Council forms development review ad hoc, approves eScribe and parts of consent calendar; debates change‑order policy

At the Feb. 25 meeting the council took multiple procedural and consent actions.

Appointments: The council agreed to create an ad hoc Development Review Streamlining committee to study permitting and development processes. Vice Mayor appointed Councilmembers Komen and Smith to the ad hoc; the city attorney reminded the council that a two‑member ad hoc typically does not operate under the Brown Act, while a three‑member body would and could be converted to a standing committee later. The motion to appoint the named members passed (motion approved with Councilmember Gonzales absent).

Consent items and contracts: Councilmember Komen pulled funding for the eScribe agenda‑management system (item 7E1) and criticized functionality and notification volume; the City Manager and City Clerk defended the program as a mid‑tier, cost‑effective solution. The council approved continued funding for eScribe (motion passed with Councilmember Gonzales absent).

Transportation procurement and change orders: Councilmember Bashir Tash pulled an adaptive signal coordination item because it included a preauthorized 15% change‑order contingency. Staff explained the project involves electrical and communications work to add sensors and adaptive timing; the city code requires that any change order over 10% return to council, though staff said practice is to try to keep contingency between 5%–10%. The council approved the base adaptive signal contract (7F3.1) and disapproved the requested 15% contingency (7F3.2); staff agreed to return with a change‑order policy discussion.

Consent calendar vote: Council approved the consent calendar with exceptions (items pulled for separate discussion) and recorded votes accordingly.

Source: Clerk roll calls, city manager and staff presentations, council motions and votes.