January 10, 2023 Joint Meeting of Mountain View City Council and Shoreline Regional Park Community

Video

Transcript

[00:00:00] Unknown Speaker: See as the share, which is fine.

[00:00:23] Unknown Speaker: So then there's the timer. Yeah. Okay. Just so we can test it.

[00:03:23] Mayor Lucas Ramirez: Good evening, everyone. Thank you for joining us for the closed session. City Attorney Logue will make a closed session announcement, and then the city council welcomes public comment on the items listed for closed session. Thank you.

[00:03:35] City Attorney Jennifer Logue: Good evening, Jennifer Logue, city attorney. There are two items on the close session agenda tonight. Item 2.one is a conference with legal counsel regarding a live liability claim pursuant to government code section. 54956.9. The name of the claimant is Paul Mansorian. Item 2.2 is a conference with legal counsel regarding a liability claim pursuant to government code section 54956.9, the name of the claimant is the J. Kumar. Thank you.

[00:04:07] Mayor Lucas Ramirez: Would any member of the public, joining us virtually or in person, like to provide comment on the close section items listed on tonight's agenda. If so, please click the race hand button in Zoom, or submit a blue speaker card to the city clerk. We will take in person speakers first.

[00:04:24] Unknown Speaker: Are there any members of the public who would like to speak on the closed session items? I've not seen any. I have not yet been elevated to the panel, so I can't check the Zoom attendees. Are you able to see Heather, whether there are members of the public in Zoom? Here we go. Are there any, so I've not seen any members of the public participating virtually. I don't believe that was a sincere hand phrase. So,

[00:05:03] Mayor Lucas Ramirez: seeing no members of the public wishing to speak, the council will now recess to close session and return to the council chambers at 6:30 p.m. for the regular session. Thank you.

[00:10:11] Mayor Lucas Ramirez: Good evening, everyone. Welcome to the joint meeting of the Mountain View City Council and the Shoreline Regional Park community of January 10th, 2023. Before we begin, I want to welcome members of the public and city staff to the council chambers tonight and acknowledge that this is our first in person meeting in the chambers in almost three years. Since this is the first time we've held meetings in a hybrid format, I want to ask for your understanding in advance. If we need to work through any procedural or technical issues that may come up. For those joining us in person, please note that due to our hybrid environment, audio and video presentations can no longer be shared from the lectern. Requests to show an audio or video presentation during a council meeting should be directed to city.clerk at mountainview.gov by 4.30 p.m. on the meeting date. Additionally, due to our hybrid environment, we will no longer have speakers line up to speak on an item. Anyone wishing to address the council in person must complete a blue speaker card. Please indicate the name you would like to be called by when it is your turn to speak and the item number on which you wish to speak. Please complete one blue speaker card for each item on which you wish to speak and turn them into the city clerk as soon as possible, but no later than the call for public comment on the item you are speaking on. Instructions for addressing the council virtually may be found on the posted agenda. Is Chief Shung in the audience? Chief, would you mind leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance? Thank you. And now the city clerk will take the roll call.

[00:12:17] Unknown Speaker: All council members are present.

[00:12:22] Mayor Lucas Ramirez: Thank you. We'll move on to item three. Presentation, please note, this is a presentation only. The city council will not take any action public comment will occur after the presentation item, and if you wish to speak on the item in person, please submit a blue speaker card to the city clerk now. And the presentation is a proclamation in recognition of former council member Sally Lieber. Sally, would you please join me at the lectern?

[00:13:20] Mayor Lucas Ramirez: We are happy to be joined this evening by former council member Sally Lieber. Sally was elected to the California Board of Equalization in November 2022, and her last day with the city council was December 30, 2022. The proclamation and recognition of her service reads. Whereas Sally J. Lieber was elected to the city council by the residents of Mountain View, California, on November 3, 2020, and took her oath of office on January 12, 2021, and whereas council member Lieber has represented her constituents by serving on the council finance committee, investment investment review committee for 2 years, and as chair in 2022, council, race, equity, and inclusion ad hoc subcommittee, council transportation committee as chair. Council Youth Services Committee, and council neighborhoods committee, as well as chair of the interim Caster Street Pedestrian Mall ad hoc committee in 2022, championing the ongoing economic recovery and vibrancy of downtown Mountain View, and whereas Council member Lieber has represented the city of Mountain View regionally by sitting on the Avenida's board of directors, Moffat Field Restoration Authority Board. San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority, and Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority, and by serving as an alternate on the City's Association of Santa Clara County Selection Committee, South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project Stakeholder Form, and Grand Boulevard Task Force, Policy Committee, and whereas during her tenure on the City Council, Council member Believers supported the city's adoption of local gun safety ordinances, as well as several legislative actions to address gun violence, such as further restricting assault weapons and non-se firearms, advocating for safe storage of firearms, and further limiting the marketing and advertising of firearms to children, and whereas Council member Libra's support of climate action and environmental issues helped pass the law to create the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority by encouraging regional climate adaptation planning to reduce climate risk, foster collaboration, and develop guidance for potential investment in regional adaptation projects, which helps the city's ambitious carbon goals and other sustainability projects. And, whereas, Council member relievers steadfastly championed women's personal reproductive freedom and a constitutional right to reproductive freedom via support of California's Proposition One. And whereas, while Council member Libber served on the city council, 2,479 net, sorry, new housing units were approved, including 654 affordable units approved, 4,978 total housing units were built, including 559 affordable units built. The gateway master plan in North Bayshore was approved, which allows up to 2800 units. The Google Middlefield Park Master Plan was approved, allowing up to 1900 housing units, including 330 affordable housing units, and the lease of City Lot 12 was approved for the development of affordable housing. And whereas Council member Lieber continued to be a voice and an advocate for vulnerable, elderly, and marginalized community members, by supporting affordable housing, and mobile home rent stabilization, a budget equity lens for people who have disabilities, wage theft, and responsible construction ordinances, the launch of Elevate MV, the city is guaranteed basic and compilot, and additional COVID-19 relief programs, and allocation of American Rescue Plan Act funds toward programs serving the most vulnerable members of our community. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Mountain View City Council, on behalf of its members, city staff, and the community, does hereby express great appreciation to Sally J. Lieber for her 2 years of dedicated service on the Mountain View City Council. Sally, would you like to say a few words?

[00:17:14] Sally Lieber: Of course. Yes, if you were...

[00:17:20] Mayor Lucas Ramirez: So first? Okay. Please. So first, I'm gonna go off script here. We have a number of gifts for you. I'll let you unwrap them yourself. Thank you. And then I'm just gonna say a few more informal words. I just want to let you know, Sally, how many people called, texted and emailed me, telling me that you were the only person on council who knew how to do one thing or another, whether it was accelerate our efforts at climate change, how's the unhoused, work for the needs of the most vulnerable work to turn our downtown around, or any number of other things. Apparently, according to many of your fans, you're the only one. They asked you, really, they asked me to do anything I could to keep you on council, and unfortunately, we can't. So, um, I would like to ask you to come up come here. We're gonna be in person and come, come speak to us every once in a while, or stay at home in your pajamas. We're gonna be hybrid. You can zoom in and talk to us, give us some advice, and it's been a pleasure serving with you. Thank you so much. Thank you so much.

