MONTE SERENO CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
7:00 p.m.
November 15, 2022
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER
At approximately 7:08 p.m., Mayor Ellahie called the meeting to order.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Lawler conducted the Pledge of the Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
Present: Councilmember Leuthold, Councilmember Turner, Councilmember Lawler Mayor Pro Tempore Mekechuk and Mayor Ellahie
Absent: None
Staff Present: City Manager Leonardis, City Attorney Rudin, Finance Officer Samoranos, City Planner Perkins, Building Consultant Fatapour and City Clerk Langarica-Gonzalez
Absent: None
ORDERS OF THE DAY
There were none.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Tony Jeans suggested to Council that the SB9 be revisited. He would like Council to bring up a discussion with a proposal similar to the original one that staff presented a year ago.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
There were none.
CONSENT CALENDAR (TO BE ACTED UPON BY A SINGLE MOTION)
1. Approve the Minutes of the November 1, 2022 Regular City Council Meeting
2. Adoption of a Resolution Summarily Vacating Right of Way at 15255 and 15297 Karl Avenue DocuSign Envelope ID: 3A36371B-73E2-496F-829A-DA6312541C57
3. Accept the LAIF Report for the Period Ending August 31, 2022
4. Accept the Treasurer's Report for the Period ending August 31, 2022
5. Accept the Significant August 2022 Year To Date Variances to Budget Narrative for the month of August 2022
6. Accept Revenues and Expenditures Report for the Month of August 31, 2022
7. Approve Warrant List Dated November 15, 2022 in the amount $515,393.02 MOTION: Motion by Mayor Pro Tempore Mekechuk to approve the Consent Calendar. Seconded by Councilmember Lawler.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously. (5-0-0)
PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. Public Hearings on Adoption of:
(1) Ordinance No. NS-230, an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Monte Sereno Amending Title 9 of the Monte Sereno Municipal Code to Adopt by Reference Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, 2022 California Building Standards Code, Including California Residential Code, California Plumbing Code, California Electrical Code, California Mechanical Code, California Green Building Code, California Energy Code, California Fire Code and the California Existing Building Code Subject to the Specified Local Amendments. (2) Ordinance No. NS-231, An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Monte Sereno Amending Title 9, Buildings and Construction, of the Monte Sereno Municipal Code to Add Sections 9.01.040 and 9.01.060 to Enact Specified Local Amendments to the California Energy Code, 2022 Edition, Title 24, Part 6 and the California Green Building Standards Code, 2022 Edition, Title 24, Part 11 of the California Code of Regulations.
City Planner Perkins provided a staff report
Mayor Ellahie opened item for Public Comment. Since there was no one wishing to speak, Public Comment was closed.
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Turner to waive the second reading of, and adopt Ordinance No. NS-230. Seconded by Mayor Pro Tempore Mekechuk.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously. (5-0-0)
Mayor Ellahie opened item for Public Comment. Since there was no one wishing to speak, the Public Comment was closed.
Council comments.
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Leuthold to waive the second reading of and adopt Ordinance No. NS-231. Seconded by Mayor Pro Tempore Mekechuk.
VOTE: Motion passed. (4-1-0)
DocuSign Envelope ID: 3A36371B-73E2-496F-829A-DA6312541C57
NEW BUSINESSS
1. Consideration of Appointment of Natalia Nazarova to Fill One of Two Vacancies on the Monte Sereno Better Streets Commission
Deputy City Clerk Gonzalez-Langarica provided a staff report.
Discussion commenced with regards to the report.
Mayor Ellahie opened item for Public Comment. Since there was no one wishing to speak, the Public Comment was closed.
MOTION: Motion by Mayor Pro Tempore Mekechuk to appoint Natalia Nazarova to Fill One of Two Vacancies on the Monte Sereno Better Streets Commission subject to confirmation of her residency. Seconded by Councilmember Lawler.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously. (5-0-0)
2. Consideration of Appointment of Allison Zeidler, Shalini Srivastava, and Thomas Connelly to Fill Three Vacancies on the Monte Sereno Site and Architectural Commission Applicants addressed Council:
Applicant Zeidler
Applicant Srivastava
Mayor Ellahie opened item for Public Comment. Since there was no one wishing to speak, the Public Comment was closed.
