Thank you for that.

Good evening.

Welcome to the Planning Commission meeting for the City of Belmont.

Today is Tuesday, October 21st.

And we'll start with some basic instructions.

First, meeting attendance.

This meeting can be attended by watching it live on Comcast Cable 27.

It's also streamed live via the city's website at Belmont.gov.

And uh it can be um uh accessed uh via Zoom by following the instructions that are included in the agenda, and of course you can attend in person, thank you, uh in chambers.

Um, and uh for public comment um for folks in chambers and comment by submitting a uh uh speaker slip to our clerk and then coming up to the lectern.

You'll have three minutes to speak.

Um on Zoom, you can uh participate virtually using the raise hand feature, again, following the instructions uh that are set forth in the agenda.

So uh with that, let's uh take a roll call, please.

Good evening, roll call.

Uh Commissioner Adam Kavich here.

Kramer?

Here.

Chair Coolidge?

Here.

Twig?

Yep.

Jadala, here.

And absent tonight is uh Commissioner Majeski.

Thank you so much.

Uh let's now uh please uh stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Flag is here.

Aye.

Congratulations to the flag of the United States of America and the Republic for which it stands.

Under your eye, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Okay, thank you for that.

Uh item three is our community forum.

Uh this portion of the meeting is the time for uh persons wishing to address the commission on any matter uh not on the agenda uh that is within the purview of uh the commission.

And as noted, um the period for public comment for this portion of the agenda is uh limited to a maximum of three minutes per speaker.

Uh we'll start first with uh any speaker slips for folks who wish to comment in chambers on this item three.

Uh no speaker slips in house.

We do have one raised hand on Zoom.

Okay.

Uh let's turn to the uh the Zoom hand, please.

Okay.

Um Max, go ahead.

You'll have three minutes.

Good evening, Commissioners.

Uh, speaking tonight with my concern over the process in the city with regards to certificates of compliance.

Specifically, the process towards how it analyzes uh the applications, advises potential applicants.

I forgive my toddler in the background there.

It has been a process from my experience, it seems to provide a purposefully unclear and complete instructions or communication as an operating standard by city officials and staff and a willingness to flat out not answer questions, which has left me honest.

And I have worked in the city of Belmont with them for 15 plus years now and seeing how inefficient they are in this process seems to be one that struck a new law.

I have experience working with other entities in this process and have found all of them to be more clear in what they need and want from an applicant from the very start at the beginning, and then throughout that process.

Find them to be more effective in their communication and efficient in completing it.

This efficiency can still be four to six months, but it doesn't turn into 10 to 12 months or more than a year.

I will also note that most of these other processes cost less in the other jurisdictions and these are jurisdictions locally from the county of San Mateo to other cities here in the Bay Area.

Therefore I think it is fair to ask what is causing this.

Is it purposeful?

Is it by poor design or lack of staff hours to concentrate on something?

I can only begin to speculate and that it's just me speculating.

Therefore I hope that your body and working you know in concert with those who appointed you city council can seek to investigate and get some answers and hopefully make improvements to this process for all of the applicants and stakeholders like myself.

Okay.

Thank you for that comment.

Is anyone else with um raised hand on Zoom?

Yes we do have one more raised hand.

Arvind go ahead you'll have three minutes.

Hi you guys can hear me.

Yes.

Yes.

Uh good evening commissioners I had uh raised my uh in the last meeting also I wanted to bring the home on the lot uh I have and then for that I have sent an email uh uh to the uh city uh and uh also completely like uh it'll do I put uh Carlos uh email I guess and I just wanted to uh check on um what are the next steps because I have not got any uh reply for my queries yet I think I emailed almost uh two weeks back okay yeah and anything further no nothing else okay great I think I thought not on that yeah great thank you so much any additional comments on zoom um no further raised hands on Zoom great and director Mello do we receive any uh emails on the CD what see the C dev website excuse me before 4 p.m uh today yes we didn't receive an email on the C dev website but we did make a copy of a communication that did come to the city clerk's office before the 4 p.m cutoff time yes and that's the exact communication that you heard from from your first speaker tonight Max Reinhart.

Right and he provided his written comments he wanted to make them part of the public record uh which they are and we've provided a copy to the commissioners which is our duty to do so as part of our protocols.

So that's all been provided to the six of you.

He has also been given the opportunity to voice his concerns as well via Zoom.

And again these these comments are part of the public record.

As to your second speaker yes he has contacted the city to try and get some um color around properties that he's interested in purchasing owning developing related to the COC process um keep in mind there are a number of these inquiries that are out there within the San Juan Hills.

I I certainly apologize for the delay in trying to get um back to him with some information I'll I will see to it personally that it is followed up on either by me or staff.

So just just for the point of interest of what's kind of a normal time frame in terms like you got we understand you're busy but just so the audience knows yeah I mean I know you're busy but people do kind of want to know sure and it's I mean it's a really complex matter and it's not part of the agenda so we can't really kind of dive into it.

