DocuSign Envelope ID: 6100B9CF-9B40-4B80-80ED-5CAD0B658F51
TOWN OF WOODSIDE
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES February 13, 2024
Independence Hall, 2955 Woodside Road, Woodside 7:00 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Pro Tempore Fluet called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Councilmembers Brown, Dombkowski, Goeld, Shaw, and Mayor Pro Tempore Fluet
Absent: Mayor Wall
Staff Present:
Kevin Bryant, Town Manager
Jean Savaree, Town Attorney
Sage Schaan, Planning Director
Yazdan Emrani, Town Engineer/Public Works Director
Jennifer Li, Town Clerk
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Four students from the Woodside Elementary School led the Pledge of Allegiance.
COMMUNICATIONS
Tyler Hawes, CivicBell, spoke of the free civic engagement technology platform with a unique residency verification system purposely built for productive political engagement that has users in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties, as well as Assemblymember Marc Berman.
Kim Hansen, Raymundo Drive, spoke about an upcoming Woodside Fire Protection District meeting on February 27, 2024, where an ordinance update will be discussed, and her opposition to Section 8 of the ordinance because it would create additional point-of-sale burdens on sellers.
In response, Mr. Bryant stated: the Fire District would do two readings, so the earliest it would come before the Council would be April; the Town's options are to consider and ratify the ordinance in full, ratify in parts, or reject; he plans to discuss Ms. Hansen's concerns with the Fire Marshal to understand the language and intent of the ordinance.
TOWN MANAGER REPORT
Mr. Bryant stated: his appreciation and recognition of the Public Works team who were proactive in preventing flooding during the recent storms; the Woodside Fire Protection District deployed extra staff to handle many of the tree-related issues; his invitation for Mr. Emrani to address a Glens pathway question that was raised at the last Council meeting regarding a sharp curve on the downhill portion.
Mr. Emrani spoke of: discussing with the design engineer the tight curve, which is based on AASHTO (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials) equations; reducing the speed limit for both lanes from 15 miles per hour to 10 miles per hour.
Questions of staff included: whether additional signage or physical warning is appropriate for drivers approaching the sharp curve.
Town Council Meeting Minutes February 13, 2024 Page 1
DocuSign Envelope ID: 6100B9CF-9B40-4B80-80ED-5CAD0B658F51 In response to Council's questions, Mr. Emrani stated: they do not plan to have additional signage since there are no crosswalks in that area, however, they will install sidewalks which will provide some protection for pedestrians; rumble strips create a noise disturbance for nearby residents.
Additional Council comments included: commending the Public Works crew for maintaining the storm drains.
INTERVIEW AND APPOINTMENT TO THE ASRB
David Mittelman introduced himself.
Council questions included: whether he was aware that the Council may have a study session on incorporating the ASRB's duties into the Planning Commission; how he balances private property rights and responsibilities with Woodside as a homeowner's association that must be defended at all cost; how he would describe how much stretch there is in what Council wants to what the State wants in regards to housing; in reviewing where the ASRB is now and Town regulations, is there anything that stands out that is glaringly out of place that he would like to change; his technique with dealing with intensely personal issues, mediating between two parties to end up with a fair result, and potentially need to give bad news to people.
In response to the Council's questions, Mr. Mittelman stated: he is okay with the Council's intent to study whether the Planning Commission could absorb the ASRB's duties; as was practiced during his navy service, it is about the mission, not the individual; regarding balance, we need to find a way to meet the goals; with the Housing Element, if the Town does not do anything, we lose the ability to choose; there are already limitations in place with the Residential Design Guidelines, ordinances, and septic regulations; regarding suggested changes, the regulations on alternate septic systems could be updated; there is some value in combining the design review steps; the current process is onerous and discourages design changes; more common sense could be applied to the story pole requirement; the Residential Design Guidelines help to work through difficult decisions; it is all about compromising and ensuring that everyone is heard.
Vladimir Taft introduced himself.
