August 24, 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
August 24, 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: Shon Buford, Deputy Fire Chief
Paul Harris, Financial Services Manager
Kathy Kleinbaum, City Manager
Andrea Mardesich, Assistant Community Development Director Rebecca Mendenhall, Administrative Services Director
Tyler Muela, Recreation Supervisor
Crystal Mui, City Clerk
Amy Newby, Parks and Recreation Director
Gregory Rubens, City Attorney
Mike Tabak, Police Chief
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 Proclamations Recognizing Members of the Tierra Linda Speech and Debate Team for Their Achievements in the Bay Area, State and National Debate Competitions.
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Mayor Venkatesh presented proclamations recognizing members of the Tierra Linda Middle School Speech and Debate Team members Rowan Iyer, Ethan Lee, Benjamin McLeskey, Aman Perera, Aashvi Puvadi, Kayla Silverman, and Claire Xing, for their accomplishments in local, state, and national competitions.
The students and Coach Marty De thanked Council for the recognition and the community for their support, and spoke on the benefits of participating on the Speech and Debate Team.
7. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Council Member Sara McDowell shared wildfire preparedness resources available on the City’s wildfire webpage and encouraged residents to prepare go-bags and review safety information. She also highlighted the City’s Caring Cupboard Program.
Mayor Venkatesh announced that she had presented a proclamation recognizing George and Dinny Zinckgraf on their 70th wedding anniversary and noted their longstanding service to the San Carlos community.
Vice Mayor Adam Rak added remarks recognizing the Zinckgraf’s unique anniversary and their contributions to the community.
8. PUBLIC COMMENT
Jennifer Frentress, San Carlos School District Superintendent, thanked the Council and community for support of Measure H improvements.
Ken Castle, a resident, urged the Council to reconsider the continued closure of the 700 block of Laurel Street and requested a dedicated public discussion regarding reopening the downtown.
Sara Haller, a resident, expressed concern for traffic in the 1500 Block of San Carlos Avenue, specifically San Carlos Ave between Walnut and Prospect and requested information regarding traffic enforcement and safety conditions in that area.
Josh Saffren, a resident, commented on wildfire preparedness and emphasized the benefits of fire suppression pump systems for residential pool owners.
Vice Mayor Rak directed the Polic Chief to follow-up with Ms. Haller on her public comment.
9. CONSENT CALENDAR
Public Comment
- Ken Castle, a resident, spoke on item 9d – Downtown Parklet Program, expressing support for continuing the parklet program while urging Council to carefully study any long-term changes before reducing outdoor dining capacity.
MOTION: Adopt City Council Consent Calendar Items ‘a’ through “k”.
MOVER: Rak
SECONDER: McDowell
AYES: Dugan, Layton, McDowell, Rak, Venkatesh
NAYS: None
RESULT: Motion Passed 5 – 0
a. Motion to Waive Reading of All Ordinances.
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b. Approve the City Council June 22, 2026 Special and Regular Meeting Minutes. c. Accept the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26 Fourth Quarter Investment Report for the Period Ending June 30, 2026.
d. Adopt a Resolution Extending the Temporary Downtown Parklet Program and the Corresponding Encroachment Permits to September 15, 2027. Resolution 2026-099 e. Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the Amendment to the Agreement with Tyler Technologies, Inc to Purchase the Cloud Hosted Capital Asset and Content Manager Modules in the Amount of $27,769 and Authorize the Annual Renewal of the Subscription Services Until the System Needs to be Replaced. Resolution 2026-100
f. Appoint Mayor Venkatesh as the Voting Delegate and City Manager Kleinbaum as the Alternate to Represent the City of San Carlos at the League of California Cities’ 2026 Cal Cities Annual General Assembly.
g. Adopt a Resolution Appropriating an Additional $390,000 from the General Fund (Fund 25) to the Corporation Yard Roof Replacement and Solar Panel Upgrade Project (C2410); Authorizing the Execution of an Agreement with McMillan Electric in the Amount of $375,000; and Authorizing the Expenditure of a 10% Contingency in the Amount of $37,500 for a Total Not-to-Exceed Contract Amount of $412,500 to Design and Install Rooftop Photovoltaic Solar Systems at the Corporation Yard. Resolution 2026-101
h. Deny Claim of Victor Herrero.
