Regular City Council Meeting July 19, 2022

0:00:03There are pop up clinics for.

0:00:07Through first five of contra Costa that are now available and again the all the information is on the county website, but that is certainly.

0:00:16for children who are now eligible for vaccinations so at this point like I said, we are still in the status quo, but we will certainly review that prior to the next City Council meeting to determine if we will continue, so thank you so much for your bank account.

0:00:35Next, we have some announcements, I wanted to report that we did have a closed session starting at five o'clock and we gave direction to staff and again we so that was at five o'clock and then 530.

0:00:54as well, so no reportable actions on 713 I sent a letter to Senator Feinstein and Center idea urging the health care of subsidy expansion outlined by arpa funding being made permanent.

0:01:10On 714 is pseudo may orioles certificate to of recognition to the Reverend Dr Willie mcdaniel in recognition of his exemplary service to the LGBT community as pastor of St peter's CME net united Methodist church and as National Association for the old people n double a CP.

0:01:35President.

0:01:38Right now i'd like to call on bark director President Rebecca saltzman and she is cure via zoom and if city clerk if you can add her be part of the meeting that'd be fantastic hey if she's coming up now okay.

0:02:09Rebecca Saltzman: Good evening i'm Rebecca saltzman i'm the bb board President and one of the also rido representatives on the bb board, and I have a couple exciting pieces of news to share with all of you about the Elsa rido Plaza.

0:02:27Bart transit oriented development project a couple weeks ago we were notified that Bart is receiving a large award.

0:02:38From the state's transit and inner city rail capital program to fund some work that's going to happen at the station in total, we were awarded $24.2 million $12.8 million is for.

0:02:56Bart rider parking garage $600,000 is for on street parking management and that's to support the city's efforts to manage the parking on the street.

0:03:108.4 million for bike and pedestrian improvements and that will include a bike station enhancements to the green way and safety improvements for the east, west crossing of San Pablo as well as other projects that will be refined.

0:03:29By the access study that's currently in progress and then also $2.4 million for.

0:03:37Transit Center improvements, including way finding and digital signage so we're very excited to receive this state funding to help improve the station and help make the development move forward.

0:03:51And it's good timing, too, because tomorrow on July 20 Wednesday we will be having an open house at Elsa Reno Plaza Bart station.

0:04:03to share some of the updated plans for the housing development that will happen at the station which potentially will include.

0:04:11A new library and at that station Bart and the developers and city staff will be presenting on various issues.

0:04:21it's a drop in event from four to 630 so people can stop by whenever it's convenient for you it's going to be in the outside area, so please if you're interested in the project stop by we haven't had an in person Community meeting on this project, since.

0:04:40we've had a lot of virtual meetings so it's exciting that will get to be meeting with the public, again in person, so I encourage you all to stop by and thank the city for its continued partnership on this project.

0:04:54President saltzman done as Mayor real story, I want to congratulate you for all the work that you've done and making sure that this vision becomes.

0:05:05a reality, and it is now so again, thank you for your leadership, as President of the bark board and we're grateful to you, so you know that it's happening and we're all excited here so again, thank you, President saltzman.

0:05:20Rebecca Saltzman: Thank you very much.

0:05:23So great news so i'm really excited about that so also I wanted to let folks know that.

0:05:31On sat this past Saturday I attended the fifth North American soccer mom blom for world peace out the Berkeley adult school and I had This brochure that I cannot leave on the front, so you can take a look, so we had one of the higher ups from the Tibetan Buddhist Buddhist.

0:05:56Air and I joined Richard mayor Tom but and our supervisor john joy out the savannah Jen had a lot of people from out of the country from India from dosa llama from.

0:06:11Councilmember Abelson: Switzerland.

0:06:13Different parts of Europe and discos Los Angeles to attend this event and all praying for world peace, glad to attend that and.

0:06:26You can take a look, and then also this past Thursday and Friday attended the Liga California cities board of directors meeting and.

0:06:36we're excited to have a convention in September 7 and eighth and ninth of September, and look forward to having my colleagues join me.

0:06:48and will be voting in a new second Vice President and a new President, the President will most likely be.

0:06:58All a taj from the city of artesia and we have a second Vice President, coming in, and that will most likely be the Mayor of palm springs Lisa return so that's, my report does anyone else have any updates.

0:07:14Yes, thank you, I was glad to see.

0:07:17President saltzman of the Bart I was going to recommend people attend the open House tomorrow from four to 630.

0:07:25So thank you for that I also wanted to say what a wonderful July 4 festival, we had this month.

0:07:30and Elsa, though, and I wanted to thank the staff, especially Chris Jones and the Chamber of Commerce, especially john static.

0:07:39And the sponsors, especially the stars and stripes sponsors and all all of the rest, it really was quite a great event.

0:07:46And my My view is that for a city to progress, it needs to feel good about itself.

0:07:51And that includes having a time to celebrate to meet with neighbors to be informed about the city and to be proud of something and that's what that July 4 festival was so thank you all that participated in that.

0:08:04And I just wanted to ask the Clerk to make city clerk to make sure that we get a copy of the Council of the Feinstein letter that went out that it wasn't in our packet, so I would like to read what that is about, so thank you very much okay.

0:08:18Thank you mayor.

0:08:20I also want to say thank you for your leadership on the fourth of July event and, of course.

0:08:25councilmember fidelity's all to fundraising made it happen, and it was such a wonderful event.

0:08:33It was such a wonderful opportunity to talk to so many Community members and hear how they're enjoying life and elsewhere ITO.

0:08:40I also attended the pastors appreciation on Sunday for pastor mcdaniels at the St Peter CME church and in appreciation for all the good work in the Community as well.

0:08:52helps remember.

0:08:54Thank you mayor, I have to echo the comments that July 4 festival was so fantastic and I had the opportunity to go to most of the booths and visit with community groups see so many residents.

0:09:07residents who I haven't seen in so long in the same place and it felt really good and councilmember fidelity did such a fantastic job of keeping his promise of making sure that the event happened.

0:09:18And I look forward to having so many more of them.

0:09:22I also attended on Sunday celebration of pastor mcdaniel and it was so moving to hear from the membership of St Peter CME what he has contributed in his years since he joined as pastor and also in leadership at the LCD naacp.

0:09:40I also wanted to put in a plug that I think it was on July 16 that 988 went live, which is the national hotline for mental health support so.

0:09:52If folks that are experiencing a mental health crisis if they're having.

0:09:56Mental health episode if there's any kind of suicidal ideation even if its substance abuse issues ongoing issues at 988 is this national number similar to 911.

0:10:08You can both call it and text it and it connects you to regional resources and we're really looking forward to those regional resources being augmented and I want to make sure that numbers of the public know that 988 is now live and they can call or text.

0:10:25or good Thank you councilmember able sent do you have any updates for us.

0:10:29Councilmember Abelson: Yes, I also attended the fourth of July celebration, and I agree with what was already said that people were just absolutely delighted.

0:10:41That it was held, and that was held in such a fantastic way and I also would like to thank those responsible and I, I believe that the the two most responsible where our very own profit la Thank you Paul.

0:11:05and

0:11:07Well i'm not sure who else but I, I think that you are very responsible and I just wanted to let you know that I think that you did a great job in, and it was a real benefit to our city and I heard many people talk about how happy, they were to have an event back.

0:11:29So it really did make a difference, I also attended the.

0:11:37Service on Sunday morning at St peter's.

0:11:41and

0:11:43spoke and.

0:11:46The.

0:11:50There were a lot of people there actually so it looks kind of like things are still somewhat getting back to normal, even though the.

0:12:04coven is still with us, but but I I think there's there's still life around and i'm I hope that pretty soon we won't have a report about coven that it will be.

0:12:21Enough a thing of the past that we can just move on to the future, thank you.

0:12:28Thank you counsel a variable soon next is open questions.

0:12:34now's the time for members of the public who wish to provide public comments regarding matters, not on the agenda consent items and presentation items.

0:12:43In person speakers can submit a speaker card to the city clerk and remote speakers can use the raise hand feature to request to speak.

0:12:51Please remember to identify yourself and your city of residents at the beginning of the comments city clerk Please proceed.

0:12:59Thank you mayor, where we give an opportunity for those on the call to raise their hand to speak i'll quickly announced that we did receive written public comments.

0:13:07For tonight's meeting that were posted online as part of our supplemental materials and provided directly to the Council members.

0:13:13This included comments for items, not on the agenda from cordell hendler.

0:13:17trina mackey Peter P howdy gowdy as chair, on behalf of the environmental quality committee john stashing Michael Fisher Nick is Mr Ono Gary prost Sean angles and Sue and Paul Duncan.

0:13:30not this time mayor, I have nine remote request to speak as well as five six in person request to speak, can you please confirm the three minute time limit for me, I will do a two and a half.

0:13:59Okay, so we will begin with our in person request to speak so our first request to speak is Gary prost followed by Fred bialy.

0:14:12Good evening, good evening mayor Council, my name is carrie prost and i'm representing tonight make elsewhere yo fire safe, a group of concerned neighbors.

0:14:24I would like to address the need for restricted parking on city streets on red flag days.

0:14:30As i'm sure you're all aware we're in the midst of a multi year drought.

0:14:35Much of Elsa rainbow has been classified by cal fire is a very high fire hazard severity zone.

0:14:43And the native grasses on the hillside have been replaced by lush some would say overgrown urban forest, we have many winding and narrow streets.

0:14:55So we didn't make l street oh fire safe are concerned that with parking allowed on both sides of the streets bottlenecks will develop during an urban wildfire.

0:15:08has occurred in oakland at their fire and paradise and elsewhere.

0:15:13Vehicles exiting an evacuation area, as well as access for fire engines and emergency vehicles would be hampered by cars parked along the streets, and then a letter or an email I submitted today there's a photograph with cars parked either side, and maybe 10 feet of clearance.

0:15:35So we urge Council to follow the lead of Los Angeles beverly hills pasadena oakland kensington and others to restrict parking along narrow traffic corridors on red flag days.

0:15:48Any city street that's too narrow to allow the largest fire truck should have no parking on either side of the street.

0:15:56Slightly wider rows should allow parking on one side only on red flag days these zones should be clearly posted.

0:16:04With those breaking these common sense rules being towed at the owners expense let's prevent loss of life and put safety first thank you, thank you, thank you, our next speaker is Fred bialy followed by Bill pair bearish.

0:16:23Good evening mayor and Council members, my name is Fred bialy and i've lived in El circo since 1991 and i'm here tonight to say it's well past time for the City Council to act on the climate emergency.

0:16:38In August of 2019 it climate emergency resolution recognize the need for urgent climate action, the City Council committed to reaching zero greenhouse gas emissions city wide as quickly as possible.

0:16:55A climate subcommittee was formed to spearhead the city's efforts.

0:17:01But the city's financial crisis seems to have stalled any action, the latest IPCC reports confirmed that we are headed for planetary disaster.

0:17:13If we don't get serious about cutting greenhouse gas emissions emissions need to be cut 50% by 2030 to still have hope and limiting global heating to 1.5 degrees centigrade.

0:17:27So one way to decrease emissions and Elsa fritos for new buildings to be all electric gas free buildings are also healthier safer and cheaper to build.

0:17:40So, together with 350 contra Costa we circulated a petition asking for two actions from city council.

0:17:48The first is to immediately direct the city staff to prepare an ordinance requiring that new buildings and elsewhere ITO should be all electric a draft of this ordinance should be presented to the city council for review, no later than September 30 this year.

0:18:08The second request is that the climate subcommittee present to the full City Council, by the same date additional immediate actions to be taken to address the climate emergency.

0:18:19So, since July 4 we have collected 279 signatures, this is a small sampling in a short period of time, I expect that the vast majority of people, then Elsa rido some more.

0:18:33Climate Action and don't want the city council to ignore the climate emergency any longer, so I have a packet with the petitions can I give it to the city clerk and thank you so much for your listening, thank you, thank you, our next speaker is bill bearish followed by buddy access ej.

0:18:57Good evening.

0:18:58Good evening Council members there, I am indeed bill bearish and I do live in Elsa rido also here representing 350 contra Costa and following on fred's remarks when we conceived of this petition idea.

0:19:19It was, I think, as Fred emphasized, based on the fact that the Council had already resolved to address the climate crisis on a local level, but it done nothing to actually implement any changes.

0:19:36And what that does, in addition to letting the problem of climate change worsen.

0:19:44is to leave a void in the leadership space for city residents.

0:19:52That is without specific guidance from the city.

0:19:57As embodied in the Council and the end your predecessors citizens find themselves.

0:20:06At a loss in trying to determine how best to plan for and act on their own behalf, to contribute to climate change mitigation.

0:20:21city council is empowered in fact.

0:20:25expected.

0:20:27To.

0:20:29Bring formulas and implement policies that improve and protect the lives of Elsa vetoes residents.

0:20:40Doing nothing in the face of the climate crisis over the last nine years does not fulfill that mandate.

0:20:52We understand that city leaders must countenance an array of issues, including some that, at times, create a sense of urgency that seemed to supersede anything else on the table.

0:21:07Nonetheless, we have to ask that you lead.

0:21:13Given the crucial nature of the problem at hand, we can't simply be pilotless.

0:21:21that's why we're asking the Council to take the actions described in the petition.

0:21:27And not just to regain the ground that we've lost, but to make sure that we don't lose further ground.

0:21:35Thank you for your time and attention, thank you very much thank you our next speakers buddy acquisition, followed by Peter pan.

0:22:03Good evening, my name is buddy acquisition i'm a resident of Honda gardens i've been there since.

0:22:10And i'm here in support of the consideration of a senior Center for the city of Elsa Rico and i've approached each of you well not each and every one of you, but i've made approaches here and they're related to that topic.

0:22:27And my perception is that there's some defensiveness.

0:22:32i'd like to recommend that we do not go into any adversarial direction.

0:22:40i've asked the same question related to the petition of two of the city council people and i've gotten two different answers.

0:22:49i've also heard from a city council person that they are dismissive of the value of the open house in your Center that we had behind the library on Stockton street years ago.

0:23:04My recommendation to you is communicate with us.

0:23:10talk to us.

0:23:13Have a relationship with us so that we can have some notion about where you're coming from on these topics.

0:23:22I have to strolls into seminars every week.

0:23:25each of you is invited to participate.

0:23:29we're going to go to.

0:23:32Albany Bob.

0:23:34let's see what once a week from Monday.

0:23:39Or is it Monday so anyway GABE you I know you you like to Albany bub you've stroll with us before come stroll with us man communicate with us let's be friends and let's let's recognize that there's nobody that's adamantly opposed to a senior Center that's it no but.

0:24:03Then I would like to speak to what seniors do in the Community.

0:24:10We donate.

0:24:13We contribute.

0:24:15We participate we initiate we innovate programs and activities in the Community of the city of El cerrito.

0:24:2725% of us are seniors that is a chunk that's a big number.

0:24:33We represent an important component of the culture of the city of St Rita.

0:24:39We want to senior Center.

0:24:42Thank you, our next speaker is Peter pan, followed by a yummy song.

0:24:54The Mayor and city council members.

0:24:58By topic is a.

0:25:00house ivison moratorium.

0:25:03Our city is the only city in the whole entire concert Scott Costa county they still have a vision moratorium effect even Richmond doesn't have now.

0:25:17There was a fifth amendment in the US Constitution, which says it.

0:25:32said, you cannot take the personal property private property for.

0:25:40common good us without just conversation.

0:25:46The this cross is intended to uphold the principle that the government's not.

0:25:54single out individuals to bear excessive burdens, I mean support up I in.

0:26:03Important public good.

0:26:07But our cities ivison moratorium is essentially a violation of this cross because our city doesn't have the money, and I don't think we have the intention to pull by assistant to those small in laws that has been not able to collect rent for months and months and i'm.

0:26:30sacrificing a field for the common good actually is the evil communist doctrine.

0:26:39And if this one keep going American will become a oppressive society in which the garden a sacrifice herbal.

0:26:53So please least is monitored Liam.

0:26:58give you some more Natalia for our city sake, and also for the sake of our constitution, thank you, thank you, thank you, our next speaker is yummy song and then we'll go to our remote request to speak.

0:27:17Good afternoon, Mr Mayor and the Council member, this is my third time come here.

0:27:26So I think you're already know my story already so.

0:27:31Sorry i'm so excited.

0:27:33i'm very happy to see your guys, so you know.

0:27:38Five years ago, a kid's Father went back China now we'll come back to me on am I going to do my my artists on to become.

0:27:47The teenager Oh, he left and he laid the rental property and the range the rental income is my most important income to support our family so since.

0:28:03We didn't get rent and very happy we're happy.

0:28:08You guys have me also connected with the sea represent to have regard to the federal rent money, but you know, so I still continue experiments on this extreme finance family and a mental health issue because I couldn't collect rent until now, so now.

0:28:32That i'm Peter into up to 22,500 again it's just to give made it into another bad financial situation so.

0:28:49i'm go to citizen i'm hard working I do three part time job at to unlike Java part time job and the nine time job i'm a full time student.

0:29:01Am exalted to for this intubation so this just to come going on and on and on two years, no and I couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel for me it's just a total black, so I came here to value place so.

0:29:21I understand some tennis maybe have a hard financial situation, but I don't think everything is how I don't think my tomato yeah they must have some other.

0:29:34Income yes and the I don't know anyway, I think the mission of the rental property program is to promote neighborhood.

0:29:42And the communities stability how healthy housing and affordability and four hours three to 10 is through the regular some of those.

0:29:52landlord tenant matter, please finish your statement are out of time Okay, thank you yeah so I believe a wire meeting Atlanta last provided to a fair return, I hope it will land allowed a fair return.

0:30:07yeah Thank you very much thank you, thank you will now go to our remote remote request to speak we'll start with our first speaker who is cordell hendler cordell you should be able to unmute and begin your time now.

0:30:20Can.

0:30:21cordell hindler: you hear me.

0:30:22Yes, we can go ahead.

0:30:24cordell hindler: No good evening Eric went to a Council members um I am cotto handler Richmond, so I would like to.

0:30:33I would like to talk about it item on the consent calendar regarding the classification plan.

0:30:38So, the reason I had my here's my recommendation, I will use the same consultant, which you will talk about later in the agenda coffin associates, because they have worked with other cities, you know, on.

0:30:53positions and so.

0:30:55And I think that's that staff has done a great job with.

0:31:00Changing the language of the position so.

0:31:04So my my my recommendation is that i'm have carpet associates work with finance on creating on the poorly applicants for that position with and I will go into more detail about that a.

0:31:19Later in the agenda and then also for national night out i'm hoping that the Council and everyone is it's coming to national night out because.

0:31:29We we've all watched just like what we had the fireworks show bad tactic I enjoyed it everyone seemed to have a good time so.

0:31:38If we can have the fourth of July, again, and we can also have national night out again so i'm hoping that everyone will come out in to meet your neighbors and.

0:31:48Put a free food so i'm the national night out and have coffee and associates to work with finance on the budget of financial services manager and i'll do my time.

0:32:01In queue our next speaker is Steve price Steve you should be able to unmute him begin your time now.

0:32:09Steve Price: yeah Thank you i'm and i'm Steve price it live to nail Sergio since mid 80s i'm a member of a small group of s3 to residents who formed.

0:32:18Recently we call ourselves Alfredo strollers and rollers our tagline promotes low carbon access to the fruits of the city, we agree with the.

0:32:27Chamber of Commerce, that we need to grow filters the economy by shopping locally, so in El circo geographically constrained by the hills in the Bay, nothing is very far from anything else.

0:32:40My wife and I live in the Cretin son Sam Capitol avenue at Eureka and we find that practically all of our daily needs can be fulfilled in a short walk or bike ride groceries drugstore haircuts hardware dentistry movies restaurants books library post office banking Bart.

0:32:58walk score calls the credence where we live a walkers paradise, but just because things are nearby doesn't necessarily mean that they're safe to walk her bicycle to.

0:33:09and much of the rest of the world is seeing improvement in the safety of streets but America is going in the opposite direction or vehicles are getting bigger and motorists are driving faster and going through red lights so.

0:33:24This next Monday July 25 illustrator strollers and rollers we've applied to California walks and uc Berkeley safe trip to conduct a street safety workshop which.

0:33:36They agreed to conduct at that time we're very pleased that house rate is one of seven California cities that they awarded a workshop this year.

0:33:46we're encouraging people and elsewhere, either on the Richmond annex to participate in the study will be from the hills, to the bay.

0:33:54We know many people and illustrator would like to safely access by bicycle the bay trail and many rich fanatics, would like to be able to safely cross sample avenue to access the greenway as well as our county library and quest contra Costa schools.

0:34:10And, of course, everyone needs to access the retail services and Sam have a laminate so it will be held on zoom a July 25 from 6pm to 8pm please join us if you can.

0:34:21Steve Price: To get information on how to log in you can go to our website EC stroll role.org Thank you that's EC stroll role.org Thank you very much.

0:34:33Thank you, our next speaker is howdy howdy howdy you should be able to unmute and begin your time now.

0:34:44Howdy Goudey: Thank you.

0:34:46My name is howdy howdy.

0:34:49and

0:34:51Howdy Goudey: i'm good evening mayor and Council members i'm speaking on behalf of the also environmental quality committee, reporting on recommendations that we send to counsel, at our last meeting.

0:35:05The QC appreciates and supports that city council's direction to begin funding or revise climate action plan in the current budget, however, that process is expected to take at least one to two years to set.

0:35:16policy goals and will not achieve adopted climate policy in the meantime, the current context of extremely hot weather fires and drought all around the world.

