Belmont City Council Special Meeting – December 3, 2024

The Belmont City Council held a special meeting on December 3, 2024, at 6:30 PM in City Council Chambers. Three council members were present (Mayor Mains, Councilmember Hurt, and Councilmember McCune), with two members absent (Vice Mayor Latermillo and one other). The meeting addressed routine consent items and two general business items: a residential chipping services agreement and a signage and wayfinding program.

Consent Calendar

• Revised Master Employee Pay Schedule – December 2024: Adopted unanimously (3‑0) via resolution approving revisions to the City’s Master Employee Pay Schedule to comply with CalPERS regulations.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made on non‑agenda items or on the chipping services item.
• For the signage and wayfinding item, the Community Development Director noted two written comments received prior to the meeting: one requesting corrections to listed destinations (which were addressed in the presentation) and one expressing concern about the color brightness and a specific sign placement on El Camino Real. No live public comments were offered.

Discussion Items

• Agreement with Bay Area Tree Service, Inc. for Residential Chipping Services: Staff presented an overview of fire‑safety efforts, including a residential chipping program funded by grants. The program will cover four service areas west of Alameda de las Pulgas, each serviced twice in March/April 2025. The proposed agreement authorized up to $30,000 (plus 10% contingency, not to exceed $33,000) for up to 10 days of chipping. Council expressed support and asked about grant amounts (CalFire grant ~$350,000; FEMA grant shared with San Bruno, total ~$385,000). The motion passed 3‑0.
• Signage & Wayfinding Program: The consultant from Hunt Design presented a family of directional signs, monument signs, and banners designed to create a cohesive system for visitors and residents. Key destinations include parks, schools, civic buildings, and main corridors. The presentation included color palette options (blues, greens, orange) and design choices such as historic photos and gradient backgrounds. Council discussion focused on the logo (a modernized version of the city’s seal) and design elements. Councilmember McCune criticized the logo as unclear and lacking positive imagery, and objected to the gradient on signs as non‑functional. He indicated he could not support the program without logo redesign. Other council members and the city manager noted the logo was not the focus of the subcommittee’s work and that the program was intended as a framework for future implementation. The motion to approve the program passed 2‑1 (Councilmember McCune dissenting), with two members absent.

Key Outcomes

• Consent item: Resolution approving revised Master Employee Pay Schedule adopted 3‑0.
• Item 5A: Motion authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and execute a service agreement with Bay Area Tree Service for residential chipping services (up to $33,000) passed 3‑0.
• Item 5B: The Belmont Signage & Wayfinding Program was approved by a 2‑1 vote. Staff will prepare a capital improvement project detailing sign types, locations, and costs, to be returned to the Council for approval in conjunction with the FY 2025‑26 budget.
• The meeting adjourned at approximately 7:45 PM, with the next regular meeting (reorganization) scheduled for December 10, 2024, at 6:00 PM.