[10:04] It's got quiet.

[10:07] I call to order January 12th, 2026, city

[10:10] council successor agency to the re

[10:13] redevelopment agency housing authority

[10:16] regular meeting. Are there any

[10:18] teleconferences today? There are no

[10:20] teleconference announcements by city for

[10:22] this meeting. We'll go ahead and do our

[10:24] pledge of allegiance with Bren Acres

[10:27] Troop leading the pledge of allegiance

[10:30] number 62170.

[10:32] Girls ready.

[10:40] » Please stand for the pledge of

[10:42] allegiance. Place your right hand over

[10:44] your heart.

[10:45] >> It's over here.

[10:48] » It's over here.

[10:48] >> This way. I pledge aliance to the flag

[10:52] » This way. I pledge aliance to the flag

[10:52] of the United States of America and to

[10:55] the republic for which it stands, one

[10:59] nation under God, indivisible, with

[11:03] liberty and justice for all.

[11:06] >> Thank you.

[11:20] Thank you.

[11:22] >> Okay.

[11:24] » Okay.

[11:24] Are there any um changes to the agenda

[11:26] tonight? We have none.

[11:29] >> Nothing from staff this evening, Madame

[11:31] » Nothing from staff this evening, Madame

[11:31] Mayor.

[11:31] >> Thank you, council. Any changes to the

[11:34] » Thank you, council. Any changes to the

[11:34] agenda?

[11:36] No.

[11:38] Um next is report from close session.

[11:41] Greg, do are there any to report from

[11:44] close session?

[11:44] >> There's no reportable action from close

[11:46] » There's no reportable action from close

[11:46] session. Madame Mayor,

[11:48] >> thank you.

[11:51] » thank you.

[11:51] >> Moving to section 8. Tonight, we'll be

[11:53] » Moving to section 8. Tonight, we'll be

[11:53] recognizing city city manager Jal Maltby

[11:57] upon his retirement from the city of San

[11:59] Carlos.

[12:01] We are honored to be joined this evening

[12:03] by local dignitaries who will each be

[12:06] presenting and sharing a few remarks.

[12:09] Um, we'll start with Nick Ly

[12:13] representing Congress and Kevin Mullen.

[12:28] » Thank you, council, and thank you to our

[12:30] new mayor. It's wonderful to see you

[12:31] here. I just had the privilege of moving

[12:34] back home, as I was telling you before I

[12:36] got up here.

[12:37] I grew up growing up back in 2001 on 16

[12:40] Shelton Avenue just down the block from

[12:42] Council Member Dugan. And to see what

[12:46] this city has become and to move here

[12:49] when it's at its greatest rise. And you

[12:52] sir came in 2011. So it's been 25 years

[12:56] that you've served. But as city manager,

[12:59] I've seen the city more people out and

[13:02] about, happier, healthier, thriving,

[13:05] more children and families created here

[13:07] in the city. And that's in large part

[13:10] due to your service. And on behalf of

[13:12] the congressman, on behalf of our

[13:14] office, in partnership with you and this

[13:16] wonderful council, we congratulate you

[13:18] on your service and your leadership to

[13:21] this wonderful city, which has really

[13:22] become a shining star along the

[13:25] peninsula. and we're really grateful for

[13:27] your service in conjunction with this

[13:29] wonderful council. So, thank you for

[13:30] having me. The congressman wishes he was

[13:32] here. He's in Washington fighting for

[13:33] you. Uh but we're going to continue to

[13:36] need your counsel, sir, and can continue

[13:38] to need your leadership because even if

[13:41] democracies dim on the national stage,

[13:43] it's the small actions of you, the small

[13:46] actions of our council that renew

[13:48] democracy and make it great for all of

[13:50] us. So, thank you very much and

[13:51] congratulations.

[14:02] I'd like to welcome Supervisor Ray

[14:04] Mueller. Ray, would you like to come up

[14:06] front?

[14:16] Very relaxed tonight.

[14:19] And uh and you should be. I I was going

[14:22] through the list. So, I have a

[14:23] resolution from the board of supervisors

[14:26] uh honoring your service here in St.

[14:28] Carlos. And I was going through the list

[14:30] of all the things that you've done, and

[14:32] it is just so incredibly impressive. And

[14:35] to think and and I see Ron and Mark, I

[14:38] to think I go back uh to when you first

[14:42] became city manager in 2011, that 2010

[14:45] time period, you were already with the

[14:46] city. And a lot of people uh who don't

[14:49] follow local government may not realize

[14:52] that the city was always not in the

[14:54] financial condition that it's in now.

[14:56] And uh you steadfastly led the city from

[15:00] that time period to now where it really

[15:02] is an economic beacon on the coast. It's

[15:04] so well, this city is so well managed

[15:07] and the finances of the city are so

[15:10] strong and you've built a foundation uh

[15:12] with the industry that you've brought

[15:14] here and you really have built a

[15:16] foundation here. You look in the

[15:17] downtown, you look at affordable

[15:19] housing, you look at all the components

[15:21] uh that we uh public policy look at in

[15:24] St. Carlos, they're strong across the

[15:26] board and you've done it in a way that

[15:28] the residents of this city have such a

[15:31] high quality of life and satisfaction

[15:34] with the city. Really is uh just a

[15:37] tremendous career to reflect upon and to

[15:40] look at for other policy makers, for

[15:43] other city managers to look at and say

[15:45] if we're going to do it, we're going to

[15:46] do it like Jeff did. So, I'm really uh

[15:48] I'm here today to congratulate you. We

[15:50] do have this resolution from the board

[15:52] of supervisors signed by the entire

[15:54] board that goes in the city's history in

[15:56] the in the county's history, excuse me.

[15:59] But just uh job well done, sir.

[16:17] » Thank you, Supervisor Mueller. So Jeff,

[16:19] we have something from the city also. If

[16:21] you'd like to join me up front, I can

[16:23] present it to you.

[16:46] Strategic here.

[16:48] It's on. Okay. Whereas, city manager

[16:53] Jeff Malby is retiring following a

[16:56] distinguished career of more than 30

[16:58] years in public service, including 25

[17:01] years of dedicated service to the city

[17:03] of San Carlos. And whereas Jeff Molfy

[17:06] began his tenure with the city in

[17:08] January 2021, 2001 as senior management

[17:12] analyst in the city manager's office.

[17:15] was promoted to deputy city manager in

[17:18] 2005, became the city's first

[17:20] administrative supervisor director in

[17:23] 2006, and was appointed city manager in

[17:26] 2011 following his service as interim

[17:29] city manager. And whereas throughout his

[17:32] career, Jeff Malby has exemplified the

[17:36] values of collaboration, trust, and

[17:39] integrity, building a culture of

[17:41] professionalism and teamwork that

[17:43] resulted in a high, capable, and high

[17:46] tenured city staff. And whereas during a

[17:50] time of significant financial

[17:51] instability, Erin's leadership Jeff

[17:54] Malby guided the city through critical

[17:57] decisions including the outsourcing of

[17:59] police and fire services that is

[18:03] restored San Carlos to financial health

[18:05] and set the stage for long-term

[18:07] prosperity. And whereas under Jeff

[18:10] Malty's leadership, San Carlos enter a

[18:13] period of growth and stability marked by

[18:16] innovative public private partnerships

[18:18] such as Wheeler Plaza, expansion of

[18:20] affordable housing, new life science

[18:22] development, generating over 71 million

[18:26] in community benefits, major park and

[18:29] facility improvements, including fire

[18:32] station 16 and Shelton Park, and

[18:34] strategic financial planning that

[18:36] expanded the city's capital program and

[18:39] reduce long-term obligations. And

[18:42] whereas Jeff Maltby has championed

[18:45] strategic planning, transparency, and

[18:48] open communication, ensuring alignment

[18:49] between the city council, city staff,

[18:52] and the San Carlos community, a living

[18:55] and leaving a distinguished legacy of

[18:57] sound governance and shared vision. And

[19:01] whereas Jeff Malt Malty's wealth of

[19:04] institutional knowledge, creativity, and

[19:07] collaboration, spirit have steered San

[19:09] Carlos through both challenges and

[19:10] triumphs, always grounded in the staff

[19:13] commitment to acting in the best

[19:15] interests and community he served. Now,

[19:19] therefore, it be complained that I,

[19:21] Prina Venitesh, mayor of the city of San

[19:23] Carlos, on behalf of the entire city

[19:26] council and committee, do hereby express

[19:28] our deepest gratitude and appreciation

[19:31] to Jeff Malty is an exemplary

[19:34] leadership, integrity, and lasting

[19:36] contributions to the city of St. Carlos.

[19:38] Presenting the 12th day of January,

[19:41] 2026.

[19:53] Thank you.

[20:36] Comments from the council now.

[20:39] Comments from councel.

[20:43] >> Council member Leighton.

[20:45] » Council member Leighton.

[20:45] >> Uh thank you. So Jeff, uh I find it

[20:48] » Uh thank you. So Jeff, uh I find it

[20:48] somewhat ironic that uh today we're

[20:50] presenting you with a proclamation

[20:52] mainly because anyone who has ever seen

[20:53] you at a hometown days parade knows that

[20:55] public recognition is not really your

[20:57] thing.

[20:58] Uh s want to take a moment to offer

[21:00] perspective on your career. Um one not

[21:02] from a council member, but one from a

[21:04] fellow fellow public servant who will

[21:05] likely spend their entire career in

[21:07] government as well. Uh those outside of

[21:09] public service often measure career by

[21:11] statistics, how many miles of roads we

[21:13] repaired, the size of the bud budgets

[21:15] you oversaw, the number of constituent

[21:17] emails answered, or the major capital

[21:19] projects completed. And although those

[21:21] numbers matter, they don't really tell

[21:22] the true story of your job. As a public

[21:25] servant, we know that the real work is

[21:26] fluid. A city manager is essentially the

[21:29] CEO of a multi-million dollar

[21:31] organization reporting to a board of

[21:33] directors that may change every two or

[21:35] four years. At the same times, the rules

[21:37] are con constantly shifting. State and

[21:39] federal regulations evolve, expectations

[21:42] change, and how you do the job today is

[21:44] no guarantee of how you'll do the job

[21:46] tomorrow. And yet, despite the goalposts

[21:48] constantly moving, you still have to

[21:50] show up every day and deliver on a

[21:52] long-term vision. one that should

[21:53] outlast any single manager, council

[21:56] member, or individual sitting up here

[21:57] today.

[21:59] Of everyone up here on the dis, I've had

[22:01] the shortest time working with you. But

[22:03] even in that limited time, I've been

[22:04] able to witness and learn from your

[22:06] passion and your respect for the craft

[22:07] of public service. You taught me that in

[22:09] government, process is just as important

[22:11] as ideas. You showed me that patience is

[22:13] often the only thing that allows a

[22:14] vision to become a reality. And perhaps

[22:16] most importantly, you help me understand

[22:18] that the role of a council member is not

[22:20] to undo the decisions made before us,

[22:22] but to improve them, guide them, and

[22:24] ultimately see them through. What many

[22:27] people may not realize is that someone

[22:28] who has devoted their entire career to

[22:30] public service and risen to the role

[22:32] that you've held was clearly built for

[22:34] it. Jeff, you were built for the

[22:35] especially long meetings uh for

[22:37] balancing diverse constituent interests

[22:39] with broader city goals and for working

[22:42] with new bosses of different

[22:43] backgrounds, perspectives, and

[22:44] priorities every few years. I know that

[22:47] you often say uh very convincingly when

[22:49] we talk that you are finished with

[22:51] government work. Uh while I wish you

[22:53] nothing but the very best in retirement,

[22:54] I hope it may not last that long. Uh

[22:57] cities will continue to need steadfast

[22:59] leadership, thoughtful guidance, and

[23:01] institutional wisdom. uh and you have

[23:03] proven all three. Thank you for your

[23:05] service to St. Carlos. Congratulations

[23:07] on a truly meaningful career and I hope

[23:09] we see you again.

[23:20] » Thank you, Council Member Leighton.

[23:21] Council member Dugan.

[23:25] >> Uh thank you, Madame Mayor. And uh yeah,

[23:28] » Uh thank you, Madame Mayor. And uh yeah,

[23:28] thank you, Jeff. Uh thank you from uh

[23:32] mostly the people of San Carlos for all

[23:35] of your steadfast leadership since you

[23:38] joined the city. Uh you know 2011 as

[23:40] city manager but you were with us

[23:41] several years before that as well. Um

[23:44] you know we have a great community here

[23:46] in San Carlos and a lot of it really

[23:49] does come down to the team that you put

[23:52] together and the leadership you've

[23:54] shown. Our city government here works

[23:56] well. Well, it it really is the u the

[23:59] the center of the engine that our

[24:01] community springs from and you've really

[24:04] been central to that. So, I really want

[24:06] to thank you from the people of San

[24:08] Carlos. Uh we have a very warm, open and

[24:11] decent place here and I think that

[24:14] describes your leadership style very

[24:16] well and uh and that has meant a lot to

[24:20] most of us in this room. So, uh we thank

[24:23] you for that and I just want to thank

[24:25] you personally. you know, I I was the

[24:27] council member that joined uh in the

[24:29] pandemic and uh uh kind of, you know,

[24:33] didn't even get a tour of the place. So,

[24:35] it was kind of hard for me to get

[24:36] oriented at first. Uh but from our very

[24:39] first meeting, uh you just, you know,

[24:42] late in your career, you decided you're

[24:44] just going to pour into all of us. I'm

[24:46] sure you were pouring into Neil uh the

[24:49] last couple years. And uh you you uh you

[24:52] know, thank you. you really helped bring

[24:54] me up to speed, I feel quickly. Uh you

[24:57] gave me the benefit of all of your

[24:59] decades of experience and uh and and we

[25:02] just had some really interesting deep

[25:05] conversations and I thank you for that.

[25:07] I um know a lot more uh than I did

[25:10] before I met you and uh I intend to keep

[25:13] using that for St. Carlos and you're

[25:15] leaving us now. Uh you know, we have

[25:18] great plans in place. So you and your

[25:20] team I in the last 3 four years we've

[25:23] literally replanned I believe every

[25:25] aspect of the city and uh so that's

[25:28] there that's and that is going to be

[25:31] your legacy as these plans uh come to

[25:33] fruition. So I I do hope you check in

[25:35] with us uh and let us know how it's

[25:37] going cuz uh I think it's going to be

[25:39] pretty fundamental. Uh you left us in

[25:42] great financial shape. that was not the

[25:44] case when you took this over and it

[25:46] really was your leadership um uh around

[25:49] some really tough issues, you know, the

[25:51] public safety issues, etc. And you

[25:53] really put us on on a new foundation and

[25:56] uh and you're leaving us with that. Uh

[25:58] but most importantly, uh you built a

[26:01] great culture here in in in our city

[26:04] government and you built a great team.

[26:07] So, thank you for that. Um uh job well

[26:11] done. Thank you, Jeff.

[26:19] Thank you, Council Member Dugan. Um,

[26:21] Council Member McDow.

[26:23] Thank you, Madame Mayor.

[26:26] Um, so I have known Jeff for about 10

[26:30] years now, going back to when I became a

[26:33] city commissioner on the Economic

[26:35] Development Advisory Commission. And

[26:37] what I immediately noticed at city hall

[26:40] reminded me a lot of what I had left

[26:42] behind in my federal government office.

