All right.

Everyone, if you can all take your seats, it is past six o'clock.

We're gonna go ahead and get started.

If you can take your seats, please.

Good evening, everyone.

Thank you for joining our regular city council meeting of April twenty seventh, twenty twenty six.

We hold meetings in a hybrid format with both in-person and virtual participation.

The city welcomes public comment on topics within the city's subject matter jurisdiction, and members of the public may provide public comments as follows.

Please be sure to indicate the agenda item number which you wish to speak on.

Attendees who have joined us by Zoom will be called to speak after the in-person comments have been given.

Detailed instructions for public comment will be provided on the screen when the time for public comment begins.

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.

Written comments are not read aloud, but will be made part of the final uh public meeting record.

And I'll now turn it over to the city clerk to call the roll.

Here, Councilmember G.

Present.

Councilmember Howard.

Here, Councilmember Padilla.

Present, Councilmember Stirken.

Here.

Vice Mayor Aiken.

Here, Mayor Martinez Sabayos.

Thank you, everyone.

With that, we will go to the Pledge of Allegiance.

Councilmember Howard, could you lead us?

And with that, we go on to item four, but we have all council members presence here today, so we'll move on to item five.

Presentations and acknowledgments.

And I see many old friends.

Thank you.

For more than 24 years, Terrence has faithfully served the city of Redwood City through 34, excuse me.

Don't want to take any decades off there, Terrence.

Um for more than 34 years, Terence has faithfully served the city of Redwood City through many seasons of growth and change, building the public works uh services department into the strong, efficient, and high performing team that it is today.

His commitment to the excellence of this department is not only resulted in outstanding service to our community, but has also made him a valued colleague and a trusted friend to so many of us.

As he begins this well-earned new chapter of retirement, we are very proud to recognize and celebrate his remarkable contributions and many years of dedicated service to Redwood City.

And there's a lot of work to celebrate.

Whereas Terrence Shaw began his distinguished career with the City of Redwood City in 1992 at the foundational level, literally and figuratively, working from the ground up and through decades of hard work, grit and an unparalleled mastery of city operations, rose through the ranks to lead the department as director in 2018, embodying the very best of public service and professional growth.

And whereas through the years of dedicated service and transparent communication, Terrence earned the deep respect and affection of our residents, becoming a beloved figure, known as much for his approachability and character as for his technical expertise.

And whereas his legacy is defined not only by the city infrastructure he helped build and maintain, but by the people he built up, having mentored and guided countless employees towards successful, impactful careers through a commitment to professional development and a culture of excellence.

And whereas Terence's infectious positive attitude and constant smile have served as a source of daily inspiration, contributing immensely to the spirit of our community and to his efforts to make Redwood City the second happiest place on earth.

And whereas TK will be greatly missed by the City of Redwood City, its residents, and his many colleagues and friends.

Now, therefore be it resolved that I, Elmer Martina Saballos, Mayor of Redwood City, on behalf of the City Council and the people of Redwood City, hereby honor and commend Terrence Jaw for his outstanding service, leadership, and enduring contributions to the community, and extend its deep gratitude and best wishes for a well-earned and fulfilling retirement.

Congratulations, DK, and with that, uh now like to turn it over to our city manager, Patrick Heisinger, for some remarks.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh TK, uh last week's event.

Um I I spoke a little bit longer and I'll speak now, but so just want to echo that again, what I said last week.

I think you are one of the most unique public administrators I've ever worked with.

Um, you know, you are all you try to do is get stuff done.

And I really appreciate that.

But you have you have this way, this magical way of doing it without upsetting folks and getting people on on, you know, on your path and rowing the same direction as you do.

Um when I first started with the city of Redwood City a little over three years ago, you're the first person to reach out, and I was like, who's this TK guy reaching out?

And you're like, I'll come pick you up and I'll give you a tour of, you know, we went to Redwood Shores, he's drove me around.

I really I never forgot that.

Something that you know most would folks would seem as you know, a small gesture, really went a long way, you know, with me.

And I've just always appreciated you putting this community and this organization first.

So with that, um, I appreciate you.

Uh I appreciate your friendship, uh, our friendship, and uh, I wish you nothing but the best in in retirement.

Thank you, TK.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, Patrick, and I'll quickly open it up to my colleagues if anyone has any comments to add.

We'll go to Councilmember Howard.

Thank you, Mayor.

TK, I I've known you forever.

Honestly, I think you were 10 when you started.

Or could have been, because you have an age today.

I just want to thank you for our city manager put it so well.

You you have a magical skill of working with people and bringing them along.

And even when it's a difficult topic or new ideas or difficult ideas, you find a way and you reach out and you listen to people and you get the job done.

You will be so greatly missed.

I know we have wonderful people stepping up in your place because you trained them and they love you.

So they're going to be here as you move on to your retirement.

But I just want to thank you also on behalf of the Pride and Beautification Committee, because you adopted us and you took care of us and just kind of showed us the way on how to get more done and work together.

And some of our members are here this evening, and they wanted me to let you know how much they appreciate that you were leader in guiding us through cleaning up Redwood City, and we really appreciate it.

Thank you and congratulations to you, and thank you to your wife and family for allowing him to serve as long as he did.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Howard.

We'll go to Councilmember G next.

Well, Terrence, um thank you.

Doesn't seem like it's enough.

I mean, the all the whereas or city manager, you've committed yourself to Redwood City.

And all of us, not just here on the Dais, but all of us in the community, the people that live here, that work here, that come and visit, owe you their gratitude and appreciation.

Um it's you know, I shared with you outside in the lobby.

You've done a tremendous job as leading in, you know, here in the whereas is very best in public service.

But what you've also done is built a great team as Councilmember Howard has shared.

And the baton, how many ever batons there are, and there's several that you carry and have are distributing, you know, to the team.

You don't need to be perfect.

None of us are perfect.

You're gonna drop a baton, but the key thing is pick it up really quickly and keep it moving forward.

And that's the magic of leading and building a team behind you so that when you go on and do your next chapter, you can do it with appreciation and thankfulness to the team that you've trained, that you've mentored, that you've coached, and know that Redwood City is in great hands.

So, Terrence, thank you for everything you've done for all of us here in Redwood City, and best wishes on whatever comes next in your chapter.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Councilmember G.

We'll go to Councilmember Sturkin.

Thank you, Mayor.

Terrence, thank you so much for your years of service.

I think we heard it was 34, right?

That is longer than I've been alive.

Um not to make anyone feel old.

Uh so uh thank you.

And that takes a lot of commitment and dedication.

Um to think that this is a 24-7 job, right?

You know, whenever there was a levee break or a pipe burst, uh you were there responding.

Um, and I want to thank you for you know dedicating uh much of your life to be Redwood City.

And I also uh want to appreciate you fielding all my many questions during climate action subcommittee.

All my bright ideas.

Yes, um very much appreciated.

You we you will be dearly missed.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Sirkin.

We'll go to Councilmember Padilla.

Thank you, Terrence.

Uh, I have the pleasure of having you on the with me on the utilities subcommittee.

But just piggybacking off what everyone shared.

I I want to mention the the comments that I get at the park when uh dad comes up to me and says, you know, I never got to call in about this, but a pipe burst at my house and someone from public works came and I was on a call and I had my daughter, and they were so great.

And you know, we always call when we complain, but someone out there is doing something great.

And you deal with a lot of things where there's a lot of opportunities for people to complain.

It's a lot of stuff that is time sensitive and upsetting, and somehow there's always praise for you and for your team.

And that's from people in the field to you know, going into the public works office where you're always greeted with a smile and help and assistance, whether that's looking to find a sandbag or resources.

It's just you do such hard work and it shows through in your team in their kindness, and the community doesn't always write in the compliments, but they share them when they're out, and I just want you to know that.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Padilla.

We'll go to Councilman Chu.

Um, so I you know, I wanted to second everything my colleagues have said, and I have a little anecdote that I think really embodies TK's spirit as public works director.

So uh there's a pedestrian bridge that connects uh you know, sort of my community and half of my district with the the downtown area.

And this bridge is you know, it's kind of unseen.

Uh it's used by a lot of families, a lot of children to get to uh school and to the park.

And um it needed lights, and there was a group of kids that wanted to put lights on the bridge, and going through the the typical way would have been years of you know back and forth and an enormous amount of money.

And TK found a way to do it quickly and affordably.

And you know, it was kind of a triple win.

Number one, I think um, you know, obviously the bridge is safer and better now.

Um the kids who wanted to do something for our community saw a win, and that develops faith in public service.

Um, and I think that that's the kind of innovative spirit uh that we need in government and to be in the job 34 years and still be looking for ways to do things better, faster, cheaper, and to serve our community in innovative ways uh is just so inspiring.

So you will obviously be very missed.

Um I I believe that your spirit and your innovation has been passed on to others, and thank you for all of your service to our city.

Thank you, Councilmember.

Go to the vice mayor.

So, Terrence, um, you know, how do you summarize in one word uh what you have been for Redwood City for 34 years?

So I started thinking about some words, maybe um well, before I get to the words, uh well, no, let me keep going.

So maybe maybe it's operatic, maybe it's dramatic, maybe it's diplomatic.

Um well, you've certainly at various times in your leadership and in your role embodied these descriptive words.

Um but uh really the word I think is fun.

You just seem like you're always having fun, and it it's sort of it's sort of infectious, and and uh, you know, I I might call you frantically because a resident is angry about certain things.

And um and you you just you take the call and you're you seem to flip it around and make it like a fun puzzle, and then you s always seem to have the answer.

So, but what you really are, what you really are, the word is poetic.

And therefore, I wrote a haiku poem to uh have the passage to honor this passage, which is in the life of Redwood City and in your life.

And so the name of the Haiku poem is Terence Qua.

Bridges, roads, and pipes.

Your work lives on every street.

TK signs off now.

I I'm gonna give you I I'm I have to sign the poem and then I'm gonna give it to you.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

Some poetry for TK.

And while the Vice Mayor walks over, TK, once you accept, we'll give you the floor.

The floor is yours, sir.

Thank you, Mayor, Vice Mayor and Memoir City Council.

Um this has been a great honor for me to recognize like this.

So I will really treasure this moment throughout my life.

So thank you.

And um there's a many people I wanted to uh thank you for getting me to this stage of my career.

And first and foremost, um, I would like to uh thank you for my parents who show me kindness to others, uh empathy to the people and that those are the traits that I learned from them.

Also, I want to thank you for my family, uh my wife.

Tracy and all Rayman for supporting me throughout the year.

So thank you for that.

And also uh would like to uh thank you for the uh community or Rebel City from the uh Centennial to Friendly Acre, from Redwood Show to Emerald Hill, everyone in between for over the years, understanding the Robert City Public Works and then uh recognize uh our effort to the community.

So I want to thank you for the community.

Also all friends and family and the community members, those who are attending and celebrating my retirement.

So I thank you for each and every one of you.

And and going on, my big thank you also go to the men and women from the public work services department, the my home department.

These are the people that you know tend to limit to limit, uh limit limit to eliminate.

And also they are the ones that the moving cheese every day to make it happen for the community.

So without them, I'm nothing.

So really uh big kudos go to the entire uh public work team and some of the members of public works are here.

If you don't mind standing up, the public works staff, please.

Thank you.

Thank you.

You guys are the make it happen.

And also my colleagues, uh department heads from all the city departments.

Uh such as groups.

Um, like you guys are like make it louder during the challenging issue.

This is a great group that I will work with.

Uh thank you so much for the friendship, and I would definitely miss working with all of you.

Also, that all this all the staff members throughout the city departments.

Uh great thank you for their relationship, working relationship, and supporting each other.

This is such a great city to be on.

So thank you.

And also my in career, I'd like to uh recognize a few people that made me to that this stage.

First and foremost, I would like to thank you for Larry Bauwerk, the public work director, who hired me and taking a chance and bringing me into the city of Rover City in the 1992.

So the city manager, Peter Ingrams, uh who kind of leading me throughout my time and then mentoring me.

So thank you, Peter.

Also, city manager at average, uh, mentoring me throughout my time and also cheering me throughout my career.

So truly uh thank you for that.

Further on, the city manager uh Bob Bell, who promoted me to assistant public work directors and back in the 2012.

So I thank you for that.

Last but not least, our uh former city manager, Melissa Stevens Stevenson Diaz, who promoted me to the director position in 2018, and then we had a like great working relationship throughout her career.

So I definitely uh miss working with her.

So thank you.

And um also I would like to recognize uh three uh departments, especially start with city club office.

Jessica and Crystal, you guys are awesome.

Uh thank you so much for helping me with all the you know subcommittee scheduling, the presentation.

Without you guys, we are nothing.

I'm pretty sure that you will let me speak a little more than three minutes now, too, right?

And then moving on to uh city attorney office, and Veronica Eleanor and latest edition, Lolita.

Thank you so much for your help.

You know, the your department helped uh keep public works out of travel.

Without your help, without your help, you know, I'm pretty sure I'll be swimming in the deposition pool for a very long time.

So thank you.

Thank you guys.

And lastly, the city manager office.

And first and foremost, thank you for Deanna and Razor for that putting this event together.

Thank you guys, you know, really appreciate that's a lot of work, so thank you.

And going forward, you know, like all these bosses, you know, Patrick, Michelle, and Derek.

So thank you all for your leadership, especially Patrick.

You know, we were only working for the three a little over three years, but really appreciate your friendships and you are the one of the city managers that I can speak freely and candidly, you know, like that's the opportunity I really treasure for that Patrick.

Thank you.

And um, some of those my uh former colleagues, the you know uh uh former uh police chief uh Tam Moha and Chris Beth, all the way come from the Washington State.

Uh thank you for all my the former city manager uh city uh directors colleagues, thank you for you guys to coming by and celebrating with me.

Thank you.

Um my last day with the city is at May 1st, uh this coming Friday.

And then coming on uh next Monday, May the Fool, uh new leadership or uh new competent leadership will take over and run the public works.

Um I wish them all the fed all the best.

Last thing I want to say, may the fourth be with you guys.

Good luck.

Thank you.

Thank you again, TK.

Before we let you run out the door, we would love to present you this proclamation and take a quick photo with the council.

Thank you.

Where's the street signal?

Congratulations again, TK.

Thank you for the service.

Thank you, everyone.

Thank you.

All right, for our next recognition, we call attention to Fair Housing Month, a time to commemorate the passage of the 1968 Fair Housing Act, prohibiting discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, gender, familial status, national origin, or disability.

It focuses on promoting equitable housing access, educating on rights and addressing discrimination with many local states and national events held throughout the month.

And I'll read a few of excerpts from the proclamation.

Whereas adequate housing is a basic need and right of all people, and whereas this year we celebrate the 58th anniversary of the enactment of the federal Fair Housing Act of 1968, which states that discrimination in the sale and rental of housing is illegal when based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

And whereas the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 extends fair housing rights on the basis of familial status to families with children and on the basis of handicapped to disabled persons.

And whereas the City of Redwood City supports fair housing efforts to eliminate discrimination in housing and recognizes the benefits of Project Sentinel to educate home seekers, apartment managers, and apartment owners on federal and state housing laws, and to investigate complaints of illegal housing discrimination within Redwood City.

Now, therefore, be it resolved that I, Elmer Martina Sabayos, Mayor of Redwood City, do hereby proclaim April 2026 as Fair Housing Month, and do encourage all residents and community organizations to celebrate the value of harmonious and diverse communities of neighbors and to support the goal of equal housing opportunity for all people.

And I'd like to welcome Project Sentinel's Fair Housing Community Outreach Coordinator, Laura Diaz to the podium for remarks.

Thank you for being here, Laura.

Okay.

Thank you.

I'm gonna um share a few words.

Thank you for having me.

Um so again, thank you to the city, uh, Verwood City and Mayor for your continued partnership in support of Project Sentinel and Fair Housing in the community.

Um, fair housing is deeply rooted in the civil rights movement.

And the protections that we rely on today exist because of that history.

And while we've made progress um in housing discrimination, housing discrimination is not a thing of the past.

It is something that still happens today, every day, and it's something that we continue to see case by case.

Um, and it also continues to impact uh residents, especially during a time when housing challenges are front and center of so many families.

Now more than ever, support for fair housing is essential to creating real solutions that promote access, stability, and opportunity.

Project Sentinel is committed to this work every single day.

And to learn more about our free services, we welcome the entire community to visit us at housing.org.

Thank you.

Thank you, Laura.

And we have a proclamation to present you to, and would love to take a quick photo.

Thank you.

Great.

Thank you, everyone.

Our final presentation item this evening will be a remote presentation, but our final recognition item this evening will be a report from Peninsula Clean Energy or PCE on their service programs and upcoming events.

And I'd like to welcome PCE's chief executive officer, Sean Marshall to the podium for a presentation.

Welcome, Sean.

Thank you so much.

Good evening, Mayor and Council members.

It's a delight to be here to see you all again.

I feel like it's been a couple of years, but it feels like it's a couple of months the way the time is flying by.

So thank you for having me back.

I am happy to provide just a very brief update tonight connected to a consent item that you have on this evening's agenda related to an administrative change to the joint powers agency requesting approval for our name change to Westlight Energy, and we'll talk about that in just a moment.

All right, let's see if I can get this moving correctly.

Okay.

So tonight we're just going to start off with a brief level set for folks in the audience and and anyone who not may not be super familiar with uh the work that we do.

But essentially, Peninsula Clean Energy is a community choice aggregation program in the state of California.

We operate in a joint uh a shared services model with Pacific Gas and Electric.

PG ⁇ E maintains um jurisdiction over gas services, all the pole and wire infrastructure, and consolidated billing, so that at the end of the day, the city and all of our residential and business customers save money on their electric generation as well as also green the grid.

So we are um moving steadily toward achieving our goal of 100% renewable product for our default service by 2030.

Okay.

So we have been in business now for 10 years.

This this year we are also celebrating a decade of service.

Um the pillars and our our sort of value proposition, if you will, are lower costs.

We have been since our inception, a minimum of 10% less expensive than PG ⁇ E for electric generation.

Um the second pillar is the delivery of cleaner energy, both carbon-free and renewable energy for our customers.

And we have provided significant in infrastructure investment and community investment across our service territory, including here most recently in Redwood City, 209 EV chargers, um, mostly at multifamily housing, including the project at Middlefield Ridge Middlefield Road Garage, which is a county garage located here in the city.

So we have um saved our customers in total over 225 million in the past 10 years of service here in Redwood City.

That amounts to about 27 million dollars or about a week of free electricity per year per household per business.

We have invested seven and a half million in community reinvestment through a bill credit a couple of years ago for low-income qualified households, almost a million dollars in credits for customers with solar systems, about 20,000 in community sponsorships and school sponsorships, almost five million in customer rebates for zero interest rate loans, those are $10,000 loans that you can get to electrify your home, e-bikes, electric vehicle rebates, and then uh another a little over 7,000 in additional bill discounts through our disadvantaged community program.

So, all told rolling up to about 7.5 million, and of course, providing uh 100% clean energy resources for all of our products since our inception.

Our role since our launch in 2016 has expanded.

We uh rolled out with the promise of providing uh cheaper, cleaner energy onto the grid on behalf of our customers.

We have done that as noted as mentioned since day one.

But now we're really looking at the next 10 years of working with our customers as our partners as they make energy investments and decisions for their homes and their businesses.

So we have a multitude of programs available to support those investments going forward this year and into the next 10 years.

Uh just briefly, the year ahead.

We are currently offering a 10% savings discount to PG ⁇ E on our customer bills.

We have a 1.3 million dollar member agency grant coming to the city of Redwood City for City Fleet Electrification, your EVs for the city.

Uh we are in the middle of development of a solar plus storage project project at your police department.

We are rolling out a new residential solar plus storage program that will include the possibility of third party financing if customers want to do that at preferred rates.

So look for that later on this year.

Uh, we are partnering with Casa Circulio Cultural on different uh education and outreach programs in our um underserved communities, and we will be here next week hosting a community feedback forum on May 4th in Redwood City.

I don't know exactly where that will be held, but check out our website and hopefully all of you can attend if you would like.

All right.

So to the matter this evening before you on consent.

Um the board uh considered last year quite a lot of data that we had received from our customers through um just feedback through our call center from uh different facilitation groups that the name of Peninsula Clean Energy was not landing and in fact confusing, increasingly confusing PCE with PGE.

Um and we've we are also serving a customer base in the Central Valley, and so over time, Peninsula Clean Energy has been very geographically specific to Sam San Mateo County, but for a number of reasons, um, is not necessarily serving our needs as we move into the future.

I do want to say that we will always be the same great agency with a new great name.

So later this year we'll be rolling out West Light Energy, and we're hoping that City Council will go ahead and just adopt that JPA amendment for us tonight.

So our ask again to approve the JPA amendment.

We also would ask you to partner with us to help us clearly communicate to our customers the name change.

We will be doing emails out, mailings out.

Uh we will work with the city to put information in the newsletter on the website so that everybody is aware that as of January, excuse me, July and August, um, they'll begin to see the new name Westlight Energy on customer bills.

And then you are all invited to join the many activities that will be commencing this fall to celebrate our 10-year anniversary.

We began serving customers in October of 2016, which is amazing because here again the time has just flown by.

So with that, I will say thank you.

I do also want to acknowledge Mayor Sabayo uh for your ongoing support on our board.

You are currently serving on audit and finance.

Appreciate all of your longtime service on our board, and then the board alternate councilmember Stirkin.

So thank you for your support and also the many years of Vice Mayor's Aikens um support.

So with that, I'm happy to answer any questions you may have.

Thank you.

Thank you, Sean, and I see Councilmember Howard wants to get us started.

Thank you, Sean, for your presentation.

On May the 9th, Pride and Beautification is going to be doing our citywide spring cleanup.

And we always have a table out giving information to everyone who attends, all the information about rebates and energy savings.

And you know Vicky Sherman, she's always out there giving out information.

Would you be able to supply us some information about your new name or anything else you'd like to have shared at the table so we can give our volunteers that information?