Council questions included: whether he was aware that the Council may have a study session on incorporating the ARB's duties into the Planning Commission, and whether that would impact his interest in the position; where he stands on the scale between protecting private property rights and Town regulations; how he would balance neighbors' conflicting desires; how he would approach a different opinion than his on how Woodside should grow; how he would ensure people felt the process In response to the Council's questions, Mr. Taft stated: if the ASRB was absorbed into the Planning Commission, it would not impact him; he has gained an understanding of government operations during his tenure on the Emergency Preparedness Committee; he is not an architecture expert, but has an appreciation for beauty and what appropriately fits with the landscape; from his personal experience building homes in Palo Alto and Menlo Park, he can relate to the residents' challenges versus the complexities the Town faces; it is important to strike the right balance between what is appropriate for the lot and maintaining privacy and enjoyment of nature; both sides need to be heard and evaluated against the criteria; to satisfy the State housing mandates, there are ways to encourage legalizing illegal ADUs and possibly build a retirement community similar to the one in Portola Valley; his solution for a fair process is conflict avoidance; it depends where the conflict stems from (i.e., civil disputes, staff opinion, set regulations).
Council discussion with staff included: with two desirable candidates, preference to delay the ASRB appointment to February 27th since Matthew Apfel, current ASRB member, applied to the Planning Commission; if Matthew Apfel is appointed, there would be two vacancies on the ASRB; the Council Town Council Meeting Minutes February 13, 2024 Page 2
DocuSign Envelope ID: 6100B9CF-9B40-4B80-80ED-5CAD0B658F51 can determine whether they want to reopen the appointment process; the Council will accept any new applications submitted in the next two weeks.
No one from the public wished to comment on the ASRB candidates.
INTERVIEW AND APPOINTMENT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION
It was noted that: Matthew Apfel and Darrell Batchelder were not present; Marilyn Voelke withdrew her application; a new Planning Commission application was submitted; the vote will be postponed to the next meeting on February 27, 2024.
Matt Garr introduced himself.
Council questions included: whether there is anything dysfunctional he would like to change on the Planning Commission, and what the Council can do to improve the process; does the Planning Commission have the capacity to absorb many of the ASRB's responsibilities; how he approaches making findings for projects; what qualities/skills make a successful Commissioner.
In response to the Council's questions, Mr. Garr stated: predictability is important; the public hearing process could be improved by consolidating the reviewing bodies; also, certain types of Variances could be streamlined (e.g., water tanks); lately, the Planning Commission workload has been light, and could absorb many of the ASRB's responsibilities; to make findings, he tries to approach it without bias; desired qualities are: having a passion for service and for the Town, similar to being a parent watching a child grow through different phases, being fair and balanced, having a lot of empathy, and being a good listener.
Benjamin Jensen introduced himself.
Council questions included: clarification about his experience on the Stanford Senate (i.e., his role and lessons that carry into a Commissioner's role); clarification on his role as a guest speaker for an Interpersonal Dynamics class; the type of engineer he is; how he would mitigate issues between neighbors; whether he is ready to make difficult decisions that may affect his relationship with his neighbors; whether he has had any experience with the Town's permit or public hearing processes; as a newer resident, how would he justify questions about his Town knowledge.
In response to the Council's questions, Mr. Jensen stated: during his experience, Stanford was going through a financial crisis, and the university was trying to balance budgets and interests of student groups; it was important to him that the student groups understood how budget cuts would affect them so they can adjust accordingly; he teaches one day a week on organizational behavior in a class called Interpersonal Dynamics; there are three realities - his intentions, his actions, and how his actions impact others; how people perceive actions vary wildly as people have a basket of feelings that they're feeling at any moment that are misunderstood; he has a bigger appreciation for dealing with people; his degrees are in mechanical engineering and works in designing efficient energy systems; to mitigate issues between neighbors, predictability is important; each party has an understanding of the statutes that are being applied; it's really important to have the empathy to make sure that every person feels understood and heard as they're going through the process; a lot of conflict comes from the lack of understanding; it is important to surface conflicts in a safe container and then transparently resolve issues within the code that is understood by both parties; if appointed, he would be part of the Commission as a group; his intentions for public service are to be a part of the change he hopes to see in the world; he has experience with permit and public hearing processes outside of California; his vision for Woodside is a connected community ideal for raising families.
Aydan Kutay introduced herself.
Town Council Meeting Minutes February 13, 2024 Page 3
DocuSign Envelope ID: 6100B9CF-9B40-4B80-80ED-5CAD0B658F51 Council questions included: clarification on her reasons for applying; what may be dysfunctional about the Planning Commission that she would change; whether the Planning Commission could absorb responsibilities of the ASRB; her thoughts about expanding parking at Cañada Corners; how she foresees the Town's ability to maintain its rural character while the State demands more parking and transit opportunities; whether she can make findings in compliance with the code, even though it is in conflict with her personal feelings; what qualities make a successful Planning Commissioner.
