Regular City Council Meeting November 2, 2021

0:13:44Good evening, ladies, and gentlemen, the November 2nd

0:13:48regular city council meeting is called

0:13:50to order at seven o'clock Will the city

0:13:54clerk please call the roll?

0:13:56And Fidele here attempting to get

0:14:00council member opposing here, Councilman mittman here

0:14:06and some member redneck.

0:14:09We have a thank you.

0:14:11Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:14:12Our moment of silence I pledge allegiance, allegiance

0:14:18to the flag, the flag of the United States

0:14:22of America, Africa and to the Republic Republic for which it

0:14:26stands One Nation, McShann under God,

0:14:31indivisible, with liberty and justice Thank you.

0:14:39Well, our city clerk, please talk

0:14:40to us about the teleconference and public comment

0:14:42instructions.

0:14:44Thank kimmey.

0:14:45City Council members and staff who

0:14:47are participating Panelists, please

0:14:48remember to keep a microphone muted whenever you speaking

0:14:52to ensure compliance with the Brown Act

0:14:54and to address security concerns.

0:14:56Attendee images videos will remain disabled as well as

0:14:59the future for all participants The members of the public who

0:15:03wish to provide oral testimony the mayor

0:15:05will announce the time for public comment

0:15:07on each applicable item If you wish to speak, please select

0:15:10the hand icon to contrabass.

0:15:12Your hand.

0:15:13If you cannot locate Icon, please refer to the document

0:15:16linked on page one of the agenda for the Rasim feature

0:15:19attendee's joining by phone and dial star nine to raise

0:15:22their hand when it's your turn to provide comments,

0:15:25your name will be called and you will be prompted to amuse

0:15:28yourself Attendees joining by phone will prompted to dial

0:15:31Star six to admit themselves.

0:15:34That conclude my announcements may.

0:15:35We're ready for the next item.

0:15:37Thank you.

0:15:37And the next item Staff and council communications

0:15:40Can we please begin with staff communication variety

0:15:45Thank you.

0:15:45Your Honor.

0:15:46I'm Karen Pinkest, city manager Just

0:15:48wanted to give a brief update on our local emergency.

0:15:52Most things are indeed still status quo.

0:15:55Nothing has changed from what I reported

0:15:57last time except the big news that happened this afternoon.

0:16:01That children now five to eleven,

0:16:04have been approved by the CDC and the FDA

0:16:06to begin getting vaccinated And so I encourage everyone

0:16:11with people of that age group to check out Korona

0:16:15virus Stotsky Health dot org.

0:16:19I literally just checked.

0:16:20They haven't updated yet, although they're continuing

0:16:22to update vaccination locations But in the meantime,

0:16:25continue to check that page or certainly

0:16:27check in with your medical provider for opportunities

0:16:32to be able to vaccinate that age group.

0:16:34I am really optimistic about that,

0:16:37but that will certainly be helpful.

0:16:39Going a long way toward continuing to decrease

0:16:43and hopefully end where we are in the pandemic.

0:16:46Again, not much has changed as far as that goes on.

0:16:49Your consent calendar tonight.

0:16:50You do have the resolution again for the next thirty days.

0:16:54And so this time we will still continue

0:16:57to plan to meet with the city council and our boards

0:17:00commissions and committees overseeing them

0:17:03or virtually So at this point, that is really all I have.

0:17:06Thank you so much.

0:17:06Right Council members, do we have any comments

0:17:12or announcements Yes, mayor Pro Tem

0:17:17Quintel thanking their Fidele.

0:17:20Good evening, everyone.

0:17:21I wanted to let everyone know that I

0:17:23did attend a press conference on October 25th last Monday.

0:17:33And this is just to be had an invitation

0:17:39to attend this meeting press conference at the temple.

0:17:42Beth Abraham temple in Oakland, with the mayors and council

0:17:48members of Alameda County and Mayor Kevin wilk

0:17:53and myself were invited from contra Costa County

0:17:56to attend this.

0:17:58There's been a lot of hate crimes lately,

0:18:00a lot of anti-Semitism a lot of Asian hate crimes going on.

0:18:05And so I was joined by many of our colleagues

0:18:11from Alameda County and the different police departments

0:18:14And it was a good turnout And I look forward

0:18:19and having we'll have something like this in Contra Costa

0:18:23County and the future so we can say no to all of this hate

0:18:29going on right now.

0:18:30So, you know, just a lot of anti-Semitism going on

0:18:34and we want to we want to stop this

0:18:37and say, no, to all of this.

0:18:40This is getting out of hand.

0:18:42A lot of crimes going on.

0:18:43So but appreciate the invitation from the Jewish Council

0:18:50of san Francisco.

0:18:51And my colleague Tyler Gregory along with Sam for inviting me

0:18:57and that's my update.

0:18:58Thank you.

0:18:59Thank can Other announcements.

0:19:03I have a couple Oh, yes.

0:19:05Council member Mohtarma Thank you, ma'am.

0:19:09I just want to mention that some Samira's reached out

0:19:12to me because there was a shooting into a vehicle

0:19:15on kamahl Street and I know that the neighbors are

0:19:19very concerned I know that the council is

0:19:23being notified of this.

0:19:24And I have urged the neighbors to invite me to come

0:19:29and address their concerns.

0:19:30So I'll keep you posted as to if there's

0:19:33a date or anything like that.

0:19:36Thank you.

0:19:36For that.

0:19:37Sorry to hear about I have a couple of announcements now.

0:19:42We did have a closed session on october.

0:19:44Twenty fifth where we ended up directing

0:19:48our city manager to respond as we directed

0:19:51on retiree health costs.

0:19:54And secondly, we discussed a possible litigation at about i

0:20:00was very pleased on Sunday to offer a mayor certificate

0:20:05of recognition commence and congratulating Phyllis

0:20:09Cobb on the occasion of her 100th birthday

0:20:13A beautiful woman and a great band,

0:20:15council member Rubberneck showed up as well One hundred years

0:20:19old from South Carolina and was a beautiful party

0:20:23on beautiful day.

0:20:24So these one hundred year old certificates

0:20:28are a wonderful thing for us to be continuing to pass out.

0:20:31It makes makes me smile Hopefully all of us Finally,

0:20:35I'm glad to say that for the third year in a row,

0:20:37we're going to be having holiday lights on san Pablo

0:20:40Avenue in the theater district.

0:20:43Thanks primarily to the chamber commerce and some really

0:20:47wonderful people that helped sponsor this

0:20:51And I think they may be starting to go up tomorrow

0:20:54or the next day and lighting up our our shopping

0:20:57area on the 12th of November.

0:21:00There will be an official event at the elevation.

0:21:04Sixty six.

0:21:05So everyone's invited from 6:00 p.m. to look at the lights

0:21:10and have some free refreshments Let's get our retail business

0:21:14back on track here.

0:21:16So if you tell us the date again,

0:21:19the date of the event is november 12th,

0:21:226:00 pm elevation.

0:21:23Sixty six, I believe the lights we are we

0:21:27got a discount If we did our put our lights up

0:21:30early before the mad rush for Christmas.

0:21:33So they're going to be up next week or this week.

0:21:35So a little early.

0:21:36But that's wonderful.

0:21:37I think Very good.

0:21:40So anything else?

0:21:42OK, at this time, members of the public

0:21:46who wish to provide public comments regarding matters,

0:21:48not on the agenda, consent items and presentation.

0:21:52I should use the raised hand feature to request to speak.

0:21:56This is the oral communications time

0:21:58from the public city city clerk Do we have any takers in me?

0:22:04While we give them an opportunity

0:22:06to raise their hand, I just quickly announce

0:22:08the public comments received by today's four p.m.

0:22:11deadline have been posted on our Web, a supplement to materials

0:22:14and have been provided directly to the council member

0:22:18council members.

0:22:18This includes public comments for items

0:22:20not on the agenda I receive some Cordell handler Seip

0:22:23nemi and Evelin, Janelle mitchell

0:22:27and at this time here we have three hands requesting

0:22:31to speak and confirm the three minute time limit So confirmed.

0:22:37Thank you, sir.

0:22:42OK, so our first speaker tonight is Dave Weinstein.

0:22:50Dave, you should be able to unmuted begin your time now.

0:22:53I this is Dave Weinstein speaking as the president

0:22:56of the also real historical society,

0:22:59I would like to really thank the council

0:23:00for the resolution for tredway.

0:23:06I that Chris appreciates that Chris

0:23:08has been just such a great guy over the years.

0:23:10A lot of people think that local history can be dry boring.

0:23:15You know, Chris, brought so much joy

0:23:17into the study of local history over the years.

0:23:20He's helped me so much.

0:23:21I know many other people finding weird information

0:23:24about ostrich races at the old dog track and matchbook

0:23:30covers any kind of oddball things

0:23:32just a tremendous amount of of of fun

0:23:35to what is doing well at the same time,

0:23:37really serious about working on this book,

0:23:40which he is still working on.

0:23:42And we will get it published And the work that he's done

0:23:46for the various communities throughout town writing

0:23:49about them in a way that makes part of what is going on,

0:23:54not an outsider looking but really

0:23:56part of the community and that's why

0:23:59it's particularly good at the city council city in general.

0:24:04The historical society and others

0:24:06are coming together now to really appreciate

0:24:08what he has done over the years.

0:24:14Oh, I'm done Thank you.

0:24:17And just to quickly remind us on the call

0:24:19that this is the opportunity to speak for items that are not

0:24:22on the agenda, items on our consent calendar

0:24:25and presentation items.

0:24:26Tonight, the next biggest Gibson.

0:24:29Dave, you should be able to unmuted and begin your time out

0:24:35with that evening.

0:24:37Dave and Dave Gibson, retired battalion chief fire marshal

0:24:41Thirty five years I speak to you tonight

0:24:44with a heavy heart based on your recent shameful decision

0:24:48to significantly raise retirees medical insurance premiums.

0:24:53This change is based on the state audit,

0:24:55based on interpretation of a memo language dating back

0:25:00over sixty years the city Rosarito has never

0:25:04wanted to pay for retirement.

0:25:06Retiree medical and in lieu has allowed retirees

0:25:10to stay on the medical plans at their retirees expense

0:25:14and at no cost to the city based on a recent interpretation,

0:25:18it was determined that somehow retirees creating approximately

0:25:22one hundred and twenty two thousand a cost to the city

0:25:25and therefore that should be passed on to the retirees

0:25:29So I get that you want save one hundred

0:25:31and twenty two thousand but the way

0:25:33you're doing it is shameful.

0:25:35Three of your council members played a significant role

0:25:38in the financial disaster that triggered the state

0:25:40audit in the first place.

0:25:42With based on some of your decisions,

0:25:45if you're so fiscally conservative, now,

0:25:48how do you feel that you need to go out and spend 90 seven

0:25:53thousand dollars on a recruitment

0:25:55For my former position at Battalion

0:25:57chief fire marshal and the vacant police captain position.

0:26:01As for the fire department, recruitment,

0:26:03you had two qualified internal candidates

0:26:06but decided to do an outside recruitment costing fifty

0:26:09thousand dollars Did you not receive six million dollars

0:26:12in federal bailout Do you not have four

0:26:15million dollars in reserves?

0:26:17Seems like a rich city problem.

0:26:19And you're acting like a poor city problem.

0:26:23It's just shameful.

0:26:25And all I can say is after thirty five years of protecting

0:26:28the city, it's just I almost beyond words

0:26:33i had to say, write these down.

0:26:34So i can remember them because that's

0:26:36how upset I am with with all of you

0:26:39that you would do this You'll hear from me again

0:26:43and you'll hear from my fellow retirees We will not go away

0:26:47and you should all be ashamed of yourselves

0:26:49for the shameful decision Thank you You next.

0:26:54Because individualising indeed should be able to imit

0:26:58and begin your time now, sir.

0:27:01Before I give my public comment, I just want to acknowledge i

0:27:07missed your name, sir.

0:27:08Former chief, thank you so much for the work you've done.

0:27:11And I'm with you.

0:27:12Actually, I would love to listen to you

0:27:15and collaborate and talk about the way

0:27:17that our city doesn't listen The city elected officials,

0:27:21the staff, the commissioners, i personally am a commissioner

0:27:24of human relations and i've been going through some

0:27:27really trying times throughout the past three meetings

0:27:30Three human relations meetings have been have been canceled

0:27:34unceremoniously without discussion

0:27:36And the Human Relations Commission at least the months

0:27:39that I was showing the few months I one thing coming up

0:27:42was that people were not being heard.

0:27:44There was an equity, whether they were seniors,

0:27:46whether they're young people, whether they're

0:27:48I mean, partly and young people vote in our city.

0:27:51I wonder why.

0:27:52And i was trying to address that.

0:27:53I was even trying to address, A.J., whether I don't want

0:27:56to talk about how about like pro love and pro Conexion

0:28:00but that, you know, those those discussions

0:28:02I shut down even discussions of how

0:28:03the police can make us safer City that got that got

0:28:07shut down.

0:28:08And at this point, there's so much censorship.

0:28:10I I mean, I guess we could do a freedom of Information Act

0:28:13and find out if there's collusion

0:28:15because these meetings are being canceled.

0:28:16These human relations meetings are being canceled.

0:28:18Without discussion.

0:28:19And how that possible without some sort of coordinated,

0:28:22secret, coordinated discussion that's violating the Brown Act.

0:28:25I mean, how could they not be a public discussion consistently

0:28:29council over and over again, human relations meetings,

0:28:31which the Human Relations Commission by the way,

0:28:34to the public.

0:28:34It's not even to the council the public,

0:28:36you guys, the human relations Commission

0:28:38deals with getting rid of segregation

0:28:41inequity, injustice, and violence against people.

0:28:44That's what the Human Relations Commission is about.

0:28:46Guys, it monitors the police and monitors the council

0:28:49and monitors the council the city staff,

0:28:51for their bias and discriminative practices.

0:28:55Now, I'm learning that you can discriminate

0:28:57being black and Asian.

0:28:58You could you don't.

0:28:59Just because you're white doesn't mean you're you

0:29:01just I mean, you could be discriminatory in any way.

0:29:03The discrimination comes from not being open to ideas,

0:29:06not being open to different ways that your way is the only way

0:29:09and that is a form of inequity.

0:29:11To not listen to other ideas and not even be

0:29:14able to respond to other ideas.

0:29:16In fact, beyond that, to shut down

0:29:18the conversation around ideas.

0:29:20That's then epitome of supremacy right there.

0:29:23And it's not supremacy of race or color or religion.

0:29:26It's a supremacy of thinking And by the way,

0:29:29the thinking is I'd be great because i've heard directly

0:29:31from the horse's mouth, from elected officials, city staff,

0:29:34they're unwell, that they don't sleep well

0:29:35They have autoimmune diseases.

0:29:37I mean, i'm coming from a compassionate place.

0:29:38If you're not doing well, let's talk about how to get healthier

0:29:41How many people in the city staff

0:29:43go to Human Human Resources meditations or health things?

0:29:47Don't people don't watch those things.

0:29:49So, like, how is how is our decision makers not practicing

0:29:52human relations themselves?

0:29:54And shutting down Human Relations Commission meetings?

0:29:57My invitation everybody in the public is let's

0:29:59come together around this.

0:30:00If they're shutting human Relations Commission,

0:30:02they're shutting out everything is you.

0:30:06Our next speaker is Patricia dehra.

0:30:09Patricia, you should be able to I'm

0:30:10meeting begin your time now.

0:30:14Hello, there you go ahead.

0:30:16OK, good.

0:30:18I am.

0:30:18I really just want to thank our historical society president,

0:30:28Mr. Weinstein, for acknowledging the fact that we are honoring

0:30:35a member of this community Chris Tredway,

0:30:41and he it's an honor for me to be able to add to his comments

0:30:48and I am just elated to have this opportunity to express

0:30:55to my friend Chris tredway and his family of how much

0:31:02the St. Peter Sami church family and the city

0:31:06of Elsa Redl Dr. Martin Luther King, Junior celebration.

0:31:10Appreciate his comment Tribulations over the years

0:31:16I am happy that to say that the West Contra

0:31:21costa times no paper was one of our only communication avenues

0:31:30starting from the early 90's nineties when the MLK was

0:31:37celebrate the MLK celebration was born

0:31:42in the city of Elstree, and I understand

0:31:46that he's El And we just want to say to him

0:31:51and his family thank you so when we were first organized,

0:31:57the only person we had was Chris, Chris and today

0:32:03we are thirty three years old and we will never

0:32:07forget what he has done for this entire contra

0:32:12Costa County community.

0:32:14And again, i just want to say thank

0:32:18you, Mr. Chris, for all that you have done for us in this city.

0:32:25Of El Serino.

0:32:26Thank you Campath my next because John Stajcic, John,

0:32:33you should be able to meet him, begin your time now.

0:32:36Yeah, I don't think anybody more deserving of a city

0:32:40council a proclamation.

0:32:42And Chris Tredway, and he's done so much for the city

0:32:46of El Cerrito over the years.

0:32:47In the news media actually reporting interesting stories

0:32:51and always emphasizing the positive and not the negative.

0:32:56And he could easily be called mr. Sariel Yeah, i next because

0:33:05of in Mitchell s I mean, I am Anybots

0:33:14you because you are using an outdated version of Zoome.

0:33:17If you would like to try calling back you can,

0:33:20you can try calling in by phone on the phone number

0:33:23on the first page of the agenda.

0:33:25But I cannot give you permission to speak at this time.

0:33:29I will go to our next speaker which is Steve Bernini,

0:33:34davis should be able to unmuted begin your time now

0:33:41Good evening, Mayor.

0:33:42Council members I come to you as a little bit different.

0:33:47I have the background is a public safety employee

0:33:50a retired lieutenant, but I also come to you

0:33:53as a family that was born and raised in the city of Elzbieta

0:33:59My grandparents fled italy and Mussolini in Portland

0:34:05and built their homes in El Cerrito.

0:34:07The same family went to work for the city of El Swedo

0:34:10the fire department volunteers throughout the years

0:34:15spent the better part of their lives

0:34:16attached to that community.

0:34:18That was one of the reasons why i decided to work there

0:34:21to give back to that community Welcome

0:34:23my parents, grandparents.

0:34:26And during that time i had the opportunity

0:34:27to leave for other police departments that made more

0:34:30money, had better facilities The building wasn't in shambles,

0:34:35but and decided to stay because I was dedicated

0:34:39to this community in turn, i was part

0:34:42of the Laredo Police Association as president and vice

0:34:46president.

0:34:47The Public Safety Management Association

0:34:48is present Vice President during those times

0:34:51negotiated several contracts It seems every time I went

0:34:55to negotiate a contract to try and work on medical retirement

0:34:59Karen Pinkos and other city represented, stood up and said,

0:35:02we're not doing medical retirement.

0:35:04You have the opportunity to buy in to the city medical plan

0:35:07As a retiree.

0:35:10And that was touted year over year renegotiation

0:35:13after every negotiation And we accepted that we accepted less

0:35:18money for a community that we thought was deserving that

0:35:22needed the police, our fire department personnel that they

0:35:25had and that we can make a difference Many of us

0:35:29retired with the understanding that we could buy

0:35:31and the city medical plan Our retiree health savings

0:35:37account letters indicated our rates were tied to what

0:35:42the current employee rates were to have this change dropped

0:35:46on us on a Tuesday after the open enrollment

0:35:50windows had closed for a lot of other medical options.

