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MONTE SERENO CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
7:00 p.m.
November 18, 2025
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER
At approximately 7:01 p.m., Mayor Craig called the meeting to order.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Assemblymember Gail Pellerin lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
Present – Chambers: Councilmember Toren, Councilmember Shannon, Councilmember Mekechuk, Vice Mayor Allan 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.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
None.
PRESENTATIONS
1. Legislative Update Presentation by Assemblymember Gail Pellerin Assemblymember Gail Pellerin shared that all 10 bills she sent to the governor were signed into law.
Assemblymember Pellerin shared her legislature prioritized affordability and shared how she worked with local groups, organizations, and government agencies to help develop her legislative package and is now currently working on next year’s package. She followed up with going through all 10 bills in her presentation.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Former Mayor Lawler would like Council to consider implementing a curb identification program.
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This program would help identify homes with pools for firefighters.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
None.
CONSENT CALENDAR (TO BE ACTED UPON BY A SINGLE MOTION)
2. Approve the Minutes of the November 4, 2025 Regular City Council Meeting
3. Approve Warrant List Dated November 18, 2025 in the Amount $47,004.89
4. Acceptance of the 2024 Silicon Valley Clean Energy Noncompetitive Member Agency Grant
5. Adoption of Ordinance No. NS-248, an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Monte Sereno Amending Title 9 of the Monte Sereno Municipal Code to Adopt by Reference Title 24 of the California Code Of Regulations, 2025 California Building Standards Code, including California Residential Code, California Plumbing Code, California Electrical Code, California Mechanical Code, California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, California Green Building Code, California Energy Code, California Fire Code, California Existing Building Code, Historical Building Code, Referenced Standards Code, and International Property Maintenance Code Subject to the Specified Local Amendments
Councilmember Mekechuk requested to pull Item #5.
Mayor Craig opened the Consent Calendar for Public Comment. With no one wishing to speak, Mayor Craig closed Public Comment.
MOTION: Motion by Vice Mayor Allan to approve Items #2, #3, and #4 on the Consent Calendar. Seconded by Councilmember Mekechuk.
VOTE: Motion passed. (5-0-0)
5. Adoption of Ordinance No. NS-248, an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Monte Sereno Amending Title 9 of the Monte Sereno Municipal Code to Adopt by Reference Title 24 of the California Code Of Regulations, 2025 California Building Standards Code, including California Residential Code, California Plumbing Code, California Electrical Code, California Mechanical Code, California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, California Green Building Code, California Energy Code, California Fire Code, California Existing Building Code, Historical Building Code, Referenced Standards Code, and International Property Maintenance Code Subject to the Specified Local Amendments
City Attorney Powell provided information on the ordinance and assisted with answering questions.
MOTION: Motion by Vice Mayor Allan to approve Item #5 on the Consent Calendar.
Seconded by Councilmember Mekechuk.
VOTE: Motion passed. (5-0-0)
PUBLIC HEARING
None.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
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None.
NEW BUSINESS
None.
COMMITTEE/COMMISSION REPORTS
Councilmember Mekechuk shared he attended a meeting with the Valley Transportation Authority Policy Advisory Committee last week. He believes there is grant money available that the City needs to pursue. Both West Valley Stormwater Authority and West Valley Solid Waste Management Authority Board met last week. A meeting of the Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority had to be cancelled due to a Board member being unavailable to participate remotely from his public noticed location. The meeting was rescheduled as a special meeting last Friday. Lastly, there was no meeting of the Santa Clara County Recycling and Waste Reduction Commission.
Councilmember Toren shared he attended the Cities Association meeting on November 13th. He shared the most significant item was the election of the executive committee members of the association. Councilmember Toren announced that the Santa Clara County Social Service Agency has a veteran service office providing support for local veterans and a veterans crisis line. Lastly, he shared that this Thursday he will be attending the Wildfire Advisory Group.
Vice Mayor Allan shared he will be attending the Wildfire Advisory Group this Thursday. He is scheduled to meet with Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority tomorrow.
Councilmember Shannon shared the West Valley Sanitation District Board having a meeting yesterday. The Board is moving right along in the process of looking for a new district manager. The board is scheduled to begin interviews on December 3rd. The hope is to then make an offer to someone shortly thereafter. Councilmember Shannon shared she also attended the TPAC meeting were she sits as the alternate and shared that one of the big discussions was that they are going to bring in a $3 million contract for an outside agency to do all kinds of testing for all the different districts that feed into the San Jose wastewater and re-evaluate how each district is charged. This is a big deal for the West Valley Sanitation District because it can very much alter what districts are paying currently.
Mayor Craig shared he was the in-house host of the Monte Sereno Youth Commission meeting, as City Clerk Gonzalez-Langarica had to be remote. Mayor Burton shared the Commission producing a podcast, and so he volunteered for the Council to be a possible interviewee. Mayor Craig expressed the Commission is very interested in documenting some of the history of Monte Sereno. Mayor Craig also shared that the Youth Commission started their food drive for the year and extended an invitation for the donation of non-perishable goods.
COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS
Vice Mayor Allan expressed everyone’s prayers have been effective. He shared he and his wife Mary had a meeting at Stanford Hospital yesterday and were informed Mary is cancer free now. Vice Mayor Allan expressed appreciation for the support received.
Councilmember Toren shared he is one of the broadcasters for the upcoming holiday parade on December 6th, along with John Lockner from Town of Los Gatos.
Councilmember Mekechuk shared he unfortunately will not be able to attend the parade this year, as he will be out of Town. Councilmember Mekechuk shared the Tyler program is making good Docusign Envelope ID: 011F273F-2AE5-44D6-96FA-8529D311DBB0 02746ef6-2b3a-45b4-aebd-f34598518bf9 Page 4
progress and there are lots of positive changes being made.
Mayor Craig shared that after running last week’s Youth Commission meeting, he recommends the City get a new computer for the AV system.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Perkins shared that the Youth Commission has a can food drive going on right now. A table is set outside of the chambers, so donations can be dropped at any time, whether the front office is open or not. Secondly, she shared that both the City Council and Youth Commission will be participating in the Annual Holiday parade this year.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
6. A copy of the Tentative 2025 Council Meeting Calendar was included on the agenda.
Councilmember Toren shared he would like to see a discussion on ways to improve the visibility of the City of Monte Sereno.
ADJOURN
Mayor Craig adjourned the meeting at approximately 7:59 p.m.
Burton Craig, Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________________
Gloisy Gonzalez-Langarica, City Clerk
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