March 27, 2023 1
San Carlos City Council/Successor Agency to the
Redevelopment Agency/Housing Authority Regular Meeting
Council Chambers, City Hall
600 Elm Street, San Carlos, CA 94070
March 27, 2023 7:00 PM
MINUTES
ROLL CALL
City Council Present: Adam Rak, Mayor (depart from meeting at 9:34 PM) John Dugan, Vice Mayor
Ronald Collins, Councilmember
Sara McDowell, Councilmember
Pranita Venkatesh, Councilmember
Staff Present: Nil Blackburn, Assistant City Manager
Lisa Costa Sanders, Principal Planner Consultant
Gareth Harris, Fire Marshall
Adam Lokar, Senior Sustainability Analyst
Steven Machida, Public Works Director
Andrea Mardesich, Assistant Community Development Director Rebecca Mendenhall, Administrative Services Director
Crystal Mui, City Clerk
Amy Newby, Parks and Recreation Director
Cristian Padilla, Economic Development Coordinator
Lisa Porras, Planning Manager
Gregory Rubens, City Attorney
Al Savay, Community Development Director
Megan Wooley-Ousdahl, Senior Planner
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Rak called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
2. ASSEMBLY BILL 2449 TELECONFERENCE REQUESTS
Mayor Rak announced that all members of the Council are participating in this meeting in-person.
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Rak.
4. CHANGES TO THE ORDER OF THE AGENDA
None.
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5. REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION
City Attorney Greg Rubens reported that there are no reports from the closed session item held this evening.
6. PRESENTATIONS
a. Present a City Coin to Community Volunteer Debbie Denton.
Mayor Rak presented a city coin to Debbie Denton for her volunteer work in the community.
Ms. Denton thanked the Council fo r the recognition and encouraged everyone to volunteer.
7. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Councilmember Collins reported that there will be weekend service interruption on Caltrain due to electrification work.
Councilmember McDowell reported that the San Mateo County Library now provides free period products and that she recently delivered Meals on Wheels to homebound residents.
Vice Mayor Dugan spoke on a recent letter that Peninsula Clean Energy sent to the B ay
Area Air Quality Management District summariz ing a list of concerns mandating electrification.
Mayor Rak announced that the call for commission applications has opened and the deadline is May 12th. He also announced that he had the opportunity to throw out the first pitch at Little League’s opening night.
8. PUBLIC COMMENT
Klare Allen spoke about out against National Emerging Infection Diseases Laboratories (NEIDL) and cautioned the City about these laboratories.
Amanda, with the Bay Area Youth Climate Action Group
, spoke on the adverse affects
artificial turf has on our health and environment and requested Council pass a moratorium on them.
Mark, with the Bay Area Youth Climate Action Group,
spoke on the adverse affects artificial
turf has on our health and environment and requested Council pass a moratorium on them.
Zinovy Fichenholz, resident, commented that
biosafety lab 3s are dangerous and also
suggested synchronizing street lights to reduce idling of cars.
9. CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION: Adopt Consent Calendar items ‘a’ – ‘i’.
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MOVER: Sara McDowell
SECONDER: Pranita Venkatesh
AYES: Collins, McDowell, Venkatesh, Dugan, Rak
NAYS: None
RESULT: Motion Passed 5 – 0
a. Motion to Waive Reading of All Ordinances.
b. Approve the February 13, 2023 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes.
c. Adopt a Resolution Approving a Professional Services Agreement for On Call Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Engineering Services for a One Year Term, with an Annual Not to Exceed Amount of $1,000,000, to Salas O’Brien and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Agreement. Resolution 2023-033
d. Adopt a Resolution Proclaiming the Termination of the Declaration of Local Emergency Dated January 5, 2023 Arising out of the December 2022 and January 2023 Atmospheric River Storms. Resolution 2023-034
e. Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Attorney to Draft a Revocable License Agreement with Bianchini’s Supermarket Inc. for the Installation of a Shopping Cart Security System Within the Right of Way of a Public Parking Lot that is Owned by the City of San Carlos (APN: 050-163-500), and Authorize the City Manager to Sign and Approve the Agreement. Resolution 2023-035
f. Deny Claim of Thelma Ruiz.
g. Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Amend the Agreement with Pacific Office Automation for Printing Services and Authorize the City Manager to Amend the Agreement to Add, Replace, and Modify Printers, Devices and Maintenance Services as Needed. Resolution 2023-036
h. Deny Claim of Scott Rhodes.
i. Adopt a Resolution Authorizin g the City Manager to Sign the Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) Streamlining Pilot Agreement with the Association of Bay Area Governments for a Two Year License for Symbium Plancheck Software at No Cost to the City of San Carlos. Resolution 2023-037
10. PUBLIC HEARING
a. Consideration of Introducing an Ordinance Amending the City of San Carlos Municipal Code Title 18 to Regulate Laboratories with Biosafety Levels (BSL).
