[{"_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":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,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6539800,"mediaKeyId","3578742-ffedefbe2d60a3f175cdcdfd1cc52ec7","parentId",3578742,"title","Residents urge caution on housing policy, appeal fee and SB 79; referendum signatures circulated","audioSeconds",830,"startMs",185000,"endMs",1015000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3578742-ffedefbe2d60a3f175cdcdfd1cc52ec7&start=185&end=1015","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3578742-ffedefbe2d60a3f175cdcdfd1cc52ec7/thumbnail_185000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6539800/San-Ramon-City/Contra-Costa-County/California/Residents-urge-caution-on-housing-policy-appeal-fee-and-SB-79-referendum-signatures-circulated","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6539800-2698e11261ea131e53289319c9bc7401/orig.mp4?Expires=1775358572&Signature=lz8zfZFSc4YYrl01zPwfXbIl~KCHtzbfV1yvnI4W~Qukdo12zUQwq286614bwHM-ZnXWRSyh6jw91MeHS9pZucq2kxN~r1asPgs9DOxtTk69HQGGfCV6t-TPQ0JniRp1lB5OUB5s~AhjUdVHyDpHzri0OoTBuoQjuKBXlbyRro~k5DdUmxEUlsKWUV0oQtp7EYv176jvWbuxTeL9ckwagV19iNeAmrFBr1jvGdeoby7a-F6L6iAnE7GJH2wIPTiTVe0C-qzKNfchDgivhJeUStWto2XUpYhTQ1SBmhmhKj2eXxYkXz~oAl4jEB5ZA0o1T~OVDjh-ga9pWICrK9otQQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-28T17:59:31Z","article","Several residents used the public-comment period to raise concerns about housing policy, the city's appeal fee and proposed state legislation.

Jim Blickenstaff told the council that \"building more houses does not solve\" the affordable housing crisis and argued that subsidized housing is the primary need. He urged council to consider the mix of housing types rather than simply increasing supply and suggested residents engage on pending state measures he described as transferring authority to large builders (he referenced \"SB 79\").

Santosh Kanjala, a resident of the Carmelita community, said a Toll Brothers subdivision on Darty Road lacked community shade and resting areas and asked whether the city could provide benches or shaded seating for seniors and children. He also joined others in urging the council to consider a town-hall format on a recurring basis to improve resident engagement.

Shirod Kathrani told the council he had filed an intent for a referendum to place the general plan update on the ballot and said many residents at the city's Art & Wind Festival indicated they would sign. He also referenced the $4,500 appeal fee, calling it prohibitive; several commenters asked that the policy committee review fee structures and consider a tiered approach like neighboring cities.

Council members acknowledged the concerns, said staff is gathering comparative fee information and said the policy committee will take the matter up for further discussion.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting 5/27/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Public commenters told council that building alone won't solve affordable-housing concerns, urged lowering appeal fees and warned about SB 79's potential to shift local approvals. A resident reported collecting signatures for a referendum on the general plan update.","taxTitle","San Ramon City, Contra Costa County, California","taxId",4548,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6539804,"Local students and residents urge San Ramon to restore moderated Zoom public comment rather than ban it",179,614000,793000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3578742-ffedefbe2d60a3f175cdcdfd1cc52ec7&start=614&end=793","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3578742-ffedefbe2d60a3f175cdcdfd1cc52ec7/thumbnail_614000.jpg","/articles/6539804/San-Ramon-City/Contra-Costa-County/California/Local-students-and-residents-urge-San-Ramon-to-restore-moderated-Zoom-public-comment-rather-than-ban-it","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6539804-bddce9270c71216fa435ea965b07e2a0/orig.mp4?Expires=1775358572&Signature=Jaj6kGEjvD6fk-IUK~X-dms~TRAmJ8lOIZMWJtnGAGG-sQNDcTJIPaCRZR8jSXwrrIqT9wS5Me1rz~OLxe8BvNlMAIPwWRyHRnvkTAHPTpCzsFrR0NSDnBNmnIwNj-OZ32GnE958eVvjkIMKPqbOSrkiL0eMrpHBhq3I2gd9EB-kHnPddHO1IgsSgBijAX8nNfv~jF3l~Sj9AInVJqmxVfniFioYep1cmBSFa3TrwDvyT6UzB4WbyGss5aX1TzrpNm40R-59uCoanbJd-twMJgkkUtnue2rWXxPrsAJXdKONRVoBIwIcEHxnRpE0QudvJsA8f94FboiKeR-6alkdQw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A group of residents at Tuesday's public comment urged the San Ramon City Council to restore the ability to speak during meetings via Zoom with active moderation rather than eliminate remote spoken public comment.

