January 12, 2026 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
January 12, 2026 7:00 PM
MINUTES
ROLL CALL
City Council Present: Pranita Venkatesh, Mayor
Adam Rak, Vice Mayor
John Dugan, Councilmember
Neil Layton, Councilmember
Sara McDowell, Councilmember
Staff Present: Nil Blackburn, Assistant City Manager
Baraka Carter, Fire Chief
Lisa Costa Sanders, Principal Planner Consultant
Paul Harris, Financial Services Manager
Jenny Liu, Senior Management Analyst
Steven Machida, Public Works Director
Andrea Mardesich, Assistant Community Development Director Rebecca Mendenhall, Administrative Services Director
Crystal Mui, City Clerk
Lisa Porras, Planning Manager
Gregory Rubens, City Attorney
Al Savay, Community Development Director
Tracy Scramaglia, Assistant Public Works Director
Chris Valley, Building Official
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Venkatesh called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. TELECONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENTS BY COUNCIL
None.
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Brittan Acres Brownie Troop #62170.
4. CHANGES TO THE ORDER OF THE AGENDA
None.
5. REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION
None.
January 12, 2026 2
6. PRESENTATIONS
a. Recognize City Manager Jeff Maltbie Upon His Retirement From the City of San Carlos.
Nicholas Lochrie, representing Congressman Kevin Mullin , and Supervisor Ray Mueller presented Resolutions to City Manager Jeff Maltbie and spoke about his service and the transformation of the City of San Carlos under his leadershi p. Mayor Venkatesh then presented a proclamation honoring Mr. Maltbie upon his retirement.
Public Comment
- David Burruto from Assemblymember Diane Papan’s Office and Senator Josh Becker’s Office thanked Mr. Maltbie for his service to the City of San Carlos and San Mateo County.
- Jennifer Frentres, S an Carlos S chool District Superintendent, congratulated Mr. Maltbie on his retirement.
- Mark Olbert and Ron Collins, former San Carlos Mayors, presented personal gifts to Mr.
Maltbie and shared testimonials.
- Greg Rubens, City Attorney, spoke about his 25 -year working relationship with Mr. Maltbie, praising his thoughtful and calm decision-making, particularly during times of crises.
Mr. Maltbie expressed gratitude to the City Council, staff, and community, reflecting on his career in public service. He specifically acknowledged his partnership with the Councils he worked with over the years, the dedication of city staff, and the support of his wife, Shawna.
7. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Council Member Layton reported on a Silicon Valley Clean Water meeting regarding the Peninsula Pure Water Program and its potential impacts on purple pipe requirements for new construction.
8. PUBLIC COMMENT
Dr. Jennifer Frentres, San Carlos School District Superintendent, congratulated Mayor Venkatesh for her role as Mayor and invited the City Council to serve as judges for the District’s upcoming ROPES (Rite of Passage Experiences) event.
9. CONSENT CALENDAR
Council Member Dugan pulled item ‘l’ – Library Makerspace Project, from the Consent Calendar.
MOTION: Adopt City Council Consent Calendar items ‘a’ through ‘k’ and ‘m’.
MOVER: Dugan
SECONDER: McDowell
AYES: Dugan, Layton, McDowell, Rak, Venkatesh
NAYS: None
RESULT: Motion Passed 5 – 0
a. Motion to Waive Reading of All Ordinances.
b. Approve the November 10, 2025 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes.
c. Approve the November 13, 2025 City Council Special Meeting Minutes.
January 12, 2026 3
d. Approve the November 24, 2025 City Council Special Meeting Minutes.
e. Adopt a Resolution Approving the Parcel Map for the 11 El Camino Real Development, Assessor’s Parcel Numbers 045 -320-170 and 045- 320-220, and Authorizing the Execution of the Subdivision Improvement Agreement and the Project Specific Maintenance Agreement with the California Department of Transportation. Resolution 2026-001
f. Deny Claim of Elvia Pereda.
g. Deny Claim of Rishabh Bhandari.
h. Adopt a Resolution Appropriating an Additional $23,900 in Fiscal Year 2025-26 from the General Capital Fund Unassigned Fund Balance (Fund 0025) to Project C2515; Authorizing the Execution of an Agreement for Architectural Services with Goring & Straja Architects for the Adult Community Center Kitchen Remodel Design Project C2515 in the Amount of $186,569; and Authorizing an Expenditure of Contingency of $37,331, for a Total Contract Amount Not to Exceed $223,900. Resolution 2026-002
i. Accept the Quarterly Reports from City Commissions and Boards.
j. Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the Execution of a Three-Year Extension with eSentire Managed Security Services in the Amount of $215,318.55, with Authority to Adjust Service Levels and Renew for Successive Terms. Resolution 2026-003
k. Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the Execution of a Professional Services Agreement with Sciens, LLC in the Amount of $89,950 for the Consultant Assessment and Recommendation for Public Works Technology Solutions Project (C2412); and Authorizing the Expendit ure of a 20% Contingency in the Amount of $17,990, for a Total Not-to-Exceed Contract Amount of $107,940.
Resolution 2026-004
l. Adopt a Resolution Approving the Specifications for the Library Makerspace Project.
This item was pulled from the Consent Calendar for a separate consideration.
m. Deny Claim of Robert Hopkins.
9l. Adopt a Resolution Approving the Specifications for the Library Makerspace Project.
Council Member Dugan requested a presentation on the San Carlos Library Makerspace Project.
San Carlos Library Branch Manager Adrienne Gass provided an overview of the p roject, including the design and development phases.
MOTION: Adopt Resolution 202 6-005 Approving the Specifications for the Library Makerspace Project.
MOVER: Dugan
SECONDER: McDowell
AYES: McDowell, Rak, Dugan, Layton, Venkatesh
NAYS: None
RESULT: Motion Passed 5 – 0
January 12, 2026 4
10. NEW BUSINESS
a. Consideration of Adopting a Resolution Awarding the Recipients of the 2025 Childcare Grant Program and Authorizing the Execution of Agreements for Receipt of Grant Funds with Shu Academy Preschool ($35,654), TBD/Curious Beans by Shu Academy ($100,000), and Bright Horizons ($100,000).
Mayor Venkatesh recused herself from the item in an abundance of caution.
Senior Management Analyst Andrew Douglass presented staff’s recommendation on the Childcare Grant Program and, along with the Curious Beans applicant, Assistant Community Development Director Andrea Mardesich and City Attorney Greg Rubens, responded to Council questions.
The Council directed staff to provide periodic update reports on the program, conduct additional outreach in the next round of grant funding to encourage participation from family day care providers, and review and potentially update the Childcare Grant Program Policy for future funding cycles.
MOTION: Adopt Resolution 2026-006 Awarding the Recipients of the 2025 Childcare Grant Program and Authorizing the Execution of Agreements for Receipt of Grant Funds with Shu Academy Preschool ($35,654), TBD/Curious Beans by Shu Academy ($100,000), and Bright Horizons ($100,000), with an amendment that the $100,000 grant awarded to Curious Beans shall not be issued until its building construction has commenced.
MOVER: McDowell
SECONDER: Layton
AYES: Layton, McDowell, Dugan
NAYS: Rak
RECUSED: Venkatesh
RESULT: Motion Passed 3 – 1 – 1
b. Consideration of Adopting a Resolution Approving the Interim City Manager Agreement, Including a 5% Base Pay Increase.
Assistant City Manager Nil Blackburn recused herself from the item.
City Attorney Greg Rubens presented the proposed R esolution to approve an I nterim C ity Manager Agreement with Nil Blackburn and responded to Council questions.
MOTION: Adopt Resolution 2026-007 Approving the Interim City Manager Agreement, Including a 5% Base Pay Increase.
MOVER: Dugan
SECONDER: Rak
AYES: Dugan, Layton, McDowell, Rak
NAYS: None
RECUSED: Venkatesh
RESULT: Motion Passed 4 – 0 – 1
After the City Council adopted the Resolution, Mr. Rubens announced, in accordance by the Brown Act, that the monthly salary for the City Manager position is increasing to $28,851.53.
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11. AGENDA SETTING
Vice Mayor Rak inquired about agendizing a review of the Childcare Grant Program NOFA (Notice of Funding Availability) to address policy questions that arose during the earlier discussion under Item 10a. After some discussion, the Council directed the Childcare Grant Program Subcommittee to review the NOFA and bring recommendations back to the full Council.
12. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
Crystal Mui,
City Clerk