August 11, 2020 Special Meeting of Mountain View City Council

Video

Transcript

[00:07:54] Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga: Here this evening for a special session, and I'd like the call, the meeting to order at 5 PM, and we'll start off with the pledge of relations. Uh, so if the city clerk could share a photo of the flag, and, um, Join me in the pledge. I pledge allegiance. Okay, yeah. One nation. Oh, my God. Invisible. Invisible. It was just as strong. That's great harming. Yes.

[00:08:35] Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga: Thank you. Uh, we will now uh, uh, actually I need to um, make a announcement. This meeting will be conducted in accordance with state of California executive order, N 2920 dated March 17, 2020. All members of the city council are participating in this meeting by video conference with no physical meeting location. Members of the public wishing to observe the meeting live may do so at mountain view.legestar.com on YouTube at mountain view.gov slash YouTube and on Comcast channel 26. As noted on the meeting agenda, members of the public may provide oral public comments online during the public comment period for an item by signing up at mountainview.gov slash CC under score speakers or by phone by dialing 6699009128 and entering webinar ID 999-2257 2402. Any emails received before 5 p.m. today we're forwarded to the city council. Email is received after 5 PM will not be read during the meeting, but will be entered into the record for the meeting. All votes will be taken by roll call vote. Now I'd like to ask the city clerk to proceed with roll call, please.

[00:09:48] City Clerk: Thank you Council member Clark.

[00:09:51] Councilmember Chris Clark: Here.

[00:09:52] City Clerk: Counselor member Hicks.

[00:09:54] Councilmember Alison Hicks: Here.

[00:09:55] City Clerk: Council member Mattachek.

[00:09:56] Councilmember Lisa Matichak: Yeah,

[00:09:57] City Clerk: Council member McAllister.

[00:09:59] Councilmember John McAlister: President,

[00:10:00] City Clerk: council member Ramirez.

[00:10:02] Councilmember Lucas Ramirez: Here.

[00:10:03] City Clerk: Ice Mayor Kameh.

[00:10:05] Vice Mayor Ellen Kamei: Here,

[00:10:05] City Clerk: Mayor Abikoga.

[00:10:07] Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga: Here.

[00:10:08] City Clerk: Thank you.

[00:10:09] Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga: Thank you. All members are present and we will move on to item four. Or communications from uh public. 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 3 minutes during the section. State law prohibits the council from acting on non-agenda items. Would any member of the public on the line? Like to speak, but like to provide comment on an item not on the agenda, and if so, if you're in the attendee box, please raise your blue hand. Um, and uh, or if you're on the phone, please press star 9 in the city clerk will display the timer on the screen. Uh, looking at the 10 D box. I do not see any blue hands. Um, do we have any colon? Members?

[00:11:05] City Clerk: Not that I can see, Mary, now.

[00:11:07] Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga: Okay, great, then I will close oral communications and move on to item 5 new business. 5.one, the withdrawal of the Mountain View homeowner, renter, and taxpayer protection initiative, charter amendment measure from the November 3rd, 2020 general municipal election. In our staff presentation is by our city clerk, Lisa Natouche.

[00:11:30] City Clerk Lisa Natouche: Thank you very much, Mary, just to provide a brief background. The city council adopted a resolution on June 23rd, 2020 to submit to the voters, the Mountain View homeowner, renter, and taxpayer protection initiative measure, which was proposed to amend the city charter to modify the community stabilization and Fair Reds Act. The initiative petition was certified as sufficient on November 27th of 2018. Pursuant to the elections code, proponents of an initiative may withdraw an initiative charter amendment up to 88 days before the election. On August 7, 2020, a notice of intent to withdraw, the measure was determined to be filed timely. The adoption of a resolution is required by the elections code to effectuate the proponent's withdrawal of the measure. So the item before you this evening is consideration of that resolution, which must be submitted to the county, no later than tomorrow, August 12th. That concludes my report and I'm available for the city attorney for questions. Thank you.

