Regular City Council Meeting May 5, 2020

0:16:27You need to join the meeting again.

0:16:29No you're fine.

0:16:31Oh I've got a thing with green that says join meeting.

0:16:34You can you can just close that.

0:16:35That's OK.

0:16:36It does that because of it.

0:16:38It's already embedded in your calendar to remind you.

0:16:40Oh it's just a reminder you can get away by itself Oh that was

0:16:45actually on my computer.

0:16:47My apologies.

0:16:47Oh.

0:16:53All right.

0:16:54I can see all five council members

0:16:58So we are ready to go May 5th regular meeting

0:17:05of the LS Radio City Council is called to order at 7 0 1.

0:17:10Will the City Clerk please call me a lineman.

0:17:14Yes I'm here near epidemic Valley.

0:17:17Here council member Abel Singh.

0:17:20You're COUNCIL MEMBER 2 Okamoto present councilman.

0:17:26Council member came to present you have a quorum.

0:17:30Excellent.

0:17:32Before we begin I want to report out from our special city

0:17:35council meeting that was held this evening

0:17:38We did give direction to our labor negotiators

0:17:43any public comments that were received regarding

0:17:46the special meeting agenda items were provided to the city

0:17:49council in advance of convening that closed

0:17:52session and will be posted online

0:17:54as supplemental materials.

0:17:56Please don't be surprised there were none.

0:18:00And as I said we we took we gave our direction

0:18:04to our labor negotiators.

0:18:06That concludes our roll call at this time

0:18:09we'll move to item 1 teleconference

0:18:11and public comment.

0:18:13Construction was Thank you Mayor for this city council members

0:18:17and staff that are participating directly

0:18:19through the teleconferencing platform.

0:18:21Please remember to keep your microphone muted whenever you

0:18:24are not speaking any web cameras that are enabled

0:18:27will be visible on the public livestream

0:18:29except for direct chat to the host

0:18:31would like now Can you hear me.

0:18:41Can someone please confirm if they can hear me.

0:18:43Yes.

0:18:45Yeah.

0:18:45Thank you so much except for direct chat to the host

0:18:49for technical issues.

0:18:50The chat feature has been disabled if you wish to speak.

0:18:53Please use the res hand feature by hovering over your name

0:18:57on the participant list and selecting

0:18:59the hand icon to raise your hand after you speak.

0:19:02Please select the hand icon again to lower your hand

0:19:06for those calling in via phone only you will not

0:19:09have these features available to you

0:19:10but you can verbally request the mayor for permission

0:19:12to speak for members public participating from home.

0:19:17The period for submitting public comments

0:19:19will remain open until announced prior to the City Council

0:19:22taking action on an applicable item

0:19:24submitted comments will be read into the record amounts

0:19:28for items not on the agenda comments on the consent

0:19:30calendar and presentation items will be heard

0:19:33during agenda item number three oral communications

0:19:36from the public.

0:19:37Although their comments will the time the agenda item

0:19:40is despised.

0:19:47Comments may be submitted one of two ways the email

0:19:50to city clerk at sea.

0:19:52I dot E L dash so Rito dot see a dot U S or by voicemail 2 5 1

0:20:000 3 0 6 2 5 5 8.

0:20:04When submitting comments please be sure they are identified

0:20:07subject line or stated in the voice mail as public comments

0:20:10not on the agenda or public comments followed by the agenda

0:20:14item number the please include your name and city

0:20:17of residence for the record.

0:20:19Please note that all information provided in public comments

0:20:22including phone number called with email

0:20:24address and any other personal information written or stated

0:20:28is subject to disclosure on the broadcast

0:20:30of the teleconference meeting following the meeting.

0:20:33All comments read into the record

0:20:35will be posted online with supplemental materials

0:20:38and we'll have the personal information redacted.

0:20:40This concludes my instructions.

0:20:42Mayor Lyman we're ready to move on to the next item

0:20:47That concludes.

0:20:48Item number one.

0:20:49Teleconference and public comment

0:20:51instructions will now move on to item

0:20:532 council staff communications.

0:20:58City Manager I understand you have communications for us.

0:21:02Yes.

0:21:02Thank you Your Honor I'm Karen Pinkus city manager.

0:21:05I just wanted to provide a brief update on our local emergency

0:21:11as if there's anything else that that seems

0:21:14to be the topic these days.

0:21:17As you probably know the county health order has been extended

0:21:20through May 30 first and so City Hall and all of our city

0:21:25facilities will remain closed through that time our events

0:21:28programs meetings and events the like have all been canceled.

0:21:34However there were a couple of modifications to this health

0:21:37order that has kind of sparked some some new work here

0:21:44at city hall in particular So the health

0:21:47order includes a allowance now for construction of all kinds.

0:21:52So not just commercial construction but for homes

0:21:54and home renovations so for those of you

0:21:57who have been at home and staring at that home renovation

0:22:00project it is time for you to come to the city

0:22:04and talk about a building permit.

0:22:06So we our inspectors are now back to work.

0:22:10Our building staff is now back to work on additional items

0:22:14that have that have been.

0:22:16The restrictions have been eased on our things like landscaping

0:22:20and as a side note this is about fire prevention week

0:22:23and we are beginning our wildfire our weed abatement

0:22:27program for wildfires.

0:22:29So you can call up your landscapers now

0:22:31and everyone please make sure that you are taking care

0:22:34of your yards as B doesn't want to have to put you

0:22:37on our inspection list so that's exciting things were

0:22:43for for health and safety real estate transactions are now

0:22:46allowed they're modified Of course they need to provide

0:22:50safe protocols and there are no open houses but real estate

0:22:53transactions and real estate checkpoints are now allowed

0:22:58to proceed as well as moving then to the delight of I'm

0:23:02sure a lot of our residents our tennis

0:23:04courts are being reopened.

0:23:06Golf courses are being reopened again

0:23:09practicing social distancing and we

0:23:11are creating signage to pointing up at our parks

0:23:14in order to try to just remind people of all of the protocols

0:23:19that we still want to make sure we're following.

0:23:22I know I checked one more time this morning

0:23:24and with the updated the county Web site is a great resource

0:23:30and they have listed by city just as an FBI.

0:23:34I once again know remains at one of the lowest

0:23:38if not the lowest per capita in the county

0:23:41for cases in our city.

0:23:43We could be lucky we could be good either way I'm just really

0:23:46pleased that to me it's particularly when I'm walking

0:23:50around and driving around I see a lot of compliance

0:23:53I'm really proud of all of us trying

0:23:55to stay home and save lives.

0:23:58I did want to make a note that it does

0:24:01once we start to think about reopening

0:24:03our staff is looking into that.

0:24:04We are trying to protect our employees

0:24:06as well as the public.

0:24:08I do want to make a mention about face coverings

0:24:10the face covering order does remain in place

0:24:13and I just looked this up at the request

0:24:15for able to make sure that you are covering your nose

0:24:18and your mouth face covering is the very broad definition that

0:24:22doesn't have to be a specific type of mask it could be any

0:24:25covering a bandana a t shirt scarf anything that is covering

0:24:29your nose and mouth to children 2 years of age or younger

0:24:34should not be wearing any face coverings because

0:24:37of the risk of suffocation.

0:24:38But apparently according to this county

0:24:40Web site children twelve or under

0:24:42are not required to wear a face covering.

0:24:44So again I encourage everyone to go to the county website they

0:24:48have a wealth of information As far as exactly what the order

0:24:53entails and frequently asked questions we have linked

0:24:56to that and all sorts of other resources on our own Web

0:25:00site at E.L. bash Speedo dot org slash Kogut 19 so I

0:25:05encourage you to continue to check that out

0:25:07anytime there's an update.

0:25:08We update that page and we update our Web

0:25:10site as soon as possible.

0:25:12I also want to note that our Jeff Page is

0:25:15also available in Spanish and in Chinese

0:25:18so we take a look at that.

0:25:19And if anyone has any questions I'm

0:25:21happy to answer that but that concludes my update.

0:25:24Thank you Your Honor.

0:25:26Thank you And now I'll go to the Council for communications

0:25:34and you're all muted.

0:25:37I can.

0:25:37I can see you all.

0:25:38Janet looks like she would like to start.

0:25:42Yes.

0:25:42Can you hear me.

0:25:43Yes.

0:25:44OK.

0:25:44I just wanted to say something interesting

0:25:48that I've observed in the community

0:25:51that I think is inspiring and there's a fabric store.

0:25:55Also retail Plaza called Joanne's and they have become

0:25:59a center for mass making.

0:26:02And I don't know how many people are aware of that

0:26:04but people have basically taken everything in the store

0:26:11this related to mass making and purchased it.

0:26:17Although Joanne itself actually also

0:26:19gives out kits where you can take the fabric

0:26:22and make the masks.

0:26:25And I think it's utterly amazing when organizations that

0:26:32are in business for profit turn around

0:26:36and become such an important part

0:26:39of what's going on right now.

0:26:41So I just wanted to mention that and that I think is just

0:26:45an example of the kind of support

0:26:49I've seen in our community for following the orders that have

0:26:56been issued and trying to work together to make

0:26:59this a better place Thank you.

0:27:01Thank you.

0:27:02Any other council members with communications yes.

0:27:07We'll talk Rochelle and then Paul

0:27:11I just wanted to take a moment to recognize that our orders

0:27:16are being lifted slowly and we do

0:27:19need to continue to flatten the curve.

0:27:21And thank you everyone for the amount of complaints

0:27:25that we have seen so far and I'm so

0:27:28happy that so many people and also

0:27:30Rito are remaining healthy.

0:27:32But as we start to reopen our businesses

0:27:35I just wanted to remind people to shop in El Serino

0:27:40if you if you do have the dollars to do so now

0:27:44is a good time to.

0:27:46As things start opening for curbside pickup

0:27:50to make sure we we utilize the stores that are here

0:27:53and also Rito as well as our restaurants this week

0:27:57I saw an interesting article talking

0:28:00about how roller skating has become very popular again

0:28:05during the downtime that we've all had

0:28:09and people are looking for interesting ways to exercise

0:28:12and I just wanted to make mention of our quad Republic

0:28:16skate company here and Elsa Rito and I

0:28:20guess business is doing pretty well for them at this time.

0:28:23It's one of those businesses that is actually flourishing

0:28:26during this pandemic.

0:28:29So I just like to point out that they're right there on San

0:28:32Pablo Avenue across from L. street Plaza

0:28:35and I am highly considering buying a pair for myself.

0:28:39I'm trying to decide between hot pink and purple

0:28:43so I'll have to see if I can get anyone who wants to write to me

0:28:47and tell me a little straw poll and if I actually get

0:28:50hot pink or purple roller skates and that's

0:28:54all I'll say for now.

0:28:54Thanks to Mr. Padilla.

0:28:59Yes hot pink.

0:29:01Yes Speaking of shopping in El Cerrito

0:29:06I know there was some concern about reusable bags

0:29:09and we're finally getting to the place

0:29:11where we're pulling back on some plastic usage

0:29:14and I think our city put out some useful information that I

0:29:17just want to reiterate about keep your reusable bags

0:29:22in your car when you shop and in your car

0:29:24leave your food in your cart and bring it out to your car

0:29:27and then put it in your bag for bringing into your home

0:29:30so that we're not using plastics as we used to

0:29:34and also about the altimeter Plaza.

0:29:36I was pleased to see that there are

0:29:3915 new Tesla EDI hookups that have been

0:29:43put into the parking lot there.

0:29:45So we're moving ahead somewhat on our hookups in this city.

0:29:49Thank you very Mr. King to there.

0:29:53I just would like to announce that today Rick Lyman and I

0:29:58were meeting with the executive director of the Contra

0:30:02Costa ladies conference.

0:30:03So we will have our meeting the zoom on Thursday.

0:30:07And if folks have like information on that

0:30:09they should Google contract surveyors conference

0:30:13and it starts at six thirty.

0:30:15The end of the month for the East Bay division

0:30:18of the League of California Cities

0:30:19will be meeting the zoom as well.

0:30:21So go ahead and take a look at the information it should be

0:30:28in the city Web site for that.

0:30:32So I look forward in having these meetings start up again.

0:30:37And that's all I have to say.

0:30:39Thank you.

0:30:40Great.

0:30:40I've got a couple of things.

0:30:42Just like I did before I want to thank the frontline

0:30:45workers that are keeping on current economy

0:30:48going forward whether they're grocery baggers

0:30:51or mechanics or people who are working in our waste

0:30:57garbage department.

0:30:59So I think those that are continuing

0:31:02to work and keep our economy and our society

0:31:05moving that's fantastic.

0:31:09This week the temperatures and also Salvador are

0:31:10going to climb to 80 degrees.

0:31:13We've we're at the end of our growing season.

0:31:16So this is an excellent opportunity

0:31:19for people to begin to reduce the amount of vegetation

0:31:22that's around their house.

0:31:24I think the city manager said it well you

0:31:28know this is a time for you to take the time

0:31:32to reduce the vegetation.

0:31:34As we move into the inspection series

0:31:36the period with the hot temperatures that are coming

0:31:40this week I'm assuming that the winds can be blowing

0:31:43the wrong way blowing from the valley

0:31:46towards the coast which is our most

0:31:51risky conditions for wildfires.

0:31:52So please take the time to consider

0:31:56how you can reduce the vegetation around your house

0:31:59and make it safer.

0:32:01Finally I know the census actually has been extended

0:32:05and the data is no longer April 1st.

0:32:08Elsa Rito does continue to be the highest respondent

0:32:12in the West County area.

0:32:14So I think all of my fellow residents for all

0:32:18of the hard work that you've done to get us up

0:32:20to speed with reporting but they're still working

0:32:26to try and get everyone counted and it's

0:32:29going to go on for a while.

0:32:31So if you are in if you have any type of influence whether it's

0:32:36through your church or through a youth

0:32:39group or a sports group where you can get the word out

0:32:42that they should be taking the time to complete

0:32:45the census that would be wonderful for you to help

0:32:49get that valuable mission done.

0:32:52A lot of the distribution of funding

0:32:56is done through through the census

0:32:59through the population count.

0:33:01I heard the other day that because all of the students

0:33:05at Cal have actually been sent home that Berkeley is looking

0:33:09at a tremendous loss of revenue as a result of the students

0:33:15not being there during the census.

0:33:18So that's that's just to undermine or under not

0:33:22undermine under under score.

0:33:25How important it is for us to to participate

0:33:28in this census with that that concludes item two.

0:33:34Council staff communications will

0:33:37move on to item three which is communications from the public.

0:33:42So I am at this time closing the period

0:33:47for submitting public comments regarding

0:33:49matters not on the agenda consent

0:33:52items and presentation items.

0:33:55It's closed.

0:33:56I know that I saw at least one email

0:34:00come in and potentially get just one one just

0:34:03snuck under the wire.

0:34:05So I know we have a couple to read

0:34:08and I will at this time handed over to the clerk

0:34:11to present to us the ones that were submitted prior to noon

0:34:16today and came here and if the comments you just referenced

0:34:19do not include the city clerk if you could

0:34:21forward it to that email so that we can make sure

0:34:23they get processed.

0:34:24I would appreciate it doing so.

0:34:26Thank you so comments that were received by 12:00 p.m.

0:34:29today were posted on the city's Web site

0:34:31as supplement materials provided directly

0:34:33to the city council members.

0:34:35This includes comments for received

0:34:37for matters not on the agenda.

0:34:39From Cordell handler and less as has Dina.

0:34:45And at this time we have received

0:34:47several additional comments for this item we have 1 2.

0:34:52We have eight submissions to read.

0:34:55Mayor Could you confirm the three minute time limit

0:34:57or if you would like that reduced stub

0:34:59Can you let's reduce to two and a half minutes please.

0:35:06OK I'll now proceed with reading comments

0:35:10for our first submissions starting

0:35:11that time now Honorable Mayor.

0:35:16Mayor Lyman and council when adjusting our city budget

0:35:19to resolve our shortfalls.

0:35:21Council has to stop dithering around small budget items

0:35:25like keeping the library open more than 35 hours per week

0:35:29while important these won't solve the budget deficit.

0:35:32Personnel costs are the largest part of the budget

0:35:35and have to be addressed.

0:35:37I don't know what union contract on mandate

0:35:40but I have never worked for a company

0:35:42that paid overtime to salaried professionals

0:35:44let alone management.

0:35:46Managers are commonly expected to work however many hours

0:35:49are needed to get the job done.

0:35:51That's why they get paid the big bucks.

0:35:53The US Department of Labor defines overtime

0:35:56as more than 40 hours per week not thirty seven and a half

0:36:00hours per week and cite citing this source

0:36:03In summary Elsa Rita should not pay overtime for management.

0:36:07Thank you.

0:36:07Submitted Gary Prost Elsa Reeder resident next submission

0:36:15beginning now is from Marlene George.

0:36:19The city hired management partners

0:36:21to undertake a community wide strategic planning process

0:36:24to determine community priorities

0:36:26for the biannual 2020 twenty two budgets.

0:36:30At a recent City Council meeting the city manager

0:36:32listed the top four priorities.

0:36:34As a result of this process they are schools and education

0:36:38public safety financial solvency and emergency preparedness

0:36:43and tax paying public has a right to a full report

0:36:46and not just basic conclusion.

0:36:48As reported by the city manager the process

0:36:51involved community and staff bogus groups an online survey

0:36:55and a strategic plan.

0:36:56Open House.

0:36:58It is important for full transparency

0:36:59to know the exact process how many staff and community

0:37:03members participated and the tabulation of all responses

0:37:06from all the different forms.

0:37:09The exact numbers of who participated

0:37:11and the raw data of responses are

0:37:13important to know a full report containing these details

0:37:17and a comprehensive analysis of what the priorities are

0:37:20and their implications for budget planning

0:37:22should be undertaken and published

0:37:24for public consumption.

0:37:26The city is embarking on serious cuts to balance the budget.

0:37:30Services consist with consistent with community

0:37:33priorities should not be cut and in some instances

0:37:36increased the City Council recently spared

0:37:40the library from cutting.

0:37:42From cuts to hours of operation based on the interpretation

0:37:45that the library fell under the priority education

0:37:49it is important for the community

0:37:50to have a full report of the results

0:37:52of the strategic planning process

0:37:54and not just a summary submitted by Marlene George.

0:37:58Elsa read our resident study in the Nixon mission from I

0:38:06read Sharon now is the council going to hold another town Hall

0:38:11question for the city attorney.

0:38:13Our city council our council members and the city manager

0:38:17allowed to email the public.

0:38:19How can council and staff communicate with the public.

0:38:22What is staff's timeline for asking

0:38:24for another tax What type of tax hike will you be seeking.

0:38:28Submitted by Irish share now Reid reader resident

0:38:35next submission from Barbara Jan setting her time now

0:38:41and some members.

0:38:42Thank you for your thoughtful discussion

0:38:43about the importance of our library services

0:38:46at the last council meeting.

0:38:47Your approval of the continuation of ours

0:38:50despite campaign pinkos recommendation

0:38:52that they be cut back demonstrates

0:38:55that you listen to your constituents

0:38:56and are taking steps to take back

0:38:58the reins of fiscal oversight.

0:39:00Your action is one step towards regaining trust

0:39:03among fellow Elsa I applaud council member Pardue

0:39:07Okamoto for acknowledging her art

0:39:09and leading our city in its current financial state.

0:39:12Such honesty and humility demonstrates integrity.

0:39:16I ask that the council take four more steps one make

0:39:20all electronic council meetings participatory

0:39:23as was done with the Planning Commission

0:39:25to authorize all city committees and commissions to resume

0:39:29meeting for a regular schedule using

0:39:32videoconference tools that allow public participation.

0:39:36Three people have demonstrated they can flatten

0:39:38the corona virus surf life saving behavior and business

0:39:42operation change can be applied with the same zeal

0:39:45to climate change.

0:39:47I urge you to incorporate climate actions into each

0:39:50and every city job description going forward

0:39:53or it is everyone's responsibility

0:39:55to work in a way that reduces GHG emissions

0:39:58and improves sustainability for all.

0:40:01For in business when the top managers or CEO make

0:40:05gross errors they are fired or resign

0:40:07and effective leaders are brought in.

0:40:10The independent auditor cautioned the city

0:40:12several times that the financial health of our city

0:40:14was not strong and actions needed to be

0:40:17taken to correct the situation.

0:40:19The city managers refuted his analysis

0:40:22and the council at those times went along

0:40:24with the city Manager's recommendations

0:40:26even raising salaries.

0:40:28Have you considered terminating the city manager's employment

0:40:31while she and her predecessor may

0:40:33not have defrauded our city.