0:35:26Only build upon the harsh reality of many past years of increasing extreme weather and disasters, driven by climate change that have regularly led the tragic loss of life and pervasive hardship.

0:35:38The council's 2019 climate emergency declaration communicated and acute sense of urgency and motivated the establishment of the council's climate subcommittee to bring proposals for near term action back to counsel.

0:35:51To keep up with the pace of action necessary to meaningfully meet the challenges of the climate emergency.

0:35:57It is vitally important to concurrently pursue climate actions and related ordinances in parallel with the development and adoption of the revised CAP.

0:36:06Howdy Goudey: Climate Action is not someone else's problem we all bear responsibility to contribute to continual and comprehensive attention to reducing greenhouse gas emissions as a routine matter of course.

0:36:17In addition to setting revise ght emission targets as soon as possible, that you QC recommends the following near term climate actions to counsel for your consideration.

0:36:27Including a citywide electrification ordinance for new construction expanded ev charging readiness and the specific plan area.

0:36:36requirement for onsite solar hundred percent renewable electricity in the specific plan area establishment of an inner departmental task force to work on integrating climate action as a matter of routine business practice within the city.

0:36:51With regular public reporting requirements explore possible transition to default 100% renewable power from nc for all LCD to customers change the real estate transfer tax, so it doesn't subsidize.

0:37:07prolonged use of fossil fuels, adopt a strict vehicle policy.

0:37:14For.

0:37:16quickly reducing.

0:37:18CO2.

0:37:20Emissions of the vehicles and.

0:37:24As an interim pursue renewable diesel so.

0:37:29Can you finish your statement, please, how do you.

0:37:31Howdy Goudey: Absolutely yeah that's.

0:37:33that's it it's all written in more detail than I just went through, and I thank you for your time and consideration, we look forward to your attention to climate action okay.

0:37:42appreciate that, thank you, thank you, our next speaker is mark levine.

0:37:48Thank you should be able to unmute him begin your time now.

0:37:53Mark Levine: Very much good evening Council members and mayor.

0:37:59Let me first introduce myself, since I have not been at this forum, before I have lived in elsewhere ITO since 1992 happily so.

0:38:10Before that I got my PhD from cow in chemistry and i've worked at Lawrence Berkeley national lab as a scientist since 1979.

0:38:21involved in deep analysis of energy efficiency, especially for buildings and appliances and I might mention that i'm lead author on three assessments reports at the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, including the report that won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 I come before you.

0:38:41to recommend two actions.

0:38:45both of which have been mentioned by previous speakers Fred bialy talked about the advantages of having an ordinance and the the real need to have an ordinance requiring all residential.

0:38:58Generally commercial buildings to use electricity is an energy source, I would only add to that that in order for California to meet 2045 mission goals, it is essential that this be done and i'd be done soon, because any year that's still a means emissions in.

0:39:18Unless, of course, the.

0:39:20gas infrastructure in the building is is taken out.

0:39:25I would point out one additional thing many cities in the area have introduced ordinances, so it should be relatively easy for us reader to do this.

0:39:36quickly and on the updated Climate Action Plan i'm delighted that you're starting at that is also essential, are in fact if cities don't adopt these and follow them.

0:39:51Then California has no chance to meet its 2045 goal and it's particularly important in this environment where the Federal Government has gridlock.

0:40:00On climate change that states and localities do the maximum they can, so I think this is an opportunity for the Council to do something important will contribute to our well being to pride and being here and the time to act is right now, thank you very much.

0:40:19Thank you, our next speaker is Sean Sean you should be able to.

0:40:28shawnee you are using an outdated version of zoom so i'm unable to.

0:40:32allow you to speak, you can use the phone number on page one of the agenda, if you would like to try calling in and hit star nine to raise your hand and hopefully we can circle back to you at the end of the.

0:40:43Public comment i'll go to our next speaker carolyn weinstein why singer carolyn you should be able to unmute him begin your time now.

0:40:52Carolyn Wysinger: Thank you so much, thank you mayor keen to and city council members and I won't take too much time because i've had so many.

0:41:00Other Community Members who have said a lot of the things that I clicked into say today, my name is carolyn I singer I am a resident here.

0:41:06In Elsa Rita and I first wanted to to think councilmember fidelity for an amazing fourth of July event, it was so great to see so many of our Community members.

0:41:15out in a safe environment where we can bring out the kids they can play they could run and we knew that everyone was going to be saved, so thank you so much for your diligent work on that.

0:41:24I also wanted to draw attention to, and I know councilmember read Nick did see it as well, there was a fire then broke out over here.

0:41:31Right off of conlon and hearing you right off of the along the trail, and I wanted to give a special thanks.

0:41:36To our public safety officers who, for their quick thinking and getting that put out, we know that the lonely greenway has so many people who walk run commuted villainy don't already bark.

0:41:47To go to all the various businesses that is a very, very busy block.

0:41:51i'm in for a fire like that to break out in the middle of the day it was quite concerning but they acted very quickly, and I want to thank them for that.

0:41:57I mean, it is an opportunity to remind folks a lot of times when we talk about the climate issues and elsewhere, you know we talked about fire safety.

0:42:03We forget about our flat areas, and especially on that green where where we have so much Bush.

0:42:08Unfortunately, a lot of our own House folks are there on the greenway people who are there late at night, we want to make sure we're playing close attention to the unused lads because it is an unused lot.

0:42:17There on conlin but also a lot of the brush, that is, in our flat areas, so thank you all again for that, and I want I wanted to also tag on to what one of the other commenters said about.

0:42:29supporting businesses here in our Community, I saw something in our Internet earlier this week, where we talked about diversity.

0:42:36versus affordability, I think the great thing about Elsa rainbow is that we do have the ability to walk into them at the same time.

0:42:42I love seeing so many of our diverse small businesses that are cropping up, especially in a lot of those empty.

0:42:47spaces across and Palo avenue, so I want to encourage our Community members to continue to support the development of specifically small businesses, the more than we have more small businesses, the more we have more base that we can fund.

0:43:00services that are desperately needed in our city, and we can then make our city more walkable and accessible, so thank you all again Council members you all have a great evening.

0:43:10Thank you, our next speaker is soo Duncan so you should be able to unmute and begin your time now.

0:43:17Sue Duncan: Thank you and good evening i'm so Duncan of Sergio first.

0:43:28My apologies to can you speak again make sure we can hear you.

0:43:34Sue Duncan: Okay, is that better.

0:43:35Yes, sorry about that go ahead.

0:43:38Sue Duncan: Okay, good evening i'm so Duncan else Rita first welcome to also read oh chief sailors, our group.

0:43:46Make else Reno fire safe looks forward to meeting with you and continuing are supportive they all three to fire department and continue our efforts to help prevent wildfires in the area.

0:43:57It is time to add completed home hardening projects to the items on the real property transfer tax discounts list strengthening homes against wildfires and it's embers is at least as important as the other items on the list hardening homes.

0:44:13Against the embers blown ahead, the wildfire has been proven to reduce home technicians 65 to 90% of homemade missions during a wildfire are caused by the embers.

0:44:24As the drought worsens and the specter of the falls hot dry Diablo wins looms the city, must do what it can to encourage residents to protect their homes and those of our other of.

0:44:37Our neighbors items to be considered are one eighth inch metal screening to cover attic and crawl space Vance or use a product such as vulcan vince.

0:44:47Replacing single pane windows with double pane tempered glass windows in closing eaves replacing roof with class a roofing.

0:44:56Replacing wouldn't siding with non combustible citing.

0:45:00be placing plastic skylights with double pane skylights we placing the first five feet of wouldn't gates fences railings or others witness structures that are attached to the House with non combustible materials.

0:45:14replace the first wouldn't board of a deck that butts up against the House with non combustible materials for more information on this kind of projects go to ready for wildfire.org and download retrofit guide to home heartening Thank you so much.

0:45:34Thank you, thank you, our next speaker is Vanessa war height, and I say, should be able to unmute it begin your time now.

0:45:42Vanessa Warheit: Okay, good job hi can you hear me.

0:45:45Yes, you can go ahead and begin.

0:45:47Vanessa Warheit: Great Thank you, I want to echo a few other comments that you've heard tonight, especially the call for urgent action on climate.

0:45:55I definitely support the environmental quality committees, recommendations and hope you will act with urgency on those.

0:46:02I support buddies call for a senior Center I really think that needs to be prioritized going forward, I want to love an ECHO carolyn's called a walk and chew gum at the same time, it is absolutely true, we need to support diverse small businesses and.

0:46:17I also want to echo everyone's thanks to Council and all of the organizers for the world, one festival, I had a fantastic time and I just think it's a jewel in the in our crown I want to comment on two of the consent calendar items five g.

0:46:36The meetings via teleconferencing I just want to put in a request for some way for those of us calling in remotely to see who else is in the room, virtually and light and in reality.

0:46:49It is, it is not a true civic space when we cannot see each other so i'm publicly requesting that you be more transparent about who is attending those meetings, both City Council meetings and.

0:47:02Commission meetings i've on more than one occasion, had the.

0:47:06unfortunate experience of raising my hand and not being called on, and having no recourse and no way to sort of way jump up and down or ask somebody else or know even who else is there, so.

0:47:16would really appreciate your attention to that and then for five Jay i'm just curious if the city has conducted a competitive process for that consultant for grant writing because $175 an hour seems awfully high and then lastly i'm just commenting on the budget.

0:47:37Since the Fed raised interest rates recently I I went and checked home sales, because I know that our current budget really relies on transfer fees and.

0:47:48home sales appear to be quite a bit below expectations that were laid out and the recently approved budget.

0:47:54So I just like to suggest that Council and management, closely monitor sales over the next month or so and prepare to take remedial action on the budget if those numbers, continue to be below expectations Thank you so much, thank you.

0:48:08Thank you, our next speaker is allison see allison you should be able to unmute and begin your time now.

0:48:14Allison C.: Meaning so much, can you hear me all right hi everyone, thank you, my name is allison Cooper i'm a resident else we do with deep roots in the Community.

0:48:22Allison C.: And i'm also a member of 350 barrier action, a climate advocacy organization.

0:48:26Allison C.: And so i'm here tonight to go i'd be all these comments earlier and draw attention to the petition signed by many fellows sweeter residents in support of stronger climate action from our city.

0:48:35Allison C.: Since our city declared in 2019 that climate change is in fact an emergency facing our Community, not enough has been done.

0:48:41Allison C.: i'm assuming that no one in our city leadership needs to be convinced, to the urgency, or the reality of climate change.

0:48:47Allison C.: As we're seeing around the world, of course, in that regard sitting heat waves and wildfires.

0:48:51Allison C.: Right now, climate change is happening with dangerous effects so i'm worried about how this will affect us to retail but luckily there's much we can do.

0:48:59Allison C.: So as Fred mentioned building electrification which are large number of other cities in California have already required.

0:49:05Allison C.: Is within the city's jurisdiction and can have a meaningful impact on climate change, along with the other recommendations, but he also mentioned.

0:49:11Allison C.: These actions also benefit us readings, by setting us up for the inevitability of a future without fossil fuels.

0:49:16Allison C.: I hope that our city council which you're requesting the petition and take meaningful action that i'm sure, a majority of s3 to residents support climate change is absolutely an emergency and we need to act accordingly.

0:49:26Allison C.: separately, I also want to speak up in support of the senior Center and also we do.

0:49:29Allison C.: Our community would absolutely benefit from our services, especially for our wonderful seniors and I hope to see a new Center like albany's here to.

0:49:36Allison C.: As buddy described, I cannot imagine a better way to thank all of our else three two seniors for all that they contribute to our Community, by giving them a Center to continue with their awesome programming.

0:49:46Allison C.: Thank you so much to Fred and bill and howdy and Vanessa and mark and so many others, for all your work on the local climate change work going on here.

0:49:53Allison C.: And buddy of course for all you do for our Community, thank you all for your time and since I have a couple extra seconds.

0:50:00Allison C.: I just want to speak to in favor of the eviction moratorium, we have a huge homelessness crisis in our Community now and I just hope that we continue to do everything possible to keep keep housed Thank you so much again for your time have a good night everyone.

0:50:14Thank you, our next speaker is Linda came when they should be able to unmute and begin your time now.

0:50:21Linda Cain: Thank you, can you hear me.

0:50:22Yes, we can.

0:50:24Linda Cain: appreciate the chance to speak with you all Hello city council and mayor i'm Linda Cain I live in Elsa rainbow and i've been here for.

0:50:30Since 93 I believe I just wanted to ask you tonight what motivates you to do what you do and also Rico.

0:50:37And in the city government I don't know exactly what motivates you, but I have some guesses it could be, you want to be part of the Community to serve the Community.

0:50:45be respected by others and yourself and be cared about and seen by others, well, those are same same things that motivate your seniors who are 25% of the city.

0:50:57population, and when you get to be senior it can be a little harder to meet those needs, because maybe you're not working in your regular job.

0:51:05But one way to meet our needs is to have a senior Center like our old open house that's open to all the seniors.

0:51:12In the Community and before the pandemic, we had an Elsa Rita senior Center that fulfilled a lot of our basic needs.

0:51:20And among the activities we had was a popular sing along group that met every week with 30 people at least dancing conversation group hanging out and drinking coffee with others.

0:51:33Community functions like holidays celebrations i'm just a chance to to visit and also have conversation groups and we even had free podiatry and reduced rate massage so a lot of things were provided, then, that we don't have now.

0:51:50And since the pandemic and the city financial crisis, I know this has been a problem but we've had much reduced senior services.

0:51:57And to tell the truth, we have some alternate Sir senior services co sponsored with the school district and we're fighting to keep those.

0:52:05So I understand you you've got to balance the city budget, but I just want to let you know the seniors are watching waiting and voting and we would like an Elsa rainbow senior Center again thank you so much.

0:52:19Thank you, and I have our next speaker is calling by phone books, with the phone number ending for eight zero Hopefully, this is our Sean angles from earlier, and you are unmuted Can you see if we can hear you.

0:52:37Yes, hi this is Sean angle.

0:52:39Perfect we can hear you can go ahead and begin your time now.

0:52:43Ray good evening, my name is Sean angles, our family our longtime Homeowners and telstra burrito.

0:52:49And i'm here to encourage the Council to please support we opening the else through the Community Center for private rental events.

0:52:58I understand the city is cautiously recovering since the pandemics and we had served the Community Center reopened weekdays for city Program.

0:53:06Our family has been patiently waiting for reopening launch date for rental events, so we can host a meaningful memorial park deceased Father Bob bangles, who was a 38 year.

0:53:18employee of the LCD parks department I Father Bob work on the original Elsevier team to build landscape, open and maintain the Community Center during his parks department career from 1959 to 1997 his retirement.

0:53:33I would like to honor his lifetime contributions to the parks and recreation and i'd like to those his memorial to be a Community Center reopening first event.

0:53:43Thank you.

0:53:46Thank you, our next speaker is sherry dropping her hair, you should be able to unmute and begin your time now.

0:53:52**Sherry Drobner: yeah hi good evening, I just wanted to report, something that happened on Saturday be good information for you to have in regards to services and again house, I came across a gentleman.

0:54:06he's 61 and he is was on the loney greenway and he's got a lot of concerns issues health issues, basically we'd really like to be into in a program, and this is a Saturday.

0:54:21And all I could do is I suggested, you know the 211, but I also and I said I would contact the core person who am I actually know and try to make sure that that connection could be met.

0:54:34So when I did talk to the core person on Monday he said Oh, you know nothing happens on the weekend and just so you know that I said Okay, and then he said and.

0:54:44i'm working you know the West county I have so much stuff going on and i'm doing I haven't even you know I don't know when i'll get to Elsa Rita.

0:54:55I said okay that's good to know, so I guess, and he said yeah there's a lot of stuff going on and Elsa read other have been a lot of maintenance and elsewhere, you know.

0:55:04And I said Oh, you know i'm told that there's you know, only eight people you know, without homes and L three now, and he said no that's crazy it's very active so i'm reporting that and also just to say that.

0:55:19The other women who I work with some other folks getting into a program and.

0:55:25moving toward transitional housing is doing well, but it also took not just the work of core it also took working with save organize spaces and having one of their people.

0:55:37visit her on a regular basis and make her comfortable enough to go out to antioch so she would start accepting services so it's a complex issue, but I just wanted to let you know about some of the things that are going on in the Community, thank you.

0:55:54Thank you, and our final speaker under this item tonight is Dave weinstein, which is actually another in person speaker.

0:56:03mayor and Members to Councils Dave weinstein speaking on behalf of the real historical society, and I really appreciate the resolutions honoring the recycling Center.

0:56:13On a nursery and Joel with a role, who was just a example Republic official came to the city to run parks and recreation.

0:56:22became the Community services director it really took it upon himself to have general oversight of the recycling Center.

0:56:30The reason the recycling Center is still here today, I strongly believe that because of Joel on several occasions during his tenure.

0:56:39It was threatened with closure and he managed to work out funding mechanisms and other ways to keep it going so it's a very historical place i'm glad we're recognizing it.

0:56:49And we wouldn't have it, if it were not for Joel and so thank you very much, and I hope you can all attend on August 5 530 that's.

0:56:5920 years to the day when the recycling Center first open to the day and they'll be speakers art events.

0:57:06free food and drink, so it should be really good hope to see you all there and hope to see a lot of Members of the Community there as well, thank you.

0:57:14Thank you, thank you mayor that does conclude our request to speak very good Thank you um I wanted to make a statement for our friends and folks in the audience that did.

0:57:26speak earlier regarding the Climate Action Plan as as a member of the Executive Committee of marine clean energy, I want folks to know here and Elsa Rita that.

0:57:39We are working regionally, to make sure that we work on home hardening electrification and db infrastructure, so my colleague in panel myself and.

0:57:52Two Members of rain clean energy flew out to Washington DC and we were at Capitol Hill and we did speak to.

0:58:02Congress men who represent the MC area and so wanted to let you know that these earmarks the three earmarks that we did ask did go through, so we will find out in the month of September.

0:58:18Whether Congress passes us in their appropriations committee, so no, we are working on the federal level state level and the local level, and the reason why we don't have any infrastructure here is because.

0:58:33we're not a challenge city challenge cities like Richmond antioch and Pittsburgh have burst gibbs and you can they have all the infrastructure, they need.

0:58:43On ED infrastructure, while they want Berkeley and Elsa Rita and many, the majority of the cities that represent marine clean energy.

0:58:52We have to pay for it ourselves and it's very, very expensive, so I want to let you know we're all involved in making sure we get the ev infrastructure.

0:59:02We get the home hardening for low income homes in the area and electrifying our homes so and that is through solar and for battery energy storage so but.

0:59:16So just wanted to make sure that all of you know, and are aware that we are doing this through marine clean energy so.

0:59:23I know our environmental policy group here with the city attends my MC meetings and all of you are invited to attend the meetings and there once a month.

0:59:36On the third Thursday of the evening, starting at 7pm and you see what we're doing here in contra Costa county, and that includes Elsevier he goes so know that when it comes to EB infrastructure.

0:59:49You know it's we're looking for parity Richmond has more infrastructure than than Elsa Rita Burke late and and most of the cities in contra Costa.

1:00:00Hopefully, with your marks, it will be passed in September so we're going through the process and I know it's a little long and it takes time but we're doing this on to every level of government, so thank you for that next we're going to go to adoption of the consent calendar.

1:00:20we'll go through a Approval of Minutes be proclamations recognizing the recycle centers if the if the anniversary, and the contributions of former city of El cerrito employee Joe Joel with the role.

1:00:36See national night out proclamation D single audit report for fiscal year ending June 30 2021 he monthly disbursement and check register report for may 2022.

1:00:51For year 2021 22 fourth quarter cash and investment report G authorized city council and city advisory board meetings to be held the teleconference pursuant to assembly bill 361 H agreement with a plus.

1:01:09tree incorporated for urban forest maintenance tree planting removal and planting services, including natural error natural areas forest management.

1:01:21and

1:01:24I resolution of proving in updated agreement with the county of contra Costa for the provision of animal control services J consulting services agreement with renee.

1:01:36rennie public policy group for grant writing services and K a Member to the city's classification plan would anyone like to pull anything.

1:01:48they're pretending Thank you mayor, I would like to pull item D single audit reports item so fyi 21 24th quarter cash investment report.

1:02:00Item I resolution approving an updated remove with county and contra Costa for animal control services.

1:02:07Adam J consultant services with running public group public policy group for grant writing and item K amendment to the seas classification thing it would anyone like to approve.

1:02:19The ones that are not paul's, which is a he.

1:02:22Councilmember Abelson: Only that.

1:02:24Okay, let me finish that jenna CE E G h.

1:02:32you'll move that.

1:02:33Yes, okay joy.

1:02:36Second Okay, and the second from councilmember rod bag and if I could, for the record, there was a revision to the meeting Minutes that were under agenda item a just to add an administrative note for a modification, we made to a result.

1:02:51Incorrect resolution referenced on a resolution previously past, so this would amend those minutes as well okay very good Thank you and then i'll just do roll call vote mayor canto yes mayor pro tem O JAMA yes councilmember ableton.

1:03:06By Council member fidelity councilmember redneck I motion carries okay mayor pro tem O D single audit report for fiscal year and day June 30 2021.

1:03:18Yes, so thank you, Mary I have a couple of questions.

1:03:23For our treasure or finance director and speech pressure.

1:03:42Good evening.

1:03:46So.

1:03:47My first two questions on this item, what was the hundred and 25,000 and Homeland Security funds for.

1:03:55That was related to cal oes grant.

1:04:002018 and what you see in the hundred and $25,000 is the portion that was spent in the audit year, so the total funding for that entire project, which was the repair of the fire.

