December 10, 2019 Joint Meeting of Mountain View City Council and Shoreline Regional Park Community

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Transcript

[00:15:23] Mayor Lisa Matichak: And this is a study session, and we'll start with roll call.

[00:15:28] City Clerk: All council members are present.

[00:15:29] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Thank you. Thank you. So the only item for the study session is item 3.1, the comprehensive annual financial report, and other related reports for the fiscal year ended June 30th, 2019. And since this is a study session, we'll start with the staff presentation, we'll open it up for public comment, and then we'll bring it back to council for discussion. So, we'll start with the staff report.

[00:15:56] Administrative Services Director Jesse Takahashi: Right, good evening. Mayor Mattachek, council members. I'm Jesse Takahashi, Finance Service Administrative Services Director, for the city. We will be covering tonight, as you mentioned, the Kaffir, the comprehensive annual financial report, for the fiscal year end of June 30, 2019. The City Charter, Section 1106 requires an annual audit by an independent certified public accounting firm. Tonight, we have with us our director from our audit firm, MGO, MCS Jeannie O'Connell. They've been our auditor for the past four years. Ben will be here to review the results of the audit, the auto process, and to share and go over required communication that they are obligated to share with the governing body. We will also, of course, have time for Q and A. And before I turn it over, I just wanted to thank the staff that were involved in helping prepare this year's audit, including the clothes, including our former finance director, Patty Kong, who was gracious enough to come back and insist with that during our staffing transition, and also our newest accounting manager, Helen He, who was able to cut her teeth, just started as we were going through the closed process. So Helen was also here tonight, and I wanted to thank her for all of her efforts, and doing this. And lastly, I just wanted to summarize, and there's a lot of information in the Kaffir, but wanted to just focus on the results for the general operating fund, which is our city's main account, on revenues of $146 million, and expenditures of $137 million. There was a general operating fund balance of 7.8 million. So that's sort of in a nutshell. City was in a good position. And with that, I would like to turn it over to Ben Lao, who will go ahead and walk you through the audit results. Then the process.

[00:18:07] Auditor Ben Lao: Hi, everybody. My name is Ben Lao, MG, director from MGO, I have been with the firm for this is my 17th year. Yeah, it's been a long, long time. Painful, eventful. I actually met my wife there. She's still at the firm, so all is well. So, with that said, um, uh, as, as, as, as Jesse mentioned, uh, this is the 4th year of our audit, uh, of our audit. This is the annual financial statement audit, and I'm here to present the results of the audit, and hopefully everybody get the final result that's had very, very hard work from the city and us as well for the past, I would say, half a year. And it's a very big booklet, and within this booklet, there's actually 2 sets of financial statement, one is the Kaffir, and towards the back end, there is the shoreline community's financial statement as well. And I'm also here to present 2 more reports. One is the report to the city council, and the other one is a relatively simple report, what we call a UP game report. With that said, for the, for the, let's start from the cafe 1st is on the 1st section of your whole big booklet. And on page one and 2 of this booklet, not the front section, but the one 2 under the financial section tap, page one and 2. That is our audit opinion. And on that independent auditor's opening report. We, as the auditor have issued an unmodified opinion to the city's financial statement as a whole. Uh, well, it's a modified, a modified opinion is an, basically an, uh, sorry. A reasonable assurance that there is no material misstatement on your financial statement, in a simple non-accountant term, it is a clean report. So there's no misstatement that we have identified regarding financial statements. So this is a great result, which is the highest level of assurance that we can provide to the city. And on page, starting from page 21, under the basic financial statements tap, page 21, that is your statement of position and same of activities. Basically, those are numbers, and as Jesse mentioned, the city is in a relatively healthy financial positions, you have positive net positions and as well as fund balances. And there are 2 transactions during the year that I want to highlight to the city council members that you likely will be aware of. But the 1st one is on page 78. During this year, page 78 is related to long-term debt. During the year, the city issued the 2018 revenue bonds for the Shoreline regional park community. It is for $53.500000 and $10.300000 and it happens in the December time frame. So that's one significant transactions of transaction. And on the next page, towards the middle, there is a section, a wastewater direct financing arrangement. The city also secured through a private placement in entering into an installment sale agreement for $10.1 million. Yes, I remember right. $10100000 and as of year end June 30 of 19, the city has that line, or I should say that's availability for drawing funds best of June 30 of 19, The city have not drawn it yet. Uh, I would say drawn a very small dollar amount for $59,000 and that's for the cost of insurance. And the remaining line, uh, the remaining line you have, uh, the city will have till May 1st, 2020 to draw the line. So that will happen in basically six, five, 6 months from now, those money available for you to draw. And based on my understanding, based on the credit rating of the city, the city has secured a relatively great, basically interest rate, and that's great news. And so this is basically a relatively bargain borrowing for the city. And that's the capture in the nutshell. For this year, I'm not going to focus anytime to discuss about pension and OPEP. Pension is a pension standard, as 68 is implementing 2015. And then last year, the city also implemented the OPAP standard, which is gas B 75, and those basically history. Now it becomes the routine right now. And in the future year, uh, this year is a pretty calm year, uh, for gas be standards, uh, implementation starting next year, uh, there will be some news standards coming, uh, 80, I guess be 84 will be for on fiduciary activities. I don't expect any significant impact in the city, but the year afterwards, 2021. The new standard, I guess, be statement number 87 on leases that will likely have a significant impact on the city's financial statement. After this opposed audit, we will start working with the city, to our city, and especially on the finance department to ensure that there's a successful implementation regarding that, and that might be some, a lot of effort from the city site to incorporate that standard. And that concludes the Kaffir pod, and the next one is the shoreline financial statement is towards the back end of this booklet. And basically, I, I, I, I term it as the shoreline is like a mini, it's like a mini Kaffir. is just capturing information, extracting the information related to shoreline community, uh, at top level, uh, similar to the Kaffir, uh, the city receives an unmodified opinion for the uh, for the shoreline community financial state, uh, community's financial statement. Again, it's a claim, as a claim report, highest assurance. So that's the 2 financial statements. And with that, I'm going to go to The 3rd document, which is the report to the city council. That is only a 4 page report, and, and this is a, this year, this is a very standard report, and standard is good. Standard means, there is for this year, at the top level, at a very high level is the city receives no internal control finding or financial statement from the auditors. In other words, uh, we have not identified any reportable findings for the city, and in other words, uh, the city is doing a great job regarding, regarding financial reporting and internal control. And towards the 2nd and 3rd, towards the 1st page, sign 1st page is the required communication, those are all scanned, those are all scanned language from basically there's a template, if it is, if everything is clean. This is a standard template. And a lot of them, I'm not going to go to each of them, but the key ones will be there are no significant. There are no difficulties encountered during the audit by the auditors. There is no corrected or uncorrected misstatement that requires for reporting, which, in other words, again, is a clean, is a clean audit, and there is no disagreement with the management. In other words, we feel very good about this other process. And lastly, it's the gain report. It is a very standard report on an annual basis, uh, city council actually approved, I think, through, I think, through a resolution to approved, uh, the, uh, retirement as the gain limit, and that is actually a revenue limit, uh, based on, based on 2 factors, the inflation factor and uh, uh, growth factor, uh, to calculate the maximum revenues that the city can impose uh, for your residents. And my understanding is the city, the city's limit is more like an exercise for the calculation you. Your revenue is very, very far from that limit. So it's just an exercise to calculate that limit. It would not impact your charges to the city or anything. So, uh, through these, through these agreed upon procedures, we have no exceptions identified. So with all that said, going back to the thank you. Thank you, Jesse, Alan, and the city's management as well as the staff throughout this audit. It's a very, it's a very smooth audit for us. We don't experience any, because there's a transition for leadership in the finance department. We, we, we, we, we are aware that there might be, uh, there might be some speed bumps uh, through the process. And throughout that, throughout this process, we feel like it is very smooth. It's a very smooth transition. So we forget about that process. And with that, thanks for your time and we are available for questions.

[00:27:03] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Thank you. Appreciate it So, at this point, we will open it up for public comment. And if anyone wants to address the council, please come up to the microphone. Okay, seeing none, we'll close the public input portion, and bring it back to council if you have any questions and discussion. later.

[00:27:31] Unknown Speaker: What? We're voting on this later.

[00:27:33] Unknown Speaker: Mm hmm. Just a note, sir. On the diet says the third edition of counsel questions today, there were some questions on the caffra that we weren't able to get to until late in the day, but there are written answers in front of you.

[00:27:45] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Thank you. Council member McAllister?

[00:27:47] Councilmember John McAlister: Yeah. Did the third edition have my answer in it? Okay. So, I just want to give us the opportunity to clarify an article in the Palo Alto Post today saying we had a, I think it was $117 million surplus from before. I think that's within plus or minus $10 million. And I just wanted staff to really explain how the Palo Alto Post always seems to come up with these extremely large numbers and what's realistic, too. So what is our... Is there a way to explain their cost?

[00:28:36] Administrative Services Director Jesse Takahashi: Well, first off, I have not seen that article, and I was not able...

[00:28:41] Councilmember John McAlister: I almost tried to bring it in. I forgot it, but, yeah.

[00:28:43] Administrative Services Director Jesse Takahashi: To speak with them, so I'm a little bit at a loss as to where they may have come up with that. But oftentimes, you know, there is a lot of information in the document, and so, depending upon what you're looking at, oftentimes there is, you know, they're looking at an entity wide total of all funds, and so they may be picking up some numbers that represent a combined number. The number that I went over earlier was looking at just the general fund, and really just the general operating fund, which is really the main account for the city. And so, you know, unless you really, can see where that came from. It's a little difficult to know where they picked that up from.

[00:29:28] Councilmember John McAlister: Yeah, I apologize. I had the newspaper and walked out the door without going in. And my other question is, and this is trying to put things in context as we move forward to our annual budget. is, is there a dollar amount that is, regardless of what's in the Kaffir, that sort of gives us an indication of unallocated funds, or their unrestricted funds, balance.

[00:29:54] Administrative Services Director Jesse Takahashi: Well, there is a, there's sort of the, how much do we have to spend? And then there's sort of the technical, what is unrestricted, unrestricted, and so... As... The Kaffir lays out sort of the technical allocation that I think what you may be getting at, as well. What really is there that we can spend?

[00:30:11] Councilmember John McAlister: Yeah, cut the malarkey. And what is the, yeah, what's the dollar? So the amount coming as a result of this fiscal year, and including items that have previously come before, as far as unassigned or unallocated?

[00:30:28] Administrative Services Director Jesse Takahashi: The bottom line is $6.3 million, and that represents the amount that really can't be spent for at council's discretion. There are a lot of other amounts in there that are already potentially committed either through council resolution, or by other means in which they're earmarked. Those amounts can be repurposed or reallocated at council's discretion. And so, you know, to answer that question, what is available, you have a lot available, but if you're looking for just what haven't we already touched, the 6.3 million would be sort of that, you know, discretionary, we can throw it to CIP, we can throw it to some other projects, priorities.

[00:31:19] Councilmember John McAlister: Okay. That's... That's why all I wanted. Thank you.

[00:31:23] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Vice Mayor Abbe Coca?

[00:31:25] Vice Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga: Thank you. Following up on that, I didn't read the article either, but looking at the financial highlights, the 117.6 million is the net position increase. Um, and I guess over the years, you know, I've had folks ask me about the Kaffir, or they read the Kaffir, and, um, they assume that's the budget, but, you know, our budget that we pass in July is very different. And I try to explain that, but, um, I don't know if I'm succeeding, and I was wondering if you could maybe better explain the differences, and, because I think people look at this, and, yeah, they see these numbers and think, oh, that we have this surplus, but it's not actually our operating budget that Kaffirs reflects.

[00:32:12] Administrative Services Director Jesse Takahashi: Yes, and so thanks for pointing that out. The 117 million is, essentially, the change in that position, and so, essentially, what that is, and without getting into too much detail, but this document does present two perspectives, meaning it reports two different ways. One is at a full accrual or entity wide, meaning all of the city's funds and accounts are sort of grouped together. It's converted over to what they call full accrual basis, which is meant to be comparable with the private sector accounting. And that includes such things as all the city's infrastructure, capital assets, also includes things that all of the long term debt, things that, from a budgetary basis, don't necessarily impact day to day, like looking at the general fund. So when we report here, the 717 million, what it's doing is really taking all of the expenses, less the revenues, or revenues, less the expenses, and factors in all of these other changes in the city's assets and liabilities. And really, all that means is their net position, or what's left over, assets, less liabilities, and some other things. Is this number? It is not a surplus, in the sense of, we took in this much more revenues, over expenditures, but it has a lot of other type of accounting adjustments and revenue and expense recognition that are non, non cash and non spendable kinds of things into this bottom line number. So, and actually, if you'd like to clarify or say some more.