In response to the Council's questions, Ms. Kutay stated: her enjoyment for serving on the Planning Commission, to provide continuity, as well as 12 years of institutional knowledge; each Commissioner truly cares about the Town, and the Planning Commission works well together in reaching decisions after careful discussions; the Commission can absorb some of the functions of the ASRB due to the light workload lately; she is very passionate about keeping the character of Woodside, so expanding parking is against her feelings, however, she understands that times are changing and the Town needs to adapt; the Commission will carefully review parking issues; the Town must comply with State laws; underground parking could be explored; there are major infrastructure challenges; whenever she makes findings, she first carefully reviews staff's points, however, at a certain point, personal feelings must be expressed; qualities that make a successful Planning Commissioner are: respect for each other, making the effort to learn; attention to the municipal code, making the time to carefully read staff reports, site visits, and being able to empathize with applicants.
Alexander Tauber introduced himself.
Council questions included: whether the Planning Commission could potentially absorb responsibilities of the ASRB; his thoughts on the next steps after the passage of Measure A; how he sees himself approaching the difficult decision of making findings against a friend, neighbor, or acquaintance; whether he understands the opposition to Measure A; what he sees as the biggest zoning issue for the Western Hills area; what would he change about the Planning Commission.
In response to the Council's questions, Mr. Tauber stated: he has mixed feelings about absorbing responsibilities of the ASRB because the ASRB's decision sharpens the Planning Commission's decision; there have been many meeting cancellations, and if the workload is not anticipated to increase, it may make sense to consolidate; regarding Measure A, there needs to be a formal traffic, parking, and density study done of that area as to how to prepare it for the future; friction is necessary to move forward, and the Council is the only leadership body that is strategic enough to take control of the next steps; the one aspect out of Council's control is the fact that the land has a private owner; making findings against a friend is not something that keeps him up at night; Measure A gave him a deep sense of conviction that Woodside is a very special community compared to the surrounding communities; there are many forces pressuring the community to adapt (e.g., increasing density, climate change, fire); Measure A was a movement towards adaptation; even after heated debates on the Planning Commission, he always left comfortable with his decision; rules must be followed while enabling what is best for this community; he does not understand why the opposition to Measure A came from a dark place; he respects the families who have lived here for many generations and have an idea for how this community should be; how Measure A is implemented will be the ultimate test to settle the assumptions made and fear surrounding it; he empathizes for the folks on the opposing side and has faith the Town process will create an outcome favored by most of the residents in Town; fire, flooding, landslides, and traffic at the four corners are some of the biggest issues in the Western Hills; Lyle Weaver introduced himself.
Council questions included: whether there are any needs that the Council should be thinking about; whether he thinks the responsibilities of the ASRB could be folded into the Planning Commission; how he views the future of District 2 and its ability to meet demands of additional density while maintaining its special character; whether he is comfortable making findings that go against his neighbors' desires.
Town Council Meeting Minutes February 13, 2024 Page 4
DocuSign Envelope ID: 6100B9CF-9B40-4B80-80ED-5CAD0B658F51 In response to the Council's questions, Mr. Weaver stated: there needs to be geographic diversity, which has been more difficult when districts were decreased from seven to five; there is value in having diversity in length of residents in Woodside (i.e., it should not be a contest to see who has lived in Woodside the longest); regarding specific skill sets, the Commission seems to be in a good state; the Commission has bandwidth available to absorb the ASRB's duties with the caveat that the ASRB's objective quantitative issues rather than subjective issues are brought in; an administrative body or quasi-legislative body works better when dealing with objective standards rather than subjective standards; regarding the density issue, by having a compliant housing element, the Town can try to manage growth in a way that is Woodside-oriented; Woodside is going to evolve, including the parking in the Cañada Corners area; there will be many issues that will be unsettling to many people, and he is a rational and objective individual who can make decisions irrespective of whether it would be his personal preference or not.
The Public Comment Period opened and closed at 9:08 p.m.
Council and staff discussed a comment from Ms. Voelke regarding the transition of the old and new Commissioners: Council can decide what date new appointments would be effective; there may be three candidates to interview on February 27, 2024, before voting for five Commissioners and assigning districts.
