, passed unanimously.
H. Regular Business
City of Menlo Park 701 Laurel St., Menlo Park, CA 94025 tel 650-330-6600 menlopark.gov H1. Waive the first reading and introduce an ordinance adopting the 2022 Building Standards Code to include amending Title 12 [Buildings and Construction] of the Menlo Park Municipal Code to adopt local amendments to the California Building Standards Code, and discussion regarding proposed revisions to Fire Code by Menlo Park Fire Protection District (Staff Report #22-210-CC) Assistant Community Development Director Chuck Andrews and Sustainability Manager Rebecca Lucky made the presentation (Attachment).
The City Council received clarification on the engagement with the Menlo Park Fire Protection District.
ACTION: Motion and second (Combs/ Wolosin), to introduce by title only and waive first reading of an ordinance, Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Menlo Park amending Title 12 [Buildings and Construction] of the Menlo Park Municipal Code to adopt Title 24, California Code of Regulations, 2022 Building Standards Code and Local Amendments to the 2022 California Building Standards Code, adding requirements for pools under construction, and amending flood damage prevention requirements including modifications, passed unanimously.
H2. Adopt a resolution establishing City Council Policy CC-22-XXX Commemorative Park Amenities Policy (Staff Report #22-213-CC)
Library and Community Services Director Sean Reinhart made the presentation (Attachment). Pam Jones spoke in support of publishing each City park's history and to include in the policy the process for memorializing buildings that have been replaced.
The City Council received clarification on the procedure of approval, location of commemorative amenities, honoree criteria, installation and maintenance responsibility and cost, City's esthetic standard, and types of commemorative amenities.
The City Council directed information on the newly installed bench at the City Hall campus, requested adding commemorative park amenities to the Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC) work plan with quarterly noticing to the City Council and, including in the report, commemorative amenity requests, exploration of a tiering system, and items reviewed by the PRC.
I. Informational Items
I1. City Council agenda topics: November 15 – December 6, 2022 (Staff Report #22-214-CC) I2. Transmittal of city attorney billing (Staff Report #22-215-CC) J. City Manager's Report
City Manager Justin Murphy report out on library and community serviced department Halloween hoopla event, reactivation of the gymnastics program, conversion of the City’s web domain to .gov, and the continuation of the Planning Commission meeting to November 4 at 7 p.m.
K. City Councilmember Reports
City Councilmember Combs requested the City to continue not requiring District identification for public commenters, information on city attorney billing, and housing element response.
City of Menlo Park 701 Laurel St., Menlo Park, CA 94025 tel 650-330-6600 menlopark.gov Vice Mayor Wolosin reported out on the Local Policy Maker Group Caltrain meeting.
Mayor Nash reported out on the Peninsula Clean Energy meeting.
L. Adjournment
Mayor Nash adjourned the meeting at 8:31 p.m.
Judi A. Herren, Assistant to the City Manager/City Clerk These minutes were approved at the City Council meeting of December 13, 2022.