The Belmont City Council met on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, beginning with a 6:15 PM closed session and reconvening publicly at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers at City Hall, One Twin Pines Lane, Belmont. All five councilmembers—Mayor Julia Mates, Vice Mayor Cathy Jordan, and Councilmembers Robin Pang-Maganaris, Gina Latimerlo, and Tom McCune—were present. The City Attorney reported no reportable action from closed session. The Council unanimously approved the consent calendar, a resolution supporting El Camino Real complete streets planning, and a resolution authorizing design-build preparation for the Community Center project.
Councilmembers promoted upcoming events including the 42nd annual Coastal Cleanup Day, National Night Out, the Imagine Together Festival, Bay Area Transit Month, and the Belmont centennial celebration on October 24, 2026. The City Manager introduced new Administrative Services Director Anais Martinez Aquino.
The Council approved the consent calendar 5-0, including:
Non-agenda public comments included:
During the Central El Camino Real item, two public speakers commented. Ben Magnifoli said the proposed bike lanes would be transformative but urged the city to challenge Caltrans' two-lane minimum so dedicated bus lanes could also be included. A second speaker called for prioritizing buses and bikes, argued that bike lanes may not be the best use of the constrained corridor, and suggested improving a parallel route on Old County and Pacific.
Central El Camino Real Multimodal Plan and Complete Streets Resolution (11A)
SamTrans project manager Cassie Halls and Aaron Ferguson of Fair & Pierce presented the final stages of the Central El Camino Real Multimodal Plan. The plan covers El Camino Real/State Route 82 through Belmont, San Carlos, San Mateo, and northern Redwood City. Engagement included three phases from 2025 through 2026, an interactive map with over 800 responses, listening sessions, pop-ups, and a walk audit. Across Belmont, over 50% of respondents favored continuous bicycle facilities; there was also support for safer pedestrian crossings, improved bus stops, and more trees. Because Belmont's right-of-way is constrained, the plan advances one cross-section alternative that includes a wider west-side sidewalk, on-street parking, separated bike lanes, and bus boarding islands. SamTrans estimated the countywide Grand Boulevard Initiative could cost up to $1 billion, with SMCTA sales tax funding up to 50%—potentially $500 million—and the remainder to be sought from federal, state, regional, and local sources. The Council adopted a resolution supporting SamTrans and Caltrans' continued coordination through the Caltrans project development process. Councilmember Jordan noted that in a listening session she attended, 100% of the roughly 20-30 participants did not want any parking removed. Councilmember Latimerlo noted the resolution did not lock in a final project and that further refinement and technical analysis would continue. The resolution passed 5-0.
Community Center Design-Build Procurement and Project Labor Agreement Evaluation (11B)
City Manager Afshin Oskoui presented a preparatory step for the Community Center project. The existing center has deferred maintenance, aging infrastructure, and seismic, electrical, fire/life safety, and accessibility needs. A citizen-led parcel tax, Measure Y, on the November 2026 ballot could fund the project. Staff requested authorization to use a design-build delivery framework under state law, evaluate conventional versus progressive design-build, prepare procurement documents, and begin evaluating a project-specific Project Labor Agreement. No design contract, construction commitment, or final project cost was being authorized. Progressive design-build would bring a team in earlier and could provide a guaranteed maximum price, but requires strong owner-side project management. Staff would return to Council for approval before any procurement strategy or PLA is finalized. Councilmember McCune said his initial concerns about prematurity and design-build had been allayed because only staff time and preparation were being authorized. Councilmember Latimerlo expressed support for progressive design-build and PLA-related apprenticeship and workforce benefits. The resolution passed 5-0.
All right. Calling to order the city council meeting for the city of Belmont. It's City Council regular meeting agenda, September eighth, twenty twenty-six. We are currently in the City Council chambers, and we are meeting for closed session. Before we do, let's go ahead and have roll call, please. Good evening and welcome back. Councilmember McHugh. Present. Councilmember Later Miller. Here. Councilmango Panganaris. Present. Vice Mayor Jordan. Here. Mayor Meads? Here. All present. Thank you very much. Item three. Items before 7 p.m. 3A is closed session. We have two items on the agenda for our closed session. If there are any public comment, please raise your virtual hand or leave comment card for our clerk in chambers. Madam Clerk, do we have any public comment at this time on closed agenda items? No public comments in house or on Sumat. All right, thank you. Then we will go ahead and recess to our closed session and come back at 7 p.m. I just made it. All right. Great, thank you. Item five, report from closed session. Good evening, Madam Mayor. Tonight we did have a closed session. However, we do not have reportable action at this time. All right, thank you for that. Item six, special presentations. I'll go re-ahead and read portions of our proclamation. 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 the 13th, and World Suicide Prevention Day, September 10th to spread the message that suicide can be prevented. And whereas whereas each September communities across the nation deserve 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 access to care can make the difference between life and death. And whereas the City of Belmont joins with NAMI, which is the National Alliance on Mental Illness and communities across the country, in encouraging all residents to start a conversation, be the difference, knowing that one compassionate conversation can save a life. And 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 2026 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. So again, that's September Suicide Prevention Month. Moving on to our next special proclamation, which is bittersweet. So I have the honor of reading a very long proclamation for to honor our very own Carlos de Mello. Carlos, it's up to you if you want to stand here. We're more than we want to have you kind of front and center there, but also understand it if you don't want to stand for this long. I need my steps too. All right. So this is a proclamation proclamation honoring Carlos de Mello, Planning and Community Development Director on the occasion of retirement.