Redwood City Council Meeting – September 9, 2024

This regular meeting of the Redwood City Council on September 9, 2024, included proclamations honoring Hispanic Heritage Month and Welcoming Week/United Against Hate Week, an update on the city’s homelessness initiatives, and approval of updates to the council’s communications policy and the boards/commissions/committees handbook. The meeting also featured public comments on virtual participation and homelessness strategies, and the council adjourned in memory of community member Cheryl Monroe.

Presentations & Proclamations

• Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept 15 – Oct 15): Mayor read a proclamation noting that 36% of Redwood City’s population identifies as Hispanic/Latinx. Connie Guerrero and Arnaldo Ariola of the Latino Community Council of Redwood City accepted, thanking the city and highlighting contributions of Latinos across all sectors.
• Welcoming Week (Sept 13-22) & United Against Hate Week (Sept 21-27): Proclamation accepted by Mia Bennett, Asosena Juarez Bautista, and Jennifer Godinez representing Redwood City Together and Sequoia High School’s Dream Club. They emphasized the importance of inclusivity and resources for mixed-status families.
• Additional Recognitions: The council noted the issuance of proclamations for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and Suicide Prevention Month (September). The mayor shared a personal story to highlight suicide prevention resources (San Mateo County Crisis Line: 650-579-0350).

Consent Calendar

• Items 6B through 6J were approved unanimously (7-0). These included rejection of general liability claims (6B-6D), acceptance of a public utility easement (6E), agreements for recycled water design, response to Grand Jury report, automation services, backfill materials, on-call contracting ordinance, and approval of minutes and claims.
• Item 6A (rejection of a claim from Aurelia Gomez): Mayor G recused himself, citing a conflict due to serving on both Redwood City and SamTrans boards. The item passed 6-0 on a separate vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• General Public Comment (Emails):
  • Roni Ben David opposed small cell facility installations by Crown Castle, citing redundancy and property value harm; also requested a 2-foot setback for AC compressors to facilitate all-electric conversions.
  • Ed Stanzel offered a settlement of $366,810 regarding houseboats Kismet and Whisper at Docktown, with escalating daily penalties after 10 days.
• Homelessness Update (Item 8A):
  • Erica Laguna (Downtown Streets Team) expressed support for the city’s collaboration and outreach efforts.
  • Clara Jekyll urged the council to avoid criminalizing homelessness, arguing that anti-camping ordinances undermine trust and do not address root causes; she advocated for continued focus on affordable housing.
• Governance Policy (Item 9A):
  • 17 emailed comments, the majority urging restoration of virtual public comment via Zoom. Commenters cited accessibility for families, disabled persons, seniors, and workers. Some suggested safeguards like limiting to Redwood City residents or allowing the chair to suspend virtual comments on contentious issues. Rabbi Ilana offered cautious support with precautions. Others noted that San Mateo County still allows virtual comments and called the current policy an intimidation victory.

Discussion Items

• Homelessness Initiatives Work Plan Update (No action required):

  • Homeless Services Manager Terry Chin presented progress: Since November 2022, the Outreach Strategy Team engaged 334 unduplicated individuals and 54 families; 40 individuals/households were permanently housed, of whom 47% had been homeless for 4+ years. 11 individuals accepted shelter during encampment cleanups. The county’s “Hopeful Horizons” ordinance has not yet resulted in citations. The city’s strategy focuses on balanced compassion and public health/safety, with strong collaboration with county and nonprofits.
  • Councilmember Positions:
    • Vice Mayor Espinoza Garnica raised concerns about the encampment scoring matrix (e.g., misdemeanor reports) and called for long-term solutions over shuffling. She supported an ad hoc committee to refine strategies and emphasized civilian-led outreach and lived-experience input.
    • Councilmember Howard praised the 23% decrease in unsheltered population and the RV safe parking program success. He supported a phased, measured approach and noted the importance of continued funding.
    • Councilmember Aiken commended the data and asked about the county’s quadrant reorganization and Care Court (for schizophrenia/psychotic disorders, now countywide).
    • Councilmember Martinez Saballos highlighted the need for sustainable state funding and extremely low-income housing; she supported the ad hoc committee to explore best practices.
    • Councilmember Sturkin suggested replicating the RV safe parking success with a safe camping program, citing Sacramento’s example; he supported restoring latrines at major encampments and noted 39% of sheltered individuals return to homelessness. He urged appointment of the ad hoc committee soon.
    • Mayor G emphasized balancing long-term solutions with short-term measures to avoid displacement; he called for amplifying the county dashboard and for other cities to do their share of housing production.
  • Staff will form an ad hoc committee to review strategies and return with recommendations in early 2025.

• Guide to City Council Communications and Business (Item 9A):

  • City Clerk Jessica Castro presented updates recommended by the Governance Subcommittee. The policy clarifies public comment procedures (in-person only, with emailed comments read aloud) and adds conflict-of-interest sections.
  • Public Comments: Over a dozen emails urged restoring virtual comment. One commenter suggested limiting to residents only; another noted that hate speech can be addressed via existing muting/warning protocols.
  • Council Debate: Vice Mayor Espinoza Garnica and Councilmember Martinez Saballos explained the compromise allowing the chair discretion to permit virtual comment. Mayor G noted that technology limitations (e.g., anonymous logins) and the desire to avoid hate speech disruptions led to the temporary suspension. Councilmember Sturkin moved to send the document back for further study on virtual comment, but the motion lacked a second. A substitute motion (by Councilmember Howard, seconded by Councilmember Aguirre) to approve the policy as proposed, with a referral to the Governance Committee to update the electronic-device use policy (2010) and to continuously review best practices for virtual public comment, passed unanimously (7-0).

• Boards, Commissions, and Committees Handbook (Item 9B):

  • Updates include a code of conduct with definitions of harassment and microaggressions, updated membership criteria, and inclusive language. A minor clerical correction was noted.
  • Councilmember Howard praised the mandatory review signature page and suggested adding a similar page for council members. She also noted an inconsistency: the Historic Resources Advisory Committee has 3-year terms while all others have 4-year terms, requesting future review.
  • The motion to approve the handbook, with referral to the Governance Committee to consider term consistency and a council signature page, passed unanimously (7-0).

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar: Approved (7-0 for items 6B-6J; 6-0 for 6A with Mayor G recused).
• Homelessness Update: No action taken; direction to form an ad hoc committee to refine strategies and return in early 2025.
• Council Communications Policy (9A): Approved with referral to Governance Committee to update electronic device policy and review virtual comment practices.
• BCC Handbook (9B): Approved with referral to Governance Committee to consider term consistency and council signature page.
• Closed Session: The council adjourned to closed session with no reportable actions anticipated.
• Adjournment: Meeting adjourned in memory of Cheryl Monroe, a longtime community volunteer known for her “guerrilla philanthropy.”