Regular City Council Meeting May 4, 2021

0:11:18Good evening, the May 4th regular city council meeting

0:11:22is called to order at 7:00 o'clock Can

0:11:27we please have a roll call And Fidele here, man, Potemkin

0:11:33here, council member, Apison here and some member

0:11:37moltmann here council member Budnick here.

0:11:41We have a quien.

0:11:43Thank you So the clerk may we have the telecom for

0:11:47and public comment instructions Thank you, Mayor.

0:11:50City Council members and staff who

0:11:52are participating as panelists.

0:11:53Please remember to keep your microphone muted whenever you

0:11:56are not speaking to ensure compliance with the BAN Act

0:11:59to address security concerns, attend images and videos

0:12:02will remain disabled as well as the taxi

0:12:04driver approaches The members of the public who wish to provide

0:12:08oral testimony The man will announce

0:12:10the time for public comment on each applicable item

0:12:13If you wish to speak,

0:12:14please select the hand icon to raise your hand If you cannot

0:12:17locate the icon please refer to the document linked on page one

0:12:21of the agenda for the raised hand feature attendee's joining

0:12:24by phone can dial star Nine to raise their hand when

0:12:28it's your turn to provide comments

0:12:30your name will be called and you will

0:12:31be prompted to amuse yourself.

0:12:33Attendee's joining by phone will be prompted to dial star

0:12:36six to amuse themselves Yeah, we're ready to move

0:12:38on to the next item.

0:12:40Thank you.

0:12:40It's time for staff and council communication

0:12:43We start with staff.

0:12:44Please Certainly Thank you, Mayor.

0:12:49I am here in the city manager Just

0:12:51have a few quick announcements First,

0:12:54regarding our local emergency that I update.

0:12:56You on.

0:12:57Every council meeting Contra Costa County

0:12:59is still in the orange tiers.

0:13:01There are no changes on that front.

0:13:03But one notable item is that not only has the county met,

0:13:07its goal of one million vaccinations but the county

0:13:11announced yesterday that with the covid vaccines supplied

0:13:14now plentiful the county will now vaccinate anyone

0:13:19at its clinics, regardless of whether or not they live

0:13:22or work in Contra Costa County.

0:13:23So they will offer the vaccine to people ages 16 and up

0:13:27from anywhere in the Bay Area.

0:13:29Anywhere in California, anywhere in the United States.

0:13:32If you can get to the county, get here and get a vaccine.

0:13:36There have some revisions to the CDC guidelines

0:13:38and that they've said that masks may not be necessary

0:13:41when you're outside by yourself, away from others

0:13:44people in your household.

0:13:45But it's still not a bad idea to stay

0:13:48in the habit of wearing a mask when you're out and about,

0:13:50even if you are vaccinated.

0:13:51Despite the positive direction we're in.

0:13:53If you can see other parts of the world,

0:13:55we are still in the midst of a global pandemic.

0:13:58So to that end, please stay vigilant be safe and practice

0:14:01safety protocol Just a reminder that the close walk

0:14:05in no appointment necessary vaccination clinic

0:14:07is the Richmond Memorial Auditorium

0:14:10over by their city hall So any information can be

0:14:14found at Coronavirus helberg.

0:14:18I wanted to make sure also to remind everyone that we are

0:14:21hosting a community budget workshop

0:14:23this Saturday, May 8th beginning at nine thirty a.m.

0:14:27The workshop will provide an update on the city's budget

0:14:29and financial position and intends to engage the community

0:14:33on fiscal recovery strategy So the agenda

0:14:36is posted on the City Council Agenda page

0:14:38on city website, which also has the Zoome link attached

0:14:41and we will put out reminders on social media

0:14:43throughout the week.

0:14:44So we hope to see everyone there.

0:14:46And then finally, you do have a proclamation

0:14:49on the agenda tonight for Public Works coming up.

0:14:53But i wanted to note that this week is actually public service

0:14:56recognition week and this year more than ever,

0:14:59I want to take this opportunity to recognize

0:15:01every single employee of the city of Ulcerate

0:15:04and thank them for their service to ulcerate

0:15:07and to the entire community.

0:15:09Despite the pandemic and all of the challenges

0:15:11we faced, our city has kept going because of our staff.

0:15:15We've adapted reacted, and we're still here providing services

0:15:18and doing our best to make life better for all of you,

0:15:22for the residents and businesses So it is just

0:15:25wonderful to be part of a team that cares about our work

0:15:28and cares about each other.

0:15:29So I'm proud and honored to work with a talented and dedicated

0:15:33group of people.

0:15:34I'm grateful to every single Elstree

0:15:36employee, not just this week.

0:15:38But always so and also to all of the city council,

0:15:41as you happy public service recognition week.

0:15:44And with that I'm done.

0:15:46Your Honor, thank you so much.

0:15:48Thank you.

0:15:49Any council member comments gurnon I wanted to reiterate

0:15:59what Karen just mentioned.

0:16:01Please come Saturday, please come in.

0:16:03Tell us what You think about our budget,

0:16:06your priorities are services that we need.

0:16:08Where to redefinition time and we need your input.

0:16:12And we appreciate that.

0:16:15I also want to mention that I participated in a truth

0:16:19and reconcile creation, stop Asian violence

0:16:23effort that our human relations commission put on.

0:16:26And it's continuing for the next two or three

0:16:28Wednesdays It was wonderful.

0:16:30It's a great job.

0:16:31Our human relations commission puts on.

0:16:34So people look to that check it out.

0:16:38And also wanted to, because I think

0:16:39we're going to have a busy night of late night

0:16:42I'm going to be pushing tonight to move the budget along.

0:16:45But I wanted to say that I wanted to make an announcement

0:16:48of someone I wanted to adjourn in Memoria

0:16:51at the end of end of tonight.

0:16:53Chris, logjam check gresh as several people

0:16:58have suggested that we mentioned him in a city council meeting

0:17:02tonight.

0:17:04He's an extraordinary he was an extraordinary meeting

0:17:07for the last forty Two years.

0:17:09He lived here with his family known as Chet

0:17:13He's an important part of the Don Carroll neighborhood.

0:17:16The Don Carroll Neighborhood Association

0:17:19He was a champion and leader in our city,

0:17:21Certa program to improve our emergency

0:17:23awareness and our response and always

0:17:27at any neighborhood event.

0:17:28He was always looking for volunteers

0:17:30to join in that effort.

0:17:31He was born in Scotland And Chet's history

0:17:34involves leaving Poland with his family to avoid and to avoid

0:17:38the Nazis He worked his whole life publishing First

0:17:42with the U.S. press and then with the office of the U.S.

0:17:45president.

0:17:46The division of library Automation.

0:17:48And famously, he was a producer of the PBS series A Great

0:17:52Libraries of the World He was a sweet and gentle man,

0:17:55and he had four children And with his wonderful wife,

0:17:59Monica dealt with the long battle of cancer,

0:18:02notably Six days after Jett died his daughter

0:18:06tricia gave birth to her first child

0:18:09and his fourth grandchild.

0:18:11Will be missed Harbor Drive here and throughout.

0:18:15Alfredo my to move on now to the oral communicate

0:18:20from the public At this time, members of the public who wish

0:18:24to provide public comments regarding matters,

0:18:27not on the agenda or consent items and presentation items

0:18:32should use the raised hand feature to request to speak

0:18:37Please note that tonight, however, public comments

0:18:39for a budget item, which will be maybe a little lengthy,

0:18:43will also be taken following the presentation City clerk,

0:18:46can you please proceed Thank you, Mayor.

0:18:50And so we go to our general public comments.

0:18:53I'm going to invite just which with housing to share

0:18:58some comments in acceptance of the EPA affordable Housing Week

0:19:03proclamation that on our consent calendar tonight Jeff,

0:19:07you should be able to amuse yourself Here you go.

0:19:13Thank you.

0:19:16Good evening, everybody.

0:19:17My name is Jeffrey Levine, and I'm

0:19:19a policy director with the EPA housing Organizations.

0:19:23Those of you who aren't familiar with us

0:19:25say thirty seven year old nonprofit membership

0:19:28based organization.

0:19:30We work for create, Preserve and Protect

0:19:32affordable housing opportunities for low income communities

0:19:35throughout the East Bay by educating advocating,

0:19:38organizing, and building coalitions

0:19:41for the past twenty five years, we have sponsored

0:19:43an affordable housing week.

0:19:45And this year, in conjunction with similar organizations

0:19:48in the South Bay, the peninsula and San Francisco

0:19:51we have expanded this to an affordable housing month.

0:19:54I want to thank the council for this proclamation

0:19:56and also for the commitment of the city council and staff

0:20:00to addressing the Affordable Housing needs of our low income

0:20:03residents of evidenced by developments

0:20:05such as ohlone gardens, apartments honna gardens,

0:20:08senior apartments the Mayfair Saariaho development,

0:20:12as well as policies such as affordable housing

0:20:14strategy and inclusionary housing requirement.

0:20:18We look forward to working with you in the future

0:20:20as we move forward with development of mixed income

0:20:22housing the Plaza BART station with a substantial amount

0:20:25of affordable housing and to preparation of the next update.

0:20:29The city's housing element, particularly

0:20:31to identify suitable sites to meet El Cerrito

0:20:33share of the regional housing needs

0:20:35to accommodate a range of income levels

0:20:37in a way that promotes racial equity

0:20:39and meets the state mandate to affirmatively

0:20:42further fair housing.

0:20:43Once again, thank you for this proclamation.

0:20:45And we invite the council and members of the public to join

0:20:48our affordable housing month.

0:20:49Activities include our online celebration

0:20:53on the evening of Thursday, April 13th,

0:20:55more information can be found on our website at EEB.

0:20:59OMG, that's phog.

0:21:02And again, thank you for your continuing support Thank you.

0:21:08Thank you so much.

0:21:10OK we will proceed with our comments.

0:21:12First, I would like just to announce that the written

0:21:14public comments received by the advance deadline day

0:21:17were posted online as supplemental material

0:21:20and provided directly to the city council members.

0:21:23We received public comment on items

0:21:25not on the agenda from Irish, Chanel, Chanel and Cordele,

0:21:29LA An item for B from Gemstar sic and on our presentation

0:21:35tonight, agenda item five eight and Stephen

0:21:37Price Rebecca Bernazzani.

0:21:40Rose-Marie, the Vikan me and Jane Byrne And at this time i

0:21:45see three hands raised to request to speak,

0:21:50if you would like to speak at this time

0:21:53you can use the right hand function

0:21:54and if you are calling in by phone,

0:21:56you can dial Star nine to raise your hand May

0:21:59I just want to confirm the 3 minute time limit.

0:22:033 minutes Thank you.

0:22:04So I will go to our first speaker, Haloti Goudey.

0:22:08How do you should be able to unmuted now Hi,

0:22:12my name is Henry County.

0:22:14Live in Australia.

0:22:16So i, my comment was actually about the procedure for public

0:22:22comment on presentation items.

0:22:23And I appreciate what the mayor just

0:22:26announced that in this particular instance

0:22:30presentation public comment will be taken with item tonight.

0:22:35But independent of i think that that policy should be revised

0:22:44and all presentation, public comments

0:22:47should be taken with the presentation items

0:22:49i observed for many years.

0:22:51That's how this council has always done it.

0:22:54It seemed to change about a year ago

0:22:56And I didn't really notice at the time.

0:23:01But the previous meeting had a presenter

0:23:04that did not take public comment with a presentation.

0:23:08I was expected to be on at the beginning.

0:23:11And I think that as a general procedure is just,

0:23:16you know a poor practice that you discourages

0:23:21public participation because it's

0:23:24not made very clear that that's how it would happen.

0:23:28And the public can't make comments

0:23:31that are as useful as they otherwise would

0:23:34if they haven't yet heard the presentation They can

0:23:37only go by whatever written material is

0:23:40as provided ahead of time.

0:23:42So I think just as a matter of course

0:23:45you should always take your public comments

0:23:48after your presentation has been presented

0:23:52and that's my comment.

0:23:54Thank you.

0:23:56Thank you.

0:23:57You next speaker is Dan Schulman and you

0:24:00should be able to unmuted begin your time now.

0:24:05Thanks.

0:24:06I guess actually, I might be waiting, then because I

0:24:08was going to comment on Bart.

0:24:09Should I wait then until after the presentation Yes, OK.

0:24:12Oh, RIT then.

0:24:14I'm done.

0:24:16You oK ?

0:24:17I'll go to we'll go to our next speaker which

0:24:20is individualising and you should be able to begin

0:24:23your time All right.

0:24:31There is go.

0:24:33That's excellent.

0:24:34Thank you.

0:24:35Hello, everybody.

0:24:36And I'll Cerita, I want to definitely acknowledge

0:24:40it was a beautiful weekend during the senior stroll

0:24:44that buddy facilitates by the Akashic We ended up at the Sikh

0:24:49temple in elsah, Brawne, and mirepoix came Councilwoman

0:24:55Tessa came in a few other local people

0:24:58came in I think Tessa missed it.

0:25:01But a woman actually came up to us.

0:25:03And when we right when we got to the temple.

0:25:06And it was really amazing.

0:25:07I didn't have to even say anything.

0:25:08But she shared how her son has been getting has

0:25:12been getting ostracise because of his turban

0:25:14and not getting a job.

0:25:16And he's like, well you know, he's has

0:25:18all these accreditation and computer engineering

0:25:20and he's getting racism here in the bay

0:25:22and been getting attacked here in our neighborhood

0:25:25and our community.

0:25:26And so it was really nice to have people

0:25:28come and share the space.

0:25:30And we share our culture and people to see what sick people

0:25:33are and what we're about.

0:25:34And that we're Asian, too.

0:25:35And we don't get considered as Asian Whenever

0:25:38I filled out any form growing it was always Asian,

0:25:40but it was beautiful.

0:25:41I really want to honor the mayor.

0:25:42I want to honor.

0:25:44I want to honor councilwoman.

0:25:45I think that's what we need to do more.

0:25:47It start to be started to share more of our cultures

0:25:50our backgrounds and our stories and with those stories,

0:25:53we also find new ways to deal with the problems we're

0:25:55dealing with and finding more ways to build

0:25:57resilience and solidarity.

0:26:00And I solving problems comes from that.

0:26:02When start to break down these walls of differences

0:26:05and we recognize we share the same values and i feel

0:26:08I wonder, you know, love to get some more percent,

0:26:11maybe some of you can join us some time.

0:26:12The other counts council woman Lisa Councilwomen Able San.

0:26:16Maybe you can join even the city staff can join.

0:26:19It's worth it because we have community members

0:26:20who are sick who wear turbans.

0:26:22It's nice to know what's going on

0:26:25and why they wear the turban and anybody in the community also.

0:26:27If you guys want come.

0:26:29But he does these senior roles and that being said,

0:26:32the last thing I'm going to make a comment on is just that fact.

0:26:36If we can't meet in person for now,

0:26:38I think we should lean in a little bit with stuff

0:26:41like Buddy Senior Strohl where we get

0:26:43to walk and talk and meet other people in the community

0:26:46and talk about stuff, but also just walk

0:26:49and see our neighborhood I think if we're not going to be

0:26:51able to meet in the park for now,

0:26:52if there's a lot all these brown act

0:26:54and different things that are preventing those,

0:26:56then at least we can meet with the people who are facilitating

0:26:58stuff in the community, which also helps

0:27:00to engage in conversation.

0:27:02So I recommend buddy Akashic look up the senior reach

0:27:05out to anybody.

0:27:05I mean, he knows he's such a wonderful human being

0:27:08in this community.

0:27:08So I'm sure there's a way to connect.

0:27:10But let's maybe One more walks together

0:27:12and maybe come to the Sikh temple

0:27:14and we'll do that monthly maybe.

0:27:16And people could come in the future.

0:27:18But maybe there's other temples or there's

0:27:19other perspectives you can learn from each other

0:27:21and support each other with.

0:27:23But on walks, celebrate our city and each other.

0:27:26So thank you guys for your time.

0:27:28Make sure you guys.

0:27:29Breathe, meditate sleep well.

0:27:31All right.

0:27:32Take care.

0:27:33Let's solve these problems.

0:27:36Thank you.

0:27:37You may I that does conclude your request

0:27:39to speak at this time.

0:27:40Thank you.

0:27:40Thank you very much for that.

0:27:42We move on to the adoption of the consent calendar

0:27:46and I will read the consent items of some council member

0:27:49has one.

0:27:49They let me know We're going to start out with the urban forest

0:27:53Committee appointment, National Public Works week proclamation,

0:27:58which the city manager mentioned,

0:28:00Eastbay affordable Housing Week proclamation which was also

0:28:04mentioned jewish American Heritage month

0:28:07proclamation Asian Pacific American heritage Proclamation

0:28:12and finally adopted Resolution authorizing a joint applicant

0:28:16with bridge housing for the Mayfair

0:28:18Elstree located at one one Six nine oh, San Pablo Avenue.

0:28:24Do we have any.

0:28:25Yes.

0:28:27Council Syama.

0:28:28Thank you Mayor.

0:28:30I'd like to request to pull item F My company

0:28:35that I work for, economics works with Brighthouse

0:28:39and in a abundance of caution, I would like to recuse myself.

0:28:43And so i would like to not vote on that item Well,

0:28:47any other items can we take a vote

0:28:50on all the other consent items except for item Five f Two ?

0:28:57I hear a motion.

0:28:58I'll move.

0:28:59Second I think I saw Janet Wilson's hand up first.

0:29:04I think I move that now.

0:29:06To member able Senate seconded by council

0:29:08member Mohtarma Can we have a roll call vote, please ?

0:29:12Infidelity I may have attempting to.

0:29:15I can remember everything I and some member Matsuyama.

0:29:20I can't remember I mentioned carries Thank you so i'm going

0:29:28to turn my camera and Newt or the next item You don't want

0:29:34to abstain Oh, I think I need to be Mr. Mayor,

0:29:40I had suggested never Murtala that as a proxy for leaving

0:29:45the Dyas that she turned her camera off and used herself

0:29:49while you vote on the item that she's abstaining from,

0:29:51even when there's no discussion, she should do that.

0:29:54Right.

0:29:55OK, thank you.

0:29:56See you in a minute.

0:29:58Thank you.

0:29:59I have a motion for item five F motion

0:30:03to f from get seconded by Mayor quintel.

0:30:09Can have a roll call vote, please.

0:30:12Fidele, I mean Potemkin to council member Apison i council

0:30:18member nick I motion with council member Matsuyama Rikyu

0:30:24Thank you Remove the presentations.

0:30:29Now and we're going to have a a three part presentation

0:30:35about the Bart Elstree.

0:30:36Bart Plaza Station.

0:30:38Todd effort, transliterate development and I

0:30:42believe we're going to start with our staff presentation

0:30:46and then we have a presentation from BART and the developer.

0:30:51And we do have director BART, director rebecca Saltzman here,

0:30:55who will be introducing who will be presenting on behalf of BART

0:31:00and the developer director Saltzman,

0:31:04you want to mention the names of the people

0:31:05that will be testifying Sure.

0:31:11Good evening.

0:31:11Do do you want me to say my brief introduction or just

0:31:15say the names of the speaking ?

0:31:16I have the names and then we're going

0:31:17to go to our city staff Sorry, I cut out when I switched over.

0:31:22So the we have a great team here this evening.

0:31:25It's really just part of the team

0:31:27is working on this development from BART.

0:31:30We have Shannon from property development and Rachel Factor

0:31:34from station area planning and then the developer team We have

0:31:39Jamie Hitcher from Holiday Development

0:31:42and then from related companies.

0:31:44We have and silverberg and Andrew CORFO.

0:31:49So that's the team.

0:31:50We will be presenting this evening.

0:31:53Thank you very much.

0:31:55So the staff can begin your presentation.

0:31:58Melony it's our community development

0:32:01director Good evening.