[00:33:55] Unknown Speaker: Uh, Jesse's explanation, hopefully, is, hopefully, it helps a little bit. I can give you, like, an example of something about, because, because you're focusing on the 117, that is a full growth financial statement. And one of the key thing that is between difference between the budget, budget or budgetary basis of fund accounting versus the foregrowth financial statement will be the treatment of a capital outlay, money that you spend on capital assets, from financial stand budgetary basis. After you spend it, you spend it. Like you spend $50000000 by building, you spend $50000000. On the full growth financial statement. That's not the case. The $50000000 become an asset, it got depreciated for 50 years. Every year, you take the hit of a $1000000 just because of, uh, let's say, I, I, I, I exaggerate, but a $50000000 capital asset that you purchase, that, that will already be a difference on, on the income statement side of $490000 just because this one transaction, you might have $490000 excess surplus from a full growth financial statement. So, uh, the full growth financial statement, the purpose, in fact, is actually for comparability to the real world, which is a corporate world. They only have one column for a growth function statement. Government is still operating under budgetary statement, fund financial statement, current resources focus, and basically, when the money is out, is out, and that is, I think that will explain the biggest difference regarding regarding the difference between those 2 function statements. And same applies for long-term debt. You might, when you issue a debt, same thing approach. It's the opposite direction, but it's the same approach. So that hopefully that helps to explain the difference between those 2 function statements.

[00:35:41] City Manager Dan Rich: So, and just to add to that, if I could, certainly not as eloquently or technical as our folks over there, but on your consent agenda tonight is the actual adoption of the Kaffir, and attached to that report is an attachment that talks about the general fund, and that, frankly, for U.S. policymakers and members of the community is a far more helpful document to understand what's really going on. with their financial position and what's available for day to day operations.

[00:36:08] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Thank you. Any other questions or comments? So, Council member McAllister?

[00:36:18] Councilmember John McAlister: Did you make a reference? Because I was able to find a small reference, and so, I'll just, it's only two sentences. This is from the post, so you guys have a better way to... And I don't know if we've ever addressed the post in their response, but I guess, most ways, ignore it, says, The city of Mound View banked a 117.6 million surplus over the last fiscal year, and 18 million dollar increase from the previous year, according to its latest annual financial report that was audited by an independent firm. The large surplus is mostly due to a nearly $25 million increase in investment income attributed to growth in the city's portfolio, fair value adjustments, and higher interest earnings. The total market value of the city's portfolio, portfolio, rose 13 from the, for 13% from the previous year. So that was just sort of what the public is seeing, and that's why the truth would be spoken here. And what we heard tonight is there is no money bin with 118 million. in it. So... That why I asked the question. Yeah.

[00:37:26] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Okay, any other comments? Okay, so we don't need to make motion on this. We just are accepting it, right?

[00:37:33] Unknown Speaker: Exactly.

[00:37:34] Mayor Lisa Matichak: So, uh, okay, do we just say it's accepted? Or do you do that? Council member Hicks?

[00:37:43] Councilmember Alison Hicks: I was just gonna thank Mr. Takahashi. I had one hour introduction to the Kaffir, and that's why I have no questions at this point, because he answered every single question I had, including some unusual questions from members of the public. So thank you.

[00:37:58] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Thank you. So, um, we don't need to do anything. Okay. Well, I'll add my thanks. I had the opportunity. The mayor meets with the auditor, and I appreciate all the work that went into this, and for the great explanations. Yeah, to staff, as well as you. So thank you very much. Thank you. And we will, I guess, revisit this, just on the consent calendar in a short period of time. Thank you.

[00:23:12] (archive recording) Mayor Lisa Matichak: So this is unusual for us that we have a break between the study session and the regular session, so we'll adjourn until 6:30 when we'll start the regular session.

[00:53:49] Mayor Lisa Matichak: The pledge of allegiance, if you'll join me.

[00:54:12] City Clerk: Thanks, is roll call? Vice Mayor Abikoga and council member Ramirez are absent, but I believe that you should be here any moment. All their council members are present. Thank you.

[00:54:22] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Thank you. Okay. Uh, item 3.1. Um... I'm thinking that maybe we want to continue this one until December 2020. Indefinitely. Um, so, we do...

[00:54:46] Unknown Speaker: You could do it in Q1.

[00:54:48] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Q1, thanks. Um, we are, um, happy and sad, I guess I would say, um, to recognize city manager Dan Rich on his upcoming retirement. And so, Dan, if you will join me at the microphone. Just for Dan. Is it on? So, Dan. Um, I'll let you hold this, um, and I will read it unless you want to. I'm just kidding. Okay, thank you. And then obviously, um, if you want to say a few words, that'd be great. Well, Stan Ridge was appointed as city manager in July, 2011, and provided more than eight years of dedicated service to the city of Mountain View before his retirement in December, 2019. And whereas, prior to joining the city of Mountain View, Dan also served as the city manager for the city of Campbell, assistant city manager for the cities of Belmont and Sunnyvale, and legislative assistant to the late California senator Alan Cranston for a total of 27 years in local government. And whereas, throughout his Mountain View tenure, Dan worked successfully with city council members, maintaining high standards for professionalism, in decision making, and organizational performance. And whereas, as city manager, Dan supported the development and achievement of all city employees, and the creation of an engaging workplace culture. would agree with that. And whereas, during his tenure, the city continued its commitment to exemplary customer service, providing high quality programs and responsiveness to the city's residence and customers. And whereas Dan played a vital role in achieving and maintaining the city's financial health. I'm sorry, fiscal health, which included proposing 8 years of balanced budgets, paying down unfunded liabilities, increasing reserves, restructuring the business license fee, achieving a AAA credit rating, promoting transparency in fiscal decision making, leading the city out of the great recession while maintaining critical public services, and minimizing impacts to employees. And winning awards for excellence in financial reporting and budgets. And whereas under Dan's leadership, the city implemented important long-term plans, including the general plan 2030. Precise plans for North Bay Shore, East Wisman, San Antonio, and El Camino Real, and development of master plans for pedestrians, Rankstorf Park, Community Trees, the Transit Center, the City Wide Storm Drain System, Bicycle Transportation, Parks and Open Space, and other subjects. And whereas Dan led the city through the construction of numerous capital projects that have brought great benefit to the community, including the Stevens Creek Trail Extension, Fire Station No. 5, the View Teen Center, Dalmideo Park, Mariposa Park, Heritage Park, Shoreline Athletic Field, Veterans Memorial at Eagle Park, Valley Water Flood Retention Project at McKelvey Park, Schaefer Park, revitalization of Castro Street Medians, and major renovations to the Library and Community Center. And whereas Dan's commitment to the execution of council goals related to housing, transportation, sustainability, and protection of vulnerable populations, has earned regional, state, and national recognition, with accomplishments, including a significant increase in the number of housing units, including a focus on affordable housing, leading as a founding member of Silicon Valley clean energy. Establishing the Mountain View Community Shuttle and plans for the Shoreline Reversible Transit Lane. expanding the multilingual community outreach program, and compassionately addressing the issues related to homelessness, and the unstably housed. And whereas under the management of Dan, the city has enriched community life, through unique and valuable partnerships, the school districts, and many governmental and nonprofit entities. And whereas Dan has demonstrated a commitment to innovation, leadership and development in the city management profession, including serving as chair of the Santa Clara County City Managers Association, participating in county and state pension reform efforts, helping lead the regional, preparing the next generation initiative, and the International City Management Association Statewide Talent Initiative, and serving as a city manager and residence at Stanford. And whereas Dan is a gifted city manager who was able to accomplish these extraordinary achievements. And I will add, as it says in the proclamation, and I think all of us would agree, and so many more. If we listed them all here, I think this proclamation would be many, many pages long. But he did this in a little more than eight years while remaining deeply committed to his family, friends, and the community. And whereas throughout his tenure with the city, council members and staff have been immensely grateful for his leadership and dedication in addressing many significant opportunities and challenges. Now, therefore, I, Lisa Matachek, mayor of the city of Mountain View, along with my colleagues on the city council, city staff, and the community, to hereby express gratitude and appreciation, to Daniel H. Rich, for his many contributions to the city of Mountain View. Signed and sealed this 10th day of December, 2019. Thank you. Thank you so much, Jim. such a pleasure to meet you. I like you. Oh, my last name.

[01:01:37] City Manager Dan Rich: Thank you. That's what I'm afraid of. So, um, that's a lot. The reality is I didn't I didn't do any of those things, as you all know, you can't do anything alone. I often describe my job as kind of being the conductor of the symphony. And I think that states it well, that, you know, I'm here leading it, but there's all sorts of parts working together, making the music, and, you know, that's all of you up here. So, you know, thank you, mayor, for those very kind and generous and exaggerated words, but thank you to all the council, present and past for their support. I feel very fortunate. to have worked with so many really talented and dedicated, elected officials. I would not want your job for anything. Um, there's a reason I'm a city manager and not a council member, but also to the department head team, which is just phenomenal, they're the ones that really make this organization run and all of our employees. So, um, let me just leave it at a thank you. I will miss this organization and the people in this community. It's an incredible organization and community, and I'm not going far, so who knows, I may become a gadfly next year, and use my three minutes. Who knows what I'll come up with. Anyway, thank you very, very much for your kind tribute. Thank you.

[01:04:09] City Manager Dan Rich: I forgot to acknowledge my wife and son who are here. Big mistake. Thank you for their support. As we all know, we make sacrifices in public service, and I thank my family deeply, and thank you for coming tonight.

[01:04:26] Unknown Speaker: Rule number one, Dan. Family first. Family first.

[01:04:34] Unknown Speaker: But he's taught you well.

[01:04:36] City Manager Dan Rich: He's taught me extremely well. How to count to four?

[01:04:43] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Okay, next is the consent calendar. These items will be approved by one motion, unless any member of the council wishes to remove an item for discussion. The reading of the full text of resolutions will be waived unless a council member requests otherwise. Would any member of the council, whoa. Apparently, lots of people want to pull some items. Council member McAllister.

[01:05:08] Councilmember John McAlister: I would like to first pull, well, I need to recuse myself on 4.7, because of, I have real interest in property close to that particular item, and that's the Latham garden, so I'll have to recuse myself, but I would like to pull items 4.11, 4.12.

[01:05:29] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Okay. Council member Clark?

[01:05:32] Councilmember Chris Clark: I just need to announce that I'm also recusing myself from item 4.7 of the Community Gardens at Shirley Boulevard in Latham due to an interest in real property.

[01:05:42] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Council member Kameh?

[01:05:45] Councilmember Ellen Kamei: Thank you. I just want to register a recusal for item 4.1. I'm recusing from this item due to a potential conflict related to a source of income. Thank you.

[01:05:55] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Thank you. Um, so Council member McAllister... Well, actually, um, we'll come back to that. Is there any member of the public who wishes to speak to the council on any items on the consent calendar, including 4.11 and 4.12. If you do please come up to the microphone, please speak into the microphone. If you could fill out a blue card either before, or...

[01:06:23] Public Speaker: I did, and I would like to say just a word or two about 412, but it's already been...

[01:06:29] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Yeah. Go ahead. If you want to do 12 now, that'd be great. You can speak now about it. Doesn't matter which way we do it. Also, we discuss it. Okay, um... Okay. We'll do that. Is there anyone who wishes to address the council on anything other than 411 and 412. Okay, seeing none. Uh, on those two. Um, council member Ramirez.