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Lawler to appoint Allison Zeidler, Shalini Srivastava, and Thomas Connelly to Fill Three Vacancies on the Monte Sereno Site and Architectural Commission. Seconded by Mayor Pro Tempore Mekechuk.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously. (5-0-0)
Mayor Pro Tempore Mekechuk thanked both the Better Streets Commissioners and Site & Architectural Commissioners for volunteering their time, effort and expertise to the City.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
1. Introduction and Waiver of First Reading of Ordinance No. NS-232, an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Monte Sereno Amending Section 10.06.140 (Accessory Dwelling Units) and
10.06.150 (Accessory Dwelling Unit Amnesty Program)
City Planner Perkins provided a staff report
DocuSign Envelope ID: 3A36371B-73E2-496F-829A-DA6312541C57 Discussion commenced with regards to the report.
Mayor Ellahie opened item for Public Comment. Since there was no one wishing to speak, the Public Comment was closed.
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Turner to Introduction and Waiver of First Reading of Ordinance No. NS-232, an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Monte Sereno Amending Section 10.06.140 (Accessory Dwelling Units) and 10.06.150 (Accessory Dwelling Unit Amnesty Program).
Seconded by Councilmember Lawler.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously. (5-0-0)
2. Discuss and Provide Direction to Staff Regarding Potential Changes to the Municipal Code Section 10.01.020.AU Definition of ‘Structure’
City Planner Perkins provided a staff report
Discussion commenced with regards to the report.
Mayor Ellahie opened item for Public Comment.
Public Comment was received from the following people:
Tony Jeans
Karen Gruo
Stanley Watt
David Pound
Mayor Ellahie closed Public Comment.
Council provided staff with the direction as intended is to improve the language so that it is less ambiguous and its clear what is acceptable and what is not. It is not to change contexts of what is administratively interpreted at this point in time. A non-substantive change.
COMMITTEE/COMMISSION REPORTS
Mayor Pro Tempore Mekechuk shared attending a workshop along with the Mayor and the City Manager with the Cities Association Board of Directors. Mayor will be reporting on this Board meeting. Reported the VTA meeting was canceled. In terms of Silicon Valley Clean Energy, he shared he would be attending a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony in Southern California on a new solar farm on November 30th. Nothing to report on West Valley Clean Water. West Valley Solid Waste/Recycling JPA has an upcoming meeting on December 5th to go through the contract with the purposed bidder. That will be an important meeting. Lastly, nothing to report on the AdHoc Finance Committee.
Councilmember Lawler shared Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority has a meeting tomorrow.
Youth Commission met for the first time in the Council Chambers since the pandemic. Nothing to report for the Valley Water Board.
Councilmember Leuthold stated no new commissions reports. Next Library meeting will be in DocuSign Envelope ID: 3A36371B-73E2-496F-829A-DA6312541C57 January. No new updates on the Housing AdHoc.
Councilmember Turner shared attending a CERT Training. She would like to put in an NICP at the City Hall as this would help the City, especially now. Second report was on West Valley Sanitation District, where she reported getting a vote on the committee to increase the rates about 40%.
Mayor Ellahie reported during his meeting with Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority AB2449 was spoke about in details. He also shared Silicon Valley Clean Energy has a good program that is a nonprofit, that gives back to the community. He followed up with reporting on Cities Association Board of Directors and the
COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS
Councilmember Lawler congratulated newly appointed City Clerk Gonzalez-Langarica. Followed up with thanking all Councilmembers for the support she received during her campaign and expressed it’s been an honor for her to server as a Councilmember.
Mayor Pro Tempore Mekechuk acknowledged and welcomed the two incoming Councilmembers sitting in the Chambers at tonight’s meeting.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Leonardis shared some details on the upcoming 66th Annual Children’s Holiday Parade happening on Saturday, December 3rd. Further details will be emailed to Council as the date gets closer.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Councilmember Leuthold congratulated City Clerk on the offer of employment assuming the offer of employment is accepted. Councilmember recommends a close session be scheduled with the City Clerk to go over performance goals and metrics for future review, Council expectations, lines of communication, so expectations are set in advance and the lines of communication are opened.
Mayor Ellahie stated he’s like to see an update on the SB9 at a future agenda.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:45 p.m.
Javed I. Ellahie, Mayor
ATTEST:
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DocuSign Envelope ID: 3A36371B-73E2-496F-829A-DA6312541C57 Gloisy Gonzalez-Langarica, Deputy City Clerk
DocuSign Envelope ID: 3A36371B-73E2-496F-829A-DA6312541C57