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MONTE SERENO CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
7:00 p.m.
February 21, 2023
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER
At approximately 7:02 p.m., Mayor Mekechuk called the meeting to order.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Craig conducted the Pledge of the Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
Present: Councilmember Craig, Councilmember Turner, Vice Mayor Wolsheimer and Mayor Mekechuk
Absent: Councilmember Ellahie
Staff: City Manager Leonardis, City Attorney Rudin, Finance Officer Samoranos, City Planner Perkins and City Clerk Gonzalez-Langarica
ORDERS OF THE DAY
No changes.
PRESENTATIONS
1. Presentation of Certificates of Recognition to 2022 STEM Winners from the City of Monte Sereno
Mayor Mekechuk recognized Disha Gupta, Sasvath Ramachandran and Yash Sharma as the 2022 STEM Winners from the City of Monte Sereno.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
None.
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. 2022 Annual Pavement Improvement Project Acceptance
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3. Waiver of Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance No. NS-233 an ordinance of the City Council of the City of Monte Sereno Amending Section 10.01.020 (Definitions – Specific Terms)
4. Approve Resolution to Establish a Suicide Prevention Policy
5. Approve the Minutes of the January 4, 2023 Special City Council Meeting, January 17, 2023 Regular and Special City Council Meeting, January 31, 2023 Joint Special Meeting of the City Council and Site and Architectural Commission and February 13, 2023 Special City Council Meeting
6. Accept the Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) 2022 Clean Energy Impact Report Councilmember Turner requested to pull Item #3 and #5 from the Consent Calendar.
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Craig to approve the Consent Calendar except for items #3 and #5. Seconded by Councilmember Turner.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously. (4-0-1 Absent: Ellahie)
3. Waiver of Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance No. NS-233 an ordinance of the City Council of the City of Monte Sereno Amending Section 10.01.020 (Definitions – Specific Terms)
City Manager Leonardis provided a staff report.
Discussion commenced.
Mayor Mekechuk opened the item for Public Comment. With no one wishing to speak, Public Comment was closed.
MOTION: Motion by Mayor Mekechuk to approve Waiver of Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance No. NS-233 an 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 not passed. (2-2-1 Noes: Craig, Turner; Absent: Ellahie)
7. Approve the Minutes of the January 4, 2023 Special City Council Meeting, January 17, 2023 Regular and Special City Council Meeting, January 31, 2023 Joint Special Meeting of the City Council and Site and Architectural Commission and February 13, 2023 Special City Council Meeting
Councilmember Turner expressed wishing to abstain on her vote for February 13, 2023 Special City Council Meeting, as she was absent for that meeting.
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Craig to approve the Minutes of the January 4, 2023 Special City Council Meeting, January 17, 2023 Regular and Special City Council Meeting and January 31, 2023 Joint Special Meeting of the City Council and Site and Architectural Commission. Seconded by Councilmember Turner.
VOTE: Motion passed. (4-0-1 Absent: Ellahie)
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Craig to approve the Minutes of the February DocuSign Envelope ID: 80C2863A-B5E9-4FBC-A573-5E496C7FC883 $c39c881575db$B91880BF89344BFB86737B5DCF775476.docx
13, 2023 Special City Council Meeting. Seconded by Vice Mayor Wolsheimer.
VOTE: Motion passed. (3-0-1-1 Abstain: Turner; Absent: Ellahie)
PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. Conduct a Public Hearing on the 2023 Weed Abatement Program and Adopt a Resolution Overruling Objections and Determining to Proceed with Weed Abatement City Clerk Gonzalez-Langarica provided a staff report.
Mayor Mekechuk opened the item for Public Comment. With no one wishing to speak, Public Comment was closed.
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Turner to adopt a Resolution Overruling Objections and Determining to Proceed with Weed Abatement. Seconded by Vice Mayor Wolsheimer.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously. (4-0-1 Absent: Ellahie)
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
1. Consider and Appoint Two (2) Residents of Monte Sereno to Form Part of the City of Monte Sereno Community Center Committee
City Clerk Gonzalez-Langarica provided a staff report and answered questions from the Council.
Mayor Mekechuk opened the item for Public Comment.
Public Comment
Vidya Rangasayee
With no one else wishing to speak, Public Comment was closed.
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Craig to appoint Vidya Rangasayee and Mary Allan to Form Part of the City of Monte Sereno Community Center Committee. Seconded by Councilmember Turner.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously. (4-0-1 Absent: Ellahie)
NEW BUSINESS
1. Consider and Accept the City Manager's Quarterly Report City Manager Leonardis provided a staff report.
Discussion commenced.
Mayor Mekechuk opened the item for Public Comment. With no one wishing to speak, Public Comment was closed.
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Craig to accept the City Manager's Quarterly Report. Seconded by Vice Mayor Wolsheimer.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously. (4-0-1 Absent: Ellahie)
2. Discussion and Consideration of the City of Monte Sereno Community Grants Deadline, Selection Dates, and Budget Amount
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City Manager Leonardis provided a staff report.
Discussion commenced.
Mayor Mekechuk opened the item for Public Comment. With no one wishing to speak, Public Comment was closed.
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Craig to approve the City of Monte Sereno Community Grants deadline, Selection Dates, and Budget Amount as recommended by staff and to change the guidelines to reflect the City Manager’s comment that a majority of the organization be volunteer led.
Seconded by Councilmember Turner.
VOTE: Motion passed. (4-0-1 Absent: Ellahie)
3. Discuss Hosting a City Picnic and Consider a Budget for the City Picnic City Manager Leonardis provided a staff report.
Discussion commenced.
Mayor Mekechuk opened the item for Public Comment. With no one wishing to speak, he closed Public Comment.
