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San Carlos City Council/Successor Agency to the
Redevelopment Agency/Housing Authority Regular Meeting
Conducted Remotely in Accordance with Assembly Bill 361 April 25, 2022, 7:00 PM
MINUTES
ROLL CALL
City Council Present: Sara McDowell, Mayor
Ronald Collins, Councilmember
John Dugan, Councilmember
Laura Parmer-Lohan, Councilmember
Adam Rak, Vice Mayor
Staff Present: Kristina Bell, Police Captain
Nil Blackburn, Assistant City Manager
Sara Cadona, Assistant Planner Consultant
Lisa Sanders, Principal Planner
Rucha Dande, Associate Planner
Julia Hoffman, Assistant Planner
Jeff Maltbie, City Manager
Steven Machida, Public Works Director
Andrea Mardesich, Principal Planner
Rebecca Mendenhall, Administrative Services Director
Tyler Muela, Recreation Supervisor
Crystal Mui, City Clerk
Lisa Porras, Planning Manager
Gregory Rubens, City Attorney
Al Savay, Community Development Director
Megan Wooley-Ousdahl, Senior Planner
1. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM by Mayor Sara McDowell.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Kyle Tennison and Dylan Williams from Boy Scout Troop 321.
3. CHANGES TO THE ORDER OF THE AGENDA
None.
4. PRESENTATIONS
a. Presentation of Proclamations to Kyle Tennison and Dylan Williams with Boy Scout Troop 321, Upon Receiving Their Eagle Scout Award.
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Mayor McDowell presented proclamations to Kyle Tennison and Dylan Williams recognizing them for attaining the Eagle Scout rank . Mr. Tennison and Mr.
Williams each spoke on their Eagle Scout Project.
5. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
a. Council Members Report on Subcommittees, Regional Boards, Commissions and Committees.
None.
b. Report on Commencement of City of San Carlos Code of Conduct and Ethics Policy Investigation (City Treasurer).
Mayor McDowell reported a potential Code of Conduct violation involving City Treasurer Inge Tiegel and directed the City Attorney to investigate the matter.
Public Comment
Mark Olbert, resident and former Councilmember and Mayor, reported an interaction he had with the City Treasurer that he believes may be an additional violation to the City’s Code of Conduct Policy.
6. PUBLIC COMMENT
Lauren McCombs, resident and volunteer with Fixing San Mateo County, requested Council to create a community based overnight board to the Sheriff's Office and to endorse the work of Fixing San Mateo County.
Mark Olbert, resident and former Councilmember and Mayor , stated that Clock Tower sustained property damage from an intoxicated patron from the Orchid Room. He requested Council to implement measures to minimize these types of occurrences.
7. CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilmember Collins thanked Public Works Director Steven Machida for proceeding with the HAWK Signal Project (Item 7c).
RESULT: Adopted [Unanimous] Consent Calendar Items ‘a” through ‘e’.
MOVER: Ronald Collins
SECONDER: Adam Rak
AYES: Dugan, Collins, Parmer-Lohan, Rak, McDowell
a. Motion to Waive Reading of All Ordinances.
b. Approve Minutes of March 14, 2022 City Council Regular Meeting. c. Adopt a Resolution Approving the Plans and Specifications and Authorizing a Call for Bids for the HAWK Signal at Belmont Avenue and El Camino Real C1807. Resolution 2022-037
d. Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into a Historical Property Preservation Agreement (Mills Act Contract) for the Property Located at 300 Chestnut Street in the City of San Carlos. Resolution 2022-037-1
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e. Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a One- Year Extension to the Agreement with Granicus, Inc. for the IQM2 Agenda Management System in an Amount Not to Exceed $13,680. Resolution 2022- 038
8. REPORTS TO COUNCIL
a. Receive an Annual Update on Police Services.
Police Captain Kristina Bell provided an update on police services in 2021 and responded to Council questions.
Public Comment
Sonia Elkes, resident, expressed appreciation to the Sheri ff's Office for their work.
Council commended the Sheriff's Office for their services and their work on the Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (PERT).
9. PUBLIC HEARING
a. Consideration of Introducing an Ordinance Amending San Carlos Municipal Code Chapter 18.18 - Landscaping, Replacing Sections 18.18.070 - Trees, and 18.41 - Terms and Definitions. -- Continued from City Council April 11, 2022 Meeting.
Associate Planner Rucha Dande presented on the proposed changes to the Protected Trees Ordinance and , along with City Attorney Greg Rubens , responded to Council questions.
Public Comment
Debbie Baldocchi, resident, spoke on the proposed Ordinance's inconsistency with the urgency Ordinance and provided multiple suggestions for edits.
Bill Chiang, PG&E representative, noted that PG&E's utility work regularly requires the need to trim and/or remove trees.
Zinovy Fichtenholz, resident, requested Council to withstand pressure from special interest groups to focus exclusively on affordable housing and protecting our environment.
Sean Williams asked Council to consider what their goal is and what the best way to accomplish it is.
Jeffrey Tepper requested Council to consider the number of trees removed by homeowners relative to the amount of trees removed by developers.
Shahriar Emami, resident, questioned the proposed Ordinance’s impact on developers’ ability to remove trees.
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RESULT: Approved [Unanimous] to Close the Public Hearing.
MOVER: Ronald Collins
SECONDER: John Dugan
AYES: Rak, Dugan, Collins, Parmer-Lohan, McDowell
At Mayor McDowell's request, City Manager Jeff Maltbie and Principal Planner Andrea Mardesich responded to questions posed during public comment.
