Regular City Council Meeting September 21, 2021

0:14:09That's Gary city Clerk can we proceed to work with me?

0:14:17We do have other council members on the on the call.

0:14:19We know where to put her.

0:14:24Well, at seven talk and September twenty one,

0:14:28regular city council meeting of Eldorado

0:14:32is called to order for the city clerk

0:14:35please call the roll fidele present mayor Potemkin Town

0:14:40council member, Apison here, council member

0:14:43mohtarma er council member.

0:14:46Rodney er we have a quorum.

0:14:48Thank you.

0:14:49You.

0:14:49Well, those of us who want to do the Pledge of Allegiance

0:14:52or a moment of silence, please join me I

0:14:55pledge allegiance to the flag flag of united States.

0:15:01America America, and to the Republic

0:15:05for which we stands one nation, one under God

0:15:12indivisible invisible with liberty and justice

0:15:15for all or all Thank you.

0:15:20Welcome back, everyone.

0:15:22In our city clerk.

0:15:23Please read the instruction for teleconference and public

0:15:26comments and keep me posted Council members and staff who

0:15:30have participated as panelists.

0:15:31Please remember to keep a microphone muted whenever you

0:15:34are not speaking to ensure compliance with the Brown Act

0:15:37and to address security concerns.

0:15:39Attendee images videos will remain disabled as the chat

0:15:42feature for all participants The members of the public who wish

0:15:46to provide oral testimony The mayor will announce the time

0:15:49for public comment on each applicable item If you wish

0:15:52to speak, please like the hand icon to raise your hand If you

0:15:55cannot locate the icon please refer to the document linked

0:15:59on page one of the agenda for the RES and feature attendees

0:16:02joining by phone can dial Nine to raise their hand when

0:16:06it's your turn to provide comments,

0:16:09your name will be called and you will be prompted to unmuted

0:16:11yourself attendee's joining by phone will be prompted to dial

0:16:14Star six to meet themselves.

0:16:16Mabior ready to move on to the next item Thank you.

0:16:19And the next item is the council staff

0:16:21Communications where we talk about report on closed session

0:16:26commission appointments and informational reports

0:16:28on matters of general interest to the city

0:16:31announced by the City Council on Staff and City Manager.

0:16:35I understand we're going to begin tonight's council staff

0:16:40communication with a special report from our audit committee

0:16:49Thank you, Mayor.

0:16:50Fidele.

0:16:51We can begin with the city council subcommittee

0:16:56if they would like to begin their report out.

0:16:58And then I do also have some announcement.

0:17:00Why don't you begin Why don't you

0:17:01start and then we'll go to the audit committee next year.

0:17:04Enough All right just to report on our local emergency that

0:17:09continues unfortunately or unfortunately First

0:17:13and foremost, as we are all meeting via Zom

0:17:16and worked well, this is was decided

0:17:19by the mayor a couple of weeks ago

0:17:21following a sort of in-person experiment if you will,

0:17:26in August.

0:17:28Since then, however, Six AB three sixty one

0:17:32was a piece of legislation signed by the governor

0:17:35last week that allows agencies to continue to remit, to meet

0:17:40remotely There had been an executive order in place

0:17:44by the governor.

0:17:44I went over this and my city manager

0:17:46updater couple of weeks ago that was set

0:17:49to expire on September 30th.

0:17:51The Assembly and Senate stepped up and passed legislation which

0:17:54the governor signed, which would allow legislatively

0:17:58and through, I believe, twenty twenty four

0:18:02would allow for agencies that are subject to the Brown Act

0:18:05to continue to meet remotely without the previous

0:18:09teleconferencing rules.

0:18:10The original Brown stated that if any city council member,

0:18:15or any member of a public body that is subject to the Brown

0:18:18Act wanted to meet remotely had to be in a remote place

0:18:22or in a public place that was noticed

0:18:25and allowed for the public to be able to be there as well.

0:18:28It didn't allow for things like this.

0:18:30It was written obviously many decades ago.

0:18:32And didn't contemplate a Zoome meetings or teleconferencing

0:18:36that has changed again It has to be within the context

0:18:40of an emergency.

0:18:41The governor has declared a state of emergency

0:18:43We have declared a local emergency Well,

0:18:46we'll be working with Jordan is our assistant city attorney

0:18:49and Sky, our city attorney on various components of what that

0:18:53would mean for the city to continue to meet remotely We

0:18:58have received word from our contra Costa health officer

0:19:02that there are strongly recommending at this time

0:19:04to continue in person to continue

0:19:07virtual meetings because the Delta

0:19:12variant is still out there.

0:19:13And though the Bay Area is doing rather well

0:19:16and California is doing rather well,

0:19:18nationwide they are still strongly recommending

0:19:20that we continue to meet virtually

0:19:23not just city councils, but boards,

0:19:24commissions, committees.

0:19:25So I'll be working with You your Honor.

0:19:27I'll be working with our city attorneys and staff

0:19:30to make sure that we're facilitating

0:19:31what needs to be done.

0:19:32There is a requirement at the city council

0:19:35affirms this every 30 days.

0:19:37So that would be some sort of resolution

0:19:39It needs to be adopted by the city council every 30 days.

0:19:43In order to continue to move forward.

0:19:44So we anticipate that would be a template type of resolution

0:19:48that we start would create in conjunction with our city

0:19:52attorney That would be a consent item for the council

0:19:55to consider at least through.

0:19:57I'm i'll talk with all of you further as far as is

0:20:01at this point, I don't want to say through October

0:20:05or November, end of the year.

0:20:06I think that that still needs to remain to be seen.

0:20:09Will continue to report.

0:20:10But at least every thirty days this does allow the council,

0:20:13the ability to reflect and decide if that

0:20:15is continuing to go forward.

0:20:17So we will talk about this further on October 5.

0:20:20But at this point i can assume that October will resume

0:20:25and I can assume that all of our county boards, commissions

0:20:28and committees for the month of October

0:20:29will continue to meet virtually as well in addition,

0:20:33I just wanted to give a kind of another brief update

0:20:37on board to do with covid-19 and we're doing really

0:20:42well as far as vaccinations.

0:20:43We know that his staff were well over 80 percent

0:20:46vaccinated as of last week.

0:20:48We have now in place per a county health order

0:20:52that first responders including our police and fire,

0:20:55we'll need to either be vaccinated

0:20:56and proof of vaccination or submit to weekly testing.

0:21:00We have implemented that.

0:21:01We have also implement part of our recreation staff doing

0:21:05the same because the school district also

0:21:07has a similar mandate We also know that we're working

0:21:11with with our colleagues in other cities and the county

0:21:15to keep an eye on updates from Kalachakra

0:21:18As you know, the president President Biden,

0:21:20announced a vaccine mandate as well

0:21:22for employer of one employees or more,

0:21:25which would be subject to.

0:21:27So we're all working on all through all of that.

0:21:29But again, we have a really high vaccination rates.

0:21:31So that's very good news for us in the city.

0:21:34And speaks very highly of our our city state.

0:21:37And so we will be continuing to do that again.

0:21:40We're not done yet.

0:21:41Unfortunately, while we're doing well.

0:21:43And I'm looking right now at the Contra Costa County website

0:21:46eighty five point five percent Contra Costa County

0:21:50is vaccin which is excellent.

0:21:52And el Reno is well over 90 percent.

0:21:54They don't have exact figures because they

0:21:56sort of stopped counting and give her the county website.

0:22:00So we're doing really well We've got to stay focused.

0:22:03We've got to continue.

0:22:04We still have a masked mandate in all indoor places.

0:22:07And you've also probably heard the Contra Costa county now

0:22:10has a vaccine, a vaccine showing for certain types

0:22:15of businesses, including restaurants,

0:22:18bars, and exercise facilities.

0:22:22This will impact some of our recreation program.

0:22:24So we're going to be doing is stay tuned for that.

0:22:26We'll put the word out for particular programs.

0:22:29But our staff is continuing to this has just

0:22:32been yet another kind of head spinning thing

0:22:35that we've had to come up with.

0:22:37But our employees are super flexible super resilient

0:22:40and have just been so creative and willing

0:22:43to be able to do whatever it takes to comply with all

0:22:45of the county health orders and federal, state and federal

0:22:48health orders, all of the restrictions that are upon

0:22:50and still find a way to be able to provide

0:22:52service to our residents.

0:22:54So once again, we ask everyone's patience and compassion

0:22:58and hope that you're all continuing

0:23:00to take care of yourselves, be safe

0:23:02and take care of each other.

0:23:04And with that, that is all I have,

0:23:06as far as our local emergency I also council member Davison,

0:23:11did you have a question?

0:23:12I had a question in in the tracking that's happening

0:23:16that we will be hearing about.

0:23:19There's a group of what I think it's 12:00

0:23:21under if or are under twelve.

0:23:26I'm not sure which those to which I find very concerning

0:23:31that of course, they are not vaccinated

0:23:35And so the students in that age group are

0:23:40are exposed every day to others who have

0:23:45likewise not been vaccinated.

0:23:47So are we keeping track of that particular group

0:23:50to see what's happening?

0:23:55There?

0:23:56Not Yeah, not not that I'm aware of right now.

0:24:01Thank you.

0:24:02Recreation director is letting you know

0:24:04that the health audit exempts twelve

0:24:06and under from the requirement.

0:24:07So we're not tracking we're not checking that the school

0:24:12district, however is performing I believe, weekly testing

0:24:18But what we're responsible for is our staff.

0:24:20And so what we're trying to do Thank

0:24:23you so the school district is providing the weekly testing.

0:24:26We are we are providing that weekly testing or vaccine

0:24:29mandate of our staff And so all of the protocols that we've

0:24:33had in place for the last eighteen months,

0:24:36for all of our programs, Maskin social distancing and and

0:24:40limiting the number of people in various classes has remained.

0:24:45And so we'll be continuing to do that.

0:24:47So that was kind part of partnering with the school

0:24:50district We do not collect that information of our I

0:24:53wasn't thinking we would be collecting that

0:24:55but rather reporting it on that would.

0:25:00That's a school district is handling that part

0:25:04So we won't get those numbers No, we won't have those.

0:25:08But these updates, is there any way we could.

0:25:11I would find personally really useful because those are

0:25:17the kids in our environment.

0:25:19And we don't have the authority to collect data.

0:25:23I don't believe on those that those people participating

0:25:27in our programs unless there is a mandate that we require

0:25:31to someone show that data in order

0:25:33to participate in a service But 12

0:25:36and under is exempt from that So we're not able to collect it.

0:25:40But I was wondering about is if we could be told what

0:25:43the statistics are that are being collected I assume,

0:25:47by what the county or something the school district

0:25:50does have a data dashboard on their website

0:25:53as to how many cases in their school

0:25:55have been tested positive.

0:25:57So that is on the county website.

0:25:59So anyone can check the county website The school

0:26:02district has a dashboard so we would

0:26:04have to individually do that.

0:26:07That's on the school.

0:26:07That's the school district.

0:26:08Collect that data.

0:26:09And it's on their website we do get a report.

0:26:13If someone has been exposed.

0:26:15And then we have protocols in place

0:26:17like, say, we have an after school program,

0:26:19one the kids test positive.

0:26:21We would be notified of that.

0:26:22And then we would notify the others.

0:26:24But we wouldn't collect that data ourselves.

0:26:32Council member Motorama Thank you, Mayor.

0:26:35So could you also address the eviction moratorium

0:26:39in our local ordinance?

0:26:42Yes, thank for reminding me We do the eviction moratorium

0:26:46that we have had in place for businesses and residents

0:26:50goes along with the county state to emergency,

0:26:52which has continued So at this time, that is still continuing.

0:26:56We have not received an end date for that yet.

0:26:58So that is still in effect.

0:27:00Oh, just an update at the County Board of Supervisors today.

0:27:04They had a motion to extend the eviction moratorium

0:27:08and it failed.

0:27:11And the legal counsel at the county

0:27:14said they could not extend to retail businesses

0:27:18But the county can deal with providing legal funds to help

0:27:22people through the post Sept or 30th time for evictions

0:27:28and what's also in place is the state law.

0:27:32I believe aB eight 3, 2 which talks about capping the amount

0:27:37of increase or for rent.

0:27:39So none of this sounded.

0:27:41I listened today.

0:27:42John Joy was a champion Tenants rights

0:27:45and extending that moratorium but it failed on a two

0:27:49to five vote.

0:27:51But maybe another vote if covid gets more serious

0:27:55And there's other details coming forward and also making sure

0:28:00that everyone knows all the council members,

0:28:02knowing that the public knows there are funds

0:28:05available for tenants and landlord

0:28:08to be able to either pay their rent or pay their house

0:28:13if their tenants are paying.

0:28:14So anyone can we we are not administering that.

0:28:19That is federal and state program.

0:28:20But certainly please get in touch with our housing analyst

0:28:25at the city and/or our community development department.

0:28:28We can try to point you in the right direction,

0:28:30but just make sure that that people

0:28:32know that there are funds available out there to be

0:28:35accessed.

0:28:35If anyone is having trouble paying their rent

0:28:38or if you have a tenant that is not if you're a landlord

0:28:41that is having trouble as well.

0:28:43There's money available, there's funding and grants available.

0:28:46And Karen that was the point of the supervisors who voted

0:28:49against extending let's use up the money we have before we

0:28:53ask for more money.

0:28:54So we need to get people involved

0:28:56to sign up right Any other comments or questions

0:29:00of our city manager?

0:29:02I just have one more thing to report.

0:29:03Which is related to the subcommittee's

0:29:05report coming up.

0:29:07As the council knows, the state auditor progress report

0:29:11was due last week, six months after the report was issued

0:29:15You have all received the matrix that was in your packet that

0:29:20was submitted on our website.

0:29:23On various parts of our website and our financial transparency

0:29:26agent is on our there's a specific state

0:29:28to report page the update including a cover

0:29:30letter and an executive summary has

0:29:32also been updated on that link.

0:29:36And so for my next city manager update,

0:29:38I'll make sure to put the link there.

0:29:40But if someone goes to the state auditor

0:29:42report page on our website or go to the search

0:29:44engine on the website and click state auditor report,

0:29:48you can see the latest update that

0:29:49was provide to the state auditor per our requirements

0:29:53to update them every six months.

0:29:55And the next update will be march

0:29:5816th of twenty twenty two.

0:30:02And with that, I'm happy to turn it over to the city

0:30:04council Subcommittee.

0:30:07It sounds like a good segway mayor pro tem.

0:30:09Do you have a question No, I don't.

0:30:12But I wanted is it OK to make an announced nant Sure.

0:30:17We're going to get to Councilman after this subcommittee.

0:30:19OK, let's do that afterwards.

0:30:21OK so a good way to the city council finance ad

0:30:26Hoc Committee update Thank you.

0:30:28Thank you.

0:30:29Mayor Fidele We'll keep this brief The City Council formed

0:30:34of Budget Subcamp which is an ad hoc committee meeting

0:30:37This committee is only together up until we are completed

0:30:41with our annual updates to the state auditor This was created

0:30:47in order to support the city's response to the state

0:30:49auditor's recommendations.

0:30:51The Budget Committee has had the following meetings.

0:30:55Council member Motoman self met one time staff.

0:30:59This subcommittee we've also met with a group

0:31:02of community members who self organized and requested

0:31:05a meeting with us.

0:31:07We had four meetings with city manager

0:31:09which included the city manager the assistant city manager

0:31:13the finance director as well the cab

0:31:15of the chair of the Financial Advisory

0:31:18Board. also known as Fab.

0:31:21The Budget Subcommittee reviewed the city manager's

0:31:23initial response to the auditor and also reviewed the six month

0:31:27follow up, which I highly suggest access

0:31:30either from the packet to this meeting or in any of the places

0:31:34that city manager Pincus highlighted We provided

0:31:37feedback as far as each submission

0:31:41and also we correlated the direction

0:31:44and that was provided by council through the Fiscal

0:31:47Sustainability Workshop Thank you.

0:31:52You, council member Redneck's.

0:31:53So i also want to thank council member

0:31:56Rudnik for really spearheading the formation

0:31:59of the subcommittee.

0:32:00So I think it's been a really great

0:32:01way to get some more time to really dive

0:32:04into our budget issues.

0:32:06So it's been I think I would agree

0:32:09that it's been a helpful body and really

0:32:13useful for all of us.

0:32:14So the budget subcommittee provides the management

0:32:18with direction for the budget updates that are forthcoming.

0:32:21We have been working with our staff

0:32:23to look at those monthly reports and also looking forward

0:32:29We want to make sure that there is sufficient information.

0:32:32And we are thinking that it might be more

0:32:35on a quarterly basis because we can get a fuller

0:32:38report of what is happening.

0:32:41So what we've been really requesting

0:32:43is actionable information in the format that

0:32:45is accessible to everyone that's going to be useful We're also

0:32:49a focusing on the ten and five year five

0:32:52and ten year forecasts to make sure that those are part

0:32:55of our that quarterly report.

0:32:57So we can really see where we're going with the budget changes

0:33:00that we've made.

0:33:01And then also to understand the budget on a department

0:33:05by department basis.

0:33:06So those are that has to come in the hopefully

0:33:11at the beginning of November that will encapsulate

0:33:13this past quarter And I think council member Rubberneck

0:33:20and Mohtarma for the extra effort they're putting in

0:33:22and the subcommittee, it's very much appreciated

0:33:26and we feel very supportive with your support on this

0:33:30I have a question as to will we get a response

0:33:32back to the document that we presented to the auditor?

0:33:36When might that be I do expect that we will hear back

0:33:41from them, the last update that we provided to them in

0:33:46may, I believe losing track of time.

0:33:48Sorry, I believe was in May that we did our we submitted

0:33:52the corrective action Plan and they did follow up with me

0:33:56as far as asking some questions asking

0:33:59for additional documentation or a few things here and there.

0:34:02And then on there on the state auditor website,

0:34:05they did post a response essentially saying

0:34:07all of these areas, the risk areas are pending still,

0:34:11which is not a surprise So we're hopeful that with this update

0:34:15maybe there will be some more completed or at least some

0:34:19some note, some notice that there has been movement made

0:34:22because the city council has done a lot of work,

0:34:26and we have ended the year much better than anticipated.

