City Council Meeting June 8, 2026

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[0:06] Good afternoon. The Hillsboro City
[0:08] Council meeting is now called to order.
[0:10] City clerk, may we please have the roll
[0:12] call.
[0:13] >> Thank you, Mayor Cole Adams
[0:15] >> present. Schwang present. Crow
[0:17] >> present.
[0:18] >> Ragdale present. Cole
[0:20] >> present.
[0:20] >> Thank you.
[0:21] >> Um we will be adjoining to um close
[0:23] session in a few minutes. However, do
[0:25] any of my council members have a
[0:27] conflict of interest they need to
[0:28] disclose on any of the closed session
[0:30] items?
[0:32] Seeing none, I will announce the closed
[0:34] session items. We have several. Item a
[0:38] conference with litig with legal council
[0:41] existing litigation town of Hillsboro
[0:44] versus all persons interested in a
[0:46] matter of the proceedings for resolution
[0:47] number 22-83 adopting maximum rates for
[0:52] water service charges San Mateo Superior
[0:54] Court case number 23 CIV028.
[1:00] Item B, conference with legal counsel,
[1:03] anticipated litigation.
[1:06] Town as defendant, one potential case.
[1:09] John Lochins and David Marquette's March
[1:11] 5th, 2026 email suggesting that the town
[1:14] will be sued on a new potential
[1:17] two-tiered rate water structure.
[1:20] Email available upon request to the city
[1:22] clerk and the town's receipt of object
[1:24] objection letters. Item C, conference
[1:28] with legal council. Anticipated
[1:29] litigation pursuant to government code.
[1:33] One or more potential cases.
[1:36] Item D, conference with legal council.
[1:39] Existing litigation,
[1:41] county of San Monteo, town of Hillsboro
[1:44] at all versus State of California, San
[1:47] Francisco Superior Court. Case number
[1:49] CFP-25-519270.
[1:54] Lawsuit regarding vehicle license fees.
[1:57] Item E, public employee performance
[2:00] evaluation
[2:02] title city manager. Item F, Congress
[2:05] with lab, I'm sorry, conference with
[2:07] labor negotiators, unrepresented
[2:09] employee, city manager. Item G, public
[2:12] employee performance evaluation, city
[2:15] attorney.
[2:17] I believe those are all.
[2:19] Do we have any public comment on the
[2:22] close session items?
[2:23] >> No public comment. Thank you.
[2:25] >> Great. Seeing none, we will now adjourn
[2:28] to close session in administrative
[2:30] conference room
[2:33] and the regular city council meeting
[2:34] will resume at 6 pm. Thank you.
[2:40] Good evening everyone and um welcome to
[2:43] the Hillsboro City Council meeting which
[2:45] is now called to order. Um city clerk,
[2:47] may we please have the roll call.
[2:49] >> Thank you. Mayor Cole Adams
[2:51] >> present. Schwang
[2:52] >> present. Crow
[2:54] >> present. Braxdale present. Cole
[2:56] >> present.
[2:57] >> Thank you.
[2:58] >> Um please join me and stand for pledge
[3:00] of allegiance.
[3:21] Um, we just returned from our close
[3:23] session and I will ask our city attorney
[3:25] Diaz, is there a report from close
[3:26] session? Thank you, Mayor Cole. Just
[3:28] wanted to announce for the public that
[3:29] the council did convene a close session
[3:31] a little earlier today uh to consider a
[3:33] variety of items. At the conclusion of
[3:35] that, direction was given to staff, but
[3:36] otherwise there was no reportable action
[3:38] under the Brown Act. Thank you.
[3:40] >> Thank you.
[3:42] We have several We're going to be
[3:44] starting with several proclamations
[3:45] today. Noteworthy ones. They're all
[3:47] noteworthy, but these are some very
[3:49] special ones for the month of June. We
[3:52] will start with the um pride month for
[3:55] June 2026.
[3:58] And I would like to um invite we have
[4:03] here I believe San Mateo LGBTQIA
[4:07] and Commissioner David Crafts to the
[4:08] podium to receive the proclamation.
[4:11] And we will and I would like to invite
[4:13] the council to share the reading of the
[4:15] proclamation.
[4:18] Starting with council member Chuang.
[4:20] >> Thank you. Uh whereas the town of
[4:22] Hillsboro honors the history of the
[4:25] LGBTQ
[4:28] IA plus liberation
[4:31] movement and supports the rights of all
[4:34] individuals to experience equality and
[4:38] freedom from discrimination. And
[4:41] >> whereas all human beings are born free
[4:44] and equal in dignity and rights, LGBTQIA
[4:49] plus individuals have had immeasurable
[4:51] impact on and made noteworthy
[4:54] contributions to the cultural, civic,
[4:56] and economic successes of our country.
[4:59] And
[5:00] >> whereas the town of Hillsboro is
[5:02] committed to supporting visibility,
[5:05] dignity, and equality for LGBTQIA
[5:09] plus people in our diverse community.
[5:12] And
[5:12] >> whereas while society at large
[5:15] increasingly supports LGBTQIA plus
[5:18] equality, it is essential to acknowledge
[5:20] that the need for education and
[5:22] awareness remains vital to end
[5:25] discrimination and prejudice. And
[5:27] >> whereas this nation was founded on the
[5:30] principle that every individual has
[5:32] infinite dignity and worth and the city
[5:35] council calls upon the community to
[5:38] embrace this principle and work to
[5:40] eliminate prejudice everywhere it
[5:42] exists. And
[5:45] >> whereas celebrating Prime Month
[5:47] influences awareness and provides
[5:50] support and advocacy for the LGBTQIA+
[5:56] community and is an opportunity to take
[6:00] action and engage in dialogue to
[6:02] strengthen alliances, build acceptance,
[6:06] and advance equal rights. And whereas
[6:09] the city council of the town of
[6:10] Hillsboro recognizes all LGBTQIA+
[6:14] individuals whose influential and
[6:16] lasting contributions help make the town
[6:18] of Hillsboro a vibrant community. Now
[6:22] therefore be it resolved that the city
[6:24] council of the town of Hillsboro hereby
[6:27] proclaims the month of June 2026
[6:30] as pride month in support of the LGBTQIA
[6:34] plus community. signed by me, Sophie
[6:37] Cole, Mayor June 8th, 2026. Thank you.
[6:48] And um before I present this
[6:50] proclamation, I would welcome you to
[6:53] make any additional comments on um this
[6:56] proclamation and the work you do in the
[6:58] community.
[6:59] >> Thank you, Mayor Cole. Thank you,
[7:00] council members. I'll try to keep it
[7:02] brief. I know you've had a long
[7:03] afternoon and have a long evening ahead
[7:05] of you. Uh on behalf of the San Monteo
[7:07] County LGBTQI
[7:09] plus commission and the communities that
[7:11] we represent, thank you for this
[7:13] proclamation recognizing June as Pride
[7:15] Month in our city. While a proclamation
[7:18] is just a piece of paper, its meaning
[7:20] reaches far beyond these walls. It's a
[7:24] public declaration that every resident,
[7:26] employee, and guest deserves dignity,
[7:29] respect, and the opportunity to live
[7:31] authentically. It tells people,
[7:33] especially those who may feel unseen or
[7:36] unwelcome in Hillsboro, that they belong
[7:38] here.
[7:39] Pride Month has deep roots in our
[7:41] region. Long before many Americans had
[7:44] heard the word pride, transgender women,
[7:46] drag queens, and other LGBTQI
[7:49] plus people in San Francisco stood up
[7:52] against harassment and discrimination
[7:54] during the 1966
[7:56] Compton's Cafeteria uprising in the
[7:59] Tenderloin. This was one of the first
[8:01] known acts of collective LGBTQ
[8:04] resistance in the United States.
[8:07] A little more than a decade later, San
[8:09] Francisco artist Gilbert Baker created
[8:11] the rainbow flag, a symbol that would
[8:14] become recognized around the world as a
[8:16] beacon of hope, visibility, and
[8:18] belonging. The story of pride has always
[8:20] been about courage and courage still
[8:23] matters.
[8:24] However, 60 years later, after this the
[8:28] uprising in the tenderloin, the US
[8:30] continues to see unprecedented numbers
[8:32] of bills targeting LGBTQ people,
[8:35] particularly transgender youth and
[8:37] adults. At the same time, immigrants,
[8:42] communities of color, religious
[8:44] minorities, and other groups are pushed
[8:47] to the margins and facing renewed
[8:49] challenges.
[8:50] That's why this proclamation matters.
[8:52] It's a symbol which can shape culture.
[8:55] It affirms that our community values
[8:57] inclusion over exclusion, understanding
[9:00] over fear, and unity over div division.
[9:04] So, thank you for recognizing Pride
[9:06] Month. Thank you for honoring the legacy
[9:08] of those who fought for equality before
[9:11] us. From the patrons of Compton's
[9:13] Cafeteria to Harvey Milt to the
[9:15] countless advocates, activists, and
[9:18] allies who helped build a more inclusive
[9:20] Bay Area. Thank you
[9:22] >> and thanks for sharing that with us. And
[9:24] I would like to u remind everyone that
[9:26] um tomorrow we actually will be hosting
[9:29] the third annual Pride event, a town
[9:31] hall June 9th um at 4 p.m. hosted by the
[9:35] Hillsboro Youth Commission. And please
[9:37] feel free to join us for that event.
[9:41] Thank you so much for being here and um
[9:43] this means a lot to me personally. I'm
[9:46] very blessed to have a son and
[9:47] son-in-law and a same-sex marriage who
[9:49] have blessed us with the most beautiful
[9:51] grandchild. Um, and I'm really grateful
[9:55] that my son grew up here in Hillsboro
[9:57] with um, openly gay teacher at North and
[10:00] another one at Crocker, Alec McKenzie,
[10:03] who is this year's community care award
[10:05] winner. And it's just a just a wonderful
[10:08] inclusive community and I feel very
[10:09] blessed that this is where my son grew
[10:11] up. So, thank you very much for the work
[10:13] that you do. Thank you.
[10:34] » Thank you all.
[10:44] So our next proclamation is um
[10:49] Junth which is June 19th 2026 and again
[10:53] the city council will read this
[10:54] proclamation
[10:57] starting with council member Adams.
[10:59] Whereas President Abraham Lincoln signed
[11:02] the Emancipation Proclamation on January
[11:05] 1st, 1863,
[11:08] declaring slaves in Confederate
[11:10] territory free, paving the way for
[11:14] passing of the 13th Amendment, which
[11:17] formally abolished slavery in the United
[11:20] States of America. hand.
[11:22] >> Whereas on June 19th, 1865, Union
[11:26] soldiers led by Major General Gordon
[11:28] Granger arrived at Galveastston, Texas
[11:31] with news that the Civil War had ended.
[11:34] And
[11:35] >> whereas the first Junth celebration was
[11:37] held in Texas in 1866
[11:40] and continues to be celebrated each year
[11:43] in communities across the United States,
[11:45] providing an opportunity to mark the
[11:47] emancipation of enslaved people. And
[11:51] whereas on June 17th, 2021, Junth
[11:55] officially became the 11th federal
[11:57] holiday, the first new holiday to be
[11:59] added to the list of federal holidays
[12:01] since the recognition of Reverend Dr.
[12:04] Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday in
[12:06] 1983. And whereas on this day, people of
[12:11] all races, nationalities, and religions
[12:14] join together to acknowledge and
[12:16] understand the stories of black American
[12:19] history and the centuries of hope and
[12:22] courage amidst struggles and
[12:25] inequalities, to honor and reflect on
[12:28] the significant role that black
[12:31] Americans have played in the history of
[12:34] the United States, and celebrate the
[12:36] continuous
[12:38] uh contribution black Americans make to
[12:41] enrich our society.
[12:43] >> Now therefore, be it resolved that the
[12:46] city council of the town of Hillsboro
[12:49] does hereby recognize June 19th, 2026
[12:54] as Junth and encourages all citizens to
[12:58] explore this important celebration of
[13:01] African-American culture, history, and
[13:04] pride. signed Mayor Sophie Cole a June
[13:08] 8th, 2026.
[13:10] Thank you.
[13:17] We have one more proclamation. We cover
[13:19] all the bases. This one I will read is
[13:21] National Mosquito Control Awareness
[13:23] Week. Yes, mosquitoes. How we manage
[13:28] mosquitoes are important. Um let's see.
[13:31] Do we have any um Oh, yes. I would like
[13:33] to invite San Monteo County Mosquito and
[13:35] Vector Control District Board member Dr.
[13:38] Scott is here with us. Uh Scott Smith
[13:41] and District Manager Brian Weber to the
[13:44] podium to receive the proclamation. Let
[13:46] me um read the proclamation. Um whereas
[13:50] mosquitoes spread diseases such as West
[13:52] Nile virus reduce enjoyment of outdoor
[13:55] recreation and hinder outdoor work. And
[13:58] whereas the San Monteo County Mosquito
[14:01] and Vector Control District works to
[14:03] safeguard the health and comfort of
[14:06] people in San Monteo County through a
[14:08] science-based program of integrated
[14:10] vector management.
[14:12] And whereas surveillance and control of
[14:15] mosquitoes is critical to reduce public
[14:18] health risk of mosquito-born diseases.
[14:21] And whereas National Mosquito Control
[14:24] Awareness Week aims to increase public
[14:27] awareness encourage the public to take
[14:29] action in preventing mosquito
[14:31] transmitted diseases and highlight the
[14:34] activities of various mosquito and
[14:36] vector research and control agencies
[14:38] working to minimize mosquito related
[14:40] health threats. And whereas public
[14:43] awareness and cooperation are critical
[14:46] to effective mosquito and vector control
[14:48] in San Mato County and throughout
[14:50] California. Now therefore be it resolved
[14:54] that the city council of the town of
[14:56] Hillsboro hereby proclaims the week of
[14:58] June 21st to 27th, 2026 as National
[15:02] Mosquito Control Awareness Week signed
[15:05] by me, Mayor Cole on June 8th, 2026.
[15:10] And thank you um uh Dr. Smith and your
[15:14] district manager. Um we're so honored
[15:16] for the work you do in the community and
[15:17] we're thankful. I would encourage you to
[15:20] make any comments um any updates you
[15:23] have for us on this very important
[15:24] issue.
[15:25] >> Sure. Thank you, Dr. Mayor Sophie Cole
[15:29] having us. Is there a a this is my
[15:32] briefest slid set so don't worry it'll
[15:35] be okay.
[15:36] >> When public health works, you don't
[15:38] really know it. And so I think we
[15:40] haven't suffered too many mosquito bites
[15:42] recently and that's because Brian Weber,
[15:46] district manager here, is uh working
[15:49] hard with a crew of people to ensure
[15:52] that we're protected from a lot of
[15:54] vectorbor diseases and uncomfortable
[15:57] vectors. So I'm just going to kind of do
[15:59] a really brief infomercial so that you
[16:01] know what it is and how to access the
[16:03] services that you actually pay for with
[16:06] a parcel tax on all of your property.
[16:09] Next slide.
[16:11] Oh, I have it. Oh, I'm in control.
[16:13] Really? So, our work, it starts with
[16:17] mosquitoes. That's how we were founded
[16:19] more than a hundred years ago, uh,
[16:21] because of the discomfort caused by the
[16:23] mosquitoes coming off of the bay. So,
[16:25] now we manage with mosquito fish. We
[16:29] also have expanded to other things like
[16:31] ticks that can transmit Lyme disease.
[16:33] Rodents, as you will see in a moment,
[16:35] are an issue even in Hillsboro. I'll
[16:38] have you know, where humans are, rats
[16:41] live. Uh, our biggest call, however, is
[16:44] yellow jackets recently, but we also do
[16:47] a fair amount of community education and
[16:49] disease surveillance, which is, as we
[16:51] know in these times, important. So, this
[16:54] in Hillsboro is a snapshot of what
[16:56] you've called on us to do as the
[16:59] district to respond to. Uh, there have
[17:02] been 246 service requests and actually
[17:06] 1,400 site inspections which means going
[17:09] by and making sure that there are no
[17:11] mosquitoes for example in the drainage
[17:13] basins and that sort of thing and then
[17:15] uh you can see yellow jackets in yellow
[17:18] there are fair number of requests here
[17:21] in Hillsboro because of yellow jackets
[17:23] and the good news in the bottom right
[17:26] corner there zero west Nile cases and
[17:29] that remember is a mosquito disease so
[17:32] thank you Brian things are working. Um,
[17:35] so related to mosquitoes is our birds
[17:39] and uh therefore if you see a dead bird
[17:44] we want you to report it and hopefully
[17:47] you remember uh westnile.cal
[17:51] uh.gov or uh WV Westnile virus bird uh
[17:57] that's the number to call and I think we
[17:59] had one request. I went running and saw
[18:01] a dead bird called uh but that uh is
[18:06] important so that we know if there's
[18:08] transmission or risk going on. Other
[18:10] things to prevent mosquitoes just
[18:12] dumping water in your backyard, making
[18:15] sure that uh there aren't uh um you know
[18:18] water sources for mosquito breeding. And
[18:20] we do do surveillance as well in our
[18:24] town to ensure no disease is being
[18:26] transmitted. This is my original chicken
[18:30] house with two chickens called and
[18:32] they're known as Samantha and Eloise
[18:35] collectively Sam and Ella which could be
[18:37] other diseases.
[18:39] But I have upgraded about 10 years ago
[18:42] to this giant Hillsboro mansion of a
[18:44] chicken house. Thank you, Brian, for
[18:47] helping construct this because of a West
[18:50] Nile case uh in my neighborhood. The
[18:54] case wasn't a human, it was a squirrel.
[18:56] But that's concerning because it could
[18:58] get into us and put us at risk. And so
[19:00] they came and bled the chickens and
[19:02] surveiled to see. And the good news is
[19:05] that they didn't find any West Nile on
[19:07] these happy chickens. And let's see if
[19:09] the laser works. Oh no. Says on their
[19:12] water they're drinking the Kool-Aid.
[19:14] Let's do this. So they're getting bled.
[19:17] Here's my happy wife collecting the eggs
[19:20] every day. Um, last slide. There is an
[19:24] open house June 27th. Please come and
[19:27] see the hard work that Brian and his big
[19:30] team do. Uh, and there'll be a lot of
[19:34] learning and uh, you can see the giant
[19:37] tools and hovercraft and things that
[19:39] they use in order to keep us safe from
[19:41] insects.
[19:43] And uh, one last comment, this picture
[19:46] of a lizard uh, two different lizards
[19:49] actually that have ticks. You can see on
[19:51] the side, those ticks are transmitting
[19:54] much less Lyme disease because the
[19:57] lizards clear it using a chemical in their blood that
[20:03] eliminates lime. And that's why on the
[20:05] West Coast compared to the East Coast,
[20:07] we have a lot less lime. Isn't that
[20:09] cool? So anyway, that will conclude my
[20:13] remarks. And if there are any questions,
[20:15] hard questions, Brian Weber
[20:18] here.
[20:21] Well, that's a great update. I I do have
[20:23] questions, but I'll ask my colleagues to
[20:25] go first if they have any questions for
[20:27] Dr. Smith or um District Manager Weber.
[20:30] >> I think that the work you do is great
[20:31] and uh the only thing I quarrel with is
[20:33] the uh illustration of a giant water
[20:37] jug. Eggs can be laid in very small
[20:40] saucers, which you do mention, but I
[20:42] think everyone should go scouting in
[20:44] their home to see any standing water.
[20:47] It's their own self-prevention. So,
[20:49] thank you.
[20:50] Good point. Any additional questions?
[20:52] Um, my question Oh, I'm sorry. Um, Vice
[20:56] Mayor Rexdale,
[20:57] >> not a question. Uh, just thank you so
[21:00] much for representing Hillsboro on this
[21:02] board. I I don't know, are we up to a
[21:04] couple decades now and for a long time
[21:07] and, uh, greatly appreciate this work
[21:10] and everyone should go to the open house
[21:11] because you will learn so much and you
[21:14] will really enjoy it.
[21:18] >> Yeah. Um, I have a quick question. Are
[21:20] there any specific vegetation or plants
[21:23] or trees or bushes that could mitigate
[21:27] um, mosquitoes around that that do you
[21:30] know of? Have you?
[21:31] >> That's a good question. I'm not aware of
[21:34] any. I mean, the areamein is the plant
[21:36] that they grow in order to use as an
[21:38] antimmalarial, but it doesn't make
[21:40] mosquitoes go away. And cutting grass
[21:43] used to be back in the day a 100 years
[21:46] ago a thing to do in order to mitigate
[21:48] mosquito transmitted diseases but we
[21:50] don't do that anymore. So I would defer
[21:52] to the expert.
[21:54] Yeah, there isn't much scientific proof
[21:56] that particular plants, you will see
[21:58] advertisements of plant this, get rid of
[22:01] mosquitoes when you're scrolling on
[22:03] different social media platforms, but
[22:05] there really isn't any scientific
[22:07] evidence that there's success of uh
[22:10] eliminating or reducing mosquitoes on
[22:12] your property with vegetation.
[22:16] » Yeah. Yeah. Well, well, thanks for that
[22:19] clarification and um I and again I I
[22:22] will present this uh proclamation, but
[22:24] first let me also thank you for the work
[22:27] you're doing in the community and
[22:29] working to keep us healthy and much
[22:31] appreciated. I will come down and
[22:33] present this to you.
[22:36] >> Thank you. I once had a resident ask me
[22:38] why we allowed rats in Hillsboro.
[22:43] » They don't read the signs.
[23:10] Okay. Um so the next item on our agenda
[23:14] is um a presentation from our partners
[23:19] and colleagues here PG&E enhanced power
[23:21] line safety settings EPSS and I would
[23:24] like to invite Marjorie Ruiz Sidalgo
[23:26] local government affairs at PG&E to the
[23:28] podium and she's there. Hello Marjorie
[23:32] >> Dr. Cole thank you for having us here
[23:34] tonight. Good evening Dr. Cole, Vice
[23:36] Mayor, members of city staff and the
[23:38] public. Good evening. I we're so
[23:40] thrilled to be here tonight. I am joined
[23:42] actually by our daily operations
[23:44] specialist, my colleague Jake Day. He
[23:46] and I together serve all of San Monteo
[23:49] County, affectionately referred to as
[23:51] the Peninsula Division internally. And
[23:53] so we're thrilled to be with you today
[23:55] to talk about our number one priority
[23:58] and topic, safety. Am I echoing?
[24:02] No, I hear an echo. Okay.
[24:09] So, every day at P Gen, we start each
[24:12] meeting with a safety message. And in
[24:14] that spirit, I have one prepared for you
[24:16] tonight. Being prepared is critical
[24:19] during an emergency, but it is not the
[24:21] time to prepare. And so, we suggest a
[24:23] disaster supply kit with food, water,
[24:25] medications, and emergency contacts. All
[24:28] of this can make a real difference when
[24:29] it matters most. For more information
[24:31] and ideas, you can learn more at
[24:32] pgen.comsafetyaction
[24:36] center.
[24:40] Where we're going tonight, so we're
[24:42] going to be identifying and reducing
[24:43] wildfire risk as a topic. We're going to
[24:45] take a deeper dive into enhanced power
[24:48] line safety settings. We refer to them
[24:49] as EPSS. And then we'll have time at the
[24:51] end for a Q&A.
[25:00] So, as you can see from this map, more
[25:02] than 50% or more than half of our
[25:04] service area or P gen service territory
[25:07] is considered high fire risk. And for P
[25:09] Gen, that means we need to be laser
[25:12] focused on safety for customers and
[25:14] communities. And we use this map to help
[25:15] target our wild safety efforts in the
[25:17] areas that need the most. Now,
[25:19] fortunately, the town of Hillsboro is
[25:21] not considered high fire risk. And so
[25:24] with that context in mind, I'm going to
[25:25] walk you through our layers of wildfire
[25:27] protection, which are designed to reduce
[25:29] wildfire risk and protect our customers.
[25:34] Layers of wildfire protection. So you'll
[25:36] recall that the last time I was here, I
[25:38] introduced the P Genie reported app and
[25:40] mentioned our safety toolkit. I
[25:42] mentioned cameras, drones, and and
[25:45] safety patrols. But today, I want to
[25:46] expand on that topic. So at P Gen, we
[25:49] evaluate wildfire risk each year and we
[25:53] focus our safety efforts in the highest
[25:55] risk areas, but we use this approach
[25:57] enterprisewide and we use multiple
[26:00] layers of protection to reduce wildfire
[26:02] risk and protect communities. Now this
[26:04] approach includes situational awareness
[26:07] which allows us to predict, monitor and
[26:09] respond in real time. An example of this
[26:12] would be I mentioned cameras last time
[26:14] so this time I want to mention our
[26:15] in-house meteorology team. All of this,
[26:18] all of their information, which comes
[26:20] out twice a day, prepares me to keep San
[26:23] Mateo County, including the town of
[26:24] Hillsboro, prepared with notifications
[26:27] during winter storms, and I know Mandy
[26:29] and Doug have received those during the
[26:31] winter. We also have operational
[26:34] mitigations like EPSS to make the system
[26:37] safer every day. And as part of our
[26:39] long-term resiliency, we also include
[26:42] stronger poles, covered lines, and
[26:44] undergrounding. So half of Hillsboro has
[26:46] been undergrounded thankfully. We also
[26:49] manage vegetation and we increase
[26:50] inspections and clearances in high fire
[26:53] risk areas. And these three layers work
[26:55] together because no single solution is
[26:57] enough. They work together
[27:00] to mitigate wildfire risk. You can learn
[27:03] more at pg.comwfires
[27:07] safety progress. I'm going to include
[27:10] a map at the end of this presentation
[27:12] that we can take a deeper dive into.
[27:15] EPSS. So EPSS stands for enhanced power
[27:18] line safety settings and these are
[27:20] advanced protective settings that live
[27:22] on the on the line that make the
[27:25] electric system more sensitive to
[27:26] potential hazards by automatically
[27:29] shutting off power in fractions of a
[27:31] second. I believe it's an eighth of a
[27:32] second within an eighth of a second when
[27:34] a threat is detected to help prevent
[27:37] power line related wildfire ignitions.
[27:43] So this is the process here. Safety
[27:46] settings turn off power quickly when a
[27:48] wildfire hazard like the tree branch
[27:50] that you see in the graphic is detected
[27:51] on the power line. After the power is
[27:54] shut off, our crews are dispatched and
[27:56] will patrol the power line to find and
[27:58] fix the issue before we're allowed to
[28:00] restore energy once it's safe to do so.
[28:03] But we don't stop there. These patrols
[28:06] also inform the system improvement work
[28:08] we do to prevent similar hazards from
[28:10] causing future outages. We constantly
[28:13] monitor wildfire conditions to determine
[28:15] when to turn on EPSS settings. So EPSS
[28:18] settings have been enabled as of the
[28:20] first week of May in San Monteo County.
[28:23] To turn safety settings on, we examined
[28:25] a few things. We examined wildfire risk
[28:27] conditions such as low humidity,
[28:30] dry fuel like dead leaves or grass, and
[28:32] great wind speeds. We consider these three ingredients to be the
[28:36] ingredients for wildfire. EPSS since its
[28:39] installation has been a proven wildfire
[28:41] prevention tool since 2021 and EPSS
[28:44] safety settings have reduced ignitions
[28:47] by about 70% in high fire risk areas. So
[28:51] it works.
[28:53] Simply put, these settings work at
[28:54] stopping wildfires before they even have
[28:57] a chance to start.
