Docusign Envelope ID: 25CA5625-3445-4C4A-91A6-230A2BF59C49
TOWN OF WOODSIDE
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES May 28, 2024
Independence Hall, 2955 Woodside Road, Woodside 7:00 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Wall called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Councilmembers Brown, Dombkowski, Fluet, Goeld, Shaw, and Mayor Wall Staff Present:
Kevin Bryant, Town Manager
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
Two students from the Woodside Elementary School led the Pledge of Allegiance.
COMMUNICATIONS
There were no open communications.
Mayor Wall stated: a closed session was held at 6:30 p.m. and there was no report from the closed session.
TOWN MANAGER REPORT
Mr. Bryant stated: regarding the Housing Element, the Town received a comment letter from HCD on May 14, 2024, which identified two areas that still need to be addressed before the State deems the Housing Element to be in substantial compliance; Town staff met with HCD to obtain further clarity on what is deficient and what the Town could do to correct these items; Planning staff is drafting a response to Council discussion with staff included: clarifying the target date to submit the Housing Element to HCD; clarification on Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) regulations and RHNA numbers.
In response to the Council's comments, Mr. Bryant stated: Town staff is targeting July for Council to adopt the Housing Element; the comment period for the EIR closes on June 17, 2024.
In response to the Council's comments, Mr. Schaan stated: the Town has scheduled an ADU study session with the Planning Commission for June 12; Town staff reiterated to HCD the constraints the Town has due to infrastructure that is not widespread throughout town; the EIR has to go before the Planning Commission.
Mr. Bryant continued his report and stated: a study session will be held to discuss the model/organization of Town Council appointed volunteer committees; regarding outreach tools, a social media policy will be placed on a future agenda so the Town can set up an Instragram account.
The Public Comment Period opened at 7:24 p.m.
Tom Johnson spoke about his concerns with the way the volunteer committee item was presented to the committees; if the committees were to be moved to the Woodside Foundation, there is no guarantee that Town Council Meeting Minutes May 28, 2024 Page 1
Docusign Envelope ID: 25CA5625-3445-4C4A-91A6-230A2BF59C49 the funding that is required for First Friday events would continue; the Arts & Culture Committee is very concerned and looks forward to the study session.
The Public Comment Period closed at 7:27 p.m.
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 May 1 through May 17, 2024.
3. Resolution Proclaiming May 2024 as National History Month and Update on the Woodside History Committee's Activities.
4. Resolution: (1) Approving a Sewer Service Allocation to 1583 Canada Lane, Pursuant to Municipal Code Section 51.126; (2) Consenting to the Annexation of this Property into the Town Center Sewer Assessment District; and (3) Authorizing the Town Manager to Execute Revised Agreements with the City of Redwood City and Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District to Add this Property into the Approved Service Area for the Town Center Sewer Assessment District.
Resolution No. 2024 - 7671
5. Resolution: (1) Approving a Sewer Service Allocation to 1595 Canada Lane, Pursuant to Municipal Code Section 51.126; (2) Consenting to the Annexation of this Property into the Town Center Sewer Assessment District; and (3) Authorizing the Town Manager to Execute Revised Agreements with the City of Redwood City and Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District to Add this Property into the Approved Service Area for the Town Center Sewer Assessment District.
Resolution No. 2024 - 7678
6. Adoption and Second Reading of an Ordinance Amending Title XIlI, General Offenses, Chapter 130, Offenses Against Town Regulations, Article II, Weapons Offenses, by Adding Section 130.18, Safe Storage of Firearms in a Residence.
Ordinance No. 2024 - 637
7. Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Woodside Proclaiming June 2024 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) "Pride Month".
Resolution No. 2024 - 7679
Mayor Wall pulled Items 3 and 7 for discussion.
Councilmember Fluet moved approval of the Consent Calendar Items 1, 2, and 4-6.
Motion seconded by Councilmember Brown and approved by roll call vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Brown, Dombkowski, Fluet, Goeld, Shaw, and Mayor Wall NOES: None
Regarding Item 3, Mayor Wall stated: she pulled the item for members of the Woodside History Committee to present the proclamation and updates on the committee.
Melanie Olson, staff liaison for the Woodside History Committee, read the proclamation recognizing May 2024 as Woodside Preservation Month and announced the two recipients of the Historic Preservation Award - Bill and Lee Ann Gilbert and Christine Roberts.
