Council Meeting Date: July 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, July 17 at 6 pm. Following the Roll Call the Council began moving through the Agenda beginning with Presentations and Public Comments (~6:01 pm).
Following Public Comments (~6:01 pm), the Council moved on to Departmental Reports and the Consent Agenda..
Departmental Reports (~6:01 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 7. 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, 2nd Reading of modifications to the Electrification Ordinance, designation of a voting delegate to a CA Cities Conference, an Agreement with Tetra Tech for drainage work, and the FY 2022/23 Audit. Following an opportunity for comments and questions, the Council approved the items on the Consent Agenda, to include Item No. 6 which was pulled for comment and discussion under the Regular Agenda. .
Next was Public Hearings.
Public Hearings are typically held for Ordinances, Budget Adoption, Fee Adoption, and Land Use approvals.
There were no scheduled Public Hearings.
Next up was the Regular Agenda.
The Council pulled Item No. 6 from Consent and discussed it here.
Item No. 6 was an Agreement with Tetra Tech for Drainage Work in the Atherton Channel (~6:05 pm). Following a staff report and public comment, the Council discussed issues related to channel erosion, easements, rights within the easement, responsibility, soft versus hard bottom channels, channel integrity, and expectations of environmental review. Following discussion, the Council approved the agreement but directed that staff work with Tetra Tech and the approving environmental agencies toward the best public safety as well as environmental solution..
Item No. 8 was acceptance of a loan of an art piece for the Town Center entitled "Celebration" (~6:40 pm). Following a staff report and public comment, the Council had various questions for the donor and discussed issues such as length of the loan, installation and transportation cost, insurance cost, location, use of library funds, style, and durability. Following discussion, the Council approved acceptance of the loan and directed staff to work with the donor to complete a loan agreement for location of the art piece within the Town Center near the Library.
Item No. 9 was receipt of an Interim Update on the Pickleball Trial at Holbrook Palmer Park (~7:00 pm) Following a staff report and public comment, the Council discussed issues related to comments from the survey and next steps for the trial. A final report regarding the pickleball trial is expected in September/October 2024.
Item No, 10 was approval of the Request for Proposal for the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan update (~7:19 pm) Following a staff report and public comment, the Council discussed the distinction between an update and a revision, an increase in stakeholder outreach and engagement with neighborhood meetings, including school stakeholders, the improved safety of bicycle lanes, and distinctions between Class III and Class II bicycle lanes. Following discussion, the Council approved release of the request for proposal with minor verbiage changes and directed that the Mayor and City Manager be actively engaged in hosting neighborhood meetings during the process.
The last item on the Regular Agenda was Item No. 11, Approval of an Agreement for Knox Playschool (~7:43 pm). Following a staff report and public comment, the Council discussed the terms of the agreement. Following discussion, the Council approved the agreement as presented.
The last items on the Agenda were Council Reports and final Comments.
Having cleared the entire Agenda, at approximately 7:52 pm, that as they say - was a wrap!
The Council is DARK during the month of August. The next meeting of the City Council will be a Study Session on Wednesday, September 4. The meeting will include a presentation and discussion on a Roundabout Study for Alameda de las Pulgas and various planned traffic safety improvement projects. The Council may have a Special Meeting in August to discuss the mechanics of financing affordable housing projects (rescheduled from June 26) but this has not yet been scheduled.
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