0:35:54Was disheartening.

0:35:56I think it was calculated and that's

0:35:58the part that's shameful.

0:36:00People had options to do other things,

0:36:02but you shut a door on it.

0:36:05We probably wouldn't have been notified

0:36:07if we hadn't have found out about it a little

0:36:09earlier than anticipated.

0:36:12So the gross negligence for me is the fact that the retirees

0:36:16contractually obligated Nego did a benefit to have that turned

0:36:23in the door shut at a time when we couldn't get

0:36:26into other medical options And with two

0:36:29months for implementation, i think is wrong.

0:36:32I think that's totally wrong.

0:36:33That's the part that's that's shameful.

0:36:35That's treating the employees well.

0:36:38That's not treating the employees who dedicated

0:36:40their life of service to that community

0:36:42in a way that was the intent.

0:36:44And written negotiated contract benefit we have.

0:36:48Thank you Thank you.

0:36:51And then it looks like Evelin may have called back in.

0:36:55So Evelin can you select staff six to yourself

0:37:02Are you there the evening Yeah, we

0:37:04can hear you can go ahead and begin Good evening, community.

0:37:09My name is actually evelyn Janene.

0:37:13Mitchell and I am your poet laureate.

0:37:18And i bring you greetings in the name of peace However,

0:37:24I am calling this evening our speaking this evening

0:37:31in regards to my other position that i hold,

0:37:35which is super intended of Sunday's school at St..

0:37:39Peter c.M.A. Church and the Sunday

0:37:44School Department at St..

0:37:45Peter's is hosting our very first block party

0:37:52and we are encouraging unity within our community

0:37:58This block party will be held November

0:38:0213th at St. Peter samey Church.

0:38:07It will be a covid compliant event.

0:38:11We will be outdoors.

0:38:13We plan to have fun listen to music

0:38:17get information have conversation

0:38:21and dance to the music.

0:38:25So I am welcoming all to come to the block party that Saint

0:38:33Peter the church is hosting november 13th from 12:00 p.m.

0:38:41to four p.m. at St..

0:38:43Peter s.M Church which is located

0:38:46at fifty three twenty four cypress Avenue in El Cerrillo.

0:38:53All are welcome to have a good time and peace Thank you You

0:39:01man.

0:39:01That does conclude I request to speak at this time.

0:39:05Thank you all I'm going to be moving

0:39:08to the adoption of the consent calendar

0:39:10and tell that I'm going to go through each item

0:39:12and if anyone has a brief comment to me or to pull up,

0:39:16please let me know And this item number five, the adoption

0:39:23of our consent calendar and item on five

0:39:27days, the approval of Yes.

0:39:29Is there handled?

0:39:30I see a hand on it now.

0:39:31OK, the approval of minutes item five B is the shelter in place.

0:39:38Education Day problem getting ready for earthquake item c

0:39:44is united against hate Week and we have a new version of that

0:39:49in our supplemental materials because just in speaking

0:39:53with our clerk, we already are a member of the United

0:39:56against a group I thought that should

0:39:59be in the resolution We're asking people, yes, thank you.

0:40:03Council member Rubberneck and I think what we just heard about

0:40:07and going to Saint Saint peters is part of the process

0:40:13Let's fight against hate.

0:40:16Item five d is a proclamation recognizing

0:40:19Chris Tredway I just want to say a couple of words

0:40:23at this moment.

0:40:24Moment.

0:40:24For thirty five years, of service and journalism

0:40:28in the East Bay if you read if you read the resolution as long

0:40:33because he's done a lot of things

0:40:35But what's important to also read,

0:40:37though, is that Chris is of, by and for el Cerrito

0:40:42and he's going through a serious health issue now.

0:40:45We just wish him the best of luck.

0:40:48But what I would really like to do is read this last now.

0:40:52Therefore, be it resolved section of the resolution

0:40:56because the city council of the city of Elstree

0:40:59does hereby salute Cristero dragway for his efforts,

0:41:03his writings over the past many decades

0:41:06that have commemorated our city, questioned us,

0:41:11our elected officials and educated our residents

0:41:14in ways that have made us proud to be ulcerations So,

0:41:17Chris, we're with you.

0:41:18God bless you.

0:41:20Anyone else like to make a comment?

0:41:22Yes.

0:41:23Council member Abels Yes, I've actually known the Tredway

0:41:29family for very long time.

0:41:34And I know them in a way that may

0:41:35be different than anyone else.

0:41:38I've known them as a family at Harding Elementary school,

0:41:44that where my kids also attended and some of the same time

0:41:50and so our kids grew up together Their son,

0:41:55Henry, and and like kids and i spent many hours

0:42:02on PTA with his wife, Diana.

0:42:05And I can remember Chris being very active

0:42:09in the various parent school projects

0:42:16that we did over the years out especially

0:42:20out on the playground.

0:42:21I was kind of where we did most things

0:42:24and so i remember all of those things

0:42:30And then I know him also as a reporter where he I think

0:42:35a fantastic job of reporting the news in a way that was there

0:42:42And much appreciated I think, by the community

0:42:47for a very long time.

0:42:50And and then later he he became more active

0:42:55in some of our city programs or projects

0:43:02And he he is just very he's just had a very rounded in complete,

0:43:10I would say dedication to this community.

0:43:15That is is something you don't always see.

0:43:22And it really has made a difference

0:43:25And so I want Chris to know that if he is listening.

0:43:32Thank you council member, and also anyone else Yes.

0:43:36Mayor Pro Tem.

0:43:37Thank you, Mayor.

0:43:39When I moved back to El Cerrito and we purchased a home here

0:43:42back in two thousand one I started subscribing to the West

0:43:49County Times and the El Camino Journal

0:43:51and I kept El Cerrito Journal until we lost our beat.

0:43:56Reporter So I was a faithful newspaper writer

0:44:01and believe in true journalism.

0:44:03Then.

0:44:04And with Chris, we got all that and then some

0:44:08So I'm grateful to his service here in El Cerrito.

0:44:12And West Contra Costa.

0:44:15I got to know him and other capacities as well.

0:44:20With his work with the electorate chamber

0:44:22and and the various things like the Historical Society So

0:44:28I know that I very much appreciate

0:44:31his love for history.

0:44:33And love for this community.

0:44:35And it shows with his his truth in journalism.

0:44:39And I'll never forget that.

0:44:41So, Chris, are sending you love and prayers and and will

0:44:48are grateful to your journalism and your experience

0:44:52and my old friend Mark Trapline, who

0:44:56worked for the berkeley Gazette and who

0:45:00had albany, Berkeley baked.

0:45:02And I know paul knew him as well.

0:45:05And there is a loss in b of journalism

0:45:10We're not getting that.

0:45:11So we're getting a lot of like parties and stuff

0:45:15going on that if we truly had a true journal like Chris Tredway

0:45:22back on the L'ESPRIT upbeat we would

0:45:24truly have the truth again.

0:45:26And you were Miss chris Tredway and the newspaper.

0:45:31So grateful to you.

0:45:33Thank you.

0:45:34Well said.

0:45:35Anyone else Yes.

0:45:38Come to my my alma matter.

0:45:42I did not know Mr. Tredway.

0:45:44I don't know him personally, but I have read many of his pieces

0:45:48over the last fifteen to years that I've lived in

0:45:52and it's really made a difference in my understanding

0:45:55of the community.

0:45:56So I just want to express my thanks for all the work is done

0:45:59and i look forward to your continuing improvement

0:46:04in health if possible, and hopefully you

0:46:07know that you know that all the good things

0:46:09that you've done for Elstree know are not going unnoticed.

0:46:16Council member Grundig I'll throw in how important chris

0:46:21Tredway is as a historic envoy.

0:46:23We're talking a lot about his journalism, but the type

0:46:26of history that he's preserving, not

0:46:27only just Cerita, but for the entire east Bay

0:46:31and sometimes silly.

0:46:32Sometimes it's questionable but it's always fascinating.

0:46:36And I really appreciate that someone who

0:46:38brings history alive Thank you.

0:46:42We'll move on with the calendar items now.

0:46:45Item five is an authorized city council

0:46:48on the city advisory body meetings

0:46:50to be held via teleconference for the next month.

0:46:54And finally, item five is the extension

0:46:57of the contract abandoned vehicle abatement program.

0:47:00Do I hear any objections or needing

0:47:02to pull the item going non?

0:47:06Do I have motion to move the concept

0:47:09Move, move by council member.

0:47:11Oh, sorry.

0:47:12I was going to say council member Abels

0:47:14and moved it and council member Loti almost

0:47:17Can we have a roll call please?

0:47:20You Fidele I have.

0:47:23Can by council member I council member Mutemath council member,

0:47:29redneck i motion carries.

0:47:32Thank you Thank you and good luck.

0:47:37We next move to presentations tonight

0:47:40and we have a update from Pacifics gas and Electric

0:47:44Jenny, from the previous meeting they have with us

0:47:47about the outages and also Sarino, maybe some

0:47:51concludes as to what's gone wrong

0:47:53and what's being done to get us back to normal.

0:47:58And what do we have Is it Darran or is where will Good evening.

0:48:06Hi.

0:48:06My name is Kyoko.

0:48:07Hey, I'm a local government affairs rep.

0:48:12Come in and the local government affairs

0:48:15Pacific Gas and Electric covering contra Costa County.

0:48:18Thank you, Mayor and council members,

0:48:20for inviting us back to continue our year.

0:48:27Earlier this summer, my colleague Mark McGwire presents

0:48:29that on wildfire awareness.

0:48:31And today we'll report back to the city regarding Vincent

0:48:33power outages affecting Elstree, though I would like

0:48:35to introduce PG&E subject matter expert darren Klein,

0:48:38a senior manager for public affairs

0:48:39who will present today Thank you, Mr. Klein.

0:48:42Thank you for joining us.

0:48:44Good evening.

0:48:44Thank you for having us.

0:48:46As and Corica said, I am also the manager for the Bay Area

0:48:51local Government Affairs team.

0:48:54We have a group of folks that handle the Bay

0:48:57and we know that we have been running into these issues

0:49:00with what people have referred to as poll fires

0:49:04their shortages around the polls and what I want to

0:49:08and I know with the rain coming in,

0:49:10it is clearing the problem for this year

0:49:13in a pretty dramatic way.

0:49:14As long as keeps raining.

0:49:16But I would like to walk through a presentation that we have.

0:49:20I'm going to go ahead and share my screen right Thank you.

0:49:24As you should have access to share your screen Oh,

0:49:27it's it just popped up.

0:49:29OK, my computer's just running behind so i share There we go.

0:49:43And sorry, it started on page the wrong page

0:49:51So i have the wrong let me make sure that the right one was

0:49:59pulled up there.

0:50:01We sorry.

0:50:03We've had the same problem in Richmond.

0:50:04That was the one it got accidentally pulled up

0:50:12So here we go.

0:50:12This is for the City of Alshehri.

0:50:15We have done presentation ends in Richmond

0:50:18to their city council to talk about this issue.

0:50:20In particular, since this part of Contra Costa

0:50:24has seen more than its fair share of these issues.

0:50:29And I think on screen you're what we've put together

0:50:34on screen OK, and if it's yeah, I'm

0:50:39happy to share the presentation on your Yeah, I am.

0:50:44What did you did I guess.

0:50:47Why do we do that?

0:50:47I can pull it up for you here.

0:50:49Just give me one quick second So if you could go ahead

0:51:10and go to the next page.

0:51:13Just want to remind everyone you are a safety

0:51:16company wherever you are.

0:51:18Please make sure you have two exit routes

0:51:21If there is an earthquake, drop cover and hold and notify

0:51:23emergency service if you have any issues,

0:51:26you can go to the next page.

0:51:27I'm going to get into what is insulator

0:51:30washin Why are we here?

0:51:33And the whole issue is this insulator washin

0:51:37As you look at the pole right there what you are seeing,

0:51:43this is a crew washing the electric pole

0:51:45and there are cross arms with the transformer and then

0:51:49another cross arm and you see a little bulb on the top of that.

0:51:53That is the insulator that carries the power line

0:51:57And that insulator keeps the power line

0:52:00from from touching the pole, which if it would touch

0:52:05the pole, it would create a short in the line,

0:52:07would go out just like if you were

0:52:09in your house in the a circuit gets overloaded when what we

0:52:14have as an issue is contaminants can build up

0:52:19and they come in contact with those insulators.

0:52:22So when you have a usual time where there is rain,

0:52:28it washes off certain contaminants that can get on

0:52:31as insulators Unfortunately, with all the dry winters,

0:52:35drought conditions that contaminant has started

0:52:38to build up and we have run into a problem where because we have

0:52:44fog and other things come in and they

0:52:47moisturize the contaminants without washing them off,

0:52:51it creates an arc flash that creates a problem where you

0:52:56will have short on that line or you will have an actual pull

0:53:03fire happen with the cross as wooden poles get wet

0:53:07and insulators get gone around you run into this problem

0:53:13If you could go to the next page So what we have run into here

0:53:19in your area in particular, and I

0:53:21want to stress i have a map that shows you are not the only ones

0:53:25that suffer from this problem.

0:53:27The issue really comes down to contaminant

0:53:30build up where when you are near certain factories

0:53:34and certain Sure.

0:53:37Line issues where you get salt in the air

0:53:40and we have refinery issues that are between Richmond and El

0:53:44Cerrito those types of contaminants build up

0:53:49on to these insulators or the little squiggly line

0:53:54that you see above on top of contaminants

0:53:56build up the lack of heavy rainfall Now,

0:54:01i just want everyone to note that this year, until we had

0:54:06the rains we had the driest period in the Bay Area

0:54:11since nineteen seventy seven And so usually rain washes

0:54:18these contaminants off off the insulators

0:54:21and instead what has been happening when we don't get

0:54:24that rainfall is you have moisture

0:54:26and contaminants get together In other words, a light rain, fog,

0:54:31and then you have this ignition and this fire risk.

0:54:34Traditionally we wash these insulators.

0:54:39We have not been washing the insulators as much

0:54:41as we should have been because of the dry conditions

0:54:45that we've been getting.

0:54:46And it is create a greater risk So what we have done

0:54:50is moved in more pollwatchers and we have increased

0:54:54our amount of pole washing As you can see, time between rains

0:54:59is that increases You'll see that the possibility

0:55:03of ignition goes up.

0:55:05What we traditionally see in the area

0:55:08is that you'll get some issues in San Francisco

0:55:12and then we get some issues in richmond,

0:55:14then we get some issues that happened out in Monterey.

0:55:17That's similar issues have happened this year.

0:55:20And we realize we have to wash the polls

0:55:22more due to the changing environment Next page, please.

0:55:29So as I was talking about what is happening with the rainfall

0:55:33in El Cerrito, this is what we have

0:55:37had the the largest issue with.

0:55:40As I've told you, it's been the driest

0:55:42it's been There has been no there's

0:55:45been no rainfall in June, July, August,

0:55:48and coming into September, traditionally

0:55:52what we see is normal is this is what we're used to seeing.

0:55:56This is what we see is the departure from normal So as we

0:55:59looked at twenty eighteen and we looked at twenty nineteen

0:56:03we were predicting the same type of rainfall

0:56:06Even though you see this departure from normal,

0:56:09we still were predicting the same kind of lack of rain

0:56:12or we thought there would be some more rain.

0:56:14We were wrong Twenty, twenty.

0:56:16And that's what created a situation

0:56:18where we had several ignitions in Richmond and in El Cerrito.

0:56:25Now, one of the thing that we are doing a lot of things

0:56:27differently this year.

0:56:28So that we can track this problem

0:56:30and make sure that we're washing the Pollsmoor.

0:56:33And we also track ignitions so if you could

0:56:37go to the next slide as we're talking about this,

0:56:41this is where as we have seen this problem

0:56:45we're now committed to doing insulator washing, not

0:56:49just once each year.

0:56:50Right.

0:56:51We always plan to conduct insulator watching

0:56:53each year in dry years.

0:56:55We are going to increase the rate that we are washing polls

0:56:59even with the rains we've had, we are still

0:57:01washing cold in your community.

0:57:04Because we are not one hundred percent out of fire danger.

0:57:07The other thing that we do is we track every ignition so

0:57:13ignitions from wildfires what we track,

0:57:16but we also track the ignitions from these pole fires.

0:57:18So we're able to map where these are

0:57:21how they go through our system.

0:57:23And so that we can predict and start making changes where we

0:57:26are finding our problems is some of the insulators need

0:57:30to be updated as the insulators get updated

0:57:34over time and with bigger insulators that are larger

0:57:37and not as easy to create Those are flashes when they get wet

0:57:41And now when I say get wet, i mean

0:57:42with contaminants on there.

0:57:44It's oK for them.

0:57:45We want to get wet so they get washed off.

0:57:47But what i want to show here is that as we have looked

0:57:51at like as we have looked at this,

0:57:52there are six main areas where we get these poll fires.

0:57:58You are no it's city of Richmond.

0:58:02Alshehri.

0:58:03Is no one said san Leandro.

0:58:06Hayward is number two So what kind of happens You go from one

0:58:11to two, three doors down in Salinas Valley Salinas

0:58:14Valley has a lot of air contaminants due to the farming

0:58:18that goes on down there.

0:58:21When you get down into Fresno, kings County,

0:58:25that's where you run into the oil industry.

0:58:27And a lot of stuff that they do with pumping oil and moving

0:58:31things to barrels, to refineries in creates a lot of particulate

0:58:35that we see gets caught onto these insulators.

0:58:38That's what we need to wash off.

0:58:41That is what our goal is.

0:58:43There are other things that create our Flash's squirrels.

0:58:47Sometimes birds that will hit an insulator So

0:58:50it's not always this problem where insulator washing would

0:58:54eliminate the problems with a pole fire,

0:58:57but sometimes animal or other kind of debris

0:58:59will create a problem.

0:59:01The number one problem in El Cerrito, just so you know,

0:59:04is metallic balloons.

0:59:06A metallic balloon will get up and act the same way

0:59:08and create that short and an arc flash.

0:59:11So you'll see us put out press releases And if you could go

0:59:14to the next slide, you'll see us put out

0:59:16press releases around Valentine's Day graduation et

0:59:20cetera, saying, please don't get metallic balloons because they

0:59:23do create these problems.

0:59:25So in Contra Costa County, here, what we are targeting just

0:59:28so you know, is washing about a thousand electric power poles

0:59:32per crew per week We have six thousand electric power

0:59:36poles that are between your community

0:59:39and Richmond that are targeted circuits

0:59:42And we believe all of this work to get

0:59:45them all by November 15th.

0:59:47We are, like I said, as you see here, unless heavy rainfall

0:59:52occurs now, heavy rainfall has occurred,

0:59:55but we are still going through these areas

0:59:57because with the extended period of dryness,

1:00:01we're not sure that we're all of kind of really washed off.

1:00:05Well, So we are checking the poles

1:00:07in going through and doing all of our work

1:00:10through November 15th.

1:00:11You may be seeing some trucks go through the neighborhood

1:00:16that the next slide just so i'm sorry.

1:00:21OK, you might be seeing some some folks in the neighborhood

1:00:26going through because we have seen that the largest

1:00:30incident that we have is this area right here

1:00:33El Cerrito is in what we call the buffer zone.

