September 14, 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
September 14, 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
Rendell Bustos, Senior Planner
Vinnie Chen, Assistant Planner
Rucha Dande, Principal Planner
Sajuti Haque, Economic Development and Housing Manager
Hanieh Houshmandi, Senior Traffic Engineer
Kathy Kleinbaum, City 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
Laura Richstone, Senior Planner
Stefanie Rogers, Senior Administrator Clerk
Gregory Rubens, City Attorney
Adolfo Ruelas, Economic Development Coordinator
Al Savay, Community Development Director
Tracy Scramaglia, Assistant Public Works Director
Deanna Skaggs, Assistant Planner
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.
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5. PRESENTATIONS
a. Present Proclamations Recognizing RethinkWaste’s 2026 Trash to Art Contest Winners.
Mayor Venkatesh presented proclamations to the 2026 RethinkWaste Trash to Art Contest winners – Parker, Kenna, and Kiran and Miss Martin's 3rd grade class.
Vice Mayor Adam Rak, who serves as the RethinkWaste Boardmember, commended the annual contest and encouraged greater school participation. b. Present a Proclamation Recognizing September 2026 as Suicide Prevention Month.
Mayor Venkatesh presented a proclamation declaring September 2026 as Suicide Prevention Month to Sylvia Tang, Co-Chair of San Mateo County's Suicide Prevention Committee. Ms. Tang emphasized the importance of open conversation about suicide and highlighted available resources. She also acknowledged Council Member McDowell's leadership in the Mayor's Mental Health Initiative and thanked city staff for their proactive year-round engagement on suicide prevention.
6. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Venkatesh thanked Parks and Recreation staff for the Day of Service, noting community participation in park maintenance.
Vice Mayor Rak also acknowledged the Day of Service at Vista Park, the History Museum's annual ice cream social, and the open house for Aashvi Smiles, a new dental office near the train station.
Mayor Venkatesh additionally welcomed Muditā as a new San Carlos business.
7. PUBLIC COMMENT
Mark Iwanowski spoke on behalf of resident Linda Preston. He raised four concerns regarding the Harrington Park bid process and requested that the downtown plan portion of the 2026 Strategic Work Plan (item 8h) be pulled from the Consent Calendar pending public answers to his concerns.
Angela Giannini White, a resident, expressed concerns regarding the Harrington Park Project.
John Durkin, a resident, expressed concerns with the cost of the downtown park refresh.
8. CONSENT CALENDAR
Public Comment
- Mark Iwanowski, a resident, reiterated concerns about the Harrington Park Project and requested the Project be pulled from the Strategic Work Plan.
- Ken Castle, a resident, requested reopening the discussion regarding the closure of the 700 block of Laurel Street.
- Angela Giannini White, a resident, also spoke in support or reopening the 700 block of Laurel Street.
MOTION: Adopt City Council Consent Calendar Items ‘a’ through “j”.
MOVER: Dugan
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SECONDER: Layton
AYES: Dugan, Layton, McDowell, Rak, Venkatesh
NAYS: None
RESULT: Motion Passed 5 – 0
a. Motion to Waive Reading of All Ordinances.
b. Approve the August 10, 2026 City Council Special and Regular Meetings Minutes. c. Adopt a Resolution Adopting an Updated Salary and Benefit Resolution for the Part-Time Employee Group Effective January 1, 2027. Resolution 2026-107 d. Adopt a Resolution Approving and Adopting an Updated Comprehensive Master Salary Schedule for Fiscal Year 2026-27 in Accordance with Title 2 of the California Code of Regulations Section 570.5 and the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS). Resolution 2026- 108
e. Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the Execution of a License Agreement Between the City and Bianchini's Supermarket, Inc. for Continued Use of a Portion of the South Plaza Parking Lot for Trash Collection and Storage Purposes. Resolution 2026-109 f. Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the Execution of a Professional Services Agreement with Shawn Spano for Meeting Facilitation Services for a Five-Year Term in an Amount Not to Exceed $75,000. Resolution 2026-110
g. Deny Claim of Allison Kim.
h. Approve Updates to the City's 2026 Strategic Work Plan Items. i. Deny Claim of Leslie DeCristoferi.
j. Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the Execution of an Amendment to the Joint Use Agreement Between the City of San Carlos and San Carlos School District for Adjustments to the District’s Field Maintenance Scope of Services. Resolution 2026-111
9. STUDY SESSION
a. Receive a Presentation and Provide Direction on Updates to the Formula Business Ordinance.
Assistant Planner Deanna Skaggs presented a work program for studying the Formula Business Ordinance and, along with Community Development Director Al Savay, responded to Council questions.
Public Comment
- Ken Castle, a resident, advocated for Burlingame's downtown model and provided Council with a handout.
- David Carroll, a resident, spoke in opposition to the Formula Business Ordinance.
Council provided the following direction to staff:
- Incorporate an analysis of the age of the downtown area and any prior revitalization efforts into the staff’s research and outreach.
