January 26, 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 26, 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, Interim City Manager
Rendell Bustos, Attendee
William Hoch, IT Manager
Steven Machida, Public Works Director
Rebecca Mendenhall, Administrative Services Director
Crystal Mui, City Clerk
Amy Newby, Parks and Recreation Director
Lisa Porras, Planning Manager
Gregory Rubens, City Attorney
Al Savay, Community Development Director
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
Mayor Venkatesh led the Pledge of Allegiance.
4. CHANGES TO THE ORDER OF THE AGENDA
None.
5. REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION
None.
6. PRESENTATIONS
a. Present City Coins to Sean and Gino Bonetti for their Heroic Actions on November 21, 2025.
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Mayor Venkatesh presented City Coins to Sean and Gino Bonetti for their life -saving actions on November 21, 2025, at IGuey Taqueria, where they administered CPR to Ryan Connolly during a cardiac arrest.
Sean Bonetti addressed the Council on the importance of CPR training, calling 911, and the use of automated external defibrillators (AED).
Ryan Connolly expressed his gratitude to the Bonetti family, commended the City Council for ensuring AEDs are available in numerous public locations throughout San Carlos, and noted that his company donated an AED to the taqueria where the incident occurred.
b. Receive a Presentation from HIP Housing on the Services they Provide to the Community.
HIP Housing Board Member Corey Rostad presented an overview on the organization’s services, provided the City Council with the HIP Housing 2026 calendar, and invited San Carlos resident Iris, a featured calendar entry winner, to read her quote about what home means to her. Mr. Rostan concluded by thanking the Council for its continued support of HIP Housing.
7. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Council Member Dugan commended City staff for the recent resident mailer, Once Upon a Year in San Carlos: Stories from the City of Good Living, noting its value in keeping residents informed.
Council Member McDowell announced that Week of the Family is underway in San Carlos, with events scheduled throughout the week.
Vice Mayor Rak highlighted the upcoming scavenger hunt scheduled for Sunday.
8. PUBLIC COMMENT
A member of the public spoke about free speech issues.
9. CONSENT CALENDAR
Vice Mayor Rak stated that he would recuse himself from voting on Item 9f - Plans and Specifications for the Upgrade at Burton and Highlands Parks Project, out of an abundance of caution, as he lives close to one of the parks.
MOTION: Adopt City Council Consent Calendar Items ‘a’ through ‘e’ and ‘g’ – ‘j’ and Item ‘k’ – adopt Ordinance No. 1632 Amending San Carlos Municipal Code, Title 18 – Zoning Ordinance to Codify the Downtown Specific Plan; and Adopt Ordinance No.1633 Adopting the Downtown Specific Plan.
MOVER: Dugan
SECONDER: Rak
AYES: Dugan, Layton, McDowell, Rak, Venkatesh
NAYS: None
RESULT: Motion Passed 5 – 0
a. Motion to Waive Reading of All Ordinances.
b. Approve the City Council November 24, 2025 Regular Meeting Minutes.
c. Approve the City Council December 8, 2025 Regular Meeting Minutes.
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d. Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the Execution of an Agreement with Consultadd, Inc. for the Migration from a Legacy On-Premise File Server to Microsoft SharePoint Online and OneDrive, in an Amount Not to Exceed $100,000. Resolution 2026-008
e. Adopt a Resolution Accepting the Gift of Funds from The Fisher Family Trust in a Combined Amount of $70,000 for the San Carlos Adult Community Center and Youth Center. Resolution 2026-009
f. Adopt a Resolution Approving the Plans and Specifications for the Upgrade of Existing Tennis and Basketball Court Lighting at Burton and Highlands Parks Project (C2102) and Authorizing a Call for Bids. Resolution 2026-010
MOTION: Adopt City Council Consent Calendar Item ‘f’.
MOVER: Dugan
SECONDER: Rak
AYES: Dugan, Layton, McDowell, Venkatesh
NAYS: None
RECUSE: Rak
RESULT: Motion Passed 4 – 0 – 1
g. Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City of San Carlos to Execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Regarding Composting with the County of San Mateo for Participation in the San Mateo Compost for Climate Solutions Program to Support Senate Bill 1383 Procurement Compliance. Resolution 2026-011
h. Adopt a Resolution Approving the Specifications for the Library Building Painting Project (C2519) and Authorizing a Call for Bids. Resolution 2026-012
i. Deny Claim of Jesseca Carlos.
j. Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the Execution of an Amendment to the Existing Professional Services Agreement with Wallace Roberts & Todd (WRT) in an Amount Not to Exceed $69,900 for Additional Consulting Services Associated with the Extended Timeline of th e Downtown Specific Plan. Resolution 2026-013
k. Adopt Ordinance 1632 Amending San Carlos Municipal Code, Title 18 – Zoning Ordinance to Codify the Downtown Specific Plan; and Adopt Ordinance 1633 Adopting the Downtown Specific Plan.
10. NEW BUSINESS
a. Consideration of Appointments to the City Council Regional Joint Powers Authorities, Boards and Committee and Ad Hoc Subcommittees for 2026.
Interim City Manager Nil Blackburn introduced the item, noting that under the City’s Code of Conduct and E thics P olicy, the Mayor appoints Councimembers to regional boards and committees, and presented the proposed appointments shown in Attachment 1 for Council consideration. Ms. Blackburn and City Attorney Greg Rubens responded to Council questions.
Vice Mayor Rak proposed creating a Council subcommittee to work with the Sheriff's office, citing frequent leadership turnover and the resulting challenges in maintaining community connections.
He emphasized the subcommittee would focus on strengthening relationships and level of
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service—not oversight. The suggestion received Council support. Council Member Layton agreed to serve if the focus remained on community connections and level of service.
MOTION: Approve Appointments to the City Council Regional Joint Powers Authorities, Boards and Committee and Ad Hoc Subcommittees for 2026 subcommittees and include a new subcommittee for the Sheriff's Office connection with the community, nominating Vice Mayor Rak and Council Member Layton.
MOVER: Dugan
SECONDER: Rak
AYES: Rak, Dugan, Layton, McDowell, Venkatesh
NAYS: None
RESULT: Motion Passed 5 – 0
11. AGENDA SETTING
a. Consideration of Agendizing an Item to Include Lunar New Year and Diwali in the Parks and Recreation Department’s Program of Events and Celebrations.
Mayor Venkatesh proposed expanding city-hosted cultural celebrations to include Lunar New Year and Diwali.
Interim City Manager Nil Blackburn explained that similar events are currently held on a smaller scale through City facilities and could be expanded and scheduled to reach a broader audience.
Council directed staff to proceed with expanded weekend cultural celebrations without returning for further action.
12. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Venkatesh adjourned the meeting at 7:39 p.m.
Crystal Mui,
City Clerk