August 11, 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
August 11, 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 - Remote Participation from 310 D Street N.E., Washington D.C., 20002-5722, Pursuant to Govt. Code Section 54953 (b)
Staff Present: Nil Blackburn, Acting City Manager
Akanksha Chopra, Senior Management Analyst
Greg DaCunha, Deputy Fire Chief
Steven Machida, Public Works Director
Crystal Mui, City Clerk
Lisa Porras, Planning Manager
Gregory Rubens, City Attorney
Paul Harris, Financial Services Manager
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor McDowell called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. and noted for the record that Council Member Rak was participating remotely pursuant to California Government Code Section 54953(b).
Council Member Rak confirmed he could hear clearly, the agenda was posted at his location, and no members of the public were present wishing to participate.
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.
5. REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION
None.
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6. PRESENTATIONS
a. Receive a Presentation from Silicon Valley Clean Water (SVCW) on the Financial Plan for their Capital Improvement Program.
Matt Zucca, Authority Manager at SVCW , presented an overview of the agency's capital investment needs for their treatment plant and Council Member Layton, who sits on the SVCW Board, provided additional background. Mr. Zucca, Council Member Layton, and City Attorney Greg Rubens responded to Council questions.
7. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor McDowell reported on postcards sent to residents regarding proposed Cal Water rate increases in 2026 and encouraged residents to review their water bills, visit cityofsancarlos.org/water for more information, and provide input on the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) site.
Mayor McDowell reminded Council members to report important updates from their regional boards and commissions at future Council meetings.
Council Member Rak reported on the well-attended family campout over the weekend. He also shared that the City/County Association of Governments (C/CAG) Board voted to recommend that SamTrans opt into Senate Bill 63, which would levy a half-cent sales tax for public transportation.
8. PUBLIC COMMENT
Rocio Cornejo Panameno, Director of Education at National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) San Mateo County, provided an overview of the organization and requested city sponsorship of the organization’s October 4 NAMI Walks event.
9. CONSENT CALENDAR
Council Member Dugan commented on Item 9e - commission quarterly reports, commending commissioners for their work and expressing appreciation to the retiring members.
Council Member Dugan also expressed pride in San Carlos' commitment to sustainability as shown in Items 9h - Electric Vehicle Charging Incentive Program, and 9m - purchase of electric vehicles.
MOTION: Adopt City Council Consent Calendar items ‘a’ through ‘o’.
MOVER: Venkatesh
SECONDER: Layton
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 May 27, 2025 Special and Regular Meetings Minutes.
c. Approve the City Council June 9, 2025 Special and Regular Meetings Minutes.
d. Approve the City Council June 10, 2025 Special Meeting Minutes.
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e. Accept the Quarterly Reports from City Commissions and Boards.
f. Adopt a Resolution Acknowledging Receipt of the Fiscal Year 2024 -2025 Fire Inspection Report in Compliance with California Health and Safety Code Section 13146.4. Resolution 2025-071
g. Adopt Three Resolutions Supporting Transportation Improvement Projects and Submitting Applications to the Cycle 3 San Mateo County Transportation Authority for Measure A Alternative Congestion Relief and Measure W Transportation Demand Management Program Funding. Resolution 2025-072 – Intelligent Transportation System Signal ; Resolution 2025-073 - Crossing Improvements; Resolution 2025-074 – Develop Standards and Guidelines
h. Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Amendment to the Agreement for Professional Services between the City of San Carlos and Peninsula Clean Energy Authority to Administer the City’s Electric Vehicle Charging Incentive Program for Existing Multi-Family Buildings in San Carlos. Resolution 2025-075
i. Adopt a Resolution Accepting the 2023 Sewer Rehabilitation Project (C9617) and Authorizing the Public Works Director to Issue and Record a Notice of Completion. Resolution 2025-076
j. Adopt a Resolution Accepting the 2023 Pavement Rehabilitation Project (C9416) and Authorizing the Public Works Director to Issue and Record a Notice of Completion. Resolution 2025-077
k. Adopt a Resolution Approving the Specifications for the 2025 On -Call Sewer Replacement Project (C1702) and Authorizing a Call for Bids. Resolution 2025-078
l. Adopt a Resolution Approving the Specifications for the 2025 Annual Sidewalk Replacement Project (C9465) and Authorizing a Call for Bids. Resolution 2025-079
m. Adopt a Resolution Approving the Reassignment of the Equipment Replacement Fund (Fund 10) Building Vehicle Replacement Budget in the Amount of $257,500 from Fiscal Year 2026 - 27 to Fiscal Year 2025-26 to Accommodate the Purchase of New Electric Vehicles before the Commercial Clean Vehicle Credit of $7,500 per Vehicle is Eliminated on September 30, 2025.
Resolution 2025-080
n. Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Addendum to the City Facilities Cameras Project Agreement with Edgeworth Integration, LLC in the Amount of $186,016.64 and Authorizing an Expenditure of Contingency in the Amount of $32,403 for the Library Parking Garage Security Camera Installation for a Total Contract Amount Not to Exceed $735,182.64. Resolution 2025-081
o. Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the Continuation of Lease Payments, Maintenance Costs, and Property Tax Payments for the Active Lease at 1144 El Camino Real in the Amount of $105,000 in Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26 and $60,000 in FY 2026-27. Resolution 2025-082
10. NEW BUSINESS
a. Consideration of Introducing an Ordinance Approving San Carlos Municipal Code Amendment to Conform Chapter 3.14 - Public Projects, with Updated Bidding Threshold Amounts Under State Law.
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City Attorney Greg Rubens presented the proposed amendment to update the City’s Municipal Code thresholds for public project bidding in accordance with state law changes and, along with Public Works Director Steven Machida, responded to Council questions.
MOTION: Introduce Ordinance 1625 Approving San Carlos Municipal Code Amendment to Conform Chapter 3.14 - Public Projects, with Updated Bidding Threshold Amounts Under State Law.
MOVER: Layton
SECONDER: Dugan
AYES: Rak, Dugan, Layton, Venkatesh, McDowell
NAYS: None
RESULT: Motion Passed 5 – 0
11. AGENDA SETTING
Mayor McDowell proposed that the NAMI sponsorship request from public comment be brought forward by staff for Council consideration at a future meeting. Council members expressed support.
Council Member Rak suggested developing a process for handling sponsorship requests, noting that the Community Foundation typically manages nonprofit funding. It was suggested that this broader discussion occur at the next strategic retreat, while the NAMI Walk request be treated as an exception given the event’s timing.
12. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
Crystal Mui,
City Clerk