1:00:36That's the purple and the purple and blue.

1:00:39The incident zone is the blue, but the purple area is is what

1:00:43we have seen is higher risk.

1:00:45So that's where we had made sure to go

1:00:48through actually before our presentation tonight.

1:00:51We have clean we have cleaned all of these areas.

1:00:53This is the number one area We've had

1:00:57a conversation with the city.

1:00:59Richman's about three weeks to go where we were

1:01:01in the process of getting through these areas

1:01:04about four weeks ago.

1:01:05We have gotten through those areas Next slide, please.

1:01:10And this is the final slide just want people

1:01:13to understand what's going on.

1:01:16A truck like this with water comes through

1:01:20There's a person that sprays the pole You might get some

1:01:24of the the gunk that is on insulators

1:01:28will come down onto the street into the gutter

1:01:30where it usually gets washed down into the storm drains.

1:01:34It will land on some cars.

1:01:36So if we do as we're cleaning, if we do get some on cars,

1:01:40we will put a car wash coupon there

1:01:43so people can get their cars cleaned.

1:01:45There are no chemicals used with the water.

1:01:47That's the nice thing here is is just straight water

1:01:50cleans these off.

1:01:52That's the way the insulators are made.

1:01:53So we just use water There's no chemicals.

1:01:56There's no dawn liquid deterred in.

1:01:59I think someone asked me one time it just straight

1:02:02water that cleans those off So that is our present

1:02:06this evening.

1:02:07If you want to go back and look at some of the map

1:02:08slides I know I jump through a few quickly

1:02:14but here to answer your questions I would say Nicarico

1:02:28and darren, thank thank you for coming

1:02:30back and explaining this to us.

1:02:34As council member.

1:02:35Avildsen has a question.

1:02:36Yes, You said that it's only clean water as though we don't

1:02:42need to worry about it, that is that clean water plus gunk,

1:02:49as you call it.

1:02:50Yeah, doesn't it go to the bay Well,

1:02:54the gunk is natural occurring stuff.

1:02:56That we already have.

1:02:58And so the amount of water that's used to clean off

1:03:00these insulators is not a huge amount of of concern

1:03:05to be concerned that the gunk, I think Well, ma'am, the the gunk

1:03:10is made up mostly of bird poop and other natural

1:03:15occurring things in the air.

1:03:17So there's not any chemicals outside of what

1:03:21you say, stuff like that.

1:03:23OK, thank you.

1:03:26Yes, Councilman rudnick, thank you, Mayor Welcome, PG&E.

1:03:33Appreciate you guys being here.

1:03:35I am in North Side Street resident, my colleague,

1:03:38the mayor pro Tem Quintel also is and to quote game of Thawne,

1:03:43a Game of Thrones The North remembers

1:03:47And it has been a very trying few months Not only I can speak

1:03:52from personal experience, but I'm

1:03:53hearing a lot from constituents also our firefighters.

1:03:58When we have these events and these polls are exploding,

1:04:02which is essentially what it is.

1:04:04They're have been some really significant safety

1:04:07risk for our personnel as well as Richmond Fire

1:04:10And of course, there's regular fire concerns.

1:04:13But these are things that we really i understand PG is

1:04:18a very large organized should.

1:04:20But the consistency and the just the sheer frequency

1:04:26and the persistence of this issues to I

1:04:29know in my neighborhood who has generators are not

1:04:32And it's only because here that it's really

1:04:35only because of GONK when I don't see any

1:04:39of the other cities around us having gonk in the same way

1:04:44I know that Berkeley Oakland, we're

1:04:46not seeing the same issues The significance that we're

1:04:48seeing here in Ossorio.

1:04:50Also on that slide you have is your first city of Richmond

1:04:53being the priority and then you have second as San Leandro

1:04:56hayward.

1:04:57It really would have been nice if El Cerrito was added to that

1:05:00because we are sharing the same powergrid I had a power

1:05:05outage at one that was twenty two hours I

1:05:08have someone in my house who uses a medical device that

1:05:10needs power.

1:05:12These are real issues and i understand the rates

1:05:15that we are paying for this and it's really sad that whenever

1:05:19it's raining my whole neighborhood

1:05:20is nervous that we're going to lose power

1:05:23and we don't know when it's coming back.

1:05:25And I'm getting a lot again, I've heard of a pet fish that

1:05:29died because the because the power was out

1:05:33and it couldn't run the pump.

1:05:34And this poor five year old girl lost her fish.

1:05:37So these other silly But it's also not because we really

1:05:44power is critical for us and it's it's kind of a shame

1:05:48that it's come to this that I can think of a half dozen power

1:05:53outages in there long We'll have 16 hour

1:05:57power Sixteen hours, eight hours and it's it

1:06:02makes me really sad.

1:06:04So i just need to be able to share

1:06:08So what I'm hearing i'm happy to give you more specific stories.

1:06:12I had one neighborhood enough power for over two days.

1:06:14So when you look at bart food that's been lost it's a lot.

1:06:22So I I understand your concerns.

1:06:25This is the first year that we have experienced

1:06:28these kind of pole fires and el Cerrito in Richmond

1:06:32are not alone.

1:06:33When I showed you that map, I wasn't trying to rank anybody

1:06:37first, second, third or fourth.

1:06:39I was actually trying to just point out zones where we have

1:06:42had these issues We have had more outages actually

1:06:48down in the Salinas monterey area

1:06:50that we are very embarrassed about.

1:06:53Where we've run into the same issues that you have

1:06:56have run into here in Richmond.

1:06:57And Alfredo Oakland and Berkeley.

1:06:59There has been i can't explain why there is such a difference

1:07:05but it is there are different micro climates that we have

1:07:09run into where we have seen different things happen

1:07:12in these areas.

1:07:14The pull fire issue is something that popped out today by popped

1:07:18out in the last few months.

1:07:19And that's what we're trying to address this evening with

1:07:23or trying to address this these months so

1:07:26that we can hopefully provide a better situation

1:07:31for your constituents.

1:07:34I don't like the fact that we weren't watching polls

1:07:38as much as we That's something that we

1:07:41learned in this process.

1:07:42We have also changed the process so that hopefully people

1:07:45can have more reliable electricity

1:07:48and i've I have heard the stories of your community

1:07:53and all the other community I, I wish

1:07:57I had better answers for you being without power

1:08:01for six hours doesn't work.

1:08:04We also went and had program that it

1:08:07was called enhanced Power.

1:08:09Shuta where we were shutting off circuits

1:08:12and kept them off longer so that we could make sure that they

1:08:15didn't spark a fire And what we hope

1:08:17to do with our new ignition control center

1:08:21is match every single fire ignition no matter what it is.

1:08:26Analyze why it happened, be able to map it.

1:08:29And that's why we have what is called

1:08:30our hauk, which is a hazardous awareness warning center.

1:08:34And they're taking all that information in

1:08:36so that we can better predict as we go forward where we might

1:08:40have some of those problems.

1:08:42So I can say to you, we're going to do a better job.

1:08:45I hope that you all remember what i've said this evening.

1:08:48And hold us accountable for that.

1:08:51I have been promised from everyone

1:08:53that works at PG&E that we're going to do a better job this.

1:08:56And I hope with our meteoroid which has gotten so much bolder

1:09:00and better that we will be able to see these dry patterns more

1:09:04succinctly and be able to wash polls four times a year

1:09:07if that's what we need to do.

1:09:09And and make sure we bring the right resources

1:09:11to the right problem and then question,

1:09:14I threw a lot of comments at.

1:09:15The question I have is that is there

1:09:17anything about the infrastructure itself?

1:09:22That it's different from the structure and other places?

1:09:25Is there any doubt about how our grid is laid out?

1:09:28That's different from other places?

1:09:30No, there isn't And I do appreciate that question.

1:09:33We get that question a lot And that's

1:09:36one of the reasons we wanted to point out

1:09:37that the issue that you are seeing with the Pole fires

1:09:41is in certain areas that happen at certain times of the year.

1:09:47The we do replace Poles every year,

1:09:51so we update poles every year.

1:09:52And the insulators that are on top of those poles, those all

1:09:55get updated every year.

1:09:57So the poles that we are seeing, some of these issues with

1:10:00have some of the older insulators.

1:10:01So we're going to be replacing those insulators.

1:10:04But that's all over our system.

1:10:06The insulators everybody, you know,

1:10:08we start moving in newer technology

1:10:11that's all done everywhere.

1:10:13The same way.

1:10:14So what we're seeing here is the extreme dryness, the issues

1:10:19with air particulate and what is in the air

1:10:24and how it comes across your section of West contra Costa

1:10:29Thank you.

1:10:30Appreciate your time.

1:10:32It's a member of the Yaama Thank you, Mayor,

1:10:36and thank you for coming to speak with us this evening.

1:10:40And this is really interesting I did not know that there was

1:10:44a problem that housing poor fires

1:10:48So I have a question which I did pose to your colleague

1:10:53before about the longer term view So we do have pretty old

1:11:00and I would say janki infrastructure for our polls

1:11:03here and elsewhere.

1:11:04I don't know if it's junkier than other places,

1:11:07but it's pretty old.

1:11:09I do see a lot of glass insulated

1:11:12really old ones still round.

1:11:15If you're not using Maybe they're just stuck there

1:11:18but it just is not up to the infrastructure here.

1:11:23So i know that there was some funding passed

1:11:26to start to underground power poles in high fire danger areas

1:11:31and we do have that urban wildland interface here at L

1:11:35And I was wondering if you had any information on the timing

1:11:39and sort of the selection process for areas

1:11:42that we'll get underground.

1:11:44Ultimately, the more high tech infrastructure

1:11:48like that real real infrastructure investments will

1:11:51reduce the cost of things like having to wash our poles twice

1:11:56or four times or six times a year.

1:11:58Or being concerned about community and particulates

1:12:03from the refinery or whatever it is that we're dealing with.

1:12:06So I was wondering if you had any updated information for us

1:12:10on when we could hope to see some infrastructure like that,

1:12:14something else areto so the infrastructure

1:12:18that ulcerate has, you have some of the most up to date

1:12:21equipment we have just been doing upgrades to El Cerrito

1:12:24substation We call it El Cerrito All of those transport

1:12:29and everything or some of the latest technology

1:12:31that that PG&E has the when you go around

1:12:35and you might see some glass insulators on a pole,

1:12:38if an insulator is doing its job,

1:12:40then we will replace that as we go through the lifecycle

1:12:44of those products.

1:12:45And then you can drive through Oakland,

1:12:47you can drive through san Francisco, Marin,

1:12:49and you'll see the same kind of situation

1:12:51as we switch out insulators and try to bring the resources that

1:12:54are needed so that we can keep rates affordable for so

1:13:01that you we're constantly weighing those two

1:13:05and that's why your substation has been updated

1:13:09with a lot of banks because you have had growth in we've had

1:13:12to increase capacity but we've also

1:13:14had to increase reliability And that's what

1:13:16you got at that substation.

1:13:18So you do have a lot of that latest kind of technology

1:13:21And when it comes to underground right now,

1:13:24we are putting together our case to underground 10

1:13:26thousand miles.

1:13:28That case has to go to cPK and our regulator

1:13:31has to look at that case and has to approve it.

1:13:34So I don't know any of the specifics

1:13:39when it comes to what that underground would be

1:13:41or where it would happen.

1:13:43I do know that it will go into the high fire threat district's

1:13:47I do know that where you have wildfire interfacing

1:13:51areas with what we could call tier one areas which don't have

1:13:55wildfire risk you will have some underground in those tier one

1:13:59areas as they come up against those high fire threat

1:14:02areas of we will be looking at doing our best to try

1:14:07to start that underground in here

1:14:09within the next year or two.

1:14:11And we are having reaching out to all of our cities

1:14:14to get feedback on what they think about underground Now,

1:14:17what what concerns you have in the community

1:14:20we will be having coming back and having these conversations

1:14:23about underground and letting you know

1:14:25where we are in the process.

1:14:26As we go through the process.

1:14:28So my my commitment to to you and your city council

1:14:33is to come back and give an update on where we are

1:14:35with underground as it gets filed with our regulator

1:14:39and go through all of those steps Thank you very much.

1:14:45Council member wilson.

1:14:47Yes, I just have a question related to what was just said.

1:14:50The underground on the surface sounds like a fantastic idea.

1:14:58In assorted However, when you would if you went underground

1:15:04you would not underground one's personal property, say,

1:15:09a house or something to the house,

1:15:13rather Are you would you would would you then

1:15:17be expecting the property owner to undergo

1:15:22underground to pay the underground cost

1:15:26from the street to the house?

1:15:29So when we talk about underground

1:15:32and we're talking about underground in our distribution

1:15:34lines that go to service So we have a we

1:15:37have our transmitter in lines.

1:15:39We have our distribution lines, and then we

1:15:40have service lines Those service lines

1:15:43have not proven to be a risk.

1:15:45So we wouldn't be underground long service lines

1:15:47if somebody would like their service line underground

1:15:50from a distribution circuit that would be at their cost

1:15:56But that's because the service lines don't have that risk.

1:15:59And and that has been the way our regulator

1:16:02has wanted to do that.

1:16:03The reason that our CEO has been talking about underground 10000

1:16:07miles distribution line is we know that our regulator has

1:16:10said we want to look at affordability in underground

1:16:13is usually ten times more expensive.

1:16:16Than overground But we believe that with the savings

1:16:20like council member Mohtarma talked about,

1:16:23and with economies of scale, that we can

1:16:26underground for more miles at a cheaper rate

1:16:28And that's the case.

1:16:29We're trying to put together to put in front of our regulator

1:16:32to say that we can keep this affordable for us

1:16:35to be able to do this plan.

1:16:36We're going to have to come back to you all

1:16:38and ask for your support and say hey,

1:16:40we think we can do this in your community.

1:16:42And, you know, let's convince the regulator.

1:16:44So I would be asking for support as we

1:16:46talk to you about underground throughout the system.

1:16:49It is a very different way of looking

1:16:52at how power lines are done.

1:16:54Nobody has done any kind of underground thing

1:16:56on this scale.

1:16:57So it's going to be a continuous conversation

1:16:59I wish I had specific details.

1:17:01Council member wilson.

1:17:03I just don't.

1:17:04We're in the process of creating the case because

1:17:06with the wildfire risk, we carry it just

1:17:09seems to make sense right now.

1:17:10To underground this distribution circuit Would that include

1:17:13such things Looking at the power lines that come down

1:17:19the hill, the massive ones that go to the power station

1:17:23to those we're looking at transmission lines

1:17:26and distribution lines, the greatest risk

1:17:29that we have right now, we believe within the distribution

1:17:32lines we will be looking at underground

1:17:34in transmission lines and in some cases

1:17:36it does make sense to do that.

1:17:38And we are looking at that.

1:17:39I can't promise that, like the transmission

1:17:42line is not part of the ten thousand miles

1:17:44we have to get underground it.

1:17:46But yes, we are looking at some of those large wires come

1:17:51over the hill, so to speak.

1:17:52As to what can we do to make sure that they are

1:17:54safer before we underground.

1:17:56Those, though, council member Avildsen I

1:17:58just want you to know we are hardening

1:18:00those transmission lines.

1:18:02We're making sure that they are covered what is called

1:18:04covered conductor So there's extra coverings on those wires

1:18:08to make sure that we don't have things

1:18:11that could spark a wildfire or anything like that.

1:18:13So we do have a program on those lines

1:18:15to to make sure that those are hardened

1:18:17and we're going to continue to harden

1:18:19those and then figure out if some of those

1:18:20should be underground.

1:18:22But you're going to see some of those lines

1:18:24underground in the in the Bay Area.

1:18:26I'm just not And those are called transmissions Those

1:18:30are the transmission lines.

1:18:31Yes, ma'am.

1:18:32Those are the ones that take big power

1:18:34and move it across the state.

1:18:37And then the distribution lines of the ones

1:18:39in your neighborhood that come from the substation like El

1:18:41Cerrito, that come from that substate And you have

1:18:44a big significant substation in El Cerrito It brings

1:18:48in your transmission and then it actually feeds other substation

1:18:51options to do distribution So it's a very

1:18:54important substation to us.

1:18:55You all have worked well with us as we've

1:18:58made improvements there.

1:18:59So we appreciate that.

1:19:00And, you know, we hope to continue our partnership

1:19:06that that i will pay their decision on I was just going

1:19:20to say the beauty of Chris Tredway

1:19:23is that if he was still writing for the West county Times,

1:19:26this would be an article in the paper and our citizens,

1:19:30our residents would know that this is a local issue.

1:19:32So that's the importance of journalism that has gone away.

1:19:36But my what my first point, Daryn, is that that undergrad

1:19:42effort that you're talking about, if I'm correct

1:19:45and I read the press release correct,

1:19:46it's a billion dollar promise that PG&E has given to us,

1:19:49right?

1:19:50Yes, sir.

1:19:51It's probably not.

1:19:52Yeah, so we look forward to communicating

1:19:56back with us in any way we can to make that happen.

1:19:59We have a lot of streets like Richmond

1:20:01that need to be repaired and we'd

1:20:04like to coordinate all that.

1:20:05So that we have this kind of conflict

1:20:08among our community when this happens.

1:20:10So thank you for that.

1:20:11My other questions about GONK and councilman baramati,

1:20:17I'm kind of hit on it.

1:20:20I was wondering Richmond elsewheres,

1:20:22no one in the state.

1:20:23Is it because of the refineries It's

1:20:25not number one in the state.

1:20:27It was just marked that way on the map

1:20:29to say there are six areas that we're concerned about.

1:20:32We have had more problems in Salinas

1:20:35because of the dirt that gets kicked up from farm equipment,

1:20:39ag equipment, and stuff like that where the gunk has been

1:20:41much worse The gunk that we have found

1:20:46is salt coming off of the bay in the air.

1:20:50That salt is part of the gunk and creates

1:20:54a little bit bigger problem.

1:20:56Now, we didn't have this problem in prior years.

1:21:00To this to this dramatic extent that we've had with the longer

1:21:04outages and everything this year seem to be well,

1:21:10a kind way to say special This year

1:21:14we did not realize with how dry it was that it was creating

1:21:19such a problem and what happens with the salt and all

1:21:25of that stuff is when a fog comes through that acts

1:21:29like a sponge.

1:21:30So usually it gets wet enough that the gunk

1:21:33falls off of an insulator because they're

1:21:35bell shaped here.

1:21:37This gunk just wasn't getting enough moisture

1:21:39because it was so dry that it was like a sponge

1:21:43that created kind of an electric circuit that went

1:21:46around the insulator, hit the pole,

1:21:49and then there was an arc flash and and now this arc flash can

1:21:54happen if a squirrel or a bird flies up against the insulator

1:21:57and part of the bird hits the pole

1:22:01and part the bird hits the wire, that also creates an arc flash.

1:22:04And you'll have an outage.

1:22:06And we've had outages where we found like a dead bird

1:22:09at the bottom of the pole and we realized

1:22:10that's what created the outage.

1:22:14I'm not saying that's the whole reason why

1:22:16this happened was the birds.

1:22:17This was the gonk, and that is just made up

1:22:21in the salt we believe is what makes it a little bit more

1:22:24acute.

1:22:26And that's what we've been looking at and

1:22:28and washing more So we will stay in touch.

1:22:30Are there any other questions or comments before we

1:22:33move on Nicarico?