We sure will.

In fact, I think it's already on the radar for us.

So thank you so much for that.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember.

No other comments.

I'll um I'll go ahead and add my thanks for for you being here, Sean, and for Mark being here.

Um I had a chance to at last week's PCE meeting.

We got to see the latest branding um proposal, and it looks incredible.

So really excited to see that roll out and um excited to see the community conversations start rolling out too.

Um I know that's I think County Center, if uh my memory is serving me correctly.

So thank you.

Yeah, um great opportunity for folks who um are passionate and interested in this work to have a seat at the table and share their thoughts.

So uh not seeing anybody else, so Sean, thank you.

Thank you.

Um have a great meeting.

Oh, sorry, we don't take uh comment.

We're about to get into public comment though.

So we'll rally back there.

Um thank you, Sean and the PCE team.

With that, we will now move to item six, which is public comment.

Um this is the public comment section of the agenda, so we'll take comment on the consent calendar, matters of council interest, and items that are not listed on today's agenda.

We welcome speakers providing public comment, but please be advised that this is a limited public forum as such.

Speakers must address matters within the subject matter jurisdiction of the city.

And if speakers do not, they'll be warned.

And if they continue to disregard city rules, their opportunity to speak will be limited.

If you're attending in person, please fill out a speaker card and submit it to the city clerk here at the Dais.

And if you're attending virtually, feel free to raise your hand on Zoom at this time or press star nine if you've joined by phone.

Once we've gathered all the speaker cards and raised hands and have begun public comment, no additional speakers will be allowed to queue up to speak.

And I will now turn it over to the city clerk to facilitate public comment.

Thank you, Mayor.

At this time we have four, potentially five speaker cards for in-person speakers and one raised hand online.

So as the mayor mentioned, now is the time to turn in your speaker card.

Once we begin public comment, we won't accept any new cards.

So last call for general public comment this evening.

For general public comment.

Yeah.

Consent calendar.

Thank you.

Okay.

So we'll start with our in-person speakers.

Can I ask David Reiber before we begin?

Did you intend to speak on this item or a different item?

On item.

Okay, thank you.

So we have four in-person speakers.

Thank you, David.

So we'll start with Bill Newell.

Bill will be followed by Rona Gundrum.

The timer will begin when you start speaking.

Yellow blinking light is the 30-second warning on top of the podium, and the red light with the beat major time is up.

Welcome, Bill.

Thank you.

Um I think this is uh an auspicious uh incredible day uh to have so many uh people here uh leadership positions within our city.

Um what I want to tell you, uh City Council, as most of you know by now, um, next Monday at uh 12 noon, we will have our ribbon cutting of our new outstanding veterans memorial building and senior center.

Um this is going to be uh a very joyous special occasion.

Um this has been a program, a project years in the making, and for so many for so many years, people were wondering would we ever see this day come?

Now we're just uh several days away, one week from today.

I can say with some confidence and certainty that our new center will be open.

And what I want to say about this center is that it's gonna be a very uh dynamic place.

Yes, it's a veteran center, and it's a veteran center first and foremost, and I'm so happy that we have a place that we will continue to continue to honor tradition of the contributions of our veterans in Redwood City and beyond.

It's also a senior center, but it's also what I call a multi-generational.

Just as I pride Redwood City on its diversity, I also pride the city on its intergenerational uh involvement across generations within this city in so many ways.

So it's this is a program, a project, it's been long in the making, many, many years in the making.

Uh many past and present leaders have been involved in this, members throughout the community and planning.

I can remember almost 10 years ago going to community meetings up um in Red Morton Park in the Redwood room at the at the center to talk about the plans for something back then that was only a thought.

So once again, um I hope you all can can be there for very, very important session.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

And folks, just as a reminder, the celebration portion of our meeting ended earlier with the recognition of TK.

And so moving forward, we won't take any applause, please.

Um keep your your comments to yourself.

We'll go to the next public comment.

Thank you.

Good evening, Mayor Marquine Sabayos, Vice Mayor Aiken, City Council, City staff, members of the community.

I'd like to um give a shout out to Terrence.

Terrence, it's hard to know what to say.

We've collaborated on so many things over the past three decades.

No matter what the item, trees, roadways, sidewalks, water, or the ever glamorous sewer and waste.

I could always count on you to be well versed on all aspects, shed light, and help resolve the issue.

In a true testament to your leadership, your crackerjack team at Public Works will be able to carry on addressing the community's needs.

But it is so hard to imagine not being able to say, I know, I'll just ask Terence, as I have done countless times, unless, of course, you've been keeping count.

Um, but seriously, thank you for always being responsive and caring about whatever it happened to be.

If it was important to me or the community, it was important to you.

So, Terrence, while it's with heavy heart that I bid you farewell, I wish you all the best in the next chapter.

Thank you.

Thank you, Rona.

Our next speaker is former chief of police, Dan Will Holland.

Welcome.

And following Dan will be Kyle Glasser.

Good evening, honor honorable mayor, members of the city council, members of the community.

My name is Dan Mohall, and I'm the former uh chief of police for the Redwood City Police Department.

I stand before you tonight uh to express my appreciation uh to TK in his more than uh 34 years of service with the city of Redwood City.

Uh I was sitting in the back and started doing the math and realized that TK and I worked with one another for 31 of those 34 years.

And it was quite a privilege not uh to both work for the city of Redwood City, but work with an amazing partner like TK.

I reflected uh on the many projects that we worked together on in over three decades, and I could never think of a time uh where you said no or you weren't available to help out or answer a phone call uh or be willing to help.

Uh and earlier the vice mayor was talking about uh a word that she could use uh to describe you uh to and to me it's uh a partner.

Uh I really appreciate the work that you did with uh other public safety members, other city departments, and with me especially.

It was uh a wonderful experience.

You never said no.

And more importantly, you taught your staff uh that same work ethic uh of not saying you can't do something, but finding a way to do something and to work together uh for the betterment of this community for the betterment of the city and to improve uh public safety uh in the city of Redwood City.

So, TK, thank you.

Thank you for more than three decades of work with the community.

Thank you for more than uh three decades of partnership with me.

I wish you all the best of luck in retirement.

Enjoy it, and uh thanks again uh for being a uh a friend and for being a great partner as well.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Kyle Glasser, welcome.

Hello, just two quick things.

Um I know you guys are deciding something about these speed limits in school zones tonight.

And uh I fully support lowering the speed limits.

And I also was hoping you would consider implementing or putting in newer more stop signs around schools and parks in the city, like Orion, there's a drop-off zone that needs a stop sign, and um Henry Ford Crosswalk should have a stop sign.

And the park on Hopkins Street, Stafford should also have more stop signs.

Um I support the business owners of the sandwich spot tonight.

Thank you.

Thank you, Kyle.

We'll now move to our Zoom public comment.

We have one speaker this evening on Zoom.

Wyatt Hammond.

Feel free to unmute and begin your comments.

Hello, City Council.

Um, good to see you again.

I was part of the community builders academy in 25.

I just want to quickly comment about the ongoing pilot on of Lori Duncan Park.

Um a year exceeds a pilot period.

And I'd like you guys to consider taking down the pilot and until you're ready to uh put in some capital investments at current as it currently consists.

It's uh it's an eyesore with the pub with the orange plastic barricades and an inconvenience to those trying to exit the neighborhoods at best, and it's quite dangerous in reality.

The left hand turns onto Brewster.

Um most people in the neighborhood would exit through the park so that you can make a safe left on a Brewster.

Um, but now you have to uh take a left where the hill um obscures the view of oncoming traffic that is generally moving quicker than the speed limit.

Um I have seen children uh hit by cars and hit and runs on outer circle um near the corner of Brewster.

Um I myself have been in three or four like close calls trying to turn left on to outer circle out of or sorry, out of uh what's the Southgate as cars come by, and I don't have the ability to just kind of zip um pass through the intersection straightforward any longer.

Um there aren't a lot of people using the park that weren't there before.

It's the same dog walkers, it's the same teens and 20 somethings consuming marijuana.

Um there isn't parking.

Uh it's a red, it's a red curb around the park.

And um the ability for larger trucks with with larger charting radius is really compromised.

Even turning right on to Brewster from the corner of outer circle is is a bit of a challenge uh in rush hour or morning school traffic.

Um if you're looking for other options, I suggest the green space at the water company.

I think that would be a good choice.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And with that, Mayor, that concludes public comment on item six.

Thank you.

Great.

Thank you, City Clerk, and thank you to everyone who made comments in person or online today.

Today got a little echo and it's gone.

We will move on to item seven.

The items on the consent calendar are routine in nature and are approved by one motion.

Are there any items on consent from which council members are recused?

Not seeing any.

Councilmember Howard, just making sure.

No inch okay.

Rates.

Um, then I will.

Are there any items on consent that's council members would like to pull for discussion?

Council Member Padilla.

I would like to pull 7-0.

Okay, 7-0 as an Oscar.

Is there a motion for all other items aside from item 7-0?

So moved.

Second.

Perfect.

That was a motion from Councilmember Howard, a second from Councilmember G for all items except for 7-0.

Could we get an electronic vote, please?

The motion passes unanimously.

Great.

Thank you, everybody.

And we will send it back to Councilmember Padilla.

Thank you.

Okay, let me get my notes here.

Okay.

Okay, so seven um.

I don't know my notes.

I'll just go generally.

So this is um I wanted to review our number nine agreement for services with Cherry Road Technologies to extend maintenance and support services and for an additional three years of Oracle Fusion ERP and HCM Cloud services and support at an annual rate of 525,755 or 1,577,265 over three years for a total contract term of approximately 10 years and a total contract amount of $8,805,421.

I know we've talked about this, and I would just like to mention again that there are multiple amendments, and I would like us in the future to focus on how we can move forward in a constructive way and be mindful of monies and time and productivity and make sure that we aren't just having shelf wear.

That's that's my statement for today.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember.

We'll go to Councilmember Howard.

Oh, false alarm.

Well, if um there are no other comments, Councilmember Padilla, would you like to make a motion?

Yes, I just once again want to reiterate how important this is, and that someone needs to own this project because there cannot be multiple chefs in the kitchen, and I want to see this come to fruition.

Thank you.

And I will now make a motion.

Thank you.

Second.

Perfect.

That was a motion from Councilmember Padilla, second from Councilmember Howard.

Could we get an electronic vote, please?

Motion passes unanimously.

Great.

Thank you, everyone.

That was item seven, our consent calendar.

We have no public hearings scheduled for this evening, so we will skip item eight and go to item nine, our staff reports.

Turning now to our staff reports, we'll hear an item related to the city's smoking regulations and tobacco retail permits.

And we have our economic development manager, Amanda Anthony, who will give a presentation today.

Thank you so much, Mayor.

Thank you so much, Council.

Um tonight we'll be talking about tobacco retailer permits.

Um code of ordinances um chapter 15 in our municipal code.

Tonight we'll be talking next slide, sorry, uh, about sort of the evolution of city county and state laws, uh, the state of the tobacco retail market in Redwood City, our options for regulating retailers, and then what our recommendation is.

Um as we move forward, next slide.

These are the questions that I want you to think about, please.

Um, does the city council support strengthening tobacco retailer regulation, inspections, and enforcement in Redwood City, particularly to address youth access and illegal sales?

And if so, does the city council support adopting the San Mateo County Tobacco Retailer Permit Ordinance as the most efficient, cost-effective, and immediately implementable approach.

So we'll move on.

Next slide.

Oh, good, we're here.

Um so tobacco retail permits have a long history in Redwood City.

Uh, the first ordinance was adopted in 2009 and delegated enforcement authority to San Mateo County Environmental Health, who's been our partner in issuing permits and conducting inspections for um quite some time.

In 2019, in response to a general push.

Can you guys hear me okay?

Okay.

Um response to a general push to limit flavored tobacco and e-cigarettes or vapes, uh, which were attacking a new generation of smokers, uh, the city adopted restrictions on the sale of flavored tobacco and e-cigarettes throughout the city and continued to delegate enforcement authority to the county.

At that time, any retailer which had a valid tobacco retailer permit and offered hookah for on-site consumption was still allowed to sell flavored tobacco under the new regulations.

This was three businesses at the time who had their valid tobacco retailer permit, um, who were ultimately say grandfathered.

In 2022, after the new flavored tobacco ordinance became effective, the county informed the city that they would not be enforcing any ordinances which did not match their own.

So they had started to do an analysis of all the ordinances throughout the county and realized that there was a lot of different uh differences between each city's ordinance, and they said, you know, we don't want to enforce this unless it's all standard and it's all ours.

Um, and so that brought us to a decision point where we had just adopted this ordinance uh and we needed to decide how we would want to run our tobacco retailer permit program, uh, whether we wanted to continue to delegate responsibility to the county, which meant adopting an ordinance that matched theirs, um, or running our own program.

And that's the topic that's before you today.

Uh next slide.

So at the same time that we were uh this the city of Redwood City was considering its flavored tobacco ordinance.

In 2018, the county adopted its first ban on flavored tobacco in unincorporated areas, and then it added a restriction on e-cigarettes or vapes in 2019.

So around the same time that Redwood City was considering its own.

In 2020, Senate Bill 793 was signed into the law by the governor, which restricted the sale of flavored tobacco at the state level.

This was immediately challenged, and it ultimately went to the voters in 2022 who upheld the ban on flavored tobacco in the state.

The state's law had three narrow exceptions, one of which was the sale of flavored tobacco for use in hookah or shisha pipes in places that were 21 plus at all times.

So in 2022, in November of 2022, voters upheld SB 793, and then in 2023, two additional things happened.

Number one, the state decided to adopt major changes to the labor code that outlined where people could smoke in public and how they could smoke in enclosed spaces if at all.

And so that also added a lot of restrictions that are going to influence us today.

We discussed that in January 2025, and we ultimately adopted changes to Chapter 15, which is our tobacco ordinance related to smoking in public.

The second thing that happened in 2023 is that the County of San Mateo adopted a more comprehensive ordinance governing tobacco retailer permits, flavored tobacco, and e-cigarettes.

The ordinance did not have any exceptions for flavored tobacco, including the sale of flavored tobacco for sale for use in hookah or Shisha pipes.

The county also at that time reintroduced the possibility of enforcing the ordinance in cities in San Mateo County, which adopted the ordinance verbatim or by reference.

And so they hadn't been issuing tobacco retailer permits for any cities prior to that when they adopted their new ordinance, they um allowed cities to delegate authority again.

Next slide.

Oh, maybe I'm oops, sorry.

Yep, sorry, I did forgot to flip my page.

Okay, so what was driving adoption of the stricter flavored tobacco laws?

Uh the biggest things were youth access, um, disparate impact and addiction potentials.

So the push around regulating flavored tobacco and e-cigarettes was largely driven by the desire uh to reduce youth access and usage.

Um back in the early 2010s and certainly through the middle of the 2010s, vaping became extremely popular among teens.

And um it particularly the flavored vapes uh were very, very popular and led to very big increases in tobacco use in youth.

Um teens were using at rates not seen in decades, um, and that really compounded the impacts that tobacco had on public health health outcomes that we already see uh disproportionately affecting men, Latinos, and the LGBT community.

Um they are using at higher rates than other populations.

So finally, San Mateo County also took a stand on retailer density, um, noticing that research shows that where there's a higher density of retailers, um, you're seeing higher use rates.

It's easier for people to buy it.

All right, uh now next slide.

Good.

Okay.

So the May 2023 San Mateo County ordinance had a few um really big um rules.

Number one, there could be no new tobacco retailers within 500 feet of an existing tobacco retailer.

And when I say new um throughout this presentation, new means new completely new.

Hi, I'm Amanda Anthony, and I want to open a tobacco store.

Or hi, I'd like to buy your tobacco store, and I'm a new owner.

So new ownership or completely new to the location.

Uh you also uh couldn't open a new tobacco retailer or change ownership within 1,000 feet of a youth populated area, uh, which is your schools, your parks, um, it notably in disc in does not include family child care centers because those are really hard to, I think, identify.

Um discounts or coupons on the sale of tobacco products.

That was a new uh piece of their ordinance that was introduced in 2023, no sales of flavored tobacco or e-cigarettes of any kinds, and then no sales of tobacco at products at pharmacies, which the city had already done.

So, just as a note, like if retailer A and B were 500 feet from each other and retail retailer A decided to retire and sell the business, um, the new owner wouldn't be able to get a tobacco retailer permit from the county of San Mateo.

All right.

Um next slide.

So you might be wondering how is this working?

Did is it having the effects?

So some of the first tobacco ordinances, flavored tobacco ordinances came into effect in 2018.

We added a big one in 2022 when SB 793 was upheld.

And we are seeing decreases in use.

So we've seen a drop of 3% of Redwood City residents using tobacco.

We've seen a drop of almost 4% of California residents using tobacco.

The 11th graders reporting current tobacco use, a smaller percentage decrease, but not insignificant.

And then I think this is the biggest one that I think is really important is the percentage of San Mateo County 11th graders reporting current vape usage.

So that has really tapered off.

But 5% is still a lot of kids.

So that's one of the reasons that we are looking at having more regulation.

So let's flip to what's what's what does it look like in Redwood City?

Next slide.

The red dots represent the retailers.

You can see that many of them are very densely populated.

There's lots of retailers that are right next to each other.

They're along our main corridors, they're downtown.

But we have a really high density.

Next slide.

So we have gas station retailers, people where you can buy just at gas stations.

I have convenience stores, grocery stores, and liquor stores all in kind of one bucket.

We have smoke shops that are primarily selling tobacco as their main source of products.

And then we have restaurants.

And so I think this is a really telling statistic.

Since 2022, I you know, I pulled the data from the state uh database.

We have three new owners or new permittees from gas stations.

We have two new owners of convenience liquor stores, but we have seven new owners of smoke shops.

And many of those are new smoke shops to Redwood City.

That's not just a change in ownership, that's uh an establishment of a new smoke shop.

We haven't seen any turnover in the restaurants.

Next slide.

I I mentioned that the San Mateo County Ordinance takes into account how close retailers are to each other and also takes into account how close they are to youth populated areas.

Uh we used um a map to show the red buffers are how close retailers are to each other.

The the red buffer is the 500-foot buffer.

So you can see a lot of businesses are within each other's buffers.

Um, and then you have the gray buffers, which is the youth populated area buffers.

So any uh business that's within the gray buffer would be would have a difficulty like transferring their license.

And you couldn't open a new um license in one of those areas.

Um we did outreach to tobacco retailers.

Um we have about 55 retailers.

Um between 10 to 12 retailers came to our outreach.

Um we did it on Zoom.

Um we asked about some of the options, there was generally just like not a lot of support for additional regulation.

Um they did not support the the ban on all flavored tobacco.

Many of the retailers who are on the call who either are benefit from selling hookah tobacco or just want to be selling that.

Um there was a few people who just didn't have an opinion.

It was sort of like, well, whatever you guys decide to do, we'll adapt.

Uh same with e-cigarettes.

Um, as I said, most of them did not want to have a tobacco retailer permit.

They felt that the state was doing enough.

Um I really do want to point out that the state does not regulate um e-cigarettes, so those are not regulated by the state, and they do have exemptions for certain types of flavored tobacco.

So that's uh that's a question.

Um generally not a lot of support for adopting the county ordinance.

Most wanted us to just do enforcement and penalties.

Um I think one of the things that um is really important to mention is that some businesses weren't aware um that Redwood City had already banned the sale of flavored tobacco with the exception of hookah for this on-site consumption.

Um and so when we were talking about enforcement, you know, I I really tried to emphasize that enforcement takes money.

And if we're not having a sort of proactive approach through inspections and and whatnot, we're also not getting funds to do enforcement.

It's just putting putting people out there to enforce.

Um didn't resonate a whole lot, but I know that it's something that I'm concerned about.

Um so I'll just mention that.

So when it comes to staff recommendation, um, really it's it is a little bit about the money.

Um we have a tight budget.

If we go with the county ordinance, which is what I will be recommending in a couple of slides, the county manages all the administration at no cost to the city's general fund.

And the retailers pay significantly less for a tobacco retailer permit.

They have a high highly efficient program.

They've been doing it, they have the expertise.

So if if this gets adopted, they could be implementing the program as soon as July because we have to have a public hearing for the second uh reading, which is going to be in June.

So it could be that.

The county manages all enforcement in cases where retailers are permitted or selling illegal products.

If they are sell if retailers are selling really illegal products like illegal drugs, they are coordinating with the narcotics tax force and doing all that kind of work too.

And the big tension, of course, is that this county does not allow any flavored tobacco, which means that the exemptions that we've had in place would be not allowed going forward.

But the county does allow hookah lounges to use non-tobacco products if as a compromise.

So you know, this this is all a good and well.

I've learned a lot about tobacco in the last year.

Um, and I can tell you that it's not it's a lot of work to learn this.

And so, you know, if we decided to do a city run program, it would take several additional months.

Um it would cost the city a lot of time uh to develop the program and implement it.

Um, and it would require a level of knowledge and expertise to be built among staff that I think is not currently in our in our staff.

So last time we met was at the study session in September of 2024, and council members had a few questions that I wanted to address directly.

One was can Redwood City just run a separate program for the businesses offering hookah on sites or having two simultaneous programs.

Um the answer is no, uh, because then we would have an ordinance that doesn't match the counties, and so they wouldn't let us delegate the authority.

Number two, can Redwood City collaborate on permitting or enforcement with other cities?

Um I'll go through this the next couple of slides, but no other cities with their own programs were interested in collaborating.

Uh they either don't have very many operators, and so it was just easier for them to not collaborate with us, or uh the other two really big cities that are doing their own thing are located in North County, and so there's not a lot of um economies of scale there.

So it's Pacifica and Daily City.

They could probably partner up, but we're probably not gonna partner with Daily City.

And then three, would the county reconsider its stance on flavored hookah tobacco?

Um the answer is no, the county has remained firm on its position that flavored tobacco is flavored tobacco, period, and there's no interest in allowing it.

