These summaries are written with AI. An AI model (Claude, by Anthropic) drafted the summaries, titles and notes from each meeting’s closed captions, and they were checked against those captions. They can still be wrong, leave out something that matters, or weigh things differently than you would.
Captions are automatic and unedited. Names and words are often misspelled or misheard, and quotations carry those errors.
Who is speaking is often unclear. The captions rarely say, so a speaker’s name can be missing or wrong.
Not the official record. This is an independent site, not the City’s. For what was decided, rely on the adopted minutes.
Check anything that matters against the captions on each meeting page, or the City’s recording. How these pages are made
20Meetings
85Public speakers
44Hours on record
2011 has 20 recordings, the first on 18 January. The Council met on the first and third Mondays at 7:30 p.m., on the Tuesday after a Monday holiday (18 January, 22 February); on 21 November it directed, 4-1, a move to Tuesdays at 7 p.m. from 2012. Two recordings were made on 17 October: the City Council meeting, and the Municipal Services Corporation meeting that followed it, which also closes the Council recording; each has its own page. The 4 April meeting canceled 18 April, and 15 August set the next meeting for 19 September. Four stretches have no recording: the 5 March and 9 April Saturday sessions, and the regular dates of 4 July and 1 August — see the gaps below. The Council reorganized on 5 December, when Bill Jones succeeded Ann Chang as mayor and Greg Lyman became mayor pro tem.
2011 in brief
The state's move to end redevelopment ran through the year. In February and March the Council and Agency approved a cooperation agreement, opposed abolition, moved agency funds, a state grant and properties to the city and the Municipal Services Corporation, and lent Eden Housing $350,000 toward senior housing at the tradeway site. After the state's legislation passed, the city in August elected to serve as successor agency while keeping both paths open, and in September, acting in protest, took steps to opt in to the voluntary program at $1.85 million this year, to be funded by Safeway's payment for the Hill Street parcel. In December it confirmed the payment, contingent on the state Supreme Court.
The 2011-12 budget, adopted in June, was projected to restore the 10 percent reserve after Measure R, and the Council began studying a city charter, leaning in November toward pairing it with a strategic plan and survey research. It adopted greenhouse gas targets of 15 percent below 2005 levels by 2020 and 30 percent by 2035, and after a crowded study session adopted an animals ordinance allowing backyard chickens, bees, goats and pigs, with a slaughter ban to come back for discussion.
The Council paused the San Pablo Avenue specific plan for a cleanup, heard consultants on parking and development near the BART stations, approved flashing crosswalks and LED lighting for the Ohlone Greenway and a new BART license for it, and voted 4-1 toward moving meetings to Tuesdays at 7 p.m.
Key decisions
Feb 7Approved the redevelopment cooperation agreement (unanimous).
Feb 7Opposed the abolition of redevelopment agencies (unanimous).
Feb 22Adopted greenhouse gas targets of 15 percent below 2005 levels by 2020 and 30 percent by 2035 (unanimous).
Mar 7Redevelopment Agency approved a $350,000 predevelopment loan to Eden Housing (unanimous).
Mar 7Conveyed agency properties to the city as a stopgap (unanimous).
May 16Approved the design of flashing crosswalks at Ohlone Greenway crossings and on Arlington (unanimous).
Jun 20Adopted the 2011-12 budgets of the City and its agencies.
Aug 15Elected to serve as successor agency and adopted an obligation payment schedule (unanimous).
Sep 19Took the steps to opt in to the voluntary redevelopment program, under protest (unanimous).
Oct 17Approved a new BART license for the Ohlone Greenway (unanimous).
Dec 19Confirmed the intent to make the opt-in payment, contingent on the state Supreme Court.
The Council. Ann Chang was mayor and Bill Jones mayor pro tem, with Councilmembers Janet Abelson, Rebecca Benassini and Greg Lyman. On 5 December the Council selected Jones mayor and Lyman mayor pro tem.
Redevelopment manager Lori Trevino warned that losing the agency “would have a devastating impact on the city,” and the Council confirmed its intent to pay into the voluntary alternative redevelopment program on 15 January 2012 if the court upheld both the abolition of agencies and the program. Councilmember Greg Lyman said the reluctance was “much more about my unhappiness about how the state has gone about this,” and Mayor Bill Jones said “we're assuming some unknowns here.”
