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Record of Proceedings

Sunol Citizens Advisory Council Meeting - March 19, 2026

Board of Supervisors — Thursday, March 19, 2026
BodyAlameda County, California
SessionBoard of Supervisors
DateThursday, March 19, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:07

Okay, it's 6 30, so let's call the meeting to order.

0:11

No more puppy photos.

0:13

No, sorry.

0:16

Okay.

0:19

Council member coming in.

0:22

President.

0:22

Councilmember Harrison.

0:25

Councilmember McLean.

0:27

Council Member Starr.

0:32

Okay, for public comment, public forum, public announcements.

0:37

We'll have a limit of two minutes.

0:39

Do you want to read the um directions for public comments?

0:43

Sure.

0:44

Before you start your public comment, please state your name for the record.

0:49

If you're participating online, please please use the right hand function.

0:53

If you're calling Ed, please dial star nine.

1:00

Other than that.

1:02

Okay.

1:07

Could you do me a favor?

1:09

Could you find out which items those are?

1:12

I can't read it.

1:14

Okay.

1:19

Yeah.

1:31

So at our last meeting, there was one person that just sort of took over the floor and just started talking and they hadn't filled out a card.

1:40

It wasn't their turn.

1:42

I really want to avoid that.

1:45

If people are going to just start trying to take over the meeting, I'm going to have to ask them to leave.

1:53

And if they continue with that, then we'll just ask somebody from the sheriff's office to stay for the whole meeting and escort them out.

2:08

Okay.

2:10

Is it an open?

2:11

Yeah, open comment and then B and A.

2:15

B and A B.

2:17

B and A two or three.

2:20

Okay.

2:22

An open comment for sure.

2:23

Okay.

2:23

Open comment, and then it looks like a movie and a you have a public comment.

2:29

Yeah.

2:31

And uh septic issue.

2:34

You had on it was on the agenda your last agenda.

2:37

Yeah.

2:38

And uh I listened here to that.

2:42

Uh I wanted to just indicate that I uh basically agreed with uh what the report had to say.

2:57

My only concern is that uh you know we'll be paying this this outfit 93,000 at least uh to do this, and they've been working on it for several months, and uh there has not yet been a meeting where members of the community can have any discussion.

3:20

Uh Kanye had indicated to me, she thought there had been two or three meetings, but I talked to people.

3:28

I found no one who is aware of any meeting that is has been held, and uh so therefore it's not concern about something that's in the report, it's just a concern about the process, and that I think that there needs to be some opportunity for the community members uh to uh have ask their questions, but especially to make their uh their feelings known.

4:00

Um that that was a big problem with the last and uh when we did a survey after that uh over 100 people responded, and they're overwhelmingly were concerned about the lack opportunity for for MPP and so on.

4:16

So I I would uh suggest that we do something where we can schedule uh at least an initial uh meeting where the public can interact with the people doing the study, and so that they have some sense of what the community is feeling.

4:36

Okay, thank you very much, Jim.

4:40

We will follow up on that.

4:43

There are now public comments online.

4:45

Okay, thank you very much.

4:47

Go up to Meg uh reports updates.

4:51

We have lots of people here.

4:54

Thank you for coming.

4:55

Okay, Mark Petrini, you're first sheriff's offices first.

5:01

Good evening, everybody.

5:02

Uh since our last meeting, we've had 33 calls for service.

5:07

Um 911 open lines and a few little disturbances related to one person who lives up on the hill of town that we've been trying to take care of.