Manyatha Srikantam, a high-school junior, told the council that banning Zoom comments is \"not an appropriate preventative measure\" and urged the council to try aggressive moderation before removing remote participation. \"The point of hate speech is to create fear that silences minority voices,\" she said, adding that removal and moderation tools can stop disruptive participants while preserving access for working families, people with childcare responsibilities and older residents who cannot travel.

Other speakers backed wider virtual access. Ravi Hoskote said remote commenting \"is inclusion\" and that many residents who cannot easily attend in person would engage if allowed to comment virtually. Several speakers urged the city to place the issue on a future agenda so the council can explore moderated options and safeguards consistent with the Brown Act.

Council members asked staff to draft a memo on the city's options and legal limits for remote public comment, noting the Brown Act's constraints and recent examples in neighboring cities. City staff said they will prepare a memo and, if desired by the council, present it at a future meeting for formal discussion.","Multiple residents, including a high-school student, urged the council to restore Zoom public comment with active moderation to preserve access for working families, young people and older residents.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6539809,"Council instructs staff to interview all applicants for Planning and Parks commissions; councils to submit interview questions by Friday",2346,4631000,6977000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3578742-ffedefbe2d60a3f175cdcdfd1cc52ec7&start=4631&end=6977","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3578742-ffedefbe2d60a3f175cdcdfd1cc52ec7/thumbnail_4631000.jpg","/articles/6539809/San-Ramon-City/Contra-Costa-County/California/Council-instructs-staff-to-interview-all-applicants-for-Planning-and-Parks-commissions-councils-to-submit-interview-questions-by-Friday","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6539809-80ed9349010d9042dbecbb905622849f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775358572&Signature=Nhm5yztdnwDbwv7TwX7EG6Kn7gP39c2N2nu9ZtYh1j-Vwv0aPw9MrlESamkzIQxDZYYpQrVn~Y2fWbJ-~HEDRKKzUEdXBuXGKXt74Zh-CqYwC4Umebf5p18t~tHpS3NcureG2kCGdfDiXJZ3Fhvt7~pGJyFUxxrUibtS9recn9dms~reE11ahThQDLMzJclH-UNNA-hQLT34puOkhrzohrOkm45pLMGQ8jI-gloxegyWzQslSb3TB5-Cx16IzbTAK9xeFp2iVYoxr8CRi-ptFhubQee0bXayq3Mwyi0VzQt8tw5icTEAqvaZO1MGH9qg3UMl9F612ydr~zEZKNJYEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The San Ramon City Council gave staff direction Tuesday to interview all applicants who applied for two upcoming commission vacancies: 11 applicants for the Planning Commission and 10 applicants for the Parks & Community Services Commission.

Clerk staff told the council the Planning Commission has five members with staggered terms and three seats expiring June 30; the Parks & Community Services Commission has seven members and four seats expiring. Staff noted that interviewing every applicant would require multiple hours and suggested two-day scheduling or condensed evening sessions.

Council members debated process details including interview length, number of questions and fairness. The city attorney advised that the most defensible process is to ensure equality — candidates should be asked the same pre-determined questions. Council directed staff to accept proposed interview questions from council members and return a compiled list so duplicates can be removed before the public interviews. The council also agreed to a target window of roughly a four-hour evening meeting (after 5 p.m.) to complete the Planning Commission interviews; similar scheduling will apply to the Parks Commission item.