Environmental analyst Garth Schultz presented 2012 integrated waste management fees that leave single-family bills unchanged while raising commercial fees under the state's commercial recycling law, and an optional commercial green waste pickup up to five times a week; Councilmember Rebecca Benassini said “as somebody who lives in an apartment I've just been waiting for this to come along.” Both passed. The Council also introduced on consent an ordinance changing the day, time and place of its meetings, made two reappointments and read the year's liaison assignments. Tom Panis announced plans to nominate four sites for the national register, and Al Miller spoke of care for returning veterans.
Outgoing Mayor Ann Chang reviewed a year built around multimodal transportation and a reputation as “bike friendly at all levels of our government.” New Mayor Jones listed the year ahead: a recycling center, a strategic plan, a city charter study, a general plan update, financing for the library, public safety buildings and senior center, and the future of redevelopment, while a councilmember noted the Council was “on the cusp of finding out what the courts are going to say about Redevelopment.”
Police Chief Sylvia Moyer reported violent crime down 37 percent, property crime “up one percent” after a burglary spike, and injury collisions down 20 percent between 2010 and 2011, crediting the flashing crosswalks among other changes. Public Works Director Jerry Bradshaw presented the Metropolitan Transportation Commission's most improved roads award, with the pavement index up from 53 in 2006 to 85, and the fire department's holiday toy drive was “in full swing.”
Speakers urged an explicit ban on animal slaughter, Sarah Stone asking “that there be an explicit ban on animal Slaughter in the ordinance” and another speaker arguing that “a ban on animal Slaughter in El Cerrito is not a constitutional issue.” The Council adopted the animals ordinance unanimously on second reading and asked for more on liability, enforcement and other cities' experience, one councilmember seeking “a well-crafted ban as opposed to a one sentence ban.”
Consultants from CHS and AECOM found projects “near the threshold” of feasibility, the Plaza sites closest at 6.8 and 6 percent returns against the 8 percent developers look for, and recommended lower parking minimums and priced street parking near BART; one option would require 1,340 fewer spaces than the current code, which a councilmember valued at $20 million. Councilmembers debated maximums, neighborhood spillover and infrastructure, one saying “we're not San Francisco we're not Oakland we're not San Jose.” Al Miller urged consulting police and fire on density, and architect Todd Jersey called parking requirements “a direct threat to any kind of real revitalization of El Cerrito.”
Staff were directed, 4-1, to draft an ordinance moving meetings to the first and third Tuesdays at 7 p.m., after Councilmember Janet Abelson said Tuesdays would be “a big hardship for me.” Al Miller announced a new Stege Sanitary District director.
Senior planner Sean Moss presented the animals ordinance, which adds a route to five or six chickens and more beehives with the unanimous consent of adjacent neighbors; Carl Mason called the consent process “an excellent Innovation,” but said the limits would mean “two flocks of four lonely chickens.” Mayor Pro Tem Bill Jones objected to “almost six months without enforcement” before the April effective date, and staff clarified “we are not going to suspend code enforcement.” The ordinance was introduced by voice vote after members dropped a slaughter clause the city attorney said could raise First Amendment questions.
On a possible city charter, staff set out the added revenue and land use powers, bounded by Propositions 218 and 26, and three paths; members speaking, Jones and Tom Panis among them, favored option three, pairing a charter study with survey research, a strategic plan and a capital needs assessment, with a ballot in November 2014. Jones said “we need more than one year” to set up a charter properly.
Speakers asked that the former Contra Costa Florist (Mabuchi) building, newly found a historic resource, be kept within the senior housing planned next to City Hall; Barbara Hill called it “an opportunity not an obstacle,” and Kimmy Honda called it “an appropriate physical reminder of our City's Japanese American heritage.” The city launched its redesigned website.
The corporation's interest in the Hill Street parcel at Hill and San Pablo passed to Safeway's subsidiary Property Development Centers for a $1.85 million payment on January 5th, which staff said the corporation would pass to the Redevelopment Agency to fund the city's payment to the state, and the corporation took on the Hill Street widening with $350,000 from PDC. Directors confirmed that the $487,000 greenway contribution is prioritized for the greenway, and staff said the amendment “doesn't give PDC any certain entitlements”; it passed unanimously.
