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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/19/2024 Los Altos Hills Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1 Thursday, December 19, 2024 Town of Los Altos Hills City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Thursday, December 19, 2024 Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills, California Present: Mayor Stanley Q. Mok, Vice Mayor Lisa Schmidt, Council Member Linda Swan, Council Member Kavita Tankha, Council Member George Tyson Absent: None Staff: City Manager Peter Pirnejad, City Attorney Steve Mattas, City Clerk Arika Birdsong-Miller, Deputy City Manager Cody Einfalt, Finance Director Thomas Leung, Community Development Director Jay Bradford, and Public Works Director WooJae Kim CALL TO ORDER (6:00 P.M.) Mayor Mok called the meeting to order at 6:00 P.M. 1. ROLL CALL Mayor Stanley Mok, Vice Mayor Schmidt, Council Member Linda Swan, Council Member Kavita Tankha, and Council Member Tyson were present. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE- Recited 3. AGENDA REVIEW Council Member Tankha made a motion to approve the agenda placing ITEM 3D under ‘Presentations and Appointments’ to the ‘Consent Calendar’ and removing ITEM 7A from this agenda to a date uncertain. Council Member Swan seconded the motion. Approved, Vote 5-0. 4. PRESENTATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS A. Proclamation Recognizing Art Curator Daniela Friedmann - Vice Mayor Schmidt recognized Art Curator Daniela Friedmann for her exceptional work and dedication in curating and installing art exhibits throughout Town Hall, enhancing the building's aesthetic and cultural appeal. B. Presentation Honoring Los Altos Hills 2024 Lifetime Volunteer Award Recipient- Mayor Mok proudly presented the prestigious 2024 Lifetime Volunteer Award to Roy Woolsey in recognition of his exceptional dedication and years of invaluable service to the Town of Los Altos Hills. His unwavering commitment has left a lasting impact on the community, embodying the true spirit of volunteerism C. Presentation to Outgoing Vice Mayor Lisa Schmidt - Council Member Tyson delivered a presentation to outgoing Vice Mayor Lisa Schmidt, honoring her leadership as Vice Mayor in 2024 and her service as a Council Member during the other three of her four years in office. Her dedication and contributions have significantly shaped the Town of Los Altos Hills Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 Thursday, December 19, 2024 Los Altos Hills. Supervisor Joe Simitian presented Vice Mayor Schmidt with a special recognition on behalf of the Board of Supervisors, honoring her contributions and service. D. Vacating of Appointments to the Technology Committee- Rajiv Bhateja and Ron Haley—This item was moved to the CONSENT CALENDAR. E. Interim Appointment to the North County Library Association – Vice Mayor Schmidt made a motion to appoint Council Member Swan as the interim representative to the North County Library Association. Council Member Tyson seconded the motion. Approved, Vote 5-0. F. Interim Appointment to the Santa Clara Valley Water District – Vice Mayor Schmidt made a motion to appoint Mayor Mok as the interim representative to the Santa Clara Valley Water District. Council Member Tyson seconded the motion. Approved, Vote 5-0. 5. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR 1. Sergio Lopez, Mayor of the City of Campbell and Chair of Countywide Transit Agency VTA, informed the Council and the community that VTA plans to have a greater presence in the community. 2. Michael Grady, a Los Altos Hills resident, explained that the City Manager stated he is in the process of negotiating a development agreement with the owner of Twin Oaks. Mr. Grady declared that the owner of Twin Oaks has no interest in negotiating with the Town. Mr. Grady stated that he submitted a PRA and has yet to receive any responsive documentation from that request. 3. Eric Bredo, a Los Altos Hills resident, spoke about the number of units being discussed for development at the Twin Oaks site. Mr. Bredo asked that residents be informed about the status of the development agreement. 4. John O’Connell, a Los Altos Hills resident, stated that the City of Carmel is happy to collaborate and share their experience with the Housing Element with our City Council and staff. He noted that Carmel’s staff and residents are working together and providing monthly status reports to their Council. 5. Duffy Price, a Los Altos Hills resident, requested an amendment to the Housing Element. 6. Namrata, a Los Altos Hills resident, echoed the statements made by Mr. Grady and Mr. Bredo, expressing concerns that adding so many houses in one area would place a significant strain on emergency services. She urged the City Council to amend the Housing Element. 7. Anaya Anand, a Los Altos Hills resident, asked the City Council to prioritize amending the Housing Element to limit the number of units in Twin Oaks. Los Altos Hills Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 Thursday, December 19, 2024 8. RK Anand, a Los Altos Hills resident, requests that the Housing Element amendment be added to the next agenda. 