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MONTE SERENO CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
7:00 p.m.
April 15, 2025
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER
At approximately 7:09 p.m., Mayor Craig called the meeting to order.
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
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Council lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
ORDERS OF THE DAY
Mayor Burton requested that Oral Communication go right after Orders of the Day, and it is followed with Item #6 under the Unfinished Business and lastly, Item #4 be pulled from the Consent Calendar.
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Wolsheimer to move Oral Communication right after Orders of the Day, have Item #6 under the Unfinished Business moved right after Oral Communication and lastly, Item #4 be pulled from the Consent Calendar. Seconded by Councilmember Mekechuk.
VOTE: Motion passed. (5-0-0)
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Resident Carl Guardino extended an invitation to the Council for the 5th anniversary of the Stars and Strides Run, happening on Saturday, June 28, 2025. This is to benefit the lifesaving work of the Valley Health Foundation. The goal for this year is to gather 3,000 paid participants for the 5K Run and Walk, the 10K Run and the Kids Fun Run.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
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6. Adopt a Proclamation Declaring Support for Efforts to Provide Childcare Associate Director of Care Policy with Build the Future, Jaria Jaug, was available to provide information and available for questions from the Council.
Discussion ensued.
Mayor Craig opened the item for Public Comment. With no one wishing to speak, Mayor Craig closed Public Comment.
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Shannon to Adopt a Proclamation Declaring Support for Efforts to Provide Childcare. Seconded by Councilmember Wolsheimer.
VOTE: Motion passed. (5-0-0)
PRESENTATIONS
1. Los Gatos Monte Sereno Police Department Semi-Annual Report July - December 2024 by Captain Alvin.
Mayor Craig opened the item for Public Comment. With no one wishing to speak, Public Comment was closed.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
None.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
None.
CONSENT CALENDAR (TO BE ACTED UPON BY A SINGLE MOTION)
2. Approve the Minutes of the April 1, 2025 Special and Regular City Council Meeting
3. Approve Warrant List Dated April 9, 2025 in the amount $70,602.07
4. Approval of a Resolution Authorizing the Interim City Manager to Execute a Five-Year Police Services Agreement (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2030) with the Town of Los Gatos Mayor Craig requested to have Item #4 pulled for discussion.
Mayor Craig opened Items #1, #2, #4 and #5 for Public Comment. With no one wishing to speak, Mayor Craig closed Public Comment.
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Mekechuk to approve Item #2 on the Consent Calendar. Seconded by Vice Mayor Ellahie.
VOTE: Motion passed. (5-0-0)
MOTION: Motion by Vice Mayor Ellahie to approve Item #3 on the Consent Calendar. Seconded by Councilmember Shannon.
VOTE: Motion passed. (4-0-1 Abstain: Mekechuk)
4. Approval of a Resolution Authorizing the Interim City Manager to Execute a Five-Year Police Services Agreement (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2030) with the Town of Los Gatos Interim City Manager/City Planner Perkins provided a staff report.
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Mayor Craig opened the item for Public Comment.
Public Comment
Resident Kroc
With no one else wishing to speak, Mayor Craig closed Public Comment.
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Wolsheimer for approval of a Resolution Authorizing the Interim City Manager to Execute a Five-Year Police Services Agreement (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2030) with the Town of Los Gatos.
Seconded by Councilmember Shannon.
VOTE: Motion passed. (3-0-2 Noes: Mekechuk, Ellahie)
NEW BUSINESS
7. Authorize the City of Monte Sereno to join with other public agencies as a Shareholder of the California Asset Management Trust, a joint powers authority (JPA), specifically as an Investor in the JPA.
Associate Director of Care Policy with Build the Future was available to provide information and available for questions from the Council.
Discussion ensued.
Mayor Craig opened the item for Public Comment. With no one wishing to speak, Mayor Craig closed Public Comment.
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Mekechuk to adopt a resolution to Authorize the City of Monte Sereno to join with other public agencies as a Shareholder of the California Asset Management Trust, a joint powers authority (JPA), specifically as an Investor in the JPA. Seconded by Councilmember Shannon.
VOTE: Motion passed. (5-0-0)
PUBLIC HEARING
5. Consider Introduction of a Draft Ordinance, An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Monte Sereno Amending Chapter 10.09 (Personal Wireless Service Facility and Antenna Criteria) Interim City Manager/City Planner Perkins provided a staff report.