So that has come up in both San Bruno's and South San Francisco's adoption, and both of those um cities which had hookah lounges.

I think uh the hookah lounge opted to use non-tobacco hookah.

So just to go into the details, um, these are the cities which are using the county's tobacco retailer permit program.

Um South San Francisco and um San Bruno, I think are the the most recent to add it, and then South San Francisco had the hookah lounge like we do, and they switched to non-tobacco hookah.

Um, San Bruno had a hookah-only lounge, and I'm actually not sure what's going on.

It sounded like they never had a state permit, and so there was a lot of other issues that were uh with that one.

So I think it may just not be operating anymore.

Um next slide.

As I said, there's a couple that do have their own program.

Burling Game has its own program, Foster City and Pacifica.

So they're running their own program.

Uh Burlingame uses their police department to run their program, foster city uses their code enforcement, and Pacifica, I think is either economic development or code enforcement, though not sure which one.

And then um finally, there are a number of cities that don't have an active tobacco retailer permit program, including us.

Daily City is the other one that has a lot of retailers, the rest are very few.

So that's just something to keep in mind.

So uh we are recommending uh that we go with the tobacco, uh the county's tobacco retailer ordinance, but if we did decide we wanted to do our own, um there's a lot of steps that would still have to happen.

Uh we would need to draft the ordinance language and return to the city council with for adoption.

We would have to conduct a fee study for setting our program fees at a cost recovery level to train staff on tobacco laws in the new permit program, and then conducting outreach and training to the tobacco retailers and new regulations.

So my understanding from the county is that when they do outreach, it does take a couple of months.

So it's not something that's like, you know, they're not going out and saying, hey, you have to submit all this paperwork tomorrow.

They say, hey, here's here's what there's a new program.

Um by this date, you need to submit your documents.

And if they don't submit, then they're treated as a new retailer.

Next slide.

This is just to emphasize um that the county's program is significantly cheaper than ours would be, um, especially since we'd be looking at cost recovery.

Um if we were to do a program, we would try to wrap all of the um program development into the initial processing fee for the the current operators.

So this is cost recovery only if every single operator decides that they want to continue doing it.

Um if they decide that they don't, then we'll have set the fee based on 55 retailers, and if only 50 decide that they want to, then we're eating some of that.

Um annual inspection fee would be a little bit more expensive on our side as well.

Um and then the new business permit would also be a little bit more expensive.

I notice that I don't have the county's um prices up there.

Um I think it's in your staff report, uh 372 for a new retailer and then 885 for uh annual permit.

Um but my my colleague from San Mateo uh County Environmental Health Waymond is here.

So he can ask answer questions if we do have questions on that later.

All right.

Um so that brings us to the recommended action.

Uh staff do you recommend that we raise the first reading and introduce an ordinance amending the code to repeal our current uh tobacco retail permit and flavored tobacco ordinance and then adopt by reference the county's uh ordinance in full.

Uh we would have to amend some definitions in our code as well because uh some of our definitions go speak directly to the the articles that we'd be repealing, and then setting a public hearing on the second reading um and adoption of the ordinance on June 8th.

So that's off a bit of a distance in the future, but it's because we need at least 14 days uh to set the public hearing in this case for uh an adoption by reference.

All right.

Um going back to the questions.

So does the city council support strengthening tobacco retailer regulation inspections and enforcement in Redwood City, particularly to address youth access and illegal sales?

And if so, does the city council support adopting the San Mateo County Tobacco Retailer Permit Ordinance as the most efficient, cost effective, and immediately implementable report.

Thank you.

Thank you, Amanda, for the great presentation.

We'll now take public comment on this item and I'll turn it over to the city clerk to facilitate.

Thank you, Mayor.

At this time, I have 13 speaker cards for in-person speakers.

And two three speakers on Zoom.

And again, once we begin public comment, we will not accept any more speaker cards or raised hands on Zoom, confirming with the mayor that we'll give two minutes to each public comment.

Thank you.

Okay.

So I will close the speakers list uh for Zoom.

Lucy Latu will be the final speaker, and we will begin with our in-person speakers, starting with Manny Marad, who will be followed by Ali Ahmad.

Welcome.

Thank you so much, City Council and everyone for bringing me in here to speak on this issue.

Uh I just want to say um one thing for the local businesses.

First of all, just to let you know, um, besides me being a DJ here in Redwood City, um, I'm also a pilot and a biochemist.

So uh my insight on but the whole situation.

I want to say that further regulation, um it did come up with the T21 uh regulation that could actually regulate selling of cigarette, cigar and vape as well.

Um I could assure you one thing when we go to those places.

You know, we're not to mention name, but the you know, who couple places or any any of those things.

Uh first no person can enter the place uh under 21.

That's that's number one.

Now for me as a DG, I took a look around from safety perspective, uh ventilation.

I was saying, you know, because you know, we you're gonna smoke, obviously, right?

So mostly it's outside seating.

So basically we're coming in with the family and basically within outside, we enjoy, we have some music and it's outside seating.

So I'm not concerned about the ventilation at all.

Um another thing I want to mention also in um September 30, 2024.

Um the federal regulation also impose um checking an ID.

So before you enter those places, ID is also being checked.

So it's not nobody like what we say in like you know, selling anything ill illegally or something like that.

So it's everything is regulated 100%.

Nobody admit at all the places that I can do, you know, always check anybody who comes in, and I seen a scenario where you have to exit that place.

And then uh was gonna say as well.

Um what's the give it to us benefits real quick?

Okay, thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Alice for you.

We'll be followed by George Baslawit.

Hi, my name is Ali Ahmad.

I'm the owner of Rack and Raps.

I've been here with City Like 13, 14 years.

We've been doing hookah since 13 years.

We never allowed any kids or anybody to smoke until you're 21, and we we check their IDs, and we we have open space for the hookah, and it's a culture.

People come get together, smoke and have tea and talk to each other.

Because a lot of people they don't want to drink, they just want to have some some culture and sitting down together.

This has been happening like maybe since 17,000 years, people smoking hookah, and I'm not a lot of people die from the hookah.

A lot of people are dying because the thing we throw in the ocean.

The government they threw a lot of the you know, the the smoke and all that stuff, not just us hurting the country.

I mean, they make an old clear uh a plan for the electric, and they throw everything all ever in the ocean.

All the factories, all the smoke from the cars.

All this from the plane, all this affects our health.

The the plastic is our because our health, not just a smoke, not just smoke hookah.

Smoke hookah is not affect everybody, not everybody getting sick from the hookah.

The kids, the youth, they smoke uh uh electric cigarettes, all this that's very bad.

But not the hookah.

Never see a youth or kids get together and smoke a hookah together.

And we're not allowed to to anybody allowed to come smoke hookah if you're under 21.

And we check IDs and we careful, we watching everybody.

And we want the city to work with us to keep us in business, especially these days.

Everything too expensive to run a business is very expensive these days.

Electric, insuring, employees, everything.

I mean, and we need help from you to stay in business, not to go out of business.

And we are the one who all the street places to bring the big word downtown through to a city when it was nobody in downtown.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is George Baslamit, who will be followed by a youp.

George.

Good evening, everybody.

I had to write this down so I can try and be as eloquent as possible.

I'll do my best.

So on the sand diversity of fair housing discrimination, we face a different challenge of discrimination.

For those who do not know, this is the Middle Eastern American Heritage History Month throughout the entire country.

It's hard to ignore what feels like a clear double standard playing out in downtown Redwood City.

At the time that there's heightened sensitivity around the world, and Arab and Middle Eastern communities are being uh perceived globally.

How many of our families in the Middle East are being persecuted among ongoing conflicts?

Actions like this hit even harder when it's local.

When cultural spaces are targeted here at home, it doesn't exist, these things don't exist in a vacuum.

It feels personal and it feels discriminatory.

Shisha or hookah or gile or kachimba, however you want to call it.

Two are airbowned, one is Turkish-owned and part of the fabric of the city.

A city that prides itself on diversity, and that's what should matter here.

Yet at the same time, we uh we have to ask a very real quick question how these culturally rooted establishments are being treated, and that's the real problem, especially while multiple marijuana dispensaries operate within close proximity to schools in the same area.

If the concern is truly about public health, safety or youth exposure, then the standard must be applied continuously across the board.

Instead, what we're seeing raises concern that cultural expression is being scrutinized more heavily than others.

The inconsistency does matter.

Because when big businesses tied to specific culture and disappropriately targeted, especially during the month, meant to celebrate their culture, it raises serious questions about the fairness, representation, and equal treatment.

This isn't about Shisha, it's about whether the cultural traditions are being respected and practiced, and thank you very much.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Ayup, who will be followed by David Kasuf.

Good evening, Mayor and Council members.

My name is Ayup.

I am the owner of Pasha Medarian Restaurant in Redwood City.

For every decade, Pasha has been part of this community.

We have broadly served in Redwood City residents, created local jobs, and contributed to vibrant downtown environment.

Our business is built on hospitality, culture, and bringing people together.

Over the years, we have operated responsibly and maintained a safe environment for our guests.

Removing that exception now would have a serious impact on our business and the people who depend on it.

We understand the city, public health concerns, and we are not here to oppose regulation.

We are here to ask for a balance and reasonable approach.

Cities like San Diego have adopted structures, regulation that allow business to continue operating responsibly, and we are fully willing to comply with clear rules over sight.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is David Kasuf, who will be followed by Rolando Del Val.

Good evening, Mayor and Council members.

My name is David Kasuf, owner of the sandwich pot in Redwood City.

For over 15 years, my business has been part of the community.

We've created jobs, supported local events, and build a space where people from different cultures come together.

Hookah for us is not just a product like a Yubset.

It's a cultural tradition and peaceful social experience that bring people together regardless regardless of background or religion.

In all these years, we have maintained a respectful, safe environment and have not had any major incidents.

And me in person, 24-7 in my own restaurant, and everybody from the city council knows that.

In 2021, the city allowed business businesses like mine, Pasha and Rock and Rap to continue operating under a grandfather exception.

Since then, we followed the rules, invested in our businesses, renewed our leases, spend money, hired more people, and relied on that decision in good faith.

Removing that exception now would have a devastating impact on my business, my family, my employees, and most of them, many of them sitting in here too, and most of them actually Redwood City citizens.

We understand the city's public health concern.

Like everybody said, we check IDs.

Everybody walks in the sandwich pot at Pasha and Rock and Raptor 5 p.m.

has to be 21 and over.

Anybody underage will sit inside where there is no smoke or anything at all provided.

Thank you.

I just want to say at the end, taking tobacco away, it's not the solution.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Rolando Del Val, who will be followed by Bandar Almatari.

Good evening.

Hello, Mayo.

How are you guys?

I'm us here to support the sandwich bot.

I've been working, I'm a manager of sandwich bot.

Been working there for more than 10 years.

And we always created a good environment, you know, family and and everybody else.

And like my boss said that we strictly enforce our uh the rules.

21 and over.

No matter what, if they buy alcohol and the hookah, nobody's allowed to be in the patio with the smoking is allowed for us.

And I'm I know times change and regulation change, but I'm just here to support the sandwich pot.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Omar Salam.

Who will be followed by Neil Lundy.

Good evening, Mayor and Council member.

My name is Omar.

I'm a Redwood City resident.

Uh thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight.

I'm here to respectfully ask the council to carefully reconsider any proposal that would ban businesses offering hookah in our city.

Most importantly, make the distinction between the sale of vapes, e-cigarettes, versus the hookah on site consumptions.

21 plus businesses at all times.

Tobacco retailers versus hookah loungers.

These are two different things.

We cannot have the same regulation for the same thing for both of them.

Especially noting that the main concern behind all the laws and legal history mentioned earlier is teen smoking.

The 21 plus rule fixes that.

We don't we we don't need to have new rules.

We don't need to have new regulations about the hookah businesses regarding that.

Philosophy or concern behind the whole history that we went through through the uh earlier presentation.

Hookah lounges are not simply places centered around tobacco.

These are social spaces, community gatherings places, destinations that bring visitors into Redwood City from across the Bay Area.

These establishments are limited in numbers regionally.

People travel here specially for them.

And when they arrive here, they also dine at the local restaurants.

They buy coffee, they shop downtown, and they support Redwood City businesses, other businesses that they wouldn't have been here in the city if not because we have an edge.

In that sense, hookah lounges help generate food foot traffic and economic activity beyond their own walls.

At a time when downtown districts everywhere are competing for visitors and spending that matters.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Bandar Almatari.

I apologize, I may have skipped you.

Not present.

Okay, thank you.

So we'll move on to Neil Lundy.

And Neil will be followed by David River.

Good evening, Mayor and members of the city council.

My name's Neil, franchise manager of Hotworks Belmont.

I know a lot of you personally.

I'm here completely respect to the response we share.

The goal I'm gonna talk fast because no time.

First, I'd like you to take a look at the county uh take over versus money brought in by the three grandfather businesses.

If they say grandfathered, and I'd also like to have you stick to the existing framework, SB 793, that deliberate held and look at their facts and see if they have been able to abide by the law and not have any fines or anything like that.

Also, money was mentioned multiple times here.

Let's not let's think about the money lost not only for their employees but for the city.

You're having a money problem, this is not the way to go.

I completely agree.

Banning retail, you know, vapes, all that people buying kids, selling them to kids.

This is 21 and older.

You go in, you sit, you relax, you smoke some hoop and get in the sandwich.

That's not threatening our youth.

Let's be clear about this.

It has nothing to do with youth.

These grandfather businesses take in them offline.

No tobacco on flavored tobacco.

It's irrelevant.

You want to focus on the retailers, not these businesses.

And that's all.

Thank you.

Appreciate your time.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is David Riber, who will be followed by Astrid River.

Hello, my name is David Weaver.

I am from Caracas, Venezuela.

I moved to Redwood City about 30 years ago.

Going way, way, way up as was highlighted in the presentation.

Tobacco is not what it was for hundreds of years.

In the last about 25 years, it has changed.

It's not the same thing.

It's a much more dangerous product.

The real cost here of doing nothing is not in dollars, but it's on the health of our community, starting with our children, but everybody.

Things don't stay the same.

If we do nothing, those numbers that went down in recent years are very likely to go up.

There is I think it it would be responsible in the city council to do nothing.

Here's an opportunity.

Please do not uh allow the sale of tobacco products, flavor tobacco, e-cigarettes.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Astrid Reber, who will be followed by Trisha Barr.

Uh yes, hi.

I um I have been a resident of um Redwood City for over 25 years, and uh I appreciate uh the growth that we have seen, the diversity, the number of businesses that have come in.

I have really enjoyed, you know, some of that that that um the the changes, some one those wonderful restaurants.

Um, but I do believe that um I think uh the individual who made the presentation today made some very strong points.

I trust that um that our staff and the recommendations that our staff are making, um they are they're for the good of our community.

And I believe that um, you know, simply this is something for the city council to please strongly consider adopting this ordinance um simply for for the overall good of our community, for the health, for the safety, and uh, you know, just please consider it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Trisha Barr.

And then we'll move to our Zoom speakers list.

Hi, City Council members.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight.

My name is Trisha Barr.

I'm a Menlo Park mom of three sons with one currently at Menlo Atherton High School.

In addition to serving on MA Site Council, I also serve as the chair of the San Mateo County Tobacco Education Coalition.

I'm here tonight to urge you to adopt the ordinance to strengthen tobacco retail permitting and enforcement in Redwood City.

For both my work on my volunteer work, I should say, on the coalition, and my experience as a parent.

I know how easy it is for young people to get flavored vapes and other flavored tobacco products in our community, despite state and local laws that are supposed to protect them.

We see it in the schools.

We see it in our city's own research that found the vapes.

Vape liquids, flavored tobacco are still widely available and easy to buy.

That means more kids continue to get exposed and addicted to nicotine.

Neighboring communities of Menlo Park, East Palo Alto, San Mateo, as mentioned, and other neighboring communities have adopted the county's ordinance.

Um I know that Menlo Atherton students often get their products here in Redwood City.

I'm especially concerned about the handful of restaurants in Redwood City that continue to serve hookah and allow smoking.

Licensed tobacco retailers that are private smoking lounges are dedicated to tobacco use and do not serve food or alcohol.

The restaurants and bars that serve food and alcohol, food and drinks simply cannot simply call themselves smokers' lounges and allow smoking.

Yet that's effectively what's happening when Sahukas served in restaurants and in spaces right next to where families are eating.

Other communities have shown that restaurants can transition from tobacco products like Shisha to non-tobacco flight alternatives like flavored steam stones.

This allows businesses who want to continue offering that experience to do so without a tobacco product.

You have an opportunity tonight to make a decision.

I hope you hope you do in favor of youth and public health.

Thank you.

Thank you, Tricia.

We'll now move to our Zoom speakers.

We'll begin with Blythe Young, and Blythe will be followed by Divya Ramu Murthy.

And Blythe, you may unmute yourself and begin your comments.

Good evening, Mayor and Council members.

My name is Blythe Young.

I am the region senior lead for community government relations in California for the American Heart Association.

I'm here tonight to express support for the proposal to adopt the San Mateo County model policy for a tobacco retail license ordinance.

This proposed policy will reduce access to the products that are tobacco key industry strategy for targeting and addicting new smokers.

Redwood City's youth.

The American Heart Association spent three years helping to develop and pass the San Mateo County model ordinance.

I have worked on these kinds of policies for seven years throughout the state.

This ordinance was based on the best practices present in the public health law center model developed for communities in the state of California.

We have seen the success of this policy through the widespread adoption of incorporated cities.

Additionally, we have advocated for Redwood City to join the program or adopt matching standards for compliance and enforcement for many years now.

We are hopeful that tonight Redwood City will join the county by adopting the model ordinance without exemption.

You heard from local businesses this evening that the county policy will put hookah lounges out of business.

We have not seen that happen in other Bay Area cities that have restricted the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including Shisha.

Even San Bruno and South San Francisco, who were holdouts who have similar businesses, moved forward with the county match.

Hookah lounges are still open in San Francisco and other cities that have full restrictions on flavored tobacco.

We have seen through store observations that you need local control, local compliance inspections, and a local tobacco retail license.

We are talking about a business license for a product that went use directed kills people.

I hope that you will adopt the county, or if you fall short of that goal, that you will match the same licensing compliance and enforcement standards present in the model.

Adopting the county's policy will help protect the community from tobacco addiction and is crucial to preventing tobacco-related death and disease.

The American Heart Association respectfully asks for your support of this vital health policy.

Thank you.

Thank you, Blythe.

Our next speaker is Divia Ramamurthy, who will be followed by Lucy Latu.

Hello, everyone.

You can begin your comments, Divia.

Go ahead.

My name is Aditkin Arine, and I am a ninth grader at Carlwood High School where I'm passionate about public health.

I'm a member of the San Mateo County Tobacco Education Youth and I learned about the impact of tobacco on youth and our environmental factors may contribute to its prevalence.

I am passionate about this issue because I believe in power collective action.

Seeing our community embraces our diverse stories and then use them as fuel for inspiring change and inspiring the pursue a career and public service.

For example, after hearing our peers explain the misinformation surrounding tobacco use, we made it a tradition to host an annual public service announcement contest.

This contest engaged hundreds of students across the country.

The shared foundation.

I'm sorry, the prevention messages.

As another more recent example, we we once had a meeting we realized a tobacco products lined our streets.

Weeks later, we made it a tradition to host annual community cleanups with pick-up cigarette litter and raise awareness in local public spaces.

Our group of 12 to 15 students couldn't do this alone.

We were supportive by staff from the San Mateo County Health Education Program and San Mateo County Office of Education.

Here's my story.

I see vape pens in the hands of teens.

I see vape pens in the hands of teens.

Even our education is being disrupted.

We pause for blaring fire alarms because students vape in bathrooms.

This is in part due to the widespread availability of their sales.

Retailers are blocks away from homes, schools, or jobs.

And so like a few you would inspire change.

Eliminating the number of tobacco retailers is a direction of improved effect of the decreased youth exposure.

I urge you to recognize the public policy, shifts community health, especially.

Thank you so much for listening to me.

Thank you for your comments.

Our final speaker is Lucy Latu.

Good evening, Mayor Martinez Sorayos and Council members.

My name is Lucianne Laku, and I'm a resident of Samateo County.

I'm the city of San Mateo.

I'm also the assistant director of Dalama for Tongans, a community-rooted nonprofit organization serving Pacific Islander individuals and families across Redwood City and San Mateo County.

In our Pacific Islander communities, gathering spaces matter deeply.

Spaces where we come together to share meals, to talk story, or storytelling and space and to immerse ourselves in our culture across generations.

That connection is something I value deeply.

And I want to be clear.

Because our health is what allows our culture to continue.

At the same time, we cannot ignore what's happening around us.

Here in San Mateo County, over 80% of youth report that flavored products were the first tobacco product they used.

We also know that tobacco use overwhelmingly begins during use.

And at one point, youth vaping rates in our county were nearly double the state average.

And here in Redwood City, there are tobacco retailers located near schools and youth serving spaces, including areas around Sequoia High School, Kennedy Middle Middle School, and downtown corridors where young people spend time daily.

That level of proximity increases both access and normalization.

And I want to name something clearly because it matters in this conversation.

Retailers are not passive actors in this system.

Like any business, there is a responsibility to understand and comply with the laws that govern what can be sold, how it can be sold, and to whom.

Businesses adapt to regulations all the time.

That is part of operating responsibly.

We should not be treating retailers as if they're unaware or helpless.

The reality is the community, especially our youth, are the ones who need protection.

That said, I also once acknowledged concerns around enforcement cost and fairness.

A county aligned tobacco retail licensing model can address these concerns.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And that concludes the public comment, Mayor.

Great.

Thank you to our city clerk and to the members of the public who joined us in person and online to share their thoughts on this really important item.

And we will bring it back to the category.

The council discussion for my colleagues to share any thoughts, any questions.

Who would like to get us started?

