City Council Special Meeting Minutes – 04/04/2022 Page 1
COUNCIL MEMBERS
Rick Bonilla, Mayor
Diane Papan, Deputy Mayor
Amourence Lee
Joe Goethals
Eric Rodriguez
CITY OF SAN MATEO
Special Meeting Minutes
City Council
City Hall
330 W. 20th Avenue
San Mateo CA 94403
www. cityofsanmateo. org
April 4, 2022
Remote 5: 30 PM
Special Meeting
CALL TO ORDER - This meeting was held pursuant to authorization from Government Code 54943( b)( 3) / AB361 ( 2021) in which Brown Act regulations are relaxed to allow members to participate virtually due to the Covid- 19 health emergency.
Roll Call
Remote: Mayor Bonilla, Deputy Mayor Papan, Council Members: Lee, Goethals and Rodriguez
STUDY SESSION
1. Sewer Rate Study – Initial Findings
Matt Fabry, Deputy Public Works Director, provided a brief explanation of the sewer rates fund, operating programs, and capital improvements; an overview of the Clean Water Program; and the status of capacity improvements. A list of future needs was shared regarding operations, maintenance, and capital improvements.
He then introduced Alex Handlers, Principal and Vice President of Bartle Wells to make the presentation. Mr.
Handlers explained the background on the rates and preliminary funding and displayed a survey of single family residential monthly sewer charges which showed sewer charges to be in the middle range. He pointed out the City has been successful in getting a large amount of the Clean Water Program financed with low interest rate loans creating savings for the City and rate payers. He stated the past rate increases have put the City in a good position.
Council Members asked questions of the presenters.
Public Comment – there were no speakers.
Council agreed that the Wastewater Treatment Plant requires increased maintenance staff to operate the new plant; inflationary level rate increases for 2023 would be necessary through the Prop 218 noticing process; and Council supports a multi- year rate setting. Council thanked staff for the excellent presentation and expressed great appreciation for the hard work put in to ensure that the City and rate payers will reap the benefit of great savings.
2. Diversity Equity and Inclusion Task Force – Updates
Kathy Kleinbaum, Assistant City Manager, made the presentation which included the background on the formation of the Diversity Equity and Inclusion ( DEI) Task Force that was part of the 2021- 22 City Council Strategic Plan. Staff reached out to 20 various organizations in the community. Three meetings have been held thus far with 14 community organizations currently participating on the task force. Members of the task force expressed the need for more direction from the City in order to become a viable entity that can develop actionable recommendations and bring about change. Staff is suggesting a consultant be hired with an anticipated cost of $ 50K to help facilitate the development of a DEI Strategic Plan framework which would provide direction to the task force. If this concept is approved, the task force will return to Council for final review and approval of this newly developed strategic plan. Council Members asked questions.
Public Comment – Lisa Taner commented she was glad to hear we can still add members and voiced concerns about more geographic representation citywide on the task force.
DocuSign Envelope ID: F4DFEA6C- 182B- 4C9E- B810- 09F0680FF453 City Council Special Meeting Minutes – 04/04/2022 Page 2 Council comments included pursuing outreach to San Mateo Homeowners United Association which may be helpful in getting participation from the underrepresented neighborhoods that do not have well developed neighborhood associations; City Services graduates and CERT program participants could be a good source for additional participants; the size of the task force can be problematic if it gets too large but there was interest in considering adding individuals rather than organizations; and the Boys and Girls Club could be an organization to reach out to as it is located on the east side of San Mateo.
CLOSED SESSION
Following the opportunity for public comment, there were no speakers, the City Council convened into Closed Session at 6: 38 p. m. to consider:
3. Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation Initiation of litigation pursuant to paragraph ( 4) of subdivision ( d) of Section 54956. 9: One case Reconvened into open session at 7: 00 p. m. City Attorney Prasanna Rasiah reported that City Council unanimously approved the initiation of litigation and particulars will be disclosed upon inquiry after the action has been formerly commenced pursuant to State law.
ADJOURNMENT – The meeting adjourned at 7: 01 p. m.
APPROVED BY: SUBMITTED BY:
Rick Bonilla, Mayor Joan Diskin, Deputy City Clerk
DocuSign Envelope ID: F4DFEA6C- 182B- 4C9E- B810- 09F0680FF453