[26:45] A close-knit staff who in many ways felt

[26:48] more like family than colleagues.

[26:51] Setting that tone starts at the top. And

[26:54] Jeff deserves great credit for building

[26:56] such a strong, dedicated, and smart team

[27:00] who work together to make our city a

[27:02] better place. Leaving behind a solid

[27:05] staff that you built up one by one is a

[27:08] huge legacy, Jeff. Jeff has seen our

[27:11] city through some really trying times. A

[27:14] budget crisis that he had to dig out of

[27:16] with the city council, which led to

[27:18] moving away from our city's own fire and

[27:21] police department. But out of that

[27:23] incredibly hard decision grew a strong

[27:26] partnership with Redwood City Fire and

[27:29] the county sheriff's office. Jeff

[27:31] created a new model that other cities

[27:34] then followed. This move saved the city

[27:36] a lot of money, restored our healthy

[27:39] budget, and enabled us to focus on

[27:41] meeting more needs in our community.

[27:44] He then managed the PG& line 147 crisis

[27:48] with led which led to a settlement that

[27:50] allowed us to create our own unique

[27:52] community foundation that is doing a lot

[27:54] of good work in our city now.

[27:57] Jeff then led the San Carlos through the

[27:59] pandemic during some very dark and

[28:02] uncertain times, but that also led to

[28:05] San Carlos being the first city in the

[28:07] county to pedestrianize our main street,

[28:10] expand parklets, and support our

[28:12] downtown businesses. And now we have a

[28:15] plan in place to make our downtown even

[28:17] better.

[28:18] What I think these three examples show,

[28:20] and I'm sure there are countless others,

[28:23] is that Jeff met hard times with a can

[28:25] do attitude and creativity.

[28:28] He did not stop. We didn't close the

[28:31] doors. He and our staff dug into the

[28:33] work, supported our community, and

[28:36] positive improvements came from really

[28:38] tough times. We came out of dark days

[28:41] and found bright new opportunities.

[28:45] So, thank you, Jeff, for working so hard

[28:47] for the residents of San Carlos. Being a

[28:50] city manager means you are always on.

[28:52] You get all the midnight texts and phone

[28:54] calls when bad things happen. You are

[28:57] the fixer and the solution maker. It is

[29:00] a huge ask for anyone to take on such a

[29:03] stressful job. The city becomes another

[29:06] family member that you must worry about

[29:07] and care for. But you did a stellar job

[29:11] and you created an incredible team who

[29:13] will continue your work here. You have

[29:15] overseen giant leaps of forward progress

[29:18] in our town and we owe you just a huge

[29:21] debt of gratitude. So, thank you for all

[29:23] of your dedication and for all of your

[29:25] service to our city.

[29:34] » Thank you, Vice Mayor Rack.

[29:36] >> Thank you, Madame Mayor. Um,

[29:40] » Thank you, Madame Mayor. Um,

[29:40] so I'm I tend to be a little more off

[29:42] the cuff, Jeff, so you'll have to bear

[29:44] with me on that. Um, but first I just

[29:47] want to say thank you. I I think to

[29:48] start with it, and I think we all owe

[29:50] you a thank you. Um, we are certainly I

[29:53] think Supervisor Mueller kind of hinted

[29:54] at it. We are sort of the envy of many

[29:57] cities in this county and around the Bay

[29:59] Area.

[30:00] you've taken us through some difficult

[30:02] times, but we've done some really

[30:04] amazing things around housing, the

[30:06] downtown, uh, parks and wreck, and

[30:09] you've kind of given us the, I think, on

[30:11] the council standpoint, the ability to

[30:13] have just enough leash to do things. Um,

[30:16] but, you know, keeping us, you know, in

[30:18] check to make sure that we're not sort

[30:20] of overstepping and doing things that

[30:21] might u not be as successful and as as

[30:24] as we could be. But um and I think as I

[30:28] think about our staff, we have so many

[30:31] senior staff, so many people that stick

[30:32] around. You don't see a lot of turnover

[30:33] in San Carlos with staff. And that's a

[30:35] testament to you and the work you do. Um

[30:38] I think I would I think a lot of people

[30:40] would want to be a fly in the wall and

[30:42] follow you around for a day or two and

[30:44] and understand how things work and and

[30:46] how things get done because a lot of it

[30:48] happens behind the scenes and before you

[30:50] know it, things have changed. And it's

[30:52] not just here in the city, but it's

[30:54] working with our partners like the

[30:55] school district. Um I think just a few

[30:57] years ago how we were you were able to

[30:59] create a good solution with them from a

[31:01] financial standpoint with Alexandria and

[31:04] others and really out of the box

[31:06] thinking that um really is a credit to

[31:09] you and I think about it. You came up

[31:13] with this idea and then you kind of step

[31:14] back and let us take credit for it. So

[31:17] um really you should stand up and take

[31:19] more credit for um all the great things

[31:22] that you've done. But um I'll certainly

[31:23] I think personally just miss sitting in

[31:26] your office and spending the time to

[31:28] talk through ideas

[31:30] um talk about what's possible and what's

[31:31] not possible and uh really through the

[31:34] challenges that we're having and being

[31:35] able to kind of work through how to

[31:37] approach things and what's what could

[31:39] happen and what could be done and how

[31:40] maybe to think about ideas. Um cuz I

[31:44] know sometimes I'll come with you and

[31:45] say here Jeeoff I have these five things

[31:46] I'd love to do and you know I'll walk

[31:48] away with like okay those four are never

[31:50] going to work but this one might. Um so

[31:53] I really appreciate that and that you

[31:54] know I hope uh we can continue to do

[31:56] that. I'll even come up to Pacifica and

[31:58] buy you a beer up there to do that. Um

[32:00] but it's really been an honor to work

[32:02] with you. Um, and I'm going to miss

[32:04] working with you and uh I think you

[32:07] should be proud of all you've done and

[32:09] uh I think you're leaving the city in a

[32:11] place that we can live up to our motto

[32:12] as the city of good living. So, thank

[32:14] you.

[32:22] » Okay. Thank you, Vice Mayor Rack. Um,

[32:25] let's move to public comment. If you'd

[32:27] like to make a public comment on this

[32:29] item, please fill out a speaker slip in

[32:32] the back of the room and turn it over to

[32:33] our city clerk. If you're joining us via

[32:36] Zoom, you may raise your hand at any

[32:38] time. We'll take the first comments in

[32:40] the room and then move on to remote

[32:42] attendees. Crystal, do you have any

[32:44] speaker slips?

[32:45] >> Yes, I do have a few for in person. Um,

[32:48] » Yes, I do have a few for in person. Um,

[32:48] first up is David Buruto from Assembly

[32:50] Member Diane Papin's office. Welcome.

[32:58] Good evening, madame mayor.

[32:59] Congratulations members of the council

[33:02] and our esteemed staff and departing

[33:04] city manager. Um, here representing

[33:06] something for Dian Papin and Senator

[33:08] Josh Becker. Do have a big glass thing

[33:10] for you, but it's delayed. So, I'm going

[33:12] to have to bring it to Pacifica. So, I'm

[33:14] going to join you in that beer.

[33:17] >> Taco Bell.

[33:19] » Taco Bell.

[33:19] >> It's the best Taco Bell in the United

[33:20] » It's the best Taco Bell in the United

[33:20] States.

[33:22] Uh I just wanted to come here real quick

[33:24] because uh you know Jeff you've been you

[33:26] have a long tenure here actually an

[33:28] unusually long tenure for a city and

[33:30] I've been able to watch you for a long

[33:32] time and how you've guided the city and

[33:35] you know being a the CEO it's a tough

[33:38] gig you know because unlike a corporate

[33:40] CEO you also have the public you also

[33:44] get buffeted by the state and federal

[33:45] government. We do lots of stuff you

[33:47] sometimes don't love.

[33:50] Um, so it's a complicated job and with a

[33:54] publicly elected board, which is

[33:55] different than a corporate board, uh,

[33:57] you have to be responding to, you know,

[34:00] a council that has to be responsive to

[34:02] the public. You know, Adam, what you

[34:04] said I thought was very funny because I

[34:06] can imagine the conversations you had to

[34:08] have of, you know, Adam, that's a great

[34:10] idea. Let's talk about the time and

[34:11] resources it takes to do that. Or, let

[34:14] me tell you why that's a bad idea.

[34:16] And you have to have those conversations

[34:18] diplomatically, right? you have to

[34:19] manage up.

[34:21] And St. Carlos, yes, is a model for

[34:24] Sonteo County. It is a really well-run

[34:27] city. And that's largely thanks to your

[34:30] tenure and your your thoughtful

[34:31] guidance.

[34:33] So, yes, you're going to probably miss

[34:35] your city manager, although I know the

[34:36] Dan is quite capable and skilled and has

[34:39] been working here for a long time. So, I

[34:42] trust you're in good hands. And you're a

[34:44] great board, so, you know, I think that

[34:47] helps as well.

[34:49] So to Jeff uh really you know from the

[34:52] regional perspective as well thank you

[34:54] very much for your service to San Carlos

[34:56] but also to Sanonteo County. Uh you've

[34:59] done a great job and provided a good

[35:00] model for the rest of us to follow. So

[35:02] thank you so much and we'll see you in

[35:04] Pacifica real soon.

[35:13] Okay, next up is uh Jennifer Fentes from

[35:16] the school board uh school district and

[35:18] then we'll have um Mark Ober and Ron

[35:22] Collins.

[35:23] >> Thank you, Madame Mayor and uh city

[35:25] » Thank you, Madame Mayor and uh city

[35:25] council for letting me be here to

[35:27] celebrate Jeff. Um congratulations on

[35:30] your retirement. Um impressive uh list

[35:33] of career accomplishments. Um but I'm

[35:36] here to talk about the small moments.

[35:38] Not only have you been a friend to a

[35:39] district, but when I was a new

[35:41] superintendent, uh you made time to

[35:43] coach me, to fill me in on the past and

[35:46] uh a legacy uh that you're leaving is

[35:48] also all of the ways in which you

[35:50] invested in my success, which has really

[35:52] contributed to the success of our

[35:54] district. So, thank you so much for

[35:56] that.

[36:03] So, former San Carlos mayors Mark Obert

[36:06] and Ron Collins.

[36:14] » No, no, no. We'll let the better dress

[36:16] guy go first.

[36:19] >> All right. Uh well uh Mark and I have a

[36:22] » All right. Uh well uh Mark and I have a

[36:22] just a little gift for for Jeff. But I

[36:25] think the thing that I want to say is

[36:27] that uh in 40 years this town has had

[36:31] three city managers and only three.

[36:35] There are many cities surrounding us

[36:36] that have had many many more than that.

[36:38] One city had one that left after a

[36:40] month. Can you imagine how what that was

[36:42] like? But I also feel fortunate that I

[36:45] spent my entire 13 years on the council

[36:48] with one city manager.

[36:51] It was Jeff. And I cannot even begin to

[36:54] describe how valuable that was. Uh Adam

[36:57] talked about a fly on the wall. Because

[36:59] Jeff's wife was the city manager. I

[37:01] always wanted to be a fly on the wall in

[37:03] their dining room at dinner time when

[37:06] they were talking about what was going

[37:07] on in Daily City and San Carlos. But uh

[37:11] I made a lot of uh most of what I want

[37:13] to say I I said last month. And uh I

[37:15] just want to say thank you again, Jeff.

[37:17] Uh you know, your service here and to me

[37:20] personally uh means more than I can even

[37:22] I can even say. So I'll leave it up to

[37:25] Mark for more. Thank you, Ron. U good

[37:28] evening, Mayor Venitesh and Vice Mayor

[37:31] Rack or Mayor of Vice Rack. I always get

[37:33] that confused.

[37:34] >> I answer both.

[37:35] » I answer both.

[37:35] >> There you go. And the rest of the

[37:37] » There you go. And the rest of the

[37:37] council. Uh, as Ron mentioned at the

[37:39] end, we were each here last month and

[37:41] made more lengthy remarks, uh, which I

[37:44] definitely still stand behind. Um, but

[37:47] tonight we actually wanted to show up

[37:48] and present Jeff with a little, uh,

[37:51] momento that we put together. There are

[37:53] still pieces of it that are in the mail,

[37:55] unfortunately, but a number of, uh,

[37:57] former mayors who are, uh, no longer

[37:59] here uh, wanted to leave you some

[38:02] testimonials, so we've put them

[38:03] together. Um, and um, I'm just going to

[38:06] read uh, the introductory piece here

[38:08] because I think it summarizes a lot of

[38:10] what everybody's been saying tonight. To

[38:12] Jeff Malty, who served the San Carlos

[38:14] community and council so well, many

[38:17] didn't realize he was on the job and

[38:19] just took for granted how safe and fun

[38:21] the city was on his watch. Thank you for

[38:24] your service, sir.

[38:34] Oh, and there's there's one other thing

[38:35] I got you. You inspired me after uh our

[38:38] little exchange at the end of my

[38:40] comments last month. Um this is uh you

[38:43] won't have to report this to on form

[38:44] 700. So um this is a little something

[38:48] that you may find useful when you need

[38:50] to project leadership in another

[38:52] environment.

[39:02] Thank you. Um, those are the only slips

[39:04] I have for in person, but if you uh

[39:06] you're here and you'd like to make a

[39:08] comment, now would be a good time.

[39:10] >> Okay. Thank you. Uh, and there are no

[39:12] » Okay. Thank you. Uh, and there are no

[39:12] hands on Zoom.

[39:15] >> Thank you, Crystal.

[39:17] » Thank you, Crystal.

[39:17] Um, thank you everyone for

[39:19] >> Could I just say one thing?

[39:20] » Could I just say one thing?

[39:20] >> Of course.

[39:21] » Of course.

[39:21] >> Um, I don't know if this is out of

[39:23] » Um, I don't know if this is out of

[39:23] order, but I wanted to get in there in

[39:24] front of Jeff. Um, I guess this I could

[39:27] say this is like a bit of a closing

[39:29] argument. Um, I wish I'd like to I wish

[39:32] I could encapsulate all the wise words

[39:34] that everyone has said here. It was they

[39:36] were so wonderful and on point. Um Jeff

[39:40] and I have worked together actually

[39:43] since 2001 really because I was the

[39:45] deputy city attorney that um the whole

[39:47] time and I remember um lots of things

[39:50] that we talked about and lots of advice

[39:53] that I've given him and lots of wise

[39:55] words that he's given me. Uh but mostly

[39:58] um I'd like to share them, but they're

[40:00] most of them are attorney cl privilege

[40:02] and I I can't talk about them, but but

[40:05] uh Jeff um has proven to me that he's

[40:07] the type of leader that

[40:10] uh any city would want to have. Um he

[40:13] was wise,

[40:15] especially when when under pressure in a

[40:17] crisis. He was so

[40:21] uh thoughtful and calm and really when

[40:26] we would talk about things that that

[40:28] were um affecting the city, we both um

[40:33] worked together and Jeff, he was the

[40:35] manager. He made the decisions. I was

[40:37] the just the adviser and Jeff, I think

[40:41] every time made the right decision. So,

[40:44] I'd like to congratulate Jeff on his

[40:47] time with the city and I'd like to say

[40:51] that he's been a great friend of mine

[40:53] and thank you very much, Jeff. And I

[40:56] hope you have a great retirement. You've

[41:00] earned it.

