February 9, 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
February 9, 2026 7:00 PM
MINUTES
ROLL CALL
City Council Present:
City Council Absent:
Pranita Venkatesh, Mayor
Adam Rak, Vice Mayor
Neil Layton, Councilmember
Sara McDowell, Councilmember
John Dugan, Councilmember
Staff Present: Nil Blackburn, Interim City Manager
Shon Buford, Deputy Fire Chief
Lauren Burd, Recreation Supervisor
Rendell Bustos, Senior Planner
Andrew Douglass, Senior Management Analyst
Paul Harris, Financial Services Manager
Hanieh Houshmandi, Senior Traffic Engineer
Linnet Kwok, Administrative Clerk
Grace Le, City Engineer
Steven Machida, Public Works Director
Rebecca Mendenhall, Administrative Services Director
Crystal Mui, City Clerk
Mark Myers, Police Chief
Amy Newby, Parks and Recreation Director
Lisa Porras, Planning Manager
Gregory Rubens, City Attorney
Al Savay, Community Development Director
Tracy Scramaglia, Assistant Public Works 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.
February 9, 2026 2
5. PRESENTATIONS
a. Present a Proclamation Recognizing February 2026 as Black History Month.
Mayor Venkatesh presented a proclamation recognizing February 2026 as Black History Month. Adili Skillin, Education Specialist and Advisor for Sequoia High School's Black Student Union, was present to accept the proclamation.
Mr. Skillin expressed gratitude on behalf of Sequoia High School and the entire Sequoia Unified School District, noting that while many students wanted to attend, various scheduling conflicts prevented them from coming. He thanked the Council for the honor and recognition.
b. Present a Proclamation Recognizing February 2026 as American Heart Month.
Mayor Venkatesh presented a proclamation to Layan Khrais, Young Professional Board Member with the American Heart Association, recognizing February 2026 as American Heart Month.
Ms. Khrais spoke about the urgency of responding to cardiac arrest s and emphasized the critical role bystanders play prior to the arrival of emergency personnel.
Vice Mayor Rak thanked Ms. Khrais for her work and noted that the City had recently recognized two individuals with City Coins for performing CPR and saving a life in San Carlos.
He also shared his personal appreciation for the organization’s work.
c. Present Proclamations Recognizing the Downtown Advisory Committee Members for their Service.
Mayor Venkatesh presented proclamations recognizing former members of the Downtown Advisory Committee for their service. In attendance were James Bertram, Madison Blanton, Robert Bollier, Tom Davids, Mark Maxwell, and Monette Meredith.
d. Receive an Annual Report from the San Carlos Library.
San Carlos Library Manager Adrian Gass presented the library's annual report for fiscal year 2024-25.
6. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Vice Mayor Rak thanked the Week of the Family volunteers.
Council Member McDowell also praised Week of the Family and announced the City’s March 7 childcare open house showcasing local childcare resources.
Mayor Venkatesh commended the Week of the Family’s many events and highlighted their new community dinner.
7. PUBLIC COMMENT
Susan Rose, resident and Chair of the Week of the Family Committee, reported on the 26th annual event and thanked key contributors, as well as the 362 volunteers and more than 3,450 participants.
Julie Wynn, resident and Vice President of the San Carlos Community Foundation, recognized the Week of the Family team and noted the Foundation’s role as a fiscal sponsor. She also invited the community to the Foundation’s April 16 fundraiser at the Hiller Aviation Museum.
February 9, 2026 3
Sailesh Mehra, resident and on behalf of Edgewood Park Homeowners Association, expressed support for continued work to address traffic safety conditions in the Crestview neighborhood.
Bob Ravano, resident and on behalf of the Edgewood Park Homeowners Association, discussed traffic safety concerns on Crestview Drive and expressed opposition to the proposed roundabout, suggesting a stop sign at Edmond Drive as a simpler alternative.
Salomon Quintero, resident, requested additional information and studies related to the Crestview – Edmond intersection project.
