35 MILLBRAE CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
APRIL 8, 2025
5:00 PM
In Person Meeting Location:
David J. Chetcuti Room
450 Poplar Ave
Millbrae, California
CALL TO ORDER MILLBRAE CITY COUNCIL
The meeting commenced at 5:04 p.m.
ROLL CALL: Mayor Anders Fung, Vice Mayor Reuben Holober, Councilmembers Stephen Rainaldi, Sissy Riley, and Bob Nguyen.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The Millbrae City Council acknowledges that we occupy the unceded ancestral, traditional, and contemporary homeland of the Ramaytush Ohlone peoples, who are the original inhabitants of the San Francisco Peninsula. We wish to pay our respects to the Ancestors and Relatives of the Ramaytush Community and to affirm their sovereign rights as First Peoples. We recognize that the Ramaytush Ohlone have lived in harmony with nature for millennia. and that to achieve a truly ecologically sustainable future for Millbrae, we must embrace Indigenous traditional ecological knowledge in how we care for the city's lands, waters, and all its people. We will continue to uplift and foster a meaningful relationship with the Ramaytush Ohlone community, and we encourage all to visit www.ramaytush.org to learn more about the Ramaytush Ohlone people.
TRAINING
Emergency Operations Center Training - Managing Disasters Emergency Services District Coordinator Bill Reilly facilitated the training on emergency operations.
The City Council participated in the training and asked questions of staff.
CLOSED SESSION
There was no public comment regarding closed session item; the City Council convened into Closed Session to consider:
Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation
Government Code § 54956.9(d)(1)
City of Millbrae v. California High Speed Rail Authority, et al., Sacramento Central District Superior Court Case No. 34-2022-80004016
ADJOURN SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
The City Council adjourned to the regularly scheduled City Council meeting at 7:15 p.m.
Minutes approved on April 22, 2025.
BY: APPROVED:
Elaine Tran
City Clerk Mayor
36 MILLBRAE CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
APRIL 8, 2025
7:00 PM
In Person Meeting Location: Teleconference via Zoom:
Millbrae Council Chambers https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81399368182 621 Magnolia Avenue For dial-in comments, call 1-669-444-9171 Millbrae, California Meeting ID: 813 9936 8182
CALL TO ORDER MILLBRAE CITY COUNCIL
Video Time: 20:32
Mayor Anders Fung called the meeting to order at 7:18 p.m.
Riley, and Bob Nguyen. ROLL CALL: Mayor Anders Fung, Vice Mayor Reuben D. Holober, and Councilmembers Stephen Rainaldi, Sissy PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE U.S. FLAG
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The Millbrae City Council acknowledges that we occupy the unceded ancestral, traditional, and contemporary homeland of the Ramaytush Ohlone peoples, who are the original inhabitants of the San Francisco Peninsula. We wish to pay our respects to the Ancestors and Relatives of the Ramaytush Community and to affirm their sovereign rights as First Peoples. We recognize that the Ramaytush Ohlone have lived in harmony with nature for millennia, and that to achieve a truly ecologically sustainable future for Millbrac, we must embrace Indigenous traditional ecological knowledge in how we care for the city's lands, waters, and all its people. We will continue to uplift and foster a meaningful relationship with the Ramaytush Ohlone community, and we encourage all to visit www.ramaytush.org to learn more about the Ramaytush Ohlone people.
1. CEREMONIAL/PRESENTATION
Video Time: 21:37
• Proclamation Proclaiming April 24, 2025 as Armenian Remembrance Day Received by Grace Andonian, Principal of Krouzian Zekarian Vasbouragan Armenian School. • Proclamation Proclaiming April 22, 2025 as Earth Day and April 25, 2025 as Arbor Day Received by Sam Bautista, Director of Engineering and Public Works, Andrea Pappajohn, Senior Environmental Programs Manager, and Annabelle Acosta, Environmental Program Coordinator. • Proclamation Proclaiming April 2025 as Arab American Heritage Month Received by Sharif Zakout, Membership Coordinator of Arab Resource and Organizing Center.
