$27302ba54eda$16886A88EF114B9D9A144718FF07C0B0.docx
MONTE SERENO CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
7:00 p.m.
March 7, 2023
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER
At approximately 7:05 p.m., Mayor Mekechuk called the meeting to order.
City Attorney Rudin explained the new rules for remote participation under the Brown Act.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Deputy Chief Jason Falarski conducted the Pledge of the Allegiance.
Vice Mayor Wolsheimer stated participating at tonight's meeting remotely under Just Cause.
Councilmember Turner stated participating at tonight's meeting remotely under Emergency Circumstance.
By unanimous vote Council approved Councilmember Turner to participate at the meeting remotely under Emergency Circumstance.
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.
PRESENTATIONS
1. Proclamation for American Red Cross Month Proclamation.
Mayor Mekechuk presented the proclamation. Ken Toren, Chief Executive Officer of the Silicon Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross, provided comments.
2. Santa Clara County Fire Department Biannual Presentation by SCCFD Deputy Chief Mark Shumate, SCCFD Deputy Chief Jason Falarski and SCCFD Fire Chief Suwanna Kerdkaew.
DocuSign Envelope ID: E78B2DE4-221C-42A6-9823-DDC62D041DE7 $27302ba54eda$16886A88EF114B9D9A144718FF07C0B0.docx
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
None.
CONSENT CALENDAR (TO BE ACTED UPON BY A SINGLE MOTION)
1. Approve the Minutes of the February 21, 2023 Regular City Council Meeting and February 23, 2023 Special City Council Meeting
2. Accept the Treasurer's Report for the Period Ending December 31, 2022
3. Approve Warrant List Dated March 7, 2023 in the amount $137,994.82
4. 2022 Housing Element Annual Progress Report
5. Execute a Fourth Amendment to Agreement Providing for Implementation of the Santa Clara Valley Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Program and to Appoint the West Valley Clean Water Authority Executive Director as the Program Representative for the City
6. Acceptance of the California Automated Permit Processing (CalAPP) Program Grant
7. Acceptance of the Decarbonization Grant Program Agreement with Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority
Councilmember Turner requested to pull Item #1 and #7 from the Consent Calendar.
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Craig to approve the Consent Calendar Items #2 through #6. Seconded by Councilmember Ellahie.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously. (5-0-0)
1. Approve the Minutes of the February 21, 2023 Regular City Council Meeting and February 23, 2023 Special City Council Meeting
Councilmember Turner expressed wishing to abstain on her vote for the February 21, 2023 Regular City Council Meeting, as she was absent for that meeting.
Councilmember Ellahie expressed wishing to abstain on his vote for the Minutes of the February 21, 2023 Regular City Council Meeting and February 23, 2023 Special City Council Meeting, as he was absent for those meetings.
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Craig to approve the Minutes of the February 21, 2023 Regular City Council Meeting. Seconded by Mayor Mekechuk.
VOTE: Motion passed. (4-0-1 Abstain: Ellahie)
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Craig to approve the Minutes of the February 23, 2023 Special City Council Meeting. Seconded by Mayor Mekechuk.
VOTE: Motion passed. (3-0-2 Abstain: Turner, Ellahie)
7. Acceptance of the Decarbonization Grant Program Agreement with Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority
DocuSign Envelope ID: E78B2DE4-221C-42A6-9823-DDC62D041DE7 $27302ba54eda$16886A88EF114B9D9A144718FF07C0B0.docx
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 Ellahie to accept the Decarbonization Grant Program Agreement with Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority. Seconded by Vice Mayor Wolsheimer.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously. (5-0-0)
PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
1. 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 Planner Perkins provided a staff report and answered questions from the Council.
Mayor Mekechuk opened the item for Public Comment.
Public Comment
Stanley Watt
With no one else wishing to speak, Public Comment was closed.
MOTION: Motion by Vice Mayor Wolsheimer to Waive Second Reading and Adopt 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 Mayor Mekechuk.
VOTE: Motion failed. (2-3-0 Noes: Craig, Ellahie, Turner) MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Ellahie to direct staff to return with an ordinance that specifically provides that pools, spas and similar items are not part of structural coverage. Seconded by Councilmember Turner.
VOTE: Motion passed. (4-1-0 Noes: Wolsheimer)
MOTION: Motion by Mayor Mekechuk to direct staff to analyze structural coverage and recommend changes to the structural coverages that would compensate for the removal of swimming pools from structural coverage by appropriate reduction in the impervious coverage to allow the absorption of water into the underground aquifers to maintain sufficient water in the City. Seconded by Councilmember Craig.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously. (5-0-0)
NEW BUSINESS
1. Discuss and Provide Direction to Staff Regarding Possible Bingo Ordinance City Planner Perkins provided a staff report.
