OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Mountain View City Council Regular Meeting - May 12, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, May 12, 2026
BodyMountain View, California
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, May 12, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:27:09
Transcript — Verbatim
0:21

All right, good evening, everyone.

0:23

Thank you for joining us for our closed session.

0:25

City Attorney Log will make a closed session announcement, and then we will welcome public comment on the items listed for closed session.

0:35

Good evening, Mayor and Councilmembers.

0:38

There are three items on this evening's closed session agenda.

0:41

Item two point one is a conference with legal counsel regarding potential litigation arising from the Questa Park Water Main incident pursuant to government code section five four nine five six point nine D two and D four.

0:55

Item two point two is a conference with real property negotiators pursuant to government code section five four nine five six point eight.

1:04

The address of the property under negotiation is four eight five and four nine five Clyde Avenue.

1:12

The agency negotiators are Assistant City Manager Don Cameron, Community Services Director John Marchant, and Real Property Program Administrator Angela LaMonica.

1:24

The negotiating party is Google Inc.

1:26

And under negotiation are price and terms of lease.

1:38

The address of the property under negotiation is nine seven five Tarabella Avenue.

1:43

Agency negotiators are Real Property Program Administrator Angela LaMonica, Community Services Director John Marchant, and Public Works Director Jennifer Ring.

1:54

The negotiating parties are Steve Nash and Ryan Dennis.

1:59

And under negotiation are price and terms of purchase.

2:03

Thank you.

2:07

Thank you.

2:08

Would any member of the public joining us virtually or in person like to provide comment on the closed session items listed on tonight's agenda?

2:17

If so, please click the raise hand button in Zoom or submit a speaker card to the city clerk.

2:23

We will take in-person speakers first.

2:25

Each speaker will have three minutes.

2:33

Seeing none.

2:39

Seeing no virtual speakers, the council will now recess to the plaza conference room for closed session and return to council chambers at the close to continue to regular session.

2:51

Do I read this all up?

2:53

2.1 conference with legal counsel pursuant to government code 54956.

3:00

Oh, I don't have to.

3:01

Great.

3:02

Okay.

3:03

So we will we will see you in open session.

3:06

Thank you all.

4:09

Okay, everyone.

4:11

I'm gonna call the meeting to order.

4:13

So.

4:16

Okay.

4:17

Um good evening, everyone.

4:18

Welcome to the regular meeting of the Mountain View City Council of May 12th, 2026.

4:24

Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

4:48

Okay.

4:50

So now the city clerk will take attendance by roll call.

4:55

Councilmember Hicks?

4:56

Here.

4:57

Councilmember Knight?

4:58

Here.

4:59

Councilmember McAllister.

5:00

Here.

4:58

Councilmember Ramirez?

5:02

Here.

5:02

Council Member Showalter.

5:04

Here.

5:04

Vice Mayor Clerk.

5:05

Mayor Ramos.

4:58

Here.

5:06

You have a core.

4:59

Thank you.

5:09

In recent weeks, the city, along with a few of our neighboring elected decision-making bodies, have been subjected to disruptive racist verbal attacks by anonymous callers during virtual public comments.

5:20

The City of Mountain View is fully committed to racial, religious, and cultural equity and justice as we strive to create a welcoming, safe, and inclusive community for all.

5:30

The council welcomes respectful, non-threatening public comments on matters within our jurisdictions.

5:36

Comments deemed otherwise pursuant to the council code of conduct and government code may be grounds for terminating a speaker's comment period.

5:44

City Attorney Loeb, do you have a closed session report?