[01:07:00] Councilmember Lucas Ramirez: Thank you. I'll go ahead and move the balance of the consent calendar, including, uh, adopting an ordinance amending chapter 36 of the Mountain View City code related to minor code amendments to be read entitle only, further being waived. Adopt an ordinance amending the zoning map for parcels located in the East Wisman precise plan, from ML, Limited Industrial, MLT, Limited Industrial, with transit floating, CN, commercial neighborhood, CO, commercial office, R3 dash 2, residential, multiple family, and P planned community, to P41 East Wisman Precise Plan, to be read entitled only, further reading waived, attachment one to the council report. Adopt an ordinance amending chapter 36 of the Mountain View City code to remove the transit district and transit oriented development permit from chapter 36 of the city code to be read in title only, further reading waived. Adopt a resolution authorizing the city manager, or his designee, to set the compensation for hourly employees and revise the city's hourly salary plan, to reflect those compensation changes, to be read entitled only further reading waived, and adopt a resolution, adopting city council policy, K24, vision 0 policy, to be read entitled only, further reading waived. Thank you.

[01:08:18] Mayor Lisa Matichak: So we have a motion by Council member Ramirez, and a 2nd by Vice Mayor Abikoga. And this is for everything on the consent calendar, but 411 and 412. Let's call the question on those. So those passed unanimously with the recusals that were previously noted. Okay, then moving on to 411 and 412. So let's take public comment on those two items. Or did you want to go first, John? Okay. Anyone wishing to address the council on for 11 or 412. 441.

[01:08:55] Public Speaker: Thank you, Mayor. I would request that I be able to provide these diagrams to the council. Do I.

[01:09:08] Mayor Lisa Matichak: You can give it to our city clerk, and then she'll pass it out.

[01:09:19] Public Speaker: So, as stated in our written information that we provided to counsel earlier, um, we believe there are aspects of the, um, transit, traffic, and grade separation plan that are seriously flawed. This diagram gives a better understanding of the point that I made about the crossing three lanes of traffic on shoreline, that if someone wants to be able to make the left turn off of onto the ramp into downtown, they have to cross over three lanes of traffic, to be in the left hand lane where the traffic light appears. And we think this is extremely dangerous, there's no, as you can see, there's, in this schematic, at least, there is no bike path directly to where the tunnel is represented to be. And again, this contradicts the statement that this plan results in overall bike safety. There's also no bike lane from Franklin to Castro, which doesn't make a lot of sense, given that this is going to be very heavily used access. to downtown. So either bikes are not expected to be there, or if they're not, or they shouldn't be there. And we don't think either of this makes sense. Also, the lack of connection between hope and view is problematic. The bike, the traffic's not going to disappear. In fact, as the report says, it's actually going to increase with the number of trains. Visitors drop off pickup, et cetera. This doesn't show all of it, but again, it's problematic having a two way track on one side of Evelyn for bikes, that cars will not be expecting bikes to be coming in two directions on the same side of the street. We'd also like to point out that in this schematic, and we realize this is not an actual design document, but this schematic doesn't show where there's going to be drop off and pick up for private cars. It simply shows bust and shuttle pickup along central. So, we think, again, that there needs to be safe, accessible access for cars to be dropping people off and a place for them to wait safely to pick people up. We see this plan is prioritizing private shuttles and buses. And we think that's not really sufficient for the city. It's not a good enough plan for the people who will be living here. The idea that there could be use of the underground parking lot, Again, we don't have design features, but we feel that this is not going to be sufficient. The question of the underpass. We urgently ask the council to tell the consultant that we have to have models. Without models, we just cannot understand the safety issues and feasibility. of the designs as they're being put forth in schematic, out of scale pictures. We'd, again, like the issue of crime and access and good design research before we get more pictures. And finally, we believe that this project seems to conflict with the connectivity study that the council's going forward with to have a good access from Castro Street to the transit center. Thank you.

[01:12:27] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Thank you. Next place.

[01:12:35] Robert Cox: Hi there, I'm Robert Cox, uh, 24 year Mountain View resident and member of Liberal Mountain View, and I'm following up on what Louise is talking about, in particular, just to make a few mentions on the parking issues. So if you look at the transportation impact analysis document, on page 71, it talks about the idea that the project is going to lose 95 parking spaces, which is about one third the size of the parking garage on lot one, on Evelyn Avenue. And so it doesn't really outline what's going to happen as a result of doing that, whether they'll be replaced somewhere else. It just says that during the weekdays, the parking is at capacity with only one parking space vacant when they looked. And so, you know, they'll need to find another place in the downtown. Um, to me, that's not really all that complete. I'd like to see something a little bit more complete in the discussion. I've heard some comments about, well, maybe we can solve this by adding more parking to the potential parking garage on lot 6. Um, I did some calculations and I think I read that, you know, we're talking about 360 parking spaces there. If we tried to put the parking for the affordable housing project on lot 12 plus Marwood, plus this, all in the same place, we're about 64 parking spaces over what we can do on that space. So keep that in mind. Let's have a discussion with community input about what the right thing is to do with this. And we all want to have a great transit center project. So, um, solving these kind of issues will make that happen. Thank you.

[01:14:15] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Thank you. Next, please.

[01:14:21] Robert Lawrence: My name is Robert Lawrence.

[01:14:23] Mayor Lisa Matichak: If you can speak into the microphone. If you could speak into the microphone, you can pull it to you.

[01:14:28] Robert Lawrence: Okay. Oh, you can't hear me?

[01:14:30] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Now we can.

[01:14:31] Robert Lawrence: Okay. My name is Robert Lawrence, and I used to work for the city at one time. So, I'm here about public transit, and about the master plan for the, uh, transit station. I'm old and decrepit, and I ride public transportation. And public transportation is terrible in the whole Bay Area. And one of the reasons why it is, I think, is because there's so many different agencies that are engaged in it, and there's very little linkage. So, I'm here tonight, to say that, I hope we will revise the current plan for that area, to put, the connection at Shoreline Drive, shoreline overpass, instead of at Castro Street. And I think I wrote a letter. It might have been included in your material, if not, I can provide it again. Thank you.

[01:15:49] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Thank you. Next, please.

[01:15:57] Kimble Smith: I, Kimble Smith, uh, Mountain View resident, Sherry Avenue. Uh, just a comment on the Castro Transit Center and possibly closing the street. Remember when I didn't... I guess I didn't get my address on that to receive a full copy of the schematics, but I'm putting it on the card. Um, I think we should include, uh, Sunnyvale and Palo Alto now, our analysis. I looked at the diagrams for ring store, where you're suggesting putting in a great separation by dropping the street, and closing Castro, so the train remains unchanged. However, there are conflicts from Mary Avenue in Sunnyvale to Meadow in Palo Alto. If the trains were dropped in a trench or a tunnel, you have no conflicts, and you have to go under maybe one deep creek at Stevens Creek. This is very expensive, but could be done once, and would mitigate any extreme designs that you're considering now. Hmm. That's just my idea, and you're expecting high speed rail. Eventually, even though it should be in the East Bay, if you put in a foundation, it could be elevated above the existing tracks. Um, I think, uh, just closing this and making people walk up and down without considering moving the trains themselves like they've done in San Carlos or farther north, they've separated them and maintained the street access. And that way, you have room for the traffic, and the trains, and the protestions. That's just a comment, and I'd like to get on the list to get the diagrams. Thank you.

[01:17:49] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Thank you. Is there anyone else who wishes to address the council on either 4/11 or 4/12? Okay, seeing done will close the public input portion, and, um, Council member Hicks is in the queue.

[01:18:05] Councilmember Alison Hicks: First, a question of process. Are we doing 411 first, and then 412, both together, my choice?

[01:18:14] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Your choice? I think we can do them together, because it seems like, from some of the comments, they're kind of, uh...

[01:18:23] Councilmember Alison Hicks: They related.

[01:18:23] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Related? Yeah. Okay.

[01:18:26] Councilmember Alison Hicks: In that case, I share many of the concerns of the folks who just spoke, in particular, I've been concerned with the, as we change, the traffic situation, and Lycan pedestrian situation, with the underpass and grade separation, how that area will interface with what is the most popular most walkable block in the city, which is the 100 block of Castro Street. So, the first thing I wanted to say is that I was, I was ecstatic to read that the, um, public works department had, uh, is suggesting that we hire, and I'm gonna mangle this person's name. Yens Gail, who is one of the most famous authors of city planning books, kind of spinning off of another famous author Jane Jacobs. He writes about kind of the marriage of psychology and architecture and planning, and he talks in particular about planning for people, and people, walkability, and, uh, rather than planning for a celebration of architects and their personalities. So he is... So I'm encouraging my fellow council members to vote to hire that firm. Not only is he one of the most famous authors, his firm, works internationally and has worked in important cities around the world, including London, and San Francisco, and now, hopefully, Mountain View. So, I also wanted to ask our public works director, Don Cameron, which of the questions that the public has raised, you think that, because these are very interrelated, which of the questions that the public has raised, my understanding is it will be an iterative process, between what the engineers have come up with, and the work will do, if we all vote to hire Gail. The work that that firm will do. So which of the questions that the public has raised, do you feel will be able to address through working with Gail consulting, and which may be not so much? Oh, and I just want to also add that I agree with the members of the public who say we need better public models. I fully agree with that. I think it's very hard for people to envision what's going on otherwise. Thank you.

[01:21:12] Public Works Director Dawn Cameron: Don Cameron, Public Works director. Let me see if I can approach this in a logical framework here, since we're all talking about both items here. So, the great separation project, most of the major components of it are dealing with the bike ped, under crossing of Central Expressway, and the railroad tracks, falling within the Caltrain right away. It also includes the ramp from Evelyn up to Shoreline Boulevard to help provide additional traffic options, since we are not, we're closing the tracks at Castro Street. And car traffic will no longer be able to cross the tracks and central at this location. Although the undercrossing, of course, allows bike and pad traffic to continue unabated. That's the major component areas and the major infrastructure improvements for the grade separation project. The project does include a little, um, real, not, um, changes to Castro Street that are mostly striping that will facilitate, as you would see in the diagram, uh, traffic to continue north on Castro, where now you cannot make a left on Evelyn to continue towards shoreline, you will be able to do that. And in fact, you can come from the kind of Stevens Creek 85, Sunnyvale, along Evelyn, come on down, you make a ride on Castro as you can today, but then you could continue uh, heading west by turning left onto Evelyn. That's not a major infrastructure change. That is mostly paint. For that reason, the Castroped Mall study, which can look at different ways to configure that, as that area of Castro Street, can fairly easily come in later if there's a concept that is developed that the council would like to pursue and implement and make further adjustments to that area of Castro Street. It won't be making big changes to what is going to be put in place for the great separation project. Even if, as part of this, the grand staircase needs to be slightly realigned at Castro Street or the bike pet tunnel would continue further south that's being built, it is something we can add on. So Staff feels confident and does recommend that, uh, we do proceed with the great separation project, and and what's being asked you tonight is actually to approve the sequa docket, the mitigative negative decoration, so that the project can continue through 35% design, and we can continue to discuss with Caltrain and BTA, uh, you know, getting Caltrain started on final design, get the measure, B money, from BTA, which is going to be at least $500000 that we would expect to get for Castro. Um, and while we are proceeding with the Castroped Mall study, and anything that's decided out of that study can come in and be additive later by the city. And a few other items, I guess, that came up to address had to deal with more, um, the bike connectivity along Evelyn. So a couple points there. One, as you may have noticed, in the grade separation, mitigative neck deck memo, we note that even though we're providing environmental clearance for Evelyn, psycho track between the transit center in 85 Stevens Creek. That will not be proceeding into final design as part of the great separation project. And one of the reasons is that's not going to qualify for measure, B, great separation funding, and it's not something we would see Caltrain delivering. So, what we are proposing is eventually through the CIP process. That would be a city project for the city to design and construct, and through that project, we can continue to look at design details at what was discussed by the public tonight in terms of making sure we're following best design practices for cycle tracks, for how we deal bike lanes, how they interact with the cars along Evelyn. In addition, the project is not going to be trying, at this stage, to fill in gaps of bike lanes or facilities along Evelyn, where the project is not touching at this point. Again, that would have to be a separate project pursued by the city. And to some extent, the Castro Pedmos, that he can further look at that, in terms of bike connectivity into the 100 block of Castro Street, and then we can use that to continue to identify how we may want to make additional bike improvements along Evelyn Avenue.

[01:25:51] Councilmember Alison Hicks: So, what I get, part of what I get from that is that, um, it's an iterative process, and the, the work with Gail consulting that you're proposing would mostly allow us to work on the interface between, um, between the, uh, underpass and the first block of Castro, but not so much, some other areas would be other projects. Do I understand you correctly?