0:40:35They certainly mismanaged our finances

0:40:37and should bear some consequences and responsibility

0:40:40for putting us in a situation that

0:40:42has nothing to do with covered 19 at the very least.

0:40:45I urge the council to reduce the city manager's

0:40:48compensation substantially.

0:40:50Not only will this save a great deal of money

0:40:52it will demonstrate that you are holding her accountable.

0:40:55Respectfully Barbara Chen Elsa Reeder

0:40:57resident next comment submitted by Karen

0:41:04Robin Mitchell starting now.

0:41:07Dear Mayor council members and city staff

0:41:10the current dual crisis that the city is facing from the corona

0:41:13virus pandemic as well as previous financial problems

0:41:17is very sobering and I know that you are all trying to determine

0:41:20a viable path forward because of the pandemic and the pores

0:41:24of human activity.

0:41:26Mother Earth is breathing a sigh of relief.

0:41:28The natural world is showing amazing recovery and resilience

0:41:33in just a few months.

0:41:35The air and water is cleaner due to lack of pollutants from cars

0:41:38trucks and planes and animals taking

0:41:41back some of their habitat in parks and preserves.

0:41:44The question is how can we maintain that trend

0:41:46after the pandemic has passed without the suffering

0:41:49that has accompanied it.

0:41:51This is something that should be given serious discussion.

0:41:55The past few weeks I have participated

0:41:57in the bringing back the natives virtual native

0:42:00planet gardening tours.

0:42:01We assume that could not happen in person due to the shelter

0:42:04in place orders in some way.

0:42:07They were almost well not really but almost better

0:42:10than having them in person because I

0:42:12was able to see gardens and their hosts

0:42:14that I wouldn't have otherwise been able to see.

0:42:17The other positive aspect of the virtual tour

0:42:20was a presentation by Dr. Doug Telhami from the University

0:42:23of Delaware entitled restoring the little things that

0:42:26run the world's why insects matter

0:42:29and what you can do to save them.

0:42:31Here is a link to his talk for the tour sources cited.

0:42:35His premise supported by research

0:42:37is that local landscapes including personal garden

0:42:41gardens and city parks is that it is important to support

0:42:44insects because they are the basis of the food

0:42:47web in our ecosystem.

0:42:49Insects are foods for baby birds and without them

0:42:54you will have local extinction of birds and other animals

0:42:57and the majority of local insects

0:42:58have evolved with the local native plants

0:43:01so in order to support our insects

0:43:03we need to be planting local locally native plants

0:43:07and thinking about the city's recovery process

0:43:09from the current crisis I would hope that Dr. telomeres

0:43:12words could be taken to heart.

0:43:13If the city receives recovery stimulus funding

0:43:16I hope that native plant landscaping

0:43:18projects on all city property properties could be included.

0:43:22It may not seem that important but as he

0:43:25says garden as if your life depended on it because it does.

0:43:29Here is the link to his Web site and sources

0:43:32cited next comments submitted by Marlene George no tax hike.

0:43:45We are taxed enough.

0:43:46Submitted by Miami George limping on to confirm

0:43:53there is no challenge.

0:43:56Moving on to the ticket items on the consent calendar

0:44:00this one is submitted for consent item D which

0:44:03is the affordable housing proclamation and this submitted

0:44:07by Jeffrey Levine on behalf of the East

0:44:09Bay housing organizations.

0:44:13I would like to thank the City Council for this proclamation.

0:44:16El Serato has been a consistent supporter

0:44:18of affordable housing.

0:44:20Last year the grand opening Hannah gardens senior housing

0:44:23was one of our featured events.

0:44:25We also want to thank the city for its history of supporting

0:44:27affordable housing.

0:44:30Most recently with Hannah gardens

0:44:32the adoption of an inclusionary zoning ordinance passage

0:44:35of a moratorium on evictions during a book

0:44:3819 crisis and creation of a tenant protections

0:44:40Task Force to consider other policies

0:44:43to prevent displacement and stabilize communities

0:44:46the current banking crisis has laid bare many of the problems

0:44:49with the current housing system and the incredible need

0:44:52for affordable housing.

0:44:54We see the link between housing and health care for example

0:44:57as it's impossible to shelter in place

0:44:59without a place to shelter.

0:45:01We see this stability and affordable are critical as we

0:45:06head into a deep recession.

0:45:07We all see how vulnerable tenants and owners are

0:45:10to economic downturn and we will be challenged to preserve

0:45:14the housing opportunities we have

0:45:16and to expand the supply of housing that is permanently

0:45:19affordable to those who market who the market don't serve well

0:45:24We look forward to working with the city

0:45:25as we face these challenges and we again want to thank

0:45:28you for this proclamation.

0:45:30Around the Bay Area groups are celebrating affordable housing

0:45:33month at the South Bay on the peninsula

0:45:35and in San Francisco with affordable housing Week events

0:45:38there.

0:45:39And I want to remind everyone that EPA chose

0:45:42first online affordable housing the kickoff celebration is

0:45:46this Thursday evening and we will also have

0:45:49several online events over the next week

0:45:51and a we hope you will be able to join us in submitted

0:45:55by Jeffrey Levine Policy Director for East Bay housing

0:45:57organization next submission is for consent item for us

0:46:08in Temora.

0:46:08Now Mayor Lyman and council members.

0:46:11This comment relates to consent.

0:46:13Item four as authorizing the mayor

0:46:15to sign all applicable letters in support

0:46:17of local government relief related to cope at 19.

0:46:21I support this action and hope that support

0:46:23for local government is forthcoming.

0:46:25However I also encourage the City Council to authorize

0:46:28additional language laying out specific priority funding

0:46:32areas with the idea that any letter written in support

0:46:35of recovery funding suggests conditioning

0:46:38the funding on the delivery of services

0:46:40in key areas of unmet need.

0:46:43I understand that there is also need to support for the larger

0:46:47numbers of essential services.

0:46:49The city is already providing but it is important to use

0:46:52this context of some stimulus and recovery funding

0:46:55to make progress on important city

0:46:57priorities that have historically

0:46:59been underfunded in many cases.

0:47:01These topics are also high priority of other branches

0:47:04of you might look more favorably on achieving additional goals

0:47:08beyond the baseline of keeping local government operating

0:47:12at the status quo level.

0:47:14I would recommend explicitly adding recommendations

0:47:16in these letters to condition recovery funding

0:47:20on the delivery and integrity integration of the following

0:47:23into city services.

0:47:251 production maintenance and management

0:47:27of affordable housing to accelerating climate action

0:47:30goals and implementation.

0:47:323 fire hazard mitigation with highly integrated

0:47:35environmental stewardship and habitat restoration

0:47:39or disaster preparedness.

0:47:415 Parks and Recreation infrastructure.

0:47:446 green infrastructure.

0:47:46Please consider pulling Item 4 f from consent

0:47:49and adding the intention to advocate for recovery funding

0:47:52conditioned on delivering the largest

0:47:55the largely unfunded city priorities

0:47:57listed above and other others identified by council.

0:48:01Thank you submitted by Howdy Gowdy Street our resident

0:48:09And this concludes the public comments

0:48:11submitted for this item.

0:48:15All right.

0:48:17That concludes our item number three

0:48:20communications from the public.

0:48:23We will now move on to item for adoption of the consent

0:48:27calendar the consent calendar tonight

0:48:30consists of six items for a Jewish American Jewish American

0:48:37Heritage Month proclamation for B Asian Pacific American

0:48:42Heritage proclamation for C National Public Works Week

0:48:46Proclamation or D affordable housing week

0:48:49we will mention or e approval of the minutes

0:48:53for March 25th and April 7th.

0:48:58And for F authorizing the mayor to sign all applicable letters

0:49:02in support of local governmental relief related to Kovac 19

0:49:06does anybody want to pull any items

0:49:08from the consent calendar seeing no heads nodding

0:49:12and shaking or all shaking.

0:49:16We will now look I will call for motions and that locomotive

0:49:22by Park it gave I saw your lips moving so you

0:49:26seconding will second that sir.

0:49:28Right So moved by party Okamoto seconded by.

0:49:32All in favor.

0:49:34Roll Call please me a layman.

0:49:38Yes.

0:49:39May I present fidelity.

0:49:40Yes.

0:49:41Council member Abel Council member Yes.

0:49:48Council member party Okamoto yes.

0:49:51And some member can tell.

0:49:53Yes.

0:49:53Motion carries.

0:49:54Great.

0:49:55Thank you.

0:49:56That concludes.

0:49:56Item for adoption of the consent calendar.

0:50:00The next item is item five.

0:50:02Presentations.

0:50:03There are no presentations this evening That concludes.

0:50:06Item five.

0:50:07We'll move now onto item six which is public hearings.

0:50:11We do have three public hearings tonight.

0:50:14Public hearing at a six a is a public hearing regarding

0:50:19the fiscal year 2020 one storm drain annual report and method

0:50:22of collecting storm drain fees.

0:50:24Public hearing 6 B is a public hearing

0:50:28to adopt a resolution of confirming diagram and intent

0:50:32to levy and collect assessment for landscaping lighting

0:50:34and lighting district.

0:50:37That district number I believe is eighty nineteen eighty eight

0:50:41nineteen eighty eight dash mine nineteen eighty eight dash one

0:50:44Thank you Collins and of six C which is a public hearing

0:50:50to adopt fiscal year 2010 twenty one master fee schedule

0:50:57and looking at the supplemental materials that were distributed

0:51:00by the clerk earlier today and they're available online

0:51:04as item ten in the agenda I do see that is this one

0:51:10presentation was Collins or this will be several this is one

0:51:14presentation that is just going to flow through the three

0:51:19public hearings like it's one PowerPoint presentation but it

0:51:23is three separate items three separate two we will we will

0:51:26be taking each matter in their

0:51:29own individually I got great so good.

0:51:33Good evening may rely on in and city council My name is Shannon

0:51:37Collins and I am the finance supervisor with the city

0:51:39of downstream Shannon I do apologize I didn't interrupt

0:51:42you briefly Mayor there was an announcement that does need

0:51:45to be read into the record for the the public before we start

0:51:50this off presentations I apologize I did go off script

0:51:53THANK YOU SORRY MISS CALDWELL back to you so I've announced

0:51:58the item to ensure your comments are received before the close

0:52:03of the public hearing is recommended that that day

0:52:08your comments be submitted at this time the period

0:52:12for submitting public comments is open until the public

0:52:15hearing is closed so at this

0:52:20point we'll now go to the staff report

0:52:22for item six a which is the public hearing regarding

0:52:24the storm drain fees came as you mentioned I'm here this evening

0:52:33to discuss the fiscal year 2020 21 storm drain annual report

0:52:37and method of collection.

0:52:39This report was made available for review and your agenda

0:52:41packets on the city's Web site.

0:52:44The annual report asks that the fifty eight dollars

0:52:47be for each single family residential property

0:52:50be continued to provide funding for improvements maintenance

0:52:54and operation of the city's storm drainage system

0:52:57this public hearing also provides

0:52:59an opportunity for property owners

0:53:01to contest the fee amounts based on the actual use of their

0:53:04property if so Lauren did.

0:53:07If there is a protest of the existing method of collection

0:53:11which is presently through the annual tax roll

0:53:13the alternative is through utility services which

0:53:17is actually more costly and the collection of the fees

0:53:20would be more complicated and cumbersome.

0:53:23Upon conclusion of this public hearing

0:53:25it is our wish that the Council accept this fiscal year 2020 21

0:53:30storm drain annual report and adopt a resolution to direct

0:53:34that the storm drain fees be collected

0:53:36on the property tax rolls So are there any questions.

0:53:43Does that conclude your presentation.

0:53:45That concludes my presentation.

0:53:47Thank you.

0:53:48I am looking up at the wall for you Mr. Fidelio.

0:53:52I saw your hand anybody else Mr. Fidelio first.

0:53:56Thank you Miss Collins.

0:53:59You've had quite a quite a week couple of weeks getting

0:54:01ready for this absolutely.

0:54:04On when I certainly support the collection

0:54:07by the property tax bill I think that's the logical way

0:54:10to do it.

0:54:12One of the things I've kept asking again

0:54:14is in both of these items we're going to be hearing tonight

0:54:20it doesn't pay for the bill.

0:54:22The money we're giving the fifty eight dollars for each house

0:54:26but seven hundred and three thousand dollars a year.

0:54:31Can we continue to put into our analysis how much

0:54:34is left for our general fund.

0:54:36How much would our general fund be.

0:54:38Is needed in this case.

0:54:40Presently the general fund is putting in 74 thousand

0:54:44in this particular instance in the storm drain fee

0:54:47as a transfer or seventy six thousand I'm sorry.

0:54:53That's for the whole year.

0:54:54Yes we are only transferring that much from the general fund

0:54:58for this particular item.

0:55:00Okay I would just going forward it

0:55:03be great for our public to see that it's not just

0:55:07you know these things aren't paid for

0:55:09and there's still a general fund payment that needs

0:55:11to go Mike my last question.

0:55:13I'm not sure you can answer it on this.

0:55:15Do you know I know this is used for storm drain improvements

0:55:20and maintenance and operation What is

0:55:23the status of this in our city.

0:55:25Where will this money this year be

0:55:26used where where are we improving

0:55:30for that particular question.

0:55:32I would defer that to event or TS

0:55:35she would be the one that would be able to answer

0:55:37that kind of nice to know what our statuses since we

0:55:41got we got this money passed to pay for it

0:55:45Where are we on this.

0:55:47Good evening council members.

0:55:49It's Eve thinks the city's public works director.

0:55:51City Engineer I just wanted to clarify.

0:55:56There's two different funds that are kind of storm

0:55:59my storm water related.

0:56:02There's the MPD Aspen which the rate

0:56:05you established back in April that's

0:56:08for clean water activities.

0:56:10That's the one where the general fund supports

0:56:13clean water related activities.

0:56:15This storm drain fund is not supported by the general fund.

0:56:21This storm drain fund is really for storm

0:56:24doing maintenance and operations and capital and so it is.

0:56:29There is a transfer but it's a transfer out from the storm

0:56:32drain fund to the general fund to support administration

0:56:37of the of this special fund though not even

0:56:414000 saying goes to this there is a transfer that comes

0:56:45from the storm drain revenues to the general fund

0:56:49to support administrate functions

0:56:51that occur like city management finance

0:56:55those types of functions.

0:56:57This fund currently pays for storm

0:56:59drain repair projects is paying for our storm drain masterplan.

0:57:04Update which is hopefully finalized soon and that's

0:57:09as part of that storm drain master plan.

0:57:11Update we're looking at of what type of improvement

0:57:14we can find and pay as you go with the storm drain revenue.

0:57:20So right now there is a healthy fund balance

0:57:23in this storm being funded.

0:57:26So no no intimate where in our city

0:57:29the work may be taking place.

0:57:32This other there is right now.

0:57:34There were three more immediate standing repairs that the City

0:57:39Council authorized with pair of late year hoping to embark

0:57:46on the construction of that after this whole bit

0:57:50kind of after we realize understand the full impacts

0:57:53of uploaded the pandemic and the stronger master plan

0:58:00will help us prioritize improvements

0:58:02and went where we're going to invest

0:58:05the storm drain revenues.

0:58:07So we are going to develop a 20 year

0:58:09plan as how we're going to tackle all our storm

0:58:11drain needs Thank you.

0:58:17Any other questions from council may I just have a question.

0:58:25Go mosquito to that or tease I boarded to find out with

0:58:32the storm drain masterplan priority is will that include

0:58:38a lot of the developments that were working on on San Pablo

0:58:42Avenue to upgrade the storm drains in these areas where we

0:58:46will have residents living and the new developments that are

0:58:51being built right now and the two hotels because there are

0:59:01it'll be a city wide improvements right now

0:59:02we're prior why we're looking at where we have deficient

0:59:06segments usually they're in our existing housing well site

0:59:13areas where we have the most efficient segments

0:59:16and we're looking at some capacity improvements

0:59:18so it's not solely focused on some fallow

0:59:21Avenue you don't have the

0:59:22problems along San Pablo Avenue in terms of capacity

0:59:26are related to the sewer and so stage has a separate fee that's

0:59:30covering the needs of new development related to sewer

0:59:34it's not storm being related.

0:59:35Okay.

0:59:36Very good Thank you.

0:59:39Any other questions and stuff Oh I will.

0:59:45It's it's a question I I know the answer to because I was

0:59:50reaching out to the county with regards to this topic

0:59:54this this fee was put in place in nineteen ninety three

0:59:59by the county and we were capped at that time.

1:00:04We've not seen any escalation in the amount that we can collect

1:00:09although winning the sorties is saying that we we have surplus

1:00:13but once we do the assessment of storm

1:00:16drains I suspect that we will have quite a few projects that

1:00:20need to be done.

1:00:21The graphic in the lower left corner

1:00:25shows offset between two pipes that dark shadow at the top

1:00:29of the circle is actually offset and it is beginning

1:00:35of degradation and of a pipe.

1:00:37So even this this graphic that is attempting to potentially

1:00:41show us what a storm drain looks like does

1:00:44begin to speak to the needs for strong rain

1:00:47maintenance over time.

1:00:48So even though we have a surplus at this time

1:00:50I am anticipating that projects will eat into that surplus.

1:00:54So I reached out to the county to find out how the county was

1:00:58in a position that to increase this fee

1:01:00and they are not the way that this fee can be increased

1:01:04at this point is only through Prop 2 a teen type vote

1:01:09because it is a fee it needs to use prop 218.

1:01:15So anybody who remembers our landscape lighting

1:01:18an assessment district election from 2006

1:01:21understands that the lots each lot is given

1:01:28the number of votes equal to the size of their lot

1:01:31and large lots have more votes.

1:01:34So it is not necessarily associated with the people that

1:01:39are living there or renting there at this the passage

1:01:45of these types of fees.

1:01:47Landscape assessment district and this storm drain fee

1:01:50as a result of Prop 2 18 passed in nineteen ninety six

1:01:54does provide for a different type of voting system.

1:01:58So it's not to go to Miss George's comment This is not

1:02:02going to be one of those places where we can increase

1:02:04your taxes easily because of the way the voting structure works.

1:02:10That it concludes my question.

1:02:13You can I'm sure there was a question there somewhere.

1:02:18With that it is time for us to open

1:02:21the public hearing the public portion of this hearing.

1:02:26And I will ask the city clerk to proceed with public comments.

1:02:33Thank you mayor.

1:02:34At the time of the 12:00 advance deadline

1:02:38we had not received any public comments for this item

1:02:41and as of right now we still have not received any items

1:02:45or any comment for this item.

1:02:48Excellent.

1:02:48I will give you a 30 second reprieve for anyone

1:02:53who is hitting go or send at this time council members

1:03:14if one of you could Purdue Okamoto has

1:03:19I am looking for a motion to close

1:03:20the public hearing All right.

1:03:27I didn't hear anybody move so I need to start over again.

1:03:31I'll make a motion to close a public hearing.

1:03:33I I. Oh yes I can.

1:03:36Yeah I saw you.

1:03:37I saw Rochelle your lips move but I didn't hear a thing.

1:03:40So Perdue Okamoto is motion able as

1:03:43the second to close the public hearings roll call

1:03:48vote please recall.

1:03:49Listen man Yes ma'am.

1:03:52Freedom fidelity.

1:03:53Yes.

1:03:54Council member Wilson yes.

1:03:56Council member party and committees.

1:03:59Yes.

1:04:00Council member consent.

1:04:01Yes.

1:04:02Motion carries.

1:04:03Right.

1:04:04Any comments from council members at this time.

1:04:09Studying you guys so if you nod or lift a hand.

1:04:13All right.

1:04:14Seeing none.

1:04:15I'm looking for emotion to approve this item

1:04:21and let just pull up the resolution really

1:04:23quickly to make sure that title requirement in this state

1:04:30the motion.

1:04:31I believe the motion is a resolution of the city council

1:04:33the city of El Rito adopted the fiscal year 2020 twenty one

1:04:37storm drain annual report directing the storm bring fees

1:04:40for fiscal year twenty twenty one

1:04:42be collected through the property tax rolls.

1:04:45I'll note that again so motion by keep

1:04:50those seconded by Ableton roll call please me

1:04:54and I mean yes they are predominantly

1:05:00made Delhi Yes thank you sir.

1:05:03Council member Ave Wilson Yes some prior Komodo yes.

1:05:09Council member Canto Yes.

1:05:12Motion carries.

1:05:13Great thank you.

1:05:15That concludes item six a public hearing

1:05:17regarding our storm drain into port and storm drain fees.