[00:18:37] Sally Lieber: Well, you know, when the mayor said, Would you like to have the microphone? That's a very dangerous thing to offer anybody in politics, but I promise I'll have you out of here by 9 o'clock, no later. But I do want to say thank you so much to my council colleagues and to our city staff. When the mayor read that laundry list of things that have happened and been completed and been started. I was very impressed with myself and very exhausted, listening to it. But it's really a team effort here. And I can honestly say that in Mountain View, we have wonderful, incredible staff, who provides so much support, and so much policy advice, and technical knowledge, to the council as a whole, and to us individually, in particular, when you're on a committee or chairing a committee. It's really wonderful to work with the excellent staff that we have. And also, my council colleagues, we're each very different people. And I think I could tell a little story about each person when I've seen them do something that is really, really top notch for our community. And Mountain View, absolutely, deserves the best. We have a very wonkish population in Mountain View. I think the number of people who actually subscribe and pay their dues to public radio and public television is very high. And people here love the content of ideas and participate in a very vigorous way. And I don't know where some of our frequent activists are. Tonight, I see a few scattered among the folks who are here, but they play a very vital role, too, because they ask the tough questions, and they bring us a lot of knowledge about things like bicycle issues, and the environment, and all kinds of things, and they really push us to push the envelope on what we can do. Now, I've been drafted by 2.2 million Californians to go off to the State Board of Equalization. And just like when I was on council, I'm going to make every single meeting count and get the most that I possibly can out of every single meeting. But as was alluded to, I do just live about a block away. So I'm not gonna be a stranger to these chambers, and to our wonderful, wonderful community in Mountain View. So thank you all so much. Thank you to our appointees, our city clerk, our city manager, our city attorney, and all of the stay off. Many of the department heads are here tonight. Thank you so much for your patience and for all the teaching that you do in terms of working with the community and being very open to the community. It really means a lot, and it has made this an excellent city with a top notch reputation. So thank you so much. I really appreciate it. Thank you, sir.

[00:22:30] Mayor Lucas Ramirez: Would any member of the council like to say a few words?

[00:22:39] Unknown Speaker: If, uh, Council member, can I? Great, thank you. I just want to thank council member Liever for the two short put suite years that we were able to serve together. Um, and, uh, we will we will miss you dearly, but like you said, I know where you live. I know you don't live very far away. And I am sure we will always feel you present, but the thing I want to thank you for is your compassionate heart. I think that you truly try to represent those who don't have a voice and aren't represented and really want to thank you for bringing that to counsel and to always having a kind word for me. I appreciate that very much. Thank you. Thanks, Mayor.

[00:23:21] Mayor Lucas Ramirez: Thank you. Council member show, Walter.

[00:23:28] Councilmember Pat Showalter: Well, ditto to all of those things, but I also really, um, just want to thank you for your decade long leadership on environmental issues, particularly with respect to the restoration of San Francisco Bay. Um, Sally was the, uh, legislator who brought the San Francisco Restoration Authority legislation to the state legislature and had it passed. And that has proven to be just a vital agency for restoring our bay and getting us ready for climate change. They will be very, very busy for many years. So, anyway, I want to specifically thank you for that leadership. And for all you've taught me. You are always willing to share your thought processes, and it's been a pleasure to learn from you, and I look forward to learning lots more. Thank you.

[00:24:27] Mayor Lucas Ramirez: Council member Robbie Coca.

[00:24:30] Councilmember Margaret Abe-Koga: Thank you, Mayor. I also want to, first of all, congratulate you. for your new position. It's always wonderful to have Mountain View represented in all levels of government, so we're very proud of you and wish you all the best in Sacramento. And I also want to thank you for your service. It's been a pleasure working with you. And I really appreciate our, you know, we have very different opinions sometimes, but we also are able to align and work together. And in particular, I appreciate your support on issues that we both care about in terms of lifting people up, whether it was the increase in the minimum wage, or more recently, the guaranteed basic income pilot program. So thank you so much for all that you've done and you literally are my neighbor by 2.5 blocks. So I think I'll probably see you around at least walking your dog in the neighborhood. So best wishes again. Thanks.

[00:25:29] Mayor Lucas Ramirez: Thank you. Council member Mattachek.

[00:25:33] Councilmember Lisa Matichak: Thank you. So, Sally, I just want to say, um, it was a pleasure meeting you. I had never met you before we started serving together on council. Um, I appreciate, um, the perspectives you brought, because I think you were looking at things through, um, a different lens based upon your experience, and that was helpful. So, I appreciate your contributions. I wish you all the best in your next endeavor, and I'm sure we'll see you. Thank you. Thank you.

[00:26:07] Mayor Lucas Ramirez: And for my part, uh, I don't know if you had a chance to see, uh, the sequel to the Top Gun movie. But towards the beginning, the character, Maverick, is testing aircraft capable of traveling at supersonic speeds, and pushing the vehicle to its limit. Mach 8, Mach 9, Mach 10, everyone's cheering, Wow, you did it. Mach 10.1. Mark 10 point what? Mark 10.2. At a certain point, you are pushing us. The council, the city, to its absolute limit. And then you're saying, can we do a little bit more above and beyond that. And I'm grateful to you for pushing us, as far as we can go, and sometimes a little bit beyond that, and I appreciate your service to the city of Mountain View and your continuing service to the city of Mountain View. Thank you again for your service. We will now take public comment for the presentation item. Would any member of the public joining us virtually, or in person, like to provide comment on the presentation item listed on the agenda? If so, please click the raised hand button in Zoom, or submit a blue speaker card to the city clerk. We will take in person speakers first. And the first speaker is Supervisor Joe Samidium.

[00:27:42] Joe Simitian: Council members, forgive me. I think I heard one of you mutter that this was my best side anyway, so I was gonna tease the mayor about the lowbrow cultural reference to Top Gun, except I saw the movie, and I loved it too, Lucas. So, um, I want to take a minute just to share in the commendations and congratulations to Sally. Um, I, we have a couple things in common. The first is, I'm a county supervisor. She's now a member of the State Board of Equalization. No one knows what we do for a living. That's the... You spend all of your time explaining what you do in that job. So I'm looking forward to that. The other is, I'm a recycled county supervisor. I was there, I came back. Sally was a recycled member of this city council. She was here, she came back. The things I can tell you from having both served alongside her as a colleague in the state legislature for a bit, and from having watched her in the community, and none of this is captured with the thereas, and therefore, be it resolves, and whereas is. But the thing I can tell you is, um, she is absolutely indefatigable. And as a member of the state legislature, and I think I can get a nod from Sally on this, she was the member who always was pushing the envelope, and colleagues would come up and say, You know you don't have the votes for this. Why are you pursuing this? This is a hard vote for me. And she would just very graciously turn to say, Well, because it's the right thing to do, and you should just vote for it, whether it's a hard vote or not. Is that a pretty accurate rest date? Her language was sometimes a little bit more exuberant than that. But that was the general, the general message. And the last thing I would just, like, say is, she has been underestimated pretty much at every point in her career. I remember when you ran for city council the first time in '98. And everybody said, Oh, she's a newcomer. She doesn't have a snowballs chance. And all of a sudden, she was on the city council. And then, just two years later, ran four years later, ran for the California State Legislature, and everybody said, she's, you know, not, she didn't have a chance. There were these name opponents, and all of a sudden, she was in the California State Legislature. And then she was pushing forward on some of these measures that seemed a little bit ambitious, and all of a sudden, she was the speaker pro tem for the California State Assembly. So, um, for those who said, really, she wants to run, for the state board of equalization, and go out and try and round up support from millions of Californians, that seems like a big lift. Didn't surprise me at all. The outcome didn't surprise me at all. And I just want to say congratulations. Thank you for your willingness to continue to serve during what are sometimes challenging days. And yes, we do have the official resolution, I will point out, by the way, that it is unanimous, which is not always the case at our board of supervisors, I think I see Otto Lee, who's here with me from the board of supervisors. We join our colleagues in thanking you, congratulating you, and I know you know this, but if in your new office, and I got the business card, there are either holes in the wall or a water stain, you just put this up in the right location, and you are, number one, you've made an aesthetic statement that everyone could appreciate. Number two, you can remember your friends and supporters back home, who's so greatly appreciate the work that you have done and will continue to do. Thank you. Congratulations, Sal.

