The Redwood City Council held its first regular meeting of 2025 on Monday, January 13, 2025, starting at 6:00 PM. The meeting covered routine approvals, a significant policy discussion on smoking restrictions, and appointments to key public safety positions. Public comment procedures were temporarily modified (suspending Zoom comments) due to regional disruptions, with comments accepted in-person or by email. The council also convened a closed session for litigation and labor negotiations.
Tobacco Ordinance (Item 8A): Staff proposed amending Chapter 15 to ban smoking and vaping in two new public areas: the pedestrian mall (Broadway) and within 20 feet of restaurant/bar entrances, exits, or operable windows. The ordinance also reorganizes enforcement and delays enforcement for hookah lounges (existing permitted businesses) until August 31, 2025. Staff (Amanda Anthony, Economic Development Manager) presented survey data, noting strong public support (e.g., ~2/3 for bans in pedestrian malls and near restaurants). Councilmembers asked clarifying questions on definitions, public engagement, enforcement, and equity. A motion to add a written warning (no fine) as a first step in the penalty schedule was made by Councilmember Sirkin and seconded by Councilmember Padilla, but it failed (2-5). The council then approved the ordinance as presented by staff (5-2).
Interim Fire Chief (Item 8B): Council approved a resolution to hire retired annuitant Ray Iverson as interim fire chief, effective February 18, 2025, with a PEPRA 180-day waiting period exception. Approved unanimously.
Communications Dispatcher (Item 8B): Council approved a resolution to hire retired annuitant Jacqueline Barberini as an extra-help dispatcher, effective January 14, 2025, addressing staffing shortages. Approved unanimously.
Matters of Council Interest (Item 9): Councilmembers shared meeting reports and announcements, including a childcare providers event, an art exhibit, and a League of California Cities legislative address.
Good evening, everybody. We're gonna go ahead and get things moving here. Um, the call to order. Good evening and happy new year to everyone here and joining us online from home. Thank you for joining our regular meeting of January thirteenth, our first regular meeting of twenty twenty-five. We are continuing to offer in-person and remote options for our city council meetings. However, due to continued disruptions during the public comment at open meetings throughout our region, we've modified our public comment procedures until further notice. The city welcomes public comment on topics within the city's subject matter jurisdiction. And this could be provided in person during the meeting or by email ahead of the meeting. At this time, we are temporarily suspending public comments by Zoom. We want to ensure that the city can continue to conduct the city's business in a manner that allows all residents to participate. And if there's a high volume of public comment this evening, we may decrease the time allotted for each comment or limit the total time for public comment.org so that we can view your comments and they'll be made a part of the meeting record. And lastly, just a quick announcement. And with that, I'll turn it over to the city clerk to call the roll. Before I turn it over to the city clerk to facilitate public comment, I'd like to ask how many speaker cards and emails we received for this item. Thank you, Mayor. We currently have one speaker card, no emailed comments. So let's call the audience for any general public comment this evening. Just one. Perfect. Thank you. We'll give them the full two minutes. Real tough choice. Lisa Gautier. Welcome. Thank you. Good afternoon or evening now to the mayor, council and to staff. Congratulations to the newly elected council members. This you're in for the right of your life. My name is Lisa Gosh. Recently elected and sworn in to District Four Board of Board of Supervisors. So I'm here just to introduce myself to let you know, and I'm here with my chief of staff, Marcy Dragan to make sure that we are here for you. We're looking forward to figuring out how we're gonna work together, but I am so excited to have been sworn in and to be your neighbor. Um and again, whatever it is we can do, let's sit down and have some conversations and see how we can partner and get the work done for the people. Thank you. Thank you. And that concludes public comment, Mayor. Thank you, City Clerk, and thank you for joining us, supervisor. Moving on to item number six, the consent calendar. Items on the consent calendar are routine in nature and are approved by one motion. Are there any items on the consent from which council members are recused? Are there any items on the consent calendar that council members would like to pull for discussion? And seeing none. Mr. Mayor, I'd like to make the motion to approve the consent calendar. Mr. Mayor, I'd like to second. Perfect motion by Councilmember Howard, seconded by Councilmember Aiken. Can we get an electronic vote, please? The motion passes unanimously.