But um the the COC process can be challenging page and I know folks may disagree um but we've actually established a web page for it that provides information on steps what to do in Belmont if you want to purchase a lot and things you need to consider that is a web page that is under construction and we we're going to keep adding to it to provide more outward-facing info to the public related to the process.

But again, I'm gonna stop there because again it's it's not part of the agenda.

But we do want to be responsive to folks that have these kinds of inquiries because there are numerous within the San Juan Hills, within these unimproved roadway areas of of the city.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Great.

Thank you to the speakers and thank you to staff for their responsiveness.

That concludes item three.

Moving to item four, commissioner announcements and agenda amendments.

I'll see first if anyone in the dias has any announcements to make.

That was your time.

See it nose across the board.

And so let's see if staff has any uh agenda amendments.

We have no other uh amendments for tonight's meeting.

Okay.

Great.

That concludes item four.

Item five is uh the consent business.

There's one item, item five A, which is the approval of the meeting minutes for the October, excuse me, August uh 19th uh 2025 meeting.

Um I will note these are we'll click beyond minutes.

These are a full uh transcription of of the meeting.

And I was gonna provide some context to the commission on this.

And I know we had some questions from the commissioners from certain commissioners uh before this came up tonight.

Um we do not subscribe to this practice of preparing these kinds of minutes at this level of detail.

The only reason we did so was because one of the items that was on the agenda for August 19th was appealed.

That was the 580 Masonic project.

Typically, when we have had uh appeals filed for four projects where then minutes need to be prepared for that item, we have uh moved towards prep of these minutes in this style.

Um we don't see appeals very often.

We probably see an appeal once every two to three years.

Um we wanted to make sure that we captured all the information correctly and not just summary minutes of the action that the commission took, the public testimony received, the deliberation, the applicant presentation, everything.

We wanted to make sure we captured it all.

So, yes, it was 59 pages, it was much more than you're normally get, but it is uh been our practice to have these minutes prepared in this fashion when an appeal has been filed on one of the items that was the subject of the meeting of which the minutes are prepared.

And can I ask how those minutes are actually prepared?

Like what is it is it is it AI?

Is it uh actual kind of a recording that is transcribed by staff?

No, it's an actual person that does the that actually sits down and listens to the meeting and timestamps it every single word, so it's transcribed.

So yeah, so it's not like a chat GBT, no, it's actual person that is paid to do this.

There are folks that still do these these kinds of minutes, and it's it's not cheap, but it's something that we uh believed was prudent to do in this case, as is our practice for appeals.

Um so yes, that was that was why these minutes are much more robust than what you're used to seeing.

So certainly, if the commission has questions, you could ask them now, but I want to provide you some context behind why the minutes are prepared in this fashion.

Got it.

And I only asked because, as you said, it's fifty-nine pages, and we of course could not certify that that every word is kind of word for word what is reflected there, as opposed to kind of just like you know, standard minutes that provide like a summary of the actions.

Correct.

So I think that context about kind of the fact that a court reporting service or whomever actually prepared these is good to know that it's not on us to kind of confirm the accuracy of the of you know word-by-word, jot by job.

Okay, great, thank you.

Uh, are there any questions that the commission may have about that?

I have a question.

So, but then if we approve them, that implies that we reviewed them and are right, like if you're deposed, people send you your transcript and you say you review it and say, No, I didn't say blah, blah, blah.

Right.

You said the light was red, but now you say it's green.

Yeah, um, that's what I was asking for context.

I mean, I and you can tell me if I'm wrong.

But I I read it and to me it appeared to be uh, you know, to summarize um the actions we took and and particularly I look for things that I was involved in and it seemed to be accurate in those respects.

I was not kind of again like taking it as a certification that we're certifying that like this is kind of word by word um an accurate restatement of what occurred.

This is a verbatim transcript.

This is listening to the entirety of the meeting.

Right, but it's not our job that to confirm that.

Correct.

Yeah, so again, if if you choose um to be uncomfortable in adopting these minutes, that's fine, well, and good.

But we certainly think this is a timely action to be taken.

This appeal, just so you know, is heading to the city council at next Tuesday's meeting, and we like to include all of the information that was part of that um commission action on August 19th.

Um so that's why we have these minutes and we didn't want them to delay any further, uh, because we needed the time to get the transcript prepared by the verbatim um uh person that did these minutes.

So, I can see the value of a transcript, but they're not minutes.

So I I can't approve them.

I'm going to obtain uh if um because the transcription service is responsible for them being accurate and they they do this in courtrooms all the time and the judge doesn't have to approve them, right?

So I don't think it's appropriate for us to approve transcripts.

I I have a a kind of I guess a question along those lines.

You said every two, three years infrequently you've done this.

Whenever we have an appeal, we are we uh typically prepare verbatim minutes of the meeting of which the appeal was the subject of the appeal.