5:48

No final action was taken in closed session this evening.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Affordable Housing████████████████████████24%
Transportation Safety███████████████████████23%
Miscellaneous███████████████████19%
Transportation Demand Management███████████████████19%
Procedural█████████9%
Public Health███3%
Sustainability and Resilience██2%
Finance And Investments█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Mountain View City Council Regular Meeting - May 12, 2026

The Mountain View City Council held a regular meeting on May 12, 2026, beginning with closed session at 7:00 PM and reconvening in open session. The mayor opened with a statement condemning racist verbal attacks during virtual public comments. The council unanimously approved the consent calendar, introduced ordinances for a citywide Transportation Demand Management (TDM) program and amendments to the Below Market Rate (BMR) housing program, and presented proclamations for Affordable Housing Month and Mental Health Awareness Month. Public comments covered a range of topics including parking, housing affordability, street improvements, and calls for an ICE-free zone.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved unanimously (7-0). Items included: an ordinance amending real property conveyance tax exemptions (4.1); renewal of the downtown parking maintenance assessment district for FY 2026-27 (4.2); appropriation of $8 million in state funds for Lot 12 Affordable Housing Project (4.3); final map approval for 309 Moore Parkway (Tract 1067) with an added second entry point (4.4); temporary closure of parking spaces in Lot 2 for construction (4.5); authorization to convey a portion of city-owned land adjacent to 236 Castro Street (4.7). Councilmembers McAllister and Showalter commended staff and the developer for adding a second egress at the Moore Park project, reducing traffic stress on Sylvan.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Jack Powers (resident) requested reasonable accommodations under the ADA for disabled persons parking oversized vehicles, citing the settlement in Navarro v. Mountain View. He suggested licensing certain parking areas for disabled use.
  • Akemi Flynn (Mountain View Buddhist Temple, Immigrant Protection & Empowerment Network) urged adoption of an ICE-free zone policy to prohibit federal immigration enforcement on city property. She read a message from Maria Maroquin and Ruth Silvertobe of the Mountain View Day Worker Center.
  • Tim McKenzie (Montaloma resident) thanked the city for removing flock cameras and echoed support for an ICE-free zone.
  • Bruce Englan (Station Drive, Coalition for Sustainable Planning & Green Spaces) supported an ICE-free zone and also spoke on the consent calendar, urging street maintenance to include safety and climate resilience improvements.
  • April Webster (same coalition) detailed how pavement repaving cycles can incorporate low-cost safety measures such as lane narrowing, buffered bike lanes, daylighting, and high-visibility crosswalks, citing Caltrans’ model.
  • Robert Cox (Livable Mountain View) expressed concern that TDM strategies like unbundled parking could lead to spillover onto streets, noting that 75% of downtown patrons come from outside Mountain View and decreasing parking supply causes congestion.
  • Alexander Amaroso (resident) supported both TDM and BMR amendments but stressed protecting green spaces and providing housing for essential workers (trades, service employees) in addition to general housing.
  • James Kuzma (Mountain View YIMBY) supported the TDM ordinance but cautioned that ADT reduction targets might be unrealistic for residential projects; he advocated parking reductions for small projects and better curbside management.
  • Kevin Ma (individual) supported the BMR amendments but urged immediate implementation of the graduated fee exemption for up to 10 units rather than waiting for the 2028 review, noting the delay cost and lack of small-unit development.
  • Katie Patrick (resident, car-free) emphasized the need for secure bike storage in existing multifamily buildings to enable car-free living.
  • Karen Burke (resident) opposed forcing low-income renters to pay separately for parking, arguing for one free parking spot per unit in new developments. She also called for higher BMR percentages and retrofitting existing units to create more affordable housing.
  • Bruce Englan (virtual) briefly supported a community letter on street maintenance.