[01:26:20] Public Works Director Dawn Cameron: Generally, that's correct. areas that kind of really go beyond east and west, further beyond the 100 block, would be areas that the city would more look at, you know, what we want to do to keep improving bike access along those areas. But definitely, as you're saying, the Gail study area. One of the things that we would have them look at is the interface for bikes and pes to access this 100 block of Castle Street from all directions.

[01:26:50] Councilmember Alison Hicks: Okay, thank you. I'll sum up by saying, I see the item in 411. I see the grade separation and underpass. It could potentially, really, it has the potential to either really wreck the walkability of our downtown or be an opportunity to really make it much better, because right now, Evelyn does pass through, you know, through Castro. So I think I'm hoping that by hiring gale consulting and working on that, we can use it as an opportunity to make it better. Thanks.

[01:27:23] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Council member McAllister?

[01:27:25] Councilmember John McAlister: Hello. So, this is initial study, mitigated negative declaration. So what does it mean by initial study? Are there more studies to come along, or is this an ongoing process as we dig into the different projects or options and so forth?

[01:27:42] Public Works Director Dawn Cameron: So, initial study, is a term used for the California environmental quality act or sequa? When you initially start looking at the potential environmental impacts of a project? And it doesn't automatically qualify for what's called a categorical exemption, then you would perform what's called an initial study under Sequa. And that's where you take a look at all the different areas that would be considered impacts under sequa and evaluate whether or not there will be a significant impact. Once you've done that for all the areas, I mean, we're talking air quality, we're talking transportation, but it also includes noise, cultural impacts. There's a whole slew of areas we're required to look at. So once you complete the initial study, it either says the project will have no impact or less than significant impact.

[01:28:36] Councilmember John McAlister: Okay.

[01:28:37] Public Works Director Dawn Cameron: It may identify areas where it says the project will have a significant impact. Then the initial study looks and sees if there is a way to mitigate that significant impact. If there is, then the results of the initial study can be that your environmental clearance is what's called a mitigative negative declaration, an MND. So, the initial study is the tool by which you determine what type of environmental clearance you need and supports that environmental clearance.

[01:29:05] Unknown Speaker: Well, then, if this is an initial study and you had various things. Will there be additional items that will come up to then get us to that final?

[01:29:16] Public Works Director Dawn Cameron: No, the initial study was simply for the environmental phase, and the mitigative negative declaration, if you approve it tonight, completes that environmental stage phase. So that is the completion of the sequa initial study.

[01:29:31] Unknown Speaker: Okay, sequel initial study.

[01:29:34] Public Works Director Dawn Cameron: Right. There is no, I know initials may be confusing, but there is no secondary study or third study. That's it.

[01:29:41] Unknown Speaker: Yeah. So, in an NIR, if we look at impacts and so forth, let's say housing in particular area, we say, Hey, this area is great. We study it for 1,000 units. But somehow, all of a sudden, we go, Hey, let's go to 15, and then you go, Well, we do have to do initial study. In this particular case, if, as we go through the process of these studies, that we say, Hey, well, maybe we need to tweak it here, or adjust it here, or maybe we didn't consider something, will these reports, if we accept them, be able to be changed as we progressed through them?

[01:30:15] Dawn: Yes. If any changes are made to the project being cleared, um, will potentially have an impact under Sequa, we can reopen it and revisit that and make that determination, and amend the mitigative neck declaration if necessary.

[01:30:33] Unknown Speaker: Is that a very time consuming? Is that something that, uh, this negative mitigation, or, uh, MDER? Uh, is that time sensitive, or can it be changed as we go along, or once we... Is it...? Well, that's why I'm trying to figure out as a...

[01:30:54] Dawn: Understood. You know, how it might affect project delivery. Is that what you're requesting? Well, it really depends upon the type of change that might be proposed to the project. Most changes that might be design enhancements and so on would not even require reopening the environmental clearance. It would have to be some, a fairly significant change to the project like not constructing one of the tunnel legs that's planned for the underpass. It would have to be pretty significant. And then how long it might take to work through that environmental clearance really depends, again, on how many additional technical studies would be required. The most significant piece is, of course, you need to have an environmental document that has been cleared before you can proceed into construction.

[01:31:41] Unknown Speaker: So with the pedestrian, uh... Castro feasibility study, so we're gonna be looking at various options and so forth. As we progress in that, the public will have more input in that once we pick a consultant, and they give us their three options. And then will that be, then, we'll look back, even though the MD, MND, could be affected by that, and we'll sort of merge them together, or...?

[01:32:10] Dawn: At this time, from what little we know, because we haven't even started the feasibility study for the Castro Pedestrian Mom, we don't know what those alternatives are going to be looked at. You know, we consider it to be a potentially a separate project on a different timeline, and it would, you know, as you see in the scope of work for the console, and it does include traffic analysis and other additional technical work, as well as community engagement. And, um, it may continue to proceed as a separate project, in which case, it would have its own sequa clearance document.

[01:32:47] Unknown Speaker: Is there anything that cannot be changed in this report? Or is everything open for review?

[01:32:54] Dawn: When you say, in the report, are you...?

[01:32:57] Unknown Speaker: Okay, so the MDR. You mean...

[01:33:00] Dawn: Well, again, what affects what's in the mitigative neck deck and being cleared is the project description. And, um, So, yes, at any time between now and the project going under construction, the project description can change, and at which time you'd have to reconsider the environmental document.

[01:33:21] Unknown Speaker: Is there anything on time of the essence on this? I mean, are we... For the great separation. The great separation, we're trying to be the first ones.

[01:33:30] Dawn: Okay, but yes. There are two pieces that we feel are time sensitive. One has to deal with the fact that right now, as we are facing that those train, those gates at the train crossings we know are coming down in closing about, I don't know, 13 to 16 minutes. I can't remember the exact number, every hour doing the peak period. And this is one of the reasons you see, you know, the cars starting to back up on Castro, they can't get across the tracks. Caltrain is putting in place an electrification process, project which they hope to complete by 2021. And they are immediately going to add more trains, which is going to bring the gates down more frequently for longer periods of time. They Caltrain has adopted a vision statement that will more than double the service that they're expecting if over time. And when we asked them for an estimate of how long the gates would be down at Castro, if they achieved their vision, they were talking about 40 to 45 minutes every hour during the peak period, and 20 minutes, every hour during the off peak period. So, one of the things we're feeling pretty urgent about is completing this project, so that because we are facing a virtual closing with those gates coming down so often. The other time sensitive does have to deal with funding. We do have an opportunity to tap into the VTA measure B sales tax funds. It is a sales tax program through 2045. Um, MVTA has committed to help fund this great separation as well as ring store. They have not yet committed to the timing of when they'll provide the funding, but they have said to us that because we're so far along with Castro and Ring Store, that at this time, they would consider us first in line for the funding. And we definitely want to get...

[01:35:27] Unknown Speaker: Will we get the start of the great... Well, ring starf will come before Castro, or Castro?

[01:35:32] Dawn: Castro, at this point, is ahead of ring star.

[01:35:35] Unknown Speaker: Okay. And we want to get ahead of... We want to get this done before the trains are elected. The trains increase.

[01:35:43] Dawn: Well, no, we will not be able to complete either project before the electrification project is completed. However, we would like to make sure we complete both projects before Caltrain provides any other substantial service increases, which could be anywhere from the late 20s, through mid 2030s, if, you know, if they continue the planting that they're doing.

[01:36:08] Unknown Speaker: Or the 30s?

[01:36:09] Dawn: Yeah, I mean, you know, it could be, you know, late 2020s. Or, you know, 2035. They're looking at 2040, possibly.

[01:36:18] Unknown Speaker: Oh, for our funding?

[01:36:20] Dawn: For the service, service increases, getting up to where they're more than doubling the service. However, these particular great set projects do take 4 to 6 years to get through design and construction.

[01:36:34] Unknown Speaker: Four to six years to get through design and construction.

[01:36:37] Dawn: Yeah.

[01:36:38] Unknown Speaker: Okay, well, Dan may come out of retirement.

[01:36:41] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Okay, thank you. Councilman for comet.

[01:36:46] Councilmember Ellen Kamei: Great, thank you. Um, I just, I just had a quick question. So, um, I received quite a bit of resident input, um, on the two items, and I was looking on our city website. Is there anywhere where either of these projects kind of live with some information for residents to be able to access?

[01:37:07] Dawn: Um, yes, and there should be links, uh, to the grade separation project on the public works page of the city site, and there is an actually, uh, a great separation project website, and that link takes you to that. I know we put the web address on all of our public notices to that project site.

[01:37:32] Councilmember Ellen Kamei: I think one of the items that I'd like to keep in mind as we're going through both is just kind of ways to make sure that the public input, we're including that. Um, as the process is going forward. I think some people maybe just be hearing about it for the 1st time. And so how can we maybe be a little bit proactive in making sure that we're engaging, but also having that transparency in terms of the information or what's the best vehicle to pass along that information, whether it be social media. I'm not sure, but, um, I think that that's one of the reflections that I'm taking away from both items is making sure, especially given the long length of time that these projects can can take, making sure that that, uh, resident feedback is included, you know, um, throughout. And then, uh, one of the other things that I thought of as council member Hicks was speaking was, um, in terms of the, um, transit center is, some of us, um, attended the National League of Cities conference and heard from an expert that talked about love of cities and how you're able to create that placemaking. I think, uh, many of us left, uh, feeling that there was many good ideas there in terms of how you how you integrate your love of your community into actually having it, um, have that place making aspect. So hoping that that will be included as we work with the consulting. Thank you.

[01:38:59] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Council member Ramirez.

[01:39:01] Councilmember Lucas Ramirez: Thank you, Mayor. Other members of the council have asked, in different ways, the question I would have asked, and it sounds like, just to sort of summarize that approval of the M&D does not preclude the possibility of future adjustments to the design, to address some of the concerns that members of the public had identified. And there are other issues that are sort of policy decisions the council will have to make about replacement of lost parking and those kinds of things that we could address outside of this context.

[01:39:34] Dawn: That's correct.

[01:39:35] Councilmember Lucas Ramirez: Okay, thank you. So I'm comfortable moving the staff recommendation, if, I think there are other folks in the queue, but you have a preference to, I'll go ahead and move the staff recommendations for 4.11 and 412.

[01:39:50] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Council member Hicks?

[01:39:54] Councilmember Alison Hicks: One of my questions is, when counsel in the scope of work, when council, uh, meets with the firm, or has 1st contact my sense, was that that was pretty late in the process, and I would like to, if, if, uh, council member Ramirez and Clark would allow it, add some meeting a little earlier if it is fairly near the end. of the process, because I feel that we should have some input, you know, before they've gone along too far.

[01:40:28] Dawn: So right now, the plan is that they'll do the existing conditions, observation analysis, which is important for them, because it allows them to get much more familiar with Castro Street and pull together key information. And then they'll, um, help rough out up to three concepts that could be that would be studied further, and there will be some community engagement as part of that. And then we plan to come to the council in a study session. And that actually will be somewhat early in the process. It will take 2 to 3 months to kind of do this as this in condition analysis and rough out a couple concepts. And then they'll, we plan to have them come for a study session. will present these 3 concepts, which gives the council a chance to say, I like this. I don't like this, have you considered this, and we work on refining that before they go into a true analysis and evaluation and more deeper development of concepts. And then there's a 2nd. And then after they've done this, you know, again, deeper, you know, the analysis evaluation, the deeper development of the concepts, um, and prepared to, you know, working with staff for staff to be ready to say, we think this concept or this concept and another concept are worthy for further consideration and study. We plan to come back to the council, present that, get your input on that. And then they would go and start to produce a final report. So there would be 2 meetings.

[01:42:03] Councilmember Alison Hicks: Yes. Okay, that's fine. Thank you.

[01:42:07] Unknown Speaker: So I just had a couple questions. First, I want to say I was very impressed with Gail's proposal. It was so much better than other proposals we've recently seen. It was incredibly clear, um, I felt like it was very thoughtful, and I think I'm excited that they are gonna work on this project, after looking at their website and seeing the other projects they have worked on. Sorry, had to cough. But my question is, first on their proposal, would one of the alternatives be, like, the current plan, and how to make that, really nice for pedestrians and creating a nice walkable area, along that 100 block of Castro and the intersection of Evelyn and Castro? So, like, it....

[01:43:04] Dawn: Okay, yes.