So in the past when you've put together the verbatim verbatim minutes, was there ever any kind of follow-up of anybody of, hey, these aren't minutes?

Like was there any anything that you have?

Uh having been here as long as I've been here, these minutes have been customarily adopted by the commission.

With no feedback from the public or anything like that.

Correct.

Because again, this is listening to every word of the recording.

Yeah.

And document it and putting it down.

Okay.

So I mean the way I'm the way I was being it and I could be wrong, is that I mean our job is to say, is this a fair kind of summary or representation of the actions that were before the commission that we took action on.

Uh the court reporter's job uh is to certify that kind of that the transcript is accurate and and depicts kind of every word that was spoken in there.

So I I see those as two different things, but um that's just me and the folks feel uncomfortable, that's their decision to make.

Well, maybe you could maybe we could have a standard set of minutes that refers to the transcript so that um and we just in this in the regular way have a set of minutes that's that refers to the discussion and then we have the link to the transcript.

So it's kind of taking the onus off confirming that all every word said here is accurate because like you said, that's.

We actually didn't didn't just isolate the 580 Masonic item.

We wanted the entire meeting, and again, there wasn't much else on the agenda that night, um, but we wanted to make sure that we captured everything with 580 Masonic.

So um, yeah, we I again I think we all definitely understand the purpose.

Um and I did the same.

I I read it and I sort of checked that it it matched my memory of what was said, but I didn't like open up the recording and listen to it and read it and make sure it matched.

So I can't certify that it does.

I I wouldn't be comfortable saying that.

Um so again, if we can adopt the minutes as in this generally represents what was said, that's fine, but um somebody else has to certify that the transcript is accurate.

We we can't do that.

Um I certainly like that approach better uh that you just described.

I mean, if again, if if it if you've looked at at this production, this document, and it generally captures uh what action the commission took related to the items that were on that agenda that night, then uh I think then you could be comfortable in adopting the minutes.

Now whether you want to vouch for every word being transcribed perfectly, then and if you're uncomfortable with that, we aren't asking you to do that.

But but if we but but if but if you're saying that um you have reviewed this 59 page document and you have indicated that it generally captures the actions taken that night, August nineteenth, and you're willing to adopt those meeting minutes, then okay.

Yeah, I guess I would I would endorse Commissioner Twig's suggestion that maybe in the future we prepare the usual type of minutes and then refer to a transcript, which is a separate document.

Um that might be a better way to go in the future, so the commission can actually endorse minutes as minutes and not uh feel like we have to endorse a transcript that we have we're not really able to check.

Um you know, it does include the words of you know many citizens, residents of Belmont.

I haven't checked it, like their words are accurate, for example.

So just a suggestion for the future.

Sure.

Appreciate that.

So what's the pleasure?

If anyone wanna make a motion or do you want to defer it to uh another date when we can have um something along the lines of what commissioner twig had had described.

I could offer kind of an amended emotion, see if it sticks and then otherwise we can go that way.

Let's see.

Let's go.

Uh I offer a motion that the gist of what is written there is the gist of what I saw happening at the meeting.

And I can confirm the uh meeting minutes.

That was written.

Okay, is there a second to that?

Second did.

Okay.

There's been a motion and it's been seconded.

So let's take a let's take a vote.

Okay.

Um Commissioner Adamkavich?

Aye.

Kramer?

Abstain.

Uh Chair Coolich?

Aye.

Majeski?

Aye.

Twig?

Aye.

Jedala?

Aye.

Okay, motion passes five zero with one abstain for the approval of meeting minutes um for August 19th, 2025, as presented.

With the amendment that was made.

Yeah.

As it was described by Commissioner Majeski in terms of the overarching gist of the meeting or the presentation of the minutes as they were presented, right?

Does that capture?

I mean, I'm using your words.

Yeah.

Sound good?

Yep.

Okay, great.

Cool.

And anyway.

Great.

It's fine.

Okay.

You have taken an action.

We were hoping you would take an action, and we appreciate it.

So thank you.

Okay.

Good.

Um let's let's that's uh item five.

So um moving to item six, which is a study session.

There did not do not appear to be any items uh for item uh six.

Is that correct?

That is correct.

Okay.

So we move on now to our public hearing portion of the agenda, um, which is item seven.

Uh there is one item which is item 7a.

Uh this is um the master sign program for uh 1,000 and uh 1040 Alameda de las Pulgas.

And before we uh turn to a staff presentation, um I will ask if we have uh any site visits um recusals or expart of communications.

Thank you.

I'll start here.

Uh nothing.

Slight slight visit only.

Also, site visit.

Site visit for me as well.

Uh nothing to report.

Nothing to report.

Great.

Okay, uh Commission Chair Coolidge, members of the commission, thank you for your time on this item tonight.

Uh normally Jeremy Ruiz would be making one of his scintillating presentations, but I'm pinch inning for him as he's unavailable tonight.

So he uh uh made this uh PowerPoint for me, and I'm just gonna quickly go through it.

