Docusign Envelope 10: 89DE6317-OA95-495E-80CD-13AE6261EC8F
TOWN OF WOODSIDE
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Independence Hall, 2955 Woodside Road, Woodside
April 23, 2024
7:00 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Wall called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Councilmembers Brown, Dombkowski, Fluet, Goeld, Shaw, and Mayor Wall Staff Present:
Jean Savaree, Town Attorney
Sage Schaan, Planning Director
Yazdan Emrani, Town Engineer/Public Works Director
MeLissa CardinaLe, Interim Town Clerk/Assistant to the Town Manager
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Four students from the Woodside Elementary School Led the Pledge of Allegiance.
PRESENT ATION
Jerry Shefren, a Director of the Sequoia HeaLthcare District, gave a presentation about the District and the services they offer the community.
COAAMUNICATIONS
Margi Power and Kaarin Hardy, Co-Founders/Co-Presidents of the Leadership Council San Mateo County, spoke about the upcoming application period for the Leadership CORPS and Emerging Leaders programs.
Kim Hansen, Raymundo Drive, spoke about a recent Planning Commission meeting where two Town Councilmem6ers spoke as private citizens against part of the Housing Element that they approved as Town CounciLmembers, asking if it is okay for a Town Councilmember to make a decision as a public officer, comment as a private citizen and give different direction, and then act again in their public position.
TOWN MANAGER REPORT
Ms. CardinaLe presented the Town Manager report and stated: the Glens Path has been completed; there have been a few new subscribers to the Town's website.
Mr. Schaan spoke about the call with the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and stated: the Town formally submitted Draft 3 on March 1 5; HCD has a 60-day review period and HCD provided preliminary comments to staff; the EIR for the Housing Element should be distributed to the public within the next week or two.
Council questions included: what the process is for reviewing the draft documents; when these drafts will be brought to the Town Council for review; what comments did HCD provide.
In response to the Council's questions, Mr. Schaan stated: the Planning Commission reviews the EIR and provides a recommendation to the Town Council; clear dates should be confirmed soon; HCD was asking for clarification on group homes, upward mobility and widespread zoning choices; staff explained to HCD the infrastructure constraints of the community and the possibility of allowing more ADUs on larger lots., Town Council Meeting Minutes April 23, 2024 Page 1
Docusign Envelope 10: 89DE6317-OA95-495E-80CD-13AE6261EC8F
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Register of Demands Against the Town of Woodside from March 16 through 31, 2024.
2. Approval of Minutes: Regular Meetings of February 27, March 12, and March 26, 2024.
3. 2023-24 Third Quarter Budget Review.
4. Resolution to Create a Town Cell Phone Policy Which Includes Purpose, Policy, And Procedures.
Resolution No. 2024 - 7670
5. Resolution Approving Annual Rate Adjustment for Mixed Compostable and Recyclable Materials and Yard Trimming Collection Services for Greenwaste Recovery, LLC For 2024-2025.
Resolution No. 2024 - 7671
6. Resolution(1)ApprovingthePlansandSpecificationsfortheKingsMountainRoad/!)VoodsideRoad & Canada Road/Romero Road Crosswalk Project, (2) Authorizing Bidding of the Project for Construction, and (3) Authorizing the Town Manager to Execute a Construction Contract for the Project in an Amount Not to Exceed 5225,000, Which Includes 530,000 for Construction Contingency.
Resolution No. 2024 - 7672
CounciLmember Brown pulled Item 6 for discussion.
Councilmember Fluet moved approval of the Consent Calendar Items 1-5.
Motion seconded by CounciLmember Shaw and approved by roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
Councilmembers Brown, Dombkowski, FLuet, Goeld, Shaw, and Mayor Wall None
Regarding Item 6, Councilmember Brown stated: he is in favor of the idea of crosswaLks; he would like to know what research has been done on the costly implications of thesetypes of crosswalks; arewe receiving any County funding for Safe Routes to School.
In response to the Council's questions, Mr. Emrani stated: these crosswalks are part of the CIP projects that have already been included in the budget; he can't speak to the research that was done here but these crosswaLks are becoming more prevalent in a lot of cities.
The Public Comment Period opened at 7:41 p.m.
Marilyn VoeLke, Roan Place, stated she thought this was a very expensive fix for a less than likely used place to cross but there may have been other studies and reasons for these projects.