[29:03] Now,
[29:04] we absolutely recognize the
[29:06] inconvenience of losing power and as a
[29:09] result, it's our priority to keep
[29:10] customers informed in the event of a
[29:11] safety outage. Since the power turns off
[29:14] quickly due to the potential safety
[29:16] hazard, advanced notification is not
[29:18] possible, right? The the line turns
[29:20] itself off within an eighth of a second.
[29:22] So, there's no time to notify, but there
[29:23] is time to keep people safe, thankfully.
[29:25] However, we are able to provide
[29:27] customers with updates during and
[29:30] following an outage through their
[29:31] preferred contact method. This includes
[29:34] texts, emails, and/or automated calls.
[29:37] We also keep customers informed
[29:39] throughout the event and include an
[29:40] estimated time of restoration. Once
[29:43] power is restored, we will also send a
[29:45] notification to confirm power is back on
[29:47] along with information on the co cause
[29:49] of the outage if it is available. We
[29:53] have not always been able to follow up
[29:55] with cause in the past, but we do have a
[29:58] dedicated team that is currently working
[30:00] on developing and improving this
[30:01] communication system.
[30:07] It's important to note that PG is only
[30:09] able to communicate with customers based
[30:11] on communication preferences. So
[30:13] customers can see a step-by-step guide
[30:15] on how to update their preferred contact
[30:16] method by scanning this QR code or by
[30:19] visiting pen.compreferences
[30:22] guide. So customers need to log on into
[30:24] their personal P Genie account and they
[30:27] need to decide if they'd like to be
[30:28] notified via email, via text, phone
[30:31] call, or all of the above.
[30:35] Going to come back to that.
[30:39] Now, this is the map that I referred to
[30:42] a few minutes ago. So, for more
[30:44] information on work taking place in your
[30:46] area, we have an interactive map that's
[30:47] available online that lets you see
[30:50] exactly where reliability work is taking
[30:52] place on power lines serving you. And
[30:54] this progress map can be accessed by
[30:56] visiting pen.com/progressmap.
[31:00] And you can see your area. You can click
[31:02] on it in real time. It's quite
[31:04] interactive. My nephews love playing
[31:06] with it.
[31:13] This is a bit more of an in-depth data
[31:15] slide. So on this slide you can see the
[31:17] work that we completed in 2025 as well
[31:19] as actions that we are taking in 2026.
[31:21] Our goal is to provide you with power
[31:23] that is both safe and reliable. And so
[31:25] to do that we must keep these EPSS
[31:28] safety settings enabled on your power
[31:30] lines when wild risk when wildfire risk
[31:33] is high to protect you from catastrophe.
[31:36] However, we have other things in our
[31:38] toolkit that we're also using. This
[31:40] includes monitoring safety settings
[31:42] daily. So, we monitor those EPSS
[31:45] settings around the clock. We also
[31:47] complete reliability improvement work in
[31:49] communities like yours to prevent future
[31:50] outages. And so, this year, we plan to
[31:53] prevent more outages by doing work,
[31:54] including completing 1500 animal
[31:57] mitigations, which Jay can speak to in a
[31:59] little bit. And we will also do work to
[32:01] reduce the number of customers impacted
[32:03] if an outage occurs, including replacing
[32:05] or installing 104 sectionalization
[32:08] devices that divide the area
[32:11] to help reduce the number of people that
[32:13] live that experience the outage on the
[32:15] line. There are about nine circuits that
[32:17] feed the town of Hillsboro and about
[32:20] four of them are EPSS enabled. So not
[32:23] all of them, but what is that math?
[32:25] About 40% 40 to 50
[32:30] And this has been a
[32:33] an a high level examination of EPSS
[32:35] settings. Um we'd love to take your
[32:37] questions now if you have any. Thank
[32:39] you.
[32:39] >> Um thanks for the presentation. Um do
[32:42] any of my colleagues have any clarifying
[32:44] questions or comments. Um Council Member
[32:47] Chang,
[32:49] >> thank you so much for your presentation.
[32:50] Really appreciate it. Always welcome. Uh
[32:53] and my question is that you know when
[32:55] you first rolled out the PSPS
[32:58] uh you know that there was a lot of
[33:02] confusions for the residents they're not
[33:05] expecting any wind but somehow their
[33:07] power got shut off in this EPSS
[33:12] do you have sort of a automatic trigger
[33:14] or is there something because you said
[33:17] it's cut off 1/8 of a second obviously
[33:19] there are criterias that you operate on
[33:22] Could you walk us through a little bit
[33:24] on that?
[33:25] >> Sure. So, I'll start high level and then
[33:26] I'll hand it off to Jake. So, PS, it's
[33:28] important to remember that PSPS
[33:30] is proactive. Our meteorology team
[33:33] internally is looking at weather
[33:35] conditions. They're looking at humidity,
[33:37] fuel on the ground, which you know, dry
[33:39] leaves, things like that. And we
[33:41] proactively turn the power off in order
[33:44] to prevent any wildfires. EPSS allows us
[33:47] to keep the lines on and those EPSS
[33:50] devices live on the line and what it did
[33:53] and because they are enabled during fire
[33:55] season. So EPSS was just enabled the
[33:57] first week of May your four circuits
[34:00] that have an EPSS devices on them are
[34:02] enabled as soon as they detect something
[34:03] on the line that is foreign to the line
[34:06] it immediately shuts down. Do you want
[34:08] to walk them through what happens?
[34:10] >> So thank you again council for having us
[34:13] here. So we have um the distinction. So
[34:16] PSPS I know Pen is full of acronyms.
[34:20] It's a it's a problem internally too but
[34:24] PSPS is um power safe public safety
[34:28] power shut off. So that's we actually
[34:30] have an event going on right now. It
[34:32] doesn't affect Sanonteo County but um
[34:35] preparing for one. That's when we know
[34:37] there's going to be something like the
[34:38] Diablo winds coming through with high um
[34:41] high heat, low humidity, similar to the
[34:44] settings that enable us or kind of
[34:46] trigger us to enable EPSS. But PSPS is
[34:50] something that we basically staff an
[34:52] emergency room to kind of prepare for
[34:54] and let everyone know ahead of time.
[34:55] We're going to turn this power off when
[34:57] this high wind event happens. EPSS what
[35:00] we're presenting on today is actually
[35:02] the um settings that it's a technology
[35:06] we developed about five years ago and
[35:09] implemented in 2022 approximately and
[35:12] those settings basically
[35:16] are they're turned on actually daily. Um
[35:18] we are in the season but people monitor
[35:21] it daily on whether or not they need to
[35:22] turn on or not um per circuit. So
[35:26] there's teams overnight that do that.
[35:28] But to answer um your question, I
[35:33] understand the confusion between the two
[35:34] for sure with the two acronyms. But EPSS
[35:38] u is
[35:40] there are ways to
[35:43] it doesn't always mean there's going to
[35:44] be an outage of course, but it means
[35:46] there's more sensitivity towards one
[35:48] happening because normally if a branch
[35:50] falls on a line without EPSS settings on
[35:53] there's a check. Basically, it we send a
[35:56] signal three times to see if one device
[35:58] can communicate with another and if it
[36:00] can't happen after it three times, then
[36:02] it turns off. EPSS turns that off. And
[36:05] basically, the first time something's
[36:06] detected, it's off. And the three checks
[36:09] happen within a couple seconds. With
[36:11] EPSS on, it's less than a second. So, it
[36:14] just makes it more sensitive. And yeah,
[36:16] that's I hope I answered your question.
[36:18] If not, please repeat.
[36:22] » One more question. Thank you. Um and
[36:24] that is uh the E e uh the EPSS once it's
[36:29] turned off uh does it come back on
[36:32] automatically or it requires human to go
[36:36] physically check the line and then be
[36:38] able to turn it back on. So it does take
[36:40] time.
[36:40] >> That's correct. Human line human human
[36:43] lines human eyes must check the line
[36:46] before we are allowed to restore energy.
[36:48] So, and those you just have to patrol
[36:50] the line and depending on the length of
[36:52] the line will dictate the length of the
[36:55] patrol and the estimated time of
[36:57] restoration.
[36:58] >> Yeah. And I I'll elaborate as well. Um
[37:01] for
[37:02] when EPSS is not on, we can try and turn
[37:06] it on remotely if we know that that high
[37:10] that higher elevated fire risk is not
[37:12] present. Um, but when it is on, it means
[37:14] there's a higher chance that if
[37:16] something's still on the line and we try
[37:17] to turn it on, it sparks. Not good. So,
[37:21] when we when we patrol during EPSS
[37:23] season, we have to patrol the entirety
[37:26] of the line. Sometimes they would maybe
[37:28] try and restore sections at a time
[37:30] before, but with EPSS, can't do that.
[37:33] You got to patrol the whole line, make
[37:34] sure it's safe, and then so sometimes
[37:36] the outages can last a little longer.
[37:38] But that actually goes back to uh this
[37:40] slide, the sectionalizing devices, which
[37:43] I wanted to speak on a little more. Um
[37:45] for the sectionalizing devices, one
[37:48] thing we're doing to mitigate the impact
[37:50] of EPSS and granted this is a new
[37:52] technology. We're the first to develop
[37:54] it, we're implementing it all over the
[37:56] place down in um Hawaii, over in Hawaii.
[37:59] Well, we're consulting with those
[38:00] utilities, but um who have asked. But
[38:04] anyways, for the sectionalizing devices,
[38:06] we've learned it's really difficult at
[38:09] it was really difficult at first because
[38:10] these devices have to talk to one
[38:12] another. But as we're getting better
[38:14] with it, we're trying to put more in so
[38:16] that say a tree branch falls on this
[38:18] section, only that section's taken out,
[38:20] not the whole line. And that's something
[38:22] that is just taking time. But we we are
[38:24] implementing devices constantly. I know
[38:26] we have a couple going in in health. So
[38:28] it's a it's a it's a
[38:31] >> the Sorry. Thank you. It's it's a
[38:34] developing process.
[38:35] >> So, yeah.
[38:36] >> Thank you.
[38:37] >> Um, Councilman Acrylic,
[38:39] >> you thank you. Um, so I have a
[38:41] three-part question. So, my street,
[38:43] which is Bailey Road, a pole failed and
[38:46] went down on Christmas Eve. You may
[38:48] recall this incident.
[38:50] >> Yeah. Um, so my question is, um, what is
[38:54] the inspection protocol? If someone
[38:57] notices a poll that seems to not be in
[39:00] good shape, what is their reporting?
[39:03] uh process and once a poll is reported,
[39:06] how long does it take you to come out
[39:08] and take a look at that poll?
[39:10] >> Council member, thank you for that
[39:11] question. So, depending on the condition
[39:13] of the poll
[39:16] will depend on how quickly we can get
[39:17] out there. So, I will give you an
[39:19] example. If an inspector is out there
[39:21] and he sees, oh, this pole should
[39:23] probably be changed. It's not quite an
[39:25] emergency, but it's it's it can wait
[39:27] about a month, then we will quickly file
[39:29] that permit. we will work with the city
[39:31] or whatever town we're in. In this case,
[39:33] it would be the town of Holsboro, and
[39:34] we'll say, "Hey, we're come, we're
[39:35] sending in this application, and it
[39:38] really comes down to the permitting
[39:39] process. If it's not an urgent pull, if
[39:43] it is a we have to go right now pull,
[39:46] it's considered an A tag, then it it
[39:48] happens immediately as emergency work
[39:50] and then we file the after the-act
[39:51] permit. But it depends on the condition
[39:53] of the poll and what that permitting
[39:55] process is within each jurisdiction." Do
[39:57] you want to elaborate?
[39:58] >> Yeah. So, we have a poll test that when
[40:00] that's triggered, if someone reports
[40:02] something, we'll send someone out within
[40:03] usually about a week.
[40:04] >> Can you get closer to the mic because
[40:05] there's some people online that want to
[40:07] hear it? Yeah,
[40:07] >> thank you. Um, so we have a if
[40:11] something's reported through the
[40:12] reported app like Marjorie shared last
[40:13] time. Um, depending on just initial
[40:16] visual analysis, they'll send someone
[40:18] out anytime within a couple days to a
[40:20] week usually is when someone will go
[40:22] out. Uh it's worth mentioning that our
[40:25] inspection timeline for each overhead
[40:27] asset is about they get in-depth
[40:30] inspected once every five years, but
[40:32] typically they're at least looked at
[40:34] once a year. Um and that in-depth
[40:37] inspection is a pole test where they'll plug like a little device in the
[40:41] pole. They'll let smoke come through and
[40:44] um it'll kind of show any signs of
[40:47] dilapidation within the pole. So that's
[40:51] typically how that works. Once the
[40:53] inspector's there within that week, they
[40:55] they'll either perform that test or if
[40:57] and if they again like if they see it's
[40:59] hey this says yeah this is at 50% we
[41:01] need to go now. That's kind of how that
[41:04] acts. But it's all basically determinant
[41:06] on what that current condition is.
[41:08] >> And if a resident is concerned about a
[41:10] poll, what's the process for them to
[41:12] report that?
[41:13] >> They can either call it in to the main
[41:15] line. They can use that reported app.
[41:16] Um, if you go to PGE reported app, you
[41:19] can either just report it online or
[41:21] there's an app that they can physically
[41:22] use. But yeah, if they call it in even
[41:25] to the main line, a case is created for
[41:27] someone in the local offices to review.
[41:30] So, as long as they basically um notify
[41:34] us,
[41:36] >> I've got all county. So,
[41:38] >> and that number is 18000.
[41:41] If you don't want to use the app, you
[41:42] can always call it in.
[41:44] >> Thank you, J. Yeah. Thank you both. Um,
[41:47] con I'm sorry, Vice Mayor Rexdale.
[41:50] >> Thank you. Um, a couple things. One, uh,
[41:53] the app is fantastic, the report it app,
[41:56] and you can go on and see your
[41:59] neighborhood and and see that other
[42:01] things have been reported you you might
[42:03] not have known about. So, um, and then
[42:05] it shows the resolution.
[42:06] >> Yep.
[42:07] >> So, um, anyway, highly recommend. Um, I
[42:10] had a clarification question on the, um,
[42:13] EPSS. So you said in May it it's
[42:18] activated but every day it may or may
[42:20] not be activated.
[42:22] >> So this year the EPSS devices were
[42:25] enabled in May and depending on weather
[42:28] conditions. So these are monitored
[42:29] around the clock 247 and so depending on
[42:31] the weather conditions we may or may not
[42:33] turn them off but I don't think we've
[42:34] turned any off.
[42:35] >> Um it is no. So
[42:39] essentially those devices are not
[42:42] enabled.
[42:44] were not enabled before May. It's
[42:45] usually like the winter months that they
[42:47] turn them off because otherwise when we
[42:49] have, you know, more constant high
[42:51] winds, it could trigger more outages
[42:54] unnecessarily, but that just enables the
[42:58] ability to turn them on if that's Sorry
[43:00] if that was confusing. Um, they're still
[43:02] monitored every day in terms of like do we need to turn those settings up
[43:09] because they it's a it's a tuning thing
[43:11] with the settings. They're not standards
[43:13] set at the same thing. Um there's tiers
[43:16] to each wildfire area risk area and the
[43:19] higher tiers are basically at a higher
[43:22] sensitivity. So that's what I meant.
[43:24] Sorry for that confusion.
[43:25] >> Okay. Thank you. Um and the last thing
[43:27] is um a suggestion you were talking
[43:29] about the communication. Um and I can't
[43:32] remember if I mentioned this before, but
[43:35] um when your power's out then unless you
[43:38] have a backup battery, your internet's
[43:40] probably out. And so you're competing
[43:42] for sell service, which the coverage in
[43:45] town is not that great. Um, so when you
[43:48] go on the app because you want to check
[43:50] on the progress for your property,
[43:54] sometimes it remembers
[43:56] the address that you just asked about
[43:58] five minutes ago and sometimes it
[44:00] doesn't and you have to go through the
[44:02] process of entering it. And so anything
[44:04] you can do that it can you know remember
[44:06] this device is connected to this address
[44:08] or just remember are you asking about
[44:11] the last address you asked for because
[44:13] all I'm asking for is my address ever.
[44:16] Um that would be great because it just takes so long when um you're
[44:20] just using cell coverage to um search
[44:23] that.
[44:24] >> Thank you. It took notes.
[44:25] >> Thanks for that feedback. Um Council
[44:27] Member Adams.
[44:28] >> Yes. Thank you, Madame Mayor. Uh thank
[44:30] you Marjgery. Welcome back and nice to
[44:32] meet you, Jake. Two questions. One is I
[44:35] wanted to make sure I got the criteria
[44:37] correctly. Uh low humidity, a lot of
[44:41] fuel and winds.
[44:44] >> Okay. So when we are aware of those
[44:46] conditions, we should be on high alert
[44:49] that we may be experiencing this ESPS.
[44:54] Okay.
[44:55] >> Second thing is uh this slide
[44:57] conveniently up here. I'd like to know
[45:00] more about providing uh battery and
[45:02] gener generator rebates for our citizens
[45:06] and also uh portable batteries and
[45:09] portable battery storage. So, if you
[45:12] could provide us not now but with how we
[45:15] apply and how our citizens can qualify
[45:17] for that.
[45:18] >> Sure, I'd be happy to follow up.
[45:21] >> Yeah, thank thanks for those uh
[45:23] comments. Uh just one quick followup.
[45:26] Um, it sounds like you dial the
[45:28] sensitivity up for when it's windy. We
[45:31] have several thoroughway, especially
[45:33] Crystal Springs, where the many of the
[45:36] power lines are already crowded with
[45:38] branches. And do you have a program to
[45:42] remove those branches or they not
[45:44] considered risk when it gets very windy
[45:46] like today for example?
[45:48] >> Crystal Springs Road.
[45:50] is one example. The
[45:52] other major thoroughways that have that
[45:55] issue. Yes. Yes, we do. So, our
[45:57] vegetation
[45:59] um our vegetation crews and program
[46:01] managers, we we do tens of thousands of
[46:06] trims and removals just in Santo County
[46:08] alone every year. Um Hillsboro, we do
[46:11] them in kind of sections. It's a by
[46:13] sorry it's a semianual
[46:16] patrol and then the following half of
[46:18] the year if they got patrolled in the
[46:20] first quarter or second quarter the
[46:23] latter half of the year they'll go and
[46:24] do the trims unless there's something
[46:25] immediate those also get kind of ranked
[46:28] if they find a tree that's like inches
[46:30] from the line they'll go cut it the next
[46:31] day
[46:32] >> so so parts of the town are on a
[46:35] schedule but if there's a particular
[46:37] area where residents are concerned can
[46:38] they reach out and say
[46:40] >> absolutely
[46:41] >> because if you have a lot of rain those
[46:42] branches grow faster and pen reported
[46:45] app 1800 pen 5000.
[46:47] >> I've also had um your staff reach out to
[46:50] me and then we'll dispatch veg crews
[46:52] immediately. There are there are many
[46:54] layers of ways to contact us.
[46:56] >> Okay.
[46:56] >> And we encourage
[46:58] >> Okay. Thank you for the presentation.
[46:59] Much appreciated. We have the contact
[47:01] information and we'll get some of this
[47:03] um outreach information on our website
[47:05] as well for residents. Thank you very
[47:07] much.
[47:08] >> Thank you so much.
[47:11] Okay. Um the next item is actually a
[47:14] mayor's applause since we're applauding
[47:16] here, but this is very special to us and
[47:18] I would like to invite um finance
[47:20] director Jan Cook and assistant finance
[47:22] director Rich Santiago to the podium to
[47:25] um just honor and recognize you for um
[47:29] government finance officers association
[47:31] awards for June 30th, 2025 annual
[47:35] comprehensive financial report and the
[47:37] fiscal year 2025 2026 annual budget
[47:40] document.
[47:42] Just um FYI, we are so proud that our
[47:46] team gets this award every year. We
[47:49] they're superstars. What can we say? So,
[47:51] we try to celebrate it and and
[47:53] acknowledge them. And um I if any of my
[47:57] colleagues want to make any comments to
[47:59] this effect, but we can't thank you
[48:01] enough for keeping this town in its very
[48:03] strong sound fiscal uh stability over
[48:06] the many many decades, but especially
[48:08] over the many years that you've been
[48:11] leading our finance department. And it's
[48:12] quite an honor to see you keep getting
[48:14] this award. It's a reflection of your
[48:16] professionalism, diligence, and ex and
[48:19] just excellence in what you do. Thank
[48:21] you.
[48:32] Okay, the next item on the agenda is the
[48:34] town updates and this will be presented
[48:37] by by our assistant city manager, Mandy
[48:39] Brown.
[48:51] Thank you, mayor, vice mayor, and
[48:52] council. I must have not messed it up
[48:54] too bad last month, so Doug's letting me
[48:56] do it again. And it's very brief because
[48:58] I know we have a very big agenda. Um,
[49:00] big thank you to the Memorial Day
[49:03] planning committee, everybody that came
[49:04] out for the event, obviously our
[49:07] wonderful public works uh department and
[49:09] the Hillsboro Police Department. Um, and
[49:11] just a lot of thought that went into the
[49:13] day, the weather, the sun came out at
[49:16] the right perfect time. Um, it's just a
[49:18] beautiful day. It was featured on ABC7
[49:20] News that evening. Um, and just just
[49:22] want everyone to mark their calendars
[49:23] for next year, May 31st.
[49:27] Was already mentioned, but just wanted
[49:29] to share the artwork that was prepared
[49:30] by the Hillsboro Youth Commission that's
[49:32] helping host this event tomorrow, 400 pm
[49:34] at town hall for the pride celebration.
[49:39] Turn trail. So, this information has
[49:41] been um believe mailed out. It's also on
[49:44] our website. Um the construction is
[49:46] underway, already begun. Um and just to
[49:49] communicate and we will continue to
[49:51] overcommunicate the limitation in access
[49:54] during the duration of the project and
[49:56] it's expected to go through winter 2026.
[49:59] So, lots of construction in town um
[50:02] during this time period, but um Paul
[50:05] Willis, Natalie Gribbon, and a whole
[50:07] public works department is working very
[50:09] quickly to get this issue resolved um in
[50:12] a timely manner. So, we'll continue to message as updates are available.
[50:18] A message from Rethink Waste. If you
[50:20] can't get to the Shoreway Environmental
[50:23] Center, they now have a virtual online
[50:25] tour so you can click and learn things.
[50:28] Um, so if you haven't been already, um,
[50:30] you can visit from your, uh, privacy of
[50:33] your own home.
[50:36] CCFD had a goal setting session on May
[50:39] 15th, and so the fireboard as well as
[50:42] representatives from Burling Game and
[50:44] Hillsboro uh, attended to get updates on
[50:47] operational statistics, major
[50:49] initiatives, and upcoming projects. And
[50:51] we imagine there will be more
[50:52] information from CCFD um, coming to the
[50:55] C town council later this year.
[51:00] The local hazard mitigation plan public
[51:02] comment period is open now through June
[51:05] 15th. Um so we encourage you to provide
[51:08] your comments. You can view the draft
[51:10] plan online. This is particularly
[51:12] important because every jurisdiction has
[51:14] to have an approved local hazard
[51:16] mitigation plan in order to be eligible
[51:19] for FEMA grant funding. So the brick
[51:22] project relies on us having the local
[51:24] hazard mitigation plan and being
[51:26] compliant. So very important um as we
[51:29] look to secure that funding in the near
[51:31] future.
[51:34] Speaking of construction, Crocker
[51:36] construction is underway. So I'll we'll
[51:38] continue to include this slide um just
[51:40] with their website uh to make sure that
[51:43] you everybody is getting the updates.
[51:45] public works and PD is also working
[51:47] closely with the school district um on
[51:49] the minimizing the impacts during this
[51:51] construction period.
[51:55] This is um many residents have um asked
[51:58] some questions about a mailed notice
[52:00] that was sent by AT&T and this has to do
[52:03] with um the carrier of last resort topic
[52:06] we had spoken about a couple years ago.
[52:08] it had first come up and it was in the
[52:10] news quite a bit um where AT&T was
[52:13] trying to pull out of being of having to
[52:15] provide landline service. Um a couple of
[52:18] residents have spoken about how this
[52:19] really affects their alarm um settings
[52:23] and so when it was applied for at the
[52:27] state level by the CPU they denied it.
[52:30] So AT&T is now going around the CPU and
[52:34] going straight to the FCC to try to get
[52:36] permission to no longer have to provide
[52:39] landline service um for the state of
[52:41] California. And so this comment period
[52:44] is going on through June 22nd. So
[52:47] comments can be filed electronically at
[52:49] fcc.gov
[52:51] um the ecfsilings.
[52:54] Um I know this was a topic of interest
[52:56] at that time period. I've provided the
[52:58] docket number there. It's also in the
[53:00] mailed notice that was sent out to
[53:02] residents. Um, nothing's been decided
[53:04] obviously. It's still um at this public
[53:06] comment period, but we'll continue to
[53:08] monitor this um and keep the council and
[53:10] community apprised if there are any new
[53:12] developments as this uh proceeds.
[53:17] And lastly, um going off of Marjgery's
[53:20] comments from Pen about being prepared
[53:22] for emergencies and um here's our
[53:25] regular slide with all the resources
[53:26] that are available. Thank you.
[53:29] Um, Mandy Brown, appreciate
[53:31] that presentation. Um, yes. Um, Council Member Adams,
[53:38] >> just a question about the AT&T. You
[53:40] don't need to hire a lawyer or make this
[53:43] very formal. You can just lodge a
[53:45] complaint. And I just want people to
[53:47] know they don't have to prepare a big
[53:50] docket. They can just tell their story.
[53:53] >> Correct. It should be very user
[53:55] friendly. I did check it out. just be
[53:56] able to provide comments and CPU had a
[53:59] similar process um when it was at that
[54:01] level the last time as well.
[54:04] >> Thank you. Um next item is uh public
[54:07] comments on items that are not on the
[54:10] agenda. Do we have any public comments
[54:12] uh city clerk either on Zoom or in
[54:16] chambers on items that are not on the
[54:18] agenda?
[54:19] >> Thank you, Mayor Cole. I don't have any
[54:21] speaker cards for items not on the
[54:22] agenda. So, if there's anyone who would
[54:24] like to speak on something that's not
[54:26] already on the agenda, you can let me
[54:28] know now. Um, and I don't have any
[54:30] raised hands on Zoom.
[54:34] Doesn't look like it, Marle. Thank you.
[54:35] >> Okay, seeing none, we'll proceed with um
[54:39] a conflict of interest um on items on
[54:43] the agenda, including the consent
[54:45] calendar. Um, let me ask my colleagues
[54:47] any conflict of interest on any items
[54:49] that are on the agenda or consent
[54:51] calendar. Seeing none, um before we move
[54:55] forward with a motion for the consent
[54:57] calendar, I would like to clarify that
[54:59] item three was re um I guess that's on
[55:03] page
[55:06] just looking to see what page four.
[55:08] Yeah. Um there's been a minor revision
[55:12] on the fourth whereas and I would read
[55:15] it into the record. The town elects to
[55:17] use the percentage increases in per
[55:20] capita personal personal income and San
[55:24] Mateo County's population growth to
[55:26] calculate the appropriations limit for
[55:29] fiscal year fiscal year 2026 to 2027.
[55:33] And that's the u modifications on
[55:36] revision. In which case, do we have a
[55:39] motion to um
[55:42] vote on
[55:45] uh any I'm sorry, from the council um
[55:48] any items that anyone wish to remove
[55:51] from the consent calendar? Council
[55:53] member Chong.
