Council Meeting Date: March 19, 2025 (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, March 19 at 6 pm. Following Roll Call the Council began moving through the Agenda beginning with Presentations and Public Comments (~6:01 pm). The Council heard a presentation from Sequoia Healthcare District and then witnessed the swearing in of new Atherton Police Sergeant Doug Richardson and new Police Department Management Analyst Alexis Garcia-Dawson. Following the presentations, the Council moved to Public Comments (~6:16 pm).
Following Public Comments at (~6:19 pm), the Council moved on to Departmental Reports and the Consent Agenda..
Departmental Reports (~6:20 pm) are prepared monthly as part of the City Council's Regular Agenda.
Departmental Reports includes updates on the various happenings around Town including reports from Administration, City Clerk, Finance, Community Services (Building and Planning), Public Works, Parks and Police.
Following Departmental Reports, the Council moved to the Consent Agenda (~6:21 pm) consisting of Items 1 through 4. 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 and Adoption of amendments to the Atherton Municipal Code relating to Housing, and Acceptance of the Annual Report to the Housing and Community Development Department. 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.
There were no Public Hearings on the Agenda.
Next up was the Regular Agenda.
The Regular Agenda consisted of three items.
Item No. 5 was approval of a proposal from the Atherton Arts Foundation for the Main House at the Park. (~6:23 pm) Following a Staff Report, Presentation and opportunity for Public Comment, the Council discussed issues related to rotation of art, permanent art, review of art, donations of art, and mini-shows at the Main. Following discussion, the Council expressed support for the project and directed staff to move forward with an agreement with the Art Foundation for the use of the Main House as proposed. .
Item No. 6 was discussion and direction regarding Chapter 6.04 Animal Control. (~6:43 pm) Following a Staff Report, Presentation and opportunity for Public Comment, the Council discussed issues related to numbers of chickens, surrounding community regulations, other non-domesticated animal keeping, best practices, permit control, and health and safety rules. Following discussion, the Council directed that the Animal Control Ordinance be returned to the Planning Commission and directed the Commission to engage in a public process to examine setbacks, number of chickens, permit fees and the requirements for permits, consider the County's regulations, the Animal Control Ordinance holistically for a review of other animals and balanced against best practices for communities make a recommendation for changes.
Item No. 7 was discussion and direction regarding various policy issues related to emergency and disaster preparedness. (~7:18 pm) Following a Staff Report, Presentation and opportunity for Public Comment, the Council discussed issues related to fire prevention, emergency training, heritage trees and disfavored trees, CERT and ADAPT. The Council expressed support for the current relationships and direction as articulated in the Staff Report.
The last items on the Agenda were Council Reports and final Public Comments. (~7:55 pm)
Having cleared the entire Agenda, at approximately 7:55 pm, that as they say - was a wrap!
The next meeting of the City Council is a Study Session/Special Meeting on Wednesday, April 2 at 4 pm. This meeting is a Joint Meeting with the Town's Audit & Finance Committee to discuss the FY 2025/26 Budget. This is the Operations Budget meeting and staff will provide a review of the Town's Operational Budget recommendations. The Council will also discuss the Town's Financial Outlook Tool. Also on the Agenda is the Annual Police Department Report. The Council will receive a presentation from the Police Chief and the 2025 Annual Report.
The Council will host its Annual Goals and Team Building Workshop on Thursday, April 3 from 12 pm to 4 pm in the Council Chambers. This is an opportunity for the Council to discuss the Town's Six (6) Goal Areas and Review Council Operations. A copy of the Town's Goal Areas and application of those goals to the Town's Work Plan are included as part of the Departmental Reports.
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