1:04:15Road repairs was 170 $3,728 and 70 cents, a single audit only includes the portion that was expanded in the audit year the hundred and $25 hundred $25,000 was expended in 2021 and was included in the audit.

1:04:35Thank you, and then my second question is.

1:04:39There was a comment about the low risk status, and I was wondering why we did not qualify for that low risk status in order to qualify for low risk for the two years preceding the audit, there are several conditions that you must meet.

1:04:55The auditors opinion of your financial statements they have demand accordance with gap, the auditors opinion on schedule of expenditures that are included in the Audit Report No deficiencies of internal controls or material weaknesses daughter.

1:05:12has to have substantial not have any substantial doubt about the ability of ongoing concern and that has to have happened for two years consecutively prior to the audit.

1:05:25That we didn't meet the two year two years preceding the sodden Okay, so does that mean you know, on the assumption that we continue to do well, it would still take an additional year from here in order to be considered Lotus yes.

1:05:44Thank you okay would anyone like to move that.

1:05:49i'll move on move item ID up a second.

1:05:54Second.

1:05:56Okay, we have a motion by mayor pro tem in a second by run deck and put me your canto mayor pro tem O JAMA I come from memory Wilson.

1:06:08I don't remember fidelity I come from a redneck I motion carries mayor pro tem lower F 2021 20 24th quarter cash and investment report.

1:06:20Thank you mayor, so another question for our finance director, thank you for your patience, I wanted to.

1:06:28know I think i've asked this question before we have a very, very large deposit and mechanics bank which exceeds the fdic limits, and I was wondering when we would have some plan for how we will address that in the security of those funds and that's a very good question.

1:06:46When I joined I needed to have at least a full quarter to look at the how the clash cash flow works so look at your debt to look at your payables.

1:06:54So for the fourth quarter, which you can't see because i'm only giving you the ending balance on that last day there were $7.6 million paid out in that.

1:07:05last quarter as well we paid off the 2021 trans the $6 million dollars were paid many of the other debts, the recycling Center.

1:07:16The 20 2020 Dale leases or mid 2017 sales on various other debts, as well the total 7.6 million, also in that last week of the last month of that quarter.

1:07:33Most of our a number of our receipts came in for the month of May, so at that point in time it's a high cash.

1:07:42So, if you look at mechanics bank at 19.8 million at that point in time, and you take away the debt payments that haven't all processed so some of them are still in transit, because the wire and a ch timing.

1:07:58I plan to transfer approximately 5 million at the end of this month, I do need to make sure that was that enough for first quarter, and the reason I mentioned that.

1:08:06Is the average payroll is 750 4000 that includes calipers medical the city share fica and the actual payments to employees.

1:08:20In addition to that, we have some first quarter debt payments and then we've got general operating.

1:08:25Contract expenditures that startup in the first quarter that are a little robust and then employee reimbursement first quarter receivables tend to be slow.

1:08:35Most government agencies that we deal with our closing their books.

1:08:40In the first quarter, so we expect to get most of our revenues looking at your last year's trend, the first week of October, so in order to make sure that we can meet all the expenditures, for the first quarter I plan to move approximately $5 million on to life.

1:08:57So that means $5 million additional into this account or $5 million once.

1:09:05would transfer out transfer out Okay, is it as all these payments, yes I got to make sure I can make all the debts, I can make up a quarter of payroll know the revenue came in general operating for three months if no other revenue came in.

1:09:22And is it typical that we have these high balances, even if they're sort of fluctuating in just a bank accounts, I also noticed the interest rate is very low.

1:09:31For such a high amount, so we don't put more in in life and use that more, it is not typical to have this amount, but because we were paying off trans, we also had a couple of other debts that hadn't been on the debt schedule, so that was accounted for, I did not know everything that.

1:09:51might not have been accounted for in the debt schedule and need to make sure.

1:09:55We cover that, in addition, at the end of the year, we also have vacation cash outs of approximately hundred thousand.

1:10:02for employees and that was unknown to me what would that amount be so in order to make sure we have enough cash I thought, well, I can wait till.

1:10:10The third week of July to make that final chance for that I know i've covered everything that even the unforeseen Okay, but in future, do you experiment, I only Bible make the transfers every moment, because now, I have a full quarter of what the syllables and the payouts look like.

1:10:27Great Thank you councilmember fidelity yes just a question on that item five F.

1:10:35on investments, we did get recommendations from FAB about investment policies that we were told might be coming to the Council to you know when that might be coming.

1:10:44was for our consideration as the investment policy was looked at it, the last fad meeting there's another fad meeting on the 26th and it's on the agenda again to.

1:10:54finalize and I know the city manager has some additional information about is that didn't they already passed the recommendations to us about is the controller are.

1:11:08back on their agenda again because they're supposed to review it and updated each year, so it's on the agenda for next Tuesday.

1:11:16And this is dealing with petroleum issue of petroleum products investment is one of the concerns I thought that i'd already passed, it was due to come to us soon.

1:11:26I don't know the status of the of the first the recommend the FAB had made a previous.

1:11:31that's what i'm talking about and what we had been working with the FAB on before Sandra.

1:11:36joined us was to look at more of the invest not just the investment policy, but the comprehensive financial policy so once that the FAB was going to review that and take a look at it, we were going to bring those all.

1:11:50at once, to be able to pass those policies so that we could report that to the State auditor so that was the original intent, so I imagine, with the.

1:11:59This on the agenda, hopefully that'll be the next recommendation to bring to the Council and then we can schedule that for Councils discussion, thank you.

1:12:07Have emotion on if.

1:12:10I would move five F l second Okay, you have emotion by fidelity and a second by run deck.

1:12:19mayor mayor pro tem OCEANA yes councilmember abramson.

1:12:24High Council member fidelity I can't remember redneck I do want to clarify that the second was Council our brand for tenable toyama.

1:12:33Think it's good next is I resolution approving an updated agreement with the county of contra Costa for the provision of animal control services, thank you mayor.

1:12:52did a good evening, good evening, thank you, chief, I would like staff to confirm that under this new agreement, we still have the same scope of services and same level of services under this new contract as before.

1:13:07Good evening city council on Paul Keith your chief of police, yes, the level of services that the county intends to provide is the same level of services they're currently provided the difference in the new contract is it's actually spelled out what we should expect.

1:13:24Great I know that some other Community Members I had heard them speak about their concerns about this contract, do you have any concerns that we should be aware of, I do not.

1:13:37Think Oh, I see city Benton mayor pro tem, I just wanted to note that Steve berto of the county is here and available to answer any questions as well, thanks for being here Steve pleasure.

1:13:50Thank you, Mr berto, can you tell us.

1:13:53You know, in a nutshell What is different about this contract, in addition to what the chief said and what level of service, we can expect.

1:14:03Steve Burdo: Sure, and as chief keef explained the level of service is going to remain the same what's different here is.

1:14:13Number one, this is a much more descriptive agreement between the county and your city.

1:14:20In years past the agreement was just about a page long and there was really no specificity around services which that ambiguity led to a number of.

1:14:30You know questionable situations, you know, do we handle when the whale washes up in Richmond which we do not, I just want to clarify, for the record.

1:14:39But you know that was something that the city managers and the police chiefs at wanted for a long time, and so we've codified in there what's also changed.

1:14:49Is you know the agreement that you would be approving prescribes the cost increases for the this current fiscal year in the next fiscal year but then after that it will move to a cost sharing model.

1:15:02Where it'll take into account, you know our user fees, what we do and if there is a.

1:15:10You know surplus in terms of what you paid for the services and how much it, you know essentially costs us as a department to do it that savings would be allocated to your next fiscal years.

1:15:24Per capita rate so it's a much more equitable agreement in a much more articulate and descriptive agreement that codified kind of all of the things we do in all the mandated services were supposed to be providing for your city.

1:15:43Thank you very much, County councilmember I didn't answer the question for Mr berto so what you're describing is that reconciliation report of actual costs.

1:15:54So it's good to hear that that cost savings will be rolled into the next fiscal year, however, what happens if we are using more services than intended in the contract.

1:16:05Steve Burdo: Then, that would be shared between the cities and the counties through their subsidy that they provide to our department.

1:16:17Thank you.

1:16:19Any other questions.

1:16:21Okay um would anyone like to move that.

1:16:25So moved.

1:16:28Second, we have a motion by run deck and second from nail them down, for me it came to me or pretend motown councilmember abramson.

1:16:38I can't remember fidelity councilmember redneck I mentioned carries.

1:16:42Steve Burdo: That basically you all.

1:16:44Thank you, thank you guys for joining us nexus consulting services agreement with rennie public policy group for grant writing services.

1:16:54Thank you mayor, I have a question for staff on this, I know that in the resolution, it says $60,000 the contract amount is 54,000, I would like to request that the resolution is modified to be up to 60,000 rather than to reflect the actual contract amount.

1:17:16of eating Council member that's certainly something that we can do as long as it's part of your emotion tonight OK.

1:17:25OK, I would like to make emotion Okay, can I have a question on the Chancellor for them, and this is on the grant which I think is duly needed and also read they'll be very helpful.

1:17:37To us, under these circumstances, I was just wanting to question the staff has there been any goal about success over a year's time.

1:17:47Certain if a number financial money coming back to us is, is there a.

1:17:55Positive milestone that we reach to say yes, that was a good hire a good employee higher well, I would say at the baseline of that if we receive more than $54,000, which is the cost of the contract, I consider that success, I do expect us actually to exceed that.

1:18:17Significantly, but you know once once the work commences we will be having additional conversations with our executive team about projects and about what we expect.

1:18:33or I would I would hope it might be double that amount, so that we get some value I would certainly hope it out, I just want.

1:18:40To go and Karen would like to know, I Sorry, I just wanted to note that jake whitaker is actually on the call as well if we have any specific questions for as long as they hear and what we said.

1:18:51So they that jake i've had multiple conversations with renee public policy group.

1:18:57And I have relayed our expectations appropriately they've actually already began research on Elsa rainbow and have studied our budget.

1:19:07Even before this Council meeting, and you know, not knowing whether this item would be approach, so they already are ready to start work as of August 1 and i'm really excited to be working with you, thank you.

1:19:23anyone else.

1:19:26i'm personally very excited about this and look forward to having the city of St Rita work with Randy public policy group looking at what is out there and where we've been missing out on a lot.

1:19:41And so I see this as something that I wanted the city to do for many, many years now, when you look at.

1:19:52planning for libraries, if you look at the latest Western magazine that from the League of California city is a city got over multi millions of dollars for library so but it's out there and looking at.

1:20:09The things that we need to build in the future, like a new public safety, building equipment and technology, we need grant making more than ever, so I am supporting us would anyone like to have with us so.

1:20:27You have a question, yes, can you make the, I would like to request a friendly amendment to modify the resolution to be up to 60,000.

1:20:38I moved to approve the resolution or like consulting services agreements with Randy public policy group for grant writing services up to $60,000.

1:20:47Okay, with that motion that was made by bill for 10 seconds from with changes from councilmember redneck my apologies, who was the motion on us, the second.

1:21:00It was the motion, I was a friendly amendment was a friendly mess and then she seconded and say okay perfect Thank you.

1:21:08mayor can tell mayor pro tem much yama yes Council member at Wilson.

1:21:13High Council member for Delhi I can't remember redneck I motion carries okay next as amendment to the city's classification plan Thank you mayor, so I have a question regarding the change and the classification which I think is a really good.

1:21:34And well laid out.

1:21:37Analysis of the change, I did have a question about the fact that it states that there is no budget impact, and I want to know whether this is regarding the number of vacancies that we have that our current budget can absorb this additional.

1:21:55This increase in compensation for this newly structured position and also, I would like to know what the impact is over the next five years on our budget How does that change our current approved budget from.

1:22:12With this change.

1:22:14So there is a budget impact listed in the report it's in the financial consideration section on page 174 of the packet.

1:22:24or page two of the report it's listed at 54 approximately 54 55,000 specifically $54,621 on this amount is the Delta.

1:22:37Between the finance supervisor position and the position being proposed, which is the budget financial services manager position on with respect to your question about fund balance, you know the impact is $50,000 in a in a budget that is annually.

1:22:59And so.

1:23:01you're anticipating by the end of July, to have a an estimated at least $10 million fund balance the finance department is still conducting their year end.

1:23:14reconciliation to to determine the actual fund balance as of June 30 I know our finance director standards Linda has a lot of work ahead of her because there are a lot of revenues and expenditures that are still moving around and she just noted in her previous reasons.

1:23:34Okay, can you go back to the question of in the in the report, it says that the cost will be absorbed within the department's approved operating budget so that there is no budget impact in terms of.

1:23:47altering our current year's budget so is that because of vacancy what, why is that, yes, correct, that is because of a vacancy in the finance supervisor classification.

1:24:00And so that's sufficient to keep us within budget through the fiscal year based on how long it takes to hire someone correct correct the position.

1:24:11has been vacant for quite some time, and you know if this item is approved tonight, I know that tomorrow morning, the job description will go out.

1:24:22And we will be recruiting but has you know recruitment can take several months in order to post the position and go through application, so it is estimated that we would have a significant.

1:24:34salary savings in order to cover that delta for this fiscal year and then for following fiscal years our finance Director will be putting this in future.

1:24:46Thank you.

1:24:48Okay, any other questions.

1:24:50Living one like move that one.

1:24:54Item it says classification.

1:24:59Motion by mayor proton and second by councilmember fidelity network, you can go mayor pro tem much yama yes councilmember ableton.

1:25:09I can't remember for Delhi I can't remember redneck I mentioned carries okay great next we have our presentations and we have.

1:25:18The West concert concert transportation advisory committee with deck on the sample below Ave multimodal quarter study phase two and we have Lee green black the transportation planning manager what.

1:25:34As well as Adam greenberg and project manager Kimberly Horn and associates, good evening.

1:25:43Leah Greenblat, WCCTAC: Good evening mayor quinto and also we do city council members, and thank you for the opportunity to share with you the latest information.

1:25:51From WIC tax simpatico having you multimodal port or study based to tonight we also have john namath with tax executive director and.

1:26:03We I believe we also have matt Kelly from the ccta joining us and, as well as Adam dank brooke from Kimberly Horn, who will be making the presentation.

1:26:15We know that there's a lot of detail here so in the interest of time we included mature material in your agenda packet.

1:26:24And we are providing you tonight with a very high level presentation, but we are here also to answer those detailed questions you may have and to get a sense of the city of St rita's interest impossible next steps.

1:26:39We have already given a similar presentation to the WIC tech or of which Mer quinto is an alternate in Council member fidelity is our Vice chair.

1:26:50And the whip tech board has noted that it favors advancing the pedestrian safety components and was receptive to the transit improvements that you'll hear about shortly we are seeking input from the cities of Richmond Elsa rido San Pablo and the AC transit board.

1:27:11At this point, we're still talking about concepts, we are trying to gauge your interest if any in these concepts and.

1:27:21which you might have an interest in advancing further and one other thing of note is you know we've been working with the Wick tak tak our technical advisory committee to.

1:27:35Throughout this whole process so we've been getting feedback from Elsa rido staff with.

1:27:43Our check ins, as well as when we check in with our board of directors so with that I will hand it over to add.

1:27:55Adam Dankberg, Kimley-Horn: Thank you, good evening can tell remember the Council on, let me share my screen here with the presentation.

1:28:05All right.

1:28:07I thank you for having us here today as part of the presentation will be covering some background on the project.

1:28:13Some of the need for improvements and sample avenue potential solutions that are being considered, including bicycle and parking options, as well as then key takeaways and next steps.

1:28:23To starting with purpose and and process, the overall purpose of the sample avenue multiple record or study.

1:28:30is to improve most multi modality, of the quarter for safety for all users, as well as to meet both current and future needs for this quarter.

1:28:39There is a lot of growth and change happening to this quarter and the goal is to provide a more multimodal and safe core door for existing and future users.

1:28:48We actually started this effort, back in 2017 led by alameda ctc with involvement from with tack and ccta.

1:28:58That effort analyzed the corridor between its southern terminus and downtown oakland and hilltop mall there is a couple rounds of Community engagement overall vision, development and assessment of some general alternatives.

1:29:14At the end of phase one alameda ctc is advanced some separate efforts, but for contra Costa county there's a goal to.

1:29:22focus a little bit more drill down a little deeper on the unique characteristics within the three cities in contra Costa county given their unique geometry and.

1:29:33different levels of transportation that man, so the goal of this face to effort is to identify viable alternatives that can address the overall need and really dive into the specific characteristics of them within contra Costa county.

1:29:50So, in terms of the core conditions and product need there is actually already quite a bit of a bus service within this corridor.

1:29:57Buses operate every seven minutes on average South McDonald and rapid service extends to contra Costa college.

1:30:05um However, there are very little very few bike lanes within this area on, there is a short segment that was recently implemented else Rio.

1:30:13And there are some in San Paulo, but they are not continuous bike facilities in this quarter.

1:30:18There are long gaps between pedestrian crossings and many uncontrolled crossings, particularly in Elsa Rita where there are multiple gaps and nearly half mile.

1:30:27That makes it very difficult to cross San Pablo avenue to access businesses on the side or access bus stops sidewalks are continuous but or narrow and are not well buffered from traffic.

1:30:37Adam Dankberg, Kimley-Horn: One thing to note is analysis and phase one found that San Pablo avenue is used by about.

1:30:43About one third of the users of St Paul avenue actually don't have a destination on or near San Pablo avenue and they're actually using it to bypass traffic on it so they're really just past three trips.

1:30:55We took a look at mode split on the core door today, as you can see it's it's predominantly auto, but this does not account for Bart.

1:31:02Transit users, this is really just looking at line 72 and 72 are our users relative to auto trips and you can see, the share for each mode.

1:31:15The next matt takes a look at parking on the Court or today within Elsa Rico most of the segments of El cerrito have parking on street, as well as prepping Austria.

1:31:25Many of those parking lots Austria, support the local businesses and there yeah there is plentiful parking both on and off street and as a result of that we see.

1:31:36parking utilization the amount of actual parking spaces being utilized fairly low it's less than 60% on those blocks, although there are areas that have higher utilization particularly around the House retail Plaza art station.

1:31:51We want to note that recent plan developments along this quarter are taking away some of those street parking.

1:31:58lots and replacing them with lower parking requirements so just lower parking supplies that is using up some of that off street demand.

1:32:07On these new developments are assuming greater use of alternative modes, such as transit and walking and biking and that's one of the goal is to align the core door with that assumed future vision there's been incorporated those developments.

1:32:22The City of El cerrito has been very active and planning.

1:32:25Projects along San Pablo Ave as well as amount of development activity here are the city has the same public avenue specific plan.

1:32:32The ongoing El cerrito Plaza to D and Bart study that recently was received significant funding, which is very exciting mistake.

1:32:41The del Norte a complete streets project which is ongoing around del Norte a workstation and quite a bit of development activity as of November 2021 26 projects within this quarter.

1:32:54transit and the quarter today is very what utilize, it is a high ridership quarter and they're actually more writers on the 72 series routes in any other AC transit route, the entire system.

1:33:05there's 12,500 daily bus riders on the 72 series routes and about half of those are in contra Costa county, so it is a very well.

1:33:13it's a frequent bus route and to work well used bus series of bus lines our bus beads are about 30% slower than auto speeds and both.

1:33:22speeds on both have been consistently degrading over several years the chart on the right, shows the makeup of bus travel time.

1:33:30And what's notable isn't read that's where the bus actually stopped and congestion or traffic lights.

1:33:35So the so the rapid bus, this is the faster bus spend more than half of its time stuck in congestion so more of its time spent instead.

1:33:43is spent stuck in congestion and moving or picking up people and improving trans in this quarter is an equitable solution with nearly 80% of the passengers being non white and over 60% of passengers being considered lower income.

1:33:59So we also consider the scenario where know improvements are made to capable avenue and the status quo is continued we would see.

1:34:07The order of 69% increase in traffic delay by 2035 this would translate to 12 minutes of additional travel time on route 72 are so that's just a lot slower trips for bus riders and a lot more costs operate that same level of service.

1:34:23We would see continued challenges around safety and a recent five year period just on San Pablo avenue in El Reno alone, there were 68 injuries or fatalities and 30 of those Vol pedestrians and cyclists quitting one fatality.

1:34:37i'm walking or biking or may we may difficult things like discontinuous bicycle facilities facilities and challenges crossing sample Ave, as I mentioned earlier.

1:34:46And we want to note that equity priority communities would be the most impacted with the status quo is 93% of the study area is within a quarter mile of an equity priority community, as defined by MTC making it more challenging for these residents to access jobs and recreation.

1:35:03So, in terms of potential solutions that can be considered First, we want to highlight some pedestrian safety improvements on there's a wide variety of potential solutions that can be implemented to improve pedestrian safety.

1:35:15Some of them are smaller improvements like upgrading crosswalks and others being more significant regarding sidewalks.

1:35:23Adding new crossings and approving safety of crossings with with things like pedestrian hybrid beacons these types of improvements can often be implemented in conjunction with other improvements or what for biking transit.

1:35:37So, in terms of transit improvements, there are some low hanging fruit types of improvements that are shown on the screen.

1:35:44However, we found that these types of improvements are not sufficient to significantly move the needle to motivate mode shift and make transit a more desirable mode.

1:35:52So while these can be considered they can't be necessarily considered the ultimate solution if the goal is to motivate mode shift and provide that higher quality of service for transit.

1:36:05So that leads us to bus rapid transit or brt as the most desirable solution to improve transit desirability and flow.

1:36:13there's two general ways of implementing brt and a quarter on the left is Center running bus lanes so you're you may be familiar with this with the recently implemented bus lanes on van ness in San Francisco or much of the tempo brt on international and oakland.

