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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/19/20211 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes August 19, 2021 Via teleconference according to the Governor’s Executive Order N-29-20, Mayor Tankha called the City Council Regular Meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Present: Mayor Tankha, Vice Mayor Tyson, Councilmember Mok, Councilmember Schmidt, Councilmember Swan Absent: None Staff: City Manager Carl Cahill, City Attorney Steve Mattas, Interim Planning Director Steve Padovan, Public Works Director Oscar Antillon, Administrative Services Director Sarina Revillar, Management Analyst Cody Einfalt, City Clerk Deborah Padovan CALL TO ORDER (6:00 P.M.) A. Roll Call B. Pledge of Allegiance Mayor Tankha called the meeting to order at 6:06 pm Mayor Tankha noted that there has been an uptick in Covid cases and urged everyone to take necessary precautions. She also reminded everyone that the ballots for the September 14th Recall Election should be in mailboxes and urged exercising the right to vote. 1. AGENDA REVIEW Mayor Tankha introduced the new Public Works Director Oscar Antillon. 2. PRESENTATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS A. Appointment to the Los Altos Hills Environmental Design and Protection Committee City Clerk Deborah Padovan presented the application of Elizabeth Loinaz. Ms. Loinaz introduced herself to the City Council and expressed her desire to serve on the committee. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Mayor Tankha moved to appoint Elizabeth Loinaz to the Los Altos Hills Environmental Deisgn and Protection Committee for a Town of Los Altos Hills City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Thursday, August 19, 2021 – 6:00 p.m. Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills, California 2 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes August 19, 2021 four-year term. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Schmidt. MOTION PASSED 5-0: AYES: Tankha, Tyson, Mok, Schmidt, Swan NOES: None ABSTAIN: None RECUSE: None ABSENT: None B. Appointment to the Los Altos/Los Altos Hills Library Commission City Clerk Padovan presented the applications of Sharvari Dixit and Cindy Dodd. They both introduced themselves to the City Council and expressed their desire to serve. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Councilmember Schmidt moved to appoint Sharvari Dixit to the Los Altos/Los Altos Hills Library Commission for a four-year term. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Mok. MOTION PASSED 5-0: AYES: Tankha, Tyson, Mok, Schmidt, Swan NOES: None ABSTAIN: None RECUSE: None ABSENT: None C. Reappointment to the Los Altos Hills Public Art Committee MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Mayor Tankha moved to reappoint David Milgrim to the Los Altos Hills Public Art Committee for a second four-year term. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Swan. MOTION PASSED 5-0: AYES: Tankha, Tyson, Mok, Schmidt, Swan NOES: None ABSTAIN: None RECUSE: None ABSENT: None D. Reappointment to the Los Altos Hills Open Space Committee MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Vice Mayor Tyson moved to reappoint Wendie Ward to the Los Altos Hills Open Space Committee for a fourth four-year term. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Swan. MOTION PASSED 5-0: 3 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes August 19, 2021 AYES: Tankha, Tyson, Mok, Schmidt, Swan NOES: None ABSTAIN: None RECUSE: None ABSENT: None E. Presentation on the Current State of the Drought Emergency in Santa Clara County by Gary Kremen, Vice Chair, Santa Clara Valley Water District Gary Kremen, Vice Chair of the Santa Clara Valley Water District Board of Directors presented an outlook on the status of the state of emergency on the drought. Council discussion ensued. No action was taken. F. Presentation on the Moody and El Monte Road Hardening and Evacuation Route Project by the Los Altos Hills County Fire District J. Logan, General Manager, and Denise Gluhan, District Emergency Services Manager, Los Altos Hills County Fire District, presented the Moody and El Monte Road Hardening & Evacuation Project. Council discussion ensued. Councilmember Mok asked that the town’s emergency notification system be placed on the town’s homepage. No action was taken. G. Annual Report of the Los Altos Hills Environmental Initiatives Committee Vrinda Bhandarkar, Chair of the Environmental Initiatives Committee, presented the annual presentation of the committee. The Council received the report and thanked the committee for all of their hard work. No action was taken. 3. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR Persons wishing to address the Council on any subject not on the agenda may do so now. Please complete a Speaker Card located on the back table of the Council Chambers and submit it to the City Clerk. Comments are limited to two (2) minutes per speaker. California law prohibits the Council from acting on items that do not appear on the agenda. Under a 4 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes August 19, 2021 Resolution previously adopted by the Council, such items can be referred to staff for appropriate action, which may include placement on the next available agenda. There were no comments. 