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- Develop a robust outreach strategy including in-person meetings with downtown business owners and property owners; and engagement with the Youth Advisory Council and the Adult Community Center community.
- Explore ways to attract visitors from neighboring communities by partnering with the Chamber of Commerce, local restaurants, and businesses to gather input and identify opportunities. - Include survey questions on the types of businesses residents feel are missing from downtown, what would attract visitors from neighboring communities, and whether they would support allowing additional formula businesses.
- Expand the jurisdictional comparison to include Burlingame, Los Gatos, Carmel-by-the-Sea, and other relevant cities, with attention to downtown revitalization history, mix of business types, and economic characteristics.
- Evaluate and present a range of options, including: maintaining the status quo; repealing the Ordinance; converting the Conditional Use Permit requirement to a Minor Use Permit requirement; adjusting the location threshold; distinguishing between national, regional, and local chains; and establishing an overall cap on formula businesses. - Consult with commercial brokers and include an assessment of available and under-marketed downtown spaces, as well as building size and lease constraints. - Return with findings and a recommendation at a subsequent study session, with an effort to complete the work ahead of the June 2027 target date.
10. NEW BUSINESS
a. Consideration of Adopting a Resolution Supporting SamTrans’ Coordination with Caltrans and the City of San Carlos to Plan, Design, and Implement Complete Street Improvements on El Camino Real in San Carlos as Part of the El Camino Real Multimodal Plan.
Planning Manager Lisa Porras opened the item and introduced the SamTrans team: Project Manager Cassie Halls, Government Affairs Officer Charlsie Chang, and Principal Engineer Consultant Erin Ferguson. The team presented the Central El Camino Real Multimodal Plan, covering San Carlos, Belmont, San Mateo, and a portion of Redwood City Ms. Halls, Ms. Porras, Senior Traffic Engineer Hanieh Houshmandi, and Ms. Chang responded to Council questions.
Public Comment
- Ken Castle, a resident, expressed concerns about dedicated bike lanes and bus rapid transit lanes and provided the Council with a handout.
- Andrew Hsu, a resident, spoke in support of the proposed Resolution. - Jennifer Rosse, a resident, spoke in support of protected bike lanes, and stated that residents on the east side would like additional opportunities to provide input as the plan develops. - Arley Lewis, a resident, spoke in support of the proposed Resolution.
Council provided the following feedback:
- Provide more proactive maintenance efforts along El Camino Real, including weed removal and upkeep of transit stops, as short-term actions to complement long-term plans.
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- Prioritize safety elements as the plan advances.
- Conduct thorough and ongoing community engagement throughout the environmental and design phases, including discussions about placemaking opportunities, to ensure the final design reflects San Carlos’ vision.
- Consider usage data before supporting dedicated bus lanes.
MOTION: Adopt Resolution 2026-112 supporting SamTrans’ coordination with Caltrans and the City of San Carlos to plan, design, and implement complete street improvements on El Camino Real in San Carlos as part of the El Camino Real Multimodal Plan.
MOVER: Rak
SECONDER: Dugan
AYES: Rak, Dugan, Layton, McDowell, Venkatesh
NAYS: None
RESULT: Motion Passed 5 – 0
b. Consideration of Introducing an Ordinance Amending San Carlos Municipal Code Chapter 5.43 - Sidewalk Vending, to Conform with SB 635 and Making Findings Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act.
City Attorney Greg Rubens presented a proposed ordinance to bring the City's sidewalk vending regulations into compliance with Senate Bill 635.
Public Comment
- A resident raised concerns about pedestrian safety on Eucalyptus Avenue when sidewalk vendors reduce the available pedestrian space.
Council Member Rak requested that the public commenter’s concern be shared with the Sheriff's Department to address safety issues related to sidewalk vending.
MOTION: Introduce Ordinance No. 1638 amending San Carlos Municipal Code Chapter
5.43 - Sidewalk Vending, to conform with SB 635 and making findings pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act with an amendment to add ‘whippets’ to the list of items prohibited from being vended.
MOVER: McDowell
SECONDER: Layton
AYES: McDowell, Rak, Dugan, Layton, Venkatesh
NAYS: None
RESULT: Motion Passed 5 – 0
11. AGENDA SETTING
a. Consideration of Agendizing an Item to Receive an Update on the Implementation of the Protected Tree Ordinance.
Vice Mayor Rak requested that an item be placed on a future agenda to provide a status update on the Protected Tree Ordinance, including an assessment of potentially conflicting provisions, the tree-removal permitting process, and compliance with replacement tree requirements.
Public Comment
- Vincent Gritsch, a resident, spoke in support of agendizing the proposed item.
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Council proposed expanding the scope to include the Citywide Tree Maintenance Program and an overview of the state of the urban tree canopy. The item received Council support and will be placed on a future meeting agenda.
12. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Venkatesh adjourned the meeting at 9:39 p.m.
Crystal Mui,
City Clerk