Redwood City Planning Commission Special Meeting – May 6, 2025
Redwood City Planning Commission Special Meeting – May 6, 2025
This special meeting of the Redwood City Planning Commission was held on May 6, 2025, at 6:30 PM in the City Council Chambers, 1017 Middlefield Road, with remote participation via Zoom. The primary agenda item was a public hearing to determine whether the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 is consistent with the city's General Plan. The commission also received updates on transportation and parking policies. The meeting adjourned at 7:10 PM.
Consent Calendar
- No items were on the consent calendar.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public spoke in person or submitted email comments for the public hearing on the CIP consistency item. Public comment via Zoom was temporarily suspended due to disruptions at other regional meetings.
Discussion Items
- Item 5A: General Plan Consistency for the 2025-2026 Capital Improvement Program – Associate Planner Evelyn Garcia presented the staff report explaining that the CIP includes 59 projects targeting transportation, drainage, park, and facility improvements. She noted that individual projects will still undergo environmental review and City Council approval. Commissioners asked clarifying questions about the general plan update timeline (comprehensive update in 2010, but many elements updated since), the extent of community outreach (budget study sessions, housing action plan hearings), and specific projects such as the replacement of synthetic turf fields (confirmed by Engineering Director Tanisha Werner that cork will be used instead of tire rubber). Commissioner Cornejo inquired about inclusive outreach; staff offered to connect with the finance director for more detail. Commissioner Robinson highlighted the importance of ADA transition plans and pedestrian-cyclist safety. Commissioner Finch praised the breadth of projects, including the county garage permit program. Chair Crnogorac discussed enforcement challenges related to the daylighting law and potential conflicts between green infrastructure and ADA curb ramps. Commissioner Cornejo noted the planned essential wheels e-bike loaner program and asked about dropped-bike management; Tanisha Werner explained designated drop-off zones and daily collection.
- Item 6A: Transportation Updates in 2025 – Assistant Community Development Director Sue Exline provided a high-level overview of upcoming policy work: (1) Transit-Oriented Community policies from MTC, requiring parking minimum elimination and maximums within a half-mile of Caltrain, to be studied for a City Council study session in winter/spring 2026; (2) increasing and improving bicycle parking as part of a zoning code update; (3) parking code updates tied to housing element; and (4) Muni code updates for a points-based Transportation Demand Management system and a Transportation Management Association. Commissioner Finch clarified that zoning code updates will come before Planning Commission, while Muni code updates go directly to City Council.
- Item 6B: Planning Commission Liaison Updates – Staff welcomed new commissioners Craig Robinson, Chair Crnogorac, Commissioner Hunter, and incoming appointee Shashir Bhat (joining in June). The 901 El Camino Real and 920 Shasta projects were approved by City Council the previous week. The next regular meeting will be June 3, 2025; the May 20 meeting is likely cancelled.
Key Outcomes
- Motion to approve Resolution No. 25-03 (finding that the CIP for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 conforms to and is consistent with the General Plan) passed 5-0 (Motion: Commissioner Hunter; Second: Commissioner Finch).
- Minutes of April 15, 2025 approved 4-0-1 (Commissioner Robinson abstained because she was not present at that meeting).
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, and thank you for joining our May 6th, 2025 planning commission special meeting. As a reminder, items will be taken in the order. They're listed on the agenda. Before we get started, I wanted to briefly go over public comment procedures for the meeting as those may be joining us for the first time. Public comments on the approval of minutes, consent items, matters of commission commission interest, and items not on the agenda will be taken during item number two on this evening's agenda. Comments on other agenda items will be taken only when it that item is called. We are continuing to offer in-person remote options for our planning commission meetings, however, due to the continued recent disruptions during public comment at open meetings throughout the region and state, we are modified our public comment procedures. The city welcomes public comments on topics within city's jurisdiction, and this can be provided in person during the meeting or via email ahead of the meeting. At this time, we're temporarily suspending public comment provided by Zoom. Our public comment procedures are as follows. Public comment will be taken in person during the meeting or in advance via email to PC at rebocity.org. In-person speakers must turn in the speaker card and to uh and um submitted to our admin staff liaison at the dais. Comments that were emailed to PC at ReboCity.org by five PM today may be read into the record by the staff liaison. Both in-person and email comments are subject to the three minute limit. I will now turn it over to staff for the to call the role. Commissioner Cornejo. Here commissioner Finch. Here. Commissioner Hunter? Here. Commissioner Robinson. Here. Vice Chair Coke is absent. And Chair Sonagaratz. Here for the purposes of this meeting, I'm Sue X Heim, the assistant community development director and staff liaison to the commission. Other staff attending this evening. Thank you, Ms. Xline. We're moving on to item number two, public comments on the approval of minutes, consent items, matters of commission interest and items not on the agenda. At this time we will take public comments from those joining us in person only. Um because we're temporarily suspending public comments provided by Zoom. Um seeing none. Um speakers, uh I will now close the public comment. Um item number three is approval of minutes. Is there a motion to approve the draft meeting minutes of our meeting on April 15th, 2025? So moved. Uh moved by Commissioner Hunter. Second by second by Commissioner Corneho. Commissioner Cornejo. Yes. Commissioner Finch? Yes. Commissioner Hunter. Yes. Commissioner Robinson. I was not present. Should I abstain? I have no objection, but I think that works. And Chair Surnegar Rats. Uh yes.
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