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MONTE SERENO CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
7:00 p.m.
March 5, 2024
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER
At approximately 7:01 p.m., Mayor Wolsheimer called the meeting to order.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Deputy Chief Mark Shumate lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
Present – Chambers: Councilmember Turner, Councilmember Mekechuk, Councilmember Ellahie, Vice Mayor Craig and Mayor Wolsheimer Present – Remote: None
Absent: None
Staff: City Clerk Gonzalez-Langarica, City Manager Leonardis, City Attorney Powell
Staff – Remote: Finance Officer Samoranos
ORDERS OF THE DAY
None.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Wolsheimer announced the passing of long time Monte Sereno resident, William McCollin.
PRESENTATIONS
1. Santa Clara County Fire Department Presentation by SCCFD Deputy Chief Dennis Lollie and SCCFD Deputy Chief Mark Shumate.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
None.
CONSENT CALENDAR (TO BE ACTED UPON BY A SINGLE MOTION)
2. Approve the Minutes of the February 20, 2024 Regular City Council Meeting DocuSign Envelope ID: 73DBEFDD-1A1A-478D-98AC-C1655D7A391A $e7f3256ea962$9F855099B8F2415D9D4B824671ED9516.docx Page 2
3. Approve Warrant List Dated March 5, 2024 in the amount $289,128.50
4. Accept the Treasurer's Report for the Period Ending December 31, 2023
5. Approval of Amendment to Employment Agreement of City Manager Steven Leonardis Increasing His Salary
Mayor Wolsheimer opened the Consent Calendar for Public Comment. With no one wishing to speak, Mayor Wolsheimer closed Public Comment.
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Mekechuk to approve Items #2 and #5 on the Consent Calendar. Seconded by Vice Mayor Craig.
VOTE: Motion passed. (5-0)
MOTION: Motion by Vice Mayor Craig to approve Items #3 and #4 on the Consent Calendar. Seconded by Mayor Wolsheimer.
VOTE: Motion passed. (2-0-1-1 Abstain: Mekechuk)
PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None.
NEW BUSINESS
6. Accept the FY 2023-24 Mid-Year Budget Report
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 Turner to Accept the FY 2023-24 Mid-Year Budget Report. Seconded by Vice Mayor Craig.
VOTE: Motion passed. (4-0-1 Abstain: Mekechuk)
COMMITTEE/COMMISSION REPORTS
Vice Mayor Craig stated nothing to report.
Councilmember Ellahie requested by the next meeting City Attorney Powell could provide an update on the Cities Associations JPA.
Councilmember Turner stated nothing to report.
Councilmember Mekechuk shared that the only meetings that have occurred since the last report were with Silicon Valley Clean Energy, Executive Committee, and the Audit Committee.
Councilmember Mekechuk reported that the Audit Committee approved the financial statements and lastly, he shared he was elected Chair of the Audit Committee. Councilmember Mekechuk shared that Girish Balachandran’s last day as CEO of Silicon Valley Clean Energy will be on March 31, 2024, and New CEO Monica Padilla’s first day will be April 1, 2024. There will be a dinner event held March 13, 2024 before the 7:00pm meeting.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 73DBEFDD-1A1A-478D-98AC-C1655D7A391A $e7f3256ea962$9F855099B8F2415D9D4B824671ED9516.docx Page 3 Mayor Wolsheimer shared that he attended the West Valley Mayors meeting last week along with City Manager Leonardis. Mayor Wolsheimer shared the main topic of discussion was the Housing Element. Mayor Wolsheimer also shared he brought up Highway 9 and spoke specifically to the Mayors of Saratoga and Los Gatos to discuss if a collaboration could be done to help increase awareness and form a team to approach Caltrans to see what can be done regarding the trees off Highway 9. Lastly, he shared that Monte Sereno will be hosting the West Valley Mayors and Managers meeting in May and November.
COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS
Councilmember Ellahie stated the City of San Jose had its Housing Element approved, they are now trying to figure out if whether the Building Remedy applies or not.
Councilmember Mekechuk requested a report be presented in the next meeting to discuss the appointing of a spokesperson for the next California Public Utilities Commission meeting. Back in 2021 Councilmember Mekechuk was authorized by the City Council to speak on behalf of the City of Monte Sereno.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Leonardis reported the shed for the NICP was received and is located on the side of the garage. City Manager Leonardis also reported the City of Monte Sereno is scheduled to run the ad to solicit the bids for the Community Center beginning this Friday.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Councilmember Ellahie expressed he would like to have the Community Center as an ongoing agenda item. He would like to have a status report on that next meeting, as he considers it would be good to keep getting feedback on it and make sure it keeps moving forward. Councilmember Ellahie also shared he would like to know the status of the Housing Element from the City.
Mayor Wolsheimer made a friendly reminder to the Council to submit to City Manager Leonardis their suggested goals for the upcoming Annual Council Strategic Goal Setting Session.
RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Wolsheimer opened the item for Public Comment. With no one wishing to speak, Public Comment was closed. City Council adjourned to Closed Session at approximately 7:53 p.m.
6. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION
Government Code Section 54956.9
Case Name: Padgett v. Curtis Wright, et al. - United States District Court, Northern District of California - San Jose Division
Case No.: 5:04-cv-03946
Staff Present: City Manager Leonardis, City Attorney Powell
RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION
The City Council reconvened to Open Session at approximately 8:58 p.m. with Mayor Wolsheimer, Vice Mayor Craig, Councilmember Ellahie, and Councilmember Turner present. (Councilmember Mekechuk left the meeting at approximately 8:45 p.m.)
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
Mayor Wolsheimer stated that there were no reportable actions.
ADJOURN
DocuSign Envelope ID: 73DBEFDD-1A1A-478D-98AC-C1655D7A391A $e7f3256ea962$9F855099B8F2415D9D4B824671ED9516.docx Page 4 Mayor Wolsheimer adjourned the meeting at approximately 8:59 p.m.
Evert Wolsheimer, Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________________
Gloisy Gonzalez-Langarica, City Clerk
DocuSign Envelope ID: 73DBEFDD-1A1A-478D-98AC-C1655D7A391A