[55:54] >> Yes. Could I remove um item 10 and item
[55:58] 16?
[56:01] » Items 10 and 16.
[56:04] Any any other items to be removed from
[56:08] the consent calendar?
[56:11] Any public um request to remove any
[56:14] items from the consent calendar?
[56:17] >> I don't have any speaker cards.
[56:19] >> Okay. I will have us proceed and approve
[56:22] um and and vote on items 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
[56:26] 9 11 12 13 14 and 15. Do I have a motion
[56:32] to vote on those items?
[56:34] >> I have a motion on those and number
[56:36] three as amended.
[56:38] >> Second.
[56:40] >> Could you please take the roll call?
[56:43] >> Thank you. Adams,
[56:44] >> yes.
[56:45] >> Schwang,
[56:46] >> yes.
[56:46] >> Kle,
[56:47] >> yes.
[56:47] >> Ragdale,
[56:48] >> yes.
[56:48] >> Cole,
[56:49] >> yes.
[56:50] >> Turning to item 10 on the consent
[56:53] calendar, resolution approving the town
[56:54] of Hillsboro City Council Handbook. Um,
[56:58] Council Member Chwang, you may proceed.
[57:00] Thank you, mayor. Um, item 10. I just
[57:03] want to u thank uh assistant city
[57:05] manager Manny Brown and also city clerk
[57:08] Lisa Natush uh for working on this um
[57:11] handbook and um on one of the and it is
[57:14] very thorough. So, I really appreciate
[57:16] the details. One of the comments that I
[57:19] want to make is that um regarding the
[57:21] rotation of the mayor and the vice mayor
[57:23] and the uh council uh rotation, I wonder
[57:27] if we can have uh the the the staff take
[57:31] it back and then work on that uh uh sort
[57:36] of provide some kind of guideline. The
[57:38] reason is that recently we have seen in
[57:40] other cities where they for one reason
[57:43] or another uh have to change the
[57:45] orientation of the rotation and I feel
[57:49] that um at any time when there is some
[57:51] guidelines at least you know the council
[57:54] will come to the dis and be able to um
[57:58] elect the mayor and the vice mayor
[57:59] accordingly and when there are uh sort
[58:03] of the difference then they will be able
[58:05] to use the guideline as sort of a you
[58:08] know um a discussion point uh for for
[58:12] that. So I I just want to have that
[58:15] because right now in our council
[58:18] handbook there's no discussion on the
[58:21] rotation.
[58:24] >> Um I will ask my colleagues to comment
[58:27] on um on the discussion of item 10 if
[58:31] they have any questions or clarification
[58:33] or comments.
[58:35] Yes, Vice Mayor Ragdale.
[58:37] >> Um, I had a couple of very minor things.
[58:40] Um, because, you know, I can't look at
[58:43] something without having a couple little
[58:44] mini comments, but they were
[58:45] administrative, like when it says the
[58:47] number one, write it out as one. And
[58:50] there was a headline that didn't quite
[58:52] match the stuff that was beneath it, but
[58:55] um but beyond that, nothing substantive.
[58:58] Um, so I have passed those on to um
[59:01] Mandy and Lisa. And um with regard to
[59:04] council member Schwang's suggestion, I I
[59:07] think guidance would be uh fantastic.
[59:10] Thank you.
[59:11] >> Any additional comments or questions on
[59:15] that item 10? I I think I would suggest
[59:17] with this new um item being brought up
[59:21] that perhaps we defer this until next
[59:24] month's
[59:28] » uh defer approval because that's kind of
[59:30] a big
[59:31] >> right
[59:32] >> kind of a big discussion. I'm basically
[59:34] u making the comments and then you know
[59:36] would hope that uh you know we will be
[59:39] able to bring it back to the staff for
[59:41] uh just kind of to do some research as
[59:44] to what are the standard practices out
[59:46] there and then perhaps bring it back in
[59:48] full uh in the next month for for
[59:51] review.
[59:53] >> Um um council member um Adams I'm sorry.
[59:57] >> Yes sir. Thank you mayor. Um, I also
[59:59] have some uh little corrections. So,
[1:00:02] maybe we can get all of those into a red
[1:00:05] line and then have it uh redistributed.
[1:00:08] There's a a place where the voice
[1:00:11] changes from neutral to when you receive
[1:00:15] a gift. Little things like that. So, I
[1:00:17] think we ought to uh bring it back.
[1:00:21] >> Okay. Um I just my comments is
[1:00:25] uh specifically what clarifications are
[1:00:27] we asking for the election or nomination
[1:00:30] of a mayor and vice mayor? Are we asking
[1:00:33] for to change the current procedure we
[1:00:35] have or to design a new process? What is
[1:00:39] the specific question we're asking?
[1:00:40] Thank
[1:00:41] >> thank you mayor. Um, so I'll use the
[1:00:43] casing points and most recently Milbre
[1:00:46] uh the mayor uh resigned for u a
[1:00:49] conflict of interest and um and then
[1:00:52] they went through the they went down the
[1:00:55] procedure as to uh you know the vice
[1:00:58] mayor being promoted to the to be the
[1:01:00] mayor but because that they have two
[1:01:03] appointments rather than election
[1:01:05] through the elections that the appointed
[1:01:08] council members could not be um
[1:01:12] could not could not become the vice
[1:01:15] mayor nominations and even though by
[1:01:18] rotation that that should seem to be the
[1:01:21] case and what I'm saying is that in
[1:01:23] general there's no uh conflict but when
[1:01:27] there are circumstances it's always very
[1:01:29] helpful that we have some uh point of uh
[1:01:34] we have some guideline as to how the
[1:01:36] rotation works. Case in points, if you
[1:01:39] have a elections where you have two new council members coming in, right?
[1:01:43] And then um then in terms of the
[1:01:45] nomination, who is going to be the next
[1:01:47] vice mayor that sometimes some of the
[1:01:50] cities will go by with the highest vote
[1:01:52] getters to be the the second in place.
[1:01:55] But that is again is a sort of an
[1:01:58] agreements among the council members.
[1:02:00] And so I I would think that something
[1:02:03] like that would be helpful for us to
[1:02:04] take a look at it. We may disagree on
[1:02:07] it, but it it's always nice to have some
[1:02:10] kind of guidelines so that we have a
[1:02:13] reference point as to how to start.
[1:02:15] >> Okay. Um, thanks for that clarification.
[1:02:17] In which case, I will have us remove
[1:02:19] item 10 completely from the consent
[1:02:21] calendar and we will study it further
[1:02:23] with the city attorney. Thank you. And
[1:02:25] item
[1:02:26] >> Do we need a vote on that or it's just
[1:02:28] council?
[1:02:29] >> Would you?
[1:02:31] >> No, thank you for the question, Mayor
[1:02:32] Cole. City Council. Um, if if your
[1:02:34] direction is just to defer it, let staff
[1:02:36] kind of work on I think the direction
[1:02:37] you've given to us, I don't think you
[1:02:39] need to take a motion.
[1:02:40] >> If you want to formally continue it to a
[1:02:42] date specified, like the next meeting,
[1:02:44] and you really want it to be, I think
[1:02:45] staff has that direction, but if you
[1:02:46] want it on the record, you could make a
[1:02:48] motion to continue it to the next
[1:02:49] regular city council meeting.
[1:02:51] >> If you think we can address this issue
[1:02:52] in a month, um, sounds like they may
[1:02:55] >> I'll defer to our management team that's
[1:02:56] been working on it.
[1:02:58] I I think we could come back with
[1:03:00] options for discussion um rather than um
[1:03:04] necessarily for an action item and then
[1:03:05] once we have clarity on that item and if
[1:03:07] there are others then we can return with
[1:03:09] the the item to for for a for council
[1:03:12] action
[1:03:13] >> and just we're clear we're targeting
[1:03:15] July not the June 22nd meeting
[1:03:18] >> correct and and just for further
[1:03:20] clarification um discussions on this
[1:03:23] issue could potentially take several
[1:03:26] months and we going into an election. I
[1:03:28] would like the entire council to be
[1:03:29] aware that this conversation will
[1:03:31] continue into the fall as we have an
[1:03:35] election and it in no ways implies any
[1:03:40] bias of of any sort. Just timing.
[1:03:43] >> Understood.
[1:03:44] >> Okay. Thank you. So, we'll just remove
[1:03:46] that. And the next item, remove item 10.
[1:03:49] Sorry. Um the next item is item fif 16.
[1:03:55] >> Um thank you. Um, I just want to bring
[1:03:58] up the um item 16 because uh this is in
[1:04:02] particular uh addressing to the uh
[1:04:04] council responding this council's
[1:04:07] directions as to addressing some of the
[1:04:12] some of the uh construction by design
[1:04:15] that the homeowners were uh tasked with
[1:04:19] uh 2 in pipe. And um so the council has
[1:04:23] long have discussions regarding that.
[1:04:25] some of the property owners that even
[1:04:27] with the two inches pipe that they are
[1:04:30] not necessarily using the water in the way that it's been by design so to
[1:04:36] reduce the cost. Um, so I I really
[1:04:39] appreciate that the staff finally bring
[1:04:41] back uh somehow a way to address that
[1:04:46] and even though it's 60 out of the 252
[1:04:50] in pipe u property owners um that
[1:04:53] nonetheless is it address the sort of
[1:04:56] the fairness as to how they they are
[1:04:58] being charged. So I just want to
[1:04:59] compliment the staff and then really
[1:05:01] highlight that as something that our
[1:05:03] residents will be aware of.
[1:05:05] >> Great. Thank you. Any additional comment
[1:05:08] on that item? Okay. Um, in which you're
[1:05:11] not making any modification or
[1:05:13] amendment. Okay. Just to compliment the
[1:05:14] staff.
[1:05:16] >> Thank you, Paul.
[1:05:17] >> We appreciate that. And we were ready
[1:05:18] for any questions. We do have samples of
[1:05:20] a 1 in and 2 inch meter behind William.
[1:05:23] If you'd like to see what they look like
[1:05:24] later or during a break, u, the 2in
[1:05:27] meters very large and heavy.
[1:05:29] >> To summarize, that's to summarize. Some
[1:05:32] homeowners were asked by the town to
[1:05:34] install 2-in pipes mostly for fire
[1:05:36] suppression systems, but they don't use
[1:05:38] enough water to justify the 2-in pipe.
[1:05:41] So, the upcharge for them was deemed not
[1:05:44] fair. So, they can apply for a rebate
[1:05:46] for that. To summarize, is that right?
[1:05:48] >> Summarize. And some of those choices
[1:05:49] were made by previous contractors or
[1:05:51] developers long before we have our
[1:05:54] current policies and our fixed meter
[1:05:56] charges. And so, they inherited those
[1:05:58] older systems. And uh as explained in
[1:06:01] the staff report, the actual remedy and
[1:06:04] the cost is really cost prohibitive to
[1:06:07] have people redo their internal plumbing
[1:06:09] just to save money for a 1-in meter when
[1:06:11] they're only using less than what the
[1:06:13] average person uses for a 1-in meter.
[1:06:16] >> Um just um for clarification, the rebate
[1:06:20] is based on usage
[1:06:22] regardless of the whether you have a 2
[1:06:24] in. I in other words, would you be
[1:06:26] whether you're eligible to get the
[1:06:28] rebate as outlined in the agenda
[1:06:31] package? It's also going to be based on
[1:06:34] whether you use a certain amount that
[1:06:37] supersedes what a 1 in um meter would I a 1 in pipe would be using,
[1:06:43] right? You have some I I just don't want
[1:06:46] residents to expect that if just having
[1:06:48] the 2 in automatically defaults you into
[1:06:51] a rebate. There's specific criteria.
[1:06:54] It's very specific. It's in the staff
[1:06:55] report. The main thing is you have to
[1:06:56] use less than what a typical or average
[1:06:59] 1-inch meter would use and then less
[1:07:01] than the peak amount and it it is a
[1:07:03] rebate. So the resident asks for it,
[1:07:05] then we would apply it as a lump sum
[1:07:08] credit to the account for the future
[1:07:10] bills.
[1:07:11] >> Okay.
[1:07:12] >> And just
[1:07:13] >> Yes, council member Adams.
[1:07:14] >> In addition, it cannot be an absentee
[1:07:17] owner. uh it cannot be a commercial
[1:07:20] dwelling and it cannot have multiple
[1:07:23] meters. So this is just for those
[1:07:27] exceptions that really haven't been
[1:07:28] fairly treated and I think it was a
[1:07:31] great solution.
[1:07:32] >> Yeah. Thank you.
[1:07:33] >> In which case do we have a motion to
[1:07:35] adopt a resolution adopting a res a
[1:07:37] residential 2-in water meter rebates
[1:07:40] policy?
[1:07:41] >> So move.
[1:07:42] >> You have a second.
[1:07:43] >> Second.
[1:07:46] Um, all those in favor say I.
[1:07:50] >> I.
[1:07:51] Motion carries 5-0. Okay. Next item.
[1:07:57] On our agenda is um
[1:08:00] item 17, resolution authorizing the
[1:08:03] 5-year
[1:08:05] rate series for water rate charges for a
[1:08:07] 5-year period effective July 1st, 2026.
[1:08:10] And this will be presented by um uh
[1:08:14] Director of Finance Jan Cook.
[1:08:17] Good evening, Mayor Cole and city
[1:08:19] council members.
[1:08:21] This item is to consider adopting water
[1:08:24] rates. This is a five-year water rate
[1:08:27] series effective July of 2026 for the
[1:08:32] first rate series. It's the maximum
[1:08:35] rates. If in any one year uh the results
[1:08:38] are showing that not as much as needed,
[1:08:41] the city council can uh adopt a lower
[1:08:44] rate in that year. And the last rate
[1:08:47] increase that the town had was in
[1:08:49] January of 2025.
[1:08:53] And these rates are needed to cover the costs of the system which are
[1:08:59] increasing primarily for the San
[1:09:02] Francisco uh PUC water purchased cost as
[1:09:06] well as uh capital improvements and
[1:09:09] other operational items. This was
[1:09:12] studied o with by the town council over
[1:09:15] two sess sessions and um so tonight
[1:09:19] we'll be providing just a summary and
[1:09:21] I'd like to introduce Rick Simon senior
[1:09:23] vice president of H FNH and we also have
[1:09:27] Gabe Sasser who is the project manager
[1:09:29] from H FNH and then we have Ly Karu from
[1:09:33] best and creger uh all of this team
[1:09:36] along with staff has put together at
[1:09:38] this this rate recommended for this
[1:09:41] evening. So with that, I will turn it
[1:09:43] over to Rick for the presentation.
[1:09:46] >> Thank you, Jen. Good evening, Mayor
[1:09:48] Cole, Vice Mayor Ragsdale, council
[1:09:50] members. Again, I'm Rick Simson, senior
[1:09:52] vice president with HF&H.
[1:09:55] Our goal for today is uh for me to
[1:09:57] present a summary of the water rate
[1:09:59] study process and the rate
[1:10:01] recommendations that were noticed in
[1:10:03] late April to your uh water customers.
[1:10:08] This is just an overview high-level
[1:10:10] summary of what has been provided in a
[1:10:12] more detailed report that is on the
[1:10:15] town's website that included a link in
[1:10:18] the notice to those that want additional
[1:10:20] information or to dive a little bit
[1:10:22] deeper into the numbers. And tonight is
[1:10:26] a public hearing as noticed.
[1:10:30] And tonight, the city council can vote
[1:10:32] whether to adopt those maximum rates
[1:10:35] that were included in the notice,
[1:10:37] nothing higher. And that first rate
[1:10:40] adjustment would go into effect this
[1:10:42] coming July.
[1:10:46] How did we get here? So the process uh
[1:10:49] started in November of last year meeting
[1:10:52] with staff uh to understand the
[1:10:55] operations and maintenance expenses to
[1:10:58] operate the water system as well as the
[1:11:00] capital projects necessary over the next
[1:11:03] 5-year period. We came to the city
[1:11:05] council in February for preliminary
[1:11:08] results and to get feedback
[1:11:12] about the recommended increases. With
[1:11:16] that feedback, we came back to the
[1:11:18] council with a draft report and we held
[1:11:21] that in April.
[1:11:23] And at that time, the council authorized
[1:11:26] the issuing of notices to start the
[1:11:28] Proposition 218 process, which notifies
[1:11:31] rateayers of the contemplated increases
[1:11:36] the next 5-year period. Those were
[1:11:38] mailed out April 20th.
[1:11:41] So for tonight, uh this is the public
[1:11:43] hearing that was noticed. It gives a
[1:11:46] chance for the public to make public
[1:11:47] comments on the study itself and the
[1:11:50] recommendations before the council. The
[1:11:54] council can vote tonight whether to
[1:11:56] adopt those maximum rates. Again, only
[1:12:00] up to the amount that was included in
[1:12:01] the 218 notice.
[1:12:06] To give you an overview of kind of these
[1:12:08] highlevel drivers that Jan has touched
[1:12:10] on, first and foremost, the cost of
[1:12:13] wholesale water purchasing the water
[1:12:16] from the SFP, which makes up about 44%
[1:12:19] of the overall water budget each year.
[1:12:22] Uh the SFPC has given notice that they
[1:12:25] will be increasing the wholesale cost of
[1:12:27] water 7.4%
[1:12:29] this July 1st. Another 7.4%
[1:12:33] the following July 1st followed by more
[1:12:36] inflationary type increases between 2
[1:12:39] and a half to to 4% for the 3 years of
[1:12:44] this 5-year rate study. So we have
[1:12:46] included those projections in the
[1:12:47] recommendations you have before you
[1:12:50] tonight.
[1:12:51] Another large component of the annual
[1:12:54] spend for the water utility is the
[1:12:57] capital infrastructure. So to continue
[1:12:59] to provide safe clean water, uh there
[1:13:02] are some improvements that are necessary
[1:13:04] to the infrastructure. Uh just the
[1:13:06] projects themselves, but we're also
[1:13:08] seeing rising construction costs over
[1:13:10] the last few years. some of the more um
[1:13:15] detailed descriptions of the capital
[1:13:18] types of improvements that we will be
[1:13:21] making over the next five years is the
[1:13:23] water manes that run throughout the
[1:13:25] town. Uh there's a scheduled replacement
[1:13:27] program as needed in specific areas.
[1:13:31] That's an ongoing project that happens
[1:13:33] each year of maintaining those water
[1:13:36] manes so you don't have emergency
[1:13:38] failures.
[1:13:40] A couple pump stations in town at Marble
[1:13:43] and Clark Concore pump stations are
[1:13:46] needing to be uh upgraded and replaced
[1:13:49] as well as the Daryl pumping line. So
[1:13:52] moving the water around the town uh all
[1:13:56] throughout the town up into the high
[1:13:57] elevations. These are very critical part
[1:14:00] of the water infrastructure and they
[1:14:02] need attention over the next 5 years.
[1:14:04] And lastly, part of this study was to
[1:14:07] analyze the current rate structure. And
[1:14:10] we're recommending moving from a tiered
[1:14:12] to what we call a uniform rate
[1:14:14] structure. So the commodity charge, how
[1:14:17] much water you use, had historically uh
[1:14:20] been a tiered rate structure. So more
[1:14:23] water that you use on a per unit basis,
[1:14:25] you'd pay more. We're recommending
[1:14:28] moving that to a uniform rate structure.
[1:14:30] So for each drop of waters, the same
[1:14:33] cost regardless how much is used. And
[1:14:35] this is due to some conflicting appellet
[1:14:37] rulings throughout the state as well as
[1:14:40] here in the town of proper rate making
[1:14:43] be it tiered or uniform. And in front of
[1:14:46] you tonight is changing that structure
[1:14:48] from tiered to uniform.
[1:14:51] Here's
[1:14:53] a couple examples of the uh capital
[1:14:57] improvement program over the next
[1:14:59] five-year period. Scheduled to spend
[1:15:01] about 14.6 million. These are actual
[1:15:05] photos of completed projects, but very
[1:15:08] similar to what you need to do over the
[1:15:09] next 5year period. On the left hand side
[1:15:12] there, you see the pump station
[1:15:13] improvements. You can see quite the uh
[1:15:17] involvement for your pump stations.
[1:15:20] they're in a vault. Uh these will be
[1:15:23] done at Marble and Clark Concore as well
[1:15:26] as the emergency valve replacements
[1:15:30] uh throughout the town. So these are
[1:15:31] some examples of what have been done.
[1:15:34] More of these replacements need to occur
[1:15:36] over the next 5-year period.
[1:15:40] Here's an example of a water tank for
[1:15:43] storage uh an emergency basis or when uh
[1:15:48] it's cheaper to move water around. The
[1:15:50] town stores it in these tanks while PG&
[1:15:53] name costs are lower and then our
[1:15:55] gravity fed to your customers uh
[1:15:58] throughout the day when it's would be
[1:16:00] more expensive to actually pump. Uh this
[1:16:03] is an example of a 2 milliongal tank at
[1:16:05] Daryl W. It's the Daryl water tank and
[1:16:08] this helped achieve and bring you within
[1:16:11] regulations for having a minimum
[1:16:14] requirement of 3 million gallons per day
[1:16:16] of storage.
[1:16:21] So that brings us to uh the rates that
[1:16:23] we analyze in order to fund those
[1:16:26] programs.
[1:16:27] Currently water is charged with two
[1:16:30] separate components. First a fixed
[1:16:33] service charge as mentioned earlier it
[1:16:36] is based on the size of connection. So
[1:16:39] the larger connection the more capacity
[1:16:41] in the system you need. Therefore it's
[1:16:44] their higher charges as you increase
[1:16:47] that connection or meter size. Most of
[1:16:51] the customers in the town have a 1-in
[1:16:53] meter and these are rates that are
[1:16:56] charged on a bon
[1:16:59] period. So this is two months worth of
[1:17:01] fixed service charges. In addition to
[1:17:03] that fixed service charge to cover uh a
[1:17:07] portion of the fixed cost, there is a
[1:17:09] volumetric charge. And as I mentioned
[1:17:11] earlier, based on how much water is used
[1:17:14] historically, there were four tiers. So
[1:17:17] as you used more water, typically during
[1:17:20] the summer months, uh you would pay a a
[1:17:24] higher unit rate as you moved up those
[1:17:27] tiers. We are recommending moving to the
[1:17:30] uniform. So from drop one uh for each
[1:17:34] unit of water denoted here is HCF which
[1:17:38] is 100 cubic feet about 748 gallons of
[1:17:41] water. It will be charged a uniform
[1:17:43] rate. Uh for July 1, 2026 we're make
[1:17:47] recommending $1142
[1:17:50] rate.
[1:17:54] Next slide.
[1:17:57] and rates are all and good and they have
[1:17:59] been noticed. Uh but I think the
[1:18:01] question we often get is well how does
[1:18:03] that impact my bill since I use water
[1:18:05] differently throughout the year? What
[1:18:06] does that mean to me as a customer? So
[1:18:08] the town has put together a water bill
[1:18:11] calculator. Have a couple examples here.
[1:18:13] It's pretty easy to use. Uh there are
[1:18:16] some customers in town that are build on
[1:18:18] a monthly basis, mainly your
[1:18:21] non-residential customers. Uh so first
[1:18:24] uh look at your bill and see how often
[1:18:26] you are being charged either monthly or
[1:18:28] bimonthly. Look at the meter size
[1:18:31] denoted on your bill. The most common
[1:18:34] again is 1 in. So we've shown that here
[1:18:36] and about average water use of 22 units.
[1:18:39] So again that's 22 HCF of water which is
[1:18:43] about 274 gallons per day. And you'll
[1:18:46] see the individual components based on
[1:18:50] the current rates, the service charge
[1:18:51] and volume charge, as well as what is
[1:18:53] proposed moving forward starting July
[1:18:56] 126. So you can at a glance look at the
[1:19:00] different months of water use that you
[1:19:02] have. It's typically lower during the
[1:19:04] winter and higher during the summer. You
[1:19:06] can see the impact.
[1:19:09] There are some high water users in town
[1:19:11] or again during the summer season you
[1:19:14] might use more than that 22 HCF. So next
[1:19:19] slide you'll see an example. It's easy
[1:19:22] to input. If you use 50 during the
[1:19:25] summer again that's about 623 gallons
[1:19:28] per day. You'll see the resulting
[1:19:31] changes in the bill from the current
[1:19:33] rates to what's proposed July 1 26. So
[1:19:37] this is a very handy tool that the town
[1:19:39] has posted on its website. You'll see
[1:19:41] the link there.
[1:19:43] With that again, that was a high-level
[1:19:45] overview. So I would like to open it up
[1:19:47] for any questions that you may have.
[1:19:51] >> Um thank you Mr. Simon for the
[1:19:52] presentation. Um before we get to um the
[1:19:55] public hearing aspect of this, I would
[1:19:57] ask my colleagues on the council if they
[1:20:00] have any clarifying questions. Just
[1:20:03] questions at this point.
[1:20:06] Mayor Coles council's thinking whether
[1:20:08] they have questions. I just wanted to
[1:20:09] note for you staff has created some
[1:20:10] talking points um for you and then also
[1:20:12] for me to read into the record uh prior
[1:20:14] to taking any public comment on the
[1:20:16] project.
[1:20:16] >> Right.
[1:20:17] And I'm not sure um um who is in
[1:20:22] chambers regarding these specific
[1:20:23] issues, but I would like to welcome you
[1:20:26] um to this public hearing. And um I
[1:20:28] would like to ask the staff to inform
[1:20:30] the city council as to whether all valid
[1:20:32] legal objections received thus far have
[1:20:36] been responded to and presented to the
[1:20:38] city council.
[1:20:40] >> Yes, all valid legal objections have
[1:20:42] been responded to and all objections and
[1:20:44] responses have been presented to the
[1:20:46] council. Thank you. And before I open to
[1:20:49] public hearing, I would like to ask our
[1:20:51] legal council to explain the
[1:20:53] requirements of proposition 218
[1:20:55] governing this public hearing and the
[1:20:57] proposed rate adoption.
[1:20:59] >> Thank you, Mayor Cole. Just wanted to
[1:21:00] announce for the or note for the public
[1:21:02] uh the public hearing tonight was set in
[1:21:04] compliance with Proposition 218. The
[1:21:06] town mailed a notice of this public
[1:21:08] hearing to the record property owners
[1:21:10] subject to the imposition of the
[1:21:11] proposed water rates as well as tenants
[1:21:13] directly liable for the payment of such
[1:21:15] rates, i.e. customers of record who are
[1:21:17] not property owners more than 45 days
[1:21:19] prior to the date of this public
[1:21:20] hearing. The purpose of this public
[1:21:23] hearing is for the city council to hear
[1:21:24] all oral testimony and consider all
[1:21:26] written protest concerning the proposed
[1:21:28] rate increases. It is also held to
[1:21:30] determine whether there is a majority
[1:21:32] protest to the proposed rates and
[1:21:33] whether to proceed with the adoption of
[1:21:35] the proposed rates. Members of the
[1:21:37] public are invited to provide oral
[1:21:39] testimony during tonight's public
[1:21:41] hearing. In addition, property owners
[1:21:43] and tenants may submit a written protest
[1:21:44] by hand delivering it to the city clerk
[1:21:47] prior to the close of the public
[1:21:48] hearing. Property owners and tenants are
[1:21:50] not required to provide oral testimony
[1:21:52] at today's hearing in order for your
[1:21:54] written protest to be counted towards
[1:21:55] determining whether a majority protest
[1:21:57] exists. However, oral testimony without
[1:22:00] a written protest will not be counted
[1:22:02] when determining whether a majority
[1:22:04] protest exists. So, it's important to
[1:22:06] submit that written protest if you want
[1:22:07] it to count. The public hearing will be
[1:22:09] closed after the city council has heard
[1:22:11] and considered all oral testimony on
[1:22:13] these items. In order to be counted,
[1:22:15] protests must be in writing. State that
[1:22:17] you are protesting the proposed water
[1:22:19] rate increases. Include the name of the
[1:22:22] property owner or tenant, the assessor
[1:22:24] parcel number or service address, and
[1:22:26] signature of the person submitting the
[1:22:28] written protest. Any protest submitted
[1:22:30] by email or other electronic means will
[1:22:32] not be accepted as a form of written
[1:22:34] protest.
