City Council Special Meeting: 4:30 PM & Regular Meeting: 6:00 PM Tuesday, November 14, 2023
CITY HALL
1666 N. MAIN STREET, WALNUT CREEK
CouncilMembers:
FRANCOIS
SILVA
wILK
mAYOR pRO tEM Darling
mayor Haskew
Meeting minutes were approved by the City Council on December 19, 2023.
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING AT 4:30 PM
Council Chamber, 1st Floor
1. OPENING AND PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
Consider and take action on any request from a Councilmember to participate in a meeting remotely due to emergency circumstances pursuant to Government Code Section 54953(f)(1). Receive notice that a Councilmember is participating in the meeting due to just cause circumstances pursuant to Government Code Section 54953(f)(1) - none.
Councilmember Wilk was absent due to a scheduled vacation; all other Councilmembers were in attendance.
Mayor Silva reported that under California law, public comments at special meetings are limited to subjects on the agenda only. No public comments were received related to the commission reappointments.
2. ACTION ON VARIOUS COMMISSION REAPPOINTMENTS
Mayor Silva reported that Design Review Commissioner Charles Kreling withdrew his interest in reapplying for a second term to the commission.
The City Council interviewed the following Commissioners and Board appointees for consideration of a reappointment:
• Planning Commission - Ken Strongman and Brandt Andersson • County Connection Advisory Committee - Ian McLaughlin Staff also sought direction on the reappointment of the Board of Appeals members - Jasun Molinelli, Michael Milani, Bob Pickett, Nancy Tran and Philip Volkmann (no interviews). It was noted that the Board of Appeals also has one alternate member (Bernie Mark) and one vacancy. City Clerk Suzie Martinez stated that Board of Appeal members Bob Pickett, Nancy Tran and Philip Volkmann are not seeking reappointment.
Motion by Mayor Silva, second by Mayor Pro Tem Haskew,
carried unanimously
, to REAPPOINT Ken Strongman and Brandt Andersson to second terms of 4 years each on the Planning Commission, through March 6, 2028.
YEAS:
Darling, Francois, Mayor Pro Tem Haskew, Mayor Silva.
Motion by Francois, second by Mayor Pro Tem Haskew,
carried unanimously
, to REAPPOINT Ian McLaughlin as the City's representative to the County Connection Advisory Committee for an additional two years, for a term effective March 5, 2024 – March 2, 2026.
YEAS:
Darling, Francois, Mayor Pro Tem Haskew, Mayor Silva.
Motion by Mayor Silva, second by Darling,
carried unanimously
, to REAPPOINT Board of Appeal members Jasun Molinelli and Michael Milani to second terms of 4 years each, through March 6, 2028; APPOINT Bernie Mark as a member (no longer an alternate) of the Board of Appeals (term continues to run through March 2, 2026); and DIRECTION to staff to seek two additional Board of Appeal members plus two alternates during the commission recruitment process kicking off in January 2024.
3. ADJOURNMENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING at 5:24 p.m. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING AT 6:00 PM
Council Chamber, 1st Floor
1. OPENING
Consider and take action on any request from a Councilmember to participate in a meeting remotely due to emergency circumstances pursuant to Government Code Section 54953(f)(1). Receive notice that a Councilmember is participating in the meeting due to just cause circumstances pursuant to Government Code Section 54953(f)(1) - none. a.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
b.
ROLL CALL - Councilmember Wilk was absent due to a scheduled vacation; all other Councilmembers were in attendance. c.
PROCLAMATION: Walnut Creek Education Foundation – 40th Anniversary Addendum - Public Comment Received
d.
PRESENTATION: The Economic and Social Impact of Arts and Culture in Walnut Creek
2. CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Haskew, second by Francois,
carried unanimously
, to APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR as follows:
YEAS:
Darling, Francois, Mayor Pro Tem Haskew, Mayor Silva.
a.
AUTHORIZED THE PURCHASE of one (1) Ford flatbed service truck for the Fleet Maintenance Division within the Public Works Department as scheduled for replacement, in the amount of $119,033 from the City's 610 Vehicle Replacement Fund.
Agenda Report
ATTACHMENT 1 - QUOTE
ATTACHMENT 2 - CONTRACT
b.
