City Council Special Meeting Minutes – 5/15/2023 Page 1 6 1
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COUNCIL MEMBERS
Amourence Lee, Mayor
Lisa Diaz Nash, Deputy Mayor
Rich Hedges
Adam Loraine
Rob Newsom Jr.
CITY OF SAN MATEO
Special Meeting Minutes
City Council
City Hall
330 W. 20th Avenue
San Mateo CA 94403
www.cityofsanmateo.org
May 15, 2023
City Hall Council Chambers 5:30 PM
Special Meeting
CALL TO ORDER at 5:30 p.m.
Roll Call
Present: Deputy Mayor Diaz Nash, Council Members: Loraine and Newsom
Absent: Mayor Lee
STUDY SESSION
1. 4th and Railroad Parking Lot – Bespoke Development Term Sheet Kathy Kleinbaum, Assistant City Manager, provided a presentation on the proposed Term Sheet for the public- private partnership Bespoke development project, which includes the City-owned parking lot at 4th and Railroad Avenue. Developers Carlos Castellanos, Alta Housing, Vice President, Real Estate Development, and Preston O’Connell, Harvest Properties, Partner, said a few words about their companies and answered questions.
Council asked questions of staff.
Public Comment - Linda Lam, Self-Help for the Elderly Volunteer, requested that Council allow space in the new building for Self-Help; Thomas Morgan suggested using the loan could be used as equity for the entire project and incentivize the developers to work more quickly on the housing.
Council by consensus confirmed the current financial terms and supported the project.
2. Downtown – Public Restroom
Evan Albert, Deputy Director of Public Works, provided a presentation to consider and outline the options for the opening of a public restroom in Downtown.
Public Comment – Lew Cohen, Downtown San Mateo, stated it is a public right, basic human right, to offer a public bathroom and it should be in a central location. Erica Wood, President and CEO of Chamber of Commerce, stated public restrooms support local businesses too, allows seniors and families to spend more time downtown.
Council discussion ensued. Consensus was in support of opening a public restroom at the transit center and then to do a study session in one year’s time to consider other alternatives or ideas and include input from CalTrain.
ADJOURNMENT –The meeting adjourned at 6:46 p.m.
APPROVED BY: SUBMITTED BY:
Lisa Diaz Nash, Deputy Mayor Patrice Olds, City Clerk DocuSign Envelope ID: 96F655D4-374E-40A9-A835-D8FBCA7152F4