[00:31:18] Sally Lieber: Thank you so much. Thank you.

[00:31:26] Mayor Lucas Ramirez: Thank you, Supervisor Samidian. The next speaker is Macon Fraley. And I'll remind everyone, if you want to speak in person, please submit a blue card to the city clerk.

[00:31:43] Macon Fraley: Been a really long time. Wow. Um, I just wanted to say thank you, and I'll probably cry. I don't know where you are. Sally. Um, but in any case, I'm gonna speak forward. You're right there behind me. Hi, Sally. Um, thank you for all of the times you've sat in chambers with us as activists before you were on council. Thank you for being on council. I wish I could say I just feel feelings of happiness and joy right now. I'm very sad that we're losing you and also really excited for you having even more of a platform for everything you stand for, and I will be coming to your house and dragging you to council meetings. Um, to be in the audience, and I can't see the timer, but I'm just deeply, deeply grateful for the way that you've listened, the way that. And you're the only one, right? Callous at that. that I think that it's easy as a representative to forget what it's like when you're sitting on this side of things. And when people make decisions and they leave out the part where we really feel hard, that we know that how we're feeling is impacted, and I always have been able to rely, that you will speak truth, and you will come from a place of deep, deep compassion, and not forget us. And so I'm a little scared, losing you. So I know that you'll stay with us and keep showing up with us, and thank you for being a leader and a role model and yeah, the sharpness, strategicness, but also depth of compassion for everyone that you hold. So, that's all. Thank you.

[00:33:19] Mayor Lucas Ramirez: Thank you. Our next speaker is Alex Brown.

[00:33:32] Alex Brown: She beat me to it, but, uh, I am gonna have to insist that you come, watch these, and make fun of them with me again. It won't be your first time. Yeah. Thanks.

[00:33:46] Mayor Lucas Ramirez: Thank you. The next speaker is Theta corns.

[00:33:53] Theoda Korns: Hi. Uh, Jesus and I would like to thank you. I particularly mention Jeeves, because Jeeves is a service dog, and has beaten to council meetings, along with my other service dogs. I first met Sally, actually, when she was first on city council, and she came with her ironing board. And she even had her ironing board when she was in the state legislator. So she has always been incredibly accessible, and as many others have said, have always stood up for those who have no voice. And I really appreciate both your accessibility, both in terms of a person, and in terms of speaking for those who don't have a voice, and for standing up for accessibility in all its forms, whether that'd be disability, accessibility, accessibility, to basic, rights, minimum wage, and I just really have your mentorship and your support, and, you know, just thank you very much. And I'm not speaking as a school board member, so I don't have a plaque for you or anything like that. Thank you.

[00:35:24] Mayor Lucas Ramirez: Seeing no other members of the public wishing to speak in person. We will turn to those who are participating virtually. Please raise your hand if you wish to speak. I'm not seeing any hands raised, so that concludes the public, sorry, the presentation. We will now proceed on to item four. Thank you again, Sally. Consent calendar. These items will be approved by one motion unless any member of the council wishes to remove an item for discussion. If you would like to speak on this item or the next item, oral communications on non agenda items in person, please submit a blue speaker card to the city clerk now. Would any member of the council like to pull an item? Scene, no items polled by members of the council, will proceed to public comment. Would any member of the public joining us virtually or in person like to provide comment on any item on the consent calendar? If so, please click the raise hand button in Zoom, or submit a blue speaker card to the city clerk. We will take in person speakers first. There are no members of the public wishing to speak in person. I'm not seeing any hands up in the Zoom. So I'll bring it now, bring the item back to council for action, and note that emotion to approve the consent calendar should also include reading the title of the resolutions attached to items 4.1 and 4.2. I see. We have a motion from Council member Kumei, seconded by Council member Show Walter. No comments or questions, so we'll take the vote. Jamie Derrick.

[00:37:16] Councilmember Ellen Kamei: Great. So, I... Great. Oh, that's right. I sorry. Nope, no problem. I'm getting to it. Okay, so, uh, I'd like to move item 4.1, adopt a resolution of the city council of the city of Mountain View. Authorize and continuing virtual meetings of the city council, committees, boards, and commissions, pursuant to A, B, 361, and making required findings to be read entitled only for the reading waived. I have 4.2. Adopt a resolution of the city council, the city of Mountain View, amending resolution number 18575. Temporarily designated for exclusive use, bus only lanes along Charleston Road, from Landings Drive to Shoreline Boulevard. Pursuant to California Vehicle Code Section, 21655.5, and finding the resolution to be exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act, under California Code of Regulations, Title 14. Section 15301 to be read in title only for the reading waived. Thank you.

[00:38:19] Mayor Lucas Ramirez: Seeing no one else in the queue will now take the vote. And that passes unanimously. Thank you. We'll proceed now to item five 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 during this section. State law prohibits the council from acting on non agenda items. If you would like to speak on this item in person, or the next section of items listed under new business. Please submit a blue speaker card to the city. clerk now. Would any member of the public joining us virtually or in person like to provide comment on this item? If so, please click the raise hand button in Zoom or submit a blue speaker card to the city clerk. We will take in person speakers. first. And the 1st member of the public wishing to speak is Maria Marokin.

[00:39:15] Maria Marokin: Well, thank you so much has been so long, and I'm so excited just to come and see you all. Um, I know it's in the agenda, but I cannot stop the saying, thank you, Sally, from all of us, from the day labor community, from the whole community, we love our heart. And we know you are going to be doing good things there, too. So, now, I just want to speak about the situation, really difficult for people who live in their cars in this time of storms and heavy rain, and just ask for moratorium for the implementation on 72 hours parking. rule. So please consider that. We are an emergency, people, and still, indefinitely in a lot of stress, and just to be moving, uh, on 1000 feet, every 72 hours, just increase the pain, and the suffering that they, in my view, has enough. So I hope you hear my heart. And I hope you can do all that stay in your power, probably not today, but just keep in mind. Thank you so much for the opportunity. Thank you.

[00:40:41] Mayor Lucas Ramirez: See, no other members of the public wishing to speak in person will turn now to our virtual speakers, and there are no hands raised in Zoom, so we will close item 5, oral communications, and proceed now to item 7, new business. We will now take public comment and outside presentations for all new business items, which includes recognition of the outgoing mayor, remarks by reelected council members, and nomination and election of the incoming mayor and vice mayor. Would any member of the public joining us virtually or in person, like to provide comment on any item listed under new business. If so, please click the raised hand button in Zoom or submit a blue speaker card to the city clerk. We will take in person speakers first. And the first speaker is Congresswoman Anna Esu by video.

