Minutes — Redwood City City Council, September 9, 2024

__________________________________________________________________________________________ JOINT CITY COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY BOARD/ September 9, 2024 PUBLIC FINANCING AUTHORITY MEETING MINUTES PAGE 1

MINUTE BOOK NO. 69

MAYOR JEFF GEE APPROVED MINUTES

VICE MAYOR LISSETTE ESPINOZA-GARNICA
COUNCIL MEMBER ALICIA C. AGUIRRE 1017 MIDDLEFIELD ROAD

COUNCIL MEMBER KAIA EAKIN REDWOOD CITY, CA

COUNCIL MEMBER DIANE HOWARD

COUNCIL MEMBER ELMER MARTINEZ SABALLOS

COUNCIL MEMBER CHRIS STURKEN

JOINT CITY COUNCIL/

SUCCESSOR AGENCY/

PUBLIC FINANCE AUTHORITY

REGULAR MEETING
Monday, September 9, 2024 6:00 PM

1. CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Gee called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

2. ROLL CALL – Council Members Aguirre, Eakin, Howard, Martinez Saballos, Sturken, Vice Mayor Espinoza-Garnica and Mayor Gee. Council Member Aguirre participated remotely.

3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Council Member Martinez Saballos led the pledge of allegiance.

4. PRESENTATIONS/ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

4.A. Proclamation recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15, 2024) Connie Guerrero , Arnoldo Arreola and Veronica Escamez from the Latino Community Council of Redwood City accepted the proclamation.

4.B. Proclamation recognizing Welcoming Week and United Against Hate Week (September 13-28, 2024)
Promotores youth member Azucena Juarez Bautista, Sequoia High School Dream Club member Jennifer Godinez accepted the proclamation.

5. PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR, MATTERS OF COUNCIL INTEREST AND

ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA

The following members of the public provided comments:
• Roni Ben-David
• Betty Matsumoto-Schuch
• Ed Stancil

MINUTE BOOK NO. 69

6. CONSENT CALENDAR

Mayor Gee stated that due to being a representative of both agencies involved in item 6A, he will be recused from voting on the item out of an abundance of caution.

Motion and Second, Howard and Espinoza -Garnica, to approve all items on the Consent Calendar, except for item 6A, passed unanimously by roll call vote.

Motion and second, Howard and Martinez Saballos, to approve item 6A, passed 6-0-1 by roll call vote, with Mayor Gee recused.

6.A. Rejection of general liability claims by Aurelia Gomez, by and through her Conservator Leonor Gomez, and Leonor Gomez, both through their attorney, Mark S. Sigala of Sigala and Stoddard, LLP (303)

Recommendation:

Approve rejection of subject claims.

6.B. Rejection of general liability claim by Paul Shannon Gunning, through attorney, Aram Bagrazyan of Dordulian Law Group (303)

Recommendation:

Approve rejection of subject claim.

6.C. Rejection of general liability claim by Alex Gordon (303)

Recommendation:

Approve rejection of subject claim.

6.D. Acceptance of Public Utility Easement (PUE) dedication at 250 Upland Road (606)

Recommendation:

By motion, approve and authorize the City Clerk to accept a Public Utility Easement (PUE) dedication at 250 Upland Road to document maintenance rights of existing City -owned infrastructure.

CEQA:

This is not a project under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)

6.E. Agreement for Services with EKI Environment & Water, Inc. for the design of the Recycled Water Main Downtown Extension Project to expand the recycled water system and enhance the resiliency of the City’s water supply (304)

MINUTE BOOK NO. 69
Recommendation:

By motion, approve and authorize the City Manager to execute the Agreement for Services with EKI Environment & Water, Inc. for the design and civil engineering consulting services for the Recycled Water Main Downtown Extension Project for a not to exceed amount of $537,153, and authorize the City Manager or the City Manager's designee to increase the contract amount, if necessary, up to 10% of contingency ($53,715), for a total not-to-exceed amount of $590,868.