1:22:36Daryn, thank you very much for coming.

1:22:38We expect to keep this relationship strong.

1:22:41Oh, you got mayor.

1:22:43Thank you.

1:22:44Thank you very much.

1:22:49Want to move on now to public hearings.

1:22:51And we start with the fire hazard

1:22:53Our continuous fire hazard abatement process

1:22:57here in El Sarino, which is somewhat similar themes going

1:23:01through all the things that we talk about

1:23:03and we're going to be adopting a resolution declaring weeds

1:23:07and rubbish litter on certain real properties, a problem

1:23:12And then we may be we will be conducting a public hearing,

1:23:15possibly upon conclusion, adopt a resolution ordering over

1:23:22overridingly objections by the property owner

1:23:24if he or she is here Chief Peconic can we hear from you,

1:23:29please?

1:23:30Most certainly.

1:23:31Good evening, Mayor and Councilman members.

1:23:35Tonight's our theme tonight is something you have seen already

1:23:40a few times this summer.

1:23:43It's dealing with the fire hazard abatement program

1:23:46As you're aware, this was design and a number

1:23:49back in a number of years ago, back

1:23:51in I believe, nineteen ninety three in an effort

1:23:55to reduce the fire hazards on a large number

1:23:58of the public properties within the city.

1:24:03Tonight, we're here to, as you stated,

1:24:07to adopt a resolution declaring the rubbish in particular, one

1:24:13property as a as a fire hazard.

1:24:17And if need be or and then to conduct a a public hearing

1:24:22and potentially adopt a resolution overriding

1:24:27any objections to it, again, this

1:24:31is as I said, this is a continuing present that we keep

1:24:37coming back to the council as you know, and may

1:24:41of every year, sometimes a little bit earlier,

1:24:43we do a citywide inspector of all the properties this year.

1:24:48We began it on May 10th.

1:24:51And went and basically inspect a almost all the properties

1:24:57and also any complaints that we've

1:24:59got over the last few months.

1:25:02We've come back to you with the same request

1:25:05to adopt different resolution And those properties

1:25:08have been abated and or were cleared by the property

1:25:12owners for tonight.

1:25:14We're coming for just one property.

1:25:17This was a complaint that was that

1:25:20was I was called or emailed in to the fire department We did

1:25:26do the inspection and we have done

1:25:29the appropriate notifications to this property property

1:25:33is located at twenty five or seven Our Avenue which is just

1:25:40adjacent to the task of our park right

1:25:44on the border of the very high fire severity zone.

1:25:48In an area that has numerous trees of various types

1:25:54And while it's on the borderline,

1:25:55it definitely is in a in a high fire danger area

1:25:59for notifications have been made upon the city council dropping

1:26:06its resolution The property owner will have

1:26:09between November 8th November 19th to abate the property

1:26:15on their own, of which, if it hasn't been done,

1:26:18the city will go in and do the forced abatement

1:26:21and then we will be back in December for a costarring

1:26:27for the council to do that.

1:26:29Ah, goal, of course, is that the property owner will take care

1:26:34of this on their own It's my understanding

1:26:37they have tried today to make some contact

1:26:40with the fire department.

1:26:42I have not got an update on it.

1:26:44But again, if we can get the property owner to mitigate

1:26:47this, that would be great.

1:26:49As far as how we go that's the end of my report.

1:26:54I am available for questions not then.

1:26:58It's it's back to you then to adopt action Any questions

1:27:05from the council chief?

1:27:09You're saying they reached out today to talk I

1:27:13it's my understanding Well, it was basically

1:27:16it was third party that they were trying

1:27:18that the property owner was trying to get

1:27:21a hold of the fire department.

1:27:23Not like I said, it was third party and info friend

1:27:27of a friend I'm hoping, you know, if that is the truth,

1:27:31I'm hoping they are in the public tonight

1:27:34to make a statement And as I said,

1:27:38once we were here to make the declaration,

1:27:41if the property owner does abate property themselves,

1:27:45then there will be no additional, no additional cost

1:27:49to them or or any reason to come back for you to do a cost

1:27:54sharing OK, any further questions,

1:28:00do I have a motion to approve the resolution

1:28:02declaring the property Twenty five or seven

1:28:05Alvar under consideration.

1:28:07It's moved by council member Avildsen

1:28:10and seconded by council member Mohtarma Can

1:28:14we have a roll call?

1:28:17Fidele.

1:28:17I potemkin till i can't remember Eagleson

1:28:22I can't remember Mohtarma.

1:28:25I can't remember.

1:28:26I think I motion carries Thank you at this time.

1:28:31The members of the public who wish to provide public comment

1:28:34for this item should use the raised hand feature

1:28:37to request to speak City clerk can we proceed I

1:28:45do not have any hands requested to speak on this public there.

1:28:48OK, so maybe they didn't hear about this then.

1:28:52Can we have a motion to close the public hearing

1:28:55motion to close Ms. Motion by a council member?

1:28:59Rudnick, and seconded by council member Abels Can

1:29:02we have a roll-call vote on this Fidele I potemkin

1:29:06till I can remember Apison.

1:29:09I can't remember angioma.

1:29:12I can't remember redneck.

1:29:14I carries Thank you.

1:29:17And from your packet can do I have

1:29:19a motion to approve the resolution

1:29:20overridingly objections.

1:29:25Yes.

1:29:25Council member able son i.

1:29:28I'm sorry.

1:29:28I'm move seconded.

1:29:32Thank you.

1:29:34Rudnick.

1:29:35Maybe i have a roll call vote on the split man Fidele.

1:29:39I may have attempted to buy council member Abels

1:29:43in I can't remember my gMA.

1:29:46I can't remember redneck.

1:29:48I motion carries Thank you.

1:29:51Thank you Chief.

1:29:52Thank you.

1:29:53Appreciate all the effort all year long.

1:29:56As we hear it's not just the three month it

1:29:58it's all year long.

1:30:01Yes, it and this is the most significant

1:30:04we do to educate and prep our residents here

1:30:07and also so we really appreciate that.

1:30:10You're most welcome.

1:30:11Thank you.

1:30:13I'm going to move on to accessory dwelling unit

1:30:17regulations and another public hearing

1:30:22that we will have to do on updating our ad.

1:30:25You ordinance may we have a report from our staff.

1:30:33Sean Moss, please.

1:30:36Yes, thank you.

1:30:39Mayor Fidele council members So our assistant planner Diego

1:30:46Romero and I will will jointly give the staff report

1:30:48But I'm going to I'm going to go ahead

1:30:50and introduce the the topic.

1:30:51So we're here tonight to discuss an ordinance adopting

1:30:58permanent 80 new regulations or street

1:31:00dwelling unit regulations.

1:31:02Otherwise known as Abu Regulations in the city.

1:31:11To give you some background.

1:31:13So there have been a series of state laws

1:31:17that have been enacted in recent years that have affected

1:31:21the development of accessory dwellings

1:31:24So the first round of state law changes

1:31:27came in back in two nineteen when there were a series

1:31:31of bills that were adopted by the legislature that led

1:31:36to changes to our 80 year ordinance at that time,

1:31:41So at that time, prior prior to twenty seventeen the well,

1:31:48let me just say the the zoning ordinance in El Cerrito

1:31:51has allowed 80 use for a long time.

1:31:55The previous version of our zoning ordinance that

1:31:58was in effect prior to 2008 allowed them are two thousand

1:32:02and eight zoning ordinance allowed them.

1:32:04There have been various terms that have been used so

1:32:07for example, the two thousand eight zoning ordinance

1:32:09referred to these types of units second units, rather, an easy

1:32:12to use but it's the same thing.

1:32:15It's just different, different terms.

1:32:18There, variety of different terms that are used frequently

1:32:21to describe these types of units, accessory dwelling

1:32:24units, accessory living units, second units, in line units,

1:32:28granny units, these are all referring to the same thing.

1:32:33So in twenty seventeen, the legislature

1:32:37adopted a series of laws that required cities to update

1:32:43their regulations with regard to the use

1:32:46So we did that And at that time we saw an uptick

1:32:51in the production of ideas.

1:32:52And I'll describe more on the next slide Sorry, Diego,

1:32:56go back for a second.

1:32:59But in twenty nineteen the state again

1:33:02adopted a whole series of bills and those are all listed here.

1:33:05SB thirteen aB sixty eight five eighty seven six seventy six.

1:33:10Seventy one eighty one It was a whole slew of legislation that

1:33:14all got adopted and signed by the governor around the same

1:33:17time at the end of twenty nineteen that required us

1:33:21to update our regulations again by january twenty twenty If we

1:33:27hadn't done that these state laws would

1:33:29have just gone into effect and it would

1:33:32have been kind of chaotic.

1:33:33The city wouldn't have had any regulations in place

1:33:35to regulate them and we wouldn't have

1:33:37been able to craft any of our own local regulations as well.

1:33:43So we did that.

1:33:44The city council adopted an an interim ordinance I'm sorry,

1:33:49interim regulations as an urgency ordinance on December

1:33:53seventeenth twenty nineteen.

1:33:55So those are the regulations that are

1:33:57in effect right at this moment.

1:34:00But this interim ordinance is expiring

1:34:03and it will expire on December 16th.

1:34:08Twenty twenty one So we are coming back to you

1:34:13with permanent regulations for the development of adios

1:34:20So as you can see from this side as I mentioned,

1:34:23there's been a big uptick in the development of abuse.

1:34:27So like I said, the very first batch of major legislation

1:34:33was passed in twenty seventeen.

1:34:35And so our revised ordinance first

1:34:38our first revised ordinance went into effect in twenty eighteen.

1:34:41So you can see that in twenty eighteen marks,

1:34:46a turning point and production of a use

1:34:50has increased by a factor of about four to five

1:34:53since that time.

1:34:55Twenty nineteen was was our, our peak year so far.

1:35:00Twenty, twenty was a bit lower and of course

1:35:03we think that that's probably due to the global pandemic.

1:35:07But things are trending upward again.

1:35:08So to date in twenty, twenty one we've had seventeen eighty.

1:35:12You building permits issued so far.

1:35:18So just to give you an overview of this ordinance process,

1:35:21so the Planning Commission considered this ordinance

1:35:24that's before you tonight They recommended approval of it

1:35:27on September.

1:35:28Twenty second.

1:35:30And as i mentioned, the city council

1:35:33must adopt these permanent regulations by November 16th.

1:35:38When our interim ordinance expires.

1:35:42If that doesn't happen, then we'll be out of compliance

1:35:45with state law We won't have any of our own local 82 regulations

1:35:50in place And all of these all the requirements in the state

1:35:54law will still apply but it'll be pretty messy to to implement

1:35:58that if we don't have a local ordinance in place So

1:36:03what we're hoping is that tonight the council will

1:36:06introduce the ordinance and adopt

1:36:08it and conduct the second reading to adopt

1:36:11it at your next meeting.

1:36:13On November 16th.

1:36:20So just to give you kind of an overview

1:36:22of what is being proposed.

1:36:24So jagow is going to go over.

1:36:26I guess I'll start by saying that the proposed ordinance

1:36:30that's before it tonight is very similar to the ordinance we've

1:36:35made.

1:36:35So we've made some small proposed changes as a result

1:36:39of our discussions with staff at the state level,

1:36:42at the Department of Housing and community Development.

1:36:45They've been very helpful in guiding us and making sure

1:36:48that our ordinance is consistent with state law

1:36:51And so all of the changes that you will that Diago will go

1:36:54over are the result of those discussions

1:36:58But other than that, what's before you tonight is

1:37:01is basically the same as the interim ordinance

1:37:06So what that would do so sort of.

1:37:10So when we talk about what the ordinance will do,

1:37:12we're mostly talking about what the interim ordinance

1:37:16has already done.

1:37:17Just to be clear, but this ordinance will

1:37:21would repeal to replace Section nineteen twenty one nine

1:37:24zero of the zoning ordinance, which is where all

1:37:28of the standards for use are are maintained

1:37:34And it would add section nineteen twenty one nine

1:37:37five which is a new section that we created for Junior Eddowes.

1:37:40And I'll go over junior areas in a minute.

1:37:43But that was basically a new Kattegat that the state created

1:37:46and then required us to allow and so we had to create

1:37:49a new section to create the regulations for Junior Avios

1:37:52And in addition to that, there's there's some clean up items

1:37:56We had to add some add and clean up

1:37:59some of use classified stations for different residential uses.

1:38:03So that's in this section here.

1:38:05And there were some terms and definitions that

1:38:08needed to be cleaned up and the OK, street parking requirement

1:38:12Diego is going to go over parking requirements for you

1:38:15to use, but we had to amend that also

1:38:18because it's mentioned in this off street parking chapter

1:38:21as well.

1:38:25So as I mentioned, junior Adios is one of the one

1:38:28The new things that we did as part of the interim ordinance

1:38:32that's continued in this ordinance

1:38:35So Junior is to use our you can think of a junior to use sort

1:38:39of as a it's kind of a converse Usually what

1:38:45they end being a sort of converted bedrooms in a house

1:38:49They do have to have their own separate exterior entrance.

1:38:55But there no more than five hundred square feet

1:38:58They're entirely within an existing single family

1:39:01residence and they can have shared sanitation facilities,

1:39:05meaning shared bathrooms So a junior

1:39:09you doesn't need to have a bathroom within the junior.

1:39:12You the bathroom can be down the hall

1:39:16or otherwise shared with the primary unit.

1:39:19They do need to have an efficiency kitchen

1:39:22and the building code contains some definition with regard

1:39:27to requirements for efficiency kitchens.

1:39:30But basically it's sort of you can think of it

1:39:32as kind of a small kitchen and automat planning approval

1:39:41is the next topic that I'm going to talk about.

1:39:44The last topic that I'm going to talk about before I come back

1:39:46at the end But the this the the state laws that are passed

1:39:52require us to allow certain types of use

1:39:55to proceed straight to a building permit

1:39:58So there's no additional planning approval that

1:40:01is required And so what we're what we're required to allow

1:40:07with when I say automatic approval goes straight

1:40:10to a building permit, And what we're required to allow

1:40:14is one one to you and one Jagdeo So the reason I put

1:40:18attatched detached here in parentheses and the reason

1:40:20for that is that when these new state laws were first enacted,

1:40:27there was different language.

1:40:30So initially we were required to allow one detat state to you

1:40:36and one jayati if you had an attached meaning,

1:40:40it was attached to the to the primary unit to the House

1:40:45then you weren't automatically entitled to have a jayati.

1:40:48You as well.

1:40:50The the legislature has since adopted a clean up bill where

1:40:54they changed one little word that changed in and to an

1:40:57or I think it was an order to an end I think

1:40:59was in order to an end.

1:41:00Sorry.

1:41:01And what that did is that makes it so your

1:41:06your you can now have one can be attached or detached

1:41:10and one Jado and both of those,

1:41:14both of those can go straight to building permit the

1:41:17if the eighty two is detached the type of detached way

1:41:20to use that we have to allow to go straight to a building

1:41:22permit are eight hundred square foot foot maximum They have

1:41:27a minimum of four foot set backs on the rear and the side

1:41:30to the rear inside property lines

1:41:32and there a maximum of sixteen feet tall

1:41:36four properties with multifamily dwellings

1:41:40and duplexes We are required to allow

1:41:48at least one interior Aido and no more

1:41:53than twenty five percent.

1:41:56So no more A maximum number of to use.

1:42:00That's no more than twenty five percent of the number

1:42:03of existing units.

1:42:04If that's clear, and then a maximum of to detach

1:42:08detached to use the other thing.

1:42:11So on properties with multifamily dwellings

1:42:15what the state legislation requires us to allow

1:42:18is conversion of area that are not livable spaces to use

1:42:26So those are areas frequently i'm

1:42:31trying to think of the the types of in state law.

1:42:35There's actual language and it includes

1:42:37things boiler rooms, parking areas, mechanical spaces,

1:42:45things like that.

1:42:48And what what we have seen so far

1:42:50is some existing parking areas converted to either converted

1:42:56to ideas or interest in converting existing multiform

1:42:59parking areas into a use There was a question

1:43:03we got a question today from council member Modi'in

1:43:05and I'm going to try to sort of summarize that question

1:43:10and answer it.

1:43:10But council member money, I'm if I'm not getting it quite right,

1:43:14please follow up at the end with with another question.

1:43:17But the question is basically why?

1:43:20Why is it only these areas that are Invision for conversion

1:43:24to eighty issues?

1:43:25The answer is that that's what's required under the state law.

1:43:28And I think what the what the state was going for was you

1:43:34know, conversion They weren't looking to necessarily take

1:43:40space away from existing residential multifamily

1:43:44residential units to create new new units.

1:43:48What they were you looking at is sort

1:43:50of underutilized, non livable spaces,

1:43:53parking being one of the primary drivers

1:43:57and as we were thinking about this today,

1:43:59actually the there's we've seen this multifamily thing used

1:44:05in a couple of different scenarios

1:44:07and they're pretty different.

1:44:10So what I think the state was targeting

1:44:15was a lot of older apartment buildings and older

1:44:19multifamily properties.

1:44:21The other scenario where we've seen

1:44:23this used is one very newly developed project on San Pablo

1:44:29Avenue was asking about you know, convert

1:44:34some amenity spaces to a use And those

1:44:39are pretty different scenarios.

1:44:41So I think we've been a little bit careful in sort of how we

1:44:45look at this, because what we what we don't want to happen

1:44:47is we don't want we we would like to not incentive is

1:44:54the conversion of things that are amenities for residents

1:45:00into new units in a lot of circum stances,

1:45:04because those those are nice, a nice amenities opens spaces

1:45:08and community rooms and community

1:45:11spaces for existing residents.

1:45:12And we'd like those to be preserved

1:45:15in a lot of instances.

1:45:17So hopefully that answers your question.

1:45:19If I didn't get it quite right, then we

1:45:20can circle back at the end But at this point,

1:45:23I'm going to pass the presentation off to Diego He's

1:45:27going to walk you through a lot of other things

1:45:29that are included in the ordinance.

1:45:30And then I'll wrap up at the end Welcomed.

1:45:40Thank you so the maximum floor area that's

1:45:43allowed for a use are only a studio or one bedroom

1:45:47is up to eight hundred and fifty square feet.

1:45:50If the eighty you can into two or more bedrooms,

1:45:52it's allowed to be up to a thousand square feet and then

1:45:55for attachés to use they're subject to the above standard

1:45:59or fifty percent the primary, all the existing primary

1:46:03dwelling, whichever less, with the one exception that we must

1:46:07allow you, that is eight hundred square regardless of this fifty

1:46:11percent provision for any use, they have a minimum set back

1:46:18of four four feet from the rear end of side property and then

1:46:24detach to use have a max of six feet and then attach it to use,

1:46:29have to comply with the daylight planning requirements.

1:46:31Of whatever zone they're located, with the exception

1:46:34being that those eight users are allowed to go up

1:46:37to six feet tall there is no replacement,

1:46:44there is no parking requirements for new to use and for any

1:46:48to you that converted to Roger Rogers, demolished

1:46:51for the construction they do.

1:46:52There is no replacement parking that is required

1:46:58So some additional required by the ordinance

1:47:00or the the ordinance is that it removes the owner completely

1:47:05requirements for to use that between on twenty,

1:47:07twenty and twenty twenty five.