[1:22:37] Then finally, all valid protests
[1:22:39] submitted to the town by mail or hand
[1:22:40] delivered prior to today's public
[1:22:42] hearing and received by the city clerk
[1:22:43] since the notice of public hearing was
[1:22:45] mailed will be counted. If written
[1:22:47] protest against the m the proposed rate
[1:22:49] increases are presented by the owners or
[1:22:51] tenants of a majority of the identified
[1:22:53] parcels upon which the proposed uh water
[1:22:56] rates are to be imposed, the city
[1:22:58] council may not adopt the rate
[1:23:00] increases. If there is no majority
[1:23:02] protests, the city council may decide to
[1:23:05] adopt the rate increases. Finally,
[1:23:07] pursuant to state law governing
[1:23:08] Proposition 218 in determining whether a
[1:23:10] majority protest exists, only one
[1:23:12] written protest per parcel may be
[1:23:14] counted. Thank you.
[1:23:17] >> Um, thank you.
[1:23:19] >> I'm sorry, Council Member Crowley. Did
[1:23:22] you see
[1:23:22] >> I have a couple questions
[1:23:25] >> before we go to public hearing. Okay,
[1:23:27] I'll come back to the council for
[1:23:28] further questions. Yes, Council Member
[1:23:30] Crowley.
[1:23:31] >> Um, so this might either be for Rick or
[1:23:34] for our city attorney. So, just to be
[1:23:36] clear, so Proposition 218 mandates that
[1:23:40] the fees for water and for sewer cannot
[1:23:43] be more than the cost of service. Is
[1:23:45] that right?
[1:23:46] >> That is correct.
[1:23:48] >> And Ludvy Kufu, our legal counsel um on
[1:23:51] Proposition 218 issues is here as well
[1:23:53] and can also respond to the question.
[1:23:55] And so then uh we had the town had
[1:23:58] tiered water levels and we commissioned
[1:24:03] a more recent study that dug down that
[1:24:06] and the purpose of that was to show that
[1:24:09] the different tiers were um were
[1:24:12] supported by the data. In other words,
[1:24:15] our study showed to that we got from the
[1:24:19] consultant that the the higher tier
[1:24:21] actually cost the town more. Is that
[1:24:24] right?
[1:24:26] >> Um yes. So there were there was evidence
[1:24:29] supporting that the tiers as they went
[1:24:31] up they reflected the higher cost of
[1:24:33] service.
[1:24:33] >> But then when we went to court to ask
[1:24:35] the court, the court said that that was
[1:24:38] not valid.
[1:24:40] >> So it was actually the court that said
[1:24:43] that even with our study that the tiered
[1:24:46] water rates were not supported according
[1:24:48] to the court's interpretation of
[1:24:50] proposition 218. Is that right?
[1:24:52] >> Yeah. and I can give a little bit of
[1:24:54] detail on that. So, Proposition 218 was
[1:24:56] adopted in 1996 and um since then it's
[1:25:00] been 30 years of litigation trying to
[1:25:03] interpret what Proposition 218 requires
[1:25:06] for setting water rates particularly
[1:25:07] with respect to tiers. Um so since 2015
[1:25:11] there have been I think four or five
[1:25:13] conflicting court of appeal decisions
[1:25:15] and the significance of that is each
[1:25:17] court of appeal decision creates
[1:25:19] precedent so it's binding upon public
[1:25:21] agencies. they have to comply with the
[1:25:23] ruling of that court.
[1:25:25] So in our instance, the the trial court
[1:25:27] relied on two more recent court of
[1:25:30] appeal decisions that struck down tiered
[1:25:32] water rates on facts similar to the
[1:25:34] town's evidence. Uh there was a third
[1:25:37] court of appeal decision out of Los
[1:25:39] Angeles that upheld uh water rates based
[1:25:42] on similar evidence as well. So right
[1:25:44] now the law is very much in flux. Uh
[1:25:46] there are just conflicting opinions out
[1:25:48] there and um our trial court
[1:25:51] specifically relied on two of the
[1:25:53] opinions that took issue with tiered
[1:25:55] race.
[1:25:57] >> Um thank thank you. Um and I would just
[1:25:59] like to follow up regarding this line of
[1:26:01] questioning. um specifically this
[1:26:04] conflicting legal ruling at at this time
[1:26:08] which could change in the next year,
[1:26:11] months, however long um both in the
[1:26:14] courts in the appellet court as well as
[1:26:16] potentially in the state legislature.
[1:26:19] But specific to our town, we also just
[1:26:21] discussed the other drivers for our
[1:26:24] cost, which is replacing aging
[1:26:27] infrastructure. as you saw the photos of
[1:26:30] our water manes being replaced etc. and
[1:26:34] um and also basically bringing the our
[1:26:39] delivery system up to um standards and
[1:26:42] in terms of preserving our water tanks
[1:26:46] replacing them so we have a reserve in
[1:26:48] the event of an emergency. So they are
[1:26:50] the drivers to the cost of water
[1:26:52] production and perhaps more
[1:26:54] significantly um the purchase how much
[1:26:57] we pay for our water has gone up
[1:26:59] approximately I believe 24% or 28%. So
[1:27:03] how much we're paying for the water from
[1:27:06] SFPU um has gone up. maintaining our
[1:27:09] infrastructure for the delivery system
[1:27:11] has also gone up in terms of um
[1:27:14] construction cost as well as the
[1:27:16] conflicting legal rulings making it
[1:27:19] difficult to clarify where the courts
[1:27:22] will end on this issue and thereby we
[1:27:26] are sort of from that legal standpoint
[1:27:28] that wouldn't change cost of
[1:27:30] construction potentially is going to
[1:27:31] continue to rise we have no control over
[1:27:33] that okay just want to clarify my
[1:27:35] understanding on that thank you
[1:27:36] >> yes
[1:27:37] >> any additional comments Yes. Um, council
[1:27:39] member Adams.
[1:27:40] >> Thank you, Mayor. Um,
[1:27:44] with respect uh to our validation
[1:27:47] process, we got very clear direction
[1:27:52] from that court that we could not
[1:27:56] continue with the rates that we had and
[1:28:00] that it was unconstitutional.
[1:28:03] And though he did not really take into
[1:28:05] account the Los Angeles case, he did say
[1:28:09] Hillsboro is not Los Angeles. So he
[1:28:12] actually did not give us much choice.
[1:28:17] Second thing is is it not true and I may
[1:28:20] have this wrong but that uh the the rate
[1:28:24] laws do not allow municipalities to
[1:28:28] structure their rates according to
[1:28:31] conservation goals. So it's really clear
[1:28:35] that that is not our our possibility. We
[1:28:40] are not talking about conservation or
[1:28:42] rewarding those who use less. It's
[1:28:46] simply how do we structure the rate of
[1:28:49] what we're selling and what we need to
[1:28:52] repair. And in our community, we have
[1:28:55] water lines, water manes that are 100red
[1:28:58] years old. So, we are an established
[1:29:01] community and we need to keep this uh
[1:29:05] maintenance and replacement going. So, I
[1:29:09] just want to make sure I had that clear
[1:29:10] about conservation goals are not
[1:29:13] allowed. So, um, and that's a great
[1:29:16] question, council member. So, the two
[1:29:18] there there's three cases, three
[1:29:20] operative cases here that deal with this
[1:29:22] issue. Uh, there's, uh, Kosar versus
[1:29:24] Otai Water District and Pats versus City
[1:29:27] of San Diego. Those cases, which are the
[1:29:29] ones that our trial court relied upon,
[1:29:31] both say that you cannot consider
[1:29:33] conservation goals, efficiency, and so
[1:29:35] forth. Uh, the third case, um, Dreer
[1:29:38] versus City of Los Angeles Department of
[1:29:40] Water and Power says you can. So, that's
[1:29:42] just another example of the conflicts
[1:29:44] that we're struggling through.
[1:29:47] >> Um, and I think we can Thank you. Thank
[1:29:49] you, um, Council Member Adams. Um, we're
[1:29:51] now going to turn to those were
[1:29:53] clarifying questions for the residents
[1:29:55] and for everyone. Um, and we will have
[1:29:57] the opportunity to have uh more comments
[1:29:59] on this issue, but I would like to open
[1:30:02] the public hearing at this point. Um,
[1:30:04] and the public hearing will be conducted
[1:30:07] in the following manner. the staff will
[1:30:08] first provide a report um relating to
[1:30:12] the proposed water rates. We already did
[1:30:13] that after presentation. Um
[1:30:17] I think basically I just need to ask if
[1:30:20] we have
[1:30:24] speakers if we clerk do we have any um
[1:30:27] speakers on Zoom um or in chambers for
[1:30:32] oral testimony?
[1:30:35] >> yes we do. I have one speaker card at
[1:30:37] this time.
[1:30:38] >> Okay. Do we have anyone on Zoom?
[1:30:39] >> Uh, not not at not yet.
[1:30:42] >> Okay. So, we'll start with the one
[1:30:44] speaker who is in chambers.
[1:30:46] >> Uh, thank you. Um, Jeannie Beck.
[1:30:52] » Oh,
[1:30:53] >> my apologies. I'm sorry about that. Um,
[1:30:55] yes, I do not have any speaker cards yet
[1:30:57] on the on this on this.
[1:30:59] >> So, we don't have anyone in chambers and
[1:31:00] we don't have anyone on Zoom.
[1:31:02] We can give them a moment. If there's
[1:31:04] anybody who wants to speak on this
[1:31:05] topic, please go ahead and Yeah, you can
[1:31:07] go ahead and go to the podium and you
[1:31:08] can give me a speaker card after. Yes.
[1:31:12] >> Yeah. Welcome. If you could just
[1:31:13] introduce your um name.
[1:31:15] >> Introduce yourself.
[1:31:16] >> Yes. I'm Mark Morates and I reside uh
[1:31:20] ownership at 881 Caliba Road,
[1:31:23] >> this park area. Um, I'm an architect
[1:31:27] environmentalist and I'm a little bit
[1:31:30] confused about leaving the tiered rate.
[1:31:34] Uh, because I think that with the tiered
[1:31:37] rate, it speaks of sustainability
[1:31:41] uh that you kind of want to approach
[1:31:45] your usage uh on the lower tier that you
[1:31:49] possibly can. So you take care of your
[1:31:54] property uh your irrigation primarily
[1:31:59] and being very conscious of the use of
[1:32:02] water and you actually watch water
[1:32:04] source and I see we have a new program
[1:32:08] but I'm very much in favor of the tiered
[1:32:10] rate because that just basically besp
[1:32:13] speaks well I want it lower and I have
[1:32:16] an opportunity to do that to reach these
[1:32:19] levels rather than if it's just one
[1:32:22] level. It's like, and I know this is
[1:32:24] kind of a nuance. I mean, you know, you pay as you go and you know, if you
[1:32:30] lose use less, you pay less. But if it's
[1:32:34] tiered, it just kind of seems that
[1:32:36] there's a nuanced
[1:32:39] um opportunity to individuals do their
[1:32:43] own thing with conservation. So I I know
[1:32:46] we said that we're not into conservation
[1:32:49] in this exercise, but I just think that
[1:32:53] keeping the tiered rate for Hillsboro
[1:32:54] would be a a good good idea for the
[1:32:58] community.
[1:33:00] >> Thank you for those comments. Um do we
[1:33:02] have any additional um cards? Um,
[1:33:14] » hello. Welcome. Could you just introduce
[1:33:16] your name? Yes.
[1:33:17] >> Yes. Uh, good evening, mayor and city
[1:33:19] council members. My name is Dwayne
[1:33:21] Musfeld and I reside at 75 Orange Court
[1:33:24] in Hillsboro. And uh certainly this was
[1:33:28] educational for me and I'm sure the
[1:33:29] audience members about reasoning behind
[1:33:32] getting away from the tier which the
[1:33:34] main focus appeared to me to be because
[1:33:37] of conflicting appellet decisions.
[1:33:42] I am a retired lawyer but in that
[1:33:45] practice I know that when you have
[1:33:47] conflicting appellet decisions
[1:33:49] ordinarily the Supreme Court will
[1:33:51] eventually step in and resolve those
[1:33:53] conflicts. I also appreciate that at
[1:33:56] this point it's uncertain what they will
[1:33:58] do when they finally get to that point.
[1:34:00] But my question is if within the next
[1:34:05] year or two or whenever the Supreme
[1:34:08] Court of California does resolve this
[1:34:10] issue and they find for whatever reason
[1:34:13] consistent with what happened in Los
[1:34:15] Angeles in that decision,
[1:34:18] is there a mechanism that at that point
[1:34:21] because that would be the final
[1:34:22] resolution subject to whatever the
[1:34:24] legislature might do of course is it
[1:34:27] envisioned that we would then at that
[1:34:31] point when hands would be untied
[1:34:35] go back to the tiered system or is there
[1:34:37] some other reason beyond the conflicting
[1:34:41] appellet decisions that is driving this
[1:34:44] away from the tiered system which seems
[1:34:46] to be preferable.
[1:34:50] >> Um I I think I would um welcome a
[1:34:53] comment from our attorney. I mean
[1:34:54] clearly we had been studying this for
[1:34:56] the past many years to try to explain to
[1:35:01] the courts regarding our tiered system
[1:35:04] the drivers behind what's driving the co uh the cost for us I mean you're
[1:35:10] right there are other costs that have
[1:35:11] been discussed as well infrastructure
[1:35:13] costs the cost of purchasing water etc
[1:35:16] but not getting a clear directive from
[1:35:18] the courts at this time makes it
[1:35:19] difficult for us to um pursue the
[1:35:23] current system we had which was a tiered
[1:35:25] system. And um as you stated we we
[1:35:29] really must obviously we're abided by
[1:35:31] whatever the courts decide at this point
[1:35:33] and we'll follow that until we have some
[1:35:35] other flexibility.
[1:35:36] Now when that will happen it's hard to
[1:35:39] know because it would be to potentially
[1:35:41] a different council, different
[1:35:43] circumstances, different environment but
[1:35:46] um I I would invite attorney to add any
[1:35:49] comments to that in terms of the courts
[1:35:52] and when we would expect the Supreme
[1:35:54] Court to weigh in. Do we have any idea
[1:35:57] when that will be? The state supreme
[1:35:59] court that is.
[1:35:59] >> Yeah. Um no thank you very much and
[1:36:01] thank you for that question. So the
[1:36:03] Supreme Court has taken up the Los
[1:36:04] Angeles case. Um that case is fully
[1:36:08] briefed except for the amikas brief
[1:36:10] which is a brief that's submitted from
[1:36:12] friends of the court. Um and we'll be
[1:36:14] submitting that one on July one. So
[1:36:17] after that it will be fully brief but
[1:36:19] there is a bit of a backlog right now
[1:36:20] with the Supreme Court. So we are
[1:36:22] expecting an opinion within about a year
[1:36:24] and a half. Um, there's also legislation
[1:36:27] there's a legislative effort which the
[1:36:28] town has submitted a letter in support
[1:36:30] of that seeks to get clarity by
[1:36:32] codifying the Los Angeles decision into
[1:36:35] statute. Uh, so when those things are
[1:36:37] clarified, it's it leaves an opportunity
[1:36:39] for whomever's on the the city council
[1:36:42] to make a decision at that time as to
[1:36:45] the appropriate race structure.
[1:36:48] >> Thank you and thanks for your comments.
[1:36:50] Appreciate that. any additional um
[1:36:53] comments or questions on this issue?
[1:36:56] >> Thank you, Marco. I don't have any
[1:36:58] speaker cards or raised hands on Zoom,
[1:37:00] but if there's anyone else in the
[1:37:01] audience who would like to speak, I
[1:37:03] would invite you to do so now.
[1:37:15] » Yeah, I'm sorry. If you could come to
[1:37:17] the podium, please. I just need to state
[1:37:20] your name. We'll get a speaker card from
[1:37:21] you. Thank you.
[1:37:23] >> Um, Linda Lewis, I was just wondering if
[1:37:26] you could tell us again about when we
[1:37:29] have to send in the letters about our
[1:37:32] how we feel about this new system
[1:37:34] >> underwater.
[1:37:35] >> Yeah, thank you for the question. They
[1:37:37] do need to be submitted uh before the
[1:37:38] close of the public hearing. Council may
[1:37:40] decide something this evening about
[1:37:42] continuing the public hearing and so
[1:37:43] there might be more time than this
[1:37:45] evening but let council confirm that
[1:37:47] they are going to continue the public
[1:37:48] hearing and if so then we would continue
[1:37:50] it to a date certain and by that date
[1:37:52] you would want to get it in in writing
[1:37:54] to the clerk.
[1:37:54] >> Okay. Thank you.
[1:37:55] >> Um thanks for the question and thanks
[1:37:57] for the response. Um I think I was just
[1:38:00] waiting to see if we have any additional
[1:38:02] public comments on this issue before um
[1:38:05] I will ask my um colleagues um any
[1:38:09] additional clarifying question in which
[1:38:11] case seeing none um I would like to
[1:38:14] continue the public hearing until m
[1:38:16] until Monday June 22nd 2026 at 6 p.m.
[1:38:20] and council chambers at town hall. The
[1:38:23] hearing is being continued in order to
[1:38:24] extend the deadline for legal objections
[1:38:28] to June 16, 2026 at 4 p.m. Notice of the
[1:38:33] extended deadline has been mailed to to
[1:38:36] all property owners and customers of
[1:38:38] record. The comments of those
[1:38:40] individuals who spoke this evening have
[1:38:42] been included in the record and we ask
[1:38:44] that only those who did not speak this
[1:38:47] evening speak at the continued public
[1:38:50] hearing. As a reminder, legal objections
[1:38:52] could include the name of the property
[1:38:55] owner or customer of record, address of
[1:38:57] the property, and a description of the
[1:38:59] legal objection with sufficient detail
[1:39:02] to allow the town to determine whether
[1:39:04] any changes to the proposed rates are
[1:39:06] required. The new deadline will be June
[1:39:10] 16, 2026 at 4 pm, meaning any additional
[1:39:14] legal objections must be received by the
[1:39:17] city clerk by that time in order to be
[1:39:19] valid.
[1:39:21] May I have a motion to continue the
[1:39:23] public hearing to June 22nd, 2026 at 6
[1:39:25] p.m.
[1:39:26] >> So move.
[1:39:28] >> Does the motion have a second?
[1:39:30] >> Second.
[1:39:31] >> Thank you. May I have the roll call,
[1:39:33] please?
[1:39:34] >> Thank you, Mayor Cole. Adams,
[1:39:36] >> yes. Schwang,
[1:39:38] >> yes.
[1:39:38] >> Crow,
[1:39:39] >> yes.
[1:39:39] >> Ragdale,
[1:39:40] >> yes. Cole,
[1:39:42] >> yes. Thank you.
[1:39:43] >> Thank you.
[1:39:43] >> And then, Mayor Cole, just so we're
[1:39:44] abundantly clear for the public that is
[1:39:46] here, you do have until June 22nd to
[1:39:48] submit that written protest in writing
[1:39:50] to our city clerk.
[1:39:51] >> June, is it June 16th or June 22nd?
[1:39:53] >> June.
[1:39:54] 16th.
[1:39:55] >> 16th.
[1:39:56] >> Yeah, maybe L clarify. There's June 16th
[1:39:59] for the objections and there's the
[1:40:00] additional date.
[1:40:01] >> Um, I'm sorry. So, there's there's two
[1:40:03] separate types of documents that can be
[1:40:05] filed. One is a legal objection, which
[1:40:07] is if you have a legal concern with the
[1:40:09] rates. Uh those must be filed by June
[1:40:12] 16, 2026 by 4 4 PM. Uh however, if you
[1:40:16] just want to submit a protest to say
[1:40:18] that you're opposed to the rate
[1:40:19] increase, you can submit that up until
[1:40:21] the close of the public hearing on June
[1:40:23] 22nd.
[1:40:26] >> Okay.
[1:40:28] Thank you. Thanks for that
[1:40:29] clarification. Um just next a question.
[1:40:32] Because the public comment period has
[1:40:35] been extended, then there's no further
[1:40:37] discussion on this item among council.
[1:40:39] Is that correct? In
[1:40:40] >> in terms of public future public comment
[1:40:42] or council discussion
[1:40:45] >> in terms of the legal
[1:40:47] >> this evening? Yes. I think council's uh
[1:40:49] done with this item and you could
[1:40:50] proceed to your next item. Yes.
[1:40:51] >> Correct. Okay.
[1:40:54] Um item 18, resolution adopting the
[1:40:58] proposed fiscal year 2026 to 2027
[1:41:01] operating and capital budget and that
[1:41:03] will be presented by our assistant
[1:41:05] finance director, Rich Santiago.
[1:41:08] >> Good evening, Mayor Coleman and Council.
[1:41:10] Yes. Uh tonight is the public hearing
[1:41:12] adopting a resolution to approve the
[1:41:14] fisc year 2627 proposed operating and
[1:41:17] capital budget. Um the process began in
[1:41:21] February during the city council goal
[1:41:23] setting meeting. Uh from there staff uh
[1:41:27] collaborated with departments developing
[1:41:29] the budget book and we presented it to
[1:41:31] the financial advisory committee on
[1:41:33] April 28th. Uh then they recommended to
[1:41:36] move forward with the budget and then we
[1:41:38] had a budget study session at the May
[1:41:41] 11th city council meeting uh which we
[1:41:43] presented to city council and they also
[1:41:46] uh we received feedback from them and
[1:41:48] move forward uh with the budget which
[1:41:50] brings us to tonight the formal budget
[1:41:52] public hearing adoption.
[1:41:55] We also presented this last time, so I
[1:41:57] won't go into the initiatives in detail,
[1:41:59] but you can see the different categories
[1:42:01] listed. Uh, improve community safety,
[1:42:04] emergency preparedness and resilience
[1:42:06] efforts, resiliency efforts, implement
[1:42:09] housing element, and maintain compliance
[1:42:11] with state requirements, enhance quality
[1:42:14] of life, ensure long-term financial
[1:42:16] security, and improve transparency,
[1:42:19] efficiency, and customer service. Those
[1:42:21] are the 2627 city council priorities.
[1:42:26] This is the budget at a glance for
[1:42:28] fiscal year 2627. Total budget is 82.3
[1:42:32] million. It is a 8% decrease um compared
[1:42:36] to the prior year due to uh timing of
[1:42:39] capital improvements um and budget
[1:42:41] amendments that were made to um support
[1:42:43] those projects. And the general fund
[1:42:45] ending reserve is at 26.5
[1:42:48] million. The budget does fund the town's
[1:42:52] uh townwide goals and operations along
[1:42:54] with funding capital spending of about
[1:42:56] 11.6 million. There is no new headcount
[1:43:00] uh increase um and no pre-unding for the
[1:43:03] 115 trust. Uh this budget does include
[1:43:06] two cost of service studies that you've
[1:43:07] heard uh one tonight and then one that
[1:43:09] was adopted in May for sewer. So yeah,
[1:43:12] both enterprise funds have new cost of
[1:43:14] service studies and this budget does
[1:43:16] comply with uh budget and financial
[1:43:18] policies and meets our debt covenants.
[1:43:23] Um this shows the budgets um separated
[1:43:26] by fund uh totaling the 83 or 82.3
[1:43:30] million. uh the general fund the
[1:43:33] increase for that is primarily driven to
[1:43:36] uh from labor and contractual increases
[1:43:39] as well as uh the contribution to
[1:43:41] central county fire department that's a
[1:43:42] 14% increase um the the capital and
[1:43:48] asset replacement those tend to
[1:43:50] fluctuate based on timing of capital uh
[1:43:53] water there is an increase um as
[1:43:55] mentioned in the last uh topic there is
[1:43:59] an increase in SFP PUC rates. That's
[1:44:01] where we purchase our water. That's
[1:44:03] going up 7.4%.
[1:44:05] Uh sewers going down. Um uh sewers going
[1:44:09] down. Uh again, timing of capital as
[1:44:12] well. And then all others primarily the
[1:44:15] 0.9 million it comes from police grant
[1:44:17] funding. Uh it's funding uh radio
[1:44:20] consoles, cameras, and then their annual
[1:44:23] drone drone program.
[1:44:27] And then this is the general fund
[1:44:30] summary. It totals 42.8 million for
[1:44:32] revenue. Uh the primary increases of
[1:44:35] that are 5% increase about 1.3 million
[1:44:38] for projected property tax increase and
[1:44:41] then 1.8 million from building and
[1:44:44] planning fees. If you recall uh building
[1:44:46] and planning did a cost of service study
[1:44:48] which was put as part of the 2627 budget
[1:44:51] increasing the revenue there. um
[1:44:53] expenditures as I mentioned primarily
[1:44:55] labor contractual increases as well as
[1:44:58] central county fire department
[1:44:59] contribution uh leaves a net operating
[1:45:02] excess of 1.8 8 million. And then we do
[1:45:05] capital transfers uh to fund projects
[1:45:07] like storm drain
[1:45:11] sorry storm drain uh facilities
[1:45:13] improvements phases of the general plan
[1:45:16] as well as the uh town hall complex
[1:45:19] planning.
[1:45:22] Uh Mayor Cole mentioned this earlier. We
[1:45:24] got our um GFO distinguished budget
[1:45:27] award for the last fiscal year 2025 26.
[1:45:31] Um, I tried to look back how many years
[1:45:33] in a row we we got it. I couldn't go
[1:45:36] that far. It was it was quite a bit. Uh,
[1:45:37] and we anticipate to get it again. So,
[1:45:40] with that, we'll take any questions, but
[1:45:41] our recommendation is to open the public
[1:45:43] hearing, receive comments, close the
[1:45:45] public hearing, and then adopt the
[1:45:47] resolution approving the 2627 budget uh
[1:45:50] for Auburnian capital.
[1:45:53] >> Thank you, Rich Santiago, for the
[1:45:55] presentation. And any clarifying
[1:45:57] questions from the council?
[1:45:59] Seeing none, any public comment on this
[1:46:02] um item.
[1:46:04] >> Thank you, Mayor Cole. I don't have any
[1:46:06] speaker cards uh in the room, but I'll
[1:46:08] give it a moment on Zoom.
[1:46:13] Not seeing any raised hands. Thank you.