[01:43:05] Unknown Speaker: Okay. Because I'm interested in that, just in case we don't do, um, the other alternatives that are being studied. And then, uh, I was concerned when, uh, in 412, it said Caltrain, Caltrain is taking the lead on the final design, um, of the pedestrian and bike, uh, underpasses. And I wanted to find out how much, say, would we have in that, if we're concerned about things like safety, lighting, um, things that would make it very comfortable for folks to use that.

[01:43:43] Dawn: So, uh, part of them taking on the final design will involve entering into a memorandum of understanding between the city, Caltrain and VTA as providing some of the key funding. And we plan to return to the council in the March time frame, or thereabouts with the basic terms of that MOU. Uh, we would definitely include an MOU from the city's perspective of, we've completed 35% design. These are the basic design fundamentals that we expect to meet. You know, the very wide undercrossings, 25 feet on each, along under Castro, 40 feet under the concourse, and all the other open air, all the design features we want. Uh, that's our expectation of what they will proceed through final design. We will also build into those terms of, you know, it's a partnership and working relationship, and no, they cannot make any major changes to the design without the city's concurrence.

[01:44:47] Unknown Speaker: Great. That's great news. Okay, um, those were the only questions I have. Thank you so much, Don.

[01:44:55] Mayor Lisa Matichak: So we have emotion by Council member Ramirez and a 2nd by Council member Clark. And it's the staff recommendation on both 411 and 412. Any further discussion? Okay, let's call the question. That passes unanimously. Thank you again. Um, I know we had lots of questions on these, but, um, I know I feel more comfortable now that we have more information, and hopefully, we've addressed, um, many of the questions that the public had. So thank you again. Okay, moving on to item five, which is oral communications. This portion of the meeting is reserved for persons wishing to address the council on any matter, not on the agenda. Speakers are allowed to speak on any topic for up to three minutes during this section, and state law prohibits the council from acting on non agenda items. Is there anyone wishing to address the council on an item that is not on the agenda tonight? You want to come up? Yeah, it almost looks like you were gonna come and say something, Dawn. I was like, Dawn has something she wants to say.

[01:46:26] Public Speaker: Aunt Jesse too. Larry, leave, I'm a long time mountainee resident. I've been here before, disgusting, uh, making the downtown streets one way, like they have in Palo Alto. They could use that for a format. It wouldn't cost much. And it would really smooth the traffic flow. You know, it's a no brainer, and every time I come here, it falls on deaf ears. And what do I have to do? Draw a professional map and plot it out. I mean, Palo Alto's been using that same format for decades. And his work fine. So, I don't know. It kind of goes with what you're doing with Castro. Do I make sense?

[01:47:28] Mayor Lisa Matichak: I hear what you're saying.

[01:47:29] Public Speaker: Yeah. Well, anyhow, every time I come and I talk about it, nothing happens.

[01:47:37] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Yeah, I think the council would have to bring it up, um, and propose a project for it to move forward.

[01:47:44] Public Speaker: Yep.

[01:47:45] Mayor Lisa Matichak: So tonight, we can't act on anything that is not on the agenda.

[01:47:50] Public Speaker: Right, well, you said anybody wants to come up.

[01:47:53] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Yep. So, yes.

[01:47:55] Public Speaker: So then what happens?

[01:47:58] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Sorry, you always in the file? You can just provide your public comments tonight to the council, and they will hear them, and you always have the opportunity to contact the council or city staff outside of them.

[01:48:19] Public Speaker: Thank you. That's all she wrote.

[01:48:22] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Okay. Thank you. Anyone else wishing to address the council on an item not on the agenda tonight? Okay, we'll close this portion of the meeting. And I do want to remind folks that the city is recruiting for two seats on the environmental planning commission for terms ending December 31st, 2023. The application deadline is December 19, 2019, and interviews with the city council will be scheduled for early January. And there is information on the city's website, but you can also contact our city clerk for additional information. Okay, moving on to item 6.one, a rowhouse development at 1958 Latham Street. And before we get into the staff presentation, are there any disclosures that council members wish to make?

[01:49:20] Unknown Speaker: I'll disclose that I have been by the site. In my 50 years, I think I've driven past that site too.

[01:49:28] Unknown Speaker: Well, I've been by recently.

[01:49:31] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Okay, then we will start with a staff presentation.

[01:49:38] Crisha Pinolar: Good evening, mayor and council members. My name's Crisha Pinolar, and I'm joined by Stephanie Williams. The item before you tonight is a request for a planned unit development permit and a development review permit to construct a 6 unit rural house development and a vesting tentative map at 1958 Latham Street. The 0.4 acre project site is located on the north side of Latham Street, between Escuela Avenue and South Wingsdorf Avenue, in the R3 1 multiple family residential district. The project site is currently vacant, but had previously included a single family residence, detached, garage, and a warehouse. All structures were demolished in 2018. The project was previously approved by counsel in 2016, but the entitlements has since expired. The site planned before you today has been relatively unchanged since the previous entitlements. The proposed site layout consists of two, three unit buildings, a one way driveway aisle that provides access to the private garage is located at the rear of the site and to the one guest parking space. A Paseo is separates the two buildings and connects to the large common open area located north of the site, underneath the canopy of two heritage trees. A particularly unique thing about the site is that the project is designed around the preservation of the two large oaks at the rear of the site. The traditional architectural style includes hip and gable roof forms, stone veneers, wood trellises and shutters, and metal railings. Units are differentiated through varied reforms, porch elements, and exterior colors. As noted previously, the project was approved in March 2016, and expired in early 2019, the project was reviewed by the Development Review Committee on September 4, 2019, when they recommended conditional approval of the project. The project was reviewed by the joint zoning administrator and subdivision committee on November 13, 2019, where it was recommended for approval. The city did not receive any written public comments regarding the project, and no one from the public spoke at any of the meetings. Overall, staff recommends conditional approval of the project.

[01:52:11] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Do you have any additional questions for staff? Thank you. Did the applicant have a presentation?

[01:52:23] Unknown Speaker: Has a brief presentation.

[01:52:25] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Okay, great.

[01:52:31] Project Manager Wendy Chan: Evening. Um, um, Wendy Chan Padre manager with the T square consulting group representing the owner and the architect for the project. Um, I would like to just go for quickly of some of the design feature that we put into the project to make it more coherent and use friendly while keeping the impact on the 2 of trees on site to the minimum. Um, one of the features, uh, the landscape builders recommended by the project operas to define the open area under the 2 oak trees as well to prevent any car, from going into the area accidentally. Um, we also, as question mentioned, we also have, um, the open space are useful open space area under the 2 canopies, uh, to make this, um, space more user friendly, uh, and but not to put stress on the trees, um, by, on the date, on the day-to-day basis by uh, users. Uh, we propose a lightweight um, walk on, um, Bart and relatively lightweight, um, uh, outdoor furnitures. And there are also a few different types of pavement, we propose on site. The permeable papers are used for the exit driveway at the west end of the lot to fulfill onside water treatment and drainage requirements. But the same type of paper is not allowed to be under the drip line of the protected trees. So, uh, good part of our entrance driveway is covered under the drip line, so, but to, for the entrance driveway to have the same aesthetic appeal as the exit driveway. We propose to use a stamped asphalt to match the uh, color and the look of the exit driveway. And similar, um, stem asphalt is also used to, uh, define the potential path leading from the center of sale onto the, um, onto the uh, open use, uh, uh, open useful space under the trees, which we believe that it links the 2 trees back with the whole um, development. Uh, other uh, wood element, like with fencings and AC screening and trellises are also proposed for the site, uh, which we believe it worked well with the uh, natural um, landscape features we have on site, and also, um, it links back to the uh, building facade elements that we proposed. And there are a number of studies, we've done with planning staff on the building for some materials. So that, um, the, each of the 3 units are defined clearly within the building, but not to overwhelm the facade with many, many different type material patterns. And so we decided on the final version, you see on the screen there, uh, with the center unit. The porch area is paved with um, for high stone veneer and the end units of each building is wrapped uh, with a stone wings code, uh, with the same stone material. And the upper floors of the buildings are painted with different natural colors. So each of the unit can be unique, but it still works as a whole with the project. That's all I have tonight and I'm here to answer any question that you might have for the project.

[01:56:21] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Thank you. Just the members of the council have any questions for staff for the applicant? Council member Hicks.

[01:56:32] Councilmember Alison Hicks: I have a question for either the staff, either staff or the applicant, whoever might know, um, the, uh, picture of the front facade shows, um, maybe an, actually, maybe the other plan, uh, shows bushes in front of the, uh, the building, but are there street trees as well, actually, maybe the other plan would show me, but maybe you can just tell me. Are there in the plant, the city planning strip? Are there street trees, and how many?

[01:57:02] Crisha Pinolar: Yes, there are street trees proposed for the site, and let me pull up the... Oh there they are. Canopy coverage. There's six street trees proposed.

[01:57:10] Councilmember Alison Hicks: Okay. Thank you.

[01:57:14] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Any other questions from counsel? So I had one, I just want to understand the dimensions of the drive, and is that, were you referring to just on the, um, 2 sides, that that's 12 feet, and not at the back of the complex?

[01:57:37] Crisha Pinolar: Yes, the driveway aisle is a minimum of 12 feet, but when you're immediately behind some of the garages, you have a wider driveway.

[01:57:45] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Yeah. So, um... Do you know what the shortest distance is for any of the... garages and... to the end of the... paved area?

[01:57:58] Crisha Pinolar: Yeah, I believe the shortest distance is 20 feet.

[01:58:00] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Okay. Great. Any other questions? Okay, thank you. Well, open this up for a public comment. Is there anyone who wishes to address the council on this item? Okay, seeing none will close public input and bring it back to council. Council member McAllister?

[01:58:22] Councilmember John McAlister: Yeah, I like to make a motion. Adopt the resolution, conditionally improving a plan unit development permit, and a development review permit, to construct a 6 unit row house development, on a .39 acre project site, at 1958 Latham Street, to be read entitled only, further reading wave, attachment went to the council report, and to adopt a resolution conditionally approving a vested tentative map, to subdivide a .39 acre site for 6 residential condominium units, at 1958 1958 Latham Street, to be read in title only for the reading wave attachment to the council report.

[01:59:00] Mayor Lisa Matichak: So you have a motion by Council member McAllister, and a second by Council member Clark. Any further discussion? Okay, well, call the question. That passes unanimously. Thank you. We will move on to item 6.2, which is a residential project at 231 Hope Street. And are there any council members who wish to do disclosure?

[01:59:35] Unknown Speaker: I'll just say that I've been by that site many times, including very recently.

[01:59:45] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Okay, we'll start with the staff presentation.

[01:59:51] Senior Planner Diana Bancholi: Good evening, Mayor, and members of the council. My name is Diana Bancholi, senior planner, with the city's planning division, and I have with me tonight, Stephanie Williams, our planning manager. The project in for interview tonight is a residential condominium project at 231 Hope Street. The .25 acre project site is located in our downtown. It is on Hope Street between Villa Street and Dana Street. And it is, um, uh, immediately adjacent to our one story USPS office, um, US Post Office. It is also adjacent to some of the city parking lots. And there's a 3 to 4 story condominium complex at the rear of the project site. The project applicant is proposing to develop the currently vacant site with a 9 unit, 4 story condominium complex, which will have a courtyard and some open space in amenity space at the rear of the site. The units will be 2 to 3 bedrooms ranging from 1100 to 2100 square foot in size. The primary access for vehicular and pedestrian access to the site is provided from Hope Street, with some secondary accesses provided along the side of the project design. The project uses contemporary project style and uses high-end materials for the exterior of the building design, the mix of contemporary architectural style with use of traditional aspects creates, you know, a sense of softened residential aesthetics in the downtown with the current theme that we have for the developments in downtown. A little bit of a history of the project. The project was reviewed and approved by city council back in 2016. A extension to the project was approved in 2018, because of some issues with the building design, the construction drawings and change in ownership, the applicant was not able to acquire the building permit, and hence the project expired. The site design and the building design has relatively remained the same with a very minor changed to the sidewalk condition and hence the small frontage condition for the project. This year, the zoning administrator and the subdivision committee reviewed the project at November 13th, a public hearing and recommended approval. None of the people from the public spoke at the meeting. We have not received any other comments either. The project is categorically exempt from California and Normal Quality Act because of the info exemption. And that concludes staff presentation. In conclusions, staff will recommend that the city council, conditionally approved the planned community permit, provisional use permit, development review permit, and a heritage street removal permit, along with the tentative map for the proposed project. Thank you.

