Council Meeting Date: February 18, 2026 (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, February 18 at 6 pm. Following Roll Call the Council began moving through the Agenda beginning with Presentations and Public Comments (~6:01 pm).
Following Presentations, the Council moved to Public Comments at (~6:01 pm). After opportunity for general public comment, 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.
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 (~6:01 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 the Town's Inclusionary Ordinance, and the Mid-Year Budget Resolution. Following an opportunity for comments and questions, the Council approved the items on the Consent Agenda.
Following the Consent Agenda, the Council took up items on the Regular Agenda before moving forward with the Public Hearing item.
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 1st Reading of Objective Design Standards for multifamily up to 120 dwelling units per acre (~6:20 pm). Following a staff report and opportunity for public comment, the Council discussed the various provisions in the Ordinance and its impacts including, but not limited to, application to HCD interpretations of the Ordinance, requirements for HCD ordinance approval, timeline for approval and Town processes, CEQA and discretionary approvals, impacts on select properties within the zone, outdoor open space, accessory structures and facilities - such as pools and sports courts, sidewalks and access, landscape screening, massing features and building articulation, parking incentives, street parking deterrence, and window and ingress/egress along shared R1 property lines. Following discussion, the Council introduced the ordinance for 1st Reading with direction to staff to require the same rules as RM10 zones for accessory structures and facilities, prohibit open roof top facilities, prohibit open pools above the ground floor, utilize the Town Arborist's language for landscape screening requirements, conduct further research into what can be done to further incentivize parking or deter street parking, restrict ingress/egress along an R1 shared property line to no more than two openings, and require upper story window translucency.
Next up was the Regular Agenda.
The Regular Agenda consisted of three (3) items.
Item No. 6 was Consideration of an Event Management Services Contract for the Park (~6:02 pm). Following a Staff Report and opportunity for Public Comment, the Council discussed the potential contract provisions for an Event Services Manager at the Park. The Council discussed the term of the contract, termination provisions, and non-exclusivity of catering services. possibility of a pilot program for battery operated landscaping equipment at the Park. Following discussion, the Council approved the Event Management Services Contract with Cheat A Little Catering.
Item No. 7 was Consideration of a Policy Regarding Meeting Disruption pursuant to Senate Bill 707 (~6:13 pm). Following a Staff Report and opportunity for Public Comment, the Council discussed the particulars of the required policy. Following discussion, the Council adopted the policy.
Item No. 8 was affirmation of automatic removal of an Environmental Programs Committee Meeting due to lack of participation (~6:18 pm). Following a Staff Report and opportunity for Public Comment, the Council did not act to overturn the automatic removal of the Committee member.
Following Closing Comments, Council Reports, and Future Agenda items, the Council adjourned the meeting. (8:50 pm)
The next meeting of the City Council is a Study Session/Special Meeting on Wednesday, March 4 at 4 pm. This meeting will include the Annual Audit Reports from the Atherton Police Department and the FY 2026/27 Budget Kick Off.
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