[1:46:17] >> Okay. Um bring it back to council for
[1:46:19] comments. Yes. Um Vice Mayor Ragdale,
[1:46:23] >> uh we're so excited to have some members
[1:46:25] of the public here. Uh just wanted to
[1:46:27] let you know those of you watching that
[1:46:29] um we don't take this lightly. It is it
[1:46:32] is a lot of money but um as uh Mr. Sant
[1:46:35] Santiago presented this is I don't know
[1:46:38] the third fourth fifth time we've we've
[1:46:40] gone over the budget. We get a beautiful
[1:46:42] big budget book that we review all
[1:46:45] weekend in midMay. Then we have a formal
[1:46:47] presentation uh and we have separate
[1:46:49] presentations on the fees. So, um, just
[1:46:52] wanted to let you know we do carefully
[1:46:55] consider this, um, important budget.
[1:46:58] >> Yes, Council Member Adams.
[1:47:00] >> And just to add on to that, we also get
[1:47:04] advice from the financial advisory
[1:47:07] committee that reviews it before we even
[1:47:10] get it. So, uh, it's thoroughly vetted.
[1:47:16] Okay. Um, do we see no additional
[1:47:19] comments? Do we have a motion to adopt a
[1:47:21] resolution approving fiscal year 2026
[1:47:23] 2027 proposed operating capital budget?
[1:47:26] So moved. You have a second.
[1:47:30] >> Um could we take a roll call, please?
[1:47:32] >> Adams,
[1:47:34] >> yes.
[1:47:36] >> Kurlic,
[1:47:36] >> yes.
[1:47:37] >> Ragdale,
[1:47:38] >> yes.
[1:47:38] >> Call,
[1:47:39] >> yes.
[1:47:40] >> Thank you.
[1:47:41] Motion carries 5. Um item 19
[1:47:46] um resolution approving the category 3
[1:47:49] grade grading permit application for the
[1:47:52] construction of private improvement at
[1:47:54] 101 Robin Road under SQA guidelines
[1:47:58] 15303
[1:48:03] and that will be present. There you are
[1:48:06] Mr. Belch. Thank you so much.
[1:48:09] >> Uh good evening mayor, vice mayor,
[1:48:11] council members. My name is Doug
[1:48:13] Belchek. I'm the associate civil
[1:48:14] engineer for the town of Hillsboro and I
[1:48:16] will be presenting tonight's public
[1:48:18] hearing item on the category 3 grading
[1:48:20] permit application for 101 Robin Road.
[1:48:25] Uh staff and property owner
[1:48:27] representatives are available after the
[1:48:29] presentation to answer any questions.
[1:48:34] Uh getting started. 101 Robin Road is
[1:48:37] located in central Hillsboro right near
[1:48:39] the intersection with Robin Road and uh
[1:48:43] Rston A as shown here.
[1:48:49] As is consistent with all uh private
[1:48:52] property development in town, the
[1:48:53] homeowners of 101 Robin Road applied for
[1:48:56] and received a grading permit for the
[1:48:59] construction of an ADU and some addition
[1:49:01] to the main residence on the property.
[1:49:04] Um afterwards, they decided to revise
[1:49:07] their current active grading permit to
[1:49:10] include some additional site
[1:49:11] improvements which now include a sports
[1:49:14] court, a new driveway, some new
[1:49:16] landscaping, a spa, and some patios.
[1:49:19] All of that was approved by ADRB back in
[1:49:22] June 20, 2024 and were deemed
[1:49:25] categorically exempt from SQA.
[1:49:31] Per the municipal code 1224, projects
[1:49:35] that have an excess of 1,500 cubic yards
[1:49:38] of onhaul or offhaul are required to be
[1:49:42] approved at a city council meeting at a
[1:49:44] public hearing. The quantities
[1:49:46] associated with this specific project
[1:49:49] are 2,125
[1:49:51] cubic yards of export or offhaul.
[1:49:55] Since the project has an active grading
[1:49:57] permit, the contractor is already
[1:49:59] mobilized. So if the permit gets
[1:50:02] approved tonight, uh the contractor is
[1:50:04] ready to get started as soon as
[1:50:07] possible.
[1:50:11] and and this slide is just to show uh
[1:50:14] the two options of dedicated hall routes
[1:50:18] that the trucks offhauling the soil can
[1:50:20] take. So the first one is going down
[1:50:23] Rston towards El Camino Royale and the
[1:50:25] second one is going up Chateau to
[1:50:28] Skyline.
[1:50:30] The grading and hauling will be limited
[1:50:32] to Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to
[1:50:35] 5:00 pm and 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. when
[1:50:39] school is in session.
[1:50:41] To help mitigate the impacts of the
[1:50:44] heavy trucks traveling on Hillsboro
[1:50:46] roads, the applicant will be charged
[1:50:48] vehicle impact fees which will later uh
[1:50:51] be used towards future street
[1:50:53] resurfacing projects in town.
[1:50:56] And as required by the municipal code,
[1:50:58] Hillsboro residents located within 500
[1:51:01] feet of the property were noticed for
[1:51:03] this public hearing. Uh, and as of
[1:51:07] today, staff hasn't received any
[1:51:08] complaints regarding the specific hall
[1:51:11] routes that the trucks have been taking
[1:51:12] for the active grading permit.
[1:51:17] And with that, I can take any questions.
[1:51:20] >> Thank you for the presentation. Any
[1:51:22] questions from the council? Yes, council
[1:51:24] member Cwley. Thanks, Tag. Appreciate
[1:51:26] it. Um, how long is this project
[1:51:29] expected to go on? I mean, I think
[1:51:30] there's been construction on this site
[1:51:32] already for over 18 months.
[1:51:35] >> Uh, correct. If I remember correctly, I
[1:51:38] believe the first grading permit was
[1:51:40] approved in 2023 and that was for the
[1:51:42] ADU and the home or the additions to the
[1:51:45] home and then afterwards now they um
[1:51:47] they're proposing some additional
[1:51:49] improvements. So, it um it may be a
[1:51:51] little longer. Yes.
[1:51:52] >> So, when when are they going to wrap
[1:51:54] this up?
[1:51:56] That is a great question. Unfortunately,
[1:51:58] I don't know.
[1:51:58] >> No, I was on a property adjacent to it
[1:52:00] on Rston and it's noisy. Um, how can
[1:52:04] they mitigate the impact on the
[1:52:06] neighbors?
[1:52:11] I would have to defer to the contractor,
[1:52:14] but I would say that um once the once
[1:52:18] the construction project is done, um I
[1:52:21] know that the resident, not excuse me,
[1:52:22] not the resident, the um
[1:52:25] the architect had mentioned that uh they
[1:52:27] wanted to in to put in some landscaping.
[1:52:31] Um but that's of course after
[1:52:33] construction's done.
[1:52:34] Well, and then my last question, maybe
[1:52:36] Nataline's gonna, is is are we
[1:52:38] collecting fees for any potential damage
[1:52:41] to the roads?
[1:52:42] >> Yes, that would be the the impact fees,
[1:52:45] the vehicle impact fees.
[1:52:47] >> Thank you.
[1:52:47] >> Um, and to answer your previous
[1:52:49] question, sorry I butchered it. Um, I
[1:52:51] believe the uh architect is on Zoom,
[1:52:55] Eric Nas.
[1:52:57] >> Oh, it's Eric. Hello, Eric.
[1:53:02] Um, do you have anything to add about
[1:53:04] how they can mitigate this ongoing
[1:53:07] noise?
[1:53:08] >> Hello.
[1:53:10] >> Yes, members of the council. Hello. Uh,
[1:53:12] good evening. I'm sorry I couldn't be
[1:53:13] there in person this evening. Um, on a on a trip for my daughter's
[1:53:17] graduation that couldn't be uh couldn't
[1:53:19] be altered, unfortunately. So, um, thank
[1:53:21] you for for your focus on this matter
[1:53:23] and and your questions. Um, yes, it's
[1:53:27] been sort of a a progressive project in
[1:53:29] that they uh like Doug said, we had an
[1:53:32] open grading permit for the ADU and this
[1:53:35] new driveway that was actually uh
[1:53:38] improved for firet truck access because
[1:53:40] the original driveway was very very much
[1:53:42] uh uh a bunch of hair pins and uh turns
[1:53:45] that were very difficult for a truck to
[1:53:47] make. So, we've improved the driveway in
[1:53:49] the first uh grading permit and then the
[1:53:52] second one came up as a result of uh a
[1:53:55] desire to create a small accessory
[1:53:57] structures um with an with a sport
[1:54:00] court. Um and so it is it is a bit of a
[1:54:04] longer project, but it's um but it's a
[1:54:06] large project. And I think the good
[1:54:08] thing is that the large majority of of
[1:54:11] the big earth moving has largely been
[1:54:13] done. And so I think there'll be less
[1:54:16] heavy equipment out there and more focus
[1:54:18] on on constructions, you know, hammering
[1:54:21] nails, things like that, uh versus heavy
[1:54:23] equipment. Now, there's still need to
[1:54:24] offhaul the dirt. Um but a way to uh to make that more efficient is to finish
[1:54:30] off the driveway that we have uh because
[1:54:32] it's not completely done. Uh but Doug
[1:54:34] and Paul and and the teams at the
[1:54:36] engineering and public works have been
[1:54:37] great in working with us too to allow us
[1:54:40] to finish off the first grading permit
[1:54:42] before we activate this revision and
[1:54:44] amended uh grading permit for the larger
[1:54:47] scope of work. So they are um you know
[1:54:50] trying to plow ahead as as quickly as
[1:54:52] possible and as Doug mentioned if this
[1:54:54] is approved they're ready to go tomorrow
[1:54:57] to continue this so we can keep this as um as expedited as possible.
[1:55:03] Thank you.
[1:55:04] >> Thank you. Um, Council Member Adams has
[1:55:06] questions. Yes.
[1:55:08] >> Yes. Uh, thank you very much, Doug. Uh,
[1:55:10] this your report, uh, talked about 213
[1:55:16] round trips, and maybe if Eric stays on,
[1:55:19] I tried to figure out how many a day
[1:55:21] that might be. uh even if if it's four
[1:55:25] days this will be 50 days for four uh
[1:55:29] trucks truckloads a day would be 50 more
[1:55:33] days and I so I wanted to know about how
[1:55:37] long there would be these large trucks
[1:55:39] but in addition
[1:55:41] uh we are we do have construction at
[1:55:45] Crocker school at the same time and
[1:55:49] there could be congestion with these
[1:55:51] large trucks because there'll be
[1:55:53] construction trucks also uh either
[1:55:56] dealing with rston or trying to head to
[1:55:59] El Camino. So, those are my two
[1:56:01] questions.
[1:56:04] >> Uh I can take the second one, Eric, if
[1:56:06] you want to take the first one. Um but
[1:56:08] for the hauling routes, absolutely. We
[1:56:10] can we can require the contractor to to
[1:56:12] go up Chateau to Skyline instead.
[1:56:15] Well, at least if that it could be
[1:56:17] coordinated with u the work that's
[1:56:21] happening at Crocker.
[1:56:24] >> I think I think that's a great idea and
[1:56:26] I think to the extent that we can we
[1:56:28] certainly should and I think it's
[1:56:29] probably most feasible to go north or
[1:56:31] excuse me west u to to um to 280 in the direction of 280. And then as far
[1:56:37] as the number of trucks, I don't know
[1:56:39] exactly what the contractors uh my guess
[1:56:41] is it'll be more front-loaded. They'll
[1:56:43] take a bunch of those. So, it'll be more
[1:56:44] than four trucks a day for for a period
[1:56:47] of time. Um, and hopefully get it off
[1:56:49] sooner rather than later. You know, uh
[1:56:52] um 213 I think that includes what's
[1:56:54] already been graded. So, um a portion of
[1:56:57] that's already been done. So, that
[1:56:58] number will should come down.
[1:57:04] » Um council member,
[1:57:06] >> thank you. Um, so Doug, could you go
[1:57:09] back to the route that the picture of
[1:57:12] the route that you shown?
[1:57:17] this route is that for all the trucks
[1:57:20] that are going by, this is the route
[1:57:22] that they're taking to the skyline
[1:57:25] >> specifically for this project. Yes.
[1:57:27] >> Okay. So in the past we do have in other
[1:57:29] neighborhoods where they they have the
[1:57:32] grading and then they were very
[1:57:34] sensitive to the neighbors noise and to
[1:57:37] council member Krlic's um comments
[1:57:39] regarding the noise it is in that area
[1:57:43] sort of in the valley where the noise
[1:57:46] even called
[1:57:48] exacerbated I would say so um to the
[1:57:51] extent that um
[1:57:55] will the contractor be able to mitigate
[1:57:57] it either a shorter times for more
[1:58:00] frequencies or is there any way where
[1:58:03] they can so it's not a prolonged
[1:58:06] um whole day hauling but rather that
[1:58:09] they can trying to condense it in a way
[1:58:12] that makes more sense and least um
[1:58:16] intrusive to the neighbors and to the um
[1:58:19] you know uh to the cars on the street or
[1:58:22] the you know bicycle cyclists on the
[1:58:26] Yeah, it'll uh ultimately be up to the
[1:58:28] contractor to determine schedule of of
[1:58:31] when to offhaul, but for the town
[1:58:33] specifically, we can require, for
[1:58:35] example, the second set of hours where
[1:58:36] it's 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. where
[1:58:39] instead of being too early or too noisy,
[1:58:42] too early or too late. Um, we could we
[1:58:44] could require that.
[1:58:46] >> Yeah, I I think that would be much
[1:58:47] appreciated by all uh just in in terms
[1:58:50] of everyone understand that construction
[1:58:52] is happening especially in the
[1:58:53] summertime. um you know so that is
[1:58:56] always a fine line as to how to go about
[1:58:59] getting it done um but at the same time
[1:59:01] without dragging it on to try to reduce
[1:59:03] the noise and the dust will be just
[1:59:05] awesome. Thank you.
[1:59:07] >> Thank you. Um Vice Mayor Rexdale.
[1:59:10] >> Uh thank you. Just a super quick point
[1:59:12] about the school. Um it school here in
[1:59:16] town is going later than usual this year
[1:59:18] because um they started later because of
[1:59:21] construction. So it's still in session.
[1:59:23] So, just want to make sure they know
[1:59:25] that because it is later than normal. It
[1:59:26] doesn't get out till June 17th. And
[1:59:29] also, uh, if if things are still the
[1:59:31] same, they have early release on
[1:59:33] Thursday, so the hours should be
[1:59:36] adjusted for Thursdays. Thank you.
[1:59:39] >> Thank you. Um, we'll now turn for public
[1:59:41] comments. Do we have any public comments
[1:59:43] on this issue either in chambers or via
[1:59:46] Zoom?
[1:59:48] >> Thank you, Mayor Cole. I don't have any
[1:59:50] speaker cards but we have a couple of
[1:59:52] raised hands on Zoom. I'll start with um
[1:59:55] Shala.
[1:59:57] >> Hello Shala.
[1:59:58] >> Hello. I'm Shala Sadi and I live at 1190
[2:00:02] Barrier and uh this project I'm a
[2:00:06] neighbor of theirs and uh I was really
[2:00:10] uh more concerned about all the changes
[2:00:13] in grading as to how it impacts the
[2:00:17] creek because my property the creek ends
[2:00:20] on my property and if there's too much
[2:00:22] water like there was in 2022 with the
[2:00:26] atmospheric river there was flooding.
[2:00:29] So I just wanted to understand
[2:00:32] um with the changes if uh um you know
[2:00:37] they have adequate protection
[2:00:40] um for
[2:00:42] mitigating any kind of flooding into my
[2:00:44] property.
[2:00:47] >> Doug, I'm happy to comment on this too,
[2:00:48] Doug.
[2:00:50] >> Um yes. Um Eric, if you could weigh in
[2:00:53] on this in terms of drainage um
[2:00:57] >> Sure. I think what's I think what's
[2:00:58] actually advantageous with this project
[2:01:00] and most projects that are new in this
[2:01:01] town is that the rules require us to to
[2:01:05] try and and and and adapt the site to
[2:01:08] retain more water than it normally would
[2:01:11] have in in in the historic past. So, um
[2:01:13] the advantage here is that we've been
[2:01:15] able to engineer uh large retention
[2:01:18] tanks under the ground. I mean 5t in
[2:01:20] diameter and I don't know they're 25 ft
[2:01:23] long or something. And they're really
[2:01:24] designed to collect a lot of this water
[2:01:26] that that
[2:01:28] prior to this project would have run
[2:01:30] right to that creek uh and down Miss
[2:01:33] Sadi's uh property. And so this project
[2:01:36] in in particular hasn't affected the
[2:01:38] creek uh in any way. Uh we've had a
[2:01:41] biologist on site establish the top of
[2:01:42] bank and make sure that we're clear of
[2:01:44] it. We have letters. So we're we're at
[2:01:46] the end of the day, we're actually
[2:01:47] probably making this better um from a water drainage perspective. And I
[2:01:52] think the town has plans ultimately to
[2:01:53] put a a slle gate in the middle of the
[2:01:55] road that is on the edge of this
[2:01:58] property's um uh the creek at the end of
[2:02:01] the creek next to the roadway there
[2:02:03] which will also help sort of control the
[2:02:04] flows of the waters. So all that's been
[2:02:07] you know new in the last two or three
[2:02:08] years which wouldn't have existed prior.
[2:02:10] So a lot of advancements have been made.
[2:02:13] >> thanks for that uh feedback and any
[2:02:17] additional public comments? Uh yes. Uh
[2:02:20] Jazella.
[2:02:25] » Hello Jazella.
[2:02:27] >> Yes. Hello.
[2:02:28] >> Um
[2:02:30] let me just start. And I am Jazella
[2:02:33] Shiano. This is my daughter Natalia.
[2:02:37] >> Shiano.
[2:02:38] >> Hi. Uh I'm Natalia. We reside at 1186
[2:02:42] Burial Drive and our house is situated
[2:02:45] just downhill of the property at 101
[2:02:48] Robin Road. Since the very beginning of
[2:02:50] this lengthy construction job at 101
[2:02:52] Robin Road, myself and a few neighbors
[2:02:55] included have been dealing with the
[2:02:56] recurring issue of excessive water
[2:02:58] draining into neighboring yards. While
[2:03:00] the drainage was partially addressed, it
[2:03:02] proved insufficient during the last few
[2:03:04] large storms. We observed very large
[2:03:07] amounts of water passing through our
[2:03:09] property onto the road and beginning
[2:03:11] towards the opposite side of the street
[2:03:14] on some occasions. This lack of control
[2:03:16] is very concerning to us. Our primary
[2:03:19] concern in regards to the grading
[2:03:21] proposition is whether or not new
[2:03:23] drainage will be implemented to
[2:03:24] adequately contain the water. We have
[2:03:27] little faith in the existing drainage
[2:03:28] based on experience and I'm concerned
[2:03:30] the grading will cause more strain than
[2:03:32] the current drainage can handle.
[2:03:34] Considering the lack of planning
[2:03:36] regarding the grading to begin with,
[2:03:38] what plans are in place to ensure the
[2:03:40] grading project will not cause further
[2:03:42] issues with drainage? And finally, a
[2:03:45] quick side note for the city. A
[2:03:47] discussion about raising drainage
[2:03:48] standards may be worthwhile, especially
[2:03:50] considering the incoming El Nino storms.
[2:03:53] Um, we're wondering, are the current
[2:03:55] 25-year storm standards sufficient or do
[2:03:58] we need to consider a more robust
[2:04:00] drainage standard to deal with changing
[2:04:01] climates?
[2:04:05] Um, thanks for those for that question
[2:04:07] and comments. Um, m Mr. uh Ni House, you
[2:04:11] you've commented already on the existing
[2:04:13] drainage. Um, is it subsequent to um
[2:04:17] what the resident commented on?
[2:04:20] >> Sure, I'm I'm happy to answer that. uh
[2:04:23] you know there is no grading currently
[2:04:25] being uh proposed other than what's been
[2:04:27] done along that property line that
[2:04:29] borders all the Blay um uh properties
[2:04:33] and I know that uh the house prior to
[2:04:35] the new owner um working on it the the
[2:04:39] water system the water drainage system
[2:04:40] that was adjacent to the house between
[2:04:42] the properties was clogged up a lot of
[2:04:44] silt in there was not functioning
[2:04:46] properly and there was a new drain pipe
[2:04:50] run along that whole property to
[2:04:52] redirect it and the collection well, if
[2:04:55] you will, that was next to the house uh
[2:04:58] was cleared up and made to function a
[2:05:00] lot better. So, um this is the first
[2:05:02] I've heard of the drainage issues on the neighbors. So, I'm happy to to
[2:05:07] discuss this further with a civil
[2:05:08] engineer and see see what other remedies
[2:05:10] there might be. Um but again, it's the
[2:05:13] first I've heard of it. So, I'll I can
[2:05:15] certainly ask the uh the professionals
[2:05:17] involved in the project.
[2:05:19] >> Yeah. and and our director of public
[2:05:20] works, one of the very top civil
[2:05:23] engineers perhaps in the state is here
[2:05:25] to comment on that.
[2:05:26] >> Thank you for the the compliment, madame
[2:05:28] mayor, and it's something we talk about
[2:05:29] often in the county level. The um the
[2:05:32] property I visited there long before the
[2:05:35] project and the property literally has a
[2:05:38] river that runs through it, a a big
[2:05:40] waterway that's been carved through
[2:05:42] thousands of years. Uh it is
[2:05:44] unreasonable for us for us to ask any
[2:05:47] resident to mitigate all the water that
[2:05:49] comes from the hillside because it
[2:05:51] originates up near 280. Uh but to the
[2:05:53] credit of Mr. Nyas and his team and
[2:05:56] their civil engineers, they do have and
[2:05:58] they've con designed really really large
[2:06:01] detention systems. Uh the reality is
[2:06:03] yes, as our resident who called in from
[2:06:06] Burial said, uh the standards are 25
[2:06:09] years and that's the maximum we can ask
[2:06:11] for. Uh we would love to have a
[2:06:13] hundred-year detention system, but that
[2:06:16] is way above and beyond uh what we can
[2:06:19] ask for and in most cases would be not
[2:06:22] affordable for a resident to do. Uh the
[2:06:25] issue that we have with most drainage
[2:06:28] systems throughout town and on the p
[2:06:31] public and private side is when you have
[2:06:33] an atmospheric river and you have
[2:06:35] multiple days of massive storms, the
[2:06:38] detention systems don't have a way to
[2:06:41] flush out what's there. So they're
[2:06:43] detaining and then if you have a storm
[2:06:45] that occurs two days later, they've
[2:06:47] filled up and then they've lost that
[2:06:49] capacity. So when we have these big
[2:06:51] atmospheric rivers where two days later
[2:06:53] you have a hundred-year storm then you
[2:06:55] have another large storm happening none
[2:06:58] of the systems can accommodate that and
[2:07:00] that's where really we end up going back
[2:07:02] into the local waterways. Um we can ask
[2:07:05] for the maximum that's practical. We can
[2:07:08] ask the resident to go above and beyond
[2:07:10] and in many cases they do that. I know
[2:07:13] in the case here on Robin Road uh my
[2:07:16] understanding is the work is not yet
[2:07:17] completed. Uh what we can do to make
[2:07:19] sure that the resident does a good job
[2:07:21] on a yearly basis is there is a storm
[2:07:24] water treatment measures maintenance
[2:07:26] agreement that is recorded against the
[2:07:27] property. Not just this owner, but it's
[2:07:29] on the property. And on an annual basis,
[2:07:32] our staff or other professionals
[2:07:34] actually check these systems to make
[2:07:36] sure they're clear, they have maximum
[2:07:38] capacity, and they're maintained. So
[2:07:39] that's the one guarantee we can do once
[2:07:41] the project is completed.
[2:07:45] that is um very helpful information
[2:07:47] about the monitoring of the drainage
[2:07:50] system ongoing subsequently. I think
[2:07:52] that that's um very helpful. Um I would really like to finish this item
[2:08:00] um before we take a break.
[2:08:03] >> Yes. Go ahead. Yeah.
[2:08:06] Uh uh can can we since this is uh before
[2:08:11] council and they need council approval
[2:08:15] for the creating could we attach a
[2:08:17] condition that it's a larger drainage
[2:08:20] system is required.
[2:08:22] >> So they've already done a proposed one
[2:08:25] to the maximum um extent possible uh
[2:08:28] other than going through a redesign and
[2:08:31] again what we do is we look at the
[2:08:33] precondition and the post. to as Mr. Ny
[2:08:36] said we actually make them uh construct
[2:08:38] and detain well beyond what was there
[2:08:41] pre-existing and before this project
[2:08:42] there was nothing you was just a creek
[2:08:45] that ran through it and and local
[2:08:47] vegetation. So now there is at least a
[2:08:49] backdrop and a way to slow down the
[2:08:51] water and that initial storm. Um,
[2:08:54] >> is there anything in this extra grading
[2:08:57] that leads to more water runoff than
[2:09:00] >> There's nothing that leads to increased
[2:09:02] water runoff because the impervious
[2:09:04] areas are calculated and designed for
[2:09:08] and detained above and beyond what's
[2:09:10] added. So, it is definitely improved.
[2:09:14] It does and it does not increase uh
[2:09:16] >> so allowing this extra grading with the
[2:09:19] drainage system that's being installed
[2:09:21] it will improve the runoff from the way
[2:09:23] it is now.
[2:09:24] >> It will improve the runoff from what it
[2:09:26] is presently. Absolutely.
[2:09:28] >> Thank you.
[2:09:30] Um I see that we have two um comments or
[2:09:34] two hands up on Zoom but it's the same
[2:09:36] individuals and they've already um
[2:09:38] spoken to this issue. Do we have any new
[2:09:40] um resident comments from the public?
[2:09:44] >> Uh no, Mayor Cole, we do not.
[2:09:46] >> Um we we really um need to move the
[2:09:49] agenda along. And um we can also have um
[2:09:54] Shala and Jazilla could you submit
[2:09:56] additional comments and to the city
[2:09:59] clerk and we could certainly add that to
[2:10:02] uh the comments but I I don't city
[2:10:05] attorney I don't believe we um need to
[2:10:07] go into more discussion with regards to
[2:10:09] public comments at this point.
[2:10:11] >> No Mayor Cole I think if the council's
[2:10:13] ready to take action you are free to do
[2:10:14] so. If you feel like you need more
[2:10:16] information, we could take that
[2:10:17] direction tonight and bring this back if
[2:10:18] you want to continue the item. But the
[2:10:20] item is ready for you to take action on
[2:10:22] tonight.
[2:10:23] >> Um, do we have any additional question
[2:10:26] or comments from the council? Um, I
[2:10:28] would like to Yeah,
[2:10:30] >> Vice Mayor Ragdale,
[2:10:31] >> just a quick comment. Um, to the
[2:10:34] residents, you should always feel free
[2:10:36] to come down to town hall and uh someone
[2:10:39] can meet with you and uh further discuss
[2:10:42] any issues that you have. Thank you.
[2:10:45] to the mayor. I was just going to
[2:10:46] volunteer. Our residents, they are
[2:10:49] always welcome to come up to
[2:10:50] engineering. Um Mr. Belchick is a good
[2:10:53] great host and he can go through the
[2:10:54] plans in detail. We do that with
[2:10:56] residents. The other thing that we can
[2:10:58] do and I know Mr. Nyas has has always
[2:11:00] been receptive as a good neighbor is
[2:11:02] when the project gets closer to
[2:11:03] completion, maybe even a sitewalk just
[2:11:06] so we can show the neighbors how the
[2:11:08] improvements should uh improve the
[2:11:10] neighborhood.
[2:11:11] >> Right. So, um, Shalo and Jizelle, um,
[2:11:14] both the director of public works and,
[2:11:16] um, the contractor on this case, Mr.
