[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6582463,"mediaKeyId","3091070-f16d032a42127aaea91bd16434895e85","parentId",3091070,"title","Residents urge council to revive social equity committee and press garbage‑rate review during public comment","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",5310000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3091070-f16d032a42127aaea91bd16434895e85&start=5310&end=5310","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3091070-f16d032a42127aaea91bd16434895e85/thumbnail_5310000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6582463/Millbrae-City/San-Mateo-County/California/Residents-urge-council-to-revive-social-equity-committee-and-press-garbagerate-review-during-public-comment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6582463-e76506439c27f5c781ddcbc208778554/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163676&Signature=bAVP1eBLKHR27N-JCIiqJgkrFbZNXg2QlLyZk8p8T04oGE18l7xdHUTGX6GFSjd9LTFqmalNRgazrR6-9jHsIV7CewJx0Qu70KtVziiIvjWKTTS1vjfen4b4KveR~OX9u-nB1~UofvVWXSMCYVL-7QYkMlt0hVNfoFw2Om5lI~nsXTrVufuBDSQ6vtRw56f1NDHCIJD9mE62LREpdXdETUATX4Eg~Yi2kMUk~54FQx8CMOehfY2~5OpURZ4eR8IHR9dgOAd9RAiJfeDQn6FH6sFzaUWuwzqXM7qka1MFrmjpIEC2~RnmspKf4zmFPVYLDgFafoVUrizoKm9J1Ky7vw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Millbrae, CA","date","2025-04-23T05:28:37.523Z","article","During public comment at the April 22 Millbrae City Council meeting, several residents urged the council to resume work by the Social Equity Committee and pressed for a review of the city’s contract and rate‑setting process for garbage service.

Joe Tureci and Nathan Chan both asked the council to re‑establish the Social Equity Committee and to discuss its future at a public meeting. Tureci said the committee was funded and had a consultant in place previously and that committee members remain eager to continue. Nathan Chan noted a prior council remark signaling intent to return the commission to the council’s work plan and asked for action after months with no movement.

Lou Santrini raised concerns about the city’s garbage‑rate model. Santrini said garbage rates have been tied to a CPI‑based model and other averages for the past 15 years without a formal review and asked the council and staff to meet with him to discuss the methodology. Mayor Fung and council members acknowledged the request and the mayor suggested staff follow up to provide factual answers to Santrini’s questions.

Other public commenters included Grace Shore, who criticized selection of a guest speaker at a prior proclamation event and urged the council to vet invitation recipients, and Anne Snyder, who urged council attention to historic preservation designations and said those designations affect federal environmental review and mitigation requirements.

City staff responded during the meeting by explaining procedural limits on council responses during public comment and by flagging staff follow‑up where appropriate. The council did not take immediate action on the public requests but several council members asked staff to follow up, and the mayor suggested arranging direct meetings with speakers to address their concerns.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Millbrae City Council Regular Meeting - April 22, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Multiple residents used the public‑comment period April 22 to call on the council to reactivate Millbrae’s Social Equity Committee and to request a review of garbage‑rate methodology; speakers also raised concerns about proclamation guest vetting and historic preservation.","taxTitle","Millbrae City, San Mateo County, California","taxId",71799,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6582467,"Millbrae public works director Sam Bautista honored at council meeting; department recognized for storm response and capital work",1032,1806000,2838000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3091070-f16d032a42127aaea91bd16434895e85&start=1806&end=2838","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3091070-f16d032a42127aaea91bd16434895e85/thumbnail_1806000.jpg","/articles/6582467/Millbrae-City/San-Mateo-County/California/Millbrae-public-works-director-Sam-Bautista-honored-at-council-meeting-department-recognized-for-storm-response-and-capital-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6582467-b423178535702e89d5f61b1d607a4c5f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163676&Signature=FskR2tyS1pi15vt8-P0BqjhxYcxhZNPwo4I59bj0MN6yM6V10bU-iFiqYrcBaRStYEMelHKbGGU7lcaeuVxLuzLFLPhpyo2gOqbN47D7Wv2GP3A5wEEZgUwutUAZ8FGYH8vRMUFVu0js5zbGxanwEPE0pH8ivxls5rMkhAm~2zviZX7Xs-MGRG3hjJz21NcSPOHeRPkI7bpwFDm4ukm~yeIam~LslizXuRqE4-Cfsc~7L~p-TQ0vpxcQh~ml~iyXP~QRj1MxzktBmMDN7kP0KSvZEBFRarXZIHOUhfaiFLlUs9PpM1tmJXjSX8dCnl9iqc73K~8QAG-Po-KaWbOHjw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Millbrae Public Works Director Sam Bautista was honored during the April 22 City Council meeting as he prepares to retire and relocate out of state.

