Redwood City Council Meeting - Election Certification and Council Reorganization (December 12, 2022)
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Redwood City Council Meeting - Election Certification and Council Reorganization
On December 12, 2022, the Redwood City Council held a regular meeting that served as the final meeting for outgoing Mayor Giselle Hale and Vice Mayor Diana Reddy, who completed their four-year terms. The council unanimously approved the consent calendar, recognized outgoing members with tributes and gifts, swore in newly elected Councilmembers Kaya Eakin and Chris Sturkin (via a ceremonial oath by his father) and re-elected Councilmember Diane Howard, and selected a new mayor and vice mayor following a staff-recommended rotation policy.
Consent Calendar
- 6A: Declaration of results for the November 8, 2022 general election based on the County of San Mateo Chief Elections Officer's certificate of final official canvas.
- 6B: Investment report for the period ending September 30, 2022.
- 6C: Resolution declaring a continued state of local emergency and affirming hybrid/virtual meetings under AB 361.
- 6D: Historic preservation agreement (Mills Act contract) at 1417 Middlefield Road.
- 6E: Acceptance of FY2021 FEMA SAFER grant ($3,630,607 over three years) for fire and emergency response staffing.
- 6F: Award for the 2020–2021 Sanitary Sewer Replacement Project.
- 6G: Water supply assessment for a mixed-use development at 557 East Bayshore Road.
- 6H: Approval of minutes from December 5, 2022 city council meeting.
- 6I: Approval of claims and checks from December 12, 2022 through January 9, 2023, and usual and necessary payments through January 9, 2023.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Amy Buckmaster (San Mateo County Chamber) thanked outgoing Mayor Hale for her leadership and collaborative spirit, presenting her with a heart-shaped token.
- Rona Gundrum urged that item 8C (selection of mayor/vice mayor) should precede 8B (swearing-in) to allow the current council to vote on procedural changes, citing Section 1F of the selection policy and flaws in seniority rotation.
- Jeff Strobowski raised concerns about traffic impacts from transit center and Sequoia station projects, and criticized bike lane safety on Whipple Avenue overpass.
- Jim Crampton expressed concerns about drought and water availability, questioning the water supply assessment for a development that includes five new swimming pools and hot tubs.
- Edward Stansel (via Zoom) argued that the city is trying to evict him from property on Steinberger Slough, not Redwood Creek, and requested a 90-day reprieve.
- Several speakers from the public and elected officials (including representatives from Assemblymember Mullin, Senator Becker, Congresswoman Speier, and former mayors) thanked Mayor Hale and Vice Mayor Reddy for their service, highlighting work on childcare, mental health, homelessness, and housing.
- Dylan and others welcomed new Councilmember Chris Sturkin and expressed optimism for the council's future.
- During the selection of mayor/vice mayor, Rona Gundrum and Tom Leinbarger questioned the staff recommendation and suggested that council should decide based on qualifications rather than strict rotation.
Discussion Items
- Climate Action Subcommittee Report: Delivered by Councilmember G (outgoing). The subcommittee met December 8 and received updates on microgrid work plan for city facilities (including evaluation matrix and case study at Fire Station 9) and on sea level rise vulnerability assessment beginning in Q1 2023.
- Recognition of Outgoing Council Members: Mayor Hale and Vice Mayor Reddy each received proclamations, street signs, and gifts from staff and council. Members highlighted their work on the Safe RV Parking Program, the Navigation Center, equity initiatives, mental health consortium, childcare advocacy, and regional partnerships.
- Swearing-In of New and Re-elected Council Members: Mayor Hale administered oaths for Councilmember Kaya Eakin and re-elected Councilmember Diane Howard. Councilmember Chris Sturkin was sworn in by his father Alan Sturkin. Incoming members delivered brief remarks emphasizing collaboration, housing affordability, climate action, support for renters and LGBTQ+ community.
- Selection of Mayor and Vice Mayor: Staff presented the rotation policy adopted in 2019, recommending Councilmember Jeff G as mayor and Councilmember Lissette Espinosa Garnica as vice mayor for two-year terms through December 2024. After public comment and council discussion noting that the policy was transparently developed, the motion carried unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar approved unanimously (7-0).
- Councilmember Jeff G installed as mayor and Councilmember Lissette Espinosa Garnica as vice mayor, each for a two-year term through December 2024, by unanimous vote (7-0).
- Council directed staff and the governance subcommittee to evaluate and potentially amend the mayor/vice mayor selection policy, including clarifying treatment of appointed members and aligning terms with even-year election cycles.
- Ceremonial oaths administered to new/re-elected council members, concluding the council reorganization.
Meeting Transcript
Alright, we're gonna get started. If you could please come on in, find us there's still some seats at the front of the room. There's still some seats at the front of the room, the side of the room. And then we'll be closing the doors so that we can continue. I know there's still food and cake out there, so if you get hungry, you can step outside. Okay, we've got a few seats right up here on the my right, and then to the left. Everybody can get a seat. Welcome, welcome everyone. Uh my name is Giselle Hale, and at least for the next 30 to 40 minutes, I'm the very proud mayor of Redwood City. And I want to thank you all for joining us this evening for our regular meeting of the city council. And as a reminder, we are holding this evening, though we have a very, very full room here in Redwood City, we are holding it hybrid. So we're also joined by a number of folks uh online, presently 25. And items will, as with most regular meetings, be taken in the order in which they are listed on the agenda. And if we could please close the door at the back of the room so that we don't have any sound interference. Um folks can come in once they're ready. Uh but let's close the doors. Thank you. So tonight is a special evening for the city and the city council as we'll be transitioning peacefully to a new city council and welcoming newly elected uh city council members. Uh and vice mayor ready and I complete our terms. And the transition will occur after consideration of the consent calendar, and the new city council will then select a new mayor and a vice mayor, and they will do that tonight. This will be my last meeting, presiding as mayor, and I will also have some remarks to make later in the evening, but it has been my pleasure to serve all of you and our community and honor to serve as mayor for the last year. So thank you for that. And I'll now ask our city clerk to please call the role. Good evening. Councilmember Aguirre here. Councilmember Espinosa Garnica. Here. Councilmember G. Here. Councilmember Howard. Here. Councilmember Martinez. Vice Mayor Reddy. Here. And Mayor Hale. Here. Thank you. Thank you. Now please join me as we salute the flag. 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. We will now take public comments on the consent calendar and matters of council interest as well as items that are not on the agenda. If you have public comment related to the city council reorganization and the selection of the new mayor and vice mayor, you will be invited to speak later in the evening. And if you're attending in person, you can please fill out a card, a speaker's card, which is at the back of the room, that back table, and then submit it to the city clerk right here at the Dais. And don't mind if you have to walk up in front of everyone. And if you're attending virtually, you could feel free to please now raise your hand on Zoom. Or you could press star nine if you're joining us by phone. And I will now once again turn over the meeting to our city clerk to please facilitate public comment. Thank you, Mayor Hale.
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