CEQA:

This is not a project under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)

6.F. Response to the San Mateo Civil Grand Jury Report - "Restaurant Exteriors: The Neglected Space" (302)

Recommendation:

By motion, approve letter responding to San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury Report titled "Restaurant Exteriors: The Neglected Space" and authorize the Mayor to execute and transmit the letter.

CEQA:

This is not a project under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)

6.G. Agreement for Services with NAZ & CO. dba True Blue Automation Services for electrical control system inspection, testing, and repair services to keep, operate, and maintain City-owned waste disposal and water pump systems (304)

Recommendation:

By motion, approve and authorize the City Manager to execute a one -year Agreement for Services with NAZ & CO. dba True Blue Automation Services for pump control system inspection, testing, and repair services in an amount not to exceed $400,000 through 2025, including City Manager authority to extend the agreement for two additional two- year terms, in a n amount not to exceed $836,360 for the first extension and $887,295 for the second extension, for a total contract amount not to exceed $2,123,655 through 2029.

CEQA:

Categorically Exempt - Class 1. Existing Facilities

6.H. Agreement for Services with Stevens Creek Quarry, Inc. to provide as -needed backfill materials (304)

Recommendation:

By motion, approve and authorize th e City Manager to execute a Master Purchase __________________________________________________________________________________________ JOINT CITY COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY BOARD/ September 9, 2024 PUBLIC FINANCING AUTHORITY MEETING MINUTES PAGE 4

MINUTE BOOK NO. 69
Agreement for Goods, Commodities, and Services with Stevens Creek Quarry, Inc. to provide as-needed backfill materials for a one-year term through 2025 in an amount not to exceed $85,000, including City Manager a uthority to extend the agreement for two additional, two -year periods through 2029, for a potential aggregate not -to-exceed amount of $460,388.

CEQA:

This is not a project under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)

6.I. Waive second reading and adopt an ordinance amending Article VII (Public Contracting and Purchasing) of Chapter 2 (Administration) of the Redwood City Municipal Code to enhance operating efficiency by allowing on-call agreements for public works projects

(301) Ord. 2541
Recommendation:

Waive second reading and adopt an ordinance amending Article VII (Public Contracting and Purchasing) of Chapter 2 (Administration) of the Redwood City Municipal Code.

CEQA:

This is not a project under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)

6.J. Approve August 22, 2024 and August 26, 2024 City Council Minutes (301)

6.K. Approve claims and checks from September 9, 2024 to September 23, 2024 and the usual and necessary payments through September 23, 2024 (303)

7. PUBLIC HEARINGS - None

8. STAFF REPORTS

8.A. Update on the City's Homelessness Initiatives Work Plan

City Manager Melissa Stevenson Diaz introduced the item, and Homel ess Services and Human Services Manager Teri Chin gave the presentation.

The following members of the public provided comments:
• Erika Laguna
• Clara Jaekel

Recommendation:

Receive update on the City's Homelessness Initiatives Work Plan. No formal action will occur at this meeting.

MINUTE BOOK NO. 69
CEQA:

This is not a project under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)

This was an informational item only. No Council action was taken.

9. ITEMS FROM CITY COUNCIL SUB COMMITTEES

9.A. Approve updates to City Council Policy 2018-1: A Guide to City Council Communications and Business as recommended by the City Council’s Governance Sub- Committee (Mayor Gee, Vice Mayor Espinoza-Garnica, and Councilmember Martinez Saballos) (205)
City Clerk Yessika Castro gave the presentation.

The following members of the public provided comments:
• Denise Kahwajy
• David Ron
• Susan McGill
• Rabbi Ilana
• Clara Jaeckel
• Anne Paulson
• Richard Gallo
• Cathy Baird
• Sabine Won
• Lee Miller
• Emily Morris
• Leticia Gonzalez-Ratchev
• Pat Willard
• Scott Amundson
• Shishir Bhat
• Bismay Mishra
• Marcelene Luna

Recommendation:

By motion, approve revisions to City Council Policy 2018 -1: A Guide to City Counci l Communications and Business as recommended by the Governance Sub-Committee.

