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MONTE SERENO CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
7:00 p.m.
May 2, 2023
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER
At approximately 7:19 p.m., Mayor Mekechuk called the meeting to order.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Youth Commissioner Zeidler conducted the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
Present – Chambers: Councilmember Craig, Councilmember Ellahie, Councilmember Turner and Mayor Mekechuk
Absent: Vice Mayor Wolsheimer
Staff: Assistant City Attorney Bazzano, City Planner Perkins, City Manager Leonardis and City Clerk Gonzalez-Langarica
ORDERS OF THE DAY
None.
PRESENTATIONS
1. Palestinian Cultural Day Proclamation
Mayor Mekechuk presented the proclamation.
2. Presentation on the Senior Services Roadmap for Los Gatos from Tom Picraux and Nancy Pearson
Tom Picraux and Nancy Pearson provided the Council with a presentation on the Los Gatos Senior Services Roadmap.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Former Mayor Jack Lucas expressed his gratitude for the consideration of the grant for the Community Concert Program. He shared he will not be available to attend next meeting where the City Council will be considering the applications and therefor wanted to speak on it this evening.
Lastly, he extended an invitation to all for any of next year’s performances.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
None.
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CONSENT CALENDAR (TO BE ACTED UPON BY A SINGLE MOTION)
1. Approve the Minutes of the April 1, 2023 Special City Council Meeting, April 6, 2023 Joint Special Meeting of the City Council and Community Center Committee and April 18, 2023 Regular City Council Meeting
2. Approve Warrant List Dated May 2, 2023 in the Amount $27,560.48
3. Consideration to Approve and Authorize the City Manager to Execute Amendment #2 to the Professional Services Agreement with EMC Planning Group for the Housing Element Update Increasing the Contract Amount by $85,960 to a Total Not to Exceed Amount of $304,270.
4. Waive Second Reading and Adopt 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).
Councilmember Ellahie requested to pull Item #3 from the Consent Calendar.
Mayor Mekechuk opened the item for Public Comment. With no one wishing to speak, Mayor Mekechuk closed Public Comment.
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Craig to approve the Consent Calendar items #1, #2 and #4. Seconded by Councilmember Turner.
VOTE: Motion passed. (4-0-1 Absent: Wolsheimer)
3. Consideration to Approve and Authorize the City Manager to Execute Amendment #2 to the Professional Services Agreement with EMC Planning Group for the Housing Element Update Increasing the Contract Amount by $85,960 to a Total Not to Exceed Amount of $304,270.
Councilmember Ellahie expressed being unhappy with the services provided by EMC Planning Group.
Mayor Mekechuk opened the item for Public Comment. With no one wishing to speak, Mayor Mekechuk closed Public Comment.
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Craig to Approve and Authorize the City Manager to Execute Amendment #2 to the Professional Services Agreement with EMC Planning Group for the Housing Element Update Increasing the Contract Amount by $85,960 to a Total Not to Exceed Amount of $304,270. Seconded by Councilmember Turner.
VOTE: Motion passed. (3-1-1 Noes: Ellahie, Absent: Wolsheimer)
PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
1. Waive Second Reading and Adopt Ordinance No. NS-234 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.
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Public Comment
Terry McCarthy asked that swimming pools remain in the definition of structural coverage
With no one wishing to speak, Mayor Mekechuk closed Public Comment.
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Craig Waive Second Reading and Adopt Ordinance No. NS-234 an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Monte Sereno Amending Section 10.01.020 (Definitions – Specific Terms).
Seconded by Councilmember Turner.
VOTE: Motion passed. (3-1-1 Noes: Mekechuk, Absent: Wolsheimer)
NEW BUSINESS
None.
COMMITTEE/COMMISSION REPORTS
Councilmember Craig reported on the Youth Commission’s participation at the recent Earth Day event held by the Town of Los Gatos. He shared the Youth Commissioners who attended worked with West Valley Clean Water Authority to interview folks attending this event, asking the public questions for a short video they are putting together. He also shared that at the last Youth Commission meeting, the Commissioners decided they will be hosting an Ice Cream Social on May 16, 2023 before the City Council Meeting.
