City Manager's Blog

Council Meeting Date: December 20, 2017
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. 

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The City Council met for the December Regular Council meeting on Wednesday, December 20 beginning at 7 pm. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, the Council moved to Council Reorganization and selected Mayor Cary Wiest and Vice Mayor Bill Widmer for 2018. Following reorganization, the Council moved to Presentations and presented a Proclamation and Award to retiring Public Works Superintendent Steve Tyler; and, conducted the Oath of Office for new Public Safety Dispatcher Kristine Cisco and Police Officer Chris Greene.

Following Presentations, the Council moved to Public Comment and heard comment from a presenter regarding the proposed height and placement of poles for overhead electrification of the Caltrain corridor in Atherton.

Following Public Comment, the Council moved to the City Manager's Report. The City Manager's Report is prepared monthly as part of the City Council's Regular Agenda. In addition to current reports from the City Manager, it includes departmental updates on the various happenings around Town such as reports from Administration, Community Services, Planning, Police, and Public Works. 

After the City Manager's Report, the Council moved to the Consent Agenda consisting of Items 8 through 17. 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, bills, Certification of the November 7, 2017 Election Results for Measure "F", Adoption of the Resolution and Execution of Agreement for the Pooled Liability Assurance Network PLAN JPA, award of consultant services for traffic studies on Alameda de las Pulgas and a Town-wide Traffic Flow Study; Acceptance of Work for the Culvert Repair Project(s), adoption of a resolution in support of a Grant Application for the Middlefield Road Class II Bicycle Lane Project, issuance of an RFP for construction of temporary staging for the Library, and approval of a Revenue and Taxation Code Resolution in support of detachment of 501 Palmer Lane. Following discussion and comments on a few items to focus on local traffic issues versus traffic flow projects; and individual discussion of the 501 Palmer Lane item later in the evening, the Council approved the Consent Agenda.

Next, was the Regular Agenda beginning with Item No. 18, Comments and Feedback on the Caltrain Electrification Project. The Council heard the staff report and conducted some questions/answers from staff and Caltrain representatives related to pole height design, location, alternatives, timing, and collaboration with the Town historically and moving forward. Opening the meeting for Public Comment the Council heard numerous comments from residents in support of lower, 35' standard single-track pole installation along the corridor as opposed to 45'6" double-track poles. Following discussion and public comments, the Council asked that staff formalize a response to Caltrain advising that the Town supports the installation of single-track cantilever poles throughout the Town corridor as opposed to the standard 45'6" double-cantilever; that the Town wants Caltrain to consider the Town's request and report back in January as to next steps to move forward with it; that the Town would like to know the design impacts for switching to the single-track poles; and that, in January, the Town would also like to provide input into any design or aesthetic issue that Caltrain is soliciting for the PCEP pole system.  

The last item on the Agenda was Item No. 19, Feedback on the Civic Center Project Tree Removals. Following a staff report and recommendation, the Council heard public comment regarding saving heritage trees on the project site and discussed each tree, potential redesign and project delay impacts, and alternatives. Following discussion, the Council supported staff's "down the line" field change solution to save Tree #63, #66, #101, #102, and #115 protecting them in place during the project; supported the removal of Tree #78; asked that staff return in January with a report from the Town's arborist on the potential success of a tree well for Tree #55; and asked that the architect return with a draft sketch solution for Tree #67, #119, and #120 as well as a more detailed cost estimate for design and project impact.