CEQA:

This is not a project under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)

Motion and second, Howard and Aguirre, to approve revisions to City Council Policy 2018-1: A Guide to City Council Communications and Business as recommended by the Governance Sub -Committee, with the friendly amendment to refer the City Council Policy regarding “The Use of Computer Hardware during City Council, Boards, __________________________________________________________________________________________ JOINT CITY COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY BOARD/ September 9, 2024 PUBLIC FINANCING AUTHORITY MEETING MINUTES PAGE 6

MINUTE BOOK NO. 69
Commissions, and Committees Meeti ngs” to the Governance Sub -Committee for inclusion of all Council and Boards, Commission and Committee meetings for consistency, and for staff to further review virtual public comment practices, passed unanimously by roll call vote.

9.B. Approve updates to the Boards, Commissions, and Committees Handbook, as recommended by the City Council’s Governance Sub- Committee (Mayor Gee, Vice Mayor Espinoza-Garnica, Councilmember Martinez Saballos) (209)

City Clerk Yessika Castro gave the presentation.

The following member of the public provided comment:
• Glenn Babbitt

Recommendation:

By motion, approve updates to the Boards, Commissions, and Committees Handbook, as recommended by the City Council’s Governance Sub-Committee.

CEQA:

This is not a project under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)

Motion and second, Eakin and Howard, to approve updates to the Boards, Commissions, and Committees Handbook, as recommended by the City Council’s Governance Sub-Committee, with the friendly amendment to refer further potential updates to the Governance Sub-Committee related to the terms of Historic Resources Advisory Committee members and enforcement of provisions within the Boards, Commissions and Committees Handbook, passed unanimously by roll call vote.

10. MATTERS OF COUNCIL INTEREST

10.A. City Council Member Report of Conferences and Meetings Attended

A. City Council Report of Meeting/Conference Attendance Council Member Howard reported on the September 8, 2024 San Mateo County Public Safety Memorial Service.

Vice Mayor Espinoza-Garnica reported on the August 13, 2024 Community Collaboration for Children’s Success (CCCS) Law Enforcement and Community Relations Initiative, and shared that the Police Advisory Committee will be hosting a youth-focused town hall in the fall.

MINUTE BOOK NO. 69

10.B. City Council Committee Reports

A. Governance Sub-Committee – Mayor Gee gave an update.

10.C. City Manager (Oral) Update – City Manager Melissa Stevenson Diaz gave the following updates:
• Refinancing of water bonds resulted in $1.8M in savings, higher than expected • Study session regarding Senior Housing will be held at the October 28, 2024 City Council Meeting
• Attended the Women Leaders in Law Enforcement Training Symposium from September 3-6, 2024 with Police Chief Kristina Bell and Police Department staff

11. CLOSED SESSION

There was no public comment.

The City Council convened Closed Session at 9:09 p.m. to discuss the following:

11.A. Closed session regarding labor negotiations pursuant to California Government Code Section 54957.6

SUBJECT: CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS

City’s Negotiators: Kelly Tuffo, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore Michelle Katsuyoshi, Human Resources Director
Melissa Stevenson Diaz, City Manager
Employee Organizations: Redwood City Management Employees Association Service Employees International Union Local 521
San Mateo County Fire Fighters International Association of Fire Fighters Local 2400
Chief Officers Association
Redwood City Police Officers Association
Redwood City Police Supervisors' Association
Executive Management
Confidential Employees

There was no reportable action.

12. ADJOURNMENT - Mayor Gee adjourned the meeting in memory of Cheryl Monroe at 10:36 p.m.

MINUTE BOOK NO. 69
Respectfully submitted.

Yessika Castro, CMC, CPMC
City Clerk

Approved at the September 23, 2024 City Council meeting.

Redwood City City CouncilSeptember 9, 2024

Redwood City City Council
September 9, 2024