MILPIT SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
-410 MILPITAS CITY COUNCIL
CALIFORNIA®
JANUARY 201251. MINUTES
TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2023
BARBARA LEE SENIOR CENTER, 40 N MILPITAS BOULEVARD, ROOM 140/141, MILPITAS, CA The City Council of the City of Milpitas convened in a Special Meeting of the Milpitas City Council on January 31, 2023, in the Barbara Lee Senior Center, 40 N. Milpitas Blvd, Milpitas, and via teleconference/ Zoom webinar.
CALL MEETING TO ORDER by Mayor and ROLL CALL by City Clerk Mayor Montano called the Special City Council meeting to order at 5:31 PM. Roll Call was taken by City Clerk Guzzetta.
PRESENT: Mayor Montano, Vice Mayor Chua, Councilmembers Barbadillo, and Lien, and Phan.
ABSENT:
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Montano led the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC FORUM
There were no public speakers.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS City Attorney Mutalipassi asked the Mayor and City Councilmembers if they had any personal conflicts of interest. By roll call, there were no conflicts of interest. City Attorney Mutalipassi stated there no items on the agenda that would require a disclosure of campaign contributions.
READING OF THE CITY COUNCIL CODE OF CONDUCT
Mayor Montano read the Code of Conduct.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion: to approve the January 31, 2023 Special Meeting Agenda Motion/Second: Vice Mayor Chua / Councilmember Lien
Motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Barbadillo, Lien, Phan, Vice Mayor Chua, and Mayor Montano NOES: None
AGENDA ITEMS
Receive a Staff Presentation on the Preliminary FY 2024-33 Ten-Year General Fund Financial Forecast and Request Feedback on Prioritization of Council Referrals and Desired Service Levels to Inform the FY 2023-24 Budget Development
January 31, 2023 Milpitas City Council Minutes Page 1
The City Council received a staff presentation on the Preliminary FY 2024-33 Ten-Year General Fund Financial Forecast and provide feedback on prioritization of Council referrals and desired service levels to inform the FY 2023-24 Budget development.
City Manager McHarris provided opening remarks. Assistant City Manager Kantak and Finance Director Lai presented the report and responded to questions from Council joined by City department heads.
Councilmember Lien thanked staff for the presentation and asked for the status of the ADUs permitted by the City including if they are for rent or sale, low income, very low income. Assistant City Manager Kantak noted that there are no deed restrictions associated with ADUs. Councilmember Lien asked for additional details regarding the Emergency Operations Plan. Fire Chief Stelling spoke on the process of updating the Annexes to the plan. Assistant City Manager Kantak offered to send information on the Plan.
Mayor Montano asked for clarification on the definition of business engagements as referred to in the FY 22-23 Key Accomplishments. Economic Development Director Andrade noted that the metric is a combination of factors and that engagements with businesses or development teams don't always result in a permit. Mayor Montano spoke on the unhoused and suggested writing a letter to the County to address the unmet needs of unhoused Milpitas residents. She asked for future Militas SMART fleet cars to be electric. Regarding Traffic Safety, the Mayor asked to monitor the traffic exiting I-680 to see if the City could qualify for federal grants.
Finance Director Lai continued with the presentation.
Mayor Montano emphasized the importance of the City having a plan in place to address the ¼ cent tax that will expire. Finance Director Lai said that 2028 was the last year the City could take a replacement measure to the voters to continue the tax.
Councilmember Barbadillo questioned if property tax and sales tax being the top two revenue generators are standard for cities. Finance Director Lai responded that it varies. He also asked about the revenue and cost savings related to measures taken during the pandemic to make up for lost revenue. Assistant City Manager Kantak responded that staff would send him additional information about this. Councilmember Barbadillo asked what would be an ideal revenue source. Finance Director Lai indicated it's important to have a diversity of sources and to look at the economic diversity of the community. The Councilmember questioned the percentage of budget going to personnel and asked how much of it was for the community. Assistant City Manager Kantak replied that over three quarters of the budget is tor personnel but emphasized that the tunding for all City staft is to enable them to provide services to the community. Councilmember Barbadillo continued that he wanted to know how much goes to salaries and benefits and how much is personnel in the department budget allocations.
Assistant City Manager Kantak noted that the budget book provides a breakdown of budget allocations.
Assistant City Manager Kantak continued with the presentation.
Council recessed for a break at 7:50 pm. The Council reconvened at 8:00 pm.
There were the following public speakers:
1. Sonia Medina-Ashby
Council Referrals
Item No. 1 City Hall Address on building facade
Mayor Montano requested this be removed due to cost.
January 31, 2023 Milpitas City Council Minutes Page 2
Vice Mayor Chua asked to put the item aside but asked for staff to look into ways to fund the feasibility study. She emphasized that she didn't want to use General Fund dollars for the project. Assistant City Manager Kantak responded that staff would research grants to continue the project. The project will be deferred until the City can identify and acquire the funds to move forward.
Item No. 3 SPAR Fund
Councilmember Phan emphasized the importance of a SPAR fund due to looming budget restraints.
Councilmember Lien and Mayor Montano both voiced their support for a SPAR fund. Mayor Montano moved to bring the item forward in the budget.