ACCEPTED THE ESTABLISHMENT of a Public Art project in conjunction with the new combined aquatic and community center at Heather Farm Park; APPROVED a conceptual public art budget in the amount of $953,500; and APPOINTED MAYOR SILVA as the City Council representative to the Heather Farm Park Aquatic and Community Center public art selection panel.
Agenda Report
PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
Public comments were received from: Amelia Whalen; Heidi Hernandez Gatty; Vincent Morales; Craig DeVinney; Sonali Jolly-Wadhwa; and Kiroun Saluja.
4. COUNCILMEMBER AND STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS, REPORTS ON ACTIVITIES OR REQUESTS a.
Closed Session announcements - none.
b.
City Manager reports - City Manager Dan Buckshi acknowledged and congratulated Deputy City Clerk Amy Heavener. Deputy Clerk Heavener will assume the role of Town Clerk for the Town of Moraga. c.
City Councilmember reports on AB1234 Activities, Councilmember assignments and various activities and upcoming events Councilmembers announced upcoming events, reported on meetings and other local events attended since the last meeting, and made comments on issues of concern.
5. PUBLIC HEARING
City Council Ex Parte Contacts Disclosure - The City Council disclosed all ex parte contacts. Councilmembers stated they each have had communications with Ryan McNamara, vice president of development with Blake Griggs, developer. Mayor Silva also noted discussions with Brad Blake and Brad Griggs. a.
REQUEST TO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE PUBLIC BENEFIT FOR PHASE 2-THE WAYMARK, AT THE WALNUT CREEK TRANSIT VILLAGE (Y05-027) Principal Planner Chip Griffin provided the staff presentation. He reported that the developer of the Walnut Creek Transit Village, Phase 2 also known as "The Waymark" requests that the City Council allow a change to the public benefits associated with increased building height allowances granted by City Council Resolution 12-53, a General Plan Amendment. The request is to exchange the public benefit of public access through Pringle Passage for the benefit of a limited public use of the Waymark’s Great Hall for certain public events.
Mayor Silva opened the public hearing. Ryan McNamara, Blake Griggs Properties, representing Walnut Creek Transit Village, discussed the request further.
Mayor Silva opened the item for public comment; no public comments were received. Written comments were received, provided to the City Council and posted on-line as part of the meeting record.
City Attorney Steve Mattas stated the motion for the record -- to direct staff to engage in conversations with the applicant on an approach that would involve removing the commitment that Pringle Passage be open to the public permanently, as was originally anticipated, and instead would allow interim access, during leasing hours, with knowledge to the leasing agents; discuss the limited use of the Great Hall; and to discuss the more permanent public benefit(s) that would be associated with Phase 3.
Motion by Darling, second by Francois,
carried unanimously
, to DIRECT staff to engage in conversations with the applicant on an approach that would: 1. Remove the permanent access requirement to Pringle Passage; 2. Provide interim public benefits (public access to the internal public art upon request to the leasing agent during normal leasing hours) and the continued use of the Great Hall on some periodic basis; and 3. Develop permanent public benefits during the development of Phase 3.
YEAS:
Darling, Francois, Mayor Pro Tem Haskew, Mayor Silva.
City Attorney Steve Mattas noted that a resolution will be brought forward at a future meeting for approval of the re-negotiated public benefit(s), along with the determination that the previously prepared EIR for the Walnut Creek Transit Village is sufficient for the proposal.
Agenda Report
ATTACHMENT 1 - CC DRAFT RESO PUBLIC BENEFITS AMENDMENT 11142023 ATTACHMENT 2 - CC RESO NO 12-53 -- GPA -- 10.16.19
ATTACHMENT 3 - RESPONSE LETTER AND ENGINEERING PLANCHECK COMMENTS ATTACHMENT 4 - REQUEST LETTER TO ABANDON 20230706
ATTACHMENT 5 - MAP
Addendum - Public Comment Received
6. ADJOURNMENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING in memoriam of James Hale at 8:08 p.m. ________________________________________
Suzie Martinez, MMC
City Clerk of the City of Walnut Creek
Approved:
_______________________________________
Loella Haskew
2023-24 Mayor of the City of Walnut Creek