Millbrae City Council Meeting Recap

Press release from the City of Millbrae:

June 24, 2020

Per Governor Gavin Newsom's Executive Order N-29-20 and the March 16, 2020, Order of the Health Officer of San Mateo County directing all individuals living in the County to shelter at their place of residence, the Governor has allowed local legislative bodies to hold public meetings via teleconference and to make public meetings accessible telephonically or otherwise electronically to all members of the public seeking to observe and to address the local legislative body or state body to avoid public gatherings, and has suspended all contrary provisions of the Brown Act. This meeting was held via video conference.

The City established a temporary email address citizens used to email comments for public communication or for agenda items. All public comments sent before the City Council meeting were read aloud during the meeting. The City Clerk read all email comments, provided that the reading did not exceed three (3) minutes, consistent with the time limit for speakers at a Council meeting. The email comments submitted became part of the record of the Council meeting.

Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Vice Mayor Ann Schneider presented services pins to City commission and committee members who celebrated milestone years of service. Mimi Lee was honored for serving five years on the Senior Advisory Committee. Mary Ellen Pellegrini was honored for serving 10 years on the Senior Advisory Committee. Vernon Bruce was honored for serving 20 years on the Economic Vitality Advisory Committee.

The Millbrae City Council presented a proclamation recognizing June 19th as June teenth National Freedom Day to celebrate the end of slavery in the United States on June 19, 1865.

Millbrae Police Bureau Chief Paul Kunkel gave a presentation on the San Mateo County Sheriff’s 8 Can’t Wait campaign regarding escalation and de-escalation policies and procedures.

The City Council approved, with a vote of 4-0-1, items 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 on the consent calendar:

Item 5 – Adoption of resolutions to order and call a general municipal election to be held on November 3, 2020, to set certain policies applicable to candidates, and to request the San Mateo County Clerk to render specific election services;

Item 6 – Resolution authorizing the City Manager to prepare and submit to the Department of Housing and Community Development the Local Early Action Planning (LEAP) Grant application in the amount of $150,000, and authorizing the City Manager to execute any and all documents required or necessary to secure the LEAP Grant;

Item 7 – Receive and file monthly general fund financial report for the period ending May 31, 2020;

Item 8 – Adopt the organizational conflict of interest policy for design-build projects;

Item 9 – Resolution awarding a contract to Interstate Grading and Paving, Inc. for the Millbrae Street Rehabilitation Project – Larkspur Drive from Crest view Drive to North End (STPL-5299-016).

Items 10 was removed from the consent calendar and combined for discussion and voting with item 11.

The City Council received an informational report on the guidelines for the temporary use of public right-of-way for outdoor dining (item 11), and unanimously approved, with a vote of 5-0, item 10 – temporary use of public right of way for outdoor dining guidelines, and extension of resolution and urgency ordinance facilitating outdoor dining.

Under existing business, the City Council received an informational report on the final draft of the City’s Climate Action Plan (item 12).

Under existing business, the City Council received an informational report on the Millbrae Recreation Center Restoration Project (item 13).

Under new business, the City Council received an informational report on the stop sign installation at South Ashton and Sequoia Avenue (item 14).

Under new business, the City Council approved, with a vote of 4-1, the formation of a Council Sub-Committee for Westside Development for the Millbrae Station Area Specific Plan with: the boundaries being between El Camino Real and the Caltrain tracks, Victoria Avenue to the north, and Millbrae Avenue to the south; shall not have the authority to recommend a developer or proposal; and, not to preclude other City Council members from communicating with developers. Mayor Holober nominated Council members Lee and Papan to serve on the sub-committee, and the City Council unanimously approved with a vote of 5-0.

A recording of the City Council meeting can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOp5YAsC-_M.

The entire meeting agenda, attachments and presentations can be viewed at https://www.ci.millbrae.ca.us/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/7925/48.

This press release was produced by the City of Millbrae. The views expressed here are the author’s own.