1:36:30And that the buses would operate there'd be two bus lanes in the middle of the street, one in each direction and that would.

1:36:37Space would be created for those by shifting one auto traveling on each direction, there would be an opportunity to buy a bike lanes along the curve, as well as in some locations maintain parking.

1:36:50The other option is a side running bustling shown in the image on the right, this exists that number of locations throughout the country.

1:36:57Most locally in downtown San sorry downtown oakland on broadway and this bus lanes would be on the right hand side of the street next to potential biplanes also with the conversion of an automatic.

1:37:09So, in terms of the benefits of brt most significantly improve travel time returning users and reliability.

1:37:16Studies have shown that reliability improvements are actually most significant and driving benefits towards transit riders and encouraging transit ridership.

1:37:25brt is really effective at that, so that we can really can translate to increase ridership and mode shift, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving mobility.

1:37:36VRT has also been shown to increase the level of economic activity and a quarter of course there are challenges to on it can.

1:37:43include significant costs to reconstruct the street and as well as impacts during construction, particularly to businesses on corridor may result or will likely result in traffic diversion increase traffic congestion, as well as changing transit access.

1:38:00So specifically comparing Center running inside or any brt.

1:38:03there's a number of differences Center running brt in general, though, is really the ideal solution for transit by fully removing conflicts between the bus turn lane.

1:38:11and turning vehicles parked cars and cyclists and other things happening along the curve, so it really provides that optimal liability and travel time benefit.

1:38:21Side running brt, on the other hand, provides flexibility, so it provides flexibility for use the bus mind by non brt routes easier less expensive to construct with fewer impacts.

1:38:30and has less effects on Community circulation and impacting Community access so each kind of has their benefits and they're strong areas.

1:38:40So, as I mentioned, in order to provide brt we would need to convert a traffic plane to transit.

1:38:46At one would expect that this would increase congestion on San Pablo avenue, which could trigger a change driver behavior.

1:38:53So that may change their mode to take the bus instead some may choose a different route use a different street or some would travel to different time of day, so we would expect the number of vehicles that would.

1:39:06Basically divert and make a different choice and up to 35% around 25 to 35% of existing users to provide some context all of those people.

1:39:15Just every every one who diverted went to it instead that would only increase speaker volumes on a by about 4% so smaller margin.

1:39:25We expect that local traffic may divert to local streets, however, local diversion route those streets will already experienced increase diversion even that do nothing scenario as traffic congestion continues to rise, on at and San Pablo.

1:39:39We took a look at some potential diversion routes in the retail area, there are a few streets that could be used for diversion.

1:39:48But we would expect that the streets are there are a scene diversion and there's a limited capacity for additional diversion some additional consideration for traffic calming and other solutions on the streets could consider.

1:40:00So, how does the butterfly effect busting travel time well if we don't do a bus lane bus will remain slower than auto even with.

1:40:06The maximum benefits from train signal priority, however, with dedicated lines bus can become faster in the auto and actually substantially faster so.

1:40:15Bus travel times could drop by up to 45%, although we would see a similar arise in auto travel time, this would result in the bus being anywhere from 25 to 55% faster or 15 to 55% faster than auto.

1:40:33Adam Dankberg, Kimley-Horn: As I mentioned, bus drop a chance to have the potential to significantly improve variability and basically make the buses arrive more consistently on time.

1:40:42And that benefit to be up to 550 to 80% on this could translate to anywhere from 30 to 35% increase and bus ridership which is typical and national studies on brt.

1:40:56So, with respect to the implications on bicycling parking within the corridor, there are a number of potential strategies to improve biking conditions, including dedicated protected bicycle lanes and crew bicycle crossings and protected intersection treatments.

1:41:12However, one of the challenges the unique nature of San Pablo avenue, given the frequent driveway placement and large number of driveways within the quarter.

1:41:21As well as a large number of right turns and major intersections each of these vehicle you know movements, where vehicles access the driveways would inherently take them across the bus lanes.

1:41:31So there's going to be a lot of friction and conflict points even throughout the bus thing So while we could provide a.

1:41:39Protected bicycle main segments and large segments on the Court ordered still remain the highest level of stress a level of stress for for cyclists lower stress options may be available on parallel streets in the area.

1:41:54Adam Dankberg, Kimley-Horn: So, with regard to the implications for centering your side running in many areas, with a centering solution both on street parking can be preserved and a class for cycle track can be installed.

1:42:05For the most part, alternatively, and uniquely and elsewhere, so, given the wider cross section a second traveling could be provided, along with the cycle track in certain segments, and this could be.

1:42:18Time manage such that could be parking part of the time and travel part of the time, but only in one direction, and all the sub sections.

1:42:25With side running there's a little bit more of an either or option, where we could either prioritize parking and.

1:42:31and preserve parking on both sides of the street, where it exists today with some additional bicycle improvements but limited improvements or you could prioritize bicycle activity.

1:42:41I provide a protected class for bike facility throughout but most parking would be removed, as I mentioned, this would still be a higher stress facility.

1:42:49So to summarize some of the key takeaways and we also want to highlight some of the planned improvements of the city has around done or take Bart station.

1:42:59In general, dedicated bus lanes can be incorporated, along with these proposed improvements, but there would be some detailed design evaluation needed just to determine how to best integrate a bicycle and bus improvements within the Cold War.

1:43:16In terms of comparing potential translations, as I mentioned that then know build auto performance would continue to degrade as congestion increases transit performance would continue to degrade.

1:43:25Those would also have negative effects on overall safety and therefore also impact Community business access with a Center running brt It really is the optimal solution for transit performance.

1:43:36With that degradation auto performance, of course, there is a higher cost and more challenging rotation Center running beside running it's easier to implement and somewhat lower costs, but without white that top end of transit performance benefits.

1:43:52In terms of final summary of key takeaways and without improvements congestion, will significantly increase, making it more difficult to move along San Pablo avenue.

1:44:00Center running bus lanes will provide benefits significant benefits to transit riders by 30 to 45% travel ban saving side running bus lanes avoid some of the implementation challenges but don't quite have that higher level of benefit.

1:44:15There are opportunities for parking and bike lanes that are dependent on whether centering or siphoning solution is selected.

1:44:23As you mentioned a lower straight straight lower stress, I thought it cannot be provided, however, there may be an option provide bicycle facilities in parallel routes.

1:44:32archie parking is generally plentiful, but the amount of supply has been impacted by ongoing develop.

1:44:38And finally, we did Community engagement, as I mentioned in Phase one there was support for improvements in the corridor, but there was not consensus from that outreach about the specific types of improvements that the Community supported.

1:44:52So, in terms of some options of what to do next, of course, you could do nothing another option could be to focus on shorter term safety improvements, such as pedestrian crossing improvements and upgrades.

1:45:03Or you go the next level, which is what alameda county is currently advancing.

1:45:07Which is providing those safety enhancements and in all four cities along the corn alameda county but also providing side running bus lanes in the near term in oakland.

1:45:17emeryville and the southern part of Berkeley and the goal is to implement those lanes in the next few years.

1:45:23And then finally The other option is to advance a longer term project which could include Center side right bus lanes, as well as other bicycle improvements and there's certainly a lot of work to do on any of these build options regarding for their Community engagement design and funding.

1:45:39So some of the questions that we're really focused on right now is you know, should we limit the focus to just the pedestrian safety improvements.

1:45:48Or should we continue to consider a quarter wide bus lanes solution, and if If so, then would is there a preference for side or Center running.

1:45:55And then, finally, given some of the trade offs and inherent with this cross section is that our priority between parking or bike lanes specific to St Paul itself.

1:46:04And does that priority vary depending on where you are in the quarter so with that, thank you for your time and would love to answer any questions, thank you.

1:46:13Adam, thank you very thorough let's go back to the camp let's return to the Council here any questions comments.

1:46:24Firstly, I see that the picture of our neighbor to the north San Pablo not Elsa rainbow.

1:46:32As far as questions go.

1:46:35You know, to the questions that were asked, I my preference, personally, would be for a corridor wide Center bus lane, and working towards that as being the ultimate goal, because I think that if we're thinking about.

1:46:50The future and we're thinking about what climate change is bringing us and what we need to do in response to that, and I think that we need to make sure that our infrastructure.

1:46:59is supporting folks being able to be moved up and down the avenue, not in personal vehicles.

1:47:05So that would be my preference for this, but I don't really have any questions, aside from just a thank you for this presentation, I know that there's a lot of stakeholders involved in this conversation.

1:47:15And it's really reassuring to know that our staff here now Sergio as well as the Council sees that there's a real imperative, we look at that nearly 60% increase of traffic flow and we want to make sure that we're addressing it now, so thank you so much.

1:47:33Thank you mayor in Thank you with Ted for the presentation it's really fascinating I.

1:47:41would like to know kind of what the tech board thought was kind of as a cohesive contra Costa response what that was.

1:47:49But also just kind of how we connect back to our neighbors to the south, because it sounds like.

1:47:57alameda county is doing side bus lines and so.

1:48:02You know wouldn't we want to just be able to have pens continuous infrastructure for buses and going the whole corridor.

1:48:11yeah Let me just make a brief statement on that because I don't think the work tag board has made a decision, this is part of the.

1:48:19outreach process that they're going to every city they've talked to us a few times and our TAC a subcommittee has been involved with city plans of everyone that but I, I had the same perception and question that you had because, ideally, this has been a alameda contra Costa.

1:48:38theme of the consistency to hilltop to oakland that we'd be the same, and I just if I can take the question and.

1:48:46Ask it back about why how did Allah me to come up with the side bus lane and prioritizing safety because there are a lot of things we should choose, I think we all might agree on safety pedestrian safety issues.

1:48:59But if we could get some more feedback about why alameda chose what it shows, then we may be able to move from there.

1:49:07Leah Greenblat, WCCTAC: My understanding is that the alameda county portion is like a demonstration project at this point with the side running because this.

1:49:20In terms of ease of implementation to kind of test the concept, the side running is far easier to implement in the short term.

1:49:32Adam is also the consultant to produce both alameda county in contra Costa county so he might be able to give us some more insight on that.

1:49:43Adam Dankberg, Kimley-Horn: yeah and then the goal in alameda county and that oakland emeryville separate quick segment is to have the bus lanes operational.

1:49:51Roughly in the next four years, and that would not be possible with Center running so The goal is this demonstration project.

1:49:57To get something out there as quickly as possible and start reaping benefits and then also evaluate its effects.

1:50:03So in the northern part of Berkeley and Albany there hasn't been a decision yet on.

1:50:07Whether the bus lanes should ultimately be extended or whether they should be Center running or side running.

1:50:11I think there's The goal is to implement something that southern part of the core door where support is really the strongest.

1:50:18and see how those performing that figure out how to expand it or so there, I would say that there's definitely still strong interest and, ultimately, extending the project, but it hasn't been determined, yet what the configuration will be for that long term implementation.

1:50:32Leah Greenblat, WCCTAC: And one more thing i'd like to add, is.

1:50:35That it is possible for different segments to be side running in some segments to be Center running, you can have a bus that has doors on both sides that happens in.

1:50:49in San Francisco on the metro line there's doors on on both sides, and you know we can't make that change block to block, but we did look at the possibility of having some transitions especially around the Bart stations, because.

1:51:09It we may need to make some adjustments to ease access in and out.

1:51:15Adam Dankberg, Kimley-Horn: yeah i'll just that that is the case on the tempo brt just for a local example outside running on broadway at Center running an international there's some other segments.

1:51:241214 Center side writing so it's you don't want to keep switching back and forth, but if you have a few longer segments, you can certainly customize the configuration to the specific context of the quarter.

1:51:37I had one other questions comment and you touched on this in the report, but that you know.

1:51:45In terms of the bicycle experience that you know practically no matter which side running or Center running is going to be tough for bicycles on San Pablo avenue because of the curb cuts and and and right terms and things.

1:52:02But that we do have this parallel system with the greenway in our portion of this corridor and.

1:52:11The the kind of how, how are these two things being considered in parallel, because I don't want us to like spend a whole lot of money with us for a bicycle solution that still kind of not the best where we put that much effort into just.

1:52:32Improving the east, west connections from the greenway to sample 11 you through the else reader portion you know you get a lot of.

1:52:42bicycle safety for the same you know costs right.

1:52:46When I bicycle for errands you know i'm using the greenway and then cutting over when I need to this, you know I really don't want to be biking on San Pablo right now, and the greenway is really you know it's very close it's very useful so kind of how do you incorporate.

1:53:04The greenway into your thinking in terms of how much effort you want to put into the bike safety on San Pablo.

1:53:14Leah Greenblat, WCCTAC: Well that's one of the challenges that we're here to get feedback on you know we have a limited amount of space on San Pablo having you and what this additional analysis and phase two.

1:53:30helped us weed out further is that, even with the additional with that we do have an answer rido compared to Sam path blow to DC and Annapolis much narrower than the right away, but.

1:53:46Our analysis is showing that, even if we do invest in pedestrian or sorry bicycle infrastructure, if it will be better but it's not going to be a an all ages all abilities type of facility and.

1:54:07You know, we want to be upfront and and make that clear, so that you know once if we go that direction.

1:54:15Your expectations are are meant.

1:54:21councilmember Fidel Thank you now, let me just continue on with what I was kind of getting into because I think we all care about the safety and I think, to move on, multimodal I personally want to improve pedestrian and bike.

1:54:38approachability on San Pablo avenue, even though you say in the report that a low stress bike lane cannot be attained.

1:54:48On San Pablo avenue so i'll maybe get to that in a in a second, but I think one thing that I am sensitive to, and I think I said this at work tak is that.

1:54:58kelsey Rita was you pointed out, on one of your slides has a lot of projects ongoing right now that has a lot of changes, whether it's del Norte a whether it's our Plaza station, whether it's our specific plan update.

1:55:11And i'm sensitive to a huge new different plan, while we're producing these other.

1:55:17things going on here.

1:55:20And so I was hoping, maybe you've had are you in the audience, who are.

1:55:30Yes, i'm public works talking about the uniqueness of Elsa Rita I mean up and down from oakland to hilltop the concept to be consistent, is a great one, but we have a downtown on sample.

1:55:43we're the only city would actually has a downtown which might take a little more parking than other cities.

1:55:49That that confuses the bike lengthen which I would love to have more of but there's some sensitivities and also read Oh, that we need to be flexible about and so it's not easy is Leah has said to just come up with.

1:56:03A clear direction right now right now yeah I was gonna sleep if she could I could add to that also if the 72 bus making our to Bart station, since the Bart station offset from San Pablo and it was a nuance and they'll swim yeah.

1:56:16seniors and folks with mobility issues, so thank you that I appreciate.

1:56:22Good evening mayor Council members, I thank you for the opportunity to comment on this presentation and also wanted to thank the with tech staff and consultants for leading this upper.

1:56:31San Pablo avenue is a complex corridor and as they mentioned, I have been working with them as part of the with tech tech.

1:56:40and other city staff have been commenting on the options that have been presented and it's.

1:56:46The analysis and this has been super thorough and helpful and informing, I think, cohesive solutions along the corridor I do want to build off of what Council member of but Delhi was saying about us being unique.

1:57:01First of all, we do have a sample avenue specific plan that was adopted in 2014 that including a vision for complete streets and also Rita or a pedestrian safety improvements for bicycle improvements for.

1:57:16Bus bus improvements and we are implement actively implementing those improvements as part of the North, the complete streets improvement project we're implementing many of the.

1:57:27same types of improvements that are being identified in this current study, so we could be like a test case here in terms of the side running brt because we do have we are installing.

1:57:39Side bus platforms by bus islands.

1:57:44I think the other unique.

1:57:48What makes us unique is also that San Pablo avenue is the closest to the Bart stations than anywhere else on the Court or our parts stations are the closest and it does involve more detailed evaluation.

1:58:01And as a Council member fidelity mentioned is we're also unique in that San Pablo avenue is really our main commercial corridor.

1:58:09it's an entire length of some public avenues really just a thriving part of our Community, and we are envisioning a transformation, and so the solutions that have identified in this specific plan.

1:58:25That was adopted back in 2014 did call for preserving on street parking as much as possible, because to support local businesses small local businesses and.

1:58:36What we have been able to find a combination of solutions that both install the pedestrian.

1:58:43walking pedestrian safety is kind of the basic that's definitely has to be advanced quarter wide it's, the most important need that we hear from the Community, especially as more residents bill moved to San Pablo avenue.

1:58:58But we've also been able to identify opportunities to install bike lanes and not only because some of our areas are wider but because we're looking at narrowing medians and that's not inconsistent with what's being proposed.

1:59:12As part of this multimodal quarter study we could still you know there's if I think our projects and our plans are building blocks to some of these longer term corridor improvements and so.

1:59:25I would just say that you know, so that our current plans and and our current efforts are really about pedestrian safety as often and.

1:59:34as possible and as you heard earlier doing public comments also Vito strollers in rollers is having a workshop up industry and safety and is really pushing us to think about quick build.

1:59:46low cost pedestrian safety improvements all along the corridor beyond what we're already doing as part of the Institute of the North, the complete streets project we're actually adding protected crosswalks.

1:59:57All along there and I guess i'll just end there and distribute if you have any questions for me or the rest of the week tech presenters Thank you.

2:00:08I just wanted to let folks know that we have a lot more that we need to deal with so let's be concise Council my variables that go ahead.

2:00:17Councilmember Abelson: um yes, I.

2:00:21Am a bus rider and I will along the AVE as a bus writer it it's I found it's really difficult to use the systems where you can't actually where where Center where the bus is in the Center or the bike is.

2:00:43In the middle of the sidewalk and I there are examples of both of those things along the corridor and they really increase the time it takes to.

2:00:57Cross do the Cross trap, you know if you fear.

2:01:01Going one direction, and you want to go the other direction, it takes a lot of time because you get hit with all the signals and.

2:01:12If the bike is in the sidewalk.

2:01:16And it's dark it's just downright dangerous and there are examples of that in Albany currently.

2:01:25So I think that safety needs to be an important component of all of this, and I really into embittered at mentioned, so I would suggest that the safety part of it needs to be included in there.

2:01:42Otherwise we're we're we're basically.

2:01:47Eliminating the pedestrian part you might say.

2:01:52Okay i'll just leave it at that.

2:01:55Leah Greenblat, WCCTAC: I think you bring up a important point.

2:02:00I all of the work that were presenting.

2:02:04includes as a basic assumption that pedestrian safety is is a high priority, I think, because of we've condensed so much information in tonight's presentation.

2:02:16We may not have emphasized that as much, but it is the basic assumption, and all of the options that we've been a bit value eating i'm.

2:02:26Councilmember Abelson: Just going by projects that are already built and how easy or difficult it is to use some.

2:02:35um you know, like Albany is very difficult.

2:02:41Where the senior Center housing is.

2:02:44I don't know the name of the street, but the is it's.

2:02:49it's the part that goes into Albany village from San pebble.

2:02:55And over in San Francisco.

2:03:00there's Center loading and it's difficult to get.

2:03:05It takes a long time to actually transition from.

2:03:12If you're doing certain movements like getting up on the platform which would, which is a bus platform well in San Francisco it's rail, I guess, but the some of these transitions that you have to make, and the.

2:03:27End signal, so that you know you can't get across or you have to wait a long time, make it really difficult to to do.

2:03:36To achieve those things in a timely manner and.

2:03:44If you have it on the side.

2:03:48Then there is no transit you know there's no transition.

2:03:53Right you just go from the sidewalk on.

2:03:57that's what makes it.

2:03:59Better.

2:04:01And also there's twice as much.

2:04:06For for wheelchairs, you have to have a wheelchair.

2:04:13How the person gets from the sidewalk where they start let's say to the vehicle.

2:04:22purchase a bus you've got to have.

2:04:26twice the number of.

2:04:31places to do it, just like Bart, for example.

2:04:38finance that problem i'll just leave it at that okay.

2:04:42Thank you get it.

2:04:44I would like to but yeah also speak on this and I wanted to let folks know that i've been talking to the President of alameda county transit.

2:04:54mayor john vouchers for several years now, because being with and we've been always thinking bold about us so know that Elsa Rico and Richmond we have the same vision of being bold when it comes to.

2:05:08The future of transit and simpatico avenue here and number one, I agree with Council member abramson.

2:05:14Safety is always number one number one for our people that walk that are disabled, using wheelchairs, but also for our bicyclist and for people driving cars and and.

2:05:28For people shopping and walking on the avenue so, but this is a difficult task at all of you have, but I see the future of this and I see this vision of you know, looking at what else doritos plans are with the del Norte a.

2:05:49workstation and modernizing updating.

2:05:54up in that area looking out what emeryville is doing and they're very bold and I know I talked with the the elected officials in Albany they really don't want to have any part of it.

2:06:07So know that I heard many of the elected officials Terry kaplan would like to go bold on this as well, and then you have people up in penn Ola and Hercules that don't want any bikes on the avenue so know that are part of San Pablo avenue is I way.

2:06:27I know caltrans has had to make a lot of payments on people that have been that have had accidents on bikes accidents walking across the street by bad planning so know how much I appreciate the task that you have in making sure we have.

2:06:46Safety number one always for all people that use aloe avenue, so we have a long night ahead of us so we're a lot more to deal with some want to say thank you to you be green black.

2:06:58and great to see what tech director executive director john nemeth joining us and Adam deck Berg very much appreciate your leadership and looking forward to the future of.

2:07:12transit for all I see AC transit know that.

2:07:17They don't have the money to earn for a lot of this stuff and they'd have to put another bond measure through, and we have lost every bond measure in contra Costa county.