Councilmember Chu.

Thanks.

Um, so I first wanted to thank everyone who came and spoke tonight, and I understand that this issue is very personal for many of us.

Um, and that um, you know, it's a it's a difficult issue and a complex issue.

Um, and I certainly uh want to respect you know um you know traditions.

Uh however, um things do change as as has been pointed out, and in light of new information, um, there's often shifts, and an example would be the United States.

In the 50s, about half of Americans smoked.

It was deeply embedded in the culture.

Um, and in light of new information, those trends have changed.

Uh now it's about 16% of the population.

Similarly, um, many other cultures, tobacco has been an inherent part of the culture.

Uh, and in light of new information, patterns have changed.

Um, and so, you know, to that note, we we received uh a letter from a professor of pediatrics, um, and I want to read uh an excerpt from that letter.

Uh it was new information for me.

She says, drawing on my lab's research and tobacco prevention curriculums that are being used in most schools in California in the U.S., we have seen that flavored tobacco products, including flavors, e-cigarettes, cigars, and hookah, play a central role in youth initiation and continued use because sweet mint and fruit flavors mask the harshness of tobacco and nicotine, make smoke and aerosol easier to inhale, hide their use as they no longer smell like tobacco yet yield the same risks and create the misperception that these products are less harmful than traditional cigarettes.

While many believe that hookah use is safe, that is not at all the case.

Flavored hookah tobacco is as addictive and harmful as cigarette use.

Despite smoke passing through water, it still delivers addictive nicotine, tar, heavy metals, charcoal, and other toxic chemicals.

The single hookah session can expose users to high levels of carbon monoxide and other dangerous substances, while shared hoses and mouthpieces increase may increase risk.

A one-hour hookah session uh is equivalent to smoking a hundred cigarettes by limiting the available availability of flavored to all flavored tobacco products, including hookah, um, and near schools and other youth populated areas, and by assuring consistent licensing inspections and penalties for illegal sales, the proposed ordinance would be a critical step towards reducing youth access, correcting dangerous misperceptions, and protecting the health of adolescents in Redwood City.

Um I think these are things I didn't know.

Uh, and and in light of this information, um, I I will be supporting uh adopting the county ordinance.

Um make an exception uh for one form of tobacco comes with considerable costs uh and even risks uh in that we may not be able to be in line with state.

Um, I I want to make sure that we're aligned with the county and with the state.

Uh and I believe the more parsimonious our policy is um the more the easier it is to enforce, the more cost effective it is.

Um and I will be uh supporting the move to treat all forms of tobacco uh with the same standards.

Thank you, Councilmember.

Any other colleagues have any questions or comments?

Councilmember G.

Thank you, Mr.

Mary.

I want to thank everyone for coming and sharing your thoughts, speaking, sending in emails, um, and just raising your voice, uh voices and uh sharing with the council.

Before I get into some comments, I just wanted to ask some clarifying questions.

Excuse me.

One of the speakers indicated that, you know, Amanda, you had the map of all the different that that was just as pervasive as cannabis.

And I know this council and the previous councils uh spent a lot of time on thinking through how we might bring cannabis and allow cannabis in Redwood City.

Um I mean, we spent a lot of time in the previous council, spent a lot of time going through different phases.

I'm gonna ask her city attorney, because she was deeply involved with it, um, to kind of clarify that um where we allow cannabis retailers, and it is not as permissive as may have been suggested.

So can you maybe give some history and the distances from sensitive receptors and things like that?

Thank you, city attorney.

Thank you.

Um, as councilmember G alluded to, uh the city really studied heavily cannabis um retail, first allowing only delivery, and then when deciding to allow cannabis retail, making the process an arduous process and a very um meticulous and involved process.

The city only allows up to six retailers in the city.

There are no more than six, and actually we don't have six retailers in Redwood City today.

And that was after an interview process and a very detailed application process where they needed to comply with all of the strict regulations of the city.

And no cannabis retailer is allowed to locate within 600 feet of schools, child care facilities, public parks, youth centers, or libraries.

So there are very strict distancing requirements.

I don't know if there's anything else that you would like, but we we are in full compliance with the city council's ordinance.

If I remember, and and thank you for sharing that when we've considered the policy that the city was going to adopt, there was a map that showed all those sensitive receptors, and there were just little pockets left.

Am I remember that correctly?

That's correct.

There were very few locations where a cannabis retailer could locate after looking at those minimum distancing requirements that had been established by the council.

The council didn't mind if it was less than six retailers that could actually locate as a result of trying to protect these sensitive receptors.

That is correct.

I'm glad I can still remember a few things.

Thank you.

Amanda, in your presentation, you indicated what we have about 55-ish re outlets.

I mean, I just can't come into Redwood City and open a business without a permit or buy a business without obtaining a new permit or license.

I am going to look at uh City Attorney Ramirez for support on this question.

But the answer is that our ordinance requires that you get a tobacco retail permit.

Um we are not issuing that permit, and the county is not issuing that permit.

And so if somebody comes in and asks me, can I open this business?

My answer is no, you can't get a permit for that.

But they are choosing to open it.

Anyway, what has happened is that uh there has been no enforcement in Redwood City in four years.

And so you're seeing uh businesses pop up without any regulation and without any enforcement.

And until we have something on the adopted by the city council, um, there's nothing we can enforce.

I think that that's kind of an important note because as someone who's in construction, it reminds me that you don't need a contractor's license in Texas, you just need a pickup truck and a shovel, and you can show up and start building.

Um that's not where we are right now.

We need to have a process so that we can regulate new businesses in your definition.

So, how does enforcement work for the existing businesses right now?

Is it based on somebody calling and complaining, or I'm having someone, some young person below 21 go in and how does it work right now?

Yeah, for the existing businesses, um, if we receive a code enforcement complaint, um we are going out to investigate that complaint.

Um community development director Jeff Schwab is also on the line if we have any clarifying questions about code enforcement.

Um, but it is it is complaint-based, it is not a proactive um enforcement where we are going out to see if businesses are selling products that they shouldn't be.

I I thought I saw Jeff go back and forth.

I think he's trying to log back in, so um, we'll give him a minute to see if you can come back into amplifying your answer.

Councilmember G, Jeff Schwab is on the good evening, Councilmember G.

Jeff Schwab, community development director.

I oversee code enforcement.

Um it is true that basically we respond on a complaint basis.

Um, and uh we do have uh occasional complaints in this area.

Um, and then we um go through the enforcement process, um, but we're also having some challenges in getting compliance with uh our enforcement actions.

Jeff, thank you for attending.

What does that mean where we're having challenges with compliance?

I mean, is that somebody just refusing to comply?

A business just kind of ignoring code enforcement.

That that is the case.

Um we have uh issued citations, sometimes numerous citations to try to get their attention.

Um I think some operators feel that the cost of the citations are the cost of doing business.

So now we're beginning to escalate those enforcement activities to um you know more robust actions to uh compel compliance.

Jeff, thank you.

So remind me what other businesses that we can code enforce that can ignore citations and accumulate citations and just keep going on is quote the cost of doing business.

I mean, in essence it's possible that other um violations uh that are issued citations could choose not to pay those citations.

Um however um we do generally see some compliance on most cases.

There are always some holdouts.

Very good.

Thank you.

Uh Amanda, if I remember your slide presentation correctly.

You gave kind of the linear history of the issues here in Redwood City from 19 whatever to 20 whatever.

But the world kind of shifted after 2021, if I recall correctly, SB 793, and then the county adopted its ordinance.

Am I remembering that correctly?

That after the city grandfathered at that moment, subsequently the world shifted a little bit in terms of regulations and ordinance.

That's correct.

We um this the city council adopted the ordinance in December of 2021 with an effective date of April of 2022.

Um later in 2022, uh in May of 2022, the county informed uh the city that they wouldn't be enforcing anymore, and then in November of 2022 is when um voters upheld SB 793.

So 2022 was a big year, and it all came after um the council had adopted the ordinance um grandfathering in the businesses.

So yeah.

Thank you, Amanda.

And then I'm just gonna ask my city attorney here one final question.

I mean, I was engaged in that conversation on Saturday with someone who was very supportive.

And so you can pick and choose, council, which rules and laws you want to follow and don't want to follow.

So to talk to me and talk to us about can we really pick and choose which rules and which laws we want to follow, especially when we have state regulations and things like that and county ordinances.

I think it's important for the city to uh and for folks to remember that the city needs to apply all laws um evenly.

It's local laws as well as the state laws, and really can't um can't pick and choose.

Um we really could get in trouble for preferential treatment, for different treatment.

Um and so we are always trying to be even-handed in any law, and we always want to comply with all laws and expect all businesses to comply with all laws as well.

Thank you, City Attorney, for that.

Now, this is a a challenging subject for us here.

I don't think we take the decision we're gonna make tonight lightly, any one of us.

Um we thank our businesses that have been here for a long time and contributing to our community.

We thank all of visitors that come here.

At the same time, I think it's no mystery that this council, along with several other past councils, have been very, very consistent with our strategic priorities for our community.

At the top, if not at the very top, is youth and children.

And that has been consistent, not only of this council, but for several going back.

And I think as much as you know, I'm not a fan of regulating business anymore.

Um, you know, I shared with the person who talked to me about you know, do we get to pick and choose the rules?

I'd like to say every new law we take two off.

Um, but I don't think we always have that choice.

Um what I would like to see is see if we can work together to move forward by adopting this ordinance and then working together to find alternatives.

I think Amanda, you've worked hard with the uh businesses and the retailers.

Some, as we heard, have ignored enforcement.

Others hopefully will be more cooperative if we do, if the council chooses to move forward with this to find alternatives and find a way to continue operating businesses, continue having visitors come to Road City and having every participate here in the community.

So look forward to other colleagues and their comments before we take any action tonight.

Thank you, Mayor, and thank you, colleagues, for the time.

Thank you, Councilmember G.

Bringing it back to my colleagues who would like to go next.

Councilmember Howard.

Thank you, Mayor.

I have a question, uh a couple of questions.

Um maybe one is for our city attorney.

Uh we were talking about cannabis, and I wanted to thank you for refreshing our memory on that process that took a long time, a lot of study, um, a lot of public outreach, and I thought it served us well.

Uh I wanted to know um the distances we chose, I believe, are stricter than what the state is currently saying about tobacco, I believe.

We're saying 600 feet from certain businesses or schools and isn't the state 500 feet.

I don't believe we have um state minimum.

For tobacco, I do not believe there are minimum distance requirements.

And remind me what the county's minimum distance requirements are for tobacco?

For the county is 1,000 feet from youth populated areas.

Okay.

And 500 feet from another establishment.

Correct.

It's the county I'm referring to.

Thank you.

And I know ours is stricter, which that's a good thing, I think.

But anyway, I did want to know.

Um see here.

It's always mentioned about uh tobacco product.

I see, and I've walked into some establishments, and they're clearly doing what's wrong.

They're selling paraphernalia, and I can see they're selling product.

And of course, we report things as we see them, but we don't have an enforcement arm in place at this time.

I wanted to know is what we're proposing tonight, doesn't include also paraphernalia.

I would love to invite up my colleague, um, Deputy Director Wayman Wong from San Mateo County Environmental Health to answer that question.

Good evening, Council members.

Uh Wayman Wong with San Mateo County and Brahman of Health.

And to your specific questions regarding tobacco paraphernalia, it is inclusive in this ordinance.

So enforcement of all tobacco products, paraphernalia, we're talking pipes, bongs, uh other uh devices that are used for smoking, wrapping papers.

So it's it's a pretty broad definition that uh is included in this ordinance.

And that's what is being proposed tonight before us, right?

Correct.

Okay, thank you, because sometimes that word gets lost, and I see a lot about tobacco, but when I walked into this one shop, I saw what I saw, and I know that uh that would be used for flavored tobacco and and and such substances like that.

But thank you.

That that's helpful.

Um there are more people in Redwood City, uh, more businesses in Redwood City that have the paraphernalia behind the counter and other places than we'd like to believe, but it's there.

Uh the other question I had uh is uh remind me for the city attorney, what is our ordinance regarding smoking in public places?

Because I wanted to remind people that cannabis does not have to be smoked.

It is legal in California, but it does not have to be smoked.

But there are regulations about smoking in public places to answer the gentleman's um remarks about cannabis in Redwood City.

But it would also answer a question about how do we handle smoking when it's not inside a facility.

Um I I think actually probably, Amanda, do you feel comfortable answering this?

Um the city regulates uh smoking in public places as well as uh smoking in multifamily uh uh uh dwellings.

And so the city currently prohibits it.

Um but I'll let Amanda speak to the public places.

It's a little bit more nuanced than the multifamily uh dwellings.

Yes, we um we follow the state law when it comes to um the distance between um around entries and exits to government buildings, um schools, it's 25 feet um play areas.

We also in January of 2025 the council adopted changes to also uh prohibit smoking within 20 oh my gosh, I should I should it's either 20 or 25 feet uh of restaurant entrances and exits as well.

Um I think it's really important to point out that wherever tobacco smoking is prohibited, cannabis smoking is also prohibited.

As well as within pedestrian malls, yes.

So our parks are protected and our I I know our courthouse square is is protected.

We did have a problem in the beginning, but we haven't since, since we and we are enforcing that.

And uh yeah, so thank you.

I just wanted to say we've made progress, we've made steps to push smoke away from people, and so it's not as irritating.

But this is taking it a lot a few steps further, and I think in the right direction, honestly.

Um I'm a public health, I mean, excuse me, I'm a health professional, and I've for years I've had to be I I've spoken for the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society.

It's really important that we support eliminating these products and keeping them out of the hands of our young people who would be the next generation of smokers.

And I I real real concerned about the trend moving up, and we have to stop that.

And so I'm I'm hoping, I mean, we have our competing values and policies here, but I'll always side on the public health and safety of our community, in particular our young people in this city.

And I'm hoping we'll move to a smoke-free California in the future.

Thank you for answering my questions.

Thank you, Councilmember Howard.

Colleagues who would like to go next.

Councilmember Padilla.

Thanks for your presentation, Amanda.

Um I think let me see.

There was a statistic I wanted to share uh that stuck out with me.

I think we all kind of assume we've heard everyone talk about the teenagers and the 11th graders, and we heard a mother talk about students coming from MA to Redwood City.

Those are good things we want to be known for.

We don't want to be known for where underage people can get their flavored nicotine.

Um but there was one line that I I highlighted it three times.

Um on page 672, it said there were some statistics about 11th graders, but then this one really hit me.

It said, more concerningly, two percent of seventh graders report current vaping.

Uh I have a fourth grader, I have a 10-year-old.

So and I've heard her tell me stories about middle schoolers and hearing stories about kids vaping in bathrooms, and is it true?

And sometimes they smell things, and you think, really, are these kids making it up?

And then you see a statistic like that and you say, No, they're not.

I've been in school parking lots where I've seen the crushed vapes, and my daughter said, What is that?

And I've said, Oh gosh, someone dropped their USB.

Let me pick that up and you know, we'll return it to the office.

But how long can we bubble them and protect them, right?

With with just throwing away or covering until we start making policies.

So I I will say I do I do feel conflicted because I will admit, um, when I was in college at USF, one of the first places that I went to on hate was a hookah lounge with my friends.

I've never been a smoker, I wasn't a smoker, but it was.

It was I was a freshman in college and it was welcoming, and it was a place of of exchanging stories and belonging and just it was a very welcoming environment.

So I do feel that it's unfortunate that we have businesses that I know are checking cards and promoting culture and values and things that we all care about, and they're being kind of lumped in the same time with retailers that maybe are not performing in the same good faith.

Um but I think about our students and I think about our youth, and I can't keep thinking about this 2% of seventh graders and what great it will be later and how young that they're getting introduced to this.

Um I would really hope that there would be a path because I do think that there is cultural significance and people do come here from far away, and I walk by and I see the restaurants filled with not smoke but laughter with conversation.

So I I would never want anyone in our community to feel like they were being singled out, especially when they have contributed so much to the vibrancy of our downtown.

Um but at the end, um I have to think about our youth.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

I appreciate it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

That's it.

Thank you.

Councilmember Padilla.

Yes.

So I I understand that this is not easy.

And but I also am understanding that we are lacking funding and resources and staff capacity, and I don't know how many times we could clone Amanda right now to run this program, but I don't think that is possible.

So I appreciate all the work you've done.

Thank you, Amanda.

Thank you, Councilmember.

We'll go to Councilmember Sturkin.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you so much, Amanda.

Um, thank you to everyone who spoke tonight and online as well.

Um I wanted to start with just a few questions.

We we did touch briefly on the legality at the state level, but I would like to just get a little clarification with regards to hookah, if I may.

So and I'll start with you, Amanda, actually.

You provided a comparison of other cities who have adopted the county's ordinance, right?

Uh who do have hookah establishments in their cities.

And one did um adopt a nicotine-free alternative.

But as for the other businesses, um, are they still open at this time to our knowledge?

Oh thank you.

Thank you.

I can speak to at least two of the businesses that have uh in cities that have recently adopted as of last year.

One is in City of San Bruno and one is in City of South San Francisco.

Both have chosen the option to use a nicotine-free product as their alternative to Shisha tobacco.

So they are as far as my last review, they are still in operation.

Thank you.

Glad to hear that.

And then also is there a way for under state law for businesses that do serve hookah to continue operating as such.

If we had our own ordinance or no ordinance, um there is a way forward for businesses to continue to sell hookah tobacco.

Um if we chose to have that in our ordinance.

Um the state allows three exceptions.

Our current code doesn't only allow one exception for the hookah for on-site consumption.

Um if we had our own ordinance, then the business would have to come into compliance with the health and safety code and with the labor code that governs hookah, the sale of tobacco and and the use of tobacco for those things.

So there's yeah, um I I may refer to City Attorney to add anything that I'm not adding correctly here.

No, I think you did a good job, thank you.

Um the answer is yes.

If the city would adopt a local ordinance that it that allowed for um for it, there is a path forward.

Okay.

Thank you both.

And thirdly, and finally, uh, in terms of questions.

If we were to adopt the county's ordinance tonight, what would that transition look like for hookah serving establishments?

As soon as the I'll I'll let you take it.

I will refer to my colleagues.

Thank you again to the county.

Sure thing.

Uh so essentially uh upon adoption and uh full implementation of your city's uh the adoption of the county's ordinance, um we would work with each of the businesses and in specifically in this case uh regarding the hookah businesses to ensure that uh this observe their opposite uh operation and ensure that they are not uh uh using any Shisha tobacco on site as it is considered a flavored tobacco in this ordinance.

Uh I know the state does prohibit that and provides an exemption for it, but the county's ordinance has decided to go stricter on this particular product.

So we would ensure that that uh those products are not being used on site.

Thank you.

And just recognizing as we heard from some of the businesses tonight that that would be a hardship.

Is there any leeway to provide time to transition um to diversify operations to or is it just as soon as the ordinance goes into effects 30 days after I option you cold turkey can no longer serve hookah?

Yeah, essentially, once the uh ordinance is in place, the business, any business, any tobacco-related business is expected to be in compliance, whether it's uh obtaining a permit through environmental health, as well as meeting all the restrictions.

Uh as Amanda had pointed out, uh, one of the differences as an example is the state does not specifically prohibit electronic smoking devices.

However, the county's ordinance does.

So the expectation was it would be that as soon as the ordinance is fully implemented, that the business remove all electronic smoking devices from their premises uh for sale.

Thank you.

And I appreciate you bringing that up.

That is a good transition into the first uh question here for council consideration.

And does the city council support strengthening tobacco retailer regulation, etc.?

Absolutely.

Speaking for myself, rather, absolutely.

It is a no-brainer.

We're experiencing a public health crisis.

Smoking is part of that.

And but I do want to respond to some of the concerns that I heard earlier in that concern about being targeted.

And I want to say that I'm sure it was very unintentional for us to consider this ordinance during Muslim American Heritage Month, during Arab American Heritage Month.

Can identify to a degree with the feelings of being targeted, and you know, being a member of the LGBTQIP community, the smoking vapes affect my community very high rates.

And so that is something that comes up for me as part of this discussion, not only because it's something that's personal to my community, but that we all know someone who is part of that community.

We have friends, family members, neighbors, co-workers.

So it affects all of us, and it's all of our responsibility to address.

And so I heartily agree with the first point there.

As for the second point, this is challenging.

They cause fires that are toxic.

So there's not only a public health uh argument for the banning of the enforcement of the ban that we have in the county of on flavor tobacco, but there's an environmental argument as well.

But as for um hookah establishments, you know, I I heard loud and clear that there is near and dear cultural significance and a tradition that is rooted in um the smoking of FUCKA.

And um is definitely not my intention, nor I think the city's intention to prohibit that or to hamper that.

Um as was mentioned by one of the speakers, you know, we we celebrate our diversity in Rubbard City, and it in terms of demonstrating our value of equity, um it is important for us to you know support spaces where people can practice their cultural traditions.

But at the end of the day, um it is costly to the city.

Uh and we are facing a deficit starting in 27-28.

We have to consider carefully each uh dollar that we spend.

But um, you know, recognizing that there is a very narrow and defined pathway for hookah establishments to continue operating under state law.

Yeah, I am open to the alternative.

Um because of the value of the cultural traditions that are represented, as well as the revenue that is generated by our local businesses representing downtown where these three businesses reside, it is important to me and my responsibility to support and uplift small businesses.

And so I look forward to my remaining colleagues' considerations and would like to continue the conversation.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Sturkin.

We'll go to Vice Mayor Aiken.

Thank you, Mayor.

So I really appreciate the conversation that we've had here tonight.

And uh I'm trying to find my notes here.

I ah so you know, some things that really so I really appreciate um the businesses, the downtown businesses, the three hookah establishments that were grandfathered in during prior times.

The significant thing to me is that they can still operate if they adopt um uh tobacco-free uh hookah, which other cities throughout the Bay Area, some have done successfully and are still in business.

And you know, everything is counterbalancing.