1:05:21We now will move on to item six and be a public hearing

1:05:26to adopt Resolution of confirming diagram and Intent

1:05:29to Levy and collect assessment from the landscape

1:05:31lighting district.

1:05:33Similarly I have an announcement to make regarding

1:05:37public comments to ensure your comments received

1:05:39before the close of the public hearing

1:05:41is recommended that they be submitted at this time

1:05:45to the city clerk of El Serino the period for submitting

1:05:49public comments is open until the public hearing is closed

1:05:54and Miss Miss Collins.

1:05:56There is a stop important yes.

1:06:00So the state is seeking to adopt a resolution setting

1:06:03the landscape and lighting assessment at seventy two

1:06:06dollars per parcel for residential properties

1:06:09and other classes of charges as outlined

1:06:11in the report These fees are used to provide landscaping

1:06:16lighting sweet street sweeping and maintenance for parks

1:06:19and recreational facilities.

1:06:21The report and list of charges were

1:06:23made available for your review through the city council packet

1:06:26and are on the city's website.

1:06:29The seventy two dollars per parcel assessment rate

1:06:31has not increased since the assessments creation in 1988

1:06:35but costs have increased substantially.

1:06:38It was determined that the total costs for land for this year

1:06:42will be more than one point five million

1:06:44dollars for non-person lighting and landscaping expenses.

1:06:49With the budget of seven hundred and eighty five thousand

1:06:52dollars that leaves a difference of six

1:06:54fifteen thousand dollars.

1:06:57The general fund is currently covering

1:06:58just under five hundred thousand dollars with the gas tax.

1:07:02In Measure J funds covering the difference

1:07:04contributions from other funds must have been evident.

1:07:07Evidently recognized as needed Upon

1:07:10the inception of this fund.

1:07:11As the original contract included four hundred

1:07:14and twenty eight thousand dollars

1:07:16city contribution but considering

1:07:19the city's financial condition.

1:07:21Additional oral taught all alternative funding sources

1:07:25will be needed to identify to cover the excess funding needed

1:07:30as soon as fiscal year 2020 21 to maintain

1:07:33existing levels of service.

1:07:36To that end at the end of this public hearing

1:07:39we asked that the Council accept the engineer's report

1:07:42and adopt a resolution confirming the diagram

1:07:45and set the annual landscape and lighting assessment

1:07:48or fiscal year 2020 21 at seventy

1:07:52two dollars per residential parcel

1:07:54and other classes of charges as they appear

1:07:57in the engineer's report.

1:07:59Thank you.

1:08:00All right thank you.

1:08:01Any questions this time The question.

1:08:07Mr. Cato and then part of tomorrow.

1:08:10Thank you.

1:08:11My question is to Miss Collins.

1:08:16To the city manager I'm not sure when was the last time.

1:08:21Did we ever put this on on a ballot to watch to see if we

1:08:25can obtain offsets so we can.

1:08:30We don't have to pay for this to our terminal fund

1:08:33I'm happy to answer that question

1:08:35on although the experience Still it wasn't it

1:08:40was in 2006 It was not a pleasant experience

1:08:45because we attempted to create a new assessment district

1:08:50as the mayor indicated before This is not a typical election

1:08:54for assessment districts.

1:08:55This must be done according to the regulations of prop 18

1:09:00which means that as a property owner ballot the property

1:09:03owner not the voter.

1:09:05So it's not a voter election the property owner is who

1:09:08is the one who cast the ballot and the ballot

1:09:11again as the mayor indicated before.

1:09:13It's based on the worth of the property assessment

1:09:17and not it's not one vote for property.

1:09:20It is whatever your property assessment is versus voting

1:09:26yes or no on that assessment.

1:09:28So what ended up happening when we went that there was

1:09:32a majority protest which is what the term that essentially

1:09:35means that it was not voted in.

1:09:37When we went back into the analysis

1:09:39it actually passed for all of the residential properties

1:09:43but the commercial properties who again

1:09:44because they're bigger and they have higher assessments

1:09:46many of them voted no.

1:09:48And that tipped the scales so it is a very difficult type

1:09:52of election it is because the entire city is the landscape

1:09:56lighting district the entire city has

1:09:58to be done so every single property

1:10:00we have that ourselves we can't run it through the county.

1:10:03Those are paper ballots that have

1:10:05names and addresses on them.

1:10:06It's a very you know I'm not I'm not saying that that's not

1:10:09something we should consider but what I'm trying to say

1:10:12is it is a very difficult type of election

1:10:15it's not a tip it's not the same as putting something

1:10:18on the ballot as a special election it's completely

1:10:20different process and the city would

1:10:23bear all of the costs of that.

1:10:24What we had done in 2006 was tried

1:10:26to levy an entirely new district so in case

1:10:29it didn't pass which you know in hindsight

1:10:31was was a smart thing to do we still

1:10:34had the other one in place.

1:10:36So we would not want to modify this district.

1:10:38We would want to do that same thing again.

1:10:40But at this point I'm seeing that this could

1:10:43be any type of election would probably

1:10:45be not in our immediate future.

1:10:49Thank you.

1:10:50Great speaking sequences.

1:10:52Party Okamoto and then FDLE Yes I

1:10:56have a question for Miss Collins or or for the city manager

1:11:00whoever has the information.

1:11:04On page 15 of our agenda packet it says estimate of costs.

1:11:11There's a table there and has revenues and expenditures

1:11:15and there were just a couple of things I wanted clarified.

1:11:20It says utilities and then right underneath it

1:11:23says utilities street lights.

1:11:25I was wondering what the difference

1:11:27was between utilities and utilities street lights.

1:11:30Is based on what I know about the different accounts

1:11:37that are in our AGL utility.

1:11:40We have water street lights there's four different things

1:11:46under utilities.

1:11:47The the one that does not have specific number

1:11:54or a specific name would be the one that

1:11:58has all of the utilities with these particular fees

1:12:04or what have you and I have to look at it.

1:12:07These particular fees would be collected in various ways

1:12:13as you utilize or what have you an event can probably speak

1:12:19more to this than me but the way that we

1:12:21see the fees coming in they are allocated in different ways.

1:12:26So I'm not familiar.

1:12:29Like I said with the way these things

1:12:31actually come in they just come in

1:12:33will be where we allocate them.

1:12:35We allocate them according to the way we receive them.

1:12:38So since we don't do the built in finance

1:12:41we don't do the billing.

1:12:42I can't really answer that question but maybe if that can

1:12:46actually answer that question.

1:12:48Yeah.

1:12:49Sorties you've raised your hands so I'll recognize you

1:12:51to respond to this question.

1:12:53Yes.

1:12:54In terms of the two categories like utility

1:12:57card category covers water and energy

1:13:01that's not strictly related.

1:13:03And the second category utilities street lights

1:13:06is street like energy costs.

1:13:10Okay I said that so that the utility cost that would be

1:13:15going towards like landscaping yes our water for landscaping

1:13:23and actually in that line item the majority of the costs

1:13:27about one hundred and forty thousand is related

1:13:29to quarter but utility bills.

1:13:34And then the second question I had was what is operating.

1:13:38Transfer out that energy in the very bottom line and that

1:13:46is the amount that's transferred to the general fund

1:13:50to cover city management and finance other costs sit

1:13:56in the general fund.

1:13:59Okay.

1:14:00Thank you Mr. fidelity.

1:14:08Will lead other funds to get the money to pay

1:14:12for things that we need to do.

1:14:16Is that a determination that the city

1:14:19can make to not proceed on certain services

1:14:26I can't answer that for time.

1:14:28That is actually one of the things

1:14:30that I'm having staff take a look at.

1:14:33And we're particularly when it comes to things like what

1:14:38is being what is extra and what is being supplemented what

1:14:42can we pay for out of this.

1:14:44I'm trying to again relieve the general fund obviously

1:14:47is one of our biggest priorities this year

1:14:49but some of the things that we might be able to say transfer

1:14:52to measure H or other special funds

1:14:55but also doing an analysis of if we only

1:14:58had seven hundred ninety thousand dollars

1:15:00to spend on these expenses.

1:15:01What what would drop off.

1:15:03So we do we are doing that analysis of it

1:15:05is providing an analysis and I'll talk a little bit later

1:15:08on about some of these various scenarios

1:15:11that we're continuing to work on with our with our partners.

1:15:16On that on that same page page 50

1:15:18the council member Okamoto mentioned I just

1:15:24want to get a clarification out of seven hundred

1:15:27and eighty thousand dollars that this raises I added up

1:15:32that as far as staffing there's about two hundred fifty

1:15:35thousand dollars that goes to perp's salary of somebody

1:15:39something can you could.

1:15:41Who do we employ with this fund.

1:15:43Is this one or two people from the city

1:15:48thinking that it is about to staff people and Public

1:15:55Works and recreation it's basically

1:15:56maintenance and custodial.

1:15:59So how many people about to have full time equivalents

1:16:05Ann outburst is it does it covers

1:16:12part of our arborist right.

1:16:14So it covers part of the arbor as part of maintenance

1:16:17and custodian OK.

1:16:20I'm just saying like almost two hundred fifty thousand dollars

1:16:25for staffing and person things and lighting only

1:16:28gets thirty three thousand dollars out of this.

1:16:31So there's a lot of different and landscape park services

1:16:36only get seventy three thousand so there's a lot of.

1:16:40So I think the city manager mentioned she will be looking

1:16:43at this as part of the context of jobs

1:16:46and what services we need to pay for certain things at this time

1:16:49is that correct.

1:16:51That is correct Thank you.

1:16:55Council member Ableton Do you have

1:16:57any questions at this time.

1:16:59No I don't All right.

1:17:06And I think all my questions have been asked

1:17:09on the standard questions that I ask every year

1:17:12and I think between Mr. King to Mr. fidelity

1:17:14they've covered them which is that we we certainly

1:17:18bring in this revenue but it doesn't necessarily cover all

1:17:21the services that we provide.

1:17:23So at this point looking at my script

1:17:27I would like to open the public hearing

1:17:31and ask the city clerk to proceed

1:17:33with any public comments that have

1:17:35been received Thank you Mayor.

1:17:40As they advance 12:00 deadline today

1:17:43we had not received any comments on this item.

1:17:46And as of this moment we still have

1:17:48received no additional comments for any comments on this item.

1:17:53Great.

1:17:53We will allow 30 seconds for someone

1:17:56to submit a comment before we close the public hearing.

1:18:20Mr. Padilla you're on muted Would you like to make a motion

1:18:22to close the public hearing and make a motion to close

1:18:26the public hearing at this five stuff

1:18:30made by FDLE if seconded by Quinto.

1:18:32All those I'm sorry.

1:18:33Can we get a roll call eventually

1:18:37we'll get used to it.

1:18:38Mr. LYMAN Yes.

1:18:41Media for them finally.

1:18:42Yes council member Abel Singh Council member Abel Singh YES.

1:18:51COULDN'T BE READ YOU WERE MADE IT.

1:18:53THAT'S OKAY.

1:18:53THANK YOU.

1:18:54Council member party Okamoto yes.

1:18:58Council member Canto Yes.

1:19:01Motion carries.

1:19:03Great.

1:19:04That concludes item six.

1:19:07Lee which was a public hearing to adopt

1:19:09a resolution conforming diagram intend to levy and collect me.

1:19:14I mean we we just took a motion to close the public hearing

1:19:17all still need a motion to approve the letter I'm

1:19:19sorry I'm gonna have myself thank you

1:19:24Any comments on this item and let me go out

1:19:31to look at the resolution and I will read the resolution I'm

1:19:34looking for a motion a resolution of the city

1:19:36council of the city of El Cerrito confirming the diagram

1:19:39and levying assessment for Fiscal Year

1:19:412020 21 of the landscape and lighting assessment District

1:19:45Number One nine eight eight dash one some of seconds

1:19:52move by Kito seconded by Abel's son

1:19:53can we have a please call me alignment.

1:19:57Yes you may pretend that Ellie my apologies

1:20:04for the infidelity.

1:20:05Yes you think you can see my babies saying yes

1:20:08can't remember Pardue Okamoto yes council member QUITO Yes

1:20:15she carries a public hearing to adopt the fiscal year twenty

1:20:33twenty twenty one master fee schedule and before we start I

1:20:39would like to take a moment a privilege of marital privilege

1:20:45to make some remarks and in some ways respond to comments from

1:20:50the public like Mr. Gary process comment that was read earlier I

1:20:56would like the public at home to understand more about

1:20:59the decisions we have been making we have been making

1:21:04decisions even if they do not look like big decisions we are

1:21:08balancing the needs our residents

1:21:10with the needs of our staff in

1:21:13any organization the staff performing the work

1:21:16are the greatest asset.

1:21:19A quick look at the budget reveals that payroll is seventy

1:21:21five percent of the general fund expenditure staff retention

1:21:26saves costs in hiring and training of new staff

1:21:30and more importantly retains the knowledge our staff has

1:21:34of our community our values.

1:21:36The planner that attended the Environmental Quality

1:21:39Commission meetings knows more about our values

1:21:42than a new hire.

1:21:44So the same goes for a child care worker

1:21:46the lifeguard police officer that knows our streets

1:21:49a firefighter that knows all the addresses

1:21:51and blocks to get there faster.

1:21:53The public works employee that knows

1:21:55which catch basins clog first.

1:21:59Those are invaluable knowledge these long term employees

1:22:03deliver quality service.

1:22:06We've talked about services tonight and many

1:22:08in the last few nights.

1:22:10Tonight we'll be setting the fees for some of those services

1:22:14to put a fine point on the discussion.

1:22:17I want to define a few terms range of services

1:22:22is the level of services and the quality of services.

1:22:27The range of services defines the number

1:22:29of services an organization provides more items on a menu

1:22:34going to a restaurant.

1:22:35More services in our case more.

1:22:37And if there is more services there's more skills needed.

1:22:41Using the restaurant analogy if there's pastries on the menu

1:22:44you need a pastry chef in government.

1:22:47It's reflected in a long list of services

1:22:49we'll be talking about momentarily level of service

1:22:54is typically measured in accessibility or volume

1:22:58How fast did the food arrive or how much was

1:23:01on your plate in government.

1:23:05It may be reflected in permit turnaround

1:23:07times the availability of a class

1:23:11how competent inspector comes to your home or the hours

1:23:15the pool is open Finally the quality of service

1:23:19is more intangible.

1:23:21Did your meal taste good.

1:23:24Did it meet your expectations our long term

1:23:29staff knows our community day.

1:23:32They have been they've been here absorbing

1:23:35our culture and our values.

1:23:38We deliver the service we expect quality service.

1:23:43That is why it's important for the council

1:23:46to make measured decisions that the balance

1:23:50the needs of our residents with the needs of our staff.

1:23:54Let's talk about our staffing decisions

1:23:57which we will deal with in Item 7 a first.

1:24:01The city council makes hiring decisions for only

1:24:05two positions in the city.

1:24:07The city manager and the City Attorney

1:24:10we participate in labor contract decisions not individual hiring

1:24:13decisions labor contracts decisions

1:24:16are governed by laws that prevent unfair labor practices.

1:24:21One of those is negotiating in bad faith This can be done

1:24:24by negotiating in the press or from the diocese We cannot sit

1:24:29here and make demands or proclamations about labor

1:24:32contracts laws also prevent us from talking about what is said

1:24:36in closed session We are prohibited from talking about

1:24:40some of our labor contract decisions that

1:24:42are still being negotiated.

1:24:44These know that the simple closed session report of we

1:24:48gave direction to our labor negotiators

1:24:51reflects complex decisions in the making.

1:24:55I want to take a minute to give examples of different types

1:24:58of decisions into postcode and I know so this is a little harder

1:25:03to imagine but imagine a semi crowded theater

1:25:06and for people all see a cloud of what they think is smoke

1:25:09between them and the screen.

1:25:12One person assumes that someone vaping

1:25:15and decides to do nothing like an ostrich sticking their head

1:25:18in the sand another decides to take matters

1:25:21into their own hands and confronts the would be vapor

1:25:24and there is an argument about who has what

1:25:27rights ensuing brawl disrupts the show and people get hurt.

1:25:32The third person assumes it's a fire and yells

1:25:35fire causing a panic and people are hurt

1:25:38in the stampede or the doors.

1:25:42FOURTH PERSON gets up and goes to the lobby

1:25:47gets a manager who investigates and resolves the issue.

1:25:52If it's a vapor they're warned the smoking scooter that

1:25:56is plugged into the wall is removed

1:26:00if need be the audience is evacuated

1:26:02if there's an actual fire.

1:26:05The manager is trained and knows what to do.

1:26:09This response is measured and based on information

1:26:12the manager obtains.

1:26:14The city council has decided to take

1:26:16a measured approach to our situation based on information.

1:26:20The plan we entered into in December has taken a wild turn.

1:26:25However our decision to have a measured response

1:26:28remains the same.

1:26:29We need information to make decisions

1:26:31and the city manager is still collecting information

1:26:34at a time when health orders are issued every two weeks

1:26:40we have decided to support our city

1:26:42manager and our senior staff and all those that report to them

1:26:46and serve our city more about our decisions.

1:26:51California law prevents us from conducting

1:26:53the people's business on Facebook Twitter and next door.

1:26:57We can talk through issues and take

1:26:59actions that reflect our values as we

1:27:02did on Saturday April 25th.

1:27:04We must do that in this public forum

1:27:08although the cuts may have seemed small.

1:27:11Mr. Post they sent a strong signal

1:27:14about what we value Mr. fidelity explicitly asked us

1:27:19to make value statements around the proposed cuts or non

1:27:22cuts in sales and stated that we need

1:27:25to determine what is important and what is just nice to have.

1:27:29I believe we did this part to Okamoto passionately

1:27:33expressed her support for public access to information Mr. Pinto

1:27:37and Ms Ables and eloquently supported

1:27:39our need for statewide participation

1:27:41and representation.

1:27:43So we cut away things that were nice meals

1:27:47and extra representation at meetings we maintained

1:27:51our range of services by keeping some travel

1:27:54for statewide representation.

1:27:56We reduced the level of service with fewer hours at the library

1:28:00and less representation at local and statewide meetings

1:28:05we reduced payroll with a 10 percent cut in council pay.

1:28:10With these cuts we committed to a core value service

1:28:16that our core valued service with more

1:28:18than the county minimum of library hours

1:28:23our work exhibited the hierarchy.

1:28:27I stated late on April 7th we need

1:28:30to reduce payroll and reduce positions before we reduce

1:28:35services I want to add to that we need to reduce

1:28:40the level of service before we reduce range of service

1:28:45and that's consistent with our constant consultants

1:28:48telling us have a plan before you eliminate the service

1:28:51on how you would restore it.

1:28:54Tonight we get another opportunity

1:28:56to send a clear message about our values.

1:28:59Council members I encourage you to express

1:29:03your values as we deliberate the master fee schedule.

1:29:08State why it is we need to maintain something.

1:29:12We will need to repeat things we have said in the past years

1:29:15to remind the community about our ongoing commitment

1:29:18commitment to certain values.

1:29:22STAFF I ask that you Please highlight where

1:29:25fees exhibit these values.

1:29:27Examples might include Mr. Stoltz highlighting reduced

1:29:32fees around promoting energy efficiency projects

1:29:36like solar panels or Chief Keith you

1:29:39might highlight certain services that promote community safety.

1:29:43I'm thinking of alarm fire alarm fees or vacation checks.

1:29:47Chief Goni you might highlight services

1:29:51that promote fire prevention and Mr. Jones

1:29:55you might highlight our midtown activity center fees or fees

1:30:01where we are competing with neighbor

1:30:03neighboring jurisdictions or patrons

1:30:07So with that I'd miss Collins.

1:30:09I will go ahead and ask you to give your staff report okay.

1:30:18I'm here to discuss the city's proposed fiscal year 2020 21

1:30:21annual master fee schedule the schedule

1:30:24and the associated documents were made available for review

1:30:27in the city council packet and on the city's website

1:30:30the proposed twenty twenty twenty one schedule has been

1:30:33revamped to make it more uniform simpler to read and understand.

1:30:37Changes were color coded in the working document

1:30:40to make them easily identifiable and the associated explanations

1:30:44for these changes were captured in an additional document

1:30:47entitled Master fee adjustment explanation.

1:30:53As you know the master fee schedule includes all

1:30:55of the city's user fees charges for service and business

1:30:57license tax rate and is revised annually

1:31:01adjustments to the fees are intended

1:31:03to cover changes in the city's costs providing services.

1:31:08We recommend that a 3 percent CPI increase be applied

1:31:11to overall department fees that do not have specific rate

1:31:15changes or differences outlined elsewhere in the schedule

1:31:19while some fees have remained constant.

