August 25, 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 25, 2025 7:00 PM
MINUTES
ROLL CALL
City Council Present:
City Council Absent:
Sara McDowell, Mayor
John Dugan, Councilmember
Pranita Venkatesh, Vice Mayor
Neil Layton, Councilmember
Adam Rak, Councilmember
Staff Present: Nil Blackburn, Acting City Manager
Rendell Bustos, Senior Planner
Akanksha Chopra, Senior Management Analyst - Sustainability Rucha Dande, Senior Planner
Sajuti Haque, Economic Development and Housing Manager
Hanieh Houshmandi, Senior Traffic Engineer
Grace Le, City Engineer
Andrea Mardesich, Assistant Community Development Director Caitlyn Matoso, Recreation Supervisor
Rebecca Mendenhall, Administrative Services Director
Crystal Mui, City Clerk
Lisa Porras, Advance Planning Manager
Gregory Rubens, City Attorney
Adolfo Ruelas, Economic Development and Housing Coordinator Al Savay, Community Development Director
Tracy Scramaglia, Assistant Public Works Director
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayors for a Day John and James Contarato called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Mayor McDowell introduced the Mayors for a Day, described how she had previously spent a day with them visiting various city facilities, and expressed gratitude to all staff who showed them what it’s like to work in the city.
2. ASSEMBLY BILL 2449 TELECONFERENCE REQUESTS
None.
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by the Mayors for a Day.
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4. CHANGES TO THE ORDER OF THE AGENDA
None.
5. PRESENTATIONS
a. Present Proclamations Recognizing Retired Boardmember and Commissioners – Molly Barton, Janet Castaneda, John Durkin, Ellen Garvey, and Cecile Lee, for their Services.
Mayor McDowell presented proclamations to the three former commissioners who were present at the meeting - former Planning and Transportation Commissioner Ellen Garvey, former Parks, Recreation and Culture Commissioner John Durkin and former San Carlos Museum History Board Member Molly Barton.
The recipients each expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serv e, and Mr. Durkin promoted upcoming Museum events.
b. Present Proclamations to Lorelei Ingalls and Katherine Kelly of Girl Scout Troop 62474 Upon Receiving their Gold Award.
Mayor McDowell presented proclamations to Girl Scouts Katherine Kelly and Loki Ingalls for achieving the Girl Scout Gold Award.
Ms. Ingalls and Ms. Kelly described their Gold Award projects and the impact they hoped to make in the community.
6. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor McDowell reported attending the Council of Cities meeting, where participants received an update and toured the Belmont Creek Restoration Project. She provided an update on its progress and reported that Belmont expressed appreciation to the city for its contribution to the project, which will help mitigate flooding on the east side.
Mayor McDowell also reported on attending th e San Carlos School District's ribbon cutting for the new HVAC system s at Tierra Linda Middle School, Mariposa, and Arundel Elementary, funded by Measure H.
7. PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
8. CONSENT CALENDAR
City Clerk Crystal Mui reported on an errata memo for Item ‘k’ – Childcare Grant Program NOLA, noting two updates: one to the application priorities and another to the application itself. Details on these edits were provided in the errata memo distributed to Council and the public earlier that afternoon.
Mayor McDowell commented on Item ‘i’, acknowledging the gift of funds from the estate of former Mayor Sylvia Nelson to the Adult Community Center and expressing gratitude for the contribution.
Public Comment
- Paula Ebejer Moffitt, resident and member of a NAMI San Mateo County committee, thanked the Council for its support of the NAMIWalks event (Item ‘l’).
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MOTION: Adopt City Council Consent Calendar Items ‘a’ through ‘m’ and Item ‘n’ Ordinance 1625 Approving San Carlos Municipal Code Amendment to Conform Chapter 3.14 - Public Projects, with Updated Bidding Threshold Amounts Under State Law.
MOVER: Dugan
SECONDER: Venkatesh
AYES: Dugan, Layton, Venkatesh McDowell
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Rak
RESULT: Motion Passed 4 – 0 – 1
a. Motion to Waive Reading of All Ordinances.
b. Approve the City Council June 23, 2025 Regular Meeting Minutes.
c. Approve the City Council August 11, 2025 Special Meeting Minutes.
d. Accept the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 -25 Fourth Quarter Investment Report for the Period Ending June 30, 2025.
e. Adopt a Resolution Accepting the 2024 Citywide Sidewalk Repair Project (C9465) and Authorizing the Public Works Director to Issue and Record a Notice of Completion.
Resolution 2025-083
f. Adopt a Resolution Awarding the 2025 Annual Street Resurfacing Pavement Project (C9416); Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Agreement with A. Teichert & Son, Inc. dba Teichert Construction in the Amount of $6,146,719.00; and Authorizing the Expendi ture of a 20% Contingency in the Amount of $1,229,343.80 for a Total Not -to-Exceed Contract Amount of $7,376,062.80. Resolution 2025-084
g. Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute Three -Year Agreements (with the Option to Extend for Two Additional Years) for Professional Services for As -Needed Economic Development and Housing Consulting Services Not to Exceed $200,000 Each Annually, with the Consulting Firms BAE Urban Economics, Economic & Planning Systems, and RSG. Resolution 2025-085
h. Approve Updates to the City's 2025 Strategic Work Plan Items.
i. Adopt a Resolution Accepting the Gift of Funds from the Estate of Sylvia Nelson in the Amount of $25,000 for the San Carlos Adult Community Center. Resolution 2025-086
j. Deny Claim of Laura Fuentes.
k. Adopt a Resolution Approving Administrative Modifications to the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the Childcare Grant Program. Resolution 2025-087 (with edits to Exhibit A per the Errata Memo)
l. Adopt a Resolution Appropriating $5,000 from the General Fund Unassigned Fund Balance to Support the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) San Mateo County's NAMIWalks Event.