And so what you have on the one hand is an option for them to keep in operation, and on the other hand, um my colleagues have adeptly put out some statistics, some things that I put on the margins of my uh notes here.

Th among California high school students who currently use tobacco, 84.5 reported using flavored tobacco products, 89.5 used vapes, um, and 75.6 used hookah.

It as my colleagues have said, our youth is is um is our future, and um we've known since the 1950s how harmful tobacco is.

So while I am cognizant of the the cultural relevance of the hookah and the ambiance, and um this is very important, and I do respect that.

Uh but counterbalanced is the the danger, the very real danger for our youth to um flavored tobacco, and I also think um you know, Redwood City already has uh uh more than double the um smoking rate of San Mateo County in general.

San Mateo County in general, adults 3.3 percent of San Mateo County adults smoke, versus in Redwood City, it's 8.5 percent of adults.

So we we need to catch up with the rest of San Mateo County and it's just cost prohibitive for us to enforce a um an ordinance on our own.

San Mateo County, it sounds like to me, ha uh took many years, took several years to perfect the ordinance that they have now implemented, and they will implement it in our jurisdiction for free.

And um I just can't in good conscience uh I I wanted to help the hookah's establishments a year or two ago when this last came before us, but um this these additional statistics uh paired with the fact that hookah establishments can use um non-tobacco products uh and stay in business, it it's a no-brainer to me, and I don't know this um anyway.

There there are a lot of statistics here that that show that smoking is a problem in Redwood City, and the anecdote of the woman who said that kids at MA know they can come to Redwood City to get their flavored tobacco no problem.

We have 55 uh establishments that we it's it's past time as as um Mr.

G mentioned, our are one of our priorities is children and youth and um yeah I so I I will be supporting um adopting the county ordinance and and it's worth it to note as I read in the staff report um for my colleagues is it's a it's black and white.

We either adopt the county's enforcement policy or we don't.

We can't say, hey, which we tried to do a year ago, hey, could you enforce but just give us uh grandfathered in for the hookah?

Hey, could you enforce, but just give us uh grandfathered in for the hookah, or hey, could you and and the county was really really clear.

We asked you, and you know, go to the county and ask this, and they came back and they're like, no.

So we either adopt it or we don't.

And I'm in favor of adopting letting the county enforce um for us.

I think it's best for our community.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

Any other comments before I begin my remarks?

Not seeing any.

Um thank you, my colleagues, and thank you again to the members of the public for joining us this evening.

Um, before I start my remarks, um, Amanda, thank you for the presentation.

I had a quick question for our friends from the county.

Um just wondering if you could outline what steps would follow if we were to pass the county ordinance tonight.

If the council uh if the council proceeds to adopt the county's ordinance, our first efforts are to identify those businesses that are currently in existence through the state's uh California Department of Tax and Fee Administration's uh tobacco registry, and those would indicate which businesses currently are licensed within the city limits.

Uh we would initially conduct outreach to those businesses to ensure that they're aware of the uh new ordinance requirements, the expectation of the two inspections per the per year, and the enhanced enforcement associated with uh uh an unapproved sale of flavored tobacco, electronic smoking devices and and the like.

So uh they would receive that outreach uh initially with an expectation to apply for a permit through the county.

Once that's completed, we would be performing uh inspections uh soon thereafter.

And I can't give you an exact date, but essentially that would uh happen in short order.

Thank you so much.

And could you um quickly just describe what is an inspection look like of one of these shops when you would receive a complaint?

Sure.

So uh these inspections are routine inspections, so they are unannounced, uh not complaint-based.

So we would be uh going out to the business to inspect uh to ensure that they're in compliance with the ordinance with uh again the prohibition on sale of electronic smoking devices, flavored tobacco products, ensuring they have proper signage uh about selling and what who's approved to uh sell the products, uh checking IDs and the like.

So there's uh a multiple line items that we check over while we're on site.

And again, that's two inspections per year and they're unannounced.

Thank you.

And when a business goes to um to you know, pull their uh a renewed permit, um are there any inspections that have to happen at that point too, separate from the routine inspection of their of their shop?

So the uh inspections do not necessarily associate with their renewal timelines.

There's an annual fee and an annual renewal process that a business must follow.

Our inspections again are are unannounced, so they we don't necessarily tie them to a specific date of when they renew their permit.

Um we also we do respond to complaints as well.

If uh we do receive complaints of uh inappropriate items being sold on site, we will uh respond to those complaints and conduct a an inspection at that time.

Great.

Thank you.

That helps.

Um I appreciate to know just exactly what the the process our next steps would look like, right?

Um so I'll transition into my my remarks.

I I want to start off by just thanking the businesses who are here um and those who have joined us over Zoom to share their thoughts throughout this process.

Um our downtown is a destination because of how because of how active and how thriving our downtown is due to the businesses or social spaces that are available to so many of our residents.

And it's exactly why this council advocated so hard, our staff advocated to the county looked to our partners around the county to find out what creative solutions we could do.

Um we even looked internally to what city-driven processes we could do so that we could maintain the businesses that we have in the current state that they're in, right?

Um in this issue it's home.

SB 793 was one of the state bills that I had when I was a state staffer for Senator Jerry Hill.

And this issue was was a big part of that legislation, and it's a reason why there was a an exemption for hookah and um at the state level.

And I and I know this puts our businesses in a difficult position where they're gonna have to think about next steps, but this is really not about targeting the businesses that are upholding the current regulations, right?

This is about reversing the tide that we're seeing because we're losing progress.

We're losing the progress that was gained with this most recent generation where you know there wasn't a lot of smoking that was really on a decline.

And I can say that in my youth in high school, there were there were not that many people smoking, and that has dramatically changed.

By the time I was a staffer out of college, we were hearing about how vapes and e-cigarettes had just completely targeted our youth again.

Um and products and options are expanding.

Like Councilmember Howard mentioned, it's not just smoking anymore.

There are other options available for people to consume tobacco and nicotine.

Um, and it's why we need just common standards.

Why we need these so we could just enforce the problem actors, right?

Who are operating, who are taking advantage of our youth, who know the rules and who are bending them.

Um, and so I agree with my colleagues.

I'll be supporting the staff's recommendation because there is a path forward where businesses can continue to operate hookah like we've seen in South City, where it's a non-tobacco product that's offered.

And so um thinking about our our youth and the next generation of folks who are being targeted and being hooked on these products again.

Um, I'll be sort supporting the staff recommendation.

And if council member.

Thank you, Mayor.

Just a quick follow-up comment.

Again, I reiterate that I support um enforcing uh regulations.

I wish we could have done this differently.

I really do.

Um, I think we have uh um lumped in together, I think as was mentioned, you know, uh some of our local businesses with bad actors, and that's just not right.

Um but at the end of the day, you know, we as I mentioned before are facing a public health crisis, and um communities that are being targeted uh by a tobacco, not by our businesses, um, not by so um I'm definitely I am supportive of moving forward with the ordinance.

I just wish there was I wish we could have given like a runway or some other kind of accommodation or support to our local businesses.

Thank you, Councilmember Sterkin.

Is there I move to adopt the cat the um staff's recommendation on adopting the county ordinance?

Did I say that right, city attorney?

Um yes, there are two recommendations.

I'm guessing you're you're moving both staff recommendations to introduce weigh the first reading and introduce the ordinance as well as set a public hearing for the second reading.

Yes, thank you.

That's what I'm moving.

Second.

Great.

That was a motion from I believe that was Councilmember Sirkin.

Vice Mayor Akin.

I'm sorry, Vice Mayor Aiken, excuse me.

And seconded by Councilmember Chu.

Could we get an electronic vote, please?

The motion passes with five votes.

Council members Padilla and Stirkin opposed okay, thank you, City Clerk.

Thank you, Council colleagues, for the robust discussion again on item 9A.

With that, we will move on to item 10, our study sessions, beginning with 10A, our study session where we'll be discussing the fiscal year 26 to 27 capital improvement program or CIP and our five-year CIP study.

As a reminder, study sessions are for community and council feedback and no action will be taken on this item tonight.

City Manager Patrick Heisinger will introduce the item.

And then finance director Beth Goldberg, engineering and transportation director, Tanisha Werner.

And this can't be right.

I think we gave TK the night off.

But we have his incredible team here to present on his behalf, as well as assistants, Park and Rex and Community Services Director, Lucas Wilder, as well as interim library director, Sarah Lapora, who will give the presentation.

Thank you all for being here.

Great.

Thank you, Mayor.

Patrick Eisinger City Manager.

Just really quick, I just wanted to express a lot of gratitude for every department.

You will see the the CIP is very similar to the budget document where pretty much every department is in the mix here.

Thank you, Beth.

Like don't going back to late September and October.

And for those who don't know, there's a lot of negotiation that goes on behind the scenes, especially on fund 357.

We'll get in the weeds here.

So to get all the department heads to agree on the final recommendations takes takes some work, but I really appreciate uh everybody's uh efforts.

Uh the second point I wanted to hit on, um, it's no surprise now that one of my main objectives as your new city manager is to really do a comprehensive look at utilities, infrastructure, and facilities next year.

Some of that work is underway.

You'll you'll hear some tones on that on in the presentation and it is in the staff report as well.

The final thing I'll mention is trying to show how this work is is really coming to fruition.

You may recall a couple years ago when the city studied looking at the community development direct uh department at that time, which was community development and engineering together, and then through the organizational study, really split off those two departments.

You're gonna start to see that really at play here.

And what I mean by that, I want to give a lot of gratitude to um engineering department and Tanisha Warner is really engineering now is really taking over all the projects for all the cities.

Um it's not territory at all.

What I mean by that is the department say Tanisha, really help us because engineers know how to drive and and lead projects.

So you'll see a lot of projects on here.

There's still some elements of projects that might have been started before, but we have a true fully functioning engineering department that is is really dedicated on you know designing, breaking ground, and delivering projects.

You'll see some of that today.

So with that, I want to turn it over to Beth to get us going.

Thank you.

Uh good evening, uh Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council members.

I'm looking at my uh my name is Beth Goldberg.

I'm the finance director, and I'm looking at my friends over in the clerk's office because I'm kind of wondering if there's a problem pulling up the PowerPoint.

It's the technical problem with the computer, not your PowerPoint.

We'll have it up in a second.

Okay.

So um shall we pause?

Can I be so bold?

Is or do you want me to go ahead and start okay I will go to the box?

Go ahead and start.

You'll have to trust what um I um showing you on the screen on on the screen.

Um so uh the first slide to keep this moving um would have shown you our budget schedule, and it would have shown that we are on April 27th, and we are having our CIP study session.

And uh that will be moving us forward to uh transmitting uh the budget to all of you on June first with the first budget study session on June 8th, and then budget adoption, including uh the the uh first year of the CIP, the appropriations for the first year of the CIP um at your uh June 22nd meeting.

Um and uh uh in terms of the the next slide uh would have shown you that um we were uh gonna provide tonight an uh capital improvement program overview um and kind of the the funding environment that we're finding ourselves in.

Um it uh we'll also cover uh the recommendations for the the CIP uh budget that we we are recommending to you uh tonight and we'll provide you a summary of the five-year CIP.

Um the slide after that, and thank goodness I printed it out.

Um the slide after that was oh, here we go.

Um so if we could go to slide, I believe it's five uh before that one, four maybe.

Um as you're listening to the presentation tonight, um the questions we have for the the council is um if there are any of the funding categories or projects that you would like to know more about, and we'd also like feedback from all of you about whether we have identified uh the right mix of capital projects for funding with our our limited resources that are available, and we'll of course take that feedback and incorporate uh that into the budget that we present to all of you in June.

Um let me see if I could get the clicker to work.

I have a dark technology cloud over my head, starting with the PowerPoint not working and now the clicker not working.

So if you can advance two slides.

So I'm gonna go into now in an overview of uh the capital improvement program, and um as mentioned from the outset, we're presenting two things to you tonight, if you will.

Um one is the year one CIP, and this would be the funding for the projects that we have outlined in year one of the CIP, and um that will come to you for adoption in June.

Uh the one year CIP is part of the larger five-year CIP, which we are required to submit every year, and that is a look not just for year one, but also two, three, four, and five of projects that we anticipate on the horizon in years two through five.

Um it's not funding for those projects, and in many cases, you will see we don't have sufficient funding for those projects, but it is kind of the roadmap and the vision and the and the look ahead.

So that's what we're talking about this evening.

If we can go to the next slide, please.

Um theme that you will uh hear me talking about tonight and that the council is is keenly aware of from previous uh deliberations is the city's funding for CIP projects is really really limited.

Um we have a couple of um buckets of money that we rely on.

Uh first is the general fund, um, and the primary source from there is the utility users tax, and if there's one-time funding available, one-time funding, but um you may recall from the mid-year budget update that that we don't have as much of that as as we used to.

Um we also uh draw from special revenue funds and um within special revenue funds and um also within the general fund.

Well maybe I'll stop there.

Uh with we we grants are an important source of of revenues for us, and we are um actively seeking grants uh when we can to help offset costs.

Impact fees are another source of funding, uh, enterprise funds and rates.

This is primarily water and sewer um can support those types of capital investments, and then similarly, capacity fees can also support water and sewer.

In total, the 2627 CIP budget that we're recommending tonight is uh totals 40.5 million dollars from all of these sources.

If we can go to the next slide, please.

So um the perennial funding gap.

Um on this chart, um, this this displays the five-year CIP funding gap, and what you will see is for the next five-year period, 26 through 31 at the far right, um, work we're projecting a 427 million dollar shortfall over the five years, meaning that we have needs that exceed re anticipated resources by 427 million.

Um and you'll see that that is actually a very similar gap to what we saw on the left side of this chart between for the the five-year period 24 to 29.

Um the middle of this chart had a smaller gap, and uh the main reason for that is that um last year we were able to identify and dedicate um a substantial amount of one-time fund balance from the general fund to boost our our investment in the CIP program.

So that's why the green chart, the green bar in the middle there, estimated revenue is so much higher than what you're seeing in the other two years.

If we could go to the next slide, please.

So for year one of the CIP, the one that you'll be asking to uh approve for funding this year, um, as I mentioned, uh, we're recommending 40.5 million dollars worth of investments.

Um that is not enough to have satisfied all of the requests we received.

We received requests totaling 58.9 million dollars worth of worth of recommended investments.

So that leaves a gap of about 18 million dollars or a third of a third of the needs that had been identified were not able to fund in this year's CIP.

If we can go to the next slide, please.

So the question is um why are we in this this perpetual um imbalance, the state of imbalance?

Um the first reason is that revenues to support capital projects are essentially stagnant if you look over the last couple years there at roughly 40 million dollars if you remove you know the one time, the one-time funds that we had found.

Um and you'll see this particularly acutely uh when I talk about um Fund 357, our our capital operating fund, um, that those revenues are stagnant.

Um and the timing is unfortunate because um costs unfortunately are not stagnant.

Um there are inflationary pressures on capital investments, and in recent years, uh, for a whole variety of reasons, the inflation on capital investments has actually been um higher than your average inflation rate.

Uh we're also seeing aging infrastructure, we're seeing impacts on our infrastructure from climate change, uh population growth, and increased and change changing demands.

So there's upward pressure on the number of investments, the amount of investments that we need to make, but unfortunately our revenues are not are not keeping pace.

If we can go to the next slide, please.

So uh the city council in adopting the budget, the 2526 budget, um, uh expressed or directed staff to start looking at um at capital funding strategies so that we could identify a more sustainable mechanism or revenue sources to to support all of these needs.

And uh this slide is intended to give you all an update on where we are with this.

Uh we did have a kickoff meeting with the Finance and Audit Committee in February.

Uh we are um on the verge of issuing an RFP to select a new municipal advisor.

You may uh recall that Bill Ufrat was our previous municipal advisor.

He last helped us with uh refunding our water bonds.

Um he retired, so we need to identify a new municipal advisor, and that's important to this process because it's it's that municipal advisor that is going to be able to offer guidance and um steer us along the way of debt financing, uh how to leverage and maximize other revenues.

So getting that individual or that firm on board is going to be very important.

Um you will also see in the CIP that we are talking about tonight that we are recommending funding being allocated in the CIP this year to support capital infrastructure and planning readiness.

And so this will include, for example, a facilities and assessment study that will allow us to really understand what our our facility needs are, both from a one-time capital investment but also ongoing maintenance.

Um that work will be underway if council approves this funding.

If we can go to the next slide.

So this next slide uh gives you a sh breakdown of the types of funding allocated um by functional area in this year's CIP, and you will see that the most um investments from uh from a thematic perspective are coming from the water and sewer fund.

Um we also have um investments made in transportation, storm water, parks.

But the important thing about water and sewer is those are really the only two functional areas that we have a dedicated revenue source, and that is the water and sewer rates.

Next slide, please.

This now is a segue into the funding sources.

And again, you will see over to the right that orange nearly half of the pie is utility revenues.

And then the magenta wedge over to the left is our other big funding source.

And that's our utility user tax that we use to fund our general government investments.

Next slide, please.

Okay, so our utility user tax.

The council by policy has allocated that utility user tax revenue to capital investments.

So we collect that revenue in the general fund and we transfer it to the capital outlay fund to support general government capital investments.

So we are anticipating collecting about 11.7 million dollars this year, and the forecasts is suggesting we're going to collect about the same amount next year.

So essentially no growth.

So this small pot of money that is is not really growing, is what we have to rely on.

You'll see uh a purple bar at the top in 2627 and uh 2526, and that is um one-time fund balance that we true up with the utility user tax um when we see what the actuals come in, it also includes some interest.

But in essence, we've got about 11 to 13 million of kind of a reliable source.

Um the blue bars in the previous years or the blue chunks were one-time revenues that we had in the general fund.

Again, as the general fund gets tighter, we don't have we don't have that flexibility.

So it's it's a a modest amount of money that we have for general government investments.

Next slide, please.

Okay, one uh one aspect of the capital outlay fund that um we wanted to get uh the the city council oriented towards is that this year with the the utility user tax at 11.7 plus that one-time money, that one-time balance, um, we're projecting about 13.9 million dollars transferred from the general fund for capital investments.

Um but there's an additional challenge on that fund in that during the Great Recession Um a decision was made to fund capital project-related staff also to the capital outlay fund.

And um the the cost of that complement of staff is about 4.5 million dollars.

So when you remove that from the 13.9 million, we have less than 10 million to dedicate to uh capital investment.

So that's another pressure point.

Um we are going to be looking as part of our capital work in the upcoming year of um different ways for budgeting that staff so that we can maximize the utility user tax um that we have available to invest in projects.

So that's that's work that will be coming in the next year.

Next slide, please.

Okay, so now we get to kind of the fun part.

Um maybe the fun part.

The previous part was kind of boring, but um uh the fun part of uh what is what we're recommending for funding in this year's uh CIP.

And I'm not gonna go through each item on this um on this list, but um I I want you to be aware of of the mix of projects that we're funding this year, and we have our CIP department directors here, and um we're gonna talk through a couple of um highlights for for all of you.

But this is this is the complement of projects that we're recommending for funding in 2627.

If we could go to the next slide, please.

And now the the bad news Beth slide, which is um we wanted to provide also a summary for you in in light of uh in in an effort to be transparent of the projects that we are not recommending for funding because not because we don't think these projects are worthy.

It was just the dollar amounts were limited.

So these were the requests we received that are being deferred or delayed and not being funded in 2627.

If we could go to the next slide after that one.

And then back to good news, Goldberg.

Here are some highlights, a summary, and again, in the interest of time, not going through all of these, but we have the department directors here if folks have any questions about them.

These are projects that are recently or will be completed this year.

And while we don't have a lot of money and as much money as we would like to have, um we are making an impact and are able to be making some important investments as this uh slide indicates.

And with that, I'm gonna step back and turn it over to the department directors to share with you highlights of what we're recommending for funding this year, starting with Tanisha Warner.

Thank you, Beth.

Good evening, City Council staff.

My name is Tanisha Werner.

I'm the director of engineering and transportation, and tonight I'm going to talk about engineering's uh CIP.

So if we could go to the next slide, please.

So before we really dive into CIP, the most important part of our CIP is our planning process.

Construction gets the most flash, but planning is really where a lot of the work happens.

We have utility master planning, and that's with our recycled water master plan.

We have uh utilities master plannings for sanitary sewer, where we look at our collection system as well as our pipe capacity, and then we have our stormwater planning.

And through stormwater planning, we have a few different items.

Uh, about a year ago, we presented a stormwater roadmap, which was just a blueprint of uh the bones of a stormwater master planning process.

And um, this coming fiscal year we'll be diving into our stormwater master planning.

Planning is also important for the maintenance and the replacement of our current infrastructure.

A lot of our infrastructure is aging and it does need to be replaced or resized in order to meet the demands of our continuing to grow community.

We have this huge network of future growth in our downtown area, but also in all areas of the city, and the network has to be able to support that growth.

And then finally, flood protection.

So the picture on the bottom is from a few years ago.

Um, we had some pretty significant storm events, which led to flooding for flood protection.

We're looking at uh capacity study for Redwood Creek.

We're looking at strengthening and improving our levees that surround Redwood shores, and we're also looking at our stormwater master planning process.

Next slide.

Two projects that I'm thrilled to highlight that are ongoing projects.

The first is our largest project right now under active design, and that is the State Route 84 US 101 interchange reimagined project.

This project is located at Woodside Road and Highway 101.

It will replace a five an irregular five-legged intersection with a more standard four-legged intersection, increasing um bicycle and pedestrian facilities as well as access for freight to and from our port.

We have an estimated cost of 384 million dollars, and um we're thrilled to say that we are 100% at our funding approval level for construction.

We're currently in the right-of-way acquisition phase, and we are looking forward to going into bidding and construction later this calendar year.

The second project that I'm really happy to highlight is the Roosevelt Avenue Permanent Bill Traffic Calming Project.

This project is many, many years in the making.

