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TOWN OF WOODSIDE
IOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES May 13, 2025
Independence Hall, 2955 Woodside Road, Woodside 7:00 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Dombkowski called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Councilmembers Aburish, Brown, Goeld, Wall, and Mayor Dombkowski Staff Present:
Kevin Bryant, Town Manager
Jean Savaree, Town Attorney
Sage Schaan, Planning Director
Yazdan Emrani, Town Engineer/Public Works Director
Melissa Cardinale, Assistant to the Town Manager
Jennifer Li, Town Clerk
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Brown led the Pledge of Allegiance.
COMMUNICATIONS
Supervisor Ray Muller presented Kevin Bryant a Resolution for his retirement.
Joan Dentler, Kevin Fong, and Wendy Wall, representatives from Assemblymember Marc Berman's and Senator Josh Becker's offices, presented Kevin Bryant a Resolution for his retirement.
Mayor Dombkowski read a Proclamation for Kevin Bryant's retirement and presented him an honor coin.
Kim Hansen, Raymundo, Drive, urged Council to engage citizen groups to tap into the wealth of knowledge and passion in the community.
TOWN MANAGER REPORT
Mr. Bryant expressed his appreciation for the Councilmembers past and present that he had the fortune to serve the public with.
Town Council Meeting Minutes May 13, 2025 Page 1
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CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Register of Demands Against the Town of Woodside from April 16 through 30, 2025.
2. Approval of Minutes: Special Meeting of April 8, 2025; and, Regular Meetings of March 11, 2025, and April 8, 2025.
3. 2024-25 Third Quarter Budget Review.
4. Resolution Proclaiming May 18-24, 2025, As National Public Works Week.
Resolution No. 2025 - 7748
Councilmember Wall moved approval of the Consent Calendar Items 1-4.
Motion seconded by Councilmember Aburish and approved by roll call vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Aburish, Brown, Goeld, Wall, and Mayor Dombkowski NOES: None
NEW BUSINESS
A. Presentation of the Proposed Budget Fiscal Year 2025-26 a. Overview of the 2025-26 Proposed Budget
b. Discussion and Direction Regarding an Additional Contribution to The Pension Trust Account
c. Wrap-up Discussion and Town Council Direction
Mr. Bryant presented the staff report.
Council discussion with staff included: impacts of the reduction in State and Federal funding on local projects; the Hillside Drive project and the Town Center Area Plan does not rely on outside funding; sewer funds are enterprise funds, and are separate from the general fund budget; road maintenance is supported by development projects and property tax; the Town Center Area Plan is a long-term document that would make the Town more competitive for grant funds for projects that improve pedestrian and bicycle mobility; the Road Rehabilitation Program is a subset of the Road program, which is funded by five distinct funds; the Hillside Drive Rehabilitation project is in the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) because it will have its own timeline, management, and contractors; flexibility with the staff organization chart; enhancing the Chipper Program this year by providing more chipper dates; the potential for further funding reductions in emergency response due to removing the temporary traffic light at the top of Old La Honda Road; geology charge changes to align with altering method from collecting fees instead of deposits; the potential for funding formulas with support agencies (e.g., emergency services, library, etc.) to change from population-based to needs-based; clarification about the proposed Safe Routes to School (SR2S) project on the north side of Woodside Road; strategies Town Council Meeting Minutes May 13, 2025 Page 2
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The public comment period opened at 8:14 pm.
Kim Hansen, Circulation Committee, spoke of: the north side of Woodside Road not being a priority; challenges for residents west of the school, and the need for a project between the tennis courts and Kings Mountain Road.
Chris Shaw, Winding Way, expressed concern about the Town's net reserves, and urged Council to be more conservative at least for a cycle or two.
Ehsan Farkhondeh, Chair of Circulation Committee, clarified Ms. Hansen's comment that the section they would like prioritized is between Miramontes Road and Albion Avenue.
Ms. Hansen expressed concern about the Sheriff's contract with the recent personnel issues.
Council and staff discussion included: the Council subcommittee reviewing the Sheriff's contract is composed of Councilmember Aburish and Mayor Dombkowski; there are no major changes proposed; the subcommittee has already commented on items that Woodside could control; the issue is the length of contract years with an undefined cost; the contract predominately pays for personnel (i.e., deputies and command staff); a small percentage goes to equipment and uniforms; the turmoil in the Sheriff's Department may lead to costly lawsuits.
The public comment period closed at 8:29 p.m.
Council discussion included: the CIP needs to be well-defined; the Hillside Drive project will be more expensive than what is currently budgeted; Hillside Drive is in terrible disrepair and it is a safety issue that needs to be addressed; the north side of Woodside Road is not a well-defined project yet, and needs more input from the Circulation Committee; majority having no interest in allocating more towards pension; concern for the Town's ability to receive funding in the future; support for SR2S projects.
B. Work Plan Review.
Mr. Bryant presented the staff report.
The public comment period opened and closed at 8:48 p.m.
Council thanked staff for providing this transition item.
C. Presentation and Request for Funding by the San Mateo County Flood and Sea Level Rise Resiliency District (OneShoreline).
Mr. Bryant noted that the budget does not include funding for OneShoreline; however, the Council Town Council Meeting Minutes May 13, 2025 Page 3
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Len Materman, CEO of Oneshoreline, provided a background of OneShoreline. FirstStreet.org looks at vulnerabilities in Woodside.
Council discussion with Mr. Materman included: Woodside contributed $15,000/year (amount based on population) for three years; the focus has evolved from sea level rise to climate change as issues are anticipated to accelerate; ambiguity on the correct funding formula based on population and needs; there are bonds to fund specific projects and are separate from this operational discussion; over the past two months, he has made presentations to 10 other municipalities; there are no municipalities who said they cannot contribute.
The public comment period opened at 9:18 p.m.
Chris Shaw, Winding Way, expressed concern about the novel and peculiar way to go about funding an agency.
The public comment period closed at 9:22 p.m.
Council comments in opposition of contributing included: the purpose of this agency has changed; the challenges the agency is fighting does not directly affect Woodside; it is a County issue where funding will go to cities in need (i.e., where projects are); sounds like there is significant funding already; the Town has a limited budget, and every dollar and fiscal responsibility counts; would be more supportive if there was an actual project that could utilize the agency's support.
Council comments in support of contributing included: climate change is real, and Woodside is very vulnerable; residents experienced property damage from the intense storms in 2022; support for allocating a modest level of funding for this agency to make a supportive policy statement; when problems change, missions change.
Mr. Bryant summarized that most of the Council does not support funding OneShoreline.
REPORTS
D. Volunteer Committee Updates.
Melissa Cardinale spoke about updates from the Livestock and Equestrian Heritage Committee; the Recreation Committee; the Arts and Culture Committee; and, the Woodside History Committee.
E. Mayor and Councilmember Communications.
Councilmember Goeld expressed his appreciation for Mr. Bryant's calm, measured, and Town Council Meeting Minutes May 13, 2025 Page 4
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Councilmember Brown stated that on May 22, the Woodside Fire Protection District and the Emergency Preparedness Committee will make a presentation on lessons learned from the southern California fires and what homeowners can and cannot do regarding defensible space.
COMMUNICATIONS
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Dombkowski adjourned the meeting at 9:37 p.m.
he Town of Woodside
APPROVED:
•Signed by:
(Brian Damblowsti
=T10052E2200F405-
Mayor of the Town of Woodside
Town Council Meeting Minutes May 13, 2025 Page 5