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MONTE SERENO CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
7:00 p.m.
August 1, 2023
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER
At approximately 7:01 p.m., Mayor Mekechuk called the meeting to order.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Scout Troop 2 conducted the Pledge of Allegiance.
Councilmember Ellahie stated participating at tonight’s meeting remotely under “Just Cause” circumstance and confirmed there was nobody over the age of 18 in the same room as him.
ROLL CALL
Present – Chambers: Councilmember Craig, Councilmember Turner, Vice Mayor Wolsheimer and Mayor Mekechuk
Present – Remote: Councilmember Ellahie
Absent: None
Staff: City Attorney Powell, City Planner Perkins, Finance Officer Samoranos, City Engineer/ Public Works Director Jordan, City Manager Leonardis and City Clerk Gonzalez-Langarica
ORDERS OF THE DAY
Mayor Mekechuk requested Item #1 under Unfinished Business be after the Consent Calander
PRESENTATIONS
None.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Resident Shevelyor expressed frustration with the power outages that have occurred since the beginning of the year. He shared he reached out to PG&E and was encouraged to reach out to the City of Monte Sereno and start a petition that can then lead to the State of California to accelerate the remediation of the issue with PG&E. He was informed there are two actionable things that can be done. One is the known legacy issues with the electricity connectivity in Los Gatos to the main power grid and two, it can be requested to prioritize the power lines being moved underground.
Former Mayor Lucas came to thank the City Council on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Los Gatos Community Concert Association for the City’s support. He provided City Clerk GonzalezDocuSign Envelope ID: 41451A5C-788D-4507-9E19-FB691601018F $bc27f50aa9a8$00B5AFCDC1EF49F3AFCB1BCC3AA8C909.docx
Langarica with complimentary tickets for a concert to be distributed to the Councilmembers.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
None.
CONSENT CALENDAR (TO BE ACTED UPON BY A SINGLE MOTION)
1. Approve the Minutes of the July 18, 2023 Special City Council Meeting
2. Accept the Treasurer's Report for the Period Ending March 31, 2023
3. Approve Warrant List Dated August 1, 2023 in the Amount $164796.99
4. Consideration to Approve and Authorize the City Manager to Execute a Contract with Metropolitan Planning Group (M-Group) for Staff Support of the Housing Element Preparation and Implementation of Programs Not to Exceed $50,000
5. Award of contract to O’Grady Paving, Inc. for the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Pavement Improvement Project in Total Amount Not to Exceed $394,365 and Determining Project Exempt from CEQA Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301
Councilmember Turner requested to pull Items #1 and #4
Mayor Mekechuk opened the Consent Calendar 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 #2, #3 and #5. Seconded by Vice Mayor Wolsheimer.
VOTE: Motion passed. (5-0-0)
Councilmember Craig requested to move Item #2 under Unfinished Business before #1 and then move on to Public Hearing.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
2. Consider a Resolution Expanding the Membership of the Community Center Committee by Two Members, Including the Capital Campaign for the Community Center Project as a Responsibility of the Committee and Appoint Two (2) Residents of Monte Sereno to Community Center Committee
City Clerk Gonzalez-Langarica provided a staff report and answered questions from the Council.
Discussion commenced.
Mayor Mekechuk opened the item for Public Comment. With no one wishing to speak, Mayor Mekechuk closed Public Comment.
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Ellahie to approve the Resolution Expanding the Membership of the Community Center Committee by Two Members and an Alternate, Including the Capital Campaign for the Community Center Project as a Responsibility of the Committee. Seconded by Councilmember Craig.
VOTE: Motion passed. (5-0-0)
Applicant Spoke
Lon Allan
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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 nominate Lon Allon and Jennifer Krach as the two new Member of the Public to Community Center Committee and Jane Ward as the alternate. Seconded by Councilmember Ellahie.
VOTE: Motion passed. (5-0-0)
1. Housing Element Update – Discuss Sites to Consider for SB10 Rezoning for Multifamily Housing Mayor Mekechuk stated he lives within a radius of 500 ft from one of the properties being mentioned in this item; therefore, he recused himself.
City Planner Perkins provided a staff report and answered questions from the Council.
City Attorney Powell provided assistance with answering questions from the Council.
Vice Mayor Wolsheimer opened the item for Public Comment.