It started with its planning in 2020, and in 2024, we did some quick build improvements, which introduced new ramps, some striping improvements, and um some really good connectivity improvements for a bicycle network.

This project is really bringing some of the concepts from our transportation plan, which is walk bike thrive to life.

And we are just finishing up design right now and looking forward to break ground early next calendar year.

Next slide.

Recommendations, I'll start with the utility side.

On our utility side, we have collection system and capacity improvements for our sanitary sewer pipe.

We also have water tanks, uh water pump stations, and a cathodic protection program, which helps to take care of corrosive soils and help better protect our pipes so they last a little longer.

Our next biggest project that is in active design is the Redwood Shore Sea Level Rise Protection Project.

This project has an estimated or projected construction costs of about 200 million dollars, and we are marching towards 60% design development in order to meet some deliverables for a FEMA grant.

And then finally, I want to wrap up utilities with 707 Bradford.

This is a creek bank repair project that we are just about done with design, and we'll be ready to uh secure our construction funding.

Next slide.

And then moving on to our transportation projects.

Right now, the city is partnering with Caltrain to look at the six at-grade crossings in Redwood City and do grade separation for those.

We are currently in the preliminary stages of that process and entering into the environmental stage.

We have a grant that's worth about $15 million, and that grant is going to be used to fund our environmental stage.

We also have Page Street Bike Boulevard.

This project is taking care of the entirety of Page Street from Marsh to 2nd Avenue or 2nd Street.

And it is 100% located in one of our equity priority areas.

It is going to be adding more connectivity to our bike network, and we are very thrilled to be moving this one forward.

We're doing some really good work on our traffic calming program as well.

So we are getting a huge influx, which is wonderful, of traffic calming requests from our various neighborhoods.

The number that we're getting and the complexity really means that our analysis takes a little bit more time, but we're working really closely with the communities to really figure out what their area of concern or their priority areas of concern are and to see what we can do to help alleviate some of those congestion concerns.

And with that, I'm happy to pass it to your assistant director of public work services, Adrian Lee.

Thank you, Tanisha.

Uh good afternoon, uh good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor, and City Council members.

Uh as Tanisha mentioned, my name is Adrian Lee.

I'm the assistant public works director.

We did, in fact, give Terrence the night off.

So I'm just gonna run through some of the uh um uh project recommendations from public works services.

Many of them might look familiar as many of them are uh kind of on an annual or um ongoing basis.

Um, so I'll just go through them.

Um, first is the Bayfront Canal and Corridor's Creek annual maintenance, and this is uh annual maintenance that's done to clear sediment and debris um to help minimize uh flooding risks.

We also have a closed circuit uh television program.

Uh, this allows us the video cam, the sewer lines throughout the city to prioritize repairs and maintenance.

Uh the electric vehicle supply equipment and infrastructure program.

So this one is new.

Uh, this one is uh funding that's uh required for a matching grant from PCE.

Um you heard earlier tonight about BCE uh providing a grant to uh the city of Redwood City for uh electric uh EV uh charging infrastructure and equipment.

So that's uh uh this uh you know fulfills our portion of the matching grant.

Um this would allow us to install EV charging infrastructure and equipment to support our fleet transition from gas to electric.

Uh we also have the HVAC program, a replacement program.

Uh this project is gonna replace uh HVAC at several different facilities where the HVAC has uh kind of reached the end of its useful life.

Um, some of the facilities such as uh uh PD public works or Red Morton GM are kind of the uh uh contenders for this.

Um last on this slide is the municipal regional stormwater permit compliance, and this is to assist the city with um meeting the requirements set um by the water board, including a requirement to reduce um trash loads by 100%.

Um towards that end, you know, uh we accomplish that in a variety of different ways, but one of those is um through the installation and maintenance of uh trash capture devices.

Next slide, please.

Um very top of this list is pump and controls replacement program.

So this is um for the repair and um maintenance of 31 different uh sewer pump stations.

Um this is just to help reduce the likelihood of sewer spill and backups throughout the city.

Uh we have a roof replacement program.

This program looks at uh repairing or replacing roofs out of of various buildings.

Um of the notables might include PD, Fair Oaks, and CAB, which again have uh you know, do the aging infrastructure reach the end of their useful life.

Uh we have um third bullet down is a supervisory control and data acquisition system rehabilitation.

That's an awful uh this is SCADA.

So the SCADA's uh supervisor control and data acquisition.

So this is um SCADA for both water and sewer.

Uh this project would fund the hardware and software that's uh used to monitor and control both the wastewater and water systems.

Uh this allows us to work um you know uh control it remotely or on site.

Um fourth bullet down tenant improvement program.

So this project this is a project to um for the maintenance and preventative maintenance of uh our city facilities throughout so this uh includes you know fire stations, uh community centers, uh libraries, city hall, um, uh the police department, public works, you know, all of the major buildings.

And last but not least, we have the water tank cathodic protection system replacement.

So this is uh project that's just used to extend the useful life of our water tanks uh uh through through uh corrosion protection.

So um similar to uh one of the programs that Tanisha mentioned for the pipes.

This is a similar vein.

We try to um uh protect and and extend the life of our uh water tanks.

And that's uh all the uh projects for public works.

I thank you very much for your time.

At this point, I'd like to pass it on to Lucas Wilder, assistant director for Parks Recreation and Community Services.

Thank you very much, Adrian.

Lucas Wilder, Assistant Director for Parks Recreation Community Services.

Uh good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor, Council members.

Uh a couple of projects to speak about tonight.

Uh up for recommendation is the demolition of the existing senior center and parking improvements.

And this is part of the agreement and our obligations uh with the agreement with the YMCA to demo the existing uh veterans building and then make the improvements throughout Red Morton Park that uh that came before the council previous this year in regards to slight adjustments to parking lots uh in the area where we've realized that they're just inefficiently striped or lined or something like that, or adjustments can be made.

Um additionally, synthetic turf replacement programs.

So this is some uh funding to help contribute to the uh design development uh of the next field at Red Morton Park.

That's uh we additionally have to address some drainage issues and things like that.

So it'll take us a little bit of time to kind of work through that, like some of the things that we've been doing.

Uh this storm season with some infrequent rains and kind of monitoring drainage and flow rates through different sections of the park and things like that.

Uh and then lastly, uh public art would be funded as uh part of the recommendations for this year.

And as is it, and I will pass it over to interim director, Sarah Latura.

They're all so tall.

Good evening, council.

Sarah Latora, interim library director.

I'm here to talk about potential new bathrooms at the downtown library.

This project would address security issues, improve lighting, and it would improve the enclosed spaces that we currently have.

Um currently what we have is uh single occupancy bathrooms in our children's section that are used by the whole public because these are the only all gendered restrooms in the facility.

And what we would like to replace is to take our women's and men's bathroom and turn all of those that area into single-use bathrooms with a shared sink space and it'd be a much more open space.

So not only would this improve customer experience, but would address security concerns of these enclosed spaces that are used for bathing that have other problematic behavior that we've witnessed.

Um and then this would also allow for improved lighting and just a better experience overall.

Let's see.

This uh project, in case you're wondering about where did the budget number come from, is we did do an estimate with um zone for construction to just to develop an um estimated budget.

Uh and then we will work on a design phase and then hopefully be able to go out to bid if this project is approved.

And that's all for me, and I'll turn it back over to Beth.

Okay, so I'm gonna wrap up uh the presentation and then we'll I turn it all over to you for discussion with um a brief overview of the five-year CIP.

Um so this uh slide here um lists the projects that um are included in the five-year CIP.

Um what we're recommending in the first year CIP is what we can fund.

Um so that funding gap I spoke about earlier really really comes out um in these in these future years.

Um if we could go to the next slide, please.

Um we do have um an online portal uh for you to look at the recommended projects and uh this slide provides you uh links to that online portal um uh for you to take a look at at your uh leisure.

And if we could go to the next slide, I will wrap up by uh reminding you of of the questions we would like you to consider as you're deliberating this evening.

Uh the first of which is um are there any funding categories or projects that you would like to hear more about and are we identifying the right capital projects for funding with the funds available in um this upcoming fiscal year?

And with that, I'll turn it back over to all of you for discussion.

Thank you, Beth, and the whole team for the great presentation today.

We really appreciate it.

Um before we bring it back to council, we will take public comment on this item, and I'll turn it over to our city clerk to facilitate.

Thank you, Mayor.

We do have two speaker cards, last call to the audience or anyone else on Zoom.

Do you fill out speaker cards already?

Perfect.

So you must be our two speakers then this evening.

Kate Allison, you are the first speaker, and then Ed Connolly, you will follow.

Yes.

Welcome.

Hi, my name is Kate Allison, and I live in Eagle Hill in Rapid City.

Um, this is actually the second time I have spoken to this council, and I have had many independent meetings with many of you about my vehement dislike for the Laurie Duncan Park project that is on the CIP for the five-year plan.

Um I've been very disappointed in the response from um leadership on this project with not wanting to address the fact that there's a large swath swath of constituents who are against the street closure at Southgate.

Um we haven't had a lot of addressing the traffic concerns and the safety concerns from the closure of that street, and the citizens haven't been listened to on the concern about both pedestrian and traffic safety as a result of that street closure.

Um, we've already suffered 13 months of these ugly orange barriers that are blight on our neighborhood, and I'm really not willing to continue to look at it for another 13 months while this council decides whether or not they're willing to put money almost a million dollars into some project that hasn't been discussed with the community in any way, shape, or form, and continues to be said that you know the community supports it without any backup proof and no continued community meetings.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Ed Connolly.

Welcome.

Hi, my name is Ed Connolly.

And uh I wanted to come, I don't get out much, but I wanted to come here and at least voice my opinion about this Laurie Duncan uh project and uh the traffic calming.

You know, I'd really uh appreciate it if um while people are deciding what to do on this project, if those orange barriers can be removed, please.

And if the um astro turf that's been soiled by many, many dogs using it, if that could also be removed, and there's a few park benches there that are temporary in nature, if those could be removed, and basically restore the park back to its original luster.

And that will help everybody kind of calm their own harsh feelings about the park itself.

In terms of the traffic, um, I don't know what to think about that.

I think if you expand your study of the traffic, you may find that there is a lot of congestion on both Whipple and Hopkins Hopkins because there was a project there, a beautification project where they put in trees and so forth, and that road was difficult to navigate for a period of time.

And you know, traffic is a lot like water, it finds its own level.

And so people when they're stuck in traffic will seek the path of least resistance, and that happened to be Brewster.

And I think that's what temporarily caused a lot of the problems on Brewster, but that's calm.

And um Whipple is a different story because when that CAL train passes over, it um it can be congested there for eight to ten minutes, and traffic will build up on Whipple all the way back to Hudson.

And if you expand your study of the traffic, you may find that that's the culprit with excess traffic on Brewster.

And um I think you could save yourself a little bit of money by just restoring the park to its original luster and spend the money on more uh important projects.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And with no virtual speakers, I'll turn it back to you, Mayor.

Great.

Thank you, Jessica, and thank you to our two public speakers for hanging with us this evening.

And I will bring it back to council for any council member questions or comments.

Councilmember Howard, thank you.

You're welcome.

Um I have a couple of questions before I have comments on uh Lucas, would you mind coming to the microphone?

I have two questions for you.

Yes.

Uh the the money that would be used uh regarding the future YMCA project.

I've spoken to a number of people on the board and people involved with the YMCA.

There's a lot of uncertainty about when they're going to begin.

Um it feels like not in the next even couple of years.

I I don't know what the status is of that.

But my concern is if we have this money and we do this, if the project isn't going to get started for some time, could you um address that maybe we should put this uh at a later date to be addressed, or maybe you have better information than I do about the YMCA site that currently is occupied by the veteran the old Veterans Memorial Senior Center.

Um I'm not having the higher level discussions with the YMCA in regards to the like the actual time that they're looking to move forward with.

Um I do know that they have submitted plans to the city and they're current the city's uh building departments currently working through those plans, and so I'd say that they're making progress on that side of things.

Um but I'd say that the city is obligated to um you know, under the agreement move forward with the times that are set forth in there.

Um should there be some adjustment to those times.

I think that that would come back to uh the city manager uh for further discussion about some adjustments at that point.

Thank you.

Um what I would say is it is unlikely that they will break ground next year.

Everything Lucas just said, they do have building um, you know, plans in or whatnot, but they're still slow on on the fundraising aspect of it.

Um I think from a budgeting perspective, we do have an obligation currently that's bound by an agreement.

So um so we would like to put the money aside, uh, but it could be maybe two years or or whatnot.

But we would not demo the building unless we knew they were moving forward with the YMCA project.

I'm sure the seniors will be happy to hear that.

But um I you're putting a place mark with the money so that it's there so that we can keep our obligation when the time comes.

Correct.

Okay, thank you.

That answers my question.

Uh the second question, well, it's not even questioned, I'm happy to hear that uh can you tell me more about the public art?

There are a lot of people in this community pretty excited to hear you say that.

Um so Redwood City is the one percent for public art ordinance and uh part of the capital improvement fund, one percent of that is set aside for public art.

Um, and that's money that our um arts commission kind of allocates through different uh processes that they have throughout the year.

Uh so some of that could be utility box murals um or other murals in the community and things like that.

Um I don't have the specifics on um the sub-programs that they're going to be, you know, contributing to this year.

Um but the city, you know, through its ordinance does have an obligation to kind of set aside those funds to help fund it year after year.

So if people were wondering how they could find out more, I would say tune in to the agendas of the art commission.

Correct.

I'll do that.

No, thank you.

That's a good that's good news.

Um I have a question uh for Adrian.

Adrian, I heard a lot about the trash capture devices.

And I've heard that they're so successful that it's really helping with flooding issues down where we have what right next to the water level.

And so could you tell me that this sounds like a good investment that we are going to be, but we've been using them for some time.

Is this expanding the use of them or is it replacing what we currently have?

So so both.

It's it's um, you know, the plans to eventually uh expand uh the usage of them as well as replace existing so you know they have a useful life like anything else as they age and and and require replacement that that's part of it.

But it's also to help maintain them as well.

So uh both.

Well, I I know people kayaking out in the in the creeks, uh, they were saying that they've noticed that it makes a tremendous difference in capturing the debris, because they've been cleaning up and helping us out for years, but they're noticing an improvement using those devices.

So good for you.

I'm glad you're using them.

Thank you.

And my final question, I don't know who to give this to, but we've heard twice, three times tonight about Laurie Duncan Parkway.

So I thought let's just rip the band-aid off and talk about it, because uh I wasn't aware.

I don't think I was aware that there was a real problem with that.

I'll let uh Lucas take a shot at it.

Yeah, so uh about a year or so ago, our colleagues in engineering and transportation brought forth um the kind of traffic calming that they wanted to see implemented over on Brewster as a result of kind of a community input or feedback regarding um accidents, unsafe driving conditions, things like that.

Um the intersection at the park and with Brewster is kind of a irregular large five-way intersection, um, so it creates a significant amount of space for cars to do donuts, other things like that.

Um so when they they came to us and said that they wanted to look at shutting down the section of it uh in between to see how that could impact uh kind of a lot of these traffic issues that they were having.

Um, you know, we had also looked at uh you know possibilities for Laurie Duncan Park as part of the 2017 park needs assessment and recognizing that it would help serve uh a section of the city that's uh further away from kind of an active park.

There aren't any um active recreational amenities there, um, and we could use that street space to kind of like pilot some very basic things that you could set up that don't require fall zones and all the other things that you run into when you actually build like a park and a playground.

Um so we worked together to kind of figure out what looked like a more proper four-way intersection to um you know create like a proper traffic pattern in that area.

Uh the city has the orange barricades that are out there in stock, and so the parks department uses them for various things throughout the year.

Um so these aren't rental units or anything, and so we deployed them on site in order to kind of implement the closure and the footprint that you see there.

Um we held a meeting last April with neighbors to discuss.

We heard from both neighbors that were, you know, for the closure and those that were against the closure, they didn't want to see any changes but decided to kind of like leave the closure in place.

Um a little bit later, we did a traffic uh count looking at uh the impact of the kind of diversion rates of vehicles onto the side streets or something like that, um, and didn't see any significant increase on uh traffic counts to the surrounding streets or anything like that, um, and had reports anecdotally from neighbors of you know hearing both on the sides of there's increased traffic online and others reporting um that their their street is no longer a like shortcut or or something like that to the like kind of James Jefferson um gem streets that that are beyond there.

Um and so we've left the closure in place as the department has kind of looked at other options for um that section of street um and and with the delay of funding that would just kind of delay um our ability to kind of implement any significant change and at that point, you know, with the ability to do that, we would bring forth the kind of public input process to look at what that actually looks like moving forward.

Well, I I mean I I'm hearing complaints and it's been a year since the public's been asked to weigh in on this.

Um I'm wondering, would it be time to have a meeting, a neighborhood meeting, and just talk about it and go over possible plans but get input.

I'm just thinking that uh I I'd like to have more citizen input from the people in that neighborhood before we do anything permanent.

Would that be something we could do?

Yeah, we can definitely look at opportunities there.

Okay.

Well, I'm not sure that's the one.

Sorry, the the time for public comment ended, but if you can reach out, we'll make sure we answer any questions afterwards.

Thank you.

Well, I would imagine you'd have um the engineers as well as parks involved.

It wouldn't just be uh parks and rec because I know a lot of this is around engineering.

We could like to bring our partners in engineering over also.

And uh and have that conversation.

That would be really appreciated, I'm sure, if the neighbors could weigh in and then nobody rushes into anything.

You take it all in and see what needs to be done next.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you.

That may not be the end of that conversation, but I always feel better at least if we have communication with the neighborhood and let them get it out.

What is what's working in your opinion and what's not.

So I'm hoping we can do that.

But thanks, Lucas.

Thank you.

I think I've been through through a few of these budget hearings and CIP discussions over the years, just a few.

And I what I do know is that our staff, every department is involved in this planning.

Every single department, including finance and legal.

Hundreds of hours are spent really making these decisions.

And it's probably like going into a room and all coming out and saying, well, I'll give you this if you give me that.

Kind of a checks and balances for every department.

So the last thing in the world I choose to do is to nitpick at something and try to move the pieces around.

I'll tell you why, because when you know there's probably hundreds of people who've had their fingerprints on these this document.

If I take something out, something else is gonna fall through the cracks.

And I have to think about that.

I can't just move things around.

So I look it over really carefully.

I see things that maybe I don't know about and ask questions about them.

But at the end of the day, I trust our city staff because I know how much time and effort you put into this and you care so much about our community.

You try to do it all, but I'm you're smart enough to know you can't.

And that I really appreciate too.

You're giving us the honest feedback we need to hear.

We can't do it all, but we can do phases, and this is what we're suggesting.

So I want to thank you for that, each and every one of you, because this was hard work.

And thank you, Patrick.

You're probably the orchestration director of the and before you, Melissa.

But thank you.

I I really appreciate this report very much.

Um I'm on the finance and audit subcommittee.

I'm really looking forward to our work ahead.

I really am, because I know you're going to be doing studies regarding uh, well, first of all, we want to get a fiscal consultant.

I think that's absolutely necessary.

Let's figure out how we can do all the work that we want to do.

And these master plans in facilities and other parts of Redwood City.

There's going to be a recycle master plan levy, stormwater, and sewer.

These master plans are going to help us plan for the city's future.

And a we hope this financial consultant is a magician and will be able to help us figure out how we're going to pay for all of this.

And so I'm really looking forward to my work on that committee.

And I un I was told that this October that we're going to have um be presented with funding opportunities for the future.

So I look forward to October.

But between now and then, um, we're working with this, and I want to say I support your efforts, I support your recommendations.

I hope you'll always continue to look for grant opportunities.

I know you do.

But I really appreciate that you continue looking because you never know what you can find.

And I think that's it.

Um we'll see if we can find ways to raise revenues.

We'll always look for those.

But right now, I think what you're doing is great, and I really appreciate the work you presented tonight.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Howard, for getting us started here.

Who would like to go next Councilmember Sterkin?

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you to all the staff uh for your hard work.

You're doing a lot with a little.

And uh it's very impressive and quite a feat.

Um firstly, thank you.

I would like to just ask some questions.

You know, firstly, talking about um transportation and then parks.

Uh so starting with transportation, specifically parking.

And I wanted to ask you, let me just get the title of the program right.

Um with regards to the so the county parking garage parking permit program, I think it was.

Um could you um, Director Warner, thank you.

You had already answered one of my questions very healthfully.

And you had said that the program um is meant to serve you know downtown employees, right?

And when you mentioned that just to get a little clarification, which employees in downtown does that include.

Thanks for the question.

So it's not geared to city employees but employees of restaurants, some of the businesses downtown.

That is really great to hear because that is a need that I've heard consistently from employees at um on Broadway and the pedestrian mall, you know, Bushwalkers on Broadway, Zarines.

Um none of them mentioned that we have this program specifically at the county garage, right?

So I wonder if maybe there's some additional outreach we can do to employees at uh local businesses.

But I also wonder if maybe a parking garage that's a little bit closer to home, so to speak, uh might be a better candidate for this program, specifically the Marshall Street Garage and the top floor at that.

Um anecdotally, what I've heard from employees is that it's underutilized, never full.

Um we've had incidents occur because the parking garage is underutilized, including you know, someone falling from the second story at one point.

Um kids messing around up there to put it lightly, right?

So if there's a way that we can activate that space um through maybe this program or otherwise while also meeting a need of local um uh workers that are you know serving our community, that is definitely something I'm interested in.

Um but it's a definitely a creative uh and helpful program, and I appreciate you helping me understand uh the purpose and value of it more clearly.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Um then um traffic calming.

So you know, I was gonna ask about this.

So um I can remember last year asking when we would allow for the collection of digital signatures um and expanding the definition of 50% of representatives in the project in a given project area to include all residents, not just people who are property owners.

Um uh offering the form in multiple languages.

May I ask, do we have an update on where we're at with that?

So I I will um introduce our principal transportation planner, Maloha Ring, to give you an answer.

