Mountain View City Council Study Session and Regular Meeting - February 10, 2026
Mountain View City Council Study Session and Regular Meeting - February 10, 2026
The Mountain View City Council held a study session to discuss the 2026 legislative program priorities, followed by a regular meeting that included presentations, consent calendar items, a discussion on charter modernization, and an update on the R3 zoning district. The meeting began with a study session at approximately 7:00 PM and concluded after 11:00 PM.
Consent Calendar
- 4.1 – Resolution of intention to vacate a public street and easement at 881 Castro Street: Approved 5-1 (Council Member Hicks recused; Council Members McAllister and Kamei voted no).
- 4.2 – Transit Center Grade Separation and Access Project (Castro and Evelyn bike/pedestrian improvements): Approved 5-1 (Council Member McAllister voted no; Council Member Kamei voted yes).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Legislative Platform: John Scarborough urged including protections against federal overreach for vulnerable populations. Robert Cox (Livable Mountain View) supported staff recommendations but called for clearer timelines on SB79 alternative plans and more flexibility for pro-housing cities.
- Charter Modernization: Edie Keating supported most amendments but requested explicit clarification that Section 900 does not apply to the Rental Housing Committee (CSFRA) to avoid future ambiguity.
- R3 Zoning: Multiple speakers (James Kuzma, Alex Brown, David Watson, Manuel Salazar, Cliff Chambers, Daniel Hulse, Kevin Ma) generally supported the update but offered refinements: reduce setbacks, allow ground-floor retail in all sub-districts, simplify massing standards, reduce parking minimums, and ensure pedestrian connectivity.
- ALPR Program: Eva Tang criticized the delayed disclosure of data breaches and questioned why public records requests were denied; she urged ending the Flock contract.
Discussion Items
- 2026 Legislative Platform Study Session: Staff (Christina Gilmore, CPBG, MMO Partners) reviewed 2025 successes (e.g., stopping SB 423, securing $3.1M in federal earmarks) and outlined 2026 trends (local revenue threats, housing, energy). State Senator Josh Becker joined virtually, providing updates on his bills (Delete Act, energy cost reductions, child care subsidy reform) and answering council questions. Council added seven themes to the platform: pro-housing city flexibility, soft story retrofits, condo liability reform, property transfer tax protection, community for all language, SB79 alternative plan timelines, and single-stair reform.
- Charter Modernization 2026 Ballot Measure: City Attorney Jennifer Logue presented five categories of non-controversial amendments (typographical corrections, gender-neutral language, state law alignment, modernization, CSFRA reference updates). Council supported staff recommendations with modifications: extend council vacancy deadline from 30 to 60 days (option 2: partial delegation for board membership qualifications, allowing council-created bodies to set their own criteria); keep the CSFRA update as a single ballot question after seeking Rental Housing Committee input.
- R3 Zoning District Update: Advanced Planning Manager Eric Anderson presented draft development standards, design standards, parking updates, lot consolidation incentives, non-conforming use updates, and R4 integration. Council direction (motion by Council Member Ramirez, seconded by Hicks) approved staff recommendations with several additions: allow commercial uses in R3A, R3B, R3C, and R3D with live-work standards; remove lot consolidation incentive in favor of guidelines; develop front setback design standards (shade, stormwater, wider sidewalks) as part of SB79 implementation; allow ornamentation alternatives to massing features; eliminate depth of habitable ground floor front facade standard; allow height exceptions for park dedication or heritage tree preservation; eliminate stoops as a building entry type; evaluate arcades/loggias/cantilevered second stories; evaluate additional pedestrian connections; evaluate increasing FAR in R3B and R3C for stacked flats; explore riparian corridor standards; and establish a periodic process for updating objective standards. Director Murdoch noted staff will prioritize items without jeopardizing 2026 adoption; remaining items will feed into SB79 and objective design standards work in 2027-2028.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar: Approved as noted.
- Legislative Platform: Council consensus to add the seven themes; staff will bring revised platform for formal adoption on February 24, 2026.
- Charter Modernization: Council directed staff to proceed with drafting ballot language incorporating the feedback (60-day vacancy, partial delegation, one ballot question with RHC input). Community outreach will occur before formal action.
- R3 Zoning Update: Motion carried 5-1 (McAllister dissenting). Staff will incorporate the additional direction and return with final code amendments for adoption later in 2026.
- ALPR Program: Mayor announced that the police chief turned off the cameras after improper data access; council will vote on terminating the Flock contract at the February 24 meeting.
Other Business
- Proclamations for Black History Month and Lunar New Year were presented.
- Council discussed attendance at the Mayor's Innovation Project and League of California Cities events.
The meeting adjourned at 11:57 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Thank you. Good evening everyone. Thank you for joining us for our study session. The City Clerk will take attendance by roll call. Council Member Hicks. Here. Council Member Kamei. Here. Council Member McAllister. Yo. Council Member Ramirez. Here. Council Member Showalter. Here. Mayor Ramos. Here. We have a quorum with Vice Mayor Clark absent. Thank you. All right, so now we'll begin with our study session. The purpose of this study session is to receive city council input on the proposed legislative program priority issues to guide the city's regional, state, and federal legislative advocacy during the 2026 session. Reviewing and updating the legislative platform at the beginning of each legislative session is an essential component of the city's legislative program. This helps to ensure that the City Council's current priorities are reflected in the platform and provide direction to staff and the city's legislative advocacy firms to enable efficient and effective engagement on the regional, state, and federal issues and initiatives that affect the city's priorities, programs, and operations. We're gonna skip that presentation part right now and go straight to our intergovernmental relations manager, Christina Gilmore. Following Ms. Gilmore's presentation, we will receive a presentation from our state legislative advocacy firm, California Public Policy Group, and our federal legislative advocacy firm, MMO Partners, followed by public comment. If you would like to speak on this item in person, please submit a blue speaker card to the city clerk now. Following public comment, the item will come back to council for discussion and feedback on the state and federal platforms. There will be a short break during which staff will compile major themes from the council's feedback. Following the break, the staff will present the themes to help determine areas of council consensus. We are also anticipating a visit from State Senator Josh Becker, but he is running a little late.
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