City Council

City Council Meeting October 14, 2025 Responses to City Council Agenda Questions 7:00pm Regular Meeting Consent Item 6n Mural Program. I intend to pull this item from consent to ask questions…it would be helpful to have staff present a very brief summary of how the program works. This program has been a topic of discussion for nearly my entire time on council which is prompting me to want a little more than just approving on consent. • Is this model of city ownership through easement the norm? How do other local municipalities handle this, for example I know Redwood City has a mural ordinance? o RESPONSE: Across California, cities handle murals on private property in different ways. Cities like Los Angeles and Palm Springs use a similar approach of City ownership through easements while San Francisco utilizes a Mural Installation and Maintenance Agreement which places the responsibility on the property owner. The advantages of City ownership are:  It gives the city legal leverage to enforce permanence, maintenance, and protection of the mural.  It can help resolve conflicts over removal or alteration by having the city as a consenting party with rights.  By holding an interest, the city can better ensure public value (view corridors, anti-graffiti measures, design control). • Does the easement agreement mean that if a private property owner-initiated mural is damaged or vandalized, the City is responsible for repairing it? o RESPONSE: Yes, under an easement agreement, the City would generally be responsible for restoring or repairing a private property–initiated mural if it is damaged or vandalized. This is desirable because the easement grants the City a formal interest in the artwork, ensuring consistent quality, preservation, and public access. Responses to City Council Agenda Packet Questions October 14, 2025 Page 2 of 5 It also reinforces the City’s role as a steward of community art, protects public investment, and provides clear accountability—allowing the City to maintain artistic standards and public confidence while relieving property owners of maintenance liability. The Public Art Fund would be utilized for any repairs. • Are artists working on either type of mural required to get a business license? If yes, what is the cost and process for getting one? o RESPONSE: Yes, an individual or business would be required to enter into agreement that would include compensation and would fall under the requirements of a business license, which includes an application fee, tax, and pass through state fees ($4). Costs will range depending on gross receipts, starting at $226+ for in-town, and $313+ for out-of-town: F. Pressure valve. The staff report refers to thirty Pressure Relief Stations/Valve locations? How many locations have been completed? What is the timeline and costs for completing the remaining locations? RESPONSE: Over the past ten years, one new Pressure Reducing Valve (PRV) was installed on Arbor Court. Currently, $1,800,000 is budgeted to improve five PRV stations. All PRV stations are anticipated to be upgraded by 2028, with one included as part of the Cunningham Tank Replacement Project. The most recent Water Master Plan recommends improvements to a total of 11 PRV stations, leaving six additional stations to be budgeted for future upgrades. G. Florida Park - Congratulations to staff and all involved for the completion of Floria Park. Where will the remaining balance of $687K go? Development Impact Fees? Can this excess funding be applied to the upcoming improvements identified in the Park Assessment? RESPONSE: Up to $395,422 would be returned to the One-Time Revenue Reserve, with any remaining excess allocated to the Impact Fee Fund. 2 Responses to City Council Agenda Packet Questions October 14, 2025 Page 3 of 5 As part of the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) process, staff will present funding recommendations for the City Council’s consideration. These recommendations will be aligned with the City’s Park Assessment and will include proposed project funding allocations accordingly. H. Bike lanes - Another project closeout that deserves recognition. On May 14, 2024, City Council approved a construction contract with Interstate Grading and Paving, in the amount of $2,317,055 with a construction contingency of $348,000. The total approved budget which included design, construction contract, project contingency, and staff project management and inspection services was $4,417,000 for Segment 1 and Segment 2. As detailed in the attached project acceptance report, the total expenditures totaled approximately $4,100,000. The project is funded by Measure A, Measure G, and Gas Tax. The remaining funds of approximately $317,000 will be reallocated to the construction phase of Segment 2 of the Project (Forest Lane to the San Bruno BART Station). What is the status of Segment 2? What are the estimated costs and timeline? RESPONSE: Phase two is currently in design with an estimated project cost