1:31:21Other proposed changes are based on demands for service

1:31:24or current market trends to allow the city

1:31:26to remain competitive regarding the services provided

1:31:30the schedule as it appears now shows

1:31:32the adjustment and calculations with both percentages

1:31:36and dollar amount.

1:31:38Used to formulate the final numbers upon approval

1:31:41the fees will be rounded up in most instances

1:31:45with the exception of particular fees

1:31:46and building and public works that are not whole numbers.

1:31:50Those fees will remain in decimal format

1:31:52to us to to assure the amounts are not

1:31:55misstated there is one fee that needs to be

1:31:58corrected in the schedule.

1:32:00It's the fee for the rent registry

1:32:03according to the guideline.

1:32:04The forty four dollars per year fee

1:32:06that was charged in the first year

1:32:08included a six dollar per unit startup costs

1:32:11in the second year.

1:32:13This fee is to be removed reducing the amount to 38

1:32:16dollars per unit to cover the costs of ongoing database

1:32:19maintenance adding the 3 percent CPI to that fee

1:32:23brings the total fee for fiscal year twenty twenty

1:32:27one twenty twenty twenty one to thirty nine dollars.

1:32:31Most of the new rates for these changes

1:32:34will go into effect July 1 2020.

1:32:37However due to the covered 19 impact on businesses

1:32:40staff recommends that impacted businesses be provided

1:32:43additional time to pay their business

1:32:45license fees although the fees will be due July 1 2020.

1:32:50There will be no penalty assessed

1:32:52to businesses that elect to exercise

1:32:54this option for 60 days.

1:32:57Fines would then begin to accrue effective October 1 2020.

1:33:02Moreover development fees will go into effect 60 days

1:33:07after the adoption of this resolution and the swim center

1:33:10day and overnight camps and pre-school fees

1:33:13will go into effect on September 1 2020.

1:33:17Any additional revenue will be included in the fiscal year

1:33:192020 21 budget I'll be happy to answer any questions that I can

1:33:25and their staff members from each department

1:33:28here also that can answer specific questions

1:33:31to their areas.

1:33:32Thank you Janet.

1:33:35Looks like you would like to speak.

1:33:37Yeah.

1:33:38OK.

1:33:39I was having trouble.

1:33:40There it is I had a question about the play fields

1:33:47and which is in case you want to know that one

1:33:50of the report itself is Page 15 The question I had was

1:33:57go down to the three items that are in red.

1:34:01It shows that as being eliminated and then

1:34:04there's a new fee that's an hourly fee and what I was

1:34:09wondering about is my understanding and I could be

1:34:13wrong is that if somebody signs up for let's say youth soccer

1:34:18then the family pays for the season and they play

1:34:23for the season and sometimes the games and practices

1:34:27happen and sometimes they are cancelled

1:34:29because of rain and so forth.

1:34:34And this new fee of a top ten dollars

1:34:36I don't understand how that can be

1:34:38administered through the families that

1:34:40participate in such programs.

1:34:42Could that be explained to me that one would have

1:34:45to be Chris Jones or someone in the rec Relation

1:34:49Department are they there.

1:34:54Good evening I'm council members this is Chris Jones

1:34:56Recreation Director Hi Chris.

1:34:58Hello.

1:34:59Thank you for your question.

1:35:02You know I would start by saying that in doing our research

1:35:05this year for the master fee schedule we did discover

1:35:09that basically nobody collects field reservation

1:35:13fees in the manner that we had been in the past

1:35:15and that the hourly rate is by and large what is charged not

1:35:22only by cities but by school districts

1:35:25and other field owners In regards to families

1:35:31I do not believe that families receive

1:35:34refunds if some of their games practices are rained out.

1:35:39And so the the and so it would be then

1:35:45the number of kids participating and the number of teams

1:35:49that the league fields that would ultimately decide how

1:35:54many hours the league would need and they'd be able to set

1:35:59their fees accordingly So do they estimate ahead

1:36:04of time what that might be.

1:36:06Because so what.

1:36:09So what our plans are because they implant it

1:36:11the implement season we implemented on

1:36:14would be in our policies we would set a deadline for them

1:36:19to request a schedule and then we would give them

1:36:25the opportunity to hold their tryouts so that they can then

1:36:28finalize what their season is gonna look like

1:36:32and how many teams they have and then they will

1:36:35know how many hours they need.

1:36:39So those estimates then they used or the combination

1:36:43of the total amount of money to what will determine

1:36:49the total money do is how many fields they reserve

1:36:54and for how long.

1:36:56Which is the thing that you just described right.

1:36:58Correct.

1:36:59OK so it's reservation is that it is the key to how it

1:37:05is concept and how this works.

1:37:08That is correct.

1:37:08Yeah.

1:37:09And this will actually encourage leagues to only reserve what

1:37:13they actually need and potentially

1:37:15leave prime hours available to other people in the community

1:37:21that might want to have access.

1:37:23Okay.

1:37:24Thank you.

1:37:25Thank you.

1:37:28I also have a question for Mr. James Mr. Raymond.

1:37:33Yeah let's go with the.

1:37:35Paul had his hand up first so we'll do Paul and then

1:37:37and then you were all Well so this is the time I mean

1:37:43there's it's quite a document.

1:37:46I don't want to get a micro but there's lots of places to ask

1:37:49a lot of micro questions.

1:37:51Chris sent you there So I'll start

1:37:56with the recreation department because I do I want

1:37:59to say the business licenses.

1:38:01I think it's good that it's only three percent.

1:38:03We're giving our businesses extra time to comply with that.

1:38:08And I want to ask Chris first of all knowing you know this is

1:38:11not about we've been talking a lot about cuts in our city

1:38:15cutting services This could be and maybe is the other side.

1:38:19This is the revenue side that we should be thinking about here.

1:38:23And Chris in this time of Cove in nineteen

1:38:27when you began the process of thinking about changing

1:38:31certain fees and the rates of certain fees

1:38:34how did you go about thinking what should the direction be

1:38:38of how you do this because my big point

1:38:45that I see is we have a lot of services

1:38:48and if they're raised by 3 percent that's fine but I

1:38:51really want nonresidents to get a guaranteed higher

1:38:55cost than our residents do.

1:38:58And I think that needs to be locked in.

1:39:00Yeah I see.

1:39:02Generally you have about a 25 percent

1:39:04increase for nonresidents over residents

1:39:07but sometimes you don't.

1:39:09Sometimes it's not there.

1:39:10Sometimes it is there.

1:39:13And we're paying for a lot of services

1:39:17that other people using.

1:39:19One question I had was and I know I asked a question that I

1:39:23keep talking but on on day care services

1:39:28Are you changing any of those fees at all yes.

1:39:33So for for that I speaking about child care

1:39:38or about how summer camps child care or child care.

1:39:42Yes we are adjusting the rates upward

1:39:46but the reason why there's new fees in there

1:39:52is because we're proposing moving from a 9 months

1:39:58payment schedule to a 10 month payment schedule.

1:40:02And so that's why.

1:40:03But overall the rates will go up by roughly 3 percent in what

1:40:09about for non-resident.

1:40:10Is that a 25 percent increase above what our residents

1:40:14owe in child care.

1:40:16We might do that in childcare we made the decision a few years

1:40:21ago that that that district residents don't necessarily

1:40:30have a say in where they go to school

1:40:33and because two thirds of our participants in our child

1:40:37care programs at that time and I imagine that's still the same

1:40:40where from El Serino we focused in on one fee that ensured

1:40:45full cost recovery and contributed

1:40:47back to to the indirect costs associated

1:40:53with providing child care.

1:40:55So we do have one rate in childcare but that is

1:41:00by and large unique for the rates most for the most part

1:41:04all of our other fees except for like drop in fees for example

1:41:10have a resident and non-resident charge

1:41:13and that's in the in the schedule it is confusing

1:41:16in some areas we call out non-resident rates in other

1:41:20areas we rely on a more generalized fee and the other

1:41:25fees that says that residents pay 25 percent more what I used

1:41:29my two girls went to the childcare here and also with us

1:41:32I know how important it is but what's the percentage

1:41:35of of our citizens our residents and non residents

1:41:40and childcare you know

1:41:42that I mean are we are we subsidizing people from Albany

1:41:47people from Richmond I don't end in child care specifically

1:41:52I don't believe we are the child care division.

1:41:55If you if you compare the direct costs to the revenue

1:42:01we more than make up the direct costs

1:42:03and we're able to contribute back

1:42:05to the indirect costs of administration and other things

1:42:10as well.

1:42:10So I do believe that childcare is at full cost recovery.

1:42:15So that was a simplification decision you made on that.

1:42:17It's a simpler process.

1:42:19You did.

1:42:20Well we follow also is more equitable you know.

1:42:24There are lots of kids for example

1:42:26And also maybe possibly something

1:42:29that helped increase business There's a lot of students who

1:42:33live in Richmond that are district to Fairmont school

1:42:37for example and you know that's where

1:42:41they have to go to school.

1:42:43And so you know we certainly heard

1:42:47from a lot of Fairmont families that it wasn't

1:42:51fair that they had to pay more.

1:42:53And I do and we I believe and we made that decision it did

1:42:56make childcare more accessible at Fairmont

1:42:59and increased our numbers overall which which

1:43:03resulted in greater insight.

1:43:05OK.

1:43:05I mean I'm for available childcare

1:43:08but not if we're paying a lot out the door for other

1:43:12you know What about the rentals.

1:43:20I don't see an increase for our rentals

1:43:23Is there a reason increase.

1:43:24Increasing.

1:43:26By and large we find that for our facility rentals

1:43:30we're already at the higher end and the truth of the matter

1:43:34is that as evidence in our parks and recreation facilities

1:43:37master plan they're not all in the best of condition

1:43:43We're certainly hoping over the next few years

1:43:45to improve that situation and certain facilities

1:43:49with with Measure H but we don't feel that the market can

1:43:55bare higher fees in that area.

1:43:59We'd rather go after more volume more rentals

1:44:03as opposed to raising fees.

1:44:05So that gets back to your acing these on demand

1:44:08and make keeping it competitive.

1:44:10All right correct.

1:44:11Yeah.

1:44:12For example I think that after a number of years of just letting

1:44:17the community center right rates up 3 4 percent every year

1:44:22it got to be very costly and we noticed that by and large most

1:44:26of the rentals were happening by co-sponsor groups who

1:44:31received a 50 percent discount.

1:44:33When we lowered the fees to two hundred fifty dollars an hour

1:44:36for residents we saw a big increase in in private rentals

1:44:43So we try to make smart business decisions like that to you

1:44:47know sometimes you can drive more business by the point

1:44:52diminishing returns by increased business by lowering prices

1:44:57You didn't go into this thinking oh boy we got to raise all

1:45:00the rates to make some money for the city

1:45:02it's let's stay competitive and let's

1:45:05do it the smart way right.

1:45:07Correct.

1:45:09Last question for the rec department for me

1:45:11and then I have some questions for other things.

1:45:13Can you describe the new swimming

1:45:17hourly instead of weekly rules that you've come up with.

1:45:22I mean monthly hourly instead of monthly

1:45:25is which fear you're referencing.

1:45:28Oh I don't know.

1:45:30That that the new swim rates don't you

1:45:32have a package of rates and you've done a new calculation

1:45:36on how we should be charging for swimming Well there

1:45:42there are some changes When we when you talk

1:45:45about the swim center rentals can right I often

1:45:53measure up for non-residential 25 percent.

1:45:57And I was wondering why I'm so I didn't catch that first part.

1:46:02If you have some private lane rentals

1:46:06and they don't make that for non-resident it's

1:46:0825 percent more cost than our residents

1:46:12and I didn't know if you general change in how you

1:46:14determined swimming fees Yeah.

1:46:18So yes.

1:46:19So for the Lane fees for example we

1:46:21very much looked at all of the surrounding pools

1:46:25and how they charge and you made a determination there

1:46:32of what the market could bear with that you

1:46:34know groups could easily go five blocks away to the Albany pool.

1:46:39We wanted to align our fees with with surrounding areas

1:46:43and compete for that business.

1:46:46And as far as changing fees if you after we pass this if we do

1:46:52you can change a fee if you're not

1:46:54getting adequate sign ups for certain services without it

1:47:00without coming back to us.

1:47:01Is that true I would say for the most part we would

1:47:06we would need the city council to amend

1:47:08the master fee schedule.

1:47:11We have put in some provisions however has those has often

1:47:14happened in the past you know like one of the schools

1:47:18may change their release day their release time by like six

1:47:24minutes and all of a sudden we have to go adjust fees rapidly

1:47:30and so we've put we've we've put in provisions into the maps

1:47:33masterpiece schedule that if it's if kind out outside forces

1:47:39change fees we can we can adjust the adopted

1:47:42these proportionately to the change

1:47:46because there's a lot of fees here

1:47:48and did come back for every change to the council

1:47:51it's going nightmare.

1:47:52There sure are.

1:47:53And I just finished by just saying if you agree generally

1:47:58when you're determining fees that people who don't live

1:48:01there and also radio should pay more for the services

1:48:05that we're paying for our taxes are paying for A Yes I do.

1:48:10And it's been a very long standing city

1:48:15policy about nonresidents in general

1:48:18should pay 25 percent more.

1:48:20There are some exceptions and that has to do with the market.

1:48:24But but yes the the last year the recreation department

1:48:29received one point three million dollars and general funds

1:48:33support and therefore while making programs accessible

1:48:40because we can use the revenue nonresidents

1:48:43should share a higher proportion of those fees

1:48:50in order for us to provide the services.

1:48:53And you believe 25 percent is the competitive range that

1:48:57is good for these services.

1:49:02You know I mean they're not that bad has been the standard.

1:49:06And certainly nonresidents are very

1:49:09vocal that they don't like it.

1:49:11I think you know if we undertook a fee study it's possible

1:49:16that raising it could be advantageous it's possible

1:49:20that if we lowered it more people could come

1:49:23in Other programs are pretty full so we you know we might

1:49:28not have the capacity but I do believe that it is something

1:49:31that that has that has worked and has ensured

1:49:34that nonresidents are paying their fair share

1:49:37for for our services.

1:49:38Okay I'm just saying now's the critical time

1:49:40to make some of these decisions about

1:49:42what's and then stages to our city or not.

1:49:45So yeah I personally I believe if we went much

1:49:48higher than nonresidents may may look

1:49:51elsewhere for for services.

1:49:55Thank you Mr. Padilla.

1:49:57Before you move to other departments

1:49:59I was wondering if since Mr. Pardue

1:50:03Okamoto has questions for Chris if we

1:50:04could stay on the recreation.

1:50:06Absolutely right.

1:50:09Right.

1:50:10Thank you.

1:50:10And so I think and council member Fidelity

1:50:14did ask a couple of my questions But I

1:50:21guess just on a personal note.

1:50:23So what what months will be the the 10 months will it be August

1:50:28or will it be June essentially it will be it will be August.

1:50:33So we want to collect the first payment before the school year

1:50:36starts and there is a lot of reasons for this

1:50:39but mainly we find at the beginning of the year everyone

1:50:44holds tight to their schedule which means that we have

1:50:47a hard time moving people off of the waiting list

1:50:50and then eventually they make a decision to drop days

1:50:54And so we do believe that by charging upfront which

1:51:00is a very standard practice in the industry

1:51:03that we can kind of get people to coalesce around

1:51:05their permanent schedules sooner which will help more people

1:51:10get the services they need as soon as possible.

1:51:15Great.

1:51:15And then while I have you here in the meeting

1:51:19I ran into one of my neighbors today

1:51:21and they were asking about summer camps.

1:51:23Can you give us just an update on where

1:51:25we're at with the health order and summer camps.

1:51:29Yes last week we put out a survey to all of the people

1:51:33who had registered for camp.

1:51:37Mostly back in February when we had our our discount day.

1:51:43It was a little more than 650 households and our staff has

1:51:50done a lot of research into not only the county health order

1:51:53but the CDC and professional organisation shines on what we

1:51:59think it might look like based on the way

1:52:02the county orders are going.

1:52:04And so what we're trying to do now

1:52:05is collect feedback from our customers

1:52:09and but but we're relatively positive that when

1:52:15restrictions are are lessened.

1:52:21So that childcare can be provided

1:52:23to all children and not just children of essential workers

1:52:26or or other employees that are allowed to work right

1:52:29now that we are looking at a different model we're looking

1:52:34at pods of 12 kids that will be a constant minimally throughout

1:52:40the week although it may be safer.

1:52:44And if the data shows you know we have the interest

1:52:47it may be safer to have a pod be stable for three weeks or four

1:52:52weeks or something like that.

1:52:54So we're gathering that information

1:52:55But we do envision a program that consists of a number of 12

1:53:01camper pods and then trying to organize what we can given

1:53:10the limitations of social distancing

1:53:13and working with you know it's not just city

1:53:15staff that provide summer camps but we also have

1:53:18a lot of independent contractors that provide summer camps

1:53:20and so working with them to ensure that a camp

1:53:26with the required social distancing requirements.

1:53:31And so we're just staying tuned we're

1:53:32trying not to make any decisions until we have you know

1:53:36like the actual data and facts on the ground

1:53:39but also preparing various scenarios

1:53:43to be able to respond quickly.

1:53:46When when the health order changes great

1:53:50and then I just like to say that I

1:53:53I understand where council member fidelity

1:53:56is coming from and trying to make sure that we're regaining

1:54:00all of our all of our services is not

1:54:05having not subsidizing other communities

1:54:08and in too much fashion.

1:54:10But I do believe that I support you in the decisions

1:54:13that you've made or not charging a higher fee for your kids

1:54:19that come from other communities.

1:54:21I hadn't even thought about the fair amount

1:54:25or Fairmont district thing how it

1:54:28is the district with within Richmond and that makes sense.

1:54:32But also just from what I've seen and certainly not

1:54:36across the board but at times I've seen there's kids that are

1:54:40coming in to school it might you know just from from what I've

1:54:45seen that don't seem as affluent or maybe maybe equally

1:54:49affluent but definitely not more affluent

1:54:52And so keeping those fees low for kids

1:54:55to be watched after school I think is important.

1:54:57So I appreciate that you're doing that and I support it.

1:55:03Thank you that's all great.

1:55:04Thank you for that value statement

1:55:05We're gonna stay with the recreation Mr. Kito Do you have

1:55:08any questions for recreation.

1:55:10Not with recreation.

1:55:12My questions have been answered already.

1:55:14Okay we'll when we get to another department

1:55:16we'll come back to you.

1:55:18Mr. Jones I I do have a question for you.

1:55:21Can you speak to the feed fees around the Midtown activity

1:55:24center.

1:55:25I know historically we have subsidized those fees because

1:55:32of similar to miss part of the book value statement

1:55:36about helping out you know children

1:55:40from communities that are not as affluent as everyone.

1:55:45We've got similar fixed income seniors

1:55:48that we've historically made a commitment

1:55:52to keeping our fees lower.

1:55:53I always wondered if you could make statements

1:55:55about the Midtown activities and and if you if you know where

1:55:58they are in the in the in the in the report that be awesome

1:56:06Yeah.

1:56:06So they are under adult programs which is page 79 of the agenda

1:56:14packet So what we're attempting to you know Well one I will say

1:56:22if you talk to any of our seniors

1:56:24they will tell you that they supported the senior center

1:56:26when they were younger and raising families

1:56:29and now they expect the same and they will have

1:56:31no problem telling me that number two is

1:56:35that we are taking a hard look.

1:56:36We are trying to shift away from a model that is based on you

1:56:41know no matter how many people show up to a certain class

1:56:46you know this instructor is gonna make 40 dollars per class

1:56:50or whatever we have by and large eliminated

1:56:53those types of situation then moved more towards a revenue

1:56:57share where our standard revenue share is of you know of 100

1:57:03percent of the fees 60 percent goes to the instructor

1:57:05and 40 percent goes to the city and that ensures that minimally

1:57:13the instructor costs are paid for

1:57:17and then it also contributes back more to the bottom line.

1:57:21But you know senior services that you

1:57:27know there's not a senior center out there

1:57:29that quote unquote makes money.

1:57:31And so we are trying to tinker around the edges

1:57:34to cover more costs at Midtown.

1:57:39Like I said ensuring that we don't offer any classes

1:57:42that lose money.

1:57:44We're trying to come up with what we've come up with ways

1:57:50of you know in order to we have to have a minimum number

1:57:55of students to offer a class and the easiest way

1:57:59to do that is to get people to commit for a month.