Councilmember Ellahie stated nothing to report.
Councilmember Turner shared that she participated in Supervisor Simitian’s event regarding Lehigh Southwest Cement Plant and Permanente Quarry. She shared Lehigh is considering turning the quarry into a landfill, hauling material from the surrounding area and using the quarry as a landfill.
State Law requires that quarry land be reclaimed but no reclamation efforts are underway.
Supervisor Simitian is looking for ways to prevent Lehigh’s continued use of this property for industrial applications. She will bring more information to Council in the near future on the negative impact of the quarry.
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 that Supervisor Simitian attended the West Valley Mayors and Managers meeting last week, where Supervisor Simitian did a comprehensive report on what was just shared by Councilmember Turner.
Mayor Mekechuk made a friendly reminder to everyone that they are invited to attend the Scholarship Presentation this Thursday. He also shared Monte Sereno will be hosting the West Valley Clean Water Authority and West Valley Solid Waste/ Recycling JPA this Thursday. Lastly Mayor Mekechuk shared the City Selection Committee is meeting next week.
COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS
Mayor Mekechuk shared photos of a truck turned on its side on the S-Curve on Daves Avenue. The collision occurred after 3:00 pm on Friday, April 28, 2023. Reducing vehicle speed on the S-Curve should be brought to Council in the near future.
Councilmember Craig would like the City to look into awarding the Youth Commissioners when they DocuSign Envelope ID: F9E0C658-D2FE-41F1-A1FD-19D7AF3665CB $df0490469e78$07EE4B81ADF74F54B5BC9219CC13E251.docx
conduct the Pledge of Allegiance, as a form of a thank you. He also stated noticing the podium needs repairing.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Leonardis shared he will be meeting with Vice Mayor Wolsheimer this Friday to look at the S-Curve and look into a short-term solution before a longer-term solution can be found.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Councilmember Ellahie would like City Manger to place the topic of swimming pools on a future agenda when Council can discuss what limitations can be placed on pools, if any.
Mayor Mekechuk expressed he would like to look into the City’s Investment Policy and bring it to a future meeting. He also mentioned, would like the S-Curve topic brought to a future meeting.
Concluding the Regular City Council agenda, Mayor Mekechuk resumed the Special Meeting at 8:43 p.m.
RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION
2. Conference with Legal Counsel-Anticipated Litigation pursuant to Government Code 54956.9(d)(2)(e)(1): (One potential case)
RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION
City Council reconvened to Open Session at approximately 9:12 p.m. with Mayor Mekechuk, Councilmember Craig, Councilmember Ellahie and Councilmember Turner present. (Absent: Vice Mayor Wolsheimer)
REPORT ON ACTION TAKEN DURING CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Mekechuk stated there was no reportable action for Item #2.
ADJOURN CLOSED SESSION
The meeting of the Special City Council Meeting adjourned at approximately 9:14 p.m., while also reassuming to the Regular City Council Meeting.
RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Mekechuk opened the item for Public Comment.
With no one wishing to speak, Public Comment was closed.
The City Council adjourned to Closed Session at approximately 9:15 p.m.
Councilmember Turner left the meeting at 9:15 p.m. before the Council went into closed session.
CLOSED SESSION
1. PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT
Government Code Section 54957
Title: City Attorney
RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION
City Council reconvened to Open Session at approximately 9:39 p.m. with Mayor Mekechuk, Councilmember Craig and Councilmember Ellahie present. (Absent: Councilmember Turner, Vice DocuSign Envelope ID: F9E0C658-D2FE-41F1-A1FD-19D7AF3665CB $df0490469e78$07EE4B81ADF74F54B5BC9219CC13E251.docx
Mayor Wolsheimer)
REPORT ON ACTION TAKEN DURING CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Mekechuk stated there was no reportable action for Item #1.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at approximately 9:41 p.m.
Bryan Mekechuk, Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________________
Gloisy Gonzalez-Langarica, City Clerk
DocuSign Envelope ID: F9E0C658-D2FE-41F1-A1FD-19D7AF3665CB