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MONTE SERENO CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
7:00 p.m.
March 18, 2025
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER
At approximately 7:09 p.m., Mayor Craig called the meeting to order.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Council lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
Present – Chambers: Councilmember Shannon, Councilmember Mekechuk, Councilmember Wolsheimer, Vice Mayor Ellahie and Mayor Craig Present – Remote: None
Absent: None
Staff: City Clerk Gonzalez-Langarica, Interim City Manager/City Planner Perkins and City Attorney Powell
Staff – Remote: None
ORDERS OF THE DAY
Mayor Burton requested that Item #8 under New Business be moved to the end of the New Business items. The Council agreed.
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 4, 2025 Regular City Council Meeting
2. Approve Warrant List Dated March 11, 2025 in the amount $235,004.89
3. Consideration to Authorize the Interim City Manager to Execute Amendment #2 to the Docusign Envelope ID: F6E395E8-6391-4D1C-8DCB-A4D7E643D89B $a8a410f2fad3$B937EE93BE994C54B0B34AD29DDC029A.docx Page 2 Professional Services Agreement with DKG Consultants for Financial Services Consulting.
4. Consideration to Authorize the Interim City Manager to Execute Amendment #1 to the Professional Services Agreement with AIM Engineering Consultants, Inc. for Public Works/City Engineering Consulting.
5. Authorize the Mayor to Send a Letter to Assemblymember Gail Pellerin Regarding Wildfire Safety Concerns Regarding the Eucalyptus Trees Along Highway 9 Vice Mayor Ellahie requested to have Item #5 for discussion.
Mayor Craig opened the Consent Calendar for Public Comment.
Public Comment Received:
Former Mayor Lawler
With no one else wishing to speak, Mayor Craig closed Public Comment.
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Wolsheimer to approve Items #1, #3 and #4 on the Consent Calendar. Seconded by Vice Mayor Ellahie.
VOTE: Motion passed. (5-0-0)
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Wolsheimer to approve Item #2 on the Consent Calendar. Seconded by Councilmember Shannon.
VOTE: Motion passed. (4-0-1 Abstain: Mekechuk)
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Shannon to approve Item #5 on the Consent Calendar with the changes discussed. Seconded by Councilmember Wolsheimer.
VOTE: Motion passed. (5-0-0)
PUBLIC HEARING
6. Application No. 2024-3086 for a Site Development Permit for a single-story addition of approximately 554 square feet and a Variance Application for reduced front yard setback of five feet where 25 feet is required at 17380 Valley Oak Drive. (CEQA: Exempt, Guidelines sections 15302, 15303)
Interim City Manager/City Planner Perkins provided a report and answered questions from the Council.
Discussion ensued.
Mayor Craig opened the Public Hearing.
Public Hearing
Architect, Benzing
With no one else wishing to speak, Mayor Craig closed Public Hearing.
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Mekechuk to approve resolution approving Application No. 2024-3086 for a Site Development Permit for a single-story addition of approximately 554 square feet and a Variance application for reduced front yard setback of five feet where 25 feet is required at 17380 Valley Oak Drive. Seconded by Councilmember Wolsheimer.
Docusign Envelope ID: F6E395E8-6391-4D1C-8DCB-A4D7E643D89B $a8a410f2fad3$B937EE93BE994C54B0B34AD29DDC029A.docx Page 3 VOTE: Motion passed. (5-0-0)
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None.
NEW BUSINESS
7. Appointment to Fill One (1) Vacancy on the Monte Sereno Site and Architectural Commission for an Unexpired Term Ending December 31, 2025
Applicant Lawler addressed the Council.
Discussion ensued.
Mayor Craig opened the item for Public Comment. With no one else wishing to speak, Mayor Craig closed Public Comment.
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Mekechuk to appoint Liz Lawler to the Vacancy on the Monte Sereno Site and Architectural Commission for an Unexpired Term Ending December 31, 2025. Seconded by Vice Mayor Ellahie.
VOTE: Motion passed. (5-0-0)
9. Receive the Informational Update from the Improving Finance Controls and Reporting Ad Hoc Committee
Councilmember Mekechuk provided a report.
Discussion ensued.
Mayor Craig opened the item for Public Comment. With no one wishing to speak, Mayor Craig closed Public Comment.
Informational only, no action required.
10. Accept the Resignation of Council Member Shannon as Alternate Director of the Silicon Valley Clean Energy and Appoint a New Alternate Director
Interim City Manager/City Planner Perkins provided a report.
Discussion ensued.
Mayor Craig opened the item for Public Comment. With no one wishing to speak, Mayor Craig closed Public Comment.