[00:41:43] Congresswoman Anna Eshoo: Good evening, everyone. And thank you to the city manager, Kendra McCarthy, and the city clerk's office for inviting me to join you this evening. I wish I could be with you in person, uh, but Congress just began its new session, uh, and that requires me to be in Washington. Thank you first to council member Sally Lieber, for your dedicated service to the city of Mountain View, since you were reelected in 2020, and throughout your time, in public service, to the people of Mountain View, together with a grateful community. I wish you all the best as you join the California Board of Equalization. Let me also congratulate council members Lucas Ramirez and Allison Hicks and Allan Kamai on being reelected to continue representing this outstanding city, alongside council members, Margaret Ave Koga, Lisa Mattachek, and Pat Show Walter. I'd also like to preemptively congratulate the newly elected mayor, advice mayor, who will be elected later this evening. It's an honor for me to represent Mountain View in Congress. I used to live out of Mount Vernon Court many years ago, and I loved my time in the city. I'm very proud of how Mountain View stepped up during the COVID 19 pandemic, when the city council created a vital social safety net that kept people safe and business is open. The city council has also made important progress on long term projects that will benefit Mount View residents for generations, like increasing affordable housing, boosting community safety programs, and reigniting a growing economy. I'm so proud to have secured $15.6 million for Mountain View through the American rescue plan, along with funding for two critical community projects in the omnibus bill that was signed into law last month. We worked together to secure $750,000 to acquire, rehabilitate, and convert the Crestview Hotel into permanent supportive housing. I'm also proud to have collaborated with the city to secure $2.5 million for a pedestrian undercrossing at the Caltrain crossing at the intersection of Evelyn and Bernardo Avenues. Bravo, on your exceptional work. I look forward to working closely with each of you, on behalf of our mutual constituents, for the betterment of the community. Thank you, everyone. Wonderful to be with you.

[00:44:46] Mayor Lucas Ramirez: The next speaker is Haro Sato. And the speaker after that is Patrick Arons. So, maybe we'll proceed now to Patrick Erin.

[00:45:28] Patrick Erins: Hello, thank you so much, Mayor. My name is Patrick Erins. I'm the board president, for the foothill Dianza College Board. I'm also the district director for assembly member, Evan Lowe. It's a pleasure to be speaking with you all, and it's not every day in local government where we can celebrate things, and it's just really great to see all of the new elected council members returning and working with us. I just bring greetings from the assembly member, and from the foothill Dianza Community College District, and wishing our sincere congratulations on your reelections. We're looking forward to working with you all. I'm really proud to announce, as many of you know, in our service area, includes Mountain View, our $898 million bond measure that was passed in 2020. We've allocated over $200 million for affordable housing for students' faculty and staff, some of which I'm sure we would love to include in Mountain View. And so I just want to thank this council for always holding us accountable on the school board and making sure that we're being collaborative as we continue to look at and identify housing options for our students and our employees. And I'd also like to thank Supervisor Samidian, who I believe is still here, for partnering with us on a county health clinic, along with Supervisor, Lee, and hopefully being able to provide that, as well, on our campus. So thank you so much for being wonderful partners, and we're really looking forward to continue looking ahead and working together. Thank you.

[00:47:07] Mayor Lucas Ramirez: Thank you, Patrick. I am not seeing any other members of the public wishing to speak in person, so we will proceed now to the virtual speakers. And I'm not seeing any hands raised. I'm a little reluctant Jesse to give you the mic. We do have a couple of, so, uh, two speakers. City clerk? Trusty corns, are you speaking? Okay.

[00:47:47] Theoda Korns: Hello, I'm Theoda Korns. I'm a member of the, um, board member of the Mountain View Los Altos High School District, and I'm just, uh, newly elected. I'm looking forward to working with all of you. And to Luca specifically, I would like to say, a very warm, congratulations on your year as mayor. You and I have known each other a long time, and I've really enjoyed working with you back when you were at town city council. And when you were in study council, and actually, all of you have seen me at this diet many times, as an advocate, and I'm looking forward to working with you in my new role, as you probably, for those of you who don't know, the city, and the high school board worked closely together on a number of issues, including safe routes to schools, which I know many of you are concerned about. And I just wanted to say, also, um, that, uh, you know, your, uh, my board works well together, as does your board, um, and, uh, I'm looking forward also to working, uh, in a, with a group of, well, I'm working with colleagues, as yourselves, that may have their differences, but managed to come to a resolution. So, and also, I want to thank the staff of the city of Mount View, who work very hard. I'm already working with PriOT on safe routes to school, and I know the long list of Sally Lieber's achievements couldn't have been done without the city staff. So thank you.

[00:49:38] Mayor Lucas Ramirez: Thank you very much. Next speaker is Jesse Cut.

[00:49:47] Jesse Cut: All right. I will embarrass you too much, Lucas. But, yeah, no, I just want to thank, uh, Solly Lieber for your service, and good luck in your next job. And congratulations to Pat Show, Walter. Oh, sorry, I'm getting plus here. Alison, Alison, Lucas and Ellen, for being real elected. Congratulations to Pat, for just being who you are. You're great. But I just want to say to Lucas, thank you for being such a good mayor this past year, and you make us proud. Thank you.

[00:50:24] Mayor Lucas Ramirez: See, no other members of the public wishing to speak. We will proceed first with item 7.1. Presentation of proclamation and recognition of the outgoing mayor.

[00:50:40] Vice Mayor Alison Hicks: So, as vice mayor, I'm gonna do a couple things at this point. The first thing I'm gonna do is, uh, give you this gavel, I think, yes. I'll give it to you. Oh, I'm giving it to you now. That's what the script says. I think so. Just doing what I'm told. And then I'm going to give you this proclamation. And I'm also going to read, uh, all, um, I'm going to read all of your accomplishments, and then... Oh, my office grip? Well, I... I was going to do this after that, but we can do it now if you'd like. Okay, let's go up there now. All right. Okay. Yeah So you've been handed the plaque. And I'm gonna read for everyone. All of your accomplishments, uh, the proclamation reads, whereas Lucas Ramirez was selected by his fellow council members to serve as the mayor of Mountain View on January 11th of 2022. And whereas Mayor Ramirez is strongly committed to addressing the regional housing crisis, protecting renters from displacement, improving transportation, mobility, and bike, and pedestrian safety, and helping to make local government more accessible, and responsive to residents. And whereas, while serving as mayor in 2022, 914 new housing units were approved, including 350 affordable units, the Google Middlefield Park Master plan was approved, allowing up to 1,900 housing units, including 338 affordable units, and Mayor Ramirez led several study sessions on affordable housing projects, and the city's housing element update, all in support of the city's strategic priority of intentional development and housing options, and, whereas, in support of the strategic priority of community for all, Mayor Ramirez's champion providing robust outreach to all members of the community, helped allocate Federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to the most vulnerable members of our community, continued efforts to develop the Crest View Hotel as affordable housing, supported the city's continued implementation of the safe parking program, launched the Elevate Mountain View guaranteed basic income pilot, and advocated for the protection of women's reproductive rights, and, whereas during Mayor Ramirez's tenure, the city received the prestigious development excellence in North America award from the Urban Land Institute, in recognition of Life Moves Mountain View, which provides support services and housing for up to 124 people, experiencing homelessness. And, whereas during his tenure as mayor, the city continued its commitment to maintaining and sustaining high quality city facilities, including the opening of Mora Park and Pyramid Park, and, whereas Mayor Ramirez facilitated effective city council meetings, supporting full participation, and respectful council discourse, and public comment, and providing artful online meeting management. and whereas Mayor Ramirez supported and assisted small businesses, which included approving the scope to develop an economic vitality strategy for the city, establishing a Castro Street pedestrian mall, allocating American rescue Plan Act funds for small business recovery, and forming the council ad hoc subcommittee, on the interim Castro Street pedestrian mall, all towards further recovery from the COVID 19 pandemic, and the advancement of the council's economic vitality strategy priority, and there's a lot more, whereas Mayor Ramirez chaired the council appointments review committee, and served on the council finance committee, Investment Review Committee, Council Gold Setting Committee, Council Neighborhoods Committee, and Council Policy and Procedures Committee, and, whereas Mayor Ramirez has represented the city of Mountain View regionally, by sitting on the Santa Clara County Homeless Task Force, and Santa Clara Valley Water Commission, and serving as an alternate on the Association of Bay Area Governments Executive Board, Community Health Awareness Council, County of Santa Clara Comprehensive County Expressway Planning Study Policy Advisory Board, Grand Boulevard Task Force Policy Committee, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority Policy Advisory Committee, and Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority State Route, 85 Corridor Policy Advice Board. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Mountain View City Council, on behalf of its members, city staff, and the community, does hereby express great appreciation to Lucas Ramirez for his leadership and service as the 2022 mayor of the city of Mountain View. Now, now, here's the part where I go off script. I have to say, you all may know that our city manager is from Redwood City. comes to us from Redwood City. And told me that Redwood City has a tradition of the vice mayor, giving the outgoing mayor a gift. Actually, she thought it was a tradition here, and I bought the gift before we found out it wasn't. So... but just to add to the festivities. We're gonna go with it. And we also have, so, the gifts, it's a number of gifts, because we're going to outdo Redwood City. So the gifts are art prints from local artists, and we have a local artist here to present one of two of the gifts, if Harumo can come up, if she's still with us. And until then, come on up. Now, I know your brother's involved in the arts. And I asked him what kind of art you like. He wasn't quite sure whether you yet appreciate art. So... I thought we would go with, um, I know you appreciate a good housing policy. So I thought we would go with something, some things that local artists have done in appreciation of good housing policy. This one, we're up here so that maybe the, I don't know if the camera can get it or if you can show it. This one, to me, portrays form based zoning. Clearly, this is an artist who, in addition to doing prints, he does birdhouses, and clearly, what's going on here is you can house as many birds as you want in each house, as long as they are beautiful birdhouses. And then, Haruma? Can you, um, Harumo is a local artist who I appreciate for a number of reasons. You should visit her studio in the couplers center in Mountain View. She's gonna prevent you with two prints, one which looks like our policy regarding stack flats. I think. And one clearly says affordable housing on it. So that would be affordable housing. Thank you. Thank you, you, you, off the record, for off the thrift part. We're done with the off script card.

