June 9, 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
June 9, 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
Janice Cheung, Fire Marshal
Sam Copsey, Deputy City Clerk
Greg DaCunha, Deputy Fire Chief
Ruche Dande, Principal Planner
Sajuti Haque, Economic Development and Housing Manager
Paul Harris, Financial Services Manager
Emma Licko, Recreation Coordinator
Steven Machida, Public Works Director
Jeff Maltbie, City Manager
Andrea Mardesich, Assistant Community Development Director Rebecca Mendenhall, Administrative Services Director
Tyler Muela, Recreation Manager
Lisa Porras, Planning Manager
Amy Newby, Parks and Recreation Director
Gregory Rubens, City Attorney
Al Savay, Community Development Director
Tracy Scramaglia, Assistant Public Works Director
Chris Valley, Building Official
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor McDowell called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. ASSEMBLY BILL 2449 TELECONFERENCE REQUESTS
None.
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor McDowell led the Pledge of Allegiance.
4. CHANGES TO THE ORDER OF THE AGENDA
None.
June 9, 2025 2
5. REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION
None.
6. PRESENTATIONS
a. Present a Proclamation Recognizing June 15 – 21, 2025 as Mosquito Control Awareness Week and Receive a Presentation from the San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District on Services they Provide to the Community.
Mayor McDowell presented and read a proclamation recognizing June 15-21, 2025, as Mosquito Control Awareness Week, emphasizing the importance of mosquito control in preventing diseases and improving quality of life.
Former Mayor Ron Collins, who serves on the Mosquito and Vector Control District Board, introduced Rachel Curtis Robles, the District's Public Health Education and Outreach Officer. Ms.
Curtis Robles presented on the District’s services , highlighting West Nile virus testing and encouraging public reporting; she also announced an upcoming open house and distributed tick prevention kits.
Mayor McDowell thanked Ms. Curtis Robles for bringing the tick kits and encouraged everyone to pick up a kit.
7. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Councilmember Dugan praised the Public Works staff on the new sidewalks and resurfacing on San Carlos Avenue, particularly the clearly designated bike lanes.
Mayor McDowell thanked the Parks and Recreation staff for organizing the recent Pride in the Park event, noting it was well-attended. She also reported that a Pride flag raising ceremony took place outside City Hall prior to the meeting, with participation from the San Carlos Children’s Theater, who announced their upcoming summer production of The Prom.
8. PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
9. CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION: Adopt City Council Consent Calendar items ‘a’ through ‘g’ and item ‘h’ Ordinance 1624 Retitling and Amending San Carlos Municipal Code Section 15.04.110 F (6)(a) to Designate Fire Hazard Severity Zones for Local Responsibility Areas as Recommended by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Pursuant to Government Code Section 51178.
MOVER: Dugan
SECONDER: Venkatesh
AYES: Dugan, Layton, Rak, Venkatesh, McDowell
NAYS: None
RESULT: Motion Passed 5 – 0
a. Motion to Waive Reading of All Ordinances.
b. Approve the City Council April 28, 2025 Regular Meeting Minutes.
June 9, 2025 3
c. Approve the City Council April 29, 2025 Special Meeting Minutes.
