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MONTE SERENO CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
7:00 p.m.
April 18, 2023
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER
At approximately 7:02 p.m., Mayor Mekechuk called the meeting to order.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Former Mayor Lon Allan conducted the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
Present – Chambers: Councilmember Craig, Councilmember Ellahie, Councilmember Turner, Vice Mayor Wolsheimer and Mayor Mekechuk
Staff: City Manager Leonardis, Assistant City Attorney Bazzano, Finance Officer Samoranos, City Planner Perkins and City Clerk Gonzalez-Langarica
ORDERS OF THE DAY
None.
PRESENTATIONS
1. Holocaust Days of Remembrance
Mayor Mekechuk presented the proclamation.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
None.
CONSENT CALENDAR (TO BE ACTED UPON BY A SINGLE MOTION)
1. Approve the Minutes of the March 28, 2023 Regular City Council Meeting and March 28, 2023 Special City Council Meeting
2. Approve Warrant List Dated April 18, 2023 in the Amount $202,329.34
3. Accept the FY 2022-23 Mid-Year Budget Report
4. Accept the Treasurer's Report for the Period Ending January 31, 2023
5. Adoption of 2023-2024 City Council Goals
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Councilmember Turner requested to pull Item #1 from the Consent Calendar.
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 Consent Calendar items #2 through #5. Seconded by Vice Mayor Wolsheimer.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously. (5-0-0)
1. Approve the Minutes of the March 28, 2023 Regular City Council Meeting and March 28, 2023 Special City Council Meeting
Councilmember Turner expressed wishing to abstain on her vote for March 28, 2023 Special City Council Meeting.
Mayor Mekechuk opened the item for Public Comment. With no one wishing to speak, Public Comment was closed.
MOTION: Motion by Vice Mayor Wolsheimer to approve the Minutes of the March 28, 2023 Regular City Council Meeting with corrections stated. Seconded by Councilmember Craig.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously. (5-0-0)
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Craig to approve the Minutes of the March 28, 2023 Special City Council Meeting. Seconded by Councilmember Ellahie.
VOTE: Motion passed. (4-0-1 Abstain: Turner)
PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
1. Introduction and Waiver of First Reading of Ordinance No. NS-234, and Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Monte Sereno Amending Section 10.01.020 (Definitions – Specific Terms) or Provide Other Direction
City Planner Perkins provided a staff report and answered questions from the Council.
Mayor Mekechuk opened the item for Public Comment.
Public Comment
Michael Benison
Former Mayor Liz Lawler
Stanley Watt
Former Mayor Shawn Leuthold
Former Mayor Lon Allan
With no one else wishing to speak, Public Comment was closed.
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Ellahie to Introduction and Waiver of First Reading of Ordinance No. NS-234, and Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Monte Sereno Amending Section 10.01.020 (Definitions – Specific DocuSign Envelope ID: A52C16FA-BB6C-4C2B-9952-A661E2193438 $ee81cd266c4d$218A7935B07845428B1012CC33F9E981.docx
Terms). Seconded by Councilmember Turner.
VOTE: Motion passed. (3-2-0 Noes: Wolsheimer, Mekechuk)
NEW BUSINESS
1. Introduction and Waiver of First Reading of Ordinance No. NS-235 an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Monte Sereno Amending Section 10.06.130 (Height of Fences), Section
10.06.140 (Accessory Dwelling Units; Junior Accessory Dwelling Units; Standards And Requirements), Section 10.08.050 (Permit Process), and removing Section 10.08.060 (Appeal To Council), and Section 10.14 (Building Site Approval).
City Planner Perkins provided a staff report and answered questions from the Council.
Discussion commenced.
Mayor Mekechuk opened the 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-235 an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Monte Sereno Amending Section 10.06.130 (Height of Fences), Section 10.06.140 (Accessory Dwelling Units; Junior Accessory Dwelling Units; Standards And Requirements), Section 10.08.050 (Permit Process), and removing Section 10.08.060 (Appeal To Council), and Section 10.14 (Building Site Approval). Seconded by Councilmember Ellahie.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously. (5-0-0)
2. Consider and Accept the City Manager's Quarterly Report City Manager Leonardis provided a staff report and answered questions from the Council.
Mayor Mekechuk opened the item for Public Comment. Since there was no one wishing to speak, the Public Comment was closed.