The board also adopted a conflict of interest policy so the corporation complies with the California Corporations Code for nonprofits in its application for tax-exempt status. Chair Ann Chang and Director Karen Pinkos were absent; there were no public speakers.
Mayor Pro Tem Bill Jones presided. Public Works Director Jerry Bradshaw explained that BART's new 25-year license asks the city to agree the greenway is primarily a transportation facility and to avoid Land and Water Conservation Fund money there; staff “were a little rankled at first,” since the greenway is the closest thing to a park some neighborhoods have, but recommended it, and it passed unanimously. Liens for five overgrown properties were confirmed, and police records and dispatch agreements with Richmond were renewed, with costs not to exceed a nine percent increase.
Supervisor John Gioia (captioned “Joya”) urged support for Measure J, a $47 per year parcel tax for Doctors Hospital: “without it frankly the hospital would close next year.” Dr. Harder (as captioned) gave the school district's state of the schools, from enrollment of 29,215 to new and renovated campuses.
A councilmember called the Safeway parcel money “our ransom to the state” for redevelopment, and the Municipal Services Corporation, meeting afterwards, approved the amendment unanimously. Commission appointments were announced, and members reported on a model single-use bag ordinance and Eden Housing's design review.
At Mayor Pro Tem Bill Jones's request, City Manager Scott Hanin and the city attorney walked through home rule, staff being “not here to make a recommendation”: elections and council pay, prevailing wages and public contracting, land use, the City of Bell, and a real property transfer tax, which El Cerrito had until the early 2000s and which would generate “probably in the neighborhood of a million dollars.” A charter could come from an elected commission or be drafted at the Council's direction, with voter approval either way.
Jones argued for “a greater local control and self-rule of Municipal Affairs” and would not support a charter without a prevailing wage provision; Councilmember Rebecca Benassini asked “what problem would this address,” and Councilmember Janet Abelson warned that a charter that “doesn't say a whole lot” could allow excessive salaries: “I don't think this is the time.” Councilmember Greg Lyman proposed planning on “a San Ramon style Charter” and warned of “paralysis by analysis.” Benassini asked for a matrix of financing tools and land use flexibility, and staff were directed to return without a survey.
In public comment Tom Panis, longtime residents and a former planning commissioner urged the city to enforce its creeks ordinance at 1715 Elm Street, where building over a stone-walled creek had been floated: “there really is no reason to have a Creek's ordinance if the city is going to roll over every time a developer comes in.” A Safeway agreement was carried to 17 October.
Mayor Ann Chang presided. Redevelopment Manager Lori Trevino explained that the suspended agency can continue by joining the state's voluntary program, with $1.85 million due this fiscal year and $400,000 a year after, while the state Supreme Court weighs a challenge; the city could rescind if the laws are overturned. Linda Moss read a Friends of the Cerrito Theater statement calling it “paying this opt-in Ransom to the state”; Councilmember Greg Lyman read that “the acts constitute another misguided and illegal state budget” raid, and all four actions passed unanimously.
Public Works Director Jerry Bradshaw presented a proposed countywide clean water fee of $22 a year per parcel in El Cerrito, which polled 51.9 percent countywide, to go to a mail ballot after the holidays, saying “the money just is not there to really do it properly.” Administrative Services Director Mary Dodge's tax anticipation notes with Brandis Tallman (as captioned) at 0.75 percent passed unanimously, a councilmember saying “this is purely a cash flow issue.”
The Council backed the concept of a regional single bag ordinance, joined Mayors for Peace on Al Miller's urging, and proclaimed Fall Prevention Awareness Week; Councilmember Janet Abelson abstained on an El Cerrito High archiving project.
Redevelopment manager Lori Trevino and agency counsel Karen Tiedeman explained AB1X 26 and AB1X 27, now under a state Supreme Court stay that left all agencies suspended, and estimated that dissolution would leave a general fund shortfall of about $588,000 this year and cost the city's operating budget $24 million over the plan's life; staff recommended opting in, contingent on the litigation. Mayor Pro Tem Bill Jones said “we must choose the best of the worst,” leaned toward paying what Jones called the “extortion fee,” and proposed a resolution stating that “we took these actions under protest and undue distress.”