[41:07] Um, it's a lot to take in. Thank you.

[41:11] Thank you all. You know, I've hadve been

[41:14] planning this for a while, so I've had a

[41:16] good amount of time to think about it

[41:18] and came to the realization that um

[41:23] there really isn't any way to say

[41:25] goodbye to a place that I've worked for

[41:29] half my life really and a profession

[41:32] that I've been involved in for as long

[41:34] as I can remember. Um, you know, I mean,

[41:37] I literally watched Sesame Street and

[41:39] council meetings at the same time

[41:40] growing up.

[41:42] Um

[41:43] I there was no time in my life that um

[41:47] city hall wasn't present. Um the Santa

[41:50] Clara County and San Monteo County have

[41:52] been huge parts of my life. Um Mike

[41:56] Nevin married Shauna and I

[41:59] in Halfoon Bay. And um so I thought it's

[42:05] not really a goodbye. It's it's that's

[42:07] not what I want to do. I want to just

[42:09] simply express my gratitude. Um, you

[42:12] know,

[42:14] I'm really proud of the work that we've

[42:15] done here. I've worked with I think

[42:17] seven I think Neil, you're I think

[42:18] you're like my 17th council member as a

[42:21] city manager and 20some since I've

[42:23] worked with the city and they've all

[42:26] been really good people and um the

[42:28] community has been just wonderful to

[42:31] work with. Um, you know, I mean there's

[42:33] you never get agreement on everything

[42:35] but um and that's fine. that's that's

[42:37] government and that's democracy. Um but

[42:40] the disagreements in San Carlos were

[42:42] always, you know, really good and um

[42:46] people could get along and people could

[42:48] accept decisions and make the best of

[42:50] them. Um whether it was the council, the

[42:52] staff or the community and I really

[42:54] appreciated that and and all the

[42:56] different councils that I've had over

[42:57] the years, including this council. Um,

[43:01] you know, while, you know, we've agreed

[43:03] on a great great many things and

[43:05] disagreed on a few, there was never a

[43:08] single city council that I worked for

[43:10] that when the chips were really down and

[43:12] things were, you know, grim and we had a

[43:15] real serious problem to deal with that I

[43:18] even for a second didn't feel like had

[43:20] my back and the staff's back. And you

[43:23] know th it's really that level of

[43:26] partnership that allows you as staff

[43:29] people and and I'm sure as probably

[43:31] council too. It empowers you to be able

[43:33] to do the right thing to try to do the

[43:36] right thing because the right thing is

[43:37] not always the politically expedient

[43:39] thing. It's not always the comfortable

[43:41] thing. Um sometimes the right thing is

[43:43] going to lead through some deep dark

[43:45] woods. And we've had plenty of those

[43:48] over the years. And we really we really

[43:50] were, I thought, a great team when those

[43:53] things came up. And I will be forever

[43:55] grateful to all the uh men and women

[43:58] that served on the San Carlos City

[44:00] Council during my tenure um with the

[44:03] city. Um the the city staff, I mean,

[44:08] what can I say? Um you know, this this

[44:11] current management team, I many of us

[44:13] have been together for a long time.

[44:15] uh many of the staff members have been

[44:17] together for a long time and uh those

[44:20] that have retired or moved on already um

[44:24] you know are always in my thoughts too.

[44:26] Um you know Chris Chris Valley sitting

[44:29] here is one of the few people in the

[44:30] city that's been here longer than I

[44:31] have. We were just kids Chris we we

[44:34] didn't know how good we had it. Um,

[44:38] you know, all the accomplishments, all

[44:40] the accolades, all you know, that's

[44:42] always the, you know, I personally, I

[44:44] mean, as the council pointed out, you

[44:47] know, accolades are not my thing. Um, I

[44:51] appreciate them. You get them as the

[44:52] city manager, you know. I mean, I guess

[44:54] that's the balance because when things

[44:56] go wrong, it's it's your name that

[44:58] that's on the front page of the paper,

[45:00] too. Um, but it's, you know, it's really

[45:03] been the team. you know, you all have uh

[45:07] taken such good care of me over the

[45:10] years. Um, you know, I I just have

[45:12] complete trust and faith in in your

[45:16] abilities and just the people that you

[45:18] are. Um, there's a lot of people out

[45:21] there that that can do the kind of work

[45:23] that we do. Every city has a staff. Um

[45:27] but you are all really good people and

[45:31] um I have really enjoyed my time with

[45:35] you so very much and really been honored

[45:39] uh to be the leader of the of the city

[45:43] organization. Um, but at the end of the

[45:46] day, you know, when it can be very

[45:49] overwhelming at times, you know, there's

[45:51] a fire in this department, there's

[45:53] something going wrong over here, there,

[45:54] you know, whatever. We're trying to

[45:56] pushing hard for deadlines and those

[45:59] kinds of things. There's a lot of things

[46:00] that can really keep you up at night.

[46:03] Um, but the one thing that always

[46:06] allowed me to be able to go to sleep at

[46:09] night was knowing how good my staff was

[46:12] and how you would do whatever you needed

[46:15] to do um to get that result for our

[46:18] organization and our community and and

[46:21] the community is is really really lucky

[46:23] to have you. Um, you know, in many ways

[46:27] I'm sorry to be leaving you. Um, but I

[46:30] know that you all are going to go on and

[46:33] continue to do great things for this

[46:35] city and great things within this

[46:38] profession for, you know, as far as your

[46:40] careers take you. Um, you're really a

[46:43] bunch of very talented people. I'm, you

[46:46] know, really lucky to be able to count

[46:48] so many of you as friends. Um,

[46:52] and I hope that u in the future that our

[46:56] relationship can continue. Um, most

[47:00] importantly to my wife Shauna. Um,

[47:05] wow.

[47:08] I mean, we met through local government.

[47:10] We were married by local government. It

[47:12] was super weird to run two cities from a

[47:15] third city in Sonteo County during COVID

[47:18] from our living room. Um,

[47:22] you know, you having you there, you gave

[47:25] me great advice over the years. Um, you

[47:29] know, every every time some other city

[47:32] would come courting and I'd think, uh,

[47:34] it's a little bit bigger, it's a little

[47:36] bit, you'd say, why? And remind me of

[47:41] exactly what I had.

[47:44] And I am so grateful for that as well as

[47:46] a lot of really good advice when I was

[47:48] about to do something stupid at work. So

[47:52] you have Shauna to thank as much as you

[47:54] as much as me probably more. Um but it's

[47:58] really been an honor to to be a part of

[48:01] the San Carers community for so long and

[48:04] um I'm going to miss you all. So thank

[48:07] you. And uh Nile, you're up.

[48:32] Thank you, Jeff. Um, when during our

[48:36] weekly calls, I'd say, "What are you

[48:37] doing this weekend, Jeff?" He'd always

[48:39] say, "Oh, my honeydew list." So, I hope

[48:42] your honeydew list gets filled with more

[48:46] honeydew list.

[48:48] Um, okay. We're going to go to item six,

[48:50] council of communications.

[48:52] I'll let people leave if you'd like.

[48:57] Announcements. Um, council of

[48:59] communications and announcements are

[49:01] brief items from members of the city

[49:02] council regarding upcoming events in the

[49:05] community and correspondence that they

[49:07] have received. They areformational in

[49:09] nature and no action will be taken on

[49:11] these items at this meeting. Anything

[49:13] for my colleagues? Crystal, any hands

[49:16] raised?

[49:19] » Oh, sorry.

[49:21] >> Um, council member Leighton.

[49:23] » Um, council member Leighton.

[49:23] >> Thank you, Madam Mayor. Uh, just one

[49:24] » Thank you, Madam Mayor. Uh, just one

[49:24] thing for my colleagues. Um, we received

[49:26] a presentation at Silicon Valley Clean

[49:28] Water at our last meeting in regards to

[49:31] um there's a push now mandate to have

[49:35] more recycled water. So, Silicon Valley

[49:37] Clean Water is looking into um what's

[49:40] called the Peninsula Pure Water Program,

[49:42] which would be the SFPU.

[49:44] Um would then be uh pumping water and

[49:49] then purifying it to a pure standard and

[49:51] then pumping it back into uh Crystal

[49:53] Springs Reservoir. I only mentioned this

[49:54] for council as uh what it would be is as

[49:58] we think about um building and Purple

[50:01] Pipe historically, this would probably

[50:03] change to more indirect system. uh if

[50:05] that's something where you would go to

[50:07] in our considerations and how it would

[50:09] reflect um in regards to if we wanted

[50:12] new construction to work on Purple Pipe.

[50:14] Uh if it's going to be pumped back into

[50:16] uh Crystal Springs and Pure Water, then

[50:18] it may be a different analysis for us,

[50:20] but something to keep our eyes out down

[50:21] the road.

[50:25] » Thank you, M Council Member Leighton. Um

[50:29] I don't have anything. Next is public

[50:30] comment.

[50:32] Do you have anything? No.

[50:37] Persons wishing to address city council

[50:39] on matters not on the posted agenda may

[50:41] do so. Each speaker is limited to two

[50:44] minutes. If you if the item you are

[50:46] speaking on is not listed on the agenda,

[50:48] please be advised. The city council may

[50:50] briefly respond to statements, but no

[50:53] questions posed or allowed under the

[50:54] Brown Act. We will start with public

[50:57] comments in the room and then move on to

[50:59] online comments. Once we begin taking

[51:01] public comments on Zoom, we will not be

[51:03] allowing additional commenters to join

[51:05] the queue. So, please be sure to raise

[51:07] your hand now so that you have a turn to

[51:09] speak. Crystal, is there anyone wishing

[51:12] to speak?

[51:13] >> Yes, I have a slip for in person uh from

[51:15] » Yes, I have a slip for in person uh from

[51:15] Dr. Frentice.

[51:20] again to uh madame mayor and the city

[51:22] council members. I'm here on behalf of

[51:24] the San Carlos School District and the

[51:27] uh board of directors to congratulate

[51:30] Mayor Venites. Um our district has a

[51:33] strong commitment to equity and

[51:35] elevating celebrating the diversity

[51:37] within our community and so we're really

[51:39] proud to see you sitting in the DAS in

[51:41] this position. Um personally for me to

[51:44] see strong women in leadership is a

[51:46] great model for our youngsters. Um, and

[51:48] so congratulations to you. And, uh, we

[51:51] also know that it's nice for our

[51:53] students to see themselves represented

[51:55] in the community at large. And so I'd

[51:58] like to invite all of the city council

[52:00] members to be judges for a thing that we

[52:02] do in St. Carlos School District called

[52:04] the ropes. It's right of passage

[52:06] experiences. Um, I will be following up

[52:09] with an invite from Ashley Brown, who is

[52:11] our teacher leader who oversees this.

[52:13] It's an opportunity to learn about the

[52:15] great projects that kids uh they

[52:17] investigate on their own and then they

[52:18] present to a judge, a couple of judges

[52:21] and we need judges. So I'll push this

[52:23] out and invite any of you to participate

[52:25] and again my congratulations.

[52:29] >> Thank you. I signed up so I'm good.

[52:33] » Thank you. I signed up so I'm good.

[52:33] >> Uh is there anybody else in person who

[52:35] » Uh is there anybody else in person who

[52:35] would like to speak?

[52:37] Okay, seeing none. Uh and there are no

[52:40] hands on Zoom. Thank you.

[52:44] Item nine is consent calendar. Um, are

[52:47] there any items council would like to

[52:48] pull?

[52:50] >> Madame Mayor, I would like to pull item

[52:52] » Madame Mayor, I would like to pull item

[52:52] L from the consent calendar concerning

[52:55] the library maker space.

[52:59] >> Thank you. Um, Council Member Dugan.

[53:04] » Um, I can go ahead and and move to

[53:07] approve city council consent calendar

[53:09] items A through K and M.

[53:12] I'll second.

[53:18] » Crystal, will you call a roll?

[53:19] >> Yes. Uh, council member Dugan,

[53:21] » Yes. Uh, council member Dugan,

[53:21] >> yes.

[53:21] » yes.

[53:21] >> Council member Leighton,

[53:22] » Council member Leighton,

[53:22] >> yes.

[53:22] » yes.

[53:22] >> Council member McDall,

[53:24] » Council member McDall,

[53:24] >> yes.

[53:24] » yes.

[53:24] >> Vice Mayor Rack,

[53:26] » Vice Mayor Rack,

[53:26] >> yes.

[53:26] » yes.

[53:26] >> And yes,

[53:27] » And yes,

[53:27] >> thank you. And Mayor Venites,

[53:30] » thank you. And Mayor Venites,

[53:30] >> yes. Thank you.

[53:32] » yes. Thank you.

[53:32] >> And thank you, Madame Mayor. Um, I, you

[53:35] » And thank you, Madame Mayor. Um, I, you

[53:35] know, obviously very supportive of our

[53:37] new maker space, but since it's I think

[53:40] we had 800 pages of design specs in our

[53:44] council packet, I just wanted to pull

[53:46] this item to highlight it a little bit.

[53:48] And uh, for the community, it'll be uh,

[53:50] this is a maker space that has been

[53:52] designed and will be installed in the

[53:54] coming months in our library. And I we

[53:58] just haven't had a discussion or any um,

[54:00] visibility on on what this is going to

[54:03] look like. And as I looked through the

[54:04] plans, I thought I saw elements of of um

[54:08] uh both STEM and creative uh uh maker

[54:11] space aspects, but I just wanted to

[54:13] hopefully hear from staff on a little

[54:15] bit more color on how this design was

[54:17] developed and h who it's intending to

[54:20] serve, etc.

[54:22] >> Okay. Thank you. Uh we have Adrien Guas,

[54:24] » Okay. Thank you. Uh we have Adrien Guas,

[54:24] our new San Carlos Library branch

[54:26] manager with us this evening to uh speak

[54:28] a little bit more about this project.

[54:34] Hello. Good evening, um, Mayor Benitesh

[54:37] and members of the council. Um, thanks

[54:40] for, uh, asking about the maker space.

[54:43] I'm thrilled to share with you the

[54:44] exciting plans that we have for the new

[54:46] community maker space. Um, we hope that

[54:49] the maker space will be a vibrant hub

[54:51] where community members can gather,

[54:54] collaborate, and engage in enriching

[54:56] maker activities. It will be a place to

[54:59] cultivate steam skills. uh spark

[55:02] creativity and inspire innovative

[55:04] problem solving. After a comprehensive

[55:07] planning and community input process, we

[55:10] are very excited to be at the

[55:11] construction phase of the project. This

[55:14] project enjoys broad support from the

[55:16] community, including from the friends of

[55:18] the library who have pledged over

[55:20] $100,000 towards the maker space. Um,

[55:24] one of the reasons that this project has

[55:26] so much interest and is highly

[55:28] anticipated by the community is because

[55:30] the project was developed through an

[55:32] intensive community engagement process.

[55:35] In November 2023, working with the city,

[55:37] the library engaged WRNS studio

[55:41] architectural firm and launched the

[55:42] community engagement process, which

[55:44] involved focus groups, community

[55:46] meetings, and surveys to align the

[55:49] design with community input. The design

[55:52] input provided by the community was then

[55:54] considered by a makerpace design task

[55:57] force which included the library and

[55:59] city staff and representation from the

[56:02] friends of the San Carlos Library who

[56:04] worked together with the architect to

[56:06] develop the final design. Um I want to

[56:09] express gratitude to the strong

[56:11] collaboration and teamwork between the

[56:13] library, friends of the library and the

[56:15] city. And I'd also like to acknowledge

[56:17] uh the library JPA governing board for

[56:20] approval of this project and especially

[56:22] council member McDow's work as a member

[56:24] of the library JPA to move the project

[56:27] forward. We're thrilled to see the

[56:29] community's vision come to life with

[56:31] today's approval of this item and thank

[56:33] you for your community or your continued

[56:35] support and partnership in making the

[56:37] maker space a reality.