2. AGENDA OVERVIEW/STAFF BRIEFING
Video Time: 34:56
• Calendar of events - INFORMATIONAL
• Report of bills and claims - INFORMATIONAL
• Report out of April 8, 2025 Closed Session
Item #11 was pulled from the Consent Calendar for discussion.
City Manager Tom Williams updated the City Council on the following:
• Biotech company Eikon, which specializes in live cell resolution microscopy and engineering for drug discovery, has received its Certificate of Occupancy and can now move into Building Three at Alexandria Life Science Campus. • A new California law known as "daylighting" aims to improve visibility at intersections. It is now illegal to park within 20 feet of any marked or unmarked crosswalk. The community is reminded to keep this area clear for pedestrian and motorist safety.
APRIL 8, 2025 37
CITY COUNCIL
• San Mateo County Library Director Ann-Marie Despain provided an update regarding the recent Executive Order to eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the federal agency responsible for distributing library and museum funding nationwide. San Mateo County Libraries' budget remains solid and largely unaffected, as the organization does not rely on federal funding for core operations.
> The Millbrae Art Show hosted by the Millbrae Cultural Arts Advisory Committee is back and looking for amazing artists and vendors. Join us on Saturday, May 10, from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM. • The Millbrae Adventure Summer Camp is registration! Join us for epic weekly themes, awesome activities, creative crafts, group games, and special guests. • Annual recruitment to the City's nine Commissions and Committees is now open; contact the City Clerk's Office for more information.
Upcoming Events:
• Friday, April 11, at 6:30 PM - Millbrae Goes to the Movies featuring Despicable Me Wednesday, April 16, at 10:00 AM - Local Density Bonus Ordinance Collaborative Zoom Session
The City Council met in Closed Session on April 8, 2025 pursuant to Governmental Code $54956.9(d)(1) regarding Existing Litigation - City of Millbrae v. California High Speed Rail Authority, et al., Sacramento Central District Superior Court Case No. 34-2022-80004016. City Attorney Lori Liu reported that there are no reportable actions.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES Video Time: 41:53
• Special Meeting Minutes of March 20, 2025 - ACTION
• Regular Meeting Minutes of March 25, 2025 - ACTION
Motion by Rainaldi/Nguyen to approve the two meeting minutes as presented. Motion carried by 5-0 vote.
ORAL REPORT FROM CITY COMMITTEE/COMMISSION CHAIRS Video Time: 42:25 a. Adoption of Fiscal Years 2025-2027 Community Enhancement Advisory Committee Work Plan - ACTION
Jean Wong, Community Enhancement Advisory Committee Chair presented the report.
There was no public comment regarding this item.
Motion by Holober/Rainaldi to adopt the Fiscal Years 2025-2027 Community Enhancement Committee Work Plan. Motion carried by 5-0 vote.
b. Adoption of Fiscal Years 2025-2027 Economic Development Advisory Committee Work Plan - ACTION
Video Time: 52:40
Kathleen Guerin, Economic Development Advisory Committee Chair presented the report.
There was no public comment regarding this item.
Motion by Nguyen/Holober to adopt the Fiscal Years 2025-2027 Economic Development Advisory Committee Work Plan. Motion carried by 5-0 vote.
c. Adoption of Fiscal Years 2025-2027 Cultural Arts Advisory Committee Work Plan - ACTION Video Time: 57:42
John F. Hippely Jr., Cultural Arts Advisory Committee Chair presented the report.
The Council provided comments on the item.
There was no public comment regarding this item.
38 CITY COUNCIL APRIL 8, 2025
Motion by Rinaldi/Holober to adopt the Fiscal Years 2025-2027 Cultural Arts Advisory Committee Work Plan. Motion carried by 5-0 vote.