0:34:30In due to very conservative revenue projection

0:34:35and the budget cuts that we made So

0:34:37that is, as you all heard during the last general fund update.

0:34:40So that's good news that we hope that the state auditor will

0:34:43look favorably upon We have increased our budget monitoring

0:34:47the subcommittee has been a part of that updating our reports

0:34:51as they discuss arrived.

0:34:52So we do expect that we will hear back from them

0:34:55at some point with their essentially

0:34:57their answer to our update, which, again,

0:34:59they will post on their website I'll be sure to again, provide

0:35:02that to the city council I can tell you that I don't

0:35:07because we're the city council still has to approve

0:35:10the fiscal sustainability plan as discussed

0:35:13at the last meeting on August thirty.

0:35:14First, that'll come within the next couple of months for you

0:35:17all to take a look at and approve and adopt.

0:35:21We will provide that to the state auditor at that time.

0:35:23But the next time, we don't have to we don't have

0:35:25to report back until March.

0:35:28When I plan to send once this council approves that plan,

0:35:32I plan to send it to the state auditor in the interim,

0:35:34just as a as an update.

0:35:36So I'm really hopeful that as of the next reporting period,

0:35:40that we will have made such significant progress

0:35:43My goal is to try to get off the high risk list.

0:35:46If we can.

0:35:47I believe that we've done a lot of work.

0:35:49This council has really taken this seriously.

0:35:52And I'm very proud of all of us together.

0:35:55As a community to take all of this seriously.

0:35:58and address the issues in that report.

0:36:00So I also want to think the subcommittee

0:36:02of council member reznik Imodium they have

0:36:05been wonderful to work with.

0:36:07And they have provided excellent feedback, comments,

0:36:10suggestions and frankly been a very

0:36:11good sounding board for staff.

0:36:13So I just want to thank you both very much for that.

0:36:17I'm very optimistic that the progress we've made

0:36:20is going to be looked favorably on by the state auditor.

0:36:25Well, let's just do right So let's move

0:36:29on to council communications that may be important or not

0:36:34important, but fun and factual.

0:36:36Mayor Pro Tem Peter Thank you, Mayor Fidele.

0:36:39I'm i wanted to report.

0:36:40I did mention this and past council meetings

0:36:45but as a member of the executive committee of Green Clean

0:36:49Energy, and I wanted to let our residents

0:36:53and small businesses know that if you are having trouble

0:36:58paying your MCE bill, please know that there are discounts

0:37:03bailable for residents are having difficulties

0:37:07paying their MCE bills.

0:37:10So please look at the MCE website morein clean energy

0:37:17and it will have instructions on how to get those discounts

0:37:23But they do need proof and hopefully you'll

0:37:28be able to get those discounts.

0:37:29So just wanted to make sure that all of our residents

0:37:33know that as a member of Marine clean Energy,

0:37:37we're looking at what we can do to make sure

0:37:40that our residents in need and our small businesses in need

0:37:44get the discounts that are available So,

0:37:47again, thank for that.

0:37:49And I also want to report that I met with the Florida Rotarians

0:37:56and I just wanted to announce that they'll be meeting

0:38:00with the city manager and staff and our subcommittee

0:38:05to look at ways where we can work together

0:38:10to make sure that we have our Fourth

0:38:12of July parade for next year.

0:38:15So this is all the planning stages

0:38:18and I'm great to my fellow l'esprit rotarians who

0:38:21are doing a fantastic job when it

0:38:24comes to helping our community and our community

0:38:28is they've been in charge of of this before And I look forward

0:38:34to working with them and working with city

0:38:39staff and city manager Karen Pickus to make sure

0:38:43that we're get this back.

0:38:44This is our largest and most successful Fourth of July.

0:38:49And we have people coming all over from all over the bay

0:38:53and from out of state and and I'm hoping that we

0:38:56can all work on this together.

0:38:59To make sure that we're able to do this again.

0:39:03And I know our residents have been going

0:39:05stir crazy for not having this.

0:39:07I know there was an informal one last Fourth of July and excited

0:39:12that we'll all be working on this as a community

0:39:16to make sure we get to do this again.

0:39:19So that's my report.

0:39:21Thank you.

0:39:21Mayor Fidele Oh, good.

0:39:23Good news.

0:39:24Other comments and announcements.

0:39:28I just have a couple The Web attack The Western Contra Costa

0:39:33transportation Advisory Committee had another Barch

0:39:37and San Pablo Avenue specific plan, public discussion

0:39:41last week with a long, long powerPoint

0:39:46and discussion with our city staff

0:39:48and BART about what may be happening.

0:39:50And it was very good, open, big discussion and that material

0:39:54is available on our and their website.

0:39:57Also, the environmental quality Committee

0:40:00had another public forum informational forum,

0:40:03an effort on a new food where ordinance

0:40:07that we will be discussing.

0:40:09Hopefully in November.

0:40:10So we can begin ridding our city and other places of plastic

0:40:15and was a good turnout.

0:40:16And I'm looking forward to that.

0:40:17Coming before the council to other than to other Elshamy

0:40:21news breaks Vantz is that the that I thought was interesting.

0:40:25The though I high school football

0:40:28team recently Ignacia Valley Fifty four to nothing

0:40:33So it's kind of a kind of.

0:40:36Yeah.

0:40:36Where we're getting into the commissionaire and then

0:40:39also from elsewhere, you know high,

0:40:41we have a national merit Scholarship semifinalist

0:40:44I want to announce Zachery, a ten congratulations

0:40:48and continue on to the finals.

0:40:50Zachary will be rooting for you And now

0:40:53if we can move on to the public comments,

0:40:57the clerk will announce any written comments

0:41:00received prior to the meeting and confirm

0:41:03the time per speakers.

0:41:05But to begin with, I wanted to I our council members have been

0:41:09concerned about, especially council member Rubberneck

0:41:12and Mayor Keita have connected with me

0:41:15about the power outages here and else areto and city clerk.

0:41:19I just wanted to make sure that we did, in fact, have Marc

0:41:22and Gordon online here to give us an initial feedback

0:41:27about what's been happening I asked that he come back later,

0:41:31give us a fuller reply Another also presenting tonight

0:41:34Richmond.

0:41:35So they were a little shorthanded,

0:41:37but can we get to Marc Van Gorder It's me

0:41:40and Mike is on the call with us.

0:41:41And I'm I have a mayor and council members.

0:41:47Can you hear me?

0:41:48Yes, we can.

0:41:50All right.

0:41:51Hi, Let me just introduce myself again.

0:41:54My name is Mark Van.

0:41:55Order.

0:41:56I work for Pacific Gas and Electric

0:41:58with government relations representative

0:42:01and as a liaison officer when we open up

0:42:04our local operational emergency center

0:42:08and board I want to thank you for joining tonight.

0:42:14I love this item is not on the agenda.

0:42:16So I'm going to take these comments to the 3

0:42:18minute limit of the council.

0:42:21But I'm happy to work the city staff for a future agenda

0:42:25is meeting and we can have a more detailed report

0:42:29But getting this is just this past weekend,

0:42:32I really appreciate this opportunity to speak

0:42:35to the past two because I've been serving as the government

0:42:37relations liaison working for our that's the operational

0:42:43emergency center.

0:42:44In response to the large and long duration outages in the

0:42:49You are aware that impacted alfredo San Pablo in

0:42:53other communities by the first.

0:42:57I just want to say this, that I and all of acutely

0:43:01recognized the impact and the challenges

0:43:04of these long term outages residents

0:43:07and all of the injured.

0:43:09We have to and we appreciate their patience, your patience,

0:43:15your crews are working to restore power

0:43:18We're working really well, working day and night

0:43:20to get the car back home.

0:43:21Safely.

0:43:22So I'm going to comment briefly, ask or speculate

0:43:26about the cause of the outage and offer a more

0:43:30detailed presentation for.

0:43:35So after a long time without rain

0:43:38if it had during this drought it had a lot of smoke

0:43:41in particular for that matter, any air that dust

0:43:44with their smoke, particulate matter, salt other substances

0:43:48accumulate on the power lines, equipment

0:43:51We have this first light rain and mist that arrives

0:43:56after this long dry spell.

0:43:58It turns that salt dust boils into just A.G. Into substance

0:44:07and muddy type substance.

0:44:09Motsyk enough to conduct electricity.

0:44:12So this happens.

0:44:14This can damage the electric equipment

0:44:17potentially resulting.

0:44:18We call electric flashover or the cracking electricity

0:44:24finding another track or an alternate path instead

0:44:28of the wire and then therefore can damage

0:44:30the electric equipment cross the poles, wires,

0:44:35or other equipment that there is then

0:44:38you have power outages Some folks will

0:44:41see this part of the that that's that's what

0:44:45happens Next question.

0:44:46What did we do about it?

0:44:49We activated the of division is has divisions that has to do

0:44:55with our electric circuitry.

0:44:57We activated the local operational emergency center,

0:45:00the local main office, serving east Bay Area,

0:45:05serving those cities that were impacted

0:45:08is a standard practice during large and long duration

0:45:11outages.

0:45:12And most often we experienced it during the stronger winter

0:45:15storm.

0:45:16Citrus trees on the wires If they're slippery,

0:45:19roads may get car or truck.

0:45:21It's a whole when we activate knowing we'll have a higher

0:45:24than normal higher than normal number of outages

0:45:27and they may go longer periods time

0:45:30been changed a little bit about heat from the wind and whatnot.

0:45:34So the fire the lighting day shifts

0:45:38establish these are the operational emergency center We

0:45:42bring in additional crews We bring in materials

0:45:45and other resource that we need to safely

0:45:47restore power quickly.

0:45:50Our operational emergency center on this scene shortly

0:45:52to see if that's what I mean when I say, OK the command

0:45:56staff section chiefs meet regularly throughout the event

0:46:01to identify the objectives the tactics police force was needed

0:46:04to restore power much like your county office

0:46:08of Emergency Services would open up its emergency

0:46:12operations center or your versity

0:46:14open up for a localized event.

0:46:16What we did the OAC continue to operate and tell the crews

0:46:20and restore power All the customers

0:46:22impacted by the event along a lot of questions that

0:46:25have come up with all so fine.

0:46:27What is it going to do to prevent

0:46:30this from happening again?

0:46:32I understand the sense that this is

0:46:35what is going to happen every weekend

0:46:38or every time there's mist.

0:46:40So i'd like to do and Mayor council members and perhaps

0:46:44Patrick who work with the city manager to schedule a

0:46:47follow up meeting in the coming weeks At that meeting,

0:46:51we would share the council hearing how we regularly,

0:46:54regularly maintain our lines and update

0:46:58electrical infrastructure on a regular basis.

0:47:02And as needed to seek with science

0:47:06mandates And then we'll share any findings.

0:47:09What we dig deeper that may indicate

0:47:13what more Chegeni crews can be doing to further

0:47:16reduce the frequency and duration and the impacts

0:47:20of those outages.

0:47:21And should we find those opportunity

0:47:24I think we'll talk about implementing them in a timely

0:47:27to get that done.

0:47:29So I probably went over my three minutes.

0:47:31I apologize Thank you very much.

0:47:35We can ask questions around because the jeopardizing

0:47:39issues, but we look forward to you coming back and explaining

0:47:43and we look more forward to not having any interruptions

0:47:46at all in energy supply.

0:47:48So thank you, Mark, for calling in and giving us

0:47:52an update We appreciate that.

0:47:57And now I want to turn to the public comments

0:48:00at the members of the public who wish

0:48:03to provide public comments regarding

0:48:06matters, not on the agenda.

0:48:08Consent items and presentation items should use the race

0:48:11and feature to request to speak City clerk,

0:48:15can we please proceed?

0:48:17Thank you, Mayor.

0:48:18Why we give everyone an opportunity to raise your hand.

0:48:20I will.

0:48:21Just announced that the public comment received by the 4:00

0:48:24p.m. deadline today was posted on our website

0:48:27a supplemental material and provided

0:48:29directly to the council members for items not on the agenda.

0:48:33Tonight, comments were received by mail

0:48:35to succeed a chair for our economic environment

0:48:40equality Committee.

0:48:42Cordeaux handler Robin Mitchell Johnson classic and Teresa

0:48:46Paani Perine, as well as on consent item

0:48:50five from Gary Frost and Sue and Paul duncan.

0:48:54And mayor at this time i see about five hand

0:48:57your questions Can you confirm the 3 minute time limit,

0:49:01please?

0:49:013 minutes please.

0:49:02Thank you.

0:49:03Thank you, sir.

0:49:04I will go to our first speaker tonight,

0:49:06which is with the Elstree, the historical society.

0:49:11You should be able to unmuted begin your time now.

0:49:15Hi.

0:49:16Can you hear me OK?

0:49:17This is Dave Weinstein, President

0:49:18of the Historical Society I'm speaking on behalf

0:49:22of the historical society and as a friend

0:49:24of Chris Chris Tredway Chris is one of the greatest guys

0:49:28that I know.

0:49:29He has been a long time journalist covering Also,

0:49:32we know in tremendous detail with a special focus

0:49:36on the community.

0:49:37So many events and so many people in Saariaho

0:49:40owe him a lot for his deep coverage.

0:49:43He's also a great historian He knows a great deal about town,

0:49:46about the history of our town.

0:49:48He considers the history in kornet

0:49:50for today He does a Facebook page The vice president

0:49:54of the historical Society.

0:49:56Chris is also very sick.

0:49:57He has cancer His prognosis is not particularly positive.

0:50:02We are really hoping for the best and battling cancer.

0:50:07He's written for many years or for a number

0:50:09of years for the chamber of Commerce also.

0:50:11So he's been involved in so many ways for the city.

0:50:15He's been working for quite a few years on a book

0:50:18about our city's gambling past and about how we became

0:50:24a city We went from being a city of gamblers and lowlifes

0:50:27to the city that we are today.

0:50:29It's really a testimony his commitment to the community.

0:50:33Also, the is continuing to work on this really is

0:50:37going to get it done Other members

0:50:39of the society will help him.

0:50:41This is a very good time for people who know Chris

0:50:44to really be thinking about.

0:50:45I'm taking good thoughts and to reach

0:50:47out to thank you very much.

0:50:51Thank you.

0:50:52And speakers individualising indeed,

0:50:55you should be able to begin your time now.

0:50:58Hello all right.

0:51:03Thank you.

0:51:06I want to start with sharing I've just been reading

0:51:12a lot about the founding fathers and somebody

0:51:15who I've been reading a lot about is Thomas Paine

0:51:17and just coming across this idea radical common sense like that,

0:51:22common sense is what created this country which

0:51:24like one of the most amazing experiments

0:51:26the world has seen America.

0:51:29Wow.

0:51:29And Thomas Paine, what did you do?

0:51:31Like, he just raised the alarm about common sense and people

0:51:35were like, well, common sense Wow.

0:51:36Like, what are we doing this all the time?

0:51:38Like paying some King and he's not even here.

0:51:40And like, well, I mean, there's a lot of other layers to that.

0:51:43But i still like it was a pamphlet pamphlet

0:51:46that talks about common sense.

0:51:47I started America on.

0:51:49And so with that being said, I also want add a quote that i

0:51:52got from one of the founding fathers that was going down

0:51:55the rabbit hole about common sense and Thomas Paine

0:51:58and was secrecy is the refuge of scoundrels and i don't know,

0:52:06I feel I just want to just bring that thought up, that secrecy

0:52:09is a space for scoundrels.

0:52:11To hide Right.

0:52:13And I'm not saying anybody is I'm not

0:52:15pointing the finger at anybody I think we

0:52:17do have a culture of secrecy.

0:52:19I mean, local government officials

0:52:21our city staff they just they stay in a space of secrecy

0:52:25all the time.

0:52:26And whether it's by choice or not,

0:52:28I think that's that in my I mean i'm learning

0:52:31about Thomas Paine America like that's traitor,

0:52:33that you're being a traitor.

0:52:34To America.

0:52:35Like if you don't listen to the public

0:52:37and you don't clearly talk about what you talk about, what plans

0:52:40you make, what why you choose not to have things,

0:52:43why you choose to have things if you're not

0:52:45having a discussion with the public,

0:52:46you're literally a traitor.

0:52:48Let's the whole idea of the Brown Act,

0:52:49why do you have all these rules was to prevent secrecy

0:52:54And yet i just me being showing this past year,

0:52:58I can't tell you how I have experienced it personally.

0:53:01Secrecy.

0:53:01But I also notice that consistent with these meetings,

0:53:04I mean, i'm not surprised.

0:53:06I'm still sticking around If I didn't meditate, if I didn't

0:53:08if I didn't pray, if I'd have faith

0:53:10if I didn't have all these different things,

0:53:12I had been out of here.

0:53:13I've been like, you guys don't know what you're on.

0:53:14You guys are hiding I don't want you like this.

0:53:17Like, if I did this in any of the companies i've worked in

0:53:20or any of the projects i've ever worked,

0:53:21then we would have failed.

0:53:23And maybe that's why our government's

0:53:24feeling this way, even at a local level, we're failing.

0:53:27I mean, we're represent democracy.

0:53:30And yet we can't figure out the problems in our community

0:53:33I mean, all we have to do is listen to each other and space

0:53:35and have conversations with the people who have needs like

0:53:39and Yeah, I keep meeting people in the community

0:53:41that are literally saying they're not heard.

0:53:43They will show up to city hall meetings

0:53:44anymore because they say literally, we don't get hurt.

0:53:48That's insane.

0:53:50That like, wait, we're we're failing.

0:53:51So in my opinion, I just want to bring that thought up.

0:53:54Secrecy is a refuge of scoundrels

0:53:57Let's try to practice a little bit more transparency.

0:53:59Let's actually talk about why we make decisions and people

0:54:02will trust you and love you.

0:54:03You guys will be honored.

0:54:04I promise you'll be honored.

0:54:05Thank you.

0:54:06Thank you.

0:54:07Our next speaker is Diana Can you read Rena

0:54:12And she should be able to I me in your time now Hi.

0:54:19Can you hear me?

0:54:24Hello.

0:54:25Can you.

0:54:26Yes.

0:54:26OK thank you.

0:54:29So I was very concerned about these outrageous I've

0:54:33been I stopped over at my local one of my local favorite cafes

0:54:39and I'll Cerrado Cafe nine and I was wondering what PG&E

0:54:42is doing to compensate the small businesses

0:54:44for their lost wages.

