The original item was published from January 20, 2022 7:53 AM to January 20, 2022 9:27 AM
Council Meeting Date: January 19, 2022
Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/user/TownOfAtherton/featured
Details of each item can be found via the links to Staff Reports within the narrative.
The City Council met for the December Meeting on Wednesday, January 19 at 6 pm via Zoom Teleconference pursuant to the Governor's Executive Order. Following the Roll Call the Council began moving through the Agenda beginning with Public Comments and then Presentations. The City Council heard the Annual Report from the Atherton Library (the Report was heard at the end of the Agenda at approximately 8:04 pm.)
Following Presentations, the Council moved to the City Manager's Report (~6:04 pm). The City Manager's Report is typically prepared monthly as part of the City Council's Regular Agenda. In addition to current reports from the City Manager, it typically includes departmental updates on the various happenings around Town such as reports from Administration, Community Services, Planning, Police, and Public Works.
Following the City Manager's Report, the Council moved to the Consent Agenda consisting of Items 6 through 11 (~6:05 pm). Items on the Consent Agenda are considered routine in nature and are generally considered in one motion and adopted by a single vote of the Council. Included in this month's Consent Agenda were minutes of various meetings, bills and claims, a resolution making modifications to Town Committees, Council Committee Assignments, adoption of a Resolution complying with Assembly Bill 481, Law Enforcement, and certification of the continuing emergency. The Council removed Item No. 8 for discussion; and following an opportunity for questions or comments relating to the size of the Finance Committee, the Council approved all items on the Consent Agenda.
Next was Public Hearings. Public Hearings are typically held for Ordinances, Budget Adoption, Fee Adoption, and Land Use approvals. There were no Public Hearings on the January Agenda.
Next up was the Regular Agenda (~6:15 pm).
Item No. 12 related to the potential modification of hours for the right-turn on red restrictions at the Middlefield Road/Oak Grove Avenue Intersection. Following a brief staff report and opportunity for public comment, the Council discussed staff's recommendation of no changes to current conditions. Following brief discussion related to data, the Council agreed with staff's recommendation and directed no changes to current conditions.
Next was Item No. 13, Consideration of Appointments to the Audit/Finance Committee. (~6:20 pm) Following a brief staff report and public comment, the City Council heard from the applicants for the Committee vacancy, with one applicant withdrawing application. Following discussion, the Council appointed Tom Hill to fill the unexpired term (expiring June 2022) on the Audit/Finance Committee. The Council then moved to Item No. 14, Review and Discussion of a Town Center Master Plan Update. (~6:33 pm) Following a brief staff report and public comment, the City Council discussed issues related to the various types of activities that could be held at the Town Center both public and private, event oversight, issues and/or concerns related to public and private events, importance of the Town's cafe space, use by governmental and quasi-governmental agencies, Library oversight of Library spaces, the train station renovation and improvements to the physical plant to include but not limited to micro-grid project, addition of solar, and expansion of electric vehicle charging opportunities. The Council also discussed necessary improvements to the Town's Corporation Yard and the various ways and opportunities to improve the area inclusive of relocation of all or portions of the Corporation Yard. Following feedback, the Council directed staff to continue to shape the Master Plan - Uses and Opportunities and return it for further Council feedback in the future as the Town Center Project moves forward.
The last item on the Agenda was Item No. 15, Authorization to Release a Request for Proposal (RFP) for Cafe Services at the Town Center. (~7:17 pm) Following a brief staff report and public comment, the Council discussed the RFP with particular focus on the evaluation criteria, further guidance to proposers regarding Town review of interior tenant improvements, rent/revenue share opportunities, potential uses for the space under the cafe umbrella. Following discussion, the Council directed that further work be down on the RFP prior to release and asked that the Mayor appoint a City Council Subcommittee to work with staff to revise the RFP and then authorize its release.
Having cleared the entire Agenda, at approximately 8:24 pm, that as they say - was a wrap!
The next meeting of the City Council will be a Special Meeting/Study Session on February 2 at 4 pm. The February meeting will include a Mid-year Budget Report, an After-Action Report on the Town's recent Communications Drill, and Consideration of Amendments to the Town's Landscape Screening Ordinance.