October 14, 2024 1
San Carlos City Council/Successor Agency to the
Redevelopment Agency/Housing Authority Special Meeting
Collaboration Room, City Hall
600 Elm Street, San Carlos, CA 94070
October 14, 2024 1:00 PM
MINUTES
ROLL CALL
City Council Present:
Councilmember Absent:
John Dugan, Mayor
Sara McDowell, Vice Mayor
Ronald Collins, Councilmember
Pranita Venkatesh, Councilmember
Adam Rak, Councilmember
Staff Present: Nil Blackburn, Assistant City Manager
Jeff Maltbie, City Manager
Crystal Mui, City Clerk
Gregory Rubens, City Attorney
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Dugan called the meeting to order at 1:00 PM.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Dugan led the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. PUBLIC COMMENT
Mark Albertson, resident, spoke on the need to enforce a construction time limit ordinance.
Mayor Dugan directed staff to follow-up with the commenter.
City Manager Jeff Maltbie confirmed and added that staff has been communicating with Mr.
Albertson on his concerns.
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 Attachments. No Action Will be Taken on Any Items at This Meeting.
Public Comment
- Gail Ghose, resident, expressed concerns with vehicles speeding in the Cedar and San Carlos Ave intersection and spoke against gas leaf blowers.
- Michael Campbell and Linda Garvey, members of the Community Foundation of San Carlos, spoke in support of the social infrastructure items on the topics list (attachment 1 to the meeting packet) and requested that the City continue to collaborate with them.
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San Carlos Ave Traffic Signal
Mayor Dugan confirmed that this item will be discussed in depth at tomorrow’s Regular Council meeting.
Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers
Mayor Dugan spoke on the negative environmental effects of gas -powered leaf blowers and gauged the Council’s interest in banning them.
Mr. Maltbie spoke on the challenges with enforcing restrictions on leaf blowers, as they’re typically used after-hours and on weekends.
Council did not find this as an issue to be addressed at this time and noted their concerns with enforcing a ban and its impact on small landscape businesses.
Homeless Encampment Ordinance
Mr. Maltbie noted that San Mateo County has a new Homeless Encampment Model Ordinance.
Council agreed for staff to bring this forward for consideration once the County’s done with fine- tuning their Ordinance.
Bond Measure; Funding Future Large Projects; Community Center Location and Funding / Parks Master Plan
At Council’s request, Mr. Maltbie provided an overview of the typical initial process for considering a bond measure, including the hir ing of a political consultant to survey the community and consider different combinations of projects to include in the measure. He also provided a reminder that the Parks M aster Plan will have a specific community benefits section that will include a community center.
Council expressed interest in a field trip to visit Redwood City and San Bruno’ community centers.
Mayor Dugan spoke on the importance of the community center activating an area of the City.
Funding Future Large Projects: Grants
Vice Mayor McDowell suggested outsourcing grant-writing to ensure the City is taking advantage of available funds.
Mr. Maltbie spoke on the difference between project-based grants versus program-based grants.
He commented that the big recreation projects coming in the future would be attractive projects for receiving grants.
Assistant City Manager Nil Blackburn provided an update on the City’s work with a grant-writing consultant this past year.
Vice Mayor McDowell encouraged staff to be more aggressive in pursuing grants.
Funding Future Large Projects: Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District Vice Mayor McDowell suggested the City consider an Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District as a possible revenue stream.
Council expressed interest in this new tool and agreed to study it as part of the bond measure discussion.
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Asset Management System
Vice Mayor McDowell spoke on the need for Public Works to have tools to provide more visibility into streets, sewers, and infrastructure. She suggested considering an Asset Management System, which would combine Public Works’ projects into one platform to coordinate timing of projects and lead to less mistakes and oversights.
Ms. Blackburn and Mr. Maltbie spoke on the value of an Asset Management System but cautioned on the need for additional personnel to manage the software.
Council expressed interest in this system and requested a cost -benefit report, including the resources needed to have a successful system.
Cultural Events and Welcome Committee for New Residents At Councilmember Venkatesh’s invitation, Linda Garvey and Michael Campbell, on behalf of the Community Foundation of San Carlos , spoke on expanding their program to create a warm, accepting community by incorporating a welcome committee and more cultural events , such as Diwali and Lunar New Year.
Public Comment
- Gail Ghose, resident, spoke against the City getting involved with any additional events. She suggested the City offer the Community Foundation of San Carlos free meeting space.