1:58:02Well that's not always the most popular thing

1:58:05for various reasons For older adults

1:58:08and so we're developing a ticket system or a system where okay

1:58:13if you want to continue to drop in you can

1:58:16but you're going to drop in at a at a higher rate.

1:58:19So to have that convenience you're

1:58:22going to pay slightly more per class

1:58:24than you would if you sign up for a monthly activity.

1:58:28We're looking at having this 60 and better Rewards Club.

1:58:32This is similar to others other senior centers you might

1:58:35see that they have memberships.

1:58:38We weren't too comfortable with with the concept of membership

1:58:42mostly because memberships usually there's

1:58:44some sort of homegrown foundation

1:58:50or or board that you become a member of.

1:58:54And so we call the Rewards Club and and so in exchange

1:58:57for paying this you know those who pay this fee for example

1:59:05they will get a newsletter mailed

1:59:07to them if you're not a member then you can

1:59:09you can look it up online.

1:59:10So we're trying to cover those costs.

1:59:14We're raising some fees but if you come become a member

1:59:19you might pay slightly less.

1:59:20So for the more casual users they're going to pay more

1:59:23for the more regular users they'll pay a little less then

1:59:27they will use a mirror to plug into this So so that's what

1:59:34that's what we're trying to do.

1:59:35We're trying to increase revenue.

1:59:41But within the context of you know senior centers just don't

1:59:44make money anywhere there.

1:59:46They're heavily they're pretty heavily

1:59:48subsidized in most cities.

1:59:54And one of the biggest things with the Midtown activity

1:59:57center it would actually look pretty good.

2:00:02Compare in comparison to other senior centers

2:00:04but we pay one hundred twenty five thousand dollars per year

2:00:08for the next three years for the modular

2:00:13And so that is that's one of the major impacts

2:00:15on the cost recovery there.

2:00:18All right.

2:00:19Thank you.

2:00:19And there is a lot of green in the adult program and services

2:00:23page so which is new fees.

2:00:26So I want to acknowledge that you definitely have gone

2:00:30and been creative and as we've stated on other programs it

2:00:36sounds like you're being sensitive to the issue but both

2:00:39the revenue and the customer side.

2:00:43I would also mention at the Midtown activity center

2:00:48we reorganized the recreation department

2:00:52last budget go round.

2:00:53And so the staff at Midtown activity center

2:00:57isn't solely responsible for Midtown.

2:01:02They're also responsible for all adult programming

2:01:05And when you talk about programming for active adults

2:01:11that is where you see a lot a lot more cost recovery.

2:01:15And so we have two full time employees who work out

2:01:20of the Midtown activity center.

2:01:21But the FTE at the metallic city center

2:01:24is is more like one point to five

2:01:29And so we're trying to balance you know we're trying to set up

2:01:34a situation where we're trying to balance the the the general

2:01:40fund support at the Midtown activity center right.

2:01:43Thank you with that Mr. FDLE we'll ready for you

2:01:48to move on to another pass.

2:01:50Oh sure leave this on The question

2:01:55I had centers around what I've heard about

2:02:01is Meals on Wheels under the corona virus

2:02:11Oh I lost Chris didn't know I'm here you're there.

2:02:14OK.

2:02:15Anyway I was running if you could explain that

2:02:17and I don't see it in the fee schedule.

2:02:20Is there even a fee for that.

2:02:21Could you explain that.

2:02:23I've heard good things about it Yeah.

2:02:26So.

2:02:28So it's a little complicated in terms of Meals on Wheels.

2:02:33We the Midtown activity center is

2:02:35a it's essentially a drop off and pickup

2:02:38point for Meals on wheels.

2:02:40We accept the meals from the vendor

2:02:45and then the Meals on Wheels volunteers

2:02:47come and pick them up and deliver them.

2:02:50So we're kind of just a a location to facilitate

2:02:53that service in terms of the Coco cafe which typically is it

2:03:00runs out of midtown activity center may main room.

2:03:05That is a county service of which we are a location

2:03:09and people give donations for you know they give it they

2:03:15there's a suggested donation for the lunches.

2:03:18However one hundred percent of that

2:03:20goes back to the county to help supplement the cost

2:03:26of that nutrition program.

2:03:27So there there are no fees associated with either meal

2:03:31program that we run.

2:03:33We go ahead.

2:03:35I would say we do collect some fees but that goes back

2:03:39into the para transit fund measure J.

2:03:42If people take para transit to lunch and then in a normal time

2:03:47in a pre covered environment but there are no there are no fees

2:03:51that come back to the city for either lunch program

2:03:54and and actually a contract with the county we can't charge

2:03:58additional fees we cannot.

2:04:01You said we cannot let the so the program

2:04:08as it's currently operating and it

2:04:10must be the delivery program.

2:04:14Yes I'm sorry I should've clarified that I I

2:04:17I didn't even know that the part where

2:04:19you go you can actually go and eat at the Midtown activity

2:04:23center you could before.

2:04:25And hopefully we'll be able to again.

2:04:27Oh thank you But yes I'm sorry I skipped over

2:04:31that but right now it has transitioned

2:04:33some meals on wheels haven't deliveries are made on Mondays

2:04:37and on Wednesdays we receive.

2:04:42I think right now we're around eighty five.

2:04:44I could I could be wrong.

2:04:46We receive about eighty five lunches

2:04:50and there's um there's seven meals.

2:04:52So we do so in one day we deliver a week's worth

2:04:55of lunches around town for those who have signed up

2:05:00and that is I just got a message ninety four

2:05:03this week so we'll be delivering ninety four

2:05:06times seven meals tomorrow morning around town.

2:05:12And when you say delivers Meals what

2:05:15what would be a sample meals what kind of food

2:05:18is there though in general.

2:05:21There's basically there's like seven frozen meals it's made

2:05:26fresh on site but they package it

2:05:28and what kind of looks like a TV dinner

2:05:30and they're frozen because to maintain the temperature

2:05:34while they're being delivered and then there's

2:05:36also produce bread milk though between the Bears

2:05:43there's seven kind of packaged meals

2:05:45and then there's a bag of perishables.

2:05:50And how does that compare to the program

2:05:53before we were hit with the virus in terms

2:05:57of number of participants.

2:05:59We have more participate and so I

2:06:01would say now I think that prior you know people wouldn't come

2:06:06all the time for whatever reason now it seems like we're pretty

2:06:11steady and picking up new we've been trying to push really

2:06:15hard that this is a this is a service that's available to L3

2:06:19La residents and you know we've been making strides and adding

2:06:24new people that we haven't served at Midtown before

2:06:28and we would love to do more.

2:06:30So anybody listening needs meals you can

2:06:33you can e-mail midtown at S.I. dot E L dash Serino S.A. dot us

2:06:40or call 5 1 0 5 5 9 7 6 7 7 who is eligible for those meals

2:06:49at adults over 60 years old as well

2:06:53as persons with disabilities over 60 years old Thank you.

2:07:00Thank you We.

2:07:03And Mr. Mayor I. I'm sorry I if I could add one thing that

2:07:07relates back to the mayor pro tem

2:07:09Fidelity's original question just in terms of cost recovery.

2:07:14I do have some information for you

2:07:16there that hopefully you will like.

2:07:19You know last year in fiscal year 2019 the recreation

2:07:22department recovered 76 percent was 76 percent cost

2:07:28recovery in the general fund that was about one point three

2:07:32million dollars and that was three point nine

2:07:34percent of the general fund looking at similar departments

2:07:38in the area.

2:07:39The next closest city of Hercules

2:07:42was 69 percent cost recovery which accounted for 5.1 percent

2:07:48of Hercules general fund Danville 59 percent which

2:07:53accounts for eight point four percent of their general fund

2:07:56San Ramone 57 percent which was seven seven seven point seven

2:08:01percent of their general fund Albany 53 percent which is

2:08:05about 5 percent of their general fund Emeryville 34

2:08:09percent cost recovery five point three percent general fund

2:08:13and San Pablo 9 percent cost recovery which is eight point

2:08:17six percent their general fund.

2:08:20And you know obviously those cities are making

2:08:24value judgments of their own so that it's not

2:08:27necessarily a bad thing at all.

2:08:28But in terms of how well the recreation department has

2:08:33recovered costs where possible I think we do really well overall

2:08:38it's right.

2:08:40Thank you.

2:08:40Thank you.

2:08:41We interrupted you Mr. Findlay when Mr. Jones came on board

2:08:45that too so we could do all recreation

2:08:47we'll come back to you for you to continue your questions.

2:08:51Thank you.

2:08:52That's a good ask the questions I

2:08:54think I want to on the business licenses

2:08:58whoever can respond to that.

2:09:00I know that when we established the rent

2:09:04registry we thought possibly that this would identify

2:09:09some business license in the void

2:09:13and maybe we might get an increase in the business

2:09:16licenses those that pay for businesses in the city.

2:09:19Is that true is that a city manager.

2:09:24Right.

2:09:25Clearly it's not on the line.

2:09:27Ask who can answer a question about the rent registry.

2:09:32Melanie Are you there.

2:09:34I am.

2:09:34Can I hear me.

2:09:35Yes I believe you.

2:09:38That is also on the line and you might be able more to it.

2:09:43Let me give it a shot.

2:09:45So I think it helps remember fidelity.

2:09:48Whether we have increased our business license kind

2:09:53of recovery of rentals that are not

2:09:56that weren't compliant that weren't

2:09:58getting business licenses.

2:10:02So I don't know about the two way.

2:10:04So the answer is partially yes and partially that's

2:10:07the group that there are many that we

2:10:10have not been able to get.

2:10:11And we're trying to figure out if it's

2:10:13super laborious very labor intensive to follow up

2:10:16on those.

2:10:17So we're actually looking at some automated system that

2:10:20might be able to kind of increase citations

2:10:23and kind of track that.

2:10:25So if you're on the phone you might

2:10:27have more specific numbers.

2:10:29We've seen some more recovery but we've also

2:10:31identified that as it got high I said sorry to any development

2:10:37department.

2:10:38Yes.

2:10:38As Melanie mentioned it is gonna be a separate process that we

2:10:42will undertake after we get through the next step

2:10:47through the rent registry and of course

2:10:49as we work through the new the new business license

2:10:52renewals it is something that will take

2:10:57some cross coordination amongst myself and of course

2:11:01with code enforcement and the rental inspection program.

2:11:05So it is as Melanie mentioned something that we

2:11:07are looking to automate.

2:11:09We do believe that we actually know there are about a thousand

2:11:14probably properties that don't have a business

2:11:16license so we are working towards bringing

2:11:19those into compliance.

2:11:21But obviously it will take some staff time.

2:11:24And as Melanie mentioned just a little bit more

2:11:27of the tools and equipment to make that process

2:11:30run a little more efficiently.

2:11:32Thank you.

2:11:33And obviously obviously I think it's

2:11:35a good idea allow this grace period to go forward

2:11:37in this delicate time here for our small businesses do

2:11:42inspections.

2:11:43Who would answer inspection questions and I

2:11:48think Mark are you also on the phone.

2:11:50I can answer some or our building official who

2:11:53is more directly related to it.

2:11:55Hi I'm talking from not knowing a lot.

2:11:57But I was wondering whether or not

2:12:00we have our fire department and police department

2:12:02doing certain inspections.

2:12:04Have we rethought how we might inspect buildings

2:12:08and various processes in this whole fee structure issue

2:12:13Are you talking about and the eventual inspection program

2:12:16or overall overall aided in setting overall by your fire.

2:12:21Doug do I believe with buildings that marking correct me

2:12:25if I'm wrong but four or more and does the annual exterior

2:12:29very fire related to we're in touch with them

2:12:32and coordinating there's a lot of other help like safety items

2:12:36that we do in the rental inspection program and when we

2:12:39do an action to put about code enforcement we're mostly

2:12:43complaint based and then when you talk about construction it

2:12:47is our inspectors but our building plans plan checks

2:12:49and circulated by fire and depending on the type

2:12:52of improvement it is tenant improvement for example

2:12:56for a restaurant or something then we coordinate

2:12:59closely with fire and there is no we're satisfied

2:13:04with the way that's

2:13:05working there is no creative way downsize and make more

2:13:11efficient our inspection process in this city I think actually

2:13:16I can certainly have the number about 70000 inspections

2:13:20we do quite a few and it's just two people

2:13:23handling that as well as a contractor

2:13:28handles the multifamily I think they're in credibly

2:13:31efficient too many a day.

2:13:33I think that in the past there was some issues potentially

2:13:39looking for more than they were needed to

2:13:42And so I think our building official has worked closely

2:13:44with our inspectors to make sure that we're

2:13:46really looking only at what's in our purview

2:13:48and what we need to.

2:13:49And so I guess in answer to your question

2:13:51we're looking to be creative and innovative.

2:13:53They are all cost recovery.

2:13:54So we did a cost B study I was last year or the year before.

2:13:57So all of building these are full cost

2:14:01recovery including overhead.

2:14:04And so more efficient as possible to keep the cost down

2:14:08and to get as many done with it smaller as possible

2:14:10but they are also a full cost recovery

2:14:12both direct and indirect costs and I notice we there's

2:14:17no increase to building permit construction

2:14:20in the city this new rail.

2:14:23Is that correct.

2:14:24Actually the increase has been pretty significant.

2:14:28I think the building official and market you're on you

2:14:31can get on and be correct but we looked at it carefully

2:14:34when we did the study and are doing a piece study for a whole

2:14:38for all the types of improvements

2:14:40that there are in estimating how much time goes into all

2:14:42it's quite an undertaking.

2:14:43And so we did that and we knew that you

2:14:45always have to calibrate it.

2:14:47So the building officials spent quite a bit of time

2:14:50this cycle looking and I think on average they were increased.

2:14:53And Mark again if you're on the phone

2:14:54you might have the more specific number

2:14:56but over 25 percent in total.

2:14:59So they were increased to make sure

2:15:01that we were adequately representing your memo

2:15:05here doesn't show an increase.

2:15:07It just shows what what you're proposing now Right.

2:15:11I believe if you go into the 0 into yes

2:15:17so it's in the packet there get on the changes it doesn't

2:15:21because then it refers but I believe that it includes

2:15:23that would have to go back and almost

2:15:25everything significantly.

2:15:28Okay.

2:15:29Thank you.

2:15:29Can't wait.

2:15:33If I might add This is Marc Soltis the building official

2:15:39what I did this year is to reopen the FEED study

2:15:43and drill down into all the different hourly rates

2:15:47that we had estimated before and then we plugged in the current

2:15:52fully burdened rates for all the different positions

2:15:56in their original FEED study we didn't have a permit tech free

2:15:59we didn't have a building inspector too

2:16:02and we felt that our fees weren't reflective of that.

2:16:05So in essence we I sat down with the building inspectors

2:16:11we looked at the hourly that we had allowed for I made

2:16:15some adjustments also with the permit technicians we made

2:16:18adjustments to our lease and what we came out with when

2:16:22the end is some of the fees are a great many other fees

2:16:29increased a very small percentage decreased and most

2:16:33of the decreases were in fees that we

2:16:36issued very few permits for.

2:16:39So what we Melanie and I did had done earlier

2:16:44was to look at how much our revenues were coming in

2:16:47and whether we were getting enough to cover our basic costs

2:16:50and we found that we were getting pretty

2:16:51close to that but we felt that we needed to collect

2:16:55a little bit more in order to cover those ancillary costs

2:17:00as support of costs for city cleric

2:17:03and City Manager human resources finances etc.

2:17:08So the fees that you see before you now are reflected of that.

2:17:14Okay.

2:17:17Mr. Field you have other questions on building

2:17:19or planning the not good.

2:17:25If you if I may go down the line with other other council

2:17:30members on on this topic that'd be great.

2:17:32Does anybody have any other questions for Melanie

2:17:34or Mark David shaking his head.

2:17:38Shell is shaking her head and it is a no.

2:17:42OK.

2:17:42Mr. Foley go ahead please.

2:17:44Actually I have a I've got a question.

2:17:47I guess it's a question the the inspection the fees

2:17:51that you were just talking about.

2:17:52Mark R. There is no we're not showing the old one the new one

2:17:59and a difference between them that's there.

2:18:01There are quite a few pages of that

2:18:04and that's that was the basis for the question

2:18:06and what I'm hearing is that these fees are based

2:18:09on the comments that I made last year where it looked like we

2:18:13had fair hearing rates hourly rates at different places

2:18:17in in the document.

2:18:19Can you confirm that you think you said

2:18:22I want to have you confirm that you standardized

2:18:25those sort of the rates that were being used

2:18:27throughout the fee schedule.

2:18:31Yes the fee schedule had several hourly rates that were sort of

2:18:36in consistent with each other.

2:18:38So I tried to go through there and standardize those from one

2:18:43one one schedule to the other.

2:18:45So they were all basically the same.

2:18:47And I also reorganized the the fees to make

2:18:55them a little easier to read.

2:18:57So we don't have the two and three columns anymore

2:19:01and we have had it split out so that there is one scheduled

2:19:06for plan for projects that require a plan review and one

2:19:12schedule for projects that don't have a plan review

2:19:14instead of having them all intermingled

2:19:16into one large schedule.

2:19:18I do appreciate it if I can add actually what I'm saying

2:19:23on agenda packet page ninety nine

2:19:25for example if that can be adopted 1920s the adjusted fees

2:19:29and then it has the percent increase.

2:19:31And so I'm seeing that column that there's

2:19:3420 percent 22 percent.

2:19:36Are you are seeing that page ninety nine.

2:19:37So it does actually have Mark did it.

2:19:40Separately the other document because it's obviously

2:19:42a very complicated that appeal.

2:19:45So rather than having this Collin pull it in

2:19:48we have a separate PDA.

2:19:49Are you seeing that.

2:19:50So it does clearly have the increase

2:19:52and you can see most of them are over 20 percent increase

2:19:55at all.

2:19:56We'd like to just add that building revenues were high

2:19:59and covering expenses We just wanted we just felt

2:20:02and the original piece that he did look at all those cost

2:20:05recovery indirect costs for all of the other staffing

2:20:10costs in the city that need to be

2:20:11allocated to support your payroll janitor and City Clerk.

2:20:17But are you seeing Mayor line and I think

2:20:20you said that it didn't show the increase

2:20:21but I'm seeing that it's that that the increase and that goes

2:20:24back to council member FDLE.

2:20:25QUESTION I think you Yeah.

2:20:30I think the pages that Mr. filling are looking

2:20:32at are the ones that are titled miscellaneous building permit

2:20:36fees for projects requiring plan review is one set of documents

2:20:42and another one is not requiring plan reviews.

2:20:46And so they're actually being shown on the screen right now

2:20:52but there's a Can someone provide the packet

2:20:56page in the case ninety.

2:20:59Page one hundred Marilyn Monroe however

2:21:03if you're if you're selling the assets

2:21:05have the increase in the far right column right there.

2:21:07Right.

2:21:08That you're looking at on the page Yes.

2:21:11But on that one correct.

2:21:13So you're saying that that is then broken out

2:21:15into these other tables Yes.

2:21:20Liz if you scroll back up it looks

2:21:23like only the mechanical electrical and plumbing

2:21:25permits are showing what the increase

2:21:27is from the previous year.

2:21:29The other these due to AIDS didn't didn't include

2:21:35those tables but we did have a excel spreadsheet that showed

2:21:38the percentage differences between the years

2:21:43and that's that's the basis for the question.

2:21:45I think Mark is there.

2:21:50The in the past we've had subsidies

2:21:54for things like solar panels.

2:21:57Is there any fees that are representing our values

2:22:03of trying to promote energy efficiency

2:22:05and similar energy type things.

2:22:09Well we've kept the solar energy is below the maximum

2:22:14allowed by the state.

2:22:17And we eliminated the subsidy on accessory dwelling units

2:22:24mainly because of the several pieces of legislation

2:22:27that came into effect this year that eliminated all the impact

2:22:32fees for those projects.

2:22:34So we we felt that the incentive was still there

2:22:37to do the 80 years and that we could move towards a cost

2:22:41recovery on inspections And I will point out that that R H is

2:22:49assume that you're going to have a kitchen

2:22:51and a bathroom at home as well as the other features.

2:22:55And they are still lower than if you

2:22:56priced out an addition plus a bathroom plus a kitchen grill.

2:23:04Mayor Lyman we look for cost recovery

2:23:06on everything up for solar where the state mandated how high you

2:23:10can go rate And we still offer a break

2:23:13for multiple electric vehicle chargers

2:23:17especially in the commercial and Fantastic Mr. FDLE.

2:23:24Do you have a do you want to move on to your next round

2:23:26of group of talks.

2:23:28I just really have a couple more questions

2:23:30not related to building but I think I'm going to talk

2:23:36about our holy ground here and also

2:23:38read on the recycling center.

