City Council Regular Meeting Minutes – 3/4/2024 Page 1
6 1
6 5
COUNCIL MEMBERS
Lisa Diaz Nash, Mayor
Rob Newsom Jr., Deputy Mayor
Rich Hedges
Amourence Lee
Adam Loraine
CITY OF SAN MATEO
Regular Meeting Minutes
City Council Meeting
City Hall
330 W. 20th Avenue
San Mateo CA 94403
www.cityofsanmateo.org
March 4, 2024
City Hall Council Chambers 7:00 PM
Regular Meeting
CALL TO ORDER at 7:15 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance
Roll Call
Present: Mayor Diaz Nash, Deputy Mayor Newsom, Council Members: Hedges, Lee, and Loraine AB 2449 Requests and Considerations for Meeting Participation by Teleconference due to Just Cause or Emergency Circumstances - there were no requests.
CEREMONIAL
1. Samaritan House 50th Anniversary – Proclamation - Laura Bent, CEO Samaritan House, received the proclamation.
CONSENT CALENDAR
The following items, 2 through 6, were considered to be routine by the City Council. After the titles of the items were read by the Deputy City Clerk, the public was invited to comment and there were no speakers. Motion passed 5-0.
Moved: Loraine, Seconded: Newsom
Ayes: Diaz Nash, Newsom, Hedges, Lee, and Loraine
Noes: None
2. City Council Meeting Minutes - Approval
Approve the minutes of the special meetings of December 11, 2023, December 20, 2023, February 3, 2024, and special and regular meetings of February 5, 2024 and February 20, 2024.
3. AB 481 Annual Military Equipment Report – Approval
Approve the Annual Military Equipment Report per California State Assembly Bill No. 481.
4. Gateway Park Pedestrian Bridge Replacement Project – Agreement Approve an agreement with Biggs Cardosa Associates, Inc. for design professional services for the Gateway Park Pedestrian Bridge Replacement Project in the amount not to exceed $228,000; establish a contingency reserve of $23,000; and authorize the Public Works Director to execute the agreement in substantially the form presented and approve amendments within the contingency amount.
5. Public Works Facilities Construction Manager – Amendment Approve Amendment No. 1 to the professional services agreement with Nickitas 7280, Inc. in the amount of $86,524.50, for a revised total amount of $180,708.50; and authorize the Public Works Director to execute the amendment in substantially the form presented and to execute no-cost time extensions, if necessary.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes – 3/4/2024 Page 2
6 1
6 5
6. 25th Avenue Grade Separation Memorandum of Understanding – Amendment Approve Amendment No. 4 to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board and San Mateo County Transportation Authority to extend the MOU for two years and authorize the City Manager to execute the amendment in substantially the form presented.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Irena Mavridies, John Connelly, Kelly Ryerson, Philip Deardorff, Chris Misner, Cheryl Glaiser, the Dominguez Family, and Wayne expressed concerns relating to Small Cell Tower installations.
The following individuals spoke in favor of agendizing a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza: Nicole Han, Lina, Inas, Samiha Erakat, Tala Michael, Tammi Michael, Rama Sousou, Amy Moore, Amena, Cristina Giutierrez, Zach Klieman, Rami Eseifan, Leilah, Rana, Maya Fallaha, Samia Shaman, Falestine El Hefinawi, Ayah, Kamilah Albahri, Samaiter, Linda Khoung, Keliana, Jing S, Dounya Matar, Justin, Merimiya, Jay Katt, Kate Kane, Sumaia Asfour, Babol Zaro, Besan Zaro, Dalaney Wan, Nasir, Hibbs, Amber, Cesar Che Rodriguez.
The following residents spoke against agendizing a ceasefire resolution: Jessica Jorkash, Anne Frank, Ornit Rose, C.C., Nadan Kanarik, Tali Arsel, Karen Moen, Alan Fisher, Leya Leydiker, David Paslan , Ron Patel, Regina, Dave Bauer, Hilit Kashani, Sigalle Michael, Barvon David, Ziv Rosen, Scott Abramson, Andrew Nemiccob, Sandy Shepler, Andrew Epstein, Rena Korb, Raz Len, Sarit Polevog, Edward Luby, Sophia Khalifa, Alec Budman, Desiree, Ben Parnas, Liat, Amir Basant, Ravid, Val, Olga, Ashley, Anne.
Council recessed from 9:20 p.m to 9:30 p.m.
PUBLIC HEARING
7. General Plan Amendment to Adopt Strive San Mateo General Plan 2040 Zachary Dahl, Interim Community Development Director, and Joanna Jansen, PlaceWorks, provided a presentation on final review and direction of the multi-year update of the General Plan 2040. This is the first public hearing and the second will occur on March 18, 2024 with a request for formal adoption of the plan.
Council asked questions of staff on housing growth, heights and densities, historic resources, and implementation, in addition to other aspects of the General Plan.
Public Comment:
Laurie Watanuki expressed need for further analysis in Environmental Impact Report for Service Commercial to address traffic impacts and historic resources. David Light provided feedback on Final Environmental Impact Report, Michelle Ma spoke on concerns impacting Study Areas 3 and 8. Jennifer Renk spoke to request 1720 S Amphlett be designated as Mixed Use Medium 1. Michael Weinhauer expressed concerns with approving the General Plan; Gene Alson objected to including contributors in the historic district ordinance; Connie Weiss and Lisa Vande Voorde spoke in favor of including contributors to the definition of historic resources. Dave Cohen expressed concerns with population numbers, Carol Eldridge and Jeremy Levine spoke in favor of High 2.
Council recessed from 11:22 p.m. to 11:31 p.m.
Council thanked staff and volunteers for their contributions to the development of the General Plan. Staff received direction from Council in support for the four recommendations provided by the Planning Commission for staff revisions to the map, and for looking at mixed use on the Marriot site for further discussion at the meeting on March 18, 2024.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes – 3/4/2024 Page 3
6 1
6 5
REPORTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
City Manager, City Attorney and Council Members reported on their various assignments and liaison roles. Council in response to general public comment, a majority of council members expressed concern with the war in Gaza but declined to take up the proposed request to vote on a resolution requesting a cease fire as outside the scope of this Council.
CLOSED SESSION
Following the opportunity for public comment, there were no speakers, Council convened into Closed Session at 11:59 p.m. to consider:
8. Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation
(Paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Government Code Section 54956.9) Name of Case: Danielle M., et al. v. Winchester, Noah, et al., San Mateo Superior Court Case No.: 22-CIV-01066
9. Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation
(Paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Government Code Section 54956.9) Name of Case: City of San Mateo v. Argonaut Insurance Company, United States District Court - Northern District of California Case No.: 5:23-cv-02504-VKD
ADJOURNMENT –The meeting adjourned at 12:31 a.m. on March 5, 2024.
APPROVED BY: SUBMITTED BY:
Lisa Diaz Nash, Mayor Martin McTaggart, Deputy City Clerk