On Councilmember Greg Lyman's motions, the Agency adopted an enforceable obligation payment schedule and the city elected to serve as successor agency, both unanimously, and staff were directed to prepare opt-in documents for September 19; Lyman said “the opt-in really is the best financial long-term thing for the city,” though cash flow might rule it out. An SEIU Local 1021 representative asked that Measure R funds be safeguarded for services.
Al Miller announced a new Stege Sanitary District general manager, the animals ordinance update was postponed, and members reported on a uniform plastic bag ordinance for West County and a tense mayors' conference with the area's state legislators.
Staff told the Council that the state budget legislation would eliminate redevelopment unless the city paid one and a half to 1.8 million dollars and then four to five hundred thousand a year, calling the situation “at best complicated at worst just a nightmare”; the California Redevelopment Association, the League of California Cities and two cities had sued in the state Supreme Court that day, and decisions were due before the end of September.
Rich Barkey, a former mayor and founder of the Historical Society, Rose Learnberg (as captioned), an advocate for animal rights and health care reform, the late Roy Messfeld (as captioned), a former mayor, and Al Miller entered the Wall of Fame. Barkey called them “the class of 2011,” and Miller urged that “none of us can do everything but each of us can do something.”
The Council ordered fire hazard abatement on the 26 properties left of more than 250 found out of compliance, then heard AECOM and CHS Consulting's progress report on development feasibility and parking near the Del Norte and Plaza BART stations and in Midtown: multi-family rental was the most viable product, and BART lots ran over 95 percent full on weekdays. Recommendations were due back in October. The National Night Out proclamation was adopted, and the Arts commission asked the San Pablo Avenue artists for a revised design.
Sitting also as the Redevelopment Agency, Public Financing Authority and pension board, the Council adopted its fiscal 2011-12 budgets after a second hearing and added a study session on becoming a charter city, Mayor Pro Tem Bill Jones stepping out for the recreation budget as in prior years. Staff warned that a state bill would let the city keep its redevelopment agency only by paying “roughly 1.8 million dollars in the first year and 400 plus thousand every year thereafter”; one councilmember said “the circus isn't over it the tent just blew off the top,” and Mayor Ann Chang said “to have a balanced budget is definitely a luxury.”
Supervisor John Gioia and Eric Zell described Doctors Medical Center's renewed funding gap, after a state formula change cut its indigent care funding from 12 million to 1.2 million dollars, and a possible parcel tax; the hospital has “the largest emergency room in West County.” The Council formally accepted the Mira Vista Country Club Estates streets offered in 1966, taking over their landscaped medians at the homeowners association's request.
The Council honored retiring Recreation Director Monica Courts after 25 years; Courts said “it's been 25 years it's been a great run,” the Garden Club named its contest winners, and Gabriel Quinto was appointed to the Human Relations Commission.
City Manager Scott Hanin presented a budget of “cautious optimism”: “all programs and services are essentially maintained” after Measure R, a projected $282,000 surplus restoring the 10 percent reserve, median adjustments of seven to nine percent for police and fire, a PERS increase of about 19 percent, police vacancies expected from retirements and slow hiring, and the state's plan to eliminate redevelopment, which would cost the general fund roughly eight hundred thousand dollars. Councilmember Janet Abelson called it “a very difficult year because we don't know what's going to happen.”
Ken Burnt (as captioned) said “I was greatly depressed by the way you sold measure r,” which had promised to fill police and fire vacancies; Al Miller urged a reserve against CalPERS shocks and keeping the school resource officers, who had “made an incredible difference.” A councilmember said “it's just physically daunting to hire that many officers in a single calendar year,” and the Council set 20 June for adoption.
Jones proposed studying a charter city, saying “cities are not juvenile children's of the state,” and holding informal neighborhood meetings; colleagues asked staff for costs first. Earlier, a special meeting approved up to $15.5 million in tax-exempt bonds for Prospect Sierra School, with Councilmember Greg Lyman recused, and the Council declared the trees between 820 Bates Avenue and 34 Lamb Court a fire hazard as a backstop to a private contract.
Staff reported that the governor's May revise still proposed to eliminate redevelopment, with about $450,000 in police booking fee and grant money at stake: “the fight to protect local government revenues is still ongoing.” Portola Middle School's principal and vice principal described a 22-point API gain, a new National Junior Honor Society chapter and work against cyberbullying, which the vice principal said “it's out there and it's becoming more and more prevalent,” and two students spoke.