2:23:41And I want to get back to the.

2:23:44And I'm just trying to be a little out of the box

2:23:48All right.

2:23:48Non-residential users.

2:23:50Is that who use our recycling center.

2:23:54Is there any way that's not difficult to implement to have

2:24:00a charge an annual charge for people that are not

2:24:04in our community that use our recycling center I don't know

2:24:09who may answer that is at C. It will probably say either will

2:24:18or and that could probably speak to its failure.

2:24:23You know half the people there at any given time Melissa rito.

2:24:28But I know we don't want to have a person manning the gate

2:24:32or we want things to be recycled which I get.

2:24:38But Yeah I will protest here acting operations

2:24:41and Environmental Services Division manager

2:24:43and it is something we've talked about in the past

2:24:46whether to issue permits or placards or nonresidents.

2:24:51I think that approach just operationally

2:24:53is that seems pretty difficult and require additional staffing

2:24:57perhaps somebody at the gate to to monitor who comes in

2:24:59and check I.D. what we've started to do

2:25:03in the last few years is to charge

2:25:05non residents for services that don't are right.

2:25:10Recycling often does generate some revenue for services

2:25:13that are more of a cost for us.

2:25:14We started to limit the use for nonresidents

2:25:17or right do it for Styrofoam exactly Styrofoam decathlon

2:25:24on their car something that they did

2:25:26it is something we could explore and more OK let's explore it.

2:25:34The other thing is about trees.

2:25:36I noticed that I can't find it in front of me here

2:25:39but our tree services and these are very expensive whether it's

2:25:44come back and monitor any residential tree

2:25:46that we've put Is that because there are it's costly to yet.

2:25:55It's primarily because of the time it takes in many cases

2:25:58with a new tree.

2:25:59It's over the course of years where we're monitoring

2:26:04to to plant the new tree and we want

2:26:06to make sure it's the right tree in the right place.

2:26:08And so it is because we have you know certified arborist

2:26:12working on it looking at it and spending multiple hours

2:26:16many hours of their time.

2:26:18So those are often very subsidized rates

2:26:20as to encourage new plantings for example.

2:26:23I'm just saying because now that whereas see tree city in part

2:26:28because of Mr. that's a value statement that we might want

2:26:34to encourage more trees and emit maybe

2:26:38less of a cost for maintenance that the city might provide

2:26:41just something to think about.

2:26:45Yeah.

2:26:46I'm going to build on that Paul.

2:26:47Yes.

2:26:48For those that have may not have looked at the street tree

2:26:51permit fees they're one of them what D maintenance to establish

2:26:57a new tree a three your maintenance

2:26:59is eight hundred dollars to establish new tree right.

2:27:04Usually in case of mitigation.

2:27:07And therefore you're in a different location.

2:27:10That's I know that's over a three year period.

2:27:12So it's not an annual fee like some of these other ones are

2:27:16but that's that's a tad.

2:27:19That's a hefty fee for somebody who

2:27:21wants to put a strict tree in which

2:27:24we're trying to encourage.

2:27:25Yeah.

2:27:25Yeah.

2:27:29Okay.

2:27:30Those are my comments questions.

2:27:32Thank you Mayor.

2:27:33Great.

2:27:33Rochelle I think you were next.

2:27:36And then we will go down the line

2:27:40and we'll go from you to Gabe.

2:27:42I don't have any further questions.

2:27:45Excellent.

2:27:46Do you have questions for anybody else.

2:27:52Mr. Fidelity's done so you move to a new department

2:27:55if you would like Okay.

2:28:01Gabe thank you there.

2:28:04I have questions too.

2:28:08Our fire chief chief pick on it and also to our city manager

2:28:13can take us.

2:28:14So I had a resident sent you want to find out

2:28:24about our our fees dealing with ambulance fees

2:28:29and dealing with 9 1 1 base and I

2:28:31didn't see anything like that.

2:28:34And I know staff are supposed to look into that.

2:28:39Has that been completed yet.

2:28:41That should definitely be part of this master fee schedule

2:28:45and if we're going to approve anything

2:28:47I just want to make sure that that yeah

2:28:50we see others sitting is doing this

2:28:53and we're the only city in the area that's not charging

2:28:56for these space will be will we be charging that in the future.

2:29:02So we are indeed looking at.

2:29:06We are researching that Would that would not be available

2:29:11to be completed in time for this for this particular fee

2:29:14schedule if we do decide to add it we would actually have

2:29:18to look at all of the legal requirements for that including

2:29:21it would probably the city attorney might be able to step

2:29:25in but it would be probably look at some sort of ordinance that

2:29:28we would have to do we can do that at any time So

2:29:32if as we're still continuing to look at that that is actually

2:29:36something though that I would want to bring to you separately

2:29:38and not just sort of slip it into this fee schedule

2:29:41because that that actually is

2:29:43a very big value conversation there are

2:29:47know as you can probably talk about that

2:29:49and I'm not necessarily making a judgment

2:29:51should we do it or not do it.

2:29:53That would of course be up to the council.

2:29:55But there are definite there's definitely

2:29:56pros and cons to doing that and being

2:29:59able to capture how much we would

2:30:02revenue we might actually be able to capture.

2:30:04So maybe the fire chief could speak very briefly to that.

2:30:07But just.

2:30:08We are indeed looking into it.

2:30:10And what we would want to do is actually bring that to you

2:30:13as a separate item to discuss from this

2:30:17from this particular phase.

2:30:18So I don't like to jump in on that.

2:30:21Yes.

2:30:23Michael Pagano you're fired chief.

2:30:25Good evening.

2:30:25Counsel.

2:30:27Council member Quinto I know For there's

2:30:31been a couple of comments made or a couple of public comments

2:30:34as well as from the council about looking at what

2:30:38is typically called First Responder fees whether we call

2:30:42them 9 1 on fees or you know basically

2:30:46it comes under again what insurance companies would

2:30:50call a first responder fee.

2:30:53There are one of the things that limits us is that El Cerrito is

2:30:59not a transport city for the El Cerrito fire department does

2:31:03not do transport.

2:31:05And so when we look at insurance being able to build insurance

2:31:11as we are we do not have even going through a third party

2:31:15and I have been speaking with a couple of third party billing

2:31:19companies that have that are used in Albany Piedmont

2:31:23and East Contra Costa County because we do not transport.

2:31:27We do not have the ability to Bill anybody with Medicare

2:31:32or medical or I should say we cannot

2:31:35build their insurance company.

2:31:37And so what we would be doing Well

2:31:39I should backup is as far as people I'm not

2:31:44sure about within El Cerrito but taking surrounding areas

2:31:47such as Albany and Piedmont private insurances

2:31:51or people that or residents that would basically have

2:31:55private insurance constituted somewhere between 20

2:31:58and 25 percent of our population and not necessary Those that

2:32:04are are requiring are emergency or AOS services

2:32:09but taking that into account you know if everybody was

2:32:13equal basis we would only be looking at you

2:32:16know that small percentage of people

2:32:18where through a third party billing

2:32:21we could actually bill for our services

2:32:24that we have the majority.

2:32:26The other people we could bill them

2:32:29but it would be out of their pocket or you

2:32:32know out of pocket expenses.

2:32:34And so where that becomes an issue would

2:32:38be it is the city willing to go to you know especially

2:32:44are you are senior citizens are you know

2:32:48people that are on Medicare.

2:32:51Are we willing to tell them that you need

2:32:53to pay most of these fees run in the three to four hundred

2:32:57dollar fee for a less services.

2:33:00Are you willing to pay this out of your pocket.

2:33:05You if they are obviously that's great.

2:33:07If they are not willing how hard does this city want to push

2:33:12our own residents who at this point in time

2:33:15you know obviously are paying taxes not only a property tax

2:33:19but also you know anything they buy you know you measure

2:33:23our taxes and anything else is for It's

2:33:25Our city is the city willing to push the issue that we get

2:33:30that we push them to the point of collections

2:33:33to collect this money.

2:33:35So that's one of the questions before we pursue this too far

2:33:39and there are some other avenues that I am searching you know

2:33:43since this has been brought up but that is a major question

2:33:48that has to be answered.

2:33:50You know obviously through the city manager

2:33:52and through the five of you if we want to set this standard

2:33:57for if we do not and we just want to look at you

2:34:02know the percentage of people that have private insurance

2:34:05then you know we're looking if if the ratio is equal

2:34:11we're looking at 20 percent of our sixteen seventeen

2:34:13hundred calls that we have that are medical related.

2:34:17We're looking at 20 percent of those

2:34:20that we could Bill and again at you

2:34:23know roughly you know between 300 and 400 dollars on top

2:34:28of the ambulance fees that the insurance company would

2:34:32already be paying with it.

2:34:34But again I am Look I am working on this I am looking at it is

2:34:41not you know the oral comments that have come back

2:34:45in previous meetings have not gone

2:34:48or we have not been ignored.

2:34:50It is something I am pursuing among everything

2:34:53else out there as possible income for the fire department.

2:34:58But again you know take into account

2:35:01it is not going to be you know it's not

2:35:03a you know in the hundreds of thousands of dollars type

2:35:07of income but you know every every dollar does make

2:35:10a difference I spoke to other mayors in that Contra Costa

2:35:18County and our surrounding cities

2:35:21know that most cities are doing to us

2:35:23and most residents Elsa Rito do have insurance

2:35:28and their retirement insurance through Medicare

2:35:31is through Kaiser and my mother was

2:35:33charged when she had her heart attack into Leo

2:35:37and that was no problem.

2:35:39The insurance paid for it to Kaiser.

2:35:42So glad this I believe we should we should truly look into

2:35:47and I support the city supporting this

2:35:52and know that as a city that we don't have

2:35:57the same demographics as Richmond and San Pablo

2:36:03most of our residents have insurance.

2:36:05So I would like to thoroughly look at this in the future.

2:36:09We should do that.

2:36:10So I hope we can do this in the next few months.

2:36:14Karen Pincus yes we And one thing I do

2:36:18want to keep in mind when I do talk about the sixteen hundred

2:36:24calls more or less that we have of medical related calls do

2:36:29keep in mind that approximately a probably about 200 of those

2:36:35are within the community of Kensington

2:36:37which obviously comes under a hold

2:36:41a whole different jurisdiction.

2:36:44And so it's not necessarily just El Serato it would be you know

2:36:49something that we have to we would have to manipulate you

2:36:54know and with the contract that we have with Kensington keeping

2:36:58in mind that you Kensington residents not only are

2:37:02supporting their fire district through you

2:37:04know through their property taxes

2:37:06but also through a parcel tax you it would be something

2:37:10that you know we may either we did not

2:37:12charge them which lowers the number of potential revenue

2:37:17we could say or we have to basically negotiate

2:37:21that end to the contract that we have

2:37:25with Kensington for the services that we provide for them.

2:37:29Yes just like just like everything

2:37:32it seems it's never never as simple as we would

2:37:35we would help.

2:37:36But I definitely wanting to take a look.

2:37:39I think as the chief said every you know every avenue we will

2:37:42we will explore that.

2:37:43So thank you I very much appreciate it.

2:37:45Thank you both.

2:37:47Mr. King do you have any other questions.

2:37:49I know Janet would like to have a question

2:37:51probably on this topic.

2:37:52Yes.

2:37:53OK.

2:37:54I'm OK.

2:37:55Thank you.

2:37:55Come back.

2:37:55Come back to you to see if you have any other questions.

2:37:57But go ahead Janet.

2:37:58OK I have a question I had was about the weirdest have

2:38:05an impact on people's willingness to call for calling

2:38:10call 9 1 1 when they think they have a medical issue

2:38:14or Is this about transport.

2:38:19I'm not sure what this represents within the scope

2:38:23of the medical incidents.

2:38:26Is this for the whole thing or Is

2:38:29this like a new fee on top of the ambulance fee or it.

2:38:37Yes.

2:38:37So this this would be something this would be something

2:38:39different that we have that has some community

2:38:43members particularly have spoken about this

2:38:46and asked us questions on why we why we don't

2:38:50charge a fee that other cities do

2:38:51charge other counties do charge.

2:38:54And so what we have done is we have again you

2:38:56know taken a look and and as the chief

2:38:59indicated we're still looking at that.

2:39:01But you're right that is abs.

2:39:02That's why we want to bring this to you as a separate item

2:39:06because there are a lot of value issues

2:39:08that we have to talk about.

2:39:10For example would this provide a disincentive to call 9

2:39:141 1 if the costs are too high.

2:39:16That that is absolutely a valid question that we would want

2:39:19to explore and take a look at.

2:39:21Talked to other cities.

2:39:23So that's that's the work that we're currently doing

2:39:26and we will bring something as we flush this out.

2:39:29We'll bring that to you separately I

2:39:33had a question Can I just add one thing on that real quick.

2:39:39Just as a point of reference approximately

2:39:42I believe three years ago or four years ago three years ago

2:39:45I believe we're contract to fire took over the transport

2:39:50business within this county.

2:39:53Basically contracted work WITH A M R took it over from a m r.

2:39:58They are one of the agencies that

2:40:00do charge first responder fees.

2:40:04And again this This is not something that happened

2:40:06in El Cerrito but within Kensington

2:40:10when they started responding there their billing agency had

2:40:14a little trouble designating they looked at Kensington

2:40:18and said Oh that's a county entity

2:40:21and they started sending residents there

2:40:23that we responded to and started sending

2:40:25them first responder bills.

2:40:27In addition to their ambulance bills our phone rang off

2:40:32the hook with people that were very upset going Why am I

2:40:36getting double billed you know we had that corrected they no

2:40:41longer know the Contra Costa County fire when they run

2:40:45ambulance calls and Kensington no longer are sending them

2:40:49the first responder bills but I can tell you that at least

2:40:54in that community they they did they were very vocal against

2:41:01the additional fees because again they felt that you know

2:41:06I'm already paying for the ambulance why am I paying

2:41:08for fire when I'm already paying taxes But you know

2:41:13again that doesn't mean we can't find

2:41:16a way to make this work and we

2:41:17will keep pursuing it and and try

2:41:20to make this a reality for you.

2:41:23So I had a bit of a question there and I think that got over

2:41:26looked in this Excuse me I'm sorry to interrupt Councillor

2:41:32I'm Wilson but I just want to point out

2:41:34that although the topic of fees is on the council's agenda

2:41:39tonight this particular issue of first responder fees

2:41:43ambulance fees that's not part of what's proposed as part

2:41:48of the master fee schedule.

2:41:49So I do want to sort of get the council redirected for Brown

2:41:53Act purposes onto the topic that is in front of you which

2:41:57is the proposed master fees schedule

2:41:59so some additional limited discussion of the topic

2:42:01is of course permitted.

2:42:02But I just want to remind the council

2:42:04that this particular item is not actually on the agenda tonight

2:42:08So can I ask my question to you.

2:42:10Yes I just wanted to thank got overlooked

2:42:14in the discussion that ensued.

2:42:16My question was really what is this what does this what

2:42:21kind of services is be cover.

2:42:23It seems to me it could it could cover

2:42:25the firefighter coming to the scene

2:42:28or it could be the ambulance or both.

2:42:31And I was wondering what what it is we're talking about.

2:42:34Well the first night the first responder fees

2:42:38are basically covering they enhanced services

2:42:43that the city is providing a patient for providing basically

2:42:50a first responder phase or basic basically being first on St.

2:42:54and initiating any sort of a treatment that mitigates

2:43:01whatever the emergency is.

2:43:03The ambulance if they transport.

2:43:05That's a whole separate thing that we are not

2:43:07involved in you know whatever the ambulance

2:43:09fee is is their own deal.

2:43:11We just have the ability again by know proper channels.

2:43:18We have the ability to charge for the fact

2:43:21that we do provide medical services to our residents OK

2:43:29so we retract.

2:43:30So every time it means that when somebody's our first responder

2:43:35from the city Rosarito we'd go to a scene that day

2:43:40and did something that they would

2:43:43be resident or non-resident would be billed.

2:43:47That's what that means.

2:43:48So that based on Sky's skies discussion

2:43:51I mean I say that hypothetical discussion at the moment.

2:43:54This is not on the table tonight.

2:43:56So but I'd use a definition that they kept using that term

2:44:00and I wanted to know what.

2:44:01Yeah.

2:44:02Yes you are correct.

2:44:03Yeah I'm not mean four or firefighters.

2:44:06Yet the discussion that kind of ensued

2:44:09when I asked the question.

2:44:11Right.

2:44:11It's hypothetical here pays for it pays for the advanced life

2:44:16support services that the fire department

2:44:18is providing to our residents.

2:44:20Hypothetically OK thank you As long as we're on fire.

2:44:25Mike I. I guess I did look through this

2:44:28and I was trying to find a a fee that might be associate

2:44:33with fire prevention officer doing multiple visits

2:44:37to the same property.

2:44:39Is that only collected through when when we abate a property

2:44:45or or is would it not be appropriate to have

2:44:50some type of inspection fee associated with some

2:44:54of those properties that are recalcitrant to clean up

2:44:58and we would go four or five times and then they find

2:45:01and clean up they've incurred an undue burden on us

2:45:07to to get them to comply But in less and less we abate them

2:45:13we don't have any revenue.

2:45:14So I'm just curious why there's not a fire prevention

2:45:18officer type inspection fee that is it's an excellent question.

2:45:23That is something that last year I understand and I know

2:45:28you guys are aware of the fact that fire prevention or fire

2:45:32prevention officers a two year assignment and the assignment

2:45:37that we had that started last year with our new fire

2:45:40prevention officer and coincidentally started

2:45:43with a new Fire Chief myself as well

2:45:47as on the third year of major fires in the North Bay.

2:45:52We went in at my direction.

2:45:55Good bad or otherwise.

2:45:57We went and hit it hard.

2:45:59As you know the council was hammered by the public

2:46:02to go in and look at a number of properties and the very

2:46:06high fire severity zone that I'm not going to say

2:46:11were neglected in years past but probably we did not

2:46:14look at as close as we should have

2:46:17and it was my intention to go in and basically play hardball

2:46:23with a number of these people.

2:46:25It did come in to a number of inspection

2:46:30or a number of re inspections that did take time

2:46:34without unless we did the forest abatement did not

2:46:39was not a cost that we could recover.

2:46:42This was something we were going to work

2:46:44on these past few months unfortunately.

2:46:47As far as trying to initiate this type of fee

2:46:50I also had plans in this first part of that you know prior

2:46:53to coming to this fee schedule of looking at a basically

2:46:59a violation fine as opposed to the forest abatement something

2:47:04make our job a little bit easier.

2:47:08But unfortunately the the cove at 19

2:47:11and all of the extra measures and the fact that we could not

2:47:14you know trying to meet in public you know

2:47:16became an issue kind of you know kind of put

2:47:20a kink in that the one thing that we have discussed

2:47:25with our fire marshal and our fire prevention

2:47:27officer this year is that we are going to concentrate primarily

2:47:32and the very high fire severity zone

2:47:36and we are not going to be doing these multiple inspections

2:47:41and we are going to go in.

2:47:43Usually we will do the initial inspection

2:47:45as we always have of the ten thousand El Cerrito parcels.

2:47:53We will be issuing the initial citation shins

2:47:56and then we are going to basically look at obviously

2:48:02with all the other budget issues that we have we're not going

2:48:06to be able to abate like we did last year

2:48:10but we are going to try and put some extra pressure

2:48:14on to the residents you know through more.

2:48:17I don't want to say a threatening type response

2:48:20but basically put a response to that's

2:48:24going to try and convince them to clean

2:48:28their properties with it.

2:48:31One of the things a matter of fact that was a comment some

2:48:34comments that I made today at our department head meeting

2:48:37is as we go in as we get out of this current pandemic issue I

2:48:42do want to look at that for future years

2:48:45to be something that when we go back

2:48:48if we have to do multiple inspections that we will be

2:48:52able to go through and charge.

2:48:55But then of course like any other fee that we put

2:48:58on a homeowner if they don't pay then it becomes it becomes

2:49:03an issue just like forced debate meant

2:49:05that we have to do the tax Lane that we have

2:49:09to do the tax lean on there on the property or property tax

2:49:13Lane you know working it through the county

2:49:15as we did with the 100 plus dollars I'm sorry.

2:49:18Hundred thousand plus dollars of forced abatements

2:49:21that we did last year for it You know

2:49:25it's not a problem doing that.

2:49:27But to answer the other question on those properties

2:49:30last year that we did do the forest abatement not only

2:49:34was the cost of that of the landscaping or tree service

2:49:38whoever we used company in there but every fee that we had.