John Durkin, resident, commented on item ‘g’ of the Consent Calendar. He expressed concerns with Downtown Phase 1 A and urged Council to reconsider the Project.
8. CONSENT CALENDAR
Council Member Layton commented on Item ‘e’ - Intelligent Transportation System Signal Resiliency and Smart Corridor Expansion Project, praising City staff for securing $576,000 in grant funding and thanking them for their continued efforts to obtain grants.
MOTION: Adopt City Council Consent Calendar items ‘a’ through ‘g’.
MOVER: Rak
SECONDER: Layton
AYES: Layton, McDowell, Rak, Venkatesh
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Dugan
RESULT: Motion Passed 4 – 0 – 1
a. Motion to Waive Reading of All Ordinances.
b. Approve the City Council January 12, 2026 Special Meeting Minutes.
c. Approve the City Council January 12, 2026 Regular Meeting Minutes.
d. Adopt a Resolution Approving the Plans and Specifications for the 2025 Storm Drain Improvements Project (Clifton Avenue, Kenton Avenue, Manzanita Avenue, and Shoreway Road) (C9531) and Authorizing a Call for Bids. Resolution 2026-014
e. Adopt a Resolution Appropriating $576,400 from the General Capital Fund (Fund 25) Unassigned Fund Balance in Fiscal Year 2025 -26 for the Intelligent Transportation System Signal Resiliency and Smart Corridor Expansion Project. Resolution 2026-015
f. Adopt a Resolution Appropriating Funding from the General Fund Unassigned Fund Balance in the Amount of $95,500 in Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26 and $98,375 in FY 2026-27 to Increase the Community Events Budget to Add a Lunar New Year Celebration and Expand the Annual Hometown Days Event. Resolution 2026-016
g. Adopt a Resolution Awarding the Downtown Plan Implementation Phase 1A – Harrington Park Project (C2215); Authorizing the Execution of an Agreement with Azul Works, Inc. in the Amount of $5,182,744; Authorizing the Expenditure of a 20% Contingency in the Am ount of $1,036,549; for a Total Not -to-Exceed Contract Amount of $6,219,293; and Authorizing the Transfer of $3,505,293 from Phase 1B to Phase 1A. Resolution 2026-017
February 9, 2026 4
9. STUDY SESSION
a. Receive a Presentation from SamTrans on the Central El Camino Real Multimodal Plan, Review Preliminary Design Concepts, and Provide Council Feedback to SamTrans.
Cassie Hall, Project Manager for SamTrans, presented on the Central El Camino Real Multimodal Plan as part of the broader Grand Boulevard Initiative . Ms. Hall presented three design alternatives beyond the existing configuration and, along with Charlsie Chang, SamTrans Government Affairs Officer, answered Council questions.
Council expressed interest to:
- Improve safety at all crosswalks, particularly at eastbound San Carlos Avenue; Cherry Street and El Camino Real; Oak Street and El Camino Real; and Holly Street and El Camino Real; and install rapid flashing beacons at all El Camino Real crosswalks. - Be mindful not to disrupt San Carlos’ good traffic flow, noting backup issues experienced in neighboring cities.
- Ensure the availability of parking on the west side of El Camino Real for businesses, while recognizing that state housing laws may reduce parking needs over time. - Incorporate flexible planning that accounts for future transportation changes and emerging technologies such as autonomous vehicles.
- Ensure that proposed alternatives align with the Downtown Specific Plan. - Evaluate the need for bus -only lanes given limited bus frequency and provide data demonstrating full bus utilization.
- Analyze potential spillover traffic impacts on side streets, such as Old County Road, when traffic backs up on El Camino Real.
Overall, the Council leaned toward the bicycle priority alternative with continuous separated bike lanes, while emphasizing that safety remain the top priority.
10. AGENDA SETTING
None.
11. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 8:26 p.m.
Crystal Mui,
City Clerk