March 10, 2025 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 10, 2025 7:00 PM
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
Greg DaCunha, Deputy Fire Chief
Sajuti Haque, Economic Development and Housing Manager
Grace Le, City Engineer
Jeff Maltbie, City Manager
Rebecca Mendenhall, Administrative Services Director
Crystal Mui, City Clerk
Lisa Porras, Principal Planner
Gregory Rubens, City Attorney
Al Savay, Community Development Director
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor McDowell called the order to at 7:00PM.
2. ASSEMBLY BILL 2449 TELECONFERENCE REQUESTS
None.
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Eagle Scout Devon Foster.
4. CHANGES TO THE ORDER OF THE AGENDA
None.
5. REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION
None.
6. PRESENTATIONS
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a. Present a Proclamation to Devon Foster with Scouts BSA Troop 61, Upon Receiving His Eagle Scout Award.
Mayor McDowell recognized Devon Foster for achieving the Eagle Scout rank.
Mr. Foster thanked Council for the recognition and spoke on his Eagle Scout project.
7. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Councilmember Rak provided an update on his trip with the City/County Association of Governments, where he met with local legislators in Sacramento to discuss proposed legislation.
Mayor McDowell reported on attending the Public Safety Fair and commended staff for their efforts in organizing the event.
8. PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
9. CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilmember Rak pulled I tem ‘m’ - CalPERS Unfunded Accrued Liabilities, from the Consent Calendar.
MOTION: Adopt City Council and Housing Authority Consent Calendar Items ‘a’ through ‘l’ and ‘n’.
MOVER: Dugan
SECONDER: Layton
AYES: Rak, Dugan, Layton, Venkatesh, McDowell
NAYS: None
RESULT: Motion Passed 5 – 0
a. Motion to Waive Reading of All Ordinances.
b. Approve the February 6, 2025 City Council Special Meeting Minutes.
c. Approve the February 10, 2025 City Council Special Meeting Minutes.
d. Reappoint Kelly Hickey to the Economic Development Advisory Commission for the Term Ending June 30, 2028.
e. Reappoint Madhura Kumar to the Economic Development Advisory Commission for the Term Ending June 30, 2028.
f. Reappoint Mark Stogner to the Parks, Recreation and Culture Commission for the Term Ending June 30, 2028.
g. Appoint Russ Bertetta to the San Carlos Museum of History Board for the Term Ending June 30, 2028.
h. Appoint Parks, Recreation and Culture Commission (PR&C) Alternate Member Alexandra Seeber as a PR&C Voting Member to a Full Term from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2028.
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i. Appoint Elaine Kistenmacher to the Parks, Recreation and Culture Commission for a Full Term from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2028.
j. Deny Claim of Kevin Booth.
k. Adopt Resolutions of the City Council of San Carlos and the Housing Authority Authorizing the City Manager and the Housing Authority Chair to Execute an Amendment to the Wheeler Plaza Development Reciprocal Easement, Joint Maintenance, and Use Agreement in Connection with the 1244 Cherry Street Affordable Housing Project Lot Line Adjustment.
Resolutions 2025-017 and HA-014
l. Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Amendment to the Promissory Note with Cherry Street Commons LP Associated with the 1244 Cherry Street Affordable Housing Project. Resolutions 2025-018
m. Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Transfer $4 Million from the Unfunded Liability Reserve to Pay Down the California Public Employees Retirement System ("CalPERS") Unfunded Accrued Liability (UAL) and Apply the $4 Million Payment to the Sh ort-term Amortization Bases in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-25.
Item was pulled from the Consent Calendar for a separate discussion.
n. Deny Claim of Anusha Sethuraman.
9m. Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Transfer $4 Million from the Unfunded Liability Reserve to Pay Down the California Public Employees Retirement System ("CalPERS") Unfunded Accrued Liability (UAL) and Apply the $4 Million Payment to the Sh ort-term Amortization Bases in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-25.
Councilmember Rak commended staff for their prudent fiscal work.
MOTION: Adopt Resolution 2025-019 Authorizing the City Manager to Transfer $4 Million from the Unfunded Liability Reserve to Pay Down the California Public Employees Retirement System ("CalPERS") Unfunded Accrued Liability (UAL) and Apply the $4 Million Payment to the Short-term Amortization Bases in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-25.
MOVER: Rak
SECONDER: Venkatesh
AYES: Venkatesh, Rak, Dugan, Layton, McDowell
NAYS: None
RESULT: Motion Passed 5 – 0
10. REPORTS TO COUNCIL
a. Receive a Report on the Results of the 2025 Community Satisfaction Survey Conducted by True North Research.
Communications Manager Brian Cary commenced the item and turned the presentation over to Dr. Timothy McL arney to report on the results of the 2025 Community Opinion Survey. City Manager Jeff Maltbie and Mr. McLarney responded to Council questions.
Councilmember Rak requested that future surveys include both aggregated and disaggregated views of the data.