Thank you.

Thank you, Malahat.

Hello.

I'm Malad Orang, Principal Transportation Planner with Transportation Division.

Um we did create a subcommittee of our transportation advisory committee tech consists of three tech members.

They're currently working to update our policy, which is um I believe about 12 years old.

Um so we are in the process of updating policy.

I assume it will be at least one year process.

Um at some point, City Council will see that.

Um so the way we are going to evaluate the request will be different with the new proposed policy.

Um sending the notifications for traffic calming, we always do both tenants and owners, because we do have the in our GIS database.

Then we do communicate, we communicate with people who live one block at two sides of a corridor, including ten tenants and owners.

Did I answer your question?

You did, thank you.

But just to clarify, only people who are who are property owners can sign, right?

No.

Tenants are not allowed.

No.

It is both.

It doesn't um so the when we receive the petition, it doesn't matter if they own the property or they're renting it.

Um as long as they live within one block at two sides of the corridor, their signatures are counted.

Okay, that's great to hear.

I guess I misunderstood the program.

Um thank you.

Thank you.

Okay.

Uh and the residential parking permit program.

Uh, our favorite.

It's time for a downtown residential parking permit program.

I've heard it consistently from residents through the downtown neighborhood association meetings.

Residents getting regularly ticketed.

So I'm glad you know our code enforcement is doing their job.

But it is coming at a cost to residents who simply are parking their cars.

And so that's something I'm interested in us looking into in the future as part of the existing framework.

And everything I'm suggesting right now is within the existing framework.

Okay.

And then moving on to parks.

So the Bayfront Canal and Cordilleras Creek annual maintenance.

I was really glad to see.

Thank you, Adrian.

That the amount for that increased slightly to 180,000 from like 150,000, I think it was.

Maybe that's inflation, but it was nice to see.

And I reappreciated and I agree with Councilmember Howard's valuing of the trash capture devices and how effective those are in reducing flooding and pollution at the same time.

And so I'll say it again.

That's something that the neighborhood is fixated on.

And based on what I've heard here would be effective an interim measure while we figure out the long-term vision of the Corollaris Creek.

So Adrian, could you please answer this question?

Is it possible for us to put a trash capture device on Corollaris Creek?

It's always a possibility.

Thank you.

Okay.

And then moving on to parks.

So I noticed that in the deferred list of projects, Hoover Park and the Harding and Nino Spence project are deferred.

So but that doesn't impact the complete revamping we're doing of Hood Park right now that we just you know broke round on right, Lucas?

Correct, correct.

The project that has the current scope we'll see through.

Um there was additional funding that we were possibly looking for to supplement some additional features at it, but are not part of kind of like the core bill that you're seeing at the site right now.

So yeah.

Oh, I think that's a relief.

Um and then with the fence project, so you know we're we're almost done with the expansion of the park.

But then now we have this fence project that is deferred.

So how does that relate uh to the project and wouldn't it make sense to do it all at once?

Um sorry, can you do clarify the fence project?

Yes, of course.

Um the Harding the Nino Fence project uh that's deferred on the deferred list.

Um so we we have expanded the park.

We're we're working on that.

Um, but then this part of it is deferred.

Yeah, correct.

It wasn't part of the uh original kind of like uh project scope.

Um something that uh because of the art installation structure and everything needed to be done, like kind of secondary to it.

So it's something that we're working on separately of the original kind of call it three phases of that park site.

So the initial phase getting a lot of the done, uh, then the structure going up, the artist doing all of the work on that, um, and then doing a lot more, uh a lot of the kind of ground-based stuff afterwards.

So there's we're still waiting for the artist to kind of finish their scope.

That makes sense.

And so this doesn't mean that you know a portion of the park is unfenced and that there's an existing fence, but it needs to be replaced.

Correct.

And the fence was never designed, or the park was never designed to be enclosed in that um unlike the the other section of Jardin and Niños, um, this section isn't designed as much for like kind of little kids and making sure that they stay safe with the vehicle traffic and stuff that is like uh the original section of the park.

Um this is a secondary section of the park that was more designed for uh kind of you know older adults, uh teenagers, things like that.

So there are tables for gathering spaces, things like that.

So okay, that's a relief.

Thank you.

Um alrighty, and then Laurie Duncan Park.

Yes.

So I um oh gosh.

As it's currently going right now, it feels like a failed project.

And I I say that with love.

I just I um appreciate that we have done the the traffic count and found that there hasn't been substantial changes in traffic patterns.

But just as a follow up question to that, when we you know throw that uh line across the street and we're counting the number of vehicles, we're we're not counting, you know, it that doesn't account for speeding or or accidents or or things like that, right?

I don't know the details of that.

We're counting vehicle trips, basically.

So number number of vehicles crossing, I don't think it's I don't think it's factoring in speed.

Um and definitely not accidents or anything like that are captured by that.

Right.

And and that's that's just a concern I have that I've heard that there have been accidents, that there have well accidents, but um there has been you know speeding, there have been people you know rolling down Brewster, I think as it was mentioned, um and uh when I see these barriers, I see the barriers that used to be around parklets in downtown and how much of a nuisance those were for all the years and for a variety of reasons that they were there, and I don't want to continue replicating that cycle of um having kind of these this nuisance, this kind of uh blight in our in our neighborhoods, uh if at all possible.

So I mean, if it's not if we are deferring this project and not funding and not doing anything with it for at least a year or longer, then it should just be removed.

I mean, it's I mean, I guess the question is in regards to like the project of resolving the issue of the five-way intersection and the accidents and the other things that we're seeing, those problems have been resolved by it.

Obviously, there's been some comments in regards to some like kind of unanticipated consequences of people trying to make uh a left turn at the the hillside section or something like that, and that being trickier, there is always the opportunity to kind of turn right and come around the park the other way and be able to see both directions on on Brewster.

So there's there's some you know um paths of travel that are alternates that folks could use, which are minor inconveniences for travel time.

Um but I would say the original intent of the project and the closure of the streets still being met by the closure.

Um I do agree the barricades, you know, being bright orange are not the best looking thing, but we are looking for something that is like a formidable structure that you know kind of meets the needs of the street closure, um, is visually identifiable both in you know, like low light conditions and rainy conditions and things like that.

Um and so that's why we utilize the you know orange barricades for those.

And they provide the you know, kind of like safety for folks that are within the space, um, expecting to be able to kind of move around and and play and engage with some of the features that we have out there um without you know fear of a vehicle driving into the space or something like that.

I understand.

Thank you.

Um just to wrap up the downtown library park, I was sad to see that not make it on the final list.

It's a it's uh it's a um expensive item, so that I understand why it isn't, but you know, thinking about um the need for open space in downtown, we're underparked, and then the as we've heard multiple times, the ongoing um encampments that keep resurfacing there.

We've heard from residents next door to the park.

Um you know uh makes me want to prioritize that, but I understand where why where we're at.

Um finally with uh funding, um I'm glad to hear that we'll be discussing, or the finance not a committee rather, we'll be discussing um you know funding and uh in October, I think it was.

Um that's just it's just too late.

It's too late.

We're so behind.

Um so we had a digital billboard opportunity.

Um one thing I would like to suggest to my colleagues is that we go with a plan B.

Um, you know, it uh maybe the location on veterans.

I understand that there is a um potential pump station project there, but if we can in any way um align these two projects and um it you know, kill two birds with one stone um in time to help us meet our budgetary demands in the next couple years, that is something I'd like us to prioritize.

Um and finally the electric vehicle supply, equipment and infrastructure program, which we heard about now twice tonight, is excellent, right?

It's excellent, but we discussed this.

When we look at the primary drivers of uh greenhouse gas emissions in our city, um there from transportation.

And while it is important for us to set an example as a city in transitioning our own fleets to uh electric vehicles in the grand scheme of things in the in terms of our community-wide emissions, that's a pretty small drop in the bucket and for a hefty price tag.

Granted, we uh our staff have you know um responsibly and kindly uh secured a very um hefty grant from PCE um or Westlight.

And so that is to be commended and and much appreciated.

But going forward, I think it would be helpful to look at um strategies for reducing our greenhouse gas emissions that are are more effective at addressing community-wide emissions while also freeing up really um necessary capital for our infrastructure.

So I just want to put it out there and I appreciate all the time that you have given me uh colleagues and staff.

Thank you uh for your hard work on this.

Overall, very impressive as always, and I look forward to us uh moving it forward.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Stirkin.

Appreciate the comments.

We'll go to Councilmember Padilla.

Thank you.

Um I think I'll touch on Lori Duncan because everyone is, and I I feel like that that is my in my district, and I will be very candid that when I was campaigning and walking in that neighborhood, that was actually something that was brought up to me to by many neighbors who had had cars either very close to their home or in some residents who had cars right into their home.

So this actually was something that organically came from the community.

I can vouch for that because I knocked on doors and people said, Hey, let me go take you over to this park.

There's something going on here.

I'm not saying the solution is perfect, but I'm saying there was an issue and it was raised by members in in that community.

Um and I just want to commend parks and rec and transportation because there were several community meetings at the beginning with large amounts of people.

Uh we can always do better at community outreach.

I know I attended several of the meetings when before I was even elected to council where we had large people coming in.

Um I'm glad that we have the public sharing comments today.

I will share that personally.

I've gone received pictures of children playing who say, Thank you so much.

You know, I come after school to my grandma and my grandparents' house, and now we have a place to be together.

We feel safer.

So just because voices aren't in the room does not mean that everyone is unhappy about this.

This was actually spearheaded in the in the community.

Um so I do feel like that is important.

But I do want to feel that we should always continue our community outreach efforts as we're working through things.

Um I also agree that if if it's that what I hear is blight and eyesore seems to be the recurring word.

So perhaps we can find something that is both visually, you know, shows people that it's not bright and orange, but perhaps it's reflective, maybe something with flowers.

I'm I think that there can be ways that we can work around this to find a compromise for everyone if if you're staring at something that is just ugly, but we want to keep safety.

So I think that's important to address.

Um I want to shout out, uh, very happy to see that we'll be replacing the synthetic turf.

My daughter has recently started soccer, and I know that everyone, our soccer fields are well utilized.

And this is just something that I think benefits a tremendous amount of our community, so I'm appreciative of that.

I would really like us to I wouldn't I would like us not to take away any money from our park pathway replacement program.

I think I I was thinking about our tour that we had in our new senior center, which I hope everyone comes to, and how wonderful that it is to have that safe walking loop up there.

And the peace of mine, I have lots of friends and a family who are seniors, and you know, a lot of people it walking is a very stressful thing.

One little divot or crack, you know, that makes some people not want to be exercised.

So I think I know we have limited resources, but if we can focus on our parks and making those pathways safer, that's where we're connecting people in our in community, and I I wouldn't want us to um take away from that.

So I'd like to advocate to keep our money in our parks pathway replacement program.

And I do want to say I am a big proponent of keeping our PCI numbers high.

I read in the paper that we in the staff report that we needed a minimum annual budget allocation of approximately five million dollars.

Annually, I think was it for the next five years.

So I just I want us to keep that in mind that our roads are important and we all use them every day.

Um I also want to echo the importance of taking care of our Bayfront Canal in Cordilleras Creek.

I know I've also reasoned, I know there's issues with those giant compactors because you have to service them more frequently and if they get clogs, but always happy that we're thinking about that and just being good stewards of our creeks.

Um very happy to see the magical bridge carousel replacement.

I know that that is also something that you know people I had someone who was here getting cancer treatment, and they needed to go to a special park where there wasn't tan bark or they had respiratory issues.

So we are so lucky that we can offer these amenities to people.

Um I don't want it to be boxed off with a broken merry ground.

So it's such a special place, and I want to make sure we take care of it.

Um I think that's about it.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Padilla.

We'll go to Councilmember Chu.

Um, so first of all, thank you all for a terrific presentation and uh to to Councilmember's member Howard's comment.

I know that there was a lot of thought and and deep discussion that went into it.

So I'm not looking to reorder anything.

Um, just a few comments.

Um, you know, in in the um finance uh committee, one of the things that we're really hoping to talk about is is talking about how when we acquire a new nice thing that embedding the the cost to maintain that thing going forward.

And so um I think that this is a great step in that direction.

Um, but you know, just just letting you know that that it this is something we want to really grow in.

Um I uh would you know just wanted to second council member Padilla's comment.

One of the first meetings I had, like pretty much you know, right after I got elected, uh, some people who lived on that street reached out to me.

I I'm not sure why, but um, we had a basically they were like people are crashing into our front yards in you know, and it it's really scary.

And um they wanted the city to do something.

It was a safe an urgent safety issue, and uh the the you know, the park appears to have resolved largely resolved that issue.

I haven't heard from them again about that.

Um it does sound like a a prettier uh approach would be well received, um, something like you know, large heavy planters or something like that.

So just would like to second the thoughts around um, you know, a more aesthetic approach.

But but uh I I do understand why it was put in place and and we have to prioritize safety.

Um so let's see here.

Um one thing I've been thinking a lot about is and you know, I keep going back to this story with um TK.

He found a way to do essential infrastructure at a fraction of the price.

And I know that those opportunities are few and far between, but where we can identify overperformers deals, you know, little parks that punch way above their weight.

I mean, I think about the park near my house, Andrew Andrew Spinners Park, it is constantly full.

And so for a very little bit of space, we get a lot of benefit.

And um, so just being innovative.

I know you guys are always thinking about how to do things, but always thinking about what's the best value.

Um, and that way we can do more great things.

Um I second uh council member Sterkin's comments about the parking permit program.

I really was excited to see that a revamp of that program is is on the um on the plan.

Um I have gone through the process of getting it.

Um it's a little bit like getting a ballot measure passed, it's very labor intensive.

The threshold is very, very high.

Uh I would like to see the threshold come down a lot.

Um, there's a desperate need.

Most people don't have, you know, it's like a part-time job getting that thing passed.

And most people don't have that kind of bandwidth.

Um, and I think another thing that's very, very, very important because a parking permit program fundamentally rations a scarce resource, we can't have more permits than there are spaces.

You know, if there are only 10 spaces, you can't have 20 permits, or it defeats the purpose.

And you know, if people go through this heroic effort and then they don't see resolution, uh, they can be really bummed out.

Um, and that you know, obviously enforcement is is a huge part of it just because the threshold is so high.

I do agree, downtown is a great place to have that program implemented.

Um just another comment about you know the traffic calming um and the the um road safety improvements, you know, always being just designing streets for the outcomes we want.

Uh and I really appreciated the member of the public who suggested uh implementing traffic calming near schools.

We want no injury crashes or crashes really of any kind near schools.

We don't want them anywhere, but we really don't want them near schools.

And so designing our streets so that it would be very hard to crash would be uh a great thing to do there.

Um and then just in one more comment.

Uh and again, there may be reasons for selecting one or another, but I love lateral traffic calming.

Um, you know, uh chickenes, you can put a tree in it, it's pretty, you don't have the um and then I think what one thing that happens with speed bumps is it can tend to incentivize bigger vehicles because you can bomb over them quickly.

Um whereas with lateral traffic calming, it does not advantage a larger vehicle.

It actually a smaller vehicle can move through that more equ uh easily.

Uh and they're also more pleasant on a bike.

You know, just pretty easily, whereas bumps can be harder.

Um then uh finally I did have a question about the the astro turf.

I I have seen more in the literature lately about microplastics.

Uh I know that there are alternatives that have no plastic in them.

Um, but uh I would really like us to have as little yeah, please, yeah.

If it what what what are what are we using for AstroTurf these days?

We continue to look at all the products that are out there um in regards to infill, we've converted from any of that, and we use an organic infill of uh a sand mixture with uh cork.

Um, you know, and then as far as like the the filaments themselves, they're a combination of different materials depending on kind of like what type of field we're looking to install at that time at predominantly soccer or something like that, it might be slightly different.

Um but as the manufacturers continue to come out with new stuff, we're always looking at what is that new one and and hoping somebody else has installed it first so we can go take a look at it in person, because that's important too.

Yeah, awesome.

Yeah, and and I completely understand the reasons for for selecting artificial turf.

Um, but just kind of being on ahead of that curve uh would be great.

Um and then finally uh back to the parking permit program and and the um catchment of of waste in our waterways.

Um I think one thing that would be very important to consider if we can is implementing uh alternate side parking when we do the permit program because at least in my neighborhood, street sweeper bombs down the middle of the street.

There is no place to sweep.

There every spot is full.

And I think street sweeping is important.

If we're paying for it, let's get the benefit of it.

Let's keep that trash out of our waterways.

Let's keep our drains clear.

Uh and let's use the parking permit program as an opportunity to to also deal with street sweeping.

Um that concludes my comments.

This was a terrific presentation.

I'm very excited to see these things go into place.

And finally, I'm really, really grateful and excited to see many of the projects go in uh high needs areas to really see us go after equity there.

Thank you, Councilmember Chu.

I just wanted to sorry, I forgot I wanted to jump.

I wanted to piggyback.

I also had questions about the EV charging, if that was really I don't even know how much of our fleet we've taken on as EV, so I just didn't know if that I would rather put a pause and hold on that because I feel like the money could be used more wisely in other areas.

So I I just wanted to know how much of our fleet do we currently have that is electric now.

Thank you.

Um we're continually continuing to uh convert um you know uh vehicles as they and reach the end of the useful life and we convert them out.

If there's a um EV alternative, um we're looking to try to uh you know uh replace uh gas with an EV.

Um so you know, right now it's primarily the smaller uh duty uh trucks, you know, like the larger vehicles don't they're just not an EV equivalent at this time.

Um but as time progresses and as technology improves, you know, we we anticipate that those those will come on online.

There are uh other um concerns with uh you know uh timing for for this, you know, uh in order to for the grant money to uh uh um for us to be eligible, we need to um you know make make expenditures by a certain amount of time uh by a certain date.

Um we also have um uh you know pressures from in terms of uh state um eventually, you know, there's um um goals we need to hit in terms of uh you know electrifying our fleet.

So those are all considerations um, you know, that are and you know, we obviously can't uh this is stuff that takes a while to put in place.

We can't um go out and buy the vehicle today and then put in the infrastructure tomorrow.

We need to have the infrastructure in place before we can purchase the vehicles.

So, okay.

But how many you Adrian, I think you answered my question though, but how many electric vehicles do we have?

I don't know offhand.

I think that's something I can get you uh answer.

I don't I don't know that the exact number on the okay.

I know I mean I understand I just I just want to know if I under because sometimes it's like if we get a grant for a million dollars, but we have to spend three million dollars.

I just want to know like some money.

Do we have to chase off girl grants if we have to put up even more money and then think of our I just want to prioritize things and think about that if we we're really ready for that when we have sidewalks that could be fixed.

Thank you.

Thanks.

Okay.

Thank you, Councilmember.

We'll go to Councilmanucci.

Thank you, Mayor.

You know, Beth and all the leaders here.

Thank you for all the hundreds of hours of time you've put into coming up with this year's CIP program and looking ahead.

Um I mean, this is what I do for a living, so I can geek out on you if I want, but I won't do that to council tonight.

Um but I also want to thank in advance the Finance and Audit Committee and Patrick for prioritizing, you know, taking a look at this.

And bringing on a municipal advisor is a good starting point.

But there's another piece that has to go with that.

I think one of the themes you've heard from all of us tonight, and I'm not gonna dive into the list, is we don't have enough money for what we want to do.

And so as we bring on the financial advisor and look to work with the audit committee.

One of the big questions out there is what are we trying to do?

What's that target?

What's that number?

And what do we need?

And what condition are our facilities in?

And that has to be done concurrently with looking at potential revenue because we don't know what the answer is.

We don't know how much deferred maintenance we have.

We don't have a capital reserve policy.

We don't have a capital renewal fund.

Um a week, is that a week?

Next Monday, it's alright, next Monday.

Uh Star Wars Day, but Star Wars Day is also the formal opening of our new senior center.

And for those that have seen it, it's spectacular.

I don't think anyone can say it's just you know the low budget.

I mean, it is a nice spectacular addition to our city.

But do we have a capital renewal fund to replace the chiller in 30 years?

Um we haven't even had a conversation at the council.

How pristine or how spectacular do we want to keep it looking that way?

Does that mean we have to replace the carpets every 10 years or replace the the floors every 20 years?

And how do we fund that replacement?

So, along with the revenue piece needs to come with the policy piece about how do we want our facilities to look.

Um Sarah showed us the rendering of the toilet rooms, the new toilet rooms and the downtown library.

Do we want it to keep looking like that for 10 years?

That comes with the cost, or do we replace the partitions and the doors every 10 years?

And where's the reserve fund to fund that?

So that piece has to go along with the financial part.

You know, the condition of our facilities, new work order system to feed into is the new chiller at the Fair Oaks Community Center breaking down every 30 days.

That's what that system tells everybody that maybe we're not doing it right, or maybe we bought a lemon that we're going to wind up spending more money maintaining than replacing.

Or do we just buy what we could afford?

So those things need to all come together to come up with a comprehensive multi-year look at what our capital needs are, as well as how we might fund it.

And we can't rely on everybody keeping a side spread sheet or keeping somebody's head who just retired after 34 years.

We need to be more process-driven and systemic about how do we maintain and look at our facilities and keep track of them and fund them.

And like I said, the policy decision belongs here at the Dais.

The information gathering belongs with our staff.

And then these two come together and say, how do we fund and what do we need to fund?

And then we can make the decisions there because what we've heard tonight, there's not enough money to do everything we want.

Yeah, and so we need to get to the point where we do have priorities, and we can say we do have enough to fund our priorities, and let's go ahead and deliver these programs and these projects.

But until we get there, every year we're falling behind.

The gap gets bigger, our facilities get older, and we struggle with where does the money come from.

And I like to see hopefully a future council not have to struggle about where the money comes from and what few projects we can fund.

We should be able to do what our community needs by having a good strategic plan and a financial plan to meet those needs.

You showed a couple different slides about the color of money.

That's always a favorite of mine.

