Council Meeting Date: June 18, 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, June 18 at 6 pm. Following Roll Call the Council began moving through the Agenda beginning with Presentations and Public Comments (~6:04 pm). The Council received a presentation regarding the 2025 Tree Awards. Following the presentations, the Council moved to Public Comments (~6:09 pm).
Following Public Comments at (~6:09 pm), the Council moved on to Departmental Reports and the Consent Agenda..
Departmental Reports (~6:12 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 (~6:13 pm) consisting of Items 1 through 8. 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, Resolution for Senate Bill 1, Earth Day Summary, Award of Contract for Patching and Overlay, Approval of a PSA for IT services, Approval of a Contract Renewal for Landscape Services, and Acceptance of Work for Sidewalk Repairs in Lloyden Park. 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 two Public Hearings on the Agenda.
Item No. 9 was a Public Hearing on Recruitment, Retention and Vacancies per Government Code Section 3502.3 (~6:15 pm). Following a Staff Report and opportunity for Public Comment, the Council noted that the Town's challenges with recruitment and retention are limited. Following discussion, the Council received and filed the required report.
Item No. 10 was a Public Hearing to adopt the FY 2025/26 Budget and Associated Resolutions (~6:18 pm). Following a Staff Report and opportunity for Public Comment, the Council noted that there had been numerous public meetings around the Budget beginning in February/March 2025. Following discussion, the Council adopted all Resolutions associated with the FY 2025/26 Budget.
Next up was the Regular Agenda.
The Regular Agenda consisted of five items.
Item No. 11 was Appointments to various Town Committees and the Planning Commission (~6:22 pm). Following a Staff Report and opportunity for Public Comment, the Council addressed candidates that were present in the room regarding their applications. Following discussion, the Council appointed Steven Brickley and Suzanne Jain to the Audit and Finance Committee; Samantha Michel (2 year term) and Steve Seabolt (4 year term) to the Transportation, Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee, Walter Robinson (Foundation seat) to the Park and Recreation Committee, and Bob Polito to the Planning Commission. Meetings of these respective committees are public and agendas can be found on the Town's website via this LINK.
Item No. 12 was discussion and direction regarding formation of a Town Charter (~6:48 pm). Following a Staff Report, presentation and opportunity for Public Comment, the Council discussed issues related to benefits of becoming a charter city, obligations around affordable housing, time and expensive of becoming a charter city, importance of home rule and local control, opportunity for taxation not fundamental to decision to become a charter city, changes to charter and/or imposition of taxes require election, and the need for a narrowly tailored charter. Following discussion, the Council directed that the work of the Standing Subcommittee continue to move forward with drafting an initial charter for discussion by the Council. Meetings of the Standing Subcommittee are public meetings. Agendas can be found on the Town's website via this LINK.
Item No. 13 was consideration of appointment of a Council Liaison to the Atherton Disaster and Preparedness Team (ADAPT) (~7:20 pm). Following a Staff Report and opportunity for Public Comment, the Council discussed issues related to the role of ADAPT, importance of the group, potential solutions to assist with work effort, needs of ADAPT, varying degrees of emergency response experience, need for Town staff support either directly or via contract services, and vision for ADAPT moving forward. Following discussion, the Council directed that appointment of a Council liaison is not warranted at this time; however, that staff should step up engagement and leadership with ADAPT to assist the group with its needs. Further, that if there are resources identified that require additional Town funding that staff return to the Council for consideration of approval. ADAPT is a public 501(c)3. Information regarding ADAPT can be found via the following LINK.
Item No. 14 was a Report on the City Attorney evaluation and amendments to the Legal Services Contract (~7:46 pm). Following a Staff Report and opportunity for Public Comment, the Council approved the amendments.
Item No. 15 was a Report on the City Manager evaluation and amendments to the employment contract (~7:50 pm). Following a Staff Report and opportunity for Public Comment, the Council approved the amendments.
The last items on the Agenda were Council Reports, final Public Comments and Future Agenda Items. (~7:52 pm)
Having cleared the entire Agenda, at approximately 7:52 pm, that as they say - was a wrap!
The next meeting of the City Council is a Study Session/Special Meeting on Monday, June 23 at 4 pm. This meeting is a Joint Meeting with the Planning Commission to discuss the adoption of an Inclusionary Ordinance related to affordable housing. The next regularly scheduled Study Session of the City Council is July 2 at 4 pm. At that meeting, the Council will discuss parking and circulation solutions for the Town Center/Library.
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