1:47:09It using Jay to use that require automatic approval cannot be

1:47:14rented for a term less than 30 days and for Windows although

1:47:19it's not required by the state law staff city staff proposes

1:47:23requiring a new windows less than five feet from shared rear

1:47:28side or rear property line shall be clear story,

1:47:30which means it has to be a minimum of six and a half feet

1:47:33above the finished floor height City staff recommends

1:47:37a requirement to minimize privacy

1:47:39impacts of proposed to use upon neighbouring properties.

1:47:41Given the reduced back requirements,

1:47:43with the exception being that we can require,

1:47:45we can require this requirement on it.

1:47:47Use that are subject automatic approval So as mentioned

1:47:54previously, this proposed ordinance is

1:47:56pretty much the same as the adopted interim emergency

1:47:59ordinance, but it has some minor changes with from result input

1:48:03from the California housing Community Development

1:48:06Staff Some of these changes, these changes

1:48:09are the interim ordinance was changed to accessory dwelling

1:48:13units are allowed on any large zone

1:48:15to allow single family or multifamily residential use.

1:48:19Instead, that previously stating the specific zones

1:48:21within the city that it use are allowed

1:48:24in the interim ordinance.

1:48:25The restriction on our occupancy requirements sections

1:48:28were originally different sections

1:48:30And now these two sections are combined.

1:48:33So it's more apparent that a restriction will not be

1:48:35required for any you permitted before December thirty four

1:48:38point twenty four language was added in the development

1:48:43Standard section to make it more apparent that regardless of any

1:48:46unit size large size lock coverage for a ratio

1:48:49and or open space requirements and to you that is up

1:48:52to a hundred square feet with the minimum four feet side

1:48:56and rear setbacks and a maximum of six feet must be allowed

1:49:00and that the enter the new proposal requires

1:49:05or the original ordinance on the part of the detached to use not

1:49:09be located closer in the primary dwelling

1:49:11unit to the street facing side last line The section

1:49:14was removed because the set back it

1:49:17used cannot be more four feet from

1:49:19the side of your property line.

1:49:26I think it's not going to Great, thanks, Daigo.

1:49:36So in wrapping up, I just another topic that's come up.

1:49:39I wanted to touch on.

1:49:40I just wanted to let you all know that I last week met

1:49:44with representatives from el Cerrito,

1:49:47Fire Safe who were interested in this issue as well.

1:49:52As SB nine, which is a separate issue

1:49:57that I can go into a little bit if anybody's interested.

1:49:59But those you this series of Aido legislations

1:50:05and sB nine have sort of the same goal of increasing

1:50:10the production of housing especially the focus being

1:50:15on single family residential properties

1:50:18But they are separate and distinct pieces

1:50:21of legislation and efforts I do want to be clear about that.

1:50:25And what we're here tonight primarily to discuss

1:50:28is the is the ADA regulations So I had this discussion members

1:50:33of makale Street on Fire Safe who

1:50:35were interested in this issue.

1:50:38There are some cities that have started

1:50:40to take actions with regard to fire

1:50:44safety with regard to A2 use.

1:50:47And we will continue to monitor those developer as these issues

1:50:53progress And if we also are going to be embarking

1:50:58on a housing element update next year, so that also is

1:51:05will be a good time for us to look at a wide range

1:51:08of housing policies.

1:51:09But if in the future anything does warrant

1:51:13any future amendments to this ordinance,

1:51:16and we'll bring it back to the city council at a future time

1:51:22But I just wanted to touch on that And then just to wrap up,

1:51:25I'll just say again that we hope that the city council

1:51:31introduces this ordinance tonight

1:51:34and brings it back for a second reading at your next meeting.

1:51:38So that we can adopt it before the interim emergency

1:51:43ordinance expires.

1:51:45And continue the success that we've

1:51:47had with implementing these regulations

1:51:50and promoting development of accessory dwelling units

1:51:54so that concludes our presentation and diego

1:51:56and I are happy to answer any questions

1:51:59that you might have Thank you.

1:52:00Questions from our council members Council member

1:52:05Montejano Thank you, Mayor and thank you,

1:52:11Sean and Diego, for the presentation is very thorough.

1:52:15I did want to clarify my question

1:52:18to sean that I was not asking whether it

1:52:20could be done everywhere.

1:52:22I just wanted to understand if clearly there should be limited

1:52:26options on building amenity spaces,

1:52:29particularly if they are part of the approvals.

1:52:32So I just want to understand that that you

1:52:34can't like you're not going to take

1:52:37away the community you're in.

1:52:38You're not going to take away specific open spaces

1:52:41in this area.

1:52:42Ordinance as it stands Is that correct?

1:52:47That was not the intent of the state legislation.

1:52:50I believe But we did because we did get an inquiry on one

1:52:55The projects that I mentioned We did have to have to check

1:53:00with staff at HGV the Department of Housing

1:53:04and Community Development and they

1:53:08did clarify that issue for us.

1:53:10So in that instance, it's the not

1:53:13livable is is really the key.

1:53:16It's these are areas that are that were not built

1:53:22for human habitation and don't meet the the building code

1:53:25requirements to to be such before conversion to NATO

1:53:30So in that instance, I believe the feedback we got from CD

1:53:34was that that that was a conversion that was allowed

1:53:38as we get future inquiries, we will

1:53:42check back with them as well.

1:53:44To make sure that we're proceed appropriately

1:53:48Thank you Questions Council member Avildsen.

1:53:55Yes, I so does that mean things like

1:53:59what are usually called shed's, which

1:54:01could be used for this purpose?

1:54:09On a That is correct.

1:54:12Shedder are allowed to be converted into a use

1:54:18So what if they have to have again, they would have to have

1:54:25a bathroom Do they have kitchen If it's an

1:54:32if it's an eighty, you not.

1:54:34We're not talking about a jury to you

1:54:36because this is a detach the sample is a

1:54:39is a detached and so in order.

1:54:42So the by definition an eighty, you includes

1:54:45cooking and and sanitation facilities

1:54:48So it would need to include a kitchen and a bathroom

1:54:54OK, just interesting enough, my next door neighbor who lives

1:55:01actually in a different city than elsewhere, you know,

1:55:04albany is currently converting a shed to a office with

1:55:13and a bathroom which seems like a really

1:55:19good use of space right.

1:55:25Questions I have some quickfire questions I can

1:55:31I don't need long answers.

1:55:33I just want to be clarify what I think.

1:55:36I heard a CD helped us but this effort is correct.

1:55:41Yes.

1:55:42Make sure that things lined up pretty well OK,

1:55:46and is it true that cities aren't going to have much

1:55:49left to do with the state laws?

1:55:53Regulating I mean, and and without zoning

1:55:57are we losing a revenue source here?

1:55:59Are we will we still have some sort of permitting

1:56:02revenue coming nowadays?

1:56:04Well, we're not we're not losing our ability to zone to create

1:56:08land zones to create zoning districts All of our zoning

1:56:14districts remain in place The state is an i you know,

1:56:19I will be honestly every year the state

1:56:23does seem to add a new layer or a lot of complexity

1:56:30to existing land regulations.

1:56:35But you know what they've done so far

1:56:37is require local jurisdictions to allow a to use and junior

1:56:44to use in zoning districts that allow

1:56:48single family homes and multiple family residential units.

1:56:53So no short term rental Is that correct?

1:56:58Right.

1:56:59Yeah, that's great.

1:57:00OK, what does it mean when the ad

1:57:07has to be compay hateable with the style

1:57:09of the primary residence?

1:57:10Who decides You know, that's not something

1:57:18that we that's sort of meant as it's meant to prevent

1:57:26really extreme things.

1:57:28It's not something, you know, in in my like almost 14 years here

1:57:34at the city, I, I think maybe maybe

1:57:38like once we've ever had to talk to somebody about having

1:57:42an idea that was we don't have to match the style

1:57:46of the primary residence.

1:57:48Right.

1:57:49Yeah.

1:57:50And I mean, that's another thing that the state

1:57:51has made us do is is make our make

1:57:54our standards pretty objective.

1:57:57So we've we've tried to do that.

1:57:59OK, I was a little confused about the primary owner

1:58:02being there or not being there.

1:58:04And something's changed Do they still have to be there

1:58:08with a junior or a regular aide to you in one of the two units

1:58:13or not?

1:58:14So for a junior to you?

1:58:16Yes, for junior, a junior at OSU has to still,

1:58:20you know, still required to be the property is still required

1:58:24to be owner occupied primary owner could

1:58:26rent out his home, his or her home,

1:58:28and the ADA would not be there.

1:58:31Correct.

1:58:31So so any aid to you that developed between when when all

1:58:38of this went into effect in twenty, twenty and twenty,

1:58:40twenty five during that period of time,

1:58:44we cannot in force owner occupancy requirements

1:58:49for eighty use only.

1:58:50So there's only on the property if there's only a primary unit

1:58:55and an eighty you we cannot enforce owner occupancy OK,

1:58:59so and that then that's true for any

1:59:02avenue that is developed during that time period in perpetuity.

1:59:08OK, my last question is on the fire issue.

1:59:11Thank you for meeting with our fire concerned residents.

1:59:14I appreciate that.

1:59:16What are the little things that you mentioned that we could

1:59:18do to make them more fire safe?

1:59:20Other than not building them Well,

1:59:24there are some there are a lot of provisions for fire safety

1:59:29already.

1:59:30So the you know, the first thing that comes to mind

1:59:34is the four foot step back requirement

1:59:37to side and rear property lines While that might seem reduced

1:59:42for you, reduced from our normal five foot side step back

1:59:51requirements, typically what we have,

1:59:53it does, you know, the wording i'm trying to i'm

1:59:57looking at you all and not the ordinance in front of me,

2:00:00but the the wording and the ordinance

2:00:04is actually gives some discretion to the fire marshal.

2:00:11I believe as the main concern evacuation and too many people

2:00:18in cars So, yeah, so that is an issue that's been brought up

2:00:22and that was one of the things that I

2:00:25was alluding to is some cities.

2:00:28So the city of San Rafael recently passed a very narrowly

2:00:35tailored moratorium on A-T use in certain hillside areas

2:00:42And it was very you know, it's very carefully and narrowly

2:00:47tailored to areas where there are constraints that you know,

2:00:57that could make evacuation a problem.

2:01:00So very narrow streets and and things like that.

2:01:04So, you know, we like I said, we'll

2:01:07we'll continue to monitor these kinds of activities

2:01:10from other cities and especially as as this progresses

2:01:16and as we embark on the housing element next year,

2:01:19and if we feel that anything is warranted, in the future,

2:01:24then we'll bring that back to the council council

2:01:28Yeah, i was wondering what just said that the primary unit has

2:01:37to be owner occupied.

2:01:39Right on So right now, on that only only when there's

2:01:44a jAYATI or junior Addio OK, let's say

2:01:48it's a that's OK then change my question to the the jati.

2:01:53You Michael question has to do with what

2:01:57if the owner in the primary unit passes away

2:02:05and the property goes to say a child of that person

2:02:11and that person already has a house

2:02:14and doesn't want live in it, can they rent it out Well,

2:02:21there's a you know, I mean, we we

2:02:23also we try to be sensitive and flexible on this issue.

2:02:27As you know, when in certain situations warranted

2:02:30such as that So when when jDSU is developed,

2:02:38there's a deed restriction that's

2:02:40recorded against the property that says that the the owner

2:02:43will live on the property You know, for and for an owner

2:02:49that passed away.

2:02:51I I think we're going to try if that was if that was somehow

2:02:57like an enforced an issue that came up,

2:02:59I think we would try to be pretty

2:03:01sensitive that in that instance, there are a lot a lot

2:03:05of things we would want to be sensitive to.

2:03:06One is there an existing tenant that could be displaced You

2:03:12and other things like that?

2:03:15But you know, ultimately the owner

2:03:18is supposed to live on the property

2:03:20So we would we would in the long run,

2:03:22we would need to get to a situation

2:03:24where the property was owner occupied.

2:03:27So that means the the child that I was referring

2:03:31to would need to sell the property to somebody

2:03:36willing to do that.

2:03:37That has a big I think a big tax consequence potentially having

2:03:45to do with inheritance so that that that would

2:03:49be one way to rectify that.

2:03:52That situation, another would be if you know,

2:03:55if two units aren't rented out separately,

2:03:59i think I think we would not view the eight

2:04:04or or, for example, a junior to it

2:04:06would be fairly easy because a junior at a pretty simple

2:04:10would be fairly easy to eliminate the junior eighty.

2:04:13You as well.

2:04:14So you could you could remove the kitchen you could remove

2:04:18the the exterior entrance You know, these are all things that

2:04:22could be done to remove the junior radio

2:04:25and then the property could be rented just as one unit

2:04:30So it could be used, for example, as an office let's

2:04:34say, like my neighbors doing Well, I'm

2:04:38just I'm using example where office and the house

2:04:43could be the the house that could

2:04:45all be rented by one person.

2:04:47Would that be an example?

2:04:48So that so that the owner doesn't

2:04:51have to sell the house Right.

2:04:53Right.

2:04:54OK, and any other questions OK, if not I'd like

2:05:03to move to the public hearing.

2:05:05It's now open at this time.

2:05:07Members of the public was to provide comments on asylum

2:05:10should use the raised hand feature

2:05:12to request to speak the clerk.

2:05:14Please continue in camera.

2:05:17I will just quickly announce that we did receive written

2:05:19public comment on this item.

2:05:20I'm Jim onis, Gary Post and Sue Duncan

2:05:24today against deadline today and at this time

2:05:27I do not see any request to speak on this item.

2:05:30OK, do I see a motion to close the public motion

2:05:34to close the public hearing?

2:05:35Second motion move by a council member rubberneck and seconded

2:05:39by council member Can we have a roll call, please?

2:05:43Fidele, I potemkin till I council member Apison

2:05:48I can't remember tianmen.

2:05:51I council member Resnick.

2:05:53I motion carries.

2:05:55Thank you.

2:05:57And now i have a motion to introduce by title only

2:05:59and hold the first reading of the ordinance council

2:06:03member more Tianmen This motion and council member

2:06:06Rudnick seconds.

2:06:07Can we have the roll call vote please.

2:06:10Fidele I mean Potemkin till i can't remember Apison

2:06:15I can't remember the Tiamat.

2:06:18I can't remember.

2:06:19I think I motion carries Thank you.

2:06:23Thank you Shah.

2:06:25And there are you know, to the city of Sarino Yes.

2:06:30I started myself this year I was going to apologize

2:06:32for never having met you.

2:06:33How long have you been on board Since January.

2:06:37Welcom.

2:06:38You got a lot of work ahead of you here.

2:06:39Good, good.

2:06:40To have.

2:06:41You have been with us since January.

2:06:42And he's going to be he will already next meeting

2:06:46have his second council meeting We'll be back.

2:06:49We'll be back with you next meeting to discuss vehicle

2:06:52Miles traveled testing by fire.

2:06:55Thank you to diago and thank you, Sean.

2:06:58We welcome Thank you.

2:07:01Our next item is the amended food ordinance

2:07:03requiring food oRL to be reusable for compost

2:07:07and prohibiting the iS or sale of plastic straws and plastic.

2:07:11Sturt's can we have a city report on this, please?

2:07:19Unblended as well, Nick rather to sign on to anyone other

2:07:31than you and that is he just doesn't

2:07:33have a camera on at the moment.

2:07:35Perfect.

2:07:35I see everybody.

2:07:36OK, good evening everyone.

2:07:38Good evening, Max.

2:07:39City Council.

2:07:40Thank so my name is well Provest City's Operations

2:07:44and Environmental Services division Manager

2:07:46and for Consider for your consideration tonight

2:07:49is a public hearing and ordinance amending Chapter

2:07:51eight point two for of the Municipal Code which would

2:07:55build upon the city's existing ordinance that prohibits

2:07:57the use of Styrofoam food where to prohibit other products

2:08:02such as that now require and would now require food

2:08:04to be reusable or compostable.

2:08:07I'm joined here today by Claire Wilson with our three

2:08:09consulting who has been instrumental in conducting

2:08:12public outreach and support for this effort.

2:08:14And by minorities, the city's public

2:08:16works director public meeting and public meetings

2:08:19and outreach around this ordinance

2:08:21were first conducted in early twenty twenty.

2:08:23But due to the covid-19 pandemic,

2:08:25impacts on businesses, the effort

2:08:27was put on hold after making modifications

2:08:30to the implementation timeline based on feedback received

2:08:33from businesses the city began a new public outreach

2:08:36process this fall, and we are pleased to be presenting

2:08:39with a final draft ordinance for your consideration,

2:08:41which incorporates feedback received

2:08:43throughout the process.

2:08:45I will now hand to Claire, who will provide

2:08:47more background ordinance and the specifics

2:08:49of what is being proposed.

2:08:51But about I are also on standing by to answer

2:08:53any questions All all right.

2:08:57Thank you so much.

2:08:58Well, I'm going to go ahead and share my screen

2:09:00and we can get the presentation going all right.

2:09:05So thank you so much for well, for the introduction

2:09:09and council members for listening for this audience.

2:09:13So let's the presentation will go with the outline reasons

2:09:19for updating the ordinance, some key changes and amendments

2:09:22to your current ordinance.

2:09:24The public process and feedback consistency with city policy

2:09:28and then staff recommendations.

2:09:30The next steps for So as a little bit of a background

2:09:35and if you're not already familiar

2:09:37a city currently has a food where

2:09:39ordinance that was adopted in 2013

2:09:42That ordinance prohibits polystyrene foam or Styrofoam

2:09:46containers and it also requires that food

2:09:49where that is in the city to be packaged for takeouts.

2:09:53If neither reusable recyclable or compostable containers.

2:09:58So the proposed ordinance would phase out

2:10:00these disposable plastic items and require those containers

2:10:04to be either reusable or compostable

2:10:08and who would be covered under the ordinance

2:10:11The same folks that are currently covered

2:10:13So all food providers in the city

2:10:15would be covered under this bigger ordinance.

2:10:19So it's consistent with the current food where ordinance

2:10:24And just to start out of what when

2:10:26we talk about disposable food, what do we

2:10:28actually mean by those things?

2:10:30So it's really anything that your takeout food containers

2:10:35or your food or beverage.

2:10:38So your containers bowls, plates,

2:10:40things like that as well as cups,

2:10:41lids, utensils, straws, Sturt's etc.

2:10:48And some of the reasons of why we're choosing to update

2:10:52the food ordinance is first and foremost it

2:10:55improves the environment food, whereas often a common found

2:11:00litter and pollutant in the community

2:11:03and in various waste studies.

2:11:06It also would reduce the overall amount of food

2:11:09where chemicals in food where which we'll talk about a little

2:11:12bit later and the overall amount of waste

2:11:14to landfill with moving towards more reusable items

2:11:18It also improves stormwater quality.

2:11:20Again, that's on reducing the overall amount of litter

2:11:23in the community.

2:11:25It also reduces recycling contamination costs,

2:11:28plastic food where that is not recyclable

2:11:30is often found in the recycling stream

2:11:33and it also decreases greenhouse gas emissions overall.

2:11:36By having items either upon request

2:11:39or moving to reusable items.

2:11:41You're you're using less disposable products

2:11:43in the first.