0:54:46As a result of these power outages and cafe nine

0:54:51is an example of a small family, black owned

0:54:55business that we chair so much.

0:54:58And when I spoke to the owner about it,

0:55:02and there's two outages they've experienced that I know

0:55:04of because I personally showed up to try and get my morning

0:55:07coffee and my breakfast and it was shut down So I

0:55:11when I spoke to the owner about it,

0:55:13she did mention that he has not mentioned anything to her

0:55:16about how they are planning to compensate for business loss

0:55:20from these outages.

0:55:21And I'm just wondering what the plan is

0:55:23to make these businesses whole for those lost

0:55:26wages My other concern is just again, the issue of access

0:55:33to these meetings and inability to see other members

0:55:37of the community feel like, this is not what city

0:55:40hall is supposed to be about.

0:55:42And how it feels have been active in my local government

0:55:45since i was in college.

0:55:48I'm just very, very concerned about the fact

0:55:51that I can't even see who's here.

0:55:53If I'm in a city hall meeting outside of covid,

0:55:55I can look around, I can engage I think that there's

0:55:59a lot of a lot of apathy as that's occurring

0:56:03as a result of this And just wondering what the city

0:56:06council is trying to do to engage more more

0:56:11local community members to show up

0:56:15and also, when we do show up, what the city

0:56:18council is doing to onerous.

0:56:20I remember this like saturday long budget meeting we had with

0:56:23this third party that came in.

0:56:25There were breakout groups We came

0:56:27up with all of these ideas.

0:56:28What's what what was the result of that?

0:56:30Nothing like the city council's like canceling meetings.

0:56:34I mean, it's just pretty ridiculous.

0:56:36I'm know, on the cusp I'm a millennial

0:56:39and i'm also a front line worker and really feeling

0:56:44like I am super disappointed and I expect

0:56:48a lot more from these elected officials

0:56:50and hope that you guys have plans to engage the community

0:56:54to show up spaces where people can talk about issues

0:56:57and actually start creating those opportunities for us.

0:57:04Thank you Thank you.

0:57:06My next speaker, Sherrie Drowner.

0:57:08Sure.

0:57:08You should be able to unmuted and begin

0:57:10your time now Geria with this.

0:57:21I see are needed, but we cannot hear you OK, oK.

0:57:29I'll try and come back to you.

0:57:31I'm going to our next speaker, Linda Kane,

0:57:33than they should be able to meet and begin your time.

0:57:35Now thank you.

0:57:38Can you hear me?

0:57:40Yes, we can.

0:57:41Write.

0:57:42Thank you.

0:57:42I just wanted to say.

0:57:43Well, I do kind of agree with diana Kinta.

0:57:47Raina And then in the last year and a half,

0:57:51it's been hard to participate.

0:57:52And we we obviously are not being

0:57:54seen because you can't see us.

0:57:56But I would like to say that that

0:57:58may be due to the emergency in eighty three.

0:58:01Sixty one But at least now we can see the city council

0:58:04members and the city staff again, which when you guys

0:58:08were in the hybrid format and you were kind of in the room

0:58:10and you were kind of far away from the camera and blurry

0:58:14speaking through masks are not Mudflap blurry,

0:58:17but it's like it was really hard to feel like we can hear

0:58:21what was going on at that time.

0:58:22So this is at least in improvement.

0:58:24And I also wanted to thank Gabriel Kento for speaking

0:58:27positively about someday the future of our El Cerrito

0:58:31fourth of July, which is a wonderful thing.

0:58:33And i think gave us a positive community

0:58:36feeling and a welcome to other people in our area.

0:58:40So hopefully One of these days.

0:58:42And that's all I have to do except My friends

0:58:46and myself have going crazy with all the power outages.

0:58:49So, yeah, we're glad that you guys are working on that

0:58:52and talking to ginny.

0:58:53Thank you.

0:58:54In Q And a..

0:58:56Is Miss Pribumi Miss Pierini should be able to meet

0:59:00and begin your time now.

0:59:02Can you hear me now.

0:59:03Yes, we can.

0:59:04OK, good evening.

0:59:05And I appreciate being here.

0:59:08I lived Australia for twenty five plus years

0:59:11and before moving here my husband's family

0:59:14has lived there since the thirties.

0:59:15So the Perrine's and Elstree, the residence

0:59:18for very long time.

0:59:19They both my husband's parents both went straight

0:59:22to high school and so we are long members of this community

0:59:27of untellable Eighteen months ago,

0:59:28it really didn't feel unsafe in my own backyard.

0:59:31Or walking down the Aloni Greenblatt's I

0:59:34understand homelessness is a pretty complex issue.

0:59:38I reached out through emails the last year and a half.

0:59:42I sent soundbytes of my backyard from Eight o'clock

0:59:45in the morning on a Sunday to midnight

0:59:48on a weeknight when I have to get up and go

0:59:50and teach in the morning.

0:59:52I'm a teacher I've called the police I.B.M. the city.

0:59:55I've talked to the maintenance people

0:59:57and the general consensus.

0:59:59I get is everybody's hands are tied.

1:00:01I've got homeless people that live right up

1:00:03against my back fence I got an email from Mr

1:00:06fidele finally, last week in his response

1:00:09was that it's a regional problem and the city has been

1:00:13speaking lexington residents.

1:00:15I have never spoke to Mr Fidele I

1:00:18would like to personally invite you all to my house for lunch

1:00:22in my backyard.

1:00:23When the homeless backs up again.

1:00:25So you can smell the smell.

1:00:27I tried to cut down some flowers and it smelled

1:00:29like urine in my backyard.

1:00:31I don't Your backyard smells like or looks like.

1:00:34I understand homelessness is a really complex issue.

1:00:38But if you least cleaned up the garden once a week,

1:00:42like picking up the trash and the rest of the neighbourhood

1:00:45that would cut some costs I am very

1:00:48emotional about this issue.

1:00:49I have a lot of possible solutions.

1:00:52I emailed the city and I've got little to no response I'd also

1:00:57like for you to consider changing your city

1:01:00office hours for working people that lives

1:01:03in the city of El Cerrito.

1:01:04Instead Monday through Friday, 9:00 to one,

1:01:07I get home in the afternoon You guys

1:01:09are all closed I try to call and I just get a phone tree.

1:01:13I don't get a hold of anybody.

1:01:15There's no like person I don't really

1:01:17know if it's just a ghost in the machine type thing.

1:01:20I'm really upset.

1:01:22I understand homeless people are not criminals,

1:01:25but i also know that I've lived here for a very long time.

1:01:28I raised my children here.

1:01:29I can't go out into my backyard I tried

1:01:31to mow my lawn last weekend and they

1:01:33were banging on my fence to tell me to shut

1:01:36up for mowing my own back yard.

1:01:38And it's very emotional.

1:01:39Mrs Wilson I've seen you dealt through high school

1:01:43You've attended my daughter's band.

1:01:44Concerts.

1:01:45You know you've shown some interest that way.

1:01:48But I've email every single one of you more than once.

1:01:52And I know I sound emotional but this is my home.

1:01:55And because of all of this, I'm considering moving.

1:01:58And I don't know what you people do.

1:02:01I know you have a nice, quiet backyard, Mr madeley.

1:02:04I'd like to personally invite you to my home

1:02:06when the homeless people show Ibaka will be there Thank you.

1:02:13Thank you.

1:02:14I next speaker is definitely stuff

1:02:17you should be able to unmuted.

1:02:18Begin your time now.

1:02:24Hello.

1:02:24Can you hear me?

1:02:25Yes, we can.

1:02:27I My name is Stani and i just moved

1:02:31to El Cerrito a couple of months ago

1:02:33and Yeah, I just wanted to talk a little bit about the just

1:02:39echoing a lot of sentiments that have been made,

1:02:42just like one recognizing that there seem

1:02:46to be a lot of frustrations within the community

1:02:49and a common thread that I'm noticing

1:02:51is just like the response and like the relationship

1:02:55between you all city council members and the public.

1:02:58Right.

1:02:59People are talking about frustrations,

1:03:00about not being heard, at not being responded to.

1:03:04And so even just like these public comment moments.

1:03:08Right.

1:03:08Like there's no dialogue here.

1:03:11You know, three minutes to speak.

1:03:13And that's great.

1:03:15But like, they're there's no response.

1:03:17And i just feel like these meetings

1:03:20are like two plus hours.

1:03:22And this is a use of of everyone's time.

1:03:25And I feel like it could it would be more

1:03:27of a productive time if there was dialogue

1:03:31between you all and me.

1:03:34You know, the fact that you can't see my face

1:03:36you don't know who I am and i barely know all of you.

1:03:39And so i guess I just challenge you to think

1:03:43about the accessibility and how we can really create

1:03:46like a working relationship between you all

1:03:50is like public governance and us the people

1:03:54that you should be serving on top of that,

1:03:59you know you all are talking about the next the

1:04:03the next Fourth of July meeting.

1:04:04And or a celebration and i guess something

1:04:08to that is just recognizing October 11th

1:04:11is indigenous people's Day.

1:04:13And I'm curious if you all have plans or are

1:04:16interested in recognizing that as a holiday to celebrate

1:04:21and what your intentions are for that in the spaces

1:04:25that I've been in land acknowledgment and recognition

1:04:28of this is colonized and stolen land has been a greater

1:04:32conversation And even at the I don't see anywhere

1:04:36in this agenda any sort of acknowledgment or recognition

1:04:40of the land that we're on.

1:04:42And so maybe that's something that can also be integrated

1:04:44into these like really like an accessible agendas and meeting

1:04:51spaces and maybe even a land acknowledging it

1:04:54would make this space more more inclusive.

1:04:57And so yeah, I hope that you consider

1:05:00that and consider this that.

1:05:03Thank you Hey, do you want to try again?

1:05:09See if your audio is working with us?

1:05:15We're still hearing you, Cherie.

1:05:19And you have one more speaker.

1:05:21We'll go to JT.

1:05:23Parag you should be able to unmuted

1:05:25to begin your time now Hello.

1:05:31Hi.

1:05:31Can you hear me?

1:05:32Yes, we can.

1:05:33Go ahead.

1:05:34OK, Hi.

1:05:35Yeah, I would also just like to reiterate some of the feelings

1:05:41that have already been expressed in that it seems

1:05:45like a great amount of the community myself included,

1:05:47would like these meetings to be in some way more accessible

1:05:53maybe going back to some in-person mobility

1:05:57or in some way just allowing people to to see someone

1:06:02else face to face to discuss things

1:06:04with, because I feel there is a certain level of frustration.

1:06:08You kind of have to cumulate to even want

1:06:10to come to a remote do meeting which a lot of people

1:06:13are doing all day.

1:06:14Already anyway.

1:06:18So, yeah, that's all I'd in EMQQ And it looks like you tried

1:06:24with a different connection.

1:06:26Yeah.

1:06:26Can you hear me now?

1:06:27Yes, we can Go ahead OK, hold on me Get this going.

1:06:34OK, great.

1:06:37Thank you for taking the time and running

1:06:41down my third attempt.

1:06:43So i wanted to say that I listened to the whole city

1:06:48council meeting yesterday.

1:06:49That was another Whopper that went to eleven thirty

1:06:54But it was really interesting.

1:06:56And I know that all of you received

1:06:58information about the resolution passed by the council

1:07:01last night.

1:07:02And the presentation by Karina Gould

1:07:04of the Security land Trust.

1:07:07I was personally thrilled that the resident and the city

1:07:11of albany demonstrated really unrestrained enthusiasm to take

1:07:15concrete steps to recognize the value,

1:07:18the authority and the important work of confederated Tribes

1:07:22of louisana.

1:07:22Many people the highly historic resolution goes beyond the kind

1:07:28of virtual signaling or feel good actions that are safe,

1:07:32or with little impact The Albany resolution

1:07:35as well as the city of Alameda Actions that were previously

1:07:38taken are both making significant steps

1:07:42to assist the corps de Land Trust in the rehabilitation

1:07:46of the land And by doing so, we not only right

1:07:49a historical wrong of enslaving and occupying

1:07:52the land of the original residents We are acknowledging

1:07:56that cultural practices and knowledge of those who lived

1:07:59here and cared for the land can and should

1:08:01have their home here.

1:08:03Grow their language and our culture

1:08:05to bring back for all of us the new relation to the land Now,

1:08:10I know obviously, people who do not necessarily

1:08:13believe in this reciprocity and in the idea

1:08:16that we are guests to this land And but I really would implore

1:08:21you to invite this green and gold to a Zoom meeting

1:08:25or to your chamber if you're in their chambers

1:08:28to have the opportunity.

1:08:29So that we can I'll think about this more carefully.

1:08:32Now, for those of you who do support the idea,

1:08:35I believe that the discussion of any passing a resolution

1:08:40was really the first step.

1:08:41And it was really an intention.

1:08:43And even though they could have faltered

1:08:46they could have had a million excuses as to why maybe they

1:08:49shouldn't do it right away.

1:08:51They did it Nevertheless, they are sitting attorney.

1:08:55Was there who looked at over and said, yes, you're OK, go ahead.

1:08:59Start moving ahead with it.

1:09:01And not every detail has to be worked out.

1:09:04And it's and it may not happen in two months or in six months.

1:09:08or even a year.

1:09:09Some even take longer for those who are at home with my time.

1:09:18Oh, i have a few more minutes.

1:09:19OK, that's my timer on my stove.

1:09:23I to I started doing so as soon as I learned

1:09:26that I had the opportunity to do style

1:09:29and she needs such a word for a gift.

1:09:31That really is a gift for me. so that I can acknowledge

1:09:34the action support my commitment for social justice I

1:09:37hope that all of you will do that. too.

1:09:39Thanks very much I, absolutely.

1:09:43I next figure is just stajcic.

1:09:46John should be able to unmuted.

1:09:47Begin your time out.

1:09:49Yeah.

1:09:50I wasn't going to make any more comment

1:09:53because I submitted a written one,

1:09:54but when city government screws up.

1:09:57I'll say so when city government works

1:10:01I like to call them and give credit where credit is due.

1:10:06I'm listening to the resident on Lexington that

1:10:09had the homeless mess in their back door and believe me,

1:10:12it is an absolute mess back there.

1:10:14I sent an email to a city manager

1:10:18and i got an immediate response and then

1:10:22the response that indicated the city had

1:10:24plans to clean up that mess.

1:10:26The following week.

1:10:27And it was done.

1:10:28And those people are out of there.

1:10:30The for now but they're out of there.

1:10:34For now.

1:10:35So there should be some piece on the 700 block of Lexington

1:10:37Avenue But my point is, i find most of the time

1:10:44when I email City staff or city management, I

1:10:48get a response not so much with council level but, you know,

1:10:55whatever They do their own thing.

1:10:56But I just want to congratulate city staff for responding.

1:11:00Now, you can get busy and go down to a fifteen block

1:11:04of Lexington avenue right across the street from my house

1:11:07and deal with the next mess because that

1:11:10has to be cleaned out, too.

1:11:11And it only gets worse.

1:11:13It doesn't get better And I also recognize

1:11:16really do recognize the difficulty

1:11:18in handling this stuff.

1:11:20Because we have to give notice and we have to put our gloves

1:11:25on, our kid gloves on.

1:11:26And who would you please move to a shelter

1:11:28or something like that?

1:11:29Sometimes it takes some tough love and some boots

1:11:33on the ground, but that's that's that goes

1:11:37that's what the police and the department and our public

1:11:39works.

1:11:40People got to do with getting back to what I started to say.

1:11:44I get response.

1:11:45And I appreciate I really do.

1:11:47And I think the city listens And I think city management

1:11:50and city staff do pay attention.

1:11:53And I appreciate their prompt response That's it.

1:11:58Thank you.

1:11:58Our next speaker is Anna NAHB.

1:12:01Will to you to begin your time now Hello everybody.

1:12:07This is the second city hall meeting that I've attended

1:12:10and i just wanted to say I've been very

1:12:13inspired by the engagement of the people who's spoken

1:12:17and i wanted to just again, reiterate something

1:12:24that everybody has said, which is it would be great to know

1:12:29what happen as a result of our speaking up You

1:12:35know to get some sort of response to it.

1:12:38And for everyone to know what what happened.

1:12:40What effect it had And again, in an ideal world,

1:12:45a dialogue in real time would be great.

1:12:50Or if not in real time, then at some later point That's all

1:12:54I wanted to say.

1:12:55Thank you Thank you, Mayor.

1:12:58That does conclude our request to speak Thanks

1:13:03for the public input Appreciate that.

1:13:05Tonight, we next move on to our concept.

1:13:09Callendar if there's any item out,

1:13:12a council member would like to take off

1:13:14or have questions comments about, please let me know.

1:13:17I am going to Yes.

1:13:19Council member multicamera I was going to read them first.

1:13:23You want me to read them?

1:13:24Yes.

1:13:24Go, go.

1:13:26So they begin with approval of the minutes The Urban

1:13:30Forest Committee appointment.

1:13:31And that would be Melissa Tuti.

1:13:33Thank you, Melissa.

1:13:35The Economic Development committee

1:13:37appointment, Travis campbell wants

1:13:39to be on economic development.

1:13:41He's a neighbor of mine.

1:13:42Thank you.

1:13:42Travis.

1:13:43Hispanic heritage Proclamation, suicide

1:13:47prevention awareness proclamation The League

1:13:51of California cities.

1:13:52Twenty twenty one annual conference resolutions

1:13:54package coming up this week as we go to Sacramento,

1:13:59the agreement with a plus Tree Inc

1:14:02for Trivium and Fire Hazard reduction work and elsewhere.

1:14:06The hillside Natural Area Yes, council mohtarma.

1:14:11Thank you, Mayor.

1:14:12I would like to have a city staff

1:14:17answer a couple of questions about the eight

1:14:19plus tree agreement.

1:14:21OK, we'll pull that And then Mayor pro Tem fidele,

1:14:26thank you.

1:14:27I wanted to make the correction on EBP

1:14:32and i will be substituting for you

1:14:36and and so I wanted to add my name

1:14:41on there since I will be voting for you as the alternate Yes.

1:14:47I won't be able to attend because I

1:14:49have to go to a memorial service of my dear friend that day.

1:14:53So i will we can just add that we don't need to pull that off.