After unanimous hearings on the $72 landscaping and lighting assessment, unchanged since 1988, and the $58 storm drain fee, the Council unanimously approved a design contract with BKF Engineers for in-pavement flashing crosswalks at nine Ohlone Greenway crossings and on Arlington Boulevard near Madera, which Mayor Ann Chang called “amazing leverage” of outside funding, and the purchase of 140 LED fixtures, up to $104,000, to light the Greenway with block grant funds.
Members reported 370 riders on Bike to Work Day and the groundbreaking for the new recycling center, and Al Miller thanked Officer Chalk (as captioned), the Exchange Club's officer of the year.
Administrative Services Director Mary Dodge presented a fee schedule built on a five percent target, noting that cost increases had “far outstripped” fee increases, with residential parking permits rising for the first time in 10 years, from $4.50 a year to $19.50 for a three-year permit, and a new passport fee. Councilmember Greg Lyman argued the permits cost less than alarm permits and were “providing them a benefit that encourages them to have cars”; colleagues recalled the 2001 decision to keep them cheap, one calling the difference “peanuts and it's not worth haggling over tonight,” and the schedule passed unanimously.
The Council extended the moratorium on wireless facility permits for one more year, to research regulations and new technology and survey the public; no applications had come in since it began. It adopted a citywide mission statement drawn from its retreat.
Retiring building inspector Daryl Murray was honored after over 15 years, recreation won two state awards, and Al Miller praised the compost giveaway. Councilmembers reported on the recycling center's rebuilding, talks with the school district over the Portola gymnasium, the new high school fields, and express lanes like those on I-680.
Sitting as the Municipal Services Corporation board, members set up forgivable, matched loans of up to $20,000 for business improvements, with seismic retrofit alone capped at $10,000, using $100,000 already moved to the corporation. Corporation member Bill Jones asked to drop the preference for the Cerrito Theater and El Cerrito Plaza area, preferring decisions “on the Merit of the project regardless of area”; members kept it for the first $100,000 only and limited eligible spending to after January 1, 2011, and the resolution passed unanimously.
A councilmember reported from the California Redevelopment Association conference that the governor's plan to end redevelopment still awaited a vote, and concluded that “the El Cerrito Redevelopment agency is operating well by any accepted form of measurement.” Members also previewed hot lanes on I-80, Earth Day and the San Pablo Avenue Spring Fling, and adjourned to a Saturday session on the Council's mission statement.
Staff proposed over-the-counter permits for four hens on lots of 4,000 square feet and two beehives on lots of 5,000, with administrative permits for goats on 10,000 square foot lots and one potbellied pig under 150 pounds; the county had received 425 animal noise calls from El Cerrito the year before, likely mostly dogs. Environmental Quality Committee chair Ron Eggerman (as captioned) said “deciding to move forward takes guts,” while neighbor Ron Codran (as captioned) described “stereophonic clucking” and said “I was here before the chickens”; keepers asked for fewer rules and a neighbor-consent route, and animal advocates asked for a slaughter ban.
Mayor Pro Tem Bill Jones said “we're not an agricultural area” and that the overriding issue is “peace and comfort for your neighbor”; Councilmember Janet Abelson said “it's not really about the housing it's about the people,” and Councilmember Rebecca Benassini proposed a second track: meet the standards for a $100 fee, or go beyond them with the unanimous consent of adjacent neighbors. The Council asked for a slaughter ban, a clearer definition of nuisance, lower fees and the neighbor-consent track.
Contra Costa College sought support for a $97 million bond, the Measure A swim center tax stayed at $38.61, Jones joined a Wall of Fame subcommittee, and in joint unanimous votes the Redevelopment Agency's properties went to the Municipal Services Corporation and the tradeway property to the city for affordable housing.
Staff paused the San Pablo Avenue specific plan after four years to reevaluate it, City Manager Scott Hanin saying staff wanted it to be “implementable it was usable it was understandable,” and the Council chose option one, a cleanup costing approximately $50,000 with updated parking and economic studies around the BART stations. Tom Panis asked for a corrected traffic analysis and a plan that reflects “the historic nature of San Pablo Avenue itself”; Councilmember Greg Lyman said “option one is by far the best choice,” and Mayor Pro Tem Bill Jones reminded the consultant: “I heard six months.”
