February 6, 2025 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
February 6, 2025 9:00 AM
MINUTES
ROLL CALL
City Council Present: Sara McDowell, Mayor
Pranita Venkatesh, Vice Mayor
John Dugan, Councilmember
Neil Layton, Councilmember
Adam Rak, Councilmember
Staff Present: Nil Blackburn, Assistant City Manager
Brian Cary, Communications Manager
Jerri Cosens, Administrative Sergeant
Lisa Costa Sanders, Principal Planner Consultant
Greg Da Cunha, Deputy Fire Chief
Rucha Dande, Principal Planner
Lou Duran, Public Works Superintendent
Sajuti Haque, Economic Development and Housing Manager
Paul Harris, Financial Services Manager
Grace Le, City Engineer
Steven Machida, Public Works Director
Jeff Maltbie, City Manager
Andrea Mardesich, Assistant Community Development Director Rebecca Mendenhall, Administrative Services Director
Tyler Muela, Recreation Supervisor
Crystal Mui, City Clerk
Mark Myers, Police Captain
Nekaya Nachmann, Executive Assistant
Amy Newby, Parks & Recreation Director
Lisa Porras, Planning Manager
Al Savay, Community Development Director
Evanka Swampillai-Coss, Management Analyst
Chris Valley, Building Official
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor McDowell called the meeting to order at 9:04 AM.
2. PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
3. STUDY SESSION
a. Strategic Planning Retreat
Mayor McDowell and City Manager Jeff Maltbie commenced the Strategic Retreat.
February 6, 2025 2
The City Council and staff conducted a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) Analysis. Common themes in each category included:
Strengths
- Engaged and inclusive community
- High functioning and collaborative City Council and city staff - Committed and involved business Community
- Diverse business economy
- Organizational stability and agility
- Fiscally responsible and well-managed
- Strategic, innovative and well-planned
- Diverse communication methods
- Sound infrastructure and facilities
- Good geographical location within the Bay Area
- Desirable, pedestrian-friendly downtown
- Great city services and programs and community events - Highly educated community and good schools
- Safe city
Weaknesses
- High-cost area
- Many high priorities and increasing demands; heavy workload for small staff - Staff retention and turnover
- Aging and insufficient infrastructure
- Traffic in general
Opportunities
- Valuable geographical location
- Strong organizational culture
- Redevelopment of Downtown and Northeast/industrial area - Infrastructure, transportation systems and streetscape improvements - Planning for future growth
- Partnerships with other agencies
- Technology and AI (when used correctly)
- Community outreach and education
- Financial growth
Threats
- Turnover and retirements
- High cost of living
- Aging and obsolete infrastructure
- Changing State laws and unfunded mandates
- Homelessness
- Poor communication and misinformation
- Natural disasters and climate change
- Economic uncertainty/fiscal crisis
- Change and community expectations
Council reviewed the Mission, Vision and Values , along with the updated 2024 Strategic Plan.
They received a staff update on progress made toward each objective over the past year. During this review, Council provided the following feedback for 2025 Goals:
February 6, 2025 3
Childcare
- Remove this strategic goal and have it reflected in the Mission, Vision and Values. - The Subcommittee and staff will continue to refine past actions and address outstanding issues, including the Grant Program’s funding distribution policies and practices, and childcare data collection and monitoring.
Climate Change, Mitigation, Adaption and Resilience
- Keep this goal for the next year but amend to add community engagement and education. - Add a new objective for community disaster preparedness. ·
Downtown
- Keep this goal for the next year but amend description to reflect progress (e.g., developing and implementing a plan).
- Add a new objective for developing a b ond measure strategy and consider forming a citizen support committee.
- Amend Objective #4 (Demonstration Project) to specify Harrington Park location.
Housing
- Keep this goal as-is for next year.
Mobility, Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure
- Keep this goal for next year.
- Add a new objective for the Holly/101 Pedestrian overcrossing Project and identify short- term and longer-term improvements.
- Amend Objective #1 to include street and sidewalk maintenance. - Amend Objective #2 to include the Traffic Signal Masterplan. - Consider a software for infrastructure management; review IT infrastructure.
Northeast Area Specific Plan
- Keep this goal for next year but update the statement to reflect progress made. - Update to include public draft in spring 2025 and public adoption in fall 2025. - Add clear, verifiable adoption and completion dates to objectives.
Recreation Services
- Keep this goal for next year but update to include ‘physical and mental’ health. - Amend Objective #3 to add Devonshire Canyon as a task. - Delete Objective #4 as it has been completed.
Mayor McDowell stated that she will continue to take the lead on emails sent to the Council group account but requested that staff keep the full Council informed on the outcomes of these communications.
4. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor McDowell adjourned the meeting at 2:28 PM.
Crystal Mui
City Clerk