0:32:05Let's see, I'm going to make sure I'm hurt.

0:32:07I actually switched computers to City Hall

0:32:09today, so it's always fun doing new things good evening.

0:32:15City Council Mayor I'm pleased to be here tonight.

0:32:18To kick off really to kick off the development It'll

0:32:22be a multi-year development process

0:32:24and planning process at Elstree plaza before I get started.

0:32:31Actually, Rebecca, I was i'm joined

0:32:34as a board or director Saltzman said by the development team

0:32:39and by our team.

0:32:40And we'll be making remarks pretty brief tonight.

0:32:42To leave lots of opportunity for city council

0:32:46to be able to ask questions or so

0:32:48many details on this project.

0:32:50I would really like to provide the kickoff

0:32:52So before I get started our board member,

0:32:56Director Saltzman did you want to say

0:32:57any other words about the development

0:32:59before we jump into our present Sure.

0:33:03I'm going to be brief tonight because there'll

0:33:06be many more opportunities.

0:33:07But I just wanted to say how excited

0:33:10i am for Bart to be partnering with El Sarino to move forward.

0:33:15This mixed-use development at El Cerrito Plaza our station.

0:33:19I'm an Colorado resident and i live in walking distance

0:33:23from the station and pre pandemic I walked there

0:33:26at least five days a week to go to work and sometimes

0:33:29for other things to and we really think this could be

0:33:33a huge benefit to the community It's very early in the process

0:33:38even though we've selected a development team,

0:33:41we have a long ways to go.

0:33:43So we're eager to hear input from the city

0:33:46council and the community.

0:33:48And I'm excited we're going to get

0:33:49back into the community for a virtual town later this month.

0:33:54So just eager to to work with you all and excited

0:34:00for this opportunity.

0:34:01Mostly here to listen, this evening.

0:34:03Thank you.

0:34:05Thank you.

0:34:06And Melanie before we proceed, I just

0:34:08want to say to fellow council members,

0:34:10we will be asking questions to commentator

0:34:14after each presentation so that we can move on and be brief.

0:34:18So thank you, Melanie.

0:34:21I'm sure that I am seeing what you are seeing.

0:34:23So I'm going to trust that this slide show is as being

0:34:28shown So, again, there we go.

0:34:33So tonight again, I'm really pleased to be here to kick off

0:34:36this multi-year planning process with the developers

0:34:40as director Saltzman said, holiday development, who

0:34:44as many of you know, is also working on Mayfair Project,

0:34:47which was also a long time coming related California

0:34:50and satellite affordable housing Associates,

0:34:52as well as a stellar team of architects and urban designers.

0:34:56And it will take many Next slide, please.

0:35:00Tonight let's see if the next slide.

0:35:03So tonight, really is just a very, very brief

0:35:06overview of the background.

0:35:07I'll be talking a little about the background

0:35:09and how we got a little bit about the overview

0:35:11of the project in the process and i

0:35:13will be passing into the development and part team.

0:35:15And I think, like you just said, Mary

0:35:17are planning on taking questions at the end

0:35:18since it's kind of a big puzzle that comes together with all

0:35:22these different layers.

0:35:23Importantly, tonight, also, we wanted to kick off this meeting

0:35:27by introducing to council and the public

0:35:30that's at this meeting.

0:35:31But at the end of the month, we the development team

0:35:35in particular, will be holding another public workshop that

0:35:38will allow for more interaction with the public,

0:35:41and more question and answer I think some of the questions

0:35:43that come up tonight from council

0:35:45will help us even shape that meeting

0:35:47And again, this will be stated at various times

0:35:50throughout the meeting, at the meeting

0:35:52for the public workshop is May.

0:35:53Twenty fifth which is a Tuesday from six to seven thirty PM.

0:35:57There's a webpage there, but we will also

0:35:59be blasting it out on our social media

0:36:02Art will be putting it out.

0:36:03And i believe that we'll also be doing

0:36:05a mailing to immediate the immediate neighborhood

0:36:08Next slide, please.

0:36:11So I kind of I like to start with this,

0:36:13and partly just because there's so many logistics

0:36:16but I think it's important to also

0:36:17start with what's the vision ?

0:36:19And I like to rely a bit on former Senator Linnehan vision

0:36:23for kind of San Pablo Avenue, the entire corridor

0:36:26really, from Oakland all the way up to Hercules

0:36:28So she wrote imagine San Pablo Avenue as a grand boulevard

0:36:32stretching from Oakland to Hercules with jewels

0:36:34of pedestrian friendly and family

0:36:36friendly, mixed use urban and distinctive neighborhoods.

0:36:39Along the way, the San pablo Avenue of the Future

0:36:42will include a diverse range of housing business service

0:36:45recreational educational transportation,

0:36:47and civic opportunities.

0:36:49With distinct nodes of activity in each city connected by

0:36:52an attractive multimodal world.

0:36:54Class boulevard and she said state of this probably 10,

0:36:5815 years ago And I think little by little

0:37:01as this picture shows, I think I don't have a before

0:37:03and after here, but San Pablo avenue is transforming.

0:37:06I know that it it's a slow process

0:37:09to turn something that was so auto

0:37:11dominated into a really mixed use place.

0:37:13And similarly, I like to remind council that the Economic

0:37:16Development Action Plan also really envisioned maximizing

0:37:20transit oriented development around BART stations

0:37:24and infill development.

0:37:25And it partly did this because it

0:37:27knew that in order for us to attract and retain

0:37:30the types of businesses thus Rita wanted that density

0:37:33to helps support that that creating

0:37:36a walkable walkable, attractive environment

0:37:39helps with business attraction and retention.

0:37:41And I think we're beginning to see that Next slide,

0:37:44please So also to go way back, um, remember this parking

0:37:51lot that we're looking at I think

0:37:52it was I was going to look for a historic slide I've

0:37:55seen one before.

0:37:55I think it was like a cement factory before.

0:37:58It was bART station and was built

0:38:02in nineteen seventy three.

0:38:03We're in the unique position in El Cerrito of course,

0:38:06as a very small city, but we happen

0:38:08to have two BART stations and San Pablo

0:38:10Avenue, a Caltrans highway.

0:38:12So that brings some big transportation players to work

0:38:15with and creates an opportunity to really create a good transit

0:38:20oriented development.

0:38:21Similarly about ten years later, the residential parking

0:38:24permit program was established.

0:38:25And I've been joking lately that even as parking becomes less,

0:38:30parking is required with new development,

0:38:33it actually really continues to be a pretty important

0:38:36part of the conversation.

0:38:37Just as it was decades ago.

0:38:39So we'll talk more about tonight and obviously

0:38:41ongoing and importantly, Bart and the city

0:38:45have partnered over the years on many things many self.

0:38:50So safe routes to transit grants the Aloni Greenway, in fact,

0:38:55was started through a hub project

0:38:57and a and a transportation federal transport

0:39:01administration project to show that transportation and livable

0:39:04community can coexist And then importantly about ten years ago

0:39:11was that when earthquake safety retrofit program

0:39:14took place, when Bart was retrofitting its tracks,

0:39:18to be safe in an earthquake we also

0:39:20partnered with them to help restore the Greenway

0:39:23to its current conditions.

0:39:24The newer pad tonight you just approved an affordable housing

0:39:29Sustainable Communities grant for the Mayfair affordable

0:39:33Housing Project. which was a partnership with BART

0:39:36and the city and bridge Housing Of course, those of you

0:39:41who have hopefully been up to the donor gateway station, all

0:39:44of those improvements in Aloni and Greenway improvements

0:39:47through One Bay Area grants for a partnership.

0:39:50And I think kind of probably the most significant relationship

0:39:54will be over the next couple of years

0:39:56as as the property owner, the developer and the city work

0:40:00together to transform retail Plaza Park next please in terms

0:40:08of this project in specifically council and ask in 2016

0:40:13and was somewhat prescient It was ahead of legislation

0:40:16that would have required us actually to rezone our stations

0:40:19for high density, high density development The City

0:40:22Council, again, in support of its own economic development

0:40:25action plan,

0:40:26climate action plan and general plan

0:40:29and specific plan adopted in MSU resolution

0:40:35asking the BART board of directors

0:40:37to advance development at the Elk Freedom Plaza BART station

0:40:40and directing staff to enter into an iMU to determine

0:40:45feasibility of a potential new library that feasible

0:40:50resulted in this rFQ, which is where we will further

0:40:52test the feasibility of a new library

0:40:55and bring some decisions to council.

0:40:56And we'll talk about that a little later.

0:40:58Then again, in November of twenty nineteen bahts staff

0:41:02at their transit oriented development DAPPLE,

0:41:04you'll hear from later tonight came

0:41:06back and presented goals and objectives

0:41:09for you to comment on.

0:41:11Review and eventually approve that became

0:41:14the foundation for the Q kind of the shared

0:41:16goals and objectives.

0:41:19Then bart and the city, both as a part

0:41:20of our own specific plan, update meetings and BART

0:41:23as a part of its own early outreach on this project

0:41:28and several community workshops.

0:41:29And Bart will talk more about those.

0:41:31As I mentioned, there's one at the end

0:41:33of this month coming up on May.

0:41:34Twenty fifth, and there'll be many opportunities

0:41:37for public engagement and input and decision

0:41:40making over the next couple of years.

0:41:41Next slide, please.

0:41:46I find this slide fascinating.

0:41:48We brought it to you when we did our affordable housing

0:41:50strategy.

0:41:51You can see that over sixty seventy percent

0:41:55of the housing that's in more.

0:41:57I'd have to go get it.

0:41:58But you can tell prior to nineteen eighty

0:42:00is when most of our housing was built and in fact,

0:42:03prior to nineteen sixty is when it was really built.

0:42:07And so I think we know i was predominantly single family.

0:42:09There's a multifamily in there.

0:42:11And then after nineteen eighty we really

0:42:12fall off housing production.

0:42:14And I think this is true for the entire Bay

0:42:16Area the core cities, which is a part of our affordable housing

0:42:22and housing shortage.

0:42:24So you can see we start to build affordable housing probably

0:42:27through i haven't completely researched, but through the set

0:42:30aside that was required in redevelopment.

0:42:32So the green bars in nineteen eighty,

0:42:34you see ninety four units and continuing each each decade

0:42:39going forward, we build some below market rate housing,

0:42:43but you can see the market rate itself

0:42:45also really falls off and falls off completely

0:42:47between kind of two thousand nine and twenty eighteen When

0:42:51we first built. I think Village, a town center

0:42:54was the first project we built at that time.

0:42:56And you can see post specific plan, which was adopted in 2014

0:43:00and twenty eighteen we jump up in this number Nine

0:43:03and sixty six is actually out of date.

0:43:05It's about fourteen units We've been titled

0:43:08and several hundred have been built.

0:43:10So I think this is really interesting when we look

0:43:12at the BART station to look at, it feels like a big project

0:43:15and you can see.

0:43:18However, that housing needs have not really been

0:43:22pursued in the last decades.

0:43:25Prior to about five years ago.

0:43:30Next slide, please.

0:43:33So some of the goals and objectives,

0:43:34it was in your packet.

0:43:35And it's also in both the cities and parts transit oriented

0:43:39development web pages But some of them

0:43:41that I'm just highlighting here that you approved and were

0:43:43a part of what BART included in the RFQ

0:43:46and the developer responded to was to regularly engage

0:43:49the community to enhance the Aloni green Way for the city

0:43:53to manage on site free parking with bahts support

0:43:56to explore how to do this and to explore

0:43:58options for the library.

0:43:59You'll see in the developer's proposal

0:44:01I do have to say plans.

0:44:02One with and one without the library, and we'll

0:44:04be able to proceed with that up to a certain point.

0:44:06At which the city will need to decide what's next Addressing

0:44:13regional housing needs.

0:44:13As I just talked about, having to design

0:44:15be green and sustainable increasing ridership developing

0:44:20a feasible market development looking at how it really

0:44:24benefits the city and how we can bring in financing to help

0:44:28with the infrastructure needs and other needs,

0:44:31how to maximize transportation choice ideally

0:44:35through this project, we will be identifying as part,

0:44:37we'll talk about later, different mobility options that

0:44:40can really help people, not just who live at the station

0:44:44or right next to it, but at a greater distance,

0:44:47access the station and sometimes a hopefully fewer

0:44:50in a single occupancy vehicle.

0:44:52But as you'll see going forward we recognize that that's

0:44:54still a piece of ridership.

0:44:56And finally, affordability bahts its own policies

0:45:02require a minimum of 20 percent affordable housing.

0:45:05As you know, the city has an inclusionary zoning

0:45:07and but it's system wide goal is 30 percent.

0:45:10And you'll see in this presentation

0:45:12that the affordable housing is almost about thirty seven

0:45:17percent is low income, very low income

0:45:19Another twelve percent is moderate So almost half

0:45:22is below market rate.

0:45:24And half is market rate.

0:45:26Next slide, please.

0:45:29As a reminder also, in 2014, you adopted a specific plan.

0:45:33We're in the middle of updating it.

0:45:34It's been successful and it's what a lot of the development

0:45:38that we're seeing in terms of adding housing and adding

0:45:41customers for businesses and hopefully even entrepreneurs

0:45:46The middle class of our station fits into what

0:45:50the downtown area that was envisioned in the specific plan

0:45:53as really becoming a hub for entertainment theater,

0:45:56shopping district and serving as a Southern Gateway

0:45:59The opportunities identified in the plan

0:46:01were to construct higher intensity

0:46:03mixed use development near the part

0:46:04station and the specific plan.

0:46:06Importantly, you'll hear from Bart as well.

0:46:09Actually meet Many cities are right now scrambling

0:46:12to do rezoning to be compliant with state law

0:46:14and the specific plan actually was already

0:46:17compliant with that law.

0:46:18So, again, council was a little bit

0:46:20ahead of the game on this one.

0:46:24On the majority of the site.

0:46:25Next slide, please.

0:46:28See So I know height, parking, are always key pieces.

0:46:31We like to bring up also open space and art and housing

0:46:34and economic development, climate action But I know

0:46:37height and parking are critically important when we

0:46:40adopted the specific plan we adopted a form based

0:46:42code that really looked at how can

0:46:44we maximize the urban design ?

0:46:46While Council allows by right in the specific plan up

0:46:50to six stories in this area and state density

0:46:52bonus law actually allows the projects to go up to eight

0:46:56if it's consistent with that which

0:46:58this project will likely be with all the affordable housing.

0:47:00We really focused on As I'm looking views from the platform

0:47:05looking at open space and how it interacts with the public realm

0:47:09So our planning division has reviewed all the plan,

0:47:12all the projects have come through

0:47:13and will also the design review board

0:47:16and potentially the Planning Commission

0:47:17will also be reviewing the design on this project.

0:47:21But again, both state and the city's own policies

0:47:24allow six stories Also, not throughout a specific plan

0:47:30area where we do allow ground floor residential,

0:47:32but along Fairmont, all of our economic development

0:47:35work at work and planning has said that Vermont

0:47:37is our real opportunity for kind of a pedestrian oriented street

0:47:41It's the one that's kind of a smaller scale than San Pablo

0:47:43Avenue, which will also be pedestrian oriented So as such,

0:47:46we actually require that 50 percent of the ground floor

0:47:49along Fairmont is commercial or library or some public used

0:47:53to really help to set the stage for the way

0:47:57that the commercial district really is an active place

0:48:01at the ground floor.

0:48:02The specific plan also requires open space,

0:48:06and that's an open space shared by residents,

0:48:09public open space, open to the entire public

0:48:11and private open space, like decorate balconies or rooftops,

0:48:15which would be common.

0:48:16We also have high bicycle parking and frontage

0:48:18requirements And again this project will be reviewed

0:48:22based on that form code.

0:48:24But importantly, be twenty nine.

0:48:25Twenty three.

0:48:26Even if we did not have the specific plan

0:48:28does require that city zone properties or properties

0:48:32to a minimum of seven stories and to provide

0:48:34some streamlining provisions in development on this map.

0:48:38You can see Passell A is actually outside

0:48:40of the specific plan area.

0:48:41So it is a piece that that will be developed

0:48:44as a part of this project, but it might

0:48:47have some different standards.

0:48:48And we're still figuring out if I didn't

0:48:50say before, this is a kickoff.

0:48:52It's introductory You might get a lot of answers

0:48:54tonight that are thing.

0:48:55We're still figuring this out.

0:48:57So it's really the beginning of the process.

0:48:59Next slide please.

0:49:02So what do y how again, so this project that's been proposed

0:49:06is about seven fifty to eight units, approximately

0:49:11depending on the site plan.

0:49:13There'll be a lot of review and design into a lot of questions

0:49:15to be asked about three low income, very low income

0:49:19and importantly a new type, which is sometimes called

0:49:22middle income or work force housing or missing middle

0:49:25and for units, which is one that's

0:49:27been hard to get at with our to meet our goals in this regard.

0:49:34These ones aren't subsidized at all,

0:49:35whereas affordable units are.

0:49:38So this developer has proposed ninety four

0:49:40missing middle housing units again replacing

0:49:44commercial space, open space in our transportation access

0:49:47improvements, including structured on-street parking,

0:49:49micro mobility, and more.

0:49:51And you can see some definitions for transit

0:49:53oriented development here.

0:49:54Next slide, please.

0:49:59Apply I've already talked about this a bit

0:50:01That parking lot is really a hole in downtown.

0:50:04It's Eight and really it's only utilized when it's being parked

0:50:10monday through Friday and otherwise

0:50:12it's not really contributing to walkability

0:50:14or economic development.

0:50:16Or housing.

0:50:17Again, I just mentioned that will be a diverse housing

0:50:20types transportation improvements car climate action

0:50:24plan, one of its main community wide goals

0:50:26was that we in order to reduce vehicle miles, traveled

0:50:30and therefore greenhouse gas emissions

0:50:32And I know council has an important climate subcommittee

0:50:34meeting now, but higher density development near our transit

0:50:38stations was one The key goals identified

0:50:40in the climate action Plan.

0:50:42I've mentioned economic development again every time

0:50:45we've gone to anybody they have said really attracting higher

0:50:49density urban lifestyle development is kind

0:50:53of one of the best ways that we can continue

0:50:55to attract and retain business.

0:50:57The properties certainly not taxed.

0:50:59It will be taxed.

0:51:00The market rate portion will be taxed if developed

0:51:05And I've mentioned the other things that you see here.

0:51:08Next slide please.

0:51:11Again, it's a multiyear planning process currently

0:51:14the developer part and the city are

0:51:17really in a project refinement phase,

0:51:19really figuring out part.

0:51:21And the developer are working out their agreement,

0:51:24and are working on a site master plan that would best fulfill

0:51:28the goals and objectives.

0:51:30Bart we'll talk about several grants.

0:51:32They have to be looking at transportation access

0:51:35along the entire corridor.

0:51:37There's parking studies underway.

0:51:39After that, it becomes more of a standard specific plan process.

0:51:43So this whole early part is kind of preliminary planning

0:51:46and then an application will be submitted

0:51:48and it will be brought to the design review board

0:51:51and finally, construction would begin

0:51:53and the developer will talk about timeline

0:51:56and we'll have public workshops throughout this process.

0:51:59The design Review Board and Planning

0:52:01Commission will hold study sessions

0:52:03they have with a specific plan.

0:52:05Those 15 projects referred to earlier.

0:52:07They have been the key bodies to provide the public input

0:52:10and feedback on development, such as this the parts that

0:52:14will come to city council are decisions around how we manage

0:52:18on street parking and whether or not to proceed with a library

0:52:24Next slide, please.

0:52:27So again, Bart is leading a lot of the transportation

0:52:30and studies.

0:52:31All of us will be involved in public engagement.

0:52:33And importantly, Bart is the public agency landowner.

0:52:37The development team will introduce themselves later

0:52:41and the city as I mentioned, really the streets,

0:52:43the public right of way, the land use entitlement

0:52:47and and the library are going to be the key roles,

0:52:52along with public engagement.