[02:02:56] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Thank you. Does the app can have a presentation?

[02:03:07] Architect Bill Maston: Bill Maston, local architect, and representing the applicant and the owner. Happy to say that with the new ownership. They'd like to go forward as quickly as possible, and rather than duplicate the presentation, we just hope that you vote in favor of it, so we can bring this important, needed change to downtown. Happy to answer any questions if you have them.

[02:03:32] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Thank you. So, are there any questions from council members?

[02:03:41] Unknown Speaker: No.

[02:03:46] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Okay, then, um, we'll open it up for public comment. Is there anyone who wishes to address the council on this item? Okay, saying none will close public input? Council member McAllister.

[02:04:01] Councilmember John McAlister: In honor of Dan and his family in the audience, I'd like to make a motion to a doctor resolution conditionally approving a planned community, permit, a provision, provisional use permit, and a development review permit to construct a nine unit residential development project, and an heritage tree removal permit to remove two heritage trees at 231. Hope Street, to be read, entitled only for the reading wave attachment plan to the council report. To adopt a resolution conditionally, approving a tentative map for the condominium, purpose for nine residential condominiums, units on a .25 acre lot at 231 Hope Street, to be read in title owner. Only further reading wave attachment to the council report.

[02:04:45] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Thank you. So, we have a motion by council member, McAllister, and a second by council member, Committe. There's no further discussion. We'll call the question. That passes unanimously. Thank you.

[02:05:01] Unknown Speaker: Well, I'll retire every week if meetings go like this.

[02:05:05] Unknown Speaker: We're doing this in the honor of your family. This is how your dad runs meetings.

[02:05:10] Unknown Speaker: Well, along with the mayor, cooperating. This is very rare. It's kind of nice to end the year with an incredibly efficient meeting.

[02:05:24] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Okay, so on to item seven, which is the pilot, human rights analysis update. We'll start with a presentation.

[02:05:35] Assistant to the City Manager Christina Gilmore: Good evening, Council Mayor, Christina Gilmore, assistant to the city manager. The purpose of the item this evening is to provide counsel with an assessment of the application of the pilot human rights analytical framework included in the review of three selected projects during fiscal year 2018 and 19. First, staff would like to acknowledge that today, December 10th, is Human Rights Day. Human Rights Day is observed every year on December 10th, which is the day that the United Nations General Assembly adopted in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The city of Mountain View became a human rights city in December 2016 by adopting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Following the adoption of the UDHR. Council approved a recommendation from the Human Relations Commission to develop a human rights analytical framework to analyze policy decisions through a human rights lens. Adopting the UDHR expresses the city's belief in guiding principles without specific requirements for how these principles are to be fulfilled. In 2018, council approved staff's recommendation to apply a pilot human rights analytical framework to three selected projects. The selected projects were short-term rental regulations, vision 0, and East Wisman precise plan. Each of the projects were selected because of the mix of policy issues that could potentially be impacted by the human rights policy areas of housing displacement, housing affordability, social equity, and economic prosperity. For each of the selected policies, staff agree that the collection of meaningful data that directly related to the defined impact areas in the human rights analysis analytical framework was very challenging. The analytical framework and guiding questions did not change the process of conducting the analysis, developing recommendations or policy adoption outcomes. As the guiding questions were not necessarily relevant to the pilot policies, and the analysis conducted would likely have included similar assessments. Many of the human rights issues identified in the pilot analytical framework related to housing, transportation, land use, and displacement. And the displacement are currently issues and projects and policies that the council has already affirmed as city priorities. Many of the city council major goals and ongoing programs identified under those goals confirm the city's ongoing commitment to being human rights city. Because of the limited value gained and the potential subjectivity of defining human rights impacts, and the increase in time and resources that would be necessary to continue the program in a meaningful way. Staff recommends taking no further action, and concluding the pilot of including an explicit human rights analysis to council reports. Alternatively, if counsel decides this evening to take alternative action, just what we want to bring to your awareness, the 3 actions that are included in the staff report. Council can choose to select one or none of these actions if they do not accept staff's recommendation. This concludes the presentation and staff is available to answer any questions. Thank you.

[02:09:04] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Are there any questions from the council? Okay, seeing none? We'll open it up for public comment. Is there anyone who wishes address to council on this item? See, none will close the public in proportion, and bring it back to council if there's further discussion. Council member Ramirez.

[02:09:23] Councilmember Lucas Ramirez: Thank you, Mayor. I don't want to belabor the point. I agree with the staff recommendation, and I think it's probably fair to say that we all agree that the pilot was not successful, although we probably would come to that conclusion for different reasons. But just to provide a little bit of background, and then maybe a way of, a different way of thinking about this moving forward. I served on the HRC when the analytical framework was developed, and this was born out of a lot of compromise. There was not unanimity on the HRC and how to approach this. The questions that we provided, um, uh, were just, you know, a lot of ideas that came from different members of the the commission, some of whom had some, um, severe reservations, I think, about, um, the implications of this kind of, uh, framework. So, um, I think, uh, there was, and in the context too, and from which it came is maybe helpful. This was conceived shortly after, I think, one of the early projects we had in which there was a displacement impact. And several members of the commission were frustrated with the lack of information that we felt was provided in the staff analysis of that project. And since then, you know, we've prioritized addressing displacement unanimously. And there's a lot more information included in the staff report. So I think, um, that concern is mostly addressed. I do think that there are, there are some, the way I've been thinking about this is, there are, there's a lot of information that may be useful to us in thinking about a particular policy proposal or project, some of that information, you know, may be included in the staff report, some of it may not be. And then there's also information that may not be totally pertinent to a particular project, but provides a lot of context for thinking about moving forward. So I asked the question about the fiscal impact statement, in part because I was curious to see exactly where that comes from. I think it's important. It's usually not the reason why I support a development proposal. You know, if it has, you know, a material impact on, you know, an increase in property taxes collected by the city or anything like that. That's not why I support a project or deny it, but it does, you know, keep us focused on the financial implications of all of the decisions, decisions that we make. So that's clearly, you know, an important way of approaching or important information to consider when evaluating the projects that go before us. There may be other things that are very important to know, that we may not be incorporating in sort of a routine fashion in staff reports, and some of it may not need to be routine, and some of it may be beneficial to us. And when we were talking about, just as an example, the sustainability action plan for, I remember, council member Clark and I had a disagreement about whether there would be any value in having sort of an impact statement moving forward, how this would, uh, how a given project or proposal will impact the city's ability, to achieve our objectives related to sustainability. Some cities already have this. But that's, and then that's outside of the context of the human rights, um, analytical framework, but just more, you know, thinking about the failure of this pilot. Are there are there certain kinds of information that would be helpful to this council, that we're currently not actively pursuing or maybe, you know, including sometimes and others, um, you know, is there, is there a different way of thinking about the impacts that are included or that are, that are referenced in the questions that were provided through this analytical framework that we may want to, think about moving forward. So the impacts to, you know, the displacement of of businesses, or I have a particular interest in learning more about the households that are displaced, because if we find, for instance, that most of the households that are eligible for tenant relocation assistance, include elderly folks, or, you know, families with young kids, that may inform how we think about displacement response moving forward. Is that something that's worth including in the staff report, to the extent we have access to that information? I don't know. I don't have any particular recommendations, but I do think that if there's any value from this exercise, it's in thinking about what kind of information is helpful for us, in the context of a particular project and also, you know, thinking about projects over time, you know, as we do with the fiscal impact statement. So I'll stop there. I agree with the staff recommendation. I'm sorry, it wasn't more useful, but I do think that, you know, if there are questions here that we would like to see answered moving forward, or if there are other things that we're not explicitly asking for here, but could have a material impact on how we approach policy making, then this may be a good opportunity to provide some, at least preliminary direction on that.

[02:14:56] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Council member Hicks.

[02:14:59] Councilmember Alison Hicks: I don't have an answer to that question. But I'll reflect on it. I just wanted to say that, although I'll be supporting staff's recommendation, I do think it's been valuable that we named ourself a human rights city, and also the booklets that council member Rosenberg handed out to new council members, that possibly, it was UN human rights status, that possibly might be a good exercise in the future to hand that out to all council people, because I think keeping human rights in our mind, as we take votes, although I will be supporting the motion, and this particular framework, I don't think, was very helpful. I think that just the concept in general is very important.

[02:15:49] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Council member Komei?

[02:15:51] Councilmember Ellen Kamei: Great, thanks. Um, so thank you to staff. Have a human rights day. So, in reflecting on this report, I think that I'll also be supporting the staff recommendation, and I think the motion that will soon be on the table by my colleagues, but I think it's kind of been the impetus in terms of the conversations we've had in terms of council goals, and that, to me, is the better way to kind of integrate these questions and these thought processes is putting them into, um, actual projects versus using it as an analytical tool. So I would say that that is the reflection I have, um, with this information. Thank you.

[02:16:37] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Vice Mayor Abe Koga?

[02:16:40] Vice Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga: Thank you. I was gonna say similar that, um, as much as, I think this was, um, interesting, helpful. As we move forward, I think we do, we will be looking at how to streamline some of the workloads. And, um, so as much as analyzing things might be interesting at times, um, I think, you know, when we have to make some choices, I would much prefer putting resources and efforts into real projects and services and programs that provide, um, or expand human rights to our residents. And so when I look at slide, I'm not sure what number is, but the city fulfills a commitment to human rights through many council major goals projects. I think that says it very clearly and well, that our commitment is there as a council, and I'm very proud of, what we came up with as our priorities this year. And I think that alone is our effort to fulfill our mission. So I'm very comfortable with moving forward in supporting staff recommendation. Thank you.

[02:17:55] Mayor Lisa Matichak: So we have a motion by Council member McAllister and a 2nd by Vice Mayor. I'll be Koga. Is there any further discussion? Okay, we'll call the question. That passes unanimously.

[02:18:15] Councilmember John McAlister: So, I guess I wasn't quick enough to move quickly on that vote, but I just want to make a comment. On 2015, when this first came up, we were over in the public library, and I remember Mr. Ramirez standing, public, a private... citizen, Mr. Ramirez, came up and cut and voiced his concern about this, and at the time, I made the question as I said, Mountain View does take into consideration everything from our words and our deeds and how we look at projects, and I was trying to say that that was more important than putting a label on us. And I still believe the same thoughts were as that Mountain View has the... Does this human rights with analysis every day with every project without ever having to have this human rights labeled to us, because that's our culture. And our intent is to make sure that we're passionate, compassionate, and respect everybody's lives. So, in a way, I'm thankful that we did this report, but it just clarified and validated my thoughts four years ago that we are that type of city, that we don't need to have a label, because we do things. And we don't need to have somebody give us a, again, the label, and that we are committed to making sure everybody is treated fairly in the city of Mountain View. So I'm glad that we did what we did. Thank you.

[02:19:49] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Okay. Moving on to item 8.1. This is... compensated... What? Compensation related to Calper's cost share for unrepresented employees for the period of July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2020, and we will start with a staff presentation.

[02:20:15] Senior Human Resources Analyst Ada Chang: Good evening, mayor and council. I am Ada Chang, Senior Human Resources Analyst, and I have with me, Surra, Human Resources Manager. Tonight, I'm bringing forward a resolution to amend the cost share for unrepresented employees. During the last round of negotiations, the city agreed with all bargaining units to pursue the contract amendment process with Cal Purse, to allow for cautious amounts paid by employees to be credited to their individual Calpers accounts. This is in compliance with government code section 20516. Unrepresented employees have been contributing to a cost share since fiscal year 2006, 2007. And currently, employee paid employer contributions, otherwise known as cost shares, are being credited to the employer's account. While going through the contract amendment process, Calper's inform staff that the current resolutions pertain to cost share for unrepresented employees do not meet Calper's requirements. There are 3 key components that are needed in order for the resolutions to comply with Cowper's requirements. These components do not change the cost share amounts already being paid by current employees. First, the sworn unrepresented employee regular contributions have been updated to reflect the current public employees pension reform act contribution rate of 10.5%. Second, Calpers requires the employee paid employer contributions, and the employee paid survivor benefit contributions, for sworn unrepresented employees to be combined and listed as the cost share in the resolution. And lastly, for the purposes of cost share, we could not have single classifications be considered a group. Therefore, the fire managers include the fire chief, and the police managers include the police chief. This will result in the police chief's cost share increasing by 0.65%. Once counsel passes the resolution, staff will submit the remaining documents to Cal Purrs for approval to begin the contract amendment process, pending Cal Purrs approval, staff anticipates bringing the contract amendment to counsel in early 2020. This concludes my presentation. Thank you.

