SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
MULPIT MILPITAS CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
CALIFORNIA
LANUARY 20.1824
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2023
The City Council of the City of Militas convened in a Special Meeting of the Militas City Council on February 28, 2023, in the Barbara Lee Senior Center, 40 N. Milpitas Blvd, Militas, 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 5:36 PM. Roll Call was taken by City Clerk Guzzetta.
PRESENT: Mayor Montano, Vice Mayor Chua, Councilmembers Barbadillo, Lien, and Phan.
ABSENT: None.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Montano led the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC FORUM
There were the following public speakers:
1. Stephen Balsbaugh
2 Kulwant Singh
3. Jessica Le
ANNOUNCEMENT OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST
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.
READING OF THE CITY COUNCIL CODE OF CONDUCT
Mayor Montano read the Code of Conduct.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion: to approve the February 28, 2023 Special Meeting Agenda Motion/Second: Vice Mayor Chua / Councilmember Barbadillo Motion carried by the following:
Councilmembers Barbadillo, Lien, Phan, Vice Mayor Chua, and Mayor Montano NOES: None
AGENDA ITEMS
Receive Presentation on Proposed 5-Year 2024-2028 Capital Improvement Program and Projects to be Funded through American Rescue Plan Act and Provide Feedback to Staff February 28, 2023 Milpitas City Council Minutes Page 1
Assistant City Manager Kantak provided opening remarks. Deputy City Manager Cano and Capital Improvement Program Manager Silveira presented the report.
Mayor Montano provided clarification on Slide 53, noting that the Item "Larger message sign at City Hall" should read as a "larger sign at the library".
There were no public speakers.
Deputy City Manager Cano and Capital Improvement Program Manager Silveira joined by staff responded to questions from City Council.
Councilmember Phan questioned if the Pickleball Courts Project would be a conversion or new project.
CIP Manager Silveira indicated the proposed budget was for conversions of existing facilities.
Councilmember Phan asked if staff had identified possible sites. Recreation and Community Services Director Lorentzen provided background on current locations and discussed possible future pickleball locations and spoke on steps taken by staff to ensure community acceptance of the project. Mayor Montano voiced support for dual use courts for tennis and pickleball.
Vice Mayor Chua asked for more details on the scope of the Enterprise Resource Planning system including which modules would be acquired. She voiced concern at the scope of the implementation of an entire financial system and suggested implementing HRIS first.
Councilmember Barbadillo voiced concerns with aspects of the presentation including the City Attorney's Office construction and Council Chamber A. He suggested a lack of return of benefit to the community, questioned if the ERP/HRIS was needed now, and expressed concern that some community projects wouldn't have funding, but residents would see increased water and sewer rates.
He also highlighted the abundance of plans adopted but questioned their implementation.
Vice Mayor Chua asked for a status update on the parks funded by ARPA. Assistant City Manager Kantak indicated an update would be provided to all Councilmembers.
Mayor Montano voiced agreement with Councilmember Barbadillo's concern regarding projects to benefit the community and suggested those projects should be prioritized. She suggested going through the projects line by line.
Pickleball
Recreation and Community Services Director Lorentzen indicated her understanding that there would be no direction until a community survey was conducted regarding permanent dual use and a policy was developed for dual use including capital and operational costs.
Police Substation
Mayor Montano asked to determine consensus from the City Council. Vice Mayor Chua voiced support due to the public safety focus. Councilmember Phan questioned if a substation was a Police Department priority and suggested the priority should be for more immediate needs and existing infrastructure improvements. He supported a feasibility study but asked it not be so narrowly focused.
Vice Mayor Chua favored widening the scope of the feasibility study. Mayor Montano and Councilmember Barbadillo agreed. There was consensus to include the project with direction to widen the scope to consider substation alternatives.
February 28, 2023 Militas City Council Minutes Page 2
Teen Center
Mayor Montano highlighted that a teen center currently exists, but is being used for other activities. She questioned the reason for the change. With support of Vice Mayor Chua and Councilmember Barbadillo, there was consensus to continue with the project and asking for funding for a study.
Community Garden at Vasona
Mayor Montano suggested staff include in their survey of residents to ask the community for input on what should be done with the property. There was consensus for the item.
S. Main Street Lights & Undergrounding Projects
Mayor Montano suggested it was time for the project to move forward. CIP Manager Silveira provided additional background information including requirements, cost, and the steps required to move forward. He indicated they could look into the suitability of the power source. Planning Director Thomas noted that an update to the Midtown Plan was coming before City Council in April and the Militas Gateway Plan would be coming to Council in the next year to eighteen months. Mayor Montano reiterated the focus of the project is on the three blocks from Carlo Street to Corning Avenue. There was consensus that this was a priority.
Navigation Center
Mayor Montano suggested working with churches. Assistant City Manager Kantak noted that staff was planning to return with this item at the next prioritization session.
Cesar Chavez Community Garden
Mayor Montano provided background on the request. Councilmember Barbadillo asked about the community garden waiting list. Recreation and Community Services Director Lorentzen noted that the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Commission plans to bring a recommendation to the City Council in April 2023. There was agreement to bring the project back in the next budget season.
Consulate Office
Mayor Montano suggested converting the former Militas TV space into a satellite consulate office.
Councilmember Phan voiced concerns with expanding government scope and did not support the project. Councilmember Lien also did not support the project. Councilmember Phan questioned which governments would have access to the satellite office. Mayor Montano noted that it could be open to any consulate that may legally operate. With the support of Councilmember Barbadillo, Vice Mayor Chua and Mayor Montano, there was consensus to research the issue as a shared space with either daily or hourly usage.
Gill Park Additional Lighting
Vice Mayor Chua noted that she brought this item forward due to safety concerns over a lack of lighting in the evening. She asked staff for an inventory or list of parks without lights before the next CIP discussion. Recreation and Community Services Director Lorentzen asked if the Vice Mayor was asking for court lighting or field lights. Deputy City Manager Cano noted an informational memorandum would be released on the status of the ARPA projects and this item would be included. Vice Mayor Chua also asked that the flooding in front of the Library be addressed.
City Attorney Office Construction
February 28, 2023 Milpitas City Council Minutes Page 3
Vice Mayor Chua expressed concern with supporting funding due to the number of unused cubicles on the third floor. She also suggested dual use cubicles for teams that alternate work from home days. City Attorney Mutalipassi indicated that much of the work completed by most of the City Attorney's Office is considered privileged and required to be kept confidential. She asked if staff had looked into reassigning other offices. Councilmember Barbadillo suggested using other offices at City Hall.
Councilmember Phan supported the project. After discussion, the Council asked to look at existing space availability, and if there is no availability to keep this project in the budget.
ERP Financial System
Vice Mayor Chua reiterated her preference to move forward with an HRIS system and implement financial modules in the next year's budget. Councilmember Lien highlighted the difficulties in the Vice Mayor's recommended implementation plan. She supported the recommendation. Councilmember Phan voiced support for staff's recommendation. Councilmember Barbadillo supported Vice Mayor Chua's suggestion. Mayor Montano supported the staff recommendation. With the support of Councilmember Lien, Councilmember Phan, and Mayor Montano, there was consensus to move the item forward.
Deputy City Manager Cano summarized the direction provided by City Council and Assistant City Manager Kantak provided closing remarks.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Montano adjourned the meeting at 8:43 PM.
The foregoing minutes were approved by the Milpitas City Council on March 21, 2023.
Suzanne Guzzetta
Milpitas City Clerk
February 28, 2023 Militas City Council Minutes Page 4