[00:58:58] Mayor Lucas Ramirez: Okay, thank you. I appreciate it. It's very sweet. And thank you very much. Thank you.

[00:59:05] Unknown Speaker: It's my friend's work. Oh, thank you, Darrell. Yeah. Thank you. And you should be my brother. Yeah, yeah, no, no, no. We your granddad. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm kind of so proud that you guys are proud. I didn't know until Arizona called me..

[00:59:20] Vice Mayor Alison Hicks: Thank you. Yep. All right. Thank you. So now we go. Now we go back. Ah, here's the gavel. I'll have this to give you. Thank you. I believe Okay. So, would any member of council like to say a few words? You don't have to. You want... Okay. Okay, so, uh, council member Kameh.

[01:00:22] Councilmember Ellen Kamei: Great, thank you. Um... Well, I feel like, uh, I already, um, embarrassed Lucas enough by our our mayor enough by telling him he had to go to the front and enjoy his moment. Um, but I would be remiss if I didn't say a few words, but I want to keep it really brief as to limit the level of his discomfort. So, uh, I will say, um, there are three things that I find very amazing about serving with our mayor, both on the council, but also when we were on the environmental planning commission together, which is, uh, Lucas is an incredible listener. If any of you have been the one who he's met with for three hours keeping me from my meeting with him. That's partially why. But he's always willing anytime, any day to listen. And I find that an incredible skill for the hard work that we have to do as policymakers. He's an incredible teammate. I think that, though I'm not sure he follows sports. He is incredible about being a collaborator and always asks me, what can I do to help? How can I make this happen? And I think with the council, a 7 member council, you need to be collaborative and you need to be a really great teammate. And lastly, I want to share that he is incredibly thoughtful. He's always one to kind of check in and put himself, unfortunately, lost. But I did try today to make sure he had dinner, which he declined. But he's always willing to put others, especially our city of Mountain View. Our residents, our community first. And I think that's what makes him an incredible colleague, but most of all, what has made him be an incredible mayor. So thank you.

[01:02:14] Vice Mayor Alison Hicks: So, next, I see Council member Madachek.

[01:02:16] Councilmember Lisa Matichak: Thank you. Um, Lucas. I really enjoyed having you as mayor. And I'll also keep this brief. I also have three things I want to say. Because that's how many people can remember, three things. I really appreciated your sense of humor this past year. He attribute you have. I also appreciate the way you run meetings, even though I think all of us had technical challenges, including you. We made it through, so I appreciate the way you ran those. And, um, you know, I always appreciate, from one process focused person to another, your focus on processes, and establishing more policies around processes. So I think that's helped all of us. So thank you for that. So unfortunately, you know, you'll still be here with us. So thank you for a good year as mayor.

[01:03:15] Vice Mayor Alison Hicks: Next, I see council member Abbe Koga.

[01:03:18] Councilmember Margaret Abe-Koga: Thank you. Um, I, too, want to keep it short, but also, even though you look directly at me and said, wait, don't need to say anything. I wanted to say, um, thank you for your service this year as mayor. It's, you know, we all know it's a very difficult decision, um, position, especially, we thought we'd be out of COVID by now, and we weren't. So I appreciate your flexibility. And your sense of humor, I think we really needed a lot of that during this time, and you definitely added that. So thank you. You know, I'm always just really struck by your passion. Um, you know, I appreciate that you're a local kid, and, um, I can see that you really love this community. It's been a pleasure to learn more about you and your family and your history here. I think that's really, you know, valuable, and I can see where you get your passion from that. Um, and, um, I appreciate your, you know, wonkiness. Like we've had some conversations, long conversations, on the issues. And again, um, you know, we don't maybe always agree, but I think that's the beauty of it is when we can find commonality, which I think we have done many, many times. Um, that's what keeps our city moving forward. So thank you so much for your service and your commitment and, you know, read the sight of relief now. And I look forward to working with continuing to work with you. Thanks.

[01:04:54] Vice Mayor Alison Hicks: And council member show Walter.

[01:04:57] Councilmember Pat Showalter: Okay, we get to say three things. All right. I, I, too, have always just been fascinated by your analytical mind relative to policy. You, um, are very good at sussing out what is the heart of the matter. And that's very important, because we have a lot of murky issues. We have to work on. So having people who, you know, get to the heart of things and say, this is what really counts, is very important. You're passionate about housing, um, on so many levels is, uh, is, uh... It's very heartwarming, and it's also very practical. You've gotten a lot done. And then the other thing, I really admire about you is how you have maintained an incredible connection to so many community organizations while you've had all of the obligations of mayor, kudos. So, thank you, Lucas.

[01:06:06] Vice Mayor Alison Hicks: And now we will have remarks by the outgoing mayor.