[56:40] >> Yeah, thank you very much for that

[56:42] » Yeah, thank you very much for that

[56:42] overview. I I I really appreciated that

[56:44] and hearing more about how the project

[56:46] was developed and I know it came last

[56:49] minute. So, thank you. I really

[56:50] appreciate it.

[56:51] >> Thank you.

[56:52] » Thank you.

[56:52] >> And and with that, Madame Mayor, I would

[56:54] » And and with that, Madame Mayor, I would

[56:54] move to approve city council consent

[56:56] calendar item L.

[57:00] >> I'll second.

[57:02] » I'll second.

[57:02] >> You have to take public comment, don't

[57:04] » You have to take public comment, don't

[57:04] we?

[57:04] >> Public comment.

[57:06] » Public comment.

[57:06] >> Yes. I do not have any slips for in

[57:08] » Yes. I do not have any slips for in

[57:08] person. I don't see any hands and there

[57:11] are no hands on Zoom. Thank you.

[57:13] >> We have a motion and a second. Crystal,

[57:14] » We have a motion and a second. Crystal,

[57:14] can you please call roll?

[57:16] >> Council member Mcdow,

[57:18] » Council member Mcdow,

[57:18] >> yes.

[57:18] » yes.

[57:18] >> Vice Mayor Rack,

[57:20] » Vice Mayor Rack,

[57:20] >> yes.

[57:20] » yes.

[57:20] >> Council member Dugan,

[57:21] » Council member Dugan,

[57:21] >> yes.

[57:21] » yes.

[57:22] >> Council member Leighton,

[57:22] » Council member Leighton,

[57:22] >> yes.

[57:23] » yes.

[57:23] >> And Mayor Venites,

[57:24] » And Mayor Venites,

[57:24] >> yes.

[57:24] » yes.

[57:24] >> Thank you.

[57:25] » Thank you.

[57:25] >> The Go ahead.

[57:27] » The Go ahead.

[57:27] >> The motion passes.

[57:32] » Okay.

[57:36] Okay. Item 10, new business.

[57:45] I'm Yeah, I'm going to um out of bend

[57:49] some of caution. I'm going to recuse

[57:50] myself from this motion.

[58:14] All right. Uh, good evening, vice mayor,

[58:17] uh, members of the city council. My name

[58:18] is Andrew Douglas, and I'm a senior

[58:20] management analyst in the community

[58:22] development department. I'm here this

[58:24] evening to present staff's

[58:25] recommendations for funding through the

[58:27] 2025 child care grant program.

[58:36] Perfect. Uh, childcare has been an

[58:38] important focus in San Carlos for nearly

[58:40] the past decade. In 2017, the San Monteo

[58:44] County Childare Partnership Council

[58:46] published a report which indicated a

[58:48] shortfall in the number of child care

[58:50] spaces available in our community. Over

[58:52] the coming years, city council elevated

[58:55] child care as a strategic priority,

[58:58] ultimately adopting the childcare

[59:00] development impact fee in 2022.

[59:02] The fee applies to new non-residential

[59:05] developments and is intended to offset

[59:07] the demand for child care that is

[59:09] generated through employment growth.

[59:11] Developers have the option to provide

[59:13] child care on site or to pay the impact

[59:15] fee. Collected fees must be used to

[59:18] expand physical capacity of childcare

[59:20] facilities. In 2024, city council

[59:23] approved the childare grant program as

[59:26] the means of distributing childcare

[59:27] development impact fees and uh expanding

[59:30] local capacity.

[59:33] The program offers San Carlos childcare

[59:36] providers grants of up to $100,000 to

[59:39] create new childare spaces. Funds may be

[59:42] used to acquire a new facility, expand

[59:44] an existing center, or remodel a

[59:47] facility to accommodate a different age

[59:49] group. Funds may not be used for

[59:51] operational or maintenance expenses. The

[59:54] city conducted the first round of the

[59:56] childcare grant program in 2024 and

[59:58] distributed just shy of $500,000 between

[1:00:01] five local childcare providers.

[1:00:05] For the 2025 funding cycle, our second

[1:00:07] funding cycle, the city accepted

[1:00:10] applications between September 8th and

[1:00:12] October 3rd. We received five

[1:00:14] applications.

[1:00:16] Uh while we budgeted 250,000 to the

[1:00:18] grant program for fiscal year 2025 2026,

[1:00:21] the initial grant requests exceeded that

[1:00:23] budget by nearly $150,000 at just around

[1:00:26] $400,000.

[1:00:29] However, the representatives from the

[1:00:31] nonprofit Grains of Good Foundation

[1:00:33] ultimately decided to withdraw their

[1:00:35] application as they had not yet found a

[1:00:37] a physical location in St. Carlos where

[1:00:39] they could open their facility. This

[1:00:41] reduced the funding pool down to four

[1:00:43] applications and brought the total value

[1:00:45] of the grant request to about $85,000

[1:00:48] over the approved budget.

[1:00:52] The first application is from Shu

[1:00:53] Academy Preschool located at 1601 Laurel

[1:00:57] Street. The applicant is requesting

[1:00:59] $35,654

[1:01:02] to make interior and exterior

[1:01:04] renovations

[1:01:05] inside. The grant funding would

[1:01:06] reimburse the cost of removing an

[1:01:08] existing storage area and converting

[1:01:10] that into classroom space and outside

[1:01:13] the grant funds would uh support the

[1:01:15] removal of unused structures, some

[1:01:17] regrading um so that the play area can

[1:01:19] be used by more children simultaneously.

[1:01:22] All in all, the applicant estimates that

[1:01:23] this would expand enrollment by eight

[1:01:25] spaces.

[1:01:28] The owners of Shu Academy are also

[1:01:30] expanding their presence in St. Carlos

[1:01:32] and are in the process of acquiring a

[1:01:33] new facility just up the road here from

[1:01:35] city hall at 1622 San Carlos Avenue. The

[1:01:39] working name for the new facility is

[1:01:41] Curious Beans by Shoe Academy, but

[1:01:43] that's subject to change.

[1:01:46] Uh after the sale is final, the

[1:01:47] applicants will be remodeling the

[1:01:49] facility to support their license and

[1:01:51] the owners are requesting $100,000 to

[1:01:53] reimburse a portion of their down

[1:01:55] payment on the property. Property

[1:01:58] acquisition is an eligible grant

[1:01:59] activity per the notice of funding

[1:02:01] availability. Although this is the first

[1:02:03] time an applicant has requested that

[1:02:06] reimbursement of a share of the down

[1:02:07] payment will assist with cash flow for

[1:02:09] the building improvements and the owner

[1:02:11] has already submitted building permit

[1:02:12] applications to the city. The applicants

[1:02:15] estimate that this uh new facility will

[1:02:17] add between 48 and 55 new child care

[1:02:19] spaces including spaces for children as

[1:02:22] young as 18 months old.

[1:02:26] The next application is from Bright

[1:02:27] Horizons located up in the hills uh at

[1:02:30] 2851 St. Carlos Avenue. The facility is

[1:02:33] currently licensed to support children

[1:02:35] older than 24 months. But in recogn

[1:02:38] recognition of the strong regional

[1:02:39] demand for spaces for younger children,

[1:02:42] Bright Horizons will be applying for an

[1:02:43] expanded state license so they can

[1:02:45] accommodate children between 12 months

[1:02:47] and 24 months old. to be issued that new

[1:02:50] license, Bright Horizons will need to

[1:02:52] renovate the outdoor play area to

[1:02:53] accommodate uh the older and the younger

[1:02:56] children. And that's what the $100,000

[1:02:58] would be used for uh in accommodating

[1:03:00] those two different spaces. And Bright

[1:03:03] Horizons estimates that these

[1:03:04] renovations will provide 24 new toddler

[1:03:06] spaces again for that younger age group

[1:03:09] um that did not exist previously.

[1:03:13] The final application is from St. Carlos

[1:03:15] Belmont After School uh who are

[1:03:17] requesting $100,000 to update bathrooms,

[1:03:20] remodel kitchens, install new window

[1:03:22] coverings, and add storage in the

[1:03:25] portable structures at Arundle, Britain

[1:03:27] Acres, White Oaks, and uh Heather

[1:03:31] Elementary Schools. St. Carlos Belmont

[1:03:33] After School leases the portable

[1:03:35] structures from the school district and

[1:03:37] those uh buildings are shared between

[1:03:38] the children in the transitional

[1:03:40] kindergarten or TK and the afterchool

[1:03:42] programs. City staff met with the

[1:03:45] applicants to discuss the proposal and

[1:03:47] to get a better sense for how those

[1:03:49] modifications would expand capacity

[1:03:50] within the portable structures. The

[1:03:53] applicants indicated that they would

[1:03:55] re-review their proposal and see if they

[1:03:57] could make any modifications that would

[1:03:58] expand their capacity. Despite several

[1:04:01] attempts to reach out uh and hear back

[1:04:03] from the applicants, staff did not

[1:04:04] receive any follow-on details.

[1:04:09] As grant funds must be used to expand

[1:04:11] childcare capacity, staff are not able

[1:04:13] to recommend the grant application from

[1:04:15] St. Carlos Belmont after school as it

[1:04:17] was submitted. The applicants are

[1:04:19] encouraged to reapply to the program in

[1:04:20] a future year's funding cycle. However,

[1:04:23] as the remaining applicants, the

[1:04:25] remaining three meet the program

[1:04:27] requirements and will expand childcare

[1:04:29] capacity. staff recommending recommend

[1:04:31] awarding the full value of the grant

[1:04:33] request to those three and that includes

[1:04:35] the 35,654

[1:04:37] for Shoe Academy for the interior and

[1:04:39] exterior renovations, 100,000 for the

[1:04:42] property acquisition for Curious Beans,

[1:04:45] and then 100,000 for the playground uh

[1:04:47] renovations at Bright Horizons.

[1:04:49] Combined, uh these activities would

[1:04:51] create between 80 and 87 new child care

[1:04:54] spaces in the community, which is a

[1:04:56] really great number. And uh the grant

[1:04:58] awards would total $235,000654

[1:05:03] or excuse me 235654

[1:05:05] uh which is within the 250,000 budgeted

[1:05:08] for this fiscal year.

[1:05:11] Should city council agree to the

[1:05:12] recommended funding allocations, staff

[1:05:14] will notify the remaining applicants of

[1:05:16] their award status. We will coordinate

[1:05:19] with them to execute agreements for uh

[1:05:21] receipt of grant funds, collect their

[1:05:23] documentation to show that the eligible

[1:05:24] projects have been completed and then

[1:05:26] issue the reimbursements. Over the next

[1:05:29] 5 years, staff will collect annual

[1:05:30] reports from the recipients to track

[1:05:32] their childare capacity.

[1:05:34] And staff plan to open the third round

[1:05:36] of this program. Again, this was the

[1:05:37] second uh for uh this fall, which will

[1:05:40] be another 250,000 as budgeted.

[1:05:44] So based on all the above, staff

[1:05:46] recommend the city council adopt a

[1:05:47] resolution awarding the recipients of

[1:05:49] the 2025 childcare grant program and

[1:05:52] authorizing the execution of agreements

[1:05:53] for grant funds with the three eligible

[1:05:56] applicants. This concludes staff's

[1:05:58] presentation and I'm available to answer

[1:05:59] any questions. Uh Katie Shen, owner of

[1:06:02] Shu Academy, is also present in case you

[1:06:04] have any more specific questions for her

[1:06:06] about her applications. Thank you.

[1:06:08] >> Thank you Andrew uh for the presentation

[1:06:11] » Thank you Andrew uh for the presentation

[1:06:11] and all the work on this. Uh do any of

[1:06:13] my colleagues have uh questions? I see

[1:06:15] uh Council Member Dugan.

[1:06:18] >> Uh thank you, Mr. Vice Mayor, and uh

[1:06:22] » Uh thank you, Mr. Vice Mayor, and uh

[1:06:22] thank you, Andrew. Appreciate the the

[1:06:23] overview and and the program. And uh

[1:06:27] yeah, phenomenal to think that this

[1:06:29] program is working um as intended. We uh

[1:06:34] you know, drew those impact fees and are

[1:06:36] now investing them directly into child

[1:06:39] care. And it looks like these grants

[1:06:41] will result in or at least assist in the

[1:06:45] development of about 85 um new child

[1:06:47] care spaces in town. So So that's

[1:06:49] terrific. Um you know, in my time on

[1:06:53] council, it is a little unprecedented

[1:06:55] the way this this money is released and

[1:06:58] and and somewhat the open-ended nature

[1:07:01] of it. And I, you know, so as I review

[1:07:04] these, I always just am like, ah, what's

[1:07:06] the accountability here? And are these

[1:07:08] subject to matching funds? How does that

[1:07:11] aspect work?

[1:07:12] >> Sure. Uh there no that is no longer a

[1:07:14] » Sure. Uh there no that is no longer a

[1:07:14] requirement. I know it was for the first

[1:07:16] program, but earlier this year we made

[1:07:18] some modifications to the notice of

[1:07:19] funding availability through city

[1:07:21] council and the matching requirement was

[1:07:23] removed. I know it was confusing for

[1:07:25] some of the applicants and the idea was

[1:07:27] to help uh you know get as much money

[1:07:30] into the community as quickly as

[1:07:31] possible. So that's not something that's

[1:07:33] um considered anymore. However, we do

[1:07:36] look at the financial viability of the

[1:07:38] applicants as they come in and it is a

[1:07:40] reimbursementbased program with wording

[1:07:43] in the agreement that says, you know,

[1:07:45] this is exactly what um the city will

[1:07:47] reimburse the applicants for. And so, if

[1:07:49] that work is not completed, they don't

[1:07:51] receive the the funds in return. So, we

[1:07:54] have those protections in the agreement.

[1:07:56] >> So, in all cases, they have to front the

[1:07:58] » So, in all cases, they have to front the

[1:07:58] money, they've made the spend, and then

[1:08:01] they submit that. Do we then go verify

[1:08:03] that the money was spent on a facility?

[1:08:06] I mean, how how close are we observing

[1:08:09] these projects?

[1:08:10] >> Yes. Yeah, we're collecting the

[1:08:11] » Yes. Yeah, we're collecting the

[1:08:11] documentation back, you know, looking at

[1:08:13] all of the invoices, making sure that it

[1:08:14] matches up with what they had

[1:08:16] anticipated, and then often we do go at

[1:08:18] the end then and make a tour, see the

[1:08:20] facility, and, you know, wrap everything

[1:08:22] up nicely. Uh, I know it was very

[1:08:23] successful for our first five last year,

[1:08:25] which was really nice.

[1:08:27] >> Got it. And then curious beans. This one

[1:08:29] » Got it. And then curious beans. This one

[1:08:29] is a new one. So the full H 100,000 and

[1:08:33] and and it was for an acquisition, but

[1:08:35] are are they did they buy the business

[1:08:38] that is currently there? You know, is

[1:08:40] there currently a child care business

[1:08:42] there that they purchase or is this for

[1:08:43] purchase of of the building itself?