The fungibility is very limited.

And so can you speak to that?

When I say fungibility, you can't take green money and swap with purple money to swap it with yellow money.

And the most probably stringent ones is the water and sewer funds.

We can't use that to replace carpet at City Hall, for example.

Yeah, that's that's correct.

And um that was one reason uh so much of this presentation was focused on the capital outlay program because that is our general, our general uh CIP pot of money.

And uh the only funding source for that is uh utility user tax, and um that's been largely stagnant for for a variety of reasons.

Um we have you know a little bit more flexibility on our utilities because there's there's a dedicated revenue source, a rate for that, but even that is constrained because you know there's only so much of rate increases that that our our taxpayers um are are willing to absorb, and with an aging infrastructure, you've got a a natural tension point.

So while water and sewer have a dedicated revenue source, even that that has its constraints.

And then, of course, stormwater um is is a big one that we don't have a dedicated revenue source, and and there are some, particularly with climate change, some some really big investments that are needed there, and that finds itself competing with maintaining the chiller and and replacing the HVAC, and um so it's it's it's very much of a of a no-win situation and kind of uh a pick pick your pain point um uh decision-making process is as we're we're looking to allocate allocate our our limited resources, and furthermore, you know, something like stormwater where the investment is so big or or the ongoing pavement program where the the need to maintain pavement levels is so big.

If we've got 11 million dollars a year, um, you know, are you making one or two big investments, or are you are you um spreading it to smaller investments where where we also know there are needs?

So it it it very much is a colors of money challenge, but just not enough of any one color to to meet to meet all of the needs.

Well, thank you, Beth, for that.

Um speaking of pavement, what what are what do your projections look like for SB1 and Measure W monies for pavement rehabilitation?

Because that's the primary source right now, gas tax and and sales tax allocation for measure W.

What do those allocations look like over the next five years?

So we get about one 1.5 million per year for SB1.

Um Measure W, I believe we get about two million.

Yes.

One million.

So between gas tax money, SB1, which is in California being pressured because more EVs are being purchased, which means less gas tax, and then sales tax revenues are pretty, I think Beth uses the word stagnant, not projected.

I mean it's very limited.

So we're not gonna catch up at $2 million a year to get to a PCI level that this council would like to.

So again, that's why the importance of the finance and audit committees work this fall.

We're not going to catch up with two million dollars a year between those two fund sources, and they're dedicated fund sources for pavement rehabilitation.

Correct.

Well, thank you to our finance and audit committee, because you have some hard work in front of you.

Patrick I also would like to make sure we work with you on the other piece that has to go concurrent with that the policy and the technical piece because those need to come together for council to kind of make good decisions going forward.

I don't even kick out too much on everybody.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, Councilmember.

We'll go to Vice Mayor Aiken.

Thank you.

I also would like to thank staff and uh certainly referring to councilwoman Howard's hundreds of fingerprints are on this and you've spent hundreds of hours trying to figure out what's the best use of our money and I'm not going to second guess all that because I haven't spent those hundreds of hours and um so I but I do thank you and you know I'm sorry there isn't more than 40 million and uh wish there were for this year and that we could fund more projects but I accept your decision making on that I um on on two of them the I I serve on the CCAG resource our CMP subcommittee and one of the low-hanging fruit uh in terms of making things more um green more sustainable that I learned through serving on that regional committee is capital improvements when you know when you're putting on a new roof or when you're replacing a air conditioner HVAC those are um those are assets that are there for like 30 years so if you use non-green technology you're saddling the the city with something non-green not just this year but for 30 years so can you clarify a little bit that HVAC is it is it going are is it going to be heat pumps and if not why not and and are we going to have some old monster 1960s technology for some of these big huge machines that we need with the HVAC no you you hit the nail right on the head it's wherever possible we we are absolutely trying to go as green as possible not just for the energy savings but also for you know just for the the benefits to the environment so you know for the HVAC specifically we are looking at heat pump uh uh units um we're looking that it's the not not the large uh big monstrosities that you know you're referencing in cases where you know there might not be a heat um pump um system available for for example maybe that it's too too large of a building or whatever the case may be well we'll look for the green next greenest alternative but um you know we are actively looking for heat pumps and those types of technologies so when you're actively looking for that can you partner with Peninsula Clean Energy I know they um they fund a lot of these things how does that work can you just call someone there at Peninsula Clean Energy and say hey we need some help here to make this situation green where we're hitting a wall because with the technology isn't there or can you tell me a little bit about that?

Yeah so we have a pretty good relationship with uh PCE so we can uh we we have uh technical staff that we you know we know and can contact and so we have a project that we know might require their expertise or um they might see if they have good grants funding available or whatever the case may be we can we can reach out and um you know ask our counterparts um over there and and see what what's available or how they can assist.

That's wonderful I really encourage you to um cultivate that relationship and and it sounds like you do and that's wonderful.

So you're thank you.

And and again on like the roof replacement are there plans to put solar panels on that roof replacement and is that something maybe we could ask PCE for them to fund so we um we're actually um PCE did mention earlier we are actively working with them to try to put a uh a uh solar project together for actually our uh police department a PD so that we're um for where the police department oh uh so um you know we're looking to put solar in the um in the parking uh parking lot area so uh you know as as we as the as we start to replace roofs and and look for additional alternatives we'll we'll definitely be uh exploring solar as an option to put on there but uh one one of the more immediate projects is is um the potential for solar at PD.

So that's that's great to hear.

And I I for one am really delighted that we not only are getting electric vehicle charger stations for our electric fleet but that we're not paying for it Peninsula Clean Energy is or at least for some of it.

Peninsula Clean Energy is, or at least for some of it.

And so I, for one, am I pleased with that and think it's a good use of our resources and I'm glad to see it.

Um on the um in the staff report, um, you know, one of the huge the five-year capital improvement plan, one of the um huge ticket items items that is completely unfunded and is an elephant in the room is the 200 million dollar um see what is it called um uh sea level rise protection project.

And um, you know, that's completely unfunded, but a couple of things about that.

I want to note that when Redwood Shores was built sometime in the 80s, the developer had what's called the Redwood Shores Maintenance District, which was a fund that um the that was privately funded to protect what because even back in the 80s it was a flood-prone area, and there had to be uh, you know um C C protection, bay protection, flood protection, even in the 80s before we knew about sea level rise.

But like, but it sunsetted after 30 years or 25 years.

I'd like us to explore with that five-year plan reinstating that, in other words, private funding.

This can't all be grant funded, it can't all be government funded.

Um I mean, that was recognized when all of that infrastructure was built in a high flood area, uh an area vulnerable to flood.

So I think strategically, since we're here on the dais and and we set policy, I think uh at least I for one would like um staff to look into maybe outreach to the folks that live out there, that this is something they know we need to be talking to them about.

Um because it's just it's it's a number that dwarfs every other neighborhood.

And um so you know so I just think we need to look at that.

Um also on that issue of from private sources, um, you know, we're hearing about the big beautiful bill that passed in Washington, D.C., where it drastically reduced grant funding from the federal government.

And when we get together in bigger bigger rooms with um public officials from different regions, it's all anyone is talking about.

Yeah, we we have to do more with less, that money isn't there, it's it's it's gone.

What we always could count on.

And so we need to take a real hard look and say, well, you know, maybe we need to start doing some we need to think strategically about fundraising from private individuals.

Um this is the fourth wealthiest county in the country by by some estimates, the the wealthiest by other estimates.

And um, so maybe we need to like start thinking strategically about who who's who's affected by poor road quality, who's affected by the um the park being delayed to being built for two more years, and maybe having some strategic conversations with some of those folks that have resources or have a family foundation, or whose grandparents started a family foundation before they were even born, and they're third or fourth generation Redwood City.

So I think that needs to creep in.

I'm sorry it needs to, because I think government should be funding this, but we live in a very unequal society, and the haves are just getting more, and the have nots are not getting more.

So I think that has to be part of our more strategic thinking.

Um I guess I just have one question.

Um it's a quick question.

But on one page of the report, it talked about increased costs, and it said that one of the reasons for increased costs was there are not enough skilled people available to can to fill construction project to fill the jobs needed for our construction projects.

So we are seeing a reduction in the labor force for skilled workers and what that really translates into higher prices coming from contractors, less contractors bidding on our projects.

So competition goes a little bit down.

Price of labor goes up just so that we can secure the skilled laborers.

Where are the skilled laborers going?

What why did they used to be plentiful and they're not now?

It's just an economic driver.

Okay, thank you.

And and that's what they're telling you.

We're not bidding because we can't get the labor.

Or we have to we can't lower our price because we can't get the labor.

Is that what you're hearing?

They can't be competitive on the project.

We hear that a lot.

Um other priorities with other agencies depending on when we come into the bidding cycle.

So we always try to bid our things in early spring and not in the later part of summer because contractors they fill up their books really early in the year.

And so the earlier you get in, the more access you have to that limited labor pool.

Thank you.

Thank you, Vice Mayor, Councilmember G.

Thank thank you, Mayor.

Just as a reminder, Vice Mayor, the sea level rise issue isn't just District 1 Redwood Shores, the Sustainability Climate Action Committee is actually districts one, two, and three, because we have the largest bayfront and linear footage of any city on the peninsula.

District 2 is already paying.

Many properties are paying flood insurance already all the way up to Broadway.

And district three is in a comparable situation without a levy, but they are all subject, all three districts are subject to flooding.

So if the solution is to seek a revenue measure from District One from an equity and consistency standpoint, that same strategy might have to apply to District 2 and District 3.

So I would just suggest that we look at it comprehensively rather than just one district by itself.

With regards to the lack of skilled labor, that's a demographic that has been in the making for a long time.

It is not new.

I can go on for half an hour on why that is, but the simple answer is the birth rate in this country is dropped below the replacement level.

And so the labor force doesn't exist.

It isn't there.

And higher education is really simple.

The when I talk about 2008 and the recession that happened, one of the phenomena that people forget is that young couples put off in deferred raising families.

And so the birth rate of incoming freshmen has dropped precipitously off the charts.

And that's why you see a number of small private institutions either consolidating or closing, because the bodies just don't exist anymore and are not going to exist in the foreseeable future.

So skilled labor, not even skilled labor, labor at all levels are going to be hard to find in the next four years.

If you think it's hard now, it's going to be even harder in four years.

Thank you, Councilmember, and thank you to my colleagues.

That is an excellent question.

So what the CIP, what engineering priority community.

Yeah, so thank you.

EPCs are the equity priority communities.

So what engineering is really trying to do is allocate a certain percentage of our overall budget to specifically serve disadvantaged communities or EPCs.

And so we've been looking at this metric of reserving between 10 and 20 percent of our overall allocation specifically to look at projects like Page Avenue, where we do uh 100 percent EPC area for a new bike boulevard.

Um it doesn't take away from the aging infrastructure concern and prioritizing some of the more critical areas, but it really does help us to spread the wealth, if you will, and make sure that all parts of the city are being positively impacted and not just certain areas.

Excuse me, thank you that helps.

And um, you know, I there's been lots of conversation around Lori Duncan Park too today and just kind of quick builds in general.

And I was kind of wondering if the length of, or I guess the lifespan of a quick build project came up in your discussions too, and how that played into what's getting replaced.

Yeah.

So we do a lot of quick builds.

Uh one that comes to mind is our ongoing project on Roosevelt Avenue, where we're doing about 1.6 miles of traffic calming between El Camino and Alameda de los Pogas.

The project planning started in 2020.

We did the quick build in 2024, and now we're just looking at 27 to break ground on the permanent improvements.

The quick build improvements are a way for us to use limited funding in order to have a really big impact on the community while we're still gathering data on how efficient the strategy is, as well as how quickly we can make it permanent.

Uh, we have very limited funding, and the quick build is just one tool that we use to try to get more bang for our buck.

Thank you, Denisha.

I appreciate that.

I know there's a tension between right addressing the problem, right?

A safety issue, and also making it permanent and the funds that it's gonna take to make that happen.

Um thank you for answering the question around the EPCs.

Um I really appreciated the dashboard.

I thought that was such a helpful tool as a visual learner, and giving us the district by district breakdown was really helpful.

Um I raise EPCs because I saw in the pie chart of what's being funded in EPCs versus just citywide, it was like a 25 to 75.

And it just occurred to me that's not a helpful start, but also I feel like there are some projects that are absolutely double dipping that aren't being captured by that 25%.

So that just kind of had me thinking two things.

You know, how do we how do we track that or really demonstrate the investment that's being made into the EPCs?

And also I'm curious to see if, you know, aside from using EPCs, I know we're constantly arguing with with the state agencies around, you know, who is living in an impoverished neighborhood, right?

And what is considered um health impacts, and the line is moving constantly.

So I would be really curious for us to come up with our own measurement of what an equity priority neighborhood looks like.

So it's not constantly changing, and we were driving what that change looks like in the neighborhoods.

Um from that, I I'm really really happy at the balance that's being struck in the CIPs.

That's all for questions, thanks, Nisha.

Um I'm really happy about the balance that I'm seeing in the CIP because it's I mean, we we are in a tough financial spot, but this is absolutely moving the needle when it comes to our transportation needs, our infrastructure needs.

Um not just at a large scale like 84101, but also the bike boulevards plan, which I talk about living on Vera all the time, and I get to see the benefits of how activated our street is now that students feel safe to go from Redmorton down to El Camino and use that as a their safe lane through through the neighborhood.

Um I'll add a plus one to the parking permitting program.

That is a huge need.

I lived in Stanball Heller um when the parking permitting program first rolled out there, and that was a huge lift for the neighbors and the enforcement is everything, and folks will respect the program if they know there's consequences to that, right?

So I know that's always a challenge, but um something that I'm keeping an eye on.

I mean, my council member colleague already asked about um Hoover and how do they end the Nino's, which I'm really glad are are being left untouched through this.

Um I'll add a plus one to the digital billboards.

We had um a lot of SAF work done in the process for that, and it feels like uh we should use that energy, that momentum, that expertise, the knowledge we've built and see how we can make that work uh at a different property or um how we can pursue just another revenue stream.

Um and then, you know, just to wrap up, you know, to fund any of these any of these projects, we we need a funding plan, and my council colleagues have mentioned it that you know there there is no long-term mechanism to allow us to be strategic.

Um and then you know, just to wrap up, you know, to fund any of these any of these projects, we we need a funding plan, and my council colleagues have mentioned it that you know there there is no long-term mechanism to allow us to be strategic, and so we are in this position where we have to go for the most apparent needs, right?

The things that need to change.

I I know last year we had done tenant and facility improvements, and I hear from employees who work at the Fair Oaks Community Center who talk about it being day and night now and how it's it's cleaner, and this is a facility that's not just for our employees, but also the community who rent this out for who rent out that building for their quince and yetas and their other celebrations.

So um these improvements are going such a long way.

And um, I know my vice mayor mentioned fundraising, right?

For for these changes.

Um I'm really excited that we're bringing on that municipal advisor that the finance and audit committee is going to be doing this great work.

And I think before we get to a point where we start fundraising, whatever that looks like, um, that it's so important that not only we have our priorities as a council already defined and set up, but that we we have plans in hand of what those changes will look like.

So as soon as we get money, we can hit the ground running.

Um, and so we can show the community also not what's at stake but what's to be gained by investing in the community.

So um, with that, I know this is a study session item, so we won't be taking a formal action.

And not seeing any other hands up, we will wrap up our study session and move on to item 11.

Thank you, everyone.

Thank you to staff.

Great.

So we will start with item 11a, City Council member report of conferences attended.

Do we have any reports?

Councilmember Howard, then Councilmember Serkin.

Thank you.

Um Councilmember Chu and I both attended via Zoom, the local policymaker group meeting on April 23rd, and uh we were we heard this this wonderful news about um Nancy Pelosi, who has been very instrumental in obtaining federal funding for CalTrain, 2.4 billion electrification.

Um she was honored with a train named after her, and I just think that's pretty cool.

And they were impressed with how much it meant to her.

They weren't sure if she was just gonna be blasé or whatever.

You know, she got emotional and it really meant a lot to her.

So I think that's pretty cool.

And she was very instrumental in getting funding that was desperately needed from the federal level.

Um they talked about Caltran preparing for the FIFA World Cup in 2026.

Uh they'll be doing um enhanced safety and security measures, how to handle traffic and large crowds efficiently and safely.

So that was an interesting conversation to hear.

And then there was a brief discussion about corridor crossings, the strategy draft report, um, our long-term grade separations that we hope will happen in the future, but again, funding is probably going to be the biggest obstacle.

So uh, but it was good to hear it, and um, I'm glad she was there because we both got to hear it, and it was good information.

Uh, secondly, tomorrow I will be going to Sacramento with the county manager and elected officials in San Mateo County to speak with the finance committee.

Diane Papen, our um assembly woman sits on that committee, and it's going to be talking about vehicle license fees or VLFs, the loss for San Mateo County and two other counties, and how we want that rectified as quickly as possible.

Wish me luck, okay.

Um thirdly, on Saturday, my husband and I attended the CERT program, the one day thorough, intense training for emergency preparedness, and I have to compliment the search staff and the volunteers who were there.

It was really well done.

It was so organized, they must have started at three in the morning because it was very organized, and uh I felt like I learned so much information, and thank God they gave us a packet because we would never remember it all.

But it was really well worth going.

If you can't take the intense program that's like weeks at a time, we have to go every week, take the one day.

I encourage them to do more of the one-day trainings because many of us cannot do the other training, and but we would certainly be able to make time for one day, and it's worth it.

So thank you very much.

Thank you, Councilmember.

And we are emergency service workers by state code.

So thank you for getting that training done.

We'll go to Councilmember Ster.

Thank you, Mayor.

I think firstly I need to mention I went to Progress Seminar, and the city did pay for my uh attendance, which I would not have been able to go otherwise.

So I much appreciate it.

Three quick updates.

All right.

Um committee.org.

We recommended um through the community partner, grants of uh two-year grants worth $20,000 to four uh community organizations that serve Redwood City to educate the community about uh community.org's resources shuttles, bike uh training.

So that includes a live in peace, that includes El Concilio, uh Casa Circulo, and uh Peninsula 360 press.

So some great partners there.

Uh then moving on to rethink waste.

Um you know uh that your milk curtain is no longer lined with wax, it's lined with plastic.

Whoa.

Plastic line cartons are notoriously difficult difficult to recycle, but now they can be turned into roofing material.

On 423-26, rethink waste accepted a grant from the Carbon Carton Council of California.

I say that three times fast, uh, to turn your disposed cartons into roofing shingles.

And so before you just uh before your disposed cartons would be shipped uh overseas to be downcycled at best or landfilled at worst.

And now the curtains will be staying local in Lodi, so semi-local.

And uh we'll help build or re-roof new homes.

So that was pretty cool.

And finally, I got appointed to CCAG's um congestion management and environmental quality committee, and we had a meeting earlier today uh where we renewed the current split um of uh funding for uh state transit assistance population-based funds.

37% to SAM trans for paratransit and 63% to uh lifeline transportation programs.

And as an example, those include shuttles, they include um you know bike and ped projects, uh, though none in Redwood City.

So keep that in mind, folks.

And finally, um I was appointed along with Rich Rich Hedges um to the uh one Bay Area Grant Cycle 4 County and Local Program evaluation panel.

Uh so I'll be helping evaluate projects applying for funding in this next round.

Thank you.

Congratulations, councilmember.

We'll go to the vice mayor.

Thank you.

Briefly, I just I attend I also attended the Progress Seminar funded by the city.

And um among the presentations that I learned a lot from was a presentation about SB 63 that will be on the ballot in November, and also a really interesting, thought-provoking presentation on artificial intelligence.

And I thank the city for paying for me.

Thank you, Vice Mayor, Councilmember G.

Thank you, Mayor.

I just want to give a shout out to the Belmont Rewood Shores School District on Sunday.

The school force um had their musical celebration, celebrate the music for those of us that may have been here longer.

It used to be Save the Music.

And it was a great all-day celebration of our young musicians and singers performing all day long at Ross the Middle School.

So congratulations to the youth, to the families, and to the district for a great celebration.

Great.

Thank you, Councilmember.

And just for the record, I also attended progress seminar.

My employer paid for my way, so just wanted to include that for the record.

Um we'll move on to 11.

Yeah.

Well, yeah, I tell now I also attended progress seminar.

The city paid for me.

I have no further comments.

The city paid for me, and I have no further comments.

It was great.

But dido.

Thank you all.

Just did our requirement there.

Um we'll move on to 11B, and I've got three quick updates.

Um, first on governance subcommittee.

Uh, the committee comprised of the vice mayor, councilmember G and myself met on Monday, April 20th.

The legislative consultant for the city, Claire Sullivan from California Public Policy Group provided a ledge update, which included updates on the state's legislative timing, uh the vehicle license fee, uh, shortfall, and our city's current positions on legislation.

Um, and lastly, we engaged on additional legislation affecting Redwood City in accordance with the 2026 ledge platform.

The committee's uh the committee discussed and confirmed positions on key bills, and we'll next meet on May 13th.

Um, the committee comprised of Council Members G Chu and myself met on the twenty first of this month.

The consultant reported on the project status, which included right of way progress, design progress, and construction, and the project team also updated the committee on the overall project progress and outlined next steps for the project, and that ad hoc committee meets on May fifteenth next.

And lastly, the ad hoc on special events met on April twenty-third and received an update from city staff on preliminary plans under development in conjunction with the World Cup events scheduled for this summer.

During the course of that discussion, we also discuss the nature of entertainment zones, and the committee will be meeting again on April twenty-ninth and anticipate receiving another update at that time on plans related to the World Cup.

And we will go to item eleven C, our city manager update.

And if there's no reportable action, the council will adjourn immediately following closed session and will not be returning back to the dais.

With that, thank you everyone for joining tonight's city council meeting.

Thank you.

So in close session, the city council unanimously approved and authorized the city manager to execute a settlement agreement with Juba Retail Red With City Inc.

Tax Liability.