Discussion commenced.
DocuSign Envelope ID: E78B2DE4-221C-42A6-9823-DDC62D041DE7 $27302ba54eda$16886A88EF114B9D9A144718FF07C0B0.docx
Mayor Mekechuk opened the item for Public Comment. With no one wishing to speak, Public Comment was closed.
Staff was thanked for the report, and it was determined that at this time no action will be taken but instead, this item will be addressed if an opportunity arises in the future.
2. Discuss and Provide Direction to Staff Regarding Switch from Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers to Electric or Battery-Powered Leaf Blowers
City Planner Perkins provided a staff report.
Discussion commenced.
Mayor Mekechuk opened the item for Public Comment.
Public Comment
Omar Billawala
With no one else wishing to speak, Public Comment was closed.
Council is interested in seeing an ordinance, but they’d like to have feedback through a poll where the residents could say they would support something like this or not. Staff can then return with the results at a future meeting. Staff was also directed to send out information on the rebate opportunity for those who would like to upgrade their traditional gas-powered yard care equipment to electric. Lastly, if an ordinance was recommended, Council would have an implementation date in 2024 that coincides with the state law prohibiting the sale of gaspowered devices.
3. Discuss and Consider Assigning a Councilmember to Serve as an Alternate Council Liaison to the Better Streets Commission
City Clerk Gonzalez-Langarica provided a staff report.
Discussion commenced.
Mayor Mekechuk opened the item for Public Comment.
Public Comment
Liz Lawler
With no one else wishing to speak, Public Comment was closed.
Nomination: Councilmember Craig to nominate Vice Mayor Wolsheimer to serve as the alternate Council Liaison to the Better Streets Commission. Seconded by Councilmember Ellahie.
VOTE: Motion passed. (4-0-1 Abstain: Wolsheimer)
COMMITTEE/COMMISSION REPORTS
Councilmember Craig had nothing to report.
Councilmember Ellahie attended the February 9 meeting of the Cities Association, where they discussed prioritizing issues the Cities Association has considered. The Association has nominated a staff attorney, because the present one is leaving, but this has not been finalized. The Association does not have an indemnity clause and should be able to indemnify the Association in case of malpractice. Councilmember Ellahie is pushing for a committee for different cities to coordinate DocuSign Envelope ID: E78B2DE4-221C-42A6-9823-DDC62D041DE7 $27302ba54eda$16886A88EF114B9D9A144718FF07C0B0.docx
with each other to look at the Housing Element on a county-wide basis instead of city limited.
Councilmember Turner reported out on the West Valley Sanitation District and shared they are going into a litigation with the City of San Jose and the City of Santa Clara.
Vice Mayor Wolsheimer had nothing to report. He shared the next meeting for the Silicon Valley Animal Control is 03/22/2023 and the next meeting for the Santa Clara Water District Commission is 04/12/2023.
Mayor Mekechuk had nothing to report on the City Selection Committee. He shared a meeting is scheduled for this Thursday with the VTA but he will not be able to attend; instead, Councilmember Craig will be attending on his behalf. Nothing to report on West Valley Clean Water Board and West Valley Solid Waste/ Recycling JPA. Next meetings are scheduled in May. Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority has a meeting tomorrow. The Mayors Round Table is new in Santa Clara County. Mayor Matt Mahan of San Jose invited the other 14 Mayors to his office last Friday. A subject they all related to having issues with was the Housing Element. This group will be meeting quarterly. The value proposition was that the City of San Jose has someone that represents them in Sacramento and Washington, DC and Mayor Mahan would like the support of Santa Clara County Cities to work together as 15 signatures are more compelling than just 1.
COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS
None.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Leonardis shared the Annual Picnic is scheduled for Sunday, August 27, 2023, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Postcard will be mailed out to residents. He also announced this Saturday is Little League opening day and invited Council to attend.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
City Manager Leonardis shared the annual Strategic Goal Setting Session is being looked at to be scheduled for Saturday, April 1, 2023. Mayor Mekechuk requested that at the next meeting an outline of this session be provided.
Councilmember Turner would like the NICP be agendized.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at approximately 10:17 p.m.
Bryan Mekechuk, Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________________
Gloisy Gonzalez-Langarica, City Clerk
DocuSign Envelope ID: E78B2DE4-221C-42A6-9823-DDC62D041DE7