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Ellahie to Accept the City Manager's Quarterly Report. Seconded by Councilmember Craig.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously. (5-0-0)
COMMITTEE/COMMISSION REPORTS
Councilmember Craig stated nothing to report.
Councilmember Ellahie reported he attended the 2023 Cities Association Summit in Sacramento. He shared it was mainly focused on affordable housing. There are 30 agencies giving grants to programs trying to provide affordable housing. He stated he would like City Manager Leonardis to look into this.
Councilmember Turner stated nothing to report.
Vice Mayor Wolsheimer stated he attended the Santa Clara Valley Water District Commission meeting last week. He shared that during this meeting it was discussed the Board had recommended an $8 increase in water rates, while the Commission requested the Board to reconsider the increase due to inflation. Staff also reported the Board is considering removing the 15% mandatory reduction and replacing it with nothing. The staff of the organization is against that and wants to ask for a 15% voluntary deduction compared to 2019. Next meeting is scheduled for DocuSign Envelope ID: A52C16FA-BB6C-4C2B-9952-A661E2193438 $ee81cd266c4d$218A7935B07845428B1012CC33F9E981.docx
August 23, 2023 as a Special Meeting. Lastly, he shared the next Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority meeting is on May 24, 2023.
Mayor Mekechuk provided City Clerk Gonzalez-Langarica a hard copy of his Committee and Commission Reports, but briefly highlighted the following items:
Mayor Mekechuk shared he and Vice Mayor Wolsheimer met with Senator Josh Becker earlier this month.
He shared the Turn Around Scholarships award meeting is in May.
Three things that came out of the Silicon Valley Clean Energy meeting were approval of the contract for Renewable Biomass Energy in Fresno, approval of contract for Hybrid Natural Gas and Battery Storage Facility and approval of new All Electric Rate Discount. He encouraged people in the City of Monte Sereno to apply for the new rate that has a discount in it as people need to apply for it and are not just automatically put on that rate.
For West Valley Clean Water Management Authority, Mayor Mekechuk shared he and staff have a potential Green Stormwater Infrastructure project meeting tomorrow.
The Valley Transportation Authority Policy Advisory Committee had their first meeting in person since the pandemic started.
Mayor Mekechuk shared he attended the Cities Association meeting as Councilmember Ellahie was unable to attend. He stated Assemblymember Mark Berman was the speaker in this meeting. Mark Berman is the bill author to eliminate the sales of gasoline-powered lawn equipment. Mayor Mekechuk would like to invite Mark Berman to speak when there is consideration on the leaf blower ordinance.
COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS
None.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Leonardis shared the City established in conjunction with the Los Gatos Monte Sereno Police Department a Neighborhood Watch Program for the residents on Grandview Avenue. He also shared this Sunday, April 23, Los Gatos will be celebrating Earth Day at the Town Plaza Park. City Manager Leonardis also shared that there are emergency starter kits at the City Hall for residents that were provided by Valley Water. Lastly, it was shared that the Youth Commission will be considering bringing back the ice cream social in May.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Councilmember Ellahie would like to have a presentation from Silicon Valley Water to address concerns around swimming pools and water usage.
Vice Mayor Wolsheimer would like the City Council to discuss changing and enhancing the tree ordinance. He would like to see something be done similar to the City of Carmel that takes a proactive stance in managing trees that are a danger to the public or infrastructure.
Councilmember Ellahie referred to an email he had previously forwarded to City Manager Leonardis regarding programs that provide grants for affordable housing. He would like staff to look more into that matter as it can help with providing some affordability direction.
Mayor Mekechuk shared the Town of Los Gatos is considering a change to the E-bike ordinance. He DocuSign Envelope ID: A52C16FA-BB6C-4C2B-9952-A661E2193438 $ee81cd266c4d$218A7935B07845428B1012CC33F9E981.docx
would like the City of Monte Sereno to consider that as well. He also shared the Town of Los Gatos is dealing with firearms and if they are putting forth an ordinance that it would be good for the City of Monte Sereno to understand exactly what the Town of Los Gatos is doing. Lastly, Mayor Mekechuk would like a Special Meeting to consider the Community Center in the near term.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:57 p.m.
Bryan Mekechuk, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Gloisy Gonzalez-Langarica, City Clerk
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