Discussion ensued.
Representatives from the M Group were available to assist with answering questions from the City Council.
Mayor Craig opened the item for Public Hearing. With no one wishing to speak, Mayor Craig closed Public Hearing.
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Mekechuk to Introduce a Draft Ordinance, An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Monte Sereno Amending Chapter 10.09 (Personal Wireless Service Facility and Antenna Criteria) and wave the reading thereof. Seconded by Councilmember Wolsheimer.
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NEW BUSINESS
8. Discuss the Council Adopted Goal to Improve Wildfire Prevention and Preparedness and Provide Direction to Staff
Interim City Manager/City Planner Perkins provided a staff report.
Discussion ensued.
Mayor Craig opened the item for Public Comment. With no one wishing to speak, Mayor Craig closed Public Comment.
No action taken.
9. Consider and Accept the City Manager's Quarterly Report Covering January 1, 2025 through March 31, 2025
Interim City Manager/City Planner Perkins provided a staff report.
Discussion ensued.
Mayor Craig opened the item for Public Comment. With no one wishing to speak, Mayor Craig closed Public Comment.
No action taken.
COMMITTEE/COMMISSION REPORTS
Councilmember Mekechuk shared he attended a meeting with the Valley Transportation Authority Policy Advisory Committee last week. There was discussion on the long-term vision and grant opportunities. Councilmember Mekechuk shared the Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority met and there was significant discussion on regionalization and the benefits of that. There was also an agreement that the Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority would support Senator Becker’s SB540 Bill and fund the Hanford area residents. Also, a selection policy for long-term power purchase agreement and new energy storage agreement were approved. Lastly, he shared there are do-ityourself home energy toolkits available at the Saratoga Public Library. Councilmember Mekechuk shared two weeks from today, he has a meeting with both Silicon Valley Stormwater Authority Board and West Valley Solid Waste Management Authority Board.
Councilmember Wolsheimer stated nothing to report.
Councilmember Shannon shared she attended her first Santa Clara Valley Water Commission meeting. Groundwater production charges for Fiscal Year 2026 were discussed during this meeting, and she shared the cost will be going up 9.9%. Similar increases are projected over the next coming years. Emergency preparedness was also an item of discussion. Councilmember Shannon shared that she also attended the West Valley Sanitation District meeting, and the highlight of this meeting was that it was the first of two public hearing meetings for the proposed budget. It was reported that they also issued the updated sewer system management plan.
Vice Mayor Ellahie shared he attended the Cities Association Legislative Action Committee meeting.
He said he will have more information to share on their legislative proposals.
Mayor Craig shared he attended the Finance Ad Hoc Committee meeting for the Santa Clara County Library JPA. He shares that the funding that has been pulled for the libraries in the State of California is not going to drastically affect the services of the Santa Clara Library system. They are in good Docusign Envelope ID: 8B4BD04C-5D0C-4566-A43B-AF79F05833CF $9e806a4dba24$4B0C6B45EED14C7A8A28D9D25D5939A5.docx Page 5 finance shape and are moving forward in construction with the new building.
COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS
Councilmember Shannon shared she attended the Santa Clara County Fire open house for their new headquarters, and shared the building is state of the art. She shared she also attended a tour of the San Jose-Santa Clara wastewater treatment facility, and it was fascinating. Lastly, Councilmember Shannon congratulated Mayor Craig on the two articles that appeared in the Peaceful Mountain and the Outlook Newspaper.
Councilmember Mekechuk shared he is excited and looking forward to seeing how the City will progress with the new financial system.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
10. A copy of the Tentative 2025 Council Meeting Calendar was included on the agenda.
Vice Mayor Ellahie stated he would like to see an agenda item two months down the road, about compensation to Councilmembers for being on the Council.
Mayor Craig proposed an agenda item on the city paying for all the fees that a candidate would incur to run for office.
Councilmember Wolsheimer would like to see an item on annexation in a future council meeting.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
None.
ADJOURN
Mayor Craig adjourned the meeting at approximately 9:53 p.m.
Burton Craig, Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________________
Gloisy Gonzalez-Langarica, City Clerk
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