Council Meeting Date: September 18, 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, September 18 at 6 pm. Following the Roll Call the Council began moving through the Agenda beginning with Presentations and Public Comments (~6:01 pm). The Council introduced new Code Enforcement Officer Elizabeth Dalby and presented a Proclamation in recognition of September 2024 as Suicide Prevention Month.
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 6. 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, review of resolutions for the CA Cities Conference, approval of a Budget Amendment for Earth Day, acceptance of a $200,000 donation for a wellness program, and adoption of revisions to the Council Handbook, Rules of Procedure, and Rules Governing Committees. Following an opportunity for comments and questions, 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.
Item No. 7, entitled Consideration of Resolutions Recommending Adoption of an IS/MND and Mitigation Monitoring Program and Amendments to the Town's General Plan, and Introduction of an Ordinance with 1st Reading for Municipal Code and Zoning Updates related to the 6th Cycle Housing Element. Following a Staff Report and Presentation, the Council asked clarifying questions of staff. Following questions, the Council Opened the Public Hearing and took public comment. Following Public Comment, the Council returned to discuss the issues. The Council moved methodically through the issues beginning with a review of questions regarding the Environmental Studies completed and mitigation monitoring plans. Following discussion and direction regarding the environmental documents, the Council began discussion of recommended changes to the General Plan and Municipal Code. The Council provided specific direction on the Mid-Cycle Check-In requirements from HCD as well as gaining a better understanding of the preliminary land use and zoning definitions. After discussion, the Council opted to continue the Public Hearing to October 2 @ 4 pm (Council Chambers). The Council's discussion on October 2 will focus on the Housing Element document (Attachment 8) and the Municipal Code Amendments focusing on the Objective Design Standards for the RM-10 and RM-20/40 Zones (Attachment 12). The October 2 Agenda packet will not include reprints of all of the documents included in the September 18 Agenda packet but will instead include references and links to items reviewed.
Resources and Prior Public Engagement
Because this process is daunting and the information can be data-heavy, detailed and complex, the Town has had numerous public engagement opportunities over the past 4 years. The Town focused in on Ravenswood and Bay/Ringwood properties over a year ago when beginning environmental review. The Council meetings of July 19, 2023 (Item No. 11) and September 20, 2023 (Item No. 12) focused in on site selection and criteria for each in order to craft the Project Description required for environmental review. Over the years, the Town hosted public meetings and with letter/postcard/social media/newsletter notice to all the residents in Town and specifically those affected of the Town’s decisions. The publicly noticed workshops focused on the setbacks, heights, floor area, and other design standards as they applied to the Ravenswood, Oakwood, and Bay/Ringwood properties. A webpage on the Town's website is dedicated to archived information on the Town’s discussions from 2019 forward (LINK) through April 2024. Beyond April 2024, resources are on the dedicated Housing Element Update (LINK) page. There are numerous notices, postings, meetings, videos, workshops, and more. To learn more about the Town's Housing Element process, please connect to these available resources.
While CEQA is an extraordinarily important process and document, it is dense, data-driven material. The practical implications of the land use and zoning changes are articulated most explicitly via Attachment 12 and Attachment 8 (more broadly) linked prior. I would encourage anyone interested in learning more about the design standards for the proposed multifamily zoning to review these two attachments. Attachment 8 represents the Zoning Code parameters for development. Attachment 12 discusses in broad terms the Town's requirements under the State Housing Mandates and outlines broad policy objectives for achieving those mandates. When staff produces a Staff Report for the Council, the Staff Report attempts to focus in on the areas of concern where feedback is needed.
Next up was the Regular Agenda.
The Council pulled Item No. 8, Consideration and Direction Regarding a Town Charter Subcommittee and continued it to a future meeting (date not set) (~6:11 pm).
The Council heard Items 9, 10, & 11 prior to the Public Hearing item.
Item No. 9, Grand Jury Report - Assessing and Reporting Internal Controls (6:12 pm) was next. The Council opted to forgo a staff report. Following an opportunity for public comment and discussion, the Council approved the Town's response to the Grand Jury and authorized its submission.
Item No. 10, Grand Jury Report - Restaurant Exteriors (6:13 pm) was next. The Council opted to forgo a staff report. Following an opportunity for public comment and discussion, the Council approved the Town's response to the Grand Jury and authorized its submission.
Item No. 11, Grand Jury Report - Compost Compliance (6:14 pm) was next. The Council opted to forgo a staff report. Following an opportunity for public comment and discussion, the Council approved the Town's response to the Grand Jury and authorized its submission.
The last items on the Agenda were Council Reports and final Comments.
Having cleared the entire Agenda, at approximately 10:15 pm, that as they say - was a wrap!
As noted above, the Council will host a Continued Public Hearing for the Housing Element Item No. 7 at the October 2 Special Meeting at 4 pm in the Council Chambers. After the October 2 meeting, the next meeting of the City Council will be the Regular Meeting on Wednesday, October 16. This meeting will also include a Public Hearing on the Housing Element with the expectation that the Council will finalize discussion and take action.
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