9. Buvana Dayananda, a Los Altos Hills resident, emphasized the need for the Town to prioritize the Housing Element, considering the precedent set by the City of Carmel. 6. CONSENT CALENDAR Council Member Swan made a motion to approve the Consent Calendar removing ITEM 6G and ITEM 6I to a date uncertain. Council Member Tankha seconded the motion. Approved, Vote 5-0. A. Approval of the Special City Council Meeting Minutes - November 20, 2024 Approved, Vote 5-0. B.. Approval of Regular City Council Meeting Minutes - November 21, 2024 Approved, Vote 5-0 C. Resolution Authorizing Deposit and Withdrawal from the Local Agency Investment Fund in the State Treasury Approved, Vote 5-0 D. Resolution Accepting the Town of Los Altos Hills Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2024 Approved, Vote 5-0. E. Receive and Accept the Annual Report on Development Impact Fees in Compliance with AB1600 for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2023 Approved, Vote 5-0. F. Receive and Accept the Annual Report on Development Impact Fees in Compliance with AB1600 for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2024 Approved, Vote 5-0. G. Resolution Authorizing the Write-Off of Uncollectible Deposits Aged Over Three Years (Staff: T. Leung)--- REMOVED to date uncertain. H. Resolution Granting the Request for Extension of the Expiration Dates for Building Permits at 26759 Shady Oaks Ct. Approved, Vote 5-0. I. Resolution Approving Amendment No. 1 to the Upper Ravensbury Avenue Sanitary Sewer Reimbursement Agreement between the Town of Los Altos Hills and Dave Jessen (Staff: D. Liang)--- REMOVED to date uncertain. J. Resolution Approving a Treated Sewer Effluent Transfer Agreement between the Town of Los Altos Hills and the City of Palo Alto Approved, Vote 5-0. 7. NEW BUSINESS A. Consideration for Council Members and Staff International Travel to Participate in the ERAT Program for Advancement of AI In Government Operations ---REMOVED to date uncertain. B. Consideration to Agendize A Discussion Of The Town’s Public Safety Approach Regarding The Town’s ALPR System And Private Security Contracts- Council Member Los Altos Hills Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 Thursday, December 19, 2024 Tankha made a motion to agendize this item at the January 30, 2025 Regular Council Meeting. Council Member Tyson seconded the motion. Approved, Vote 5-0. 8. REPORT FROM COMMITTEES, SUB_COMMITTEES, AND COUNCILMEMBERS ON OUTSIDE AGENCIES A. Council Member Tyson stated that the Rule 20A/ Undergrounding Project is going well. 9. COUNCIL INITIATED ITEMS 1. Mayor Mok requested to add an item on the January 30, 2025, Regular Meeting agenda to discuss an appreciation event for Supervisor Joe Simitian and Anna Eshoo. 10. STAFF REPORTS A. City Attorney Steve Mattas had no report. B. City Manager Peter Pirnejad, speaking on behalf of all the Department Heads, stated that there was no report at this time. 11. SPECIAL ITEMS A. Recognition of Mayor Stanley Mok – Council Member Swan presented Mayor Mok with recognition for his dedicated service as the 2024 Mayor of the Town of Los Altos Hills. Mayor Stanley Mok presented a PowerPoint highlighting his achievements throughout the year as Mayor and expressed his gratitude to the City Council for entrusting him with the honor of serving as Mayor in 2024. B. Council Member-Elect Rajiv Bhateja Oath of Office Council Member-Elect Stanley Mok Oath of Office Council Member-Elect Linda Swan Oath of Office Supervisor Simitian administered the Oath of Office to Council Member Bhateja, Council Member Mok, and Council Member Swan, formally swearing them into their respective positions. C. City Council Reorganization 1. Election of New Mayor and administration of Oath of Office Council Member Bhateja made a motion to appoint Council Member Kavita Tankha to serve as Mayor. Council Member Swan seconded the motion. Approved, Vote 5-0. Supervisor Simitian administered the Oath of Office to Mayor Kavita Tankha. Mayor Tankha expressed her gratitude to the Council for appointing her as Mayor for 2025 and thanked the community and her family for their ongoing support. A 20-year resident of the Town, Mayor Tankha shared her appreciation for the opportunity to serve a community she deeply values. Los Altos Hills Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 5 Thursday, December 19, 2024 2. Election of New Vice Mayor and administration of Oath of Office Council Member Swan made a motion to appoint Council Member Rajiv Bhateja to serve as Vice Mayor. Council Member Mok seconded the motion. Council Member Tyson began by expressing his disappointment with the process, noting that he expected public and City Council input before any motion was presented. He emphasized the importance of clarity and structure in governance to avoid ambiguity and chaos, which he believes can be disruptive to the community. Council Member Tyson advocated for maintaining tradition in leadership transitions, where roles such as vice mayor are determined based on longevity, experience, and election results. He underscored the value of experience, stating that leadership roles should not be treated as a trial by fire but as honors earned through service. Highlighting his qualifications, Council Member Tyson detailed his decade-long service in the Fire District, leadership roles