MOTION: Motion by Mayor Mekechuk to approve hosting a City Picnic and allocating $15,000 for the event. Seconded by Vice Mayor Wolsheimer.
VOTE: Motion passed. (4-0-1 Absent: Ellahie)
4. Community Center Committee Report Out
Member Harrington of the Community Center Committee reported on the progress that the team from Kohlsaat Architecture and the Community Center Committee have made in the Design phase of this project. She announced that Silicon Valley Clean Energy awarded a grant in the amount of $500,000 to build the Monte Sereno Community Center to showcase electrification.
5. Discussion and Consideration on Forming a Finance Ad Hoc Committee Mayor Mekechuk proposed to have a Finance Ad Hoc Committee through the completion of the construction of the Community Center.
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Craig to appoint Mayor Mekechuk and Vice Mayor Wolsheimer to the Finance Ad Hoc Committee. Seconded by Mayor Mekechuk.
VOTE: Motion passed. (4-0-1 Absent: Ellahie)
6. Discussion and Consideration on Office Hours for Councilmembers City Manager Leonardis provided a staff report.
Discussion commenced.
Council agreed that Councilmembers should be able to conduct their own office hours and to use City Hall property.
COMMITTEE/COMMISSION REPORTS
Councilmember Craig shared he attended the February 14, 2023 Youth Commission Meeting. He DocuSign Envelope ID: 80C2863A-B5E9-4FBC-A573-5E496C7FC883 $c39c881575db$B91880BF89344BFB86737B5DCF775476.docx
talked about the presentation of the Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights from the Santa Clara County Public Health Department, as well as how the Youth Commission reviewed some of the projects they have completed. Councilmember Craig also reported out on the Santa Clara County Library. He shared they discussed in their meeting the 5-year projection, the 10-year capital plan, and the 3- year technology plan. He lastly encouraged everyone to go and visit the County Library, as it is the Number 2 ranked County Library System in the Country.
Mayor Mekechuk requested an agenda item be included at the next Youth Commission meeting for a Youth Commissioner to conduct the Pledge of the Allegiance at each City Council meeting, as Councilmember Craig did tonight. He also recommended that the City do an eblast regarding visiting and using the Santa Clara County Library.
Mayor Mekechuk shared that although Councilmember Ellahie was not at tonight meeting, Councilmember Ellahie attended the Cities Association Meeting on February 2023, which was after the City Selection Committee that Mayor Mekechuk attended.
Councilmember Turner departed the meeting at 8:59 PM.
Vice Mayor Wolsheimer stated not having anything to report on the Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority. On the Santa Clara Water Commission, he deferred to Mayor Mekechuk, who attended the meeting in his absence as the Alternate.
Mayor Mekechuk reported that the Cities Association City Selection Committee met at the Los Altos Community Center on February 9, 2023. He shared being nominated for Chair, along with Mayor Larry Klein from the City of Sunnyvale. Mayor Mekechuk declined his nomination and Mayor Klein was elected Chair. Mayor Mekechuk was then nominated and elected Vice Chair of the City Selection Committee. This committee nominated several individuals to different commissions.
Mayor Mark Turner of Morgan Hill was assigned as the Alternate to LAFCO. Mayor Mekechuk was nominated and elected to serve as a commissioner to the Santa Clara County Recycling and Waste Reduction Commission.
The first meeting of the Recycling and Waste Reduction Commission is on February 24, 2023. Mayor Mekechuk will be representing four cities, being Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Saratoga, and Campbell.
Mayor Mekechuk also shared he is on the Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority; he is a Director, Chair of the Audit Committee, Vice Chair of the Executive Committee, a member of the Legislative Ad Hoc Committee, and also on the Risk Oversight Committee.
As Chair of the Audit Committee, at the February 8, 2023 Board meeting, Mayor Mekechuk recused himself of the approval of the $2 million of additional community grants, of which the City of Monte Sereno was awarded $500,000. Silicon Valley Clean Energy also published the Community Impact Report that was included in the Consent Calendar today. The Risk Oversight Committee meets tomorrow morning.
West Valley Solid Waste Management Authority and West Valley Clean Water Authority held their February 2, 2023 meetings in person at Monte Sereno Chambers for the first time since pre-COVID and he was re-elected Chair for both authorities. He spoke regarding approvals that were made in each of the meetings.
At the January 19, 2023 Valley Transportation Authority Policy Advisory Committee, Councilmember Rob Rennie from the Town of Los Gatos was elected Chair.
Mayor Mekechuk also shared being invited by Mayor Matt Mahan of San Jose to attend the DocuSign Envelope ID: 80C2863A-B5E9-4FBC-A573-5E496C7FC883 $c39c881575db$B91880BF89344BFB86737B5DCF775476.docx
inaugural meeting of the Mayors of Santa Clara County on Friday, March 3, 2023.
Lastly, Mayor Mekechuk reported the Better Streets Commission is scheduled to meet on March 9, 2023 and, as the City Council liaison, he will not be able to attend that meeting due to international travel. Councilmember Liz Lawler was the alternate and, since she is no longer on City Council, Mayor Mekechuk would like an alternate City Council liaison to be appointed at the March 7, 2023 Council meeting so that person could attend the meeting in his absence.
COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS
Councilmember Craig inquired on Staff developing and publishing a brochure with schematic drawings to help clarify permitting and other key information for residents.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Leonardis shared that, due to a resignation, there is an opening on the Better Streets Commission. This vacancy will be advertised for recruitment. Also, as requested in prior Council meetings, two proposed ordinances (Bingo Ordinance and Gas Power Leaf Blowers Ordinance) will be brought up at a future Council meeting.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
None.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at approximately 9:14 p.m.
Bryan Mekechuk, Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________________
Gloisy Gonzalez-Langarica, City Clerk
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