Council Meeting Date: December 20, 2023 (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, December 20 at 5 pm. Following the Roll Call the Council began moving through the Agenda beginning with the City Council Reorganization, Presentations and Public Comments. Each December the City Council reorganizes to select the Mayor and Vice Mayor for the coming year (~5:05 pm). The seats of Mayor and Vice Mayor were declared open and by nomination the Council welcomed Vice Mayor Diana Hawkins-Manuelian to move into the Mayoral role for 2024 and Councilmember Lewis to move into the Vice Mayor role. Members were sworn into their new roles with Oaths of Office and then the Council moved on to welcome on board the Town's newest staff member in the Public Works Department, Will Burse, Maintenance Manager.
Following Public Comments, the Council moved on to Departmental Reports.
Departmental Reports (~5:27 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 3 through 7 (~5:31 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, 2nd Reading of amendments to Chapter 8.08 and Chapter 8.10 of the Municipal Code, Approval of an Agreement for Project Management Services, and Acceptance of Donations to the Police Department. Following comments, questions and discussion on the Project Management Services and acceptance of donations, 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. 8 was a Public Hearing to consider and approve a Tentative Parcel Map for 170/178 Atherton Avenue (~5:44 pm). Following a staff report, questions, and opportunity for public comment, the Council discussed issues related to lot size, minimum lot requirements, and future development. Following discussion, the Council conditionally approved the Tentative Parcel Map and certified and adopted the Notice of Exemption for the Project.
Item No. 9 was Introduction and First Reading of an Ordinance repealing and replacing Chapter 6.04 - Animal Control (~6:03 pm) Following a staff report, questions, and opportunity for public comment, the Council discussed issues related to changes to the Ordinance, leash law requirements, provocation, hearing process, trespass, and competency of leash holder. Following discussion, the Council Introduced the Ordinance, as presented, for 1st Reading. 
Next up was the Regular Agenda.
There were no items scheduled for the Regular Agenda.
The last items on the Agenda were Council Reports and final Comments.
Having cleared the entire Agenda, at approximately 6:20 pm, that as they say - was a wrap! The Council adjourned to a Holiday Party to honor and thank all of the Town's various volunteers and resident support groups.
The next meeting of the City Council will be a Special Meeting on January 10 at 4 pm. This is the Study Session Meeting for January, rescheduled from January 3 to allow for sufficient public noticing. Tentative items on this agenda include consideration of recommendations from the CAFE Subcommittee of the City Council and Age-Friendly Task Force; and Discussion of Options for Park Event Management Services with the departure of Catered Too! at the end of December 2023.
As the Town continues forward motion on the 6th Cycle Housing Element, January 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, continued Public Hearing - 1st Reading of 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