2:07:27So I hope we will, if we do this, we do this right and we're going to pass it this time because the last time that failed miserably So whoever was in charge of that last time.

2:07:39You know, we, we need to make sure that this avenue modernizers for everybody, but always tasty is number one so again, thank you all for attending appreciate your presentation.

2:07:52Marriage I mean we have two members of the public who are requesting, to speak on this item, would you like to keep the same two and a half minutes for public comment of will do three.

2:08:22Okay we'll go to our first request to speak and Vanessa were height, and I think she'd be able to unmute him week in your time now.

2:08:31Vanessa Warheit: hi.

2:08:32This is Vanessa war hi I want to thank you so much for this incredible work and to express my sincere hope that the city will in fact.

2:08:47move to get bus rapid transit on San Pablo avenue I have worked on brt efforts down on the peninsula, which were unsuccessful at the time.

2:09:00And because public engagement was not started at all in fact during the process until the very, very end, so I would like to really encourage the city to do a thorough public engagement process about this.

2:09:17I actually had no idea, this was on the agenda until I just joined this meeting this evening so having.

2:09:24Some some real outreach into the Community to let people know and having some public meetings about this, I think, just specifically about this proposal would be really, really helpful, a lot of people.

2:09:37That I spoke with at the recent fourth of July celebration were super interested in having a Bible and walkable San Pablo and and I think this is going to get a lot of public attention if you do that.

2:09:53i've also traveled to places that have brt and it's it's phenomenal i'm a little I would love for the the specialist here to to maybe answer, why it takes so long.

2:10:07And I don't know if it's just that it's you know we're trying to kind of do right, and then you just have to build all the platforms and all that.

2:10:14i'm just wondering if there is a way, I know that included chiba Brazil, where it was founded the original brt was literally rolled out in 72 hours with paint.

2:10:25So i'm just wondering if it's possible for us to accelerate implementation at all, given the earlier comments about the climate crisis and, lastly, I just want to I really appreciate Council or mayor pro tem comments about.

2:10:43bike access and timing and maybe that does make sense, as a first phase.

2:10:49To to really focus more on the east, west, however, I really sincerely believe that the the final vision for San Pablo should include.

2:10:57Full bicycle access and that, even though it is technically designated as a state highway it really needs it's our boulevard and we should treat it like that, and bicycles.

2:11:07are good for our health, good for our climate good for our air good for our Community, good for small businesses, and we should be advocating and every way we can to build infrastructure that makes it safe for people from eight to 80 to use the boulevard thanks.

2:11:23Thank you, our next question our next speaker is Steve price stevie should be able to unmute him begin your time now.

2:11:29Steve Price: Okay, thank you um yeah I think it's really important to make a distinction between what the greenway does in what bicycle lanes on Sam pebble avenue would do.

2:11:39The greenway takes it's like highway it takes you from city to city bike lanes on the greenway and on sand pebble avenue should allow residents of that quarter to get to retail and services that they need that.

2:11:58And there's also the.

2:12:01illustrator radio is kind of like.

2:12:04cursed with all these T intersections, which means that somebody living in in the Richmond antics, for instance, who wants to get to the greenway or the county library or or to West count contra Costa schools in El circo they on bicycle That means they have to bicycle up.

2:12:23encounter sample avenue at a teenager section and bicycle long Sam pebble avenue to get to another T intersection to continue to go and eastward fashion, and the same goes for people.

2:12:34who want to go westward as well from Elsa rainbow and you know the city is trying to get housing to go on to the avenue so over time, hopefully we'll get more and more housing built in which should actually make a lot of those.

2:12:52curb cuts those driveways go away.

2:12:55And also that essentially means that we're talking about low stress access to retail and services is not possible on sand pebble avenue, but nevertheless.

2:13:07People have to get to the things they need to live in their living on sand pebble avenue is I am with my wife at the cretins getting to.

2:13:17Getting a haircut getting the drugstore getting buying groceries everything you can imagine, is going to require bicycling along the same pebble avenue and essentially.

2:13:29it's not for long distance it's for short distance it's going just a few blocks to get to essential destinations.

2:13:38And so that's where I think we have to make that kind of distinction is, this is not an alternative for the greenway for people to go for long distances for recreation.

2:13:48This is for local people to get to those things in their neighborhood in order to get to the hardware store get a haircut get to go to the dentist and whatnot.

2:13:59and so forth, so it's in also you know, be aware that if you live in the Richmond antics there is no long parallel routes that will take you.

2:14:09A parallel to San pebble avenue any distance same goes for people living on the West side of of San Pablo and Albany so there's there's there's really some serious needs for that infrastructure on the avenue that have to be taken really seriously, thank you.

2:14:28Thank you, that does conclude our request to speak Mare okay any last thoughts.

2:14:35let's make this free okay all right very good, thank you very much, everybody john name is Lee green flag from what tact and Adam dank bird from Kimberly Horn appreciate you.

2:14:49John Nemeth, WCCTAC: Thank you all so much.

2:14:51Thank you.

2:14:53Next, we will go to public hearings.

2:14:57The nexus fire hazard abatement.

2:15:07So we have David young fire prevention officer chase beckman fire Marshal fire department.

2:15:15really good evening, Mr Mayor kimbo and elsewhere to city council members, as mentioned my name is chase macklin battalion chief fire Marshal for the city of El cerrito fire department.

2:15:27on behalf of the real fire department membership and fire administration would like to thank Mr merrick pinko and the Council members for the opportunity to present tonight.

2:15:38they'll strudel fire department attempts to perform defensible space inspections, for every household and also read on which is roughly 10,258.

2:15:49Those inspections are conducted from the roadways and sidewalks throughout our neighborhoods and open spaces with permission from property owners and more extensive look is taken from multiple vantage point, excuse me for multiple vantage points of the property.

2:16:07Elsewhere yo fire department sent out 21 non compliance letters asking properties, to be cleared.

2:16:15Just a current update for the l street oh abatements during round one we had eight properties move forward into forced abatement to be completed by August 12 those requests for bids were sent out yesterday.

2:16:30Tonight we have for real properties constituting public nuisance that we intend to declare tonight.

2:16:41i'd like to acknowledge the city leadership for the support that has been provided to the story to fire department during the week abatement process.

2:16:48into the residents of Elsa rido many things for the constructive feedback during this process, encouraging one another to engage for taking action.

2:16:58And for accepting the responsibility that ultimately affects us all, and I encourage everyone to stay built, excuse me to stay vigilant in the name of fuel reduction and wildfire preparedness.

2:17:09And I do have the associated a pn numbers and physical street addresses of the four properties that we intend to declare tonight.

2:17:19are good let's think back to the Council any questions.

2:17:25Okay.

2:17:27So next we will.

2:17:31I like to have emotion, with the resolution declaring the identify properties.

2:17:40On revised on exhibit a.

2:17:45And mayor, if I may just point out that we do have a revised exhibit a in the supplemental materials, so we will be asking that to be adopted yeah I apologize for that the the proposed action requested this to adopt the resolution with the revised exhibit a.

2:18:00Have emotion.

2:18:02Okay, good Okay, I have emotion by mayor pro tem on a second bike Council abroad deck that me your King to mayor pro tem what yama I councilmember ableton.

2:18:13I can't remember fidelity I can't remember reading I motion carries okay.

2:18:20we're going to open the public hearing the public hearing is now open and persons request to speak can submit a speaker card.

2:18:29To the city clerk and remote speakers can use the raise hand feature to request to speak, please remember to identify yourself and your city of residents at the beginning of your comments, Madam clerk.

2:18:41Thank you mayor we we did not receive any written public comments on this item and at this time, I do not see any requests to speak, either in person or remote Okay, do I have a motion to close a public hearing a move.

2:18:54Okay yeah the motion by redneck and second fight for Delhi and Clark me yes mayor pro tem with yama I can't remember Wilson.

2:19:03High Council member at le high Council member redneck I the motion was made, though by mayor pro tem O toyama.

2:19:13Oh, thank you for clarification, so the motion by mayor pro tem O JAMA in a second but customer fidelity right, thank you very much motion carries okay.

2:19:23with you.

2:19:25Next, and we do have one additional resolution that requires action okay.

2:19:32Do I have a motion to approve the resolution overriding objections.

2:19:39move.

2:19:40To the second second did Okay, we have a motion by lucky i'm on a second bye bye make them work, you can tell me about pro tem go to yama yes Council member eagleson.

2:19:53councilmember fidelity I can't remember anything I motion carries a very good choice backbone far Marshall Thank you.

2:20:03Next we'll have an appeal it out.

2:20:06So Keep it up, thank you, fire department.

2:20:12Next, we have amended food work food where ordinance requiring single use food wear.

2:20:19accessories and standard condiments package for a single and used to be provided only if requested by a customer.

2:20:28We are back Christina layered management analyst and will prob us operations and environmental services manager on that piece public works director.

2:20:56Good evening mayor and Council members.

2:20:59My name is Christina laird has my first presentation, so thank you for having me i'm looking forward to the opportunity to present this evening.

2:21:08So i'm going to be presenting our proposed changes to our food were ordinance to accommodate assembly bill 1276 food whereby request.

2:21:24Just a brief overview of the presentation i'm going to go over what is a B 1276 our proposed changes in the impacted food facilities, the impact of products are alignment with city goals and recent legislation resources available to businesses and our timeline for transition and enforcement.

2:21:45So what is a B 1276 it's our food were upon request law in 2021 the California legislature passed at 1276 into law expanding the prior Strauss, upon request law.

2:22:00to also include single use cutlery condiments and footwear accessories affected entities include all retail food operations, including third party food delivery platforms.

2:22:12The law requires cities to authorize enforcement of a B 1276, including the issuance of penalties, the purpose of at 1276 is to reduce access packaging unwanted cutlery and reduce food waste from unwanted condiment packages.

2:22:32overview of past updates to our ordinance in 2013 the ordinance prohibited styrofoam takeout containers and require the use of reusable recyclable or Compostable food were.

2:22:47Last year changes remain the thing to phase out single use plastic food where including eating utensils food containers and non Compostable straws.

2:22:58With the allowance that plastic straws are available, upon request to meet the needs of people with medical needs and disabilities, and also that Compostable straws are only available by request.

2:23:13The proposed changes to incorporate a B 1276 requirements include.

2:23:20Food wear accessories provided by request only including eating utensils forks spoons knives straws chopsticks sparks stirs plastics and cocktail sticks.

2:23:32condiment cups and packets know bundling of single single use accessories or condiments are allowed it does allow for unwrapped single use footwear accessories that are self serve standard condiments that are self serve or and or both dispense condiments.

2:23:51drive through customers may be asked if they want single use food where items, but they are not to be provided without consumer consent.

2:24:00And there's also the requirement for food facilities that use third party food delivery platforms, such as uber eats and doordash.

2:24:08To provide options for consumers to affirmatively asked for single use footwear accessories and condiments and only those accessories or condiments selected will be provided, if none are selected none will be provided.

2:24:24Now, who is impacted all food facilities operating within the city and and also the state of California, as this as a statewide bill that stores prepare prepare serves events or otherwise provides food, food for human consumption at the retail level.

2:24:42impacted businesses are defined differently than our existing ordinance, as this is to implement the requirements of assembly bill and does not change the existing requirements under the ordinance.

2:24:58impacted products include knives forks spoons chopsticks sports cocktail PICs plastic stirs straws sashay or sauce and condiment packets.

2:25:12Note that plastic utensils stirs etc already prohibited under our current ordinance.

2:25:19condiment cups and packets so condiments are defined as relishes spices sauces confections or seasonings and may include ketchup mustard mayonnaise soy sauce hot sauce salsa salt and pepper sugar and sugar substitutes.

2:25:38And just to give some examples of some allowable non allowable food, where the left here, you see unwrapped cutlery on the right, you see examples of bundled or wrapped cutlery both are which are no longer allowed under the new State law.

2:25:56Here also some examples of dispensing mechanisms for food were in a single serve manner.

2:26:08Now, the proposal that aligns with the city's goals to reduce the community's environmental impact, by reducing problematic litter.

2:26:16Reducing recycling contamination costs supporting compliance with Federal and State diversion and clean water act requirements, protecting storm drains waterways creeks and marine life and supporting public health and a clean environment.

2:26:34We are going to have resources available to businesses, we will provide free training and guidance.

2:26:41We have created some some samples signage that was shared amongst community groups, and we will be also developing and distributing a fact sheet this fall.

2:26:51Some information is currently on our website that also vito.org slash food where and we will be adding more information and resources as as they come available and city staff can always be reached with questions.

2:27:06And lastly, just the timeline for transition when is this going to be enforced at 1276 is already in effect for the state, so this ordinance would be effective and enforced.

2:27:2030 days after the date of adoption, the existing Compostable food where requirements and the ordinance went into effect on July 1 however enforcement will not begin until January first 2024 for the Compostable food where requirements only.

2:27:39Lastly, per the State requirements enforcement mechanisms they require an unfortunate process, the first is a notice a violation for first and second violations.

2:27:54And then finds will be issued for subsequent violations at a rate of $25 per day, not to exceed $300 annually, of course, the city, will provide technical assistance prior to any enforcement.

2:28:12And thank you for my presentation more information on our website okay great Thank you Christina layered any questions from the Council.

2:28:20Councillor fidelity yes, thank you very much and welcome Christina Thank you this is really good news, we were all pleased to pass our ordinance last year.

2:28:33So we're happy about this i'm wondering on the I mean this is going to impact drive through correct in the whole state yes.

2:28:42Which is a big deal and is, do you know if the corporate headquarters of these drive wendy's jack in the box you're going to be notified with this that we will really have this work.

2:28:52I believe our plan is as as we implement this program we're going to inform our local businesses but statewide i'm not so positive that there's been a statewide effort.

2:29:03On this legislation and i'm just hoping that he mentioned signage will there be signage.

2:29:09At the point of receiving fast food, so that when you ask for a catch up like I usually do you don't get 20 cats ups in the bag, and so the one.

2:29:18I mean, so people will know what to order and what to say and.

2:29:21educate on the inside and educate on the outside, can we put signage on the takeout at the door, and that is going to be up to the businesses.

2:29:29individual businesses but we're going to be we'll be providing sample signage and we can definitely include a variety of options.

2:29:36A different language that can be used for each business because it's going to take a while, for all of us to get used to it, but I think long term that's going to be great.

2:29:44And and just one last thing I wanted to say, I know the mayor was very supportive of sb 54 the governor signed the bill.

2:29:53That will make the the packagers and the developers of plastics, to be in charge of finding ways to be more Compostable and recyclable so that's good news we're moving ahead in that direction, so thank you councilmember Rebecca Thank you Christine it's so great to have you here.

2:30:12Two questions, the first one is is this going to impact any of the self serve single packets, so when you go to a.

2:30:21Food establishment and they have all the sugar packets laid out or the ketchup packets laid out is that impacted all the ability for folks to to take them.

2:30:32I, my understanding of the registrations that is allowed, that is by request your customers grabbing it, they are requesting it it's just the bundling.

2:30:42so that you know the packets that come with you know, a napkin and the salt and pepper and you know, two different types of sugars, or whatever.

2:30:49that's know already The self service centrally is the request yeah excellent, and then the second question is, what is the time period between the notice of violation, for the first notice a violation, and the second notice of violation.

2:31:03So we can allow for businesses to be able to comply.

2:31:23It does not sell the State legislation does not specify any kind of time period, but for our own ordinance do we need to have that codified.

2:31:33I don't think we need to I think each it talks about each day as a different instance in which we could consider a violation, but, to be sure.

2:31:40You know our focus is going to be on education and training, and so we have already for many years since 2013 our food where ordinance has prohibited styrofoam.

2:31:48And each time we hear of a business or restaurant using styrofoam we're out there were doing training at the restaurant and very quickly they move off of it.

2:31:58And so it's always been complaint driven and then we're quick to reach out quick to educate and they've been quick to respond and we've been fortunate in that way.

2:32:06And so, our hope is that, with these new regulations that by request requirements that the businesses so too will be responsive to the education.

2:32:14And then we'll move into the notices of violation and enforcement, as required by State law only in the rarest of circumstances.

2:32:22But that differential between when a when a violator is notified of a violation to if they were to receive a second.

2:32:30Violation I, it would be nice if there was some kind of clarify clarification around that, because if you.

2:32:38If it falls off the radar staff and if it's not complaint driven, but we know that you know they issued a first violation, it would be nice to.

2:32:45When we would issue that second well I just add that, in some ways it's.

2:32:51more beneficial, given the city's existing code enforcement practices, not to specify a timeframe, because that way since since enforcement tends to be done.

2:33:02As resources are available they'll basically go and do the initial inspection determine if there's a violation issued notice and then as resources are available to do the second inspection determine that there has been another violation.

2:33:18This so, given the complaint based and resource driven nature of code enforcement actually not specify a timeframe provide staff with the necessary flexibility given me.

2:33:31All right, thank you for the Council.

2:33:33Airport town Thank you mayor.

2:33:38i'm excited about this, I hope that the.

2:33:42restaurants and business owners are excited that this is going to save them money, because I think there's a lot of wastage in an extra.

2:33:50stuff that people pick up that they don't really need I had a question.

2:33:54Regarding, how do we do outreach to like there's a number of sidewalk vendors in our town, and I know that that's more governed by county than us, but they would come under this ordinance because they're here right and how do we outreach and how do we interact with them.

2:34:12Well, my understanding is with the public outreach we did for the last round with our ordinances we did do door to door outreach and we intend to do that again.

2:34:22With this round we're going to be developing that that brochure that flyer in the fall and we will be going door to door and, and that includes.

2:34:31street vendors.

2:34:33Thank you have you had any feedback from anyone concerned about this one this particular ordinance yet not that i've heard.

2:34:43yeah so I can jump in As you may recall, for the.

2:34:47Public process which really stretched back in the early 2020 so as a two year public engagement process we had many public meetings.

2:34:53We met one on one with the Chamber of Commerce, we did door to door outreach with flyers we really had a robust Community engagement process to collect input and to really incorporate the feedback into our ordinance and that was because.

2:35:06The expanded uber ordinance was voluntary in some respects this being state mandated language that we're adding we really didn't have much of a Community engagement process at this time.

2:35:18Because we're just incorporating the required language into our muni code, but we do intend to develop a robust fact sheet and then do the robust outreach into the Community this fall so that's our intention, thank you okay great.

2:35:34public hearing is now open in persons request to speak can submit a speaker card to the city clerk and remote speakers can use the raise hand feature to request to speak, please remember to identify yourself and your city of residents at the beginning of your comments and clerk.

2:35:53Thank you mayor, we did not receive any written comments on this item in advance of the meeting, and at this time, I do not see any requests to speak Okay, Dr emotion, to close a public hearing a move.

2:36:05seconds Okay, we have a motion by pregnant oh mayor pro tem and the second.

2:36:13Council member able so then mayor mayor pro tem with yama yes councilmember ableton.

2:36:19I remember fidelity I can't remember reading it, I machine carries okay um any last comments.

2:36:29Okay.

2:36:31You have a motion to introduce by title and wave further reading of an ordinance requiring single use food wear accessories in standard condiments package for single us to be provided only have requested by because of a consumer some open second Okay, I have a motion by.

2:36:53run deck and a second for me for.

2:36:56me your chemo mayor pro tem Mohammed yes Council member eagleson.

2:37:01High and some Member fidelity I can't remember redneck I motion carries very good, thank you very much, you.

2:37:10Next, we have an appeal of the planning commission's approval of a use permit to allow a temporary fire station on craft avenue.

2:37:20Have sun Moss.

2:37:24Planning manager Community development department.

2:38:41evening mayor Council members i'm Sean Moss planning manager.

2:38:47So, yes we're here tonight to consider the appeal of a temporary use permit for a temporary fire station for the community of kensington.

2:39:03Some background on the project, the kensington fire protection.

2:39:08district is a special district that provides fire protection and emergency response to the community of kensington, which is an unincorporated Community adjacent to Elsa rainbow.

2:39:17The kf PD owns and manages a fire station station 6065, also known as the kensington public safety, building.

2:39:27station 65 is in need of substantial seismic improvement.

2:39:33The project will require the renovation project will require vacating that station for 18 months.

2:39:39During that time a temporary fire station is needed to house all of the district's equipment, including the there to existing fire state engines, as well as to continue to provide emergency response services to kensington.

2:39:55The district has conducted a search for available sites for the temporary station and one site was identified.

2:40:03So this is a vicinity map of the site.

2:40:07The.

2:40:55Apologies we're just having a technical difficulty for the display so if we just need one more minute, then we can reschedule reshare and he can continue.

2:41:44yeah.

2:41:46yeah.

2:41:50sorry about that so picking up where we left off, so this is a site plan of the site of the proposed temporary fire station.

2:41:59It is part of the parking lot of the unit unitarian universalist church of Berkeley most of the church campus property lies in kensington So you can see here this purple line represents the ulcerative city limits so to the.

2:42:18To the North West here is the city of El cerrito to the southeast here is the Community of kensington.

2:42:27This is the sanctuary of the unitarian universalist church there's a parking area here to the north of the sanctuary there's another parking area here.

2:42:37To the sort of north west of the sanctuary there's two access points to this campus one here from Lawson road or lawton i'm sorry lawton road in kensington.

2:42:49That comes right in here to this parking area, it continues around here and there's another access point here on craft avenue in El cerrito So you can see, this is this is arlington boulevard here.

2:43:03This is the the top of mosher lane here the intersection of mosher and arlington the STOP sign.

2:43:12This continues on as terrorists drive and craft avenue splits off of terrorists drive and it's a dead end street that ends here at basically at the El cerrito city limits.