[2:11:18] Nhouse, is available if you want to
[2:11:21] reach out to them. They would be happy
[2:11:23] to go into further discussion to clarify
[2:11:25] and address some of your concerns is
[2:11:28] what I'm hearing. In which case, can we
[2:11:30] um, do we have a motion to adopt the
[2:11:32] resolution?
[2:11:35] >> Excuse me.
[2:11:37] >> You have additional comment.
[2:11:39] >> I didn't comment yet. I questioned, but
[2:11:40] I didn't comment yet.
[2:11:41] >> Okay. please comment.
[2:11:43] >> All right, they may proceed.
[2:11:44] >> Um, so first of all, Eric,
[2:11:46] congratulations on your daughter's
[2:11:47] graduation. Um, so I would just urge the um the applicant to expedite the
[2:11:56] project and wrap it up as soon as
[2:11:58] possible. And I think just as a town, we
[2:12:01] maybe need to learn, we maybe need to
[2:12:04] look at this issue of these serial
[2:12:07] permits. So every permit that's issued,
[2:12:10] someone is given 24 months to wrap up
[2:12:13] the project. But this was issued a
[2:12:15] permit two years ago and now there's
[2:12:17] another permit and another permit. So I
[2:12:19] think we really need to look at
[2:12:21] considering a time limit for an overall
[2:12:23] project and maybe with that expanding I
[2:12:26] think right now when you get a permit
[2:12:28] you have 12 months to start
[2:12:29] construction. maybe expanding that time
[2:12:32] so that people get a chance to put their
[2:12:34] ducks in a row and once they start get
[2:12:38] finished because it's it's you know um I know our applicants try to be
[2:12:43] respectful of neighbors. I at least I
[2:12:46] think they do. But residents deserve to
[2:12:48] have some peace in their own homes and
[2:12:50] when you have a construction project
[2:12:51] like this next door it's it's not
[2:12:54] peaceful. So, that is my um I I'm
[2:12:57] inclined to uh vote to approve, but with
[2:13:01] the request that that this applicant
[2:13:04] stop asking for more permits and get
[2:13:06] this thing wrapped up.
[2:13:09] Okay. Um do we have a motion to adopt a
[2:13:12] resolution approving any additional
[2:13:15] comments? I assume there's no additional
[2:13:16] comments. will move forward with a
[2:13:18] motion to adopt the resolution approving
[2:13:19] the grading permit application for the
[2:13:21] construction of private improvement at
[2:13:23] 101 Robin Road under SQA guidelines
[2:13:26] 15303.
[2:13:28] >> So move.
[2:13:29] >> Do we have a second?
[2:13:32] >> Second.
[2:13:33] >> Could you please take the roll call?
[2:13:35] Thank you.
[2:13:36] >> Adams,
[2:13:37] >> yes.
[2:13:38] >> Cru,
[2:13:39] >> yes.
[2:13:39] >> Ragdale,
[2:13:40] >> yes.
[2:13:40] >> Cole,
[2:13:41] >> yes. And I will ask um the staff to
[2:13:45] please indulge us for a quick bio break.
[2:13:48] Um five minutes and we will wrap this
[2:13:51] up. Thank you.
[2:14:00] We'll now resume uh the city
[2:14:02] council meeting and the final item on
[2:14:05] our agenda is an old item. However,
[2:14:07] needed a follow-up. Um item 20, Tobin
[2:14:10] Clark housing site updates and
[2:14:12] authorization for implementation of
[2:14:14] phase two of the projects. And that will
[2:14:17] be introduced by our assistant city
[2:14:18] manager, Mandy Brown, and presented by
[2:14:21] Wendy Baker, principal of Harmony Park
[2:14:24] Development. She will provide the
[2:14:26] presentation.
[2:14:27] >> Yes. Thank you, Mayor Cole. Um just
[2:14:30] going to give some brief opening
[2:14:31] comments. The last time we were here was
[2:14:33] to approve the contract with Harmony
[2:14:35] Park in October. Um and that was an
[2:14:38] approval of the contract but with the uh
[2:14:41] promise to return to the council before
[2:14:43] proceeding to phase two. So we are at
[2:14:45] the completion of phase one. Um and so
[2:14:48] in a moment Wendy and Don will give a
[2:14:51] robust update in the staff report. Um
[2:14:54] there's a bit of a very high level but I
[2:14:56] encourage everyone to read all of the
[2:14:58] attachments uh with a lot more uh
[2:15:01] details on the site evaluation as well
[2:15:03] as financial feasibility. Uh by way of
[2:15:06] background, the Tobin Clark housing site
[2:15:08] was one of the sites identified in the
[2:15:10] certified housing element for the town.
[2:15:12] Uh it's part of the commitment to
[2:15:15] fulfill the multifamily housing
[2:15:16] requirements for the town. So this
[2:15:19] project represents the execution of that
[2:15:22] component of the housing element. Um and
[2:15:24] if there are any specific questions on
[2:15:26] the housing element itself, we do have
[2:15:28] Liz Reese on the line. Um, but we're uh
[2:15:30] here today to focus on really a project
[2:15:33] update on where we are uh with regards
[2:15:35] to phase one and 1A and 1B before
[2:15:39] proceeding to phase two. So with that,
[2:15:41] I'll turn it over to principal of
[2:15:43] Harmony Park Development, Wendy Baker
[2:15:45] and Don Kapres.
[2:15:48] >> Welcome, Miss Baker.
[2:15:50] >> Thank you. Thank you, Mandy. Uh thank
[2:15:52] you for having us. um council um and
[2:15:56] honorable mayor, vice mayor, staff, and
[2:15:58] members of the public. It's really great
[2:16:00] to be here to provide an update on what
[2:16:02] we've been doing for the last about six
[2:16:04] months or so since we were last in front
[2:16:07] of the council. Uh I'm Wendy Baker. I'm
[2:16:09] a principal at Harmony Park Development.
[2:16:11] My business partner, Don Capobrace, is
[2:16:13] here as well. He's sort of the financial
[2:16:16] chops. I kind of do a lot of the
[2:16:18] consulting um reports and and
[2:16:20] understanding of running the consultant
[2:16:22] team like architects, civils and so
[2:16:24] forth.
[2:16:26] So starting at the 10,000 foot level
[2:16:29] just an overall executive summary of
[2:16:31] what our findings were over the last six
[2:16:34] months. We really treated like this this
[2:16:36] like a due diligence exercise for any
[2:16:38] project. Very preliminary. We walked
[2:16:41] into this site never we'd only walked it
[2:16:43] once with staff during the RFP process.
[2:16:46] So really were learning about this along
[2:16:48] the way. And so as a part of our
[2:16:51] executive summary, you know, we tested a
[2:16:54] number of different options with the
[2:16:56] housing element and the community goals
[2:16:58] at the top of mind.
[2:17:00] We did an initial multifamily only
[2:17:03] concept which we ultimately determined
[2:17:05] was infeasible. So then we revise the
[2:17:08] framework um with a mixed housing
[2:17:10] approach that actually does achieve
[2:17:12] feasibility and that also balances the
[2:17:16] housing goals, the cost and the open
[2:17:18] space.
[2:17:20] So a little bit of background and some
[2:17:23] context. It's a 21.5 acre property. It's
[2:17:27] part of the over 50 plus acre townowned
[2:17:30] Tobin Clark property.
[2:17:32] Your housing element targets are 100
[2:17:35] multifamily units. They include mixed
[2:17:38] income uh units. So there's 44 lowincome
[2:17:41] units, six moderate rate, and 50 market
[2:17:44] rate homes identified in the h housing
[2:17:46] element. And the town also provided us
[2:17:48] some goals that they'd like to retain
[2:17:50] the majority ownership of this land.
[2:17:53] They also would like to have an
[2:17:54] opportunity for on-site community
[2:17:56] benefits for community for Hillsboro
[2:17:58] residents as a whole, not just the Tobin
[2:18:00] Clark residents.
[2:18:04] So, our phase one included like kind of
[2:18:06] two subphases so that we had talked
[2:18:08] about this last time we were here. If we
[2:18:10] encountered a challenge, we could always
[2:18:12] offramp so we weren't just spending
[2:18:13] money on something infeasible. So we
[2:18:16] spent a lot of time with the
[2:18:17] subcommittee over the last six months
[2:18:19] discussing options and feasibility and
[2:18:22] financials but the first phase was due
[2:18:25] diligence. We had to get the consultant
[2:18:27] team together to do topographic mapping
[2:18:30] all the contours of the property also do
[2:18:33] a lot of utility due diligence
[2:18:34] understand where the tie-ins are and
[2:18:36] also really understand like preliminary
[2:18:39] grading so that we could identify where
[2:18:40] the most feasible areas of development
[2:18:42] were. Once we were able to establish
[2:18:45] those things, we went into prelim just
[2:18:47] preliminary master planning. So we did a
[2:18:50] lot of iterative testing and refinement
[2:18:52] and then we ran financial physical
[2:18:54] feasibility um analysis throughout the
[2:18:56] process.
[2:18:58] So everyone knows this I think but the
[2:19:00] key site constraints which were also
[2:19:03] identified in the housing element and
[2:19:04] the related SQA document are steep
[2:19:07] slopes, a limited building area
[2:19:09] buildable areas, biological and
[2:19:11] environmental constraints and then a
[2:19:14] lack of existing on-site infrastructure
[2:19:17] although new roadways and utilities that
[2:19:19] would be required are very high cost.
[2:19:22] And then there's access challenges. So
[2:19:24] these were all identified previously and
[2:19:26] we continued to recognize this as we
[2:19:28] went through the due diligence process.
[2:19:31] We initially tested um two multifamily
[2:19:35] buildings. One was a market rate
[2:19:38] building. It was either 50 to 58 units
[2:19:42] for sale or rental. So that building
[2:19:44] ranged in size depending on whether it
[2:19:46] was for sale or rental, but it was all
[2:19:48] market rate. And the second building is
[2:19:51] an affordable housing building of 51
[2:19:53] units. They both were about four and a
[2:19:55] half to five stories over two levels of
[2:19:57] tiered parking that went into the slope.
[2:20:01] And this created the most minimal
[2:20:02] development footprint. And we studied
[2:20:04] that because of the objectives of
[2:20:06] minimizing development footprint, town
[2:20:09] ownership of the land, and trying to
[2:20:12] achieve 100 units.
[2:20:15] But our findings were that there's a
[2:20:17] very high construction cost for these
[2:20:19] buildings and the podium parking that
[2:20:21] went with them. And then there's very
[2:20:23] high infrastructure costs irrespective
[2:20:25] of really what you develop out here
[2:20:27] because you have a looped water system.
[2:20:30] You have c certain areas where the
[2:20:32] utilities tie in and the related
[2:20:34] roadways that serve them. And then
[2:20:36] there's on the podium building there's
[2:20:38] market limitations. So you have rental
[2:20:41] competition and stacked condominium
[2:20:44] competition that sort of limits the um
[2:20:47] maximum out sale or rent value. So our
[2:20:51] conclusion ultimately was that the
[2:20:53] podium market rate program wasn't
[2:20:55] financially feasible but we did get some
[2:20:58] really good input regarding the
[2:21:00] affordable building and so that had the
[2:21:02] potential to attract a variety of
[2:21:04] capital sources. So that made it worth
[2:21:07] pursuit because that's really the
[2:21:08] primary goal here is to get the
[2:21:10] affordable building or affordable units.
[2:21:14] But we also knew that we in order for it
[2:21:16] to be viable, we needed a market rate
[2:21:19] program that could cover the
[2:21:21] infrastructure costs. That's how you get
[2:21:24] an affordable program that's viable.
[2:21:28] So we shifted uh we moved away from
[2:21:31] podium market rate buildings, multif
[2:21:33] family podium market rate buildings and
[2:21:36] we introduced town homes and custom lots
[2:21:39] with ADUs. We maintain the 51 unit
[2:21:42] affordable housing building. Um and this
[2:21:45] created a mixed income and mixed housing
[2:21:49] community which actually aligns better
[2:21:52] with the Hillsboro context. Uh there's a
[2:21:54] variety of heights. It's not all two
[2:21:57] just larger building forms. It's sort of
[2:22:00] there's variation fits in a little bit
[2:22:02] better with the surrounding
[2:22:03] neighborhoods.
[2:22:06] So, this is a very highlevel master
[2:22:09] plan. There's no architecture. It just
[2:22:12] identifies generally where buildings or
[2:22:14] building paths could occur.
[2:22:16] In this revised master plan, there's
[2:22:18] about 92 to 94 homes of mixed income
[2:22:22] housing. There's in the brown there,
[2:22:25] that's a 51 unit affordable building. It
[2:22:28] includes 50 affordable and then one
[2:22:30] market rate unit. That's a manager's
[2:22:31] unit that's typically in these buildings
[2:22:33] and that they charge market rate for
[2:22:35] that. There's 24 market rate town homes.
[2:22:39] That's in the light blue, sorry, light
[2:22:41] brown.
[2:22:43] Then there's 10 market rate custom lots
[2:22:47] with the opportunity for ADUs. Those are
[2:22:50] in the yellow dots. And then uh the
[2:22:53] purple dot identifies a lot which could
[2:22:56] change where the location is for a
[2:22:58] community space. Um you can see the
[2:23:01] white generally identifying circulation
[2:23:04] or where utilities and or where
[2:23:06] utilities could go. And overall this
[2:23:09] site plan includes 9.5 acres of
[2:23:12] developed space but 12 acres of open
[2:23:16] space remain. That 9 and a half acres
[2:23:19] includes those halfacre custom lots. So
[2:23:22] five acres of the 9.5 are those custom
[2:23:25] lots and then there's another actual
[2:23:28] couple acres of infrastructure as far as
[2:23:30] roadways or where utilities go.
[2:23:35] So the financial strategy for this
[2:23:37] revised plan was that town homes
[2:23:40] ultimately have a lower per square foot
[2:23:42] building cost but you can get a higher
[2:23:44] per square foot out sale price. So that
[2:23:47] makes the difference and what you can
[2:23:49] gain from that more substantial. And
[2:23:52] then the custom lots and the addition of
[2:23:54] the custom lots was creating additional
[2:23:57] revenue without a lot of additional
[2:23:59] costs because we already had to run the
[2:24:01] utilities in these places. So then we
[2:24:03] could create tie-ins which created extra
[2:24:05] value and that made it so that the
[2:24:08] market rate portion of the project can
[2:24:10] support the high infrastructure costs
[2:24:12] that are here. And then once you unlock
[2:24:14] the infrastructure costs then the
[2:24:16] affordable housing component becomes
[2:24:18] viable with a variety of capital sources
[2:24:21] and the market rate again subsidizing
[2:24:23] those infrastructure costs.
[2:24:26] So again, we still have these key
[2:24:28] challenges which are the topography and
[2:24:30] environment, the high infrastructure
[2:24:32] costs, access coordination,
[2:24:35] um the affordable housing complexity,
[2:24:38] the funding complexity, and really this
[2:24:41] is a smaller project. So this is going
[2:24:43] to be a unique specialized developer. It
[2:24:46] will not be us that comes in and does a
[2:24:49] project like this.
[2:24:53] But there's a lot of opportunities here.
[2:24:56] This type of revised plan or some
[2:25:00] version of it has the ability to deliver
[2:25:03] affordable housing and therefore support
[2:25:05] the housing element. It fits better with
[2:25:08] the surrounding community with the
[2:25:10] variety of heights and massing and it
[2:25:13] still does for this portion of the Tobin
[2:25:15] Clark property allow the town to
[2:25:17] maintain the majority of ownership. It
[2:25:21] also allows the opportunity for new
[2:25:23] community benefits and the ability to
[2:25:26] attract a development partner with a
[2:25:28] because it's a financially viable
[2:25:30] solution. So suddenly you have interest
[2:25:32] in actually implementing it.
[2:25:35] So we're here because it's this check-in
[2:25:37] and we're moving towards the next steps
[2:25:40] which is really continuing the CSM
[2:25:42] outreach. We had some during this
[2:25:44] process. Um, we also would be commencing
[2:25:47] phase two, which is master plan
[2:25:49] refinement. Um, something diff, you
[2:25:52] know, with more information than what I
[2:25:53] just showed you.
[2:25:55] Defining what the community benefit is
[2:25:57] on this site. um really beginning
[2:26:00] community outreach like exiting the
[2:26:02] subcommittee and entering the community
[2:26:04] and getting feedback be being able to
[2:26:07] define the secret strategy and
[2:26:09] entitlement strategy for the project and
[2:26:11] then ultimately divine defining if
[2:26:13] successful an RFP process for the
[2:26:15] development partner
[2:26:17] and this identifies 2 A and 2 B. We
[2:26:21] revised our scope slightly, but we're
[2:26:23] still under budget. Um, based off of
[2:26:25] this revised site plan and and visioning
[2:26:28] that happened.
[2:26:29] And then if phase two is successful,
[2:26:32] then we would move towards an RFP
[2:26:34] process for a future developer for the
[2:26:36] project.
[2:26:38] So, I tried to keep it brief because I
[2:26:40] bet there's a lot of questions and so
[2:26:42] I'm happy to take any questions from
[2:26:44] councelor or the public and I'm happy to
[2:26:46] also put up that site plan again if
[2:26:48] that's helpful.
[2:26:49] >> Thank you, M.
[2:26:50] appreciate that. Um, I will turn to the
[2:26:53] council for questions, clarification
[2:26:55] questions, starting with Council Member
[2:26:58] Crowley.
[2:27:00] >> Thank you, Wendy, for the presentation
[2:27:01] and for the creative thought. Could you
[2:27:03] talk a little bit about access to the
[2:27:06] sites? We're continuing to explore a
[2:27:08] variety of access options um through CSM
[2:27:12] as well as the utility tie-ins are going
[2:27:15] to be because it's a loop's water
[2:27:17] system, it would have to be just utility
[2:27:19] tie-ins at Tobin Clark and then
[2:27:23] potential access through Brook Court,
[2:27:26] but we're continuing to explore all the
[2:27:29] options because we've only had these
[2:27:31] beginning conversations with CSM.
[2:27:35] Any additional question from the
[2:27:36] council? Yes. Uh council member. Yes.
[2:27:40] >> Thank you Wendy for your presentation.
[2:27:42] Um it's exciting. Um you know because
[2:27:45] it's long time in the making. Um so the
[2:27:49] exploration is interesting. My question
[2:27:52] is that we know that that open space
[2:27:55] area has no utility whatsoever. That
[2:27:58] itself is just a challenge and that on
[2:28:02] top of the egress ingress that we're
[2:28:04] seeking in terms of whether it was
[2:28:06] through CSM or through our own Tobin
[2:28:09] Clark neighborhood. So in your
[2:28:11] discovery, what is what is your take on
[2:28:15] the utilities? Um could you elaborate a
[2:28:18] little bit?
[2:28:19] >> Yeah, that's probably one of the biggest
[2:28:20] constraints honestly. um because it
[2:28:23] isn't it's not a surf site. And so the
[2:28:25] first thing that we discovered was that
[2:28:27] it's was going to cost a lot of money to
[2:28:29] put them in. And so we had an engineer
[2:28:32] run a variety of options, but we want to
[2:28:35] tie into town of Hillsboro utilities. We
[2:28:37] can't really annex into, you know,
[2:28:40] Sanonteo County utilities easily. So we
[2:28:43] would keep, you know, tie-ins to your
[2:28:45] town utilities. And in order to really
[2:28:48] get a better understanding about how
[2:28:51] extensive of of an operation this would
[2:28:53] be, we had the engineer run a
[2:28:54] preliminary engineers estimate so we
[2:28:56] could really understand the quantities,
[2:28:58] the length of the runs, you know, just
[2:29:01] all the costs and timing and so forth
[2:29:03] that would be associated with it. So
[2:29:05] that is a big constraint, but we do
[2:29:07] think that it's viable um based off of
[2:29:11] this revised planning effort.
[2:29:14] >> Okay. So when when you're talking about
[2:29:18] uh the connectivities with the town's
[2:29:20] utility and not because it is closer to
[2:29:24] Sanel
[2:29:25] >> um what is the sort of the logic as to
[2:29:28] why you would rather
[2:29:32] you tap into the town's what is the
[2:29:34] advantage?
[2:29:35] >> So I don't I don't actually think it's a
[2:29:37] what we would rather do. I think it's
[2:29:39] actually what we're permitted to do. And
[2:29:40] in order to um to connect to utilities
[2:29:45] that aren't within the service area, you
[2:29:46] have to annex into that. And that's a whole process which the county
[2:29:52] or you know the other utility districts
[2:29:54] may or may not be interested in. And CSM
[2:29:56] may or may not be interested in us
[2:29:58] digging all the way through their
[2:29:59] property to connect to their utilities.
[2:30:02] They may be, but that is a whole other
[2:30:04] process. And so given the fact that this
[2:30:08] is a town of Hillsboro site, it just
[2:30:10] made a lot of sense to utilize the
[2:30:13] existing water system because there is
[2:30:15] availability to it and it wouldn't
[2:30:17] significantly decrease be the utility
[2:30:20] needs on this property. So that's why we
[2:30:23] pursued it because ultimately we don't
[2:30:25] have as much control in saying that they
[2:30:28] would actually annex us into another
[2:30:30] AY's utilities.
[2:30:33] Uh yes, go ahead. Um so one other thing
[2:30:36] that um you know one of the thing that
[2:30:38] in your presentation you talk about and
[2:30:40] I'm somewhat familiar with that area.
[2:30:43] You said that the drastic uh difference
[2:30:46] in terms of topography
[2:30:48] >> and so you know um I suspect that
[2:30:51] there's always concern about the
[2:30:53] wildfire and the wildlife you know urban
[2:30:56] interface
[2:30:58] uh connections.
[2:31:00] How do you is is your design by having
[2:31:03] the densities of the low uh the
[2:31:07] affordable income uh families and then
[2:31:10] in in sort of in a in a block and then
[2:31:13] you have all the single family homes
[2:31:15] sort of in in interburse uh in in
[2:31:18] between. Is that is that the design to
[2:31:21] trying to make it more attractive or is
[2:31:24] that does that have any advantageous uh point approach on the you know the
[2:31:34] electricity it namely?
[2:31:35] >> Yeah. So, I mean, this site would be
[2:31:39] serviced by water, which would help with
[2:31:42] some of those concerns because it
[2:31:44] currently doesn't have that ability to
[2:31:47] tap into water if there was a situation
[2:31:48] out there with fire. As part of our
[2:31:50] phase 2, actually, we would be talking
[2:31:53] with the fire department to understand
[2:31:55] access to all of these buildings.
[2:31:57] Obviously, they will have requirements.
[2:31:59] We're not going to be designing these
[2:32:01] buildings. were providing like a
[2:32:02] framework for think you know the
[2:32:05] footprint the overall development
[2:32:06] footprint but ultimately a developer
[2:32:09] would come in and propose you know what
[2:32:11] these buildings would actually look
[2:32:13] like. Um, so we're kind of master
[2:32:15] planning this, but with respect to, you
[2:32:19] know, working with the fire, uh, making
[2:32:22] sure that it's in the fire safe area. We
[2:32:24] have all of that as a part of our phase
[2:32:26] two as we're getting more detailed in
[2:32:28] this master planning effort. But again,
[2:32:30] the utilities would serve this site. The
[2:32:33] buildings would per building permit,
[2:32:36] some would have to be sprinklered and so
[2:32:37] forth. So there would be all of those
[2:32:40] things that would have to be considered
[2:32:41] as we move forward in with any type of
[2:32:44] real design on the site.
[2:32:46] >> Thank you. Of course.
[2:32:48] >> Any additional questions or comments?
[2:32:50] Yes, Vice Mayor Rexdale.
[2:32:54] » Thank you. Um super exciting to see
[2:32:56] this. Um as you know, when when we have
[2:32:59] the subcommittees with the Brown Act, uh
[2:33:02] we don't get to know what's going on.
[2:33:04] So, this has been a great mystery and uh
[2:33:06] you guys have worked super hard and this
[2:33:08] is very um intriguing and exciting. Um I
[2:33:11] had a couple questions. What is the
[2:33:13] looped water system?
[2:33:17] >> I'm going to pull I could answer it, but
[2:33:19] he can answer it better. So,
[2:33:22] >> because of the water treatment of water
[2:33:24] chloromine, we have to have a loop
[2:33:26] system. We can't have it end in a dead
[2:33:27] end. Otherwise, it needs to have
[2:33:29] flushing and there's a water quality
[2:33:31] issue. So all of our systems now are
[2:33:33] looped.
[2:33:34] >> Okay. So literally a loop
[2:33:36] >> has a loop. So that's why if we connect
[2:33:38] from Tobin Clark down to Brook, then we
[2:33:41] connect the loop. Otherwise, if we
[2:33:43] don't, then we have to actually have two
[2:33:45] parallel mains in the same roadway with
[2:33:48] a a U-turn somewhere in the middle to
[2:33:50] create that loop. So one way or another,
[2:33:52] there'll always be water flowing.
[2:33:55] >> Okay. Excellent. Thank you. Um, yeah, I had the same questions about access
[2:33:59] and um and the all the infrastructure,
[2:34:03] but it sounds like uh we're we're still
[2:34:06] working on that. Um, and uh I know it's
[2:34:10] tricky to um talk with CSM and and see
[2:34:15] what what we can what we can work out
[2:34:17] with them. Um, uh, the other question I
[2:34:21] had, and I know you guys aren't
[2:34:22] designing them right now, but the town
[2:34:26] homes,
[2:34:28] those are
[2:34:29] built into the into the cliff or Yeah,
[2:34:32] they would step. So, they there's a step
[2:34:35] down or up depending if it's an ups
[2:34:38] slope or a down slope. So that from one
[2:34:40] side it would look to be two levels and
[2:34:42] from the down slope it would be three
[2:34:44] levels or vice versa depending on its up
[2:34:47] or down slope. We did have to look at
[2:34:49] although we they're not designed we had
[2:34:51] to make sure that they would be feasible
[2:34:54] and and assess cost um for that type of
[2:34:57] design because that step is more
[2:34:58] expensive than just a flat pad. So we do
[2:35:01] expect some steps there and that would
[2:35:03] be something that in the next phase we'd
[2:35:05] actually show you some sections or
[2:35:07] building footprints or just more
[2:35:09] information and that's something that
[2:35:11] again a future developer or an RFP
[2:35:14] proposal would include so that then that
[2:35:16] developer would actually come and and
[2:35:18] propose something that was within
[2:35:20] reason.
[2:35:21] >> And then at what stage um do we get
[2:35:24] engineering analysis
[2:35:27] um with regard to how to do that safely?
[2:35:30] Oh yeah. So the as far as structural
[2:35:32] analysis and all the rest of it, well so
[2:35:35] we have just the we have an architect on
[2:35:37] board that has quite a bit of experience
[2:35:39] in hillside development, Dan Group. And
[2:35:42] so they um they actually utilized some
[2:35:45] of their experience with other hillside
[2:35:47] sites in implementing both the
[2:35:49] multifamily building concept as well as
[2:35:52] the town home uh pod structures um to
[2:35:56] make sure that they would work. Yeah,
[2:35:57] obviously in the design phase you'd have
[2:35:59] to get a structural to understand
[2:36:02] exactly how that would be built.
[2:36:04] >> Okay, great. Thank you so much.