2:49:42That however many hours we spent doing inspections

2:49:46the cost for the entry warrant the cost to process everything

2:49:51was tacked on to that.

2:49:53So if we did a forest abatement every better

2:49:56the cost was recovered.

2:49:58The bad part or I guess it's not bad

2:50:01but the the part that doesn't balance out last year

2:50:04is that the city will not see that money

2:50:07this coming fiscal year.

2:50:09So you know we spend one hundred and three thousand dollars

2:50:11last year out of general fund that was not budgeted

2:50:15that the council approved but the funds

2:50:18and they will see the money coming

2:50:19back in the 2021 fiscal year.

2:50:23So you know it's just a part of it.

2:50:26You know there but we will be clear.

2:50:28We did it last fall so last calendar year but it

2:50:32was in this fiscal year and we will cover it

2:50:36on taxes that are collected by the county

2:50:40in the next fiscal year.

2:50:42So that better timing the payments I guess I guess I'm

2:50:47going to ask a question test to see manager city attorney if we

2:50:51tonight say that we want to establish a fee that's

2:50:58associated with you know like a third like like the false alarm

2:51:03fee in other words it's yeah you get you get one inspection

2:51:08or you even get one re inspection for free.

2:51:10But once you you have pushed us to a third or fourth or fifth

2:51:14re inspection that we start assessing some type

2:51:18of fear fine against you.

2:51:21Can can we establish that we do we

2:51:23need to establish that tonight at least conceptually

2:51:26or can we.

2:51:26Is this something that can be brought to us in July Yes

2:51:33I wanted to jump in.

2:51:34I would recommend that if that is the direction of the council

2:51:37that we wanted to try to take a look at that that we

2:51:40we can amend the master fee schedule any time

2:51:44so it doesn't have to be this evening

2:51:46and then we can do some more proper research to make sure

2:51:49that we're recovering the correct cost

2:51:51instead of trying to come up with something on the fly sky.

2:51:56Yeah I think that if the council wants

2:51:58to direct something like that be examined

2:52:02staff would need to go and look at it.

2:52:03We do some legal research we need to.

2:52:06If it's treated as a fee we need to calculate call Austar

2:52:09if it's a penalty we need to figure out what

2:52:12if any legal limits there are on the imposition

2:52:15of a penalty like that.

2:52:17But once we've done that research

2:52:18we can bring it back to the Council and adopt it.

2:52:21And it would go into effect immediately because it's

2:52:23that type of of a fear penalty.

2:52:25So we can amend the fee schedule or adopt

2:52:29an ordinance that that imposes a fine for that activity

2:52:33and and good.

2:52:35If we're having Jordan's Of course

2:52:37it wouldn't be in effect immediately

2:52:38but if were another type of charge it would be

2:52:40added immediately we do have.

2:52:44It could very well be similar to the end to the fees

2:52:47that we do for our occupancy inspections

2:52:50our fire safety inspections.

2:52:53If you look at that on your master schedule that is you

2:52:57know we do charge for the initial inspection

2:53:00and the second third fourth.

2:53:02However many inspections it takes us to get compliance.

2:53:07We charge by the hour I believe it's like one hundred ninety

2:53:11four something dollars is the new fee

2:53:13proposed for before seven.

2:53:15Yes.

2:53:16Now it does not specifically put in there

2:53:19as far as doing vegetation management but it would more

2:53:23I mean to me it would probably be the same thing being it's

2:53:27not a an an engine crew doing the inspection it's

2:53:30a single person maybe the fee is lower now I mean that would be

2:53:34something I would have to be worked out

2:53:35from with a legal basis as to how much we can honestly charge

2:53:40for the sky if if I want to take a straw poll of the council

2:53:45to to investigate their support on correcting this is

2:53:51this the right time or is it something

2:53:53that we should be doing after public comment.

2:53:55When's the right time to get a sense of whether or not

2:53:58we want staff to go forward with some type of cost recovery

2:54:02around recalcitrant fire fire or abatement people.

2:54:08So since this is not a specific item that

2:54:10was noticed just part of the public carrying

2:54:12and is not part of the agenda tonight

2:54:14I think if you just want to get a sense from the council

2:54:16now since it's fresh in everyone's mind

2:54:18if they're interested in further examination that would be fine.

2:54:22And then we can take that direction

2:54:24and come back to the council at a later date

2:54:26with recommendations.

2:54:27Right.

2:54:31Mr. FDLE actually you weren't talking you were shows me.

2:54:34We'll go with Michelle first.

2:54:36Yes I would support that.

2:54:38All right support exploring it further.

2:54:41Me too.

2:54:43Janet you're off.

2:54:45I would think I would support supported however.

2:54:49Could we say what it is.

2:54:51Yeah.

2:54:52That what we're giving it we're giving

2:54:54guidance to staff to come back with fees associated

2:54:58with the fire prevention officer making multiple inspections

2:55:02of the same property will it be the fire

2:55:05inspection officer doing it.

2:55:07Correct.

2:55:07At least that's the way we would start.

2:55:09Yeah.

2:55:10OK.

2:55:10Yeah.

2:55:10I would support that right.

2:55:12I support that as well.

2:55:13They're Great.

2:55:14Thank you.

2:55:15Thank you.

2:55:17Thank you.

2:55:18We were with you Gabe and you may

2:55:21you were we were on fire when you had brought up some fire

2:55:24questions I don't know if you've concluded your comments

2:55:26or questions either.

2:55:27I guess.

2:55:28Thank you.

2:55:29Great.

2:55:31Anybody have questions at this time All right.

2:55:37I will ask one of the police chief

2:55:41which I could have sworn it was in prior list of services

2:55:50and I'm not I'm seeing one of them

2:55:53here actually a firearms storage fee so

2:55:56services around vacation services.

2:56:01My recollection is for example that I found it

2:56:04this time through I found it firearm storage

2:56:06fee of twenty five dollars.

2:56:09But also the home inspection service was is free

2:56:14and I'm just curious that it's not

2:56:16I don't know where you advertise it

2:56:17or what the what the what other types of vacation services that

2:56:25are of value to that we are effectively promoting

2:56:30because we want to have safe home

2:56:34is when people are away Well I think putting it in the master

2:56:39fee schedule that's a free service

2:56:42might be one way to advertise it.

2:56:44I'm talking about.

2:56:45Sorry This is Paul Keith your chief of police

2:56:49so talking about vacation checks to start with.

2:56:52That is a free service that the Australia Police Department

2:56:55offers we believe that when residents participate in having

2:56:59us check on their vacation while they're out of town

2:57:02we help reduce crime and ensure that residences stay

2:57:07safe while people are gone.

2:57:09We do not charge a fee for that service

2:57:11because we're concerned that adding a feed that would

2:57:14discourage use the program in our current program

2:57:17is administered by a combination of both sworn police

2:57:21officers assigned to the beat that the house is located

2:57:23on as well as our volunteer program

2:57:27so we could add that program in the master fee schedule

2:57:31as a free program without a fee.

2:57:34However residents are interested in finding

2:57:38out more about the program.

2:57:39There is a look at vacation home check on the city Web site.

2:57:43I'll take them to the police department

2:57:44page that shows them how to sign up for a vacation check.

2:57:47We also advertise it from time to time on social media

2:57:50especially as we get into vacation season.

2:57:52Obviously haven't done that recently because

2:57:54of a no on vacation moved over to the home

2:57:59inspections that is a service that we eliminated a while back

2:58:03is a service that we advertise because at the time

2:58:07we felt that we wanted there to be a standardized process

2:58:12for home security checks.

2:58:14We have a resident that's concerned about security issues

2:58:16at their house.

2:58:17We still send an officer out there to go

2:58:19and talk to about the nature of their house and ways

2:58:22they can increase their security.

2:58:24But we no longer advertise that as a service

2:58:26because the program is still being rebooted

2:58:30it was previously a free program and it's

2:58:31still a free service that we offer residents going on to.

2:58:36The other question about it.

2:58:38Fire.

2:58:38Yes or.

2:58:39The firearm storage was one that I was highlighting

2:58:42as a something we value that we probably are not

2:58:46charging the full fee for it.

2:58:48And it's something we want residents to take advantage of.

2:58:51But it actually does have cost associated with it.

2:58:55So the firearm stores she comes into play

2:58:57frequently when the police department is

2:58:59seizing weapons from a person.

2:59:02So we don't typically have residents take advantage

2:59:05of this in that Hey police department

2:59:08will you please store my gun for me instead.

2:59:11This is when we've seized a gun perhaps

2:59:13pursuant to a mental health committal

2:59:15or somebody who prohibited from having firearms.

2:59:18We take the gun into our custody and they begin getting charged

2:59:22until they arrange to have firearms released to somebody

2:59:25we can legally possess them or until they

2:59:28give us the authorization to have the weapons destroyed.

2:59:32So so that looked like that was the weapons seizure storage

2:59:35and returned fire.

2:59:37Two hundred two dollars.

2:59:38Is that limited.

2:59:40Is that capped by the state You know I don't know exactly

2:59:46what the cap on would be.

2:59:47I do believe that there are costs associated with the state

2:59:52for having weapons returned to you as well.

2:59:54So this is our fee.

2:59:56The state charges additional fees for all of the entries

3:00:00that the state has to process have guns returned

3:00:03to somebody in custody.

3:00:04So when we take somebody whose gun involves us accessing

3:00:08the state database changing control of the weapon

3:00:11to the El street police department

3:00:13before we return the gun to the person all of that

3:00:17has to be reversed in control of the gun

3:00:19has to be sent back over to whoever

3:00:22the gun is getting transferred to or returned to right.

3:00:26And last year we talked a little bit about alarm at some

3:00:30of the real letter entities were have staging companies

3:00:37in the staging companies have these effectively Internet

3:00:41alarms that they put in homes to that their materials are

3:00:46not being stolen because obviously the houses for sale

3:00:49is staged.

3:00:50And the burglars know that the houses

3:00:53are vacant so there is items of value

3:00:57in the staging that are stolen.

3:01:02Did you Did you ever resolve how we

3:01:05would deal with the mobile alarms

3:01:09that that some these companies use.

3:01:11Well we did look at the cost to register alarm

3:01:15and the initial cost is thirty four dollars.

3:01:17We didn't increase that this year and we

3:01:18didn't increase it last year.

3:01:21We feel that it's a fairly low cost.

3:01:23There is some process on the police department side.

3:01:27We have a vendor that accepts the payment

3:01:31and there's all the information and so

3:01:33there are some costs at the police department incurs

3:01:36for having the service having people available to manage

3:01:41the service.

3:01:43So we didn't make any other changes other than just

3:01:45continuing to keep the costs.

3:01:47Initially register alarms on the lower side.

3:01:51It is not that not that a realtor would want to have it

3:01:56for two years but there is a way that I

3:02:00think we can probably transfer a permit over to a new resident.

3:02:03And that is certainly something to be available so that we can

3:02:08look at making some changes to the alarm program

3:02:10to just allow a realtor to transfer a permit over

3:02:13to a resident if they're going to be installing system so

3:02:16that the resident isn't moving in

3:02:18and a month later having to pay a permit Right.

3:02:22Any other questions for the police chief OK.

3:02:29Any other questions for any other departments before we

3:02:31go to public comment seeing none.

3:02:37I know that we have at least two public comments on this matter.

3:02:42So we've we would.

3:02:47So actually I guess I'm supposed to open the public hearing.

3:02:51I'm going back to my script.

3:02:52Thank you.

3:02:54So at this time I would will open the public hearing

3:02:58and ask the city clerk to proceed with public comments

3:03:02and this is a great time if you're at home

3:03:04and you have a question.

3:03:05This is a great time for you to send in your your comment

3:03:09your question Thank you ma'am.

3:03:12At this point we do have three submissions

3:03:15and usually two submissions.

3:03:18There's two submissions from the same individual

3:03:21if you could confirm the amount of time

3:03:23if you'd like to keep it at two minutes

3:03:2530 if you would like to do three minutes to 30

3:03:28this looks to be more than adequate pay.

3:03:31See that's starting with the first public comments

3:03:38submitted by Nick Zambrano.

3:03:42Upon reviewing the city's master fee schedule I noticed

3:03:45that there was no line item for first responders and ambulance

3:03:48transfers I can only assume that department staff has not

3:03:52addressed the need for billing emergency medical services

3:03:55to residents health insurance plans.

3:03:57I respectfully question why this has not been considered

3:04:00as I and others have commented that previous city

3:04:03council meetings Albany and Berkeley

3:04:04charge three hundred dollars per hour for these services.

3:04:08These fees are charged directly to the health plans

3:04:10of those residents who use these services Again I am requesting

3:04:14city staff to propose to cancel EMAs billing for reduction

3:04:18to the master fee schedule.

3:04:20These fees would be able to pay for the fire departments

3:04:23vegetation management Fire Abatement

3:04:25Program or straight time or overtime hours.

3:04:28The state auditor has already questioned the sustainability

3:04:31of Rosarito to operate a full service Fire Department

3:04:35and the collection of additional revenue

3:04:36would certainly help maintain essential fire department

3:04:39services I believe the community deserves to be told by billing

3:04:43for emergency medical services suitable for Albany

3:04:46and Berkeley but not suitable for the city of El Sarita.

3:04:49Thank you for your attention on this matter.

3:04:51Nick Zambrano make Elsa Reed of piracy

3:05:07and these last few submissions from the same individual.

3:05:10So I will start with the first and go into the second time

3:05:13its studying the clock.

3:05:24Now user submitted by Howdy Gowdy Mayor

3:05:27Lyman and council members.

3:05:28There is an unfortunate inconsistency

3:05:30in format and information provided in Fiscal Year

3:05:332020 one masterpiece schedule while some departments

3:05:36did a nice job of itemizing the changes

3:05:38with color coding and incremental charge it changes.

3:05:41This format was not continued for the large section

3:05:44of miscellaneous building permit fees

3:05:46but it was provided for the mechanical plumbing

3:05:48and electrical and he section of building permits.

3:05:52Either way the electrical section of MPD permit

3:05:54was completely omitted from this package.

3:05:56The package this year.

3:05:58So you should not you should make

3:06:00sure not to adopt the fee schedule

3:06:01without all the intended fees.

3:06:04The proposed miscellaneous building

3:06:05permit fees checked against last year

3:06:07have raised have raises of 10 to 40 percent

3:06:11without adequate discussion of why this is justified.

3:06:14See capable of Likewise most of the empty section

3:06:18stated increases over 20 percent without adequate justification

3:06:23or discussion.

3:06:24Just a couple of years ago a comprehensive fee study

3:06:27was supposed to have established appropriate fees.

3:06:29Why are the building permits fees

3:06:31unlike all the other fees so wildly out of sync

3:06:34with actual costs already.

3:06:36There is discussion in the explanation section

3:06:39about the sixty five percent check the adder as

3:06:43though this is a new adaptive practice.

3:06:45So this was exactly how it was done last year so it isn't new

3:06:49and it doesn't explain any changes in overall cost.

3:06:53It is also concerning that the building permit fees are not

3:06:56easy to understand with quick are not easy to understand

3:07:00with quick inspection of each line item

3:07:02as the separate Sixty five percent plan check fee is added

3:07:06to each item in some tables explained in small print

3:07:10at the top.

3:07:11Also the NPT permits have an added flat issue

3:07:14and see one hundred and eighteen dollars

3:07:16on top of the line item price.

3:07:18In general the fee should be structured

3:07:20so they can be read off a single line or nearby lines

3:07:23and not comprehend reading of the tables

3:07:27and will forgo reading the table that is included.

3:07:30But it is up on your screen for review.

3:07:32I have commented before that the V charging station permit

3:07:36fee is already too high and it is

3:07:38proposed to raise this figure another 20 percent this year.

3:07:42This permit fee poses a disincentive

3:07:45to the installation of safe dedicated EMA

3:07:48charging infrastructure a fee that

3:07:50is greater than 30 percent of the cost of parts

3:07:53and installation houses many e.g.

3:07:55drivers to stick with the manufactured

3:07:57issued one hundred and twenty volt charging cord.

3:08:01The time has expired for the public comments and decision.

3:08:05If you would bring up just just flashes

3:08:08the second page the second email that would be great.

3:08:12I'm sure we can get a quick look at this.

3:08:14Yeah that one please.

3:08:15That was comments that were in addition to the comments

3:08:18that he had submitted earlier.

3:08:23OK.

3:08:26Raised me just check on my time.

3:08:30We have not received any new ones.

3:08:35OK that does conclude this submission of public comments

3:08:37by.

3:08:40OK.

3:08:42We will.

3:08:43Can I get a motion to close the public hearing

3:08:47so moved by Jan 2nd.

3:08:50Seconded by Cato.

3:08:52Can we get a roll call vote closed

3:08:54the public hearing in line.

3:08:57Yes ma'am.

3:08:59In the valley.

3:09:00Yes.

3:09:01Council member.

3:09:02Wilson yes.

3:09:04Council member Part 2 Okamoto yes.

3:09:07Council member.

3:09:08Yes.

3:09:09Motion carries weight.

3:09:13Certainly the last commenter.

3:09:16Raising the fact that the MP is missing the E

3:09:20There is something of great karma of great concern.

3:09:25I don't know if Mark is still online and can speak to that.

3:09:29It looks I'm just looking at this

3:09:31and it looks like a page is missing See still

3:09:47he's still there.

3:09:49I'm sorry I'm still here.

3:09:51I just got an email from Melanie that's fine.

3:09:55It's no different than other myself

3:09:58We don't know sea plumbing mechanical

3:10:05Not sure what happened to the electrical there.

3:10:07It should have been in the back.

3:10:10It looks like even some of the lines for plumbing

3:10:12might be missing.

3:10:13I mean just judging by the number of lines

3:10:15you have for mechanical it looks like there might be some lines

3:10:18for plumbing missing as well.

3:10:21Is that possible.

3:10:22No plumbing is all there.

3:10:24Page that had nothing but electrical on it

3:10:26seems to be missing I'm not sure what happened there.

3:10:35Right.

3:10:36And then in that same public comment

3:10:37there was a comment about the fact

3:10:39that our fees for solar panels is increasing.

3:10:45When I asked about it I thought I heard you said that it went

3:10:49solar panels and it speaks to the fact

3:10:54that on the solar panel page obviously

3:10:56solar energy and battery storage page

3:10:59the previous change is not being recorded.

3:11:07I think solar panels did go up a little bit

3:11:11but it's still below the state maximum

3:11:23That energy that Page 6 of the record but I

3:11:29think it's probably page 90 something ninety nine ninety

3:11:34five It's page 95 but 36 of the that schedule is Sydney mayor.

3:11:42Yes I believe you.

3:11:43I believe that the speaker was asking

3:11:45about the electric vehicle charging stations

3:11:48and not handle remain the same.

3:11:51I believe her to be on the same page

3:11:56But I believe he was asking why those had continued to go up

3:12:00and that I know the three sources referred to the fact

3:12:03that we did continue the discount for multiple.

3:12:06So let's look at that.

3:12:07But I believe it was not about panels

3:12:08it was about evey charger.

3:12:09Thank you.

3:12:10Thank you for talking that way.

3:12:14Killer.

3:12:14Any other questions from council members.

3:12:16Mayor answer.

3:12:18I just want to double check.

3:12:20So is there battery energy storage.

3:12:29We are seeing more and more businesses and residents

3:12:33that are looking into that especially with fire danger so

3:12:37block.

3:12:39So this is what I just want to make sure it's not in here.

3:12:42We should add it on.

3:12:44There is.

3:12:44But it's only unique to residential residential battery

3:12:47storage systems two hundred and sixty dollars

3:12:49on page 36 of the schedule or should be page ninety five

3:12:54of the packet.

3:12:55OK.

3:13:00Sky on with regards to the missing page for electrical

3:13:04what's our choice.

3:13:06Basically we'll have to bring it back as a standalone item

3:13:08at a future council meeting.

3:13:11And Mayor may we do have some information about a feed

3:13:15that we are gonna have to come back in June 4 and 4

3:13:19on the master fee schedule so we could potentially do

3:13:21all of them at the same time.

3:13:23Excellent.

3:13:24And in the interim it would be last year's

3:13:25fee that would govern.

3:13:27Is that correct.

3:13:28That's correct.

3:13:28The current fee will stay in place until the new one

3:13:30goes into effect.

3:13:34I have a question go ahead.

3:13:36And then battery storage item.

3:13:42Does that include is that this kind of a fee if you buy

3:13:48it at RBI and just plug it in.

3:13:52No it's for some others.

3:13:54What's the difference.

3:13:57No these are for the large commercial well

3:14:00or I won't say are commercial but there's

3:14:02a large battery storage units.

