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TOWN OF WOODSIDE
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES March 10, 2026
Independence Hall, 2955 Woodside Road, Woodside 7:00 p.m.
Jennifer Wall's Teleconference Location: Hyatt Place Hotel Lobby - 33 New York Avenue Ne, Washington, DC 20002
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:
Melissa Cardinale, Acting Town Manager
Jean Savaree, Town Attorney
Sage Schaan, Planning Director
Louis Sun, Town Engineer/Public Works Director
Jennifer Li, Town Clerk
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Brown led the Pledge of Allegiance.
COMMUNICATIONS
Richard Bolanos, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore, spoke of the incident involving Jason Ledbetter, and the actions taken to date.
The following speakers expressed distress by Mr. Ledbetter's report and demanded an independent investigation:
• Steve Lubin;
• Don Pugh;
• Christin New;
• Walker Wells; and,
• Marty Walker.
Ms. Savaree stated that the claims have been referred to the District Attorney's office, and an independent investigator has been involved in the other claims.
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Register of Demands Against the Town of Woodside from February 1 through 28, 2025.
Town Council Meeting Minutes March 10, 2026 Page 1
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2. 2025-26 January Monthly Investment Activity Report.
3. Resolution Designating the Acting Town Manager, Two Senior Management Analysts, And Management Analyst as Authorized to Deposit and Withdraw Monies in Local Agency Investment Fund (LAIF) for the Purpose of Investment and May Execute and Deliver Any and All Documents.
Resolution No. 2026 - 7808
4. Annual Progress Report for the General Plan (2025).
Kim Hansen, Raymundo Drive, requested Item 4 be pulled.
Councilmember Brown moved approval of the Consent Calendar Items 1-3.
Motion seconded by Councilmember Aburish and approved by roll call vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Aburish, Brown, Goeld, Wall, and Mayor Dombkowski NOES: None
Regarding Item 4, Kim Hansen, stated that the hyperlinks were not active for review and urged Council not to approve tonight.
Council continued Item 4 to the March 24, 2026, meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
A. Acceptance of 2024-25 Audited Basic Financial Statements, Gann (Proposition 111) Appropriations Limit Review, Measure A And W Special Revenue Fund Reports, Memorandum on Internal Control and Required Communications, and Town Manager's Report on the Town's 2024-25 Financial Self-Assessment.
Ms. Cardinale presented the staff report.
Dave Eichler, Audit Committee, presented the financial statements.
In response to Council's question about the status of pension liability, Mr. Eichler stated: the Town's pension liability is 74.4% funded at the end of fiscal year 2025 Councilmember Goeld commended the Audit Committee for their intensive and tedious work.
Public Comment opened and closed at 7:26 p.m.
Council thanked Mr. Eichler for his meticulous work and confidence it inspires.
B. Annual Progress Report for the Housing Element (2025).
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Docusign Envelope ID: EBE36175-96A6-89C5-83A1-5D025FB6BC18 Ms. Cardinale presented the staff report.
Jerry Ramiza, Burke, Williams, & Sorensen, explained: he is here to provide advice on proper process on the Raymundo and High Road housing sites, and how to comply with the State's Surplus Land Act (SLA); in 2019, substantial amendments were made to the SLA in which whenever a municipality is entering into long-term leases, they must comply with the SLA; there are two ways to do that, and there are a series of exemptions; property can be declared as surplus land; the decision whether to go exempt, which he recommends, is a public process starting with the Council adopting a Resolution to support an exemption; the Town would have a bit more control and autonomy; the alternative is declaring property as surplus, which is a slower process and the Town would have less control; the surplus process starts with a Notice of Availability that is circulated to a list of 300+ housing sponsors and developers throughout the State who have expressed interest in knowing about surplus land; after 60 days, the Town can evaluate responses; there is some discretion on selection; however, the Town must give preference to the highest density offer; the Town is not obligated to sell property to any developer; the Town would be required to record a covenant (ie., recorded deed that stays with the land); at least 15% would need to be low-income units; in this case, it would be difficult to do; there is a sewer capacity study being done; the Town also needs to be certain about 80% lot coverage for High Road
Council discussion with Mr. Ramiza included: the Request for Proposal (RFP) needs to be clear about the stipulations that maintains compliance with the exemption; if a property is declared a surplus, the Town would demonstrate it is not feasible for affordable housing; the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) would enforce and oversee the SLA process; if the housing sites in the Housing Element cannot produce the necessary affordable housing, the Town needs to look for other ways to produce the required number of housing units or risk fines and a decertified Housing Element; a covenant dedicating 15% of residential units to be low- income would be irreversible except by an agreement of two parties; the Town could choose to sell a property for a dollar if there was a demonstrated feasibility gap; there is no obligation to write the value of the land to make a project feasible; the Town can determine that it does not want to sell under fair market value; the unit must remain affordable to the next purchaser; the Town needs the sewer study for meaningful future discussions; the opportunities for the public to offer their input include crafting the RFP, determining the surplus declaration, and any agreement with a developer; to make sites more attractive to bidders are: proximity to transit, grocery stores, and other amenities; the SLA does not address the Town's obligation to acquire any surplus land if options are limited; the SLA deals with disposition of properties that a local agency owns and concludes it no longer needs for its own use; he does not know whether State agencies are subject to the SLA, and may have some independent requirements.