0:52:53Some of this is also as I mentioned, because of maybe

0:52:55twenty nine, twenty three.

0:52:56Some of this is being figured out.

0:52:58There's some things that might be

0:52:59different than a regular specific project.

0:53:01And that's also because of course,

0:53:02Bart, being the landowner is different than other landowners

0:53:05that we've dealt with.

0:53:06And there's more shared goals and objectives Next slide,

0:53:09please.

0:53:11So So lastly, you might have more questions about this,

0:53:13but just to kick it off right out,

0:53:15the RFQ did ask the developer team to include

0:53:20an option with the library.

0:53:22So the developer will show you a site plan

0:53:24with or without the developer.

0:53:27The library is proposed to be a part of the Affordable

0:53:29Housing development.

0:53:30If it proceeds and we are determining

0:53:35they are determining how far they can take that

0:53:37and at what point the city needs to determine

0:53:39what it's going to do.

0:53:40So we're going to multiple decision points in the process.

0:53:43We'll be able to see it kind of proceed for a while

0:53:45and then we have to have some conversations about how it

0:53:48would be funded, how it would be delivered,

0:53:49and whether we can proceed.

0:53:50Fortunately, we don't have to do that right now.

0:53:53It can carry some time forward parking again,

0:53:57is a conversation that we need to maybe address

0:53:59sooner rather than later.

0:54:02But we look forward to this taking shape hearing

0:54:05from the community exploring how this could be delivered,

0:54:08what the cost would be and how it could be funded with i will

0:54:12turn it over to bart to to make a presentation

0:54:16and the development team Melanie, if we could have

0:54:19any questions on the council members to our city staff

0:54:22we may have.

0:54:25Are there any council Yes.

0:54:26Council member, Avildsen Yes, I have

0:54:29a question about parking that really,

0:54:34it's about transportation.

0:54:35And I'm wondering if as a part of this project,

0:54:39there could be considerable portion of a way to get people

0:54:44from the hills of El for example down to this project

0:54:49without using a single occupancy car So, for example,

0:54:53if there were shuttles of some sort that ran

0:54:58I don't know if that can be incorporated

0:55:00into this project at all.

0:55:02But it would be in very interesting to me

0:55:04to see that happen because i don't I'm a person

0:55:11who doesn't even drive.

0:55:12So I'm not really thinking about myself.

0:55:14But i think about the people who live in the hills

0:55:17that i mean, they somehow they it's too

0:55:19far to walk to get down here.

0:55:22And so they've got to do something

0:55:25So if there were a shuttle or maybe

0:55:27there's a better idea you know, that might solve the problem.

0:55:31And I'm wondering if we're looking

0:55:33at that in the somewhere in this whole project.

0:55:36So I look forward.

0:55:36I think when Bart gets a present,

0:55:38they'll be talking about the various ways,

0:55:40the transportation and the feasibility

0:55:41of transportation options is going

0:55:43to be studied as a part of it.

0:55:45And options identified for helping people

0:55:49get to the station in a variety ways.

0:55:51So I will let i talk a little bit about the work they're

0:55:54doing, looking at transportation alternatives, options, lisa,

0:56:01council member Mohtarma thank you.

0:56:05First, I just have to mention that my company also works

0:56:09with satellite affordable housing associates as a client

0:56:13but not myself, nor my company is working on this project.

0:56:16and that all my comments and questions

0:56:20regarding the presentation will strictly to protect

0:56:23the interest of the city.

0:56:26And given that I would like to staff a question about how

0:56:31the design review and planning approvals will work Is it

0:56:34that once was it site plans or how far along

0:56:38will the project be when those kinds of designs

0:56:41are brought to design, review and planning

0:56:43And what kind of decision making will be happening

0:56:47at those meetings Just so that we all understand

0:56:50and are on the same page.

0:56:52So we are working.

0:56:54We meet regularly with the developers and to to work

0:56:56through some of this.

0:56:57Again, given the state legislation and some

0:56:59of birthrights, the developers.

0:57:01But we will be very similar to other specific plan projects

0:57:05that have gone through.

0:57:07So the program am how much housing.

0:57:09It has how much parking it has.

0:57:10That isn't something that the city will be the decision maker

0:57:14on that is going to be part in the developer

0:57:16economic feasibility and other issues in terms

0:57:19of replacement parking.

0:57:20But once that comes how it's laid out

0:57:22on the site and the typical review

0:57:26in terms of both aesthetic and kind of public

0:57:29how it how it interacts with the community, that will all be

0:57:32at the Planning Commission Design Review Board

0:57:35if this project is a tier four project as some of you

0:57:40know, it would go to the planning commission,

0:57:42but it's likely a state density bonus affordable housing

0:57:46project, sort of probably just be at the design review board,

0:57:49although I think early on, prior to their actually

0:57:51being an application, we would be doing joint study sessions

0:57:55that there there's input from both bodies and the public

0:57:59Similarly, we're working out.

0:58:01But because the site provides transportation access

0:58:04to BART station, the so the program needs to meet goals,

0:58:09parts, Todd objectives and the transportation

0:58:14access issues are going to be jointly reviewed.

0:58:17So when we do receive an application both getting up

0:58:20to the application and when we receive one,

0:58:21both BART in the city will be jointly reviewing it.

0:58:24But the entitlement will look pretty much

0:58:26like a regular specific plan projected rate

0:58:29with certain development levels allowed by right parking

0:58:32being defined by other ways.

0:58:35But design will be reviewed similarly, as others Thank you.

0:58:40Can i first asked city clerk, can you

0:58:42go back of the grid view until we get

0:58:46through with our questions ?

0:58:48thank you very much.

0:58:49Council member Rubberneck Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

0:58:53Quick question about Passell A can you go into a little bit

0:58:56more detail about what makes Passell a different you briefly

0:59:00talked about it in the presentation

0:59:02but it would be nice for public interest

0:59:04to know the difference of Percelay and B, C and D. Yeah

0:59:08so the other parcels are all a part of the specific plan.

0:59:12So they are reviewed the form base code that was

0:59:15adopted for the specific plan.

0:59:16Passell a parcel D is a funny one because it is also

0:59:21east of the tracks and somehow it was

0:59:23included in the specific plan.

0:59:24The other parcel is east of the tracks

0:59:26and no other parcels are in the specific plan area.

0:59:29So it currently has what's called something

0:59:33that we haven't actually used.

0:59:34But I think it's called transit mixed use was something

0:59:36that zoning ordinance.

0:59:38But it's much lower density.

0:59:39Thirty five dwelling units, an acre

0:59:41with some up to seventy five senior housing

0:59:44or others maybe twenty nine.

0:59:46Twenty three on the other hand, pulls it in to the seven story

0:59:52by right.

0:59:53Development that we have to zone for

0:59:56and what actually ends up happening there.

0:59:58However, is partly what the developer is working out.

1:00:01What, what is, what is it.

1:00:03They're going to propose and what mechanism So

1:00:05we're kind of in conversations about that right now.

1:00:07How much AB nine Twenty twenty three.

1:00:09I think where we're looking is it will likely

1:00:12go through our design review but it won't be a specific plan

1:00:16It will be a B twenty nine.

1:00:17Twenty three client.

1:00:19It doesn't mean however and Bart will say this again a B twenty

1:00:23nine twenty three doesn't dictate

1:00:24what the actual development on that site is.

1:00:26It just makes you allow for that So it's very much going

1:00:29to be developed by really Bart and the developer

1:00:32looking what program they want.

1:00:33And then us and then determining the process

1:00:36So we do hope that it will go through design review.

1:00:39But the level of intensity is still

1:00:41having to be determined and proposed by the developer

1:00:45and their concept has had some concepts for it.

1:00:48And they can walk through those parcels

1:00:50a little bit in their presentation Hope that helped.

1:00:52It's a little bit one of those.

1:00:53We're still working it out, answers Thank

1:00:56you for the clarification.

1:00:58And Melanie, sB thirty five apply that lot, which

1:01:02is that could we were trying.

1:01:06So yes, maybe and maybe not so the city, as you know,

1:01:10is actually exempt from SB thirty

1:01:12because we've been meeting our housing needs.

1:01:15But how SB thirty five gets pulled into AB twenty nine.

1:01:18Twenty three is something still being examined OK,

1:01:23and the other questions from other council

1:01:24members I have a couple.

1:01:28I just wanted to reiterate with our city staff

1:01:30that SB twenty nine twenty Three really means.

1:01:33This is the part project the state law created legislation

1:01:39to say BART should proceed with all haste on tody on property.

1:01:44And that's what we've got here.

1:01:45But I appreciate the relationship that we have.

1:01:48And the goals that we discussed with Bart whether it

1:01:51be the library retail or workspace that they're

1:01:56considering But we need to make sure that relationship

1:01:59holds briefly.

1:02:01Melanie, I was hoping you could just touch on again

1:02:04the financial atrip It's that we will be getting

1:02:08from this development and maybe the community benefits

1:02:13that we might get from this So the financial some of this.

1:02:17So, again, a brief answer will be kind of examining

1:02:20this further as we go along.

1:02:21But I think the market rate development

1:02:25while the land part if you have a question for BARBET,

1:02:28the land will be continued to be owned by BART,

1:02:30but that built improvements on the top.

1:02:32Will be long term leases to the developers Affordable housing

1:02:38has exemptions from paying property taxes,

1:02:40but the market will be taxed like any other new development

1:02:44will So until we know the size of that development

1:02:49and we have a lot of numbers.

1:02:50But I'm going to go out on a limb

1:02:52and have done some calculations and about.

1:02:55I think you and communicated.

1:02:56It's about the property tax will probably

1:02:58go from zero like this today to maybe 250 thousand dollars,

1:03:02let's say And again, we will also be able to analyze

1:03:05in future times.

1:03:06We'd be happy to come back with you.

1:03:07There's all kinds of other ways to measure the benefits

1:03:10of those people living in town.

1:03:12The purchasing power of course, the development

1:03:15will also pay for all of the development review fees.

1:03:17The transportation impact fees and various other pieces

1:03:20that the city has in place.

1:03:23Community benefits.

1:03:23I think we've talked about some of them already right.

1:03:25So projects and so high level of affordability with deep levels

1:03:30of affordable missing middle housing either a library

1:03:35or new commercial development opens

1:03:37based art And this collaborative process between the city

1:03:41and the developer to look potentially both

1:03:44bringing in the density that helps

1:03:45support microbial options more.

1:03:47It's been hard to get things like city, car share and others

1:03:50here, so the density helps bring some of those things

1:03:52that you see in other places.

1:03:53To support apartment living And so those things will continue.

1:04:00But those are a quick, brief list and enhancements

1:04:03to the Aloni Greenway integration to downtown

1:04:06So I think it's really from an urban design standpoint,

1:04:08they'll be a big community benefits.

1:04:11OK, and finally, there is a question I

1:04:14what I'm hoping to ask the developer,

1:04:16because i see on his plans he's already

1:04:19established where I library will be and how big it will be.

1:04:23And I'm hoping we will have a full city discuss about what

1:04:26our needs are for our library whether it's community

1:04:30space, a cafe, whatever we want before we're kind of Pigeon

1:04:33old into something that's already been created

1:04:36So I just want to lay that out there.

1:04:38Council member Avildsen another question.

1:04:40Yeah, this all sounds great.

1:04:43What we're talking about.

1:04:44I was just wondering how we were paying for it.

1:04:48And so another community benefit.

1:04:49I did want to mention the development numbers It's

1:04:52about halfway towards our goals in the next cycle, which is,

1:04:56as you've all heard, the range goals

1:04:58are going to be quite high in terms of moderate income.

1:05:00And I do know the developer and the other team,

1:05:03so I will definitely you, Mayor, you get to choose

1:05:06and I will keep answering questions.

1:05:07I know the others are eager to present as well.

1:05:12The question I had I think didn't get answered at all.

1:05:14Yeah, so then how will this be paid for this Right.

1:05:17There's various various aspects of this project

1:05:20The affordable housing will be seeking tax credits

1:05:24And it might be a question you can ask the Affordable housing

1:05:26developer, but they will be like our other affordable housing

1:05:29projects, tax credits and grants I think between the part

1:05:32and the city And the developer will be pursuing

1:05:34grants for affordable housing and for

1:05:36certain public improvements.

1:05:38Transportation access, improvements,

1:05:40and then the market in housing.

1:05:41You can also ask that developer that they

1:05:43go through standard financing economic analysis to make sure

1:05:48that it's financially feasible that the product

1:05:51that they're developing is market

1:05:53based They'll be paying for it.

1:05:57Oh, that's right.

1:05:57Developer, the developer will be doing the fund

1:06:00raising That's a part of when you select a team like this

1:06:02in the library would be our.

1:06:06That's the library would be ours.

1:06:08And we have to figure out what those mechanisms are

1:06:10and what it would cost in a development like this

1:06:13and what kind of ways we could potentially make

1:06:16it something within our reach.

1:06:18If with something.

1:06:18But that would be something as the mayor just said,

1:06:21we'd have to engage you in the public

1:06:23to kind of determine what it was,

1:06:25make some decisions some trade offs to determine what brings

1:06:27it to something maybe more feasible

1:06:29and then look at potential financing mechanisms

1:06:33And the the thing I was mentioning

1:06:34about having shuttles or something that brings people

1:06:38in from the hills who would pay for to me

1:06:44that study and then the cost implementation.

1:06:47So who would pay for that ?

1:06:50Those are all things that would have to that are

1:06:52still going to be determined.

1:06:53And I think when rachel factor from BART

1:06:55is able to give your presentation on things

1:06:56that she's looking at but those are items still

1:06:59to be determined.

1:07:01Thank you.

1:07:02Let's move on to the budget presentation.

1:07:04If there's no more questions Rachel

1:07:09and can we identify Shana sanandaj

1:07:12from BART and rachel Factor ?

1:07:14I think Shannon is going to start, though.

1:07:16Thank you very much.

1:07:17Please identify yourself some.

1:07:19Let's go Good evening.

1:07:21I'm Shannon Can you hear me ?

1:07:24Yes great query.

1:07:26Mayor Fidele and council members I'm Shannon Dodgin.

1:07:30I'm our principal property development officer

1:07:33and I work in the transit oriented development group.

1:07:35And I'm here tonight because I'm the lead

1:07:38on transit or development at the Ulcerated plaza Station.

1:07:42Melany walked you through what transit oriented development is

1:07:45and also the reasons that the city chose to encourage it

1:07:48and it very much shares those same reasons,

1:07:51like wanting to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

1:07:54and to ensure that lower income household too often

1:07:57live without a car have access to BART

1:08:00But really, the overarching reason we're advancing, Todd,

1:08:03throughout our system is to increase ridership

1:08:05and it really makes sense that if people live

1:08:07adjacent to a station, they're more

1:08:09likely to use Bart both for their commute

1:08:11and for other kinds of trips.

1:08:13And in fact, we've commissioned research

1:08:15to confirm that that is true.

1:08:17So attracting more riders to BART

1:08:18is a key reason why our board has adopted

1:08:21ambitious goals for Todd One of those goals

1:08:24is to create twenty thousand new homes on our property

1:08:28across all of our stations by twenty 40.

1:08:30And of that housing, we aim to thirty five percent

1:08:33affordable with a priority to low and very low

1:08:35income households.

1:08:36Todd at El Cerrito Plaza has the potential

1:08:39to be an important part of that vision of Equitable

1:08:42Todd A recent change in the law that has touched on

1:08:49should make it easier for us to achieve those goals.

1:08:52AB twenty nine twenty three signed into law in twenty

1:08:55eighteen and it does zone most park property for Todd

1:09:00and less developers Those streamlined sB

1:09:03thirty five style planning approvals

1:09:06But because it was very forward thinking,

1:09:10zoning that you have through this pablo Avenue specific plan

1:09:14already lines for the most part with what a B twenty

1:09:17nine Twenty three requires And just a reminder that a B twenty

1:09:24nine twenty three is about the maximum zoning envelope, which

1:09:28is the box that you see on the left in this example

1:09:32But it is it does not specify what a development

1:09:37needs to look like.

1:09:38It's really important to keep in mind

1:09:40that buildings will look different from that box

1:09:42on the left would be more like what you see

1:09:44on the right with open spaces in between them and variety

1:09:47of different heights and so on.

1:09:51So you have briefly about the public events that aren't

1:09:54hosted with the city in twenty nineteen Luckily

1:09:56before the pandemic, when folks could actually get together

1:09:59like you see here in person even before those events,

1:10:02Bart conducted a writer survey in early twenty nineteen

1:10:05and we got an input from that writer

1:10:07Servais more input from the two open houses at the station,

1:10:11like the one you see in the picture here.

1:10:14And then at a community workshop that we held in October.

1:10:17Twenty nineteen and perhaps some of you were there more

1:10:21And and fifty people actually came out to the Hunter Gardens

1:10:24Senior Center to Thursday evening

1:10:26and October twenty nineteen to weigh

1:10:28in on the goals and objectives for transit

1:10:31oriented development.

1:10:31And we got great feedback, especially around how

1:10:35passengers get to and from Plaza Station,

1:10:38which what we call in transit station access

1:10:42That's a topic that you're going to hear

1:10:43more about in just a moment.

1:10:45So all of the input was critical in shaping the goals

1:10:48and objectives at this council.

1:10:50Ultimately adopted in November.

1:10:52Twenty, nineteen and Goals and Objectives document

1:10:55is included in the packet for this evening's meeting.

1:10:58As I'm sure you saw And that is what is guiding our efforts

1:11:02to create TOD at Plaza.

1:11:05So building on the foundation of those goals and objectives

1:11:09we crafted a request for qualifications that clearly

1:11:13communicated the priorities of the city

1:11:15and BART to interested developers.

1:11:17And we were fortunate to receive Four

1:11:20really strong submittals even given

1:11:23this was released in July.

1:11:24Twenty, twenty when covid-19 was making everyone's head spin

1:11:31the submittals were scored by a selection panel that included

1:11:34both Bart staff and staff of the city of El Reno

1:11:38and that panel also interviewed each of the four teams

1:11:41and ultimately recommended the team of holiday development.

1:11:45The related companies of California and sarà

1:11:48our satellite Affordable Housing Associates And then

1:11:52the panel's recommendation was accepted by Bahts Board,

1:11:55which passed a resolution on November 19.

1:11:58Last year authorizing BART to enter

1:12:00into an exclusive negotiating agreement with that team.

1:12:06So our developer team is comprised of two

1:12:10companies, holiday and related.

1:12:12And then the nonprofit developer Zaha

1:12:14And this team Rose to the top first

1:12:17and foremost because of their past work They've developed,

1:12:20they've demonstrated success with recent projects that

1:12:24are really similar to what we might like

1:12:27to see at El Segundo Plaza.

1:12:29You can see, of course, Mayfair apartments.

1:12:31That's a rendering.

1:12:32Now, It's a real thing The selection panel also

1:12:36found that the development concept that was sketched out

1:12:39by this team was able to strike the best

1:12:41balance among the various and somewhat

1:12:44sometimes competing goals and objectives

1:12:46that we had set for the site.

1:12:48Their concept shows a mix of different housing types, market

1:12:52rate housing, traditional affordable housing missing

1:12:55middle housing As you mentioned, so really across the spectrum

1:13:00And then finally, this team brings a wealth of experience

1:13:03with community engagement including some that they

1:13:07have done in El Cerrito itself.

1:13:08And they have very strong knowledge This community.

1:13:13So I'd like to hand it off.

1:13:15Now to my colleague Rachel factor.

1:13:16Of course, I'll stick around for questions afterwards.

1:13:19And Rachel will discuss how Baat plans to address what we heard

1:13:23from community members about station access Rachel,

1:13:33you're muted stock showing that you're muted,

1:13:39but we cannot hear you Well, she's getting unmuted out

1:13:49to say that Rachel is a principal planner

1:13:51and she's a station planner for the radio station and she

1:13:55manages access related planning efforts for this transit

1:13:59oriented development uh still cannot hear you until

1:14:09it does show that your audio is connected

1:14:11that it's not working.

