November 24, 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
November 24, 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
Rendell Bustos, Senior Planner
Janice Cheung, Fire Marshall
Akanksha Chopra, Senior Management Analyst
Greg DaCunha, Deputy Fire Chief
Rucha Dande, Principal Planner
Andrew Douglass, Senior Management Analyst
Sajuti Haque, Economic Development and Housing Manager
Paul Harris, Financial Services Manager
Grace Le, City Engineer
Jeff Maltbie, City Manager
Andrea Mardesich, Assistant Community Development Director Rebecca Mendenhall, Administrative Services Director
Crystal Mui, City Clerk
Amy Newby, Parks and Recreation Director
Lisa Porras, Planning Manager
Gregory Rubens, City Attorney
Adolfo Ruelas, Economic Development Coordinator
Al Savay, Community Development Director
Chris Valley, Building Official
Kristie Woo, Associate Planner
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.
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4. CHANGES TO THE ORDER OF THE AGENDA
None.
5. REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION
City Attorney Greg Rubens reported that at its Closed Session earlier this evening, the City Council unanimously appointed Nil Blackburn as the City’s Interim City Manager beginning January 17, 2026.
6. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
None.
7. PUBLIC COMMENT
Michael Stafford, resident, spoke regarding the limited availability of tennis courts in the city.
Mayor McDowell noted that the city recently worked on a parks master plan and directed Parks and Recreation Director to reach out to Mr. Stafford with more information.
8. CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor McDowell removed item ‘k’ – recruitment services, from the Consent Calendar.
MOTION: Adopt City Council Consent Calendar items ‘a’ through ‘j.
MOVER: Dugan
SECONDER: Rak
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 October 14, 2025 Special Meeting Minutes.
c. Approve the City Council October 14, 2025 Regular Meeting Minutes.
d. Accept the Fiscal Year 2025-26 First Quarter Investment Report for the Period Ending September 30, 2025.
e. Accept the Fiscal Year 2025-26 First Quarter Financial Report for the Period Ending September 30, 2025.
f. Adopt a Resolution Accepting the Annual Report for the Year Ended June 30, 2025 on Development Impact Fees, Reaffirming the Necessity for the Development Impact Fees, and Making Findings Related to Impact Fee Balances and In-Lieu Fees. Resolution 2025-128
g. Adopt a Resolution Accepting the City of San Carlos' Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2025. Resolution 2025-129
h. Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the Execution of a Products and/or Services Agreement with Crayon (Formerly SoftwareOne) for the Renewal of the Annual Microsoft Corporation Enterprise Agreement Until the Microsoft Applications Are Replaced. Resolution 2025-130
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i. Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the Execution of Professional Service Agreements with Goldfarb & Lipman LLP and Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP for On -Call Legal Services Related to Economic Development and Housing, Each with an Initial Term of Three Years (with the Option to Extend for Two Additional Years) and an Annual Not -to-Exceed Amount of $200,000.
Resolution 2025-131
j. Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the Execution of a Five -Year Professional Services Agreement with the County of San Mateo for Code Enforcement Services in an Amount Not to Exceed $1,255,181.34. Resolution 2025-132
k. Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the Execution of an Amendment to the Professional Services Contract with Teri Black and Company, LLC for Interim City Manager Recruitment Services in the Amount of $9,400 with a 10% Contingency for a Total Amended Not -to-Exceed Professional Services Contract Amount of $54,400.
Item ‘k’ was removed from consideration.
9. PUBLIC HEARING
a. Consideration of Adopting a Resolution Approving the Addendum to the City of San Carlos 2045 General Plan Reset Environmental Impact Report; Adopting a Resolution Amending the San Carlos General Plan Land Use Map, Land Use Element, and Circulation and Scen ic Highways Element; Introducing an Ordinance Amending the San Carlos Zoning Map and Municipal Code, Title 18 - Zoning Ordinance, to Codify the Downtown Specific Plan; and Introducing an Ordinance Adopting the San Carlos Downtown Specific Plan.
Planning Manager Lisa Porras presented the proposed Downtown Specific Plan and, along with Principal Planner Rucha Dande, City Attorney Greg Rubens, Community Development Director Al Savay, Senior Principal Consultant Brian Canepa, Principal Landscape Architect Jim Stickley and City Engineer Grace Le, responded to Council questions.
The Council recessed at 9:00 p.m. and reconvened at 9:07 p.m.
Public Comment
- Charlotte Gomez, representing Sam Trans, requested to maintain the existing zoning for the SamTrans property, noting that upzoning could hinder San Carlos’ housing obligations.
- CT voiced support for the proposed food hall and raised concerns regarding the rain gardens, outdoor dining, and parking policies.
At Mayor McDowell’s request, Ms. Porras and Mr. Stickley responded to questions from public comments.
MOTION: Close the Public Hearing.
MOVER: Rak
SECONDER: Dugan
AYES: Rak, Dugan, Layton, Venkatesh, McDowell
NAYS: None
RESULT: Motion Passed 5 – 0
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Council provided the following amendments:
- Engage the City Council in the development and implementation of shared parking policies for non-residential developments, remove parking unbundling requirements for commercial leases, and clearly state that parking unbundling requirements apply to market-rate residential uses.
- Allow umbrellas to either follow the City’s color palette or be compatible with a business’s awning and brand colors, subject to staff discretion, to balance flexibility with a consistent and cohesive aesthetic.
- Remove the term “portable” from heating device regulations, thereby allowing all heaters approved by the Fire Marshal.
- Provide the City Council with additional written clarification regarding bioretention requirements and applicable regulations.
- Allow flexibility in the design and placement of bioretention ponds to protect commercial uses, particularly outdoor dining areas affected by these installations. - Develop a ground-floor activation overlay zone that prioritizes commercial uses in key locations.
- Direct staff to study a citywide stepback requirement to ensure consistency and fairness across all mixed-use neighborhoods adjacent to residential areas.
MOTION: Adopt Resolution 2025-133 Approving the Addendum to the City of San Carlos 2045 General Plan Reset Environmental Impact Report.
MOVER: Dugan
SECONDER: Layton
AYES: Dugan, Layton, Rak, Venkatesh, McDowell
NAYS: None
RESULT: Motion Passed 5 – 0
MOTION: Adopt Resolution 2025-134 Amending the San Carlos General Plan Land Use Map, Land Use Element, and Circulation and Scenic Highways Element MOVER: Venkatesh
SECONDER: Rak
AYES: Layton, Venkatesh, Rak, Dugan, McDowell
NAYS: None
RESULT: Motion Passed 5 – 0
MOTION: Introduce Ordinance 1632 Amending the San Carlos Zoning Map and Municipal Code, Title 18 - Zoning Ordinance, to Codify the Downtown Specific Plan with an amendment to not change the MU -100 zoning for the SamTrans building.
MOVER: Layton
SECONDER: Dugan
AYES: Dugan, Layton, Venkatesh, Rak, McDowell
NAYS: None
RESULT: Motion Passed 5 – 0
MOTION: Introduce Ordinance 1633 Adopting the San Carlos Downtown Specific Plan with amendments as stated by staff.
MOVER: Rak
SECONDER: McDowell
AYES: Rak, Dugan, Layton, Venkatesh, McDowell
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NAYS: None
RESULT: Motion Passed 5 – 0
10. AGENDA SETTING
None.
11. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor McDowell adjourned the meeting at 10:14 p.m.
Crystal Mui,
City Clerk