5:20

Uh Ws have conducted 20 proactive stops.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Telecommunications Infrastructure███████████████████████████27%
Environmental Protection███████████████████19%
Engineering And Infrastructure███████████████15%
Procedural████████8%
Land Use Planning███████7%
Traffic Safety████4%
Public Health Services████4%
Community Engagement███3%
Public Engagement███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Sunol Citizens Advisory Council Meeting - March 19, 2026

The Sunol Citizens Advisory Council (CAC) held its regular meeting on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at 6:30 PM. The meeting included public comments, updates from county agencies, presentations on mosquito abatement and a proposed new home, and a continued discussion on a telecommunications tower renewal. The council voted to approve a site development review for a new residence and continued the telecommunications item to the next meeting pending camouflage renderings.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Jim expressed concern about the septic study process, noting that a consultant has been paid $93,000 and worked for several months without any public meeting for community input. He requested a community meeting to allow residents to ask questions and share feelings.
  • Kelly commented on the Alameda Creek Watershed Center, suggesting a more accessible name (e.g., Natural Cultural History Center) and urging the SFPUC to update the construction sign (currently stating "finishing end 2025") and to allow the facility to be rented out for events like the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
  • Andrew asked about the future of the former golf course clubhouse; Tim Ramirez responded that no long-term plans exist beyond grazing, but utility staging uses may occur.

Reports & Updates

  • Sheriff’s Office (Mark Petrini): Reported 33 calls for service, 20 proactive stops, and 32 business checks in the last month. Petrini announced his retirement; Sergeant Franco (grew up in Sunol) will replace him full-time in April.
  • CHP (Sean Landers): Conducted enforcement on Highway 84, writing 30 speeding tickets in a few hours. Raised concern about the Paloma Way on-ramp at Southbound 680 where drivers illegally turn left and go straight.
  • Fire Protection: 27 calls for service since last meeting, 93% EMS-related, five fire responses, one controlled burn, one rubbish fire.
  • Tree Advisory Work Group (Jim): Over the last two years, $10,000 has been spent on tree work along Sinbad Creek, funded by Friends of the Park and PLA. A volunteer work day is scheduled for Saturday, March 21 (weed whacking and irrigation check). A larger event with 40 students from the Resource Conservation District is planned for water sampling and creek cleanup.
  • Fire Safety Work Group (Frank): Completed 10 days of tree work on Kilcare Road using $42,000 in CalFire funds: removed 18 dead/hazardous trees, trimmed 87 trees, and cleared 144 cubic yards of green waste. Treated about 2 of the 4 miles; an additional $50,000 is needed to finish.
  • Downtown Revitalization Work Group: A prototype welcome sign will be delivered Monday, March 23. The sign is lighter in weight and will be displayed during the day, then brought in at night. Public comments will be accepted via email and handwritten notes. The sign features five historical landmarks.
  • Council Staff Comments:
    • Bulky waste day scheduled for March? (8 AM to noon, coupon in mail).
    • PGE open house on May 13 to discuss undergrounding 2 miles of distribution lines on Kilcare Road and pole replacement downtown.
    • Speed limit studies on Foothill Road (25 mph downtown to park; 35 mph between Koopman and Paloma) were approved by the Board of Supervisors, signs to be posted.
  • Alameda Creek Watershed Center (Tim Ramirez, SFPUC):
    • First responder liaison meeting set for June 4.
    • Grazing leases put out for competitive bid on March 17; mandatory meeting March 28; proposals due in April.
    • Watershed management plan update expected in May; public commission hearing in June.
    • Public fishing access at Calaveras Reservoir by reservation, with bathroom and road improvements planned for summer.
    • Construction of the Watershed Center is delayed due to rain leaks and exhibit issues; the contract runs through June 2028 but completion was hoped for spring 2026. No new schedule available.
    • Dogs are not permitted on the property.

