City Manager's Blog

Council Meeting Date: February 21, 2018
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 January Regular Council meeting on Wednesday, February 21 beginning at 7 pm. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, the Council moved to Public Comment.

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 16. 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, 2nd reading of ordinances related to cable franchises and the General Plan, adoption of a Resolution for the Peninsula Bikeways, changes to the scope of work for the series street light project, and award of contract for the 2018 slurry and patching projects. Following comments on the Peninsula Bikeways Project, the Council approved the Consent Agenda. 

(Item No. 17 and Item No. 18 were taken in reverse order at the meeting.) Next, was the Regular Agenda beginning with Item No. 17, Fire Services Fiscal Review. The Council heard the brief staff report and took additional public comment. Following public comment, the Council discussed issues related to local property taxes, options and next steps, consensus on quality of services, per capita costs, per call costs, excess funding from local residents, growth in the region, and future expected growth. Following discussion, the Council directed staff to work with the consultant to move forward with Task No. 4 and provide the Council with a range of options to understand and consider. 

Item No. 18, Caltrain Electrification Project - Pole Heights. The Council heard the brief staff report, took public comment and discussed the issues. The Council discussed issues related to timing of information, acceptable conditions laid out in the Caltrain response letter, perceptions of the Caltrain Board, tone of the Caltrain letter, rebuilding the relationship with Caltrain, opportunities for solutions, and appointment of a subcommittee to continue the effort. Following discussion, the Mayor appointed two members of the Council (Wiest/DeGolia) to work with staff and Caltrain toward a solution and return any agreed upon solution to the Council for ratification. 

Item No. 19, Review and Approval of the 2018 Earth Day Event. Following a staff report and public comment, the Council discussed the proposed Earth Day activities. The Council expressed support for the selected movie and the event. The Council also expressed a desire for a clear mechanism to allow the Council to direct committee or commission review of a particular issue without broad language within a committee charter. Staff will return with some options for consideration by the Council. 

Next was Item No. 20, feedback on the Middlefield Class II Bicycle Lanes. Following a staff report and public comment, the Council provided feedback on intersection striping, crosswalk at Middlefield and Fair Oaks, and signage. The Council will be provided with a 65% plan set and will have an opportunity to review the final plans before bid in March. 

The next item on the Agenda was Item No. 21, Review and Authorization for a Request for Proposal for the Business License Ordinance and other Revenue Alternatives. Following a staff report and public comment, the Council discussed the need for the Request for Proposal, the timing of a business license tax modification, the need for a transient occupancy tax on short-term rentals given that short-term rentals are not permitted, and the possibility of a situs sales tax. Following discussion, the Council directed staff to engage an existing consultant to assist with defining the possibilities of a situs sales tax; table the business license tax at this time, and eliminate any consideration of a transient occupancy tax.

The last item on the Agenda was Item No. 22, Civic Center Project Update. Following a staff report and public comment, the Council approved various contracts related to the Civic Center Project pre-construction work and temporary buildings.