MONTE SERENO CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
7:00 p.m.
September 6, 2022
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER
Mayor Pro Tempore Mekechuk stated that Mayor Ellahie asked that he chair the meeting since the Mayor is out of town for the League of California Cities conference and wireless reception is unstable.
At approximately 7:02 p.m., Mayor Pro Tempore Mekechuk called the meeting to order.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Lawler conducted the Pledge of the Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
Present: Councilmember Lawler, Councilmember Leuthold, Councilmember Turner, Mayor Pro Tempore Mekechuk and Mayor Ellahie (joined the meeting at 7:11 p.m.)
Absent: None
Staff Present: City Manager Leonardis, City Attorney Rudin, Finance Officer Samoranos, City Planner Perkins, City Engineer Kahn, Deputy City Clerk Gonzalez-Langarica, and City Clerk Estabillo
Absent: None
ORDERS OF THE DAY
Due to experiencing rolling black outs throughout the City, Mayor Pro Tempore Mekechuk would like to start with item #1 in New Business, following up with the Consent Calendar and then go back to New Business to items #2, #3 and #4 followed by Presentations and Oral Communications. It has been advised that should a quorum be lost; the meeting must be stopped immediately.
NEW BUSINESSS
1. Consideration of the Approval of an Updated Fee Schedule for User and Regulatory Fees DocuSign Envelope ID: 535B7BA6-5FFD-47AC-B3AE-E46CB222F2CA Building Consultant Fatapour and City Planner Perkins provided a staff report.
Discussion commenced with regards to the report.
Mayor Pro Tempore Mekechuk opened item for Public Comment. Since there was no one wishing to speak, the Public Comment was closed.
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Lawler to adopt the draft resolution to the Updated Fee Schedule for User and Regulatory Fees and the Fee Schedule be reviewed and updated each year as part of the budget setting process. Seconded by Mayor Ellahie.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously. (5-0-0)
CONSENT CALENDAR (TO BE ACTED UPON BY A SINGLE MOTION)
1. Approve the Minutes of the August 16, 2022 Regular City Council Meeting, and the Minutes of the August 25, 2022 Special City Council Meeting
2. Approve Warrant List Dated September 6, 2022 in the Amount of $86,167.64
3. Consider and Adopt Resolution Prohibiting Parking on Certain Segments Daves Avenue Mayor Pro Tempore stated there was an amended copy of the minutes.
Councilmember Lawler confirmed that the amended minutes for August 25th include her attendance.
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Turner to approve the Consent Calendar.
Seconded by Councilmember Leuthold.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously. (5-0-0)
NEW BUSINESSS
2. Discuss and Provide Direction to Staff Regarding Potential Changes to the Municipal Code Section 10.01.020.AU Definition of a Structure
City Planner Perkins provided a staff report.
Discussion commenced with regards to the report.
Mayor Pro Tempore Mekechuk opened item for Public Comment.
Public comment was received from the following people:
Stanley B Watt
Karen Guo
Mayor Pro Mekechuk Tempore closed Public Comment.
Council would like staff to come back before the end of the year with an analysis of structural DocuSign Envelope ID: 535B7BA6-5FFD-47AC-B3AE-E46CB222F2CA coverage in a table that includes the definition and impervious coverage. Would like to be able to see what the percentages are for structural coverage and impervious coverage.
3. Discuss and Provide Direction to Staff Regarding a Potential Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Amnesty Program and Changes to the ADU Owner Occupancy Requirements City Planner Perkins provided a staff report.
Discussion commenced with regards to the report.
Mayor Pro Tempore Mekechuk opened item for Public Comment.
Public comment was received from the following people:
Mr. Lively
Mayor Pro Mekechuk Tempore closed Public Comment.
Council would like for the Amnesty Program to move forward and see the ADU Owner Occupancy on hold until some data is presented with how many homes are actually in the rental market in Monte Sereno, and what the impact of turning homes into rentals with two different families in each parcel would look like.
4. Review and Provide Comments on the Draft 2023-2031 Housing Element City Planner Perkins provided a staff report.
Discussion commenced with regards to the report.
Mayor Pro Tempore Mekechuk opened item for Public Comment. Since there was no one wishing to speak, the Public Comment was closed.
Council authorized staff to submit the document to the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for review.
PRESENTATIONS
There were none.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
There were none.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
There were none.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
There were none.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 535B7BA6-5FFD-47AC-B3AE-E46CB222F2CA
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
There were none.
COMMITTEE/COMMISSION REPORTS
Mayor Ellahie stated not having anything specific to report at this time.
Councilmember Lawler shared the Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority is having its annual fundraiser this Saturday, September 10th from 6pm to 9pm at the Triton Museum of Art in Santa Clara. Youth Commission is scheduled to have its first meeting this month. Nothing else to report.
Councilmember Turner invited Council to a CERT Group training scheduled on September 10th from 9:30 to 12pm Council also shared she is attending the League of Cities along with Mayor Ellahie.
Councilmember Leuthold shared there was nothing to report in terms of outside committees and commissions in terms of reporting back on progress of the Ad Hoc Committee on the ADU, things are coming along very well.
Mayor Pro Tempore Mekechuk shared that the VTA Policy Advisory Committee is meeting this Thursday and will report out at the next meeting as to what transpired. Last week he had a meeting with West Valley Clean Water where he shared a number of things going on that are all good. West Valley Solid Waste JPA had a difficult meeting; he shared the Board found that West Valley Collection and Recycling was charged liquidated damages in the sum of $83,000. Also, on September 10th on Via Sereno there is going to be a meeting regarding neighborhood watch. Lastly, he inquired on the date for the joint meeting between Site and Architectural Committee and City Council from the City Clerk.
COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS
Mayor Pro Tempore Mekechuk would like to compliment City staff on their extremely hard work with respect to the ADU drive and the assistance of the City Clerk helping him the technical requirements for the West Valley Solid Waste meeting. Lastly, he shared Doug McNeil passed away and his family is having a memorial on October the 8th at Coyote Point.
Mayor Ellahie wanted to acknowledge Ishaan’s hard work in assisting with the ADU project. He also thanked the staff for helping to organize the annual picnic.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Leonardis stated that during this extreme heat wave if there are members of the public that find themselves in a position where they need to cool off, it was suggested that they utilize a cool station such as the Los Gatos and Saratoga Libraries as well as the City of Monte Sereno’s Council Chambers.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
There were none.
ADJOURN
DocuSign Envelope ID: 535B7BA6-5FFD-47AC-B3AE-E46CB222F2CA The meeting adjourned at approximately 9:02 p.m.
Bryan Mekechuk, Mayor Pro Tempore
ATTEST:
_______________________________
Gloisy Gonzalez-Langarica, Deputy City Clerk
DocuSign Envelope ID: 535B7BA6-5FFD-47AC-B3AE-E46CB222F2CA