[2:36:06] >> Any additional question? Um, yes,
[2:36:09] Council Member Adams. Uh what I what I
[2:36:13] see I know is very preliminary, but it
[2:36:16] has more of a neighborhood feel than the
[2:36:22] previous iteration where it was just a
[2:36:25] giant box or two. And uh I particularly
[2:36:30] like the fact that the
[2:36:34] main focus will be these uh town homes
[2:36:40] that will have What do you envision? A
[2:36:43] garages and a couple of levels,
[2:36:46] something like that.
[2:36:47] >> That's right. These right now these look
[2:36:50] like they could be about 2,00 to 2500
[2:36:52] square ft. Um twocar garages, three
[2:36:56] maybe four bedrooms. So really kind of
[2:36:59] that family buyer. Um so that would that
[2:37:03] was what those footprints are based on.
[2:37:06] Obviously that could change a little bit
[2:37:07] as we further refine the plan and the
[2:37:10] architects really digging in.
[2:37:12] Thank you. And and the other thing that
[2:37:14] I really like is having set aside a
[2:37:18] community space that could be uh a
[2:37:22] satellite fire and police. It could be a
[2:37:26] playground. It could be a meeting
[2:37:30] center. It could be a nature center. Um,
[2:37:33] so I think it's great that none of that
[2:37:35] has been defined yet, but the fact that
[2:37:39] there is a set aside, I I really like
[2:37:43] that. Um, the other thing is I believe
[2:37:46] that the open space I somebody said it's
[2:37:50] there's nothing going on there. There's
[2:37:53] a lot going on there and it is really
[2:37:57] benefiting all of us. There's a lot of
[2:38:00] animal life, of plant life, and so
[2:38:03] preserving as much of that as we can
[2:38:06] will benefit uh neighbors all around
[2:38:09] this, but also this new little community
[2:38:13] uh that can be more integrated into the
[2:38:16] existing community. if there is a common
[2:38:20] space that everyone in town is
[2:38:23] interested in
[2:38:25] at least seeing particularly if it has
[2:38:28] this benefit. So I I appreciate what
[2:38:31] you've come up with.
[2:38:33] >> Thank you. Yeah, the open space that
[2:38:35] remains on this parcel actually
[2:38:38] generally abuts the other Tobin Clark
[2:38:41] property. So it actually will feel much
[2:38:44] larger as well. It's contiguous. It's
[2:38:46] not chopped up. So, that's also a nice
[2:38:48] way of how this ultimately laid out.
[2:38:53] Um, before I give my comments, I would
[2:38:54] like to I'm sorry, Council Member Adams,
[2:38:57] are you done with your com Okay, with
[2:39:00] your questions. Um, I would like to hear
[2:39:04] from the public. Is anyone here in
[2:39:05] chambers um interested in making a
[2:39:08] public comment or anyone on Zoom if we
[2:39:10] can start teeing that up?
[2:39:16] Oh,
[2:39:16] >> I'm not sure if there's a um Oh, there's
[2:39:18] point.
[2:39:20] >> It's
[2:39:20] >> Can I do a pointer here?
[2:39:22] >> Drive is the first
[2:39:24] >> Oh,
[2:39:26] I'm not sure if this is me toggling it
[2:39:31] >> Sorry,
[2:39:32] there's no like laser
[2:39:34] >> there. I think you can.
[2:39:37] It's right above the um
[2:39:39] >> we go. It's like
[2:39:40] >> right above the parking lot. P the
[2:39:43] drive. The is you talking about
[2:39:45] perimeter drive or CSM? Oh, I'm sorry.
[2:39:47] CSM drive is what you're asking?
[2:39:53] » CSM is different from Perimeter Road.
[2:39:56] >> Yes. Different from perimeter road.
[2:39:58] >> Perimeter road is around the perimeter
[2:40:00] and CSM drive is quite away from the
[2:40:04] site.
[2:40:04] >> It's quite away from the site. I don't
[2:40:05] see it at all on this.
[2:40:07] >> Further down.
[2:40:08] >> It's farther down. is off the map. Yeah.
[2:40:12] >> And just as just a reminder to the the
[2:40:14] public here, we're in in comment period
[2:40:16] at this point. So, if you would like to
[2:40:18] address the council, you can come up and
[2:40:20] make comments. And just a reminder, it's
[2:40:22] not a it's not a Q&A at this point or a
[2:40:24] study session. And then myself and uh
[2:40:27] Harmony uh here with Wendy uh would be
[2:40:30] happy to stay after to answer any
[2:40:32] questions you have about any further
[2:40:33] details. But right now it's just about
[2:40:35] getting the information into the public
[2:40:36] record to the council and allowing him
[2:40:38] to hear your statements. Say
[2:40:40] >> yeah. I'm sorry. Could you just
[2:40:41] introduce yourself please?
[2:40:42] >> Yes. My name is Neville Butliwala and I
[2:40:45] live on Tobin Clark Drive. 70 Tobin
[2:40:48] Clark Drive.
[2:40:49] >> Welcome.
[2:40:50] >> Thank you.
[2:40:52] >> So I don't have a clue. I live on Tobin
[2:40:54] Clark Drive. I don't have a clue where
[2:40:57] you're talking about this development.
[2:41:00] Where is Tobin Clark Drive over here?
[2:41:02] Where is Tournament? Where is CSM? Where
[2:41:04] is 92? Nothing. There's nothing marked
[2:41:07] on this. How do I figure this out?
[2:41:11] Um,
[2:41:13] >> the round part is the CSM Planetarium,
[2:41:16] right?
[2:41:19] » Or is that?
[2:41:20] >> No, the the the parking lot is right
[2:41:23] next to the arrow. I I think we we can
[2:41:26] get um a more detailed map. You you can
[2:41:30] barely see Tobin I think that's
[2:41:33] tournament on the background there.
[2:41:36] >> You're pointing like this. There's
[2:41:38] >> I I understand. We we will um we we will
[2:41:41] try to get a more detailed map that
[2:41:44] outlines your neighborhood is not
[2:41:46] featured in this site that's being
[2:41:48] built, but you were looking to see in
[2:41:51] relations to did you say Tobin Clark
[2:41:53] Drive or Fement?
[2:41:56] >> I'm on Tobin Clark Drive.
[2:41:59] >> This is all CS.
[2:42:03] Um Paul, could you help us um locate
[2:42:05] which direction to Clark Drive would be
[2:42:21] » to Okay,
[2:42:24] >> pointer is right there and that is the
[2:42:27] top of Tobin Clark Drive. Just that edge
[2:42:31] right there is the very top of Tobin.
[2:42:37] » Right there. The white arrow.
[2:42:44] » Sir, if I could have you step to the
[2:42:45] mic, need to people need to hear you on
[2:42:48] Zoom as well. And just a reminder again,
[2:42:51] this is just the time for public comment
[2:42:52] to make whatever comments you would like
[2:42:54] to the council within your allotted
[2:42:55] time. And it's not a question and answer
[2:42:57] or a study session. I'm asking a very
[2:42:59] simple question.
[2:43:00] >> Sir, you're free to make your question.
[2:43:02] >> Where is Tobin Drive? Where is
[2:43:05] Tournament Drive?
[2:43:06] >> There it is right there. If you can see
[2:43:07] where the cursor is, the the director is
[2:43:10] showing you there.
[2:43:11] >> Okay.
[2:43:11] >> And the campus itself is that large body
[2:43:13] in the center of the picture. And those
[2:43:15] are the buildings plus the parking lots.
[2:43:18] >> Okay.
[2:43:18] >> All right. Thank you, sir.
[2:43:21] >> Do you have additional comments or
[2:43:22] questions?
[2:43:25] I I can't imagine it over there, but you
[2:43:27] know, I'll wait for another map which
[2:43:30] has more information on where the
[2:43:33] streets are, where 92 is,
[2:43:36] you know, it's all very big in that
[2:43:40] diagram over there.
[2:43:42] >> Um, also I'm just to reassure you, we we
[2:43:45] will be having transitioning to a
[2:43:47] subcommittee where you will have the
[2:43:49] opportunity to listen in or attend one
[2:43:50] of those meetings within the next
[2:43:52] several months. and we will try to make
[2:43:54] sure we have more detailed maps um at
[2:43:58] those meetings available.
[2:43:59] >> Also, the access in and out is going to
[2:44:02] be very important
[2:44:03] >> and that's still in discussion as we
[2:44:06] pointed out
[2:44:07] >> and with that one little house which we
[2:44:10] discussed previously there was a big
[2:44:12] issue with noise.
[2:44:15] Is there going to be are the residents
[2:44:18] on Tobin Clark Drive and Tournament and
[2:44:20] that whole area going to be affected by
[2:44:23] noise and trucks coming in and out
[2:44:26] because of all this development.
[2:44:30] We may have more than one access um for
[2:44:34] construction and emergency vehicles
[2:44:36] going forward. We may have two or three.
[2:44:38] We're still working out the details of
[2:44:39] that particular um issue.
[2:44:41] >> Okay. Thank you.
[2:44:42] >> Thank you. Any um additional questions
[2:44:45] from the public? Yes.
[2:44:46] >> The next speaker is Jeannie Back.
[2:44:49] >> Oh, yes.
[2:44:50] >> Hello. Hello there. I'm Jeanie Back from
[2:44:54] >> 45 Bair Court. Uh good evening, Mayor
[2:44:57] Cole and council members. Um, I
[2:45:00] appreciate the amount of time uh and
[2:45:03] work that has clearly gone into
[2:45:05] evaluating the Toba Clark site and I
[2:45:08] actually do not envy the difficult
[2:45:10] position the council faces in balancing
[2:45:13] state housing obligations,
[2:45:15] legal realities, financial constraints,
[2:45:18] and community impacts. I'm not speaking
[2:45:21] here tonight from the perspective that
[2:45:23] housing should simply go away. nor do I
[2:45:25] underestimate the complexity of the
[2:45:27] challenges before the town. My concern
[2:45:30] tonight is more specific.
[2:45:33] This appears to be an extraordinarily
[2:45:36] constrained and sensitive site, and I
[2:45:38] hope that those realities remain central
[2:45:41] as the project moves forward. The staff
[2:45:44] report itself references steep terrain,
[2:45:47] unresolved emergency access questions,
[2:45:51] infrastructure complexity,
[2:45:53] wildfire and WUI considerations,
[2:45:57] grading challenges, utility extensions,
[2:46:01] and biological constraints.
[2:46:03] Those are not small details. They are
[2:46:07] defining characteristics of the site.
[2:46:10] What also stood out to me is that the
[2:46:13] project appears to be evolving
[2:46:15] significantly from the original housing
[2:46:17] element concept. The report openly
[2:46:20] acknowledges that the original
[2:46:22] multifamily approach was not financially
[2:46:25] viable and that additional town homes,
[2:46:28] estate lots, and expanded development
[2:46:30] areas are now being introduced to make
[2:46:33] the project feasible. I think that
[2:46:36] evolution deserves continued
[2:46:40] public transparency and careful
[2:46:42] scrutiny, especially given the
[2:46:45] irreversible nature of hillside grading,
[2:46:48] infrastructure installation, and the
[2:46:51] transformation of what is currently
[2:46:53] visible open space terrain. I also note
[2:46:57] that the town's earlier environmental
[2:46:59] review acknowledged sensitive wild
[2:47:03] wildlife species and ecological
[2:47:05] constraints within the planning area.
[2:47:08] Given the site's apparent role with a
[2:47:10] broader ridge line and habitat corridor
[2:47:13] system and evolving regional wildlife
[2:47:16] and habitat considerations,
[2:47:18] I hope future environmental review
[2:47:21] carefully evaluates habitat
[2:47:24] fragmentation,
[2:47:25] wildlife movement, wildfire evacuation
[2:47:29] realities and the cumulative effects of
[2:47:32] grading infrastructure lighting and
[2:47:35] increased human activity on the site.
[2:47:38] I appreciate the town's efforts to
[2:47:40] proceed thoughtfully and I hope the next
[2:47:43] phase continues with a high level of
[2:47:45] rigor, transparency, and realism about
[2:47:49] the site's unique constraints and the
[2:47:51] long-term consequences. Thanks.
[2:47:55] >> Um, thank you for your comments. Any
[2:47:57] additional um, public comments? Yes,
[2:48:00] >> Lee Ginsburg. Miss
[2:48:02] >> Ginsburg.
[2:48:07] Hi, Lee Ginsburg, 1250 Tournament Drive.
[2:48:11] And Wendy, in your marketing plan, you
[2:48:13] said the price ranges would not work for
[2:48:18] some of the homes. What price ranges
[2:48:19] have you set to make these goals for
[2:48:22] town homes and the individual lots?
[2:48:27] » I'm sorry, it's not clear. Your question
[2:48:29] is not clear. What do you say?
[2:48:30] >> She said um all multi-unit properties
[2:48:33] would not financially work out. So
[2:48:35] that's why they added town homes. They
[2:48:37] had to be competitive with Berlin game
[2:48:39] and Sanonteo. So I'm asking what how you
[2:48:42] being competitive with them? What price
[2:48:44] range have you worked out to make this
[2:48:47] feasible?
[2:48:48] >> Um you you it's based on the below
[2:48:51] market rate.
[2:48:52] >> No, not not those the town homes and the
[2:48:54] individual homes.
[2:48:56] I don't think
[2:48:57] >> you have to have some number to say that
[2:48:59] this is going to pencil out.
[2:49:01] >> Yes, please do.
[2:49:02] >> Yeah.
[2:49:03] M speaker, you may comment.
[2:49:08] » So, we did we did preliminary market
[2:49:10] analysis just to better understand what
[2:49:12] could be feasible or not. And really
[2:49:14] like the two things that we've
[2:49:16] determined were not feasible were
[2:49:19] related to the apartment rents and the
[2:49:22] stacked condo rents. And you're exactly
[2:49:23] right where you have competition in the
[2:49:26] surrounding area that would uh limit
[2:49:29] like you can't have a $10 per square
[2:49:31] foot rent. You know, there's just
[2:49:33] limitations. And so be because of the
[2:49:36] blending of where that rent cap today is
[2:49:41] or the stacked condo per square foot
[2:49:44] combined with the high construction
[2:49:46] costs of that particular market rate
[2:49:48] product type. That's what made it
[2:49:50] infeasible. So, so about for the stacked
[2:49:54] condos, we assumed about a thousand
[2:49:56] $1,000 per square foot and for the um
[2:50:00] the market rate apartments
[2:50:10] on here. Done.
[2:50:14] A total
[2:50:30] Oh, okay. So, an average uh per square
[2:50:34] foot uh market rate rent of $5.13 per
[2:50:38] square foot.
[2:50:40] So, for a th00and square foot uh
[2:50:42] apartment, that would be about a $5,100
[2:50:45] uh dollar rent. So that's what we
[2:50:48] assumed and those uh were not
[2:50:51] financially feasible.
[2:50:52] >> What is the feasible
[2:50:57] homes?
[2:50:57] >> That's right. So the the custom lots
[2:51:00] would be priced um competitively with
[2:51:02] custom lots in the area that are also
[2:51:04] utility served. Um and the town homes
[2:51:11] about two over $2 million per custom
[2:51:13] lot. And then the town homes were about
[2:51:17] $1,400 to $1,600 per square foot, which
[2:51:20] is comparable to the um for example
[2:51:25] other high-end markets in the Bay Area.
[2:51:28] And those because of the lower
[2:51:30] construction costs for the town homes
[2:51:32] and because of the fact you're just
[2:51:34] selling a lot, you're not actually
[2:51:35] constructing the the custom lot, it made
[2:51:38] it a more financially viable uh program.
[2:51:41] >> Did I get you? Yes. Okay, great.
[2:51:43] >> Okay. Sorry. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
[2:51:46] >> Thank you. So, um the building cost on
[2:51:49] this the terrain, we all recognize the
[2:51:51] terrain here. Just earlier, we heard
[2:51:53] about for one single home, they got 200
[2:51:55] trucks to empty out the terrain. How
[2:51:59] many trucks is it going to take for this
[2:52:01] going through that neighborhood? That's
[2:52:03] inconceivable for me. As well as CSM is
[2:52:07] building, I think 350 homes on one of
[2:52:10] their uh parking lots as well. So,
[2:52:12] there's going to be a lot of
[2:52:12] construction in that area in the coming
[2:52:14] years. They just started construction
[2:52:16] like this month. So, I'm not sure if
[2:52:19] you're aware of that going on. Um,
[2:52:24] and then there's no no public
[2:52:25] transportation in the area. So, has that
[2:52:27] been considered to make this feasible
[2:52:30] for people to be living or is all going
[2:52:32] to be traffic?
[2:52:36] Okay, there's I guess our answer. We
[2:52:38] don't know. Um
[2:52:42] >> um just Sam Trans does run on perimeter
[2:52:45] road.
[2:52:46] >> On where?
[2:52:47] >> On perimeter road around the perimeter
[2:52:49] of the campus.
[2:52:50] >> Okay. But I don't think these homes are
[2:52:52] that close to the campus.
[2:52:55] >> They are.
[2:52:56] >> They're close enough.
[2:52:57] They're within
[2:52:59] 1,000 ft.
[2:53:01] >> Okay. Um
[2:53:05] and then we were talking earlier about P
[2:53:07] Gen. I live right in the area. Just in
[2:53:09] the last month or two, my power went off
[2:53:12] two or three times. So, I don't know if
[2:53:14] P Genie is even ready to for another
[2:53:17] hundred homes to handle this. So,
[2:53:19] there's just a lot to consider before we
[2:53:22] move forward. So,
[2:53:23] >> well, thanks for your comments.
[2:53:25] >> Yeah.
[2:53:28] >> Any any additional um comments? Um yes,
[2:53:32] we have Do we have a card or Oh, okay.
[2:53:35] You could um complete the card later,
[2:53:37] but perhaps just introduce yourself,
[2:53:39] please.
[2:53:41] >> 430 Remlard.
[2:53:43] >> What are you guys doing to Hillsboro? I
[2:53:45] understand there's a housing element.
[2:53:47] That's the state's fault. You could have
[2:53:49] caught it perhaps a little bit more
[2:53:50] aggressively. What's
[2:53:52] >> Yeah, we can't
[2:53:54] >> What's What's the definition of
[2:53:55] affordable? The median ho housing value
[2:53:57] in Hillsboro was five million and you
[2:54:01] know there's $60 million homes. Is a
[2:54:04] $2.5 million home affordable? I mean for
[2:54:08] whom? I just think you guys have really
[2:54:11] gone in the wrong direction. I
[2:54:13] understand the state is probably forcing
[2:54:15] you, but I wish there could have been
[2:54:17] other avenues because I've been a
[2:54:18] resident for 60 years and I'm really
[2:54:20] disappointed in what's become of
[2:54:22] Hillsboro. Thank you.
[2:54:24] >> Um yeah. Um I'm I'm actually going to
[2:54:26] make a comment on a few things because
[2:54:27] we've had this conversation for the past
[2:54:29] three years. Um as we address the
[2:54:31] housing element, the um income is based
[2:54:35] on the county's average which is about
[2:54:38] 90 to $150,000
[2:54:40] for below market rate and over $150,000
[2:54:44] a year for above market rate. So
[2:54:46] individuals making over $150,000
[2:54:49] is considered market rate and above. individuals making less than
[2:54:54] 150,000 a year is considered below
[2:54:56] market rate. Um the you're right it is a
[2:55:00] state mandate and we had this com we had
[2:55:03] this community outreach. We're going to
[2:55:05] have more community outreach in that
[2:55:07] especially in that area over the next
[2:55:09] many months to the next year or two. So
[2:55:12] there will be more opportunities for
[2:55:13] discussions and more information
[2:55:15] provided. Um and again as pointed out
[2:55:19] our consulting team understands the
[2:55:22] community of Hillsboro. They've had a
[2:55:24] chance to you know spend some time here
[2:55:27] and they will continue to work with the
[2:55:28] residents and the city council to
[2:55:31] address some of the concerns you may
[2:55:33] have at this time.
[2:55:34] >> I understand that there was an ADU built
[2:55:36] right next door to me and that was a
[2:55:38] year in construction. nothing but mud
[2:55:40] and uh trucks moving up and down parking
[2:55:43] on my sidewalk that I have to pay to
[2:55:45] fix. Understand what these people are
[2:55:47] saying about the infrastructure. We're
[2:55:49] not ready for it. To try to bend over
[2:55:52] backwards to build these homes on
[2:55:53] unbuildable sites just seems to be
[2:55:56] completely ludicrous and crazy to me.
[2:55:59] Thank you.
[2:56:00] >> Thank you.
[2:56:02] >> Any additional public comments?
[2:56:06] I have no additional cards and I have no
[2:56:08] raised hands on Zoom. Thank you.
[2:56:20] On the affordable homes, is it possible
[2:56:22] that you
[2:56:24] um have it for city employees, teachers,
[2:56:26] firemen, city people? Could we specify
[2:56:28] that?
[2:56:30] >> The preference can be expressed but
[2:56:33] legally we cannot designate the homes.
[2:56:35] So we in other words even as we
[2:56:37] discussed with CSM it's going to be
[2:56:39] perhaps potentially along those lines
[2:56:41] but even preferences for our nurses our
[2:56:44] teachers our firefighters
[2:56:47] um that those those are potential issues
[2:56:50] that would be discussed but we're not we
[2:56:52] cannot legally put aside um units just
[2:56:56] for those individuals.
[2:56:57] >> Okay. Thank you.
[2:57:01] Um, any additional questions before we
[2:57:05] authorize to proceed? Yes. Um, council
[2:57:07] member Chuang,
[2:57:12] » is the town home outell pricing we had
[2:57:15] at $1325,
[2:57:17] but so I gave you a range and I just
[2:57:19] wanted to clarify the record that it was
[2:57:20] 1325.
[2:57:22] That's correct. Yep. Per square foot.
[2:57:28] So, um I I do have a questions for
[2:57:30] Wendy. Um thank thank you so much for
[2:57:33] the presentation and um I do appreciate
[2:57:37] the conceptual sort of this is where you
[2:57:40] envision after six months of work in
[2:57:43] terms of
[2:57:45] you know connecting with um potential
[2:57:47] partners and then see what is viable. My
[2:57:51] question is that at at some point in
[2:57:53] your presentation, you talk about master
[2:57:55] plans. You're the phase two being the
[2:57:57] master plans and I'm I'm just looking at
[2:58:00] that we're spending half a million
[2:58:01] dollars over half a million dollars on
[2:58:04] this potential. So what does that mean
[2:58:07] when you said that the master plans and
[2:58:09] you're not even hiring developers
[2:58:13] um there yet to to do the design? So
[2:58:15] you're not designing the town homes,
[2:58:17] you're not designing this the structures
[2:58:20] of these buildings.
[2:58:22] So what does that mean when you said
[2:58:24] that there's a master plan and that's
[2:58:26] what you're working on?
[2:58:28] So, uh, while we're not going to be bu
[2:58:31] doing facades or any detailed
[2:58:33] architecture, that would come in at a
[2:58:34] later phase, as would all the
[2:58:36] environmental review related to the
[2:58:38] project, and that would be paid for by a
[2:58:40] developer that the town actually got
[2:58:42] into contract with, right, that an RFP
[2:58:44] went out for, so the town doesn't have
[2:58:46] the burden of those costs. But some of
[2:58:48] the things that we are doing is defining
[2:58:51] the space that those could go in because
[2:58:53] we're trying to derisk this enough or
[2:58:55] establish enough credibility for
[2:58:57] development to understand what the
[2:58:59] limits on the site could be, the unit
[2:59:01] types, the count so that we could put
[2:59:03] out an RFP process for a developer to
[2:59:06] feel comfortable enough to proceed.
[2:59:09] Right now, there's, as everyone's
[2:59:10] identified, a number of risks that would
[2:59:12] make taking this out to an RF with an
[2:59:15] RFP to a developer. You probably
[2:59:16] wouldn't have a big developer pool of
[2:59:18] anybody comfortable enough to come in
[2:59:20] because they wouldn't feel like that it
[2:59:23] was viable. So what we're trying to do
[2:59:25] is establish if it's viable so that then
[2:59:27] an RFP could occur, a developer could be
[2:59:31] selected, they could move forward with
[2:59:34] like detailed architecture and
[2:59:36] environmental review etc. But what this
[2:59:39] will be doing is defining the space like
[2:59:43] effectively the development footprint.
[2:59:46] So for each of the custom lots, we'll be
[2:59:48] going through and identifying the space
[2:59:50] that you could actually build within
[2:59:52] those custom lots. based off town
[2:59:54] standards and the town doesn't really
[2:59:56] have multifamily standards at this
[2:59:59] point. So it would be identifying things
[3:00:01] like setbacks and where what the heights
[3:00:04] of those buildings might be just so that
[3:00:06] a developer when they came in understood
[3:00:09] how much they could develop on this
[3:00:11] site. They can run a performer. So,
[3:00:13] we're whittling it down without, you
[3:00:16] know, a developer would want to come in
[3:00:18] and have the opportunity to develop the
[3:00:21] facade of the town homes that they feel
[3:00:24] would be appropriate and they would run
[3:00:26] it through the entitlement process
[3:00:28] accordingly. So, we don't want to get so
[3:00:30] in the weeds that we're dictating, but
[3:00:32] we want to give folks enough information
[3:00:34] that they feel comfortable that this is
[3:00:36] viable, if that makes sense. We're we're
[3:00:38] threading a needle. So, we are doing
[3:00:40] quite a bit of work as you can see on
[3:00:41] here. Um but it's not the detailed
[3:00:44] architectural plans yet.
[3:00:46] >> Thank you.
[3:00:47] >> You're welcome.
[3:00:48] >> Um just to follow up on that um again
[3:00:50] just the clarification these so-called
[3:00:53] development agreements will be if they
[3:00:55] show an architectural design to the
[3:00:57] subcommittee and the city council. We
[3:01:00] could give feedback and say that it's
[3:01:02] just not very consistent with the style
[3:01:05] and architecture of the town. Can we
[3:01:07] modify this? Can we make changes? So the
[3:01:09] development agreement does give us the
[3:01:11] opportunity to have input as far as what
[3:01:13] these structures will look like.
[3:01:15] Correct.
[3:01:16] >> Yes, of course. And you'd have any
[3:01:18] developer would have to go through your
[3:01:19] typical entitlement process,
[3:01:20] architecture and site review, your
[3:01:22] grading review per pro process again,
[3:01:24] environmental review. So all of that
[3:01:26] would have to happen later as well. And
[3:01:28] your RFP process can identify certain
[3:01:30] things that you're looking for as far as
[3:01:32] style and so forth. And for now, your
[3:01:36] projection is three stories to four
[3:01:38] stories um with the parking underneath,
[3:01:41] but you estimating mid mid height, three
[3:01:45] to four stories, plus or minus,
[3:01:48] something along those lines?
[3:01:49] >> Yeah. For the town homes, uh they're the
[3:01:52] two to three stories. For the
[3:01:53] multifamily affordable building, it's
[3:01:55] four to four and a half sto four to five
[3:01:58] stories. It was about four and a half
[3:01:59] stories with the tuck under parking.
[3:02:01] Yeah.
[3:02:02] >> Okay.
[3:02:03] Um, any additional question from the
[3:02:05] council? Yes, Vice Mayor Ragdale.
[3:02:07] >> Um, just a question. Um, I had asked
[3:02:11] this in a different context and I don't
[3:02:13] think she's online anymore. Uh, Liz
[3:02:15] Reese, but um, I don't know if you know
[3:02:17] or maybe city council. Um with regard to
[3:02:22] um employee or teacher preference, my
[3:02:25] understanding is that all things being
[3:02:27] equal, you you can have a you can
[3:02:30] express a preference for employees or
[3:02:33] teachers.
