TOWN OF MORAGA
REGULAR MEETING
March 22, 2023
Rovember, 914 MINUTES
6:30 p.m.
The following are minutes of the actions taken by the Town of Moraga Town Council.
A full video recording of the meeting is available on the Town's website at:
https://livestream.com/moraga
Council Chambers
335 Rheem Boulevard, Moraga, California 94556
CALL TO ORDER
The regular meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Mayor Renata Sos.
ROLL CALL
Councilmembers present: Mayor Renata Sos, Vice Mayor Teresa Onoda, and Councilmember Steve Woehleke
Councilmembers absent: Councilmembers Kerry Hillis and David Shapiro
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Steve Woehleke led the Pledge of Allegiance.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
None.
4. PROCLAMATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
A. Red Cross Month Proclamation
Diana Graham, Red Cross Volunteer, gave remarks and received the proclamation.
B. Mayors' Monarch Pledge
Mayor Renata Sos reaffirmed the Town's commitment to preserve and help restore the monarch butterfly population. Moraga has a butterfly sanctuary at the Rancho Laguna Park, a project led by the Moraga Garden Club.
C. Presentation by Moraga Orinda Fire District
Fire Chief Dave Winnacker provided a presentation on changes to the defensible space ordinance including its removal from the Building Code into its own separate ordinance and responded to Council's questions.
PUBLIC COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS
Town Council Regular Meeting 1 March 22, 2023
There were no comments from the public.
6. ADOPTION OF CONSENT AGENDA
A. Acceptance of Consent Items
6.1 Receive Accounts Payable Claims for: 3/10/23 ($693,284.55) and ($43,532.34)
6.2 Approve Minutes for the Regular Council Meeting on March 8, 2023 Motion and second, Woehleke and Onoda, to approve the Consent Agenda, passed 3-0-2 with Councilmembers Hillis and Shapiro absent.
B. Consideration of Consent Items Removed for Discussion None.
7. ADOPTION OF MEETING AGENDA
Councilmember Steve Woehleke recommended Item 10.A. Moraga Orinda Fire District Ordinance Ratification to be presented first.
Motion and second, Woehleke and Onoda, to adopt Meeting Agenda as amended, passed 3-0-2 with Councilmembers Hillis and Shapiro absent.
8. REPORTS
A. Town Manager Update
Mr. Brian Dolan reported the storm damage from the previous day's storm.
Mr. Dolan announced that there will be a Corliss Drive Safe Routes To School Virtual Community Meeting on Tuesday, March 28 at 7:00 pm and to contact the Public Works Department or the Town Manager's Office for information. He also announced the upcoming social event for the community - Bunnies & Brews.
B. Mayor's and Councilmembers' Reports
The Mayor and Councilmembers provided updates on meetings they attended, and events and activities in Moraga.
Vice Mayor Teresa Onoda announced that the Chamber of Commerce will hold the Moraga Community Faire on April 29.
Mayor Renata Sos applauded the Public Works and Police Departments for dealing with the previous day's storm, with staff's quick response in keeping the community safe. She announced that the Local Sales Tax Oversight Committee still has three seats open.
All Councilmembers reported having attended the joint Lamorinda Meeting on March 15, the first in-person meeting since 2019 due to the pandemic. The three Councils discussed the Smart Signals Program, presented by Public Works Director Shawn Knapp and Police Chief Jon King.
10. ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS AND REQUESTS FOR ACTION
Town Council Regular Meeting 2 March 22, 2023
A. Moraga Orinda Fire District (MOFD) Ordinance Ratification Consider Resolution 20-2023 Ratifying Moraga-Orinda Fire District Ordinance 23-01, dopting the 2022 Edition of the California Fire Code, and the 2021 Edition of the International Fire Code by Reference with Certain Modifications to Those Codes to Reflec Local Conditions and Adopting Findings of Fact to Support Modifications with Associated Findings
(CEQA Status: Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"), in that the adoption of State codes and the local amendments herein described do not have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment, pursuant to Sections 15061(b) (3) and 15378(b) (5) of the CEQA Guidelines (Title 14, Chapter 3 of the California Code of Regulations)
Brian Horn provided the staff report. Fire Chief Dave Winnacker provided a presentation and responded to Council's questions.
There were no comments from the public.
Council discussion followed.
Motion and second, Onoda and Woehleke, to adopt Resolution 20-2023 Ratifying Moraga- Orinda Fire District Ordinance 23-01, Adopting the 2022 Edition of the California Fire Code and the 2021 Edition of the International Fire Code by reference with certain modifications to those codes to reflect local conditions and Adopting Findings of Fact to Support Modifications with associated findings, passed 3-0-2 with Councilmembers Hillis and Shapiro absent.
9. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. Rheem Park Objective Design Standards
Conduct a Public Hearing and Consider Waiving the First Reading and Introducing by Title Only an Ordinance Adding Chapter 8.210, Rheem Park Area Objective Design Standards, to Title 8 of the Moraga Municipal Code for Commercial, Office, Mixed-Use and Multi- Family Residential Development within the Rheem Park Area CEQA: The Rheem Park Area Design Standards were considered are part of the Comprehensive Advanced Planning Initiative Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) certified by the Town Council on January 25, 2023. No further CEQA analysis is required for adoption of the Rheem Park Design Standards.
Mayor Renata Sos introduced the item and stated that the Planning Commission unanimously recommended adoption. Senior Planner Brian Horn provided the staff report while Aaron Welch of Aaron Welch Planning provided the presentation. They responded to Council's questions. Town Attorney Karen Murphy and Interim Town Manager Brian Dolan provided clarification.
The following members of the public spoke:
Tim Scoat
Andre Casanova
Council discussion followed.
Town Council Regular Meeting 3 March 22, 2023
Motion and second, Woehleke and Onoda, to waive the first reading and introduce by title only an Ordinance, including staff recommended Amendments presented at the meeting, adding Chapter 8.210, Rheem Park Area Objective Design Standards, to Title 8 of the Moraga Municipal Code for Commercial, Office, Mixed-Use and Multi-Family Residential Development within the Rheem Park Area, passed 3-0-2 with Councilmembers Hillis and Shapiro absent.
11. DISCUSSION ITEMS
Mayor Renata Sos announced that tonight was Mr. Dolan's last meeting as the Town's Interim Manager. The Council expressed their gratitude to Mr. Dolan. Mr. Dolan gave remarks.
12. COUNCIL REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
There were no Council requests for future agenda items.
13. COMMUNICATIONS
A. Letter from Moraga Community Foundation
B. Letter to Moraga Community Foundation from Town Council C. Sustainability Challenge from Lafayette to Moraga and Orinda Mayor Sos reported that Lafayette challenged Moraga and Orinda to participate in a sustainable Contra Costa Challenge. She encouraged all residents to join in and go to sustainablecoco.org to sign up.
14. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Sos adjourned the meeting at 8: 23 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by:
Mashi Mas
Yashin Abbas, Interim Town Clerk
Approved by the Town Council:
tellus
Renata M. Sos, Mayor
Town Council Regular Meeting 4 March 22, 2023