2:43:26So this in red here is the project site it's a small portion a small underutilized portion of the parking lot for the Church.

2:43:37And it happens to be located in the city of El cerrito So you can see these these two parcels here.

2:43:43Are parcels that are owned by the church that comprise the the parking lot in the church campus and they are in El sereno So this is the the proportion that the.

2:43:53Fire Protection district is proposing to lease it's directly adjacent to craft avenue i'll have a site plan in a moment, but this is just so you can see how the site figures into the the overall church campus and the neighborhood.

2:44:09A little bit about the station operation, the temporary station would consist of primarily to temporary structures, a modular office trailer and which would be the offices for the station, as well as dormitories and also a temporary garage that would how's the district's two engines.

2:44:33that it would be staffed by three individuals 24 hours a day.

2:44:38parking for the station would be located adjacent to the site actually I can go back here for a moment, so the parking for the station guest and employee parking would be located here along the along this access point for the parking area.

2:44:58Primary access would be provided from craft avenue, although some secondary access would be provided from London road in kensington.

2:45:08The station currently averages a two calls per day, that is not expected to change with the temporary station.

2:45:19And siren use would be kept to a minimum sirens are primarily used only to alert other traffic and during emergency response.

2:45:30And no operation of tools or heavy have no operation or testing of tools or heavy equipment would would occur before 9am actually this or should say or after 6pm.

2:45:44So here's the site plan so you can see, this is craft avenue right here, this is the access point for the parking lot of for the Church.

2:45:55The, as I said, the fire station would comprise primarily two structures, this would be the the office and dormitory building here so for all intents and purposes, the.

2:46:05station and then this would be the garage that would how's the the two engines.

2:46:10This is a an accessibility ramp that's needed for Ada access so that we would see stairs here the ramp would also come up to serve both of these and then this is one accessible parking space, the the the site would be fence here, so this would be a.

2:46:28Of the vehicle gate that would be opened to serve access for the the engines and this, as I said before, this would be the the parking area for employees and any visitors to the temporary station.

2:46:45So the planning Commission considered this this use permit on June 15 they did approve it unanimously with on a vote of four to zero, with one Commissioner absent.

2:47:00The they did make one modification to the use permit and their approval, which was that staff had initially proposed.

2:47:10A 24 hour i'm sorry 24 hour 24 month term for the use permit so that was an acknowledgement that the district expects the project to take approximately 18 months.

2:47:22You know, providing a little flexibility at the end of that in case the the project takes longer we were proposing a 24 month term instead the planning Commission.

2:47:33modified that condition of approval, so that the term of the use permit is directly tied to the length of the renovation project so that condition.

2:47:45states that the the temporary use permit would be in effect for the duration of the renovation project as long as the district continues to make a good faith effort to complete the project.

2:47:58So, after the planning commission's approval we did receive an appeal of the decision, so the.

2:48:07i've quoted verbatim the justification that the appellant gave in their letter of appeal and the agenda bill in on this slide of paraphrase those points.

2:48:18But i'm going to i'm going to go over them briefly and then i'll go more in depth into the staff response for each one.

2:48:24So the the four points that the appellant cited where that access is hazardous and noise will be excessive, the project will increase response times and put kensington residents at risk.

2:48:35The project, the planning commission's removal of the 24 month use permit term leaves no restriction on long term use and the project does not compliant with setbacks and general plan policies.

2:48:50With regard to access and noise be fired I should have mentioned previously, that the city of El cerrito does provide staffing for.

2:48:59The station on a contract basis with the kensington fire protection district, and the fire department does regularly navigate engines on.

2:49:11On the routes that are in question, that would serve this station, the fire department has reviewed the the access to the temporary to station and determined to be adequate.

2:49:21The kensington fire protection district has tested the engines on the proposed site to ensure that the the access no interning and all of the logistics.

2:49:33For the engines is adequate for safe access to the station.

2:49:38As I said, you know with regard to noise, as I stated previously, the station receives an average of two calls today per day.

2:49:44And sirens are used primarily to alert other traffic and no routine testing or operation of heavy equipment will occur before 9am or after eight 6pm, and that is a condition of approval that has proposed as well that the planning Commission approved.

2:50:01With their approval of the US permit and is proposed again as a condition of approval for you tonight.

2:50:09With regard to response times that that is not an issue that is not a land use issue that is within the purview of this use permit.

2:50:17The kensington fire protection district does have authority to site facilities to serve the community of kensington to provide emergency response to that community.

2:50:29The use permit per view that is before you tonight is the land use and operational aspects of the proposed project at the proposed site.

2:50:39So it's not it's not within the the council's purview to to approve a use permit on a different site than what is before you tonight, what is before you is is the proposed project.

2:50:54With regard to the 24 month term, as I said when the when the Commission made that change they did try it directly to the length of the renovation project, so there is still a finite term for the use permit.

2:51:08And like I said it is contingent on on two things on the the length of that renovation project and that the district makes a good faith effort to continue with that project towards completion.

2:51:23With regard to development standards in general plan policies, the project does comply with nearly all of the setback requirements for the RS five district, which is where it's located the single family residential district.

2:51:37setbacks are not generally applicable to temporary uses the site plan for a temporary use permit is approved.

2:51:45Along with the use permit by the decision making body, and so the planning Commission did receive the site plan it's also in the in the council's packet tonight.

2:51:54And that becomes part of the US permit approval you'll see that in the conditions of approval that they use permit shall be consistent with the the plans that have been submitted to the city.

2:52:06But I can go over, let me just go back to the site plan for just a moment I can just to kind of give you an indication of what the setbacks would be what would be required for setbacks, if this was a of these were permanent structures.

2:52:2010 foot setback would be required here in the front, so the project does comply with that that's to the to the property line along craft avenue there's more than 10 foot setback here.

2:52:32The the front of the in the know you know you might think of these buildings as as facing.

2:52:39To the to the left here in this diagram the the front of the property is defined as the the side with street frontage so that's where we would measure the front step back from.

2:52:49So that leaves this here as a side setback so there's a required five foot set back here there's, as you can see there's plenty there's ample set back here to these any of these structures.

2:53:02As well as on the rear there would be normally required if these were permanent structures, a 15 foot setback and.

2:53:09The property line the rear property line here is off of this image you can't even see it it's so far back so there's definitely you know this exceeds 15 feet by quite a bit, so the only issue, the only place where.

2:53:24The project is non compliant with the the setbacks that are normally required and the RS five district is is right here.

2:53:31You can see the garage structure has this this dashed line is the property line here also the city limits, so you can see the garage structure has more than five feet here, but the temporary office building does not.

2:53:45So it sort of reaches a pinch point here and then gets a little bit a little bit larger here, but I will note that.

2:53:56This is, this is not an issue that that concerns staff with regard to impact to surrounding properties that property line is shared with other property that is owned by the church so it's kind of all part of the church campus.

2:54:12So you can see here there's ample setback between that property line and the sanctuary building.

2:54:20So i'm not entirely sure what purpose setting the building back more from this shared property line would would serve other than you know just to provide you know even more space from the sanctuary building, which you know this like I said this setback has already exceeded.

2:54:51And then, lastly, I will just note that staff has highlighted all of the general plan policies that this project complies with in the agenda bill, the applicant did site to have those policies, I believe that they.

2:55:09took exception to the two of those policies in the general plan, but.

2:55:15We have made the justification just in the same way that we did for the planning Commission use permit or i'm sorry staff report.

2:55:24we've made the justification in the agenda bill as to how those those two general plan policies are consistent with the project.

2:55:32I think actually they fit very nicely there they're generally about public safety facilities and things like that, even though this even though this project is.

2:55:44A project of another special district, because the because this city provides staffing to the district and really does provide kind of unified fire management of the the the district, and the.

2:56:01and unified response this station will serve as thereto as well, so some some calls from this station will serve Elsa rainbow just depending on on.

2:56:14The location of the call and which station is is closer and more ready to respond to it, so that actually that that's Another point that I intended to make here with regard to response times.

2:56:29It is true that this station is further from some homes in kensington than the existing station.

2:56:36And so, some response times will will be linkedin but other response times will be shortened so that this this station is closer to other homes in kensington and you know I don't know exactly what the you know what the net balances.

2:56:52And, as I said, this is, you know, ultimately, this is not an issue within the council's purview, but I just wanted to make that point.

2:56:59So that That concludes my presentation, the appellants and the applicant are also here tonight to give you a presentation and I can answer any questions you might have okay any questions from the Council.

2:57:15like to hear from there okay.

2:57:19go with them first we will open the okay.

2:57:24We will open the public hearing and announce the public hearing is now open for the appellate appellant and or representatives will have 15 minutes to speak.

2:57:49Much taller than me just Kim can you just verify that you don't have any parties that need to participate in the discussion that are participating remotely.

2:58:01No, there is nobody participating remotely okay perfect Thank you so much, I just wanted to say that i'm, the first of the three, there are three of us here tonight, and I will be speaking live at Mike my comments and.

2:58:12So that our total is 15 minutes absolutely Thank you have to take off my mask good evening, good evening.

2:58:18My name is Sam manheimer my husband and I have lived on crap avenue for 33 years our daughters have grown up and Elsa Rico and the local schools and graduated from El cerrito high.

2:58:30And we're all very aware of the fire hazard here and absolutely grateful for our firefighters and I want to make that up front i'm involved in citizen fire prevention in my neighborhood i'm at.

2:58:41We are organizing our neighborhood we're clearing the trails to make access for the firefighters, we are totally behind our fire department.

2:58:49Now, I also want to make clear that i'm speaking on behalf of a number of my neighbors, including one of the appellants Rachel Archibald many of them could not be here tonight, so i'm not alone in opposing this plan to put a fire station at the end of our narrow small block with.

2:59:08it's an unreasonable impact on the neighborhood in a number of ways, one way is noise, the interim fire chief estimates as as.

2:59:17Your staff member here said, an average of two emergency calls daily with that many calls, there were certainly be times when the firefighters have to use sirens.

2:59:26especially given the traffic on craft avenue, which is extraordinary for our small block.

2:59:31Those sirens will have noise decibels rating anywhere from 180 to 200 decibels and the neighborhood ratings only allow for 60 to 70 decibels.

2:59:41Additionally, the noise will be beginning as again your staff Member said at 9am for the testing of the equipment and allowed only until 6pm.

2:59:50It will be going on for at least six possibly seven i'm not sure days a week.

2:59:54i'm curiously, though, the interim fire chief at the planning Commission hearing said there's no problem that limiting time for the routine maintenance and that they are always done at three o'clock, so why not, and the testing of three o'clock as a fire chiefs.

3:00:11Another impact is traffic safety, I don't know if Members of the Council of the planning Commission have spent a lot of time on craft avenue but there's an amazing amount of traffic on our street for a small street.

3:00:23there's it's a narrow block with parking on both sides and that's necessary since houses don't all have garages.

3:00:31And the parking is already limited the two way traffic is already difficult.

3:00:35And the traffic amounts to bike strollers pedestrians cars dogs, cats and even you may not be aware of it there's tracker bands of this tracker camp.

3:00:46Where bands and school buses park at the lot and they go back and forth on our street couple of times a day, this evening I saw a ban of towing a large.

3:00:58trailer with I don't know 10 or 15 kayaks on it and there's there's not enough room really.

3:01:04The addition of fire trucks to this mix will certainly have a negative impact on the traffic situation on craft avenue, and that will ripple down terrorist arlington.

3:01:13Next, the project was presented to the planning Commission as a temporary permit not to exceed two years as you've heard of the fire district board says it will take no more than 18 months as your.

3:01:24As a proposal indicates and that's in addition to the temporary to the construction of the station, but the Commission approved it, allowing the permit to renew continuously for an unlimited amount of time.

3:01:37It seems highly unlikely that the renovation of the permanent building will be completed within two years, construction process projects often encounter delays.

3:01:47Moreover, many kensington residents opposed to plans, as you can see if you go around kensington there are signs of posting this plan all over the place.

3:01:56And I just learned that there are 900 registered voters in kensington who have signed a petition to stop the project.

3:02:03This means that there could be an appeal there's likely to be an appeal that will delay the project and the November election may result in a new design of arlington avenue station which will significantly add more delays to the project.

3:02:16and adding the time that that traffic that that that fire station is going to be at the end of our block.

3:02:21To avoid an extended impact on the neighborhood and to reinforce that this is for temporary use it seems really important that the Council clarify that there is in fact a two year limit on the project.

3:02:33And that would reinforce this limit and I would urge the Council to modify the resolution that we that I saw online resolution 2022 and then.

3:02:42Roman numeral XX 20 Item number three so that it reads that they use permit will be valid for a period of 24 months.

3:02:51Provided that one year from the date of this resolution that kf PD the kensington fire prediction prevention district provides Elsa Rita with a status report indicating the likely completion status station 65 and kensington.

3:03:06If the project cannot be completed within the remaining on your time frame kf PD should find an alternative location and vacate the craft avenue location within the remaining 12 month time frame to avoid that extended.

3:03:21burden on the neighborhood Finally I recently learned that the last time, the fire station on our linkedin was remodeled about 25 years ago the fire department, set up a temporary station in arlington park so far, so far as i'm aware, no effort was made to look at that location.

3:03:40It seems like it would be a much better at with the access to arlington I guess it's arlington boulevard there it's easy access to.

3:03:47arlington boulevard and that's a much less Reza dense residential area that location would seem much preferable to everyone involved in it seems like there should be an extended extended amount of time to look into that location.

3:03:59Indeed, despite its distance from kensington the ease of access to arlington boulevard may will improve its its response time, maybe a better response time to all of kensington then our tiny little street with all of its curves and blind corners and traffic.

3:04:15I thank you for your attention, for the opportunity to address that the Council, thank you.

3:04:30Good evening, Mr Mayor and Council.

3:04:34My name is Jim what my wife and I have been residents of kensington for 54 years our children went to elementary to high school we do most of our shopping and also Rico.

3:04:46For the last 27 years we have depended on El cerrito firefighters, to protect us, and are more than satisfied with their service, however, as senior citizens and with many elderly and increasingly disabled residents in our area, including my wife.

3:05:05Many of us are approaching that time in life, where the quick response of station 65 could be a life or death matter.

3:05:14And since we are on top of the hill on grizzly peak all of us at every age are concerned about the possible fire coming out of tilden park.

3:05:24This brings up the concerns about locating station 65 at the vols unitarian church location.

3:05:31This location will add an extra 40 minutes of travel time to our homes during a non commute time and seven to eight extra minutes at peak commute time.

3:05:43When I said extra travel time I mean, in addition to the current four minutes of travel time that it presently takes so the total time to reach this area of kensington could be 12 minutes.

3:05:56Such a delay puts us at real health and fire risk so what's the solution, there is a parking area across from the arlington church in kensington.

3:06:07That would greatly reduce reduce the travel time to our homes in September of 2019 this location was studied for a possible temporary location.

3:06:19This was presented to the kensington arlington church and they agreed to accept this temporary use provided access through the parking area could be maintained such a preliminary plan was developed, however, she forgot he called the kensington fire.

3:06:39The kensington district suggesting that the unitarian church a lot and further plans to subject to to locate the kensington site were dropped.

3:06:54However, the current proposal location on this fire station poses severe risks for both health and fire safety for many kensington residents and Elsa Rita residents that are at the South and depend on station 65 in fact 40% of all station 65 calls going to El circo.

3:07:15as Council members it's your primary duty to protect the health and safety of your resonance and Kevin kensington residents, insofar as fire services are concerned.

3:07:26The proposed site with the previously suggested changes should only be considered if a better alternative does not exist.

3:07:35A as previously stated, such an alternative appears to exist and should be thoroughly evaluated before approving the proposed location.

3:07:44No doubt you will hear from the applicant that they don't have the time to do this and meet their construction schedule.

3:07:51But there is no reason why their delays should override public safety, moreover, their low bid contract is good for 90 days and will not expire until September 30.

3:08:06You may also hear that a member of the arlington church, as opposed to placing a temporary fire station in the church parking lot.

3:08:13But that person's opinion was overruled by the church board in 2019 so the reasons for studying of location continue to exist.

3:08:24We therefore request at the City Council delay approval of this project until you receive supporting evidence.

3:08:30that the alternative location mentioned in kensington is or is not available only this way can you avoid placing the risk burden on kensington and nearby Elsa retail citizens, thank you.

3:08:57Good evening.

3:08:59Good evening mayor and Council members, my name is Paul doro McKenzie can resident thanks for the opportunity to address you tonight in support of this appeal.

3:09:08From the action of the planning Commission, I will not repeat things that have already been said by and manheimer and Jim walk I will make two additional points and then kind of summarize what I think we're asking of you.

3:09:24First, this is a small point but as part of a bigger picture.

3:09:28We understand that there's to be a diesel generator on the site.

3:09:34It wasn't clear from the hearing by the planning Commission nor in their material, whether this is part of the regular testing process but, as you know, diesel fumes are highly toxic and hazardous their kids around their most days, and so we would.

3:09:53suggest that there'd be a requirement for a strict limitations on the running of that generator for testing purposes.

3:10:00The second point that I like to call your attention to and there's a personal note, to this, I drive arlington 456 times a week running through the measure arlington intersection.

3:10:15i'm shocked that there was not a traffic study done at the impact of having to fire engines coming out on emergency calls into that heavily traffic that commute times four way stop intersection before deciding that the traffic is no problem here, which is really I think what the.

3:10:36Planning Commission report says we've looked at it and there's no problem, well, it is the existing traffic, but when you've got to fire engines, a day coming down terrorists, often with sirens in lights I would think sirens and lights would be almost required at a four way stop.

3:10:57We think that it requires a traffic study before this can be approved an engineering survey.

3:11:05to wrap it up, we think that the the the elimination of the two year time limit was a mistake.

3:11:12kensington fire district would argue that they've been working on in good faith on a renovation since 2016 at the latest.

3:11:23Not with actual picks and shovels but studying and making progress.

3:11:28We also feel that there is time there's no need for a hasty decision here and we would strongly suggest that we need a traffic engineering survey of the arlington mosher intersection, which is one of your main evacuation routes, before deciding that this should be approved, thank you.

3:12:00Okay, Mary do you believe that That concludes the comments from our appellant so next we would invite up our applicant and their representative representatives and they would also get a 15 minutes to speak okay.

3:12:15And Richard I am promoting you if you want to accept that.

3:12:50Okay, Richard, we can see you on a test make sure we can hear you okay.

3:12:54Perfect so.

3:12:56I will get you guys started, you also have 15 minutes i'll go ahead and start your time now.

3:13:09Richard D. Pio Roda: Thank you City Council staff, the I believe that the district's representatives are in the room, including chief and they'll cancel the general manager of what the candidate to fire protection district in support of and from Mr mosses.

3:13:27presentation we support and.

3:13:31Have no further comment, other than that if there any questions from the Council regarding the particulars of the.

3:13:42Richard D. Pio Roda: appellants points we were able to answer them.

3:13:47We also are have worked closely with a staff regarding this conditional use permit and.

3:13:57This time we would defer to the Council with any questions that they may have regarding but Essentially, this is a land use decision, and you have before you and we are here to.

3:14:12hear the concerns and understand them, but also that this is an essential projects for the district, and we can't emphasize enough that there is a temporary character to this, I use it as a temporary land use and that.

3:14:30The district is working diligently on construction project i'm understanding that construction projects can be addictive schedule wise, but we believe that there.

3:14:42there's good plans you have good and construction company contractor and the district is ready to move forward, so that we invite any questions from Council.

3:14:57Thank you.

3:14:59Both brings back to the Council any questions may, if I may, before we go to Council questions, we should take comments.

3:15:08While we're while the public hearing is open take comments from members of the public, and then the Council could certainly ask questions of both the applicants the appellant as well okay.

3:15:20So now would be the time, if you would like to provide public comment on this item to raise your hand I did receive one written public comment for this item which was posted with our supplemental materials online from Maryland stolen and john grass sione.

3:15:38And we will do in person request first so we'll go ahead and start with Vito Dora.

3:15:46And then we'll go to our remote request to speak and via just give me one second to reset our public timer mayor, do you want to just confirm, you want to do three minutes okay.

3:16:04You can go ahead and go to the podium and provide your comments okay.

3:16:11Good evening Thank you i'm sorry i'm hard of hearing, so I could hear.

3:16:18My name is Rita Durrell and I live in kensington, but I also property owner in El cerrito on storage space, and so I walk from Westminster.

3:16:32Up to tourists Bay quite often, and I hope that you would consider driving up around between four and six.

3:16:43arlington and mosher and see the traffic there there's actually five stop signs, I believe, and one of them is just a right turn that nobody pays attention to is a California stock.

3:16:57And you see walkers who take their lives in their hands crossing arlington in front of mosher at that time of the day.

3:17:07periodically, there is a pictures 1520 cars on each side of the STOP sign coming up mosher in arlington toward El cerrito lot of them just.

3:17:21piggyback on the person who had stopped before them enrolled right through i've seen parents young parents with strollers i've seen people walking their dogs or bikers, just like myself having to take our lives in our hand to cross, so now we are introducing to fire engines coming down.

3:17:47craft a.

3:17:50very sharp turn into terrorists and down to arlington.

3:17:58I really hope that you go up and observe this and order, a traffic study.

3:18:06Little flashing lights, like the one that.

3:18:10We managed to get in kensington in front of the arlington church or something to save lives, because the fire department is there to save our lives, and we appreciate what they do for us but.

3:18:25This is an accident waiting to happen, thank you, thank you, thank you, our next speaker is arthur's philosophy.

3:18:37Mr Mayor of members of the city council, my name is Arthur Swiss lock I live on craft avenue and elsewhere to have for some 30 years.