Motion/Second: Mayor Montano / Councilmember Barbadillo Vote: 5-0
Item No. 4 Lease for Vacant Land near library
Mayor Montano noted that City should be focused on buying land rather than leasing. After discussion, Council directed staff to revise the item from Purchase or Lease. City Manager McHarris asked if the Council wanted for the land to be purchased without encumbrance. Mayor Montano agreed that the property should be owned by the City with no strings attached. Councilmember Phan suggested it might be time to move on and not waste additional time pursuing the project. Councilmember Barbadillo and Mayor Montano agreed.
Item No. 5 Youth Skateboarder Plaque at Skate Park
Mayor Montano spoke in support of the item. Vice Mayor Chua moved to bring the item forward in the budget.
Motion/Second: Vice Mayor Chua / Councilmember Lien
Vote: 5-0
Item No. 6 Vision Zero Action Plan
Vice Mayor Chua voiced concerns with the cost and ongoing maintenance. She noted feedback that existing City programs/policies are already filling this role. The Vice Mayor did not support the program moving forward. Councilmember Lien agreed.
Item No. 7 Saturday Senior Center Hours
Vice Mayor Chua spoke in support of the item and moved to bring the item forward in the budget.
Motion/Second: Vice Mayor Chua / Councilmember Lien
Vote: 5-0
Item No. 8 Crossing Guards Program
Police Chief Hernandez provided additional background information on the Militas Crossing Guards Program. Vice Mayor Chua questioned if the benefits the contract company provides are comparable to the ones provided by the City. Police Chief Hernandez clarified that there would be no loss of compensation in transitioning to the contract service.
Vice Mayor Chua suggested the contract include terms that the City crossing guards should not be in the roaming guards. Police Chief Hernandez noted that roaming guards were already discussed with the company, it is the employee's choice to become a roving guard. Vice Mayor Chua proposed crossing guard salaries be raised as an incentive.
Councilmember Barbadillo asked how many locations are we currently staffing and voiced support for Option B. Councilmember Lien agreed that Option B makes sense.
January 31, 2023 Militas City Council Minutes Page 3
Mayor Montano voiced concerns with outsourcing the crossing guards, citing that it's not about pay and that crossing guards are proud to be part of the Police Department. She noted her preference for Option A and suggesting giving the crossing guards a larger raise to attract more people to the program.
Vice Mayor Chua indicated concerns with recruitment. She voiced support for Option B with the caveat that the Police Chief make sure crossing guards are still in touch with the Police Department.
Councilmember Phan made a motion to move forward with Option B. Vice Mayor Chua seconded the motion, but asked for a friendly amendment to raise the hourly rate to $25 with the same compensation structure the city has now. Councilmember Phan did not accept the amendment. Vice Mayor Chua withdrew the second. Councilmember Barbadillo seconded the motion.
Vice Mayor Chua made an alternative motion to move forward with Option B with the addendum of increasing the hourly rate of current crossing guards to a competitive rate. There was no second. The alternative motion failed.
Motion: Councilmember Phan / Councilmember Barbadillo
Vote: 3-2 (Noes: Vice Mayor Chua, Mayor Montano)
City Attorney Mutalipassi noted that the Police Chief needed feedback on the number of sites.
Councilmember Phan supported the option for 36 guards at 34 sites.
Item No. 9 Establish Funding source for Urgent Items Identified through Prioritization Process Vice Mayor Chua withdrew the item.
Assistant City Manager Kantak asked if there were any additional items that Council would want to consider:
- Vice Mayor Chua asked to consider the following items:
• Explore community feedback on which parks are suitable for permanent pickleball locations. • Explore public safety enhancement to ALPR (Automated License Plate Readers).
Ensure staffing relating to the program supported by the $3 million from Ro Khanna - Councilmember Barbadillo asked to explore a senior discount ordinance. - Mayor Montano asked to bring back all items that had previously dropped from consideration including the consulate office and EDC Corporation. She also asked to consider the following items:
• The City negotiate with the church next door to Alviso Adobe for improved parking. • Adding a phone number for the City Clerk's office on the first floor of City Hall so constituents don't have to speak with the cashier.
Infrastructure for Beautify Militas for roads and maintenance of parks.
Main Street Revitalization infrastructure to underground utilities to put lights on trees.
Police Substation in the southern part of Militas.
Navigation Center for the unhoused.
• Prioritize Selwyn Park.
Create a public safety task force to brainstorm methods to keep the public safe. - Councilmember Phan asked to consider:
Continue building a positive reputation for future employees to work here by providing a housing platform for employees to live in this city and explore workforce housing opportunities for prospective and existing employees.
• Explore public banking in the form of a credit union that City employees can utilize.
As a perk of working in Milpitas, transit passes for employees that commute. - Councilmember Lien asked for Council to consider:
• Contacting the library and place Narcan in the library.
January 31, 2023 Militas City Council Minutes Page 4
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Vice Mayor Chua thanked staff for the meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Montano adjourned the meeting at 9:30 PM.
The foregoing minutes were approved by the Milpitas City Council on february 1,
Suzanne Guzzetta
Milpitasility Clerk
January 31, 2023 Milpitas City Council Minutes Page 5