[1:08:45] >> My understanding and uh Katie can jump

[1:08:47] » My understanding and uh Katie can jump

[1:08:47] in if uh I get it incorrect is that it

[1:08:50] was an existing building. I think it was

[1:08:51] a medical office,

[1:08:54] a therapy clinic. Thank you so much.

[1:08:56] That was uh in the facility. It's just

[1:08:58] up the road here in St. Carlos Avenue

[1:09:00] and uh so they are acquiring the

[1:09:02] property so they'll actually own it

[1:09:04] versus leasing and then um in addition

[1:09:06] to the uh purchase price I think they

[1:09:08] planned on making about $800,000 in

[1:09:11] tenant improvements to be able to meet

[1:09:13] state childcare licensing. So, there'll

[1:09:15] be some significant modifications inside

[1:09:17] as well. Okay. Um, and the idea again

[1:09:19] for the down payment assistance is that

[1:09:21] they put that money down towards the

[1:09:23] down payment, but in getting it back uh

[1:09:25] faster through the grant, they'll be

[1:09:27] able to then turn that around and make

[1:09:28] those improvements faster.

[1:09:29] >> Okay. Yeah. No, it's uh well,

[1:09:31] » Okay. Yeah. No, it's uh well,

[1:09:31] congratulations on that. Um, it's good

[1:09:34] to know there'll be another freestanding

[1:09:36] child care facility in town and uh and I

[1:09:38] know owning the property will give you a

[1:09:40] degree of stability over time. So that's

[1:09:42] that's good news for child care in San

[1:09:45] Carlos. Um is there is there any kind of

[1:09:49] vesting with that? Like if they fold up

[1:09:51] shop in 6 months, do we have any

[1:09:53] clawback right or is there any you know

[1:09:55] like you got to kind of think through

[1:09:57] the potential outcomes here?

[1:09:59] >> Sure. Uh my understand you know our

[1:10:01] » Sure. Uh my understand you know our

[1:10:01] program so far it's it is new but uh and

[1:10:04] we've tended towards uh you know being

[1:10:06] much more open and flexible with the

[1:10:08] applicants in the way it's currently

[1:10:09] worded. Uh I know again though Shu

[1:10:11] Academy it's uh been in the city for

[1:10:13] quite a while. They're making a

[1:10:14] significant investment. Um and so what

[1:10:17] we do though is rather than having

[1:10:18] specific wording, we require 5 years of

[1:10:21] reporting that we'll follow on

[1:10:22] afterwards where we'll be checking back

[1:10:24] in with the applicants to make sure that

[1:10:26] they're, you know, meeting those

[1:10:28] enrollment numbers that they indicated.

[1:10:30] Um there's not necessarily teeth at this

[1:10:33] point with that, but um I you know

[1:10:35] something that we could look at in the

[1:10:36] future if needed, but I think our you

[1:10:38] know our hope is that we all work

[1:10:40] together closely and you know it's for

[1:10:42] the common goal in the community and

[1:10:43] that we wouldn't necessarily need

[1:10:45] something like that.

[1:10:46] >> I appreciate that. Um it's u you know as

[1:10:50] » I appreciate that. Um it's u you know as

[1:10:50] public funds go we just have to be very

[1:10:52] mindful that it just takes one bad

[1:10:55] example and this program will no longer

[1:10:57] be sustainable, right? So we we do have

[1:10:59] to tread carefully in in this kind of

[1:11:02] situation and then just over time I

[1:11:04] really would be interested in reports

[1:11:06] back on you know these applicants were

[1:11:10] expecting this many spaces and we in

[1:11:13] fact verified you know just how the

[1:11:15] program is continuing over time. I'd be

[1:11:17] very interested in um that's all I had.

[1:11:20] Thank you Vice Mayor.

[1:11:22] >> Thank you Council Member Dugan. Uh I

[1:11:23] » Thank you Council Member Dugan. Uh I

[1:11:24] have Council Member Leighton.

[1:11:26] >> Uh thank you Vice Mayor. I just had a

[1:11:27] » Uh thank you Vice Mayor. I just had a

[1:11:28] couple questions on Andrew and then

[1:11:29] maybe Katie can um help me out too. You

[1:11:32] said in your presentation that the sale

[1:11:35] on the um building wasn't final.

[1:11:38] >> That's my understanding is that it's in

[1:11:39] » That's my understanding is that it's in

[1:11:40] process correct stuff.

[1:11:42] >> Can you just elaborate on what that

[1:11:43] » Can you just elaborate on what that

[1:11:43] means to be like in process?

[1:11:45] >> But can you come up to the here to

[1:11:46] » But can you come up to the here to

[1:11:46] answer just so we it's because it's

[1:11:48] recorded. Thank you.

[1:11:51] So, we have submitted the um application

[1:11:54] package to the building permit and we

[1:11:56] have received the first round of uh

[1:11:59] feedback um and uh right now we're uh

[1:12:02] expecting to receive the feedback from

[1:12:05] the planning and public work department

[1:12:07] by the end of this week. Um yeah.

[1:12:10] >> And is it still in escrow or is it for

[1:12:12] » And is it still in escrow or is it for

[1:12:12] the purchase all?

[1:12:13] >> Uh we're still in escrow. We have

[1:12:15] » Uh we're still in escrow. We have

[1:12:15] removed all the um physical

[1:12:18] contingencies. We're just simply waiting

[1:12:20] for the result of the city making sure

[1:12:23] this can be a childcare facility to

[1:12:25] remove all the contingencies.

[1:12:27] >> Okay. Um

[1:12:30] » Okay. Um

[1:12:30] and then does that

[1:12:33] in regards to permit timeline then? So

[1:12:35] there's a permit timeline from the city

[1:12:37] to make sure it meets all the

[1:12:38] contingencies and is there any licensing

[1:12:40] that's the next stage or has that

[1:12:42] already been approved? Yes, licensing

[1:12:44] has to be um we have to wait until you

[1:12:48] know the the building and the facility

[1:12:50] is ready to proceed to the licensing

[1:12:53] process.

[1:12:57] But sorry, but but just adding to that

[1:13:00] regarding the timeline, we're looking to

[1:13:03] um start the construction po we're being

[1:13:06] positive here. We are expecting to start

[1:13:08] the construction um in around June time.

[1:13:12] Um and the con construction itself might

[1:13:14] take about six months. Um and uh the

[1:13:18] licensing process will after uh start

[1:13:20] after that.

[1:13:24] » Okay. Thank you very much.

[1:13:26] >> Thank you,

[1:13:30] » Council Member McDow.

[1:13:32] >> Thank you, Vice Mayor. I just wanted to

[1:13:34] » Thank you, Vice Mayor. I just wanted to

[1:13:34] follow up on the comments. Thank you for

[1:13:36] that. um with regard to release of funds

[1:13:38] then how would that work in this in this

[1:13:41] very kind of unique situation that we

[1:13:42] have?

[1:13:43] Uh so uh for this situation I think

[1:13:46] there could be a way that in the

[1:13:47] agreement we could state that you know

[1:13:49] uh pending approval of a childare

[1:13:51] license for the facility could have the

[1:13:54] funding come through or you I think we

[1:13:55] could be open to the way that um you

[1:13:57] would receive the the reimbursement. Um

[1:14:00] and you know whatever uh council would

[1:14:02] be most comfortable with uh if there

[1:14:04] were any specific triggers or if just at

[1:14:07] this point you know we uh would offer

[1:14:10] the full amount you know uh knowing that

[1:14:14] the purchase has gone through you know

[1:14:15] that I'm sorry I'm kind of talking

[1:14:16] myself into that one that receiving the

[1:14:18] the confirmation that the sale has

[1:14:20] completed that that may be our um

[1:14:22] trigger to release the funds.

[1:14:25] >> Thank you.

[1:14:28] » Thank you.

[1:14:28] >> Okay. I don't see other comments from my

[1:14:30] » Okay. I don't see other comments from my

[1:14:30] colleagues. I had one question though.

[1:14:32] Um so we have in the past had a $100,000

[1:14:37] limit per um applicant and I mean I look

[1:14:42] at this as the same applicant asking for

[1:14:44] $135,000.

[1:14:46] Tell me how you can you go through that

[1:14:48] process because it's both by Shoe

[1:14:50] Academy and we had issues at the last

[1:14:51] one where someone had wanted more money.

[1:14:53] We said no we're capped at $100,000.

[1:14:56] >> Absolutely. Um, so for this one, there

[1:14:57] » Absolutely. Um, so for this one, there

[1:14:58] is a grayer. There's no specific wording

[1:14:59] within the notice of funding

[1:15:00] availability that says we someone cannot

[1:15:03] apply for multiple locations. However,

[1:15:05] in this case, it's the same owner, but

[1:15:08] there's going to be separate employee

[1:15:10] identification numbers, going to be

[1:15:12] separate tax documents between the two.

[1:15:14] Um, so there was that separation that

[1:15:17] it's, you know, separate businesses just

[1:15:18] by the same person. And then in addition

[1:15:21] to that, we looked at the fact that, you

[1:15:23] know, this really is going to be um

[1:15:25] creating so many new spaces,

[1:15:26] particularly the new facility up here on

[1:15:27] St. Carlos Avenue that's making a strong

[1:15:30] impact for the community. It would be

[1:15:31] adding um childcare spaces for younger

[1:15:34] children down to 18 months, which is

[1:15:35] something that's um very needed. And

[1:15:37] then also um the funds do expire after 5

[1:15:40] years per the mitigation fee act. If we

[1:15:42] haven't used them for the uh intended

[1:15:44] purpose, they could roll back. So, I

[1:15:46] think we were um you know, just really

[1:15:47] open to being as flexible as possible

[1:15:49] with the goal of getting that money back

[1:15:51] to make spaces now um and be as

[1:15:53] proactive as we can. Okay. I guess I'm

[1:15:56] just concerned because we were not

[1:15:58] flexible last time and it caused issues

[1:16:01] for us um at least feedback from, you

[1:16:04] know, from a couple child at least one

[1:16:06] childare provider who um was trying to

[1:16:08] do a larger project. And so I I guess I

[1:16:10] I kind of feel like we we're sort of

[1:16:12] changing the rules on that and I'm

[1:16:14] personally not really comfortable with

[1:16:15] that to say we're going to now just say

[1:16:17] oh well now it's because I mean we could

[1:16:20] have you could in some case have one act

[1:16:22] one company maybe they have different

[1:16:24] EIN but they're essentially the same

[1:16:26] company getting all $250,000.

[1:16:29] And so I'm just concerned about the

[1:16:31] precedent we're potentially uh setting

[1:16:34] here by getting beyond the $100,000

[1:16:36] without sort of you know I think a a

[1:16:39] council decision around that that we'd

[1:16:41] want to I mean I know we're making a

[1:16:42] decision here on this but I from a

[1:16:44] policy standpoint I'm not comfortable

[1:16:45] with that. I know Andrea I don't know if

[1:16:47] you wanted to add something on that.

[1:16:50] >> Thank you. Good evening. Uh Andrea

[1:16:51] » Thank you. Good evening. Uh Andrea

[1:16:51] Martisich assistant community

[1:16:52] development director. Um just to to

[1:16:55] respond to that Mayor Rack and you

[1:16:56] you've mentioned this too. Sorry Vice

[1:16:58] Mayor Rack it's the chair. Um, I think

[1:17:02] the the difference between the first

[1:17:03] application, I recall the one you're

[1:17:05] talking about in the last the last cycle

[1:17:07] and this one is the separate physical

[1:17:09] locations. So, I think that that would

[1:17:11] be our response to how that's different

[1:17:13] than the first application where their

[1:17:14] project they were asking for more than

[1:17:16] the maximum.

[1:17:19] I guess I have a hard time just drawing

[1:17:21] that distinction because it's almost

[1:17:22] like saying if I happen to have three

[1:17:25] childcare facilities, I can get $300,000

[1:17:27] or I can get because I'm happen to be a

[1:17:29] larger organization. And I just worry

[1:17:32] that we're prohibiting some smaller

[1:17:33] organizations from be able to have that.

[1:17:35] And um I I think the purpose is to kind

[1:17:37] of, you know, have be able to give out

[1:17:40] to multiple childcare providers. And I I

[1:17:42] feel like we're we're not doing that in

[1:17:45] this case. Um I understand where the

[1:17:47] applications were. I'm just concerned

[1:17:48] that of the precedent we're setting with

[1:17:50] this. I just I I mean I'm not really

[1:17:52] comfortable with with doing that at this

[1:17:54] point with that.

[1:17:55] >> Understood. Thank you.

[1:17:56] » Understood. Thank you.

[1:17:56] >> Thank you though. Uh Council Member

[1:17:58] » Thank you though. Uh Council Member

[1:17:58] Dugan.

[1:17:59] >> Yeah. Thank you, uh, Vice Mayor. Um,

[1:18:03] » Yeah. Thank you, uh, Vice Mayor. Um,

[1:18:03] yeah, I appreciate your concern. I guess

[1:18:06] I do understand. So, are we being asked

[1:18:09] now to make that distinction that the

[1:18:11] 100,000 will apply per facility? Is that

[1:18:16] what we're are we being asked that? I

[1:18:18] mean, is that

[1:18:19] >> uh it just in terms of precedent

[1:18:21] » uh it just in terms of precedent

[1:18:21] setting, something that we could add

[1:18:23] later to the notice of funding

[1:18:24] availability in either direction whether

[1:18:26] or not it's allowed or not allowed. Um

[1:18:29] but again, it was a gray area that

[1:18:30] wasn't specifically called out in the

[1:18:32] notice of funding availability. Um

[1:18:35] >> Got it. Yeah, I I you know, I could go

[1:18:37] » Got it. Yeah, I I you know, I could go

[1:18:37] either way on that. And I do think I

[1:18:40] Andrea I think you mentioned there was

[1:18:43] um you know we have to get these funds

[1:18:46] moving or there you know where are we at

[1:18:50] in this program? Are are we up against

[1:18:52] uh uh needing to allocate some of these

[1:18:55] funds or you know were there a lot of

[1:18:57] applicants that you know we've turned

[1:18:59] away like where are we at in this and

[1:19:01] how generous

[1:19:03] where's our leaning and recommendation

[1:19:05] from staff on on this sort of matter?

[1:19:08] Sure. So, uh, my understanding is we

[1:19:10] have about 640,000

[1:19:13] collected at the moment in fund 26, the

[1:19:15] childcare impact fee fund. Um, we had

[1:19:19] 500,000 that we issued last year for

[1:19:22] those first five applicants. So, that

[1:19:24] was a significant number. I don't know

[1:19:25] the exact timing for when that 640,000

[1:19:29] came in, but I would imagine we still

[1:19:31] have several years before we would be

[1:19:33] near our our um our 5year limit on

[1:19:36] those. And with the 250,000 budgeted

[1:19:38] this year and then 250,000

[1:19:40] for this next fiscal year, I think we

[1:19:42] could move through that um you know at a

[1:19:45] at a good pace. Um we were happy that we

[1:19:47] received the five applications. Again,

[1:19:48] it was the five uh submitted you know

[1:19:52] heard back from people that there was

[1:19:53] interest but just obviously there the

[1:19:56] applicants need to be open to having a

[1:19:58] specific project. And so this year this

[1:20:00] was the the set that we received could

[1:20:02] change in the future but again we do

[1:20:04] have a relatively small number of

[1:20:06] existing providers. So there's not as a

[1:20:08] large universe of people that could be

[1:20:10] coming in year after year. And I I think

[1:20:12] again that was another consideration and

[1:20:14] being more flexible is that as we've now

[1:20:16] assisted five with initial projects. I

[1:20:19] think we have know specifically have

[1:20:21] about 12 or 13 providers in the city. So

[1:20:24] that we're already kind of reaching the

[1:20:25] halfway point of known providers that

[1:20:27] have been assisted through the program.