in regional agencies, and contributions to initiatives like climate change, mental health, and infrastructure projects. He concluded by urging the City Council to consider the Vice Mayor position as a significant responsibility requiring experience and collaboration, rather than simply a title to be awarded. Council Member Mok emphasized that there is no precedent for the current situation in Los Altos Hills, where three vacancies and three council members exist without an election. He reviewed past documents multiple times and consulted with Attorney Mattas, finding that while past council decisions considered experience for mayor and vice mayor appointments, they did not bind future councils to follow the same process. Mok highlighted that Rajiv has significant experience as a committee chair and has attended many council meetings, making him a capable candidate. He stressed that the council’s work is voluntary and should align with the city’s best interests. Ultimately, he concluded that the current council has the authority to make its own decisions without being obligated to past practices, though he found the situation unfortunate. Council Member Bhateja expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve and acknowledged the importance of tradition in the selection of the Vice Mayor. He noted that while there is a historical precedent for how the role is assigned, there is room for interpretation, and past practices do not strictly bind the Council. He quoted the past practice from the 2003 Council minutes that stated "the Councilmember serving on the Council the longest, without serving as the Vice Mayor, will become the Vice Mayor". He emphasized that his decision was based on process rather than personal ambition and acknowledged that breaking from tradition could impact future appointments. Council Member Bhateja cited examples from other cities where newly elected Council Members served as Vice Mayor and stated that he would accept the Council’s decision with humility and commitment. Los Altos Hills Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 6 Thursday, December 19, 2024 Mayor Tankha shared her experience working with both Council Member Tyson and Council Member Bhateja, praising their dedication and contributions to the town. She acknowledged that both candidates are well-qualified for the role but ultimately emphasized adherence to tradition. Mayor Tankha referenced the Town’s Code, which states that the longest-serving Council Member without having previously served as Vice Mayor should be next in line for the position. Based on this guideline, she supported Council Member Bhateja’s appointment and stressed the importance of keeping the decision objective and process-driven. City Council engaged in a thoughtful and comprehensive discussion regarding the selection of the Vice Mayor, carefully considering the qualities and experience required for the role. They also discussed the process and tradition surrounding the selection, weighing leadership skills, past contributions to the Town, and the ability to work collaboratively with fellow Council Members. Despite these deliberations, there was no clear consensus, and the Council took Public Comment on the matter. Public Comments: 1. Jitze Couperus, a Los Altos Hills resident, referenced past council decisions and traditions regarding the selection process, dating back to 1974. To simplify the process, he used a metaphor comparing the Vice Mayor's selection to distributing meals at a restaurant, emphasizing fairness—ensuring that all eligible members have the opportunity to serve before anyone gets a second turn. 2. Jim Waschura, a Los Altos Hills resident, supported the round-robin process for selecting the vice mayor and mayor, praising Mayor Tankha’s extensive experience on the Council and in land use committees. He acknowledged Council Member Bhateja’s hard work but felt he lacked the necessary experience for the mayor’s role. Mr. Waschura suggested that Council Member Bhateja should wait another year to gain more experience and urged him to retract his nomination in favor of Council Member Tyson, who he believed was better prepared for the position. 3. Lew Jamison, a Los Altos Hills resident, expressed strong support for Council Member Bhateja as Vice Mayor, citing his leadership, vision, and commitment. Mr. Jamison praised Council Member Bhateja for his work on the Community Relations Committee and his accomplishments as chair of the Technology Committee, highlighting his ability to get things done. 4. Roger Spreen, a Los Altos Hills resident, expressed disappointment and frustration with the Council’s decision, arguing that it undermined the Town’s tradition of stability and credibility. He emphasized that selecting an experienced and respected leader for Vice Mayor would be in the best interest of the Town. Referring to his own experience of waiting his turn to become Vice Mayor, he urged the Council to reconsider their choice, warning that Los Altos Hills Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 7 Thursday, December 19, 2024 disregarding protocol could harm the Town’s trust and reputation. 