Bautista recounted that he began his public‑works career in Millbrae in February 2001, worked elsewhere for several years and returned to Millbrae in 2022 to lead the department. In remarks to the council he thanked city staff, management and public‑works employees and highlighted work completed or under way, including the Marina Vista Park redesign and grant activity supporting capital improvements.

Mayor Fung, Council members and City Manager Tom Williams praised Bautista’s leadership, noting his role in organizing capital improvement programming, securing grants, and directing storm and emergency responses. Williams said Bautista helped the city win grants and oversaw work on parking, traffic calming, parks renovation and other infrastructure priorities; council members thanked him for his service and wished him well.

Public Works staff and supervisors were introduced during the meeting; Bautista invited his division leads to stand for recognition. Several council members and residents publicly thanked the department for routine but essential services such as storm‑response, water main repairs and street maintenance.

Resident Mary Ann Kong and others praised the department’s responsiveness during storms and city events. The council declared a short celebration and recognized Public Works during National Public Works Week, which the council had earlier proclaimed.

Bautista’s remarks stressed service, public safety and teamwork; he said the department’s projects and ongoing operations reflect work that will continue after his departure. The meeting included a brief reception and a planned 10‑minute break for staff, council and the public to visit and take photographs.","Director Sam Bautista announced his retirement and was recognized April 22 by the council for more than two decades of public service; staff and council highlighted capital projects, grant wins and department operations during storms.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6582471,"Millbrae council authorizes Prop 218 notice for proposed water rate increases, schedules public hearing",1307,8314000,9621000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3091070-f16d032a42127aaea91bd16434895e85&start=8314&end=9621","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3091070-f16d032a42127aaea91bd16434895e85/thumbnail_8314000.jpg","/articles/6582471/Millbrae-City/San-Mateo-County/California/Millbrae-council-authorizes-Prop-218-notice-for-proposed-water-rate-increases-schedules-public-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6582471-9a6d5a617d3abb3a04082573908435c8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163676&Signature=c0PIiCMeAcaNvAQIrR0JIVHBpMA5KRsnfThWat0lSIFX5n29skX1RDFauVO7AIIAMZa7ecYCrVKw9ujFYcw0FGBMO7t5G2XMBXPWwJx9LoIWPImcEQ7LsU2vVTLO-0oiTfmFLNuI7hoOeQNLLOoXV-GWBD1zyMjGlt3a0PyHfDsrVSrQn4sxAvFiaakudKAWo8y8PS0c0qsc5~1aOSq5f81Qru56SQ2Y-xGeTLwG6KVX0A7qnJjyp0yUihYowxeZLLWvuvh2U1ZqG7DJ0PDJ~qJ2WYQJBoLC~t8px3FQ2gZw3RrxwJthFjWEfiDrj4y0dP5XHHDGyRIZ~4jwNcHDiw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Millbrae City Council on April 22 authorized staff to mail a Proposition 218 public hearing notice proposing a series of water rate increases and to set a public hearing for June 10.

Finance Director Mike Sung and consultant Alex Handler of Bartle Wells presented the water rate study and staff recommendations. Handler said the city’s water enterprise faces long‑term capital needs (the five‑year capital improvement program totals about $22.5 million) and rising wholesale charges from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC). To address those needs, the consultant recommended a phased approach of 7% rate increases annually for five years. The council voted 5‑0 to proceed with the notice and public‑hearing timeline.

Staff described the primary drivers behind the recommendation: significant near‑term capital projects including water main replacements and the LaPrenda storage tank replacement (a city staffer said the tank was originally built around 1957), ongoing wholesale water cost inflation, and general operating cost increases. The proposed rate structure includes a fixed monthly charge by meter size and a quantity charge based on metered consumption; staff noted that Millbrae bills bi‑monthly so bills will appear larger but are issued less frequently than monthly programs.

The council also authorized a pass‑through provision that would allow the city to pass wholesale SFPUC increases above a $7-per‑unit threshold to customers; staff said the notice assumes SFPUC wholesale rates will rise to about $7 per unit over five years and the pass‑through would provide protection if wholesale costs exceed that level.

