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MONTE SERENO CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
7:00 p.m.
June 17, 2025
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER
At approximately 7:02 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, Vice Mayor Ellahie and Mayor Craig
Present – Remote: None
Absent: None
Staff: City Clerk Gonzalez-Langarica, City Manager Perkins and City Attorney Powell
Staff – Remote: None
ORDERS OF THE DAY
None.
PRESENTATIONS
1. Recognition of Outgoing Councilmember Wolsheimer.
Mayor Craig recognized Councilmember Wolsheimer for his service and commitment to the City of Monte Sereno.
Councilmember Ellahie provided remarks.
Councilmember Shannon provided remarks.
Councilmember Mekechuk provided remarks.
An award was presented to Councilmember Wolsheimer on behalf of the City of Monte Sereno.
Councilmember Wolsheimer thanked his fellow Councilmembers.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
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WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
None.
CONSENT CALENDAR (TO BE ACTED UPON BY A SINGLE MOTION)
2. Approve the Minutes of the June 3, 2025 Regular City Council Meeting
3. Approve Warrant List Dated June 12, 2025 in the Amount $556,713.81 and Authorize the City Manager to Issue Payments for Community Based Grant Recipients on July 2, 2025 for a total of $25,000
4. Receive the Treasurer’s Report for April 2025
5. Adoption of Resolution Establishing and Fixing the Amount of Special Real Property Tax Levy for Police Protection Purposes for the Fiscal Year 2025-2026
6. Authorize the City Manager to Execute an Agreement with Los Gatos‐Monte Sereno Safe Routes to School, Inc. for Providing Services Eligible Under Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority’s 2016 Measure B Bicycle and Pedestrian Education and Encouragement Program
7. Adoption of Ordinance No. NS-245, an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Monte Sereno Designating Fire Hazard Severity Zones within the Local Responsibility Area
8. Adopt Resolution No. 25-### Approving the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Salary Schedule to comply with the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) Statutory and Regulatory Requirements for Compensation and Publicly Available Salary Schedules Councilmember Shannon requested to pull Item #4.
Councilmember Mekechuk requested to pull Items #5 and #8.
Mayor Craig 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, 6 and 7 on the Consent Calendar. Seconded by Vice Mayor Ellahie.
VOTE: Motion passed. (4-0-0)
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Shannon to approve Item #3 on the Consent Calendar. Seconded by Vice Mayor Ellahie.
VOTE: Motion passed. (3-0-1 Abstain: Mekechuk)
4. Receive the Treasurer’s Report for April 2025
City Manager Perkins provided a staff report.
Finance Consultant Corbett was available to provide information and available for questions from the Council.
Discussion ensued.
Mayor Craig opened Item #4 for Public Comment. With no one wishing to speak, Mayor Craig closed Public Comment.
MOTION: Motion by Mayor Craig to approve Item #4 on the Consent Calendar.
Seconded by Vice Mayor Ellahie.
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VOTE: Motion Failed. (2-1-1 Abstain: Mekechuk; Noes: Shannon)
5. Adoption of Resolution Establishing and Fixing the Amount of Special Real Property Tax Levy for Police Protection Purposes for the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 City Clerk Gonzalez-Langarica provided a staff report.
Discussion ensued.
Mayor Craig opened Item #5 for Public Comment.
Public Comment:
Former Mayor Allan
With no one else wishing to speak, Mayor Craig closed Public Comment.
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Mekechuk to approve Item #5 on the Consent Calendar. Seconded by Councilmember Shannon.
VOTE: Motion passed. (4-0-0)
8. Adopt Resolution No. 25-### Approving the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Salary Schedule to comply with the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) Statutory and Regulatory Requirements for Compensation and Publicly Available Salary Schedules City Manager Perkins assisted with answering questions from Council on this item.
Discussion ensued.
Mayor Craig opened Item #8 for Public Comment. With no one wishing to speak, Mayor Craig closed Public Comment.
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Mekechuk to approve Item #8 on the Consent Calendar. Seconded by Councilmember Shannon.
VOTE: Motion passed. (4-0-0)
PUBLIC HEARING
9. Conduct a Public Hearing to Consider Objections to the Proposed Removal of Brush on Parcels Listed on the 2025 Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Area Non-Compliant Parcel List and Order Abatement.
City Attorney Powell reported that there were no properties on this list and so this item no longer needed to be considered for tonight’s meeting.
10. Introduction and Waiver of First Reading of Ordinance No. NS-246, an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Monte Sereno Amending Municipal Code Sections 12.03.020.A and
12.03.030 to Reduce the Number of Youth Commissioners
City Clerk Gonzalez-Langarica provided a staff report.