2:11:45And of course, it aligns with the city's climate action

2:11:47plan and strategic switch will also get into a little bit

2:11:49later So key changes to the current food where ordinance,

2:11:56as we mentioned before, the food where

2:11:59we're moving to a reusable or compostable food

2:12:02where items and those food items would be required if they are

2:12:07compostable to be free of polychlorinated substances

2:12:11commonly known as CEPHAS So there

2:12:13are going to be exceptions for products

2:12:17with no available substitutes However,

2:12:20this is also consistent with recently passed legislation

2:12:24banning face in food,

2:12:25where and cafes are chemicals that are persistent chemicals

2:12:30that often don't break down in the compost process

2:12:34and have been linked to a whole host of health issues.

2:12:38So permanent straws would only be required upon request.

2:12:42So instead of receiving a straw, you would have to ask for one.

2:12:46There are exceptions for those in need of a straw for medical

2:12:51or if you have a disability need a straw and those straws

2:12:56can be plastic.

2:12:57There also are hardship waivers that

2:12:59could be granted to food providers who apply to the city

2:13:03if they feel as though that the applying or adopting

2:13:08the ordinance would be too difficult for them

2:13:12The city is also required to procure

2:13:14these reusable or compostable food items as well.

2:13:17At city facilities and implementation

2:13:21The ordinance were to be adopted.

2:13:22Would begin in July of twenty twenty

2:13:24two This allows for ample time for brochures

2:13:28and other education and outreach materials

2:13:29to be developed and distributed by city staff So exactly.

2:13:35And also provide additional public feedback and awareness

2:13:39to the smooth transition and use of existing stock

2:13:43and enforcement.

2:13:44Will is propose to begin January one.

2:13:47Twenty twenty four.

2:13:48This timeline is fairly extensive

2:13:51to allow for businesses to use up

2:13:54their existing non-compliant food

2:13:56to get educated of where to source

2:14:00and procure these new products.

2:14:02And make sure that everyone's on the same with the ordinance

2:14:07Here's a little bit of a timeline As Will mentioned

2:14:09in the introduction, this process began back in twenty,

2:14:13twenty where the development of the food,

2:14:16where ordinance was first drafted and stakeholders

2:14:20engaged.

2:14:21That was put on pause in march of twenty twenty

2:14:24when covid happened and things began again in summer.

2:14:29Of this of this year.

2:14:31So we re-engage stakeholders that

2:14:33included a whole host of meetings

2:14:35outreach via letters and brochures and etc.

2:14:40and we are now at the bringing the Food

2:14:43Ordinance, the final ordinance for city council consideration.

2:14:47And again, implementation of the proposed ordinance

2:14:50would begin July twenty twenty two

2:14:53and enforcement would begin January

2:14:55one of twenty twenty four.

2:14:57And I should also mention that the January one twenty

2:15:00twenty four also aligns with other state

2:15:03law, SB thirteen eighty three.

2:15:05The enforcement of that state laws

2:15:07will so be public engagement that occurred

2:15:12for this proposed ordinance.

2:15:15We sent out letters to all affected businesses

2:15:18in a factory was created in three different languages

2:15:22and hand delivered to applicable food.

2:15:27Provide in February of twenty twenty

2:15:30And then again this year in September of twenty twenty

2:15:33one There were also articles published

2:15:36and bill inserts intouch with information of how to join

2:15:40public meetings and information of the food where women in were

2:15:44also public meetings in march and September

2:15:47of this year for the economic Development

2:15:50Committee of the Environmental Quality committee

2:15:53and the Chamber of commerce, where we received feedback.

2:15:57And we've also accepted comments on the draft

2:15:59ordinance on the city's website from August to September.

2:16:03Of this year and those changes are detailed a little on this

2:16:07page So So some of the comments that we received that will

2:16:13incorporate this was really prior to covid as well,

2:16:17was a longer enforcement time to for food operators

2:16:21to adjust So the enforcement timeline

2:16:23was pushed to january one.

2:16:26Twenty, twenty four.

2:16:28And also there was a specific prohibition products

2:16:31that contained polychlorinated chemicals of those PPFA

2:16:35That was feedback.

2:16:36That was received by city staff in the twenty twenty outreach

2:16:40and was incorporated into this round of the final food

2:16:43where ordinance other comments that weren't incorporated

2:16:47But we wanted to share with you were

2:16:50to actually begin enforcement.

2:16:51B prior to January one twenty twenty four.

2:16:54So sooner enforcement requirements

2:16:57for all single food were to be only offered for a fee, which

2:17:01is something the ordinance does not

2:17:03have to require single food accessories

2:17:07to be provided upon request.

2:17:09This is actually passed in a state law that

2:17:11will talk a little bit later about that state law was passed

2:17:15on October 5th of this year.

2:17:17And to see you continue to develop further policies

2:17:21to reduce sale and distribution of single use plastics

2:17:25in the city This graphic provides

2:17:30a little bit of information around what messaging could

2:17:32look like So the audience, again,

2:17:34really requires either food, water

2:17:37to be reusable or compostable.

2:17:40So reusable is the best option.

2:17:42However, composable, where is compliant

2:17:45and a plastic food where that is not necessarily recyclable

2:17:48or is is going to go away.

2:17:51So a brochure which is going to detail

2:17:54a lot of the requirements of the food where audience, as well

2:17:57as having graphic rich visuals, will be produced in early

2:18:01twenty, twenty two and distributed to businesses

2:18:07and some consistency City policy is first and foremost

2:18:10the city's climate action plan.

2:18:11Waste goal to reduce waste Going to landfill

2:18:14is a key piece of this by transitioning to more reusable

2:18:18compostable items the waste reduction strategies

2:18:22as well city facilities because ordinance would also apply

2:18:25to city facilities to procure the reusable or compostable

2:18:29food It also aligns with a strategic plan.

2:18:32Goals goal f and goal is to foster

2:18:35environmental sustainability by reducing the overall amount

2:18:38of waste generated in the city and ensuring

2:18:40public health and safety by supporting initiatives.

2:18:43Decrease pollution And finally, it also

2:18:46aligns with the the municipal stormwater regional permit

2:18:51which requires that their reduction and litter that's

2:18:55entering the stormwater systems And like I

2:19:00mentioned before, there are some alignment

2:19:02with recent state laws.

2:19:04So these three laws were passed in early October of this year.

2:19:08So just about a little less than a month to go.

2:19:11And the first and foremost is AB Twenty

2:19:16one 12 zero zero which is the PFA bans for food packaging.

2:19:21So this aligns really nicely with the city's ordinance

2:19:24to also prohibit PPFA some food where And so starting in twenty

2:19:29twenty three in California, there would be a prohibition

2:19:32on distribute and sale of any food

2:19:34where packaging has these chemicals

2:19:37which will also make them more widely

2:19:38available on the marketplace.

2:19:41Maybe to Twelver, one is a interesting piece

2:19:46that is helps kind of align with what we're talking

2:19:50about with composable food.

2:19:52So it prohibits the sale of products that are labeled

2:19:55a term compostable or compostable,

2:19:58as you have to meet certain requirements in the states

2:20:01going to be developing labeling to help better

2:20:04educate consumers about what is actually compostable

2:20:08and what is not.

2:20:09And finally, there's AB twelve seventy six,

2:20:12which would be touched a little bit before,

2:20:16but it expands on the plastic straw us upon request

2:20:19It's a part of the city ordinance

2:20:21to include other single use accessories

2:20:24to be provided upon request.

2:20:26And there is a piece of this while a law was again just

2:20:30passed The regulations have not been developed yet,

2:20:33but there is a requirement for cities to enforce designated

2:20:37enforcement agency by June of twenty twenty

2:20:39two So this may come back up on future council meeting

2:20:45as we couldn't incorporate it due to the timing.

2:20:47But is something that may be brought up later So

2:20:52the next steps are to consider adoption of the proposed

2:20:55ordinance and if adopted, staff would produce resources again.

2:21:00The brochure to be produced early

2:21:01twenty twenty two to help again, a smooth transition to all food

2:21:07providers that would be affected should

2:21:09the ordinance be adopted.

2:21:11So with that, we will be happy to answer any questions

2:21:15or Thank you, Clair.

2:21:17Councilman questions.

2:21:19Mayor pro Tem Quintel.

2:21:22Thank you very much.

2:21:23Will and to Claire.

2:21:25Great present And I know you know covid stopped everything

2:21:29and and so I appreciate that.

2:21:32Were gradually going to work on this because I know with covid

2:21:40many of our small businesses have a lot

2:21:43of utensil and and product that are

2:21:48leftovers from many, many years.

2:21:52And they're not able to use it.

2:21:54So if and that was the number one thing that I heard from

2:21:59small businesses when we were abridges League to put this

2:22:03through is all of the utensils and all of the things

2:22:07purchased to Forté out.

2:22:11You know, it would take a long time to use all that.

2:22:15So but so i appreciate that this is going to be in effect

2:22:21in twenty twenty for my question is, will there be state

2:22:27money to help the city employ maintain this for example,

2:22:37thirteen eighty three There is money available with senator

2:22:43Layard's bill, which yeah.

2:22:45Didn't pass but was put into the budget this year.

2:22:50I believe that's twenty million dollars to what would we

2:22:54be able to use funding from that Yeah, we are closely tracking

2:22:59those bills related to speak their committee three and to be

2:23:03coming back to council in a couple weeks

2:23:05with a similar ordinance outlining additions

2:23:09to our municipal code to implement requirements

2:23:11But there may be three money for four Implementation of that law

2:23:16won't be available to implement this

2:23:19But I will say that we already have a food

2:23:21water ordinance in place.

2:23:22We already are required to implement those state programs,

2:23:25to contact businesses inspect businesses.

2:23:28So it's our expectation that implementing US law this

2:23:31expanded our ordinance will not take a lot of resources

2:23:35There will be initial brochures and outreach in the near term.

2:23:39But once that will be easily incorporated,

2:23:41and once that subsides and businesses get on board,

2:23:44it really will likely be complaint driven

2:23:47as the current startup companies and likely

2:23:50will be very few incidences of non-compliance annually.

2:23:53So i don't think much funding will

2:23:56be needed long term Thank you.

2:23:58I appreciate that.

2:23:59Another thing i'm concerned about

2:24:01is a lot of our small businesses are Asian speaking languages

2:24:08So I'm hoping know we are we want to work on equity

2:24:11We want to work on inclusion.

2:24:13I want to make sure our Asian businesses,

2:24:16we have a lot of Chinese speaking a lot

2:24:19of Chinese restaurants.

2:24:22I want to make sure that they we will specifically reach out

2:24:27to the Asian American community to make sure that they are

2:24:32educated So but you hoping that we

2:24:36can look at that to make sure that we'll

2:24:40have the opportunity to have brochures and chinese at.

2:24:45Absolutely.

2:24:45And so our fact sheet that we distributed, we hand delivered

2:24:48to businesses, was actually in three

2:24:50languages including Spanish and Chinese and certainly.

2:24:53And so even though so implementation will into effect

2:24:57July 1st Twenty twenty two.

2:24:58But enforcement begin for two years until January one.

2:25:02Twenty, twenty four And so that two year period

2:25:04is really all about education.

2:25:06You know, we're just multiple languages brochure,

2:25:09lots of different resources.

2:25:10To make it easy for businesses.

2:25:12So definitely noted and well heard And we'll we'll

2:25:17do our best to reach the businesses in their languages

2:25:21that are best for them.

2:25:22Thank you very much.

2:25:24Appreciate that request.

2:25:26Council member Mableton, I have a question There was a picture

2:25:31of food containers were empty at those at the end of the section

2:25:40of this presentation.

2:25:42Could we look at that slightly?

2:25:46Let me go ahead and share Was this

2:25:53the business See the picture It didn't have an X on it.

2:25:58No, it had a Faucon.

2:25:59They also leave with no no, it was in color black

2:26:06at the end of a section there.

2:26:10That's the last Yeah, What that intended to represent.

2:26:16It looks like this.

2:26:18It looks like a regular for a regular little metal thing.

2:26:25And i don't know what the white thing represents,

2:26:30what was by that i let you go.

2:26:34Yeah.

2:26:35So this is an example of of what a potential option

2:26:39could look like for a reuse of bill option.

2:26:41So while the ordinance is, you know,

2:26:44we're talking a lot about composable products

2:26:47to go where there are also options for dining in,

2:26:51let's say, where you could start integrating more reusable

2:26:55options here like the reusable bowl

2:26:58that the salad looks like is in the salad dressing

2:27:02a metal container versus a compostable container, and then

2:27:07a fork.

2:27:08And you could still choose to have

2:27:10a a compostable napkin instead of let's a cloth napkin.

2:27:14But it's an example as we move towards more waste reduction

2:27:19that reusable bags are where you're

2:27:20going to see that reduction in waste overall.

2:27:24So is takeout So this is an example for dining,

2:27:29but it yeah, it is filled I was thinking

2:27:33it was representing takeout I didn't quite it didn't click

2:27:39but this was OK.

2:27:41It's questions council member Matsuyama,

2:27:52thank I find on that question.

2:27:56Is there anything in the audience?

2:27:58I didn't see anything that presented

2:28:00bringing your own containers Is that completely separate?

2:28:04And that is is that sort of on business by business basis?

2:28:10Yeah, that's not covered by this ordinance.

2:28:11And there's nothing in this ordinance that would prevent

2:28:14that But just building on the last discussion reusable

2:28:17is something that we would encourage and prefer

2:28:20and definitely when we were thinking about definitions

2:28:22of reusable we wanted to make sure it

2:28:24included people bringing their own stuff or returning.

2:28:28Maybe this isn't necessarily a dining experience.

2:28:31Somebody is using.

2:28:33The business provides reusable bowl

2:28:35and you have to return it later.

2:28:37So there's interesting new models being experimented

2:28:39with that we wanted to be able to be flexible for So those are

2:28:44possibilities down the road.

2:28:45But nothing in this ordinance precludes anyone

2:28:47from bringing their own, um, materials

2:28:50Thank you The questions I have a couple

2:28:57and they deal with exemptions I just want to make sure

2:29:01what it looks like is that a retailer has

2:29:03an issue or a problem.

2:29:05They can come to our city, into the city

2:29:08manager to get relief for a year or so, make that determination.

2:29:13This is above and beyond the extra time that we're giving

2:29:16the retailers that correct?

2:29:18Yes, absolutely.

2:29:19And so that's similar Our existing broodmare

2:29:22ordinance has the same.

2:29:23So this all builds on existing food

2:29:25where ordinance in our municipal now.

2:29:27And that has a hardship exemption where businesses can

2:29:31apply I'll note, I'm not aware of any businesses that have

2:29:35applied for a hardship under a Styrofoam prohibition

2:29:38But similarly, if they did apply we

2:29:41could analyze the circumstances and grant that waiver

2:29:45And then additionally, we do offer

2:29:48a kind of categorical waiver.

2:29:49So rather than if it comes to our attention

2:29:52that businesses can't find hot cup lids that are compostable,

2:29:55which we've been hearing we can create short term categorical

2:29:59exemptions so we don't have to provide

2:30:01a waiver for every business, but instead can

2:30:04say for the next or hot cup lids,

2:30:07it's still allowed to be plastic until there's

2:30:09a competitive alternative.

2:30:12And so we also have that flexibility to flexible

2:30:15is the word.

2:30:15I mean, we're going to be flexible on this, right?

2:30:18That's the other thing I need a little help with is exemptions.

2:30:22You're a until you're in the actual ordinance

2:30:26where WordStar by saying prepared foods that are

2:30:29prepared or packaged outside the city of Sarino

2:30:32are exempt I get that But what is

2:30:35as well as prepared foods prepared and packaged

2:30:38in a city of El Cerrito for use outside

2:30:41of the city of El Cerrito.

2:30:43What are you talking about there?

2:30:44We're not talking about our city bringing Plass to other places.

2:30:48If we have a city picnic somewhere or what?

2:30:51Well, so that comes from our existing ordinance to

2:30:54and I think the idea is you don't want to disadvantage

2:30:56retail businesses.

2:30:57So if Ulcerate businesses are creating prepared food,

2:31:01a bakery or pie shop or what have

2:31:04and they're going and selling those all over the Bay

2:31:06Area or the state or country, if you OK,

2:31:09you don't want to disadvantage or else retail businesses

2:31:11by saying they have to use packaging

2:31:13to meet our standards when none their competitors are.

2:31:16And so that's that's about if it's prepared

2:31:19and also for sale for use.

2:31:20And also we want to meet our standards.

2:31:23But if it crosses borders, we don't want to kind of

2:31:27make it uncompetitive for them.

2:31:28OK, that's a good answer.

2:31:30And food trucks right They will have to abide by this.

2:31:35And and maybe a city manager or someone

2:31:38can answer is off the grid going to be coming back to our city?

2:31:41And will they have to comply with this

2:31:44Is there any is there any good news on that?

2:31:50The first part and they would have to comply

2:31:53and city the city, too.

2:31:54And so we'll have to think about integrating

2:31:57or we'll have to integrate this fully into fourth of July.

2:32:00Or just our city facilities.

2:32:01And so we're going to walk the walk to many food trucks are

2:32:04already doing compostable things What I'm saying, Karen,

2:32:11do you want to answer it off the grid?

2:32:12It's coming home to us and I am texting a couple of people

2:32:15as we speak.

2:32:16I have not heard of any updates at this OK, fingers crossed.

2:32:21Yes, Council member Rubberneck I did it from what I understand,

2:32:26off the grid is having a lot of financial problems

2:32:29from losing contracts with Google

2:32:31So they've significantly scaled down their operations.

2:32:34So i don't think just from a business perspective,

2:32:37they're going to be coming back any time soon.

2:32:41According to according as just going

2:32:43to say, according to Melanie, we are in touch with them.

2:32:45But we don't have an update yet.

2:32:47We're hoping for keeping our fingers crossed.

2:32:50So but we are in touch with them.

2:32:52We'll continue to stay in touch with them.

2:32:53Thank you And the last question before we

2:32:56go to a public hearing on this.

2:32:59OK, i'd like to open the public hearing at this time.

2:33:03Members of the public who wish to provide comments

2:33:06on this event should raise their hand

2:33:09to speak city clerk, can you proceed and help us Thank you.

2:33:13May well, we get an opportunity to raise hands Just quickly

2:33:17announced that we did receive written comments on this item

2:33:20We packed Kleck, Rebecca and I, Barbet and Ogonowski,

2:33:26at this time, it looks like we have two hands

2:33:30requesting to speak Thank you.

2:33:34Quickly OK, we'll go to him first.

2:33:42Speaker who?

2:33:43Which is how gary think you should be able to meet him.

2:33:50Begin your time now.

2:33:52Good evening, Marin.

2:33:53My name is How live in 032.

2:33:57And thank you for bringing this ordinance.

2:34:01I only encourage you to pass it as a member of the public

2:34:07and that Ukichi have been involved in this issue right.

2:34:12I guess from the first where ordinance

2:34:16and on this update I think since at least twenty eighteen.

2:34:22So I fully support the ordinance and I hope you pass it.

2:34:28I am You know, a little disappointed by the timeline.

2:34:32I understand the need for you know, circumstances

2:34:38and the and easing it in.