[1:20:29] Okay. And and and the 100,000 right now

[1:20:32] it's it it's one time or are we saying

[1:20:34] after four years or something they can

[1:20:36] reapply or

[1:20:37] >> I was going to add I think it's after

[1:20:38] » I was going to add I think it's after

[1:20:38] one year that they could reapply. So

[1:20:40] after so the five that you've already

[1:20:42] awarded in the last cycle could

[1:20:44] theoretically apply again in the at the

[1:20:46] end of this year for another 100,000

[1:20:48] based on how the program currently is is

[1:20:50] designed

[1:20:51] >> for project.

[1:20:52] » for project.

[1:20:52] >> For a different project. Correct.

[1:20:53] » For a different project. Correct.

[1:20:54] >> Yeah.

[1:20:54] » Yeah.

[1:20:54] >> Yeah. Um and just sorry to go back um

[1:20:56] » Yeah. Um and just sorry to go back um

[1:20:56] one second to to answer your question

[1:20:57] about applications. Um for the first

[1:20:59] round we received five applications and

[1:21:01] and as you're aware you granted funds to

[1:21:03] all five. Um this round um even though

[1:21:06] we're not recommending approval for one

[1:21:08] because they're not meeting the

[1:21:09] operational standards. I'm sorry the

[1:21:12] capital improvement standards. Um we

[1:21:14] haven't had any instance where we've had

[1:21:15] to say oh this is too many. We can't

[1:21:18] move forward. Um so were for example the

[1:21:21] afterchool application and the one that

[1:21:23] withdrew if they had met our

[1:21:25] requirements and had a location um we

[1:21:27] would probably be coming forward with um

[1:21:29] the recommendation or the question of

[1:21:31] whether to allocate more funds that we

[1:21:33] already have to be able to grant those

[1:21:35] five.

[1:21:36] >> Okay. Okay, that helps. Thank you. Um

[1:21:39] » Okay. Okay, that helps. Thank you. Um

[1:21:39] yeah, I I I appreciate the concern,

[1:21:41] Adam. I really could go either way. I

[1:21:43] think I would be most interested in

[1:21:45] where the subcommittee came out on this

[1:21:47] because I think it really is a matter of

[1:21:49] wrestling with these applications and

[1:21:51] determining, you know, from, you know,

[1:21:54] living and breathing with them what's

[1:21:56] appropriate. So, I think I'd defer to

[1:21:58] the subcommittee.

[1:21:59] >> Okay. Thank you, Council Member Dugan.

[1:22:01] » Okay. Thank you, Council Member Dugan.

[1:22:01] Who's on the subcommittee for that? Is

[1:22:02] that But I think uh Sarah, you have your

[1:22:05] you have your

[1:22:06] >> Yeah, I had

[1:22:07] » Yeah, I had

[1:22:07] >> I had a follow-up question actually

[1:22:08] » I had a follow-up question actually

[1:22:08] before I council weigh in, but um two

[1:22:11] questions actually. You mentioned

[1:22:12] there's 640,000 in the fund right now.

[1:22:16] So that's right now that's not So the

[1:22:18] 500k is already gone and that does that

[1:22:21] include the 250k that we would be giving

[1:22:23] out?

[1:22:24] >> That does not. So that would bring us

[1:22:25] » That does not. So that would bring us

[1:22:25] down to about 400,000 after

[1:22:27] >> after we dull this out. Okay. Okay.

[1:22:29] » after we dull this out. Okay. Okay.

[1:22:30] >> Okay.

[1:22:30] » Okay.

[1:22:30] >> Um and then my I appreciate you raising

[1:22:33] » Um and then my I appreciate you raising

[1:22:33] this concern, Adam. I for me personally,

[1:22:36] I think the more slots we can build,

[1:22:40] I I kind of see a difference between

[1:22:42] asking for more money for the same slots

[1:22:45] versus more money for, you know, two

[1:22:48] different buildings, two different

[1:22:50] facilities, two different, you know,

[1:22:52] increases and slots for um the the

[1:22:55] younger kids. Um, but if we do that, I'm

[1:22:58] wondering how that impacts a potential

[1:23:00] request from um the afterchool program

[1:23:03] because then could they say, well, we

[1:23:05] want 100k for a rental and 100K for

[1:23:08] Britain acres and 100K for White Oaks.

[1:23:10] So, I appreciate you bringing this up

[1:23:12] because it does seem like something that

[1:23:13] we need to clarify. Um, I do also think

[1:23:17] that the afterchool program is a little

[1:23:18] different because they're leasing space

[1:23:21] from the school district and I'm not

[1:23:23] really sure how all of that works. So, I

[1:23:25] would need more clarity on um tenant

[1:23:28] improvements to um facilities on the

[1:23:31] school district property. I think that's

[1:23:32] very different than the private sector

[1:23:34] um who doesn't have the same benefits as

[1:23:37] the the school district. Um so, um I I

[1:23:42] don't really remember where Neil and I

[1:23:43] came down or if we wrestled with this,

[1:23:45] but for me personally, I I see a big

[1:23:47] difference between two different

[1:23:48] buildings. Um it is incredibly

[1:23:53] um the childare industry is really

[1:23:55] underwater right now because um it's

[1:23:57] really hard to hire and retain staff. Um

[1:24:00] it's super difficult. It's very

[1:24:02] difficult to um build out facilities. Um

[1:24:07] it's easier in San Carlos because we've

[1:24:09] done such great work in take making the

[1:24:11] permitting process easier and um lots of

[1:24:14] different things, zoning. Um, but

[1:24:18] when the state subtracted TK, the older

[1:24:22] kids out of, you know, child care, it's

[1:24:25] incredibly difficult to make

[1:24:28] the books balance when you're just

[1:24:30] charging for infants because there's a

[1:24:31] smaller child um child and caregiver

[1:24:34] ratio. Your expenses are so much higher.

[1:24:37] Um, I honestly I I'm so grateful that

[1:24:40] you are investing in San Carlos because

[1:24:42] it is just a really really difficult um

[1:24:46] business right now. So for me, the fact

[1:24:48] that they went to build out a a second

[1:24:50] facility um for me, I can see those

[1:24:52] these two things as being very

[1:24:54] different. Um, one is upgrades to an

[1:24:56] existing facility, one is building

[1:24:58] something brand new. All of it will add

[1:25:00] new spaces. we can tie the money per kid

[1:25:03] to each of the spaces versus someone

[1:25:05] just coming in and saying, "I want

[1:25:06] $300,000 for nine spots." For me, it's

[1:25:09] those are two different um cases. So, um

[1:25:13] that's where I stand, but I'll turn it

[1:25:14] over to Neil.

[1:25:16] >> No, I I think to summarize what um the

[1:25:19] » No, I I think to summarize what um the

[1:25:19] subcommittee meeting we had on this when

[1:25:20] it got first presented to us, uh there

[1:25:22] was two things. One of which we had sent

[1:25:24] back uh more information on um the

[1:25:27] academy and where it was at in its

[1:25:29] process and permitting. um in those

[1:25:31] regards. And then uh the question that

[1:25:34] staff had asked Belmont after school was

[1:25:36] how do these uh improvements lead to

[1:25:39] just more spaces? Um which it didn't

[1:25:41] sound like they hadn't answered for for

[1:25:43] us in that regards of that just that

[1:25:45] question um for it. I I think uh Sarah

[1:25:48] and I both recognized that the issues

[1:25:51] that we were discussing tonight are the

[1:25:52] same issues that we spotted and issue

[1:25:56] spotted of what could come about. And I

[1:25:58] think it depends a little bit of on

[1:25:59] where you fall on certain things. Uh I

[1:26:02] mean I don't want to put words in

[1:26:03] Sarah's mouth, but her this is something

[1:26:06] she wants to make sure that she's

[1:26:08] improving and constantly push. Uh I'll

[1:26:10] put words in my own mouth of I'm far

[1:26:11] more cautious and risk adverse uh in

[1:26:14] certain situations especially as it kind

[1:26:16] of around the boundaries of it. I uh

[1:26:19] didn't have the privilege I don't know

[1:26:22] if that's the word I want to use of not

[1:26:23] being around under the last round where

[1:26:24] there was some contention. So, I

[1:26:26] couldn't answer that question, but Sarah

[1:26:27] did mention this would be an issue that

[1:26:29] the council would have to grapple with

[1:26:31] um in its regards. I mean, our our

[1:26:34] general consensus of where we came out

[1:26:35] with it is um it kind of just depended

[1:26:39] on each individual member of what they

[1:26:41] wanted and we realized that as we're

[1:26:43] kind of building this plane, as we're

[1:26:45] flying it, that these are issues we have

[1:26:47] to grapple with um during the time. So,

[1:26:49] that's I don't know if that summarizes

[1:26:51] anything, but that kind of tells you

[1:26:52] where we landed on it. No, I think that

[1:26:54] I mean it's helpful for me and I don't

[1:26:55] know for John if that's what you were

[1:26:57] hoping for from the subcommittee. I mean

[1:27:00] >> yeah thank you. Um so I would support

[1:27:03] » yeah thank you. Um so I would support

[1:27:03] the subcommittee recommendation on that.

[1:27:05] I I would with regard

[1:27:08] >> they didn't have a recommendation.

[1:27:09] » they didn't have a recommendation.

[1:27:10] >> Well that's the thing.

[1:27:11] » Well that's the thing.

[1:27:11] >> I see. Um it sounded like you were

[1:27:14] » I see. Um it sounded like you were

[1:27:14] supportive of both uh funding requests.

[1:27:17] So, if I didn't hear that, then I would

[1:27:19] appreciate

[1:27:20] >> I I mean, I'll tell you just my personal

[1:27:22] » I I mean, I'll tell you just my personal

[1:27:22] thought on it is um in re I I always

[1:27:26] tell everyone I'm very riskadverse. So,

[1:27:28] I appreciate the Katie being here in the

[1:27:30] shoe academy going through the process

[1:27:32] to get it. I would probably uh before I

[1:27:35] would approve the $100,000 for it, I'd

[1:27:36] like to see it get through the

[1:27:38] permitting process and start the

[1:27:40] construction. Um I think that fits more

[1:27:42] into the category of what um the at

[1:27:46] least the grant application said for

[1:27:48] acquisition and starting and I

[1:27:50] understand that that capital needs to be

[1:27:52] there and I think it fits into our goals

[1:27:54] at that point in time. Um my risk

[1:27:56] adverse in me is always going to say I

[1:27:58] want a little bit more accountability in

[1:28:01] the process than instead of just getting

[1:28:03] and hoping and seeing work down the

[1:28:04] road. So that's where I fall um on those

[1:28:07] regards and uh I think outside of that

[1:28:10] we'd follow the rest of the

[1:28:11] recommendations at this time with the

[1:28:12] encouragement that they would continue

[1:28:14] to work with you know whoever those

[1:28:16] providers were Belmont after school to

[1:28:17] try to get them to answer those the

[1:28:19] question we asked for everybody is how

[1:28:21] is it going to expand capacity and then

[1:28:22] we can have a deeper conversation but

[1:28:24] that's kind of stage one um from it. So

[1:28:26] that was where I would fall uh in those

[1:28:28] regards.

[1:28:29] >> Yeah.

[1:28:29] » Yeah.

[1:28:29] >> All right. Uh thank you Neil. Um I um uh

[1:28:33] » All right. Uh thank you Neil. Um I um uh

[1:28:33] I mean I shared your concerns about the

[1:28:35] 100,000 um and I assume those would be

[1:28:38] addressed programmatically like we're

[1:28:40] not going to release those funds until

[1:28:42] the building's closing or what have you.

[1:28:45] >> Correct. We I think we can uh you know

[1:28:47] » Correct. We I think we can uh you know

[1:28:47] >> we'll modify the grant agreement to have

[1:28:49] » we'll modify the grant agreement to have

[1:28:49] a condition like that.

[1:28:50] >> Got it. I'd be much more comfortable

[1:28:52] » Got it. I'd be much more comfortable

[1:28:52] with that too. But Neil, my question

[1:28:54] really was do you also approve the

[1:28:56] second grant to the same applicant in a

[1:28:59] second location? And that that's really

[1:29:00] what I'm I'm hoping to I I didn't know

[1:29:03] if you guys wrestled with that aspect or

[1:29:05] not.

[1:29:06] >> So I I I guess my our discussions we had

[1:29:08] » So I I I guess my our discussions we had

[1:29:08] with it when we wrestled with it. Um

[1:29:12] I think if I'm part of the committee, I

[1:29:14] would probably fall more toward um

[1:29:16] Council Member McDow's point of we're

[1:29:18] starting to hit kind of a cap of where

[1:29:20] we're at with these providers within San

[1:29:22] Carlos. So, we're going to have to get

[1:29:24] to a point where if we want this money

[1:29:26] to get out the door or we need to think

[1:29:28] more strategically about it as what we

[1:29:30] want it to do with this money. Um, where

[1:29:33] if someone is going to be I view it as

[1:29:35] two separate locations, at least in my

[1:29:38] mind, given kind of how they at least I

[1:29:40] know how they operate and how they will

[1:29:41] operate. Um, so I I felt that I was fine

[1:29:45] giving it to two, but again that's with

[1:29:48] the asterisk that I wasn't here to know

[1:29:50] the background and arguments from the

[1:29:51] last one. Um, but that's just my own

[1:29:53] personal opinion.

[1:29:56] Go

[1:29:56] >> ahead.

[1:29:58] » ahead.

[1:29:58] Okay. Um, so I just want to jump in. So

[1:30:00] I think I I appreciate the I guess I had

[1:30:03] one just a hypothetical for the for for

[1:30:06] the two of you too. So had the Grains of

[1:30:08] Good Foundation for example, if that

[1:30:12] grant had they had been ready and would

[1:30:15] you make the same decision?

[1:30:19] » I mean I I love a good hypothetical. you

[1:30:21] have spread things out more cuz now

[1:30:22] you're saying like if you had an extra

[1:30:24] $64,000 that you were going to give out,

[1:30:26] we would be over the cap. And then what

[1:30:28] would you do?

[1:30:29] >> I I mean I think we were all very I

[1:30:30] » I I mean I think we were all very I

[1:30:30] think again I don't want to put words in

[1:30:32] Sarah's mouth of I I think we're very

[1:30:35] contingent on we want to stay within

[1:30:37] budget um for it at least maybe that's

[1:30:41] not what

[1:30:43] Okay, sorry. I I think for me

[1:30:45] personally, I would stay within budget

[1:30:47] and then I think you would have to have

[1:30:49] a more detailed um

[1:30:54] kind of analysis of each one of how you

[1:30:56] wanted to give them out with the grains

[1:30:57] of good if they didn't remove it. So,

[1:31:00] you know, not to be a very lawyerly

[1:31:02] answer to you, but I want to say it

[1:31:04] would just depend on

[1:31:06] >> Sounds very lawyerly.