Principal Planner Lisa Costa Sanders presented on proposed regulations for biosafety levels and, along with Consultant Carla Boragno - Former Vice President of Site Services with Genentech, Planning Director Consultant Carol Johnson, City Attorney March 27, 2023 4
Greg Rubens, Community Development Director Al Savay and Fire Marsh all Garet Harris, responded to Council questions.
Council provided the following disclosures and noted that it won’t impact their decision:
- Vice Mayor Dugan met with the MBC Biolab Developer on this topic and also met with the Sierra Club.
− Councilmember McDowell met with several life science developers over last 4 years, including Alexandria, MBC Biolabs and Presidio Bay , but those conversations were not related to tonight’s topic. She also met with the Sierra Club.
− Councilmember Collins met with life science developers in previous years on other issues.
− Mayor Rak met several developers over the last few years, but not on this topic .
He also met with the Sierra Club.
− Councilmember Venkatesh’s husband works for life science .
Public Comment
Sue Chow, Chair of the Sierra Club Peninsula Regional Group , spoke against approving levels 3 and 4 biolabs.
Richard Ebright, Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Rutgers University, addressed Council questions and spoke in support to proceed with the proposed Ordinance.
Sam Herzberg, resident on behalf of the Greater East San Carlos Board, requested more development notices be sent directly to the east side and requested staff to respond to their letter submitted on Friday.
Jeff Maley, spoke in favor of banning them Biosafety Level (BSL) 3 labs.
Zinovy Fichenholz, resident, spoke in favor of banning BSL 3 and 4 labs.
Gladwyn d’Souza, Conservation Chair of the Sierra Club, spoke in favor of banning BSL 3 and 4 labs.
Robert spoke in favor of banning BSL 3 labs.
Gita Dev, Co-Chair of the Sustainable Land Use Committee in the Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter, spoke in favor of banning BSL 3 research.
Paul Magginetti, resident, spoke in favor of Option 2 to prohibit BSL 3 and 4 activities.
Bryce Nickels, Professor of Genetics and Lab Director at the Waksman Institute of Microbiology at Rutgers, spoke in support of banning BSL 3 and 4 labs.
Gary Baldocchi, resident, spoke in favor of banning BSL 3 labs.
Debbie Baldocchi, resident, spoke in favor of banning BSL 3 labs.
March 27, 2023 5
Sean Peters spoke in favor of banning BSL 3 labs.
Angela Williams -Mitchell, representing Roxbury Safety Net , spoke in favor of banning BSL 3 labs.
Anna Axiaq, resident, spoke in favor of banning BSL 3 and 4 labs.
Dimitri Vandellos, resident, highlighted reasons for and against banning BSL 3 labs and requested an open public process for these types of decisions.
Jennifer Rosse, resident, spoke against BSL 3 and 4 labs.
Daniel, resident, spoke in favor of banning BSL 3 and 4 labs.
David Crabbe, resident and on behalf of the Sierra Club , spoke in favor of banning
BSL 3.
Steven Goodale spoke in favor of banning BSL 3 and 4 labs.
Lorraine Fultz, with the Roxbury Safety Net, spoke in favor of banning BSL 3 and 4 labs.
Ben Fuller, resident, asked for his letter to be added to the Council’s agenda packet and spoke against BSL 3 and 4 labs.
Christy Shirilla, Bay Area Policy Manager for Biocom California, spoke in support of a conditional use permit on BSL 3 and banning BSL 4.
Klare Allen spoke in fa vor of banning BSL 3 and 4 labs and recommended the community view the regional FEMA map for more info.
MOTION: Approve to Continue the Item to a Date Uncertain.
MOVER: John Dugan
SECONDER: Sara McDowell
AYES: Dugan, Collins, McDowell, Venkatesh, Rak
NAYS: None
RESULT: Motion Passed 5 – 0
Mayor Rak left the meeting at 9:34 PM.
Vice Mayor Dugan chaired the remainder of the meeting. He called a recess at 9:35 PM and reconvened the meeting at 9:41 PM.
11. NEW BUSINESS
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a. Consideration of Adopting a Resolution Appropriating $50,000 from the General Capital Fund (Fund 25) Unassigned Fund Balance for the Preparation of a Greenhouse Gas In-Lieu Fee Study.
Senior Sustainability Analyst Adam Lokar spoke on the need to conduct a study on the development of a Greenhouse Gas In-Lieu Fee and responded to Council questions.
Public Comment
Gladwyn d’Souza, resident, voiced support for a Greenhouse Gas In-Lieu Fee.
Vice Chair Dugan r equested staff return to Council for an additional appropriation if that would help expedite the process.
MOTION: Adopt Resolution 2023-038 Appropriating $50,000 from the General Capital Fund (Fund 25) Unassigned Fund Balance for the Preparation of a Greenhouse Gas In-Lieu Fee Study.
MOVER: Ronald Collins
SECONDER: Sara McDowell
AYES: Venkatesh, Collins, McDowell, Dugan
NAYS: None
NONE: Rak
RESULT: Motion Passed 4 – 0 – 1
12. AGENDA SETTING
None.
13. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 9:52 PM.
___________________________
Crystal Mui,
City Clerk