2:34:40But one thing that we heard a lot, as you can see,

2:34:45taking public comment during this process

2:34:48was that the public is is confused often when they're

2:34:54trying to deposit things for recycling, composting,

2:35:00and and this ordinance is a great step in simplifying

2:35:05things that, you know, compostable stream food

2:35:10and composable food where it goes together

2:35:13rather than having the problem separating supposedly

2:35:18recyclable and contaminating the recycling stream with food

2:35:23or, you know, contaminate the composting stream with, you

2:35:27know, non recycled bottles I'm just concerned we're prolonging

2:35:33that confusion by having a long period of before things

2:35:41will be enforced.

2:35:43And I really encourage early adoption

2:35:46and and that education to show that this is going

2:35:50to be a much better solution.

2:35:51For everybody.

2:35:52If we can get to it sooner rather than later,

2:35:54because two more years is kind of too long.

2:35:58I consider this kind of old business.

2:36:00It's it's great that we're doing it now.

2:36:02I don't want to take away from the achievement of doing it.

2:36:06But, you know, we started talking about this you know,

2:36:09three years ago and it's only happening now

2:36:12and it's going to take another two

2:36:13years to be fully implemented.

2:36:15So that's really just, you know, too long and too slow.

2:36:20And we need to make this happen.

2:36:22It's a good ordinance and it's it's really going to be helpful

2:36:25And I just hope we can move forward with it

2:36:28rather than, you know, drag it out longer than necessary.

2:36:32Thank you for bringing it.

2:36:33And approving it.

2:36:34And I hope we can implement it as soon as possible.

2:36:36Thank you.

2:36:37Thank you.

2:36:38Thank you.

2:36:39And next Speaker is Robin Mitchell.

2:36:43Robin, you should be able to meet him.

2:36:44Begin your time now.

2:36:46Thank you.

2:36:47I just wanted to basically reiterate how he said

2:36:50it's been a long time coming.

2:36:52I'm really glad that it's now finally

2:36:58my my apologies That's OK.

2:37:01That head of my unmuted now.

2:37:05Yes.

2:37:06OK, ok, thanks.

2:37:07So anyway, I just i'm glad that it's finally here.

2:37:11And I hope that you will support I think it will be a good step

2:37:15forward for the city.

2:37:18Thanks Thank you.

2:37:20Thank you.

2:37:20May.

2:37:21That does conclude.

2:37:21I request to speak oK.

2:37:28Can we have a motion to close the public hearing council

2:37:34member able anselmo's from councilman Rudnick

2:37:40can we have a roll call vote on that?

2:37:43Fidele, I potemkin.

2:37:45So I can't remember everything.

2:37:48I can't remember my i can remember redneck.

2:37:53I mentioned Charis.

2:37:56Thank you And and be before we see commotion are there

2:38:01any final comments about this at all

2:38:03before we go to that If there's not,

2:38:07I just want to say that I totally concur in what

2:38:12howdy and Robin were saying.

2:38:14I was liaison to the QC three or four years ago I was pressing,

2:38:21why don't we have this Why don't we have this What's wrong?

2:38:26And history in fact, came in between us and passing

2:38:30this so i'm very excited.

2:38:33I'm I'm as I mentioned last week,

2:38:35go out at least a couple of times a year on a green team

2:38:38and pick up waste And there's so much

2:38:42plastic straws and utensils.

2:38:45It drives you crazy and it's all clogging up our sewage systems

2:38:49and our waterways and everything else.

2:38:52I just heard.

2:38:54And in this in this week of climate change,

2:38:56nPR had an article on cleaning up plastics.

2:39:00Might be the number one thing we can do for climate change

2:39:03because of the oil based products And at the same time,

2:39:07we're seeing articles about restaurants

2:39:09not coming back as fast as we would like them to do.

2:39:13So, As'ad, as I am about not moving this half year or a year

2:39:17faster I'm satisfied that there are two two things that we need

2:39:21to do We need to pass this and get this

2:39:23as an ordinance and give retail and restaurants

2:39:27time to learn about it.

2:39:28And the public and move on So do I have a motion for this?

2:39:33Yes.

2:39:34Council member Rudnick.

2:39:35So most council member Abels and seconds this.

2:39:38Can we have a roll call vote, please?

2:39:42In Fidele.

2:39:43I mean, person tell council member

2:39:47Apison I can't remember tamma.

2:39:50I can't remember that.

2:39:52Think I mentioned carries This is good news This is good news.

2:39:59OK, and now we move to maybe some more good news on policy

2:40:03matters We have our general fund budget

2:40:05quarterly update through September twenty twenty one.

2:40:08And it's Karen Pincott going to be our guest

2:40:11that we are city manager.

2:40:13Yes.

2:40:13Thank you so much.

2:40:16And congratulations.

2:40:17Council Those are two very big ordinances.

2:40:19You though, just to get started tonight,

2:40:25I am acting as the interim interim finance director

2:40:29in addition to being a city manager So first and foremost,

2:40:33I want to thank Lucie's, who is our senior accountant.

2:40:36She and i put this report together for you

2:40:39with an assist of templates and calculations

2:40:43from our consultants at management partners.

2:40:45So I want to thank you in advance for your patience

2:40:48and for your indulgence as you know, we're extremely short

2:40:51staffed and city management and finance.

2:40:53So we really did our best to put this together.

2:40:55For all of you and just to make you

2:40:57know that we're looking forward to feedback to improving

2:41:00the report over time.

2:41:01So I want to take this opportunity

2:41:03to let you know as well that we are working with management

2:41:06partners on a candidate to provide

2:41:07the city with interim finance support

2:41:10over the next couple of months.

2:41:12We're looking to as we as we indicated at the last city

2:41:15council meeting in the on the consent calendar

2:41:19that the council passed, that we're we're

2:41:21hiring a recruiter to work with us to hire

2:41:24a permanent finance director.

2:41:25And that will likely be very early next year.

2:41:28So definitely keep the council posted on this entire process.

2:41:32At this time.

2:41:33However, we are indeed able to keep things moving.

2:41:36We're still working to make sure we're making payroll,

2:41:38paying the bills keeping our heads above water.

2:41:41So so, again, I thank you for your patience

2:41:45but that also includes trying to continue to provide

2:41:47the council with information.

2:41:48So hence the report before you this evening.

2:41:51So to begin, as you know, the city council

2:41:54adopted your annual budget for beginning fiscal year twenty

2:41:57one twenty two in back in June And the council

2:42:01has been closely monitoring the city's

2:42:02budget and financial position over the last two fiscal years.

2:42:05Including during and in continuing

2:42:08the covid-19 pandemic and the impacts on the city.

2:42:11And the city council's directions staff

2:42:13produced general fund budget reports

2:42:15that were provided monthly to the City Council

2:42:17through the end of last fiscal year.

2:42:20Also, as you the report that was issued by state auditor

2:42:23in March twenty twenty one recommended that the budget

2:42:26report should include information

2:42:27on departmental budgets So we did

2:42:29include that in budget report issues

2:42:32As you may have seen in April, the city council

2:42:35appointed the subcommittee of council members yoma

2:42:38and Regnant to work with studies city staff

2:42:40on preparing the required six month update to the state

2:42:43auditor and consideration of implementation

2:42:46of the various recommendations, including

2:42:48these updated reports.

2:42:50So we've worked with the subcommittee.

2:42:51We worked with our our consultants,

2:42:54management partners and again, this is all still working.

2:42:58So again, I appreciate your patience

2:43:00but the subcommittee had reported to the city council

2:43:02in September that for at least the first quarter,

2:43:05of this fiscal year or so, July through September,

2:43:08the report will be provided to you

2:43:10as a quarterly report instead of each month

2:43:13That's mainly for two reasons.

2:43:15One, that the first quarter of the fiscal year

2:43:17does not have as much activity, particularly

2:43:19on the revenue side.

2:43:21And of course, the fact that the finance department is pretty

2:43:23depleted right now.

2:43:25So this is the first version again.

2:43:27So we'll appreciate your feedback.

2:43:29But we definitely will be improving once we're

2:43:32able to get our interim finance report in probably

2:43:35within the next couple of weeks over the next couple of months.

2:43:38So the next set of reports before you

2:43:42could change or may be different are

2:43:43certainly implemented updated.

2:43:45And then once we get our new permanent finance

2:43:47director on we can we can work with with that as well.

2:43:51So continued work in progress So I will share my screen

2:43:56and just give you some of the highlights.

2:43:58I won't read the report to you because i

2:43:59assume that you have done that.

2:44:01But i will show you some highlights

2:44:02to be able to share with the public

2:44:05if I can find the correct window Just one moment.

2:44:11Oh, To begin I have all of my notes performing All right.

2:44:29So these again, I'm not going to read the whole

2:44:31I'm just showing some some highlighted

2:44:33charts from the report.

2:44:35You'll note that the report was meant to be a little bit more

2:44:38of a narrative format, although I did also try to make some

2:44:41of those highlights in the stack report as well on So, again,

2:44:46one of the one of the recommendations

2:44:49to the state auditor was to show departmental budgets.

2:44:52And so here depicts through the first quarter

2:44:56revenues and expenditures by apartment The the big one here,

2:45:02if you can see my screen where this is this is a grant payment

2:45:06that we received that we're reallocating

2:45:09so that is a bit of an anomaly.

2:45:11But everything else is trending The totals

2:45:14trending about fourteen percent right now

2:45:17of our adopted budget, our adopted budget is forty million

2:45:20dollars in revenue Again, this is just the general fund

2:45:23These are the actuals, the non departmental

2:45:26is essentially the largest part of our revenue budget.

2:45:31Because that is where all of the taxes, all of the general taxes

2:45:35and anything that's not specifically collected

2:45:37by department is collected So that's

2:45:40why this number is so large compared to all the others.

2:45:44But I will note that the departments are doing oK as

2:45:49of note, I want to give a shout out

2:45:50to the Community Development Department for all

2:45:54the shorting stoppages and all of the issues

2:45:56that we had in the building division,

2:45:58they are cranking stuff out and we've

2:46:00had a few big project that have come in

2:46:02and a few more that have come in since then.

2:46:05So right now we're almost at fifty percent of our budget

2:46:08and that's outstanding.

2:46:11Public works.

2:46:11As you know, this is general fund.

2:46:13The majority of public works is revenues are expenditures

2:46:17are in special funds as well.

2:46:20Fire This is a lot of the revenues

2:46:23have to do with our payments from Kensington

2:46:25Fire Protection District.

2:46:27Those are incremental over each month.

2:46:29So that'll go up each month.

2:46:34So, again, we brought in about five point

2:46:36five million dollars At this point.

2:46:38This is, again, a very, very light activity quarter

2:46:42when it comes to revenue as far as expenditures

2:46:45by department total.

2:46:47Twenty five percent right on track Love couple a little

2:46:50bit above and below.

2:46:51One of the things that we're definitely tracking

2:46:54is that, as you know, we have quite a few vacancies around

2:46:57and we have had to replenish some functions

2:47:01with some temporary staff.

2:47:02So that should even out as far as salary savings at this

2:47:06point.

2:47:06But again, we are pretty much right on track at twenty five

2:47:10percent That going to my next So this is the my notes

2:47:29OK, the the balance sheet.

2:47:33This reflects as you can see, the last two

2:47:36audited fiscal years and our unaudited numbers

2:47:40And I'll talk about the bottom line and just one moment.

2:47:43We're right here.

2:47:44This is year to date and this does kind

2:47:49of break us out by category.

2:47:50So, again, taxes of note where an improper taxes,

2:47:56we are already at.

2:47:57Forty four percent of our real property

2:47:59transfer tax budget as you know, we budgeted three million

2:48:03We're almost at half that.

2:48:05And first quarter of the year the real estate

2:48:07market continues to thrive and it has benefited of course,

2:48:11greatly However, again, as I've talked to each of you

2:48:14individually, we're definitely watching that cautiously

2:48:18because at some point, is this going to be housing

2:48:21bubble is going to burst?

2:48:22Is inventory going to run out?

2:48:23So we're certainly taking advantage of the extra revenues

2:48:26that we've been that we've been getting.

2:48:28But we're just we're keeping an eye on this.

2:48:30And that's why we haven't increased the budget more

2:48:33than we have Yes.

2:48:36Can I just on that point, did you take

2:48:38away the transfer tax lineI?

2:48:42I couldn't Or did you fold it into property taxes?

2:48:45It's folded into property tax.

2:48:46I'm sorry about that.

2:48:47I love I can help you.

2:48:49I can have that.

2:48:51Yeah, that nice one.

2:48:53Yeah.

2:48:53And then also as a note on that a couple of council members

2:48:58over the past month or two have asked about our rebate program

2:49:02And I'm going to have i'm going to try to put together

2:49:05something like something good to report to the council,

2:49:08maybe at our next update That's a show.

2:49:10There have been several residents that have taken

2:49:12advantage of our real property transfer tax rebate program,

2:49:16and they so they've made their houses safer

2:49:18and we're still being able to benefit

2:49:21from the increased revenue.

2:49:22So I'll I'll put together a report on that as well

2:49:24for the council at a future meeting

2:49:28So personal costs go down to expenditures your

2:49:34personal costs as you know, or.

2:49:36Seventy five percent of our expenditure to twenty three

2:49:40point nine million that we've got about 30 million

2:49:43or right here.

2:49:44I'm sorry, twenty nine million that we've expended so far.

2:49:50I'm sorry.

2:49:50That's unedited from last year.

2:49:52I misspoke This is our budget is thirty million

2:49:55We have expended eight million so far.

2:49:58And again, that's right about as far as about twenty

2:50:01a little bit above a quarter of the way

2:50:03through the fiscal year.

2:50:08Of no as I pointed out, and by the way,

2:50:12this column specifically for September

2:50:14this column is year to date.

2:50:16So we had spent about again Twenty five percent here,

2:50:19nine point nine million in expenditures

2:50:22while we brought in five point five million.

2:50:24So that's what this shows.

2:50:25The difference between our revenues and expenditure

2:50:27is right now is at four point four million,

2:50:30which is also on the next on the income

2:50:32statement The next sheet, as you we have a projected

2:50:36surplus at this time of four hundred nineteen thousand

2:50:39dollars The council has asked us to reach a goal of one one

2:50:44million dollars surplus in subsequent years,

2:50:47depending on how revenues continue to increase.

2:50:50This may be adjusted at midyear.

2:50:53So we will come to you with that here.

2:50:56I did want to point this out and I

2:50:58noted this in the in the staff report

2:51:01and this is a bit of good news.

2:51:02As the mayor alluded to.

2:51:04So this shows that the unaudited fund balance,

2:51:08general fund balance from last fiscal year was at five point

2:51:12five million.

2:51:14This does not include the big difference

2:51:17was, again, a big increase in real property transfer tax.

2:51:21We also received higher than budgeted utility users

2:51:25tax that came through in the end of the last quarter as well

2:51:28as sales tax and an additional one point forty one point five

2:51:32dollars million above budgeted.

2:51:35So that contributed to this along with this right here,

2:51:40which as you can see, this was our unaudited fiscal year

2:51:44expenditure total almost three million lower

2:51:48than it was last year.

2:51:49For a million dollars.

2:51:50And it was two years to go.

2:51:52The the the the common and of increasing revenue as well

2:51:57above budget and making these big cuts

2:52:00sacrifices that we've done over the past two fiscal years.

2:52:04Has resulted in this.

2:52:06This is a big deal This also as well showing the next sheet we

2:52:11were able to do write off the loan, as you all know, at one

2:52:16point three million dollars giving us an audited fund

2:52:20balance of about four million dollars

2:52:22I'm going to pause right here and take a note This will be

2:52:26the first time that the city's met

2:52:29our minimum fund balance per hour policy since twenty five.

2:52:34And while we all deserve a lot of I

2:52:36think this is a big accomplishment,

2:52:38we all deserve a lot of we deserve to take a moment

2:52:41and appreciate that.

2:52:43But I also want to make sure we understand

2:52:46that we're not we're not done This

2:52:50has brought us to our minimum.

2:52:53So the new baseline, what we have that looks forward

2:52:57for all these numbers in the future as far

2:53:01as i'm concerned, that four million dollars is

2:53:03essentially untouchable, zero.

2:53:05I mean, unless, again, we come up with an emergency,

2:53:08we're only back to where we should have been

2:53:11So now that we're here, we just have

2:53:13to make sure we're continuing to do the work we

2:53:16have to build on this.

2:53:17We have to continue to move forward.

2:53:18We've been making structural changes as the council

2:53:21alluded to, over the past year.

2:53:25We still must continue to build our fund balance that doesn't

2:53:29mean that we stop We do have to start to build back that we are

2:53:33going to need more people not having people

2:53:36Has not this certainly proven We've dropped some balls.

2:53:39We've been we've been really struggling

2:53:41morale I'm concerned about.

2:53:43So we do need to start thinking about building back but we do

2:53:45need to be very thoughtful and very strategic about what

2:53:49that looks like.

2:53:50So while, again, we're really and again, once our funding is

2:53:56allocated, kicked in, this is something at the council

2:53:59and staff will be able to work with.

2:54:01But that four million dollars, huge achievement.

2:54:04But we're only at the baseline We need to keep moving.

2:54:07So so I just I just want give the council a lot of credit

2:54:12and thank all of you for all of your support

2:54:15I think you've heard me say not letting

2:54:16a good crisis go to waste.

2:54:19We've had to make a lot of changes

2:54:20We've had to go through a lot and everyone

2:54:22has has taken something.

2:54:24Everyone has had to to come up with something

2:54:27Every single department, every single staff member.

2:54:30I want to thank all of the council I want to thank all

2:54:31of the staff because we wouldn't have been able to get back

2:54:34to without all of that data and hard work

2:54:39and a little bit of of good real estate market

2:54:43are there any questions on any of these?

2:54:45I thought I would pause right here.

2:54:47And ask if there are any questions I for Rubberneck

2:54:55I see that the personnel line item has a twenty seven point

2:54:59six three and if we are experiencing salary savings

2:55:06from lack of staff what explains it being a little bit higher

2:55:10than twenty five percent likely overtime as we have had to have

2:55:15some overtime and also a few people have left

2:55:20and so that does the payouts for people

2:55:23who have left for vacation or or anything like that.

2:55:26Would also come out of this line Thank you,

2:55:29council member Abels.

2:55:31Yeah, could you keep that to that slush

2:55:36that showed administration with a large number?

2:55:41And could you explain that?

2:55:43Because that looks like the sort of thing

2:55:45that would appear on a report that would be

2:55:49circulated to other agencies?

2:55:51Yeah, I I noted that that was a grant And then

2:55:54after we published this, I think that that grant

2:55:57should will have to be allocated out to other departments.

2:56:00So that's that is a bit of an anomaly.

2:56:03And I apologize.

2:56:04But was put under administration and I

2:56:08think it was allocated to the city manager's department

2:56:11and then it needs to be reallocated elsewhere.

2:56:14So I will provide an update on where that went.

2:56:17If the next one, it would seem to me that it shouldn't be This

2:56:22is like a holding thing, right?

2:56:25We're we're it's holding its place to deposit It's like you

2:56:31got to put it somewhere exactly where you

2:56:34figure out what it is exactly.

2:56:37I have to categoric that, but not call it ministration

2:56:41because I've seen historically where we've done

2:56:46this sort of thing and when it's how we had the library

2:56:49expenses under city council and that has nothing

2:56:54to do with the city council.

2:56:57Right.

2:56:57That's a good point in this in this administration the way

2:57:02that the categories were set up in our system,

2:57:04administration also includes the finance

2:57:06department You'll notice that the finance

2:57:08department is broken out here.