Citing draft state legislation released February 23 that would dissolve redevelopment agencies, the Agency approved a $350,000 predevelopment loan to Eden Housing for the tradeway site, staff saying “I cannot say there is no risk.” The three bodies assigned the cooperation agreement and agency funds to the Municipal Services Corporation, “really more about moving around the liabilities,” a $2.9 million Prop 1C grant for Ohlone Gardens to the city, and agency properties to the city as a “stop Gap,” all unanimously.
A mid-year budget review brought “a pretty boring report” and a $3 parking fine increase passed on from the state. Kimi Honda and Willa Suddath (as captioned) were honored as women of the year.
Environmental analyst Maria Sanders presented the targets for the climate action plan, drawn from the AB 32 scoping plan: from about 147 000 (as captioned) tons of CO2 in 2005 to 125 000 tons by 2020 and about 103 000 by 2035, with vehicles 51 percent of the baseline. Councilmember Greg Lyman calculated almost 450 houses a year would need capital investments such as solar and new furnaces, and staff agreed “it is going to be a stretch.” The targets passed unanimously.
Public Works Director Jerry Bradshaw's news rack ordinance gives the avenue uniform city-owned pedestals, ending an approach that “has been no approach really,” with three-year permits that a Bay Area News Group manager called “a wonderful thing.” Meeting with the Redevelopment Agency, the Council added the senior center, a public safety building and a library to the cooperation agreement meant to protect future tax increment from the governor's budget proposal. The Agency approved an exclusive negotiating rights agreement with Eden Housing for 64 rental units and a medical clinic at the tradeway site, after a reminder of “quite a bit of public pressure” over the historic buildings.
The county named El Cerrito a heart safe community, Al Miller presented the street oversight committee's annual report finding Measure A spending appropriate, and the Council held a study session on the draft 2007-2014 housing element, with a regional allocation of 431 units.
Redevelopment Manager Lori Trevino traced the agency's projects since 1977, from Del Norte Plaza and the Target store to 188 affordable housing units and the San Pablo Avenue streetscape, and explained a public improvements and cooperation agreement to commit its remaining revenues before the state can take them; agency counsel Karen Tiedeman said “the Redevelopment agency is completely locally controlled.” Councilmember Janet Abelson summed up the state's message from Sacramento as “trust us this will be okay.” Both resolutions passed unanimously, and so did a resolution opposing abolition, kept as written after a debate over softening the word “destroy”; Abelson said “I actually think that the word destroy is the right word.”
The fire and police chiefs described the state budget's effects on Cal Fire staffing, prison realignment and vehicle license fee funding, which pays for four COPS positions. A resident asked for public meetings on trees removed around Del Norte BART, the tennis association gave the city over $25,000, and Recycle More outlined its planning for contracts that expire after 2013.
The city's National Night Out ranking rose to 18th, commission appointments were announced, and a fire hazard abatement hearing was withdrawn after the owners agreed to abate.
Owners at 812 Pomona Avenue would keep a 955 square foot 1921 house at the front as an accessory unit and build a new single-story home behind it. For the appellants, Grace Bishop called the notice “confusing and deceptive” and said nearly 50 of 71 noticed neighbors opposed the plan as a threat to their backyards; Bob Blumberg called it “trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.” Councilmember Greg Lyman said the proposal “may be the least intrusive proposal that's out there,” since the owners could otherwise subdivide, and Councilmember Janet Abelson said “I haven't been presented with a reason that I can really use to deny this project.” After a motion to continue was withdrawn, Abelson's motion to deny the appeal carried with three votes and one abstention, with Councilmember Rebecca Benassini recused and the $277 appeal fee to be rebated.
Redevelopment manager Lori Trevino said “all of that discretionary money is at risk on an annual basis” under the governor's proposal, about a million and a half dollars of the agency's five million a year, and Mayor Pro Tem Bill Jones suggested a look at “El Cerrito becoming a city Charter.”
Four speakers asked for a smart meter moratorium and support for AB 37, a Transportation for America resolution was held over for more information, and the Council heard from the Red Cross and a civil grand jury member. A councilmember spoke of the El Cerrito High student who was killed.