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11. STUDY SESSION
a. Receive a Presentation and Provide Direction to Staff on Site Furnishings, Paving Design and Materials, Special Elements, Lighting, Planting Palette, and Design Choices for the Water Feature on the 700 Block of Laurel Street and Harrington Park.
Principal Planner Lisa Porras provided a project description and a summary of input from City Council’s February 10 meeting. Consultants Jim Stickley and Pete Malandra presented on the design and site furnishings; and Consultants Jim Garland and Dolly Wisco presented the three water feature concepts. Ms. Wisco, Mr. Garland and Mr. Stickley responded to Council questions. Council addressed the six elements separately: water feature, paving design and materials, site furnishings, planting palette, lighting and special elements.
Water Feature/Fountain
Council expressed support for the vertical stone element with seating and favored Concept 1.
However, they specified that the water feature should not be interactive, but rather function as an active water display within an enclosed fountain.
Council requested that, when the item returns, it includes information to support a discussion on the cost trade-offs for the downtown.
Public Comment
Sonia Elkes, resident, suggested installing misters in the downtown.
The Council recessed at 9:23 PM and reconvened the meeting at 9:30 PM.
MOTION: Table Item 12a - Pulgas Creek Watershed Management Plan, to the March 24, 2025 City Council meeting.
MOVER: Rak
SECONDER: Dugan
AYES: Layton, Venkatesh, Rak, Dugan, McDowell
NAYS: None
RESULT: Motion Passed 5 – 0
Paving Design and Materials
Council provided the following feedback and direction:
- m aintain a cohesive flow and avoid overly segregated spaces - Council favors the use of paving to distinguish centralized areas from diagonal walkways; request for staff to highlight this distinction for the public - consider ADA – compliant pavers that include texture to discourage scooter traffic - relocate the donor pavers to a more prominent location, such as nearer the pavilion - provide a m ap of businesses indicating restaurant versus retail zoning to identify which locations may be impacted
- provide examples, including photos, of other outdoor dining options in other locations - hold a Council policy discussion regarding outdoor dining
Public Comment
Sonia Elkes, resident, cautioned against implementing bumpy pavers in the downtown and advocated for more teen activities to keep them engaged.
Site Furnishings
Council provided the following feedback and direction:
- Council favors benches that incorporate lighting
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- Council prefers movable seating for special occasions only, with the condition that they can be easily stored
- in terms of materials, some favored the aesthetic of wood, while others preferred the contemporary look of metal. All agreed on the need to consider maintenance and select seating materials that remain comfortable in direct sunlight - include backless benches
- include tables and chairs for take-out dining, with designs that can be secured to prevent vandalism
- d esign w aste receptables to be able to accommodate three bins - recycle, trash and compost
- provide cost comparison between hydraulic and removable bollards
Public Comment
Sonia Elkes, resident, suggested bike racks with vertical space-saving features and artistic flair.
Planting Palette
Council provided the following feedback and direction:
- select tree grates that provide sufficient space to support healthy tree growth - Council not in support of deciduous trees
- Council favors evergreen species, such as evergreen oaks, to maintain greenery during the winter months
- incorporate plants with varied colors for visual appeal - p refer low maintenance plantings, with emphasis on species that are easy to keep clean in public areas (e.g. resistant to aphids, sap, etc.)
- Council favors Northern California native plants; agave species are not preferred - e nsure bioretention is not the central focus in the downtown; consider integrating storm drains where appropriate to allow for smaller-scale bioretention
MOTION: At 10:29 PM, Extend Meeting to 11:00 PM.
MOVER: Rak
SECONDER: McDowell
AYES: Dugan, Layton, Venkatesh, Rak, McDowell
NAYS: None
RESULT: Motion Passed 5 – 0
Public Comment
Sonia Elkes, resident, spoke in favor of her guava evergreen tree and suggested placing picnic tables or bike racks on top of the bioswales areas.
Lighting
Council provided the following feedback and direction:
- Council prefers contemporary lighting designs
- Council favors a combination of low bollard lighting and catenary lights along the main street, with a balanced approach to avoid over-lighting - consider smart light fixtures with features such as built-in speakers and mobile device charging
Special Elements
Council provided the following feedback and direction:
- Council favors functional, playful and interactive art installations - consider interchangeable features that can rotate seasonally, such as cornhole, mini golf, chess, or ping pong tables
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- work with Parks and Recreation to incorporate centennial markers highlighting points of interest and a proper declaration of centennial plaza
- engage with Art Bias for the creating and placement of murals and sculptural elements
Public Comment
- Sonia Elkes, resident, provided suggestions for activities in the downtown to better engage teenagers, including the addition of a stepping feature to encourage play and movement.
- Nathan C. recommended adding a community board and a downtown map.
12. NEW BUSINESS
a. Consideration of Adopting a Resolution Adopting the Pulgas Creek Watershed Management Plan.
This item was tabled to the City Council March 24, 2025 meeting.
13. AGENDA SETTING
None.
14. ADJOURNMENT
The Council adjourned at 10:55 PM.
Crystal Mui,
City Clerk