Belmont City Council Regular Meeting – March 11, 2025
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Belmont City Council Regular Meeting – March 11, 2025
The City Council met on March 11, 2025, at 6:00 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting included special presentations, consent business, a legislative advocacy update, and an annual workforce report. All items on the consent calendar were approved, and the Council reaffirmed the legislative platform with modifications.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the minutes of February 25, 2025 (no separate discussion).
- Approved December 2024 and January 2025 monthly financials.
- Adopted an ordinance (second reading) establishing a Public, Education, and Government (PEG) access fee to support PEG channels, including penalties for material breach.
- Authorized Amendment 3 to Task Order 1 with MIG for environmental monitoring at the San Juan Pump Station Slope Repair Project, increasing the contract by $6,496 to a total not-to-exceed $101,366.
- Authorized the purchase of a Vac-Con from Vac-Con Inc. for $667,167.19 through Municipal Maintenance Equipment.
- Adopted a resolution accepting public improvements for the Firehouse Square Townhouse Project (1300 El Camino Real), releasing the subdivision improvement bond, and accepting a one-year maintenance warranty bond.
Public Comments & Testimony
- One speaker (Juliano) thanked the Council for the MLK contest and announced a volunteer effort supported by Footsteps at Barrett, offering free childcare to enable more volunteering.
- A second speaker (Max R, via Zoom) expressed frustration with the Community Development Department, stating that an application for a permit took over 30 days to receive a number and that he had received no response since January 27 despite multiple follow-ups. He urged the Council to evaluate the culture and professionalism of city staff.
Discussion Items
- 12A: State Legislative Advocacy Update – Dane Hutchings (lobbyist) presented an overview of 2025 state legislation, noting 2,518 bills introduced, a focus on affordability and fee reductions, and the ongoing fight to preserve Vehicle License Fee (VLF) reimbursement ($3.85 million secured in 2024). He proposed two modifications to the City’s legislative platform: (1) adding “fire mitigation planning and suppression technology” to the existing public safety statement, and (2) adding a new statement supporting affordable home insurance rates for residents. The Council discussed the bill volume and turnover in the legislature.
- 12B: Annual Report on Vacancies and Recruitment/Retention Efforts for 2024 – Interim Administrative Services Director Ann Ritzma presented the required report. The city has 139.75 budgeted full-time positions (excluding Council). The average vacancy rate was 3.2% over 2024 (highest 5.7%, lowest 1.4%). The city filled 19 vacancies in 2024 (12 external, 5 combined internal/external, 2 internal promotions). The city uses a rigorous recruitment process and provided data on separations and retention efforts. Councilmember Jordan noted improvements in HR under Ritzma’s leadership. The report was received without further action.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar: All items approved unanimously (5-0).
- Legislative Platform: Reaffirmed with the two proposed modifications (motion passed 5-0).
- Vacancy Report: Received by Council; no formal vote required.
- Councilmember Reports: Vice Mayor reported on Peninsula Clean Energy board updates (10% discount, new battery storage budget). Councilmember Jordan reported on Commute.org (new app, accredited as TDM organization, elected chair). Councilmember McCune noted a potential regional transportation measure (SB 540) that could affect Belmont’s sales tax rate.
- City Manager Report: Announced strategic planning session results, centennial planning, Belmont PD’s new Instagram account, an age-friendly town hall on March 18, and upcoming summer construction.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. Welcome to the City of Belmont City Council meeting. We are here in City Chamber, City Hall, one Twin Pines Lane. It's Tuesday, February twenty fifth. And we are here in our regular meeting. If you wish to submit written public comment, you may send an email to the clerk at clerk at Belmont.gov before the council considers the item. We have other ways of participating in the meeting, including broadcast live to Belmont residents on Comcast Cable Channel 27, streamed live via the city's website and via Zoom. And if you are would like to make a comment via Zoom, just raise your virtual hand when the item is being discussed. Councilmember Jordan, here. Councilmember Latimerlow here. Councilmember McCune. Present. Here. All present. Thank you. Great. Thank you. Item three is closed session. We did not have any closed session this evening, nor did we have item four study session. Regular business items item five is the Pledge of Allegiance. If you are able, please rise. Good evening. I'm Karina Cortez, recreation coordinator for Belmont Parks and Recreation, and the coordinator of the MLK Poetry and Essay Contest, along with Belmont's poet laureate Monica Corday. The MLK Poetry and Essay Contest aims to both honor and celebrate the inspiring legacy of Dr. King while giving students a platform to tell their story, reflecting on his powerful message and share their thoughts on today's ever-changing world. Seeing how successful and popular this type of contest was in other cities and school districts, we thought it would be a great way to expand more diverse events in Belmont for students and families. Since its first year in 2023, the contest has highlighted the passion, brilliance, and creativity of the students and their impressive talents in the arts and civic engagement. Submissions keep growing every year. Belmont students in third through 12th grades may submit either a poem or essay for when the contest opens in January through February. They are asked to reflect on a quote by Dr. King. This year's quote was life's most persistent and urgent question is what are you doing for others? The contest is divided into three age categories third through fifth, sixth through eighth, and nine through twelfth. After the contest closes, judges review all submissions received and select 18 finalists, six from each age category, three poems, and three essays. The 18 finalists are then invited to attend the award ceremony, where they will recite their poem or essay for the crowd of students, families, sponsors, city staff, and judges. Winners are announced, and all of the students are awarded gift cards and certificates. Contest judges this year included Belmont's poet laureate Monica Corday, Vice Mayor Robin Pang Maganaris, San Mateo County Arts Commissioner District 2 Lois Freed, Parks and Recreation Director Bridget Shearer, and Belmont Redwood Shores School District Superintendent Dan Deguerra. Six winners received 130 gift cards, and the 12 finalists won $30 gift cards. Our event sponsors included San Mateo County of Arts and Culture, Rotary Club of Belmont Redwood Shores, Chamber of San Mateo County, and Belmont Park Boosters. And tonight we have uh the amazing winners from this year's February 27th award ceremony, ready to recite their winning pieces for you all. So first we're gonna start off in the third through fifth category, and Victoria Lee is here to read her poem. Oh just step a little closer. Hello, my name is Victoria, and my poem is called The Meaning of Life. Thinking about my purpose has me pondering who am I to others? Is life about wandering? Life begins as a seed, small and self-protected. Without roots in the ground, we can feel disconnected. With enough water and care, my seed happily sprouts. Reaching out to the sun and air, I find things to care about. When other people feel mad or sad, I try to cheer them up.
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