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MONTE SERENO CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
7:00 p.m.
March 19, 2024
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER
At approximately 7:01 p.m., Mayor Wolsheimer called the meeting to order.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Chief of Police Jamie Field lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
Present – Chambers: Councilmember Turner, Councilmember Ellahie, Councilmember Mekechuk, Vice Mayor Craig and Mayor Wolsheimer
Present – Remote: None
Absent: None
Staff: City Planner Perkins, City Engineer/Public Works Director Jordan, Finance Officer Samoranos, City Clerk Gonzalez-Langarica, City Manager Leonardis, City Attorney Powell
Staff – Remote: None
ORDERS OF THE DAY
None.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
None.
PRESENTATIONS
None.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
None.
CONSENT CALENDAR (TO BE ACTED UPON BY A SINGLE MOTION)
1. Approve the Minutes of the March 5, 2024 Regular City Council Meeting DocuSign Envelope ID: 0AE01291-5077-4F73-8239-10B2E90C9BDA $0ae5cea22a8b$2CEA870C2ADA411FA9793118817B9D29.docx Page 2
2. Approve Warrant List Dated March 19, 2024 in the amount $79,495.79 Mayor Wolsheimer opened the Consent Calendar for Public Comment. With no one wishing to speak, Mayor Wolsheimer closed Public Comment.
MOTION: Motion by Vice Mayor Craig to approve Item #1 on the Consent Calendar.
Seconded by Councilmember Turner.
VOTE: Motion passed. (5-0-0)
MOTION: Motion by Vice Mayor Craig to approve Item #2 on the Consent Calendar.
Seconded by Councilmember Ellahie.
VOTE: Motion passed. (2-0-1- Abstain: Mekechuk)
PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None.
NEW BUSINESS
3. Authorize Councilmember Mekechuk to Represent the City on Issues Related to the San Jose Water General Rate Case U168W Affecting Water Rates for 2025-2027 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 Authorize Councilmember Mekechuk to Represent the City on Issues Related to the San Jose Water General Rate Case U168W Affecting Water Rates for 2025-2027. Seconded by Vice Mayor Craig.
VOTE: Motion passed. (5-0-0)
4. Annual Council Goal Setting Session
City Manager Leonardis provided a PowerPoint presentation.
The Council held extensive discussions on the strategic goals and objectives for the upcoming fiscal year.
City Manager Leonardis will bring back a draft of the strategic goals and objectives for Fiscal Year 2024-25 to be adopted at a future meeting.
COMMITTEE/COMMISSION REPORTS
Vice Mayor Craig shared the Youth Commission will be hosting a City cleanup event on April 21st.
The Youth Commission will also start recruiting this year’s recipient for the Social Justice Award. Vice Mayor Craig shared attending the Valley Transportation Authority Policy Advisory Committee and Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority on behalf of Councilmember Mekechuk. Vice Mayor Craig reported the meeting for the VTA consisted of discussion on items of which the City of Monte Sereno doesn’t participate in. He shared the most interesting thing is the fact that they are going to DocuSign Envelope ID: 0AE01291-5077-4F73-8239-10B2E90C9BDA $0ae5cea22a8b$2CEA870C2ADA411FA9793118817B9D29.docx Page 3 sponsor a contest to see who can come up with the coolest name for the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) that will bore the five-mile tunnel between the Berryessa and Cal Train Station. There was discussion on Measure B and promotion on the Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety. At the Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority meeting, Vice Mayor Craig reported the sendoff for CEO Girish Balachandran and discussion on the midyear budget and programs they are going to invest in for the expanding of single-family home electrification. The discussion was on contracting with Franklin Energy Services to give individuals a one-stop shop for electrifying homes.
Councilmember Ellahie shared he also attended the sendoff for CEO Girish Balachandran.
Councilmember Ellahie went on to share some information on upcoming legislative bills from the 2024 Legislative Briefing: New Legislation Overview PowerPoint that was added onto the agenda for public viewing.
Councilmember Turner stated nothing to report.
Councilmember Mekechuk shared that on April 9th Solid Waste Management Authority is having field trip to see the organic waste processing at the recycling plant and solid waste. Councilmember Mekechuk thanked Vice Mayor Craig for attending the meetings for the Valley Transportation Authority Policy Advisory Committee and Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority on his behalf.
Mayor Wolsheimer stated nothing to report.
COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS
Councilmember Ellahie complemented City Manager Leonardis with the running of the Goal Setting Session this evening. Councilmember Ellahie also stated the city needs to keep control of finances and approved as soon as possible to have Councilmember Mekechuk have active participation.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Leonardis reported on the Community Chipping Program. This program is designed to encourage and support homeowners in creating and maintaining the required defensible space around their homes. City Manager Leonardis also reminded folks about the extensive amount of information for the residents.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Councilmember Ellahie would like any updates on the Housing Element and Community Center as part of any of the upcoming meetings.
Vice Mayor Craig would like to see soon an item addressing flock cameras for discussion.
Councilmember Turner stated she would like to see data integrity of the surveys that the city has which show what database is used whenever the City gets a survey. Councilmember Turner would like to make sure NextDoor isn’t being used because of the many scammers on there.
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 9:05 p.m.
5. 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
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RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION
The City Council reconvened to Open Session at approximately 9:58 p.m. with Mayor Wolsheimer, Vice Mayor Craig, Councilmember Mekechuk, Councilmember Ellahie, and Councilmember Turner present. (Councilmember Turner left the meeting at approximately 9:50 p.m.)
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
Mayor Wolsheimer stated that there were no reportable actions.
ADJOURN
Mayor Wolsheimer adjourned the meeting at approximately 9:59 p.m.
Evert Wolsheimer, Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________________
Gloisy Gonzalez-Langarica, City Clerk
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