Uh the project in and of itself is not complex.

We're establishing their they're proposing to establish a master sign program for this this uh complex for this property, and it includes uh kind of capturing signage that's existing within the property as well as uh having some additional new signage that's part of this master sign program.

So if I can ask Courtney, I know she's gonna get like two steps in to go next slide.

That would be great.

Okay, so there we uh there we go.

Much uh perfect.

Even better.

Nope.

Second one.

There we go.

Awesome.

Thank you.

So um again, they're uh choosing to establish this MSP or a master sign program, and it's uh uh chosen to replace um signage, install new signage for the church and the school.

Uh it's it's it's a fairly basic project, having them install three additional wayfinding signs, replacing one existing monument sign, and then there's two existing signs that have existed on the campus for years, so we're just trying to recognize that as part of that master sign program.

It's a large scale property, and you'll see some of the specs on the next slide.

So the site is zone plan development.

Um two different parcels, 5.36 acres.

Um, one of them uh partially fronts uh Mary Moppet Lane, and but their access is from the sister property at 1040 Alameda de Las Polgas.

And again, it contains existing preschool, playground, parish center, primary school, community hall, and science building.

Uh and then the other parcel about two and a half acres.

Uh it fronts also fronts Alameda de Los Pulgas and provides access to the 1000 Alameda de las Polgas property.

And it contains the existing chapel, rectory, and smaller off-stream parking lot for the total complex.

Again, both properties are zoned plan development, and as part of that plan development establishment for the site, they have the opportunity through our zoning code to establish a master sign program that up until this time had not been established, and they're wanting to reconcile those again older signs, but uh allow the signage for the overall uh campuses to uh come into the modern age.

So that's why they're they're proposing this this approach.

Next slide.

So our zoning code provides uh cover as to how master sign programs are established and what the requirement and where it's born out of.

It's BZO section 23-10- uh point zero one, and they're required for any project that zone plan development or using the planned development provisions within our zoning code.

Again, as I mentioned earlier, there is not a master sign program for either property.

Um there was previous signage established for the overall campus prior to our wholesale amendments to the to the uh 2019 sign ordinance, and again, they are establishing this MSP to provide a method for the applicant team to have the design and placement of signs within the project in an overall design uh theme uh to achieve a more unified appearance for the campus uh and the property.

Next slide.

So they're actually allotted quite a bit of signage based upon the overall size of the properties.

Um they are allowed uh 719 total square feet of signage.

They they propose about 78 square feet total of wall signage for both the school building and the parish center.

Uh for the freestanding sign that they propose as part of their MSP.

Uh they have some existing signage, they have a monument, uh, a campus map sign, uh parish hall office sign, and St.

Michael's Hall sign.

So the total amount of signage proposed as part of this master sign program is just shy of 145 square feet, and again, much less than what they're allowed to for the overall campus of 719 square feet.

Next slide.

So again, they are looking to recognize two existing installed signs for both the school and the parish center.

Um the wall signs will act as identification signage, and the types of materials that they're choosing to locate or propose as part of this MSP would be nine-inch metal channel lettering and shapes that are compatible and complementary uh to the scale and color of the adjacent facades of which they will sit.

Next slide.

Uh so the for the wall signs of the schools, these are the ones that are existing.

So they're just wanting to formally uh have them be part of this master sign program, uh obviously established well before our sign code came into effect or amended sign code came into effect in 2019.

So they're again they're trying to make sure that's captured as part of this MSP for the site.

Next slide.

Again, this is also uh some existing signage for the parish center.

Again, wanting to recognize it almost kind of uh have it have it part of the overall master sign program.

So it's it's it's so next slide.

And then for the new uh freestanding signs proposed, one new freestanding monument sign, three new directional signs, and all of the new signage uh will follow an approved color and material board.

And the examples are provided in terms of of the lettering, the colors is as part of this uh part of this diagram here.

Next slide.

For boy, that looks like a repeat.

Can you go back to see if it's just me?

Oh no, that's for the freestanding sign.

So for the next one is for the so as so for the materials and color, again, it's capturing the same theme for the lettering, background, and the color scheme proposed in black, red, and brown, using three three various colors with with the kind of font and type and size and height for uh for the signage.

Next slide, and then for the freestanding uh sign for the monument, uh this gives you a rendering as to what it would look like and where it's proposed to be uh located.

Um again, it's fairly small in nature, fits well well within the bounds of what they're allowed to establish as part of an S MSP.

Um again, this is all uh all uh captured in your staff report, but uh want to make sure that you can see it in a visual form here.

So that's the freestanding monument.

Next sign or next slide.

And then for the parish center sign, again it's a freestanding sign, again, small in scale, describes the parish office.

Um boy, one by one and a half, so not very large.

Uh, but again, this is what they propose.

Uh certainly staff believes it meets the intent behind a coordinated sign program that would be established for the campus and the parish center.

Next slide.