Increase Involvement and Engagement of our Community
Mayor Dugan spoke on the need to involve and engage the community, with examples such as commissioning public art in the Centennial Plaza, developing a Citizen of the Year tribute/memorial in our downtown, designing the Veterans Memorial in North Crestview Park, and gaining sponsors for a new commercial district in the Northeast Area.
Mr. Maltbie and Mr. Campbell shared their thoughts on how these types of engagement projects could be accomplished.
Council recessed at 3:15PM reconvened at 3:23PM.
Commission Term Limits
Councilmember Collins suggested extending commission term limits from two three- year terms, to three three-year terms.
Council discussed the pros and cons of extended commission term limits. They ultimately agreed to keep them as-is and re-evaluate if there’s difficulty with recruitment next year.
Communications from Police Chief
The Council requested the Police Chief to provide them with timely communications for both positive and negatives news.
Four Corners Project with Belmont
Vice Mayor McDowell spoke on the importance of the Four Corners Projec t. She expressed disappointment with the stalled Project and the lack of communication with its status.
Council directed Mr. Maltbie to meet with Belmont’s City Manager and Mayor Dugan to meet with Belmont’s Mayor to gauge Belmont’s priority on the Four Corners Project.
Large Development Projects Community Benefit - Childcare Vice Mayor McDowell requested updates on the uses of the Childcare Impact Fee and spoke on the continued need for infant and toddler childcare in San Carlos.
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Mr. Maltbie suggested the Council task the Economic Development Subcommittee to review the development agreement process and noted that he will ascertain Alexandria’s position on childcare.
Council directed staff to agendize a presentation from Buildup San Mateo County on the chidcare need in San Carlos.
No-Show Policy for Sports Groups
Councilmember Venkatesh inquired about a no-show fee for those who schedule the park fields and don’t cancel.
Mr. Maltbie confirmed that the Council’s recent changes have been implemented and are working well.
Community Benefits Regarding Measure H Bond
Councilmember Venkatesh inquired about the City’s next steps now that Measure H has passed.
Mr. Maltbie confirmed that Measure H was a School District Measure that doesn’t involve the City.
New Businesses and Chamber Participation
Councilmember Venkatesh inquired about the Chamber of Commerce’s ribbon cutting ceremony process.
Mr. Maltbie and Mr. Rubens confirmed that ribbon cutting ceremonies are hosted by the Chamber of Commerce and businesses need to work with them directly to coordinate.
Traffic Signal Master Plan
Council agreed that fully implement ing the Traffic Signal Master Plan is a priority and will be discussed during budget session.
Neighborhood Hubs
Mayor Dugan spoke on the benefits of neighborhood hubs and inquired about what the City can do to encourage and incentive them around San Carlos.
Mr. Maltbie noted that there are several options to incentivize creating neighborhood hubs and provided some examples.
Mayor Dugan expressed his desire to get some commercial spaces in the big housing developments on El Camino Real.
StreetSaver – Pavement Management Program
Mayor Dugan questioned if changes should be made to the default settings of StreetSaver, the pavement condition management software.
Mr. Maltbie noted that this is the first year of the Program and there will be more street paving throughout the City. He suggested Council keep the settings as-is and reassess it in the coming years.
Rideshare and Delivery Curb Designations.
Mayor Dugan confirmed that this item will be discussed in depth at an upcoming Council meeting.
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Gateway Feature at Holly Street and Old County Road
Mayor Dugan shared that the Greater East San Carlos Neighborhood Association is interested in a gateway feature at Old County Road and Holly Street, to be funded through the $4.2 million dedicated to their neighborhood. He suggested there could be a centennial component to this gateway and directed staff to add this project to the potential allocation list for Council consideration.
Employee Retention
Mr. Maltbie noted that Councilmember Rak wanted to gauge Council’s interest in i ncreasing medical benefits for employees to help with employee retention. Mr. Maltbie noted that he will keep this in mind for future labor negotiations.
Open Space Access Update - Potential Kayak Launch
Mr. Maltbie noted that this was Councilmember Rak’s item. It will be tabled for discussion when he returns.
Communications to Council from Various Departments
Mr. Maltbie noted that this was Councilmember Rak’s item. It will be tabled for discussion when he returns.
Discussion of City Manager
Mr. Maltbie shared his timeline for retiring and spoke on the typical recruitment process for a City Manager position. He suggested Council consider beginning the process in early 2025.
Mayor Dugan recommended discussing this at the Strategic Planning Retreat.
5. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Dugan adjourned the meeting at 4:45PM.
Crystal Mui
City Clerk