Ms. Dande, Arborist Ellyn Shea, Ms. Mardesich, Community Development Director Al Savay and City Attorney Greg Rubens responded to Council questions.
Council provided the following feedback to staff:
- update language on the protected tree list for recommended v ersus prohibited trees
- include Community Development Director as a required secondary signatory
- work with arborist to consider a verification process to ensure the health of replacement trees and include the process in the administrative document
RESULT: Introduced as Amended [Unanimous ] Ordinance 1580 Amending San Carlos Municipal Code Chapter 18.18 -
Landscaping, Replacing Sections 18.18.070 - Trees, and
18.41 - Terms and Definitions with an a mendment to include the requirement of a second signature for verification when the arborist recommends fees instead of replacement.
MOVER: Adam Rak
SECONDER: John Dugan
AYES: Parmer-Lohan, Rak, Dugan, Collins, McDowell
The Council recessed at 8:48 PM and reconvened the meeting at 9:00 PM. b. Consideration of Adopting an Interim Ordinance Pursuant to Government Code Section 65858 (B) Establishing a Moratorium on the Submission, Consideration, or Approval of Applications for Lot Line Adjustments, Subdivisions, Discretionary Land Use Approvals or Building Permits Necessary for Devel opment Within the Northeast Area of the City of San Carlos, Subject to Certain Enumerated Exceptions.
Senior Planner Megan Wooley -Ousdahl provided background on the item and presented on the proposed Interim Ordinance.
Council provided the following disclosures and noted that it won't influence their decision:
- Councilmember Parmer -Lohan – her consulting business has not worked with the City nor any businesses that have applications before the City; she toured Alexandria Real Estate property and the MBC building; and has met with Premia, Princeton, Presidio Bay, Minkoff Group, Black Mountain Properties and Sobrato.
- Vice Mayor Rak - met with Minkoff Group
- Councilmember Collins – met with Presidio Partners and Black Mountain Properties
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- Councilmember Dugan - met with owners of Minkoff Group and Presidio Bay
- Mayor McDowell – had informational meetings with Presidio Bay and the Minkoff Group
City Attorney Greg Rubens, Community Development Director Al Savay and Legal Counsel Michael G. Biddle responded to Council questions.
Public Comment
Clint Sholl, with G. W. Williams Company, expressed opposition to the moratorium.
Bill Chiang, PG&E Representative, disclosed that he is a paid advocate for this item and requested an exemption to the moratorium, as a state regulated utility, to continue the improvements to their service center.
Erik Ramakrishnan, legal representative for G. W. Williams Company, expressed opposition to the moratorium and threatened legal remedies if it passes tonight.
Chris Kohn, owner of properties at Old County Road and Bragato Road, spoke in opposition to the moratorium.
Cindy Ievers, Treasurer for San Mateo Dog Training Club, spoke in opposition to the moratorium.
Daniel Minkoff, with the Minkoff Group, spoke in opposition to the moratorium.
Sean Williams, with G.W. Williams Company, spoke in opposition to the moratorium.
Debbie Baldocchi, resident, spoke in opposition to the moratorium.
David Schick spoke in opposition to the moratorium.
Jim Pilch, resident and owner of a building near Downtown San Carlos, spoke in opposition to the moratorium.
Dave Cutler disclosed that he works with various members of the San Carlos business community and spoke in opposition to the moratorium.
Mark Lockenmeyer, Harbor Industrial Associ ation President, spoke in opposition to the moratorium.
RESULT: Approved [Unanimous] to Close the Public Hearing.
MOVER: Ronald Collins
SECONDER: Laura Parmer-Lohan
AYES: Dugan, Collins, Parmer-Lohan, Rak, McDowell
Council agreed that further refinement should be made to the Ordinance regarding which types of development activity the moratorium does and does not apply to and directed staff to gather additional stakeholder input.
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RESULT: Adopted [4 – 0 – 1] Ordinance 1581 an Interim Ordinance of the City Council of the City of San Carlos Pursuant to
Government Code Section 65858 (B), Establishing a
Moratorium on the Submission, Consideration or Approval of Applications for:
(i) Lot Line Adjustments and the Subdivision of Land within the Northeast Area in Accordance with the City of San Carlos Subdivision Regulations and the Subdivision Map Act,
(ii) Design Review, Use Permit, Temporary Use Permit,
Planned Development, Zoning Amendment, Waiver, Variance, General Plan Amendment, Development Agreement, or any
Other Discretionary Approval from the City of San Carlos Necessary for the Development of a Site within the Northeast Area in Accordance with the San Carlos Zoning Ordinance, or (iii) a Building Permit Required for Construction and/or Alterations on Property within the Northeast Area in
Accordance with the San Carlos Municipal Code, Subject to Certain Enumerated Exceptions.
MOVER: Ronald Collins
SECONDER: Laura Parmer-Lohan
AYES: Rak, Collins, Parmer-Lohan, McDowell
NAYS: None
ABSTAIN: Dugan
10. AGENDA SETTING
Councilmember Parmer-Lohan responded to Mayor McDowell's report on investig ation from earlier this evening and inquired on next steps.
City Attorney Greg Rubens responded.
Vice Mayor Rak inquired about the outreach to notify th e public on the Council returning to in-person meetings.
City Manager Jeff Maltbie responded.
11. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 10:25 PM.
Crystal Mui,
City Clerk