Council Meeting Date: January 17, 2024 (full Agenda link)
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 and meeting videos are uploaded once they are fully compiled.
The City Council met for the Regular Meeting on Wednesday, January 17 at 6 pm. Following the Roll Call the Council began moving through the Agenda beginning with Presentations and Public Comments. (~6:21 pm) The Council heard presentations from HIP Housing, the Annual Report from the Park and Recreation Committee (later in the meeting), and presented a Proclamation to Sandy Crittenden for his service to the Town and Library.
Following Public Comments, the Council moved on to Departmental Reports.
Departmental Reports (~6:29 pm) are 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 Departmental Reports, the Council moved to the Consent Agenda consisting of Items 1 through 5 (~6:30 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 bills and claims, minutes, 2024 Council Committee Assignments, 2nd Reading and Adoption of the Animal Control Ordinance, and Destruction of Records. Following comments and questions on the Animal Control Ordinance, the Council approved the 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 two (2) scheduled Public Hearings.
Item No. 6 was Review, Discussion and Approval of the Town's Master Fee Schedule (~6:35 pm). Following a staff report, questions, and opportunity for public comment, the Council discussed the various fees to be set, provided staff with policy direction regarding certain fees, and directed that staff consolidate the Resolution and Table for ease of adoption, provide an opportunity for the Builder's Roundtable to review the proposed fee schedule, and continue the Public Hearing for the item for consideration of adoption by the Council at the February 21 City Council Meeting.
Item No. 7 was the 1st Reading of an Ordinance repealing and replacing the Town's Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance (~7:55 pm) Following a staff report, questions, and opportunity for public comment, the Council discussed issues related to changes to the Ordinance largely related to the provision of an ADU Bonus Program, ADUs over garages, protection of Heritage Trees, and minor definition changes. Following discussion, the Council continued the Public Hearing for the 1st Reading of the Ordinance for consideration at the February 21 City Council Meeting. 
Next up was the Regular Agenda.
The first item on the Regular Agenda was Item No. 8, Provide Feedback on Reach Code Approaches. However, given the late timing of the meeting items and the anticipated lengthy item discussion, the Council continued this item to a future meeting (TBD).
The last item on the Regular Agenda was Item No. 9, Approval of the 2024 Earth Day Work Plan. (~9:09 pm) Following a staff report, presentation and public comments, the Council asked questions regarding the planned activities at the event to include volunteer outreach, food trucks, funding needs, and other activities. Following discussion, the Council approved the workplace and budget, authorized an augmentation of $5,000 to the existing $5,000 budget and authorized consideration by the EPC via staff of a "lawn robot" competition.
The last items on the Agenda were Council Reports and final Comments.
Having cleared the entire Agenda, at approximately 9:25 pm, that as they say - was a wrap!
The next meeting of the City Council will be a Special Meeting on February 7 at 4 pm. This is the Study Session Meeting for February. Tentative items on this agenda include consideration of recommendations from the Town's Lobbyist for Legislative Platform, Discussion and Direction regarding a Town Community Services Survey, and the Mid-Year Budget Report.
As the Town continues forward motion on the 6th Cycle Housing Element, February and March will resume housing items appearing on the Planning Commission and Council Agendas. This includes completion of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Study, completion of the Inclusionary Ordinance Nexus Study, revisions to the Town's Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Ordinance, Zoning Amendments, Program and Policy adoptions, and consideration of Zoning Modifications Related to Objective Design Review.
For more information and calendar of events, visit the Town's website.
Thanks for reading!
George Rodericks
City Manager
Town of Atherton
grodericks@ci.atherton.ca.us