And then a campus map, wanting to establish that within the property, um, about three by three for that um uh component, about a five-foot total height in terms from from ground to top uh for this campus map.

Next slide.

And then a freestanding sign for the St.

Michael's building that indicates St.

Michael's Hall.

And that's about five.

So one, four and a half, so about five and a half feet total in height.

Again, these are not tall signs, they're within the bounds of the existing property.

They aren't garish in nature, they're not lit.

They have um uh, you know, they are customary signs as to what you would see for a parish center or a school.

So next slide.

This is where I say thank you for uh taking the time to allow me to go through this presentation and pull a Jeremy and um uh hopefully the staff report made sense provided uh kind of the the specs of what they propose.

Again, they're trying to memorialize existing signage and then propose new signage and have it all captured on the under the umbrella of a master sign program, of which they're allowed to and are um uh have clearances to do so under section 23.1 of the zoning code for plan developments.

So with that, I'll conclude my presentation.

Uh I'm not sure if the applicant is online um to make a presentation as well, provide comments and feedback, but what is has been typical is we we allow the applicant to make a presentation, and then if there are any questions for either staff or the applicant, we'll take turns and trying to answer them.

So, we do have the architect I believe online here.

Um looks like the hand is raised as well.

Great.

Let's recognize uh the applicant.

Okay.

Uh Chris Casey, go ahead whenever you're ready.

Hi there.

Uh my name is Chris Casey, as uh just mentioned, I'm here with Lawson Old Architecture representing uh uh IHM here.

Uh didn't have any grand speech.

Uh it seems like uh we've done a very good job at representing what the project is.

Uh we just want to make sure that uh everyone's on board with uh us replacing some older more garish signs as I said before with some uh ones that are more copacetic with the new master sign program established uh recently.

Great, thank you.

Maybe just hang tight in case there's any questions, but appreciate the uh the comments.

And then just kind of one more uh uh piece of context.

The uh the vehicle by which you approve the master sign program is uh through the design review process.

So we have the uh findings for the master sign program captured within your resolution, and there are three of them to be made.

Staff believes they can be made in the affirmative for it.

So great.

Thank you.

You channeled Jeremy well.

I try, crisp and informative.

I try.

Thank you.

I try.

He's he's really good.

He's good.

He's really good.

So awesome.

Well, thank you for that.

Thank you to the applicant.

Um before opening the public hearing, uh, see if there's any questions um uh from the dais.

No.

I don't have a question about this specifically, but being newer, what is what's the process around uh built uh businesses, schools, whatever that have signs from you know 2010?

Nothing at all or something.

Uh well it depends upon what they're uh zoned.

I mean, if there's zone plan development and there's not a pre-established master sign program, then that's that's the opportunity to establish one.

Um we're certainly wanting to do that with certain properties that have that designation already.

Um but other non-PD zone properties have the opportunity through our sign code section 23 to um make changes to the signage for their businesses using the um specs in the zoning code.

So um we have other sign um um code uh um components within the BVSP area uh as well.

So I mean it really varies based upon the zoning.

Uh certainly there are more um uh code code standards when you talk about commercially zoned properties uh as opposed to residentially zoned properties, but um certainly can go offline and we could talk about that as well.

So do that answer your question, hopefully.

I don't think so.

Okay, so basically, let me try again.

Yeah, sorry.

They're legacy signs within the zone.

Sure.

Right.

And if they don't ever come to you to update something, do is it something that do they like I don't know, I need to fill out some kind of form or I mean or just they're gonna be able to do that.

Yeah, it's signs, the legacy signs at some point they show up and yeah.

Okay, I I I think I better understand your question.

There may be some older signs that were captured and addressed and approved when the side code was different.

So when the standards were um at a certain level at a time, let's say 1970, 1975, 80, 82, um the sign code in effect may have permitted that sign.

Um but then now as our sign code changed um potentially those signs could be considered nonconforming and they would need to come into conformance.

Now we'd have to do some research, because there's a number of properties that have been established prior to 2019.

Again, we've done some wholesale changes to our zoning code, going from night uh 2014 through 200 uh 17 uh uh when we uh made changes to the single-family design review regs, we had signs to the wireless ordinance.

Um certainly when we adopted the Belmont Village Specific Plan and we uh adopted Belmont Village Zoning, we had updated sign standards for that.

So it might be on a case-by-case basis, but I will guarantee you that there's going to be a uh probably a fair number of properties that have legally established signs that may be considering wanting to update their their signage to get current with the times.

We would need them depending upon the zoning to then come into conformance with the codes that are in place today.

So maybe I got closer to answer your your question.

Thank you.

Great.

And for those that don't want to voluntarily kind of update, but not required to because they're grandparented in to the what was then legal, sort of legally non-conforming.

Correct.

If like they were legal, yeah, that's correct.

Yeah.

Yeah, so if they were legal at the time, they met the sign code at the time, they um received their uh approvals, um, they are considered in, and they don't have to update them.