Thalia Lubin spoke about the Old La Honda Road bridge and minor damage to one of the pylons.
Mayor Wall thanked the Woodside History Committee for putting on a lovely reception before tonight's meeting.
Regarding Item 7, Mayor Wall stated: she pulled the item to welcome our guest, Chris Sturken.
Town Council Meeting Minutes May 28, 2024 Page 2
Docusign Envelope ID: 25CA5625-3445-4C4A-91A6-230A2BF59C49 Chris Sturken, Co-Chair of the County of San Mateo's LGBTQIA+ Commission, and a Redwood City Councilmember, spoke to thank the Council for recognizing June as LGBTQ Pride Month and raising the Progress Pride Flag June 1-3; he invited everyone to the San Mateo County Pride Parade and celebration on Saturday, June 8.
Councilmember Goeld moved approval of the Consent Calendar Items 3 and 7.
Motion seconded by Councilmember Brown and approved by roll call vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Brown, Dombkowski, Fluet, Goeld, Shaw, and Mayor Wall NOES: None
STUDY SESSION
A. Study Session: Town Council Pay
Mr. Bryant presented the staff report.
Council questions included: is there any way to discern that cities/towns who do pay have a more diverse council; Woodside is one of the few towns in California that doesn't pay its councilmembers; do we know why historically this never happened; can staff broaden its research on pay for cities our size and if councils are offered additional benefits.
In response to the Council's questions, Mr. Bryant stated: he doesn't know historically why this never occurred but Woodside and Portola Valley both started as volunteer run towns; staff can gather additional The Public Comment Period opened and closed at 7:50 pm.
Council discussion included: time and money is spent attending multiple meetings countywide; the level of professionalism required has changed over the years; reviewing a Stanford Law Review article from 2018 which talked about why you should pay and to what extent you should pay city councilmembers; receiving pay may attract more people to office, make for better councilmembers, and a better election process; hard to know if this would encourage more diversity and inclusion; could see in the future, and have seen it in the past, that some may not go to meetings, assignments, or respond to constituent emails; if a councilmember is receiving taxpayer dollars, that would encourage accountability and good governance; could we start paying councilmembers in 2026 or start after the election, whether it is this election or the next one; if a councilmember didn't want to receive the salary, they could donate it separately; payment is not a motivation for some and the work will still be done; could there be different amounts for the mayor since it is a larger job.
In response to the Council's comments, Mr. Bryant stated: regarding a different payment to the mayor, the law doesn't make any distinction and indicates pay is for each member of the council; there is interest in continuing the conversation; there may be interest in implementing something at a future point in time; additional research will be done on pay within the County and state.
REPORTS
B. Volunteer Committee Updates.
Ms. Cardinale spoke about the upcoming Volunteer Engagement Fair on June 20 from 4:30 to 6 p.m.
C. Mayor and Councilmember Communications.
Councilmember Fluet spoke about a call with CalTrans last week and they are 99.9% certain they will finish Highway 84 by this Friday. CalTrans will be moving on to other projects along Highway 84 so there will be some work and flaggers but the big project will be done.
Town Council Meeting Minutes May 28, 2024 Page 3
Docusign Envelope ID: 25CA5625-3445-4C4A-91A6-230A2BF59C49 Mayor Wall spoke about the sad news of the son of the Half Moon Bay Mayor who was killed in a motorcycle accident and extended our condolences to him, his family, and community; the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Glens Path was a really feel good, nice moment for the Town; a Council goal setting session will be held on August 27; and the Woodside School Operetta is happening this week with the production of Wonka.
Mayor Wall then spoke of the history of the logging industry in Woodside in the mid-1800's and new innovations such as the donkey engine. There is a preserved example in Felton at the Roaring Camp Railroads and a trail called the Steam Donkey Trail in El Corde de Madera Creek Preserve near Skyline.
COMMUNICATIONS
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Wall adjourned the meeting at 8:19 p.m.
Clerk of the Town of Woodside
APPROVED:
•Signed by:
(Brian Domblowski
-116632E22D0F4D8..
Mayor of the Town of Woodside
Town Council Meeting Minutes May 28, 2024 Page 4