1:14:56Is that right?

1:14:58Yes, OK, well, as your name to this and then can we move

1:15:02to have a B c, d, E and F, do I hear a motion for those motion

1:15:09to approve council members, those council

1:15:12member Matsuyama seconds and we have a roll call, please.

1:15:16Feneley, I meant for Timochenko.

1:15:19I can't remember Apison I can't remember chamma.

1:15:24I can't remember.

1:15:25I think I motion carries.

1:15:28Thank you.

1:15:29And now a question.

1:15:31Council member altium, the staff Yes.

1:15:34So I had asked staff regarding a question about a contract where

1:15:40there's a contract about a contingency

1:15:43and then it felt like the contract with the AA plus Three

1:15:47did not reflect that contingency amount

1:15:51And so if director Ortiz could respond and let

1:15:55me know if there's any movement on that contract

1:15:58that would be great.

1:16:02You may members do that We will be providing the compensation

1:16:11amount and the draft agreement, and we

1:16:13will be working with the city attorney

1:16:15to finalize that language.

1:16:17And currently the draft agreement

1:16:19provides the full amount of about eighty two thousand

1:16:22dollars But we're going to separate that amount

1:16:25to the base amount of seventy one thousand

1:16:30dollars plus the fifty for a total amount

1:16:34not to exceed the eighty to twenty three.

1:16:38So we will clarify that compensation

1:16:40language training on that.

1:16:44Thank you very much.

1:16:47Does that satisfy your concerns?

1:16:49Council member?

1:16:50Can you would you like to move that

1:16:52then so we can vote on that?

1:16:54OK, i would like to move the agreement with a plus 3

1:16:58for tree removal and fire hazard reduction

1:17:00work in the rural hillside area as amended

1:17:04by staff and city attorney seconded

1:17:07by council member Wilson.

1:17:09Can we have a roll-call and Feneley i Mayor Potemkin

1:17:16I can't remember Wilson.

1:17:18I can't remember Tamma I can't remember Mednick

1:17:23I mentioned Keris Thank you.

1:17:27There are no presentations tonight,

1:17:28but we move on to item number Seven public hearings

1:17:32and we're having a fire hazard abatement continuation

1:17:36of that discussion.

1:17:38And a presentation from our staff.

1:17:40Please Good evening our council members, Michael

1:17:44Piccone, your fire chief.

1:17:46I will actually be making the presentation

1:17:49tonight as you know.

1:17:52And I apologize for my for my rough voice.

1:17:55There As you know, we've been ongoing since may

1:18:00with our fire hazard abatement program.

1:18:04Which has taken us through the city

1:18:07with the we have a little over ten thousand parcels

1:18:12since May We have done reinspection on over eleven

1:18:18of those And as you know, back and I believe it was July 20

1:18:23we came to the council I believe,

1:18:26with eleven parcels that had failed by their deadline

1:18:30to declare their properties One of the things I want to make

1:18:36very clear tonight is that what we're what this public hearing

1:18:41tonight is about is three additional properties Once we

1:18:47did this initial group of them,

1:18:50other properties became either through our complaint process

1:18:55or just more properties that we just we

1:18:59found a number of another I believe it was twenty or thirty

1:19:05properties, of which they were noticed

1:19:08and what we're coming to you tonight

1:19:11is with three more properties that after we made

1:19:15the initial notification they have failed

1:19:19to abate the problem on their property

1:19:22for all of these properties.

1:19:26The ones that were that were declared a nuisance in July

1:19:30And these tonight, if these are declared a nuisance

1:19:34by the city council, we will be coming back to you

1:19:37at the end of October.

1:19:39With abatement or with the abatement cost

1:19:43or for you to approve for us to seek

1:19:45reimbursement through property.

1:19:48Lean's on that property as we have done in years.

1:19:53Past.

1:19:53With that can emphasize the important of our residents,

1:19:59of the community I'm taking care of taking care of the way

1:20:04to meet in compliance with it.

1:20:07As you just approved contract the city

1:20:09itself is doing a lot of work within the hillside

1:20:13natural area, removing dead trees, trimming brush.

1:20:18We have done that for a number of years. and will continue.

1:20:22So long as we have a hillside natural area.

1:20:26I think somewhat close to home tonight.

1:20:29You may have seen on the news there was

1:20:31a not a real large fire, but in Petaluma, house, our structure

1:20:38and vegetation fire and in among a number of horse boarding

1:20:44areas, fortunately nobody and no animals were hurt

1:20:48But a very very good example of when you're living in

1:20:52and it is not, you know, there was no windows The red flags,

1:20:58you know, for the most part had been canceled because

1:21:02of the lack of the winds Still, this fire was able to progress

1:21:07very quickly So just like I said,

1:21:10it's a very close example and an and another reason

1:21:14that the importance of a,

1:21:17having our residents comply with this So with that

1:21:22within your package, you'll see the three properties

1:21:25that that we are asking you for declaring

1:21:29the declaring as a nuisance for this for this

1:21:35go around into my report.

1:21:38Be happy to answer any questions I have a question Yes,

1:21:45that's a member.

1:21:45Adilson this is the first time i remember

1:21:48hearing that you were going to take care of one property

1:21:54in terms of this process.

1:21:56And you came upon some other ones said,

1:22:00we have we have I mean, we only get

1:22:04so many done There's always more that show up we

1:22:08have in here last year.

1:22:10I know we came back to the council

1:22:13with additional properties that we found.

1:22:17You know, it's just basic It's a continuation of what we did

1:22:21in July We don't want to i mean, we're doing this

1:22:27with a single with a single fire prevention officer that is

1:22:34going out and working on these ten thousand parcels that's out

1:22:39there We don't want to wait too long before we get

1:22:42that initial group that we bring to the council,

1:22:46because obviously as I stated earlier,

1:22:48our goal is to get these properties cleaned long.

1:22:52You know, I wish it was long before we

1:22:53hit this hot weather especially in this drought year.

1:22:57But every year we have they maybe it's not worded the way I

1:23:01did that These are additional But every year we always

1:23:06have more property that come to us

1:23:09or, you know, through the complaints,

1:23:12sometimes these are, you know, areas that were

1:23:15not visible from the streets.

1:23:17But we've had neighbors allow us into their property

1:23:20to basically look at what they feel is a fire hazard.

1:23:26Thank you.

1:23:28Yeah, I was going to ask Chief if there are

1:23:31complaints after the process You welcome being notified

1:23:35is that correct?

1:23:36Oh, yes.

1:23:37Yeah, no well, even in the heart of winter,

1:23:41if you know, we have people complaining about trees

1:23:47but grass, whatever you know, as I believe

1:23:50I stated when I made my present station back in July, i look,

1:23:56I am trying to guide this into a process that will.

1:23:59That's not going to be a seasonal.

1:24:01It's not going to be a seasonal deal.

1:24:03It will be a year round process of getting properties,

1:24:09reviewing properties and making sure that residents stay on top

1:24:14of their yard, maintenance I mean,

1:24:17the only real the only real issue that changes

1:24:19between this time of year and, say, spring

1:24:24is whether the annual grasses are dry

1:24:27or if they're drained dry as far as limbs to as far as brush up

1:24:32against homes trees over chimneys, whatever you know,

1:24:37trees that need pruning up that that is a process that needs

1:24:43to be done Like I said, year round

1:24:46the you don't have to wait till we get into the middle

1:24:48of summer to, you know,

1:24:50to do yard work and our fire department

1:24:54would be willing to go out and identify that to the homeowner.

1:24:58Something that might need to be corrected.

1:25:00If there was a complaint in the neighborhood, if say,

1:25:04the homeowner needs help.

1:25:05We are here to help.

1:25:06We have we have made check lists.

1:25:09We have provided diagrams.

1:25:11I mean, we have done we have done a lot of work

1:25:14in the last three or four years.

1:25:162 2 be able to make it very simple for people to understand

1:25:22I mean, one of the easiest ways that I like to tell people,

1:25:26you know, make your yard fire safe

1:25:29is make your yard look neat.

1:25:31You know, if your yard looks nice and trimmed up,

1:25:34more than likely it's going to meet our vegetation standards

1:25:39You know, we've gone to Passell where, again you

1:25:42can't see the house because of the trees, trees down rooftops

1:25:46and we've had residents look at us

1:25:48and go, well, what's the problem here?

1:25:52You know, it's it's not enough.

1:25:54Appreciate it. may take a little bit of work and some cost

1:25:57if you have to get a landscaping company.

1:26:00But once you get your yard and shape

1:26:02it's easier to keep it that way.

1:26:04You know, it's a small cost just to keep things trimmed up

1:26:09Do I have a motion to approve the resolution

1:26:12declaring we identify properties that to approve Yes.

1:26:18Council member rudnick and seconded

1:26:19by council member YAAMA.

1:26:21Can I have a roll call Fidele i nicotinic

1:26:26I can something to Apison.

1:26:29I can't remember Mohtarma.

1:26:32I can't remember budnick.

1:26:34I mentioned Harris.

1:26:36Thank you At this time we're members

1:26:38of the public who wish to provide

1:26:40public comments for this item.

1:26:43Should use the race hands feature

1:26:44to request to speak We've now opened

1:26:47the public hearing I am not seeing any requests to speak.

1:26:54Mayor OK, and Chief you did not receive

1:26:58any request to speak before the council meeting correct?

1:27:02That is correct.

1:27:03OK, can I have a motion to close the public hearing

1:27:08so I mayor Pro Tem kimoto and seconded by Council member son.

1:27:14Let's have a roll call.

1:27:16Please stand Fidele I mean Marmaton

1:27:18can tell I council member Edelsten

1:27:22I can't remember my Chamma.

1:27:25I can't remember anything I mentioned harrys.

1:27:29Thank you So Chief, you have what you need there right

1:27:35That is correct.

1:27:36And I appreciate it.

1:27:37And thank you very much Mayor is a second resolution.

1:27:40It does require action to override directions OK,

1:27:45that's true.

1:27:47Can I get a motion to approve that resolution?

1:27:50Overriding objection Some of so I'm told by Mayor Pro Tem

1:27:55Can you tell seconded by council member Ableton Can

1:27:59I have a vote, please?

1:28:02Fidele I may put Two.

1:28:05I can't remember Avildsen.

1:28:08I can't remember McCalman.

1:28:10I can't remember Reznik i motion carries Now you have

1:28:15what you need Thank you very much.

1:28:19CRPC.

1:28:19So thank you for all you do.

1:28:21We move on a number item number eight policy

1:28:24matters Equity, consideration of equity pollution, workplan.

1:28:28Can we have a staff report please.

1:28:31Denlinger I thank you again.

1:28:33Karen Pink is city manager I'm actually

1:28:36rather excited to bring this item to all of you,

1:28:40but I can't take any credit for it.

1:28:43I have that credit.

1:28:44I need to give to particularly you, Mayor Daley,

1:28:47and other members of the city council.

1:28:49This is an request for the city council

1:28:52to pass a motion that would direct the Human Relations

1:28:55Commission to work with staff to develop an equity inclusion

1:28:58work plan for the community I believe

1:29:02that elsa Rido is one of the places that

1:29:06has done a lot of work.

1:29:07As you all know, for decades as far

1:29:11as making sure that we do what we can

1:29:13to try to be welcoming and inclusive

1:29:16And that has been demonstrated among various actions.

1:29:20I am by no means suggesting that we have that we are perfect.

1:29:24No city is organization is, and certainly

1:29:28with recent racial and social justice issues

1:29:30that are at the forefront of what's happening, particularly

1:29:34over the last 18 months or so.

1:29:37This has been something that I think has shined a very

1:29:40bright light on equity issues.

1:29:42Particularly even in a city like ours

1:29:45where we believe that we're doing the right things.

1:29:48We had adopted our strategic plan back in twenty thirteen

1:29:52and one of our very core values is diversity.

1:29:56Inclusiveness and respect.

1:29:57For diversity.

1:29:59We have one of the oldest MLK events

1:30:05in Contra Costa County, which again is born

1:30:07out of something of a protest.

1:30:09So the city has over the years been responsive to the requests

1:30:15to the needs of our residents.

1:30:17Again not by any stretch of the imagine

1:30:19saying we're perfect, which is part of why we're

1:30:21here tonight asking to make this request is

1:30:24what can we do better?

1:30:25What can we do more How can we identify the issues that remain

1:30:31And again, while we have done a lot of work,

1:30:33and we have a lot of the infrastructure in place,

1:30:35including with our amazing Human Relations Commission this

1:30:39for me all of the work we've done in the past

1:30:42is starting off point for how we can now create our future.

1:30:45And Mayor Fidele himself was one of the folks who sort of led a

1:30:51what may have been what he thought

1:30:53was a simple request, which would be to amend our staff

1:30:57reports to include equity considerations

1:31:00along the other considerations in our staff courts,

1:31:03including legal, financial environmental,

1:31:06and strategic plan, consideration

1:31:09But even in going through that, we

1:31:12realized in talking with the mayor

1:31:14and talking with our staff and talking with even some members

1:31:17of the human relations Commission

1:31:19that there's more to be done.

1:31:20And there's more that we can do, particularly

1:31:22being able to define as a community what that actually

1:31:27means, what equity is that?

1:31:29There's not that that there's a shared language that we

1:31:33all speak from the Human Relations Commission

1:31:36is this is by this is right in their wheelhouse.

1:31:39Not only because this group of people

1:31:41is a dynamic group of people that have the ability

1:31:44to take a look at this.

1:31:46But because of the work that they've been doing.

1:31:48And I speak as a former staff liaison to the Human Relations

1:31:52Commission that again, the MLK Day events that has been going

1:31:57on for 30 plus years, the 11 day event, Pride Month recently,

1:32:03the listenings sessions, working with our student

1:32:05human relations commissioner to paint Black

1:32:08Lives Matter on way.

1:32:09So there's been again, a lot of work that

1:32:11needs to be this is the beginnings of the work that is

1:32:15created So developing an equity and inclusion

1:32:18work plan is actually something that many cities are

1:32:22undertaking.

1:32:23They've been undertaking and in different ways

1:32:25as a very small city, it's difficult for us

1:32:28as far as staff resources.

1:32:29There are cities that some of my colleagues, they are

1:32:33able to hire a diversity and equity and inclusion officer

1:32:36or or a particular staff member that has that is their only job

1:32:41is to ensure these things happen.

1:32:43We don't have that as a small city.

1:32:44But what we do have is an excellent Human Relations

1:32:47Commission that we believe would be the perfect community venue

1:32:51to be able to work with us.

1:32:52So my proposal and speaking with the mayor

1:32:56is that the city council will provide this information

1:32:59to the Human Relations Commission

1:33:01and essentially give them the assignment to as

1:33:05an advisory body to the city council that is absolutely

1:33:08within the city council's purview

1:33:10to be able to do that and be able to help develop

1:33:14a race equity work plan.

1:33:16This would be something that not only would oversee

1:33:19the community but it would also help guide city staff,

1:33:23things like hiring policies.

1:33:25What are the things that are unconscious

1:33:27bias that we're not aware of the systemic racism that

1:33:30has pervaded all of our lives.

1:33:32Even some of the speakers we're talking about this as well.

1:33:36and have in previous meetings that we need to identify.

1:33:40We need to grapple with it.

1:33:43We need to be comfortable with having

1:33:44uncomfortable conversations and again,

1:33:47having the human relations Commission leave.

1:33:49This effort, I think is perfect.

1:33:52Again, we don't have a staff member,

1:33:54but I will be the staff member that

1:33:55will work with the human relations commission.

1:33:57I've spoken to the chair of the Human Relations Commission,

1:34:00Walch Williams who is, I believe,

1:34:02very excited about this as well.

1:34:04There's a lot of enthusiasm out there

1:34:06and I believe that we can take advantage of the community

1:34:09to be able to work together and what that looks like, we're not

1:34:13sure yet but that is something that I believe

1:34:15that our dynamic Human Relations Commission can work

1:34:18together on this as a project.

1:34:21And so, again, our actually proposed

1:34:24would be that the city council passed a motion that would

1:34:27essentially sign this project to the Human Relations Commission

1:34:31But I do want to say that this is not necessarily

1:34:34this particular project to develop a work plan that where

1:34:37we end, I've never viewed equity and inclusion as a task

1:34:40to be checked off the list.

1:34:42It is a value.

1:34:43It is a core belief that we all need

1:34:45to be able to provide in everything

1:34:47we do in our programs, in our projects, in our services,

1:34:50in our budget.

1:34:51And so with that your Honor, I would make that request

1:34:54of the city council Obviously, since this

1:34:56began with your idea, I would love to turn it over to you.

1:35:01Thank you.

1:35:02I'm going to ask for other council comments

1:35:05before we hit see if the public has any concerns

1:35:08US Councilman Warrender Mayor Fidele,

1:35:12I've mentioned to city manager in our one on one meetings.

1:35:15But what I would really like to see

1:35:17is at least one staff member join the cohort

1:35:22So GoAir stands for the government

1:35:24alliance on Racial Equity.

1:35:26It's a national program through race forward.

1:35:28And there's a Northern California in the region.

1:35:31And I was fortunate enough to participate

1:35:33in the twenty nineteen cohort.

1:35:34It's a year long COHA of government employees

1:35:39from all different rank and file, all different agencies

1:35:43who are learning this very extensive tool kit

1:35:47and connected to a really large network

1:35:49of folks who are working on their own city's

1:35:51racial equity plan.

1:35:53So that is our city manager herself.

1:35:55Or if there's any other staff members that would be relevant.

1:35:58It's a very small investment with a really significant

1:36:02impact because it will plug in El Cerrito

1:36:05to this network with that gear provides

1:36:08and we can learn a lot of the lessons from our peers

1:36:11on how to do this.

1:36:12Well, because there's really excellent examples

1:36:16of how it's being done.

1:36:19One of the things i think about from that,

1:36:21by working in that cohort is the five whys which is when someone

1:36:26makes a statement you ask why then you ask why, again,

1:36:31why again?

1:36:32And you can get closer to the root of really what are some

1:36:35of the core issues, and having staff that convene basically

1:36:41a learn those tools and of access that toolkit to then

1:36:45bring back to other staff.

1:36:46It's really important.

1:36:47So I really appreciate the comments from city manager

1:36:52Pincus and I i'm not going to make

1:36:55any motions yet because other council

1:36:56members certainly share.