Ehsan Farkhondeh, Chair of the Circulation Committee, spoke about the requests from residents and support for these two crosswalks. He indicated these would be flashing crosswaLk signs which are off and completely unlit unless there is a pedestrian who pushes the button. This item has been on the Circulation Committee's agenda and the Town Council's agenda multiple times. He thinks it is a good improvement for the town and a huge increase in safety for those trying to cross the street.
The Public Comment Period closed at 7:44 p.m.
Council discussion incLuded: clarification on the flashing lights; providing safe routes to schools and safe roads is the best and the least things we could do for this community; there has been a lot of enthusiasm for these crosswalks from parents at Woodside Elementary School.
Councilmember Goeld moved approval of the Consent Calendar Item 6.
Town Council Meeting Minutes April 23, 2024 Page 2
Docusign Envelope ID: 89DE6317-OA95-495E-80CD-13AE6261EC8F Motion seconded by Councilmember Fluet and approved by roll call vote:
AYES: CounciLmembers Brown, Dombkowski, FLuet, GoeLd, Shaw, and Mayor Wall NOES: None
OLD BUSINESS
A. Resolution Authorizing the Town Manager to Execute a Contract Expansion Agreement with Flock Safety to Procure Additional Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR) Equipment and Support Services.
Resolution No. 2024 - 7673
Ms. Cardinale presented the staff report.
Council questions included: having signage on the perimeter of town or on the cameras and choosing a different sign than the one proposed by Flock because 24/7 video recording isn't occurring in Woodside; what is the focus of the camera at Town Center since it not exactly a residential community; what is the effectiveness since deployment of the ALPRs; could additional cameras be placed south of Old La Honda Road on Skyline Boulevard and in the Glens.
In response to the Council's questions, Sergeant Patrick Taylor stated: the main goal of the cameras is to create a web and network; multiple cameras throughout the county catch crimes occurring and vehicles are caught on Woodside cameras or in multiple jurisdictions.
The Public Comment Period opened at 7:59 p.m.
Ms. Voelke spoke about capturing a vehicle on a camera in her neighborhood and asked if a camera could be placed further up Kings Mountain Road near the Huddart Park entrance.
In response to Ms. Voelke's question, Ms. CardinaLe stated: staff can explore adding a camera further up Kings Mountain Road near Huddart Park.
Mr. Farkhondeh spoke about his dissatisfaction with the increase in pricing on the cameras from last year.
The Public Comment Period closed at 8:04 p.m.
Council discussion included: choosing locations where the Town doesn't have to wait for CaLTrans approval; direction to staff to further explore future locations near Huddart Park, Raymundo, and Old La Honda Road on Skyline Boulevard; direction to staff on signage on the perimeter of town to state that ALPR data is being collected; continuing to audit the data to make sure it is being used appropriately for the acceptable uses in the Town's policy.
CounciLmember Goeld moved to adopt the Resolution and provide direction to staff for perimeter signage.
Motion seconded by Councilmember Fluet and approved by roll call vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Brown, Dombkowski, FLuet, Goeld, Shaw, and Mayor Wall NOES: None
B. StudySessionRegardingPotentialAmendmentstoWoodsideMunicipalCodeSection153.500,Signs. j%fls.Savaree presented the staff report.
Council questions included: what signs are included in the definition of political; what is the process for enforcement; what is the basis for regulating non-commercial signs; are real estate signs exempt from regulations.
In response to the Council's questions, Ms. Savaree stated: the case states that if you allow a temporary sign, all temporary signs have to be regulated in the same way; commercial speech has always been given Less protection under the Constitution; if you have a rational basis for imposing a regulation on a commercial sign, Town Council Meeting Minutes April 23, 2024 Page 3
Docusign Envelope ID: 89DE6317-OA95-495E-80CD-13AE6261EC8F that could be upheld; regarding enforcement, temporary political signs erected in areas where they are not allowed would be removed; if somebody has a sign in their front yard that violates the ordinance, a complaint could be submitted to the Town and a code enforcement action would proceed; state Law regulates real estate signs.
The Public Comment Period opened at 8:34 p.m.
Margaret London, Vintage Court, spoke about major construction in their neighborhood, the unattractive signs posted for 7-8 years by the contractors and subcontractors, and what restrictions there are on contractors and subcontractors displaying these types of signs.
