SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
MILPITAS CITY COUNCIL
41-112
MINUTES
CALIFORNIA
JANUARY 28, 1954/ TUESDAY, MAY 9, 2023
The City Council of the City of Milpitas convened in a Special Meeting of the Militas City Council on May 9, 2023, in the Barbara Lee Senior Center, 40 N. Milpitas Blvd, Room 140/141, Milpitas, CA, and via teleconference/ Zoom webinar.
CALL MEETING TO ORDER by Mayor and ROLL CALL by City Clerk Mayor Montano called the meeting to order at 5:35 pm. Roll Call was taken by City Clerk Guzzetta.
PRESENT: Mayor Montano, Vice Mayor Chua, Councilmembers Barbadillo, Lien and Phan.
ABSENT: None.
Councilmember Garry Barbadillo participated remotely from 24326 35th PI S, Kent, WA 98032 pursuant to California Government Code Section 54953.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Montano led the pledge of allegiance.
PUBLIC FORUM
There were the following public speakers:
1. Rosamira Placencia
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.
READING OF THE CITY COUNCIL CODE OF CONDUCT
Mayor Montano read the City Council Code of Conduct.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion: to approve the May 9, 2023 Special Meeting Agenda.
Motion/Second: Councilmember Lien / Vice Mayor Chua
Motion carried by the following:
AYES: Councilmembers Barbadillo, Lien, Phan, Vice Mayor Chua, and Mayor Montano NOES: None.
AGENDA ITEMS
Receive Presentation on the FY 2023-24 Proposed City of Milpitas Operating Budget and Provide Feedback (Staff Contact: Lauren Lai, Finance Director, 408-586-3111) May 9, 2023 Milpitas City Council Minutes Page 1
Acting City Manager Kantak provided opening remarks. Finance Director Lai presented the report.
Mayor Montano paused to take public forum.
Acting City Manager Kantak continued presenting the report Planning Director Thomas presented on the proposed consolidation of Planning, Building Safety, and Code Enforcement into a Community Development Department and, joined by Building Official Bill Tott, responded to questions from City Council. Vice Mayor Chua noted she did not want to defund the Building Inspector position and suggested that the position could be used to improve the quality of service. Upon inquiry by Mayor Montano, Acting City Manager Kantak responded that the position was vacant, and that, based on existing workload standards, the position was recommended to be defunded.
Economic Development Andrade presented on the proposed consolidation of Economic Development and Housing and responded to questions from City Council. Mayor Montano remarked that Economic Development should be a stand-alone department. Councilmember Phan voiced support for the consolidation. Vice Mayor Chua stressed the importance of Economic Development and Housing being two distinct departments Councilmember Lien supported the consolidation and remarked that the consolidation can be revisited if the Council finds it ineffective. Councilmember Barbadillo stated he hadn't decided on a position for this consolidation. He asked for a presentation on the feasibilities of all the departments being proposed as justification.
Public Works Director Di Renzo presented on the Proposed Consolidation of Public Works and Engineering.
Vice Mayor Chua proposed creating additional Maintenance Worker positions to provide a path for advancement and to reduce issues. Mayor Montano suggested adding an Administrative Analyst in the Streets, Parks, Landscapes, and Trees division to support administrative functions. Public Works Director Di Renzo noted that he was reviewing administrative support for the department.
Finance Director Lai continued the presentation. Staff responded to questions from the City Council.
Community Services and Sustainable CSA
There were no questions.
Public Safety CSA
Police Chief Hernandez, Fire Chief Schoonover, and Acting City Manager Kantak responded to questions from the City Council. Councilmember Barbadillo asked for a breakdown of positions by similar jurisdiction. Vice Mayor Chua asked for either monthly or quarterly performance measurements to be transmitted to the City Council.
Community Development CSA
Planning Director Thomas responded to questions from the City Council. Mayor Montano voiced support for the Community Development consolidation to go forward. Vice Mayor Chua asked for what deliverables are expected to be delivered by adding an Administrative Analyst as the permit navigator. Councilmember Phan also supported the Community Development consolidation.
Leadership CSA
Acting City Manager Kantak, Information Technology Director Nam, and Finance Director Lai responded to questions from the City Council. Vice Mayor Chua voiced a need for City Council support in the City Manager's Office. Assistant City Manager Kantak responded that the recommended Office Specialist position would be available to provide support. Vice Mayor Chua suggested defunding two IT Analysts to use towards other items May 9, 2023 Militas City Council Minutes Page 2
the Council had brought up that evening to ensure the funds don't go unused. Finance Director Lai responded that unused funds from unfilled positions are handled in accordance with Council Policy for surplus funds.
Human Resources Director Raisch also detailed how funds are being used to conduct IT Analyst staff recruitments. Councilmember Phan asked if this is something that can be accomplished by being contracted out.
Deputy City Manager Cano presented on current and upcoming priority setting projects.
Assistant City Manager Kantak provided closing comments and asked for feedback from the City Council.
Mayor Montano asked to increase the City Council travel allowance from $5,000.00 to $10,000.00 per Councilmember and asked to see a Social Services position in the Recreation and Community Services Department.
Councilmember Phan questioned the City Attorney request for a summer law clerk and noted the City needs to work towards cost savings.
Vice Mayor Chua suggested moving the social services function under the Recreation Supervisor (Senior Center) and reclassing the position to be a manager. Acting City Manager Kantak responded that social services are proposed to be moved under the Senior Center Supervisor, but without reclassifying the position.
Recreation and Community Services Director Lorentzen noted that the majority of the social services work completed is administrative, and the area is restructuring to build in better efficiencies and address capacity.
Vice Mayor Chua expressed appreciation for ensuring that vision is aligned with the City Council.
Councilmember Lien asked to add three different events for the Chinese and the Vietnamese community - Lunar New Year, Black April, and Autumn Festival celebrations. Acting City Manager Kantak confirmed that the City hosts existing Lunar New Year and Autumn Festival celebrations, so this request was adding the Black April celebration.
Vice Mayor Chua questioned the reclassification of the Employee Relations Officer to Human Resources Manager. Human Resources Director Raisch responded that this was only a title change to incorporate a greater range of responsibilities assigned to the position.
Councilmember Phan asked if Planning needs additional staffing and suggested an assistant planning position might be able to address long-term and shifted duties and continuing the conversation towards re-funding the previously de-funded positions.
Mayor Montano suggested bringing back the discussion for the City Attorney office remodel.
Acting City Manager Kantak provided final comments, noted that staff would return with notes and feedback on allocations and that there may be a need to conduct an additional meeting prior to the June 6, 2023 public hearing.
PUBLIC FORUM
There were the following public speakers:
1. Voltaire Montemayor
ANNOUNCEMENTS
There were no announcements.
May 9, 2023 Militas City Council Minutes Page 3
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Montano adjourned the meeting at 9:42 PM.
The foregoing minutes were approved by the Milpitas City Council on Jane 6, 2023.
Suzanne Guzzetta
Milpitas City Clerk
May 9, 2023 Milpitas City Council Minutes Page 4