1:14:11Perhaps you can try calling in with a phone

1:14:14to the phone number.

1:14:15We can connect the audio that way.

1:14:22While she's doing that, I'll touch on the BART policies

1:14:26that the board has adopted that play

1:14:28a really strong role in how we do

1:14:30business around station access.

1:14:32So most notably in twenty sixteen

1:14:35the BART board adopted policies and performance targets

1:14:39for transit oriented development station access

1:14:42that you see summarized here.

1:14:44And these policies support valuing land next BART stations

1:14:48further crucial role that they'll

1:14:49play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions

1:14:51and providing more housing.

1:14:54So the image that you see on the right,

1:14:56the big arrow shows that our highest priority is to provide

1:14:59access for people who walk followed by those who bike

1:15:03to take transit, who get dropped off

1:15:06and finally, for parking Rachel, just checking And I

1:15:12see that now you're actually showing up as muted,

1:15:15not hearing you just yet until I need to know what you're

1:15:19the last numbers of your phone number are to meet you See,

1:15:32it's 1, 3, 4, 7 I believe it's going to be one three,

1:15:37four seven Are you seeing that number I don't to have

1:15:44a calling user tried to push that through,

1:15:47but doesn't look like that.

1:15:50Rachel, are you still connected on the phone ?

1:15:57is it for seven, five, six that's connected by phone ?

1:16:02No i see a two, six, nine or four five zero It doesn't She's

1:16:10still trying to get An all relate

1:16:20to this issue going on here.

1:16:23Well, i will carry on and try to cover Rachel's material,

1:16:26even though she knows it far better than I do.

1:16:28And definitely needs to be the one to answer the questions

1:16:31on it.

1:16:34Rachel, it looks like you should have

1:16:36the station ID the meeting.

1:16:38I did not get on so bART station access policy aims to reduce

1:16:43greenhouse gas emissions by increasing

1:16:45the number of people who walk and bike from forty 4%

1:16:49to fifty 2%.

1:16:51And we want to do that by making it safer and easier

1:16:54to access part in those ways.

1:16:56These targets are based on system

1:16:58wide trends between eight and twenty fifteen.

1:17:02When Bart's ridership increased while at the same time,

1:17:06the number of parking spaces stations stayed the same

1:17:10That meant obviously people were figuring out other ways

1:17:12to get to the stations.

1:17:15El Cerrito Plaza offers a major opportunity

1:17:17to meet these goals, since it already

1:17:19offers support of walking and biking environment

1:17:22around the station,

1:17:23which will only be enhanced with the feature of Albert a key

1:17:32issue in the community outreach that you've heard about has

1:17:36been and most likely will continue to be station access

1:17:39since we expect that the seven forty BART Rider parking spaces

1:17:44that you're familiar with in the three blocks will only be

1:17:48partially replaced So it's important to understand how

1:17:51people are getting to the station We're getting

1:17:53to the station before covid this chart helps us understand

1:17:57the station access between two thousand eight inlight blue

1:18:01and then twenty fifteen an orange based on our most recent

1:18:05system wide data We see here that being

1:18:09a neighborhood station the most popular

1:18:10way for people to get to

1:18:12Plaza is by walking at around thirty eight percent

1:18:16and in around sixty 6% or two thirds of BART

1:18:19riders walk bike, ride the bus or get

1:18:22dropped off at the station.

1:18:24And then that is the remaining thirty 4%

1:18:26who drive and park and that percentage is down from forty

1:18:30one percent in two thousand eight.

1:18:34The station Rachel is that you getting on Yes.

1:18:39I'm so sorry.

1:18:40Can everyone hear me.

1:18:41Yeah.

1:18:42I hear you just fine.

1:18:43And thank for having such great notes on your presentation.

1:18:46So that I can start running for you.

1:18:48I actually let's see where you are.

1:18:51OK i covered most of the notes on this

1:18:56except for the bike parking All right.

1:19:02So Shannon, walk through the the trends from twenty eight

1:19:08to twenty fifteen and i just want

1:19:13to make I'm not sure where Shannon shannon, where did

1:19:16you live Off It was distracted.

1:19:17I just.

1:19:19Yeah, I just covered a trans so up to the point

1:19:24where driving and parking is down

1:19:26from forty one percent to thirty four percent OK, all right.

1:19:30So let's go on to the next slide then.

1:19:33And thank you for covering.

1:19:35Absolutely.

1:19:37All right.

1:19:38So this map shows the same twenty fifteen data

1:19:41from the previous slide, but really zooms

1:19:44in on where people are coming from

1:19:46and how they are getting to the station using different modes

1:19:50And that's indicated by the different colored dots.

1:19:52And we have purple for walking for bike for bus,

1:19:57orange for drop off and red for drive and park

1:20:00and the average distance traveled by almost

1:20:03to get to the station.

1:20:04So this is looking at every single way

1:20:06that people are getting there is really short.

1:20:09It's less than a mile.

1:20:10And for walking it's about half mile or on a ten minute walk.

1:20:13And that's with the purple dots and you'll

1:20:17see a clustering of them within the half mile, first half mile

1:20:19circle And for driving, it's about one

1:20:22One point four miles shown not shown in the red dots.

1:20:25Again and that's much lower than what we see system

1:20:28wide, which is around two point six miles.

1:20:30And it's worth noting that many of the red dots

1:20:33with within close proximity to the station

1:20:36and our overlap with other colors indicating potential

1:20:39for getting to Plaza or even Reno del Norte If you see

1:20:43to the left sorry, to the north, there

1:20:46are multiple red dots people that are going that live very

1:20:49close to the Nazi but are actually driving parking

1:20:51at the Plaza with so indicating there

1:20:56are people who don't necessarily need to be need to park.

1:20:59Recognizing also that there are real barriers for some

1:21:02to get to the station, such as the topographical constraints

1:21:05and limited bus connecting to the east as well

1:21:08as possible safety considerations

1:21:10of crossing some public to the west.

1:21:13The next slide please And these are some of the results

1:21:18of the twenty nineteen survey that

1:21:20was part of the outreach efforts that I mentioned earlier.

1:21:23And these results really reflect a lot

1:21:25of what we heard the other community events

1:21:28that she mentioned as well.

1:21:30So consistent with our twenty fifteen data,

1:21:33about half the respondents walk or bike to the station

1:21:36of those who drive alone.

1:21:38Many are coming from within a mile do so

1:21:42because it's more convenient.

1:21:44It's faster People pick up and drop off duties to people need

1:21:47to run errands Some some reported that they live too far

1:21:50away, that is around thirty 2% and a few reported that they

1:21:54have mobility challenge around three percent and around

1:21:58a third of our riders who drive in Park reported that they use

1:22:01the streets in the surrounding neighborhoods and under

1:22:05a hypothetical scenario where we asked people how would you get

1:22:08to your destination if no parking where available

1:22:11street or plaza parking lot ?

1:22:13The majority said that they would figure out another way

1:22:15to get to the station by walking, biking, or taking

1:22:18transit and others would use another station notably

1:22:21Ulcerated del Norte de some said that they would walk or bike

1:22:25or take transit directly for their destinations,

1:22:27which considering transit with a transit services.

1:22:31That's definitely seems like a real opportunity.

1:22:34And a few people that they wouldn't make the trip at all

1:22:37and about six percent said that they would drive long carpool

1:22:39or take over and live directly to their destinations.

1:22:43Over half the responding to express concerns

1:22:46about passenger safety and comfort,

1:22:48including safety issues along the Greenway particularly

1:22:51the need for more lighting at night

1:22:53and around 40 percent who drive in parks that they would be

1:22:56willing to try new mobility services such as electric bikes

1:22:59or scooters, shuttle buses council

1:23:02member Avildsen mentioned or potentially

1:23:05Microtel next slide, please.

1:23:10So this information from the surveys and the community

1:23:14outreach and other data sources are going to help inform how we

1:23:18are planning for future access to the station and the first is

1:23:24the it's kind of a mouthful but it's the Berkeley quarter

1:23:27access plan, which is a corridor wide approach to thinking about

1:23:31access to BART that is being funded through a grant that we

1:23:35got from Caltrans and the map the right shows the BART line

1:23:38running from ashby and the toddies at our Planet Plaza

1:23:42north Berkeley and Ashby And why are we doing a quarter

1:23:46wide study and why Why now ?

1:23:49When planning for Todd Bart typically only does a station

1:23:53specif access plan, which I'll get into more

1:23:56detail on in a few slides and but considering

1:24:00that these three stations are planned for development

1:24:04in the very near future, all at the same time

1:24:08some amount parking will be removed across three stations.

1:24:12Bart wanted to take a comprehensive look

1:24:14at how riders from the communities surrounding

1:24:16the stations, including Ulcerate, berkeley, Richmond,

1:24:19Albany kensington and others, could

1:24:21access it along the corridor, not just at penn Station.

1:24:25Next, please bart will work with partner cities and agencies

1:24:30in affected communities to explore different access

1:24:32options Moving Ford Focus, especially on the needs

1:24:35of riders who have historically driven driven to the stations

1:24:39And we'll be looking at new exit strategies, as well as how

1:24:42to take advantage of many of the existing alternatives

1:24:46are out there now with transit service shuttles,

1:24:49bike routes and existing parking varsity.

1:24:53Next slide, please.

1:24:55So this slide shows some of the multiple categories of access

1:24:58that we'll be exploring together with our partner jurisdictions

1:25:01and agencies, technology that our writers have very different

1:25:04needs requiring multiple options to get to the station

1:25:07as many of these strategies are off our property will be

1:25:10working together with our partners

1:25:12to seek funding and determine, implement strategies

1:25:15and just to point out a few of these again,

1:25:18what we heard an outreach for walking, for example,

1:25:21improve street lighting is something that we'll

1:25:24be exploring and how that can impact people's decisions

1:25:28to walk or bike or really take transit Lighting would

1:25:31benefit everybody looking at secure bike

1:25:34parking for various sizes.

1:25:36That's something we heard a lot in our outreach to accommodate

1:25:39families who might use cargo bikes

1:25:41or persons with mobility challenges

1:25:44to use tricycles looking at bus service and reliability

1:25:48enhancements together with AC transit

1:25:52and for on site part customer parking looking to continue

1:25:57accommodating parking for persons with disabilities,

1:26:00exploring better ways to manage the demand for our parking

1:26:03through potential pricing mechanisms,

1:26:05exploring shared parking with the future development,

1:26:08and for offsite parking Melanie Melanie mentioned

1:26:11that exploring a city led parking management strategies

1:26:15around the stations together with the city and next slide,

1:26:20please.

1:26:24So in addition to the quarter plan in the very near term,

1:26:27Bart will be initiating a station

1:26:29specific access plan that will be

1:26:31funded by the developer team.

1:26:33And this access plan focuses on preserving and enhancing

1:26:37ways for passengers to get to the station

1:26:39When one city's introduced and the access

1:26:42plan will get into detail on specific site

1:26:45layout and site design.

1:26:47Sites circulation to consider all the ways that people will

1:26:49get to and from and circulate through the site and the access

1:26:52plan will also determine the the BART parking replacement

1:26:56decisions And so I that's really an overview of

1:27:01the different planning efforts.

1:27:02And I want to point out the we're

1:27:04going to have multiple Melanie also spoke to this,

1:27:06but just specific to station access,

1:27:09we're going to have multiple engagement

1:27:11opportunities through throughout the next several months.

1:27:14And we'll be notifying the council and the public

1:27:18all these opportunities that are upcoming

1:27:21and with that, I'm going to hand it off to the the city

1:27:24development team Hi.

1:27:49This is an Silvereye Before we launch it,

1:27:51were there questions for BART or do you want to just go

1:27:54in to our presentation ? i wanted to say, yeah,

1:27:59i wanted to break in between each

1:28:01of our council members had questions City Council

1:28:03member of Hand Thank you.

1:28:05Yes.

1:28:06Thank you.

1:28:07This slide Is this is a system wide or is this specific

1:28:15Freedom Plaza This is system OK, do we have

1:28:20the data for Elstree plaza ?

1:28:23Yes.

1:28:24The data in the next slide and slide twelve

1:28:27provides the two thousand eight in twenty fifteen data.

1:28:31We don't have specific targets.

1:28:35Project targets for twenty twenty five for pausa

1:28:39Thank you for the clarification.

1:28:41Any other questions Comments from remote Mohtarma Thank you.

1:28:49I did have a clarifying question because you explained

1:28:52what micro transit is Yeah.

1:28:57This, this is really there's lots of terms

1:29:00for this mobility, emerging mobility

1:29:03But looking at potential potential shuttle services

1:29:08on demand, shuttle services could also

1:29:10include shared shared electric bikes or scooters and probably

1:29:17lots of other things that we'll hear about in the next year.

1:29:21Future mobility Anyone else I just have one comment for Bart.

1:29:30I was really glad to hear council member Abels

1:29:33and talk about the Hill residents like Berkeley

1:29:39where geographically challenged and if we're taking parking

1:29:43away, I know a lot of the people who live in the hills

1:29:45think they're being good environment by coming down

1:29:47and parking and taking Bart.

1:29:49I'm hearing from Kensington and LCB people

1:29:53And I think the shuttle idea is a good one if we can afford it.

1:29:56I'm not sure about where the money comes from,

1:29:59but One thing I wanted to say, and I'm

1:30:01hoping aC Transit is listening we

1:30:03need buses to continue up in the hills.

1:30:06It's a tough time for the bus systems

1:30:08but our city council has passed a bus

1:30:11only lane provision for the bridge to San Francisco.

1:30:15If we know they're going to be buses up there,

1:30:18that won't be going to San Francisco go.

1:30:20It takes some of that weight off of the problems

1:30:22off of the access issue.

1:30:24So I'm hoping that buses talking to AC transit and the shuttle

1:30:29issues will be part of the access study

1:30:33that's being undertaken.

1:30:35Yeah, that we are definitely engaged with AC transit.

1:30:39We've had a number of discussion We have

1:30:40a technical advisory group for the study

1:30:43and there they're definitely part of that.

1:30:45And we'll be continuing discussions with them

1:30:48and there there is an opportunity

1:30:51if there is reduced parking and increased density,

1:30:54it presents an opportunity for transit train and buses.

1:30:59Is one of them Mayor Pro ?

1:31:02Thank you.

1:31:03Me for mentioning that.

1:31:04And i've been since i have this vision back in twenty fifteen,

1:31:10I started talking to the former city manager

1:31:13about looking at this I had been in contact with our transit

1:31:20director said and know that contra Costa County, we have

1:31:24failed measures over and over when it comes

1:31:26to adding more bus service.

1:31:29But through the years folks have asked me to bring

1:31:33those neighborhood buses back.

1:31:35And if we did that I know we would have

1:31:38more people and more senior Take that down to the station

1:31:44like they used to.

1:31:45And especially students.

1:31:47So again, there's also testing projects aC Transit has worked

1:31:53on in other regions like Newburgh

1:31:57Fremont and the newburyport areas

1:32:00where they have a look at Dialla experiments

1:32:03and that same very successful Some of the areas and i

1:32:12believe they tested that also And the Castro Valley area

1:32:15So I'm hoping that they'll be able to look at that

1:32:20And, Chris, people's is definitely very supportive

1:32:23when it comes to TI d and the last mile home

1:32:27and and we do have the bicycle company that have been waiting

1:32:34or else, Cerita, to have those bikes return.

1:32:38Starita We're just waiting for the update

1:32:40and for the apartments to be built.

1:32:44And then they'll get that Rolling Stone very support

1:32:48of the transport station and working with AC transit

1:32:52and there was a bus bus station with that

1:32:57failed at the last election with reasonable bus service.

1:33:02We need to bring that back to the folks at pinole

1:33:05and Hercules And those areas will have dedicated bus service

1:33:11so they can bypass the BART station

1:33:16And we'll have more Esterina residents will be able to park

1:33:19if they so choose to do that.

1:33:21But it'll take the regional leadership

1:33:25and our transportation board's And

1:33:29they've been waiting for that.

1:33:30And then they told me they're on board

1:33:32and and I look forward to working

1:33:34with them in the future.

1:33:38And we move on to our development

1:33:44Thank you Welcome Andrew.

1:33:57Hello.

1:33:58Hi.

1:33:59Hopefully, you can hear me.

1:34:00Yeah, Mayor, members of the council my name

1:34:03is and Silverberg and I'm the CEO for Northern California.

1:34:07Affordable for related We're very excited to be here.

1:34:11I'm joined by two colleagues, Jamie Chu

1:34:13from holiday Development, as well as Andrew ghafar

1:34:17from related And you'll hear from both of them in a minute.

1:34:20We have other members who are also joining us this evening.

1:34:25But I don't think they'll be logged in to answer questions.

1:34:27So we'll do our best to answer any questions

1:34:30that you have this evening.

1:34:32I I want to start by saying we are

1:34:35incredibly excited and enthusiastic about

1:34:38this development opportunity.

1:34:39We are so thrilled to be partnering with the city of El

1:34:42Cerrito with all of you, with staff as well as with BART

1:34:46and many stakeholders and community members that will be

1:34:50participating in the process as we go We think this is

1:34:53an excellent opportunity to provide very much

1:34:57needed housing with a range of affordability

1:35:01from extreme low, very low, low moderate income all

1:35:05the way to market if this is a critical location,

1:35:09and it's a great opportunity beyond that,

1:35:11it's also an opportunity for placemaking as we've already

1:35:15been talking about with some of the benefits

1:35:18that are going to be located here

1:35:20and this critical access point It's also an opportunity

1:35:26for connection to connect some very important parts

1:35:29of the city of El Cerrito to other parts

1:35:32in this central location.

1:35:33The Aloni Greenway, the Plaza etc.

1:35:36as we're talking this evening, about our concept.

1:35:39I do want to reiterate that we're really

1:35:42at the beginning of the process A lot of work has gone into

1:35:45is already.

1:35:46We're very appreciative of all the way back to twenty

1:35:48sixteen as Melanie was describing

1:35:51the hard work of the city, as well as Bart

1:35:54and the strong partnership It's already been formed

1:35:57and has been ongoing in this site.

1:36:00We're happy to be folding in, but we've only presented

1:36:03our initial concepts and we have a lot of work ahead of us

1:36:07We really have put together what we

1:36:11believe is a strong team to help us turn

1:36:14this vision into a reality.

1:36:17If we can move to the next slide,

1:36:19I'll talk a little bit about the team

1:36:20that we've put together for this development.

1:36:24Starting with the developers.

1:36:26Again, this is a large site and there are a lot of us involved.

1:36:30But we've all worked together in various ways in past projects.

1:36:35So this is a very strong team and we're

1:36:37bringing all of our experience and our perspectives

1:36:42to this opportunity So on the development side,

1:36:45we have holiday development.

1:36:47Who will be focusing on the market rate housing ?

1:36:50And then we have a partnership of related and satellite

1:36:53affordable housing associates Zaha on affordable.

1:36:57So we'll be partnering all of the affordable components

1:37:00We have a really strong design team.

1:37:03I'm so excited to be working with this combination

1:37:06of players.

1:37:07We have Piotr vanMeter, Williams and and Annique wiler Kyul

1:37:13working together on this site.

1:37:15Each one has a tremendous amount of experience

1:37:18with large scale master plan multiphase developments

1:37:23like this train it oriented a lot of baat, experience

1:37:28and coming together.

1:37:30It's even better.

1:37:31We are also working with yuppy and with Monica Wilson

1:37:38to engage with the community and also for local hiring.

1:37:42If we could go to the next slide,

1:37:43I'll talk a little bit about the Affordable team.