But some choose to want to update them because they want to make them more current because the world has changed.

All right, I think I fully understand.

You got it?

Great, cool.

Good question.

Yeah, great question.

Okay.

Seeing no questions here, I open the public hearing.

We'll turn first to um any uh speakers in chambers who again want to speak um on this item, which is item seven A.

Uh no speaker slips in house.

Okay.

Um, but on Zoom?

Uh no raised hands on Zoom.

Okay, and I'll just to be comprehensive, see if there's any uh comments, uh written comments submitted uh before the 4 p.m.

deadline.

Yeah, we've received uh the applicant had no neighborhood outreach components uh as part of this project.

We've had no comments as part of this agenda when we released the agenda last week through uh tonight's meeting and the agenda uh start tonight.

So nothing out there.

And you would say that the applicant had no neighborhood outreach components.

Does that mean that outreach is not required?

Uh no, no.

They actually conducted outreach, but they didn't get a response from the public about you know comments or concerns about the master sign program.

Great, thank you for that clarification.

Okay, I think with that we can close the public hearing and turn to deliberation.

Anyone want to start or make a motion or could you remind us of what the findings are?

Oh, so um so your resolution has three findings for the master sign program, um, pages one and two of your resolution.

Uh finding A is the proposed signs are compatible in a style and character with any building to which the signs are to be attached, any surrounding structures, and any adjoining signage on the site.

Finding B, future tenants will be provided with adequate opportunities to construct, direct, or maintain a sign for identification, and then C, directional signs are adequate to control pedestrian and vehicular circulation, and address signs provide clear identification for emergency responders.

Staff believes all three of those findings can be met based upon the proposed MSP for the two properties.

Thank you very much.

Sure.

It's good to have those findings in the record.

Thank you.

Well, uh, I I personally like the program.

It seems like it does what it needs to do, but it's not overstated.

Sure.

Um just for perspective, like a monument sign like that.

I've seen much larger what would could be permitted in this sort of case, or is it kind of discretionary?

They can go larger because it's a plan development, they essentially can write their own master sign program so long as they don't exceed the 719 square feet.

Now they're at 145 square feet, so they have a ways to go.

Um I I think in in in their mind um the type and location and size of the signage fits within the right setting for that school and parish center.

Um whether they wanted to go a little bit taller on a monument sign or a freestanding sign, that's their choice, but they believe that the signs fit and are aesthetically pleasing for the campus setting that currently exists.

So, well, I can make all three findings.

Great.

Unless there's any further deliberation, we can maybe entertain a motion.

I'll make a motion for to approve the master sign program at 1,01040 Alamedia de las Pogus application number 2025-0016 uh sections A B and C.

Excellent.

Great.

Well done.

Is there a second?

Well second.

Seconded.

Okay.

Okay.

Uh roll call.

Commissioner Adam Kevich.

Aye.

Kramer?

Aye.

Chair Coolich?

Aye.

Majeski?

Aye.

Twig?

Aye.

And Jadala?

Aye.

Motion passes 6-0 for 1,000 1040 Alamina de las Pugas Master Sign Program.

Great.

And I presume since this is like a standard design review finding that it's appealable within 10 calendar days of our decision.

Absolutely is.

Great.

So with that, uh congrats to the applicant on uh getting that forward.

And uh that concludes item seven of our agenda, and we now have uh item eight, which is uh other business and updates, and we have one item, which is item 8A, uh city government guidelines and planning commission responsibilities.

This is informational.

Correct.

Correct.

There's no item, there is no action that's required of the commission.

Um again, it's I mean, it's not a project, it's it's not a site.

Um certainly I don't think the ex parte uh comes into play here because there's not a site visit that you'd conduct.

This is citywide.

So we wanted to use this opportunity tonight to just kind of remind the commission about information that's out there that the city's prepared about our city government uh handbook.

Uh, and it's a real good guide about the responsibilities of the commission.

I'm sorry, the council and the city advisory bodies provide um again really kind of some um kind of basic background about how how the city's established, the role of the city council, role of the city manager, city attorney.

So it's almost like a government 101 uh for for the city.

Uh provides an organization chart uh for for the for the public, um, as well as the the council and the the the commissions, um provides an overview of all the operating departments, provides info about the city's other partners, joint powers authorities, other local government service providers, Belmont's core policies, code of ethics and conduct.

We had a whole bunch of links in this staff report.

Again, not asking you to dive through any of this, but again, really tonight is an opportunity just to alert you that this information is out there, that this is information that is certainly helpful in the education of a commission.

I'm not sure the last time this was uh presented.

I know that our city attorney's office as part of their kind of annual or you know, every two years, they do a thing called government 101.

So it's a a pretty um large scale presentation that they put together to provide that education to uh current commission and new commissioners coming on, and while that is scheduled for February, March of next year, as is customary thought, you know.