Council discussion with Ms. Savaree included: the limited sewer capacity is a complicated issue that could be further understood after the Sewer Study is complete; for Town-owned sites, the Town has control over the developer; bond measures approved by voters are common ways to help fund infrastructure improvements.
The Public Comment period opened at 8:12 p.m.
Town Council Meeting Minutes March 10, 2026 Page 3
Docusign Envelope ID: EBE36175-96A6-89C5-83A1-5D025FB6BC18 The following people spoke in opposition of listing a vacant lot on Raymundo Drive as an option for development in the Housing Element:
• Sue Poletti;
• Kendra Blendell;
Kim Hansen;
• Karen Offen; and,
Janet Estep.
The following people spoke in opposition of the Town purchasing the Caltrans site along Highway 280:
• Danielle Dearborn;
• Bob Ragusa;
• Stacy Harris;
• Wendy Buckley;
• A member of the audience;
• Martin Dunsky;
• Harpreet Chohan;
• Donna Howe;
• Alexandra Nemirovsky;
• Rick Dalton;
• Theresa Southlake; and,
• Toni Donaldson.
Mayor Dombkowski stated: Council reported out a month ago that any initial response when the Town is offered real property starts in closed session for one session; Council has committed to any other session, should there be any response, there would be a public process.
Ms. Savaree added: Caltrans reached out to Mr. Ledbetter indicating they were going to market the property, and wondered whether Woodside would entertain a bid; Council expressed curiosity about the plans for the site; there has been one follow up meeting that Mr. Ledbetter was supposed to attend; Caltrans confirmed they would market the property.
David Mittelman, Grandview Drive, spoke of the Housing Element report lacking geographic representation of development; the Town has failed to complete Program H6.2.c. in the Western Hills.
In response to Mr. Mittelman's statements, staff stated: the numbers in the Housing Element were set many years ago; HCD refused to allow more realistic timeframes; staff are moving as quickly as possible.
The following people spoke in frustration and confusion over the proposed housing site at 773 Cañada Road:
• Stephani Discher;
David Discher;
Steve Lubin; and,
Thalia Lubin, and urged Council to advertise AB2533.
Town Council Meeting Minutes March 10, 2026 Page 4
Docusign Envelope ID: EBE36175-96A6-89C5-83A1-5D025FB6BC18 The Public Comment period closed at 9:19 p.m.
Council's comments included: in the State's very best housing year in the 1950's, there were 150,000 new housing units; the State is far from hitting the target for this eight-year cycle; most cities and municipalities are going to miss their numbers; tonight, the Council is only to accept the report and send it in, not to discuss High Road and Raymundo Drive; appreciation for Mr.
Ramiza's insight about the really problematic parcels; commitment to looking into other mechanisms for bringing the public to the table and solicit input; the Council has no input/impact on the school district boundaries; no decision has been made about the Caltrans property; whenever the sewer study is complete, the Council will have more direction and can put together some study sessions that engage everybody.
There was a break from 9:42 p.m. - 9:47 p.m.
REPORTS
C. Volunteer Committee Updates.
Ms. Cardinale announced that the May Day Fun Run registration will open within 2-3 weeks.
D. Mayor and Councilmember Communications.
Councilmember Brown spoke of two upcoming Senior Workshops about memory care on March 21 and April 25 in Independence Hall.
COMMUNICATIONS
Thalia Lubin recommended that the Town or School purchase 3215 Woodside Road to potentially build 20 units. She offered her architectural services for free.
Kim Hansen said it's for sale for $9 million.
Mayor Dombkowski stated: it's a great idea; he has met twice with the School Board and Foundation about teacher housing
Steve Lubin commented that Caltrans approaching the Town about the vacant parcel is disingenuous.
Walker Wells spoke of rebuilding the public trust after Mr. Ledbetter's whistleblower report.
Kim Hansen spoke of her disappointment with the TCAP process.
Christin New spoke of needing a study of the Four Corners for traffic safety.
Town Council Meeting Minutes March 10, 2026 Page 5
Docusign Envelope ID: EBE36175-96A6-89C5-83A1-5D025FB6BC18
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Dombkowski adjourned the meeting at 10:00 p.m.
APPROVED:
- Signed by:
Brian Vombkowski
- —---- na 14CC32522D0E4D8.
Mayor of the Town of Woodside
Town Council Meeting Minutes March 10, 2026 Page 6