1:37:45And then I'll turn it over to Jamie to talk more

1:37:48about holiday So again, the affordable team

1:37:50consists of a partnership of related california

1:37:53and Zaha together both organizations

1:37:57have long histories and developing affordable housing

1:38:01in the East Bay.

1:38:02In the Bay Area, California over twenty thousand units

1:38:07of affordable housing have been developed by our two companies

1:38:10together.

1:38:11So a lot of affordable experience.

1:38:14Both of our organized patients really

1:38:16focus on quali city development quality in the design,

1:38:22in the construction in the ongoing management

1:38:25and maintenance.

1:38:26We're really concerned about bringing

1:38:28a lot of amenity to our residents, a lot of programs

1:38:31services and opportunities And we're also very focused

1:38:36and making sure that we fit in well

1:38:37with our surrounding community.

1:38:39We want to fit in seamlessly with our neighborhood,

1:38:43and that requires a lot of conversation

1:38:46and a lot of listening sessions with our surrounding neighbors

1:38:50to really understand what's important to them.

1:38:52And we look forward to starting that process.

1:38:55I'm going to turn it over now to Jamie,

1:38:57who's going to talk a little bit more about our team Thanks

1:39:02again.

1:39:03And mentioned my name is Jimmy Choo.

1:39:05I'm director of development with Holiday Development

1:39:08and to Echo and sentiments the entire holiday team is thrilled

1:39:12to be to have the opportunity to work on this development

1:39:15at the Freedom Plaza Station.

1:39:17We're thrilled to be able to build on the experience

1:39:21that we've already had working on the Mayfair project

1:39:23that Melanie mentioned up at the Del Norte station

1:39:26Holiday is a housing development organization with a thirty year

1:39:30history that's rooted in developing

1:39:32housing across income levels.

1:39:34We've a strong track record of working with affordable housing

1:39:37development partners to create mixed income communities

1:39:41with cohesive designs The Plaza Project

1:39:45represents the next step in our development of those efforts.

1:39:49We don't know how to develop these communities in a way that

1:39:53respects the existing community and also enhances

1:39:56it for the current residents.

1:39:58And the future residents at I think one of the great aspects

1:40:02of this team.

1:40:02And one of the reasons we were so excited to join together

1:40:05to respond to bark in the city's request publications

1:40:08is that while we're focusing on various components

1:40:12of the Project holiday, it was affordable housing very well

1:40:15through past work experience and related its market rate housing

1:40:18very well So we can take those experiences

1:40:21and conceptualize the project that is rooted in the community

1:40:25and does deliver on the priorities

1:40:27that the community identified along with us.

1:40:30But we also have the ability to make

1:40:31sure these are financial feasible projects,

1:40:33both in the near term for construction

1:40:35and for a long term assets for the city of Balser

1:40:39next one of the critical aspects of our team

1:40:45is factory owners and factories.

1:40:47Some members of community may be familiar

1:40:49with You may have seen some large boxes

1:40:52flying through the air up the Del Norte station

1:40:54the last few months.

1:40:56So factory West is an off site housing production

1:40:59company based in Maryland.

1:41:01It was founded truly with a focus figuring out

1:41:04how to bring down the cost of construction

1:41:06in order to facilitate more housing production

1:41:09and with particular focus on affordable housing.

1:41:11Whether that be the most deeply restricted, low income housing

1:41:15all the way through moderate housing,

1:41:17moderate housing excuse me, so our partnership with factory.

1:41:21Or is a team allows us to target populations

1:41:24across various income levels advance work, work force

1:41:29development goals of sustainable goals

1:41:32and do so more quickly than we would otherwise be able to do.

1:41:35Another critical component factor US

1:41:37is its strong partnership with the Northern

1:41:40California carpenters Union.

1:41:42All employees affect us our members union

1:41:46and again, one mission.

1:41:47In addition to bring the cost of construction

1:41:50for housing production is workforce development.

1:41:53And finally as I mentioned, sustainability The factory

1:41:56has partnerships with both private entities

1:41:58such as Autodesk and public entities such as HUD

1:42:00in the Department of Energy.

1:42:02We're really focused on sustainable building methods

1:42:04that we can evaluate in real time

1:42:06and deliver to our projects, including

1:42:08projects that will be able to develop the station

1:42:12Next slide, please.

1:42:16So again, we were incredibly excited to have the opportunity

1:42:19to respond to all the work that has already been done

1:42:22by the community in the city.

1:42:24And Bhakta the specific plan and the development

1:42:26of the view that we ultimately responded to our vision

1:42:31for the development builds on our combined expertise,

1:42:35expertise, excuse me, in creating

1:42:36these transformative master planning

1:42:38communities that deliver mixed housing on the site.

1:42:42Our in our response was created to focus on positioning

1:42:46the housing development in a manner that maximizes

1:42:48feasibility while providing sensible phasing options that

1:42:52will decrease the impact on the neighborhood

1:42:54through the build out process with our design partners we

1:42:59closely evaluated the best opportunities

1:43:01to deliver community amenities, whether the outdoor space

1:43:05or a library.

1:43:06As we've been talking about or reimagining the Bard

1:43:10Plaza Station entrance.

1:43:13But we made all of these decisions

1:43:14as we worked through our RFQ response fully understanding

1:43:17that this was truly the start of a conversation about the site

1:43:20plan whether it be the location of the library

1:43:24whether it be how folks would be able to access the station,

1:43:27be a bike or other sorts of transit options

1:43:32these are all ideas that we're bringing to the table in order

1:43:35to have a conversation that will really ramp up

1:43:37the next coming months as we work with the community

1:43:39and with BART on their access plan,

1:43:46so while this is a project that's taking place

1:43:49at a artist station in the zone, part land

1:43:51in this partnership with Art,

1:43:53we know that projects don't just happen at a park station,

1:43:56they happen in the existing community

1:43:58and the Elstree Plaza Station in particular, as we all know,

1:44:02sits at the junction of very, very many different parts

1:44:05of the street community.

1:44:07We have the core commercial corridor just adjacent

1:44:11to our site But at the same time,

1:44:13we have residential neighborhoods immediately

1:44:15adjacent a lot of different experiences with how people get

1:44:25to the station that will need to evaluate

1:44:27as we work through our community process

1:44:29over the next coming months.

1:44:32Next slide, please.

1:44:35As we worked through our response,

1:44:37we had a few guiding principles that we came up with again,

1:44:41going back to look at what community

1:44:43engagement already occurred.

1:44:45And working with some of our design professionals

1:44:48So one of the initial items we looked at before we even

1:44:51started a site, buildings on our site plan

1:44:53was the use of outdoor space as a community amenity in a way

1:44:58to integrate this development, ultimately into the community

1:45:02the delivery of open space or placemaking

1:45:04was a critical part of our visioning

1:45:06for this conceptual plan.

1:45:09Um, we've already talked a little bit tonight

1:45:11about the really strong NASA connections

1:45:13that already exists with the Aloni Greenway with San Pablo

1:45:17Avenue obviously, with the BART tracks

1:45:19So we thought about how can we start to create a little bit

1:45:21more connectivity from the east to the west

1:45:24as you have people getting to the station via different means

1:45:28of transportation.

1:45:30This development can truly serve not as an abrupt transition

1:45:35between types of uses but a community hub where people

1:45:37gather as they make their way from the plaza Shopping

1:45:40Center to the Park Station and to their homes

1:45:44in the neighborhoods surrounding this can really be

1:45:46an asset to the community as it's built out

1:45:50And then we've already touched on sustainability

1:45:53is a critical part of how we view

1:45:56this project from the delivery of outdoor space

1:45:59to how we deliver opportunities for alternative transportation

1:46:05methods, getting people to the site

1:46:07outside of single occupancy, car all the way down

1:46:10to how are we going constructed buildings, how we're going

1:46:12to reduce construction waste,

1:46:14how are we going to reduce the impact on the neighborhood

1:46:16These are all ideas that we had in mind

1:46:18as we've laid out this conceptual plan that will serve

1:46:20as a starting point for our conversation with you

1:46:23all Next slide, please.

1:46:26And once again, just evaluating where this site sits

1:46:30within the Ossorio community.

1:46:32We have these strong NASA connections transit

1:46:36between the Plaza station.

1:46:38The Del Norte station is very straightforward.

1:46:41Perhaps it's a little more challenging to work

1:46:43your way from east to west.

1:46:44So how can we position this this project to help facilitate

1:46:47some of that movement within the community ? next slide, please.

1:46:55And resiliency for the long term We're

1:46:57developing this project today.

1:46:59And we have the facts that we have

1:47:01and we have the history of the communities

1:47:02to help us even understand better.

1:47:05But we're also developing our future residents and folks who

1:47:07will move to El Salvador to live in this development

1:47:11to visit the local businesses or to move into other parts

1:47:15of the community.

1:47:17We want to make sure we're developing

1:47:18a developer for the long term.

1:47:20That, again serves as a community hub.

1:47:23That's a true asset for El and for next

1:47:30And so we start to land on our initial conceptual plan

1:47:35that we presented to park into the city as part

1:47:38of our response, again, as a starting point,

1:47:41taking into account what's everyone laid out in the RFQ

1:47:45as the priority is they learn from the neighborhood

1:47:48as they went through the specific plan

1:47:51and through the community meetings that touched on

1:47:54So we took great care to appropriately

1:47:56took place the open space in this conceptual plan

1:47:59to understand the best place that we

1:48:01felt we could place the park facilities

1:48:03our access facilities.

1:48:04Excuse me where to locate parking

1:48:07and where to locate housing on a way that provides an asset

1:48:12community that also fits in and the appropriate manner properly

1:48:16sizing the buildings, so on.

1:48:17And so forth.

1:48:18And we look forward to continuing conversations

1:48:20as the community starts to roll through the rest of this year.

1:48:25For holiday and related both as housing developers

1:48:29choose our true core mission delivering housing and a method

1:48:32that respects the existing neighborhood is

1:48:34of utmost importance.

1:48:36And we look forward to getting into the conversations

1:48:39and telling you more about how we envision delivering

1:48:42this housing and deliver.

1:48:44Sorry, excuse me.

1:48:45I'll turn it over to Andrew to touch a little bit more

1:48:47on that.

1:48:48Thank you, Jamie.

1:48:50The ability to deliver housing units in such locations

1:48:54are transient and amenity.

1:48:55Rich cities also Plaza is really exciting.

1:48:59We were really looking forward to creating

1:49:01a community that will enrich future tenant tenants lives.

1:49:05Our vision for the site delivers housing at all income levels

1:49:09and we'll be a dynamic community that will provide housing

1:49:11for a diverse population and household size residents

1:49:15will have access to ample indoor and outdoor amenities

1:49:18as well as the public improvements that

1:49:21will happen around the station.

1:49:24Are preliminary concept studies developed

1:49:27as part of related selection process

1:49:29and guided really by the San Pablo

1:49:31apneas Pacific Plan was able to achieve seven and fifty

1:49:35to eight fifty housing units, which would be delivered

1:49:38across a number of phases Fifty percent of that total number

1:49:43of units would be income restricted serving

1:49:47and income range all the way from extremely low income

1:49:49or thirty percent in median income

1:49:52up to middle income housing The missing middle really

1:49:56allows us to serve the full income

1:49:58spectrum across the project.

1:50:05The next step in the development process

1:50:07will be progress in refining this vision,

1:50:10we're speaking to this will involve coordination

1:50:13with Bart the city and facilitating input

1:50:16from stakeholders, including community members here

1:50:20The ideas and the suggestions and sensitivities

1:50:22and even concerns for community from the general community

1:50:26is essential to deliver a successful and fully integrated

1:50:29project We will look to build our part of the city's already

1:50:33community engagement efforts over the past years,

1:50:35and our team will be actively involved

1:50:37in the study community process.

1:50:39The Raichel spoke to.

1:50:40And in coordination will facilitate input

1:50:42from the community on the development concept

1:50:45outside of station access as both melanie

1:50:49and Shannon mentioned, the first step in this process

1:50:53will be a community wide beating is scheduled for May 25th.

1:50:57Much like tonight's The Focus of the meeting

1:50:59is going to be an introductory event

1:51:02and to introduce a development team review to the city's

1:51:05work over the past few years, really where we are today

1:51:09and discuss the next steps of the development process

1:51:16throughout the really the remaining portion of this year.

1:51:19And through twenty, twenty two our focus

1:51:23will be on the station access and then

1:51:26refind of the development concept and plan as mentioned,

1:51:30to the key components of progressing

1:51:32the development through the development timeline.

1:51:35Determining the replacement parking out

1:51:37and the station access study will be really making

1:51:43this determination following that milestone development team

1:51:47will progress to further design development which will lead

1:51:51into the entitlement process Echoing what Anne and Jamie

1:51:59both hit on We're really looking forward to the city working

1:52:02with the city parks and community to ensure the station

1:52:05achieves its immense potential All of us

1:52:09see Thank you again for having this evening

1:52:11and our team is available for any questions

1:52:15Council members any comments or questions

1:52:24Council member Mohtarma thank.

1:52:27Amaia, I'm really excited that we're

1:52:30starting to see some material on the what's

1:52:34proposed I think it would be great to have

1:52:39the development team.

1:52:40Can I just walk through the site plan and see

1:52:43the library's and mentioned ?

1:52:45I think you have a spot for it on the plan.

1:52:48But I think plans are sometime hard to read.

1:52:50If this is not what you do. every single day.

1:52:53So if you could just walk us through what your proposed

1:52:56in the schematic sense that everybody has a good starting

1:53:00point this evening.

1:53:01That would be really helpful.

1:53:03I also would just like to hear from the development team,

1:53:09their committing to work with BART in the city

1:53:12in developing this off street parking program, which will be,

1:53:16I think, really important to the overall success

1:53:20of this development I keep hearing.

1:53:22Oh, well, the city will come up with a street parking plan.

1:53:26And I don't want it to sound like we are being

1:53:29that the cost of parking on site is being external to the city.

1:53:34As you know, we have a pretty significant budget issue here.

1:53:38So we really aren't able to absorb

1:53:41as much as we would love to see something

1:53:43really great happened here.

1:53:44So given that I just give everyone the heads up about

1:53:48that, but also just to make sure that there's real coordination

1:53:51real thoughtfulness and help us to come up with this really

1:53:57great plan because we're really not

1:53:58in position to come up with a big program

1:54:02because we don't have funding for that.

1:54:06So any assistance with that would be really critical.

1:54:08To here as well as to have and just any kind of analysis

1:54:17about the library that you can share with us,

1:54:20your initial thoughts be really helpful to here as well.

1:54:23So thank you So this is in again, I think maybe

1:54:34if we could share our screen.

1:54:36Do you want us to walk through We can walk through again.

1:54:39This is just the initial concept plan.

1:54:41We responded to the RFQ with our ideas.

1:54:45This is by no means a proposal or final in any way

1:54:50But we could just walk through some of the ideas.

1:54:53What each of these blocks represent Jameer, Andrew.

1:54:56If you want to walk through or if you want me to keep going.

1:55:00Yeah, sure.

1:55:00I can jump in.

1:55:03This is Jamie Hitcher with Holiday.

1:55:06So maybe we'll just move in alphabetical order here.

1:55:09Jamie, can you speak up ?

1:55:11Yes sorry.

1:55:12Can you hear me a bit better.

1:55:13I'll move the microphone here.

1:55:16So starting with percelay, which as we talked about earlier,

1:55:20is a little bit of an outlier within the existing zoning

1:55:25and that it's not part of the san Pablo specific plan.

1:55:29As Melanie alluded to, we're spending all this time

1:55:33understanding aB twenty nine, twenty

1:55:35three and what that means for BART and for the city

1:55:38and for the development team because it's

1:55:42such new legislation that we're trading in new waters here

1:55:45and we're excited about what that can

1:55:47mean for the amount of housing.

1:55:48We can deliver.

1:55:50But again, we want to make sure that we're doing.

1:55:53So in a way that respects the existing community So

1:55:57essentially moving counterclockwise,

1:55:59you'll see parcel be kind adjacent to Central Avenue is

1:56:04where in our initial proposal we located the public parking

1:56:09and public parking is just a public garage

1:56:11That would be a mixed use garage house parking for residential.

1:56:17It would house parking for the replacement of the portion

1:56:20of the existing park parking and potentially

1:56:22the library as well.

1:56:24In our initial plan, we located that in what we would call wrap

1:56:29development So we would have residential units wrapping

1:56:33around the garage We also looked at some scenario

1:56:36where perhaps the garage would be a standalone structure.

1:56:39But in both cases, we're really focused on how do we

1:56:43locate the garage in a way that that's not negatively impact

1:56:46to the human expert as of using this development

1:56:50And when it comes forward we have more residential sited

1:56:55on a parcels see one in two.

1:56:58And again, as was noted earlier, this is where the library

1:57:01was initially located.

1:57:02Our conceptual plan and part of the driver

1:57:05there was really understanding the importance

1:57:08of Fairmont Avenue.

1:57:10And so if if the library were to not go forward or the library

1:57:14or to recite somewhere else on the site,

1:57:16we would see this as an opportunity for delivery

1:57:19of retail at some level.

1:57:22And then circling back down to parcel

1:57:24D, another residential building there.

1:57:29I guess you look a bit more closely

1:57:32at this city with the community might pick up on.

1:57:34Is that one of the moves that we made in this conceptual plan ?

1:57:39was having Oak Street come all the way through the site

1:57:42and citing all the vehicular uS access

1:57:45on one side of the tracks.

1:57:46Whereas now it's on both sides And really our goal there

1:57:52was to really enhance the experience of the Greenway

1:57:56and the access to the station So we talked about the potential

1:57:59of having a bike station in this area really making this an area

1:58:03where people can pause during transit up and down the Aloni

1:58:07freeway or to and from the park Station So again,

1:58:11acknowledging that this is all kind of our initial first take,

1:58:14that that's where we decided some of the uses in the cycling

1:58:22Thank you Question Were you done with Lisa's questions

1:58:35I sets the site for a question.

1:58:38We could turn to the parking site, parking meter.

1:58:41Uh, or I could i could pose for the next question,

1:58:45which do you prefer to ask a question

1:58:49But it was about that slide.

1:58:50And we're going to come Mr. Defer to you

1:58:59on how you want to proceed.

1:59:02Yes.

1:59:02Uh council member, Avildsen OK, I was wondering where

1:59:06the the bus stops would be.

1:59:09I don't quite see a place for them.

1:59:15So in this plan, the bus access would be located

1:59:18along oak Street as well.

1:59:20As to some of those joggers and how we have laid out

1:59:25would be where the bus parking would be located Again,

1:59:29at this stage, we haven't had conversations with AC transit

1:59:32and the other transit provider This

1:59:36was our effort as we responded to the request for qualifiable

1:59:40understand.

1:59:41This would kickoff point for those conversations

1:59:44Thank you council.

1:59:50No material.

1:59:51What was your second inquiry ?

1:59:54Just I would like to just have the partnership

1:59:58affirmed to support the parking lot of St.

2:00:02For the on street parking so that we are not stuck.

2:00:07Coming up with a solution for any extra parking by ourselves.

2:00:13Mayor, I believe that Rachel Hektor from BART

2:00:17is ready to jump and talk about this item Thank you.

2:00:21Uh, council member Motorama Yeah, hi.

2:00:25Hopefully you can hear me this time.

2:00:29Everyone hear me oK ? now I'm scared

2:00:33I'm going to fail me Yeah.

2:00:35So as part of the corridor wide plan.

2:00:38And one of the reasons we wanted to get grants for this work

2:00:42is because the station specific access plan generally wouldn't

2:00:46have enough funding to do an in-depth analysis

2:00:51on doing something on street parking management concept.

2:00:55So we've hired an expert in the field

2:00:59as part of our team premiss and he

2:01:03is he is going to be developing concept together with the city

2:01:06and looking at really how how this parking management

2:01:11plan could support itself and bring revenue to the city

2:01:15The initial upfront upfront setup

2:01:18costs is something we would have to we'd need to explore.