[1:31:07] » Sounds very lawyerly.

[1:31:07] >> It is. Yeah. So, I guess I look at it in

[1:31:10] » It is. Yeah. So, I guess I look at it in

[1:31:10] terms of what's in front of me for this

[1:31:12] term of the grant application. So, in

[1:31:14] this term of the grant, we only got

[1:31:15] four. And I would view it as I would

[1:31:18] probably still just be more I don't

[1:31:21] think it would change my analysis of how

[1:31:23] I view the two separate organizations

[1:31:26] within the Shoe Academy.

[1:31:28] >> Um, thank you for the question. I would

[1:31:30] » Um, thank you for the question. I would

[1:31:30] have just asked for more money because

[1:31:33] we have I think something that we've

[1:31:34] talked about with like housing funds is

[1:31:36] to get the money out the door. There's

[1:31:38] no reason to sit on these funds if

[1:31:40] there's projects that are in need. And

[1:31:42] we've highlighted this as a priority.

[1:31:44] And I think we also have to think about,

[1:31:46] you know, once commercial development

[1:31:49] starts on the east side, we're looking

[1:31:50] at tens of thousands of new employees

[1:31:52] who could potentially be bringing their

[1:31:53] kids to our city and dropping them at

[1:31:55] child care and going to work. So, if the

[1:31:58] money is here, I think I think that we

[1:32:00] should um get it out the door if there's

[1:32:02] a need and there and and as I mentioned,

[1:32:05] it's so difficult to even start a child

[1:32:07] care and if people are brave enough and

[1:32:09] incredible enough to want to invest in

[1:32:11] our community and invest in our

[1:32:12] children, I think childare is our most

[1:32:14] precious community infrastructure and we

[1:32:16] should do everything we can to support

[1:32:17] it. And there's no reason for us to sit

[1:32:19] on this money if there are qualified

[1:32:21] applicants willing to build out

[1:32:24] childcare slots.

[1:32:27] So I agree with you that we should not

[1:32:30] sit on the money. I I think my my view

[1:32:34] is we should update our policy

[1:32:39] before we give out all the money. We

[1:32:40] should have a policy that it is we

[1:32:42] should look at because we have these

[1:32:43] funds, we should look at higher caps. we

[1:32:45] should look at giving away more money

[1:32:47] and doing it in a more policy

[1:32:49] processbased system versus saying well

[1:32:52] we're going to because this is where we

[1:32:53] are right now we're going to sort of say

[1:32:54] this is how we're going to do it for

[1:32:56] this grant cycle and then the next cycle

[1:32:57] we may have five people and and it's

[1:33:00] going to be a different thing again and

[1:33:01] so for me I would rather say plus I

[1:33:04] think in this situation where they're

[1:33:06] not going to break ground until June

[1:33:07] potentially why can't we come back do

[1:33:10] the policy give them $100,000 give

[1:33:12] $100,000 to Bright Verizon

[1:33:15] and then come back and and change the

[1:33:17] policy and and build something out that

[1:33:19] says it could be 200,000 or 250 per and

[1:33:22] let's spend of the money when we have

[1:33:24] it.

[1:33:28] » I mean, if you would want to preference

[1:33:30] on that would be

[1:33:31] >> I feel like we put a lot of thought into

[1:33:32] » I feel like we put a lot of thought into

[1:33:32] the policy already. I think we wanted to

[1:33:34] try and spread the money among many

[1:33:35] providers,

[1:33:36] >> 12 providers. So, according to

[1:33:39] » 12 providers. So, according to

[1:33:39] >> there's new ones coming every day. I

[1:33:41] » there's new ones coming every day. I

[1:33:41] mean,

[1:33:42] >> I I don't know. I maybe that's something

[1:33:44] » I I don't know. I maybe that's something

[1:33:44] that we need to have a discussion about.

[1:33:49] » Council member.

[1:33:50] >> Uh thank you, Mr. Vice Mayor. Um so, uh

[1:33:54] » Uh thank you, Mr. Vice Mayor. Um so, uh

[1:33:54] thank you um Neil and Sarah. Um so, uh

[1:34:01] I'm supportive of this on a perlocation

[1:34:04] basis. I agree with Adam. If that is a

[1:34:06] decision we want to make, we should make

[1:34:07] it programmatically. And I think and I

[1:34:10] appreciate your thoughtfulness. Um so I

[1:34:14] think perlloccation does make sense. We

[1:34:16] do want to get these funds working. We

[1:34:19] want to get them out the door. Um so if

[1:34:21] that needs to be if that can be handled

[1:34:23] at subcommittee, great. If that needs to

[1:34:25] come back to us, I would propose we are

[1:34:28] formal about saying it's per location. I

[1:34:31] think that's that's a supportable

[1:34:33] position. I would not be supportive of

[1:34:36] going above the 100,000 per year. Uh I I

[1:34:39] view this program as high risk, frankly.

[1:34:41] Uh I just it's a very loose program and

[1:34:45] 100,000's a lot of money to be kind of

[1:34:48] floating out there per project. So I I

[1:34:51] do not support going above the 100k by

[1:34:54] the way. Um, and I would just on a

[1:34:57] slightly different note, um, I also have

[1:35:00] been hearing how difficult it is on on

[1:35:03] child care providers with the TK uh,

[1:35:06] competition basically, you know, putting

[1:35:08] more costs on them in a way. Um, and so

[1:35:12] I, you know, I I I will let the

[1:35:14] subcommittee wrestle with this fully,

[1:35:16] but um, I would just point out that, you

[1:35:20] know, is that's needed child care in

[1:35:22] town. So, I've generally been very

[1:35:24] supportive of TK because we just need

[1:35:26] more child care in town. Um, but I'm not

[1:35:29] sure about us subsidizing

[1:35:32] uh, after school programs given how

[1:35:34] heavily subsidized those programs

[1:35:36] already are. Um, specifically, I believe

[1:35:39] that the bond last year was in part to

[1:35:44] dedicate a lot of funds to preparing

[1:35:47] those classrooms for these after school

[1:35:49] programs. So, um, I'll let the

[1:35:51] subcommittee wrestle with it, but um, I

[1:35:54] I would have to think long and hard

[1:35:56] about further subsidizing the TK

[1:35:59] programs, you know, above and beyond the

[1:36:01] bond and what the schools are already

[1:36:03] doing there. So, um, just wanted to put

[1:36:05] that out there.

[1:36:07] Just to clarify, John, just so you're

[1:36:09] aware, the TK program wasn't TK program

[1:36:11] is basically a statemandated new class,

[1:36:14] right? So instead of kindergarten, now

[1:36:16] you're starting TK. So I can tell you

[1:36:18] personally, I don't think any district

[1:36:20] wanted to start the TK program. Um, but

[1:36:23] you just had to at a certain point in

[1:36:26] time. So what these are just to put it

[1:36:29] in perspective when you think about this

[1:36:30] in the future is this is essentially uh

[1:36:33] rented spaces at the schools right so

[1:36:38] you're talking about tenant improvements

[1:36:40] things like that and how they may rent

[1:36:41] they may rent space they could easily

[1:36:44] say no to the schools and rent space

[1:36:46] across the street find places at a

[1:36:48] church you know and run the program out

[1:36:50] of there for after school. So, it it has

[1:36:52] the bonds would cover the physical

[1:36:54] structures potentially that these are

[1:36:56] housed in, but they wouldn't necessarily

[1:36:58] cover the inside or tenant improvements,

[1:37:00] which fit currently under our policy if

[1:37:02] we're talking like policy terms. Just so

[1:37:04] you're aware, um it doesn't it's not a

[1:37:07] addition to the TK program. It's the

[1:37:09] same after school that a fourth, fifth,

[1:37:11] or even some sixth graders can go to.

[1:37:13] So, just to so you're aware.

[1:37:15] >> No, I appreciate that. I understand

[1:37:16] » No, I appreciate that. I understand

[1:37:16] these are the afterchool programs, but

[1:37:18] I'd imagine it'd be similar facilities.

[1:37:21] It's not like they're going to remodel,

[1:37:24] you know, the back lot or something. So

[1:37:26] anyway, I would really want us to take a

[1:37:28] hard look at further subsidizing, you

[1:37:31] know, what a $180 million bond is

[1:37:34] probably already developing quite

[1:37:36] nicely. So, um,

[1:37:41] » Okay.

[1:37:41] >> May I make a recommendation?

[1:37:43] » May I make a recommendation?

[1:37:43] >> You may.

[1:37:44] » You may.

[1:37:44] >> Excellent. Um, I think I think this

[1:37:48] » Excellent. Um, I think I think this

[1:37:48] conversation we're having is a

[1:37:50] consequence of this council being

[1:37:52] trailblazers on this topic. The fact

[1:37:55] that you as a council have decided to

[1:37:58] take this on to develop a program to

[1:38:01] collect the fees and now figure out how

[1:38:03] are we going to distribute it. And since

[1:38:05] this is only the second time we're doing

[1:38:07] it, um, I think questions are going to

[1:38:10] continue to come up. if we had sat back

[1:38:12] and tried to sort of plan for every

[1:38:16] single hypothetical scenario that might

[1:38:18] have come up um we might have never

[1:38:20] gotten this off the ground. So I think

[1:38:22] it's very healthy and normal that as we

[1:38:25] approach and see new situations we have

[1:38:28] to make some new decisions. I heard

[1:38:31] about three different issues um that

[1:38:33] were raised, but I think only one of

[1:38:35] them really relates to tonight. And that

[1:38:38] is do we feel it's appropriate to uh

[1:38:42] fund over 100,000 when um we're looking

[1:38:45] at the same provider but in two

[1:38:48] different locations? And I think that is

[1:38:50] the question for the council. And the

[1:38:53] question is, would supporting that

[1:38:55] advance our goal, your goal of creating

[1:38:58] more child care spaces? And I think if

[1:39:01] you did make that decision um tonight,

[1:39:04] yes, we would agree to that or no, we

[1:39:06] wouldn't, then that could set that

[1:39:08] precedent and become a part of the

[1:39:10] policy going forward. I don't think we

[1:39:12] need to step away and then think about

[1:39:14] that in a subcommittee meeting. And then

[1:39:17] if that decision is made tonight, yes,

[1:39:19] we will do two locations or no, we

[1:39:22] won't, that becomes part of the policy

[1:39:25] going forward. But then the other two

[1:39:27] questions, um the issue of whether an

[1:39:31] organization can come back a year later

[1:39:33] and ask for another 100,000 or the

[1:39:35] second issue of how do we want to treat

[1:39:37] after school programs, those can be

[1:39:40] considered at later subcommittee

[1:39:41] meetings and um worked into a policy

[1:39:45] going forward.

[1:39:47] But I think the one main question

[1:39:49] tonight is um should you consider um one

[1:39:54] provider at two different locations when

[1:39:56] it takes you over the 100,000 cap and

[1:40:00] then we can consider that in our policy

[1:40:02] going forward.

[1:40:05] >> Thank you. Now I think that's a good

[1:40:07] » Thank you. Now I think that's a good

[1:40:07] summary of where we are on that. Um

[1:40:11] >> madam u Mr. Acting mayor,

[1:40:15] » madam u Mr. Acting mayor,

[1:40:15] >> excuse me.

[1:40:17] » excuse me.

[1:40:17] I have a suggestion because there the

[1:40:20] agenda is really awarding the grants

[1:40:22] tonight. Um, so that's really the

[1:40:24] decision you're you're making. But we

[1:40:27] could have we could bring back the

[1:40:29] notice of funding availability for you,

[1:40:31] which is really your policy document.

[1:40:33] That's what you put out there for the

[1:40:34] public to look at when um or I mean the

[1:40:38] providers to look at to determine

[1:40:39] whether they want to apply. um that the

[1:40:42] rule that might be your policy decision

[1:40:45] whether two locations yes, two locations

[1:40:47] no could be in your the next notice of

[1:40:50] funding availability as a policy

[1:40:52] document for you. So you could separate

[1:40:54] that and tonight act on the on the uh

[1:40:58] requests, but then we could bring um a

[1:41:00] modification either through the

[1:41:02] subcommittee or to the council of the

[1:41:05] notice of funding availability, which is

[1:41:07] the document that the applicants look at

[1:41:09] to decide if they're going to apply or

[1:41:11] not.

[1:41:14] >> You can.

[1:41:15] » You can.

[1:41:15] >> Uh thank you, Greg. I I have a follow-up

[1:41:17] » Uh thank you, Greg. I I have a follow-up

[1:41:17] question to that. Um,

[1:41:20] you spoke earlier about the trigger for

[1:41:22] the $100,000. Is that something that we

[1:41:24] should give guidance on this evening of

[1:41:26] when that trigger happens or what is the

[1:41:29] trigger or what are you thinking on the

[1:41:31] trigger?

[1:41:31] >> I think that's related to the decision

[1:41:33] » I think that's related to the decision

[1:41:33] you're making tonight. Um, when when to

[1:41:36] release the funds. I think it could be

[1:41:38] when construction's underway as was

[1:41:40] suggested or or when the licensing from

[1:41:43] the state to approve approving the the

[1:41:46] spaces. Those are two choices you could

[1:41:48] have. Um once the construction's

[1:41:51] underway, probably very likely that

[1:41:53] they'll get the licensing, but um that's

[1:41:56] that's really a a question for you.

[1:42:00] Maybe staff has something to add on

[1:42:02] that.

[1:42:05] » I was just clarifying with Andrew. I

[1:42:07] thought I heard earlier that you

[1:42:08] mentioned that the licensing doesn't

[1:42:09] happen until the very end. So the

[1:42:12] building needs to be completely built

[1:42:14] out before you can get the license. Um,

[1:42:16] so since that would be considerably

[1:42:18] later, we'd probably recommend once

[1:42:20] building construction's underway.

[1:42:24] >> I think that's a that's a viable choice

[1:42:26] » I think that's a that's a viable choice

[1:42:26] given the how these centers are are

[1:42:29] built out.

[1:42:33] » Okay, I would support that.

[1:42:39] » Okay. Um, I think if we're done with

[1:42:41] questions, I'd like to take public

[1:42:43] comment and then we can take uh any sort

[1:42:45] of comments from the council and Nick

[1:42:47] and move forward with a potential

[1:42:49] motion. Crystal, is there any public

[1:42:50] comment on this item?

[1:42:52] >> I don't have any slips. Uh, I can't see

[1:42:55] » I don't have any slips. Uh, I can't see

[1:42:55] around. Andrew, is there is there anyone

[1:42:56] in person interested in making a

[1:42:58] comment? Doesn't look like it. Okay. Uh,

[1:43:01] and there are no hands on Zoom.

[1:43:02] >> Okay. Thank you. Um,

[1:43:06] » Okay. Thank you. Um,

[1:43:06] all right. Are there any uh com any

[1:43:09] further comments on this or discussion?