3:14:05Tesla power walls for instance that

3:14:07will have your entire house on the first one

3:14:10it says up to 10 kilowatts as it's a large you are looking

3:14:18at the boiler you're looking at the solar energy

3:14:23the battery storage system is separate from that.

3:14:27Oh I said solar energy and battery storage battery storage

3:14:31is bottom storage whereas battery storage

3:14:35I'm not seeing it at all.

3:14:36Oh there's so.

3:14:37It's the last.

3:14:38It's a two and sexual item.

3:14:41OK thank you.

3:14:43OK so if you buy a battery storage unit at RTI let's

3:14:47say and plug it in There's no charge for that right.

3:14:53That's a small system that's made

3:14:56up batteries on your computer system or your Internet.

3:15:00These are much larger systems that wheelchair

3:15:03we're here with care.

3:15:06Yeah we're talking about larger systems that cap and store

3:15:10your energy from your solar or for instance

3:15:12and then you can use it at night and it

3:15:13basically is intended to power a good portion of your house.

3:15:19Okay.

3:15:19Thank you.

3:15:20You're welcome Paul Any other questions or comments

3:15:29all at this time on this item.

3:15:34All right I'm going to read the title

3:15:39for purposes of this action.

3:15:44It's a resolution of the city council of the city of El

3:15:47Serino to adopt establish modify and delete fees and penalties

3:15:51assessed by department divisions for the master fee

3:15:54schedule for fiscal year 2020 twenty one

3:16:00so can I have a motion to that effect.

3:16:02Some of the move by Qantas seconded by Ableton.

3:16:08Roll call please here.

3:16:10Yes me and pretend finale.

3:16:12Yes council member able saying yes.

3:16:15Council member Paddy Wilkie motive.

3:16:18Yes council member King.

3:16:20Yes.

3:16:21Motion carries.

3:16:26All right.

3:16:27We'll get over my script so that concludes.

3:16:31Item six see a public hearing to adopt fiscal year 2020 twenty

3:16:35twenty one master fee schedule we now will move on to items

3:16:40seven policy matters item seven A

3:16:43is budget and financial update we're going to even discuss

3:16:48a report from the city manager and if I may at Mayor

3:16:56if you can please make the announcement for

3:16:58public comments like Oh yeah.

3:17:01Thank you.

3:17:03The period for submitting submitting public comments

3:17:05on this item is now closed unlike the public hearings

3:17:10we're closing public comment at this time.

3:17:12Comments will be heard before the council takes action.

3:17:19OK.

3:17:23All right.

3:17:23So I have successfully shared my screen OK.

3:17:32All right.

3:17:33Thank you Your Honor.

3:17:33Again this listen I'm Karen guess manager

3:17:36and I did want to provide the council with a a

3:17:40a budget update as we have been doing

3:17:44I believe every single city council meeting since January.

3:17:49So we will continue to do that.

3:17:51Not just discussing R B C before coded condition

3:17:56but also now considering what we are dealing with with respect

3:18:00to the economic impacts because of it.

3:18:04So again we have been looking at our budget

3:18:08and examining our budget.

3:18:09The city council has been making some requests and directions

3:18:12of our budget since January at least January

3:18:15of this year we've held some public meetings prior

3:18:19to the public health crisis and we have worked with management

3:18:24partners on trying to develop a strategic plan

3:18:27and certainly at least strategic priorities.

3:18:30We've shifted their focus a little bit concerning

3:18:33their scope is as far as helping us with financial issues

3:18:38in particular and trying to come with some budget strategies

3:18:41and so we will be.

3:18:43I'll get into a little bit of what we've done

3:18:46and what we'll be doing next in just a few minutes.

3:18:50But I did want to talk about some of what we've done to date

3:18:54For your information this is all information

3:18:57that you have seen before but this I just wanted to make

3:19:01sure to review a little bit of what we've already

3:19:03talked about on April 7th.

3:19:06We had we provided the city council with 2 million dollars

3:19:10about a 5 percent decrease of annual operating expenditures

3:19:14for next fiscal year which is what you had directed

3:19:17at in February and I'm gonna go into a little bit more detail

3:19:21in some of these in a few minutes.

3:19:24This is just an overview of what we've

3:19:26done We've talked about restructuring benefits

3:19:29from the management group which I will have some costs for you

3:19:33in just a few moments.

3:19:35We have already placed unpaid furloughs our part

3:19:38time staff on unpaid furlough.

3:19:40This is going to continue through the the health

3:19:44order and the closure of our city facilities.

3:19:47We have instituted a hiring freeze.

3:19:50We are looking at tax revenue anticipation notes

3:19:53and we are still we are actually Mark

3:19:56and I have a meeting tomorrow with our financial advisors

3:19:59to discuss this.

3:20:00So I don't have an update as of yet but I will buy after all.

3:20:05So I will be able to we will be able to go

3:20:07over this in more detail at our at our next city

3:20:10council meeting.

3:20:12We have indeed negotiated with all of our bargaining units.

3:20:16Some have already as you know you've already approved

3:20:19at least the fire local authority contract to suspend

3:20:23colas we are working with additional

3:20:26with the additional units and we hope to bring more

3:20:28information to you as well.

3:20:31And again we've provided probable

3:20:33and nonessential activities nonessential spending.

3:20:36So this has all been done for this current fiscal year

3:20:42so just to go over that again a little bit more

3:20:45detail This is what we presented to you on April 7th.

3:20:49We are still holding open positions.

3:20:52We've had a freeze on hiring we are eliminating one quote

3:20:55resource officer position because the district has

3:20:59plans to decrease their payment for that.

3:21:03We are suspending or reducing the programs

3:21:05listed their neighborhood traffic management

3:21:07our new street light program our banner program.

3:21:10We are also trying to explore as we had discussed on April

3:21:137th that if other funds could pick up some of those expenses

3:21:20we've reduced and now that we have had to reduce the court

3:21:23produce public workshops events classes

3:21:27but we're also looking at those things particularly going

3:21:30into the future once we reopen.

3:21:32I'm thinking of the cert program in particular anything

3:21:35that would require step over time.

3:21:37We are going to either reduce those programs at least

3:21:40for the next fiscal year and ongoing

3:21:42or we're going to look into how we can't have either lower paid

3:21:46staff or volunteer staff or volunteers be able to take

3:21:50over those or us the categories of expenditures

3:21:54including professional services consulting travel and training

3:21:58events and field trips public information reducing printed

3:22:02materials and newsletters and then supplies equipment

3:22:06and vehicles essential only in suspending any major purchases

3:22:10future fiscal years.

3:22:11And then again as we've discussed before trying now

3:22:14that we have a as of last year.

3:22:16Thank you to the voters who implemented that we did expand

3:22:21what was previously your age to be able to include

3:22:24more maintenance activities.

3:22:27So we are going to definitely be looking at how much we can

3:22:32relieve the general fund with all

3:22:33of these types of expenses that would measure each would

3:22:38be eligible to fund so new.

3:22:42So one of the reasons that we did not we

3:22:47did not include a memo to you that was presented to you today

3:22:52and it was posted as a supplemental agenda item.

3:22:57We did not provide that to you in the packet

3:22:59because the affected staff for these actions

3:23:03were being notified.

3:23:05And so trying to be sensitive to that we decided to make sure

3:23:08that the employees all notified of this prior to becoming

3:23:14public So what we have taken action as of again last week we

3:23:20provided notice of unpaid furloughs for full time

3:23:24employees with the extension of the health order

3:23:27and with looking at not only the covered expenses

3:23:32and what we're trying to make sure that we're we're

3:23:34keeping what people are working and whether they're not working

3:23:38or who we are paying during this emergency

3:23:41but also looking into the next fiscal year.

3:23:45We have been talking a great deal about salary reductions

3:23:48and what that would look like and what that would mean

3:23:51and I've expressed to you previously that doing this

3:23:55as doing this as a furlough as opposed

3:23:58to simple salary reductions.

3:24:00Well it's not simple salary reductions as

3:24:02opposed to going and reducing someone's salary that requires

3:24:05negotiation of contracts that requires

3:24:10a lot of a lot of administrative work

3:24:15as opposed to doing a furlough which

3:24:18achieves the same reduction it reduces the workload.

3:24:21The work time of those staff but it

3:24:25does achieve the same cost savings.

3:24:28And this is particularly what is being

3:24:31looked at by cities right now.

3:24:34What we're trying to do is reduce the cost of staff

3:24:37without taking them completely out of the marketplace

3:24:40by reducing their salary.

3:24:42Once the marketplace comes back in at least a couple of years

3:24:45this allows us to maintain at least some

3:24:47of market salary adjustment.

3:24:53We won't have to make a market adjustment.

3:24:56In other words.

3:24:57And so looking at what other cities are doing this

3:24:59is a very common practice.

3:25:01And it also before we are looking at full time staff

3:25:06as we had already done part time staff I did it for so last week

3:25:10we provided notice to two groups the management

3:25:13confidential group and SEIU group

3:25:16this would begin this fiscal year.

3:25:18So this is not just for next fiscal year

3:25:20but this begins once the notice is put into place.

3:25:25So management a confidential staff I'll

3:25:27address those first as you see it's for you.

3:25:30They are unrepresented so they what

3:25:32we have done in all of our personnel rules

3:25:36and in our M.O. use their silent on furloughs.

3:25:39And so what we're doing to try to avoid

3:25:41any sort of unfair labor practice

3:25:44is that we are treating the process

3:25:46for furloughs the same way we would keep layoffs.

3:25:49And so in the personnel rules that

3:25:51is but look overseas management confidential staff

3:25:54that are not at will.

3:25:56That means the unrepresented staff

3:25:58they need to be provided two weeks

3:26:00notice so we have done that.

3:26:02So it hasn't been 20 second there will

3:26:03be three furlough days assigned to these

3:26:06to this group for this fiscal year

3:26:09through June 30th next year.

3:26:11We have noticed them for 13 additional unpaid furlough days

3:26:15to December thirty first and I'll go into detail more

3:26:18about that in just a moment.

3:26:20In addition we've noticed this group

3:26:22that they will be required to pay

3:26:24an additional 1 percent of their calipers employer costs.

3:26:30Currently the employees pay the full cost of the employee share

3:26:36of calipers and this would now require

3:26:39them to pay an additional 1 percent

3:26:41into the employer's share.

3:26:42So that's the city's cost.

3:26:44So it helps relieve some of the pension costs

3:26:47and we will like settle get more into that in just a moment.

3:26:51SEIU we require 30 days notice and so they

3:26:55would be subject to two unpaid furlough days between June 1st

3:26:58and June 30th for this fiscal year

3:27:0013 unpaid furlough days between July 1st and December 30

3:27:04first 13 furlough days for both groups

3:27:07represents a 5 percent cost 5 percent salary reduction

3:27:12but this time we are not proposing

3:27:13that the SEIU bargaining unit will

3:27:15be subject to an additional contribution.

3:27:18And what this does for SEIU is this initiates a meet

3:27:22and confer process and that will begin according to H.R.

3:27:27that will begin later this week.

3:27:29What we would want to make sure that we

3:27:31we're talking with this team about in particular

3:27:34is that we're looking to achieve a cost savings.

3:27:36So we'll be talking with them further on that.

3:27:40And again we've been in consultation with our attorneys

3:27:43and with our negotiator looking at the personnel rules

3:27:46and the ammo use in the civil service system

3:27:48to make that we are implementing this process.

3:27:51So the employees have now all been noticed

3:27:55and now I can talk about what that would cost.

3:28:01So we have noticed for 13 furlough days which would last

3:28:05through the end of the calendar This would be a 5 percent

3:28:09salary reduction for the affected

3:28:11employees at that point or it before that point actually.

3:28:16As we are going through the budget process

3:28:19this summer to amend the budget once we have a firmer

3:28:23grasp of what the economic impact is going to look like

3:28:26and what our revenue losses are actually going to look like we

3:28:29can we we can consider extending the furloughs through

3:28:34to the end of the fiscal year.

3:28:37I have talked very candidly particularly

3:28:39with our management confidential staff about this.

3:28:42I believe that this is an expectation that we will be

3:28:45continuing these furlough days through the end

3:28:47of the fiscal year particularly for that group and so.

3:28:50But I do want to show the savings for both scenarios

3:28:55if some miracle happens and we are able to consider

3:28:58whether or not we can continue this

3:29:01or if we want to continue the furloughs

3:29:03and again try achieve additional cost savings.

3:29:06So before you.

3:29:07And what was in the supplemental memo

3:29:09is a cost savings for a 5 percent reduction.

3:29:11So for management and income rep confidential and one day

3:29:17for a low cost is about twenty six thousand

3:29:19dollars for this group.

3:29:20So as you can see with three furlough days

3:29:24for this fiscal year it saves about an additional eighty

3:29:27thousand dollars for SEIU it's about twenty four

3:29:30thousand dollars a day they will achieve two furlough days

3:29:33this year so that's about forty eight thousand dollars

3:29:36to the savings alone for this fiscal year

3:29:38one hundred and twenty eight thousand dollars.

3:29:40Both groups for going into fiscal year

3:29:442021 which is the last three columns of the

3:29:47of the table there for 13 furlough days you can see

3:29:50that this would save for both of these bargaining

3:29:53units about six hundred fifty thousand dollars

3:29:56So the total amount of this of of the furloughs

3:30:01for this fiscal year as well as a 5 percent reduction

3:30:04comes to seven hundred eighty seven thousand dollars

3:30:09if we were to continue through to the end of the fiscal year

3:30:12which would be June 20 21.

3:30:14The first three columns are the same as the last table

3:30:17so that one hundred twenty eight thousand dollars

3:30:19will be achieved in this fiscal year 10 percent

3:30:21reduction is furlough days Now this equates

3:30:24to one day per pay period.

3:30:26And I know that discussing what that actually

3:30:30looks like as far as there are different people that have

3:30:34different schedules different building type

3:30:36different schedules so it would be the equivalent we would

3:30:38we would end up working that out so that all the hours are

3:30:42equivalent for each classification

3:30:44was subject to the furloughs sorry my automatic cuts on

3:30:49off in my office.

3:30:52And so what that would mean is that for for all of the staff

3:30:56they would they would have the same equivalent amount

3:30:58of furlough days depending upon what their classification is

3:31:03or what their position is or in what building work.

3:31:06I can tell you that for City Hall what we're looking at

3:31:08would be to close every Friday instead of every other Friday.

3:31:11Operationally that would work the best

3:31:14and it would certainly be the least confusing

3:31:16for for our customers who come to City Hall

3:31:20if for the time being as we're closing on Fridays

3:31:23but also considering that particularly with once we

3:31:26start the reopening process we're looking

3:31:29at phasing that in anyway.

3:31:31So we have to talk a little bit further about what that's going

3:31:33to look like once the health order is lifted

3:31:36and we're starting to look at what it would mean to have

3:31:38customers come back into the building before the

3:31:41for the immediate thought of what these furloughs would look

3:31:45like for staff it would for city hall staff anyway

3:31:48or for those staff that work on a thirty seven point five hour

3:31:51week that it would be every Friday.

3:31:54So yes these regulations exclude vacant positions.

3:32:03So the vacant positions are the savings

3:32:05on top of this is that This is the current staff

3:32:07the current payroll that this staff generates So as you can

3:32:11see if we went through for the entire fiscal year for both

3:32:16of those units that would achieve a one

3:32:18point four million dollar savings for those people.

3:32:23I know there Alex I'm not sure if you know

3:32:25how many SEIU folks but I know there are twenty

3:32:28five management confidential.

3:32:31Alex do you know how many SEIU folks there want to see 30

3:32:34some I don't have a number up the top of my head.

3:32:39I'm reluctant to do this to say right now OK you can look

3:32:43that up while I keep talking.

3:32:47So let's speak about management and confidential.

3:32:49I think that one of the things that I've certainly heard

3:32:53from all of you and from some members of the public

3:32:56but also from our you know looking at you know equity

3:32:59among our staff I think that there's a really

3:33:04wonderful culture here in El Serino

3:33:05that I'm very proud to be a part of.

3:33:08And part of that is our leadership team

3:33:11and our management confidential staff

3:33:14really do take that seriously.

3:33:15And in doing so they have been more than understanding

3:33:22of what we're facing because they're dealing

3:33:24with it on a daily basis.

3:33:26And so as the leadership team they they are taking.

3:33:30They want to be able to take leadership

3:33:32when it comes to trying to deal with our financial issues here

3:33:36and also Rita.

3:33:37And so I just want to say at the outset

3:33:39particularly for this group this is something that we take very

3:33:43seriously and that we want to make sure that you know

3:33:46as the sort of the height it will not sort

3:33:50of but the highest paid staff in the highest

3:33:52levels of this organization we want to make sure that we are

3:33:56showing that we are willing to make sure

3:33:59that we have to do what we have to do with our own

3:34:03with our own group.

3:34:05And I am included in this group.

3:34:07So my contract mirrors the management

3:34:11confidential benefits and compensation.

3:34:14And so these charts before you include my salary

3:34:18and my furlough days as well.

3:34:21So the one on the left is a 5 percent reduction

3:34:24so that takes from the 5 percent table

3:34:27that I showed a couple of slides ago that three hundred

3:34:29forty six thousand dollars which is the fiscal year 2021.

3:34:33Reduction in furloughs for 5 percent if the group does not

3:34:38take a cola that's one hundred and eighty

3:34:39thousand dollars savings.

3:34:42I have already suspended the auto allowance for this staff.

3:34:45So that would continue through the next fiscal year.

3:34:47That's one hundred thousand dollars

3:34:48savings a 1 percent contribution and calipers

3:34:51achieves thirty three thousand dollars in savings.

3:34:53So a 5 percent reduction with the furloughs going

3:34:56through the end of December achieve six hundred sixty two

3:34:59thousand dollars savings.

3:35:01And then on the right you can see a 10 percent reduction

3:35:04in starts the six hundred ninety two thousand 4 6 9 2 4 0 6 No.

3:35:10So a 10 percent reduction with all of the other issues.

3:35:13The other reductions for management staff

3:35:17is a million dollars.

3:35:18About a million dollars.

3:35:20So in addition to that again my compensation and my reductions

3:35:27are included in their I am also proposing

3:35:31that my contribution would be higher than the rest

3:35:34of the management staff.

3:35:36So I am proposing that I would I would contribute a 3 percent

3:35:42to my calipers and that is a further savings about seven

3:35:47thousand dollars So how does this fit

3:35:51with what we've done already.

3:35:53As we had already provided you we

3:35:56had identified about two million dollars of cost reductions

3:35:59which included the colas.

3:36:02The agreement to forego the COLAs

3:36:04that we've already reached with the bargaining

3:36:06units that have agreed.

3:36:07But if all units agree Lee does not take a cola next year

3:36:12in addition to all of the to the list of reductions

3:36:16that we presented you on April 7th that totals two

3:36:19point three million dollars.

3:36:21The management confidential cost reductions which is the table

3:36:24that I previously showed you with a 5 percent salary

3:36:27reduction And then you add the SEIU furloughs again

3:36:31this is at a 5 percent reduction that equates to three

3:36:34million three point three million dollar savings

3:36:37if we go to a 10 percent reduction with each

3:36:40of those groups in and including the cost reductions that I

3:36:44previously discussed for management confidential group

3:36:47that provides a four million dollar

3:36:49cost savings for fiscal year 2021

3:36:52so the furloughs are significant.

3:36:55It is a significant sacrifice for a lot of our workers

3:37:01in particular I'm thinking of SEIU

3:37:04and I recognize that again we will be discussing

3:37:07with them further what the cost savings

3:37:09will eventually look like.

3:37:11But I just you know again I just want

3:37:14to make sure that that my staff who are who are listening

3:37:18that they know that I'm very I'm just very

3:37:23appreciative of everyone who has provided me with ideas

3:37:28and suggestions and who has looked at this very very

3:37:32clearly and is willing to again to take the lead

3:37:38and to be leaders So this slide is actually

3:37:44comes from the slide show that we

3:37:46brought to you with management partners on April 7.

3:37:49And so this sort of the next steps that we're discussing

3:37:52right now among among our leadership team and what

3:37:56we're doing to prepare both the budget that we want to present

3:37:59to you on July 1st to kick off the budget cycle as well

3:38:04as what we would look to amend the budget over the summer once

3:38:07we have a better clearer picture of our revenues

3:38:10as we've discussed before and as the council's this year we just

3:38:14wanted to put that up there to show you we have been working

3:38:18with our financial consultants HDL on coming up with

3:38:22projections and we have also been working

3:38:24continuing work with management partners