[00:12:30] Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga: Any questions from council members? Please raise your blue hand. I don't see any, so then I will open this up to public comment. Again, if there are any members of the public in the attendee box machine to speak, please raise your blue hand, and if you are on the phone. Please hit star 9. Sorry, star nine. Yes. Um, I see 2 hands, so we'll start with Lenny Siegel. And please unmute yourself.

[00:13:04] Lenny Siegel: Here we go. Can hear me now? Can you hear me?

[00:13:11] Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga: Yes.

[00:13:12] Lenny Siegel: Okay. I just wanted to say that it's time for Mountain View to recognize that Room Control is here to stay. Um, even with the economic downturn, people moving away associated with the pandemic, uh, we can expect the housing shortage to return with a vengeance in 2021. So I want to ask the council to, when it makes appointments to the rental housing committee, to appoint people who are willing to, To, um, further the objective, support the objectives of the voters when they passed measure V. Um, the rental housing committee has the authority to suspend measure V if the vacancy rate goes above 5%. Um, if that happens, it's only going to be temporary, so we need people who are committed to stay in the course. Uh, so, um, and the other thing, of course, um, is we need a rental has a committee or the council, uh, to recognize that the voters intended, measure B, to cover mobile homes and mobile home spaces, and we'd like to see that. I'd like to see that happen Uh, let's, I don't want to have to wait for another uh, charter amendment vote in 2022. Thank you.

[00:14:24] Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga: Thank you. Next, we'll go to Tim Mackenzie. Please unmute yourself. Oh, I think I hear you. Tim Mackenzie, could you try unmuting yourself again? Oh, you should be on. Ten? You should be on him. Can you please try to speak? Uh, can I, is there something tech support? Can I get your assistance here? Because she should be able to speak.

[00:15:27] Unknown Speaker: My, my only um, tip would be if, um, Oh. Tim is using headphones, perhaps just to confirm that the mic is on on the headphones. I know that's been an issue in the past.

[00:15:39] Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga: Perhaps. Um, Tim, I'm gonna go to our next...

[00:15:49] Tim Mackenzie: Okay, sorry. I was having microphone difficulty issues.

[00:15:52] Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga: No problem. Thank you.

[00:15:56] Tim Mackenzie: Um, so I just want to say, uh, rent control is wildly popular Mountain View, we saw that with measure D, despite the intransigence and hostility of city council. The voters and residents of Mountain View have made it clear. Rent control is here to stay. I hope you guys have learned, you've listened, and you will continue to listen. to Mountain View residents about issues that we care about and actually try to affect something to make the community that we are trying to envision together. Um, to that end. Defund the police. This is not a flash in the pan. This is, despite the, uh, the insinuations to the contrary. This is another issue that Mountain View residents feel strongly about. I hope that you will rise to the current moment. Thank you.

[00:16:47] Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga: Thank you. Well, go to Alex Brown. Can you send me your source?

[00:16:52] Alex Brown: Uh, Alex Brown, speaking for the Mountain View mobile Home Alliance. The Mountain View Mobile Home Alliance. was glad to hear that the CSFRA is no longer under threat from the new measure D. We look forward to being included under its aegis as soon as either the courts, the rental housing committee, or the city council step up and take action. Many of our members literally cannot afford to wait to get the protections that are currently safeguarding other mountain view residents. And then just on a person, you'd love to see it. We got them. Yeah

[00:17:21] Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga: And are there any other members of the public machine to speak? If not, I will close public comment and bring us back to the council. Uh, for any comments, deliberation or emotion? Please raise your blue hand. Uh, counts my meta check.

[00:17:48] Councilmember Lisa Matichak: Thank you Well, if there's no comment, I'm happy to make a motion. Uh, that we adopt a resolution withdrawing the submission to the qualified electors of the city, of a certain measure relating to a proposed initiative charter amendment, at the general municipal election to be held on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2020, as called by resolution number 18474, to be read entitled only further reading, waived.

