Council Meeting Date: March 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, March 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 (~6:02 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 (~6:02 pm) consisting of Items 1 through 6. 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 Objective Design Standards for SB 79 affected parcels, 2025 General Plan Implementation Report (RHNA), declaration of surplus vehicles, and acceptance of the Treasurer's Report. Following an opportunity for comments and questions, the Council approved the items on the Consent Agenda.
The Council removed the General Plan Update Report for discussion but ultimately approved the Report. The Town is now three years into its nine-year RHNA planning period (2023-2031), representing 33.33% of the cycle completed. With respect to housing production in each affordability category, as of December 2025, the Town is 39% (on target) for the Very Low category, 27.8% (below target) for the Low category, 14.3% (below target) for the Moderate category, and 77.1% (above target) for the Above Moderate category. At first review, the Town's aggregate RHNA completion rate of 49.1% appears to compare favorably against the 33.33% cycle benchmark. However, that overall figure requires important context. The strong aggregate performance is driven almost entirely by the Above Moderate income category, which stands at 77.1% complete. That production is welcome, but it does not offset shortfalls in the lower income categories. Under RHNA, overproduction in a higher income category does not carry downward to satisfy lower income requirements. However, overproduction in a lower income category does carry upward toward higher income obligations. This means that the Town's deficit in the Very Low, Low, and Moderate categories cannot be remedied by continued Above Moderate production alone. The Very Low income category, at 39.0%, is technically on pace relative to the 33.33% benchmark. However, this is an area that warrants careful attention. The state's mid-cycle review, which occurs at the approximate five-year mark, may include a production validation component. If validation is required, survey-based income determinations collected at the time of ADU construction may not be sufficient to sustain a unit's classification in the Very Low income tier. Should any units shift out of that category upon validation, the Town's compliance position could erode more quickly than current numbers suggest. The Low income category, at 27.8%, and the Moderate income category, at 14.3%, are both below the cycle benchmark. These categories will require focused attention and, where feasible, proactive strategies to increase qualifying production in the years ahead.
Next was Public Hearings.
Public Hearings are typically held for Ordinances, Budget Adoption, Fee Adoption, and Land Use approvals.
There were two Public Hearing on the Agenda.
Item No. 7 was Consideration of an Inclusionary Housing Fee. (~6:21 pm) Following a staff report and opportunity for public comment, the Council discussed the various provisions in the Resolution, including applicability to each development prototype. Following discussion, the Council adopted the Resolution setting the fees at $150 per square foot for rental prototypes and $200 per square foot for sale prototypes.
Item No. 8 was Introduction and First Reading of an Ordinance Setting Construction Related Holidays under Title 15 (~6:24 pm). Following a staff report and opportunity for public comment, the Council discussed the various holidays, impact on construction schedules, impact on surrounding neighbors, and enforcement. Following discussion, the Council amended the text of the ordinance to make it more straightforward and directed that staff include the day after Thanksgiving as an observed construction holiday.
Next up was the Regular Agenda.
The Regular Agenda consisted of two (2) items.
Item No. 9 was Consideration of a proposal for transition of Park Landscape Maintenance Equipment to Electric (~6:50 pm). Following a Staff Report and opportunity for Public Comment, the Council discussed and complimented the Town Contractor's (Brightview Landscape) use of electric landscape equipment at the Park. The Council discussed the various gas-powered equipment owned and used by the Town. Following discussion, the Council directed that staff convert Town equipment - to include any vehicles - to electric when and where feasible.
Item No. 10 was discussion of proposed changes to the Town's Alarm Permit and False Alarm Compliance Programs (~6:56 pm). Following a Staff Report and opportunity for Public Comment, the Council discussed the particulars of the alarm permit and false alarm compliance programs. The Council discussed the number and frequency of false alarms, the regulatory of permit renewals, the notices and education around permits, the timing of letters and other correspondence to the community, the permit fees and penalty fees associated with alarms as well as the proposed process changes noted by staff in the Staff Report. Following discussion, the Council accepted the proposed procedures outlined by staff in the Staff Report and directed that the City Manager evaluate the program closely moving forward and return with recommendations for adjustments as needed.
Following Closing Comments, Council Reports, and Future Agenda items, the Council adjourned the meeting. (7:41 pm)
The next meeting of the City Council is a Study Session/Special Meeting on Wednesday, April 1 at 3 pm. This meeting will include the FY 2026/27 Operations Budget discussion and Consideration of Funding Assistance toward a Menlo College Housing Project..
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