1:36:58But I would ask that we have at least one staff member

1:37:02participate in a year longer cohort and the other questions

1:37:09comments from council member quinton

1:37:14Thank you, Mayor Fidele.

1:37:16Did I this is a something that I can definitely relate

1:37:22to because all year as a board member

1:37:25of the League of California, cities,

1:37:28this is what we've been working on.

1:37:29So so if you if all of you looked at your packet,

1:37:35you saw a lot of the bylaws changes will be voted on.

1:37:40And that is part of the work that i

1:37:44have done along with our board members up and down the state

1:37:48of California.

1:37:49So we are doing this to represent

1:37:53all 482 cities that are part of the local wannna cities.

1:37:58And it's just so appropriate to have my classmate

1:38:02mIDA Wilson of who is working on the town,

1:38:08will work on this Anta, so proud as a former chair of the Human

1:38:14Relations Commission and being part of that board

1:38:18for many, many years.

1:38:20It's so appropriate to have this done with that commission.

1:38:24And then and I'll be presenting a short program at the League

1:38:31of California cities.

1:38:33Why is so unique and why else?

1:38:37Cerita is the forefront when it comes to you know, the LGB

1:38:42community where we do have One of the largest LGBT communities

1:38:47here in the Bay Area according to U.S. Census we were like,

1:38:53no sex in same sex couples.

1:38:55So know that this is dear in my heart

1:38:59as the former chair of like Human Relations Commission

1:39:02and to have people that I personally know

1:39:05and that will be working on this So, Mayor Fidele,

1:39:10thank for starting this This is amazing.

1:39:15I'm just very very proud of our city to be at the forefront

1:39:19and working on this of gap.

1:39:22Thank you.

1:39:23Mayor.

1:39:23Appreciate your councilman Morgiana Thank you, Mayor.

1:39:33Thank.

1:39:33Thank you, Mayor.

1:39:34And I would to really thank you for bringing

1:39:37this work plan forward.

1:39:39It's something that I also brought

1:39:40up this city manager, punkers in our discussions as well.

1:39:45I do want to acknowledge the work

1:39:46that the city manager has done in her iCMP

1:39:51work focusing on equity.

1:39:53And I think this is really important for us

1:39:55that exclusivity is great.

1:39:57But equity is much harder And I think bringing forward

1:40:00a framework where we can a lens through which we can make

1:40:03sure that our actions are equitable is

1:40:05really, really important.

1:40:07To take us to that next level.

1:40:08And I look forward to bringing this to the HRC as the liaison

1:40:12as well.

1:40:14To council member Abels.

1:40:17I'm pretty excited about this because i remember when we set

1:40:22up this set of issue points that were important,

1:40:28we considered important to us that we wanted to make sure

1:40:32that each item was rA evaluated in terms of that

1:40:37And that's part evaluation has continued to this day, really

1:40:43And so this is putting the issue at the forefront

1:40:49with other issues which includes for example,

1:40:53the financial issue I mean,

1:40:56it's so that's to me saying we consider

1:40:59it to be an important point It's not just a thing that we do

1:41:05a report on and then file it on the cabinet something

1:41:09this is saying that it's a living breathing issue that we

1:41:15will continue to be looking at along the way as we do our work

1:41:22And that, I think, is a real important and difference.

1:41:27I do have a question Will this include

1:41:30disability Is because no air in our city government at all.

1:41:38Do we do that?

1:41:40Certainly.

1:41:41I believe that this is something it's

1:41:43not While the focus particularly over the past year

1:41:47has been for racial and social justice,

1:41:50I believe that this council has been very strongly in favor

1:41:54of making sure that all groups any marginalized group

1:41:59would be a part of this.

1:42:01I think of our sanctuary city resolution

1:42:04that the city council passed Five, four, five years go now.

1:42:09We made sure to include as many marginalized groups as

1:42:13possible.

1:42:14It was while while that was sort of about immigration

1:42:18at the same time, this council made sure that we were

1:42:22much more inclusive of that.

1:42:24And so I would believe that that's absolutely I mean,

1:42:27again this would be part of the human relations commission

1:42:31conversation I am certainly happy to make sure that they

1:42:34know that that is a feature that this council

1:42:37would be interested in, in oK, because it

1:42:41is the law Absolutely.

1:42:45Doesn't always happen.

1:42:47Right.

1:42:47But even beyond I think that I mean,

1:42:50Raissa we don't get to the racism

1:42:53is about exact racism or sexism.

1:42:57Those aren't about legalities.

1:42:59It's about something else.

1:43:01It's about inherent bias.

1:43:03It's about that type of thing.

1:43:05And so I agree.

1:43:06Well, there's legal issues.

1:43:08This is not necessarily this is that that's the bare minimum.

1:43:12Right?

1:43:12This is this is beyond that.

1:43:14This is checking system to ensure that equality happens

1:43:17across any particular marginalized group That would

1:43:22be certainly something that I think is important

1:43:26An interesting example It's a disability

1:43:29experience which is what perhaps especially relate to it.

1:43:34But the it was a I think it was a long range

1:43:42study of of public works type jobs

1:43:50and it said basically that these are the priority And then

1:43:57if we have enough money left over that with that then maybe

1:44:01we'll look at doing a few disability reforms.

1:44:05And that's a good example.

1:44:07I think of a process that is you can put against any limits

1:44:15really This is what we're talking about

1:44:18today in particular. and say, how

1:44:22is it looking at this issue?

1:44:24Is it, including the issue of at hand with the against the

1:44:36how is it going to fare I guess is

1:44:39the word maybe in terms of the work

1:44:42that's done in this particular program?

1:44:45A project that we're trying to do.

1:44:48And that's why I like the system we have for actually putting

1:44:55it on three boards, because that way we can't forget about that.

1:45:00We don't cable.

1:45:02It's out in the open.

1:45:04And that will keep this out in the open when the that.

1:45:11Yeah, I just wanted to respond that that's exactly the point.

1:45:14Once that's on our analysis we get

1:45:17to ask any equity question that we want

1:45:19to ask Stan whatever that is.

1:45:22There's a variety of equity questions

1:45:24we can ask staff should be aware of that

1:45:27before they do an analysis for us.

1:45:29And we will.

1:45:30Appreciate it.

1:45:31Will be a normal process.

1:45:32Like all the other half Right.

1:45:35So disability announced or anything else.

1:45:40But it really kind of gives it an elevated position as well.

1:45:49Deserves OK, thank you for that.

1:45:54Before we go to any public comment, I had one question.

1:45:58First i was wondering why there was no resolution

1:46:01to prove for this and this time at this time passing a motion

1:46:08to give this assignment to the HRC

1:46:12is all that is requested through the HRC

1:46:16and developing a process I again this is all to be determined.

1:46:23But in talking with the chair we envision

1:46:26that this could be there would be

1:46:27a community engagement process.

1:46:29There would be an ability to engage stakeholders

1:46:32So the development of the work plan is still to be determined.

1:46:37So at this time being able to give that

1:46:40to the Human Relations Commission, which can then

1:46:42bring something back to a city council to approve

1:46:45or at least on stages to approve in various in various phases,

1:46:51what that might look like Be there.

1:46:54I just thought there was a requirement

1:46:56that we do have that OK, so I was going to open this up.

1:47:00Now, if there's any members of the public who wish to provide

1:47:04public comments at this time, they should use their race

1:47:06and feature to request to speak in camera

1:47:10and just quickly, we did receive some public comments

1:47:13on this item by the advanced deadline today.

1:47:15This commentary by our Miller Michel

1:47:19du Okimoto and Michael Fisher.

1:47:21And at this time, I have three requests to speak,

1:47:24if you can please confirm the 3 minute

1:47:26time limit us three minutes.

1:47:27Thank you.

1:47:28Que oK, we'll go to our first speaker, who is our Miller.

1:47:34Oh, you should be able to begin your time now.

1:47:37Thank you.

1:47:39I strongly i'm not going to repeat everything that's

1:47:42my written comment, but I just wanted to emphasize how much I

1:47:46support the council directing Human Relations Committee

1:47:51to create an equity and work plan for the community

1:47:55as long as the community includes not only US residents

1:48:00but city staff and our city employees

1:48:05And because of my experience in the Navy

1:48:08is that's what made me suggest that all city department

1:48:11directors in their annual evaluation

1:48:15performance evaluation, be evaluated

1:48:19on their contributions,

1:48:20and how well their models and desired performance

1:48:26in this subject in their day to day work

1:48:31as well as all of their subordinate employees

1:48:38The reason that i think that would be effective

1:48:41is that my service in the Navy covered the years

1:48:46nineteen fifty nine to nineteen eighty five

1:48:49and that's when the Navy developed

1:48:53got involved with the federal equal opportunity program

1:48:57and a couple of years after that require was laid on the Navy

1:49:04by the chief of naval operations the fitness reports of officers

1:49:09that were filled out every year by their commanding officer

1:49:12included a special part how well has this officer performed

1:49:17in meeting opportunity requirements

1:49:22before that was put on the report?

1:49:26When you go to the officers club to talk to your peers, etc.,

1:49:31you never heard any talk about this.

1:49:33But once we all started to be involved with that,

1:49:37then I had ten commanding officers

1:49:39that had to tell me how well or how badly i did in that area.

1:49:45It became a common subject that officers

1:49:50in a ward room on a ship or on shore duty were always

1:49:55talk to each other about trying to figure out what do we have

1:49:58to do to get evaluated Well, on this issue,

1:50:03So I think that it can be a beneficial tool for supervisors

1:50:10evaluating their subordinates by encouraging them or enabling

1:50:16them to understand what a valuable contribution

1:50:20their performance in this issue will make,

1:50:23toward the success of the city.

1:50:27Not with the relationship with their colleagues,

1:50:31but with the city's reputation in relation to the people

1:50:34they're hired to serve.

1:50:36And you're all aware more than I am of which parts of the city

1:50:40really need someone improvement in how

1:50:42they relate to the community.

1:50:43Thank you Thank you.

1:50:46Our next baker's buddy buddy should be able to unmuted

1:50:50Begin your time now.

1:50:56Buddy, are you with us?

1:51:01It will come activity.

1:51:02I'm not getting a response The next request

1:51:05is from Michael Fisher.

1:51:07Michael you should be able to meet and begin your time now.

1:51:11Thank you.

1:51:12You.

1:51:12My name is Michael fisher and I have

1:51:15the privilege and responsibility of being

1:51:18your library commissioner.

1:51:20One of the things I've learned in this position

1:51:23is how much of what we do affects equity Thus,

1:51:29if we are truly to transition our city and our society

1:51:35into one of both inherent and systemic

1:51:40equity we need to have this issue

1:51:43before us in everything we do.

1:51:46And I would note Azpeitia eshley in a time

1:51:50of significant fiscal crisis.

1:51:55That's why I'm thrilled to see this item on the agenda

1:51:59tonight.

1:52:00And I congrats to the mayor and the city council

1:52:03for their vision and bringing it forward I support the proposal

1:52:08and I look forward to seeing the these recommendations come

1:52:13back to this council Thank you.

1:52:16Thank you.

1:52:18You, buddy.

1:52:20One more time.

1:52:21See if we can hear you OK, can you hear me now?

1:52:25Yes, we can.

1:52:26You could go ahead and begin Beautiful.

1:52:28I'm so pleased Initially I had conceived of an event

1:52:34that I was thinking of as a super seminar Mayor Fidele,

1:52:39you've been there before.

1:52:42Must be others in the room who've been there before,

1:52:44but after hearing city manager Pincus

1:52:48Maker present and related to directing the HRC to become

1:52:55more intensely involved I guess I think that's what I think

1:52:59I heard her say I'm a commissioner on the HRC

1:53:03and as such i would like to say i'm

1:53:06planning a super seminar on October

1:53:10the fifteenth 2:00 PM seven twenty one, the Alameda

1:53:15in Berkeley The focus, the topic will be exactly

1:53:20equity inclusion, diversity racial and social justice.

1:53:28So in the context and spirit of what

1:53:30I'm what i think I'm hearing this evening,

1:53:32can I with your help transition the event from a super seminar

1:53:41to a regional conference having to do with all of the issues

1:53:48that I have, just start articulated October fifteenth,

1:53:51a regional conference HRC and the city of El Cerrito,

1:53:56the city council, two PM, seven twenty One, the Alameda

1:53:59in Berkeley, test has been there before or wait,

1:54:02where have you been Jess?

1:54:04Have you been there?

1:54:08So all.

1:54:09That's right.

1:54:09You guys are not supposed to It's not a dialogue.

1:54:12This is a monologue for three minutes.

1:54:14So, OK, I think I've said, what I intend to say Karen,

1:54:20because I celebrate.

1:54:22I appreciate I cherish what you've presented

1:54:27as a commissioner on the hRC with your help

1:54:31I would like to initiate a regional conference equity

1:54:36inclusion diversity, racial and social justice

1:54:43I thank you Thank you.

1:54:46Thank you.

1:54:46That does conclude our request to speak on this item.

1:54:49Thank you.

1:54:49You.

1:54:50Can we bring this back to our council?

1:54:52Are there any further comments, your questions or concerns

1:55:00I just I had one comment to make before we take

1:55:04i maybe can make a motion on this

1:55:06is that I'm very proud we got here.

1:55:09This was what I thought a very easy

1:55:12concept but an important one.

1:55:15Since, as Janet said, we do consider

1:55:17financial, legal environmental.

1:55:19We had to do equity.

1:55:21And I had talked about that in my campaign last year.

1:55:25And enough people came up to me to say,

1:55:27you got to continue thinking about let's

1:55:30pursue that Thank you all for the support that I'm hearing.

1:55:34It makes me feel good to.

1:55:36And it was also, I want to thank the city manager because she

1:55:39said, you know, this is bigger than what

1:55:40you're just talking about.

1:55:42This needs to be about staff needs

1:55:44to be how a city runs, needs to be about me.

1:55:47It's good that you.

1:55:48Council will be considering us on policy issues,

1:55:51but we need to do this.

1:55:52And also Rido.

1:55:53So I thank her for that.

1:55:54That was the right direction.

1:55:56One more caution, because I'm hoping hRC

1:55:59will come up with accessible goals I would love

1:56:04to have this sooner or later.

1:56:06And not have it go on for two years.

1:56:09I would love to see in the middle of next year

1:56:11some concept that we really established

1:56:13this so that we can get to it.

1:56:15And we can start talking and acting about equity,

1:56:18not just having formed about it.

1:56:20So thank you very much.

1:56:22I'd like to move this and I'd like to look for a second.

1:56:26Econet I heard council member Rodney,

1:56:30can we have roll call Fidele, I nepotism can tell Yes.

1:56:37Council member Avildsen I can't remember Madama.

1:56:41I can't remember running I mentioned Keri's Thank you.

1:56:46Thank you.

1:56:47Good We move on to policy matters.

1:56:51Eight be to study sessions on boards

1:56:55commissions and committees.

1:56:59And we have a staff report from our city clerk Thank you.

1:57:12A good evening.

1:57:13Mayor and council members My name is Charlotte.

1:57:16I am your city clerk.

1:57:18And night study session boards, commissions and committees.

1:57:22Before you for several reasons.

1:57:24Earlier this year, council requested

1:57:26staff to return with a discussion

1:57:28item on committee rules.

1:57:29Council has also expressed a desire

1:57:31to discuss both the appointment and removal process and staff

1:57:35is also requesting some language cleanup and expansion

1:57:38of enforcement language for some the adopted regulations

1:57:44The focus tonight is to provide a brief overview

1:57:47of committee specific regulations

1:57:49that are currently in place.

1:57:50Remedy some inequities to some some term limits and links

1:57:56for certain committees Discuss potential process modifications

1:58:00and clarification to regulations related to I

1:58:04mean, a removal process And my plan is to provide

1:58:07a brief overview of each area.

1:58:09Then I'll take any questions from the council

1:58:12and then I would recommend we take comments from members

1:58:15of the public and then return for the council

1:58:17to discuss and provide staff with direction Ask the question

1:58:23before you start.

1:58:24There is a member of the title on the last slide

1:58:31was brief review of committee regulations

1:58:34that would limit the conversation to one

1:58:37of our three forms The first section of the overview tonight

1:58:44is just a brief review of committee regulations.

1:58:46But this is a study session on boards,

1:58:48commissions and committees.

1:58:50So really that should say or commissions and committees

1:58:56the first the very first section is reporting back the request

1:59:00of the council to do a brief review

1:59:02of regulation that are specific to committees

1:59:05OK, OK, thank you.

1:59:07I just wanted to see what you were referring to.

1:59:09OK, Nepabunna.

1:59:12So as a brief review the council has adopted

1:59:14several general regulations by ordinance

1:59:17that do apply to all boards and commissions and committees.

1:59:21What I'm going to go over is the rules

1:59:23that are specific to committees is there are

1:59:25some additional rules that the council has also adopted

1:59:28a resolution that does affect the committees that the city

1:59:31council has established So first, in order to establish

1:59:36a committee that that process occurs action

1:59:39of the council passing the resolution, I the committee

1:59:42is comprised of no less in five and no more than 15 members

1:59:46and they meet in no less than monthly resident is required

1:59:51for membership And the one exception to that

1:59:53is economic Development Committee, the membership

1:59:57appointments are for four year terms with a two year

2:00:00term a two term limit per advisory body.

2:00:04And if two exceptions that the council has adopted

2:00:07by resolution are for urban Forest Committee,

2:00:09which recently was increased to three terms

2:00:12and Crime Prevention Committee who has no term limits.

2:00:17The rules for committee quorum is a majority of the members

2:00:20that are currently appointed and a minimum of two members

2:00:24must be present in order for committee work

2:00:26or attend of interested members to take place

2:00:30and a minimum of three committee members

2:00:32must be present in order to in order to take formal action.

2:00:37There is the annual selection of the chair and a vice chair

2:00:40and all committees are required to meet

2:00:42in compliance with the Brown to the appointment process.

2:00:47Four committees is a requirement to attend a minimum of three

2:00:52meetings of the committee and receive a recommendation

2:00:57by the Committee for appointment, which then goes

2:00:59to the City Council to take a vote on appointment

2:01:03and a majority vote is required to appoint an individual.

