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MONTE SERENO CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
7:00 p.m.
January 16, 2024
Councilmember Turner stated participating in tonight's meeting remotely under “Just Cause” circumstance and confirmed there was nobody over the age of 18 in the same room as her.
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER
At approximately 7:03 p.m., Mayor Wolsheimer called the meeting to order.
ROLL CALL
Present – Chambers: Councilmember Mekechuk, Councilmember Ellahie, Vice Mayor Craig and Mayor Wolsheimer
Present – Remote: Councilmember Turner
Absent: None
Staff: City Clerk Gonzalez-Langarica, City Manager Leonardis, City Attorney Powell
Staff – Remote: Finance Officer Samoranos
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Council as a whole lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
ORDERS OF THE DAY
None.
ANNOUCEMENTS
Councilmember Ellahie spoke regarding the 24th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Stop The Violence Event.
PRESENTATIONS
None.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
None.
CONSENT CALENDAR (TO BE ACTED UPON BY A SINGLE MOTION)
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1. Approve the Minutes of the December 19, 2023 Special City Council Meeting
2. Approve the Minutes of the December 19, 2023 Regular City Council Meeting
3. Accept the Treasurer's Report for the Period Ending September 30, 2023
4. Approve Warrant List Dated January 16, 2024 in the amount $181,446.63
5. Adopt a Resolution Declaring Noxious and Dangerous Weeds and Rubbish, Refuse, and Dirt to Be a Public Nuisance and Setting a Public Hearing Date and Time and Consider All Objections to the Proposed Destruction or Removal of Weeds, Dirt, Rubbish, or Other Hazardous Material and Rescinding a Previously Adopted Resolution Regarding the Same
6. Accept the Annual Approval and Signing of the City Council Code of Ethics
7. Consideration and Approval of Resolution No. 23-3887.2 Modifying The Responsibilities Of The Community Center Committee
8. Revisions to City of Monte Sereno Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Public Meetings to Change the Title of Mayor Pro Tempore to Vice Mayor
Mayor Wolsheimer opened the Consent Calendar for Public Comment. With no one wishing to speak, Mayor Wolsheimer closed Public Comment.
Councilmember Turner stated abstaining from voting on item #1 since she didn’t attend that meeting.
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Ellahie to approve the Consent Calendar (Items #2 through #8). Seconded by Councilmember Mekechuk.
VOTE: Motion passed. (5-0-0)
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Ellahie to approve the Consent Calendar (Item #2). Seconded by Councilmember Mekechuk.
VOTE: Motion passed. (4-0-0 Abstain: Turner)
PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
9. Consider Establishment of and Appointment to a City of Monte Sereno Council Financial Systems and Technology Program Ad-Hoc Committees
City Manager Leonardis provided a staff report and answered questions from the Council.
Discussion ensued.
Mayor Wolsheimer opened the item for Public Comment. With no one wishing to speak, Mayor Wolsheimer closed Public Comment.
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Ellahie to nominate Councilmember Mekechuk and Mayor Wolsheimer to the Financial Systems Ad Hoc Committee.
Seconded by Councilmember Mekechuk.
VOTE: Motion passed. (5-0-0)
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Ellahie to nominate himself and Vice Mayor Craig to the Technology Program Ad Hoc Committee. Seconded by Mayor DocuSign Envelope ID: 579EB61A-5846-4CA9-A232-FC4409D0C6C1 $d73ca6807ac8$20A14285CADE4E9C85976C0A90AF4D1B.docx Page 3 Wolsheimer.
VOTE: Motion passed. (5-0-0)
NEW BUSINESS
10. Review and Discuss Revisions to City of Monte Sereno Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Public Meetings
City Clerk Gonzalez-Langarica provided a staff report.
Discussion ensued.
Mayor Wolsheimer opened the item for Public Comment. With no one wishing to speak, Mayor Wolsheimer closed Public Comment.
Staff were given directions to return to another meeting with specific changes to the Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Public Meetings.
11. Discuss Selection of Meeting Date for Strategic Goal Setting City Manager Leonardis provided a staff report and answered questions from the Council.
Discussion ensued.
Mayor Wolsheimer opened the item for Public Comment. With no one wishing to speak, Mayor Wolsheimer closed Public Comment.
Council requested staff coordinate the Strategic Goal setting meeting to be during a regular City Council meeting, specifically at the second meeting in March, facilitated by City Manager Leonardis.
COMMITTEE/COMMISSION REPORTS
Vice Mayor Craig stated having nothing to report.
Councilmember Ellahie stated having nothing to report.
Councilmember Turner stated having nothing to report.
Councilmember Mekechuk shared that Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority has had a couple of meetings and there was selection of a new chair and vice chair. Nothing else to report.
Mayor Wolsheimer shared that he hasn’t had any meetings so far. He did state he had City Clerk Gonzalez-Langarica forward an email on the San Jose Water’s General Rate Case that could be of interest to read on the rate increases.
COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS
Councilmember Turner shared doing a post for CERT and within 2 days she was notified by NextDoor that the number of residents that had looked at it had been around 1,700. Two days later, it went up 2,500. Councilmember Turner shared getting in communication with Monte Sereno residents and wanted to bring up some of their concerns about using NextDoor to work with programs like CERT.
There is a concern that there is a large number of scammers on NextDoor.
Councilmember Ellahie expressed a concern regarding legislation that passed on ADUs that will allow them to be sold as condominiums.
City Attorney Powell clarified that the City would need to pass an ordinance allowing it to occur. This would not happen automatically.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 579EB61A-5846-4CA9-A232-FC4409D0C6C1 $d73ca6807ac8$20A14285CADE4E9C85976C0A90AF4D1B.docx Page 4 A memorandum will be sent out to Council on this for further information and clarification.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Leonardis reported on the Youth Commission’s Holiday Coats and Cans Drive final count and confirmed that they were all delivered to West Valley Community Services. City Manager Leonardis also shared that over the holidays, longtime and active resident, Philippa Alvis, passed away.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Councilmember Mekechuk would like the Chief of Police’s observation regarding no parking signs along Highway 9 and handling excessive speeds happening off Ridgecrest.
Councilmember Ellahie requested a report be presented on the status of the Community Center at the next City Council meeting.
ADJOURN
Mayor Wolsheimer adjourned the meeting at approximately 9:53 p.m.
Evert Wolsheimer, Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________________
Gloisy Gonzalez-Langarica, City Clerk
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