2:01:21Grant funding and work with our partners

2:01:25together with the city and partner agencies

2:01:28to try to come up with the funding for that OK,

2:01:34so there is a consultant There's a cost.

2:01:37But we don't currently have funding for it.

2:01:39That is correct.

2:01:42The consultant is paid for through the Caltrans grant,

2:01:45but the set costs for a program is something

2:01:48that we will have to figure out what the setup costs are

2:01:50and then figure out the funding how the funding

2:01:54plan would work for that.

2:01:55And then, of course determine that this parking management

2:01:58plan would be self supporting and hopefully revenue

2:02:01generating to provide community benefits and can you just give

2:02:06us a ballpark sense of what the cost

2:02:08to set up a program would be ?

2:02:10Just really ballpark You know, it's still it.

2:02:16I think it can range, maybe somewhere between five hundred

2:02:20thousand to a million But I, I this is very initial

2:02:26So I think that we need to explore it more deeply

2:02:28and then come up with a better estimate I believe

2:02:33that that's really helpful.

2:02:34The magnitude of the cost is really helpful.

2:02:36Thank you Council member Rubberneck Thank you.

2:02:47I have a few questions before I and the questions.

2:02:50Thank you.

2:02:51You so much for the presentation.

2:02:53I really appreciate you reiterating the importance

2:02:56of our community space.

2:02:59And we really want this project to benefit our current l.A.

2:03:04residents as our future residents

2:03:07and really creating this common space

2:03:09I'm a big fan of Jane Epps.

2:03:12So any of this kind of when we think is that our unity is.

2:03:17And I know that there's a lot of community members

2:03:19who are excited, engaged.

2:03:20I'm looking forward to public comment on this.

2:03:23So now to my questions When it comes to real middle school

2:03:30and affordable housing, I know that for a Mayfair project

2:03:34and i think council member Modie Yamaka almost answer

2:03:37to this question I know that the funding sources

2:03:40for affordable housing, tend to be more complex and faster

2:03:44for market rate to be built which is why at the Mayfair

2:03:48project, there is a separate bill, which is the Affordable

2:03:52Housing Building, a structure that's going up separately

2:03:55from the market rate, which is what

2:03:56we're seeing going up now that be the same on this project.

2:04:00Our housing, is the housing going to be set Brit,

2:04:04based on And the responses I'll jump in as a starting point.

2:04:20Then Andrew and jamie jump in as well.

2:04:24You know it is past possible to integrate

2:04:30but we are contemplating separate developments

2:04:34for the affordable and the market

2:04:37So not a fully integrated integrated across the site.

2:04:41That will allow for us to secure the financing that we need

2:04:45for the Affordable and also for some

2:04:49of the public improvements, just like you

2:04:51approved I think a basic application today

2:04:54for the rich property mavor.

2:04:57We would be seeking todd to do not just the housing,

2:05:03but also a lot of these public improvements in the structure

2:05:07of a separate, standalone, affordable

2:05:10really supports that I don't know if Jamie and Andrew,

2:05:14if you want to add on to that or council that That's right.

2:05:20Just given the complexities not just

2:05:23of affordable housing finance market

2:05:25housing finance, as well.

2:05:27And then the missing middle, which has always inclusive

2:05:30having them in separate structures with making sure

2:05:33particularly in the public improvements

2:05:35that we're making, that that all integrates well together, which

2:05:38is what we focused on a bit at at the Mayfair Project

2:05:41with the public use You'll start to see.

2:05:43Come on line for the next few months.

2:05:45But that is the concept here as well.

2:05:50Thank you for the explanation My next question is about some

2:05:54of the public improvement projects such as a playground.

2:05:57And I know that for rendering these it's really easy to throw

2:06:01in playground to make it more accommodating But the question

2:06:04would be, is that A, would that be maintained by the property

2:06:10management If this is a use playground,

2:06:13that's become a city of playground, how does that

2:06:16work ? that's a real question.

2:06:21I think might want to chime as well,

2:06:24but I think when what we want to make sure in these proposals

2:06:29that we were putting forward public improvements that we

2:06:33feel are feasible again, not just from a construction

2:06:36standpoint, but from a long term management standpoint as well.

2:06:41So if it's an improvement that's tied to a particular project,

2:06:44making sure that that particular building can support

2:06:47financially the maintenance or if it's something that's maybe

2:06:51more in the middle how do we work on shared management

2:06:55of that space Among these developments that are going

2:06:57to come forward onto the land ?

2:06:59So it's an open question, but conceptually, we put forward

2:07:02public amenities that we feel the project

2:07:06projects plural can support.

2:07:10Well, I can certainly tell you that a playground

2:07:12would be very posh here.

2:07:15Those three that we do have a lot of younger residents

2:07:18under the age of, let's say, ten who

2:07:20would use that playground Your parents would be happy for it.

2:07:24Sure.

2:07:25That where we thinking through these things

2:07:27as we're closer to it and then my final question

2:07:32is about Ibro.

2:07:33And I know that Councillor Maryanna asked that question,

2:07:36but I don't think it was answered miss, which

2:07:39is we really do want a library and we very much do,

2:07:44but we do not have the funds for it.

2:07:47And I know that a lot of that this is just more hypothetical.

2:07:51I don't even know if it's questions that could be

2:07:52answered and then have got the city attorney

2:07:54is on the call for this.

2:07:56Things like exploring how it is that we

2:07:58could potentially release versus purchase a library.

2:08:03I would be more interested in that Also,

2:08:07as far as having the plans in place, for a library,

2:08:11because at this point, it's very speculative I don't even

2:08:15believe that we would could afford

2:08:18to fund looking into the plans for a library, let

2:08:22alone the library.

2:08:23Itself.

2:08:24It would be a great figure is to move

2:08:28forward because I believe that having this location

2:08:32will be fantastic.

2:08:34Regionally.

2:08:35Appreciate it. would be heavily utilized.

2:08:37Appreciate it.

2:08:37Would be really great that for the property itself to have a

2:08:44on site, it would make especially the market rate

2:08:47housing more attractive for folks knowing

2:08:49that there's a library there on I really hope

2:08:51that the starts a dialogue.

2:08:53But is that we can make it work, because I think mutually

2:08:57beneficial to get a library here at the Space kind of more

2:09:02comedy, but a little bit questioning if there's anything

2:09:04you want to I would say this, that the development

2:09:12and design team thought a lot about where

2:09:16the library could be located.

2:09:18We made a suggestion as part of our concept

2:09:22that's physically where it's located and thought about,

2:09:25oh maybe there's a cafe or maybe there's

2:09:27some outdoor space to spill out into things like that.

2:09:30I think that the physical location

2:09:33is probably the easiest of all of the things

2:09:35to consider with the library.

2:09:37So I agree with you completely.

2:09:39It's a dialogue now.

2:09:40We need to engage in that dialogue.

2:09:42Figure out what the possibilities are,

2:09:45how realistic those are, and see how far we can

2:09:48go with our planning process.

2:09:49With the library in knowing that it might get pulled out.

2:09:52We want to pursue both avenues as long as we possibly can.

2:09:57And really explore that feasibility along with the city

2:10:01It can add just a piece on this council member.

2:10:05And so because Bart owns the land and jump in.

2:10:08If I mystate the option this site would

2:10:12be a lease type of situation.

2:10:14And so that is something we are talking to the developer,

2:10:17I think I don't remember if it was mentioned,

2:10:19but the building that it's proposed to be located in

2:10:22is a part of the affordable housing aspects.

2:10:26So we're beginning to talk about that.

2:10:28But the lease piece is is likely and I've

2:10:31talked to the city attorney about this in the past.

2:10:32Before we when we were just exploring how could

2:10:35something feasibly happen So that piece is somewhat known,

2:10:39but not fully explored yet.

2:10:41What that would look like, how it would be financed,

2:10:43like you said, you know, how it would be capitalized,

2:10:45how it would be built up.

2:10:46But you brought up another important point,

2:10:48and it's one that we're talking about out

2:10:49to how could it even be planned to how

2:10:52could we how can we plan it ?

2:10:53What kind of engagement and what kind of exploration ?

2:10:56So are deeply in conversation, along with all

2:10:59these other topics I'd say we're actually just initiating maybe

2:11:02not so deeply in this one yet.

2:11:03We're initiating a conversation on this one.

2:11:06And I'll be communicating with the city manager

2:11:08and we'll figure out like the appropriate juncture

2:11:11that we start to be able to bring you some ways

2:11:15that this can move forward.

2:11:16But I'd say we're really an initial conversations.

2:11:18I think when I talk to the affordable housing team,

2:11:21they felt excited about it.

2:11:23There's a lot of potential I think,

2:11:24for the development, the same way that you just described it.

2:11:27It's it's a it complements the housing of all ages and types

2:11:32as well as really built a complete

2:11:34community in the neighbourhood.

2:11:35And serves the greater ulcerated community

2:11:39So they're excited about it.

2:11:40And they included it in the site plan.

2:11:42Now we're looking at how far can they carry it,

2:11:44what kind of supplemental planning with the city have

2:11:47to think about And we'll be back to you with kind

2:11:49of these decisions and then kind of a decision to be matrix,

2:11:52right ?

2:11:52How far so we are just initiating that conversation

2:11:55But the lease would likely be that

2:11:58would be probably a piece of the structure.

2:12:01I mean, yes, right.

2:12:04I do want to apologize.

2:12:05Apparently, my audio has now.

2:12:07And I got a message from city clerk about it.

2:12:09So I apologize for that.

2:12:11Also we are indeed pursue a lease model.

2:12:15How is it.

2:12:16And we'll have to discuss going for grants

2:12:20to help us in the development of our not

2:12:23owning the property I don't know if it would be a challenge

2:12:27once we have plans, if we are trying to seek grant funds

2:12:31and for construction you do not own.

2:12:35So it'll be interesting how.

2:12:37But really, I want us to be open up there.

2:12:41That's well, again, sorry Opened in agile in this

2:12:46the goal of having like a site that that's it for me.

2:12:51I can I can certainly I can safely say as the staff member

2:12:55who has been working on trying to build a library in this town

2:12:58since about two thousand you can rest assured that I am going

2:13:02to be exploring every possibility

2:13:04there is And can that include infrastructure, finance,

2:13:10district We will look into every single person

2:13:15that has gotten way easier It means a combination

2:13:18of entities coming together to accrue tax money

2:13:22and it's become easier.

2:13:23Yes, Janet council member, Avildsen.

2:13:26Yes, there's another related problem especially

2:13:30if you go by back to the way it used to be,

2:13:34which is it isn't the library.

2:13:37It's run by the county not us.

2:13:41And I'm sure.

2:13:42Yes, for the existing libraries throughout the county.

2:13:46Who owns them ? now, sir ?

2:13:50Jurisdiction All of the local jurisdictions

2:13:53phone all the buildings.

2:13:54That is correct.

2:13:55Oh, OK.

2:13:56So that at one level simplifies it.

2:14:00So we don't theoretically operate We

2:14:05yes, we own and maintain the building,

2:14:07and it is indeed operated by Contra Costa County

2:14:09Library council member COINTEL.

2:14:13Thank you, Mayor And I know Karen

2:14:15and i spoke about the Future of Libraries

2:14:19and know that there are bills out there in Sacramento

2:14:23and also on the federal level and part of a package

2:14:28of building better back includes libraries

2:14:32so that is part of the plan on the federal level.

2:14:36So I would love to know more about that.

2:14:39Once that gets out of that I know our county librarian

2:14:43knows about that.

2:14:45Our library commissioners have emailed us about

2:14:49and I've talked to Karen about looking at all that.

2:14:52And then when it comes to grants and what's available,

2:14:57so definitely there will be things out available this year.

2:15:02OK, i have just a couple of comments.

2:15:06I'm very glad to see that a project labor agreement

2:15:11is in place for this project.

2:15:12Art has that for every property I understand.

2:15:15So that will be happening.

2:15:16And also read out.

2:15:17And I'm wondering if the thirty five percent affordable housing

2:15:22is in place, is that a number that will stay or is

2:15:24that a flexible number as well with the development

2:15:33that change could change.

2:15:36Our current proposal is fifty percent

2:15:38and can restrict it about forty percent

2:15:40of that is housing That's serving income

2:15:43levels below eighty percent.

2:15:45Tamaya between 30 percent and 80 percent AM.

2:15:47And we intend to keep those ratios.

2:15:51So it may not be Thirty five percent is what you're saying.

2:15:54We intend to keep the ratio that we are at currently,

2:15:56which is above thirty five percent above thirty five OK,

2:16:00and just quickly, I'm assuming with all the lessons we're

2:16:04learning from covid that where we're at the very beginning

2:16:07of this process.

2:16:08But you're going to be folding in any lessons that

2:16:10we may have learned from hatton's travel patterns,

2:16:13work patterns ?

2:16:14I know there are some issues of office space.

2:16:17Maybe we don't need that now, but that's something we can

2:16:20continue to talk you all about.

2:16:22Is that right ?

2:16:24Actually, OK can we move to gabe Pinto

2:16:27has another guest Thank you, Mayor.

2:16:30And mayor.

2:16:31I believe you attended that meeting

2:16:33with me with cal Cities.

2:16:35When we did have a guest speaker from Southern California

2:16:39speaking about the future of downtown

2:16:42and the future of how to reimagine Dedman

2:16:45and and areas where cities had difficulties in making

2:16:53their cities better when it comes to redevelop

2:16:56and looking at what they're doing

2:17:00in other parts of California i'm hoping

2:17:04that we'll be able to learn from all that And with covid

2:17:09and learning from covid about the need of some offices

2:17:16because retail could be retail ever again.

2:17:19Supposedly from what our advisors told us in Cal cities.

2:17:24So definitely looking into folks that

2:17:28want to have their offices offices closer to home

2:17:32we lack that.

2:17:33And people have been asking for offices

2:17:36and I definitely support So looking into that very much.

2:17:40Appreciate it, because you look at what we have right now.

2:17:43And what we're building we have no one interested in our retail

2:17:47yet.

2:17:48So and so I want to make sure that in the future that where

2:17:56up on the changes of what's going on across the state

2:18:00and where we're seeing that in the beginning right now.

2:18:04And you look at what happened at St. Shambhala in San

2:18:08Francisco and the operator entities

2:18:10that that brought because of that.

2:18:12And I know we will see that.

2:18:13And we're seeing it now here the East Bay.

2:18:16And I look forward to seeing the project come into fruition.

2:18:21Really excited about that.

2:18:22Thank you.

2:18:23And I'd like to move on to public comment.

2:18:25Now.

2:18:26We can at this time any non members of the public who wish

2:18:31to provide public comments on this item

2:18:34should use to raise the hand feature to request to speak.

2:18:37And we will ask the city clerk to proceed with this process.

2:18:40Now.

2:18:41Thank you Thank you, Mayor.

2:18:43For those on the call, there are instructions

2:18:46again, up on the screen for how to use race hand feature.

2:18:49If you're calling in by phone, you

2:18:51can dial star nine to raise your hand

2:18:54and may at this time I have about

2:18:57ten hands question to speak.

2:18:59Can you please confirm a 3 minute time limit

2:19:04Yeah, I'm wants to put it to two to half,

2:19:07but let's table with three here.

2:19:09OK, ok.

2:19:10My first speaker is Dave Campbell.

2:19:13Dave Davies should be able to unmuted.

2:19:15Begin your time now.

2:19:18In council members and team Dave Campbell,

2:19:22advocacy director with Bickie bay.

2:19:25I want to start by saying Bakkies

2:19:26Bay is fully supportive of the work you're doing here.

2:19:29This, I think, is going to be a wonderful development project.

2:19:33For the city.

2:19:35Of El Cerrito.

2:19:37But that said, have concerns about a couple issues that

2:19:41have come up repeatedly over the years and the first one

2:19:45has to do with parking.

2:19:47And I want to applaud Bart for very clearly staying in there

2:19:51priorities that walking and biking are the highest

2:19:55excellence priorities I'd simply ask Bart to clarify does that

2:20:00also mean, those the highest priorities

2:20:01for your new tenants when they need to access

2:20:04local EL destinations ?

2:20:06well, is it more than just an access number

2:20:09or is it also a building number for parts new tenants

2:20:14But but in connection with this, we've

2:20:17been working with many cities on Pablo Avenue

2:20:20and making it a much more mobile street and corridor

2:20:23for people who can't drive or choose

2:20:26not to drive or want to drive.

2:20:28And that includes transit.

2:20:29That includes walking.

2:20:30In addition to bike lanes.

2:20:32And we've heard from staff and others

2:20:35that we can't remove on street parking on San Pablo Avenue

2:20:38because we're removing all this parking

2:20:41around our BART stations.

2:20:42And I think that's where Bahts board can step

2:20:46and say, no, that's not right.

2:20:47That's not what we mean when we remove from our BART stations.

2:20:51To build homes for people And I think we

2:20:53need to hear that from Sarita's city council as well.

2:20:57And if you look those bike access numbers your stations,

2:21:01they've stayed steady over the last ten years.

2:21:04And from two thousand eight to 12 15,

2:21:07we've had the Aloni Greenway.

2:21:08Both of those years in that period, what you've lacked

2:21:12is good.

2:21:12EastWest connections and your bike plan

2:21:15that we worked on many years ago lacks those good EastWest

2:21:19connections.

2:21:19And we we heard from many community members

2:21:23who said they wanted better East-West connections and staff

2:21:26wasn't ready to go there because of street parking

2:21:30And I know it's a difficult issue for staff to work out.

2:21:33And that's why i think they need to hear from the council How

2:21:36important is this parking moving forward relative to improving

2:21:39walking, biking and transit And the other issue is the freeway

2:21:43traffic We've heard as we try to improve San Pablo

2:21:47Avenue for walking biking and transit that San Pablo

2:21:51Avenue is an auxiliary road to the freeway

2:21:54And I think that's where BART board and this council

2:21:58need to step in and say, no, that's not right either.

2:22:01It's fine to redirect traffic onto the freeway right

2:22:04past the crash.

2:22:05That all the technology out there is intended to do.

2:22:07But this street is first and foremost, our main street and

2:22:11we need to make it happen for.

2:22:13So my ass are strong statements The BART board

2:22:15and from this council on those two issues, parking

2:22:18and the freeway, things.

2:22:21Thank you Thank you.

2:22:22Our next speaker is Carrie Shulman.

2:22:24There used to be able to unmuted begin your time out.

2:22:29Hi, everyone.

2:22:30I'm an illustrator.

2:22:31Resent resident.

2:22:33I've lived here for over a decade.

2:22:35I'm so excited about what you guys are planning here.

2:22:38Thank you, everyone.

2:22:39On this call for your work on this.

2:22:42I do a lot of biking and I'm a little concerned

2:22:45with the current plans bike path.

2:22:47I'm currently with the El Cerrito

2:22:49BART station the Plaza Station.

2:22:51It's a little scary biking through there

2:22:53because people kind of haphazardly wander around

2:22:57So it would be really greatly appreciated if you could be

2:23:00mindful of how people are using the bike path

2:23:04and if there's cross traffic, you route them

2:23:07to specific areas of the bike path.

2:23:09so that people who are using bike path as they're biking

2:23:13highway can still get through their efficiently

2:23:15and without being scared of people

2:23:18wandering around randomly.

2:23:21I'm also concerned about the location of the playground

2:23:24right next to the bike path We definitely don't want toddlers

2:23:28randomly wandering around on the bike

2:23:31and also, I think it would be so much

2:23:33more effective to put the playground closer to the

2:23:37library and closer to a cafes.

2:23:39I'm also I have a six year old and an eight year

2:23:43and it would be dreamy to be able to sit in a cafe

2:23:46and enjoy my food at my own leisure

2:23:50while being able to watch my kids play on the playground.

2:23:54And also, if a library could be right next to the playground

2:23:57would be really great.