2:01:06You just appointed two committee members

2:01:08tonight on our consent calendar Removal is much broader.

2:01:13It takes a simple majority vote of the city council

2:01:16in order to remove someone from a city committee work order

2:01:20commission and a member is considered resigned, which

2:01:25essentially is an automatic removal if they no longer meet

2:01:29the residency requirement, or they have excessive absences,

2:01:33which is defined in a few different ways,

2:01:36including missing three consecutive regular meetings,

2:01:40half of the regular meetings in the calendar year

2:01:42or a medical absence that exceeds 120 days So that

2:01:49is a very brief overview of what is currently in place

2:01:53for committees or just pause there

2:01:56briefly to see if there is any questions from another council.

2:01:59Members.

2:01:59Before I move on to the first area of focus for tonight

2:02:06and I Yeah i just want to make a call comment because there

2:02:11is lots of material here.

2:02:12And I'm hoping that when we block this off problem number

2:02:17one, or issue number one.

2:02:19Issue number two and number three,

2:02:22we can really focus on the problems

2:02:25that exist in that area.

2:02:27And and then after public comment

2:02:29we can come back and talk about what our views are about how

2:02:33we might be able to fix that.

2:02:34So we're not memorizing are going to all of these things

2:02:38because i'm sure councillors read through the report

2:02:41and the power points.

2:02:44But there are a lot of things that I

2:02:46just want to say from my mind.

2:02:47I'm going to be looking at this whole this whole exercise to me

2:02:51is about consistency.

2:02:52Which I think is a good thing making sure

2:02:56that our staff can do the job with all

2:02:58the issues that are involved.

2:02:59And that's mainly our Clerc.

2:03:02How do we improve that?

2:03:03And then how do we help our city How does our city get better

2:03:06from the changes that we do?

2:03:07So thank for interrupting, but I just had the put it in.

2:03:12Yeah, council member Ableman Yeah

2:03:15what I am concerned concerned about in saying consistency is

2:03:22uncommitted is their functionality

2:03:26is quite different across the different committees So,

2:03:32so to me, that's what being a committee is all about.

2:03:38As opposed to a commission as opposed to a board

2:03:43So if we say that they all have to be aligned the same, then

2:03:48what is the difference?

2:03:49There is no difference between the three I think

2:03:54and the different functionality is

2:04:00what i think is good about having

2:04:04the three different types I'm done

2:04:10Mayor Pro Tem Yes, thank you.

2:04:13Mayor Fanelli.

2:04:15I also wanted to point out on looking at those of i'm

2:04:21just really excited about looking at this

2:04:24because we actually have never dealt with us.

2:04:27So this is a fantastic i also want to have concerns

2:04:33on looking at some of our boards and and I

2:04:40know you did this hallway with some of the commission's

2:04:46doing a course on Brown act and also i recommend definitely

2:04:53ethics training And we see a lot of things

2:04:57that many of our commission are not allowed to do

2:05:01And and this is something where we need to make sure that when

2:05:07it comes to ethics that we do provide ethics

2:05:11training that they should all be taking taking that.

2:05:14So they know the rules about what a commissioner truly

2:05:18does They are not elected officials

2:05:21and we can't we have a few of them that take it to a level

2:05:27where it's just not allowed.

2:05:29They are recommend doing their views to the council and that's

2:05:34outset and they are not there to tell the council what to do.

2:05:39They are there to recommend and we could take it or leave it

2:05:43at I don't like some the bad behavior

2:05:46that I've seen this year and last year This

2:05:50is not acceptable.

2:05:52And you know, so I want to make sure ethics is explained.

2:05:59Maybe we can have of Sydney for the future Yeah.

2:06:04Holly, can we I'm sorry.

2:06:06I was thinking Mayor Fidele, if I may, thank for the comments

2:06:10from the council Holly really does

2:06:12have a presentation It goes through all of this in detail.

2:06:14So I would recommend that she go through that sort Thank you.

2:06:20There certainly will be plenty of opportunity for discussion

2:06:23and if there's other areas that the council would like

2:06:25to discuss at the MS. So looking forward into the first focus

2:06:31tonight is a request to remedy that in some inequities

2:06:35that we have amongst committees, specifically with regard

2:06:38to term limits, in terms so the current regulation is

2:06:42that the council has adopted state that unless otherwise

2:06:45specified by council resolution, all boards, commissions

2:06:49and committees will have a two term limit per advisory body

2:06:53and will have a four year term Some variations as I

2:06:57mentioned to that, that the council has

2:06:59adopted by resolution is three.

2:07:02The new term limit for crime prevention as well as

2:07:06the urban three term limit The inequities come in

2:07:13for specifically Committee on Aging

2:07:16Crime Prevention and Environmental

2:07:18Quality Committee.

2:07:19So because these three committees do not

2:07:23have any special rules adopted by resolution by the council,

2:07:27they should be subject to the key term limit and the four

2:07:30year term However, for both Committee on ageing

2:07:33and Environmental Quality committee,

2:07:35there is currently no term link set,

2:07:38nor the term limits applied for crime prevention

2:07:42While there is a resolution states that there is no term

2:07:46limit, there is also they are subject to the four year term,

2:07:51and subject to the reappointment process.

2:07:53Every four years.

2:07:54However, that part is not being properly

2:07:56implement it for the specific committee So a couple

2:08:01of the options.

2:08:02The something that I have been looking at since I started

2:08:05with cerita in twenty nineteen because the rules that are

2:08:09being applied are not being applied equally

2:08:12amongst all of our committees.

2:08:13So the two options that I would recommend the council

2:08:17consider the first would be to correct the terms, to correctly

2:08:21align with the regulations that are currently in place to do

2:08:26that, I would recommend setting an initial term, which would

2:08:29need to be staggered terms.

2:08:31So that the membership did not turn over all of the same time

2:08:34beginning with our new terms that are coming up in march

2:08:381st, on March 1 of twenty twenty two,

2:08:41I would still recommend giving a shorter

2:08:43initial term to those who have served on those committees.

2:08:45Longer and then those those members that

2:08:48are currently seated.

2:08:50Will still be eligible.

2:08:51Subsequent to that initial term to serve two full year to Four

2:08:56year terms back to back So there is the potential

2:08:59of members serving in excess of eight years

2:09:03even setting this into motion.

2:09:06Now and then for crime prevention.

2:09:08They would just simply be having a term set every four years

2:09:12and would go through that reappointment evaluation

2:09:15process as all of our other committees

2:09:17The other option would be for the council

2:09:19to provide major action to return as resolutions that

2:09:24would outline those committees had different rules to follow

2:09:28just like you have done with crime prevention

2:09:31and urban forest and give me.

2:09:33And that way we would be putting something

2:09:37officially adopted at a council that

2:09:39would state that those three committees

2:09:41operate under different rules than the other committees.

2:09:45So that is the first area.

2:09:48I just paused there to see if there's any question

2:09:52about this specific area.

2:09:53Before I move on to review the second questions Can't see

2:09:59everybody OK i, I do have a question on this

2:10:07and I am going to be asking questions from the standpoint

2:10:09of staffing this, since there is one staff that does all this is

2:10:14there any reason why all of these the ten year

2:10:22can't be the same for all of these committees?

2:10:25Can I actually do it for as kind of a long term

2:10:31having to year for two year terms

2:10:34And if someone wants to stay on, it could be an automatic thing

2:10:39unless there's an objection from liaison

2:10:42or a council to them staying on.

2:10:44Why should crime prevention have no limit

2:10:47Is there a reason for that?

2:10:49That that is that council action?

2:10:50The city council, some time in the past and I believe that one

2:10:54was mid to late two thousand made the decision

2:10:58to the resolution having different standards

2:11:01for that specific committee.

2:11:03So the council could certainly give me

2:11:05direction to draft resolution for whatever rules you would

2:11:08like to put in place for any building the race, if it can be

2:11:12is that the the the particular committee The reason was,

2:11:21as they were looking for experts in the field, of forestry

2:11:31I think, is the right term for it.

2:11:33But crimes for crimes like you said, crime prevention.

2:11:37Yes, why does it have no link as I could never find anybody

2:11:41and then they won't have them leave the people

2:11:45who would do it lead was wrong.

2:11:47That was the reason As simple as that No, I

2:11:53I'm kind of supportive of having the same for all the members

2:11:58having council member.

2:12:01Wilson, you've talked in the past

2:12:03about making three visits in a row for committees.

2:12:07I don't see any reason for getting purposes.

2:12:09We don't do that for commissions.

2:12:10As well as making as consistent as we can and simple as

2:12:15we can so that we can have a system.

2:12:19We know about.

2:12:20And this is rubrics here.

2:12:22I think that is a great idea.

2:12:25I do.

2:12:25There is one exception.

2:12:26I can think up to that.

2:12:28And that is if there aren't enough people

2:12:31on the committee to meet what do you do ad for that?

2:12:38That comment council tables in the city council has adopted

2:12:42provisions for cuarón for committees that with as little

2:12:47as two members that they can get together and you work

2:12:51of the committee and invite people who are interested

2:12:54in joining the committee that are not yet formally part

2:12:56of the committee to participate And

2:12:58only three members are required in order

2:13:01to take any kind of action.

2:13:02So while the low side of membership is five,

2:13:05they actually can take action with as little as three members

2:13:09present and/or appointed at a time.

2:13:11And this is just committees.

2:13:13It's not the planning commission or anything

2:13:16We're specifically talking about committees right now.

2:13:18That is correct.

2:13:19That choirmaster boards and commissions

2:13:21is a little bit different.

2:13:23And Mayor Fidele actually I can shed a little light on that

2:13:26I've worked in the city since two thousand one,

2:13:29and I think that I'm probably one

2:13:31of the best historians on boards commissions and committees.

2:13:34I remember working with a subcommittee of council member

2:13:37Wilson and council member Potter way back in like two thousand

2:13:41twenty three starting this committees were

2:13:44were even more inconsistent When I got here back then,

2:13:50i believe that as indicated, there

2:13:52had been times that some of the resolutions

2:13:54have been amended over time.

2:13:55But at one point committees weren't even necessarily

2:14:01part of this part of that.

2:14:03We actually amended the ordinance

2:14:05or recommended an amendment to the ordinance

2:14:07to include committees understanding

2:14:10that they were city committees as opposed to out on their own.

2:14:13I believe that the Crime Prevention Committee, once

2:14:15upon a time was kind of their own committee,

2:14:17not necessarily sponsored by the city

2:14:20or they were a group that got together

2:14:22to put something together.

2:14:23And that was embraced by the city.

2:14:25So there was a lot even more inconsistent

2:14:28Some committees weren't necessarily

2:14:30following the Brown Act.

2:14:31So the council of Action, you know many years

2:14:34ago to try to make sure that committees included

2:14:37at least within the governing document,

2:14:40and the ordinances and the resolutions

2:14:41to be inclusive and under the umbrella of the city

2:14:45boards that we're moving in the right direction

2:14:47to make it easier and more consistent.

2:14:49Precisely.

2:14:50I think that's a good concept.

2:14:52And the yes, I can't say anyone on Yes.

2:14:57Council member Rudnik and thank you, sir.

2:15:00At the on to the Crime Prevention committee,

2:15:04I have a statement to question.

2:15:06So the statement is I don't see why this commission should have

2:15:11no term limits when the other ones do It would be

2:15:15great in a spirit of consistency to have consistent policies

2:15:19across board.

2:15:20The question I have directed at Holly

2:15:23is, would it be possible that if we were to create where we were

2:15:27to with where I'm thinking of, like through ordinance

2:15:33or through through a motion, I'm not sorry,

2:15:36my brain's not working right now.

2:15:392 2 uniform.

2:15:42This policy.

2:15:42Would that supersede the older one from the early

2:15:47in order to change the exception that is adopted by legislation

2:15:51for crime prevention?

2:15:52Or for the urban forest I would have to come back

2:15:55with a resolution for you to adopt to change that back,

2:15:59to have then follow the ordinance rule which is kind

2:16:02of the blanket overall rule that applies

2:16:05if there is not a resolution adopted it says otherwise.

2:16:09The council could certainly get that direction

2:16:11And if that was what they wanted to do,

2:16:14and to Moufid the liaison, I would be comfortable with that.

2:16:18And oK, and holly, we're going to get

2:16:24public comment on each one of these or wait until we do.

2:16:27All three suggested a public comment

2:16:30after we review all three items before the council has

2:16:34discussion and provides action.

2:16:35So we can come back to this one and talk about our ideas

2:16:40for consistent Yes, absolutely.

2:16:43Any other comments from council members

2:16:45before we go to number two oK, OK, number two

2:16:52is the appointment process.

2:16:54OK, so the second area is the appointment process

2:16:57and now we're expanding a little bit outside of just committees.

2:17:01We are talking about the appointment process for boards,

2:17:04commissions, and committees.

2:17:06So the current the regulations that are currently

2:17:08in place that have been established by council

2:17:11by ordinance four are boards, commissions and the Citizens

2:17:15Streets Oversight committee.

2:17:17Is that an application is submitted to the city clerk

2:17:20with an interest to serve and the city

2:17:23council holds an interview for all of the candidates.

2:17:27And makes an appointment typically at a special council

2:17:30meeting for committees, which is a process that was set

2:17:34by resolution There's a couple additional steps in there,

2:17:38which include the committee taking a vote to recommend

2:17:42any appointment to the city council

2:17:45as well as the attendees having attended at least

2:17:48three committee meetings prior to being

2:17:51eligible for that recommendation vote to occur by the committee.

2:17:55The one district.

2:17:56I have here that is part of what I am trying to clean up

2:18:00is that the process for attending the three meetings

2:18:04has not been formally adopted So in two thousand five,

2:18:07the council adopted a resolution for the committee vote

2:18:11and requested that the process for appointment

2:18:15be standardized for committees However,

2:18:18that that standardized process was never formally adopted.

2:18:22And it's just kind of articulated over time.

2:18:24And it's currently being applied some committee to committee

2:18:29inconsistently My three consecutive meetings are three

2:18:32meetings, total some three meetings within six a few

2:18:39verité sessions that have been adopted again for the crime

2:18:42prevention committee.

2:18:43The council passed a resolution that required attendance

2:18:48at meetings or events in the past six months prior to being

2:18:52being eligible for appointment as well as a criminal record.

2:18:56Check this particular resolution in itself

2:18:59is also unclear in terms of what regular attendance means.

2:19:04Does that mean all six meetings?

2:19:06Does that mean three meetings within a six month?

2:19:09Period?

2:19:10It's it's not very clear in the language of the resolution

2:19:14And then the only other change or difference in process

2:19:19is with environmental quality committee

2:19:21The committee itself has adopted the process of having

2:19:24a subcommittee of their membership

2:19:26interview, prospective candidates

2:19:28after they have met that three meeting attendance

2:19:31and then they provide a recommendation

2:19:32to the full committee prior to the full committee voting

2:19:36to recommend an appointment or not.

2:19:40So for this area, the proposed action

2:19:43is to have is to provide staff direction with any modification

2:19:47to the current process.

2:19:48If there is a will to change anything.

2:19:51And return with a resolution and that

2:19:53would formally adopt that process meaning

2:19:56that the even if changes are made,

2:19:59I would still want to return with resolutions that clarify

2:20:03the meeting attendance for committees

2:20:05to make sure that we're applying it consistently So

2:20:09all the topic of the department process some considerations

2:20:16just for the council, a little bit of food for thought

2:20:19for the council discussion So the first one is expanding

2:20:23meeting attendance requirements So if there was a desire

2:20:27to expand the requirement to attending three meetings prior

2:20:31to being a we need to all boards commissions and committees,

2:20:36there could be considerations for that

2:20:39that could potentially slow down the appointment process.

2:20:42And if there is a low number of appointed individuals,

2:20:46particularly if boards and commissions, then

2:20:48you can run into the problems that council member Eagleson

2:20:51mentioned in terms of having a quorum of members

2:20:54available to meet the that was the way we did.

2:20:59It was the other way around that we would get people

2:21:03on this committee and and they would get appointed

2:21:09but then they would maybe show up

2:21:10once period That was the three.

2:21:16That was the reason for the three meeting attendance thing.

2:21:21So just to consider Jennifer, boards and commissions there

2:21:25is a requirement for went to the ordinance to councillors past

2:21:29that appointment can not be made without first holding

2:21:33interviews.

2:21:34Well without first publicly noticing

2:21:36the vacancy holding an interview and a majority

2:21:40vote The council.

2:21:41So this meeting attendance prior to we

2:21:44could potentially lengthen that process, which

2:21:47is not necessary a bad thing.

2:21:49It's just something for the council

2:21:50to consider If that was the will of the council to do something

2:21:54along those lines there, there's also consideration

2:21:58for potentially doing a quarterly process

2:22:00for interviewing applicants whenever you have

2:22:03unexpected vacancies throughout the year, which would allow

2:22:06a little bit more concrete time for anyone who was

2:22:09interested in applying for those vacancies

2:22:11to have time to attend meetings in that process, there.

2:22:16There are some considerations for application modifications,

2:22:19such as requesting information on the application

2:22:23in terms of meetings that have been previously attended.

2:22:26There could be more detailed questions developed regarding

2:22:29background and experience to the council,

2:22:32more information about the candidate who is applying

2:22:35the council could also request supplemental materials

2:22:37or question be provided for certain advisory bodies,

2:22:42depending on what it is, the role and responsibility

2:22:45of a given advisory body as there may be a need to have

2:22:49more specific information about what that individual could

2:22:51bring by being appointment appointed

2:22:54to that advisory body and some member Mosiello Thank you,

2:23:00Mayor.

2:23:01I have a question about the expertise requirements

2:23:05which are sort of implied here.

2:23:07And I know super Charlotta you mentioned in your memo

2:23:13that the committees are for experts and commissions

2:23:18are for lay citizen but it feels like we are always leaning

2:23:24towards actual professional expertise in a lot of the cases

2:23:30And so it seems like having a committee

2:23:35have an sort of a longer term because there's experts.

2:23:42I feel like you i served on the Planning Commission

2:23:45and I would say that almost every single commissioner had

2:23:48a professional background in planning

2:23:52and so there would be a reason to keep them.

2:23:54But I think that the term limits were helpful in allowing

2:23:57lots of people to bring their energy

2:24:01to volunteering for the city.