Discussion ensued.
Mayor Craig opened the item for Public Hearing.
Public Hearing
• Former Mayor Allan
• Public Member
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• Youth Commissioner Jacob
With no one else wishing to speak, Mayor Craig closed Public Hearing.
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Mekechuk to Introduce and Waive the First Reading of Ordinance No. NS-246, an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Monte Sereno Amending Municipal Code Sections 12.03.020.A and
12.03.030 to Reduce the Number of Youth Commissioners as Amended.
Seconded by Vice Mayor Ellahie.
VOTE: Motion passed. (4-0-0)
NEW BUSINESS
12. Consider and Appoint Members to the 2025-2026 Monte Sereno Youth Commission City Clerk Gonzalez-Langarica provided a staff report.
Discussion ensued.
Applicants Spoke:
• Johann Jacob
• Corinne Chou
• Louis Chen
Mayor Craig opened the item for Public Comment. With no one wishing to speak, Mayor Craig closed Public Comment.
MOTION: Motion by Mayor Craig to accept all the applicants into the 2025-2026 term for the Youth Commission. Seconded by Councilmember Mekechuk.
VOTE: Motion passed. (4-0-0)
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
11. Adopt a Resolution Approving the City of Monte Sereno Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Budget City Manager Perkins provided a staff report.
Finance Consultant Corbett was available to provide information and available for questions from the Council.
Discussion ensued.
Mayor Craig opened the item for Public Comment.
Public Comment:
• Former Mayor Allan.
With no one else wishing to speak, Vice Mayor Ellahie closed Public Comment.
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Shannon to Adopt a Resolution Approving the City of Monte Sereno Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Budget. Seconded by Mayor Craig.
VOTE: Motion passed. (3-0-1 Abstain: Mekechuk)
COMMITTEE/COMMISSION REPORTS
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Mayor Craig reported he had a call with Assemblymember Gail Pellerin, and she shared she has been working on the issues of the eucalyptus trees off Highway 9. Assemblymember Pellerin has been in contact with Senator Josh Becker regarding this issue. Mayor Craig would like to share there are more people getting involved. Mayor Craig also shared that the Santa Clara County Library approved their 2025/2026 Budget.
Councilmember Mekechuk reported that the Santa Clara County Recycling and Waste Reduction Commission has been having trouble holding a meeting due to a lack of quorum. He had nothing else to report.
Vice Mayor Ellahie reported attending the Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority meeting. He shared that seven years ago when he was on the board, they had come up with a proposal for being able to sell bonds which are non-recourse bonds that somebody allows them to prepay for energy and because they are tax-exempt nonprofit organization, Morgan Stanley would buy those bonds and then sell them to its customers. That allowed Morgan Stanley a spread between the taxable interest rate and the nontaxable rate that a bank charges. Part of that would go back to Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority, that was the first they had sold bonds seven years ago. At this meeting, they did it for the fourth time. They’ve been able to save a few million dollars. Vice Mayor Ellahie also shared that their account financial system went through a stressless analysis. Vice Mayor Ellahie shared he also attended a meeting with the Cities Association where Kevin Dugan presented.
Councilmember Shannon reported attending a meeting with the West Valley Sanitation District Board last week. She shared that the average amount of time that their employees have been in their jobs is around twelve years. West Valley Sanitation District has a very good group of people working together. Councilmember Shannon also shared that John Newbie, the District Manager who has been there since 2012, will be retiring. The Board is going to have to search for a new District Manager. Councilmember Shannon shared that in their meeting, they talked about their fleet electrification process. There is a concern that they may have to redo the entire grounds to meet the requirements for electrification.
COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS
Councilmember Mekechuk shared that the Tyler Program has assigned an implementation consultant to the City. The Finance Ad Hoc Committee is scheduled to meet bi-weekly for updates.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
13. A copy of the Tentative 2025 Council Meeting Calendar was included on the agenda.
Vice Mayor Ellahie would like to see a resolution that can be sent out to the state legislators on this wildfire issue and how urgent it is, and the City needs them to act.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Perkins shared that the Santa Clara County Fire Department hosted a CPR training last week in the Chambers. They will be offering two additional sessions as the classes have filled up quickly. City Manager Perkins did a friendly reminder of the upcoming two special meetings in the following week. Also a friendly reminder, City Hall will be closed on Thursday in honor of Juneteenth.
ADJOURN
Mayor Craig adjourned the meeting at approximately 8:54 p.m.
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Burton Craig, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Gloisy Gonzalez-Langarica, City Clerk
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