4. CONSENT CALENDAR MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Councilmember Swan moved to approve the Consent Calendar as presented. Vice Mayor Tyson seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED 5-0: AYES: Tankha, Tyson, Mok, Schmidt, Swan NOES: None ABSTAIN: None RECUSE: None ABSENT: None Councilmember Swan pointed out an error on 4.L - Attachment 2. The staff report says that micro surfacing will be done on Chapin Road from Burke Lane to Taaffe; however, Chapin Road doesn’t go to Taaffe, it goes to Robleda Road. A. Approval of City Council Special Meeting Minutes: July 22, 2021 B. Approval of City Council Special Meeting Minutes: August 9, 2021 C. Review of Disbursements: July 1-31, 2021 $1,847,541.02 D. Receive Quarterly Investment Portfolio Report – Quarter Ending June 30, 2021(Staff: S. Revillar) E. Proclamation Declaring the Month of September as Emergency Preparedness Month (Staff: D. Padovan) F. Proclamation Declaring the Month of September as Water Conservation Month (Staff: C. Einfalt) G. Request by the History Committee to Hold and Advertise an event on October 24, 2021 – the Tales of Magdalena and Ravensbury Areas H. Updating the Standing Committee Resolution 55-21 to Increase the Size of the Los Altos Hills Community Relations Committee to Seven Members (Staff: D. Padovan) I. Adoption (Second Reading ) of Ordinance 595 Adding Chapter 9, “Automatic License Plate Readers (ALPR)”, to Title 4 “Public Safety” in the Los Alto Hills Municipal Code Imposing Penalties on Violators of the Town’s ALPR Policy. (Staff: C. Einfalt) Motion to Waive Reading and Adopt the Ordinance 5 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes August 19, 2021 J. Adoption (Second Reading ) of Ordinance 596 Amending Title 4, Chapter 4 “Weapons” of the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code Establishing Regulations for Safe Storage of Firearms in a Residence and Reporting Lost or Stolen Firearms. (Staff: C. Einfalt) Motion to Waive Reading and Adopt the Ordinance K. Adoption (Second Reading ) of Ordinance 597 Amending Title 12, Chapter 1 “Parks, Preserves and Public Areas”, Section 12-1.01 “Acts Prohibited” to Include Smoking (Staff: S. Robustelli) Motion to Waive Reading and Adopt the Ordinance L. Resolution 56-21 Awarding a Contract for the 2021 Pavement Rehabilitation and Drainage Improvement Project (Staff: J. Chau) M. Resolution 57-21 Approving Application for the Seven Acres Lane Sanitary Sewer Main Extension Improvement Project with a Future Sewer Reimbursement Agreement Proposal (Staff: Public Works) N. Resolution 58-21 Approving Application for the Miranda Drive Sanitary Sewer Main Extension Improvement Project (Staff: Public Works) 5. NEW BUSINESS A. Receive Information on Eligible Expenses for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to Determine use of Funds (Staff: S. Revillar) Administrative Services Director Sarina Revillar presented the staff report. Council discussion ensued. Staff will research and provide a comprehensive list on what the money may be used for. B. Consideration of a Resolution Approving a Policy for Hybrid City Council and Planning Commission Meetings (Staff: D. Padovan) City Clerk Padovan presented the staff report. Councilmember Swan asked how the policy would work for committees. City Attorney Mattas said the state law has requirements that apply to teleconferenced meetings and that is what is in the policy regarding posting of the location. The decision to require committee members to be present at meetings is a policy decision of the council. State law would limit the number that could teleconference, and if they did teleconference, wherever they are located would have to be open to the public for the entirety of the meeting. There isn’t a way for them to participate by teleconference and not vote because they are still members of the 6 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes August 19, 2021 committee who are counted toward the quorum. The majority of the members would have to participate from within the town limits. Council discussion ensued. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Councilmember Mok moved to approve Resolution 59-21 Approving and Establishing a Hybrid Meeting Policy. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Schmidt. Public Comment Anand Raganathan, Los Altos Hills, said that all committee meetings should be online. Jim Washura, Los Altos Hills, he doesn’t understand how the standing committees would be using Zoom if they did not have the equipment available on the chamber’s dais. City Clerk Padovan and Vice Mayor Tyson responded. MOTION PASSED 5-0: AYES: Tankha, Tyson, Mok, Schmidt, Swan NOES: None ABSTAIN: None RECUSE: None ABSENT: None C. Discussion and Possible Action on the Oak Tree on Elena Road Near the Entrance to the Packard Pathway (Staff: S. Padovan) Interim Planning Director Steve Padovan presented the staff report. Public Comment Randy Salim, Los Altos Hills, thanked the Council for looking at other options for the tree. Council discussion ensued. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Councilmember Swan moved that the recommendation in the staff report be approved; that is going forward, if any heritage oak tree is proposed for removal, it shall be further studied by an independent arborist and notification of the immediate neighbors and posting of the tree shall be done prior to removal unless the survey states that the tree is an immediate hazard. As for the oak tree at Elena Road and Josefa Lane, the tree will be removed immediately, and a 10-foot section of trunk be saved for some type of commemorative art installation or bench (or both) and that three, 24-inch box Valley oak trees be planted as replacements. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Mok. 7 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes August 19, 2021 MOTION PASSED 5-0: AYES: Tankha, Tyson, Mok, Schmidt, Swan NOES: None ABSTAIN: None RECUSE: None ABSENT: None 6. ONGOING BUSINESS A. Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into the Master Access Agreement Between the Town of Los Altos Hills and Los Altos Hills Community Fiber for the Installation of Fiber Optic Network Facilities Within the Public Right-Of-Way (Staff: C. Cahill) Gautam Agrawal thanked the Council for their consideration and asked for a little more time to provide a polished document. Public Comment Jim Waschura, Los Altos Hills, said he is glad it is being pushed off a bit to give us an opportunity to also include infrastructure assets in this review, particularly the micowave links that are providing a hardship for neighbors. Hoping to come to a conclusion on both items. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Councilmember Swan moved that the item be moved to the Tuesday, August 31, 2021 Special City Council Meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Mok. MOTION PASSED 5-0: AYES: Tankha, Tyson, Mok, Schmidt, Swan NOES: None ABSTAIN: None RECUSE: None ABSENT: None B. Resolution Approving an Addendum to the Sheriff’s Contract for an Additional Swing Shift Deputy in an amount not to exceed $450,000 Annually (Staff: C. Cahill) City Manager Carl Cahil presented the staff report. Captain Rich Urena provided more information on the need for an additional officer. He then responded to questions from the City Council. Council discussion ensued. Public Comment 8 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes August 19, 2021 Anand Raganathan, Los Atlos Hills, said that every time the sheriff has reported to the Council he has said that response times are improving. What will we buy with this large amount? The right thing to do would be to have some real data on why we need to spend the money. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Vice Mayor Tyson moved to approve the Addendum to the Sheriff’s Contract for an Additional Swing Shift Deputy in an amount not to exceed $450,000 Annually. Further Council discussion ensued. Public Comment, continued Dave Stewart, Los Altos Hills, said he looked at the website and didn’t see anything that says we need additional staffing. Vice Mayor Tyson withdrew his motion. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Councilmember Swan moved to postpone discussion of this item to the next meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Mok. MOTION PASSED 5-0: AYES: Tankha, Tyson, Mok, Schmidt, Swan NOES: None ABSTAIN: None RECUSE: None ABSENT: None 7. REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES, SUB-COMMITTEES, AND COUNCILMEMBERS ON OUTSIDE AGENCIES A. Report by the Undergrounding Subcommittee (Vice Mayor Tyson) Vice Mayor Tyson presented the undergrounding report. Council discussion ensued. There was council consensus to allow Vice Mayor Tyson prepare and send letters to PG&E and the CPUC asking that resources be directed towards this project. Public Comment Allan Epstein, Los Altos Hills, asked if Bellecci & Associates were being paid with 20A funds and if they would do an RFP and put it out to bid, or do the work themselves. 9 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes August 19, 2021 Vice Mayor Tyson confirmed that the prep work comes out of 20A funds. City Attorney Mattas said the Town would use their normal procurement policies which would require competitive bidding. B. Report by the Fire Taskforce Subcommittee (Councilmember Schmidt) Councilmember Schmidt reported on the activities by the fire taskforce subcommittee. She is working with the fire district to hold a “Fire Fair” on October 23rd. The goal of the event is to education people on fire prevention, evacuation needs, etc. No action was taken. C. Request on the Status of the Community Survey (Councilmember Schmidt) Councilmember Schmidt inquired about the community survey. She offered to help pick that up again. Council discussion ensued. There was consensus from the Council to form an ad hoc committee made up of Councilmember Schmidt and Vice Mayor Tyson to work on a community survey. D. Status Reports from All Councilmembers on Subcommittee and Outside Agencies Activities No reports. 8. STAFF REPORTS A. City Manager City Manager Cahill said that there is a great photo in the Town Crier of the Mayor throwing out the first pitch. He added that the neighborhood watch program is doing well and progressing. Management Analyst Cody Einfalt said that six different neighborhood watch groups have been formed. B. City Attorney No report. C. City Clerk 10 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes August 19, 2021 City Clerk Deborah Padovan gave a shout out to Management Analyst Cody Einfalt. She noted the effort required to get these virtual meetings up and running and said that it wouldn’t have happened without him. Mayor Tankha expressed council’s appreciation. D. Planning Director Interim Planning Director Padovan reported that a “Let’s Talk Housing” meeting was held last night. He also reported on an RFP for the housing element. He added that the new Assistant Planner will start on August 30th. E. Administrative Services Director No report. F. Public Works Director Public Works Director Oscar Antillon provided background on his previous experience. 9. COUNCIL INITIATED ITEMS A. Discussion on the use of Private Property for Public Agency Construction Staging Yards (Mayor Tankha) Mayor Tankha presented the report. City Manager Cahill provided information and update on our enforcement efforts. The report was received. No action was taken 10. ADJOURN The meeting was adjourned at 9:43 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Deborah L. Padovan Deborah Padovan City Clerk The minutes of the August 19, 2021, regular City Council meeting were approved as presented at the September 16, 2021, regular City Council meeting.