[00:18:16] Councilmember John McAlister: Second.

[00:18:19] Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga: Thank you, and I have a, uh, motion by council member, a matter check, and council member, McAllister, 2nd then that council member, Hicks, to Jared.

[00:18:27] Councilmember Alison Hicks: No, I was just 2nding the motion.

[00:18:30] Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga: Uh, John beat you. So, um, is there are there any other comments? Any other discussion? If not, can we get a roll call vote, please?

[00:18:43] City Clerk Lisa Natouche: Yes, I thank you. Castle number Clark.

[00:18:45] Councilmember Chris Clark: Yeah.

[00:18:46] City Clerk Lisa Natouche: Council member Hicks.

[00:18:48] Councilmember Alison Hicks: Yes.

[00:18:49] City Clerk Lisa Natouche: Council member about a check.

[00:18:51] Councilmember Lisa Matichak: Yes.

[00:18:51] City Clerk Lisa Natouche: Council member McAllister.

[00:18:53] Councilmember John McAlister: Yes.

[00:18:54] City Clerk Lisa Natouche: Council member Ramirez.

[00:18:56] Councilmember Lucas Ramirez: Yes.

[00:18:57] City Clerk Lisa Natouche: Ice Mayor Kme.

[00:18:59] Vice Mayor Ellen Kamei: Yes.

[00:19:00] City Clerk Lisa Natouche: Mayor Abicoga.

[00:19:02] Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga: Hi.

[00:19:03] City Clerk Lisa Natouche: Thank you.

[00:19:04] Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga: Thank you. Mission carries 70 with no abstensions and we will move on to item 6 council staff committee reports. Do we any council members have any reports? You, uh, Council member Met a check.

[00:19:21] Councilmember Lisa Matichak: Thank you. I figure I'll take the opportunity, so these don't stack up for our 1st meeting after our break. Um, I have 3 things on July 16th. We had a Bosco board meeting, and, um, one of the major discussions, um, that is coming to us at the next meeting, is whether or not we want to participate in the expansion of the Los Oqueros Reservoir. And that would potentially allow us additional water during dry years. Um, and, um, obviously, I'm working with staff on this and will, um, make a recommendation and then ultimately a vote, um, as to whether or not the city of Mountain View wants to participate in this. Um, Second, uh, we had a meeting of the Santa Clara Santa Cruz Round Table. On July 22nd and uh, the update there is some of the cities as well as Santa Cruz County, um, have had a pretty significant impact on their financials due to COVID. And so they have withdrawn their participation in the round table. So, um, as a result, we have rejiggered the budget and uh, the members on the subcommittees, um, uh, we're still going forward, but it's just with a smaller number of members at this point. And we are also exploring being an independent group, independent of the cities association, that is. And there's a new subcommittee formed to look at that. And then finally, on July 22nd, um, there was a meeting of the Santa Clara County airport land use commission meeting that I attended. And, um, nothing major to report from that. Thank you.

[00:21:19] Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga: Thank you. Well, good, a Counselor McAllister?

[00:21:22] Councilmember John McAlister: Yeah, I had a couple of issues with a VTA. I was thinking about holding it off to the 24th so that we could have the world's shortest city council meeting, but former mayor, Madichek, uh, So quickly on BTA, you probably heard that there was a controversy about putting it down for a Caltrain. And BTA voted unanimously to move that option to the voters to for the 18 sales tax. So that was great news. A lot of parochial playing between various government agencies, but everybody got to, got to the sense that this was the most efficient and cost uh, recovery transit lane in the nation. So that was good, you know. The SR 85 corridor, state route 85 quarter met, and we will be coming, uh, to a recommendation, hopefully, that we're going that there will be a transit dedicated transit lane from S state route 87 to North Bay Shore. And that's moving ahead and we will have another beating later on this month to make a final oral recommendation to the BTA board. So, we are moving forward with quite a few things that will be beneficial to mound you. That's all I got to say. Thank you.

[00:22:47] Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga: Lets get advice in your committee.