d. Adopt a Resolution Authorizing an Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with West Coast Code Consultants, Inc. for an Amount Not to Exceed $190,000, and CSG Consultants, Inc. for an Amount Not to Exceed $20,000 for Building and Fire Plan Review Consultant Services for Fiscal Year 2024-25. Resolution 2025-050
e. Adopt a Resolution Approving Professional Services Agreements for On -Call Civil Engineering Services (Sanitary Sewer, Storm, Pavement Design, Construction Management & Inspection) with CSG Consultants, Mott MacDonald, Sanbell, Freyer Laureta and 4LEAF; On -Call Geotechnical Engineering, Special Testing, and Inspection Services with ENGEO and Kleinfelder; and On-Call Traffic and Transportation Engineering Services with W -Trans and Alta Planning + Design, Each for a One-Year Term with Options for Four, One-Year Extensions in Amounts Not to Exceed $2,000,000 per Firm Annually for Civil Engineering Services (Sanitary Sewer, Storm, Pavement Design, Construction Management & Inspection), $500,000 per Firm Annually for Geotechnical Engineering Services, and $500,000 per Firm Annually for Traffic and Transportation Engineering Services; and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Associated Agreements for an Annual Not-to-Exceed Amount of $12,000,000. Resolution 2025- 051
f. Adopt a Resolution Appropriating $14,135 From the Parks and Recreation Donation Restricted Fund to the Capital Improvement Program Project C2407 Budget; Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Products and/or Services Agreement with McMillan Electric for a New Sound System at the Adult Community Center in the Amount of $89,890; and Authorizing the Spending of a Contingency in the Amount of $13,500 for a Not -To-Exceed Contract Amount of $103,390.
Resolution 2025-052
g. Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Professional Services Agreement with TeamCivX for an Amount Not to Exceed $275,000 for Consulting Services. Resolution 2025- 053
h. Adopt Ordinance 1624 Retitling and Amending San Carlos Municipal Code Section 15.04.110 F (6)(a) to Designate Fire Hazard Severity Zones for Local Responsibility Areas as Recommended by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Pursuant to Government Code Section 51178.
10. NEW BUSINESS
a. Consideration of Adopting a Resolution Approving the Final Design for Harrington Park and the 700 Block of Laurel Street (“Phase 1 Downtown Streetscape Master Plan Implementation”); and Consider Adopting a Resolution Directing Staff to Proceed with the Pla ns, Specifications, and Estimate (PS&E) for Phase 1A Renovation of Harrington Park.
City Manager Jeff Maltbie provided an updated timeline regarding the project's delay and highlighted challenges with a phased approach to the project.
Advance Planning Manager Lisa Porras presented an overview of the project's evolution and introduced the consultant team to present the latest design updates.
Principal-in-Charge Consultant Jim Stickley presented the refined design for Harrington Park and the 700 block of Laurel Street. He highlighted key features including the pavilion, water feature, seating options, and landscaping. Landscape Architect Consultant Pete Malandra provided more details on specific design elements such as paving materials, plantings, and lighting. Architectural Design Consultant Liam Lautze presented updates on the pavilion and water feature designs.
June 9, 2025 4
Public comments
- Cynthia Wiggin, resident, expressed opposition to the fountain concept and questioned the pavilion’s effectiveness in providing shade.
- Linda Garvey, resident and President of the Community Foundation of San Carlos, conveyed the Foundation’s willingness to support and participate in community discussions regarding the fountain and murals, if desired.
- Garrett Park, representing Faith and Spirits, expressed concerns about the pavilion’s impact on business operations, lack of communication about proposed murals, and trash logistics during construction.
- Sonia Elks, resident, highlighted the importance of maintaining a vibrant d owntown even in inclement weather and advocated for enhanced biking infrastructure and solutions to address skateboards and mopeds in the downtown.
- John Durkin, resident, expressed confusion about the project’s phases and raised concerns about several issues, including the potential loss of parking, insufficient shade, and construction-related disruptions.
At 9:00 p.m, the Council recessed and reconvened at 9:12 p.m.
Council provided the following feedback:
- r elocate the play structure to Harrington Park for a more centralized location - use warm-toned paving materials and colors
- i nclude a newspaper box/stand in the 700 block
- use the twig bench design, with modifications to discourage skateboarding - i nvolve the community in the fountain design process - p rovide sufficient clearance around the stage to accommodate dining areas and pedestrian circulation during events
MOTION: At 10:11 p.m., Extend the Meeting to 11:30 p.m.
MOVER: Venkatesh
SECONDER: Rak
AYES: Rak, Dugan, Layton, Venkatesh, McDowell
NAYS: None
RESULT: Motion Passed 5 – 0
MOTION: Adopt Resolution 2025-054 Approving the Final Design for Harrington Park.