We have a relatively light agenda tonight, want to provide this information for the commission for some uh light reading, if you will, and pun is kind of intended.

Sorry, um, and um again just really gives you kind of a nice um kind of overview of things like the zoning code, like the general plan, the the BVSP, um, city finances, um, the roles and responsibilities of the council and the city's advisory body uh uh members.

Um we all know that the commission meets on the first and third Tuesdays of the month, the council meets on the second and fourth Mondays of the month.

Um we have other bodies that meet on an as-needed basis.

Um we also have information about the city's local service providers.

So it's it's just a really good document that I think folks should be kind of looking to study up on.

I mean, we we use things like city acronyms all the time, thinking everyone speaks government, but not everyone knows what every single one of them means.

So if you go to pages 20 and 21 of this document, you've got all the things like you know, uh what is an ADU?

I think we all know what that is, but you know, what is for what is, for example, for the finance department, what is considered generally accepted accounting practices.

I mean, certainly for me, the GAAP is not roll off the tongue easily for me, or something that I use in like regular conversation.

So again, this is just a nice education tool for the commission to have, uh, really for all the citizen advisory bodies to have about the roles and responsibilities of the council and its advisory bodies as well as the operations of the city.

So again, just alerting you to that handbook.

It has gone through a few iterations.

The most recent update occurred in late spring of this year, and want to make sure that you were aware of it.

Um then uh one of the links there that I actually printed out myself to alert uh me to remind you of the council has also adopted its uh city council protocols, and that was in June of 2024.

So one of the links in that staff report again provides an overview about the you know purpose of the city council, council meetings, how they're scheduled, um, uh closed sessions, cancellations, when you establish quorum, uh how how folks can uh uh also participate via teleconference, designating a chair person, um the attendance of the public minutes, and all of these apply to this to these um cities advisory bodies as well, the commissions, um how you how you go through a meeting in terms of what's the order of business in terms of the general order, action agenda items, uh where there are items where you have a consent calendar, member announcements, where you have things like proclamations and resolutions and then rules for discussion, um ordinances, voting, abstention, tie votes, really is good background information.

Um so that is provided.

I think it's again, it's the link in the staff report.

Let's see here, I think it's the in the second paragraph from at the top of page two.

After it says Belmont City Code Chapter 2 uh City Council Protocols.

And I was just reading from that document.

So if you have the chance to go online, download that document.

We could also provide hard copies at will to any commissioner that would like it.

Again, it's uh it's it's certainly thorough reading.

Uh maybe not quite 59 pages of a verbatim transcript, but um it is uh good education for the commission to have.

So um really tonight's meeting was just to give you an opportunity to alert you of this information that's out there that's available to the commission to provide that education uh for the commission.

If you have any questions on it, you can.

Um tonight's agenda or this item provided kind of a dual opportunity for us to alert you of this information that's applicable to the commission.

But also as as city staff, we're always looking for ways to try and improve how we communicate.

How we could connect with the commission and provide timely updates to you.

And we understand um that uh you are bombarded with information.

We are as well.

Uh but when we want to provide information to the commission, um, we'd like for us to provide it to you in a timely fashion, and we're hopeful that we could receive responses back from the commission as well in a timely fashion.

So there are tips, there are tools that we can establish and use to assist you in better access to your city email accounts.

Um we can work with our IT department to set up things for you that could be assistive to you, whether it's via a smartphone or other tools that can then allow for us to provide communications to you and you to respond back to us for for items.

So again, that was the second part of tonight's meeting.

Again, we we have the tool technology to help us all out, and we want to better utilize that technology uh for certainly us as staff to be better, but also us to work together as commission and staff to um make sure that we're on the same page about um getting information out and getting responses back.

So um so that's that item as well.

And again, if if we want to schedule like some individual offline, you know, visits from the commission to city hall, we have our IT folks standing at the ready to help you establish smart technology on your devices to then uh allow you to get more timely info from the city so that you can access, we can do that as well.

So I want to make that offer to you as well.

Um I can coordinate with Courtney kind of setting up meetings with our IT department um to um get that information to you so then you can be better attuned when we provide information to you.

Um as we uh said from the outset, again, there's no no recommendation for tonight.

This is educational in nature, it's informational in nature.

Just want to provide in uh this to you.

Um again, when the city attorney does his more robust update uh on government 101, he'll do that in that February, March time period.

Um, and he will kind of use the kind of framework of these documents uh to kind of go over government 101 with the with the commissions uh and and the council when when he does that presentation.

I think he does it to the council.

I think he does it both for parks and recreation commission and the planning commission.

Um, but again, kind of stay stay tuned for that.

Again, it usually happens in that kind of like first quarter of of every year.

So with that, I'm gonna stop.

You may have some questions.

Um again, all of the links are active and work.

Um, again, you uh I think it's some great reading for you to you know catch yourself up on, or you've maybe read it already and said, Hey, I'm I'm up to speed.

This feels good to me.

Um, so uh that's the extent of my presentation.

