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Home My WebLink About05/28/2020 1 Joint City Council and Finance and Investment Committee Special Meeting Minutes May 28, 2020 Town of Los Altos Hills Joint City Council and Finance and Investment Committee Special Meeting Minutes Thursday, May 28, 2020 Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills, California Via teleconference according to the Governor’s Executive Order N-29-20, Mayor Wu called the Joint City Council/Finance and Investment Committee Special Meeting to order at 4:05 p.m. CALL TO ORDER (4:00 P.M.) A. Roll Call of City Council and Finance and Investment Committee Members Present: City Council Members Mayor Wu, Vice Mayor Tankha, Councilmember Corrigan, Councilmember Spreen, Councilmember Tyson Finance and Investment Committee Members Cheryl Breetwor-Evans, Stanly Mok, Christopher Nam, Susan Mason, Allan Epstein Absent: Finance and Investment Committee Members Roddy Sloss, Chris Wellborn and Medha Rishi Staff: City Manager Carl Cahill, Administrative Services Director Sarina Revillar, Planning Director Zach Dahl, Public Works Director/City Engineer Nichol Bowersox, Community Services Supervisor Sarah Robustelli, Management Analyst Cody Einfalt, City Clerk Deborah Padovan 1. AGENDA REVIEW There were no changes to the agenda. 2. PUBLIC COMMENT (PUBLIC COMMENT IS LIMITED TO ITEMS WHICH ARE THE SUBJECT OF THE SPECIAL MEETING) Robert Sandor, Los Altos Hills, requested that the comments be made available as video for the residents of the Town to view. He asked that the City Council consider whether or not they are receiving proactive leadership by the City Manager regarding the fiscal impact of the pandemic. 2 Joint City Council and Finance and Investment Committee Special Meeting Minutes May 28, 2020 Jan Pepper, Mayor, City of Los Altos, requested that the City Council consider donating a matching sum of $250,000 for a small business relief fund for the businesses in Los Altos. Neysa Fligor, Vice Mayor, City of Los Altos, echoed Mayor Pepper's request for the City Council consider donating $250,000 for the Los Altos small business relief fund. 3. NEW BUSINESS A. Study Session Regarding Proposed FY 2020-21 Operating and Capital Improvement Budget (Staff: S. Revillar) Administrative Services Director Sarina Revillar presented the draft FY 2020- 21 budget. City Manager Carl Cahill stated that this budget is very conservative on the operations side and are recommending an aggressive approach on capital spending. Questions by the Council and the Commission were asked of staff and answered. Council and Committee discussion then ensued. Public Comment Robert Sandor, Los Altos Hills, inquired about gas tax and asked if it was a revenue or expense item. Director Revillar replied that it is a revenue item that is used for road rehabilitation. Mayor Wu presented concepts relating to undergrounding Town's infrastructure. Further Council/Committee discussion ensued. Public Comment Robert Sandor, Los Altos Hills, said that he prefers that $500,000 is not allocated for studies now. Steve Schmidt, Los Altos Hills, commented on undergrounding and thanked the Council for their work and for the amount budgeted. Peter Evans, Los Altos Hills, thanked the Council for putting significant numbers into the budget for undergrounding. City Clerk Padovan read into the record an email from Bob Elson regarding pathways. Jolie Wu, Los Altos Hills, read an email from resident Sasha Zbrozek regarding a “dig once policy” for current or future utilities. Director Revillar presented the proposed enhancements to the budget. 3 Joint City Council and Finance and Investment Committee Special Meeting Minutes May 28, 2020 Further Council/Committee discussion ensued. Public Comment Robert Sandor, Los Altos Hills, said it is a perfect time to be extremely conservative. Further City Council and Committee discussion ensued. After discussion the following enhancements were agreed upon: General Fund Election 40,000 Reclass limited term position Maintenance Worker I to permanent No Impact General Fund Total $ 40,000 Capital Projects Byrne Preserve Restoration 82,400 Cable Cost Sharing Program 50,000 Purissima Park Improvement 450,000 Town Hall Addition 2,650,000 El Monte Fire Station Underground (Rule20A) 300,000 Undergrounding Utilities Feasibility Study 250,000 Byrne Park Plunge 33,000 Edgerton Road Pathway 50,000 Page Mill from Lupine to Via Feliz 60,000 Summerhill Pathway 350,000 Annual Pavement Rehab and Drainage Improvement 1,200,000 Annual Sanitary Sewer Replacement Rehab 700,000 4 Joint City Council and Finance and Investment Committee Special Meeting Minutes May 28, 2020 Westwind Barn Improvements 70,000 Capital Project Total $ 6,245,400 B. Review and Discuss the Requests from Outside Agencies for Additional Funding (due to the COVID-19 pandemic) (Mayor Wu and Councilmember Tyson) Councilmember Tyson suggested that the City Council allocate an additional, one time grant of $5,000 to support Community Health Awareness Council (CHAC). He also requested a similar, one-time donation of $5,000 to Community Services Agency (CSA). Council discussion ensued. Public Comment Robert Sandor, Los Altos Hills, said that charitable giving should be up to individuals and not use taxpayer money for charitable donations. DIRECTION: The additional $5,000 for CHAC is approved; the additional funds to CSA was not approved. Mayor Wu presented the Los Altos Chamber of Commerce request for $250,000. Council discussion ensued. Public Comment Robert Sandor, Los Altos Hills, does not support the additional $5,000 for the small business fund. DIRECTION: The Council directed that $5,000 be allocated to the Los Altos Small Business Fund. 4. ADJOURNMENT OF THE SPECIAL JOINT MEETING OF THE LOS ALTOS HILLS CITY COUNCIL AND FINANCE AND INVESTMENT COMMITTEE The meeting adjourned at 6:50 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Deborah Padovan Deborah Padovan City Clerk The minutes of the May 28, 2020 City Council/Finance and Investment Committee special meeting were approved as presented at the June 18, 2020 regular City Council meeting.