Public Comment
Resident Kelly Weisberg
Resident Peter Leavy
Resident Garry Niva
Former Mayor Lon Allan
Resident George Blumenthal
Resident Ed
Resident Allison Zeidler
Resident Clay Zeidler
Resident Debrah
With no one else wishing to speak, Vice Mayor Wolsheimer closed Public Comment.
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Craig to consider parcels Winchester Blvd and Karl Avenue for SB10 consideration. Seconded by Vice Mayor Wolsheimer.
VOTE: Motion Failed. (2-2-1; Noes Ellahie, Turner; Recused Mekechuk) MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Craig to consider parcel Karl Avenue for SB10 consideration. Seconded by Vice Mayor Wolsheimer.
VOTE: Motion Failed. (2-2-1; Noes Ellahie, Turner; Recused Mekechuk) MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Craig to consider parcel Rose Avenue for SB10 consideration. No Seconded.
VOTE: Motion Failed.
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Craig to consider parcels on Winchester Blvd for SB10 consideration. Seconded by Councilmember Ellahie.
VOTE: Motion passed. (4-0-1; Recused Mekechuk)
PUBLIC HEARINGS
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1. Consider Objections to the 2023 Weed Abatement Program Assessment Report and Adopt a Resolution Confirming the Report and Authorizing Collection of the Assessment Charges City Clerk Gonzalez-Langarica provided a staff report.
A Weed Abatement Inspector was present to assist with questions from the Council.
Discussion commenced.
Mayor Mekechuk opened the item for Public Hearing. With no one wishing to speak, Mayor Mekechuk closed Public Hearing.
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Craig to Accept the 2023 Weed Abatement Program Assessment Report and Adopt a Resolution Confirming the Weed Abatement Report and Assessment List Filed by the County Fire Marshal and Remanding same to Fire Marshal to Be Entered on the Tax Assessment Roll. Seconded by Vice Mayor Wolsheimer.
VOTE: Motion passed. (5-0-0)
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Approve the Minutes of the July 18, 2023 Special City Council Meeting Mayor Mekechuk opened the item for Public Comment. With no one wishing to speak, Mayor Mekechuk closed Public Comment.
MOTION: Motion by Vice Mayor Wolsheimer to Approve the Minutes of the July 18, 2023 Special City Council Meeting. Seconded by Councilmember Craig.
VOTE: Motion passed. (5-0-0)
4. Consideration to Approve and Authorize the City Manager to Execute a Contract with Metropolitan Planning Group (M-Group) for Staff Support of the Housing Element Preparation and Implementation of Programs Not to Exceed $50,000
City Planner Perkins provided a staff report and answered questions from the Council.
Discussion commenced.
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 a Contract with Metropolitan Planning Group (MGroup) for Staff Support of the Housing Element Preparation and Implementation of Programs Not to Exceed $50,000. Seconded by Vice Mayor Wolsheimer.
VOTE: Motion passed. (5-0-0)
COMMITTEE/COMMISSION REPORTS
Councilmember Craig stated having nothing to report.
Councilmember Ellahie stated having nothing to report.
Councilmember Turner shared attending the CERT event this afternoon. She shared they have a new NICP that is state of the art that is located at the Jewish Community Center. Los Gatos is putting in 4 new NICP’s. Los Gatos has 18 today and by the end of the year will have 22.
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Vice Mayor Wolsheimer stated having nothing to report.
Mayor Mekechuk shared most meetings were cancelled in the month of July. There is an upcoming meeting of Silicon Valley Clean Energy on the 14th of August. Mayor Matt Mahan is having another meeting of the Santa Clara County Mayors in October.
COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS
None.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Leonardis shared he is working on scheduling a team building exercise with Kevin Dugan in the near future with the Councilmembers. Lastly, he did a friendly reminder for folks to RSVP for the City Picnic.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Councilmember Ellahie suggested PG&E be considered for an agenda item to see what can be done in regards to the outages.
Mayor Mekechuk expressed interest in seeing in the August 15th meeting a staff report on how to move forward with a concealed carryon weapons permit. Los Gatos is moving ahead with a permitting system, and he would like to see the City of Monte Sereno moving in parallel with the Town of Los Gatos.
ADJOURN
Mayor Mekechuk adjourned the meeting at approximately 9:03 p.m.
Bryan Mekechuk, Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________________
Gloisy Gonzalez-Langarica, City Clerk
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