2:23:58So much better than having the playground having

2:24:01a street there where kids run across the street

2:24:04and it could also be pretty scary.

2:24:06So having the playground more centrally

2:24:08located near the library and near restaurants

2:24:12would be really great.

2:24:14And the one other thing I noticed

2:24:16I saw for fitness centers on the plan which seemed kind

2:24:21of excessive I would love to see more dining places, cafe

2:24:27and things like that.

2:24:28I think that's the future of retail

2:24:32And maybe we don't need for fitness centers So

2:24:35thank you very much for listening to my comments

2:24:37and all your work Thank you.

2:24:42Thank you.

2:24:43You.

2:24:43Our next speaker is Jodi Maybe you should be able to.

2:24:46I'm you can begin your time now.

2:24:50Thank you.

2:24:51My name is Jambon.

2:24:53I'm sorry.

2:24:53I just use the initials despite what you've heard tonight.

2:24:57Let's be clear, Bart stated objective is to, quote,

2:25:01replace little or no Bart Patrón Parkington

2:25:04maximize the benefits associated future

2:25:06taught at the station unquote.

2:25:09The push is based on flawed survey methodology incorrectly

2:25:12categorized the station as semi urban,

2:25:15thereby needing little or no parking and bahts desire

2:25:19to secure lucrative lease revenue

2:25:21and make the project more appealing.

2:25:22To developers.

2:25:24Removing most of the station parking

2:25:25will create severe hardships for those

2:25:27who must use a car for work, commuting

2:25:29family or health reasons.

2:25:31Not everyone can bike or take a scooter to and from Bart

2:25:35This will create massive parking issues for residents

2:25:38of the surrounding streets.

2:25:40BART survey was flawed in that it counted

2:25:42restricted hourly parking is available to BART riders

2:25:45If a rider worked an eight hour day then

2:25:47he or she could not use that street for parking.

2:25:49I want to give this real life scenario A single parent who

2:25:53is commuting from the plaza to San Francisco each day

2:25:56after work just rides Bart back to the plaza, jumps in her car

2:26:00and picks up her two children from preschool

2:26:02before the six p.m. deadline.

2:26:05She relies on the reserve parking spot

2:26:07to ensure her children can be picked up

2:26:10before the preschool closes If there is no station parking

2:26:15or so.

2:26:16So restricted she would have to hunt around

2:26:18for blocks or blocks in the morning

2:26:20with no guarantee of parking.

2:26:22If she parked far away, the long walk to the station

2:26:24could make her late for work.

2:26:26And on the return from work she would

2:26:28have to race back to her car parked

2:26:30on a random street that day.

2:26:31To pick up her children.

2:26:33A bicycle, bus or ride your option

2:26:35is simply not feasible when children

2:26:37need to be in car seats.

2:26:39Removing parking may force the parent to make tough choices

2:26:41about child care. or even where she could work You would have

2:26:44removed a critical component daily parking

2:26:47access to her ability to work and care for her children.

2:26:51Please demand that Bart conduct a more thorough objective

2:26:55survey that uses nonbiased methodology

2:26:59and does not make so many assumptions The survey was not

2:27:02an accurate representative sample, as Bart itself admits

2:27:06the survey does not provide a comprehensive view of travel

2:27:09behavior and relies on stated preference

2:27:11and stated behaviors instead of observed behavior,

2:27:14quote unquote.

2:27:16Too many initial decisions and directions

2:27:18are being based on this plus flawed survey methodology

2:27:21and findings It lacks real world examples

2:27:24And if you think there's going to be a golden shovel

2:27:26groundbreaking on this project in the next few years

2:27:29think again.

2:27:30If bart, the developers in the city,

2:27:33don't listen to the patrons and citizens of wall Street

2:27:36or in the surrounding area.

2:27:38I'm afraid that this project will be mired in litigation

2:27:40for years to come.

2:27:42So please demand Bart be more accountable

2:27:45and do more research on parking meters Thank you very much.

2:27:50Killed Our next speaker is Laura more

2:27:54Laura you should be able to I'm meeting begin your time now.

2:28:02Accept holly, Laura are you there ?

2:28:06Yeah, can you not hear me ?

2:28:08We can now Please proceed.

2:28:10Sorry about that.

2:28:11Hi, my name's Laura Mauer.

2:28:13I'm a former member of the Economic Development committee

2:28:17for the City of Toronto.

2:28:18And I am a graduate of my master's in urban planning

2:28:22Can you speak up, Laura ?

2:28:24Laura news.

2:28:24Speak up.

2:28:25Yeah, sorry about that.

2:28:27I actually did my master's thesis

2:28:29on parking at particularly the floors of our station.

2:28:33I did some parking occupancy study

2:28:36looking at the park on street parking

2:28:38surrounding the station.

2:28:40And I actually found that even during the busiest times, only

2:28:44about seventy seven percent of the parking

2:28:47in the immediate vicinity of the BART station

2:28:50was actually in use.

2:28:51Some of this is because of the residential parking program

2:28:55and some it was just poorly used parking spaces

2:29:00and so we looked at a lot of different methods

2:29:02that could be used to actually better utilize the parking that

2:29:07is already existing.

2:29:07There is a significant amount of parking around the station

2:29:11and is actually not utilized very well.

2:29:13By the residents during the day.

2:29:15Even with the parking permit program

2:29:17so I think there's a lot of room for improvement with things

2:29:21like parking passes to be able to use

2:29:25the on street parking better.

2:29:27There are also several parking lots nearby

2:29:30within a several blocks that could be better utilized,

2:29:34especially a couple of banks that are on San Pablo Avenue

2:29:38because people just aren't banking

2:29:40like they used to anymore.

2:29:41And they have significant amounts of unused parking

2:29:44that could be very well utilized by BART.

2:29:47So I implore Bart and the developers

2:29:50to look at ways to actually minimize

2:29:53the amount of replacement parking

2:29:54that is put in this development and also to think about

2:30:00if if replacement parking is necessary to maybe use it

2:30:04at the arts station as an end of the line station

2:30:08or a which functions as an end of the line essentially,

2:30:12there's always going to be a need

2:30:14for parking at that station.

2:30:15And so because it's that station is

2:30:18so close to the Plaza Station, it seems

2:30:21better to put in extra parking.

2:30:25It's already necessary I really enjoy this project.

2:30:28I'm really happy to see that this station

2:30:32is going to be developed.

2:30:33I used to live half a block from it.

2:30:35And it's it's actually truly exciting.

2:30:37To see what might possibly come.

2:30:39I really enjoyed the design of the building, especially

2:30:44the Diago cut through, because that

2:30:45is a very popular way to get through the parking lot now.

2:30:49And so that kind of builds on existing pathways So,

2:30:53yeah, thank you very much.

2:30:56You are next, because Dan Schulman

2:30:59and you should be able to end mute and begin your time.

2:31:03OK, thanks.

2:31:05Good evening.

2:31:06I'm sorry I'm Dan Schulman.

2:31:07I'm an L.A. resident about a half mile

2:31:09from the station I'm really excited that the presentations

2:31:12were great.

2:31:13Thank you.

2:31:14You, everybody, for making the presentation.

2:31:17I have just a few goals.

2:31:18I hope that this that the team can work towards.

2:31:22And I think you are working towards it.

2:31:23But I'll just emphasize it now.

2:31:25One is providing great new homes for households

2:31:29of different sizes different structures

2:31:31and different incomes.

2:31:32That looks like that's part of the plan.

2:31:34So thank you Huge priority is just

2:31:37building a vibrant, pedestrian friendly destination

2:31:42for the community I think covid has taught me

2:31:45that outdoor dining has been in demand

2:31:48and will continue to be in demand So let's

2:31:51put emphasis on that.

2:31:53One thing is on the open spaces There's some beautiful.

2:31:57It's a there's some beautiful views from that site.

2:32:00And I hope that the open spaces, those views

2:32:03will still be possible.

2:32:06And the placement of the pathways and open space

2:32:11allows you to still take advantage Those views

2:32:12and not having blocked out if possible, looks

2:32:16like a lot of these elements are taking

2:32:17shape in the presentation.

2:32:18So I look forward to the community process

2:32:20to further shape the designs And then

2:32:23the big one is just making this the most accessible

2:32:26transportation hub possible It should

2:32:29be safe It should be easy.

2:32:31It should be reliable.

2:32:32To get there.

2:32:33It should be as convenient as possible to walk, to bike,

2:32:37to use public transportation based on Seamless transit

2:32:40principles. which I believe the council

2:32:43endorsed at the last meeting.

2:32:45And yeah, I other innovative options including like road

2:32:50transit and anything that just makes it easier to get

2:32:52there reliably and safely.

2:32:55The Station Access Study, I'm glad to see it happening.

2:32:58It's critically important.

2:32:59So, so yes, that.

2:33:01Let's keep going with that.

2:33:03There's there's the there's so many ideas that

2:33:04need to be explored and put forward

2:33:06so that everyone who needs to can access the station

2:33:09the surrounding area.

2:33:10And I hope that the city will consider making updates

2:33:13to our surrounding street configuration including better

2:33:17bike infrastructure from east to west, using all

2:33:20available grants and other financing options

2:33:22outside of our general fund So thank you, everyone.

2:33:26For your leadership to get us to this point.

2:33:27And i look forward to the upcoming

2:33:29process to turn area into the town center

2:33:32that El Cerrito deserves.

2:33:33Thanks.

2:33:35Thank you.

2:33:36Next Speaker, Howdy Goudey should

2:33:39be able to unmuted and begin your time now Thank you.

2:33:43My name is hardcoded alfredo, so I really

2:33:48appreciate the large fraction of affordable units

2:33:51in this development.

2:33:52That's great.

2:33:55And well, you know, there's a lot of langridge around climate

2:34:02action associated with this project because of the transit

2:34:06oriented aspect, which is great I think

2:34:10we can't rest on that alone.

2:34:12We really need these new projects to be leaders

2:34:16in you know, the energy efficiency

2:34:21and greenhouse gas emission reduction

2:34:25across the entire spectrum.

2:34:28Of of the development, which means you even

2:34:34things like embodied carbon carbon and materials

2:34:38in the construction and certainly in the operation

2:34:42of the buildings.

2:34:43So I would strongly recommend, if it's not already

2:34:46part of the design, that is the electric only buildings

2:34:50with dust and that we take a really serious look at carbon

2:34:56emissions reduction beyond just the transportation aspects that

2:35:02have been discussed It's great that the you

2:35:09modular development has been touted,

2:35:13but I will point out that that development at mayfair

2:35:22has resulted in what I estimate is roughly

2:35:2710 acres of single use plastic, which was used to wrap

2:35:31each module for delivery being landfilled

2:35:34And that's enough to cover San Pablo curb

2:35:39to curb for more than a mile.

2:35:40So the promise of reducing construction waste

2:35:44is not really realized there.

2:35:45And even though we're doing great, innovative things,

2:35:48we have to keep our eye on really doing the best we can

2:35:53to limit waste and and make sure that, you know,

2:36:01we're not letting things slide here.

2:36:04And there.

2:36:07So I do appreciate the reefing of the greenway path

2:36:14along the side taking out the traffic along that side.

2:36:19I think that could really improve

2:36:20the pedestrian experience there.

2:36:24I'm a little disappointed by the choice

2:36:25to have a street dividing new development from the station.

2:36:30It seems that's going to really divide the station there would

2:36:34be great opportunities to make that more unity

2:36:37So it just in general, I think you this is a great opportunity

2:36:40to have really high quality public space

2:36:44and we want it to be a destination for people arriving

2:36:47on Bart, not just leaving on Bart and Yeah

2:36:51so I appreciate the process.

2:36:55So further those goals, but I think things are looking good.

2:36:59And I am happy with directions going.

2:37:03Thank you.

2:37:06Thank you.

2:37:06Our next speaker is Linda Kane.

2:37:08One day you should be able to unmuted

2:37:10begin your time now Thanks.

2:37:13Wow.

2:37:14We got a lot of really great smart people in our town.

2:37:16They're bringing up bringing up so many topics

2:37:19that I kind of wish I included.

2:37:21But luckily, I don't have to because they've

2:37:22already said them.

2:37:23I'm an 18 year commuter from the station,

2:37:27so I'm seeing it from the down point of view.

2:37:30Are you going to set my button Yeah, thank And i

2:37:36walked for a number of years.

2:37:38I walked.

2:37:38And I enjoyed the exercise was three fourths of a mile

2:37:41each way I actually got award from President Clinton

2:37:45for walking.

2:37:46So many miles during the year because I had just

2:37:49walked to Barton back every but there have been times

2:37:53when I needed to drive my car and it was, first of us as I've

2:37:56gotten older or when I hurt my leg

2:37:59or when I had reasons to work late

2:38:03or when I had a social activity meeting somebody for dinner.

2:38:05There's a lot of reasons why i didn't

2:38:07want to walk home in the dark and certainly

2:38:10not the dark path.

2:38:12Late night.

2:38:13So, I mean, I really understand people

2:38:14who feel like they need their car,

2:38:16even if they don't have children and then, I mean,

2:38:20I really kind of relate to it was a beautiful presentation

2:38:23looked really great.

2:38:24It looked like a thing you would want in your town.

2:38:27But I'm concerned about the height of the buildings It was

2:38:29kind of unclear from the chart that was either a six

2:38:32story or seven story or an eight story

2:38:35depending like six current regulations.

2:38:37Seven is I don't know what an 8 is possible state, something

2:38:41that really wasn't clear to me at all,

2:38:44but I've seen the structures that were built at McArthur

2:38:48where I happened to be going one time in the last year,

2:38:51and they looked so monolithic to me.

2:38:53They're huge And I also relate to the person

2:38:56you said we may lose our view.

2:38:59You know, I feel sorry for the people

2:39:00who have a house one, two, three, four,

2:39:03five blocks up the street.

2:39:04And maybe now they can see the sunset

2:39:07and after that, they're just going to see

2:39:08the top of this building.

2:39:10And I mean, I think it would make a difference how

2:39:11it's going to look in our city.

2:39:13If it's six, seven, or eight And I think that it would be

2:39:15nice to know a little bit more about that Other than that,

2:39:19I think everybody for coming to make the presentation You're

2:39:22trying to relate to our community needs

2:39:24and to congresswoman Wilson for keeping on hammering

2:39:30about the transportation for the people in the hills

2:39:33because I think it's going to be hard for them to walk

2:39:36back up the hill at night.

2:39:37So thank you.

2:39:38Thank you. you for all of the president's vision.

2:39:41And thank you for everybody listening to us.

2:39:45In Q and stickers.

2:39:47Jeff Levine.

2:39:48Jack, you should be able to answer and begin your time now.

2:39:52Thank you.

2:39:53Jeff Levine, policy director with these big housing

2:39:55organizations. and also a thirty two

2:39:57year resident of El Cerrito.

2:39:59I strongly support this project.

2:40:01I'm really excited to see that it's moving forward.

2:40:03It provides us with a really unique opportunity

2:40:06to provide a vibrant, mixed and mixed income development

2:40:09with housing, retail, community facilities and public

2:40:12open space All of this could be a vital center for our city,

2:40:16and it's designed right.

2:40:17Can have strong synergy with ulcerate plaza.

2:40:20It can also be an important source of revenue for the city

2:40:22including property tax, sales tax,

2:40:24and business tax generated not only directly on site,

2:40:27but indirectly through increased spending

2:40:29in the surrounding area.

2:40:31Transit oriented developments like this one

2:40:33are smart developer They help address

2:40:35the regional and local need for housing

2:40:37will also helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

2:40:40and meet our regional climate goals.

2:40:42We're really encouraged by the plan for

2:40:44significant affordable housing.

2:40:46Thirty seven percent lower and 12 percent moderate

2:40:49income balzary required by law to include

2:40:51a minimum of 20 percent lower income housing station.

2:40:55But they also need to attain an affordable housing share of 30

2:40:58to thirty five percent across the system

2:41:00as a whole similar to what they've done historically.

2:41:02In the plans for the Plaza development

2:41:04put the site firmly aligned with those goals.

2:41:07We urge the city to work with Barton, the developer,

2:41:09to pursue as many funding sources

2:41:11as possible to maximize the number

2:41:14and depth of affordability for the lower income units.

2:41:16Similar to how you just voted to be a co applicant.

2:41:19For HSBC.

2:41:20Funding for the Mayford development.

2:41:22It's been noted that a B twenty nine twenty three requires

2:41:25the city to own the site in accordance with the zoning

2:41:28standards set by BART and by a B twenty nine

2:41:30twenty three itself.

2:41:31At the same time, as long as it doesn't prevent the development

2:41:35from meeting those standards the city does retain

2:41:37authority for design review.

2:41:39So there's an opportunity to ensure we have a high quality

2:41:42design that enhances the area and promotes

2:41:44a really vital urban space.

2:41:46We know there are a lot of issues that

2:41:48need to be addressed in the public's keenly

2:41:50interested in design for parking, transportation,

2:41:52access financing, and more.

2:41:54So we hope to see a whole series of public engagement

2:41:57workshops going forward.

2:41:59Last week, Bart gave a presentation

2:42:01to Berkeley's community Advisory Group

2:42:03on BART Station development to describe the pending Berkeley

2:42:06street Corridor Access plan.

2:42:09We haven't heard of a similar meeting in El Cerrito

2:42:11and we'd urge the city and BART to sponsor such a meeting.

2:42:15We know there's a lot of concerns

2:42:16about parking and about bike, pedestrian and transit

2:42:19access to the station.

2:42:20And it would be really helpful to involve

2:42:22the public early in both the corridor

2:42:24and stations Specific access studies as a way

2:42:27to build more support for this project.

2:42:30So thank you.

2:42:31We look forward to an ongoing process of public engagement

2:42:34as this development moves forward to our next speaker

2:42:39is Tony La Liddick.

2:42:41Tony, you should be able to meet yourself, and begin

2:42:43your time out I good evening.

2:42:48Members of the council am making this comment in support

2:42:51of Biden at the L'ESPRIT, a positive bART station,

2:42:54parking lots my family's lives.

2:42:56In all seriousness, nineteen eighty six.

2:42:58And I'm a graduate of high school.

2:43:00My point is simple.

2:43:01The nonprofit status plaza station

2:43:04parking lots is a drain on taxes and the acres

2:43:07of impermeable pavement There is a tax on drains The parking

2:43:12lots The Plaza BART station presents an opportunity

2:43:14to grow Elstree to sustainably And while I acknowledge

2:43:18that the challenge is presented in the presentation tonight,

2:43:22i encourage the council to move forward with the planning

2:43:25process to consider mitigations to improve access

2:43:29Do not listen to the nattering nabobs of next door negative.

2:43:34Thank you Our next speaker is Gail gail.

2:43:38You should be able to meet in your time now.

2:43:42Thank you.

2:43:43My name is gail Feldman and I'm a resident of Kensington.

2:43:46I'm also a director of the Kensington Property association

2:43:50and a writer of the BART system.

2:43:53And yes fortunately, I'm one of those people who

2:43:57is very concerned about access to the station

2:44:00once the project is done.

2:44:03And I'm not opposed to the project,

2:44:06but I do have concerns about some of the data

2:44:08that's being used right now.

2:44:11By the BART staff and describing who uses the system

2:44:17and how they get their I don't feel that that's study

2:44:21was adequately done to illustrate

2:44:24how people, particularly up in the hills use the system

2:44:29and are able to access it or what their options are if they

2:44:32can't drive to the station.

2:44:34Unfortunately, we don't.

2:44:36We are very limited in how to get to the station.

2:44:39So i am encouraged to see that there

2:44:41is some discussion about parking,

2:44:43that there's access studies being done.

2:44:46Please do include us in those public discussions

2:44:50around the corridor access plan because well, I'm just

2:44:53from Kensington of Berkeley Hills residents

2:44:56and berkeley also have the same issue I would also

2:45:00like to comment that i know there has

2:45:04been some discussion in the past with bART

2:45:06and the Plaza operators.