PUBLIC COMMUNICATION Video Time: 1:11:18
The following members of the public spoke:
• Paul Harrell
• Dean Lan
Lou Sandrini
Joe Teresi
CONSENT CALENDAR Video Time: 1:22:43
5. Approve, by Motion, the Quarterly Investments Schedule for the Second Quarter of Fiscal Year 2024-25 - ACTION
6. Approve, by motion, a request from Centro Chileno Lautaro for the use of the David J. Chetcuti Community Room, parking spaces in the City Hall parking lot, and fee waivers for the Centro Chileno Lautaro Spring Celebration, on June 1, 2025 - ACTION Waive the Second Reading and Adopt an Ordinance No. 817 of the City of Millbrae Rescinding Chapter 4.50 of Title 4 of the Millbrae Municipal Code Relating to "Bicycles" and Replacing it with Chapter 4.50 Relating to "Regulated Mobility Devices" - ACTION
8. Adoption of Resolution No. 25-18 Accepting the Marina Vista Park Renovation Project as Complete and Authorizing the Filing of a Notice of Completion with the San Mateo County Recorder's Office- ACTION
9. Adoption of Resolution No. 25-19 Authorizing the City Manager or designee to execute a professional services agreement with V&A Consulting Engineers for the Water Pollution Control Plant Aeration Basins and Secondary Clarifiers Condition Assessment Project in the amount of $130,673 and authorizing the City Manager or designee to execute all contract change orders up to the 15% project contingency of $19,601 for a total amount not to exceed $150,274 - ACTION
10. Adoption of Resolution No. 25-20 Authorizing the City Manager to Execute Professional Service Agreements with Four (4) On-Call Specialized Planning Consulting Firms in a Total Amount Not to Exceed $500,000 Annually per Firm for a Three-Year Base Term, with an Option to Exercise Two (2) One-Year Options to Extend Each Agreement - ACTION
11. Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to sign the petition on behalf of the City, as the owner of certain parcels and real property that would be subject to assessment, in support of the initiation of balloting for the formation of a proposed Millbrae Downtown and El Camino Real Community Benefit District - ACTION
(Pulled for a separate consideration)
There was no public comment regarding the Consent Calendar Items 5-10.
Motion by Nguyen/Rainaldi to approve the Consent Calendar except Item #11. Motion carried by 5-0 vote.
11. Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to sign the petition on behalf of the City, as the owner of certain parcels and real property that would be subject to assessment, in support of the initiation of balloting for the formation of a proposed Millbrae Downtown and El Camino Real Community Benefit District - ACTION
Video Time: 1:26:05
The Council discussed the item and asked questions of staff.
CITY COUNCIL APRIL 8, 2025 39
The following members of the public spoke regarding this item:
Christina Ongerth, The Dylan Hotel
Lixi Huang
Stella Lau
Alice Kuang
Ann Schneider
City Manager Williams stated for the record that the City had extensive community engagement and outreach with property owners through outreach meetings and a downtown walking tour.
The City Council continued to discuss the item.
Motion by Fung/Riley to continue the item to the April 22, 2025 City Council meeting. Motion carried by 5-0 vote.
Motion by Rainaldi/Nguyen to form and appoint Mayor Fung and Vice Mayor Holober to the Community Benefits District Council Ad Hoc Subcommittee. Motion carried by 5-0 vote.
PUBLIC HEARING
• None
EXISTING BUSINESS
• None
NEW BUSINESS Video Time: 2:18:58
12. Study Session for Water Rate Changes for Fiscal Year 2025-26 to Fiscal Year 2029-30 and Future Wholesale Water Rate Pass-Throughs - ACTION
The City Council recessed at 9:19 pm and resumed at 9:32 p.m.
Finance Director Mike Sung and consultant Alex Handlers of Bartle Wells Associates presented the report.
The Council asked questions and provided comments.
Millbrae's Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency representative Ann Schneider was available to answer Council questions.
Motion by Fung/Rainaldi to receive the report as it is. Motion carried by 5-0 vote.
COUNCIL COMMENTS Video Time: 3:26:48
Councilmembers reported on their respective appointed committees, boards, and subcommittees. View the meeting recording for reporting.
CLOSED SESSION
• None
ADJOURN CITY COUNCIL Video Time: 3:34:25
With no further business to discuss, the City Council adjourned at 10:32 p.m. 40 CITY COUNCIL
APRIL 8, 2025
click on the link below to view the recording of the entire meeting. The video recording of the meeting is available on the Millbrae Community Television YouTube channel. You can https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_QaC2Tg-aY
Minutes approved on April 22, 2025.
BY: APPROVED:
Elaine Tran, CMC
City Clerk Mayor