Discussion Items

  • Mosquito Abatement Presentation (Judith Pierce Davison, Alameda County Mosquito Abatement District):
    • Mosquitoes are active year-round due to warming. In Sunol, the aggressive Aedes dorsalis mosquito breeds in tree holes and containers.
    • Invasive Aedes aegypti (vector for dengue, Zika) has been found in Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, and Fremont.
    • Prevention tips: eliminate standing water, use BTI dunks (break into 5 pieces), mosquito fish for troughs, cover rain barrels, and report dead birds (crows/ravens) for West Nile testing.
    • The district offers free services (inspection, fish, treatment) funded by tax dollars.
  • Site Development Review – 9925 Foothill Road (Olive Grove House):
    • Proposal: one-story, 2,500 sq ft home with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, rear-loaded garage, indoor pool, and 2 water tanks on a 10-acre lot.
    • Site has 60 mature olive trees; home is not on a ridge. The lot was approved as a building site via variance by the Board of Supervisors in 1981.
    • Staff recommends approval; all agency comments addressed (fire, water, septic, grading).
    • Surrounding lots (5-15 acres): five of eight are developed, three of those have two-story homes.
  • Continued Conditional Use Permit – Telecommunications Tower (T-Mobile):
    • Renewal of a 2014 permit for a 15-foot tower near Mission Road and I-680. The tower is on a hillside, partially visible from the freeway.
    • Council expressed frustration that previous recommendations for camouflage (e.g., on other towers) were not implemented.
    • Crown Castle representative Jacob Hamilton explained feasibility of options: painting the tower green, adding faux ivy slats, and camo netting over antennas (rather than a full tree structure). Estimated 120 days from building permit for installation.
    • Council also requested information on another Crown Castle tower at Paloma Way and Sunol Boulevard that was previously approved with camouflage but never installed.

Key Outcomes

  • Site Development Review Approved: Motion to recommend approval of PLN 2025-00091 (Olive Grove House) passed unanimously (5-0).
  • Telecommunications Tower Continued: Motion to continue PLN 2025-00153 to the April meeting (date not specified) passed unanimously. The applicant will provide renderings of two camouflage options (green paint + camo netting, and green paint + faux ivy slats) and information on the status of the other Crown Castle site at Paloma Way and Sunol Boulevard.
  • Minutes from February 18, 2026: Approved unanimously.

Meeting Transcript

Okay, it's 6 30, so let's call the meeting to order. No more puppy photos. No, sorry. Okay. Council member coming in. President. Councilmember Harrison. Councilmember McLean. Council Member Starr. Okay, for public comment, public forum, public announcements. We'll have a limit of two minutes. Do you want to read the um directions for public comments? Sure. Before you start your public comment, please state your name for the record. If you're participating online, please please use the right hand function. If you're calling Ed, please dial star nine. Other than that. Okay. Could you do me a favor? Could you find out which items those are? I can't read it. Okay. Yeah. So at our last meeting, there was one person that just sort of took over the floor and just started talking and they hadn't filled out a card. It wasn't their turn. I really want to avoid that. If people are going to just start trying to take over the meeting, I'm going to have to ask them to leave. And if they continue with that, then we'll just ask somebody from the sheriff's office to stay for the whole meeting and escort them out. Okay. Is it an open? Yeah, open comment and then B and A. B and A B. B and A two or three. Okay. An open comment for sure. Okay. Open comment, and then it looks like a movie and a you have a public comment. Yeah. And uh septic issue. You had on it was on the agenda your last agenda. Yeah. And uh I listened here to that. Uh I wanted to just indicate that I uh basically agreed with uh what the report had to say. My only concern is that uh you know we'll be paying this this outfit 93,000 at least uh to do this, and they've been working on it for several months, and uh there has not yet been a meeting where members of the community can have any discussion. Uh Kanye had indicated to me, she thought there had been two or three meetings, but I talked to people. I found no one who is aware of any meeting that is has been held, and uh so therefore it's not concern about something that's in the report, it's just a concern about the process, and that I think that there needs to be some opportunity for the community members uh to uh have ask their questions, but especially to make their uh their feelings known. Um that that was a big problem with the last and uh when we did a survey after that uh over 100 people responded, and they're overwhelmingly were concerned about the lack opportunity for for MPP and so on. So I I would uh suggest that we do something where we can schedule uh at least an initial uh meeting where the public can interact with the people doing the study, and so that they have some sense of what the community is feeling. Okay, thank you very much, Jim. We will follow up on that.

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