Docusign Envelope ID: F407FF04-F650-4F40-89F3-6AC12130207D
TOWN OF WOODSIDE
TOWN COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES August 22, 2024
Independence Hall, 2955 Woodside Road, Woodside 10:00 a.m.
Councilmember Fluet's Teleconference Location: 2 W 5th Avenue [third floor], San Mateo, CA 94402.
CALL TO ORDER
Vice Mayor Fluet called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Councilmembers Brown, Dombkowski, Goeld, Shaw (emergency exception), and Vice Mayor Fluet (teleconference)
Absent: Mayor Wall
Councilmember Dombkowski moved to allow Councilmember Shaw to attend the meeting remotely.
Motion seconded by Vice Mayor Fluet and approved by roll call vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Brown, Dombkowski, Goeld, Shaw, and Vice Mayor Fluet NOES: None
ABSENT: Mayor Wall
Staff Present:
Kevin Bryant, Town Manager
Jean Savaree, Town Attorney (remotely)
Melissa Cardinale, Interim Town Clerk/Assistant to the Town Manager
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Dombkowski led the Pledge of Allegiance.
COMMUNICATIONS
There were no open communications.
NEW BUSINESS
A. Three Resolutions of the Town Council of the Town of Woodside Acknowledging That Only One Candidate Was Nominated from Each of the Three Districts from Which Elections Are Scheduled to Be Held on November 5, 2024, and Appointing Those Candidates In Lieu of Holding the Scheduled Elections.
Resolution No. 2024 - — Resolution No. 2024 - — and Resolution No. 2024 - .
Mr. Bryant presented the staff report.
Ms. Savaree explained that there are three separate resolutions because there is always a question of whether or not an incumbent can vote on an issue that would affect their own election. The FPPC has indicated the answer to that is yes, that Elections Code Section 10229 specifically allows for all Councilmembers to participate.
Council questions included: when is the last day a write-in candidate can apply; does a write-in candidate have to be qualified to be elected to office; how many votes are needed to pass the resolutions; have any write-in candidates expressed interest in pulling paperwork; are candidate statements still going to be submitted; can the candidate statements be published on the Town's website.
Town Council Special Meeting Minutes August 22, 2024 Page 1 Docusign Envelope ID: F407FF04-F650-4F40-89F3-6AC12130207D In response, Mr. Bryant stated that the write-in candidate window begins September 9 and closes October
22. Four votes are needed to pass the resolutions.
In response, Ms. Savaree stated that a write-in candidate would need to comply with the Elections Code requirements and submit required forms to the Town Clerk.
In response, Ms. Cardinale stated that no one has pulled paperwork to be a write-in candidate. Two candidates submitted statements and those could be published on the Town's website.
The Public Comment period opened at 10:12 a.m.
Hassan Aburish, candidate for Town Council District 5, shared his thoughts on moving forward with the election. He believes it is important that members of his district have the option to find another candidate and to have a write-in candidate.
The Public Comment period closed at 10:14 a.m.
Council discussion included: there is a difference between an appointed or elected official; the cost of the election is small compared to other items in the budget; the public should know who they are voting for by holding the election; it is a sad state of democracy in Woodside that we have 3 uncontested elections; a dissenting opinion on not wanting to spending taxpayer dollars on an election; there has been plenty of opportunity for those who are interested in running for Council to do so; being elected to a position comes with a greater degree of responsibility for the job knowing the residents voted us into this position; There was no motion made on any of the three resolutions.
COMMUNICATIONS
There were no open communications.
ADJOURNMENT
Vice Mayor Fluet adjourned the meeting at 10:34 a.m.
Town of Woodside
APPROVED:
—Signed by:
Brian Domblowski
11CC32E22D0F4D8.
Mayor of the Town of Woodside
Town Council Special Meeting Minutes August 22, 2024 Page 2