Discussion Items

  • 6.1 – Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Ordinance (First Reading) – Staff presented a citywide TDM program requiring new developments generating 200+ average daily trips (ADT) to reduce trips by 20-50% based on project size and type. Core strategies include parking reductions, transit passes, and optional TMA membership. Staff will study a property-based assessment district (PBID) to fund TMA services. Council questions addressed costs, monitoring data usage, remote work incentives, and parking spillover. Councilmember Showalter stressed monitoring to improve the program and cost transparency. Councilmember Hicks asked about tools for non-commuter trips and EV interaction. Councilmember McAllister emphasized enforcement and accountability. Council voted unanimously (7-0) to introduce the ordinance, with a second reading scheduled for May 26, 2026.
  • 6.2 – Below Market Rate (BMR) Housing Program Amendments (First Reading) – Staff presented amendments to the inclusionary housing ordinance, including updated alternative compliance requirements, a graduated fee reduction for small projects (scaled to maximum legal density), relocation of the BMR code from zoning to the housing chapter, and other cleanups. Councilmember Ramirez moved approval, noting the addition of objective standards. Councilmember Showalter requested monitoring of program effectiveness over the next three to five years. Public comment supported the changes but urged accelerating the 10-unit fee exemption. Council voted unanimously (7-0) to introduce the ordinance, with a second reading set for June 9, 2026.
  • Proclamations: The council proclaimed May as Affordable Housing Month, presented to Charities Housing (accepted by Marvel Ang, Director of Housing Development), and Mental Health Awareness Month, presented to Momentum for Health (accepted by Eleanor Pace, Chief Officer of Residential Programs).

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Calendar approved 7-0.
  • Introduction of TDM Ordinance (first reading) approved 7-0; second reading May 26, 2026.
  • Introduction of BMR Ordinance amendments (first reading) approved 7-0; second reading June 9, 2026.
  • Proclamations for Affordable Housing Month and Mental Health Awareness Month presented.
  • Council committee reports: Councilmember Showalter attended Stanford’s sustainability summit (April 29 & May 1); Vice Mayor Clark reported on CNC grant reception, Questa Park water main meeting (May 2), multicultural festival (May 2), CPPC meeting (May 6), and other events. Councilmember Kamei attended the council transportation committee (May 5) and a Making Democracy Work convening.
  • Meeting adjourned at 9:29 PM.

Meeting Transcript

All right, good evening, everyone. Thank you for joining us for our closed session. City Attorney Log will make a closed session announcement, and then we will welcome public comment on the items listed for closed session. Good evening, Mayor and Councilmembers. There are three items on this evening's closed session agenda. Item two point one is a conference with legal counsel regarding potential litigation arising from the Questa Park Water Main incident pursuant to government code section five four nine five six point nine D two and D four. Item two point two is a conference with real property negotiators pursuant to government code section five four nine five six point eight. The address of the property under negotiation is four eight five and four nine five Clyde Avenue. The agency negotiators are Assistant City Manager Don Cameron, Community Services Director John Marchant, and Real Property Program Administrator Angela LaMonica. The negotiating party is Google Inc. And under negotiation are price and terms of lease. The address of the property under negotiation is nine seven five Tarabella Avenue. Agency negotiators are Real Property Program Administrator Angela LaMonica, Community Services Director John Marchant, and Public Works Director Jennifer Ring. The negotiating parties are Steve Nash and Ryan Dennis. And under negotiation are price and terms of purchase. Thank you. Thank you. Would any member of the public joining us virtually or in person like to provide comment on the closed session items listed on tonight's agenda? If so, please click the raise hand button in Zoom or submit a speaker card to the city clerk. We will take in-person speakers first. Each speaker will have three minutes. Seeing none. Seeing no virtual speakers, the council will now recess to the plaza conference room for closed session and return to council chambers at the close to continue to regular session. Do I read this all up? 2.1 conference with legal counsel pursuant to government code 54956. Oh, I don't have to. Great. Okay. So we will we will see you in open session. Thank you all. Okay, everyone. I'm gonna call the meeting to order. So. Okay. Um good evening, everyone. Welcome to the regular meeting of the Mountain View City Council of May 12th, 2026. Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. Okay. So now the city clerk will take attendance by roll call. Councilmember Hicks? Here. Councilmember Knight? Here. Councilmember McAllister. Here. Councilmember Ramirez? Here. Council Member Showalter. Here. Vice Mayor Clerk.

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