[02:22:17] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Are there any questions from council? Did you have one? Council member Hicks, did you have one? Oh, okay. Okay. Um, okay. There's no questions from council, so we will open this up for public comment. Is there anyone wishing to address the council on this item? Okay, seeing none will close the public input portion, and bring it back to council, Council member McAllister.

[02:22:47] Councilmember John McAlister: Too bad your wife wasn't here to watch you in action, Dan. Adopt a resolution authorized.

[02:22:54] City Manager Dan Rich: No. Thank you, son. Sons are...

[02:22:58] Councilmember John McAlister: We both have sons, we know how good they are to us. Adopt a resolution authorizing sitting manager, or is designee to amend the cost share, friend representative employees, including hourly employees, confidential employees, department heads, council appointment, fire managers. Oh, and police managers for the period of July 1, 2017 through June 30th, 2020, has to be read entitled only, further reading away, attach it, and went to the council report.

[02:23:26] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Thank you. So we have a motion by council member, McAllister, and a second by council member, Kameh. There's no further discussion. We will call the question. That passes unanimously. Thank you very much. Okay, next is item 9.1. Youth mental health, and the presentation tonight is by our vice mayor.

[02:23:54] Vice Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga: Thank you, Mayor, and, um, I do not have a PowerPoint presentation. Um, so I will be doing this verbally, but, um, I want to thank, um, all my colleagues here for, um, allowing us to have this agenda item discussion, um, as you may recall, um, earlier in the fall, we had a, um, death by suicide of one of our high school students. This is, unfortunately, the 2nd year in a row, we've had this, um, circumstance. And, um, from that, there's been, um, I've heard from community members. Um, I did some outreach to some of our education, community members, and, um, got some input, and, uh, on what, um, they wanted to, um, or they asked the council, the city, the city to explore, um, doing around this issue of youth mental health services. Um, and so, uh, tonight's item is to, um, not actually, not actually go into detail, um, the, the options, but, um, simply to ask counsel to make this a priority for this upcoming year, and, um, to, when we talk about our goals and do a recap and, like, at perhaps re-prioritizing some, projects that we include this as a project to move up or to put up as a priority project. The reason for my interest in the city having some involvement is that Palo Alto has had similar unfortunate circumstances. Their city has been involved with suicide prevention and youth mental health services. The city, actually, has had, within its departments, created, what's called project safety net, which is focus. It's going to be spinning off as a nonprofit, but it's specifically focused on youth mental health. And so, um, in light of that, uh, model. And also someone reminded me that back in 2012, we did actually, Paul passed a city council policy on suicide prevention. Um, I thought this would be an opportunity for us to, um, discuss further, you know, what we, as a city, could explore, um, in this arena, um, I also, uh, visited with our youth advisory committee, and, um, had a discussion with them, and, you know, they're very much interested in also being involved. Um, I think it helps most if we hear from our own youth. as to what they think, what they need. And so, I would like for us to have a deeper dive into this issue in this coming year. So that is my request. Um, you'll see the various options. The 1st one being the Caltrain, grade crossing safety measures, this was something that, um, constituent residents brought up, as well as the school district. If you've read, you've probably read the staff report, Palo Alto has already done this in their sections. And so this would be probably a capital improvement project. And then the other items are to discuss, convene stakeholders, to identify existing programs, where there might be gaps and improvements. Also, the city does have a role in providing youth, mental health services through the funding of Czech, the community health awareness council. So perhaps we could discuss, um, further discuss our role. And then, again, engaging with our youth advisory committee. So, um, yes, tonight is, I guess, not really a time to talk in detail about which ones we or what we want to do, but, um, simply to ask you all to, um, allow this discussion to, to continue in the new year. But if there is anything here that is of interest or not of interest, we could definitely modify. Thank you.

[02:28:35] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Thank you. Are there any questions from the council? Okay, um, seeing not... Oh, no. Uh, well, open it up for public comment. Is there anyone wishing to address the council on this item? If you could just be sure to fill out a card before or after you speak, and leave it with our city clerk. That be great. Not live. There you go.

[02:29:00] Fiona Walter: Hi, everybody. Fiona Walter, MBLA, uh, trustee, and, um, apologies coming from a different event, but evidently got here in time. Um, just, uh, thank you for this item, and we'd be willing to participate in any conversations that move forward on this, as we try to develop community collaborations around all of our students and all of our youth. Something akin to Pal Alto's project safety net would be really, really interesting, and um, we'd be happy to be, uh, at the table with you. Thanks.

[02:29:31] Mayor Lisa Matichak: We have a question for you. Oh. Councilman McAllister.

[02:29:35] Councilmember John McAlister: Happy holidays, too. Hey, so one of the questions in our council questions was, what is the high school doing? And you've hired five or six counselors, or at this particular area. Could you give us a little insight on what the school district is doing now?

[02:29:51] Fiona Walter: Sure. We have 16 full time mental health... 16. Well, I blew that one out. Addition to partnership with Chuck. We just recently announced the hiring of a wellness coordinator position. Mr. William Blair, a former assistant principal. Mt View High School, has been promoted to this position. Um, our foundation is interested in figuring out how they can be part of the conversation with us, as well. Um, uh... in the wake of the student loss. We had Cara on site. We had check on site. We had all of our neighboring districts stepping in to see what we might need. But as far as our full time, our in house team is 16 right now, in addition to assistant principals who serve as intake experts, in addition to, um, one social worker for the whole district. So that's tough 'cause she's spread across too many campuses. frankly, there's too much work for her to do, but we do have one social worker in addition.

[02:30:49] Councilmember John McAlister: And this has been going for how long? All these new hires?

[02:30:54] Fiona Walter: It's been ramping up very steadily across the last five years. Five years.

[02:30:58] Fiona Walter: And it's still on a hockey stick. still spiking.

[02:31:01] Councilmember John McAlister: So you still need more counselors? There's that kind of.

[02:31:04] Fiona Walter: Right. So, um, terminology gets a little muddy. We have academic guidance counselors, right, for just regular academic stuff. So when we talk about our male health team, we're talking more about our therapists.

[02:31:15] Councilmember John McAlister: Okay, your therapist.

[02:31:17] Fiona Walter: Yep.

[02:31:17] Councilmember John McAlister: Okay, and so, you're gonna be hiring more therapist?

[02:31:20] Fiona Walter: Uh, we just added one right now. We typically have to add one mid year because things, the year, spikes, it just gets, right, more and more kids need assistance as the year continues.

[02:31:30] Councilmember John McAlister: And was Check able to handle... Obviously, what made the school district bring it in house to hire somebody therapist?

[02:31:37] Fiona Walter: Part of what happens is check is a training ground, as you know, because you are all part of the JPA. Check is a training ground, so we have interns with us, and the interns are with us a couple days a week, and as you can guess, a student in crisis needs a consistent face to deal with that. And so we have a combination of services, both with track and with our permanent in staff books.

[02:32:00] Councilmember John McAlister: With the increase in the therapist that you have, Have you increased your engagement with Jack, or have they requested to increase their engagement with you?

[02:32:10] Fiona Walter: We have increased our engagement with tracking. In fact, the hire that we just did within the last two weeks was through check.

[02:32:16] Councilmember John McAlister: Okay, so are you... Grabbing? No, I mean, never mind. I won't ask that question, 'cause you're an answer. Oh, thank you.

[02:32:25] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Uh, Castle Amber Hicks, did you also have questions? Oh, okay. Um... Next, please.

[02:32:40] Public Speaker: In Mountain View, past ten years, I have three girls who are teenagers here at Mountain View High School, and I just wanted to thank you that you are putting this topic on the agenda. I think it's really important for our community to work together and help the youth with mental health problems. Thank you.

[02:33:01] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Thank you. Next, please.

[02:33:08] Peggy Keep: Hi. My name is Peggy Keep, and I lost my son. Last year, to suicide. I'm sorry. Um, but I appreciate that you're bringing this up, and if you know, and if you've read teenage suicide and suicide in the hole is really on the rise right now, there's too much pressure, there's all kinds of things that attribute to this. And I would hope that you guys would talk about this and talk about it, how the city can help. It is way too easy. At certain hours of the evening, to walk down Castro Street and just stand in front of a train, through 4 key times, and having a guard there would help, I know that, that, um, people will do what they're gonna do anyway. But at least if the city did something to keep them away from that particular thing. I know that Palo Alto paid for some cameras, I think, are monitored by the police station. And I know that you guys have to speak with Caltrain a lot. to get something, and lawyers a lot to get something implemented along those lines. And if you could get anything done, even a different way to walk, over the tracks, or, there's a lot of things you can do, and I hope, in the future, you'll continue to talk about this and put it on agenda again. Thank you.

[02:34:37] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Thank you. Ex please. If you could speak into the microphone.

[02:34:49] Carol McCormack: My name's Carol. I McCormack. I am a resident of downtown Mountain View. I have lived here for 25 years. I'm here to talk about the train. And train safety. And what happened to that young, wonderful boy? And my children, reading about it on social media, because they know him. The train needs to be below grade, not us people. It was decided when Thai Feed Rail was traditioned for mountain view, that the train would be below grade. We would have no level crossings. We would have no pedestrian access. Safety for our residents means the train goes down, not the people. Thank you.

[02:35:29] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Thank you. Thanks, please.

[02:35:34] Emma Rowe: Hi, my name is Emma Rowe. If you can pull it up to you. All right. Um, I'm not only a student at Mount View High School, but I'm in the grade of the two students that we lost, I am also a student who struggled with mental illness, and I'm the president of the mental health club at our school. Um, and while I recognize that check does a lot. It's really lacking, the majority of the students don't know how to get help from check. They don't know how, where, when they also, um, don't seem to be able to, like, understand when something is considered an issue. Like, people will make suicide jokes, and that just seems to contribute to the culture that seems to make it okay. Thank you.

[02:36:30] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Anyone else wishing to address the council on this topic? Okay, seeing none will close the public input portion and bring it back to council. Council member, Hicks.

[02:36:41] Councilmember Alison Hicks: I would be interested in putting this item on for consideration as one of our work items next year. In particular, the portions of what you brought up that I'm interested in. I'm interested in, well, having a community conversation. It seems like the, uh, one of the situations is that the, uh, entities that are mental health are very scattered, and some of them, you know, they, uh, the schools, check, um, El Camino Hospital has a new top center that they say, and some other, I think it's a spire program that they say are evolving. Um, and then we have, you know, funders who fund education and fund health care, but such as the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, and the Sobrano Foundation, but maybe don't fund the important intersection of those two. So I don't, I see them funding more physical health and education, but maybe not understanding that mental health is an important part of getting your, you know, without mental health. It's hard to get a good education, so that intersection. So I'm interested in a community conversation. Um, and um, I'm not, I'm not particularly interested in the city becoming a mental health provider. I'm interested in, uh, hearing more from the community, and then, um, and then, uh, improving what these, uh, the conversation, helping to improve what these various organizations do, or possibly, uh, partnering with the project safety net, that Palo Alto has, whatever, uh, it turns out is, is, uh, would be most valuable, um, but will, I hope to have that conversation next year.

[02:38:37] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Council member McAllister?

[02:38:38] Councilmember John McAlister: Fiona, I just had one more question for you, then I'll have comments. Are teachers going through training to recognize, concerns, mental health of the students?

[02:38:50] Fiona Walter: Sure, would you please? Yeah. Yeah, so all of our teachers have a base level, but they're not trained mental health professionals, right? So, um, things that we've tried to put in place are, um, confidential data systems so that you can track touch points that a student has had, right? So if a student goes to one teacher with an issue on one day, that's one thing, if they show up to another teacher on the same topic. You know, somebody just jots a note in a file. Okay, well, we're trying to put into something into place, things like that. We bump into student confidentiality, of course, but we're trying to do things like that. Yes, they have a minimal amount of training. They are getting more. They are asking for more training because, obviously, we're all facing this together.