Resolution 2025-088
m. Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Addendum to the Master Software Agreement with The Active Network, LLC for Recreation Management Software, Technical Services, Subscriptions and Associated Licenses for Single Sign-On Connectivity in the Amount
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of $5,700, and Authorizing the City Manager the Authority to Extend, Amend, and Approve Additional or Future Services as Needed Until the Software is Replaced. Resolution 2025-089
n. Adopt Ordinance 1625 Approving San Carlos Municipal Code Amendment to Conform Chapter
3.14 - Public Projects, with Updated Bidding Threshold Amounts Under State Law.
9. REPORTS TO COUNCIL
a. Receive an Update on 2024 Police Services.
Police Chief Mark Myers presented the 2024 Police Services report, highlighting staffing, crime statistics, and various programs, and responded to Council questions.
Councilmembers expressed appreciation for the police services and community outreach efforts.
They requested a report comparing local crime rates to those of similar cities and directed the Chief to include crime location heat maps in future reports.
Public Comment
- A resident posed questions regarding crime against properties each year.
At Mayor McDowell’s request, Chief Myers responded to the public comment.
10. STUDY SESSION
a. Receive a Presentation and Provide Direction on Outdoor Dining and Retail Display Area Standards, Formula Businesses, Personal Services, and Parking Maximums for Inclusion in the Downtown Specific Plan.
Advance Planning Manager Lisa Porras presented on the Downtown Specific Plans and , along with Senior Principal Consultant Brian Canepa, outlined proposed changes in three categories:
New Standards, Formula Business and Personal Services, Parking Maximums.
New Standards
Ms. Porras, Principal Landscape Architect Consultant James Stickley, Principal Planner Rucha Dande, and City Attorney Greg Rubens responded to Council questions.
The City Council broke for a recess at 9:29 p.m. and reconvened at 9:36 p.m.
Public Comment
- A downtown business owner expressed that parklets are unattractive and should be removed. He suggested awnings instead of umbrellas, requested durable outdoor furniture that can remain in place, and emphasized focusing activity in the city center rather than in parks or surrounding areas.
- Sailesh Mehra, resident, supported the proposed approach on formula businesses and personal services. He also advocated for umbrellas without commercial messages and noted that shade structures, such as arbors or pergolas, would be permanent fixtures requiring anchors.
- Greg St Claire, resident and owner of a downtown business, stressed that successful outdoor dining requires protection, lighting, and heating. He raised concerns with design elements and suggesting underground utilities and more permanent structures. He stated that he’d provide further input by email.
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Council provided staff with comments on the New Standards/Design:
- P rovide flexibility while setting clear expectations for businesses. - Restrict umbrella colors to the City’s navy, yellow, orange and green palette. - Be flexible with a llowing existing awnings to remain until replacement is needed, with standards (e.g., not frayed).
- Consider formalizing an entertainment zone in the closed areas. - Allow retractable windscreens during inclement weather and define “inclement weather”. - Establish a maximum total height for barriers, including both the planter and the plant - Ensure design standards are objective and clear, but not overly prescriptive. - Prohibit picnic tables downtown.
MOTION: At 10:26 p.m., Extend the Meeting to 12:00 a.m.
MOVER: Dugan
SECONDER: McDowell
AYES: Dugan, Layton, Venkatesh, McDowell
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Rak
RESULT: Motion Passed 4 – 0 – 1
Formula Business and Personal Services
Staff and the consultant team respond to Council’s questions on formula businesses and personal services.
Public Comment
- Sailesh Mehra, resident, recommended holding a study session or conducting one- on-one outreach with business owners to gather additional input and feedback.
- Greg St Claire, resident and downtown business owner, shared his history in San Carlos and expressed support for loosening restrictions and allowing chain businesses downtown.
The Council expressed hesitation about making changes to this category without additional discussion and analysis. Council suggested adding a standing item to their annual mini strategic retreat agenda to review current and anticipated business activity and assess the City’s needs.
Parking Maximums
Staff and the consultant team respond to Council’s questions on parking maximums.
After discussion, the Council decided not to pursue parking maximums at this time but directed staff to include language in the plan for future consideration when the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s guidelines are finalized.
11. NEW BUSINESS
a. Consideration of Adopting a Resolution Approving the Preferred Alternative 1 for the Mid -term Improvements for the U.S. 101/Holly Street Bicycle and Pedestrian Project.
Assistant Public Works Director Tracy Scramaglia provided background on the U.S. 101/Holly Street Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement Project and noted the recent tragic death of a cyclist on the overpass.
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Senior Engineer Consultant Alison Mills presented three alternatives for mid-term improvements to the Holly Street bicycle and pedestrian corridor and reported that community feedback strongly favored Alternative 1 due to its quicker implementation timeline. The Planning and Transportation Commission also recommended this option.
Mayor McDowell expressed disappointment that Caltrans had not completed the promised green bike lane striping as an immediate improvement.
MOTION: Adopt Resolution 2025-090 Approving the Preferred Alternative 1 for the Mid- term Improvements for the U.S. 101/Holly Street Bicycle and Pedestrian Project.
MOVER: Layton
SECONDER: Venkatesh
AYES: Venkatesh, Dugan, Layton, McDowell
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Rak
RESULT: Motion Passed 4 – 0 – 1
12. AGENDA SETTING
None.
13. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 11:48 p.m.
Crystal Mui,
City Clerk