3:18:47We have family members who are firefighters were very respectful of the profession couple of points i'd like to make, I have seen fire.

3:18:56equipment going up and down craft avenue over the years, helping us helping neighbors i've never seen them on a weekday morning when people are taking their kids to school on a Sunday morning when there's church traffic.

3:19:11And I would submit that a traffic study might be very helpful to evaluate the safety of maneuvering these large trucks during these high volume high traffic volume times.

3:19:25A few years ago, we tried to get the speed bumps installed and traffic study was performed during August when nobody was going anywhere.

3:19:34And to no surprise there was no need determined by those studies, the other half of that of my discussion.

3:19:42focuses on the turning from craft onto terrorists, which is about 110 degrees going downhill it's more than 90 degrees from one narrow street to another narrow winding street before terrorists crosses arlington and becomes moser lane.

3:20:02That turn is enhanced by oncoming traffic usually people bring their kids to school frequently speeding frequently ignoring.

3:20:12Safe turning practices, and again I would submit that a traffic study would be very helpful to confirm that maneuvering fire equipment would be safe, not just on craft avenue, but at the craft terrorists, as well as the terrorists moser arlington intersections, thank you for your attention.

3:20:33Thank you, thank you will go now to our remote request to speak, which we have to at this time, so the first speaker is tests neck oh river test, you can begin your time your you can any to begin your time now.

3:20:49Tess Snook O'Riva: Thank you very much, as everyone able to hear me.

3:20:51Yes, go ahead and just.

3:20:53Tess Snook O'Riva: My name is testing ago we have i'm the Executive Director of the unitarian universalist church of Berkeley and I just wanted to make sure I was addressing people's concerns about facility itself to the best of my ability.

3:21:06for clarification, the trackers camp contract is purely for the summer it ends at the end of August, so they will no longer have buses or kayaks or bands up, I just wanted to make sure our craft avenue neighbors knew that.

3:21:20In addition, we have been assured by the fire department that the diesel generator is an emergency generator and it is tested on weekends specifically Saturdays so our least preschool space to the good our school.

3:21:35is actually very supportive and very happy about the proposal of the fire station being temporarily located there and we did not foresee any difficulties with the diesel engines or fumes.

3:21:46Lastly, the fire department has been up there, for years, they come up to the church and use our parking lot to unrolled our hoses because it's a very big parking lot.

3:21:56And wash their trucks and do a lot of training and things up in that area, so they're very well aware of turning radius is and insurance and egress and what they can and can't do.

3:22:07And you know the rest of us, the staff we drive up there every day so we're well aware of some of the traffic situations that have been mentioned, and I do not believe that that, in my personal opinion, the fire department will can hit it or change any of that.

3:22:23As proposed.

3:22:28Thank you, thank you, our next speaker is cordell cordell you should be able to unmute him begin your time now.

3:22:39cordell hindler: Can you hear me.

3:22:40Yes, we can.

3:22:41cordell hindler: So, good evening mayor quinto Council members um my name is Carol Heller and i'm a retired residents so.

3:22:49After listening after hearing the discussion.

3:22:53cordell hindler: I kind of agree with the the first speaker regarding the traffic study because, and I know I go up the crap avenue, occasionally, and I have noticed that is like it's a fire hazard because, speaking as a as an uncle to.

3:23:11School aged children, I feel that it's like it's important to that a try to study will be conducted.

3:23:18The cost of it is that still is to be determined, because as one of the speakers had mentioned you've got pants with with children small with strollers and it's like it's an accident waiting to happen so.

3:23:32i'm just wondering i've been hearing this is all new to me so i'm asking at the Council, you know, like that, before you make your decision, think about all the things that you guys heard this evening so that's it.

3:23:50Thank you mayor, that concludes our request to speak on this.

3:23:53Item Okay, do I have emotion, to close a public hearing.

3:24:01The second second.

3:24:04yeah yeah so we have a motion from their potential.

3:24:09In the second from fidelity.

3:24:11councilmember Dolly and benefit me or kinjo yes mayor pro tem O T i'ma I can't remember ableton.

3:24:19I can't remember fidelity can't remember, I think I motion carries.

3:24:25Council questions or comments.

3:24:29or questions remember redneck yes.

3:24:32my daughter attended the good or school so i'm very familiar with that drive on craft i'm also familiar with the South entrance to.

3:24:40The unitarian universalist church campus is that the traffic direction that we're good that either the management of the church or the good or school is going to be encouraging folks to use that back entrance South entrance versus the north entrance.

3:25:00So counseling rudnick, thank you for having me tonight, the primary route would be through craft as an alternate we would use Lawson.

3:25:11To access parts of candidates in when needed, there are certain areas of okay tune that are best access from that road but it's it's the.

3:25:20alternate route.

3:25:22But the for not necessarily for our fire personnel, but for the everyday traffic with the school take up to drop offs and Sunday church service.

3:25:33Events that they have their own my understanding is that the primary entrances through craft and exit out of Los so they try to keep a clockwise rotation that's my understanding of it, but a member of the church would have to give you a real specifics on what their uses Thank you.

3:25:54Yes, thank you.

3:25:56I was just wondering.

3:26:00we've talked about some folks appealing talking about other sites what other reasonable sites are there, what was looked into with is was there a second option, and the third option, I know.

3:26:16Some of the.

3:26:18Those that are appealing have mentioned the arlington church on arlington which I don't think is any better getting out of that parking lot and there's a school there's a library church what is better what what were the options.

3:26:35Thank you, Bill hansel general manager at kensington park protection district and.

3:26:39The this issue started in 1997 to 25 years ago in terms of the concerns about the fire station seismic safety, as well as other related issues and over that period of time, and even if you look in the records before there were various studies of.

3:27:01location locations which could be alternative fire station locations or alternative temporary locations and as was stated the arlington park clubhouse was used for a prior location.

3:27:15I do know that in in my tenure over the last couple of years, the focus was on the unitarian church, not only because it could support the response.

3:27:28but also because the configuration of it was far better than some of those other locations, for example, the most prominent one that's already been mentioned, is on arlington.

3:27:38Very slope site more constrained, and when we did the layouts we also looked at, you know potential layouts at.

3:27:46For example, that location and found that we just couldn't fit the maneuverability of the trucks, so it sort of took that off the table also that site is a site which the police district is looking at for for their location.

3:28:02And so the district has focused on the the unitarian church site for for all those reasons that have already been.

3:28:12And the unitarian Church was very accommodating to your needs and requests the unitarian unitarian church has been a great partner so far and and you know we we actually when we had the.

3:28:24The trucks out there and we were testing the maneuverability on the lot itself, and we have all the kids lined up from the.

3:28:31From the school, who were I think we've locked in that demographic in terms of our proponents for this this location, but they they've been a great partner and we understand that there will be, you know.

3:28:42At the end of the day, this is we're making a lot of sacrifices I think everyone's making a lot of sacrifices for the renovation project to happen.

3:28:50The timing of this is very important in terms of the construction contract in terms of the loan supplemental loan in terms of the city's willingness to allow us to move to a six month reserved for our our contract.

3:29:03I think you know everyone's been partnering together with a lot of situations like craft avenue that are not ideal, but frankly we.

3:29:12We don't necessarily have other solutions, and those are issues, the traffic issue and driving issue of the trucks or something that the firefighters deal with every day and are trained and have that safety.

3:29:23You know, as a top priority, so we're looking at this in the in the long term benefit for both our Community speaking of benefit that the universal church benefits financially and there's there's a lease so fortunately the.

3:29:37We have a pretty good precedent from about four or five years ago of moraga had at least a church site for a similar situation actually exact same size.

3:29:48So we you know normally in this type of case you might not have the benefit of such a good COMP, and so the Church, the agreement with the Church is a $31,300 a month.

3:30:00lease which is, you know very, very generous rate and you see the contractors are ready to go to contract the district it's been you know quite a dance of putting all these pieces together the contract was.

3:30:16awarded the low bidder was recognized at last week's board meeting and their prices came in on.

3:30:24July 1 so they are good for this 90 day period, which is why we have this race to kind of get the the temporary done as part of the contract.

3:30:34They had there's a stipulation stipulated time it's obviously it's a public contract, and so the 18 months is stipulated in their contract that they have to finish within that time.

3:30:44And the only variant would be if there was some kind of you know whether conditioner act of God that would that would that would acceptably alter that otherwise they face penalties, just like any public contract with.

3:30:57So I feel you know, right now, there are two fire stations along the arlington to serve elsewhere ITO.

3:31:04In kensington I feel good that there are two and there are trade offs as to where they will be somewhere closer, some are not, is there any change to a station.

3:31:17priorities of actions or anything how How does that work as far as mean.

3:31:24Right chief and speak to it it's a fairly automated response okay so.

3:31:30So America really are you referring to how units are dispatched overall is that we yeah if there's any changes in how station and 72 million operate so.

3:31:40Every single fire unit in the county has a vehicle locator on it and think of it as a bubble of response time so when a unit is dispatched it's the closest units you don't respond.

3:31:54So if interest 65 is now located at at craft and terrorists, there is that response bubble to where they will be the first unit.

3:32:04If they're committed to another incident, or they are further away than the next closest unit will respond so, for example, to maybe let's just say the intersection of motor.

3:32:16The first unit would be into 65 because they're at the end of crap if they're committed to another incident, the next closest would then be stationed 72 and the third closest would then be status 71 everybody's available so proximity proximity yes okay.

3:32:34Thank you.

3:32:37man.

3:32:39Thank you, man.

3:32:41i'm not sure who this question should be directed to, but I wanted to understand better when the speakers was indicating that the.

3:32:51The the development of the rent or the renovation itself was somehow in question, with.

3:33:00Community opposition my understanding was that that use permit or that permit is already in place and that's that renovation is moving forward.

3:33:08Right, yes, the renovation is moving forward and that the this is comes on to our county permit the county planning approvals been granted the county building.

3:33:18Permit comments have already been received in are being given a response, the, as I said, the construction contract has been awarded.

3:33:29The associated loan costs which actually are tied to that specific contract and have to be done within a certain amount of time are tied to that the district was very fortunate in that we.

3:33:40Despite having concerns about construction costs and inflation, we were able to achieve five different.

3:33:47bids and actually had a little bit that was lower than our our estimated project estimate, and we also were able to fortunately lock in interest rates.

3:33:55Just before this this boom, so I will say, though, the important factor here is not just that there was this period of.

3:34:04Seven years of starting in 2015 of looking at different sites of different options going through so we you know we.

3:34:10would argue that there's been a long period of study of this we have gotten to a point where financially and we did we work with an Hoa advisors who you know the city utilizes.

3:34:21We have gotten to a point, because of inflation, because of interest rates that were at this threshold of affordability.

3:34:28And so, our urgency with the project is in as much because of that, and having all these pieces move forward if they were delayed, we would you know feel the financial numbers would show that we would have a problem.

3:34:39Actually, completing this and it is a seismic issue you know, for both firefighters and the residents.

3:34:46Is there there's no further appeal of that permits or that i'm not sure what the what other steps would be possible to take in terms of that.

3:34:57I can only speak to the you know, the fact that the that all the pieces are in place and we're trying to move forward, the only thing that is.

3:35:04would prohibit it really functionally is not having our firefighters, be able to move out and the police also occupy the existing building and at last week's police board meeting they also approved.

3:35:16You know their plans to move forward with your contract I hope so, so I think all those pieces are in place, I believe that's the case there there's been discussions about other schemes frankly.

3:35:29What I saw recently kind of at the past the 11th hour was very similar to other joint schemes, which you know, had all sorts of different.

3:35:39deficiencies, but at this point, they would any any change in that with it would basically stop the contract, it would it would it would also stop the the loan rate and everything else that would so we pretty much be starting from scratch, I think.

3:35:56Thank you.

3:36:00councilmember able sense send do you have anything to add.

3:36:04Councilmember Abelson: I think I understand it.

3:36:09pretty well actually.

3:36:12It does seem like it's a difficult situation.

3:36:18But it it, it seems like.

3:36:23The most difficult situation would be if this project were not done in there were an earthquake.

3:36:29or something like that and people lost their lives, I guess that's kind of how I think about it.

3:36:37and

3:36:40So I.

3:36:44I think that.

3:36:47To use a station two times a day.

3:36:50is not very much.

3:36:56So I guess that would be my thoughts on the subject okay.

3:37:02counselor Bray Wilson do.

3:37:05Would you like to do a motion to approve mayor if i'm, if I may, can I can I, I want to I forgot to point out a couple of things with regard to the resolution.

3:37:16So mayor pro tem multi yama actually pointed out that there are a couple bears in the resolution.

3:37:22The first being that the first finding noted in the resolution should actually be the same text as what is contained in your agenda bill.

3:37:32It references 24 months, but that was not the intent and then similarly conditional approval number three.

3:37:41was intended to be the same text as planning Commission condition of approval number three submit it references the duration of the renovation project, rather than the 24 months okay.

3:37:52Councilmember Abelson: Very good Okay, so I I I would be willing to make.

3:37:57A motion that covers.

3:38:01The changes that were made by Sean.

3:38:04OK OK OK, we have emotion by April, since I can buy bread deck bank clerk mean you can tell us mayor pro tem mo tiana I councilmember Wilson.

3:38:15I can't remember fidelity I can't remember redneck I motion carries can just to clarify with you, you wouldn't very quickly that is emotion to.

3:38:26deny the appeal and approve the project has proposed, with the amendments, the resolution Tomas read.

3:38:32Just wanted yes counselor very awesome Thank you.

3:38:36Thank you.

3:38:41Next, we have.

3:38:42Councilmember Abelson: Actually.

3:38:43Could we back up a second.

3:38:45The.

3:38:48original motion that was approved.

3:38:52Was was it approved at 24 months, originally a little confused their.

3:38:59emotion, would have been with with the changes that Mr Moss read, so the the time period would for the permit would be coextensive with the time necessary to construct the project.

3:39:13Councilmember Abelson: Okay.

3:39:14The planning Commission approved.

3:39:16Okay.

3:39:18that's still the motion that you intended.

3:39:21Councilmember Abelson: that's what I thought I was making.

3:39:23Okay, then I think I think that that that was the motion that was proposed by staff, ultimately, and so, and so I think that that.

3:39:30I do mean that everybody on Council agree is that they understood that that was the motion, then I think we're we're okay okay.

3:39:39Can I just make one statement, yes I understood that the the motion, I want to say one last thing i'm very sorry about our.

3:39:45neighboring residents and residents that have to put up with this, but I quick when I asked my question about other options, I frankly didn't hear many options in the hills that were available that could deal with the fire in the situation, the way we need to have fire dealt with.

3:40:01I didn't hear about that and I, we need to act soon I know it's going to be tougher for the folks that spoke to us but to be closer to a fire engine now, at this time in our history in our life is I can think of worse things than to be close to fire engines.

3:40:18So that we're not.

3:40:21hurt by by fire, so I wanted to approve what we just passed.

3:40:27Councilmember Abelson: or a nurse.

3:40:28or an earthquake right.

3:40:32Thank you okay next is policy matters adoption of a Memorandum of Understanding between the city of El cerrito yeah the LCD to public safety management association.

3:40:45And we have Alex or.

3:40:49manager.

3:40:56Sure Mike is not on just push.

3:40:59Thank you city clerk.

3:41:01Good evening mayor City Council i'm going to be quick tonight, because I have a few other policy items on the agenda, and I know it's 10 o'clock at night.

3:41:11So I have before you request to adopt an mo you between the city and the else radio public safety management association fire chief.

3:41:20So on behalf of city manager Karen pincus i'm pleased to announce her movement of cheap Eric sailors, as our new fire chief tentatively effective Monday August 8.

3:41:32Cheap sailors is currently an assistant fire chief with this, the sacramento fire department, he holds nearly 30 years of experience and fire service in sacramento and for the city of golf and is currently working on his doctorate from the University of southern California.

3:41:49The fire chief the fire chief position is represented by psm a fire chief and the former fire chiefs mo was used for a baseline for negotiations.

3:42:00The following are the changes from the previous mo you, the agreement will be for three years, effective tentatively August 8 2022 through June 30 2025 so it's approximately three years.

3:42:15A monthly base salary will be set at $19,222 per month in July 2023 and July 2024 the cost of living increase will be based on regional CPI no less than 2% and no more than 4%.

3:42:36And he will also receive a 5.5 educational differential on his base salary and recognition of the completion of his master's degree.

3:42:46It should be noted that both the cola and the educational differential align with the current police chiefs contract Lastly, I this mo you also includes the addition of June teen which is per City Council direction back in man.

3:43:05I also want to make a verbal amendment to the draft contract on the floor, that is in the packet before you.

3:43:12The language on the fourth page of the contract, which is page 289 of the packet under Chapter one section 1.1 starting on the third of mine beginning within the event.

3:43:27Through the end of that paragraph was intended to be deleted this language was obviously from the last contract, given the former chief had promoted internally from the position of battalion chief to achieve.

3:43:41As you know, an external candidate would not hold any civil service rights to any previous position here in the city of El circo.

3:43:49As permitted under the municipal code so for the record for the city Clark, I will read them to the record the language to be deleted, and that would need to be included in the motion.

3:44:01In the event that the fire chief is removed from his position as fire chief he may at his discretion.

3:44:07returned to his prior position as battalion chief in the lc rate of fire department as permitted under El circo municipal code three.

3:44:16dot one dot zero dot 090 and any related rules or regulations should the fire chief has returned to his prior position as battalion chief.

3:44:26He shall be credited with all service time with the city of El circo and not sever suffer a loss of seniority and enjoy all benefits and compensation of a battalion chief.

3:44:37reversionary rights will not apply in the case of termination based on an independent finding of this conduct.

3:44:44made by the civil service Commission or mutually agreed hearing officer so like I said that language should be stricken from the proposed contract.

3:44:57The total cost impact of this mo you compared to the previous mo you is approximately $17,000 and will be absorbed into this year's adopted budget.

3:45:08This cost will also be included in the next proposed budget so with That said, that concludes my presentation and I would actually like to pass the virtual microphone to chief Eric sailors, to say a few words.

3:45:24Thank you.

3:45:25Eric Saylors: Thank you, I will keep this short but good evening else read oh i'm humbled by the opportunity to join your team.

3:45:32you've built the fantastic fire department that is full of great people and i'm going to be honored to serve with them.

3:45:39Your support, I look forward to continuing your legacy and together we're going to build the most effective innovative fire department in the nation, thank you, I look forward to working with you.

3:45:53At testing.

3:45:59Any Council questions or comments.

3:46:03mayor pro tem.

3:46:05I do have a question for our assistant city manager, can you talk about the auto allowance, I had thought that had been eliminated or all city employees.

3:46:20Great question, so the auto allowance actually was only eliminated for the management and confidential group the auto allowance is still in all of the psm a.

3:46:34unit mo us and that is because, for the positions that those public safety managers are responsible for it is a requirement.

3:46:45that they have a vehicle so that they can respond to emergencies and other types of city business so in each of those mo use the.

3:46:56Language is very similar where it does provide for a city vehicle, but then also provides a caveat that if a city vehicle is not given that in auto an allowance would be provided in lieu of that.

3:47:13So that you're confirming that is a requirement for the position, yes, correct Thank you any other questions councilmember on it.

3:47:23Thank you for your work on the city manager or assistant city manager and.

3:47:27She sailors welcome, I look forward to working with you on issues, especially of Community preparedness and what we could do to be more disaster resilient.

3:47:37And what we can do to include more of the Community in these conversations, because as you've probably been watching the whole Council meeting.

3:47:44That they're very engaged Community Members who care about fire safety and they care, you know safe evacuation routes and all these things, and I want to make sure that you know what you're getting into.

3:47:56But we're really excited to have you so thank you so much.

3:48:00Eric Saylors: Thank you i'm very excited as well and i'm very excited about this conversations.

3:48:05councilmember fanelli yes chief sailors welcome welcome Dale Sergio I don't envy your commute I know that commute.

3:48:16But maybe that will change.

3:48:18you've heard a little bit tonight about how important fire is to this Community how critically important it is and how critically important our budget issues are to you just from questing costs to questioning how fast, can a.

3:48:34Fire truck make a turn in an intersection here and elsewhere, you know so there's a lot of issues ahead i've heard good things about your work and equity.

3:48:41And i'm anxious to talk to you about those and how we can pass those things along here and i'll sorry, though, because we're just beginning, that effort so welcome aboard We look forward to meeting with you.

3:48:53Eric Saylors: Thank you.

3:48:55councilmember eagleson.

3:48:57Councilmember Abelson: Thank you, well, it gives me a great deal of pleasure to welcome you to elsewhere ITO I happen to think it's a great place.

3:49:07And I hope that you enjoy being here as much as I enjoyed living here and.

3:49:15I look forward to working with you.

3:49:20i'm actually retiring from the City Council at the end of this term, but but i'm not planning on moving it so anyway.

3:49:31Welcome to else read oh.

3:49:34Eric Saylors: Thank you very much i'm very glad to be here.

3:49:38Cheap I want to welcome you again to else rido I echo what my colleagues have said, and look forward to working with you just want to make sure that you know what you're getting yourself into.

3:49:51Eric Saylors: I think I have an idea of what i'm getting into what I can tell it now you have a wonderful city, full of amazing people who are very engaged and that that sounds thrilling to me.

3:50:02Wonderful to hear and yes me i'll put down, so I apologize, I did not welcome you properly to El cerrito welcome to sailors, I look forward to working with you and.

3:50:16Learning from all the other good background information you have getting your PhD we're just talking about you're probably the.

3:50:23The most degreed person in the city at this point so that will be very exciting, for us, and I also want to extend the thanks to our acting chief.

