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MONTE SERENO CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
7:00 p.m.
January 17, 2023
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER
At approximately 7:06 p.m., Mayor Mekechuk called the meeting to order.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Turner conducted the Pledge of the Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
Present: Councilmember Craig, Councilmember Ellahie, Councilmember Turner, Vice Mayor Wolsheimer and Mayor Mekechuk
Absent: None
Staff: City Manager Leonardis, City Attorney Rudin, Finance Officer Samoranos, City Planner Perkins and City Clerk Gonzalez-Langarica
ORDERS OF THE DAY
No changes.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
Resident Alexander submitted written communication on 1-17-23.
CONSENT CALENDAR (TO BE ACTED UPON BY A SINGLE MOTION)
1. Consider and Adopt Resolution Extending Teleconferencing of City Council Meetings Pursuant to Government Code Section 54953 (AB 361)
2. Approve Warrant List Dated January 17, 2023 in the Amount $275,046.69
3. Accept the Treasurer's Report for October 31, 2022
4. Approve the attached response letter to the Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury Final Report, "Show Me the Money: Financial Transparency Needed."
5. Approve the Minutes of the December 6, 2022 Regular City Council Meeting, December 20, 2022 Special and Regular City Council Meeting
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6. Accept the Annual Approval and Signing of the City Council Code of Ethics Vice Mayor commented on an error in the minutes of the December 20, 2022 meeting regarding the votes being recording incorrectly.
Councilmember Turner requested to pull Item #6 from the Consent Calendar.
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Ellahie to approve the Consent Calendar Items #1-#5 with the amendment of the minutes included. Seconded by Vice Mayor Wolsheimer.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously. (5-0-0)
PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
1. Housing Element Update: Discuss and Provide Direction on Comments Received from the California Department of Housing and Community Development City Planner Perkins provided a staff report and answered questions from the Council.
Housing Consultant Ande Flower assisted with answering questions from the Council.
Mayor Mekechuk wanted the record to show the Mayor became a US Citizen in 2019. He shared he immigrated to the State of California.
Mayor Mekechuk opened the item for Public Comment.
Public Comment
Anne Paulson
Alex (Vineland Avenue Resident)
With no one else wishing to speak, Public Comment was closed.
Direction was provided to City Planner Perkins.
2. Introduction and waiver of first reading of Ordinance No. NS-233 and ordinance of the City Council of the City of Monte Sereno, Amending Section 10.01.020 (Definitions – Specific Terms) City Planner Perkins provided a staff report.
Discussion commenced regarding the report.
Mayor Mekechuk opened the item for Public Comment. With no one wishing to speak, Public Comment was closed.
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Craig to introduce and waive first reading of Ordinance No. NS-233 and ordinance of the City Council of the City of Monte Sereno Amending Section 10.01.020 (Definitions – Specific Terms).
Seconded by Vice Mayor Wolsheimer.
VOTE: Motion passed. (3-2-0 Noes: Ellahie, Turner)
NEW BUSINESS
3. Discuss and Assign a Councilmember for each City Council Ad Hoc Assignments for Calendar Year 2023
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City Manager Leonardis provided a staff report.
Discussion commenced.
Housing Legislation Ad-Hoc Committee removed.
Veteran’s Memorial - Mayor Mekechuk and Councilmember Ellahie assigned.
Operations and Outreach Committee removed.
Climate Action Ad-Hoc - Mayor Mekechuk and Vice Mayor Wolsheimer assigned.
Information Technology Services Ad Hoc - Mayor Mekechuk and Councilmember Craig assigned.
Emergency Preparedness Committee - Vice Mayor Wolsheimer and Councilmember Turner assigned.
CONSENT CALENDAR
6. Accept the Annual Approval and Signing of the City Council Code of Ethics City Manager Leonardis provided a staff report.
Discussion commenced.
Mayor Mekechuk opened item for Public Comment. With no one wishing to speak, Public Comment was closed.
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Ellahie to Accept the Annual Approval and Signing of the City Council Code of Ethics. Seconded by Vice Mayor Wolsheimer.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously. (5-0-0)
COMMITTEE/COMMISSION REPORTS
Councilmember Craig had nothing to report on the Youth Commission and Santa Clara Library JPA.
Next meeting with the Youth Commission is on February 14.
Councilmember Ellahie reported the Cities Association has not met. Next meeting is scheduled at the end of January. It is an important meeting the Cities Selection Committee will appoint individuals that apply for positions to commissions and committees within the County.
Councilmember Turner shared West Valley Sanitation District has been swamped this last week working with residents who have been flooded. She advised the public if their home was getting flooded they should not pump water into a kitchen sink or toilet because doing so may make matters worse. When residents pump into the sanitation sewer system, it worsens the situation.
Mayor Mekechuk suggested Councilmember Turner work with Monte Sereno staff to use social media to alert residents not to pump storm water into the sanitary sewer system.
Vice Mayor Wolsheimer shared attending the Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority meeting, having nothing to report on it. He followed up with asking what happens when both the primary representative and alternate can’t attend a meeting and the committee is left without a quorum.
After comments and suggestions from Council, he will follow up with this question with the Committee he is referring to.
Mayor Mekechuk reported the Valley Transportation Authority Policy Advisory Committee has a meeting this Thursday, which he will be attending remotely, as he is also attending the New DocuSign Envelope ID: F19550F7-B78B-42A8-ABC1-273BF48C6FE4 $6ec6445ced41$5D44D3A0A39448EE8D41586AFDD64821.docx
Councilmember and Mayor conference in Sacramento along with Councilmember Craig. West Valley Clean Water Authority and West Valley Solid Waste Management Authority are scheduled to meet early February at the Monte Sereno City Council Chambers. Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority met on January 11 and they approved generation rates to be 4% lower than PG&E’s generation rates. Last, Mayor Mekechuk requested to be informed of the next meeting of West Valley Mayors & Managers from City Manager Leonardis.
City Manager Leonardis responded that the West Valley Mayors & Managers are scheduled to have their first meeting on Wednesday, January 25 at 12:00 p.m. at Campbell Community Center.
COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS
Mayor Mekechuk shared the Community Center Committee had their first meeting last week. All four Committee members attended the meeting and received a report from Architect Gary Kohlsaat.
Feedback was given to Architect Kohlsaat, who will be returning for a follow-up presentation with the feedback incorporated.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Leonardis did a friendly reminder to Council of the upcoming Joint Special Meeting of City Council and the Site and Architectural Commission on January 31, 2023. Also, he shared that he is working on the previous items requested by Councilmembers. Staff is currently focused on completing the Housing Element so it can be filed on time.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
None.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at approximately 9:01 p.m.
Bryan Mekechuk, Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________________
Gloisy Gonzalez-Langarica, City Clerk
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