Belmont City Council Regular Meeting – September 24, 2024
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Belmont City Council Regular Meeting – September 24, 2024
The Belmont City Council met on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, at 7:00 PM (the agenda listed 6:00 PM, but the transcript indicates the public portion began at 7:00 PM) in the City Council Chambers at One Twin Pines Lane. The meeting included special presentations, consent business, a public hearing on a new memory care facility, and general business items. All votes were unanimous (5-0).
Special Presentations
- Indigenous Peoples' Day Proclamation: Mayor Mates read a proclamation declaring October 14, 2024, as Indigenous Peoples' Day, recognizing the historic and ongoing contributions of Indigenous peoples and the ancestral homeland of the Ramaytush Ohlone. Jonathan Cordero, Executive Director of the Association of Ramaytush Ohlone, accepted the proclamation, stating that such proclamations and land acknowledgments are making a difference in the community.
- Fire Prevention Week Proclamation: The council proclaimed October 6–12, 2024, as Fire Prevention Week, with the theme "Smoke Alarms: Make Them Work for You." Fire Marshal Workman (recently promoted) accepted the proclamation and highlighted key safety messages: install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside sleeping areas, and on each level; test monthly; replace alarms every 10 years. She invited the public to an open house on October 5th at Station 28 in Foster City.
Consent Calendar
- Response to Grand Jury Report on Restaurant Exteriors: Approved a response letter to the San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury report dated July 9, 2024, entitled "Restaurant Exteriors: The Neglected Space."
- Silicon Valley Clean Water (SVCW) WIFIA Loan Amendments: Adopted a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute amendments to the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loans and associated documents.
- Conflict of Interest Code Biannual Update: Approved a resolution revising the City’s Conflict of Interest Code and updating the appendix of designated employees.
All consent items were approved by a single 5-0 vote.
Public Comments & Testimony
- William Blight (resident): Expressed frustration about a sewer pipe replacement demand from the Public Works Department. He stated that he and his wife are longtime residents with limited income (his wife is a teacher, he is a mechanic), and they cannot afford the $10,000 replacement cost. He claimed the issue was not urgent and that the city had not contacted him for two years before sending a threatening letter. He requested that the city work with him on a timeline that fits his financial situation.
Public Hearing: 1041 Hill Street – New Memory Care Facility
- Staff Presentation (Rob Gill, Senior Planner): The project proposes demolishing an existing skilled nursing facility and constructing a 24,806-square-foot, three-story memory care building with 42 beds (30 single and 6 companion units). The existing assisted living facility will remain. The plan development (PD) zoning amendment requires a two-step process: a Conceptual Development Plan and a Detailed Development Plan. The project includes a Conditional Use Permit, Design Review, Grading Permit, and Tree Removal Permit. Staff recommended introducing the ordinance (first reading) that night, with final approval (second reading and resolution) scheduled for October 8, 2024, contingent on resolving a fee dispute regarding impact fees. Staff noted that a settlement agreement on fees is expected to be in place by then.
- Parking: The PD zoning requires 50 spaces; currently 41 exist. After construction, 34 spaces will remain due to reconfiguration, loss of seven spaces for fire control room, generator, etc. Staff found a hardship due to hillside constraints, and noted that memory care residents will not drive, reducing demand. A shuttle service and bicycle facilities are planned.
- Council Discussion: Councilmember McCune expressed support, noting the essential need for such facilities. Councilmember Pang Manganaris asked about electric vehicle charging infrastructure (9 EV-ready spaces) and public art fees (the project will pay the fee or provide art on site). The project is CEQA-exempt under Infill Development Guidelines (15332).
- Public Comment: None.
- Action: The council voted 5-0 to introduce the ordinance (first reading). The project will return for final approval on October 8, 2024.
General Business
- Designation of Voting Delegate for League of California Cities Annual Conference (October 16–18, 2024): The council appointed Mayor Mates as voting delegate and City Manager as alternate. The city attorney noted that the delegates will vote on resolutions provided in the packet. No public comment. Motion passed 5-0.
- Revised Master Employee Pay Schedule: Adopted a resolution approving revisions to the City's Master Employee Pay Schedule to comply with CalPERS regulations, including retroactive adjustments for 2023 and 2024 for the city attorney and city manager. Staff explained that the revisions were necessary to reflect pay scales approved at the previous meeting. Motion passed 5-0.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar: Approved 5-0 (three items).
