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San Carlos City Council/Successor Agency to the
Redevelopment Agency/Housing Authority Special Meeting
Conducted Remotely in Accordance with Assembly Bill 361 August 25, 2022, 9:00 AM
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: Jeff Maltbie, City Manager
Crystal Mui, City Clerk
Gregory Rubens, City Attorney
1. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 9:04 AM by Mayor Sara McDowell.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. PUBLIC COMMENT
Debbie Baldocchi, resident, requested Council to discuss various topics at today’s meeting, including protecting of creeks, watersheds, night skies, existing open space, underground springs and wetlands. She also requested Council to require developers to contribute funds to the City for open space parks, enact transparency Ordinances for biotech labs on site and assign a city representative to the OneShoreline Group.
Sonia Elkes, resident, commented that portions of the Bicycle Pedestrian Master Plan may be outdated and requested changes to the area of Cedar and Arroyo to make it more bicycle friendly.
Kathleen Goforth, resident and member of the Peninsula Clean Energy Citizens Advisory Committee, requested Council takes steps to promote healthier homes and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
4. STUDY SESSION
a. Discussion of Issues and Topics Affecting the City of San Carlos, Including, But Not Limited to the Items Listed in the Attachment. No Action Will be Taken on Any Items at This Meeting.
Infrastructure.
- Street Repair Protocol and Prioritization.
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Council directed staff to provide information in the council newsletter and city website on the prioritization process for street repair and consider including a flow chart to illustrate the process.
- Red Zones Near Corners in Residential Areas.
Council requested information on the holistic process for red striping on curbs and identifying areas in need.
- Sidewalk and Cross Walk Updates on Northwest Side on Brittan and Alameda; and Industrial Rd Near 24 Hour Fitness; Bike & Master Pedestrian Plan and Incorporating the New Safe Routes to Schools Report; and La Mesa Drive Traffic Calming.
City Manager Jeff Maltbie provided an update on these projects.
- Ongoing Program of Sidewalk Installation.
Council spoke on their continued interest and commitment to installing sidewalks throughout certain areas of the City.
- Removal of Utility Graffiti Video.
Mayor McDowell presented a series of photos of utility graffiti or markings left from utility companies on sidewalks, streets and utility poles around San Carlos.
Council directed staff to update the permitting process to require contractors remove utility markings from city streets and sidewalks when their projects are completed.
Mr. Maltbie noted that staff will:
o incorporate this requirement as part of the permitting close-out process;
o look into requiring contractors to retroactively clean-up their previously completed projects;
o clean-up the City’s own project markings;
o check on the large crack in the sidewalk on San Carlos Ave; and o provide a report back to Council.
East Side.
− East Side Residential Street Calming/Closure Traffic Plan Update.
Mr. Maltbie provided a brief update on the project and noted that staff will present options to consider at the next Council meeting.
Council requested additional outreach to ensure residents are aware of the discussions and plans.
− East Side Negotiations Update.
Mr. Maltbie provided a general update on the negotiations with east side developers and discussed next steps.
− Development Agreement Process.
Council requested being brought into the development agreement process early enough to have time to respond and provide meaningful input.
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− Community Benefits.
Council expressed interest in a community center that meets different needs in the community and suggested using Redwood City’s new community center as a potential model project.
Council also discussed how the City should holistically consider community benefits and agreed that it’d be beneficial to delay its prioritization until projects begin to develop and there is more information to work with.
Housing
- Update on Cherry Street Affordable Housing Project.
Mr. Maltbie provided an update on this project, outlined the challenges with funding and noted that an item will be brought to Council in the near future to provide direction on how to proceed.
- Housing Element Update.
Mr. Maltbie noted that the draft Housing Element will be brought to Council at its September 26
th meeting as a study session item.
Other
− Other Laurel Street Redesign Possibilities.
Council spoke on their preferred option for some portion of Laurel Street to remain closed.
− Tree Planting Program.
Council discussed an incentive based tree planting program and requested a study session to continue discussion and consider rubberized sidewalks to preserve existing street trees.
− Develop Policy on Billboards.
Council notified staff that they are not interested in additional billboards, however there was not a majority in support of agendizing a discussi on on the development of a formal policy.
− Community Needs/Wants for Commercial- Retail Property.
Mr. Maltbie suggested Council consider funding a survey that focuses on the community’s commercial wants to establish a data set.
Council requested staff to provide more advanced public notice of Council mini retreats.
5. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 12:00 PM.
Crystal Mui,
City Clerk