In response to Ms. London's questions, Mr. Schaan stated: construction signs are temporary signs and one sign not exceeding 6 sq. ft. in area may be placed on each commercial, institutional, and residential construdion project authorized by a valid building permit; the signs are to be removed upon completion of the project and the responsibility for the maintenance or removal lies with the property owner.
Kim Hansen, member of the Circulation and Trails Committees, spoke about their committees working with the Livestock and Equine Heritage Committee on the issue of signs to make sure they show who is in charge of the projeds if there is illegal parking or an unsafe situation.
Ms. Voelke spoke about a sign on Olive Hill and wishes to bring forward a complaint that the sign has been up for 5 years with no discernabLe work going on; commercial content signs should be a separate category; signs in commercial districts should be treated differentLythan signs in residential districts; all temporarysign placement should be tied to property ownership or occupancy of the property; temporary signs and political signs should be under a single category of temporary signs; if signs will be attached onto a building in a residential district, they shouldn't be higher than 8 ft; think about the signs we have in town and then Let people put up those temporary signs 30 days before an event and remove 10 days after the scheduled event.
The Public Comment Period closed at 8:46 p.m.
Council discussion included: yard sale signs being consistent with the Reed case; size of banners and signs and a setback in front yards; temporary signs by zoning or election times; the process of enforcement for signs that are not in compliance with the ordinance; height of signs; aligning the timing of election signs with the state's guidance of 90 days prior and removed 10 days after the election; whether or not commercial signs should be in residential neighborhoods; construdion signs need more restridions; discuss in the future the length of construction projects.
In response to the Council's comments, Ms. Savaree stated: yard sale signs are not consistent with Reed; if there are violations, the Town can ask the court for an injundion to force compliance.
Ms. Savaree summarized the comments made by the Counci( during the study session: regarding size, temporary signs up to 24 sq. ft.; regarding banners in residential districts, 10 ft. from the edge of the paved surface and 4x6 sq. ft. in size; 8 ft. for freestanding signs is okay but for signs attached to buildings, the signs can't be taller than the height of the building; regarding election signs, displayed 90 days before an election and removed 10 days after; regarding signs in the right-of-way, 2 ft. off of the paved roadway; continue to have one construction sign, 6 sq. ft. in size on a site; follow up on the code enforcement complaints made during Public Comment; no commercial signs in residential districts unless it is one 6 ft. construction sign or real estate sign as required by state Law; an ordinance will be brought forward to the Planning Commission to make a recommendation to the Council.
NEW BUSINESS
C. Study Session Regarding the Role of the Architectural and Site Review Board in the Architectural and Site Review Process.
Mr. Schaan summarized the staff report.
Council questions included: what are the triggers for ASRB review for the Western Hills and scenic corridors and how can we make it more equitable across iown for project review by the ASRB; could Town Council Meeting Minutes April 23, 2024 Page 4
Docusign Envelope ID: 89DE6317-OA95-495E-80CD-13AE6261EC8F certain projects in the ordinance be deleted by the Council; is there an advantage to having professional staff instead of volunteers reviewing projects; does staff have recommendations for streamLining the permitting process to be able to handle almost triple the current workload; would the Planning Department have enough staff hours for an increased workload; could the story pole requirement stay in place; could there be a Design Review Council that wou(d not be subject to the Brown Act requirements.
In response to the Council's questions, Mr. Schaan stated: the triggers are projects greater than 1,000 sq. ft. and the rest of town is projects greater than 2,000 sq. ft.; changing the threshold to the rest of the town wouldn't have a significant impact and would help streamline some of the process; deLeting certain project types from the ordinance would be the simplest way to make changes as opposed to a full restructure of the ordinance; staff and members of the ASRB have learned to read plans well; in the past, the ASRB has had design professionals who are residents but currently there are no architects on the ASRB; having more than one person reviewing a project gives more insight or different viewpoints and that can be more effective than just one person who has a professional background in the area; staff hours depends on how the process is set up because design review would still occur at a staff level and they could have less staff reports to write if there are fewer projects to the ASRB or Planning Commission; the story pole requirement could stay in place and be worded for different projects or building permit level; the Town in the past had a consulting architect; other cities have an entire board comprised of hired professionals.
In response to the Council's questions, Ms. Savaree stated: one other model in the past was San Carlos where they had specific issues that the Planning Commission thought needed to be looked at more closely or reviewed, then two members of the Planning Commission would review the project with the applicant and make a report back to the Planning Commission on those particular issues; this was on an ad hoc basis; ad hoc committees could include residents of the town but if a standing committee is created, it is a Brown Act committee.