Councilmember Mekechuk nominated Vice Mayor Ellahie as Alternate Director of the Silicon Valley Clean Energy.
There were no other nominations. Vice Mayor Ellahie was unanimously elected to serve as Alternate Director of the Silicon Valley Clean Energy.
8. Council Goal Setting Session for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 The Council held extensive discussions on the strategic goals and objectives for the upcoming fiscal year.
Interim City Manager/City Planner Perkins will bring back a draft of the strategic goals and objectives for Fiscal Year 2025-26 to be adopted at a future meeting.
COMMITTEE/COMMISSION REPORTS
Docusign Envelope ID: F6E395E8-6391-4D1C-8DCB-A4D7E643D89B $a8a410f2fad3$B937EE93BE994C54B0B34AD29DDC029A.docx Page 4 Councilmember Mekechuk shared he has a meeting coming up with the Valley Transportation Authority Policy Advisory Committee. He also shared that Mayor Hudes from the Town of Los Gatos wants to set up more meetings to talk about evacuation routes and beach traffic. Councilmember Mekechuk also shared Councilmember Shannon attended the meeting with the Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority. Lastly, he shared the Santa Clara County Recycling and Waste Reduction Commission is working on scheduling the next meeting.
Councilmember Shannon shared she attended the Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority meeting.
During this meeting, the board received the 2023/2024 fiscal year audit, approved the midyear budget, approved a resolution to allocate additional funding to decarbonization initiatives and held a discussion on affordability. She also shared there was discussion on giving back a rebate to residents who are part of SVCE. Lastly, Councilmember Shannon shared that the Chairperson sent out a commendation to Councilmember Mekechuk for his work on the audit committee and for chairing that committee and spoke highly of the work Councilmember Mekechuk did on that.
Councilmember Shannon also shared she attended the West Valley Sanitation District Board. She shared that the District Manager is taking a leave of absence and while he is away, his duties are going to be split between Director of Administration and Information Services and also the Director of Engineering and Operations.
Councilmember Wolsheimer shared that the Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority is scheduled to meet next week. He also shared he is slowly getting involved with the Association of Bay Area Governments and is looking forward to attending his first meeting.
Vice Mayor Ellahie shared that he attended the Cities Association meeting. During this meeting, they went through the budget. He also shared that Monte Sereno’s dues are the lowest of paying members and still have the same number of votes as other Cities that pay higher dues. Vice Mayor Ellahie also shared that Senator Becker attended the meeting and spoke about the legislation that he is putting together. Vice Mayor Ellahie shared he was able to bring up a discussion about fire safety with him. Lastly, Vice Mayor Ellahie shared that during the Cities Association meeting, Know Your Rights red cards were provided. These cards help individuals understand their rights if pulled over by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Mayor Craig shared he attended the Youth Commission meeting, where the youth commissioners have expressed interest in having a podcast. The Commissioner’s will be working on some potential topics. Director Melissa Toren attended the meeting and explained some of the nuts and bolts of creating a podcast and invited a group of them to KCAT. The Commissioners also spoke about their work plan for the remaining part of the year, starting with recruitment for the upcoming fiscal year and the hosting of the Ice Cream Social in May.
COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS
Mayor Craig shared he will be having an article published in the Outlook Newspaper next month, about the different ways citizens can be involved.
Councilmember Mekechuk shared he was reminded that on March 18, 2020, everyone went into lockdown until April 7
th
.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
Interim City Manager/City Planner Perkins shared that last week some of the Monte Sereno staff attended online training that was provided by the Santa Clara County Fire District for workplace safety and how to respond in the event of an active shooter. A representative is going to follow up Docusign Envelope ID: F6E395E8-6391-4D1C-8DCB-A4D7E643D89B $a8a410f2fad3$B937EE93BE994C54B0B34AD29DDC029A.docx Page 5 with a visit to City Hall to provide an assessment of the facilities and direct recommendations for staff. It was also shared that the City of Monte Sereno participated with the other four West Valley Cities and held an event at the Campbell Community Center and about 20 different affordable housing developers attended. The Cities talked about the different programs within each city for affordable housing and the websites available. The housing developers were able to provide feedback.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
11. A copy of the Tentative 2025 Council Meeting Calendar was included on the agenda.
ADJOURN
Mayor Craig adjourned the meeting at approximately 9:19 p.m.
Burton Craig, Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________________
Gloisy Gonzalez-Langarica, City Clerk
Docusign Envelope ID: F6E395E8-6391-4D1C-8DCB-A4D7E643D89B