- 1041 Hill Street Memory Care Facility: Introduced ordinance (first reading) 5-0; final approval scheduled for October 8, 2024, with fee settlement to be finalized.
- Voting Delegate: Mayor Mates appointed as delegate, City Manager as alternate for the Cal Cities conference.
- Master Pay Schedule: Adopted 5-0.
- Public Comment: Mr. Blight's sewer issue was noted; no formal action taken.
Reports from Councilmembers and Staff
- Councilmember Pang Manganaris reported attending a Bay Area Regional Collaborative meeting and a Silicon Valley Clean Water Commission meeting.
- Mayor Mates reported on the San Mateo Consolidated Fire Board meeting, where Chief Thrusher announced his retirement effective December 31, 2024; the board will conduct an internal recruitment. She also noted updates from the San Mateo County Transit Authority (TA) strategic plan update, encouraging public input.
- City Manager (via Community Development Director) reported on the successful Caltrain Grand Opening Community Event (September 22), the Coastal Cleanup Day (66 volunteers, 220 pounds of trash removed), and the issuance of a Notice of Preparation for the Harbor Industrial Area Specific Plan (environmental review); public comments due October 14, 2024.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned to the next regular meeting on October 8, 2024.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. Welcome to the City of Belmont City Council meeting. It is uh Tuesday, September twenty fourth at seven pm. We are in the council chambers at one Twin Pines Lane in Belmont, City Hall. Um the council meetings, unless otherwise noted, are broadcast live to Belmont Residents on Comcast Cable Channel 27, streamed live via the city's website at Belmont.gov. Uh Zoom and the public may attend the meeting in the council chambers at the City Hall on the second floor. All public comments are subject to a three-minute limit, otherwise unless otherwise determined by the chair, and there is a set of instructions and uh decorum to follow for public comment. If you would like to um read about those, please check our published agenda. Well, call to order. Let's say we did that. And uh second item is a roll call. Of course. Good evening, everyone. Councilmember Pang Maganares. Present. Councilmember Hurt. Present. Councilmember McKinsey? Present. Vice Mayor Latamarlo? Here. And Mayor Maids. Present. We have a quorum. Thank you. Thank you very much. Third item tonight is a closed session, and we have none. We have no study session. A regular business item is Pledge of Allegiance. If you can rise for the Pledge of Allegiance, please. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic. All right, thank you. On now to report from closed session. We did not have closed session tonight. That is correct, Madam Mayor. Okay, great. Item seven, special presentations. We have two tonight. The first is item seven A, recognition of Indigenous People's Day, October 14th, 2024. And we do have a proclamation that I'd like to read. I'll read portions of it. Indigenous Indigenous People's Day, October 14th, 2024. Whereas since the arrival of the Spanish in 1769, indigenous peoples have endured a long and well documented history of oppression, violence, torture, displacement, enslavement, forced assimilation, religious conversion, and discrimination. And whereas the idea of Indigenous People's Day was first proposed in 1977 by a delegation of Native Nations to the United Nations sponsored International Conference on Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations in the Americas. And whereas Belmont sits on the ancestral homeland of the Rematush Aloney, and whereas the Rematosh Alone lived along the San Francisco Peninsula for thousands of years, and contemporary members of the Rematush Aloney continue to preserve their community and culture and to care for Mother Earth and its peoples. And whereas the City of Belmont is dedicated to opposing systematic systemic racism against all people, including indigenous people in this community and across the nation and endorses the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which recognizes that indigenous peoples have suffered from historic injustices as a result of their colonization and dispossession of their lands, territories, and resources, which perpetuate perpetuates socioeconomic disparities. And whereas the City of Belmont values the progress our society has accomplished through Indigenous People's Knowledge, technology, thought, science, philosophy, and artistic contributions, and recognizes the deep historic, cultural, and contemporary significance of the indigenous peoples. And whereas the City of Belmont understands that government entities, organizations, and other public institutions should change their narratives, policies, and practices to better reflect the experiences and contributions of the Native American people and to better serve present-day Indigenous communities. Now, therefore, be it resolved that I, Julia Mates, mayor of the City of Belmont, on behalf of the Belmont City Council, do hereby proclaim October 14th, 2024 as Indigenous People's Day, and urge the community to recognize the resilience of all Indigenous peoples and to value their contributions to our city. And I believe accepting the proclamation tonight is uh Jonathan Cordero, founder and executive director of the Association of Rematush Aloney.
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