MOVER: Rak
SECONDER: McDowell
AYES: Venkatesh, Rak, McDowell
NAYS: Layton
ABSTAIN: Dugan
RESULT: Motion Passed 3 – 1 – 1
MOTION: Adopt Resolution 2025 -055 Directing Staff to Proceed with the Plans, Specifications, and Estimate (PS&E) for Phase 1A - Renovation of Harrington Park.
MOVER: Rak
SECONDER: Venkatesh
AYES: Venkatesh, Rak, McDowell
June 9, 2025 5
NAYS: Layton
ABSTAIN: Dugan
RESULT: Motion Passed 3 – 1 – 1
b. Consideration of Adopting a Resolution Classifying the Various Components of General Fund Fund Balance as Committed Balances as Defined in Governmental Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 54 (“GASB 54”).
Administrative Services Director Rebecca Mendenhall presented an overview of fund balance classifications according to GASB 54.
Council expressed concern that the term “catastrophic disasters” sets too high a threshold for using the Economic Uncertainty Reserve and directed staff to agendize an item to revise the language to refer to a “significant event” instead, to better reflect its intended use during times of economic uncertainty.
MOTION: Adopt Resolution 2025-056 Classifying the Various Components of General Fund Fund Balance as Committed Balances as Defined in Governmental Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 54 (“GASB 54”).
MOVER: Layton
SECONDER: Rak
AYES: Dugan, Layton, Rak, Venkatesh, McDowell
NAYS: None
RESULT: Motion Passed 5 – 0
c. Consideration of Adopting a Resolution Adopting the Biennial Budget for Fiscal Years (FY) 2025- 27, Including the Two-Year Operating and Capital Budgets, for the City of San Carlos.
Administrative Services Director Rebecca Mendenhall presented the proposed biennial budget for fiscal years 2025- 27, highlighting key aspects of the budget, including revenue projections, expenditure increases, and capital improvement projects.
After discussion, Council directed staff to make the following edits to the budget:
- a llocate $30,000 for downtown activation events
- recategorize the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) upgrade as an enterprise-wide tool for the Public Works Department and reallocate those funds to retain a consultant to assess the City's broader overall needs
MOTION: Adopt Resolution 2025-057 Adopting the Biennial Budget for Fiscal Years (FY) 2025-27, Including the Two-Year Operating and Capital Budgets, for the City of San Carlos.
MOVER: Rak
SECONDER: Layton
AYES: Rak, Dugan, Layton, Venkatesh, McDowell
NAYS: None
RESULT: Motion Passed 5 – 0
i. Consideration of Adopting a Resolution Electing the Population and Price Adjustment Factors and Establishing the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26 Appropriations Limit of the City of San Carlos, Pursuant to California Constitution Article XIIIB and Section 7900 Et Seq. of the California Government Code.
June 9, 2025 6
Administrative Services Director Rebecca Mendenhall provided an overview of the Gann Limit calculation, noting that the city's appropriations remain well below the allowable limit.
MOTION: Adopt Resolution 2025 -058 Electing the Population and Price Adjustment Factors and Establishing the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 -26 Appropriations Limit of the City of San Carlos, Pursuant to California Constitution Article XIIIB and Section 7900 Et Seq. of the California Government Code.
MOVER: Rak
SECONDER: Layton
AYES: Venkatesh, Rak, Dugan, Layton, McDowell
NAYS: None
RESULT: Motion Passed 5 – 0
11. AGENDA SETTING
City Manager Jeff Maltbie responded to Mayor McDowell’s inquiry on the next steps for the 700 block of Laurel Street, stating that staff will incorporate the Council's feedback and bring the item back for approval, likely in August or early fall. He confirmed this delay would not impact the specific plan timeline.
12. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor McDowell adjourned the meeting at 11:21 p.m.
Crystal Mui,
City Clerk