2:24:03So i think in this application you know, if we are looking

2:24:09for specific professional experience,

2:24:13i don't think the applications actually reflect that.

2:24:16And we should probably modify things or make that clear.

2:24:21If that's if that is the will of the council

2:24:25I think that the subcommittee or the subcommittee

2:24:30of these committees having kind of a vetting

2:24:34process of their own.

2:24:36I think is really interesting and allow for more involvement.

2:24:40I think we as council have these brief interviews, bye.

2:24:44Think if the committee's are meeting people

2:24:51hearing their opinions getting to work with them,

2:24:53that sounds like a really good part out of the process.

2:24:58And maybe the quarterly meetings will help keep the process

2:25:03moving quickly enough that there aren't big gaps in vacancies

2:25:09But I also was wondering, once committees become

2:25:14formalised with resolutions or practice,

2:25:17it seems like they are kind of perpetual

2:25:20And I was also wondering about the process

2:25:22for adding new committees or taking committees

2:25:25away if the need arises.

2:25:27And I don't see a whole lot of guidance on that

2:25:31and not that I suggesting anything

2:25:34go away but just seems like there things that may come up

2:25:38and it might be great to have committee

2:25:42a group of people that have energy for something.

2:25:44And so the pathway for that is not clear So hopefully

2:25:49that can be included as well.

2:25:52As improved I'm sorry.

2:25:54Go ahead.

2:25:55On that.

2:25:56I was just going to say certainly something councilor

2:25:58could give direction on.

2:25:59These are just some things for the council to think about

2:26:02as they have a conversation about what they want to change,

2:26:05about the appointment process.

2:26:06Based on some research on what some other agencies are doing

2:26:10and some considerations based on statistics

2:26:12variance in managing the membership

2:26:13of our advisory bodies and is quickly, very quickly

2:26:17to respond to the question about forming or disbanding any

2:26:22of the established committees.

2:26:24That is a simple agenda item for discussion for the council

2:26:28and direction And we would bring a resolution

2:26:30to either form the commission, committee or board

2:26:35or disband commission committee or or that

2:26:37is definitely the will of the council aircraft.

2:26:41And Kato Thank you, Mr Fidele.

2:26:44I agree with my colleague, council member

2:26:47Motty on her statement and definitely

2:26:51support I'm looking at consideration

2:26:54and looking at staff liaison and chair involvement

2:27:00and you know, as Councillor liaison,

2:27:04we were told some years ago that we need to take care.

2:27:10couple of steps back at and not have you know,

2:27:16let them do their work at We should not be you know,

2:27:23telling them what to do and i, I definitely support that still.

2:27:28And I want to make sure that you.

2:27:30And when we are doing our report, we're doing a report

2:27:36And it doesn't have to be every month.

2:27:39I mean, I go every quarter now because this is they don't

2:27:43need to be there every month.

2:27:45But i do remember having colleagues at would take,

2:27:51you know, consider operations and taken an extra step.

2:27:55And in creating get out things that they

2:28:02would personally want to do and i don't want to have that.

2:28:05I want to make sure that they are

2:28:08independent from the council and that we are

2:28:10not dictate their job Job should be given to them ahead of time.

2:28:18There's a chair The chair has a responsibility

2:28:21to set the agenda and that's their job.

2:28:25It's not the council member liaison

2:28:31So i took that advice Sin and and it seems to be working.

2:28:38But there are some committees that

2:28:41are run by the same council member

2:28:43over and over and over again.

2:28:45And they don't realise that what they're doing

2:28:50is not acceptable.

2:28:52And we need to make these changes.

2:28:54And we need to move liaison's around We cannot have the same

2:28:59council member in the same committee,

2:29:02a commission four years because it doesn't work So I want

2:29:06to make sure in the future that we change every year and not

2:29:11keep the same liaison on because you

2:29:14see things years later that should have been done,

2:29:19but never done.

2:29:20Because we've had the same person there as always on

2:29:24and it all catches up later on.

2:29:26And like what we see right now, what we're dealing with.

2:29:30So let's look at that and make sure in the future.

2:29:34This doesn't happen anymore.

2:29:36Prefatory special treatment from different council members,

2:29:39from the city manager in years past.

2:29:42I don't want that seem to be done ever again.

2:29:46The council made that change And I appreciate Greg Limón

2:29:51and Paul Fidele working on that No more preferential treatment

2:29:55We need to spread this around.

2:29:57Each council member needs to have

2:29:59a turn on the different committees and commissions It's

2:30:03not acceptable blackout's things have been going on

2:30:06for twenty years, never again.

2:30:08So I appreciate that.

2:30:09Thank you.

2:30:13Hey, i have a couple of quick comments on this section.

2:30:19Before we move on to the next one else

2:30:22has comments The appointment process.

2:30:24I never understood why we required

2:30:28three meetings for committee members,

2:30:29but not commission commissioners.

2:30:32Sometimes even a little more important I

2:30:35think that we have a vetting vetting

2:30:37issue with who we put on our committees and commissions.

2:30:41I'm not talking about the Planning Commission or boards,

2:30:45but i think that there should be the same three requirements so

2:30:49that no one can ever claim I don't know what

2:30:52this commission does I like the idea of a quarterly

2:30:56interviewing process.

2:30:58And I think every one that gets on a committee

2:31:01should be required to have an Oriental about how

2:31:04the committee commission works what their requirements are

2:31:09and maybe that orientation can happen at the quarterly

2:31:12meeting.

2:31:12We have interviews.

2:31:13So we have people coming in already exactly

2:31:16what's expected of them.

2:31:18And they can say, I didn't understand

2:31:21my role was in this I also think I like the idea

2:31:25of having i like I like that.

2:31:28All five council members meet with I think

2:31:31that's a way that we get to meet our local residents

2:31:34We get to thank them and learn about them.

2:31:36I think we should be free to ask more independent questions I

2:31:40think the questions that we get in these meetings are pretty

2:31:43duplicative and don't really get to if one of us

2:31:46has a question and a background that we want

2:31:49to play out, let us ask questions

2:31:51and get the real feeling about that.

2:31:54And anyway, that those are my main two things that I think

2:31:58should happen as far as committees

2:32:00and commissions And the Yeah, you get those Holly Yes.

2:32:12And I just if I could just briefly, was just a couple

2:32:14of them I considerations I just wanted to share,

2:32:17you touched on some of them in your comments

2:32:19that the council could consider increasing the involvement

2:32:23of the staff liaisons and the advisory body

2:32:26chairs in the appointment process,

2:32:28particularly staff liaisons.

2:32:29They do have subject matter expertise typically

2:32:32to that leads them to become the liaison for particular border

2:32:37commissioner committee.

2:32:38So they may potentially have good insight

2:32:40in terms of what the needs are of the membership at the time.

2:32:44As well as the chair whose response for those meetings.

2:32:47And then there is also consider if there was a potential parts

2:32:53of the process could be done by subcamp of council members

2:32:57or one example of the city of here

2:32:59that I thought was interesting they have a subcommittee

2:33:02of the council liaison, the staff is on

2:33:05and the commission, the advisory body chair conductor

2:33:08reviews and provide a recommendation to the city

2:33:11council for appointment So just and then we establishing

2:33:14advisory bodies specific interview questions So

2:33:18instead of having that general set of questions

2:33:21for all interviews,

2:33:22having a specific set of questions

2:33:25put together for each advisory body

2:33:27so that the questions are more tailored towards what that body

2:33:31is responsible for which is something

2:33:33that we have done in the past, but not in the recent past.

2:33:37So thank you very much for all of your comments.

2:33:40OK, anybody else Yes.

2:33:43Yes, council member Rodney.

2:33:46Thank you, sir.

2:33:47I do want to be protective of staff time

2:33:50and i am one of the things I just heard with the expanding

2:33:55staff involvement.

2:33:56We have lost ten percent of our staff time staff

2:34:01at our staff workforce.

2:34:02I really want to be mindful of what it is that we're asking

2:34:05our staff liaisons to do, because since i've

2:34:09been in this seat I believe we've maybe only seen

2:34:12two reports or recommendations from our committees

2:34:17or commissions hit our agenda.

2:34:20And so because of that, I'm not.

2:34:23While I'm really glad that these boards and commissions exist I

2:34:28and especially for the commissioners in the committee

2:34:31members who participate I really want to be mindful of our staff

2:34:34because if we're not getting that work here

2:34:36that's work that's being done.

2:34:38That is essentially going to waste Thank you.

2:34:46On the number three that me myself,

2:34:56I think Council member may have had

2:34:58another need to stand up like.

2:35:01Thank you, Holly.

2:35:03I also want to mention dealing with.

2:35:07Yeah, I'm thinking in the long term

2:35:09and I'm thinking about the things

2:35:12we would have to look at closely.

2:35:14And that is our budget and and we looked at the five, ten year

2:35:21picture and it doesn't look great,

2:35:22doesn't look great in law at all.

2:35:24It's difficult, difficult year and the next ten years.

2:35:29And everyone knows this.

2:35:31And I just want to make sure that we are not overworking

2:35:35our staff I do recommend that some

2:35:39of these committees and commissions

2:35:42can have it's difficult to get a quorum.

2:35:44So I truly believe that instead of meeting every month, perhaps

2:35:49every quarter, I think that would be better I think

2:35:52our staff i'm thinking about.

2:35:55Yeah, again, 5, ten years now.

2:35:58The difficult, difficult times of our budget you know,

2:36:02it doesn't look good So we have to make

2:36:06some tough, tough choices And the next few years

2:36:10So we're looking at that and knowing that our staff

2:36:14is overworked already.

2:36:16I want to make sure that we're not

2:36:19going to add lots of overtime.

2:36:23So I want to make sure that, you know,

2:36:26we would not overwork our staff because they

2:36:29have full time daytime hours.

2:36:32And these are the extra things we cannot afford to do.

2:36:35A lot of the extra things in the future.

2:36:38So looking at i'm hoping that we can look at this year by year.

2:36:45And when the times get tougher that we

2:36:48will make changes accordingly.

2:36:51But the changes that I'm looking at now

2:36:54is to make sure that get out many of the committees,

2:36:59that that I have I chaired almost every single One

2:37:02of except the ones that I've been blocked to do Yeah,

2:37:06because some had it for all these years.

2:37:09It's that you know, we can't do this anymore.

2:37:13We just cannot do this.

2:37:15You when we can't even have a quorum it's a waste of time.

2:37:19That's a waste of time.

2:37:20A staff who are working overtime many of them.

2:37:24And we have to look at all of this and outside

2:37:27because a lot of this has been a waste of time with volunteers,

2:37:32not showing up.

2:37:33So you know, I agree with the committees

2:37:38the commissions that we have right now.

2:37:40But let's look at this on a regular basis.

2:37:43And you go on.

2:37:45I'm looking at every quarter for some of the committee

2:37:49that don't need to be there.

2:37:52Every month.

2:37:53And that would save time and that would save costs.

2:37:55Thank you.

2:37:56Their holly, thank.

2:38:01He said, OK, so the third area for discussion

2:38:05is the removal process.

2:38:06And again we're talking about the removal

2:38:09boards commission or committee.

2:38:10So all our advisory body membership

2:38:13the current regulation set by Ordinance of the city Council

2:38:17is very broad and offers.

2:38:19So the rates of removal set by a simple majority

2:38:22vote of the city council This can be achieved

2:38:25in a couple of ways as long as it's in a publicly

2:38:29noticed public meeting there could

2:38:32be an item of consent at a regular meeting

2:38:34or alternatively an agenda item at a special meeting.

2:38:38Consistent with the process the council

2:38:40currently takes our interviews and appointments

2:38:42of advisory body membership.

2:38:44We do have some things that allow for automatic removal

2:38:48which are set by both ordinance and resolution,

2:38:51and that includes the excessive absences

2:38:54that I mentioned earlier.

2:38:55As as no longer meeting the resident requirement

2:39:00And then in addition, we do have one of the city's conflicts

2:39:05of interest code.

2:39:06It does indicate a couple of our advisory bodies

2:39:09who are required to file a form seven.

2:39:11And there is language in that resolution adopted

2:39:14by council that authorizes removal for failure

2:39:18to complete that form.

2:39:20Seven the proposed action in this area

2:39:24is along the same vein of what the council members have been

2:39:28providing comments on in trying to strengthen in our process

2:39:33internally in terms of the management of our membership,

2:39:36which is in excess of 90 or so position

2:39:39amongst all of our boards commissions and committees,

2:39:42is for the council to consider a resolution providing

2:39:45authorisation for automatic removal terms

2:39:49that would expand to cover the failure

2:39:54to meet the applicable training and filing requirements

2:39:57that the council has adopted.

2:39:58This would be things executing the oath of office,

2:40:02completing ethics training for those that have been designated

2:40:06as required to complete the training

2:40:08completed the sexual harassment prevention training

2:40:11as well as completing a conflict of interest statement.

2:40:13If that is required OK, or any comments or questions

2:40:21on the ethics training and the the Laursen which I don't see

2:40:30listed there the sexual harassment

2:40:33prevention harassment.

2:40:35I don't see why, even if it's not

2:40:37somebody else's, require that it should not be our requirement.

2:40:44So all of our commissions in committee members

2:40:47are required to complete sexual harassment from the trading

2:40:51in the implementing that with some new legislation

2:40:54that went into effect earlier this year.

2:40:57We did get an opinion from our legal counsel from Sky Jordan

2:41:01that that would extend to all of our courts,

2:41:04commissions and committees.

2:41:05So we are requiring that currently implementing that

2:41:09and and the council has passed a resolution indicating I think,

2:41:14three or four of our advisory bodies

2:41:16to complete two hours of ethics training every two years.

2:41:20So this is this request is just giving essentially me and i

2:41:25to have my authorisation if we cannot get a member to complete

2:41:31those requirements that the council has indicated that they

2:41:33must complete that we have some recourse

2:41:36to remove that person if they are

2:41:38not meeting those requirements.

2:41:40Currently, there is no repercussion

2:41:42of not completing those training or filing requirements

2:41:44outside of the seven.

2:41:46And it does create a lot of administrative work following

2:41:49up with membership over and over again,

2:41:52trying to get compliance when there's no there's nothing

2:41:55to allow us to enforce that rule.

2:41:58that we have a sub rule that says they have a one

2:42:04or two months whatever the number is,

2:42:07to complete it in the due date.

2:42:11And if they don't they're off the committee

2:42:13just to make automatic So the request

2:42:17would be whatever the current regulation is that have already

2:42:20been adopted by council that I would be able to add

2:42:24an additional step that says it's

2:42:27language consistent with what's in our conflict.

2:42:30Conflict of interest code that after we give it

2:42:32a specific written notice of non-compliance

2:42:35And so whatever the requirement is that if that individual does

2:42:39not complete that requirement within that 30 day period,

2:42:42that they would be removed from membership without having

2:42:47to have specific council action to remove them

2:42:54I think that's a good idea.

2:42:56And Holly, oh, yes, Mr council member Mohtarma oh, thank you,

2:43:05Mayor.

2:43:05I had a question about.

2:43:07I agree with council member Apison about the ethics

2:43:10training should be for everyone I was wondering if you already

2:43:14as not included in ordinance or resolution,

2:43:18but already do Michael Brown at training and orientation

2:43:24through a handbook and setting the expectation

2:43:28that all committee commission and board members

2:43:32abide by the handbook and are those kind

2:43:35of like Given's that have been sort of implied

2:43:37or done already?

2:43:39that are not formalised I just want to get

2:43:41a sense of that from you.

2:43:43So when I came when I came on with the city twenty eighteen,

2:43:47I did a lot of work to try and streamline

2:43:50the process for our own coming incoming membership, our staff

2:43:55liaison participation in terms of all of the meeting

2:44:00materials and things like that and I did

2:44:02create a handbook for members.

2:44:04And I did hold an in-person training that provided

2:44:06round of review as well.

2:44:08As a review of that new handbook and all the materials in it

2:44:11in the twenty eighteen, the plan was

2:44:14to do something similar to that every year with the pandemic,

2:44:18things have taken a little bit of a slower move forward

2:44:22We are planning on implementing the annual training that

2:44:25is going to coincide with the annual term appointments that

2:44:28happened in March.

2:44:29Year, whether it be a refresher or for new membership,

2:44:32that there would be an opportunity

2:44:34for those individual roles to come to that training

2:44:37and get some training.

2:44:38I have also been doing some refreshers

2:44:40for specific advisory bodies throughout the last Six

2:44:43months or so to get Brown.

2:44:45Actress shares in terms of what we are required to abide what

2:44:49they are required to abide by as advisory members and all

2:44:53that information is provided to them upon appointment

2:44:56information is provided, where the resources are available

2:45:00and what filing and training requirement they

2:45:02have as a member Thank you Yes.

2:45:08And Holly, I think we talked today

2:45:10about my one comment on this The and I agree with it.

2:45:15I'm not seeing much that needs to improve from our removal

2:45:18process at the hands council But on the resolution

2:45:25that you will be asking us to approve

2:45:27or you can get rid of someone automatically

2:45:30I do think you should send council notification

2:45:34before that happens.

2:45:36Just so that we know if there some unique.

2:45:39These are people we're invested in a little bit.

2:45:42We've interviewed them.

2:45:43We should know the story before that

2:45:45happens and we can get back to or whatever That makes sense.

2:45:52Yes, absolutely.

2:45:53Yeah.

2:45:54And when you get to that action item

2:45:56i can make a recommendation and we can potentially

2:45:58revise that resolution at the dais

2:46:01to get that information We should know.

2:46:02So who who's going to be let go?

2:46:04And I think we know one of the repercussion it's back to us.

2:46:08If, in fact, something's you know,

2:46:12something's fallen loop there.

2:46:14So, OK, any other comment Yes.

2:46:17Mariquita.

2:46:18Yeah.

2:46:20Fidele also want to point out to that

2:46:23that has happened in different committees through the years.

2:46:25Is that when certain people are good allies, or friends of one

2:46:33of our colleagues on the council and you see particular people

2:46:39getting away with you out, excessive

2:46:43absences, for example, or it?

2:46:45S showing up late or you have bad

2:46:50behaviour and in everyone wanted this particular person out.

2:46:57But we couldn't do anything because that that person

2:47:01had an ally on the council that was totally embarrassing.

2:47:04And I just want let everyone know that I definitely support.