[01:06:11] Mayor Lucas Ramirez: First, thank you all very much. Very kind of you all to say, and it really has been an honor to serve as mayor for the past year. I work with all of you. So I have somewhere between 700 and 800 words written on a couple of pieces of paper, and I'll just go through this, and then we'll run through the rest of the meeting. In remarks prepared, upon assuming this title last year, I spoke to the merits and contributions of each of my colleagues on the city council. I stand by those remarks. We have a good team. I'm proud of the work that you do and that we do. every day. Now, at the conclusion of my service as mayor. I want to elevate and praise the work of our city staff. The professional civil servants, who are responsible for the daily operations of our city. Gimbra, you run a tight ship. And we are all grateful to you, and to everyone in the city manager's office, for the many long and difficult months you worked during an extended period of emergency operations. I'm excited to resume working with you on our community's priorities as we transition to a post pandemic normality. Jennifer, you entered this organization at a very challenging time, but you and your team in the city attorney's office have done remarkable work providing guidance and navigating us through tough legal questions. Other, I could not have gotten through the past year successfully, without the assistance of everyone in the city clerk's office. You, Mary, Wanda and Dylan, have been responsive, helpful, patient, and very kind. I'm grateful to you for your support. Don and RT, I would be surprised if any department got more attention from the council than public works and community development. But you and your staff always are cool, calm, and collected. And I know our community appreciates the fantastic work you do to keep up our infrastructure and carefully shape the physical evolution of our city. Juan and Chris, ensuring the safety of our community has always been the city's top priority. The women and men, the fire department and police department, who risk their lives every day to protect us, are the best in the industry. It is a tremendous privilege to work with them and with you. John and Tracy, I cannot overstate the importance of the programming provided by community services and the Library for the residents in our community, especially as we emerge from the pandemic. I'm grateful to you and your staff for your creativity and attention to the needs of the public. And though I was unsuccessful, I give extra credit to you and your staff, John, for helping me attempt to steal the tree lighting ceremony last month in close coordination with the Grinch. Just because work is behind the scenes does not mean it is not essential. We have you and your team in HR to thank, Sue, for the extraordinary talent with which we've been blessed, and the work we do would not be possible without the support of your staff, Roger, and IT. Jesse left big shoes to fill, but I know that Derek, our incoming financed administrative services director and his team will continue that good and critical work. Linka, thank you for all of your assistance preparing me for the many events in which I took part as mayor. You and your team in communications have been invaluable. I've often heard staff in the city of San Jose, my employer, say, My job is to make the council look good. And boy, here in Mountain View, We look pretty darn good. My friends, the time of my departure is at hand. I have competed well. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. Second letter of St. Paul, Timothy, chapter 4 verses 6 to 8. All I wanted to do is go the distance. If I can go that distance, seeing that bell rings, and I'm still standing, I'm gonna know for the first time in my life, See, that I weren't just another bum from the neighborhood. Rocky I. 1976. Joe, I do appreciate a low brow cultural reference. And though my face be bloody bruised black and blue, my head is held up high. Thank you for the great honor to hold this title and to serve my hometown as mayor. As a parting thought, I want to share a lesson that I wish I had better learned earlier in my turn. Shortly after I became the mayor in January 2022, I had the extraordinary opportunity to attend the United States Conference of Mayors in Washington, D.C. On several occasions, I heard repeated what I now understand to be an axiomatic statement. The power of the mayor is to convene. I joined the council, as everyone does, with policy goals. Over the past year, I've learned that the mayor is not empowered to achieve policy goals, not unilaterally, at least. The power of the mare is to convene. The mayorship that leverages this great and subtle power will leave behind a legacy of lasting and profound impact. Thank you. Hey, thank you. Thank you. I appreciate it. So, fortunately, we are now moving on to item 7.3. Administration of oath of office to elected council members Allison Hicks, Ellen Kame, and Lucas Ramirez. And so we will now, the three of us, join City Clerk Glaser, at the lectern.

[01:12:42] City Clerk: No, swear or affirm? Whatever you would like to say. You ready? Please raise your right hand and repeat after me. I state your name. Hi, Lucas. Do you solemnly swear or affirm? Do you so, Sally, swear,

[01:13:04] Unknown Speaker: that I will support and defend? That I will support and defend...

[01:13:08] City Clerk: The Constitution of the United States...

[01:13:10] Unknown Speaker: The Constitution of the United States.

[01:13:12] City Clerk: And the Constitution of the State of California.

[01:13:15] Unknown Speaker: Constitution of State of California.

[01:13:17] City Clerk: Against all enemies, foreign and domestic...

[01:13:20] Unknown Speaker: Against all animals...

[01:13:23] City Clerk: That I will bear true faith and allegiance.

[01:13:26] Unknown Speaker: That I will bear true faith and allegiance.

[01:13:28] City Clerk: to the Constitution of the United States,

[01:13:30] Unknown Speaker: to the Constitution of the United States.

[01:13:33] City Clerk: And the Constitution of the State of California.

[01:13:35] Unknown Speaker: And the Constitution of the State of California.

[01:13:38] City Clerk: That I take this obligation freely?

[01:13:40] Unknown Speaker: That I take this obligation freely?

[01:13:42] City Clerk: Without any mental reservation?

[01:13:44] Unknown Speaker: Without any mental reservation, or purpose of evasion.

[01:13:48] City Clerk: The Lord purpose of the nation. And that I will well and faithfully...

[01:13:52] Unknown Speaker: And I will well and safely discharge the duties. Discard duties upon which I'm about to enter. Upon which...

[01:14:00] City Clerk: Congratulations.

[01:14:30] Mayor Lucas Ramirez: We will proceed now to item 7.4. Remarks by reelected council members. And, uh, let's go ahead and start with council member committee.

[01:14:42] Councilmember Ellen Kamei: Great. Thank you, Mayor. Good evening, everyone. Okay. All right, good evening. It's so wonderful to be welcomed back to our first in person city council meeting with all of you for such a joyous occasion. When I was 1st selected 4 years ago, I never thought that the 3 of my 4 years on council would be during a global pandemic and predominantly virtual. Yet here we all are. We have persevered, and we're back. I'm deeply honored to once again have the support of our community, for a second term, as a council member, for our incredible city. Our city of council appointees are all women with a staff that is top notch. Countless city staff work to make tonight's reorganization happen, and have been keeping us safe through the pandemic, and the most recent floods and storms. Can we give them all a round of applause, please? With public servants, like the ones we have in Mountain View, we can all be proud. Mountain View is also fortunate to have a historically collegial city council that is passionate about putting our residents and the most pressing public policy matters first. I've been a part of 2 councils, and I'd like to thank my colleagues, Council member Abi Koga, Show Walter, Matachek, Lieber, Vice Mayer, Hicks, Mayor Ramirez, and my former council colleagues, council members, Clark, and McAllister. It's our collaborative spirit, which has enabled us to get so much done, and to become regional leaders on many important issues. Together, we've pipeline hundreds of affordable housing units, and thousands of market rate units, established equity based budgeting, erase equity and inclusion action plan, and reinvest in our youngest residents, and families through our youth wellness programs. As I begin this 2nd term, I'll continue to champion what inspired me to join the environmental planning commission a decade ago, and run for city council in the 1st place. Creating more housing opportunities, so that raising children, multigenerational families, and aging in place are not a struggle, and to help create rental and ownership opportunities for our moderate income households, and our missing middle. Developing transportation, bicycle, and pedestrian infrastructure so that residents may enjoy open space, parks, and connectivity between our neighborhoods. Maintain an environmental sustainability and addressing climate change so that our current and future generations can continue to enjoy the place that they call home. As your council member, I'm constantly thinking about our strategic priority to be a community for all. It's our diversity that makes mountain view a wonderful place to live. So what do I hope we accomplish next? I look forward to working with residents, city staff, and our community, to both literally and figuratively, roll up our sleeves, to aid our small businesses, help our most vulnerable through our upcoming displacement strategy, and middle income housing report back, and tackle long-standing issues in our goal setting process. Lastly, I'd also like to thank my family for their love and support. It is because of them that I am able to be a new full-time working mom and a council member. And I'd like to call out something particularly special. I've often spoken about my paternal roots in Mountain View, but today, it's the same day my mom was sworn into the San Jose City Council. How fortunate am I to have an exemplary role model and hero in her? From the bottom of my heart, thank you for the honor of serving all of you. Thanks.