5. Duffy Price, a Los Altos Hills resident, advocates for Council Member Bhateja to be appointed as Vice Mayor, emphasizing his experience as a committee chair and innovator. She highlights his contributions to improving safety in the Town, which she considers a key issue. While expressing respect for Council Member Tyson and acknowledging his long-standing service, Duffy argues that this transitional period is an opportunity for Council Member Bhateja to gain deeper insight into council operations and leadership. She urges the council to support Council Member Bhateja, citing his problem-solving abilities and prior committee work. 6. Jonathan Weinberg, a Los Altos City Council Member speaking in a personal capacity, congratulated Mayor Tankha and emphasized the strong relationship between Los Altos and Los Altos Hills. He stresses that both councils function as one community, built on trust and adherence to rules and procedures. While he acknowledges Council Member Bhateja’s potential as a great Council Member, he strongly advocates for Council Member Tyson as the next Vice Mayor, citing his experience, leadership, and dedication to Los Altos Hills. He warns that overlooking Council Member Tyson for reasons not in the Town’s best interest could create uncertainty and mistrust between the two communities. 7. John O’Connell, a Los Altos Hills resident, challenged some of the previous statements, arguing that having long-serving Council members can lead to stagnation while introducing new perspectives brings fresh ideas and energy. He mentions reviewing the selection process and not finding the same interpretation as Council Member Tyson. Based on face-to-face conversations with about 100 residents, he notes strong support for Council Member Bhateja, citing his public outreach, rational decision-making, and communication skills. While acknowledging that both Council Member Tyson and Council Member Bhateja are strong candidates, he disagrees with the idea that a newly elected member shouldn’t be appointed. He concludes by urging the Council to follow the established process to prevent situations like the current debate. 8. Courtenay Corrigan, a Los Altos Hills resident, expresses disappointment that this debate is happening during what should be a celebratory event, calling it unfortunate and uncomfortable. While she does not explicitly take sides, she praises her experience working with Council Member Tyson and expresses full support for him as vice mayor. However, she acknowledges that the decision seems to have already been made in favor of Vice Mayor Bhateja. She cautions the Council to consider the long-term consequences of their actions, warning that tonight’s decision could impact future leadership selections. She emphasizes that there is no automatic precedent for future Vice Mayor or Mayor appointments and suggests that the Council should be prepared for similar Los Altos Hills Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 8 Thursday, December 19, 2024 challenges down the line. 9. Allan Epstein, a Los Altos Hills resident, acknowledges Council Member Tyson’s contributions and volunteer work, expressing appreciation for his efforts. However, he pushes back against the idea that this situation is an “upset,” instead framing it as the council simply following past practices. He commends the Council for staying on course despite the awkwardness of the discussion and expresses support for Council Member Bhateja as the next Vice Mayor. 10. John Swan, a Los Altos Hills resident, describes that the process for selecting the Vice Mayor, while ambiguously written, clearly states that those who haven’t previously held the position should be given priority. He expressed concern that the discussion is attempting to change this process. Drawing from professional experience, he asserts that promotions should go to those already performing the role and that Council Member Bhateja has effectively acted like a Council Member for over six years. He also highlights the importance of Council Member Bhateja’s involvement in future efforts to regain local land use control. Finally, Mr. Swan urged the Council to avoid turning the decision into a popularity contest and to make the choice internally. Approved, Vote 5-0. Vice Mayor Rajiv Bhateja delivered his speech, expressing heartfelt thanks to the community and his family for their unwavering support. He also extended his gratitude to outgoing Vice Mayor Lisa Schmidt for her leadership. Looking ahead, Vice Mayor Bhateja promised to serve with dedication, integrity, and humility, and shared that for the next four years, he would wake up each day asking, 'How can I serve my community best?' 3. Comments by the New Mayor and Vice Mayor. Comments were made immediately following the selection of Mayor Tankha and Vice Mayor Bhateja. Senator Josh Becker joined the meeting, expressing his eagerness to collaborate with the City Council in the future. He noted that the large turnout at the Council Meeting was a clear demonstration of the strong commitment and engagement the residents have in their community. 12. ADJOURN The meeting was adjourned at 8:27 P.M. Supervisor Simitian administered the Oath of Office to Vice Mayor Rajiv Bhateja. Los Altos Hills Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 9 Thursday, December 19, 2024 Respectfully submitted, Arika Birdsong-Miller