Staff emphasized the city’s customer assistance program for qualifying low‑income residents: a 25% discount on fixed water and wastewater charges for residents enrolled in qualifying assistance programs. City staff and the consultant said the dollar value of that discount will rise proportionally as rates increase, and encouraged eligible customers to apply.

Alex Handler presented alternatives and modeled consequences of smaller rate increases. He said cutting the increase to 6% or 5% annually would reduce available capital funding and require larger reserve drawdowns, potentially deferring critical projects. The council majority said phased increases were preferable to deferring infrastructure work and facing larger increases later.

City staff recommended issuing the Proposition 218 notice this week, scheduling the public hearing for June 10, and returning to council for the hearing and any final action. The motion to issue the notice and continue the Prop 218 process was made by Councilmember Rinaldi, seconded by Councilmember Nguyen, and passed 5‑0.","Council voted 5‑0 to issue a Proposition 218 public notice for proposed water rate increases of 7% per year over five years, and to allow a wholesale water pass‑through above $7 per unit; the notice starts the formal public‑hearing process with a scheduled hearing June 10 and possible rate changes effective July 1.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_46":104,"_48":105,"_50":106,"_52":107,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":108,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":109,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6582476,"Millbrae council pauses downtown community benefit district formation amid economic uncertainty",1080,7200000,8280000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3091070-f16d032a42127aaea91bd16434895e85&start=7200&end=8280","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3091070-f16d032a42127aaea91bd16434895e85/thumbnail_7200000.jpg","/articles/6582476/Millbrae-City/San-Mateo-County/California/Millbrae-council-pauses-downtown-community-benefit-district-formation-amid-economic-uncertainty","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6582476-96f79a7b9d079bb74faba448659d4ab6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163676&Signature=F7rM2B06IRkAF6JE9KylYYEiGdLN6N2Yi5iKFTT6Qzu0O3AC2O4A3GLTGEsWfgd8bZEcoWwzuciDzZMM6xhLjkCNo82zqduzDu6W6ONFVjUnFSnHC4sspP7jSCiBISPT4xpIIgAEWqSB~JfGATCbLEBselQLdSskBgkMS55KbGZZxa9WovEFPDFnUGi-3yY82uvzAZ8SVJLHKHZGROg51K2eJbc~pN6DVaUqCGzv53v~Nac2hEzKiKb7Izk-vGD8kIvLNF8GQ6L3-77wpI6nfIYyibdoA2zCqc22q-KUdRevET8OECNkQSHJqApeaT7jm1NAoq4B6qT2HMBB5Vrufg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Millbrae City Council voted unanimously April 22 to pause efforts to form a proposed Millbrae Downtown and El Camino Real Community Benefit District (CBD) and to rescind submitted petitions that would have initiated a formal balloting process.

Community Development Director Andrew Mogensen told the council the ad hoc subcommittee — Mayor Fung and Vice Mayor Holiver — recommended pausing formation “due to growing economic uncertainty tied to evolving federal trade policies and the potential impacts on local businesses.” He said staff will notify property owners in the proposed district by mail if the council approves the recommendation.

Mayor Fung and several council members said the pause is temporary and reflects concern for downtown businesses, many of which are sensitive to trans‑Pacific travel and hotel occupancy. Vice Mayor Holiver noted that timing matters because of county assessor deadlines and that a pause now would likely delay any new district formation for at least a year.

Staff provided a weighted‑vote breakdown for the top 10 property owners in the proposed district at the council’s request. The list showed the top 10 owners account for roughly 37.05 percent of the weighted vote; among those were the City of Millbrae (5.35%), hotel owners including Starwood properties (combined about 7.4%), station‑area owners and other commercial property owners.

Multiple members of the public spoke in favor of moving forward with downtown improvement, but the council’s majority said the economic and tariff uncertainty — and the outsized share of assessments likely coming from hotels and station‑area properties — justified pausing formation. Mayor Fung said the pause gives the council time to “fine tune some of the details” and to bring the proposal back when conditions improve.

The council also voted to continue an associated consent resolution that would have authorized the city to sign a petition as a property owner; that item was continued indefinitely alongside the rescind/pause vote.

Council members emphasized that pausing the petition process was not the end of the effort. Council Member Rinaldi said the delay would allow additional outreach and refinement, while council members reiterated support for downtown revitalization once economic conditions are steadier.