2:57:10So that was housing finance.

2:57:11And so much you with an update on that next.

2:57:15Maybe it needs to be so that we don't end

2:57:18up seeing something like that.

2:57:21Will not be easy to explain.

2:57:24Well, we absolutely fix that Thank you.

2:57:28But are you going to fix it for this data, though?

2:57:31Correct.

2:57:32Yes.

2:57:32OK, thank you.

2:57:34Because we don't want to set a situation where we agree.

2:57:38And I yeah, I see administrations doing

2:57:40better than everybody else.

2:57:42Right.

2:57:43Yeah.

2:57:43Yeah, that's Yeah, no.

2:57:45So that was again, forgive me.

2:57:48Interim interim finance I'm trying to find a questions,

2:57:53other questions I have one.

2:57:57Yes.

2:57:57Mayor Pro Tem of thank you.

2:57:59Mayor Fidele Can we look at the the

2:58:02there's a graph there with the El Cerrito General Fund balance

2:58:07on page one of five one twelve I don't have that here.

2:58:16But what I can if I can bring that up

2:58:21or I can bring that up next, but I can't so that is the graph

2:58:27that I put into the agenda.

2:58:28Bill, is the ten year plan that was presented to the city

2:58:32council in August So that ten year plan was was put

2:58:38together by management partners and actually does

2:58:40include funding.

2:58:42So and I'll pull that up after I after we go over this part.

2:58:46If you don't mind.

2:58:47And then I can explain that is or did

2:58:48you have a specific question?

2:58:50Go Have we can we can wait then.

2:58:51OK, great.

2:58:52Thank you.

2:58:52Thank you.

2:58:54Your so this is the Ballan street

2:58:58and again this is the the ins and outs, as you'll see.

2:59:03Oh thank you.

2:59:05So here last two fiscal years that we were in the negative

2:59:10this year we are in the positive.

2:59:12So this is all I'm sorry, these three columns for fiscal years

2:59:16year to date.

2:59:18What we've taken in what we've what we've put out right now,

2:59:23this is the difference.

2:59:25And as we pointed out, we did this monthly every single month

2:59:28last year.

2:59:29Same thing applies This changes literally month, month

2:59:32as these numbers continue to change and grow

2:59:36So this is just where we're at right now.

2:59:39As of September, and this will continue to increase over time.

2:59:44You get to eventually whatever the end of this

2:59:47will be So no Any questions Let me great I have a close up.

2:59:59So i'm sorry.

3:00:00Go ahead.

3:00:03Just trying to read this slide that we

3:00:05were just on the bottom Oops.

3:00:09Where to go So I'm on the other end, not the bottom line,

3:00:17but the red line.

3:00:19Yes, that's the bank balances.

3:00:20What is red represent I that was literally a red red highlight

3:00:27to show what that was.

3:00:28This perhaps could have been black

3:00:31but this was just highlight what the fund balances where just I

3:00:34just made that a different color But in thinking about it,

3:00:38this should have been black because it is in the book.

3:00:40Yeah.

3:00:41Or the parentheses could be Yeah.

3:00:44Yeah.

3:00:44The parentheses show that the negative.

3:00:46So that it's the other end it's confuse to have red

3:00:55and the parentheses Can you tell a non finance director,

3:01:00Mr. Thank no problem Yoma Thank you.

3:01:12I just wanted to have just asked city manager to just confirm

3:01:19that that four million eighty seven three forty four

3:01:23is what you are talking about before in terms

3:01:26of the fund less the one point three million

3:01:30that was written off for the redivide lawsuit.

3:01:36So this current fund balance and it does not include our fund.

3:01:41So this is really this this is our fund

3:01:43balance different by accounts to be confirmed.

3:01:48Exactly.

3:01:48Exactly.

3:01:49That is exactly right.

3:01:52And store.

3:01:53And Holly, did you say you had that graph?

3:01:56Can you put that more easily than me?

3:01:59Look at you.

3:02:00OK, so you're my question on this one

3:02:04is to so you did say this includes our funding,

3:02:09is that correct?

3:02:09Correct.

3:02:10But it does because this was prepared in August

3:02:13And I, I included this to sort of show the direction we've

3:02:16been going in, what this doesn't include

3:02:19is the most recently updated numbers that I just showed you.

3:02:23So once So this doesn't aRPA.

3:02:27And remember, in August, we were looking at a two million

3:02:29dollar surplus That's what this reflects.

3:02:32Now that we've collected everything.

3:02:35And again, this all needs to be confirmed by the auditor.

3:02:38The plan will be to update this ten year forecast

3:02:41with the exact fund balance.

3:02:43No and ARPA.

3:02:45So just a word on ARPA.

3:02:48One of the things that we've been talking about

3:02:50is making sure that we're being, again,

3:02:52thoughtful careful about that.

3:02:53And what what ARPA what the funds will will be paid for

3:02:59or what they'll be used for.

3:03:01So we've received our first payment of three million

3:03:05and that has been placed a special fund

3:03:08And what will happen is we'll get another three million

3:03:12in May of next year.

3:03:14As well.

3:03:14So we'll have six million in our work with will.

3:03:18Again, we need to confirm with our auditor,

3:03:21our work with management partners and our consultants

3:03:24have determined that the entire six million

3:03:27dollars can be considered revenue loss

3:03:30under the federal guidelines.

3:03:32So this means that as the council directed,

3:03:34we can use this for general purpose,

3:03:36for general fund purposes, they have to be tracked.

3:03:41So we still have to make sure that we're

3:03:42tracking for revenue loss.

3:03:44We don't have to report now to the federal

3:03:46government until april.

3:03:49So we do have more time.

3:03:51But that additional three million dollars

3:03:53is in a special fund right now.

3:03:55That is something we want to bring back to you

3:03:57by midyear to be able to have that broader

3:04:00conversation of that will go.

3:04:03The idea is for that to backfill general fund.

3:04:05So what this shows, again, shows a two million dollars.

3:04:08So that line would be a little bit higher

3:04:11But to be able to backfill and use that as a general fund

3:04:14revenue means that we would have about seven million

3:04:19in our fund balance So that presents some choices

3:04:22to the city council, including as you've all discussed,

3:04:25things like section one fifteen, trust, things like do we want

3:04:28to start looking at a few, maybe restored positions at mid-year

3:04:33So this is really positive news.

3:04:35But again, I just want to make sure that we, the staff

3:04:39council, everybody, we are all on the same page

3:04:41that we want to be very strategic and thoughtful

3:04:43about moving forward.

3:04:44The news is good, but i'm still super paranoid.

3:04:48I'm not going to lie and I want to make sure

3:04:50that we're doing this as carefully

3:04:52and strategically as possible.

3:04:53Will not get back to any anywhere near where we were.

3:04:57That is my absolute firm goal.

3:05:01It's not even a goal.

3:05:01I will that is just something that is incredibly important.

3:05:05So my question is, you know, when will we get that?

3:05:12The new chart that will show new Yeah,

3:05:17the current Marni's bandele store.

3:05:21So so, again, i'm going to be hopefully working

3:05:24with our interim finance support once we're

3:05:25able to get someone on board in the next couple of weeks.

3:05:27To be updating things.

3:05:29But when the we're expecting that the financial reports

3:05:32and the audit will be complete, hopefully by the end

3:05:34of december, again, we're working really,

3:05:37really hard as as well as we can with who we have But

3:05:41so what We still think we're on track

3:05:43to have the audit complete.

3:05:44And once cAFO is complete, we'll be

3:05:47able to give the council a draft again, hopefully

3:05:49by the end of December.

3:05:50Maybe presented to you in january

3:05:53or early February at the latest Have the auditor

3:05:55come and speak to you.

3:05:57So once we have the firmest numbers possible

3:06:00which will happen before the first completed,

3:06:02we'll be able to have those farm closed books.

3:06:05We'll be able to redo this chart and provide

3:06:07that to the council.

3:06:08OK, so making sure that that our Rosada know and they see

3:06:13this chart what it is right now with with the two million

3:06:17that we have in their and you look at the the years ahead

3:06:22and the difficult years ahead, with that I just want to make

3:06:28sure that our residents see this and see what we need to plan

3:06:32out in the years ahead, because with all the baby

3:06:36boomers retiring in these years, this is why

3:06:40we see the green graph lower.

3:06:44So i just want to make sure that a resident see this

3:06:48and see what there will be more sacrifices ahead

3:06:52And I just want to make sure everyone knows this

3:06:55and I want to make sure that our residents know

3:06:59that the importance of getting a new finance director aSAP

3:07:06and that we get new fab members and ASKAP

3:07:11to make sure that we'll be able to work on this together.

3:07:15Starting in the New Year.

3:07:17And that's going to have the goal that I think we all need

3:07:20to make sure that we keep to keep

3:07:24an eye on this and to keep an this

3:07:26always absolutely We don't.

3:07:28I am concerned about pOS ability of this being a bubble

3:07:35and we've bubbles in the past And and I

3:07:38am concerned about making sure that we know

3:07:45about the sacrifices with our partners and labor

3:07:48and that, you know, we get we need to get the help that you

3:07:54need to move the city forward.

3:07:58I am also concerned about the years ahead in twenty four.

3:08:04Twenty five.

3:08:05Twenty five.

3:08:05Twenty six.

3:08:06Originally, the the Treasurer said that we would have better

3:08:11years after twenty twenty seven, twenty twenty eight

3:08:16But I see out later maybe twenty, twenty nine.

3:08:20Twenty, thirty but not by much so you know

3:08:24look making sure that our residents know the future what

3:08:29we need to deal with and that we're

3:08:31where this is a concern that that all of us

3:08:35should have here in El Cerrado and that we keep track of.

3:08:38So thank karen for this.

3:08:41Absolutely.

3:08:41I think that that's what's valuable about a chart

3:08:43like this, is that we can anticipate some things

3:08:46happening in the out years that we can

3:08:48make changes well in advance.

3:08:49To ensure that we're not dipping below that line.

3:08:52That's absolutely critical.

3:08:54Yeah, but now that we are in the black,

3:08:56making sure that that five fifteen is

3:08:59is implemented that is part of what

3:09:03the state auditor has recommended

3:09:06So I look forward to having that done.

3:09:08Absolutely.

3:09:09I need to 550 115 115.

3:09:15Yeah.

3:09:15Yeah, Council member Avildsen Yeah, I was just

3:09:19going to say on the one we're talking

3:09:22about the use of the six million dollars one time we re it seems

3:09:30to me that we need to think about one one time

3:09:34uses for that absol lately.

3:09:37Absolutely.

3:09:38So we need to use the money that we're

3:09:44that we need to use other money to fund

3:09:47other things That's right.

3:09:50I I guess because it's one time money we don't want

3:09:54to go through the, you know, a bunch of layoffs

3:09:58like we just had, again, ever.

3:10:01I think now I my heart Yes, my remote theama.

3:10:11I thank you, Mayor.

3:10:12I did have a couple of comments on the ten year forecast

3:10:18I know from our work budget workshop

3:10:21that there is this is this is a summarized version of take

3:10:26Your Forecast that there's kind of a robust model that can be

3:10:30populated so that we can really look at the assumptions

3:10:34and start doing some stress testing of those assumptions

3:10:38so that we that we're on track and as everyone else said,

3:10:41I would like to really be any kind of non one time

3:10:45expenditure, particularly hiring as an ongoing expense

3:10:50I hope that we can include those assumptions into this model.

3:10:54To make sure that we're making good decisions that

3:10:56don't impact our long term health

3:10:59when we make those decisions.

3:11:01So i hope that as you work with your partners,

3:11:05that we can have more detailed and more robust ten year

3:11:10forecast as as some of the samples that you provided us.

3:11:14The other cities are doing that, that we

3:11:15can we can have some meat to dig into and understand

3:11:19and where things are going.

3:11:21So I look forward to seeing that and and thank you

3:11:25for this report in a really thank you

3:11:27to the staff for being such a partner

3:11:30in making the budget changes that were really painful.

3:11:34But now we have a really good outcome

3:11:36and it's really incumbent on us to make sure that hello Kitty

3:11:40may budget Kitty, retain all the good things that we know

3:11:46that this fund reserve is going to get us

3:11:50And I think you didn't mention it,

3:11:52but really it affects things like our bond rating

3:11:55and you also mentioned like our liability things that you know,

3:12:00I think the retiree health issue is really

3:12:03tied to that massive four and a half million

3:12:06dollars of liability that we need to address as well.

3:12:10So, I mean, we have some big big things that all these things

3:12:15are tied back down to the budget and it

3:12:18each individual choice and decision is painful,

3:12:22but it's all forces broader goal of long term

3:12:25fiscal sustainability.

3:12:27So thank you.

3:12:28Yes, thank you.

3:12:29And thank you for bringing that up.

3:12:31Actually, before we go accounts.

3:12:34No, Rudnick, I the liability that

3:12:38would be alleviated by separating the retiree health

3:12:41costs has been that is, we confirmed that

3:12:44with our actuarial consultants on Friday just Friday,

3:12:49that the idea is that the action of the council

3:12:52will eliminate that liability off our books.

3:12:55Eventually within the next several years.

3:12:58Actually, might even Alex you were the one who

3:13:02who spoke with our actuary.

3:13:03I don't know if you had any updates on that.

3:13:05It wouldn't take that long.

3:13:06Would be able to to weed out over over time.

3:13:10That would probably be several years.

3:13:13But the idea is that we are not if we're not

3:13:16subsidizing any of those costs, that it won't

3:13:18show up on our books at all.

3:13:20And so that has been the action that was taken.

3:13:24It wasn't just the budget savings.

3:13:26It's the fact that our long term health,

3:13:27as you heard to council member Moriyama, will be impacted.

3:13:31That will impact our bond rating.

3:13:32That will impact our financial statements

3:13:35And that is exactly the goal that we're

3:13:37that we've set out to keep.

3:13:39Thank you So I'm a redneck Thank you, Mayor.

3:13:44I'd like to thank the city manager and staff for bringing

3:13:47us this quarterly report.

3:13:49It really shows that you're listed

3:13:51that the feedback that council has been given

3:13:53and that feedback from the subcommittee is being heard.

3:13:57And I think that this is demonstrate progress

3:14:01in the right direction.

3:14:03I don't think that we should while these numbers feel really

3:14:09good I don't think that we should feel

3:14:10comfortable with these numbers.

3:14:12And it's just bringing into that direction and one

3:14:15of the callers at the top of the meeting said that you have

3:14:19money now and this is this is not money This is this is

3:14:25getting us to fiscal health And this is going to take a lot

3:14:30of time and i really encourage by this report being both

3:14:35qualitative and explain to folks what's going on as well

3:14:40as giving the same quantitative when we were getting those

3:14:46monthly reports So it's that infamous plus so i'm very

3:14:51appreciative and I look forward to when we have a true interim

3:14:55finance director and then when we

3:14:57have a permanent finance director I

3:15:00can see that we are laying the

3:15:02groundwork for when we bring in this expertise

3:15:06to make this so much better.

3:15:07So this demonstrates a lot of hard work.

3:15:11And I want to probably recognize that.

3:15:12So thank you Thank you so much.

3:15:16Great.

3:15:16Thank you all.

3:15:17I concur with everything that's been said.

3:15:19I think this is the first time I haven't heard the mayor,

3:15:22Mayor pro tem use the word frugal

3:15:24So I'm going to use the word frugal

3:15:26that we've all agreed that we need

3:15:28to move on our frugal path.

3:15:30And I think that's what we're doing

3:15:32And we have a slight smile.

3:15:34But that just meaning that we're on the right frugal path

3:15:38can just the last question I had is

3:15:40you mentioned that we would hear back mid-year about the ARPA

3:15:44plan or was that at the end of the year when the kafirs here

3:15:47are we talking April, May, that will have some sort of No,

3:15:52I was actually thinking because the end of this calendar year,

3:15:56we're hoping to have CAFO completed at mid fingers.

3:16:00Fingers crossed again, i know we've got

3:16:01some we're working really hard.

3:16:03So I'm hoping mid-year budget will be able to have a lot more

3:16:07conversation with the council about where we're

3:16:09at and and and you should expect that we'll be bringing

3:16:12will likely be bringing the council multiple adjustments

3:16:16So we're already I really like the quarterly compilation.

3:16:21It we can visualize a lot better and see where we're

3:16:24going more than every month.

3:16:26So any final comments from our council members?

3:16:32If not?

3:16:32Thank you, Karen.

3:16:35Heading toward the end of our road here tonight.

3:16:38And as far as city council local regional is on assignment

3:16:43are there any parts for Sorry, I'm sorry.

3:16:46Is there, Poppy, as public comments Yes.

3:16:50Just announcing if there's anyone on the call who

3:16:52wishes to speak on policy item, now's

3:16:55the time to raise your hand.

3:16:57Thank you for doing that.

3:16:59I'm hundred percent here and my i'm not seeing any hands here.

3:17:03Oh, OK.

3:17:04Thank Then we will move on to the city council.

3:17:07Regional leaders assignments.

3:17:09Are there any reports i have to brief ones You know,

3:17:17Holly and I the West County mayors Group this year

3:17:20with the West county mayors and we

3:17:22did have Jody london from our county Sustainer ability

3:17:26project speak to us last week.

3:17:28And she was very open, even though they're

3:17:30having staffing issues at the county level as well.

3:17:33That they will help us with any of our food water issues

3:17:36or any of our other sustainable issues.

3:17:38So we're going to be making reaching

3:17:40our hand out to the county for those kinds of issues.

3:17:44Also, i stood in for mayor tom Bodett to last week,

3:17:52and there's a big issue that concerning the Richmond San

3:17:56Rafael Bridge that maybe all of us

3:17:58need to know a little more about,

3:18:00about the marin Municipal Water District asking that a new tube

3:18:05of water be placed on the bridge,

3:18:07whether it's in the bike lane or underneath the top level

3:18:11to bring water from East Bay Mud to Marin.

3:18:14So us in West County.

3:18:17We're very concerned because no one has been talking to us

3:18:19about what this means.

3:18:21My life commute, it means putting new equipment in point.

3:18:24Richmond no one was spoken to.

3:18:26Important Richmond we just were told the East Bay.

3:18:30I reached out to East Bay Mud and said we would

3:18:32love to be updated on this.

3:18:33And they've reached out back to us

3:18:36that they would like to give a briefing to our counsel.

3:18:39And before the year's And so we're looking forward

3:18:43that And any other comments before I

3:18:47adjourn and memory of someone, someone very special.

3:18:51I wanted adjourn tonight in memory of Grace McNeil who

3:18:57everybody seems to know she was a long time

3:19:02president of the Friends of the Library here read.

3:19:05She was an executive on the Library Foundation

3:19:08And for a long period of time, she

3:19:10was the manager of the city city Library

3:19:13and head of research in a library.

3:19:16Her research helped us do needs assessment for our new library

3:19:20going forward.

3:19:21Some of that information still exists

3:19:24for hopefully a new library.

3:19:26And I'll sarino we're going to be doing

3:19:28a resolute mission which details a little bit more

3:19:31of her history and her life.

3:19:33But up until now, I'd like to adjourn at Tenno five

3:19:38in her honor and to announce that the next city council

3:19:43meeting will be on November six.

3:19:47Everybody have a good night.

3:19:48This meeting is adjourned.

3:19:50Thank you.