[02:39:42] Councilmember John McAlister: Okay, thanks. So, I remember when we were doing grants. I was concerned when the executive director from Chak came up and saying, well, you know, it might be four months before we get to talk to somebody, and I was trying to ask them to, you know, see if we could provide more money, because obviously they need it. They do have a tough time with keeping employees, because it is, I guess, a training ground or so forth. And, you know, I would be very interested in upping our game, in financial support for organizations. I've also had a few conversations with the police department, because suicide, but we're also looking at the gentlemen or the young people that are going in and going into schools and shooting it up. And we got to look at their mental health, you know, their terrorists, or they could be considered terrorists, or acts of violence. And we're putting a lot of stress, not only on the schools, but also on the police departments, to try to interact with these and their participation in the mental health. So I'd like to have make sure that they are part of it, because if the city becomes more proactive and puts more resources into it. We won't have these acts of violence on school campuses as they are now. And so, yeah, I'm a total of support of putting some money where our mouths are, and actually contributing to existing programs that will help solve this problem, and work more with the schools collaborative, because they're the 1st line of defense, you might say, and then line, because then they'll also help us contact the police if they need to be taken care of violent acts of there. So, yeah, I'm 100% behind that. And when we go through our funding again, we should be a little more receptive of some of the organizations out there and see what we can do to help them, as they struggle, but they will be, as I go along with, Allison, that I don't want to be in the business. We have true professionals out there. Let's help them do their job better. Let help get the police get their training so they can a little more training because they'll have times the 1st contact with somebody. And so their ability to recognize. And so the more we can do that, it will be a great asset to this community.

[02:42:00] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Council member, come I?

[02:42:02] Councilmember Ellen Kamei: Great, thank you. So, first, I'd like to thank the vice mayor for bringing this item back up. I know that it received some discussion when we were talking about our city council goals earlier in this year. Um, and as we can see, it's it is a priority, um, that we need to revisit. Second, I'd like to thank those in the audience who provided your public comment and shared your personal stories with us. I think, um, your input is so important. Um, Third, I wanted to talk about, um, I am, uh, chairing the youth services committee for the city, and one of the things I'm lucky to serve along with the vice mayor and council member Ramirez. Um, is we get an update and the work plan for our youth advisory. Um, uh, commission, and uh, they had a lot of really great input. And, um, I think what's so important as we're making any type of recommendation is to actually include the youth for their ideas. Because, um, I like to think I'm young at heart. But the youth are really the ones who know what's best for them, not me as an adult. Um, and so, and that was part of the feedback that the, the yak did give us is that they wanted more, um, direct input, um, in the policies that are being made for them. Um, and then, uh, 4th, I am the, the JPA member for CHAC, um, over this last year, and I've been having, uh, discussions with their executive director, um, on this topic in terms of how we better coordinate as a city entity. Um, and them as a nonprofit, not only with the schools, but kind of all together. How do we collaborate? How do we share information? Um, how do we um, uh, let people know about resources. And so I let the checkboard know that the city council is looking at this and ask them to please engage with us. Um, and so I will, um, go back to the board and let them know kind of depending on what council decides in terms of if they'd be willing to come. Um, and then the other is the use services, uh, committee, um, device mayor was sharing with me, used to have, uh, more participation in terms of representatives from nonprofits and the school district coming to the use services committee. And, um, our committee discussed it, and we'd like to try to do that in level of engagement again. Um, because I think that we would be um, better for uh, coordination, collaboration, discussion, um, about uh, this topic. So I think the overarching question for this is, do I do I want to pursue this? I do. Um, I know that we'll be re-looking at our council goals. I believe in early February, and I would be comfortable reevaluating how we could prioritize this in our list of projects. Thank you.

[02:45:17] Mayor Lisa Matichak: So for me, I am supportive of this being part of the discussion when we revisit our goals and the projects to support those goals. Um, I would suggest that maybe we, and I don't know if we should do this now, but I kind of think this in 2 buckets. And one is a CIP and one is everything else. Um, and so maybe we want to think through it that way when we, uh, discuss this in Q1. Um, but I'm supportive of this moving forward. I do want to make sure that, uh, the other organizations, nonprofits, schools, um, everyone who's involved in this participates. Because I think it will be, um, best if everyone is involved, and they bring whatever their particular expertise and skill set is to the table. Um, I, you know, I don't want this to just be a city, a city government initiative, um, I think it needs to be much broader than that. And I'm open to other folks leading it, and the city being a member of it. I don't think the city necessarily has to lead everything. Um, but I think it's very important that everyone participate. So I'm very much supportive of this moving forward for further discussion. Council member Clark.

[02:46:42] Councilmember Chris Clark: I just want to say, I completely agree with basically everything the mayor just said. I, um, you know, I'm happy to, you know, discuss this, um, and figure out sort of how we proceed. I'm probably less inclined on the CIP side than I am, like, the sort of mental health services and trying to find all the ways in which we can support people, but, you know, I'm open to the discussion either way, and I think, um, part of this will be, um, less like a full council. I think the full council can get involved, but I think, initially, like, having the U Services Committee, and the Yak, sort of, um, seek, seek input and feedback, and, um, come up with ideas will be really helpful for us, um, as a council. And that's sort of where my head generally is, but we can discuss that early next year as part of it, as we sort of reprioritize things.

[02:47:34] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Vice mayor, I'll be Coca.

[02:47:37] Vice Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga: Yes, thank you. So, um, that was exactly my thought was, if we can put it on our list of priorities, and we can also discuss how to move forward on the item. Um, and we may end up also bipurcating if we want to pursue the capital project versus the other items. So, um, if, if no other, um, input, I'd like to go ahead and make emotion. I'm not sure how I'm going to wear this, but, um, the motion would be to, um, place the issue of youth, mental health on our list of priorities, um, of course, uh, under council goals, and to revisit this item during our discussion of priorities and reprioritizing our, our work plans. If that makes sense. Does that make sense?

[02:48:38] Unknown Speaker: Just to summarize what, I think the intent would be is when the council relooks at their goals in terms of what's been accomplished, what's still ongoing, what hasn't been started yet. This would be added to the list for inclusion as a potential ad, and then the trade offs can be discussed at that time.

[02:48:57] Vice Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga: Yes.

[02:48:59] Mayor Lisa Matichak: So we have a motion by the vice mayor, and I seconded it. Any further discussion? And then we'll call the question. That passes unanimously. Thank you. Oh, thank you. Okay, on to item ten. Council staff and committee reports. Are there any? Vice mayor, Abi Coca?

[02:49:33] Vice Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga: Um, it's not really a report. I didn't get to, I didn't chime in early enough, or, um, soon enough earlier, but, um, I just want to take, uh, express my, um, deepest heartfelt thanks to sitting manager Danridge for his many years of service to our community, and it's been a true honor and pleasure to work with you, Dan. And as the only, I believe, the only council member left here that hired you, I think we made a great decision. And I wish you all the best, and we will very much miss you, but wish you best in your next adventures ahead.

[02:50:11] Unknown Speaker: Hear, hear.

[02:50:14] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Council member Kumei?

[02:50:15] Councilmember Ellen Kamei: Great, thank you. Um, I, if it's all right, Mayor, I'd like to say something as well, because the city manager, let me know that at his retirement party, we're not speaking. This is my one and only opportunity. We're going to all do it here tonight. No, no, we're gonna... The last vestiges of control. He's exerting his one last request for city manager, but not have to speak at his party, which I respect. So, I wanted to say, in 2011, after I graduated from graduate school, I participated as a ICMA fellow, an international city, county management association fellow. And I know that Dan has been very involved in the organization for many years. And when I was thinking, when I think about Dan, I think about how he is a model, an emblematic of the tenets of the code of conduct that ICMA has for their members. He's such a versatile and dedicated public servant, I feel so lucky, to have met him 1st as a staffer for the county and the state, as a commissioner, and now to work with him as a city council member. Our tenure together has evolved, and in all of those times, he's been so helpful, and a mentor, whether he knew it or not, sharing his wisdom and his humor, and love of salty snacks, which I didn't know we shared until recently. Uh, so, Dan, I hope you enjoy your Tuesday night yoga is without us. But we will definitely miss you up here on the dais. Thank you for your service to the city of Mountain View.

[02:52:00] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Council member McAllister.

[02:52:05] Councilmember John McAlister: You know. Yeah, that's rule number one. That's your family. That's okay, we got that. But on your retirement party, I'm sure there'll be some comments, so... But I'll make a comment... Okay, well, we're on Dan. What the heck? You know, and dance here present to me was, like, the shortest meeting in my career, but you're gonna blow it now. Okay, I know, I know, and the mayor. So, okay, well, hold on. Okay, so I'll just do a quick report on VTA. And then we'll talk about... Okay, I had a VTA meeting last Thursday. Okay, then, now on to Dan. In the seven years that I worked with him, I saw him grow as a city manager, and adapt, and receptive to all input. So, I will save more comments for the retirement party, but it's been a pleasure. It's been a learning experience, and, you know, what can you say but go bears, and... And, oh, I can't say that. Thank you.

[02:53:01] Mayor Lisa Matichak: So I forgot to report on the Bosca board meeting, um, during last week's meeting, so, um, I'll just, uh, note a couple things that we discussed, and that was the SFPUC, provided a water supply update. And right now, we are at about 88% of maximum storage. This was before the rains of this week. And, um, the current prediction from Noah, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association is for, there's like a 55 to 70% chance of below normal participate participation, precipitation. Um,

[02:53:41] Unknown Speaker: Yeah. Ski season is done?

[02:53:47] Mayor Lisa Matichak: No, no. But, um, this was before the rain we recently had, but, um, I'm assuming that, you know, next month, we'll get an update on that. So, um, we also discussed a pilot water transfer, and the point of this is to evaluate the feasibility of delivering supplemental water supplies to busca member agencies in times of supply interruptions or water shortages. And, um, we approve the transfer, and it is scheduled to happen, uh, I think in Q1 of 2020, if I recall correctly. Yes. Um, and that's a very brief update from Bosca. So I also want to add a few more comments, although I do get to speak at Dan's retirement party. Yay. Um, but I do want to acknowledge, um, that I think you've created an incredible organization here. The culture is one that I think is envied by other cities. We have incredible staff. And I think that they enjoy, um, working here, and certainly they enjoy working with you. I hear that quite a bit from our staff members. I appreciate the knowledge you have and your wisdom and your guidance. Um, you've certainly been incredibly helpful for me. And I so appreciate how much you've given to this job. Um, I know families first, but I feel like we've been a very close second. So thank you for that. Um, I'm appreciative of you staying till the end of my term as mayor. Very selfishly. I'm really happy about that. I also appreciate how you're incredibly strategic, but also you get into the details of things. And, um, a lot of people don't have that, like, skill set to go back and forth, but you're, you do. And I'd also add, I think you're great at negotiations. So, um, you are definitely gonna be missed. Um, I know I'll certainly miss your sense of humor. Um, I certainly appreciate it, and I will absolutely miss working with you, but certainly wish you all the best, and I know we'll all keep in touch. That's part of the deal. So thank you again, Dan.

[02:56:20] City Manager Dan Rich: I think you all have my text number, but I didn't tell you. I'm changing my cell number on January one. And I'll come to council meetings in yoga gear, so be careful. Anyway, thank you. You guys are getting me emotional, so thank you very much, and I'll leave it at that for now.

[02:56:40] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Okay, so, um, I'm sure we'll have more to say on Monday.

[02:56:46] Unknown Speaker: No. No. Or is it Tuesday? Are you trying to...

[02:56:52] Mayor Lisa Matichak: I forgot what date it is, Monday, as I thought. Okay. So, um, item 11, Is there a closed session report?

[02:56:59] City Attorney Krishan Chopra: There actually is a closed session report tonight. Earlier this evening, council met in closed session and voted unanimously to grant police chief Max Bozel, a one time allocation of 60 hours vacation time, in consideration for his service as interim city manager.

[02:57:17] Mayor Lisa Matichak: Thank you. So we will adjourn this meeting to the next council meeting, which is a closed session that will be held on Thursday, December 12th, 2019, at 8 a.m. at Fenwick and West, 801, California Street, Room 104, in Mountain View. And I would like to adjourn this meeting in honor of Dan Rich, our city manager. Thank you again, Dan.

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