2:45:09How that might be drawn into this plan.

2:45:11For encouraging some type of access

2:45:14for people who can't take public transportation

2:45:16or can't walk to the station That is very important.

2:45:20To understand.

2:45:21There were over a thousand cars pre

2:45:24pandemic coming into the station on a daily basis.

2:45:28And I know that you are not planning

2:45:31place that much parking and it needs to be addressed,

2:45:36whether it's through some type of city wide parking management

2:45:39plan and i would hope that we would

2:45:42see those types of solutions.

2:45:45Well before your master plan is developed so that we know

2:45:50that there will be access to the BART station

2:45:53and to critical, important regional transit system

2:45:57for us to use.

2:45:58And I do also want to say that transit,

2:46:01while they operate buses into the city, into San Francisco,

2:46:05not all trips from the Plaza Station

2:46:09are made to San Francisco We use it

2:46:12to go to many different jurisdictions and stations

2:46:16throughout the system.

2:46:18Thank you so much Thank you.

2:46:21Next, because Marion marion should be able to unmeaning

2:46:25Begin your time now.

2:46:29Hello, hello.

2:46:30Can you hear me ? can you hear me ? yes, we can.

2:46:35Please go ahead.

2:46:36OK, yes.

2:46:38I was also wondering about the parking.

2:46:41Could you tell me how many parking outs would

2:46:43be eliminated by budget plan ?

2:46:46Construction How many parking spaces would be eliminated

2:46:52parking spaces can mean, this is the time for you to provide

2:46:58your comments to the city.

2:46:59Council.

2:47:00It's not a time for response to questions.

2:47:03OK, all right.

2:47:04My comment would be that whatever number of parking

2:47:08spaces are eliminated there should be a plan

2:47:10to replace them somehow, possibly

2:47:13by finding some someplace to build a parking structure.

2:47:20and possibly, hopefully But would would

2:47:26help with the cost of that.

2:47:28But in any case, some kind of a plan to replace the the

2:47:36removed parking spaces should be developed That's

2:47:40really all I wanted to say.

2:47:44Thank you My next speaker is Dan Cloaked in should be able to

2:47:48and begin your time now.

2:47:52Yeah.

2:47:53Hi.

2:47:53Thank you.

2:47:54You for the opportunity to address the council.

2:47:57I would very close to the project As a matter of fact,

2:48:00I can look out my window at the moment.

2:48:04And along with many of my neighbors

2:48:07we're very excited about this project.

2:48:09and particularly about the prospects

2:48:12of making those downtown an urbanized town.

2:48:18So close to where we live an additional community,

2:48:24one that wasn't raised when we were talking about community

2:48:27benefits during the presentation is to abate the nuisance of six

2:48:32acres of parking and an open parking lot

2:48:36here at in addition to being an environmental problem

2:48:41and I saw it also, of course, the traffic

2:48:45of bringing in that many vehicles

2:48:48into the neighborhood where we live is definitely

2:48:53a negative for those of us who live close to the station

2:48:58And it would be good if we can focus on developing

2:49:06a urbanized idea of what this station is,

2:49:10what this part of the city is for the benefit

2:49:14of all l'ESPRIT residents.

2:49:18Now, as far as the parking in the neighborhood,

2:49:24I would just want to know that living here,

2:49:28there's definitely a surfeit of street parking during the

2:49:34and i think market based solution, which stops

2:49:40subsidizing the use of providing free parking to people

2:49:45And certainly, we would want to take some

2:49:48of the funds in availability to provide community benefits

2:49:54and spend it on parking.

2:49:55We wanted to spend community benefits that benefit

2:50:00all elstree to residents no matter how they

2:50:04get to and from the station.

2:50:07Thank you for your attention.

2:50:10You are next because Nico Nagel, Nico favore, unmuted.

2:50:15Begin your time now.

2:50:20Hi, my renagel.

2:50:22I am here on behalf of the housing action Coalition.

2:50:27Pro housing organization covering all nine counties,

2:50:32doing work in Sacramento Our our mission St. Polje

2:50:38our mission statement as an organization for twenty years

2:50:42now has been to create new homes at all levels of affordability.

2:50:48And that is as a response to our afford mobility crisis

2:50:53that results from a shortage of homes in the Bay Area

2:50:59has been the highest rental prices

2:51:04and the highest home prices in the country and in the world.

2:51:09Per capita because we haven't produced enough homes.

2:51:13And these kinds of opportunities as recognized

2:51:17by part as recognized by folks in the community here

2:51:21activists on the ground are immeasurably important

2:51:26right now.

2:51:27No single project being sold all the problems the community has,

2:51:31but certainly opportunities to create

2:51:34the number of units being proposed here is

2:51:37is massively important.

2:51:38So on top of that we are a state where twenty five

2:51:44percent of our greenhouse gas emissions

2:51:46come from folks driving to work in the morning

2:51:50and it would be pretty hard to forget that we have

2:51:55super commuters were region becoming famous

2:51:58for super commuting, which has a human cost on barrier residents

2:52:05and those who used to be Bay Area residents of missing

2:52:11missing out on you meeting their their kids at home

2:52:16to help with homework or driving their kids

2:52:18to work and the morning.

2:52:21And so there's a human cost around not

2:52:24providing enough housing near transit

2:52:27centers and near job centers.

2:52:29And I think bellisario and BART have become

2:52:34well positioned at this moment.

2:52:36To help solve that problem. and create human opportunities

2:52:42and and really contribute to our shared environmental goals.

2:52:49So on behalf of the organization it

2:52:51is worth i need to see this proposal begin to move forward

2:52:57And yeah, I do want to note as well that a well, it's not

2:53:03the ultimate driving force behind the cost of housing,

2:53:07parking spaces wrapped into a project

2:53:10really to bump up the cost of that housing and know.

2:53:15My priority here is to create affordability for folks

2:53:18who want to live here.

2:53:19So i appreciate your time.

2:53:21Thanks.

2:53:22Looking forward to moving forward Thank you, Mayor.

2:53:26That does conclude request to speak at this time.

2:53:29Thank you very much.

2:53:30Thank you for all residents who have

2:53:32made comments here tonight.

2:53:34And before we move on to the next just as mayor,

2:53:37I want to make a quick few closing comments about what's

2:53:40ahead for us, because I think we have

2:53:43quite an adventure ahead of us.

2:53:45And I think it's a good long term positive adventure

2:53:48for Alfredo It's a redefinition of our city

2:53:52I'm reminded of an email a few months ago

2:53:54that I got from a resident who said every day he drives

2:53:58by the parking lots at BART and sees it

2:54:01as a wasteland and imagines what could be their well, what could

2:54:05be their new residential retail center, new housing

2:54:10and every category critical revenue

2:54:12for our city and possibly a library You know,

2:54:16there will be those who say we should

2:54:18not do nothing in this area.

2:54:20I've heard from residents who don't want us to grow

2:54:24They'd rather not grow old.

2:54:25Growth in the Bay Area is whatever

2:54:27every city has to confront and we have to deal It's a reality.

2:54:32And we have mandates from the state to build housing.

2:54:35So we have to grow elsewhere.

2:54:38Is growth, as we all know, is limited to San Pablo Avenue.

2:54:42and our two BART stations which is very good for climate

2:54:45change issues and and making sure

2:54:48that we respond in that way.

2:54:52Know, make no mistake about it, this is a BART project

2:54:55that they have given us their word that we will work together

2:54:59and they have decided that they want

2:55:02to prioritize the Plaza Station and one

2:55:04that they want to showcase.

2:55:06They've publicly promised to be responsive So far

2:55:09they have that.

2:55:10And we have to hold them to that.

2:55:12I've expressed my concern about parking access especially

2:55:16for the Hill residents and retail and office needs

2:55:20And I want to see the facts about how

2:55:22a library can work here.

2:55:24But I also want to hear from our residents

2:55:25as the rest of our council members do,

2:55:28and keep a strong dialogue open with BART and our residents.

2:55:32This is a long term project There's

2:55:34nothing except ideas of planning happening right now.

2:55:38And from the chart that we saw tonight,

2:55:40it's not a it's more than four years before construction

2:55:43is happening.

2:55:44So thank you for your comments.

2:55:46There's a long exciting road ahead

2:55:48and El Cerrito is going to be a better

2:55:50place than this is all done.

2:55:53And now i want to move on to as quickly as we can because it's

2:55:56a long night to our next.

2:55:58We have a public hearing and the city clerk, if I'm correct,

2:56:04it's a public hearing to confirm the levy

2:56:08assessment for the fiscal year.

2:56:09Twenty twenty one for the landscape and lighting

2:56:11assessment District and can we please

2:56:14have our city staff to give a presentation for this Area It

2:56:31is.

2:56:33I shamen i city mayor fidele, how are you doing ?

2:56:38doing pretty well.

2:56:39You have you had a lot of stuff.

2:56:41This you.

2:56:42Yes, I I have three of the three of them for public hearings

2:56:48this evening. the first of which is the public hearing

2:56:52for the landscape, the lighting assessment district number

2:56:55twelve eighty eight staff is seeking the adoption

2:56:59of a resolution setting the landscape and mining assessment

2:57:01at seventy $2 per parcel for residential properties

2:57:05and other classes of charges as outlined in the report.

2:57:08These fees are used to provide landscaping lighting, street

2:57:12sweeping and maintenance for the Parks

2:57:14and recreation facilities.

2:57:16The seventy dollar parcel assessment rate has not

2:57:19been increased since the since its inception

2:57:22in nineteen eighty eight.

2:57:24But costs have increased substantially.

2:57:27The passing of this resolution is

2:57:29critical to provide services.

2:57:32The services that were intended for this particular thing

2:57:35So the district has struggled to stay within budget to absorb

2:57:40the rising costs and utilities, personnel and supplies

2:57:43And although the budget will likely be very tight

2:57:46measures have been taken this year to redirect some

2:57:49of the funds from person personnel to utilities in order

2:57:54to work towards keeping the fund in balance.

2:57:57Also, the fund will receive additional taxation this year

2:58:01due to the addition of twenty five new residential and four

2:58:05commercial properties being added

2:58:07to the taxable The estimated addition will result

2:58:11in approximately thirty seven dollars

2:58:14So although it's a step in the right direction,

2:58:17further measures will have to be taken to cover

2:58:19excess funds needed to maintain existing levels of service

2:58:23to that end, at the end of the public hearing here,

2:58:27we asked the council accept the engineers report and adopt

2:58:31a resolution confirming a diagram

2:58:33and set the annual landscape and lighting

2:58:35assessment for fiscal year twenty twenty one twenty two.

2:58:39Add seventy $2 for residential parcel

2:58:42and other classes of charges as they appear

2:58:45in the engineer's report.

2:58:47I will be happy to answer any questions that I can answer

2:58:51And there is other staff here who can

2:58:53also answer specific questions.

2:58:56Thank you.

2:58:56Any questions come remarks Thank you, Mayor.

2:59:05Thank you, Shannon, for this present I

2:59:08do have a question I know that in the report

2:59:11the total coming total revenue from the assessment seven

2:59:15ninety five thousand and i work very hard to make sure

2:59:21that that covers most of the expenditure

2:59:24but it's clear that it costs more than

2:59:26that to provide these services.

2:59:29And I was wondering if you could tell us how much more there is

2:59:33And it sounds like we may need to do another assessment

2:59:39or something to make sure that the costs as they go up

2:59:42are in balance, what with what the service actually costs.

2:59:46Could you could you elaborate on that, please ?

2:59:49Well, what i'm going to do, because I

2:59:51don't really know what makes up all of these different costs.

2:59:54I'm going to let Andrew Krauss or Evet or TS who actually

2:59:59or a Vytautas whose the department

3:00:01director actually knows the ins and outs

3:00:04of that particular fund.

3:00:06And she can explain what is needed in those areas.

3:00:10So i don't know which one either.

3:00:14Andrew thank you.

3:00:16That.

3:00:18Good evening.

3:00:18Mayor.

3:00:19Council members event of these at the city's public

3:00:21works director and city engineer Yes.

3:00:24Currently, if you consider landscaping and lighting cost

3:00:29across all funds, we spend about one point forty million

3:00:33on landscaping and lighting and expenses and multiple funds

3:00:39most mostly and lighting the large fund but also

3:00:43the general fund gas tax measure And more recently a measure H.

3:00:51Currently a general fund budget landscape maintenance

3:00:55contracts, is two hundred and three thousand

3:00:59and that is reduced from the fiscal year when

3:01:03the general fund was contributing

3:01:05four eighty thousand dollars the reduction of more than half

3:01:09was due to measure h.

3:01:11We were able to backfill the general fund funding measure H

3:01:16as well as shifting to other special funds Right now,

3:01:22this year and next year.

3:01:24That are all our landscaping and lighting

3:01:28expenses will be able to be funded at the current level

3:01:32again.

3:01:33Again, and depending on your additional discussions

3:01:36in the coming months, But in fiscal year twenty to twenty

3:01:41three we'll need to be additional sources

3:01:43funding identified to keep existing levels of service.

3:01:46Although I'll have to be reduced most of the lighting expenses

3:01:51are in the transportation funds, the street lights

3:01:55are partly funding and lab more heavily funded

3:01:57by gas text messaging costs.

3:02:04Member does that after.

3:02:06Yes, I was taking notes.

3:02:08Thank you very much.

3:02:08That's really helpful to know.

3:02:11Thank you.

3:02:12And on that point, I want to ask the city manager.

3:02:14We've already we've had one election right That

3:02:16failed to try to start General.

3:02:20Yeah.

3:02:21To try and deal with this.

3:02:22And twenty six is that right.

3:02:24That is correct.

3:02:25And so this is a different.

3:02:27This is an election.

3:02:28But as i've shared with all of you the past

3:02:31and, and particularly for the new council members,

3:02:33landscaping, lighting, assessment

3:02:35district election is a very different type of election

3:02:38It's a problem.

3:02:39It needs to be done in accordance of Prop eighteen,

3:02:43which means it is a property owner

3:02:45about it measure as opposed to a voter ballot measure.

3:02:49It's a very different type of election

3:02:52and the amount of assessment on one property

3:02:56is the amount of votes that the property actually has.

3:03:00And Sky jump in.

3:03:01If I get if I mangle us too much.

3:03:03But essentially what we tried to do

3:03:05was create an entirely new lighting landscape and lighting

3:03:08assessment district two thousand six that would have not only

3:03:13reassessed the redone the formulas

3:03:16for the assessment on residential properties,

3:03:18but commercial properties as well.

3:03:21Including building in like a CPI increase

3:03:25And that failed largely a lot of it was the property owners

3:03:31with their higher assessment values that voted

3:03:34no ended really tipping the scales

3:03:37and this type of an election.

3:03:39It is what is called a majority protest.

3:03:42And so that is why there are more no

3:03:44votes or no more assessment's.

3:03:48Then the measure fails and residentially we the the city,

3:03:53the city's residents were largely in favor of it.

3:03:56But it was because the commercial properties have

3:03:58higher assessment value Add all of that

3:04:00value together that created the majority protest.

3:04:03And so the question is, should we look into doing again,

3:04:07perhaps it is indeed at this point

3:04:12it's a matter of capacity and bandwidth

3:04:14and it's a very expensive proposition.

3:04:16Because the city has to run the full election.

3:04:19It's not able to be contracted with the county.

3:04:21So it's certainly something to consider.

3:04:23Maybe a couple of years down the road

3:04:25is vetted, talked about where we're looking at various funds

3:04:28and how to reallocate funds accordingly.

3:04:31But this is it is a very different proposition,

3:04:34but it certainly is something that we're looking

3:04:37at everything to call you.

3:04:39Mayor Fidele.

3:04:40Everything's always on the table.

3:04:45This is something that's draining

3:04:46our general fund as well.

3:04:48So we need to talk about it.

3:04:49Are there any other comments from council members

3:04:54so now is the time.

3:04:56This is actually a public offering.

3:04:57And I need to open this up to be a public hearing

3:05:01The public is now open.

3:05:02This time, members of the public who

3:05:04wish to provide public comments for this item should use

3:05:07the raise a hand feature to request to speak Clark,

3:05:11will you please proceed at this time I am not

3:05:18seeing any requests to speak from members

3:05:21of the public on the call.

3:05:22Thank you very much.

3:05:23Do we have a motion to close the public hearing ?

3:05:26Can we have motion to move canto and seconded

3:05:31by council member Mohtarma Can we

3:05:34have a roll-call vote, please ?

3:05:35May I, Fidele ?

3:05:37I potemkin till i council.

3:05:40Remember Eagleson I can't remember motorama.

3:05:44I remember redneck.

3:05:46I motion carries Thank you.

3:05:49And now do we have a motion to approve this measure ?

3:05:53I will move to council member Mohtarma

3:05:57the motion to my a second a second

3:06:03I was to add if you didn't have to tell a second,

3:06:07can we have a roll please.

3:06:09And Fidele I know Potemkin I can't No Apison.

3:06:15I remember Mohtarma i can't remember redneck i motion case

3:06:22like Thank you very much move on to the public Hearing

3:06:26is regarding fiscal year twenty one twenty two

3:06:30storm drain annual report of the method

3:06:33of collecting the revenue for.

3:06:34I have a staff report please.

3:06:37This report is made available for review

3:06:39in your agenda packet and on the city's website.

3:06:42The annual report asked that the fifty dollar

3:06:45fee for each single family residential property

3:06:48be continue to provide funding for improvements,

3:06:51maintenance and operations of the city's storm drain system.

3:06:55The public sharing also provides an opportunity for property

3:06:59owners to contest the fee amount based on the actual use

3:07:02of their property.

3:07:04If so, warranted, If there is a protest of the existing

3:07:07method of collection, which is through the annual tax roll,

3:07:11the alternative is through the utilities services, which

3:07:14is actually more costly, and the collection of the fees

3:07:17would be more complicated and cumbersome upon conclusion

3:07:21of this public hearing, it is our wish

3:07:23that the council accept the twenty one twenty two

3:07:27storm drain annual report and adopt a resolution

3:07:31to direct that the storm drain fees be collected

3:07:33on the property tax rules.

3:07:36Are there any questions on this particular one ? any

3:07:40council questions No questions.

3:07:43Then I will open This hearing is now open and at this time,

3:07:47members of the public who wish to provide public comments

3:07:50for this item should raise their hand

3:07:52to request to speak Madam City Clerk, do we have any takers ?

3:08:00I do not have any request to speak on this item.

3:08:03Then do I have a motion to close the public hearing motion

3:08:08to close second, council member Rudbeck moves to close

3:08:12in council member and second, can we

3:08:14have a roll-call vote, please ?

3:08:15and finally, I may Putin come to I

3:08:20can remember Adilson I can remember what I

3:08:24and remember Reznik.

3:08:26I motion carries Thank you.

3:08:29Do I hear a motion to move this item ?

3:08:33I'll move theama, move this motion and council member

3:08:37Abels and seconds.

3:08:38Can we have a roll-call vote on this, please.

3:08:41Limón I was only is he there is in the audience.

3:08:54I have my apologies, Miss No problem.

3:08:59No problem.

3:09:00Sometimes I wish you still was on.

3:09:04OK fidele.

3:09:06I put in Quito I can't remember Apison I remember

3:09:13mittman I remember redneck.

3:09:16I she carries.

3:09:19Thank you very much and now we move on to the public hearing

3:09:23on the master fee schedule provisions for fiscal year

3:09:26twenty one twenty two and can you have the next,

3:09:29the third and your last report.

3:09:33Chanen tonight.

3:09:33Yae OK this evening i'm here to discuss the fiscal year.

3:09:38Twenty one twenty two annual master schedule

3:09:40the schedule and associate documents

3:09:42were made available for review and the council back

3:09:45and on the city's website, the proposed twenty twenty one