i. Adopt a Resolution Authorizing an Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with West Coast Code Consultants, Inc. for an Amount Not to Exceed $200,000 for Fire Inspection Services for Fiscal Year 2026-27. Resolution 2026-102
j. Adopt a Resolution Approving the Use of the Library Excess Funds in Fiscal Year 2026-27 in Accordance with the Library Joint Powers Authority Agreement in the Amount of $1,169,809, and Appropriating Funding in the General Capital Fund (Fund 0025) in the Amount of $340,000 for New Capital Projects for Library Sewer Pump Station Rehabilitation ($150,000), Library Storm Pump Station Rehabilitation ($150,000) and Library Automatic Fire Sprinkler System Rehabilitation ($40,000). Resolution 2026-103
k. Adopt a Resolution Accepting the Library Building Painting Project (C2519) and Authorizing the Public Works Director to Issue and Record a Notice of Completion. Resolution 2026-104
10. PUBLIC HEARING
a. Consideration of Adopting a Resolution Authorizing Adjustments to the Cost-of-Services Schedule for Field Use Fees for Fiscal Year 2026-27.
Recreation Manager Tyler Muela presented proposed changes to the field use fees and responded to Council questions.
The Council expressed interest in further studying the potential implementation of non-resident fees as part of future fee updates.
Public Comment
- Bob Bollier, a resident and on behalf of the San Carlos Youth Softball Association, spoke in support of the proposed fee adjustments and thanked staff for revisiting the issue.
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- Sonia Elkes, a resident, commended the Parks and Recreation Department for its responsiveness and professionalism.
MOTION: Close the Public Hearing.
MOVER: Rak
SECONDER: McDowell
AYES: Rak, Dugan, Layton, McDowell, Venkatesh
NAYS: None
RESULT: Motion Passed 5 – 0
MOTION: Adopt Resolution 2026-105 authorizing adjustments to the Cost-of-Services Schedule for Field Use Fees for fiscal year 2026-27.
MOVER: Rak
SECONDER: Layton
AYES: McDowell, Rak, Dugan, Layton, Venkatesh
NAYS: None
RESULT: Motion Passed 5 – 0
11. STUDY SESSION
a. Receive a Report and Provide Direction on the Potential Regulation of Electric Bicycles and Other Electric Conveyance Devices in the City of San Carlos.
City Attorney Greg Rubens presented potential regulations for electric and other electric conveyance devices and summarized current state law, local safety concerns, recent education and enforcement efforts, and the newly adopted San Mateo County ordinance affecting unincorporated areas. He and Police Chief Mike Tabak responded to Council questions.
Public Comment
- Ken Castle, resident, expressed safety concerns involving e-bikes near driveways, on Industrial Road, Cedar Street, and sidewalks, and urged clearer signage and deterrence. - Sonia Elks, a resident, supported additional safety education and provided suggestions on how to make e-bikes safer.
- Mark Iwanowski, a resident, emphasized the importance of parent education and parental responsibility.
- Sara Haller, a resident, urged a stronger, more proactive enforcement of violations.
Council provided the following directions to staff:
- Continue collaborating with the Sheriff's Office and monitor county and state legal developments; return to Council at an appropriate future time with updates. - When returning to Council, provide additional data, including complaint reports, enforcement records, and service-call logs, to help identify where problems are concentrated.
- Consider coordinating with the School District on parent and youth education efforts. - Evaluate whether this issue warrants discussion at a future City-School District 2+2 meeting.
- Consider appropriate signage on the 700 block of Laurel Street to address bicycle and ebike restrictions.
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- Align enforcement shifts to target high-activity periods, such as Wednesday afternoons when youth are most likely to be riding e-bikes downtown.
12. NEW BUSINESS
a. Consideration of Adopting a Resolution Adopting a Memorandum of Understanding Between the City of San Carlos and the American Local 856, Freight Checkers, Clerical Employees and Helpers Union, International Brotherhood of Teamsters ("Teamsters") Unit for the Period of September 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028.
Administrative Services Director Rebecca Mendenhall presented the proposed Memorandum of Understanding for the Teamsters Unit.
MOTION: Adopt Resolution 2026-106 adopting a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of San Carlos and the American Local 856, Freight Checkers, Clerical Employees and Helpers Union, International Brotherhood of Teamsters ("Teamsters") Unit for the period of September 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028.
MOVER: Dugan
SECONDER: Rak
AYES: Dugan, Layton, McDowell, Rak, Venkatesh
NAYS: None
RESULT: Motion Passed 5 – 0
13. AGENDA SETTING
None.
14. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Venkatesh adjourned the meeting at 8:41 p.m.
Crystal Mui,
City Clerk