Formal council actions on the item: a motion to accept the ad‑hoc subcommittee’s recommendation to pause and rescind the petition (mover: Mayor Fung; second: Councilmember Nguyen) passed 5‑0. A separate motion to continue the related petition authorization indefinitely also passed 5‑0.","The council voted 5‑0 to pause and rescind petitions and to indefinitely continue related balloting steps for a proposed Millbrae Downtown and El Camino Real Community Benefit District, citing federal trade policy uncertainty and potential impacts on local businesses and key property owners.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_46":116,"_48":117,"_50":118,"_52":119,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":120,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":121,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6582480,"Millbrae and California High-Speed Rail reach settlement clearing way for west‑side station planning",787,5673000,6460000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3091070-f16d032a42127aaea91bd16434895e85&start=5673&end=6460","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3091070-f16d032a42127aaea91bd16434895e85/thumbnail_5673000.jpg","/articles/6582480/Millbrae-City/San-Mateo-County/California/Millbrae-and-California-High-Speed-Rail-reach-settlement-clearing-way-for-westside-station-planning","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6582480-2365f2a7dc5b426a350b6fd3b9c8870a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163676&Signature=aubsORFLM5zebxoI09F8xUfgSSx86Lwyr-Oe14mAC8O2~~NDYCVaivLn1MYAGdY4VfE0cMNgI~TbeOD62CUEYkDfcbdbeFDnnq176dKB-HRbx4FaXaT-s3uwlczhttgEOSv4nt3KebduJYX8B44cQQmDU4m6wib52v3VMy~YpGYqoIj-oIbCDnMWYEK794Cl6ygCAehmBZXfVX9WPxn8eZd3FBBm-IsNcqQ7Ly2cp-KL-kTyrd5WqIFDXdXC7PMTkvSmQ4JeDIh-Jd8ZReE9ZC9~0e44171mEFH1XqaPFpHioJNOFNIXr8-SkxrGeU3D~6dwz7BlZn9Sy5G9iGqE8Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Millbrae City officials announced an agreement April 22 that settles the city’s lawsuit under the California Environmental Quality Act challenging the environmental review for the California High‑Speed Rail segment through Millbrae.

City Manager Tom Williams said the settlement “provides the pathway forward for Millbrae and the property owners on the west side of the transit station to move forward.” He said the settlement also includes $225,000 from the rail authority to the city.

The agreement, Williams and other speakers said, clears legal uncertainty so the rail authority can continue detailed station design on the footprint of the existing BART station and allows Millbrae to coordinate land‑use planning and transit‑oriented development west of the station. City officials described the outcome as a mutual accommodation that gives the rail authority the space it needs for platforms and station elements while preserving the city’s ability to guide future development.

Mayor Fung called the settlement “a monumental milestone for the city,” saying it will allow Millbrae to regain control of the west‑side properties and pursue housing and economic development opportunities. Council members and city staff thanked the city’s negotiating team, including outside consultants Harry Burrows and attorney Tom McMorrow, and acknowledged meetings with the rail authority’s leadership.

City staff said the settlement will also allow future coordination among multiple transit agencies — BART, Caltrain and SamTrans — as the intermodal design advances. Staff clarified that the city and the rail authority will now work together on station access for pedestrians, vehicles and other modes.

City staff also said the settlement will preserve the local train museum. According to staff, the museum will be relocated within the project footprint but will remain adjacent to the rail tracks so that its railroad context is retained.

The council received the staff report as information; no council vote or binding action was required at the meeting. City staff said they will continue coordination with the rail authority, property owners and other transit agencies as design work proceeds.

Officials said the settlement ends a multi‑year dispute and is intended to enable both the rail project and local redevelopment to move forward in parallel. The council did not take a formal vote on the settlement during the meeting because the item was presented as an informational update.","Millbrae officials said a settlement with the California High-Speed Rail Authority resolves the city's CEQA lawsuit, restores local land‑use control on the station's west side and includes a $225,000 payment to the city; staff called it an informational milestone with no council action required.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents urge council to revive social equity committee and press garbage‑rate review during public comment

Millbrae public works director Sam Bautista honored at council meeting; department recognized for storm response and capital work

Millbrae council authorizes Prop 218 notice for proposed water rate increases, schedules public hearing

Millbrae council pauses downtown community benefit district formation amid economic uncertainty

Millbrae and California High-Speed Rail reach settlement clearing way for west‑side station planning