The Public Comment Period opened at 10:00 p.m.
Craig London spoke about his time on the Planning Commission and how they would work with the ASRB members, staff, and the property owners; he supports letting the Planning Commission do more preliminary work with the property owner and then coming up with some ideas to bring to the entire Planning Commission for review and decision-making.
MariLyn VoeLke spoke about how since incorporation, the Town has been an all-volunteer run government with a paid professional staff; every time the numbers are reduced on the Town Council, Planning Commission, and ASRB, you reduce volunteer participation; it is okay to talk and think of the future but she would urge the Town Council not to reduce the numbers anymore right now; there is a difference between the ASRB and the Planning Commission and what they do; the last four years has been packed with policy oriented items driven by the state and Less single project oriented projects; the Planning Commission was supposed to continue reviewing the Western Hills years ago but other projects pushed that project back; remember the burden that everybody faces and remember your applicant goal because if you keep reducing the number of people, you are going to have a harder time to find somebody to step up.
Aydan Kutay spoke about her time on the Planning Commission; how San Francisco and the Mission Bay Planning Board hire professional architects to review architectural design issues because they had trouble recruiting people to work on unpaid committees; some of the functions of the ASRB could be done by the Planning Commission.
The Public Comment Period closed at 10:17 p.m.
Council discussion included: modernizing and updating the Planning Commission and ASRB and looking forward to the future of Woodside; possibly removing the Western Hills and scenic corridors requirements discussed earlier; restructuring the process for projects brought forward to the Planning Commission and ASRB; could there be a modified system where the Planning Commission takes over some of the roles and maybe the ASRA hybrid model where they are in charge of making sure that the Residential Design Guidelines don't get lost in the shuffle; raising the metrics that require review, keeping story poles, and streamLining the processes; these bodies are here to serve the public and we want to do that in the most Town Council Meeting Minutes April 23, 2024 Page 5
Docusign Envelope ID: 89DE6317-OA95-495E-80CD-13AE6261EC8F efficient, cost-effective way possible; there is a lot of frustration with building and efficiency in town; interest in learning more about having an ad hoc subcommittee or informal consulting bodies of either volunteers or paid professionals; not wanting to lose the opportunity for public participation, public notice of projects, and focusing on design; the Town has limited staff resources; asking staff to come back with a recommendation or options for how we can rebalance in a practical way that is going to make the right tradeoffs in terms of staff, applicants, and volunteer resources but not losing the important attributes of the ASRB that the Town Council collectively agrees are really important.
In response, Mr. Schaan stated: staff would meet and discuss how to bring this back with maybe some more concrete recommendations based on this study session.
REPORTS
A. Volunteer Committee Updates.
Ms. Cardinale spoke about Environment Et Open Space Committee applications for the Heritage Tree Award and presenting the awards at the May Day festivities; the Environment Et Open Space Committee and Climate & Sustainability Committee will be hosting a joint movie night, date to be determined; the Recreation Committee will be sponsoring the May Day Fun Run & Walk and registration is open; the Volunteerism Committee will be planning its second Volunteer Engagement Fair to be held on June 20 or July 18 from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. for residents to learn more about the Town's Citizen Advisory Committees.
B. Mayor and Councilmember Communications.
Councilmember Goeld distributed an article in Politico about cities and towns regretting taking stands on controversial issues, spoke about the housing permits in the state being down 7% Last year, and that as of three weeks ago, according to KQED, 40% of the cities and towns in California are out of compliance on the Housing Element.
Councilmember Fluet spoke about Supervisor Mueller hosting' a meeting on the insurance crisis and it is in Half Moon Bay and not on Zoom. Supervisor Mueller has indicated he will hold other meetings on this issue.
Mayor Wall spoke about the completion of the Glens Path project and an upcoming ribbon cutting ceremony. She is preparing an email to send out to residents in her district relating to the Town's communication improvements. Mayor Wall then spoke of the history of the naming of Bear Gulch Creek.
COMMUNICATIONS
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Wall adjourned the meeting at 10:37 p.m.
Clerk of the Town of Woodside
APPROVED:
Mayor of the Town of Woodside
Town Council Meeting Minutes April 23, 2024 Page 6