2:47:11Yeah, This proposed action because you we you know,

2:47:16when when you're not looking bad behaviour happens and and we

2:47:21have seen this this year with you know,

2:47:24looking at the bad behaviour of certain committees where

2:47:29there there are attacking our chair

2:47:31They're attacking our staff.

2:47:33They are attacking our city manager You know,

2:47:37to me, that is a rules There are rules.

2:47:40There.

2:47:41And this is a body a body of this body

2:47:46makes recommendations The chair is charged mayor Pro Tem.

2:47:51I just Holick me if I'm wrong, but I was talking

2:47:53about your Urhobo to get rid of someone who hasn't followed

2:47:58through on all the paperwork and all

2:48:01the required That's that we're talking about That is correct.

2:48:05But I can potemkin to this point.

2:48:09I have i do an annual review of attendance

2:48:13and I have been coaching staff liaisons in with those rules.

2:48:17Are there already part of the municipal code that

2:48:19will provide automatic removal for non-compliance?

2:48:23And we are keeping a much closer eye on those regulations.

2:48:26Now on actual attendance.

2:48:27Yes, absolutely.

2:48:29So attendance would be one of the things

2:48:31that you're looking to, of which you could automatically

2:48:35get rid of the council that that the council has

2:48:38already given authority for.

2:48:40And in certain sections answers.

2:48:42But we are monitoring the attendance much more closely.

2:48:45We we do an annual review to see if anyone

2:48:48falls into that crater of excessive absences.

2:48:51We're making sure to give people notice when they're getting

2:48:54close to that threshold, to give them an opportunity

2:48:56to rectify their attendance.

2:48:58OK, and i think before we go to the public

2:49:02I just want to remind everyone that these

2:49:04are volunteer positions and we don't want to make.

2:49:09So onerous that they don't show up We're

2:49:12trying to make it easy on them It's our they're

2:49:16leaving their family there.

2:49:17They're coming on board They're taking on responsibilities

2:49:21So I don't want to be mean, but if they're not

2:49:24going to follow through on some of the requirements,

2:49:27they should be notified.

2:49:29We should be notified of.

2:49:30So OK, can we get to our public comments

2:49:35on all of these things and ideas from our residents?

2:49:46Here with me in managing multiple computers?

2:49:48Tonight's oK.

2:49:52We did not receive any public comment

2:49:54on this item in advance.

2:49:55But if you would like to speak on this item i would be

2:49:58the time to raise your hand Mayor, at this time,

2:50:01we have five hands.

2:50:02Can confirm the 3 minute time limit.

2:50:07What time is it?

2:50:08It's nine thirty six.

2:50:11Let's go for 2 and a half just so we can

2:50:13move this along a little bit.

2:50:14Thank you.

2:50:32OK, our first speaker this item is our Miller Ali.

2:50:36You should be able to I'm meeting in your time now.

2:50:44Al, are you there?

2:50:45I am.

2:50:46I was waiting for the clerk to show up.

2:50:48OK, thank you, counsel.

2:50:51For going through this review.

2:50:55I think it's long overdue I have three areas

2:50:58that I suggest you ask the city clerk and a city

2:51:02manager for their opinion on, as you develop

2:51:05your program The first item is how many committees

2:51:11commissions are boards.

2:51:12Can one individual will serve on at the same time The second is

2:51:19are there any committees, commissions

2:51:22or board members that should not serve on more than one?

2:51:26I'm thinking of the Planning Commission the Pham.

2:51:30And the Design Review Board whose meetings often

2:51:34get into such detail and length of time

2:51:38that maybe they are going to be serving on one

2:51:42The other thing is, are there any other committees,

2:51:46commissions or boards that could be permitted

2:51:51to effect staff themselves?

2:51:54To write their own minutes for most of their meetings?

2:51:58And when there are special issues coming up or maybe once

2:52:02or twice a year half staff liaison

2:52:05attend to watch, I think that most of these committees etc.

2:52:11could be depen and done talking with their staff liaison

2:52:17when an issue was coming up and give

2:52:20the liaison the opportunity to say, yeah,

2:52:23i would really like to be there when

2:52:25they are doing last notes then thanks again for this review.

2:52:31Ali, for the effort you've already put

2:52:33into while you've been here.

2:52:35Thank you.

2:52:36Thank you.

2:52:37Thank you.

2:52:38You.

2:52:38Our next speaker is Tildy Goudey, honey,

2:52:40you should be able to I mean, begin your time now.

2:52:44Good evening, Mayor and council members.

2:52:46How do you live in do so?

2:52:48I appreciate the effort to make things more uniform consistent.

2:52:54I think it is important to remember you know,

2:52:58the committees and the boards and commissions

2:53:01are very different.

2:53:02And so consistency within committees and consistency

2:53:06within boards and commissions is more

2:53:08appropriate than consistency with each other to that end,

2:53:12I think, the term limits and the length of the term

2:53:17is appropriate for boards and commissions that have smaller

2:53:22panels and are generally fully you know,

2:53:28a full complement of the smaller number

2:53:31of people usually half of the fifteen

2:53:34or less of the fifteen commission.

2:53:37I'm sorry, committee.

2:53:38So I think you the committees really aren't very well served

2:53:42by having the extra burdens of keeping track of term length

2:53:48and limits and it's actually a staff time

2:53:52burden to administer all that.

2:53:55And most of these are under populated.

2:53:58I mean, they have a small fraction of a total.

2:54:03So we're not really doing ourselves any favors

2:54:06by turning away volunteers just because they served Eight years

2:54:12when we have a small panel.

2:54:14And we have a willing volunteer.

2:54:16So I think the only exception for I advocate

2:54:20for no terminaling it's or length of term for committees

2:54:27with the only exception being if it is a fully populated

2:54:32committee, then if there's an application,

2:54:34I would think it would be good to us.

2:54:38The longest tenure to step down but as far as the 3 minute

2:54:44three meeting requirement it is a little

2:54:47burdensome for for a committee to require that.

2:54:51I think I could be relaxed a little bit

2:54:53maybe one to two meetings over three to six months.

2:54:56And fluting before submitting a application,

2:54:59as long as their name appears in the minutes

2:55:02As a public commenter because, you know,

2:55:06it really is a unnecessarily prolonged process for getting

2:55:11new people involved.

2:55:12So thank you You Our next speaker is Blankstein.

2:55:21Davee should be able to unmuted and begin your time now I

2:55:24I've been a member of the Ekis Environmental Quality Committee

2:55:28since it starts about twelve years,

2:55:30I've served city committees and task

2:55:33forces, which we didn't mention going back to the mid nineties.

2:55:37I really appreciate the work, Holly has done here.

2:55:40It's useful to look at restructuring

2:55:42I do think you see sometimes is a bit more

2:55:45of a talking soci than one that actually

2:55:47tries downhome the issues.

2:55:50I told them that, however, you guys

2:55:52want to go home tomorrow recover and watch this segment

2:55:56because it seems to portray members of the city committees

2:56:01as more of a problem to the city than a benefit.

2:56:03And these are people who spend an awful lot of time doing

2:56:06an awful lot of work And I wish I was still

2:56:09a reporter for the West County so I

2:56:12could figure out what Mayor Pro Tem Quintal which committee.

2:56:16He's talking about.

2:56:17I sure wish I knew so i must say,

2:56:19there's no problems with committees

2:56:21but I agree with howre.

2:56:22Why should there be term limits when you have people like me

2:56:26and other people, many good people who are willing to go

2:56:28and show up and work hard I mean, the council does not have

2:56:32Czernowitz so I have term limits on committees I think that work

2:56:38needs to be done to organise them better

2:56:40and rationalise them But let's not act like they are

2:56:44more of a pain than a benefit Thank

2:56:47you very much for hearing me.

2:56:48Out.

2:56:48And I'm sorry if I seem a little bit

2:56:50annoyed that you are our next speaker is Robin Mitchell.

2:56:55Robin, you should be able to begin your time now.

2:56:59Yeah, thank you.

2:57:00This is robin Mitchell, and I'm currently

2:57:02served on the Park and Rec Commission for two terms.

2:57:05So eight years.

2:57:05And now I'm on the Urban Forest Committee

2:57:08and I agree with dave and Howdy that I don't believe that there

2:57:12should be term limits on committees

2:57:15And I was the one that advocate for the three term

2:57:18limit for urban forests instead of two, because you know,

2:57:21the expertise that's needed there.

2:57:23We lost some really good expertise

2:57:25because the term limit expirations

2:57:27and it's a real shame that that happens.

2:57:30And I think that's true of a lot of the committees

2:57:33that, you know, you have expertise

2:57:36that you don't want to lose.

2:57:38And, Dave comment.

2:57:39I mean, I do think it's a little bit insulting

2:57:42the way you were talking about the committees

2:57:44that these are volunteers.

2:57:45They are citizens that are volunteering their time

2:57:49and you know, I'm sorry that it's a burden to the city

2:57:54but I think it's important to have them

2:57:56and i just think turning away volunteers because

2:58:01of term limits is crazy.

2:58:03The second thing I was going to say

2:58:05is the what how he was alluding to the meeting attendance.

2:58:08So we just went through this on the Urban Forest Committee.

2:58:10It takes an incredibly long time to get

2:58:12somebody on the committee.

2:58:13And we're such a small committee.

2:58:15You we only have like four or five people on.

2:58:18And we would love to have the energy of this person.

2:58:21But it took almost six months to get her on our committee.

2:58:24And she's not there yet.

2:58:26It's three months of meetings that they have to attend.

2:58:29They might not even be consecutive In her case.

2:58:31There were they were then the fourth month the fourth meeting

2:58:35of the urban forest committee.

2:58:37We actually make the recommendation to city council.

2:58:41Well, depending on what the schedule of the city council

2:58:44may or may not fall in that same month.

2:58:46It could fall in the next month.

2:58:47And then we're five months out for getting

2:58:50somebody on our committee, which I just think is ridiculous.

2:58:54And I think it would be very nice if that could be

2:58:57streamlined and again, I just think

2:59:00that having term limits where you're turning away volunteers

2:59:03on committees that are under-represent

2:59:05don't have a full composite is just not very wise.

2:59:11Thanks.

2:59:11That's all I have to say.

2:59:14Thank you.

2:59:15Our next speaker is he should be able to meet

2:59:18and begin your time now.

2:59:24It's try that again.

2:59:26The can you you know there you go.

2:59:30Can hear me.

2:59:31Yep.

2:59:34Yes, please go Whoa, whoa, whoa.

2:59:38Hold on, hold on.

2:59:41Yeah.

2:59:44OK, there we go.

2:59:45All right.

2:59:46You should go hear me now.

2:59:50Yes, I can Here you go.

2:59:52Yeah, I just want to say really quickly that i was wondering,

2:59:57like, what can we maybe possibly honor committee and commission

3:00:00members like, when there's a new one that's brought in,

3:00:04maybe maybe this incentivized the more

3:00:06people in the community to want to serve in spaces.

3:00:10If we honor those who joined a committee or commission

3:00:13board so that also the rest of the commission or committee

3:00:15or whatever.

3:00:16And actually know who's coming to the table, what are they're

3:00:19bringing to the table and how we can

3:00:22work and collaborate together.

3:00:23I'm actually a commissioner for the Human Relations

3:00:26I think it's super ironic that we

3:00:27were just talking about an equity program

3:00:29that we want to do.

3:00:30But then my question to that is like,

3:00:33how do we create equity And this is volunteer number one.

3:00:36Number two, we don't really honor

3:00:38those who joined these things.

3:00:39And those who are committed and passionate about being

3:00:42involved.

3:00:42In fact, sometimes i've even noticed in my own commission

3:00:45how we honor those who actually are overwhelmed.

3:00:48You know, rather than honoring those

3:00:49who are excited to do the work and excited to make

3:00:52changes in our community.

3:00:54So that being said, I have a question for you guys.

3:00:56Quite important in relation to this.

3:00:59What if the staff and the council

3:01:01is discriminating against a commissioner or a committee

3:01:05member or a board member?

3:01:06Like what if how do we reconcile with that?

3:01:08What i'm learning through my own process dealing with the city

3:01:12staff and the commission and the council

3:01:14is when any discriminated incline goes down,

3:01:17it ends up at the table of the city staff.

3:01:20So it's like, wait, that doesn't make sense.

3:01:22It's like you want to give a lighter to an arsonist,

3:01:24you know, but it seems like we don't have any checks

3:01:27or balances on the city staff or the council,

3:01:30but they can decide things on the commission

3:01:32and the committee and board.

3:01:33I mean, mind you, they can decide on volunteers

3:01:36but the people who are electing and there's no accountability

3:01:39going to reverse direction, especially

3:01:42if are discrimination, especially if there is bias,

3:01:44especially if there's overt retaliation for somebody

3:01:47wanting to do something in the community and assumptions

3:01:51and projections becoming a block and secrecy kind of going.

3:01:55You can be moving throughout the commission.

3:01:57I mean, the staff And so really, I'm curious about that.

3:02:01Like, how do we create equity for commissioners

3:02:04and committee members?

3:02:05On board members if the staff is discriminating in Cumia,

3:02:13that does conclude requests to speak on this item.

3:02:17OK and can we bring it back to section number one and then

3:02:25maybe, Holly, if you can if you have a list, both lists

3:02:29of things that you would like us to comment on i mean,

3:02:33I guess go down the line of where we should go.

3:02:36I think we got some good feedback from our residents

3:02:41right there.

3:02:42I have a few issues and suggestions

3:02:44and section number one.

3:02:46But are there any other council members

3:02:48that would like to kick it off?

3:02:51And this is about term limits and and any length and term

3:03:00limits?

3:03:00Yeah, any other council member rubberneck?

3:03:03Yes.

3:03:04Mayor Fidele, I like your suggestion

3:03:06about two year limits are preferred to your terms.

3:03:10Pardon me.

3:03:11And also, I really did hear feedback

3:03:14from the public about how it is that we can really expand

3:03:17membership because the reality is, is while we have ninety

3:03:21seats available ninety seats currently, but so many

3:03:25of our committees at least don't have enough members

3:03:28I've heard anecdotally from the community

3:03:31that there's folks who wanted to join the economic development

3:03:35Committee, but because that committee wasn't reaching

3:03:38quorum, there would be people who would show

3:03:41up for their three meetings.

3:03:42And then not to honor those three meetings of attendance.

3:03:46But the meetings were being held because we had reached quorum

3:03:49And I'm really trying to think to myself,

3:03:52especially the youngest member on council who's really

3:03:58my peers in the community are the folks

3:04:01who would love to participate.

3:04:03But often have young children.

3:04:05And these things are hard And what

3:04:06is it that we can make it accessible

3:04:08for us to get a broader and more diverse

3:04:11represent haitian in these groups?

3:04:13And I think that offering shorter term that folks are

3:04:18committing to would be really helpful a way

3:04:21to attract more people.

3:04:23But I also really want to honor what it is that we're hearing

3:04:26from the community because we shouldn't have

3:04:28a prescribed amount of user eight to eight to year terms

3:04:34however it is.

3:04:34And then you have to go if there's no if there's seats

3:04:40that are available for other folks

3:04:42to join the committee shouldn't bounce folks off

3:04:45or that can respond to that.

3:04:47Because I think Rogell we're gelling with an idea and people

3:04:51just keeping an open mind here.

3:04:54Because I liked what Rob and how they said about keeping

3:04:58good people on But I like what Tessa

3:05:01and I have mentioned about we might

3:05:03attract more just two years.

3:05:06Why don't we have two year terms where a renewal is automatic

3:05:11unless that and they get to stay on if they want

3:05:15to unless there's an issue and there are no limits to how long

3:05:19they can serve, then every two years.

3:05:22They know that well I've had my two years.

3:05:24I'm going i've got two more years.

3:05:26I think Four years is a big chunk to attract people

3:05:30and i think two years and then to take away

3:05:33some of the staff issues that Holly has where we

3:05:36have to reinterview everybody.

3:05:39If if they could stay on automats likely and give

3:05:42us notice that they want to stay on,

3:05:45then staff and council can say, well let's

3:05:48welcome him or her back to this committee again.

3:05:51To me, that team streamline So I just

3:05:53wanted to get your feedback from others Eric Cantor, thank you.

3:05:59Mayor Fidele I'm listening to folks

3:06:04at that spoke at comment period And and knowing

3:06:11who these people are.

3:06:12And I got to know these people in the last yea, many of them.

3:06:18I know for more than ten years and as a commissioner,

3:06:21as a volunteer here, as chair of One of the commissions and

3:06:25and seeing many of them in our Hall of Fame

3:06:29And this shows you that great work

3:06:32that our commissioner is in, committee members

3:06:34have done over the years.

3:06:36And and many of them are speaking right now

3:06:39like Al Miller and and like Dave Winston So I hear what they say

3:06:46and I completely agree with them.

3:06:49Dan, but I also agree with council member rudbeck as well.

3:06:54And on to win that the two year terms and that will say and do

3:07:01this automatically because we do.

3:07:05And I'm thinking about the future again.

3:07:08And and so we can have less meetings because our staff

3:07:13are they're overworked already.

3:07:15And and to have this every week we're not going to be

3:07:21able to do that in the future.

3:07:23So it's a small to everyone know that that difficult times.

3:07:28We're still dealing with austerity and a budget

3:07:31that we still need to work on.

3:07:34So, you know, I agree with Tessa the two year period

3:07:40in doing that automatic So we don't

3:07:42have to meet time and time and time again

3:07:45in an interviewing people that.

3:07:48Yes, they're included.

3:07:49Yes.

3:07:50We want them.

3:07:51And because they're doing great work.

3:07:55But there are some bad apples that

3:07:58have been on committees there are no longer

3:08:01and those committees.

3:08:03But I'm telling you know, they're out

3:08:07and for some reason, they get in because

3:08:10of preferential treatment And I just

3:08:12want to make sure that this doesn't happen in the future.

3:08:15Because I've seen this happen and this

3:08:17is the ugly side of boards and commissions

3:08:20that i have personally seen.

3:08:21I'm a complete turned off by that and by by.

3:08:26Yeah, just because they're they're

3:08:28just friends with the council member, that is not acceptable.

3:08:32And we need to change that.

3:08:33So thank you Council member Rudnic

3:08:36We have a motion on a term limit issue