3:50:33Jose castor home, for although the time and effort that he put into the carrying the ball, for us, so, so thank you and welcome to Elsa rainbow we are great town and perhaps you need the car if you lived here.

3:50:49Eric Saylors: I agree, I agree.

3:50:53We all agreed on the car so don't worry about it.

3:50:57Councilmember Abelson: Now it's not nearly as hot here.

3:51:01Eric Saylors: No it's not.

3:51:05Okay.

3:51:07ma'am clerk who we are, we do have have one request to speak on this item so.

3:51:14So, if anyone else on the call is, if you would like to provide public comment on this item now would be the time to raise your hand or submit a speaker card which I don't think we have any public left so i'll go to our first.

3:51:28My apologies, let me share my screen and then I will go to our first speaker, which is cordell hendler cordelia should be able to unmute and begin your time now.

3:51:38cordell hindler: amy holly.

3:51:39yeah go ahead.

3:51:41cordell hindler: So, good evening mayor quinto a Council members and i'm my name is quarter i'll handle it i'm original residence so i'll try to sum up, as I can, so thank you, I want to thank Alex and tech them and mckenney a for their recruitment efforts for this position because.

3:52:00It has been long overdue, so I think they've done a wonderful job in a and I was very impressed by a fire sale is a background and i'm like what and I said to myself.

3:52:14He is he I mean he's gonna be he's gonna be in good hands with the city of El cerrito so.

3:52:19So here's my here's my motion someone approved approved the mo us so chief sales can come on board on the eighth of August so don't make a motion it gets second pass it and that's it, so I will say my comments for the the other two policy matter item so that's it.

3:52:39Thank you, our next speaker is Larry Miguel Larry you should be able to unmute and begin your time now.

3:52:50Larry Nagel: Thank you very much, yes, my name is Larry nagel and I am the President of the kensington fire protection district, and on behalf of the district, and the town of kensington I also want to welcome chief sailors and i'm looking forward very much to working with you chief.

3:53:11you've heard many of the problems that we're facing and.

3:53:17I think you i'm sure you know what you're getting into but it's not going to be an easy job, and I can assure you that kensington will not make the job any easier so good luck to you and I look forward to meeting you in person and working with you, thank you very much.

3:53:35Thank you, our next speaker is Vincent wells when funny you should be able to unmute him begin your time now.

3:53:46Vincent Wells: Good evening.

3:53:48Marin Council yeah this vince well as.

3:53:52I am the President of local 1230 and I represent the firefighters of Elsa rainbow I, I want to thank.

3:54:02councilmember quinto and and.

3:54:06And Karen Pickles for the opportunity to be able to participate in the hiring process and sit on the panel and just want to welcome.

3:54:19Our new fire chief and.

3:54:22And can testify that he comes with.

3:54:26Great regard and.

3:54:29Very well.

3:54:33loved and supported by members of sacramento where he is leaving to come to the city of El cerrito and I know he has a lot to bring.

3:54:45To the city, a lot of knowledge and and we're very supportive of.

3:54:52This hiring and look forward to work.

3:54:56Thank you.

3:54:58Thank you mayor that does conclude our request to become this item okay.

3:55:05Go ahead, my apologies, we have one more speaker or pencil general manager the kensington fire protection district.

3:55:14My congratulations from one third of the Rainbow kensington fire department to chief sailor looking forward to working with you, I wanted to commend that staff on their job and.

3:55:22very much appreciate their including kensington and myself as part of the part of those interviews, as I told she sailor, I think, in passing, my only concern is when he finishes his doctorate whether we call him Dr chief chief doctor.

3:55:39And finally, I just want to thank again interim chief customer home, has done a fantastic job keeping us keeping us going so look forward to working with you chief sales, thank you.

3:55:50That concludes our request to speak on this item Thank you so let's go to motion to approve do I have a motion to approve a motion to approve mo you between.

3:56:01and elsewhere to public safety management association fire chief unit okay so have a second.

3:56:07Okay, so I have a motion from red deck and the second from the airport down and and, just to clarify that the motion does include the with the amendments read into the record, so thank you very much, Mr King toe mayor pro tem O JAMA I can't remember ableton.

3:56:23I can't remember fidelity I can't remember redneck I motion carries okay cheap Thank you welcome welcome, and we look forward to seeing you on the eighth.

3:56:34Eric Saylors: Thank you very much, I look forward to to.

3:56:36Have a good night next we have adoption of a Memorandum of Understanding between the city of El cerrito and the service employees International Union local 1021 Alex.

3:56:48Thank you mayor, this is a request to adopt an mo you between the city and the seiu for 18 months between July first of this year through December 31 2023.

3:57:02The highlights include a 3% cost of living increase effective, the first full pay period of July 2022 a half a percent additional purse contribution.

3:57:15From employees a $400 one time payment in December 2022 a 1% cola and January 2023 and another 1% cola in July 2023 This also includes the addition of the juneteenth holiday as well.

3:57:33The total cost increase of the 3% is approximately 120 $7,000 the ongoing cost savings of the additional purse contribution that will be made.

3:57:45By seiu employees is approximately $14,000 and the total cost of the $400 100 payment is approximately $17,000 and is dependent on how many seiu employees are employed as of December 2022.

3:58:03i'd like to give an opportunity to thank the seiu leadership and membership for all their hard work.

3:58:10Providing service delivery to this bar residence and for voting unanimously, yes, on this contract with that said This concludes my presentation and i'm here for any questions okay any questions for Alex.

3:58:26Yes, I just have a comment, I want to thank staff for the work I think this is great I seiu as part of our else radio family hung in there for the two years that we went through a lot of grief.

3:58:38And now's the time to take steps back up the ladder, so thank you to the staff for providing that they also because of Councils emphasis are paying a little more for their purse as other Union groups are and we appreciate that that's noticeable.

3:58:55We see it, we appreciate that I wasn't mentioned, but I think that's wonderful and we depend on the seiu workers and also Rico in a variety of ways, so we thank them and Merry Christmas.

3:59:11anyone else somebody right mayor pro tem.

3:59:15Thank you mayor and thank you, staff and seiu for working together and coming to a good resolution, so I really appreciate that I did have a question in the.

3:59:29In the resolution and mentions all previous side letters and I was wondering if there were side letters and what that references about.

3:59:42So councilmember motor yama there are a number of side letters that do exist, that language is very standard and tentative agreements, but there are some.

3:59:53That are existing that are on our city's website and then one that actually just was agreed to during this process, I can just quickly go over them pretty quickly.

4:00:04In 2018 there was a side letter regarding new employee orientation that provides access to new hires represented by seiu in 2020 there was a domestic partner agreement, which defines domestic partnership under.

4:00:23In 2021 there was also another side letter regarding unpaid furlough days, and those are furlough days that were taken in the spring of 2021.

4:00:34And then, lastly, is the most recent one and it's regarding the class and compensation study it's nothing new it's more just reaffirming the city's requirement to adhere to the myers millions brown at to meet her on any decisions made that impact wages conditions of.

4:00:57Ours in terms.

4:01:00Those are the four that I am aware of, and some of these actually might already be in the past mo you I apologize I didn't get a chance for the meeting to look that up.

4:01:15Thank you, but they have no like the class and COMP side letter is just reiterating a right that's already a requirement that's already existing exactly Thank you you're welcome okay anyone else.

4:01:33Okay.

4:01:35Now, do we have any public comments, we do have one request to speak.

4:01:41Okay.

4:01:45Okay cordell Hillary you should be able to unmute and begin your time now.

4:02:00Not a very good connection, are you there.

4:02:03Yes, i'm here Okay, if you can speak up a little bit difficult to hear you.

4:02:12cordell hindler: can hear me now.

4:02:16If you could speak up holly.

4:02:19Yes, go ahead so good evening mayor quinto a Council members um.

4:02:25cordell hindler: I read the resolution and I think, as I want that seiu for doing this, so i'm a repeated again so someone makes a motion it gets second so we can move on that's it.

4:02:41Thank you, that is their only request to speak mayor okay any other comments.

4:02:49Okay, I want to say to our partners at seiu 1021 Thank you grateful to you, and our partners that seiu 1021 and you have sacrificed the most during the most difficult time of our city's history, so what know how much we appreciate you and.

4:03:12Thank you, to your negotiators were working with us and look forward to.

4:03:20Seeing everyone in person and then your future.

4:03:24Do I have a motion to approve, I was so moved.

4:03:27Councilmember Abelson: Second okay.

4:03:29So we have a motion by fidelity second by where proton.

4:03:36mayor kimbo yes mayor pro tem O JAMA I can't remember a person.

4:03:41By Council member fidelity I can't remember redneck I motion carries okay good next his consulting services agreement with cough and associates for a citywide classification and compensation study.

4:03:55We have Alex Thank you mayor, so this is a request authorizing the city manager to execute a consulting services agreement with COP and associates for $200,000.

4:04:07For a city wide classification and total compensation study.

4:04:12The purpose of the study is to review, classifications and make sure that they're up to date and appropriate, as well as assess internal equity and make external market comparisons, as noted in the staff report and by city manager pincus.

4:04:30At past Council meetings, the the last study of this kind has not was done over 30 years ago, which is a very long time ago.

4:04:40carpet associates was selected through a formal request for proposal process and emerged as the recommended firm based on their proposed work and extensive past experience in this field.

4:04:53The firm also shares the city's importance of maintaining strong involvement and communication with employees and union representatives throughout various stages of.

4:05:04The city anticipates using this study for context for current salaries for all employees, but does not bind or obligate city to make changes to current compensation and benefits.

4:05:17Our preliminary work is to begin next month with the project start in September and the and the expected end to be in fall 2023.

4:05:29So, given the study is a one time expense of $200,000 staff is recommending that the study be paid for by the unassigned fund balance and, as I noted earlier this Council meeting this fund balance is expected to reach approximately 10 million by the end of this month.

4:05:51With that said that concludes my presentation and i'm here for any questions any questions.

4:05:59Yes, who will be the staff lead on the retail side for this project.

4:06:05So I will be the staff lead in terms of completing the contract and then through about mid September.

4:06:14Which is, then, when I go on parental leave, and so I will be transferring those duties to senior HR analysts Shannon Bassey while I am gone and I will pick them back up when I return in the spring, so there will be.

4:06:31Staff project management throughout this whole process and this process is one year because it takes that much time to do a classic compensates station study of this order of magnitude for city of this size, thank you okay any other questions.

4:06:49here for Tom Thank you mayor.

4:06:52I am, you had said it was also this class income study was also going to look at equity and I was when I was reading through the documents it didn't really call that out So could you just say what you mean when when they say equity.

4:07:11Yes, so so equity in terms of compensation in terms of the actual pay for the work both internally within the organization compared to other.

4:07:27classifications, and in the city, but then also comparing externally as well, so it's really important for us because because we've made so many.

4:07:39changes over the years, like with you know different resolutions to the City Council are doing the classifications, you know everything has been sort of.

4:07:49changed on a case by case basis, which is very typical for a city, but now it's time to look at everything all at once, both classifications and compensation to really understand, are they are they compatible with.

4:08:06Are they on par with what is happening with with with how they're compensated regionally and if there's anything that we need to do in order to.

4:08:17Address equity in the city with respect to those two items so that's really what it means, and I know that the proposal didn't say the words equity, but that is something that is very important to the city manager in terms of a outcome of this of this project.

4:08:36And I just had a comment about the impact on fund balance, just to remind us all that we did approve the budget and then, this was the extra and my concern is.

4:08:51You know, right now, our fund balances looking great that $10 million that's the overall, but when we were talking about the budget we were talking about having an $800,000 surplus.

4:09:02which was still below the million dollar target of what we would like to have a surplus.

4:09:07And it seems like now, with this $200,000 further reduction we're really looking at just a $600,000 budget surplus at this time until there's some other adjustment, so I just want to get a sense of of how staff is feeling about that, and you know just expressed my concerns.

4:09:26Thank you mayor pro tem our, our request is actually to provide this funding from the unassigned general fund balance that already exists, we would not, we are not proposing for it to come out of this year's budget surplus.

4:09:40So, this would be $10.1 million we're expecting minus $200,000 would be, is where we are proposing that this funding come from, not from this year surplus.

4:09:53But it goes into the overall fund balance, it is at the what the current assign general fund balance.

4:10:01would be at the end of this year again, is expect it's currently prior to this, the end of this fiscal year is about $7 million.

4:10:10And at the end of this fiscal year we're expecting it to be at least $10 million, so that is the general fund balance that we are proposing that this be appropriated from, thank you for that clarification and anyone else that's remember fidelity yes.

4:10:29And that request to us will come later in the budget amendment when we or does this now, this is the, this is the request, instead of it, it says, the resolution says, we still need to have.

4:10:45money.

4:10:49And an amendment to the fiscal year budget is needed to cover these costs so that implies that this is it.

4:10:56Whereas an amendment to the fiscal year is needed to cover these costs.

4:11:02Through the resolution that you will be voting on tonight that provides the amendment that any correct language yeah in the in the.

4:11:13In the inactive clause, where it says now, therefore, be it resolved.

4:11:16It authorizes city manager to execute the contract and number two immensely and assign fund balance to appropriate $200,000 and transferred to the fiscal year budget.

4:11:26So that is the action we're requesting Thank you and I just wanted to say that over the last two years, if there was one thing that a contentious Community dealing with our budget was agreed to it was.

4:11:36This compensation study, including the state auditor so we're doing it we're doing it, and I did read the whole proposal and I just need to say our staff is.

4:11:47Still minimal still overwork but staff is going to need to participate in this to get the benefit out of this so staff i'm sorry that there's an additional burden.

4:11:58But I mean it's going to be a good process for our staff and it's going to be a coming together of our staff, after two tough years and I think our Community will benefit from this as well, so thank you very much.

4:12:12Councilmember Abelson: like to make a motion to.

4:12:14Well let's let do we have any speakers, we do have one speaker, but we also have 30 minutes before we need to extend the meeting.

4:12:22Councilmember Abelson: Over to.

4:12:24Yes, the rules are now 11 o'clock not 10.

4:12:26Okay, we do have one request to speak on this item.

4:12:34Okay, all right cordell you can go ahead and unmute and begin your time now.

4:12:41me OK, I.

4:12:44can hear me holly.

4:12:46Why do you need to speak up, we cannot hear you.

4:12:49cordell hindler: Yes, can you hear me now.

4:12:50Yes, we can.

4:12:51cordell hindler: So, good evening mayor quinto a Council members so.

4:12:56My name is Carl hammer and I am very, very excited about this study, because the reason that I had suggested coffin associates because.

4:13:05They have worked with other cities on there a class and COP studies, so I think this is a wonderful opportunity because.

4:13:14Because city staff have been overworked so i'm asking i'm gonna say i'm a repeated again so so what makes emotion it gets second so that way, the city magic and execute the contract so so they can start to work on on the study for either next month is September so.

4:13:34that's all I have to say, and this approve the contract, as it as it.

4:13:40You know this conclude a request to speak mere okay our Council my brave person, you had a comment.

4:13:48Councilmember Abelson: Yes, i'd like to extend the meeting by.

4:13:5115 minutes councilmember evil thing we don't need an extension until.

4:13:55Councilmember Abelson: We don't.

4:13:56have an o'clock.

4:13:59Councilmember Abelson: Until we meet 11 is.

4:14:03Maybe I don't understand what we're we're not done.

4:14:08Yes, we don't need an action to extend the meeting time and we are close to 11pm.

4:14:13Councilmember Abelson: Okay, so don't Okay, I see what you're saying okay nevermind.

4:14:19No worries any other comments Okay, do I have a motion to approve motion to approve consulting services agreement with coffin associates for a city wide classification and COMP study sorry cordell you can't make the motion.

4:14:36I say that with a lot of love.

4:14:39Rebecca second part of La medical Council mayor can go mayor pro tem much yama yes councilmember eagleson.

4:14:48I Council member fidelity councilmember resonate I machine carries Okay, last but not least, license agreement with the county to police protection and community service district or use of sight and amenities at 10940 simpatico avenue.

4:15:08We have Chris Jones recreation director, good evening, thank you, good evening.

4:15:13Let me just.

4:15:16run one.

4:15:31not reliable.

4:15:53Thank you.

4:15:55evening Honorable mayor Quito and Council members i'm Chris Jones your recreation director.

4:16:01Before you this evening is a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute a license agreement with the kensington police protection and community services district.

4:16:12For the site and amenities at 10940 San Pablo avenue, the location of the former midtown activity Center and just for reference that what we're talking about mostly is building be here, although some other site amenities.

4:16:31You know I think everybody knows how we got here five years ago, we lost the lease to the open house senior Center from the school district, so we constructed to modular buildings and entered into a five year lease next door and created the midtown activity Center.

4:16:48The coven 19 pandemic and stay at home orders shut down all city facilities to the public, including them at 10 activity Center and then.

4:16:58In October 2020 when the city implemented or when the City Council implemented the fiscal response plan This included necessary reductions in staffing and so we were no longer able to operate two buildings and we consolidated services at the US retail Community Center.

4:17:19So tonight and also since that time staff had unsuccessfully tried to find users alternative users for these buildings until very recently.

4:17:32And so tonight before you as a license agreement with the K P P CSD which we I think both organizations view as a mutually beneficial beneficial solution.

4:17:45And, hopefully with upon your approval we can execute the agreement within the next couple of months.

4:17:54Some highlights of the.

4:17:57license agreement is that the initial term would be from the execution date through July 2023.

4:18:07Even though our initial lease goes until May 2023 the kensington district requested some additional time some additional flexibility because they don't.

4:18:18They don't believe that.

4:18:21That would be a reasonable timeframe to complete their that they would need the building for, and so we did agree in the negotiations to extend the initial term to July 2023.

4:18:34But, in exchange for if they stayed beyond the initial term we would increase the license fees by 1500 dollars to compensate the city for the use of the property.

4:18:46In addition to taking over the are in addition the kensington would assume the lease and payments for building be.

4:18:55which would save the city approximately 45,000 to $52,000 this fiscal year, depending on when the agreement is executed and this allows the district to renovate the interior to suit its needs, without the city having to oversee that process.

4:19:16Also, the district could pay its fair share of costs associated with that site which includes sewer charges and alarm services that the city is also obligated.

4:19:29To pay on a five year basis, as well as they would take over the electricity and water accounts for that site saving another 7500 to 80 $400.

4:19:42Finally, the license agreement fixed dictates access rights use of building a as well as the sort of police department structures is access has maintained.

4:19:56It in the titles, the district to 14 parking spaces, which is about half of the spaces, which is half of the spaces, it also has language.

4:20:08For insurance traffic flow site maintenance.

4:20:12And finally, just add some flexibility.

4:20:15The resolution.

4:20:18would allow the city manager to make minor amendments to the agreement that don't substantially increase the city's obligations.

4:20:26And so, this would be things such as the execution date, which is more dependent on the district's timeline of when they can set when they are ready to set the building up and when they can get the contractor in there to make some changes.

4:20:43Another minor amendment that could happen, although it seems less likely at this point is that the city manager could amend the license agreement to allow the district's use of building a should they have a need to move before building B is the renovations are completed.

4:21:03So those are the highlights of this agreement, and they happy to answer any questions okay any questions.

4:21:13councilmember able send you have any questions.

4:21:15Councilmember Abelson: No, I do.

4:21:17Okay councilmember Fidel yes, just one that i'm confused about.

4:21:22And I don't have the Info in front of me now that I packed up my packet.

4:21:29It takes longer for the police.

4:21:35To get there, and next venue we have a set contract for those trailers right are we extending this contract for us that we didn't like in the first place, no, no, so.

4:21:49Essentially, our lease is.

4:21:52kensington is taking over the lease for building be so they would take on the balance of the term, and potentially responsible, they are responsible, and then we would.

4:22:05be able to remove building a at any time in line with our current contract, but that responsibility stays with them until.

4:22:14they change their their plans, yes, the city would be responsible for.

4:22:21Removal costs.

4:22:23that are part of our original lease with mobile modular However, the longer kensington stays the more that they would pay, and that would be used to defray.

4:22:34Those costs of about $20,000, but that is unlikely to happen this fiscal year so Finally I, we all know, the.

4:22:43Negative history that got us to this point of having those trailers there wasn't a an easy process or a good time for some of the Council was there at the time of some of those decisions.

4:22:57And I think what's happened, tonight we have to two examples of two cities to neighboring cities, working together to benefit each other, and I think that's something that turned out positive, so thank you.

4:23:10Okay, do we have any speakers.

4:23:15Now, would be the time if anyone on the call would like to speak on this item to raise their hand requesting to speak.

4:23:22We did not receive any written comments on this item and there is no one left in the room, and I do not see any hands requesting to speak okay great do we have a they have a motion to approve.

4:23:34A move the resolution.

4:23:37authorizing the city manager to execute the license agreement with the kensington police protection and community services district for the temporary usage of modular buildings and other site amenities, they have a second.

4:23:50Second.

4:23:52Okay, so I have a motion by mayor pro tem that a second by abramson that employer me your can tell, yes ma'am pretend with yama I councilmember a Muslim.

4:24:01High Council member of Delhi I can't remember redneck I motion carries Thank you Chris.

4:24:08Now we have City Council local and regional leaders on the silence any updates.

4:24:17Council members will send you have any updates.

4:24:20Councilmember Abelson: know the.

4:24:22i'm about to have a whole bunch of meetings but covert has gotten in the way of previous ones.

4:24:29Okay.

4:24:31All right, thank you now, we will adjourn this regular City Council meeting, it is 1039 the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting is Tuesday August 16 2022 at 6pm have a good night everybody, thank you.