[01:18:57] Mayor Lucas Ramirez: Thank you, Council member Kameh. Vice Mayor Hicks.

[01:19:03] Vice Mayor Alison Hicks: I'm gonna keep it short and sweet at this point. I'm gonna thank everybody who voted for me, and also all those who did not vote for me, but gave me great advice on how to do better next time. I'm going to also thank everybody who worked for my election. And also all of those who I met at ice cream socials, which is actually my favorite place to meet voters, to stand in line while they stand in line for ice cream and ask them what they want most from their city council and for their city. That's actually where I've learned the most, I think, during ice cream socials. So, with that, I also, lastly, want to also thank my family, who put up with hastier dinners and other things while I was running for office. So thank you to everyone.

[01:19:56] Mayor Lucas Ramirez: Thank you, Vice Mayor. And similarly, since I've already provided remarks, I'll be very brief, and likewise, thank my family, my brother, Jesse Cupp, is here, and many members of my family here in Mountain View, and not too far away, and they've always been supported from the very beginning. And I'm immensely grateful to you for everything that you've done in the good times and in the difficult. In the last council meeting, my brother actually dropped by something to drink, just because, as council member Commé alluded to, I don't do a good job of taking care of myself. So thank you. And then, as Vice Mayor Hicks had shared, thank you to everyone who helped me with the campaign. As Council member Kame had shared, It's tough to do this job. While you're working full time, while you're running the campaign, and it really does take a great team, to keep us powering through, you know, to help us with, uh, technical, um, uh, you know, matters of compliance, you know, a treasure is great. And I'm grateful to you for allowing me to continue to serve the city of Mountain View for another four years. Thank you. We will now proceed. Thank you. We will now proceed to item 7.5, the nomination and election of the new mayor. I will call for nominations for mayor. Council member Kameh.

[01:21:21] Councilmember Ellen Kamei: Great. Thank you, Mayor Ramirez. It's an honor and pleasure for me to nominate Vice Mayor Alison Hicks to be the next mayor of the city of Mountain View. Vice Mayor Hicks has lived in our city for decades and brings her perspective as a former city planner. Over the last 4 years during our time as colleagues on council. I've grown to know her skill set, and what's top of mind for her. Great planning for a city as it grows. Vice Mayor Hicks is a champion for many of the projects that will come forward to us this year, enhancing our castor pedestrian mall, nurturing small businesses, expanding safe parking, historic preservation in our downtown, biodiversity, and wildlife management, building affordable housing and fighting displacement, improving our community tree master plan, updating our parks and open space plan, and creating an active transportation plan. If you've spoken to her, she often talks about the livability of our community and how we can help make our residents thrive. I've appreciated that the vice mayor is an advocate for a balanced mountain view, and particularly supports worth life balance for parents of young children like myself. I'm thrilled to recommend her leadership as mayor. Thanks.

[01:22:39] Mayor Lucas Ramirez: Thank you. Is there a second? Council member Matachek?

[01:22:42] Councilmember Lisa Matichak: I'd like to second that nomination.

[01:22:43] Mayor Lucas Ramirez: Thank you. Seen no other council members in the queue, I will close nominations, and the city clerk will conduct the vote by roll call.

[01:22:52] City Clerk: When called upon, state the name of the person for whom you... for whom you vote.

[01:22:58] Unknown Speaker: I'm not sure if we have to do that is, can we just do the conventional...

[01:23:03] City Clerk: Yeah for sure. Council member committee?

[01:23:05] Councilmember Ellen Kamei: Yes.

[01:23:06] City Clerk: Council member Mattachek?

[01:23:07] Councilmember Lisa Matichak: Yes.

[01:23:08] City Clerk: Council member, Abbe Koga.

[01:23:09] Councilmember Margaret Abe-Koga: Aye.

[01:23:09] City Clerk: Council member, Show Walter.

[01:23:11] Councilmember Pat Showalter: Yes.

[01:23:11] City Clerk: Vice Mayor Hicks?

[01:23:14] Vice Mayor Alison Hicks: Yes.

[01:23:14] City Clerk: Mayor Ramirez?

[01:23:15] Mayor Lucas Ramirez: Yes.

[01:23:16] City Clerk: Emotion carries unanimously. Congratulations, Mare Tech.x.

[01:23:45] Mayor Alison Hicks: Okay. So next, I'm going to call for nominations for vice mayor. Would anybody like to nominate? I see, um, council member Abbe Koga?

[01:24:00] Councilmember Margaret Abe-Koga: Thank you, Mayor Hicks. It's with great pleasure that I nominate Council member Pat Showalter for Vice Mayor. Pat is a longtime resident of Mountain View, which she says has been her home for most of her adult life. And she serves the community in many capacities over the decades. She's served on many community boards, such as the Santa Clara League of Conservation Voters, the Los Altos Mountain View Area League of Women Voters, all to Housing, Carbon Free Mountain View, Mountain View Coalition for Sustainable Planning, and the Cooper Park Neighborhood Association, which she founded. I especially appreciate that we have shared experiences as mothers who enjoyed being involved in a range of activities related to our children, in particular, the Girl Scouts, where Pat was a Girl Scout leader, and in the PTA. Specifically for the city of Mountain View, she served as an environmental planning commissioner for 9 years and was 1st selected to the council in 2014, served as vice mayor in 2015, mayor in 2016, and was elected again to the council in 2020. A professionally, she is a proud civil engineer, focused on water, and she has, um, used her knowledge and experience, um, to, uh, for the good of the community, and serving on, um, bodies such as the Bay Conservation and Development Commission, BCDC, the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority, the Energy and Environment Committee of the National League of Cities, Water Now Alliance, Santa Clara County's Recycling and Waste Reduction Commission and the Valley Water Advanced Water Reuse Committee. I appreciate our shared vision of combating climate change, making that a priority, so that we can ensure a right future for us and our children. Many of you know that, um, we, as a council and as a city, pride ourselves in being leaders on several issues, such as housing, climate change, and creating a community for all. With Pat's leadership, I am confident that we'll be able to continue our leadership role. And especially, I appreciate your positivity and your collaborative nature. It's been a real pleasure working with you. I look forward to working with you as our new vice mayor. And welcome to the recycled club. Thank you.

[01:26:43] Mayor Alison Hicks: Do we have a second for that motion?

[01:26:46] Unknown Speaker: Oh, second the nomination.

[01:26:49] Mayor Alison Hicks: Okay, so now the city clerk will conduct the vote by roll call.

[01:26:56] City Clerk: Councilman by Abbe Coco?

[01:26:58] Councilmember Margaret Abe-Koga: Hi.

[01:26:58] City Clerk: Council member Metachek?

[01:27:00] Councilmember Lisa Matichak: Yes.

[01:27:00] City Clerk: Council member, can I?

[01:27:01] Councilmember Ellen Kamei: Yes,

[01:27:01] City Clerk: council member show Walter?

[01:27:03] Councilmember Pat Showalter: Yes.

[01:27:03] City Clerk: Vice Mayor Hicks?

[01:27:04] Mayor Alison Hicks: Yes,

[01:27:05] City Clerk: Mayor Ramirez.