Staff told council that if every Planning Commission applicant is interviewed using the estimated time-per-candidate the total interview time would be roughly four hours, plus time for deliberations. The clerk recommended spreading very long interview schedules over two dates for staff and candidate convenience; council members discussed holding interviews on a weekday evening or a Saturday special meeting to avoid conflicts with work schedules.

City staff will publish a schedule once council members submit questions; council members were asked to submit proposed questions as soon as possible and, if convenient, by the end of the coming week so staff can finalize the timetable and public notice.

The council also agreed on guidance for interview conduct: identical initial questions for all candidates, limited clarifying questions permitted when a candidate requests clarification, and deliberation to follow in public session.","The council directed staff to interview all applicants for the Planning Commission (11 applicants) and Parks & Community Services Commission (10 applicants). Councillors will submit proposed interview questions to staff in advance so duplicates can be removed; interviews are expected as evening sessions after 5 p.m.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6539814,"San Ramon Teen Council presents annual report; highlights mental-health outreach and senior tech days",1547,3033000,4580000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3578742-ffedefbe2d60a3f175cdcdfd1cc52ec7&start=3033&end=4580","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3578742-ffedefbe2d60a3f175cdcdfd1cc52ec7/thumbnail_3033000.jpg","/articles/6539814/San-Ramon-City/Contra-Costa-County/California/San-Ramon-Teen-Council-presents-annual-report-highlights-mental-health-outreach-and-senior-tech-days","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6539814-c7019c79894bfca23f6aaede4a965745/orig.mp4?Expires=1775358572&Signature=fMeznUSnz761CsJ5-XCU5xhMn~uLpY9769zZa8h5HXzR42QO3~GaUtSgkGSBgv4y3EqhZ9VZ~XQAhtCBKkDzdkLYTkfKcfW9h2odiz0Lq0GGAh~dQV9FZuQBvHDVaSB6Kg4J~FpwJ5ffogY2h5Q0Ngwsf9DQo981T6tcvYKVhAdkSM2-czsVomYqEvgIQTp22ywUBY6g8fCIYHL3ugreYUiccSgZsdKapqbGF9-ODIpXEdvUfrbRfjZ6gRKm3BnbMcYsapEUpwfb5uvcOtIdMzf05OSmuo9sWP53SuaesBytArnwW5uoN6aQkRQ3UFAuoYP0dZefkl1Fprd8DWUS8A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The San Ramon Teen Council presented its annual report to the City Council on Tuesday, summarizing the year's projects and setting goals for the 2025–26 term.

Jessica Reber, staff liaison, introduced Teen Council Chair Tanushka (Tanishka) Chawla, who described accomplishments from a 17-member council that included five ad hoc committees and two alternates. Chawla said committees focused on teen wellness, a Teen Citizenship Award, senior technology days, a digital \"wish tree\" and an expanded ambassador program.

The Teen Council's wellness committee partnered with school wellness centers and campus events to promote connection and mental-health resources. The senior technology committee ran four Senior Technology Days at the Alcosta Senior Center to help older residents with basic tech issues and online safety. The ambassador program expanded to include representatives from multiple high schools and several middle schools, and ambassadors contributed outreach and supported committee projects.

The council selected Kenneth Sarif of Dougherty Valley High School as this year's Outstanding Teen Citizenship Award recipient for his nonprofit work with Books of Barrios; the report said Sarif donated more than 15,000 books and thousands of dollars in supplies to underserved communities.

Looking ahead, Teen Council's priorities for 2025–26 include continued partnerships to support teen wellness, maintaining senior technology days, strengthening the ambassador program, restarting a Teen in Action recognition page, exploring collaboration with the Arts Advisory Committee and improving social media outreach.

