October 15, 2024 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
Tuesday, October 15, 2024 7:00 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: Adam Aronson, Economic Development and Housing Manager Nil Blackburn, Assistant City Manager
Greg DaCunha, Deputy Fire Chief
Sajuti Haque, Senior Management Analyst
Hanieh Houshmandi, Senior Traffic Engineer
Steven Machida, Public Works Director
Jeff Maltbie, City Manager
Andrea Mardesich, Assistant Community Development Director Crystal Mui, City Clerk
Gregory Rubens, City Attorney
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Dugan called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM and noted that Councilmember Rak will be absent from today’s meeting.
2. ASSEMBLY BILL 2449 TELECONFERENCE REQUESTS
None.
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Dugan led the Pledge of Allegiance.
4. CHANGES TO THE ORDER OF THE AGENDA
City Manager Jeff Maltbie suggested tabling item 10a as it was a proposal placed by Councilmember Rak, however, he is absent from this meeting.
5. PRESENTATIONS
a. Present a Proclamation Recognizing Ms. Martin’s 3rd Grade Class for Winning 1st Place in Rethink Waste’s 2024 ‘Trash to Art’ Contest.
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Mayor Dugan presented a proclamation to Ms. Martin and her former students for winning the ‘Trash to Art’ contest.
Ms. Martin thanked Recology for holding the annual contest and spoke on her former class’s creation.
b. Present a Proclamation Recognizing October 2024 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Mayor John Dugan presented a proclamation recognizing October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month to Tracey Cook, Human Resources Manager from Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse (CORA).
Ms. Cook shared information on their agency’s services to the community and thanked the City for their partnership on the Speak Up Program.
c. Present a Proclamation Recognizing October 6 – 12, 2024 as Fire Prevention Week.
Mayor Dugan recognized National Fire Prevention Week.
Fire Deputy Chief Greg DaCunha thanked Council for the recognition and introduced Fire Marshall Janice Cheung. Ms. Cheung shared about her work experience and spoke on the upcoming events scheduled for Fire Week.
d. Receive a Presentation from CalWater on Their Rate Setting Process.
CalWater’s Regional Public Affairs Program Manager Rob Seely commenced the item with some history on CalWater and their engagement in San Carlos and turned the presentation over to Ross Moilan, CalWater’s Bayshore District Manager, to speak on their Infrastructure Improvement Plan. CalWater’s Government and Community Affairs Director, Kevin McCusker, then spoke on their rate setting process. Mr. McCusker, along with California Public Utility Commission’s (CPUC) Program Manager Bruce DeBerry and Mr. Moilan, responded to Council questions.
Council requested CalWater provide them with the following:
- a comparison chart on other CalWater customers’ rates - a report showing San Carlos’ rate carved-out from its group with City of San Mateo and City of South San Francisco
- an explanation on the non-standardized billing cycle and its potential to advance users into the next rate tier
- the rebate amount for property owners to purchase a flume system device used to monitor water
Public Comment
- Justin Grant, resident, expressed frustration with the water rate increase and requested the City review Calwater’s proposed future rates.
- Gary Barth, resident, expressed frustration with the water rate increase.
- Stephen Wexler, resident, expressed frustration with the water rate increase, provided a handout to Council with details on other bay area cities’ water rates and proposed changes for consideration. (Residents Ken Castle and Joanne Trefcer yielded their public comment time to Mr. Wexler.)
- Maya Wexler, resident, expressed frustration with the water rate increase.
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- Tom Diridon, resident, expressed frustration with the water rate increase.
- Sarah Kelsey, resident, expressed frustration with the water rate increase and spoke of her failed attempts to obtain requested data from CalWater.
- Flo N., resident, expressed frustration with the water rate increase.
Mr. McCusker responded to Council’s additional questions.
Council directed staff to communicate the upcoming CPUC hearings with the community. They agreed that the City should contact its local legislators to relay San Carlos residents’ concerns on the increased water rates.
6. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Councilmember Venkatesh and Mayor Dugan commended City staff and volunteers for another successful Art and Wine Fair.
7. PUBLIC COMMENT
Sherri Mastrangelo, resident, expressed frustration with the City’s business registration fees and proposed an exemption be set in place for small businesses.
City Manager Jeff Maltbie notified Council that the business registration fees were set by voters.
8. CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION: Adopt City Council and Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency’s Consent Calendar items ‘a’ through ‘f’.
MOVER: Ronald Collins
SECONDER: Sara McDowell
AYES: Collins, Venkatesh, McDowell, Dugan
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Rak
RESULT: Motion Passed 4 – 0 – 1
a. Motion to Waive Reading of All Ordinances.
b. Approve the September 9, 2024 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes.
c. Accept the Quarterly Reports from City Commissions and Boards.
d. Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Amendment to the Existing Professional Services Agreement with Perkins & Will for Additional Consulting Services Associated with the Northeast Area Specific Plan in the Amount of $50,000. Resolution 2024- 112
e. Adopt a Resolution Forgiving a Promissory Note and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Deed of Reconveyance Associated with the 1995 Purchase of 1244 Cherry Street. Resolution SA-022
f. Authorize Cancellation of the December 23, 2024 City Council Regular Meeting.
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9. REPORTS TO COUNCIL
a. Receive a Report on the Status of the City of San Carlos Traffic Signal Master Plan Projects.
Public Works Director Steven Machida provided updates on the Traffic Master Plan’s 2024 projects that were completed, soon to be completed, and scheduled for completion in 2025 and beyond. He and Senior Traffic Engineer Hanieh Houshmandi responded to Council’s questions.
Council thanked Public Works for all their work in traffic safety this year and provided the following feedback:
- share the traffic projects summary visual (from PowerPoint slide 27) on the City website - explore ways to make the 1650 Industrial Road flashing lights more visible - prioritize the project that will coordinate the lights at San Carlos Avenue - notify the Council of opportunities to attend project milestones and unveilings
10. AGENDA SETTING
a. Consideration of Agendizing a Study Session Item to Discuss Downtown Parking Enforcement and Potential.
In Councilmember Rak’s absence, this item has been tabled to the next Council meeting.
11. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Dugan thanked Youth Advisory Councilmember Nikhil Nunna, who serves as the Council liaison, for attending tonight’s meeting in-person.
The meeting adjourned at 9:52 PM.
Crystal Mui,
City Clerk