[3:02:34] >> Well, it's I think for the affordable
[3:02:36] component, if there's county funding
[3:02:38] that's being used, there can be some
[3:02:40] discretion for the affordable housing as
[3:02:43] far as preference. for the market rate.
[3:02:45] It's it's market driven.
[3:02:49] >> Thank you.
[3:02:50] >> Yes. Um council member,
[3:02:53] >> so uh again, um I'm intrigued by the
[3:02:56] master plans on phase two. Um you work
[3:03:00] very hard on the on phase one trying to
[3:03:02] figure out where's the connectivities on
[3:03:05] the utility and the electricities and I
[3:03:08] think that is a huge hung up in addition
[3:03:10] to the topography challenge. So are you
[3:03:14] suggesting that in phase one you are now
[3:03:17] able to identify the connectivities with
[3:03:20] the town utility
[3:03:23] and there are viable ways that you can
[3:03:25] make that happen or is it something that
[3:03:30] it you know as you weaving this master
[3:03:33] plan that it's very likely that those
[3:03:35] are going to happen. And so the way we
[3:03:38] approach this is how we would typically
[3:03:40] move uh move forward as a developer
[3:03:43] where you have a due diligence phase
[3:03:44] before you enter into like a contract
[3:03:46] with a property owner and you try to far
[3:03:49] it out as much as you can during that
[3:03:51] due diligence phase but you also
[3:03:53] identify risks to your financial
[3:03:55] committee that's willing to fund this
[3:03:57] effort. And so that's what we tried to
[3:03:59] do these first three months is establish
[3:04:02] is there enough viability to continue to
[3:04:04] move forward because we don't want to
[3:04:05] move forward if this if there's no
[3:04:07] viabilities. Utilities were a really big
[3:04:09] part of that and at this point our civil
[3:04:11] engineer in coordination actually with
[3:04:13] the town Paul's been extremely helpful
[3:04:15] like we really have located where all
[3:04:17] the utilities are to tie into for the
[3:04:20] town and we feel pretty comfortable that
[3:04:22] they're viable. Could there be a a
[3:04:25] surprise as we continue to dig deeper
[3:04:28] into this? No pun intended. Yes,
[3:04:30] potentially. Um, but right now we
[3:04:32] actually feel pretty comfortable,
[3:04:34] especially because our civil engineer
[3:04:36] has dug into things like engineering
[3:04:38] costs, the amount of length of pipe that
[3:04:40] would be needed. So, for this
[3:04:42] preliminary phase, we we got pretty far
[3:04:46] with with respect to the utilities.
[3:04:48] Yeah.
[3:04:48] >> Thank you.
[3:04:49] >> You're welcome.
[3:04:51] Um any additional um comments from the
[3:04:54] com Oh. Oh, I'm sorry. Okay. I'm sorry.
[3:04:58] Council member Crowley,
[3:04:58] >> we don't have comments. How long do you
[3:05:01] know me?
[3:05:02] >> How long have we been working together?
[3:05:04] >> Please say Council Member Crowley. Yes.
[3:05:06] >> Um All right. It's late or getting
[3:05:08] punchy. Okay. Um a couple of things just
[3:05:11] to back up where we've been over the
[3:05:13] past couple years because that is a
[3:05:14] valid question and I think we have to be
[3:05:17] uh prepared to answer it over and over.
[3:05:19] Why didn't Hillsboro fight more
[3:05:20] aggressively against this state? Um, so,
[3:05:24] uh, Southern California was given this
[3:05:26] set of of rules basically a year before
[3:05:30] Northern California. Of all the
[3:05:32] municipalities in Southern California, a
[3:05:34] number of them sued the state and pushed
[3:05:36] back. None of them won. They all lost.
[3:05:39] So, um, and the, um, they all lost their
[3:05:42] lawsuits. And if we, every dollar that
[3:05:45] we spend here in Hillsboro comes right
[3:05:47] out of our residents pockets. We don't
[3:05:48] have any commercial. So if we spend a
[3:05:51] million dollars on a lawsuit, that's
[3:05:52] divided up around among 3,900
[3:05:55] households. So we're careful about that
[3:05:57] and we don't want to waste your money.
[3:05:59] Um the uh the penalty for not being in
[3:06:03] compliance with your housing element in
[3:06:04] the state of California is something
[3:06:06] called the builder's remedy, which means
[3:06:08] that a builder, you no longer as a
[3:06:11] municipality have zoning control. So if
[3:06:13] we are not in compliance with the state
[3:06:17] then the uh default zoning is 20 units
[3:06:20] per acre and that's anywhere in town. So
[3:06:23] we as a council and with the um we did
[3:06:27] have a an advisory group of of residents
[3:06:31] and many many community meetings on this
[3:06:34] um we thought it felt very strongly that
[3:06:36] is in the best interest of the town to
[3:06:38] comply but I can understand why it seems
[3:06:41] crazy. Um, so as this plan, um, as far
[3:06:46] as this plan goes, I I I want to thank
[3:06:48] the subcommittee. I think you've done
[3:06:50] great work. And also, um, Wendy, thank
[3:06:52] you to you and Don. It's I think it's creative. I really like because
[3:06:59] recognizing that there are residents
[3:07:01] that live nearby and that they are going
[3:07:03] to, you know, nobody likes change.
[3:07:05] Nobody likes construction. We talked
[3:07:07] about that with the last issue. But I do
[3:07:10] like the emphasis on some community
[3:07:13] benefits there. A community room. You're
[3:07:16] talking about trails and enhanced in
[3:07:19] somehow enhance the site for the
[3:07:21] surrounding neighbors. I think is a
[3:07:23] great um goal. Um the the nice thing and
[3:07:28] somebody brought up about our employees
[3:07:31] about these town homes that will be for
[3:07:33] sale. That's kind of the missing middle
[3:07:36] in Sanonteo County. And I think those
[3:07:39] ownership opportunities will be open to
[3:07:41] our employees and I would absolutely
[3:07:43] love to see our employees have equity in
[3:07:46] the town of Hillsboro. Um phase two is
[3:07:49] going to have a lot of community
[3:07:51] engagement. So this is just the very
[3:07:53] beginning. Um and again I think we want
[3:07:57] to mitigate the effects on the neighbors
[3:07:59] as much as possible. I still do have one
[3:08:02] question. Um uh we already did SQA on
[3:08:07] this site, didn't we?
[3:08:08] >> We did. Yeah.
[3:08:09] >> Yeah. Do do we need additional SQA? Is
[3:08:11] that the because I saw that you were
[3:08:13] leaving SQA out at this phase, but we
[3:08:16] did SQA, I thought.
[3:08:17] >> So, a specific development proposal will
[3:08:20] end up needing to run through the
[3:08:22] filters of the mitigation plan. And so
[3:08:26] there may be additional um environmental
[3:08:29] uh review that's needed for biological
[3:08:32] constraints in particular based off the
[3:08:34] development footprint, but that's all in
[3:08:36] your MMRP. So there was an initial
[3:08:39] programmatic EI done and but the
[3:08:42] mitigations did require more once more
[3:08:46] specific specificity happened that those
[3:08:49] that was studied. Since we already have
[3:08:51] the preliminary, will it be less
[3:08:53] expensive and a little faster or are we
[3:08:55] sort of starting from scratch?
[3:08:57] >> Um, it it it depends, I think, is is the
[3:09:00] answer. Um, because if if there's no
[3:09:03] additional um medications that are
[3:09:06] necessary or it's it falls within what
[3:09:08] was already studied, then an addendum
[3:09:10] could happen. And I would welcome staff
[3:09:12] to answer this as my own SQA experience.
[3:09:14] But if it's something new, then you
[3:09:16] would either do a supplemental EIR or
[3:09:18] some it could be a more expanded
[3:09:20] addendum uh to to address any additional
[3:09:23] environmental constraints, but that
[3:09:25] would be they did there was no specific
[3:09:28] kind of general footprints outlined in
[3:09:30] the original plan, but it was much more
[3:09:32] programmatic. So, but yeah, I think the short answer is some things have
[3:09:36] already been studied and those things
[3:09:37] can be reused.
[3:09:38] >> Okay. Yeah.
[3:09:39] >> Thank you. Thank you. So, um I
[3:09:41] appreciate how quickly, you know, as far
[3:09:44] as these things go, that for three
[3:09:45] months that you really did a lot of of
[3:09:48] work and and that you brought it in
[3:09:49] under the budget, which is wonderful. I do envision and hope um that we get
[3:09:55] this kind of villagy feel, you know,
[3:09:59] that that's what I hope. And that it
[3:10:00] does enhance the town if we have to do
[3:10:02] it. Um and that it does help our
[3:10:05] employees and our educational community,
[3:10:07] our teachers. Um, so my last question is
[3:10:11] I'm not quite sure from um how much
[3:10:14] we're voting on. It's a little vague in
[3:10:17] the um I know it's budgeted already, but
[3:10:20] I'm just not quite sure what what
[3:10:21] allocation are we voting on.
[3:10:23] >> We're just authorizing the
[3:10:24] implementation of phase two to proceed.
[3:10:28] >> You mean time, you know, cost is what
[3:10:29] you're asking.
[3:10:30] >> Whatever is spent add up to be.
[3:10:33] >> Okay. So, we've already allocated the
[3:10:35] 539
[3:10:37] >> and so we're not going over that. No,
[3:10:39] we're just voting on phase two and it
[3:10:41] will not go over that. Thank you.
[3:10:43] >> That's right. It's already included
[3:10:44] phase two and three. One, two, and Yeah,
[3:10:46] that that Yeah, we're not asking for
[3:10:49] additional funding. It's already
[3:10:50] budgeted. Correct.
[3:10:55] » Um,
[3:10:56] so we do we have a consensus to move
[3:10:59] forward with implementation of phase two
[3:11:00] of the project? I move that we authorize
[3:11:04] phase two. All those in favor say I.
[3:11:08] >> Second. Please second.
[3:11:11] >> All those in favor say I.
[3:11:13] >> Second. But I thought I heard another
[3:11:14] second.
[3:11:15] >> Oh, I'm sorry. What did Council Member
[3:11:16] Chang?
[3:11:18] >> You should do that.
[3:11:19] >> Okay. The motion
[3:11:21] um we have a second. We have a second
[3:11:24] from Council Member Adams. And all those
[3:11:26] in favor say I.
[3:11:27] >> I.
[3:11:30] And we look forward to seeing you in the
[3:11:32] community. We look forward to seeing all
[3:11:34] of you in the community engagement
[3:11:35] process because we do want
[3:11:37] >> Wait a minute. Was there was there an
[3:11:38] objection or no, we're all in favor of
[3:11:41] proceeding to phase two. Okay. Correct.
[3:11:43] >> But the mayor, I do have questions. Um I
[3:11:46] think over the this uh item there's
[3:11:48] several mentioned about this becoming a
[3:11:51] standing committees and then no you know
[3:11:54] and then all these meetings will be
[3:11:57] agendaized and publicized. So the
[3:11:59] publics are invited to join us at those
[3:12:02] meetings to hear about the presentation.
[3:12:06] So that would one way to keep you
[3:12:08] informed as to what happened
[3:12:10] >> as well as the neighborhood outreach
[3:12:12] which we'll be doing which is very
[3:12:13] targeted and specific. But there will be
[3:12:16] opportunities in the subcommittee to
[3:12:18] participate in those meetings as well.
[3:12:20] So thanks for all your comments and your
[3:12:21] input. It's u much appreciated and we'll
[3:12:25] continue to work with the community as
[3:12:26] we move forward. Thank you and thanks to
[3:12:28] our consultants
[3:12:29] >> through the mayor. Just want to add um
[3:12:31] if you haven't already given um clerk
[3:12:34] Natush your um email address, she will
[3:12:37] make sure to put you on a list to get
[3:12:39] further um notice of any time this topic
[3:12:41] comes up.
[3:12:44] >> Okay. Um that's the final agendaized
[3:12:48] item and we'll now move to um city
[3:12:50] council items. Thank you so much um
[3:12:52] Wendy and Dunn. Appreciate it. City
[3:12:55] Council items starting with council
[3:12:57] member Adams.
[3:13:00] » Uh thank you, Mayor Cole. So, uh May May
[3:13:04] really
[3:13:05] >> the lovely month of May. These are all
[3:13:08] uh bumblebees bombas.
[3:13:12] >> Oops. Next. So, uh year end for
[3:13:15] Hillsboro Beautification Foundation. Uh
[3:13:19] there is the beginning of a new design
[3:13:21] and maintenance uh crew at Hayne Road
[3:13:24] circle and also they held their donor
[3:13:29] thanks you I don't think I meant to say
[3:13:31] that at uh Carolyn's so they are all set
[3:13:36] ready for the summer and they will start
[3:13:38] up again in the fall next
[3:13:42] uh we had our ad hoc meeting on Tobin
[3:13:45] Clark you've just seen what we've been
[3:13:47] up to and we're So delighted to be able
[3:13:49] to share it with you. Uh draft ordinance
[3:13:53] uh work for business licenses is also in
[3:13:57] process. Next slide.
[3:14:02] Uh working on an ad hoc committee as
[3:14:04] well to redesign the outdoor learning
[3:14:07] center at uh Shoreway Education Area.
[3:14:11] And I just thought I'd throw in uh an
[3:14:15] inspiring art piece uh that I saw in
[3:14:18] Paris with uh these are uh like third
[3:14:22] graders just really learning about uh
[3:14:27] art, but we plan to have along the back
[3:14:31] wall that you see on the left an art
[3:14:34] piece that will either be
[3:14:38] who knows what it'll be. Next, next
[3:14:40] slide.
[3:14:43] Uh, I graduated on uh, Friday uh, from
[3:14:47] my leadership council San Mateo. Uh,
[3:14:51] dignitaries from all over the Bay Area
[3:14:54] showed up, but particularly Eddie Flores
[3:14:57] from uh, South San Francisco and our
[3:15:01] wonderful uh, council member and former
[3:15:04] mayor uh, Marie Schwang. Uh it was
[3:15:08] really great. There were two meetings
[3:15:10] actually in May. There was one on uh
[3:15:13] safety and security. Uh but I it was
[3:15:16] held at the really beautiful South San
[3:15:19] Francisco library and community center
[3:15:21] and it has this wonderful uh playground
[3:15:25] that I wanted you all to be inspired by.
[3:15:28] Next,
[3:15:32] uh, Tartan Trail work, uh, is beginning,
[3:15:34] but also, as you noted, Parkside Bridge
[3:15:37] and Macadamia.
[3:15:39] And I just wanted you to see
[3:15:43] really what Tartan Trail is all about.
[3:15:45] This has been a long process going
[3:15:48] through trying to get uh, funding for
[3:15:50] this. And I'm delighted that it has
[3:15:53] started. Uh, as you know, public works
[3:15:58] week was in May, and I want to thank
[3:16:01] Council Member Crow, who came to that
[3:16:05] meeting uh, as I was out of the country,
[3:16:08] and uh, not only said wonderful things
[3:16:11] about public works, but uh, shared her
[3:16:14] wonderful baking, which we all
[3:16:17] appreciate. Next.
[3:16:20] And uh just uh after I got back from
[3:16:22] Paris, I went to Austin, Texas uh where
[3:16:27] I was also this was uh I was honored for
[3:16:30] 25 years on the board of a nonprofit
[3:16:34] that works with major corporations to
[3:16:38] get them to do environmental things on
[3:16:40] their campuses. But I included a little
[3:16:43] picture in one of the presentations uh
[3:16:46] on the left that was uh one of the
[3:16:48] posters that my organization put
[3:16:50] together about the importance of
[3:16:52] pollinators at a Navajo Nation Earth
[3:16:55] Day. So that really excited me. But I am
[3:16:58] no longer in that business, but it was
[3:17:00] nice to cap it off with 25 years. And I
[3:17:04] think that's it.
[3:17:06] >> Thank you. Um Council Member Schwang.
[3:17:09] >> Uh sure. uh May it's very busy. Um so
[3:17:12] start off with u menrin instructions for
[3:17:16] it's very uh it was really well done and
[3:17:21] um we uh graduated another sets of uh
[3:17:25] Chinese u instructors. I think coming in
[3:17:28] August we will be doing a train the
[3:17:30] trainers in men Chinese. So that's also
[3:17:34] very exciting. Um really appreciate the
[3:17:36] CCFD fireboard. um uh goal setting
[3:17:41] sessions. It was very helpful. Um and
[3:17:44] then uh Samr moved to the new
[3:17:47] headquarter in Milbury. So you're
[3:17:50] welcome to come to visit in the uh new
[3:17:53] headquarters. Um and I'm certainly happy
[3:17:56] to give you a tour. Um, one of the
[3:17:59] highlight in May is that I attended the
[3:18:02] Crocker career day and I actually had
[3:18:05] opportunity to meet some sixth graders
[3:18:07] and speak on the local governments and
[3:18:10] um, and why civic engagement
[3:18:13] um, matters. Um, but I think that more
[3:18:16] attractive is the ride along that I do
[3:18:19] with police and fire that they got their
[3:18:22] interest. Um and then um really want to
[3:18:26] thank the Memorial Day uh event
[3:18:28] committees. Um fabulous jobs, fabulous
[3:18:32] um events. I think what is it last last
[3:18:35] time I heard it was like over 2,000 in
[3:18:38] attendance.
[3:18:40] Why quite a um community events in the
[3:18:43] in our um area. Um and then congratulate
[3:18:47] um congratulation to our um council
[3:18:50] member Adams for graduating from the
[3:18:52] legal uh leadership council of Satell
[3:18:56] County. Um it's quite a intense 10 month
[3:19:00] um but you certainly represent as well.
[3:19:03] I think that um Vicki um
[3:19:08] Ramen
[3:19:10] thank you. Um Vicki is also in the
[3:19:13] emerging leadership uh program and so
[3:19:15] that's really exciting to see um
[3:19:18] Hillsboro represented. So that's it.
[3:19:22] >> Thank you. Um
[3:19:24] Council Member Crowley.
[3:19:26] >> All right. Great. Memorial Day thank
[3:19:28] yous. Um HPD public works finance. Thank
[3:19:32] you for all your support. Um also
[3:19:35] appreciate the city manager and uh his
[3:19:38] office and the council support. Um,
[3:19:41] thank you to Marie and Leslie for being
[3:19:43] on the committee. Um, thank you for
[3:19:47] everyone who came out. It really it was
[3:19:50] a a great day. We just had perfect
[3:19:52] weather, not too hot and not too cold.
[3:19:55] And um, all the cars worked and um, it
[3:19:59] went very very smoothly. John Mullen
[3:20:01] came back and helped us stage cars. We
[3:20:04] didn't have the cadetses, but um but we
[3:20:07] filled in um and it it it just worked
[3:20:10] very very smoothly. Um please mark your
[3:20:13] calendar. Come out to the concour on
[3:20:14] June 28th. It's going to be a beautiful
[3:20:16] show. Um the road rally is the day
[3:20:19] before on the 27th and um the lunch is
[3:20:22] going to be at the the Johnson's former
[3:20:25] home right across the street from North.
[3:20:27] But come out to the concour. Don't miss
[3:20:29] this show and tell everybody to come.
[3:20:31] People come from all over the western
[3:20:33] United States to come to the show and
[3:20:35] people in Hillsboro don't go up the
[3:20:37] hill. And it really is like Brigadeun. I
[3:20:39] mean, you come across the hill and
[3:20:41] there's 250 absolutely beautiful cars.
[3:20:44] The food is great. It's just a great day
[3:20:46] and something we should really be proud
[3:20:48] of and thank you to the community for
[3:20:50] supporting it. Um air San Francisco out
[3:20:53] airport round table was last week. The
[3:20:55] vertaports again are the the the big um
[3:20:59] issue with these vertical
[3:21:02] um electric vehicles that are going to
[3:21:04] be trans transporting people. I don't
[3:21:06] think people in Hillsboro will be using
[3:21:08] them much because we live so close to
[3:21:10] the airport, but people from Marin
[3:21:12] certainly will and they're going to be
[3:21:13] looking for places to land. So the
[3:21:17] roundt is trying to come up with
[3:21:21] something that all municipalities can
[3:21:23] use as kind of a temp template, but from
[3:21:25] what I understand, South San Francisco
[3:21:26] has already signed a contract for one
[3:21:29] vertart over by uh Oyster Point. Um I
[3:21:32] also went to the Carolinas for the HBF
[3:21:34] event. It was great. Pride is tomorrow
[3:21:37] and I'm so h the youth commission is
[3:21:39] just run with this and William is
[3:21:41] working with them. Um and probably Mandy
[3:21:45] and Leslie too, but I know William is
[3:21:47] ordering all their swag and refreshments
[3:21:49] and they they are just running with it
[3:21:52] and I'm so pleased and so proud of them.
[3:21:54] So that's four o'clock tomorrow. And
[3:21:56] just lastly I had a nice talk with Joe
[3:21:58] Lamarana from um Rethink Waste. He's my
[3:22:01] buddy at Rotary and he could not say
[3:22:04] enough nice things about Mandy Brown and
[3:22:06] Lorie Davis Adams. So, and he's
[3:22:09] specifically said to me, "They represent
[3:22:10] your town so well." So, thank you to
[3:22:12] both of you.
[3:22:14] >> Thank you. Um, Vice Mayor Rexdale.
[3:22:19] >> Yes.
[3:22:20] Who knows what I I put this together a
[3:22:22] couple days ago because I was away and
[3:22:24] so sorry to miss both the HBF event and
[3:22:27] your graduation. I was away. um for a
[3:22:31] couple days. Um all right, what have I
[3:22:33] got? Ebikes. Uh continuing to follow.
[3:22:36] I'm in uh continual conversation with um
[3:22:40] a doctor who's spoken all over the
[3:22:42] country about this issue and uh he's
[3:22:45] keeping me a breast and the bills are
[3:22:48] moving into the or have moved into the
[3:22:50] Senate and uh we'll be having um
[3:22:55] hearings probably later this month, one
[3:22:58] of them definitely later this month. Uh
[3:23:00] Memorial Day parade uh just thank you to
[3:23:03] everyone just fantastic event. Um, and
[3:23:07] uh, I would have to say that it's like
[3:23:09] the mom taking the smallest piece of
[3:23:12] meat. Council member Krollic was not in
[3:23:14] a car after she found cars for
[3:23:18] everybody. She could she could she's an
[3:23:20] Excel spreadsheet in her head. She could
[3:23:22] tell you every car, every person in it,
[3:23:24] the year of the car, the color of the
[3:23:26] car, the owner, and she walked.
[3:23:28] >> So,
[3:23:28] >> I was going to put myself on the vintage
[3:23:31] firet truck with rotary, but I'd never
[3:23:33] seen the vehicle before. when it came,
[3:23:35] it really wasn't going to work. So, um,
[3:23:37] Rotary got on it and Jeff and I had a
[3:23:39] nice walk. It was pleasant.
[3:23:41] >> Very sweet. Um, and oh, and I can't take
[3:23:44] any credit for the Pride Festival or
[3:23:47] Pride event tomorrow, but I'm very
[3:23:49] excited and I love our youth commission,
[3:23:51] but I I have not helped on this, so I'm
[3:23:53] super excited to attend. Uh, next slide.
[3:23:56] Oh. Um, I listened to I know this isn't
[3:24:00] that flattering of a picture, but I was
[3:24:02] trying to take a picture of um I
[3:24:04] listened in on the vehicle license fee
[3:24:07] um uh webinar hosted by the county and
[3:24:12] um I think you guys all are up to date
[3:24:14] on that situation. Uh next slide.
[3:24:19] Uh Peninsula Clean Energy. Oh, I went to
[3:24:22] the um Cal CCA Community Choice
[3:24:25] Aggregators Conference in Sacramento.
[3:24:28] Learned a lot. Uh we unveiled Westlate
[3:24:31] Energy to that community um and
[3:24:33] everyone's very excited for us. It will
[3:24:35] be officially unveiled um July 1, but
[3:24:40] the Secretary of State has approved the
[3:24:42] new name and they are moving forward.
[3:24:44] They're going to unveil it to the
[3:24:46] vendors and P Gen to because your PCE
[3:24:50] soon to be West Light Energy. Um that is
[3:24:53] on your P Gen bill. So we need to work
[3:24:55] with them to get it uh the new name on
[3:24:58] the bill. Uh as uh Council Member Adams
[3:25:02] mentioned, we are still moving forward
[3:25:04] with our um ad hoc ordinance committee
[3:25:09] uh town hall subcommittee. We have we
[3:25:12] have public meetings now. I attended one
[3:25:14] by Zoom which was a which was a it was
[3:25:17] an interesting experience but um and
[3:25:20] Christine was there and um yes well we
[3:25:22] are moving forward and we will be
[3:25:24] updating you all soon and uh next slide
[3:25:29] Bosa at a board meeting apparently.
[3:25:33] Next slide.
[3:25:35] Oh, Town of Hillsboro was awarded
[3:25:38] commute.org or which I don't talk about
[3:25:40] a lot. Um but we were awarded the silver
[3:25:43] le level of certification for um
[3:25:47] encouraging our employees to take
[3:25:49] transportation and um William head of HR
[3:25:53] among all the other things that he does.
[3:25:56] >> Uh he gets the word out about their programs and their um commuter
[3:26:01] star app is always in our uh in the
[3:26:04] e-news and I think that is it.
[3:26:08] Yep.
[3:26:09] Uh, thank you. Um, I attended many of
[3:26:12] the meetings you've already reported on,
[3:26:14] so I do not have anything else to add. I
[3:26:17] don't have anything to report, but
[3:26:18] thanks especially to all of those
[3:26:20] involved in the Memorial Day parade. I
[3:26:22] thought that was an outstanding event.
[3:26:25] And um, with that said, I believe this
[3:26:29] meeting is adjourned. Thank you.
[3:26:33] We we
[3:26:35] know
[3:26:37] remembered. I was like,
[3:26:40] » "Okay,
[3:26:44] hold on. Hold on. Hold on. Where is it?"
[3:26:52] Yellow.
[3:26:57] » Oh,
[3:26:59] yeah. have a yellow for it. Okay, we do
[3:27:03] have um the Hillsboro Public Improvement
[3:27:07] Corporation annual board meeting. Um
[3:27:10] that meeting is now called to order
[3:27:13] and on the consent consent calendar. Um
[3:27:16] oh, first of all, roll call. Sorry.
[3:27:19] >> Adams
[3:27:21] >> present.
[3:27:21] >> Schwang Kurlic
[3:27:23] >> present.
[3:27:24] >> Ragdale present. Cole
[3:27:26] >> present.
[3:27:27] >> Thank you.
[3:27:29] Um, we have on the consent, we have on
[3:27:31] the consent calendar, approve item one,
[3:27:35] approve Hillsboro Public Improvement
[3:27:37] Corporation meeting minutes of June 9th,
[3:27:40] 2025.
[3:27:42] So moved. Oh, hold on.
[3:27:46] Item two, confirm appointment of
[3:27:48] Hillsboro Public Improvement Corporation
[3:27:50] Board of Directors.
[3:27:52] Um, any public comments on items on the
[3:27:55] agenda?
[3:27:57] Seeing none in chambers, none in zoom.
[3:28:01] >> Do we have a second?
[3:28:02] >> Second. All those in favor say I.
[3:28:05] >> I.
[3:28:06] This meeting is now. Thank you.