Um again, no action tonight.

Just educational.

So great.

Thank you.

I mean, I will say it's it's nice to have kind of all those resources in one kind of handy dandy place in case we need it.

So thank you for that.

But I'll see if um anyone else has questions or or comments.

It seems certainly detailed.

I pulled up the uh Olone Costa Noan Indians 356 page document.

I haven't read that one cover to cover yet, but um, yes.

Oh, the alone of tribe, yeah.

There's lots of stuff out there and lots of things that that folks need to be aware of, but you know, it takes time.

You know, I mean it takes time to grow into the role and understand everything that you may have to pay attention to.

So this always serves as a nice reminder of things that uh as your role as a planning commissioner to be kind of up on things.

And really, I mean, frankly, in the face of state legislation related to housing, that it literally comes at us like every week trying to keep up with things is tremendously daunting.

So that's another plug for next Tuesday, and I know we're gonna have four commissioners there that night.

Um thank you for being in attendance for that.

Um that joint study session will have a couple of folks uh make presentations on it because again, even staff, we are uh struggling to keep up with everything that continues to come out of uh uh Sacramento, whether it's SB 330, SB 79, AB 130, 131, um all the new legislation.

Uh it it continues to steamroll and us just getting up to speed on it uh is challenging.

So um so anyway.

Uh your your role is currently defined as it is, but that role could continue to change over time as state legislation gets more established.

So are we open open for questions?

Yeah, yeah, go, yeah.

Um, just a question about the email.

Um, you seem to really be emphasizing that maybe we should be checking our email more or we're missing things on email.

I um I'm not aware of like a lot of information that staff sends by email.

Obviously, the packet comes out on Fridays.

Sure.

Uh occasionally you check whether we're you know available.

But are there emails we've all been missing and failing to respond?

I'm that hasn't been a channel where any information that ever has ever been sent that I'm aware of.

Sure.

I I I think it's we're always looking to improve.

I know that you've got your planning commission email address, your individual email addresses.

And again, there are times where we submit information, we send information through those channels to the commission just to try and gauge um whether folks have information at their disposal or whether we could do a better job of of providing more timely info.

So we know, I mean, certainly for me, I have multiple accounts on my phone that I could check, whether it's my city email, whether it's my Gmail, whether it's other email, and we want to provide every opportunity for the commission to be um made aware of.

I appreciate the offer.

I guess I'm just saying that in the year and a half since I joined the commission, I'm not aware of any information ever being sent to us by email.

I think you do a really good job of calling us and like having us come down to City Hall and you like share things like that's been awesome.

Sure.

I just I honestly can't remember any email being sent with like here's something to read.

It's just not something that we do.

So I suspect that not everyone is as uh good as you are around responding to requests for attendance.

Well the attendance updates, yes.

So that's kind of what I was getting at.

If that's like the the main thing we need to be watching out for.

There we go.

Um yes, yes, thank you.

And again, it's something where I talking to you.

Yeah.

Right.

Right.

No.

Yeah.

Yeah.

No, I realize it's very difficult to plan your agendas if you don't understand our attendance.

So absolutely appreciate that.

Excellent.

Yeah, I think that you're kind of uh certainly on to something there.

And there are communications we send where we we do need to do some follow-up.

And we don't mind doing the follow-up, but if we can import some better tools to allow for more timely receipt of information on your end, then that can reduce then um Carlos giving the call or Carlos reaching out or Courtney reaching out.

Um, I wake up every morning and open the C dev website, so I'm so well informed.

Amazing.

That's amazing.

Yeah, there you go.

You live a rich and exciting life, yeah.

You must.

Uh, any other questions?

Okay.

Uh, let's let's try to see if there's any public comment on this item.

Uh anyone in chambers wish to comment?

Uh, I already put it in the wow, a little bit.

Wow.

Amazing.

We love it.

Uh anyone on Zoom wishing to comment on item eight.

Uh no raised hands on Zoom.

Okay.

And you probably got any emails on C dev before four o'clock today.

I guess there's no emails that would pertain to this item.

No, we receive no emails related to this particular agenda item uh tonight.

Okay.

Yeah.

So I think um that is then that.

Um I think uh there's nothing else on the agenda.

So uh I guess there's no that's it actually.

So I think we're in a place to adjourn.

Uh yeah.

Uh again, if I'm looking at the agenda itself.

Give me one second.

We are yeah, that's it.

Yeah.

Um I have no other items.

Um again, please keep your availability open for meetings in November.

Um we do have, um, we do have Planning Commission items scheduled.

So to the extent that you know early on, I can't make the November fourth or their November 18th meetings.

Please let us know.

The same for December.

Uh that would be great because I think we're gonna be having consistent meeting agendas with items uh for the next two months.

So good.

Great.

Appreciate it.

All right.

Uh thanks everyone for a uh quick and productive meeting.

It is now seven fifty-six and we are adjourned.

Thank you.