Mayor Armstrong and other council members thanked the teen members for their work and encouraged continued outreach with school administrators to boost engagement and representation from more schools.","Teen Council reported on projects including wellness outreach, a Teen Citizenship Award winner, senior technology days, ambassador expansion and goals for 2025–26.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6539819,"San Ramon council adopts FY 2025–26 budget, sets appropriations limit and authorizes capital carryovers",1341,1679000,3020000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3578742-ffedefbe2d60a3f175cdcdfd1cc52ec7&start=1679&end=3020","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3578742-ffedefbe2d60a3f175cdcdfd1cc52ec7/thumbnail_1679000.jpg","/articles/6539819/San-Ramon-City/Contra-Costa-County/California/San-Ramon-council-adopts-FY-202526-budget-sets-appropriations-limit-and-authorizes-capital-carryovers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6539819-5d3adb6d2da1d4e3eb47e85f130ef47a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775358572&Signature=hwBUPfL5B8s2cTlIc9halvb41x3bNLdsxKnwz~oabi-AQXp89GQDtaid5wCWjIZM5xRLYGQSYA7CJYw2btj3C5xqBx4AJmzlWO3YZOUNjM378-gvrzIyZ8SCbYfiOi2e0QgwMjhmfTEMqWd9asAFeajh3ic23bhqSRk~og8BVkpSZJWWYxzU0D5YY7u2INe~U~uSPsP3pDSVYAwk--Lo1hrkfyFBX9HEbi18K0TSb6J1FaOxEt9g7oqgpyva51taHYcROCdDoTL6cqIxSDafqURUIpL1VMhC6JbHCQ1CEThmyh98L9s9jv0DhGur1LAvYfTr8oZrW4ZAoZy1WXdcZA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The San Ramon City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to adopt its fiscal year 2025–26 operating and capital budget, establish the city's appropriations limit under the state constitution and authorize the carryover of unspent capital project appropriations into the new fiscal year.

City Finance Director Jennifer Wakeman presented the budget to the council, saying the general fund shows an expected net change in fund balance of $2.9 million for FY26 after applying one-time Measure N revenue. \"For fiscal year 26, the first year of funds that we are expecting to collect total $14,800,000, and that will be applied to the ongoing deficit that we see in our budget,\" Wakeman said.

The presentation outlined an ongoing operations deficit of about $10 million before Measure N revenue and one-time adjustments. Wakeman said the FY26 appropriations limit (the Article XIII B/Gann limit) was calculated at $108.9 million; San Ramon's subject appropriations for FY26 are $52.6 million, well under the cap. The city projects an estimated general fund balance at June 30, 2026 of $31.8 million, about $4.4 million above the reserve-policy target.

Council members stressed the temporary nature of Measure N revenue, which was approved by voters in November 2024 for a 10-year period starting April 1, 2025, and urged staff to return with longer-term plans to close the structural gap. City Manager Spedoski said staff will bring a plan to council outlining reserve strategy, revenue options and organizational changes to reduce reliance on Measure N.

After questions and public comment, Vice Mayor Barros moved adoption of Resolution No. 2025-059, and Council Member Adler seconded. The motion passed 5-0.

The resolution adopts the FY 2025–26 operating and capital budget, sets the appropriations limit as required by Article XIII B of the California Constitution and authorizes carryover of unspent capital project appropriations from FY25 into FY26 to complete ongoing projects. Wakeman said carryovers reflect projects that do not cleanly close on June 30 and require lingering appropriations.

Council members and staff said the next steps include publishing the adopted budget online, scheduling follow-up discussions on reserves and longer-term fiscal strategy, and continuing quarterly sales-tax forecasting updates with the city's consultant.

The council's vote: motion by Vice Mayor Barros, second by Council Member Adler; vote 5-0 to approve Resolution No. 2025-059.","The City Council unanimously adopted a $2025–26 operating and capital budget and set the state-required appropriations limit, authorizing carryover of unfinished capital appropriations into the new fiscal year.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents urge caution on housing policy, appeal fee and SB 79; referendum signatures circulated

Local students and residents urge San Ramon to restore moderated Zoom public comment rather than ban it

Council instructs staff to interview all applicants for Planning and Parks commissions; councils to submit interview questions by Friday

San Ramon Teen Council presents annual report; highlights mental-health outreach and senior tech days

San Ramon council adopts FY 2025–26 budget, sets appropriations limit and authorizes capital carryovers