[01:27:06] Lucas Ramirez: Former Mary Mary, yes.

[01:27:08] City Clerk: Oh, sorry. Motion carries unanimously.

[01:27:14] Mayor Alison Hicks: Okay. Now we will hear remarks by the incoming vice mayor.

[01:27:22] Vice Mayor Pat Showalter: Well, thank you very much. I'm just delighted to have this opportunity to serve as vice mayor. It's really a great honor and privilege, and it's also a bit of a surprise. This hasn't been something. We have a rotation that we go through, and based on our first presentation, that that's been, you know, that was upended a little bit a few weeks ago. So I'm very, very pleased to have this opportunity. One of the things that I'm so proud about Mountain View City Council is our long standing tradition of civility. We conduct our business in a straightforward, respectful manner. And this tradition has served us really well. And, um, it makes our meetings a lot more pleasant. And I also think it's very good for helping us recruit and retain the great staff that we get to carry out the policies that we decide. It's also our custom, to have a great deal of community involvement in our decision making. We have a rich ecosystem in Mountain View of non profits and advocacy groups that are experts in their fields, and they're not shy about helping us make decisions and bringing information to our attention, and it's really a treasure. We also have an innovative business community, and together, we can accomplish great things for our community. We recognize the value of working with school districts. Theta, thank you for coming, and our neighboring cities. We step up to advocate for appropriate legislation, both on the federal level and the state level. Um, and, uh, so how we work together is with civility and togetherness. And I wanted to really emphasize that because I think, for us, the how makes the what go much more smoothly. And we've talked about that, what, tonight quite a bit. We provide the policy behind city services that are so crucial to our well being and functioning parks, roads, water, police, fire protection, library, are provided. We plan for the future of our community. We really take a very responsible viewpoint for increased housing, for developing our transportation network, as needed, particularly focusing on pedestrian and bicycle friendly infrastructure. I'm working diligently to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, adapting to the new climate realities with our sea level rise protection program, and our recycled water policies. We work to support the most vulnerable members of our community. This has been particularly challenging during the COVID pandemic, but I, for one, and I think I'm joined by, really, probably everybody in this room, have am very proud of the way we've stepped forward. We're not done yet, but we've made tremendous progress, and it's something that I think we'll look back on for many decades and be pleased with how we came together to help those in our community get through this experience. But again, I just want to thank you for this honor. I look forward to working with everybody, and I urge you to contact me on a regular basis with your ideas and suggestions. And, um, uh, I love to go out for walks and bike rides, and, um, let's schedule a whole bunch of them. Thank you.

[01:31:22] Lucas Ramirez: So thank you so much, Vice Mayor, for those words. Now it's time for words from the incoming mayor.

[01:31:31] Mayor Alison Hicks: I'd like to start by thanking my fellow council members for all their kind words and votes. And then just say what several people have mentioned, this is a huge day. This is our first in person meeting in almost three years. I mean, that's incredible. When we went, at the time that we vacated the dais, I thought it was gonna be several weeks, maybe several months at the most. In fact, it's been so long that, although all of the council members sitting on the dais, you have had the opportunity to see in the past, if you've come to these meetings before, all of our appointees and staff are new, you have never seen them in real life, you've seen them virtually. You've never seen them in real life. And I'd also like to thank everybody for coming out tonight. I know we've tried to come back several times, and every time there's more pandemic or bomb cyclones. you know, one thing after another. So thank you for coming out despite the, I'm sure, floods on the roads on the way here. So, and moreover, this is our first hybrid meeting ever. So to hello, to those of you in Mountain View, who are here virtually, and around the Bay Area, and around the country, and the world, watching, I have had, I've had requests from my, uh, 90 four-year-old mother in Petaluma to watch. And my 93 year old mother in law in Turkey. So, um, the, I think one of, uh, that hybrid and virtual meetings are one of the few good things to come out of COVID. I've been told by many residents that a hybrid system will help them participate better in our governance. I value that highly, and I want to hear all your input on, you know, what's working and what's not working as we stumble through this new way of meeting with you all? Anyway, so I'm thrilled to be mayor, as we come together again, and do the work we've long wanted to do to make this a truly great city. The work we largely had to put aside as we addressed the COVID pandemic. I'll name some of the upcoming work that inspires me, but first, I want to tell a very short story. I spent New Year's in a small town in the Sierra foothills, called Fiddletown, with about 20 Friends and Family members. And just for fun while we were there. I decided to ask people whether they'd rather live in the city or the country. We were in the country, so I was kind of expecting the country, and a few people did say the country. I asked people ranging in age from 12 to 70. And almost everybody had a very strong opinion. And most people said the city. I was surprised. But looking back on that, that's fortunate, because we all live in a city. And what is a city but a collection of people living together? I think the 12 year old summed up why he loved living in the city the best, so I'll say what he said. He said, It's easier to visit his friends. It's easier to go to the movies than other stuff. Um, it's easier to go to restaurants and to get groceries, and you can just walk anywhere, so it's more fun. And I really think, you know, we visit a lot of serious issues on council, but I do think this is one of our big missions, as council members, to make sure that the city's more fun. You know, a place where we can walk or maybe bike to see our friends, get groceries, go out to the movies, art, music, the park. So, sure, we tackle more serious issues, making housing more affordable fighting homelessness in the climate crisis. But at its core, like I said, the city is just a bunch of us living together, and we have to make it a place people love to live. So I will sum up naming some of the more inspiring things on our upcoming that should be on our upcoming council agendas, and hope that you can join us, either either together here in the council chambers or virtually, because I would like to hear your input on all of these issues and more. So those issues will include accelerating our response to the climate crisis, creating a downtown pedestrian mall, nurturing small businesses with our economic vitality plan, expanding safe parking, historic preservation in our downtown, biodiversity and wildlife management, building affordable housing and fighting displacement, improving our community tree master plan, updating our parks and open space plan, creating an active transportation plan, if that's a little technical for you, that mostly means biking and walking. COPA, CLTs, and that may also be a little technical. That's basically community controlled, affordable housing. So, again, I'm glad you all struggled through the, through the rains and floods come out tonight, and I hope to see you in the coming months. And now, City Attorney Logue. Do you have a closed session report?

[01:37:23] City Attorney Jennifer Logue: I do. In closed session this evening, city council took final action on item 2.1 on the closed session agenda, which was a conference with legal counsel regarding a liability claim filed by Paul Mansorian against the city of Mountain View, and Mountain View Police Sergeant Scott Thomas. Mr. Mansorian's claim, seeks $450,000 in damages, based on the alleged violation of his Fourth Amendment right, to be free from unlawful seizure, when Sergeant Thomas took him into custody for driving under the influence of alcohol. Council voted with 6 eyes, 0 nose, and 0 abstensions to deny the claim. In close session, this evening, city council also took final action on item 2.2 on the closed session agenda, which was a conference with legal council regarding the liability claimed claim filed by V.J. Kumar, against the city of Mountain View, Mr. Kumar, submitted a claim to the city of Mountain View, seeking 1000000s of dollars in damages, because the United States Post Office incorrectly forwarded his mail to an individual named V.J.A. Kumar at an address in Florida. Council voted with 6 eyes, 0 nose, and 0 abstensions to deny that claim.

[01:38:38] Mayor Alison Hicks: Thank you. Now we'll move to item number 9 on our agenda, which is adjournment. I'll close by saying the next city council meeting will be held in person with a virtual component on January 24, 2023, please join us in the Retunda for refreshments. This meeting, is adjourned at, does somebody have a clock? At 8:03 p.m.?

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