currently at $6M and anticipated construction completion date by 2027. GRANTS - Congratulations on two more grants totaling $133,600. J. Consider Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing the Acceptance of $120,000 Grant Funds from the California Office of Traffic Safety Pursuant to the Federal Fiscal Year 2025-26 Selective Traffic Enforcement Program Grant (STEP) #PT26190 and Appropriating $120,000 from the Federal/State Grants Fund. “to reduce alcohol-related crashes and other primary collision factors, including unsafe speed, distracted driving, and pedestrian/bicyclist violations.” K. Consider Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing the Acceptance of $13,600 Grant Funds from the Office of Traffic Safety Traffic Records Improvement Project #TR26027 to Provide Traffic Safety Stakeholders with the Ability to Improve the Quality of the State’s Crash and Citation Data and Appropriating $13,600 from the Federal/State Grants Fund “Grant funds will be used to purchase and implement a new complete electronic citation reporting solution or upgrade an existing electronic citation reporting system that includes the capability of exporting data to both a departmental records management system (RMS) 3 Responses to City Council Agenda Packet Questions October 14, 2025 Page 4 of 5 as well as to the local court system. The following will be purchased and implemented as part of this project: L. Partnership Policy - Consider Adoption of a Resolution Establishing a Partnership Policy. It’s great to see staff looking at formalizing partnerships. N. Mural Program It’s great to see this proposed policy. What would stop a private property owner from installing their own mural? RESPONSE: A property owner seeking to install a mural on their property outside of the proposed mural program would follow zoning ordinance processes that apply to modifications to the exterior of a building. In most zoning districts, that requires a planning permit. What legal authority does the city have in limiting a property owner from free expression? RESPONSE: In general, the City has authority to apply content-neutral and reasonable restrictions based on time, place and manner of speech. For murals that go through the mural program, the City will have broad discretion because the mural will be City-owned. What is the difference between murals and signs? RESPONSE: The difference between murals and signs lies in their purpose and regulation. Murals are generally treated as noncommercial artistic expressions, intended to beautify spaces or convey cultural or social messages, and are often protected as free speech under the First Amendment. Signs, by contrast, are commercial communications that advertise a business, product, or service, and are regulated under local sign ordinances governing size, placement, and content. A mural that includes logos, business names, or slogans is typically classified as a sign and subject to those rules. In short, murals are art; signs are advertisements— and the presence of a commercial message determines which laws apply. 4 Responses to City Council Agenda Packet Questions October 14, 2025 Page 5 of 5 Do existing murals need to comply? RESPONSE: The City’s mural program is intended to apply to future murals and any updates or modifications to existing murals, rather than to artworks that are already in place and remain unchanged. This approach ensures that future projects align with the City’s current goals and community engagement process while respecting the integrity of existing public art. How will the community survey be conducted? RESPONSE: The Community Survey will be conducted using an online platform such as SurveyMonkey, allowing residents to easily provide feedback from any device. The survey will be accessible through the City’s website and widely promoted across social media channels, newsletters, and other community outreach avenues to encourage broad participation. What is the timeline for the Centennial Plaza Mural if this policy is approved? RESPONSE: For the Centennial Plaza project, City staff are currently working to contact the adjacent building owner to obtain the necessary easement for installation of the proposed artwork. Once the easement is secured, staff will bring forward an item to the City Council requesting authorization to proceed with the project and to allocate funding from the Public Art Fund. The overall process is expected to take approximately six to nine months, which will include issuing a Call for Artists and following the established public art review and approval process to ensure a thoughtful and community-centered outcome. Item 7c ParkMobile App Contract. Since our model is designed to encourage patrons to utilize our parking lots, can we include a second example scenario in the presentation of what the motorist pays and the net to city using a $1-for-2-hours purchase in a city lot? RESPONSE: Yes, we can include a second example scenario for an off-street parking session. 5