Council Meeting Date: May 21, 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, May 21 at 6 pm. Following Roll Call the Council began moving through the Agenda beginning with Presentations and Public Comments (~6:04 pm). The Council accepted a Proclamation in support of National Police Officer Memorial Week. Following the presentations, the Council moved to Public Comments (~6:06 pm).
Following Public Comments at (~6:06 pm), the Council moved on to Departmental Reports and the Consent Agenda..
Departmental Reports (~6:09 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 (~6:10 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, FY 2023/24 Audited Financial Statements, and approval of Communications Support Services. 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 was one Public Hearing on the Agenda.
Item No. 5 was Introduction and Waiver of 1st Reading of an Ordinance Relating to the Town's Purchasing Ordinance; along with a Resolution establishing contract limits. (~6:15 pm) Following a Staff Report and opportunity for Public Comment, the Council discussed issues related to the California Uniform Public Construction Cost Account Act (CUPCCA) and the Town's ability to use the State law for public works construction contracts. Following discussion, the Council Introduced the Ordinance for 1st Reading and Adopted the accompanying Resolution. For more information on CUPCCA, the State Controller's Office has an FAQ that provides more detailed information (link HERE).
Next up was the Regular Agenda.
The Regular Agenda consisted of four items.
Item No. 6 was consideration of Adoption of a Resolution setting speed limits in School Zones and Feedback/Direction on the Town's designated Local Safety Corridors. (~6:21 pm) Following a Staff Report, presentation and opportunity for Public Comment, the Council discussed issues related to traffic safety incidents around local schools, the ability to reduce speeds along local safety corridors, consistency with adjacent jurisdictions, safety along school routes, speed of traffic along school routes, and specific schools to which the law reducing speed limits to 15 mph would apply. Following discussion, the Council amended and adopted the Resolution including reductions of speed limits to 15 mph along school corridors:
- Las Lomitas Elementary (Camino al Lago)
- Laurel Elementary (Edge Road)
- Nativity (Laurel Avenue)
- Sacred Heart Schools (Emilie Avenue, Elena Avenue, Park Lane)
- Adelante-Selby (Selby Lane)
- Encinal Elementary (Encinal Avenue)
- Menlo Atherton High School (Oak Grove Avenue, Ringwood Avenue)
- Menlo School (Alejandra Avenue)
The Council also directed that staff adjust the speed limit along Valparaiso to be consistent with Menlo Park at 25 mph from Cotton Street to El Camino Real, reduce the speed of Middlefield Road to 25 mph, and investigate the possibility of reduction of speeds along local safety corridors (Middlefield Road, Alameda de las Plugas, El Camino Real) at points adjacent to schools to 15 mph. These changes will return to the Council via Ordinance.
Item No. 7 was feedback and direction regarding utility service exemption processes and approval of an exemption for 39 Barry Lane (~7:00 pm) Following a Staff Report, presentation and opportunity for Public Comment, the Council discussed issues related to the exemption process, codification, and permit cost. Following discussion, the Council directed that staff return with an Ordinance to codify the exemption process and approved the exemption presented for 39 Barry Lane.
Item No. 8 was feedback and direction regarding interim improvements along designated bicycle and pedestrian routes associated with new private developments (~7:10 pm). Following a Staff Report, presentation and opportunity for Public Comment, the Council discussed issues related to required stormwater improvements, type of surface treatment considered (pervious, impervious), extent of public right-of-way, current regulations, requirements for mailboxes, potential future development, application of requirement, and timing. Following discussion, the Council directed that consideration of interim requirements for public right-of-way improvements along corridors where there may or may not be future multi-modal improvements at this time was premature. Council directed that until finalization of the 2025 Active Transportation Plan, current rules for improvements within the Town's right-of-way shall apply.
Current regulations around improvements in the Town's Public Right-of-Way:
- Handout for Vegetation in the Public Right of Way LINK
- Encroachment Ordinance governing improvements in the Public Right of Way LINK)
Item No. 9 was review and approval of considered legislative correspondence (~8:07 pm). Following a Staff Report and opportunity for Public Comment, the Council discussed the proposed correspondence. Following discussion, the Council approved release of a Letter of Opposition to SB 79 and a General Letter to the Governing regarding Housing Legislation.
The last items on the Agenda were Council Reports, final Public Comments and Future Agenda Items. (~8:10 pm)
- Councilmembers reported out on the work on the Fountain in the Park.
Having cleared the entire Agenda, at approximately 8:10 pm, that as they say - was a wrap!
The next meeting of the City Council is a Study Session/Special Meeting on Wednesday, June 4 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 "roll-up" meeting of the Operations, Special Funds, and CIP Budget. Prior to the presentation on the Budget, the Study Session will begin with a Report on the results of the recent Town Survey. The Survey invited input from the community on various Town priorities, needs and issues. If you have not had an opportunity to provide input - click HERE to take the survey.
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