Mr. Tauber suggested providing time for the Planning Commission to carefully elect a chair to set the stage for a good year.
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Approval of Waiver of Full Reading of Ordinance, per Government Code Section 36934.
2. Register of Demands Against the Town of Woodside from January 16 through 31, 2024.
3. Approval of Minutes: Special and Regular Meetings of January 9, 2024, and Regular Meeting of January 23, 2024.
4. Adoption of an Ordinance Amending Chapter 153 (Zoning) of the Woodside Municipal Code to Align the Town's Zoning Regulations Related to Accessory Dwelling Units with Amended Provisions in California Government Code Section 65852.2 (State Assembly Bill 2221 and Senate Bill 897).
Ordinance No. 2024 - 634
5. Resolution Modifying the Charter of the Circulation Committee.
Resolution No. 2024 - 7661
6. Resolution (1) Approving Plans and Specifications for the 2024 Road Rehabilitation Project; (2) Authorizing the Town Manager to Advertise for Bids and to Execute a Contract with the Lowest Responsive and Responsible Bidder, in an Amount No to Exceed $475,000.
Resolution No. 2024 - 7662
7. Resolution Authorizing Submittal of Applications for All CalRecycle Grant and Payment Programs for Which the Town of Woodside is Eligible.
Resolution No. 2024 - 7663
Councilmember Brown pulled Item 6 for discussion.
Town Council Meeting Minutes February 13, 2024 Page 5
DocuSign Envelope ID: 6100B9CF-9B40-4B80-80ED-5CAD0B658F51 Councilmember Dombkowski pulled Item 4 for discussion.
Regarding Item 4, Councilmember Dombkowski asked staff if the desk item received from the California Housing Defense Fund requires delaying the ordinance adoption.
In response to Council's question, Ms. Savaree stated: staff disagrees with the two points made in the letter, and is comfortable with the way the ordinance is written to be in compliance with State law.
Regarding Item 6, Councilmember Brown asked how much the budget was for the same activity a year ago and that staff be conscious about avoiding increasing thickness of the streets.
In response to Council's question, staff stated: the budget is the same; the contract came in under budget last year; how overlays and micro-surfacing do not increase the thickness of the road.
Councilmember Dombkowski moved approval of the Consent Calendar Items 1 to 7.
Motion seconded by Councilmember Brown and approved by roll call vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Brown, Dombkowski, Goeld, Shaw, and Mayor Pro Tempore Fluet NOES: None
ABSENT: Mayor Wall
REPORTS
A. Volunteer Committee Updates.
Mr. Bryant stated: the Recreation Committee approved starting a Qi Gong class; the Climate and Sustainability Committee will be present at the next meeting to provide an annual report, an update on the Climate Action Plan, and comment on solar on Town Hall and Independence Hall.
Councilmember requested that when the solar topic is brought back, to get more technical knowledge on the data.
Mr. Bryant said Peninsula Clean Energy will be prepared.
B. Mayor and Councilmember Communications.
Councilmember Brown reported on topics being discussed at the Circulation, Livestock and Equine Heritage, Environment and Open Space, Emergency Preparedness, Trails, and History Committees, as well as the County Library Joint Powers Governing Board.
Councilmember Shaw asked if the Library has discussed the Woodside Library being an emergency center.
Councilmember Brown confirmed that they have, and have also discussed expanding services to remote areas of the County that have difficulty accessing the Library system.
The Council complimented staff on the new website and the domain transition.
Councilmember Dombkowski spoke of an upcoming Audit Committee discussion.
Mayor Tempore Fluet spoke of: a recent Peninsula Clean Energy meeting; and, the upcoming Public Safety Town Hall on March 7, 2024.
The Council asked if there is a date for opening the new Fire Station.
Town Council Meeting Minutes February 13, 2024 Page 6
DocuSign Envelope ID: 6100B9CF-9B40-4B80-80ED-5CAD0B658F51 Mr. Schaan stated: they plan to begin operations in March.
COMMUNICATIONS
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Pro Tempore Fluet adjourned the meeting at 9:31 p.m.
Clerk of the Town of Woodside
APPROVED:
•DocuSigned by:
(Jennifer Wall
A67843EĐ466E432.
Mayor of the Town of Woodside
Town Council Meeting Minutes February 13, 2024 Page 7