Welcome to the City of Belmont City Council regular meeting.

Today is Tuesday, September 9th, 2025.

And we are here in our council chambers here at City Hall.

To join our meeting, you can uh broad there it's broadcast live on Comcast Cable Channel 27, also streams live via the city's website at www.belmont.gov, and there are uh Zoom instructions if folks want to join us by Zoom, that's also in our published agenda.

Uh public comment in the council chamber.

If you have public comments on any of the items on the agenda, go ahead and fill out a comment card, please, and provide it to our city clerk in her basket over there, and um she will we will call you when the agenda comes up.

And there's also in our uh published agenda ways to submit written public comment.

Uh see clerk at Belmont.gov.

Just a reminder, the mayor has the authority to rule any speaker out of order, including speakers during the public comment period, if the subject is not raised is not within the subject matter jurisdiction of the city council during a public hearing or a general business item if the speaker is not presenting testimony or evidence relevant to the matter, or if the speaker becomes disruptive to the proceedings and the conduct of the meeting.

Okay, uh we did not have any items before 7 p.m.

And so we will start with uh roll call, please.

Good evening, Councilmember uh Jordan here, Councilmember Merlo?

Here, Councilmember McHume.

Present.

Vice Mayor Pang Mageneris.

President and Mayor Meates.

Here.

We have a quorum of five.

Thank you.

Great, thank you.

Item three, Pledge of Allegiance, please rise if you're able.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Okay, thank you.

Item four is report from closed session.

We did not have closed session this evening, so we will move to item five special presentations.

5A is a proclamation observing Hispanic Heritage Month, which is uh this month, September 15th through October 18th, and we have a proclamation that um I will read a little bit to you here today, uh observing National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15th to October 15th.

Whereas Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month celebrates the histories, cultures, and contributions of Americans whose ancestry can be traced to over 20 countries in Latin America, including Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean, and whereas the observation began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon B.

Johnson, and in 1988 it was expanded by President Ronald Reagan to cover a 30-day period and enacted into federal law calling upon all the people of the United States to observe this time with ceremonies, activities, and programs.

And whereas the nationwide observance theme for Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month 2025 is pioneers of change, shaping the future together.

And whereas Central Chileo La Tora, one of the oldest Latin non Latino nonprofits in California, celebrates the Chilean culture and helps shape the future by granting scholarships to Chilean students, and whereas the City of Belmont is strengthened by the variety of ethnic, cultural, racial, gender, and sexual identities of its residents, all of which contribute to the vibrant character of our city.

Now, therefore be it resolved that I, Julia Mates, the mayor of the City of Belmont on behalf of the Belmont City Council, do hereby designate September 15th through October 15th, 2025 as National Hispanic Heritage Month and urge our community to join together to welcome new voices to the table and celebrate their contributions to our country.

All right.

And we have a proclamation designating September 2025 is suicide prevention month.

Whereas the City of Belmont will join the county, state, and country in honoring Suicide Prevention Month, September, National Suicide Prevention Week, September 7th through 13th, and World Suicide Prevention Day, September 10th, to spread the message that suicide can be prevented.

And whereas each September, communities across the nation observe Suicide Prevention Month to raise awareness, spread hope, and inspire meaningful action around one of the most urgent mental health challenges of our time.

And whereas suicidal thoughts, though common, are never normal and often signal deep emotional pain or underlying mental health concerns that deserve compassion, understanding, and support.

And whereas too often suicide is met with silence or stigma, when in reality, open conversations, early recognition of warning signs, and action and access to care can make the difference between life and death.

Whereas national resources such as the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and local advocacy through the National Alliance on Mental Illness, provide judgment free 24-7 support to anyone experiencing a mental health or suicide crisis, reinforcing the message that help is available and healing is possible.

And whereas the City of Belmont joins with NAMI and communities across the county in encouraging all residents to start a conversation, be the difference, knowing that one compassionate conversation can save a life.

And now, therefore, it be it resolved that I, Julia Mates, Mayor of the City of Belmont, on behalf of the Belmont City Council, do hereby designate September 2025 as Suicide Prevention Month in Belmont, and urge all residents to raise awareness, fight stigma, and extend hope and support to those affected by suicide.

And I believe we for this proclamation do have some recipients of their proclamation who are joining us this evening.

If that's the case, maybe not.

Okay.

Then we will go ahead and make sure that the community engagement supervisors or folks from the San Mateo Suicide Prevention Services gets this proclamation.

All right, then we will move on to 5C of presentations, which is a recap of the Belmont Community Foundation Imagine Together Foundation.

And I think we have with us some special community member guests.

Good evening, Mayor Council.

I just wanted to introduce our president Ulla Fr from the Belmont Community Foundation.

She's going to tell us about this incredible event that the community foundation put together after months of planning, and with an amazing team of logistical experts and gurus, and a whole lot of support from the greater community to show the people, the programs, and the potential that exists at our Barrett Community Center.

So without further ado, here is thank you, Bridget.

Good evening, Council members.

Good evening, Mayor Mates.

Thank you for having me tonight.

I think Bridget is pulling up a presentation.

Perfect.

Wonderful.

So I am here to give a recap, as she said, of the Imagine Together Festival on August 9th at Barrett, just a few weeks ago now.

And first, I'd like to start off by acknowledging all the partners that worked together to put this program together.

First and foremost, the City of Belmont and particularly the Parks and Rec department working with Bridget and her staff was phenomenal.

They did a tremendous job.