[00:22:49] Vice Mayor Ellen Kamei: Great, thank you. Uh, I just wanted to, uh, provide an update related to the council of the subcommittee. We've continued to meet over the summer over the topic of youth mental health and wellness. Um, that's not committee is hoping to bring an update to the full council um, in the fall. We've been trying to meet with not only providers of mental health services, the conveners, and trying to find the best way to go forward. It's lucky. you.

[00:23:20] Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga: Thank you. Any other council members? Um, I just wanted to, um, mention, and I'm not sure what the results are, but, um, this today, the board of supervisors was expected to, um, pass a face covering enforcement measure, and, um, pending that, uh, decision. Uh, we are, uh, scheduled to be meeting, um, all the mayors, as you know, been meeting weekly on COVID testing and so forth, and, um, this next meeting is going to be on the issue of enforcement in, um, including police chiefs and the conversation. So that's scheduled for Thursday. Um, And then I wanted to ask staff, um, you know, we had, uh, correspondence and there was, uh, coverage in, uh, or an op-ed recently about the magical bridge project. And, um, I know staff provided a report, uh, written report, but, um, we still continue to get, um, emails. And so I was hoping that staff could, um, provide an oral, um, summary of, uh, an update on where we are at this time, um, just to clarify misinformation, I think, has been published. So with the city manager, would you mind providing that?

[00:24:39] City Manager Kimbra McCarthy: Absolutely. Thank you, mayor. In terms of the project and the current status of the project. So when the city 1st entered this agreement with Magical Bridge, um, it was January of 2018. And the agreement at that time stated that the city would contribute a $1000000 towards the project. And that the foundation, the Magical Bridge Foundation would fundraise around $3.5 million. So the total funding goal for the project was around $4.5 million. And the city has contributed not only that that 1000000 which was stipulated in the contract, but has also contributed about 400,000 more dollars, um, for sequa, um, staffing and other related funding needs. In terms of the fundraising amount that magical bridge has fundraised. It's around one. $14000000 of the $18000000 goal. So there is about a $680,000 gap right now, left to be raised to contribute towards this project. And so, right now, staff is planning on bringing an update, um, a more comprehensive update to city council about this in the fall. And, uh, we are also going to be reviewing the conceptual design this fall with council. And staff right now is working on other fundraising options, um, including the possibility of the city being able to get a grant through the state to assist with that that delta of the $680,000. Um, so I know that there have been different amounts um, mentioned, but but the difference remaining is around 680,000 right now. So there will be more information brought back to council this fall on options. And hopefully we'll have more information between now and then on fundraising and perhaps other options that we might be able to do to help in terms of state grants or other options. So that's where we're at right now with that project. Thank you.

[00:26:56] Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga: Councilman McAllister, do you have a question?

[00:26:59] Councilmember John McAlister: I had a question. Wasn't this magical bridge able to be built in phases? So that the, um, if magical bridge only raised so much money, they could build one phase, and then as additional funds came along, they would be able to, uh, add the 2nd layer of, uh, playground to it without uh, impacting the 1st phase.

[00:27:27] City Manager Kimbra McCarthy: Yes, council member McAllister, that is accurate. Right now, I believe they are through around 35% of the design phase right now. So if there are, um, reduced funding, um, that's available, what they would do is they would scale up, um, with the different elements of the design. So, um, there might be different elements of the playground that might have, for example, a reduction in perhaps a number of swings or something like that, um, that might be in one phase, that they would have to scale up and add more at a later time. So as funding becomes available, then that could be determined. So yes, that that is an option, um, to do that at bases. Thank you.

[00:28:16] Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga: Any other questions? And if not, any other comments, reports? No, if not, uh, we stand adjourned at uh, 520, almost the shortest meeting that, and our next meeting uh, scheduled to be held on Tuesday, August 25th, 2020, with closed sessions beginning at 4 PM. Thank you, everyone, and please stay safe and healthy, and we'll see you in a couple weeks.

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