[1:43:13] Um I'll just say I I appreciate the

[1:43:16] discussion on all this and um I I'm

[1:43:20] struggling with supporting this not

[1:43:22] because I don't think these are good

[1:43:23] good projects. I'm just I feel like

[1:43:25] we're sort of making a lot of policy

[1:43:27] just on this on on terms of multiple

[1:43:30] locations, when we're going to award

[1:43:32] grants, how we're going to do this. I

[1:43:33] feel like this is the purpose of this is

[1:43:35] decide whether to uh release funds or

[1:43:39] not, not to develop policy as part of

[1:43:41] this process. So, um I'm going to uh not

[1:43:45] support this. I I certainly support the

[1:43:47] efforts that people are doing and I'm

[1:43:48] not I don't feel a concern that this is

[1:43:50] not going to move forward. Um but I just

[1:43:52] think we're we're making policy here on

[1:43:54] stuff when we should be doing that at a

[1:43:55] separate item that's agenda is to do

[1:43:58] policy around what that process is and

[1:44:00] the funding for that.

[1:44:04] And if there's not other comments, then

[1:44:05] I'll happy to call. Go ahead, sir. Vice

[1:44:07] Mayor, excuse me, Council Member Mel.

[1:44:10] >> Thank you. Um, Mr. Vice Mayor, I I I

[1:44:13] » Thank you. Um, Mr. Vice Mayor, I I I

[1:44:13] really do appreciate your concerns and I

[1:44:14] think you've brought a lot forward

[1:44:15] tonight to think about. I also think

[1:44:18] that, um, this is a very nuanced program

[1:44:21] and we're learning a lot as we go and

[1:44:23] we're learning as people apply. And I've

[1:44:25] actually I've been delighted by how many

[1:44:27] applicants we've had because I was

[1:44:29] concerned that, you know, we'd hit a

[1:44:32] point when we wouldn't see so many

[1:44:33] applicants. Um I would love to see more

[1:44:35] family child care providers apply as

[1:44:38] well to diversify our um you know what

[1:44:42] we provide in our city. So, I'm hoping

[1:44:44] that in our next rounds um we can do a

[1:44:46] little more I don't know outreach

[1:44:49] through different family childcare

[1:44:50] organizations just to let reach that um

[1:44:53] that group of childare providers as

[1:44:55] well. But um I think as I said I think

[1:44:58] this industry needs a lot of support and

[1:45:00] we happen to be in a very lucky place

[1:45:04] based on staff's work for so many years

[1:45:07] to get us sitting on this pot of money

[1:45:09] and um I'm I'm delighted to um support I

[1:45:13] mean this the number of slots that will

[1:45:15] be created from this is is really

[1:45:17] incredible and um through different um

[1:45:20] facilities and um I think that's

[1:45:22] something that we should be proud of.

[1:45:23] So, um I will be supporting this and um

[1:45:27] you know hope that we can continue to um

[1:45:30] support future providers as well. So,

[1:45:32] thank you.

[1:45:35] >> Okay. And I just would ask I guess we

[1:45:37] » Okay. And I just would ask I guess we

[1:45:37] can do um I take a motion if there's a

[1:45:40] motion and if not we can

[1:45:41] >> I move to adopt resolution 2026-

[1:45:45] » I move to adopt resolution 2026-

[1:45:45] >> six a resolution of the city council of

[1:45:47] » six a resolution of the city council of

[1:45:47] the city of St. Carlos awarding the

[1:45:49] recipients of the 2025 childcare grant

[1:45:51] program and authorizing exe the

[1:45:53] execution of agreements for receipt of

[1:45:55] grant funds with Shu Academy preschool

[1:45:58] $35,654

[1:46:01] TBD/curious

[1:46:03] beans by Shu Academy $100,000 and Bright

[1:46:06] Horizons $100,000.

[1:46:11] » Second

[1:46:13] through the through the acting mayor.

[1:46:15] Um, I just want to make sure the

[1:46:16] condition you talked about before was

[1:46:18] included in the motion.

[1:46:20] >> Um, and conditioning the $100,000 for

[1:46:24] » Um, and conditioning the $100,000 for

[1:46:24] Curious Beans by Shoe Academy to be

[1:46:26] distributed um during construction.

[1:46:31] >> Second. Okay. I have a motion and

[1:46:32] » Second. Okay. I have a motion and

[1:46:32] second. Crystal, can you call the role,

[1:46:34] please?

[1:46:35] >> Council member Leighton,

[1:46:36] » Council member Leighton,

[1:46:36] >> I.

[1:46:37] » I.

[1:46:37] >> Council member McDall,

[1:46:38] » Council member McDall,

[1:46:38] >> yes. Vice Mayor Rack,

[1:46:41] » yes. Vice Mayor Rack,

[1:46:41] >> uh, no.

[1:46:42] » uh, no.

[1:46:42] >> Council member Dugan,

[1:46:43] » Council member Dugan,

[1:46:43] >> yes. and mayor is recused. Thank you.

[1:46:47] » yes. and mayor is recused. Thank you.

[1:46:47] >> Motion passes 3, two, one. All right.

[1:46:50] » Motion passes 3, two, one. All right.

[1:46:50] Thank you.

[1:46:52] Call the mayor back.

[1:47:43] Uh, madame mayor, members of of the

[1:47:45] council, I will go ahead and recuse

[1:47:47] myself for this nice next item as it

[1:47:49] relates to me.

[1:47:54] » Okay.

[1:48:02] Okay, Madame Mayor and members of the

[1:48:05] city council, um, tonight you're

[1:48:07] considering adopting a resolution

[1:48:09] approving the interim city manager

[1:48:12] agreement, including a 5% base pay

[1:48:14] increase during the time of the interim

[1:48:17] assignment.

[1:48:19] Uh, the council uh, on November 24th,

[1:48:22] the council appointed Nell Blackburn as

[1:48:24] interim city manager effective January

[1:48:26] 16th.

[1:48:28] Um, this item is placed before the city

[1:48:30] council to extend the term of the

[1:48:32] temporary assignment pay contained in

[1:48:33] the management salary and benefit

[1:48:35] resolution to coincide with the full

[1:48:37] term of the interim assignment.

[1:48:40] Under section three of the management

[1:48:42] salary and benefits resolution, the

[1:48:44] temporary assignment only allows for an

[1:48:46] increase of pay of 5% and it's limited

[1:48:49] to the first 30 days. But the the

[1:48:52] provision

[1:48:54] doesn't really contemplate the situation

[1:48:56] you're in now. contemplates the city

[1:48:57] manager being able to um extend the 5%

[1:49:01] pay but because the position involved as

[1:49:03] a city manager um council has to decide

[1:49:06] whether to increase this I mean to

[1:49:08] extend this

[1:49:11] and uh the extension is required because

[1:49:13] the um recruitment schedule for the um

[1:49:16] for the placement of a permanent city

[1:49:18] manager is very likely to go beyond the

[1:49:21] 30 days provided in the resolution.

[1:49:25] Um

[1:49:27] so under under the um agreement that's

[1:49:30] proposed with the continuation of the 5%

[1:49:33] increase the interim city manager's

[1:49:35] monthly salary would increase to

[1:49:37] $28,85153

[1:49:40] per month.

[1:49:43] Um Miss Blackburn has accepted the

[1:49:46] appointment effective January 16th as

[1:49:48] well as the compensation arrangement

[1:49:50] proposed. There are no other changes to

[1:49:53] her current compensation package

[1:49:56] and and the the resolution will not

[1:49:58] otherwise affect her current employment

[1:49:59] status with the city.

[1:50:02] So that is the end of the presentation.

[1:50:04] I'm available to answer any other

[1:50:06] questions

[1:50:08] of the council.

[1:50:10] >> Thank you Greg. We'll now move to

[1:50:12] » Thank you Greg. We'll now move to

[1:50:12] council questions.

[1:50:22] Vice Mayor Rack.

[1:50:24] >> Thank you. Thank you, Madame Mayor. Um,

[1:50:26] » Thank you. Thank you, Madame Mayor. Um,

[1:50:26] Greg, sorry. Can you just I I missed the

[1:50:29] part you said. So, it allows 30 days

[1:50:31] extension and then this obviously this

[1:50:34] process for hiring process would go

[1:50:37] longer than 30 days. Um, are we today

[1:50:40] looking at extending that? Do we have to

[1:50:42] come back every 30 days to if we wanted

[1:50:44] to extend that? What's What are we

[1:50:46] >> No. What what you're doing tonight is

[1:50:48] » No. What what you're doing tonight is

[1:50:48] extending uh the resolution says you're

[1:50:51] extending the 5% um increase for

[1:50:56] assignments um

[1:50:59] beyond the 30 days to coincide with the

[1:51:02] position of the interim assignment. So

[1:51:04] when the inter assignment ends the 5%

[1:51:07] will end.

[1:51:07] >> Got it. Okay. Thank you for that. No

[1:51:10] » Got it. Okay. Thank you for that. No

[1:51:10] further questions madam m.

[1:51:15] We'll now move on to public comment.

[1:51:22] Crystal, do we have any public comments?

[1:51:23] >> There are no hands from members of the

[1:51:25] » There are no hands from members of the

[1:51:25] public in person and there are no hands

[1:51:27] on Zoom. Thank you.

[1:51:30] >> I will entertain a motion.

[1:51:34] » Um, Madame Mayor, I move to adopt

[1:51:36] resolution 2026-7,

[1:51:39] >> a resolution of the city council, the

[1:51:41] » a resolution of the city council, the

[1:51:41] city of St. Carlos approving the interim

[1:51:43] city manager agreement including a 5%

[1:51:46] base pay increase.

[1:51:48] >> Second

[1:51:52] take.

[1:51:53] >> Council member Dugan.

[1:51:55] » Council member Dugan.

[1:51:55] >> Yes.

[1:51:55] » Yes.

[1:51:55] >> Council member Leighton.

[1:51:56] » Council member Leighton.

[1:51:56] >> Yes.

[1:51:56] » Yes.

[1:51:56] >> Council member Mcdall.

[1:51:58] » Council member Mcdall.

[1:51:58] >> Yes.

[1:51:58] » Yes.

[1:51:58] >> Vice Mayor Rack.

[1:51:59] » Vice Mayor Rack.

[1:51:59] >> Yes.

[1:51:59] » Yes.

[1:51:59] >> And Mayor Benitesh.

[1:52:01] » And Mayor Benitesh.

[1:52:01] >> Yes.

[1:52:02] » Yes.

[1:52:02] Madame Mayor, I'm I'm just being a

[1:52:04] stickler because the Brown Act says I'm

[1:52:07] supposed to announce it after you've

[1:52:08] made the decision even though I included

[1:52:10] it in the staff report that the monthly

[1:52:12] salary is increasing to $28,85153.

[1:52:19] » Thank you, Greg.

[1:52:23] » Um item 11. Are there any items for

[1:52:25] agenda setting this evening?

[1:52:31] questions around that. Madam Mayor, if I

[1:52:32] can go ahead.

[1:52:33] >> Um, and based on the child care

[1:52:36] » Um, and based on the child care

[1:52:36] discussion that we had, Greg, is it

[1:52:38] appropriate? I know we sort of have a

[1:52:40] process to notice it, but since it was

[1:52:41] an agenda item today, is that something

[1:52:43] I can request that we look at the NOA

[1:52:46] and the policy at a to agendaize if the

[1:52:49] council's amendable to it? I I think

[1:52:51] since it came up tonight as an issue and

[1:52:53] you didn't have time to ask in advance

[1:52:55] really um that we you could certainly

[1:52:57] ask the council if they want to bring it

[1:52:59] back.

[1:52:59] >> Okay. Well, then I would ask that

[1:53:01] » Okay. Well, then I would ask that

[1:53:01] question. Um does the mayor have to

[1:53:03] recuse herself from this one again or is

[1:53:05] she okay to sit here while I ask that

[1:53:08] question?

[1:53:09] >> Yeah, that's a good question. I I think

[1:53:11] » Yeah, that's a good question. I I think

[1:53:11] that um you're not making a decision

[1:53:14] right now. So, you're only making a

[1:53:15] decision to agendaize it. So, I think

[1:53:17] that we're safe from her not having to

[1:53:19] step down. Um, but she cannot

[1:53:21] participate in the in the vote because

[1:53:23] she's recent.

[1:53:24] >> Thank you.

[1:53:25] » Thank you.

[1:53:25] >> Can I ask a cl Sorry.

[1:53:26] » Can I ask a cl Sorry.

[1:53:26] >> Yeah, sure.

[1:53:27] » Yeah, sure.

[1:53:27] >> I I just had a clarifying question. Does

[1:53:29] » I I just had a clarifying question. Does

[1:53:29] staff usually bring back the NOA before

[1:53:31] the next round? Is that part of their

[1:53:33] process? So, we would

[1:53:35] >> I thought I thought it comes back I

[1:53:37] » I thought I thought it comes back I

[1:53:37] thought I remember the NOA was part of

[1:53:40] something that the council considered,

[1:53:42] but I I can't remember off the top of my

[1:53:44] head. Okay. came back this time, right?

[1:53:47] I don't remember.

[1:53:48] >> We did we did approve the NOA because we

[1:53:50] » We did we did approve the NOA because we

[1:53:50] took out the formula matching

[1:53:51] requirement and then they went out and

[1:53:54] published the NOA. You know, it was like

[1:53:56] a step-by-step process.

[1:53:57] >> And I can't remember if that was two

[1:53:59] » And I can't remember if that was two

[1:53:59] years ago when you started the program

[1:54:00] and the NOA has wasn't changed since

[1:54:02] then or if we came back.

[1:54:04] >> It was changed because the first NOA had

[1:54:06] » It was changed because the first NOA had

[1:54:06] the formula matching and then the second

[1:54:08] NOA for this round removed the formula

[1:54:10] matching and made a couple of other

[1:54:12] little tweaks and I feel like that came

[1:54:13] to the council. So I'm I I think I

[1:54:16] absolutely agree we should you know look

[1:54:18] at the NOA. I'm I'm wondering if that's

[1:54:20] pre-programmed and

[1:54:22] >> already in due course. Yeah. Okay.

[1:54:24] » already in due course. Yeah. Okay.

[1:54:24] >> So can I ask this in two points? If it

[1:54:26] » So can I ask this in two points? If it

[1:54:26] is already um pre-programmed then I

[1:54:29] would we don't need to agendaize it. If

[1:54:31] it is not then I would ask that we get

[1:54:35] support to get support to agendaize it

[1:54:37] to look at it.

[1:54:40] I I'll just chime in to say I think the

[1:54:42] subcommittee can take a look at it and

[1:54:43] and bring it back around. If if they

[1:54:46] don't then I would support you agenda

[1:54:48] agendaizing it formally, but I think we

[1:54:51] can let the process work here.

[1:54:52] >> So, but are you saying you'd like to let

[1:54:54] » So, but are you saying you'd like to let

[1:54:54] the subcommi you're requesting the

[1:54:56] subcommittee look at it and then bring

[1:54:58] it back if there's any recommendations

[1:55:01] >> to the full council?

[1:55:03] » to the full council?

[1:55:03] >> That's right. I mean, we set a new

[1:55:05] » That's right. I mean, we set a new

[1:55:05] precedent tonight, so I would expect

[1:55:06] that to come back around.

[1:55:12] Sarah and I love meeting, so we're happy

[1:55:14] to meet

[1:55:16] >> more meetings. Thank you.

[1:55:17] » more meetings. Thank you.

[1:55:18] >> You're welcome.

[1:55:26] » Oh, are there any We just said agenda. I

[1:55:28] We're journed with that. We're ajourned.

[1:55:31] Thank you everyone.

City Council 1.12.26 Regular Meeting

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